GUILDHALL.
THE GUILDHALL.--_Visit to its dungeons_.--_Bilney_.--_St. Barbara's
chapel_.--_Legend of St. Barbara_.--_Assize court_.--_Old
document_.--_Trial by Jury_.--_Council chamber_.--_Old record
room_.--_Guilds_.--_St. George's company_.--_History of St.
George_.--_Legend of St. Margaret_.
Our rambles have now brought us to the threshold of that quaint, but
beautiful old "studwork" chamber, the guildhall; the seat of civic
honour, power, and glory, with its many appendages of courts and cells,
the witnesses of those multiplied alternations of tragedy, comedy, and
melodrama, that may be looked for to have been enacted during centuries,
beneath a roof covering a council chamber, an assize court, and a prison.
Once again, we avow that we aim not to be complete topographers, or
guides to all the strange old carvings, and grotesque remains of ancient
sculpture, that may be found in such rich abundance around the pathways
of a venerable city, neither do we profess to furnish all the historic
details that may be gleaned concerning these relics of antiquity; are
they not chronicled elsewhere, in many mighty tomes, readable and
unreadable, in "guides," and "tours," and manifold "directories?" We
look and think, and odd associations weave our thinkings sometimes,
perhaps, into a queer mottled garb, though we would solemnly aver the
woof through which the shuttle of our fancy plays is every fibre of it
truth.
Such a preface is needed to our sketch of this fine old ornament of the
city's market-place, lest disappointment should attend the hopes of the
inquisitive investigator of sights and relics.
The guildhall, once like the municipal body it represents, was but a tiny
little thing compared with what it since has grown, and when bailiffs and
burgesses were the only distinctive titles and offices, a simple chamber
thatched, and commonly used to collect the market dues, sufficed for the
seat of civic government; but when, in the reign of the third Henry, the
citizens received from him a charter for a mayor and sheriffs, they took
off the thatched roof of their little toll-booth, and built upon it, and
round about it, spacious rooms and courts, to accommodate and do honour
to their newly acquired municipal dignitaries; for which purpose a
warrant was obtained, to press all carpenters, builders, and bricklayers,
into active service, from eight o'clock in the morning until eight
o'clock at night, as long as occasion might require; and by such
compulsory process, the design was completed some fifty years from the
date of its commencement. The tower, wherein was the treasury, fell down
in Bluff King Harry's reign, whose matrimonial exploits have given him
notoriety, in addition to the grand event of history, the Reformation,
with which they bore so intimate a connection. Decay, renovation,
change, and reformation, have been so busy with this seat of government,
from the era of its infancy until the present time, that no small degree
of ingenuity must be needed to unravel the twistings and turnings, and
comprehend the inharmonious groupings that have sprung up about it, the
divers offsprings of various ages, that mark the progress and growth of
the municipal constitution.
Without doubt, the first claim to antiquity is justly assigned to the
lower dungeons and cells, some of which still serve as _lock ups_ for
offenders awaiting magisterial examination; and a remarkably unpleasant
situation must the individual find himself in, who is there for ever so
brief a space in "durance vile;" the convicted transgressor certainly
makes an exchange for the better, when he reaches his ultimate
destination, the city prison cell; dark, damp, underground coal-cellars,
may be deemed _fair_ illustrations of the accommodation there offered to
those whom the "_law deems innocent_", as it professes to do all
unconvicted persons. One degree darker, and more horrible, are the
_dungeons_, which receive no light whatever, save from a jet of gas
without the gratings of the doors; into these refractory guests are
stowed, that their rebellious sounds may not disturb the ears of any
passers-by above ground.
"Deeper, and deeper still," down beneath the very foundations of the
building, at the foot of a dark narrow winding stair, fast crumbling to
decay, is yet another dungeon, long since closed for any practical
purposes; the eye of curiosity alone happily is permitted to penetrate
its depths. Dark and damp, however, as it is, it would seem preferable
to the dismal "_lock ups_," a light, of modern introduction, from the
street above, giving it a less intensely black look. Here it was that
poor old Bilney spent his last hours of life; and the groined and vaulted
roof, constructed upon the plan of so many of the cellars of that period
of civil and domestic architecture, gives to the place a strangely
ecclesiastical look in these days, and imagination has little difficulty
in calling up the priest of the subterranean temple, who has been
pictured to our eyes as there testing the powers of his endurance, by
holding his finger in the lighted flame of the candle, to satisfy his
friends that he should not shrink from the bodily pangs that were on the
morrow to earn for him the crown of martyrdom. Solemn and sad are the
memories clustered around these dreary tombs of liberty, nor is their
atmosphere tempting to linger in, even upon a visit of curiosity.
The winding stair from _the dungeon_ leads into what is now a porch-way,
but which must once have been the site of the old chapel, built for the
use of the prisoners. This chapel was dedicated to St. Barbara, the
prisoner's saint, who, according to the legend of the Romish church, "was
imprisoned by her father, in a high strong tower, to the end that no man
should behold her," and therefore St. Barbara is always represented with
a tower. She is commemorated on the fourth of December, as St. Barbara,
the Virgin and Martyr. Here, were formerly kept all the goods and
chattels appertaining to the mayorality and civic feasts, in addition to
the services belonging to the chapel itself; but about the era of the
Reformation the chapel was pulled down, to make way for secular offices.
How busy those good reformers were in abolishing every place dedicated to
worship, that their judgment deemed supernumerary! When the treasury
tower fell in, it crushed a prison, known by the name of "_Little Ease_;"
the full details of whose attractions we are left in ignorance of. Upon
the first floor, near the site of the chapel, was once the large chamber,
where the sealing of the cloths manufactured in the city was carried on,
since converted into an assize court, where the notorious lawmongers of
this city, with their brother dignitaries of the bar, join forces to
promote the ends of justice, their clients, and their own. There is a
queer old document extant, wherein the number of learned gentlemen
permitted to follow the profession of the law in this city was limited,
"because," as the preamble states, "when there were no more than six or
eight attorneys at the most coming to the king's courts, great
tranquillity reigned in the city and county, and little trouble or
vexation was made by untrue and foreign suits; and now, so it is, that in
the said city and county there be fourscore attornies, or more, the more
part having nothing to live upon but only his gain by the practice of
attorneyship, and also the more part of them not being of sufficient
knowledge to be an attorney, &c. &c., whereby proceed many suits more of
evil will and malice than of the truth of the thing, to the manifold
vexations, and no little damage of the inhabitants of the said city and
county." Wherefore it was enacted, that there should be but six
attorneys in the county, and two in the city, for the future. When this
admirable statute was repealed, we know not, but conceive it must have
been long, long ago, for so many brass-plate signs to have sprung up in
evidence of a numerous progeny taking place of the solitary two. Whether
the repeal was a _reform_ calculated to benefit the city, experience best
can prove; but if the character of the "common folk" in these parts is
faithfully given by the author of "English Worthies," we may presume them
to have been considerably inconvenienced by the scarcity of tools with
which to play their favourite game. He says, "that the common folks of
Norfolk are possessed of such skill in the law, that they are said to
study the law at the plough's tail, and some would persuade us that they
will enter an action for their neighbour's horse only looking over the
fence."
