XI.

THE DOWNFALL OF CHARING-CROSS.

Charing-Cross, as it stood before the civil wars, was one of those beautiful Gothic obelisks erected to conjugal affection by Edward I., who built such a one wherever the herse of his beloved Eleanor rested in its way from Lincolnshire to Westminster. But neither its ornamental situation, the beauty of its structure, nor the noble design of its erection (which did honour to humanity), could preserve it from the merciless zeal of the times: For, in 1647, it was demolished by order of the House of Commons, as popish and superstitious. This occasioned the following not unhumorous sarcasm, which has been often printed among the popular sonnets of those times.

The plot referred to in ver. 17, was that entered into by Mr. Waller the poet, and others, with a view to reduce the city and tower to the service of the king; for which two of them, Nath. Tomkins and Rich. Chaloner, suffered death July 5, 1643. Vid. _Ath. Ox._ ii. 24.

Whitlocke says, "May 3, 1643, Cheapside cross and other crosses were voted down," &c.--But this Vote was not put in execution with regard to _Charing Cross_ till four years after, as appears from Lilly's _Observations on the Life, &c. of K. Charles_, viz. "Charing-Cross, we know, was pulled down, 1647, in June, July, and August. Part of the Stones were converted to pave before Whitehall. I have seen Knife-hafts made of some of the stones, which, being well-polished, looked like marble." Ed, 1715, p. 18, 12mo.

[In Laud's Diary it is written, "1643 Maii 2 Tuesday The cross in Cheapside taken down."]

See an Account of the pulling down Cheapside Cross, in the Supplement to _Gent. Mag._ 1764.

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[Charing Cross was the largest and most beautiful of the series of Eleanor crosses, and the architects employed in the construction of it were paid _£_450. The work was formerly attributed to Cavalini, but that artist was not born until the year 1279, and was therefore about eleven years old when the Queen died. Since the publication of the very interesting rolls of payments made by the executors of Queen Eleanor (_Manners and Household Expenses of England in the 13th and 15th centuries._ Roxburghe Club, 1841), it has been known that Charing Cross was commenced by Richard de Crundale and completed, after his death, by Roger de Crundale.

The site of the old cross was made use of as a place of execution, and several of the regicides were put to death there.

The Cheapside cross, which was taken down in 1643, was the third which occupied the site, and it had only been erected in 1600. The original cross was found to be in a bad condition in 1441, and a new one was therefore commenced, which was not finished until 1486. This was replaced in 1600 by the third cross.

Dr. Rimbault informs us that this ballad is printed with the music for three voices by "Mr. F. Farmeloe" in "The Second Book of the _Pleasant Musical Companion_," 1687.]

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Undone, undone the lawyers are, They wander about the towne, Nor can find the way to Westminster, Now Charing-cross is downe: At the end of the Strand, they make a stand, 5 Swearing they are at a loss, And chaffing say, that's not the way, They must go by Charing-cross.

The parliament to vote it down Conceived it very fitting, 10 For fear it should fall, and kill them all, In the house, as they were sitting. They were told god-wot, it had a plot, Which made them so hard-hearted, To give command, it should not stand, 15 But be taken down and carted.

Men talk of plots, this might have been worse For any thing I know, Than that Tomkins, and Chaloner, Were hang'd for long agoe. 20 Our parliament did that prevent, And wisely them defended, For plots they will discover still, Before they were intended.

But neither man, woman, nor child, 25 Will say, I'm confident, They ever heard it speak one word Against the parliament. An informer swore, it letters bore, Or else it had been freed; 30 I'll take, in troth, my Bible oath, It could neither write, nor read.

The committee said, that verily To popery it was bent; For ought I know, it might be so, 35 For to church it never went. What with excise, and such device, The kingdom doth begin To think you'll leave them ne'er a cross, Without doors nor within. 40

Methinks the common-council shou'd Of it have taken pity, 'Cause, good old cross, it always stood So firmly to the city. Since crosses you so much disdain, 45 Faith, if I were as you, For fear the king should rule again, I'd pull down Tiburn too.