Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/148

138, for beſides my harlots in ſervice, my Reformado Concubines lie heavy upon me. I have a paſſable good eſtate, I confeſs, but, God’s-fiſh, I have a great charge upon’t. Here’s my lord treaſurer can tell, that all the money deſigned for next ſummer’s guards muſt, of neceſſity, be applyed to the next year’s cradles and ſwadling-cloths. What ſhall we do for ſhips then? I hint this only to you, it being your buſineſs, not mine. I know, by experience, I can live without ſhips. I lived ten years abroad without, and never had my health better in my life; but how you will be without, I leave to yourſelves to judge, and therefore hint this only by the by: I do not inſiſt upon it. There’s another thing I muſt preſs more earneſtly, and that is this: It ſeems, a good part of my revenue will expire in two or three years, except you will be pleaſed to continue it. I have to ſay for’t; pray why did you give me ſo much as you have done, unleſs you reſolve to give as faſt as I call for it? The nation hates you already for giving ſo much, and I’ll hate you too, if you do not give me more. So that if you ſtick not to me, you muſt not have a friend in England. On the other hand, if you will give me the revenue I deſire, I ſhall be able to do thoſe things for your religion and liberty, that I have had long in my thoughts, but cannot effect them without a little more money to carry me through. Therefore look to’t, and take notice, that if you do not make me rich enough to undo you, it ſhall lie at your doors. For my part, I waſh my hands on’t. But that I may gain your good opinion, the beſt way is to acquaint you what I have done to deſerve it, out of my royal care for your religion and your property. For the firſt, my proclamation is a true picture of my mind. He that cannot, as in a glaſs, ſee my zeal for the church of England, does not deſerve any farther ſatisfaction, for I declare him willful, abominable, and not good. Some may,