In later times, evidences of the law mania exist in manifold forms; and
the fact of individuals consulting a lawyer before calling in a doctor,
in physical ailments, is by no means an uncommon occurrence among a
certain class. Some men think and judge with their lawyer's heads, who,
in return, of course, in justice live upon their purses.
Some few amusing facts connected with the boasted English privilege of
"Trial by Jury," may serve to illustrate the growth of "purity" in our
courts of law. The jurisdiction exercised over jurors by the
"Star-chamber" is a notorious matter of history; but the curious and
graphic description of the nature and constitution of a jury in the
thirteenth century, as given by Sir Francis Palgrave, in his "Tale of the
Merchant and Friar," may not be quite so familiar, and is far too good to
be omitted.
"A trial was about to commence. 'Sheriff, is your inquest in court?'
said the Mayor. 'Yes, my lord,' replied the sheriff, 'and, I am
proud to say, it will be an excellent jury for the crown. I myself
have picked and chosen every man upon the panel. I have spoken to
them all; and there is not one whom I have not examined carefully,
not only as to his knowledge of the offences of which the prisoner
stands charged, but of all the circumstances from which his guilt can
be collected, suspected, or inferred. All the jurors were acquainted
with him; eight out of the twelve have often been heard to declare
upon their oath, that they were sure one day he would come to the
gallows; and the remainder are fully of opinion that he deserves the
halter. My lord, I should ill have performed my duty, if I should
have allowed my bailiffs to summon the jury at hap-hazard, and
without previously ascertaining the extent of their testimony. Some
perhaps know more, and some less; but the least informed of them have
taken great pains to go up and down every corner of Westminster, they
and their wives, and to know all that they could hear concerning his
past and present life and conversation. Never had any culprit a
chance of a fairer trial.'"
An extract from the archives of the Record room, gives another specimen
of the mode of dealing with jurymen, if they proved refractory or
obstinate. It bears the date of the 8th year of King Henry VIII., and is
to the purport that the jury that "acquitted Walter, James, and John Doo,
Benet Bullok, and Edmund Stuttlie, notwithstanding that they had good and
substantial evidence given against the said felons, at the last gaol
delivery of Norwich; as the chief Justice of the King's Bench, the Lord
Edmund Howard, and William Ellis, one of the justices of the peace there,
openly declared before the lords, in the presence of the said jury; for
the which perjury so by them committed, it is by the lords' most
honourable council adjudged and decreed, that the said jury shall do the
penance following, that is to say, they shall be committed to the Fleet,
there to remain till to-morrow, and that then, at six of the clock, they
shall be brought by the warden of the Fleet into Westminster Hall, with
papers on their heads, whereon shall be written in great letters, 'these
men be wilfully perjured;' and with the same papers on their heads they
shall be led thrice about the hall of Westminster aforesaid, and then to
be led by the warden of the Fleet to the Fleet again, there to remain
till Monday; and on Monday, in the morning, to be had into Cheapside, and
there shall go about the cross in Chepe thrice, and then they shall
return to the Fleet, and there to remain till Tuesday, and then to be
brought again before the lords, to be bound by recognizances to do the
same penance at home, in their county at Norwich; and that a precept
shall be directed to the mayor and sheriffs of the city of Norwich
aforesaid, to see the said parties do the said penance in the said city,
upon Saturday, the 22d day of this present month of November, openly in
the market-place there, with papers on their heads, whereupon shall be
written the same words above written."
The old mode of trial by ordeal, consisting as it did of an appeal to
Heaven for judgment, either directly by miraculous interference, as in
the ordeals of fire and water, or indirectly, in the ordeals of single
combat, might well have had their charms in the memory of culprit and
jurors both, when such a substitute alone was offered by the courts of
justice that had superseded them. There are, however, two extremes that
may be gone to about every thing; and we believe a little wholesome
penance might, even in the nineteenth century, not come amiss to stir up
the wits of many a sleepy juror. Certes, they often richly merit it.
From the assize court we bend our steps upward, to the region where we
may feel at no loss in our search for objects of genuine antiquity, and
find ourselves in the _Council Chamber_; and here we arrive at the very
pinnacle of magisterial dignity--the zenith of municipal glory--the seat
of mayoralty and aldmermanship and common councilship, once broadly
separate and distinct in their grades of rank and power, in very truth an
upper and a lower house, a peerage and a commons--assembling themselves
in chambers becomingly graduated in their degrees of splendour--but now,
alas! in these degenerate days of reformation and democratic sovereignty,
as some might please to call them, all merged into one conglomerated body
corporate--shall we add, of _order Gothic composite_?
The old chamber looks as if it had seen better days; two or three
patched-up windows of variegated colours, still retaining many quaint and
curious devices, bear witness of the taste and liberality of our
forefathers; and imagination, by the aid of history's pen, can fill up
the unsophisticated plain glass lights at the side, with the old subjects
that once occupied their space, but which have fallen a sacrifice to the
despoiler's barbarous hand;--one of the unjust judge, who, being flayed
alive, was succeeded in office by his son, and the picture, so they tell
us, was elucidated by some very characteristic specimens of antique
poetry--to wit, the first two lines of general advice, addressed to all
who may ever be in a position to profit by it,--
"Let alle men se, stedfast you be,
Justice do ye, or else like you fle;"
and an additional verse to the unfortunate son who succeeded him in
office:--
"You that sittyst now in place,
See hange before thy face
Thyn own Fader's skyn,
For falsehood; this ded he wyn."
Another equally original specimen of the judgment of Solomon is thus
explained:--
"The trewe and counterfeit to trye,
She had rather lose her Ryght--
Saying, the Soulders ware redy
To clyve, with all their myght."
