But _Punch_ was seriously annoyed by the report of a meeting of Ritualists at which it was unanimously resolved to disobey the judgment of the Privy Council; and made no secret of his satisfaction when the Archbishop of Canterbury "turned down" the protest of 5,000 Anglicans headed by Pusey. A little earlier he had published an A B C for youthful Anglicans, showing a considerable knowledge of, but absolutely no respect for vestments. It may suffice to quote two entries:-- T is the Thurible, whose very smell Incenses the people and makes them rebel. * * * * * Y is the Yeoman who now never enters His old Parish Church, and has joined the Dissenters. These jocularities, though not delicate, may pass. The worst examples of _Punch's_ controversial zeal were prompted by the Confessional; and the worst of all is the set of verses headed, "A good sound Confession," describing how a priest was soundly horsewhipped and kicked downstairs by an irate husband who returned home to find his wife on her knees before her Confessor. The priest, be it added, unctuously professes to have enjoyed his flagellation as an exquisite mortification. It is pleasant to turn from these exhibitions of virulent if honest antipathy to the treatment of those controversies in which freedom of thought was involved. _Punch's_ earlier verses on _Essays and Reviews_, published in 1861, are more distinguished for their wisdom than their elegance of versification:-- A WORD OF ADVICE TO THE BISHOPS Denounce Essayists and Reviewers, Hang, quarter, gag them or shoot them-- Excellent plans--provided that You first of all refute them. By all means let the Hangman burn Their awful book to ashes, But don't expect to settle thus Their heterodox hashes. Some heresies are so ingrained E'en burning won't remove them, A shorter and an easier way, You'll find it--to disprove them. Be this, right reverends, your revenge, For souls the best of cures, Essay Essayists to upset And to review Reviewers. The long and ignoble campaign, as a result of which Jowett was for ten years deprived of the emoluments of his office as Regius Professor of Greek at Oxford, roused _Punch_ in 1863 to a satiric and imaginary account of the proceedings in the "Small Debts and Heresies Court at Oxford." Jowett, it need hardly be explained, was doubly obnoxious to the heresy-hunters. He had long been suspect for the liberality of his religious opinions; he had also contributed to _Essays and Reviews_:-- DE HAERETICO COMBURENDO A little book[8] Professor Jowett made, And argued not as one of truth afraid; But Oxford Dons alike fear truth and Jowett, And their proceedings not a little show it. _Punch_ goes on to give utterance to the wishes of the obscurantists:--