A DIALOGUE BETWIXT A HORSE of WAR, and a MILL-HORSE; Wherein the content and safety of an humble and painful life, is preferred above all the Noise, the Tumults, and Trophies of the War.   depiction of a war-horse and a mill-horse 
Full of harmless Mirth, and variety.  
LONDON, Printed by Bernard Alsop, And published according to Order, 1645.   

A discourse between the Cavaliers War-horse, and the Countryman's Mill-Horse.  Cav. horse. 
WEll met old Mill-Horse or indeed an Ass,  
I must instruct thee before we do pass  
How to live bravely; look on me and view  
My Bridle and my Saddle fair and new;  
War doth exalt me, and by it I get  
Honour, while that my picture is forth set  
Cut out in Brass, while on my back I bear  
Some Noble Earl or valiant Cavalier.  
Come therefore to the Wars, and do not still  
Subject thyself to bear Sacks to the Mill.  Mil-hors. 
Despise me not thou Cavaliers War-Horse  
For thovogh to live I take an idle course,  
Yet for the commonwealth I always stand,  
And am employed for it, though I'm named  
A Mill-Horse, I am free and seem not under  
Malignants that do towns and houses plunder,  
Transported on thy back, while thou must be  
Half guilty of their wrong, and injury.  
Done to their country, while without just cause,  
Thou fightest for the King against the Laws.  
Against Religion, Parliament and all,  
And lest the Pope and Bishops down should fall.  
Thou art exposed to battle, but no thanks,  
Thou hast at all when thou dost break the Ranks  
Of our stout Musketeers, whose bullets fly  
In showers, as in the fight at Newberry,  
And force thee to retreat with wounds, or lame,  
To this the glory of thy halting fame.  
Whereof thou dost so brag? beside thy fault  
Of fight for them who have always fought,  
Against the commonwealth, is such a sin,  
That doth stick closer to thee then thy skin.  
What though upon my back I carry sacks?  
Thy meat is plunderd out of barns and stacks;  
While thou dost feed on stolen Oats and Hay  
The wronged Farmers curse the strength away  
Of all thy Diet, often wishing that  
Diseases may consume thy illgot fat,  
Therefore recant and never more appear  
In field a Champion for the Cavalier;  
Let not his spur nor false fame prick thee on  
To fight in unjust wars as thou hast done▪  Cav. horse. 
Fame is not that I aim at, but the known  
Right of the King, the trumpet that is blown  
Unto the Battle doth not give me more  
Courage, than what I had in him before,  
As if we did partake of more than sense  
And fare exceeded man's intelligence,  
In stooping unto Kings, and do prove thus  
Ourselves descended from Bucephalus,  
That Horse who did no loyal duty lack  
But kneeling down received on his back  
Great Alexander, while men kick and fling  
Against the power of so good a King  
As time hath blest us with, O let this force  
A change in thee who art a dull Mill-horse.  
Thou art no Papist being without merit,  
Nor zealous Brownist, for thou dost want spirit.  
But with a Halter tied to block or pale,  
Dost penance, while thy master drinks his Ale  
In some poor Village; such a poor thing art thou  
Who Gentry scorn, bear till thy ribs do bow  
Burdens of corn or meal, while that Kings are  
My Royal Masters both in Peace and War.  Mil-hors. 
Boast not of happy fortune, since time brings  
A change to settled States and greatest Kings,  
England was happy; peace and plenty too  
Did make their rich abode here, but now view  
The alteration, War hath brought in woe,  
And sad destruction doth this land o'erflow;  
Now thou art proud, but if this war in peace  
Should end thy high ambition would then cease;  
Thy strength and courage would find no regard,  
Thy plundering service should get no reward,  
Although in war thou trample down and kill  
Thy foe, in age thou shalt bear sacks to Mill,  
As I do now, and when thy skin is grizzle  
Groan underneath thy burden, fart, and fizzle  
Like an old horse, a soldier of the Kings,  
" Ill employed valour sad repentance brings,  
When thou art lame, and wounded in a fight  
Not knowing whether thou dost wrong or right,  
Or what is the true ground of this sad war  
Where King and subjects both engaged are;  
Both do pretend the justness of their cause.  