These, as I said, have disappeared; but we were unwilling in our sketch
to lose sight altogether of such very interesting reliques of our
ancestor's skill, in conveying moral lessons by the light of their
window-panes, as were to be found here a century or two ago. Those good
old folks did not seem to be wanting in a certain kind of wit; here, as
in many other parts of the city, we have traces of their love of a fair
rebus--without a slight knowledge of which propensity, we might look long
ere we could understand the hieroglyphical appearance of a barrel set on
end, with N. E. C. written above--history, however, elucidates the
mystery, by explaining it as the rebus of one THOS. NECTON, who aided by
his wealth the filling in of one of the little gothic windows with
stained glass. The curiously carved old desk in the centre was once the
reading-desk in fair St. Barbara's chapel down below,--could it speak, we
wonder whether it would glory in its _elevation_. But now we really can
resist no longer a good hearty laugh at those comical little
unmakeoutable animals, seated so demurely all round the room, on the tops
of the high-backed benches, with their queer little faces struggling to
keep down a grin. Whatever were they put there for? Was it to chronicle
up in their little wooden pates the doings and undoings, the sayings and
unsayings, that they have been looking at, and listening to, so patiently
and wonderingly, for these four centuries past? What would we give to
hear them tell the tale of all they have seen and heard go on, since
first the royal charter granted to our citizens the long-sought privilege
of a real _bona fide_ mayor! how, at first this dignitary used to sit in
solemn majesty upon his throne of state, surrounded by his aristocracy of
chosen peers, deliberating gravely on the affairs of their little state;
how, reverently and orderly the subordinate commons used to come into
their presence at their bidding, and do as they were told by the supreme
authorities; and how, as time and years passed, the heads of these same
commons began to lift themselves a little and a little higher, till they
really seemed as much _real men_ as those who occupied the chairs of
state; how, when at last their struggles had gained the great municipal
reform, some sixteen years ago, they took their seats in the very midst
of the aldermanic autocrats, with all the coolness of precocious
intellect, usurping dignities reserved for high-sounding names or
well-lined purses. Could they not tell a few more tales of how the
ethereal blue and whites,--remembering the day when their opponents, clad
in purple, numbered nine out of twelve of the industrious nominees who
were to choose their fellow-workers in the field of city usefulness, had
traded with their talents till they had gained nine and thirty more
purples to sit by their side, and smile at the twelve blue-looking
occupants of the opposition benches,--did, in later times, effectually
turn the tables on the oppressors' heads, and sit above them in triumph,
looking down on fallen greatness; how this revolution had scarce become
familiar to their little sapiencies, when from the very centre of the
rival factions sprang another party; and the dogs, and dragons, and
what-nots, felt ready to jump from their seats, when their ears heard a
city youth avow himself an independent man, neither a _blue_ nor
_purple_--a man of _principle_--didn't they wonder what it meant, and
whether he really had enough of it to buy up both the other bidders in
this marketable borough, or whether it would pay the interest of all the
sums that they had severally spent in the good city's cause, and how they
longed to laugh outright when he avowed that honesty and truth were all
the _principal_ he traded with, and how they began by-and-bye to think
there might be something in it, and to comprehend a little of the theory,
but somehow the working of it seemed to puzzle and perplex them, it
seemed to be so complicated by the interference of expediency. But it
will not do to tarry longer, conjecturing what might be the confessions
of the little carved images; who does not, or has not read the brilliant
comedies that have been, and are yet being, enacted perpetually within
this chamber?
But there are more objects of interest to be examined within its walls;
and among them pre-eminently stands forth the sword of Admiral Don Xavier
Francisco Winthuysen, transmitted by Horatio Nelson to the mayor of the
city, from the Irresistible, off Lisbon, Feb. 26th, A.D. 1797. The
sword, with its white vellum sheath ornamented with silver, is enclosed
in a glass case, with the original letter from Admiral Nelson, relating
the particulars of its capture. In these days of railways and universal
travelling, the trophy might prudently, we conceive, hold less
conspicuous place. No great stretch of the bounds of probability might
suggest the chance of some relative or descendant of Don Xavier Francisco
standing face to face with the uncomfortable memento of past misfortunes.
Leading from this chamber is a door-way, that opens out upon leads, where
in olden times the ladies and friends of the aldermen were wont to enjoy
the various spectacles offered by the processions and pageants then so
frequently displayed.
The other principal chamber, formerly used by the common-councilmen, and
now appropriated to sundry legal purposes, is adorned with the various
quaint and significant emblems that once figured in the guild
processions, in attendance upon his majesty, Snap, who, from the dignity
of his elevation upon the landing-place without, looks down with proud
and silent scorn upon all the modern innovations and reformations that
have swept away the glories that surrounded his throne;--but of him more
by-and-bye.
Beyond the council-chamber is the way of access to the old Record room,
whence, now and then, some "Old Mortality" may be seen emerging, laden
with treasures rescued from the mouldering heaps of antiquarian lore,
there lying buried beneath the accumulated dust and cobwebs of centuries.
All praise and thanks be given, as due, to these patient and industrious
workers, the fruits of whose labours so liberally are placed at the
command of all less learned and recondite scribblers, who scruple not to
gather of the crumbs that fall from the rich intellectual banquets they
have spread before the lovers of history, antiquity, or science.
An armoury room, where weapons of divers sorts and multiform invention
are stored, all bearing evidence of long disuse by rust and decay, and a
treasury of gold and silver, maces and sceptres, in their various
departments, claim notice; but as such things possess neither very great
intrinsic worth, or any peculiarly interesting historical interest, save
the little sceptre of Queen Elizabeth, a passing word may be enough to
devote to them; it is time to turn attention to the subject more
intimately associated with the very name of the building itself. A
Guildhall instantly suggests the question of guilds, their origin,
character, and the features of history connected with those whose
existence are memorialized by this particular edifice and its appendages.
Guilds were societies of persons confederated together for the common
cause of trade, charity, and religion. They were very numerous; in this
county alone 907 were enumerated by Taylor in his Index Monasticus, as
existing at the time of the Reformation.
The Parochial guilds were often too poor to afford to hire a room for
their meetings, but assembled at each other's houses; but when such was
not the case, they usually hired a house near the church, which was
called a Guildhall, or church house; the situation being chosen as
convenient, their business being to pray as well as to eat. The Guild
consisted of an alderman, brethren and sisters, the parson of the parish
and the principal persons of the neighbourhood being members. They held
lands, received legacies, and frequently met; but their grand assembly
was on the day of their patron saint, when they went to church and
offered up prayers at his altar for all the members of the society,
living and dead. From their saint they took their distinctive titles, as
St. George's, St. Luke's Guild, &c. They bestowed alms annually upon the
poor, received travelling strangers, and did other acts of charity, as
far as their revenues allowed.
Their meetings were usually crowned by a dinner, and terminated often in
a manner not altogether consistent with their commencement. Some of the
guilds in large towns were wealthy and influential. The bill for giving
their possessions to the king, when sent to the lower house in 1547, was
much opposed by the burgesses, who represented that the boroughs could no
longer maintain their churches and other public works, if the rents
belonging to the guilds were transferred to the king. The act passed,
upon a pledge that the lands should be restored. It was the last act of
Henry the Eighth's reign, and was put in execution by his successor; but
the promise was ill performed, many of the revenues being seized, upon
the plea of their being free chapel or chantry endowments.
