(M699)
The death of Edward VI took place on the 6th July, 1553, although it was
not generally known until two days afterwards. By his father's will the
Princess Mary became heiress to the throne. Northumberland was aware of
this. He was equally aware that if Mary succeeded to her brother's crown
matters might go hard with him. He therefore persuaded Edward to follow
the precedent set by his father and re-settle the succession to the crown
by will. He succeeded moreover in getting the late king to name as his
successor the Lady Jane Grey, grand-daughter of Mary Duchess of Suffolk,
the younger sister of Henry VIII, and he took the further precaution of
marrying her to his own son, Lord Guildford Dudley. It was in vain that
the judges and law officers of the Crown pointed out that the Act of
Parliament which authorised Henry to dispose of the crown by will, in the
case of his children dying without heirs, did not apply to Edward.
Councillors and judges, and even Cranmer himself, were forced to signify
their assent by subscribing to the will, which was dated (21 June) a
fortnight only before Edward's death.
Northumberland well knew the advantage to be got by securing the
co-operation of the city in prosecuting his scheme, so he persuaded the
mayor (Sir George Barnes), a number of aldermen (including Sir John
Gresham, Sir Andrew Judd, Thomas Offley and Sir Richard Dobbs), and
several of the leading merchants of the city to append their signatures to
the will.(1362) The king had been already dead two days before
Northumberland sent for them to Greenwich and acquainted them of the fact,
exhorting them at the same time to sign the document.(1363)
(M700)
On the 10th July the Lady Jane was brought from Richmond and lodged in the
Tower, and that same evening was proclaimed queen at the Cross in Chepe.
The mayor took no part in the ceremony, and only one of the sheriffs
(William Gerard or Garrard) attended the heralds. If Northumberland
thought that the citizens would favour Lady Jane merely because she was a
Protestant he was mistaken. The proclamation was received with undisguised
coldness, and "few or none said God save her."(1364) Nor was it better
received by the country at large. The eastern counties rose and in a few
days Mary was at the head of 30,000 men. No time was to be lost, and
Northumberland at once set out from London to meet her. As he passed
through the city he noticed that none wished him "God speed."
(M701)
No sooner was his back turned than the lords of the council, seeing how
matters were going, and eager to throw off the yoke which the duke had
placed on their necks, determined upon proclaiming Mary queen. It was
necessary, however, that the City should first be informed of their
intention, and that, too, without creating too much attention. One of
their number therefore took the opportunity of the mayor riding abroad on
Wednesday, the 19th July, to accost him privately and bid him and the
sheriffs, and such of the aldermen as he could get together at short
notice, to meet the lords of the council within an hour at the Earl of
Pembroke's place at Castle Baynard. The mayor hurried back, sent for the
Recorder and some of the aldermen, and with them proceeded to the place
appointed, where they found the council assembled. They were informed of
the intention of the lords, and the mayor was bidden to accompany them to
Cheapside for the purpose of proclaiming Queen Mary. Their object soon got
wind; a crowd followed them to Cheapside, and when the proclamation was
made there was such a throwing up of caps and such cries of "God save
Queen Mary" that nothing else could be heard. The civic authorities, as
well as the lords of the council, thereupon proceeded to St. Paul's to
hear a _Te Deum_; after which the lords withdrew from the city, leaving
orders, however, for Queen Mary to be proclaimed in other parts of the
city according to custom. The next day (20 July) they returned and dined
with the mayor, sitting in council, after dinner, until four o'clock in
the afternoon, whilst the church bells rang all day long.(1365)
(M702)
As soon as Northumberland heard of the turn affairs had taken, he caused
Mary to be proclaimed at Cambridge, where he happened to be quartered,
"castinge up his capp after as if he had bene joyfull of it." His
simulated enthusiasm, however, availed him nothing, and orders were issued
for his arrest. Special precautions were taken to avoid disturbance on the
day (25 July) that he passed through the city on his way to the Tower,
every householder in the several wards through which he and his fellow
prisoners were to pass being instructed to hold himself in readiness
within doors with a clean halberd, and a bill or "pollox" for such service
as the alderman might appoint.(1366) No disturbance took place, the
populace contenting itself with cursing the duke and calling him traitor,
and making him take off his hat as he passed through Bishopsgate and
continue his journey bareheaded.(1367)
(M703)
On the evening of the 3rd August Queen Mary made her first entry into the
city, accompanied by her sister Elizabeth. She had come from Newhall, in
Essex, where a few days before she had been presented with the sum of L500
in gold by a deputation of the Court of Aldermen accompanied by the
Recorder.(1368) On the 2nd August it was decided that the lord mayor and
his brethren should ride out the next afternoon to meet her majesty at the
Bars without Aldgate, and taking their places appointed by the
herald-of-arms, should accompany the royal procession.(1369) The reception
which the new queen met with in the city must have been gratifying. The
mayor, on approaching her, handed to her the civic sword, which was given
to the Earl of Arundel to carry before her. The mayor himself bore the
mace. By express permission of the Court of Aldermen a number of
Florentine and other merchant strangers were allowed to attend on
horseback, and to erect a pageant at Leadenhall.(1370) The whole length of
the streets through which the queen had to pass on her way to the Tower
had been lavishly decorated, and was lined with members of the various
civic companies in their livery gowns. Nothing was omitted that could
please the eye or ear.(1371)
A touching scene took place as Mary was about to enter the Tower. The
widow of the Duke of Somerset, to whose policy as protector Mary had
offered a steady opposition, met the queen at the Tower gate, and in
company with the Duke of Norfolk, Stephen Gardiner and others, who had
been confined in the Tower in the late reign, knelt down and saluted her.
