The following curious facts, respecting the state of the metropolis
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, are extracted from the weekly
reports made by William Fletewood, Recorder of London, to Lord
Burghley:--
"My singuler good Lord, uppon Thursdaye, at even, her Majistie, in her
coache, nere Islyngton, taking of the air, her Highnes was environed
with a nosmber of roogs. One Mr. Stone, a foteman, cam in all hast to
my Lord Maior, and after to me, and told us of the same. I dyd the same
nyght send warrants owt into the seyd quarters, and into Westminster and
the Duchie; and in the morning I went abrood my selff, and I tooke that
daye lxxiiij. roogs, whereof some were blynde, and yet great usurers,
and very rich; and the same daye, towards nyght, I sent Mr. Harrys and
Mr. Smithe, the Governors of Bridwell, and tooke all the names of the
roogs; and then sent theym from the Sessions Hall into Bridwell, where
they remayned that nyght. Uppon Twelff daye, in the forenoone, the
Master of the Rolls, my selff, and others, receyved a charge before my
Lords of the Counsell, as towching roogs and masterles men, and to have
a pryvie searche. The same daye, at after dyner (for I dyned at the
Rolls), I mett the Governors of Bridwell, and so that after nowne wee
examined all the seyd roogs, and gave them substanciall payment. And
the stronger wee bestowed on the myine and the lighters; the rest wee
dismyssed, with the promise of a dooble paye if we met with theym
agayne. Uppon Soundaye, being crastino of the Twelffth daye, I dyned
with Mr. Deane, of Westminster, where I conferred with hym touching
Westminster and the Duchie; and then I tooke order for Sowthwarke,
Lambeth, and Newyngton, from whence I receyved a shool of xl. roogs,
men and women, and above. I bestowed theym in Bridwell. I dyd the
same after nowne peruse Pooles (St. Paul's), where I tooke about xxii.
cloked roogs, that there used to kepe standing. I placed theym also in
Bridwell. The next mornyng, being Mundaye, the Mr of the Rolls and the
reste tooke order with the constables for a pryvie searche agaynst
Thursdaye, at nyght, and to have the offenders brought to the Sessions
Hall uppon Frydaye, in the mornyng, where wee the Justices shold mete.
And agaynst the same tyme, my Lo. Maior and I dyd the lyke in London and
Sowthwarke. The same after nowne, the Masters of Bridwell and I mett;
and after every man had been examined, eche one receyved his payment
according to his deserts; at whiche tyme the strongest were put to
worke, and the others dismissed into theyre countries. The same daye
the Mr of the Savoye was with us, and sayd he was sworne to lodge
'claudicantes, egrotantes, et peregrinantes;' and the next morning I
sent the constables of the Duchie to the Hospitall, and they brought
unto me at Bridwell, vj. tall fellowes, that were draymen unto bruers,
and were neither 'claudicantes, egrotantes, nor peregrinantes.' The
constables, if they might have had theyre owen wills, would have browght
us many moor. The master dyd wryte a very curtese letter unto us to
produce theym; and although he wrott charitably unto us, yet were they
all soundly paydd, and sent home to theyre masters. All Tewsdaye,
Weddensdaye, and Thursdaye, there cam in nosmbers of roogs: they were
rewarded all according to theyre deserts.--Uppon Frydaye mornyng, at the
Justice Hall, there were brought in above a C. lewd people taken in the
pryvie searche. The Mrs of Bridwell receyved theym, and immediately gave
theym punishment. This Satterdaye, after causes of consciens, herd by my
Lord Maior and me, I dyned and went to Polls (St. Paul's) and in other
places, as well within the libertes as elsewhere. I founde not one rooge
styuyng. Emongst all these thynges, I dyd note that wee had not of
London, Westm., nor Sowthwarke, nor yett Midd., nor Surr., above twelve,
and those we have taken order for. The resedew for the most were of
Wales, Salop, Cestr., Somerset, Barks, Oxforde, and Essex; and that few
or none of theym had been about London above iij. or iiij. mownthes.
I did note also that wee mett not agayne with any, in all our searches,
that had receyved punishment. The chieff nurserie of all these evill
people is the Savoye, and the brick-kilnes near Islyngton. As for the
brick-kilnes, we will take suche order that they shall be reformed; and
I trust, by yr. good Lordship's help, the Savoye shall be amended; for
surelie, as by experiens I fynd it, the same place, as it is used, is
not converted to a good use or purpose. And this shall suffice for
roogs."--W.G.C.
[5] See the Engraving, vol. xviii. p. 337 of _The Mirror._
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