THE
POPES EVIDENCE
TO A
CARDINAL
One of His PRIVADO'S:
ABOUT THE
DELIVERANCE
OF THE
Earl of Shaftsbury
Out of the TOWER.
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POPE,
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I Swear repeated Crosses make me mad,
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And though ne'r Swore what was true before,
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Yet now to vex Hell, 'cause his luck's so bad,
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I'll Swear what's Truth, tho I Swear so no more.
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Which nobody can deny.
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Hang it! for once I will ingenious be,
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And round my Cardinal Lord in his ear;
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(But he must keep't with Oath of Secresie)
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Of what I'll swear, and what I will not Swear.
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Which nobody shall deny.
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I Swear our Wit and Power do now run dregs,
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Altho our Hogsheads full of Malice be;
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That our brave Plot should crouch 'tween Celiers legs,
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And dwindle now to a poor Perjury.
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Which nobody can deny.
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I will not Swear the Catholick Cause will stand
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In England till Doomes-day, and do it harm,
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Since the Supporters of it in that Land
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Are a poor, wretched, hungry, louzy Swarm.
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Which nobody can deny.
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I Swear that we were all as dull as Loggs,
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Blinder than Biggots, that adore the same;
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That we sent o're so many Irish Dogs,
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When others would have better ply'd their Game.
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Which nobody can deny.
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Hang a poor, zealous, superstitious Fool,
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That must have Conscience go his murth'rous way;
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I Swear that a Church Atheist is a Tool
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Will do our business better far than they.
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Which nobody can deny.
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A Tory Tribe shall Swear and Damn you ever,
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And run your Eyes down, that the Day is Night.
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Would our poor Rogues would swear but half so clever,
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As Thompson, Rawlins and Le Strange do write.
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Which nobody can deny.
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I Swear the Methods that we took were good;
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To hang up Hereticks by their own Laws;
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And without shedding of dear Cath'licks bloud,
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We might assert and build the Cath'lick Cause.
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Which nobody should deny.
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This I will swear, we shall well play our parts,
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If we can get the Rogues but to compound;
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Grind them, until they be glad at their hearts
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To part Stakes, and we stand on even ground.
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This nobody should deny.
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Yet I'le not swear, (for that my fear indites)
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But when that King and Parliament agree;
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(Oh!) that all things shall then be set to rights,
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Then Popelings Miserere Domine;
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Which nobody can deny.
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I swear that London is Heretical,
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And damnably believe in Doctor Oats;
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They use their Reason in their Common Hall,
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And chuse good Officers to save their Throats.
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Which nobody can deny.
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And they that chuse good Sheriffs are Rebels, Whigs;
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But I'le not swear that they are so that do it,
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Although the Damme Blades with huffing Wigs,
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With brass enough do every where avow it.
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Which nobody can deny.
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Hence 'tis, I swear, that we are never blest
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In any of our Plots, but all do shame us;
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For all the Juries are of late possest
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With the curst cross-grain'd Spirit Ignoramus.
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Which nobody can deny.
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Thou Heretick Ignoramus, why doest range?
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Thou should'st have Inquisition without pity:
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Why, would'st thou leave the Lawyers, and Le Strange,
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And creep among the Trades-men of the City?
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Which none of them shall deny.
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Thou Mass of Sin, of Treason and Rebellion,
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Of Heresie, the Spell that Witches dandle;
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I swear that each unholy Popish Stallion
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Shall curse thee Igno. with Bell, Book and Candle.
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Which nobody can deny.
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I swear those Sheriffs by us are thought stark nought,
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Who do in the nick of this blessed season
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Chuse honest Juries, that won't be aw'd, or bought,
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But spight of us will use their Conscience, Reason.
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Which none of us can deny.
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I will not swear, but we had the good will
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To lowre a little, little Shaftsbury;
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He always has been, is, and will be still,
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Next, under God, our greatest Enemy.
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Which nobody can deny.
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I swear had Heaven but let us took him off,
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Some thousands more Heretical Heads had danc'd
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Off of their shoulders, whilst all we should laugh
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To see the Hereticks so fast advanc'd.
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Which nobody can deny.
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I will not swear, though Shaftsbury was dead,
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But Cadmus Corn would rise up from his Grave:
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However, could we have his Politick Head
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As useless as his Legs, it would be brave.
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Which nobody can deny.
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Malicious spightful hate does urge him sore,
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Though I dare swear he ne're deserv'd the thing;
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For never man did for his Country more,
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And never man more truly lov'd his King.
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Which nobody can deny.
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Ile not swear; but he may hereafter grow
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In favour with Great Charles; but if he'l miss;
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This Ile affirm, and swear unto it too,
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That it will be his Enemies fault, not his.
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Which nobody shall deny.
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Shaftsbury loves his Prince: none dare gain-say:
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Oh but he serves his God and Country too;
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This I will swear, let all his Foes say nay,
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'Tis the best love he to his Prince can show.
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Which nobody can deny.
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I will not swear, but Shaftsbury may be
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Reserv'd by Heavens kind hand to make Charles great,
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The English Nation happy, and to see
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Us and our Gang have absolute defeat.
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Which nobody shall deny.
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This I will swear, he is, unto our grief,
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At last delivered from a tedious Jail:
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Thus Heaven still sends to the oppress'd relief,
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And Innocence and Truth at last prevail.
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Which nobody can deny.
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