James I.—Sir Walter Raleigh—Persecution of Roman Catholics—New River—Booke of Sportes—Colony of Virginia—Charles I.—Outbreak of Plague—Forced Loan—Assassination of Buckingham—Exasperation in the City—The Short Parliament—Attack on Spanish Ambassador—Strafford’s Death—The Civil War—The Trained Bands—Execution of the King—The Commonwealth—The Fifth Monarchy Men—Cromwell’s Death—The Restoration—Execution of the Regicides—Act of Uniformity—Charles closes the Exchequer—Quarrels between the City and the Commons—Court of Charles II.—James II.—Titus Oates’ sentence—Rising of Monmouth—The Bishops sent to the Tower—The Landing of William of Orange—Capture of Jeffreys—William III.—Lord Mayor’s Day—Queen Anne—The Case of Sacheverell.
Religion, Government, and Trade
The Puritan Character—The Laudian Persecution—Abolition of the Book of Common Prayer—Fanaticism—Zachary Crofton—James Naylor—Conventicles become Churches—Superstitions—William Lilly—Services for the Cramp Ring and King’s Evil—Sanctuary—Social Distinctions in the City—Crimping—Saltpetre-’Prentices—Trade—Silkworms—Imports—The Bank of England—The Royal Exchange and the New Exchange—Coinage—City Companies in Debt—The Irish Estates.
The Great Plague and Fire
Former Plague Records—Desertion of City—Pest Houses—Pepys’ Account—Defoe’s Account—Regulations for the Plague-stricken—The Symptoms of the Plague—Strange Nostrums—Charms—The Aspect of the City before the Fire—The Beginning of the Fire—The Destruction of Property—Amount of Damage estimated—What the Fire left—Origin of the Fire—People camped on Moorfields—Plans for Rebuilding—Another Plot to burn the City—Contemporary Evidence—Evelyn’s Account—Pepys’ Account—London rebuilt—Ogilby’s Map—The Suburbs and the City—Confusion of Property after the Fire—The River—Insanitary Condition of the City—Shops glazed for the first Time.
Manners and Customs
Cost of Living—Rents—Furniture—Beer and other Drinks—No Forks in Use—Cost of Food—The Popularity of the Tavern—The First Use of Tea—The Virtue of Coffee—Coffee-Houses—Chocolate-Houses—Tobacco now universal—Puritanic Fashions—Dress of Gallants and Courtiers—Wigs—Pocket Mirrors—Patches and Powder—Kissing as common as Shaking Hands—Servants—City Tradesmen—Customs at Weddings—Funeral Ceremonies—No Coffins for Poor People—Places of Resort—Hyde Park and St. James’s Park—Spring Gardens—Leper Hospital at St. James’s—James I.’s Menagerie—New Spring Gardens at Vauxhall—Attractions of the Shop Girls—Theatres—The First Introduction of Women to the Stage—The Cockpit—Nell Gwynn—The Time of the Performances—Variation of the Plays—Wearing of Masks—Coarseness—Music very popular—The Fine Arts—Arundelian Collection—Raffaelle’s Work—Sports and Amusements—Puritan Suppression of Sunday Games—Bear-baiting and other Brutal Sports—Fairs—Athletic Sports—Hunting—Predilection of King James I. for the Chase—Bowling-Alleys—Fencing—Mohocks—Wrestling—St. Bartholomew’s Fair—Coaches—Tolls for Road Repair—Punishment and Crime—Severity of the Punishments—Branding, Pillory, Boring through the Tongue with a Hot Iron—Case of Alexander Leighton—Earl of Oxford’s False Marriage—Lord Sanquhar’s Revenge—Prisoners for Debt—Tricks—“The Brave Shifter”—Usurers—Brokers—Public Morality and the Lord Mayor’s Proclamation—General Notes—Scarcity of Public Inns—Gentlemen carried Large Fans—Strange Processions—Horn Fair.
Appendices
The Court of Charles II.—List of the London Clergy ejected—List of Almshouses founded in the Seventeenth Century—Composition of the Lords and Commons—The New Buildings of London—Rules for Enlargement of the Streets—Gardens.
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