Pasquin (Italian: Pasquino) was the name ordinary Romans gave to an ancient statue dug up and erected in the Piazza Navona around 1500. In the 16th century and after, it was the custom for those who wanted to criticize the Pope and his government to write Latinsatirical poems (called "pasquinades" from the Italian "pasquinate") and attach them to this statue. At various times, these poems were published in books and thus became well known all over Europe.
In English, the word "pasquinade" is used to refer to any lampoon, whether in verse or in prose, and in whatever language.
At the beginning of the 16th century Pasquin had a partner provided for him in the shape of another statue found in the Campus Martius, said to represent a river god, and dubbed Marforio, a foro Martis.
It continues to occur through the course of the Marprelate controversy as the title of the enemy of the Puritans.
In Italy itself Pasquin is said not to have condescended to the vernacular till the 18th century.
Pasquin and The Historical Register; Journalistic work: The Champion.
Early in 1736, he took the Little theatre in the Haymarket, formed a company of actors, and in this and the following year produced Pasquin and The Historical Register for the year 1736.
Of these celebrated dramatic satires something will be said elsewhere, 2 as well as of the share which the second of them had in bringing about the Licensing act of 1737.
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