The Weary Traveller occurs at Sutton Road, Kidderminster; the Traveller’s Rest in a great many places, sometimes accompanied by the phrase Rest and be Thankful, which last advice serves as a sign to two public-houses at Whitehaven. Finally the Finish was the sign of a notorious night-house in Covent Garden, kept at the beginning of the present century by a Mrs Butler. Here, according to “Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress,” the gentlemen of the road used to divide their spoil in the gray dawn of the morning, when it was time for the night-birds to fly to their roost. Crib (in reality Thomas Moore the poet, see [p. 503]) says that the congress is:—
“Some place that’s like the Finish, lads,
Where all your high pedestrian pads
That have been up and out all night,
Running their rigs amongst the rattlers,[722]
At morning meet, and, honour bright,
Agree to share the blunt and tatlers.”
This house was originally named the Queen’s Head, but was nicknamed the Finish from its being the place where the fast men of the day generally “finished off.” Ned Shuter was at one time a drawer in this house, but, inspired by the neighbourhood of the theatres, he left the pots and bottles and took to the stage. Down to a recent date it was a gloomy disreputable coffee-house, kept by one Smith, and here, in interdicted hours, beer and spirits could be obtained when all the public-houses were closed. It was pulled down very recently. These last four signs have in a measure been the expression of the authors’ minds: who, weary of their long task, and fearful of having fatigued their readers, will now betake themselves to rest, and be thankful if they have given a few hours’ entertainment upon the subject of signboards. They now take their leave in the words of an old ballad:—
“Then faire fall all good tokens,
And well fare a good heart,
For by all signs and tokens
’Tis time for to depart.”
[671] Burnet’s Own Times, vol. ii., p. 426, ed. 1823.
[672] Harl. MSS., 5931. Bagford Bills.
[673] See Craftsman, Sept. 30, 1738.
[674] Archæologia, xviii., p. 198.
[675] “To all true Christian people to whom this present writing shall come: John Frenssh, eldest son of John Frenssh, gentleman, late citizen and goldsmith of London, sends greeting in our Lord. Know ye that I have given, granted, and by this my present writing confirmed to Joan Frenssh, widow, my mother, all that tenement or inn, with its appurtenances, called Savage’s Inn, otherwise called the Bell on the Hoop, in the parish of St Bride, in Fleet Street, London, to have and to hold the aforesaid tenement or inn, with its appurtenances, to the said Joan, for the term of her life, without impeachment of waste. In witness whereof,” &c. (here follow the names of six witnesses.) Dated at London the 5th day of February, in the thirty-first year of the reign of King Henry VI. after the conquest.