Our brethren of New England use <br />Choice malefactors to excuse, <br />And hang the guiltless in their stead, <br />Of whom the churches have less need; <br />As late it happened in a town <br />Where lived a cobbler, and but one, <br />That out of doctrine could cut use, <br />And mend men's lives as well as shoes. <br />This precious brother having slain <br />In times of peace an Indian, <br />Not out of malice, but mere zeal, <br />Because he was an infidel; <br />The mighty Tottipotimoy <br />Complaining loudly of the breach <br />Of league held forth by brother Patch, <br />Against the articles in force <br />Between both churches, his and ours; <br />For which he craved the saints to render <br />Into his hands, or hang the offender. <br />But they maturely having weighed <br />They had no more but him of the trade, <br />A man that served them in the double <br />Capacity to spare him; yet to do <br />The Indian Hogan Mogan too <br />Impartial justice, in his stead did <br />Hang an old weaver that was bedrid.<br /><br />Samuel Butler<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/puritans-from-hudibras/