One for Religion, Liberty, and Laws;  
Doth stand, while that the King doth strive again  
His Right and due Prerogative to maintain;  
The King keeps close to this, while subjects be  
Grown mad to eclipse the son of Majesty  
By interposing differences; how canst thou judge  
Where the fault is? both at each other grudge,  
I know that this discourse is fare too high  
For us, yet now to talk of Majesty;  
In boldest manner is a common thing  
While every cobbler will condemn a King,  
And be so politic in their discourse,  
Yet know no more than I a poor Mill-horse;  
Who for the commonwealth do stand and go,  
Would every commonwealths-man did do so.  Cav horse. 
Mill-horse in this thy space and speech agree.  
Both wanting spirit dull and tedious be;  
The King and commonwealth are vexed themes  
Writ on by many; prithee think on Beans  
And Oats well ground, what need hast thou to care  
How the deplored commonwealth doth fare;  
For policy this rule in mind doth keep,  
" Laugh when thou hast made others grieve and weep,  
What care we how the State of things do go?  
" While thou art well, let others feel the woe.  
If I have store of provender I care not,  
Let Cavaliers still plunder on and spare not,  
When Ockingham was burned I stood by  
And like rich widows wept at ne'er an eye;  
When the town burned a fellow said in leather  
" He loved to see a good fire in cold weather;  
And with the simple clown I do say still  
" If I do well I care not who doth ill;  
For with the Cavaliers I keep one course,  
And have no more Religion than a Horse.  
I not for the Liberty not Laws.  
Not privilege of Subjects, nor the cause,  
Let us stand well affected to good Oats,  
While that the ship of State and Kingdom floats  
On bloody waves, the staved rack shall be  
Crammed with hay, a commonwealth to me.  Mill-hors. 
Alas I pity thee thou great war-horse  
Who art like Cavaliers without remorse:  
The sad affliction which the Kingdom feels,  
Regarding not, thou casts it at thy heels;  
And so dost prove that horses have no brain,  
Or if they have they little wit contain.  
Unto the Kingdom's tale thy prick-eares lend  
Whose grief I will describe, and right defend.  Cau-hors. 
Thou defend right, thy right to the high way  
Is lost, as sure as thou dost live by hey,  
In telling of a tale without all doubt  
Thou needs must stumble, and wilt soon run out  
Of breath and sense, good Mill-horse, therefore prithee  
Leave tales, there are too many tales already,  
That weekly fly with more lies without fail  
Then there be hairs within a horse's tail;  
And if the writers angry be I wish,  
You would the Cavaliers horse arse both kiss,  
Not as the Miller thy back doth kiss with whip,  
But as a Lover doth his Mistress lip;  
For know the Cavaliers brave-warlick horse  
Scorns vulgar Jades, and bids them kiss his arse.  Mill-hors. 
Thou pampered Jade that liv'st by plunderd oats,  
My skin's as good as thine and worth ten groats,  
Though slow of foot, I come of a good kind,  
Of Racers, gotten by the boisterous wind  
When the Mare turned her backside in the mouth  
Of Boreas, being Northern breed not South,  
The Millers-horse before the wars began,  
Would take the way of Lord or Gentleman;  
And when Peace shall Malignants keep in awe,  
I shall see thee in Coach or Dung-cart draw,  Cav. horse. 
I scorn thy motion, after this sad War,  
Perhaps I may draw in some Coach or Car;  
And which doth grieve me, Cavaliers most highborn  
I may be forced to draw on to Tyburn:  
In time of Peace my blood shall not be spilt,  
But like to Noble Beer, shall run at Tilt.  
In Peace I serve for Triumphs, more than that  
I shall be made a Bishop, and grow fat,  
As Archey said, when Bishops ruled 'twas worse,  
That had no more Religion than a Horse.  
But thou shalt wear thyself out, and be still  
An everlasting Drudge unto some Mill.  Mil-hors. 
No matter, I will spend my life and health,  
Both for my Country and the commonwealth,  
And it is Princelike (if well understood)  
To be ill-spoken off for doing good,  
And if a horse may show his good intent,  
Some Asses rail thus at the Parliament.  
Scorn is a burden laid on good men still,  
Which they must bear, as I do Sacks to Mill:  
But thou delightest to hear trumpets rattle,  
An animal rushing into lawless battle;  
If thou couldst think of those are slain and dead,  
Thy skin would blush, and all thy hairs look red  
With blood of men, but I do wish for peace,  
On that condition Dogs might eat thy flesh.  
