Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London during the Eighteenth Century; Vol. 2 (of 2): Including the Charities, Depravities, Dresses, and Amusements etc.Malcolm, James Peller
History
Anecdotes of the Manners and Customs of London during the Eighteenth Century; Vol. 2 (of 2): Including the Charities, Depravities, Dresses, and Amusements etc.
Malcolm, James Peller
London (England) -- Social life and customs -- 18th century
"Lastly, the Pope, in a glorious pageant or chair of state,
covered with scarlet; the chair being richly embroidered and
bedecked with golden balls and crosses. At his feet was a
cushion of state; and two boys sat on each side the Pope in
surplices, with white silk banners painted with red crosses
and _bloody consecrated daggers_ for murdering Protestant
kings and princes, with an incense-pot before them censing
his Holiness. The Pope was arrayed in a rich scarlet gown
lined through with ermines and adorned with gold and silver
lace, with a triple-crown on his head, and a glorious collar
of gold and precious stones about his neck, and St. Peter's
keys, a great quantity of beads, _Agnus Dei's_, and other
Catholic trumpery about him. At his back stood the _Devil_,
his Holiness's privy-counsel, hugging and whispering him
all the way, and often instructing him aloud to destroy his
Majesty, to contrive a pretended Presbyterian plot, and to
fire the City again; to which purpose he held an infernal
torch in his hand. The whole procession was attended with
150 torches and flambeaus by order; but there were so
many came in volunteers as made the number to be several
thousands. Never were the balconies, windows, and houses
more filled, nor the streets more thronged, with multitudes
of people, all expressing their abhorrence of Popery with
_continual shouts and acclamations_; so that in the whole
progress of their procession by a modest computation it is
judged there could be no less than 200,000 spectators.
"Thus with a slow and solemn state in some hours they arrived
at Temple-bar, where all the houses seemed to be converted
into heaps of men, women, and children, who were diverted
with variety of excellent fire-works. It is known that
Temple-bar since its rebuilding is adorned with four stately
statues of Stone, two on each side the Gate; those towards
the City representing Queen Elizabeth and King James, and the
other two towards the Strand King Charles I. and King Charles
II.: now, in regard of the day, the statue of Queen Elizabeth
was adorned with a crown of gilded laurel on her head, and in
her hand, a golden shield with this motto inscribed thereon,
"The Protestant Religion, Magna Charta." Several lighted
torches were placed before her, and the Pope brought up near
the gate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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