The Fleet. Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages. Ashton John

of London and London Life in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Centuries," by H. J. Riley, 1868, p. 214.

11

The street sweepers.

12

Dung boats.

13

See Riley, p. 299.

14

This was probably because the rushes were spilt in the river. At that time the house-floors were strewn with rushes, which were brought to London in "Rush boats;" and an ordinance, temp. 4 Henry V., provides that "all rushes in future, laden in boats or skiffs, and brought here for sale, should be sold by the cart-load, as from of old had been wont to be done. And that the same cart-loads were to be made up within the boats and skiffs in which the said rushes are brought to the City, and not upon the ground, or upon the wharves, walls, or embankments of the water of Thames, near or adjacent to such boats or skiffs; under a heavy penalty upon the owner or owners of such boats, skiffs, and rushes, at the discretion of the Mayor and Aldermen."

15

See Riley, p. 675.

16

See pages 28, 29, 30, 31, &c.

17

See previous page.

18

See next page.

19

See pages 41, 42.

20

Rhone was an old waiter at the Well. See p. 51.

21

Cart. Antiq. in Off. Augm. vol. ii. No. 43.

22

Pat. 36 Henry VIII. p. 13, m. 31.

23

See next page.

24

In an early sixteenth century book (unique) printed by Wynkyn de Worde, called "Cocke Lorelles Boke" the dairy farming at Islington is mentioned —

"Also mathewe to the drawer of London,And sybly sole mylke-wyfe of Islington."

25

These Rolls were as famous as Chelsea Buns. "White Conduit loaves" being a familiar street cry.

26

This revivalist used these initials as meaning "Sinner Saved."

27

A somewhat famous singer in the latter part of the eighteenth and first quarter of the nineteenth centuries. She sang and acted at Drury Lane and the Haymarket – and also sang at Vauxhall. She became poor, and on July 5, 1824, she had a benefit at Drury Lane, which, with a public subscription, produced about £800. Lord Egremont also allowed her £80 a year. She was somewhat related to Royalty: her husband, Bland, an actor at Drury Lane, being the brother of Mrs. Jordan, who was the wife of William the Fourth.

28

A frequent visitor at these gardens was the late George Cruikshank, and many subjects were transferred to his sketch book. He was so well known, as to become a sort of terror to the habitués of the place, and children were threatened, when fractious, "that if they made such ugly faces, Mr. Cruikshank would put them in his book."

29

The New River Head.

30

A hector, or bully.

31

A pickpocket.

32

A tramp.

33

A Sharper.

34

Otherwise the Fleet.

35

These papers appeared in the Illustrated Family Journal.

36

In Cromwell's "History of Clerkenwell," p. 322, we read, "In memory of its supposed proprietor, the owner of some small tenements near the north end of the gardens styled them 'Nell Gwynn's Buildings;' but the inscription was erased before 1803."

37

An allusion to the hot buttered rolls, which were in vogue there.

38

See p.89

39

See ante-p. 84

40

With all due deference to Punch, I think his version is slightly, only slightly, inaccurate. I have before me five copies, two MS. and three printed, all of which run —

"Come, prithee make it up, Miss,And be as lovers be,We'll go to Bagnigge Wells, Miss,And there we'll have some tea.It's there you'll see the Lady-birdsPerch'd on the Stinging Nettles;The Chrystal water Fountain,And the Copper, shining Kettles.It's there you'll see the Fishes,More curious they than Whales,And they're made of Gold and Silver, Miss,And wags their little tails.Oh! they wags their little Tails– They wags their little TailsOh! they're made of gold and silver, Miss,and they wags their little Tails.Oh!  dear!  Oh!  la!  Oh!  dear!  Oh!  la!Oh!  dear!  Oh!  la!How funny!"

41

See next page.

42

J. T. Smith in his "Vagabondiana," ed. 1815-1817, p. 51, alludes thus to the prison: "Perhaps the only waggery in public-house customs now remaining, is in the tap room of the Appletree, opposite to Cold Bath Fields Prison. There are a pair of hand cuffs fastened to the wires as bell-pulls, and the orders given by some of the company, when they wish their friends to ring, are, to 'Agitate the Conductor.'"

43

"After this I was in a vision, having the angel of God near me, and saw Satan walking leisurely into London" ("Brothers' Prophecies," part i. p. 41).