London and the Kingdom Volume II Part 26

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The coronation ceremony was carried out the next day with all the customary formalities, and the evening was given up to bonfires and fireworks, not to mention also a considerable amount of tippling. Even Pepys himself was obliged to confess that he got to his bed only "pretty well." There was but one accident worth mentioning during the entire day.

Sergeant Glyn, who had formerly been the City's Recorder, and had afterwards been raised to the Bench, was nearly killed by his horse falling on him whilst riding in the cavalcade with Maynard, another eminent lawyer. Had they both been killed the populace (we are told) would have only looked upon it as a judgment of a just G.o.d for their action under the Commonwealth.(1215)

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Meanwhile the Convention Parliament had been dissolved and a new one summoned to meet in May (1661). When the elections took place there was a hot contest in the city between Presbyterians and Episcopalians, resulting in the discomfiture of the latter, "who went away cursing and swearing and wishing they had never come."(1216) One writer describes the election as having been "the greatest appearance that ever the oldest men alive saw."(1217) Great efforts were made to obtain the re-election of those who had served the city in the last parliament.(1218) Unfortunately their names are not known to us with any certainty. The successful candidates consisted of three aldermen, viz., William Thompson, William Love and John Fowke and Captain John Jones. Thompson and Love are described as "G.o.dly men and of good parts, Congregationalists," Captain Jones as "a Presbyterian man," and Fowke as one "not much noted for religion, but a countenancer of good ministers," and as "deeply engaged in Bishop's lands."(1219) Pepys,(1220) who lived in the heart of the city, was himself surprised at the "strange election," and at the discomfiture of the Episcopalian party, "that thought themselves so strong. It do so make people to feare it may come to worse by being an example to the country to do the same. And, indeed, the bishops are so high that very few do love them."

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Others besides Pepys recognised the effect likely to be produced in the country by the example set by London; and those who, unlike Pepys, were of a Presbyterian turn of mind freely expressed their hopes that the keynote of the election struck by the City would be taken up by the country at large. "G.o.d has overruled the hearts of men and heard the prayers of his people in the city election, though the Episcopals were high and thought to have the day; a precedent is given to the whole country," writes a contemporary to a friend.(1221) "The city of London has set a good example," writes another.(1222) Another expresses a hope that "other places will be encouraged by the example of this to choose sober and moderate men for parliament men"; whilst another declares "the city was very unanimous and courageous in its choice," and that "if the country do the same, profaneness and superst.i.tion will no longer prevail, but G.o.dly magistrates and ministers be settled in every place."(1223)

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That the court party were afraid of the effect that the result of the city election would have upon the rest of the kingdom, where elections were still going on, is evidenced by the fact that these letters just cited, as well as numerous others despatched to various parts of the country with details of the election, were intercepted at the post office.(1224) Neither the hopes of the one party nor the fears of the other as to the effect of the City's choice of members upon others were destined to be realised to the extent antic.i.p.ated. The electors proved loyal, and the members returned to the new parliament which met on the 8th May were for the most part too young to remember the tyranny of the Stuarts.

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The new parliament agreed that neither House could claim the command of the militia nor lawfully make war upon the king. Act after Act was pa.s.sed against those who refused to conform to the Established Church. Before the close of the year (1661) the Corporation Act received the a.s.sent of both Houses.(1225) Thenceforth no one was to be allowed to hold any munic.i.p.al office unless he renounced the covenant, took the oath of non-resistance, and received the Sacrament according to the rites of the Church of England. By thus excluding Nonconformists (or "Dissenters," as they began now to be called) from munic.i.p.al corporation, parliament indirectly excluded them from seats in the House of Commons.

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On the 9th July the Common Council approved of the presentation of a pet.i.tion to the king for a confirmation of the City's charter.(1226) The time was not inopportune, inasmuch as a "free and voluntary present" to Charles had recently been set on foot,(1227) and the maxim of _do ut des_ was one well understood between the City and the Crown. It is not surprising, therefore, that on the 17th an Order in Council was pa.s.sed to the effect that the lord treasurer should a.s.sure the City that his majesty was highly sensible of their loyalty and affection, and would renew their charter with additions if desired and found fit.(1228) The lord chancellor happening to be in the city one day (8 Aug.) on the business of the "free and voluntary present," the civic authorities embraced the opportunity of urging him to press their suit with the king, whereupon "it pleased my lord chancellor to express much affection and forwardness to this great concernment of the city," and he promised to see the king on the matter that same evening, and to get the attorney-general, who was about to leave town, to defer his journey if the City would at once forward its old charter to Mr. Attorney for the purpose of renewal. This the Common Council readily agreed to do.(1229) In spite, however, of the exertions of the lord chancellor and of the City, no renewal of the charter of Charles I was obtained until nearly two years had elapsed.

