“And let us break up the Assembly of Privileges, and get a new one of Prerogatives, and let us hire false prophets to deceive the people.” And they did so.
Then Judas Iscariot went among the citizens, saying, “Choose me one of your elders, and I will tax your innocent damsels, and I will take their bread from the helpless, lame, and blind,” etc., etc., etc.
Or by way of posters, as the following:
To be sold by Auction
By
JUDAS ISCARIOT,
At the Prerogative Arms, Westminster,
CHELSEA HOSPITAL,
With all the live and dead Stock,
In which is included the Cloaks, Crutches, Fire Arms, etc., of the
poor worn-out Veterans, who have bled in their Country’s
Cause, their existence being declared
a Public Nuisance.
Likewise the Virtue, Innocence, and Modesty of the harmless,
inoffensive Servant Maids.
The Sale of this last lot was intended by Judas for
the purpose of raising the supplies for
the Tax on Maid Servants.
JUDAS ISCARIOT
is extremely sorry he cannot put up for Sale
PUBLIC INGRATITUDE,
Having Reserved that Article for Himself.
N. B.—To be disposed of, A large Quantity of Patent Dark
Lanterns, and the best Price will be given for a set of Fellows
who will go through thick and thin for a rotten back staircase.
Huzza for Prerogative! A Fig for the Constitution!
It was then discovered—or alleged, which came to the same thing—that Sir Cecil had married his own housemaid. The following not very brilliant epigram is written “on Sir Cecil proposing a tax on Maid Servants after having married his own”:
When Cecil first the plan laid down,
Poor servant girls to curse.
He looked at home, and took his own
For better and for worse.
The Chelsea business provoked a more worthy effusion:
And will you turn us out of doors,
In age, to want a prey—
When cold winds blow and tempest roars?
Oh! Hard Sir Cecil Wray!
This house our haven is, and port
After a stormy sea:
Then shall it be cast down in sport,
By hard Sir Cecil Wray?