The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and MarriagesAshton, John
History
The Fleet: Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages
Ashton, John
Fleet Prison (London, England); Fleet, River (England)
"The speech of this orator, and the conduct of his audience, we
shall give in an extract from an evening paper as we were not
present at the first part of the drama ourselves.
"'In the field was a Coal waggon, upon which were mounted about
twenty persons, chiefly in the dress of sailors. Several flags
were displayed; two tricoloured ones, on one of which was the
following inscription:
"'Nature, Truth, and Justice! Feed the Hungry! Protect the
Oppressed! Punish Crimes!'
"'On a second tricoloured flag, no inscription.
"'On a third white flag was inscribed in red letters the
following:
"'The brave Soldiers are our Brothers; treat them kindly.'
"'Many had bludgeons, and others pockets full of stones. One
person in the waggon then addressed the meeting in the following
strain:--"I am sorry to tell you that our application to the
Prince has failed. He, the father of his people, answered--'My
family have never attended to Petitions but from Oxford and
Cambridge, and the City of London.' And is this Man the father
of the people? No. Has he listened to your petition? No. The day
is come--(_It is, It is_, from the mob.) We must do more than
words. We have been oppressed for 800 years since the Norman
Conquest. If they would give ye a hod, a shovel, a spade, and a
hoe, your mother earth would supply you. (_Aye, aye, she would._
Loud Applause.) Country men, if you will have your wrongs
redressed, follow me. (_That we will._ Shouts.) Wat Tyler would
have succeeded had he not been basely murdered by a Lord Mayor,
William of Walworth. Has the Parliament done their duty? No.
Has the Regent done his duty? No, no. A man who receives one
million a year public money gives only £5,000 to the poor. They
have neglected the starving people, robbed them of everything,
and given them a penny. Is this to be endured? Four millions
are in distress; our brothers in Ireland are in a worse state,
the climax of misery is complete, it can go no farther. The
Ministers have not granted our rights. Shall we take them?
(_Yes, yes_, from the mob.) Will you demand them? (_Yes, yes._)
If I jump down will you follow me? (_Yes, yes_, was again
vociferated.)."
"'The persons on the waggon then descended with the flags; the
constables immediately laid hold of the flags. Some persons
attempted resistance, and two were therefore taken up forthwith,
and sent to prison. The constables succeeded in getting one of
the flags.
"'When the second flag was displayed, it was supposed that it
headed Mr. Hunt's procession, and there was a loud huzza, which
stopped one of the waggon orators for five minutes.'
"[For all the rest we hold ourselves responsible, as it is our
own report of what passed.]."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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