the most capable of trade, and by the not [un]usual residence of the
Court, and the fixed station of the courts of justice for the public
administration of justice throughout the kingdom, the chief seat of
trade, was by the successive countenance and favour of princes
strengthened with great charters and immunities, and was a
corporation governed within itself; the mayor, recorder, aldermen,
sheriffs, chosen by themselves; several companies incorporated
within the great incorporation; which, besides notable privileges,
enjoyed lands and perquisites to a very great revenue. By the
incredible increase of trade, (which the distractions of other
countries, and the peace of this, brought,) and by the great license
of resort thither, it was, since the access of the crown to this
King, in riches, in people, in buildings, marvellously increased,
insomuch as the suburbs were almost equal to the city; a reformation
of which had been often in contemplation, never pursued, wise men
foreseeing that such a fulness could not be there without an
emptiness in other places, and whilst so many persons of honour and
estates were so delighted with the city, the government of the
country must be neglected, besides the excess and ill husbandry that
would be introduced thereby. But such foresight was interpreted a
morosity, and too great an oppression upon the common liberty; and
so, little was applied to prevent so growing a disease.
As it had these, and many other, advantages and helps to be rich, so
it was looked upon too much of late time as a common stock not easy
to be exhausted, and as a body not to be grieved by ordinary acts of
injustice; and therefore it was not only a resort in all cases of
necessity for the sudden borrowing great sums of money, (in which
they were commonly too good merchants for the Crown,) but it was
thought reasonable upon any specious pretences to avoid the security
that was at any time given for money so borrowed.
So, after many questions of their charter, (which were ever removed
by considerable sums of money,) a grant made by the King in the
beginning of his reign, in consideration of great sums of money, of
good quantities of land in Ireland, and the city of Londonderry
there, was avoided by a suit in the Star-Chamber, all the lands
(after a vast expense in building and planting,) resumed into the
King's hands, and a fine of £50,000 imposed upon the city. Which
sentence being pronounced after a long and public hearing, during
which time they were often invited to a composition, both in respect
of the substance and the circumstances of proceeding, made a general
impression in the minds of the citizens of all conditions much to
the disadvantage of the Court; and though the King afterwards
remitted to them the benefit of that sentence, they imputed that to
the power of the Parliament, and rather remembered how it had been
taken from them than by whom it was restored: so that at the
beginning of the Parliament the city was as ill affected to the
Court as the country was, and therefore chose such burgesses to sit
there as had either eminently opposed it or accidentally been
oppressed by it.
A PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE CITY (1643).
On the outbreak of civil war it soon became clear that many of the
trading centres of the country, including London, would take up arms
against the King. The commercial interests of the country had been so
persistently assailed, royal interference in matters of trade had been
so marked, that this situation was not at all surprising. It is hardly
necessary to point out that the King, in the preamble to this
proclamation, shows either insincerity or ignorance. The citizens of
London and of the other towns had no particularly strong object in their
resistance beyond obtaining reasonable security for their interests, and
the attempt to isolate London from intercourse with the rest of the
country was as ill-advised as it was futile.
=Source.=—Rushworth's _Collections_, part iii., vol. ii., p. 365.
His Majesty having, with unwearied patience, hitherto expected that
the City of London, and the Citizens and inhabitants thereof, should
at last return to their obedience; having used all the endeavours he
could to reduce them thereunto; but finding that, by the malice of
their misleaders, they are so obdurate, that the very name of peace
and reconciliation is with them accounted a crime, and that that
City is both the seat of rebellion, and the pattern to all
ill-affected subjects of the kingdom, by whose example and
assistance some other cities and towns do also stand out against his
Majesty in open rebellion, not only to the disturbance, but even to
the destruction of the whole kingdom, if God in his mercy do not
entirely timely it; his Majesty therefore, by his Royal
Proclamation, dated at Oxford the seventh day of July now last past,
for the many reasons in that proclamation mentioned, did prohibit
all persons, with any of their goods, victuals, or merchandize
whatsoever, to travel to or from the City of London, or suburbs
thereof, without his Majesty's express licence for the same, under
his Sign Manual, under the pains and penalties in the said
Proclamation mentioned.
