The Consolidator; or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the MoonDefoe, Daniel
Science
The Consolidator; or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the Moon
Defoe, Daniel
Fantasy fiction; Interplanetary voyages -- Fiction; Moon -- Fiction; Political fiction; Satire
The poor Men thus remanded, apply'd themselves to the Grandees who
were then Sitting, and who are the Soveraign Judicature of the
Country, and before whom Appeals lie from all Courts of Justice. The
Grandees as in Duty bound, appear'd ready to do them Justice, but the
Queen was to be apply'd to, first to grant a Writ, or a Warrant for a
Writ, call'd in their Country a Writ of Follies, which is as much as
to say Mistakes.
The Consolidators foreseeing the Consequence, immediately apply'd
themselves to the Queen with an Address, the Terms of which were so
Undu----l and Unman--ly, that had she not been a Queen of unusual
Candor and Goodness, she would have Treated them as they deserv'd,
for they upbraided her with their Freedom and Readiness in granting
her Supplies, and therefore as good as told her they expected she
should do as they desir'd.
These People that knew the Supplies given, were from necessity,
Legal, and for their own Defence, while the granting their Request,
must have been Illegal, Arbitrary, a Dispensing with the Laws, and
denying Justice to her Subjects, the very thing they ruin'd her
Father for, were justly provok'd to see their good Queen so
barbarously Treated.
The Queen full of Goodness and Calmness, gave them a gentle kind
Answer, but told them she must be careful to Act with due Regard to
the Laws, and could not interrupt the course of Judicial Proceedings;
and at the same time granted the Writ, having first consulted with
her Council, and receiv'd the Opinion of all the Judges, that it was
not only Safe, but Just and Reasonable, and a Right to her People
which she could not deny.
This Proceeding gall'd the Feathers to the quick, and finding the
Grandees resolv'd to proceed Judicially upon the said Writ of
Follies, which if they did, the Prisoners would be deliver'd and the
Follies fixt upon the Feathers, they sent their Poursuivants took
them out of the Common Prison, and convey'd them separately and
privately into Prisons of their own.
This rash and unprecedented Proceedings, pusht them farther into a
Labrinth, from whence it was impossible they could ever find their
way out, but with infinite Loss to their Reputation, like a Sheep in
a thick Wood, that at every Briar pulls some of the Wool from her
Back, till she comes out in a most scandalous Pickle of Nakedness and
Scratches.
The Grandees immediately publisht six Articles in Vindication of the
Peoples Right, against the assum'd Priviledges of the Feathers, the
Abstract of which is as follows.
1. That the Feathers had no Right to Claim, or make any new
Priviledges for themselves, other than they had before.
2. That every Freeman of the Moon had a Right to repel Injury with
Law.
3. That Imprisoning the 5 Countrymen by the Feathers, was assuming a
new Priviledge they had no Right to, and a subjecting the Subjects
Right to their Arbitrary Votes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account