[78.] One said a tooth drawer was a kind of unconscionable trade because his trade was nothing else but to take away those things whereby every man gets his living.
[61.] There was a Gentleman who had been very smartly drinking at the Feathers Tavern in Cheapside, where there is a very long entry from the street door to the Bar, and a drinking roome by the way where were many civill persons with their wives at supper, but their door was only shut to and not latched; and this Gentleman staggering thorough, reeld against this door, and fell head long into the Room, to the sudden astonishment of the Company, who rise up and demanded the reason of that rudenesse; the poor Gentleman with very much adoe got up, and staggering with his hat in his hand he made hard shift to cry them all mercy in these words, Gentlemen and Ladyes, I pray excuse my boldnesse, and consider I am not the first that have fallen into ill Company.
The following throws much light on the habits of people in the reign of Charles II., and is valuable as it shows a phase of life not often depicted.
[85.] A Lampoon on the Greenwich Strowlers.
Oh! assist me you Powers, who have Rhimes at command,
For I faith I've a weighty business in hand.
Of the late Greenwich Strowlers I'me now going to sing,
But all things in order—first, God save the King.
Hem; hem; now put we off to the matter,
On Easter Sunday, the Raskals took water;