Part 46

“This church (says _Mackerell_) deserves to be taken particular notice of, as it is of no mean extent, being a very large, stately, and magnificient pile, built, as most cathedrals in England are, in the perfect form of a cross, and contains in _length_ within the walls, by mensuration 240 feet; in _breadth_, including the cross, 118 feet, and in _height_ from the highest battlements 52 feet. About the middle or cross isle it is graced with a very fair and lofty _Lanthorn_, all covered with lead, mounted on four main arches within the body of the church, in which hangs the _Clock-Bell_, which may be heard all over the town. The height of this ornamental fabrick is 132 feet. It was neatly painted within with several coats of arms and other decorations in 1621.—At the west end is a tower of stone 82 feet high; on the outside of which towards the street, is placed a Moon-Dial, shewing the increase and decrease of that planet, with the exact hour of the day to all that pass by, actuated within by clock work, and new beautified and gilt in 1710. On this tower is a very high and regular spire, of timber, all covered with lead, resembling a pyramid, in height 193 feet; [but] in all, from the superficies of the ground, it is 275 feet, including the spindle of iron with a cross on the top, and under it a vane in form of a hand, both gilt, which was new set up in 1630; the former one having continued full 70 years, being erected in 1568. [rather 1558.] The model of the spire is surprizing. Near this [and parallel with it on the north side] is the Bell-Tower, built of freestone 86 feet high, in which formerly were _five_ very large bells, of which the biggest was called _the Margaret_, and was for her curious sound one of the fairest of that kind, and might be heard (the wind favouring, as I have been assured) full ten miles distant. Others had likewise their distinct names, as _the Trinity_, _the St. Thomas_, _&c._ So christened, I suppose, as was usual before the reformation. But the _biggest_ and the _least_ of these were purposely broken, and with some addition cast into others, to make a ring of _eight_, which was effected in 1663.—This noble structure is illuminated with above 70 arched windows, and others, all formerly of painted glass, representing the pictures of saints in sacred scripture, with other holy men and women, martyrs and confessors; of which that high and lofty one on the south side and cross isle is [was] very remarkable, [exhibiting] as I am informed, the whole history of _St. Margaret_, the patroness of this church; and that circular one over the altar [containing] the genealogy of the kings of Israel, is now to be seen almost all entire, where also underneath the same are depicted the Town-Arms, and on the south windows in the Quire are still remaining several coats of arms in lively colours, and very fair.”

[In the time of the civil wars most of the painted glass in those windows was, it seems, taken down and replaced with white glass, the former being looked upon, by those who were then in power here, as savouring too much of _popery_ and superstition. See _Mackerell_, p. 8, &c.—Of its present state Mr. _Britton_ writes as follows.

“The _church_ was a large spacious structure, and though curtailed of its original dimensions, is still a noble pile. Internally it displays a nave, with ailes, which constitute the present place for service; a chancel or choir, with ailes; a transept and two towers at the west end. The roof is supported by 22 columns; of which those east of the transept are formed by a cluster of five shafts each. In this part of the building are some ancient carved stalls, and several flat monumental stones, with inscriptions; also some very large and fine brasses. At the east end is a circular window, with ten transverse mullions. This part of the church is divided from the transept by a wooden screen, which was erected in 1622. A lofty tower, or _lanthorn_, is said to have been originally at the intersection of the cross ailes; and a high _spire_ to have surmounted one of the western towers. The latter display different styles of architecture, and the lower parts of them are very ancient. The buttresses of the angles to the southern tower consist of several small shafts of columns. The church formerly contained numerous brasses {1091a} and inscriptions, some of which remain.” {1091b}

This account, we presume, is pretty fair and correct as far as it goes, and our limits will not well allow us here to attempt any further enlargement. We will, however, just add, that the interior of this church is, for so large a building, kept in a style of uncommon cleanliness and neatness.

{1091a} _Since Mr. Britton wrote this passage_, _an unprincipled and sacrilegious Sexton made much havoc among those brasses_, _many of which he carried away and sold_; _but being detected_, _he was so ashamed and frightened_, _that he actually went and hanged himself_.

