..^'iSlUTl PARLlAriENTARY lii9ii«i m THE t^- OJarnell Hniocraitg Sitbtarg Jtl)aca, New ^ach 1; I BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF HENRY W. SAGE 1891 Cornell University Library DA 690.C75W61 Pananientarv representation of the city 3 1924 028 080 111 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924028080111 Nil. 7 OKKAT SEAL (OBVKRHK) Nil- H GREAT SEAL (RETEBME). ANCIENT SEALS OF THE CITY OF COVENTRY. THE Papliamentapg Representation OF THE GiTY or GovcnTry FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO PRESENT DATE. BEING AN ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS ELECTIONS, CONTESTS, PETITIONS, LIVES OF MEMBERS, BROADSHEETS, CHRONICLES, PAMPHLETS, SONGS, &c., &c., FORMING THE POLITICAL ANNALS OF THE CITY OF COVENTRY. Illustrated with Portraits of Members, Mayors, Recorders, Benefactors, and others. Copies of Election Cartoons and Literature, a series of Plans of the City at various times, and Sketches of local interest. T. W. WHIThEY, Author of "Humorous Reminiscences of Coventry Life," " Castles, Camps, and Earthworks of Warwickshire,' "Coventry Coaching and Coach Roads," &-c., &-C. Entered at Stationers Hall. All Rights Reserved. COVENTRY: PRINTED BY CURTIS & BEAMISH. ia94. T TO THE MAYOR (GEORGE SINGER, ESQ.), ALDERMEN, AND CITIZENS OF COVENTRY, , THE PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF COVENTRY, FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES TO PRESENT DATE ; IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. COVENTRY : PRINTED BY CURTIS AND BEAMISH, HERTFORD STREET. PREFACE HE story of " The Parliamentary Representation of THE City of Coventry, from the Earliest Times TO Present Date," is one of continued change, recording as it does the political annals of the City through successive generations, and describing the various Representatives as they appear on the scene, during the six hundred years, or thereabouts, which have passed since Aunketil de ColeshuU and Richard de Weston were returned as Burgesses in 1295. In an ancient City of so many years growth as Coventry, naturally very considerable material exists wherewith to form a history, but although only the Parliamentary portion has been, by choice, chiefly treated in these pages, it has also been found necessary to add other portions — Civil, Municipal, Ecclesiastical, or Military — at various places. No work upon Coventry has heretofore described the Town's history in so full a chrono- logical form, and it is hoped that the preservation of the most interesting matters connected with past hard-fought contests in the City may not be uninteresting. At first a much smaller volume was intended than the present one, but, with the increase of information of an interesting char- acter, it afterwards became expedient to issue the work, to Subscribers, in its present form. It was not the intention at first to illustrate the volume, but afterwards the photographs were included. The numerous portraits of local worthies, introduced at considerable cost and trouble, will doubtless add to the useful- ness and interest of the work, for they not only show the kind of men our City's Representatives, Recorders, and Mayors were, but portray the dress worn by succeeding generations. The poems of a nation are often useful records of its history, and those of Coventry depict numerous incidents in the vi. Preface. Town's story, and form disjointed fragments and registers of local events. Coventry was rich with political songs in the past, but although many could not be inserted in these pages for want of space, those shown are evidences of musical taste in the people. It has been found impossible to include more than a list of those peculiar broadsheets of the Reform Bill times called "Chronicles." The cartoons illustrate the humour of past elections. Many public and private collections, various museums, libraries, and authorities have been searched for information; the returns of the House have been largely consulted, and considerable interesting matter obtained from local and other MSS., kindly lent to the Author for the work. In extenuation of any errors or omissions that may be found (and some doubtless will occur), must be pleaded the perplexing nature of the matter to hand, and the difficulty of arranging and reducing to order the vast mass of material which required examination. The Author has to express his gratitude for the help received from numerous members of the nobility, gentry, clergy, and friends, who have aided him with information and research during the compilation of the volume. To the various ladies and gentlemen who have kindly allowed paintings, prints, or photographs of local celebrities, or seals or medals, in their possession, to be copied for reproduction, his very best thanks are due (especially to the Right Hon. Lady Knightley and Mrs. W. Lynes, to the Right Hon. Lord Belper, the late Colonel F. W. Newdigate, G. F. Muntz, Esq., W. Butlin, Esq., John Mills, Esq., Rev. H. Mills, Colonel A. J. Copeland, V. H. W. Wingrave, Esq., F. Bird, Esq., H. Band, Esq., junr., Mr. J. B. Mercer, Mr. J. J. Moore, and Mr. J. J. Barnett) ; as they are also to Sidney Colvin, Esq., and the authorities at the British Museum, for copies from portraits in the Prints Department ; to E. W. B. Nicholson, Esq., Chief Librarian of the Bodleian Library, Oxford, and to the Rev. J. S. Treacher, for copies of portraits from the Sutherland and Hope Collections, and to the former for the use of the Reader Collec- tion of Coventry Election Literature ; as also to Mr. W. F. Thurland, of that Institution, and to Mr. A. S. Eden, for their kindness and aid ; to C. Welch, Esq., Chief Librarian, Guildhall, London, for valued assistance and favours ; to J. D. Mullins, Esq., Librarian of the Birmingham Reference Library, for copies of engravings in the Aylesford Collection, etc. ; to Edward Brown, Esq., Librarian of the Coventry Reference Library, for copies of portraits from that most interesting com- pilation of local research and energy, Mr. Edwin Mander's Collection, and Preface. vii. for assistance rendered bj' various books and references. To different gentlemen lending cartoons or blocks for reproduction thanks are likewise due. To the late and present Town Clerks of Coventry, Thomas Browett, Esq., and Lewis Beard, Esq., as to William Browett, Esq., and Mr. George Sutton, for their valued aid and assistance on many occasions, the Author is e.xceedingly grateful. Many of the autographs are from letters or documents in the possession of the Corporation of Coventry, the Author's collection, or from private correspondence to various gentlemen. They are of consider- able interest, and to those who have kindly lent them to be copied, the Author also wishes to express his thanks. To the numerous photographers, whose portraits of later Members and Candidates help most materially to enliven these pages, and whose names are under their respective photographs, the Author has to express to one and all his best acknowledgments for permission to reproduce their most excellent work in this volume. Chief amongst them will be found the exceedingly good portraits of the late Lord Cheylesmore, by Arthur Marx, Hamburg, and W. H. W. Ballantine, Esq., M.P., by Mr. J. Russell and Sons, London, Colonel H. F. Eaton, by Mr. J. Edwards, London, and C. J. Murray, Esq., by Mr. F. Lupson, Coventry. Mr. Graham's (Leamington) portrait of the Speaker, the Right Hon. A. W. Peel, when a younger man, is a capital one, and that of Sir U. Kay-Shuttleworth, Bart., M.P., by Messrs. Byrne and Co., Richmond, is an admirable likeness and excellent photograph ; as are the productions of Mr. A. J. Melhuish, London, Mr. R. W. Thrupp, Birmingham, Mr. R. V. Green, Coventry, Mr. E. Smith, London, and others. To printers and to lithographers, and to all who have in any other way contributed to the book's success, thanks are due. And lastly, but not least, the Author also wishes to express his gratitude to the Subscribers. In conclusion, it is desired that "The Parliamentary Representation OF Coventry " will interest the present and future generations in the ways and doings of Coventry's chief townsmen of the past, and prove a valuable acquisition to the history of the City. Although the work has taken the leisure of five or six years in compiling, but four hundred copies have been printed. It has been the aim to present a readable book, to graphically describe the story of electioneering in Coventry, and to form a chronicle of local events. An endeavour has been made to record matters with fair- ness, and neither time nor labour have been spared in the compilation to make the volume worthy of reference. T. W. WHITLEY. Coventry, MarcJi 21st, 1894. CONTENTS. HI. V. ix. XV. xvii. chapter. title, etc. page. Dedication. ... Preface. Contents. ... Appendix. List of Illustrations. I. The Early Town : Its Lords and People. From commencement to King John (a.d. [200). ... ... i II. The Dawn of Borough Representation. From John (1201) to Edward I. (1295). ... ... ... 6 III. Edwardian Burgesses. From Edward I. (1296) to Edward II. (1327). ... ... 11 IV. Civic Incorporation, and Irregular Parliamentary Returns. Edward III. (1327 to 1377). ... ... ... ... 14 V. Representation Omitted : A Coventry Parliament. From Richard II. (1377) to Henry V. (1422). ... ... 19 VI. Direct Representation Regained : A Second Parliament at Coventry. Henry VI. (1422 to 1461).... ... ... ... ... 25 VII. Interrupted Returns, and Political Events. From Edward IV. (1461) to Richard III. (1485). ... ... 29 VIII. Early Tudor Times and Troubles. Henry VII. (1485 to 1509). ... ... ... ... 32 IX. Church Reformers and Land Purchasers. Henry VIII. (1509 to 1547). ... ... ... ... 35 X. Results of Monastic Suppression : Attempted Trades Revival. Edward VI. (1547 to 1553). ... ... ... ... 41 XI. The Relapse to Romanism : Marian Parliaments and Martyrs. Mary (1553 to 1558). ... ... ... ... ... 46 Contents. CHAPTER XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. title, etc. The Early Years of Good Queen Bess : Establishing the Church. Elizabeth (1558 to 1572)- Elizabeth's Latter Parliaments : The Companies and the Commonalty. Elizabeth, continued (1572 to 1603). The Gunpowder Plot: Loyal Citizens and "The Queen of Hearts." James I. (1603 to 1614). The City's Governing Charter : A Celebrated Member. James I., continued (1614 to 1625). Right of Voting Established, and the Collection of Ship Money. Charles I. (1625 to 1640). From the Short to the Long Parliament. Charles I., continued (1640 to 1641). For King or Parliament : The Siege of Coventry. Charles I., continued (1641 to 1642). Between the Battles of Edge Hill and Naseby. Charles I., continued (1643 to 1645). In Evil Days : The Regicides and the King's Death. Charles I., continued (1645 'o 1648). Oliverian Parliaments. The Commonwealth (1648-9 to 1658). Recalling "the Remnant." The Commonwealth, continued (1659 to 1660). "The Convention Parliament," and the Restoration. Charles II. (1660 to 1661). A Cavalier Parliament : Destruction of the City Walls. Charles II., continued (1661 to 1678). Origin of "Whig" and "Tory"; The Surrender of the Charter Charles II., continued (1678 to 1685). Royal Visits, and Civic Irregularities. James II. (1685 to 1688). The Parliament (Convention) of England : Local Incidents. William and Mary (1689 to 1690). page. 53 59 64 68 74 78 81 85 89 92 97 107 115 Contents. XI. CHAPTER. TITLE, ETC. PAGE. XXVIII. WiLLIAMlTES AND JaCOBITES. William and Mary, conlinued (1689-90 to 1694).... ... 118 XXIX. Municipal Changes and Troubles. William III. (1694 to 1700). ... ... ... ... 122 XXX. A Hard-fought Contest : The Sheriffs Commi ital. William III., continued (1701 to 1702).... ... ... 126 XXXI. Queen Anne's Proclamation for Arrest. Anne ([702 to 1703).... ... ... ... ... 130 XXXII. A Riotous, and a Peaceable, Election. Anne, conlinued (1704 to 1707). ... ... ... 133 XXXIII. Corporation Losses and 'J'ory Victories. Anne, continued (1708 to 1714). ... ... ... 136 XXXIV. Whig Successes, and Corporation Gains. George I. (1714 to 1721). ... ... ... ... 141 XXXV. Retaliation : The Right of Swearing in the Freemen. George I., continued (1721 to 1727). ... ... ... 146 XXXVI. Whig Party Divisions and Divided Representation. George II. (1727 to 1742). ... ... ... ... 150 XXXVII. Advance of the Pretender : The Contests and " The Chronicles." George II., continued (1743 to 1760). ... ... ... 155 XXXVIII. Local Acts and Proceedings. George III. (1760 to 1768). .. ... ... ... 160 XXXIX. A General, and a Bye, Election. George III., continued (1768 to 1774). ... ... ... 165 XL. The War with the American Colonists : Lady Canvassers AND Party Colours. George III., continued (1774 to 1779). ... ... ... 171 XLI, An Exciting Contest, with no Members Returned. George III., continued (1780). ... ... ... ... 175 XLII. The Sheriffs Summoned 10 the House : A Sj'Cond Election, and an Illegal Return. George III., continued (1780 to 1781). ... ... ... 180 XLIII. "Plucking the Mushrooms." The Sheriffs sent to Newgate. George III., continued (1781). ... ... ... ... 184 xu. Contents. CHAPTER. TITLE, ETC. XLIV. The Coventry Elections Act. George III,, continued (1781 to 1783). ... XLV. The King and Pitt versus the Coalition of Lord North and Fox. George IH., continued (1784). ... XLVI, Matters Arising out of the Last Contest. George IIL, continued (1784 to 1790). ... XLV II. A Triangular Fight. George III., continued (1790). .. XLVIII. Local Loyalty during the French Revolution. George III., continued (1790 to 1793). XLIX. Distress, Discontent, and Dear Bread. George III., continued (1793 to 1796). L. An Opposition Victory. George IIL, continued (1796). ... LI. Members Actions and Speeches. George IIL, continued (1796 to 1799). LII. Act for the Relief and Employment of the Poor. George IIL, continued (1800 to iSor). LIII. "Oh Rare Jefferys and Barlow," George IIL, continued (1801 to 1802). LIV. A Petition and its Results. George III., continued (1S02 to 1S03). LV. Two Bye-Elections : A PE'irnoN, and a Collapse. George III., continued (1803 to 1S06). ... LVI. The Financial Troubles of an Ex-I\I.P. George IIL, continued (1806). ... LVII. A Couple of Quiet General Elections. George IIL, continued (1806 to iSoS). ... LVIII. Citizen Soldiers : Choosing a Native as Member. George IIL, continued (180S to 1813) LIX. Peace Celebrations : 'I'rade Grievances. George IIL, continued (1814 to 1818). LX. The Fir.st Return of a Cia.EBR.ATEn Memiucr. George IIL, continued (1818). ... 189 191 209 212 215 219 222 224 231 237 239 241 245 247 Contents. Xlll. CHAPTER. TITLE, ETC. PAGE. LXI. A Biography, and a Description. George III., continued (1818 to 1820). ... ... ... 254 LXII. "Rich Ruffians" and "Ripping Savages": A Rowdv Election. George IV. (1820). ... ... ... ... ... 257 LXIII. The Case of the Coventry Freeholders. George IV., continued (1820 to 1824). ... ... ... 263 LXIV. The Reciprocity Act and the Ribbon Trade. George IV., continued (1824 to 1826). ... ... ... 265 LXV. A Battle of the Blues. George IV., continued (1826). . . ... ... ... 268 LXVI. Coventry Election Petition : Concurrent Jurisdiction. George IV., continued (1826 to 1830). ... ... ... 276 LXVII. A Party Compromise. William IV. (1830). ... ... ... ... ... 281 LXVIII. Reform and Reformers. William IV., continued (1830 to 1831). ... ... ... 286 LXIX. Progress and Triumph of Reform : The Weavers and their Trade. William IV., continued (1831 to 1832). ... ... ... 290 LXX. A Memorable Tenth of December. William IV., continued (1832 to 1833). ... ... ... 293 LXXI. Coventry Represented by a Cabinet Minister : A Quiet Election, and a Closely-contested General One. William IV., continued (1833 to 1835). ... .. ... 299 LXXII. The Municipal Corporations Reform Act. William IV., continued (1835 to 1837). ... ... ... 303 LXXIII. A Five-Cornered Fight : Opening of the London and Birmingham Railway. Victoria (1837 to 1839). ... ... ... ... 306 LXXIV. Corn Law Times: A Triangular Contest; Lowering the Duties. Victoria, continued (1839 to 1846). ... ... ... 310 LXXV. A Conservative Gain. Victoria, continued (1846 to 1850). ... ... ... 3r4 LXXVI. Radical versus Whig-Liberal. Victoria, continued (1851). ... ... ... ... 317 XIV. Contents. CHAPTER. TITLE, ETC. LXXVII. RUSSELLITES AND DeRBYITES. Victoria, continued (1852). LXXVIII. The Unopposed Return of a Distinguished Member. Victoria, continued (1853 to 1856). LXXIX. Five Candidates for Two Seats. Victoria, continued (1857 to 1858). LXXX. The New Reform Agitation. Victoria, continued (1858 to 1859). LXXXI. Lammas and Michaelmas Lands Inclosure ; The Frenxh Treaty, the Strike, and the Silk Industry. Victoria, continued (1859 to 1862). LXXXn. Triumphant Return of an Old Conservative. Victoria, continued (1863). LXXXIIL Another Bye-Election : A Second Tory Gain. Victoria, continued (1S64 to 1865). LXXXI V. Re-election of the Late Members. Victoria, continued (1865). LXXXV. Victory for the Liberals. Victoria, continued (1865 to 1867). LXXXVI. The Story of a Disastrous Petition. Victoria, continued (1867 to 1868). LXXXVII. Ratifying the Liberal Gain, and the Choosing of a Native OF Coventry. Victoria, continued (1868). LXXXVI II. Undivided Conservative Representation. Victoria, continued (1868). LXXXIX. "A Retaliatory Petition." Victoria, continued (1868 to 1869). XC. The Coventry Case : The French Treaty. Victoria, continued (1869 to 1872). XCI. Divided Representation. Victoria, continued (1873 to 1880). XCIL Return of the Liberal Candidates. Victoria, continued (i88o). page. 323 326 329 333 335 339 343 347 351 356 359 362 366 372 374 378 Contents. xv. CHAPTER. TITLE, ETC. PAGE. XCIII. A Tory Victory. Victoria, continued (1881). ... ... ... ... 382 XCIV. The Loss of a Member : The Conservative Re-elected. Victoria, continued (1882 to 1885). ... ... ... 386 XCV. Union or Home Rule ? Victoria, continued (1886). ... ... ... ... 390 XCVI. The Queen's Jubilee; A Peerage conferred upon the Member ; Gladstonian Liberal Gain. Victoria, continued (1887). ... ... ... ... 394 XCVIL A Generous Benefactor ; Death of Lord Cheylesmore ; Preparing for a Contest. Victoria, continued (1887 to 1892). ... ... ... 397 XCVIIL The Seat Retained. Victoria, continued (1892). ... ... ... ... 402 XCIX. Member and Candidate. Victoria, continued (1892 to 1894). ... ... ... 404 APPENDIX. I. Lists of Members returned to the Various Parliaments for THE CiTV^ of Coventry from a.d. 1295 upwards, collected from Divers Sources by the Author. ... ... ... i. IL The Ancient and Modern Seals of the City of Coventry. ... viii. in. Eighteenth Century Chronicles — "The Chronicles of the Times at Coventry." ... ... ... ... ... ... ix. IV. Improvements in the Centre of the City, 1790— 1820. .. xx. V. Mr. W. W. Bird, M.P., and the Ribbon Trade of Coventry. ... xx. VI. Additional Notes about Mr. W. Mills, M.P. ... ... ... xxi. VJI. Election Literature of the Reform Bill Times, and Early Nineteenth Ceniury Chronicles. ... ... ... xxi. VIII. Corrections.... ... ... •.• ... ... ... xxii. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE FRONTISPIECE — ANCIENT SEALS OF THE CITY OF COVENTRY. Nos. I and 2, Ancient Great Seals, in the possession of the Corporation ; Nos. 3, 4, and 5, Ancient Minor Seals and Signets, also in the Corporation's possession ; Nos. 7 and 8, Ancient Great Seals of Coventry ; No. 6, Smaller Seal. Nos. i, 2, 3, 4, and 5, reproduced by permission of Lewis Beard, Esq., Town Clerk of Coventry; Nos. 6, 7, and 8, by permission of Frederick Bird, Esq., Coventry ... ... ... ... ... ... ... i. (i) THOMAS ARUNDEL, Archbishop of Canterbury ; defended the Church in the Coventry Parliament, 1404. From a portrait ; artist unknown. — (2) WILLIAM WAYNFLEET, Bishop of Winchester ; opened the Coventry Parliament, 1459. From a portrait at Magdalen College. Oxford.— (-i) RICHARD NEVILL, Earl of Warwick; defended Coventry, 1471. From a portrait; artist unknown. — (4) SIR WILLIAM BAGOT, Kt., Steward of Cheylesmore. Died 1407. From a rubbing of the brass, Baginton Church.— (5) SIR THOMAS LYTTELTON, Kt., Recorder of Coventry, 1450. From a picture at Inner Temple Hall. — (6) HENRY BEAUFORT, Bishop of Lincoln; opened the Coventry Parliament, 1404. From the tapestry, St. Mary's Hall, Coventry.— {7) RICHARD CROSBY, Prior of Coventry, 1423. From the ancient glass, St. Mary's Hall, Coventry ... ... 18 SIR EDMUND KNIGHTLEY, Kt., Recorder of Coventry, 1525. Died 1545. From a rubbing of the brass in Fawsley Church (with helmet removed) ... ... ... 35 (i) MR. THOMAS BOND, Mayor of Coventry, 1497; founder of Bond's Hospital, Coventry. Died 1506. From a painting at Bond's Hospital, Coventry. — (2) SIR THOMAS WHITE, Kt., Lord Mayor of London, 1553; founder of Sir Thomas White's Charity, Coventry, etc. Died 1566. From a rare print in the Mander Collection, Coventry Reference Library. — (3) JOHN HALES, Esq., of the White Friars, Coventry, and founder of the Free Grammar School in that City. Died 1572. From a painting at the School ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 COVENTRY. From W. Smith's description of England, 1588. (From a block kindly lent by W. Iliffe, Esq.) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 62 (i) SIR JOHN THROKMORTON, Kt., Justice of Chester, etc. ; and MARGERIE, his wife. Sir John was Recorder of, and Member for, Coventry in 1554, and died in 1580. From the tomb in Coughton Church.— {2} SIR JOHN HARINGTON, Kt., Recorder and Member for Coventry, created Baron Harington of Exton. Died 1613. From a portrait by Isaac Oliver.— (i) SIR JOHN HARINGTON, Kt., Recorder of Coventry, second Baron Harington of Exton. Died 1614. From a rare print, signed "Hen. Balaam, Excudet : R. Elstrack, Sculpsit"... ... ... 59 xviii. List of Illustrations. (I) MR CHRISTOPHER DAVENPORT, Mayor of Coventry, 1602-3. 'F''''"' « /"«*««# at St. Mary's mil. Coventry .-i.^) THE EARLIEST KNOWN PLAN OF COVENTRY, 1610. ■'Described by Christopher Saxton. augmetr. ; and published by John Speede, citizen oj London" (i) SIR EDWARD COKE, Kt., Chief Justice, Member and Recorder of Coventry, 1623. Died 1633. From T. Trotter's engraving of Cornelius Jaiisen's portrait.— {2) THOMAS LORD COVENTRY, Lord Keeper, Recorder of Coventry, 1633. Died 1640. From a painting by Jansen.-^) ROBERT GREVILLE, LORD BROOKE. Parliamentary General in Warwickshire, etc. Died 1643. From a painting by Dobson. — {4) SPENCER COMPTON, Earl of Northampton, Recorder of Coventry, 1640, and Royalist General in Warwickshire, etc. Died 1643. Artist unknown PAGE. 64 74 (i) SIMON NORTON, Gent., Member for Coventry, 1640. Died 1641. From a rare engraving; artist unknown.— {2) BASIL FEILDING, Earl of Denbigh, Recorder of Coventry, 1646. Died 1675. From an engraving ; "Clarendon," vol. 4, portrait 124. Prints Department, British Museum.— [3) ROBERT DEVEREUX, Earl of Essex, Recorder of Coventry, 1643. Died 1646. From an engraving from Walker's portrait. — (4) SIR WILLIAM DUGDALE; summoned Coventry to surrender to the King, 1642. Died 1685-6. From an engraving: artist unknown. — (5) COLONEL WILLIAM PUREFOY, Recorder and Member for Coventry, 1654. Died 1659? From a rare engraving ; artist unknown. — (6) OLIVER ST. JOHN, Lord Chief Justice, and Recorder of Coventry, 1659. Died 1673. From an engraving of a portrait by C. Jansen in the Prints Department, British Museum ... ... ... 85 (i) LADY JANE FISHER (MRS. JANE LANE, who saved Charles II. after the Battle of Worcester), wife of Sir Clement Fisher, Bart., MP. for Coventry. Died 1689. From an engraved portrait in the Hope Collection, Bodleian Library, Oxford; artist unknown.— (2) JAMES COMPTON, Earl of Northampton, Recorder of Coventry, 1660-1. Died 1681. From a drawing of a picture at Castle Ashby, by Christopher Harding, in the Sutherland Collection, Bodleian Library, Oxford... ... 102 (i) THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD HOPKINS, Member for Coventry, 1701. Died 1735. From an engraving of Sir Godfrey Kneller's painting in the Kit-Cat Club portraits.— (2) THOMAS HOPKINS, Esq., Member for Coventry, 1701. Died 1720. From an engraving of Sir Godfrey Kneller's painting in the Kit-Cat Club portraits.— {i] THE HOPKINS MONUMENT, Saint Michael's Church, Coventry. From a photograph by J. Jackson, Trafalgar Street, Coventry ... ... ... 126 (i) HENRY NEALE, Esq., returned Member for Coventry, 1701. Died 1730. From a portrait at Allesley Hall, Coventry ; artist unknown. — (2) CHARLES SPENCER, third Earl of Sunderland, Recorder of Coventry, 1710. Died 1722. After J. Richardson.— {3) JOHN NEALE, Esq,, Member for Coventry, 1722. Died 1746. From a portrait at Duston House, Northampton. — {4) "THE CARD PLAYERS"— SIR THOMAS SAMWELL and JOHN NEALE, Esq. From the painting by Mercier, at Allesley Park, Coventry .—{^) SIR THOMAS SAMWELL Bart., Member for Coventry, 1715. Died 1757. From the painting at Duston List of Illustrations. xix. PAGE. House, Northampton. ~{6) CHARLES FITZ-ROY, second Duke of Grafton, Recorder of Coventry, 1722. Died 1757. After V aiiloo .—(j) SIR ADOLPHUS OUGHTON, Kt. and Bart, K.B., Member for Coventry, 1715. Died 1736. From a painting at Diiston House, Nortltanipton ... ... ... ... ... 146 THE COVENTRY CROSS ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 149 THE O.ATH OF A COVENTRY FREEMAN, 1741 ... ... ... ... 154 PLAN OF COVENTRY, 1748-9. From a survey by Samuel Bradford. (From a photograph by Mr. T. J. Lloyd, Earl Street, Coventry) ... ... ... ... ... 156 (i) THOMAS ARCHER, LORD ARCHER (when a youth), Recorder of Coventry, 1757. Died 1768. From a portrait at Umberslade.—(z) ANDREW ARCHER, LORD ARCHER, Member for Coventry, 1761 ; Recorder of Coventry, 1772. Died 1778. From a drawing by Lee.— [3) JAMES HEWITT, LORD LIFFORD, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Member for Coventry, 1761. Died 1789. From Dunharton's engraving of Sir Joshua Reynolds's portrait. — (4) SAMUEL GREATHEED, Esg., Member for Coventry, 1747. Died 1765, From a mezzo- tint by Houston, in the Aylesford Collection, Birmingham Reference Library ... ... 160 (i) THE RIGHT HON. WILLIAM BROMLEY, Member for O.xford University, Spealier of the House of Commons, 1710. Died 1731-2. From an engraving by U. Dahll.—{2) SIR RICHARD GLYN, Bart,, Lord Mayor of London, 1758; Member for Coventry, 1768. Died 1772. From a painting by Zoffani, at Bridewell Hospital. London.— (i) SIR THOMAS HALLIFAX, Kt., Lord Mayor of London, 1776 ; Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1780-1. Died 1789. From an engraving at Guildhall, London... ... ... ... ... ... ... 165 (i) FRANCIS SEYMOUR CONWAY, Earl of Hertford, K.G., Recorder of Coventry, 1768. Died 1794. From W . Greatbach's engraving.— [2) AUGUSTUS HENRY FITZ-ROY, Duke of Grafton, K.G., Recorder of Coventry, 1778. Died 1811. From an engraving by Kennerley. — [s] JOHN BAKER HOLROYD, LORD SHEFFIELD, Member for Coventry, 1780. Died 1821. From J. Jones's engraving of a portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds, in the Reynolds Collection, British Museum. — (.i) ELIZABETH, LADY CRAVEN (afterwards Margravine of Anspach). Died 1828. From an engraving of a portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds ... 174 (i) JOHN WILMOT, Esq., M.P. for Coventry, 1784. From an engraving after G. Dance, by IV. Daniell : from the Prints Department, British Museum.— (2) SIR SAMPSON GIDEON, Bart., BARON EARDLEY, of the Kingdom of Ireland, M.P. for Coventry, 1784. From an engraving after Dance, by Hodgetts : from the Hope Collection, Bodleian Library, Oxford ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 200 COVENTRY POLITICAL CARTOONS (late Eighteenth Century)— (i) "The King's Blues; or. Loyal Fox-hunters." — (2) "The Jew Naturalized." — (3) "The Man of the People: All things to all men." — (4) "The Devil amongst the Saints," etc. 208 XX. List of Illustrations. PAGE. SPECIMEN OF COVENTRY HANDBILL LITERATURE— " The Story of Messrs. Jefferys and Barlow's Election" — (i) "The Mayor's Letter." — (2) "The Coventry Election: A Poem." — (j) "Determinations of the House of Commons on the Coi'entry Elections." — (4) "A Celebrated Farce: Much Ado About Nothing; or, The Scrambling of the Blues for the Corporation Purse and Offices." 224 A CARTOON of i8o5—" Slander Overthrown" ... ... ... ... ... 237 COVENTRY POLITICAL CARTOONS, 1S20— (i) " The Nomination of Messrs. Moore, Ellice, and Cobbatt at the Hustings." — {2) " Cobbett at Coventry" ... ... 256 (i) WILLIAM COBBEPT, Esq., Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1820. Died 1835. From an engraving. — {2) WILLIAM AIILLS, Esy., M,P. for Coventry, 1805. Died 1820. Front a porlyait at Bisterne, Ringwood, Hants; artist unknown. — (3) FRANCIS CHARLES SEYMOUR CO.N'WAY, Marquis and Earl of Hert- ford, Recorder of Coventry, 1825-6. Died 1842. From the portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 263 COVENTRY POLITICAL CARTOON, 1830 — " Coventry Election: A Sketch." Mr. Edward Ellice, M.P,, and Mr. Thomas Bilcliffe Fyler, M.P., before Much Park Street Toll Bar, Coventry ... ... ... ... ... ... 281 (i) THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD ELLICE, M.P. for Coventry, 181S. From the portrait by Grant, in the Covcntiy Reference Libiary. — (2) HENRY LYTTON BULWER, Esq., M.P. for Coventry, 1831. From D'Orsay's engraved portrait in the Hope Collection, Bodleian Library, Oxford ... ... ... ... .. OQS PLAN OF COVENTRY, 1S07. From a dialing by Thomas Sharp ... ... ... 302 (I) COMMEMORATION MEDAL, struck to celebrate the return of Messrs. Ellice and Bulwer for Coventry in 1S32. Reproduced from an original ii, the possession of H. Band, Esq., Junr., Coventry .—(2) " LAMM.\S RIDING AT COVENTRY'." From a tainting by E. Rudgc.~(i) COMMEMOR.\TION MEDAL, struck to celebrate the return of the first reformed Corporation at Coventry in 1S35. Reproduced from an original in the possession of J. B. Mercer, Esq., Coventry PLAN OF COVENTRY, 1842; Illustrating the New Boundary; Mr. C. Hansom, Surveyor, Coventry... (I) WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Esq., M.P. for Coventry, 1835. Died 1S65. From a small portrait in tlie Mander Collection, Coventry Reference Library.— {2) GEORGE JAMES TURNER, Esq. (afterwards SIR GEORGE JAMES TURNER), M p' for Coventry, 1847. Died 1S67. F,om an engraving of a portrait by G. Richmond - (3) CHARLES GEACH, Esq., MP. for Coventry, X851. Died 1854. From 'an engraving of J. Partridge's portrait THE CASTLE HOTEL, COVENTRY : Head-quarters of Sir Joseph Paxtou, Kt i8sg From a sketch by F. A. Austin, Esq. ... ■ :>y- 302 309 314 316 List of Illustrations. xxi. PAGE. (i) JOHN MELLOR, Esq., Q.C, Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1H57 (after- wards THE HON. Sn< JOHN MELLOK, Kt.) Died 1887. Arlist unknown.— (2) ROBERT JOSEPH PHILLIMOKE, Esg., Q.C, Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1S57 (afterwards THE RIGHT HON. SIR K. J. PHILLIMORE, B.-\RT.) Died 1SS5. Artist unknown. — d) THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD STRUTT, Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1851 ; created BARON BEEPER, 1856. Died 18S0, Ftvvi a portrait by G. Richmond.— {4) JOHN GELLIBRAND HUBBARD, E^q., Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1S52 ; created BARON ADDINGTON, 1SS7. Died i88g. From an engraving supplied by Mops' Electrotype Agency, Ludgate Hill, London ... ... ... 323 (i) THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD ELLICE, M.P. From a sketch taken shortly before his death.— {2) THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD ELLICE, M.P., addressing the Freemen and Electors from the Craven Arms Hotel, Coventry. Front an early photograph by Stanley. Coventry .—(^) THE RIGHT HON. LADY HANNAH ELLICE. From a portrait by FIolmes.—{i,) SIR JOSEPH PAXTON, Kt., M.P. for Coventry, 1854. From a portrait by O. Oakley.— {5) MORGAN TREHERNE, Esq., M.P. for Coventry, 1863. From a photograph by Mr. R. V. Green, Coventry 328 THE CR.AVEN ARMS HOTEL, COVENTRY: For many years the head-quarters of The Right Hon. Edward Ellice, M.P. Kindly lent by Mr. W. D. Claridge, Coventry 832 (i) THE RIGHT HON. ARTHUR WELLESLEY PEEL, M.P., Speaker of the House of Commons ; Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1863. From an exceedingly good photograph by Mr. R. L. Graham, 6, The Parade, Leamington. — (2) THOMAS COURTENAY THEYDON WARNER, Esq., Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 18S5. From a photograph by Mr. E. Smith, 3, Cheapside, E.C. — (3) EDWARD FORDHAM FLOWER, Esq., Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1865. From a photograph by Mr. R. W. Thrupp, Birmingham. — (4) WILLIAM BUSFIELD FERRAND, Esq., Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1S67. From a photograph by Mr R. V . Green, Coventry ... ... 342 COVENTRY, SHOWING "BIRD'S HOTEL," from which Mr. Mason Jones spoke .. 346 (i) COVENTRY ELECTION, June, 1865 : Mr. Mason Jones at the Craven Arms Hotel From a photograph by Mr. J. Wingrave. Coventry .—(7.) COVENTRY ELECTION, 1865 : Messrs. Eaton and Treherne at the old King's Head Hotel. From a photograph by Mr. J. Wingrave, Coventry ... ... ... ... ... 350 (i) SAMUEL CARTER, Esq., M.P. for Coventry, 1868. Died 1878. From a photograph by J. Jackson, Coventry.— {2) HENRY MATHER JACKSON, Esq., Q C. (after- wards SIR HENRY MATHER JACKSON, Bart.), M.P. for Coventry, 1874. Died 1881. From a photograph : artist unhnoivn ... ... ... ... 359 THE QUEEN'S HOTEL, COVENTRY : Head-quarters of W. H. W. Ballantine, Esq., M.P., 18132. From a block kindly lent by Mr. A. Liddiard. Coventry ... 371 PLANS OF HUSTINGS AND POLLING BOOTHS— COVENTRY ELECTIONS. From a drawing kindly lent by E. J. Purnell, Esq., Senr., City Surveyor ... ... 374 xxii. List of Illustrations. PAGE. (i) THE RIGHT HON. ALEXANDER STAVELEY HILL, Q.C., M.P. for Coventry, 1868. Artist unknown.— (2) WILLIAM HENRY WILLS, Esq. (afterwards SIR W. H. WILLS, Bart.), M.P. for Coventry, 1880. Artist unknown.— (3) ARTHUR KEKEWICH, Esq., Q.C. (afterwards MR. JUSTICE KEKEWICH), Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1880. From a photograph by Mr. A. J. Melhuisli, 12, Old Bond Street, IV.— {4) RIGHT HON. SIR UGHTRED JAMES KAY-SHUTTLEWORTH, Bart., Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1881. From an excellent photograph by Messrs. Byine and Co., Richmond 378 THE KING'S HEAD HOTEL, COVENTRY : Head-quarters of H. W. Eaton, Esq., M.P., 1886. From a block kindly lent by Mr. G. Fox Spencer, Coventry ... ... 381 HENRY WILLIAM EATON, FIRST LORD CHEYLESMORE. From an excellent photograph by Arthur Marx. Hamburg ... ... ... ... ... ... 394 WILLIAM HENRY WALTER BALLANTINE, Esq., M.P. From a photograph by J. Russell and Sons, Baker Street, London ... ... ... ... ... 396 (i) CHARLES JAMES MURRAY, E.sQ., Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1892. From a photograph by Mr. F. Lupson, 27, Hertford Street, Coventry. — {2) COLONEL THE HON. HERBERT F. EATON, Parliamentary candidate for Coventry, 1887. From a photograph by Mr. J. Edwards, 1, Park Side, Hyde Park Corner, S.W. .. 402 COVENTRY POLITICAL CARTOONS (Nineteenth Century)— 1863, "Morgan sitting for Coventry."— 1865, "Ttie Coming Struggle."— 1865, "The Trimmer."— 1867, "The Lion-Hearted Ferrand ; " from Punch.— 1S67-S, "The Political Youths of Coventry."— 1868, "The Pohtical Cheap Jacks."— 1868, "The Political Railway Schemers."— 1868, "Serious Accident on the Southara Railway."— 1S6S, "Coventry Steeplechase, No. 2."— iS58, "Putting out two of Gladstone's Bright Radical Lights."— 1868, "The Champions of the Arena."— 186S, "Extraordinary Flight of two Radical Birds from Coventry."— 1874, "China Organzine ; well weighted"... 406 COVENTRY POLITICAL LITERATURE-Early Coventry Chronicles, 1746 and 1747. Reduced facsimile ^^(^^^^ THE PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF COVENTRY, FROM EARLIEST TIMES TO PRESENT DATE. CHAPTER I . The Early Town : Its Lords and People. From commencement to King John (a.d. 1200). Coventry from British to Saxon times— The Nunnery — Saint Osburg the Abbess— Destruction of the House — Archbishop Ethelnoth's gift— The Convent town — Land tenure — Earl Leofric and Lady Godiva— Foundation of a Benedictine Abbey — Leofwine the Abbot — Charters — Confirmed by King and Pope — Rights and Privileges — Manorial division — King William's Charter — Domesday Survey — Church land left out, the Earl's included — The Saxon Wittenagemot — Earls and Priors in Parliament — The Castle of Coventry — Sieges by Robert Marmion and King Stephen — The Castle destroyed — King Henry and the Earldom of Chester — Barons of Arundel — Cheylesmore — Lords De Montalt — The Church's part — Of&ce of Abbot suppressed — A Prior instituted — The City and See— Bishops of Coventry — Bishop De Novant — Removes the See — Quarrels with the Monks and turns them out — Secular Canons introduced — The Monks restored. jiij|OVENTRY may have been inhabited in the Romano-British period, as traces 1I& oi early occupation, with Roman coins, a regular pavement, and a statuette in marble have been found at various times in the centre of the City. 1%^ However such an origin may be questioned, there appears little reason to doubt, that in spite of national troubles, it had become a village community in Saxon days. Probably the earliest settlement was the home of a family, attracted to the spot by a prospect of obtaining livelihood with hunting in the woodlands, and by the fishing 2 The Parliamentary Represeutaiion [1016] and water supply obtainable in the neighbouring streanns and pools. Little as this habitation would be, it increased in time, with the arrival of new comers from kindred families, when the inhabitants becoming more permanently settled, tended their cattle and sheep, or occupied themselves with the duties of husbandry in the open lands around. A Nunnery became established at Coventry before the year 1016, "of which Saint Osburg the Virgin was in times past, Abbess." It was destroyed by the Danes in that year, but a religious body evidently survived the destruction, for in 1022, Archbishop Ethelnoth transmitted the arm of St. Augustine of Hippo, to Coventry, as a sacred relic, and Canute is said to have been a benefactor to the Church. The land belonged to Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his Countess Godiva, sister of Thorold, Sheriff of Lincoln. They possibly had some kind of residence thereon, and held the estate by tenure of certain rights due to the Crown. Leofric, with the consent of King Edward the Confessor, and Po]3e Alexander, commenced erecting the great Benedictine Abbey at Coventry, in which he was assisted by the Countess and their family. He instituted his relative Leofwine as Abbot, and gave by Charter, at the dedication in 1043, a moiety of the Town upon which the Convent stood, together with twenty-four Lordships, for the maintenance of the .Abbot and a similar number of Monks. King Edward confirmed the Earl's Charter, and with these possessions were given certain privileges of a judicial nature, market rights, and the power to maintain watch and ward. The King in his Charter speaks of the Church as " in the Town which they call Coventre," and the granting of these rights show that there was a community over which they could be enforced, whilst the Earl and his successors would doubtless retain them over their remaining portion. Thus Coventry existed as a Town before the Norman Conquest. Leofric died in 1057, and his son Algar (who confirmed the privileges) in 1059. The Lady Godiva afterwards held the southern portion. The year of her death is uncertain, but within the Church of their foundation, the Earl, his Countess, and son were buried. Through Leofric's gift two distinct properties were formed in the township, havino limits and bounds, being more or less the forerunners of the two parishes, with their separate Churches and Incumbents. The Monastic lands apparently contained the more ancient Town, and lay to the north, whilst the Earl's portion, the larger estate of the two, though less populated, lay chiefly southward. King William confirmed their lands and rights to the Monks in a Charter but Domesday survey (completed about 1086) mentions only the southern part, for the land of the Church of Coventry, whereon the Monastery itself stood, is left out although other manors and lands belonging to it are included. This is unfortunate for, as the more ancient Town stood northward, the population of the Church's portion can but be guessed at, whilst no account of the number of people, their houses or the [1125] of the City of Coventry. 3 liberties and customs of the place are shown. The Monks possessed thirty-six messuages in Warwick, thirty in Leicester, and they must necessarily have had a number in Coventry for their tenants also. After the death of the Countess Godiva, the southern half of Coventry was probably held in the hands of the Crown until 1125, when it came by marriage with the Saxon heiress Lucy, to Ranulf, Earl of Chester. The kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy each had a National Council called a Wittenagemot, at which all the Witan, or members of the Assembly, were called by their Prince upon such affairs of state and points of government, as the laws of the people did not allow him to decide on his own authority. With the Norman Conquest the Saxon form of power terminated, and King William's sway became absolute. Instituting new forms, he established the feudal laws, and whilst many of the English freeholders were dispossessed, a Great Council of the Barons was instituted, having the King at its head. Both Norman Earls of Chester and Priors of Coventry sat therein by the service of their Baronies. The Earls had their own Parliaments as Lords of the Palatinate of Chester. Those connected with Coventry were : — Ranulf Meschines 3rd Earl, 1125 to 1129 Hugh Kevilioc 5th Earl, 1153 to 1181 Ranulf Gernons 4th Earl, 1129 to 1153 Ranulf Blundeville 6th Earl, 1181 to 1232 John le Scot, 7th Earl, 1232 to 1237, who died without issue. The Earls had a Castle at Coventry, which they confided to the care of a Constable ; and it appears to have stood upon the high ground between St. Michael's churchyard and Broadgate, as early Charters and other evidences show, the entrance being at the latter place, which yet retains the name. It was besieged by Robert Marmion in 1141-2, who, seizing the Monastery, turned out the Monks, and constructed ditches and defences. Forgetting, however, their exact site, he fell into one of them, and was killed by the Earl's soldiers. About the same time Earl Ranulf obtained Lincoln Castle, and soon after took King Stephen prisoner, but subsequently released him. Two years later the King and Earl became reconciled, but Stephen, suspecting treachery, seized the Earl at the Castle of Northampton, and imprisoned him until he had delivered over Lincoln, Coventry, and other Castles. Earl Ranulf being restored to liberty, quickly forgot his promises of fidelity to King Stephen, and, raising an army, besieged Lincoln. Ranulf likewise successfully blocked up the Castle of Coventry, in which the King's adherents were, until Stephen came to its relief, and attempted to force a passage through the Earl's army. During the first skirmish the King received a wound, and had to retire, but, on liis recovery, fell with such fury upon the besiegers, that he killed a number in battle and took many prisoners. The Earl himself was nearly slain, but managed to escape with a few of his men, when the King, being master of the field, relieved the garrison and proceeded to pull down the Castle. 4 The Parliamentary Representation [1151] Subsequently it was repaired, for the position is mentioned in a deed made in 1151. In 1 1 73 Earl Hugh, and Robert, Earl of Leicester, rebelled against King Henry II., in favour of Prince Henry, that King's son ; when Richard de Lucy was sent by the King against them, to besiege Coventry, Leicester, and their other places, which he destroyed, and burnt the towns, whose tenants having adhered to their lords against the King, had their liberties seized, to regain which they were put to fine, those of Leicester in 300 marks, and those of Coventry in 200. These Earls thereupon caused great trouble by sea and land for some three years, but at length obtaining the King's pardon, they became reinstated in favour. Their lands were restored, and the townsmen of Coventry having paid a reduced fine of twenty marks, regained their liberties, obtained the King's Confirmation Charter in 1182, and had licence to rebuild their dwellings. With the death of the last Norman Earl of Chester in 1237, the Castle which had been dismantled fell into decay, and little more than " a fortlet or pile standing in the Earl's street," probably the Keep "where the Earls of Chester did make their abode," was then left thereof. By its removal the burgesses were enabled to build, and increase the number of their houses in the midst of the town. King Henry III. resumed the County of Chester into his own hands, and soon created his son Earl of it, but divided the lands between the sisters and co-heiresses of Earl Ranulf, whereupon the Earl of Arundel, by his marriage with Mabel, one of the sisters, possessed the southern part of Coventry, where, "finding the Castle ruinous, he built a house at Cheylesmore without the ancient Town, and laid out a park adjoining, after the fashion of the limes." The Earls of Arundel who held it were, William de Albany, 4th Earl, r2 37. Hugh de Albany, 5th Earl, died without issue 1243. The southern Manor then came to the Lord Roger de Montalt, who had married the heiress Cecily, and it remained to their descendants for nearly a century, durinc^ which period Cheylesmore was one of their residences. The Montalts had from King Stephen's time sat with the Earl of Chester's Barons in the Councils of the Palatinate. They were : — Roger de Montalt, who succeeded in 1243. He was one of twelve " Probes Homines " chosen by the Barons in 1243, to treat with the King's Council, for all the Commons, or the whole Community of the land upon public business and was a Commissioner to consider what aid should be given to the Kino-. He died in 1260, and was succeeded by his son John de Montalt, who died in 1262. Robert de Montalt, his brother, inherited. He had Court with Assize attached to the Manor of Cheylesmore, and a Steward to manage it. He died in 1274 [1173] of the City of Coventry. 5 Roger de Montalt came into possession. This Lord had taken part with the discontented Barons in 1265, but was summoned by King Edward I. to Parliament 1294, and died in 1297. Robert de Montalt, his brother, succeeded. He was summoned to Parliament from 1298 to 1329, and signed the Baron's protest against the Pope's claim to the Kingdom of Scotland in 1301. He died without issue. Meanwhile the northern part of Coventry remained in the possession of the Church. The office of Abbot was suppressed in 1095, ^f'^r three Saxon occupants had filled the chair, and a Prior instituted instead, but the House lost none of its rights and dignities by the change, and the Prior was summoned to the Great Councils as the Abbots had been beforetime. Lymesy, Bishop of Chester, created the See of Coventry in 1102, and himself became its first Bishop. The Town was thus raised to the dignity of a City. He and his successors, who took the title " of Coventry," were — Robert de Lymesy, First Bishop of Coventry, 1102 to 1117. Buried in the Cathedral Church, the See being vacant for four years after his death. Robert Pecham, or Peach, Second Bishop, from 1121 to 1127. He also was buried at Coventry, and after his death the See was vacant for two years. Roger de Clinton, Third Bishop, paying a large fine to the King for the preferment; consecrated 1129 ; became a Crusader, and died at Antioch 1149. Walter Burden was more inclined to peace, and ruled as Fourth Bishop from 11 49 to 1 1 60. He excommunicated Earl Ranulf, but that lord's wife and son afterwards gave Stivichall to the Priory for his absolution. Buried at Coventry. Richard Peach, Fifth Bishop, received consecration 1161, resigned, and died 1182. Gerard le Pucelle, Sixth Bishop, consecrated 1183, was the last to style himself "of Coventry" only. Died 1185, and was buried in the Minister Church. Three years after, Hugh de Novant, being chosen Bishop, removed his seat to Lichfield, and the title became changed to " Coventry and Lichfield," each Chapter alternately choosing a Bishop, who had a Cathedral Church in either City. De Novant was no friend to the Benedictines ; he starved the Monks and obtained their possessions by a Royal grant. Holding a Synod in the Church, he fell into dispute with them, wherein they broke his head with a cross. Bishop Hugh thereupon obtained their expulsion, and placed Canons Secular in the Monastery. In a Parliament called at Nottingham, 1194, at which Earl Ranulf was present, King Richard \. demanded judgment against De Novant, for conspiracy with Prince John, during his absence. Two years after he obtained the Royal favour, and paid two thousand marks to regain the Bishopric, but the Monks were subsequently restored in 1198. The Parliamentary Representation [1230] CHAPTER II. The Dawn of Borough Representation. From John (1201) to Edward I. (1295). Increasing prosperity — Churches — Hospitals established — Grey Friars' foundation — The Town — The Priors' purchase and exemptions— Cheylesmore retained by De Montalt— Priors' freedom from County Court — Coroner appointed — Guild established — Merchants and Trades. — Markets and Fairs— The Burgesses and their holdings— Charters of the Earl and King — A Town Court granted, and Justice to be chosen — The Laws of Lincoln — Town paved — Bailiffs appointed — Magna Carta — Improved Representation — Burgesses and taxes — Barons' wars — A Parliament — Decree of Kenilworth and a Royalists' Committee — Coventry's first Representation — The Sheriff and the King's Writ — Choice of Burgesses — Aunketil de ColeshuU and Richard de Weston chosen — An aid granted, and its collection. °a#^(R^GAIN the Monastery flourished, and additional grants came into its chests. 4iR'^|j The Town's prosperity was chiefly dependent upon the welfare of the ^^I^^ Church, and the Chapel of St. Michael's, with other Chapels outside the t/spN^ City, were given by the Earl to the Priory. About the commencement of Henry the Third's reign, two hospitals were erected, one by the Prior at the Burgess, for the poor and infirm, the other by Earl Hugh, for lepers, in the west suburbs. An important spiritual movement brought the Franciscans, or Grey Friars, into England, and Earl Ranulph, about 1230, allowed them a settlement in his portion of Coventry, yet without the Town. They held no grant of lands, but had his and his successor's protection, living upon the alms and charity of the devout people in the district. In spite of Monkish opposition, their humble Oratory grew into a spacious Friary and Church, and their godly living gave them many friends amongst the chief persons of the City and neighbourhood, many of whom were buried in their chapels. The Friars improved religious teaching, led men to think more for themselves, and in part prepared them for the constitutional struggles of Henry the Third's rei^n. Coventry, like most Saxon towns and villages, was situate upon a hill. The Monastic part included Bishop Street, Silver Street, and Cook Street, with lanes adjoining, the Burgess to Cross Cheaping, where was " the Priors' market place before the Cross." Beyond the Broadgate, in the Lord's part, was " the street of the Earl," Smithford and Gosford Streets, "the Earl's mill lane," Great Park Street, and the ways to Cheylesmore. The houses were chiefly built of wood and earth, one storey in height, [1250] of the City of Coventry. 7 with thatched roofs. Inside them little furniture, light, or comfort was to be found. Prior Brightwalton, in 1250, purchased from Lord Roger de Montalt a large portion of the southern Manor in fee-farm, paying annually the large rent in those days of ;£^ioo for the same, which, on comparison with payments made for other places, proves the Town to be of considerable size and value. The Prior thus held all, or nearly all, of the Town. Earl Roger exempted the homage and services of his chief tenants in the hamlets and parishes around the City, with their reliefs, eschaeis, and duties, due in respect of the land held by them, together with all military services, within the realm belonging to the Manor of Coventry, and he reserved to his freeholders their rights and liberties in the woods, or Manor of Coventry, thus " saving the commoners the reasonable pasture for so many beasts with which they may conveniently plough and carry on their arable lands, and which by reason of those lands, as well of right, as of custom, they ought and were wont to have commons." De Montalt also retained Cheylesraore (situate southward), with its house and park, which he held "of the honour of Chester by Knights service," together with certain other property, including the Monastery of the Grey Friars, and the Leper Hospital at Sponne. King Henry IH., in 1266-7, granted the Prior and his House freedom from suit to the County or Hundredth Court of Warwickshire, and to the Sheriff's turn. They thus obtained a further privilege. He appointed a Coroner within the Town of Coventry, who should answer before the Justices Itinerant for all things concerning his office. In the same year he granted them a Guild Merchant, with the privileges thereto belonging, and thus licenced a company of buyers and sellers who, beforetime, had apparently traded on sufferance alone, this grant being probably but the confirmation of what already existed, but which, through local circamstances, required resuscitation or amendment. The Town increased with the eslablishment of the Monastery. From a purely rural community in Saxon days, it had by the time of Edward I. grown into a mixed commercial and agricultural City. The earliest merchants and tradesmen either sold various articles of daily consumption, wove rude cloth, or collected the wool and other materials for manufacture, selling their produce at home, and conveying their wares to the markets of adjacent towns and villages. Under the Church's patronage, trade became established, and as the demand sprang up, markets and fairs were more firmly held under Charters. The Prior had a weekly market in his part of the Town, and in 1203 paid a fine of five marks for its alteration. In 121 7 Earl Ranulph obtained for his burgesses a yearly eight days' fair to be held at the feast of Holy Trinity, whilst the Prior had a Royal grant for a like fair commencing on the second of October annually. With advancing years trades became more in number and merchants increased. Not only were there tradesmen born within the City, but some came from a distance, both obtaining a holding under the lords of the place. The Norman rule reduced the 8 The Parliamentary Representation [1260] inhabitants, whether born within the Town, or the denizated strangers, into liege subjects, amenable to their lords. They became burghers, and renting a house at a certain yearly rental, were subject to socage and burgage tenure, contributing their services as townsmen to watch and ward, and other imposts, tallages, and payments, whether local or otherwise. Thus arose "the burgesses" of the Borough (first so named in a Charter granted about 1180). They had their chartered rights, purchased by themselves, whereby their holdings were held to them, as Earl Ranulph in his grant expresses it, "well and honorably quietly and in free-burgage, held of me and my heirs, as they, in the time of my father, and others of my ancestors have held better more firmly and more freely," at which time the customs, immunities and privileges of the Town, already acknowledged by their antiquity, became confirmed by grant. Their Portmanmote, or Town Court, was granted in the time of Henry II., by the same Earl, and witnessed by Roger, constable of Chester, Robert de Montalt, steward (of Coventry), Ralph Meisnilwarin (parson of St. Michael's, Coventry), and others. It was confirmed to them by Royal Charter, witnessed by Ralph de Glanvill, the great Judge, and Sheriff of Warwickshire, and by other Lords. In this Court all pleas belonging to trie Earl or his burgesses could be inquired into by a Justice appointed by themselves, but acting for the Earl, whilst the townsmen were not to be drawn into his Castle, by any of his Constables, to plead for any cause whatever. They had the laws, usages and customs which the burgesses of Lincoln enjoyed. Their holdings and dwellings were small, but proportionate to their requirements, whilst they had rights of common pasture over certain lands, and the liberties whicli they enjoyed in the woods and Manor. The Town was partially paved in 1285, but this was not completed until some years after. About the year 1290, Bailiffs were appointed to rule " the tried and trusty men" of the place, for which right the burgesses no doubt paid. Magna Carta, wrested from King John in 1215, granted very important liberties and privileges to all orders of men in the kingdom, and the name of William, Bishop of Coventry, appears therein. The great Barons alone sat in the early Parliaments, or Common Councils, to assess aids and scutages ; but in latter feudal times the system of representation by King and Lords gave way, and drifted into more equal paths. Magna Carta, whilst it gave the towns their liberties and free customs as beforetime ordered the tenants in chief to be summoned by the Sheriffs or Bailiffs. At first the counties sent representatives to deliberate with the Lords, when, apparently, the chief free-burgesses of Warwick and Coventry chose conjointly with the freeholders of the County of Warwick, the Knights of the Shire, who were returned. Afterwards, the burgesses of towns, rising into power and becoming of sufficient importance, sent their own representatives to Parliament. King Henry the Third ratified King John's great Charter of liberties, and in 12 18 various cities and boroughs are said to have been called upon to elect deputies to represent them m the Parliament, held at London after [1264] of the City of Coventry. Q Michaelmas ; but playing false and ruled by aliens, the King annulled the rights of the Barons, Church, and people. Wherever the rights of election was thus early by burgage tenure (as appears originally to have been at Coventry), it was always considered in law to be a proof of the great antiquity of the Town. Each burgess or inhabitant within the Borough held one undivided tenement at a certain rental. Their circumstances in life were sufficiently independent to enable them to pay scot and lot (taxes levied for State purposes, with the due proportionate assessment thereof), together with all such other local and national burdens and imposts as they were liable to be called upon for the nation's safety and the King's needs, which those of Coventry paid from time to time. They had the right of voting given them, incident to their holdings, for the election of their chief burgesses to Parliament, in order to see the granting and disposal of the taxes. As has been said, in early Parliaments the freeholders of towns were few in number, and were probably joined with those of the counties in the choice of members, but as the importance of the boroughs increased, and the burgesses rose into power, it became necessary to give them separate representation. During the great disturbances of the Barons' wars, in December, 1264, when King Henry III. was the prisoner of Simon de Montfort, that Earl (then owner of the Castle of Kenilworth), not only sent writs to the nobles to attend a Parliament, but issued them " to the Sheriffs, and to the cities of London, York, and Lincoln, and the boroughs of England," to send representatives to an Assembly at London, to meet 20th of January, 1265, which may have been the first complete Parliament of Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses. The returns, however, are lost, and it is not known whether Coventry sent representatives, but the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, and the Prior of St. Mary's, in the Town, were summoned with the greater Barons. In 1267, the Churchmen at Coventry were loyal to the King, both Town and Monastery had suffered from the plunder of the rebel forces in their marauding sorties, whilst holding Kenilworth and its Castle. During the siege thereof, after the Battle of Evesham and De Montfort's death, a Committee of Royalists assembled at the Coventry Priory, in October, 1267, where a compromise was effected, and the Baronial party, who had been disinherited, were allowed to regain their lands upon a stipulated payment or fine. Although this decree was formulated at Coventry, it was known as " the dictum of Kenilworth," from being first proclaimed there. Roger de Montalt, of " Mold and Castle Rising castles," figures amongst the insurgent Barons of the time. The known commencement of direct representation at Coventry dates from 1295, in which year the Town sent two Burgesses to Parliament. The writ, which was addressed to the Sheriff of Warwickshire, translated, read as follows : — " The King to the Sheriff of Warwickshire greeting : — Because we desire to have a conference and treaty with the Earls, Barons, and other great men of our Kingdom to provide remedies 10 The Parliamentary Representation [1295] against the dangers with which the same Kingdom is threatened at this time. We, therefore, have commanded them, that they be at Westminster on the next Sunday after the feast of St. Martin in winter next coming, to treat, ordain, and to do such things as those dangers may be prevented. We command and firmly enjoin thee, that without delay thou dost cause to be chosen, and to come unto us at the time and place aforesaid, two Knights of the County aforesaid, and of every City two Citizens, and of every Borough two Burgesses, of the most discrete and fit for business, so that the said Knights may have sufficient power for themselves and for the Community of the County aforesaid, and the said Citizens and Burgesses may have the same power separately for them, for themselves, and the Communities of the Cities and Boroughs, then to do in the premises what shall be ordained in common, or by Common Council, so that for defect of such power the aforesaid business may not remain undone, and have there the names of the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, and this writ. " Witness, the King at Canterbury, the third of October." The Sheriff, William de Castello, had formerly represented the County of Warwick as a Knight of the Shire, and finding that in addition to the two Knights for the County beforetime returned, two Burgesses were required for each of the Boroughs of Coventry and Warwick, he forthwith intimated the purport of the summons to both the County and towns. Naturally, the first Parliamentary Burgesses were selected from amongst the most prominent inhabitants, and such as had been either Bailiffs or Justices, the Sheriff taking care that none but loyal and approved men were chosen. The free-burgesses of Coventry would meet late in October in their Town Court, with their Bailiff or Justice presiding, when the writ being read, the proceedings were taken for the election. The French King having laid siege to Guienne, in Normandy, had landed a force at Dover, and wrought damage. The Crown wanted money to carry on French and Scottish wars, and to withstan Richard Crosby, 20th Prior, May, 1399. Richard Nottingham, 21st Prior, May, 1437, to March, 1453. John Shotteswell, 22nd Prior, 1453, died 1460. Thomas Deram, 23rd Prior, 1460, died April, 1481. . ■ Richard Shaw, 24th Prior, 1481 to 1489. William PoUesworth, 25th Prior, 1490 to 1500 (at leasi). John Impyngton, 26th Prior, 15 10 to his death. John Wehb, 27th Prior, 1517 to 1528. Thomas Wyiiford, 28th Prior, 1528 to 1538. Thomas Camswell, 29th Prior, 1538 to surrender of the Priory, isth January, 1539. Queen Isabel died in 1358, when Cheylesmore Manor came to Edward the Black Prince, who by his Letters Patent, in 1364, granted his interests at Coventry to "the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty," to hold in fee-farm, and, like his father, he >^ave them and their heirs liberty to enclose "the City with a wall of stone and lime embattled." He died in 1376, and his son. Prince Richard, was created Prince of Wales shortly before King Edward's death. THOMAS ARUNDEL. Anhbisbop of ('•mterhurii. Defended the Church in the Coventry Parliament, 1404. WILLIAM WAYNFLEET, Bishop of H'inrliesfcr, Opened the Coventry Parliament, 1450. RICHARD NEVILL, Earl of Warwick, Defended Coventry, 1471. '"om^^ SIR WILLIAM BAGOT, Knt.. Stew'ird of Ch>fi/le>:more, Died, 1407. SIR THOMAS LYTTELTON, Knt., Recorde)' of Coventry, 1450. ^;fl.l^JWf«ft,^ -/rhiin' HENRY BEAUFORT, Ilishap of JJiiroln, Opened the Coventry Parliament, 1404. RICHARD CROSBY. Prior of C(yvei}try, 1423. AGUE 4 C LONDON FIFTEENTH CENTURY CELEBRITIES. [1377] of the City of Coventry. 19 CHAPTER V. Representation Omitted : A Coventry Parliament. From Richard II. (1377) to Henry V. (1422). King Richard's early Charter— Justices— The Civic Sword— The Town disgraced— Further Charters— The Walls— Tenths and Fifteenths— Collection thereof excused— Charter of Improvement— Waste Lands— Recorder appointed— Thomas Purefoy— The Guilds— The Botoners— Cheylesmore Tenants— Carthusian Monastery founded— Combat of Hereford and Norfolk— Sir William Bagot— Revolution and deposition of Richard— Henry TV.— The Lack-learning Parliament at Coventry— Account thereof— Prince Henry arrested— Ascends Throne — Grants for no new Guild — Leet Book— Town and Merchants. t"-ICHARD, son of Edward the Black Prince, was crowned i6th July, 1377 ; j.W:^ and being but eleven years old, a Council was appointed to govern during ■ V'^ , his minority. Although Coventry had a population of 7,000, it sent no '•r Burgesses to Parliament during his reign, and there being no Prince of Wales, Cheylesmore remained in the hands of the Crown. The Royal influence now exceeded that of the Prior, and aided the burgesses in numerous ways. In his first year, the King confirmed the privileges granted by his ancestors to Coventry, and made additions thereto. He granted the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, freedom from murage in the town and county of Chester and elsewhere in the realm, " for all things and merchandise whatsoever." By other Letters, he instituted six Justices for the keeping of the peace within the Town, with power to hear and determine felony and trespass. In 1384 the King ordered the Civic Sword to be carried after the Mayor. At this time the Barons of Exchequer distrained the Mayor and others who had held that office, because they had not taken oath before them. Richard, in 1387, by Letters Patent, pardoned them, and granted that each succeeding Mayor of Coventry, when elected to the office, should take the accustomed oath before the Coroner in the presence of the Commonalty in the Town only, and they were excused from thenceforth from appearing before the Barons of the Exchequer to take such oath. In 1388 the sword was again carried before the Mayor. Before, and when, the King reached his majority, lie gave further Charters to his Coventry men. In 1385 he ratified his grandfather's licence for building the Town walls, and granted the privilege of obtaining stone from the quarries near Cheylesmore to build them, and also for erecting the great gate adjoining the Grey Friars' Monastery, 20 The Parliamentary Representation [1387] whilst in 1391 he allowed stone to build Spon Gate. To the support and cost of the works, in 1385, he gave his farm of sealing woollen cloths at Coventry for five years, valued at ^^24 sterling. The Mayor and Bailiffs, in 1387, petitioned the King to relieve them, "The tenants and residents in the Town," from paying fifteenths, "and being daily disquieted and vexed for yt, they have hitherto been burdened of all manner of fifteenths, tenths, taxations and other tallages, and helps out of the Town granted to us by ye Commonalty of the realm of England," and he ordered that those who had dwelt in the City for the most part of the year should not be charged from henceforth for the collection and gathering, and freed them thereof. Tenths and fifteenths granted by Parliament were charged upon goods and chattels rather than land, especially in the cities. They were taxes of money on the boroughs, and so called because they amounted to a tenth or fifteenth part of that which the City or Town had been of old valued at. Subsidies were raised upon each particular man's goods, or lands, and were uncertain in amount, because the estate of every individual was uncertain. In 1398 Richard, with the assent of his Council, granted the Mayor, Bailiffs, etc., that they and their successors might make improvement and commodity of all the gates, walls and bridges about the Town, and of whatsoever purprestures as well in lands as waters, and also all the waste land within certain limits chiefly southward of Coventry, which he gave towards the repairs of the walls, and payment of the fee-ferm, and other charges, sending writs to Sir William Bagot, his Steward at Cheylesmore, for the due effecting thereof. He further gave the Mayor, Recorder, and four substantial inhabitants, power to hear and determine all causes and complaints touching labourers and artificers, and he ordained that the Justices within the County of Warwick should not intermeddle in the Town or suburbs thereof. The office of Recorder had apparently been granted before time. Its duties required considerable legal learning, and the person appointed, usually " a skilfull and virtuous apprentice at law," was required to assist the Mayor on the recording of pleas and the delivery of judgments, as also to eloquently set forth all matters relating to the City before the King, his Courts, or Council. In a letter to the Mayor of Coventry, Henry VII. considered the office " one of the most honor and substance in the realm." Chosen by the governing body, the fee for services occasionally varied, whilst in time the appointment became subject to considerable party bias, as will be seen. The earliest known Recorder of Coventry, Thomas Purefoy, was a member of a family, which in the late reign, came from Flanders to England, and settled down as wool merchants at Fenny Drayton, near Atherstone. Purefoy, adopting the law, soon distinguished hunself. He died in 1399, and was buried in Fenny Drayton Church, where h.s tomb was despoiled at the Reformation. During the period embraced by this Chapter the Town grew, in spite of the [139S] of the City of Coventry. 21 plague and wars, its increase being extended in some measure by the security afforded in the walls with which it was being surrounded. The Guilds, more firmly established, bound their members closely together for mutual aid, the members elected a master, clerk, and other officers, attended to business regulations, buried their dead, and did various acts of charity, whilst numerous chantries in the Cathedral and Churches of the Town were the work of their members. The Shereman and Taylors' Guild was founded about 13S0. The Botoners completed the rebuilding of St. Michael's Church about 1395 ; and one of them, when INlayor in 1406, caused the streets to be paved ; at which time the large Hall known as St. Mary's was also building. In 1388 part of the Park adjoining the Town at Cheylesmore became built upon, and a tenantry made to Cheylesmore Manor. Three years before King Richard laid the foundation stone of the Carthusian Monastery of St. Ann, without the walls, near the London Road. The Priory buildings and Cathedral were enlarged, and the White Friars' Convent was in erection. In the Shrewsbury Parliament of 1398, the Duke of Hereford accused the Duke of Norfolk with having slandered the King whilst travelling with him between Brainford and London. The matter was finally ordered by the King and Commissioners to be settled according to the laws of chivalry, by single combat, at Coventry, on the i6th of September. When the combatants met at Kingfield, Gosford Green, and were on the point of encountering : the King stayed the fight ; and after consulting with his Council, banished the Dukes from the realm ; Norfolk for life, and Hereford for ten years. Discontent with Richard's Government was, however, felt on all sides. Shakespeare well shows Hereford's popularity with the people, in the King's speech with Bagot and others {Richard /., Act i. Scene 4), and Holinshead tells how " the people ran after him in everie towne and street where he came, before he took to sea, lamenting his departure," as their "only shield, defence, and comfort of the Commonwealth." The death of John, Duke of Lancaster, the King's uncle, and father of Hereford, in 1399, caused King Richard to take steps to prevent the return of the banished Duke, but he was forced to proceed to Ireland. Hereford hastened from France, and, landing in Yorkshire, was joined by numerous northern Lords with an army of 60,000 men, when he boldly asserted his right to the Crown. The Warwickshire knight, Sir William Bagot, remained faithful to the King, and returned back speedily to England. Richard, however, retired to Conway Castle, and was subsequently conducted towards London. At Lichfield his attempted escape was frustrated ; he was removed to Coventry, up to which point the Welsh harassed his captors. From Coventry he was taken to the Tower of London, and the Parliament, which met in October, 1399, deposed him, and made Henry king instead: whose eldest son, Henry, was created Prince of Wales, and Duke of Cornwall ; whereupon Cheylesmore came into his ownership. What part Coventry took in this revolution is unknown. Sir William 22 The Pavliamentary Representation [1400] Bagot was imprisoned in the 'lower of London, and his Castle at Baginton delivered over to the Sheriff of Warwickshire, and the Bishop of St. David's. Being popular with the Commons, they petitioned lor his release and restitution ; and King Henry, remembering Bagot's services, when he stayed at the Castle on the encounter at Coventry, pardoned him. Bagot died in 1407, and a brass in Baginton Church shows him in the Lancasterian collar of S.S. Still the Town did not send members, though Henry IV. summoned a Parliament to meet at Coventry on the 3rd September, 1403, but, through the nearness of Christmas, prorogued it to Westminster for the 14th January following. The King called another to meet at Coventry on the 6th October, 1404, by writs dated at Lichfield 25th August. The Commons consisted of 83 members only, 71 of whom were Knights, and 12 Burgesses. The Court had tampered with the elections, and the members returned were unfavourable to the Church. The King directed the Sheriffs " to choose none that were in any way learned in the lavvs of the land, but only those who were wholly ignorant of either common or civil law." Stowe, and Speed, called this Assembly "the Laymen's Parliament," but the clerical writers of the time dubbed it "Parliamentum Indoctorum," the illiterate, or lack-learning Parliament; "not that it contained more blockheads than Parliaments usually do," says Pennant, "but from its hatred of the clergy, whose revenues it was determined not to spare." The Coventry burgesses sent no members, but the Prior and Bishop were present amongst the Barons. The Lords met in the Great Chamber of the Priory, and the Commons in the Chapter House, where also sat " the tryers " of petitions, both places being newly " appointed and ornamented for the purpose." The Lord Chancellor, Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Lincoln, the King's brother, declared the cause of summons, and taking for his text, "Rex vocavit seniores terrge," learnedly argued "that for the safety of the realm, both within and without, and particularly for repressing the Welsh rebels ; and for resisting their enemies in France and Brittany, who were daily getting reinforcements in order to invade the nation, and to subvert the Stale ; for the due observation of the peace and the administration of justice, the King had called the wise men of the realm to be by them advised for the best." An extraordinary aid was required to subdue the Welsh and repel the French, and the Chancellor finally urged the Commons to choose a Speaker, and grant it. Whereupon they retired to their Chamber, and the next day selected the Devonshire knight, Sir William Sturmey, who was presented to the King, and accepted. It was not long before a scene occurred, for the Commons soon openly remonstrated with the King, declaring " that without burdenmg his people he might supply his occasions by seizing the revenue of the clergy," and they argued that as the Churchmen possessed "a third of the riches of the realm, and were not doing the King any personal service it was but just they should contribute of their revenues towards the pressing needs of [1404] of the City of Coventry. 23 the State." Besides, said they, " the riches of the Ecclesiastics make them negh'gent of duty, and the lessening of their excessive incomes would be of double advantage both to Church and State." The King was evidently favourable to their demand, but Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, could not let his own or the clergy's interest go undefended, and he boldly asserted " that though the Churchmen did not serve the King in person, it could not be inferred they were unserviceable, since they sent their vassals and tenants to accompany him on the field whenever there was occasion. To strip the clergy of their estates would put a stop to the prayers of the Church, given night and day for the State's welfare, whilst there was no expecting Divine protection if their prayers were so little valued." Whereat the Speaker of the Commons grimly smiled, and said " that to him the prayers of the Church seemed a very slender supply." The Archbishop retorted that if those prayers were so slighted, and other considerations incapable of suppressing plots against the clergy, it would be difficult to deprive them of their estates without exposing the kingdom to danger, and that so long as he was Archbishop he would oppose the injustice to the utmost of his power; then suddenly falling upon his knees, he appealed to the King's conscience, and " endeavoured to make him sensible that of all the crimes a Prince could commit, none was so heinous as the invasion of the Church's patrimony." Henry, moved by Arundel's pleading, and seeing strong opposition ahead to this means of raising money, changed his purpose, and answered " that he blamed not the Archbishop's zeal, although his fears were groundless, for when he mounted the throne he firmly resolved to support the Church in all ways, and hoped to leave it in a better state than he found it." The Archbishop, who was no friend to the people, being thus encouraged, next addressed the Commons in a manner little calculated to win their regard. Imputing irreligion and avarice as the cause of their demand, he asserted "that you, and such as you, have advised the King and his predecessors to confiscate the goods and lands of the Alien Priories and Religious Houses, pretending great gain to him thereby — and indeed they were worth many thousands — yet the King is not half a mark the richer for them all, for you have extorted them, or begged them from him, and have appropriated their goods to your own uses I So conjecture has it, that your request for our temporalities arises not so much from the King's profit as from your own covetousness ! Without doubt, should the King, as God forbid, fulfil your wicked purpose, he will not be a single farthing richer at the year's end ; and truly, I would sooner have my head cut off than that the Church should be deprived of its least right." The Commons made no reply, but retired to their own Chamber, and resolved to persist with their petition. They brought in a bill to seize the clerical revenues, but the Archbishop, Bishops, and Abbots were so solicitous that the Lords threw it out, whereupon other means were found of granting supply in " two tenths and two fifteenths, with a subsidy on wools, woolfells, and skins also ; that is, of every denizen The Parliamentary Representation [1404] 24 for each sack of wool 43=- 4d. ; for every 240 woolfells the like sum, and for every last of skins £s ■ of aliens los. more, to subsist for two years ; three shillings on every tun of wine imported or exported, and 12 pence in the pound on merchand.se." Such to be used for the defence of the Realm and the maintenance of the wars only. Other matters of moment were considered and acted upon ; as the rescue of the Lord of Cardiff, who was besieged in his Castle by the Welsh, and the advancement of the King's younger sons, whilst many curious petitions and answers are recorded ; but at length, after sitting for nearly a month, the Parliament came to an end by reason of "victuals growing scarce and lodgings scanty," and Chancellor Beaufort, returnmg the King's thanks for attendance, dissolved it. A Parliament was again called to assemble at Coventry upon the 15th February, 1406, but the King acting upon the advice of his Council, the place of meeting was changed to Gloucester, and the assembly was afterwards prorogued to Westminster. In 1411 the Mayor, John Horneby, is said to have arrested Henry Prince of Wales at the Coventry Priory. Henry the Fourth died 20th March, 1413, and his son succeeded as Henry V. The Guilds were now aristocratic institutions, and in 1413 the King granted a Patent whereby there should in the future be no new Guild formed in the City, whilst in 141 7 he licensed the Corporation to hold lands in Mortmain. The next year the City Leet Book was commenced. " Coventry," says Dugdale, " had now grown to such a height of splendour by those strong and high walls, with so many beautiful gates and stately turrets, and other eminent buildings, as also by the privileges and liberties granted by so many Kings, and now of late honoured with the King's presence in the Parliament there held, raised no little joy in the hearts of its worthy merchants," " who, being no niggards of their riches, to further promote the City's glory, gave many tenements and lands towards the support and charges of the repairs to the walls, towers, gates, and fosses." From the thirteenth century upwards the townsmen of Coventry had considerable dealings with those at London, Bristol, Leicester, and elsewhere ; some had undoubtedly houses in various towns, and became denizated, others had connections in trade with members of their family settling in one or other places. The lists of Mayors and Sheriffs of London and of Coventry contain similar names, as Russel and Michael, and undoubtedly the families of Michael and Coventre migrated to the larger city. Such names as Hunt, Spicer, Saunders, Shipway, Botoner, and Norton occur in the lists of chief citizens of Bristol and Coventry. William Wyrcestre, a Bristol merchant of repute, who wrote several works of considerable merit, preferred to be called by the name of Botoner, after his mother's family, who were amongst the wealthiest of Coventry's citizens. The Spiceis were early Mayors of Coventry and Bristol, whilst the Nortons rose to considerable position in both places. [1422] of the City of Coventry. 