The cross in the City of London stood at the west end of Cheapside,
opposite Wood Street. The construction of this cross was entrusted
entirely to a distinguished architect Michael of Canterbury, who at the
same time was engaged in building the Chapel of St. Stephen’s at
Westminster. There is unfortunately no relic of the original design. In
the Guildhall Museum, however, are two broken stone panels, which formed
almost certainly a portion of the Eleanor Cross in Chepe. These panels
show the characteristic heraldic shields emblazoned with the arms of
England and of Leon and Castile. Portions of ornamental mouldings are
also preserved on these panels. It is possible that these may be relics
of the work of Michael of Canterbury, but it is more probable that they
are of later date. In the case of Chepe Cross, we may gain the best idea
of the amount of money spent on individual crosses. Michael of
Canterbury evidently agreed to erect the cross for £300, and the Queen’s
executry accounts give evidence of his receiving £226 13s. 4d.
By the year 1441, the cross “being by length of time decayed,” John
Hatherley, Mayor of London, procured licence of King Henry VI to “edifie
the same in more beautifull manner for the honor of the citie.” This
restoration probably followed the main lines of the original structure,
and was very slow in progress.
[Illustration:
FIG. 18.
The Cross at Waltham, from a photograph by the Author, 1908.
]
In the course of time the citizens of London seem to have lost interest
in the cross and its significance, and it is only necessary to refer to
the pages of John Stow, published in 1603, to sympathize with this
worthy’s indignation at the desecration which the cross had suffered
even in his time. It had been partly restored on several occasions
subsequent to the time of John Hatherley, including various re-gildings
and re-burnishings in honour of various important royal functions, but
in the year 1581 “diuers Juries” of the citizens having considered that
it stood in the “highway to the let of carriages,” so much prejudice was
aroused that on the night of 21st June a band of roughs destroyed the
lowest images round the cross. These, however, were images totally
different from those originally on the cross, and included one of the
Virgin Mary. In the year 1595, according to Stow, this image “was againe
fastened and repaired, and the yeare next following a new misshapen son
born out of time all naked was laid in her arms.”
Later the cross was further desecrated by the addition of an alabaster
image of Diana, which served the noble purpose of a water conduit for
the benefit of the citizens. Attempts were made by certain members of
Queen Elizabeth’s court to bring home to the Mayor and citizens the
desecration of the cross which had been permitted. But shortly after
Christmas, 1600, “the image of Our Lady was again defaced by plucking
off her crown and almost her head, taking from her her naked child and
stabbing her in the breast, &c.”[50]
Footnote 50:
Stow, John. “A Survey of London,” Edition of C. L. Kingsford, 1908.
The cross by this time could only have presented a remote resemblance to
the original work. The new statues which found a resting place on it had
no reference to its original purpose. During the religious and political
turmoils which followed, the crosses both at Chepe and Charing formed
the subject of numerous political lampoons, which are interesting as
giving some idea of the frenzy of destruction which possessed the
extreme political sects. It can hardly, therefore, have been considered
a matter of regret when the last scene of all was enacted.
The cross, mutilated and desecrated beyond recognition, was completely
destroyed on 2nd May, 1643. The Parliament deputed a certain Robert
Harlowe to do this work, who went with a troop of horse and two
companies of foot, and carried it out completely. “At the fall of the
top cross drums beat, trumpets blew, and multitudes of caps were thrown
into the air, and a great shout of people with joy”; so runs a
contemporary account.[51]
Footnote 51:
Walford. “Old and New London,” i, p. 334.
The history of the cross in Chepe is important as giving an indication
of the gradual process of decay which seriously damaged the crosses,
long before the desecrating hands of political fanatics mutilated and
finally destroyed the remaining fragments.