Although by woful proof we find For his religion, it was fit 175 Call fire, and fword, and defolation, To match his learning and his wit: 190 Of errant faints, whom all men grant To be the true Church Militant; The holy text of pike and gun; That which they love most tenderly; Quarrel with minc'd pies, and disparage In them, in other men all fin: Decide all controverfies by Infallible artillery ; And prove their doctrine orthodox, 200 Ver. 181. Several of the Ancients have fuppofed that Adam and Eve had no navels and, among the Moderns, the late learned Bishop Cumberland was of this opinion. Ver. 189.] Mr. Butler is very exact in delineating his hero's religion; it was neceffary that he fhould be fo, that the reader might judge whether he was a proper person to fet up for a Reformer, and whether the religion he profeffed was more eligible than that he endeavoured to demolish. Whether the Poet has been just in the pourtrait must be left to every reader's obfervation. Their best and dearest friend, plum-porridge; And blafpheme cuftard through the nose. 230 835 Ver. 207, 208.] The religion of the Prefbyte oppofition to the Church of England, and in quarrians of those times confifted principally in an Ver. 193, 194.] Where prefbytery has been ufe, as the eating Christmas-pies and pluni-porreiling with the most innocent customs then in eftablished, it has been ufually effected by force ridge at Christmas, which they reputed finful. of arms, like the religion of Mahomet: thus it was established at Geneva in Switzerland, Hol-ftinate in this refpect, that they kept a faft upon Ver. 213, 214. They were fo remarkably ob land, Scotland, &c. In France, for fome time, by that means, it obtained a toleration: much food was thed to get it eftablished in England ; d once, during that Grand Rebellion, it feemvery near gaining an establishment here. er. 195, 196.] Upon thefe Cornet Jovce built ith, when he carried away the King, by a from Holdenby: for when his Majefty faium for a fight of his inftructions, Joyce ing fhould fee them prefently; and fo drawSis troop in the inward court, Thefe, Velid the Cornet) are my inftructions." are giv, 200.] Many instances of that kind Apicopaly Dr. Walker, in his Sufferings of the γ. 66 Christmas-day. Ver. 215, 216.] Added in 1674. Ver. 235, 236.] Dr. Bruno Ryves gives a remarkable inftance of a fanatical confcience in 3 captain who was invited by a foldier to eat part of a goofe with him; but refufed, because he faid, would eat no itolen goofe, made no fcruple to ride it was ftolen: but being to march away, he who away upon a stolen mare; for, plundering Mrs. Bartlett of her mare, this hypocritical captan gave fufficient testimony to the world, that the old Pharifee and new Puritan have confciences of the felf-fame temper, "To ftrain at a guat, and "fwallow a camel.", That next of all we shall difcufs; Then liften, Sirs, it follows thus. His tawny beard was th' equal grace Both of his wifdem and his face; In cut and dye fo like a tile, A fudden view it would beguile; The upper part whereof was whey, The nether orange, mix'd with grey. The fall of fceptres and of crowns; Its own grave and the State's were made: Like Samfon's heart-breakers, it grew In time to make a nation rue; Thought contributed its own fall, To wait upon the public downfall; It was monaftic, and did grow In holy orders by ftrićt vow ; Of rule as fullen and fevere, As that of rigid Cordeliere: Twas bound to fuffer perfecution, And martyrdom, with refolution, Toppufe itself against the hate And vengeance of th' incensed state, In whofe defiance it was worn, Still ready to be pull'd and torn, With red hot irons to be tortur'd, Revil'd, and fpit upon, and martyr'd; Maugre all which 'twas to stand fast As long as Monarchy thould laft; But when the itate fhould hap to reel, 'Twas to fubmit to fatal steel, And fall, as it was confecrate, A facrifice to fall of state, Whofe thread of life the Fatal Sifters Did twift together with its whifkers, And twine fo clofe, that Time