This Spot Of Ground, It Is Said, Was Anciently An
Island, A Branch Of The Thames Running Through The Park
From west to
east, and falling into the main river again about Whitehall, which
island was originally called Thorney Island,
From the woods and
bushes that covered it; the abbey or minster also was at first
called Thorney Abbey or minster, from the island on which it stood.
St. James's Park is something more than a mile in circumference, and
the form pretty near oval; about the middle of it runs a canal 2,800
feet in length and 100 in breadth, and near it are several other
waters, which form an island that has good cover for the breeding
and harbouring wild ducks and other water-fowl; on the island also
is a pretty house and garden, scarce visible to the company in the
park. On the north side are several fine walks of elms and limes
half a mile in length, of which the Mall is one. The palace of St.
James's, Marlborough House, and the fine buildings in the street
called Pall Mall, adorn this side of the park. At the east end is a
view of the Admiralty, a magnificent edifice, lately built with
brick and stone; the Horse Guards, the Banqueting House, the most
elegant fabric in the kingdom, with the Treasury and the fine
buildings about the Cockpit; and between these and the end of the
grand canal is a spacious parade, where the horse and foot guards
rendezvous every morning before they mount their respective guards.
On the south side of the park run shady walks of trees from east to
west, parallel almost to the canal, and walks on the north;
adjoining to which are the sumptuous houses in Queen Street, Queen
Square, &c., inhabited by people of quality: and the west end of
the park is adorned with the Duke of Buckingham's beautiful seat.
But what renders St. James's Park one of the most delightful scenes
in Nature is the variety of living objects which is met with here;
for besides the deer and wild fowl, common to other parks, besides
the water, fine walks, and the elegant buildings that surround it,
hither the politest part of the British nation of both sexes
frequently resort in the spring to take the benefit of the evening
air, and enjoy the most agreeable conversation imaginable; and those
who have a taste for martial music, and the shining equipage of the
soldiery, will find their eyes and ears agreeably entertained by the
horse and foot guards every morning.
The Sanctuary, or the abbey-yard, is a large open square, between
King Street and the Gate-house, north-west of the abbey, and was
called the Sanctuary, because any person who came within these
limits was entitled to the privilege of sanctuary - that is, he was
not liable to be apprehended by any officers of justice.
This privilege, it is said, was first granted to the abbey by
Sebert, king of the East Saxons, increased by King Edgar, and
confirmed by Edward the Confessor, by the following charter:-
"Edward, by the grace of God, king of Englishmen; I make it to be
known to all generations of the world after me, that, by special
commandment of our holy father Pope Leo, I have renewed and honoured
the holy church of the blessed apostle St. Peter of Westminster; and
I order and establish for ever, that what person, of what condition
or estate soever he be, from whencesoever he come, or for what
offence or cause it be, either for his refuge in the said holy
place, he is assured of his life, liberty, and limbs: and over
this, I forbid, under pain of everlasting damnation, that no
minister of mine, or any of my successors, intermeddle with any of
the goods, lands, and possessions of the said persons taking the
said sanctuary: for I have taken their goods and livelode into my
special protection. And therefore I grant to every, each of them,
in as much as my terrestrial power may suffice, all manner of
freedom of joyous liberty. And whosoever presumes, or doth contrary
to this my grant, I will he lose his name, worship, dignity, and
power; and that with the great traitor Judas that betrayed our
Saviour, he be in the everlasting fire of hell. And I will and
ordain, that this my grant endure as long as there remaineth in
England either love or dread of Christian name."
This privilege of sanctuary, as far as it related to traitors,
murderers, and felons, was in a great measure abolished by a statute
of the 32nd Henry VIII.: and in the beginning of the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, every debtor who fled to sanctuary, to shelter himself
from his creditors, was obliged to take an oath of the following
tenor, viz.:- That he did not claim the privilege of sanctuary to
defraud any one of his goods, debts, or money, but only for the
security of his person until he should be able to pay his creditors.
That he would give in a true particular of his debts and credits.
That he would endeavour to pay his debts as soon as possible.
That he would be present at the abbey at morning and evening prayer.
That he would demean himself honestly and quietly, avoid suspected
houses, unlawful games, banqueting, and riotous company.
That he would wear no weapon, or be out of his lodging before
sunrise or after sunset, nor depart out of the precinct of the
sanctuary without the leave of the dean, or archdeacon in his
absence.
That he would be obedient to the dean and the officers of the house.
And lastly, that if he should break his oath in any particular, he
should not claim the privilege of sanctuary.
And if any creditor could make it appear that he had any money,
goods, or chattels that were not contained in the particular given
in to the dean and the church, the sanctuary man was to be
imprisoned till he came to an agreement with his creditors.
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