Jockey's Journey into England, 1681. NOTHING "With Hair in characters, and Lugs in text, In Pulpit fire-works, which that Bomb out-vents; Like two mustachoes, issuing from his mouth, If you meet any that doe thus attire 'em, -Hue and Crie after Sir John Presbyter.1 OTHING more clearly proved the recklessness of discontented men in England, and their evil-willingness to overturn the monarchy, than the overtures they were continually renewing to, or receiving from, the Scotch. A recollection of the mischief wrought during the Bishops'- War, and later by the presence of the Scottish Commissioners in England, must have led to the employment of Aaron Smith as an emissary sent from the Abchurch Lane conspirators in 1683. The doing so was of two years' later date than the following ballad, but the same movement towards co-operation between "Jockey" or Jack Presbyter and the English Independents jerked spasmodically throughout the interval. It was wrongly believed that the ambition of Monmouth's "Scotch Duchess" caused his political intrigues. But of all women she had the least real influence on him. Evelyn and Pepys mention the common report, and it re-appears in a Mock-Song of 1683 on Monmouth ("You Loyal Lads be merry!" Compare p. 24): And once more he's got under Hatches, And means to set up for a King, Uds wounds! she longs to be Queen, They may go to the De'il I trow. In the ballad, 1. 13, "Politick Antony" is Shaftesbury, who was seized in his house on July 2nd, 1681: "now in the Tower," says line 45. "Young Jemmy" is=Monmouth, line 20; Lord Howard of Escrick is on line 49, with John Wilmore (foreman of S. College's Ignoramus Jury), and Edward Whitacre, Shaftesbury's solicitor. Of all these more anon, on our pp. 77 and 79. 1 This was re-issued, as though new, in July, 1683, but had appeared originally about thirty years earlier, written by John Cleaveland. Since old Presbyterian weapons were furbished for assault, Tory counter-shields were also needed. [Luttrell Collection, II. 105.] A New Ballad of Jockey's Journey into England, in the year 1681. With his Remarks upon the Times. When Jockey had discover'd all he sought, Weighing how many were to Troubles brought TO THE TUNE OF, Mogey was Moou'd, etc. Farewell Bon[n]y Scotland, and Saundy adue, And a prosperous Journey poor Jockey attend, For tul England I'se gang, where's so mickle adoe, Tul speir gen their Plotting will ne'r have an End. I learn'd as I pas'd that Religion and Right, As i' th' year Forty-One, was the Cause of it all; Which they lowdly (though falsely) Propriety call. Did second this Earl in his Traiterous design, 4 8 12 ["Kew." [Monmouth. Which to compass, 'twas fit that Young Jemmy s'u'd joyn: Who gul'd with the glittering hopes of a Crown, And with fatal applause was to side with 'em led: Therefore owes his misfortune to th' treacherous Loon; And for which Jockey's Curse light on his fause Head. 21 For the Poison which daily does flow from this Elfe, Invenoms Three Kingdomes from head to the heel; And his Fumes make him nautious, ene to his own self, And the Crowd with the vapour begin for to reel : 28 74 Jockey's Journey into England. Who drunk with Sedition, were drawn to attempt What au geud Christians s'u'd tremble to hear, Their Monarch to seize, and au Laws circumvent, Which au we'se [o'] Scotland do value so dear. The Blood of a Monarch these zealously shed, And willingly wad gang the same gate agen; For they au i' th' noose of Religion were led, [gait=road. Which the best of geud Kings to the Scaffold did bring. Therefore sin' Plotting has made sike a din, And purjur'd Loones wad govern the State, Then back for life Jockey to Scotland agen, His English Friends' Advice. NAY, prithee stay, Jockey, and make not such speed, 32 40 44 [July 2, 1681. For Truth, we see plainly, begins to appear, Then go not to Scotland till all is made clear, And that LOYALTY now does begin to appear, Hen He that preserv'd us from every Ill, THen Protect and continue our King on His Throne ; Spight o' Plots and Sham-Plots, be his Guardian still: And let Treacherous Designs in the Bud be o're thrown. FINIS. Amen. 48 52 56 London: Printed for P.B. and M.R. in the Year 1681. [Probably for Philip Brooksby, but it looks like P.M. In White-letter. No woodcut. Date, marked in writing, by Narcissus Luttrell, 29 Sept., 1681."] Shaftesbury's Arrest and Ignoramus' Trial. THE "The Polish Fox may seem to sleep his time away, Then up with How, the Mole, and many more that be, [Shaftesbury. "But now Great York is come, whom Heaven still be with! -A Tory in a Whig's Coat. 1682. HE preceding ballad mentioned Lord Shaftesbury being at that time (between 2nd July and 24th November, 1681) confined