Poem by Alexander Brome

The Levellers Rant

         Written in 1648.

1.

TO the Hall, to the hall,
For justice we call,
On the King and his pow'rful adherents & friends,
Who still have endeavoured, but we work their ends.
'Tis we will pull down what e're is above us,
And make them to fear us, that never did love us;
We'l level the proud, and make every degree
To our Royalty bow the knee;
'Tis no less then treason
'Gainst freedom and Reason
For our brethren to be higher than we.

2.

First the thing, call'd a King,
To judgement we bring,
And the spawn of the Court, that were prouder then he,
And next the two Houses united shall be,
It does to the Romish religion enveagle;
For the State to be two headed like the spread-eagle
We'l purge the superfluous Members away,
They are too many Kings to sway,
And as we all teach;
'Tis our Liberties breach,
For the Free-born Saints to obey.

3.

Not a Claw, in the Law,
Shall keep us in aw;
We'l have no cushion-cuffers to tell us of hell;
For we are all gifted to do it as well;
'Tis freedom that we do hold forth to the Nation,
To enjoy our fellow-creatures as at the creation:
The Carnal mens wives are for men of the spirit,
Their wealth is our own by merit;
For we that have right,
By the Law called Might,
Are the Saints that must judge and inherit.

1. To his Mistress (LAdy you'l wonder when you see)
2. The Damosel
3. On the Queens Arrival
4. On the Kings Return
5. Plain Dealing

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