technically called verdicts of _ignoramus_. It was here that the
whig sheriffs were of most consequence to their party; for by their
means the juries were picked from the very centre of the faction;
and although they included many men of eminence, both for rank and
talents, yet they were generally such as had made up their minds to
cast the bill long before they came into court. This gave great
offence to the royalists. North says, "There lay the barrier of the
faction; and that stately word (_ignoramus_) became the appellative
of the whole corrupt practice, and the infamous title of all the
persons concerned in it." In Luttrell's Collection I find,
"Ignoramus, an excellent new song, to the tune of Lay by your
Pleading, Law lies a Bleeding." 15 Dec. 1681.

At the Old Bailey,
Where rogues flock daily,
A greater rogue far than Coleman, White, or Stayley,
Was late indicted.
Witnesses cited,
But then he was set free, so the king was righted.
'Gainst princes offences
Proved in all senses,
But 'gainst a whig there is no truth in evidences;
They sham us, and flam us,
And ram us, and damn us.
And then, in spite of law, come off with ignoramus, &c.

This song, according to the invariable practice of the scribblers
on both sides, was answered by a new Ignoramus.