Sentence:  A great perſonage aſked lord S——h, how the citizens came to <WSD>patronize</WSD> ſuch a profligate as Wilkes. His lordſhip replied, "They would <WSD>patronize</WSD> the devil, if he aſſiſted them to pull down a miniſter." 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To act as a patron of; to defend, protect, or support.