New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-09
OLD LONDON.
Its Municipal Organization and Its
Religion.
medieval. LONDON. Vol H. Ecclesiastical. b!
Sir Walter Besant Illustrated 4to PIP. 4S6
The Macmillan Company.

medieval LONDON Vol II Ecclesiastical BY BY
Sir Walter Besant. Illustrated 40 PIP S0''
The Macmillan Company.
The second volume issued under the title Med
laval London in the series included in Sir
Walter Besant's splendid Survey of London"
is in text and illustration no less admirable than
its predecessors. Part is devoted TO the for
nation Of the Commune 10 the Wrestling from
the Plantagenet kings OF the City's right TO be-
come a municipality governing itself. 1t was
not movement originating altogether within
her own boundaries: the rich Flemish trading
towns. beside which she then insignificant
enough. had set her the example Of successful
insistence upon civic liberties. Her road was
beset with difficulties; IT was marked by battle,
murder and sudden death. by tragedies of cru
city and OF thwarted patriotism A host OF
sturdy pilgrims on that thorny way, host Of
dramatic Incidents are described by Besant with
the realism that only a OF imagination can
compass. The whole story is full OF vivid human
interest. Witness that curious scene in 1868
when during the BarSns' War, Henry III. being
a prisoner was made TO hold a court at ST.
PauTs.
Thither came Thomas F1tzThomas, Mayor OF
London, and the aldermen TO swear fealty 70
his majesty. Then" says the old chronicle
those who were present might thing
wondrous and unheard OF in this age: for the
most wretched Mayor. when taking the OATH
dared to utter words so rash as these. saying
unto his lordship the King in presence of the
people: My lord, so long as unto Us you will be
a good lord and king will be faithful and
duteOus unto you" Most wretched Mayor.
indeed. King Henry did not forget the manly
attitude OF the cty's ruler When the wheel Of
fortune turned with the defeat and death Of De
Montfort the King dealt forcibly with his UNI
dutiful city Of London, and promptly clapped
into prison the Mayor who had sworn limited
loyalty" What became of him? It is recorded
that F1tzThomas was never seen more in life or
death-he simply vanished from the earth.
In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries re-
ligion was the thing most evident on the sur
face of London life. The churches were every
where, their bells were ringing all day long;
zone could not escape the sight of the green
churchyard, the trees standing over the graves
and the little church among them" Sir Walter
estimates that a full quarter Of the city was
occupied by the religious houses and the places
they owned; and there was vast army OF &c
clesiastics. One fact that marked the enormous
power Of the Church that at her bidding
the whole nation. from the King downward. re-
nounced meat for fourth part of the whole
year. Every citizen who paid an annual rent
Of twenty shillings gave to the Church two shil-
lngs and sixpence a year. and others gave in
life. and II he became a malefactor she gave
him sanctuary.
Sanctuary actually sought by mpltitudes. but
traitors Jews, infidels and those who had com
Cathedrai two men slept every night in the Galee
Chapel TO admit fugitive who might ring the
actually converted into city OF refuge by the set
ting apart Of measured space. the Whole OF MhCn
-four roads met in the middle OF the town. cross
where sanctuary began. At Ripon and at Beverley
circle with radius OF mile was the fe n nci Ct
was actually laid down and jealousy DEFENDED ~
included many streets and fhe area ~ the General
Postofice. At Westminster the whole pTechJit OK
cioisters and gardens were sacred ground
For many years this right Of sanctuary was
maintained in London. though it was now and
again violated by desperate men, In Wat
Tylers rebellion, for example, his followers
dragged from the altar at St. Martins the tax
collectors who had fed t4lither for safety. on
another occasion certain fugitives VINO mad
taken refuge there were seized by force oy the
sheriffs and taken TO Newgate. only 10 Dc re-
leased when the matter was brought up IN the
Star Chamber Clever scoundrels made use Of
the outer precincts Of a sanctuary 10 manufact-
ure counterfeit plate and Jewels therein. The
dean. refusing 20 the Goldsmiths' Company the
right 20 inspect these workshops invited its
representatives as a matter OF courtesy TO
come in AID inspect the work. He was present
himself and ordered all bad work TO be de-
stroyed. In the case OF one Of Jack Cade's as
soclates the dean triumphed over the King who
demanded the traitor. But the ecclesiastic had
20 promise that he would not allow the mau
10 commit any more treason. AS time went on
the privilege Of sanctuary was more and more
abused. Fugitives formed themselves into pred
atory bands. returning to the safety Of the pre-
cinct after attacking and robbiSS citizens. Re-
strictioas on the privilege were imTosed 1t was
not until the last years Of the seventeenth cen
fury that the rights of sanctuary were nbol-
lshed.
hospitals and colleges OF London are full OF
picturesque and curious details. The strangest
story OF ell is that OF the knights Templars-
strais htwsy the name brings back the stirring