London in the Time of the Stuarts

Name: London in the Time of the Stuarts
Author: Besant, Walter

Besant, Walter

London (England) -- History -- 17th century; London (England) -- Social life and customs -- 17th century

The attitude of the people towards Catholicism at the beginning of
the seventeenth century was that of hatred far beyond the hatred of
fifty years before, because it was intensified by the terror of the
Papacy, which seemed recovering its old ground and quickly seizing on
one country after another. It seemed to those that could look beyond
the sea that in a short time there would be another, and a far more
dangerous attempt than that of the Spanish Armada, upon the religion
and the liberties of the country. The horrors of Catholic victory were
impressed upon them by the spectacle of the Huguenot fugitives and the
unfortunate Palatines, by stories of the Spanish Inquisition and its
ruthless tortures. The preachers—those “lecturers”—who were added to
the parish churches, fed this feeling of hatred and of terror. What,
then, was the indignation, what was the dismay, when the citizens of
London found the ecclesiastical authorities separating themselves
more and more from the reformed churches of Germany and Switzerland,
and, as they thought, advancing with no uncertain steps towards a
reconciliation with Rome!

[Illustration:
                           ST. PAUL’S CROSS

  “An accurate delineation, the only Correct Vestige that remains of
  this Ancient and Curious Object, as it appeared on Sunday the 26th
  of March 1620; at which time, it was visited by King James the I.,
  His Queen, and Charles, Prince of Wales; attended by the Archbishop
  of Canterbury, Bishops, Officers of State, Nobility, Ladies, etc.
  etc.; Who were received with great magnificence by Sir William
  Cockaine, Lord Mayor of London; assisted by the Court of Aldermen,
  Recorder, etc.; When a most excellent Sermon was preach’d from
  a text purposely selected by his Majesty (Psalm cii. Verses 13,
  14), by Dr. John King, Bishop of London; recommending the speedy
  reparation of the Venerable Cathedral of St. Paul; which, with its
  unsteepled Tower, and incumberances of Houses, etc. appear on the
  back and side grounds.”

From a print engraved from an original picture in the possession of the
Society of Antiquaries, and published by Richard Wilkinson, London, 4th
June 1811.]

{Transcription:
  HAGGAI CHAP:I·VE:2. THVS SPEAKETH THE LORD OF HOSTS THIS PEOPLE
  SAIE, THE TYME IS NOT YET COME THAT THE LORDS HOVSE SHOVLD BE
  BVILT. 3. THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD BY HAGGAI THE PROPHETT
  SAYING, 4. IS IT TYME FOR YOVRSELVES (O YEE) TO DWELL IN YOVR
  SEILED HOVSES, & THIS HOVSE LYE WASTE:·}

  IT IS WRITTEN: MY HOVSE IS THE HOVSE OF PRAYER: &C;·}

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

London in the Time of the StuartsBesant, Walter

History

London in the Time of the Stuarts

Besant, Walter

London (England) -- History -- 17th century; London (England) -- Social life and customs -- 17th century

The attitude of the people towards Catholicism at the beginning of
the seventeenth century was that of hatred far beyond the hatred of
fifty years before, because it was intensified by the terror of the
Papacy, which seemed recovering its old ground and quickly seizing on
one country after another. It seemed to those that could look beyond
the sea that in a short time there would be another, and a far more
dangerous attempt than that of the Spanish Armada, upon the religion
and the liberties of the country. The horrors of Catholic victory were
impressed upon them by the spectacle of the Huguenot fugitives and the
unfortunate Palatines, by stories of the Spanish Inquisition and its
ruthless tortures. The preachers—those “lecturers”—who were added to
the parish churches, fed this feeling of hatred and of terror. What,
then, was the indignation, what was the dismay, when the citizens of
London found the ecclesiastical authorities separating themselves
more and more from the reformed churches of Germany and Switzerland,
and, as they thought, advancing with no uncertain steps towards a
reconciliation with Rome!

[Illustration:
                           ST. PAUL’S CROSS

  “An accurate delineation, the only Correct Vestige that remains of
  this Ancient and Curious Object, as it appeared on Sunday the 26th
  of March 1620; at which time, it was visited by King James the I.,
  His Queen, and Charles, Prince of Wales; attended by the Archbishop
  of Canterbury, Bishops, Officers of State, Nobility, Ladies, etc.
  etc.; Who were received with great magnificence by Sir William
  Cockaine, Lord Mayor of London; assisted by the Court of Aldermen,
  Recorder, etc.; When a most excellent Sermon was preach’d from
  a text purposely selected by his Majesty (Psalm cii. Verses 13,
  14), by Dr. John King, Bishop of London; recommending the speedy
  reparation of the Venerable Cathedral of St. Paul; which, with its
  unsteepled Tower, and incumberances of Houses, etc. appear on the
  back and side grounds.”

From a print engraved from an original picture in the possession of the
Society of Antiquaries, and published by Richard Wilkinson, London, 4th
June 1811.]

{Transcription:
  HAGGAI CHAP:I·VE:2. THVS SPEAKETH THE LORD OF HOSTS THIS PEOPLE
  SAIE, THE TYME IS NOT YET COME THAT THE LORDS HOVSE SHOVLD BE
  BVILT. 3. THEN CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD BY HAGGAI THE PROPHETT
  SAYING, 4. IS IT TYME FOR YOVRSELVES (O YEE) TO DWELL IN YOVR
  SEILED HOVSES, & THIS HOVSE LYE WASTE:·}

  IT IS WRITTEN: MY HOVSE IS THE HOVSE OF PRAYER: &C;·}

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

London in the Time of the Stuarts

London in the Time of the Stuarts

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