Page:Poetical Works of John Oldham.djvu/185

Rh But, tell me, sir, tell me, grey-headed boy, Do you not know what lechery men enjoy In stolen goods? For God's sake don't you see How they all laugh at your simplicity, When gravely you forewarn of perjury? Preach up a god, and hell, vain empty names, Exploded now for idle threadbare shams, .' One of the occasions selected for the display of this 'generous detestation' was that alluded to by Oldham. The commemoration of the day when Queen Bess ascended the throne, which was celebrated in 1679, 1680, and 1681. by a solemn procession beginning at Moorgate, and winding its way through Bishopsgate- street, down Hounds-ditch to Aldgate, and thence by Leadenhall-street, Cornhill, past the Royal Exchange, through Cheapside to Temple-bar, where the object the ceremonial was communicated. First came six whifflers (pipers or horn blowers, who, going in advance, cleared the way) ; then, a bell-man ringing a bell, and calling out dolefully, 'Remember Justice Godfrey!' Next a figure representing the dead body of the justice, mounted on a white horse, with one of his murderers behind to prevent him from falling off, with spots of blood over his dress, &c.; then a priest, with deadmen's skulls, giving out pardons to all who would undertake to murder Protestants, another priest with a cross, Carmelite and Grey Friars, Jesuits with bloody daggers, followed by bishops, and cardinals, and the Pope's physician carrying Jesuit's powder in one hand, and a urinal in the other; and lastly the Pope in effigy, in a grand scarlet chair of state, with two boys at his feet, and banners emblazoned with consecrated daggers for murdering Protestant kings and princes. Behind his holiness stood the devil, hugging and whispering him, and instructing him how to set fire to the city, to destroy his Majesty, and to render other diabolical services to the church. The procession was closed by a hundred and fifty flambeaux, which, it being evening when the demonstration took place, played a conspicuous part in the pageant. As the procession advanced, it was augmented by thousands of idlers, who manifested their Protestant zeal by vociferous uproar. Arrived at Temple-bar, where the four statues of Queen Elizabeth, and James, and Charles I. and II. were appropriately adorned, and lighted up with torches, the Pope was brought up close to the gate, and after a song, written in wretched doggrel, was sung by the assembled thousands, a bonfire was made into which his holiness was tumbled; the devil, who, up to this time, had attended him faithfully, laughing out at the joke and abandoning him to his fate. 'This last act of his holiness's tragedy,' adds the pamphlet referred to, from which these particulars are derived, 'was attended with such a prodigious shout of the joyful spectators, that it might be heard far beyond Somerset-house, and we hope the sound thereof will reach all Europe.' Some account will be found in North's Examen of a Club, called the Green Ribbon Club, which sat in conclave at a neighbouring tavern to arrange and direct their proceedings.