royalty restored-第52章
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he sight。〃
CHAPTER XIX。
London under Charles II。Condition and appearance of the thoroughfares。Coffee is first drunk in the capital。Taverns and their frequenters。The city by night。Wicked people do creep about。Companies of young gentlemen。The Duke of Monmouth kills a beadle。Sir Charles Sedley's frolic。Stately houses of the nobility。St。 James's Park。Amusement of the town。At Bartholomew Fair。Bull； bear； and dog fights。Some quaint sports。
During the first six years of the merry monarch's reign； London town； east of Temple Bar； consisted of narrow and tortuous streets of quaintly gabled houses； pitched roofed and plaster fronted。 Scarce four years had passed after the devastating fire which laid this portion of the capital in ashes； when a new and stately city rose upon the ruins of the old。 Thoroughfares lying close by the Thames； which were wont to suffer from inundations； were raised； those which from limited breadth had caused inconvenience and bred pestilence were made wide； warehouses and dwellings of solid brick and carved stone； with doors； window… frames； and breastsummers of stout oak； replaced irregular though not unpicturesque habitations； whilst the halls of companies； eminent taverns； and abodes of great merchants； were now built 〃with fair courtyards before them； and pleasant gardens behind them； and fair spacious rooms and galleries in them； little inferior to some princes' palaces。〃 Moreover； churches designed by the genius of Christopher Wren； adorned with spires； steeples； and minarets； intersected the capital at all points。
This new； handsome； and populous city presented an animated； ever changing； and merry scene。 From 〃the high street which is called the Strand；〃 far eastwards； great painted signs； emblazoned with heraldic arms； or ornamented with pictures of grotesque birds and animals； swung above shop…doors and taverns。 Stalls laden with wares of every description； 〃set out with decorations as valuable as those of the stage；〃 extended into the thoroughfares。 In the new Exchange； built by the worshipful company of mercers at a cost of eight thousand pounds； and adorned by a fair statue of King Charles II。 in the habit of a Roman emperor； were galleries containing rows of very rich shops； displaying manufactures and ornaments of rare description； served by young men known as apprentices； and likewise by comely wenches。
At corners and nooks of streets； under eaves of churches and great buildings； and other places of shelter； sat followers of various trades and vendors of divers commodities； each in the place which had become his from daily association and long habit。 These good people； together with keepers of stalls and shops； extolled their wares in deafening shouts； snatches of song； shouts of laughter； and the clang of pewter vessels came in bursts of discord from open tavern doors； women discoursed with or abused each other； according to their temper and inclination as they leaned from the jutting small…paned windows and open balconies of their homesteads； hackney coaches or 〃hell carts；〃 as they drove by； cast filth and refuse lying in kennels upon the clothes of passengers； the carriers of sedan…chairs deposited their burthens to fight for right of way in narrow passages and round crowded corners。
Through the busy concourse flowing up and down the thoroughfares from dawn to dusk； street…criers took their way； bearing wares upon their heads in wicker baskets； before them on broad trays； or slung upon their backs in goodly packs。 And as they passed； their voices rose above the general din； calling 〃Fair lemons and oranges； oranges and citrons！〃 〃Cherries； sweet cherries； ripe and red！〃 〃New flounders and great plaice； buy my dish of great eels！〃 〃Rosemary and sweet briar； who'll buy my lavender？〃 〃Fresh cheese and cream！〃 〃Lily…white vinegar！〃 〃Dainty sausages！〃 which calls； being frequently intoned to staves of melody； fell with pleasant sounds upon the ear。 ＇These hawkers so seriously interfered with legitimate traders； that in 1694 they were forbidden to sell any goods or merchandise in any public place within the city or liberties； except in open markets and fairs； on penalty of forty shillings for each offence； both to buyers and sellers。＇ Moreover； to these divers sights and sounds were added ballad singers； who piped ditties upon topics of the day； quacks who sold nostrums and magic potions； dancers who performed on tight…ropes； wandering musicians； fire…eaters of great renown； exhibitors of dancing dolls； and such like itinerants 〃as make show of motions and strange sights；〃 all of whom were obliged to have and to hold 〃a license in red and black letters； under the hand and seal of Thomas Killigrew； Esq。； master of the revels to his sacred majesty Charles II。〃
Adown the Strand； Fleet Street； and in that part of the city adjoining the Exchange； coffee…houses abounded in great numbers。 Coffee； which in this reign became a favourite beverage； was introduced into London a couple of years before the restoration。 It had； however； been brought into England at a much earlier period。 John Evelyn； in the year 1638； speaks of it being drunk at Oxford； where there came to his college 〃one Nathaniel Conoposis out of Greece； from Cyrill the patriarch of Constantinople； who； returning many years after； was made Bishop of Smyrna。〃 Twelve good years later； a coffee…house was opened at Oxford by one Jacobs； a Jew； where this beverage was imbibed 〃by some who delighted in novelty。〃 It was； however； according to Oldys the antiquarian； untasted in the capital till a Turkey merchant named Edwards brought to London a Ragusan youth named Pasqua Rosee； who prepared this drink for him daily。 The eagerness to taste the strange beverage drawing too much company to his board； Edwards allowed the lad； together with a servant of his son…in…law； to sell it publicly； whence coffee was first sold in St。 Michael's Alley in Cornhill by Pasqua Rosee； 〃at the sign of his own head；〃 about the year 1658。
