Crispin'S Answer

Much pleased am I, that you approve Freedom's blest cause that brought me here: Ireland I loved--but there they strove To make me bend to King and Peer.

I could not bow to noble knaves, Who Equal Rights to men deny: Scornful, I left a land of slaves, And hither came, my axe to ply:

The axe has well repaid my toil-- No king, no priest, I yet espy To tythe my hogs, to tax my soil, And suck my whiskey bottle dry.

In foreign lands what snares are laid! There royal rights all right defeat; They taxed my sun, they taxed my shade, They taxed the offal that I eat.

They taxed my hat, they taxed my shoes, Fresh taxes still on taxes grew; They would have taxed my very nose, Had I not fled, dear friends, to you.