THE Royal Address: OR, THE LION's COMPLAINT AGAINST The Wild BEASTS of the Forest.  

WHen Fish and Fowl, and Wild Beasts of the Wood,  
Thought, Acted, Spoke, and likewise Understood,  
The Bear of Rome brought forth a Whelp or Son,  
That was both Heir and King of Lebanon.  
But O! that bloody Bitch, that's void of Fear,  
Forced him his Subject-Beasts in pieces tear,  
Until a Herd of Foxes, Sheep and Geese,  
With other Grumblers, of the Golden Fleece,  
Went slily, and their Grief, with Mourning Eye,  
Made known unto a Neighbouring Lion by,  
Who rescued them out of the Tyrant's Paws,  
Secured their Lives, and did restore their Laws.  
But now these Bruits, that never chew the Cud,  
(Or rather Monsters of Ingratitude)  
They prove perfidious, false, and would devour  
Him whom they're bound by Nature to Adore:  
Wherefore the Royal Lion, in disdain,  
Against the thankless Beasts doth thus complain.   

AS I lay silent, couching in my Den,  
Beloved of Beasts, of Fishes, Fowls and Men,  
A Herd of Bullocks, Foxes, Wolves and Hogs,  
With Mastiffs, Mongrels, Curs, & other Dogs,  
Approached my Court, with more than mournful eyes,  
And made my Den to Echo with their Cries;  
A thing so strange, to see such beasts agree,  
Surprised my watchful Lioness and me.  
But, stupefied, I stepped aside, and then  
I saw them beasts, but rational like men.  
And as I stood amazed, with bended knee,  
One of the Drove, with Tears, Petitioned me.  
Brave Prince, descended of the stem of Kings,  
Of whose great Valour every Forest rings,  
Vouchsafe to hear our more than sad complaint,  
Which we, in strains of sorrow, do present.  
We're chased from Lebanon, our Native Soil,  
Poor, destitute, and broke with Grief and Toil;  
Our King's turned Tyrant both and Cannibal,  
And, in a moment, would devour us all.  
He's got the Bear of Rome upon his back,  
And now outdoes the Inquisition-Rack.  
Ourselves he tears to pieces, and our Dams,  
He Heads and Hangs, and after burns in Flames.  
Our Young he keeps in Arms, at every Tree,  
To kill their Fathers, if occasion be;  
And, if he takes offence at any Whelp,  
He ties him to a Rope, and makes him yelp.  
Our Lives, our Laws, our Liberties and all,  
Unless supported suddenly will fall,  
For he doth roar and swear that we shall go  
To Italy, and kiss the Dragon's Toe.  
Now, all the Beasts of Lebanon declare,  
That, after him, your Lioness is Heir;  
But he, to frustrate both your Rights, hath bought  
A little Cub, which he hath slily brought  
Into his Den; and now doth swear that he  
Shall Heir the Wood, from Shrub to Cedar-Tree;  
Although he looks not like a Lion's Whelp,  
But some Cur's Puppy, if you heard him yelp.  
My Dam, a Mid-Bitch of a noble kin,  
Can tell you how the Lioness lay in.  
Now, mighty Prince, this is our woeful Case,  
Sick at the heart, though cheerful in the face;  
Protect us from the bloody Roman Elf,  
In saving us, you do but serve yourself.  
I stood amazed, and nothing had to say,  
But drove the Proud, Rebellious beasts away,  
Not thinking that the Lion had the Face  
To cheat his own, to serve the Fox's Race.  
But still they lurked near my pleasant Den,  
And with their cries molested birds and men,  
Till I (informed that what they spoke was true)  
Called them poor Bruits, and no Rebellious Crew:  
I mustered then my forces of the Wood,  
And swum the Sea, to do the poor beasts good,  
Intending things to trial first to bring,  
And reconcile the Subject to his King.  
But, when I entrance in the Forest made,  
The Lion, Lioness, and Cub, were fled,  
And, in their flight, t'accomplish their desire,  
Set all the Trees of Lebanon in fire.  
I quenched the flames, convened the beasts, to see  
What was their aim, and who their King should be;  
They proffered me the Crown, but I denied  
So weighty Care, whilst all the Herd replied,  
Great Prince, if you refuse to be our King,  
This Forest to Democracy we'll bring,  
We can choose whom we will for King, now, since  
Our former's turned an Abdicated Prince;  
And, though you take our proffer in disdain,  
Of Lebanon he's ne'er be King again.  
Thus with their wheedling, cringing at my feet,  
I did accept the weighty, sour, and sweet;  
But when I had this Diadem put on,  
And scarce was seated on the Royal Throne,  
The old Red Lion, with a crew of Dogs,  
Invaded me, to kill my harmless Hogs:  
But I, in Person, went for their defence,  
And chased the Red, Old, Raging Lion thence.  
All that I had, both Fortune, Life and Blood,  
I hazarded, to do my Subjects good;  
And, in returning home, I did redress  
Their injuries, and cured their grievances,  
And, ever since, have ready been to grant  
All their Requests, according to their want.  
I'm striving now their interests to advance,  
To save them harmless from the Bear of France,  
That Beast of Prey, the Apostate of Rome,  
The Scourge of Europe, Curse of Christendom.  
I'm not profuse, to keep the Forest poor,  
I keep no Cracks, no Wanton Bitch nor Whore;  
I lead the Lame, I help the beasts that Halt,  
I cover Crimes, and pardon every fault;  
And ever since I to their Forest came,  
I have still seemed more Lion, than a Lamb.  
And yet, although they have their whole desire,  
Ungrateful beasts! against me do conspire.  
The Leopard, and Panther, first were they,  
Who with their sugared Words for aid did pray,  
Now they're the first that strive me to betray.  
They make my Star of Virtue seem a Comet,  
And, Doglike, would drink up their own Vomit.  
Now let all beasts, that in the Forest be,  
Be Judge betwixt my cruel bruits and me.  
But hear, proud beasts; now, since my paw is in,  
And Acts of Grace your favour cannot win,  
I'll imp my Rage with Furies, like yourselves,  
And be revenged on all deceitful Elves.  
With Steel and Rope, I'll pay you what is due,  
And that's the way to teach you to be true.  
A Lion's Noble, but provoked to Rage,  
Hath no respect to Person nor to Age.  
Be wise in time then, turn your Coats once more,  
And run no further upon Justice score.    

Licenfed,  
April 30. 1691.