fhould never, in life or death, their fortunes fever, But with his rufty fickle mow Both down together at a blow. 285 290 So learned Taliacotius, from The brawny part of porter's bum, Ver. 243.] Mr. Butler, in his description of udibras's beard, feems to have had an eye to Jaes's defcription of the Country Justice, in akespeare's play, As you like it. It may be asked, hy the Poct is to particular upon the Knight's ard, and gives it the preference to all his other coutrements? The anfwer feems to be plain; e Knight had made a vow not to cut it till the rliament had fubdued the King; hence it beme neceffary to have it fully defcribed. Ver. 257. It was monaftic.] Altered to canonic, 74. Restored, 1704. Ver. 281.] Gafper Taliacotius was born at Bonia, A. D. 1553, and was Profeffor of Phyfic d Surgery there. He died 1599. His ftatue nds in the Anatomy Theatre, holding a nofe in And though knights-errant, as fome think, 330 its hand. He wrote a treatife in Latin called Chirurgia Nota, in which he teaches the art of ingraiting nofes, ears, lips, &c. with the proper inftruments and bandages. This book has paffed through two editions. Ver. 319.] This and the feven following lines are not in the two first editions of 1663, and added in that of 1674. Which made fome confidently write, On which, with fhirt pull'd out behind, 335 They were upon hard duty ftill, 340 This clad and fortify'd, Sir Knight, From whence he vaulted into th' feat 355 When laying by their fwords and truncheons, 345 Of warrants, exigents, contempts, This word a dagger had, his page, But now we talk of mounting steed, 360 With mouth of meal, and eyes of wall; 1 375 We fhall not need to say what lack 380 And breech of Knight gall'd full as bad: 395 Ver. 457.] Sir Roger L'Eftrange (Key H bras) fays, This famous Squire was one las Though writers, for more ftately tone, Whate'er men fpeak by this New-light, With which, like fhips, they fteer their courfes.) He had laid in, by birth a tailor. The mighty Tyrian queen, that gain'd Did leave it with a castle fair To his great ancestor, her heir; From him defcended cross-legg'd knights, Whom they destroy'd both great and smail. As the bold Trojan knight, feen hell, Of golden bough, but true gold-lace: Some call it Gifts, and fone New-light; Of study, induftry, or brains. His wit was fent him for a token, But in the carriage crack'd and broken; To look a gift-horse in the mouth, He spent it frank and freely too: or faints themselves will femetimes be, le could deep myfteries unriddle, Tor as of vagabonds we say, That they are ne'er befide their way, 7: 465 470 And leads men into pools and ditches, 510 To make them dip themfelves, and found To dive, like wild-fowl, for falvation, 475 Such language as no mortal ear But fpirit'al eaves-droppers can hear : Which they at fecond hand rehearse, 480 Through reed or bag-pipe, verfe for verse. 525 As three or four-legg'd oracle, The ancient cup, or modern chair; Spoke truth point blank, though unaware. For myftic learning, wondrous able In magic, talifman, and cabal, 530 485 Whofe primitive tradition reaches As far as Adam's first green breeches; 490 Ideas, atoms, influences; And much of Terra Incognita, 535 540 545 550 500 That would do neither good nor harm; In Roncrucian lore as learned, As he that Verè adeptus earned: He understood the speech of birds As well as they themfelves do words; Could tell what fubtlett parrots mean, tobinson, a zealous butcher in Moor-fields, who. That speak and think contrary clean; vas conceiving fome new querpo cut in church What member 'tis of whom they talk overnment: but, in a Key at the end of a burlefWhen they cry Rope, and Walk, knave, walk. ue poem of Mr. Butler's, 1706, in folio, p. 12. He'd extract numbers out of matter, tis obferved, "That Hudibras's Squire was one And keep them in a glafs, like water,' Pemble a tailor, and one of the Committee of Of fovereign power to make men wife; 'Sequeftrators," For, drept in blear thick-fighted eyes, Ver. 485.] His wits were fent bim, in all