Читать книгу A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days - Joseph Grego - Страница 34

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“We who were never yet at quiet,

Lovers of Change, Disorder, Riot,

Old Sticklers for a Common-wealth, (If you believe us) wish you Health, A long, a safe, a prosperous Reign. (The wicked Tories think we feign.) We, who all Monarchy despise, Hope to find favour in your eyes; Think you a Protestant so hearty As not to disoblige our Party, And humbly beg, at any rate To be Chief Ministers of State, Or else your person we shall hate; For tho’ Religion bears the name, It’s GOVERNMENT is all our aim. We’ll be as faithful and as just As to Your Uncle, Charles the First; Grant this request, your Cause we’ll own, And ease the burden of the Crown; Make it the easiest e’er was worn, You’ll scarcely know you’ve any on. But if (Great Sir) we find you slight us, Ourselves can tell which way to Right us; And, let you know, by sad disasters, Tho’ you are Lord, yet we are Masters. This truth you cannot choose but know, We prov’d it sixty years ago; Yet shall you find us now on Trial, Your faithful subjects, OR WE LIE ALL!”

Disappointment, and a long spell of disfavour at Court, embittered the Tory wits, and lent a barb to those satirical shafts which they freely launched at their powerful opponents, the Whigs in office and in parliament.