A History of Parliamentary Elections and Electioneering in the Old Days. Joseph Grego
in the Oxford Senate bravely stood, Like some tall tree, the Giant of the Wood, O’ertopping all in courage and address, Invaded-Rights and Freedoms to redress; Brought in a Bill t’ exclude a Popish prince, The want of which we have lamented since. And when the Chair he did most justly fill, And tempted was to serve a Tyrant’s will, Would not his fellow-citizens disarm, But boldly did withstand th’ impending storm.
He in the Senate sits unbrib’d, and knows
No cause—but where the common interest goes.
He, unconcern’d, the dangerous path doth tread,
Where Faction shakes its dire envenom’d head.”
Another favourite and patriotic candidate is “Asto,” who—
“early did his country’s cause embrace
And opposed villains even to their face.
The Charter he would not consent to yield,
But did defend it in th’ open field.
Gold never could his interest engage,
The common vice of this polluted age;
Whereby they villains into office vote,
Such as would cut their King’s and country’s throat.”
The other candidates—“friends to their country all,” according to the bard—are christened “Witho,” “Hethban,” and “Pastor.”
With the death of William III. the Tory prospects revived, and their attacks became bolder. In alluding to the accident which caused the king’s end, the party lyrists showed no compassion for “a fallen foe.”
“Let’s ’em mourn on, ’twould lessen much our woe
Had Sorrel stumbled thirteen years ago.”
(B. Higgons, 1702: The Mourners.)
One of the ballads in the Bagford collection applies to the elections which took place in Queen Anne’s reign (the first parliament dissolved April 5, 1705); this High Tantivy effusion of the Tory Alma-Mater is rather long-winded, and we must be content with a brief extract:—
“THE UNIVERSITY BALLAD; OR THE CHURCH’S ADVICE TO HER TWO DAUGHTERS, OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.
“I have heard, my dear daughters, a story of late,
Told for truth to the Commons, by a Minister of State,
That the ‘Scotch Act’ was extorted; O England’s hard fate!
“If Whigs at this distance so terrible are,
Such men in our bosom may make us all stare,
And extort what they please, if we do not take care.
“If this be the case, pray what can you think?
But that Church and State are now at the brink
Of ruin, destruction, and ready to sink.
“But we have yet a time to save this poor nation,
From fire and sword, and all desolation,
By choosing such members as hate Decollation!
“And hence I take leave, both my daughters to press
To give good examples, you can do no less,
When the Church and the State are in so great distress.
“The eyes of the nation are fix’d upon you,
Every city and borough will observe what you do,
And if you’ll choose good members they’ll do so too.
“Each member that’s chose, serves for th’ whole nation,
For that end you’re intrusted to vote in your station,
Without any respect to friend or relation.
“The question before you is both plain and short—
Who is the best man, Church and State to support,
From designs of the Whigs, and schemes of the Court?
“And in your next choice lay your hand on your heart,
As if upon Oath, for if you do start
From the rule above-mention’d, your conscience will smart.
“A good man is steady, and with safety may
Be trusted with our Rights; he no tricks will play,
He loves Church, and the Queen, and’s the same every day.
“But if a man be bred up a notorious Whig,
Who because he was neglected begins to look big,
And swears for old Friends he cares not a fig:
“O trust not to such in time of great danger;
Who to mother Church is yet but a stranger,
If Dissenter prevail he may vote for to change her.
“And as to the Tackers33 that have tack’d the right way, For the Church and the Laws; to such I do say, I will give them my blessing, and for them I’ll pray.
“You are two great props of the Church and the Crown,
Then be not like buckets, one up, t’other down,
To expose your dear mother all over the Town.
“O no! Pray consider, this is the last squeak,
Then choose we such men, as can both write and speak,
Since all that we have, now lies at the stake.
“And when by your Daughters such patriots are chose,
I may venture to say, that ‘under the Rose,’
You will spoil the new scheme, and wipe the Whig’s nose.”
One of the forty-nine verses of which “The University Ballad” consists contains an allusion to an important collision between the two Chambers upon disputed elections, which came about in Queen Anne’s reign:—
“O! how were we blinded with what some do write,
Concerning the story of Ashby and White,
Till Sir H[eneage] laid before us the fallacy, in sight.”
The names first given refer to the disputants, while Sir H—— in all probability is one of the University’s parliamentary representatives, Sir Heneage Finch, son of Finch, Lord Keeper and Chancellor. He was returned in 1678, 1688, 1695, and also in 1701 and 1702. The important dispute in question, which is not without interest, as it bears a special reference to election practices which were at one time prevalent, arose between the Lords and Commons on the occasion of the Aylesbury returns, and the case came before parliament in 1703–4. It seems to have been the tactics of those persons whose party held a majority in the House, to decide all disputed elections so as to strengthen their own side. “The majority,” meaning the government, legislated thus partially, conveniently ignoring the energetic protests against such flagrant injustice—the condonation of direct bribery and downright perjury, according to the allegations of the minority; who, it is said, when the turn of the wheel came which raised them to power, invariably endorsed the policy of their predecessors by repeating the same evil practices. The investigation brought to light the illegitimate nature of election returns, proving that it had long been the habit of constables and similar officials to secure for such candidates as would pay them sufficiently, their return for parliament by obtaining a majority of votes for the person who purchased their connivance: thus, after the seat was, in advance, put up to the highest bidder, pains were taken to ascertain in whose favour each vote was likely to be given;