Samuel Starling
Summary
Hosts discuss the Lord Mayor of London, Samuel Starling, amidst a chaotic 17th-century city constrained by medieval walls and industrial smog. The episode explores the state’s struggle to suppress Quakers, who defied authority through silent reverence and pacifism, leading to the invention of imprisonment and transportation. Interspersed with these historical musings are segments on modern municipal oddities, including a mayor charging mountaineers for rescue and a court battle over religious statues in Quincy.
Topics discussed
Intro and London Livery Companies
Linguistic humor and Lord Mayor overalls
Quincy statue court ruling and saint jokes
Helicopter rescue and mountain toboggans
Mayor of Saint Gervais and mountaineers
Personal grief and Quaker meeting experience
Debate on Quaker humility and friction
Historical persecution and Quaker oaths
Conventicles Act and prison conditions
City of London governance and coal smoke
Great Plague and Fire aftermath
Samuel Starling's background and Bridewell
Brewing trade industrialization and prestige
Temple Bar and Michaelmas term
The Two Williams arrest and trial setup
Court chaos and the hat incident
Legal arguments and the Nasty Hole
Jury deadlock and nullification origins
Legacy: Jury rights and Pennsylvania
Conclusion and municipal history reflection
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