And who the forts left
unprepared
?
Marvell - Poems
Pett.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
OF MARVELL. 237
Who would not follow when the Dutch were
beat?
Who treated out the time at Bergen ? Pett.
Who the Dutch fleet with storms disabled met ?
And, rifling prizes,'lhem neglected? Pett.
Who with false news prevented the Gazette ?
The fleet divided ? writ for Rupert ? Pett.
Who all our seamen cheated of their debt,
And all our prizes who did swallow ? Pett.
Who did advise no navy out to set ?
And who the forts left unprepared ? Pett.
Who to supply with powder did forget
Languard, Sheerness, Gravesend, and Upnor ?
Pett.
Who all our ships exposed in Chatham net?
Who should it be but the fanatic Pett ?
Pett, the sea-architect in making ships,
Was the first cause of all these naval slips ;
Had he not built, none of these faults had been ;
1£ no creation, there had been no sin ;
But his great crime, one boat away he sent,
That lost our fleet and did our flight prevent.
Then, that reward might in its turn take place,
And march with punishinent in equal pace,
Southampton dead, much of the treasure's care,
And place in council, ft:ll to Duncombe's share.
All men admired he to that pitch could fly :
Powder ne'er blew tnun up so soon, so high ;
But sure his late good luisbaridry in petre.
Showed him to man:i;:i' tlie Exchequer meeter ;
Digitized by VjOOQIC
233 THE POEMS
And who the forts would not vouchsafe a com.
To lavish the king's money more would scorn ;
Who hath no chimneys, to give all, is best,
And ablest speaker, who of law hath least;
Who less esUitc, for treasurer most fit.
And for a chancellor he that has least wit ;
But tlie true cause was, that in 's brother May,
The Exchequer might the privy-purse obey.
And now draws near the parliament's return ;
Hyde and the court again begin to mourn ;
Frequent in council, earnest in debate,
All arts they try how to prolong its date.
GiTive Primate Sheldon (much in preaching
there)
. Blames the last session, and this more does fear:
With Boynton or with Middlcton 'twere sweet,
But with a parliament abhors to meet ;
And thinks 'twill ne'er be well within this nation,
Till it be governed by a Convocation.
But in the Thames' mouth still De Ruyter
laid ;
The peace not sure, new army must be paid.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
OF MARVELL. 237
Who would not follow when the Dutch were
beat?
Who treated out the time at Bergen ? Pett.
Who the Dutch fleet with storms disabled met ?
And, rifling prizes,'lhem neglected? Pett.
Who with false news prevented the Gazette ?
The fleet divided ? writ for Rupert ? Pett.
Who all our seamen cheated of their debt,
And all our prizes who did swallow ? Pett.
Who did advise no navy out to set ?
And who the forts left unprepared ? Pett.
Who to supply with powder did forget
Languard, Sheerness, Gravesend, and Upnor ?
Pett.
Who all our ships exposed in Chatham net?
Who should it be but the fanatic Pett ?
Pett, the sea-architect in making ships,
Was the first cause of all these naval slips ;
Had he not built, none of these faults had been ;
1£ no creation, there had been no sin ;
But his great crime, one boat away he sent,
That lost our fleet and did our flight prevent.
Then, that reward might in its turn take place,
And march with punishinent in equal pace,
Southampton dead, much of the treasure's care,
And place in council, ft:ll to Duncombe's share.
All men admired he to that pitch could fly :
Powder ne'er blew tnun up so soon, so high ;
But sure his late good luisbaridry in petre.
Showed him to man:i;:i' tlie Exchequer meeter ;
Digitized by VjOOQIC
233 THE POEMS
And who the forts would not vouchsafe a com.
To lavish the king's money more would scorn ;
Who hath no chimneys, to give all, is best,
And ablest speaker, who of law hath least;
Who less esUitc, for treasurer most fit.
And for a chancellor he that has least wit ;
But tlie true cause was, that in 's brother May,
The Exchequer might the privy-purse obey.
And now draws near the parliament's return ;
Hyde and the court again begin to mourn ;
Frequent in council, earnest in debate,
All arts they try how to prolong its date.
GiTive Primate Sheldon (much in preaching
there)
. Blames the last session, and this more does fear:
With Boynton or with Middlcton 'twere sweet,
But with a parliament abhors to meet ;
And thinks 'twill ne'er be well within this nation,
Till it be governed by a Convocation.
But in the Thames' mouth still De Ruyter
laid ;
The peace not sure, new army must be paid.
