Englands Woe

Melody - "Greensleeves", Seq. by Barry Taylor

From Rump Songs, 1662

I mean to speak of Englands sad fate,
To help in mean time the King and his Mate,
That's ruled by an Antipodian State,
Which no body can deny.
But had these seditious times been when,
We had the life of the Poet Ben,
Parsons had never been Parliament men,
Which no body can deny.

2. Had Statesmen read the Bible throughout,
And not gone by the Bible so round about,
They would have ruled themselves without doubt,
Which no body can deny.
But Puritans now bear all the sway,
They'll have no Bishops as most men say,
But God send them better another day,
Which no body can deny.

3. Zealous Pryn has threatened a great downfall,
To cut off long locks that is bushy and small,
But I hope he will not take ears and all,
Which no body can deny.
They'l not allow what pride it brings,
Not favours in hats, nor no such things,
They'l convert all ribbands to Bible strings,
Which no body can deny.

4. God bless our King and Parliament,
And send he may make such Keepers repent.
That breed in our Land such discontent,
Which no body can deny.
And bless our Queen and Prince also,
And all true Subjects both high and low,
The brownings can pray for themselves you know,
Which no body can deny.

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