CUCKOO: OR, THE Welsh Embassadour's Application to the Raven, in behalf of the Mag-pies and Jackdaws.  
IT may be admired that I should visit the World before the Roads are cleaner, and my Voice better prepared by eating of raw Eggs: But my Embassy being partly forced, and partly necessary, I shall in the first place give the most convincing Reasons for this my so soon and unexpected Expedition. I was first alarmed in the British Territories with the Bear-baiting, and afterwards awakened with the Chattering of the Raven, who invades the Aethereal Territories, and, as his custom is, abuses the Feathered Commonwealth; so that neither the Mag-pies, nor Blackbirds can escape his Croaking: Which moves me, as Duty requires, to encourage the Winged Region, whom the Boading of this unlucky Bird might affright. I that am the Herald of the Spring, and the Declarer of fair Wether, have roused myself out of my Winter's sleep to inform myself of the Truth of this Noise made about the Fledged Commonwealth; and though I am of the Feathered Tribe, yet my Name Cuckoo is known to many of humane Race. And I must assert, that in all my Rambles about the World, I have not made myself so Obnoxious to Mortals as the Ill presaging Raven, who seldom speaks any thing but Death where ere he comes; neither have I seen him upon any Country Steeple cringing his Head, and uttering his dartful Accents, but the Churchwardens look which way he turned his fatal Beak, concluding Mischief must fall upon that place pointed at. This unclean Bird that never returned to the Ark, after it found Carcase to prey upon, must now not only Stigmatize Birds, but the very Lords of the air Commonwealth must be subject to his unlucky Yawls and Descants. And for this reason the Swallow, in Aesop, took to desert the Woods, and make her Habitation with Men, because the Winged Fraternity would not take her Advice: Even so I am resolved to come near to humane Habitations, and let the Cities and Towns participate of my well known Echoes, rather than I will associate with Ravens and Daws, and Carrion Crows, who are of so morose a Humour they love no Birds that are Gayer than themselves; thus I find the Raven hereby envies the Mag-pies, because of their Party-colours. But why the Simile must be made to abuse one of the most Reverend Order of Men, is a Thing the Cuckoo cant resolve. Neither did the greatest Fabulist ever I knew, or heard of, make use of Metaphors to abuse the Profession, but the Vices of Men. But neither Birds, nor Beasts, nor the Welsh Ambassador, can be so blind, as not to perceive that the old Drift is pressing on; and before I part with this Observation I must tell from the Wallick Coasts whose Embassy I bring, that if at any time the Pies, for just Reasons, suspended their Duty to the Aethereal Prince, yet they never, like the Jackdaws, brought him to the Extremities of Death, to renounce his Virtue and Education, in hopes of Life, and afterwards left him to be Necked by the Buzzards, a Race of fearless Creatures that risen up against, and took away the most sacred Head the Sky covered in that Day. And I must add this, Mr. Raven, if some of the Mag-pies have been faulty, as what Bird is there so Beauteous, but something may be said to him, I can produce a number of Daws that have out acted the the Pies; and though one Reverend Pie lost his Head, it was not for his Wronging of any of the Birds, or Compounding his Debts, but he was Craked and Screamed out of it by the Unfortunate and Ominous Jacks, those Royston Crows that carry a Colour different from their Voice, those who envied the greatness of his Nest, the vicinity he had to the eagle's Palace; and it necessary to bawl him Dead, or else 'twould have been difficult to have Unperched the Royal Eagle, who, had he been permitted to stand, his Eaglets kept under his Care, 'tis more than possible but our British Coasts might have been more Happy and Peaceable and better Settled than for some Years they have been. And if it happens that any of that Royal Race was perverted from his Duty, surely it is in some Sense owing to those feral Birds that made it their cruel Business to learn him more wild flights in another Forest.  