25 CHAPTER VI. Direct Representation Regained : A Second Parliament at Coventry. Henry VI. (1422 to 1461). The Townsmen and Knights' expenses— Chamberlains and Wardens — The Guilds and Companies — Their purposes and works — Masters and Apprentices — Origin of the Freemen — Riots — An illegal Guild suppressed — Charter of Inquisition — A Royal visit — An important Charter — Increased Municipal liberties — Formation of the County of the City of Coventry — Bailiffs made Sheriffs — Recorder Lyttelton — Representation regained — William Elton chosen — Disturbances — Coventry's connection with the Wars of the Roses — The Diabolical Parliament at Coventry — Its proceedings— Attainder of Yorkists — Its acts annulled. grjii^HE first Parliament of Henry VI. appointed Governors during the King's 2®*^ minority. Coventry, althoughi paying its proportion of taxes, returned no 'ggggg' Burgesses during the early part of his reign. It, however, contributed to t/^\a the expenses of the Knights of the Shire for the County of Warwick, and probably shared its representation, as a minute in the Leet Book for 1425 reads thus : "To have in mind; that on the Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lady; that the persons there present, that is to say (about 60 names follow), have ordered that the Knights' expenses for the year shall be paid by the Wardens of the City, and not by the Chamberlains. Also they ordain that the said Knights' expenses, the ;£\o which the Mayor hath yearly, and the fee of the cloak, shall hereafter be paid by the Wardens, and not by the Chamberlains." The Wardens' duty included the management of the City walls, and they collected the taxes for maintaining them, whilst the Chamberlains looked after the common and lammas lands, and collected the cattle dues. The Knights of the Shire of Warwick for 1426 were William Bysshoppeston and Thomas Burdett. In the fourteenth century the Guild Merchant and Corporation were drifting to amalgamation, and through political changes, in that and the next century, the Civic Government passed more or less from the burgesses at large into a somewhat select body. Before the sixteenth century the Craft Guilds or Companies had won their way to a share in Municipal life. From 1487 upwards the list of Coventry Mayors gives the name of their Company. In the middle of the fifteenth century there were the following trades at Coventry : — Sheremen and Taylors, Drapers, Weavers, Smiths, Wiredrawers, Corvysers, Mercers, Dyers, Walkers (or Fullers), Butchers, Girdlers, Whittawers, Wrights, Bakers, Barbers, Fishmongers, Tylers, Skinners, Barkers, Saddlers, 26 The Parliamentary Representation [i423-4J Cardmakers, Masons, and Cooks ; to which in time were added ; Fellmongers, Feltmakers, Coopers, Shoemakers, Tanners, Clothiers, and Carpenters. These Companies were originally instituted for trade purposes, and Charters granted to them by various Monarchs were conducive to monopoly. Every master, being a principal inhabitant and exercising a particular calling, was compelled to enter the Company of his own particular craft, or deemed unable to exercise it in the Town. Many Companies possessed from forty to fifty members, their funds being kept up by payments, and the donations of benevolent members, often made by will. On public occasions the Companies gave a liberal hand; they raised soldiers when the State required it, and trained them. In 1449 they enrolled seven hundred men for the Town's defence. When Kings visited Coventry, the Companies were represented in procession. They assisted in proclaiming the fair, whilst in pre-Reformation times each had a particular pageant or mystery play, occasionally performed in the public streets. They employed priests to sing Mass for them daily in the Chapels of the Churches. They subscribed towards the relief of iheir fellow-citizens in times of calamity, and extended the hand of charity to their afflicted neighbours by contributing to various towns and villages when devastated by fire. As in London, it early became the custom at Coventry that no person should take an apprentice unless such person was a member of a trade or mystery, and free of the City. Whilst a master was bound to cause the covenant to be enrolled, no apprentice after his term, fully served, was allowed to follow his calling in the City before he had been sworn of the freedom, and thereupon enrolled. Ancient usage fixed the term at not less than seven years, and the Leet ordered that the freemen of the Companies should go to the Chapel of their Company on the Sabbath-day with their apprentices before them. Thus the burgesses became freemen, and the privileges of a citizen were gained by apprenticeship only ; exception being made to a few noble and distinguished persons chosen honorary. In time every individual householder became free, and the elective franchise came to them, for there remained no burgesses who were not free of a Company. Disturbances arose on St. Andrew's day, 1423, by the preaching of John Grace, a hermit, in the Little Park. He was withstood by Richard Crosby, the Prior, who, proposing to denounce as accursed those who heard him, from the pulpit of Trinity Church, a commotion ensued. The Mayor protected the Prior from the people's violence, and Grace was committed to gaol ; but the Earl of Warwick was appointed by the King's Council to enquire into the trouble. The next year the journeymen, seeing the merry feasts of their masters, determined to have a Guild of their own, and calling it after St. George, they appointed master and officers ; but the King forbade their m^eetings. King Henry granted in 1445 a Charter whereby inquisitions and enquiries \veie to be taken at Coventry by the burgesses, and not by outsiders. The King and Queen visited Coventry in September, 1450, and were received by the Mayor and his [1450] of the City of Coventry. 27 brethren, whilst the Recorder, Thomas Lyttelton, made a pleasing speech ; and the next year King Henry granted a most important Charter, which increased the liberties of the City. Taking the hamlets of Radford, Keresley, Folkeshill, Eccleshull, Anstey, Shulton, Calloughdon, Wyken, Henley, Leewood End, Stoke, Biggin, Whitley, Pinley, Asthull, Horwell, Hernehall, and Whabberley, with parts of Sowe and Stivechall, from the County of Warwick, and adding them to the Town, he created the County of the City of Coventry, and made the Bailiffs of the Town, Sheriffs of the new County, with a monthly Court and jurisdiction. Writs were to be sent to the Sheriffs, the Mayor was to be Steward of the King's Household in the City, and other privileges were granted. Recorder Lyttelton was a famous Sergeant-at-Law, who successively became King's Sergeant, Judge of the Court of the Palace, Knight of the Bath, and in 1466, Judge of Common Pleas. He was born at Frankley in Worcestershire, and from his work upon " Tenures," which Sir Edward Coke, another Recorder of Coventry, did much to bring into notice, he has been called the English Justinian. With their new Charter, and after so long a lapse of time, the townsmen were now called upon to elect two Burgesses to the Parliament meeting at Reading on the 6th March, 1452. The return, dated 13th February, is torn, and gives but one name, William Elton. It is probable that the elective franchise of the freeholders without the Town, but within the newly-made County, was at this time transferred to Coventry, still it is by no means clear that they enjoyed the same. The nobles were preparing for war, and the country was unsettled. On the Eve of Corpus Christi, 1447, in a dispute between Sir Humphrey Stafford and Sir Richard Harcourt, near Broadgate, the former's son and others were slain ; and in September, 145 1, during the sitting of a Council of Peers at Coventry for the reconciliation of Richard Duke of York and Edmund Duke of Somerset, there arose a great affray between the latter's men and the Town guard, in which two or three of the citizens were killed. The alarm bell was rang, and the people would have seized Somerset had not the Duke of Buckingham prevented them. Edward, son of Henry VI., was created Prince of Wales 1453-4. Coventry played an important part during the War of the Roses. The standard of Lancaster was set up in the grounds of a house adjoining Cheylesmore, whilst the Red Rose partizans met in Much Park Street. Citizen distrusted citizen, but the Authorities favouring Henry and his Queen, the larger party of townsmen sided with them. The Battle of St. Alban's, 22nd May, 1455, placed York as Protector, and the Government into the hands of his friends. Coventry does not appear to have sent members to the Parliament that met in July, but the King and Queen visited the Town and stayed at the Priory, where, on the nth of October, Lord Chancellor Bouchier delivered up the seals of office to the King ; York, Salisbury, and Warwick 28 The Pavlianientary Representation [i455] being present, when VVaynfleet, Bishop of Winchester, was appointed his successor. In 1456 Queen Margaret removed the Court to Coventry, in order by the change to benefit the King's health, and York, Salisbury, and Warwick were invited to attend, but having received warning that the Queen had sinister designs, they fled to their Castles. After the defeat at Blore Heath in September, 1459, the Queen came again to the City, where, rallying her friends and forces, she gathered an arrny, and marching to Ludlow dispersed the rebels. Again the King and Queen retired to Coventry, and by writs dated at Ludlow, 9th October, summoned a Parliament to meet on the 20th November following at Coventry. The Lords met in the Chapter House, and numbered thirty-two. The Commons, who were chosen without free election, one hundred and twenty in number, assembled in the Great Hall The Town was an armed Lancastrian Camp, and no Yorkist dare put in an appearance. There is no record of any Coventry members at this meeting. The King sitting in his chair of State in the Chapter House, Chancellor Waynfieet declared the reason of the Parliaments being called, and the Commons chose William Tresham, Knight of the Shire of Northampton, as their Speaker, who being allowed, a Bill of Attainder against York, March, Rutland, Warwick, Salisbury, and numerous other rebel Lords, was considered. The instrument contains many treasonable charges against the Yorkists, who afterwards nick-named the Assembly " Parliamentum Diabolicum," or the Devil's Parliament. The Bill passed, but the King had a clause inserted whereby he could pardon the insurgents if they sought mercy. The whole of the members took an oath of fealty to the King and his issue, and Edward, Prince of Wales, petitioned that he might enjoy the Duchy of Cornwall and its revenues, which was granted. On the 25th December, the Lord Chancellor thanking Parliament for its attendance, dissolved it by the King's command. Matters were, however, approaching a clima.x. The Earl of March proceeded towards Coventry, and the Queen's forces met his at Northampton on the loth July, 1460, where the Yorkists were victorious, and the King taken prisoner. To the Westminster Parliament, called by York in the King's name on the 7th October, no Coventry men appear to have been returned. A commission was granted to the Duke to sit in Coventry and other towns to punish for " faults to the King's laws," but he was killed at Wakefield in December. In February following the Queen's forces defeated Warwick near St. Alban's, but retreated before the Earl of March, who was proclaimed King in London. After the Battle of Northampton, the Parliament at Westminster, October, r46r, repealed the Acts made in the Coventry Assembly, and expunged the proceedings from the Statute Book, whilst the Slienffs were ordered to proclaim in their Counties that all deeds done thereat were null and void. [1461] of the City of Coventry. CHAPTER VII. Interrupted Returns and Political Events. From Edward IV. (1461) to Richard III. (1485). Coventry men at Tovvton — King pardons Recorder Lyttelton — Sheriff's order to arrest Warwick and Clarence — The King and Council at Coventry — Earl and Duke acquitted— Henry Boteler chosen Burgess — Earl Rivers and his son beheaded — The King-maker's influence — His occupation of Coventry — The King's summons — Retires to Warwick — Battle of Barnet — Return of King to Coventry — Seizure of liberties — How restored— Queen Margaret brought a prisoner — Henry Boteler and John Wyldegrise chosen Burgesses — Some account of them — City Merchants and their callings — Prince Edward stands Godfather to the Mayor's child — Keeps Court at Cheylesmore — Henry Boteler and John Wyldegrise again chosen — Disturbances — Riding the liberties originated — Civic Regalia stolen — Death of Recorder Lyttelton — Henry Boteler chosen to the office — Richard III. at Coventry — His order to tfie Mayor— Battle of Bosworth Field. ^HpMDWARD IV. was installed King at Westminster on 4th March, 146 1, and he at^^ gained the victory at Towton on the 29th. A detachment of Coventry men "°52^ fought on Henry's side, and for a time the Sheriffs were forbidden to proceed I^^ judicially, but in the next year the King allowed his predecessor's Charter of County extension ; and pardoning Recorder Lyttelton, made him Under-Sherifif of Worcestershire ; whilst in 1466 he became a Judge of Common Pleas. The Battles of Hedgeley Moor and Hexham, in 1464, closed the war for a time. In the latter part of 1465 the Earl of Warwick and others were accused of treason, and Edward issued writs to the Sheriffs of Coventry to apprehend him and the Duke of Clarence. The King came with his Council to the Town, attended by two hundred English archers. The King, Queen, and nobility kept Christmas for six days at the Priory. The Archbishop of York accompanied Warwick to Coventry, and Clarence also appeared, when the charges against the two noblemen were proved to be frivolous. A local chronicler has it that Henry Boteler was returned to the Westminster Parliament of 1467, and that the name of the other member is lost. The Earl of Warwick's influence at Coventry was considerable, and his aversion to the Queen's family became well known. The Rebels, headed by Sir William Coniers, defeated the Royal troops at Edgecote on July 26th, 1469, and a week later Richard 00 The Parliamentary Representation [1469] Woodville, Earl Rivers ; then Lord Treasurer ; and John his son, were seized at Chepstow ; and on being forwarded to Coventry, were put to death at Gosford Green, early in August, Edward was captured by the Archbishop of York at Olney, and conducted to Coventry, where he met Warwick and Clarence, and was detained for about a week. The first batch of privy seals, issued under Warwick's influence, are dated at Coventry on August 2nd. Subsequently Edward fled, and Warwick and Clarence released Henry from the Tower. Edward Prince of Wales, son of King Henry, had been married to AVarwick's daughter Ann. Edward landed at Ravenspur nth March, 1471, and Richard, Earl of Warwick, came to Coventry on Mid-Lent Sunday with a quantity of ordnance and war material, together with 6,000 troops, when, resting behind its walls, he hastily summoned his friends in the Midlands. Edward, with some 10,000 well-armed men, came from Leicester to Combe Abbey, proceeding from whence, he came to Coventry on the 29th March, but finding the Town gates closed and the Earl in possession, withdrew into the open, and endeavoured to draw the Lancastrians into a battle. Failing in this, he hastened to Warwick town, and Clarence joined him. The Earl refused offers of peace, and finally the Yorkists advanced to London. Warwick thereupon left Coventry, and was defeated and killed at Barnet on the 14th of April following. The Battle of Tewkesbury, May 4th, 147 1, ended in victory for York, and closed the wars. Edward Prince of Wales was slain, and King Henry in the same month put to death. King Edward proceeded to Coventry on the nth of May, and refreshed his troops for three days in the Town, during which time Queen Margaret was brought a prisoner to the King. On the 14th the King had tidings that the rebels in the north had dispersed, and Northumberland coming to the City, interceded for their leaders' pardon ; whereupon the King's Council altered the army's course towards London, to oppose the Kentish rebels. On the rebellion being quelled, various persons connected with it were tried, and on being sent to Coventry, were beheaded. The City received chastisement at this time for its adherence to the Lancastrian Monarch, for Edward seized the liberties of the Town and took away the Civic sword from the Mayor, and yard from the Sheriffs, whilst the citizens were fined 500 marks. With the advent of peace, a Parliament was summoned at Westminster on the 6th October, 1472, and on the ist September two Citizens for "Coventry City " (as the returns state, and not City and County) wtre chosen, being Henry Botelhr and John Wyldegrise. Henry Boteler, or Butler, possibly came from the Lancashire family of that name, but whether he was related to Ralph Boteler, Lord of Sudley, is unknown. Henry was successively chosen Steward of Cheylesmore and Recorder of Coventry. He died on New Year's Eve, 1489, and was buried at St. Michael's Church ; where his obit was annually celebrated, and for which he settled certain lands in Kinwaldsey, which Isabell, [1472] of the City of Coventry. 31 his widow, conveyed to the Corporation. John Wyldegrise was an Alderman of Coventry. His name is written Wyldegrise, Wyldegryse, and Wyllgrees. He was Mayor in 1459, and was a member of the Drapers' Company. In 1474 he exhibited the iron rods and standard measures used at Coventry for measuring cloth before the Barons of the Exchequer, which were returned. He died 12th of August, 1494, leaving the Star Inn, in Earl Street, to his Company ; the rent whereof was given for a priest at St. Michael's to celebrate his obit in the Lady Chapel. He also left monies to the High Altar at St. Michael's and to the Grey Friars. The merchants of Coventry now extended their trades, of which the manufacture of woollen and broadcloths was the most considerable. Glass-painting appears to have been carried on, and the art of dyeing was also practised with considerable success. The King, desirous of making friends with the citizens, paid them frequent visits, and his son Edward was soon created Prince of Wales. This Prince, in 1474, then but a boy, on coming to Coventry was presented with a cup and ;^too, when he stood godfather to the Mayor, Richard Braytoft's child, and the same year the King kept Easter in the City. In 1477 the youthful Prince again visited his possession, kept Court at Cheylesmore, and was made a Brother of the Guilds of Corpus Christi and Holy Trinity. To Parliament assembling i6th of January, 1478, Henry Boteler and John Wyldegrys were returned. No returns have been found from this time until the commencement of Edward the Sixth's reign, except some very imperfect ones of 21st and 33rd Henry VIII. Disputes with the Churchmen respecting the pasturage of certain lands led to the riding of the liberties of the City, and in 1480 a considerable tumult occurred, wherein the inhabitants, being summoned by the ringing of the Town bell, opened a pasture which had been before enclosed. The King wrote to the Mayor respecting the keepership of the gaol, and the same year the old sword and best mace were stolen from the Mayor's House. The Recorder, Sir Thomas Lyttelton, died 23rd August, 1481. He was buried in Worcester Cathedral, and about the same time Henry Boteler was chosen to the office. Edward IV. died in 1483, and no Parliament sat during the brief reign of Edward V. One Parliament only was called by Richard III., meeting 23rd January, 1484, when his son Edward was created Prince of Wales, the Manor of Cheylesmore coming to him, but he died during his father's lifetime. Richard, with his Court, kept Christmas at Kenilworth, and saw the plays at Coventry on the Feast of Corpus Christi. On Richmond's landing. King Richard prepared to meet him, and writing to the Mayor and Sheriffs of Coventry, requested that his messengers should be assisted and his enterprise forwarded, but the chief citizens were lukewarm in his cause, and probably in secret aided his opponent at the Battle of Bosworth. 32 The Parliamentary Representation [1485I CHAPTER VIII. Early Tudor Times and Troubles. Henry VII. (1485 to 1509). The King at Coventry — Knights the Mayor— Sir Robert Onley chosen — Parliamentary Returns missing — Justices and people — Early religious troubles — Pretenders — The King and his Council at Coventry — Thomas Harrington beheaded — Death of Recorder Boteler — Levies — Inclosures — Payment introduced for swearing Freemen — Local rhyme— Laurance Saunders' speech against Authorities — Champions the Commonalty — Is imprisoned and fined — Royal visits — Princess Catherine and Cheylesmore— Thomas Bond and his foundation. HE new Monarch, after his victory at Bosworth, proceeded to Coventry, where 1^ Robert Onley, the Mayor, and citizens were as favourable to his cause as they had been adverse to Richard's. The King and his friends were entertained and feasted, whilst the former was presented with a cup and ;£ioo. Henry knighted the Mayor, and stayed at his house adjoining the Bull Inn, Smithford Street. At a later date the King granted confirmatory Letters Patent to the City. The returns of the Commons for the Parliaments of this reign are missing, but a less authentic authority records that Sir Robert Onley was sent in 1485, and from his Civic position it is probably correct. He was a merchant ; whose ancestor, John Onley, Mayor in 1396, was the first Englishman born in Calais after its occupation by the English, and whose father had been standard-bearer to Edward III. Coventry returned members in Henry the Seventh's reign, but the other names are unknown. The chief men of the City were exceedingly loyal, and kept the Commonalty in subjection. They benefited by the change of Government, and the Council House became more powerful. Still at times the people were unruly, and the Justices had to resort to harsh and unpleasant measures, as when dissatisfaction with the teaching of the Church was shown at Coventry in 1485 ; and John Blomston, Richard Hegham, Robert Crowther, John Smith, Roger Brown, Thomas Butler, John Falkes, Richard Hilmin, and Margery Goyt, were brought before Dr. Hales, charged with heresy. They were ordered to recant, and for penance to carry fagots about the Cross on market day. Thus early was planted the seed of that great religious movement in the sixteenth century, which culminated with the reformation of the Church in this country. [1486-7] of the City of Coventry. 33 Pretenders to the throne caused considerable trouble in 1486-7, and the proceedings of Lambert Simnel in Ireland, claiming to be the Earl of Warwick, disturbed the public mind. The King, with many Lords, spiritual and temporal, came to Coventry accompanied by a considerable force upon St. George's day, and held a Council at the Priory, when the Archbishop of Canterbury, from the chair in the Cathedral, cursed by bell, book, and candle all such as would impugn King Henry's right. Early in June, Thomas Harrington, an Oxford organ maker's youth, calling himself the son of the Duke of Clarence, was taken, and being condemned, was sent to Coventry for execution, where he was beheaded on the conduit opposite the Bull Inn, and his body buried at the Grey Friars. The Mayor received the King's mandate on the 8th of June, shortly after Simnel's landing in Lancashire, ordering all troops coming in the City to immediately join the Royal forces at Banbury. Coventry lent ;^i,ioo to the King in the "benevolence" raised in 1491 for the French war, which was eventually paid back ; and during 1496, when Scotland was aiding the pretender Perkin Warbeck, a summons was sent to the Mayor for two Citizens to attend the King's Council upon pressing needs, whilst shortly after money was ordered to be raised by the " loan or prest" in the Town. The inclosure of arable lands and the turning of them into pasture were burning questions with the people ; for thereby less persons were employed in agriculture, and the system led to the decay of towns and villages. Parliament in 1 490 passed an Act beneficial to the question, but did not absolutely forbid inclosure. From early date a considerable portion of land around the Town lay in an open and commonable state all the year round, and there were certain arable fields and meadow lands which were closed from spring time to Lammas, in order to secure the harvest. Bounds were ridden yearly at Lammas day, when the inclosures were reopened, and remained so between harvest and seed time. Interference with the custom was not agreeable to some of the inhabitants ; and an Act for the maintainance of drapery, the keeping of wool within the Realm, and the limiting of the price of cloth, did not please all persons ; whilst during 1493 an order of Leet was made requiring each apprentice, on being sworn in, to pay thirteen pence before he could obtain the freedom of the City ; and none were allowed to ride Lammas unless they paid the fine, whereupon the following verses were fixed to a door of St. Michael's, to the no small concern of the Mayor and Council House : — " Be it knowen and understand, This Cite shulde be free and nowe is bonde. Dame Goode Eve (Godiva) made hit free, And nowe (is enacted) y^ custome for woll and y" drap'ie. Also hit is made y' no 'prentis shalbe, But xiij penyes pay shulde he ; Y' act did Rob' Grene. (Mayor 1493-4) Y'for he had many a curse, I wene. 34 The Parliamentary Representation [^494] And now a noy' rule ye do make, Y' non shall ryde at Lamas but they y' ze take. When our ale is tunned, Ze shall have drynk to yoi^ cake. Ye have put on' man like a Scot to raunsome, Y' wol be remembered when ze have all forgote." Master Laurence Saunders, a member of the Council House, who before time had complained that the Master of St. John's Hospital was allowed to place an unlimited number of sheep on the commons, whilst the commoners themselves were not allowed to exceed their usual rate, being exasperated at the changes made, on Lammas day, 1494, boldly sided with the people against the Authorities. "Sirs," said he, "hear me, we shall nev' have our right, till we have st'ken of the beds of iij or iiij of thes' churls that rulen us, and if thereaff hit be asked who did yt dede, hit shal be seid me and they, and they and me," for which and a subsequent outrage he was imprisoned and fined ;^40. During his incarceration still more curious verses appeared, part of which declare "Our coraens y' at Lamas open shuld be cast, They be closed in and hegged full fast, And he y' speketh for o' right is in ye hall, (gaol) And y' is shame for yowe and for us all ; You can not denygh hit but he is yo' broy' ; And to bothe Gilds he hath paid asmoch as a^oy'." The remainder of the lines tell that the Council was estranged from the people. For his injudicious words, Saunders was also dismissed the Council House, and discharged, under heavy penalty, from again riding with the Chamberlains at Lammas. Afterwards the case was invested by the Privy Council, and as he refused to be on good behaviour, he was again imprisoned. The King and Queen came to the Town in 1492 and saw the plays ; and in 1497 Arthur, Prince of Wales, visited Coventry, being presented by the Authorities with a cup and ;£ioo; whilst in 1499 the King and Queen again came to the City, and were made members of the Trinity Guild. The Prince married Catherme of Arragon, in November, 1501, and she had for her dowry a third part of the principality of AVales, Cornwall, and Chester, and amongst the various Castles and lands granted to her were " Cheylesmore Manor House and certain ground rents at Coventry," but the Prince died in April, 1502. Mr. Thomas Bond, a draper, and member of the Council House, who was Mayor in 1497, founded the Hospital for old men at Bablake in 1506, an institution which became of great worth to the City, whereby many old and decayed persons were relieved from poverty and distress, but its funds were often prostituted to political purposes, as future Chapters will show. SI R EDMUND KNIGHTLEY, Knt., ^ Ixccordi'r of Cavenliy, lijj.'i DIED 1545. From a Brass in Fawsley Church, (Willi helmet rcmnvcil.t 'HOTO SPRACIJE 4 C LONDON [1509] of the City of Coventry. 35 CHAPTER IX. Church Reformers and Land Purchasers. Henry VIII. (1509 to 1547) A Royal visit — Parliaments and Commissions — Religious persecutions and martyrs — Ralph Swillington, Recorder — William Ford founds hospital — Edmund Knightley, Recorder — Civic troubles — Royal visits — John Bond and Roger Wygston, Esq., returned — Their biography — First Reformation Parliament — Smaller Monasteries suppressed — Apprenticeship and trades — Queen Anne and Coventry — Bond and Wygston again chosen — Henry Over and Christopher Warren returned — Account of them — Suppression of larger Monasteries at Coventry— Roger Wygston and Henry Over returned — Death of former— Edward Saunders chosen — His biography — Made Recorder — Bishop Lee — Cathedral doomed — The Monasteries destroyed — Land grants and new possessors — Corporation have the Grey Friars — Town impoverished — Members unknown — Bill to suppress Churches — Troubles of the clergy — Act to dissolve Guilds, Chantries, etc. eW^t"W^ENRY and Queen Catherine visited Coventry in 1510. To four Parliaments "^ M^X- between 1509 and 1528 no returns are found. Commissions of the burgesses f^j^^ sat in the City in 1512, and 1513, for collecting tenths and fifteenths, and one ^^'^ hundred men were also raised for foreign service. The magistrates again had difficult work to perform, for religious disbelief prevailed in the Town, and in 1510, Mrs. Rowley, Joan Ward, and others were charged with heresy, and adjudged to carry faggots in the Market Square. Mistress Ward, still persisting, was publicly burned in the Little Park. Again in 1519 it became necessary to make example of the little band of earnest reformers at Coventry, who, refusing to obey the Pope or his agents, daily said the Lord's Prayer, Ten Commandments, and Creed in their mother's tongue rather than in the Latin ; whereupon Mrs. Langdaile, Alice Smith, Thomas Langdaile, Hosea Hawkins, Thomas Wrexham, Robert Hocket, and Thomas Bond, citizens and persons of respectability, suffered martyrdom at the same spot. Robert Silkeby, who denied that Christ was bodily in the Sacrament, fled ; but being captured, was also burned at the stake soon after. Ralph Swyllington was Recorder in 1515. As a lawyer, his promotion was due to Cardinal Wolsey. He possessed an estate at Shilton, and in 1524 was appointed Attorney-General. His effigy, with that of his wife and her first husband, Thomas Essex, are on a tomb in St. Michael's Church. In 1522 there was a plot to kill the Mayor and Aldermen, rob St. Mary's Hall, and seize the Royal Castle of Kenilworth, whereupon two persons being taken, were ordered to be hung in the City. 36 The Parliamentary Representation [1525] Mr. William Ford, a merchant of the Staple, founded in 1529 an hospital for five poor men and one woman near the Grey Friars. In 1525, Edmund Knightley, the second son of a wealthy Northamptonshire landowner, was Recorder of Coventry, as appears from his two letters in the City MSS. The Recorder's father, Sir Richard Knightley, of Fawsley, near Daventry, possessed no less than forty-one Manors in different counties, and had married the heiress Joan Skenard, of Alderton. By their marriage they were blessed with four sons, Richard, Thomas, Edmund, and Valentine, and when death laid the old Knight low in 1534, his eldest son, Sir Richard Knightley, of Upton, succeeded, but although married, died without male issue, and Sir Edmund succeeded. The worthy City Recorder was soon busy with the duties of his office, for without Coventry were certain commonable lands which had been enclosed, and on Lammas Day, 1524-5, the inhabitants pulled up the gates and hedges to assert their ancient rights, when New Gate on the road to London was shut against the Chamberlains, and a riot ensued. The Mayor was sent in custody to London, and removed from office, and the matter came before the King's Council, who appointed the senior Alderman, John Humphrey, Governor. Sir Edmund wrote to the Alderman, and in November the King directed that the disturbers of the peace and the slanderers of the chief men of the City should be sent to Wolsey for examination. The Recorder addressed a letter at Christmas to the Mayor and Aldermen, and the King's Council finally remitted the punishments awarded to the leaders. Edmund Knightley represented Wilton in 1529, and was called as Sergeant-at-Law, with ten other eminent lawyers, in 1531, who, keeping their feast at Ely House, in London, for five days together, on the last entertained the King and Queen. This was after Wolsey's fall, and Sir Edmund became one of the reforming party. He married a sister of John, Earl of Oxford, Lord Chamberlain to King Henry, and in 1542 obtained, by royal grant, considerable portions of Monastic property, including Church land at Studley, and the Coventry Priory estates at Offchurch and Southam, which had considerable revenues. He was on the Commission appointed for the dissolution of the Monasteries, and his letter about Catesby Abbey is often quoted. He built the great hall at Fawsley, but dying in December, 1545, was buried at the Church of St. Peter, in the Park there; where his monumental brass shows him with his wife and their six daughters. Princess Mary visited the City in 1525, stayed two days at the Priory, and was presented with 100 marks. In 1534, Henry Duke of Richmond, the King's natural son, and his father-in-law, Thomas Duke of Norfolk, were, on the occasion of their visit, "banquetted in the street on horseback." The choice of the electorate at this period was in a great measure in the hands of the Crown, and in Parliament the King submitting to no refusal, carried what acts he liked, and the Assembly became a mere court to register his desires ; yet it gained extended privileges, for many useful measures were passed, and longer Parliaments [1529] of the City of Coventry. ^y introduced. One summoned to meet at London on the 3rd November, 1529, was not dissolved until 4th April, 1536, to which Coventry returned John Bond and Roger Wygston, Esq. John Bond was a draper, and became Mayor in 1519. He was the son of Thomas Bond, the founder of the Hospital at Bablake, and for some years after his father's death kept the old men by weekly payments. By will made in 1537, he left certain lands to the Master and Brethren of Trinity Guild for the maintenance of the Hospital. Roger Wygston, who in the return is called " Armiger," came from a Leicestershire family, several of whom represented Leicester, and lie himself sat for that borough in 1522. Mr. Wygston became possessor of the estate of Shortley, near the City, and was a Commissioner to visit the minor Monasteries. He profited not a little by purchases of their lands, and obtained the site of Wolston Priory; whilst as Steward of that at Pinley, in southern Warwickshire, he, with his sister Margaret (the Prioress there), had annual pensions. His son William (who was knighted by Queen Mary) obtained the Manor and lands at Pinley, with other possessions at Shrewley, Claverdon, and Langley. Upon the site of Wolston Priory the VVygstons built a fair house of stone, incorporating a portion of the older buildings therewith, placing on the roof the following verse : — " I goe to bed as to my grave, God knows if I may wake ; But, Lord, I trust Thou wilt me save. And me in mercy take." With other members of his family, Roger Wygston founded a Hospital at Leicester, and he was Sheriff of Warwick and Leicestershire in 1541. After the Pope's stand against his divorce, the King took up the cause against Rome. The Parliament meeting 1529 became known as "the first Reformation Parliament," for by substituting the Royal for Papal authority, it practically established the Church of England. It forbade the payment of Peter's pence, which at that time amounted to ;!^io per annum in the Coventry diocese. By Act of Parliament the King was declared supreme head of the Church, and the Papal power utterly abolished in England. A visitation of the Monastic Houses followed, and in 1536 Parliament authorized the suppression of the smaller Monasteries whose incomes did not reach ^200 per annum. A law passed at this time required every child to be brought up to some business or calling. Tradesmen's children and those who could afford small entrance fees were apprenticed to trades, the rest to agriculture. If their parents or friends were unable to secure for them an ultimate maintenance, the Justices had authority to take such children and apprentice them as they saw fit ; thus arose poor apprentices. The Leet in 1535 again required each householder at Coventry to enter into one of the Companies, 28 The Parliamentary Representation [i535J and thereby attach himself to a particular trade, necessitating freedom of a Company before he became allowed to carry on trade within the Town. The King was privately married to Anne Boleyn by Roland Lee, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, and she wrote, 7th September, 1534, to the Mayor of Coventry from Greenwich, announcing the birth of Princess Elizabeth. This Parliament, sitting for nearly six and a half years, was dissolved in 1536, and two months after, another met on the 8th June in that year, whereto John Bond and Roger VVygston, Esq., were again returned. The Prior of Coventry received the King's summons, and attended in the Lords. This Parliament was dissolved on i8th July following. The returns of the Parliament which met 28th April, 1539, are lost, but from the building agreement of the Coventry Cross, it appears that Henry Over and Christopher Warren were the " Citizens " that year. Henry Over was a mercer. His attendances at the Council House date from 1532 to 1566. He served as Alderman and Sheriff, and became Mayor in 1543-4. Sir William Holleys, Lord Mayor of London in 1541 (who was born at Stoke, near Coventry), built a market cross for the Town during 1 541-2-3, and entrusted Messrs. Over and Warren with the money for its erection. Dame Swillington, in 1547, after the death of the Recorder, seeing " the highways nigh and without Coventry and in Stivichall in bad repair," gave Mr. Over seven score pounds, and willed by word of mouth before her death, desiring Mr. Over to purchase lands wherefrom they should be yearly repaired, and any surplus rent given to the poor of Coventry, which Mr. Over faithfully carried out, and appointed Trustees. In 1551 he negotiated the purchase of a portion of the dissolved monastic lands, in which Sir Thomas White, Alderman of London, was interested, which eventually came to the Corporation as Trustees for loans and gifts ; he also gave ;^Soo to be put out on loan to fifty men, ^10 each, without any interest, for three years. After tlie dissolution he purchased " the Charter House," and "enjoyed it many years," living there. He died in 1566. Christopher Warren was a draper. He was the son of Thomas Warren, Mayor in 15 18, and married Catharine, daughter of John Coxon, of Coventry. During his Mayoralty in 1541-2 the aforesaid Cross was builduig. There is a peculiar statement made about the Alderman, by Robert Glover the Martyr, written whilst a prisoner at Coventry, which Fox records thus : " The second day after the Bishop's coming to Coventry, Mr. Warren came to the Guildhall and commanded the Chief Gaoler to present me before the Bishop (Glover had been wrongly apprehended). I laid to Mr. Warren's charge the cruel seeking of my death ; and when he would have excused himself, I told him he could not so wipe his hands, for that he was as guilty of my blood in the sight of God [1539] of the City of Coventry. 39 as though he had murdered me with his own, and so he departed from me, saying, ' I should have no cause to fear, if I would be of his belief.'" Mr. Warren held Ernesford Grange, at Binley (a fragment of the dissolved Priory lands), and by will left money for three sermons to be preached in Trinity Church yearly. The King now caused a Bill fot the suppression of the larger Monasteries to be brought into Parliament, to which arose opposition, and his minister Cromwell promised a share of the Church's spoils to some members of both Houses before it passed. Under the Acts 1536 and 1539 fell priestly rule at Coventry. The Monasteries were dissolved, and the Prior lost his seat in the Lords. St. Mary's Benedictine Priory, with a yearly revenue of between ;^7oo and ^800 per annum, together with St. Ann's Carthusian Priory, having a clear annual value of ^£131 63. 8d., were surrendered to the King in January, 1539, as were also the White Friars' Monastery, with a smaller clear revenue of ;£■] 13s. 8d., and that of the Grey Friars', which had no endowment. The Prior, sub-Prior, and nine Monks of St. Mary's had annuities amounting to ;^209 during life, the Prior having ;^i33 6s. 8d. allotted for loss of dignity and seat in the Lords ; whilst the Prior of St. Ann's received p/^40 annually for his life, and his Monks, annuities amounting to £'^2. The Warden and thirteen Friars of the White Friars' Monastery, and the Warden and ten Friars of the Grey Friars', received no pension, the King conceiving that " the poor mendicant Friars had lived so long by begging that they could still afford to subsist by their trade." The Crown thus came into possession of the incomes, estates, lands, houses, tithes and revenues of the Monasteries of the City and neighbourhood, and soon disposed of them to greedy possessors. The old Parliament was dissolved on the 24th July, 1540, and a new one met i6th January, 1541-2, to which Roger Wygston and Henry Over were returned. During the sittings Mr. Wygston died, and Edward Saunders, Sergeant-at-Law, was chosen to fill his place. Edward Saunders was a son of Thomas Saunders, of Sibertoft, Northants, and Margery, daughter of Richard Cave, of Stansfield, but his family possibly sprang from the older Coventry branch. He entered the Middle Temple, and was called to the Bar in 1535, promoted to Sergeant-at-Law, 1540, and King's Sergeant, in 1542. He represented Coventry in 1542, and Lostwithiel in 1548. His wife was Margaret, daughter of Sir Thomas Englefield. He acted as a Commissioner for the sale of church lands in Northampton, and, having an easy conscience, changed his religion to suit the times. He was, about 1542, chosen Recorder of Coventry. In the local MSS. are his letters to the Mayor, 1545-6, respecting the Commissioners' charges to the City and excusing his attendance at Assize. Bishop Lee, with tears, implored Lord Cromwell to spare Coventry's Cathedral, 40 Tlie Parliamentary Representation [1541-2] and the answer comforted the troubled prelate, but when Dr. Loudon was sent to suppress the Monastery, the Bishop in fear wrote Cromwell beseeching that the ciiurch might stand and be brought to a college, but it was doomed, for the new nobility and gentry were eager to possess the spoils of the Church, and the Minister was powerless to prevent it. The King's surveyors were busy selling the materials and clearing the land, and on 27th June, 1542, the King granted the site of the Carthusian Priory to Richard Andrews and Leonard Chamberlain, who soon passed it to Mr. Over. The Franciscan Friary land (inter alia) was conveyed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of Coventry. The Carmelite Monastery, its site and tenements, passed on the 27th of August, 1544, to Henry's diplomatic agent. Sir Ralph Sadler, Kt., Member for Hertford, who obtained in various parts of England confiscated property bringing in ;^3,ooo per annum. Shortly after Sir Ralph passed his possessions at Coventry to Mr. John Hales, Clerk to the Hanaper. The site of the Benedictine Monastery, with divers messuages, gardens, and mills, was granted 28th July, 1545, to John Combe and Richard Stansfield, who afterwards passed it to John Hales ; yet some parts of the Priory lands, etc., came to the City. The manors, lands, and tenements which the two greater Priories had in various places in Warwickshire, and elsewhere, also changed hands, and the revenues of the Monasteries being spent in other quarters, was vastly detrimental to the townsmen, and greatly impoverished the City. This Parliament ended 28th March, 1544. A new one met 23rd November, 1545, but the Coventry members are unknown. A Bill to join such Churches as stood not more than a mile apart came before the House in 1546, but provisos were added that no consolidation should take place without the consent of the Mayor and Bailiffs of any borough affected, whilst Churches exceeding £6 value in the King's books were exempted, thus St. Michael's at ^26, clear value, and Trinity at ;^io, escaped. The tithes had passed to the Crown ; the Churches suffered, and all Papistical leanings were removed, whilst " there came a jealous fellow with a counterfeit commission from Parliament," who tore up the brasses and other memorials in the former Church, and decamped. Dr. Ramridge at St. Michael's and Dr. Darrington at Trinity were suspected of Romanism, and Thomas Saunders accused the former of heresy, for which he was seized, and lodged in the King's Bench prison for three years, but in 1547, having recanted, he became re-instated. In December, 1546, a Bill to dissolve Colleges, Free Chapels, Chantries, Hospitals, and Guilds, was brought before Parliament. The ancestors of citizens had freely endowed those at Coventry, but, great as the Burgesses must have objected to confiscation, little or no opposition was offered to the measure in Henry's time, for restitution in amended form was promised. The Bill passed, but the King's death upon 28th January, 1547, allowed little to be done. HHI ^^^^^^^^^ mM |k 9^^^ r'lH^^IH ■ 1 ■l MR. THOMAS BOND M:iyor of Coventry U'i7 Founder of Bond's Hospitiil CovLiitry DIED. 1506. (From the original picture at Boiid'a J/on/iirulJ SIR THOMAS WHITE, Knt., Lord Mayor of IJondon, 1553, Founder of Sir Thomas White's Cliarlty, Coventry, &c., DIED. 1566. (From an oUl ajid rare prirvt.) pjUM JOHN HALES, Esq., Of the White Friura, Coventry, And Founder of the Free Grammur School in that City, DIED, 1572. (From n piiitttiuy by Hollieiii, ut tlie School./ E 4 C= LONDOl THREE SIXTEENTH CENTURY BENEFACTORS. [1547] o/ the City of Coventry. 41., CHAPTER X. Results of Monastic Suppression : Attempted Trades Revival. Edward VI. (1547 to 1553). The King's first Parliament — Protestant ascendancy — Christopher Warene and Henry Porter returned — Act to suppress Chantries, Guilds, etc. — Action of the Coventry Members — Special Bill for the City — Grants to Coventry — The burgesses and Bablake — Effect of the Dissolution — Mr. John Hales and the decay of Coventry — Builds and resides at the Friars — Commission on tillage — Decay and land enclosure— Bills in Parliament — The Park granted to the City- Charter for a three days fair — Attempted trades revival— Origin of City Fifties, Loans, and Gifts — Sir Thomas White — His biography — Purchase of Monastic and Guild properties — Loan to purchase the Park — A second Parliament — James Rogers and John Talbouts— Chancery proceedings against Mr. Thomas Bond— Parliament dissolved — The King's death. ^Ip^Wr-NDER the Protectorship of Seymour, Duke of Somerset, the reign of ^t^''ft>^ Edward VI., then only nine years old, commenced. Cranmer and the ^^gggS^ Protestants were busy reforming religious doctrines, and the changes •^^^ embraced the new Liturgy in the Prayer Book of 1549, the King's admission of Bishops, and an Act for Uniformity of Service. Coventry had, a month before the assembling of Parliament on the 4th of November, 1547, chosen Christopher Warene and Henry Porter, and it was not long before the City required their assistance. The Commissioners, under the Act to dissolve Colleges, Chantries, Hospitals, Frce-Chapels, Guilds, and other Ciiurch property, had taken possession of little, and it became necessary that Parliament should pass another Bill in order that the new King might seize thera. Cranmer and the Bishops, foreseeing that the parish clergy would be further crippled if the Statute passed, opposed it in the Lords ; whilst the Commons greatly hindered progress. The Coventry Members viewed with no small concern their constituents interest threatened, and they spoke strongly against further spoliation. The Privy Council books tell how none "were stiffer nor more easily went about to impune the said article," declaring "that where their City was of much fame and antiquity, sometimes very wealthy, though now of late years brought into decay and poverty, and had not to the furniture of the whole multitude of the commons there ; being to the number of eleven or twelve thousand houseling people ; but two Churches wherein God's service could be done." Messrs. Warene and Porter were assisted by Messrs. Gawdy and Overend, the Burgesses for King's Lynn ; they declared that the boroughs could 42 The Parliamentary Representation [154^] neither maintain their Churches, or keep up the Guilds and Fraternities, if the estates were given to the Crown, which argument turned the majority against that part of the Act in which the Guilds were concerned. Somerset agreed to the re-modelling of the Bill, and for the revenues of the foundations to be applied to the erection of Grammar Schools, the augmenting of Universities, and the better provision of the poor, whereby the Members for Coventry and King's Lynn were taken off by the Court party, and a promise made that their Guild lands should be restored. Thus the Bill passed. A special Act relating to Coventry was introduced, for the Journals of the House state that on "7th February, 1548, the Bill for the City of Coventry was brought in and sent to Mr. Recorder" [Saunders], This was read on the 12th, and two days after " it was ordered that Mr. Thomas Bond have a copy of the Bill, and make answer," but it passed the House on the 26th. Somerset made good his promises, and the King granted the Guilds and Chantries to the City on the i8th September. A petition had meanwhile been presented praying the King that the Church at Bablake might remain to the Town, which, with a portion of the Hospital there, passed to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, in December for a mere acknowledgment. The effect of the Dissolution upon the City was deplorable. Business places became closed, and at so low an ebb was trade for want of the numerous persons who resorted to the Town before the suppression, that large numbers of the inhabitants were forced to leave the City and seek work elsewhere. With property changing hands, and repeated spoliation, fixity of tenure became uncertain, and the circulation of money all but ceased. Mr. John Hales, who was adding a house to the Fri;irs for his residence, represented to the Protector, that the City had but 3,000 inhabitants, whereas before time there were 15,000. The woollen and other trades were at a standstill, poverty existed, and many an honest inhabitant, tramping the country in search of work, suffered under the new Act for the suppression of vagabonds. Mr. Hales was a man of considerable learning, but had the misfortune in his youth, whilst running, to tread upon a dagger, which, penetrating into the sole of his foot, caused lameness. He this year represented Preston in Parliament, and was no idle member, for three Bills of his were considered, resulting from observations made in 1546 whilst acting on a Commission of enquiry into the questions of land enclosure and the decay of tillage, in Warwickshire and other Midland counties. This Commission incurred the displeasure of Dudley, Earl of Warwick, who was Steward of the Royal Household, but when Mr. Hales declared that enclosure and decay of tillage were bad for the nation, the young King adopted his suggestion fur granting a general pardon : to the poor, for breaking enclosures ; and to the rich, for making them. When the lands were dis-enclosed, the latter began to fence them in again, for the law was not strong enough to stop their proceedings, and in the meantime a Riot Act was passed to stay risings in the future. The Bills of Mr. Hales were for the people's good. [1549] of ihe City of Coventry. 43 " One Bill was for the rebuilding of farmhouses and buildings decayed, and its purpose was the maintainance of tillage and husbandry. The second was against regrating of victuals and other things, wherein one principal point was that neither grasiers nor others should buy any cattle, and sell the same within a given time. For as the said Hales had learned and knew of certainty divers grasiers and sheep masters brought both cattle and money to the market, and if they could not sell their own as dear as tiiey listed they carried them home again and bought all the rest. These two Bills were first put to the Lords. The first, being read, was not liked. The second they allowed and augmented, and sent down to the Lower House, where it was so debated and tossed about, and at last committed to such men and there so much deferred, that men's aflections might have been notably discovered ; and perhaps (said Hales, relating this matter in a writing of his) he that had seen all this would have said ' That the lamb had been committed to the wolf's custody.' The third Bill was set forth first in the Lower House, and tendered to this end. That every man that kept in several pastures sheep or beasts should keep for every hundred sheep that he had over six score, two kine ; and for every of these two kiue should rear one calf. And for every two kine that he kept beside more than ten should rear one calf. By this means he thought and believed that the nation should not only have plenty of beasts, whereas there was wonderful decay, and also the markets should be replenished with milk, butter, and cheese, the common and principal sustenance of the poor. The said Hales had such an opinion of this Bill that he durst have laid his life on it that if it had proceeded there would have been within five years after the execution thereof such plenty of victuals and so good and cheap as never was in England, and besides, a great many good things ensue very necessary and profitable for the Commonwealth of the Country. Which neither by the execution of the late Commission nor yet by any positive law then in being could be holden, but, says Hales, Demetrius and his fellows soon spyed whereunto the thing tended. There was then, ' Hold with me and I will hold with thee.' Some alleged the opinion of their fathers in time past (but these had been great sheep masters), who. when the like Bill had beeri propounded, would never consent unto it, but said when any scarcity of cattle was a Proclamation was made that no calves should be killed for a time. Some alleged that men then eat more flesh than they did in time past, and that in Lent and other fasting days heretofore the people eat neither milk, butter, nor cheese, and would have them do so again for policy sake, and thus these rich enclosers get the better of these good Bills intended for the beneiit of the poor." An Act was passed by this Parliament to encourage the manufacture of woollens and broadcloths of considerable moment to the Coventry trade. In 1524 the Prior of Ulverscroft had obtained a lease of the Manor of Cheylesmore, with the herbage of the Park, for twenty-one years, from the late King, since which time the City had obtained some right to use the herbage until the lease expired in 1545, whereupon the Mayor, etc., petitioned him to lease it to them, but in July, 1549, Edward granted Cheylesmore and the Park to the Earl of Warwick, and his heirs, as part of the possessions of the Duchy of Cornwall, to hold in capite ; and on the 12th of August following the Earl leased the premises to the Mayor, Bailiffs, etc., for ninety-nine years, with provision that they should pasture annually in the Park, eighty cows or heifers, and twenty geldings, belonging to the poor inhabitants of the City, paying for every cow or heifer one penny, and for every gelding twopence. Somerset resigned the Protectorship in 1549. His opponent, Dudley, Earl of Warwick, succeeded, and soon afterwards was created Duke of Northumberland. The King confirmed previous Charters to Coventry in 1551. The City petitioned to have an annual fair in order to revive the trades of the place, and the King granted a Charter in the following year to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty to hold one in the City for three days in October yearly, the profits whereof were to go to the Town. Amidst the great disaster which had befallen the City, there were signs that the 44 The Parliamentary Representation [i55i] chief men were alive to the necessity of trade revival, for they gave money freely to initiate a system whereby funds could be advanced, in varying sums, on free loans for certain periods to youni; men on commencing business and other necessitous inhabitants connected with the fellowships, subject to their finding security for the loans repayment at the end of a specified time, whereby arose "City Fifties." These aids to trade had been introduced at the commencement of the sixteenth century, when John Haddon, draper and Alderman, had given, in 1518, ;i^3oo for that and other purposes, and the system was extended by the gifts of Henry Over, Thomas White (Alderman of Bristol), John Tallonts, Thomas Wheatley, and various others ; whilst as time rolled on, other charitable benefactions were also given to aid the City, such as the four pound gifts, etc. But by far the greatest benefactor to Coventry at this period was the Worshipful Sir Thomas White, London's Lord Mayor in the first year of Queen Mary, who, as a Merchant Taylor of that City, had large business connections with the tradesmen of Coventry, and other places. He was the son of William White, a clothier of Reading, where he was born in 1492. Being apprenticed to a London merchant when twelve years of age, he served seven years, and gained his freedom. The master and apprentice became greatly attached, and the former at his death bequeathed one hundred pound to him. On receiving a like sum from his father, in 1523, he embarked in business, and succeeded so well that he acquired a large fortune, and married. He became Master of his Company, and took great interest in Parliamentary and Municipal Government. In r546 he was elected Sheriff, and became Lord Mayor in 1553- It was during his term of office that the insurrection under Sir Thomas Wyatt took place, and the effective measures which the Lord Mayor caused to be taken in suppressing it, obtained for him recognition and knighthood at the hands of Queen Mary. He was chosen member for Southampton County from r547 to 1559 (in two Parliaments of Edward VL, five of Mary's, and the first of Elizabeih). Although constantly occupied in the exercise either of business engagements or municipal affairs, he still found time for interesting himself largely in benevolent actions, and became a princely benefactor, whereby no less than twenty-five towns were receivers of his generosity, amongst them Bath, Bristol, Coventry, Gloucester, Leicester, London, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Shrewsbury, Tunbridge, and Warwick. In 1542 Mr. White, " for the relief and preferment of the Commonwealth of the City of Coventry," in its great ruin and decay, and "at the request and mediation of certain friends," gave ^1,400 to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty, for the purchase of those Mon.astic lands which came to the City ; the rents and profits, about ^70 per annum, were to be applied in charitable gifts, or laid out in free loans to freemen, and after his death, to go in certain proportions to Coventry, Nottingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Warwick. The gift of this generous benefactor did not stay with the purchase of Monastic lands, for Stowe, in his "Survey of London," mentions the increase of his gift of ^^1,400 to [1552] of the City of Coventry. 45 ;,^2,o6o. Another authority, Mr. Edward Owen, Clerk to the Council House in 1692, has recorded that Sir Thomas added ;^ 1,000 to his first gift for the purchase of other lands, out of the profits whereof the Corporation were to pay ;^4o yearly to two Fellows of St John's, and apply any residue rents to the same purposes for which the ;^i,4oo had been given ; and in a letter to the Corporation, Sir Thomas speaks of _;^i,ooo or thereabouts as given by him when they "purchased the Chantry lands." He further lent the Town ^400 to buy the lease of the Park. In 1555 Sir Thomas White founded the College of St. John's, at Oxford. It is stated that he had been directed in a dream to found a College upon a spot where he should find two stems of an elm springing from one root. He went to Oxford, and seeing a likely tree in Gloucester Hall garden, began at once to enlarge and widen the College there; but soon after, finding a tree without the north gate of Oxford like that in his dream, he founded St. John's, and endowed it with fifty fellowships, fotty- three of which he reserved for the boys of the Merchant Taylors' School, two he gave to Coventry, and the others to Bristol, Reading, and Tunbridge Wells. He secured a license from Philip and Mary in 1555 to found the College, and two years after gave a new Charter to it. In 1557 his wife Avice died, leaving no issue, and he afterwards married Joan, the widow of his friend Sir Ralph Warren, Knight, a former Lord Mayor, by whom he had six children. He then lived either at London or Oxford, but the establishment of the College crippled his resources, and a correspondence with the Mayor, etc., of Coventry, but a few days before his death, shows that he had left himself but slenderly provided for. He died at Oxford nth February, 1566, in his 74th year. The Parliament dissolved 15th April, 1552, and a new one was called to assemble on the ist of March in the following year. The King was apparently anxious that the new Assembly should be men of responsibility in their counties and boroughs ; yet the Sheriffs were influenced, and both he and the Privy Council in many cases suggested the names of persons whom they should choose. The return for Coventry, which is defaced, gives James Rogers and John Talbouts, The City instituted proceedings in Chancery against Mr. Thomas Bond, the grandson of Thomas Bond the founder, who, in pursuance of his father John Bond's will, had set forth certain lands for the use of the Hospital at Bablake, which were insufificient to carry out the design of the original donor, and by decree 7th March, 1552, given by Thomas, Bishop of Ely, Lord Chancellor; and Judges Beaumont, Portman, and Hales, Mr. Bond was ordered to convey to twenty-four persons, named by Mr. Christopher Warene, certain properties towards the maintenance of ten men and one woman therein, and for the repairs of the almshouses. Parliament barely submitted to Northumberland's ruling, and was dissolved 31st March. The King died on 7th July, 1553. 46 Tlie Parliamentary Representation [i553] CHAPTER XI. The Relapse to Romanism : Marian Parliaments and Martyrs. Mary (1553 to 1558). Northumberland proclaims Queen Jane — Directs Mayor of Coventry to do same — Who consults Recorder— They proclaim Queen Mary — Dudley seized and beheaded — Mary crowned — Rewards Recorder — Queen's Roman tendencies — Vicar of St. Michael's degraded — Mary's first Parliament — John Nethermyll and Thomas Bonde returned — Biographies — Wyatt's rebellion and Sir Thomas White — Suffolk's Secretary Kampton at Coventry — Plots and Plotters — Coventry gates shut against Suffolk— His capture and death — Religious persecution of Sheriff Hopkins — A second Parliament — Thomas Kyvet and Edward Dampert returned — Account of them — Queen's letters of Confirmation to City — Marriage of Philip and Mary — Edward Saunders knighted — Resigns Recordership — His further biography — John Throkmorton, Recorder — Account of him — First Parliament of Philip and Mary — Queen's order to Sheriffs — John Throkmorton and John Harford, Members — Some account of the latter — He leaves the Parliament — Is impeached— Coventry Martyrs; Lawrence Saunders (brother of Sir Edward) ; liobert Glover; Cornelius Bongey — Other local sufferers — Second Parliament of Philip and Mary — John Throkmorton and Henry Porter returned— Alteration in time for choosing Mayor — Thomas Wheatley and Bablake School — Third Parliament of Philip and Mary— John Throkmorton and John Tallons, Members— Account of the latter — His outcry against Mr. Hales — The Coventry Tithes Act — Death of the Queen. liVfORTHUMBERLAND caused Lady Jane Grey to be proclaimed on the loth July, and being popular at Coventry through his grant of the Park, UPm immediately sent to the Magistrates directing them to make public '^f'^ announcement thereof. The Mayor, however, received counter orders to proclaim Queen Mary, and in the difficulty consulted Recorder Saunders, who happened to be in the City, when, acting under his advice, he refused the Duke's wishes, and boldly proclaimed the latter. Meanwhile, Dudley, discouraged by the indifference of the people, returned to Cambridge, where, on the 20th, he acted the double part of proclaiming Mary as Queen. His seizure, trial, and attainder for high treason were followed by his execution on Tower Hill on the 22iid of August following, whereupon the Manor of Cheylesmore reverted to the Crown. Mary was crowned at Westminster ist of October, 1553, She did not forget the opportune loyalty of Recorder Saunders, who was promoted to a Judgeship of Common Pleas. 'I'he same year he sat as a Commissioner upon the trials of Lady Jane Grey, Archbishop Cranmer, and the Lords Guilford, Ambrose, and Henry, Dudley, and for the time turned to the old faith, acting from policy rather than from conviction [i553J 0/ the City of Coventry. 47 and reconciling his conscience thereto. Mr. Saunders sat for the newly-enfranchised horough of Saltash, and, with Sir Thomas White and others, acted on the trial of Sir Nicholas Throkmorton, whom they were bound to acquit upon evidence. It soon became apparent that the Queen had determined to change the new for the old religion, and tumults in London, Coventry, and other towns caused trouble to her Council. On the 26th of August they directed the Mayor of Coventry, by letter, to apprehend the Rev. Hugh Symonds, Vicar of St. Michael's, who had spoken somewhat hastily in a sermon about the Queen's proceedings. He was examined, and sent to the Council to be dealt with. At the same time a Commission to punish any person for preaching against the Queen was sent to the ATayor and his Brethren. Symonds was to be set at liberty if he would recant his sermon, but on refusal the Magistrates were to stay his Protestant tendencies ; and shortly after complaint was laid that he was married, whereupon Dr. Richard Samson, the new Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese, deprived him of the living. For four years and a half no Vicar was appointed, as the emoluments were small, and the few Romish Priests qualified, obtained better appointments. The Magistrates were ordered to put down all Protestant assemblies, but notwithstanding, there was a small congregation who held secret meetings in the fields without the Town, until the coming of Elizabeth. The Queen's first Parliament met at Westminster on the 5th October, and instructions were given that only persons favourable to the Romish faith should be returned. The Magistrates in various Cities and Counties were ordered to be changed if suspected, and known Protestants were not allowed to take part in the elections. Many Sheriffs, in their devotion to the Court, when other means failed, falsified the returns, and sent persons suitable for the Queen's purpose. Members were still chosen by view or voice, and not by polls. On the nth September the return was made of John Nethermyll and Thomas Sonde. The families of both had been long resident in the City. The former was the son of Mr. Julius Nethermyll, a wealthy Draper, who had possessions in Warwickshire ; notably the Manor of Exhall, and the Clodshale Chantry property in Birmingham. In 1548 he was Sheriff of Coventry, and became Mayor in 1557. In an entry connected with the Drapers' Chapel at St. Michael's, it is said that " Mr. Nethermyll owed the Drapers' Company for a pare of orgaynes, iij" [^3]," and he is represented with his parents on the Nethermyll tomb in that Church. His family were of the Roman faith, and in 1535 a Richard Nethermyll was the Vicar of St. Michael's. Mr. Bonde was the member of the Drapers' Company alluded to in the last Chapter, and it is strange to find him representing the City immediately after the Authorities had gained their case against him. In Parliament all Acts in favour of the Reformation made during King Edward's reign were repealed, but great opposition being made in the Commons to the proposed 48 The Parliamentary Representatiun [i554] marriage with Philip of Spain, the Members were dismissed, and Parliament was dissolved after sitting but two months, on the 5th December, 1553. In January, 1554, several rebellions occurred against the Queen's match with King Philip. The most dangerous of these were those of Sir Thomas Wyalt and Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk. In the fiist Lord Mayor White distinguished himself by preparing to repel the rebels. On the 29th January the Duke caused Wyatt's proclamation to be read at Leicester, avowing to the Mayor of that Borough that no harm was intended to the Queen, but few persons assembled to hear it. Intending to proceed to Coventry, he sent his agents, Kampton and Burdett, to prepare the way and get his friends to open the Town gates, but the former, who was his Secretary, made a mistake in addressing the first person he met, a Mr. Anthony Corbyt, who, although an old friend, returned a cold answer. Messrs. Aslyn and Francis promised assistance upon the understanding that the Duke's object was to oppose the arrival of the Spanish strangers, but others less cautious welcomed Suffolk's coming, declaring that " the whole Town was his and at his commandment, unless it were certain of the Counsayle of the Town," who " feared that if the good-fellows got the upper hand, their extremities heretofore should be remembered." Other townsmen joined the conversation, amongst them being Messrs. Glover and Clerk, who had just arrived from London, and it was proposed to promptly seize the City, with the Castles of Warwick and Kenilworth. The emissaries were taken to a house and presented to a person of some importance, who said : "The Lord's quarrel is right well known ; let him come, and make no stay, for this Town is his own." Kampton was urged to return at once to the Duke, in order to hasten his arrival, whilst they themselves resolved to read the proclamation from the Market Place, and raise the people. It was evening, and Kampton after his twenty-four miles' ride from Leicester, was weary, and desired to wait until morning. If a rising was commenced in the darkness, it was feared that considerable damage would result to many rich men, and with such deeds the Duke's Secretary would have nothing whatever to do. The Magistrates that could be consulted refused to entertain the project. Kampton had sent a messenger to one Hudson of Warwick, with instructions to arrange matters there, but he now returned with the news that Hudson had been seized by the Earl of Huntingdon, who had proclaimed Suffolk a traitor ; upon which the emissary left Coventry hurriedly, telling his friends he was going to the Duke, to hasten his coming. During the night the Town was greatly disturbed, a cry arose that the City was being fired in four places, whereupon the common bell was rung, and the Authorities ordered the gates to be closed and the walls manned. On the 30th, Suffolk and his followers proceeded towards Coventry, but were met by Burdett, who informed them that the Town gates were shut against their arrival. Seeing that his efforts were hopeless, the Duke dismissed his followers, and hastened i)rivately to his estate at Astley, a few miles from Coventry; where, until such time as he could escape out of England, he sought [1554] of tlic City of Coventry. 49 refuge in the cottage of Underwood his keeper. Meanwhile, Huntingdon, witli the Queen's forces, came to Coventry, and some armour was taken ; Suffolk's hiding-place was made known to the Earl by his servant, and a party of troopers effected his arrest. He was brought to Coventry and confined in Mr. Warren's house, whilst jNIr. Throkmorton rode post to London to acquaint the Queen of his capture. The Earl brought his prisoner to the Tower of London, where the Duke, Lady Jane, and her husband, were beheaded ; whilst Kanipton was sentenced to be brought to Coventry, " there to be arraigned and suffer death." Soon after this religious persecutions were commenced. Mr. Richard Hopkins, chosen Sheriff in 1554, a Protestant much respected in the Town, was taken and confined in the Fleet Prison at London, on a charge of heresy. His friends petitioned the Court for his release, and obtained it, but Mr. Hopkins fled to the Continent, where he remained until Queen Mary's death. He lived at Basle, in Switzerland, with his wife and eight children, doing much good amongst the poor Protestant refugees there. At this time William Bennet, Vicar of Trinity, was removed for being married. A new Parliament was summoned to assemble at Oxford, and by fresh Writs, at Westminster, 2nd April, 1554. Again Court influence favourable to the Queen's designs was used, foreign gold prepared the way for her marriage with Philip of Spain, and Parliament was made subservient to Royal commands. Coventry returned Thomas Kyvet and Edward Dampert. Alderman Thomas Kyvet was a member of the Sheerman's Company, and had been Mayor in 1547. Edward " Dampert," or Davenport, was a pewterer. The family of Davenport settled in Coventry about 1500. Christopher Davenport, his father, married Emma, daughter of William Blunt, of Burton-on-Trent ; and he, a daughter of John Harford, Alderman of Coventry. In 1534 he was elected City Chamberlain, in 1540 Sheriff, and Mayor in 1550. This Parliament was short. It passed an Act relating to the Queen's marriage with Philip, but it was dissolved on the 5th of May following. The Queen granted confirmatory Letters Patent to the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of Coventry, at Farnham, on the 26th June, prior to her marriage on the 25th July. In 1554 Edward Saunders was knighted. He soon retired from the Recordership of Coventry, and was succeeded by his kinsman, Mr. John Throkmorton. Sir Edward succeeded Sir William Portmore, Knight, as Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench in May, 1556; and was reappointed to that office by Queen Elizabeth, but having a dispute with the Judge of the Court of Admiralty, he was in 1559 removed to the less dignified position of Chief Baron of the Exchequer ; in which office he, with other Judges, gave decree for ^£6 (part of ;^i4 given by Queen Elizabeth out of the ;£?>o fee-farm rent she received from Coventry, to the Vicar of Holy Trinity for his better maintenance) to be given for the support of the Vicar of St. Michael's. In 1558 the Manors of Weston-sub-Wetherley, Warwickshire, and Newbold, Northamptonshire, were granted by HQ The Parliamentary Representation [i554] the Crown, in moieties, to Sir Edward Saunders and Francis Morgan. Lady Saunders died nth October, 1563, and was buried in the north aisle of Weston Church, where, on a brass plate, are some curious Latin verses, composed by the Chief Justice, which have been rendered into English thus : — "Here Margerie Saunders lyeth, whose mortal limbs are dead, But to enjoy immortal rest her soul to Heaven is fled. While life did last, she was a pattern of good life, Devout to God, good to the poor, a chaste and perfect wife. A housewife of great skill, setting her whole delight In her just love and wedded mate. Sir Edward Saunders, Knight. For Christ, His Cross, she called amidst the thrilling pangs ot death. Which she in mind herself beheld until her latest breath. And so gave up her ghost to God, Whom life did lend. Who for her good and worth did give to her a happy end." Sir Edward died 12th November, 1576, and was buried at Weston Church, where there is a small but mutilated monument, with damaged figures of the Chief Justice and his wife remaining. Amongst the Corporation manuscripts there remains a deed of petition between Sir Edward Saunders and the Aldermen, of lands in Fillongley, Corley, and Meriden, dated about 1555-7. Their united Majesties called a new Parliament to assemble at Westminster on the nth November, 1554, and the Sheriffs were instructed by letters from the Queen to choose Members "of the wise, grave, and Catholic sort," and declaring her intention not to have the possessions of those who held lands of the dissolved Monasteries interfered with. Coventry returned its Recorder and senior Alderman, John Throkmorton and John H.'^rford, on the 6th November. John Throkmorton, like his brother Sir Nicholas Throkmorton, had been implicated as an accomplice in Wyatt's rebellion. Juries were biased by the Crown, and the historian Rapin, relates that he was condemned upon the same evidence which his brother had been acquitted, but if so, he must have received pardon with other prisoners at the time of the Queen's marriage. He was the son of Sir' George Throkmorton, of Coughton, by Catherine, daughter of Nicholas, Baron Vaux. His brother. Sir Robert, lived at Coughton Court, and he at Feckenham. He was a law)er of considerable repute. Old Sir Robert Townsend, who had held the office of Justice of Chester through the last two reigns, being too much of a Protestant to please Her Majesty ; he was quickly removed from office, and Mr. John Throkmorton appointed. But Sir John was no bigot, and transferred his devotions for policy (if only outwardly) to suit the times, as many other noblemen and gentlemen were doing. In 1552 he had sat for Warwick borough, and subsequently was chosen as Recorder for Worcester. He was also made Master of Requests, and Vice-President of the Council of the Marches. John Harford, or Hareford, was a tanner. Chosen Mayor of Coventry in 1545, he [1555] of the City of Coventvy. 51 was two years after appointed a Commissioner to ascertain the true annual value of the Vicarage of Holy Trinity. In this Parliament all Statutes against the Pope's authority were repealed ; but the purchase of the Abbey lands was confirmed, whilst the persecuting statutes of former Kings' reigns were revived. During its sitting a considerable number of Members, disliking the proceedings, left their seats; especially on the signing of the Spanish Convention ; amongst them being John Harford, the Coventry Burgess ; William Wigbton, of Wolston, Member for Warwickshire ; and Ralph Brown, of Woodlows, Burgess of Warwick. They were impeached by the House, but having precedent for their secession, were not subjected to fine and imprisonment. Coventry was now to be the scene of martyrdom of various persons. Lawrence Saunders, the brother of Sir Edward Saunders, in preaching at his Cliurch, All Hallows', Bread Street, London, and elsewhere, had spoken against the re-introduction of the Mass, and generally opposed the revival of the old faith, for which he was committed by Bonner, Bishop of London, to the Marshalsea. Sir Edward wrote exhorting his brother earnestly to make his conscience amenable thereto, and he also interceded on his behalf; but when before the Queen's Council, Lawrence was stubborn, and adhered to his sayings ; whereupon Bonner degraded him from the Ministry; and on the 5th the Sheriffs of London delivered the worthy to the Queen's guard, who took him to Coventry to be burnt at the stake. He was lodged in the common gaol, and on the 8th, led to the place of execution in the Park, and suffered. On the 19th September following, Robert Glover, of Mancetter, and Cornelius Bongey, of Coventry, were burnt at the same spot. John Careless, a weaver of the Town, died in the King's Bench prison, and Julius Palmer, some time master of Reading Grammar School, whose father had been Mayor of Coventry, was burnt at Newbury in July, 1556. The Assembly, which was sitting at the death of Lord Chancellor Gardiner, was dissolved by the Queen's order, and a new Parliament met at Westminster 21st October, 1555. John Throkmorton and Henry Porter were then returned for Coventry. Up to the year 1556 the Mayor of Coventry was chosen at Candlemas Day (2nd February), but that year the Chief Magistrate, Robert Colman, continued in office only until All Saints' Day (ist November), when Thomas Wheatley was chosen, and the custom was continued afterwards. Mr. Wheatley was a principal founder of the Bablake School. To the next Parliament, summoned 20th January, 1557, the Burgesses returned were John Throkmorton and John Tallons. The former is called " Esquire " in the return to Parliament, and the latter 52 The Parliamentary Representation [1557] "Gentleman," indicating the distinction between the son of a Knight or County Squire, and' an Alderman of the City. John Tallons, or Tallants, was Mayor in 1544 and 1562, and was by trade a goldsmith. He had to do with the purchase of the tithes from Queen Elizabeth, and, with Alderman Kervyn, raised a considerable commotion against Mr. Hales, by setting forth that the latter had received certain houses and lands from King Henry, which he retained unjustly for his own uses, and which they declared were designed by the King for the foundation of a Grammar School. As Mr. Hales was abroad, the matter rested for the time. Mr. Tallons died 1563, and by will gave his house at Foleshill to the Churchwardens of Trinity parish for the preaching of sermons in both Coventry parishes ; he also left money for the purpose of loans to poor occupiers. The incomes of the Vicars of the two parishes were small, as their livelihood "stood and depended upon the devotion of ye citizens and inhabitants," and an Act was obtained, at the desire of certain persons in the City, entitled " An Act for the payment of tithes in the City of Coventry," which gave the Vicar a tax upon property in the Town and suburbs. COVENTRY, KliOM W. SM[Tll'.S UK.SCRIPTIUN (.1' ENGLANU, 15SS. [1558-9] of the City of Coventry. 