DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61669#0096
HOLBEIN’S “AMBASSADORS”
Whether going westwards to visit the king at Westminster or
eastwards to see him at Greenwich, the river was the high-road by
which the Bailly of Troyes would reach his destination. The Thames
was the main artery of the traffic of London. Its busy wharves, laden
with merchandise, each with a flight of wooden steps descending to the
water, the varied craft which plied upon its surface, the many signs
which announced the great commercial centre, excited much interest in
the minds of foreigners.
“ London,” writes one of them,1 “ ... is the residence of the
ambassadors and merchants ; it is a very notable city situated on the
Thames, a magnificent river navigable for vessels of any burden, sixty
miles from the sea, and with a very strong tide. This river is convenient
for trade, embellishing the city, and rendering it cheerful, and over it is
a very large stone bridge.2 London contains many houses on either
side of the river and two large churches of extreme beauty, in one of
which the present king’s father is buried.3 In various parts of the city
there are many palaces of divers citizens and merchants, but the larger
ones and the most superb are on the river, the owners being the chief
personages of the kingdom. Besides the two belonging to the king,4
and one to the queen, the three dukes,5 the two marquises,6 and several
bishops, have mansions there, each of them worth 12,000 crowns, with
very delightful gardens.
“ The population of London is immense and comprises many arti-
1 Mario Savorgnano, State Papers, Venetian, vol. iv. (1527-1533), No. 682, quoted
from the Sanuto Diaries, 25 August, 1531. The whole letter is of great interest, as is
also No. 694 in the same volume (Report of England made to the Senate by Ludovico
Falier, 10 November, 1531). The Venetians write with enthusiastic admiration of the
country and capital.
2 Old London Bridge; the only bridge London at that time possessed. It was
massively constructed on a large number of boat-shaped piers, and covered with houses
and shops. There was also a beautiful Gothic Chapel upon it.
3 St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. The latter part of the sentence
alludes of course to Henry VII.’s Chapel.
4 Westminster (in which York Place was now included) and Bridewell.
6 Howard, Duke of Norfolk ; Brandon, Duke of Suffolk; Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond.
(State Papers, Venetian, vol. iv., No. 682.)
6 Grey, Marquis of Dorset; Courtenay, Marquis ot Exeter. {Ibid.'}
Whether going westwards to visit the king at Westminster or
eastwards to see him at Greenwich, the river was the high-road by
which the Bailly of Troyes would reach his destination. The Thames
was the main artery of the traffic of London. Its busy wharves, laden
with merchandise, each with a flight of wooden steps descending to the
water, the varied craft which plied upon its surface, the many signs
which announced the great commercial centre, excited much interest in
the minds of foreigners.
“ London,” writes one of them,1 “ ... is the residence of the
ambassadors and merchants ; it is a very notable city situated on the
Thames, a magnificent river navigable for vessels of any burden, sixty
miles from the sea, and with a very strong tide. This river is convenient
for trade, embellishing the city, and rendering it cheerful, and over it is
a very large stone bridge.2 London contains many houses on either
side of the river and two large churches of extreme beauty, in one of
which the present king’s father is buried.3 In various parts of the city
there are many palaces of divers citizens and merchants, but the larger
ones and the most superb are on the river, the owners being the chief
personages of the kingdom. Besides the two belonging to the king,4
and one to the queen, the three dukes,5 the two marquises,6 and several
bishops, have mansions there, each of them worth 12,000 crowns, with
very delightful gardens.
“ The population of London is immense and comprises many arti-
1 Mario Savorgnano, State Papers, Venetian, vol. iv. (1527-1533), No. 682, quoted
from the Sanuto Diaries, 25 August, 1531. The whole letter is of great interest, as is
also No. 694 in the same volume (Report of England made to the Senate by Ludovico
Falier, 10 November, 1531). The Venetians write with enthusiastic admiration of the
country and capital.
2 Old London Bridge; the only bridge London at that time possessed. It was
massively constructed on a large number of boat-shaped piers, and covered with houses
and shops. There was also a beautiful Gothic Chapel upon it.
3 St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. The latter part of the sentence
alludes of course to Henry VII.’s Chapel.
4 Westminster (in which York Place was now included) and Bridewell.
6 Howard, Duke of Norfolk ; Brandon, Duke of Suffolk; Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond.
(State Papers, Venetian, vol. iv., No. 682.)
6 Grey, Marquis of Dorset; Courtenay, Marquis ot Exeter. {Ibid.'}