His wisdom such, at once it did appear
Three kingdoms'wonder, and three kingdoms' fear,
Whilst' single he stood forth, and seem'd, altho'
Each had an army, as an equal foe.
Such was his force of eloquence, to make
The hearers more concern'd than he that spake.
Each seem'd to act that part he came to see,
And none was more a looker on than he.
So did he move our passions, some were known
To wish, for the defence, the crime their own.
Now private pity strove with public hate,
Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate,
Now they could him if he could them forgive;
He's not too guilty, but too wise to live : [bore
Less seem those facts which Treason's nickname
Than such a fear'd ability for more.
They after death their fears of him express,
His innocence and their own guilt confess.
Their legislative frenzy they repent,
Enacting it should make no precedent.
This fate he could have 'scap'd, but would not lose
Honour for life, but rather nobly chose
Death from their fears than safety from his own,
That his last action all the rest might crown,
AND MY JOURNEY INTO POLAND. From whence we brought 10,0001. for his Majesty,
by the decimution of his Scottish subjects there.
Gentle bell ! for the soul
Of the pure onez in Pole,
Which are damn'd in our scroll..
Who having felt a touch
Of Cockram's greedy clutch,
Which tho' it was not much,
Yet their stubbornness was such,
III.
That when we did arrive,
Gainst the stream we did strive;
They would neither lead nor drive;
IV.
Nor lend
An ear to a friend,
Nor an answer would send
To our letter so well penn'd;
Nor assist our affairs
With their monies nor their wares,
As their answer now declares,
But only with their prayers.
VI.
Thus they did persist,
Did and said what they list,
Till the diet was dismist;
But then our breech they kista
VII.
For when
It was mov'd there and then
They should pay one in ten,
The diet said, Amen.
VIII,
And because they are loath
To discover the troth,
They must give word and oath,
Tho' they will forfeit both.
IX.
Thus the constitution
Condemns them every one,
From the father to the son.
X.
But John
Our friend Mollesson)
Thought us to have outgone
With a quaint invention.
Like the prophets of yore,
He complain'd long before
Of the mischiefs in store,
Aye, and thrice as much more.
XII.
And with that wicked lie
A letter they came by
From our king's Majesty.
XIII,
But Fate
Brought the letter too late;
"Twas of too old a date
To relieve their damn'd state.
XIV. The letter's to be seen, With seal of wax so green, At Dantzig, where 't has been Turn'd into good Latin.
But he that gave the hint
This letter for to print
Must also pay his stint.
XVI.
That trick,
Had it come in the nick,
Had touch'd us to the quick;
But the messenger fell sick.
XVII.
Had it later been wrote,
And sooner been brought,
They had got what they sought;
But now it serves for nought.
XVIII.
On Sandys * they ran aground,
And our return was crown'd
With full ten thousand pound.
RETURN FROM VENICE,
AND MR. WILLIAM MURREY'S ;
Our resident Tom
From Venice is come,
And hath left the statesman behind him;
Talks at the same pitch,
Is as wise, is as rich;
And just where you left him you find him.
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