53 CHAPTER XII. Ti-iE Early Years of Good Queen Bess : Establishing the Church. Elizabeth (1558 to 1572). Elizabeth's first Parliameat — Thomas Dudley and Richard Grafton returned — Re-establishing the English Church — Putting away Popery — Civil privileges confirmed— A second Parliament — Thomas Dudley and Richard Grafton again chosen — Account of them — Purchase of the tithes — The Queen's visit — The Mayor's happy allusion — The Recorder's oration — Queen knights the Recorder — Complaint against Mr. Hales found frivolous — He continues the Free School — iSIr. Wheatley's gift to Bablake, etc.— Parliament desires Queen's marriage, and is dissolved — Mr. Hales and his pamphlet— City obtains the Park — Mary Queen of Scots a prisoner at Coventry — The Mayor disgraced — Another Parliament — Edmund Brownell and Henry Goodere chosen — Account of them— Actions and speeches of the latter in Parliament — Bill affecting and improving local trade — Act for validity of Burgesses non-resident — Death of Mr. Hales— His gift to City, ^■'.UEEN ELIZABETH was crowned isth January, 1559, to the great joy of her Protestant subjects and the misgivings of the Papists. A new Parliament was summoned on the 23rd, to which the returns for Coventry are lost, but a less authentic authority has it that Thomas Dudley and Richard Grafton were returned, and there is no record of Mr. John Throkmorton having sat in Elizabeth's Parliaments. The Queen's first desire was for a religious settlement to free the English Church from Rome. Another revolution took place, Popes and Cardinals were banished, the Revised Prayer Book and a new English Liturgy were introduced, and care was taken that Parliament should be Protestant rather than Papist. The Royal Supremacy over the English Church was restored, uniformity of worship enacted, and the Queen empowered to appoint Bishops. Bayn, Bishop of Coventry, was removed, and Bentham succeeded ; but few of the clergy were deprived, as they took the Supremacy Oath ; whilst most of the nobility, gentry, and people quickly returned to the reforming party. The City annals record that "good ministers were this year sent to Coventry," and the Mayor, by Act of Leet, levied a tax for their maintenance, evidently in accordance with the Act of 1558. Mass was put down, images and rehcs were broken or burnt in the streets, and all Popish trappings removed or disposed of out of the Churches. This Parliament was dissolved on the 8th May, 1559. The Queen, by Letters Patent, in February, 1560, confirmed to the Mayor, etc., of 54 The Parliamentary Representation [iS^o] Coventry certain privileges contained in former Charters, and seven years after gave the City exclusive right to make a special kind of cloth then in fashion. No Parliament was again called until the nth January, 1562-3, but the want of money to carry on a war with France necessitated one. The Citizens were again Thomas Dudley and Richard Grafton. Thomas Dudley was a member of the Drapers' Company; he was Sheriff in 1554, and Mayor in 1558. He had interested himself on behalf of the martyr Robert Glover in 1555, and is mentioned in a Stratford document of Mary's reign as suspected of Protestantism. Thomas Dudley sat for Warwick in 1572, and it is not impossible that the Coventry Member was in some way related to Sir Robert Dudley, afterwards Earl of Leicester, whose political enemies described him as " the son of a Duke (Northumberland), the brother of a King (Guilford Dudley, married to Queen Jane), the grandson of an Esquire (Dudley, hung with his co-extortioner Empson), and the great grandson of a carpenter, who was the only honest man in the family, and the only one who died in his bed." However this may be, the Coventry merchant was of the same political school as his great namesake, and in or about 156 1-3 they both had a hand in obtaining certain tithes for the City. Mr. Dudley was paid ;i^i86 14s. 4d., to effect the purchase, and the Earl of Leicester received ;^2o as a present. By his will in 1581, he left money to the Bablake Boys' Hospital, and for the relief of his own Ward (Gosford Street), in payment of a fifteenth, when chargeable ; which in the next year his widow, Alice, made payment of Of Richard Grafton little is known, he was apparently a townsman and a printer, and received the sum of £6 13s. 4d. for his services in attending Parliament. Queen Elizabeth visited Coventry on the 17th August, 1565, and was splendidly entertained by the Mayor and Citizens. The Recorder addressed her Majesty in a brilliant oration, and the Mayor (Mr. Edmund Brownell) delivered up the Mace into her hands. The Recorder then presented a purse of gold to the Queen, who said, " It is a good gift, I have but few such, for it is a hundred pounds in gold," whereto the Mayor replied pleasantly, "If it please your Grace, there is a great deal more in it." "What is that?" said her Majesty. To which his Worship replied, " The hearts of all your loving subjects." " We thank you, ]\Ir. Mayor," was the Queen's reply, "it is a great deal more indeed." Her Majesty honoured Mr. Hales with her company, sleeping two evenings at the Friars, and on Sunday the Mayor and the Council dined there with her. The next day, when the Queen left the City for Kenilworth, the Mayor received the Mace again, and the day following his Worship and the Aldermen were entertained there. She knighted the Recorder, and would have done the like to the Mayor, had he possessed sufificient estate to have sustained the honour. [1565] of the City of Covent)y. 55 Some members of the Corporation and Mr. Hales did not agree, and a part of the Recorder's oration complaining that King Henry had intended to found a Free School or College, and that certain lands of great value meant for the establishing of the same, were unjustly withheld from the City, had somewhat marred the pleasure of the Royal visit. The Queen, incensed at the charge, ordered her Secretary of State, Sir William Cecil, to enquire into it, but no such giant of lands was found to have been made. Still Mr. Hales kept the School during his life, first at the White Friars' Church, until the Corporation claimed the edifice, when he removed it to the Hospital of St. John. It was at this time that Alderman Wheatley gave certain lands to the Mayor, etc., for the maintenance of poor children at Bablake. He also left between ^800 to ^1,000 to the different Companies to be let out on loan. Parliament desired that Elizabeth should marry, but the Queen considered it was interfering with her rights, and after many prorogations the Assembly dissolved on the 2nd January, 1566-7. The question, now that Mary Queen of Scots was married to Lord Darnley, and had a son (afterwards James I.) born, was of vital importance to Protestants, and was warmly taken up. Pamphlets were published supporting candidates for the succession. One issued under the name of John Hales showed the work of a zealous partizan, and strongly favoured the House of Suffolk. It disparaged the Stuart line as inconsistent with the religion and independence of England, and at the same time asked Parliament to declare the true heir to the Throne. The Spanish Ambassador complained, and the Queen ordered Mr. Hales to be examined. He was arrested at Coventry, and sent to the Tower of London. Cecil enquired into the matter, and found that he was not the real author, but that the book was written by the Lord Keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon, Mr. Hales' chief in the Court of Chancery, and Cecil's own brother-in-law. Mr. Hales was imprisoned for half a year, and Sir Nicholas ordered to confine himself solely to his duties. By the aid of the Earl of Leicester, the Mayor, etc., obtained a grant from the Queen to hold Cheylesmore and the Park "for ever in fee-farm," subject to stipulations and ;£g per annum reserved rent. The Houses had been occupied with considerable discussion respecting Mary Queen of Scots, which had extended over a considerable period. Her flight into England in 1568 placed the Government in a dilemma. The Queen was sent to Tutbury, but Catholic risings in the north required her removal, and in November, 1569, she was taken under the care of the Earls of Huntingdon and Shrewsbury to Coventry, arriving there on or about the 30th. They lodged the Princess at the Black Bull Inn, in Smithford Street, and Huntingdon informed Elizabeth that the citizens were loyal, and that he had four hundred soldiers ; Shrewsbury also wrote to Cecil, adding that they " will keep her out of sight, for the more she is seen the greater is the danger," and suggested that Nottingham Castle was a much safer place, as the Inn was found 56 The Parliamentary Representation [iS^q] inconvenient, and both Mary and Huntingdon complained of wanting "stuff" or provisions. The Queen remained about a month, and, when the insurrection was put down, was taken back to Tutbury on 24th December. Mr. John Harford, Mayor in 1569, and a late Burgess, when walking without the Town, having a couple of greyhounds following him, met Mr. William Heley, an embroiderer, and his wife, who were accompanied by a spaniel dog ; which the greyhounds ran at, and Heley protecting, beat off. The Mayor, offended, immediately struck him such a violent blow with a stick that he died within a fortnight. For the mischance, the Mayor was deprived of his office by the Queen, and a new Chief Magistrate ordered to be chosen. He was expelled the Council, and compromised with Heley's wife for pardon. Queen EliEabeth now summoned a Parliament to meet at Westminster upon the 2nd April, 1571, but no list of members is given in the Parliamentary returns; both Dr. Thomas, and Browne Willis, however, give the Burgesses returned for Coventry as Edmund Brownell, Gent., and Henry Goodere, Esq. Mr. Edmund Brownell was a clothier. He was Sheriff in 1557, and Mayor in 1565. Mr. Henry Goodere, afterwards Sir Henry Goodere, Knight, was descended from Francis Goodere, of London, and came of a wealthy Herefordshire family. He had a residence at Polesworth, and considerable property at Baginton, the latter just without the boundary of the County of Coventry. Sir William Dugdale says he was " a gentleman much accomplished and of eminent note in this Countie whilst he lived, having suffered imprisonment on behalf of that magnanimous ladie, Marie Queen of Scots, of whom he was a great honorer." He had some hand in Norfolk's marriage scheme with that Queen, for at the trial in 157 1, he made confession of what he knew of the matter ; and ten years later, when one Summerfield was examined with regard to his dealings with " Harry Goodere, of Coventre " (then a prisoner), it was stated " that Queen Mary gave Goodere the buttons of gold which he wore on his cap and doublet as a keepsake." But after Mary's death Elizabeth restored him to favour, and he was knighted. Sir Henry was the friend of Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Fulk Greville, Sir George Digby, and other men of literary genius ; and the former, when dying, in 1586, adds by way of codicil to his will: "I give to my good friends Sir George Digby and Sir Henry Goodere each a ring of ." But the writing breaks off, for the dictation was stayed by death. He introduced the poet, Michael Drayton, who was born near Polesworth, to the Haringtons of Combe. Goodere and Drayton were school boys together, and the Member maintained the poet whilst at Oxford. In after years Drayton wrote the following in an ode to his patron : [1571] of the City of Coventry. 57 "These lyric verses, short and few, Most worthy Sir, I send to you, To read them be not weary ; They may become John Hew's his lyre. Which oft at I'olesworth by the tire Has made us gravely merry." Amongst Goodere's proH'gis and friends were Donne and Ben Johnson. He is said to have introduced Shakespeare (the " Will, my Lord of Lester's jesting plaier," mentioned in Sir Philip's correspondence with Walsingham,) to Sir Philip Sidney. Dr. Donne says : — " When I would know thee, Goodere, my thought looks Upon thy well-made choice of friends, and books; Then do I love thee, and behold thy ends, In making thy friends books, and thy books friends ; Now I must give, and deed, the voice Attending such a study, such a choice; When, though it be love that to thy praise doth move, It was a knowledge that begat thy love." Mr. Goodere sat for Stafford from 1562 to 1567. In 1570 he was appointed Sheriff of Warwickshire, and the next year returned for Coventry, when he was appointed on a Committee to enquire into the abuses of religion, and being a great debater, several of his speeches remain. A chief cause for calling Parliament together had been that a subsidy might be granted to the Queen, and Mr. Newdigate gallantly moved for one to be offered to her Majesty before it was required, a course distasteful to many, who complained of excessive expenditure, abuses, and burdens. Mr. Goodere, desiring to gain favour at Court, said "that every man ought to yield to subsidy, and rather offer it, than stay until the Queen demanded it," declaring that the complaints made were more than in one Parliament could be remedied. In 1570 the Pope excommunicated Elizabeth. Parliament retaliated by enacting repressive measures against the Catholics, the National Church was set up as the standard of religion, and Puritan and Papist alike required to conform most rigidly to its teachings. A Bill, demanding compulsory attendance at Church, and for making certain offences treason, caused inuch debate in Parliament. The law required that the Service should be said, and Sacraments administered, according to the Book of Common Prayer, and persons not attending Church were subject to fine. Yet innovations were often made, and the prescribed form was not strictly carried out. In the debate, Mr. Aglionby, the Member for Warwick, desired the law might not exempt any gentleman's private oratories; and Mr. Goodere, in a lengthy speech, first asserting his loyalty to the Queen, the State, and the House, learnedly discoursed upon three points: "What he thought of the persons there assembled, what he disliked in the matter of the Bill propounded, and why he did so." Of the persons assembled he believed the whole to have a hearty well-wishing for her Majesty's safety, and he had 58 The Parliamentary Representation [i57i] faith in the sincerity of some of the most honourable, but others were doubly disposed, and had favourable affection for some special object. As to the Bill itself he approved of it, unless indeed, former laws had not already provided for its contents. He thought if any person should say " that the Papists do not err in speaking slanderously of her Mnjesty, the same should be taken as treason," but as for the additions to the Bill, added, to make treason of a fault which had been committed in times past, he considered would be a very dangerous and perilous precedent to set, and might occasion such great evils as could not be easily conceived, for he thought considerable troubles would arise from it ; none could warrant that its workings would be for good, and as the Queen's pleasure was unknown, he urged stay; and further noticing that the pennings of the early parts of the additions were clouded and involved with secret understandings, he condemned such obscurity of the sense, since truth should be clear, honest, and open. Sir Thomas Smith, her Majesty's Secretary, seeing Mr. Goodere's speech had moved the House, suggested that the Bill and the additions might be separated, and eventually the matter was referred to a Committee, upon which Mr. Goodere was chosen. The effects of bad trade were universally felt. Parliament passed an Act to enforce the wearing of woollen caps, which affected Coventry. Still, people chose their own headgear, and the Queen issued proclamation to enforce the Statute. To further alleviate matters, a Bill was introduced to establish " banks for the relief of common necessity," which lent money on pledge at a fixed rate of interest. London, Coventry, and five other Cities participated in this Act. Various boroughs, not having fit Burgesses to represent them, had chosen Members fiom the new aristocracy instead, and Coventry now had one such Member. "An Act for the vahdity of Burgesses non-resident" was introduced, the intention being, not that townsmen should be excluded the premier right of being chosen, but that the choice might be extended "to borderers and near neighbours at the least." Some Members considered that one Burgess should be chosen for each borough, with liberty to choose whom they pleased in the other seat, a method sometimes adopted at Coventry. The introduction of outside candidates led to bribery at elections. This Parliament was dissolved 30th May, 1571. Mr. John Hales died 5th January, 1572, and was buried at St. Peter's Church, Broad Sireet, London. He left the Mayor, etc., of Coventry certain properties for the mamtenance of a Free School in the Town. JrfA 4J^ Ix^^f^^-^- ^ ^J J ^^klcC^^'Tyuw^^or* SIR JOHN THROKMORTON, Knt , "f Feokhoiiham ; Justice of ChMter, etc.; and MARGERIE hia wile. (SMrhf^.l h:i I/Jf Author from their toml> in Coughlon Church.} Sir John won Rt-corder ot. and Member for, Coventry ui 1554, and died 15»u, c.-^^' ^-Y^^=^^ SIR JOHN HARINGTON, Knt„ It'iCi'i'fltjr and MembtT fur Cuv»;ntry, Crcfitud Bariui UiiriTiffton of Exton, DIED, 1613. /Frum " rai-p, />riiil , itniilr. /mm llie nrigiii'il ))ii.iiiliii(i Un h,: OlirrrJ SIR JOHN HARINGTON. Knt lli,'Ci>rder uf Cnveiilry, Sucnnd Biirmi ll.nintftnn nl Exti.n, DIED, 1614. 11(1 II r-iil.l |nC-PHOi"0 SPRACUf 4. C LONDOtJ [1572] of the City of Coventry. 59 CHAPTER XIII. Elizabeth's latter Parll\ments, The Companies and the Commonalty. Elizabeth, continued (1572 to 1603). Edmund Brownell and Thomas Wright (or Wight) returned — Death of former — Bartholomew Tate chosen — Account of him — Queen at Kenilworth — Free School — Death of Recorder Throkmorton — Further particulars of him — Edward Aglionby chosen Recorder — The Queen's pleasantry to him at Warwick — Parliament dissolved— Edward Boughton and Thomas Wight returned — Account of the latter — Another Parliament— Thomas Saunders and Henry Breeres representatives — Their story— Payments for attendances— Thomas Saunders and Henry Breeres again returned— The Armada — Death of the Earl of Leicester — Sir John Harington chosen Recorder — His Biography — The Puritans — Their printing press— Set up in Coventry — Removed — Seized at Manchester— Troubles of Mr. Hales — A Puritan Vicar — Another Parliament summoned— Thomas Saunders and John Myles^ Account of the latter — A Bill affecting a local trade — The members in Committee — Another Parliament — Thomas Saunders and Henry Kervyn returned— Account of the latter — The members in debate and on Committee— Visit of Earl Essex — Increased power of the Council House— Contentions at choice of Mayor — Elizabeth's last Parliament — Thomas Saunders and Henry Breeres returned — Acts passed for relief of poor, and for masters and apprentices — The Freemen and their rights— Parliament dissolved— Death of the Queen. pW?T was not long before another Parh'ament was summoned, vfhich met at (?1.^) Westminster 8th of May, 1572, and sat for nearly eleven years. Coventry f^^ returned '^rik Edmund Brownell and Thom.4S AVright, li so says the Parliamentary return, but the latter is probably mis-written for Wight (as in the return for the next Parliament), for Thomas Wight was this year Mayor of Coventry. During the sittings Mr. Brownell died, and Bartholomew Tate, Esq., succeeded him. The family of Tate was an old one in the City, and in 1496, John, son of Thomas Tate, of Coventry, was Lord Mayor of London. This Member at one time lived at Whitley, where he held lands, as also at Stivichall and Stretton-on- Dunsmore. He was a trustee under Mr. Thomas Dudley's will, and in 1594 there is an agreement between him (then living at De la Pyre, Northamptonshire,) and the Mayor, etc., of Coventry, respecting lands and tithes at Stivichall. During the Queen's visit to Kenilworth, the old play of Hock Tuesday was performed by Coventry men. 5o The Parliamentary Representation [1580] "An Act" was obtained in 1580 "for the perfecting of assurances of certain lands towards the maintenance of a Free Grammar School," by which the late Mr. Hales' gift was secured to the Town ; and on the 24th of February, the Commons Journals state that "the Bill touching the Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the City of Coventry, was brought in by Mr. Thomas Grymselitch (Newcastle-under-Lyne), which, with amendments, was agreed upon by all parties to the said Bill." Sir John Throkmorton died on the 22nd May, 1580, and was buried in the chancel of Coughton Church, where he and his wife, Lady Margerie, are represented in marble. Sir John had been removed from the office of Justice of Chester in 1578, through the designs of the Earl of Leicester, who showed considerable hostility to him and his family. His son Francis was detected, however, of having treasonable correspondence with Mary Queen of Scots, and executed. It was at the Earl's house that Sir Nicholas Throkmorton was found dead, whilst Mr. Arden, his brother-in-law, was also by Leicester's influence accused of high treason, found guilty, and suffered. About the same time Mr. Edward Aglionby, of Balsall, became Recorder. He had in 1558 purchased " Alspath, alias Myridene," from Mr. Christopher Hales, and had other lands at Shortley, Preston Bagot, Wolvey, and elsewhere in Warwickshire. In December, 1569, he conveyed the money for the payment of the army to Berwick. He was elected Recorder of Warwick in the place of Sir William Wigston, whose daughter he had married, and sat in Parliament for that borough. When Ehzabeth visited the Earl of Warwick in 1572, Mr. Aglionby's learned oration greatly interested her, and she merrily said to him : " Come hither, little Recorder. It was told me that youe wold be afraid to look upon me, or to speak boldly, but youe were not so afraid of me as I was of youe, and I nowe thank youe for putting me in mynd of my duety." He often spoke in Parliament in the flattering and fluent style of speech peculiar to the time, and was attached to Leicester's party. He resigned the Recordership of Warwick in 1587, through age and failing eyesight. Parliament being dissolved, a new one assembled on the 23rd November, 1584, to which, on the 27th October, Edward Boughton and Thomas Wight were returned. Mr. Boughton, apparently, was of Causton, near Dunchurch, where he held considerable property. In 1580, being chosen Sheriff of Warwickshire by the influence of the Earl of Leicester, he forcibly removed one Richard Steele from^ tlie Mastership of Rugby School, and in other cases acted harshly. Like most of the Boughtons, he was fond of plentiful hospitality and fine buildings, and having purchased the materials from the White Friars' Cliurch at Coventry, at this time being demolished, he erected a fine mansion at Causton of singular beauty. Several of his letters are amongst the Coventry MSS. [1585-6] of the City of Coventry. ' . ' 61 Again Parliament was dissolved 14th September, 1585, and a new one called for the 15th October, 1586. The proceedings against the Scottish Queen were at this time revived, and she suffered death upon the 8th February, 1587. Coventry, whose population this year was 6,502, now sent Thomas Saunders and Henry Breeres to represent it. Mr. Saunders was a grazier, Alderman of Spon Street Ward, and Mayor in 1579. Mr. Breeres was an Alderman of Much Park Street Ward, Sheriff in 1576, and Mayor in 1583. He was a draper, and a benefactor to the Free School library, to the poor of St. Michael's parish, and to the old men and boys at Bablake. The City accounts tell : " 1618, October : Mr. Breeres brought into the Council House a fine cloth embroydered with gold, and bestowed it freely upon the Citie, which is properly called a coverpane, and hath 52 buttons of gold with four tassels of gold." Both Aldermen were paid for their attendance in Parliament, receiving for forty-five days ;^7 los. each, or three shillings and fourpence per day. At the time a labourer received from fourpence to sixpence, and a carter or artizan from sevenpence to eightpence, daily. Subsequently the City paid Mr. Saunders -^j for forty-two days attendance, and Mr. Breeres ^^ 6s. 8d. for thirty-two days. Parliament being dissolved 23rd March, r587, the Queen summoned one to meet i2th November, 1588, and upon the 22nd October the old members, Thomas Saunders and Henry Breeres, were again returned, when they attended fifty-seven days to their duties, and received ;£'9 los. each for their services. This Assembly closed 29th March, 1589. The year 1588, saw King Philip's Armada scattered and destroyed. Many of the Council House loyally subscribed to the loan raised for defence, and amongst them Mr. Henry Breeres, ;£2^. Robert, Earl of Leicester, died 4th September, 1588, and his body was brought 10 Kenilworth. His various kind deeds to the City were remembered, and the Mayor of Coventry, with his Brethren, Sir John Harington, Mr. Goodere, and other local gentlemen, walked in the funeral procession from thence to St. Mary's Church at Warwick, wherein he was buried. Sir John Harington, of Combe Abbey, was now chosen Recorder of Coventry, for which he returned thanks in a letter to the Mayor. He was the son of Sir James Harington, and, by his marriage with Anne, heiress of Robert Kelway, came into the possession of Combe, where he erected a mansion, incorporating it with the remains of the cloisters. He became member for Warwickshire in 1586, and in 1601 represented Rutland County. He was " a bountiful housekeeper," dividing his time between Exton and Combe, and he gave twenty-seven volumes to the library at the Coventry Free School. The Puritans were on the increase, and amongst the chief discontents in the Midlands were Sir Richard Knightley, of Fawsley, and Sir Roger Wigston, of Wolston. 62 The Parliamentary Representation [1589-90] To them the public printing press was closed, but setting up a private one, they secretly distributed many of those libellous tracts called "Mar Prelate;" defaming the Church, cavilling at Bishops, religious ceremonies, and points of discipline. From Mousley, in Surrey, their press was removed to Fawsley, and then to Norton. Mr. Knightley's cousin, Mr. Hales, of Coventry, was abroad, and the former obtained permission to use the Friars as a residence for a month's diversion. He brought the press with him, and the printing was done in a back chamber, far removed from the housekeeper's observation. From Coventry the press was removed to Wolston, and thence to Manchester, where the Earl of Derby seized it whilst printing a pamphlet called "More work for the Cooper." The imprisoned printers confessed who were their employers, and the Star Chamber fined Knightley ^^2,000, Wigston ;^Soo, and his wife ^100. Mr. Hales was subjected to a fine of 1,000 marks for lending his house, but the Queen reduced it considerably on his innocence being proved. Since tlie fall of the Prior and his House, the Vicars of St. Michael's and Holy Trinity were the spiritual heads of the new religion in the Town, being chosen by the Crown. During the Vicariate of Rev. Humphrey Fenn, senior, at Holy Trinity, from 1577 to 1590, the liturgical form of service was superseded by extempore prayer and bible reading. He did not wholly conform, and had been imprisoned before time. Although befriended by the Earl of Leicester, he was cited to appear at Lambeth, and refusing to subscribe to certain articles, was suspended. In 1585, to the "great joy of manie," and by Leicester's influence, he regained the living, but three years after, having attended associations and classes, and refusing to take the oath, was sent to the Fleet Prison, and lost the living. After death, his will was so strongly worded against the hierarchy, and ceremonies, that the Bishops' Court refused to receive it. For several years there had been no Parliament, but Elizabeth summoned one for the 19th February, 1592, as pressing needs required it, whereupon the City returned Thomas Saunders and John Myles. The latter was Alderman of Jordan Well Ward, a member of the Drapers' Company, and had been Mayor in 1580. Sir John Puckering, the Lord Keeper, who lived at Warwick, declared the cause of the summons, whilst the Commons chose the famous lawyer. Sir Edward Coke (who was to be so intimately acquainted with Coventry in the next reign), as their Speaker. In March, a Bill affecting the trade of the City, relating to the manufacture of broadcloths and woollens, was introduced, and the Members for Coventry and Worcester were placed upon the Committee to investigate its clauses, but the Assembly was dissolved on the loth April following, and no Parliament was summoned until the 24th October, 1597, when, on account of a peace between France and Spain, the Queen apprehensive of disasters, determined to provide the Exchequer with money in readiness, and accordingly, on the 13th September, the City chose for its representatives [1592] of the City of Coventry. 63 Thomas Saunders and Henry Kervyn. Mr. Kervyn, or Curvin, who in 1567 had served the office of Mayor, was an Alderman of Spon Street Ward, and a mercer. He was the son of Alderman Thomas Kervyn, who died in 15S4. The Members took part in debate upon a Bill for restraining excessive malting, sat upon the enquiry Committee thereon, and upon a Committee to consider " the Bill against Forestalling Regrators and Impressors." When Devereux, Earl of Essex, passed through the City in 1598 to assume military command in Ireland, he was presented with a purse of money. Since the dissolution of the Monasteries, the civil power of the Council House had increased ; the grants made of late, of Monastic and Chantry lands, of Cheylesmore and the Park, together with the noble gifts of White, Bond, Wheatley, and others, had made it autocratic. In 1599 there was great contention between the Commonalty and the Companies as to the choice of Mayor. The former desired Mr. Richard Smith, a vintner, to be chosen, whilst the Masters wished to place Mr. Christopher Davenport, pewterer, into the office; whereupon, when "Mr. Roger Clark, being Mayor and a draper, came from the Jayle to St. Mary's Hall, and would have gone into the Council House," the Commonalty refused to let him, and threatened to thrust His Worship down the Hall stairs if he attempted. Retiring to his own house, he took the sword with him, but the populace seized it on the way, whereupon the Commonalty elected Mr. Smith as Mayor, and "kept out Mr. Dav'nport three choice days longer" (three years out of the office). It is said that " Mr. Smith did little for the goodwill of those that strove for him ; Mr. Dav'nport was a good man for the Commonalty." The Queen summoned her last Parliament to meet 27th October, 1601, and Coventry's choice fell upon Thomas Saunders and Henry Breeres. This Assembly passed an Act for the relief of the poor, which originated the poor-law system of England. In 1562 and 1601, Acts relative to masters and apprentices passed into law, and no person was allowed to carry on a craft, mystery, or occupation in England, unless he had served seven years to some trade, under a penalty of fine or imprisonment. This enforced apprenticeship produced good workmen, and strengthened the Freemen of Coventry. No master under twenty-four years of age could take an apprentice, or any apprentice's time expire unless he was of similar age. The Act of Leet of 1535, and the Statutes of 1562 and 1601, were rigorously carried out at Coventry, and householders compelled to become Freemen of the City. As time rolled on the Freemen became a more compact body, asserting the sole right to set up in business, and the choice of the Members of Parliament. They had rights to gifts, to the uses of the Free School for their sons, and the privilege of depasturing their cattle on the Commons and other lands, with divers other favours. The Queen dissolved Parliament 9th December, 1601. She died at Richmond 24th March, 1603. 64 The Parliamentary Representation [1603] CHAPTER XIV. The Gunpowder Plot : Loyal Citizens and " the Queen of Hearts." James I. (1603 to 1614). King visits Exton— The plague— Political opinions— Henry Breeres and John Rogerson elected— The latter resigns — Sir John Harington chosen— Raised to Peerage— John Rogerson again— Receipts of Members— Princess Elizabeth and the Haringtons at Combe— Visits Coventry — Master John Tovey's sermon— Mayor presents Cup— Parliament prorogued— Gunpowder Plot— The Catholic Hunting Match— The Princess in safety at Coventry— Her remarks on the attempt — Loyal Citizens— Proceedings about the Park — Prince Henry created Prince of Wales— Parliament dissolved— The King and the Sacrament — Prince Henry : His visit and death — Marriage of the Princess — Royal largess— Death of John, first Baron Harington — His son John, second Baron Harington— Chosen Recorder — Account of him — His death — Sir Edward Coke, Knight, made Recorder. dAMES, on his way to London, was loyally entertained by various Lords and i)^l& gentlemen, especially at Exton, in Rutlandshire, the seat of Sir John Harington. ^£^ He and his Queen were crowned at Westminster on the 25th July, 1603. '♦^ Mr. Christopher Davenport, who had at length been chosen Mayor of Coventry, attended by Alderman Rogerson and the other Magistrates, proclaimed James I. at the Cross. This year five hundred persons died of the plague in the Town. The King's first Parliament met at Westminster 19th March, 1603-4. Political opinion was divided by religious views. In the English Church, the Prelatists or orthodox men, were satisfied with the establishment as it stood, desiring no innovation. The Puritans ; who were numerous in London, Coventry, and other towns ; objected to certain ceremonies as remnants of Popety ; whilst the abolition of Prelacy in Scotland, and the persecution they were subjected to from the English Bishops, extended Presbyterianism. The Catholic party were strong in Warwickshire, but weak in Coventry. During this reign the right of poll at elections came in, and the King, in his proclamation, desired that no bankrupts or outlaws should be chosen, and no one returned unless he paid to the subsidies. On the 20th February, 1603-4, the Parliamentary return shows that Henry Breeres and John Rogerson were the Burgesses chosen. Mr. Rogerson was a draper, and an Alderman. He was Sheriff of Coventry in 1578, and Mayor in 1597, and several of his letters remain 19 ri ■■■^ f«'y£ r'®*te£.jS^^ ^: T^^npori^ MR. CHRISTOPHER DAVENPORT. Mtiyor (jf Coventry, 1G02-Ii. s.y/iiuLu Jk. 1100 Lute Nw rmtg J{0 miH Hill Strct. HJl BMC ■H'cU Strer sn'iiie Crtji CtiiU date s.fti.Sthnk S,Iih.3nJ^ niticr Lam trifrs 6-att Triors mill Trior J ruinc ■Baltcll hnuf: Giitiurf Lofic Irm ifwn^cF Grftu linihfry ^, iMtie'jiuthcry BiiUk thiireh Trmife church WtilUcrlyiu-i s}WM hull Sfcia Chanel .if'ciiijlrcr Spont Aatp Act Ikct yfSiHSanof hull ^fUrh^/irft ' f) %aili miU Um i/irls inM taflfSatt Tfimflret . ,-, Csrwu Oirifk I- fi Tcrmyit turn ^ 600ri (fm GAijkcf 'Jhi 'SirrtJ ChiWmiffi em ivtiiijrjm mill ^'Inr^rj. Xim! \ I— tCmc ante ''■ h Mt path fret) Sitimepark /k[\ if DrntLaiii i^lidi^k eaa CiWi%ane . CrtyfeUr Oat THE EARLIEST KNOWN PLAN OF COVENTRY, 1610. "DeicHbed by CHBI8T0PHER SAXTON, Auginar., and publifbal by JOHN SPEEDE, Citimi o/ London." Ink-photo, sprague * c° lonooh [1603-4] of the City of Coventry. 65 amongst the Corporation MSS. The return shows him as " too infirm to attend Parliament," and on 5th March Sir John Harington, Knt., was chosen, but on the 19th he was created Baron Harington, of Exton. The return gives no further election, but from a manuscript list of Members for this Parliament, and from the receipts of payments to the Burgesses in the Corporation documents, it appears that John Rogerson was again elected. These receipts for allowances to Members are as follows :— "At the Parr' from the 20* January 1605 until the 21 of March— 61 days at v' a daye — xv"^ v' From the 27 of April 1606 until the 31 of Maye 34 days — viij" x» Sum totalis xxiij" xv'." " The Charges of Mr. John Rogerson at the last sesson of P'lyment It" for xxii weeks. Laking one dale at 5° a dale w* cometh to xxxiij" By me John Rogerson." "From the 17"" November 1606 unto the 20"" Dec' next is just 33 days at 6' 8'' per diem — xj" By me Henry Breers." His Majesty entrusted his eight years' old daughter, the Princess Elizabeth Stuart, to the guardianship of Lord Harington, in order to receive her education with his daughters. His Lordship was a strict Protestant, a courtier not desirous for place ; whilst Lady Harington, we are told, "was an unassuming lady, who possessed the modest and noble qualities which adorned the character of a British matron." On the 3rd of April the little Princess visited Coventry with her guardian. The Recorder, with many of the neighbouring nobility and gentry, and the citizens, loyally greeted her. The Mayor and Aldermen, clothed in scarlet robes, with the Burgesses in gowns and hoods, awaited the Princess at Jabet's Ash, and conducted her into the City; and in St. Michael's Church, "good Master John Tovey," who had been appointed tutor to her Royal Highness, preached a sermon, after which she dined at St. Mary's Hall with the Council, " sitting for the first time in a Chair of State," and was presented by the Mayor with a silver-gilt cup, two feet in height, costing ^30, with which "she was constrained to accept Lord Harington's aid to sustain the weight, when she took it in her hands, and received the Civic pledge," to the pleasure and amusement of the assembly. After visiting the Grammar School she left the City. 66 The Parliamentary Representation [1605] The meeting of this ParHament, after a prorogation, on the 5th November, 1605, will be memorable for the attempt of the Catholic conspirators to blow up the King and Parliament House with gunpowder. Lord Harington, at Combe, had certain information of a proposed attempt to seize the Princess by the local Catholic gentry, who were called together at Dunchurch on the 6th, with the ostensible purpose of joining in a hunting match to be held there. Combe Abbey not being fortified, he promptly moved his charge and family, and sent them under the care of Sir Thomas Holcroft, Knight, to Coventry, who lodged the Princess at the house of Mr. Hopkins, known as the Palace Yard, in the midst of the City. Sir John wrote: "I am not yet recovered from the fever occasioned by the disturbances. I went, with Sir Fulk Greville, to alarm the neighbourhood and surprise the villains who came to Holbeach, and was out five days in peril of death. If their wickedness had taken place, in London some of them say she [the Princess] would have been proclaimed Queen. Her Highness doth often say, 'What a Queen should I have been by this measure!' and, 'I had rather been with my father in the Parliament House than wear his crown on such terms.'" The Citizens, under the command of the Mayor, mounted guard to watch over the Princess, and used armour taken from St. Mary's Hall. We are informed that "the Mayor had one pariizant and two halberts therefrom ; Mr. Breeres, the Member, had three pikes, one partizant, and two black bills ; whilst Mr. Rogerson had three bills, two pikes, and one corslett;" odd implements of warfare doubtless; but no harm came, and when the alarm had subsided, the little Princess returned to Combe to resume her studies, and to admire the pair of fine and fat oxen which the Council House afterwards sent to her. In 1 6 10 Henry, eldest son of King James, was created Prince of Wales. In Parliament sturdy opposition arose to the King's will and the encroachments upon the public liberties. The activity of the opposition exasperated His Majesty, who, after six years of almost unremitting conflict, caused the Assembly to come to a sudden dissolution on the gth February, 1610. King James wrote to the Mayor, etc., on the 4lh February, i6ii, complaining that communicants in the City refused to receive the Sacrament kneeling, and, instead, for the most part, received it standing or sitting. The King directed the Bishop to see the abuse reformed. During the year, Henry, Prince of Wales, visited his estate at Coventry, being entertained at St. Mary's Hall, and receiving a present of ^^50, but he died in the year following. Lord Harington was eased of his charge by the marriage of the Princess to Frederic, Elector Palatine, in February, 1613. He received from James the privilege of coining brass farthings, as an acknowledgment of the expense he had been at with Her Highness' education, for the King's slender purse would allow of no other gift. His Lordship accompanied the Princess to Germany, but having caught a cold on his [1613] of the City of Coventry. 67 way home, died on the 24th August at Worms, whereupon the vacant Recordership of Coventry was, says Meridew in his " Catalogue of Warwickshire Prints," filled by his son. Sir John, second Baron Harington, the friend and companion of the late Prince of Wales. This Lord was educated under bis father, and the celebrated Master Tovey, at Combe, and at the Grammar School, Coventry, in the strict Protestant teachings of the age. He was afterwards sent to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and whilst he imbibed much of the ascetic austerity of James' reign, had great literary ability, allowing himself but five hours sleep daily, the rest being spent in study and devotion. Fuller thus quaintly describes him : — "John. Lord Harington, was born at Combe Abbey (accruing unto him by his mother, heiress of Kelway), as by a property of that family, lately (or still) surviving, I have on very strict enquiry been certainly informed. He did not count himself privileged from being good, by being great ; and his timely piety rising early, did not soon after go to bed (as some young saints, behold under another notion), but continued watchful during his life. He was one of the first who began the pious fashion (since followed by few of his quality) of a diary, wherein he registered not the injuries of others done to him (a work of revenge, not devotion), but his failings and infirmities towards his Master. Thus making even with the God of Heaven, by repentance in Christ at the end of every day, he had but one day to repent before his death." Like other young men, he had travelled upon the Continent, and had met, at his father's table, and elsewhere, the most learned men of England. On the print under his portrait he is thus flatteringly described : — "Rich Ornament, Rare Honor of our clime, Mirror of Nature, Miracle of Grace, For all faire Pledges of a Hopeful Prime ; Beyond his Years, before his Rank and Race, Heroic Pattern for all After Tyme To imitate, and for our Owne to trace : Compleat, in Parts of Bodie and of Minde ; Fix't in all Vertue to no Vice inclin'd. An Humble Noble ; an un-wavering Youth ; Un doubting Courtier ; Undisparidg'd Knight. Fearing but God ; Loving but Good and Truth ; Shunning but Hell; Seeking but Heav'n, and Right: Seeming but what he was (O, word of Ruth ; ) A Gratious Starr : Now fixt in Glorie Bright. O Happie Hee ! So Happie be The Knot Of Those deer Neers't to His Love and Lot." The Harington knot was famous, and its representation is yet to be seen in the Arms upon a mantelpiece at Combe Abbey. Lord John did not long survive his father, but died, unmarried, 27th February, 1614, aged 22, whereupon the title became extinct; and Sir Edward Coke, Knight, was chosen Recorder. 68 The Parliamentary Representation [1614] CHAPTER XV. The City's Governing Charter : A Celebrated Member. James I., continued (1614 to 1625). Account of Sir Edward Coke, Knt.-His letters-Return of Sir Robert Coke, Knt., and Sampson Hopkins-Biographies-Honorary Freemen-' 'The Addled Parliament' '-Suddenly dissolved- Royal visit-Charles, Prince of Wales-And the Park lease-Sampson Hopkins and Henry Sewall chosen-Account of latter— The Governing Charter of 1621-Its appointments-Great Council of thirty-one— A select body— Ten Wards, and Aldermen-Justices-Murage assessors- A second or Common Council of twenty-five instituted-Fairs— Free Citizenship— Court of Orphans-Coke dismissed from office-Reconciliation— Partly restored in favour-Leads the Opposition -Presents remonstrance— Parliament dissolved-Coke imprisoned— A contest at Coventry— Sir Edward Coke and Henry Harwell chosen— Notice of latter— Sir Thomas Edmonds, the defeated candidate— Account of him— Coke released— The Spanish match broken off— Rejoicings— Sir Edward and the Lord Treasurer's impeachment— His advice to the City Council— Retires— Returns to London— King's death. 'iTH the life of Sir Edward Coke volumes could be written. Born at Mileham, in Norfolk, in 1549, he came from a good family. His father, Robert Coke, who died in 1561, was a lawyer of eminence; and his mother, Winifred Knightley, a daughter of William Knightley, Esq., of Norfolk, a branch of the Fawsley family. Educated at Norwich Free School, and Trinity College, Cambridge, he studied the law ; was called to the Bar in 1578, and quickly rose to the highest eminence. By his marriage with Bridget, daughter of John Paston, he obtained considerable wealth, and his profession brought in an immense income. Purchasing many estates, he received a gentle reminder from the Crown to desist, but pleaded to be allowed to acquire "one acre more," and thereupon bought the great "Castle Acre" estate in Norfolk, exceeding all his former possessions. By this marriage he bec.nme allied to the Rutland, Shrewsbury, Westmoreland, and Abergavenny families. With the influence of Lord Burleigh, he was returned for Aldeburgh in 1588, became Solicitor-General in 1592, was chosen for Norfolk, and elected Speaker of the House. In 1594 he became Attorney-General, and prosecuted, for the Crown, the Earls of Southampton and Essex. Losing his wife in 1598, by whom he had seven sons, he married the ricli widow of Sir William Hatton, Knt., daughter of Thomas Cecil, the son of William, Lord Burleigh. It was not a happy union, and whilst Coke became possessed of Stoke Pogis Manor House and vast possessions. Lady Hatton objected to being called plain " Cook," as [1614] of the City of Coventry. 6g she termed his name. He was knighted in 1603, and managed the trial of Sir Walter Raleigh. In 1606 he was appointed Chief Justice of Common Pleas, and in 1613 "Lord Chief Justice of England" and a Privy Councillor, Not only was he elected Recorder of Coventry, but the cities of London and Norwich chose him to fill similar offices. In 1615 he sent a letter to the Mayor, etc., of Coventry, containing an injunction as to players, and in the following year advised the reform of the Council House. Pressing needs caused the King to call a Parliament on the 5th April, 1614. Rumours were afloat that certain noblemen and others had undertaken to secure a majority in the Commons favourable to the Court's interest, and many country gentlemen came forward to oppose the Burgesses in the Boroughs. Most of the returns to this Parliament are lost, and with them that for Coventry, but from other authorities it appears that Sir Robert Coke, Knt., and Sampson Hopkins, were chosen. Sir Robert was the eldest son of the Recorder, and had married Theophila, only daughter of Thomas Berkley, of Caludon, and grand-daughter of Henry, Lord Berkley. When Mr. Hales removed to his newly-built residence. New House, Keresley, he let "The Friars" to Lord Henry Berkley, who kept a large establishment there with over one hundred servants, but he died in 1613, whereupon George, his grandson, succeeded. The appointment of Sir Edward Coke as Recorder was popular with the Council House, whilst that of his son was still more so, and they presented the Member with the Freedom of their City, a privilege but sparingly bestowed at this period ; the known instances being those of Sir John Harington, 1609: Sir Robert Coke, 1613; Sir John Suckling, 1624, and Sir Henry Carey, 1635. Mr. Hopkins was a member of the Drapers' Company, being chosen Sheriff in 1599 and Mayor in 1609. At the elections nearly all the Court candidates were rejected, and the Country party obtained an overwhelming majority. They sat for two months only, and, passing no Bills, became known as the " Addled Parliament," refusing to grant supplies until grievances were redressed, whereupon the King suddenly dissolved the Assembly on 7th June, 1614, and governed without for six years. But his policy of raising benevolences becoming unpopular, he made State visits to various places. On the 22nd September, 1617, he came to Coventry, being met by the Mayor and Aldermen at Bishop Gate. The Civic Regalia was given up, and returned. Dr. Philimon Holland delivered an oration, and the King was entertained. A gold "loving cup" and ;^ioo was given to His Majesty, who, in wishing success to the Town, declared, " Wherever I go, I will drink out of this cup and remember your City." Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales in May, 1616, and Henry Sewall obtained a discharge for the rent of Cheylesmore in the year following. In 1620 „Q The PavUamentary Representation [1620] the Corporation obtained a lease for twenty-one years of the Manor House and Park, with the mill and certain closes and premises in the Manor of Coventry. The King's necessities compelled a ParHament to be again called, to meet the 30th January, 1620. Coventry returned Sampson Hopkins and Henry Sewall. Mr. Sewall was Sheriff in 1582, and Mayor in 1606. Both were Churchmen and members of the Drapers' Company. Several of the latter's letters remain among the Corporation MSS. The former was a benefactor to the Bablake Boys' Hospital, and to the Fellowship of Drapers. The Sewall family became related to Sir William Dugdale by the marriage of Richard Sewall, son of Henry, to Mary, sister of the antiquary. The Council of the City had neither been unanimous or happy of late, and the Recorder had counselled reform ; those in power asked for increased authority, and a new governing Charter was projected, but the King refused compliance until certified that the abuses at the taking of the Sacrament had been amended. Meanwhile, both the Members and Crown lawyers were busy, and Mr. Hopkins had several interviews with His Majesty, who, on the i8lh of July, 1621, signed a lengthy Charter confirming previous ones to the City, and especially regulating the choice of the Council House and Authorities. The Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty "were now to be made a close and select body," chosen as follows : — "Know ye farther, that for the better rule and government of the said City, of our more especial grace, and of our certain knowledge and meer motion, we will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, we grant and confirm unto the said Mayor, Bailiffs, and Commonalty of the said City, and to their successors, that for ever hereafter the Mayor, Recorder, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Coroner, Steward, Chamberlains, and Wardens, and other officers of the same City, shall be yearly, and every year, named, elected, and chosen, in the Leet or View of Frankpledge, to be holden vfithin the said City, within one month next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel [29th September], according to the ordinance and provision hereafter in these presents expressed and declared. And that it shall and may be lawfuU to and for the Mayor of the same City for the time being, and of the rest of the persons of the Council House of the said City, or the greater part of them, yearly and every year in the said Leet, or View of Frankpledge aforesaid, to be holden in the said City, to nominate and return in writing the names of one-and-thirty persons of themselves, and of the ancientest Citizens, which before that time hath been, and executed the office or offices of Mayor, Bailiffs, Chamberlains, or Wardens, in the said City, or any of them. And that the said thirty-one persons, so in form aforesaid, nominated and returned in the Court Leet, or View of Frankpledge aforesaid, from time to time, as before is mentioned, or the greater part of them, shall not only nominate and choose one person, then Citizen of the said City, out of those which before that time hath been and executed the office of one of the Bailiffs and Sheriffs of the same City, to be Mayor of the City aforesaid for one whole year, beginning at the Feast of All Saints' [ist November] then next following after such election ; but also shall name and choose two other persons, being Freemen of the said City, to be Bailiffs and Sheriffs of the same City, for one whole year, then next following after the said election. And further, they shall nominate and appoint one other fit and sufficient person, to be Coroner of the same City for one whole year, likewise next following. And moreover, they shall then nominate and elect all other officers [Usually the other ministerial officers were a Steward, two Chamberlains, two Wardens, Town Clerk, Sword Bearer, Mace Bearer, two Sub-Baihffs, Crier, a High Constable, and an indefinite number of Constables] within the same City heretofore used and eligible, to continue in their several places and offices, during such time and times as heretofore hath been used and accustomed in the said City." L1621] of the City of Coventry. 71 The Council House thus became a self-elected body of, at most, thirty-one members, and to all appearance usurped the more ancient rights and free choice of the citizens at large. Removable for reasonable cause, the members were to meet in the "Guildhall" or such other convenient place in the City as tlie Mayor should appoint. Ten persons, being Freemen of the City, were to be elected to the office of Aldermen, to preside over the Wards, they having exercised the office of Mayor or Bailiffs before time ; the King appointing " Our well-beloved Henry Sewall, for the governing of the said Ward, called Bayley Lane Ward; Richard Butler, for the governing of the said Ward, called Jordan Well Ward ; Christopher Davenport, for the governing of the said Ward, called Bishop Street Ward; William Hancock, for the governing of the said Ward, called Broad Gate Ward ; Sampson Hopkins, for the governing , of the said Ward, called Earl Street Ward; Henry Smith, for the governing of the said Ward, called Cross Cheaping Ward; John Herring, for the governing of the said Ward, called Spon Street Ward ; Henry Davenport, for the governing of the said Ward, called Smithford Street Ward ; John Barker, for the governing of the said Ward, called Much Park Street Ward ; and Samuel Myles, for the governing of the said Ward, called Gosford Street Ward, to be and shall be, modern Aldermen of the said City." They and their successors were to be chosen for life, but removable by death, " for evil government, and other reasonable causes," and their places filled up by the Mayor and Council House. The Mayor, Recorder, and the Aldermen were re-constituted Justices of the Peace within the City and County. To assist the Council House, thirty-one Assessors, " being Freemen and Citizens," were to be appointed to tax the inhabitants for the repairs to the Town walls whenever necessary ; and a second, or Common Council, of twenty-five persons of " the discreetest citizens and Freemen," who had been either Sheriff, Chamberlain, or Warden, were constituted to assist the Mayor and Council House with advice in such matters as should be referred to them therefrom, the appointment being for life, unless removed by the Mayor, etc., for departing from the House, for ill-demeanour, or other reasonable cause. Two, three-days, fairs were allowed yearly in April and August, the City having a Court of Pie-powder, with the tolls from stalls and booths, sale of cattle, etc., thereat. No stranger, or non-Freeman, was to sell in the Town by retail, or have shop, mystery, or occupation in the Town except at fair-time, without the special license of the Mayor and Aldermen, etc., who were also licensed to hold a Court of orphans, for the governing of the orphans of such Freemen or Freewomen of the Town as had left their children to their guardianship, in like manner as the City of London held ; and finally, the Charter empowered the Mayor, etc., to purchas^-^ds and other property up to ^^300 per year value. / Sir Edward Coke had now reached the summit of his advancement, and many causes hastened his downfall. He incurred the King's displeasure, was summoned before the Privy Council, suspended, finally dismissed the office of Chief Justice, and forbid Westminster Hall. He was, however, afterwards restored in a measure to favour 72 The Parliamentary Representation [1621] by a match between Buckingham's brother, Sir John ViUiers, and his daughter by the second marriage. He was again made Privy Councillor, but was not given the office of Chief Justice. He attended to judicial business, and sat in the Star Chamber. In 1621 he became virtually leader of the Opposition in Parliament. He moved a resolution of remonstrance, which was seconded by Pym, from which dates the commencement of that open antagonism in the Commons, which ended with the extraction of the Stuart race. The King at last received this remonstrance, and petition, from a deputation headed by Coke and Pym, and, on their entering his presence, exclaimed, "Chairs! Chairs ! Here be twa'l kynges comin' ! " but after he had heard the second declaration, refused further consideration, prorogued Parliament, and within a week committed Sir Edward to the Tower. He was charged with having concealed some true examinations in the case of the Earl of Somerset's trial, and with substituting false ones, but was released by the intercession of the Prince of Wales. This harsh treatment made the ex-Chief Justice attach himself more firmly to the Country party, and the King proposed, in order to get him away, to place him upon a Commission to enquire into the state of the Church in Ireland, but Coke let it be known that he would thereupon expose the abuses of the Stuart administration there, and his threat silenced the King. Sir Edward was of prepossessing appearance, of regular and engaging features ; he had great quickness and penetration, never-failing memory, and a solid judgment. He made the best of all things, especially in disgrace, and the King said of him, "Whatever way that man falls, he is sure to alight on his legs." It was his habit to go to bed at nine, and to rise at three. He was a thorough lawyer, and loved his profession, which his "Institutes" and other numerous works show. Sir Edward at one time had property at Keresley, and at Stivichall, near Coventry. This Parliament was much engaged with inquiry into expenditure. Pym, Coke, and the members of the Country party, making great research into detail and precedence, became a more enlightened body. The Court party being unable to cope with them. His Majesty imposed silence, and closed the Assembly 5th February, 162 1-2. It was at this time that Sir Edward was sent to the Tower, and his papers seized. In 1623, however, pressing needs caused the King to call a Parliament on the 12th February, and the Royal messengers made their way to the Sheriffs with writs for the elections. The people were distrustful, for subsidies and payments had been large. They looked with alarm upon the Spanish match of Prince Charles, and had forebodings for the future. Sir Edward Coke was named at Coventry to fight their, and his own, battle. It was a triangular contest, for Sir Thomas Edmonds, Knight, opposed him, and Mr. Alderman Harewell, or Harwell, was nominated. The Court candidate, Sir Thomas Edmonds, was Treasurer of the King's Household. Born at Plymouth, of which port, as well as that of Fowey, his father [1623] of the City of Coventry. 73 was Customer, he was introduced to the late Queen, and soon entered Parliament. His marriage with Margaret, daughter of Sir John Wood, Knight, Clerk to the Signet, brought him further recognition at Court, and he built a fine mansion at Albyns, in Essex, of which Inago Jones was the architect. He was an able speaker, a great writer, and served Charles I. as Ambassador at Fontainbleau. The contest ended on 27th January, in the return of Sir Edward Coke, Knt., and Henry Harwell, but Sir Thomas Edmonds found a seat at Chichester in the following month. Henry Harwell came of a greatly-respected local family, whose gifts to the City show their generosity. The Alderman was a mercer, and filled the office of Sheriff in 16 10, and Mayor 1619. At his death in 1641, he gave the interest of ;^65 to the Corporation, so that bread might be distributed thiice yearly to the deserving poor by the Overseers of St. Michael's. Coke was soon released ; the King dismissed him from the Privy Council, and characterised him as " the fittest instrument for a tyrant that ever was in England." In 1623 the match between Prince Charles and the Infanta of Spain was broken off, when the Coventry Churchmen rang their bells and raised bonfires in Cross Cheaping to celebrate it. Sir Edward's chief effort whilst Member for Coventry was at a Conference with the Lords, wherein he opened the charge, made in the name of the Commons, against the Lord Treasurer Middlesex, for extortions and the taking of bribes, and in a lengthy speech ; seconded by Sir Edwin Sandys (Kent) ; laid grievous complaint against his conduct in office ; wherein Sir Edward remarked " that bribery is like Adam, and would fain get some fig leaves if it could tell where to gather them." The impeachment ended in the Earl losing all his offices, imprisonment during the King's pleasure, and a fine of p/,50,000. In 1625 Coke and the Duke of Buckingham were reconciled, and Sir Edward, aided by his party, carried an Act to abolish monopolies, and to authorise the Crown to grant patents securing to inventors, for a limited period, the exclusive rights of their inventions. He advised the Coventry Council respecting the Sheriffs oath, and at the end of the Session retired to Stoke Pogis for legal studies. He returned to his residence in Holborn to attend Parliament at the end of the prorogation, but the King expired before the date of assembly. 74 The Parliamentary Representation [1625] CHAPTER XVI. Right of Voting established, and the Collection of Ship Money. Charles I. (1625 to 1640). Coventry and the King's accession— Sir Edward Coke and Henry Harwell returned— Former elects to serve for Norfolk—" The Useless Parliament ' '—Dissolved— Henry Harwell and Isaac Walden chosen— Account of latter— The Plague— Lammas riding— A contested election — Sheriff's double return— Committee's report— "William Parefoy and Richard Green declared Members— Freemen's right to vote established — Biographical notes — The petition of rights — A dissolution — Local events— Death of Recorder Coke— Thomas, Lord Coventry chosen instead — Account of him — Precautions against the Plague— Collection of the Ship Tax — William Prynne and the Mayor — Musters and levies— Ship money again taken — Charles, Prince of Wales. ^^^|lNG CHARLES married the Princess Henrietta Maria in June, and trees were planted in the Park to commemorate the event. No less than twenty persons who had been Mayor of Coventry were alive at the Coronation '^^Y^ rejoicings. A new Parliament assembled in June, to which Coventry returned Sir Edward Coke, Knt., and Henry Harwell, but the former elected to serve for the County of Norfolk ; to which he had also been elected ; instead, but no one appears to have been chosen in his place. The ex-Chief Justice used moderation, declaring to Parliament "that the old grievances died with the late King, and, as yet, with the new none existed." But troubles arose, and when supplies were required, he moved an amendment for enquiry into expenditure, which was carried ; whereupon the Committee proceeded rigorously to search into alleged hardships, and the Assembly, which the King's friends called "the useless Parliament," was abruptly dissolved on the 12th August. Sir Edward Coke, now in his 75th year, was appointed Sheriff of the County of Bucks by the designs of the Court party. A second Parliament was summoned for 6th February, 1626, to which two members of the Council House were chosen, viz., Henry Harwell and Isaac Walden. The latter was an Alderman and a member of the Drapers' Company, Sheriff in 161 2, and Mayor in 1620 to 1621. He altered and improved the conduit at the Grey Friars, which had inscribed upon it : — " Ralph Joyner, Mayor, brought hither first Fair water with great cost ; Which Isaac Walden, Mayor likewise, Regained when it was lost." SIR EDWARD COKE. Knt.. Chief Justice, Member and Recorder of Coventry, 1623. Died, 1633 Q^l^T^/Kt^L THOMAS, LORD COVENTRY, iorri Keeper, Recorder of Coventi-y, IG'iH. Died, 1640. ROBERT QREVILLE, LORD BROOKE, Parliamentary General in Warwickshire, ^c. Died. 1643. SPENCER COMPTON, EARL OF NORTHAMPTON, Recorder of Coreiitn/, WiO, and Royalist Henernl In lyaripicksliire, ^c, Died, 1043. [i626] of the City of Coventry. 75 The King took exception to Coke's being both Sheriff and Member for Norfolk; but the ex-Justice not only sat out the Parliament, but attended the Judges at Assize. From August, 1625, to September, 1626, a plague raged at Coventry ; business was suspended, and no markets were held. Many persons temporarily left the City. Yet, as in other years, the annual custom of riding Lammas was performed, but the Chamberlains' feast was curtailed, and the poor were relieved instead. Again Parliament was dissolved, and a new one summoned in March, 1627. The Court party had imposed a duty upon merchandise, which, together with the ill-success of the fleet and the gloomy future outlook, aided the Country party. At Coventry the old Member, Isaac Walden, with Thomas Potter, an Alderman; being selected by the Council House ; were opposed by two gentlemen of the County, Messrs. William Purefoy and Richard Green. Mr. Potter was a benefactor to the Town, and Mayor in 1622. The contest was considerable, but in the end one of the Sheriffs returned Messrs. Purefoy and Green, and the other Messrs. Walden and Potter. Petitions were presented to the House on the 27th March, complaining of the double return, and stating that whilst the two County gentlemen had been elected by the greater part of the electors, the other Sheriff had returned two Citizens resident within the City, and chosen by the Council House. It was contended that neither Purefoy nor Green were resident or free of the City, and could not therefore legally sit, as by the I. Henry V., c. i, residence in a borough was a necessary qualification; but this the Statute of 1 5 7 1, allowing Burgesses non-resident as well as resident,appears to have altered. (It is probable that the nominees of the Council House at Coventry received the freedom of the City, without service in some cases, in order to become eligible for Membership.) The matter was referred to the Committee of Privileges, and on the 9th April, the Chairman, Mr. Hackewell (Amersham), reported thereon, that there were " two petitions returned, by one Mr. Isaac Walden and Mr. Thomas Potter ; and by the other Mr. Green and Mr. Purefoy, gentlemen of worth, but no inhabitants or Freemen." " That the right was in all Freemen electors, and no other, and that upon warning six hundred appeared." Sir Edward Coke, together with Sir Robert Cotton and Mr. Selden, sat on this Committee, which further resolved "that Richard Green and William Purefoy were well elected," and the other indenture was ordered by the House to be taken off the file. Thus the governing body fared badly, and representation came again to the Freemen. Mr. Purefoy, or Purefey, was the son of Francis Purefoy, and Eleanor, his wife, daughter of John BaskerviUe, of Curdworth, Warwickshire, and was born at Caldecote Manor House, near Nuneaton. His parents were dead, and to them he erected a fine tomb in Caldecote Church in 1617 ; he rebuilt the Manor House, and placed the arms 76 The Parliamentary Representation [1627] and quarterings of his family thereon. Some of the family were buried at St. Michael's, Coventry. They were allied by marriage with the Feildings ; the Earl of Norwich ; Anthony Grey, Earl of Kent ; and the Glovers of Mancetter. Purefoy imbibed the advanced religious ideas of the times, and probably had the influence of the Wigston and Hales families from his kinship with them. In time he became a rigid Puritan, a bitter enemy to the Bishops, and a leader of the Presbyterians in Warwickshire; whilst his influence with Lord Brook added considerably in inducing that nobleman to afterwards oppose the King. Mr. Richard Green was the grandson of Edward Green, of Water Orton, and lived at Wyken, where he possessed an estate, and eight years before Herald's College had confirmed a Coat of Arms to him. The Commons again opposed the King. The Coventry Members were silent, but Recorder Coke, as a leader of the Country party, spoke often with weighty arguments upon the greater questions. When Charles tried to intimidate Parliament, he defended the public liberty, and aided in framing and proposing " the Petition of Rights," which was the most explicit declaration of English liberty which had then appeared ; after which the King personally dissolved Parliament on the 10th March, 1629, and the Commons returned home grumbling, declaring that Charles intended to take tonnage and poundage without Parliament's consent, that trade would be ruined, and religion endangered. To gain favour at Coventry, the Park lease was renewed for eighteen years. In 1630 the Keresley tithes were purchased by the Town for ;;{^2So. Two years after Mr. Purefoy was chosen Sheriff of Warwickshire, and waterworks were constructed, by which the Swanswell water was supplied to the Town. The year 1633 saw the death of Sir Edward Coke on the 3rd September, at the age of 83, and a long inscription on his monument in Tittleshall Church, Norfolk, records his worth and offices. After his death his will was lost, to the prejudice of some of his family. The vacant Recordership was most appropriately given to Thomas, Lord Coventry, Keeper of the Great Seal, whose chief ancestor had been a native of the City. He had been chosen to the like office for London in 16 16, and was a Member for Droitwich. A famous lawyer with great practice, and immensely rich, he was chosen Solicitor-General, and knighted in the year following, being promoted to Attorney-General in 1620, in which office he had much to do with the granting of the City's Charter. He was made Lord Keeper in 1625, and elevated to the Peerage in 1628. Having twice married, he was blessed with a large family; his eldest son, Thomas, married Mary, daughter of Sir William Craven. He was of middle height,' had a broad, round face, and good complexion. His eloquence was convincing! and given with a kind of lisping. He quarrelled with Buckingham, and would undoubtedly have been removed from the Lord Keepership had that nobleman lived; as it was, he held the office nearly sixteen years, and was much occupied with the [1633] of the City of Coventry. 77 collection of the ship tax. Several of his letters to the Mayor, etc., of Coventry, remain. Great precautions were taken in 1635 by the Town Authorities to prevent the plague's coming. Coventry men at this time viewed with no small dislike the illegal collection of "ship money," imposed by the King without Parliament's sanction. The people grumbled as the Judges, instructed by the Lord Keeper, endeavoured to make it popular. In Elizabeth's time the tax had been voluntary, now compulsory. Each County was to provide a ship ; and Warwickshire one of three hundred and twenty tons' burden, with one hundred and twenty-eight seamen ; supplied with wages, provisions, and necessaries for twenty-six weeks, by the ist March, 1636, But as the County was an inland one, it was required to send ^4,000 to the Treasurer of the Navy instead, to be levied upon the towns and villages of the Shire. Coventry was assessed at ;i^5oo, but, on complaint, this was reduced to a fifteenth part of the whole County assessment, i.e., ^liid 13s. 4d. The Corporation possess various letters, and the levy book, about the matter. The King's Council desired to know how the Clergy were assessed, and the Town received acquittance from the tax on the 15th February. The Bishop of the Diocese received a large silver bowl from the City, for his trouble in settling the matter, and the Recorder was paid ;£i4 6s. 8d. (probably his fees), and had a pair of fine oxen, worth ;^28 given him on the occasion. The Puritans and others prejudiced the collection in Warwickshire, although the Judicial decisions against their party discouraged them. The Lords, Brooke and Say, projected the Colony of Saybrook, in Connecticut, to be peopled with Colonists from the Midlands, where liberty of conscience and a free Commonwealth could flourish. Some persons went, including members of the Washington and Throkmorton families, but subsequent events led the leaders to stay in England. At this time the Star Chamber incurred great odium by inflicting frightful corporal punishments and heavy fines upon libellers, and when WiUiam Prynne, the author of "News from Ipswich," passed through Coventry on his way to Carnarvon Gaol, after the harsh sentence of that Assembly, he was met and welcomed by the Mayor and others, stayed Sunday, and worshipped in the Churches. Archbishop Laud heard of this, and the Privy Council sent for the Mayor to London ; he and six others were fined ;^200. When, in 1640, Parliament voted Prynne's sentence unjust, and released him, some of his Coventry admirers accompanied him back to London. When all fear of the plague was over, in 1637, Godfrey Legg gave a great feast at his election as Mayor. On the rising of the Covenanters in Scotland, the King determined to oppose them by force, and issued his warrant to the Earl of Northampton to raise both trainbands and cavalry in Warwickshire and Coventry, and numerous musters were sent northward. In 1638 "ship money" was again collected in Coventry. Prince Charles was that year created Prince of Wales. 78 The Parliamentary Representation [1639-40] CHAPTER XVII. From the Short to the Long Parliament. Charles I., continued (1640 to 1641). The Short Parliament called— The Recorder's recommendation— His death— Spencer Compton, Earl of Northampton, chosen instead— His biography— William Jesson and Simon Norton chosen Members— Account of them— The dyeing of cloth— Petitions to Parliament— The Mayor and Members against Ashmore — Dissolution — Setting the watch — The Long Parliament summoned — Preparations for contest — John Barker and Simon Norton returned— Account of former— Death of latter— His gifts— William Jesson chosen instead— His speech in defence of trade— Sir H. Mildmay's exception thereto— D'Ewes' reconciliation- Petitions, and Recorder's action against Popery— Change in names of Party. cSH^i^OR twelve years no Parliament had sat; one was, however, summoned for 13th H^^g April, 1640, and in December, 1639, the Lord Keeper recommended Henry ^^ Frederick Thynne, his son-in-law, as a candidate for Coventry, but his Lordship b--iin.rr-t.A' "Pjjsfr died in the interval between the sealing of the writs and the convention of Parliament. His loss to the State was considerable, and, had he lived, his advice would doubtless have preserved the country from the quick and unhappy dissolution that followed. The Great Council of the City was now favourable to the King, and chose Spencer Compton, Earl of Northampton, as their Recorder. He was born at Compton Winyates in May, 1601, and was the son of William, Earl of Northampton (a considerable number of whose letters to the Council House, written when Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, yet remain), and Elizabeth, daughter of the exceedingly rich Sir John Spencer, sometime Lord Mayor of London. After his parents' runaway match, Queen Elizabeth had reconciled Sir John to his children ; as the author of "Historic Warwickshire" records ; and stood sponsor to their child, who was named Spencer after him. He was brought up at Court, and educated at Cambridge, where " his parts were so great, and his appetite for knowledge so large, that it was as much as four tutors could do to keep pace with his proficiency." Being master of various languages, he conducted several Ambassadors' audiences for Kings James and Charles. In 1616 he was made Knight of the Bath ; in 1622 accompanied Prince Charles to Madrid, and there delivered presents valued at ;^64,ooo. Assisting at tliat Prince's coronation ; he, in 1639, attended the King with the Warwickshire levies upon the expedition against the Scots ; and, in the civil commotions, supported the Royal cause. He was no speaker, but became celebrated for his moderate views, and the extreme justice and generosity of his dealings. The Council of Coventry now secured the return of two Aldermen to Parliament, .1640] of the City of Coventry. n AViLLiAM Jesson and Simon Norton. :> Both were large dyers in the Town, and stout Churchmen. Possessed of considerable weahh, they and their families were great benefactors to the Town. Mr. Jesson was Mayor in 1631, and had an estate at Nutliurst. Mr. Norton, Mayor in 1633, had lands at Harnall. The dyeing of cloth, chiefly made in the County of Gloucester, brought considerable trade into the City; many hands were employed, and the various yards in the Town were full of it. One Anthony Ashmore, a broad weaver, and others, now petitioned Parliament that restraint might be placed upon its importation into the Town to be " dressed and coloured." Ashmore's object was of a private nature, and his endeavour, if successful, would have been exceedingly detrimental to the trade in which both the Members were engaged. They presented a counter-petition from the Dyers and Clothworkers Company opposing the other one, which prayed that an Act might " be passed to better facilitate the bringing of Gloucestershire cloths into the City to be dyed." Letters from the Mayor, and the Company, were read to Parliament, in which Ashmore was described as "a contentious fellow and idle person," one "busy in other men's matters," and as " untrustworthy", being " much given to drink, and at times quite distracted." Mayor Rogerson wrote saying that Ashmore had been before the Council House, and was prevented from having any persons to help him, adding, " We had him before the Clotliworkers and Weavers, and schooled the knave a little; whereat he told us he would go up to London, and desire the King to have a Commission to examine men on oath, and find out the truth; for now he declared he would take no hands ; and, indeed, he could get none ! " A petition from the Mayor, etc., of Coventry, was also read, "touching the toleration for stretching of cloths," with certain other matters, and answering Ashmore's charges, who, on the 30th April, was committed by the City Justices to the gaol for misdemeanour. The King again desired immediate supply to suppress the troubles in Scotland, but his friends in Parliament mistrusted his purpose. The Assembly, wishing to redress grievances, retarded progression ; whereupon the King dissolved it upon the 5th May, and the Members returned home complaining. For fear of the Scotch rebels, and to prevent surprise, the Coventry Authorities enacted "that in these dangerous times more than ordinary care should be had of the watch," and each householder was compelled to take turn and guard, under a penalty. Scarcely had "the Short Parliament" returned home, than writs were issued for what was to be an Assembly of very long duration. "The Long Parliament" was called to assemble at Westminster on the 3rd November, 1640. Pym and Hampden, with Lord Brooke, and others of their party, posted through the country previous to the elections, inciting the people by speeches and letters to choose men of their faction, Pym, who had some little property in coal pits near Coventry, came to the City, and 8o The Parliamentary Representation [1640] consulted with the chiefs of his party. The Sheriffs read the writ from the Market Cross, and, assisted by "honest and able men, took the poll." Mr. William Jesson was not returned, but the choice on the 13th October rested on two Aldermen, John Barker and Simon Norton. John Barker was a draper, having a business in Cross Cheaping. He was Mayor in 1634, chosen Deputy-Lieutenant in 1642, and re-elected Mayor in 1644. Alderman Simon Norton died 4th July, 1641, and by will left considerable gifts to various local charities. He was a benefactor to Ford's, Bond's, and the Bablake Boys' Hospitals, but especially desiring that the Church at Bablake should be made parochial, gave by will "to his son, Thomas Norton, his heirs and assigns, all his tithes at Coundon ; and all his lands there lying in the common fields ; and all his tithes arising in his grounds, meadows and pastures, in Biggin and Holme, called Biggin Grounds, in the parish of Clifton, in the County of Warwick, upon condition that if ever the Church of Bablake be made a Parish Church, the said Thomas Norton, his heirs and assigns, shall for ever pay out of the said tithes and lands in Coundon aforesaid, to the Minister of Bablake, for the time being, the annual sum of ;,^i3 6s. 8d., and shall permit and suffer the said Minister to receive to his own use all the said tithes of Biggin." The Alderman's death necessitated a bye-election, and on the 20th July William Jesson again sat for Coventry. Mr. Jesson ably represented his confreres of the Council House. At this time, Sir Henry Mildmay, Knight (Maiden), endeavoured to gain the consent of the House to a Bill, which would have had detrimental effect upon the country's commerce, and dealt a blow to the trades of Coventry ; whereupon Mr. Jesson started up in heat, and spoke most earnestly against it. Sir Henry, taking exception to certain of his words, affirmed that Mr. Jesson looked very fiercely upon him when he spoke them, and declared that he did so in an unparliamentary way. The House, amused at such a novel case, appealed to Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Knight (Sudbury, and Sheriff of Suffolk), for his opinion as to precedent, who, treating the matter sensibly, desired to qualify such unnecessary zeal, declaring that in all his experience of such matters he had never known exception taken to looks before ; and with some good-natured remarks, reconciled the offended Knight and the choleric ancient Burgess. During February, 1641, a petition was presented from Coventry against Popery, whilst on 4th May, Recorder Northampton, with other noblemen, took the protestation to protect the Protestant religion against Popish innovations, and to defend the King, the power and privileges of Parliament, and the lawful rights and liberties of the subject. The older party names of Court and County were changing for Cavalier and Roundhead, and Parliament at this lime effected considerable changes in both Church and State. [1641] o/ the City of Coventry. 