Poetical Works of Edmund Waller and Sir John Denham

A Western Wonder

1 Do you not know, not a fortnight ago,
    How they bragg’d of a Western Wonder?
  When a hundred and ten slew five thousand men,
    With the help of lightning and thunder?

2 There Hopton was slain, again and again,
    Or else my author did lie;
  With a new thanksgiving, for the dead who are living,
    To God, and his servant Chidleigh.

3 But now on which side was the miracle tried?
    I hope we at last are even;
  For Sir Ralph and his knaves are risen from their graves,
    To cudgel the clowns of Devon.

4 And there Stamford came, for his honour was lame
    Of the gout three months together;
  But it proved, when they fought, but a running gout,
    For his heels were lighter than ever.

5 For now he outruns his arms and his guns,
    And leaves all his money behind him;
  But they follow after; unless he take water,
    At Plymouth again they will find him.

6 What Reading hath cost, and Stamford hath lost,
    Goes deep in the sequestrations;
  These wounds will not heal, with your new great seal,
    Nor Jephson’s declarations.

7 Now, Peters and Case, in your prayer and grace,
    Remember the new thanksgiving;
  Isaac and his wife, now dig for your life,
   Or shortly you’ll dig for your living.