The pay was not so bad, £4 a month;[632] but the service was

unpopular--the officers were rough and foul-mouthed, whose creed was,

'I hate the _French_, love a handsome Woman and a Bowl of

Punch'[633]--so the men deserted whenever they could. It was no use

issuing proclamations offering a reward of twenty shillings for every

such deserter delivered up on board ship; they kept their pay back,

and tried to allure them from the joys of freedom and the shore by

bidding them repair on board their ships to receive their pay due six

months back, still keeping six months in hand. Jack was proof against

such blandishments: so the authorities tried another plan--the

magnanimous--and promised to forgive the deserters, if only they would

come back; anything to get the dear fellows on board, all would be

forgotten and forgiven, and joy and peace should reign henceforth.

'All such Seamen that are made run, for not repairing to their Duty,

shall have their R's taken off, and be continued in Wages from the

times they have been absent, provided they do forthwith repair on

board.' As this is the only instance I can meet with of this bait

being held out, one rather suspects Jack was not quite such a fool as

they imagined him, and, once free, had no wish to get into the trap

again.

[Footnote 632: _Ibid._, Oct. 31, 1702.]

[Footnote 633: _The Basset Table._]

Brown[634] gives a description of the Admiralty in his time: 'By this

time we were come to the _Admiralty Office_, the outside invited us

in, and here we found only a Company of Tarrs, walking to and fro with

their Hands in their Pockets, as on the Quarter Deck aboard; in one

Room there was a company of Lieutenants, some had serv'd twenty Years

without being rais'd, because they either knew not how to Bribe in the

right Place, or were so tenacious of what they had so hardly

purchas'd, that their only hopes were now _Half Pay_ or

_Superannuation_. In another place were Seamen's Wives with Petitions,

and pressing Deputy B----, who was as surly to them, as a _true Whigg_

in Office; but tho' he demanded no Fee, he could be mollified by a

little _Fellow feeling_, that like a Sop to _Cerberus_, let Petitions

and Men pass too; Then you fall in betwixt _Scylla_ and _Charybdis_,

the Clerks on one Side, and Sea Captains on the other; where Cowards

that have lost one Ship, easily get another; and Men of Valour,

without Interest, wait in vain for Preferment, from those who dispose

of what they do not understand; for here the _Land_ determines of the

_Main_, and he that never see the _North Foreland_, disposes of

things, as if he knew all the Creeks and Bays, Shelves, Sands, and

Nations of the Universe.'

[Footnote 634: _A Walk round London and Westminster._]

From contemporary descriptions Jack's nature has not much altered

since Anne's time. Ward thus sums him up: 'I could not but reflect on

the unhappy Lives of these Salt Water kind of Vagabonds, who are never

at Home but when they're at Sea, and always are wandering when they're

at Home; and never contented but when they're on Shore; They're never

at ease till they've receiv'd their Pay, and then never satisfied till

they have spent it; And when their Pockets are empty, they are just as

much respected by their Landladies (who cheat them of one half, if

they spend the other) as a Father is by his _Son-in-Law_, who has

Beggar'd himself to give him a good Portion with his Daughter.'

In the mercantile marine, there was a large trade done with India and

China. Dampier fitted out his third semi-piratical expedition,

Alexander Selkirk was discovered and brought home, and Captain Edward

Cooke circumnavigated the globe. The map published in his book[635] is

a very fair sample of hydrography. 'New Zealand, Dimens Land, and New

Holland' are just indicated in their proper positions, but New Guinea

is represented as being joined to the north of Australia, and

California is shown as an island.

[Footnote 635: _A Voyage to the South Sea and round the

World perform'd in the Years 1708, 1709, 1710_, and _1711_,

etc.]

CHAPTER XL.

CRIME.

Capital punishment -- Its frequency -- An execution described --

Behaviour on the scaffold and way to execution -- Revival after

hanging -- _Peine forte et dure_ -- Hanging in chains --

Highwaymen -- Claude du Val lying in state -- Ned Wicks and Lord

Mohun: their swearing match -- A highwayman hanged -- Highwaymen

in society -- Highway robberies -- Footpads -- Burglars -- John

Hall -- Benefit of clergy -- Coining -- Pickpockets -- Robbery

from children -- Perjury -- Sharpers -- Begging impostors --

Gipsies -- Constables -- Private detectives -- Commercial frauds

-- 'Society for the Reformation of Manners' -- Statistics of

their convictions -- The pillory -- Ducking-stool.

The repression and punishment of crime is the duty of every

Government, and it was performed in Anne's reign as well as an

imperfect police would allow. Capital punishment was, of course, more

frequent than in our days, because there were so many more offences

punishable by it. In London alone, from the commencement of Sir Thos.

Abney's mayoralty in 1701, to the end of that of Sir Richard Hoare in

1713, 242 malefactors were hanged at Tyburn and other places.

It was of such frequent occurrence that men got callous about it, nay,

joked of it. 'Mr. Ordinary visits his melancholy Flock at _Newgate_ by

Eight. Doleful Procession up _Holborn Hill_ about Eleven. Men handsome

and proper, that were never thought so before, which is some Comfort

however, Arrive at the fatal Place at Twelve. Burnt Brandy, Women and

Sabbath breaking repented of. Some few Penitential Drops fall under

the Gallows. Sheriffs Men, Parson, Pickpockets, Criminals, all very

busie. The last concluding peremptory Psalm struck up. Show over by

One.'

Misson gives a far longer account, full of detail, of an execution in

those days. He says: 'Hanging is the most common Punishment in

_England_. Usually this Execution is done in a great Road[636] about a

quarter of a League from the Suburbs of _London_. The Sessions for

trying Criminals being held but eight Times a Year, there are

sometimes twenty Malefactors to be hang'd at a Time.

[Footnote 636: Tyburn.]

'They put five[637] or six in a Cart (some gentlemen obtain leave to

perform this journey in a coach) and carry them riding backwards with

the Rope about their Necks, to the fatal Tree. The Executioner stops

the Cart under one of the Cross Beams of the Gibbet, and fastens to

that ill-favoured Beam one End of the Rope, while the other is round

the Wretches Neck: This done, he gives the Horse a Lash with his Whip,

away goes the Cart, and there swings my Gentleman Kicking in the air.

[Footnote 637: Usually three.]

'The Hangman does not give himself the Trouble to put them out of

their Pain; but some of their Friends or relations do it for them.

They pull the dying Person by the Legs, and beat his Breast to

dispatch him as soon as possible. The _English_ are People that laugh

at the Delicacy of other Nations, who make it such a mighty Matter to

be hang'd; their extraordinary Courage looks upon it as a Trifle, and

they also make a Jest of the pretended Dishonour, that in the Opinion

of others, falls upon their Kindred.

'He that is to be hang'd, or otherwise executed, first takes Care to

get himself shav'd, and handsomely drest, either in Mourning, or in

the Dress of a Bridegroom. This done, he sets his Friends at Work to

get him Leave to be bury'd, and to carry his Coffin with him, which is

easily obtain'd. When his suit of Cloaths, or Night Gown, his Gloves,

Hat, Perriwig, Nosegay, Coffin, Flannel Dress for his Corps, and all

those Things are brought and prepar'd, the main Point is taken Care

of, his Mind is at Peace, and then he thinks of his Conscience.

Generally he studies a Speech, which he pronounces under the Gallows,

and gives in Writing to the Sheriff, or the Minister that attends him

in his last Moments, desiring that it may be printed. Sometimes the

Girls dress in White, with great Silk Scarves, and carry Baskets full

of Flowers and Oranges, scattering these Favours all the Way they go.

But to represent Things as they really are, I must needs own that if a

pretty many of these People dress thus gayly, and go to it with such

an Air of Indifference, there are many others that go slovenly enough,

and with very dismal Phizzes.

'I remember, one Day, I saw in the Park, a handsome Girl, very well

drest, that was then in Mourning for her Father, who had been hang'd

but a month before at _Tyburn_ for false Coinage. So many Countries,

so many Fashions.'

There were sad and revolting scenes at the gallows. The notorious

Captain Kidd, the pirate, went to his death drunk, which as Paul

Lorrain, the Ordinary of Newgate, observes, 'had so decomposed his

Mind, that now it was in a very bad frame.' The rope broke, and he

fell to the ground, which somewhat sobered him, and before he was

finally strangled he listened to the chaplain's ministrations.

A previous chaplain, in 1691, was roughly treated by one Tom Cox, a

highwayman,[638] 'for before he was turn'd off, Mr. _Smith_, the

Ordinary, desiring him to join with the rest of his Fellow Sufferers

in Prayer, he swore a great Oath to the contrary, and kickt him and

the Hangman too off the Cart.'

[Footnote 638: _History of the Lives of the most noted

Highwaymen_, etc., by Capt. Alexander Smith, 1714.]

When one Dick Hughes, a housebreaker, was in 1709 going to

execution,[639] 'his wife met him at Saint _Giles's_ Pound, where, the

Cart stopping, she stept up to him, and whispering in his Ear, said,

My dear, who must find the Rope that's to hang you, We or the Sheriff?

Her husband reply'd, The Sheriff, Honey; for who's obliged to find him

Tools to do his Work? Ah! (reply'd his Wife) I wish I had known so

much before, 'twould have sav'd me two Pence, for I have been and

bought one already. Well, well, (said Dick again) perhaps it mayn't be

lost, for it may serve a second Husband. Yes (quoth his Wife) if I've

any Luck in good Husbands, so it may.'

[Footnote 639: _Ibid._]

Another story is told, in the same book, of one Jack Witherington, a

highwayman, who, when going up Holborn Hill to execution, 'he order'd

the Cart to stop, then desiring to speak to the Sheriff's Deputy, who

attends Criminals to the Place of Execution, he said to him, I owe,

Sir, a small Matter at the Three Cups Inn, a little farther, for which

I fear I shall be arrested as I go by the Door, therefore I shall be

much obliged to you if you'll be pleased to carry me down _Shoe Lane_,

and bring me up _Drury Lane_ again to the Place for which I'm

designed. Hereupon the Deputy Sheriff telling him that if such a

Mischance should happen, he would Bail him; Jack, as not thinking he

had such a good Friend to stand by him in time of Need, rid very

contentedly to Tyburn.'

The system of strangulation then in vogue was favourable to the

recovery of life, as is shown by the following extract from the

_Flying Post_, Dec. 11/13, 1705: 'Yesterday one John Smith,[640]

Condemned last Sessions for House breaking, was carried from Newgate

to Tyburn to be executed. Some minutes after he was turned off, a

Reprieve came for him, and being immediately cut down, he soon

reviv'd, to the admiration of all Spectators, and was brought back to

Newgate.'

[Footnote 640: See page 401.]

The Newgate Calendar reports that,'being asked what were his

sensations, after he was turned off; he answered That at first he felt

great pain, but that it gradually subsided, and that the last thing he

could remember, was the appearance of a light in his eyes, after which

he became quite insensible. But the greatest pain was, when he felt

the blood returning to its proper channels.'

He received a free pardon a few weeks afterwards, and one would have

imagined would have altered his ways, after so narrow an escape; but

he was apprehended for a similar offence, tried at the Old Bailey, and

was acquitted on a point of law. Yet once more was he caught, and this

time was acquitted by the death of the prosecutor. His ultimate fate

is not known.

But this was nothing to the marvellous resuscitation of Anne Greene,

who was hanged at Oxford, Dec. 14, 1651, and was afterwards

revived--and got quite well. She was condemned for the murder of her

child, which was afterwards discovered to have been stillborn; and

that there was no deception in her execution her history[641] assures

us, for she was hanging by the neck for the space of almost half an

hour, some of her friends in the meantime thumping her on the breast,

others hanging with all their weight upon her legges; 'sometimes

lifting her up, and then pulling her down againe with a suddaine

jerke, thereby the sooner to despatch her out of her paine; insomuch

that the Under-Sheriff, fearing lest thereby they should breake the

rope, forbad them to do so any longer.'

[Footnote 641: Brit. Mus. E. 625/14.]

And not only so, but when she was taken in her coffin to Dr. Petty,

the professor of anatomy, 'she was observed to breathe, and obscurely

to ruttle; which being perceived by a lusty fellow that stood by, he

(thinking to do an act of Charity in ridding her of the small reliques

of a painful life) stamped several times on her breast and Stomack

with all the force he could.' This considerate treatment could not

overcome the girl's vitality, for by dint of bleeding and good nursing

she entirely recovered, and went to her own home, taking with her her

coffin, and a goodly sum of money, which had been subscribed for her

benefit, and which remained after defraying all charges necessary to

her recovery.

The scaffold still lingered on Tower Hill, but this was reserved for

political offenders.

A remnant of the barbarous use of torture still remained (indeed it

was not abolished until the year 1772) in the _peine forte et dure_.

This punishment was inflicted when a prisoner refused to plead

'guilty' or 'not guilty,' which was then necessary before the trial

could be gone on with. Now, if a prisoner refuses to plead, he is

regarded as pleading 'not guilty,' and the trial goes on. People have

died under this torture rather than plead, because by that means they

preserved their property to their friends, which would have been

confiscated had they pleaded and been found guilty of felony.

[Illustration: 'Peine Forte et Dure.']

Misson gives the following description of the '_Peine forte et dure,

or pressing to death_. When a Felon, punishable with Death, stakes a

Resolution not to make any Answer to his Judges, after the Second

Calling upon, he is carry'd back to his Dungeon, and is put to a Sort

of Rack called _Peine forte et dure_. If he speaks, his Indictment

goes on in the usual Forms; if he continues dumb they leave him to die

under that Punishment. He is stretched out naked upon his Back, and

his Arms and Legs drawn out by cords, and fasten'd to the four Comers

of the Dungeon: A Board or Plate of Iron is laid upon his Stomach, and

this is heap'd up with Stones to a certain Weight.

'The next day they give him, at three different times, three little

Morsels of Barly Bread, and nothing to Drink: the next Day, three

little Glasses of Water, and nothing to Eat: And if he continues in

his Obstinacy, they leave him in that Condition 'till he dies. This is

practis'd only upon Felons, or Persons guilty of Petty Treason.

Criminals of High Treason, in the like Case, would be condemn'd to the

usual Punishment; their Silence would Condemn them.'

Hanging in chains was a distinction to which highwaymen and pirates

were entitled, after having combined murder with theft. It consisted

of fastening the body into a sort of cage, made of iron hoops, and

then hanging it upon the gibbet--which was bound to be on the very

road where the crime was committed.

Highway robbery was, unfortunately, very common in this reign; but the

perpetrators were mostly pitiful wretches, whose career, while it

lasted, was far from brilliant, and generally it was a very short one.

All the romance of the highway died with Claude Du Val, who was

executed on Jan. 21, 1670, in the 27th year of his age. His short

career ended ingloriously, for he was taken, when drunk, at the 'Hole

in the Wall,' in Chandos Street.

