Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/165



P and did take mv Wife, with a Party of Friends, to the Old Bailey, my Wife having a great Longing to ſee a Priſoner tried, eſpecially for Murder, and little Pleaſure as ſhe do take, poor Wretch, I could not find in my Heart to deny her this. Got our Places in the Gallery, coſt me 10s., which did begrudge, and do think it a Scandal to the City to have Money taken at the Old Bailey Doors, as at a Play, yet it do ſerve to keep the Company choice. And good Lack! to ſee the Aſſemblage of great Folks about us, we fitting cloſe by, and my , and two or three other Lords on the Bench by my Lords the Judges, and the Aldermen, did make the Place look as fine almoſt as the Opera. But in Truth it was as good as a Play, if not better, to hear the Barriſters ſpeak to the jury, eſpecially the Counſel for the Priſoners, making believe to be mightily concerned tor their Clients, though moſt obſervable Rogues, and arguing in their Behalf through Tick and Thin, and ſtriving as hard as they could to prove the Black, that did come out in Evidence againſt them White; and pleading their Cauſe as though they were injured Innocents, with ſmiting of the Breaſt, and turning up of the Eyes, more natural than I remember I did ever ſee any After. But methinks they did go a a little too far when, croſs-examining the Witneſſes, they ſtrove to