7 - London’s Prisons

Summary

'The prison gates'

1. The Tower In London and within a mile, I weene, There are of Iayles or Prisons full eighteene, And sixty Whipping-posts, and Stocks and Cages, Where sin with shame and sorrow hath due wages. For though the Tower be a Castle Royall, Yet ther's a Prison in't for men disloyall... And last it is a Prison unto those That doe their Soveraigne or his lawes oppose.

2. The Gatehouse The Gatehouse for a prison was ordain'd, When in this land the third king Edward reignd: Good lodging roomes, and diet it affoords...

3. The Fleet Since Richards reigne the first, the Fleet hath beene A Prison, as upon records is seene, For lodgings and for bowling, there's large space...

4. Newgate Old Newgate I perceive a theevish den, But yet there's lodging for good honest men...

5. Ludgate . . .No Iayle for theeves, though some perhaps as bad, That breake in policie, may there be had.

6. Poultry Counter The Counter in the Powltry is so old, That it in History is not enrold.

7. Wood-street And Woodstreet Counters age we may derive, Since Anno fifteene hundred fifty five...

8. Bridewell Bridewell unto my memorie comes next; Where idlenesse and lechery is vext: . . .for Vagabonds and Runnagates, For Whores, and idle knaves, and such like mates, 'Tis littell better than a Iayle to those, Where they chop chalke, for meat and drinke and blowes.