Aspects of Kentish Local History

unsigned here, are attributed in one of Henry's numerous notebooks to Charles Nichols and are characteristic of his style.
   "Thy heart-enamouring strains did they but see,
   The Nunneries would all unpeopl'd be:
   Despising Cloysters, Abbesses would throng
   About thee, for to beg a Marriage Song."

Half a dozen lines, neatly turned, are contributed by Dr. Thomas Williams, of Elham:
   "Prose first conjoyn'd them both till their last Breath,
   But in your Verse, they'r wedded after death."

Three short anonymous poems, not improbably written by Henry Birkhead, are followed by the author's address to the Reader, combining judicious compliment on the imminent restoration of the monarchy with congratulations to the bride and bridegroom:
   "Reader, here is exposed to thine eye
   How (by Heaven authoriz'd) Monarchie
   Excels not only rude Democratie
   But also choicest Aristocratie.
   Here also thou maist see, if thou canst see,
   A gift Divine, ev'n Basil Dorothie."

The poem is evidently written currente calamo, and shows throughout signs of hurried composition in rhyme and doubtful grammar, while its twofold thread of bridal felicitation and comment on current affairs is but clumsily intertwined. The poet's remarks on Love's single-heartedness lead abruptly into a dissertation on the fickle
   "multitude,
   of faith and spirits barbarous, base and rude".

The bridegroom Basil quickly becomes a figure-head attentive to Henry's vigorous polemic. His
   "high worth disdains
   The scurrilous humor of such frantick brains .........
   And Hocus Pocus long breath'd Sycophants
   Who in such cunning manner set the Plants
   Of Treason and Sedition, that they grow
   Fast'ning their Roots as deep as Hell below ............
   (Who cloak their crimes in Hoods of holiness
   And take God's name to cover wickedness,
   Are double Villains, and the Hypocrite
   Is most—most odious in God's glorious sight)."