“Crowder and his wife,” says the report, “be most horrible blasphemers and swearers.” The matter is taken up by the lords of the council, who write to the Lord Mayor, desiring to be fully informed of all disorders committed, and by whom. “They are sending gentlemen to repair to the prison to inquire into the case, and requesting the Lord Mayor to appoint two persons to assist them.” Sir Christopher Hatton also writes to the Lord Mayor, drawing attention to the charges against Crowder. The Lord Mayor replies that certain persons had been appointed to inquire, but had not yet made their report. The Court of Enquiry are willing to receive Crowder, but he persists in refusing (to explain). “He would not come to their meeting, but stood upon his reputation.” The result, so far as can be guessed, was that Crowder was pensioned off. But he found powerful friends in his adversity. His cause was espoused by Sir Thomas Bromley, Lord Chancellor, who informs the Lord Mayor that he thinks Crowder has been dealt with very hardly, and that his accusers were persons unworthy of credit. Apparently Crowder had no chance of being reinstated, for his friend the Lord Chancellor tries next to get his pension raised. The exact amount is not stated, but Sir Thomas Bromley suggests that it should be made up to £40, twenty nobles of which should be paid by his successor. There is no mention of any such increase having been conceded. CHAPTER III. NEWGATE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY (DOWN TO THE GREAT FIRE). More Jesuit emissaries in Newgate--Richardson and others--Their fate--Some escape--Greater favour shown them under Charles I. through intercession of Henrietta Maria--But freedom not easily procured--Case of Thomas Coo--Of John Williams--The Mayor of Sudbury in Newgate--Also an alderman--Pardons and release still given on condition of military service--Troubles with King fill Newgate--Ship-money--Speaking ill of King’s sister entails imprisonment in Newgate for life--Parliament growing more powerful insists of execution of six Jesuits suffered to linger on in Newgate--Irish rebels taken on high seas, in Newgate--Also offenders against plague ordinances, and against religion or morality--Strange news from Newgate--Interior of gaol--Condition of prisoners--Fanatical conduct of keeper--Nefarious practices of turnkeys--They levy black mail--“Coney catching” described--Several cases of such swindling--Civil war reflected in prison records--More Irish arrested at Devonshire--Sent to London and lodged in Newgate for examination--Arbitrary imprisonment imposed by House of Lords on Richard Overton--Case of Colonel Lilburne--“Free born John”--Newgate annals record transfer of power to Commonwealth--Royalists in gaol--Also prisoners of mark--The Portuguese ambassadors’ brother in Newgate charged with murder, and executed--Also Lord Buckhurst and others.