The True Patriot/No. 10.
THE
TRUE PATRIOT.
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No. 10. TUESDAY, January 7, 1746.
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- Tu, Jupiter, quem statorem hujus urbis atque imperii verè nominamus: HUNC et HUJUS socios à: tuis aris ceterisque temples, à tectis urbis ac moenibus, à vita fortunisque civium omnium arcebis: et omnes bonorum inimicos, hostes patriae, latrines Italiae, scelerum foedere inter se ac nefaria societate conjunctos, aeternis suppliciis, vivos mortuosque mactabis.
- CIC. IN L. CATIL.
TO THE TRUE PATRIOT.
Dec. 14, 1745.
DEAR SIR,
THOUGH I live on a small fortune, in great obscurity, yet I cannot but be interested in our present troubles. My thoughts sometimes lead me to meditate, what we are likely to expect, should success attend the present ravagers of our country. Nay, I have even gone so far as to suppose them actual victors, and have in this light framed an imaginary journal of events, with which I here present you, as with a waking dream.
The person of my drama, or journalist, I suppose to be an honest tradesman, living in the busy part of the city.
January 1, 1746.
THIS day the supposed conqueror was proclaimed at Stocks Market, amidst the loud acclamations of Highlanders and friars. I was enabled, from my own windows, to view this ceremony; Walbrook Church, the Mansion-house, and several others adjoining, having been burnt and razed in the massacre of last week. Father O-Blaze, an Irish Dominican, read upon the occasion a speech out of a paper, which he styled an extempore address. Melancholy as I was, I could not help smiling at one of his expressions, when speaking of the new year, he talked of Janus's faces, each of which looked both backward and forward.
Jan. 2. A proclamation issued for a free parliament (according to the declaration) to meet the 20th instant. The twelve judges removed, and twelve new ones appointed; some of whom had scarce ever been in Westminster-hall before.
Jan. 3. Queen Anne's statue in St. Paul's Churchyard taken away, and a large crucifix erected in its room.
Jan. 4, 5, 6. The cash, transfer-books, &c., removed to the Tower, from the Bank, South-sea and India houses, which ('tis reported) are to be turned into convents.
Jan. 10. Three anabaptists committed to Newgate, for pulling down the crucifix in St. Paul's churchyard.
Jan. 12. Being the first Sunday after Epiphany, Father Mac-dagger, the royal confessor, preached at St. James's — sworn afterwards of the privy-council — arrived the French ambassador with a numerous retinue.
Jan. 20. The free parliament opened — the speech and addresses filled with sentiments of civil and religious liberty. — An act of grace, proposed from the crown, to pardon all treasons committed under pretext of any office, civil or military, before the first declarations being promulgated, which was in the Isle of Mull, about 19 months ago. The judges consulted, whether all persons throughout Great Britain were intended to be bound by this promulgation, as being privy to it. 'Twas held they ¦were, because ignorantia legis non excusat.
Jan. 22. Three members, to wit, Mr. D—n, Mr. P—t, and Mr. L—n, were seized in their houses, and sent to the Tower, by a warrant from a secretary of state. The same day I heard another great man was dismissed from his place, but his name I could neither learn nor guess.
Jan. 23. His highness sends a message to the house, that he would make no further removals till he saw better reason.
Jan. 24. A great court at St. James's, at which were present * and * and * and * and *, and all kissed hands.
Jan. 24. The three anabaptists above-mentioned tried for their offence, and sentenced to be hanged. Executed the same day, attended by Mr. Mac-henly the ordinary. Their teacher, Mr. Obadiah Washum, the currier, was refused access from their first commitment.
Jan. 26. This day the Gazette informs us, that Portsmouth, Berwick, and Plymouth, were delivered into the hands of French commissaries, as cautionary towns; and also twenty ships of the line, with their guns and rigging, pursuant to treaty.
Jan. 27. Tom Blatch, the old small-coal-man, committed to the Compter, for a violent assault on Father Mac-dagger and three young friars. 'Twas the talk about town, that they had attempted the chastity of his daughter Kate.
Jan. 28. A bill brought into the commons, and twice read the same day, to repeal the act of Habeas Corpus, and that by which the writ de hoeretico comburendo was abolished. A mutiny the same day among the Highland soldiers — quelled by doubling their pay.
Jan. 31. The above bill passed, and the royal assent given. A motion made about the restoration of abbey lands, — rejected by the lords, seven English Roman Catholic peers being in the majority.
February 1. All peerages declared void since the revolution, and 24 new peers created, without a foot of land in the island. A second mutiny among the soldiery.
