royalty restored-第64节
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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 strength〃 had been appointed to walk the streets and watch the city by night； to protect those in danger； arrest suspected persons； warn householders of danger by fire and candle； help the poor； pray for the dead； and preserve the peace。 These burly individuals were known as watch or bell men； one was appointed for each ward； whose duty it was to pass through the district he guarded ringing his bell； 〃and when that ceaseth；〃 says Stow； 〃he salutes his masters and mistresses with his rhymes； suitable to the seasons and festivals of the year； and bids them look to their lights。〃
In the third year of the reign of King Charles II。； whilst Sir John Robinson was mayor of London town； divers good orders were made by him and his common council for the better service of these watches。 The principal of these set forth that each should be accompanied by a constable and a beadle selected from the inhabitants of their respective wards； who should be required in turn to render voluntary service in guarding the city； from nine of the clock at night till seven in the morning； from Michaelmas to the 1st of April； and from that date until the 31st of March； from ten at night till five in the morning。
These rules were not； however； vigorously carried out； the volunteers were frequently unwilling to do duty； or when； fearful of fine； they went abroad； they usually spent their time in tippling in ale…houses； so that； as Delaune remarks； 〃a great many wicked persons capable of the blackest villainies do creep about； as daily and sad experience shows。〃 It was not only those who； with drawn swords； darted from some deep porch or sheltering buttress； in hopes of enriching themselves at their neighbour's expense； that were to be dreaded。 It was a fashion of the time for companies of young gentlemen to saunter forth in numbers after route or supper； when； being merry with wine and eager for adventure； they were brave enough to waylay the honest citizen and abduct his wife； beat the watch and smash his lantern； bedaub signboards and wrench knockers； overturn a sedan…chair and vanquish the carriers； sing roystering songs under the casements of peaceful sleepers； and play strange pranks to which they were prompted by young blood and high spirits。
Among those who made prominent figures in such unholy sports was the king's eldest son； my Lord Duke of Monmouth。 He and his young grace of Albemarleson to that gallant soldier now deceased； who was instrumental in restoring his majestytogether with some seven or eight young gentlemen； whilst on their rounds one Sunday morning encountered a beadle； whose quaint and ponderous figure presented itself to their blithe minds as a fit object for diversion in lieu of better。 Accordingly they accosted him with rough words and unceremonious usage； the which he resenting； they came to boisterous threats and many blows； that ended only when the poor fellow lay with outstretched limbs stark dead upon the pavement。 Sir Charles Sedley and Lord Brockhurst were also notable as having been engaged in another piece of what has been called 〃frolick and debauchery；〃 when 〃they ran up and down all night almost naked through the streets； at last fighting and being beaten by the watch； and clapped up all night。〃
It was not until the last years of the merry monarch's reign that there was introduced 〃an ingenious and useful invention for the good of this great city； calculated to secure one's goods； estates； and person； to prevent fires； robberies and housebreakings； and several accidents and casualties by falls to which man is liable by walking in the dark〃 This was a scheme for lighting the streets； by placing an oil…lamp in front of every tenth house on each side of the way； from Michaelmas to Lady…day； every night from six of the clock till twelve； beginning the third night after every full moon； and ending on the sixth night after every new moon； one hundred and twenty nights in all。 The originator of this plan was one
