The following was written in 1646, and is a satire on the then feeling of the army.
Reading edition
I.
[100.]No money yet, why then let's pawn our swords, And drinke an health to their confusion Who doe instead of money send us words, Lets not be subject to the vain delusion Of those would have us fight without our pay, While money chinks, my Captain i'le obey.
II.
I'le not be slave to any servile Groom, Let's to the Sutlers and there drink and sing My Captain for a while shall have my room, Come hither Tom, of Ale two douzen bring, Plac'd Ranke and File, Tobacco bring us store, And as the Pots doe empty, fill us more.
III.
Let the Drum cease, and never murmure more, Untill it beat, warning us to repair Each man for to receive of Cash good store, Let not the Trumpet shril, ere rend the ayre, Untill it cites us to the place where we May heaps of silver for our payment see.
IV.
I come not forth to doe my Countrey good, I come to rob, and take my fill of pleasure, Let fools repel their foes with angry mood, Let those doe service while I share the treasure: I doe not mean my body ere shall swing Between a pare of crutches, tottering.
V.
Let thousands fall, it nee'r shall trouble me, Those puling fools deserve no better fate, They mirth's Apposers were, and still would be, Did they survive, let me participate, Of pleasures, gifts, while here I live, and I Care not, although I mourne eternally.
VI.
I laugh to think how many times I have Whiles others fighting were against the foe, Within some Thicket croucht myself to save, Yet taken for a valiant Souldier tho, When I amongst them come, for I with words, Can terrifie, as others can with swords.
VII.
Damme you Rogue if thou provoke my wroth 1 Canes qui multum latrant, raro mordent. 1I'le carve thee up, and spit thee, joynt by joynt There's none that tasted of my fury hath, But fear and tremble lest I should appoint A second penance from them, when my brow Is bent, marke how the rascalls to me bow.
VIII.
Thus menacing I'm taken for to be A man indeed, when I should fear to fight With coward Thersites, and if that he Were my Antagonist, but I delight 2 All manner of victuals. To fight and pash dame Ceres treasure2 3 Wine. To quaff Lyen's bloud3 I take great pleasure.
IX.
Proceed yee brethren, doe each other hate, And fight it to the last, I wish the Wars May ever untill doomsday prosperate, And time nee'r see a period of the jars: For I before like to a slave did live, 4 An ignominious name given the Danes by English men, for their slothfull and lasie living. Now like unto a Lurdain4 doe I thrive.
X.
Fill us more Ale, me thinks thy lazie gate Is slower than the Tortoise, make more speed, An tha'st a Female of an easie rate Lets see her, for my flesh doth tumults breed: Run on, thoul't wish when that day comes thou must Give an account, that thou hadst been more just.
[86.] A Country honest fellow upon the first coming out of the Parliament coyne, taking it in his hand, and turning it backward and forward; when he had read the circumscription of it, said, Here are Crosses enough, I trow me, but how long they shall last I know not, for I see here the Commonwealth of England, and God with Us are not of one side.
[14.]A Man of Wales between St David's day and Easter, Was on's host score for cheese great store, a tester. His host did chalk it up behind the doore, And said, For cheese, good Sir, come pay your score. I wonder then, quoth he, what meaneth these? Dost think her Country knows not chalk from Cheese?