Calves' Head Club facts for kids
The Calves Head Club was a group that supposedly started to make fun of Charles I of England after he died. People began hearing rumors about this club in the late 1600s. They were said to meet every year on January 30th, which was the day King Charles I was executed.
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What Was the Calves Head Club?
The Calves Head Club was rumored to be a secret society. Its members were thought to be people who were against the idea of kings and queens ruling the country. They supposedly met to celebrate the removal of King Charles I from power.
Early Stories About the Club
One of the first mentions of the club came from Samuel Wesley in 1703. Wesley was a writer who had different religious beliefs but later joined the main church of England. He claimed he went to a meeting in 1693 where people spoke disrespectfully about King Charles I.
The "Cold Pie" Story
Wesley wrote about a strange plan at one of these meetings. He said they wanted to serve a cold pie with a live cat or rabbit inside! The idea was to trick someone who liked the king into cutting the pie. When the animal jumped out, everyone would shout "Haloo! Old Puss!" This was meant to honor the "Good Old Cause," which was a term for supporting a government without a king.
Was It Real?
Historians like Henry D. Rack think that Wesley's story might not have been about the actual Calves Head Club. They believe the club's reputation might have been made bigger by people who wanted to spread negative stories about those who disagreed with the king's supporters. These stories were often used to attack people with different political views.
The "Secret History" Book
The main source of information, and probably propaganda, about the Calves Head Club was a popular book. It was called The secret history of the Calves-Head Club, or The Republican unmasqu'd. This book was written by Edward Ward, who supported the king's side.
What the Book Claimed
The book was published in 1703 and was reprinted many times. It claimed that after a big meal, club members would burn a copy of the Eikon Basilike. This was a book supposedly written by King Charles I himself. The club members would also sing "anthems" and drink from a calf's skull filled with wine. They would toast "The Pious Memory of those worthy Patriots that had kill'd the Tyrant." This meant they were celebrating the people who had opposed the king and changed the country's government.
The Club's End
According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, the Calves Head Club continued to meet until 1734. In that year, a meeting caused a lot of anger among the public. People were upset by the club's actions, which they saw as disrespectful. A big disturbance happened, and this finally put a stop to the club's meetings for good.
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