Whatever caused the furore over the poor rogue? We are told:[642]

'There were a great Company of Ladies, and those not of the meanest

Degree, that visited him in Prison, interceded for his Pardon, and

accompany'd him to the Gallows, with swoll'n Eyes, and Cheeks

blubber'd with Tears under their Vizards. After he had hang'd a

Convenient Time, he was cut down, and by Persons well dress'd carry'd

into a mourning Coach, and so Convey'd to the _Tangier_ Tavern in _St.

Giles's_, where he lay in State all that Night, the Room hung with

black Cloth, the Herse cover'd with Scutcheons, eight Wax Tapers

burning, as many tall Gentlemen with long Cloaks attending; _Mum_ was

the Word, and great Silence expected from all that visited, for Fear

of disturbing the sleeping Lion. And this ceremony had lasted much

longer, had not one of the Judges sent to disturb this Pageantry....

He was bury'd with many Flambeaus, and with a numerous Train of

Mourners, most whereof were of the beautiful Sex; he lyes in the

Middle Isle of _Covent Garden_ Church, under a White Marble Stone,

whereon are curiously engrav'd the Du Val's Arms.'

[Footnote 642: Smith's _Lives of Highwaymen_.]

The stories of their feats are very much alike, varied only in their

degree of brutality. One however, if true, is somewhat out of the

ordinary ruck, and it is told[643] of the same Lord Mohun ('Dog

Mohun,' as Swift calls him) who fought the Duke of Hamilton.

[Footnote 643: _Ibid._]

'Another time _Ned Wicks_ meeting with the late Lord _Mohun_ on the

Road betwixt _Windsor_ and _Colebrook_, attended only with a Groom and

one Footman, he commanded his Lordship to stand and deliver, for he

was in great Want of Money, and Money he would have before they

parted. His Honour, pretending to have a great deal of Courage, swore

he should fight for it then. _Wicks_ very readily accepted the

Proposal, and preparing his Pistols for an Engagement, his Lordship

seeing his Resolution, he began to hang back, which his Antagonist

perceiving, he began to be Cock on hoop, saying "All the World knows

me to be a Man; and tho' your Lordship was concern'd in the Cowardly

murdering of _Mumford_ the Player, and Captain _Cout_, yet I'm not to

be frighten'd at that; therefore down with your Gold, or else expect

no Quarter." His Lordship now meeting with his Match, it put him into

such a passionate Fit of swearing, that _Wicks_ not willing to be

outdone in any Wickedness, quoth he, "My Lord, I perceive you swear

perfectly well _ex tempore_; come, I'll give your Honour a fair Chance

for your Moneys, and that is, he that swears best of us two, shall

keep his own, and his that loseth." His Lordship agreed to this

Bargain, and throwing down a Purse of 50 Guineas, which _Wicks_

match'd with a like Sum; after a quarter of an Hours Swearing most

prodigiously on both Sides, it was left to his Lordship's Groom to

decide the Matter; who said, "Why, indeed your Honour Swears as well

as ever I heard a Person of Quality in my Life; but, indeed, to give

the Strange Gentleman his Due, he has won the Wager if 'twas for a

thousand Pounds." Whereupon _Wicks_ taking up the Gold, he gave the

Groom a Guinea, and rid about his Business.'

A highwayman certainly carried his life in his hand--he was a _Wolf's

head_, and, every man's hand being against him, he was shot whenever

he could be, and a reward of forty pounds was given for the capture of

one of them. In 1712 one Joseph Reader, a miller of Shaftesbury, was

attacked by a highwayman, who fired twice at him, and missed doing him

any injury. The miller, judging that he had expended his ammunition,

closed with him, knocked him off his horse with his cudgel, and beat

him senseless. He then dragged him to a tree, and hanged him with his

own belt. For this, Reader was tried at Dorchester, and acquitted; and

a subscription was got up for him in court, which amounted to over

30_l._

Ward describes a typical highwayman: 'Another you needs must take

particular notice of, that pluck'd out a pair of _Pocket Pistols_, and

laid them in the Window, who had a great Scar cross his Forehead, a

twisted Wig, and lac'd Hat on; the Company called him _Captain_; he's

a man of Considerable Reputation amongst _Birds of the same Feather_,

who I have heard say thus much in his Praise, that he is as Resolute a

Fellow as ever _Cock'd Pistol upon the Road_; and indeed I do believe

he fears no Man in the World but the _Hang Man_; and dreads no death

but _Choaking_. He's as generous as a Prince, treats any Body that

will keep him Company; loves his friends as dearly as the _Ivy_ does

the _Oak_, will never leave him till he has _Hug'd_ him to his Ruin.

He has drawn in twenty of his Associates to be Hang'd, but had always

_Wit_ and _Money_ enough to save his own Neck from the Halter. He has

good friends at Newgate, who give him now and then a _Squeeze_ when he

is in full _Juice_; and give him their Words to stand by him, which he

takes as a _Verbal Policy_ of _Insurance_ from the _Gallows_, till he

grows _Poor_ thro' _Idleness_, and then, (he has Cunning enough to

know) he may be _Hang'd_ thro' _Poverty_. He's well acquainted with

the _Ostlers_ about _Bishopsgate Street_, and _Smithfield_; and gains

from them Intelligence of what Booties goe out that are worth

attempting. He accounts them very honest _Tikes_, and can with all

safety trust his Life in their Hands, for now and then _Gilding_ their

_Palms_ for the good Services they do him. He pretends to be a

_Disbanded Officer_, and reflects very feelingly upon the hard usage

we poor Gentlemen meet with, who have hazarded our Lives and Fortunes

for the Honour of our Prince, the Defence of our Country, and Safety

of Religion; and after all to be _Broke_ without our Pay, turn'd out

without any consideration for the dangers and difficulties we have run

thro'; at this rate, _Wounds_, who the Devil wou'd be a Soldier?'

Their personal appearance--which, it is needless to say, was not the

gold-laced costume so beloved of the stage and penny dreadfuls--is

given in the following advertisement: 'Stolen from Sam. Brett Servant

to Mr. Bayly of Romford in Essex by two Highwaymen, one in a light

colour'd Suit trim'd with the same, a light coloured Wig and hood, the

other in a light colour'd Coat trim'd with Black Button holes on each

side, and dark brown Hair,' etc. And their style of doing business may

be learnt from the following: 'On Wednesday night the Cambridge,

Norwich, and Linn Stage Coaches, were all 3 robbed by one single Man

in Epping Forest.' 'Stafford 17 Feb. We have had great Robbing lately

in these parts by a Gang of Highway men: On the 30th past, they set

upon the Shrewsbury Stage Coach and plunder'd all the passengers; and

afterwards met with 3 Country Attorneys, which they Robb'd also; one

of them having put 20 Guineas into his Shooes, the Rogues for haste,

cut the Straps of the Port Mantle, and threw the Shooes away; after

they were gone, the Attorney took up both Shooes and Gold. On the 9th

instant they set upon two Drovers coming from New Castle Fair, took a

great deal of Money, kill'd one of them on the Spot, and dangerously

wounded the other. On the 11th May set upon the High Sheriff of the

County with his Lady and Servants, coming from Lichfield Fair took 60

Guineas from them, and cut off one of the Servants Hands. Since which

several of them are taken, of which two are committed to Warwick Gaol,

two to Stafford, and two men and three Women to Litchfield; one of the

Women was dress'd in Man's Apparel when they robb'd the Stage Coach.'

'The Mails due at London the 10th of Sept. from Ireland and Chester,

having been seiz'd by 3 Highwaymen between Dunstable and St. Alban's,

and several Letters opened. These are to give Notice thereof, that

care may be taken to prevent the payment of such Bills as have by this

means been intercepted.'

Advertisements frequently occur of men being taken up on suspicion of

being highwaymen, but one would fancy there could be but little doubt

of the profession of this gentleman. 'There is now in Custody in her

Majesty's Gaol of Newgate in London, James Biswick, alias Bissick, a

middle siz'd Man, Aged about 40, having a high Bridge Nose, a thin

Visage, pale Complexion, stooping in the Shoulders, was Apprehended

the 25th of August last, suppos'd to have committed divers Robberies

on the Highway, he having in his Pockets a brace of Pistols loaded and

prim'd, a Mask with Strings to it and other cords; also a black Jet

Mare 13 Hands high, 7 years old, a Short Bob Tail, a Scar on the near

knee, a Blood Spavin behind; is suppos'd to be Stolen, is to be seen

at the Swan and Hoop near More gate.'

'The foot pads are very troublesome in the evenings on all the roads

leading to this Citty, which renders them very unsafe,' writes

Luttrell in 1702, and that he did not exaggerate, take these two

instances occurring in that year. 'Last Wednesday Night, a Fencing

Master coming to Town from Pancrass, was set upon by some Foot Pads,

who, finding he had no Money about him, beat him so barbarously, that

his Life is despaired of.' 'On Thursday night, between eight and nine,

a Gentleman, who lives at Little Chelsea, was set upon by four

Ruffians on this side Chelsea College, who knocked him down, rifled

him of all he had of Worth about him, and left him miserably bruis'd

and beaten; but another Gentleman and his Man happening to come by,

and seeing him, they together pursued the Rogues, recovered the

Gentleman's Hat, Sword, Perriwig, and most of his Money, and took two

of the Rogues, who are since committed; but the other two escaped with

the Gentleman's Watch and Seal.' In 1703, '3 strowling Gipsies are

ordered down to Huntington to be Tryed for Robbing two Women, and

leaving them bound together on the Road Naked.' In 1704, 'A Gentleman

going from St. James's to Kensington was met and attacked in Hide Park

by two Foot Pads, who took from him his Sword, Watch, Perriwig, and

Rings, in all to the value of 130_l._ and left him in a deplorable

condition.' These are a few examples only, but they are sufficient to

show us the insecurity of the public roads at that time.

The Newgate Calendar gives a long list of crime in this reign, but

they are all of the ordinary type--murder, highway robberies, and

burglaries with violence, which last was a capital offence; and so

indeed it ought to be, were there many such burglaries as this: 'We

hear that on Tuesday night last, five Housebreakers broke into Sir

Charles Thorn's House near Bedington in Surrey, and having Jagg'd[644]

his Servants, got into his Bed Chamber. At their Entrance Sir Charles

fir'd a Pistol at them, which unhappily miss'd doing Execution; upon

this they bound and Jagg'd him, and afterwards one of them attempted

to insult his Lady; at which Sir Charles being exasperated, with much

struggling he got his Hands at Liberty, and flung a Perriwig block at

the Villain's Head; who in revenge stabbed Sir Charles, then cut his

throat from Ear to Ear, and left him Dead on the Spot. They afterwards

Ransack'd the House, and it's said, carried off to the value of £900

in Money and Plate. The Lady Thorn is so ill by this barbarous

Treatment, that her Life is despaired of.'

[Footnote 644: Gagged.]

There was a most famous housebreaker in this reign--one John Hall, a

chimney-sweep, who has a small literature entirely devoted to

him--besides having dis-'honourable mention' in the Newgate Calendar,

and his biography written by no less a person than Paul Lorrain, the

Ordinary of Newgate (who is mentioned both in _Tatler_ 63 and

_Spectator_ 338). He had a long poetical elegy composed on him, after

the fashion of the times--and an epitaph:--

Here lies Hall's Clay

Thus swept away;

If bolt or key

Obliged his Stay

At judgment day,

He'd make essay

To get away:

Be't as it may,

I'd better say

Here lies Jack Hall,

And that is all.

An Act passed in the fifth year of Anne's reign offered a Government

reward of £40 and a pardon to any person concerned in breaking open

houses, who shall discover two or more of his accomplices, upon their

conviction; whilst the 6 Anne, cap. 9, which deals with simple

burglaries, housebreaking, or robbery in shops, etc., repeals the 10

Will. III., cap. 12, sec. 6, which provided that 'every Person and

Persons, who should be convicted of or for any Theft or Larceny, and

should have the Benefit of the Clergy allowed thereupon, or ought to

be burnt in the Hand for such Offence: instead of being burnt in the

Hand should be burnt in the most visible part of the left Cheek

nearest the Nose;' and settles that henceforth they shall be burnt in

the hand.

This 'Benefit of the Clergy' is thus described by Misson: 'About 600

Years ago in the reign of _William the Second_, the People of

_England_ were so strangely ignorant, that the very Priests could

hardly read. The King, in order to bring the People out of such a

State of Darkness made a Law, that in certain Cases (as Man Slaughter,

Theft, (for the first Time) not exceeding the Sum of £5 Sterling, and

committed without Burglary, or putting the Person robb'd into bodily

Fear, Polygamy, &c.) the Convict might save his Life, and escape with

no other Punishment but burning in the Hand, if he were so great a

Scholar as to be able to read; and tho' at present there is hardly the

meanest Peasant in _England_ but what can read, yet the Law is still

in Force. They say to the Criminal, Thou N, who art convicted of

having committed such and such a Crime, what hast thou to demand in

Favour of thy self, to hinder Sentence of Death being pass'd upon

thee? The Criminal answers, I demand the Benefit of the Clergy. His

demand is granted, and the Ordinary of _Newgate_ gives him a Book,

printed in the old _Gothic_[645] Letter, in which the Criminal reads a

few Words. Then the Lord Mayor, or one of the Judges, asks the

Ordinary _Legitne vel non?_ And the Ordinary answers _Legit ut

Clericus_.

[Footnote 645: Black letter, which was of later date than

that text now termed Gothic.]

'However, when the Criminal has a Right to demand the _Benefit of the

Clergy_, they seldom give themselves the trouble to examine whether

they can read or no; be he the greatest Scholar in the World, or the

greatest Blockhead, tis all a Case, so he gives but a little Spite of

Money to the Ordinary, who tells him in a low Voice (which the whole

Court may hear) three or four words, which he pronounces, and there's

an End of the matter. 'Tis always taken for granted that a Peer can

read, and he is never burnt in the Hand when he claims _the Benefit of

the Clergy_.'

By the 6 Anne, cap. 9, this ceremony of reading was abolished,

although the privilege remained the same, and this singular custom was

not altogether, and entirely, done away with until 1841, 4 & 5 Vict.

22.

Coining, as infringing the king's prerogative, and being a serious

injury to the commonweal, was, of course, a capital offence. One can

understand coiners of base metal being punished; those who were

cunning in 'the Art of making _Black Dogs_, which are Shillings, or

other pieces of Money made only of Pewter, double Wash'd. What the

Professors of this Hellish Art call _George Plateroon_, is all copper

within, with only a thin Plate about it; and what they call

_Compositum_, is a mix'd Metal, which will both touch and cut, but not

endure the fiery Test'; but by what reasoning should the following

gentleman be found guilty of crime? 'Sir Richard Blackham, formerly a

Merchant, was at the sessions house in the Old Baily this week found

guilty of Misprision of treason for melting down the coin of England,

and making foreign coins of it.'[646]

[Footnote 646: _Luttrell_, Aug. 31, 1706.]

