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
In the following year (July, 1519) the streets witnessed another scene of
gaiety. This time it was a visit of the legate, Cardinal Campeggio, for
which the civic authorities made great preparations.(1084) In the first
place the mayor and aldermen, in their gowns and cloaks of scarlet, were
ordered to take up their position at 9 o’clock on the morning of Relic
Sunday (_i.e._, the third Sunday after Midsummer Day) at St. Paul’s stairs
(_the stayers w__t__in poulys_). Next to them were to stand the Skinners,
then the Mercers and other worshipful crafts in their order, clothed in
their last and best livery. In this manner the street was to be lined on
either side from the west door of St. Paul’s down to Baynard’s Castle.
Upon the arrival of the lord cardinal and other lords at the Cathedral the
mayor and aldermen were to head the procession and seat themselves in the
choir to hear _Te Deum_ sung. Bonfires or "pryncypall fyres" were to be
lighted at St. Magnus corner, Gracechurch, Leadenhall, the conduit on
Cornhill, St. Thomas "of Acres," the Standard and little conduit in Cheap,
the Standard in Fleet Street, and in Bishopsgate Street; whilst cresset
lights and small fires "made after the manner of Midsummer-night" were to
add to the gaiety of the scene. Men-at-arms, well harnessed and
apparelled, were to keep certain streets, whilst the aldermen and their
constables were to keep watch and ward in their best array of harness. The
ambassadors, who were to be lodged in Cornhill, were to be escorted home
at night by the aldermen with torches, and to await their commands. There
was one other, perhaps not unnecessary, direction to be followed, which
was to the effect that if by any chance the strangers should be overcome
by the hospitality of the city, or, in the words of the record—"yf eny
oversyght be wt moche drynke of the strangers"—the citizens were to "lett
theym alone and no Englishemen to medyle wt theym."
(M574) (M575)
The legate landed at Deal on the 23rd July, and by slow stages was
conducted with every mark of respect to London. His passage through the
city was associated with an episode of a decidedly comic character if we
are to believe the chronicler. A story is told(1085) that the night before
Campeggio entered London, Wolsey sent him twelve mules with (empty)
coffers, in order to give a semblance of wealth to the legate and his
retinue. In Cheapside one of the mules turned restive and upset the
chests, out of which tumbled old hose, shoes, bread, meat, and eggs, with
"muche vile baggage," at which the street boys cried "See, see my lord
legate’s treasure!" The story, however, is on good authority deemed more
malicious than probable.
(M576)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account