'Captain Swing’ became synonymous with the riots and soon symbolized the whole rural resistance. Examples of threatening "Swing" letters {{quote|Sir, Your name is down amongst the Black hearts in the Black Book and this is to advise you and the like of you, who are Parson Justasses, to make your wills. Ye have been the Blackguard Enemies of the People on all occasions, Ye have not yet done as ye ought,... Swing|}} Not all letters were from impoverished farm labourers trying to improve their lot; other people saw the use of the eponymous 'Swing' purely for private gain. For example a letter sent to a Mrs Chandler of Church Farm, Pursey, Wiltshire, was an obvious attempt at extortion: The sender turned out to be a soldier in the Dragoons. Cultural references Swing is portrayed as an actual person in the alternative reality novel The Difference Engine. Captain Swing is a 1989 album by singer-songwriter Michelle Shocked. A character named "Findthee Swing" is a captain in the Ankh-Morpork "Unmentionables" secret police in Terry Pratchett's novel Night Watch. Captain Swing & The Electrical Pirates Of Cindery Island is a graphic novel by Warren Ellis, featuring a Captain Swing with advanced electrical technology and a flying boat. The stage play Captain Swing by Peter Whelan, directed by Bill Alexander, was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1979. See also General Ludd Rebecca Riots Captain Rock Notes References Citations External links "Captain Swing recruits a Mansfield vicar" article from 1831 in The Manchester Guardian'' newspaper. 1830 in England Anonymity pseudonyms Social history of England Riots and civil disorder in England