8x CHAPTER XVIII. For King or Parliament : The Siege of Coventry. Charles I., continued (1641-2). Colonel Purefoy's motion — Mr. Jesson's proposal and loan — Lords Northampton and Brooke — Purefoy's fanaticism — Preparing for war -Citizen soldiers— Royalist seizures — King's order to the Mayor disobeyed — Magazine seized by the Royalists — Re-taken by the Parliamentarians — Northampton's escape — King before Coventry — A parley — His desires refused — Goes to Stoneleigh— Mr. Dugdale's summons refused — The red flag hung out — The siege — Lady Hales killed — New Gate taken — The fight within the gate — Royalists repulsed — King goes to Nottingham — Siege withdrawn — Southam fight — City relieved by the Parliament — Rupert's attack on Caldecote Manor House — Doubtful bravery — Setting up the Royal Standard — Mr. Jesson's " No" — Essex garrisons the City —Governor Barker — Preparing for a second siege — Petitions — Soldiers pay — Coining the Town's plate — Mr. Jesson's seasonable help — The King's summons again refused — Battle of Edge Hill. W^^E?N the 15th December the remonstrance to the King upon the state of the W^W nation was passed by the House, whereupon Colonel Purefoy, now Member ^^^gl for Warwick, assured the Assembly that the only way to satisfy the kingdom "'^^ was to give greater confidence to their constituents, and thus obtain from them the supplies so urgently required. He proposed that their declaration be published, and amidst cries " Agreed " and " Order it," the Speaker inquired what declaration was meant ; whereto Purefoy replied, " The Grand Remonstrance." But the motion met with great opposition, which delayed the vote until darkness set in, and when the Clerk could not see to write, it was resolved, by 152 to 53, that candles be brought. Two hours hot discussion followed, and at length the motion for printing was carried by 135 fo 33- Considerable harm was done to the King's cause by the publication, and His Majesty thereupon circulated a reply. Parliament required money ostensibly to quell the Irish rebellion, and in April,, Mr. Jesson proposed an advance of ^10,000, wherewith to purchase cloth for "the adventurers in Ireland." In May he turned over a ;^i,ooo debt, due to him from some Scottish merchants, towards the " brotherly assistance to the Scotch," for twelve months, and shortly afterwards obtained the House's warrant to transport arms from London, or elsewhere, to Coventry. The Parliament endeavoured to secure all offices of trust for its friends : Lord Warwick to command the fleet. Earl Essex to the Generalship of the army, and Lord Brooke to the Lord-Lieutenancy of Warwickshire. It also declared its intention to 82 The Parliamentary Representation [1642] dispose of the Militia, and Earl Northampton, with the loyal Peers, refused to obey any order unwarranted by law. Between Northampton and Brooke considerable animosity arose, and the latter desired that the Earl " might be translated to Warwick Castle, there to stand sentry to fright crows and kites." On the 14th June, Colonel Purefoy with some soldiers, entered Warwick Church and did considerable damage ; he also caused the Market crosses at Warwick and Nuneaton to be pulled down. "William Purefoy," writes a Royalist, " that great destroyer of crosses and images ! I wonder how he forebore to doe outrage on his own face ; it looks so like St. Dunstan's, with a pair of tongs at his nose. He was the hammer that beat down all the ancient monuments in the Earl's Chapel at Warwick, and in St. Mary's Church there, for which at one time he received ^1,000, and at another ^1,500, and had bestowed upon him a great share of Sir Henry Compton's office, worth ^^300 per annum." Both parties prepared for war. Northampton had most of the County nobility and gentry, their tenants and dependents ; Brooke secured the townsmen, their journeymen and apprentices, and some of the smaller gentry. The Parliament's party in Coventry were reinforced by the arrival of four hundred "sectaries " from Birmingham. The gates were closed, the towers mounted with cannon, and an improved system of watch introduced. The Royalist party within the Town were but about 500, whilst of the 2,800 volunteers of Warwickshire who assembled at the Parliament's musters, Coventry found 800. It h.id 200 men in the trained bands, and a troop of horse was raised, of which Colonel Purefoy had command. John Barker became Governor of the City, various Aldermen and citizens were made officers, and a Committee was appointed to act. Without the Town, Northampton's men occupied the roads, and Mr. Jesson reported to Parliament that they had seized a military chest, one thousand suits of soldiers clothing, and numerous horses and wagons, intended for the forces in Ireland. On the 23rd July, the King desirous to gain the City, directed the Mayor, Mr. Christopher Davenport, and the Sheriffs, to attend him at Leicester, but the Council House forced them to remain. Northampton ordered the loyalist Aldermen, Million and Clark, to seize the magazine and stores for the King, which they effected, and placed under a small guard, but the Parliamentaiian leaders. Aldermen Barker and Basnett ousted the Royalists, and Northampton hastily escaped by a postern in the City walls, from the back of his quarters at the Bull Inn. The King, deciding to visit Coventry, crossed the Avon at Wolston with a force variously estimated at from 3,000 to 7,000 men, Staying at Whitley House, he posted his forces between the City and London and Warwick. He notified his intention to occupy the Town ; but the inhabitants, displaying Lord Brooke's colours from the walls, instructed the Mayor to reply that " His Majesty's Royal person would be most respectfully welcome to them, but that they humbly besought His Majesty to pardon them if they could not with safety permit his Cavaliers to enter with him." After [1642] of the City of Coventry. 83 further parley, the citizens answered that they " would receive the King and two followers, but no more," whereupon His Majesty retired to Sir Thomas Leigh's at Stoneleigh, and the next day directed the Herald, Mr. Dugdale, to summons the City to surrender, desiring all strangers to depart, and declaring that if the inhabitants laid down their arms he would pardon both, but, on persistence, was determined to proceed against them as traitors, and reduce the City to obedience. It was known that Parliament was sending aid, so the townsmen mounted a red flag and refused to comply, and neither Mr. Dugdale, or Mr. Wightwick, the City Steward, could entice them to obedience. The King at once brought his artillery into action, but, with his small force, was unable to effectually surround the City, which contained from eight to ten thousand persons. His guns plied upon the walls southward, and did considerable damage. At the White Friars they beat down a tower, wherein Lady Hales and another person were killed. New Gate was considerably battered, and the Cavaliers made entrance, to find however that the roadway was stopped with harrows, carts, timber, and furniture ; when the Royalists, pressing through the gate, cried " On ! on ! " they met a most determined resistance from the musketeers and women, who plied the Cavaliers with shot and stones from the windows and roofs of the houses, whilst a troop of armed citizens in the streets forced them back, and, after several unsuccessful attempts to advance, compelled the loyalists to retire precipitously through the gate. The King left to raise the Standard at Nottingham, and the Parhament reliefs were near at hand; whereupon the Royalist camp was broken up, when the townsmen issued out and harassed the retreating forces. The siege of Warwick Castle was also abandoned, the Royal garrison at Kenilworth removed with Mr. Dugdale's aid in safety, and the King's forces withdrew from Warwickshire. But at Southam they met the Parliament aids for Coventry, when a skirmish ensued, in which the Parliamentarians had the better, and Coventry was relieved. At this time Prince Rupert, with some forces, proceeded to Colonel Purefoy's house at Caldecote in order to seize him ; he, however, received warning, and escaped in time to hide in a barley field. His men were away at Coventry, but Dame Joan Purefoy, with her son-in-law, George Abbot, seven men servants, four maids, and some children, were in the house. They refused the Prince admission, and he proceeded to take the place by force. The defenders, however, fought bravely, killing three of his ofiScers and a dozen soldiers. After considerable time the Prince ordered fire to be placed to the gate, and thereby forced the little garrison to surrender, whereupon Dame Purefoy implored him not to injure them, and Rupert, surprised at the boldness of so few persons, granted the request. Being pleased with the soldierly bearing of George Abbot, he offered hini a commission in his army, which was declined. Search was made, unsuccessfully, for the Colonel ; but after the Cavaliers departure he returned from his hiding-place into the house, and was joyously received by his faithful wife. The 84 The Parliameniary Representation [1642] Royalists blamed his discretion, and called it cowardice, one declaring that " when he should have fought with the enemy he hid himself in a barley field, for which a water- man at Temple Stairs who had been his soldier refused to carry him." When the Royal Standard was set up at Nottingham, on a very tempestuous day, and the King's proclamation declared Essex a traitor, the Commons House took prompt measures, and required every Member instantly to answer whether they would hazard life and fortune with the Lord-General or not? Mr. Jesson then desired time to consider a matter of such moment, but being pressed, replied " No." At this a great uproar arose, and the Speaker fell upon him with harsh language ; whereupon the ancient gentleman, terrified with the displeasure shown towards him, desired to reverse his decision, but was refused, and other dissentient Members answered "Aye." Parliament now anxiously considered the maintaining of the Coventry garrison, and about the middle of September, Essex, marching from London, sent forces to Coventry under Lords Peterborough and Rochford, Sir William Constable, and Colonel Brown. All known Royalists were secured, or detained, and such as fled had their property seized and confiscated. The breaches in the walls were repaired, and cannon mounted on the gates, additional defences erected, and the houses immediately without the chief gates pulled down. Whilst the men performed these works, and their daily watch and ward, the women were not idle, for they formed at the Cross daily to the sound of the drum, and bearing spades and other implements, proceeded into the Park to nil up the quarries, so that they should not again afford shelter to an enemy. In the House on the 27th September, a petition from Coventry was read respecting certain monies, raised upon propositions according to Parliament's order, for the support of the garrison. It was enacted that the monies should be paid to persons appointed by the Parliament, to pay the regiments quartered in the Town ; and the House also licensed the City to buy six more pieces of cannon, according to the petitioners' desires. On 6th December the Committee of Safety was ordered to deliver to Alderman Basnett ;^58o 2S. sd., the value of plate raised in the Town and County of Coventry, and also ;^200, raised in the City alone, for the payment of arrears due to the garrison. Early in October, in expectation of another siege, Coventry petitioned Parliament asking for "speedy relief," whereupon Mr. Jesson promptly agreed to lend ;^i,ooo towards the City's urgent defence, which the Commons Journal acknowledges " as a testimony of his affection to the Town," and the House ordered repayment of the loan out of the p^i,soo worth of plate sent in by the City, " so soon as it can be coined." The King's army approached Coventry, and Prince Rupert demanded it to be given up; the King promising to forget the past, and offering protection from plunder if it were ■yielded ; but the Mayor and chief citizens "refused to surrender to the King without the concurrent authority of Parliament," and thereupon prepared for the worst ; but the King passed by, and the indecisive battle of Edge Hill was fought on the 23rd. imon M(}rlpyv SIMON NORTON. Gent., Member for Coventry, 1640. DIED, 1641. ROBERT DEVEREUX, EARL OF ESSEX. Recorder of Coventry, lfi43. DIED, 1646. BASIL FEILDING. EARL OF DENBIGH, Recorder of Coventry. lUlO. DIED, 1675. SIR WILLIAM DUQDALE. Summoned Coventry to surrender to the KliiR, Hi DIED, 1685-6. COLONEL WILLIAM PUREFOY, Recorder and Member of Coventry, liir)4. DIED, 1059? Lord Chief JuBtice iind Recorder of Coventi-y, lfl59. DIED 1R7.1 [1642-3] of the City of Coventry. 85 CHAPTER XIX. Between the Battles of Edge Hill and Naseby. Charles I., continued (1643-5). Deaths of Lords Brooke and Northampton— Robert, Earl of Essex, chosen Recorder— Biography- Prince Rupert at Birmingham— William, Earl Denbigh, killed— Basil Feilding succeeds to title— Parliament and its Coventry Committee— Intercepted letters— Seizures— Establishing Presbyterianism— Taking the Covenant— Order for equipment— Committee of Sequestrators formed— The troubles of Dr. Hinton— The Mayor disabled— Governor Barker appointed- Conspiracy— A dispute settled— The Coventry horse sent to Gloucester— Rival ParUaments— The Scots army in England— Charges — Martial law — A pensionary member — The " new model " army — Self-denying ordinance — Changes thereby— Recorder, Basil Feilding— Battle of Naseby. ^gJp^EALOUSLY watching their City for the Parliament, the Council House had ten ^Tjij^ thousand inhabitants and a garrison within the walls. When Lord Brooke ^s^gKi passed through the Town, he caused his Chaplain to preach from the text "'^^ in Esther, " If I perish, I perish ; " and, strangely enough, was killed at Lichfield, a few days afterwards. Earl Northampton also met his death on 19th March at Hopton, whilst leading a charge. He had routed the enemy's cavalry and taken eight of their guns, when his horse falling, and his men pressing forward, left him momentarily surrounded by the enemy's foot. Fighting bravely, he killed their Colonel and two soldiers, but refusing quarter, v?as finally despatched by a blow delivered from behind. His son, Lord James (who succeeded to the title), asked for his body, but was refused, unless an exchange was made for it with the prisoners and guns taken by the Royalists. That being denied, the Parliament officers buried the body at Derby. The Parliamentarians, holding the power in the Council House, chose Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex; their General; as Recorder, who; born in 1592; had learnt the art of war in the Palatinate, Spain, and Scotland. The King appointed him Chamberlain of his Household, and in 1641 Lieutenant-General, South of Trent. Parliament, with whom he was exceedingly popular, desired his appointment as General-in-Chief, but on his refusal to obey an unconstitutional order of the King, he was deprived of the Chamberlainship, and thereupon he placed himself entirely at Parliament's disposal. That Authority, in July, 1642, appointed him their General, and by vote declared, they would "live and die with him." The King proclaimed the Earl a traitor, and he commanded at Edge Hill ; after which, coming to Coventry, he became personally known to the Council House. 86 The Parliamentary Representation [1642-3] William, Earl of Denbigh, was killed on the King's side during Prince Rupert's onslaught at Birmingham in April, and Basil Feilding, his son, a strong Parliamentarian, succeeded to the title. In spite of his mother's entreaties, he kept firm to the Parliament, who appointed him their General in Warwickshire and the associated Counties. In May, the Committee at Coventry intercepted letters from Sir John Brooke, which Parliament ordered to be printed, and expecting the City to be besieged, sent arms and ammunition to the Town. Many horses and army wagons were taken by the Committee, and Parliament ordered them to be detained until Prince Rupert should make satisfaction for those he had taken. The Committee asked Parliament to divert the King's army, and the House thereupon desired Mr. Zouch Tate (Northampton) to write to them promising relief. The Long Parliament desired to abolish Bishops, but was only prepared to go with such modified Presbyterianism as military reverses and political circumstances required, in order that the Scots army might be brought into England ; and on 23rd September, the Parliament and the Assembly of Divines, took the Solemn League and Covenant. At St. Michael's, Coventry, the Rev. Obadiah Grew was a staunch Presbyterian, and Lord Denbigh ordered his soldiers to subscribe to the Covenant in the Church. An entry in the Church books reads : " Paid for beere in ye Vestry, when ye Covenant was taken, 5s. yd." Most of the citizens had aided the Parliament's cause, but there were some " malignants," and the Covenant being applied, discovered friend from foe. His Lordship, desiring the citizens to have " mutual confidence," promised that their privileges should be respected by his military, and that justice should be administered impartially. The House of Commons ordered equipment from the public stores to be delivered to Mr. Jesson, in April, for the service at Coventry ; and a Committee of Sequestrators for Warwickshire, and Coventry, was appointed to seize the real and personal estates of delinquent Royalists, on which were the Members for Coventry, the Mayor, and Messrs. Hales, Basnett, Bromwich, and others. They soon had plenty to do, and Royalist and Churchman were brought before their tribunal on the least suspicion. The case of Samuel Hinton, LL.D., a wealthy citizen and Master in Chancery, will show the state of things in the City at this time. He, like his father, the late Vicar of St. Michael's, received a Court appointment, and before the Long Parliament assembled, had spoken at Stoke, saying " that Parliament would do more for Pym ye collier than for His Majesty." Pym had a lease of some coal-pits from the Council House jointly with Mr. Isaac Bromwich, the Committeeman, and the calling of the Member "a collier" gave annoyance to Messrs. Samuel Hopkins and William Babbington, two young lawyers, the former of whom had married Mr. Jesson's daughter, and Bromwich thereupon threatened Hinton. The matter slumbered until August, 1642, when the King being near the City, Mr. Hinton received the greatest indignity, and [1643] of the City of Coventry. 87 Mr. Barker forced him and his wife to leave the Town, without taking hardly anything with them. He had an order to go where he pleased without the walls, but was turned back by the soldiers and roughly handled, that night being lodged in the Sheriffs house, and the next day brought to trial, whereat, although his answers were satisfactory, he was sent to prison, "as the commitment had already been made out;" but was eventually let out on bail, and confined to his house. Soon after, Lord Brooke's soldiers broke open his doors, searched his study, and seized his horses, and on the i6th March, Colonel Purefoy, and his men took him a prisoner to Kenilworth in the night time, where, fed on fare " coarse, short, and nasty," and without a change of clothing, he continued some time, until his wife obtained his liberty by paying ;^4o. Returning to Coventry, he obtained the Committee's permission to reside in the Counties of Warwick or Coventry, without the City, and taking a house at Stoke, obtained a warrant, signed by Barker and Bromwich, to remove his goods there. But the Committee ; under a pretext to search for arms ; ordered the Sheriffs to remove his plate and valuables, whereupon the poor badgered individual informed ihem, through his wife, that he would take a house at Monks Kirby or wherever they pleased ; to which Governor Barker assenting, saw his goods without the gate ; but shortly after Mrs. Rowney, the Mayor's wife, Mrs. Davenport of " the Butchery," and other ladies of the Town came after them, by the Committee's connivance, and brought back the wagons in triumph. In fear of his life; he then fled to Lichfield, where he had a house, but whilst he escaped his enemies, his goods at Coventry became confiscated. Mr. George Monk, who had been chosen Mayor, was found disaffected to the Parliament, and removed from office, whereupon Governor Barker became Chief Magistrate, 1643-4, and wearing "a sword and buff coat under his gown, was attended by civil and military officers, with trumpets and drums." The Committee wrote to the Parliament, 27th November, recommending the place of Governor of Coventry to the care of the Lord-General, which was agreed to, and Mr. Jesson took the House's message to him. On the 3rd December, Earl Essex replied that Lord Denbigh had both Houses' authority in the matter, but, as Recorder of the City, he would see that nothing contrary to the Parliament's service, or the City's requirements, was done. A plot to turn the Town to the enemy, and fire the place, had been discovered, on report of which the Houses at a Conference, considered the state of the City, and desired Lord Essex to compose the differences between Lord Denbigh, Colonel Purefoy, and the place, in order to avoid a fatality. Denbigh had entered protestation against Purefoy obeying General Essex's command, and they were accordingly summoned to " His Excellency's quarters at London," and the trouble adjusted. In August, 1643, Parliament ordered Colonel Purefoy to take the Coventry horse, and assist Colonel Massey, Governol- of Gloucester, then besieged in that City. On the way he took eight horses and twenty Royalists prisoners. The horse stayed with 88 The Parliamentary Representation ' [1643-4] Massey after the siege was raised,- and the Committee at Coventry sent letters to Parliament asking for their prompt return, which the House ordered as soon as the Gloucester horse could be recruited, and by a letter of Messrs. Bosseville (Warwick) and Knightley (Northampton) informed the Committee of their decision. In January, 1644, the King called a rival Parliament at Oxford, and the Scots army entered England. In February, Coventry had to find ;!^S4 153. id. monthly towards their support, and ^30 towards the cost of new modelling the array. In August, Earl Denbigh and Colonel Purefoy were appointed by Parliament upon a Commission for trial and execution by martial law. In June, 1645, '^"6 Commons relieved some of their Members, who had either lost their estates or for other reasons required it, out of the Crown revenues. Colonel Purefoy was allowed ;£i\ a week, and became a "pensionary Member." The project of Cromwell and the Independents to exclude Members of Parliament from all offices, whether civil or military, placed their party in power, for those removed were principally Presbyterians, and the vacant posts became filled with their own friends. It was first proposed to place the army under the " new model," and the motion to exclude Members from holding positions was afterwards passed in a thin House. " The Self-denying Ordinance " made Members renounce their own advantages, and the Presbyterians lost credit with the army, but in time the army itself became the authority in the State. Lords Warwick and Denbigh surrendered their commissions, and Lord Essex, after some demur, followed suit. Barker and Purefoy gave up their respective Governorships of Coventry and Warwick, and apparently the Recordership of Coventry became vacant. Sir Thomas Fairfax became Commander-in-Chief for the Parliament, Cromwell and the Independents in the House obtained control of the forces, and officered them, and as neither Fairfax or Cromwell resigned, Essex's party became discontented. On the 12th of May the House ordered Major Peter Burgoyne to become Governor of Coventry, with command of the foot regiment that was Colonel Barker's; whilst to that of the horse, Captain Lieutenant Henry Flower was appointed ; but Major Burgoyne desired to be excused on account of age, and the regiment thereupon petitioned asking to have Captain Willoughby appointed instead. Colonel Colmore was also nominated to have Colonel Purefoy's command at Warwick. On Essex's death, Basil, Earl of Denbigh, became Recorder of Coventry. He was a favourite with the Coventry Parliamentarians, and his seat was at Newnham Paddox. He fought at Edge Hill, and soon became a distinguished Commander, but he had little sympathy with Cromwell's lofty designs. Leicester having surrendered to the King in May, Parliament, expecting Coventry would be besieged, promptly ordered General Brereton to proceed there with his forces from Chester, but on the 14th of June following. General Fairfax defeated the King's army at Naseby, and soon after Leicester fell into his hands. t^645] of the City of Coventry. 89 CHAPTER XX. In Evil Days : The Regicides and the King's Death. Charles I., continued (1645 to 1648). The King's retreat— Scots Army at Coventry— Purefoy appointed on a Commission thereto — Seasonable help— ParUament's thanks— Disgarrisoning Coventry— Decision of the House- Letters, etc., of Messrs. Barker and Jesson— King goes to Scots Army— Is delivered to Parliament— Mr. Jesson and Episcopacy— Parliament's endeavours for peace— " Pride's purge"— Mr. Barker excluded— " The Rump "—Troubles at Coventry— Lord Denbigh and the King's trial— Colonel Purefoy sits as a Judge— Signs the King's death-warrant— " Tinker Fox, of Coventry " — Dr. Grew's letter to Cromwell — King's death — Prince of Wales takes title of King — Abolishing the House of Peers— Council of State appointed — Purefoy on the Admiralty — His rewards — " Freeborne John " objects to his evidence. ,ji'/^C^^-FTER Naseby the King hastened westward, and Fairfax followed. Eleven SmMllktj regiments of the Scots army passing by Coventry, encamped at Stoke. ^@«^^ Colonel Purefoy, who had been appointed an English Commissioner with °^P^ the Scotchmen, obtained provisions for them from the City, and Parliament ordered one hundred barrels of powder, with match and ball, to be delivered to the army from the Public stores at Coventry and Warwick. On 9th July the House desired Mr. Jesson to thank his constituents for their "seasonable help." During the years 1645-6 the Independents became a strong party in the House, and sided with the army, Cromwell becoming their leader. In March, 1646, the seat of war having changed, Mr. Jesson expressed a desire that Coventry should be disgarrisoned and its new works "slighted," which the House, by 91 to 79 votes, ordered to be done ; but the Committee at Coventry petitioned, and, on further consideration, the Town was continued a garrison with two hundred soldiers only, under the Governorship of Colonel Thomas Willoughby, and the remainder of the troops sent to Ireland. Mr. Jesson now became busy upon a Committee of the House for restraining "malignant" Ministers, and his letters show the large amount of "misery and faction" which existed in Coventry at the time. Great grumbling was shown against the heavy taxes required by Parliament, and Mr. Barker attended to the proportionate assessment of the City and County. After many reverses and attempts to come to a settlement, the King, in April, took refuge with the Scots army, but they were not prepared to side with him whilst go The Parliamentary Representation [1647] he refused to allow a Presbyterian Church of England. Negotiations were entered into for his surrender to the Parliament, which was effected in January, 1647. When most of the Royal garrisons were given up or taken, Parliament decided to disband the army, but retained six regiments for service in Warwickshire. Parliament considered the concessions made by the King with a view to a settlement, and Mr. Jesson spoke upon His Majesty's answer relating to Episcopacy. Replying to those Members who desired to entirely root out Bishops, he " questioned whether, if in spite of all that had been said to the contrary. Bishops were not far more visibly mentioned in Holy Writ than in the form proposed to be set up," and he thought that " those gentlemen who were so eager to extirpate Episcopacy, had better first root it out of all evidence in the Gospel and antiquity;" whereto Alderman Pennington (London), fencing with the question, replied that the Covenant bound them to cast it out, and as a consequence, the King's proposals were unsatisfactory. In December, after considerable debate, the Commons voted that the King's concessions were sufficient ground for a settlement, but Cromwell, with his party, the army, and Independents, were plotting to obtain absolute power, and on the 6th, desirous of obtaining an unanimous faction to forward the drastic measures he proposed, purged the Long Parliament of about one hundred and fifty Members by sending Colonel Pride with his soldiers to the House to turn out, or exclude, such as were objectionable. Colonel John Barker was one of the Members seized, and violently taken to the Queen's Court, at Westminster. Together with Sir John Burgoyne (Warwickshire), and ninety- four others, he was refused admittance at the doors of the House, and subjected to violent usage by the army's officers, whilst Thomas Boughton, the other Warwickshire Member, was imprisoned with forty-six others. The representatives remaining in the House continued sitting, and the disabled House obtained the name of the " Rump," or "Remnant," Parliament. Amongst those remaining were Messrs. Purefoy and Bosville (Warwick) and Sir Peter Wentworth (Tamworth), but the name of Mr. Jesson does not appear. They voted the late treaty with the King both dishonourable and dangerous, and that he should be brought to trial, as guilty of treason against the people. The exclusion of Alderman Barker from the House was disapproved of at Coventry, whereupon Colonel Thornhough's regiment was sent to the Town to keep all quiet there, but during Christmas serious riots occurred between the townsmen and the soldiers. The few Lords who constituted the Upper House at Westminster refused to join in passing " the ordinance for erecting a High Court of Justice for the King's trial," and adjourned. Lord Denbigh, their Speaker, not only refused the Commons desire to place him on the Commission, but declared "he would be torn to pieces rather than share in so infamous a business." The refusal annoyed the Commons, who, considering the Lords useless, soon declared themselves "the supreme power of the nation." [1648-9] of the City of Coventry. gi Colonel Purefoy took a prominent part in the King's trial, and was appointed a Judge under the Act. He served on the Committee which made arrangements for the trial, and prepared the apartments for His Majesty's use. Not only did he attend the whole of the Courts sittings at Westminster Hall, except one, from the 8th to 29th January, but was present when sentence was pronounced, and signed the King's death-warrant in bold and clear handwriting, " Willim Purfoy." Such were the Republican tendencies of this regicide gentleman that in after times he publicly declared : "I bless God that I have lived to see the ruin of Monarchy, and also that I have been instrumental in upsetting it, for I do here acknowledge that such was my design ever since I was at Geneva, thirty years ago." Another person connected with Coventry, Colonel Fox, acted as the chief officer of President Bradshaws guard during the trial. Originally a brazier of Coventry, he became known by the sobriquet of " Tinker Fox, of Coventry," and Parliament appointed him the Governor of Tamworth. When Cromwell was at Coventry, Dr. Grew, the Vicar of St. Michael's, had spoken to him upon the then privately discussed design of the King's death. The Minister represented the evils of such a course to the country, and was assured there was no fear of such a fatality, Cromwell suggesting deposition as a far better means of settlement. After sentence had been pronounced upon the King, Dr. Grew wrote an earnest appealing letter to the General, reminding him of this, and although it reached Cromwell, no attention was given to the suggestions. King Charles suffered death at Whitehall on the 30th January, and after his death great confusion spread throughout the nation. The Prince of Wales, then at the Hague, assumed the title of King. Parliament continued sitting, and Cromwell's party was still aiming at power. The subject of the abolition of the House of Lords being debated by the Commons ; on the question " that the House do take the advice of the House of Peers in the exercise of legislative power ; " Colonel Purefoy acted as a teller for the " Noes." The motion passing in the negative, 44 against 29, the Commons then voted the Lords dangerous and useless, and abolished them. On the 7th they did away with the Kingship also, and resolved to elect a Council of State and form a Commonwealth. For the considerable share which Colonel Purefoy had taken in the King's trial he " received ;^i,Soo, and some forfeited delinquents estate also," and on the 6th June, 1649, was chosen on the Committee of the Admiralty and Navy, apparently offices of profit at the time. When he became a witness against John Lilburne, the Leveller, that worthy objected to his evidence on the ground that "those who called themselves keepers of the liberties of England" could not legally bear witness against him. 92 The Parliamentary Representation [1648-9] CHAPTER XXI. Oliverian Parliaments. The Commonwealth (1648 to 1658). Establishing the Commonwealth — The Council of State — Purefoy and offices of profit — Rebuilds Caldecote — City purchase of the fee-farm rents — Barker re-admitted to House — Local Act for Maintenance of Ministers — Assessment — Charles II. — His flight from Worcester — Mrs. Jane Lane and the King's preservation— Prisoners taken— Colonel Legge's escape — The "Rump" expelled — Barebones Assembly — Cromwell made Lord-Protector — Resigns its powers to him — A Parliament called — Colonel Purefoy and Major Beake returned — Biographical notes — Purefoy in Committee — Marriages by civil contract — Ejectment of Ministers and schoolmasters — "Coventry Blue" — Fines and rewards — Oliver's last Parliament — Purefoy and Beake re-elected — The Major and the Kingship — Members' letters — The Mayor and Alderman Nailer's election — Ministers' pay — Judges' fees — Purefoy's request for freedom to be conferred — Cromwell's "Other House" — Parliament dissolved — The Protector's death. JgURING February the Republican part)' in the House of Commons, with the assistance of the array, excluded those Members who refused to concur with their late proceedings against the King, and, abolishing Monarchy and the House of Lords, adopted a Commonwealth, the Executive of which was placed in the hands of a Council of State. Earl Denbigh, with the Chief Justice, Oliver St. John, and Colonel Purefoy, were chosen members of it, and whilst the former considered the office "an honour," but seldom attended; the latter occasionally acted as President, and was re-elected in 1650-51-52. Amongst other offices of pay which he held was that of the Admiralty, and his adherence to the Commonwealth brought him such profit that he was enabled to rebuild his Manor House at Caldecote. In March, an Act was passed for selling the fee-farm rents of the Crown, which were placed in the hands of Trustees, who were empowered to sell at not under eight years' purchase. During May and August, 1650, those at Coventry, worth ^148 3s. 3d. per annum, were offered for sale, and the City became the possessors, paying ^1,421 13s. 3d. for them, whilst the Cheylesmore fee-farm was contracted for ^81. Colonel Purefoy received the thanks of the Council House, together with a silver cup, for his services. The Long Parliament now consisted of but about fifty Members, and had become an object of derision. In order to restore its prestige, it was decided, in October, 1649, to re-admit such of the excluded Members as would approve of all that had L1649] of the City uf Coventry. ■ 93 been done since "Pride's purge." Alderman Barker, having satisfied a Committee by affirming disapproval of his former vote, agreeing with the proceedings against the King, and engaging to work in the Commonwealth's interest, was re-admitted to the House. The Ministers at the Coventry Churches were still badly paid, and a Bill was obtained in 1650 "for the more frequent preaching of the Gospel and better maintenance of the Ministers in the City." By this a rate of one shilling and sixpence in the pound, or at most ;!^400, could be made, allowing St. Michael's p^i2o. Holy Trinity ;^ioo, and an assistant or lecturer ;^ioo. Non-payment continued, however, and in January, 1652, Colonel Purefoy (who had apparently then been chosen Recorder) complained to the Mayor, etc., of the neglect. In December, Messrs. Purefoy and Barker were appointed by Parliament to adjust the assessment between Warwickshire and Coventry, in the matter of taxes required for the nation's use during the year. They fixed the latter at one-twelfth of the whole sum demanded, and the amount required at ^177 15s. 6d. per month. Charles II., with a Scottish army, entered England in July, 1651, and proceeding rapidly southward, entered Shropshire, but received very little support. Considerable preparations were made at Coventry to check his movements, and a regiment of foot was hastily raised. The Parliament's Generals, Lambert and Harrison, with their troops, met Cromwell coming from the north at Coventry on the 25th August. But the seat of war changed to Worcester, where, on the 3rd September, the King was hopelessly beaten, fled to Boscobel, and, as the servant of Mrs. Jane Lane, of Bentley (afterwards Lady Fisher, of Packington), passed through some portion of Warwickshire in disguise, and at length escaped to the Continent. Many of the Scotch and other prisoners taken were brought to the City, and the gaol. Churches, and other secure places became their prisons. Colonel Legge, an ancestor of the Earls of Dartmouth, was for the fifth time taken prisoner. He was wounded at Worcester, and confined in Coventry gaol, where his wife visited him by permission of the officer in charge, and so adroitly changed the Colonel's attire, that he passed the guards, and managed to escape. Cromwell forcibly ejected the "Rump" Parhament on the 20th April, 1653, whilst practically voting its own perpetual existence, for it was trying to rush a Bill through the House for calling a new Parliament, of which all present should be de facto Members, and have the right to revise the elections of such Members as were considered disabled to sit, but Cromwell and the army desired the power of Parliament in their own hands. The General marched three hundred musketeers into the House, and finally clearing it, locked the doors and took away the keys. The "Barebones" Assembly, which met at Westminster 4th July, 1653, was the creation of Cromwell and the Council of Officers. It declared itself a Parliament on the 6th. The General and this Council had chosen the names from lists sent them 94 The Parliamentary Representation [1653] by the Congregational Churches, but the Members were but little known in their Shires. There came together " less than two hundred of the most sanctified creatures in the nation to the Council Chamber at Whitehall, each presented a ticket, entered, and sat in chairs around the table from whence Cromwell addressed them." Coventry sent no direct representatives, but John St. Nicholas and Richard Lucy represented the whole of Warwickshire. This strange Assemblage resigned all its powers into the hands of its creators on 12th December, and the officers soon persuaded Cromwell to accept " the Protectorship of the Commonwealth." Colonel Purefoy was not chosen on the new Council of State at this time. The articles agreed upon for the future government of the Commonwealth required a Parliament to be called every three years, which was not to be dissolved until it had sat for at least five months. The national coffers were empty, and necessity required one to be summoned for the 3rd September, 1654. Coventry regained its right to elect, and in July, when the Protector and his Council received the lists, it was found that the City had returned CoLONEi- William Purefoy and Major Robert Beake. The Colonel was also returned for Warwick, but as his influence was more considerable at Coventry, he chose "the greater honour of City representation, and left the old Borough for his first Parliamentary love." Cromwell had summoned Members from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and a " William Purefoy, Esq.," was chosen for " Limerick and Killmallock City and Town." Major Beake was an Alderman, and one of the last Municipal officers who sat as a Burgess for Coventry. He was a draper, but held a commission in the army under the Parliament, acting as Sheriff in 165 1 and Mayor in 1655. He was an Independent, and a Minister of Coventry (the Rev. W. Tonge) speaks of him as "that brave, honest, and ingenious gentleman. Major Robert Beake, who for many years was the great ornament of your City and society." Shortly after the election, Purefoy was placed upon a Committee of inquiry into trades, and afterwards on one in aid of the Protestants in Piedmont, but he occupied himself with things other than Parliamentary. By an Act passed in 1653 marriage had been made a civil contract ; the banns were to be thrice published at Church and in the Market Place, and in order to make the contract legal, applicants were required to express their mutual desire to be married before a Justice. Thus the records of Nuneaton have it, that on "The first day of April, 1654, the purport and intent of marriage between William Varnham and Jane Lenton, both of ye parish of Nonneaton, was published with ye consent of both partys in ye open Market of Nonneaton on three several Market days, and the Register made oath that the above-named were published according to the certificate, and the said William Varnham and Jane Lenton were joined together at Caldecote, before William Purefoy, Esq., one of ye Justices [1654] of the City of Coventry. 95 of ye Peace for this Countie, the 25th daye of April, 1654, in the presence of Ric. Green, Charles Renark, Nathaniel Warman, and Robert Hollinsworth. "(Signed) William Purefoy." In August, 1654, an Act was passed "for the ejection of scandalous, ignorant, and insufficient Ministers and schoolmasters." In each County, Lay Commissioners were appointed, with power to call before them any public preacher or lecturer having a legal stipend, or schoolmasters. Amongst the Commissioners from Warwickshire were Purefoy, Beake, and Basnett representing Coventry, with Dr. Grew, of St. Michael's Church, as "Assistant Ejector." By this Act many of the Warwickshire clergy suffered greatly, and were reduced to great poverty and distress, their chief fault being that tliey did not belong to the ruling factions, who, on their ejectment, filled the places with friends of their own persuasion. About this time the making of blue thread was lost to the Town, and a foreign importation took its place, whilst many other articles of native manufacture were superseded by goods from abroad. The Puritans objected to sports of all kinds — to wakes, morris dancing, May poles, and stage plays, and the Town suffered thereby. In "The Masque of Owls" a Puritan tradesman of Coventry is represented as the third owl thus : — "A pure native bird * This ; and though his hue Be Coventre Blue, Yet is he undone By the thread he has spun. For since the wise Town Has let the sports down Of May games and morris, For wiiich he right sorr(y)is; Where their maids and their makes, (mates) At dancings and wakes. Had their napkins and posies And the wipers for their noses. And their smocks, all bewrought With his thread which they bought ; It now lies in his hands, And having neither wit or lands. Is ready to hang or choke him In a skein of that (which) has broke him." The King's late adherents were now compelled to compound with the Parliament for their estates, and Sir Thomas Leigh was fined ^4,895 ; James, Earl Northampton, ^1,572 ; Sir Clement Fisher ^840 ; and Sir William Dugdale ^168. The Parliament did not forget to reward its friends, and, on petition, Colonel Purefoy received i;i,ooo for losses and pay. Cromwell, finding Parliament untractable, and anticipating a plot to destroy his power, dissolved the Assembly 22nd January, 1655. eleven days prior to the appointed time. His ambition inchned to support with force the dignity conferred upon him, g6 The Parliamentary Representation [1655] in spite of plots and plotters. He resolved to call a Parliament, the Members of which he could depend upon to use their authority to establish his own, rather than a free Parliament. To that which met 17th September, 1656, Coventry had again for its representatives William Purefoy and Robert Beake. On Cromwell requiring all Members to subscribe to do no act prejudicial to his government, many returned home. During this Parliament a party was formed to ask the Protector to accept the office of King, of which Major Beake, now Mayor as well as Member for Coventry, was a chief projector, but at length " His Highness" absolutely refused the tempting offer of " Kingship." There are several letters of Mr. Beake to the Aldermen amongst the Coventry Corporation MSS. ; one under date 19th August, 1656, desires that Alderman James Nailer (with whom he had acted as Sheriff in 165 1-2) should not be chosen to succeed him as Mayor, as Mr. Nailer was engaged in a law-suit, nothing but the termination of which could qualify him for the office. He was, however, chosen Mayor in 1656. Mr. Beake desired the Council House to remedy the non-payment of the local Ministers, as they (the Council) were the "very sinues of it." Some dissatisfaction existed with the conduct of the Judges, and on 23rd February, 1657-8, he advised that at all hazards they should be paid their fees when they came on circuit, least the consequences be hurtful. In a letter written at Caldecote 24th April, 1658, the Recorder desires that his servant, Thomas Simmons, should be admitted a Freeman of Coventry, and whilst recommending him on the ground that his wife and brother were connected with the City, says nothing further about his proper qualification. Cromwell's "Other House" was summoned 20th January, 1657-8. He desired it to be considered as the " House of Peers," and it consisted chiefly of officers, or persons, entirely devoted to him, for some of the former Peers, whom he added, refused to take their seats. The Commons, composed chiefly of Independents, Republicans, Enthusiasts, and Fifth Monarciiy men, soon began to talk of pulling down Churches, destroying the clergy, and upsetting a National Church ; and the Presbyterians, in great dread of extremities, were relieved when the Protector dissolved Parhament 4th February, 1657-8, but before another Assembly could be called, Cromwell died 3rd September, 1658, and was buried with kingly honours at Westminster Abbey. [1659] of tJie City of Coventry. 97 CHAPTER XXII. Recalling "the Remnant." The Commonwealth, continued (1659-60). Richard Cromwell, Protector — A Parliament called — William Purefoyand Robert Beake chosen — The Assembly dissolved — Richard resigns — The Long Parliament recalled by the officers — Messrs. Jesson and Barker — Purefoy's last letter to Mayor — His actions on Sir George Booth's rising — Dr. Grew in opposition — Troops left at Coventry — The Remnant dismissed — Again restored — General Monk's progress — Major Beake, and Coventry, declare for a free Parliament — Oath of abjuration — Refused by Chief Justice St. John and General Monk — Purefoy's reported death — His repentance — No tomb to him in Caldecote Church — Chief Justice St. John chosen Recorder — Biography— General Monk sides with London — Disobliges the Parliament — Admits his friends, the excluded Members — Chief Justice placed on new Council of State — Abolishing the Oath — The General refuses sovereign power — Declares for the King's restoration— Close of the Long or " Remnant " Parliament. 9-4^"g^Q]\I\VELL had appointed his son Richard to succeed him as Protector, and a Parliament was called to meet 27th January, 1659, whereto William Purefoy and Robert Beake were again returned for Coventry. The House acknowledged Richard as Protector, but did not entirely endorse the existing order of things. The Republican minority soon united with the army officers, and forced him to dissolve it on the 22nd April. He resigned in May following. The nation was weary with the change of rulers. The officers of the army were plotting for power, and their Council now invited the Members of the Long Parliament, by letters, to resume duty at Westminster on 7th May, when, after a lapse of nearly six years, between seventy and eighty attended the House. In 1 640-1 Coventry had chosen William Jesson and John Barker. The former was apparently yet living, but the latter is stated to have been again refused admittance, together with Sir George Booth and others, who before time were excluded by the army. The Remnant paid Richard Cromwell's debts, and he wisely retired from public life. By their first declaration, the Commonwealth was continued without "a single person, Kingship, or House of Peers," and an Act of oblivion followed. On 6th June, Colonel Purefoy, in a letter to the Mayor of Coventry, desired that his fee as Recorder might be given towards the repairs of the glass in Bablake Church, destroyed by the Scots prisoners; and "I shall not fayle," he says, "God willinge, to g8 The Parliamentary Representation [1659] employe the uttermost of my power for the service of the Citye in the business now in hande." In August Sir George Booth appeared in arras, demanded a free Parliament, and surprised Chester. Noble, in his " Lives of the English Regicides," tells how assiduous Colonel Purefoy was in the matter, saying that " when the nation was attempting to shake off the oppressive load of the Long Parliament and declare for the King, he, though old, and with one foot in the grave, employed such diligence at the time of Sir George Booth's rising that he kept the City of Coventry, of which he was Governor, and the adjacent country in obedience to Parliament." Yet not without opposition, for Dr. Grew, of St. Michael's, refused to read the proclamation against the insurgents in his Church on the Sabbath, although threatened with the loss of place by Lambert's soldiers. When the insurrection was put down, and the army passed through Coventry, two companies of infantry and some cavalry were left to silence further opposition. The Royalists were greatly profiting by the dissensions of their opponents. Parliament endeavoured to re-model the army, and voted the principal officers out of their commissions, but the latter placed guards at the doors of the House on the 13th October, and refusing the Members admittance, assumed government, but "the Remnant" was again restored on the 26th Decem.ber following. George Monk, the Parliament's General in Scotland, had been consulted privately as to the King's restoration, but the matter was too hazardous for him to declare himself. However, as the Parliament had been re-established, he and his army crossed the border on ist January, 1660, ostensibly to aid it, and proceeded to London. He received many addresses on the way, desiring either that the vacancies in the present Assembly should be filled up, or that a free Parliament should be called. Coventry was no idle spectator, and "on December 26th, 1659, Major Robert Beake declared in favour of a free Parliament. In a very short space of time, notwithstanding the presence of a number of soldiers, who were sent from the Committee of Safety, he was joined by a majority of the citizens, with such weapons as they could immediately procure. The Mayor (Richard Hicks) also armed the townsmen from the magazine in St. Mary's Hall in the same cause. They were afterwards drawn up by their Major in St. Michael's churchyard, from whence they marched to Cross Cheaping, where they demanded the guard of the City from the Parliamentarian troojjs, who resigned them to Captain Hicks, Major Beake, and other Aldermen. The Parliament's forces in the Town also declared for a free Parliament; and soon afterwards, Colonel Hacker; who came to protect the City by order of Parliament ; joined in the same cause." The Long Parliament now required its Members and others to take an oath of obedience to the Commonwealth and against the King, in far more stringent terms than heretofore had been taken. Lord Chief Justice St. John, and other Members refused to take it, as did General Monk. [1659-60] of the City of Coventry. 99 Colonel Purefoy is said to have died at this time, and to have expressed "gieat penitence at the last for the part he had acted towards his late Majesty." No monument now exists in Caldecote Church in memory of the regicide, and it is doubtful if Purefoy died before the Restoration ; yet, in a moated area at Ansley, not far removed, there existed up to 1791, two tombs, erected to members of his family, in a vault beneath an arbour, which have since disappeared. , The Council House at Coventry now chose Lord Chief Justice St. John, for its Recorder, and he accepted the office on 17th February. The son of a Bedfordshire gentleman, he was brought up to the law, and sat in the House for Bedford County in 1628 and Totnes in 1640. To conciliate the Country party, Charles made him Solicitor-General, but removed him three years after for opposing his views. Acting as Hampden's counsel in the Ship Case, and managing Stafford's impeachment, the Parliament gave its Member various offices, and in 1648 he became Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas, but is said to have largely accepted bribes. Allied to Cromwell by n-.arriage, he became a Member of " the Other House." He opposed " the Protectorship," but favoured "the Kingship " being given to Cromwell. In 1651 he was sent as Ambassador at the Hague, having ;^i 0,000 a year, and forty servants, allowed him. His reception was a bad one, and meeting the Duke of York at a turnstile near Verhout, in a struggle for precedence, the Duke snatching his hat, threw it in his face, saying, " Learn, parricide, to respect the brother of your King ! " to which St. John, drawing his sword, retorted, " I regard you, and the person you speak of, as but a race of fugitives ! " but a conflict was stayed by the intervention of the spectators. On the re-assembling of " the Renmant " he took his seat for Totnes, and supported the Parliament against the army's tyranny. From his moody character he was called "the dark lanthorn man," whilst a contemporary describes him as "a dusky, tough man, whose fanaticism, crabbed logic, and dark ambition, issue all in dreaded avarice at last." The Long Parliament continued sitting, but General Monk disobliged them in their orders with reference to London, and joined the citizens in open defiance. A great number of Parliament men, including the excluded Members, flocked around him, and he became all-powerful. The General and officers admitted the secluded Members to the House, and Parliament thereupon appointed a new Council of State, on which the Chief Justice was appointed, and next abolished the Oath of abjuration. Some of the old regicide Members, fearing for their heads if the King was restored, in vain offered General Monk sovereign power. He refused it, but studiously concealed his sentiments until a few days before the calling together of the new Parliament, when he revealed them to Sir John Grenville, the King's envoy, as in favour of His Majesty's restoration. The Commons Journals show, that the Long Parliament sat until dissolved on the i6th March, by a special Bill prepared for that purpose, and for the calling together of another Assembly on the 25th April, 1660. 100 The Parliamentary Representation [1660] CHAPTER XXIII. " The Convention Parliament " and the Restoration. Charles II. (1660-61). An opposed election — Robert Beakeand Richard Hopliins chosen — Lambert's escape — His attempt on Coventry frustrated — Meeting of " the Convention " — The King's restoration agreed upon — Rejoicings at Coventry — The Civic presents — The Steward l}/rii. 1780. Died. 1«2I, ELIZABETH. LADY CRAVEN (AftM-miriln Mnrgyninf i,f Aiifiporh) . [1780] of the City of Coventry. . 175 CHAPTER XLI. - N Exciting Contest, with no Members Returned. George III., continued (1780). eath of Mr. ^^ aring- Attorney-General recommends Colonel HolroycJ-The historian Gibbon and his advice -Introducing tlie Colonel-John Baker Holroyd, Esq., chosen -His biography- The Lolonel and the Gordon Riots-Roman Cathohc controversy -Preparing for a general election-" O Baal, hear us !'— Candidates : Messrs. Yeo and Holroyd, and Messrs. Hallifax and Rogers— "Baals answer'— A Blue effusion, "Rise, patriotic Sons of Freedom, rise! "— Bills of the election -Selling the Members-Commencement of the poU-The Blue mob take the booth— Polling discontinued -Continued next day— The dodges of the Yellows thwarted - Proposition of the Sheriffs— Sunday preparations— Hired colliers and constables of Corporation— The Blues occupy the booth all night-Attack of the Yellows thereon -Repulsed -First bludgeon fight — Windows destroyed at St. Mary's Hall-Sheriffs close the poll— Petitions to the House- Sheriffs certify their inability to make a return. ^If^^Jf^',^ WARING died in January, 1780, when the Blue party, and Draper's L^i&;jL] Company, desired Government to find them a candidate; and Wedderburn, l^'zl {s^ ''^^ Attorney-General, sent express to Colonel Holroyd, an officer com- y&t'ifEp' manding at Coventry, who immediately offered himself. The historian, w« Edward Gibbon, wrote from London to his friend the Colonel, on the 7th of February, desiring to see him with them in Parliament, but warning him against making promises for the ensuing general election, " which might end in defeat, or a ;^i 0,000 contest," adding that "in this vacancy the celerity of your notions will present opposition, but at the general election your enemy, the Corporation, will not be asleep." An opposition handbill thus records Colonel Holroyd's introduction : — " At a meeting of the Freemen of the City of Coventry, on Saturday, the 5th of February, in order to nominate a proper person to succeed their late representative, the following speech was made by an eminent tavern keeper : ' Gem'men, there's a gem'man, I beHeve a very clever gem'man, his name is, let me see, I forget, but however, he is Colonel of this here new-raised regiment, I mean this regiment that is now in this here Town ; he is a man of character and fortune, and comes recommended by Mr. What-d'ye-call-'im, the Solicitor-General. Ciem'men, you must all know so great a man as the Solicitor-General, and what he can do for you, so I put the Colonel under your care and protection.' The reason of the tavern keeper's leaving off so abruptly is said to have been occasioned by his first-born desiring his papa to sit down, and let a gentleman of greater abilities recommend the Colonel." No opposition was forthcoming, and on the 15th John Baker Holroyd, Esq., was returned. 176 The Parliamentary Representation \xy?>6] The Colonel was the son of Isaac Holroyd, and his wife Dorothy Baker, of Penn, Bucks, and was born in Ireland in 1735. Subsequently inheriting his mother's estates, he took her name. He saw service under the Marquis of Granby, and in 1778 became a Major in the Sussex Militia. When the French and Spanish fleets were on the English coast, he raised, with the King's approval, a regiment of Light Dragoons, without expense to the public, and they came to Coventry for training. In the House on the 5th of April, 1780, he stoutly denied that he had raised the regiment for other than patriotic movements. Colonel Holroyd married Abigail, daughter of Lewis Way, of Richmond, Surrey, by whom he had three children. After this lady's death in 1793, he married Lady Lucy Pelham (third daughter of Thomas, Earl of Chichester), who died in 1797, without issue. He then married Lady Anne North, second daughter of Frederick, Earl of Guildford, the distinguished Minister of George III., by whom he had two children. On the 2nd June, 1780, the Gordon rioters marched to the House of Commons, raising the cry of " No Popery." They took possession of the lobby, and demanded admittance, whereupon Lord George Gordon proposed the immediate consideration of their petition, and leaving the House, harangued, and encouraged the mob to persevere. On returning to the House, the agitator was seized by Colonel Holroyd, who told him that if he dared go out again he would move his commitment to Newgale. The Colonel afterwards led the first troops into London to repress the rioters, on their breaking into Langdale's distillery at Holborn, and setting it on fire. Meanwhile, a bitter controversy was raging at Coventry about Roman Catholic toleration. Bills were circulated impugning the allegiance of the Catholics, and declaring oaths taken by them to be of no value. From July to September repeated appeals were issued to the Freemen desiring them not to promise their votes, as "two gentlemen of independent fortune" would shortly offer themselves in the Corporation interest. Their names were not disclosed, and the Tories retorted that the said two gentlemen "must be either asleep or on a journey, as the Corporation had been crying, ' O Baal, hear us ! ' for months, and yet there was no voice nor any that answered." The tranquillity of the Town was disturbed in September by a general election, and scarcely had the addresses of Messrs. Yeo and Holroyd been issued, than two eminent London bankers, Sir Thomas Hallifax and Thomas Rogers, Esq , were announced as the Corporation candidates, and " Baal's answer" followed. Both sides commenced to canvass, as usual, a brisk paper warfare was carried on, and the following Tory poetic effusion appeared ; — " Ye favourites of the tuneful sisters nine, Come give the muse your aid, and with me join In praise of men who to their King are true — In praise of Holroyd, Yeo, and loyal blue. In praise of blue let every virgin fair With heavenly blue adorn her auburn hair. [1780] of the City of Coventry. 177 Blue be the string that ties her snowy neck, Blue be her veil, without one single speck ; Blue be the favour that adorns her breast, Blue be her head-dress when she goes to rest ; Blue be the shoes that bind her pretty feet, Blue be the china when my fair doth treat ; Blue be the colour of her rapid car. And blue the livery that her servants wear. All things be blue in honour of the cause. To Yeo and Holroyd tune your just applause." The Whigs meanwhile issued the following : — "Rise, patriotic Sons of Freedom, rise. And let your acclamations rend the skies ; Your fav'rite standard's waving in the air. High rear your streamers, and your votes prepare. Here comes two candidates, deservedly great. No Ministerial vanes, nor tools of State, Who barter public good for private ends. But patriot souls and liberty's true friends. Unite with hearts and voices one and all ; Let Tories tremble lest their colours fall. 'Shew us your men!' they've said; perhaps they'll see Our men too many for their men may be. Holroyd already fears his overthrow, And Tories tremble for the fate of Yeo : Come now, and boldly for your freedom stand. One turning voice may save a sinking land. Let Freedom now resume her native seat. And smile in triumph o'er the basely great ; Our loyal hearts shall beat, our tongues shall sing, God mend the Ministry, and save the King." A series of " sketches from nature " followed, and lampoons, under the heading of " Auctions," show to what extreme indignity candidates at the time were put to by malicious opponents. " An Auction at the Auction Room in the Women's Market Place" thus records the selling of Sir Thomas Hallifax : — • " LOT I. — Auctioneer : ' Behold, here is a man of most profound abilities and Penetration, deeply skilled in all Sciences, and is particularly distinguished in the Annals of Chivalry. He has one peculiar Property belonging to him, which is the Art of keeping his wife alive for the space of six or seven Days without any Manner of Nourishment ; he shall make Bargains, sell his Conscience, and break his Word with any Man in all the King's Dominions. What shall we say for him ? ' — Lady ; 'Fourteen Shillings! '—Auctioneer : ' Why, Madam, if Knights were as plentiful as B««A^«/)ts, Sir Thomas should not go at that Price.' — Gentleman : 'A Shilling more.' — Auctioneer : 'Thank you. Sir, he is yours ; and you may take my Word for it, he will teach you how to pay all your Debts after the rate of Fifteen Shillings in the Pound, and yet have a Qualification left to enable you to offer yourself as a Candidate to represent a City in Parliament.' " " The Particulars of a late Auction " professes to give the sale of the Tory candidates, and says : — 178 The Parliamentayy Representation [1780] " LOT I. C-1-1 H-lr-d. — Auctioneer : ' Ladies and Gentlemen, this Lot is perhaps the most curious that ever was exposed to public auction. The wonderful Qualifications possessed by this man are beyond the power of Oratory or Elocution to set forth. The whole creation can't produce such another Being. He sprang from the Bogs of Hibernia, and though detested in the Place of his Nativity, is the completest Master of Adulation in the Universe. The power of Oratory he possesses in an eminent Degree, with the addition of a most retentive Memory. Attend to every speech he makes, and you will find the same verbatim. I should enlarge greatly upon his Virtues, but he carries all he possesses in his Face, and says all he knows in one Speech. Show yourself, C-1-1 ! . . . . Bid, if you please, I cannot dwell upon him. He must go, if no advance. Shameful indeed! An Hilernian Hero! a Sussex Wight! a real Bragadocio, going for the low Price of one Halfpenny — and only one Bidder ! A-going ! going ! gone ! ' " " LOT 2. E. R. Y-o.— Auctioneer : ' Come, Ladies and Gentlemen, here's a lot that I hope will tempt you, and fetch a better price than the last. This figure is a Leicestershire Hero ; as sleek as an Italian Greyhound, and equally harmless. View him from Head to Foot ; see huw beautiful he is made. He's not overburdened with Flesh, but fit for cmyl/iiiig. 1 shall put him up at the same price as the last, and have no doubt but that you will bid me more. A Farthing for this beautiful Creature ! '—Plain English Whig: 'He's got the Mange: see how yellow his Eyes are!' — Auctioneer : ' Sir, I am astonished at your Insolence ; nothing will please you, it seems. He has had the Mange, to be sure, but is now perfectly cured. Besides, he's worth more than is bid, even for a Skeleton Well, he must go if no advance ; I can't stand all Night over a Bag of Bones. A-going once, twice ; the third and last Time, a-going -gone ! ' " The poll commenced on Saturday, 9th of September, and it at once became apparent that the Corporation had resolved to carry its candidates at all hazards, in order to secure the representation into its own hands. The poll booth was situate in Cross Cheaping, before the Mayor's Parlour, and the Peacock Inn. The former was used for Magisterial proceedings, and formed a rendezvous of the Corporation party during the election, its nearness to the booth recommending it, whilst a private way into the Peacock Inn proved exceedingly useful for the designs of that body. The poll opened quietly, but half-an-hour afterwards the Blue Freemen, 500 strong, marched to the booth, carrying a large blue flag before them, and driving the Yellows away, took possession. At the end appointed for recording the votes for Holroyd and Yeo, the poll was now discontinued, and the Sheriffs gave no other excuse than that the poll clerk was obliged to leave on private business, but no one else was appointed. The poll closed at one o'clock, when twenty-three votes had been recorded for Yeo and Holroyd, and four for Hallifax and Rogers. When it was resumed on Monday, the tactics of the Yellow party to facilitate the polling of their friends, and of obstructing their opponents, were apparent. The end of the booth where Hallifax and Rogers Freemen were to record their votes had been contrived to communicate direcily with the Peacock Inn and Mayor's Parlour, whilst the other end, for the voters of Yeo and Holroyd, was approached by dangerous steps, up which the Tories had to go to poll. At the Corporation "end, a young gentleman was placed as poll clerk, who rolled over the Oaths with the quickness of a schoolboy, whilst at the other was a toothless old man, who, with the aid of a pair of spectacles, could scarcely see, and took as much time to swear one Freeman as the other did five." By this contrivance they hoped to obtain a temporary majority and provoke an outbreak, by which they could form a [1780] of the City of Coventry. 179 pretext for prematurely closing the poll when in their favour. The Corporation had further obtained the assistance of several hundred colliers, roughs, and prize-fighters as constables, "to preserve the peace." The second day's poll closed with thirty-four for Holroyd and Yeo, and twenty-one for Hallifax and Rogers. On the 1 6th, the Sheriffs required that the voters should have access to the booh, and promised that then the Freemen would be polled one by one alternately. On the 17th, being Sunday, the Corporation party received an addition of many colliers and others, whom they assembled and armed with staves at St. Mary's Hal), when private instructions were given that the booth should be secured at all risks on Monday morning, and held for at least half-an-hour, during which time as many of the Yellow Freemen should be polled as would give Hallifax and Rogers a clear majority, which being obtained, the Sheriffs would then formally close the poll upon pretext of a riot. Yeo and Holroyd made proposals to have the poll carried on fairly and impartially, but this was not listened to, and during the evening a number of the Blues took possession of the booth, and slept there, in anticipation of the morrow's melee. On the 1 8th, the Yellows made their attack upon the booth through the Peacock gateway, whilst an Alderman led a force of armed partizans and constables from the Mayor's Parlour. They used their staves freely, but their opponents were prepared for the attack, and rushed upon their assailants, when a most desperate encounter, known as " the first bludgeon fight," ensued. Great personal and other damage was done, but in the end the Yellows were driven back, and many disarmed, whilst the Chief Constable lost his staff, and was trodden under foot. The Blues chased some of the colliers to St. Mary's Hall, where stone-throwing commenced, and a considerable quantity of the old and valuable glass of the windows was destroyed. Their scheme having entirely failed, the Sheriffs hastily closed their books, and the poll ended. During the eight days only ninety-six Freemen were polled, of whom sixty-five were for Holroyd and Yeo, and between two and three thousand voters remained unpolled. The Tory candidates petitioned the House complaining of the Sheriffs conduct, and 1,192 Freemen signed a declaration that they were ready to poll for Holroyd and Yeo, but were unable to get their votes taken. Hallifax and Rogers petition stated that the poll, through tumultuous proceedings, had been obstructed, whilst the Sheriffs certified that through riots they were unable to proceed to the election of Members. i8o The Parliamentary Representation [1780] CHAPTER XLII. The Sheriffs Summoned to the House : A Second Election, AND AN Illegal Return. George III., continued (1780 to 1781). Lord North's increased majority —A new writ for Coventry — Sheriffs Noxon and Butler sent for — New Sheriffs— Candidates as before — Corporation constables — Lord Craven's tenants — Promises — Poll opens— "The greater bludgeon fight" — Victory of the Blues — Result of first day — Second day — Agreement as to polling — Delays— Result of Saturday's poll — Corporation in want of voters— Swear in " Mushroom" Freemen— Colonel Holroyd made an Irish Peer — " The Old Blue Club " — Protest of Sheffield and Yeo— Proposal for a double return — Refused by the Yellows — Tally voting stayed — Violence — " The Mushrooms " polled — Riot Act read — Final declaration of the poll — Sir Thomas Hallifax and Mr. Thomas Rogers returned — Opposition statement — Biographies of the Members. HE majority of Ministers had increased with the elections, and when Parliament met, Lord Beauchamp moved for a new writ for Coventry, which, although Mr. Fox suggested delay, was carried. The Sheriffs, Noxon and Butler, were 'l^ summoned to the House for their improper return, and the messenger of the Commons served notices upon them on 9th November. In the meantime the Coventry Council House had chosen Messrs. Wilcox and Howlette, two equally extreme partizans, to succeed them in the office. The same candidates as before issued addresses, and the poll was fixed to open on 29th. The Corporation engaged many constables, and hired " ruffians and prize- fighters from Atherstone, Bedworth, Birmingham, and elsewhere, together with numbers of Lord Craven's tenants and labourers," and swore them in privately at Stoke ; but " notwithstanding this secrecy, the Blues were apprised of it, and determined to die or defend their freedom." The Mayor refused to swear in persons who had served their time, and needy Freemen were promised gifts for their votes by the Corporation party, but a Tory rhymster adds — " Their Charities now will but little avail, Because if they use them they know they must fail, A diff'rence well known to all honest fellows, For Charities long have supported the Y'ellows." [1780] of the City of Coventry. 181 The Blue Freemen surrounded the booth whilst the preliminaries were proceeding on the 29th, but the armed men and constables of the Corporation came up " six a breast" from the Women's Market, "where they had been fed by the gentlemen of the Yellow party." They were provided with heavy poles six feet, and staves two feet, long ; mounted with iron knobs, and painted with the Corporation coat of arms ; and ash bludgeons. " Thus armed, they placed the new constables before their iron constables, with their Freemen behind, and marched to the Cross Cheaping end of the Peacock gateway. They called to the Blues to quit the booth ; they refused to do so unless polled first; those in front began to use force, and when a Blue seized a countryman's staff, retaliation commenced." The Yellows endeavoured to seize the booth ; a hand-to-hand encounter ensued — a desperate conflict of desperate men — afterwards known as " the greater bludgeon fight," from which many broken heads and bones told their tale for years to come. Some of " the Cravens " had been reluctantly pressed into service, and now dropped their staves in token of submission. This caused a panic amongst the Yellows, who fled back under the archway, where, jammed closely together, they could hardly move, and to complete their discomfiture, a number of stones were thrown in their midst. A retreat commenced ; many were chased into West Orchard, where they hid in the river, under the arches of the bridge, until they could leave safely. The polling had commenced at one o'clock, and closed at three. Thirty- eight votes were recorded for Holroyd and Yeo, and nineteen for Hallifax and Rogers. The Blues kept a watch at the booth night after night, and Holroyd and Yeo protested against the Corporation's armed non-voters. On the 30th the poll did not commence until noon, and at the adjournment Holroyd and Yeo had polled a majority of 150 voters. The candidates met at the booth on the ist December, and an agreement was come to, whereby Messrs. Holroyd and Yeo were to poll Freemen enough to keep their majority of 150, "they consenting that twelve shall be polled for Sir Thomas Hallifax and Mr. Rogers each day till that majority is obtained," and that afterwards one should be polled for each " set of candidates alternately, man to man," until one side's Freemen were exhausted, and the poll close. It was arranged that the voters should be brought up to the poll through a lane, or space, with the Yellow Freemen on one side, and the Blue on the other. The Corporation saw with dismay that they would lose the election unless some further extraordinary measures were taken. They subjected their opponent's votes to the severest scrutiny, and prolonged the poll to tire out Holroyd and Yeo with trouble and expense, yet the numbers on Saturday evening, the 9th, were against them, being — for Holroyd 770, Yeo 769, Hallifax 620, and Rogers 619. A scheme, the development of which took time, soon began to show itself. The Corporation determined to return their men, and hit upon the dangerous expedient of choosing, and swearing in, persons of their own nomination ; upon whom they could rely to vote for Hallifax and Rogers ; i82 The Parliamentary Representation [1780J who had not served apprenticeships in the City, or paid fees for admission, and enrolment, and had no more right to the freedom than the man in the moon. At a Council House meeting on the 2oih, Thomas Pickin (Mayor) presiding, sixty-six of these persons were surreptitiously sworn in as Freemen. Some of them were entire strangers to the City, and had to ask the way to the Mayor's Court at St. Mary's Hall. A handbill, headed "Mushrooms, take care!" gives a list of one hundred and fifty names, with the trades, of those sworn on the i8th and 20th. Amongst them were silk weavers from Mile End, London, cord-wainers from Cripplegate, weavers from Oxford, soldiers serving in the Portsmouth Marines, Derbyshire Militia, and Coldstream Guards, with residents at Leicester, Macclesfield, Bedworth, Tamworth, and other places. There were also from forty to fifty sworn immediately before the poll closed. The King signified his intention of conferring an Irish Peerage upon Colonel Holroyd, who was advanced to that Peerage, under the title of Baron ShefiSeld, on the 9th January, 1781. "The old Blue Club" issued notices respecting the "Mushroom voters of a night's growth," asking all friends of the Freemen who were acquainted with defects in their title to give evidence respecting them. The Blues protested against the wholesale making of Freemen, and for several days would not let them poll. By this time, however, it had become well understood that the Corporation had determined to admit, and swear in, these " Mushrooms " until they had a majority. It was bad weather, and Sheffield and Yeo, weary of the delay, were anxious to close the election. They thereupon proposed that a double return should be made, relying upon having a majority of genuine Freemen sworn in before the election ; but the other candidates, who claimed their majority by these illegal voters, would not consent to leave the matter to be settled by the House of Commons, whereupon Yeo and Holroyd refused any longer to proceed upon the principle of "tally" voting. The Corporation persisted in polling the spurious voters, and the Freemen, in opposition, resisted by force the armed bodies of the Corporation, introduced to protect the "Mushrooms." Terrible violence ensued, the Sheriffs counsel read the Riot Act, and the polling ended. The Sheriffs declared the poll to be as follows : — Sir Thomas Hallifax, Kt. ... ... ... ... ... 