This brief sketch of the nature and origin of guilds, may suffice to
introduce more particularly the history of the great Guild of St. George,
the most important of all the fraternities that existed in this city, and
from being connected with the municipal body from an early date,
intimately associated with the history of the Guildhall. The following
copious account of the company, with the copy of one of the charters
granted to them, is extracted from the papers of the Norfolk and Norwich
Archaeological Society.
COPY OF CHARTER.
"Henry, by the grace of God, (King) of England, France, and lord of
Ireland, &c., to whom these present letters shall come greeting:
"Know ye that, whereas we have understood a certain Fraternity, and
Gild of the glorious martyr St. George, in our city of Norwich, for
thirty years past, and more, continually have been, and are, still
honestly governed, and the brethren and sisters of the Gylde
aforesaid, for the same time have found a chaplain duly celebrating
divine service in the Cathedral church of the said city, and diverse
and great cost for the worship of God, and the same glorious martyr,
have made and do purpose to do more, if we should vouchsafe to assist
them in the behalf. Wee, in consideration of the premises, and for
the augmentation of the same of our people, to the said glorious
martyr, do, for us, our heirs (as much as in us lye), accept, ratify,
and confirm the said Fraternity and Gylde, and we have granted that
the said Fraternity and Gylde be perpetually a community in time
succession for ever. And that the Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid
have the name of the Gylde of Saint George in Norwich, for ever. And
that the brethren and sisters aforesaid, and their successors yearly
by themselves, at their will choose and create one alderman and two
masters successively, and make honest and reasonable ordinances and
constitutions to the better government of the said Fraternity and
Gylde.
"Also cloath themselves with one suit of cloaths, and yearly make a
feast for eating and drinking, in a convenient place within the said
city, to be by them assigned.
"And also the aldermen and masters, brethren and sisters of the
Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid, and their successors, be able and
capable persons to purchase land, tenements, rents and services, to
have, receive, and hold to them and their successors for ever, to the
aldermen, masters, brothers and sisters of the Gyld of St. George in
Norwich; and may in all courts and places for ever sue and be sued,
answer and be answered, and gain and lose, and have a common seal for
the business of the Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid to be transacted.
"And further of our special favour we have granted and given license
for us and our heirs, (as much as in us lyes), to the aforesaid
alderman, masters, brethren and sisters, that they and their
successors may purchase and hold to them and their successors lands
and tenements, rents and services, within the said city aforesaid, up
to the value of ten pounds, which are held of us in burgage, as well
for the support of one chaplain to celebrate divine service dayly in
the church aforesaid, to pray for us and the said brethren and
sisters, their healthful state while we shall live, and for our
souls, and the souls of the said brethren and sisters when we shall
die. And also for the sowlles of our renowned ancestors, and of all
the faithful deceased, as for the support of the Fraternity and Gylde
aforesaid. And other works and charges of piety made thereof,
according to the ordinances of the same alderman, brethren and
sisters for ever; the statute made against giving lands or tenements
in mortmain, or any other statute or ordinance made to the contrary,
or for that the then lands and tenements aforesaid are held of us in
burgage notwithstanding.
"And moreover, to the setting aside the maintenance, confederacy, and
conspiracy which by means of the Fraternity and Gylde aforesaid we
have granted to the prior of the church aforesaid and to the mayor
and to the sheriffs of the said city; also to the alderman and
Fraternity of the Gylde aforesaid, which shall be for the time being,
sufficient power and authority of expelling, discarding and removing
according to their discretion, all brethren and sisters of the
Fraternity and Gylde, aforesaid, from the Fraternity and Gylde, and
from all the benefits and franchises thereof for ever, who shall be
the cause of supporting or upholding such like maintenance,
confederacy, or conspiracy aforesaid.
"In testimony whereof, we have caused these letters to be made
patent. Witness myself at Reading, the ninth day of May, in the
fifth year of our reign, by the King himself, and for 40 pounds paid
into the hamper, 1417.
"WYNDHAM."
(Here was affixed the great seal of England.)
Another charter of much greater length is still extant; but we pass on to
the next important feature in the history of the society,--its union with
the corporate body of the city,--set forth in a voluminous indenture,
known as Judge Yelverton's mediation, which we transcribe, adapting the
orthography to suit the general readers of the nineteenth century.
"The Mayor, Sheriffs, and Commonality of the City first united to the
Fraternity of the Gylde of St. George, by the mediation of
JUDGE YELVERTON.
"This writing indented, made the 27th day of March, the year of the
reign of King Henry VI. the 30th, betwixt the mayor, sheriffs, and
commonality of the city of Norwich, on the one part, and the alderman
and brethren of the gylde of the glorious martyr, St. George, of the
said city, of the other part, by the mediation and diligency of
William Yelverton, Justice of our Lord the King, of his own place.
Witnesseth that, as well the said mayor, sheriffs, and commonality,
as the aforesaid aldermen and brethren of the said gylde, both
according of all matters had or moved betwixt them, before this in
manner and form, as in the articles hereafter shewing:--
"First, for to begin to the worship of God, our Lady, and of the
glorious martyr, St. George, forasmuch as the Cathedral church of the
Holy Trinity, of Norwich, is the most worshipful and convenient
place, that the glorious martys, St. George, be worshipped by the
aldermen and brethren of the said guild, that therefore in the said
place, after the forms and effect of the old use had afore this time,
the said alderman and brethren be there on the feast of St. George,
or some other day in the manner accustomed, there to hear the first
even-song, and on the morrow following, to go in procession and hear
mass, and offer there in the worship of God and the said martyr; and
also there for to hear the second even-song and placebo, and dirige,
for the brethren and sisters' souls of the said guild; and on the day
next following be at the mass of requiem, and offer there for the
souls of all the brethren and sisters of the said guild and all
Christians; and that a priest be continued there in the form
accustomed, for to sing and pray for the prosperity, welfare, and
honourable estate of the most Christian prince, King Henry VI., our
sovereign lord, and also for the welfare of William Yelverton,
Justice, by whose mediation and diligence the said accord and
appointments have been advised and engrossed.
"And then, for the welfare of all the brethren and sisters of the
said guild and fraternity living, and also for the souls of King
Henry V., first founder of the said guild, and for all other souls of
all the brethren and sisters of the said guild, that be passed out of
the world, and all Christian souls; and if ever afterwards the
possessions of the said guild will stretch to sustain and find
another priest, that then such priest shall be found for to pray in
like form, and that poor men and women of the said guild be found and
relieved by the said guild, as hath been accustomed, as the goods
will stretch to save other charges and necessary expenses, to the
worship of God and of the said martyr, and to the good conservation
and continuance of the said brethren.
