THE PARABLE OF THE Three Jackdaws, etc.  
THERE was a Time when the Feathered Commonwealth fell into Great Disorder about Choosing a Successor to the Eagle, whose Advanced Years Portended the Fall of his Sceptre, and the Disputes which happened amongst the several Pretenders, did mightily Perplex the Kingdom of Birds, who were in doubt, whether the Eagle had any Genuine Offspring. The Magpies, who had an Inveterate Malice against the Blackbirds and Nightingales, because they were better liked than themselves on the Account of their Harmonious Notes, and Innocent Nature, improved the opportunity to make Interest with the Jackdaws and Cuccows, to Settle the Succession on a Noted Bird, which was reckoned Brother to the Eagle, because Hatched in the same Nest; but a Mortal Enemy to the Nightingales and Blackbirds, and accused of a Confederacy with the Storks and Kites, to betray the Winged Nation to the Birds of Prey. The Magpies were frequently told of this, and Remonstrances were entered against their Proceeding, as destructive to the whole Volatile Empire; but they turned the Deaf Ear to every thing that was said to 'em; for being used to feed upon Carrion, they delighted in Slaughter. In process of time the Eagle died, and his Brother, the Friend to the Magpies, Succeeded: As soon as he Mounted the Throne, the Magpies Chattered for Joy, the Jackdaws Caw'd, and the Cuccows made Protestations of Loyalty in their Usual Note; but he was scarcely Seated on the Throne, when the Region of the Air was filled with Birds of Prey, the Screech-owl's begins to quarrel with the Jackdaws, and the Cormorants pretended a Right to the Nests of the Magpies. In the mean time, though they could not agree amongst themselves, yet all of them united against the Nightingales and Blackbirds, who, by this means, were forced to Retire to the Solitary Groves, where they Chirpt and Warbled out their own Misfortunes. The Affairs of the Winged Empire being in this posture, a Generous Falcon, as he was called by some, or the True Offspring of the Eagle, as reckoned by others, being moved with compassion towards the Injured Birds attempted their Relief; but the Magpies and Jackdaws, with their Adherents the Cuccows, were so much Incensed against the Generous Falcon, because of his favourable Inclinations to the Nightingales and Blackbirds, that they summoned together their Friends the Rooks, and joining with the Storks and Kites, Oppressed the poor Falcon, with his small Retinue; and having Barbarously destroyed them, the eagle's Brother looked upon his Throne as surer than ever; and the Magpies, Jackdaws, and Cuccows, concluding that they had insured his Favour, by this New Merit, pressed on to destroy the Blackbirds and Nightingales. But all of a sudden, when they thought themselves secure, the Night-Owls and Cormorants, with the Storks and Kites their Adherents, having been a long time dispossessed of their Nests by the Magpies and Jackdaws, and their followers the Rooks and Cuccows, resolved to come to a Trial of Skill with them, upon which the Magpies came to have some REMORSE for then Barbarous Treatment of the Innocent Blackbirds; and, abating something of the usual harshness of their Note, began to call Madge, Madge, poor Madge, a Cup of Sack for poor fainting Madge; and the Jackdaws Cawed to the Blackbirds, in a Milder Note than before, bewailed their Former Severity, and invited the Nightingales and Blackbirds to join with them, against the Kites, Cormorants, and Screech-owl's. The eagle's Brother being afraid of the Consequences of such an Union, came also to a Parley with the Blackbirds and Nightingales, and offered them fair Quarter, provided they would concur towards the procuring of an Authentic Act at the General Diet of the Winged Empire, to secure his Followers in the Possession of their Nests for all time coming; the Amazed Blackbirds being surprised with this mighty Change, and having been wretchedly torn by the Talons of both Parties, knew not whom to trust; but the eagle's Brother being possessed of the Throne, decency obliged them to make Civil Replies: but some of the BATS which frequented the Company of the Blackbirds, engaged too far with the Cormorant-Interest, and by this time both Parties owned the Possessor of the Throne for a True Eagle: Having gained his Point so far, he resolved to push on his Fortune, and being provoked with the Behaviour of the Magpies, he designed to put their Pretensions of Loyalty to the Touchstone, and commanded them to publish his Imperial Edict, giving Liberty to all the Subjects of the Airy Regions to Warble out the Praises of their Great Creator, in such Notes as Nature had furnished 'em with, It being highly unreasonable to say, that the Canary-bird was no Bird, because she could not Croak like the Raven, or that the Nightingale was no Subject of the Winged Empire, because she could not chatter like the Magpie.  