1319 Thomas Rogers, Esq. ... ... ... ... ... ... 1318 Edward Roe Yeo, Esq. ... ... ... ... ... 129S Lord Sheffield... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1295 Majority for Sir Thomas Halhfax ... ... ... ... 21 ,, ,, Mr. Rogers ... ... ... ... ... 20 Total number polled ... ... ... ... ... ... 2618 Sworn Freemen tendered for Sir Thomas Hallifax and Mr. Rogers 55 Unsworn Freemen tendered for same ... ... ... ... 16 Total ... 71 Unsworn Freemen tendered for Messrs. Yeo and Sheffield ... 62 [1781] of the City of Coventry. 183 The Sheriffs returned Sir Thomas Hallifax, Kt., and Thomas Rogers, Esq. The Tories insisted, however, that the genuine state of the poll was as follows : — Yeo ... ... ... ... 1238 Sheffield ... ... ... 1235 Hallifax ... ... ... 1081 Rogers ... ... ... ... 1079 thus giving Yeo a majority of 157, and Sheffield a majority of 154. Sir Thomas Hallifax was a rich banker, and a member of the firm of Hallifax, Mills, Glyn, Mills, and Mitton, of 18, Birchen Lane, London. He was the son of John Hallifax, a clock maker, of Barnsley, and served his apprenticeship to a grocer of that town. He went to London, and successively became a silversmith and a banker. In 1753, he entered as a partner in the before-named bank, became free of the City, and a member of the Goldsmiths Company by redemption. In 1766, he was elected Alderman of Aldgate, and received Knighthood for the part he took in receiving the Danish King. When Wilkes was elected for Middlesex in 1769, Hallifax was Returning Officer, and stoutly maintained the right of free election. He afterwards joined the Court party, had been introduced at Coventry as Sir Richard Glyn's friend, and a bill of this year says : — " Tho' Rogers and Hallifax now are their glory, Be the first what he will, the last was a Tory." Sir Thomas was chosen Lord Mayor in 1776, and as the Wilkes agitation had ended, he invited the Ministers, after seven years absence, to his Mayoral feast. He resided at Gordon House, Enfield. His portrait is at Chadacre Hall, Suffolk, and he is represented in Miller's painting of the swearing-in of Alderman Newnham as Lord Mayor, 1782. The Knight married, in 1762, Penelope, daughter of Richard Thompson, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, who brought him ^^20,000, but died the next year, when he married Margaret, daughter of John Saville, of Enfield. She died in November, 1777, leaving two children, and Sir Thomas (who was buried in Enfield Church), 7th February, 1789, when he left a fortune of ^100,000. Mr. Thomas Rogers was a member of the banking firm of Welch, Rogers, and Olding, 80, Cornhill, and resided at Newington. Originally a Churchman, after his marriage he joined the Presbyterian, or Unitarian, Church, upon which subject a handbill of this date adds : " Mr. Rogers, in time past, paid his addresses to a lady of great fortune, and she refused to give him her hand unless he would leave the Church of England, in which he was educated, and go to Meeting with her. The Saint gave in to the proposal without hesitation." He was reported to be " immensely wealthy, and the possessor of a ;^i,ooo Bank of England note." His son was the well-known Samuel Rogers, the poet. Hallifax and Rogers were dubbed, in the Coventry election squibs, " The Dumb Knight and the Dismal Squire," in allusion to their oratorical powers. 184 The Parliamentary Representation [1781] CHAPTER XLIII. "Plucking the Mushrooms." The Sheriffs sent to Newgate. George III., continued (1781). Sheffield and Yeo's petition — Address of Hallifax and Rogers — Grenville's Act — Lord Beauchamp's motion — Opposed by Charles Fox — Hallifax suggests delay— Sheriffs called to the Bar— Their justification read — Yeo and Sheffield's petition considered— The evidence — Hallifax and Rogers at length decline to contest it — Committee's decisions — "Plucking the Mushrooms "—True state of the poll — Hallifax and Rogers unseated— Return amended — Yeo and Sheffield declared elected — Committee's report — Special Bill to be prepared — The Sheriif's trial — Resolutions thereon — Noxon and Butler sent to Newgate — Their wretched condition — Intercession — Removed into custody of Sergeant-at-Arms— Report of the "Coventry Mercury" — Further intercession over-ruled — Lord Sheffield presents petition — Sheriffs reprimanded by the Speaker— Released— After account of Hallifax and Rogers — Charles Fox and the Coventry Blues— The chairing— Extracts from songs— Tory feasting at the White Bear Inn — Corporation supporters dinner. ,rf/jWR5^ WRITER had declared that " the end of the election would clear away the 4^§^& mist," and his prediction was soon realized, for the proceedings of " those ^^^^ 'tf'sd friends of Liberty, the Corporation,' whose characters are beyond '^'T^ reproach," were about to have their deeds exposed to the public gaze. Yeo and Sheffield petitioned against the Sheriffs return on the sth January, and the same day Hallifax and Rogers issued an address, stating their confidence in a tribunal, constructed under Grenville's Act of 1770, for trying the case, and assuring the Freemen that not only would the majority be found a legal one, but increased on a scrutiny. On the 23rd, Viscount Beauchamp moved in the House for a Committee of Enquiry, which, although stoutly opposed by Mr. Fox, was carried by 109 votes to 85. On the 31st, a motion was made for the Sheriffs to attend at the Bar, when Sir Thomas Hallifax proposed to defer the matter until there was a fuller House. The Sheriffs were, however, called in, and their reasons for not making a proper return read. They acknowledged, in reply to the Speaker, it was their own ; and prayed to be heard by counsel, desiring that their daily proceedings during the election might also be considered. Mr. Fox moved that the prisoners legal advisers should be heard, which being agreed to, the Sheriffs and counsel for both sides were called in, made acquainted with the resolution, and the business deferred for a time. On 7th of February the House considered Sheffield and Yeo's petition, and the various counsel were heard. The evidence given was voluminous, exposing things as [1781] of the City of Coventry. 185 described. It was shown that the election booth (which was about fifteen yards long, and half that in depth) had been erected against a room called the Mayor's Parlour, so situate by means of other buildings that the front was open and convenient for polling, as was one end called the " pump end," whilst the other was very inconvenient, and had to be ascended by a dangerous ladder. The Freemen desired to poll at the front, as beforetime, but the Sheriffs positively refused this, and put up painted boards at the ends, intimating that the " pump end " was for Hallifax and Rogers, and the ladder end for SheiSeld and Yeo. On the first day very few votes were polled, where- upon the Sheriffs broke up the business without any reasonable cause; whilst on the second day, the Freemen, being six or seven deep at the front of the booth, had refused to depart until the Sheriffs received their poll anywhere but at the two ends. The polling was totally obstructed, and after many days confusion, the Sheriffs declared it closed. A number of witnesses attended to support the charges against the Sheriffs. Mr. William Groves said that the conduct of the Freemen was never more peaceable, but that the Sheriffs refused to take the votes for Sheffield and Yeo, as the Freemen of Hallifax and Rogers were not up to the poll booth. Mr. W. Wilberforce Bird added that the Sheriffs often retired with the Corporation candidates into the Mayor's Parlour. Messrs. Chambers, Lilley, and Troughton deposed to the grossly unfair conduct of the Sheriff's and Corporation, to the needless delays and unjustifiable closing of the poll, and stated that upon the last day the booth was suddenly crowded by men from the Mayor's Parlour, at which the Blue Freemen were irritated; one man jumped over, and was hauled by the hair of his head into the Parlour by the retreating constables, and great confusion ensued. Mr. Lilley added that he then saw a man named Horton, with a sword in his hand, leading the music and the Corporation mob. The defence of the Sheriffs and the sitting Members was heard, and on the 25th it was resolved — " That it is the opinion of this Committee that the 83 Freemen admitted on Monday, the i8th day of December, 1780, and the seventeenth day of polling, be struck off the poll ; " and "That it is the opinion of this Committee that the 65 persons admitted to be put on the roll as Freemen on Wednesday, the 20th December, 1780, and the nineteenth day of polling, appear to be admitted under so many doubtful circumstances as to their right that the Committee are of opinion it is incumbent upon the counsel for the sitting Members to prove their titles to admission before they can allow them to remain as voters." Whereupon Hallifax and Rogers declined to go on further, and after eleven days hearing, the Committee declared the " Mushrooms " and Bablake men illegal, and struck most of them off, when the result appeared for — Mr. Roe Yeo (Tory) ... ... ... ... 1298 Lord Sheffield (Tory) ... ... ... ... 1295 Sir T. Hallifax (Whig) ... ... ... ... 1178 Mr. T. Rogers (Whig) ... ... ... ... 1177 Majority for Yeo 120 Majority for Sheffield. 117 i88 The Payliainentary Representation [i?^^] " The Whiggish mob by Craven sent, To close the poll was their intent, To us their staffs they did present. The gods were our defenders. In spite of Craven and his crew, And what his howling mob can do. We'll let them know we're right true blue. And chair our glorious Members. Fear not the Corporation frowns. Though they have fiftys in their gowns ; They say they'll give you no four pounds. But surely you'll remember. Though they may have forgot the thing, Who was it murder'd Charles our King ? At George their heavy darts they fling. May God be his defender." The other, entitled "The Chairing Song," in jubilant tones exclaims — "Ye sons of fair freedom assembled to-day. So honest and hearty, so cheerful and gay ; Come all with one voice truly loyal and sing, God save Yeo and Sheffield, our Country and King. At length, boys, we triumph— the contest is o'er. And Sheffield and Yeo represent us once more ; Oh. long may they live, and those wretches despise. Whose prayers are mere cant, whose professions are lies. Long may they live, boys, our rights to maintain. And ' Mushrooms ' shall then be created in vain ; Nor our polling in future shall Sheriffs prevent. When they know if they do, they'll to Newgate be sent. So here's to our friends, to Lord Sheffield and Yeo, Whose hearts with a triumph right honest must glow ; Whilst we with one voice truly loyal shall sing, God save Yeo and Sheffield, our Country and King." On the Chairing Day, a considerable number of the Freemen " had five shillings given them upon a card " from the successful Members. " It was a most brilliant affair, witnessed by a vast concourse of people." " The friends of Freedom " did "all in their power that might add to the splendour and gaiety of the scene." The chairs were decked with party ribbons, and the Members, poised high on their supporters shoulders, passed throu|;h the streets in the usual manner ; " whilst the Blue Freemen, decorated with cockades and decorations, walked four abreast, and made the appearance very delightful." After the cliairing, a great feast took place at the White Bear Inn, and the supporters of the defeated candidates also dined together. [1781] oj the City of Coventry. 189 CHAPTER XLIV. The Coventry Elections Act. George III., continued (1781 to 1783). Coventry Elections Bill — To stay illegal making of Freemen — Royal assent given — The Act and its clauses— Members vote to continue war — Lord Sheffield throws up his command — His kind actions at home— Resignation of Lord North's Ministry — On General Conway's motion against war prolongation — Rockingham and Selbourne Ministries— American independence acknow- ledged—Peace proclaimed at Coventry — Death of Mr. Yeo — William Seymour Conway elected instead — " A New Song." ^KN the i2th March, 1781, "An Act for the better regulating Elections of "^ Citizens to serve in Parliament for the City of Coventry," 21 Geo. III., ^^^^^ cap. LIV., was introduced in Parliament, having for its object the staying '^'•^ of those illicit processes and illegal swearings-in of Freemen which had disgraced the late elections. "This Bill, specially framed for Coventry, passed 14th March, and received Royal assent 15th July. The preamble states that 'whereas the right of election of Citizens to serve in the Parliament for the City of Coventry is, by the last determination of the House of Commons, on the 20th November, 1772, declared to be in such Freemen as have served seven years apprenticeship to one and the same trade in the said City, or the suburbs thereof, and do not receive alms or weekly charity, such Freemen being duly sworn and enrolled : And whereas great frauds and abuses were committed, in clandestinely admitting persons, having no such right, to the Freedom of the City of Coventry, during the late election, to the great infringement of the rights of the true electors of the said City, and in violation of the freedom of elections. To prevent such practices for the future, be it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, and by and with the advice of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same.' By Clause I. an 'open Council' was to be held at St. Mary's Hall, on the first Tuesday in the month, for receiving claims in writing of persons desirous of admission to the freedom, and of proclaiming their names aloud ; and on the last Tuesday in the month, for such persons to attend and verify the particulars given on oath, when the Council should hear and determine such claims. Clause II. limited the expense of taking up the freedom to ' no greater fee than three shillings, over and above the necessary stamps.' Clause III. required that no one should be admitted unless he produced Deed or Indenture of seven years service ; gave particulars with whom, and where, he served ; with his residence during the term. By Clause IV. the Town Clerk was bound to enter the particulars in 'the Admission Book,' and the Mayor and members of the Court to sign the entry of admission. Clause V. required lists to be placed on the Church doors within twenty-four hours of the Court being held, and no Freemen were to be made during an election under Clause VI. By Clause VII., if at the poll a candidate required a Freeman, or Freemen, to take oath as to his admission and seven years service, he was to do so. Clause VIII. related to the penalty for persons guilty of perjury. Clause IX., that of a Returning Officer for admitting persons to poll without being sworn, if required so to do : and Clause X., that for members of the Council, on refusing to admit electors who came to prove their titles. By Clause XI., if such titles were doubtful, witnesses could be heard. Clause XII. related to the penalty of Town Clerk on neglect of duties, and Clause XIII. showed to what Freemen the Act extended. Under Clause XIV., the election booth was ' to be erected in the widest and most convenient part of the open Market Place called Cross Cheaping, not contiguous to any other building.' Clause XV. related to the recoveries of penalties, whilst igo The Parliamentary Representation [1781] Clause XVI. related to the limitation of actions to one year. Clause XVII. declared the Act to be public, and the final Clause, XVIII. , required that all Deeds or Indentures of apprenticeship should be registered with the Town Clerk (in the future) within six calendar months of the binding, or such Deeds and Indentures to be null and void." The Coventry Members voted with the Ministry on 27th February, 1782, for continuing the war. Lord Sheffield was charged by opponents with giving his vote as a military man, " who, besides his title, has the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, Commandant, with a regiment of Dragoons, worth ;^i,2oo a year, which his subaltern officers, whose heads he was placed over, paid, it is said, for raising." The charge had some slight truth in it, and his Lordship decided to give up the regiment. His friend Gibbon congratulated him " in throwing away the military yoke," and adds, "Next summer you will sit down in the long-lost character of a country gentleman." There were disasters abroad and discontent at home. Lord Sheffield greatly helped his poorer suffering neighbours at Fletching, where he resided. Lord North's Ministry resigned, after General Conway's successful motion against prolonging the war. Rockingham's Ministry came in during March, 1782, Charles Fox being Secretary of State, and General Conway Commander of the Forces. Selbourne continued, and re-constituted it after the Marquis's death, but it ended in February, 1783. Circum- stances and the incompetence of Ministers forced Great Britain to acknowledge American independence, and peace was proclaimed in Coventry Market Place. Mr. Yeo died in December, 1782, aged 42, and a contest was expected. Sir Thomas Hallifax was named, but never came, and William Seymour Conway, Esq., a son of the Ear! of Hertford, was chosen without opposition, i8th January, 1783; when "A New Song," to the tune of "Jolly Mortals," appeared. "Britons true and Independent, No mean slaves can e'er enthrall ; There true freedom reigns ascendent. In their breast, boys, one and all. With a manly resolution. Let us steadfastly unite. To support the Constitution, And defend our legal Right. Hertford's noble race, in fa\'Our For our cause themselves exert ; In return, then, we for ever Faithfully will them support. Witness how the noble Beauchamp Did of late our foes subdue. And in future still will teach 'em Truth and Justice to pursue. Then to Conway let's adhere, boys. With a tirm and steadfast heart ; While to us he is sincere, boys. We from him will ne'er depart." [1784] of the City of Coventry. 191 CHAPTER XLV. The King and Pitt versxis the Coalition of Lord North and Fox. George III., continued (1784). The Coalition Government of North and Fox— Coventry Members support it — Fox's East India Bill — "Carlo Khan" — The Pitt Ministry — Lord Sheffield's speeches and writings — Parliament dissolved—" A-begging we will go " — Sheffield and Conway at the White Bear— Corporation and the Ministry — " The New Song " — Sir Sampson Gideon and Mr. John Wilmot at the Rose and Crown — "Offchurch" — Parodying Sheffield's changeable actions — " Smile, smile, ye Freemen, smile " — Commencement of polling — " Sack-bags of guineas " — Mr. Conway's wishes — Cartoon ; " The Jew Naturalized " — Election songs — " The Fox chase " — " Since Gideon and Wilmot now stand for our Town" — "A new ballad" — An Address— Progress of voting — A Corporation threat — "Mushrooms" again polled — The booth levelled — Verse thereon — Twelfth day's poll— " Midnight retreat" of Sheffield and Conway — Messrs. Gideon and Wilmot returned — Numbers polled — Celebrations — "Shuffle's Lamentation" — Cartoon: " The King's Blues ; or, Loyal Fox-hunters " — The Chairing Song — Biographies of the Members. ^HE Coalition Government of North, Fox, Burke, and others of diflferent political principles, was formed in March, 1783. It determined to break the Royal Authority, and the Members for Coventry were amongst its supporters. ^V Contrary to the King's desire, the reform of the Eastern Empire Bill passed the Commons, and Fox obtained the name of "Carlo Khan" on his triumph. The Lords threw out the Bill, the East India Company hurled its wealth against the Government, and the King designed to supplant Fox ; whilst in December the Coalition ended, and William Pitt was entrusted with the formation of the Ministry which continued to 1801. Lord Sheffield spoke in the House upon the British nagivation law, and the commercial intercourse with Russia and elsewhere. The American loyalist officers, who left the States to escape Republican fury, had his especial regard. His published observations upon Ireland, and his suggested policy to render English intercourse with the Colonies permanent, show a liberal mind and a sound judgment. Parliament was dissolved 25th March, 1784, when the patronage of administration was in the hands of Pitt. Lord Sheffield, as a supporter of North, was again solicited to stand for Coventry, and " the Whigs last shift," a Tory effusion to the tune of "A-begging we will go," records the asking of Fox's friend, Conway — • "Though oft we've begged of Hertford's Earl, still we will beg again. To send his son to aid us, and if we beg in vain, yet a-begging we will go." IQ2 The Parliameniary Representation [1784] Sheffield and Conway took up their quarters at the White Bear, in the High Street, and commenced their canvass. It was anticipated that the Corporation, after the trouble of last election, would not interfere, and little attention was given to the London and out-voters. They were, however, quietly working with the Ministry to find them candidates. " The New song. The humble petition from the last Council House meeting of the Mayor and his Brethren, to old Beelzebub greeting," records— " Dear Sir, we in Council assembled and set, (Such a group of your friends ne'er before sure were met) ; Most humbly inform you no friend we can find. Our cause to espouse, if you should prove unkind. We are always consistent to what we pretend. To serve you and own you our very good friend ; Whate'er your commands are we're sure them to do. For all our chief study is in pleasing you. Dear Sir, without your support we must fall. Without you our interest is certainly small ; Your enemies here very powerful have grown. Which occasions us all to make piteous moan. Then pray recommend us, with all possible speed, A man to support us in this time of need ; If he answers our ends we'll him gladly embrace. And acknowledge the favour to you face to face." A few days before the poll commenced, " two Gentlemen of Independent Prin- ciples, Friends of their King and Country," supporters of Pitt, came forward, in the persons of Sir Sampson Gideon, Bart., and Mr. John Wilmot, stating their desire " to defend our glorious Constitution against the daring assaults of a desperate and dangerous faction, which has not scrupled at once openly to invade the undoubted prerogatives of the Crown and the most sacred rights of the people, for the purpose of gratifying their own inordinate ambition." They issued an address, made the Rose and Crown, in High Street, their headquarters, delivered speeches, and commenced a canvass. Many bills appeared. " Offchurch " says — "Old Sacred History relates How Samson moved the City gates ; But our Sampson more can do. He'll carry e'en the City too." And speaking of Lord Sheffield's cliangeable actions, another adds — "Convinced now, gentlemen, that Avierica was not to be dragooned into subjection, and finding that promolion grew rusty in the scabbard ; foreseeing, also, that my country would have no business for my regiment, and that it would soon become to poor too pay it, I resolved to sell. — I should have disdained, gentlemen, to have received half-pay from my half-mined constituents. The profits of this transaction, making allowance for the great loss you know I sustained in the purchase of horses, when I raisetl the regiment, could not exceed the trifling sum of seven thousand pounds, — As a reward for my long and faithful services, I found I had only received an empty title, which had neither made me better nor ivlser than I was before I possessed it ; I determined, therefore, to take leave of my Sovereign, to make better terms with him hereafter. — When Lord North was abused by Charles Fox, 1 felt myself insulted also. — When Lord North shook hands with him, I at the same time shook hands with the man of the people. When he [1784] of the City of Coventry. 193 became his Right Honourable friend, I became his Right Honourable friend also. — When Lord North supported the prerogative of the Crown, I supported it.— When Lord North took up the cudgels of the people, I commenced a patriot. Obstinately attached to no fixed system, I was yesterday a Tory. To-day I am a Whig, and to-morrow I will be either a Whig or a Tory, or anything you please, as best may accord with the occasion of the day Difficulties may arise in telling you what I am, but none occur to me in proposing what vie, just noiv, ought to be.— We are Whigs ; we must be on that account Dissenters or Presbyterians. Renouncing therefore, thus openly, all fellowship with the Church and all that sort of thing, we will convert the Draper's Hall into a Meeting House, where we will pray for the completion of our schemes. — Huzza boys ! God save the man of the people. Huzza boys! for the black, inconsistent interest of Coventry. Huzza ! Charles Fox for ever ! " Coventry, March 30th, 1784." The other side, none the less conspicuous with bill literature, issued the following — "Smile, smile, ye Freemen, smile, Lord Sheffield's come again ; A guardian of our isle. Crowned with immortal fame. No envious star shall dart a ray Against this glorious, happy day. Where'er you walk along Behold the general cry, Sheffield and Conway's come, Their foes they soon will die. Who to their words doth not stand true. Their vows are like the morning dew. Like as the serpent old Our parents did beguile. So with their cursed gold, They'll bribe you with a smile. Sheffield and Conway now shall tread With victory o'er the viper's head. Let us with loud huzzas Re-echo their brave names ; Join, join, the cheerful lay, Let every man stand firm, And waft their praise from shore to shore, Sheffield and Conway now encore." The poll commenced 3rd April, and no expense was spared by either candidate to induce the Freemen to give him their services. Sheffield and Conway spent wealth overflowingly, but Gideon was immensely rich, and, assisted by the Ministry, determined to win both seats for himself and his brother-in-law, Mr. Wilmot. An elector tells how he " saw Sir Sampson with his Committee, sitting at table, amidst bowls of gold and silver inducements ;" and another adds that upon one occasion the Baronet " received two sack- bags of guineas, some of which were scrambled for by the mob." Bills and squibs were numerous. An "Independent Freeman" reminds his fellows that Mr. Conway had at the last election wished "that sixpenny loaves might be as large as the White Bear Inn, and meat as large as the house opposite." Gideon was accused of voting in the first place for Fox's India Bill, but on seeing the danger, he afterwards voted against it, and in a cartoon, Sir Sampson is shown mounted on a pig, exclaiming, " I am naturalized ! " whilst the animal cries, " Buy ! buy my pork ! " in allusion to his Jewish origin. ig4 The Parliamentary Representation [1784] The songs at this election were many in number, and characteristic of the times. Those of Gideon and Wilmot were exceedingly plentiful. One, purporting to be issued by Shefifield and Conway's friends, entitled, " An answer to a song lately published," concludes — " Down with the Rose and Crown, With Constitution down, Down with the K . Hail to K Carlo Khan, Sheffield and Conway's man, And all the rebel clan. Hail, Carlo Khan ! " But it is evidently issued by their opponents to annoy them. Songs like " Britannia's Call," and " Now or Never, addressed to the worthy Freemen of Coventry," have some merit, whilst one, entitled "Beelzebub's Trip to Coventry," is, to say the least, humorous. " The Fox Chase " has— "Lord Shuffle's hounds, a sanguine pack. Once proud a Fox to crush, So altered are, they scorn to hurt A hair upon his brush." An epigram upon the names of the candidates, entitled " The Factions," is clever, but written with great party bias. One of the songs is named " The Coventry Freeman's advice to his Brethren " — tune, "Oh, the roast beef of old England." " Since Gideon and Wilmot now stand for our Town, In support of our freedom, our King, and his Crown, We'll ne'er vote for those who the whole would put down. But for those try'd friends to old England, But for those old EngUsh try'd friends. If chosen, they say they will never desert you, But to Coventry Freemen they'll ever prove true ; And who dare dispute them, my boys, they're true Blue: Oh, the true Blues of old England, Oh, the old English true Blues. In times like the present, 'tis fit that we choose For Senators those who have no party views. And who pensions and places alike would refuse : Those are true friends to old England, Those are old England's true friends. But Gideon and Wilmot, tho' oft they've been tried. Their integrity yet could be ne'er set aside; To be honest and loyal is their greatest pride : Oh, those try'd friends to old England, Oh, those old English try'd friends. Then in making your choice do not long hesitate. But fix on those men who wish well to the State, Who the dread Coalition most cordially hate : They are the friends to old England, They are old England's true friends." [1784] of the City of Coventry. 195 Another is "A New Ballad" — tune, "God save the King." " God save great George our King ! No Conway, Sheffield, Byng ! No Carlo Khan ! Loyal our hearts abide, No changing coat and side, No Cromwell Regicide, No People's Man! Samson, in days of yore. Swept off foes fifty score. None could withstand ; When, with his mighty hands. Foxes and Fire-brands, He slew the hostile bands — Rescued the Land. Now Fox and Fire-brands Join the inimical Bands, Ruin ensues : Harder our Sampson's work 'Gainst Sheffield, Fox, and Burke, Enemies worse than Turk, Aid him, ye Blues. Down falls the mighty Bear, Snap goes our Sheffield ware, Brittle, though bright. Sampson and Wilmot join. Drive out the Philistine, Six feet and inches nine ! Hail, Blue and White! The following address was issued to the Freemen — "You have now an opportunity of manifesting your attachment to His Majesty's person, family, and Government, by voting for Sir Sampson Gideon, Bart., and J. Wilmot, Esq., his known and zealous friends. Your late Members have forfeited the confidence of their King and country by the strenuous support they have afforded Mr. Fox, in his late struggle for sovereign and unconstitutional power. You have ever professed your affection and regard for your King, and will you now prove by your conduct that your professions were hypocritical and insincere ? I trust not. I hope that as the Blue candidates have turned their coats and deserted their sovereign, the honest Blues will, with an indignant spirit, desert them. Let them see that neither Mr. Fox nor his supporters shall prevail upon you to forsake and abandon His Majesty King George at this important juncture. Only reflect for a moment upon the evils which their conduct had brought upon you. America lost, trade ruined, prices abated, and the poor starving. Empty looms and empty bellies, too, evidently prove this. And will you again send these men to Parliament ? Do you love poverty ? Do you love to see your dear children half-naked ? Surely no. You cannot be so brutish. Then, my brethren, let us reject with honest indignation the authors of our present miseries. No wonder, while such men represent us, that meat, bread, and other articles of provision are so dear. The only way to get rid of these evils is to turn out the men who have brought them upon you. No Sheffield — No Conway — No Turncoat Members— No enemies to the King — No miners of trade— No exporters of mutton— But King George the Third — Sir Sampson Gideon — Mr. Wilmot— and the Independent Freemen of Coventry for ever— Huzza." The address is signed by " A Loyal and Independent Freeman," and there is this postscript — " Let the sons of Liberty and Loyalty flock to the Royal Standard at the Rose and Crown." The polling dragged out its way slowly. Sir Sampson and Mr. Wilmot were both old electioneerers ; they spared no expense, and endeavoured to bring up the out-voters and others. At the close of the poll on tlie eighth day the numbers were — Sir Sampson Gideon, Bart., 386 ; John Wilmot, Esq., 385 ; Lord Sheffield, 386 ; Hon. Mr. Conway, ig6 The Parltametttary Representation [1784] 383; and 771 Freemen had polled. I'he Blue Committee frequently exhorted their Freemen to remain loyal, and, when some of the manufacturers supporting Sheffield and Conway refused their hands work for voting in opposition, obtained work for them in the manufactories of their friends. After nine or ten days polling the numbers were still doubtful, when the Corporation, acting under counsel's advice, declared they would poll those " Mushroom " Freemen whose names had not yet been struck off the enrolment list, and even polled four of them, well knowing they had the Ministry at their back in case of petition. This caused great commotion in the opposite party, and they were bent upon reprisals. After several days severe contest they became riotous, and on the morning of the 13th April a party of pretended voters, with axes and saws under their clothes, proceeded to the booth, which, as soon as the Sheriffs opened, they levelled to the ground, whilst the candidates were present. Naturally, the poll could not go on until the Sheriffs rebuilt it. A correspondence ensued between the council and candidates of both sides, when, after delay, the booth was rebuilt, and the Corporation still polled the "Mushrooms." The following bill appeared, dedicated "To Sir Sampson Gideon, Bart., on the destruction of the Booth by the Blues, when an attempt was made to poll the Mushyooms, April 13th, 1784. Sir Sampson's Hebrew forefather. When Pagan and Philistine Peers Held a long Feast with Mushroom Sauce, Pulled an old House about their Ears ; But times are changed, and Hebrews too, For if a Mushroom now appears, Philistines of to-day decide To pull the House about Sampson's Ears," The state of the poll was issued daily, and on i6th April — being the twelfth day of polling — the numbers stood : Sheffield 558, Gideon 556, Wilmot 553, Conway 552. Eleven hundred and fourteen Freemen had polled, but amongst them were one hundred and forty-one for Gideon and Wilmot who at the last contest had supported Sheffield and Conway. The poll could but last for fifteen days by the Act, and the Corporation again threatened to record the " Mushrooms." The contest was extremely expensive, and the Coalition candidates, finding they were unable 10 maintain the majority, declined to prolong it. They withdrew, and left the City during the evening of the i6th, whereupon the Sheriffs received the votes of thirty two Freemen for Sir Sampson Gideon, and John Wilmot, Esq., and declared them elected, the final numbers standing — For Sir Sampson Gideon, Bart. ... ... ... egg ,, John Wilmot, Esq. ... ... ... ... rgc ,, Lord Sheffield. ... ... ... ... ^rg ,, W. S, Conway, Esq. ... ... ... rcj Majority of Sir Sampson Gideon, 30. Majority of Mr. John Wilmot, 27. Total polled, 1,146. [1784] of the City of Coventry. 197 Great were the rejoicings of the winning parly, and they celebrated the victory as their fathers had done, with sheep and ox roastings, amidst the tunes of the old Town fifers and drummers. The evening when " Shefifield and Conway took flight from the Bear" was long remembered, as "Shuffle's Lamentation; or, The Midnight Retreat," to the tune "Chevy Chase," relates — "Three years ago, or thereabouts, When warring was a trade, I felt myself a soldier stout As ever wore cockade. The bonny bells of Trinity For me did sweetly ring ; As great as C(2sar then was I, As happy as a King. I swell'd with pride, the world defy'd : At Aldermen I spurn'd ; But to my sorrow, think, alas! How are the tables turn'd ! My blood runs chill ! go where I will There is no rest for me ; I wish I never had come near The Blues of Coventry. The sixteenth day of April last Forget I never shall ; No foreign foe e'er struck a blow My courage to appal ; But when Sir Sampson Gideon came, A cruel tale to tell, His friends bereav'd me of my fame. And rang my doleful knell. Accurs'd for ever be the day That brought addresses on. For nought besides from Coventry Could make Lord Shufle run. To gain a seat in Parliament I'll make no further strife ; To this dear place I thought, till now, I'd wedded been for life. Much reason have I now to say My pleasant days are gone ; The bells, I fear, I ne'er shall hear Again ring " Whittington." Adieu, dear Charles! farewell, friend Joe! We all have cause to frown. For since the City first I knew The world's turn'd upside down. I'll take my flight, in dread of night. To me 'twere death to stay ; For ere I quit the gates, methinks I hear the people say : The hero Shuffle's shuffled off; They seem to say in scorn : He's fairly gone, gone, Gonaivay, And never to return." jg8 The Parliamentary Representation [1784] The same subject was depicted in a cartoon entitled " The King's Blues ; or, Loyal Fox-hunters." The chairing took place on the 21st, and the "Song for the Chairing," to the tune of " See the Conquering Hero Comes," was as follows — "See the legal Members come, Sound your fifes and beat your drum ; Sons of mirth, begin the song. Fire with joy a British throng. Hark what plaudits rend the air ! See Sir Sampson in the chair ! On the rustic shoulders borne Of those who treat base threats with scorn." " SONG FOR FULL CHORUS. Tone—' Come, ye lads who wish to shine.' Come, ye grave, and come, ye gay, All in mirth concurring ; On this happy holiday May not a loom be stirring. Chorus— Join the jovial, free-borne train, Manly and united ; Peace and harmony maintain. For now the City's righted. Trade revive, and henceforth drown Party spleen and passion ; Those you've now returned will soon Return the obligation. CnORns— Join the jovial, &c. Long to see the contest close. All the land has waited ; Care be gone, the work is done. And gloriously completed. Chorus— Join the jovial, &c." Sir Sampson Gideon, Bart., of St. James's Square, London, was the son of Mr. Sampson Gideon, the Jewish loan contractor, and was extremely rich, having, according to local tradition, " a guinea a minute coming in." Gideon the elder rose from a humble origin to that of a rich City stocl 'i^^Ss^ _ ' ' It ^^iife*^^^^^^''"' ■ i",' 9-.^^ fSfmiw^Br' ' ,- Mm A^HlHw' '^ Sm *i* '**^MHmHirr-'"' / _ ' ' - -J*rL^^^H/*;( ' i'""-' ., - - o *■-«■-,. / ' - ^ "^ »ff^ ■' " '--'■785] of the City of Coventry. 201 but the jury could not agree as to the fourth, and were at length removed to the King's Head Inn, confined there for the night, and in the morning hunger forced them to give a verdict "against the right of the remaining person." Another matter arising out of the late election had also to be settled. "At Coventry Assizes, early in 1785, Geo. Harris, Joseph Atkins, and Thomas Goode, were sentenced to six months imprisonment each for inhumanly beating, and afterwards larniig and feather, iig. Kichard Oldham, during the time of the last Coventry election. The evidence produced at the Bar was in substance as follows: Richard Oldham, then servant to a clergyman in the neighbourhood, was standing in the High Street, near the Rose and Crown Inn, and, without any provocation whatever (except his being a supposed friend of Sir Sampson Gideon and Mr. Wilmot), was seized by the prisoners and about twenty or thirty others, dragged by the hair of his head from thence along the street, and down the yard belonging to the White Bear Inn, then forced into a stable, and there much beat and abused, one of the prisoners crying out, ' Hang him ! shew him no mercy ! ' though the poor man was begging for it in the most pathetic manner. After this, they dragged him in the same way from thence to Broadgate, and then to the Butcher Row, a space of more than one hundred yards : during this time they violently tore his clothes off him, and when naked, poured a quantity of tar upon him, and because he should not know his tormentors, his face was covered and his eyes were closed with it ; they then strewed feathers over him, and thus the poor wretch was f ermitted to escape with his life, though greatly bruised and dangerously injured. — The Judge described the horrid act in the most striking language, and among other remarks, he compared the perpetrators of it to American savages, and regretted that the name of Briton should be disgraced by such an inhuman transaction." The " Coventry Mercury," 7th February, i8i8, says : "In the twenty-sixth year of George III. an Act was passed entitled, An Act to enable the Company of Proprietors of the Coventry Canal Navigation to complete their said canal to Fradley Heath, in the County of Stafford, and other inatters proposed therein mentioned." The park at Cheylesmore had been in the Corporation's hands many years under lease ; it was now let to Lord Hertford under a term of forty-two years, upon his paying ^2,000 down and a small annual rental, but the estate was afterwards sold to the Marquis. On January 3rd, 17^9, Sir Sampson Gideon sent a Christmas present to the Freemen in his interest, consisting of ^150. James Hewitt, Lord Lifford, died 28th April, 1789, and was buried in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, having for twenty-two years served the position of Lord Chancellor of Ireland with integrity, firmness, and ability. Early in 1790, the King conferred an Irish Peerage, under the title of Baron Eardley, upon Sir Sampson Gideon, a title chosen from the name of his wife's family. At the instance of Lord Eardley, an Act was obtained, 30 Geo. III., 3 ch. 26, entitled "An Act for the better paving, cleaning, lighting, and watching of the City of Coventry and the suburbs thereof, for the removing and preventing of nuisances and annoyances therein, and for regulating the public wells and pumps within the said City and suburbs." 202 The Parliamentary Representation [1790] CHAPTER XLVII. A Triangular Fight. George III., continued (1790). Parliament dissolved — The old Members again come forward — Party troubles — Publicans and London out-voters — A lawyer's opinion — William Wilberforce Bird, a candidate — Some account of tiim — His connection with the silk masters — Verses on illicit purposes — Splitting party colours — Commencing the poll — Curious bill upon proceedings at the booth — Lord Sheffield returned for Bristol — Comes to Coventry — Mr. Conway chosen for Orford — Political play bills : " The Midnight Retreat " and " The Jew Naturalized " — London Committees and out-voters — A memorandum — Lord Eardley's goodness proven — Song : " No warlike theme my muse employs " — Cartoon : " All things to all men " — A Bird and his feathers — Close of the voting — Numbers polled — Sampson, Lord Eardley, and John Wilmot, Esq., returned — Addresses of thanks — Mr. Bird undaunted by defeat — Promises to again contest — The chairing and song — Keeping the peace. ^ipHEN Parliament had been dissolved in June, 1790, the old Members, acceding to a numerously-signed requisition, promised again to stand. .^.(4j;t^^ The Corporation were still their friends, and the Members conduct had ^ffl(^/ given such general satisfaction that opposition was little expected, and <^^ victory seemed certain. Yet the Corporation party, finding the publicans bills at the former election excessive, had refused to pay more than fifteen shillings in the pound, which gave considerable offence. The balances were now hastily paid ; but not before their opponents issued a handbill entitled "An honourable method of securing votes, humbly recommended to candidates in general," wherein were printed instructions as to the way of securing " opponent landlords," and afterwards " putting on the screw," recommending, in proof of the efficiency of the method, application to be made " to the agents of Lord Eardley and Mr. Wilmot at St. Mary's Hall, or the publicans of Coventry." The late expensive contests, however, affected both parties ; for whilst the publicans and their accounts troubled the gentlemen of the Corporation ; Lord Sheffield's supporters had similar anxiety over their out-voters from the Metropolis, and presented a case to Mr. Thomas Cooper, the celebrated London barrister, for his opinion thereon. These Londoners had been paid ^2 12s. each for their expenses in going to, and returning back from, Coventry; whilst the opposite side had given /^4 9s. each to their London voters; and they now declared that unless paid the deficiency {£1 17s. per [1790] oj the City of Coventry. 203 man), they would vote for the opposition. It was desired that a safe way should be found to pay this, but how legally to do so, in the face of an election, was questionable. The lawyer's opinion did little to help matters ; " I think," he advises, " if the money could be safely paid by anyone, it might be by Lord Sheffield. I scarcely know anything in the world that may not be done directly, which can be accomplished by any indirect measure," but doubtless the latter was resorted to in order to settle the matter. " The Independent Freemen who scorn to become the mercenary tools of corrupt influence and tyranny are earnestly requested to meet at the Drapers Hall on Thursday next." Such was an intimation of coming opposition to the Corporation candidates ; and Mr. William Wilberforce Bird, a silk merchant, of Little Park Street, Coventry, and afterwards of the Spring, Kenilworth, became the nominee of the silk manu- facturers, and " Independent interest." Mr. Bird, as a native of Coventry, understood the Freemen's wants, and his ancestors had introduced the silk trade into Coventry by means of French refugees driven from their country in 1685 by the edict of Nantes. Such workmen settling at Coventry, inter-married with its people, and many of their descendants were yet connected with the silk trade. " Messrs. Gideon and Wilmot are " said by Mr. Bird's friends to be " unacquainted with the interests and unconnected with the inhabitants," but opponents objected to Mr. Bird's opposition to "the Weavers Bill," whilst Gideon and Wilmot had endeavoured, almost unaided in the House, to prevent a tax on ribbons. When the Minister considered this duty necessary, the Coventry master silk manufacturers, in alarm, had formed a Committee, and with Mr. Bird as their Chairman, sent a deputation to Mr. Pitt, who prevailed upon him to lay the tax upon silk instead. Of this freeing the manufactured article and placing the duty on the raw material, Mr. Bird and the silk masters now took credit, but some weavers felt there was more underneath. Says "An Old Weaver" — ■ "Would ribbon masters lend their purse Unless they had some end in view? No — no — at bottom there's a curse, A curse that's aimed at me and you ! Now if this mottled Bird we choose, The masters then will make us laws, And prices fix we can't refuse ; Then will you serve so vile a cause ? " How the prediction was sought to be fulfilled will be seen. Party colours now devolved into New Blue, and Old Blue; or "Mazarine" on the one side, and Sky Blue on the other. Yellow being still the Corporation badge. Lord Eardley had intended, if there was no contest, to have re-pewed St. Michael's Church, but he now spent the money for electioneering purposes instead. He un- doubtedly paid a considerable sum to secure votes ; seven and ten pounds were occasionally illicitly given for special ones, and an opponent's bill adds — 204 The Parliamentary Representation [179°] "A man that would his soul and body sell For seven guineas, sell them both to hell ; Can Jewish gold the perjured soul set free From dire remorse, or make them happy be ? A wretch who thus his character has stained With ill-got pelf, by base corruption gained, Shun his society, no converse hold With him who has his King and Country sold." If, however, one side offended in this matter, the other did the same, and in "The Real True Blue" occurs the following— " Their thousands shall not us dismay. We wish them hearts to spend them, We can spend as much as they, And afterwards can lend them ; Jews that do in riches roll. Have dealt in fraud and plunder. But let them meet us fair at poll. We'll make them soon knock under. Of every woeful, wicked set, That is within the nation, None can boast a blacker jet Than our gooi Corporation ; So far from honesty they're sunk — Nay, I dare venture further — They'd hang a Blue for getting drunk, A Yellow save from murder." The poll commenced on the 19th, and lasted eight days. The "good Corporation," as usual, exerted power to retain voters for its candidates, and although such influence varied at different times, it was now put forward to a considerable extent. The illegal making of Freemen had ceased, but candidates and agents closely scanned the Freemen's votes when presented at the poll booth, and a bill of the time asks — " Is it fair for a candidate to stand close to the person who comes up to poll, and palm him before he declares for whom he means to poll ? Is it an honest proceeding in a Returning Officer to appoint a particular part of the booth for taking the poll, and instantly to change it ? Is it legal or constitutional to have fellows stationed at the place of polling to tell the electors whom they are to poll for ? Is it fair and honest for the Sheriffs to permit such conduct ? Is it legal for the Sheriffs to carry the vote to the Poll Clerk at the distance of two yards and report it to him, when he (the Poll Clerk) is bound by his oath to take it himself? Is it honest in any Returning Officer to give a false report of a vote to the Poll Clerk, and particularise the candidates for whom the vote was given, when the person coming to vote was objected to as a minor, and never sworn ? If a Returning Officer" (continues the bill) "should commit so corrupt and infamous a violation of public justice by abusing the confidence reposed in him by the Legislature and his fellow Citizens, and wantonly and wilfully breaking the oaths he has sworn to keep inviolate, what punishment could be thought too severe for him ? What is the punishment for corrupt and wilful perjury ? Is it not cropping, slitting, burning, and the pillory ? " These "exceedingly modest," but happily obsolete punishments, were — cropping, cutting off the ears ; slitting, slitting the nostrils ; burning, marking the initial letters of the crime on the cheeks with a red-hot iron ; the pillory, standing exposed in the same. Mr. Bird's party had not attempted a regular canvass. Lord Sheffield, who was contesting a seat at Bristol, congratulated his Coventry friends on having found a local [1790] of the City of Coventry. 205 man who had other recommendations than money, " whose ancestors have been truly useful to you, who have spent their fortunes amongst you in a manner which is of more service to you than all the money that ever was, or ever can be, squandered by septennial visitors." His Lordship was chosen for Bristol on the 19th June, and then came to aid his friend at Coventry, accompanied by Mr. Sheridan and other gentlemen. On the 2ist, William Seymour Conway, Esq., was eleced M.P. for Orford. The following political play-bill was issued by the Blue party — " Speedily will be performed, At the White Bear, in tliis City, The Celebrated Comic Tragedy, called THE MIDNIGHT RETREAT. Principal Performers as follows : — Flight, by Master Billy Wilberforce, being his first appearance in this character. He will amuse the Company with some pretty little Tricks, particularly in the Art of Flying, which he will perform with great Dexterity (having been Lately under the Tuition of an experienced Performer), to the Astonishment of his delighted Partisans and the Confusion of the disappointed Landlords and Landladies of this City. Conductor, Lord Shuffle, who about six years ago acted the former character with great agility, and is just arrived from Bristol to perform his present Part. He will divert the audience with a curious Oration upon Wind and Weather-cocks, followed by a Song, to the Tune of ' When late I and Conway took flight from the Bear.' To be succeeded by a Solemn Dirge. The Musical parts under the direction of that Child of Nature, Master Russwood : the Vocal Parts by Dear Charley, Dr. Free-her, Master Mash, &c., &c. Harbinger, by Mr. Shery-dan. A late capital performer at St. Stephen's, who obligingly accom- panied Lord Shuffle to this City, but is gone forward to provide for the Accommodation of his Friends on their Journey. Busybody, by Master Ven-Wing, lately arrived from Milk Street, who will divert the Company with some Underhand Performances, and curious Exploits, by his little Monkey Tricks in the Poll Booth and various other parts of the City. Puzzle-law, by Lawyer Roeson, who will dance an Irish Jig, to the Tune of ' Arrah, my Honeys, we're foremost behind.' To be followed by a Country Dance by Masters Owhen, Gilbut, &c., &c., to the tune of ' How shall we look the New Blues in the Face ? ' After the Play, Dr. Rattleavvay and other Capital Performers will entertain the Company with a lecture on Swearing and Elocution. The whole to conclude with a Solemn Funeral Procession— chief Mourners, the Disconsolate Old Blues ; Supporters of the Pall, a number of over-bearing Silk Masters, from the Metropolis. The great Bell of each Church to toll muffled during the Procession. N.B. — A large number of Smelling Bottles are preparing, and may be had at the Glauber's Head, for the use of such Mazarine and Blue Ladies and Gentlemen who may be too much affected at the moving scene. Vivat Rex et Regina." The Bird party, not to be out-done, replied in the following bill — "This day will be performed, in a commodious Booth, erected for the purpose, a celebrated entertainment, called THE JEW NATURALIZED. by a most capital group of performers. Act I., Scene i. A celebrated Mum Orator, from St. Stephen's Chapel, will make his appearance in the character of Shylock, and will sing a favourite song called ' 'Tis true I vas a chew, but I vas naturalized,' &c. 2o6 The Parliamentary Representation [i79°] He will also deliver a lecture upon Elocution, which being a very somniferous Quality, his Toad Eater will step forward, and after a humane Apology for the Weakness of his Friend, will in a most ravenous manner entertain the Audience with a description of the various methods of Ravish- ments, &c., as performed by himself and learned friend. Scene 2. A favourite duet on the Jew's Harp by Mum Orator, and the m^Xy-mvintei Jelly Glasses by Aid. Soap-suds, to the following Air — ' Simple Simon Soap-suds, just benighted, Struck with the Sword and Mace, has grown dim sighted ; Forgets the neighbouring chains, he used to shave and lather. And scarcely knows (so proud he's grown) he ever had a father.' At the conclusion of which a Creature will make his appearance in the shape of a man habited as a Clerk, who will divert the company with a variety of Tricks, and to show that not the smallest Vestiges of Human Nature are concerned in his composition, he will exhibit his Monstrous Claws; whose notoriety decency forbids to mention; also his famous exploit with the Tankard, from which, at a certain motion of his, shall proceed the most odoriferous Effluvia, to the astonishment of all present. N.B. — The Proprietor of this animal, conscious of its singularity, offers 100 guineas to any Person who shall show the like. Between the Acts will be exhibited an Infant Goliath, in the character of Tom Thumb, the Great Brother of the Noted Bingy, when, after entertaining the company with a great variety of Infant Squalls, his Nurse, to compose the Brat, will sing the much-admired Air of ' Hush-a-by, Baby. Also, Neddy Inge will dance a favourite Hornpipe, accompanied by Lawyer Piano, to the Tune of 'The golden horns which deck thy brow.' Immediately after will make his appearance as an Infernal, in the Dress of a Minister, who proves False Swearing no Perjury, as expressed in the following couplet— ' It's easy to evade an Oath when to the Booth you're come ; Instead of kissing of the Book, you only kiss your Thumb.' Act II. The Downfall of Justice. By those Tools of a Party, Messrs. Dareall, Farthing Face Fos — r, Osg — d, M— lis, &c., who, after a variety of artful evasions, gross misrepresentations, sly subterfuges, and impudent falsehoods, will clearly and logically prove that the Advocates for Freedom and Liberty are its greater enemies, whilst they who are Eardley's Friends are its chief supporters ; in confirmation of which two Imps of Darkness will be introduced, who will cause the greatest astonishment at their consummate impu- dence, unparalleled villainy, and unblushing countenances. They are supposed to be two of the most capital performers this or any other age have produced. They are remarkable for Chicane and Cunning, petty Tricks of Art and Underhand dealings. The one under the Mask of Religion will shew that it is part of a good subject lo cheat the King. The other, who assumes no mask at all (unless occasional Deafness), will prove it to be the duty of an Honest man to oppress the poor. After beginning a Soliloquy, beginning ' Tho' Noxon and Butler to Newgate were sent,' and the admired song, ' Sure two such Sheriffs ne'er were chose but by a worthless Corporation,' they will quit the stage singing the following duet — ' Search Earth, search H — 11, the Devil cannot find Two agents like us S — ffs to his mind.' The whole to conclude with a View of Bribery Hall ; or, A Struggle for Power, shewing the Coffers of Sampson, who repeats — 'Though Samsofi's strength lay in his Hair, Yet mine is in my purse, Sirs.' He is surrounded by a set of Justasses, Gamb'ers, and Plunderers of every description, and other characters too unmeaning to deserve Attention. The Company will then return to a Sumptuous Entertainment, called Mushroom Feast, where a variety of Juggling Tricks will be exhibited, too tedious to mention. No admittance behind the Scenes. Vivat Rex et Regina." 1.1790] of the City of Coventry. 207 The London Committees exerted themselves greatly to send down the Freemen from that City for their respective candidates; Eardley and Wilmot had 214, and Bird 143. Over fifty out- voters came from Birmingham, and others from Banbury, Bristol, Yorkshire, Chester, Wiltshire, Liverpool, Leicester, Manchester, Newbury, Northampton, Norwich, Nantwich, Oakham, Rugby, Reading, Stratford-on-Avon, Stoney Stratford, Tarporly, Tunbridge, Tamworth, Worcester, Warwick, Wolverhampton, Walsall, West Bromwich, Chatham, Portsmouth, and Sheerness. Their conveyance cost a consider- able sum, and a pencilled memorandum in a poll book of this election, placed to the name of an out-voter, tells its own story : " Received four guineas of Lord Eardley's Committee in London to come in his interest, and when come to Coventry, poll'd a single Bird — ungrateful; died a pauper of Trinity Parish, November 4th, 1799." A voter named Liquorish, coming from London to poll for Eardley and Wilmot, fell off the coach on its entering St. Albans, and was killed on the spot. Sir Sampson was much upset on hearing of the incident, but promptly ordered the person to be decently buried at his expense, and settled ;£^2o per annum upon the widow for life. Amongst the songs of this election is the following — "No war-like theme my muse employs, But one of equal merit ; I sing the praise of Honest Boys, Who boast a free-born spirit. No base corruption sways their voice. No bribe can e'er enslave them ; The Jew will see he's not their choice — 'Tis Bird that's born to save them. Then oh protect the Noble Blue, Be mindful of his merit ; And when your dastard foes pursue. He'll show a God-like spirit. Were Sheffield's virtues ever dear? Say, Freemen, did you prize them ? Then curse the crew that drove him hence. Detest them and despise them ; Scourge all the tribe with vengeful arm — Severe the flagellation. Nor let a Jew be said to join The Rulers of a Nation. Then oh protect, &c. Then rouse, my Boys, with one accord, Bird calls you forth to glory ; Oh, give a native your support, 'Twill grace your future story. His claims are just, he knows our trade, From him you'll find protection, For souls like yours and hearts like his Were formed for close connection. Then oh protect, &c." A cartoon was now issued showing Mr. Bird promising "all things to all men," in his desire to gain votes. Its amusing character will be at once apparent. 2o8 The Parliamentary Representation 1^79^1 The Bird party kept open the poll as long as possible, with but little chance of success, which caused considerable annoyance to their opponents, who, in "A celebrated speech, paraphrased for the benefit of the disconsolate Old Blues," say— "Now my friend, Mr. Bird, take advice of a friend, For a seat in St. Steplien's your money don't spend; If you've some featliers left, to the warehouse retire, And the rage of the Blues will that moment expire." When the poll ceased on the eighth day, the numbers stood — For Lord Eardley ... John Wilmot, Esq. W. W. Bird, Esq. 1398 1393 1 126 Majority for Lord Eardley ... 272 „ „ J. Wilmot, Esq. ... 267 There had been 2,524 Freemen polled, and although the fight had been a three-cornered one, but 23 of them had split their votes. Out of 1,860 resident Freemen, 1,202 were connected with the weaving trade, whilst there were but 35 watchmakers. Sampson Gideon, Lord Eardley., and John Wilmot, Esq., again becoming Members, issued addresses of thanks to the Freemen, but Mr. Bird, undaunted by defeat, promised to again contest the City. The usual rejoicing took place on 30th June, when the following Chairing Song, composed to the tune of "See the Conquering Hero comes," was issued — • "Sons of Freedom now rejoice. Triumph in your Happy choice ; Spread the joyous tidings far. Virtue mounts on Glory's car. Spread, &c. See the gay procession move, Hail the men your hearts approve ; Freemen flocking round the chair, Shouts of Victory rend the air. Freemen, &c. Floating in the Festive Bowl, Joy dilates each generous soul ; Celebrates with heart-felt mirth, Eardley's virtues, Wilmot's worth. Celebrates, &c." At night the City was in a slate of riot, and many windows were broken " by a law- less banditti," as the Mayor, John Whitwell's, handbill records, "headed and encouraged by persons of some credit residing in the City," wliose conduct gave his Worship and the City Magistrates considerable trouble at the " Rotation Office," in the Mayor's Parlour, for some days after. THE KING'S BLUES, OR LOYAL FOXHUNTERS.' (From the Author's Collection.) Coventry Political Cartoons (late i8th Century), The Jew Natxtrilized "THE JEW NATURALIZED." (From the Collection of the late Mr J. Lines, in the Coventry Free Reference Library.) Coventry Political Cartoons (late i8th Century). Wy^„ W 'l/tif .'^'~,r^. f" r^ «*»»^ £ 4-' ■ ■•. The Man OJ" the Peobue.Aij:. Things to All Men 'THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE. ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN." (From Ike Author's Collection.) Coventry Political Cartoons (late i8th Century). Sket^hc or Tfeader- ScnT cOd'Colkl Tfev^ Evans iTtfcTrnfrs Tiev'Surier- y^c Q)e vil ccmon^sl 2he SJ/yrXS or2?-c ^eV&Ti^C a^Journ^tcHell ■THE DEVIL AMONGST THE SAINTS, OR THE REVENGE AND JOURNEY TO HELL.' (From the CoUec/ion of I he late W. Reader, Esq., in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.) Coventry Political Cartoons (late i8tii Century). '9°J of the City of Coventry. " 209 CHAPTER XLVIII. Local Loyalty during the French Revolution. George III., continued (1790 to 1793). A threatened petition— Satirical handbill— Sheriffs publish poll book— Seceders-Widening the streets— " Work for the Coroner"— Mr. Wilmot and Warren Hastings impeachment- Majority of Lord Eardley's son— Presents— Lady Craven desired to find a candidate— Eftects of the French Revolution— Birmingham riots— Position of Coventry Dissenters— An extraordinary cartoon— Republican literature spread — Loyal attachment shown— Publicans resolution— Quakers declaration— Baptist Dissenters publication— A Loyal Town's meeting- War with France— Tom Paine burnt in effigy— Laying out the Coventry Park. ^,HE "Mazarine" party endeavoured to get up a petition against Messrs. Eardley and Wilmot's return, and published lists of the "Mushroom" Freemen appeared. s^l*^) "^^ opposition satirical handbill invited " the old swearers of the New Blue ''T^ and Mazarine interest, who have been either employed or retained upon former occasions, to apply at the Drapers Hall," where also " such of the rising generation who conceive themselves qualified to act in the swearing line are desired to make application, that their claims may be scrutinized by proper persons;" but threats came to nothing, and the Sheriffs, Messrs. Gibbons and Walker, published a copy of the poll book, in their own justification. So intensely bitter was the feeling raised, however, that it led to splits in the various political societies; there were seceders, and others asked to withdraw, whilst a wordy handbill warfare ensued. During January, 1791, the question of improving and enlarging the centre of, and approaches to, Coventry was considered. The Commissioners (thirty-five in number) had formed a plan to widen St. John's Bridge and the Burgess, together with the construction of a new road from Greyfriars Gate to Smithford Street, and the pulling down of properties facing Smithford Street and Broadgate. Opposition arose on the ground that numbers would be turned out of their dwellings, and that Greyfriars Lane property would considerably deteriorate. It was proposed to build new premises for the tradesmen of Broadgate at the rear of their then premises, in order to make an open square. " In the name of common sense," asks an opponent to the scheme, " who will resort to their respective shops amidst the confusion of rattling tiles, falling bricks, and crushing timber? Certainly he must be either the Coroner or a Surgeon, for should such inhabitants be hardy enough to visit their shops in this situation, the con- sequence must be broken bones and dead bodies /" His fears were not realized, and the work, when done, formed a very great improvement to tlie Town. 210 The Parliamentary Representation [179^] Mr. Wilmot interested himself considerably on the question of offences committed in the East Indies, and he spoke in the House upon the impeachment of Warren Hastings. '' Aris's Birmingham Gazette," January 9th, 1792, contains the following — "A Noble Birthday Fete. — The birthday of Mr. Eardley, son of Lord Eardley, who entered into his 21st year on Thursday hist, having been deferred on account of the indisposition of Lady Eardley, was celebrated on Tuesday last among his Lordship's tenants and tradesmen, at his seat at Belvidere, in a manner that does the highest honour to his Lordship's hospitaUty. An ox, weighing 100 stone and upwards, was roasted whole on Lecson Heath, and 3,000 penny rolls, beside large bread, ordered on the occasion; 1,000 of the bakers at Woolwich, 1,000 at Crayford, and i,ooo at Erith. Twenty-one barrels of most excellent ale were placed on stands on the Heath for everyone to partake, and various other articles. The number of persons was very great, of which some guess may be formed when it is known that forty-three carriages, full of tradesmen and persons from London, were sent down at his Lordship's expense." Neither was Coventry forgotten, for whilst Lord Eardley sent ;^io as a Christmas box to such Freemen as were prisoners in the City Gaol, he forwarded j£,ioo for those in his interest "to drink success to his heir." His Lordship gave a white marble font and steps to St. Michael's, Coventry, to commemorate the event, and presented an original picture of George HI., by Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A., which cost him ;^40o, and of which several copies were afterwards made. Remembering that the father of the present Lord Craven had found a candidate before time, some gentlemen of Coventry now applied to his mother to aid them in prospect of an election coming on. The Countess had long lived apart from her husband, and on his death in September, 1791, married Frederick, Margrave of Bran- denburg, Anspach. In her "Memoirs," greatly as she "disliked politics, and thought them out of the province of a woman " (about which Charles Fox quarrelled with her), she tells that upon her return to England, "as wife of the Margrave of Anspach, I was not a little surprised to receive an offer from Coventry to name a Member in Parliament. My second son, Berkeley Craven, was then only fifteen years of age, and my son Keppel Craven only thirteen, and I had no son old enough to represent the City in Parliament. I answered that I was precluded from availing myself of their obhging offer, but for which I was as mtich obliged as if I had accepted it." Whilst the French Revolution had its effect upon European aflfairs, the events which led up to the deposition of the Monarch were far from being well understood in this country, in spite of the expressed admiration of Charles Fox and his supporters. In July, 1791, the friends of Dr. Priestly proposed to celebrate the destruction of the Bastile on the 14th by a dinner at Birmingham, which led to those great excesses and riots which had to be quelled by the military. At this time the Dissenters meetings in Coventry were disturbed, whilst a mob waited until ten o'clock nightly to hear the news from Birmingham, "and," as the Rev. George Burder, Minister of West Orchard Chapel, records, "seemed only to want a leader to begin the work of destruction [1791] of the City of Coventry. 211 amongst us ; indeed, it was suspected that some bad men of Coventry were the prin- cipal incendiaries at Birmingham." It was rumoured that Priestly had escaped from that town to Burder's house for shelter, and the Minister hastily packed his valuables, to be moved at a moment's notice if necessary, but the arrival of some soldiers in Coventry prevented any attempt, if indeed any was projected. Burder and his friends tried to collect evidence, and it would appear that the extraordinary cartoon, " The Devil amongst the Saints ; or, The Revenge and Journey to Hell," thereupon came out, as in it the Revs. Burder (of West Orchard), and Evans (of Little Heath, Foleshill), with the Deacons of the former Chapel (Messrs. Collett and Reader, senr.), together with two informers, are conspicuous. The Rev. Jonathan Evans appears in another cartoon of this time, and whilst kicking over the Church, is shown supporting the cap of liberty, in allusion to his tenets. As the French Revolution advanced, England to some extent became tainted with the dangerous principles lurking under the creed of " Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity," and some few Coventry people became touched with the infection ; but whilst seditious placards, Republican pamphlets, and inflammatory handbills were stuck upon the walls of Churches and houses, the great bulk of the people remained firmly attached to the Throne. The Church and Tory party were loyal, the Whigs and many Noncon- formists equally so, but certain extreme men and some Dissenters were doubtful. Of 1 1 o innkeepers and publicans in the Town, 106 signed a resolution expressing their attach- ment to the King and appreciation of the Constitution, declaring they would suffer none to hold societies or meetings in their houses, or to use any language tending to subvert the kingdom, without giving immediate warning to the Mayor, and they pub- lished the names of the four publicans who would not sign, by way of reproach. Their loyalty was equalled by " the people called Quakers," who likewise publicly expressed their " affectionate regard for King and Government," as did " the Protestant Dissenters of the Baptist denomination " and others. On the 13th December, a numerously- attended meeting of magistrates, clergy, gentry, and inhabitants was held at the County Hall, the Mayor (Mr. George Howleit) presiding, which declared its loyalty to the Crown. Burke's pamphlet, " Reflections upon the French Revolution," had been well received by the Tories, and when Tom Paine afterwards published his " Rights of Man " in reply, he was prosecuted by the Government for his attack on the Constitu- tion, and found guilty. This country was on the verge of a war with France, which the Republic declared against it in January, 1793, and on the ist of that month, Paine's effigy was drawn in a cart to Cross Cheaping, Coventry, for execution, where, together with his work, and a portrait of Mr. Fox, having a halter round his neck, it was burnt ; a band playing " the Rogue's March," and the people singing " God save the King." In 1793, the Coventry Park began to be enclosed, and laid out into meadows, 212 The Parliamentary Representation [^793] CHAPTER XLIX. Distress, Discontent, and Dear Bread. George III., continued (1793 to 1796). Threatened French invasion— Coventry Barracks estabUshed— Distress and discontent — Corres- ponding Society's meeting— Local address on the King's escape—" Seditious Meetings Bills " — A favourable local gathering — "County Hall" and "Corporation" petitions for the Bill — Well received and presented by the Members— The Mayor and the Member — "Thistle" petition — Its defects exposed — Both Members refuse to present it — How sent to London — Presented by Mr. Fox — Scarce corn and dear bread — Farmers greed — Seasonable action of Lord Warwick — Mob assemble at Coventry — Dispersed by soldiers — Prices — Sheep sent away — A troublesome regiment — "The Irishman's pad" — Lord Eardley's desires — Fears for his seat — His address — Wishes to be returned again — Christmas box to the Freemen — A "contrast between England and France." 3^.^,^v>J_ Fii*j|)READ of French invasion caused the Government in 1793 to purchase 'j:^V -'Wj, properties in various Midland towns for the erection of barracks for soldiers, _f^^^^ _ and they paid ^2,025 to Messrs. Gunmen and Buck, in 1794-8, for the Bull 'l^ Inn at Coventry, with its frontage towards Smithford Street, and re-modelled the premises on the military plans of the times. Discontent prevailed throughout the country, caused chiefly by bad trade, distress, and the high prices of provisions. Petitions for peace from many towns were presented in the House, and in autumn, 1795, considerable apprehensions were excited by large assemblages of people, convened by the Corresponding Society. On the 26th of October, 40,000 persons assembled at Copenhagen House, near the Metropolis (at which a Coventry deputation attended), who passed resolutions asking that the Bill lately introduced into the Commons for the prevention of political assemblies might be dismissed. The scarcity of corn from the last bad harvest had almost caused a famine, and when His Majesty passed in his carriage on the way to the House to open it, cries were heard of "Peace! Bread! No Pitt! No war!" A pistol was fired, and stones thrown. In November following, the City Members presented an address from Coventry to His Majesty on his escape. The greater part of the people, in spite of the troubles of the time, were extremely loyal, and two temporary Bills for " the safety and preservation of His Majesty's Government against treasonable and seditious practices and attempts," and for "more effectually preventing seditious meetings and assemblies," gave them ease against the [1795] of the City of Coventry. 213 aspirations of the mob. The Mayor, Mr. John Williamson, an enterprising builder, called a meeting of the well-disposed inhabitants at the County Hall, and 2,460 Freemen signed a petition in favour of the Bills, and a similar petition was also prepared by the Corporation. The Mayor personally took the County Hall petition to London, and was received by Lord Eardley ; but his Worship being extremely desirous of showing his loyalty, there were not wanting those to traduce his character, and say he was courting favour to gain Knighthood ; thus in a humorous poetical romance, called " The Coalition of the Conspirators to the Freemen of Coventry," is the following speech of " Yellow Jack " — " And now great Jack his silence broke, For to his Lordship thus he spoke : ' You know I am quite staunch and true Both to myself, my Lord, and you. My friends who say I'm wise and witty Have thrice made me Head of the City; And sure, my Lord, these men are right Who say I should be made a Knight. My wife, too, sets her heart upon Being dubb'd a Lady, and I, Sir John.' The Jew now viewed Jack with delight. And said he should be made a Knight ; Gave him a tea-pot and a watch. And other toys that Jack did catch." Meanwhile, at the instigation of the Corresponding Society in London, a counter petition, as a handbill tells us, emanating from "that stinging alehouse called the Thistle, in West Orchard, Coventry, hereafter to be named Copenhagen Street," was prepared by the local Committee. It contained 2,807 names, and another bill remarks that "on the Lord's Day they entrapped a whole host of saints going to and from the Tabernacle in Copenhagen Street, and brought them over to their purpose." The Yellows scrutinized the names on this petition, and found whilst some had signed three or four times over, various signatures had been forged, and that numbers of women and children had signed it. The Members twice voted for the passing of the Bills, but now the " Seditious " requested them to present their petitions to Parliament, and receiving no reply, sent an emissary to London with them. This is how the anonymous opposition scribe says the business was done — " Who is the man to request the Members to present this Humble and respeclful petition ? At length up starts Young Lucifer, crack-brained as a maniac, garrulous as a Parrot, with head as full of brains as an empty gin bottle, and enthusiastically roars out, 'I am he ! ' Loud applauses ! — Two pairs of greys and cockades — Turn the sharp corner — Whiz ! — Holloa, Boys, Holloa ! — There ye go — to Dunchurch — Slap bang! — no money — bad job — touched the Landlord for ten — Got to London — Snug — Petition scouted — flat — go to Fox — Tally ho ! — Stay three days — Short of money — Mail Coach, outside — Ding dong — dreadfully cold — Saturday morning — half-past eight — Peeping Tom for ever ! — And hang all backward bell ringing." Lord Eardley presented the County Hall petition, and Mr. Wilmot that of the Corporation. They both refused to have anything to do with the Thistle petition, and 2J4 '^^''^ Parliamentary Representation [^795 J Mr. Fox presented it. The Bills were eventually passed by considerable majorities. Corn was exceedingly scarce, and fetched a high price in Coventry Market, for many farmers, greedy for profits on a large scale, refused to bring in their grain. Lord Warwick, the new Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, set an example to the landlords, and ordered his Steward to see his farmers personally, and advise them to take their corn to the markets of Warwick and Coventry. The Steward refused, knowing such a measure would render both his Lordship and himself unpopular, but Lord Warwick mounted his horse, and went round personally to his tenant farmers, informing them that as they held their lands at a low valuation, they jnusi thrash out their corn and bring it to market at a reasonable price, or otherwise he would not renew their leases ; whereupon a prompt compliance was given, and other landlords followed the example. At Coventry, in April, a mob assembled crying for "cheap bread," but were dispersed by Lord Feilding's Light Horse from the Barracks. The Mayor and Committee declared there was sufificieiit grain and cattle, and that they would sell wheat at seven shillings the strike, and mutton at fourpence per pound ; whereupon, in anticipation, upwards of three thousand sheep were driven by the farmers, to London for sale, out of the neighbourhood. "Wheat rose to fourteen shillings, but fell to ten shillings; bread was two pound for sixpence." Meanwhile, Dragoons relieved the Light Horse at Coventry; they were chiefly Irishmen, and from their drilling in the Park, near the Warwick Road, gave the name " Irishman " to a path there. This regiment got to cross purposes with the Citizens, and threatening them, was ordered to Birmingham, where it was broken up through bad conduct. Lord Eardley desired to retain the good wishes of his constituents at this trying period. Bad trade, heavy taxes, and dear bread were telling upon the people, but he hoped the Government would be able to secure a speedy and honourable peace, in order to improve matters before another election. He felt that the seats of himself and colleague were in danger through the firmness they had exhibited upon the Seditions Bill, and the influence of the bad times. On 2Sth December, writing from Broughton Castle, he expressed his desire to be again returned for the City in the next Parliament, and in order to alleviate distress, sent a New Year's present of three shillings each for every Freeman who would receive it. In spite of the black look-out at home, it is peculiar to find so curious a "contrast between England and France" as is contained in a local liandbill of the year — " In England we have a fleet that commands the seas, a brisk foreign trade, our finances in a flourishing state ; and when the corn which is now upon the way from foreign countries arrives, there is not the least doubt but we shall have a large loaf, and everything else in plenty. In France there is no trade at all ; bread at tinee giiinias a found, and everything else in proportion ; frogs and snaili their principal food, icraps of paper in place of money ; their fleets shut up in their harbours by the English Navy, and their armies flying before the Austrians. How satisfactory for Old England, that from the present state of France we must soon have a peace highly honour- able and advantageous, but not the immediate one upon the terms held out by the supporters of French Principles." [1796] of the City of Coventry. 