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420 CAVALIERS AND ROUNDHEADS.
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In The Joviall Crew; or The Devill lurn'd Ranter, 4to., 1651, after a catch has been sung, " the best and newest in town,"—" Excellent (says a Ranter) did this Minerva take flight from John Taylor's or Martin Parker's vein ?" In Naps upon Parnassus, 1658, Martin Parker is styled " the Ballad-maker Laureat of London," but in Part 2 of The Night Search, 1646, his works are not very respectfully treated:—
" A box of salve, and two brass rings, With Martin Parker's works, and such like things." Two of his ballads are quoted by Izaak Walton in his charming book The Angler, 1653 (ante pp. 295 and 297); and perhaps the latest contemporary notice of him is contained in Dryden's comedy of Sir Martin Mar-all, which was acted at the Duke's Theatre, 1668.—act v., sc. 1:—
Sir Martin.—There's five shillings for thee. What ? we must encourage good wits sometimes."
Warn.—" Hang your white pelf: sure, Sir, by your largess, you mistake me for Martin Parker, the Ballad-maker."
John Wade was another of the many ballad-writers employed on the King's side. He was the author of " The Royall Oak, or the wonderfull Travells, miraculous Escapes, strange Accidents of his Sacred Majesty King Charles the Second," which has been reprinted, from a cotemporary black-letter copy in Mr. Hallwell's Collection, in Notes and Queries (vol. x.', p. 340).
Thomas Weaver, who had been turned out of the University of Oxford by the Presbyterians, was the author of a collection of songs, in which he ridiculed the Puritans so effectually that the book was denounced as a seditious libel against the government, and a capital indictment founded upon it. He escaped with his life (according to Anthony a Wood) in consequence of a very humane charge from the judge. He afterwards " sank into the office of an exciseman at Liverpool, where he was called Captain Weaver, and where he died in inglorious obscurity." His book of songs is not contained in the King's Pamphlets, nor have I been able to see a copy.
The first who came forth as champion of the royal cause, in English verse (according to Wood), was John Cleveland, or Cleiveland, then a fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. His lines on "The Rebel Scot," "The Scot's I Apostacy;" " On the Death of His Royal Majesty, Charles, late .King of England," &c.; and his song, " The Puritan " (to the tune of The Queen's Old Courtier), and others, prove him to have been a powerful, and often dignified, yet most sarcastic writer. He adhered to the royal cause till its ruin. At last, in j 1655, after having led for some years a fugitive life, he was arrested in Norwich, j and taken before the Commissioners, who imprisoned him at Yarmouth. Having j been confined there for three months, he petitioned Cromwell, who ordered his j release. The transaction was honourable to both parties. Cleveland's spirit is shown in his petition. He thus addresses the Protector: "I am induced to ] believe that, next to my adherence to the royal party, the cause of my confine- ' ment is the narrowness of my estate; for none stand committed whose estates can bail them. I only am the prisoner, who have no acres to be my hostage. Now, if my poverty be.criminal (with reverence be it spoken), I implead your Highness |
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