(B. Higgons, 1702: The Mourners.)
One of the ballads in the Bagford collection applies to the elections which took place in Queen Anne’s reign (the first parliament dissolved April 5, 1705); this High Tantivy effusion of the Tory Alma-Mater is rather long-winded, and we must be content with a brief extract:—
“THE UNIVERSITY BALLAD; OR THE CHURCH’S ADVICE TO HER TWO DAUGHTERS, OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.
“I have heard, my dear daughters, a story of late,
Told for truth to the Commons, by a Minister of State,
That the ‘Scotch Act’ was extorted; O England’s hard fate!
“If Whigs at this distance so terrible are,
Such men in our bosom may make us all stare,
And extort what they please, if we do not take care.
“If this be the case, pray what can you think?
But that Church and State are now at the brink
Of ruin, destruction, and ready to sink.
“But we have yet a time to save this poor nation,
From fire and sword, and all desolation,
By choosing such members as hate Decollation!
“And hence I take leave, both my daughters to press
To give good examples, you can do no less,
When the Church and the State are in so great distress.
“The eyes of the nation are fix’d upon you,
Every city and borough will observe what you do,
And if you’ll choose good members they’ll do so too.