Feb. 2. Long-acre and Covent-garden allotted out in portions to the Highland Guards. Two watermen and a porter committed to the Lollards Tower at Lambeth for heresy.
Feb. 3. Father Poignardini, an Italian Jesuit, made privy-seal. A bill proposed against the liberty of the press, and to place the nomination of jurors, exempt from challenge, in the crown. Several Catholic lords and gentlemen, being English, quit the court, and retire into the country. More heretics sent to Lambeth.
Feb. 5. A promotion of 18 general officers, three only of which were English. Lord John Drummond made colonel of the first regiment of Foot Guards, the Duke of Perth of the second, and Lord George Murray of the third.
Feb. 6. Various grants passed the privy-seal of lands in various counties to generals, ecclesiastics, and other favourites, all foreigners.
Feb. 9. A petition from various persons, sufferers by the said grants, setting forth their fidelity to the government, and that particularly in the late troubles, though they had never entered into any schemes in favour of his present highness, yet they had constantly declined all subscriptions, associations, &c. to his prejudice. Father Mac-dagger brought them for answer, that the associators and subscribers had at least shewn their attachment to some government, but that an indifference to all government deserved favour from none, and that therefore their petition was rejected.
Feb. 13. Four heretics burnt in Smithfield — Mr. Mac-henly attended them, assisted on this extraordinary occasion by father O-Blaze, the Dominican.
Feb. 19. Rumours of a plot. More heretics committed. The judges declare the power of the crown to suspend laws. Father Mac-dagger made president of Magdalen college in Oxford.
Feb. 21. Four lords and two commoners taken into custody for the plot, all English, and two of them Roman Catholics. The deanery of Christ Church given to Father Poignardini, and the bishoprics of Winchester and Ely, to the general of the Jesuits' order, resident in Italy.
Feb. 28. Six more heretics burnt in Smithfield. A fresh motion made to restore the abbey lands — carried in the lords' house, but rejected by the commons. Several members of the lower house sent to the Tower by a secretary of state's warrant, and the next day expelled, and fined by the privy council 1000l. each.
March 1. The French ambassador made a duke, with precedence. The motion for restoring abbey lands carried, and an address of both houses prepared upon the occasion. Cape Breton given back to the French, and Gibraltar and Portmahon to the Spaniards.
March 2. Seven more heretics burnt. A message from the crown, desiring the advice of the free parliament touching the funds. An humble address immediately voted by way of answer, praying that his highness would take such methods, as they might be effectually and speedily annihilated.
March 4. An eminent physician fined 200 marks in the King's Bench, for an inuendo at Batson's, that Bath water was preferable to holy water. Three hundred Highlanders, of the opposite party, with their wives and children, massacred in Scotland. The Pope's nuncio arrived this evening at Greenwich.
March 7. The Pope's nuncio makes his public entry — met at the Royal Exchange by my lord mayor (a Frenchman) with the aldermen, who have all the honour to kiss his toe — proceeds to Paul's churchyard — met there by Father O-Blaze, who invites him, in the name of the new vicar-general and his doctors, to a combustio haereticorum just then going to be celebrated. His eminence accepts the offer kindly, and attends them to Smithfield, where the ordinary is introduced and well received — The nuncio proceeds thence to St. James's, where he had been expected for five hours — the nobility and great officers of state all admitted to kiss his toe — A grand office opened the same night in Drury-lane for the sale of pardons and indulgences.
March 9. My little boy Jacky taken ill of the itch. He had been on the parade with his godfather the day before, to see the Life Guards, and had just touched one of their plaids.
March 12. His highness sends a message to the commons, acquainting them with his design of equipping a large fleet for the assistance of his good brother of France, and for that purpose demanding two millions to be immediately raised by a capitation. A warm debate thereon. His Highness goes to the house of commons at 12 at night, places himself in the speaker's chair, and introduces the French ambassador. His excellency makes a long speech, setting forth the many services which his master had done this nation, and the great goodwill he had always borne towards them, and concluding with many haughty menaces, in case they should prove ungrateful for all his favours. He is seconded by the laird of Keppoch, chancellor of the exchequer. The speaker stands up, and utters the word privilege, upon which he is sent to the Tower. Then Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer moved, that the members against the motion might have leave to withdraw; and several having left the house, the question was put, and carried in the affirmative, nemine contradicente.
March 16. Lord C. J. W—les, and Admiral V—n, hanged at Tyburn. Several others were reprieved on the merit of having been enemies to those two great men, and were only ordered to be whipped at the cart's tail.
March 17. Fresh rumours of a plot — a riot in the city — a rising in the north — a descent in the west — confusions, uproars, commitments, hangings, burnings, &c., &c.
- — verbum non amplius addam.