DUKE HAMILTON'S GHOST, OR THE UNDERMINER Countermined.  
Ex proprio praesidio periculum.  
LONDON, Printed in the Year, 1659.   

DUKE HAMILTON'S GHOST.  

1.  
A Mate not yourselves, though hither I'm come  
From that dismal Place, that infernal Cell,  
Where many a Wight doth feel his sad doom,  
(With your patience and leave) my Story to tell;  
1, Hamilton height, a marquis well known,  
Learned Machivel's sleights, but prospered in none;  
The more I did study, the more I did show  
A Web I had spun for my own overthrow.   

2.  
When Jeamy was dead, and I grown to be  
In titles more strong, by the power of his Son,  
To forfeit my Faith, and my Loyalty,  
That erst I had plighted to him I begun;  
The Beacons of Zeal I caused set on fire,  
In England, and Scotland, and every Shire;  
My Complices were in this handiwork,  
This City, Pym, Hampden, the Devil, and the Kirk.   

3.  
A broad a Prophecy fomented was,  
A second Jeamy in this Land should reign,  
I thought myself he, and to bring to pass  
The Plots and Designs I had lodged in my brain,  
To tolerate Projects I counselled the King,  
And then to accuse him the same I did bring;  
By no other means I thought I could rise,  
Than making him odious in his People's eyes.   

4.  
Hampden distaste at the Ship money took,  
Opposed his Prince in's Prerogative Royal,  
And Pym his Oath, and Allegiance forsook,  
As well as some others that swore to be loyal:  
There's some in the World, I need not them name,  
I'm sure stands as guilty in th' black book of Fame;  
But Oaths at that time with us were held wind,  
Though the breach of them now I bitterly find.   

5.  
This quick-pated gang me highly did please,  
For still their pretence was for the Public good,  
Until their Ambition was found the Disease  
Corrupted the Nations, and spilt so much blood;  
I plied with all Factions, especially theirs  
Wore the face of Religion, called, the Presbyters;  
To th' Book of Liberty I did consent,  
To bring in my Countrymen was my intent.   

6.  
Whose rigid conditions would never agree,  
I very well knew, to such an inlet  
(As they pleased to term it) of Popery,  
Though it by wise heads was found a thing fit;  
When Subjects dare into their Prince's Acts pry,  
To lull them asleep asleep is safe'st Policy:  
But finding the Kirk did it ill resent,  
(Though I wished nothing more) I seemed to repent.   

7.  
My Countrymen up, the King was drawn down  
With a strong Army their Forces to quell:  
Brooks, Essex, and I, with others well known,  
Of the Cabinet Council did ordered so well,  
To th' Petition of Right the King did consent,  
Which caused the calling of th' short 
* At York.  Parliament; 
* 3 Weeks.   
But the malice of some too soon breaking forth,  
Dissolved it in 
* And then Pym's Study and others were searched.  course: Then back to the North.   

8.  
Where, while we remained, our Confederates here,  
At Black-beath did raise a Rascally rout,  
That put the Metropolitan Bishop in fear,  
For Libels against him they had thrown about;  

* In Souhwark.  Prison doors were thrown , many Outrages done,  
Until the Train-bands made the lose Knaves to run;  
And some apprehended were punished by Law,  
For example sake, to keep others in awe.   

9  
This News pleased my Countrymen, though not the King,  
Who wisely yet penned in his discontent;  
Alas (Sir) quoth I, there can be nothing  
So cordial to you as a Parliament,  
Your safety and happiness on it depends,  
It maugres your Foes, and advanceth your Friends,  
It beats down Sedition, and breeds up good Laws,  
For th' good of your People, whose Obedience it draws.   

10.  
The Parliament called, they subtly did pass 
In 1640.   
A Subsidy Bill to flatter the King,  
Who then wanted money; but alas, alas, 
Triennial Bill,   
Another succeeded that brought with't a sting,  
Which poisoned the Commons, and knocked the Peers down.  
Died the Surpless in blood, and battered the Crown:  
However by it I had partly my ends,  
My Countrymen paid, and the Nations made Friends.   

