2087.—Westminster About 1600.details

It has been observed by an old writer, Howel, that the union of the two crowns of England and Scotland in 1603, conduced not a little to unite the two cities of London and Westminster (Fig. 2087); “for,” says he, “the Scots, greatly multiplying here, nestled themselves about the Court; so that the Strand, from the mud walls and thatched cottages, acquired that perfection of building it now possesses:” and thus went on the process which made London, according to the quaint fancy of the writer just named, like a Jesuit’s hat, the brims of which were larger than the block; and that induced the Spanish Ambassador, Gondomar, to say to his Royal Mistress after his return from London, and whilst describing the place to her,—“Madam, I believe there will be no city left shortly, for all will run out of the gates to the suburbs.”

(p. 223)