{1091b} See Beauties of England, vol. xi, page 293.

{1093} From the period in which he flourished, the date of his canonisation, and the great regard then paid to the memory of new saints, (compared with the date of the original erection of this chapel,) it appears more than probable that the personage in question was St. Nicholas called _Peregrinus_, who became famous in Apulia, and of whom _Jortin_ says—

“He was a Greek, born in Attica. His parents were poor, and he had not learnt to read, or been bred to any trade. When he was eight years of age, his mother sent him out to take care of the sheep. From that time he began to sing aloud, _Kyrie eleison_, which he did night and day; and this act of devotion he performed all his life long. His mother not being able to make him leave it off, thought that he was possessed of the devil, and carried him to a neighbouring monastery, where the monks shut him up and chastised him, but could not hinder him from singing his song. He suffered punishment patiently, and immediately began again. Returning to his mother, he took a hatchet and a knife, and clambering up a mountain, he cut branches of cedar, and made crosses of them, which he stuck up in the highways, and in places inaccessible, praising God continually. Upon this mountain he built himself a little hut, and dwelt there sometime all alone, working perpetually. Then he went to Lepanto, where a monk joined himself to him and never forsook him. They passed into Italy, where Nicholas was taken sometimes for an holy man, and sometimes for a madman. He fasted every day until evening; his food was a little bread and water, and yet he did not grow lean. The nights he usually passed in prayer, standing upright. He wore only a short vest, reaching to his knees, his head, legs and feet being naked. In his hand he carried a light wooden cross, and a scrip at his side, to receive the alms that were given him, which he usually laid out in fruit, to distribute to the boys who went about with him, singing along with him _Kyrie eleison_. His oddities caused him to be ill used sometimes, even by the orders of the bishops. He performed, [as was said] various miracles, and exhorted the people to repentance. At last falling sick, and being visited by multitudes who came to beg his blessing, he died, and was buried in a Cathedral, with great solemnity: and according to custom (our author adds) a great number of miracles was wrought at his tomb.”

This is related under 1094, which we take to be the year of his death, or canonization. See _Jortin_ Rem. Eccl. Hist. 5. 66. Such was our St. Nicholas: a more harmless and far better saint, without doubt, than _Dominic_ and many others that might be mentioned; so that his memory, _comparatively speaking_, ought to be held in very high estimation.

{1095} Had the wielders of the whitening brush totally effaced this impious representation, or had the reformers of the time of Edward the sixth, or of Charles the first completely obliterated it, they had done a good thing, and deserved our commendation; and so would our present rulers were they to do the same; for what can be a more absurd and impious object in a place of worship, or any other place, than a picture or image of the Almighty!

{1097} The passage alluded to is as follows—

“1585 Feb. 21. An order made III and IV Ph. and Mary conc. the derision of St. Margts. parish and the parish of St. Nic. and yt. of late yt. order notwithstanding prcell of the _Checker-warde_ and of _New Condutt-warde_ have been accounted prcell of St. Nic. Chap. ctrarie to the same order: yt. is ord. yt. those 2 wards aforesaid shall hollie be accounted of St. Margt’s parishe and shll paie clarcks wages and other charges, as prishrs. of the parish of St. Margt. according to ye sd. resited order.”

{1098} That affair is thus related in the record—

“1579, May 23. Controversye about the Tytle of St. Nicolas church yard. Opinion of the Recorder 19. June. Maior Ald. C. C. stand to their Tytle and Int. in S. N. ch. yd. and defend it by Law of Arms.”

{1103} p. 391.

