EPILOGUE. WHAT Sophocles could undertake alone, How much his wit must under-write to please. Weak poets by conjunction are secure. *The burning a Pope in effigy, was a ceremony performed upon the anniversary of queen Elizabeth's coronation. When parties ran high betwixt the courtiers and opposition, in the latter part of Charles the II. reign, these anti-papal solemnities were conducted by the latter, with great state and expence, and employed as engines to excite the popular resentment against the duke of York, and his religion. The following curious 223 description of one of these tumultuary processions, in 1679, was extracted by Ralph, from a very scarce pamphlet; it is the ceremony referred to in the epilogue; and it shall be given at length, as the subject is frequently alluded to by Dryden. “On the said 17th of November, 1679, the bells, generally, about the town, began to ring at three o'clock in the morning. At the approach of the evening, (all things being in readiness) the solemn procession began, setting forth from Moregate, and so passed, first to Aldgate, and thence through Leadenhall-street, by the Royal Exchange, through Cheapside, and so to Temple-bar in the ensuing order, viz. "1. Came six whifflers, to clear the way, in pioneer caps, and red waistcoats. 66 2. A bellman ringing, and with a loud (but doleful) voice, crying out all the way, remember Justice Godfrey. "3. A dead body, representing justice Godfrey, in a decent black habit, carried before a jesuit, in black, on horse-back, in like manner as he was carried by the assassins to Primrose Hill. "4. Next after Sir Edmonbury, so mounted, came a priest in a surplice, with a cope embroidered with dead bones, skeletons, skulls, and the like, giving pardons very plentifully to all those who should murder protestants; and proclaiming it meritorious. ❝5. Then a priest in black alone, with a great silver cross. "7. Four grey-friars, in the proper habits of their order. 8. Six jesuits, with bloody daggers. "9. A concert of wind music. "10. Four bishops, in purple, and lawn sleeves, with a golden crosier on their breast, and crosier-staves in their hands. "11. Four other bishops, in Pontificalibus, with surplices, and rich embroidered copes, and golden mitres on their heads. "12. Six cardinals, in scarlet robes and caps. "13. The Pope's doctor, i. e. Wakeman,* with jesuits-powder in one hand, and an urinal in the other. "14. Two priests in surplices, with two golden crosses. 66 Lastly, The Pope, in a lofty, glorious pageant, representing a chair of state, covered with scarlet, richly embroidered and fringed, and bedecked with golden balls and crosses: At his feet a cushion of state, and two boys in surplices with white silk banners, and bloody crucifixes and daggers with an incense pot before them, censing his holiness, who was arrayed in a splendid scarlet gown, lined through with ermin, and richly daubed with gold and silver lace; on his head a triple crown of gold, and a glorious collar of gold and precious stones, St Peter's keys, a num*ber of beads, agnus deis, and other catholic trumpery. At his back, his holiness's privy counsellor, the degraded Seraphim, (anglice the devil,) frequently caressing, hugging, and whispering him, and oft times instructing him aloud to destroy his majesty, to forge a protestant plot, and to fire the city again, to which purpose he held an infernal torch in his hand. * Sir George Wakeman was physician to the queen, and a catholic. He was tried for the memorable Popish plot and acquitted, the credit of the witnesses being now blasted, by the dying declarations of those who suffered. "The whole procession was attended with 150 flambeaux and lights, by order; but so many more came in volunteers, as made up some thou sands. "Never were the balconies, windows, and houses more numerously lined, or the streets closer throng'd with multitudes of people, all expressing their abhorrence of Popery, with continual shouts and exclamations; so that 'tis modestly computed, that, in the whole progress, there could not be fewer than two hundred thousand spectators. "Thus with a slow, and solemn state, they procecded to Temple Bar; where with innumerable swarms, the houses seemed to be converted into heaps of men, and women, and children, for whose diversion there were provided great variety of excellent fireworks. "Temple Bar being, since its rebuilding, adorned with four stately statues, viz. those of Queen Elizabeth and King James, on the inward, or eastern side, fronting the city; and those of King Charles the I. of blessed memory, and our present gracious sovereign, (whom God, in mercy to these nations, long preserve!) on the outside, facing towards Westminster; and the statue of Queen Elizabeth in regard to the day, having on a crown of gilded laurel, and in her hand a golden shield, with this motto inscribed: The Protestant Religion, and Magna Charta, and flambeaux placed before it. The Pope being brought up near thereunto, the following song, alluding to the posture of those statues, was sung in parts, between one representing the English Cardinal ( Howard, )* and others acting the people: CARDINAL NORFOLK. From York to London town we come, To talk of Popish ire, To reconcile you all to Rome, And prevent Smithfield fire. PLEBEIANS. Cease, cease, thou Norfolk Cardinal, Your Popish plot, and Smithfield threat, For lo! beneath Queen Bess's feet, << "Tis true, our King's on t'other side, "But could we bring him round about, He'd counterplot you all. Philip, the 3d son of Henry Earl of Arundel, and brother to the Duke of Norfolk, created a Cardinal in 1675. He was a second cousin of Lady Elizabeth Howard, afterwards the wife of our poet. |
