LONDON

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 July 1927, Page 7

LONDON

ROMANTIC HISTORY OF THE GREAT CAPITAL OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE I

SIGHTS OF MEDIEVAL TIMES London, that wonder city which, within its walls, epitomises the whole history of the English-speaking people, has been the subject of books without end. It has been worthily and ex*haustively chronicled, yet always there is something new. Mr. Gordon Horne knows his London and loves it, and he writes of its many-sided charms i with keen sympathy. In his latest book, “Medievai London,” he continues the story of the greatest city in the world from the year 457 to the year 1485 and the coming of the Tudors. The period to 457 is covered in the same author’s fascinating work. “Roman London.” The historical sidelights are admirable and the flood of light thrown on contemporary personages, manners and customs, most interesting. London’s Mayor The author traces through the centuries the gradual growth of the city's privileges, and sets forth in detail the sturdy maintenance of its rights by its citizens. Of particular interest is the account of the evolution of the Mayoralty and the form of civic government which exists to-day as it •did in the early years of the city's glorious past. Nowadays every city of any size takes unto itself a Lord Mayor, but these are mere parvenu Lord Mayors. Actually there is but one Lord Mayor, his Lordship of London, and he, with his almost regal rights and privileges, stands alone — unique. The historical sequence throughout the book is admirably preserved, the adorning sidelights being woven into the story in a simple and pleasing narrative style. Nor is the book overloaded with minute historical detail, and yet within the 382 pages Mr. Horne gives us a broad, yet comprehensive, survey covering 1,000 years in London’s checkered history. Here it may be said that the illustrations, which are numerous, are not hackneyed, and admirably elucidate the work, while there are valuable appendices consisting of an exhaustivechronology and medieval London, a list of surviving medieval churches, and a well-compiled index. Early Years London, then the greatest city of Roman Britain, disappears in 457 and no record exists until 597, when it emerges in history, still an important city to which Pope Gregory the Great directs Augustine to establish a See. In 604 Bede writes of London, "as a mart of many nations resorting to it by sea and land.” Through troublous Saxon times with civil wars and Danish, Frankish and Viking incursions, the author traces his chronicle until we come to the coming of the Norman kings. The conqueror confirmed the city’s charter: “William, King, greets William. Bishop, and Gosfregh, Port Reeve, and all the burghers within London, Franch and English, friendlike. And I give you to know that I will that ye be all those laws worthy that ye were in King Eadwerde’s day. And I will that every child be his father’s heir after his father’s day. And I will not suffer that any man offer you any wrong. God keep you.” The Plantagenets At this time the Bishop ruled London. The office of Mayor may or may not have been that of Port Reeve. King William granted a second charter giving the corporation control of the city and the sheriffdom of London. In this reign was built St. Paul’s—to endure for 600 years. Plagues and fires were of frequent occurrence in these early years, and always, be it noted that the first act of a new king or a challenger to the throne was to conciliate the city of London and its citizens. After the stormy Norman times followed the comparative pea- e of the early Plantagenets. It was not until the reign of John that the mayoralty as such came into being. The party favouring John under Richard Fitz Reiner agreed to recognise John only on the condition that he should recognise London as an independent commune, and in 1188 London was ruled by a mayor, assisted by 12 aldermen, the first mayor being Henry Fitz-Ailwyne, and he held office for | 25 years.

A Sight In 1252 all I.ondon was in the streets to witness a sight—the exposure on the Tower of the head of Llewellyn-ap-Gruffyd, last independent prince of North Wales, and in IS,-.,! the trophy was matched with the head of David, his brother. This exposure was a piece of grim humour on Edward’s part. The stubborn resistance of the Welsh had been largely due to a prophecy that a Welsh prince would be crowned in Lodnon when money was “made round.” The new coinage was held to have fulfilled half the prediction, and the second half was now also fulfilled, but not as the Welsh bards had hoped. In 1285 a curious position arose. By connivance with the Royal officials, and owing to the king wishing to obtain greater control over the city, the mayor refused to wait upon the Royal justiciars, according to custom- Consequently there was no mayor for 13 years, and a warden reigned in his stead, but in 1298 the citizens’ right to elect a mayor was restored, and has been exercised without let ever since. In 1295 London saw a curious sight. Sir Thomas de Turberville had entered into treasonable communication with France, sending full information regarding the king’s difficulties. Ho was seized, condemned, and put to death with -special indignity, being dragged to the gallows on a raw bull’s hide, attended by four hangmen clothed as devils, who all the way taunted the miserable wretch with his crimes, and approaching end. and battered him with cudgels and goads. The Continental wars were a continual drain on the city, but she always responded, and in 1348 came the “black death,” when about half the population of London perished. Then came the joyous tidings of the victory of Poictiers, and all London turned out to behold the spectacle of a king of France being led in triumph—a captive—through its streets. Interesting Sidelights There is an interesting sidelight on private affairs quoted by Mr. Home: The account of Robert be Brynkeleye, a mercer, concerning the administration of the estate of a boy left under his guardianship. The lad’s father left capital £3OO (£4.500 in modern value). The money invested in London produced 20 per cent., making a total of £7BO in the 13 years of the guardianship, to be added to the original capital. Of this the guardian received half, according to the custom of the city. The lad’s board is reckoned at 2s a week, clothes .£2 a year, schooling £1 6s 8d a year—incidentals, £l3 in all. DICK WHITTINGTON The story of Wat Tyler and his rebellion is told with a wealth of detail, and then comes the accession of Henry IV., who had not the power, even if he had the will, to interfere with the jealously preserved liberties of he great and wealthy city, every day growing more conscious of its strength. During this period occurs the notable name of Richard Whytyngtone. What amount of truth there is in the Dick Whittington ,’egend the author is unable to determine. Certainly he was unusually affluent at an early age, when only Just out of his apprenticeship, and the legend is contemporary with Whittington. In the ruins of the Whittington house, excavated some four centuries later, a bas relief of a boy with a cat was unearthed—undoubtedly 15th century work. When Whittington died in 1423 he left the whole of his fortune to charity, and his charities survive, and are administered to-day. Through the troublous times of the Wars of the Roses the author takes us with wealth of detail until the j chronicle closes with the death of Richard 111., and the accession of the first of the Tudors. Some Prices Then follow chapters devoted to the governance of London and its social and domestic life. Ready money in 1300 was not plentiful, but a silver penny had considable purchasing power. Large linen chests cost 2s, a table Is, chairs 4d or Bd. a woollen shirt cost sd, and a citizen’s helmet, shoulder plates, buckles, and dagger were priced together at ss. with a battleaxe 6d. Then, as to foodstuffs, a few prices are of interest: A pig cost 4s. a carcase of beef 15s, a swan ss; ten cooked eggs cost Id, oysters cost 4d a bushel, and so on.

Religious life in London is dealt with, and there are chapters on preNorman architecture and the buildings of the city.