And his Majesty now perceiving, that, notwithstanding that
Proclamation, that rebellious City, by continuing their trade, as
well at home, as also from foreign parts, do hereby drain their
monies from all other parts of the kingdom, and traitorously dispose
of the same to the maintenance of this unnatural War against their
Sovereign and fellow-subjects; and that many of the Freemen and
Citizens of that City, and some of the Aldermen and Trained-bands of
the City, in their own persons, have lately gone from the said City
to assail his Majesty, and to fight with him, and were in the late
Battle near Newbury; and that many of the said City are
involuntarily compelled to take up Arms, and to expose their lives
to the slaughter, for the maintenance of the malice of a few; and
the fuel for all this unnatural fire is taken from the City, who
spare neither their own persons, estates or fortunes, nor the
persons or estates of the inhabitants of the neighbouring counties,
but either persuade or compel them to contribute to this horrid and
barbarous war:
Now his Majesty, being moved with a just indignation against that
City, and some few other Cities and Towns, who in like manner do
obstinately stand out in rebellion, doth hereby prohibit all
persons, and straitly charge and command them, upon the severest
penalties and punishments, which by the law can be inflicted upon
them as Traitors, aiders, and assisters unto traitors, that from and
after the time of publishing this proclamation, they, or any of
them, do not presume, without the King's special Warrant under his
Sign Manual, either by land or water, to drive, carry, or convey any
manner of victuals, alive or dead, or any sort of provision for man
or horse, or any goods or merchandize of any kind whatsoever,
directly or indirectly, or wilfully suffer the same to be carried or
conveyed unto or from the City of London, or City of Westminster, or
suburbs thereof; or to or from the Cities of Gloucester and
Coventry; or to or from the Towns of Kingston upon Hull, Warwick,
Northampton, Portsmouth, Southampton, Poole and Lyme-Regis, or any
of them; or to or from any Cities or Towns within this Kingdom,
being in rebellion against his Majesty; until they and every of them
respectively shall return to their obedience; nor do presume to
trade, or traffick, or buy or sell with the Citizens or Townsmen of
or in the said Cities or Towns, or any of them, or any other Persons
inhabiting or residing in any of the said Cities or Towns, until the
said Cities and Towns respectively shall conform themselves to their
loyalty and due obedience.
CROMWELL IN LONDON (1653).
Throughout the Civil War the influence of the citizens had been very
great. They had contributed money and troops for use against the royal
forces, and both sides frequently appealed to them for support; but the
Corporation continued true to the Parliamentary interest until matters
were complicated by the rise to power of the independent party and
Cromwell. As soon as it became plain that the army was the supreme head
of authority, the City was by no means enthusiastic in its favour; the
citizens had not calculated on this result of the conflict, and Cromwell
never had their confidence. They appeared to acquiesce in his
government, but he never secured their hearty support. Several of the
aldermen refused to proclaim a Commonwealth, and considerable difficulty
was experienced by the Protector in enforcing his legislative measures
in the City; nevertheless, the citizens never openly opposed him, and
even received him with outward manifestations of honour.
=Source.=—Clarendon's _History_, xiv. 25.
Proclamation was made by a herald, in the Palace-yard at
Westminster, That the late Parliament having dissolved themselves
and resigned their whole power and authority, the government of the
commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by a Lord Protector,
and successive triennial Parliaments, was now established: and
whereas Oliver Cromwell, captain general of all the forces of the
commonwealth, is declared Lord Protector of the said nations, and
had accepted thereof, publication was now made of the same; and all
persons, of what quality and condition soever in any of the said
three nations, were strictly charged and commanded to take notice
thereof, and to conform and submit themselves to the government so
established; and all sheriffs, mayors, &c. were required to publish
this proclamation to the end that none might have cause to pretend
ignorance therein. Which proclamation was at the same time published
in Cheapside by the Lord Mayor of London, and with all possible
expedition by the sheriffs and other officers throughout England,
Scotland, and Ireland. And in few days after the city of London
invited their new Protector to a very splendid entertainment at
Grocers' Hall, the streets being railed, and the solemnity of his
reception such as had been at any time performed to the King; and
he, as like a King, graciously conferred the honour of knighthood
upon the Lord Mayor at his departure.
