Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 1: From the twelfth to the eighteenth century — John Shaqi
Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 1: From the twelfth to the eighteenth centuryGriffiths, Arthur
History
Chronicles of Newgate, Vol. 1: From the twelfth to the eighteenth century
Griffiths, Arthur
Criminals -- Great Britain; Newgate (Prison : London, England); Prisons -- England; Punishment -- Great Britain
his confederates, of whom many were taken and many were fled." One,
however, was apprehended, a citizen "of great countenance, credit,
and wealth, named John Senex, or John the Old, who, when he could not
acquit himself by the water dome, offered the king five hundred marks
for his acquittal; but the king commanded that he should be hanged,
which was done, and the city became more quiet."
Long before this, however, Edward I had dealt very sharply with
evil-doers. By the suspension of corporation government following that
king's conflict with the city authority, "all kinds of licentiousness
had got leave to go forward without control."
At length the frequency of robberies and murders produced the great
penal statute of the 13 Edward I (1287). By this act it was decreed
that no stranger should wear any weapon, or be seen in the streets
after the ringing of the _couvre-feu_ bell at St. Martin's-le-Grand;
that no vintners and victuallers should keep open house after the
ringing of the said bell under heavy fines and penalties; that "whereas
it was customary for profligates to learn the art of fencing, who were
thereby emboldened to commit the most unheard-of villainies, no such
school should be kept in the city for the future upon the penalty of
forty marks for every offence." Most of the aforesaid villainies were
said to be committed by foreigners who incessantly crowded into London
from all parts; it was therefore ordered that no person not free of the
city should be suffered to reside therein; and even many persons thus
avouched were obliged to give security for their good behaviour.
The "Liber Albus," as translated by Riley, gives the penalties for
brawling and breaking the peace about this date. It was ordained that
any person who should draw a sword, _misericorde_ (a dagger with a thin
blade used for mercifully despatching a wounded enemy), or knife, or
any arm, even though he did not strike, should pay a fine to the city
of half a mark, or be imprisoned in Newgate for fifteen days. If he
drew blood the fine was twenty shillings, or forty days in Newgate; in
striking with the fist two shillings, or eight days' imprisonment, and
if blood was drawn forty pence, or twelve days. Moreover, the offenders
were to find good sureties before release, and those on whom the
offence was committed had still recovery by process of law.
Nor were these empty threats. The laws and ordinances against prowlers
and vagabonds, or night-walkers, as they were officially styled, were
continually enforced by the attachment of offenders. Many cases are
given in the memorials of London.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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