Great Britain’s lords[2] were planning— So ran the world’s report— To tax the colonies more and more,[4] And treat our sires as if they wore The liveries at the court. “The colonies’ hope is union,” Said Franklin,[3] by and by; “Not one of them that stands alone Can hold its own against the throne. We[3] join,” he wrote, “or die.” And “Freedom[4] is a birthright Our fathers handed down; Blood-bought,” James Otis[4] boldly said: “One king of theirs it cost his head; And one his throne and crown.[5] “Were we to lose it, England Would share in our mishap[6]; For not a net can harm us here, But threatens every English peer, Whom yet it may entrap. “Our laws are in our charters For scores of years enjoy’d; Nor has the King, or Parliament, Or both without our own consent The power to make them void.[5] “By them, the Magna Charta, And all our Saxon rights; By claims of nature, mind, descent, We ought to send to Parliament[7] And show it what it slights.” A protest then we sent it.[7] But back came sail on sail;[8] And less had leaves of law-books grave Torn out and flung to wind and wave Shown law could not prevail. They broke up our assembly;[9] Supreme their army[10] made; Removed the judge[11] who check’d their greed; And on the church our fathers freed The hands of bishops laid.[12] “Shall we, whose fathers won us Our rights, abide their loss? Nay,” Mayhew said;[13] “though these to take Our Pharoah’s hosts of red-coats make Blood-red the sea they cross. “The Lord o’errules the waters, And He will guard our cause: And Parliament—let Plymouth Rock To whelm them all throw back the shock— Will bid the tyrant pause.” “God guide the House of Commons,” We cried with lifted eyes. God guided it and us, alas, But how He scorch’d our heaven to pass His finger through the skies! The Commons framed the Stamp-Act.[14] It legal writs refused, And made our bargains go for naught, Unless, in all we sold or bought, Their stamps were bought and used. “The stamps are only vouchers,” Wrote Green,[15] “to license knaves!” “To tax, against their own consent, Where none,” said Adams,[16] “represent Our people, brands them slaves.” “Our charter’d free assemblies, To which our laws entrust[17] The right to tax us, and to pay Each crown-official,—only they Can ever keep him just.” Quoth Thomas Chase:[18] “They only! But British agents curse To find that our assemblies true Have something nobler here to do Than fill a noble’s purse.”