MacLean, Gerald, editor. The Return of the King : An Anthology of English Poems Commemorating the Restoration of Charles II / edited by Gerald MacLean
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library

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T. R. The Royall Subjects Warning-piece to all Traytors
[undated: before trials]


    Blackletter.

    Dodgy author since this is one of those signatures that could be a a licencing authority. What do we know; it looks like the same "T. R." that is signed to a Charles Tyus ballad called The Royall Subjects Joy that has been attributed to Thomas Robbins. Why is that one ascribed and not this?

    This is not a restoration poem as defined by this anthology, but is included here for its rarity value and the fact that it provides a useful example of the kinds of vituperative satire that were developed during the course of the year of celebration. Anti-Rump satires were perhaps one of the most prolific subgenres to apear in the early months of 1660, but here we see features carried over to the question of how to punish living traitors, such as the regicides. The text is unreadable in several places, marked here with ellipses.


The Royall Subjects Warning piece to all Traytors



You Traytors all both great and small, I wish you to beware.
In time reprent, and be content, for you must all to Hide-Park Fair.
There is Hemp'n toyes for you brave boys, which murdered Charles the first,
The Hangmen he your guide must be, for thither go you must.
To a pleasant new Tune, Come back my own sweet Duck.

[illustration]



OLd England now rejoyce,
thy sorrows all are past;
Tryumph with heart and voice.
good news is come at last.
5: Those that long time did mourn,
come and rejoyce with me
I scorn my Coat to turn,
but faithfull I will be.
Heavens blesse our Generall
which hath our sorrows drownd,
Pray for him great and small,
  King Charles must now be Crowned.


This is good news indeed
for every honest man;
15: The Law will now proceed
Traitors do what you can,
Your glass is almost run
your time is almost spent,
You must to Squire Dun
except you now repent.
Stand for King Charles right,
leave Lords of high renown
.... fight,
  King Charles must wear his Crown.


25: You that did once bare sway
and kept us all at under,
Now is your reckoning day;
good Subjects you did plunder,
Those that did firmly stand
for Charles of high renown
You banished the Land,
and chast them up and down,;[sic]
Then Traitors all repent,
in City and in town,
35: Your time is almost spent,
King Charles must wear, &c.


What answer can you make
either to God or man,
What course now you take
do all the best you can:
For murdering of your King,
the Law will now proceed,
Beware a hempen string,
no better can you speed.
45: Then traytors all repent
in City and in Town,
Your time is almost spent.
King Charles, &c.

The second Part,  to the same tune.



YOur Anabaptists head
no comfort can you bring,
Alack he is almost dead,
for treason against the King
Himself must answer make,
for what is done and past
55: He can no way forsake
Squire Dun I fear at last.
Then traitors all repent
in City and in town,
Your time is almost spent.
King Charles, &c.


Come Harrison thou art the man,
I and John Oakey thy 1 brother,
For treason against the King,
there scarce is two such other;
65: the one a Butchers son,
the other a poor Dray-man,
You must to Squire Dun
do all the best you can.
You traitors all repent
in City and in town,
Your time is almost spent,
King Charles, &c.


Alack blind Hewson now,
where is thy Laste and Awl,
75: It had been better for thee
to have kept in thy stall;
For Judging of the King
a rebellious horrid deed,
Beware of a Hempen string
no better thou can speed.
And for killing poor prentice boys
for playing at the foot-ball,
Squire Dun has hempen toyes
for sure will serve you all.


85: Bold Arthur Haselrigge
Newcastle doth thee curse
For raising of their Coals
four shillings a Chauldron just;
Nay this is the worst of all,
for Judging of the King
As thou sate in White-hall,
beware of an Hempen string.
Repent you traitors all
in City and in town,
95: Justice doth on you call,
King Charles will pull you down.


Your ... curse the day
that ever you did know
Bold Oliver I say,
that traitor, Englands Foe:
he being a Brewers Son
you liquored well your throat,
the Commenty you have undone
Yet now beware a Rope
for climbing up so high
You are sure to have a fall.
the innocent blood doth cry
Down with these Rebells all.


When you had murdered the King
you banished his Wife,
And all the Royall Off-spring
you fought to take their life;
All that true Subjects were
you bid them trattors call.
115: You must to Hide-Park-Fair,
Squire Dun invites you all.
then traitors all look too't.
the Rump cannot you have,
the Gallows will claim her due
use all the skill you have.


Concluding thus I cry
God save our gracious King
From bloody tyranny,
and all the Royall Off-spring,
125: Lord blesse the Duke of York,
brave Generall Monck also,
He is a Noble Spark
against King Charles his foe.
then traitors all repent,
mark we well what here is said,
Your time is almost spent
alack you are all betraid.


FINIS. T. R.



[1] thy] rhy