The ordinary pickpocket was common enough. Let us hear what Gay says

of him:--

Here dives the skulking Thief, with practis'd Slight,

And unfelt Fingers make thy Pocket light.

Where's now thy Watch, with all its Trinkets, flown?

And thy late Snuff Box is no more thy own.

But lo! his bolder Thefts some Tradesman spies,

Swift from his Prey the scudding Lurcher flies;

Dext'rous he scapes the Coach, with nimble Bounds,

While ev'ry honest Tongue _Stop Thief_ resounds.

So speeds the wily Fox, alarm'd by Fear,

Who lately filch'd the Turkey's callow Care;

Hounds following Hounds, grow louder as he flies,

And injur'd Tenants joyn the Hunter's Cries.

Breathless he stumbling falls: Ill fated Boy!

Why did not honest Work thy Youth employ?

Seiz'd by rough Hands, he's dragg'd amid the Rout,

And stretch'd beneath the Pump's incessant Spout:

Or plung'd in Miry Ponds, he gasping lies,

Mud Choaks his Mouth, and plaisters o'er his Eyes.

In every age the question may be asked, 'Quis custodiet ipsos

custodes?' and it might have been _à propos_ in 1703, when 'A

Thieftaker was also brought upon his Tryal for Picking a Man's Pocket

in Bartholomew Fair, and Acquitted': so, let us hope, he was

innocent.

Of course, if people were so stupid as to bedizen their children with

gold chains, they could not well grumble, and only had themselves to

blame, if 'fat squat' wenches occasionally took advantage of their

trustfulness and appropriated the trinkets. 'A Child about 6 Years Old

being led away by a Fat Squat Wench, on Monday, being the 13th

Instant, at 5 of the Clock in the Evening, from Brook Street in

Ratcliffe to Golden Lane without Cripplegate, being robbed of a Gold

Chain marked A. H. and a Silver Thimble and Purse. Whoever can

discover the Wench, so as to be taken, shall have a Guinea Reward, or

if Pawn'd or Sold their Money again at Thos. Townsend's at the Jamaica

Coffee House in Cornhill.'

As a rule, people were only too glad to get back their property, and

felonies were compounded in the most unblushing way--'No questions

asked' being almost universally a portion of an advertisement for

missing or stolen property.

One parish was very zealous in its work of criminal purgation. 'A

Reward for Apprehending of Thieves in the Parish of Stoak Newington,

in the County of Middlesex, that shall commit the Fact in the said

Parish.

'Whosoever shall apprehend, or cause to be apprehended, any Person or

Persons for Felony or Burglary, or for any petty Larceny, committed

within the said Parish within one year from the date hereof, shall

receive for every person so apprehended and convicted of petty

Larceny, 40s. which shall be paid by the Church Wardens of the said

Parish, upon demand, after Such Conviction, and the said Church

Wardens shall be at all Charges of the Prosecution, they being order'd

to do so at a Vestry held for the said Parish, on the 26th of December

1704.'

'Knights of the Post' have been previously mentioned, but, for a bit

of hard swearing, the following anecdote will hold its own. It is told

of a vagabond who was hanged in 1704.[647] 'Another Time _Tom Sharpe_

being very well dress'd, he went to one Councellor _Manning's_

Chambers in _Gray's Inn_, and demanded 100 Pounds which he had lent

him on a Bond. The Barrister was surpris'd at his Demand, as not

knowing him; and looking on the Bond, his Hand was so exactly

Counterfeited, that he could not in a manner deny it to be his own

Writing; but that he knew his own Circumstances were such, that he was

never in any Necessity of borrowing so much Money in all his Life of

any Man; therefore, as he could not be indebted in any such Sum, upon

the account of borrowing, he told _Tom_, he would not Pay 100 Pounds

in his own Wrong. Hereupon _Tom_, taking his Leave, he told him, he

must expect speedy Trouble; and in the meantime, Mr. _Manning_

expecting the same, sent for another Barrister, to whom opening the

matter, they concluded it was a forg'd Bond; whereupon Mr. Manning's

Council got a general Release forg'd for the Payment of this 100

Pounds; and when Issue was join'd, and the Cause came to be try'd

before the late Lord Chief Justice _Holt_, the Witnesses to _Tom

Sharpe's_ Bond, swore so heartily to his lending of the Money to the

Defendant that he was in a very fair way of being cast; 'till Mr.

_Manning's_ Council moving the Court in behalf of his Client,

acquainted his Lordship that they did not deny the having borrow'd 100

Pounds of the Plaintiff, but that it had been paid for above three

Months. Three Months! (quoth his Lordship) and why did not the

Defendant then take up his Bond, or see it cancell'd? To this, his

Council reply'd, that when they paid the Money, the Bond could not be

found, whereupon the Defendant took a general Release for Payment

thereof; which being produced in Court, and two _Knights of the Post_

swearing to it, the Plaintiff was cast. Which putting _Tom Sharpe_

into a great Passion, he cry'd to his Companions, as he was coming

through Westminster Hall, Was ever such Rogues seen in this World

before, to swear they paid that which they never borrow'd?'

[Footnote 647: Smith's _Lives of Highwaymen_, etc.]

There were plenty of 'Chevaliers d'Industrie' in those days, and many

were the traps set for the gullible and unwary. 'Like a couple of

Sweetners in search of a Country Gudgeon, who thro' Greediness of

Gain, would Bite at his share in a drop'd Half Crown, a Gilded Ring,

or Rug and Leather.'

Who can the various City Frauds recite,

With all the petty Rapines of the Night?

Who now the _Guinea Dropper's_ Bait regards,

Trick'd by the Sharper's Dice, or Juggler's Cards?

Why shou'd I warn thee ne'er to join the Fray,

Where the Sham Quarrel interrupts the Way?

Lives there in these our Days so soft a Clown,

Brav'd by the Bully's Oaths, or threat'ning Frown?

I need not strict enjoyn the Pocket's Care,

When from the crouded _Play_ thou lead'st the Fair;

Who has not here, or Watch, or Snuff Box lost,

Or Handkerchiefs that _India's_ Shuttle Boast?

'To prevent People being imposed upon by Beggers, The President and

Governors for the Poor of the City of London give Notice, that on the

18th of this instant April one Eliza Cozens was brought into the

Workhouse for Begging, with a Paper on her Breast, viz. These are to

certifie all Persons whom it may concern, that the Bearer hereof,

Eliza Cosens, a Captive among the Turks for the Space of 11 years and

more, and because she would not renounce the Christian Religion they

cut out her Tongue. Being ransomed with some other poor Slaves 6 years

ago, in the Reign of the late King William, coming to her Native

Country of England, and having no Friend to help her, she being

reduc'd to the utmost poverty. We whose Names are hereunto set, do

grant her this Certificate for her more secure Travelling, that she

might partake more easier of all good Christian's Charity wherever she

comes.

Ralph Freeman { Two of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for

Thomas Burgrief { the County of Hartford, at our Meeting, being

{ the Petty Sessions at Buttingford.

'This Woman hath a Tongue, and no Impediment at all in her Speech, and

this Certificate seems to be as much a Counterfeit as herself. She is

now at the Workhouse in Bishopsgate Street, to be seen by any that

please.'

Another somewhat similar notice was issued by the same authorities,

about one Mary Welch, and two children, who were sent to the workhouse

'for Begging on Horseback, Rapt up in Sheets and Blankets, pretending

to be burnt in their Limbs by a Fire which consumed their House in

Lincolnshire; the said Mary Welch usually begs in a Country Habit with

a High Crown'd Hat, and this Trade she hath follow'd several Years.

All which Fact is notoriously untrue, the said Mary and her two

Children being sound of their Limbs, and no ways scorch'd by any

Fire.'

And there are other advertisements of like import, of which the

following is most worthy of notice, as the impostor got his deserts:--

'... There is now in their Workhouse in Bishopsgate Street, one Rob.

Cunningham, a Man of about 40 years of Age, who went begging up and

down this City, and other Places, with this Paper following:--

To the Pious Reader.

Remember that God gave out the Law,

To keep the People of the World in awe.

Hope without Faith availeth not indeed,

Faith without Works, you may be sure is dead;

Without Charity there is no Salvation,

Poverty Causes a sorrowful Vexation.

Excuse the Writer, if bold he seems to be,

He is DEAF and DUMB, and desires Charity.

He came last from Londonderry,

Where he lost his Speech and Hearing.

The occasion may be told.

It was Sickness, Famine and Cold.

At last Confin'd within the Town,

For a Dog's Head paid half a Crown.

He does now for a Pension wait,

The which he is promis'd to get.

But the old Proverb you may observe,

While the Grass grows the Horse may Starve.

Rob. Cunningham.

Surdus & Mutus Scotia Natus.

'This Man being Committed to the Workhouse for begging in the City in

the Manner aforesaid, was there detected the 13th of this instant

September before the Committee there present, he having no Infirmity

in his Speech or Hearing, and he will shortly be sent a Soldier in her

Majesty's Service. He is the 4th pretended Dumb Person who hath been

here lately detected.'

Among the rogues and vagabonds may be classed the gipsies, who led

their nomadic life then, as now, and their description one hundred and

seventy years ago might be written to-day: 'As I was Yesterday riding

out in the Fields with my Friend Sir Roger, we saw at a little

Distance from us a Troop of Gypsies. Upon the first Discovery of them,

my friend was in some doubt whether he should not exert the Justice of

the Peace upon such a Band of Lawless Vagrants; but not having his

Clerk with him, who is a necessary Counsellor on these Occasions, and

fearing that his Poultry might fare the worse for it, he let the

Thought drop: But at the same time gave me a particular Account of the

Mischiefs they do in the Country, in stealing People's Goods and

spoiling their Servants. If a stray Piece of Linnen hangs upon an

Hedge, says Sir Roger, they are sure to have it; if the Hog loses his

Way in the Fields, it is ten to one but he becomes their Prey; our

Geese cannot live in Peace for them: if a Man prosecutes them with

Severity, his Hen roost is sure to pay for it; They generally straggle

into these Parts about this Time of the Year; and set the Heads of our

Servant Maids so agog for Husbands, that we do not expect to have any

Business done as it should be whilst they are in the Country. I have

an honest Dairy Maid, that crosses their Hands with a Piece of Silver

every Summer, and never fails being promised the handsomest young

fellow in the Parish for her Pains. Your Friend the Butler has been

Fool enough to be seduced by them; and, though he is sure to lose a

Knife, a Fork or a Spoon every time his fortune is told, generally

shuts himself up in the Pantry with an old Gypsie for above half an

Hour once in a Twelvemonth. Sweethearts are the things they live upon,

which they bestow very plentifully upon all those that apply

themselves to them. You see now and then some handsome young Jades

among them: The Sluts have often white Teeth and black Eyes.'[648]

[Footnote 648: _Spectator_, 130.]

The laws were cruelly severe against them, as Misson notes. 'By Acts

of Parliament and Statutes made in the Reign of _Henry_ 8th and his

two Daughters, all those People calling themselves _Bohemians_ or

_Egyptians_, are hangable as Felons at the Age of 14 Years, a Month

after their Arrival in _England_, or after their first disguising

themselves. Before the Month is out, they escape with the Loss of

their Goods, Money, &c., if they have any. This Law is not put in

Execution: 'Tis true they have very few of those People in _England_.'

In 1704 the president and governors of the poor of London set a good

example to the other municipalities of the kingdom by issuing a

proclamation against 'Rogues, Vagabonds, and Sturdy Beggars,' and

promised to anyone who should apprehend one of these objectionable

persons, and, taking him before a justice of the peace, get him

committed to the Workhouse, a reward of twelve pence 'towards the

Charges of this so doing,' and it further recited the pains and

penalties contained in the 29 Eliz. cap. 7, and 1 Jas. I. cap 7, on

those people who hindered their apprehension, and neglect of duty on

the part of constables and others.

Perhaps it was as well to, now and then, remind the constables of

their duties, for, if we may believe Ward, they were a very queer lot.

'He always walks Arm'd with a Staff of Authority, Seal'd with the

Royal Arms, and all Wise People think the Fellow that Carries it a

great Blot in the Scutcheon.... They are the only Encouragers of what

they pretend to Suppress, Protecting those People, for Bribes, which

they should punish; Well Knowing each Bad house they break is a Weekly

Stipend, out of their own Pockets.'

Here is a case in which they were made to eat the leek. 'On Tuesday

last, at Guild Hall, came on the Tryal of the Constables for their

insolent Behaviour the last Year, when the Honourable Plaintiffs, at

the humble Request of the Defendants, out of pure Compassion for them

and their indigent Families, were charitably pleas'd to forgive 'em,

upon the following Submission:

'WHEREAS we, _Francis Violet_ and _John Bavis_, Constables of the

Ward of _Broad Street_, did on the 8th day of Febr., 1707,[649]

rudely Take the Right Hon. _Bazil_, Earl of _Denbigh_, and

_William_, Lord _Craven_, Sir _Cholmley Dering_, Bar. _James

Buller_, Esq. and _Thomas Leigh_, Esq. out of Mr. _Calwac's_

House near the _Royal Exchange_, and commit 'em to the _Poultry

Compter_; We do hereby declare, that they were not Gaming, or any

ways disorderly or offensive in their Behaviour: and that we were

guilty of this great Imprudence, without any just Cause; for

which we are heartily sorry, and most humbly beg Pardon in open

Court.

FRANCIS VIOLET.

JOHN BAVIS.'[650]

[Footnote 649: This of course should read 1708.]

[Footnote 650: _The Post Boy_, March 5/8, 1709.]

Pollaky and the private inquiry offices were foreshadowed by the

subjoined. 'This is to give notice that those who have sustained any

loss at Sturbridge Fair last, by Pick Pockets or Shop lifts: If they

please to apply themselves to John Bonner in Shorts Gardens, they may

receive information and assistance therein; also Ladies and others who

lose their Watches at Churches, and other Assemblies, may be served by

him as aforesaid, to his utmost power, if desired by the right Owner,

he being paid for his Labour and Expences.'

Nor do we enjoy the monopoly of gigantic commercial swindles and

official peculations: human nature was pretty much the same. 'This

day, one Mr. C----, a great exchange broker, who dealt mostly in

Stocks, went off, as said, for above £100,000.'[651]

[Footnote 651: _Luttrell_, Aug. 14, 1703.]

'26 Oct., 1703. The Commons of Ireland divided, whether Sir Wm.

Robertson, vice-treasurer there, not giving an account of about

£130,000 of the publick money, should be uncapable of ever serving her

majestie, and be committed to the Castle: noes, 96; yeas, 104.'

'23 Dec., 1703. Yesterday the lords examined several Witnesses about

abuses committed in Victualling the Fleet; and it appearing that one

Hoar, who made some discovery therein, had since been almost killed by

persons in masks, the Commissioners of the victualling office were

ordered to attend the 5th of January.'

