But full amazed was he to see
The good Sir John depart;
For blessings flowed from many a lip
And sighs from many a heart.
“Good lack!” quoth he, “but this is strange
Which I do now behold,
For that Sir John most hated was
In England we were told!”
And then he made a little speech,
And said he’d let them know,
What his instructions fully were
He meant to them to show.
It happened then our worthy knights
Were met in Parliament,
And unto them a copy neat
Of the despatch he sent.
And then they blustered and they fumed
And acted as if mad,
And said though things were bad before,
They now were twice as bad.
And then they asked that from their ranks
Six Councillors he’d choose—
Six men of wisdom, whose advice
In all behests he’d use.
To humour them he did his best,
And quickly tried the plan, sir:
But quite as quickly he found out
That it would never answer.
He said, “One law shall be my guide,
From which I’ll never swerve—
The Constitution I’ll uphold
With all my might and nerve.”
So shortly to the right-about
He sent them in a hurry,
Which caused among their loving friends
A most outrageous flurry.
The House was filled with witty chaps,
Who of a joke were fond;
They thought it would be mighty fine
To ask him for a “Bond.”