The foure ages of England, or, The iron age with other select poems / written by Mr. A. Cowley.

CHAP. VIII.

NOw having us'd the effeminate warr of words, Which did enlarge the jarrs, at length the swords Apparelling themselves in robes of blood, Sate Doctors of the Chaire, which never stood To heare the Cause, but quickly does decide All that comes near, and without skill divide All individuums. 'Tis a fearfull Case, When undiscerning swords have Umpires place: That have two-edg'd to wound, but have no eye To sever Justice from iniquity. When rage and Ignorance shall moderate, That understand no Syllogisms, but straight Turning all method into curst confusion, Majors to Minors, bring both to Conclusion. And now the great Reformists only care Is how to help those miseries which were Of their own rearing Faction, like a Snake, Stings those, from whom it did a quick'ning take. First, all the Kingdome to a need they draw: Then make that need, they 've brought, their only Law This Mint of Lawes stands not on observation Of Statutes fixt (the Birth-right of our Nation) It's turn'd a warlike Councell, and no more A legall Senate, as it was before. Now S••lus Populi begins to be The generall Warrant to all villanie, Of which themselves are Judges; lawlesse need (The conqu'ring Rebell to all Lawes) does plead A priviledge, what e're they say or do, New need still make them act contrary too.

When any injur'd Subjects did complain, These two Lawes paramount could all maintain. Religion too, and fundamentall Lawes Are both o're-ruled by a Law, call'd Cause.