Then should the Mill-horse meal both fetch and bring,  
Towns brew good Ale, and drink healths to the King.  Cav. h●●s. 
Base Mill-horse have I broke my bridle, where  
I was tied by my Master Cavalier  
To come and pratlle with thee, and dost thou  
Wish Dogs might eat my flesh? I scorn thee now.  
My angry sense a great desire now feels,  
To kick thee into manners with my heels.  
But for the present I will curb my will.  
If thou wilt tell me some news from the mill.  Mil-hors. 
If thou wilt tell me news from Camp & Court,  
I'll tell thee Mill-newes that shall make thee sport.  Cav. horse. 
If Country news thou wilt relate and show me,  
Halters of love shall bind me fast unto thee,  Mil-hors. 
It chanced that I carried a young Maid  
To Mill, and was to stumble much afraid,  
She rid in handsome manner on my back,  
And seemed more heavy than the long meal sack  
On which she sat, when she alighted, I  
Perceived her belly was grown plump and high;  
I carried many others, and all were  
Gotten with child still by the Cavalier,  
So that this news for truth I may set down,  
There's scarce a Maid left in a Market town;  
An woman old with Muffler on her chin,  
Did tell the Miller she had plundered been  
Thrice by the Cavaliers, and they had taken,  
Her featherbeds, her brass, and all her bacon,  
And eke her daughter Bridget that should wed  
Clods son, was plundered of her maidenhead,  
Besides I hear your Cavaliers do still,  
Drink sack like water that runs from the Mill;  
We hear of Irish Rebels coming over,  
Which was a plot that I dare not discover.  
And that the malignant Army of the King,  
Into this Land blind Popery would bring.  Cav. horse. 
Peace, peace, I see thou dost know nothing now,  
Thy fleering jests I cannot well allow;  
And there are Mercury's abroad that will,  
Tell better news than a horse of the Mill;  
But I will answer thee, and tell thee thus,  
Thou liest as bad as ere did Aulicus.  
Who though he writ Court-news i'll tell you what,  
he'll lie as fast as both of us can troth.  
You tell of Maidens that have been beguiled,  
And by the Cavaliers are got with child,  
And hast not thou when thou wast fat and idle,  
Often times broke thy halter and thy bridle,  
And rambled over hedge and ditch to come,  
Unto some Mare, whom thou hast quickly won  
To thy desire, and leapt her in the place,  
Of dull Mill-horses to beget a race;  
While that the Cavaliers when they do fall  
To work, will get a race of soldiers all.  
It had been news whereat I would have smiled,  
If the maids had ●ot the Cavaliers with child.  Mill-hors. 
I ramble over hedge, thou meanest indeed  
The Cavaliers, who were compelled with speed  
Both over dedge and ditch away to fly,  
When they were lately beat at Newberry.  
The Proverb to be true is proved by thee,  
That servants like unto their masters be;  
Those plundering devils on thy back do ride.  
Have filled thee with a pampered spirit of pride,  
And thou hast eaten so much Popish Oats,  
That in thy belly thou hast got three Popes;  
Thy great Grandfather of that race did come  
That bore Pope Joan in triumph through Rome  
I bear to Mill of corn a plump long sack,  
Thou carriest a great Pluto on thy back.  
Or Cavalier, and who can then abide thee,  
When that malignant Fools and Knaves do ride thee.  
From town to town, and plunder where they come,  
The country is by Cavaliers undone.  
And these thy masters are, who fight and kill  
And seek the blood of Protestants to spill;  
For thus the news abroad doth always run,  
That the King's forces are in horse most strong.  
Whereby it doth appear the War-horse are  
Guilty of bloodshed, in this cruel war;  
And yet the Cavaliers horse as I hear  
At Kenton field beshit themselves for fear.  
And the Cavaliers being killed, they run about  
The field to seek another master out,  
Therefore love war, and have of wounds thy fill.  
While I in Peace do walk unto the Mill;  
I will be always true unto myself,  
And love the Kingdom and the Commonwealth.  Cav. horse. 
Mill-horse, because thou show'st thy railing wits,  
I'll give thee a round answer with some kicks,  
Which I'll bestow upon thee, but I'm undone,  
Yonder my master Cavalier doth come  
To fetch me back, and Yonder too I see  
The Miller coming for to take up thee;  
If thou lik'st not my discourse very well,  
Mill-horse take up my tail, and so farewell.   
FINIS.