This has been told the unhappy Daws and Buzzards so frequently, that it may give them some reason to think there are more Cuckoos than myself, for this has sounded above forty Years since through all the Groves, Forests, Woods, Plains, Mountains, and Valleys, not only on our British Coasts, but it hath rung its Peals through the Universe. This evil dealing of the Daws, has doubled the Cape, and encircled the Globe; for this was not done in a corner, and if suffering altars the nature of Birds, surely then those whom the Raven calls Magpyes, were the sweet Tongued Thrushes, the pleasant Philom●ts whose Charms pierced above the Aethereal Sky, and ascended to second those Hallelujahs, that the more Noble of the Tongued Choir are employed in. But how it should come to pass, that these Daws and Buzzards should so alter their Voices on a sudden, let Mounsieur Nicolets Philosophise in his next Sermon, of the Second Part of the Dissenters Jubilee. Thus far have I spoken Mr. Raven, as a Cuckoo, and because my Name is not like yours, yet I must tell you I am related to some of your Family if not to yourself; and since you assume to speak and to write Letters, I that for Thousand of Years have spoke more intelligibly and sensibly to humane kind than the Raven ever could do, must discharge my Embassy from the Race of Brute, or Britons Country, by giving humane Race some Cautions of those ambodextrous Animals, that would Snarl a Scandal out against their Father, and Print it too, to get a Pound by it. When the Reverend Bishops, now termed Magpies, stood in the Gap, and durst withstand a Crowned Head for God's sake, than what Flocking to see them, by the most incensed Party against them? What Prayers put up for them, even by their Enemies? Then they were Golden Candlesticks, they were not Prince's Metal. If one or two be supposed to be grown Rusty, if they be Scoured they will Brighten again, as well as the Thrushes and Nightingales, as you call them, that Sang best when Briars and Thorns were under their Breast. If any of them did their Duty to the then King, by Submission and Obedience, as the Laws of the Lord and of the Land did require, so long as their Consciences were not entrenched upon, 'tis wonder to any considering Person where the Fault was: But if any of that Reverend Community did Gloze and Flatter, 'tis admirable how the Birds of other Colors, the Black, the Brown, the Medley, did cringe and creep. What fulsome Addresses were presented? What Harangues made? What Promises of Duty and Allegiance? and because the King then Regnant dispensed with Oaths, the Yea and Nay Men came in with their Cant, To thee O King. The Pensylvanian Prince sputtered out his Reasons for repealing of Penal Laws and Test. Most needy Sectaries undertook that hopeful Work; and would rather put out Reason itself, that endeavours the good of Community, and extinguish all honest Principles, to further the good Work of rooting out Prelacy; an Order that stood unshaken, as I am told, in britain, ever since Christianity appeared there, except when dashed with a Cloud in the late Memorable Days of Division and Destruction. And it ought to be told, by the malecontenst Jackdaws, what the rest got by getting themselves Nested in the Royal Palaces of Kings or Prelates: Indeed they were scarce warm in their Nests, but the Buzzards drove them out again, and the Monarchists were for unroosting them. The Lion was Couchant: Venner's call was, who shall raise him up. The aim of most Men tends to advance Worldly Interest, and not the Purity of Faith, or Sincerity of Morals; there being Vices enough to declaim against by the most active Satirist. The Persons or Functions of Men may be let alone, none being so Mole-eyed, but that though we are divided in our Judgements, yet all Parties make it their business to agrandize their Interests. For which Reason I shall give you the Sense of a Welsh Poet, that was a little Prophetic as has been told,  

The Englishman both bold and strong,  
The Flemings stout and hardy,  
The valiant Welsh-men will be first,  
To take the Frenchmen tardy.  
Our Ships by Sea, our Men by Land,  
Will pull their Courage down;  
And make Men know King William will keep  
The Mitre next the Crown.   
So that if Men can but unite, if all the fledged Flocks can but agree, there is no doubt but the event will be good unto every one; but if Misunderstandings arise, as they will assuredly sometimes in the most orderly Communities, it is not convenient that the Ravens should croak against the Pies, nor for the Hawks to be made Rulers over the Pigeons, nor for the Jackdaws, those waggish Birds, to get Possession of the Dove-houses: For if there be not Order and Restraint, the Sparrows that formerly Lodged under the Eaves, or in the Holes of the Thatch, will soon be emboldened and come into the Houses; I mean, into the Habitations of the better sort of Birds; and by their uncessant Chirping, and venerous Treatment of their Mates, in clandestine Manner will force them from their antique Dwellings; and there is no way left when they have Possession but to lay Nets to catch them: For if you should go to drive them out, they will creep in again, at one Hole or another. For I cannot get out of this volatile Figure, and 'tis known Hempseed is good when grown to make Nets as well as Halters: But so ineffectual are both these useful Instruments for some Amphibious Creatures, that it must be difficult to fasten them with either. For the World is sensible enough, that Passive Obedience is a Document swallowed only by the House Fowl, such as are the Barn Door Attendants, and the sillyest of them too will hardly take suffering Patiently. For there is not a Welsh Goose in her Country but will Cackle before her dyes; for her very Ducks cry Quack, Quack, afore her let her kill her; as for her Woodcocks, and such long Pills, her is fain to make Nets to catch her. But all her Country was renounce the Ostrich, that her call her, and the worst Welshman was not call her so; for was once an Eagle, and owned by all her Lords so to be. Therefore was her thought was no Manners to call her any foul Names; thus was spoken as the Sense of all honest Prittaynes. Now as to the latter part of her Embassy, I shall deliver it in English, learned since I came to London. That I am come in the Name of all honest true hearted britains to admire and respect the Reigning Eagles, to wish them all Happiness in their lofty Seats; that neither chattering Pies, nor unlucky Daws, nor ill-boding Ravens, nor fearless Buzzards, may annoy their Majestic Seats; that peaceful and long Days may attend them; that Victory may conclude what War has begun; that all Heats and Jars, all Animosities, may be stifled before they break out; that all the Groves, the Forests, all the Trees and Woods, may joyfully Entertain the Royal Eagles; that under their Dominion all the noble, useful Birds may thrive, live, and do well; the Baneful and Destructive kept under, by Forest Laws; and the innocent Wren, and the familiar Robins, may be so nourished as to Chant forth their Dittoes unto them for many Years. And now I have performed my Embassy so far as I am authorized by my Commission. Farewell Don Kainophilus, my Service and Duty to my Lady Iris. Down falls the Sash Windows; Cuckoo, Cuckoo, says the Welsh Ambassador.  
FINIS.   

London, Printed for Thomas Green, 1691.