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The destruction of Cheapside Cross and the burning of the Book of Sports, May 1643 (1903)
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The destruction of Cheapside Cross and the burning of the Book of Sports, May 1643 (1903)
The destruction of Cheapside Cross and the burning of the Book of Sports, May 1643 (1903). The Cheapside Cross (or Eleanors Cross) in London was demolished on 2 May 1643, under an order from the Parliamentary Committee for the Demolition of Monuments of Superstition and Idolatry, led by the Puritan MP Robert Harley. The Declaration of Sports was a declaration of James I of England issued in 1617 listing the sports and recreations that were permitted on Sundays and other holy days. As the Puritans gained increasing influence in Parliament in run up to the English Civil War, hostility towards the Book of Sports grew. Parliament ordered the book publicly burned in 1643. From London in the Time of the Stuarts, by Sir Walter Besant. [Adam & Charles Black, London, 1903]
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Media ID 14971373
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Besant Book Of Sports Burning Cheapside Cross Cross Crowds Destruction English Civil War English Civil Wars 1642 1648 Harley James I James Vi James Vi Of Scotland King James I King James Vi Of Scotland King Of England Parliamentarian Prohibition Protestantism Puritanism Recreation Recreational Repression Robert Harley Sir Walter Sir Walter Besant Stewart Stuart Walter Walter Besant
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a significant moment in English history - the destruction of Cheapside Cross and the burning of the Book of Sports in May 1643. The Cheapside Cross, also known as Eleanors Cross, was a prominent monument in London that fell victim to the Parliamentary Committee for the Demolition of Monuments of Superstition and Idolatry. Led by Puritan MP Robert Harley, this committee aimed to eradicate symbols associated with Catholicism. The Book of Sports, issued by James I in 1617, listed permitted sports and recreations on Sundays and holy days. However, as Puritan influence grew during the lead-up to the English Civil War, hostility towards this book intensified. In response to Parliament's increasing power, they ordered its public burning. In this image, we see a crowd gathered around witnessing these acts unfold. People from all walks of life are present - their expressions ranging from curiosity to concern. This scene represents not only religious repression but also political tensions within England at that time. The photograph's monochrome aesthetic adds depth and intensity to an already powerful moment frozen in time. It serves as a reminder of how religion intertwined with politics during this era and how it impacted people's lives on both personal and societal levels. This print is part of Sir Walter Besant's collection "London in the Time of Stuarts" published in 1903 by Adam & Charles Black – an invaluable glimpse into British history that continues to intrigue scholars today.
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