The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-01-05 00:00:00

TPA'47III-3WAIYI.

this practice upoo,utfif *iffy lerd laaded A `fewlOf
these bloody wretches from their privateers, just to
berg] a.few tiouseF,. scalp a.,isrr ti: .I.lseeetjeept
and then take them on board,again, ap enterpriSe hitt
more dlllfcult ihan'tkat of carrying or Lord SEL.
R I aix's 06 ',7 no:doubt' • these gentlemen wohld hail
bren•briesfel ef4iievs horror and indignation at the
• barbarity n( such deeds: •11 is nantsheiess a preo,
,tics to whielkshe.villages in Amkaitie Imre, *a one
posed, by means ot.eer employing` these savages, but
tint seppose willhejuotilled, ia the massacre at.
Copenhagen was,-try.lur.favoutifedoetrieeltf .1414.
What those men would brinf GOP, by 7ble-deartee
may besspessed at by the fol owitt stOiedittes,,WhirJ,
ire inserted in consequence of the in my
There is Petit:Re,
_p. 37. a relation of tie Ne.
blemen, FLaistax,.. I,ord stt Beaujea,, and tha
copot DE .M.tcotd?
~taken 'fp* PET , Abbot of
Olin', who rid lived a yrrote its the clerk ages, but
, •
Who, like our cnuntrytn;n Beng, obtained the name
iof the venerable PETER. According to this account
the Leid.of OteuleA. made it his 'predicts to exercise
his Min 'upon the highway, in the same manner,
sar the iretterel;le.PETEß, that his ancestors had done
Wore him. lie committed many robberies and mar-
Jeri , • when, by y the admonitions of PETER, he rei.
pented of this sad life, and entered the Holy Order
of. the Knights 'remplen, Sorufafter, however, he
renounced his vows and returned to his castle, where 1
at first he took the part of the poor peasants and
1 merchants plundered by . the ~Noble ,Freebooters
(Pillards), and particularly by his neighbour the
Viscount DE MACON' 44 that we f," says PETER,
whoTavaged•oer leads evening, night, and morn-
:leg." Soon, bowever,_the Viscount Dell Acme and
the Lord of BEAU] EA (who was,'perhaps, ashamed,
like some people among us, to be an exception to
the general corruption) became 'great frientli, and
went upon the highway together, as other Noblemen
!.of. that day were wopt to de. • Then is, it.seemi,
intik, a poetic life of the (amain BRRTRANA ISC7
*dUESELIII, in manuscript; preserved' In the Public
'Library at-Paris, where the. Ekste.cotppanies are thus
[described in old French . •

pany in Fraoce,tuul, wit arrtbielleve*Fgoboaltft
quite the flower of chivalry._ He became rich by

,Vingt capitaines trouser j rattail on,
C hey.. Ii• ro, Eassiert,, ysvelt,,cll,dif cm,
Qui de France exliter• fleetest fflitTietintios,
El it n'y demuernit Acid, vachi, tie issittos ;
Ne pain, ne char, ne yin, ne 63e, ne
Tout pillard, meuitrier, traiteur and Laren°
Etel•rit dans la Route, dont je folio mention.

