Patten’s narrative greatly amused the Londoners, who were the first to read it. He delights in it, in speaking sarcastically of the Clergy, whether they were High-flyers or of the lower-soaring party. He describes the perplexity into which he, and other parsons with the Jacobite army, put simple country vicars and their curates by requiring them to pray for ‘James III., Mary, Queen Mother, and all the dutiful branches of the Royal Family!’ Some clerics modestly declined and handed their churches to Patten or his colleague, Buxton. Others, simply refused, but sat in church, and while Patten, in the pulpit, prayed for James, they made mental protest which was taken as acquiescing. Patten confesses that he himself preached genuine Jacobite sermons. One of the strongest against King George was on the text, Deut. XXI., 17, ‘The right of the first-born.’ Patten so well served the Hanoverian Right, after he came to London, that the king could not hang him, as he deserved. This cleric seemed even to be sorry at the escape of some of his confederates who did _not_ turn king’s evidence. There was Edward Tildesley, the Papist who was acquitted by the jury of the Marshalsea, ‘though,’ says the scandalised Patten, ‘it was proved that he had a troop and entered Preston at the head of it with his sword drawn. _But his sword had a Silver Handle!_’ In another instance, he seems to turn unconsciously to his Jacobite proclivities, and probably there was many a laugh in the Jacobite Walk, in the Park, over Patten’s story of one Mr. Guin, who went into all the churches on the way of the march, where Patten served as chaplain, ‘and scratched out his Majesty King George’s name, and placed the Pretender’s so nicely that it resembled print very much, and the alteration could scarce be perceived.’ [Sidenote: _DOWNRIGHT SHIPPEN._] An idea still prevailed, with ministers, that loyalty could be secured by binding it by an oath. One of the curious sights of the year was the assembling, by summons, of a thousand Middlesex tavern-keepers in front of Hicks’s Hall, where announcement was made to them that, in future, no licence would be granted save to those who had taken the oath of allegiance before the justices of the various parishes. Later in the year, a justice of the peace and a posse of constables pounced upon Dr. Welton (the Jacobite ex-rector of Whitechapel), and his Non-conformist congregation, in their place of meeting. There were about 250 Nonjurors present. The constables interrupted the service, and proceeded to administer the oath. Many indignantly refused to take it, and these were arrested on the spot, or were ordered for trial, by a justice, who allowed them their bail. [Sidenote: _SHIPPEN, ON GEORGE I._]