441

James Pilkington (1520-1576)

The Burnynge of Paules Church.

London: Imprinted by Willyam Seres, 1563.
Octavo, Pilkington published another work on the burning of St. Paul's steeple, titled: The True Report of the Burnynyng of the Churche and the Steple in 1561; lacking 3 text leaves that may have been [ironically] scorched by a reader holding the pages too close to the flame, as other neighboring leaves show small signs, each supplied in manuscript facsimile; bound in later full calf; ex libris S. Baker, senior with his bookplate showing a rook-like tower inside the front board; 5 3/4 x 3 1/2 in.

STC 19931; ESTC S114665.

The yard northeast of Old Saint Paul's, called the cross yard in the 16th century, "acted as an essential link for the movement of news and people through the city. The cathedral, from the great west door to the great north door that opened onto the cross yard, formed a convenient shortcut between Ludgate Hill and Cheapside, and so the 'middle aisle' became famous for the collection of gossip in the city, as any reader of Renaissance city comedy knows. 'Walking, jangling, fighting, bargaining &c., mainly in sermons & service time' were abuses that Bishop Pilkington blamed for the lightning strike that destroyed the steeple." (Quoted from Mary Morrisey's Politics and the Paul's Cross Sermons, 1558-1642, Oxford: OUP, 2011.)

  • Condition: A-R8 (lacking I1, I7 & I8 [supplied in manuscript facsimile), S4.

    Please contact us to request a condition report:
    Devon Eastland, Senior Specialist: [email protected]
    Grace Meschery-McCormack, Cataloguer: [email protected]


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April 23, 2026 10:30 AM EDT
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