Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

A Monster to be seen at Westminister

Alexander Brome

“A Monster to be seen at Westminister” as printed in Rump Songs (1662).

Alexander Brome: Collected Lyrics Text 9 1662 · historical text
Public domainPolitical songHistorical song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Rump Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Within this House is to be seen

Such a Monster as hath not been

At any time in England, nay

In Europe, Africk, Asia.

’Tis a Round body, without a Head

Almost three years, yet not dead.

’Tis like that Beast I once did see,

Whose Tayle stood where his Head should be;

And, which was never seen before,

Though’t want a head, ’thas Horns good store,

It has very little hair, and yet

You’l say it has more hair than wit,

’Thas many Eyes and many Eares,

’Thas many Jealousies and Fears,

’Thas many Mouths, and many Hands,

’Tis full of Questions and Commands.

’Tis arm’d with Muskets, Pikes, it fears

Naught in the World but Cavaliers;

’Twas born in England, but begot

Betwixt the English and the Scot.

Though some are of Opinion rather

That the Devil was its Father,

And the City, which is worse,

Was its Mother, and its Nurse.

Some say (though perhaps in scorn)

That it was a Cretan born,

And not unlike, for’t has the fashion

Just as may be of that Nation,

For ’tis a Lyer, none oth’ least;

A slow Belly, an Evil beast;

Of what Religion none can tell,

It much resembles that in Hell.

Some say it is a Jew disguis’d,

And why, because ’tis circumcis’d;

For ’twas deprived long ago

Of many a Member wee well know,

In some points ’tis a Jesuited Priest,

In some it is a Calvinist:

For ’tis not Justify’d, it saith

By Good-works, but by Publick Faith.

Some call’t an Anabaptist: Some

Think now that Antichrist is come.

A Creature of an uncouth kind,

Both for its Body, and its mind:

Make hast and see’t, else ’twill be gon,

For now ’tis sick, and drawing on.

Credits

Written by Alexander Brome

Words by Alexander Brome. Historical text published in Rump Songs (1662); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Rump Songs (1662), “A Monster to be seen at Westminister”

This 1662 collection (Rump: or an Exact Collection of the Choycest Poems and Songs Relating to the Late Times, 1639-1661) is credited to Alexander Brome (died 1666); every contributor died more than 330 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide, and the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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