THIS is an Age of Riddles, the World is becoms a mere Fairy-Land, inhabit­ed by Chimera's Monsters, Elfes and Changelings; Men act as if were at Cross pur­poses, and therefore wonder not if the Press brings for Parables.

The late Prevarication and Flight of a cer­tain Overseer of the Levites in a small Island, puts me in mind of a Tale, which is not to be found in all Aeasop's Fables, and yet it runs much after the same manner. Take it as follows:

There was a time when all the Birds in the Air were summon'd to swear Allegiance to the EAGLE, whom by unanimous consent, they had chosen to be their King. The OSTRIDG who reign'd over them before, having deserted his Government, (as is the manner of that un­natural Bird,) and so the Throne vacant. Now the EAGLE had gain'd the Hearts and Affecti­ons of all the feather'd Kinds: The Falcons, Herns, Storks, Swallows, Larks, and inumerable other sorts of High-flying Birds came in and took the Oath, especially the Black-birds, were very promt and ready to give all the Demon­strations of their Loyalty they were capable of. To these joyn'd the Nightingales, and Thrushes, a harmless chearful sort of Birds, that were al­ways merry in the midst of Afflictions, and wou'd sing best when pric'k with Briers and Thorns. They all swore Loyalty to the EAGLE. charpt and carol'd his Praises, so that the Hills and Valleys, Forest and Plains, echo'd his Re­nown: they also formed themselves into Troops, and had the over sight of all inferior Magpies, and follow'd him to the Wars; for the abdicat­ed OSTRICH having fled to the VƲLTƲRE for protection, and made a League with Him, came with huge Armies and invaded the Eagles Dominions; But the Black birds, Nightingales and Thrushes, as I have said, stood firm to Him, and drove away his Enemies, being resolved never to forsake Him, till they have subdued the: OSTRICH and the VƲLTƲRE, with all that adhere to them.

Now among all the Birds that lived under the Eagles Government; none were so Treacherous and Disloyal as some MAGPIES, a Bird of two colours, Double-tongu'd, and much addicted to Quibbles and mental Reser­vations; yet some of these took the Oath of Allegiance to the EAGLE: But others stood out, and chatter'd against it, squinting at all such as took it. There was one Old One that had his Nest by a River-side, he was the Ring­leader of the Nonswearing MAGPIE, a surly Old Maggot that wou'd not come near the EAGLES Court, nor so much as chatter out a How-d'ye to Him, but kept hiving in's Nest under pretence of Illness. To him there re­sorted daily the other Non-swearing MAGPIES, with great numbers of Jack-daws, Rooks, Swallows and Martins, that the MAGPIES had drawn into their Sedition. From him they re­ceiv'd Instructions, and took there Masures, how to behave themselves in their their several respective Districts, (for some of them were DIGNIFY'D MAGPIES, Jackdaws, Rooks, Swallows, and Martins, in such and such a Province of the Eagles Do­minions,) and when they had sufficiently learn'd their Cue, away they flew to their Charges, and made it their business to preach up Non-swearing, Non obeying, Non. fighting, &c. as formerly they had done Non-resisting; for all their Doctrines ran upon Nons and Negatives, the Daughters of Passive Obedinece.

By these Arts they drew to their Party great Numbers of Geese, Owls, Buzzards, and such like silly birds, who flutter'd together at certain times, and kept their Night Cabals, plotting Treason against the EAGLE, and contriving how to restore the Abdicated OSTRICH to the Crown. To this end, they held a private Cor­respondence [Page 2]with Him, and the VULTURE inviting them to send an Army to invade the EAGLES Dominions, and promising them all manner of Assistance and readiness to join with them at their first Appearance:

Amongst the rest of the Dignify'd MAGPIES concern'd in this Plot, there was one arch Wagg more active than the rest, who having learn'd the way of training up Pigeons to carry Let­ters (as usual at Aleppo and Babylon,) write two Letters, one to the OSTRICH, and another to his Mate. The Tenor whereof is as follows:

