withstanding which, we were kindly welcomed 1662° by our Friends, whom we found there; and entertained by them, as well as their Condition would admit, until we could get in our own. Accommodations, and provide for our felves.

We had the Liberty of the Hall (which is on the first story over the Gate, and which, in the Day time, is common to all the Prisoners on that Side, Felons as well as others, to walk in, and to Beg out of :) and we had also the Liberty of fome other Rooms over that Hall, to walk or work in, a Days. But in the Night we all Lodged in one Room, which was large and round, having in the Middle of it a great Pillar of Oaken Timber; which bore up the Chap-. pel that is over it,

To this Pillar we faftned our Hammacks at the one End, and to the oppofite Wall on the other End, quite round the Room, and in three Degrees, or three Stories high, one over the other: fo that they who lay in the Upper and Middle Row of Hammacks, were obliged to go to Bed first, because they were to Climb up to the Higher, by getting into the Lower. And under the Lower Rank of Hammacks, by the. Wall-fides were laid Beds upon the Floor; in which the Sick, and fuch weak Perfons as could not get into the Hammacks, lay. And indeed, though the Room was large, and pretty airy: yet the Breath and Steam that came from fo many Bodies of different Ages, Conditions and Conftitutions, pack't up fo close together, was enough to caufe Sickness amongst us; and

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1662. I believe did fo. For there were many Sicky and fome very weak: though we were not long there, yet in that time one of our Fellow-Prifoners, who lay in one of thofe Pallet Beds, died.

This caufed fome Buftle in the House. For the Body of the Deceased, being laid out, and put into a Coffin, was carried down, and fet in the Room called the Lodge; that the Coroner might enquire into the Cause and Manner of his Death. And the manner of their doing it, is thus. As foon as the Coroner is come, the Turnkeys run out into the Street under the Gate; and seize upon every Man that paffes by, till they have got enough to make up the Coroner's Inqueft. And fo refolute thefe rude Fellows are, that if any Man refift, or dispute it with them; they drag him in by main Force, not regarding what Condition he is of. Nay, I have been told, the will not stick to ftop a Coach, and pluck the Men out of it.

It fo happened, that at this time they lighted on an Ancient Man, a grave Citizen, who was trudging through the Gate in great Haste; and him they laid hold on, telling him He must come in, and ferve upon the Coroner's Inqueft. He pleaded hard, beg'd and befought them to let him go; affuring them He was going on very urgent Business, and that the stopping him would be greatly to his Prejudice, But they were deaf to all Intreaties; and hurried him in, the poor Man Chaffing without Remedy,

When they had got their Complement, and were shut in together, the rest of them faid to

this Ancient Man, Come Father, you are the oldest 1662. Man among us': Tou shall be our Foreman. And when the Coroner had Sworn them on the Jury, the Coffin was uncovered, that they might look upon the Body. But the Old Man, disturbed in his Mind at the Interruption they had given him; was grown fomewhat fretful upon it: faid to them, To what purpofe do you there us a dead Body here! You would not have us think, fure, that this Man died in this Room? How then fhall we be able to judge how this Man came by his Death, unless we fee the Place wherein he died, aud wherein he hath been kept Prifoner before he died? How know we, but that the Incommodiousneẞ of the Place wherein he was kept, may have occafion ed his Death? Therefore fhew us (faid he) the place

wherein this Man died.

This much difpleafed the Keepers; and they began to banter the Old Man, thinking to have beaten him off it. But he ftood up titely to them: Come, come, faid he, Though you have made a Fool of me, in bringing me in hither; ye fball not find a Child of me, now I am here. Miftake not your felves: I understand my Place, and your Duty; and I require you to Conduct me, and my Brethren, to the Place where this Man died: Refuse it at your Peril.

They now wished they had let the Old Man go about his Bufinefs, rather than by troubling him, have brought this Trouble on themselves. But when they faw he perfifted in his Refolution, and was peremptory, the Coroner told them, They must go fhew him the Place.

1662. It was in the Evening when they began this Work; and by this time it was grown Bed-time with us: fo that we had taken down our Hammacks (which in the Day were hung up by the Walls) and had made them ready to go into; and were undreffing our felves in Readiness to into them. When on a fuddain we heard a great Noife of Tongues, and of Tramplings of Feet, coming up towards us. And by and by One of the Turnkeys, opening our Door, faid, Hold, hold, Don't undreß your felves, here's the Coroner's Inqueft coming to see you.

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As foon as they were come to the Door (for within the Door there was scarce room for them to come) the Foreman, who led them, lifting up his Hand, faid, Lord bleßme, what a Sight is here! I did not think there had been fo much Cruelty in the Hearts of Englishmen, to use Englishmen in this manner! We need not now question (faid he to the rest of the Jury) how this Man came by his Death: We may rather wonder that they are not all dead: for this Place is enough to breed an Infection among them. Well, added he, If it please God to lengthen my Life till to Morrow, I will find means to let the KING know how his Subjects are dealt with.

Whether he did fo, or no; I cannot tell ; but I am apt to think that he applied himself to the Mayor, or the Sheriffs of London. For the next Day, one of the Sheriffs (called Sir William Turner, a Wollen-Draper in Paul's-Tard) came to the Prefs-Yard; and having ordered the Porter of Bridewell to attend him there; fent up a Turnkey

Turnkey amongst us, to bid all the Bridewell 1662. Prisoners come down to him: for they knew us not; but we knew our own Company.

Being come before him, in the Prefs-Yard, he looked kindly on us, and fpake courteously to us. Gentlemen, faid he, I understand the Prifon is very full; and I am full; and I am forry for it. I wish it were in my Power to release you, and the rest of your Friends that are init. But fince I cannot do that, I am willing to do what I can for you. And therefore I am come hither to enquire how it is; and I would have all you, who came from Bridewell, return thither again; which will be a better Accommodation to you and your Removal will give the more room to those that are left behind; and here is the Porter of Bridewell, your Old Keeper, to attend you thither.

We duly acknowledged the Favour of the Sheriff, to us and our Friends above, in this Removal of us; which would give them more Room, and us a better Air. But before we parted from him, I fpake particularly to him, on another Occafion: which was this.

When we came into Newgate, we found a fhabby Fellow there, among the Friends; who (upon Inquiry) we understood had thruft himfelf among our Friends, when they were taken at a Meeting, on purpose to be fent to Prison with them; in hopes to be maintained by them. They knew nothing of him, till they found him fhut in with them in the Prison: and then took no Notice of him, as not knowing how or why he came thither. But he foon gave

them