11.  
From Traitors and Rebels good Subjects were made,  
But forgot to prove so, and followed him,  
The forger and foreman of th' treasonous Trade,  
Entitled by some to be Bell-wether Pym:  
This caused the King, as justly he might,  
To accuse some of Treason, and secure his Right;  
Then new Wars ensued, which caused me to laugh,  
That English men should each others blood quaff,   

12.  
For weakened by Warr, (whose Events are unsure)  
From either side I a Fabric might raise  
(My Countrymen here) to seat me secure,  
And lengthen with Glory my declining days:  
To fashion out which, two faces I bent,  
The one annenst the King, th' other th' Parliament;  
But whilst I did think I danced in a ne'er,  
Insinuating Wits caught me in the feat.   

13.  
In Cornwall I was attainted of Treason,  
For holding Irtelligence with th' Enemy,  
And fifteen Articles grounded on Reason,  
Did question my Life, and my Liberty;  
In Pendennis Castle I cast was a space,  
Until, undeserved, from the King I found grace,  
Whose Mercy was such, as most men do know,  
To whom he showed most, most evil did flow.   

14.  
Success, against Reason, forsook the King's Cause,  
And forced him to fly, where I shame it to tell,  
To Men that professed for Religion and Laws;  
But oh! I instructed them first to Rebel;  
I read them this Maxim, Who once draws his Sword  
'Gainst his Prince, must ne'er sheathe it, nor yet take his word;  
But I now confess, so much Goodness abused,  
May render me justly a Man unexcused.   

15.  
In th' Personal Treaty I (too) had a hand,  
And sided on both sides, yet nothing would work  
On my sides until the Army did stand  
Upon their Punctillioes, for which I did lurk:  
The King being surprised, and to Trial brought,  
Gave a life to my hopes, and an end to my thought,  
By his weakness I did accumulate strength,  
His death seemed to add unto my life length.   

16.  
For now on the wings of Ambition I flew,  
And Crowed like a Cock, whilst the 
* Cromwell  Lion did tremble,  
My sudden approach in him a fear drew,  
However he seemed the same to dissemble;  
I formidable was to give the defeat,  
Had my heart been answerable to my conceit,  
But faintingly fled, such was my sad lot,  
The odium of which will ne'er be forgot.   

17.  
My Army was cowed and dispersed in a trice,  
Without scarce a blow, to my Countrymens' shame,  
While Langdale his life set at no cheap price,  
But havoked and forced his way where he came;  
So stout were the English, so fearful were we,  
They drew their Renown from our Infamy;  
Which had we had Souls like Men, and adhered  
To Langdales' sure Counsel, we need not have feared.   

18.  
To Ashbydelazouch I was conveyed,  
The manner of my surprisal needs not,  
No doubt but there were some had me waylaid,  
Whose fingers did itch at me as a Scot:  
But oh Jeamy Ballatyne thou lymer loon,  
That selled thine none Countrymen kyb'd as they won, 
Without shame.   
To Corfew, and Zant, and such places remote;  
May some of thy Frieuds slit thy Weesiled throat:   

19  
From thence to the Tower of London was brought,  
In reference to my Trial in hand;  
Then how to escape I busied my thought,  
Which having effected, I was at a stand,  
Not knowing to whom, or whither, to go,  
I 
* At the three Pilgrims in Southwark * In the Palace-yard in Westminster  retaken was to my much woe,  
My Conscience condemned me ere their judgement past,  
And my head from my shoulders was severed at last.   

20.  
As I like a Hocus pocus did live,  
Carrying on my Designs by Legerdemain,  
So dealt they with me, in hopes of Reprieve  
I spent my last minute, like to Pedringave;  
A Traitor I lived, and a Trautor I died,  
And yet with both Parties I ever complied;  
'Tis strange you will say, but here is the reason,  
I true was to neither, so suffered for Treason.   
FINIS.