Mary, in a charitable mood, kissed each of them, claimed them as her own
prisoners, and shortly afterwards granted them their liberty.(1372)
(M704)
A week later (10 Aug.) the remains of the late king were carried from
Whitehall to Westminster and laid in Henry the Seventh's Chapel, the
service being conducted wholly in English, the communion taking the place
of the mass, and the priests being vested in a surplice only, in
accordance with the provisions of the Book of Common Prayer. For a short
time after Mary's accession it was thought that she would be content if
the Church were restored to the position it was in at the time when Henry
VIII died. It was not long before the new queen shewed this opinion to be
erroneous. The Prayer Book of King Edward VI was set aside, the high
altars that had been removed were restored, and mass was restored. Ridley
was sent to the Tower and Bonner brought out from the Marshalsea and
reinstated in the bishophric of London. Gardiner, who had been deprived of
his see of Winchester and kept prisoner in the Tower, not only recovered
his freedom and his see, but was made the queen's chancellor. On the other
hand, Cranmer and "Mr. Latimer" were sent to the Tower.
(M705)
The change that was being wrought caused some little disturbance in the
city. When Doctor Bourne, who had been put up by the queen to preach at
Paul's Cross one Sunday in August, began to pray for the dead, and to
refer to Bonner's late imprisonment, one of his hearers threw a knife at
him whilst others called the preacher a liar. The queen was so angry at
this that she sent for the mayor and aldermen and told them plainly that
she would deprive the city of its liberties if they could not better
preserve peace and good order within its walls.(1373)
A few days later she issued a proclamation in which, whilst making no
secret of her wish that everyone would conform to the religion "which all
men knew she had of long tyme observed, and ment, God willing, to contynue
the same," she deprecated men calling each other heretic or papist, but
willed that everyone should follow the religion he thought best until
further orders were taken.(1374) The mayor in the meantime had also issued
his precept against any sermon or lecture being read other than the Divine
Service appointed until the queen's further pleasure should be made
known.(1375)
Lest any disturbance should arise on the following Sunday (20 Aug.), when
Bishop Gardiner's chaplain was to preach at Paul's Cross, the queen sent
the captain of the guard with 200 men, who surrounded the pulpit, halberd
in hand. The mayor, too, had ordered the livery companies to be present
"to herken yf any leude or sedicious persons made any rumors"--a precaution
which much pleased the queen.(1376)
(M706)
When Michaelmas-day (the day on which the election of the new mayor for
the ensuing year was to take place) came round, the choice of the citizens
fell upon Sir Thomas White.(1377) In accordance with the new order of
things, the election was preceded by the celebration of mass in the
Guildhall Chapel as of old.
(M707)
The day after the election of the new mayor the queen passed through the
city from the Tower to Whitehall for her coronation. The streets presented
their usual gay appearance on this occasion, and the queen was made the
recipient of the "accustomed" gift of 1,000 marks on behalf of the
city.(1378) On the day of the coronation (1 Oct.) the daily service at St.
Paul's had to be suspended because all the priests not under censure for
Protestantism or for having married were summoned to assist at
Westminster.(1379)
(M708)
When Mary appeared before her first parliament(1380) she found her
subjects in many points opposed to her. They were willing to restore the
worship and practice of the Church as they existed before the death of
Henry VIII, but they showed a determination neither to submit to Rome nor
to restore to the Church the property of which it had been deprived. They
knew, moreover, of her anxious wish to marry Philip, son of the emperor
Charles V, and yet did not hesitate to present to her a petition against a
foreign marriage. It was a bold step for parliament to take in those days,
and showed that it was determined to win back its ancient rights and no
longer to be the tool of the crown. Mary was not one likely to yield in a
matter on which she had once set her heart. Rather than take its advice
she dissolved parliament. The result was an insurrection.
