London (England) -- History; London (England) -- Social life and customs
The Cross of Cheap was not visible, being concealed by a beautiful
castle, constructed of timber, and covered with linen painted to
resemble squared blocks of white marble and green and crimson
jasper. The arms of St. George adorned the summit, those of the King
and the Emperor were raised on halberds, and the lower turrets had
the arms of the royal family and the great peers of the realm. On a
stage in front came forth a chorus of virgins with timbrel and
dance, as to another David coming from the slaughter of Goliath;
their song of congratulation was, "Welcome, Henry the Fifte, King of
Englond and of Fraunce." Throughout the building there was also a
multitude of boys, representing the heavenly host, who showered down
on the King's head small coins resembling gold, and boughs of
laurel, and sang, accompanied by organs, the Te Deum laudamus.
The tower of the Conduit at the west end of Cheap was surrounded
with pavilions, in each of which was a virgin, who from cups in
their hands blew forth golden leaves on the King. The tower was
covered with a canopy made to resemble the sky and clouds, the four
posts of which were supported by angels, and the summit crowned with
an archangel of brilliant gold. Beneath the canopy, on a throne, was
a majestic image representing the sun, which glittered above all
things, and round it were angels singing and playing all kinds of
musical instruments.
This was the last of the pageantry, and, after the King had paid his
devotions at St. Paul's, he departed to his palace at Westminster.
Of ecclesiastical functions and processions I say little. The people
belonging to the Church, as well as the churches themselves, were in
every street and in every function. At funerals there followed the
Brotherhood of Sixty, the singing clerks, and the old priests of the
Papey chanting the psalms for the dead. And see, here is a company of a
hundred and twenty. They are not Londoners, they are Dutchmen; and they
have come across the sea--such are the amenities of mediæval piety--to
flagellate themselves for the sins of this city. Will the English follow
their example and go to flog themselves at Amsterdam? For there are sins
to be expiated even in Holland. They are stripped to the waist; every
man is armed with a whip, and is belaboring the man in front. It is a
moving spectacle. London cannot choose but repent. The tears should be
running down the cheeks of toper, tosspot, and "rorere." Alas! we hear
of no tears. The Dutchmen have to go home again, and may, if they
please, flagellate themselves for their own good, for London is
impenitent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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