Merrie England in the Olden Time. George Daniel
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Название: Merrie England in the Olden Time
Автор: George Daniel
Издательство: Bookwire
Жанр: Документальная литература
isbn: 4064066389666
isbn:
* Whit, in Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, promises to treat his
company with a clean glass, washed with the water of Agnes
le Clare.
** “At Edward Martin's, at the Hornes at Pancrass, is that
excellent water, highly approved of by the most eminent phy-
sitians, and found by long experience to be a powerful
antidote against rising of the vapours, also against the
stone and gravel. It likewise cleanses the body, purifies
and sweetens the blood, and is a general and sovereign help
to nature. I shall open on Whitson-Monday, the 24th of May
1697; and there will be likewise dancing every Tuesday and
Thursday all the summer season at the place aforesaid. The
poor may drink the waters gratis.” Then follow sixteen lines
of rhyme in praise of “this noble water,” and inviting
ladies and gentlemen to drink of it. Of this rare hand-bill
no other copy is known.
“And although this place (Paneras) be as it were forsaken of
all, and true men seldome frequent the same but upon de-vyne
occasions, yet is it visyted and usually haunted of roages,
vagabondes, harlettes and theeves, who assemble not ther to
pray, but to wayte for praye, and manie fall into their
hands clothed, that are glad when they are escaped naked.
Walke not ther too late.”—Speculi Britannio Pars, by John
Norden, MS. 1594.
and Hampstead Wells, renowned for their salubrious waters, are dried up. Though the two latter were professed marts for aqua pura, liquids more exhilarating were provided for those who relished stronger stimulants. We may therefore fairly assume that John Bull anciently travelled northward ho! when he rambled abroad for recreation.
As population increased, houses of entertainment multiplied to meet the demand. South, east, and west they rose at convenient distances, within the reach of a short stage, and a long pair of legs. Apollo Gardens, St. George's Fields; Bohemia's Head; Turnham Green; Cuper's Gardens, Lambeth; China Hall, Rotherhithe; Dog and Duck, St. George's Fields; Cherry Gardens Bowling-green, Rotherhithe; Cumberland Gardens, Vaux-hall; Spa Gardens, Bermondsey; Finch's Grotto Garden's, St. George's Fields; Smith's Tea Gardens, Vauxhall; Kendal House, Isleworth; New Wells, Goodman's Fields; Marble Hall, Vaux-hall; Staton's Tea-House, opposite Mary-le-bone Gardens; the Queen's Head and Artichoke, Mary-le-bone Fields; Ruckholt House, in Essex, of which facetious Jemmy Worsdale was the Apollo; Old Chelsea Bun-house; Queen Elizabeth's Cheesecake House, in Hyde Park; the Star and Garter Tavern, * and Don Saltero's coffeehouse, **
* “Star and Garter Tavern, Chelsea, 1763. Mr. Lowe will
display his uncommon abilities with watches, letters, rings,
swords, cards, and enchanted clock, which absolutely tells
the thoughts of any person in the company. The astonishing
Little Man, only four inches high, pays his respects to the
company, and vanishes in a flash of fire. Mr. Lowe commands
nine lighted candles to fly from the table to the top of the
ceiling! Added, a grand entertainment, with musick and
dancing, &c. &c.”
** The great attraction of Don Saltero's Coffeehouse was its
collection of rarities, a catalogue of which was published
as a guide to the visitors. It comprehends almost every
description of curiosity, natural and artificial. “Tigers'
tusks; the Pope's candle; the skeleton of a Guinea-pig; a
fly-cap monkey; a piece of the true Cross; the Four
Evangelists' heads cut on a cherry-stone; the King of
Morocco's tobacco-pipe;
Mary Queen of Scot's pincushion; Queen Elizabeth's prayer-
book; a pair of Nun's stockings; Job's ears, which grew on a
tree; a frog in a tobacco stopper,” and five hundred more
odd relies! The Don had a rival, as appears by “A Catalogue
of the Rarities to be seen at Adams's, at the Royal Swan, in
Kingsland Road, leading from Shoreditch Church, 1756.” Mr.
Adams exhibited, for the entertainment of the curious, “Miss
Jenny Cameron's shoes; Adam's eldest daughter's hat; the
heart of the famous Bess Adams, that was hanged at Tyburn
with Lawyer Carr, January 18, 1736–7; Sir Walter Raleigh's
tobacco-pipe; Vicar of Bray's clogs; engine to shell green
pease with; teeth that grew in a fish's belly; Black Jack's
ribs; the very comb that Abraham combed his son Isaac and
Jacob's head with; Wat Tyler's spurs; rope that cured
Captain Lowry of the head-ach, ear-ach, tooth-ach and belly-
ach; Adam's key of the fore and back door of the Garden of
Eden, &e. &e.” These are only a few out of five hundred
others equally marvellous. Is this strange catalogue a quiz
on Don Saltero?
Chelsea; Mary-le-bone and Ranelagh Gardens; *
* The Rotunda was first opened on the 5th of April, 1742,
with a public breakfast. At Ranelagh House (Gentleman's
Magazine for 1767) on the 12th of May, were performed the
much-admired catches and glees, selected from the curious
collection of the Catch Club; being the first of the kind
publickly exhibited in this or any other kingdom. The
entertainment СКАЧАТЬ