But twinging him by th' ears or nofe,
Or laying on of heavy blows,
And, if that will not do the deed,
To burning with hot irons proceed.
No fooner was he come t' himself,
But on his neck a sturdy elf
Clapp'd, in a trice, his cloven hoof,
And thus attack'd him with reproof:
Mortal, thou art betray'd to us
By' our friend, thy evil genius;
Who for thy horrid perjuries,

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That made m' apply t' your crony witches

That in return would pay th' expence,

The wear and tear of confcience;

Which I could have patch'd-up, and turn`d,
For th' hundredth part of what I earn'd.

Didst thou not love her then? speak true.

No more (quoth he) than I love you.

How wouldst thou 'ave us'd her and her money?

First turn'd her up to alimony,

And laid her dowry out in law,

To null her jointure with a flaw,
Which I beforehand had agreed

T' have put, on purpose, in the deed,
And bar her widow's making over
T'a friend in truft, or private lover.

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What made thee pick and chuse her out T'employ their forceries about?

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That which makes gamefters play with those
Who have leaft wit, and moft to lose.
But didst thou scourge thy vessel thus,
As thou haft damn'd thyself to us?
I fee you take me for an afs :

'Tis true, I thought the trick would pafs
Upon a woman well enough,

As 't has been often found by proof;
Whose humours are not to be won
But when they are impos'd upon;

I 200

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For Love approves of all they do
That stand for candidates, and wooe.

Why didst thou forge those shameful lyes Of bears and witches in disguise?

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That is no more than authors give

The rabble credit to believe;

A trick of following their leaders,

To entertain their gentle readers :

And

And we have now no other way

Why didft thou chufe that curfed fin, Hypocrify, to fet up in?

Because it is the thriving'ft calling,
The only faints'-bell that rings all in ;
"In which all Churches are concern'd,
And is the eafieft to be learn'd:

For no degrees, unless they' employ it,
Can ever gain much, or enjoy it :

A gift that is not only able

To domineer among the rabble,

But by the laws impower'd to rout

And awe the greatest that stand out;
Which few hold forth against, for fear

Their hands fhould flip, and come too near;
For no fin else, among the Saints,

Is taught fo tenderly against.

What made thee break thy plighted vows?

That which makes others break a house,
And hang, and fcorn you all, before
Endure the plague of being poor.

Quoth he, I fee you have more tricks
Than all our doating politicks,
That are grown old, and out of fashion,
Compar'd with your new Reformation;

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That

That we must come to school to you,
To learn your more refin'd and new.
Quoth he, If you will give me leave
To tell you what I now perceive,
You'll find yourself an errant chouse,
If y' were but at a Meeting-house.

'Tis true (quoth he) we ne'er come there,

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Because w' have let 'em out by th' year.

Compar'd with th' angels of us men.

Quoth he, I am refolv'd to be

Thy fcholar in this mystery;
And therefore firft defire to know

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What 's tender confcience ?-'Tis a botch

That will not bear the gentleft touch;

But, breaking out, dispatches more

Than th' epidemical'st plague-fore.

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What makes y' incroach upon our trade,

And damn all others?-To be paid.
What's orthodox and true believing
Against a conscience ?-A good living.

What

What makes rebelling against kings

A good old Caufe?-Adminifterings.
What makes all doctrines plain and clear?
About two hundred pounds a-year.

And that which was prov'd true before,
Prove falfe again ?—Two hundred more.

What makes the breaking of all oaths A holy duty-Food and cloaths.

What, laws and freedom, perfecution?Being out of power and contribution.

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What makes a church a den of thieves?

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A Dean and Chapter, and white fleeves.

And what would ferve, if those were gone, To make it orthodox ?-Our own.

As virtue 's impious, when 'tis rooted
In nature only, and not imputed:

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But why the Wicked should do so,
We neither know, nor care to do.
What 's liberty of confcience,
I' th' natural and genuine sense?