416
HUDIBRAS.
[PART III.
Where, in all governments and times,He 'd been both friend and foe to crimes,And us'd two equal ways of gaining,By hind'ring justice, or maintaining,[1]To many a whore gave privilege, 585And whipp'd, for want of quarterage;Cart-loads of bawds to prison sent,For b'ing behind a fortnight's rent;And many a trusty pimp and cronyTo Puddle-dock,[2] for want of money: 590Engag'd the constables to seizeAll those that wou'd not break the peace;Nor give him back his own foul words,Though sometimes commoners, or lords,And kept 'em prisoners of course, 595For being sober at ill hours;That in the morning he might freeOr bind 'em over for his fee.Made monsters fine, and puppet-plays,For leave to practise in their ways; 600Farm'd out all cheats, and went a shareWith th' headborough and scavenger;And made the dirt i' th' streets compound,For taking up the public ground;[3]The kennel, and the king's high-way, 605For being unmolested, pay;Let out the stocks and whipping-post,And eage, to those that gave him most;Impos'd a tax on bakers' ears,[4]And for false weights on chandelers; 610Made victuallers and vintners fineFor arbitrary ale and wine.[5]
- ↑ Butler served some years as clerk to a justice. The person who employed him was an able magistrate, and respectable character: but in that situation he might have had an opportunity of making himself acquainted with the practice of trading justices.
- ↑ There was a gaol at this place for petty offenders.
- ↑ Did not levy the penalty for a nuisance, but compounded with the offender by accepting a bribe.
- ↑ That is, took a bribe to save them from the pillory. Bakers were liable to have their ears cropped for light weights.
- ↑ For selling ale or wine without licence, or by less than the statutable
