XV.

THE DOWNFALL OF CHARING-CROSS,

Charing-crofs, as it flood before the civil wars, was one of those beautiful Gothic obelisks erected to conjugal affection by Edward I, who built fuch a one wherever the herse of his beloved Eleanor refied in its way from Lincolnshire to Wefminster. But neither its ornamental fituation, the beauty of its ftructure, nor the noble defign of its erection (which did honour to humanity) could preferve it from the merciless zeal of the times: For in 164.. it was demolished by order of the House of Commons, as popifh and fuperftitious. This occafioned the following not-unhumorous farcafm, which has been often printed among the popular fonnets of thofe times.

The plot referred to in ver. 17, was that entered into by Mr. Waller the poet, and others, with a view to reduce the city and tower to the fervice of the king; for which two of them, Nath. Tomkins, and Rich. Chaloner, fuffered death July 5. 1643. Vid. Ath. Ox. II. 24.

Undone, undone the lawyers are,

They wander about the towne,

Nor can find the way to Weftminster,
Now Charing-crofs is downe:

At the end of the Strand, they make a ftand,

Swearing they are at a loss,

And chaffing fay, that's not the way,

They must go by Charing-crofs,

The

The parliament to vote it down
Conceived it very fitting,

For fear it should fall, and kill them all,
In the house, as they were fitting.
They were told god-wot, it had a plot,

Which made them fo hard-hearted,

To give command, it should not ftand,
But be taken down aud carted.

Men talk of plots, this might have been worfe

For any thing I know,

Than that Tomkins, and Chaloner

Were hang'd for long agoe.

Our parliament did that prevent,
And wifely them defended,
For plots they will discover ftill,
Before they were intended.

Methinks the common-council fhou'd

Of it have taken pity,

'Cause, good old cross, it always ftood,

So firmly to the city.

Since croffes you fo much difdain,

Faith, if I were as you,

For fear the king should rule again,
I'd pull down Tiburn too.

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XVI. LOYALTY

XVI.

LOYALTY CONFINED.

This excellent old fong is preferved in David Lloyd's "Memoires of thofe that fuffered in the caufe of Charles I. Lond. 1668. fol. p. 96. He speaks of it as the compofition of a worthy perfonage, who fuffered deeply in thofe times, and was ftill living with no other reward than the confcience of having fuffered. The author's name he has not mentioned.— Some mistakes in Lloyd's copy are corrected by two others, one in MS. the other in Westminster Drollery, or a choice collection of... Songs and poems, 1671. 12mo.

EAT on, proud billows; Boreas blow;

BEA

Swell, curled waves, high as Jove's roof;

Your incivility doth show,

That innocence is tempeft proof;

Though furly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm; } Then ftrike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm.

That which the world miscalls a jail,

A private closet is to me:

Whilft a good confcience is my bail,

And innocence my liberty:

Locks, bars, and folitude together met,
Make me no prifoner, but an anchorèt.

4

10

I, whilf

I, whilft I wisht to be retir'd,

Into this private room was turn'd As if their wisdoms had confpir'd

The falamander should be burn'd ;

Or like those fophifts, that would drown a fish,

I am conftrain'd to fuffer what I wish.

The cynick loves his poverty;
The pelican her wilderness ;
And 'tis the Indian's pride to be

Naked on frozen Caucafus :

Contentment cannot smart, ftoicks we fee

Make torments eafie to their apathy,

15

20

These manacles upon my arm

25

I, as my miftrefs' favours, wear;

And for to keep my ancles warm,

I have fome iron fhackles there:

These walls are but my garrifon; this cell,
Which men call jail, doth prove my citadel..

૩૦

I'm in the cabinet lockt up,

Like fome high-prized margarite,

Or, like the great mogul or pope,

Am cloyster'd up from publick fight:

Retirement is a piece of majesty,

35

And thus, proud fultan, I'm as great as thee.

Here