[Page 358.
“‘But God is with us,’ said the King,
‘The people must be free.
I will create an hundred Peers
If need should ever be.’”
The House had dissolved on the 22nd of April, 1831, and the elections which ensued were remarkable for spirit. A quantity of literature, in the shape of broadsides, songs, and squibs of a startling character, was produced on this occasion, in such abundance that even for small constituencies in out-of-the-way places these jeux d’esprit form huge volumes. A number of parodies appeared on the great question of the Reform Bill, imitations of scripture among others. Of the ballads published over the border, the one most descriptive of the constitutional struggle is found in a parody of “Chevy Chase.”
“THE NEW CHEVY CHASE.
“God prosper long our noble king,
Our lives and safeties all;
Some dreadful battles late there were
Fought in St. Stephen’s Hall.
“Long o’er the land, with pride and scorn,
The Tories held their sway;
The child will rue that is unborn,
That has their debts to pay.
“The Tory Lords throughout the land,
A vow to God did make,
Their pleasure in their borough towns
As formerly to take.
“For they would keep their borough towns,
Whate’er the King might say.
These tidings to Lord Russell came,
In Bedford, where he lay.
“Who sent the Tories present word,
He would prevent their sport;
These noble Lords not fearing him,
Kept up their old resort:
“With nigh two hundred Tories bold,
All men of the old light,
Who knew full well, but would not own,
They were not in the right.