The Magpies and Jacks were Thunderstruck at tho hearing of this unlookt-for Command, and Most of 'em did SULLENLY refuse it: yet some of the Magpies, and the Swallows which nestled about the Altars thought fit to comply, but the Metropolitan-Magpy, and Six of the rest did positively refuse to obey the Eagle, who did thereupon Commit them to his Imperial Prison. Then nothing was to be heard but Alas poor Madge, a Cup of Sack for Mag: and on the other hand, the Cormorants and Kites cried, A Rope for Madge, Madge, Madge, a Halter for Mag: and the Blackbirds and Nightingales, though they were something concerned at the Misfortune of the Magpies, yet could not but say, that Madge was served according to l●er Deserts: but the Jackdaws and Cuccows, with their Allies the Rooks, did so much disturb the Eagles Quiet; with their Cawing and Croaking, that he Released the Magpies, but pursued his Design of Establishing a Tyranny in the Regions of the Air; and, in order to accomplish his Design, did enter into a Confederacy with the WLTURE, Resolved to Disinherit the Generous She-Eagle of his own Race, and to Impose a Counterfeit He-Eagle upon the Nation of the Birds; which did so much provoke the Feathered Commonwealth, that they agreed, with the Assistance of a Genuine Eagle, of the True Imperial Nest, who had the Generous She-Eagle, , to his Mate, to Curb the Tyrannical Eagle, and prevent his Imposing an Ostrich instead of an Eagle upon the Winged Empire. Many of the Magpies and Jackdaws, with all the Blackbirds and Nightingales, Joined in the Invitation to the Young Eagle, who taking his Flight from beyond-Sea, did happily Alight in the Imperial Grove; and being Joined with a Promiscuous Flock of Blackbirds, Jackdaws, Nightingales, and some Rooks, put the Kites, and Cormorants, and Old Eagle to Flight; who, after he had Roosted a while in his Imperial Nest, abandoned the same, and Fled Beyond-Sea with the Ostrich his Mate, and the Counterfeit-Eagle her Supposed-Son, to the Vulture's-Grove.  
The Eagle having thus taken his flight, the Magpies began to relent, and to wish that thing had not come to that Extremity; for the Jackdaws and they became now apprehensive, that they were in as much danger of losing their Nests, by the Blackbirds and Nightingales, as they had formerly been by the Kites and Cormorants, because the Young Eagle who came from beyond Sea, was Judged to have a mighty kindness for the Blackbirds and Nightingales, and his Mate, the Generous she-Eagle had no aversion to them, and thus it came to pass that the Metropolitical Magpie, who had been the Ringleader of those who opposed the old Eagle, and invited the young one to his Nest, began to grow sullen, and his Example infecting the rest of the Maggs, the faction was divided amongst themselves, so that some of the Magpies and Jackdaws, were for acknowledging the young Eagle as Sovereign of the Birds, and others chattering still upon the abdicated theme of passive obedience, alleged that the old Eagle had injury done him, and did all that they could to obstruct the progress of the young eagle's affairs, and having by the Interest of the Magpies, who owned his Title, got an influence on his Councils, they advised him to disband the Blackbirds and Nightingales, who had flocked to him at his first coming over, and to govern his affairs by the advice of the Magpies and Jackdaws, and by this method they got his Court and his Camp filled with Rooks, who did still retain a very great kindness for the old Eagle, and their ancient Cronies, the Cormorants and Kites, and did them kindly offices as opportunity offered.  
In the mean time the Nightingales, and Blackbirds of the Eagles ancient Grove; had been so terribly infested by the Magpies, Jackdaws, and Rooks, and so mischievously torn by the Talons of the Kites, and Cormorants their allies, that they looked upon the Magpies as Harpies, and in a General diet of the Birds held for that Grove, Voted that the Magpies and their Underlings, the Jackdaws were the great and insupportable grievance of the Winged Empire, and with one consent disloged them of their Nests, so that the Maggs and jack's hoped away in great Numbers, to the Neighbouring Grove, chattered nothing but passive obedience and Nonresistance, and the Injury done to the old Eagle, which strengthened the faction of the Southern Magpies, and made the young Eagle very uneasy in his Nest; whence it came to pass that the Magpie faction procured a Rebellion in the Northern Grove, under the Conduct of a Mischievous Rook, who being joined by a Rabble of the Jackdaws, Kites, Cormorants, and Solan Geese, gave the young eagle's followers in that Grove a considerable Check, but the mischievous Rook being pecked to death in the scuffle, the Rebellion was gradually appeased there; but the Northern Jackdaws and Solan Geese, with the abdicated Harpies, filled the Southern Grove with their querelous Notes, so that nothing was to be heard, but alas, poor Magg, Magg, Magg, is put out of her Nest in the North, and must expect the same treatment in the South, except the old Eagle be recalled. Whereupon that Tyrrannous bird conceiving good hopes of his affairs, did by the assistance of the Vulture, who lent him some bands of Storks, Kites, and Rooks, take his flight to St. Patrick's Grove, where being Joined by some Cormorants, and the Native Woodcocks; he quickly oversoread the whole Grove excepting some small part of it, where a Colony of their Northern birds had fixed their Nests, who made such a stout Resistance against the Tyrant Eagle, and his birds of prey, that the fame thereof echoed through the Regions of the Air, but the Southern Magpies and Jackdaws being influenced by the Northern Harpies, and Solan-geeses obstructed the Relief of the Blackbirds of St. Patrick's Grove so long, that they were well nigh undone, and the first relief they had sent 'em being under the Conduct of a Villainous Rook, he was little less Noisome to the Blackbirds, than the Kites and Cormorants, so that the young Eagle was obliged to fly thither in person, and not long after his Arrival, he gave the Tyrant Eagle and his followers such a terrible overthrow by a purling brook; that the old one fled from St. Patrick's Grove, and betook himself again to the Vultures quarters, whilst the Colons of the Northern Blackbirds and Nightingales, did with inimitable Courage subdue the Woodcocks, and the young eagle's followers disloged the Vultures and Cormorants from their Nests, so that in a little time St. Patrick's Grove was entirely recovered.  
