Note 87 — CAVALIER SONGS AND BALLADS. (continued 2)

Henry Nevil, member for Abingdon. In Cromwell’s last Parliament he represented Reading. In a satirical tract, he is spoken of as “religious Harry Nevill;” and we find in Burton’s Diary, that some months before the date of the present song (on the 16th Feb. 1658–9) there was “a great debate” on a charge of atheism and blasphemy which had been brought against him.—T. W.