“_Martis Vndecimo Die_ Novembr’, 1684, _Annoque Regni Regis_ CAROLI
_Secundi_, Angl’, &c. _Tricessimo Sexto_.
“Whereas the statue of King CHARLES the First (of Blessed Memory) is
already Set up on the Royal Exchange, And the Company of Grocers have
undertaken to Set up the Statue of His present MAJESTY, And the Company
of Clothworkers that of King JAMES, And the Companies of Mercers and
Fishmongers the Statues of Queen MARY and Queen ELIZABETH, And the
Company of Drapers that of EDWARD the Sixth, This Court doth Recommend
it to the several Companies of this City hereafter named, (viz. The
Companies of Goldsmiths, Skinners, Merchant-Taylors, Haberdashers,
Salters, Ironmongers, Vintners, Dyers, Brewers, Leathersellers,
Pewterers, Barber-Chirurgeons, Cutlers, Bakers, Waxchandlers,
Tallowchandlers, Armourers, Girdlers, Butchers, Sadlers,) to raise Money
by Contributions, or otherwise, for Setting up the Statues of the rest
of the KINGS of England (each Company One) beginning at the CONQUEROR,
as the Same were There Set up before the Great Fire. And for the better
Order in Their proceeding herein, the Master and Wardens, or some
Members of the said respective Companies, are desired within some
Convenient time to Appear before This Court, and receive the further
Directions of This Court therein.
“And in regard of the Inability of the Chamber of London to Advance
Moneys for the Carrying on and Finishing the Conduit, begun to be Set up
with His MAJESTIES Approbation, at the Upper End of Cheapside, It is
earnestly Recommended from This Court to all the Rest of the Companies
of This City (other than those before Named) to raise Moneys likewise by
Contributions, or otherwise, for the Carrying on and Finishing the said
Work, so Necessary to the Ornament of this City; And to Pay the Same
into the Chamber, to be Laid out and Imployed for the said Purpose.
“_Wagstaffe._”
* * * * *
It is affirmed of Charles II. that he was mightily delighted with these
beautiful stanzas,
The glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against fate.
Death lays his icy hands on kings:
Sceptre and crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade.
Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill;
But their strong nerves at last must yield,
They tame but one another still.
Early or late,
They stoop to fate,
And must give up their murmuring breath,
When they pale captives creep to Death.
The garlands wither on your brow;
Then boast no more your mighty deeds:
Upon Death’s purple altar now
See where the victor victim bleeds:
All heads must come
To the cold tomb:
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.
If it be really true that this king admired these sentiments, he is
entitled to the praise of having libelled himself by his admiration of
virtue. Waller in a letter to St. Evremond, relates a dialogue between
Charles and the earl of Rochester, which shows the tenour of their
manners. Waller says, “Grammont once told Rochester that if he could by
any means divest himself of one half of his wit, the other half would
make him the most agreeable man in the world. This observation of the
Count’s did not strike me much when I heard it, but I remarked the
propriety of it since. Last night I supped at lord Rochester’s with a
select party; on such occasions he is not ambitious of shining; he is
rather pleasant than arch; he is, comparatively, reserved; but you find
something in that restraint that is more agreeable than the utmost
exertion of talents in others. The reserve of Rochester gives you the
idea of a copious river that fills its channel, and seems as if it would
easily overflow its extensive banks, but is unwilling to spoil the
beauty and verdure of the plains. The most perfect good humour was
supported through the whole evening; nor was it in the least disturbed
when, unexpectedly, towards the end of it, the king came in (no unusual
thing with Charles II.) ‘Something has vexed him,’ said Rochester; ‘he
never does me this honour but when he is in an ill humour.’ The
following dialogue, or something very like it, then ensued:--
‘_The King._--How the devil have I got here? The knaves have sold every
cloak in the wardrobe.
‘_Rochester._--Those knaves are fools. That is a part of dress, which,
for their own sakes, your majesty ought never to be without.
‘_The King._--Pshaw! I’m vexed!
‘_Rochester._--I hate still life--I’m glad of it. Your majesty is never
so entertaining as when--
‘_The King._--Ridiculous! I believe the English are the most intractable
people upon earth.
‘_Rochester._--I must humbly beg your majesty’s pardon, if I presume in
that respect.
‘_The King._--You would find them so, were you in my place, and obliged
to govern.
‘_Rochester._--Were I in your majesty’s place, I would not govern at
all.
‘_The King._--How then?
