Another “domestic” sign is the [Trusty Servant] at Minstead, Hants:—
“A trusty servant’s portrait would you see,
This emblematic figure well survey;
The porker’s snout not nice in diet shows,
The padlock shut, no secret he’ll disclose.
Patient the ass his master’s rage will bear,
Swiftness in errand the stag’s feet declare.
Loaden his left hand apt to labour saith,
The vest his neatness: open hand his faith.
Girt with his sword, his shield upon his arm,
Himself and master he’ll protect from harm.”
The origin of this sign is a picture on the wall of one of the rooms, near the kitchen of Winchester College, where it is accompanied by the above verses in English and Latin.
Further, there is the Stave-Porter, Dockhead, London; the Ticket-Porter, near London Bridge; the Porter’s Lodge, Leicester; and the Porter and Gentleman in three different places in London.
The Huntsman is common in the hunting districts. To the hunt, also, we must refer such signs as—Hark to Bounty, Staidburn, Clitheroe; Hark up to Nudger, Dobcross, Manchester; Hark the Lasher, near Castleton, Derby; Hark up to Glory, Rochdale, and the Chase Inn in Leamington. In Cambridge there are two signs of the Birdbolt, an implement formerly used to shoot birds; consequently it must be a sign of some antiquity. In Nightingale Lane, East Smithfield, there is an Experienced Fowler, who, no doubt, well knows the value of “a bird in the hand,” and at Oldham and Rochdale there is an equally satirical sign, that of the Trap. The Angler is common enough in the neighbourhood of trout streams and other fishing resorts frequented by the disciples of Isaak Walton.
Many professions are only represented by one or two objects relating to them. The Tallow Chandler, very common among the trades tokens, was always represented by a man dipping candles. To that trade also seems to belong the Bowls and Candle Poles, which occurs in the following rambling advertisement:—
“Stolen,
Lost, or Mislaid,A Promissory Note for one hundred and twenty Pounds, signed by John Smallwood and indorsed by John Addams. Whoever will bring the same note to the House known by the Bowls and Candlepoles in Duke Street, in the Park, Southwark, shall receive five Guineas Reward; and if offered to be paid away or any Writ to be taken out for payment of the said Note, pray stop it and the party, and you shall have the same Reward.
*** The House is in Tenements, and some part thereof being a Pawnbroker’s, was broke open and several things of value missing. Note, This mischief arrises from a country Butcher, who did strike and kick an old Gentleman at London Bridge, about three quarters of a year ago. And all persons who did see the said Assault and will speak the truth, (for Christ’s sake,) are desired to send their Names and Place of Abode to the Bowls and Candlepoles and the favour shall be thankfully acknowledged.”[526]
The Scales is a common sign referring to various trades: one of the engraved bill-heads in the Bagford Collection gives the Hand and Scales—viz., a hand holding a pair of scales; this antiquated mode of representing a hand issuing from the clouds to perform some action, has given name to a great many signs—all combinations of the hand with some other object. The Spinning Wheel was formerly much more common than now; there is still a public-house with this sign at Hamsterley near Darlington. The Woolsack was originally a wool-merchant’s sign; it is often accompanied by the Black Boy. Machyn mentions this sign in 1555: “The xx day of July was cared to the Toure in the morning erlee iiij men; on was the goodman of the Volsake with-owt Algatt.” It seems to have been one of the leading taverns in Ben Jonson’s time, who often alludes to it in his plays; like the Dagger, it was famous for its pies.
“And see how the factors and prentices play there
False with their masters, and geld many a full pack,
To spend it in pies at the Dagger and the Woolpack.”
The Devil is an Ass, act i., sc. 1.