58 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



thus was she hanged on a gallows in Cheapside, 

 neere to the Crosse, in the Parish of Saint Mathew. 

 Which Cat, being taken down, was carried to the 

 Bishop of London, and by him sent to Doctor Pen- 

 dleton (who was then preaching at Paul's Cross), 

 commanding it to be shown to the Congregation. 

 The Round-head Fryers cannot abide to heare of 

 this Cat." 



It would seem as though the friars might have 

 been less ashamed of such a cruel and ribald jest 

 than the perpetrators thereof ; but, to the robust 

 temper of the time, buffoonery dishonoured its vic- 

 tims. Whatever was made ridiculous was made 

 contemptible ; and the poor cat, swinging in its 

 priestly vestments, offered an argument against 

 Popery as simple as it was sound. 



A still more forcible demonstration of the popu- 

 lar humour lent vivacity to the rejoicings with which 

 London celebrated the coronation of Queen Eliza- 

 beth. In the Hatton correspondence there is a 

 lively account of all the pageants, speeches, and 

 " mighty bonfires " which, on this august occasion, 

 gladdened loyal hearts ; and particular mention is 

 made of the burning of a " most costly Pope," con- 

 structed of wicker-work, and carried with mock 

 solemnity through the streets, accompanied by two 

 " divells." The interior of this Pope was filled with 

 live cats ; " which cats," says the writer gleefully. 



