The HISTORY of the most famous and most renowned JANNY GEDDES.  
WHEN Janny Geddes, well did mark,  
Black Papery, wrapped, in a white Sark;  
Just when the Service did begin,  
The Belldam, thought it, all o'er, Sin;  
Then, up she took, her folding Stool,  
And made the Priest, look like a Fool,  
When she had almost knocked him down;  
Which made proud Prelates, fly the Town;  
And then, such Mobbing, did commence,  
As proved, of fatal Consequence;  
For it produced, that dreadful Cant,  
The Solemn League and Covenant—  
Which brought about, so great a Change,  
As was, most wonderful and strange—  
So— when a scolding Woman, mad is,  
She's called, e'er since, A JANNY GEDDES.—  
Again,— Despotic Power commencing,  
And with, all penal Laws, dispensing,  
There was set forth, a Declaration,  
To be proclaimed, all o'er the Nation,  
For universal Toleration—  
That every one, might do, by Right,  
What, should seem good, in their own Sight,  
Which, had they read, in every Church,  
Had left their Priest-craft, in the Lurch:  
Seven lordly Prelates then, had Meeting,  
At Lambeth-House, with doleful Greeting;  
Contriving some Way, for their Glories,  
Like sturdy Whigs, more like, than Tories:  
But, all their Glory was, that they,  
Petitioned, in submissive Way,  
To be excused— Since they could plead it,  
No Priest of Theirs, was safe, to read it:  
Because, against all Law and Reason,  
And might be made, a Sort of Treason:  
Besides, to give them all their due,  
It was, against their Interest too:  
No Wonder then, they did abhor it,  
And suffer, like true Martyrs for it:  
But when absolved, ●s says the Story,  
Both, for their own, and Nation's Glory,  
It did unite, both Whig and Tory—  
Which, brought about,— What, something, sad is,  
Without the Help of Janny Geddes.—  
But lo! those Prelates, stood in Awe,  
Because, it was against the Law!  
Which, we, 'tis certain, cannot plead,  
Since Law, ordains it, to be read:  
Yet we, tho' Lordships disavowed,  
And Grace,— to none of us, allowed;  
And tho' no Lords Spiritual,  
Are true, Archbishops, one and all:  
And We— more gloriously, than They,  
In Spite of Law, do boldly say,—  
We— neither can, nor will obey.—  
Shall we, submit to Laymens' Laws.  
Such Champions, for The good old Cause?  
No sure! For till We say— Amen,—  
They'll find, such Laws, are all in vain.  
They might as well presume to teach,  
Our Presbyters, to pray, and preach,  
As, penal Laws, to make Us, read,  
It sets the Lubies, well indeed!—  
Christ only, is, Our supreme Head.  
But tho', Christ— bids us, when We pray,  
No vain Tautologies to say;  
And does direct, a Form of Prayer,  
Which, GOD, will most delight to hear▪  
Yet, 'cause it stints, the Spirit's Aid,  
Even Christ himself, is not obeyed:  
How can they think then, we'll obey  
Either, to read, or preach, or pray,  
What saucy Laymen, bid us, say.  
No Form of Words, that can be made,  
Scarce, even The Bible, must be read,  
In Presbyterian Kirks, we say;  
Because, 'tis the Prelatic Way.  
And even The Creed, and Ten Commands,  
'Cause, used, in proud prelatic Lands,  
Are banished, by Presbytry,  
Which can't endure Morality.—  
When lawful Powers, make lawful Laws,  
Which, we think, for our Kirk and Cause;  
Their Powers of God, we then, allow it;  
But otherwise,— we disavow it.  
They!— render us incapable!  
We'll let them know our Principle,  
Is, that, whoever did ordain it,  
It's Sacrilege— we will maintain it;  
For by late Laws of presbytery,  
When two, or three, or four agree;  
Then— a Secession, we can make,  
Both, from the Kirk, and from the State;  
And, Church Judicatories be,  
When we think fit, whilst we agree.  
And should they make it, even High Treason▪  
Spite of all Law; and Sense, and Reason,  
They'll find, that we will be so bold,  
Our Benefices, still to hold—  
For, tho', all Powers by GOD appointed,  
It's we that make the LORD's Anointed▪  
And so, they'll find, old Samuel made,  
Saul King— But when he disobeyed,  
The Prophet, made the King to bend;  
And 'cause, he did the Mantle rend;  
Therefore, he rend the Kingdom, from him▪  
And then— great Vengeance fell upon him.  
Since then, the Seer, set Saul aside,  
To give Judah's Tribe:  
And since it's so, that we do make 'em;  
They'd best take Care, lest we forsake 'em;  
And leave them, as the Prophet did,  
To What the Deil, puts in their Head.  
We scorn all Mitres, Crowns, and Copes,  
Yet claim, as much Power, as the Popes:  
And can proclaim, whenever, we will,  
Now!— To your Tents O Israel,—  
If they, had not at all, decreed it,  
That we should be compelled, to read it;  
We might have read it, if we would;  
But no Compulsion, e'er did good;  
Except, when we think, it may be,  
For Benefit of presbytery:  
But since their Law, so very mad is,  
They'll find perhaps— some Janny Geddes,  
May make the Danger, very great;  
But let the Wisuks, look to that.—