I Love My King and Country Well

From Songs and other Poems by Alex. Brome, Gent.  Published London 1664; written 1645.

I love my King and country well,
      Religion and the laws;
Which I’m mad at the heart that e’er we did sell
      To buy the good old cause.
         These unnatural wars
         And brotherly jars
      Are no delight or joy to me;
         But it is my desire
         That the wars should expire,
      And the King and his realms agree.

I never yet did take up arms,
      And yet I dare to dye;
But I’ll not be seduced by phanatical charms
      Till I know a reason why.
         Why the King and the state
         Should fall to debate
      I ne’er could yet a reason see,
         But I find many one
         Why the wars should be done,
      And the King and his realms agree.

I love the King and the Parliament,
      But I love them both together:
And when they by division asunder are rent,
      I know ’tis good for neither.
         Whichsoe’er of those
         Be victorious,
      I’m sure for us no good ’twill be,
         For our plagues will increase
         Unless we have peace,
      And the King and his realms agree.

The King without them can’t long stand,
      Nor they without the King;
’Tis they must advise, and ’tis he must command,
      For their power from his must spring.
         ’Tis a comfortless sway
         When none will obey;
      If the King han’t his right, which way shall we?
         They may vote and make laws,
         But no good they will cause
      Till the King and his realm agree.

A pure religion I would have,
      Not mixt with human wit;
And I cannot endure that each ignorant knave
      Should dare to meddle with it.
         The tricks of the law
         I would fain withdraw,
      That it may be alike to each degree:
         And I fain would have such
         As do meddle so much,
      With the King and the church agree.

We have pray’d and pray’d that the wars might cease,
      And we be free men made;
I would fight, if my fighting would bring any peace,
      But war is become a trade.
         Our servants did ride
         With swords by their side,
      And made their masters footmen be;
         But we’ll be no more slaves
         To the beggars and knaves
      Now the King and the realms do agree.