[Picture: Charing Cross]
Here, upon his brazen horse,
Sits Charles the First at Charing Cross.
This spot was formerly known as a village named _Charing_, near London,
in which King Edward the First placed a magnificent cross, in memory of
his beloved queen Eleanor, {65} which cross was destroyed by the fury of
the reformers, who regarded it as an object of superstition. _Le Sueur_,
a French artist, cast a fine statue in brass, of Charles the First on
horseback, which was erected in place of the cross. When Cromwell ruled,
this statue was sold to one _Revet_, a brazier, on condition of his
melting it, as the parliament had ordered that it should be destroyed.
Revet made a fortune by this statue, casting a vast number of articles in
bronze, as if made out of his purchase, which were eagerly bought by
those desirous of having a memorial of their prince; and by others, from
the pleasure of mean triumph over fallen royalty. Revet, however, had
not destroyed the statue, but kept it buried in the earth; and Charles
the Second, on his restoration, caused it to be erected again.