86
Political Ballads.
1649.
The Dominion of the Sword.
A song made in the Rebellion.
[This admirable ſong was written probably in the interval between the murder of King Charles I. and the final triumph of the Independents over the Preſbyterians and Royaliſts, 1649–50.]
Lay by your pleading,
Law lies a-bleeding;
Burn all your ſtudies down, and throw away your reading.
Law lies a-bleeding;
Burn all your ſtudies down, and throw away your reading.
Small pow’r the word has,
And can afford us
Not half ſo much privilege as the ſword does.
And can afford us
Not half ſo much privilege as the ſword does.
It foſters your maſters,
It plaiſters diſaſters,
It makes the ſervants quickly greater then their maſters.
It plaiſters diſaſters,
It makes the ſervants quickly greater then their maſters.
It venters, it enters,
It ſeeks and it centers,
It makes a ’prentice free in ſpite of his indentures.
It ſeeks and it centers,
It makes a ’prentice free in ſpite of his indentures.
