Samuel Butler (1612–1680)

OUR brethren of New England use

Choice malefactors to excuse,

And hang the guiltless in their stead,

Of whom the churches have less need;

As late it happened in a town

Where lived a cobbler, and but one,

That out of doctrine could cut use,

And mend men’s lives as well as shoes.

This precious brother having slain

In times of peace an Indian,

Not out of malice, but mere zeal,

Because he was an infidel;

The mighty Tottipotimoy

Sent to our elders an envoy,

Complaining loudly of the breach

Of league held forth by brother Patch,

Against the articles in force

Between both churches, his and ours;

For which he craved the saints to render

Into his hands, or hang the offender.

But they maturely having weighed

They had no more but him of the trade,

A man that served them in the double

Capacity to teach and cobble,

Resolved to spare him; yet to do

The Indian Hogan Mogan too

Impartial justice, in his stead did

Hang an old weaver that was bedrid.