'7 Mar., 1704. The Commons considered the report of the Commissioners

of accounts, wherein they charge the earl of Ranelagh with £72,000 of

the publick money not accounted for, and Ordered an addresse to the

queen, that the attorney-generall may prosecute him in the exchequer

by way of extent upon his estate.'

'14 Mar., 1704. This day the Commons resolved, that the late

Commissioners of the Victualling office, in neglecting to keep regular

accounts, in making out perfect bills to clear imprests without

vouchers, and in not keeping a regular course in payment of their

bills, and not making regular assignments thereof, have been guilty of

a breach of trust, and acted contrary to their instructions.

'That Philip Papillion, esq., late cashier of the Victualling (Office)

has been guilty of a breach of his instructions, by paying several

bills without being signed by three Commissioners.

'And that an addresse be presented to her Majestie to direct an

immediate prosecution against him, to compell him to account according

to the Course of the Exchequer.'

'3 Oct., 1710. Yesterday Richard Dyot, esq, a justice of the peace for

Middlesex, and one of the Commissioners of the stamp Office, was taken

into Custody, being accused of counterfeiting stamps: implements for

that purpose were taken in his house. Mr. Thomas Welham, deputy

register of the prerogative office at Doctor's Commons, and others,

were also seized and examined, being concern'd with him.'

These are not examples of a pleasant social state, and yet it seems

that things might have been worse. 'I happen'd to be in a Company

t'other day, among some persons who were very well acquainted with

both _London_ and _Paris_, where it was made a Question, Which of

those two famous Cities was most debauch'd? 'Twas urg'd that the

excessive Clemency of the _English_ Laws gave _Room_ for abundance of

ill Actions that would not else be committed. Their Punishments have

nothing terrible in them but Death. A Rack is not known among them;

and their Examination of Criminals is not at all severe. The Judges

are extremely favourable to them; false Witnesses lie under but a

slight Penalty; and there is a Relaxation which may be call'd an

Inexecution of the Laws. Then as to Bankruptcies, and other Villanies

of that Nature, the City of _London_ is so full of privileg'd Places,

where such Thieves may take Shelter, that upon the whole it must be

Confess'd there is much less Danger in being wicked at _London_ than

at _Paris_; and yet we came to a Resolution, That there is more Vice,

and more Roguery at _Paris_ than at _London_; more infamous Actions,

more Cruelty, and more Enormity.'[652]

[Footnote 652: Misson.]

To remedy the very imperfect and lax enforcement of the laws, a

society had been started in 1696, 'For the Reformation of Manners in

the Cities of London and Westminster'; and in their eighth year (1703)

they published a list of 858 'Leud and Scandalous Persons' convicted

by their means in the previous year: in 1704, the convictions were

863; in 1707, only 706; whilst afterwards they increased enormously.

1708. 1709.

Lewd and Disorderly Men and Women 1255 794

Keepers of disreputable and disorderly Houses 51 32

Keepers of Common Gaming Houses 30 10

{ Exercising their Trades or ordinary

Persons for { Callings on the Lord's Day 1187 1523

{ Prophane Swearing and Cursing 626 575

{ Drunkenness 150 42

Looking at the above figures, the society must have done a sensible

amount of good in morally purging the metropolis.

There were minor punishments: the stocks and the pillory, the former

used for petty, the latter for somewhat graver, offences.

Defoe had to stand in the latter, and celebrated his defiance of his

punishment in 'a HYMN to the PILLORY.' It was all very well for him to

write--

Hail _Hi'roglyphick_ State _Machin_,

Contriv'd to Punish Fancy in:

Men that are Men, in thee can feel no Pain,

And all thy _Insignificants_ Disdain

--but even his proud boasting has to recognise unpleasantly--

The undistinguish'd Fury of the Street,

Which Mob and Malice Mankind Greet,

No Byass can the Rabble Draw,

But _Dirt_ throws _Dirt_ without respect to Merit or to Law.

Everyone is familiar with the general features of the pillory, but yet

a contemporaneous account, by a keen-sighted witness, will materially

help to bring it vividly before us. 'This Punishment is allotted for

those who are convicted of any notorious Cheat, or infamous Imposture;

of having publish'd defamatory Libels against the King or Government;

of false Testimony, and of publick Blasphemy; They are expos'd in a

high Place, with their Heads put thro' two Pieces of notch'd Wood; the

uppermost whereof being made to slide down, shuts the Neck into the

Notch. The Criminal's Hands are confin'd on each Side his Head in the

same Manner; and thus he stands in this ridiculous Posture for more or

less time, or with more or fewer Repetitions, according to his

Sentence. If the People think there is nothing very odious in the

Action that rais'd him to this Honour, they stand quietly by, and only

look at him; but if he has been guilty of some Exploit dislik'd by the

Tribe of 'Prentices, he must expect to be regaled with a hundred

thousand handfuls of Mud, and as many rotten Eggs as can be got for

Money. It is not lawful to throw Stones, but yet 'tis often done.

Generally the honest Man wears a large Sheet of Paper like a Cravat,

containing his Elogium in great Letters.'[653]

[Footnote 653: Misson.]

There was a lawful punishment for scolding women in the ducking-stool,

of which Gay sings:--

I'll speed me to the Pond, where the high Stool

On the long Plank hangs o'er the muddy Pool;

That Stool, the Dread of every scolding Quean,

Yet, sure a Lover should not die so mean.[654]

[Footnote 654: _The Shepherd's Week_--The Dumps.]

The _cucking_ stool is often used as being synonymous with _ducking_

stool, but in reality it is not. The cucking stool is by far the more

ancient, and is described in Domesday Book (speaking of Chester) as

'Cathedra Stercoris.' It was a solidly made chair with a hole in the

seat, and a rail in front to keep the offender in; and at first the

punishment was confined to exhibition of the scold in front of her

house, where, for a certain length of time, she was exposed to the

jeers of the neighbourhood. Afterwards it was mounted on wheels, being

then called a tumbrel, or trebucket, and moved about the town. It then

was improved by ducking the offending woman in some pond; and at last

permanent ones were set up in divers towns and villages, as described

by Gay, and especially well by Misson, who says: 'The way of punishing

Scolding Women is Pleasant enough; They fasten an Arm Chair to the end

of two Beams, twelve or fifteen Foot long, and parallel to each other:

So that these two Pieces of Wood, with their two Ends, embrace the

Chair, which hangs between them upon a Sort of Axel; by which Means it

plays freely, and always remains in the natural horizontal Position in

which a Chair should be, that a Person may sit Conveniently in it,

whether you raise it or let it down. They set up a post upon the Bank

of a Pond, or River, and over this Post they lay, almost in

Equilibrio, the two Pieces of Wood, at one End of which the Chair

hangs just over the Water; they place the Woman in this Chair, and so

plunge her into the Water, as often as the Sentence directs, in order

to Cool her immoderate Heat.'

CHAPTER XLI.

PRISONS.

Dreadful condition of Prisons -- Bridewell -- Description of --

Flogging -- Houses of Correction -- Compters -- Description of

the Poultry compters -- 'Garnish' -- Newgate -- Description of --

Marshalsea -- Queen's Bench -- Fleet and Ludgate -- Poor Debtors

-- Kidnappers -- Country prisons -- Bankrupts.

Perhaps one of the foulest social blots in this reign was the

loathsome pollution, moral and physical, of the prisons. It was not

that public attention was not called to it. Every writer who touched

at all upon the subject was loud in exposing their terrible condition,

and the villanies practised in them, without effecting any

amelioration in them; and so they continued until the time of Howard.

They are a portion of the Social Life of the Reign of Queen Anne, and

must be spoken of; but their description must be very modified, as the

plain, unvarnished statements made by contemporary writers would not

be held as exactly fitting for general perusal in these days.

'A Prison is the Grave of the Living, where they are shut up from the

World, and the Worms that gnaw upon them, their own Thoughts, the

Jaylor, and their Creditors. A House of Meagre Looks and ill Smells;

for Lice, Drink, and Tobacco are the Compound.... Men huddle up their

Life here as a thing of no use, and wear it out like an old Shirt, the

faster, the better; and he that deceives the time best, best spends

it. It is the Place where Strangers are best Welcomed; and their Joys

are never greater than when they hear of the increase of their

miserable Companions, because they are in hopes of a Garnish. This

Place teaches Wisdom, but commonly too late; and a Man had better be a

Fool than come here to learn Wit.'[655]

[Footnote 655: _Hickelty Pickelty._]

The prisons in London, in their alphabetical order, were as follows:

Bridewell; Clerkenwell House of Correction; Clerkenwell New Prison;

Counters, or Compters, in the Poultry and Wood Street; Fleet; Gate

House, Westminster; Ludgate; Marshalsea; Newgate; Queen's Bench;

Westminster House of Correction; and White Lyon Prison, Southwark;

besides a sort of prison at Whitechapel, and one exclusively for

debtors in the precinct of St. Catharine's Tower--a precinct which had

the privilege of freedom of arrest for debt, except by an order of the

Board of Green Cloth.

Bridewell, which had originally been a royal residence, was situated

between Fleet Ditch and Bride Lane; and 'It is a prison and House of

Correction for idle Vagrants, loose and disorderly Servants, Night

Walkers, Strumpets &c. These are set to hard Labour, and have

Correction according to their deserts, but have their Cloaths and Diet

during their Imprisonment at the Charge of the House.'[656]

[Footnote 656: Hatton's _New View of London_, 1708.]

Ward, of course, is in his element in describing Bridewell[657]; but

his account is not exaggerated. 'We then turn'd into the Gate of a

stately Edifice, my Friend told me was _Bridewell_, which to me seem'd

rather a Prince's Palace, than a House of Correction; till gazing

round me, I saw in a large Room a parcel of ill looking Mortals,

pounding a Pernicious Weed, which I thought from their unlucky

aspects, seem'd to threaten their Destruction. These, said I, to my

Friend, I suppose are the Offenders at Work; pray what do you think

their Crimes may be? Truly, said he, I cannot tell you; but if you

have a mind to Know, ask any of them their Offence, and they will soon

satisfie you. Prithee Friend, said I, to a Surly Bull neck'd fellow,

who was thumping as lazily at his Wooden Anvil, as a Ship Carpenter at

a Log in the King's Yard at _Deptford_, What are you Confin'd to this

Labour for? My Hempen Operator, leering over his shoulder, cast at me

one of his hanging Looks, which so frightened me, I step'd back, for

fear he should have knocked me on the Head with his Beetle, Why, Mr.

_Tickletail_, says he, taking me, as I believe, being in Black, for

some Country Pedagogue, I was committed hither by Justice Clodpate,

for saying I had rather hear a Black bird Whistle _Walsingham_,[658]

or a Peacock Scream against Foul Weather, than a Parson talk Nonsense

in a Church, or a Fool talk Latin in a Coffee House: And I'll be

judg'd by you who are a Man of Judgment, whether in all I said there

be one Word of Treason to deserve a Whipping Post.

[Footnote 657: _London Spy._]

[Footnote 658: See Appendix.]

'The Impudence of this Canary Bird so dash'd me out of Countenance,

together with his unexpected Answer, I had nothing to say, but

heartily wish'd myself well out of their Company; and, just as we were

turning back, to avoid their further Sawciness, another calls out to

me, Hark you, Master in Black, of the same colour of the Devil, can

you tell me how many thumps of this Hammer will soften the Hemp so as

to make a Halter fit Easie, if a man should have occasion to wear one?

A third crying out, I hope, Gentlemen, you will be so Generous to give

us something to Drink, for you don't know but we may be hard at work

for you? We were glad, with what Expedition we could, to escape their

Impudence.

'Going from the Work room to the Common side, or place of Confinement

(where they are Lock'd up at Night) through the frightful Grates of

which uncomfortable Apartment, a Ghastly Skeleton stood peeping, that

from his terrible Aspect I thought some Power Immortal had imprison'd

Death that the World might Live for ever. I could not speak to him

without dread of danger, least when his Lips open'd to give me an

Answer, he should poison the Air with his Contagious Breath, and

Communicate to me the same Pestilence which had brought his infected

Body to a dismal Anatomy: Yet mov'd with pity towards so sad an

Object, I began to enquire into the Causes of his sad appearance, who,

after a Penitential Look, that call'd for Mercy and Compassion, with

much difficulty he rais'd his feeble Voice a degree above silence, and

told me he had been Sick Six Weeks under that sad Confinement, and had

nothing to comfort him but Bread and Water, now and then the

refreshment of a little small beer. I asked him further what Offence

he had Committed that brought him under this unhappiness? To which he

answer'd, He had been a great while discharg'd of all that was charg'd

against him, and was detain'd only for his Fees, which for want of

Friends, being a Stranger in the Town, he was totally unable to

raise. I ask'd him what his Fees amounted to; who told me _Five

Groats_--Bless me! thought I, what a Rigorous, Uncharitable thing is

this.

'From thence we turn'd into another Court, the Buildings being like

the former, Magnificently Noble; where straight before us was another

Grate, which prov'd the Women's Apartments; we follow'd our Noses and

Walk'd up to take a View of their Ladies, who we found were shut up as

close as Nuns; but like so many Slaves, were under the Care and

Direction of an Over Seer, who walk'd about with a very flexible

Weapon of Offence, to Correct such Hempen Journey Women who were

unhappily troubled with the Spirit of Idleness.... They look'd with as

much Modesty as so many _Newgate_ Saints, canonized at the _Old

Baily_; being all as Merry over their shameful Drudgery,

notwithstanding their Miserable Circumstances, as so many Jolly

Crispins in a Garret....

[Illustration: Beating Hemp.]

[Illustration: Flogging a Woman.]

'Being now both tired with, and amaz'd at the Confidence and Loose

Behaviour of these Degenerate Wretches, who had neither Sense of

Grace, Knowledge of Vertue, Fear of Shame, or Dread of Misery, my

Friend reconducted me back into the first Quadrangle, and led me up a

pair of Stairs into a spacious Chamber, where the Court was sat in

great Grandeur and Order. A Grave Gentleman, whose Awful Looks bespoke

him some Honourable Citizen, being mounted in the Judgment Seat, Arm'd

with a Hammer, like a Change-Broker at Lloyd's Coffee House--and a

Woman under the Lash in the next Room, where Folding Doors were

open'd, that the whole Court might view the Punishment; at last down

went the Hammer, and the Scourging ceas'd; that I protest, until I was

undeceiv'd, I thought they had sold their Lashes by Auction. The

Honourable Court, I observ'd was chiefly Attended by Fellows in Blew

Coats, and Women in Blew Aprons. Another Accusation being then

deliver'd by a Flat Cap aginst a poor Wench, who having no Friend to

speak in her Behalf, Proclamation was made, viz. All you who are

willing E--th T----ll should have present Punishment, Pray hold up

your Hands; which was done accordingly; And then she was ordered the

Civility of the House, and was forced to shew her tender Back and

Breasts to the Sages of the Grave Assembly, who were mov'd by her

Modest Mein, together with the whiteness of her Skin, to give her but

a gentle Correction.'