(M709)
In the meanwhile the aged Cranmer and the youthful Lady Jane Grey--she
"that wolde a been qwene"--her husband and two of her husband's brothers
had been brought to trial at the Guildhall (13 Nov). The axe was borne
before them on their way from the Tower, as if in anticipation of the
verdict. The Lady Jane is described as clad in a black gown, with velvet
cap and black hood, having a black velvet book hanging at her girdle,
whilst she carried another in her hand.(1381) Each of the accused pleaded
guilty, and sentence of death was passed; its execution was, however,
delayed owing to the outbreak known as Wyatt's Rebellion.
(M710)
The ostensible cause of the rebellion was the queen's determination at all
hazards to marry Philip, whose ambassadors arrived at the opening of the
new year (1554). The civic authorities had been warned to treat them
handsomely, a warning which was scarcely necessary, for the citizens have
never allowed political differences to interfere with their hospitality;
and accordingly one of the ambassadors was lodged at Durham Place, near
Charing Cross, another at the Duke of Suffolk's house hard by, whilst a
third shared apartments with the chancellor "Nigro" (Philip Negri) in Sir
Richard Sackville's house at the conduit in Fleet Street. To each and all
of the guests the City sent presents of wax, torches, flour and every kind
of meat, game and poultry.(1382) Formal announcement of the intended match
was made by the chancellor on the 14th January, but it was received with
every sign of discontent and misgiving, "yea and therat allmost eche man
was abashed, loking daylie for worse mattiers to growe shortly
after."(1383) The following day (15 Jan.)--the day on which the rebellion
under Wyatt broke out in Kent, to be followed by risings in Devonshire and
Norfolk--the mayor and aldermen were summoned to court and ordered to bring
with them forty of the chief commoners of the city, when the lord
chancellor informed them of the queen's intention, and exhorted them as
obedient subjects to accept her grace's pleasure and to remain content and
quiet. He warned them, at the same time, to see that the queen's wishes
respecting religious services in the city were strictly carried out, on
pain of incurring her high indignation.(1384)
(M711)
Steps were taken for putting the city into a proper state of defence. The
civic companies were ordered to set watches as on similar critical
occasions, and no gunpowder, weapons or other munitions of war were
allowed to be sent out of the city. Chains were set up at the bridge-foot
and at the corner of New Fish Street. The borough of Southwark was called
upon to provide eighty tall and able men, well harnessed and weaponed, for
the safeguard of the queen's person and of the city,(1385) whilst the
livery companies at a few hours' notice furnished a force of 500 men to be
speedily despatched by water to Gravesend.(1386)
(M712)
Whatever faults Queen Mary had, she was by no means deficient in courage.
On the same day (1 Feb.) that Wyatt appeared with his forces at Southwark,
she came to the Guildhall(1387) and there addressed a spirited harangue to
the assembled citizens.(1388) She plainly told them that her proposed
marriage was but a Spanish cloak to cover the real purpose of the
rebellion, which was aimed against her religion. She was their queen, and
they had sworn allegiance to her; they surely would not allow her to fall
into the hands of so vile a traitor as Wyatt was. As for her marriage, it
had been arranged with the full knowledge of the lords of the council, as
one of expediency for the realm. Passion had no part in the matter. She
had hitherto, she thanked God, lived a virgin, and doubted not she could,
if necessary, live so still. At the close of her speech, which, we are
told, was delivered in a loud voice so that all might hear, she bade the
citizens to pluck up heart and not to fear the rebels any more than she
did. She then quitted the hall and went up into the aldermen's council
chamber and there refreshed herself, after which she rode through
Bucklersbury to the Vintry, where she took barge to Westminster.
In the meantime the Spanish ambassadors had taken fright at Wyatt's
approach and had "sped themselves awaie by water, and that with all
hast."(1389) Many inhabitants of the city had also deserted their fellow
burgesses at this critical time, and their names were submitted to the
Court of Aldermen for subsequent enquiry.(1390) They were, according to
Foxe, afraid of being entrapped by the queen and perhaps put to death.
