Page:Elegy in memory of that valiant champion, Sir R. Grierson, late Laird of Lag, who died Dec. 23d, 1733.pdf/9

9 Men lost their conscience, life, and gear,

But Charles too soon him discarded,

Yet I his kindness well rewarded;

And this I hope he'll not deny,

Since now he lives as well as I.

Fletcher, my friend, he was the first

Advocate who did insist

Against the Whigs in the king's name,

To bring-them to an open shame;

Charles my son did him instal,

To bring these rebels under thral,

Who still for covenants were pleading,

To justify their old proceeding.

He laboured very earnestly

To please his sovereign and me,

By rooting out brave Presbytery,

And planting noble Prelacy;

By shutting up in prison strong

These men who did my interest wrong,

And thristing for the blood of them

Who did my government contemn;

His malice was so set on fire

That nothing could quench his desire,

Until Argyle, mine enemy,

Was brought condignly for to die;

And Guthrie, who did me oppose,

By hanging he his days did close;

And Warriston, the worst of all,

By my friend Fletcher he did fall:

Thus wonderfully he did please me,

When of these rebels he did ease me;

For which good service he doth sit

Among the princes of my pit.

And my dear cousin, Provost Mill,