Remember, remember
the fifth of November -
Gunpowder treason and Plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot
In the early '70s I bought this old prayerbook in a junk shop in Fleet Road, near South End Green, Hampstead. It was printed in Cambridge in 1766 during the reign of George III. (On the endpapers of the book are various handwritten names and snippets from previous owners - but that's another story)
Frontispiece. Book of Common Prayer, 1766The book includes a form of prayer - long since dropped - to be used on the 5th of November as a thanksgiving for the deliverance of King James from the gunpowder plot.
The service includes this contemporary prayer - strange to think that the sentiments expressed were 'politically correct' at the time!
Almighty God, who hast in all ages shewed thy power and mercy,in the miraculous and gracious deliverances of thy Church,
and in the protection of righteous and religious Kings and States,
professing thy holy and eternal truth, from the wicked conspiracies, and malicious practices of all the enemies thereof:
We yield thee our unfeigned thanks and praise for the wonderful and mighty deliverance
of our gracious Sovereign King James the First, the Queen,
the Prince, and all the Royal Branches, with the Nobility,
Clergy and Commons of England, then assembled in Parliament,
by Popish treachery appointed as sheep to the slaughter,
in a most barbarous and savage manner,
in a most barbarous and savage manner,
beyond the examples of former ages....
There is also this prayer thanking God for the arrival of William of Orange in 1688 (also on 5th November):
..God...didst likewise upon this Day wonderfully conduct thy servant King William
and bring him safely unto England , to preserve us from the attempts of our enemies
to bereave us of our Religion and Laws...
It is hard to imagine such prayers being uttered in churches today.
Read about the Gunpowder Plot here:
The Plotters:
The Outcome:
Hanged, drawn & quartered
2 comments:
Fascinating stuff. What a find, that prayer book. And I love South End Green, London-sick that I am xx
Yes, I love the prayerbook - and it cost me less than £1! Will post something about the previous owners one of these days.
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