The Fleet. Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages

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).

44

I have met with a Newspaper Cutting, with no clue to its authenticity or date. "Dreadful Ravages of the Influenza in the House of Correction. – Yesterday afternoon, Inquests were holden by William Baker, Esq., one of the Coroners for the County of Middlesex, at the House of Correction, Coldbath Fields, on no less than five individuals, namely, Peter Griffiths, Michael Hughes, James Jones, Thomas Lillie, and Ann Connard, all of whom had died from the effects of the present prevalent epidemic, or influenza, and who were inmates of that prison, and had been sentenced to different periods of imprisonment. It is a fact that, for the last two months, more prisoners have died in this prison, principally from the effects of influenza, than had died there during the whole of the preceding year." Possibly the poor Fleet River, at that time hardly degraded to the level of the Sewer – which now it is – may have had something to do with the unsanitary condition of the prison. – J. A.

45

Adopted at Coldbath Fields Prison, July, 1822.

46

Let any one compare, for instance, reports for 1884 and 1886.

47

Conduit.

48

This, I take it, refers to a practice mentioned in a pamphlet, "A Step to the Bath" (London, 1700), which I think is by Ned Ward. "The usual time being come to forsake that fickle Element, Half Tub Chairs, Lin'd with Blankets, Ply'd as thick as Coaches at the Play House, or Carts at the Custom House." It has been suggested that the Chair was used for debilitated patients; but, knowing the use of the term "Chair" at that epoch, I venture to propose my solution.

49

Such pleasure.

50

Harl. MSS., 5961.

51

Noorthouck (book i. p. 358) says, "It is to be observed that in 1746, an hospital was founded by subscription between London and Islington, for relieving poor people afflicted with the smallpox, and for inoculation. This is said to be the first foundation of the kind in Europe, and consisted of three houses; one in Old Street for preparing patients for inoculation; another in Islington" (Lower Street) "when the disease appeared, and the third in Cold Bath fields for patients in the natural way."

52

See p.89

53

See next page.

54

Gentleman's Magazine, vol. lxi. (1791), p. 589. The Chapel was pulled down in January or February, 1887.

55

"Trivia," book ii.

56

Book iii. line 1,000, &c.

57

Harl. MSS. 5931, 46.

58

Dr. Sacheverell.

59

"Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne," by John Ashton (Chatto and Windus).

60

Harl. MSS. 5931, 50.

61

De. Sorbière.

62

Misson.

63

"Comical View of London and Westminster."

64

Spectator, No. 436.

65

Dwarf doors.

66

Hollinshed says – speaking of a Council at the Tower, relative to the Coronation of Edward V., at which the Protector presided, "After a little talking with them, he said unto the Bishop of Ely, 'My Lord, you have verie good strawberries at your garden in Holborne, I require you let us have a messe of them.' 'Gladlie, my Lord,' quoth he, 'would God I had some better thing as readie to your pleasure as that!' And there withall, in all haste, he sent his servant for a messe of strawberries."

67

Gray, "A long Story."

68

Afterwards Anglicised into Audrey.

69

There is now Bowling Green Street, Farringdon Street.

70

See next two pages.

71

"London Spy," part vi.

72

Thames Street.

73

Harl. MSS. 2013.

74

"Garnish" was the footing that every prisoner paid on his entrance, and woe become him if it were not forthcoming; he was simply stripped of his clothes.

75

Strype's "Stow's Survey," ed. 1720, vol. ii. p. 26 appendix.

76

See next page.

77

Of Spain.

78

A.D. 1553.

79

A Beetle is a portion of a trunk of a tree, large or small as occasion demanded, sometimes more than one man could lift, vide Shakspeare (2 Hen. IV. act i. sc. 2), "Fillip me with a three-man beetle," i. e., one with three handles. All exogenous fibres have to be crushed, in order to release the fibre from the wooden core, and this, which is now done by machinery, was then done by beetles, or wooden hammers.

80

Brazil wood.

81

Sir Robert Jeffries the President and Justice at Bridewell, when he knocked with a hammer the punishment ceased.

82

In Hogarth's picture both men and women are working together.

83

The writer is in error, as the event it represents took place some ten years after Holbein's death. The picture is now in Christ's Hospital.

84

Mag. Rot. 9 Ric. I. Rot. 2a, Lond. & Midd.

85

Mag. Rot. 9 Ric. I. Rot. 14b, Kent.

86

Liberate Rolls, p. 25. Rot. Lit. Pat. Hardy, p. 4.

87

Rot. Cancell. 3 John, f. 100.

