Collonel Vennes Encouragement to his Souldiers
The text of this ballad is drawn from the collection Rump Songs
which was published in London in 1662. Like certain other Royalist broadside
ballads, it is a very wry commentary on those two-faced Parliamentarians
who fought 'for King and Parliament' yet strove to save the King from his
evil counselors.
Collonel Vennes Encouragement to his Souldiers
A SONG
To the tune of; Clean Contrary Way
Fight on brave Souldiers for the Cause, fear not the Cavaliers,
Their threatenings are, as sencelesse as our jealousies and fears.
'Tis you must perfect this great Work, and all Malignants slay,
You must bring back the King again the clean contrary way.
'Tis for Religion that you fight, and for the Kingdoms good,
By robbing Churches, plundering them and shedding Guiltlesse blood.
Down with the Orthodoxal train, and all Loyal Subjects slay,
When these are gone, we shall be blest the clean contrary way.
When Charles we have made Banckrupt, of Power and Crown
bereft him,
And all his Loyal Subjects slain, and none but Rebells left him.
When we have beggar'd all the Land, and sent our Trunks away,
Wee'le make him then a Glorious Prince, the clean chntrary way.
'Tis to preserve his Majesty, that we against him fight,
Nor ever are we beaten back, because our Cause is right.
If any make a scrulpe at our Declarations, say
Who fight for us, fight for the King, the clean contrary way.
At Keinton, Brainford, Plymouth, York, and divers Places
more,
What Victories we Saints obtain, the like nere seen before.
How often we Prince Rupert kill'd, and bravely wonne the
day,
The wicked Cavaliers did run the clean contrary way.
The true Religion we maintain, the Kingdoms Peace and Plenty,
The Priviledge of Parliament, not known to One and twenty.
The antient Fundamental Laws, and teach men to obey
Their lawfull Soveraign; and all these the clean contrary way.
Wee, Subjects Liberties preserve by Imprisonment and Plunder,
And do enrich our selves and State, by keeping th'Wicked under.
Wee must preserve Mechanicks now to Lectorize and pray,
By them the Gospel is advanc't the clean contary.
And though the King be much misled by that Malignant Crew,
Hee'le find us honest at the last, give all of us our due.
For we do wisely plot, and plot Rebellion to allay,
He sees we stand for Peace and Truth the clean contrary way.
The Publique-Faith shall save our Souls, and our good Works together,
And Ships shall save our Lives that stay only for Winde and Weather.
But when our Faith and Workes fall down, and all our Hopes decay,
Our Acts will bear us up to Heaven the clean contrary way.
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