215 CHAPTER L. An Opposition Victory. George III., continued (1796). Dissolution — Eardley and Wilmot decline to contest — Their after biographies — Mr. W. W. Bird again comes forward — With Mr. Nathaniel Jefferys — In " the Independent interest " — Writs received — Corporation candidates : Messrs. John Petrie and Mr. William Berners — Their address — Preparation to receive them — Opposition thereto — Meeting of the mobs — "Yellow Jack's defeat on St. John's Bridge" — Corporation candidates hasty arrival — At King's Head Inn — Mob refuse them hearing — " Order of Terror " — Commencement of polling — The "Blue" rally — Affrights Messrs. Petrie and Berners — They retire — The poll closed — Messrs. Bird and Jefferys elected — Costs of contest — Paid — Defeated candidates, and Members, retiring addresses — A stormy chairing — "A New Song." ^Sj^^l^?N 20th May, 1796, the Parliament dissolved, and a new one was summoned MfSIJR for the 12th July following, when Messrs. Eardley and Wilmot, to the ^^fe^^ surprise of the Corporation party, declined somewhat suddenly to again '^'^ contest Coventry. Mr. Wilmot, in 1804, resigned his Mastership in Chancery, and retired to Bruce Castle, Tottenham, through failing health, where he wrote the life of his father. Sir John Eardley Wilmot, Kt., late Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas, and published, amongst other works, one entitled "Opinions and Judgments." He assumed the name of Eardley in the year 1812, and dying in 1815, was buried in the ancient Norman vault at Berkswell Church, Warwickshire. Lord Eardley was elected for Wallingford on 25th May, 1796. He was an enthusiastic Freemason, and became Provincial Grand Master of Cambridgeshire. His wife. Lady Mary, was an exceedingly beautiful woman. She died the ist of March, 1790, aged 46, and was buried at Berkswell, where a " memorial of affection and sorrow is erected by her surviving husband," who outlived her some years, and was afterwards buried beside her. As his sons died before him, the Peerage ceased, whilst the greater part of old Sampson Gideon's wealth passed to his grand-daughter Selina (who in 1797 married Colonel John Walbanke Childers, of Cantley, Yorkshire), and her family. Mr. William Wilberforce Bird again came forward, together with Mr. Nathaniel Jefferys, of Piccadilly, London, both in "the Independent interest." The writs were received, but the Corporation found the utmost difficulty in obtaining candidates. Whilst searching for them far and near, they besought the Freemen not to pledge 2i6 The Parliamentary Representation [.^79^1 their votes, and finally secured the services of Messrs. John Petrie and William Berners ; who, on the 23rd May, published a joint address, expressing their regard for the principles of the "glorious and excellent Constitution," and their determination " to give support to that noble system of government which had rendered this happy country the admiration of the world," whilst promising to pay special attention to the private interest of the Freemen. "As they were both deeply engaged in the commercial concerns of the country " they looked forward to a speedy and lasting peace. It was made known that the Corporation candidates would enter the City at noon on the 26th, and that body distributed yellow cockades to such as would help to bring them in. Their mob rallied the Town with music playing, and the Civic banner and streamers displayed ; but the mob of Messrs. Bird and Jefferys assembled, and began to rally also. Both parties met at the bridge on the Burges, where the former got the worst of it, and lost their drums and streamers, and the Mayor and his friends had to suffer the indignity of a retreat, upon which the following appeared, entitled "YELLOW JACK'S DEFEAT, On St. John's Bridge. 26th of May, 1796. "Huzza! — Triumphant Blues rejoice. The City now approves your choice; Whilst Fame's loud clarion shall be heard That sounds for Jefferys and Bird. Hail, hail, the day which broke your chains. See victory now rewards your pains ; May each brave hero in the fight O'erflow with joy this glorious night ; And on that day, each circling year, May every Blue with joy appear. Corruption's Standard you have broke. On St. John's Bridge, by one bold stroke ; Where Yellow-legs and Yelloiv Blues In hearty blows received their dues ; And Jack the Mayor, in one short hour, Prostrate fell, lost all his power. The dastard wretch for mercy cries j Beneath a waggon, as he lies ' I'elted with dirt by girls and boys. .' Tom Shiii'p '■ retreats quick in the rear, Whilst fifty fumes expressed his fear ; He saw the biook, just where he stood, And plunged direct in Sherbourne's flood. Poor Vale,- who saw Tom's active feat. Now tried to make the same retreat ; But looking back before he goes. Received a blow upon the nose ; Recoiling back, drops in the flood. The stream was quickly ting'd with blood. Ewbiink'' with grief saw his friends fly, And following them, he lost an eye ; For as he turned his Yellow phiz, A blow on cheek-bone fell full whiz; The sliull was tirick, or else the stroke Had proved this skirmish not a joke. [1796] of the City of Coventry. 217 Rattray * the young, who stood aloof, Of cowardice now gave strong proof : A sugar hogshead near him stood, In this he crept — excuse my pen — And stuck hke badger in his den ; A wag gave round the cask a chuck. And both rolled headlong in the brook. Alas ! Poor Charles, vile was thy fate, ■ , But yet the truth I must relate: ■ , He fled, no need the place to name, A goddess covered him with shame. His quondam friends, who knew his face. Cried, 'Ah, my Lord, vile is thy case!' And Monkey, who with pride looked big, Had got Ben Dix^ to make a wig; This in the scuffle he now lost. And in the air the wig was tost. Then on a flag was fixed on high , A Trophy of the Victory ; The drums were broke, the streamers tore, And then the foes were seen no more." The defeat of the Mayor's party caused trouble to the Yellows. Hastily the news of the disaster reached Mr. Edward Inge, the Town Clerk; he quickly sent a mounted messenger to stay the Corporation candidates arrival, and in the evening Messrs. Petrie and Berners were brought into the City at the gallop, whereat the author of the above ends his rhythm — " The chaises now drove on full speed. Though from their fears they were not freed; But when they got to the King's Head, They hid themselves and went to bed." The 27th was the show fair day. Business was suspended, and the procession did not take place. The Blue mob would not let the Corporation candidates be heard, many windows were smashed, a "reign of terror" ensued, and a handbill records — " At the present momentous crisis, when Terror is the order of the Day, it is necessary every man should rally round the Standard of Liberty, and do his utmost to counteract the Designs of a base and ungenerous Enemy ; the wretch that breaks your windows for daring to have an Opinion of your own, would also. Butcher-like, commit every Atrocity. That Men of Property and former Respectability should be seen, at the most silent Hour of the Night, like Wolves in Herds parading through the Streets, committing Outrages upon the property of their fellow Citizens, and throwing stones into the Rooms of peaceable inhabitants, is astonishing. Blush, fellow Citizens ! Ye boasted Friends of Liberty, act consistently ; and never, by the Order of Terror, endeavour to deprive others of that Liberty you wish to enjoy yourselves." The poll commenced on Saturday, the 28th, and the four candidates were nominated. The Blues " breakfasted " early at various inns in their Wards, and rallying, proceeded to the booth, when their numbers so affrighted Messrs. Petrie and Berners that they sent a letter to Messrs. Bird and Jefferys withdrawing from the poll, which, after a few votes had been recorded for Bird and Jefferys, was closed without the possibility of their 1 Mr. Thomas Sharp, the antiquary. 2 Samuel Vale, Esq., Alderman, and watch manufacturer. 8 Thomas Ewbank, a lawyer. * David Rattray, M.D. ' Benjamin Dix, a barber. 2i8 The Parliamentary Representation [1796] opponents offering further resistance. Petrie and Earners, in taking leave of their supporters, in a handbill allude to the opposition against their entry into the City, and whilst unable to express their feelings for those " so inhumanly beaten and cruelly treated" in their cause, consider they would be "highly culpable to persevere in a contest which would inevitably destroy the peace of the City;" they therefore retired. As Petrie and Berners had their London Freemen down, their expenses were consider- able, but they paid their debts with honour. It is said Mr. Jefferys spent ;^6,ooo over the election. The Sheriffs returned Mr. William Wilberforce Bird and Mr. Nathaniel Jefferys, who, whilst they promised to give their endeavours to restore peace, and to reduce the high price of corn, promised aid to promote any measure that would increase the comfort of the industrious poor. The procession at the Chairing on the 31st was as brilliant as the weather (which was very stormy) would allow, and at its conclusion, a most terrific hailstorm upset the harmony of the proceedings. The following appeared — "A New Song wrote for the Blue Club, in the Third Year of Yellow Jack's Mayoralty. By Dr. Lash'em, to the Tune of 'The Dumpling Days of Good Queen Bess.' Let the demon of discord be drove far away, Whilst unity triumphs on this jovial day ; May you ever be merry, so long as you're true, And despair seize the wretch who comes here not a Blue. This City long time has been pestered with knaves, Who nursed famed Tom White, for to make you all slaves; They feasted, got drunk, clothed their backs, it is known, But can they with truth say 'twas justly their own ? Chorus — Botheration seize the rascals in the nation, Not forgetting Yellow Jack and the Corporation. With cash thus procured they corrupt all their tools, And to Parliament send two weak-headed fools. Who perched in the Senate like owls in the dark. And when Trade was the subject, ne'er made one remark. But no more through this City shall folly thus pass. Nor St. Stephen's disgraced by a Jew and an ass ; E'en Petrie and Berners through fear ran away. And left Bird and Jefferys triumphant to-day. Chorus — Botheration seize the rascals of the nation, Not forgetting Yellow Jack and the Corporation." m^^'M^"- [1796] of the City of Coventry. 219 CHAPTER LI. Members Actions and Speeches. George III., continued (1796 to 1799). Biography of Mr. N. Jefferys— His dealings with the Prince of Wales— Anecdote of Sheridan — Mr. Jefferys maiden speech— Members vote with the minority — Stopping supplies— Local bankers— Mr. Bird's Small Notes Bill — Mr. Jefferys speeches— Mr. Bird and apprentice indenture stamps, Watch and Clock Bill, and increased taxes — A Coventry petition — Mr. Bird and the appointment of Local Land Tax Commissioners — Mr. Inge's reply in "The Mercury " — The Members vote against the Union — Mr. Bird's speech thereon — His Bill for Coventry ribbon weavers wages— Rejected by the Lords. sATHANIEL JEFFERYS, Esq., was the son of Mr. Jefferys, a cutler, of the ^X,^M^ Strand, London. He served an apprenticeship to an uncle in Cockspur "^■^^ Street, and commenced business for himself at the corner of Dover Street, ^I^ Piccadilly, as a jeweller and goldsmith, married, and had a family. Trade increased, and amongst his patrons was George, Prince of Wales. Jefferys supplied the costly wedding presents for His Royal Highness's marriage with Princess Caroline of Brunswick, and made various loans to the Prince of considerable magnitude. The account remained outstanding for a considerable period. "Having in 1796 received _;^24,ooo upon it, Mr. Jefferys retired from business upon a supposed capital of 7740,000, and an elegant house in Hertford Street, Mayfair, and another in the Isle of Thanet," whereupon a writer says : " The moment His Royal Highness smiled on him, Jefferys neglected his shop for Carlton House, and increased in altitude two feet — at least, he became tall enough to look over the heads of his former friends and com- panions. It is a known fact that Mr. Jefferys took every opportunity of throwing himself in the way of the Prince for Royal notice, and many persons have observed he got tall and thin as he became the Prince's shadow. To gratify ambition, he became a candidate for Coventry." Mr. Jefferys was a bold speaker, but unequal to sustain debate, he had been induced to stand for Coventry by his friend, Richard B. Sheridan, and although considered rich by the many, a few knew otherwise. The impecunious and brilliant Sheridan had received many favours from one Wright, a bailiff, who kept a fashionable house in Carey Street; and Wright, in return, desired the afterward Treasurer of the Navy to procure a place for his son from Secretary Dundas, whereupon "Old Shery" solicited the Minister for the appointment, saying: " I am come, Sir, to ask a favour of you ; for whilst Pitt and you live, by heavens ! 220 The Parliamentary Representation [179^] you will keep all the good things to yourselves. Will you, then, give me something for the son of a bailiff, to whom I owe infinite obligations ? " The Secretary granted the singular request with a hearty laugh, and the youth was sent out to a handsome situation in Ceylon, where, after four years, he died in receipt of three thousand a year. Sheridan told Wright he did not want his thanks ; "You are welcome," said he, "but yoa shall give me a dinner for this, and we'll dine at Carey Castle." The bailiff asked Mr. Jefferys, with other gentlemen well known for the emptiness of their purses, and they all spent a very jovial day ; but before leaving, Sheridan, with a look of ridiculous solemnity, said: "Gentlemen, let us keep this meeting a most profound secret, for if Mr. Pitt hears of it, he will say that Wright has, witA a view to some fresh political movement, entertained all the tnonied interest of the kingdom." Mr. Jefferys made his maiden speech in the House on 2nd November, upon the Bill for augmenting the Cavalry. In December, both Coventry Members voted for Fox's censure upon Ministers, only to find themselves in the minority. The Government had, in spite of the enormous taxation, largely overdrawn its account with the Bank of England, and the Bank refused to comply with Pitt's further demand of a loan for Ireland. In February, 1797, the bankers and manufacturers of Coventry, with other towns, experienced difficulty in carrying on their business and answering the many demands to which they were exposed during the then depressed times through the great scarcity of coin. The local bankers were. Little and Woodcock; Wyatt and Beck ; Lamb, Eagle and Bunney ; Troughton, Newcombe and Troughton ; and Bird, Bagshaw and Peirman. Paper money was made a legal tender, and the Bank of England contemplated issuing small notes instead of guineas. Mr. Bird took the matter in hand, and pointed out that the laws prohibited the issuing of small promissory notes, and that business could not be carried on in the country under the temporary pressure if the Acts were to be complied with. He desired to temporarily suspend their operation, and to allow the issue of promissory notes for a limited time as if such laws were not in existence. The matter received considerable debate, and on the 2nd of March Mr. Bird brought up his Small Notes Bill. The Commons passed it, and the Lords agreed to the measure, after striking out the word "netrotiable." The Bill was renewed, with amendments, from time to time until 1819. In March, Mr. Jefferys spoke upon the Quaker Relief Bill, and the questions of the Royal marriage, and the mutiny at the Nore. Mr. Bird proposed an exception in the Stamp Duty Bill favourable to longer apprenticeship indentures, and did not approve of taxing any right of the franchise. In July, Mr. Bird, finding the Watch and Clock Duty Bill would be highly injurious to the interest of his constituents, opposed it. Both Members opposed the Bill for trebling the assessed taxes in December, and Mr. Bird declared that the Coventry watch trade had been almost annihilated by the imposts of the preceding year. [1798] of the City of Coventry. 221 On the nth January, 1798, Mr. Bird presented a Covenlry petition asking for the repeal of an Act imposing a duty on watches. On the 4th of April, the Member complained to the House of the many contemptible persons who had been appointed Commissioners for collecting the Land Tax in Coventry, and stated that the Commission was composed of such low and mean characters as must bring a disgrace upon the laws, which for some sinister purpose had been placed in their hands to dispense. Amongst the number were persons who were colliers, scavengers, watchmen, cats-meat dealers, lamplighters, fiddlers, nine servants of the Corporation, and two idiots, together with a turnpike keeper and a shoeblack. He asked whether such persons were proper for administrating, and desired to be allowed to bring in a supplemental Bill for Coventry. Mr. Inge, Clerk to the Commissioners, replied to Mr. Bird's charges through "the Mercury," saying that all those chosen were Freemen, and it appeared strange that the worthy Member should suppose that persons of the description were competent to elect him a Senator, yet incompetent to deal with the collection of the taxes. Usually the Members went with the Opposition, but on the 20th April they voted with the Ministers for the suspension and extension of the Habeas Corpus Act. In February, 1799, Bird and Jefferys voted against the Government on the question of the proposed Union of the House of Commons with the Irish Parliament. In the debate, Mr. Bird spoke as " the representative of a manufacturing town, whose particular interest might be materially affected." Mr. Douglas, one of the Lord Commissioners of the Treasury, replied that " with respect to the fear which the Honourable Member for Coventry might entertain for his constituents, he thought that the plan, if passed, would occasion such joy and produce such a consumption of the manufactures of that City as to make the fortunes of the manufacturers." Mr. Bird, in reply, said "he believed the manufacturers were better judges of their own interests than the honour- able gentleman. He never had said that the plan might not be eventually good for the country, but he thought the resolutions went further than was necessary, for they tied England hand and foot, and laid her at the mercy of the Irish Parliament." On 27th May, Mr. Bird introduced "a Bill for regulating the wages and price of work of manufacturers employed in the manufactory of ribbon in the City and County of Coventry." It was read a second time on the 31st, but on the nth of July the Coventry Ribbon Weavers Wages Bill was rejected by the Lords on the question for the third reading. 222 The Pavliamentary Representation [1800] CHAPTER LII. Act for the Relief and Employment of the Poor. George III., continued (1800 to 1801). Members votes — Loyal opposition meetings — Silk weavers petition — First Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland — Mr. Pitt's resignation — The Addington Ministry — State of the times — The Poor Rates — Proposal to start a House of Industry — Petitions and counter petitions — Mr. Bird's speech against the Bill — Mr. Jefferys speech for same — Bill passed — Its title — Census. gTILL the Members voted with the minority, and on 17th February, 1800, Mr. Bird spoke upon the scarcity of corn. On the 19th of May, he called a meeting at Coventry, with a view to the preparing of an address to His Majesty on his escape when fired at on the Thursday before, which memorial was unanimously agreed upon ; but the Body Corporate, aggrieved at his action, called another meeting, whereat their address was coolly received. On the 23rd, Mr. Bird presented a petition from the silk manufacturers and weavers of Coventry, praying that a higher duty than proposed should be laid upon imported silk from Ireland, which was referred to a Committee. Parliament was now discussing the union of English and Irish Parliaments, and the Members then sitting on the part of England became Members of the first Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland, which met 22nd January, 1 80 1. In February, Mr. Pitt resigned, and the Addington Ministry was formed. On the 17th of February, Mr. Bird spoke upon the Brown Bread Bill, the repeal of which was moved. In the diary of a Coventry family is the following state of the times: "February 23; the Coarse, or Bran Bread Bill, was laid aside, and wheatened bread sold again at 2 lbs. 8 ozs. for a shilling. On March 2; bread about 2 lbs. 4 ozs. for a shilling, mutton and beef gd. a pound, pork lod., potatoes 8d. a gallon, rice 6d. a pound. Trade very bad, and the Poor Rates twenty shillings in the pound. Trades- people breaking daily, and the poor starving for want." "In July, through the great distress by the loss of trade and dearness of provisions, the Poor Rates the last year amounted to about twenty shillings in the pound, which brought such heavy charge on the payers as ruined many." In order to remedy the evil, "the gentry" in the Town met, and agreed to obtain "an Act to unite both Parishes into one, and to build a House of Industry for the better employment of the poor," when accordingly, both Mr. Bird and Mr. Jefferys presented petitions in favour; and on the i8th of March, the latter obtained permission to bring in a Bill for the purpose. On the ist of May, Mr. Jefferys presented petitions from the Mayor and Corporation of Coventry, and other bodies, desiring the Bill might become law ; but in the meantime Mr. Bird, finding a great Li8oi] of the City of Coveniry. 223 part of the poorer inhabitants opposed to it, turned tail, and presented counter petitions from a number of Coventry and London Freemen. On the second reading, Mr. Bird attempted to show that the Act was inexpedient, and calculated to serve no important end. " He particularly alluded to the number of those who signed for the Bill, which he stated to be about thirty-three, who, although highly respectable individuals, were not sufficiently numerous to influence the decision of the House. With this he contrasted the number of those signing the petitions presented against the Bill, which he stated to be upwards of three hundred, and contended that their sentiments ought to have great weight. He suggested that the Bill had a tendency to throw too much influence into the hands of a few individuals, and concluded by moving that the Bill be read that day six months. " Mr. Jefferys rose to oppose the local knowledge of his hon. friend and colleague, but being desired by a very considerable number of the inhabitants of the first respectability to support the measure, he had endeavoured to supply the want of local information by gentlemen well informed upon the subject, and he believed the measure necessary, not only to the relief, but to the very existence of Coventry. The Poor Rates had increased to such an amount that could scarcely be borne, and if this mode or some other could not be levied, the people of Coventry must apply to Parliament to give them support. No employment was given to the out poor in general, whilst that given in the Workhouses was inconsiderable, and the profits arising from their labour very small. Notwithstanding the small proportion of the poor in the Workhouses, they were so deficient of room that part sat up whilst the others slept, and six, seven, and eight children were obliged to he in one bed. The surgeon who attended one of the Workhouses (there were two, one in Hill Street and one in Well Street) said that unless many of them were removed, an epidemic fever must be the consequence. In the other Workhouse an alarming fever had already prevailed, on account of its crowded state, which extended to almost every individual in it. The progressive increase of the rates and the miserable condition of the poor principally arose from the present bad system and management. It was proposed by the plan of the House of Industry that the poor should, by the exercise of their talents and labour, contribute to their own support, and by that means relieve the oppressive burdens of the rates, and keep themselves out of the destructive habits of idleness and beggary. The measure had been stated to have been a job, which he did not conceive could be applied to it in any degree, every circumstance attending the accounts being subject to the decision of the Board. It was intended to give employment to persons applying for relief in the occupation of the several trades they had been accustomed to, which he conceived could in no degree be termed a monopoly of the manufactory of the place. His hon. friend and colleague had alluded to the several petitions he had presented, amongst which he had omitted to notice one praying for leave to bring in this Bill. In consequence of his hon. friend's declining to go on with the measure, he had taken it up independent of all party considerations, considering it to be an object of the very greatest importance to the City he had the honour to represent, and that in so doing he was stimulated by no desire to court popularity with one party or to fear the loss of it with another. Had his hon. friend gone on with the Bill which he at first brought in, he would have been very happy to have supported the measure, having no ambition, by appearing as a principal, to place himself in a forward or conspicuous situation in the business of the House. "On a division taking place, there were — For the second reading 84, against it 21, majority for 63." Both Members were placed upon the Committee. Mr. Jefferys was Chairman, and Mr. Bird obtained a clause, whereby, in case silk goods were made by the inmates, they were not to be manufactured " otherwise than for hire only, and at the usual and accustomed prices." The objections being over-ruled, the Bill soon came into force, when the old Monastic buildings of the White Friars on the London Road were pur- chased, and considerably added to. The Bill was entitled, "An Act for the better relief and support of the poor in the several Parishes of St. Michael and Holy Trinity, in the City of Coventry and County of the said City, and for exempting the Vicars of the said Parishes from being rated to the relief of the poor in respect to certain assessments." By a census now taken, Coventry contained 2,930 houses, and 16,049 inhabitants, and the County of the City 5,547 inhabitants. 224 ' ^^^^ Parliamentary Representation [i8oi] CHAPTER LIII. " Oh Rare Jefferys and Barlow." George III., continued (1801 to 1802). Mr. Jefferys proposes to retire — His popularity with Corporation and Drapers Company — "The Bastille" — Mr. Peter Moore — Brought by Mr. Bird — His India trade proposal — Tewkesbury elections— A case at Gloucester Assizes— Prince of Wales debts — Mr. Jefferys the largest creditor — Defends his action in House — Peace celebration — A Blue treat — Mr. Bird in Parliament— Overtures to Prince of Wales and Sir Robert Peel — Corporation and Drapers join interests — "Lost" — Account of the Company— Canvass of Bird and Moore — A mimic address — Support of London Freemen — Treats and free fights — Colonel Brooke's arrival — Opposition mob surround King's Head Inn — "Brooke's retreat" — Captain F. W, Barlow accepted by the Corporation and Drapers — Mr. Jefferys also accepted — Bird and Moore's triumphant entry — The Blues and their publicans— Mr. Jefferys threatened — Opposition mob await his arrival — How he entered Coventry — Destruction at the White Bear Inn — Eight days polling— Bird and Moore have the show of hands — An epigram — " Arrangements " at the poll booth— Out voters— Tom Arnold and his Freemen — " Oh Rare Jefferys and Barlow " — Party headquarters and dinners — Treating — "Turn again, Whittington "—Close of poll — Messrs. Jefferys and Barlow elected — The Chairing — A customary gift— Chairing Song— A parody upon it — The band of the ist Dragoons engaged in the procession — Meeting with the Blue mob— Great disturbance— A mock Chairing — " The Member for Radford " — Mob's return — Rioting— Military called out — Correspondence with War Office. f(iE]||p%R. JEFFERYS business affairs were so involved that he could not afiford the expense of a contested election, especially as Mr. Bird proposed to bring forward a candidate to oppose him. He was popular with the 'fffi^ Corporation and Drapers Company through the part he had taken in obtaining the "Directors Act," but disliked by a large portion of the lower classes in Coventry, who did not approve of the poor working for a living within the new Workhouse, which they christened " the Bastille." On the 7th of December, an address was issued to the Freemen by Mr. Peter Moore, of Great George Street, Westminster. He was brought to Coventry by Mr. Bird, and "the Mercury" declared he was " tlie gentleman that brings forward at the India House the plan for opening the trade to the East Indies ; such a measure must be of great benefit in the manufacture of this City, if carried, by introducing Bengal raw silks upon cheap terms." Mr, Moore had twice unsuccessfully contested Tewkesbury, and petitioned against the sitting Members return, but the Committee of the House declared ^^ o o ^ 5 3 C '>j ^ ° i«j £ t ^ s o 3 t^S * "£ a 1 ! ^ 1 1 ^ ^ 'sJ .i « o o H U W W en O <: en en ci en t/) W s o o o O ■- . '^ - — ~0 ; ^^^1 J o^ TO-] 5 ^ " I :-io •to' :14 < !S=lr -»l 3 I t^'^ zl^'i" t 5 - ?V- i bi ■3 - s^ *^ ^ ■.lis Ji^ = ■ "^ Aj ^ ^j iiii if li^IA ifi liuH n_ij o o O 2 it ii iii zZ OS C '-; w £ ° H -2 ,;; cuKO a ^ic - = s Cii\ ;i 1"? II 3 oJS nil? Ji :1 : E 33 S", rroH-S*" i.E-S C ,i" .^.-sl-S-El-lil-t'^- Ul o w u: > n M U rri h h H z o O H g O UJ o Ct: P tn h u [i8oi] of the City of Coventyy. 225 them elected, and that his petition was both frivolous and vexatious. His credentials were not improved by a case tried before Lord Kenyon at the Gloucester August Assizes, in 1 797, wherein the landlord of the Hop Pole Inn at Tewkesbury sought to recover ^300 for the entertainment of Mr. Moore and his friends at the election from that gentleman. The Judge found the bill exceedingly reasonable, and strongly condemned Mr. Moore and the other candidate. "What," he said, "Mr. Moore could see in his colleague to take him under his protection and to frank his election, he could not tell ; but having been so lovingly together, he would not separate them ; and directed the Jury to find a verdict for the innkeeper." The debts of the Prince of Wales had occupied a considerable time of the legis- lature since 1787. The Prince became deeply involved, and Mr. N. Jefferys was one of his creditors His first loan to the Prince was made about 1780, and the account had advanced to ;^8s,028 ; but the Commissioners for the management of His Royal Highness's affairs deducted a large sum, which placed Mr. Jefferys in an embarrassed position, and on the 31st of March, 1802, he defended his claims in the House. After nine years war with France, the hollow Peace of Amiens was signed on the 25th of March, and was celebrated at Coventry on Easter Monday, April 26th. On the day following, Messrs. Bird and Moore gave a treat to their friends. On the 4th of May, Mr. Bird endeavoured to get the provisions of a Bill affecting the health of certain persons employed in the cotton mills and trades, extended to the silk manufacture. Mr. Jefferys made overtures to the Prince of Wales to name a candidate for Coventry. They were declined, and some of the chief inhabitants invited Sir Robert Peel to contest the City, whereupon " A new song" says of those it calls " the House of Industry schemers" — ■■They thought Sir Robert Peel would go and take with him his cotton, With work the parish gaol to fill for each poor man that's got in." The Baronet declined, but sent ;£ioo towards Mr. Jeffery's expenses. Meanwhile, to the no small concern of the Blues, the Drapers Company, who had hitherto been their friends, joined the Corporation, and a curious handbill, in denoting the fact, says- „ ^^^^ , O YES ! O YES ! O YES ! THIS IS TO GIVE NOTICE. To all fersons whom H may concern, and therefore pray pay attention and hear the woeful tale ! Dfserted and Strayed from the Place where, in the days of its credit, it used to be laid- ^'^ The Seal of the Drapers Company. The last time it was seen or heard of was sometime on Thursday last upon the Scout ^, ' ^„„r,ar>v with aDothcr Seal, well known to be an old offender, both m rrater^^nrr"ect^:nrThL:e:wni "apprehend the said Seal, so that, it miy be brought character anuc conviction or Penitence, be rewarded accordmg to his deserts; but the last impression 'taken therefrom is not conceived to be Proof, and consequently of little or no value. Coventry, May 3rd, 1802. 226 The Parliamentary Representation [1802] The Drapers Company consisted of eighteen members, a Master, and two Wardens. It had originally been incorporated for the furtherance of trade, but the original object of the Charter was gone. It had an annual revenue of about ;i^ioo, and the members individually, if not as a body, possessed considerable interest amongst the poorer Freemen. They had hitherto been in opposition to the Corporation, and " this un- natural combination " exasperated the Independent, or " Dark Blue " candidates, whose Committee met daily at Mr. Bird's house, in Little Park Street ; whilst a canvass of the Town was commenced, and, attended by a crowd carrying the Mazarine Ward flags, Messrs, Bird and Moore proceeded from house to house. Mr. Bird printed his address on the 8th, and liis opponents issued a mimic one, having considerable humour displayed, which has an allusion to his ragged following — " I have no time now to give you all my advice, but desire you will not follow me about, unless you put on your best clothes, as the appearance you made last night reminded me o( 'a black, shirtless rabble.' Dear friends, excuse me — dinner waits. Farewell. WILL BY FORCE Two liundred and fifty of the Coventry Freemen in London held a meeting at the Hoxton Coffee House. They signed an address promising Mr. Jefferys their support, and desiring his nomination. Those voters favourable to Bird and Moore met at the Red Lion, Phcenix Street, Spitalfields, and passed a similar resolution to their candidates. Their Chairman, Robert Moy, alluding to the actions of Bird, Jefferys, and others, with reference to the erecting of the House of Industry, praises the former, declaring that "the poor only were indebted to him for beneficial alterations in the Bill, and believing that on the present occasion they will evince their gratitude by supporting the man who, although failing to destroy the serpent, endeavoured (as he promised) to rob it of its sting." Mr. Bird's exertions for the repeal of the Watch Tax gave him many supporters. On the loth, the Corporation gave a treat to their Freemen, which was followed on the i7lh by one given by gentlemen of the Drapers Company, and another by Bird and Moore. At ten o'clock in the evening the parties met in Gosford Street, and a violent mcke occurred. The Corporation party solicited Colonel Brooke, the officer commanding at Birmingham, to become their candidate. He arrived at the King's Head Inn, Coventry, early on Saturday, previous to the election, and had an interview with his friends, but the news of his arrival was the signal for the Blue mob to assemble, and [i8o2] oj the City of Coventry. 227 about a thousand of them surrounded the house, and kept the gallant officer prisoner. Deterred by this reception, and not able to have further access to his friends, he left the Town without becoming a candidate ; but Captain Francis W. Barlow, an officer of the 4th Dragoon Guards, having a considerable estate at Middlethorpe, near York, and a Magistrate of that County, who was staying at the Hotel, being made of stouter stuff, declared "that if the Colonel resigned, he'd be hanged if he himself wouldn't come forward, for he didn't care a button for the threats of an opposition mob." He quickly came to terms with the Corporation, and was joyously accepted both by them and the Drapers. It was now given out that Mr. Jefferys had been induced to stand again, and an opponent's view of the Corporation candidates is thus recorded — "What is their choice? a boy without a beard, Who knows no more of commerce than his sword ; The other, Bankrupt both in faith and trade, A shipwreck of all principle." Parliament had been dissolved, and a new one called for August 31st, 1802. On the ist July, Bird and Moore made a triumphant entry into the Town. They were met by their party on Whitley Common ; the horses taken from the carriages, and amidst a vast concourse of people they were drawn into the City. By giving out their determination to spend no money at the public-houses, they disheartened some few. Here is a specimen squib upon the matter, entitled " A Dialogue between a Freeman and Dear Charley." The Abstract from the Act, against treating, is alluded to. "Freeman^No bread, no cheese, no meat, no beer — Hang it, Charles, it makes me queer; I've shouted till my throat is sore, With Bird I've done, I'll shout no Moore. Charley — You shout no Moore! You must, I tell 'e! Will not the Abstract fill your belly ? Our Bird, you know, has got his quills, And Peter ne'er would pay his bills ! Mind not yourself, but be content To starve by Act of Parliament." The Corporation now prevailed upon Mr. Jefferys to come forward, and a sub- scription was entered into. There was a large Blue mob awaiting his arrival at Much Park Street, Coventry, on his coming from London, which declared there should be no opposition ; and threatened to put the unfortunate gentleman into " the Bastille." He, however, slipped into the City another way, and by the help of a friendly rally, reached the White Bear Inn, the gates were immediately closed, but the infuriated opposition mob followed, and smashing doors and windows, broke into the Inn ; menaced Mr. Grimes, the landlord, destroyed the furniture, and threatened Mr. Jefferys life ; but eventually the constables cleared the place. Jefferys and Barlow's addresses were issued on the sth. 228 The Parliamentary Representation [1802] The poll commenced on the 8th of July, and lasted eight days. Bird and Moore gained the show of hands at the hustings, and Mr. Carter, junior, demanded a poll, in writing, for Jefferys and Barlow. It was objected that he was Under-Sheriff, but he declared he was not, and made the demand as a Freeman. The poll went on, amidst excitement, each side equally sure of winning. A handbill says — "Some swear by the gods, They will venture long odds, That Bird is returned without trouble; But ere the poll's o'er. Bird will fly with one Moore, And prove that Pretension's a bubble." The booth was in Cross Cheaping, and the Freemen came to poll through a lane, or way made by the crowd to it ; they polled by tallies. The voting was open, and the Freemen were thanked by the candidates or their agents. An Alderman stood on one side of this lane in the " Corporation interest," and one of the " Independent " gentlemen on the other, and when undue influence was used, the " Assessor " declared that " if the Alderman condescended to take upon himself the office of blackguard, he could not help it ; " and indeed, the Sheriffs, Messrs. Skears Rew and Vale Whitwell, had a rough time of it. The out-voters now amounted to about 760, and numbers, as usual, came long distances. Bird and Moore somewhat neglected the Londoners, which aided their opponents. When, near the close of the election, a Blue mob waited upon the London Road for their opponents coach and out-voters, with the intention of staying their progress until all was over ; Arnold, the coachman, slipped down a side lane, and entered the City quietly with his load of Freemen, who promptly recorded their votes ; an achievement which ; aided by the drum and fife bands of the old Charity Schools in the Town, has been rendered popular in the favourite tune and words, yet heard at election times in Coventry, of — "Oh Rare Jefferys and Barlow! Oh Rare Jefferys and Barlow ! Down Folly Lane, Tom Arnold he came, To vote for Jefferys and Barlow." Bird and Moore's headquarters were at Mr. Bird's house, in Little Park Street. Mr. Jefferys stayed at the White Bear, and Captain Barlow at the King's Head, the latter gentlemen dining with their friends alternately at either daily. There were open, and partially open, houses at this election, where food and liquor could be had by various partizans. " We had," says Shaw, the Dunchurch publican, in his evidence on the petition, in speaking of the Fleur-de-Lis Inn, "pickled salmon, roast beef, boiled beef, ale, punch, and brandy ; all upon the table at the same time." As the poll neared its end, the following appeared — [i802] of the City of Coventry. 229 '" Turn again, Whittington,' Turn about, fair play ; Bird and Moore are almost done, Nor will they long stay. Now all the cash is gone, The Bank is drained ; Paper must instead be shown, Each nerve is strained. They have already tried To poll twice over : Pauper and dead beside Are laid in clover. What will poor Peter do When he's defeated ? Let him to Tewkesbury go. And there be treated. No more shall ' Whittington ' Ring from St. Michael's ; Soon shall we hear ' dead and gone ' — Bird and Moore, farewell." When the poll closed, 2,369 Freemen had voted, and according to " the copy of the poll " issued, the numbers stood — F. W. Barlow... ... ... 1197 N. Jefferys ... ... ... 1190 W. W. Bird ... ... ... 1182 P. Moore ... ... ... 1 1 5 2 Majority in favour of Barlow 15 Majority in favour of Jefferys 8 And on 17th July, the Sheriffs returned Francis William Barlov*', Esq., and Nathaniel Jefferys, Esq. On the 23rd, the chairing took place. It was a very expensive affair, and a great profusion of yellow ribbons was used. There was no general dinner, but the customary five shillings each was given by the victors to such as wished it. The following "Song for the Chairing of N. Jefferys and F. VV. Barlow, Esqrs.," to the tune, "See the Conquering Hero comes," appeared — " See the conquering heroes come ! Raise your voices, beat the drum : Sons of Freedom, hail the day. Independence bears the sway. See your Members in the chair ; Hoist your streamers, rend the air: Sons of Freedom, hail the day, Independence bears the sway. Peace and harmony unite. We've preserved our ancient right : Sons of Freedom, hail the day, Independence bears the sway." 230 The Parliamentary Representation [1802 ] This seems to have annoyed the opposition party, for Mr. J. Turner, the printer, issued a counter-blast called " A Rhapsody on the Chairing Song," by way of reply. The Military Band of the ist Dragoons, quartered in the Coventry Barracks, consisting of sixteen privates, had been requisitioned for the Chairing, and other privates led their horses. When the procession was in Spon Street, a large Blue mob met them, and in a scuffle the cliair of Mr. JefTerys was soon surrounded. Stones were thrown in all directions, and such violence used that the Magistrates requested that a detachment from the barracks should be in readiness to restore the City's peace, if necessary. The Blues attempted to dismount a bandsman, which brought the privates leading the horses into collision ; but matters were at length quieted. In the afternoon, a number of Bird and Moore's partizans met and dined at Radford, situate a mile north of the City, where they had a mock election, and declared the result thus — " RADFORD ELECTION. Thomas Sammons, Esq. (Cobbler) ... ... ... 66 Peter Camomile, Esq. (Dr. Vernon) ... ... 12 Thomas Would-be Alderman (Mr. Hookham) ... 2." Sammons was a parish pauper, and his mock chairing was attended by about a thousand persons. A handbill asks — "Friends and neighbours, all attend At Keresley's merry chairing. When we to British Commons send Our Member; oh, what staring! And Samraon's name shall greeted be With loud huzzas and three times three." This mob returned to Coventry about seven o'clock, preceded by drums and fifes, and insulted and beat various persons wearing their opponents colours. They assaulted a soldier at the Market Place, and played "the Rogues March" in front of the barracks. Several privates standing near the gates were ill used, but their comrades from the barracks, and some of Jefferys and Barlow's men, took tiieir part, and considerable confusion ensued. Mr. John Williamson, the late Chief Magistrate, in endeavouring to quell the disturbance, was seriously hurt, and ordered out a small detachment of the military, whereupon the mob quickly dispersed, the soldiers parading the streets for some hours. The matter was reported by Bird and Moore's friends to the War Ofifice, and Mr. Mullis, the Mayor, defended his party's case and the officers who took part in the proceedings. [1802-3] o/ '^'* City of Coventry. 231 CHAPTER LIV. A Petition and its Results. George III., continued (1802-3). Bird and Moore's petition — Its allegations — A second petition — Mr. Jefferys qualification to sit challenged — Threatened unseating of Members— Accusations against the Corporation— Scene at Westminster— A Committee appointed to enquire — Lawyers agents and witnesses — Turner's publication of "the whole evidence " — Report of the trial — Witnesses — Evidence — Resolutions — Final determination of Committee — Mr. Jefferys unseated — Mr. Barlow declared duly elected — Petitions and objections not frivolous or vexatious. |lRD and Moore petitioned the House against the return of Jefferys and Barlow. Their petition claimed to have a majority of legal votes, and that they ought to have been returned at the late election ; that divers unqualified persons voted for their opponents, whilst others (their own Freemen) were rejected ; that Jefferys and Barlow and their agents were guilty of notorious bribery and corruption, by giving and promising money and other rewards to voters in order to procure their election ; and that in order to secure it, they corruptly allowed money, meat, drink, and entertainment to voters, contrary to the Statute ; that many Freemen withheld their votes from the petitioners, by reason of gifts and loans, or promises thereof, being given or made to them by their opponents, their agents, or friends ; whilst others, through threats, intimidation, and corruption, were induced to do the like. They therefore prayed redress. A second petition, signed by Thomas Mills, Thomas Morris, George Griflfin, and James Hoggins, followed. It not only accused Jefferys and Barlow of bribery and treating, to the prejudice of their rights, and prayed for relief, but charged the Sheriffs of partiality in taking votes, and declared that at neither the time of election, or of taking the seat, was Mr. Jefferys qualified to sit as a Member. They accuse the Mayor, Bailiffs and Commonalty, whilst acting as avowed agents of Jefferys and Barlow, of the illegal disposal of White's and Wheatley's Charity in order to secure their candidates return, and declare that Bird and Moore were duly elected, and ought to have been returned. The scene shifted to Westminster, to be fought before a Committee of the House, where Parliamentary agents attended, and silver-tongued counsel had large fees with their briefs, whilst agents tried in the waiting rooms to "earwig" hostile witnesses, who, judiciously guarded against " interruption " by friends, were well paid for their 232 The Parliamentary Representation [1803] evidence, and " lived like fighting cocks whilst in the Metropolis." Turner, the printer, of High Street, Coventry, published " The Whole of the Evidence on the Trial of the Petition," and the following condensed report appeared — "When the Coventry Election Committee assembled on 28th February, Mr. Francis Dickens was chosen Chairman, and the petitions against Messrs. Jeffery and Barlow were read, Mr. Pigott opened the case, and Mr. Jefferys signed qualification, dated 20th December, was considered. It stated that he possessed an annual life interest of /300, arising out of freeholds, the property of a Mr. Bryant, in Dorsetshire. Mr. Chistie, auctioneer, deposed to selling Mr. Bryant's whole estate, and a deed of conveyance, dated 1794, was produced. Mr. Smith stated that he witnessed a deed in 1802 between Mr. Bryant and Mr. Jefferys, whereupon Mr. Pigott called upon Sergeant Runnington to produce the 'criminal deed of qualification,' but without effect. Mr. Whitwell (Sheriff), produced the poll book, and an agreement to poll by tallies ; Mr. E. Inge (Town Clerk), produced the Freemens roll, and forty years minutes of the meetings of Sir Thomas White's Charity. He was examined as to the disposal of its funds by the Corporation. Mr. Trist and Mr. Blogg gave evidence of Mr. Jefferys conversation with them. The former said : ' I proposed a toast, " The Corporation of Coventry," when Mr. Jefferys exclaimed, " Hang them, they are no friends of mine ; they are blackguards ; there's not a single gentleman amongst them ! I have stood their champion ; they called for me express ; they knew my distressed situation ; and when I reached Coventry, they sent a message by their Town Clerk to say they refused to support me unless I subscribed /i,5oo, as Captain Barlow had done."' Mr. John Woodcock, banker, examined, said he refused to open an election account, and kept all moneys which he received for that purpose in a purse. He discounted Captain Barlow's bills for ;f 1,500, and that sum went into it ; with ^500 from Mr. Dickens for Mr. Jefferys, ;f500 from the Corporation, and his own and partners subscription also. The Drapers Company were too poor to subscribe. He and the County Hall Committee had access to the purse ; the money was only used for legitimate and counsels expenses ; none of it was used for the dinners at the Bear and King's Head. Mr. Dickens, in his evidence, admitted paying ;f500 for Mr. Jefferys legitimate expenses, and he had his pro- missory note, which he endorsed ; and he knew of no other security to the Corporation or other person. Mr. Lilly gave evidence as to Deputy-Sheriff Carter's actions at the poll booth. Mr. Buck, Warden of the Drapers Company, stated that some gentlemen, but not of the Drapers, agreed to pay Mr. Jefferys expenses, but his own subscription had never been called for. Mr. Inge was again examined, and on the 28th, the Committee determined that the 106 Freemen who had received Sir Thomas White's Charity in October, previous to the election, were not disqualified. Many persons were examined to prove bribery, and other offences, against Aldermen, agents, or others. Joseph Swain, a Leicester out- voter (who polled Bird and Moore), gave a lively account of his arrival at the White Bear, and said that Mr. Barlow handed him from the chaise, gave him a glass of brandy and water to drink his health, and that he dined upstairs. When on the landing of the staircase he met Mr. Carter, who desired his vote for Jefferys and Barlow. ' I told him I would, but not unless I had ten guineas,' said the witness. ' Mr. Carter would not promise, and I went to leave, but he called me back and gave me the money ; when I asked him, as a favour, to grant me the City £^0, which he promised ; and I then wanted a lease of some property ; but my wife, who was present, refused to let me keep the ten guineas, and returned it.' He denied being inebriated, but his evidence was somewhat shaken by cross-examination. His wife followed in much the same strain, and various evidences were then given by persons as to illegal proceedings at the party inns. Various witnesses followed. The endeavour to solve a mysterious payment for a pocket of hops, due from one publican and voter at Dunchurch to another in the same trade, occupied considerable time, and occasioned much cross-swearing. On 3rd March, various Coventry publicans and others were examined as to treating and entertainment given on behalf of Messrs. Jefferys and Barlow. On the gth, Mr. Carter (Attorney), was examined, and said he certainly saw Swain at the White Bear, but he was inebriated, and had to be ejected. He never promised or offered him anything. Other witnesses corroborated his statements. He was asked as to his connection with Mr. Inge, upon election money matters, and his office of Deputy-Sheriff, to which he replied. The Committee came to an end on the nth. They determined that under the special conditions of the case, the deposit of ^'1,500 by Captain Barlow for election purposes was not contrary to law, and that there was no evidence of misappropriation of such deposit. Mr. Barlow had not offended against the Act, and they determined that he was duly elected. They further determined that Mr. Jefferys was not qualified under the Statute of Queen Anne to serve in Parliament as a Citizen. The petitions of Messrs. Bird and Moore were not frivolous or vexatious, neither was the opposition which Mr. Jefferys had offered to them." [1803] oj the City of Coventry. 233 CHAPTER LV. Two Bye-Elections : A Petition, and a Collapse. George III., continued (1803 to 1806). New writ issued — Mr. Bird's retirement — Candidature of Mr. P. Moore — Mr, G. F. Stratton in opposition — Account of him — Poll commenced — Oaths and oath-taking — Mr. Moore's daily majorities — Possession of the booth — Swearing in specials — An Irish out-voter — Mr. Stratton's grand effort — Saturday's poll — Withdrawal of Mr. Stratton — Mr. Moore returned — Final state of the poll — Chairing — Mr. Moore's biography — A petition — Mr. Inge's statement — Committee declare Mr. Moore duly elected — Corporation and the tithes — Members votes — War resumed — Mr. W. Pitt again in office — Mr. Barlow's ill-health — His last vote, and death — Another bye- election — Mr. William Mills comes forward — Compact — Public entry — Colonel Marriott con- sents to stand — Mr. C. Parry also — The Colonel retires — Daily majorities in favour of Mr. Mills — Mr, Parry retires — Mr. Mills returned — His chairing — Biography — Death of Mr. Pitt — Ministry of "all the talents " — Death of Mr. Fox — Grenville's administration. tjERY soon after the announcement of the Committee's decision, a new writ 1^ was issued for Coventry. Mr. Bird withdrew, and retired for Mr. Peter ^•^tSS^t^af^il __^__^ Moore, who made a public entry into the City on 15th March. Two days ^t afterwards, Mr. George Frederick Stratton, of Portman Square, London, and Great Tew, near Chipping Norton, came to the City, and declared himself a candidate in opposition to Mr. Moore. In 1780, Mr. Stratton was chosen for Carlington, but had been defeated at Eye, in 1802, by Admiral Cornwallis. He was a liberal-minded Churchman, and preferred " real liberty and the British Constitution to the false doctrines of French Equality." The poll commenced at one o'clock mid-day on Saturday, the 19th, it having been agreed, after warm debates, on the suggestion of Mr. Moore, that the Freemen should take the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, the dictatory oath, and the two election oaths. Persons were appointed to administer them at the County Hall, and Free School, and they granted certificates to the Freemen taking the oaths. Mr. Moore had a majority on the first day, and on Monday his party took possession of the booth, when the Corporation swore in special constables to protect Mr. Stratton's men whilst polling, but they were worsted in an encounter. A certain Freeman, an Irishman and an out-voter, came by coach from London to vote for the Whig candidate. He said, " I'm come to vote for ye, Mr. Moore." " Glad to see you," replied the gentleman addressed. " Charming weather. Very good of you to do so, I'm sure; very good indeed. When shall you poll?" "Oh, 234 ^^^ Parliamentary Representation [1803] soon, Sir," was Paddy's reply, " soon, Sir ; but, Sir, I couldn't go to the booth in such an old hat and shabby coat as this ; now could I, Sir ? " whereat he piteously eyed his woe-begone belongings, which were neither of the latest fashion, or bought yesterday. The candidate's friends, equal to the occasion, soon found the necessary habiliments, and arraying the voter in a fine suit, took him again to Mr. Moore, to whom he said : "Well now. Sir, I don't know how I'll vote till I get a drink ; I'm as dry as a pump, and could drain a stable bucketful. Sir ! " A committee-man quickly supplied him with ale. " Hurrah now for Stratton ! " says Paddy, bottoming the beer. " How so," said Mr. Moore; "don't you intend to vote for me then?" "Be easy now ! Be easy, Mr. Moore, Sir ! I'll keep my word, and vote for ye straight, that I will ; but hadn't I a good right to drink success to Stratton, seeing as how, if he hadn't stood, the de'il a fine new hat, and a new suit of toggs, or a drop of ale, would have fallen to me share, at all, at all ! " On the 26th, Mr. Stratton's party made a grand eflfort, and gained a majority on the morning's poll ; when the Sheriffs, Messrs. Vale and Clarke, resolved to poll vote for vote ; but the next day Mr. Stratton's success vanished, and on Saturday the numbers stood: Moore 971, Stratton 870, leaving Moore loi majority. Very few Freemen polled for Mr. Stratton on the 30th, and he declined to further contest, declaring that "certain circumstances " would give him another opportunity of offering himself, whereupon Mr. Peter Moore was returned. Two thousand four hundred and forty Freemen had polled, and the numbers stood — For Mr. Peter Moore ... ... ... 1294 Mr. George Frederick Stratton ... 1146 Majority for Mr. Moore ... 148 The chairing took place next day, in much the usual fashion. Mr. Peter Moore was the second son of the Rev. Edward Moore, LL.B., Vicar of Over, Cheshire, and was born in 1750. His father ditd in 1755, and whilst young, he entered, and was sent out in, the East India Service. In India he made a fortune, and on his return to England, furnished Burke and Sheridan with much important information for their attacks on Warren Hastings. He became known to the chiefs of the Whig opposition. He had a property at Hadleigh, in Middlesex, but on gaining the seat in Parliament, became a Company promoter, and was an adroit hand at carrying Bills through the House. Amongst other concerns with which he became connected, were the building of Drury Lane Theatre and its management, the Highgate Tunnel, and the Imperial Gas Light Company. A petition from Mr. Stratton and twelve Freemen was presented to Parliament [1803-4] of the City of Coventry. 235 against Mr. Moore's return, on grounds of insufficient qualification and bribery ; but when before the Committee, Mr. Inge, for the Coventry Corporation, said " that seven of the chief witnesses were dead, that the rest could not be found ; and Mr. Moore was declared elected 3rd March, each party to pay its own costs." "The Corporation," adds Collier's family diary, " having ran into debt during the last two elections, adver- tised to sell the tithes on sth March, which, bringing in a good round sum, was like selling the birthright of their predecessors to pay the expenses." During 1803-5 ^^^ votes of the Coventry Members were given irregularly. Mr. Moore was a fluent speaker, but Mr. Barlow seldom spoke, and through failing health was often unable to attend the House. In March, 1803, England and France became again involved in war. Buonaparte threatened invasion, but the whole nation promptly prepared to oppose him. Large sums of money were subscribed, volunteers enrolled, and all things got in readiness. About this time, Mr. Moore took considerable interest in the Additional Forces Bill, and the Foreign Troops Enlistment Bill, making lengthy speeches against the Government. The Addington Ministry succumbed in May, 1804, and Pitt again came into office. Mr. Barlow's ill-health had prevented his attending for some time, but with Mr. Moore, and Mr. Charles Mills (Member for Warwick), he voted on the Sth April, 1805, in the division (216 against 216) for the impeachment of Lord Melville, for mis- appropriation whilst Treasurer of the Navy ; when the Speaker gave his casting vote against the noble Lord. The death of Mr. Barlow occurred shortly after, and on the 7th of May, a writ was issued for the election of a new Member. On the day following, Mr. W. W. Bird announced to the Coventry Freemen that Mr. William Mills, a gentleman connected with Warwickshire, would be. a candidate. Negotiations were privately entered into between Mr. Bird's friends, the major part of the Corporation, and the Drapers Company, with a view to give their united support to Mr. Mills, who was a man of moderate views, like his brother Charles, who, at the General Election of 1802, had maintained the Independent interest at Warwick against the two nominees of the Castle. Finally, an agreement was signed by four members each of the Corporation, Drapers, and the Old Blue Freemen, pledging themselves, and their united support, to Mr. Mills. He came to Coventry on the 14th, and attended by a vast number of supporters, made a public entry into the Ciiy. This compact was not acceptable to a quantity of the Freemen, and on the 13th some of the dissentients interviewed Colonel Marriott, of the 24th Foot, then in Coventry Barracks, and he consented to contest the seat. In the meantime, some London out-voters had chosen Mr. C. Parry, and he also agreed to stand, and came to Coventry on the i6th, whereupon Colonel Marriott withdrew in his favour. The poll opened on the 17th. Parties were greatly divided by the compact, whilst 236 The Parliamentary Representation [1805] most of the Old Blue joined the Corporation Freemen and the Drapers voters, many Freemen voted for Mr. Parry. The Mills party were the better organized and the stronger, for they had a majority of 76 on the first day's poll, which next day reached 114. On Monday morning, Mr. Parry's friends made an unsuccessful attempt to seize the booth, and the day's poll increased Mr. Mills majority to 145 ; whereupon " the next day Mr. Parry stopped all treating, and resigned." The total number polled was 1,256. For Mr. William Mills .. ... 819 Mr. C. Parry ... ... ... 437 Majority for Mr. Mills ... 382 Mr. William Mills, being returned, took his seat in the House, and his chairing was held at Coventry on the 23rd. " It was a grand show, in fine weather, and considerable money was spent in rejoicing at the various public-houses en route. ' Mazarine ' and ' Light Blue ' were the colours chiefly used in the ribbon cockades upon the occasion ; " and the old dyers flag, with its motto, " We dye to hve, and live to die," was conspicuous. Mr. William Mills, of Bisterne, County Southampton, was the grandson of Mr. John Mills, one of the Clerks in Chancery, and a son of the Rev. John Mills, Rector of Barford and Oxhill, Warwickshire, by Sarah, his wife, daughter of the Rev. William Wheeler, Vicar of Leamington Hastings, and was born loth November, 1750. He was related tlirough his wife to Mr. W. Wilberforce Bird, and both he and his brother Charles (the banker, of the firm of Glyn, Mills & Co., and Member for Warwick), married two sisters, the daughters of the Honourable Wriothesley Digby, of Coleshill, Warwickshire. Mr. William Mills married, 7th of April, 1786, Miss Elizabeth Digby,' and was essentially a Warwickshire man. His first address to his constituents is dated at Barford, the nth of May, 1805, where he was born, and a verse of the chairing song at this time runs — "Ye Warwickshire lads and ye lasses, Come see how this merry day passes ; Be merry and gay, rejoice and be glad. For our hero to-day is a Warwickshire lad. Warwickshire lad, All be glad. For our hero to-day is a Warwu/ishire lad:' At the time of his marriage he lived at Meriden Hall, but left it about 1790 for Bisterne. He possibly was at one time a sleeping partner in the bank of Glyn, Mills & Co.; and in general society became an extremely popular man, whilst in his family circle he was held in terms of extreme affection. Tiiere is a picture of him at Bisterne. On the death of Mr. Pitt, in January, 1806, Mr. Fox was made Foreign Secretary, and "all the talents" Ministry formed ; but Mr. Fox died in September, and Grenville carried on the administration until April, 1807. ,iSibANBER Overthrown 'SLANDER OVlikTHROWN : " George Phince oe Wales and Mr. Nathaniel Jeffekv^ Ex-M.P. FOR CoVENTHV, UEFOKE TIIH SCREEN OK CaRLTON HoUSE, LONDON. (From a scarce pampk'et " The Palriols Review," in tlie Au/hor's Collection.) A Cartoon oe 1806. [i8o6] of the City of Coventry. 237 CHAPTER LVI. The Financial Troubles of an Ex-M.P. George III., continued (1806). Mr. Jefferys pamphlet—" A Review of the conduct of the Prince of Wales" — Royal scandal — Society flutter — The case of Mr. Jefferys — His action in King's Bench — Verdict — The Prince's Commissioners deduction of ten per cent. — The ex-Member's bankruptcy — Re-commencing business — Bitter opposition pamphlets — Jefferys further writings — Replies thereto — Cartoon : " Slander overthrown" — Matters at a former election. _j,,J^^URING June, 1806, a pamphlet was publicly printed by Mr. Jefferys, late mISW M.P. for Coventry, entitled "A Review of the conduct of the Prince of ^_^_^ Wales in his transactions with Mr. Jefferys during a period of more than '•I-' twenty years, containing a detail of many circumstances relative to the Prince and Princess of Wales, Mrs. Fitzherbert, &c., &c.," which, together with " A Letter addressed to Mrs. Fitzherbert upon the influence of Example," by the same person, caused a considerable flutter in the upper circles of London Society, gave the author considerable unenviable notoriety, and, published at 20, Pall Mall, brought considerable profit to the ex-M.P.'s straitened finances, going through ten editions. Mr. Jefferys stated that a few days after he had commenced business in Piccadilly, as a jeweller and goldsmith in 1783, the Prince of Wales became his customer, and in 1788, and subsequently, made large purchases. In 1796, the account stood at ;^8s,028 19s. 6d., of which ;£5o,997 los. was for jewels supplied on the marriage of the Prince, ;^9,33i 9s. 6d. for presents made by the Prince to the Queen and Royal family, and ;£24,7oo for bond debts. Although ^25,000 was paid off, no final settlement could be obtained, and Mr. Jefferys was obliged by necessity to commence an action for recovery in the King's Bench. His counsel were Mr. Erskine and Mr. Adam, and he obtained a verdict of ;^5o,997, the deduction being an insurance upon the Prince's life to cover risk ; but the Commissioners appointed under an Act to settle the Prince's affairs (ignoring the Court under powers they possessed by the Act), refused to pay unless a further deduction of ten per cent, was made from the jury's verdict, by which the amount was considerably reduced. This was a hardship upon Mr. Jefferys, whose creditors were pressmg, but under the advice of his counsel he was forced to accept it. Soon after he became bankrupt, and paid one and ninepence in the pound. This was 238 The Parliamentary Representation [1806] during the time he was Member for Coventry. He afterwards re-commenced business in Pall Mall, but having lost his chief patrons, carried it on with difificulty. Had the " Review " stopped with the recapitulation of Mr. Jeffery's affairs with the Prince, the matter would probably have rested, but it was spiced with the introduction of various matters connected with the Princess of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert, which set spark to power, and the friends of the Prince, anxious to clear His Royal Highness, published anonymously various opposition pamphlets in reply, impugning Mr. Jefferys statements and character, and giving much tittle-tattle and small incidents connected with the matter, which were purchased with avidity by the public. " Philo- Veritas " wrote " Diamond cut Diamond : A free and impartial view of Mr. Jefferys," and " The Diamond new pointed," to which the ex-Member wrote a reply, together with " A Letter to Mrs. Fitzherbert" upon "the influence of Example." Various pamphlets followed, and amongst them "An Antidote to Poison" by Claudio, "A Letter to Mr. Nathaniel Jefferys," "A Complete Vindication of His Royal Highness," and others. "The Patriots Review," professing to give " a complete account of this strange and unprecedented controversy," has for its frontispiece a cartoon entitled " Slander overthrown," and represents a scene before the screen of Carlton House, where the Prince of Wales is pelting Mr. Jefferys (who is down) witli the various different pamphlets replying to his charges. To the citizens of Coventry, doubtless, these publications were as interesting as they were distasteful to the Court, and enlightened the Freemen upon various circumstances. In " Diamond cut Diamond " occurs the following matter relative to a past election at Coventry — " Mr. Jefferys then went to Coventry, where he expended near ;f7,ooo in gratifying his insatiable ambition in becoming a Member of Parliament for that City. Without moralizing upon this act of injustice to his creditors, I cannot but express a belief he wished to secure himself from the legal effects of the law by getting the protection that is attached to a person in Parliament. I am creditably informed that his principal creditor, Mr. R., of the City, on hearing of Mr. Jefferys journey into the land of Promise, immediately went after him, accompanied by Messrs. Touch and Takehim, of Tooke's Court, Chancery Lane. On their arrival at Coventry some arrangements were entered into, which, it is said, gave Mr. R. the possession of Mr. Jefferys houses and a sum of money. 'The Statesman' gives the following account of him when at Coventry in all his glory: — "' At Coventry the utmost precaution was taken for his personal security; and so critically desperate were his affairs, that all letters intended for him were sent under cover to a friend, who received, opened, and answered them, lest the bearer or postman might be a bailiff in disguise. In going to and returning from the hustings, he was always surrounded by a hired mob, to prevent the possibility of an arrest ; and a writ having been sent down, which the officer either' could not, or would not serve, the Sheriff was sued for the debt, and obliged to pay it. Was the Sheriff ever reimbursed by the late M.P. for the City of Coventry ? Such was the fortune which Jefferys boasted that he had retired from business; and the means by which he gained his election were so pure and incorrupt, that he afterwards confessed it cost him, or rather cost his creditors, only /4,ooo (believed to be nearer /^y.ooo). When he became bankrupt, were these ^'4,000 fairly stated in' his accounts? Did he insert, in the items submitted to the Commissioners, the sums which he had expended to keep up the show of opulence and splendour, while he was in a state of absolute insolvency? No! No! His books did not exhibit a single trace of any past career of extravagance, dissipation, or profligacy. All deficiences, all the dreadful calamities experienced by himself and family, were ascribed to one cause— the dearth of enterprise which his concerns with the Prince of Wales had assumed.' " [l8o6j of the City of Coventry. 239 CHAPTER LVII. A Couple of Quiet General Elections. George III., continued (1806 to 1808). A dissolution — Reason for it — Messrs. Moore and Mills again contest — Corporation canvass — Threatened opposition of Sir W. Bagshavv— Mills and Moore walk over— Are chaired— Mr. Moore and the Westminster election petitions — Calico Printers Bill — The King and the Catholic claims— Dissolves Parliament — Contest at Coventry — Messrs. Mills and Moore candidates— Drapers and London Freemen— Secure "Treasury candidates" — Colonel H. C. Montgomery and Mr. M. Shawe— A question of identity—" Irish Colonels "—The Mayor and the Whig mob— "A slippery Dog!" — Poll prolonged— The pollings— Messrs. Mills and Moore again returned — A Coventry Freeman's information "sub rosa " — Starting "The Coventry Herald." ^^^ UDDENLY Parliament was dissolved by "All the Talents" Ministry, on 241)1 S^Sv/) October, 1806, with the hope of obtaining a belter majority; and Messrs. ^^^ Moore and Mills declared themselves candidates. The Corporation began ^M^ to canvass for them, each Alderman taking his Ward. Mr. Moore entered the City publicly on Monday, but Mr. Mills came in privately. Some of the Tories endeavoured to get Sir William Bagshaw to oppose them, but were unsuccessful, and when the election day arrived on Wednesday, 29th October, no opposition was ofifered ; whereupon an old voter complains that "the Freemen were never more slighted, especi- ally in London and the country." Again Mr. William Mills and Mr. Peter Moore represented Coventry, and they were chaired on the following day. The new Parliament met 19th December. Mr. Moore brought in a Bill to enable Mr. Bowyer, of the Historic Gallery, Pall Mall, to hold an auxiliary lottery, which passed. Mr. R. B. Sheridan had succeeded in gaining Mr. Fox's seat for Westminster at the General Election, and Mr. Moore presented a petition from Mr. Henry Burgess, desiring to refute Mr. James Paul's petition charging him with crimes, in order to show that perjury had been committed to deprive the Right Hon. R. B. Sheridan of his seat, but Parliament's duration being short, they were not brought to an issue. Two days before its dissolution, Mr. Moore seconded Mr. Sheridan's motion for the reading of the Calico Printers Bill. Parliament was short-lived, for the King desired to hear little of Catholic claims. The Ministry was changed, and that of Portland succeeded. His Majesty desired the ratification of his actions whilst fresh before the people, and a General Election resulted. Saturday, 4th May, was named at Coventry for the commencement of polling. Moore and Mills took up their quarters at the King's Head, and commenced a canvass. 240 The Parliamentary Representation [1807] Meanwhile, some of the Drapers Company, assisted by certain London Freemen, secured candidates to oppose them, and Colonel Henry Cunningham Montgomery and Mr. Merrick Shawe came to contest Coventry in the Tory interest. In their address, on the 2nd, they express zealous attachment to the King, the Church, and State, and desire to uphold the Laws, Liberties, and Religion. They disapprove of any coalition, or compromise, which may have a tendency to defeat the proper exercise of the franchise in the City, and assured the Freemen that their ambition was to allow them to answer favourably the appeal which the King had made. "Who are Montgomery and Shawe?" asks an elector. They were said to be two Irishmen. Mr. Montgomery had sat for the Cornish borough of Michell in the last Parliament, and was chosen for Donegal on the 4th May, 1808. His residence being at "the Hall" in that County, Mr. Shawe, it is said, was a relative to the Member for Dublin, and a bill adds — "The Freemen of the City of Coventry present their compliments to the Irish Colonels, and wish to be satisfied upon a point which at present greatly embarrasses them, which is simply this: — Various reports prevail respecting their qualifications. Some say they consist of Potatoe land in Ireland; if so, it is strongly suspected they are Irish Catholics! Others assert that they are in Egypt, and that they are Mahometans! As nobody seems to know who they are, or from whence they came, the Freemen are of opinion that they had better support two honest English.men, whom they know, and whose integrity has been proven, than run the hazard of being taken in by undefined characters, who may probably have been sent to Coventry! as a Punishment for some glaring Impropriety ! ! ! " Coventry, May 4th, 1807. 3IerriJe>c. Prinur." Early morning on the 4th saw Messrs. Mills and Moore's party rallying the Town, when "the all-accomplished Mayor headed the mob," to the evident disapproval of the opposition. " You may be sure," writes one of it, " the Mayor would not do so unless he expected some benefit from it, but I trust he will have better security than Peter Moore's 1 Probably Mr. Mills has joined Peter in security ; if so, he will be left to pay the piper : Peter, you know, is a slippery Dog 1" Montgomery and Shawe kept the poll open, to their opponents annoyance. "Shawe and 'Gomery do not stay. Squandering public moneys ! Shawe and 'Gomery run away; Arrah ! Do now, honies ! " It closed on the 9th, when the result was — P. Moore, Esq. ... ... ... 1464 W. Mills, Esq. ... ... ... 1464 H. C. Montgomery, Esq. ... ... 703 M. Shawe, Esq. ... ... ... 604 Majority for P. Moore, Esq., 761. Majority for W. Mills, Esq., 761. Mr. Peter Moore, and Mr. William Mills, being again chosen, were chaired the same day, and, says the Coventry Freeman in his diary quoted before, "each of the friends of the newly-elected Members had eight shillings delivered to them on Sunday." "The Coventry Herald" newspaper was started by Mr. N. Merridew in 1808. [i8o8] 0/ the City of Coventry. 241 CHAPTER LVni. Citizen Soldiers : Choosing a Native as Member. George III., continued (1808 to 1813). Celebration of the King's Jubilee — The Coventry Military Association — Its rules and formation — And subscription to local war funds — Death of Recorder, the Duke of Grafton — William, Earl Craven, chosen — The Craven Arms Hotel — An anecdote — Act passed — Hertford Street formed — Prince Regent and the Ministry — Parliament dissolved — Retirement of Mr. Mills — His after biography — Mr. Joseph Butterworth, a native — Declares himself a candidate- Corporation correspondence — Efforts to avoid a contest — Mr. Moore brings Colonel W. G, Harris — And comes to Coventry — Efforts to force Mr. Butterworth's retirement — His popular entry into Coventry — Withdrawal of Colonel Harris — His reasons for so doing — Mr. P. Moore and Mr. Joseph Butterworth returned— Illness of the former — Biography of the new Member. ^^p^^'OVENTRY celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the accession of George III, ■kQ";; on October 25th, i8og, amidst considerable rejoicings. The Citizens were 3^^ exceedingly loyal to the King during the war with France, and in spite of the T^jff^ heavy taxes and high prices of food, the people bore up cheerfully. King George was exceedingly popular, and the name of Napoleon detested. Recruiting went on, and Coventry supplied its quota to the Warwickshire Militia, but in 1796-7; in common with other towns; a body of Citizens was raised, calling themselves "the Military Association for the defence of the City and County of Coventry," whose regula- tions, embodied in twenty-three "general rules," form a curious reminiscence of early local soldiering. The Corps was to be composed of two troops of Horse, each of not more than fifty, exclusive of officers, and three companies of Infantry, each of not more than sixty, whose members were to be either householders of the City or County of Coventry, sons of householders, or persons approved by the Committee, and when complete, the Corps was to have five Captains, five Lieutenants, and five Cornets to command it, with one Adjutant and two Quarter-masters, all chosen from amongst themselves by ballot, and commissioned by the King. By Rule VI, it was enacted " that the Corps shall not be called out, or subjected to military discipline, except in case of invasion and insurrection, and then only to do duty within the City and County of Coventry, and shall only have existence during the continuance of the present war." Other rules related to payment when called out, that Cavalry officers of equal rank should take precedence of Infantry, and other matters for the Corps governance; whilst by Rule X. 242 TJie Parliamcnlary Representation [1810] ilie Government was to be asked to provide arms, accoutrements, ammunition, drums and trumpets, and likewise tlie pay of the Adjutant and two Quarter-masters. The Rev. Mr. Rann was the Chaplain of the Association, and the Corps drilled in the Park. In March, 179S, they received ^1,100 from Government towards their expenses. At the time, subscriptions in support of the war were made at Coventry, and two thousand guineas were subscribed, which included ^500 which the Military Association returned. 'J"he fear of " Boney's " threatened invasion raised these Volunteers in England, and their numbers deterred the Emperor from the enterprise. In 1807, a second Volunteer Company was raised in the City to join the first regiment of Warwickshire Volunteer Infantry, and in 1809, "the two Companies of Coventry Volunteers, with their regiment, entered into the First Regiment of Warwickshire Local Militia." The Duke of Grafton, who for so many years had been Recorder of Coventry, died 14th March, i8ir, whereupon the Corporation chose WiUiam, Earl Craven, to succeed him, and his Lordship entertained them at Combe Abbey on April i6th. In July, the famous house in High Street, which for generations had been known as the White Bear Inn, changed its name to "the Craven Arms Hotel," in honour of the new Recorder. When the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex passed through Coventry ; iSth September, 1807, on their way from Ragley, the Marquis of Hertford's residence; to Combe Abbey, that of Earl Craven ; their carriage was delayed in the very narrow and dangerous thoroughfare called Grey Friars Lane, which was then the only way into the City from the Warwick Road. Prince George, addressing Lord Hertford, said : " I hope, my Lord, the good people of Coventry will make their streets wider before I come here again." His words had their effect, for in 1811-12, an Act " for improving the public roads in and through the City of Coventry" was passed, which resulted in Hertford Street being made, and named out of compliment after the Marquis. King George, being incapable of governing, the Prince of Wales became Regent. He continued his father's Tory Ministers, to the mortification of the Whigs. The Prince caused Parliament to be dissolved 29th September, 1812, and summoned a new one to assemble 24th November following. Mr. Mills, who spent a large sum at the last election, had prior to this signified his intention of not contesting Coventry again, and his withdrawal was received with regret. He retired to Bisterne, and does" not appear to have sought further Parliaurentary honours. His death occurred in London on the 18th March, 1820, in the 70th year of his age, and he was buried in the Chancel of St. Peter's Church, Barford, near Warwick, as an urn there, by Westmacott, of London, records. Mr. Joseph Buttera-orth, a London law stationer, and a native of Coventry, was now solicited to become a can.lidate by some of the Freemen of the Metropolis,' and Dissenters of Coventry, a position he readily accepted. He came to Coventry, made [i8i2] of the City of Coventry. 