88

Close Rolls, 6 John, f. 33.

89

Close Rolls, 2 Hen. III., f. 346.

90

Mag. Rot. 1 Ric. I. Rot. 2b, Bedef. Til de Oblatis Curiæ.

91

Mag. Rot. 5 Ric. I. Rot. 2a, Nordfolch and Sudfolch.

92

See Platt's Case cited Vaughan's Reports 1677, p. 243.

93

Rolls of Parl. vol. iii. p. 469.

94

Ibid. vol iii. p. 593a.

95

Allowing a prisoner to go at liberty on finding sureties.

96

Hayne's State Papers, vol. i.

97

The moat or ditch fed by the Fleet, which washed the walls of the prison.

98

See "Memorials of London and London Life in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Centuries," by H. T. Riley, 1847, pp. 279, 280.

99

"Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England," edited by Sir H. Nicholas, 1834, vol. ii. p. 303.

100

Ibid. vol. iii. p. 93.

101

Beneficed Clergy were given the title of Dominus or Sir – as Sir Hugh Evans, in the Merry Wives of Windsor.

102

A vexatious and litigious person – one who stirs up strife.

103

Christ Church, Oxford.

104

Presumably, from the town.

105

Sigh.

106

There was no blotting paper in those days, but pounce was used, which was either powdered resin, gum sandarach, or copal, or powdered cuttle fish. I believe that pounce may even now be bought at law stationers. It was dusted on to the wet ink by means of a pepper caster.

107

Precedents.

108

Equal in our currency to about three times the amount.

109

Reports of Cases, &c., by Sir James Dyer (ed. 1794) vol. ii. p. 204 a.

110

"A True State of the Proceedings of the Prisoners in the Fleet Prison, in Order to the Redressing their Grievances before the Court of Common Pleas."

111

A spunging-house.

112

"Remarks on the Fleet Prison or Lumber-House for Men and Women. Written by a prisoner &c., published in the Fleet, 1733."

113

The italics are mine. – J. A.

114

Where the Fleet Market is now, there was, a few Years since, a Ditch, with a Muddy Channel of Water. The Market was built at the expense of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, who receive the Rent for it.

115

The Doorkeeper, or he who opens and shuts the Jigg, is call'd the Jigger.

116

Billiards is a very common Game here.

117

Fine Ale drank in the Coffee-Room, call'd the Alderman, because brew'd at Alderman Parson's.

118

A Runner, is a Fellow that goes Abroad of Errands for the Prisoners.

119

A common Cant word for Mumping.

120

Persons who give any considerable Offence, are often try'd, and undergo the Discipline of the Pump. The Author was one of these in a drunken Frolick, for which he condemns himself.

121

A spacious Place, where there are all Sorts of Exercises, but especially Fives.

122

A Publick Place, free for all Prisoners.

123

Where those lie who can't pay their Master's Fee.

124

There are several of those Jiggers or Doorkeepers, who relieve one another, and when a Prisoner comes first in, they take a nice Observation of him, for fear of his escaping.

125

A cant Word for giving some Money in order to shew a Lodging.

126

Which is One Pound Six Shillings and Eightpence, and then you are entitled to a Bed on the Master's Side, for which you pay so much per week.

127

Mount Scoundrel, so call'd from its being so highly situated, and belonging once to the Common Side, tho' lately added to the Master's; if there be room in the House, this Place is first empty, and the Chamberlain commonly shews this to raise his price upon you for a better.

128

Half a Guinea.

129

A Bedfellow so call'd.

130

When you have a Chum, you pay but 15 Pence per Week each, and, indeed, that is the Rent of the whole Room, if you find Furniture.

131

The Upper Floors are accounted best here, for the same reason as they are at Edinburgh, which, I suppose, every Body knows.

132

It is common to mention the Fleet by the Name of the Place, and I suppose it is call'd the Place by way of Eminence, because there is not such another.

133

A Cant Word for a Drain of Geneva.

134

A Chew of Tobacco, suppos'd to be given him.

135

The Necessary House, is (by the Prisoners) commonly call'd Scotland, near which is a dunghill.

136

When there are Holes above Heel, or the Feet are so bad in a Stocking, that you are forced to pull them to hide the Holes, or cover the Toes, it is called coaxing.

137

As the Prison is often call'd the College, so it is common to call a prisoner, a Collegian; and this character is taken from a man who had been many Years in the Place, and like to continue his Life; but it is hard for those who had not seen him to judge of the Truth of the Draught.

138

The name of the Cook in the Kitchen.

