Backed deceptions wrong


A ‘political’ poem I discovered in the Peterborough Archive a few years ago.  As far as I know entirely previously unknown, but WHAT a message, not only for his own time, but for our times too.   How familiar it is.

They give me eight pence by the day
& make it up at night
With six pence worth of parish pay
& can ye call it right

Im going to justice just to see
What she will have to say
& faith I doubt I shall not see
Yer honour there today

No friend I am a faithful mate
To justice but ye mean
What may be named a magistrate
& there Im never seen

Nay they have stopt me when Ive gone
To take that weight away
& backed deceptions wrong        
To take your gains away

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