(M713)
In response to the queen's speech the citizens at once set to work to
raise a force of 1,000 men for the defence of the city, the mayor and
aldermen each in his own ward taking a muster. So busy was everyone on
Candlemas-day (2 Feb.) that the civic authorities omitted to attend the
afternoon service at St. Paul's, and the mayor's serving-men waited upon
him at dinner ready harnessed.(1391) Even the lawyers at Westminster
"pleaded in harness."(1392)
(M714) (M715)
The defensive precautions taken by the mayor and aldermen were sufficient
to prevent Wyatt making good his entry into the city by Southwark and
London Bridge. Foiled in this direction he sought to approach the city
from another side, but had to march as far as Kingston before he could
cross the Thames. Many of his followers in the meantime deserted
him.(1393) Nevertheless he continued to make his way, with but little
opposition, to Ludgate, which, contrary to his expectation, he found shut
in his face. He had been recognised by a tailor of Watling Street, who
seeing the force approaching cried, "I know that theys be Wyettes
ancienttes," and forthwith closed the gate.(1394) That Wyatt had
supporters in the city may be gathered from the half-hearted opposition
that he met with in Southwark, as well as from the fact that many of the
soldiers raised in the city and neighbourhood deserted to Wyatt at the
outset of the rebellion.(1395) Wyatt himself exhibited no little
disappointment at finding Ludgate closed against him instead of the aid
which he evidently had expected. "I have kept touch" said he, as he turned
his back on the city.(1396) He had scarcely reached Temple Bar before he
was overcome by a superior force and yielded himself a prisoner. After a
short stay at Whitehall he was removed to the Tower.
(M716)
The failure of the revolt was fatal to Lady Jane Grey, and she was
beheaded within the Tower (12 Feb.) almost at the same time that her
husband was being executed outside on Tower Hill. By the strange irony of
fortune, it fell to the lot of Thomas Offley to perform the duties of
sheriff at Dudley's execution, although he had himself been one of the
supporters of the Lady Jane in her claim to the crown. For the next few
days the city presented a sad spectacle; whichever way one turned there
was to be seen a gibbet with its wretched burden, whilst the city's gates
bristled with human heads.(1397) Wyatt himself was one of the last to
suffer, being brought to the block on Tower Hill on the 11th April. His
head and a portion of his body, after being exposed on gallows, were taken
away by his friends for decent burial.(1398)
(M717)
On the 17th February proclamation was made for all strangers to leave the
realm, on the ground that they sowed the seeds of their "malycyouse
doctryne and lewde conversacioun" among the queen's good subjects;(1399)
and this had been followed in the city by precepts to each alderman to
call before him all the householders of his ward, both rich and poor, on
Wednesday the 7th March, at six o'clock in the morning, and strictly
charge them that they, their wives, their children and servants behave
themselves in all things and more especially in matters of religion,
following the example of the queen herself. All offenders were to be
reported forthwith.(1400)
(M718)
A report having got abroad in the city that the lords of the council had
endeavoured to extract a confession from Wyatt implicating the Princess
Elizabeth in the late rebellion, the mayor was ordered by Bishop Gardiner
to bring up the originator of the rumour before the Star Chamber. When Sir
Thomas White appeared with the culprit, one Richard Cut by name, a servant
to a grocer in the city, he was soundly rated by Gardiner for not having
himself punished the offender, and when he replied that the party was
there present for the Star Chamber to deal with according to its pleasure,
was again rebuked:--"My lord, take heed to your charge, the Citie of London
is a whirlepoole and a sinke of evill rumors, there they be bred, and from
thence spred into all parts of the realme."(1401) Cut paid the penalty for
his love of gossip by being made to stand two days in the pillory and by
the loss of his ears.(1402)
(M719)
The suppression of the revolt left Mary at liberty to carry out her
matrimonial design. But before accomplishing this she was determined to
place such a garrison in or near London as should prevent similar
outbreaks in future. For this purpose she applied to the citizens for a
sum of 6,000 marks. Thus called upon to supply a rod for their own backs,
the citizens demurred. They at first proposed to offer the sum of 1,000
marks, or at the most L1,000; they afterwards agreed to contribute double
the first mentioned sum,(1403) and this was accepted. The money was raised
by contributions from the different livery companies, the Merchant
Taylors, the Mercers, the Grocers, the Drapers, the Fishmongers, the
Goldsmiths, and the Haberdashers being called upon to subscribe the sum of
L100 respectively, whilst the rest of the companies paid sums varying from
L80 to forty shillings.(1404) No sooner had the citizens satisfied the
queen in this respect than they were called upon to send 200 soldiers to
Gillingham, in Kent, there to be embarked for foreign service under the
Lord Admiral. The City again demurred, and asked to be excused the
necessity of forwarding the men beyond Billingsgate or the Tower Wharf and
also of providing them with accoutrements. It was to no purpose, both men
and accoutrements had to be found.(1405) On the 10th April the chamberlain
received orders to see that the city's artillery was in readiness and to
increase the store of gunpowder.(1406) Wyatt was to be executed the next
day, and these orders were probably given in anticipation of a
disturbance.
