THE ROTA
OR,
News from the Common-wealths-mens
Club,
Written by Mr.
Henry Stubb;
'Tis better then a
Syllybub.
1.
AT
Westminster where we take Boat,
There on the left hand you may note
The sign of the
Turks Hedd and
Throat.
2.
What heads and throats therein there be,
If you'l have patience to see,
These few lines here shall notifie.
3.
Here
Harrington breeds up his youth
To the discovery of
no truth,
All
Commonwealths-men in good sooth.
4.
A question here, though nere so rude,
Is so belabourd, and so tewd,
And into sundry pieces hewd.
5.
If unresolvd by
I, or
Not,
It must be put to the Ballot,
Tis Mr.
Harringtons own plot.
6.
The finest thing that ere was seen,
The one side white, the other green,
And there you must put in a Bean.
7.
First
Harrington doth hawk and hum,
And tells a story of old
Rome,
Which from his own store never come.
8.
He cites
Sigonius and
Lamtridius,
Authors which to the Club are hideous,
And he in quoting most perfideous.
9.
But there a sad mishap befel,
Which much doth grieve me for to tel,
But I am glad it was so wel.
10.
The learned man stood up and spoke,
That by two Losses he was broke,
His Reputation and his Cloak.
11.
Quoth he, My Reputation
I hear is tumbled up and down,
Much like a Foot-ball through the town.
12.
And for my
Cloak, by this good light,
This Rascal
Miles but yester-night
With Coffee did it all bedite.
13.
Next
Polixfen, that Politician,
Yet surely he is no
Hebrician,
And (as I take it) a worse
Grecian.
14.
Whom
[...] did so fright,
He was not himself again that night,
Twas thought he did his Chair beshite.
15.
Theres
Poultney too, that man of Law,
In Politicks he is but raw,
But prattles more then a Jack-daw.
16.
Who speaking once of
injustice,
Made a distinction somewhat nice,
It was between a
sin, and
Vice.
17.
Next comes in
Gold that brazen-face,
If blushing be a sign of grace,
The Youth is in a woful case.
18.
Whilst he should give us Sol's and Ob's,
He brings us in some simple bobs,
and fathers them on Mr.
Hobs.
19.
Nay, he hath got the prettiest feat,
Monarchs out of the world to beat,
Thus proves thei're all a
tacite Cheat.
20.
If man in state of nature be,
And one imparts his Right to me,
I cheat him of his property.
21.
The
[...], if many men possest,
To one give all their interest;
He must be deem'd a Cheat at best.
22.
We want not an Attourney hight,
Lame Collins, (if I name him right)
Oh! 'tis a very learned Wight.
23.
The subtlest man that ere I saw,
Did Arguments from Scripture draw;
Religion was before the Law.
24.
If so Sir
Harrington's mistane,
Religion doth the Law sustain,
Law property, it is most plain.
25.
A
Parson too, of no small note,
His sense as thred-bare as his coat;
And neither of them worth a groat.
26.
The man doth hope in time to be,
Chaplain to the Academy;
Hee's fit, for he can scarce tell three.
27.
Morley, who thought to have been one
Of the Committee, but was none;
For had he, they'd been all undone.
28.
'Twas well foreseen, for the wise
Knot
Thought that the man migt have a plot,
For to have dipped their
Beliot.
29.
One in a Speech he did reherse,
'Gainst the Popes-land, he was so fierce,
He cut it off at least a teirce.
30.
He said hee'd quote Authority,
That the full length of
Italy,
Contain'd but threescore miles and three.
31:
A Cambrobritain here god-wot,
Must needs make one of this learnd kno
[...]
But twere as good that he were not.
32.
Taff Morgan, God her Worship save,
Doth shit among them very grave,
He's no great States-man, but great K—
33.
Last,
Skinner of his Chaire grown proud,
Doth gravely weild the busie croud,
And still to Orders cries aloud.
34.
To tell you more of Mr.
Skinner,
He'd rather talk, then eat his Dinner;
Tis that which makes him look the thinner.
35.
But whilst the man to
Stafford cryd,
Sir you to Orders must be tyd,
Or else you must not here abide.
36.
For our course here, is not to prate
Of things thee do too near relate
To the Affairs of present state.
37.
Speak to the question, it is sound,
In what of Government the Ground,
Or the Foundation may be found.
38.
Stafford with that did lowly bow,
Good Mr. Speaker calm your brow,
And of my Argument allow.
39.
For had your question any sence,
I should not take the confidence
To give your Worship ought offence.
40.
But since for non-sense it may passe,
To speak to you in
Country-Phasse,
Your Worship is a learned Asse.
41.
Which words he took in so much scorn,
That nothing else would serve his turn,
But presently he must
Adjourn.
42.
Adjourn, quoth Stafford, in a fright,
Are you a Burgess, or a Knight?
Sure I shall to the Tower to night.
43.
But loe, the worst of all disasters,
A
Youth stood up,
My learned Mosters,
All Governments are
much like plasters.
44:
Plaisters, quoth
Stafford, let me die;
If not, this poor Academy,
Have not some grand infirmity.
45.
And since it happens to be so,
I may chance be infected too;
Therefore
my Masters all, adieu.
Exit.