THis Day a Messenger (on a Highflying Sorrel Horse) came Post from Dr. S [...]l, and rode as if the Devil drove him, to signifie to our M [...]y [...]r, That he designed to visit us; upon which the wild, frantick, fiery, zealous Ma­gistrate summon'd his Brethren, the Ald [...]men, to meet at the Common-Hall; but before they were all Assembled, another Messenger brought Advice, That the Champion was just at hand; so that Mr. M [...]y [...]r, and those with him, went to the Town's End (clad in old fashion'd Forma­lities) to meet him. They found him very well guarded by a vast Rabble and Mob, crying (with loud Acclamations) Nonresistance! Nonresi­stance! Mr. M [...]y [...]r, &c. (headed by one that Records) Congratulated him upon his Deliver­ance, &c. And then the Publick Entry was or­dered as followeth:

FIrst came the Bellman and Sexton of the Town, with Staves in their Hands.

Then Two Pursivants, bearing Pendants, with the D [...]r's Crest (Pope Clement the XI's Head) and his Motto in these Words, Ʋnlimited Passive Obedience.

[Page 4] Then a Herald, carrying his Coat-Armour, being a Field Sable, charged with Three Cardi­nals Caps, each with a Golden Band.

Then followed Two Old Women, one having a Bundle of Addresses on her Back, and a Paper on her Breast, with this Inscription, We defie all Anti-Monarchial, Anti-Episcopal, and [almost all] Atheistical and Popish Principles; the other was covered all over with Pamphlets of divers sorts; before her was The Elegy on High-Church Passive Obedience, and The Champion pleading his own Cause, but on her Bum the Effigies of Ben. H [...]y, with his Head downward.

Then the Serjeant of the Town, with a Mace on his Shoulder.

Then came Mr. M [...]y [...]r, with a Book in his Hand, (upside down, according to Custom) Intituled, The Perils of False Brethren both in Church and State.

Then the Ald [...]men (Two by Two) having The Collections in their Hands.

Here followed a young Damsel, who had a Pro­mise from the High-C [...]h Faction, to have any thing she requested; whereupon she desired the Head of Benj. H. which she brought in a Charger.

Then 6 Men with Red Hats, having Beads in their Hands, with this Inscription on their Fore­heads, Nunc aut Nunquam.

Then an Old Man, with a long Beard, clothed in pure white Raiment; having the D [...]r's Ef­figies [in Metzotinto] in one Hand, and in the other, a Trinklet resembling a Cru [...]fix.

Then followed the Old Women with Green Branches in their Hands.

[Page 5] Then a Woman, preciously deck'd, sitting ( as near as I could guess) upon a Scarlet-colour'd Beast, having abundance of Names, written in Capital Letters, MYSTERY, &c

Then came the High-Ch [...]ch IDOL [ in Garments as black as his Deeds] on a Sorrel Horse.

After him 24 Tinkers, beating on their Ket­tles, that the Spectators might know what La­titude they were in.

Then a vast Mob, hollowing, hooping and playing the Devil.

In this Order he was conducted to his Inn, where he was again Congratulated, and present­ed with Wine. In fine, the Evening concluded with Ringing of Bells, Bonfires, Drunkenness, and all manner of Lewdness.

The Champion left this Town next Morning, and set out for W [...]ck, where he was again met, and Congratulated by the Monkeys in their Formalities. They entreated him to tarry some time with them; but he declined it, and pursued his Journey to the next Corporation; for, you must know, he expects the same Honours to be paid him where-ever he goes; which (how strange soever it may seem to some) is no new thing; for he's not the first that has been waited on by a Corporation in their Robes; for in the Reign of Q. Eliz. a Fellow, who wore his Hat button'd up on one side, and a Feather therein, like a Tooth-drawer, with a Rose and Crown on his Breast for a Badge, got a License to make a Show of a great APE about the Country: And coming to a certain Town, [☞Whether [Page 6] Banbury, or not, I can't tell] they beat a Drum about to give Notice, That there was a very witty Ape to be seen; but the Towns-People, being poor, thought it not worth their while to see this sight; upon which the Fellow was enraged, and was resolved to put a Trick upon them; and thereupon sends the following War­rant to the Worshipful the Mayor.

