Commanded to be read at the Treasury the day preceding all Cabinet Dinners.
The Order, &c. &c.
¶ So many as intend to be partakers of the Loaves and Fishes, shall signify their names to the Chief Minister, at least some days before the meeting of Parliament.
¶ And if any one of these be an open hearted and upright character, or have not done any wrong to the people, by word or deed, so that he be not like unto the Host of Corruption; the Minister having knowledge thereof, shall call him, and advertise him, that in anywise he presume not to be a partaker of the Loaves and Fishes, until he hath openly declared himself to have truly repented and amended his former naughty life, that Corruption’s Host may thereby be satisfied, which before were offended; and that he hath recompensed the parties, by declaring himself to be in readiness so to do, as soon as he conveniently may.
¶ The same order shall the Minister use with those betwixt whom he perceiveth malice and hatred to reign; not suffering them to be partakers of the Loaves and Fishes, until he know them to be reconciled. And if one of the parties so at variance be content to forgive, from the bottom of his heart, all that the other hath trespassed against him, and to make amends for that he himself hath offended; and the other party will not be persuaded to a Ministerial unity, but remain still in frowardness and the Opposition: The Minister, in that case, ought to admit the penitent person to a share of the plunder, and not him that is obstinate. Provided that every Minister so repelling any, as is specified in this or the next paragraph of this Rubrick, shall be obliged to give an account of the same to the Cabinet, within fourteen days after, at the farthest. And the Cabinet shall prevent the offending person from receiving either Sinecure, Pension, or Place of Profit.
¶ The Table at the Cabinet dinner having a fair white damask cloth upon it, shall be covered with every luxury the earth produceth, and all Members to be there invited that shall accede to the foregoing rules, at least seven days before the opening of Parliament, there to hear repeated the Regent’s Speech, and Address thereon, and to rehearse the debates that shall be made on the said Speech and Address, also to be well acquainted with the amendment that shall be proposed by Corruption’s best allies, the Whigs. Dinner being over, the Minister at the head of the table shall first repeat the Regent’s speech as followeth:—
We lament that our Father[347] is still secluded, hallowed be thy name, Our kingdom come, our will be done in France and Ireland, as it is in Great Britain. Give us this year, our women and wine, and forgive us our debts, that we may be enabled to satisfy those to whom we are indebted. And lead us not into danger, but deliver us from the disaffected. Amen.
The Address.
High and mighty Prince, unto whom our hearts are open, our desires known, and from whom our secrets are not hid, gratify the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy goodly Places and Pensions, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy name; through the mediation of Castlereagh our Chief. Amen.
¶ Then shall the Minister, turning to the Host, rehearse distinctly, all the Ten Commandments; and the Host, sitting open-mouthed, shall, after every Commandment, ask the Prince mercy for their transgressions thereof for the time past, and a Pension to keep the same for the time to come, as followeth: