A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 73

A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering 73

“The ancient Whigs in front did stand,

Not one was seen to quake;

And with loud cries the hills and vales

Were rous’d for freedom’s sake.

 

“Duke Wellington stood in the bent,

And spoke with haughty sneer--

Says he, ‘Earl Grey he promised,

And Russell, to be here.

 

“‘But now I think they will not come,

To meet us here this day.’

With that a trembling pensioner

Thus to the Duke did say:--

 

“‘Lo! yonder doth Lord Russell come--

Earl Grey is in my sight--

Behind I see a countless host,

And gloomy as the night.

 

“‘All men displeased, from hill and dale

The King’s name gives them head.’

‘Fie on the King,’ said Wellington,

‘Although I eat his bread.

 

“‘And, now, my proud preservatives,

Your courage to advance;

Upon the plains of Belgium,

You know I conquer’d France.

 

“‘And even the great Bonaparte,

That filled the world with fear,

I him encounter’d man for man

With Blucher in his rear.’

 

“Lord John upon a gallant Grey,

Like his great sires of old,

Stood foremost of the company,

His bearing it was bold:

 

“‘Shew me,’ said he, ‘what right have ye

To kick up sic a steer,[65]

For a few dirty border towns,

Worth little goods or gear.’

 

“The first that then did answer make

Was Wellington so free,

Who said, ‘We’ll keep our borough towns,--

Corrupted though they be.

 

“‘For we have bought our borough towns

There’s none can that gainsay.’

Then Russell swore a solemn oath,

And likewise did Earl Grey.

 

“‘We will not thus outbravèd be:

Proud chief, thy strength we’ll try;

We know thee for a bloody man,

In this thy strength does lie.

 

“‘But as we wish for no man’s death,

Nor any blood to spill,

You see we’ve brought into the field

No weapons but a Bill.

 

“‘Let you and I the matter try,

With reason on each side.’

‘Curse on your cant,’ said Wellington;

‘You Whigs I can’t abide.’

 

“Then stept a quibbling lawyer forth,

Old Wetherell was his name,

Who said, ‘he would not have it told

In Boroughbridge for shame,

 

“‘That e’er his captain or himself,

While he stood looking on,

Would condescend, or reasons give,

For reasons they had none.

 

“‘I’ll do the worst that I can do,

These inroads to withstand;

While I have power to use my tongue,

The robbers I will brand.’

 

“The Tory archers seized their shafts,

And a long-bow they drew,

But in the flight they wanted might,

And were not pointed true.

 

“To urge the battle in its need,

Lord Althorp bade the bent,

He was not filled with any pride,

But had a good intent.

 

“They clos’d full fast on every side,

They fought at every mound,

Till at the last the Tories yield,

And quit the common ground.

 

“O but it was a joy to see,

And likewise for to hear,

The grateful sounds that through the land

Came pealing on the ear.

 

“At last Duke Wellington and Grey

Came in each other’s sight;

Like lions roused they stand at bay,

And parley ere they fight.

 

“‘Yield thee, proud Captain,’ said Earl Grey,

‘In name of our good King;

You little think, by this delay,

What mischief you may bring.’

 

“‘Thy praise I will most freely give,

And this report of thee,

Thou art the most outrageous Duke

That ever I did see.’

 

“‘To yield to thee,’ said Wellington,

‘Would bring me nought but scorn;

Bring up the bishops to the fight,

And blow the gospel horn.’

 

“With that there came an arrow keen,

Out of a bishop’s bow,

That struck Earl Grey upon the head,

And almost laid him low.

 

“But still he spoke these cheering words,

‘Fight on, my merry men all,

The bishops they are stumbling-blocks,

I’m stunn’d, but will not fall.”

 

“Then gaining strength, Lord Brougham took

The old Earl by the hand,

And bade him rest a little while,

While he took the command.

 

“O, but the very heart does bleed,

What sorrow does it make,

To see the holy men of God

Bound to a worldly stake.

 

“A peer amongst the Whigs there was,

Who did the bishops eye,

And instantly did vow revenge

Upon the carnal fry--

 

“The brave Lord King, well known to all,

Who, with the Bill in sight,

And mounted on an iron Grey,

Laid on from left to right.

 

“Lord Harrowby he swiftly past,

And Wharncliffe wav’ring near,

And sought the dastard bishops out,

Where they stood in the rear.

 

“With such a vehement force and might,

He drove down all before;

The Bill went through ’twixt Philpotts’[66] legs,

And turn’d him fairly o’er.

 

“So thus Earl Grey was well aveng’d,

And did no more complain;

A Tory archer then conceiv’d

That Philpotts he was slain.

 

“He had a bow bent in his hand,

Made of a rotten tree,

An arrow of the self-same root,

Without a head, drew he.

 

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