Worthy old John Stow supposes this interesting incident to have happened at the Pope's Head, in Cornhill, and bids us enjoy the knowledge of the fact, that:--"Wine one pint for a pennie, and bread to drink it was given free in every taverne." Yet Lydgate's hero went away "_Sore a-hungered_," for there was no eating at taverns at this time beyond a crust to relish the wine, and he who wished to dine before he drank had to go to the cook's. Wanting money, _Lackpenny_ has now no choice but to return to the country, and applies to the watermen at Billingsgate:-- Then hied I me to Billingsgate, And one cried "Hoo! go we hence!" I prayed a bargeman, for God's sake, That he would spare me my expense, "Thou scap'st not here, quod he, under two-pence, I list not yet bestow any almes deed." Thus, lacking money, I could not speed. We have a corroboration of the accuracy of this picture in Lambarde's "Perambulation of Kent." The old topographer informs us that in the time of Richard II. the inhabitants of Milton and Gravesend agreed to carry in their boats, from London to Gravesend, a passenger with his truss or fardel [burden] for twopence. Then I conveyed me into Kent; For of the law would I meddle no more; Because no man to me took entent, I _dyght_ [prepared] me to do as I did before. Now Jesus, that in Bethlem was bore, Save London, and send true lawyers their meed! For whoso wants money, with them shall not speed. The poor Kentish suitor, without two-pence in his pocket to pay the Gravesend bargemen, whispers a mild anathema against London lawyers, then takes his solitary way on foot homeward--a sadder and a wiser man. * * * * * With unpaved streets, and no noise of coaches to drown any particular sound, we may readily imagine the din of the great London thoroughfares of four centuries ago, produced by all the vociferous demand for custom. The chief body of London retailers were then itinerant,--literally pedlars; and those who had attained some higher station were simply stall-keepers. The streets of trade must have borne a wonderful resemblance to a modern fair. Competition was then a very rude thing, and the loudest voice did something perhaps to carry the customer. [Illustration: THE LONDON STONE.] [Illustration] In the old play entitled:--"A ryght excellent and famous Comedy called the _Three Ladies of London_, wherein is Notable declared and set fourth, how by the meanes of Lucar, Love and Conscience is so corrupted, that the one is married to Dissimulation, the other fraught with all abhomination. A Perfect Patterne of All Estates to looke into, and a worke ryght worthie to be marked. Written by R. W.; as it hath been publiquely played. At London, Printed by Roger Warde, dwelling neere Holburne Conduit at the sign of the Talbot, 1584," is the following poetical description of some London cries:-- [Illustration]