The Vulture, by whose Counsels the abdicated Eagle had all along governed himself, perceiving that he was now quite driven from his Nest, resolved to attack the Flemish Coppice; which had formerly been the Residence of the young Eagle, which obliged the Generous Bird to repair Beyond-Sea, for the defence of his ancient friends, but though he Acted Wonders, yet his Counsels were betrayed by the friends of the Maggs and the Daws, and his Troops being chief Commanded by Rooks, the Birds of his retinue met with several Disasters, and at the same time the Kites and Cormorants, and seditious Maggs, did all that they could to disturb the repose of the Generous she Eagle his Mate, whom they would fain have destroyed in his absence, but the faithful Magpies and moderate Jackdaws, with the Blackbirds and Nightingales, did unite so cordially for her defence, that their designs were disappointed. Thus was the Generous young Eagle perplexed by Vultures, Storks, and Cormorants abroad, and Treacherous Magpies Jackdaws and Rooks at home, and chief because they were apprehensive of being outed by the Blackbirds, who whatever privileges they had acquired in the North, they said must content themselves to build Nests in the Eves of houses in the South, where the Churches were the proper habitation of the Magpies and Jackdaws, Nor would they suffer the Nightingales and the Falcons, to have any command in the winged Army, that being the property of the Kites and Rooks, because they did annually swear Allegiance to the Magpies and Jackdaws at the Altars, which the Falcons and Nightingales would never do.  
In the mean time the Generous she Eagle died, which did so much grieve her faithful Mate, that the Kingdom of Birds, had well nigh lost both their Sovereigns at once: However, he generously plucked up his Courage, and considering that he was born for Empire, did scorn to be conquered by passion; and therefore resolved that as he had defeated the Maws and the Gulls, belonging to the Vulture by Sea, he would have a Trial of Valour with him by Land, notwithstanding his Alliance with the overgrown Raven of the East, so that taking another flight into the Continent, he dislodged the Vulture from one of his chief Nests, who thereupon became so much afraid of the young eagle's Talons, that he durst not adventure on a fair War with him any more; but resolved to subborn some Night-Owls, Buzzards, Kites, Cormorants, and Cuccows, to assassinate the Generous Eagle in the dark, which he had attempted several times before, but laid the design so craftily now, that he was sure it c●uld not miscarry. And this taking effect he designed to have destroyed all the Blackbirds and Nightingales, with the faithful Magpies and moderate Jackdaws, and all the other loyal Birds in St. George St. Andrews, and St. Patrick's Groves, and to have possessed them for ever; with Vultures, Kites, Storks, Ravens, Rooks, Cormorants, and Magpies, and Jackdaws of his own stamp. However this conspiracy being happily discovered by the Parrots, many of the Owls, Buzzards, and Cormorants, who were employed to assassinate the young Eagle were taken, and some of 'em suffered Death according to the Laws of the feathered Kingdom; three Cormorants first, and a little after ● Cuccows, who being drawn in by the Treacherous Magpies, and Jackdaws, three of the latter attended them to the place of their Exit, and Cawing to them in the old Note of passive obedience, deluded the poor Cuccows, and telling them that by virtue of the Authority which they had acquired by a long possession of the Steepies; where no Blackbird had any right to come, they were constituted Lawful Priests of the winged Empire, and therefore absolved them from the false imputation of guilt, for endeavouring to cut the young eagle's throat, for he was none of the Birds of Jupiter's Nest, and though the Beetle had unluckily broke all the old Eagles Eggs, which were procreated betwixt him and the Italian Ostrich; yet there was a time coming when they would find a safe repository if not in Jove's, yet in St. Peter's Lapp, and oblige the pretended Eagle, who was no other than a Geneva Bird, hatched amongst the shells, which one of the Roman Emperors gathered together as a Mark of Triumph on the Dutch Coast, to retire to the banks of Lake-Leman, in the faith of which the 2 silly Cuccows, did cheerfully swallow their hempseed, and crying Cuckoo, Cuckoo, the Jackdaws answered Caw, caw, caw, and then the Cuccows were choked, at which the Loyal Birds were so much incensed, that they have shut up 2 of the Jackdaws in a Cage; and are hunting after the other which is fled; so that in a little time, we may hap to see these Jackdaws follow the fate of the Cuccows, while all the Winged Empire, from the Imperial Eagle to the Wren, are associated to defend the Generous young Eagle, as a true bird of the Imperial Nest against the Vulture of the West, the ovirgrown Raven of the East, the Traitorous Magpies Jackdaws, Storks, Kites, Rooks, Ravens, and Cormorants, and the Larks, Nightingales and Blackbirds, do daily with their harmonious Notes ' Celebrat Jupiter's praises, for preserving his beloved Eagle.  
FINIS.   

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