(M720)
That Wyatt still had friends in the city is shown by the bold attitude
taken up by the jury in the trial (17 April) of one of his accomplices,
Nicholas Throckmorton, against whom they brought in a verdict of not
guilty.(1407) For this they were bound over to appear before the Star
Chamber. Four of the twelve made submission; the rest, among whom were
Thomas Whetstone, a haberdasher, and Emanuel Lucar, a merchant tailor,
were committed some to the Tower and the rest to the Fleet, where they
remained for six months. In the meantime the Court of Aldermen wrote (19
July) to the council in their favour, but with little success.(1408) A
month later (19 August) a deputation waited on the Court of Aldermen for
advice as to what future steps had best be taken for obtaining the release
of their brethren in the Fleet, when they were told that the wives of the
prisoners or the prisoners' friends should first make suit to the council
for their release, after which the court would see what they could
do.(1409) At length the prisoners were summoned once more (26 Oct.) before
the Star Chamber, when they one and all declared that they had only acted
in accordance with their conscience, whilst Lucar, more outspoken than the
rest, asserted that "they had done in the matter like honest men and true
and faithful subjects." Such plain speaking ill suited the judges, who
thereupon condemned the offenders to a fine of 1,000 marks apiece and
imprisonment until further order. Eventually five out of the eight were
discharged (12 December) on payment of a fine of L220, and ten days later
the rest regained their liberty on payment of L60 apiece.(1410)
(M721)
A parliament which met in April (1554)(1411) gave its consent to Mary's
marriage with Philip, but refused to re-enact the old statutes for the
persecution of heretics. On the 19th July Philip landed at Southampton,
and on the 21st Mary herself notified the event to the citizens of
London,(1412) who for some time past had been making preparations for
giving both queen and king a fitting reception, and who immediately on
receipt of the news of Philip's landing caused bonfires to be lighted in
the streets.(1413)
(M722)
Mary rode down to Winchester to meet Philip,(1414) and on the 25th became
his wife. It was not until the 17th August that the royal pair approached
the city. On that day they came by water from Richmond to Southwark, the
king in one barge, the queen in another. After taking refreshment at the
Bishop of Winchester's palace, and killing a buck or two in the bishop's
park, they retired to rest.(1415) Special orders were given to the
aldermen to keep a good and substantial double watch in the city from nine
o'clock in the evening (17 Aug.) until five o'clock the next morning, such
watch to continue until further notice.(1416) The authorities differ
widely as to the precise day on which the royal party passed through the
city. The city's own records point to the afternoon of Sunday the 19th
August as the day. On the morning of that day the Court of Aldermen sat,
and a letter from the queen commending them for their forwardness in
"making shewes of honour and gladnes" for the occasion was read to the
wardens of all the companies for them to communicate to the members. The
wardens were further enjoined to give strict orders to the members of
their several companies to honestly use and entreat the Spaniards in all
things, both at their coming in with the king and queen and ever
afterwards. The same morning a speech which the Recorder had prepared for
the occasion in English was handed over to the master of St. Paul's School
to be turned into Latin. None too much time was allowed the worthy
pedagogue for the purpose, for he was to give it back that same afternoon
so that the Recorder might "make and pronounce yt to the kinges majesty at
his comynge in."(1417)
A curious incident is related in connection with the royal procession
through the city. The conduit in Gracious Church Street, which had been
newly painted and gilded, bore representations of the "nine worthies," and
among them Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth. Instead of carrying a
sword or mace like the rest, Henry had been portrayed with a sceptre in
one hand and a book bearing the inscription _Verbum Dei_ in the other.