in the Tower of London, as was also the infamous Lord Howard of Escrick, who was carefully guarded and kept apart from him. Even already Howard was suspected of having gone over to the Court, but he had been arrested on a charge made against him by Edward FitzHarris, who accused him of having instigated the treasonable libels; for writing and commissioning which that truculent knave suffered at Tyburn. An active prosecution of such leaders as had recently been causing discomfort and danger to the Court was being carried on, in the summer of 1681. As already stated, Shaftesbury was arrested in his own residence, Thanet House, Aldersgate Street, on a charge of High Treason, 2nd of July, 1681, examined by a special council at Whitehall, and committed to the Tower, where Ford Lord Grey of Werk, the Duke of Monmouth, and others immediately paid him a visit of friendly condolence. As it would have been an absurdity to have a State prisoner holding unrestricted communication with the outer world, through disaffected noblemen, on the second day of imprisonment a closer confinement was ordered. It is indisputable that, although the treasonable activity of Shaftesbury was a matter of public notoriety, the prosecution was clumsily managed. Warcup arranged the minor details against him, but the witnesses were chiefly Irish "Evidences" of wofully damaged reputation, such as no one could willingly receive as honest men. Shaftesbury powerfully urged, before the Council, "that he thought they had not that opinion of him as to deal with Irishmen and Papists for subverting the Government, and that if he should do such things he was fitter for Bedlam." Unfortunately for the cogency of his reasoning, he had himself been an encourager of these very men, and with readiness to admit their credibility, so long as the lives of Jesuit Priests and Catholic Lords were being sworn away by such creatures as the 76 Shaftesbury reckons up the accompt against him. two Macknamarras, Bryan Haines, David Fitzgerald, Edward Ivey, Bernard Dennis, Eustace Comynes, or others of the gang.1 Petitions to be admitted to bail were made, as time wore on and no Trial was instituted, till in October Shaftesbury was not only willing to consider the game lost, but even to purchase safety from what he evidently felt to be urgent danger, by a proposal to Lord Arlington, Henry Bennet, to depart to his own estates in Carolina, and there remain until his life ended, if only he were released from imprisonment. His health had failed, and attacks of ague had abated his courage. He had foreseen the coming evil and secured his estate to his family, in expectation of forfeiture. He had arranged the sale of his horses, mares, and colts. Halifax and Henry Hyde were opposed to him, and knew the danger of his being at large fomenting sedition. That attempts were being made to suborn witnesses against him has been asserted and is not incredible. It was only repeating against himself the evil practices which he had encouraged, if not actually instigated, against the Catholics and partizans of York. But now his courage was failing him, and although his unscrupulous followers the Whig Sheriffs were doing their utmost to stifle all evidence that told adversely on his cause, he could not fail to be aware that he had lost influence in the Nation, and the King possessed a larger amount of loyal support than had been given since the early days of the Restoration. Stephen College, after being saved from punishment of his London offences by Whig Sheriffs packing an Ignoramus Jury (as was John Rouse, by the same expedient, after accusation by nearly all the same witnesses), had been proceeded against for treasonable words and acts at Oxford; then tried in the cathedral city, condemned and executed on August 31st. Attempts to indict Warcup (who took the informations whereon Shaftesbury was charged before the Council), and three of the witnesses, had failed before Chief Justice Pemberton in September. Early in October (12th), Shaftesbury's secretary, Samuel Wilson, was arrested for treason, and committed to the Gate-house by the Council. It was understood that the King had replied to Shaftesbury's offer of submission and voluntary exile to America, there to abide innocuously, by a declaration that My Lord Shaftesbury must stand or fall by the Law." 66 Among the State-Papers consulted at the Record Office are many connected with the proceedings at the Sessions House, Old Bailey, 1 A Loyal Song on him is entitled "Eustace Comines the Irish Evidence, his Farewell to England:" to the Tune of, O hone, O hone. Twelve verses. It belongs to the autumn of 1683, and begins, Be me Shoul and Shoulvation, O hone! O hone! |