23
⟨He⟩ ever loyal was and true,
⟨And⟩ his allegiance did renew;
⟨And⟩ for my sake did hatred bear,
⟨By⟩ many a person far and near.
⟨The⟩ kirk by excommunication,
⟨Did⟩ banish him out of their region,
⟨Because⟩ he would not satisfy
⟨Them⟩ for his vile adultery.
⟨Of⟩ this sentence he was content;
⟨He⟩ never play'd the penitent,
⟨For⟩ he no ill in it could see,
⟨Since⟩ they deliver'd him to me.
⟨For⟩ he well knew that I could thole,
⟨His⟩ vices all without controul,
⟨That⟩ he should have peace and ease,
⟨In⟩ doing things that I do please:
⟨Altho'⟩ they frighted him with terror,
⟨He⟩ was not brought to such an error,
⟨As⟩ to forsake his former way,
⟨Or⟩ in the least from me to stray.
⟨He⟩ clave as close unto my law
⟨As⟩ any man I ever saw;
⟨In⟩ atheism he his days did spend,
⟨Until⟩ his time drew near an end.
⟨Then⟩ for the fashion he did say,
⟨That⟩ he was of the Popish way;
⟨Because⟩ a priest made him believe,
⟨That⟩ he to him would pardon give;
⟨And⟩ would from Purgatory bring
⟨Him⟩ to a place where he would sing;
⟨But⟩ that was but a forged lie
⟨For⟩ Lag lives hot and bien with me.
⟨It⟩ was a spite he money gave
⟨Unto⟩ the priest, that greedy slave;
