This Cooper, now high sheriff of the said county, is said not only to be a stranger in that county, but not having a foot of land, or other visible estate in it, unless very lately granted, and it is believed he has not where withall to purchase any. The polling had not been long continued before Mr. Edward Vol. I. 18 . .

138 HISTORY OF THE

Stephens, a man of a very considerable estate in the said county, did openly, in the hearing of all the freeholders there assembled, charge \Yiiliam Forster, Esq., the candidate on the other side, with being a Jacobite, and in the interest of the Pretender, and that he should say to Mr. ^Yilliam Willett (a person of good estate and known integiity, who was at that time present and ready to make oath to the truth of what was said) that true it was he had taken the oaths to his Majesty, King George, and enjoyed a place in the governnfrent

under him, which gave him bread ; yet notwithstanding that, should

James come into England, he should think himself obliged to go there and fight for him. This was loudly and strongly urged to Forster's face, who denied it to be true ; and no more was said of it at that time. About eleven o'clock that night the poll was closed, and it stood thus : --

For the late chief justice, 231

" Quakers, 38

For William Forster, Esq.^ 151