The Houses of Correction at Clerkenwell, White Lyon Prison at

Southwark, and Westminster, were similar institutions. The new prison

at Clerkenwell was simply a House of Detention, where the prisoners

awaited trial, and was intended to ease Newgate.

Wood Street and Poultry Compters received not only 'debtors upon

Actions in the Lord Mayor's and Sheriffs Courts, but such as disturb

the Peace of the City in the Night.' Ward describes at considerable

length a night spent in the Poultry Counter. He says, 'The Turnkey

was so civil to offer us Beds, but upon such unconscionable terms,

that we thank'd him for his Love, but refus'd his _Courtesie_.'

Afterwards he was put in the _Common Side_ of the prison, and this is

what it was like. 'When first we enter'd this Apartment, under the

Title of the _King's Ward_, the mixtures of Scents that arose from

_Mundungus-Tobacco_, foul Sweaty _Toes_, Dirty _Shirts_, stinking

_Breaths_, and uncleanly Carcases, Poison'd our Nostrils far worse

than a _Southwark_ Ditch, a _Tanner's Yard_, or a _Tallow Chandlers_

Melting Room. The Ill looking Vermin, with long Rusty Beards swaddled

up in Rags, and their heads, some cover'd with Thrum Caps, and others

thrust into the tops of old Stockings; some quitted their Play they

were before engag'd in, and came hovering round us, like so many

_Canibals_, with such devouring _Countenances_, as if a Man had been

but a Morsel with 'em all crying out _Garnish, Garnish_, as a Rabble

in an Insurrection, crying _Liberty, Liberty_. We were forc'd to

submit to their Doctrine of Non resistance, and comply with their

demands, which extended to the Sum of Two Shillings each. Having thus

Paid our Initiation Fees, we were bid Welcome into the _King's Ward_,

and to all the Privileges and Immunities thereof.'

We will not follow Ward through his night's experiences, which are far

too graphically told--but in the morning, he says,'Now I must confess,

I was forc'd to hold my Nose to the Grate, and Snuff hard for a little

fresh Air; for I was e'en choak'd with the unwholesome Fumes that

arose from their uncleanly Carcasses: Were the Burning of Old Shoes,

Draymen's Stockings, the Dipping Card Matches, and a full Close Stool

Pan, to be prepared in one Room, as a Nosegay to torment my Nostrils,

it could not have prov'd a more effectual Punishment.'

More than once we have come across the word _Garnish_. The following

scene will assist us in thoroughly grasping its meaning:--

Scene--Newgate.[659]

[Footnote 659: _The Lying Lover._]

_Storm._ I defie the World to say I ever did an ill thing. I love

my Friend--but there is always some little Trifle given to

Prisoners, they call Garnish; we of the road are above it, but o'

t'other side of the House, Silly Rascals that come voluntarily

hither. Such as are in for Fools, sign'd their own _Mittimus_, in

being bound for others, may perhaps want it: I'll be your

faithful Almoner.

_Bookwit._ O, by all means, Sir. (_Gives him Money._)

_Storm._ Pray, Sir, is this your Footman?

_Bookwit._ He is my Friend, Sir.

_Storm._ Look you, Sir, the only time to make use of a Friend is

in Extremity; do you think you cou'd not hang him, and save your

self? Sir, my Service to you, your own Health. (_Gives it to next

Prisoner._)

_1st Pris._ Captain, your Health.

_2nd Pris._ Captain, your Health.

_Storm._ But perhaps the Captain likes Brandy better. So ho!

Brandy there--(_Drinks._) But you don't perhaps like these strong

Liquors. Sider ho! Drink to him in it--Gentlemen all. But

Captain, I see you don't love Sider neither. You and I will be

for Claret then. Ay marry! I knew this wou'd please (_Drinks_)

you. (_Drinks again._) Faith we'll make an end on't. I'm glad you

like it.

_Turnkey._ I'm sorry, Captain _Storm_, to see you impose upon a

Gentleman, and put him to Charge in his Misfortune. If a petty

Larceny Fellow had done this---- But one of the Road!

_Storm._ I beg your Pardon, Sir, I don't question but the Captain

understands there is a Fee to you for going to the Keeper's side

(_Bookwit_ and _Latin_ give him Money) (Exeunt _Turnkey_, _Simon_

following). Nay, Nay, you must stay here.

_Simon._ Why I am _Simon_, Madam _Penelope's_ Man.

_Storm._ Then Madam Penelope's Man must strip for Garnish;

indeed, Master _Simon_, you must.

_Simon._ Thieves! Thieves! Thieves!

_Storm._ Thieves! Thieves! Why you senseless Dog, do you think,

there's Thieves in _Newgate_? Away with him to the Tap House.

(_Pushes him off._) We'll drink his Coat off. Come my little

Chymist, thou shalt transmute this Jacket into Liquor, Liquor

that will make us forget the evil Day. And while Day is ours, let

us be Merry.

Perhaps the best contemporary account of Newgate is in a pamphlet,

published in 1708, called 'MEMOIRS of the Right Villanous _John

Hall_,' etc.; and this is the scene attending the initiation of a

prisoner into the _Common Side_:--

'Those Scholars that come here have nothing to depend on but the

Charity of the Foundation, in which Side very exact Rules are

observ'd; for as soon as a Prisoner comes into the Turn Key's Hands

Three Knocks are given at the Stair Foot, as a Signal a Collegian is

coming up; which Harmony makes those _Convicts_ that stand for the

_Garnish_ as joyful as One Knock, the Signal of the _Baker's_ coming

every Morning, does those poor Prisoners, who, for want of Friends,

have nothing else to Subsist on but Bread and Water: And no sooner are

the Three Strokes given, but out jumps Four Trunchion Officers from

their Hovel, and with a sort of ill mannerly Reverence receive him at

the Grate; then taking him into their Apartment, a couple of the good

natured Sparks hold him whilst the other Two pick his Pockets,

claiming Six Pence apiece, as a Priviledge, belonging to their Office;

then they turn him out to the _Convicts_, who hover about him for

_Garnish_, which is Six Shillings and Eight pence, which they, from an

old Custom, claim by Prescription Time out of Mind for entring in the

_Society_, otherwise they strip the poor Wretch, if he has not

wherewithal to pay it.

'Then _Cook Ruffian_ comes to him for Three pence for dressing the

Charity Meat, which charitable disposed Persons send in every

_Thursday_, whereon Earthen Dishes, Porringers, Pans, Wooden Spoons,

and Cabbage Nets, are Stirring about against Dinner Time, whilst the

Cook sweats in Porriging the Prisoners, who stand round him like so

many poor Scholars begging at the Kitchin Door for College Broth.

'But yet the caged Person is not clear of his Dues, for next, Two

other Officers, who have a Patent for being _Swabbers_, demand Three

Half pence apiece more for clearing the Gaol of its Filth, which

requires the Labour of _Sisiphus_, and is never to be ended. Then at

the signal of the _Grey Pease_ Woman, which is between Seven and

Eight, he is conducted down Stairs, with an Illumination of Links, to

his Lodging, and, provided he has a Shilling for Money, may lye in the

_Middle Ward_, which (to give the Devils their due) is kept very neat

and clean, where he pays One Shilling and Four Pence more to his

Comrades, and then he is Free of the _College_ and _Matriculated_.'

The _Lower Ward_ was a shocking place, as was also a 'large Room

call'd _Tangier_, which next to the _Lower Ward_, is the nastiest

place in the Gaol. The Miserable Inhabitants hereof are Debtors.'

There was a large room called _High Hall_, for recreation, and a

cellar where liquors were sold, in unlimited quantities, to moneyed

prisoners. We can imagine the effects of drink among this depraved

lot, and the fearful brawls and fights that took place; but, were the

riot very serious, then two pulls of the big bell, which hung over the

_High Hall_ stairs, would bring the turnkeys, who stood no nonsense

among that unruly crew, and the ringleaders were ironed and thrown

into dark dungeons.

The press-room, where non-pleading criminals were pressed, and a room

where the hangman seethed the quartered limbs of rebels and traitors

in a mixture of pitch, tar, and oil, were among the apartments in

Newgate. When the fettered prisoners were tried, if they did not give

the gaolers half a crown to be put in the _Bail Dock_, they were put,

men and women together, into the _Hold_, where a singular custom

prevailed of a prisoner exacting a shilling apiece from the youngest

for _Hold Money_; and were anyone lucky enough to be acquitted, he had

to spend a _Quit Shilling_ for their delight.

Of the Marshalsea Prison Hatton says: 'It is now the County Gaol for

Felons, the Admiralty Gaol for Piracy and other Offences committed at

Sea, and is the Gaol to the Marshals court for Debt and Damage. It

was in Southwark; and another contemporary[660] says it 'is situated

on such a Cursed Piece of Land, that the Son is asham'd to be his

Father's Heir in't. It is an infected Pest house all the Year long;

and _Lord have Mercy upon us_ may well stand upon these Doors.'

[Footnote 660: Smith's _Lives of Highwaymen_.]

The Gate House, Westminster, 'is the chief Prison for the City of

_Westminster_ Liberties, not only for Debt but Treason, Theft and

other Criminal Matters; the Keeper has that place by Lease from the

Dean and Chapter of _Westminster_.'

The Queen's Bench Prison had 'its Rules of a considerable Extent and

Allowance, somewhat better than in the Common Gaols, for which reason

many Debtors elsewhere confin'd, do by _Habeas Corpus_ remove into

this Prison, which is the proper place of Confinement in all Cases

tryable in the _Queen's Bench Court_, whether for Debt, Dammage,

Treason, Murther, &c.'

The Fleet and Ludgate were purely for debtors, in contradistinction to

the others, which accommodated not only debtors but criminals.

Imprisonment for debt has not very long been done away with--indeed,

it now exists under the name of 'contempt of court'; and what renders

it more illogical and oppressive, is that people can only be

imprisoned for owing small sums, the debtors who operate on a larger

scale having perfect immunity from restraint. However, in Anne's time

large and small were taken indiscriminately; the smaller debtors, as

being the weaker, naturally getting the worst of it; their chances of

ever getting out being very remote. We have seen in Newgate that

_Tangier_ was the worst place but one in the gaol. 'The Miserable

Inhabitants hereof are _Debtors_, who put what sorry Bedding they

enjoy upon such an Ascent where Soldiers lye when on Guard at the

_Tilt Yard_. But in this Apartment lye, besides _real Debtors_, such

as are call'd your _Thieving Debtors_; who, having for _Theft_

satisfy'd the _Queen_, by being Burnt in the Face, or Whipt, which is

no Satisfaction to the wrong'd Subject, their Adversaries bring an

Action of _Trover_ against them, and keep them there till they make

Restitution for Things stolen ... here is a lightsome Room call'd

_Debtor's Hall_, so nam'd from such unfortunate Men lying there, where

every Man shews like so many Wrecks upon the Sea; here the Ribs of

£20, here the Ruins of a good Estate, Doublets without Buttons, and a

Gown without Sleeves; and a pair of Stairs higher lye Women that are

_Fines_ and _Debtors_, thinking, like their suffering Companions below

them, every Year Seven till they get abroad.'[661]

[Footnote 661: _Hall's Memoirs._]

The Warden of the Fleet must have made a good thing out of the

necessities of his victims. If they had any money at all, he got it

out of them. If their nature revolted at the moral and actual filth of

the _Common Side_, they could rent a small room of him, the lowest

price being about 8_s._ per week. This accommodation entailed paying

besides 1_s._ 6_d._ a week to the chamberlain, and a double fee of

4_d._ to the chaplain. 'There are some who lie on the _Common Side_,

or _Wards_, without Beds allowed to them, who pay but 1_s._ 2_d._ per

week, and 34_s._ 4_d._ Commitment Fee, and 2_d._ per week to the

_Parson_; but that place in the _Fleet_ is Dark, Unwholesome, and is a

Curb upon the rest to pay those Great Rates the Gaoler Exacts; he

unmercifully threatning all for _Non Payment_, with Dungeons and

Irons, not distinguishing between a Criminal and a Debtor.'

Ludgate was more comfortable, and rather more aristocratic; it was

'purely for Insolvent Citizens of _London_, Beneficed Clergy, and

Attorneys at Law. Fees at Coming in from the Counter--1_s._ 2_d._; at

going out--3_s._ 2_d._; and to the Turnkey--1_s._ For their being here

they pay on the Commons Side 1_s._ 2_d._ per Week, and on the Master's

side--1_s._ 9_d._ They have among the Prisoners a sort of Government,

as a Steward chosen the 1st Tuesday in every Month; also 7

Assistants.'[662]

[Footnote 662: _New View of London._]

But both here and at the Fleet, in spite of charitable bequests, there

were some of the prisoners in a state of absolute destitution. To aid

these, the prisoners took it in turns to perambulate the rules, and

solicit help in money or kind, whilst another had to stand at the

window-grating, rattling a box, and chanting the monotonous wail of

'Pray remember the poor Debtors!'

[Illustration: 'Remember the Poor Prisoners.']

'Passing under _Ludgate_, the other Day, I heard a Voice bawling for

Charity, which I thought I had somewhere heard before. Coming near to

the Grate, the Prisoner called me by my Name, and desired I would

throw something into the Box. I was out of Countenance for him, and

did as he bid me, by putting in half-a-Crown.'[663]

[Footnote 663: _Spectator_, 82.]

Once in a debtor's prison, almost all hope had to be given up--even

the release offered by Government on condition of joining the army or

navy was limited to debtors of small amount, who must have been six

months in prison; and, besides, it was only going to other privations,

and, in the army, almost certainly meant wounds or death. No wonder,

then, if, when a man was in difficulties, he sometimes adopted the

desperate resource of selling himself for a time in bondage to one of

the Plantations. Poor wretch! he knew it was bad to do so, by common

report; but he had to find out what the life of a 'Redemptioner'

really was, by bitter experience. First, a little money advanced for

his outfit; then, on his arrival at his destination, his body would be

seized for his passage money, which had been promised him free; and

then he must be sold to Work for so many years, to some one who paid

his debt for him. Put on the same footing, as to food and government,

with the convicts, his life was awful, whilst his master always

managed to keep him sufficiently in debt for clothes and tobacco, &c.,

so that he never could free himself.

Men were ever on the prowl, about London, to catch the miserable.

'Those fine Fellows who look like Foot men upon a Holy day, crept into

cast Suits of their Masters, that want Gentility in their Deportments

answerable to their Apparel, are Kidnappers, who walk the Change, and

other parts of the Town, in order to Seduce People, who want Services,

and young Fools crost in Love, and under an uneasiness of Mind, to go

beyond Seas, getting so much a head of Masters of Ships, and Merchants

who go over, for every Wretch they trapan into this Misery. Those

Young Rakes, and Tatterdemallions you see so lovingly herded, are

drawn by their fair Promises to sell themselves into Slavery, and the

Kidnappers are the Rogues that run away with the Money.'[664]

[Footnote 664: _London Spy._]

Bad as the prisons where debtors were confined were in London, they

were infinitely worse in the country; indeed, one can scarcely credit

the treatment they received. There is, however, a most interesting

little book, called 'The Cry of the Oppressed,' which goes minutely

into the details in many of the country prisons, and the engravings

alone show the cruel treatment debtors had to endure: catching mice

for subsistence; being dragged on hurdles, dying of starvation and

malaria; covered with boils and blains; imprisoned in underground

dungeons; assaulted by the gaolers; having to live with the hogs, with

wooden clogs chained to their legs; having to herd with condemned

criminals; and being tortured with thumbscrews, etc.