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In October the mayor, aldermen and recorder attended his majesty in council, by request, when Charles repeated the promise made in his letter from Breda not to diminish or alter the rights of the City; but at the same time he informed them of his intention to make one exception, _pro hac vice_, by removing four or five of the aldermen who had been "faulty in the late troubles," and of putting others "of known worth and ability"

in their places. He promised also to safeguard the City's interest in the Act then pending in parliament relative to corporations.(1230) The City could not do otherwise than submit,(1231) and the king carried out his threat. The commissioners who had been appointed under the Great Seal to "regulate" the Corporation removed at least two of the aldermen, viz., Tempest Miller, of Candlewick ward, and William Love, of Portsoken, who had recently been elected one of the city's representatives in parliament, their places being filled up by Sir Thomas Rich and Sir Thomas Bludworth, the king's own nominees.(1232)

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Pending the negotiations for a renewal of the City's charter, the Presbyterians of the city and their ultra-radical brethren the Fifth Monarchy men again caused disquietude. The latter had been "scotched not killed" after Venner's outbreak: "they are as bold in their meetings as before Venner's plot; Fifth Monarchy men preach and visit with Presbyterians, and encourage the people to withstand the common prayer and the oppression and idolatry of the court."(1233) The mayor had recently succeeded in breaking up a meeting and capturing ten men and thirty women, whom he lodged in Newgate. When remonstrated with they told the mayor that they had met to serve G.o.d, and when told that he best served G.o.d who obeyed the king, replied that they were not bound to obey him when the Spirit commanded the contrary.(1234) It was reported that there were no less than 3,000 men about the city maintained by Presbyterian ministers.(1235) The danger was increased by the large number of cashiered officers and soldiers who frequented the city.(1236) The king became anxious and wrote to the lord mayor (24 Oct.) complaining of the want of care and vigilance in setting the night watches, which consisted chiefly of feeble men unable to suppress such disorders as were likely to arise in those seditious times, and who broke up their watch some hours before daybreak, thereby giving encouragement to thieves and robbers. He therefore desired that the number of men should be increased, that only able men should be appointed, and that the watch should continue until daybreak.(1237)

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On Michaelmas-day Sir Richard Browne was succeeded in the mayoralty chair by Sir John Frederick.(1238) The banquet of the mayor and sheriffs, which had been allowed to drop in the time of trouble and scarceness, was again held at the Guildhall,(1239) and the new mayor revived the ancient custom of visiting St. Paul's on the day of his taking the oath of office, and offering a prayer for the soul of the good bishop by whose kind offices the citizens obtained their first charter from the Conqueror.(1240) Charles did not attend the banquet which took place on the 29th October, but viewed the pageants on lord mayor's day from the windows of a private house in Cheapside, where he was supplied with refreshments at the City's charge.(1241)

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When St. Thomas's day [21 Dec]-the day for the election of a new Common Council-was approaching, the king took occasion himself to write to the Court of Aldermen warning them to "take special care and give strict orders in your several wards that a peaceable and quiet election be made, and that the choice be of such persons as are every way well affected to the established Government, both in Church and State"-otherwise he would be forced to make a change in such elections.(1242)

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That the new council was favourable to the king is shown by the court pa.s.sing a resolution (26 Feb., 1662) for expunging out of the city's records all acts, orders and other matters pa.s.sed, made or registered either in the court of Common Council or the Court of Aldermen since the beginning of the late troubles "which savour of the disloyalty of those times and may continue the sad remembrance of them to posterity to the reproach and dishonour of this city."(1243) This resolution was made on the king's own suggestions, but although a committee was at once appointed to carry it out, it remained a dead letter for twenty years.

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The Common Council had previously (7 Feb.) shown its compliance by acceding to a demand for a loan of 200,000.(1244) But although the security offered was undeniably good, and every effort was made to get the inhabitants of the city to subscribe, no more than 60,000 or 61,000 at the most was collected by the 14th March,(1245) and a month later scarcely 100,000 had been subscribed. The king made no attempt to disguise his annoyance, and ordered the mayor to call a Common Council and request them to take steps for the collection of the whole sum.(1246)

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According to Pepys, who got his information from a city alderman, the finances of the Corporation were at such a low ebb that considerable difficulty was experienced in raising so small a sum as 1,000 gold pieces and the price of a gold cup to be presented to Catharine of Braganza on her arrival in England "and that they were fain to call two or three aldermen to raise fines to make up the amount."(1247)

