Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/162

MR. PIPS HIS DIARY. Rule next riing to peak, did promie he would oberve, and forthwith made a violent Harangue againt  and. After him got up, and with great Action, and thumping the Table, poke for Half-an-Hour, with mot brave Flourihes both of his Fits and of Language. He did tell his Audience that they mut be up and tiring, and quit them like good Men and true, and did exhort them to rally round the Altar and Throne, and nail their Colours to the Mat, and range themelves under the Banner of Protection; which he did ay was a Flag that had braved 1,000 Years the Battle and the Breeze, and if o, hould, methinks, be by this time in Tatters. He did ay that the Britih Lion had been long aleep, but was now at lat aroued, which do eem a imple Saying, the Britih Lion being only a fabulous Beat, like the Unicorn, and nowhere to be found but in the Royal Arms. But to hear how the Company did cheer at all this Mouthing, and I do verily think they had far rather liten to it, than his clever Schemes and Projects, albeit it was the veriet Cant and Stuff; for, good Lack! to think of the Monarchy and Church, and all Morals, Religion, and Government, depending on the Price of Wheat! After more Speeches in the ame Strain, the Britih Labourer his Health drunk, and then the Prizes given out; and an old Man of 80, for bringing up a Family without coting the Parih 1d. in 50 Years, did receive £1, and others for honet Service nigh as long, a Jacket, a Smock Frock, or a Pair of Hob-Nail Boots, in Reward of Merit. The Toats and Speech-making lated till late, and then we broke up, the Farmers mighty merry, though grumbling, but not more than their Wont, at the Laws and the Weather, but their bet Friends say, will have little to complain of either, if they will but mind their Buines, and turn eriouly to improving their Hubandry.