"Also, on the morning next after the solemnity of the said guild,
kept in the worship of the glorious martyr, Saint George, the
brethren of the said guild, and their successors, shall yearly choose
the mayor of the said city, and that time being a brother of the said
guild, for to be alderman of the said guild for all the next year
following, after his discharge of his office of mayoralty, then
forthwith to take the charge and occupation of the said office of
aldermanship of the said fraternity and guild; and so every person
chosen to be mayor yearly, after he hath occupied mayoralty for an
whole year, to occupy the said aldermanship of the said guild; and in
case he refuse to occupy the said aldermanship after his mayoralty,
to pay unto the said fraternity 100_s._ to the use of the said guild,
and that the old alderman stand still alderman, unto the time another
be chosen unto the said office of alderman to the said guild; and if
the alderman of the said guild happen to die within the year, that
then the mayor for the time being, occupy that office of alderman for
his time, and so forth the next year following, according to this
act.
"And that all the aldermen of the said city, that now are, and shall
be in time coming, shall be made brethren of the said guild, without
charge of the feast.
"Also, that every man that is, or shall be chosen to be, of the
common council of the said city, be admitted also to be a brother of
the said guild if he like; and that by great diligence and
deliberation had, as well for the worship of the said city as the
said guild, that no man be chosen to the said common council, but
such as are and seem for to be able and sufficient of discretion and
good disposition, and that every man that shall be received a brother
into the said guild, shall be sworn, and receive his oath in form
that followeth:--
"'This hear, ye alderman and brethren of this fraternity and guild of
the glorious martyr, St. George, in this city of Norwich, that from
this day forward, the honour, prosperity, worships, profits, welfare,
and surety of the fraternity and guild, after my power, I shall
sustain, lawfully maintain and defend, and all lawful ordinances made
or to be made, with all the circumstances and dependancies thereto
belonging, truly and duly pay my dues after the said ordinances,
without trouble or grievance of the said brethren and sisters, or of
any officer of them, and Buxum to you aldermen and all your
successors in all lawful commandments, to my power and cunning, so
that this oath stretch not to any thing against the laws of God, nor
against the laws of the land, nor against the liberties or
franchises, the welfare, good peace, and rest of this city, nor
against any panel of the oath that I have made afore to the king, and
to the said city.'
"Also, the said aldermen and common council of the guild, shall
choose when they list, from henceforward, other men and women of the
said city, beside the said alderman and common council, such as they
may think convenient by their discretion, and able thereto for to be
brethren and sisters of the said guild.
"Also, that there be no man chosen nor received from henceforth into
the said guild, dwelling out of the said city, but if he be a knight
or a squire, or else notably known for a gentleman of birth, or else
that he be a person of great worship by his virtue, and by his truth
and great cunning, or be some great notable means and cause of great
worship, and yet that all manner of thing that shall appertain to the
governance of the said guild, or to any possessions or goods thereof,
or choosing of any brother into the said guild, or correction of any
default done to any brother, or by any brother thereof, and all other
things that appertaineth to the rules of the said guild, or by the
more part of them dwelling within the said city.
"Also, that all the possessions and moveable goods, that now or
hereafter shall appertain to the said guild, be all only employed and
applied to the worship of God and our Lady, and of the glorious
martyr, St. George, and to the worship of the brethren of the said
guild, and for the health of the souls of all those that have been
brethren and sisters of the said guild, are and shall be in time
coming, and in none otherwise; and hereto every man be sworn at his
coming in specially, that henceforward shall be any other brother in
the said guild, that he shall here do all that is in his power, and
in no wise give his assent nor his favour to the contrary.
"Also, that every year be chosen surveyors, and such convenient
officers as shall be thought necessary by the discretion of the
aldermen and brethren of the said guild; and that every year the said
alderman and four brethren of the said guild, whereof two be aldermen
of the said city, be chosen for to see a reckoning, and to know the
disposition and governance of all the possessions, moveables, and
goods appertaining to the said guild, and to make a writing of the
estate thereof, and shew that to the brethren of the said guild
yearly, or else to a certain number of brethren, resident in the said
city thereto named.
"Also, that every four years, once be given hoods or liveries of suit
to each of the brethren of the said guild, and them honestly to be
kept and worn to the worship of the glorious martyr, St. George, and
of the brotherhood, if it seemeth to the said alderman and common
council convenient.
"Also, although the aldermen of the city, and every person of common
council of the same city, be brethren of the same guild, yet if it
happen that any of them, or any other citizen or brother of the said
guild, be discharged of his aldermanship, or put out of the said
common council, or _discomynyd_ against his will, for a great and
notable cause against his worship, that then forthwith he be
discharged of the said guild; or else, whosoever be once a brother of
the said guild, that he be a brother still, paying his duties, till
he will wilfully serve his own discharge, or else for notable causes
be reasonably discharged.
"Also it is ordained that the alderman and twenty of the brethren,
aforesaid, be for the assembly, and the common council of the said
guild, and that it needeth not to have no greater number thereto; and
that the alderman name thereof six, by his oath, that he choose no
person by no manner persuaded, nor private means, nor for favour nor
friendship of no person, nor of no parties, but such as to his
conscience are most indifferent and best disposed, and best willed to
the worship and welfare, rest, peace, and profit of all the city, and
the said guild; and in like form, the six so chosen shall, by their
taking the same oath, choose six of such persons of the said guild,
according to their said oath; then the alderman, by his said oath,
such other two which be aldermen of the said guild, of which two of
the aldermen, and the more part of them, shall be and make the common
council, and the assembly of the said guild; and if any of them
should be warned to come to the said common council, if he then be
resident in the said city, and come not, but if he hath reasonable
excusation, that he pay 20_d._ for every day.
"And that all the old rules and ordinances of the said guild shall be
seen by the aldermen, and the said common council of the said guild,
and all those that be good, reasonable, and convenient to the worship
of God, our Lady, and the glorious martyr St. George, and to the weal
and peace within the said city, shall be kept, with reasonable
additions put thereto, if it need; and if any ambiguity or doubt
hereafterwards fall for the understanding or execution of the said
article, in case that the said alderman, and more part of the said
common council cannot accord therein, that then it be reformed and
determined by the advice of the said William Yelverton.
"And if any brother now being, or in time coming shall be, do
conspire or labour to attempt to do in any thing the contrary of any
of these appointments, or any other in time coming, by the aldermen
or more part of the common council to be made, and that reasonably
proved upon him before the said alderman, and the more part of the
said common council, that then he be forthwith discharged of the said
guild, and that notified by the said alderman to the mayor, in the
common council of the said city, that then, it done, he be discharged
of his liberties and franchises of the said city, and unable ever to
be citizen of the said city, or brother of the said guild, and taken
and had as a forsworn man shamed and reproved, and _reune_ in the
pain of infamy.