After Margery had writ these Letters, (for you must note by the way, that these things were done, when Birds and Beasts were as good Scholars as men,) he began to whit his Bill, plum his Feathers, and hop about, to the Tune of Packington's Pound. He thought he had conquer'd the World, and got both the Indies in his Claws. But alack and well-a-day! the Pidgeon that carry'd 'em was seiz'd and all the Roguery discover'd, and poor MAG was fain to hop out of sight fort. For the EAGLE had a Cock belonging to him, who was very wake­ful, and his Name was Chanticleer: This Cock had always a shrewd Eye to the MAGPIES, and their Gang; he watch'd all their motions, so that they could hardly mute, but he was privy to't. 'Twas he that seizjd on the Pidgeon, and brought him to the EAGLES Palace, loa­den with Letters to the OSTRICH and the VULTURE; among the Rest were these two of Margeries own Penning. Upon which Margery very prudently changed Colours, and turn'd his White and Black into a deep Red, and so flew away toward the VULTURE'S Territo­ries, there to Chatter at large the Contents of his Fawning Letters.

This MAGPY had the Charecter of a flat­tering, selfish perfidious, insinuating Bird. He it was that formerly Crown'd the OSTRICH, & be­ing afterwards discontented at the OSTRICHE'S [Page 3]Government, with others of his Feather, sent and invited the EAGLE to come and rescue them from the OSTRICHE'S Tyranny: But as soon as he had gratify'd them in that, and the EAGLE had by the general consent of all the Birds, taken possession of the OSTRICHE'S va­cant Throne, this False hearted MAGPY and his Complices turn tail squint at his Proceed­ings, slight his Favour, and make such a Chat­tering, that all the honest Birds were justly of­fended at the Noise. Yet some of the OS­TRICHE'S Creatures began to listen to them with delight, and such Artifice was used, that many simple, well-meaning Birds, were delud­ed into the MAGPIES Faction.

It ought to be remember'd here, That there was an old Grudge between the MAGPIES and the BLACK-BIRDS, the former being con­scious of the harsh, grating Noise they made, envy'd and persecuted the latter with their Followers, the Nightingales and Thrushes, be­cause of the sweet harmonious Notes they sung in the Woods and Groves, which drew all the Birds, into Admiration of their Melody! So that multitudes of the MAGPIES Party aban­don'd them, and went over to the Black-Birds: Nay, some of the MAGS themselves were so en­amour'd of the Black-Birds Musick and innocent manner of like that they voluntarily under­went a Metamorphisis and became Black-Birds: But there were but a few of these, and they were of the inferiour MAGPIES. However, the great ones were highly incens'd at this De­sertion of some of their own Feather, and whole Coveys of their Followers. Whereupon they got the OSTRICHES, EAGLES, or whosoe­ver was King of the Birds at that time, to e­rect. High-Commission Coarts, Star-Chambers, and other Seats of Judicature, whither the Black Birds were cited, and there were sencenc'd to Imprisonment, pecuniary Mulcts, and whatso­ever else the MAGPIES pleas'd to inflict on them. This grew in time to be a great Grie­vance in the Common-wealth of Birds; so that in process of time, these Animosities were im­prov'd into a Civil War During which the Cheif MAGPY (even the Predecessor of him whom I before mention'd, the Old surly Non-swearing MAGPY, whose Nest was by a River­side,) lost his Head, for endeavouring to force the Black Birds to wear his Colours, and for other illegal Impositions against the Laws of Nature, and the general sense of all the Birds in the Air. After him, the whole Generation of MAGPIES went to Pot, except such as won'd turn Black Birds.

But in twelve years time the MAGPIE'S Interest fac'd about again, and they fell to their old Trade of Domineering, Persecuting, and Tyrannizing over the Black Birds. Which continu'd till the OSTRICH came to be Crown'd; when he for his own Ends took the Lash out of the MAGPIES CLAWS, at which they chatter'd and shapt, with their Bills, huff'd and bounc'd; and tho they themselves had brought the OSTRICH to the Throne, yet now they grew weary of Him, and never wou'd be at quiet, till they had chased him away again, and brought the EAGLE to the Crown; and because he wou'd not countenance their oppression of the Black Birds, therefore they forsook him also, and his Interest, and en­deavour'd to calumniate the Loyalty, Service and Zeal of the Blackbirds, who stood stoutly to him at all turns.

