A procession (right to left) of the corporation of rochester with asses' heads, followed by indignant fellow townsmen. The names are etched beneath as in bmsat 7521. The 'mare', probably the mayor (mathews), walks first, braying, "and so i'm done o-o. Over over"; from his pockets hang papers inscribed '1 fine - £100 2 - £100' (reversed). A little boy runs in front of him holding a 'wig'. Next comes 'th-m-n' (alderman thompson), sniffing at a phial, and saying "i'm sick, i'm sick. Sp------ce" (alderman spence), very stout, says, "so our belly's must pinch to pay for this. N--c is--n" (alderman nicholson) says "o that we had consulted the recorder". The next three walk on the prostrate body of fr--n--s', who lies face downwards, saying, "i wish i had not been gossiping": the first,
'd------ne', says, "i'll deny bellonging to them"; the second, 'f------rd', leaning on
his stick, says, "lord how tired i am, nothing but small beer now"; the third, 'g--t--s', clutching a document, says, "i wish i had known better and shewn the book"; from his pocket protrudes a paper inscribed 'copy of the fines' (reversed). Behind this man, the last of the ass-headed corporation, is a signpost pointing (left) to 'rocsheter' [sic] and (right) to 'maidstone'. A sailor wearing trousers inscribed 'b--ckm--st--r' says "produce your account". Behind him plumber says "wheres half the money collected in the frost for the poor. 'r--b--ns--on' says "i am resolv'd to probe this sore to the bottom to amputate all the ifected parts and thoroly to purge of all latent diseases of the corportation'; the surgical saws and instruments under his arm show that he is surgeon. On the extreme right is a man wearing an apron (a 'snider') and holding up a pair of shears, who says, "il send them to hell". He is followed by a ballad-singer (a chanter) with a broadside inscribed 'at maidstone assises'; she cries, "downfall of the mar [mayor] and mules". Behind them is a boy. 18 august 1789. Hand-coloured etching. Date: 1789. Dimensions: Height: 210 mm; Width: 572 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Buckmaster. Collection: British Museum. The freemen triumphant, or the mare foal'd of her folly (BM 1868,0808.5884)
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