WE saw in the lines, under the Frontispiece to the foregoing poem, Garnish was mentioned, and the fact was stated as a Custom then in force of taking the prisoner's coat to pay for his fees on entrance.
"But kind Sir, as you'r a Stranger,
Down your Garnish you must lay,
Or your Coat will be in danger,
You must either Strip or pay."
In the Criminal prisons, the prisoners themselves demanded Garnish from a new-comer, that is, a trifle of money—to drink. In 1708, at Newgate, this sum seems to have been Six shillings and Eightpence "Which they, from an old Custom, claim by Prescription, Time out of Mind, for entring into the Society, otherwise they strip the poor Wretch, if he has not wherewithal to pay it."[149] And in the old Play of the Lying Lover we are introduced to a Scene in Newgate where the prisoners are demanding Garnish from some new-comers.
"Storm.Nay, nay, you must stay here.
Simon.Why, I am Simon, Madam Penelope's Man.
Storm.Then Madam Penelope's Man must strip for Garnish; indeed Master Simon you must.
Simon.Thieves! Thieves! Thieves!
Storm.Thieves! Thieves! Why, you senseless Dog, do
you think there's Thieves in Newgate? Away with
him to the Tap House (Pushes him off). We'll drink
his Coat off. Come, my little Chymist, thou shalt
transmute this Jacket into Liquor."
Yet although this custom was general, I have only once met with an engraving of the actual process, which, judging by the man's agonized countenance, was not a pleasant one to him. It occurs in the frontispiece to a little pamphlet called "An Oration on the Oppression of Jailors; which was spoken in the Fleet Prison, on the 20th of February, 1730/1," &c. And under the engraving, are these lines.
"Unhappy, friendless Man! how hard thy Fate!