O stop! Watson, stop! O whither?—say whither
Directs your bold genius?—'twould seem you choose rather
To hammer the Parsons, instead of bend leather;
At starting you were not shy.
What tho' the good Clergy for long time have got,
At Easter, fat pullets to put in their pot,
And ta'en from the people full many a groat,
Yet why into this should you pry?
Of matters relating to Church or to State,
'Tis surely not fit you should trouble your pate;
Yet still you keep thumping, with spirit elate,
As if you would maul the whole fry.
I'd have you respect more the Lord's own Anointed,
Who over your conscience to rule are appointed,
And to whom pigs and pullets are sent to be jointed,
And other good things forby.
Repent, then, and quick pay your Easter Dues,
And to guileless Parsons give no more abuse,
Or spiritual comfort to you they'll refuse,
And this may cause you to sigh!
For things are so chang'd since you rang them a peal,
That the Clerk seems afraid through our parish to speel;
For he's look'd on no better than one come to steal;
Which nobody can deny.
The Clerk of St. John's, that he might have good luck,
Employed a brave Noodle, whose nick-name is Pluck,
To collect Easter-pence; but the people had struck—
Few, few were brought to comply.
Now the Parsons to you attach all the blame,
O Watson, for saying they had no just claim!
Thus you've brought on yourself their holy disdain;
Yet you'll fill a niche in the Temple of Fame,
Which nobody will deny.
[8] Peter Watson, of Chester-le-Street, Shoemaker.—This person, for some time, laudably exerted himself to oppose the claims of the Government Clergy to what are called Easter dues or offerings; and by a powerful appeal to the public, succeeded in convincing many that such claims were equally oppressive and unjust, and founded neither in the law nor the gospel.—The late worthy Vicar of Newcastle, Mr. John Smith, actuated with the generous feelings of a Man and a Christian, and with due deference to public opinion, restrained the Clergy in his jurisdiction from collecting these Exactions during the latter years of his life. To him, therefore, and to Peter Watson, in particular, who aroused the public attention to the subject, the inhabitants of Newcastle are indebted for being relieved from this odious, unjust, and oppressive Clerical Tax.