139

A place in the Cellar, called Bartholomew Fair.

140

A phrase for spending Money fast.

141

Cole, signifies Money.

142

Bleed also signifies spending.

143

When a Messenger or Friend brings Money from abroad to the Prisoners, it is usual to say a Ship is arriv'd.

144

Some of the Dirt upon the Stairs is trod into knots so hard it is almost impossible to break it.

145

Smart generally begins his Stories with a That's like, &c., tho' it is not at all like the Story he tells.

146

The Master of the Cellar, a Man of a variable Temper, very passionate, malicious, and ill-natur'd at some times, at others very well.

147

Who goes out? is repeated by Watchmen Prisoners, from half an Hour after Nine, till St. Paul's Clock strikes Ten, to give Visitors Notice to depart.

148

While St. Paul's Clock is striking Ten, the Watchmen don't call Who goes out? but when the last Stroke is given, they cry All told! at which Time the Gates are lock'd, and nobody suffer'd to go out upon any Account.

149

A place in the Cellar, called Bartholomew Fair.

150

A phrase for spending Money fast.

151

Cole, signifies Money.

152

Bleed also signifies spending.

153

When a Messenger or Friend brings Money from abroad to the Prisoners, it is usual to say a Ship is arriv'd.

154

Some of the Dirt upon the Stairs is trod into knots so hard it is almost impossible to break it.

155

Smart generally begins his Stories with a That's like, &c., tho' it is not at all like the Story he tells.

156

The Master of the Cellar, a Man of a variable Temper, very passionate, malicious, and ill-natur'd at some times, at others very well.

157

Who goes out? is repeated by Watchmen Prisoners, from half an Hour after Nine, till St. Paul's Clock strikes Ten, to give Visitors Notice to depart.

158

While St. Paul's Clock is striking Ten, the Watchmen don't call Who goes out? but when the last Stroke is given, they cry All told! at which Time the Gates are lock'd, and nobody suffer'd to go out upon any Account.

159

"Memoirs of the Right Villanous John Hall," &c.

160

See next page.

161

A cant word for gin.

162

Evidence of Mr. Wakefield before Parliamentary Committee of 1837.

163

When the prisoners were removed there were two who had been incarcerated upwards of thirty years, and were in the Queen's prison in 1845.

164

These were touts, like those white-aproned gentry who used to infest Doctors' Commons, telling people where they could procure Marriage licences – only these "plyers" touted for the parsons.

165

See previous page.

166

Joshua Lilly, who kept one of the Hand and Pen houses, and said that he had been appointed Registrar of Marriages, by the Lord Chancellor, and had paid £1,000 for the post. He did not marry people, but kept presumable Clergymen to do so. He is mentioned several times in the Registers and Pocket-books. Once, at all events, he was in danger of the judgment seat, as Ashwell writes in one of his pocket-books: "N.B. On Sunday, November ye 6, 1740, at ye hour of 9, in my house declared that, if he had not come home out of ye country, being fled for punishment, having Cut of his hair (to prevent being known), yt ye indictment for marrying James Hussey to Miss Henrietta Arnold, he had (been) ruin'd but yt he swore it off and ye attorney promis'd to defend him, and it cost him only a treat of 10/; had I staid, says the sd Joshua Lilley, where I was, viz. – , the indictment would have stood good against me, but my taking ye side of the prosecutor, ye young ladies, I have got safe off." In a Register is a notice relating to him. "June ye 13th, 1744. Whereas one Joshua Lilley, being a noted man for having more marriages at his house than the generality of ye people could have, he the said Joshua Lilley keeping several plyars, as they are call'd, to gett these weddings, I have put his marriages down in a separate book, but findend ill-convenience arise thereby, fro' this 13th instant, do insert it wth ye rest." And one of his handbills describes him as 'I. Lilley, at ye Hand and Pen, next door to the china shop, Fleet Bridge, London, will be perform'd the solemnization of marriages by a gentleman regularly bred att one of our Universities, and lawfully ordain'd according to the institutions of the Church of England, and is ready to wait on any person in town or countrey."

167

This was John Lilley, who kept a public-house, called the Bull and Garter. In 1717 he was found guilty, and fined five pounds, for acting as Clerk at a Fleet Marriage. He was a turnkey at the Fleet Prison, and in his house he had a room for solemnizing marriages – which he called a Chapel – issuing certificates bearing the City Arms, and purporting to be the Lord Mayor's Certificates.

168

Probably John Evans, who married from 1689 to 1729, both at the King's Bench and Fleet.

169

I am unable to identify these initials.