{1109} In the White Friars Yard Chapel at Norwich, where he used to preach, a monumental inscription in memory of him was set up long after his death by his grandson the late Grantham Killingworth Esq. the chief part of which is as follows—

A MEMORIAL _Dedicated to the singular merits of_ _A faithful confessor_, _and laborious servant of Christ_, _Who with true christian fortitude endured persecution_ _Through many perils_, _the loss of friends and substance_, _And ten imprisonments for conscience sake_; _The rev._ Mr. THOMAS GRANTHAM, _A learned Messenger of the Baptized Churches_, _And pious founder of this church of believers baptized_, _Who delivered to king Charles the second_ _Our Declaration of Faith_, _And afterwards presented to him_ _A Remonstrance against Persecution_. _Both were kindly received_, _and redress of grievances promised_. He died Jan. 17. 1692, aged 58 years: And to prevent the indecencies threatened to his corpse, was intered before the west doors, In the middle aile of St. Stephen’s Church, in this city, Through the interest, and much to the credit of The rev. Mr JOHN CONNOULD By whom, with many sighs and tears, The burial service was solemnly read to a crowded audience: When at closing the book he added, “This day has a very great man fallen in Israel.” For after their epistolary dispute, in sixty Letters, ended, That very learned vicar retained The highest esteem and friendship for him whilst living, And was by his own desire buried by him, May 1703.

{1112} A narrative of this memorable affair has been published by Mr. Finch, and may be had of him, or of the booksellers.

{1113} With whom such connection might be desirable for this infant society; and it certainly would not be dishonourable, or inconsistent with their avowed aversion to religious thraldom; as it would require no sacrifice of their religious liberty or christian freedom: both parties being equally advocates for the full enjoyment of that inestimable right, and most invaluable blessing.

{1116} Of the _origin_ and _progress_ of Methodism in the kingdom, see a brief account at page 934 of this work.—It is a remarkable instance of deep policy in the history of methodism, that the sect, when young and weak, placed itself under the wing of the established church, and bitterly inveighed against all who separated from it; but when it acquired strength, so as to feel itself able to go alone, it threw off the mask, and scrupled not to avow and prove itself, to all intents and purposes, a dissenting sect.

{1120a} Should they soon assume a different character, or become disposed like their neighbours to congregate and form themselves into a distinct society, for the purpose of instructing their dear townsmen by public lectures, respecting that better way of thinking with which they deem themselves so well acquainted, an admirable opening for putting such a project in execution now presents itself—that of buying or hiring the Methodist Chapel, which is expected to be disposed of to the best bidder as soon as the new edifice is completed, or perhaps sooner.

{1120b} Yet Hiram was dead many centuries before Euclid was born.

{1121} So it may be supposed that Euclid and Solomon, and Hiram and Mannon, and Marcel and king Athelstan lived all about the same time!—an idea too monstrous surely, for English, or even Masonic credulity to imbibe or adopt!—See _Prichard’s_ description of Masonry. 21st. Edit, p. 3, &c.

{1126} Its constituents during the first stages of its existence bore the following names—_Asty Harwick_, _Abel Hawkins_, _Geo. Foley_, _N. Elstobb_, _Sam. Browne_, _Peter Elyson_, _Rich. Marshall_, _John Mountaine_, _Nic. Anderson_, _John Bagge_, _Dan. Swaine_, _Jos. Lee_, _Wm. Taylor_, _Rob. Fysh_, _Edm. Elsden_, _Tho. Day_, _Rich. Sands_, _Henry Fysh_, _Robert Hamilton_, _Rich. Allyson_, _Wm. Ward_, _Scarlet Browne_, _Geo. Patteson_, _Tho. Berneye_, _Tho. Hawkins_, and _Jos. Taylor_.—Most of these seem to have continued in the society to the last, though some were expelled for different reputed delinquencies.—It is curious enough to observe their mock formalities in the administration of their laws, and the maintenance of the government and discipline of the society, as they appear in their written transactions, which are still extant. A few specimens here may not be ungrateful to the reader—At one time _Asty Harwick_ is indicted, tried, found guilty, and fined, for _carrying home the sword_, _contrary to the rules of the society_—at the same time _Richard Marshall_ is indicted, tried, found guilty, and fined, for _throwing a piece of pipe at Mr. Deputy governor_—another time _Samuel Browne_ is indicted, tried, found guilty, and fined, for _tearing the bill before it was discharged_—another time _Joseph Lee_ is indicted, tried, found guilty, and fined, for _interrupting Mr. deputy govr. Harwick_—another time _Jos. Lee_ is indicted, tried, found guilty, and fined, for _pulling the governor_ Capt. Nic. Anderson’s _wig awry_—same time _Asty Harwick_ and _John Bagge_, were indicted, tried, found guilty, and fined, for _insulting the secretary in his office_—another time _Mr. Bagge_ was indicted, tried, found guilty and fined, for _not attending_ the then governor, Mr. Richard Marshall, with the sword, Mr. Bagge being then sword-bearer.—Those who were indicted and tried were _all found guilty_, _with only one exception_, which was in the case of _Wm. Ward_, (April 14, 1750) who was indicted, tried, and _acquitted_, under the charge of _affronting the then govr._ Mr. Bagge, by conferring upon him the unworthy and degrading office of _deputy secretary_.—Thus did some of our most hopeful and reputable townsmen employ themselves between 60 and 70 years ago. Whether their successors or representatives of the present day employ themselves more worthily, may deserve some consideration. As to our courtiers and statesmen, it cannot well be supposed that they would have any great objection to our gentlemen and all the rest of the nation employing their leisure time in such a frivolous manners, as it would leave them at liberty to pursue their course with less observance or interruption. After all, had our society of _True-Britons_, been still continued we are not sure but they might have proved by this time, as useful to themselves, and as beneficial to the community at large, as either of our present Lodges of Free Masons.

