An Old Song On Oliver's Court

Melody -

Cavalier Ballad; Samuel Butler, 1654

He that would a new courtier be
And of the late coyn'd gentry;
A brother of the prick-eared crew,
Half a presbyter, half a Jew,
When he is dipp'd in Jordan's flood,
And wash'd his hands in royal blood,
Chorus:
Let him to our court repair,
Where all trades and religions are.

2. If he can devoutly pray,
Feast upon a fasting day,
Be longer blessing a warm bit
Than the cook was dressing it;
With covenants and oaths dispense,
Betray his lord for forty pence,
Chorus:

3. If he be one of the eating tribe,
Both a Pharisee and a Scribe,
And hath learn'd the snivelling tone
Of a flux'd devotion;
Cursing from his sweating tub
The Cavaliers to Beelzebub,
Chorus:

4. Who sickler than the city ruff,
Can change his brewer's coat to buff,
His dray-cart to a coach, the beast
Into Flanders mares at least;
Nay, hath the art to murder kings,
Like David, only with his slings,
Chorus:

5. If he can invert the word,
Turning his ploughshare to a sword,
His cassock to a coat of mail;
'Gainst bishops and the clergy rail;
Convert Paul's church into the mews;
Make a new colonel of old shoes,
Chorus:

6. Who hath commission to convey
Both sexes to Jamaica,
There to beget new babes of grace
On wenches hotter than the place,
Who carry in their tails a fire
Will rather scorch than quench desire,
Chorus:

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