The Works of Jonathan Swift Volume 7; Tracts Relative to Ireland. the Drapier's Letters. Miscellaneous Tracts Upon Irish Affairs (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: has rejected their proposals, being resolved to deal with none but Christians. Application may be made to him about them, any day, at Patt's coffee-house, where attendance will be given. A LETTER TO THE KING AT ARMS, FROM A REPUTED ESQUIRE, ONB OF THE SUBSCRIBERS TO THE BANK. [The title, Esquire, according to a high authority, was anciently applied "to the younger sons of nobility and their heirs in the immediate line, to the eldest sons of knights and their heirs, to the esquire of the knights and others of that rank in his Majesty's service, and to such as had eminent employment in the commonwealth, and were not knighted, such as judges, sheriffs, and Justices of the peace during their offices, and some others. But now," says Sir Edward Walker, " in the days of Charles I. the addition is so increased, that he is a very poor and inconsiderable person who writes himself less." Accordingly, most of the signatures for shares in the projected National Bank of Ireland, were dignified with the addition of Esquire, which, added to the obscurity of the subscribers, incurs the ridicule of our author, in the following treatise.] November 18,1721. In a late printed paper, containing some notes and queries upon that list of the subscribers' nameswhich was published by order of the commissioners for receiving subscriptions, I find some hints and in- uendoesthat would seem to insinuate, as if I and some others were only reputed esquires; and our case is referred to you, in your kingly capacity. I desire you will please to let me know the lowest price of a real esquire's coat of arms: and if we can agree, I will give my bond to pay you out of the first interest I receive for my subscription; because things are a little low with me at present, by throwing my whole fort...