The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and ProgressJackson, Mason
History
The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and Progress
Jackson, Mason
Illustration of books; Newspapers -- Illustrations
Cook--'Truly Master Froth you are a man of a light constitution, and not
so much to be blamed as I that am more solid: O what will become of me!
I now think of the lusty Sirloines of roast Beefe which I with much
policy divided into an innumerable company of demy slices, by which,
with my provident wife, I used to make eighteene pence of that which
cost me but a groat (provided that I sold it in service time,) I could
tell you too, how I used my halfe cans and my Bloomsbury Pots, when
occasion served; and my Smoak which I sold dearer than any Apothecary
doth his Physick; but those happy days are now past, and therefore no
more of that.'
This pamphlet is illustrated with a woodcut showing the Cook and Tapster
in confabulation, while in the background joints are roasting, and
guests are seated in boxes, refreshing themselves with 'half-cans and
Bloomsbury pots.'
The abuses of the Ecclesiastical Courts did not escape the notice of the
seventeenth-century pamphleteers. Doctors' Commons and the Proctors were
quizzed in an illustrated pamphlet, wherein 'Sponge, the Proctor,' and
'Hunter, the Parator,' hold a long conversation, and express their
opinion that the only way to make men live in quietness is to beggar
them with long suits and large fees. Other evil-doers were shown up in a
similar manner. A certain Edward Finch, Vicar of Christ-church, London,
gave so much offence to the parishioners by his manner of life that a
petition was presented to Parliament on the subject. The petitioners
said they were offended by their Vicar's 'frequent and unreasonable
bowings' before the altar, and by his 'scandalous life and
conversation.' They set forth in the petition that they are 'troubled in
their church with singing, organs, and other Instruments of Musicke, not
understood by them, whereby they are greatly distracted in the service
of God, the same being altogether unprofitable, and no way tending to
their spirituall edification.' The Vicar is charged with drunkenness and
incontinence--with exacting unreasonable fees--with being a
non-resident; and the evidence in support of the petition shows that on
one occasion he went to Hammersmith in a coach with certain loose
companions and spent the day in a manner unfit for a clergyman. He is
proved to have attempted to administer the Sacrament to a dying woman
while he was in a state of drunkenness, and to have been guilty of many
other disgraceful acts. The House of Commons passed a vote of censure on
this graceless Ritualist; and the petition setting forth his misdeeds
was printed and published, illustrated with a woodcut showing the
journey to Hammersmith in a coach. Notwithstanding the condemnation of
Parliament, the Rev. Edward Finch continued in his evil courses, and
conducted his 'life and conversation' much the same as before.
[Illustration: EVIL DOINGS OF THE REV. EDWARD FINCH, 1641.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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