Commonwealth He seemed to like bold argument
(continued) And wordy wars with Parliament;
He made things lively we infer
Frequently at Westminster.
[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic]
With M.P.s he had many a bout
And one day cleared the whole lot out;
Locked the door and took the key;
Those not the days of 'Wait and See.'
Charles II. Cromwell's death brings Restoration
1660-1685 And Charles Two lands 'mid acclamation.
After his leaps from twig to twig
He now has 'Otium cum Dig.'
In merry Charles the Second's age
Woman first acted on the stage;
The King encouraged much this vogue
He was a pleasure seeking rogue.
'He never said a foolish thing,
Nor did a wise one'; this the King
Countered with 'My words my own
My acts my ministers' alone';
1662 In sixteen-six-two year of grace,
Charles taxed every fire-place;
And citizens who couldn't pay
Shivered and grumbled as to-day.
These were the times of Musketeers
And proud and dashing Cavaliers;
When words were few and tempers hot
And duels fought out on the spot.
John Bunyan The tinker preacher Bunyan wrote
The 'Pilgrim's Progress' we still quote,
The prison bars no barrier wrought
To lowly Bunyan's lofty thought.
Milton In stately language Milton's muse
1678 The Bible story doth diffuse;
From 'Paradise Lost' we get our view
Of Adam and Eve and Satan too.
The Reverend Titus Oates, a scamp,
Egregious Popish plots did vamp,
Lied roundly for dishonest gains,
Got Cat-o'-nine-tails for his pains.
Habeas Corpus The 'Habeas Corpus' best of laws
1679 Shields us from prison without cause;
'Twas passed in sixteen-seventy-nine,
And means 'Produce him here,' in fine.
Van Tromp Admiral Van Tromp, Dutchman bold,
With broom at masthead, so 'tis told,
The Channel sailed, suggesting he's
Swept all the English from the seas.
Blake But Blake laughed loud and spread his sails
Nought the Dutchman now avails;
For he got an awful shocker
Right to Davy Jones' locker.
But though the Dutch failed to invade,
They were not disinclined to trade;
So we get 'Hollands,' cheese and hams
Fresh from the land of Dykes and Dams.
Peace of Breda For fifteen years these Navies fought,
1667 'Till sixteen-six-seven respite brought;
The Peace of Breda then succeeded;
New York to England was conceded.
Plague In sixty-five the Plague appears
Fire of London And then the Fire; two awful years
1665-1666 For London--And if more you'd know
Consult the Pages of Defoe.
[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic
_QUEEN ANNE AND THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH._]
James II. When Charles Two died his brother James
1685-1688 Soon put the country into flames;
Papistry he would advance,
And for that purpose leagued with France.
In sixteen-eight-eight his bigot zeal
Religious Test Act would repeal;
Seven bold Bishops who defied
To the Tower were sent and tried.
The country raised a hue and cry
So off to France the King doth fly.
William III. His place is filled by William Three
1689-1702 His son-in-law from Dutch countree.
This Orange sprig most brave of men
With Mary reigns and all things then
Went well with us. Macaulay's page
Hails him as Hero of the age.
In this reign of William Three,
Laws were harsh 'gainst burglary;
For they'd a very drastic way
And hanged the 'Bill Sykes' of that day.
National Debt In sixteen-nine-four we have heard
1694 The National Debt was first incurred;
To careful folk who would invest
'Twas not devoid of interest.
Another National Debt we owe
To Iron Jelloids which the foe
Depression's worries keep at bay
And drive our nervous fears away.
Bill of Rights The 'Bill of Rights,' a Charter grand,
1689 In sixteen-eight-nine frees this land
From all encroachments of the Crown
Hoi Polloi are no longer down.
Queen Anne Good Queen Anne we know is dead;
1702-1714 She reigned twelve years but it is said
'Mrs. Morley,' Marlborough's wife
Ruled her more than half her life.
Marlborough This was the Duke of Marlborough's day,
Who beat the French in every fray;
Known for his famous victories
At Blenheim and at Ramillies.
In seventeen-seven by statute passed
English and Scotch unite at last;
'One coinage and one Parliament'
Both Nations ever since content.
About this time, so runs the story,
Much is heard of 'Whig and Tory';
And shortly after there was rife
Many a sign of party strife.
Dr. Watts Good Dr. Watts' moral lays
1674-1748 Were much reputed in these days;
And still we lisp at Mother's knee
'How doth the little Busy Bee.'
Pope Pope, letter-writer and great poet,
1688-1744 Most quotable of all (ye know it),
At Twickenham penned his caustic verse
Epigrammatic, smooth and terse.
George I. The House of Stuart being ended,
1714-1727 George of Hanover (descended
From daughter of King Jamie One)
Comes over to ascend our throne.
Of English George knew not a word,
Most awkward, not to say absurd,
At Cabinet Councils to preside;
So from this time the practice died.
George II. His son George Two succeeding then
1727-1760 In person fought at Dettingen.
Both these Kings had various fights
In Scotland with the Jacobites.
William Tull brings in Post Chaises;
Now the people ride like 'blazes.';
Many can't for they're in trouble,
Ruined by the South Sea Bubble.
Wesleys John and Charles Wesley, men of mind,
1703-1791 Revive Religion in Mankind.
Founding a Church both broad and low,
One-seven-three-nought A. Domini.
Beginning as an office clerk,
Clive As soldier Clive soon made his mark,
1746 And conquered India for this Nation;
Self 'stounded at his moderation.
Bridgwater, Gilbert, Brindley, three
Great Engineers this Centurie,
Canals Useful canals in England made,
The flowing arteries of trade.
Quebec General Wolfe seventeen-five-nine
1759 Captures Quebec--a victory fine,
And Canada's the splendid prize
For old 'John Bull' to colonise.
George III. And now of Georgey number Three:
1760-1820 Ut mulus obstinatus he
Had full sixty years of reign
And a big family to train.
[Illustration: IRON JELLOIDS The Great Tonic
_GEORGIAN TIMES._]
Georgian We will but very lightly scan
Times The customs known as 'Georgian';
The times of powdered Belles and Beaux;
Patches, paint and furbelows;
Of beauteous maids and gallants gay
And merry routs at Ranelagh;
Gaming parties, cards or pool
And 'Fops' of the Beau Brummel School.
[Illustration: "ODDS FAITH THEY SAY THERE'S IRON IN IT"