‘THese are to Require you, and every one of you, with your Wives and Families, (upon sight hereof) to make your personal Ap­pearance before the Queen's Ape, who is a Per­son of Rank and Quality, and of vast Parts, he having been bred at an University; and is to visit most Parts of the Kingdom, that by his Conversation with the Queen's Subjects, he may be the better enabled to discover their Fidelity and Loyalty. Hereof fail not at your Peril.’

When Mr. Mayor had open'd the Warrant, he (who always did what he pleas'd) holds it topsie turvy, and after some thoughts thereon, sends his Maid to the further end of the Town, for a Shoemaker to come and read it. When he heard the Contents, he summon'd his Brethren the Al­dermen to the Town-Hall, to consult of this weighty Affair; where they sat looking on one another for some time, not knowing what to say: At length the youngest Alderman, standing up, said, Gentlemen, If I may speak without Offence, [Page 7] I'll give you my Opinion in this Matter. — Speak on, says Mr. Mayor, for though you are but a young Officer, you may speak as much Sense as any of us. — Well then, says he, my humble Opinion is, That this Ape-Fellow is a sawcy Knave, and only designs to make our Town ridiculous: For was it ever known, that a Warrant should be sent, without either Name or Date, to a Mayor of a Town, who is the Queen's Lieutenant; and that he, and his Brethren, their Wives and Children, should be commanded to appear before a Jackanapes? My Council is therefore, That you take him and his Ape, and whip the whole Tribe out of Town, which will be much to your Credit and Reputa­tion. The Words were scarce spoke, e're a grave Al­derman reply'd, Hold, Friend, you have spoke little less than Treason; Remember 'tis the Queen's Ape. — True, Brother, quoth the Mayor, therefore it behoves us to take care what we say in this troublesom Business. — Marry, says another grave Senior, we may see by the Feather in his Cap, and the Badge he wears, that he is the Queen's Man; and who knows what an Injury he may do us poor Men in the Country for contemning the Warrant? there­fore let us e'ne go and see the Ape; 'tis but 2 d. apiece, and no doubt but the Queen will tak [...] it well, when she hears we have shown so much Reverence to her Ape. — Upon this Speech the Assembly resolved to pay the Ape a Visit, and ordered the Town-Clerk to acquaint the Queen's Man therewith.

Next Day the Mayor and Aldermen in their Robes, ( the Serjeant carrying the Mace before them, their Recorder being at the Head of them) with whole Droves of Townsmen, and their Wives, &c. attended the Ape at his Inn; where they found him sitting on a Table; Mr. Mayor presented him with Wine, [...] off his Hat, and made a Leg; but Pag did not mind him. Next came Mrs. Mayoress, in a [...] Apron, and made Pug a fine low Courtisie; upon which he put out his [...], and made a Mouth. — I [...], quoth she, I think in my Conscience, the Queen's Ape mocks me. — Sirrah, says [Page 8] the Mayor, I see thy sawciness, and I'll make thee to know that the Woman, whom thou mockest, is my Wife, an An­cient Woman, and a Midwife, and one who is old enough to be thy Mother. And thereupon going to his Tutor, Sir, said he, do you allow your Ape to abuse my Wife? — No, quoth he. — Truly, says the Mayor, there's sufficient witness that saw him make Mops and Mows at her. — The Tutor thereupon gave poor Pug half a Dozen smart Lashes with his Whip, which made his Teeth chatter; upon which Mr. Mayor cried out, Enough, Enough: Good Sir, you have done like a Gentleman: I desire you never to give Correction any more in your Wrath: And when the Play is done, be pleased to come along with your Ape to our Town-Hall, both of you to take a small Supper with me, and the rest of my Brethren the Aldermen.

But to return to our Champion: After he had visited several Corporations, and given Audience to the Mob, (who were wonderfully taken with this new Raree-Show) he dispatches a Trumpeter to Cov [...]ry, to give Notice of his coming. — The Bells immediately rung for Joy: — But that avail'd him nothing; for the Monkeys did not appear in their Robes! which was a great Mortification to him, and those of his Faction. However, he was met by 10 or 12 stiff Sons of Levi on Sorrel Nags, attended by a few Butchers and Barbers, who made a Purse, and bought Two Hogsheads of Ale, which were set in the Publick Street, where the Rabble got shamefully drunk in Toasting a Health to their be­loved IDOL.