Multimedia Mania/abacus-multimedia-mania.iso/dp/0145/01457.txt

Text File | 1993-07-27 | 14KB | 270 lines

$Unique_ID{bob01457}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Prince And The Pauper, The
Notes}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Twain, Mark}
$Affiliation{}
$Subject{laws
note
england
king
blue
death
london
christ's
hospital
law}
$Date{1909}
$Log{}
Title:       Prince And The Pauper, The
Author:      Twain, Mark
Date:        1909

Notes

Note 1: Christ's Hospital Costume

     It is most reasonable to regard the dress as copied from the costume
of the citizens of London of that period, when long blue coats were the
common habit of apprentices and serving-men, and yellow stockings were
generally worn; the coat fits closely to the body, but has loose sleeves,
and beneath is worn a sleeveless yellow under-coat; around the waist is a
red leathern girdle; a clerical band around the neck, and a small flat
black cap, about the size of a saucer, completes the costume. - Timbs'
"Curiosities of London."

Note 2

     It appears that Christ's Hospital was not originally founded as a
school; its object was to rescue children from the streets, to shelter,
feed, clothe them, etc. - Timbs' "Curiosities of London."

Note 3: The Duke of Norfolk's Condemnation Commanded

     The King was now approaching fast towards his end; and fearing lest
Norfolk should escape him, he sent a message to the Commons, by which he
desired them to hasten the bill, on pretence that Norfolk enjoyed the
dignity of earl marshal, and it was necessary to appoint another, who might
officiate at the ensuing ceremony of installing his son Prince of Wales. -
Hume, vol. iii, p. 307.

Note 4

     It was not till the end of this reign [Henry VIII] that any salads,
carrots, turnips, or other edible roots were produced in England.  The
little of these vegetables that was used was formerly imported from Holland
and Flanders.  Queen Catherine, when she wanted a salad, was obliged to
despatch a messenger thither on purpose. - Hume's History of England, vol.
iii, p. 314.

Note 5: Attainder of Norfolk

     The house of peers, without examining the prisoner, without trial or
evidence, passed a bill of attainder against him and sent it down to the
commons. . . . The obsequious commons obeyed his [the King's] directions;
and the King, having affixed the royal assent to the bill by commissioners,
issued orders for the execution of Norfolk on the morning of the twenty-
ninth of January [the next day]. - Hume's England, vol. iii, p. 306.

Note 6: The Loving-Cup

     The loving-cup, and the peculiar ceremonies observed in drinking from
it, are older than English history.  It is thought that both are Danish
importations.  As far back as knowledge goes, the loving-cup has always
been drunk at English banquets.  Tradition explains the ceremonies in this
way: in the rude ancient times it was deemed a wise precaution to have both
hands of both drinkers employed, lest while the pledger pledged his love
and fidelity to the pledgee the pledgee take that opportunity to slip a
dirk into him!

Note 7: The Duke of Norfolk's Narrow Escape

     Had Henry VIII survived a few hours longer, his order for the duke's
execution would have been carried into effect.  "But news being carried to
the Tower that the King himself had expired that night, the lieutenant
deferred obeying the warrant; and it was not thought advisable by the
council to begin a new reign by the death of the greatest nobleman in the
Kingdom, who had been condemned by a sentence so unjust and tyrannical." -
Hume's England, vol. iii, p. 307.

Note 8: The Whipping-Boy

     James I and Charles II had whipping-boys when they were little
fellows, to take their punishment for them when they fell short in their
lessons; so I have ventured to furnish my small prince with one, for my own
purposes.

Notes to Chapter XV

     Character Of Hertford

     The young king discovered an extreme attachment to his uncle, who was,
in the main, a man of moderation and probity. - Hume's England, vol. iii,
p. 324.