This catching the eye of Bishop Gardiner as he passed in the royal train,
he was very wroth and sent for the painter, asked him by whose orders he
had so depicted the king, called him "traitor" and threatened him with the
Fleet prison. The poor painter, who for the first time had been made to
realise the change that was taking place, pleaded that what he had done
had been done in all innocence, and hastened to rectify his mistake by
removing the bible from the picture and substituting in its place a pair
of gloves.(1418)
(M723)
In November (1554) a new parliament(1419) was called, which proved more
ready than the last to comply with the queen's wishes. It re-enacted the
statutes for burning heretics and agreed to a reconciliation of the Church
of England with the See of Rome, but it refused to sanction the surrender
of Church lands. Bonner had already taken steps to purge his diocese of
heresy by issuing a series of articles (14 Sept.) to which every
inhabitant, clerical and lay, was expected to conform.(1420) That there
was room for improvement in matters touching religion and public decorum
there is no doubt, otherwise there would have been no need of
proclamations such as those against the arrest of persons whilst
conducting service in church,(1421) against wrangling over passages of
scripture in common taverns and victualling houses,(1422) or against
carrying of baskets of provisions and leading mules, horses or other
beasts through St. Paul's.(1423)
The mayor and aldermen endeavoured to set a good example by constant
attendance at the services and by joining in processions at St. Paul's as
in former days.(1424) The law forbidding the eating of meat in Lent,
except by special licence, was vigorously enforced.(1425) Ale-houses and
taverns were closed on Sundays and holy days, and interludes were
forbidden.(1426)
(M724)
Nevertheless the attempt to restore the old worship within the city was
often met with scornful mockery, sometimes attended with violence. A dead
cat, for instance, was one day found hanging in Cheapside, its head shorn
in imitation of a priest's tonsure, and its body clothed in a mock
ecclesiastical vestment, with cross before and behind, whilst a piece of
white paper to represent a singing-cake was placed between its forefeet,
which had been tied together. Bonner was very angry at this travesty of
religion, and caused the effigy to be publicly displayed at Paul's Cross
during sermon time. A reward of twenty marks was offered for the discovery
of this atrocious act, but with what success we do not know.(1427)
On another occasion, when the Holy Sacrament was being carried in solemn
procession through Smithfield on Corpus Christi-day (24 May), an attempt
was made to knock the holy elements out of the hands of the priest. The
offender was taken to Newgate, where he feigned to be mad.(1428) Again, on
the following Easter-day a priest was fiercely attacked by a man with a
wood-knife whilst administering the sacrament in the church of St.
Margaret, Westminster. The culprit was seized, and after trial and
conviction paid the penalty of his crime by being burned at the
stake.(1429) A pudding was once offered to a priest whilst walking in a
religious procession,(1430) the offender being afterwards whipt at the
"Post of Reformation," which had been set up in Cheapside in 1553.(1431)
But all this defiance shown to Mary's attempt to restore the old worship
only led her to exercise more drastic methods for accomplishing her
purpose.
(M725)
By the opening of 1555 her own strong personal will had overcome the
conciliatory policy of her husband, who was content to restrain his
fanaticism within the limits of expediency, and the Marian persecution
commenced. On the 25th January a proclamation was issued in the name of
the king and queen, and bearing the signature of William Blackwell, the
town clerk of the city, enjoining the lighting of bonfires that afternoon
in various places in token of great joy and gladness for the abolition of
sundry great sins, errors and heresies which lately had arisen within the
realm of England, and for the quiet renovation and restitution of the true
Catholic faith of Christ and his holy religion.(1432) This proclamation
was but a prelude to other fires lighted for a very different purpose,
which the mind even at this day cannot contemplate without a shudder. The
first victim of the flames for conscience sake was John Rogers, once vicar
of St. Sepulchre's church and prebendary of St. Paul's. He was burnt in
Smithfield "for gret herysy" in February of this year, in which month
Hooper, who had been deprived of his bishopric of Gloucester, suffered the
same fate in his own cathedral city.(1433) In the following May another
city vicar, John Cardmaker, otherwise known as John Taylor of St. Bride's,
who had been a reader at St. Paul's and had publicly lectured against the
real presence, was burnt in Smithfield with John Warne, an "upholder" of
Walbrook.(1434)
Few weeks passed without the fire claiming some human victim either in
London or the provinces. On the 9th February Thomas Tomkins, a godly and
charitable weaver of Shoreditch, and William Hunter, a young London
apprentice, were with four others condemned to the stake. The two named
met their fate in Smithfield, one on the 16th March and the other on the
26th. The rest were removed into Essex and there consigned to the flames,
three of them in March and one in the following June.(1435)
In October Bishops Latimer and Ridley were burnt at Oxford. "Be of good
comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man"--cried Latimer encouragingly to
his fellow sufferer--"we shall this day light such a candle, by God's
grace, in England as I trust shall never be put out." In March of the
following year (1556) Cranmer, after some display of weakness, suffered
the same fate, on the same spot, and with no less fortitude. And thus for
two years more the fires were kept alive in London and in the country; the
Lollard's tower at St. Paul's serving as a prison for heretics,(1436) and
proving more often than not but a step to Smithfield.
