THE ROTA
OR,
News from the Common-wealths-mens Club,
Written by Mr. Henry Stubb;
better then a Syllybub.
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I.
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AT Westminster where we take Boat,
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There on the left hand you may note
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The sign of the Turks Hedd and Throat.
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2.
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What heads and throats therein there be,
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If you'l have patience to see,
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These few lines here shall notifie.
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3.
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Here Harrington breeds up his youth
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To the discovery of no truth,
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All Commonwealths-men in good sooth.
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4.
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A question here, though nere so rude,
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Is so belabourd, and so rewd,
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And into sundry pieces hewd.
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5.
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If unresolvd by I, or Not,
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It must be put to the Ballot.
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Tis Mr. Harringtons own plot.
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6.
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The finest thing that ere was seen,
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The one side white, the other green,
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And there you must put in a Bean.
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7.
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First Harrington doth hawk and hum,
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And tells a story of old Rome,
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Which from his own store never come.
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8.
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He cites Sigonius and Lampridius,
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Authors which to the Club are hideous,
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And he in quoting most perfideous.
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9.
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But there a sad mishap befel,
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Which much doth grieve me for to tel,
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But I am glad it was so wel.
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10.
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The learned man stood up and spoke,
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That by two Losses he was broke,
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His Reputation and his Cloak.
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11.
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Quoth he, My Reputation
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I hear is tumbled up and down,
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Much like a Foot-ball through the town.
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12.
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And for my Cloak, by this good light,
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This Rascal Miles but yester-night
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With Coffee did it all bedite.
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13.
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Next Polixfen, that Politician,
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Yet surely he is no Hebrician,
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And (as I take it) a worse Grecian.
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14.
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Whom [in Greek] did so fright,
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He was not himself again that night,
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Twas thought he did his Chair beshite.
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15.
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Theres Poultney too, that man of Law,
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In Politicks he is but raw,
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But prattles more then a Jack-daw,
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16.
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Who speaking once of injustice,
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Made a distinction somewhat nice,
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It was between a sin, and Vice.
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17.
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Next comes in Gold that brazen-face,
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If blushing be a sign of grace,
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The Youth is in a woful case.
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18.
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Whilst he should give us Sol's and Ob's,
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He brings us in some simple bobs,
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and fathers them on Mr. Hobs.
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19.
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Nay, he hath got the prettiest feat,
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Monarchs out of the world to beat,
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Thus proves thei're all a tacite Cheat.
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20.
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If man in state of nature be,
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And one imparts his Right to me,
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I cheat him of his property.
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21.
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The like, if many men possest,
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To one give all their interest;
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He must be deem'd a Cheat at best.
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22
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We want not an Attourney hight,
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Lame Collins, (if I name him right)
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Oh! 'tis a very learned Wight.
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23.
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The subtlest man that ere I saw,
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Did Arguments from Scripture draw;
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Religion was before the Law.
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24.
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If so Sir Harrington's mistane,
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Religion doth the Law sustain,
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Law property, it is most plain.
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25.
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A Parson too, of no small note,
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His sense as thred-bare as his coat;
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And neither of them worth a groat.
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26.
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The man doth hope in time to be,
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Chaplain to the Academy;
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Hee's fit, for he can scarce tell three.
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27.
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Morley, who thought to have been one
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Of the Committee, but was none;
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For had he, they'd been all undone.
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28.
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'Twas well foreseen, for the wise Knot
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Thought that the man migt have a plot,
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For to have dipped their Ballot.
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29.
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One in a Speech he did reherse,
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'Gainst the Popes-land, he was so fierce,
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He cut it off at least a teirce.
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30.
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He said hee'd quote Authority,
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That the full length of Italy,
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Contain'd but threescore miles and three.
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31:
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A Cambrobritain here god-wot,
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Must needs make one of this learnd kno[t]
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But twere as good that he were not.
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32.
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Taff Morgan, God her Worship save,
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Doth shit among them very grave,
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He's no great States-man, but great K------
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33.
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Last, Skinner of his Chaire grown proud,
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Doth gravely weild the busie croud,
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And still to Orders cries aloud.
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34.
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To tell you more of Mr. Skinner,
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He'd rather talk, then eat his Dinner;
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Tis that which makes him look the thinner.
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35.
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But whilst the man to Stafford cryd,
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Sir you to Orders must be tyd,
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Or else you must not here abide.
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36.
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For our course here, is not to prate
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Of things that do too near relate
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To the Affairs of present state.
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37.
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Speak to the question, it is sound,
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In what of Government the Ground,
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Or the Foundation may be found.
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38.
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Stafford with that did lowly bow,
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Good Mr. Speaker calm your brow,
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And of my Argument allow.
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39.
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For had your question any sence,
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I should not take the confidence
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To give your Worship ought offence.
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40.
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But since for non-sense it may passe,
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To speak to you in Country-Phasse,
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Your Worship is a learned Asse.
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41.
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Which words he took in so much scorn,
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That nothing else would serve his turn,
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But presently he must Adjourn.
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42.
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Adjourn, quoth Stafford, in a fright,
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Are you a Burgess, or a Knight?
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Sure I shall to the Tower tonight.
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43.
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But loe, the worst of all disasters,
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A Youth stood up, My learned Masters,
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All Governments are much like plasters.
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44.
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Plaisters, quoth Stafford, let me die;
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If not, this poor Academy,
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Have not some grand infirmity.
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45.
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And since it happens to be so,
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I may chance be infected too;
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Therefore my Masters all, adieu.
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