ON WINGS OF fear, Finch Flies away. 
One pair of legs  
is worth two pair of hands:  
whirr:   
ALAS poor Will, he's forced to stay. 
I'd try the conclusion,  
were I out of these bands.  
Heigh-ho.    

1.  
REader, I know thou canst not choose but smile,  
To see a Bishop tide thus to a ring?  
Yea, such a Princely prelate, that erewhile,  
Could three at once in Limbo patrum fling;  
Suspend by hundreds where his worship pleased,  
And them that preached too oft; by silence eased.   

2.  
Made laws and Canons, like a King (at least)  
Devised new oaths; forced men to swear to lies?  
Advanced his Lordly power 'bove all the rest;  
And then our lazy Priests began to rise?  
But painful Ministers, which plied their place  
With diligence; went down the wind apace.   

3.  
Our honest roundheads to, then went to rack,  
The holy sisters into corners fled;  
Cobblers and Weavers preached in Tubs; for lack  
Of better Pulpits; with a Sack instead  
Of Pulpit-cloth, hung round in decent wise,  
All which the spirit did for their good device.   

4.  
Barns, cellars, Cole-holes, were their meeting-places,  
So sorely were these babes of Christ abused,  
Where he that most Church-government disgraces  
Is most esteemed, and with most rev●rence used.  
It being their sole intent religiously  
To rail against the Bishop's dignity.   

5.  
Brother, says one, what do you think, I pray  
Of these proud Prelates, which so lofty are?  
Truly, says he, mere Antichrists are they.  
Thus as they par●e, before they be aware,  
Perhaps a pursuivant slips in behind,  
And makes 'em run like hares before the wind,   

6.  
Down tumbles parson prick-ears, chair and all,  
Making a noise, which frightens all the rest.  
Here two or three stand quivering close to th'wall.  
There half a score lie crammed up in a chest,  
And though the Candles all extinguished were,  
A blind man easily might have smelled their fear,   

7.  
Thus still the Bishop kept the Brownists short,  
And oftentimes was catched beyond his bounds;  
But if he were what man durst tax him for't?  
His very breath the silly wretch confounds:  
He queled 'em all; to no man he'd show favour;  
But now he's bound (Ye see) to's good behaviour.   

8.  
A year a gone 't've been a hanging matter;  
T'avewrit (nay spoke) a word 'gainst little WILL;  
But now the times are changed, men scorn to flatter:  
So much the worse for Canturbury still,  
For if that truth once come to rule the roast,  
No mar'le to see him tied up to a post.   

9  
His high-Commission kept us once in awe;  
There men paid fees before they knew for what.  
Honest lamb and duck could make it good by law,  
To squeeze men's purses, when they looked too fat.  
But now your Master's catched, run Lamb fly Duck;  
See, see, his Court's pulled down, and he's chained up.   

10.  
By wicked counsels, fain he would have set  
The Scots and us together by the ears;  
A patriarchs place, the Levite longed to get,  
To sit byth' Pope, in one of Peter's chairs.  
A●d having drank so deep of Babel's cup,  
Was it not time d'ye think to chain him up?   

11.  
'Twas time, 'twas time; this is the general cry;  
And who alas can swim against the stream?  
His corner Cap, me thinks stands all awry;  
His sleeves have lost both whiteness and esteem:  
All's former honour vanished, he displaced.  
Thus is his grace, for want of grace, disgraced.   

12.  
But stay what Bird's that, flies away so fast?  
O, 'tis a Goldfinch; let him go I pray,  
Something has frighted him, he makes such haste,  
Perhaps some snare was laid, to take away  
His life; if so, wisely he did to fly  
On wings of safety, danger being so nigh.   

13.  
'Tis thought he was a good Astronomer;  
And did a storm fast coming on foresee?  
Which made him, when the clouds began to appear?  
Into another place for shelter flee.  
O subtle Finch, 'tis well he scaped is,  
His singing else had been quite spoilt ere this.   

14.  
But here's the spite; one sheep breaks thorough th'hedge  
And makes a gap, to let out all the rest:  
Finch flown, our other birds grew quickly fledge;  
And all that could fly, thought that way the best.  
The Finch indeed lost more than all that fled,  
But who'd not part with's purse, to save his head.   

15.  
Oh, had the Bishop been as wise as he,  
He might have found a way to cure his care.  
Now sure he vexes, frets, and fumes to see  
How like a wretch he lies in sorrow's snare.  
And how his running friends eschewed the danger.  
Whilst he stands tied up like an ass tothth' manger.   

16.  
In this fine Finch my Lord took great delight,  
Ere now they've sung harmonious notes together.  
But ●un shine days are clouded oft ere night  
So theirs; and now none cares a pin for either:  
Thus I conclude and pity 'tis I say,  
Though one be tied that th' others flown away.   

No mas● no mass will we allow.  
To keep it down, w'ave ropes enough.  
He that in England thus desires to do,  
Must swing-am, swang-am, thus, a turn or two.   

And if that cure not his ambitious hope,  
Let me be next that capers in a rope.  
Be warned by him who thus hath cracked his credit, 
 'tis true, M  
Qui antea non caveat post dolebit.    

I. C. V. B. poor Canturbury in a tottering state;  
A. P. O. P. you sought to be, now 'tis too late.  
R. V. Y. Y. before their eyes that are among you:  
V. R. A. K. if that you say that they will wrong you.  
S. C. O. T. some say was he which brought all this to light.  
I. C. V. R. in some great fear your lawn sleeves are not white,  
G. R. E. G. swears certainly that he shall have the mitre.  
H. E. A. D. and all for me, but you will fall the lighter.   
FINIS.