(M726)
Throughout Mary's reign the strife between the citizens and merchant
strangers was renewed. She had herself added to the evil by her marriage
with Philip, causing the city to be flooded with Spaniards, who took up
their abode in the halls of the civic companies.(1437) A rumour got abroad
early in September, 1554, that 12,000 Spaniards were coming over "to fethe
the crown,"(1438) and this accounts for precepts being sent to the several
aldermen of the city on the 27th September enjoining them to make a return
of the number of foreigners that had come to reside in their ward during
the past nine or ten days, and whence they came.(1439) The favour shown by
the Crown to the merchants of the Steelyard was especially annoying to the
freemen of the city.(1440) It was to little purpose that the mayor and
aldermen issued orders from time to time against giving work to foreigners
and prohibiting all such from opening shops within the city.(1441) The
struggle between citizen and stranger still went on. In 1557 the
corporation made an effort to induce the king and queen to revoke the
favours shown to the merchants of the Steelyard in prejudice of the
liberties of the city,(1442) and eventually the privileges were revoked on
the ground that the merchants of the Hanse had not kept faith with the
Crown.(1443) In the same year the exclusiveness entertained by the
citizens towards foreigners made itself felt more particularly against
that class of foreigner which kept open school in the city for teaching
writing. Certain scriveners, freemen of the city, made a complaint before
the Court of Aldermen against foreigners keeping writing-school within the
city and its liberties.(1444) The chamberlain's conduct of shutting in the
shop windows of foreigners teaching children to write was approved by the
mayor and aldermen,(1445) whilst freemen were allowed to keep open school
provided they entered into a bond not to engross deeds.(1446) Occasionally
foreigners were successful in obtaining licences from the civic
authorities for teaching writing, but it was only on condition they kept
their lower windows closed.(1447)
(M727) (M728) (M729)
In the meantime the disposition of the queen towards heretics became more
relentless in proportion as her temper became more soured from ill-health,
by disappointment in not having off-spring, and by the increasing neglect
of her by her husband. Tired of her importunate love and jealousy, Philip
took the first opportunity of quitting her side and crossed over to the
continent (4 Sept., 1555) on a visit to the Emperor Charles. The
abdication of the latter towards the close of 1556 made Philip master of
the richest and most extensive dominions in Europe, and his greatest wish
at the time was to engage England in the war which was kindled between
Spain and France. In this he received the support of Mary, who had in
August (1556) succeeded in obtaining a loan from the city of L6,000.(1448)
The seizure of the castle of Scarborough by Thomas Stafford,(1449) second
son of Lord Stafford, in which he was reported to have received
encouragement from the King of France, was made a _casus belli_, and Henry
was proclaimed an open enemy (7 June, 1557).(1450) French subjects were
allowed forty days to quit the country, and letters of marque were issued
by proclamation on the 9th June.(1451) On the 5th July Philip once more
left England for Flanders,(1452) having succeeded in the object for which
he had come, viz., the declaration of war against France.
(M730)
The citizens of London at once began to take stock of their munitions of
war. On the 22nd June the Chamberlain was instructed to prepare with all
convenient speed four dozen good _splentes_ and as many good _sallettes_
or _sculles_ for the city's use, and to cause a bowyer to "peruse" the
city's bows and to put them in such good order that they might be
serviceable when required.(1453) In the following month a large force
crossed over to France under the leadership of Lords Pembroke, Montagu and
Clinton. To this force the City of London contributed a contingent of 500
men, the best (according to Machyn(1454)) that had ever been sent. They
mustered at the Leadenhall on the 16th July in the presence of Sir Thomas
Offley,(1455) the mayor, the sheriffs and Sir Richard Lee, and were
conveyed thence by water to Gravesend and Rochester under the charge of
ten officers, whose names are duly recorded.(1456)
(M731)
On the last day of July the queen informed the civic authorities by letter
of the departure of her "deerest lord and husband" to pursue the enemy in
France, and desired them to get in readiness 1,000 men, a portion of whom
were to be horsemen, well horsed and armed, and the rest to be archers,
pikes and billmen. The force was to be ready by the 16th August at the
latest, after which date it was to be prepared to set out at a day's
notice. The letter contained a schedule of names of individuals to whom
the queen had made special application, and these were not to be called
upon by the municipal officers to make any contribution, neither were the
tenants of those noblemen and gentlemen already on active service in
France.(1457)
(M732)
The Court of Aldermen was taken aback at such a demand coming so soon
after the setting out of the previous force, and on the 4th August it
instructed the Recorder and one of the sheriffs to repair to the queen's
council "for the good and suer understandyng of her majesty's pleasure" in
the matter. The deputation was further instructed to remind the lords of
the council not only of the ancient liberties and franchises of the city
on the point, but also of the city's lack of power to furnish a number of
men exceeding any it had ever been called upon to furnish before.(1458) It
was all to no purpose; the men had to be provided; and the matter having
been fully explained to the wardens of the several livery companies, they
succeeded in raising the force required.(1459)
(M733)
The defeat of the French king at St. Quentin was celebrated in the city by
a solemn procession to St. Paul's, in which figured the mayor and aldermen
in their scarlet gowns.(1460) The joy of the citizens was shortlived.
