A Battle! A Battle! - 8
The sin lay most in being caught.
Let whatsoever monarch reign,
Passive obedience we maintain.
To men in pow’r we shew our distance,
And aid the king by non-assistance.
But yet it can’t be always fitting
To bring disputes into our meeting,
As whether friends, upon occasion,
And when they hear of an invasion,
May not take arms in their defence,
And yet preserve their innocence.
We have learn’d many (when at school)
Exceptions to a special rule,
By which ’tis plain, they may be right,
Whether they do, or do not fight.
And so we hope there’s no transgression
Although they are of our profession.
By a vile false insinuation
In an unsigned declaration,
To give their spleen and malice vent,
These fellows, things misrepresent.
Who in a hostile mood came down
To butcher us, and burn the town.
Away with all their tricks and quirks,
Of records found in county Birks;
‘Tis nought but sham and vile pretence
To blacken spotless innocence.
How dare they say we tyrannize?
And are mere wolves, in lambs disguise;
Our conduct sure they do not know,
Or else ’tis base to use us so.
For us, we value not a louse,
A seat in the assembly house:
We would have all our: friends resign,
If their authority decline.
