The Golden Grasshopper; a story of the days of Sir Thomas Gresham, by
W.H.G. Kingston.
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This book was originally published in 1870, under the title of "The
Royal Merchant". As there were sundry things that needed changing, the
book was edited and re-issued under the title of "The Golden
Grasshopper". Kingston, the author, was in the last few months of his
life while this was being done, so the work was done by some of his
various ghosts, but with Kingston's approval.
The tale is told through the eyes of a Dutch boy, Ernst Verner, whose
parents had been put to death in Holland for their Protestant faith.
It was a difficult time in England, for, between the Protestant
sovereigns, Edward the Sixth, and Elizabeth, there were a few years
under the Catholic Queen, Mary, during which very many people were put
to death for their Protestantism. Most people did their best to pay lip
service to whoever was the current ruler, while keeping their own
beliefs to themselves.
The boy, Ernst has a recommendation to the great Sir Thomas Gresham, a
merchant so important at the time that many of his initiatives persist
to this day. He is sent to Saint Paul's School, which still exists,
though not now in the centre of the City of London.
He makes friends with another boy, A'Dale. From here on the story
becomes very convoluted, either because the boys are trying to do things
they have been ordered to do by Sir Thomas, or because they are being
pursued by a Romish priest, who had taken a major dislike to them as
they were not paying due attention while he was saying Mass at Saint
Paul's Cathedral. We realise what a major barrier the English Channel
was in those days, with the short distance sometimes taking but a few
hours, and at other times several days, perhaps even with loss of life.
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THE GOLDEN GRASSHOPPER, A STORY OF THE DAYS OF SIR THOMAS GRESHAM, BY
W.H.G. KINGSTON.