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<v Speaker 1>Chapter nine of Unknown London, written by Walter George Bell.

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<v Speaker 1>This LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by

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<v Speaker 1>Janet Chapter nine London Stone, London Stone in Cannon Street,

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<v Speaker 1>crops up suddenly in London history, so late as the

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<v Speaker 1>year fourteen fifty, when Jack Kade, at the head of

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<v Speaker 1>a shouting rabble rebellious, hines the filth and scum of

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<v Speaker 1>Kent marked for the gallows forced away into the city ligate.

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<v Speaker 1>Just twenty years before, Cad in a poem, speaks of

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<v Speaker 1>a stone standing in Canyon Street, then called London Stone.

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<v Speaker 1>The dates should act like an ice pack to reduce

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<v Speaker 1>the warmth with which some theories of its antiquity have

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<v Speaker 1>been advocated. Its Roman origin has passed into currency practically unquestioned.

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<v Speaker 1>The late Sir Lawrence gome So accepted London Stone, working

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<v Speaker 1>hard till the last to establish this cherished belief that

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<v Speaker 1>twentieth century London comes down to its present possessors with

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<v Speaker 1>unbroken continuity in customs and government, from the city colonized

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<v Speaker 1>by the Romans. He held it to be a boundary stone.

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<v Speaker 1>Now London Stone, he remarks, has always been a remarkable

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<v Speaker 1>center of rights ceremonies and traditions which show it to

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<v Speaker 1>have been held in reverence through the centuries. It stood

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<v Speaker 1>on the western extremity of the first Roman London, which

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<v Speaker 1>may perhaps point to it as one of the stone

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<v Speaker 1>sides of the gateway which led to the Pomerium, And

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<v Speaker 1>in the name of the adjoining parish, Pomroy, he fancies

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<v Speaker 1>there may be preserved the word for this sacred Roman institution.

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<v Speaker 1>Others have seen in London Stone the milliarium, the one

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<v Speaker 1>central milestone marking London, from which all the milestones raised

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<v Speaker 1>upon the Roman roads through England registered their distances. These

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<v Speaker 1>people point to its position in the center of the

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<v Speaker 1>longest diameter of the second and better known Roman London,

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<v Speaker 1>the London bounded by the wall running by the line

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<v Speaker 1>of Newgate, Cripplegate, Moorgate, Aldgate, and the rest of which

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<v Speaker 1>the original citadel formed only a part. The learned Camden,

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<v Speaker 1>taking this view, believed London Stone to be a miliary,

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<v Speaker 1>again quoting Sir Lawrence Gome. If London Stone indicated to

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<v Speaker 1>Roman Londoners of the second city a sacred point reminiscent

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<v Speaker 1>of the earlier city, its later history would be largely

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<v Speaker 1>accounted for its topographical position is the first help to

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<v Speaker 1>such an indication. And when we have added added the

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<v Speaker 1>undoubted sacred character attributed to it throughout all latter history,

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<v Speaker 1>the conclusion will I think be justified that London Stone

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<v Speaker 1>represents the sentiment of Roman Londoners from the early city

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<v Speaker 1>and camp which was enclosed in Londonum. Lacking Sir Lawrence's

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<v Speaker 1>great enthusiasm, I have failed to find in all latter

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<v Speaker 1>history that sacred character so postulated, or indeed in any

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<v Speaker 1>of it, not for want of industry on my part,

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<v Speaker 1>nor out of the natural combativeness of antiquaries for broken heads,

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<v Speaker 1>but simply because it is not there. It may be

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<v Speaker 1>heresy to suggest that London Stone is not Roman at

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<v Speaker 1>all and has had nothing whatever to do with the

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<v Speaker 1>Roman city. Let us go back to Shakespeare and that

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<v Speaker 1>short boisterous scene in the second part of King Henry

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<v Speaker 1>the sixth Act four London Cannon Street, enter Jack Kad

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<v Speaker 1>and the rest, and strikes his staff on london Stone.

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<v Speaker 1>Kade now is Mortimer, lord of the city, and here,

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<v Speaker 1>sitting upon london Stone, I charge and command that of

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<v Speaker 1>the city's cost the pissing conduit run nothing but claret wine.

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<v Speaker 1>This first year of our reign, and now henceforward it

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<v Speaker 1>shall be treason for any one that calls me other

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<v Speaker 1>than Lord Mortimer. Shakespeare is not history, and no one

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<v Speaker 1>out of a playhouse would cite Shakespeare as an historian.

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<v Speaker 1>But the point is that the dramatist in his passage

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<v Speaker 1>closely follows Hollinshed, except that the chronicler represents Jack Kad

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<v Speaker 1>as striking london Stone with his sword, not with his staff.

