[234] A tavern which used to be frequented by Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, and other wits of the times, and often mentioned in their works. From the following enumeration of taverns, in an old poem called "Newes from Bartholmew Fayre" [by Richard West, 1607], the title-page of which is lost, we find it was situate in Cornhill:-- "There hath beene great sale and utterance of wine, Besides beere and ale, and ipocras fine, In every country, region, and nation; Chefely at Billingsgate, at _the Salutation_, And _Bores Head_, neere London Stone, _The Swan_ at Dowgate, a taverne well knowne, _The Miter_ in Cheape, and then _the Bull Head_, And many like places that make noses red; _The Bores Head_ in Old Fish Street, _three Cranes_ in the Vintree, And now of late, St Martin's in the Sentree: _The Windmill_ in Lothbury, _the Ship_ at the Exchange, _King's Head_ in New Fish Streete, where roysters do range; +The Mermaid in Cornhill+; _Red Lion_ in the Strand, _Three Tuns_ in Newgate Market, Old Fish Street, at _the Swan_." [235] [An allusion which has been often explained.] [236] About the year 1631, Archbishop Laud, under the patronage of Charles I., undertook the repairing and rebuilding of St Paul's. On this occasion the king went to the cathedral, and, after divine service was performed, solemnly promised to exert his best endeavours to repair the ruins which time, or the casualties of weather, had made therein. In consequence of this scheme, many applications were made to noblemen and gentlemen for their assistance, and, on their refusal to contribute, some were very severely censured, and even fined. [237] Most of our ancient maps will sufficiently illustrate this image. The vacant spaces, occasioned by tracts of sea, are usually ornamented with these monsters spouting water.--_Steevens._ [238] Among the illegal modes of raising money adopted by Charles I., after he determined to govern without a parliament; the borrowing of money by writs of privy-seal was one not the least burdensome and oppressive. The manner was to direct these writs to particular persons by name, requiring the loan of money, or plate to the amount of the money, to be paid or delivered to a particular person, for the king's use. The form of the writs may be seen in "The Parliamentary History," xiii., 84, where one of them is printed. [But in this passage this speaker also intends a play on the double meaning of _seal_.] [239] Alluding to a method of catching pikes.--_Pegge._ [240] [Probably, nimble, sprightly, Fr. _leger_; unless it should be in the sense indicated by Nares in his "Glossary" under Liedger, _i.e._, resident; but Bannswright is not described as a pander.] [241] A corruption, probably, of _wizand_, or _weazon_.--_Steevens._ [242] Perhaps he means to say _Vin de Dieu_; _i.e._, _Lacrymæ Christi_.--_Steevens._