can bear a nearer Refemblance to this Rump Bone than the present Parliament, that has been fo many Years dead and rotten under Ground to any Man's thinking, that the Ghosts of fome of the Members thereof have tranfmigrated into other Parliaments, and fome into those Parts from whence there is no Redemption, should nevertheless at two several and respective Refurrections start up, like the Dragon's Teeth that were sown, into living, natural, and carnal Members? And hence it is, I suppose, that Physicians and Anatomists call this Bone Os facrum, or the holy Bone.

The Egyptians in their Hieroglyphics decyphered a Prince by a Bee: now a Bee, you know, does carry not only his Militia or Defence, but his whole politic Interest in his Tail; for when he has loft his Sting he is presently banished that well order'd Government, as an unpro=fitable Member and a Drone.

in, as he is there defcribed, in the utmost Fear and Haste, could have a Mind at Liberty enough to descant, in the manner upon the Subject.

The learned Rabbins of the Jews
Write there's a Bone, which they call Luz, &c.

VOL. I.

Hud. P. 3. C. 2. V. 1615.

Y

The Greeks call Rule or Empire Βασίλεια, as the Etymologists tell us, because it is Baσ15 78 Aar, the Base or Fundament of the People: for as the Rump or Bum in the natural Body is called the Fundament, because it is the Foundation on which all the reft of the Members depend; fo is the State and Government in the Body politic.

The Philofophers fay, that a Man is a Tree inverted, and that his Head is the Root, by which he takes in his Nourishment, and his Arms and Legs the Branches-If that be true, it must follow that his Rump is the Head.

It is a Custom of the Eastern Kings to vail their Faces from public View, only to avoid proftituting the Majefty of their Persons to common Eyes; and what is that more than the universal Custom of all Nations and Ages hath always carefully obferved to the Rump? And therefore, when the Philiflines refolved to put the highest indignity upon David's Embaffadors, they could not think of a way more ignominious than to cut their Garments above their Buttocks, and by that means to render those

reverend Parts cheap and despicable in the Eyes of the Rabble.

Some are of Opinion, that Honour is feated in that Part only, chiefly at least: for it is observed, that a small Kick on that Part does more hurt and wound Honour, than a cut on the Head or Face, or a Stab or Shot of a Piftol on any other Part of the Body. And hence it is, that in all Combats all the rest of the Members are ready to expose themselves to any Danger to fcreen the Breech; as if the whole outward Man were but a Life-Guard to that Part and he, that by turning his Back, exposes that to Danger, is ever after branded with the ignominious Name of a Coward.

The ancient Heroes were wont to wear Horfe Tails in their Helmets, as our young Gallants do Ostrich Tails in their Hats; from whence we may infer, that it hath been the Confent of all Ages, that the Head can receive no greater Ornament than that which is conferred on it by the Tail. And in all funeral Pomps and public Shews, he that hath the longest Tail to his Robe is understood to be the moft honou

rable Perfon; and, therefore, when Oliver Cromwel was to be inftalled, his Robe had a Tail of fix Yards long, which was born up by fix young Noblemen, merely in Honour to that Part, in Contemplation whereof the Charge was bestowed; for all the other Parts bore a nearer Proportion to the Body.

Is not the Chair the most honourable Part of the Parliament? Then that which fits in it muft of neceffity be the most honourable Part of the Speaker. It is an Axiom in Philosophy levia furfum, gravia deorfum, and can any thing imaginable be more grave than fo venerable a Senate? And hence, I fuppofe, the Wisdom of our Ancestors called it the lower-Houfe, in relation to the Place it held in the Government. All Birds in the Air, and Fishes in the Sea guide themselves with their Tails, from the Leviathan to the Sprat; and the most famous of our modern Philofophers hath of late made a Difcovery, that Leviathan and Republic are all

one.

The greatest Honour, that can be given to Man, is either to go before, or fit above others -In fitting the whole Honour is conferred on

the Breech; and in going before, the Breech is more immediately waited upon than any other Part, and therefore receives the greater Refpect

And from all this I doubt not but by this Time it plainly appears, that the Rump, as I faid before, is not only the most honourable, but most apt and proper Name, that can be given to those, whofe only Business is to fit.