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<v Speaker 1>Hollingshed was a London citizen, a diligent recorder of events

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<v Speaker 1>in his own city, and be London Stone, Roman or

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<v Speaker 1>not Kate. Sitting astride at and Lydgates mentioned just before

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<v Speaker 1>are the earliest knowledge we have of this treasured city relic.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me meet expert criticism by conceding at once that

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<v Speaker 1>the name certainly is two and a half centuries older.

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<v Speaker 1>It was a bigger stone originally than is the fragment

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<v Speaker 1>of it today, preserved in the outer wall of Saint

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<v Speaker 1>Swithin's Church in Cannon Street, where every passer by may

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<v Speaker 1>see it. Old John Stowe, who wrote in Queen Elizabeth's

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<v Speaker 1>Last Years, says of it on the south side of

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<v Speaker 1>this high street, near unto the channel is pitched upright.

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<v Speaker 1>A great stone called London Stone, fixed in the ground,

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<v Speaker 1>very deep, fastened with bars of iron, and otherwise so

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<v Speaker 1>strongly set that if carts do run against it through negligence,

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<v Speaker 1>the wheels be broken, and the stone itself unshaken. The

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<v Speaker 1>cause why the stone was set there, the time, when

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<v Speaker 1>or other memory is none. He thought there was some

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<v Speaker 1>legend of the early Christians connected with it. Everything it

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<v Speaker 1>will be noticed, points to London Stone being very old,

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<v Speaker 1>and there is significance in the act of Jack Kayde

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<v Speaker 1>striking it with his sword and crying. Now is Mortimer

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<v Speaker 1>lord of this city, as if performing a customary ceremony

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<v Speaker 1>on taking possession of the city. The Guildhall archives go

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<v Speaker 1>back to the Conqueror's charter to London, and in them

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<v Speaker 1>are earlier references than these to London Stone, the name

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<v Speaker 1>the place. A moot question is how far can we

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<v Speaker 1>distinguish these from the actual stone relic. There was Henry

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<v Speaker 1>Fitzawan de london Stain, the city's first mayor, and he

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<v Speaker 1>was important. He became mayor in a d eleven eighty

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<v Speaker 1>nine footnote number one. An influential section of modern historians

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<v Speaker 1>believe the Mayoralty to have been founded in eleven ninety

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<v Speaker 1>one end footnote, and for twenty three years thereafter till

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<v Speaker 1>his death, the citizens acknowledged him their mayor. The founding

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<v Speaker 1>of the Mayoralty is shrouded in mystery, for not until

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<v Speaker 1>twelve fourteen, twenty five years after Fitzalan's first election, did

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<v Speaker 1>King John give to the Londoners a charter to elect

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<v Speaker 1>their mayor. Till Fitzallen, the city had been ruled by

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<v Speaker 1>poortreve or sheriff or justicar. There is much dispute as

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<v Speaker 1>to the title appointed by the King. It is inconceivable

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<v Speaker 1>that the citizens should, for this long period have usurped

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<v Speaker 1>the royal authority, and John's gift can only have been

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<v Speaker 1>an acceptance or confirmation of a state of things already existing,

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<v Speaker 1>perhaps based upon some charter which has been lost. Of

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<v Speaker 1>Henry Fitzallen of London Stone, although so important to personages

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<v Speaker 1>as London's first mayor, we know very little. Unfortunately, Fitzallen

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<v Speaker 1>was the son of Alwin, and of Alwin we know

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<v Speaker 1>nothing what made his position so strong that year after

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<v Speaker 1>year for twenty three years, he and no one else

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<v Speaker 1>should have been the accepted representative of the citizens. Such

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<v Speaker 1>devotion must have been the reward for good services. Given

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<v Speaker 1>it is most unlikely at that time that he was

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<v Speaker 1>merely a merchant or tradesman. We probably see in him

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<v Speaker 1>a great burger, owning wide lands, powerful wealthy, able to

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<v Speaker 1>maintain the citizen's interests against covetous and unscrupulous kings, and

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<v Speaker 1>it may be presumed that he a leading part in

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<v Speaker 1>wrestling from the crown the first acknowledgment of the right

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<v Speaker 1>of the citizens to govern their own affairs. His name

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<v Speaker 1>has come down to us as Henry Fitzowen of London. Stone.

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<v Speaker 1>Often it is the little things that should be obvious,

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<v Speaker 1>and are so obvious that they are quite overlooked, that,

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<v Speaker 1>when examined, give a valuable clue in some historical puzzle.

