of Superstition, too often waged war with the Fine Arts.39 SRAKESPEARE, in The Merchant of Venice, beautifully observes, "She strays about "At holie Crosses, where she kneels and praies "For happy wedlock houres." The early celebrity of Paul' Cross, as the great seat of Pulpit eloquence, is evinced in the "Visions of Pierce Plowman," "Friers and faytours, have foudon such questions, "To plese with the proud men, sith the pestilēce tyme, "And preachen at S. Paul's, for pure envi for clarkes, "That praiers have no powre the pestilence to lette,"— whence we are informed that the most subtile and abstract questions in Theology were handled here by the Friars, in opposition to the Regular Clergy, almost at the first settlement of that popular Order of Preachers in England. Of the custom of Preaching at Crosses, 39. Wilkinson's Londina Illustrata, p. 9. it is difficult to trace the origin,—it was, doubtless, far more remote than the time alluded to, and probably, at first, was merely accidental. The sanctity of this species of Pillar often caused a great resort of people, to pay their devotion to the great object of their erection. A Preacher, seeing a large concourse, might be seized by a sudden impulse, ascend the steps, and deliver out his pious advice from a station so fit to inspire attention, and so conveniently formed for the purpose. The ex ample might be followed, until the tice became established by custom. prac This famous Cross was in all probability, at first, a common Cross, and coeval with the Church. When it was first covered and used as a Pulpit-Cross, we are not informed. We hear, however, of it's being in use as early as the year 1259, when HENRY the Third in person, commanded the Mayor to swear before him every stripling of twelve years old and upwards to be true to him and his heirs. From this time it's name continually oc S - curs in history. It was used not only for the instruction of mankind, by the doctrine of the Preacher, but for every purpose, political or ecclesiastical, for giving force to oaths, for promulgating of laws, or rather the Royal pleasure, for the emission of Papal Bulls, for anathematizing sinners, for benedictions, for exposing of Penitents under censure of the church, for recantations, for the private ends of the ambitious, and for the defaming of those who had incurred the displeasure of Crowned heads. Here is the indictment of the good Lord Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd That it may be to-day read o'er in Paul's. King Richard the Third, Act iii. Sc. VI. STOWE describes it as being in his time, a Pulpit Crosse of timber, mounted upon steppes of stone, and covered with leade, 66 standing in the middest of the Church 66 66 yard, the very antiquitie whereof was to "him unknowne," in which the most eminent Divines were appointed to preach every Sunday in the forenoon. To this place, the Court, the Mayor and Aldermen, and principal Citizens, used to resort. The greatest part of the Congregation sat in the open air,—the King and his train had covered galleries,—and the better sort of people, according to the old prints, were also protected from the injury of the weather, but the far greater part stood exposed in the open air, for which reason the Preacher went, in very bad weather, to a place called " The Shrouds," -a covered space on the side of the Church, to protect the Congregation in inclement seasons. Considerable contributions were raised, among the Nobility and Citizens, to support such Preachers as were (which was often the case) called to Town from either of the Universities. In particular, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen ordered that every Preacher, who came from a distance, should be freely accommodated, during five days, with sweet and convenient lodgings, fire, can а dle, and all necessaries. And notice was given by the Bishop of London, to the Preacher appointed by him, of the place to which he was to repair. The last Sermon of any particular note which was preached at this Cross, was before King JAMES the First, who came in great state on horseback from Whitehall, on Midlent Sunday, in 1620,- he was received at Temple Bar by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, who presented him with a purse of gold. At St. Paul's he was received by the Clergy in their richest vestments. Divine Service was performed, attended with organs, cornets, and sackbuts,-after which His Majesty went to a prepared place, and heard a Sermon at the Cross, preached by JOHN KING, Bishop of London, from a text purposely selected by the King, Psalm c11. verses 13 and 14. The object of the Sermon was, the speedy reparation of the venerable Cathedral. The King and the principal persons retired from the Cross to the Bishop's Pa |