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⟨His⟩ gripping claws were made of steel,
⟨They⟩ were so crooked, hard and sharp,
⟨They⟩ pierc'd men s sustance to the heart;
⟨The⟩ king's commission while he did bear,
⟨Then⟩ lost their conscience, life or gear:
⟨But⟩ Charles too soon him discarded;
⟨Yet⟩ I his kindness well rewarded,
⟨And⟩ this I hope he'll not deny,
⟨Once⟩ now he lives as well as I
FLETCHER, my friend, he was the first,
⟨As⟩ advocate, who did insist
⟨Against⟩ the Whigs, in the king's name,
⟨To⟩ bring them to an open shame:
⟨Charles⟩ my son did him install,
⟨To⟩ bring these rebels under thrall,
⟨Who⟩ still for covenants were pleading,
⟨To⟩ justify their old proceeding:
⟨He⟩ labour'd very earnestly
⟨To⟩ please his sovereign and me,
⟨By⟩ rooting out base Presbyt'ry
⟨And⟩ planting noble Prelacy;
⟨By⟩ banishing some far away,
⟨That⟩ us'd my dictates to gainsay;
⟨By⟩ sumptuous fines, making them poor;
⟨That⟩ never could my yoke endure;
⟨By⟩ shutting up in prison strong
⟨These⟩ men who did my interest wrong;
⟨And⟩ thirsting so the blood of them
⟨Who⟩ did my government contemn:
⟨His⟩ malice was so set on fire,
⟨That⟩ nothing could quench his desire,
⟨And⟩ Argyll, mine enemy,
⟨Was⟩ brought condignly for to die;
⟨And⟩ Guthery who did me oppose,
⟨By⟩ hanging he his days did close,
⟨And⟩ Wariston the worst of all,
B
