Englands Woe
This ballad is found in the collection, Rump Songs,
of 1662.
Englands Woe
To the tune of; Greensleeves
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.
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.
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.
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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