The Virginia Gazette

POETS CORNER.
Hark! hark! you young Dogs, there's a Noise in the Nation,
The Governour has issued a new Proclamation.

YOU who can read no Doubt remember,
That on the first Day of September,
('Twas in a Hurry) I thought fit,
To issue forth a proper Writ,
To call the General Court together,
And meet at SALEM, if good Weather.
I thought the Clamours would be over,
By the fifth Day of next October;
But now Disorders have increased,
From North to South, from West to East:
Resolves, of an uncommon Nature,
You all have passed, in keenest Satire,
In Towns and Counties out of Sight,
Which prove you are resolved to fight.
The Instructions which Bostonians gave,
With other Towns, my Notice crave;
Each Noise and Word that's out of Season,
E'en to a F-t, I deem it Treason:
And the disordered hapless State
Of this sad Province, is so great,
That now to me it doth appear
Too inexpedient; and I swear,
The Court to Salem ne'er shall trot,
While People are so cursed hot.
A Session, at some distant Day,
Perhaps may tend, without Delay,
The King's good Services to crown;
The Province may promote its own.
I therefore have thought fit, and swear,
My true Intention to declare:
I will not meet the Court at Salem,
For their sworn Loyalty doth fail them.
My Bastards are afraid to travel:
Excusing them, the Truth unravel.
And hereby I excuse, at large,
All Members chosen, and discharge
From giving their desired Attendance,
As I on them place no Dependence.
In Spite of all my Writs could say,
These Writs you must not now obey.
Ye Sheriffs, round about the Counties
Creatures who live upon any Bounties,
Go tell your Deputies around,
And Constables of every Town,
To post this Proclamation whole
In Towns that have a Freedom Pole.
Given at Boston (now remember)
The twenty-eighth Day of September,
The 14th Year of George's Reign,
King of Great Britain, France, and Spain,
Of Ireland, and the Cape Good Hope,
Defender of the Faith and Pope.