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<v Speaker 1>Has it ever occurred to you that there is no

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<v Speaker 1>stone in London? It has to be brought in from

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<v Speaker 1>considerable distances. Kent provides the nearest source. Stain, in its

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<v Speaker 1>original meaning is a stone building, and the word survives

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<v Speaker 1>in the city in Saint Mary's staining and all hollows staining.

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<v Speaker 1>Stone billt churches at a period when most of the

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<v Speaker 1>churches were fashioned of wooden logs. To this day, the

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<v Speaker 1>staining of a well is its stone lining. In fitz

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<v Speaker 1>Owen's time, in the twelfth century, King Richard quarterly On

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<v Speaker 1>was long abroad at the Crusades. There were no roads

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<v Speaker 1>capable of supporting burdens over considerable distances. But there was

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<v Speaker 1>the Thames, capable in all weathers of bearing stone and

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<v Speaker 1>boats into the city for the wealthy builder, choosing that

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<v Speaker 1>enduring material. Lesser men built of timber then, and long afterwards.

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<v Speaker 1>The medieval city, substantially throughout, was composed of timber framed houses,

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<v Speaker 1>so that when in King Stephen's reign, fires started among them,

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<v Speaker 1>burning amidst the wood and thatched roofs, the flames spread

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<v Speaker 1>from Saint Paul's eastward, consuming the bridge and the houses

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<v Speaker 1>and churches, and almost the entire city. When John Allen

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<v Speaker 1>died in twelve seventy two, sixty years after fitz Alwen,

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<v Speaker 1>he left by will his estate in a stone house

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<v Speaker 1>in Fleet Street two Robert and Richard his sons. A

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<v Speaker 1>stone house was so uncommon that mere mention of it

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<v Speaker 1>was sufficient without more detailed description. Henry Fitzaalwin of London

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<v Speaker 1>Stone London's wealthy and powerful first mayor built for himself

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<v Speaker 1>a stone house. That is how it may be read,

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<v Speaker 1>it would be a significant thing among London's poor, wooden hovels.

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<v Speaker 1>In twelve forty there was a John de Londoneston, who,

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<v Speaker 1>by the way, murdered his wife by stabbing her with

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<v Speaker 1>a sword. Otherwise we might never have heard of him.

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<v Speaker 1>It requires no totly stretched imagination to conceive that Henry

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<v Speaker 1>Fitzowen's stone built house, the home of the mayor, the

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<v Speaker 1>most powerful man in London, the center of its government,

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<v Speaker 1>serving the uses of both Guildhall and mansion House, became

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<v Speaker 1>known as London Stone. Just in this way Saint Mary's

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<v Speaker 1>stone built Church became known as Saint Mary's Staining, and

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<v Speaker 1>All Hollow's Church, of which the medieval tower still stands

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<v Speaker 1>behind Mincing Lane, as All Hollows Staining. Of course, it

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<v Speaker 1>does not necessarily follow. John de Fletbrigg did not reside

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<v Speaker 1>amidst the open, wind swept timbers of Fleet Bridge, nor

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<v Speaker 1>did that potent mayor, Reynald de Conduit find a wet

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<v Speaker 1>domicile inside the water Conduit. They lived close by those

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<v Speaker 1>well known landmarks of old London, where those who wanted

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<v Speaker 1>them might find them as fitz Ow, when I frankly admit,

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<v Speaker 1>may have lived close by an aged and already well

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<v Speaker 1>worn stone, a desperate fellow. This I fancy some one

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<v Speaker 1>saying of me he is no respector of our most

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<v Speaker 1>cherished traditions. It will be seen that I await attack,

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<v Speaker 1>for what is here said is rank heresy. And I

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<v Speaker 1>recall words written by the late Charles Morley. I must

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<v Speaker 1>confess a warm affection, said he for those ardent souls

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<v Speaker 1>who devote their wisdom and energy to the exploration of

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<v Speaker 1>the past. A brick or a stone, a piece of flint,

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<v Speaker 1>or a lump of mortar will provide them with material.

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<v Speaker 1>Out of it they strike the spark of truth. And

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<v Speaker 1>it is only the foolish who laugh at their zeal

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<v Speaker 1>and deem so much study unprofitable and childish. I, for one,

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<v Speaker 1>have always found them the happiest of mortals and archaeology,

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<v Speaker 1>capable of yielding greater and truer pleasure, possibly than any

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<v Speaker 1>form of recreation or pursuit which appeals to the meditative mind. True,

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<v Speaker 1>but the salt of life, the spice of it, my

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<v Speaker 1>old friend, missus, the little quarrels which archaeologists share with

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<v Speaker 1>other men, and which make the dry bones laid on

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<v Speaker 1>the exhibits table kick again. The late Charles Morley I wrote,

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<v Speaker 1>ah me, how often one writes those words. The late

