News Gatherer
Chamberlain was particularly useful to Carleton as a source of London news. Chamberlain's main purpose in his letters was to relate news of events in the capital to his correspondents, who were often abroad. Sir Dudley Carleton, for example, spent most of his political career at Venice or the Hague. Chamberlain proved the perfect source for Carleton and others because of his passion for news.
Every day he walked to St Paul's Cathedral to hear the latest on the grapevine, from the "news-mongers", as they were called. At that time, the aisles and nave of the cathedral, known as Paul's walk, were a meeting place for those wishing to keep in touch with current events, and Chamberlain proved adept at pumping people there for news of politics, war, court matters and trials. As well as those who walked St Paul's for news, the cathedral and its surrounds bristled with beggars, hawkers, and sellers of pamphlets, proclamations and books Despite their serious purpose, Chamberlain lightened his letters with news of more trivial and entertaining events, such as a long-distance race from St Albans to Clerkenwell between two royal footmen and the antics of a man and his horse on the roof of St Paul's.
Read more about this topic: John Chamberlain (letter Writer)
Famous quotes containing the word news:
“There is no news in fear
but in the end it’s fear
that drowns you.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)