243 the Craven Arms Hotel his headquarters, and got together a Committee of workers and voters. The Corporation party were anxious to avoid a contest, and Alderman Whitwell entered into correspondence with Mr. Butterworth for the joining of their interests ; but knowing that Mr. Moore had incurred very considerable expense whilst representing Coventry, stipulated that Mr. Butterworth should guarantee a portion of Mr. Moore's election costs. Mr. Butterworth desired to work with Mr. Moore, but considering, as he states, that " to enter into a previous engagement to pay a certain part of the expenses of a contested election would subject me to the imputation of purchasing a seat in Parliament," declined the compact ; but nevertheless left himself in the hands of his friends, and returned to London. In a letter he says, " I have secured all the Coventry coaches, and I have little doubt that the Freemen will kindly support me. On the other hand, as a sincere friend to the Freemen and the inhabitants of my native City, and a cordial friend to the union of all parties when conducted on right principles, I most sincerely deplore the effects of a contested election." Awaiting the advice of his friends, he endeavoured to promote the return of Mr. Moore and himself, and a canvass was also commenced at Coventry with that object. In an address, dated 2nd October, Mr. Butterworth offered himself as "perfectly independent " in principles, and "unconnected with any party;" "a friend of peace," and attached to the "glorious constitution;" adding, "I have cherished an ardent desire to promote the interests of my country generally, and of my native City in particular." Mr. Moore's friends, finding they could not force Mr. Butterworth into a compact, solicited Colonel William George Harris, "the amiable and gallant son of the prematurely- distinguished hero of Seringapatam," to become their second candidate. He consented, and, with Mr. Muore, came to Coventry on 3rd October, where they addressed the Freemen from their headquarters at the King's Head Hotel. They met the Mayor, Alderman Vale, and the chiefs of the party. Some did not like a military man, but acquiesced, as it was supposed he would pay tlie required proportion of Mr. Moore's expenses. Efforts were made to get Mr. Butterworth to retire, but he resolutely determined to go to the poll. Two of his friends had met Mr. Harris, and Colonel Harris, at Mr. Moore's London residence, on the agth, in order to settle matters. Mr. Harris said that as it was agreed to support the Colonel, Mr. Butterworth stood no chance ; and Mr. Moore read a letter stating that "Colonel Harris was approved by the Treasury, and tiiat they had no objection to iiimself." No arrangement was arrived at, and on the 2nd, Mr. Butterworth came to Coventry, where he was met by a great concourse of people, who escorted him to the Craven Arms. He was expected to be in opposition to the Ministry and a friend of the Dissenters, but his views were not very pronounced, as he desired to be independent of party. 244 ^"^'^ Parliamentary Representation [1812] Mr. Butterworth's firmness saved him, for on the sth, previous to the commence- ment of the poll, Colonel Harris, annoyed at some rough treatment he had received from the mob (who surrounded the poll booth, and getting on the top of it, caused the erection to fall down with a crash), withdrew from the contest, and issued a retiring address. " I entered Coventry," he says, " under the countenance of such an immense attendance of friends ; judge of my surprise soon afterwards to find a host united against me. This opposition must evidently mark your feelings, and finding they are hurt from the supposition that your principles of independence were at stake, I have resolved to retire out of respect to them, and not to the principles of your candidate, Mr. Butterworth. I know that you have taken him up, not being able in your hasty and wide search to obtain a better, and thus he may thank accident that has given him the victory." The contest ended, and the same day, 5th October, Mr. Peter Moore and Mr. Joseph Butterworth were duly returned to Parliament. After the contest, Mr. Moore, who had been ailing during the contest, was taken unwell, and retired to Margate to regain health; his life was despaired of, but subsequently he rallied and recovered. The new Member was descended from a very old Lancashire family, which became seated at Butterworth, near Rochdale, in the time of King Stephen. In 1753, the Rev. John Butterworth removed from Rochdale to Coventry, and became Minister of the little Baptist community in Jordan Well. Hardly known beyond his own particular friends and congregation, this Pastor's labours in Coventry during his more than fifty years ministry were of a quiet and homely character. Chiefly by liis exertions, a new and larger Chapel was built in Cow Lane, whilst in 1785 he published a " Concordance and Dictionary of the Scriptures." By marriage he had a son, Mr. Joseph Butterworth, the Member, who received education from his father, and at the Coventry Free School. The youth was brouglit up as a Baptist, and apprenticed to a harness plater, of Birmingham, a trade which he had chosen. He removed to London with his master, and in time commenced business for himself. Among young Butterworth's friends was Mr. Whieldon, a law stationer, of Fleet Street, who, in 1780, took him into partnership, under the firm of Whieldon and Butterworth, law stationers, and upon his death left him a great part of his property. Mr. Joseph Butterworth married a Miss Cooke, of Trowbridge, whose sister was the wife of Dr. Adam Clarke, and possibly by this connection he became attached to the Wesleyan Methodists. The firm became "Joseph Butterworth and Son, 43, Fleet Street," and in a few years he realized a large fortune. Philanthropic and charitable, he was instrumental in founding the British and Foreign Bible Society, whose early meetings were held at his house in Fleet Street. [1814-5] of the. City of Coventry. 245 CHAPTER LIX. Peace Celebrations : Trade Grievances. George III., continued (1814 to 1818). End of the war — Celebrating the peace at Coventry — A handbill thereon — The procession — How formed — "Britannia's car" — Godiva procession omitted — A loyal address — Knighthood for the Mayor— Rumoured dissolution - Mr. Peter Moore's "patriotic address" — Extracts — Mr. Butterworth and Ministerial votes — Mr. Moore and the choice of candidates — The word " Radical " — " Constitutional meeting " of " the friends of Reform " — Grievances of the watch and ribbon trades — Brought before the House — Action by the Corporation thereon. APOLEON'S crushing defeat at Waterloo, in June, 1815, and his subsequent 'l^j^^ banishment to St. Helena, caused joy to Englishmen, but the peace which =^5^^^ followed found this country on the verge of bankruptcy ; trade was bad, food at famine prices, and the people everywhere unsettled. None welcomed the termination of the war more than the Citizens of Coventry ; they celebrated the peace with great rejoicings, and a procession of unusual magnificence. A handbill reads — "CITY OF COVENTRY— CELEBRATION OF THE PEACE. "The inhabitants of the City propose, on Wednesday next and the two following days, to celebrate the glorious and auspicious era which gives to Europe the blessings of Peace, under circumstances holding out more real and prospective happiness than ever gladdened the hearts of Britons and of Europe. The day will be ushered in at six o'clock by the harmonious peals of our unrivalled bells, whose melodies are so well calculated to excite the most intelligent feelings on all subjects connected with geoeral joy ; at nine, the permanent staff of the ist and 4th Warwickshire Regiments will fire three volleys in Cross Cheaping, accompanied by their respective bands. A most superb procession will proceed from the County Hall at eleven o'clock." In the procession rode the Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Council, attended by the City Crier, Beadle, Sword and Mace Bearers, and other officials. "The Lodge of Free- masons walked, and the City Companies of Mercers, Drapers, Clothieis, Blacksmiths, Taylors, Cappers, Butchers, Fellmongers, Carpenters, Silk Weavers, Cordwainers, Bakers, and Weavers appeared ; representatives, from all the Wards, attended by streamers, followers, and drum and fifes ; the various Benefit Societies were conspicuous, but the chief attraction was " Britannia, personated by an elegant female seated in a magnificent triumphal car, conducted by Neptune, and drawn by six white horses, rode by Tritons, with appropriations symbolical of the genius of the procession, supported by representatives of the Army and Navy." Through these rejoicings the Godiva Procession was omitted. On 6th November, a deputation from the Coventry Corporation presented a loyal address to the Prince Regent, then staying at Combe Abbey, when, at the particular desire of Recorder Lord Craven, the Prince knighted the Mayor, Mr. Skears Rew. 246 The Parliamentary Representation [1815] Rumours of a dissolution were afloat, but Mr. Peter Moore, replying to a communi- cation from the President of the Coventry Weavers Committee, stated his disbelief in them, although he personally desired there should be one, as the times were favourable to the cause he represented ; but Ministers, he said, would not dare to venture on an appeal to the country to secure a new lease of office. His " patriotic letter " of August, 1816, was printed, and is a sensible production, inveighing against a Government who sought speedy dissolution to the disadvantage of the country ; against its nominees, who, supported by "Treasury money," entered the political arena, ple for the 4th of August following. In December, prior to this, Mr. Moore's party had desired to return their man "free of expense," whilst in May, Mr. ^I'' Butterworth in a handbill explained his Parliamentary conduct, and grandi- loquently exclaimed, " I have endeavoured to reduce enormous taxation, to oppose no improvement expenditure, to promote the interests of trade, commerce, and peace, to labour on behalf of the poor, to afford education on behalf of their children, to resist raising the price of corn, to reform abuses and to support the laws, in order to protect the liberties of our glorious constitution," and having admitted that it is hard for an " independent man " to satisfy parties upon all occasions, he hoped he had done his duty faithfully and well, ending the address — " With sentiments of unfeigned respect and gratitude. I an), gentlemen, your faithful obedient servant, Joseph Butterworth.'" It usually had been part of the Corporation programme to side with the Ministry in power; when "All the Talents" were in office Moore and Mills were their favourites ; subsequently the administration changed, Mr. Moore lost their support, and they adopted Mr. Butterworth. Mr. Butterworth's opponents took advantage of the high flow of language in his address, and Turner printed a humorous synonymous satirical one, signed as in imitation — ■" With sentiments oi feigned respect and gratitude. I am, gentlemen (anything but), your faithful obedient servant, Joseph Butter-mouth." Whilst Mr. Butterworth addressed himself to the Corporation and chief inhabitants principally, " the Radical Reformers " obtained the services of Sir Charles Wolseley, of Wolseley Park, Staffordshire, to oppose him ; and the Bironet publicly entered Coventry 248 The Parliamentary Representatiun [1818] on the loth of June amidst a vast assemblage, who conducted him to the Craven Arms, where, making a speech, he temporarily placed his services at their disposal. Mr. Moore arrived the next day, being in a like manner conducted to the Craven Arms, and from a window of the Hotel proceeded to dilate upon his own excellent services, past and to come. On the i2th the writs arrived. Both Moore and Butterworth issued addresses; the latter busied himself with a canvass, and issued bulletins daily, announcing success. Rumours of another candidate spread, and a deputation went to London to interview Mr. Edward EUice, a brother-in-law of Lord Grey, who, strongly recommended by Lord Brougham and Mr. Tierney, issued the following address on the 12th; where- upon Sir Charles Wolseley immediately resigned — "TO THE INDEPENDENT FREEMEN OF THE CITY OF COVENTRY. " Gentlemen, — A deputation from Coventry having informed me that I was put in nomination yesterday, at a meeting of the Freemen, to represent your ancient City in Parliament, I am not so insensible of the honour you have done me as to decline their call, and I shall hasten to Coventry to give all the assistance in my power to the cause yon have undertaken. But, gentlemen, I pray you to recollect that cause is your own, and that it depends entirely on your own exertions to secure your independence. From circumstances which I have explained to your deputation, it may not be in my power to appear among you till Monday morning, but you may depend upon then seeing me. "The principles upon which I shall ask your free suffrages are those on which our glorious Revolution was established in 1688 — and if it be your pleasure to return me as your Representative in Parliament, I shall be happy to execute that important trust, by the side of your late worthy Representative, Mr. Moore, by a faithful attention to your local interests, and by a zealous desire to secure and protect the liberties and rights of the people, and the constitution of the country. " I have the honour to be, gentlemen, " Your faithful and obedient servant, " London, i2th June, 1818." "EDWARD ELLICE. Meanwhile, certain London Freemen met at the Eagle, in the City Road, when Mr. Henry Hunt was chosen Chairman, and Mr. William Cobbett proposed as a candidate for Coventry, Mr. Bryant was sent to the City to arrange for his nomination and candidature, but his reception there was such that he despaired of success. He announced that Mr. Cobbett, who was then out of England, would, on his return, personally address the Freemen, and come forward at the next vacancy. Mr. Bryant was severe upon Mr. EUice ; he declares that — "When it was once known that an advocate of Parliamentary Reform (Mr. Cobbett) and Retrenchment, who could never be bought, offered himself a candidate for your City, that moment the Whigs, who are the true aristocrats of the country, set every engine at work (perhaps with the very cognizance of persons in your very City), and with a price, to bring in a man of whom you know yet nothing, but as brother-in-law of Lord Grey, and the Commissioner of Ports- mouth Dockyard; one of the few jobs done by the Whig administrators, who gave the late Sir Charles Saxton his full salary, in the form of a pension, for so retiring to make a vacancy for the brother-in-law of this Mr. Ellice." Mr. Butterworth was dismayed, at the close of his successful canvass, to find such formidable opposition, and a proposed coalition of Mr. Moore with Mr. Ellice against [i8i8J of the City of Coventry. 249 him. He had supported the weavers claims for Parliamentary assistance, but opponents contended that his conduct had been vascillating. Reports said he voted for the Corn Bill of 1815, the Standing Army's Act, and Habeas Corpus Bill. He denied the first indictment, for he had opposed and voted against the Corn Bill, but he voted for the Standing Army's Bill, as he objected to throwing so many veterans on the parish for support, and justified his vote upon the Habeas Corpus Act. Enemies persisted in calling him a turncoat, and a handbill desired the Freemen to "beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing," whilst "Joseph Unmasked" appeared, of which two verses read — " All ye who love your country's cause, Assert your ancient right, Sirs, And fur your King, and Church, and Laws, Stand up by day and night. Sirs ; A crafty, double-dealing Fox Would rob you of your votes. Sirs, But may he rather grace the stocks. With all who turn their coats. Sirs. Some ni'bs he humbugs with his smiles, The Metliodists he gammons, But sooner than become his foils We'll send up Cobbler Summons; If he returns, 'twill serve you right // he throws out your Bill, Sirs, And truly, if I judge aright, / doubt not but he will. Sirs." Posters now announced the arrival of Mr. Ellice on the isth. He was met on the London Road by his and Mr. Moore's partizans, who, headed by a band, made a most enthusiastic rally round the Town, and attended him to the Craven Arms, where he addressed the Freemen. At this juncture, Mr. T. J. Wooler, a revolutionary publisher, and editor of " the Black Dwarf," a political catch-penny, and " libel upon every man and every sacred institution," came to Coventry, intending to become a candidate. The hotels refused to accommodate him, and on attempting to address the crowd from a window of the Craven Arms, he was assailed with general disapprobation. Mr. Bryant sought to show the co-operation of Mr. Ellice with Wooler, to the detriment of the former. George Cruikshank, the caricaturist; who in 1815 was working for Wooler; in his cartoon, " Coriolanus (George IV.) addressing the Plebs," shows Cobbett, Wooler, and Hunt in a group, and " the black dwarf " is conspicuous by his " duck's head cap." On Tuesday morning the opposing parties met at the booth in Cross Cheaping, and the candidates were proposed, but upon Mr. Butterworth's supporters shewing them- selves, the Blue party ; who held possession of the booth, and partially destroyed it ; prevented their voting. Mr. Butterworth's voters requested the Magistrates to protect them, and the Sheriffs were compelled to adjourn the poll until nine o'clock on Wednesday morning. Mr. Moore, when at the booth, acknowledged that he and Mr. Ellice had now joined their interests. 250 The Pavliamentary Representation [1818] The Ellice and Moore party again took possession of the booth on Wednesday, the 17th, and the Magistrates swore in a number of constables to keep the peace, and aid the polling of the friends of their candidate; but "neither the Corporation promises or threats, nor the assistance of 150 constables, could ever raise anything of a party in his favour at the booth." The Sheriffs ordered the poll to be taken at the two sides, so that each party could come up separately, but the Blue mob impeded Mr. Butterworth's Freemen, and at four o'clock, the first day's poll was— Moore 153, Ellice 122, and Butterworth 106. On Thursday, the following was issued — " Wonder of Wonders ! To be sold, and entered upon immediately after the present Election, A Newly-erected Hog Stye, Now standing in the Cross Cheaping. What's most remarkable, is that it was built by a Drove or Corporation of the Hogs themselves for their own exclusive accommodation, but luckily they have been routed out. As to themselves, it is clear they will never be able to save their bacon. We should advertise them for sale also, but they have been already bought and sold so often, that every dealer is ashamed of having anything to do with them." This day's poll ended — Moore 265, Ellice 222, Butterworth 172; and although Mr. Butterworth tried hard to keep up the spirits of his friends, the third day's poll, on February 19th, ended — Moore 408, Ellice 347, Butterworth 257. During the day an amusing squib, entitled " Resolutions of a Private Conference of the Returning Officers of this City," was printed by Turner, which has — " Resolved, That Mr. C, having providentially a long arm, he be armed with a long wand, so that, if by good fortune a friend of Mr. B. do appear in any part of Cross Cheaping, he may be pointed out, and a lane made for him to come up to the booth. Resolved, That if no wand can be found to answer the ends of Justice, Mr. C. be requested to make use of the spire of St. Michael's Church ; but unless he should be accused of over-reaching, we particularly enjoin him to touch no man who is more than a quarter of a mile from the booth. " (Signed) Alderman P., Chairman." On Saturday, the poll opened with considerable contention, and Mr. Moore spoke there in favour of Mr. Ellice and himself. A rhyrne adds — " ' My friends,' says Moore, ' I have no relish To go with anyone but Hellish; I'd sooner go with him to prison Than go with Butterworth to heaven ; ' We've tried this Moore in all his paces. And now we find him with two faces." Mr. Butterworth declared his intention to prolong the poll, which annoyed his opponents, who also had their rhyme in the following — " Butterworth's men Are as one to ten, But Ellice's boys. Near his own handsome size, In hundreds they come. At the sound of the drum. Demanding to poll They advance one and all. And who shall stand them a parley." [i8i8] of the City of Coventry. 251 A satirical poem, " The Turncoat's Petition," to be sung by Mr. B., as Dr. Cantwell in the Hypocrite, gave Mr. Butterworth annoyance — "Pity the sorrows of a middle-aged man, Gross, gross delusion brought him to your door, His hopes are dwindled to the shortest span, Oh ! give a vote to eke his scanty store. These ragged paupers my lost cause bespeak, These special constables proclaim my fears, And every furrow in my sallow cheek, ' Is now a channel to a flood of tears. Yon house erected on St. Stephen's ground, With tempting aspect drew me from ray shop ; Crown lawyers there good customers I found, And there for ever I had hoped to stop. But hard the fate of Ministerial tools, Here, as we humbly craved each Freeman's vote. They drove us from them, called us rogues and fools, And swore they'd turn him out who turned his coat. Oh ! take me where no Freeman can be found. Some rotten borough take me to thy arms ; These groans and hisses are a fearful sound, These angry faces fill me with alarms. ****** Pity the sorrows of a middle-aged man. Gross, gross delusion brought him to your door, His hopes are dwindled to the shortest span. Oh ! give a vote to eke his scanty store." The weavers were warned at this time, in the handbills, against "the man in Hertford Street, who would not sign their agreement." The mob, in a spirit of law- lessness, seized Mr. Horsfall, a ribbon manufacturer, who had given offence to his men, and ; although he was an old man of nearly 70 at the time ; amidst two hours of infinite uproar, paraded him through the streets, seated on a donkey, the magistrates appearing powerless, an Alderman and the Head Constable standing by, whilst the procession passed, " but they took no notice, and went away and had a glass of brandy and water together." Amongst the chiefs of the dark blue party, no one was more forward at election times than Mr. Charles Lilly, an opulent manufacturer, whose business premises were just without the ancient contour of the City walls, west of the City, where his influence was considerable, from which reason he became known as " King of Spon." He was a respected Citizen, and, in conjunction with Mr. John Thorp, had introduced Mr. Ellice to Coventry. His favourite resort was " the Black Horse Inn," then the extreme end of the suburbs on the Birmingham Road, where ofttimes he was appealed to, and settled neighbours differences and disagreements, instead of the matters going publicly before the Magistrates. He was a jovial soul, as his portrait, painted by David Gee, a local artist, shows ; but his great delight was in " dabbling in politics," and he was often, in 252 The Parliamentary Representation [1818] consequence, satirized in election literature. In " A Peep into the Hustings," issued by the Bulterworth party, where "the Principal Performers" are said to consist of "Renegade Blues, Disloyal Churchmen, Factious Demagogues, Anarchists, and French Republicans," Captain Dismal is introduced, and loudly exclaims against the exercise of "Civic Juris- prudence," as contrary to established practice at Coventry, and ruinous to the Blue candidates ; whereupon " Captain Lilly," alias " Baron Von Thunder Trunk," adds : " Tis the most ungentleraanly thing Carter ever did ! What ! direct the Sheriffs to act legally, and refuse to poll our men in preference to Butterworth's ! Pll — I'll — I'll give him notice for trial at the Black Horse for it ! Now mind ye. Carter — John Carter, Town Clerk — I charge ye with dereliction of duty, and order you to answer the com- plaint at the Supreme Court at Spon End, the second day next term. Barnes, you will see how the jury are empannelled." Proceeding, the bill shows how, in his wrath, the Baron is removed to the Castle Inn, adjoining the hustings, where he had a " dreamy meditation," and saw the spirits of Glyn, Groves, Waring, and Yeo, who, rebuking him for his degeneracy, carried a scroll with the names of persons of known loyalty thereon, with one name erased, which his heart misgave him was his own. The worthy gentle- man, having taken some of Grant's (Grant was a politician of the Cobbett school) anti- spasmodic mixture, recovered, " ordered out his vehicle, and seating himself therein, drove off, repeating the sixth and seventh of Shakespeare's Ages." Such were the vagaries of the times. When the fourth day's poll closed, on Saturday, the 20th, 806 Freemen had polled, and Mr. Butterworth's majority was receding, for the numbers stood — Moore 558, EUice 479, Butterworth 327 ; and at the close of the fifth day — Moore 737, Ellice 621, Butterworth 422. On the 22nd, Mr. Butterworth defended himself from an attack made upon him by Mr. Moore, and declared that as there were yet eleven days to poll, and two-thirds of the register unpolled, he would continue to the finish The sixth day's poll ended — Moore 917, Ellice 766, Butterworth 520 ; and the seventh — Moore 1,103, Ellice 929, Butterworth 607. On the 25th, Mr. Thomas Allen sent a letter to the Sheriffs, announcing Mr. Butterworth's withdrawal, but reserving " the right of contesting hereafter the proceedings at the election in such a manner as he may be advised." The poll therefore closed on Thursday morning, 25th of June, the eighth day of polling, when 1,624 Freemen had polled, the result being — , For Peter Moore, Esq. ... ... ... uSo ,, Edward Ellice, Esq. ... ... ... ,000 ,, Joseph Butterworth, Esq. ... ... ... 624 The latter gentleman now left for London, and the elected ones paraded the streets, but during their rally four voters were polled for Butterworth. Mr. Petkr Moore, and Mr. Ed\v,\rd Ellice, were declared elected. [i8i8] of the City of Coventry. 253 The Members were chaired on the 27th, and the procession started from the Drapers Hall at eleven o'clock. The chairs were covered with mazarine; the canopies with gold fringe, and bedecked with a profusion of Coventry ribbons. "THE CHAIRING SONG, 1818. Come cheer up my lads, to your freedom stand firm. As King of the Ocean, we'll weather the storm ; Integrity calls out, fair liberty we see, Weaves her flag o'er our heads, and her words are be free. Hearts of oak are we still, for we're joined to those men, Who always are ready — steady, boys, steady — To fight for our freedom again and again. Honour's brow still with laurels, for ever, we'll crown, To servile dependence, we scorn to bow down ; Triumphant we rise, o'er our foes we prevail, Moore and Ellice for ever, their ears shall assail. Hearts of oak, &c. To King George, as true subjects, we loyal bow down. As Freemen, we claim Magna Charta our own; Let the rest of the world slavish worship decree, England's genius has ordered her sons shall be free. Hearts of oak, &c." The usual procession started from the Drapers Hall at eleven o'clock, and proceeding round the Town, at length ended before the Craven Arms, where it left the Members. In the evening there was a dinner at the Drapers Hall, where, amidst much hilarity, speeches of a complimentary character were made, and " The Freemen's Hurrah ! A Song of Victory," was conspicuous ; a verse of which runs thus — "Fly not yet, ye high of soul. But deeply drain the victors bowl ; First to Moore fill high your glasses, Ellice next, and then the lasses. Hurrah I Hurrah I ! Hurrah ! I I Chorus — Shout hurrah for all the three, We dare be freest of the free. Hurrah ! Hurrah I! Hurrah !!! " 254 ■^^'^ Parliamentary Representation [1818] CHAPTER LXI. A Biography, and a Description. George III., continued (1818 to 1820). An account of Mr. Edward Ellice — His Canadian and Scotch properties — His characteristics — Anecdote as to his writings — Lady Hannah Ellice — Dislike of office — Mr. Butterworth's desire to further contest Coventry — His elections at Dover — His death — Distress — Rates — Mr. William Cobbett's description of Coventry — " Eight thousand miserable paupers " — Presentation to Mr. Peter Moore — Cheylesmore estate sold to the Marquis of Hertford. f3Jiri|H^R. EDWARD ELLICE, who for many years represented Coventry, came gw|aP||l of an old Scotch family, long resident in Aberdeen. He was born in Canada about the year 1781, and was sent to be educated at Marischal College in that town, where he matriculated in 1797. His father, Mr. - ■ Alexander Ellice, was a merchant, and at an early age had left this country for America ; where, engaging in the fur trade, he became a director of the Hudson's Bay Company, and made a considerable fortune. He married, and Mr. Edward Ellice was his eldest son ; a second son became a Captain in the Navy, and interested himself in his brother's elections at Coventry ; whilst another was a London Banker, and a Director of the East India Company. On leaving College, Mr. Edward Ellice joined his parents in America, and engaged in the Hudson's Bay business ; but subsequently came back to England, and became a partner in the firm of Inglis and Ellice— an extensive West Indian and American house. His commercial career was a great success, and he added largely to the great wealth acquired by his father, who had died in America. Mr. Ellice possessed properties in Canada, amongst them the very extensive Manor of Beauharnais, a large estate situate about twenty miles from Montreal, and he visited America upon several occasions up to 1859. He also possessed con- siderable property at Glenquoich, lying between the Caledonian Canal and Loch Hourn, Inverness, where he often kept open house, and entertained a large number of persons annually. When he first sat for Coventry, he was about thirty-seven years of age. The author of "Random Recollections of the House of Commons," says he was a good speaker, and when addressing the House upon important questions, always spoke with animation and feeling ; his words commanding the deepest attention. His voice was strong and powerful, occasionally husky and unpleasant, but his command over it was complete. His action, when agitated, was generally [i8i8] of the City of Coventry. 255 violent, the use of his arms was then extravagant, and "he would on such occasions turn about his body in a manner not unlike a weatiiercock on a windy day." He was about middle height, corpulent, and had a round face, sallow complexion, with dark brown hair; in the House he was known as "Bear Ellice." His countenance was good-natured, but by no means intellectual. Mr. Ellice, however, possessed superior talents, and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to help others, especially struggling youths, and this in a quiet unostentatious way. His views were Liberal in the extreme, but not Radical. He was a clever writer, and contributed various articles to " The Morning Chronicle" upon Colonial and other affairs. Few persons could master his manuscript, and the compositors complained that they were unable to decipher his fine, small " pin head," and almost illegible, words ; but the editor, Mr. John Black, could not understand this, and declared to the men that it " was easily read, and well worth reading, too." His first wife was Lady Hannah Althea Grey, sister of the second Earl Grey (the widow of Captain Beltesworth, R.N.), which lady he married in 1809, and by whom he had a son, Mr. Edward Ellice, M.P. for Inverness Burghs. Lady Ellice, in the first days of his official duties, often wrote despatches from his dicta- tion, and otherwise lessened her husband's duties, and her early death greatly affected him. Mr. Ellice, after retiring from office, declared he would rather be a bailiff on a farm in the north of Scotland than submit again to the drudgery of a Government office, in which he found no relaxation or ease ; as wherever he went, every second day, a boxful! of all kinds of letters was perpetually following him, the answering of which occupied a whole day. Although Mr. Buttervvorth always desired to represent Coventry again, his political connection with the City now ceased. He was far too honest a candidate for the close and self-elected Corporation, who required a man of greater daring. In contesting Dover, for which town he was chosen on the 6th March, 1820, he appeared more of a Whig; but on seeking re-election there in 1826, he was beaten by 548 votes, being fourth on the poll. In ill-health at the time, he was seized with sunstroke, which brought on brain fever, of which he died, at the age of fifty-six. Great distress existed in Coventry during the early years of the century, and the system of giving relief was far from perfect. In 1801, there were 400 poor in "the House of Industry," but in 1802 it fell to 274, and in 1805 to 177. It then fluctuated, and in i8i6 rose to 265, and the next year to 286. A considerable amount was spent weekly in out-relief. The Poor Rates in 1814 were reduced — St. Michael's to 7s. 6d., and Holy Trinity to 45. 6d. in the pound ; but in 18 17, they had increased to — St. Michael's 19s., and Holy Trinity to 13s. gd. in the pound, Mr. W. Cobbett, in describing a journey this year from London to Liverpool, tells — " I and ray two sons, William and John, set off from London early in the morning of Saturday, the 22nd March. Of the whole country through which we passed, and all of which was very fine, we were most delighted with eleven miles from Dunchurch to Coventry. The road was very wide 256 The Parliamentary Representation [1818] and smooth, rows of fine trees on the sides of it, beautiful white-thorn hedges ; the fields so neatly kept, the soil so rich, the herds and flocks of fine fat cattle and sheep on every side; the beautiful homesteads and numerous stacks of wheat, every object seemed to say : ' Here are resources, here is wealth, here are all the means of national power and of individual happiness.' And yet, at the end of those eleven beauliful miles, covered with all the means of affording luxury of diet and in dress, we entered that City of Coventry, which, out of twenty thousand inhabitants, contained at that very moment ei^ht thousand miserahie paupers, a fact which we well know, not only from the petition just presented to Parliament, but also from a detailed official account." And he adds : " One of the Members for which formerly public-spirited, but now miserable, City, Butterworth, had voted for all the recent measures of Government, and had been one of the most active, though the most silent, enemies of the cause of Reform." It! Marcl), Mr. Moore was presented with a gold cup, subscribed for by over 2,000 of the inhabitants, who desired to show their thorough appreciation of his faithful services. The Cheylesmore estate was sold by the Crown to the Marquis of Hertford, to pay off the land-tax upon other property of the Prince of Wales, and thus, after nearly five hundred years, the connection of Coventry with the Crown ceased, in entire opposition to the will of the original grantor, and the total ignorance of any rights possessed by Coventry citizens. Tradition says it was lost in a gambling transaction by Prince George, when at Combe Abbey a few years before, where His Royal Highness and the Marquis had placed two caterpillars on a table, and staked large odds upon their racing capabilities. The Prince's caterpillar not travelling so quickly as he wished. His Royal Highness pricked it with a pin, and stopped its going altogether, when his opponent won the estate. There is doubtless no truth in such an absurd story. THE NOMINATION OF Messrs. MOORE, ELLICE, and COBBETT, AT THE HUSTINGS. (From the ColUctiju of I he la(e W. KKADliH, Esq., in the DodUian Library, Oxford.) CovKNTKv Political Cautoon, 1820. COBBETT AT COVENTRY. A, Cobbett carrying off the bones of Paine. B, The devil pursuing Cobbett to recover his property. C, Bones exhibited at the Hustings in derision. D, Emblematical of the head of a Traitor. E, Watchman's Rattle used to arouse Mr. Cobbett's friends. F, Bell used by the collector of bones. G, Knave's Post, a friend of Cobbett's. H, An ass, a present for Cobbett to ride upon from the booth. I, the opponents of Cobbett amusing themselves at the Hustings. K, A mock skeleton of Tom Paine. L, Faggotts to remind Mr. Cobbett of one of his Botley manoeuvres. M, Cobbett led away from the Hustings by his friends fainting. N, An Emblematical figure of Death (painted) to remind Mr. Cobbett of his latter end. O, A Radical, with his staff, exhibiting a monster. (From the Author's Collection, J Coventry Political Cartoon, 1820. t^S2o] •-■•■, py- ;/jg QHy gjr Qovcntyy. 257 CHAPTER LXII. "Rich Ruffians" and "Ripping Savages": A Rowdy Election. George IV. (1820). Death of George III— Messrs. Ellice and Moore's addresses— Mr. William Cobbett, a candidate- Account of his doings— ' Nabob " — Tom Paine's bones— Electioneering on the cheap—" The Resurrection Man" — Cobbett's public entry— " Rich ruffians" — "Drunken savages" — IMr. Sergeant's windows smashed — Public arrival of Ellice and Moore —The Botley manosuvres — An imaginary letter— Captain H. J. Close, a Corporation candidate— Cobbett's proposal to him — Refused by the Town Clerk— Commencement of the poll — A character procession "Ballad for the Booth" — Retirement of the Captain— Cobbett's threat — An attack upon him — How he was rescued —Specials and their Chief — The old Blue.s gain possession of the booth — Daily state of the poll — The onset at Mr. Sergeant's house— Cobbett's accusation against Ellice — Election abruptly ended — Messrs. Ellice and Moore chosen — A case of desertion — Cartoons — Chairing. j^^KEORGE III. died ihe 29th of January, 1820, and Parliament ended a month jjE^S-: after. Messrs. Ellice and Moore issued their addresses, and Mr. William '^W^^ Cobbett came to Coventry, where his friends in London had predicted that i^T^ the tall, athletic, and vituperative editor of the " Political Register " would find many supporters. The Corporation appeared to have little chance of securing candidates, and a few in their Chamber would have adopted Cobbett, but the greater majority were against it, " well knowing that this Jack-of-all-trades man, who had been ploughboy, gardener, clerk, soldier, writer, farmer, bookseller, and publisher — first editor of the Tory ' Porcupine,' and afterwards of the Radical 'Weekly Register' — would, if elected, turn upon their interests if it suited his purpose to do so." Mr. Ellice might be in their eyes "a stock jobber" and a "lord's relation;" Mr. Moore "the manager at Drury Lane " and an " East Indian Nabob ; " and to use Cobbett's adapted rhythm — "When master served in England's crew, He said to Peter, ' black my shoe,' To which he answered, 'Ay, Bob.' But when returned from India's land, .^nd grown too proud to brook command. He sternly answered, 'Nabob.'" Still, both attended to their duties in Parliament, and |)lacing party considerations aside, were better than the political agitator who " brought over the bones of Tom Paine from America, wisheii the public to subscribe (and entrust him therewith) a sum of money, under pretence of building a monument here for the rascal's bones ; and who begged 258 The Parliamentary Representation [1820] at twopence per head from 600,000 men, women, and children, and required that sum to be ready by the end of February to form a fund for securing his election." Rotherham, the printer, published the following, entitled And pray, sir, what fool recommended you here, With your Radical, democrat stuff? By my soul I advise you from Coventry steer — Or you'll meet with a terrible huff. Come, none of your blarney — 'twill never avail, With our Coventry Britons, d'ye see — For we are the boys who will never turn tail, While the land of our fathers is free I So pack up your 'bones,' sir, as soon as you can. For no ' Kads ' can our loyalty shake — Or should you prefer, we will 'hunt' you, old man, Like a bullock tied fast to a stake. If so — keep the booth, and we'll show you such fun As shall fill your stout heart with dismay; And convince you, old 'Bone Merchant' e'er we ha\'e done, In his turn, 'ev'ry dog lias his day.' Let Britons still loyal and happy remain. And defy all your jargon to shake 'em — Or should they forget (their allegiance, I mean), May a good cat-o'-nine-tails awake 'em. Farewell, Mr. Cobbett — I wish you could see What folly has prompted you on — Still, our King, Constitution, and Country for me, And for Cohbett — a dot and go one!" Alluding to his public entry on the 29th of February, Cobbett, in "the History of the Coventry Election," says — • " I was drawn through all the principal streets, which did not occupy a space of much less than two hours, on a frosty evening, part after sunset. The acclamations were so general and so hearty ; the enthusiasm so great ; the words, as well as actions, of the mass of the people so clearly expressive of ardent attachment to the cause of which I was the represenlative, that it was not being at all credulous to suppose that corruption, however foul and persevering, would be unable to produce finally a successful resistance against me. However, I resolved to proceed with caution, but as my cold and my most unfortunate hoarseness wholly disqualified me for a canvass in person, I was compelled to rely on the reports of others, which were, however, all favourable, and all fully warranted by every indication whereon a judgment might reasonably be formed. The savage violence of our enemies was no bad sign of the fairness of our prospect. This began to show itself on the very night of my arrival. Our friends, sati^fied with the victory of the day, had retired to their homes, when the savages who had been hired by the band of rich ruffians sallied forth, dashed in ihe windows of the house of Mr. Sergeant [in Earl Street], at which I was, and made many brutal attacks upon individuals whom they took unawares in the streets or at pui)lic-houses. Even at this early period they cut several persons with knives, and there is no doubt in my mind that they were furnished with knives by their employers, for the express purpose of being used in [iSaoJ ()/ the City of Coventry. 259 cutting and stabbing. This supposition may by some be thought monstrous, but the facts which have since come out fully warrant it. I am ashamed to relate these things of Englishmen, who have heretofore been famed for fair play ; but 1 must relate them, or not do justice to my own friends at Coventry, who, though full of honest zeal, never thought of carrying an election at the point of the knife. The knives appear to have been all of one sort, or nearly so — stout pen-knives, with sharp points. I saw two drunken savages, carter fellows, brandishing each a knife of this sort in the face of the hustings, and threatening to rip my voters up." Messis. Moore and Ellice came to Coventry on the 6th, and made a public entry. According to Cobbett, " the ric/i ruffians themselves turned out on horseback, armed with staves," when, "guarded by this species of Yeomanry Cavalry, the two stupid heroes entered the Town," and as a signal of their arrival, " their Aired savages " again dashed in the windows of Mr. Sergeant, which had been iiiended after the former attack. Parties remained quiet from Tuesday night until Monday, 6th of March, although a whole forest of bills appeared. Mr. Cobbett, suffering from a cold, issued long statements of his views, which were answered by Jonathan Chambers, a local tradesman. I'he dark Blues made the most of a case which had been brought against Mr. Cobbett and two other persons of Botley, for the assault and false imprisonment of one Burgess (whose brother, Jesse Burgess, had been in Mr. Cobbett's employ, which case being tiied in the Winchester Summer Assizes of 1809, had resulted in Mr. Cobbett being fined £10), in spite of Cobbett's bringing down the real Jesse Burgess to refute certain state- ments. Curious and suppositious letters were published by Turner, purporting to be written in the native Hampshire dialect. Here is one of them — "Coventry, Marche Thirde. "To Mister Jonathan Chambers. " Sur, — Measter be' en vere bnsey to-day, he tells me to write to your honor in his sted. He says how he have a gret respect for all haberdashers, ande that you be a vere goode haber- dasher, bot a vere bad riter — and I wishes you to git one ov measter's grammer bookes, and then you vool not vant to goo to the layer to git un to correct your riten — and I hears as how you gives men buttered ale to make um fite, bot wen measter used to give men ale in hamsheer, he did it out ov his ween pocket, and not out ov aneyFund raised for the releef ovthe poor — and I hopes your honor wool excuse me, as I be'nt a scollard much moor than your honor ; and I wants a pare ov gloves thes could weather, and vool call to by some ov your honor — I hear as how your honor zays as I be'nt the trew Jesse Burgess, bot if you wool goo to Mister Copes, neer the Churchyarde, 1 a' got a cozen whoo bides ther, and he knows that I be the real Jesse Burgess. "I bee your honor's humbel savant, Jesse Burgess." The Corporation were anxious to secure a candidate, and consulted with the Ministry. On the 7th March they obtained the services of Mr. Henry Jackson Close, of Ladywood, Birmingham, whose address appeared that day. He was an officer in the Army, and had served in India and the Peninsula. Forthwith his opponents found fault with him for being a soldier. He defended himself, asserting that his profession and residence in India had made him acquainted with trade. Mr. Cobbett knew that if he could get the interests of the Corpoiation joined to his own, his chance of success would improve, and therefore proposed a coalition of their cause, but Mr. Close rejected the offer, and in the " History," Cobbett says — 26o Tlie Pdrliamentary Representation [1820] "If Captain Close, who appeared to be a very good and frank man, had listened to a proposition of mine, both the humbugs would have been packed off on the Thursday. But the Town Clerk, who, I suppose, spoke for the Corporation, would not let him agree to it." The opening of the poll was fixed for Wednesday morning, the 8th. Excitement increased as the day progressed, and the dark Blues paraded strange figures through the Town to disgrace Cobbett. A Freemen tells how human bones were stolen from the north crypt of St. Michael's Church, and made up to represent Tom Paine's skeleton. At the close of the first day's poll Cobbett had first place, to the surprise of the dark Blues. In the evening the following " Ballad for the Booth" appeared — "What is that fellow perched up in the booth? Hark! Moore and Ellice, all that's bad he calls? Who are they with him, too rough to be smooth ? 'Tis "Botanist" Cobbett, and Govts of Radicals ! Strike up the tune that we play'd before. Shew them that we value them not a fig again ! Bundle out Cobbett and shut the door. And then play up the Jeffery-Barluio jig again ! Barlow — we'll jig it ! Jefferys— fig it ! Play the Jeffe>y-Baylow jig again : Rally, and jig it ! Fig it ! Jig it ! 0! tlie rare Jeffery-Barlow jig again! Give us no more of your hisses and groans, R'len very bad can't bear such clattering ; . , Cobbett's afflicted with Paine in the Bones And a very bad cold; it has stopped his chattering! What's to be done. Jemmy P * Grant thine aid! Like Moore and Ellice, when low thine attitude, Granl-ing thee help, when of duns afraid — And now, Radicat-lihe, thou dost show thy gratitude! Bones they will clatter, Cobbett will chatter ! James will also change his attitude ! Bones they will clatter ! matter ! Chatter ! Jemmy has GraH/-ed and proved his gratitude ! Sergeant's and Corporals orders attend ! ' Well armed witli stones, from ambusli fall o' them ! Let not a Radical throw a briclt-end, Till the whole bricks are expended all o' them ! ' Radicals, would you the cause ensure. Begging your twopence ne'er deem a robbery ? Gathering Bones and to fleece the poor, Cannot be theft ! They are— but a fob-hery ! Give it to Cobt)ett ! Trust A/w— he'll fob it ! Tivopence borrow'd is no robbery ; Hold it fast, Cobbett! Rob it! Fob it! Taiie them all in, and a fig for robbery ! " Captain Close found it hopeless to proceed, for being unknown, and having made no personal canvass, laid him at a great disadvantage. Mr. Moore's agent, Mr. Pearraan, had a conference with Mr. Close's representatives, to obtain that gentleman's withdrawal, whereat it was agreed to pay the Captain's expenses, and thus sooner put an end to the election. Mr. Close retired on the lolh. Mr. Cobbett now threatened to inflict the fourteen days polling, as allowed by law ; and his " History " proceeds^ * Mr. J;\me,s Ci.int, Cliainu.ui of Mr. Colilictt's conuuiltee. [i82o] of tin City of Coventry. z6x " On the Thursday the savaiies came well fed and well supplied, all the day long, with gin and brandy, brought out to them in glass bottles, and handed about from one to the other in the face of the booth, where a scene of violence and sounds of execration were witnessed and heard, such as, I hope, were never matched, and never will be again matched, in the world. I that day saw above twenty of my ^■oters actually torn away from the polling place, and ripped up behind, and stripped of their coats, and sometimes even of their waistcoats! Nevertheless, in spite of all this destruction ; in spite of blows, ripping up, and even stabs, my voters persevered to such a degree.as to put me nearly on a level with my opponents at the close of the poll ; and if the infirm persons, whom I had got into the booth, had been permitted to poll, I should have stood a6ow« Moore at the end of the second day. I had about twenty of these in the booth ready to poll. These (for what reason I never could discover) were not permitted to poll. They were, after long waiting, got away in safet}', but they never dared to venture to come np again. It was now clearly seen that / had the votes; and, therefore, unless these votes could be prevented from being given, it was clear that I must be seated in Parliament, especially as no one act had been committed by me or by my friends of an unlawful or violent nature. Therefore, grand preparations were made by the Ricli Ruffians for the next day. They, indeed, had done much on the day just closed. We saw, during the afternoon, several fresh bands of savages arrive from the country by sixes, eights, or tens ; so that, by the hour of closing the poll, an immense multitude of these wretches, roaring like wolves, and foaming with rage and drink, were collected round the booth. " This evening, Ellice went out of the booth in great dudgeon. I, not suspecting any attempt against me personally, followed, at a few paces distance, intending to go the house of a Mr. Grant, where my Committee was, and which might be about forty yards from the booth. I had to pass through the bands of savages, and I was scarcely amongst them, when they (at Ellice's instigation) began an endeavour to press me down. They were more than a tjionsand in number, including the mere parti zans of my enemies. Several attempts were made to press me down. I got many blows in the sides ; and if I had been either a short or a tveali man, I must have been pressed under foot and inevitably killed. However, the crowd took a sway towards a row of houses standing on a pavement above the level of area of the open street, or sort of square. With a good deal of difficulty I reached the pavement, keeping my feel. I had, when I left the booth, my snuff-box in my right hand ; it is oblong square, and has very sharp corners. The savages pressed me side- ways towards my left, and I had to fight with my right hand in order to prevent them from getting me down. I had to strike back-handed. One of the sharp corners of the snuff-box, which stuck out beyond the bottom of my little finger, did good service. It cut the noses and eyes of the savages at a famous rate, and assisted mainly in securing my safe arrival on the raised pavement, on which I got just opposite to the door of a shop. Just at this time one of the savages, foaming at the mouth like a mad dog, exclaimed : ' Hang liim ! I'll rip him up ! ' He was running his hand into his breeches pocket, apparently to take out his knife, but I ; being pulled up to the doorway by the left arm by two young women, who wished, I suppose, to get me into the house ; drew up my right leg, armed with a new and sharp-edged gallashe over my boot, dealt Mr. Ellice's ripping savage so delightful a blow just between his two eyes, that he fell back upon his followers. For this I should certainly have been killed in a few moments had not Mr. Frank Sergeant, who, seeing my danger, made shift to get along by the side of the houses to the spot where I was, happily came to my assistance. Never did I behold a more gallant young man than this I Having got to me, he turned round, saying, ' Follow me. Sir ! ' and having first beaten back three or four of the savages, so as to make them press upon others behind them, the whole body which were on the pavement turned about, while he. with thumps on some with his hands, with kicks bestowed upon others, set thebody on a swag towards the houseof Mr. Grant, at which we arrived quickly in safety." The Corporation had sworn many special constables, some of whom the Chief, Mr, J. Goodal, had recruited from the gaol, and the low quarters of the Town. They were taken before an Alderman and sworn in, their duty assigned to them, and furnished with a staff and badge ; they received two shillings per day for their exertions, provided they brought those articles back safely. Mr. Cobbett demanded protection for his voters from the Mayor, for the dark Blue party were bent upon obtaining possession of the booth, and soon gained it. The hustings sloped down Cross Cheaping, and the Cobbett party were forced from the front by the superior strength of their opponents. The second day's poll resulted — Ellice 198, Moore 179, Cobbett 151, Close 94 ; the third day — Ellice 395, Moore 371, Cobbett 206, Close 102; and the fourth day's poll, on 262 The ParUamentary Representation [1820] Saturday, the nth, terminated — Ellice 727, Moore 692, Cobbett 352, Close 114. " Cobbett tells us that the scenes exhibited were much the same as before, but that many of those amongst his opponents mob, having ' become Iioarse, were seen moving their lips, instead of being heard. His voters were not allowed to vote, driven from the booth, and the freedom of election again interfered with,' " Mr. Cobbett, however, determined lo keep open the poll during the next week, and the Moore and Ellice party, exasperated, conceived the idea of driving him out of the City, and pro- ceeded to Mr. Sergeant's house with the evident intention of mischief. They first dashed in the upper room windows, and some foolish person in the house retaliated, and a dreadful row ensued, when the shutters of the ground floor room and the windows were smashed. Forcing the door, they broke into the house, whilst others, scaling the wall, got in by way of the garden. Cobbett was in a bedroom, with his daughter, when some of his supporters came running up for the poker and tongs, to use for defence. The party in the house were unarmed, but with Mr. Frank Sergeant at their head, they faced the mob in the passage armed with pokers; whilst Cobbett, valiant ni.m ! ' fixed the bedstead in a way to let the door open no wider than to admit one man only at a time, and stood with a sword to send the first that should enter to receive from the Devil the arrear that might be due to him on account of his services to Moore and Ellice,' and having pulled off his coat, ' was prepared to give, with a clear conscience, as hearty a thrust as was ever given by man ' And he adds : ' My philosophy despised the brutes, but to have one's throat cut by them would have been just a little too bad.' Meanwhile, the tumult in the passage was quelled, but not without one man being stabbed twice in the arm." This attack had the effect of intimidating some of Cobbett's Freemen from poHing during the ne.Kt few days, and if they presented themselves they ran considerable risk. Cobbett made out that Mr. Ellice greatly aided the rioters in this attack upon him, and substantiated it by evidence, but his party were undoubtedly the original aggressors. The end of the fifth day's poll was— Ellice 1,147, Moore 1,108, Cobbett 485 ; on the sixth— Ellice 1,423, Moore 1,377, Cobbett 516. During these days the dark Blues had possession of both sides of the booth, and now, by the agency of Mr. Pearman, an agreement was come to, whereby the polling was brought to an abrupt end on the iSth, and considerable expense saved to Messrs. Moore and Ellice. Cobbett left for Meriden, and Edward Ellice, Esq., and Peter Moore, Esq., again became Members. There were now 2,016 Freemen polled, and the final state, published by W. Rotherham, printer. Fleet Street, gives the following numbers— Ellice ... ... ... ... j^y^ Moore ... ... ... ... 1^22 Cobbett ... ... ... ... rj- Ciose ... ... ... ... ,^g This bill was now issued, entitled — "Coventry Hustings. WILLIAM COBBETT, Late a Sergeant in the 54th Regiment ^,f.".^"^y '*Vf,'"°'^"l"g'/''°'" ,'he Radical recruiting party, stationed at Coventry the abo^■e-named ^'^^'^f,^°^^^''C'^°}-'^\^^^<^""^iherecruns.,hom he had enlisted under fa se pretences bv which they have been deprived of six days subsistence. The notorious old oftender"^ s suDDOsed to have left Coventry this morn.ng on h,s refun, to Americ. having finished his Hst seditiou^K m England. Whoever w.ll lodge him in the Radical Guard Roonf shall be thanked by Is deluded ^l^^!^:'^::^^^''^'' °^ "^^ '"^^-^ ^-'^^--'^ °f ^--'^>' f- ^^eir late disg'rl'ce'f^ul'c^nrcU^ There were several cartoons issued at this election, which illustrate its humours. The chairing took place on Friday, the 17th. WILLIAM COBBETT, Esq. Farliamcvtary VandMato for Coventry, 1S20. WILLIAM MILLS, Eb M.r. fm- Cwrnlru. imH. FRANCIS CHARLES SEYMOUR CONWAY. MtLrquts and Eai-I uf Hertford. Reorder uj Ommitru, 1825-6. [i82o] ' of the. City of Coventry. 263 CHAPTER LXIII. The Case of the Coventry Freeholders. George IV., continued (1820 to 1824) Warwickshire General Election, 1S20 — Resignation of Sir Charles Mordaunt — The November bye-election — Mr. F. Lawley and Mr. R. Spooner, candidates — A curious find — Right of polling — Demanded by Coventry Freeholders — But refused by the Sheriff — Lawley elected — Mr. Spooner's petition— The case in Committee of the House — Decided against the Coventry Freeholders — Mr. Lawley declared elected — Local sympathy for Queen Caroline — Presentations to Her Majesty — The King's Coronation celebration — The County Gaol Act — Abandoned — The General Gaol Act — New gaol built. U^^UGDALE STRATFORD DUGDALE, Esq., and Sir Charles Mordaunt, Bart., were returned for the County of Warwick at the General Election in March, ^'^^^T^'' , 1820, but the latter accepted the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds. *•!•' An election ensued, at which Francis Lawley, Esq. ("an old-fashioned Whig") and Richard Spooner, Esq. (" then a young man of rather Radical tendencies ") were candidates, upon the 31st of October, ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th November, when ; according to the poll taken by Christopher Robert Wren, Esq., the Sheriff; Mr. Lawley polled 2,153, against 979 for Mr. Spooner. The right to vote at Coventry had been from time immemorial in the Freemen alone, and the Freeholders did not vote for their freeholds in the City, or County of the City. Mr. Charles Lilly, and the Spooner portion, were desirous of polling at the Warwickshire election, and were in force. A few years ago, in the repairs of St. Michael's Church, a copy of the following bill was found attached to the lead work over the South aisle — "Warwickshire Election. — The Freeholders of the City of Coventry, in the interest of Mr. Spooner, are requested to assemble in front of the County Hall, prepared to proceed from thence to Warwick, precisely at 8 o'clcck on Thursday morning. It is hoped each gentleman will provide himself with a mazarine favour or laurel. "Craven Arms, Wednesday, Nov. -i.ni, I'&io. ' Turner, Printer." On the Coventry Freeholders presenting themselves, their votes were disallowed ; and after the election Mr. Spooner presented a petition, declaring "that the Sheriff and Returning Officer at such election refused the votes of divers persons. Freeholders of the said County (Warwick), who had a right to vote at the said election, and who were desirous of voting, and had on that occasion tendered their votes for the petitioner." Mr. Spooner further stated that by these ineans a " colourable majority " had been obtained for Mr. Lawley, who h,id thereby been illegally elected, and asked that that gentleman's name should be erased from the return, and his own placed in stead thereof. 264 The Parliamentary Representation ' [1821] The Committee to try the petition met on the 9th of May, 182 1, the Marquis of Titchfield in the chair, Messrs. W. Harrison and U, Corbett being counsel for the plaintiff, and W. E. Taunton and J. Pearson, Esqrs., counsel for the defence. The case was fully argued, and an account of the proceedings will be found in Mr. Ulvedale Corbett's " Inquiry into the Elective Franchise, &c., in England and Wales." The weakness of the petitioners case was in their being unable to produce evidence that the Freeholders of Coventry had ever exercised the right of voting for the County of Warwick for nearly 400 years, or since the charter of Henry VI. (1451), and in the end the Committee resolved " that the right of voting for Knights of the Shire for the County of Warwick is in the Freeholders for the County of Warwick only ; and tliat no person, in virtue of any freeliold situate in the County of the City of Coventry, had any right to vote at any election of the Members of the County of Warwick." Mr. Lawley was declared elected. Caroline, consort of George IV., having remained some years abroad, in conse- quence of the separation between them, now returned lo England to claim her right as Queen. Coventry men were no passive spectators to the Bill instituted in the Lords against her, their sympathy was with the Queen, and no less than 17,000 persons, out of a population of 21,000, are said to have signed the address to her, which, with an elaborate and beautiful piece of ribbon, woven in the City, and paid for by subscriptions, was sent to her on the loth of October, 1820. When the Bill was withdrawn on the loth of November, there was considerable rejoicing, with ox and sheep roastings, and illuminations. Lord Hood, of Whitley Abbey, and the Honourable Kepel Craven, of Combe, being in close attendance on Her Majesty, took an interest in these pro- ceedings, and in June the next year a gold watch, of Coventry manufacture, was presented to the Queen by the inhabitants, bearing the following inscription : — " Presented to Her Majesty Queen Caroline, as a mark of their esteem for her character, and admiration of her conduct under unmerited persecution." On the 19th of July; the date of the King's Coronation; the Corporation, Companies, and inhabitants celebrated the event, and a public procession took place. The Grand Jury at the Coventry Spring Assizes, 1819, had represented the old gaol to be insufficient for its purpose, and the Corporation obtained an Act of Parlia- ment, 1822-3 (3 Geo. 4), in order to build a new one upon some lands the property of the Marquis of Hertford and others, witliout the City. Opponents objected ihat the site was a bad one, both "damp and unfit," but withdrew their opposition, and the Bill passed. Meanwhile, the General Gaol Act (4 Geo., 4 c, 64) became law, and gave increased powers to Magistrates ; when, as the building of the new gaol had not commenced, the scheme was given up, and land adjoining the old prison purchased by the Corporation to build a new gaol in place of the old one. [1824] of the City of Coventry. 265 CHAPTER LXIV. The Reciprocity Act and the Ribbon Trade. George IV., continued (1824 to 1826). Mr. Huskisson's Reciprocity Act — And the silk trade — The days of Protection — Petitions against the Act — Admission of foreign silks — Extension of time allowed — Further petitions — A dread of coming evil — Mr. Ellice's speech — Moves for an enquiry— Commissioners at Coventry — Manufacturers drawbacks— Cobbett's political planks — "Annual Parliaments and Universal Suffrage" — Opposition of the Freemen thereto— Death of Recorder, Earl Craven — Francis, Marquis of Hertford, chosen — Growing desire for new Members — Hints at opposition— Mr. Pearman's retreat to the enemy — Candidates wanted to oppose Catholic claims— Handbill warfare. ^^H^fc^OMMERCIAL reform was required, and Mr. Huskisson, a member of the WS-Zii^ Government and the President of the Board of Trade, proposed the Reci- procity Act, whereby tlie Coventry ribbon trade was affected. It has been shown that the craft owed its origin in the City to the political circumstances which in 1685 had driven 70,000 French Protestants to seek refuge in this coimtry, some of whom, settling at Coventry, aided the establishment of the silk trade; which, although dependent upon fashion, was early found could compete with the manufacture of the ribbons from France, and for half a century they were, with the other silk-made goods of this country, submitted in competition with the manufactured articles of France and Italy. In 1768, foreign silk manufactures were totally prohibited, under heavy penalties, and the home market increased, but an export trade, chiefly to America, greatly declined. Protection of home industry was considered absolutely necessary ; it was desired to obtain an excessive monopoly of foreign trade, in order to strike a blow at a rival power, and to exclude the foreigner from the home markets and the Colonies. For nearly sixty years prohibition of foreign silk goods continued, but in 1823, Mr. Huskisson brought forward his measure altering the Protective laws; and in March, the weavers of Coventry petitioned against the admission of French and other foreign wrought silks into Great Britain, considering that it would ruin their trade, and the Members also presented a sympathetic Town's petition. The Bill passed, and the prohibition system came to an end ; it allowed silk goods to be admitted, at a duty of about 30 per cent, ad valorem ; but through a motion of Mr. Ellice's, an extended period of two and a half years was given, before the same came into operation (July, 1826). Improvements of 266 The Parlianientavy Representation [1824-5] machinery and the Jacquard loom considerably altered affairs. During the interval, the reduced price of silk stimulated the Coventry trade, but manufacturers and work- people were apprehensive of the ill results of the introduction of foreign wrought silk into England upon their trade, and in February, 1826, petitioned the Lords, through the Recorder, and the Commons by the Members, praying Parliament to consider the misery and distress prevailing in the City and neighbourhood, "occasioned by the apprehension of the injurious effects upon the ribbon trade by the introduction of foreign manufactured ribbons into this country," but the full force of the competition was not felt until 1828. Mr. EUice, on presenting the petition, was of opinion that the Act for the Adjustment of the Currency and the Repeal of the Corn Laws should have preceded the removal of Protection, and moved for a Select Committee 10 enquire into the state of the silk trade. Speaking of Coventrj', Mr. Ellice said — " Mucli has been done during the last two years of introducing improvements, and time and encouragement are now alone wanting to give confidence for the application of capital. One workman can now produce, with the improved engine loom lately adopted, six times the ribbons he could before time with the single-hand loom. Three-fourths of the looms of Coventry are yet of inefficient description, most of which are the only property the operative weaver has. Their buildings and houses are adapted to this machinery, and must be altered to suit the engine loom, whilst in the present state of trade, and the apprehension of immediate introduction of foreign goods, both manufacturers and weavers are unable to invest capital in alterations without the assurance of protection." Commissioners were appointed to take an account of the stock of the Coventry manu- facturers, which, says the Collier MSS. diary before quoted, was weighed; " five shillings in the pound weight being allowed on the silk and ribbons as a drawback to the masters to prevent their suffering by the Bill, whilst to the workmen came nothing but loss, with reduced wages." In time partial confidence asserted itself, but the feeling of being handicapped still remained with maker and weaver. Two planks of Cobbetl's political platform had been "Annual Parliaments and Universal Suffrage," which raised opposition from the Freemen, who deemed that if an Act of the kind was passed, the exclusive right of voting, for which they in the present, and their forefathers in past generations, had served " seven long years," would be stultified by the admission of property owners and others to the franchise. At Coventry, in a measure, there was an extended suffrage, whilst other places were restricted; and where many boroughs polled but hundreds at an election, the City's register of Freemen showed nearly 3,500 voters. Such doctrines as those advanced by Cobbett would lose a candidate's chance, and the interference with the right to vote was ever zealously guarded by its owners. Lord Craven died on July 30th, 1825, at Cowes, aged 54, and his remains were removed from the Isle of Wight lo Combe Abbey, and buried at Binley Church. The duties of Recorder were now but nominal, and the Corporation unanimously chose Francis Charles Seymour Conway, Marquis of Hertford, to the office. [1825] of the City of Coventry. 367 The alarm of tlie Coventry weaver for his trade through the new Act caused considerable trouble, and dissatisfaction was expressed against the representatives. The "Coventry Mercury," in June, 1824, had asked the Freemen not to engage their votes, as their old friend, Mr. W. W. Bird, would be nominated at the next election. Mr. Bird, however, disclaimed all knowledge, and from Cape Town, where official duty had placed him, soon after repudiated all ideas of causing disruption among the " Inde- pendent Blues." Mr. Mark Pearraan, who had been instrumental in conducting the elections at Coventry since 1790 for Mr. Bird, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Ellice, inserted a letter in the "John Bull" newspaper, on the 25th of Se[)tember, declaring that the conduct of the two representatives had been sucii that he, together with the Freemen of Coventry and London, would oppose their re-election, asserting that if two Protestant candidates, supporters of the present Ministry, and opposed to the Catholic question, would offer themselves in the Independent interest, their success would be assured. The letter came as a thunderbolt to the party, and Mr. Jonathan Chambers, a loquacious haberdasher, and other doughty champions of Messrs. Moore and Ellice, took up their representatives cause, and a very verbose handbill war was the result, wherein both parties spilt a quantity of printers ink. 268 The Parliamentary Representation [1826] CHAPTER I LXV. A Battle of the Blues. George IV., continued (1826). Dissolution of Parliament— Measures— Unpopularity of Moore and Ellice— Searching for candi- dates—Mimic addresses — Writs received — Preparations — Light Blue mob in strength — "Why should a wretched weaver fill his skin with gin" — Mr. T. B. Fyler, a light Blue candidate— His arrival and address— " Gratifying intelligence "—Mr. R. E. Heathcote, the second light Blue candidate — Messrs. Ellice and Moore's late arrival — Mr. Moore at the Craven— Refused hearing by the light Blue mob — Mr. Heathcote's public entry — The nomination — In favour of Fyler and Heathcote — Mr. Moore's threat against Magistrates— His infliction of " the long oaths"— First day's polling— Possession nine points of the law- Candidates and Catholic claims — " Latimer " thereon— London Freemen— Sales by auction — Daily proceedings and polling — "The Hearty Good Fellow" — Moore and Ellice gain ground— Their attempts at the booth — Proceedings thereat— Further pollings— Mr. Ellice and the Dis- senters—Opponents bills— End of polling — How caused— Final return — Threats of proceedings. PARLIAMENT which had effected important changes in the foreign and PMlSk. domestic policy of this country came to an end on June 2nd, 1826, and the elections which followed were conducted more as a struggle for measures ••r than parties. The Corn Laws, Catholic Emancipation, and the Slave Trade were the chief questions at issue, for Reform was hardly ripe; but, at Coventry, whilst the Tories made capital out of the Radical, or Cobbett, party's dislike to the represen- tatives ; advantage was taken of Messrs. Moore and EUice's unpopularity with the weavers on the subject of the relaxing the prohibitory system on the importation of foreign silk goods, for the hands thought their Members had done more for the masters than for themselves. The addresses of the old Members appeared on 29th May, and an announcement of opposition stated that " two gentlemen of Independent principles, and unconnected with any party, would offer themselves," and shortly appear in the weavers interests. Mr. Ellice in vain tried to reason ; it was clear he and Mr. Moore had lost caste. The Corporation and others were endeavouring to find candidates, and Mr. Pearman was asked to bring out his " non-Popery " men, but as they did not appear, the mimic addresses of Christopher Woodhouse and John Sammons, two well-known eccentric local characters, were issued, to the amusement of the inhabitants. Tlie arrival of the writs on Monday, June 5th, prepared the City for the election, and a hustings was hastily erected in Cross Cheaping in the usual constitutional manner. [1826] . o] the City of Coventry. . \. 269 whereat the candidates could talk if they were able, or pose as a cockshy for the mob to pelt at. Things began to look rosy for the electors, and whilst on Tuesday evening the partizans of Messrs. Moore and EUice (dark Blues) were entertained at different inns, "by public subscription ;" Mr. Ellice desiring to spend very little money unless obliged ; the other side, yet without candidates, set their publicans taps running. Votes and voters were in great demand, philanthropy became general. Aldermen and merchants "hob-nobbed" with the lower order of Freemen, and whilst the women were kissed and the children made a fuss of, the men got into a stale of chronic intoxication. Mobs, chiefly of non-electors, now had a chance of showing their interest in public affairs, and during the evening of the 6th, an immense concourse of light Blues, aided by music and AVard flags, paraded the streets, exhibiting a large bottle reversed on a pole, in remembrance of an expression used by Mr. Ellice in the House respecting artisans spending their superfluous money in gin shops. " Old Times " says — " Why should a wretched weaver fill his skin with gin ? To squander thus his wages is a downright sin ; You all must know these things for weavers were not sent ; For their liberal masters only were they meant." Whilst " Commisserator " writes impromptu — "Says Harry to Tom: 'Things look very queer! No bread I No meat ! No cheese ! No beer I The men say all's lately been "quite wrong" within, Since EUice has said there shall be no titore gin.' O dear I what can the matter be I Now we're deprived of our gin I We'll soon send Master Ellice back again, As soon as he dares come within." - ' A large crowd of Freemen were collected at mid-day on Wednesday near the King's Head, and Mr. Charles Woodcock, in addressing them, desired to know whether they were dissatisfied with their present representatives, and after loud cries of " We are ! we are ! we are ! " asked if they wished for one or two new Members, and a unanimous show of hands decided that two were required. He declared that " two Independent gentlemen of fortune " would soon offer themselves, but he was then unable to name them. The light Blue mob again met at the same place at three, and, with the Mayor and several members of the Corporation with him, Mr. Woodcock was still unable to name the candidates, who were expected hourly. The mob again assembled on Thursday morning, and it was announced that the services of Mr. Thomas BilcUffe Fyler, a military gentleman, had been secured. Messrs. Woodcock and Carter spoke, and Mr. Pearman, who for three weeks had incessantly laboured to obtain opposition candidates, declared that "as for Peter Moore, they might as well elect the ex-Member for Radford, for instead of attending to the interests of his constituents, his time was entirely occupied amongst his Joint Stock and Bubble Companies." 270 The Payliamentary Representation [1826J Mr. Fyler's address was promptly issued. He was against granting political power to Roman Catholics, and professing himself to be attached to " the true principles " of tlie Constitution, and above all, to those which form the basis of the " Liberties of the People," promised that if elected, it should be his particular care to watch over his constituents interests. At six o'clock he addressed the Freemen from the King's Head balcony; and, being satisfied by a vote that two new Members were required, explained his political views, and afterwards rallied the City, accompanied by an exceedingly large mob, headed by drums and fifes, and banners bearing the moito : " Fyler and light Blue for ever ! " Early on Friday morning placards announced, " Heathcote for ever ! " whilst "The Coventry Herald" declared: "We stop the press to announce the gratifying intelligence to the Independent Freemen of this City that R. E. Heathcote, Esq., of Longton Hall, Staffordshire, has been proposed as a second candidate." The revelation of "Gratifying Intelligence" from such a source fell as a bombshell into the Dark Blue camp. The editor was accused of blowing hot and cold, and a wordy correspondence ensued. Mr. EUice arrived privately during the evening (the Tory bills declare they will have "No come by night"), and shortly before ten in the morning, Mr. Moore reached the Craven Arms in his carriage. The latter immediately appeared in the recently-erected small balcony, and endeavoured to address the Freemen, who refused to hear him, amidst great noise and clamour, when, much distressed, he seated himself on the window frame. " Fyler and Heathcote ! " was the general cry, and no dark Blue party appearing, benches were placed in the street for musicians, and liquor was freely handed about. Amidst an infernal din, Mr. Moore rose from his seat, and again and again made unsuccessful attempts to be heard. Light Blue ward flags were brought close to the Craven Arms, and boards having "Freedom and Independence," and "Lost! A reward of 1,000 guineas for Moore and Ellice's mob," were conspicuous. Gin bottles were hoisted on the ends of poles, and amidst cries of "No Popery!" "No Stock Jobbing!" a large bowl of rice was raised on a staff, in allusion to something Mr. EUice had said, and a Catholic cross, together with several sheeps heads, were likewise hoisted. Mr. EUice wisely remained in the room, but Mr. Moore for two or three hours bore the mob's insults with much meekness, and an " epigram " records — " Three hours has Peter in one posture stood, With hanging look, in melancholy mood ; He wants to speak, and why, there's no denying, Standing so long requires a little lying." Mr. Heathcote was publicly escorted into the City, and having been drawn to the King's Head ; he and Mr. Fyler joined interests, and afterwards rallied the Town. Messrs. Bunney and Phillips, the Sheriffs, attended with their counsel at the nomina- [1826] of the City of Coventry. 