DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1213#0119
96 TALLIS'S ILLUSTRATED LONDON;
Passing through the eastern entrance-gate of Green-
wich-park, we find ourselves upon that noble plain Black-
heath, a place celebrated in the history of this country.
Here the Danes held their head-quarters, and some few
years back vestiges of entrenchments were visible on cer-
tain parts of this heath. Wat Tyler, the blacksmith, and
his -worthy compeer, Jack Straw, encamped here with one
hundred thousand men, on their way to London to gratify
their natural taste for plunder and devastation. It was
also known as a place of ceremonial meetings and tri-
umphal processions. In November, 1415, King Henry
V., on returning to his realms after the battle of Agin-
court, was received here with great rejoicings by the Lord
Mayor and aldermen of London. In 1431 the same civic
dignitaries assembled to meet Henry VI. on his return
from being crowned in the church of Notre Dame at
Paris. That ambitious robber, Jack Cade, with twenty
thousand of his banditti, twice encamped on Blackheath
in 1449 and 1450. Upon the death of the rebel chief,
his adherents made a virtue of submission, and humbly
craved pardon of the king on the heath. In 1497 Henry
VII. overcame six thousand Cornish rebels, commanded
by Lord Audley, on Blackheath. One-third of the insur-
gents were slain, and the rest compelled to surrender.
The scene of these historic incidents is still a wide and
open plain, but where contending hosts once met, and
royal pageants were celebrated, nothing is now seen save
attenuated ponies and donkeys ready caparisoned for the
benefit of the equestrian amateur, and excited to an un-
wonted speed by the bludgeons of the ruffian owners,
whom the Humane Society never call to account. At
fair-time the heath presents a more animated spectacle.
Gipsies, archery, and other objects enliven the place. On
the edges of the heath and in the village are many elegant
mansions occupied by individuals of rank and affluence.
At Westcomb House resided Lavinia Fenton, the famous
representative of Polly Peachum in the Beggar's Opera,
who became the wife of the Duke of Bolton. On the
Passing through the eastern entrance-gate of Green-
wich-park, we find ourselves upon that noble plain Black-
heath, a place celebrated in the history of this country.
Here the Danes held their head-quarters, and some few
years back vestiges of entrenchments were visible on cer-
tain parts of this heath. Wat Tyler, the blacksmith, and
his -worthy compeer, Jack Straw, encamped here with one
hundred thousand men, on their way to London to gratify
their natural taste for plunder and devastation. It was
also known as a place of ceremonial meetings and tri-
umphal processions. In November, 1415, King Henry
V., on returning to his realms after the battle of Agin-
court, was received here with great rejoicings by the Lord
Mayor and aldermen of London. In 1431 the same civic
dignitaries assembled to meet Henry VI. on his return
from being crowned in the church of Notre Dame at
Paris. That ambitious robber, Jack Cade, with twenty
thousand of his banditti, twice encamped on Blackheath
in 1449 and 1450. Upon the death of the rebel chief,
his adherents made a virtue of submission, and humbly
craved pardon of the king on the heath. In 1497 Henry
VII. overcame six thousand Cornish rebels, commanded
by Lord Audley, on Blackheath. One-third of the insur-
gents were slain, and the rest compelled to surrender.
The scene of these historic incidents is still a wide and
open plain, but where contending hosts once met, and
royal pageants were celebrated, nothing is now seen save
attenuated ponies and donkeys ready caparisoned for the
benefit of the equestrian amateur, and excited to an un-
wonted speed by the bludgeons of the ruffian owners,
whom the Humane Society never call to account. At
fair-time the heath presents a more animated spectacle.
Gipsies, archery, and other objects enliven the place. On
the edges of the heath and in the village are many elegant
mansions occupied by individuals of rank and affluence.
At Westcomb House resided Lavinia Fenton, the famous
representative of Polly Peachum in the Beggar's Opera,
who became the wife of the Duke of Bolton. On the