192 "Like sour ale in Summer time-the longer the worse." needed money, and hoped to make terms. Danby had embodied bribery of members into a science, and some trust appears to have been at first placed on the exercise of "corrupt practices" at elections; but the "patriotic" party had long been organizing their forces, and not only used counter-bribery (with a better command of funds), but by multiplying freeholds, by "faggot-voting" (as we have lately learnt to call it: the very politicians who denounce the practice having formerly employed it, to serve their own ends, and in the same country), they secured many a triumph by the preponderance of numbers. As already mentioned: this new or fourth Parliament, having been summoned in October, 1679 met for work, after repeated postponements, on October 21st, 1680.1 The ballad, "Long-Lookt-for is come at last,' was probably issued near this later date; although possibly earlier, in January or April. It marks the expectation that a similarly high-handed exhibition of ruthless zeal was to be made against the Earl of Danby, the Duke of Lauderdale, and other unpopular ministers, as had been shown by the "Long Parliament" of 1640 against the Earl of Strafford and Archbishop Laud. But the King's period of indecision was now past. His eyes were opened, and he knew himself to be facing the same perils that had overthrown his father. Before history could be permitted to repeat itself, by a new Parliament voting itself irresponsible and perpetual, at least so long as it might choose to continue sitting, it was dismissed. Even thus was it to be, a little later, with the Oxford Parliament, when Shaftesbury and his abettors had planned this very suspension of the King's prerogative to Dissolve. Cut down instantly, after its one week of rebellious defiance, it deserved its fate. Henceforth no parliament was needed; or, if needed, was permitted to thwart the will of the Stuart whose Restoration had been hailed so rapturously a score of years before. 1 Records of this ill-conditioned Fourth Parliament show how the terror of a Popish Plot over-crowed its spirit, and destroyed all sense of justice. When exaggerations of reported "atrocities" are worked-up for political capital, by an Opposition, no useful debates or law-making are possible. The Commons had got" Popery on the brain": if, indeed, any brain-work can be reckoned in connexion with such disputants. They showed a childish petulance against "Abhorrers"; they continually pressed their "Exclusion Bill" to keep the Duke of York from succession to the throne. Even when the Lords used their legal right, and threw out the Bill from the Upper House, spite and phrenzied terror of the Papacy made the Commons blind to their own responsibilities of Government, or the inevitable consequence of their obstinate refusals to vote supply, unless they first carried their obnoxious " Exclusion Bill." The Court found that no accommodation was possible with such an impracticable body, which was protesting and voting against being prorogued on the very day, January 10th, 168, when the stroke fell. Prorogued was, and immediately afterwards came the dissolution. We must refer readers back to Bagford Ballads for the Elections. "Would you have a Viper sting me twice?" 193 The ballad-writer clamours for vengeance on "traitors." But the cry comes from the popular side, where treason and calumny dwell habitually. While listening to denunciations of Papists, we should remember the subtilty with which this paltry mask of Protestantism was worn, to cover schemes of rebellion and anarchy. The cant of Religion in this congregation of hypocrites is offensive. Surely none except base minds could be thus imposed upon. In contrast, see the probably-simultaneous ballad of "Tom and Will," which follows immediately after in our volume. There was truth, in addition to the wit, in a Lampoon believed to have been written by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, about 1679, which well deserves a place here in our Introduction to the important political ballad on the assembly of Parliament : : As to the Tune named, on next page, "Let Bumpers go round!" we believe it to have been a modification of the popular Packington's Pound: the burden of "Give traytors their due," being substituted for an earlier burden of Let Bumpers go round. Almost all that can be discovered regarding Packington's Pound has been told in Mr. William Chappell's Popular Music, where the melody is given on p. 123. We shall return to it in "Rome in an Uproar," and in other later pages of this volume. [Roxburghe Collection, III. 78, 79.] Long lookt for is come at last. People were fill'd with Discontent, TO THE TUNE OF, Let Bumpers go Round, &c. [See previous page.] and freely acknowledge your Plots; Then come to the Bar, since Invited you are, For your great Friend the Pope is almost out of Hope, 7 and in each of your Scutcheons there's Damnable Blots. " Long-lookt-for Parliament is come at last. Give Traytors their Due, or else we shall find Loyal hearts but a few ; To Murther a King, and Destroy, and Destroy Religion too. The Great Gun-powder-Plot will ne'r be forgot, And no Man can tell, what would us have befell, but we found to our comfort and Joy, That God would us keep, both Awake and Asleep, and the Pope and his Agents could not us Destroy : Give Traytors their Due, Give Traytors their Due, or else we shall find Loyal hearts but a few; For it is a sad thing, To Murder a King, and destroy, and destroy Religion too. Since the Parliament, then, is made up of brave men, and none Sits but are bravely esteemed; Let us Laugh and Rejoyce, at this Noble brave Choice, and thank God we from Foes are Redeemed: Live long then great Charles, with your Lords and your Earls, who our Religion do strive to Defend; When the Pope doth come in, will our Sorrows begin, and there's no Man can tell when our Torments shall end. Give Traytors their Due, Give Traytors their Due, &c. Then Blow, merry Gales, for to fill up the Sails, and Transport all our Foes from the Nation; For they Comfort will find, that are all of one mind, and Division's the Devil's Creation; Sure he's not very Wise, who doth Shapes Idolize, or suppose that the Pope can Forgive; For he is but a Man, and pray tell me how than can he the Sin-loaded poor Sinner Relieve? Give Traytors their Due, Give Traytors their Due, &c. But since, at the worst, we by them are Accurst, and all Hereticks we are supposed; Were it well understood, they do thirst after Blood, our Creator he certainly knows it; What Devices they had for to make their Hearts glad, they did Surfeit with hopes to Destroy, This Plot, we do know, was laid long ago, but the Heavens did Smile, and now fills us with joy. Give Traytors their Due, Give Traytors their Due, &c. Long lookt for at last, to the Plot gives a Blast, and the Parliament now doth befriend us, And doth separate those, whom we lookt on as Foes, what Misery then can attend us? 195 14 21 28 42 56 70 Let us pray Night and Day, since God found out a way, And we are not Bereft, but have Witnesses left, Give Traytors their Due, &c. But this proves a great Cross, and the Papists' sad Loss, thus strangely to be Disappointed, When they thought they were sure, to bring us to their Lure, their whole Frame it was strangely Disjoynted: And their Friends (as they thought) have our Happiness wrought, then give the Almighty the Praise, Who takes no Delight in such Deeds of Dark Night, but Discovery's made us by several ways. Give Traytors their Due, Give Traytors their Due, &c. And now for to Close, let us pray for our Foes, That God would be pleas'd to Indue them With a sight of their Sins, since all Europe begins Oh, let them Repent. for their Wicked Intent was the Innocent Blood for to spill; But our Great God above, who's the Author of Love, declares 'tis against his most Heavenly Will. Give Traytors their Due, Give Traytors their Due, &c. Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, J. Wright, J. Clarke, W.T. and T.P. 84 98 112 [W.T. stands for Wm. Thackeray: T.P. is T. Passinger. In Black-letter. Two woodcuts: see p. 132. Date, probably Oct. 1680, or a few weeks earlier.] |