Independent Journal, Or, The General Advertiser

A gentleman in England, hearing that a clergyman in his neighbourhood had in his possession, a silver medal of Oliver Cromwell, sent to know what he valued it at. The clergyman demanded a guinea for it. The gentleman dispatched his footman immediately with the money; and the parson, pleased with his extraordinary bargain, sent the medal, together with the following copy of verses, viz.

"I wonder, dear sir, it amazes my soul,
To think how you value the face of old Noll;
The pleasure how great, while you look on the phiz!
As great in your own, as the horror in his.

The die, true is good: 'tis as strong and as bold
As the man; yet can't equal the lustre of gold.
Not long since the piece to a parson was given
To be laid out in purchase of treasure in heaven.

'Twas given an instance to bring up a youth,
In old English virtue, and old Christian truth.
Be acquainted with these, sir, to honor they tend,
And from them you will learn to be in the end
To a monarch a servant, to a monarch a friend;
Consult your good grand sire, 'tis now his advice,
(He who from a rebel grew loyal and wise)
If the parson you won't, the relation believe;
Should the living deign it, the dead won't deceive."

Upon the receipt of which the gentleman returned the following answer, in the same style, viz.

"In answer, dear Orthodox, to thy bright letter,
Accept of a dull one for want of a better;
I could tell you in prose, without much ado,
What I think of myself—what I think too of you:
But I'm cramp'd so for rhymes to rack to my song,
You'd wear my pen's tam'ned as much as my tongue;
However, as well as my muse will give leave
I'll send you an abstract of what I believe.

I'm a friend to a king that's a friend to the laws,
And freely would hazard my life in his cause;
Such a king as the present who bravely disdains
To truckle to black coats and wear parsons' chains;
While you and the rest of the bigoted crew,
Preach obedience to none but who'll obey you.

I believe in the Bible, and all Christ did preach;
But my faith won't extend to all that you teach:
I scorn to take principles merely on trust,
'Till reason not parsons, have told me they're just,
You sell us reversions in heaven for pelf,
But shew me the parson who bought one himself;
They reverence too much our silver and gold,
Nay, your predecessor, as Tom has been told,
For bare thirty shillings his Saviour has sold.

And as for the sneer on old Oliver's face,
Was he but alive to resent the grimace
You'd be glad to be off by kissing his—"

*It was given to the Clergyman by way of entrance with a boarder, placed with him for education.
The gentleman's grandfather was Colonel Venables.