London and the Kingdom - Volume 1: A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.Sharpe, Reginald R. (Reginald Robinson)
History
London and the Kingdom - Volume 1: A History Derived Mainly from the Archives at Guildhall in the Custody of the Corporation of the City of London.
Sharpe, Reginald R. (Reginald Robinson)
London (England) -- History
On the occasion of the king’s coronation, which took place on
Midsummer-day soon after his marriage with Catherine of Aragon, his
brother’s widow, the citizens presented the king and queen with the sum of
£1,000 or 1,500 marks. Two-thirds of the gift was given expressly to the
king, the remaining one-third being a tribute of respect to the queen. The
money was to be raised in the city by way of a fifteenth, but the poor
were not to be assessed.(1029) The procession from the Tower to
Westminster was equal to, if it did not surpass, any spectacle that had
yet been witnessed in the city for its gorgeousness and pomp. The streets
were railed and barred from Gracechurch Street to Cheapside at the expense
of the livery companies who lined the way,(1030) "beginning with base and
meane occupations and so ascending to the worshipful crafts." The
Goldsmiths of London were especially conspicuous for their marks of
loyalty on that day. Their stalls, which were situate by the Old Change at
the west end of Chepe, were occupied by fair maidens dressed in white and
holding tapers of white wax, whilst priests in their robes stood by with
censers of silver and incensed the king and queen as they passed.(1031)
(M554)
After three years of indolent and luxurious ease Henry became embroiled in
continental troubles. In 1511 a holy league had been formed for the
purpose of driving the French out of the Milanese, and Henry’s
co-operation was desired. A parliament was summoned to meet early in the
following year.(1032) After granting supplies(1033) it unanimously agreed
that war should be proclaimed against France. The campaign of 1512 ended
ingloriously, and the French king threatened to turn the tables on Henry
and to invade England. Henry rose to the occasion and at once set about
strengthening his navy. On the 30th January, 1513, he addressed a letter
to the Corporation of London desiring them to furnish him with 300 men,
the same to be at Greenwich by the 15th February at the latest.(1034)
Proclamation was thereupon made in the city for all persons who were
prepared to join the war to appear at the Guildhall any time before the
10th February, where, if approved, they would be furnished with sufficient
harness and weapons, without any charge, and also with sufficient wages at
the king’s cost.(1035)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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