LONDON AS IT WAS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 9 January 1869, Page 6

LONDON AS IT WAS.

"We extract the following interesting account of the London of our forefathers from a Home paper : — Let us now turn to the police regulations of old London, and in our enquiry we are of necessity compelled to notice the"' taverns. . They were then -as now, intimately connected with the bulk of City crime. Murders were planned or committed within them ; thieves and cut-purses- emerged from them to ply their nefarious trade, or congregated within their walls to prey upon the stranger and the innocent. Q-ambling with dice was the most constant practice with these worthies, and cheating with false dice and tables their most harmless exploits. In 1279 it was ordained that no taverner or brewster shall keep his door open after curfew rung at the Church of St. Martin-le- Grand, and that no person shall be so daring as to be abroad after that time under heavy penalty. This ordinance was, However, soon treated with contempt, and even a succession of such efforts failed to establish regularity. • Tae authorities then turned their hands to Sunday trading. The alderman of each ward was empowered to possess himself of such stands as are found in the streets. As soon as the sp'hit of cupidity was i baffled, the spirit cleanliness was evoked. All pigsties were removed from the streets, and such swine as were found at large in the city were to be forfeited in aid of making the walls and the gates. The nuisance arising from vagrant pigs was one of long continuance and great pi-essure. In 1292 the authorities had been compelled to appoint four men to kill all wandering swine, taking the carcases for their trouble, or else foiu*pence from the owner. The pigs of St. Anthony, however, being holy property, dedicated to charitable "uses, were allowed to maintain their privileges. On all days they could roam through the citizens! .gardens and into their houses, and tKe bell -tied round their necks sanctified their ravages and secured them from slaughter The commercial morality of the tradesmen of London in the fourteenth century would not .disgrace that of their successors. Then the JJord Mayors found it - absolutely necessary to keep up an almost constant crusade against fraudulent dealers. All the crafts were in turn convicted of deceit and theft. The bakers of "West Chepe and Stratford had their bread seized because it was made of rotten materials and was of short weight. The fishmongers were constantly in trouble for selling putrid fish, and the butchers and poulterers were as constantly in trouble for selling putrid beef and capons. But it is to the credit of the city authorities that the" offenders were vigorously prosecuted. They were put j into the pillory, and' their abominable wares were burnt beneath their feet. The hatters sold hats made of indifferent or prohibited materials. In 13^1 an examination of " false " hats was 'mads in the Gruildhall, when it was discovered that forty grey and white ha& and fifteen black ones were "of-falsoaj^kinanship, and a mixture of wool l||H^ks. " They were burnt in the /^^B» /Ise gloves and pouched 1 burnli- y in

"his;unsguiid~winej--and.— haYe- the-resfc: "poured > fettdjto^be G^T i "eluded from practising the calling of a; vintner in the city of London for ever. It is known, however, that he repented, and five years .after .was Readmitted to the trade. •-•-*•'••'-- f .« > /