THE DELINQUENTS passport OR, A Plaintiffs Petitionary Plea, addressed to an eminent counsellor of State: Upon his highness' Proclamation, commanding all Delinquents, &c. to depart the city and return home to their own Native Country.  

COnfined Sir! For what? Where I do live  
My precious Minutes are Contemplative.  
My thoughts act not for Changes: My content  
Is to dispose my Soul tothth' Government  
Of her Affections: He that has arrived  
And seen as many years as I have lived,  
Should make't his only task his Soul to save:  
And in each pace to measure out his Grave.   

This is my Warfare: if'ft be held unfit,  
Teach me some other Trade, I'll practise it.  
But to find out a Safer way than this  
Trace heaven and Earth I know not where it is.   

This all Saints used; whereof were I but one,  
I'd hold my passage happy to be gone,  
Weak be my nerves, and arteries to fight,  
" Heaven's ordinance is the Shot gives me delight:  
And in these aged-deafned ears sound louder  
Than any Shot that takes his Charge from powder.   

From the First War I have not struck a stroke  
But from the camp betook me to my book.  
Though I confess I had an itching hand  
To work some Feat, but I took no Command.  
For which my Composition has been paid,  
Wherein his GRACE afforded me such ay d  
That even in Gold-Smiths-Hall He did apply  
His hand, and sought my Fine to qualify:  
Had not a Ridge of Hasles stood i'th' way  
And with a rough Obstruction raised my pay.   

" Burnt Child fire dreads: My penance hath been such,  
I acted little, but I suffer'd much.  
Had no man's hand been conscious of more guilt  
Much blood had been preserved, that has been spilled.   

I and my Horse may make an hundred years,  
There's no occasion then from me of fears.  
Besides, a Justice I was called of late  
Which Office would appear ill from a Grate.   

Do not restrain me then: But let my Reason  
Tell me my Body is the straitest Prison;  
Which freedom got, whether I live or die,  
He breathes not that enjoys more peace than I.    

Additionall Lines, in relation to these Injunctive times.  

BEsides, engagements hale me to the Fleet;  
So that I cannot Northward use my Feet,  
Unless I may procure sufficient bail,  
To free me from the thraldom of a jail.  
Besides, the weakness of my constitution  
Has threatened without physic dissolution.   

Besides, next week there is a Reference  
Betwixt me and a Dame of Eminence,  
One of such lively temper, lovely nature,  
She'd make that 
* Timon  Woman-haters teeth to water  
And we're in Law tothth' ears; Now should I go,  
My Cause might suffer by so fair a Fo.   

Besides, I keep a constant family  
Which may confer a privilege on me.  
" How should I presently dispose of ten,  
" Unless I made them to be highway men?  
With women too so numerous in store  
As my slow Rents will not discharge their score.   

If Hous-rent, Debt, Law, Sickness move not pity,  
Welcome unwelcome country, farewell city.   

Pray then, my Lord, some quick assistance make,  
Else down I go just like a Bear tothth' Stake.   

From a Patient and a Cliant,  
Who to your Commands is Pliant.    
FINIS.