Though coffee…drinkers first met with much ridicule from wits about town； and writers of broadsheet ballads； the beverage became gradually popular； and houses for its sale quickly multiplied。 Famous amongst these； in the reign of the merry monarch； besides that already mentioned； was Garraway's in Exchange Alley； the Rainbow； by the Inner Temple Gate； Dick's； situated at No。 8； Fleet Street； Jacobs'； the proprietor of which moved in 1671 from Oxford to Southampton Buildings； Holborn； the Grecian in the Strand； 〃conducted without ostentation or noise；〃 the Westminster； noted as a resort of peers and members of parliament； and Will's； in Russell Street； frequented by the poet Dryden。
These houses； the forerunners of clubs； were； according to their situation and convenience； frequented by noblemen and men of quality； courtiers； foreign ministers； politicians； members of learned professions； wits； citizens of various grades； and all who loved to exchange greetings and gossip with their neighbours and friends。 Within these low…ceilinged comfortable coffee…house rooms； fitted with strong benches and oak chairs； where the black beverage was drunk from handless wide brimmed cups； Pepys passed many cheerful hours； hearing much of the news he so happily narrates； and holding pleasant discourse with many notable men。 It was in a coffee…house he encountered Major Waters； 〃a deaf and most amorous melancholy gentleman； who is under a despayer in love； which makes him bad company； though a most good…natured man。〃 And in such a place he listened to 〃some simple discourse about quakers being charmed by a string about their wrists；〃 and saw a certain merchant named Hill 〃that is a master of most sorts of musique and other things； the universal character； art of memory； counterfeiting of hands； and other most excellent discourses。〃
In days before newspapers came into universal circulation； and general meetings were known； coffee…houses became recognised centres for exchange of thought and advocacy of political action。 Aware of this； the government； under leadership of Danby； not desiring to have its motives too freely canvassed； in 1675 issued an order that such 〃places of resort for idle and disaffected persons〃 should be closed。 Alarmed by this command； the keepers of such houses petitioned for its withdrawal； at the same time faithfully promising libels should not be read under their roofs。 They were therefore permitted to carry on their business by license。
Next in point of interest to coffee…houses were taverns where men came to make merry； in an age when simplicity and good fellowship largely obtained。 As in coffee…houses； gossip was the order of the day in such places； each tavern being in itself 〃a broacher of more news than hogsheads； and more jests than news。〃 Those of good standing and fair renown could boast rows of bright flagons ranged on shelves round panelled walls； of hosts； rotund in person and genial in manner； and of civil drawers； who could claim good breeding。 The Bear； at the bridge…foot； situated at the Southwark side； was well known to men of gallantry and women of pleasure； and was； moreover； famous as the spot where the Duke of Richmond awaited Mistress Stuart on her escape from Whitehall。 The Boar's Head； in Eastcheap； which gained pleasant mention in the plays of William Shakespeare； when rebuilt； after the great fire； became a famous resort。 The Three Cranes； in the Vintry； was sacred to the shade of rare Ben Jonson。 The White Bear's Head； in Abchurch Lane； where French dinners were served from five shillings a head 〃to a guinea； or what sum you pleased；〃 was the resort of cavaliers； The Rose Tavern； in the Poultry； was famous for its excellent ale； and no less for its mighty pretty hostess； to whom the king had kissed hands as he rode by on his entry。 The Rummer was likewise of some note； inasmuch as it was kept by one Samuel Prior； uncle to Matthew Prior； the ingenious poet。 On the balcony of the Cock； near Covent Garden； Sir Charles Sedley had stood naked in a drunken frolic； and at the King's Head； over against the Inner Temple Gate； Shaftesbury and his friends laid their plots； coming out afterwards on the double balcony in front； as North describes them； 〃with hats and no peruques； pipes in their mouths； merry faces and dilated throats； for vocal encouragement of the canaglia below。〃
All day long the streets were crowded by those whom business or diversion carried abroad； but when night fell apace； the keepers of stalls and shops speedily secured their wares and fastened their doors； whilst the honest citizen and his family kept within house。 For the streets being unlighted； darkness fell upon them； relieved only as some person of wealth rode homewards from visiting a friend； or a band of late revellers returned from a feast； when the glare of flambeaux； carried by their attendants； for a moment brought the outlines of houses into relief； or flashed red light upon their diamond panes； leaving all in profound gloom on disappearing。
The condition of the thoroughfares favouring the inclination of many loose persons； they wandered at large； dealing mischief to those whose duty took them abroad。 From the year 1556； in the reign of Queen Mary； 〃fit persons with suitable s
