| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910. | | | | The Commons’ Petition to King Charles II. | | By John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (1647–1680) |
| | | IN all humanity, we crave | |
| Our Sovereign may be our slave; | |
| And humbly beg, that he may be | |
| Betrayed by us most loyally; | |
| And if he please once to lay down | 5 |
| His sceptre, dignity, and crown; | |
| We’ll make him, for the time to come, | |
| The greatest Prince in Christendom! | |
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The King’s Answer
Charles, at this time, having no need, | |
| Thanks you as much as if he did. | 10 | | | |
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