"Also, that all these articles abovesaid, be every year, once, or
oftener if it be needed, be openly read before the said alderman, and
all the brethren, or the most part of them. In witness of these
premises to the one part of this indenture remaining towards the said
mayor and commonality, the alderman and brethren of the said
fraternity and guild have set their common seal; and to the other
part of the said indenture, abiding toward the said alderman and
brethren of the said guild, the mayor and commonality of the said
city have set their common seal. Given and done at Norwich, the day
and year aforesaid, in the time of the mayoralty of Ralph Segrim,
when William Baily and John Gilbert were sheriffs, Thomas Allen,
alderman of the aforesaid guild, according to the tenour of this
agreement.
"From thenceforth, the court of mayorality, justices, alderman,
sheriffs, and common councilmen, were admitted and united to the
fraternity of the glorious martyr St. George. The rank and
importance of the members of the society may be inferred from the
fact, of their admitting from the country none beneath the rank of
_notable gentlemen_. The union of the two bodies took place fourteen
years after the substitution of mayor and sheriffs for bailiffs."
Among the entries in their book occur the following:
"At George's Inn, Fybriggate, at an asssembly there, holden the
Monday next before the feast of All Saints, in the ninth year of King
Henry IV., A.D. 1408; it was agreed to furnish priests with copes,
"and the George shall go in procession and make a conflict with the
dragon, and keep his estate both days."
"Item. It is ordained that two new jackets of fustian and red
buckram be bought for the henchmen (servitors upon George).
"A.D. 1408, auditors were chosen to survey the accounts of the
company, a bellman to the company to have 2_s._ a year salary; a
beadle 1_s._ 3_d._, and for all those that are admitted and sworn,
2_d._ for each entry; and the minstrel waytes of the city 5_s._, the
beadle for warning the brethren at any 'obite,' 6_d._; and twelve
poor men to be fed at a table by themselves every year, on St.
George's day.
"Item. It is ordained by the common assent, that forasmuch as before
this time, the dirige, and mass of requiem, have been so rudely and
dishonestly kept, and sung by aggregate persons, and children
standing in temporal clothing, for remedy whereof to the honour of
God, and spiritual conservation of the souls departed to God, that
henceforth yearly shall be provided ten secular priests, that be not
brethren of this fraternity, to be there at dirige and mass of
requiem; each of them to have, when mass is done, 4_d._ of the obite
money.
"A.D. 1469, ordained that an inventory of all the goods and jewels
appertaining to the said fraternity be taken."
INVENTORY.
"Imprimis. A precious relic; viz., an angel, silver-gilt, bearing
the arms of St. George, given by Sir John Fastolf.
"One chalice, silver-gilt.
"A manual, with two silver clasps.
"A cheseble, of white diaper, powered with stars of gold.
"A pax bread of timber.
"A little chest, with charter of King Henry V.
"A seal of silver, belonging to the fraternity, with an image of St.
George."
Another charter of King Henry VI:--
"Two cloaths, of the martyrdom of St. George.
"One gown of scarlet serge, for St. George.
"A coat armour, beaten with silver, for St. George.
"Four banners, with the arms of St. George, for the trumpeters.
"One banner, with the image of St. George.
"Two shafts for the banners, and one for the pennon.
"A chaplet, for the George.
"Two white gowns for the henchmen.
"Three peyntrells, three croopers, three reins, three head-stalls of
red cloth, fringed and lined, with buckles, gilt, with the arms of
St. George thereon.
"Eight torches, _a dragon_, a pair of gloves, of plate.
"A sword, with a scabbard covered with velvet, the bosses gilt.
"One russet gown, flowered and powdered with velvet spots.
"A black cheseble, with an alb, with the arms of the Lord Bardolph,
by him given.
"Lastly, one mass book, price twelve marks.
"Also it is ordained, that the procession be done in copes, and all
the brethren to have hoods of sanguine, and a reed or wand in his
hand; and persons chosen to be aldermen, that every other of them
have a red cope, and every one a white cope; the next year shall be
clad in scarlet gowns, and parti-coloured hoods, scarlet and white
damask, on the forfeiture of the payment of 13_s._ 4_d._; and every
commoner to be clad in a long gown, red and white, on the forfeiture
of 6_s._ 8_d._; and every commoner to ride to the Wood (St. William's
shrine) on St. George's day, by the rules accustomed.
"Also that a priest be paid a salary, amounting to eleven pounds ten
shillings.
"Persons appointed to provide hoods for the aldermen and commoners,
to wear with their liveries at every entertainment hereafter."
The manner of choosing persons to be members of the society, was thus, in
the thirty-fifth year of the reign of King Henry VIII.:--
"The mayor chose three persons for the common council; the alderman
chose three other persons for the same; these six chose other six for
the same; and these twelve persons, with the advice of the four
feast-makers, chose two feast-makers for the next year."
In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of King Henry VIII., A.D. 1545, at
the general dissolution of the abbeys, monasteries, convents, friaries,
&c., the large and beautiful nave of the church of the Black Friars was
converted into a common hall for the mayors, sheriffs, citizens, and
commonality, with all their guilds and fraternities, to meet and hold
their annual feasts in; but principally the guild of St. George, who
expended two hundred and ten pounds upon its improvement at that time.
"Upon inviting persons to the feast, which was to be done by the
surveyors at the Whitsun holidays, all that promised to dine at the
feast paid their money down to the feast-maker beforehand.
"In the first year of the reign of King Henry VI., all fraternities,
guilds, processions, &c., being thought useless, and tending to
promote superstition, were set aside, and by virtue of the act
passed, judged and deemed in the actual possession of the sovereign.
"In the third year of the reign of King Edward VI., it was further
enacted, and agreed, that the twenty persons, hitherto known as the
St. George's assembly, should be henceforth called the assembly of
the feast of the mayor, sheriffs, citizens, and common council of the
city; and twenty persons were appointed to manage the guild feast,
now called the feast of the mayor, sheriffs, &c. &c. The
feast-makers to provide a supper also on the guild-day evening, and
the ordering of the charge to be referred to the mayor, sheriffs, &c.
&c. In the fourth year of this reign, the goods of the company were
appraised, and valued at 7 pounds 11_s._ 8_d._
"In the first year of the reign of Queen Mary, 1552, it was agreed,
that there should be neither George nor Margaret on the next feast
day in the procession; but the dragon to come and show himself as in
other years.
