Samuel Starling
Summary
Hosts explore the history of Lord Mayor Samuel Starling (1669–1670), navigating the scarcity of primary sources for early modern figures. They discuss the persecution of Quakers in 17th-century England, including the Conventicle Act and the state’s struggle to criminalize pacifist religious gatherings. The episode also features municipal oddities, such as a French mayor charging mountaineers for helicopter rescues and a court battle over Catholic statues in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Topics discussed
Intro: Livery Companies and Podcasting
Statue Watch: St. Florian and St. Michael
Quincy Statues and Church-State Separation
Mayor Charges Climbers for Rescue Costs
Personal Story: Grief and Quaker Meetings
Quaker History: Persecution and Imprisonment
London's Jurisdictions, Plague, and Fire
Post-Fire Rebuilding and Mayor Starnall
The Williams Case: Conventicles Act Trial
Trial Details: Jury Independence and Magna Carta
Bushel's Case and Habeas Corpus Origins
William Penn and the Founding of Pennsylvania
Conclusion: Legacy of Jury Rights and History
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