It's strange, though true, books of that strain,
Are barred under the highest pain,
And all such pranks, &c.
Some other specimens of this curious but ribald effusion of anti-covenanting wrath, are subjoined:—
From one thing said, another seen,
From the outrage done to Aberdeen;
From hollow hearts and hollow faces,
From ridiculous prayers and graces;
From peremptorie reprobation,
From Henderson's rebaptization,[1]
And all such pranks, &c.
***
From turn-coat preachers' supplications
And from their mental reservations,
From lawless excommunications,
From laics' household congregations,
From unsupportable taxations
Their are the covenanting actions,
And all such pranks, &c.
***
From Dunse Law's rebels rabbled out,
Rascals from all quarters sought out,
Fair England's forces to defeat,
Without armour, money, or meat:
True, some had forks, some roustie dags,
And some had bannocks in their bags,
And all such pranks, &c.
From the Tables' emissaries,
From mutineers of all degrees:
Priests, lords, judges, and clerks of touns,
Proud citizens, poor country clowns;
Who in all courses disagree,
But join to cross authentic,
From all such pranks, &c.
***
From Will Dick,[2] that usurious chuff,
His feathered cap, his coat of buff;
For all the world a saddled sow,
A worthie man and general too;
From both the Duries, these mad sparks,
One bribing judge, two cheating clerks,
And all such pranks, &c.
***
From the most stupid senseless ass
That ever brayed, my cousin Casse,[3]
- ↑ An allusion to the celebrated Alexander Henderson, who at first was an episcopalian.
- ↑ The celebrated provost of Edinburgh, who contributed so much "sinew" to the covenanting war.
- ↑ Probably meaning Sir Thomas Hope of Carse, lord-advocate—the chief legal adviser of the Covenanters. No description could be more unjust than that in the text, though the verse is certainly a witty one.