This,description refers to the plat pays or open
country, from which all the provisions had been
'stolen by the Lords, Chevaliers, and Squires, and
locked up fast in the towns and castles, so
that the peasants were reduced to .the neces-
; •
say of following the example of the Noble!, and
to storm those siren holds, is order teavoid starv-
ing Here we find, however, of what materials the
Free Companies were composed, plunderers, *mar-
Acrers, out-laws, and thieves; all these were in the
route or company (la troupe)—they were called in
England Rhnters or Rulers, and in France Roatiers,
which DuLACRE tells us is derived frdm Rwidores—
'breakers, and hence we have the compound word
' house-breakers. Many 'of these Knights and Squires
were brought over here by King Jouti,and Marrnew
PARIS Calls thorn mobiles via a dellaitoree-nohle
and wartilte men ; and fell; us that '"they Writ.
'ed. for eothieg so much as for human b100d."4--
The creettiesihey committed ere almost incredible ;
and Dr. BRADY and others following bins-bate
questioned the truth of the relation of this Mliiikisb
historian on that very account; buf he has been vin-
dicated completely by Mr. Tyne:EL, vol. IL b. vii.''
p. 788 ; and indeed there is ample proof of the fero.
city ef these people in numerops, foreign histories.
IPARts calls them the Ministers of &tram, satellites
,fatanvi—and it. must be confessed that their reign
whilst it lasted was the triumph of might over right,
nor could that teMpentry triumph have been More i
complete, if the universe had been under the Govern-i
mein of an bmisipeteutDevil ;evict efa just Goo.
In England Oe.herri§tei violetatu , injustice corn-
mated by these sons ,of rapiee,c 'ted a re-action I
in the peeple.themselvelt,, so that alibistorians agree, •
it was this very tyranny in. King Jean that strength.-
ed the cause of the Barons ; these men educated in
the love of justice, under the
.benign institutions of
. ALFRED, naturally oppused an invincible resistance
to such ellisfi tyranny. When 'the Barons heard•
their castles were burnt, and their wives and chil-
dren taken and exposed to infamy, forti anima
' here, runt Oleranda, says Pals, it prods** nil sub-
mission, but only served to strengthen their fOrdtlide.
M. PARIS informs us whence ,Tonx's Raters item,
Brabant and Gascony, , the very countries 'which
were in the next emstury infested TO the Free Com-
panies. .
One of these Free Companies . is. mentioned by
}jammer, vet. VI: C. 10, Illiialßlas CO)11001Od of
Gascons and Englishmen, and had. seamed in Spain
undir the Earl of. Cawnerpritemong the English
were Sir.lVlta.taw BEAUCHAMP, OE 1.04-Ur
&c. and particularly a' bastard brother of the ins
of ENGLAND, ahead Sir Joint SOUNDERS, who was
chosen their chief for a singUlar reason, because,
tsays FttorssanT, " he had more leisure to do mis-
chief, 'at4 had greater courage' for it, than the
others." Sr, GEORGE was their patron, that martial '
Saint,, who,, for his valour, has sheen worshipped
;beat, by Christians aqd Mahometans. Fuotssater
,tea ns that they,bore, the image of this Saint upon
their standard, and the words
,Friends of God and;
Enemies of all the ,Iforld. ?bese nettle freebooters
spared the property of the Chit* but plundered
indiscriminately that of ill other persons. Like the'
hypocrites of the present tiny, who propagate Gospel
Peice and uphold destructive wars, they,oontrived,
we see, to mix together robbery and piety, but thin
it was a false not a genuine piety. , '
Sir JOlll,l CLIANDOI WM 114 leader of a Free Com. I

pea re each warrior received andeolly bat.a.sail or clothes.
four attlistrc, nod a. quatilllS 9f trite ; weal that there were
Omni 8.(h:0 lise.c I 'edifews shut she asetirieio ihe Treat v.
In .wbieh.lboue Indians Vlore listmeAlkes, is awl. in symisid,
either honourable to dm patios', urlikely los..jra sileAmeri-
cans w ith sentiments of fnentl•toup and unettwill towards us.
On i he coatraty, It tea► to keeli alive alladdit, and to excite the
Auseriestas to become a w nroskt pelvic hi its ayseisstad teal.
Thewrtiee alluded to is thus expreard i s OK PlPelll--" The
interest of the Indians, Aries to Wee Brilism lathe war, ore
provided for in this" Treaty by a itipalatbd, that they are ttr be
red, red to all theist poisessioas, rights, asidoktvltisores which, they
cajoyed, or to which they were Intities),Asteeedisat tp tise,year
1812.9' ' i
• Esther, is old Freacts, means pillier. • •

•
• numutay disimnehet 'were ieceirof;al. the Admi.
tally fronr fiancee,: they announce (h( hats of the
Ftwitocietalpep of war, the officervind crew of which
were fortunately.sareti.. /-