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Whilst the civic authorities were vainly struggling to raise the last loan for the king, the House of Commons came to his a.s.sistance and voted him a tax of two shillings upon every chimney.(1248) The inquisitorial nature of the tax made it very offensive. Returns were to be made of the number of hearths and stoves in each dwelling by the end of May. As they did not come in as quickly as was desired an extension of time was granted until Midsummer a.s.sizes.(1249) Even when sent in many of the returns were manifestly untrue. The returns made for the city of London and Bills of Mortality drew forth a remonstrance from Charles, who refused to attribute it to anything else but gross negligence or deceit.(1250) He was afraid lest the ill example set by London should influence the rest of the kingdom. He expressed himself as willing to bear the expense of finding two or three honest persons in each ward, if required, to join the constable in an "ocular view." But in spite of every precaution fraudulent returns continued to flow in, and the collection of the tax to be slow and precarious.(1251)

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The pa.s.sing of the Uniformity Act(1252) which condemned every minister to lose his benefice unless he signified his a.s.sent to everything contained in the book of common prayer by the 24th August (1662) caused great dissatisfaction in the city-always a stronghold of Presbyterianism-and many a sad scene was witnessed in city churches on Sunday the 17th as ministers took farewell of their congregations.(1253) Driven from the national Church, the Presbyterians, like the Baptists, the Quakers and other "dissenters" formed a separate community, happy if only they were granted toleration. Many of the inhabitants of the city were already suffering confinement for attending "unlawful a.s.semblies." On the occasion of the queen's first visit to Westminster the king gave directions to the mayor and sheriffs to release those Quakers and others who were in gaol in London and Middles.e.x for having been present at such a.s.semblies, provided they professed allegiance and had not been ringleaders or preachers, "hoping thereby to reduce them to a better conformity."(1254)

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When lord mayor's day came round Charles again viewed the pageant from a house in Cheapside. This time he was accompanied by the queen. The City supplied the royal party with refreshments as before.(1255) The new mayor, Sir John Robinson,(1256) had been a promoter of the king's restoration, and in return for his services received an augmentation of arms.(1257) He was a nephew of the late Archbishop Laud, and full of his own self-importance "a talking, bragging, buffle-headed fellow," Pepys calls him-boasting of his powers over his brother aldermen, but nevertheless attentive to the wants of the city.(1258)

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A few weeks latter (27 Nov.) the streets of the city again presented a gala appearance, the occasion being the reception of the Russian amba.s.sador. For the last three winters there had been, we are told, scarce any frost, and the opening of the year 1662 had been so exceptionally mild as to cause apprehension of dearth and disease.(1259) But now, on the very day that the Russian amba.s.sador was to pa.s.s through the city from Tower wharf, where he had landed, he was reminded of his own country by seeing the roofs of the houses covered with snow.(1260) At eight o'clock in the morning 500 men "apparelled in velvet coats with chains of gold, well mounted on horseback," from the several livery companies made their way to Tower Hill to escort the amba.s.sador.(1261) The streets were lined with the city trained bands and the king's Lifeguards. Pepys was there of course; he rarely missed any sight. He had been disappointed at not getting a better view of Sir Harry Vane's execution, which had taken place in June.(1262) This time he was more fortunate. The amba.s.sador to be sure was late, but Pepys beguiled the time with dinner. "And after I had dined"-he records in his diary(1263)-"I walked to the conduit in the quarrefowr, at the end of Gracious Street and Cornhill and there (the spouts thereof running very near me, upon all the people that were under it) I saw them pretty well, go by." He failed to catch sight of the amba.s.sador himself, but was struck with the handsome appearance of the amba.s.sador's attendants, most of whom carried hawks on their "fists" as a present to Charles. The strangeness of this sight caused the mob to jeer, upon which the diarist characteristically remarks, "but lord! to see the absurd nature of Englishmen that cannot forbear laughing and jeering at every thing that looks strange." Later on he makes a note of having seen the amba.s.sador's retinue at York House engaged in a manner that does not speak well for their habits of cleanliness.(1264)

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On the 2nd February, 1663, the _fiat_ went forth for the confirmation of the City's charter, "they having fulfilled the required condition of displacing four or five of the aldermen."(1265) The charter itself bears date the 24th June.(1266) It is of all the City's charters the most ample, reciting and confirming as it does the entire _Inspeximus_ Charter of Charles I, as well as the latter king's letters patent, granted in the 16th year of his reign, confirming to the mayor and citizens the offices of package and scavage.