Nobody ever seems to have bothered their heads about it--it was not

their business. Luttrell says, '3 Nov., 1702. This day ordered a Bill

to be brought in for regulating the King's Bench and Fleet Prisons,'

but nobody took sufficient interest in it, and it never became an Act.

Arrest for debt was so common in those days that we find that even the

sacred person of an ambassador was not exempt. 'Saturday, 24 July,

1708. Thursday, the Muscovite envoy, who is leaving this kingdom, was

arrested in his Coach in the Haymarket for a debt of £360, which he

has since paid, but complained to her Majestie of the affront, who

ordered the officers to be prosecuted, and promised him all possible

satisfaction. 27 Jul. The Queen has ordered the persons who caused the

Muscovite ambassador to be arrested to beg his pardon upon their

knees.'[665]

[Footnote 665: _Luttrell's Diary._]

In the _Daily Courant_, Oct. 11, 1705, is a most pathetic appeal from

a bankrupt to his creditors. 'To the Creditors of James Folkingham,

late of London, Merchant. The Mottos of Sic transit Gloria Mundi, and

Hodie mihi, cras tibi, have been frequently made use of to express the

uncertainty of Humane Affairs in all their Divisions, even from the

greatest Monarch to the Meanest Peasant, so I may occasionally lay

Claim to them. This premised, I shall not entertain you Gentlemen, my

Creditors, with the Number, Variety, and Severity of my Misfortunes,

nor how far my folly, want of Judgment, Inadvertency, &c. may have

contributed thereto; but rather plead Guilty to the Indictment of

having Injured you, unwillingly, of a great deal of Money, and my own

near Relations of as much, and throw myself on your Mercy; in order to

entitule me to which, I promise upon Oath to resign all I have, and

shall be required by the Persons deputed, directly or indirectly;

provided I may be forthwith set at Liberty, with a Security not to be

molested hereafter. That my all is no more, is matter of Concern to

me, as well as Disappointment to you. If God Almighty ever permit me

to be able, my generous, honest Temper will oblige me to make you

farther Satisfaction, for to Digg I will endeavour, tho' to Begg I am

ashamed.

'Your Disconsolate Debtor and Humble Servant,

'JAMES FOLKINGHAM.'

In one case, that of Thomas Pitkin, a bankrupt linen draper, who

absconded, an Act of Parliament (3 and 4 Anne, cap. 11) was passed for

the relief of his creditors, and for his apprehension, and he was

afterwards captured at Breda in Holland.

The Act of 4 and 5 Anne, cap. 4, 'to prevent Frauds frequently

committed by Bankrupts,' gave liberty to a large number, the _Gazette_

of June 6/10, 1706, having as many as forty-six bankruptcy petitions,

whereas formerly seven or eight was an average.

CHAPTER XLII.

WORKHOUSES, HOSPITALS, ETC.

The London Workhouse -- Life therein -- Bedlam -- Its building --

Regulations -- Description of interior -- Governors --

Bartholomew Hospital -- St. Thomas's -- Almshouses.

The London Workhouse, in Bishopsgate Street, was, perhaps, one of the

first of these municipal institutions, and there the rogues, vagrants,

and sturdy beggars were really set to work, and the women were

employed in sewing or washing linen, beating hemp, and picking oakum.

The children, who were either vagrants or parish children, were taught

spinning wool and flax, sewing, knitting, winding silk, and making

their clothes and shoes; but they also received some elementary

instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Hatton thus gives the

daily life of these little ones; 'The Bell rings at 6 a Clock in the

Morning to call up the Children, and half an Hour after, the Bell is

rung for Prayers, and Breakfast; at 7 the Children are set to work; 20

under a Mistress to spin Wool and Flax, to Knit Stockings, to wind

Silk, to make and Sew their Linen, Cloaths, Shooes, Mark &c. All the

Children are called down for an Hour every Day to Read, and an Hour

every Day to Write (_viz._) 20 at a time.

'At 12 a Clock they go to Dinner, and have a little time to play till

One, then they are set to work again till 6 a clock: They are rung to

Prayers, to their Supper, and allowed to play till Bed time.

'Every Nurse combs her Children with a small tooth comb 3 times a

Week; mends the Children's Cloaths; makes their beds, washes their

Wards; and sees that the children go neat and clean, and that they

wash and comb themselves every day.

'Some Children earn a 1/2_d._, some 1_d._ and some 4_d._ per day.

'The Children are taught their _Catechism_, and often Catechised by

the Minister, especially every _Sunday_.

'When Children are grown up to 12, 13 or 14 years of Age they are put

forth Apprentices to Masters of Ships, and other Sea faring Men, and

to Handycraft Trades and others, and the Governors give with them a

good ordinary Suit of Cloaths or 20_s_. in Money at the Election of

the Master or Mistress.

'... The Seal or Badge of this Corporation is an Orphan, his Left Hand

resting on the Head of a Sheep, with this Motto, _God's Providence is

our Inheritance_.'

The hospitals, in the modern acceptation of the word, were Bethlehem,

or Bedlam, St. Bartholomew's, and St. Thomas's--Guy's not having yet

been founded.

Of Bethlehem Hatton says: 'It was formerly a mean House situate

between the E. side of Moor-fields, and Bishopsgate Street.... This

Hospital for poor distracted Persons, growing Old and Ruinous, and too

small to accommodate so great numbers, for whom Applications were

made; the City of _London_ granted to the Governours of the said

Hospital, Ground on the S. Side of Moor-fields (a Situation much more

Commodious as to Air &c.) for the benefit of Lunatick Persons, and in

the year 1675, the present spacious Structure was begun to be erected,

which was finished Anno 1676, being well built of Brick and Stone, the

Wings at both ends and the Portico, being all adorned with each 4

pilasters,' etc.--'and on a Pediment over the Gate are the figures of

2 Lunaticks curiously Carved.' These figures, which are now in the

hall of Bethlehem Hospital, represent Raving and Melancholy Madness,

and were the work of Caius Gabriel Cibber (father of the celebrated

Colley Cibber). They are carved in Portland stone, and one of them was

the portrait of Oliver Cromwell's porter, then in Bedlam.

In Anne's time it was not overcrowded. 'Distracted persons who went

out cured in the Year ending at _Easter_ 1707--59; buried in that time

24. Brought into the Hospital in 1706--82--and remaining at _Easter_

aforesaid in this Hospital under Cure, 142.'

'The Method of receiving, continuing and curing Lunaticks in this

Hospital is: When any Person is minded to get a Friend or Relation

into the Hospital, it must be by Petition to the Committee who sit at

_Bethlehem_ 7 at a time weekly; this must be signed by the Church

Wardens or other reputable Persons who know the Lunatick, and also

recommended to the said Committee by one of the Governours; and this

being approved by the President and Governours, and enter'd in a Book,

upon a vacancy (in their turn) an Order is granted for their being

received into the House, where the said Lunatick is accommodated with

a Room in a good Air, proper Physick, and Diet Gratis. The Diet is

very good and wholesome, being commonly boyled Beef, Mutton or Veal

and Broth with Bread for Dinners on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays,

the other Days, Bread, Cheese and Butter, or on Saturdays Peas,

Pottage, Rice Milk, Fermity or other Pottage; and for Suppers they

have usually Broth or Milk Pottage, always with Bread; and there is

this farther care taken, that some of the Committee go weekly to the

said Hospital to see the Provisions weighed, and that the same be good

and rightly expended.

'There is also care taken, That no distracted Person be abused by the

Servants of the House &c.; the Men Servants of the House attend the

Lunatick Men, and the Women Servants the Women, and no loose Person or

Apprentice is suffered to loyter away the time in this Hospital, nor

any Person to be admitted to come or stay in (as a Spectator) after

Sun Setting; and the Servants are particularly enjoyned to keep good

Hours.'

This looks admirable, _on paper_--but, practically, it was the

reverse. It ranked, as we know, with the Lions and Westminster Abbey,

as one of the principal sights of London. Ward describes a visit:

'Accordingly we were admitted in thro' an Iron gate, within which sat

a Brawny _Cerberus_ of an Indico Colour, leaning upon a Money box; we

turned in thro' another Iron Barricado, where we heard such a rattling

of _Chains_, drumming of _Doors_, _Ranting_, _Hollowing_, _Singing_

and _Running_ that I could think of nothing but Don _Quevedo's_

Vision, where the Damn'd broke loose, and put Hell in an Uproar.' He

describes the lunatics as being filthy in their persons, their habits,

and their conversation, and the visitors as no better than they ought

to be: ''tis a new Whetstone's Park[666]--now the old one's Plough'd

up, where a Sportsman at any Hour in the Day may meet with Game for

his Purpose.' So he and his friend 'redeemed their Liberties from this

Prison, at the Expence of Two Pence'--and went away.

[Footnote 666: A narrow alley leading from Lincoln's Inn

Fields to Holborn.]

There were the names of good men on the List of Governors--take that

for 1711, for instance. All the aldermen were so, _ex officio_, and

there were the Earls of Abingdon, Anglesea, Ailesford, Lords Craven,

Gower, Harcourt, and St. John of Bletsoe; the Earl of Scarsdale,

Doctor _Jonathan Swift_, Dean of St. Patrick. The Earl of Thanet and

Sir Philip York, the Attorney-General.

Of St. Bartholomew's Hospital Hatton says:--

This Hospital of St. Bartholomew's the last Year 1706 cur'd

and discharg'd of wounded, sick and maimed Souldiers, Seamen,

and other diseased Persons from several Parts of the Queen's

Dominions (and from Foreign Parts) who have been relieved with

money and other Necessaries, notwithstanding the greatest part

of the Revenue of this Hospital was consumed by the lamentable

Flames in 1666 to the Number of 2293

Buried in the Year 1706, after much Charge on them 141

And at the beginning of the Year 1707, there remained Persons

at the Charge of the Hospital under Cure 371

St. Thomas's Hospital escaped the fire of 1666, and also a very bad

one that happened in Southwark May 26, 1676, when 500 houses were

burnt. It performed its share of merciful work, for in 1706 it

discharged (cured) 2,820 persons, buried 174, and had 362 in hospital.

Of Almshouses there were plenty in existence, such as the Trinity,

those of the different City companies, and of private benefactors; but

the stream of charity seems to have flowed, in this reign, in a

different channel, that of founding charity schools, and I can find

no new almshouses recorded.

APPENDIX.

[Illustration: Musical score.

_LILLI-BURLERO._

From 'The Dancing Master,' 15 Ed. 1713.

Brit. Mus. C. 31, b. 21. H. PURCELL.]

[Illustration: Musical score.

_HUNT THE SQUIRIL._

LONGWAYS FOR AS MANY AS WILL.

⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Men.

'Dancing Master,' Ed. 1713. ☽☽☽☽ Women.]

NOTE.--Each Strain must be played twice over, to each Part of the

Dance.

The first Man Heys[667] on the We. side, the 1st Wo. Heys on the Men's

side at the same time (_a_). The 1st Man Heys on the Men's side, the

Wo. on the We. side, till they come into their own Places (_b_). The

1st cu. cross over and turn (_a_) then the 2 cu. do the same (_b_).

[Footnote 667: The figure half round is the Hey half round,

the whole figure is the Hey all four round.

(_a_) For a strain of the tune played once over.

(_b_) For a strain played twice over.]

The 1st Man figures the Figure of 8 on the Man's side, his Partner

follows after him the same time, then she slips into her own Place

(_a_). Then the 1st Wo. cast off on the out side of the 3 Wo. and half

figures with the 3 and 2 We. her Partner follows her at the same time,

then the Man slips into his own Place (_b_) the 1st cu. being at the

top, the 1 man changes over with the 2 Wo. and the 1st Wo. changes

over with the 2 Man, then Hands half round all four, the 1 cu. being

at the top cast off (_a_). Then right and left quite round, and turn

your partner (_b_).

[Illustration: Musical score.

_MOLL PEATLEY._

LONGWAYS FOR AS MANY AS WILL.

⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙ Men.

'Dancing Master,' Ed. 1713. ☽☽☽☽ Women.]

The 1 Man begins on the Women's side, the 1 cu. sides to the 2 cu. of

one side, and then of the other side; then hit your right elbows

together, and then your left, and turn with your left hands behind,

and your right hands before, and turn twice round; and then your left

Elbows together and turn as before, and so to the next.

A LIST

OF ALL THE PERSONS TO WHOM RINGS AND MOURNING WERE PRESENTED UPON THE

OCCASION OF

MR. PEPYS'S DEATH AND BURIAL.

---------------------------------------------+---------------------------

| Rings of |

Persons +----+----+----+ Mourning

|20s.|15s.|10s.|

---------------------------------------------+----+----+----+------------

{ Mr. Saml. & John Jackson his | 2 | | | 2 Suits &

{ 2 Nephews | | | | 10 Broad

{ | | | | pieces to

{ | | | | Samuel.

{ Capt. Sir Michel, his brother | | | |

{ in Law | 1 | | | 1 Suit.

{ Ditto, his daughter, Mrs. Mary | | 1 | | 1 "

{ Earl of Sandwich | 1 | | |

Relations { Dr. Montagu, Dean of Durham | 1 | | |

viz { Mr. Pickering | 1 | | |

{ Mr. Roger Pepys of Impington | | 1 | |

{ Mr. & Mrs. Matthews | 2 | | | 2 " &

{ | | | | 10 Broad

{ | | | | pieces to

{ | | | | each.

{ Mr. Tim Turner, Minister of | | | |

{ Tooting | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Bellamy | | 1 | |

| | | |

{ Mr. Saml. Gale, Mr. P.'s Godson| | 1 | |

Godchildren { Lt. Edwards do. | | | 1 |

viz { Mrs. Frances Johnson, his | | | |

{ Goddaughter | | 1 | |

{ Mrs. Mary Skynner | 1 | | | 1 Suit

| | | |

Domestics { Ditto her Maid | | | | 1 "

at his { His own 7 men & women | | | |

Death viz { Servants | | | | 7 "

| | | |

Mr. Richard Gibson | | 1 | |

Mr. Paul Lorrain | | 1 | |

Ditto his Wife | | | 1 |

John Wetton | | | 1 |

Saml. Holcroft | | | 1 |

{ Mrs. Jane Penny | | | 1 | 1 Suit & 6

Mr. Pepys's { | | | | guineas.

former { Mrs. Jane Fane | | 1 | |

Servants and{ Mrs. Mary Ballard | | | | 1 "

Dependents { Ditto her Husband | | | 1 |

viz { Mrs. Eliza Hughson | | | | 1 "

{ Ditto her Husband | | | 1 |

| | | |

{ Physicians { Dr. Sloane | 1 | | | 1 Suit.