booty ; and in consequence thereof, was raised from olcuattaseet, ssaowyntaici,; axn.,IIIIMPN. 4GAINItt
the dignity of Knight to•ifiatatfiebn in the follow- .
.. sitau.ifinoo. • ' '' . 'l-
ing way :' 46 Before the bilt iv,. when the sof: Mr. Patiace StpriiiitaYed, that be,opposed* dia.
diers on each side were tightening their armour, and Omits .r Viih. Sosalltiood, on lebaif of•Mr.".ities.
making .seedy for combat, Sir JOHN Ctiattoost'atis OWN of Covent-gaiffert,' whd had Wei inks* by
minced hernial of thebattalionswith his banner tins hii fraudulent iendurii to.thil any/alit:of 'Mg - inn
cased in hie hand. fie presented it to the Prince of iiiioaorliii..•RicliOridion Egad Twist!, . ityid a
Watts,'sayfng' My Lord here is my banner, I present' judipieurin the Court of Coldinoii PI abd yet,
it to you that:l may display it in whatever manner stringe.ttr till,' Mr.;goialliinod' tad i id 1044
shall be mosragreeahle to you, for, thankrio Gov, I schedule Mr. R.'l dtitiftis umointing only to 100 f,
; have now selficientlei enable me so to do and mains tndit imlatalia Or iiisreptesentation, as. be Wolin.
tarn the rank which it, ought .to hold. -.'rhe Piled)* able, to 'take enelistire of the Defendants cotischiniet
! tot*, the banner in his baud, which was blazoned tia cat& not iteeounefor. ' The Defendant, Will'isok
ilih a sharp stake, gales on a field argent, and'after Siisallwotid, hid fol'inerlY been an aectioueer
having cut off the tail, to make it square, he dispinyed !Hiermarry,: 'gear., aid- had ft been his pleasure
ilSt, and returning it to him by the handle, said,' Sir ptive conducted himself Willi tiohour, instead of
'4OTIN, I return• you your banner, Gon give yes 7 anintdie cootie he, hid; hi Wilk now have been is
Strength and honour topreserve it. •Upoti this Sir Jona ' as big% i situation, as a 'ficiesman, as 'any min' lit
left the Prince, went back to his men with the bans i iliellnictiott!;.i%4 hart hid it treat deal of property,
her in his hand, and said to them, Gentlemen, herb ''the major-Pirt of tait4h he kaddishoneatlykePt bid
is my banner and yours, yon will therefore guard it 'Trim his treallfOrii; TM Pelhadant Was to here bpi%
es become you so to do. His companions, taking ;broughenpAini Wecinelsaiy Hit 9 but' .olatioad at the
9
the banner, replied with cheerfulness,- that if it array against hiM, he had leispiedilinsisist. 'Mu.
pleased Goo and St. GEORGE they would defend it itliSpOsitiOn' eras merely' 'a *Witt,- for lie la bail
well. The banner was put into the hands of a worthy I.seen on the rime day io a state of perfect health:—
; English squire, called WILLIAM ALLESTRT, who 'The preseet case would detfend upon ate evidence of
bore it with honour dust day.."' Thtie we see by two witnesses: He *Wad IlttßAO•lntO As_ .
_.
_ii facts that
I what means nobility might he acquired in those days'. constituted the general tolipositiinstb theDetendaati
ilfoAnother, chapter, 176, FRoiSsittT tells us that one discharge, because, independisti al -theis,” 'there !nap
of these Free Companies chose for their leader &Welch- !On effeetnil billection to hit bbtainine Ms relessot4
:Man by the name of GRIFFITH, whom they 'had : wet, .0040 Vie gthif Deiietriber 'last, he was Walk
knighbal, and who acquired such immense riches as at the Grand tiotel Curea-girden. He should pee,/
could trot be counted." So then these banditti con- ' the fait, by the evidence if *eery woithy'iatititus -who
leered knighthood truly. The source of their wealth kopetliti.hotel: Ho Wasperinaded; however inpfeas
arose both- from plunder and from prisoners, who ! tint it might. be 10 iter, abiWoold speak the truth,
paid a ransom to their captors; and we are told of and if she 'iliteci thee .day of the.' Defendant's train,
the King of England having bought from Sir Tito- rgressitik the bounds of isispriseni there would be no
Am lloLLAttn.and his cinxpanions, the Constable of necessity at present to arty thOmilittei lerther. AS
France and another French Nobleman whom they .to the manifeld fraudulent ttlitaiCiiiine belied to erg
had taken prisoners, and paid down twenty thousand lege and prOye igalns6be Di*odolott hiiirlould refer '
nobles for them. 'rims we see • that this idol might theta to itiiiiiii-ZiY:t- '''T.'l3 * `.. - V" •
did, like MAR. of old, reward his votaries. with ; Mrs. Wren 'wesetamined by Mr. Smith and hi
both wealth. and honours ; whilst the only reward . Mr. Andrews on behOf of other creditors ; she dii.
the God. of Peace, promised- his meek followers an rtinetly 'admitted, that- eh-Tuesday; the dth of -Dos
'earth was wealth in Heaven. I:amber last, Mr. Small wood came to • the Grand
There are other passages both in DULAURE and Hotel to nieet a Mr. Serres. •On the Tueaday fellow-
