1070

For who without a Cap and Bauble,
Having fubdu'd a Bear and Rabble,
And might with Honour have come off,
Would put it to a fecond Proof?
A politick Exploit, right fit

For Prefbyterian Zeal and Wit.

Quoth Hudibras, that Cuckow's Tone, Ralpho, thou always harp'ft upon: 1075 When thou at any thing would'st rail, Thou mak'st Prefbytery thy Scale To take the Height on't, and explain To what Degree it is prophane;

" and fo when they are out, (which is not very seldom) they can "take leisure to come in again: Whereas, they that measure their "meditations by the Hour, are often gravell'd, by complying with "the Sand." The Famous Spin Texts of thofe Days, had no occafion for Mr. Walter Jennings's Experiment upon their Hour-Glaffes, to lengthen their Sermons; the Sand of which running freely, was ftop'd by holding a Coal to the lower part of the Glass, which as foon as withdrawn, run again freely, and fo toties quoties. Dr. Plot's Staffordshire, chap. 9. f. 3. p. 333.

. 1067, 1068. For who, without a Cap and Bauble,- Having fubdu'd a Bear and Rabble, &c.] 'Tis a London Proverb, “That a "Fool will not part with his Bauble, for the Tower of London." (Fuller's Worthies, p. 196.) Mr. Walker speaking of General Fairfax, (Hiftory of Independency, part 1. p. 43.) fays, "What will not a "Fool in Authority do, when he is poffefs'd by Knaves ? mifer"able Man! his Foolery hath fo long waited on Cromwell's, and "Ireton's Knavery, that it is not fafe for him now to fee his Folly, " and throw by his Cap, with a Bell, and his Bable."

. 1072. For Presbyterian Zeal and Wit.] Ralpho look'd upon their ill Plight, to be owing to his Master's bad Conduct; and to vent his resentment, he fatirizes him in the most affecting part of his Character, his Religion: this by degrees, brings on the old arguments about Synods: the Poet thought he had not fufficiently lath'd Claffical Affemblies, very judiciously compleats it, now there is full leifure for it. (Mr. B.) See Don Quixote, vol. 1. b. 3. p. 178. . 1091.

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Whats'ever will not with (thy what d'ye call) 1080 Thy Light jump right, thou call'ft Synodical. As if Prefbytery were a Standard,

To fize whats'ever's to be flander'd.
Doft not remember how this Day,
Thou to my Beard was bold to fay,
1085 That thou coud'it prove Bear-baiting equal
With Synods, Orthodox and Legal?
Do, if thou can'ft, for I deny't,
And dare thee to't with all thy Light.
Quoth Ralpho, Truly that is no

1090 Hard Matter for a Man to do,
That has but any Guts in's Brains,
And cou'd believe it worth his Pains:

1095

But fince you dare and urge me to it,
You'll find I've Light enough to do it.

Synods are myftical Bear-Gardens,
Where Elders, Deputies, Church-wardens,
And other Members of the Court,
Manage the Babylonish Sport,

For Prolocutor, Scribe, and Bear-ward, 1100 Do differ only in a meer Word.

*. 1091. That has any Guts in's Brains.] Sancho Pancha, expres

fes himself in the fame manner, to his Mafter Don Quixote, upon his mistaking the Barber's Bason for Mambrino's Helmet. (Don Quixote, part 1. b. 3. chap. 11. p. 273. fee vol. 3. chap. 2. p. 21. vol. 4. chap. 7. p. 710.) "Who the Devil (fays he) can hear a Man, call a "Barber's Bafon a Helmet, and ftand to it, and vouch it four Days together, and not think him that fays it, stark Mad, or without "Guts in his Brains."

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:

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Both are but fev'ral Synagogues

Of Carnal Men, and Bears and Dogs:
Both Antichriftian Affemblies,

To Mischief bent as far's in them lies: 1105 Both ftave and tail, with fierce Contests, The one with Men, the other Beasts.

The Diff'rence is, the one fights with The Tongue, the other with the Teeth; And that they bait but Bears in this, 1110 In th' other Souls and Confciences ;

1115

Where Saints themselves are brought to Stake
For Gospel-Light, and Confcience fake;
Expos'd to Scribes and Prefbyters,
Inftead of Maftive Dogs and Curs:
Than whom th' have lefs Humanity,
For thefe at Souls of Men will fly.
This to the Prophet did appear,
Who in a Vifion faw a Bear,
Prefiguring the beastly Rage

1120 Of Church-Rule, in this latter Age:
As is demonftrated at full

By him that baited the Pope's Bull.

.1095. Synods are myftical Bear-Gardens.] See Notes upon Cantor. . 193, 194. and Mercurius Rufticus, No. 12. p. 125. where the Tryals of Clergymen by Committees, are intitled, Bear-Baitings.

.1117, 1118. This to the Prophet did appear, Who in a Vision faw a Bear.] This Prophet is Daniel, who relates the Vifion, in chap. 7. ver. 5.

*. 1122. By him that baited the Pope's Bull.] A learned Divine in King James's Time wrote a Polemick Work against the Pope, and gave it that unlucky Nickname of the Pope's Bull baited.

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*. 1129.