528 The Dean of Westminster [April 29, 



ordered to translate them into Latin. For a year and nine months 

 nothing happened, and the Prebendaries had to present a new petition 

 with fresh allegations, the chief of which was the matter of the pew. 

 It is plain that they saw that they could not get rid of the Dean, and 

 they concentrated their efforts on the recovery of the pew. The only 

 satisfaction that they finally got was a decision that they might sit in 

 the pew, and ' that none should sit there with them but Lords of 

 Parliament, and Earls' eldest sons, according to the ancient custom.' 



Once more the pew. The Dean has been four years in the Tower : 

 he has just got out through a turn in the political wheel, and he 

 returns in honour to the Abbey. He is sitting in the pew, and Peter 

 Heylyn is in the pulpit above him, preaching moderation and charity 

 with irritating innuendoes. At last the Dean's temper is up, and 

 knocking loudly with his staff upon the pulpit he cries, ' No more of 

 that ])oint, no more of that point, Peter ! ' 'I have a little more to 

 say, my Lord, and then I have done.' 



And yet once again we have a sight of the pew, through the eyes 

 of a Westminster Boy, who lived long afterwards as a Prebendary in 

 Laud's house, the famous Eobert South. William Strong is in the 

 pulpit now (a Puritan divine whose first Abbey sermon was entitled 

 * Gospel Order a Church's Beauty'), and ' the leading grandees of the 

 faction in the pew under it.' But by this time many other pews had 

 been set up. The altar was gone from its place : the tapestries sur- 

 rounding the sanctuary had been carried off to adorn the House of 

 Commons. The sanctuary itself was occupied by a gallery of pews. 

 The carpenter's estimates are preserved, and also a plan of the work, 

 showing the allotment of the pews. ' Lord Bradshaw,' who then 

 occupied the Deaneiy, sat on the south side, and opposite sat 

 Dr. Busby, who had made his monitor pray for King Charles, as 

 South bore witness, ' a few hours before his sacred head was cut off.' 



' Gospel Order a Church's Beauty ' may find a further illustration 

 in the following glowing account of the services in the Abbey under 

 the new regime : — 



And about the 26 of this instant March, my intelHgence put me in minde 

 heere to make mention of God's admirable and most wise orderintj: and disposing 

 of things to the gl«»ry of his Name, joy of his children, and vexation of his base 

 Brats of Rome, and malignant Enemies of Reformation ; in the most rare and 

 strange alteration of the face of things in the Cathedrall Church at Westminster. 

 Namely, that whereas there was wont to be heard, nothing almost but Roarwg- 

 Boyes, tooting and squeaking Organ-Pipes, and the Cathedrall Catches of Morliy, 

 and I know not what trash ; now the Popish Altar is quite taken away, the 

 bellowing Organs are demcjlislit, and puU'd downe, the treble, or rather, trouble 

 and base Singers, Chanters, or inchanters, driven n\\t ; and instead thereof, there 

 is now set up a most blessed Orthodox Preacliing Ministry, even every morning 

 throughout the weeke, and every weeke through the whole yeare a Sermon 

 Preached by most learned, grave, and godly Ministers, of purpt)se appointed 

 tiiereunto, and for tlie gaudy guilded Crucitixes, and rotton rabble of dumbe Idols, 

 Popiith Saints, and Pictures, set up, and placed, and painted thereabout, where 

 that sinfull Singing was used ; now a most sweet assembly, and thicke throng of 

 Gods pious people, and well-affected, living teachable Saints is there constantly, 



