7
My sceptre he did bravely sway,
And punish’d those that did gainsay,
By tortures that were most severe,
By prisoning and loss of gear;
And cruel murders many a way,
Because they from my laws did stray.
But kindness he did ever bear
To all the Popish far and near:
No Pope in Rome did ever dwell
That could this noble prince excel.
For in a word, he did advance
My kingdom more than Rome or France:
Neither Spain nor Germany,
Had so much true zeal for me.
He reigned long, but at the last,
His brother York gave him a cast;
He poison’d him, and made him die,
And sent him home to my country,
To Tophet that’s both wide and large,
Which he choos’d for his heritage.
Great Middleton, that man of might,
My service he did never slight;
To work he furiously did go,
The covenants to overthrow.
He like Nehushtan did them treat,
Like almanacks that’s out of date;
He did rescind their force and power,
And solemnly made them abjure:
He nullified all acts and laws
That favour’d the scripture cause;
And ruin’d many a family,
For nought but non-conformity:
If hirelings they would not hear,
Their purse he punish’d most severe.
