1662. Then went we up again to our Friends in Newgate, and gave them an Account of what had paffed; and having taken a folemn Leave of them, we made up our Packs to be gone. But before I pass from Newgate, I think it not amifs, to give the Reader fome little Account of what I obferved while I was there.

The Common-fide of Newgate is generally accounted, as it really is, the worst Part of that Prifon ; not so much from the Place, as the People, it being usually stocked with the veriest Rogues, and meaneft Sort of Felons and Pickpockets, who not being able to pay Chamberrent on the Mafter's-fide, are thruft in there. And if they come in bad, to be fure they do not go out better; for here they have an Opportunity to inftruct one another in their Art, and impart each to other what Improvements they have made therein.

The Common-hall (which is the first Room over the Gate) is a good Place to walk in, when the Prifoners are out of it, faving the Danger of catching fome Cattle which they may have left in it, and there I used to walk in a Morning before they were let up, and fometimes in the Day-time when they have been there.

They all carried themselves respectfully towards me; which I imputed chiefly to this, That when any of our Women-Friends came there to vifit the Prifoners, if they had not Relations of their own there to take care of them, I, (as being a young Man, and more at leisure

than

than most others, for I could not play the Taylor 1662. there) was forward to go down with them to the Grate, and fee them fafe out. And fometimes they have left Money in my Hands for the Felons (who at fuch Times were very importunate Beggars) which I forthwith distributed among them in Bread, which was to be had in the Place. But fo troublesome an Office it was, that I thought one had as good have had a Pack of hungry Hounds about one, as thefe, when they knew there was a Dole to be given. Yet this I think, made them a little the more obfervant to me; for they would difpose themselves to one Side of the Room, that they might make Way for me to walk on the other. And when I walked there, I had usually a Book in my Hand, on which I had mine Eye; which made them think I did not heed what they faid. By this Means, mine Ear being attentive to them, I heard them relate one to another many of their roguish Pranks.

One Day, as I was thus walking to and fro befide them, I heard them recounting one to another what Feats they had done at Pocketpicking and Shop-lifting. Whereupon, turning fhort upon them, I asked them, Which of you all will undertake to pick my Pocket? They were not very forward to answer, but viewed me round. I wore a long Gown, which was lapt over before and tied about the Middle, and had no Pocket-holes in it. When they had a while confidered it, and I, having taken another Turn, was come up again to them,

one

1662. one of them faid, Why, Mafter, if you will promise not to prosecute us, we will show you a Piece of our Skill. Nay, hold there, faid I, I won't fo far encourage you in Evil, as to promise not to profecute; and away I turned again, having mine Eye on my Book, but mine Ears to them. And in a while I heard them contriving how they would have done it. I, faid one of them, would give him the Budge, and before he can recover bimfelf, you, faid he to another of them, having your Penknife ready, should flit his Gown ; and then, faid he, let Honeypot alone for the diving Part. This Honeypot was a little Boy, then in Prison with them for picking a Pocket, who by his Stature did not feem to be above ten, or a dozen Years old; but for his Dexterity at Pocket-picking, was held to be one of the Top of the Trade. As for the Budge, I had had it given me often in the Street, but understood not the Meaning of it till now; and now I found it was a Joftle, enough to throw one almost upon his Nofe.

I have fometimes occafionally been in the Hall in an Evening, and have feen the Whores let in unto them, which I take to be a common Practice Nafty Sluts indeed they were, and in that Refpect the more fuitable. And as I have paffed them, I have heard the Rogues and they making their Bargains, which and which of them fhould company together that Night. Which abominable Wickedness muft be imputed to the Dishonesty of the Turnkeys,

who,

who, for vile Gain to themselves, not only fuffer, 1662. but further this Lewdness.

These are some of the common Evils which make the Common-fide of Newgate, in meafure a Type of HELL upon EARTH. But there was, at that Time, fomething of another Nature, more particular and accidental, which was very offenfive to me.

When we came first into Newgate, there lay in a little By-place like a Clofet, near the Room where we were lodged, the quartered Bodies of three Men, who had been executed fome Days before, for a real or pretended Plot; which was the Ground, or at least Pretext, for that Storm in the City, which had caused this Imprisonment. The Names of these three Men were Philips, Tongue and Gibs; and the Reason why their Quarters lay fo long there was, The Relations were all that while petitioning to have Leave to bury them; which at length with much ado was obtained for the Quarters, but not for the Heads, which were ordered to be fet up in fome Parts of the City.

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I faw the Heads when they were brought up to be boiled. The Hangman fetch'd them in a dirty Duft-basket, out of fome By-place, and fetting them down amongst the Felons, he and they made Sport with them. They took them by the Hair, flouting, jeering and laughing at them; and then giving them fome ill Names, box'd them on the Ears and Cheeks. Which done, the Hangman put them into his Kettle, and parboil'd them with Bay-falt and Cummin

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1662. Cummin-feed; that to keep them from Putrefaction, and this to keep off the Fowls from feizing on them. The whole Sight, as well that of the bloody Quarters firft, as this of the Heads afterwards, was both frightful and loathfome, and begat an Abhorrence in my Nature. Which as it had rendered my Confinement there by much the more uneafy, fo it made our Removal from thence to Bridewell, even in that refpect, the more welcome: Whither we now go.

For having, as I hinted before, made up our Packs, and taken our Leave of our Friends, whom we were to leave behind, we took our Bundles on our Shoulders, and walked, two and two a-breast, through the Old-bailey into Fleet-fireet, and fo to Old Bridewell. And it being about the Middle of the Afternoon, and the Streets pretty full of People, both the Shopkeepers at their Doors, and Paffengers in the Way, would ftop us, and afk us what we were, and whither we were going? And when we had told them we were Prifoners, going from one Prison to another (from Newgate to Bridewell) What, faid they, without a Keeper! No, faid we, for our Word, which we have given, is our Keeper. Some thereupon would advise us not to go to Prifon, but to go home. But we told them, we could not do fo; we could fuffer for our Teftimony, but could not fly from it. I do not remember we had any Abuse offered us, but were generally pitied by the People.

When