Old Efigland and New. 335
Whatfalfe reports, what nick-names did they take [196]
Not for their own, but for their Mailers fake /
And thou poor foul, wert jeer'd among the reft,
Thy flying for the truth w^as " made a jeft.
For Sabbath-breaking, and for drunkennefs,
Did ever land profanefs more exprefs ?
From crying blood yet cleanfed am not I,
Martyres and others, dying caufelefly.
How many princely heads on blocks laid down
For nought but title to a fading crown ?
'Mongft all the crueltyes by great ones done^
Of Edwards youths, ^ and Clarejice haplefs fon,
Jajie why didft thou dye in flowring prime ? Becaufe of royal ftem, that was thy crime. For bribery Adultery and lyes,
Where is the nation, I can't parallize.
With ufury, extortion and oppreflion,
Thefe be the Hydraes of my ftout tranfgrefllon.
Thefe be the bitter fountains, heads and roots.
Whence flow'd the fource,the fprigs,the boughs & fruits
Of more then thou canft hear or I relate.
That with high hand I ftill did perpetrate:
For thefe were threatned the wofull day,
1 mockt the Preachers, put it far away; The Sermons yet upon Record do ftand That cri'd deftru6tion to my wicked land :
o \. p which I have done, l Oh, Edxvards Babes,
r For Bribery, Adultery, for Thefts, and Lyes,
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