"April 22d, second of Queen Mary, the laws since Henry VIII.
repealed, and the guild to be kept as before.
"A.D. 1561; cordwainers admitted to office."
Innumerable other entries betray the various changes of arrangement and
regulation; but we pass on to
THE MANNER OF THE PROCESSION ON THE GUILD-DAY.
"About eight o'clock in the morning, the whole body of the court, St.
George's company, and the livery, met at the new elect's, where they
were entertained with sugar rolls and sack; from whence they all
proceeded with the newly elected mayor to the old mayor's, in this
order; the court first, St. George's company next, and the livery
last. At the mayor's they had a breakfast provided for them, of
pasties and roast beef, and boiled legs of mutton; from whence, in
inverted order, (livery, St. George's company, and court), they
proceeded to the Cathedral Church, where a sermon was preached,
always by the minister of the parish in which the mayor resided; and
he was the chaplain during the mayoralty.
"When the sermon was ended, the court had their horses taken, finely
caparisoned, which they mounted; and at the entrance into the Royal
Free School, which was curiously adorned with greens and flowers, in
a bower, stood one of the lads thereto belonging, who was ready
against the new mayor should come up, to address himself to him in an
oration of Latin, as did several others, in different places, on
horseback. As the court proceeded with their robes of justice, the
alderman in their scarlet, and the sheriffs in their violet gowns,
with each a white wand in his hand, with trumpet sounding, the city
music playing along the streets, with the standard of England carried
before them. Then followed St. George's standard and company,
supported by very tall stout men, who had dresses suitable and proper
for them; in this manner they proceeded, though but slowly,
occasioned by their stopping several times in different places, to
hear the speeches which were then spoken by the free-school boys, as
before mentioned.
"Being arrived at the guildhall, in the market, the new-elected mayor
had his robe of justice put on him, the gold chain placed about his
neck, the key of the gates delivered to him according to custom: he
was then sworn; after which he generally made a speech to the
citizens. The whole body then remounted their horses, and proceeded
to the New Hall (or St. Andrew's Hall) to the dinner. As soon as the
court and their ladies, with the rest of the company, were seated,
the dinner was served up first to the mayor's table, next at St.
George's, and then, as fast as they could, all the rest of the tables
were plentifully filled with great variety of all kinds of good
eatables, but little or no butcher's meat, but as to pasties, tarts,
pickles, lobsters, salmon, sturgeon, hams, chickens, turkeys, ducks,
and pigeons, in great plenty, even to profusion; and these all served
up in order, and besides what beer every one chose to drink, either
small or strong, they had what quantity they pleased, besides a
bottle of wine, which every man had delivered to him to drink after
dinner.
As soon as dinner was over, St George's company looked into their book to
see for the names of such as were eligible to be chosen as feast-makers;
and when they had selected four persons, they walked round the hall to
look for them; and no sooner was one of them espied, than he had a
garland of roses and greens thrown over his head, and was congratulated
upon being chosen as feast-maker for the next year. If any of the four
were absent, it sufficed to send the garland to them at their own houses,
to make the appointment sure. A pecuniary fine attended a refusal to
serve.
After the choice of feast-makers was over, the "banquets" were given to
the ladies, and it growing towards evening the whole body rose from their
seats and waited upon the new mayor home, where all were again
entertained with sugar rolls and sack; and then concluded the day by
seeing the old mayor to his home, where they remained and drank as long
as it was proper.
The great guns were discharged many times during the day.
The whole street, sometimes the whole parish, in which the mayor resided
was decorated in the handsomest manner; the streets were all strewn with
rushes and planted with trees, variety of "garlands, ship, antients, and
streamers in abundance." The outside of the houses were hung with
tapestry and pictures.
"The dragon (carried by a man in the body) gave great diversion to
the common people; they always seemed to fear it much when it was
near them, but looked upon it with pleasure when at a little
distance; it was so contrived as to spread its wings and move its
head. As there was always a multitude of people to see the
procession, it was necessary to have several persons to keep them
from coming too near, or breaking the ranks; for this purpose there
were six men called Whifflers, somewhat like the Roman gladiators,
who were neatly dressed, and who had the art of brandishing their
very sharp swords in the greatest crowds with such dexterity as to
harm no one, and of a sudden, to toss them high in the air and catch
them again by the hilts: to this purpose also a man or two in painted
canvas coats and vermilion red and yellow cloth caps, adorned with
cats' tails and small bells, went up and down to clear the way; their
weapons were only small wands. These were called or known by the
name of Dick Fools; even they had their admirers, but it was among
the children and mobility."
The above curious and quaint description of the St. George's Company and
the procession, is an extract from Mackerell's "History of Norwich,"
published by the Archaeological Society. From the same source the
further particulars added are collected.
It would appear that the company, enjoying so many powers and privileges,
grew insolent and overbearing, and were wont to insult with impunity, and
tyrannize unmercifully over the pockets, purses, and freedom of their
fellow-citizens, until at length an individual named Clarke, an alderman,
to whom they had shown much discourtesy and injustice, by considerable
effort succeeded in bringing their career as a body to an end. Their
charter, books, regalia, and all that belonged to them were given up to
the Corporation, and arrangements made at the same time for the mayor's
procession and rejoicings upon a new footing. The dragon, the fools, and
whifflers, were continued and paid by the Corporation, but instead of the
St. George's company, the sixty common councilmen attended upon the newly
elected mayor on horseback in their gowns. The mayor was to make a guild
feast at his own charge, 150 pounds being given him towards the expenses
of his mayoralty.
"Thus (using the words of the writer) fell this honourable tyrannical
company, who had lorded it over the rest of the citizens, by laws of
their own making, for an hundred and fourscore years; had made all
ranks of men submit to them; neither had they any regard to the
meanness of persons' circumstances, by which they had been the ruin
of many families, and had occasioned much rancour and uneasiness
every annual election of common-councilmen, when the conquerors
always put the vanquished on to the livery; thereby delivering them
over to the mercy of St. George, who was sure to have a pluck at them
as they assembled and met together; until this gentleman alderman
Clarke had the courage to oppose and withstand them; and having taken
a great deal of pains and time, at last effected this great work, and
brought this insolent company to a final period; for which good deed
he ought to have his name transmitted to the latest posterity."
