The Project Gutenberg eBook ofThe Pennyles PilgrimageThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: The Pennyles PilgrimageAuthor: John TaylorRelease date: February 18, 2009 [eBook #28108]Most recently updated: January 4, 2021Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book wasproduced from scanned images of public domain materialfrom the Google Print project.)*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PENNYLES PILGRIMAGE ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: The Pennyles PilgrimageAuthor: John TaylorRelease date: February 18, 2009 [eBook #28108]Most recently updated: January 4, 2021Language: EnglishCredits: Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book wasproduced from scanned images of public domain materialfrom the Google Print project.)
Title: The Pennyles Pilgrimage
Author: John Taylor
Author: John Taylor
Release date: February 18, 2009 [eBook #28108]Most recently updated: January 4, 2021
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online DistributedProofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book wasproduced from scanned images of public domain materialfrom the Google Print project.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PENNYLES PILGRIMAGE ***
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES1. Quotes, parentheses and other punctuation are sometimes missing or missplaced in the original. These have been made consistent with modern convention.2. Apostrophes, where missing in the original, have been added.3. Footnotes have been numbered sequentially and moved to the end of the book.4. Misspelled words have been corrected and such changes noted at the end of the book.
1. Quotes, parentheses and other punctuation are sometimes missing or missplaced in the original. These have been made consistent with modern convention.
2. Apostrophes, where missing in the original, have been added.
3. Footnotes have been numbered sequentially and moved to the end of the book.
4. Misspelled words have been corrected and such changes noted at the end of the book.
ight Honorable, and worthy honoured Lord, as in my Travels, I was entertained, welcomed, and relieved by many Honourable Lords, Worshipful Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, and others both in England and Scotland. So now your Lordship's inclination hath incited, or invited my poor muse to shelter herself under the shadow of your honorable patronage, not that there is any worth at all in my sterile invention, but in all humility I acknowledge that it is only your Lordship's acceptance, that is able to make this nothing, something, and withal engage me ever.
Your Honors,
In all observance,
JOHN TAYLOR.
eader, these Travels of mine intoScotland,were not undertaken, neither in imitation, or emulation of any man, but only devised by myself, on purpose to make trial of my friends both in this Kingdom ofEngland,and that ofScotland,and because I would be an eye-witness of divers things which I had heard of that Country; and whereas many shallow-brained Critics, do lay an aspersion on me, that I was set on by others, or that I did undergo this project, either in malice, or mockage of MasterBenjamin Jonson,I vow by the faith of a Christian, that their imaginations are all wide, for he is a gentleman, to whom I am so much obliged for many undeserved courtesies that I have received from him, and from others by his favour, that I durst never to be so impudent or ungrateful, as either to suffer any man's persuasions, or mine own instigation, to incite me, to make so bad a requital, for somuch goodness formerly received; so much for that, and now Reader, if you expect
That I should write of cities' situations,Or that of countries I should make relations:Of brooks, crooks, nooks; of rivers, bournes and rills,Of mountains, fountains, castles, towers and hills,Of shires, and piers, and memorable things,Of lives and deaths of great commanding kings,I touch not those, they not belong to me;But if such things as these you long to see,Lay down my book, and but vouchsafe to readThe learnedCamden, or laboriousSpeed.
And so God speed you and me, whilst I rest
Yours in all thankfulness:
John Taylor.
ist Lordlings, list (if you have lust to list)
I write not here a tale of had I wist:
But you shall hear of travels, and relations,
Descriptions of strange (yet English) fashions.
And he that not believes what here is writ,
Let him (as I have done) make proof of it.
The year of grace, accounted (as I ween)
One thousand twice three hundred and eighteen,
And to relate all things in order duly,
'Twas Tuesday last, the fourteenth day of July,
Saint
Revels
day, the almanack will tell ye
The sign in
Virgo
was, or near the belly:
The moon full three days old, the wind full south;
At these times I began this trick of youth.
I speak not of the tide, for understand,
My legs I made my oars, and rowed by land,
Though in the morning I began to go
Good fellows trooping, flocked me so,
That make what haste I could, the sun was set,
E're from the gates of
London
I could get.
At last I took my latest leave thus late,
At the Bell Inn, that's
extra Aldersgate
.
There stood a horse that my provant
[1]
should carry,
From that place to the end of my fegary,
[2]
My horse no horse, or mare, but gelded nag,
That with good understanding bore my bag:
And of good carriage he himself did show,
These things are excellent in a beast you know.
There in my knapsack, (to pay hunger's fees)
I had good bacon, biscuit, neat's-tongue, cheese
With roses, barberries, of each conserves,
And mithridate, that vigorous health perserves:
And I entreat you take these words for no-lies,
I had good
Aqua vitæ, Rosa
so-lies:
With sweet
Ambrosia
, (the gods' own drink)
Most excellent gear for mortals, as I think,
Besides, I had both vinegar and oil,
That could a daring saucy stomach foil.
This foresaid Tuesday night 'twixt eight and nine,
Well rigged and ballasted, both with beer and wine,
I stumbling forward, thus my jaunt begun,
And went that night as far as
Islington
.