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Notwithstanding the supplies voted to him by parliament, the advances made to him by the City, and the handsome dowry he received with his wife, Charles was continually in want of money. In November, 1662, he had sold Dunkirk to the French king for 200,000, much to the disgust of the English nation. Nevertheless, his extravagance soon reduced him to want, and by the following September (1663) he was in such straits that he sent to the City to borrow the comparatively small sum of 50,000. Seeing that the City had so recently received a confirmation of its charter, it could not refuse; and the money was raised among the aldermen as being a speedier way than applying to the Common Council.(1267)

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On the occasion of the king's return from a "great progress" in October, he was met by the mayor and aldermen and 500 members of the several livery companies, well and substantially horsed and apparelled in velvet coats and chains of gold according to custom.(1268)

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On the 29th October the new lord mayor, Sir Anthony Bateman, entered upon his mayoralty,(1269) with the customary procession and pageant, followed by a banquet at the Guildhall. The banquet was made the occasion of what appears on the face of it to have been a studied insult offered-not by the munic.i.p.al authorities, but by the lord chancellor, the bishops and lords of the council-to the French amba.s.sador. Whether the lord chancellor and other high officers of state arrived at the Guildhall before their time, or the French amba.s.sador came late, one cannot say. But, however that may have been, it appears that on the latter's arrival the others had already commenced dinner, with the exception of the mayor himself and the munic.i.p.al authorities, who had not yet taken their places. On the amba.s.sador approaching the table where the lords sat at dinner, intending, as he informed the French king by letter,(1270) to rally them on their good appet.i.te, he met with such a cold reception that he left the hall to go home and dine by himself, in spite of every endeavour on the part of the civic officials to smooth matters over. Two hours later the sheriffs presented themselves at the amba.s.sador's house, accompanied by a deputation from the Common Council, for the purpose of offering excuses for the recent _contretemps_. The excuses they had to offer were, however, of the lamest character, as the amba.s.sador took care to show. Firstly, they said they had been taken by surprise. This was manifestly false, as the amba.s.sador attended at the Guildhall upon invitation. They next pleaded ignorance and incapacity in receiving one of so high degree, when the amba.s.sador reminded them that they had recently done honour to the Spanish amba.s.sador; and lastly they endeavoured to throw the whole of the blame upon the master of the ceremonies. This excuse, however, like the others, was easily shown to be false, inasmuch as that official was personally engaged in escorting the amba.s.sador to the Guildhall and had nothing to do with the banquet. The deputation thereupon withdrew, being all the more discomforted by the excess of courtesy shown to them by the amba.s.sador, who himself insisted on escorting them to the door (_je leur dis que je voulois pa.s.ser plus avant, et payer un a.s.sez mauvais traitement par une civilite extraordinaire_).

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On the 11th November the lord mayor went in state to pay a visit to the amba.s.sador and to beg his forgiveness. Not being able to speak French himself, he took with him an interpreter, who explained to the amba.s.sador on his behalf that unless he (the amba.s.sador) would set the example of forgiveness eternal shame would rest upon the citizens and they would incur the displeasure of the king and nation. Thereupon the amba.s.sador showed himself satisfied and attended the lord mayor to his carriage with marked courtesy.(1271)

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In view of a war with the Dutch, which seemed inevitable, owing to their interference with English trade, Charles began taking steps to replenish his exhausted exchequer. In June and again in October (1664) he borrowed from the city sums of 100,000.(1272) In November the Commons voted him a sum of two millions and a half, a larger supply than any that had ever yet been granted to a king of England, and the thanks of both Houses were tendered to the city for its a.s.sistance.(1273) On the 22nd February, 1665, war was formally declared. Two heralds, in their coats of arms, with four mace-bearers, nine trumpeters and two troops of horse, a.s.sembled at Westminster, where the trumpet sounded and the declaration was read amid shouts of joy. "Thence they went to Temple Bar, where the lord mayor and aldermen, in scarlet gowns on horse-back, conducted them to Temple Gate over against Chancery Lane, where it was read with more acclamation than before, the Horseguards drawing their swords and clattering them; then again in Cheapside and before the Royal Exchange with great demonstration of joy and sounding of trumpets, after which many n.o.bles of the court came into the city to dine with the lord mayor."(1274) A day for a public fast was appointed to invoke the Almighty's blessing upon the ignominious war about to commence, and all commercial intercourse with the States was interdicted.(1275)

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At this juncture an unfortunate accident occurred which deprived the fleet of one of its most valuable ships-the ship known as "The London," in which Sir John Lawson was about to put to sea-and caused the death of nearly 300 seamen. "The London" was being brought round from Chatham to the Hope, where she was to take on board her commander, when for some unaccountable reason she blew up and became a total wreck, all her ordnance, numbering 80 bra.s.s pieces, going to the bottom. The news of the disaster caused much excitement in the city.(1276)

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