LONDON AND THE RESTORATION (1660).
It is not difficult to believe that the City was glad to be freed from
the unconstitutional and distasteful Protectorate, but the universal joy
with which it accepted General Monk's application for assistance in
restoring Charles II. was most remarkable, and the pomp and pageantry of
the King's welcome to London, as detailed below, were clearly a sincere
indication of the general feeling of relief and satisfaction. It was
surely not surprising that Charles, on witnessing this outburst of
loyalty, wondered where his enemies were concealed, and why he had
delayed so long in repairing to his friends.
=Sources.=—(_a_) Clarendon's _History_, xvi. 240, 246;
(_b_) _The Public Mercury_, May, 1660.
(_a_) The city of London had too great a hand in driving the King
from thence not to appear equally zealous for his return thither.
And therefore they did at the same time send fourteen of their most
substantial citizens to assure his Majesty of their fidelity and
most cheerful submission, and that they placed all their felicity
and hope of future prosperity in the assurance of his Majesty's
grace and protection, for the meriting whereof their lives and
fortunes should be always at his Majesty's disposal; and they
presented to him from the city the sum of ten thousand pounds. The
King told them he had always had a particular affection for the city
of London, the place of his birth, and was very glad that they had
now so good a part in his restoration, of which he was informed, and
how much he was beholding to every one of them; for which he thanked
them very graciously, and knighted them all; an honour no man in the
city had received in near twenty years, and with which they were
much delighted....
On Monday he went to Rochester, and the next day, being the 29th of
May and his birthday, he entered London, all the ways from Dover
thither being so full of people and exclamations as if the whole
kingdom had been gathered. About or above Greenwich the Lord Mayor
and aldermen met him, with all those protestations of joy which can
hardly be imagined; and the concourse so great that the King rode in
a crowd from the bridge to Temple Bar. All the companies of the city
stood in order on both sides, giving loud thanks for his Majesty's
presence. And he no sooner came to Whitehall but the two Houses of
Parliament solemnly cast themselves at his feet, with all the vows
of affection and fidelity to the world's end. In a word, the joy was
so unexpressible and so universal, that his Majesty said smilingly
to some about him, that he doubted it had been his own fault that he
had been absent so long, for he saw nobody that did not protest he
had ever wished for his return.
(_b_) At Blackheath the army was drawn up, where his Majesty viewed
them, giving out many expressions of his gracious favour to the
army, which were received by loud shoutings and rejoicings; several
bonfires were made as his Majesty came along, and one more
remarkable than the rest for its bigness, where the States arms were
burned.
Thence the army being placed according to his Excellencies order,
his Majesty marched towards London: and now because God himself,
when he would set a mark of observance upon his own magnalia, hath
taken notice of the circumstance of time, it is very considerable
here that it was his Majesties birth-day. He was heir-apparent when
first born, but had _jus in re_ now when entering the metropolis of
his kingdom, he took possession. All lets and hinderances, which
have interven'd since his Majesties just right, are now so many
arguments of his future fix'd and peaceable enjoyment. This the
ancients intimate, when they tell us, Jupiter himself was not quiet
in heaven till after a long war with the giants; may that God, by
whom kings reign, long preserve him and the nation, a mutual
blessing to each other!
