A man in armour, the 'city champion', attacks a number of others who fall in a heap (left) covered with black spots representing the stains caused by an inkpot which has been thrown at them. Behind the champion (right) is a small overturned table under which lies a man, also covered with ink-stains and shouting "remember, sir, we are on the king's commission". The champion is about to hurl a long, narrow book inscribed 'assess book'; on his left arm is a shield with the city arms and the motto 'no shop tax'. He says, "avaunt ye judas's and betrayers of the people - turn out ye busy mischief-making monkies - how dare you meet in our hall to enforce your odious shop tax - out ye money changers - i say turn out ye monkies - ". One of the overthrown commissioners says: "where's the marshal? i'll charge you with an assault and battery". Another, running away (left), says, "he looks as dreadful as the black prince". On the floor are books, inkpot, torn papers, &c. The fracas takes place on a platform (the hustings at guildhall). Just below it, in the foreground, are the heads of spectators; wilkes looking through a spy-glass is on the extreme left. Two lawyers face each other in profile, one (fielding) saying, "sir, its disturbing the king's peace", the other (garrow), "sir, there can be no riot - there's but one person - ". On the extreme right two grinning cits say to each other, "let them go to grocers hall - will they treat them as they did plumb-pudding billy?" (see bmsat 6471), and "no, no, the wind is changed" (cf. Bmsat 6807). Beneath the title is etched, 'dedicated to the armourers and braziers company --- --- --- --- bella, horrida bella!" below are verses:
'to grind the cits, and serve themselves,
assembled were some courtly elves;
"no tax on shops" the roof resounds,
and merry great with fury bounds -
attacks the groupe with horrid yell -
repuls'd by andrews - merry fell -
no sooner down than up again,
resolvd the battle to obtain,
he boxes hence the assessors,
become, by first blow, aggressors,
now books and papers on them fall,
and huge inkstands discharge their gall;
when lo! they lie, for billy's good,
besmeared with ink instead of blood,
and merry roars "whilst i can fight",
"i'll e'er defend the city's right. "' 6 october 1785
etching. Date: 1785. Dimensions: Height: 249 mm; Width: 349 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Andrews. Collection: British Museum. The City Champion, or the Guildhall Merry uproar (BM 1868,0808.5455)
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