     But if he [the Protector] gave offense by assuming too much state, he
deserves great praise on account of the laws passed this session, by which
the rigor of former statutes was much mitigated, and some security given to
the freedom of the constitution.  All laws were repealed which extended the
crime of treason beyond the statute of the twenty-fifth of Edward III; all
laws enacted during the late reign extending the crime of felony; all the
former laws against Lollardy or heresy, together with the statute of the
Six Articles.  None were to be accused for words, but within a month after
they were spoken.  By these repeals several of the most rigorous laws that
ever had passed in England were annulled; and some dawn, both of civil and
religious liberty, began to appear to the people.  A repeal also passed of
that law, the destruction of all laws, by which the king's proclamation was
made of equal force with a statute. - Ibid., vol. iii, p. 339.

     Boiling To Death

     In the reign of Henry VIII, prisoners were, by act of parliament,
condemned to be boiled to death.  This act was repealed in the following
reign.

     In Germany, even in the 17th century, this horrible punishment was
inflicted on coiners and counterfeiters.  Taylor, the Water Poet, describes
an execution he witnessed in Hamburg, in 1616.  The judgment pronounced
against a coiner of false money was that he should "be boiled to death in
oil: not thrown into the vessel at once, but with a pulley or rope to be
hanged under the armpits, and then let down into the oil by degrees; first
the feet, and next the legs, and so to boil his flesh from his bones
alive." - Dr. F. Hammond Trumbull's "Blue Laws, True and False," p. 13.

     The Famous Stocking Case

     A woman and her daughter, nine years old, were hanged in Huntingdon
for selling their souls to the devil, and raising a storm by pulling off
their stockings! - Ibid., p. 20.

Note 10: Enslaving

     So young a king, and so ignorant a peasant were likely to make
mistakes - and this is an instance in point.  This peasant was suffering
from this law by anticipation; the king was venting his indignation against
a law which was not yet in existence: for this hideous statute was to have
birth in this little king's own reign.  However, we know, from the humanity
of his character, that it could never have been suggested by him.

Notes to Chapter XXIII: Death For Trifling Larcenies

     When Connecticut and New Haven were framing their first codes, larceny
above the value of twelve pence was a capital crime in England, as it had
been since the time of Henry I. - Dr. F. Hammond Trumbull's "Blue Laws,
True and False," p. 17.

     The curious old book called "The English Rogue" makes the limit
thirteen pence ha' penny; death being the portion of any who steal a thing
"above the value of thirteen pence ha'penny."

Notes to Chapter XXVII

     From many descriptions of larceny, the law expressly took away the
benefit of clergy; to steal a horse, or a hawk, or woolen cloth from the
weaver, was a hanging matter.  So it was to kill a deer from the king's
forest, or to export sheep from the Kingdom. - Dr. F. Hammond Trumbull's
"Blue Laws, True and False," p. 13.

     William Prynne, a learned barrister, was sentenced - [long after
Edward the Sixth's time] - to lose both his ears in the pillory; to
degradation from the bar; a fine of Pound 3,000, and imprisonment for life.
Three years afterwards, he gave new offense to Laud, by publishing a
pamphlet against the hierarchy.  He was again prosecuted, and was sentenced
to lose what remained of his ears; to pay a fine of Pound 5,000; to be
branded on both his cheeks with the letters S. L. (for Seditious Libeller),
and to remain in prison for life.  The severity of this sentence was
equalled by the savage rigor of its execution. - Ibid., p. 12.

Notes to Chapter XXXIII: Christ's Hospital or Blue Coat School, "the Noblest
Institution in the World."

     The ground on which the Priory of the Grey Friars stood was conferred
by Henry the Eighth on the Corporation of London [who caused the
institution there of a home for poor boys and girls].  Subsequently, Edward
the Sixth caused the old Priory to be properly repaired, and founded within
it that noble establishment called the Blue Coat School, or Christ's
Hospital, for the education and maintenance of orphans and the children of
indigent persons. . . . Edward would not let him [Bishop Ridley] depart
till the letter was written [to the Lord Mayor], and then charged him to
deliver it himself, and signify his special request and commandment that no
time might be lost in proposing what was convenient, and apprising him of
the proceedings.  The work was zealously undertaken, Ridley himself
engaging in it; and the result was, the founding of Christ's Hospital for
the Education of Poor Children.  [The king endowed several other charities
at the same time.] "Lord God," said he, "I yield thee most hearty thanks
that thou hast given me life thus long, to finish this work to the glory of
thy name!" That innocent and most exemplary life was drawing rapidly to its
close, and in a few days he rendered up his spirit to his Creator, praying
God to defend the realm from Papistry. - J. Heneage Fesse's "London, its
Celebrated Characters and Places."