During these Bickerings and ill Offices be­tween the MAGPIES and the Black Birds, it was thought convenient, that a Publick Con­vocation of the former, shou'd be call'd for an Accomodation. But all came to nothing; for the Prosocuter of the MAGPIES, having scrap'd the Ground with his Reverend Claws, and almost kiss'd it with a submissiive Bow of his learned Noddle; made an Oration to this Effect, That if the least Feather or Straw were pluck'd out of their old weather beaten Nest, all wou'd either fall to the ground, or be blown away by the Wind, and so their young ones would be forc'd to take shelter in the Black Birds Quarters. To this eloquent: Harangue, the rest of the MAGPIES all said Amen And so the matter lies where it did before, between two Stools. Sub judice Lis est. Yet 'tis thought that if the Black Birds could but obtain a fair and equal hearing of their Cause, they would soon make the MAGPIES asham'd of their Ty­rannous, proud, covetous Actions; and con­vince the World that those Pre-bald Birds re­garded nothing, but the satisfaction of their Ambitious Designs, Self-will, Lust and Avarice.

These running PIES will not always appear above board themselves, but are in Fee with Hawks, Falcons, and such like Birds of Prey, who are their Setters for any Game. Thus they once employ'd a hundred and seventeen of these Ravenous Birds to joyn in a Petition to the Eagle's Grand Council of State, against the Phoenix, who was made Governour over [Page 4]the Eagle's Chief Grove, and had kept his place for two years together, but because he was a faithful Friend, and Loyal Subject to the Eagle, and was entring upon his third year of Govern­ment, the Magpies chatter'd, and set the Hawks and Falcons to scream against him, who disgorg'd a world of false and frivolous Accu­sations in the Council House, but all came to nothing, for that Loyal Senate would not coun­tenance the Envious Calumnies of Male-con­tents. This made the MAGPIES and the rest of their Gang stark mad, to see the Phoenix shine brighter for their Persecution: So now they resolv'd to hazard all at once, and make quick work on't. The Ostrich must be sent for over in all haste, and the more to encourage him, the invited him to come as soon as the Eagle was gone to visit some of his Allies and Friends abroad. Now the MAGPIES hopt about, longing for the day when the Eagle would take his flight beyond Sea, being then in their own Conceits, cock-sure of restoring the OSTRICH again to his Crown. But as I have told you before, poor Pilgarlick the Pi­geon that was to carry the News to the Ostrich, was caught in a Gin, with Two of his Compa­nions, and out came all the Treason. These were all try'd for their Lives, and one of them was condemn'p to be choak'd with Hemp-seed. Now when the day of Execution was come, this Pigeon fell sick with the very smell of the Hempseed, and desir'd that a certain MAGPY a Friend of his, would chatter over a Form of Prayer that was used among the MAGPIES in the Visitation of the Sick. So the Magpy chatter'd, and the Pigeon coo'd, and having finish [...]d their Devotions, the Pigeon very orderly took his Hempseed, which soon spoil'd his cooing for ever after, to the great grief of the Magpies and their Gang. It would even grieve ones Heart to see how the MAGPIES sneakt about a [...]ter this fatal Blow? How humble and downish they look'd, not jetting it along as they us'd to do, and looking over your head, but in a more submissive posture, like good your Worship on a Wooden Leg, or like an Owl in an Ivy-Bush, that cares not to be seen. Alas poor Mag! A Cup of Sack for Mag! Mag's a Rogue, ah poor Mag, Mag, Mag, not a word of the Pud­ding. Mag's at hide and seek; and all the Gang are in a Spiritual Maze, as mute as Mum chance, that was hang'd for saying of nothing. What is become of the seven Golden Candle­sticks? Why, by my Sol Man, I'st believe they'l aw [...]turn Prince's Metal in a short time, or the D—hale 'em by the Bread Lugs to H—

Good morrow Mr. Mayor of Queenborough. Slap, says the Casement, down falls the leaden two pence. Confound your Worship, SIR.