editions They'd make them fee in darkest night, 01704 inclufive. Like owls, though parblind in the light. Ver. 487, 488.] Until the year 1696, when all noney, not milled, was called in, a ninepenny piece of filver was as common as fixpence or fhilings, and these ninepences were ufually bent as ixpences commonly are now, which bending was alled, "To my love, and From my love;" and uch ninepences the ordinary fellows gave or fent o their sweethearts as tokens of love. 556 Ver. 511.] Alluding to Ralpho's religion, who was, probably, an Anabaptift or Dipper, Ver. 546.] Alluding to the Philofopher's Stone. By help of thefe (as he profeft) All this without th' eclipfe of th' fun, And eafy to be understood: 595 Examine Venus, and the Moon, 560 Who ftole a thimble or a fpoon ; And though they nothing will confels, Yet by their very looks can guess, And tell what guilty afpect bodes, Who ftole, and who receiv'd the goods: 565 They'll question Mars, and by his look, Detect who 'twas that nimm'd a cloke; Make Mercury confefs, and 'peach Thofe thieves which he himself did teach. 600 They 'll find, i' th' phyfiognomies O' th' planets, all men's deftinies; Like him that took the doctor's bill, And swallow'd it instead o' th' pill, Caft the nativity o' th' queftion, And form pofitions to be gueft on, As fure as if they knew the moment Of Native's birth, till what will come on't, They'll feel the pulfes of the ftars, To find out agues, coughs, catarrhs, And tell what crifis does divine 570 575 580 The rot in theep, or mange in fwine; 585 590 Ver. 573.] The rebellious clergy would in their prayers pretend to foretel things, to encourage people in their rebellion. I meet with the following inftance in the prayers of Mr. George Swathe, minifter of Denham in Suffolk: O my good "Lord God, I praise thee for difcovering the "laft week, in the day-time, a vifion, that there 66 were two great armies about York, one of the "malignant party about the King, the other party "Parliament and profeffors; and the better fide "fhould have help from Heaven against the "worft; about, or at which inftant of time, we "heard the foldiers at York had raised up a "fconce against Hull, intending to plant fifteen pieces against Hull; against which fort Sir John Hotham, Keeper of Hull, by a garrifon, "difcharged four great ordnance, and broke "down their fconce, and killed divers Cavaliers "in it.-Lord, I praife thee for difcovering this "victory, at the inftant of time that it was done, "to my wife, which did then prefently confirm "her drooping heart, which the last week had "been dejected three or four days, and no argu"ments could comfort her against the dangerous "times approaching; but when the had prayed to be established in faith in thee, then prefently "thou didft, by this vifion, ftrongly poffefs her "foul that thine and our enemies fhould be over❝ come." 66 66 Thus was th' accomplish'd Squire endued With gifts and knowledge per'lous fhrewd: Never did trufty fquire with knight, Or knight with fquire, e'er jump more right. Their arms and equipage did fit, As well as virtues, parts, and wit: Their valours, too, were of a rate, And out they fally'd at the gate. Few miles on horfeback had they jogged" But fortune unto them turn'd dogged; For they a fad adventure met, Of which anon we mean to treat: But ere we venture to unfold Atchievements fo refolv'd and bold, We should, as learned poets ufe, Invoke th' affiftance of fome Mufe; However critics count it fillier Than jugglers talking to familiar; We think it no great matter which, They 're all alike, yet we fhall pitch On one that fits our purpose most, Whom therefore thus do we accost, Thou that with ale, and viler liquors, 645 Didft infpire Withers, Pryn, and 'ickars, And force them, though it was in fpite Of Nature, and their ftars, to write; Who (as we find in fullen writs, And cross-grain'd works of modern wits) 65 With vanity, opinion, want, The wonder of the ignorant, The praises of the author, penn'd B' himself, or wit-infuring friend; |