Fitiptssawr_that I should have liked to have given the big the Plaintiff's Solicitor called there, and she ac.
/tiger, as they suggest retlections very useful, not 'knowledged to him that she had seen Mr. Smallwood
on novr,,but at all times. If leisure will permit, lat the hetet: ' . • . _., N ,
W. Act itiwanother Letter; lest, however, it shontd An'entlesivoer was made,. by cross-exeminatios to
4l
I shall conclude this with a general Tellection, . Invalidate her testimony, but it failed. s; .
-11. will, I trust, be my apology to those who may '- • ''l'he Learned Serjeant Said, he bad rioter ba,hisk
t*ilizthat I have already bees too diffuse upon the seen a witness more deserting of Credit. ' •
tOject. •-• i:" • Mr. Seijeant Paulen said, there was no et:cosies
• We are told in a book, which all men ought to for ennui' ing into the.facts•of the case. The.cirierti-
verseiate, that there are two Powers opposed to each stance or th&Defehdantl having been feed at lire
other, the one is the Power of Light, the other of, was decisive. '• - ; '1- '
Thitkness; and'ave are assured thetas Power of bark- ' The Defends nt wee aseerill ugly remanded to eines
new shall not prevail.• This is consolatory • foe, .
really there have been times when it has appeared to '
obtain a temporary ascendency. !The Poser of
Darkness consists in force, aliaentighi; and it brings
in its train, war, oppression, cruelty, tyranny.
,The
i Heavenly Power consists in justice, ohm; right; and
it brings with it peace,good.will, mercy, and liberty.
11/ightand rig/14 then, so far from being one and the
*seine thing, are two directly opposite and cert.
tree). things. Like the two scales in a lialanee,
I when the one descends the other must .ascend.
! Wring Mee, times above alluded to on the Coil.
ttinent, might, being the heaviest side of the Mi-
-1 lance, overpowered right. Why? because °Vie
l' pure spirit of Christianity in' those couritrWimis
1 gone, the sense of justice was gone, darkness M-
I railed, and " ignorance, the curse of Got," des&
lated the land. But in England the balance was di-
reedy reversed, and right preponderated ortirmight.
Why ? because the spirit and essence of Ciistiinity,
was preserved in the laws and institutions of 'At-
-1 viten; tyranny was boldly repelled, and justice and
I liberty vindicated. Euglishmen, I confess, robbed
and plundered on -the Continent,• and many noble
families amongst us owe their wealth and their ho.
i nours to those excesses ; bat they •did not dare to rob
lot- home-, because, according to the •Ordinances
of ALFRED (says Ilon'N's.) wrongs and force were not
Idefended, but punished. EDWARD and his son,
the BLACK PRINCE, were great tyrants on the
Continent, and great upfioldare of .. robbery and
oppression ; but . they' did net dare' either tb
practise or uphold such thihri in England ;—on the
contrary, numerous Acts in his•reige were made to
vindicate English Liberty ; and the Commons plain-
ly told this Prince, that the./ 64 wield not be
bound by any of his ordinances, but only by such
laws as were made by their own .consent,".—words
very memorable, and which I hive often quoted.—
Nor was the judgment of a just Providence difficult
to discover in the deaths Of these two -Prinees.• • The
.father, after losing what he had acquired with so
much cruelty and injustice, was deserted by all in
his utinolitneed, and died without even the consola-
:ties, .which the Roman Church affords. to the must
. wretched shim*. The' son, after lingering ,some
time, died of a consumption, •oltich he caisght, In
Spain, wheitiv he went withlit Jane CHANDOS, and
I other leaders of banditti; to reinstate OH his throne
'.PETER THE CRUEL, a horrible •tyraiit,. and a Cis:
-grace to the human species. Such were the misera-
ble ends of these two unjust and despotic Princes,
who would have made might triumph over right in
England, as well as' on the Continent, had it not
been for the restraint they met with from our free
Constitution. It has been said by the Author of
Christianity himself, " He that- is not for .me is
against me"—" Nu. wan can serve two masters,".'
&c. lie who advisee*, nay, he who. only gjyes hia
countenance to the dectrine.of Might is no fits. Rd iir
Christianity, or to the happiness of, no 14 k i ni4 Linea
he who takes the other side, and coriteridi l'or.Efe.k'
against might; U. It, in' taking this side„ 1 bile at
11l contributed to the contrition Of year /141114,7:
tvho Way be disposed to waver, or to the tedfiVital:.
tine of those already inelionsi to the good CW4;I,
Ohall think myself amply rewarded. - '•." ,1
'. -^' t' i*Piliiv -'• '. • - ' •4 ?
, .. MOTH*. 'TRUMAN.:
Duskiiihkeshire. pun 2. _, ' ....:, t; A. ..,

s `_,