There did I find (I dare affirm it bold)
A Maidenhead of twenty-five years old,
But surely it was painted, like a whore,
And for a sign, or wonder, hanged at door,
Which shows a Maidenhead, that's kept so long,
May be hanged up, and yet sustain no wrong.
There did my loving friendly host begin
To entertain me freely to his inn:
And there my friends, and good associates,
Each one to mirth himself accommodates.
At Well-head
both for welcome, and for cheer,
Having a good
New ton
, of good stale beer:
There did we
Trundle
[3] down health, after health,
(Which oftentimes impairs both health and wealth.)
Till everyone had filled his mortal trunk,
And only
No-body
[3]
was three parts drunk.
The morrow next, Wednesday Saint
Swithin's
day,
From ancient
Islington
I took my way.
At
Holywell
I was enforced carouse,
Ale high, and mighty, at the Blindman's House.
But there's a help to make amends for all,
That though the ale be great, the pots be small.
At
Highgate
Hill to a strange house I went,
And saw the people were to eating bent,
In either borrowed, craved, asked, begged, or bought,
But most laborious with my teeth I wrought.
I did not this, 'cause meat or drink was scant,
But I did practise thus before my want;
Like to a Tilter that would win the prize,
Before the day he'll often exercise.
So I began to put in use, at first
These principles 'gainst hunger, 'gainst thirst.
Close to the Gate,
[4]
there dwelt a worthy man,
That well could take his whiff, and quaff his can,
Right Robin Good-fellow, but humours evil,
Do call him
Robin Pluto
, or the devil.
But finding him a devil, freely hearted,
With friendly farewells I took leave and parted,
And as alongst I did my journey take,
I drank at
Broom's well
, for pure fashion's sake,
Two miles I travelled then without a bait,
The Saracen's Head at
Whetstone
entering straight,
I found an host, that might lead an host of men,
Exceeding fat, yet named
Lean
, and
Fen
.
[5]
And though we make small reckoning of him here,
He's known to be a very great man there.
There I took leave of all my company,
Bade all farewell, yet spake to
No-body
.
Good reader think not strange, what I compile,
For
No-body
was with me all this while.
And
No-body
did drink, and, wink, and scink,
And on occasion freely spent his chink.
If anyone desire to know the man,
Walk, stumble,
Trundle
, but in
Barbican
.
There's as good beer and ale as ever twang'd,
And in that street kind
No-body
[6]
is hanged.
But leaving him unto his matchless fame,
I to St.
Albans
in the evening came,
Where Master
Taylor
, at the Saracen's Head,
Unasked (unpaid for) me both lodged and fed.
The tapsters, hostlers, chamberlains, and all,
Saved me a labour, that I need not call,
The jugs were filled and filled, the cups went round,
And in a word great kindness there I found,
For which both to my cousin, and his men,
I'll still be thankful in word, deed, and pen.
Till Thursday morning there I made my stay,
And then I went plain
Dunstable
highway.
My very heart with drought methought did shrink,
I went twelve miles, and no one bade me drink.
Which made me call to mind, that instant time,
That drunkenness was a most sinful crime.
When
Puddle-hill
I footed down, and past
A mile from thence, I found a hedge at last.
There stroke we sail, our bacon, cheese, and bread,
We drew like fiddlers, and like farmers fed.
And whilst two hours we there did take our ease,
My nag made shift to mump green pulse
[7]
and peas.
Thus we our hungry stomachs did supply,
And drank the water of a brook hard by.
Away toward
Hockley
in the Hole, we make,
When straight a horseman did me overtake,
Who knew me, and would fain have given me coin,
I said, my bonds did me from coin enjoin,
I thanked and prayed him to put up his chink,
And willingly I wished it drowned in drink.
Away rode he, but like an honest man,
I found at
Hockley
standing at the Swan,
A formal tapster, with a jug and glass,
Who did arrest me: I most willing was
To try the action, and straight put in bail,
My fees were paid before, with sixpence ale,
To quit this kindness, I most willing am,
The man that paid for all, his name is
Dam
,
At the Green Dragon, against
Grays-Inn
gate,
He lives in good repute, and honest state.
I forward went in this my roving race,
To
Stony Stratford
I toward night did pace,
My mind was fixed through the town to pass,
To find some lodging in the hay or grass,
But at the
Queen's Arms
, from the window there,
A comfortable voice I chanced to hear,
Call
Taylor, Taylor
, and be hanged come hither,
I looked for small entreaty and went thither,
There were some friends, which I was glad to see,
Who knew my journey; lodged, and boarded me.
On Friday morn, as I would take my way,
My friendly host entreated me to stay,
Because it rained, he told me I should have
Meat, drink, and horse-meat and not pay or crave.
I thanked him, and for his love remain his debtor,
But if I live, I will requite him better.
(From
Stony Stratford
) the way hard with stones,
Did founder me, and vex me to the bones.
In blustering weather, both for wind and rain,
Through
Towcester
I trotted with much pain,
Two miles from thence, we sat us down and dined,
Well bulwarked by a hedge, from rain and wind.
We having fed, away incontinent,
With weary pace toward