{1129} For further information relating to the original history of these two houses the reader is referred to the account of St. Gyles and St. Julian’s gild, in a former part of this work.—p. 422, &c.

{1130a} This gentleman did not acquire his wealth here; nor did he follow the example of our Aldersons, our Cases, our Freemans, our Adlens, our Bowkers, our Bagges, &c., who went out of the world apparently without ever remembering the poor, or wishing to leave behind any memorials of their names in such charitable bequests.

{1130b} Some years ago, as one of the present pensioners told this writer, the governor of that time went so far as to talk of furnishing those chambers with that desirable appendage, but that the _reader_ of that period, with one of the women, (both of whom had a fireplace in their rooms,) most unfeelingly dissuaded him from it, and he gave it up.—The present occupier of one of those rooms is said to have been for a long time confined to it, if not to her bed. The want of a fireplace must doubtless be severely felt by her.

{1131a} In another place he is called _Loningston_ and _Lovingstone_.

{1131b} Over against the above passage is inserted the allowing note, seemingly in the same hand—“The above 10_l._ annuity is applied to the clothing of the poor yearly, and payd by the chamberlain, to the overseers of St. Margaret’s parish.” Then it is added,—“I take this to be the 10_l._ payd to the Treasurer of St. James’s Workhouse, by the name of _Loningston_ or _Lovingstone_, which I take to be the same.” But this modern note-writer, and conjectural commentator, ought to have known that St. James’s Workhouse could not be called an _Almshouse_ or _Hospital_ in 1594, nor till near a whole century after. The said annuity must therefore have undergone some foul play.

{1132a} There are happily still some such contributors, and among them one conspicuous above the rest, to whose unostentatious charities the poor pensioners in all our almshouses are not a little indebted for their comforts; as this writer could easily perceive by what dropt from divers of them, in the course of conversations he has had with them at different times. It is here neither needful nor proper to mention the name.—Of the _land_ charged with the 10_l._ a year to this almshouse, the following memorandum occurs in the said MS. volume; written seemingly about 1729:

“I find 76 acres on the S. marsh; viz. Godfrey Hill, 5 acres; 7_l._ 10_s._—Tho. Miles, 5 acres; 7_l._ 0_s._—Jer. Ink. J. King, and J. Lay, 14 acres; 16_l._—Widow Carleton, 16 acres; 18_l._ 2_s._—R. Richmund, 36 acres; 39_l._—Total 76 acres: 88_l._—This I take to be the land to maintain this almhouse.”—A little after we find the following memorandum,—“Payd the Hoipital 1729, 19_s._ 8_d._ per week, for 52 weeks; 51_l._ 2_s._ 8_d._—Mr. Quartereder, 5_s._—Straw money, 6_s._—9 Chald. coles, boatidge, and porter, 9_l._ 16_s._ 6_d._—200 Sedge, 1_l._ 4_s._—12 brooms, 1_s._ 4_d._ 4 Skeps 20_d_; 2_s._ 8_d._—this is the fixt yearly pay, 62_l._ 16_s._ 10_d._ besides other incident charges, repairs, &c.”

