The Fleet. Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages 32

The Fleet. Its Rivers, Prison, and Marriages 32

The poor Warden had no bed of roses, more especially as the female

element was afterwards introduced in the shape of Lady Whitbrooke, who

of course, was a warm partisan of her husband. Harris writes:

 

"The lady alledgeth that in September the quarrell betweene the

Warden and Whitbrooke was renewed.

 

"The Warden answeareth that in July, 1619, Whitbrooke and

Boughton with six others (being lodged in a great Chamber) they

and six more shutt out thirtie of their Companie and fortefied

the gaole against the Warden, refused all perswasions of the

Warden, constables, and Alderman's Deputie, the comands of the

Lord Cheife Justice, of the Lord Chauncellor and his Serjeant

at Armes; yet yeilded to the clarke of the councell sent from

the Lords. Whitbrooke and Boughton being then in one humour;

and, upon unblocking the prison, Whitbrooke desired liberty; it

was offred him upon security, he would give none, then he made

question where to lye, to which was answeared there were five

other roomes he might make his election of, which he would; but

he said he would none other but where he formerly laye (it being

indeed the fayrest). They fortified these roomes againe when the

Warden was out of towne, soe as during Whitbrooke's life and

Boughton's being there with their adherents the Warden had noe

comand in that part of the prison."

 

It is almost needless to say that these peculiarly unquiet spirits

quarrelled among themselves. We have heard enough of Whitbrooke to know

that he was a quarrelsome cur--impatient of restraint, and thoroughly

lawless in his habits; but it is evident that he persuaded his wife

that he was an injured innocent; for, in poor Harris's "Apologia pro

sua vita," a story which he tells so naively, and so nicely, he says:

 

"The lady alledgeth that the Warden (for revenge) resolved and reported

he would send Whitbrooke to _Boulton_ to keepe.

 

"The Warden answeareth that he for governement sake and to suppresse

misdemeanours doth thretten to putt prisoners (offending) into

_Boulton's Wards_ (Many yeares familiarlie soe called as he thinketh of

bolts or irons put on them), where Whitbrooke was put when he wounded

the Warden and his servants; he continued there but a small tyme, and

was removed to a roome called the Tower Chamber (where Henry Boughton

and many others did lye), thence Boughton was removed into the common

prison in December, 1618, and Whitbrooke was removed thither June 16,

1619, soe as to that tyme they lay five moneths within one lodging, and

six moneths severed in other lodgings and noe quarrell stirred.

 

"The Lady alledgeth that presently at their comeing together Boughton

suddenly stabbed and wounded Whitbrooke, whereof he dyed.

 

"The Warden answeareth that over and above the eleaven months

aforesaid, yet from June 16th untill September 16, 1619, being 3

moneths, they two combyned in their exploits against the Warden

without falling out (for ought the Warden knewe), but 16 September

Boughton fell out with Harvey (one of his chamber felowes), whom

Boughton assayled with his teeth, and bitt him by the thombe, whereof

Whitbrooke, Willis, Harvey, and others there lodged, advised the

Warden, wishing him to take some course. The Warden sent divers

messages by the gaoler to Whitbrooke to remove thence and to lye

elsewhere; he would not, sayeing none should remove him but by

violence, and they were so strong there, as the Warden could doe

nothing, none ells durst come amongst them. Holmes and Maunsell offered

him libertie amongst other gentlemen upon bonds.

 

"The Warden acquainted the Lord Chauncellor of their fortifications,

of some other stabbing there, of this particular brawle, and besought

his lordshipp to send them to Newgate. The Lord Chauncellor comanded

such motion to be made at the tyme of a seale; it was moved by Mr.

Woomelayson, as appeares by his briefe, then his lordshipp wished oath

to be made of this offence, and called for presidents[107] to remove

them, in which meane tyme Boughton (being provoked and wounded by

Whitbrooke) did stabb him, whereof he dyed within 13 dayes, and it was

about 14 moneths after he wounded the Warden and stabbed his 3 servants

as appeareth by the generall lodgeings and places where they laye,

sometymes together, and sometymes severed, ensueing to be seene in the

end of this answeare to this Article, and, if the testimony (which

was long after delivered to the Warden, by a prisoner in the Fleete)

be true, then the same Harvey, and one Tymothy Willis and Sir John

Whitbrooke himselfe, did (of sett purpose) whett on Boughton to anger

and quarrell, because they scorned Boughton and meant to assayle him.

 

"When Whitbrooke, Boughton, &c., ymured themselves upp in the wards as

aforesaid, a view or survey of the roomes was given the Lordes of the

Councell, and they (_were_) satisfied.

 

"After the tyme of the supposed quarrell (which was about Whitbrooke's

and Boughton's fortifieing the house) they contynued lyeing where

they were before, amongst others.

