Perhaps the "John" ought to be "Thomas;" for I find, on the same page of my Common-place Book, the following:
"Dear Lady, think it no reproach,
It show'd a generous mind,
To take poor Thomas in the coach,
Who rode before behind.
"Dear Lady, think it no reproach,
It show'd you lov'd the more,
To take poor Thomas in the coach,
Who rode behind before."
Scrapiana.