On the whole therefore it appears, that the poor occupiers, or pensioners of this almshouse were much better off 80 or a 100 years ago, than they have been for many years past, as well as that our rulers were than better disposed towards them than they have been latterly.

{1132b} Since that period, the _weekly_ allowance of these pensioners appears to have differed at different times—down to 1772 it was 19_s._ 3_d._ in all, or about 18_d._ each: From 1772 to 1791, 1_l._ 5_s._ 5_d._ or about 2_s._ each: From 1791 to 1803, 1_l._ 8_s._ 5_d._ or about 2_s._ 3_d._ each: From 1803 to 1811, 1_l._ 12_s._ 3_d._ or 2_s._ 6_d._ ¾ each.—But here it ought to be observed, that the _Reader_ has had always allowed him 1_s._ 6_d._ a week more than the women. He has also a Chalder of Coals allowed him, as has likewise each of the women who have fire-places in their chambers. _Nine_ chalders a year are allowed this house in all;—the rest are appropriated to the kitchen or common fireplace.

{1135} Of two of these we learn, that the _first_ was established on the 1_st._ of June 1795 for a _hundred_ members, who receive relief in sickness, lying-in, old age, and upon the death of their husbands. The fund is supported by a small monthly payment of their own, and annual subscriptions from _honorary_ members.—The _second_ beneficial society for the same number of poor women, (100;) was established July 1, 1799, affording the same allowances to them, except the pension in _old age_, which it was found by experience could not be supported without the assistance of many honorary members. It was hoped that this society would be able to support itself; in which case the advantages resulting from it might have been extended to any number of poor women who might choose to embrace them. But either the allowance must be still further reduced, or the monthly payment increased, before it will be released from the necessity of requiring at least occasional benefactions.—It is to be hoped therefore that it will not fail of obtaining every necessary aid and support.

{1136} Of the number of these societies, and their respective meeting places, the following account is supposed to be pretty correct—_Two_ at the _Crown Tavern_; _one_ at the _Three Tuns_; _one_ at the _Three Pigeons_; _two_ at the _Valiant Sailor_; _one_ at the _Coach and Horses_; _one_ at the _Tailor’s Arms_; _two_ at the _Plough_; _one_ at the _Angel_; _two_ at the _Oak_; _one_ at the _Dog_; _four_ at the _Three Fishes_; _two_ at the _Sun_; _two_ at the _Green Dragon_; _one_ at the _Boar’s Head_; _one_ at the _George and Dragon_.—in all 23. There may be more, but we have not been yet able to find them out.—As to the number of _Inns_ and _Public Houses_ now in the town, they are said to be near 70, but they were formerly much more numerous: even as many as 87 some years ago. This decrease is not to be ascribed to a decrease of our population, but rather to a decreasing propensity in the inhabitants to frequent those houses, owing probably, in part at least, to the great increase of _conventicles_, and the increasing frequency of _evening services_ in those places, where a large proportion of the inhabitants find themselves entertained much more innocently, profitably, and agreeably, than at the public house:—all which however cannot be supposed very pleasing to our publicans and common-brewers.

{1138} There are, it seems, many benevolent societies so named in different places; and some of them unconnected with Methodism—of which there is one of a very respectable appearance at _Liverpool_, among whose members is the name of the celebrated _William Roscoe_. In the _annual account_ of this society for 1809 appears the following remarkable passage—

“The _Subscribers_ to the _Stranger’s Friend Society_, are, in general, already well acquainted with the nature, design, and excellency of the institution. It may not, however, be unnecessary to state once more, for the information of that part of the public, whose attention has not been hitherto duly excited towards this charity, that its object is, _to visit_, _at their own homes_, _the_ SICK _and_ DESTITUTE POOR of all countries and denominations, (_the Methodists only excepted_, in order to exclude even the suspicion of sectarian partiality,) and administer such relief and consolation as their wants and sorrows may appear to require.”