Philip's caution did not allow him to avail himself of the opportunity
thus offered him of marching on the French capital, and before the end of
the year matters had taken a different turn.
(M734) (M735)
In December a Spaniard named Ferdinando Lygons was commissioned to raise
300 mounted archers in the city of London and county of Middlesex.(1461)
At the opening of the new year (2 Jan., 1558) the queen wrote to the
corporation desiring to be at once furnished with 500 men out of the 1,000
men the city had been ordered to keep in readiness since July. As the
matter was urgent they were not to wait to supply the men with
coats.(1462) The force was required for the defence of Calais, which was
now in a critical position. On the 9th January another letter was sent by
Mary marked, _Hast, Hast Post, Hast, For lief, For lief, For lief, For
lief!_ demanding the full contingent of 1,000 men.(1463) Calais had fallen
two days before,(1464) and Mary was determined not to rest until the town
had been recovered. Diligent search was at once instituted throughout the
city for all persons, strangers as well as freemen, capable of wearing
harness;(1465) and the livery companies and fellowships were called upon
to provide double the number of men they had furnished in July last.(1466)
On the 13th the queen wrote to say that a violent storm, which had
occurred on the night of the 10th January, had so crippled the fleet that
her forces could not be conveyed across the channel; the civic authorities
were therefore to withhold sending their force to the sea-coast until
further orders, but to keep the same in readiness to start at an hour's
notice.(1467) On the 19th January the citizens were informed by letter
that Philip's forces were on their way to Flanders, under the Duke of
Savoy, and that the channel was being kept open by a fleet under Don Luis
Carvaial. One half of the force of 1,000 men, furnished with armour and
weapons and coats of white welted with green and red crosses, was to be
despatched to Dover by the end of the month, thence to sail for Dunkirk
for service under the Earl of Rutland. The City was to take especial care
that the contingent should be chosen from the handsomest and best picked
men, and superior to those last sent.(1468) The force mustered at the
Leadenhall, the 24th January, for inspection by the mayor, and at five
o'clock in the evening were delivered over to the captains for
shipment.(1469) Three days later the lords of the council instructed the
mayor to make a return of the number of foreigners residing still within
the city, and to make proclamation on the next market day that it should
be lawful thenceforth for anyone to seize the persons of Frenchmen who had
not avoided the city pursuant to a previous order, and to confiscate their
goods and chattels to his own proper use.(1470)
(M736)
Mary succeeded in March in raising a loan in the city of L20,000 (she had
asked for 100,000 marks or L75,000(1471)) on the security of the crown
lands. The loan bore interest at the rate of twelve per cent., and a
special dispensation was granted to avoid the penalties of the Usury
Act.(1472) The money was raised by assessment on the livery companies. On
the 16th March the Court of Aldermen summoned the wardens of the twelve
principal companies to attend at the Guildhall at eight o'clock the next
morning, in order that they might learn how much the lords of the council
had "*tottyd*" against each of them towards the loan. The smaller
companies were to attend in the afternoon of the same day in order to be
informed of the sums the Court of Aldermen deemed fit that each should
contribute to assist their wealthier brethren. The total amount subscribed
by the greater companies was L16,983 _6s._ 8_d._, of which the Mercers
contributed L3,275. The lesser companies subscribed L1,310, in sums
varying from L30 to L500.(1473)
(M737)
It is probable that Mary wanted this loan to enable her to prosecute the
war. The country was not disposed, however, to assist her in this
direction. The people were afraid of rendering Philip too powerful.
Disappointed both in her public and domestic life, she fell a victim to
dropsy and died on the 17th November--"wondering why all that she had done,
as she believed on God's behalf, had been followed by failure on every
side--by the desertion of her husband, and the hatred of her subjects." The
loss of Calais so much affected her that she declared that the name of the
town would be found impressed upon her heart after death. On the occasion
of her funeral the City put in its customary claim for black livery cloth,
but more than one application had to be made before the cloth was
forthcoming.(1474)