‘_Rochester._--I would send for my good lord Rochester, and command him
to govern.
‘_The King._--But the singular modesty of that nobleman.
‘_Rochester._--He would certainly conform himself to your majesty’s
bright example. How gloriously would the two grand social virtues
flourish under his auspices!
‘_The King._--_O, prisca fides!_ What can these be?
‘_Rochester._--The love of wine and women!
‘_The King._--God bless your majesty!
‘_Rochester._--These attachments keep the world in good humour, and
therefore I say they are social virtues. Let the bishop of Salisbury
deny it if he can.
‘_The King._--He died last night. Have you a mind to succeed him?
‘_Rochester._--On condition that I shall neither be called upon to
preach on the 30th of January nor the 29th of May.
‘_The King._--Those conditions are curious. You object to the first, I
suppose, because it would be a melancholy subject; but the other--
‘_Rochester._--Would be a melancholy subject too.
‘_The King._--That is too much--
‘_Rochester._--Nay, I only mean that the business would be a little too
grave for the day. Nothing but the indulgence of the two grand social
virtues could be a proper testimony for my joy upon that occasion.
‘_The King._--Thou art the happiest fellow in my dominions. Let me
perish if I do not envy thee thy impudence!’
“It is in such strain of conversation, generally, that this prince
passes off his chagrin; and he never suffers his dignity to stand in the
way of his humour.”
This showing is in favour of Charles, on whose character, as a king of
England, posterity has long since pronounced judgment. A slave to his
passions, and a pensioner to France, he was unworthy of the people’s
“precious diadem.” He broke his public faith, and disregarded his
private word. To the vessel of the state he was a “sunk rock,” whereon
it had nearly foundered.
_Trinity Sunday._
In the Romish church this was a splendid festival, with processions and
services peculiar to its celebration; devotions were daily addressed to
every person of the Trinity: as the other festivals commemorated the
Unity in Trinity, so this commemorated the Trinity in Unity.[155]
In the Lambeth accounts are church-wardens’ charges for garlands and
drink for the children, for garnishing-ribbons, and for singing men in
the procession on Trinity-Sunday-even.[156]
It is still a custom of ancient usage for the judges and great
law-officers of the crown, together with the lord mayor, aldermen, and
common council, to attend divine service at St. Paul’s cathedral, and
hear a sermon which is always preached there on Trinity Sunday by the
lord mayor’s chaplain. At the first ensuing meeting of the common
council, it is usual for that court to pass a vote of thanks to the
chaplain for such sermon, and order the same to be printed at the
expense of the corporation, unless, as sometimes has occurred, it
contained sentiments obnoxious to their views.
* * * * *
In Curll’s “Miscellanies, 1714,” 8vo. is an account of Newnton, in North
Wiltshire; where, to perpetuate the memory of the donation of a common
to that place by king Athelstan and of a house for the hayward, _i. e._
the person who looked after the beasts that fed upon this common, the
following ceremonies were appointed: “Upon every Trinity Sunday, the
parishioners being come to the door of the hayward’s house, the door was
struck thrice, in honour of the Holy Trinity; they then entered. The
bell was rung; after which, silence being ordered, they read their
prayers aforesaid. Then was a ghirland of flowers (about the year 1660,
one was killed striving to take away the ghirland) made upon an hoop,
brought forth by a maid of the town upon her neck, and a young man (a
bachelor) of another parish, first saluted her three times, in honour of
the Trinity, in respect of God the Father. Then she puts the ghirland
upon his neck, and kisses him three times, in honour of the Trinity,
particularly God the Son. Then he puts the ghirland on her neck again,
and kisses her three times, in respect of the Holy Trinity, and
particularly the Holy Ghost. Then he takes the ghirland from her neck,
and, by the custom, must give her a penny at least, which, as fancy
leads, is now exceeded, as 2_s._ 6_d._ or &c. The method of giving this
ghirland is from house to house annually, till it comes round. In the
evening every commoner sends his supper up to this house, which is
called the Ealehouse: and having before laid in there equally a stock of
malt, which was brewed in the house, they sup together, and what was
left was given to the poor.”
* * * * *
An old homily for Trinity Sunday declares that the form of the Trinity
was found in man: that Adam, our forefather of the earth, was the first
person; that Eve, of Adam, was the second person; and that of them both
was the third person: further, that at the death of a man three bells
were to be rung as his knell in worship of the Trinity, and two bells
for a woman, as the second person of the Trinity.[157]
* * * * *