When his Majesty came to St. George's field, the Lord Mayor and the
Aldermen were in a tent ready to receive him: there the Lord Mayor
delivered unto his Majesty his sword upon his knees, which his
Majesty gave back to him. After a repast taken there, his Majesty
came to Whitehall in this manner: all the streets being richly
hang'd with tapestry, and a lane made by the militia forces to
London-bridge, from London-bridge to Temple-bar by the trained bands
on one side, and the several companies in their liveries, and the
streamers of each company, of the other side, by the rails; from
Temple-bar to Westminster by the militia forces, regiments of the
army, and several gentlemen formerly officers of the king's army,
led by sir John Stawell; first marched a troop of gentlemen, led by
major-general Brown, brandishing their swords, in clothes of silver
doublet, in all about 300, besides their servants; then another
troop, of about 200, in velvet coats, the footmen and liveries in
purple; then another troop, led by alderman Robinson, with buff
coats, silver sleeves, and green scarfs; after this, a troop with
blue liveries, and silver lace, colours red, fringed with silver,
about 130; after that, a troop, 6 trumpets, 7 footmen in sea-green
and silver, their colours pink, fringed with silver; then a troop,
with their liveries gray and blue, with silk and silver laces, 30
footmen, 4 trumpets, consisting of about 220, their colours sky,
fringed with silver; another of gray liveries, 6 trumpets, colours
sky and silver, of about 105 gentlemen; another troop of 70
gentlemen, 5 trumpets, colours sky and silver; another troop, led by
the lord Clevland, of about 200 noblemen and gentlemen, colours
blue, fringed with gold; another troop of about 100, black colours,
fringed with gold; another troop of about 300.
After these came two trumpets, with his Majesties arms, the sheriffs
men in red cloaks and silver lace, with half pikes, 79 in number;
then followed the several companies of London, with their several
streamers, all in black velvet coats with gold chains, every company
having their footmen of their several liveries, some red and white,
some pink and white, some blue and yellow, etc.; three trumpets in
liveries richly laced and cloth of silver sleeves, went before the
company of the Mercers. After all these, came a kettle-drum, five
trumpets, and three streamers, and very rich red liveries, with
silver lace. The number of the citizens were about 600. After these,
12 ministers, another kettle-drum, four trumpets, then his Majesties
life-guard, led by the lord Gerrard; another party, led by sir
Gilbert Gerrard, and major Rosecarron, and the third division by
colonel Pragues; then three trumpeters in rich coats and satin
doublets; the city marshal, with 8 footmen, in French green, trimmed
with crimson and white; the city waits, the city officers in order,
Dr. Warmstry, the 2 Sheriffs, and all the Aldermen of London, in
their scarlet gowns, and rich trappings, with footmen in liveries,
red coats, laced with silver, and cloth of gold; the heralds and
maces in their rich coats; the Lord Mayor, bare, carrying the sword;
his Excellency and the duke of Buckingham bare; and then, the glory
of all, his sacred Majesty rode between the dukes of York and
Gloucester; afterwards followed a troop bare, with white colours,
then the generals lifeguard; after which, another company of gentry,
sky, fringed with gold; after which, five regiments of the army
horse, led by colonel Knight, viz. his Excellencies regiment,
colonel Knight's, colonel Cloberrie's, lord Fauconberg's, lord
Howard's; after whom, came two troops of nobility and gentlemen, red
colours, fringed with gold. There was never such a sight of noblemen
and gentlemen that marched then, brandishing their swords all along.
Soon after his Majesty was passed, all the musketeers that lined the
streets gave many volleys of shot.
Thus was his Majesty conducted to his royal palace at Whitehall;
where after the lord mayor had took his leave, his Majesty went to
the Lords, where was a speech made to his Majesty, and another in
the Banqueting-house by the Speaker of the House of Commons, which
is printed at large by the printers of the said house: which done,
his Majesty retired himself, and supped with the two dukes in the
Chast chamber. This day his Majesty dined in the Presence chamber.
The solemnity of this day was concluded by an infinite number of
bonfires; it being observable, that, as if all the houses had turned
out their chimneys into the streets (the weather being very warm)
there were almost as many fires in the streets, as houses,
throughout London and Westminster; and among the rest in
Westminster, a very costly one was made, where the effigy of the old
Oliver Cromwell was set up upon a high post, with the arms of the
Commonwealth; which having been exposed there a while to the public
view, with torches lighted, that everyone might take better notice
of them, were burnt together.