{ { Dr. Shadwell | 1 | | | 1 "

{ Chirurgeon, Serjt. Bernard | 1 | | |

{ Apothecary, Mr. Ethersey | | 1 | | 1 "

Retainers { Lawyer, Judge Powis | | 1 | |

General viz { Scrivener, Mr. West | | 1 | |

{ Ditto, his Clerk, Mr. Martin | | | 1 |

{ Goldsmith, Sir Rd. Hoare | 1 | | |

{ Ditto, his Foreman Mr. Arnold | | 1 | |

{ Bookbinder, Mr. Beresford | | | 1 |

{ Ditto his Sewer, Mr. Wetton | | | 1 |

Self as Executor | 1 | | | 1 "

{ Mr. & Mrs. Samuel | 2 | | | 2 "

Edgley { Ditto their 3 Children| | 3 | | 3 "

{ Mr. Arthur | | 1 | |

Blackburn, Mr. Wm. and Isaac | | 2 | |

| | | |

{ Mrs. The Mother | | 1 | |

{ Crawley { Do. 2 Daughters | | | |

Mr. Hewer's { { Eliza & Margaret | | 2 | |

Relations { { Mr. John } vide { | | 1 | |

{ } Navy { | | | |

{ Sergison Mr. } Office { | | 1 | |

| | | |

{ Mr. Forbes, Chaplain | | 1 | |

Domestics { Mr. Foster, Steward | | | | 1 Suit.

{ Ditto his Wife | | | 1 |

| | | |

{ Mr. Saville the Minister | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Horne, late Lecturer | | 1 | |

Clapham { Mr. Pritchard, present Ditto | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Urban Hall | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Juxon | | 1 | |

| | | |

Royal { Sir John Hoskins President | | 1 | |

Society { Mr. Abraham Hill | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Hunt Operator | | | 1 |

| | | |

Cambridge { Dr. Quadring, Master of Mag. | | | |

{ Coll. | 1 | | |

{ Dr. Bentley, Master of Trin. | | | |

{ Coll. | 1 | | |

| | | |

{ Dr. Aldrich, Dean of Christ | | | |

Oxford { Church | 1 | | |

{ Dr. Wallis Professor | 1 | | |

{ Dr. Charlet, Master of | | | |

{ University Coll. | 1 | | |

{ Dr. Gregory Professor | 1 | | |

| | | |

{ Mr. Burchett, Secretary | | 1 | |

{ Sir Thos. Littleton Treasurer | | | |

{ (a Supporter) | 1 | | |

Admiralty { Sir Richd. Haddock, Controller | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Furzer, Surveyor | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Sergison, Clerk of the Acts| | 1 | |

{ Mr. Atkins | | 1 | |

| | | |

Commis- { Mr. Tollett | | 1 | |

sioners { Mr. Hammond | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Lyddall | | 1 | |

| | | |

Officers { Mr. Greenhill | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Tunewell | | 1 | |

| | | |

Navy Clerks { Mr. Johnson | | 1 | |

{ Mr. John Crawley | | 1 | |

| | | |

House keeper, Mrs. Griffin | | | 1 |

| | | |

{ Principal { Mr. Harley | 1 | | |

Auditors { { Mr. Bridges | 1 | | |

{ Deputys { Mr. Moody | | | 1 |

{ { Mr. Bythell | | | 1 |

| | | |

{ Archbishop of Canterbury | 1 | | |

{ Bishop of London | 1 | | |

{ Dean of Worcester, who | | | |

{ performed the Service | 1 | | | 1 Suit.

{ Dr. Smith | 1 | | | 1 "

Clergy { Dr. Millington | | 1 | |

{ Dr. Gibson | | 1 | |

{ Archdeacon Baynard | | 1 | |

{ Mr. Coppyn-Munster of | | | |

{ Crutched Fryars | | 1 | |

{ Ditto his Reader | | 1 | |

| | | |

Earls of { Clarendon (a | | | |

{ Supporter) | 1 | | | 1 "

{ Feversham (ditto) | 1 | | | 1 "

Honble. Mr. { Hatton (ditto) | 1 | | | 1 "

{ Vernon (ditto) | 1 | | | 1 "

Sir Anto{o} Deane (ditto) | 1 | | | 1 "

William Hodges | 1 | | | 1 "

Ditto His Son Mr. Hodges | | 1 | |

Ditto his Partner Mr. Haines | | 1 | |

Sir Henry Shere | | 1 | |

Sir Richard Dutton | 1 | | |

Sir William Gore | | 1 | |

Bowdler-Thomas | | 1 | | 1 "

Dégalénière Mons. et Mdlle. | | 2 | |

Dubois, Charles | | 1 | |

Evelyn, John, Grandfather & | 2 | | | 1 Suit

Grandson | | | | Grandfather.

Gawden, Benjamin | | 1 | |

Houblon, Wynne & James | 2 | | | 2 "

Houghton, Apothecary | | 1 | |

Hunter, Saml. | | 1 | | 1 "

Isted | | 1 | |

Lowndes | 1 | | |

Martin, Joseph, Father & Son | | 2 | |

Monro | | | 1 |

Mussard | | 1 | |

Nelson | | 1 | |

Penn, William | 1 | | |

Snow, Ralph | | 1 | |

Wind, Captain | 1 | | |

---------------------------------------------+----+----+----+------------

[Illustration: Musical score.

_LORD MAYOR'S DELIGHT._

LONGWAYS FOR AS MANY AS WILL.

⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙

'Dancing Master,' Ed. 1713. ☽☽☽☽]

The 1 Man cast off below the 2 Man, then back to back with the 2 Wo.

and stand in the 2 Man's place. The 1 Wo. cast off below the 2 Wo. and

go back with the 2 Man being in the 1 Man's place, and stand in the 2

Wo. place.

All four hands half round, then fall back and turn with one hand.

Cross over with your own Partner, then the 1 Couple Sett to their

partners and Cast off.

[Illustration: Musical score.

_WALSINGHAM._

Chappell's 'Popular Music of

the Olden Time.'

As I went to Wal-sing-ham, To the shrine with speed;

Met I with a jol - ly pal - mer, In a pil - grim's weed.]

Is in Queen Elizabeth's Virginal book, but is probably much older. Is

mentioned very frequently; see 'Knight of the Burning Pestle.' Also

Act 5 of Fletcher's 'The Honest Man's Fortune,' a servant says: 'I'll

renounce my five mark a year, and all the hidden art I have in

carving, to teach young birds to whistle _Walsingham_.'

[Illustration: Musical score.

_THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD._

Chappell's 'Popular Music of

the Olden Time.'

Now pon - der well, You parents dear, These

words which I shall write; A dole - ful sto - ry

you shall hear, In time brought forth to light.]

A LIST

OF SOME OF THE

COFFEE-HOUSES IN LONDON

DURING QUEEN ANNE'S REIGN, 1702-1714.

Adam's, Chancery Lane.

Adlamb's, Little Turnstile.

Admiralty, next the Admiralty Office.

Adulan's, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

African, Leadenhall Street.

Alder's, Maiden Lane.

Alder's, Bull Inn Court, Ivey Bridge, Strand.

Aldersgate, without Aldersgate.

Alice's, at the Parliament House.

Allen's, Pope's Head Alley (formerly Bridge's).

Amsterdam (old), behind the Royal Exchange.

Anderton's, Fleet Street.

Andlaby's, Greek Street, Soho.

Andrew's, Devereux Court, in Mid. Temple.

Andrew's, Bell Yard, Gracechurch Street.

Angel (the), Exeter Change.

Angel and Crown, Threadneedle Street.

Antegoe (the), Finch Lane.

Atkin's, Burr Street.

Auction (the), Burleigh Street.

Bagnio (the), Newgate Street.

Baker's, Exchange Alley.

Baldrey's, next the Church, without Aldgate.

Bank (the), Grocer's Alley.

Barbadoes and Jamaica, Water Lane.

Barcelona, Birchin Lane.

Barndall's, Old Palace Yard.

Barnes's, Newgate Street.

Batson's, Cornhill.

Baulder's, Church Lane, Houndsditch.

Bay Tree (the), St. Swithin's Lane.

Bear Key (Quay).

Bedford (the), Tavistock Street.

Bedford Court, Covent Garden.

Bell (the), Bell Yard, Fleet Street.

Bell (the), Behind St. Clement's, Strand.

Bentley's, Opposite Bow Lane, Cheapside.

Best's, Cornhill.

Betts', Devonshire Street, in Red Lion Square.

Betty's, Jermyn Street.

Bickerstaff's, Russell Street, Covent Garden.

Bigg's, Turnstile in Holborn.

Billingsgate.

Bird's, _Old_ Palace Yard, Westminster.

Bird's, _New_ Palace Yard, Westminster.

Bishop's, Aldersgate Street.

Blackborn's, Great Russell Street.

Black boy, Ave Maria Lane.

Black boy, Prescot Street, Goodman's Fields.

Blacknall's, Cross Street, Hatton Garden.

Bland's, Catherine Wheel Alley, Whitechapel.

Blenheim, by St. James's Church, Piccadilly.

Blue Coat, St. Swithin's Lane.

Blue Coat Boy, Thames Street.

Boarn's, near Guildhall.

Boddy's, Peter Street, near Clare Market.

Bolland's, near the Bear in the Strand.

Bond's, near St. Dunstan's Church.

Booth's, Nicholas Lane.

Boulton's, Church Court, St. Martin's.

Bourne's, Cateaton Street.

Bourn's, Finch Lane.

Boyden's, Tower Street.

Bradshaw, near the Tennis Court Cockpit, Whitehall.

Bracqes, Silver Street.

Braxton, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.

Bridges, Pope's Head Alley, Cornhill.

Bright's, Friday Street.

Brightman's, near Wapping Old Stairs.

Britannia, Bartholomew Lane.

Britannia, Charing Cross.

British, opposite Suffolk Street.

British, Great Wild Street, near Clare Market.

Brome's, King Street, Covent Garden.

Brown's, Bell Yard, near Temple Bar.

Brown's, Mitre Court, Temple.

Brown's, Fenchurch Street.

Brown's, King Street, Westminster.

Brown's, by the Nag's Head, Cheapside.

Brown's, Ormonde Street.

Buckeridge's, Aldersgate.

Bull's Head, Corner of Tower Street.

Burchill's (Capt. John), Crutched Friars.

Burton's, King Street, St. James's.

Button's, opposite Tom's, Covent Garden.

Camisards (the), St. Martin's Lane.

Carey's, Oxenden Street.

Carlisle, Laurence Lane.

Carolina, Birchin Lane.

Cecilia (Saint), St. Martin's Lane.

Chancery, Head of the Parliament Stairs.

Chapman's (Widow), Germain Street.

Child's, St. Paul's Churchyard.

Christian (the), West Smithfield Bars.

Clement's Inn, back side of St. Clement's.

Clifford's Inn, against the Temple.

Cole's, Birchin Lane.

Cole's (Wat), Bartholomew Lane.

Collin's, Old Fish Street.

Colton's, New Round Court, Strand.

Cooper's, Russell Court, Drury Lane.

Cope's, St. Martin's Court.

Couzen's, Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.

Covent Garden, Upper End of the Little Piazza.

Cowper's, Cornhill.

Cox's, near the Castle Tavern, Fleet Street.

Cross's, Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Crowforth's, near King Edward's Stairs.

Crown (the), behind the Royal Exchange.

Crown (the), Chancery Lane.

Crown (the), without Cripplegate.

Crown (the), Smithfield.

Daniel's, Gerrard Street.

Davis's, Bishopsgate Street.

Dennis', Finch Lane.

Dick's, from Will's, Bell Yard, Gracechurch Street.

Dick's, Fleet Street.

Digory's, by the Seven Dials.

Doctors' Commons, Carter Lane.

Dowglass's, or Duglace's, St. Martin's Lane.

Dowse's, near the Royal Exchange.

Draper's, opposite Leadenhall Gate.

Dunstan's (St.), Fleet Street.

Dutch (? Amsterdam), behind the Exchange.

East India, Leadenhall Street.

Edwardson's, Buckingham Street, York Buildings.

Elford's, George Yard, Lombard Street.

Eller's, Westminster Hall Gate.

Elliott's, Albemarle Street.

Essex (the), Mitre Court, Fleet Street.

Essex (the), Whitechapel.

Eteridge's, Birchin Lane.

Everitt's, Crutched Friars.

Exchange, Cornhill.

Exchequer, Mitre Court, Cornhill.

Faulck's, St. Martin's-le-Grand.

Fellowe's, opposite the Half Moon Tavern, Aldersgate Street.

Finch's, Minories.

Fitche's, Great Carter Lane.

Fountain, Cheapside.

Frampton's, Fenchurch Street.

Frank's, Little St. Andrew Street, Seven Dials.

Freeman's, Cheapside.

Friday Street, Friday Street, Cheapside.

Garraway's, Exchange Alley.

Garter (the), behind the Exchange.

Garter (the), at the Custom House.

Garter (the), Jermyn Street.

Gaunt, Pall Mall.

George's, top of the Haymarket.

George (the), Pall Mall.

George's, Piccadilly.

Gerald's, Queen Street, Westminster.

Gerrard's, Broad Street.

Gibson's, near Cripplegate.

Gilbert's, near St. James's Church.

Giles', Pall Mall.

Gillard's, Market Street, by Newport Market.

Gloucester, Cateaton Street.

Godlington's, Mitre Court, Fleet Street.

Grant's, Channel Row, Westminster.

Great Turnstile, High Holborn.

Grecian, Devereux Court, Temple.

Greyhound, King Street, Soho.

Greyhound, Monmouth Street.

Greyhound, Compton Street, Soho.

Grigsby's, Threadneedle Street (altered to Smith's in 1712).

Guildhall, King Street, Cheapside.

Gun (the), Mansfield Street, Goodman's Fields.

Gurney's, Garlick Hill, near Bow Lane.

Gyde's, Bow Lane.

Half Moon, Cheapside.

Hall's, Bell Savage Yard, Ludgate Hill.

Hall's, Great Wild Street, near Lincoln's Inn.

Ham's, near Lincoln's Inn, New Square.

Hamburg, Birchin Lane.

Hamlin's, Swithin's Alley, Cornhill.

Hammett's, at the Gate, London Bridge.

Hampton Court, Newport Street.

Hanover, corner of Suffolk Street, Pall Mall.

Hanover, Finch Lane.

Hargrave's, without Bishopsgate Street.

Harris's, Love Lane.

Harris's, Ormonde Street.

Hart's, Lincoln's Inn.

Harwood's, Little Eastcheap.

Hatton's, Basinghall Street.

