THE CUSHION PLOT,

Written by Herbert Beaver, Esq., of Corpus Christi College, Oxford,

when "Gaby" (as the then President, Dr. Shaw, is called, who had been

a zealous Jacobite,) suddenly, on the accession of George the First,

became a still more zealous patron of the interests of the House of

Hanover.

When GABY possession had got of the _Hall_,

He took a survey of the Chapel and all,

Since that, like the rest, was just ready to fall,

_Which nobody can deny_.

And first he began to examine the chest,

Where he found an old _Cushion_ which gave him distaste;

The first of the kind that e'er _troubled his rest,_

_Which nobody can deny_.

Two letters of Gold on this Cushion were rear'd;

Two letters of gold once by GABY rever'd,

But now what was loyalty, treason appear'd:

_Which nobody can deny_.

"J. R. (quoth the Don, in soliloquy bass)

"See the works of this damnable Jacobite race!

"We'll out with the J, and put G in its place:"

_Which nobody can deny_.

And now to erase these letters so rich,

For scissors and bodkin his fingers did itch,

For Converts in politics go _thorough-stich_:

_Which nobody can deny_:

The thing was about as soon done as said,

Poor _J_ was deposed and _G_ reigned in his stead;

Such a quick revolution sure never was read!

_Which nobody can deny_.

Then hey for preferment--but how did he stare,

When convinced and ashamed of not being aware,

That _J_ stood for JENNET,[10] for RAYMOND the _R_,

_Which nobody can deny_.

Then beware, all ye priests, from hence I advise,

How ye choose Christian names for the babes ye baptize,

For if GABY don't like 'em he'll pick out their I's,

_Which nobody can deny_.

[10] The benefactor who gave the college the Cushion.

* * * * *

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