And now it behoves us to inquire who was St. George? Shall we be content
to hear of his mighty prowess, his renowned sanctity, and his eminent
exaltation as patron saint of our country, and the most famous guilds or
fraternities that have ever flourished in Christendom, and know nothing
of his origin, history, or reality? Shall we subscribe to the heretical
belief that St. George was neither more nor less than a soldier in the
army of Diocletian, who rewarded his great military exploits by cutting
off his head for advocating the cause of the Christians, and that
therefore he was elevated into the calendar of saints and martyrs in the
early church? Shall we deny that he ever went to war with an insatiable
dragon, who, having eaten up all the sheep and cattle in the
neighbourhood, was fed upon fair youths and maidens "from a city of
Libya, called Silene, and that he did mortally wound the said dragon and
led him through the streets of the city," as if it had been a meek beast
and debonnaire? or shall we give ear to the suggestion that St. George is
but another name for St Michael, who is always represented in combat with
the dragon? To whatever belief we may incline, the fact of the antiquity
of his claims upon Christendom for universal reverence cannot be
disputed. Long before he became the patron saint of England, many
eastern nations had adopted him in the same capacity; and to his personal
and miraculous interference in protecting Richard Coeur de Lion in his
conflict with Saladin, are we to attribute his elevation to that dignity
in this country? Many orders of knighthood besides that of England have
been distinguished by his name in Austria, Bavaria, Burgundy, Montesa,
Ravenna, Genoa, and Rome. The most authentic accounts that have come
down to us of the individual history and mortal career of this
semi-fabulous personage, resolve themselves into a few leading facts. He
was a saint of high repute in the eastern church at a very early date, a
Cappadocian of good family, and a commander of note in the army of
Diocletian, and that he suffered martyrdom at Raniel, on the 23d of
April, the day on which his festival was kept. He is mentioned in old
Saxon homilies as an ealder-man (or earl) of Cappadocia, and is mentioned
in a MS. Martyrologicum Saxonicum, in the library of Corpus Christi
College, Cambridge, as Georius Nobilis Martyr. The Greeks called him the
"Great Martyr." The Coptic Arabic MSS. mention him as of Cappadocia;
Constantine instituted a religious order of knighthood, under the title
of St. George, on which was borne a red cross; he is also said to have
erected a church near his tomb in Palestine, and others in his honour at
Constantinople. The red cross, usually attributed to St. George for an
armorial bearing, was possibly adopted from Constantine's order of
knighthood. The figure of the saint armed and on horseback, expresses
his martial character; and the dragon by many is conceived to be a symbol
of Paganism; the figure of the young lady sometimes introduced also is
regarded as a type of some city or province imploring aid, or may
possibly have been intended to memorialize the rescue of the damsel, whom
he is reported so gallantly to have saved from destruction. There is a
separate legend of a St. Margaret and a dragon related by Mrs. Jameson,
which says that the governor of Antioch, captivated by the beauty of the
fair Margaret, who inclined not to his highness, shut her up in a
dungeon, and subjected her to all kinds of torments, and that during her
imprisonment the devil, in the form of a dragon, appeared ready to devour
her, but she held up the cross and he fled. Many old prints represent
the dragon lying peaceably down, and Margaret with the cross standing by
unharmed. An old church at Canterbury is dedicated to this Saint
Margaret. Whether or not there exists any connection between her and the
heroine who usually is associated with St. George, we know not.
We conclude this speculative inquiry with a curious extract from a work
by Dr. Sayer, a translation of a fragment annexed to the Vatican MS. of
Olfrid's Gospels, some say written in the fourth century:--
George went to judgement
With much honour
From the market-place,
And a great multitude following him,
He proceeded to the Rhine {223}
To perform the sacred duty,
Which then was highly celebrated,
And most acceptable to God.
He quitted the kingdoms of the earth,
And he obtained the kingdom of heaven.
Thus did he do,
The illustrious Count George,
Then hastened all
The kings who wished
To see this man entering,
(But) who did not wish to hear him.
The spirit of George was there honoured,
I speak truly from the report of these men,
(For) he obtained
What he sought from God.
Thus did he,
The Holy George.
Then they suddenly adjudged him
To prison;
Into which with him entered
Two beautiful angels
* * * * *
Then he became glad
When that sign was made (to him),
George then prayed;
My God granted every thing
To the words of George;
He made the dumb to speak,
The deaf to hear,
The blind to see,
The lame to walk.
* * * * *
Then began the powerful man
To be exceedingly enraged.
Tatian wished
To ridicule these miracles.
He said that George
Was an impostor;
He commanded George to come forth;
He ordered him to be unclothed;
He ordered him to be violently beaten
With a sword excessively sharp.
All this I know to be altogether true;
George then arose and recovered himself;
He wished to preach to those present,
And the Gentiles
Placed George in a conspicuous situation,
(Then) began that powerful man
To be exceedingly enraged.
He then ordered George to be bound
To a wheel, and to be whirled round.
I tell you what is fact;
The wheels were broken to pieces,
This I know to be altogether true;
George then arose and recovered himself,
He then wished (to preach); the Gentiles
Placed George in a conspicuous place,
Then he ordered George to be seized
And commanded him to be violently scourged;
Many desired that he should be beaten to pieces,
Or be burnt to a powder;
They at length thrust him into a well.
There was this son of beatitude,
Vast heaps of stones above him,
Pressed him down;
They took his acknowledgment;
They ordered George to rise;
He wrought many miracles,
As in fact he always does.
George rose and recovered himself.
He wished to preach to those Gentiles,
The Gentiles
Placed George in a conspicuous place.
* * * * *
They ordered him to rise,
They ordered him to proceed,
They ordered him instantly to preach.
Then he said,
I am assisted by faith.
(Then he said) when
Ye renounce the devil
Every moment * * *
* * * * *
This is what St. George himself may teach us.
Then he was permitted to go into the chamber
To the Queen;
He began to teach her,
She began to listen to him.
The fragment ends here; the queen alluded to is deemed to be the wife of
Diocletian Alexandra, who has been canonized by the Romish Church. She
is said to have been converted to Christianity, and suffered martyrdom
with her teacher.
We now beg to take leave of St. George and St. Margaret; Mr. Snap or the
Dragon in his coat of green and gold, at this present surmounted by an
outer coat of considerable thickness of dust, must permit us to make our
obeisance--trusting that the gleanings we have made of all these little
facts of history that contributed to his importance in the day of his
sovereignty and splendour, may have gained for us a parting good will.
His days of pomp and majesty are ended--with the banishment of fun and
frolic, and folly, with the reformation of councils and committees, of
manners and municipalities--his glory has departed, and but for the
chronicles of the past, his presence slumbering in oblivion, or in
drooping despondency, hanging his head in attitude of grief, might be a
mystery insoluble, as also might be the annual exhibition of the shabby
counterfeit presentment of his person in the shape of a cumbrous
imitation of himself, that is paraded once a year through street and
suburb, to keep alive the shadow of the memory of "good old times," in
the hearts of the populace of a pleasure-loving city--but a sorrowful and
piteous spectacle is this walking ghost of the _Snap_ of the glorious
guild of St. George.