 

"Wheresoever they had lyen they might quarrell when they mett, as

Whitbrooke many moneths before broke Willis his head with a pott or

candlestick."

 

These two ill-conditioned animals fell to loggerheads, and Boughton

drew upon Whitbrooke, and so wounded him that eventually he died. And

this shows the very lax discipline that then obtained in the Fleet. Of

course, no weapons should have been allowed, but "It is alsoe alledged

that Boughton did provide a sword, and it was brought him by a woeman

from whom the porter of the Fleet tooke it, and delivered it to the

Warden (as he did indeed) and therefore say their accusers that the

Warden knew the same sword was to kill Whitbrooke.

 

"The Warden had it about a yeare and a halfe before this accident (of

Whitbrooke's death) happened, and delivered it back againe to the

woeman that brought it, with charge not to bring any thither whatsoever.

 

"It was avouched that the sword was Boughton's, and put to dressing to

a Cutler, who sent it home againe, so as Boughton might have killed

Whitbrooke with it before it went to dressing, if he had intended

any such thing. Nay, Boughton had alwayes in his trunck (as appeared

afterwards) a stilletto so keene, so cleane and ready, as would soone

have done such a fact if he had meant it; yea, swords and other weapons

want not in the Fleete, and the Warden cannot prevent it. This fact

was mere accidentall, and not precogitate as the lawe hath founde

it, which acquitted Boughton of Manslaughter upon his arraignement."

Harris, I think, and, most probably, my readers will agree with me, has

made out a very fair case in his own favour; but I must not deal with

the other charges against him at such length.

 

[Footnote 104: Presumably, _from the town_.]

 

[Footnote 105: Sigh.]

 

[Footnote 106: There was no blotting paper in those days, but

_pounce_ was used, which was either _powdered_ resin, gum

sandarach, or copal, or powdered cuttle fish. I believe that

_pounce_ may even now be bought at law stationers. It was

dusted on to the wet ink by means of a pepper caster.]

 

[Footnote 107: Precedents.]

 

[Illustration]

 

 

 

 

[Illustration]

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXI.

 

 

The second count brought against him by his mutinous prisoners was

"Remouing a prisoner out of his chamber, hauing 51 lib. 1 s. hid vnder

his bed, which the prisoner required he might go to his chamber to

dispose of, which was denied, and he thrust vp in another roome close

prisoner, vntill the Warden and some of his seruants rifled his bed of

that mony."

 

Hear the Warden's defence:--"By this is pretended that one Coppin (who

euer did beare the name of a poore fellowe) lost 51 li., with takeing

whereof, if he dare charge any person or persons the Lawe is and hath

beene open for him theis two yeares past. But his abettors haue putt

it here rather to infame, then that they can think it true, as by the

ensueing answeare appeares.

 

"For Edward Coppin, liued as a poore prisoner in the Fleete for

breach of a decree, and continueing above six yeares, would never be

drawen to pay the Warden one penny for meate, drinke, lodging, or

attendance; but at last he ran away, and was upon the Warden's pursuite

taken againe, but before he ran away, he was sometymes restrayned of

the libertye of the Fleete yards and walks (as is the custome of all

prisons in England); and he lodging in the three Tower Chambers with

sixteene persons, they often thretned their keeper to stabb him, to

take away the keyes of the prison, to bind him, to hang him; lastly

they fortefied that prison, soe that the Warden could not dispose or

order them. And with two malletts and steele chissells they had cutt

the stone workes of the dore, soe as noe locks or bolts could shutt

them; and while they were thus doeinge Coppin came downe to fetch

a mallett, wherewith he was taken beneath, and presentlie put into

another warde aparte from his fellowes, about three a clock in the

afternoone 15 July 1619, not speakeing of any money."

 

Master Coppin was one of Boughton's gang, but even that _malfaiseur_

could not back up his claim, for "A rumour was spredd in the Fleete

that Coppin had lost 50 li. The Warden heareing thereof, sent for

Coppin, and asked him: he said he would say nothing except Sir Francis

Inglefield were present. Then the Warden said, Nay, Coppin, if you have

nothing to say to me, you may depart againe.

 

"Then the Warden was informed by Mr. Boughton and Wall, that the day

before it happened that Coppin was removed, they had made meanes to

borrowe some money upon a pawne, and Coppin professed and swore he had

not so much (being fower (4) pounds) as they demanded. Then the Warden

caused Coppin's trunck (being new and well locked) to be opened in

Coppin's presence, and delivered it to him, in which Trunck within a

Bagg put in a Box (as they said) there was about xxix^s; and then was

sett on foote this rumour when Coppin had advised with Mr. Rookwood to

doe it.

 

"About January 1620, Edward Coppin confessed that he never receaved any

money since he came to Prison.

 

"Mr. Williams saith that he hath heard that Coppin hath confessed that he lost noe money."