Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

A Battle! A Battle! (Extended) - 13

And to be sure we never thought
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,

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