2,']\ tion on the loih of June, and the writs having been read by the Mayor's Crier, the candi- dates were nominated, when the show of hands was decidedly in favour of Messrs. Fyler and Heathcote, whose speeches were heard by the vast assemblage in front of the booth, but the mob refused to listen to those of the other candidates. Mr. Moore ascended a table in the centre of the booth, but his attempts to be heard were ineffectual, until Mr. Fyler asked a fair hearing for him. He alluded to his 26 years representation of the City, and trusted that the Sheriffs would do their duty and keep order, for he had forwarded to the Secretary of State an accusation, of which something would be heard afterwards ; but on making allusion to personal matters, and the intoxicated state of some of the Freemen, he was met with cries of " Sit down ! " Mr. EUice, wiser than his colleague, did not attempt to speak, but waiting upon the Freemen in different parts of the booth, answered their many questions, declaring he would vote for the Catholic Emancipation. Messrs. Fyler and Heathcote produced their qualifications, and Mr. Moore, still remaining on the table, demanded that the "long oaths" should be administered to the Freemen, and in spile of remonstrance from all sides, four Commissioners were appointed to administer them at the Mayor's Parlour, and four at the Free School. They repaired there about one o'clock, and when they had declared the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, the declaration of fidelity, the oaths of abjuration and the affirmation, and declaration of the effect thereof, the Freemen were granted certificates, which they took with them to the poll. The result of the first day was — Fyler 173, Heathcote 173, EUice 5, Moore 4. From tiiis it will be seen that the light Blue party held the booth, whilst the four or five votes recorded for Moore and Ellice were those of infirm persons. During the day, Fyler and Heathcote repeatedly slated that they were opposed to Catholic Emancipation and the Corn Bill, whilst the late Members gave their approval to the measures. Mr. Moore was told that the Priest at the Roman Catholic Chapel was delaying Mass for him, and wanted to make him a Pope. He replied : " If he does, I'll not absolve you." The following, upon the great question of the day before the electors, appeared— "Freemen, arise! maintain Old England's cause, Your King, Religion, Constitution, Laws! Asli of each man, who deigns to asU of you Your suffrage, whether he is staunch and true To our reform'd religion, which alone First placed a Brunswick on the British Throne; Asic him (before you fix on him your choice) If in the Senate he will raise his voice, And use his efforts to avert the hour That gives to Papists legislative power. Such is your duty— such the honest part Each Protestant should act who has at heart His country's weal. My friends, let such hftyoms! 'Gainst Ned and Peter shut St. Stephen's doors. 272 The Parliamenlary Representation [1826] By Cranraer's ashes and by Luther's blood, By all tlie host of martyrs, who withstood The flames and tortures of the Papal See, By all you dearly love and value, be True to yourselves, your country, and your God ; Nor bow submissive to your master's nod. Who fain would force you by their threats to vote For Ellice, Moore — the Faggot and the I'ope ; Such threats defy. // Freemen, then be free, And join the general cry, 'No Poperv ! ' " " Latimeh." The out-voters were not forgotten, and the "Times" says — " The London Freemen frequently controlled the election by their large numbers. They were ' cooped ' in the Metropolis and in the larger provincial towns, and brought to Coventry at the cost of the candidates They entered the City of Lady Godiva in carriages and four, each Freeman thinking himself a Coriolanus come to save the Stale. Treating was rampant, and the non-resident electors visited their native Town free of expense, and were maintained for days." The printers were busy, and bills of all sorts were issued to the public. The dark Blues had — " To BE Sold by Private Contract, An estate of small value in the neighbourhood of Newcastle. The possessor wanting money immediately, the first application will be treated with. As the ground is very swampy and full of gorse, it abounds with Game, consisting of Jackals, Foxes, etc At the same time will be sold all the life interest of a Half-pay Lieutenant, at the best price that can be obtained. Apply IMMEDIATELY at the BooTH, or King's Head." The Light Blues retaliated as follows — " To be Sold by Auction (this day), By Jonathan Chambers, On the Premises at the Craven Arms Hotel, An Iron Cage (quite new). The reason of its being sold is, the owner has no further use for it. It is very capacious, having been built for the purpose of keeping Two Large Birds in, supposed to be a species of the Owl, as they have never been seen in the daytime." On Monday morning the polling recommenced at nine o'clock, and continued till five, the light Blue party having possession of the booth. This day the poll stood — Fyler 620, Heathcote 620, Ellice 30, Moore 29. On Tuesday morning, the dark Blues came to the booth in considerable numbers, by which means their poll was advanced somewhat. Protests were sent to the Sheriffs to secure free access for all parties at the booth, and some improvement was effected, although several voters were ill-treated, and had their clothes torn. The third day's poll ended — Fyler S65, Heathcote 865, Ellice 203, Moore 201. Matters were getting interesting, and the candidates excited. Mr. Fyler, in the course of a speech, spoke of the "audacity" of his opponents in telling the Sheriffs they were acting partially, and alluding to Mr. Moore's invective that he and his colleague were two fiddlers, said however that might be, they had determined to drum that gentleman out of the Town before they parted. Mr. Ellice, from the Craven [1826] of the City of Coventry. 273 Arms, made a temperate speech, although coloured by party resentment. Mr. Moore commenced in his usual style, and said : " Here I am again. I consider that it is absolutely necessary that you should not only hear me, but see me, as an insidious report has currently gone abroad that I have received 2,000 guineas, deceived my friends, and ' flown the pigeon.' My answer to this is, if it be true I will suffer myself to be shot like a mad dog." Whilst he was addressing his friends, the light Blue mob attempted to pass through the multitude in front of the Craven Arms, which led to the greatest confusion and much injury. Mr. Heaihcote, who was in the light Blue rally, was pushed down near the Hotel yard, and only after great efforts his friends managed to rescue him, not before, however, he had received some bodily injury, but at length the light Blues succeeded in passing. Wednesday's poll closed — Fyler 1,162, Heathcote 1,161, Ellice 377, Moore 369. It was evident that the. light Blues were turning the lessons learned from their opponents upon former occasions to account. Mr. Moore had then said : " If you cannot secure the election by other means, take them by storm, lads, take them by storm ; " but now that the torrent had overtaken him, he forgot this, and wrote down all his foes enormities in a black book, in order to frighten them as to the future. At this time "The Hearty Good Fellow" was issued. It is set to a popular ditty of the day — " Here's to Fyler and Heathcote, and all their brave men, We'll neither send Ellice nor Moore back again ; For Ellice has tried to deprive us of gin, And thought his own cause he was certain to win. Twankadillo ! Twankadillo ! He that polls for Ellice is a very mean fellow. Here's a health to our King and the Parliament men, Those that have done good may they go back again ; For to drink our brave toasts we'll have plenty of gin, And Fyler and Heathcote are sure to come in. Twankadillo ! Twankadillo I He that polls for Fyler is a hearty good fellow. Were our wages reduced to ten shillings a week, I'm sure we can't get any bones for to pick ; The butchers and bakers might shut up their shops, And the tailors might come and sew up our chops. Twankadillo ! Twankadillo ! He that polls for Heathcote is a hearty good fellow. Here's a health to the pretty girl that we may love best, Who kindles a iiame in her true lover's breast, ' Which can never be quenched by water or gin ; And we'll neither let Moore nor Ellice come in. Twankadillo! Twankadillo! He that loves a pretty girl is a hearty good fellow. Here's a health to our Mayor, and Aldermen, too. And Fyler and Heathcote, the friends of sky-blue ; May Fyler and Heathcote oft think of the gin, And look to the Freemen, for 'tis they that must win. Twankadillo! Twankadillo! He that's Independent is a hearty good fellow." 274 -^^"^ Parliamentary Representation [1826] On Thursday the dark Blues made a stand at the booth, and, accompanied l)y a band of music, commenced a parade, but before very long nearly all the instruments were borne off in triumph by the other party. The daik Blues now polled better, and the day's result ended — Heathcole 1,310, Fyler 1,308, EHice 657, Moore 644. Whilst Mr. Moore was speaking at the Craven Arms, the light Blue mob attacked his party in High Street, when fighting and tearing clothes was carried on for upwards of half an hour ; but the light Blues carried the position. On the i6th, Mr. Ellice, having determined to carry the hustings, met his mob at the Black Horse inn at Spon End, and proceeded to the booth. During the day, the proceedings were enlivened by a sweep ascending the chimney of a house near the hustings with a light Blue flag, and shouting "All's up! all's up!" many times, and, it is said, " the light Blues amused themselves at some of the old games carried on by their opponents at Cobbett's election, playing at fly-back, cards, marbles, &c., near the booth, and running about the streets with besoms and lanterns searching for their opponents voters. They also exhibited dark Blue colours, intermixed with crape." This, the sixth day's jioll, resulted — Heathcote 1,423, Fyler 1,411, Ellice 1,020, Moore 989. On the 17th, being Saturday, Moore and Ellice again paraded the Town in early morning, previous to proceeding to the booth. Mr. Ellice did not spare the Dissenters, many of whom could not approve of his views as to the Catholic claims. " I asked them (he says) how they bore their chains before their rehgious restrictions were ameliorated ; you all ought to lu t8-i2. LAMMAS RIDING AT COVENTRY. From a Painting by E. RUDGE (Urawing Maater at Rjtgby School), in the jwsnession oj the Aulh COMMEMORATION MEDAL, Struck to cetfltrate tlie Return of ths fimt Rn/ormfd Corporattim a^ Coventry, UE * C° LONDON I^^^35l of the City of Coventry. 303 CHAPTER LXXII. The Municipal Corporations Reform Act. William IV., continued (1835 lo 1837). Resignation of Peel's Ministry-Recall of Lord Melbourne-Mr. Ellice not chosen in the Govern- ment-A loyal petition-Municipal Reform Bill-Local Inquiry-Provisions of the Act-The case of the Freemen-Party meetings at Coventry-The Freemen on the defensive-Petition- The Bill in the Lords-Coventry Corporation petition-Their case heard-Lord Lyndhursfs opposition-His valuable aid to the Freemen- Obnoxious clause thrown out-Bill passed- Choosing the new Corporation— Commemorative medal struck— How Coventry was affected- Resignation of Recorder, Earl Craven-Mr. George Long, Barrister, appointed-New boundary-Sale of Municipal trappings— A humorous handbill— Weavers distress and strike- Sympathy from the Queen — The King's death. N the 19th February, 1835, when Parliament assembled. Sir Robert Peel, although the elections had gone in his favour, was not in a majority, and . resigned in March ; when the King recalled Lord Melbourne, in whose '•r reconstructed Cabinet Mr. Ellice did not appear. The Tories of Coventry sent an address to the King, expressive of their loyalty to the House of Brunswick, and appreciative of the conduct of his late Minister. The new Government confined their measures chiefly to Municipal Reform, and the Irish Church, and on 5th June, Lord John Russell introduced his Municipal Corporations Reform Bill in the Commons. It was a measure which affected Coventry considerably. In 1833, Inquiries were held into the state of the Coventry Corporation, and in October that year, A. E. Cockburn and R. Whitcombe, Esquires ; the Com- missioners for the Midland district ; heard evidence at Coventry, but the latter gentleman died before the Report was published in 1835. The measure was the sequel to the Reform Bill of 1832. The Commission revealed anomalies of Municipal government on all hands, and, " to prevent these in future, it was proposed that the charters of the boroughs should be taken away, and that there should be one uniform system of government, to be styled Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses, and one uniform franchise for the purpose of election ; except in some of the larger places, where it was desirable to have a Recorder or other Magistrate ■ and the qualification of Electors was settled to be persons who for three years had been rated to the poor, and had paid their rates. The right of acquiring the freedom of a Corporation by birth or apprenticeship was to be abolished." It was asked in 304 The Parliamentary Representation [1835]. the House of Commons : "What did the Reformers mean by first bringing in a Bill which was based upon perpetuating the rights of the freemen of England, and recog- nizing them as a part of the Constitution, and then within three years bringing in another intending to deprive them of their rights ? Was not this a precedent for breaking up the final settlement?" The clause for disestablishing the freemen was carried only by a narrow majority of 28. The Whig Bill proposed to disfranchise the freemen of England, and naturally led to dissatisfaction against that party at Coventry. Meetings held at the Craven Arms, and elsewhere, to discuss the Bill and forward petitions in its favour, were badly received, and much confusion ensued. It was thought that as the Freemen decreased in numbers, and the race became extinct, their property would pass to the 'J'own, in aid of local rates ; and, by confiscation of the possessions of the defenceless poor man, aid the rich one "at his expense." At a meeting of Freemen held to discuss the situation, Messrs. Steane and W. Taunton spoke stoutly against the Bill's proposals, the latter declaring he could not trust his own party, the Whigs, in the matter. It was pointed out that the Coventry Freemen had as good a claim to their rights and privileges as Lord John Russell himself had to his family estates, and would equally be justified in depriving him thereof as he in trying to dispossess them of their rights. They petitioned the Lords for justice to be done them ; against spoliation of theirs— the poor man's estate — held for centuries uninterruptedly ; for the retention of their votes, their freedom, and apprenticeship, present and to come. When the Bill passed the Commons, the Lords desired to hear the Corporations by Counsel, before so drastic a measure was enacted. The Coventry Corporation petitioned Parliament, explaining their grievances against the Bill. They complained that the Inquiry was conducted unfairly, information suppressed and coloured, and that all sorts of gossip had been added. They were heard afterwards at the House. Lord Lyndhurst, the late Lord Chancellor in Sir Robert Peel's Government, persistently attacked the Bill in the Lords, and his amendment to omit the clause disfranchising the freemen was carried by 93 majority ; whilst his further motion to secure for them their Parliamentary franchise was carried without a division. The Commons adopted the measure, and on 9th September, 1835, ^he Act passed. No new Charter officers were chosen on ist November, the members of the old Corporation keeping their places until the new Town Council were elected under the fresh system on 29th December following, the Act coming into force on ist January, 1836. This new body, under the name of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses of Coventry, constituted the City Council, and at their first meeting chose Mr. H. C. Adams, of Ansley, as Mayor. On the 7th, Mr. George Eld, the last Mayor under the old system, transferred the Municipal regalia to him, and a medal was struck to commemorate the incoming of the new Corporation. The revenues of the estates, being assigned to [1835-6] of the City of Coventry. 305 public purposes, went to " the Borough Fund." Three sets of Trustees, named General Charity, Sir Thomas White's Estate, and Church Charity, were formed for the management of the Charities formerly worked by the old Corporation. Amongst various matters required by the Act, the Town Clerk was to prepare, and keep, rolls of the Freemen and Burgesses, an Auditor was appointed to audit the Corporation accounts, and a Watch Committee formed. For the purposes of the Act, new Wards were formed. The North Ward (" seven country parishes of the County of Coventry ") being included, led to considerable litigation. The Earl of Craven resigned the Recordrrship, and a London barrister, Mr. George Long, was appointed, who, discharging the functions of Judge, presided in the Court of Record at Coventry, at a salary of ;^ioo per annum. The various assortment of Municipal trappings collected and used by the old Corporation were sold by Messrs. White and Son, auctioneers, at St. Mary's Hall, on July 26th, 1836, and amongst them the two chairs used for chairing Members of Parliament after elections. The particulars of sale advertised in the local papers provoked the following humorous handbill — " COUNCILLOR FROTH Has the dishonour to announce to the Public that he has volunteered his officious services to submit for Sale by Public Auction (without reserve or shame), To-morrow Morning and the Next, at Twelve o'clock each day, In the large room next door to the upstairs obscure Polish Office called Old Harry's Hole, in the Windy Corner, Part of the Miscellaneous Property belonging to The New Boroughmongers, Consisting of a Valuable and Antique Service of Plates and Dishes, Spoons and Nutcracks, Decanter and Wine Glasses, Mustards and Vinegars, which are no use to inhospitable Persons. Ladders and Hasteners, which are useless to those who have climbed to the top of the tree and can go a good pace without assistance Saucepans and Spouting, lohicli are unnecessary to men who have a large stock of their own. Superior and Capacious Coppers and Furnaces, formerly used in making Soup for the Poor, but which cannot be thus employed by those whose charity is stopped. Large Old Metal Measures, /;-om a bushel to a short one, which Purchasers will be allowed to keep after they have shelled out their fees to Mr. Inspector for reducing them to modern dimensions. Also, the Original Cap and Side Saddle, Whip, and Bridle of LADY GODIVA, Together with the Dresses, Flags, and Accoutrements of the Pages and Attendants, which ever since her time have been used at the commemoration of her successful exertions for abolishing oppressive Tolls ; but of which it is inexpedient, degrading, and demoralizing to recall any recollections, since the vast and rapid progress which has lately been made in requirements has rendered such an exhibition as that of Godiva anything but satisfactory to the sanctity and majesty of the New and Holy Inquisitors of Market baskets. — N.B. The Prayer Books, Regal Paintings, and Baubles will be knocked down on the first convenient opportunity. — Stephen Knapp, Printer, Smithfori St., Coventry." The distress endured by the Coventry weavers was exceedingly great, and a lowering of wages led to a strike. Their case was submitted to the Queen, who expressed sympathy and commiseration for them, and sent ;£'so towards a relief fund, "assuring the weavers of Coventry, through the Mayor (Mr. T. Banbury), that every encouragement, both by example and command, should be exerted to promote the wearing of British ribbons both by the Queen and all within Her Majesty's influence," which Royal command had barely time to be felt, when King William IV. died on 20th June, 1837. 3o6 The Parliamentary Representation {'^^'^7^ CHAPTER LXXIII. a five-cornered fight : opening of the london and birmingham Railway. Victoria (1837 to 1839). Forming "The Coventry Standard" — New Parliament — Messrs. EUice and Williams addresses- Mr. Morgan Thomas again comes forward — A second Conservative candidate, Mr. John David Hay Hill— Extracts from " the Chronicles "—The Chartist candidate, Mr. John Bell— His notions — Further extracts from " the Chronicles " — The five candidates in the City — " Whig wheedling" — Upsetting the Chartists — Nomination — Result of poll — Return of Messrs. Ellice and Williams — Presentation to Mr. Thomas — The Queen's Coronation — Mr. Williams and the Indenture Stamp Act — The London and Birmingham Railway — Opened — Reasons for keeping it out of the Town — Lord Hertford's, and Lammas, lands taken — Effect of railway on elections — Birmingham Chartist Riots — Their Coventry meeting — And inflammatory state- ments — Visit of Queen Adelaide — Loyal reception by the Mayor and Corporation. i)N June, 1836, " The Coventry Mercury " had been disposed of by Mr. C. Rollason to the "Coventry Newspaper Company, for the establishment of a Conservative weekly paper called ' The Coventry Standard, and General Advertiser.' To be pubhshed on Friday morning. Capital ;£i,Soo, in 3,000 shares of los. each." It was hoped that the Stamp Duty would shortly be reduced from 4d. to id., and " the tax on knowledge " averted. On the 17th July, 1837, Parliament was dissolved, and Messrs. Ellice and Williams promptly issued addresses, defending their votes and the support they had given to the Ministry. Mr. Morgan Thomas again came forward; in his address written from Tooting Lodge, on the 5 th, he desired diminution of the public expenditure, and, as a Churchman, believed that national religion was beneficial. Free Trade, he inferred, was reducing the City to ruin ; his opponents said, " Coventry is not the whole country," but its interests, he declared, should at least be sacred to its representatives. A second Con- servative candidate came forward, Mr. John David Hay Hill, of Gressenhall Hall, East Dereham, Norfolk, whose address appeared on the 17th, promising the stoutest opposi- tion to partial Free Trade. This is how the Conservatives and their candidates were humorously, though satirically, described in the " Second Chapter of the Chronicles of the Sayings and Doings of the Skies, alias Legs, alias Tories, alias Hanoverians," and shews to what insults candidates at the time were subjected — [1837] of the City of Coventry. 307 " And they went to the man Morgan, who is commonly called Tommy the Truckler, because he weareth two faces — one for Cambridge, which looketh blue, and one for Coventry, which is an orange yellow— and lo ! he had been thrice rejected of Coventry, and his head was heavy, and his purse light, and he said unto them : ' Lo ! you have plucked me until my flesh is sore. Neverthe- less, if ye will pay the piper I will dance, and, in lack of a second candidate, you shall have my dog Pompey also, who, though he is an (H) ill-looking cur, is of the true Hanoverian breed, and will fetch and carry for ye, and will play many antics ; yea, we will be your puppets, and ye shall pull the wires. I will bully for ye, and Pompey shall bark.' . . . And on the morrow, lo ! Tommy arrived per wagon, like a bale of returned goods, and Pompey came after him, and there was a great gathering of the faction at the liing's (of Hanover) Head, which is their place of conspiracy. And lo ! the slaves of the faction were frantic with joy, as they knew the spiggots must be set running, for them to swig thereat, for, like beasts of field, they think not, neither do they under- stand ; and lo ! they ran about like Bedlamites, yelling out, 'No Ellice ! No Williams I' which, being interpreted, meaneth No truth, No honesty Audio! Tommy opened his mouth, and foolishness came thereout ; yea, he talked much, but said nothing, and Pompey wagged his tail and played many antics, to the great diversion of all the assembly. And when the performance was over, Tommy bowed, and Pompey bow-wowed, and so ended the fun." The Chartists started a candidate, a Mr. John Bell, of London, under the recom- mendation of Mr. Fergus O'Conner. In a speech on Greyfriars Green, declaring the principles of Chartism, he stated his watchvfords were " Universal suffrage " and "Protection of native industries." The dark Blues did not relish Mr. Bell's presence, and this is how Hickling, one of their printers, records affairs in the " First Chapter of the Chronicles of the Sayings and Doings of the Skies, Indigoes, Radicals, and New Lights "— " Now after these things it came to pass that a certain lunatic appeared in the streets of Coventry, crying out, ' Lo ! I am the New Light. Give ear unto me, for none else can save ye ! ' And the name of the madman was Bell-ow, and he bellowed out with a loud voice : ' Robbery I Robbery ! Lo ! the capitalist is a robber ; the manufacturer is a robber ; the shopkeeper is a robber ; the man who hath two coats is a robber ; yea, the accumulations of industry are all robbery. Half of ye are rogues, and the other half are fools ; half of ye mongers, and the other half mongrels, and I alone have wisdom. Elect me for your councillor, I demand, and give me your money ! ' Thus he raved until the going down of the sun, and the faction rejoiced exceed- ingly, saying one to another: ' Lo ! this firebrand will sow discord amongst the people; yea, he will divide, and we shall conquer.' Nevertheless, all who had eyes to see and minds to think, heeded not his ravings, and refused to leave the substance for a shadow, or practical reforms for wild theories, baseless as a vision, sounding and empty as a Bell." The candidates had arrived in Coventry by the Friday before the poll. Mr. Ellice addressed his friends from the Craven Arms, and " the Coventry Standard " ironically remarked, that " the whole was a fair specimen of Whig wheedling and political humbug, and shewed nothing so much as the art of avoiding those points which had a political connection with the local interest of his constituents." Mr. Bell spoke on Greyfriars Green. His presence was neither acceptable to the followers of Mr. Ellice or Mr. Williams, and the crowd, on leaving High Street, pressed through his meeting shouting " Ellice and Williams," and upset the platform there • its occupants escaping with difficulty. At ten o'clock on Saturday, Mr. Sheriff T. H. Merridew, and the officials, appeared at the hustings, when the proceedings of nomination were gone through in dumb show. Mr. Thomas was proposed by Mr. Cope, seconded by Mr. R. K. Rotherham ; Mr. Hill 3o8 The Parliamentary Representation [1837] by Mr. Bunney and Mr. T. S. Morris ; Mr. Ellice by Mr. Summers and Mr. Smith ; Mr. Williams by Mr. Claric and Mr. Brunskill; Mr. Bell by Mr. Peters and Mr. Bradley. The show of hands was in favour of the Liberal candidates. Afterwards, all the candi- dates were busy addressing the voters, and Mr. Bell, in speaking on the " Green," said his quarrel was not with Whig or Tory candidate, but he " wished to shew his utter contempt to that sham Radical, Williams." The polling commenced briskly on Monday. At its close the result was — Ellice ... Williams Thomas Hill ... Bell ... 177S 1748 1392 43 Throughout the Tory candidates stood no chance, and the return rested with Messrs. Ellice and Williams. In November, the workmen at Messrs. Vale and Roiherham's watch manufactory, Coventry, presented Mr. Thomas with an exceedingly fine gold watch, in appreciation of his candidature. Coventry celebrated the Queen's Coronation on the 28th June, 1838, with general rejoicings. The Stamp Duty payable, under the Act 55 George III., c. 184, upon the admission of a Freeman was 20s. Many objected to the payment, and it was often paid for them by the party to which they belonged, with the other small fees attending it, but partially through Mr. Williams's instrumentality, an Act, i and 2 Vict., cap. 35, was obtained, abolishing the Stamp Duty, which came into force on the 4th July. On 23rd March, 1838, the London and Birmingham Railway had so far advanced that an engine, and five carriages full of officials, arrived at Coventry from Rugby, and on 17th September the whole way was opened. Owing, however, to the mistaken policy pursued ; to avoid giving large prices for urban land, and paying high rates ; Coventry, like other places, suffered from being at a distance from a station. Mr. Stevenson carried his line northward at Rugby, towards Birmingham, and took a direct line from the Sowe river bridge to the south of Coventry, by easy gradients got into the Fletcham- stead valley, and changing the course somewhat southward, reached Birmingham. At Coventry, the line crossed the Park estate and the Lammas lands. It revolutionized the coach traffic. Members, their friends, and voters, hitherto coming by road, often stayed for days in the City during an election ; but the railway, and the shorter time of polling, caused less money to be spent at such periods, ami many of the old road inns to be done away with. [1838] of the City of Coventry. 309 TheBirmingliam Chartists riots occasioned considerable excitement in July, and on the 26th, a Chartist meeting was to have been held in Cross Cheaping, Coventry, but adjourned to Greyfriars Green. Mr. Fergus O'Conner's paper on the pulling down of property in Birmingham was read, and an address on Chartism delivered. When the Dowager Queen Adelaide passed through Coventry on her way from Gopsall Hall to Warwick Castle, on the ist of November, the Chartists invited " the half-starved weavers," by inflammatory handbills, "to contrast the difference between their wretched condition and the splendour surrounding Her Majesty." This was just before the Newport riots. The Mayor and Corporation of Coventry loyally met the Queen at the City boundary on the Leicester Road, and accompanied her in procession to the limit of their jurisdiction towards Kenilworth. ' 1, ■ ^ )k«v,rt-r.p 110. -- ^- ^_> Plan of Coventry, 1842 : Illustrating the New Boundary ; Mr. C. Hansom, Surveyor. 310 The Parliamentary Representation [1839J CHAPTER LXXIV. Corn Law Times ; A Triangular Contest ; Lowering the Duties. Victoria, continued (1839 to 1846). Mr. Williams's annual address — The Corn Laws — Petitions — Meetings interfered with — Bad trade — Peel's sliding scale— Royal marriage celebration — Mr. Williams in Committee — Free Trade propositions — Parliament dissolved — Mr. Ellice's address and views upon questions at issue — Proposed Conservative candidates — The address of Mr. Thomas Weir — His views — Actions of the Chartists — A voter's lament— Attempted intimidation — Nomination — Result of the crush— Large and small loaves on exhibit — Polling day — Numbers — Williams and EUice returned — A damp chairing — Sir Robert Peel forms a Cabinet — Coventry Boundary Act — Freemen's Seniority Fund — Mr. Ellice's second marriage — Riots at Whitley Mill — Local Acts — The duty reduced. EARLY it was Mr. Williams's custom to address his constituents, either from tiie Half Moon Tavern balcony in Earl Street, or from that of the City Hotel ; ii-.-»jMaxrt); usually with a white flag flying. ' CYi\o ' ^y The disastrous effect of the Corn Law Act of 181 5 in closing the ports upon foreign grain, until home-grown corn had reached 80s. per quarter, was apparent. By the efforts of the League on one side, and of the Agricultural Protectionist Societies on the other, an agitation was begun. Scarcely was tliere a town but petitioned Parlia- ment for the repeal of " the bread tax," but the counties sent many for continuing it, and Warwickshire upwards of 200. An Anti-Corn Law handbill exclaims — " Are you content to be thus stultified in (he face of your country ? Can you look upon the wasting forms of your wives and children, and be content with those Corn Law curses, clicap labour and dear bread ? Rise, men of Warwickshire, and vindicate your County and yourselves from the gross calumny. Petition by dozens and half-dozens ; wait not for thousands. Every Town, every Parish, every Trade, every Factory, every Street, every Worship, should petition instantly. If you have a drop of British blood in your veins, it should stir you to Indignation and action." Another bill shows the large "American loaf" of 16 lbs. for a shilling in that country, and compares it with "the Britisli Corn Law loaf" of 6 lbs. The Magistrates of Coventry, as at other places, interfered with, and put a stop to meetings, but distress was spreading, and Coventry weavers, with bad trade and diminishing wages, felt the same keenly. In February, Sir Robert Peel proposed the sliditig scale, which gave little satisfaction, and rendered the Conservatives unpopular. The Queen's marriage with Prince Albert was celebrated in Coventry upon 10th February, 1840. During the spring, Mr. Williams sat upon the Committee of Inquiry on the duties levied upon imports. [1840-1] o/ the City of Coventry. 311 Meanwhile, things were going bad for the Whig Administration. The Budget shewed a large deficiency, and increased timber and foreign sugar duties were proposed to meet it. Lord John Russell proposed to substitute a moderate fixed duty on corn in place of the sliding scale, and the Government proposals as to the sugar duties were condemned by a majority of 36, which was followed by Sir Robert Peel's vote of non- confidence in the Government being carried by a majority of one, whereupon Lord Russell decided to dissolve Parliament, which was accordingly done on the 23rd June, 1841. One of the chief issues of the General Election was Free Trade. The Tory party made great efforts to secure Protectionist candidates, and the Chartists opposed the Anti-Corn Law men. Mr. Ellice issued his address on the 14th June, which was a long one, and explained the "struggle for Reform in our Fiscal System," in which the country was called to engage. With reference to the matter and the Coventry trade, in his own view, he said — "When a revision of the Commercial Code was proposed by Mr. Huskisson, my opposition to the measures then applied to the Silk Trade did not arise from any objection to the principles on which they were founded. The repeal of the duty on the raw material at that time was a boon. The substitution of the largest duty which could be enforced on the importation of foreign goods for an impracticable prohibition was reasonable and right, both for the protection of the trade and of the revenue, against the frauds of the smuggler. But I felt that your apprehensions of even that interference with your manufacture might be well founded, unless the changes then made were accompanied by general ones on the same principle in other branches of the trade. Your case was an exceptional one, and was entitled to the greatest indulgence. The main element in the value of your lighter and finer fabrics was the cost of labour. Surely, if Protection was justifi- able anywhere, it was where the existence and fortunes of a large class of people were engaged beyond their power of withdrawing from it, in the only manufacture in which, from various cir- cumstances, our foreign rivals had an acknowledged superiority. We pleaded these points in vain — we were obliged to submit — and we have been threatened, from time to time, with still further alterations. What has been the course pursued to assist you in bearing up against the trial to which you were thus exposed ? No relaxation has taken place in the Corn Laws ; and the artizan, compelled to submit to a competition which has reduced his wages, has been obliged for the last twenty years to pay nearly double the price which the labourer in Lyons and Switzer- land has had to pay for his bread. Prohibition, which we were told was to be blotted out from the Statute Book, was indeed abolished in the case of the Silk Trade. Is it because oxen and sheep, meat and fish are not so easily smuggled as silk, that the prohibition to import them must continue, even although we should be threatened with famine, from murrain, or any other cause ? Or is it because the Legislature cannot, or will not, deal with the great landowners, or the great monopolists of the few salmon fisheries, on the same principles on which they have dealt with the poor silk weaver ? " The Conservatives and Chartists at Coventry cavilled upon the questions of Free Trade and the Poor Laws. The former attempted to secure a candidate. The address of Mr. Robert Gyll, of Wallgrave House, Chelsea, appeared on the 24th, and Captain Tinnie, who had been contesting Barnstaple, was interviewed, but neither stood the contest, and on the 25th the address of Mr. Thomas Weir, dated from the King's Head, Coventry, came out, declaring himself to be a Conservative, with no desire for place. He believed the policy of the Whigs had been injurious to the kingdom and the working classes. He would support an alteration in the Corn Laws, but was opposed to Free Trade, and anxious for the re-establishment of the Prohibitory Laws, declaring a 312 The Parliamentary Representation [1841] general Free Trade to be an Utopian scheme. Speeches now became the order of the day. Meanwhile, " The Coventry Branch of the National Charter Association " called upon the men of Coventry to reject the Whig candidates. The election was dull, and the spice of former contests lost, as appears from the views of a no doubt worthy voter, who thus expresses himself — " We've joined in many 'lection sprees And many a party row, But oh ! what short and sober jobs Are all elections now. 'Twas then mob law for fourteen days Of riot and drunken fray, But now we've done with all such fun — They only last a day." The Whigs endeavoured to intimidate Mr. Weir, and told him that as he was "the best-looking image of the two candidates, he was to be the Tory idol," but, said the writer, " Take care. Sir, of your pockets, for this is a changing scene ; " undaunted, however, by threat or insult, he decided to go through the contest at all odds. The Liberal and Tory parties collected their forces, and met at the hustings for the nomination on Monday morning. Some confusion was created by a tremendous crush upon the front of the booth, which gave way, and but for the united exertions of all parties within to resist and keep off the pressure, the timber fabric must have fallen. Mr. EUice was proposed and seconded by Messrs. A. H. Pears and G. Baddeley ; Mr. Williams by Messrs. W. Clarke and J. Hilton ; and Mr. Weir by Messrs. T. Cope and R. K. Rotherham, and the show of hands was in favour of the two former. All the candidates spoke from their headquarters, Captain EUice speaking for his brother. Both parties rallied the Town. In the Liberal rally a large loaf, with mazarine and white ribbons, was exhibited on a poll, followed by another of diminutive size decorated with hght Blue, ticketed " Sliding Scale." On Tuesday morning the polling commenced at eight, and for two hours Mr. Weir was ahead. By eleven botli EUice and Williams had a majority, and "the Tory candidate rapidly went down the sliding scale." During the last two hours Mr. Williams's friends plumped him, a manoeuvre "more clever than wise," says "the Herald," and the result of the poll, as declared by Mr. J. Herbert, the Sheriff, was — Williams ... ... 1870 of which 145 were plumpers Ellice ... ... ... 1829 ,, 137 ,, Weir ... ... ... 1290 ,, 1131 And 3,200 Electors had polled out of 3,789, consequently Messrs. William Williams and Edward Ellice were elected, and with their Liberal friends rallied the Town, amidst great enthusiasm, although it rained in torrents. Speeches, dinners, and "wetting the inner man" followed. [1841] of the Ciiy of Coventry. 313 The elections went in favour of the Conservatives. Soon after the Ministry retired, and Sir Robert Peel formed a Conservative Cabinet. The new Boundary Act of 1842 put an end to the ancient jurisdiction of Coventry, and assigned a new boundary to the City. It extinguished the offices of Recorder and SherifT. Mr. Long, who held the former office, retired from it, and the Mayor became Returning Officer at Parliamentary elections. In April, 1843, the Freemen's Seniority Fund was established. The first money was for compensation, for right of pasturage over certain lands taken in 1828-9 for the improvement of the Holyhead Road, the second for the pasturage over Lammas lands taken for the construction of the London and Birmingham Railway. The entire amount of both accounts was then ^^2,476 4s. At meetings on the 19th, presided over by Mr. A. H. Pears, Mayor, Trustees were appointed, and it was resolved that the income should be paid in sums of 6s. per week, to the most aged Freemen, who should claim such weekly payments, according to their seniority of admission to the freedom, during their respective lives — a principle which has worked well from that time upwards. The marriage of Mr. Ellice with the Lady Anne, Dowager Countess of Leicester, was celebrated on 2Sth October, 1843, but that lady died 22nd July in the following year. For some years there had been disturbances at the annual riding on Lammas day. The Freemen, in asserting their rights to a portion of Common land enclosed by a miller named Liggins at Whitley Mill, pulled down a wall he had erected. On the 13th August, 1844, about 2,000 persons assembled on Whitley Common, and after demanding entrance into the enclosed ground, had a sharp contest with some police on the spot, and pulled the wall down. A number of them were taken before the Warwickshire Magistrates at Anstey, and bound over to appear at the ensuing Sessions ; whereat Messrs. Spooner and Mellor were their counsel, and after a long hearing, a verdict was returned of " not guilty," In 1844 the Waterworks, Cemetery, and Coventry Improvement Acts, were passed. The duty of about 30 per cent, ad valore7n continued from 1824 to 1846, when, under Sir Robert Peel, the duties were lowered about one half, and brought down to a per weight duty, amounting to about 15 per cent, ad valorem. This, from forced necessity, the Coventry weaver acquiesced in. 314 The Parliamentary Representation [1846] CHAPTER LXXV. A Conservative Gain. Victoria, continued (1846 to 1850). Sir Robert Peel's changed views— Divides Conservative party — Corn Lavi? Bill passed — Sir Robert's defeat — A new Ministry — Parliament dissolved— Messrs. Ellice and Williams come forward- Mr. George James Turner, a Conservative, also — His views — The Chartist candidate, Mr. Robert Norris— His withdrawal— Speeches— Nomination— Polling — Numbers — Mr. E. Ellice and Mr. G. J. Turner returned — Testimonial to Mr. Williams — His returns for Lambeth — Mr. Turner's biography — How the chairing money was paid — Additional local railway accommodation. alR ROBERT PEEL became estranged from the Conservative party through change of opinions respecting the Corn Laws and Free Trade. The Corn Importation Bill passed in May, but the Ministry was defeated afterwards, and resigned in June, 1846, when Lord John Russell formed a Cabinet. The Parliament was dissolved on 23rd July, 1847, and the election at Coventry quickly followed. Both Mr. Ellice and Mr. Williams issued addresses, and Mr. George James Turner, a Chancery Barrister, came forward. Although a Conservative, he was bound by no tie to either section of that party, but " disposed towards the line of policy adopted by Sir Robert Peel." He was attached to the Established Church, and would "look to any measures which may be brought forward without reference to the quarter from which they may proceed, with a strong disposition, on the one hand, to support such as may be calculated to give full effect to the liberal policy lately adopted to trade and commerce, and on the other hand, to resist such as may endanger existing interests, when the benefit resulting from the change cannot be calculated or foreseen." He favoured measures for the benefit and relief of the working classes, but, as " he was no Radical," refused to vote for " Universal Suffrage." Whilst Mr. Turner's opponents objected that he was a lawyer seeking place, his speeches show he had considerable knowledge of the political problems of the time. The address of Mr. Robert Norris, a Chartist, who " would go the whole hog," also appeared, but when "the Nonconformist Association" had settled " minor points" with, and asked the united suffrage for, Messrs. Ellice and Williams, he resigned. All candidates addressed meetings — Mr. Ellice from the Craven Arms, Mr. Turner from the King's Head, and Mr. Williams from "the balcony of the late Half Moon, now unoccupied." At the nomination on Wednesday, Mr. Turner and Mr. Ellice had good receptions, whilst Mr. Williams's was the opposite. Alderman F. Sergeant and l,^C-C'-Ce..'t^'yt^ WILLIAM WILLIAMS, Esq.. M.P. jar Coventry. JS:i6. Died, 1865. GEOROE JAMES TURNER, Esq (Afterwards Sir OEOBGE J. TURNER), M.F. for Coi^eiitry, ]Si?. Died, 186f7. CHARLES QEAOH, Esq.. M.F. for OGVentri/, IS^l. Died, 1854. [1847] 0/ the City of Coventry. 315 Mr. T. Goode nominated Mr. EUice; Messrs. H. Browett and H. Gardner, Mr. Williams; whilst Messrs. Aldermen Cope and R. K. Rotherham did the like for Mr. Turner. Messrs. EUice and Turner had the show, and a poll was demanded for Mr. Williams. None of the candidates could be heard. The poll opened at the various booths at eight on Thursday morning. At eleven o'clock it stood — EUice 873, Turner 477, Williams 467, and the final statement shewed— EUice ... ... ... 2901 Turner ... ... ... i7S4 Williams ... ... ... 1633 when Mr. Turner's majority being 121 over Mr. Williams, Mr. Edward Ellice and Mr. George James Turner were returned on 29th July. Mr. EUice's majority was a large one, he was supported by many of his late opponents votes, and, from his headquarters, said " he could not express how greatly he prized the honour they had conferred upon him again." Mr. Turner also thanked the Electors. A testimonial was presented to Mr. Williams, in January, 1848, from his Coventry friends, and he was chosen for Lambeth at a bye-election 7th August, 1850, re-elected in 1852, 1857, and 1859, sitting for that borough until his death in April, 1865. Mr. George J. Turner (afterwards Sir George Turner) was one of a large family, and was born in 1798 at Great Yarmouth, where his father, the Rev. Richard Turner, was for 30 years the Minister. His education commenced at the Charterhouse, and finished at Pembroke College, Cambridge, under his uncle, Dr. Joseph Turner, Dean of Norwich, then Master. In 1819 he took his degree, and was elected a Fellow of Pembroke College. Entering Lincoln's Inn, he was called to the Bar in 182 1. In 1840 he became a Queen's Counsel. He married, in 1823, Louisa, daughter of Mr. Edward Jones, of Brackley, Northamptonshire. The unvarying kindness and courtesy which he shewed to everyone whilst sitting as Member for Coventry, and the patient attention given to all local matters, made him many personal friends. In 185 1 he was selected as one of the Vice Chancellors, and in 1853 promoted to the place of Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal, serving in the Court of Chancery as an upright and conscientious judge. He died in 1867. The following handbill is certainly curious. It explains how " the chairing money " was paid at the late election — "TO THE INDEPENDENT FREEMEN AND TEN POUND ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF COVENTRY. Gentlemen, — Ever since the Charter was granted to your City to return Two Members to the Commons House of Parliament, it has been the custom for the successful Candidates at an Election to have a Chairing through the principal streets of the Town, and to pay each Elector 3i6 The Parliamentary Representation [1848] who voted for them Five Shillings for the loss of his Day's Work on that day. The Committees of the late Election have great pleasure to inform you that the time is passed for it to be deemed Bribery to pay the Chairing Money, and as they have received positive orders to keep up the good old custom, the two Candidates have agreed to pay the same on Saturday morning next, at 10 o'clock. The Liberal Friends of the Right Hon. E. Ellice will be Paid at the Craven Arms Inn ; the Friends of Mr. Turner will be Paid at the King's Head Inn ; and the Conservative Blues who split their Votes for Mr. Turner will be Paid by a Deputation from each Committee at the Rose Inn, Much Park Street. A Ward Committee from each Ward will be in attendance at the places of Payment, to prevent unworthy Persons obtaining the Chairing Money. Committee Room, Kings Head Inn, By Order of the Committees. March yath, 1848. R. A^till, PrinUr, Hfj-lford Street, Coventry." The Coventry, Bed worth, and Nuneaton Railway was commenced in 1847. I' was completed and opened April, 1850. The Coventry and Leamington line was also made. The Ca.stle Hotel, Coventry : Head-quarters of SiR Joseph Paxton, Kt. , 1859, [1851] of the City of Coventry. 317 CHAPTER LXXVI. Radical versus Whig-Liberal. Victoria, continued (1851). Ministerial changes — Mr. Turner appointed Vice-Chancellor — " Incidents of the Coventry Election, 1851," by a man without a vote — Right Hon. Edward Strutt appears in the Whig-Liberal interest — His biography — " The Coventry Herald " on the candidate — Mr. Strutt makes the King's Head his quarters — His speech — Expectation of a walk-over — Sunday talk — Mr. Charles Geach — Brought by "the National Parliamentary and Reform Association " — His arrival on the morning of nomination — Description of the mob before the booth — The nomination at the booth " Not unlike a Punch and Judy Show " — Geach has the show of hands — The two Reformers and their pretensions — The day of election — Scenes at the booth — The object of bribery — Conservatives poll " Geach " — Final polling^Mr. Charles Geach chosen — Chairing the victor — The new Member's introduction to the House — His biography. ;ORD JOHN RUSSELL'S Administration was defeated on Mr. Lock King's motion to assimilate the county and borough franchises, and resigned in February, 185 1. Lord Stanley was unable to form a Protectionist Ministry, '"''■1/ and when Lord Aberdeen declined to assist Lord Russell ; owing to his action against the Catholics ; at the Queen's request. Ministers retained offices. Mr. Turner was appointed Vice-Chancellor in March, and an election ensued at Coventry, the incidents of which were poetically described " by a man without a vote." "A certain Barrister was made M.P., By some manoeuvre, (how I do not know,) For the old loyal Town of Coventry ; His creed political I will forego To mention, since it is but trumpery, As all his votes in Parliament will show. He went, like all the rest, to seek a place : This is the common custom of the race. He's got one now — I wish him joy of it I Long may he live to be the Senate's tool, Long may he in official glory sit, And laugh derisive at the patriot fool, Who, when he takes his Senatorial seat. Doth make his country's good his aim and rule ; 'That man,' he chuckles, 'never will be great, He's too much principle to suit the State.' So having thus ensconced him in his berth, As snug, in common parlance, as a bug Rolled comfortably up on a warm hearth. Within the folds of a luxurious rug, Our Barrister looked down upon the earth In cool complacency, and mighty snug ; Thus half the Town was left unrepresented, A circumstance not quite unprecedented." 3i8 The Parliamentary Representation [1851] The retiring address of Mr. Turner, and another one announcing the candidature of the Right Hon. Edward Strutt, in the Whig-Liberal interest, appeared almost together on the 2nd April. Mr. Strutt was the son of Mr. WilHam Strutt, one of the three sons of Mr. Jedidiah Strutt, the large mill owners and manufacturers of Derby, who, by establishing their works at Belper, near that Town, had raised that small village into a large and thriving community. He had been educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and took honours. His father died in 1830, and on 31st July in the same year, he was returned for Derby, and held the seat through eight successive choosings, until his election in 1848 was declared void. He had early advocated Free Trade and the repeal of the Corn Laws, and held ofifice upon the Railway Board, in 1846-8 being Chief Commissioner of Railways, and was made a Privy Coun -illor. He presented the Arboretum to Derby. His wife was Amelia, daughter of Bishop Otter, of Chichester. After his defeat at Coventry in 185 1, he was chosen for Arundel, in Sussex, on 17th July following, and in July, 1852, for Nottingham, being re-elected, after appointment, as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in January, 1853. He retired from the House of Commons in 1856, and was raised to the Peerage as Baron Belper. His Lordship died 30th June, 1880. Mr. Strutt was brought into Coventry, and introduced to the Electors by Mr. Cleophas Railiffe (Mayor 1839) and other manufacturers, and bills against "the Derby Cotton Lord " soon appeared. " The Coventry Herald," acknowledging that Mr. Strutt was for going faster than " the Whig slow-coaches," preferred a man of the independent section and increasing minority of 90 in the House of Commons, and said that "a fast Whig" was "a kind of person it has never been our good fortune to meet with, at least, in office; out of office the Whigs are generally fast enough." The poem continues : " 'Twas thought that, being near a dissolution, No candidate would come into the field. To spend his breath and waste his elocution For such brief glory as the cause would yield ; Folks were mistaken — Strutt summoned resolution, And to the Freemen of the Town appealed. What will not man do, when unto his name He fain would stick a tail to spread his fame ! ' Electors, I do understand,' says he, ' That your most honoured representative Vacates his seat for ancient Coventry ; Now Freemen and Electors, I do give My testimony to his honesty. And I shall e'er respect him while I live — A gentleman in every word and deed. Although I differ from him in my creed. I've been, my friends, to Parliament before, I like it much, and wish to go again ; I'm an experienced man, and, what is more, I am — well, never mind ; if, gentlemen, You wish to know my conduct heretofore, I do refer all honest, candid men To con my votes, and by them you may judge Of my past course, from which I will not budge.'" [1851] of the City of Coventry. 319 Mr. Strutt had taken up his quarters at the Tory house, the King's Head, and his speech from the balcony was much disturbed by noise. The election was near, and his Committee little imagined opposition would be forthcoming. "Supposing any other man should come! However, as no other one appeared, Good Master Strutt felt very much at home, Rejoiced to think the course was so well cleared ; And, as he heard the opposition drum, Said to himself, ' There's nothing to be feared ! 'Tis useless, my good friends, you going round, I've only just to walk straight o'er the ground.' And all that night ('twas Saturday, you know,). And far into the morn, which ushered in The day of rest, the mob passed to and fro With drums and fifes— a most infernal din ; The Town folks no repose could get, although So tired : no sooner were they locked within The arms of Morpheus, than a sudden shout Disturbed their dreams, and put the god to rout. 'Twas Sunday ! Yet no opposition came, And Monday is the day of nomination ; An Irish lord (I never heard his name), So goes report, had a long consultation With a known gentleman of legal fame. Whatever may have been their conversation, One fact is certainly beyond dispute. He went back as he came — he would not suit. The Town folks went to Church, as was their wont. And seemed quite as devout as e'er they were ; But I have heard, and you may depend on't. Far other thoughts did fill their minds at prayer Than pure devotional, whatever front Their countenances might seem to wear ; And when the parson said, 'Friends, let us pray,' Responded they, 'Will Strutt have his own way?'" " The Coventry Branch of the National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association " sounded Mr. Strutt as to his views upon Household Suffrage, the Ballot, Electoral Districts, Triennial Parliaments, and Financial Reform, and as his answers were not satisfactory to them, asked Mr. Charles Geach, a well-known Birmingham banker, to contest Coventry. He accepted, and early on the nomination morning, Monday, the 7th, handbills announced his coming "To this effect: 'The Radicals have found A man who'll take the field — 'tis banker Geach, Of Birmingham, a gentleman of sound Good sense, and one who'll nobly fill the breach That has been made, and firmly stand his ground 'Gainst tyranny and wrong, and like a leech Stick to his whack ; come then, my boys, and never Say die. Huzza boys! Geach for ever!'" 320 The Parliamentary Representation [1851] Mr. Geach's late arrival at Coventry, followed by a speech made by him from the City Hotel, caused a sensation amongst the Whigs, and his address was soon in print. "The folks, like bees, went buzzing in and out Each other's homes, to spread the news about." The nomination at the large booth erected in Broadgate is thus graphically described by the "man without a vote" — "Well! here I am, and yonder stands the booth, But getting to it — how must that be done ? For here, in this belligerent mob, forsooth, Jammed — wedged as tight as ramrod in a gun, I cannot slir an inch ; but rough or smooth. Here goes ! and so, with shove and push, I'm borne Upon their bosoms, looking very brave, Just like a cork upon the ocean wave. And come to anchor just the booth before. To anchor, did I say ? Good gracious me. That's a mistake ! They rolled me o'er and o'er, I mean they turned me round, and ruthlessly Pitched me about till, from my every pore. The perspiration ran o'erflowingly, And every now and then they'd dab my hat Right o'er my eyes, and knock the crown in flat. Now stand I on my feet, and now I'm heaved Straight off, and terra firma cannot feel. At length I'm firmly fixed ; no, I'm deceived, For now an adverse push, with whizzing reel. Bears me full ten yards back, and I'm received By an opposing force, who, with a squeal. Do catch me up triumphantly, and then Repulse and send me back again. ****** There stands the Mayor, and with him Strutt and Geach, And there's the Town Clerk, spectacles on nose, Reading the laws down with a frightful screech ; And perched upon the roof like moulting crows. Are samples of lag-rag and bob-tail, each Original in himself— his looks, his hose. If that's originality, which lacks all shape, All parallel, and does no fashion ape." The Mayor was Mr. Brian Dunn, and the Town Clerk Mr. Thomas Ball Troughton. The High Sheriff's precept for the election being read, Mr. Strutt's proposer and seconder were Messrs. A. H. Pears and D. Smith ; those of Mr. Geach, Messrs. H. Browett and W. H. Hill. Both candidates spoke, Mr. Strutt being greatly interrupted. The " man without a vote," in describing the proceedings as " not unlike a Punch and Judy Show," continues — "Such was the mob. Now to the booth we turn. In order all proceedings there to trace. After each man had promised, as I learn. What he would do when in ' another place,' Would they but honour him in his return. The Mayor rose up, and showed his smiling face. The show of hands is taken, and, I see, Geach has a great majority. " [1851] of the City of Coventry. 321 Of the two Reformers, there was httle to choose between them. Mr. Strutt was favourable to giving the franchise in finality, after the people had been educated to receive it ; Mr. Geach to extend the suffrage immediately to all householders. Both desired to have the ballot. Mr. Strutt favoured freedom in civil and religious matters, and educational measures for the people ; he supported the Government. Mr. Geach advocated triennial Parliaments, reduction of taxation, coupled with economy; he was Independent. The election took place on the 8th. "This being what is called the day of polling, Our good friends Strutt and Geach are measuring strength, And to each booth the carriages are rolling, Some bearing drunkards, stretched out all their length. The dupes of smooth committee-men's cajolings ; While of the whole, perhaps in part a tenth, Are honest men, who vote for principle And motives of true worth intrinsical. One thing is evident, say what you will ! There's no election but where bribery Is practised with the most consummate skill. So much so that it baffles scrutiny. If you inebriate a willing man, and fill His stomach from the lap of luxury, And pay a debt for him becoming due. In such a case, what end have you in view?" When the poll opened, " Geach got the start, and kept it, — so he won." The Conservatives having no candidate, with their usual antipathy to the Whigs, went for the more Radical candidate ; upwards of 600 voted " Geach," and the result was — C. Geach, Esq. ... ... ... 1669 Right Hon. E. Strutt ... ... 1104 Majority for Geach ... 565 Out of 4,223 voters on the register, no less than 1,450 did not poll. Afterwards the victor was taken round the City. "And having won, he mounted on a car, Amidst a host of friends— and noisy chaps, Who tore their throats with roaring ' tal-lal-la ! ' And spinning in the air twirled up their caps. Geach rode triumphant, like a jolly tar. Smiled at the ladies, and, why not ? — perhaps Threw now and then a kiss at them, while they Waved kerchiefs, and strewed flowerets in the way." Mr. Charles Geach, who forty-eight hours before was personally unknown to the Electors, became Member and was introduced to the House by Mr. W. Williams (Lambeth) and Mr. W. Scholefield (Birmingham). 322 The Parliamentary Representation L^°5iJ The new Member was born in Cornwall in 1808. He became a clerk in the Bank of England at London, and in 1826 was advanced, for his ability, to a higher position in its new Birmingham branch. He married a Miss Skally, of Villa Cross ; and when the Birmingham and Midland Bank commenced business in 1836, Mr. Geach became Manager, and went to reside on its premises. In 1839, during the disturb- ances which led up to the Bull Ring riots, he received information that precautions should be taken for the safety of the Bank. The mob met at, and near, Dale End, and Mr. Geach, under the advice of the Magistrates who were present, went to the barracks. He was well mounted, and having to face the mob, galloped through them, amidst a shower of stones. "Stop him!" " Pull hmi off! " " He is going for the soldiers!" were the cries raised, but the horse took hmi safely through. He reached Brook Street barracks, and obtained the needed assistance, whereby the expected attack was averted and the town saved from violence. About 1842, Mr. Geach purchased a large share of the Park Gate Iron Manufacturing Company at Rotherham, near Sheffield, then an unprofitable concern, but improved by the new management, who carefully looked after it. During the railway mania of 1844-5, Mr. Geach made great profits b>' this industry, at one time taking "three orders for 30,000 tons of railway iron at ;!^i2, which did not cost over jr,6 per ton." The "Patent Shaft and Axletree Company" owed its origin chiefly to him. He was a partner in a manufactory at Dudley, and largely contracted for several Railway Companies. Entering the Birmingham Town Council about the year 1840, he was chosen an Alderman, and served as Mayor in 1847. Tall, and of stout build, he had an agreeable manner and countenance, and was ever ready to listen to his constituents of either side. Mr. Ellice paid him the compliment of saying he was the best colleague he ever sat with. " His grip of the hand was firm and cordial." It is said he had the largest head in Birmingham, and that his hats had to be made especially for him. After his election for Coventry, he became the host of Louis Kossulh, and presided at the Hungarian patriot's meeting in Birmingham. His large and extensive transactions at home and on the Continent requiring much personal attention, he resigned his position as Manager of the Bank about 1S47, but was afterwards appointed Managing Director. The shareholders presented him with a costly service of plate, and a portrait of Mr. Geach, painted by Partridge, was hung in the board room of the Bank. JOHN MELLOR, Esq., QC, r7 . (Altprwardfl the Hon. Sir John Mellor, Knt.) Died, 1B87. ROBERT JOSEPH PHILLIMORE, Esq., Q.C. Farli-imeiitary Candul-ile Jor Core-.try, 1857. (Afterwards the Et. Hon. Sir. R. J. Phillimore. Bart.) Died, 1885. THE RT. HON. EDWARD 8TRUTT, furl Uimcri fury Oaiul.Ulnle for Cuvpntri/, tStil. Created Barun Belpor. IBM. Dlod, lUHO. JOHN GELLIBRAND HUBBARD. Esq., PnrUiimeutary Caniliiliilc /or foreiilry, t8',2. Created Baron AddinEtun, lti87. Died, 1680. [1852] of the City of Coventry. 323 CHAPTER LXXVII. RUSSELLITES AND DeRBYITES. Victoria, continued (1852). Resignation of Lord Russell's Cabinet — Lord Derby's Tory Administration — Dissolution and General Election— Votes of Mr. Geach — "The Herald " and the Dissenters—" The Coventry Times " — Addresses of Messrs. EUice and Geach — The latter and the Papal Aggression Bill — An unfortunate slip — Mr. J. G. Hubbard, a Liberal-Conservative, comes forward — Account of him — His views on the Roman question — His address — Parodied — "Vote for the Cupboard, and not for Hubbard" — Other local productions— Mr. Hubbard's speech interrupted — Mr. EUice's arrival — Is joined in the rally by Mr. Geach — Mr. Ellice denies he had united with him — Mr. Hubbard's withdrawal — Nomination — No opposition — " Derbyite," " Russellite," or " No-ite " — Messrs. Ellice and Geach again chosen — The after-biography of Mr. Hubbard. HEN Lord Russell and the Whig Government resigned, after a defeat on ^KiM^ the Militia Bill, Lord Derby was called upon to form an Administration. ?<»^^^$k He chose Disraeli — the leader of the Tory party in the Commons, who %M}^^ advocated Protection — in preference to the Peelites. It soon became <*= apparent that the sense of the country was required to be taken as to this new Administration, and Parliament was dissolved on ist July, 1852, when a General Election followed. The votes of Mr. Geach, who was allied to the Cobden-Bright party, did not please a few of his late supporters, although given with the utmost conscientiousness. Some desired to return Mr. Ellice unopposed, and others declared they would make no promises, or vote for Mr. Geach. In May, the supposed shortcomings of the only Liberal organ in Coventry — " the Herald"— had given some dissatisfaction to a portion of the Dissenters. The editor, Mr. Charles Bray, the author of "Philosophy of Necessity," who had made a change in the reporting staff, for a time staved off opposition, not, however, without a wordy handbill controversy. "The Coventry Times "issued its first impression on Friday, June 29ih, 1855. Both Mr. Ellice and Mr. Geach issued addresses. The latter had voted against Lord Russell's "Papal Aggression" Bill, and it was expected that "the Romanists" would vote for him to a man. Although he declared an attachment to the Established Church, opponents made a strong point against him through his sympathies with the Bill and the Papal party. On 24th June, after a rally with his friends ; supporting 324 The Parliamentary Representation [1852] Mazarine and Pink ; he addressed the Electors from the Castle Hotel, then his head- quarters, and alluded to charges made against him " of being a Catholic or Jesuit in disguise." He said " that he was a Churchman, that his father was a Churchman, and thai his mother was a Churchman." But although immediately correcting himself, opponents made much ado about this slip, to his detriment and annoyance. On 22nd June the address of Mr. John Gellibrand Hubbard, of 24, Prince's Gate, London, "Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, "appeared. Mr. Hubbard was born in 1 805, being the eldest son of Mr. J. Hubbard, of Stratford Grove, Essex. He was educated at Bordeaux, entered his father's counting house in 182 1, and subsequently became head of the firm of Hubbard and Co., Russian merchants, of St. Helen's Place. In 1 837 he married the Hon. Maria, eldest daughter of William, Lord Napier, and becoming connected with important undertakings, was the next year elected a Director of the Bank of England. As a Churchman, "desirous of maintaining the religious character of the nation, concurrently with the recognition of civil and religious liberty extended impartially to all, and limited with reference to Romanists only, by the fact that with them perfect toleration means supremacy for their own creed and intolerance for others." He was a Free Trader and a Liberal-Conservative, opposed to the Maynooth grant, and rested his claims for representation upon his knowledge as a commercial man in general, and on his connection with the first banking establishment in the Empire in particular. Immediately the Radicals parodied his address in one signed " John Jellyboy Hubbord," alluding to the part he had taken in 1850 amongst the Puseyites and High Church clergy. Posters asked the Electors to '■'Vote for the Cupboard, and not for Hubbard." Handbills addressed to his supporters, said — "Beware!!! Do not promise your votes to Hubbard. Judge of the man by the company he keeps. Are not the same men who vote for those Bigots and Protectionists, Spooner and Newdegate, for the County ? He is the Tool of a Tory Clique. He will not give you the Ballot. He will not exttnd the Suffrage. Vote for Geach, the Tried Friend of Civil and Religious Liberty. William lUffe, Printer, Smithford Street, Coventry." And another bill, "printed at ' the Herald' office," has — " Beware of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing ; or, A Nursery Rhyme for the Times. J— G— Hubbard, With an eye to your cupboard. Cries, ' Give a poor Tory a bone ! ' But Voters, beware ! Should he ever get there. You'll find your big loaf will be gone." On the 25th, Mr. Hubbard spoke from the balcony of the King's Head, his head- quarters, but the assembly was interrupted by a rush of the Radical mob, and the uproar was so overpowering that speaking became for a time impossible. Mr. Hubbard was a fluent and forcible speaker, and the Geachites intended he should not be heard. A sky Blue (Conservative) and Mazarine (Whig-Liberal) flag, the colours of the Con- servatives and of Mr. EUice, was hoisted, which afforded the Radicals a pretext for [1852] of the City of Coventry. 325 fighting. Hundreds of peaceable Electors were deterred from approaching the spot, but in spite of all, Mr. Hubbard persisted. He repeated that he was a true Free Trader, a true friend to civil and religious liberty ; dealt upon the Freemen of Coventry and their franchise, spoke of Sir George Turner's connection with Coventry, and declared his political principles, in spite of the hubbub and din of his opponents. Mr. Ellice arrived in Town by train on the 28th ; he was met at the station by some thousands of inhabitants, and after parading the principal streets of the City, delivered a very able speech from the balcony of his head-quarters, the Craven Arms Hotel. He had been joined on the route by Mr. Geach and his friends, and the whole of them together made a great show. Mr. Ellice during the speecli was asked, "What do you say to Mr. Geach going back with you ? " He replied, " I acted in the most cordial manner with Mr. Geach, and my opinion of his conduct is that as I have acted cordially with him before, I shall cordially act with him again ; but if you choose to send another person, I shall act to the best of my ability with him ; but do not press me too hard upon these points," from which it would appear that he left himself open, and had not joined with Mr. Geach. On the 2nd July, Mr. Hubbard, evidently smarting under the imputations thrown out by handbills and the Press, and seeing no chance of success, withdrew from the contest, and did not stop to be nominated. A considerable quantity of the old Blues of Mr. EUice's party were known to be in favour of Mr. Hubbard rather than Mr. Geach, but it would appear that an actual, though not an avowed, coalition had been entered into between the Whigs and the extreme Liberal party. On Monday, 5th, both Mr. Ellice and Mr. Geach were nominated ; and the Tories and Derbyites being unable to induce a third candidate to stand on their behalf, they were declared duly elected, thirty-six Electors signing the writs. Both the new Members returned thanks for their election, and addressed their constituents ; Mr. Ellice, now that the contest was over, declaring his preference for Mr. Geach in place of Mr. Hubbard, as he did not know whether he was a Derbyite or a Russellite ; to which a man in the crowd answered, " He's neither — he's a No-ite." There were at this time 3,723 Freemen and 776 ten pound householders on the list of voters. Thus the City again returned Mr, Edw.^rd Ellice and Mr. Charles Geach. Mr. Hubbard was a good candidate. From 1853 until his death he was Chairman of the Public Works Loan Commission. He was chosen as a Conservative for Buckingham in 1859 and i868, and sat for London from 1874 to 1887, when he was raised to the Peerage, on 27th July, as Baron Addington, and sworn a member of the Privy Council. He was a recognized authority on financial matters in the House, and became a frequent speaker, his especial study being the Income Tax, Coinage, Education, and Ecclesiastical matters. He died 28th August, 1889. 326 The Parliamentary Representation [1853-4] CHAPTER LXXVIII. The Unopposed Return of a Distinguished Member. Victoria, continued (1853 to 1856). Removal of the Assizes— Local apathy— Death of Mr. Charles Geach— Further biography— An election— The Liberal candidate, Sir Joseph Paxton— Coventry Cemetery plans— No Conser- vative forthcoming— Sir Joseph's views and opinions — His speech — A modern Dick Turpin— Nomination— Unopposed return of Sir Joseph Paxton— Biography— His interview with con- stituents—Present to Mr. Ellice— His gift to the City— Why called "Bear EUice "— New Ministry of Lord Palmerston- Coventry Gas Company and their Amendment Act— Peace demonstration. ^g^^it^gt^C^ ,aNDER an Act of Parliament, upon complaint of the Judges, the Assizes were ^yJP ^^ '^'^ ''™^ removed from Coventry, to the no small inconvenience of the ®^^s^P inhabitants of the Northern part of Warwickshire. Oddly enough, neither ^^'^P^ the Members, City Council, Press, or Citizens appear to have exerted them- selves much to retain them, although the removal was felt to have been a mistake shortly afterwards. The death of Mr. Charles Geach, on ist November, 1854, occasioned universal regret in Coventry. A few years before, as he was riding in a hansom cab, the horse, becoming restive, kicked through the leather, and struck him on the leg, which remained weak afterwards. About a month before his death inflammation set in, causing intense agony; yet relying upon a strong and robust constitution, he was hopeful of recovery, and, to gratify his constituents, published a letter in the London papers, stating that although he was seriously ill, there was no danger. Unhappily, this was not so, and by his death Coventry lost a good and faithful representative. His last public appearance was at the Mechanics Institution on the 3rd October. He was but forty-six years of age, and left a widow and four children. Mr. Geach's business engagements were as varied as they were extensive. He was a partner in the Patent Axletree Works at Wednesbury, and in a manufacturing company near Dudley; he held shares to large amounts in various Railway Companies, and had very considerable contracts ; with his large interests in the Park Gate Ironworks, he had expressed a desire to locate the iron trade at Coventry ; he was a Director in the Crystal Palace Company, the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln- shire, and Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway Companies ; as also a promoter of the Western Railway in France, and other foreign undertakings. The Conservatives, demoralized by Mr. Hubbard's late retreat, were unable to find a candidate, but the Liberals secured Sir Joseph Paxton, Knt., the designer of the [1854] of the City of Coventry. 327 Crystal Palace. He had, shortly before, planned the laying out of the Coventry Cemetery, and his design transferred an old stone quarry into a place of singular beauty; by the introduction of "a quasi Norman Church, classic Chape), and lodge, entrances, and terraces of the modern Italian style," which, added to the fine trees ; and the shrubs subsequently introduced ; constituted the Cemetery a fit and lasting resting-place for the City's dead, on the closing of the Churchyards in the Town. Sir Joseph's first address is dated from " Rockhills, Sydenham, November nth, 1854." Stating his adherence to Liberal measures, he declared in favour of the ballot and extended representation, the improved condition of the classes, and the strength- ening of the constitution of Municipal bodies. He was a Reformer and Free Trader, and supported " all measures lending to carry out the Liberal commercial policy." He advocated the removal of trade restrictions, the giving of full civil and religious liberty, and the confirming and renovating of ancient institutions to the wants of the age. The Crimean War he considered just and inevitable, "with our gallant French neighbours we are defending the laws of nations against the aggressions of unprincipled ambition," but desired no peace unless it was a permanent one. In a speech on the 23rd, he said he disapproved somewhat of the method of conducting the war. His opinion was that the franchise should be extended to all householders, for he did not see the value of Lord Russell's ;^5 limit. "He was quite delighted with the advancement of the political knowledge of the Freemen of Coventry," and "should oppose to the uttermost any proposal to disfranchise so enlightened a body ; " he complained that the Act would not allow him " to use Coventry ribbons, even where they were manufactured ! " An Elector relates his experience at this time as follows: "At Paxton's election I was in Smithford Street talking to an old Tory friend, who was mounted on horse- back, when down came the howUng Liberal mob, furious with drink, and shouting ' Paxton.' Before we could clear out of their way, they threw a large cow-cabbage, well besmeared with mud, which, with good aim, hit my friend upon the head, whilst another unsavoury missile hit me on the breast. I had put on a clean white shirt that morning, and I assure you it looked beautiful. Well, I beat a hasty retreat home, and changed; but my friend, who was a bold rider, was undaunted ; and, in spite of their endeavours to seize his horse's head, dashed onward towards the King's Head at top speed. The mob tried to stop his course, but giving his horse the spur, and imitating Dick Turpin, he literally jumped over them, and rode through the enemy like the Cardigans at Balaclava ! When we met afterwards, he said, ' Do you think, Bob, I was going to let a little thing like that stop me ? Most decidedly not ! ' " At the nomination on the 2nd December, Sir Joseph Paxton, Knt., was the only candidate proposed, and soon after took his seat in the House. He proposed the plan for the Army Works Corps, which proved so serviceable when sent 328 The Parliamentary Representation [1834] to the Crimea. Sir Joseph now paid a personal visit to each of his constituents, which gained him great popularity. Sir Joseph Paxton, Knt., was born at Milton Bryant, Bedfordshire, in 1803. The son of humble parents, he became a gardener, and commenced working at the Horticultural Society's gardens at Chiswick for a few shillings a week. It happened that Paxton had a key of the gate leading into the Duke of Devonshire's grounds, and when His Grace wished to pass through the Society's establishment, the young gardener often opened the gate, from which circumstance an acquaintance sprang up between them, although the Duke did not know his name. When the office of head gardener at Chatsworth became vacant, the Duke, to the surprise of the management of the Horticultural Gardens, wrote asking them to send him "the young man that had that good voice, and used to open the gate," to fill it ; to which they demurred, doubting Paxton's capabilities ; but the Duke overruled their objections. At Chatsworth, Paxton's duties were at first confined to the gardens, where his conservatories covered an acre of ground, but afterwards extended to the management of the Duke's Derbyshire property. He soon became famous for his papers upon horticulture, but gained more as the designer of the Great Exhibition buildings of 1851 in Hyde Park. Several designs were sub- mitted, and the "Westminster Review" published an article suggesting iron and glass as suitable materials. Sir Joseph, possibly adopting this idea, and whilst presiding at a Midland Railway committee meeting at Derby, roughly sketched upon a sheet of blotting paper a design for the Industrial Palace, and within ten days had fully com- pleted plans and specifications, with which he journeyed by rail to London. Meeting Mr. Robert Stephenson, a member of the Royal Commission, in the carriage, that great engineer, on seeing the plans, declared them "worthy of the magnificence of Chatsworth, and a thousand times better than anything shown." At Mr. Stephenson's request, they were laid by Mr. Scott Russell, the Secretary, before the Commission, and the design approved. In the hands of good contractors, the work was well done, and Mr. Paxton received Knighthood. " After this, he practised as an engineer and architect, and had a residence at Darley, near Chatsworth, and another at Sydenham." In 185s, Mr. Ellice's friends presented him with his portrait, by Grant, whilst he gave the City the painting of " Baccanali," by Luca Giordano, valued at one thousand guineas. The Ministry resigned, through the blame cast upon its conduct of the war in the Crimea, and Lord Palmerston formed a new one. Mr. Ellice was a member of Mr. Roebuck's Committee of Inquiry which followed, and in 1857 of the Hudson Bay Committee. The nickname of "Bear" was doubtless given to him, not from any trace of ferocity in his manner, but from his connection with the North West fur trade. Gas Works were established in Coventry in 182 1, and in 1856 the Company obtained a new Act of Parliament, with additional powers. War with Russia ended in April, 1856, when a peace demonstration took place at Coventry. ->. ■" l.s fe.' pi ^,f V ^/ M^ S|^/