This does not pretend to be an exhaustive list; in fact, they were so numerous and varied that, as Addison says (Spectator, 251), 'There is nothing which more astonishes a Foreigner, and frights a Country Squire, than the Cries of London. My good friend Sir Roger often declares, that he cannot get them out of his Head, or go to sleep for them, the first Week that he is in Town. On the contrary, Will. Honeycomb calls them the Ramage de la Ville, and prefers them to the sounds of Larks and Nightingales, with all the Musick of the Fields and Woods.' The whole of this Spectator is on street cries, and is very interesting reading.
Trim, in Steele's comedy of 'The Funeral' tells a lot of ragged soldiers: 'There's a thousand things you might do to help out about this Town, as to cry—Puff—Puff Pyes. Have you any Knives or Scissors to grind—or, late in an Evening, whip from Grub Street strange and bloody News from Flanders—Votes from the House of Commons—Buns, rare Buns—Old Silver Lace, Cloaks, Sutes or Coats—Old Shoes, Boots or Hats.
Successive Crys the Season's Change declare,
And mark the Monthly Progress of the Year.
There was yet another noise in the streets, that of the ballad-singer, or singers, for they generally went in couples. People were warned against them.
Let not the Ballad-Singer's shrilling Strain
Amid the Swarm thy list'ning Ear detain:
Guard well thy Pocket; for these Syrens stand,
To aid the Labours of the diving hand;
Confed'rate in the Cheat, they draw the Throng,
And Cambrick Handkerchiefs reward the Song.
The streets ought to have been kept in fair order, if the inhabitants had complied with the law; but they evidently neglected it, and had to be reminded of their duties by a notice in the Gazette, April 12/14, 1711. According to 8 & 9 Will. III. cap. 37, everyone had, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, to sweep and cleanse the road in front of his house, building, or wall, and heap up the dirt for the scavenger to remove, under penalty of 10s.
That no one should throw any ashes, dirt, etc., into the open street before his house, under penalty of 5s., or if it was thrown before any other building, 20s.; but they must deliver the dust to the scavenger (2 Will. and Mary, cap. 8), who must come round daily to collect it, giving notice by ringing a bell or otherwise, or penalty 40s.
All householders, or, if empty, the owners of house, to keep the pavement before said house in repair, or pay 20s. per rod, and 20s. per week, till the same be sufficiently repaired.
While it was being done, the self-same sign was hung out as now—
Does not each Walker know the Warning Sign,
When Wisps of Straw depend upon the Twine
'Cross the Close Street; that then the Pavior's Art
Renews the Ways, deny'd to Coach and Cart.