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<v Speaker 1>London Stone, much worn and battered, is hidden in a

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<v Speaker 1>pierced stone casing that almost encloses it, and is still

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<v Speaker 1>further concealed by close iron work, which has got into

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<v Speaker 1>a deplorable state of rust a coat of paint, even

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<v Speaker 1>after wartime ought to be spared for it. The grime

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<v Speaker 1>of London has accumulated so thickly upon the stone that

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<v Speaker 1>it is nearly impossible to tell which is the historic

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<v Speaker 1>relic and which the mere casing. Some years ago members

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<v Speaker 1>of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society were fortunate enough

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<v Speaker 1>to be present when London Stone was uncovered. It then

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<v Speaker 1>proved to be a piece of Oollitic building stone. All

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<v Speaker 1>that has gone before leads up to this. Is there

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<v Speaker 1>any need to assume, as so many have done, that

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<v Speaker 1>London Stone is a relic of the Roman city. There

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<v Speaker 1>is not the smallest rag of evidence associating it with Londonium.

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<v Speaker 1>All is vain imagining, not a solitary mention of the

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<v Speaker 1>stone itself occurs until far down in the era of

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<v Speaker 1>medieval London. May it not be merely an honored fragment

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<v Speaker 1>of fitz Owen's stone house. Associations grew around it, a

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<v Speaker 1>large stone, once perhaps a foundation stone, bedded deep as

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<v Speaker 1>Stowe saw it, it remained on the ground after the

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<v Speaker 1>house above it had disappeared and the citizens had built

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<v Speaker 1>their noble guild hall. It continued through the sentries to

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<v Speaker 1>mark the site and as a relic of the home

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<v Speaker 1>of London's first mayor, the first guild hall and mansion house,

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<v Speaker 1>the beginnings of independent self government for the city. I

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<v Speaker 1>can understand the citizens sparing it and treasuring it. If

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<v Speaker 1>that be the true story of London Stone, then too

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<v Speaker 1>I can understand Jackade's act of braggadoccio and the words

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<v Speaker 1>that accompanied it. Now is Mortimer lord of the city,

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<v Speaker 1>the victorious rebel astride the historical remains of London's first

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<v Speaker 1>seat of self government, considered that the stone he thus

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<v Speaker 1>appropriated to himself secured to him the lordship of the city.

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<v Speaker 1>What significance there can have been in his striking with

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<v Speaker 1>his sword and old Roman stone? I cannot imagine what

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<v Speaker 1>should Kad and his letterless rabble know of Roman London

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<v Speaker 1>or the fifteenth century citizens for that matter. In Bovi Tracy,

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<v Speaker 1>the little town on Dartmoor's wilds stands a stone cross,

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<v Speaker 1>and it used to be the custom for the mayor,

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<v Speaker 1>on Mayor's Day to ride round the cross and strike

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<v Speaker 1>it with his staff on taking possession of his office.

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<v Speaker 1>No suggestion of the Romans here. In Elizabeth's reign, London

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<v Speaker 1>Stone seems to have add some legal associations. A character

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<v Speaker 1>in Pasquille and Marfarius fifteen eighty nine remarks, set up

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<v Speaker 1>this bill at london Stone. Let it be done solemnly

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<v Speaker 1>with drum and trumpet, And look you advance my color

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<v Speaker 1>on the top of the steeple right over against it.

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<v Speaker 1>And again, if it pleased them these dark winter nights

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<v Speaker 1>to strike up their papers upon london Stone. London Stone

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<v Speaker 1>was moved from its original site on the south side

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<v Speaker 1>of Cannon Street, where the railway station now stands, and

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<v Speaker 1>fixed in its present place of security in Saint Swidden's

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<v Speaker 1>Church Wall in the year seventeen ninety eight. If it

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<v Speaker 1>be necessary to take from its reputed age a thousand

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<v Speaker 1>years and to see in it a building stone of

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<v Speaker 1>the first mayoral mansion and guilt Hall. I do not

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<v Speaker 1>think it is thereby the less honor, but rather more,

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<v Speaker 1>I am not asserting this as an ascertained fact. It

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<v Speaker 1>is put up for a cockshy to be knocked over

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<v Speaker 1>by the first person who shall discover some other John

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<v Speaker 1>or Allan or Simon Day London's stance living in the

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<v Speaker 1>lifetime of our first mayor, or will identify elsewhere the

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<v Speaker 1>site of fitz Alwans House, which by the way, some

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<v Speaker 1>have found at Salters Hall. Meanwhile, as a suggested origin

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<v Speaker 1>of London Stone, it seems worth considering end of Chapter

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<v Speaker 1>nine