     In the Great Hall hangs a large picture of King Edward VI seated on
his throne, in a scarlet and ermined robe, holding the sceptre in his left
hand, presenting with the other the Charter to the kneeling Lord Mayor.  By
his side stands the Chancellor, holding the seals, and next to him are
other officers of state.  Bishop Ridley kneels before him with uplifted
hands, as if supplicating a blessing on the event; while the Aldermen,
etc., with the Lord Mayor, kneel on both sides, occupying the middle ground
of the picture; and lastly, in front, are a double row of boys on one side,
and girls on the other, from the master and matron down to the boy and girl
who have stepped forward from their respective rows, and kneel with raised
hands before the king. - Timbs' "Curiosities of London," p. 98.

     Christ's Hospital, by ancient custom, possesses the privilege of
addressing the Sovereign on the occasion of his or her coming into the City
to partake of the hospitality of the Corporation of London. - Ibid.

     The Dining-Hall, with its lobby and organ-gallery, occupies the entire
story, which is 187 feet long, 51 feet wide, and 47 feet high; it is lit by
nine large windows, filled with stained glass on the south side; that is,
next to Westminster Hall, the noblest room in the metropolis.  Here the
boys, now about 800 in number, dine; and here are held the "Suppings in
Public," to which visitors are admitted by tickets, issued by the Treasurer
and by the Governors of Christ's Hospital.  The tables are laid with cheese
in wooden bowls; beer in wooden piggins, poured from leathern jacks; and
bread brought in large baskets.  The official company enter; the Lord
Mayor, or President, takes his seat in a state chair, made of oak from St.
Catherine's Church by the Tower; a hymn is sung, accompanied by the organ;
a "Grecian," or head boy, reads the prayers from the pulpit, silence being
enforced by three drops of a wooden hammer.  After prayer the supper
commences, and the visitors walk between the tables.  At its close, the
"trade-boys" take up the baskets, bowls, jacks, piggins, and candlesticks,
and pass in procession, the bowing to the Governors being curiously formal.
This spectacle was witnessed by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1845.

     Among the more eminent Blue Coat Boys are Joshua Barnes, editor of
Anacreon and Euripides; Jeremiah Markland, the eminent critic, particularly
in Greek literature; Camden, the antiquary; Bishop Stillingfleet; Samuel
Richardson, the novelist; Thomas Mitchell, the translator of Aristophanes;
Thomas Barnes, many years editor of the London Times; Coleridge, Charles
Lamb, and Leigh Hunt.

     No boy is admitted before he is seven years old, or after he is nine;
and no boy can remain in the school after he is fifteen, King's boys and
"Grecians" alone excepted.  There are about 500 Governors, at the head of
whom are the Sovereign and the Prince of Wales.  The qualification for a
Governor is payment of Pound 500. - Ibid.

General Note

     One hears much about the "hideous Blue-Laws of Connecticut," and is
accustomed to shudder piously when they are mentioned.  There are people in
America - and even in England! - who imagine that they were a very monument
of malignity, pitilessness, and inhumanity; whereas, in reality they were
about the first Sweeping Departure From Judicial Atrocity which the
"civilized" world had seen.  This humane and kindly Blue-Law code, of two
hundred and forty years ago, stands all by itself, with ages of bloody law
on the further side of it, and a century and three-quarters of bloody
English law on this side of it.

     There has never been a time - under the Blue-Laws or any other - when
above Fourteen crimes were punishable by death in Connecticut.  But in
England, within the memory of men who are still hale in body and mind, Two
Hundred and Twenty-Three crimes were punishable by death! ^* These facts are
worth knowing - and worth thinking about, too.

[Footnote *: See Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull's "Blue Laws, True and False," p.
11.]