Hatwell, near St. Catherine's Stairs.

Haverse's, Whitechapel Bars.

Heming's, Holborn.

Hepworth's, Old Fish Street Hill.

Heyford's, Queen Street, Cheapside.

Hilliard's, Bread Street.

Hogarth's, St. John's Gate, Clerkenwell.

Holland's, Bridge Row.

Holland's, near St. Antholin's pump, Watling Street.

Holme's, Bartholomew Lane.

Hood's, Pudding Lane.

Howard's, behind the Exchange.

Howel's, Wild Street.

Hugh's, Charles Street, Westminster.

Hunt's, Friday Street.

Hurt's, against Catherine Street, Strand.

Italian (the), Catherine Street, Strand.

Ives's, Bartholomew Lane.

Jack's, Sweeting's Alley, by the Exchange.

Jack's, King Street, Cheapside.

Jack's (Thos.), Birchin Lane.

Jacob's, Threadneedle Street.

Jamaica, Cornhill, by the Ship and Turtle.

James's Street, St. James's Street, (Elliot, proprietor).

Jerusalem, near Garraway's.

Joe's, Hatton Garden.

Joe's, by Moorgate.

Joe's, Bucklersbury.

Joe's, St. James's Market.

John's, Fuller's Rents.

John's, Swithin's Alley (? same as Jack's).

John's, Birchin Lane.

John's, Great Old Bailey.

John's, Earl's Court, Bow Street.

John's, Shire Lane, Temple Bar.

John's, St. Martin's Lane.

John's, Gracechurch Street.

Johnson's, near St. James's Church, Piccadilly.

Jonathan's, Exchange Alley.

Jones's, Finch Lane.

Jones's, Mountford's Court, Milk Street.

Jones's, St. Martin's Lane.

Jordan's, near Rotherhithe Stairs.

Keeble's, Snow Hill.

Kentish, near the Custom House.

Kidd's, Catherine Street, Strand.

Kigg's, James Street, Golden Square.

Kimpton's, Fenchurch Street.

King's Arms, Customs House.

King's Head, in the paved Stones in West Smithfield.

Kirk's, Corner of Panton Square.

Knight's, Essex Street.

Knight's, Fish Street Hill.

Lamb's, opposite Devonshire Square, Bishopsgate.

Lane, King Street, Golden Square.

Laurence's, Freeman's Court, Cornhill.

Leadenhall, Leadenhall Street.

Leonard's, Finch Lane.

Lewenden's, Giltspur Street.

Lincoln's Inn, Chichester Rents.

Linnett's, George Alley, Snow Hill.

Lisbourne (Lisbon), Threadneedle Street.

Lloyd's, Lombard Street.

Lloyd's (Widow), at the Victualling Office Gate, Little Tower Hill.

London, Threadneedle Street.

London's, opposite Somerset House.

London Bridge.

London Stone, Cannon Street.

Lucas's.

Lyon's, near Doctors' Commons.

Lyth's, Freeman's Yard, Cornhill.

Macham's, West Smithfield.

Mackerell's, Bartlett's Buildings, Holborn.

Man's, Birchin Lane.

Man's, Chancery Lane.

Man's (old), Tilt Yard, Charing Cross.

Man's (young), Charing Cross.

Man's (young), Crooked Lane.

Man's (New), Charing Cross.

Manwaring's, Falcon Court, Fleet Street.

Margaret's, Cheapside.

Marine, Birchin Lane.

Marine, Piccadilly.

Marlborough (the), Wellclose Square.

Marlborough (the), Corner of Great Marlborough Street.

Martial's, White Horse Court.

Martin's, Guildhall Yard.

Martin's Street, Northumberland House.

Mason's, Bartholomew Lane.

Mawl's, within Newgate.

Mead's, Minories.

Meakin's, corner of East Cheap and Fish Street Hill.

Meare's, east end of St. Paul's.

Mears', by St. Austin's.

Mill's, Gerrard Street.

Mitchell's at the Navy Office, Crutched Friars.

Mitre, Mitre Court, Fleet Street.

Moncrieth's, Threadneedle Street.

Montpellier's, behind the Exchange.

More's, Peter's Street, Bloomsbury.

Morris's, Essex Street, Strand.

Mynshill's, Three Crown Court, Southwark.

Nag's Head, Nag's Head Court, Gracechurch Street.

Nando's, Inner Temple Gate, Fleet Street.

Navy, against the Navy Office.

Ned's, in the Old Jewry.

Ned's, Birchin Lane.

Ned's, Ludgate Hill.

Ned's, Mitre Court, Temple.

Needham's, Castle Yard, Holborn Bars.

New England, Minories.

New Inn, Wych Street.

Nixon's, Mitre Court, Temple.

North's, King Street, Cheapside.

Norton's, near St. Margaret's Church, Westminster.

Norwich (the), Threadneedle Street.

Okeley's, Old Bailey.

Oliver's, Westminster Hall Gate.

Owen's, Symond's Inn.

Oxford (the), without Temple Bar.

Ozinda's, St. James's Street.

Pall Mall, Pall Mall.

Palsgrave's Head, without Temple Bar.

Paris, Suffolk Street, Charing Cross.

Parliament, Old Palace Yard.

Paul's Street, St. Paul's Churchyard.

Pear's, Broad Street, Ratcliffe Cross.

Pen's, Queen Street.

Pensilvania, Birchin Lane.

Perry's, Great Russell Street.

Peter's, Threadneedle Street.

Pickering's, Cornhill.

Picket's, Clerkenwell Close.

Picking's, Clerkenwell Close.

Plantation (the), Water Lane.

Plough (the), Coleman Street.

Ponce's, or Pon's, Cecil Court, St. Martin's Lane.

Poole's, without Bishopsgate.

Portugal, Sweeting's Alley.

Potter's (Widow), St. James's Street.

Powell's, Cornhill.

Power's, near Queen's Arms, Pall Mall.

Pratt's, Cateaton Street.

Prince's, Paul's Alley.

Prince of Orange, end of the Haymarket.

Purcell's, within the Nag's Head Tavern, Cheapside.

Queen's Arms, Custom House.

Queen's Square, near Petty France, Westminster.

Queen's Square, Devonshire Street, behind Red Lion Square.

Queen Street, Queen Street, Westminster.

Rainbow, Temple Bar.

Rainbow, Cornhill.

Rainbow, Corner of St. Martin's Lane.

Rainbow, by Fleet Bridge.

Rainbow, Ivy Lane.

Rainbow, Hoxton Square.

Rainbow, Newgate Street.

Randall's, Newport Street.

Rawle's, near the Maypole, Horsleydown.

Read's, Blackfriars, by Ludgate.

Rice's, Haymarket.

Richard's, near the Temple.

Rive's, by Clare Market.

Robin's, Exchange Alley.

Robin's, Basing Lane, near Cheapside.

Robinson's, Dean Street, Soho.

Robinson's, Berry Street, St. James's.

Roll's (the), Chancery Lane.

Rose (the), Covent Garden.

Royal (the), back gate of Lincoln's Inn.

Royal (the), St. James's Street.

Royal (the), Exchange Alley.

Royal Fishery (the), Thames Street.

Royal Union, by the Exchange.

Rowe's, Bridge Foot, Southwark.

Royce's, Clare Market.

Rudkin's, in the Rules of the Queen's Bench.

Salutation (the), Threadneedle Street.

Salutation (the), Tower Street.

Salutation (the), Bartholomew Lane

Salter's (Don Saltero's), Chelsea.

Sam's, Ludgate Hill.

Sam's, near the Custom House.

Sandal's, opposite the Custom House.

St. Amand's, on the pav'd Stones over against Tom's Coffee

House, in St. Martin's Lane.

Sarah's, Cornhill.

Sarah's, between Laurence Lane and King Street, Cheapside.

Sarah's, Fleet Street.

Say's, Ludgate Hill.

Scot's, near St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet Street.

Seager's, Haymarket.

Seago's, near Barnard's Inn.

Searl's, or Serle's, corner of Lincoln's Inn Square.

Serjeant's Inn, Chancery Lane.

Sews, Bow Lane, Cheapside.

Sheffield's, Temple Exchange.

Shipton's, Swithin's Alley.

Shiringham's, White Hart Court, Whitechapel.

Slaughter's, St. Martin's Lane.

Smart's Quay, near Billingsgate.

Smith's, Stock's Market.

Smith's, Gerrard Street, Soho.

Smith's, Silver Street, near Bloomsbury Market.

Smyrna (the), Pall Mall.

Smyrna (the), Peter's Alley, Cornhill.

Smyther's, Custom House.

South Sea, Broad Street.

Spentley's, near the Playhouse, Drury Lane.

Spurrett's, Bedford Court, Covent Garden.

Square's, Orange Street.

Squire's, Fulwood's Rents, Holborn.

Stal's, or Steel's, Bread Street.

Staple's Inn, Holborn.

Star (the), Mitre Court, Fleet Street.

Star (the), in the Mint.

Star (the), Crutched Friars.

Star (the), by the Royal Exchange.

Star (the), Exchange Alley.

Stephen's, Bloomsbury.

Steward's, 3 King's Court, by Water Lane, Fleet Street.

Storer's, King Street, by Old Street Square.

Stylyard, near the Stylyard, Thames Street.

Sun (the), behind the Exchange.

Sun (the), Queen Street, Cheapside.

Sun (the), Threadneedle Street.

Sun (the), Holbourne Conduit.

Sun (the), York Buildings.

Sun (the), Chancery Lane.

Sun (the Old), opposite the Navy Office.

Sunderland's, Warwick Lane.

Swan (the), Bloomsbury.

Swan's, Throgmorton Street.

Tarrant's, within Aldgate.

Tart's, Bartholomew Close.

Tawney's, Bell Savage Yard.

Tayler's, in the Mint.

Temple, Clifford's Inn Gate.

Templeman's, Charing Cross.

Thavies Inn, Bartlett's Buildings.

Tilt Yard, Whitehall.

Tom's, St. Martin's Lane.

Tom's, Half Moon Court, Ludgate Hill.

Tom's, in the pav'd Court, Fulwood's Rents.

Tom's, Devereux Court, Temple.

Tom's, Russell Street, Covent Garden.

Tom's (Old), Birchin Lane.

Towell's, West Smithfield.

Tower (the), Tower Street.

Turk's Head (the), Charles Street, Covent Garden.

Turk's Head (the), Essex Street.

Turk's Head (the), King's Gate Street.

Turk's Head (the), opposite the Fountain, Strand.

Turk's Head (the), Bell Savage Yard.

Turney's, Cornhill.

Twing's, Old Bailey Court.

Union (the), Exchange Alley.

Union (the), by King Edward's Stairs, Wapping.

Vernon's (Widow), Bartholomew Lane.

Viccar's, Court of Requests, Guildhall.

Victualling Office, Tower Hill.

Vigus's, Court of Requests, Westminster.

Vincent's, 3 Crown Court, Westminster.

Virginia (the), St. Michael's Alley.

Virginia (the), Birchin Lane.

Waghorn's, New Palace Yard, Westminster.

Waghorn's, Pope's Head Alley.

Wakeford's, Pudding Lane.

Walch's, Clare Market.

Wallsall's, Nag's Head Court, Bartholomew Lane.

Walton's, Warwick Lane.

Walton's, Denmark Street, Ratcliffe Highway.

Webb's, West Smithfield.

Wells (Mrs.), Scotland Yard Gate.

Whitehall, Buckingham Court, Charing Cross.

Wiat's, St. Olave's, Southwark.

Widow's (the), Half Moon Alley, Cheapside.

Widow's (the), Bedford Court.

Wijert's, Earl's Court, Drury Lane.

Will's, 1 Bow Street (Wm. Unwin, proprietor).

Will's, Threadneedle Street.

Will's, under Scotland Yard Gate.

Will's, Cornhill, by the Exchange.

Will's, Fuller's Rents.

Will's, St. Lawrence Lane.

Willet's, Threadneedle Street.

Willey's, or Willis's, near the Custom House.

William's, St. James's Street.

Wilson's, Cornhill.

Windsor's, opposite Northumberland House.

Wisdom's, King Street, Westminster.

Wither's, Jewin Street.

Wood's, in the Herb market, Leadenhall.

Wright's, Aldersgate Street.

Wright's, Artillery Lane.

Yate's, Leadenhall Street.

Yeates, West Smithfield.

CHOCOLATE HOUSES.

Chocolate House, on Blackheath.

The Cocoa Tree, Pall Mall.

Lindheart's, King Street, Bloomsbury.

The Spread Eagle, Bridge Street, Covent Garden.

White's, St. James's Street.

SIR ROGER DE COVERLEY.

In Chappell's 'Popular Music of the Olden Time,' the oldest account of

this tune is given as follows: 'According to Ralph Thoresby's MS.

account of the family of Calverley, of Calverley in Yorkshire, the

dance of _Roger de Coverley_ was named after a knight who lived in the

reign of Richard I. Thoresby was born in 1658. The following extract

was communicated to Notes and Queries, vol. i. p. 369, by Sir Walter

Calverley Trevelyan, Bart.:--Roger, so named from the Archbishop (of

York), was a person of renowned hospitality, since, at his day, _the

obsolete known tune of Roger a Calverley_ is referred to him, who,

according to the custom of those times, kept his Minstrels, from that

their Office, named Harpers, which became a family, and possessed

lands till late Years in and about Calverley, called to this Day

Harper's roids and Harper's Spring.'

The earliest authentic notice I can find of it is in a very curious

old tract, printed in the year 1648, or ten years before Thoresby was

born, called 'A Vindication or justification of John Griffith, Esq.,

against the horrid, malitious, and unconscionable Verdict of Coroner's

Jury in Cheshire: which was packt by means of that Pocky, Rotten,

Lying, Cowardly and most perfidious knave, Sir Hugh Caulverley Knight,

onely to vent his inveterate Hatred and Malice against me.' And, on

page 5, Mr. Griffiths says: 'I purposely to vex Sir Hugh, and his

Champion Dod, sent for a fidler, and during the time my fellow

Coursers were drinking a Cup of Ale, we having run our Match, I and my

Fidler, rid up to Sayton, and from one end of the town to the other, I

made the Fidler play a tune called Roger of Caulverley: This I did to

shew, that I did not fear to be disarmed by them, and they may thank

themselves for it, for if they had not first endeavoured to mischief

me, I should not trouble myself to have vext them.'

[Illustration: Musical score.

_ROGER OF COVERLY._

'The Dancing Master,' 15 Ed. 1713.

Brit. Mus. C. 31, b. 21.]

[Illustration: Musical score.

_CHRIST CHURCH BELLS IN OXON._

'Dancing Master,' Ed. 1713. Dean ALDRICH.]

[Illustration: Musical score.

_CHESHIRE ROUNDS._

LONGWAYS FOR AS MANY AS WILL,

⊙ ⊙ ⊙ ⊙

'Dancing Master,' 1713. ☽☽☽☽]