The foreign ambassadors and public ministers here did likewise
highly express their joy for his Majesties happy arrival here on
Tuesday last, by their bonfires and other public demonstrations;
specially the ambassadors of France and Portugal, and the
plenipotentiaries of the king of Sweden; in particular, his
plenipotentiary lying at Charing-cross, besides his bonfires, giving
of wine and throwing of money among the people, made very gallant
emblems upon the business of the day.
STATE OF LONDON BEFORE THE PLAGUE
(1661).
Besides the insanitary conditions which rendered the City so liable to
outbreaks of infectious disease, there were other nuisances which
afflicted the inhabitants of the City. It is rather difficult to imagine
what John Evelyn would have said about a Black Country town of the
present day, where the effects of smoke must be much more noticeable
than in the London of 1661. But his indictment, although severe, is in
the main true; the smoke nuisance has not decreased since the
seventeenth century, and probably we tolerate it only because we are
accustomed to it. It must be remembered that in Evelyn's day the use of
coal for fuel, although not great, was rapidly increasing; and a tax on
coal was often a source of considerable revenue.
=Source.=—John Evelyn, _Fumifugium_.
That this glorious and ancient city, which from wood might be
rendered brick, and (like another Rome) from brick made stone and
marble; which commands the proud ocean to the Indies, and reaches
the farthest Antipodes, should wrap her stately head in clouds of
smoke and sulphur, so full of stink and darkness, I deplore with
just indignation. That the buildings should be composed of such a
congestion of misshapen and extravagant houses; that the streets
should be so narrow and incommodious in the very centre, and busiest
places of intercourse; that there should be so ill and uneasy a form
of paving under foot, so troublesome and malicious a disposure of
the spouts and gutters overhead, are particulars worthy of reproof
and reformation; because it is hereby rendered a labyrinth in its
principal passages, and a continual wet day after the storm is over.
The immoderate use of, and indulgence to seacoal alone in the city
of London, exposes it to one of the foulest inconveniences and
reproaches, that can possibly befall so noble, and otherwise
incomparable a city: and that, not from the culinary fires, which
for being weak, and less often fed below, is with such ease
dispelled and scattered above, as it is hardly at all discernible,
but from some few particular tunnells and issues, belonging only to
brewers, dyers, lime-burners, salt, and soap-boilers, and some other
private trades, one of whose spiracles alone, does manifestly infect
the air, more than all the chimneys of London put together besides.
And that this is not the least hyperbole, let the best of judges
decide it, which I take to be our senses: whilst these are belching
forth from their sooty jaws, the city of London resembles the face
rather of mount Ætna, the court of Vulcan, Stromboli, or the suburbs
of hell, than an assembly of rational creatures, and the imperial
seat of our incomparable monarch. For when in all other places the
air is most serene and pure, it is here eclipsed with such a cloud
of sulphur, as the sun itself, which gives daily to all the world
besides, is hardly able to penetrate and impart it here; and the
weary traveller, at many miles distance, sooner smells, than sees
the city to which he repairs.
This is that pernicious smoke which sullies all her glory,
superinducing a sooty crust or furr upon all that it lights,
spoiling the moveables, tarnishing the plate, gildings, and
furniture, and corroding the very iron bars and hardest stones with
those piercing and acrimonious spirits which accompany its sulphur;
and executing more in one year, than exposed to the pure air of the
country it could effect in some hundreds. It is this horrid smoke,
which obscures our churches, and makes our palaces look old, which
fouls our clothes, and corrupts the waters, so as the very rain and
refreshing dews which fall in the several seasons, precipitate this
impure vapour, which with its black and tenacious quality, spots and
contaminates whatever is exposed to it.
THE PLAGUE (1665).
Pepys and Evelyn give descriptions of the scenes in London during the
terrible visitation of 1665; and Defoe's narrative is extremely vivid
and circumstantial, although he was only four years old at the time and
must have derived much of his information from other sources. The
following account by Vincent is contemporary:
=Source.=—Rev. T. Vincent, _God's Terrible Voice in the City_.