The Discovery of a London Monster called The Blacke Dogg of New-gate Profitable for all Readers to take heed by Vide Lege Cave Time bringeth all things to light Printed at London by M. P. for Robert Wilson at his Shop at Grayes-Inne Gate in Holborne 1638. To the Reader MArvell not gentle Reader though in a mad humour I haue thus published the Blacke Dogge of Newgate and here shewne his trickes to the wide world to wonder at he is but a Curre indeed not worth three halfe pence to be sold but if you will accept of my Pen and Paper it may countervaile the charge of sixe pence it is no better then an ill favoured blacke Dogge yet I desire you not to thinke your time ill bestowed in the reading nor the price too great which you pay for it When you have perusde it and like it not reward not my good will with a scoffe But say the Dogge came from Newgate hang him up and rend the Booke in peeces and then I will be your debter in a Work of more worth but let me tell you by the way This Dog with many Doggs of his kinde have I knowne a great while and have received by them great wrong otherwise had I not bestowed so much time in deciphering a Cur nay more let me give you to understand that this Dog thus shadowed under the name of a servant at New-gate was in my sight by head and shoulders thrust out of Newgate and now men chosen instead of Dogs of far more pitie and honestie than that hell-hound ever had Therefore let me thus conclude that never Cur in shape of man in that place shall commit the like abuses No more for the Dog of Newgate But for this Dog of mine wish me well and I will never doe you ill Rest content and I am well pleased Fare you Well The Discovery of a London Monster called The Blacke Dogge of New-gate AWonder a wonder Gentlemen Hels brooke loose and the Blacke Dogge of Newgate is got out of Prison and leapt into a Signe What the Devils here quoth a mad fellow going by seeing the Black Curre ring'd about the nose with a golden Hoope his two sawcer-like eyes and an Iron chains about his necke this cannot choose said he but be a well customed house where such a Porter keeps the doore and cals in company Roome for a customer quoth I so in I went where I found English Scottish Welsh Irish Dutch and French in severall Roomes some drinking the neat wine of Drleance some the Gascony some the Burdeaux there wanted neither Sherry sack nor Charnico Maligo nor Peeter Seeme Ambercolour'd Candy nor Liquorish Ipocras brown beloved Basterd fat Aligant or any quicke spirited Liquor that might draw their witts into a Circle to see the Devill by inâ—nagination I seeing this Gallimaufry of Company set me downe and called for my whole pinte alone which I had not halfe drunk vp but there sits downe by me a poore Thin-gut fellow with a face as red as the gilded knobs of an Aldermans Horse-bridle one as it seemed newly come out of Limbo with commendation to his rugged Devilship Mounsieur Shagg the Blacke Dogge of Newgate who being a fellow as I thought not worth sixe pence in money yet would he spend eight pence to keepe me company I to equall his expences called for as much and thereupon having both our wits set vpon the racke of invention beganne to argue of the Blacke Doggs beginning and how he came first to be called the blacke Dog of Newgate now touching the same I maintained that I had read an old Chronicle that it was a walking spirit in the likenesse of a blacke Dog gliding vp and downe the streets a little before the time of Execution and in the night whilst the Sessions continued and his beginning thus In the raigne of King Henry the third there hapned such a famine through England but especially in London that many starved for want of food by which meanes the Prisoners in Newgate eat vp one another altue but commonly those that came newly in and such as could make but small resistance Amongst many others cast into this Denne of misery there was a certaine Scholler brought thither vpon suspition of Conjuring and that he by Charmes and devilish Whithcrafts had done much hurt to the Kings Subjects which Scholler mauger his Devils Furies Sprits and Goblins was by the famished Prisoners eaten vp and deemed passing good meate This being done such an idle conceit possessed the mindes of the poore Prisoners that they supposed nightly to see the Scholler in the shape of a black Dog walking vp and downe the Prison ready with his rabening Iawes to teare out their bowels for his late humane flesh they had so hungerly eaten withall they hourely heard as they thought strange groanes and cries as if it had beene some creature in great paine and torments whereupon such a nightly feare grew amongst them that iâ— turned to a Frenzie and from a Frenzie to Desperation in which desperation they killed the Keeper and so many of them escaped forth but yet whither soever they came or went they imagined the blacke Dog to follow and by this means as I doe thinke the name of him began Not so quoth Signior Thin-gut I thinke it rather an idle fiction then a probable truth but this I must tell you Sir said he I know it for a truth that there is no other blacke Dog that I ever saw or heard of but a great blacke stone standing in the dungeon called Limbo the place where the condemned Prisoners be put after their Iudgement vpon which they set a burning candle in the night against which I haue heard that a desperate condemned Prisoner dâ—shed out his braines and that is all the Blacke Dogs that I know or heard of But if you be so pleased as to publish it I will satisfie the wondring world with a discourse of the Blacke Dog in the best manner I can and the very same that the wisest judgements thinkes it to be In so doing quoth I you please God benefit your Country and satisfie your â—riends so with a stayed looke and in sober manner he began as followeth Sir quoth he the Blacke Dog is a black Conscience haunâ—ing none but blacke conditioned people such as Newgate may châ—llenge to be guests yet this rugged Curre hath his sevâ—rall abidings as in the bosoms of Traytors Murtherers Theeues Cut-purses Cunny-catchers and such like who being the Devils blacke Parator summons them one after another to appeare personaily at his Hempton-hall of his three-lâ—g'd-Tiborne but in the meane time they commit many notable fellonies and cozonings to the great hurt of plaine minded people as for example I will first begin with a Woman Theefe which in my minde is a limb of the Devill for at any not able Robbery where still a woman is an Actor there likely is committed some murther or other for as they be
dye each man Iudgement is given that cord shall stop their breath For haynous facts as murther theft and treason Unworthy life to dye Law thought it reason The Sermon ended the men condemn'd to dye Taking theâ—e leaves of their acquainted friends With â—orry lookes paysing their steps they ply Downe to a Hall where for them there attends A man of Office who to daâ—nt lives hopes Doth â—â—rd their bands and scarâ—e their necks with ropes Thus rop't and corded they descend the staires Newgates Blacke Dog bestirres to play his part And doth not cease for to augment their cares Willing the Cerman to sâ—t neare his Cart. Which done these men with feare of death orepang'd Bound to the Cart are carried to be handg'd This rufull sight yet end to their doom'd sorrowes Makes me agast and forces me bethinke Woe upon woe and so from wofulst borrowes A swarâ—â—e of griefe and then I sounding sinke But by Tâ—nes ayde I did revive againe Might I have dyed it had beene lesser paine For now againe the Dog a fresh assaults me As is my spâ—yle were next to be inacted And like a subtill Curre in speeches halts he With thousand fleighty wiles old shifts compacted Charging me off with that I never did In his smooth'st looks are cruell bitings hid I spake him faire as if I had offended He treats me foule who never did him ill He playes the gripe on Tytius intended To tire his heart yet never hath his fill Even so this Dog doth tire and prey on me Till quite consum'd my golden angels be Then wofull want did make me oft complaine Hunger and cold doe pinch me at the heart Then am I thrust out of my bed againe And from my chamber must I needs depart To lowest Wards to lye upon the boords Which nought but filth and noysome smels affords Midst forty men surpriz'd with care and griefe I lye me downe on boords as hard as chennell No bed nor boulster may afford releefe For worse then Dogs lye we in that foule kennell What might I thinke but sure assure me then That metamorphos'd we were beasts not men Griefe upon griefe did still oppresse my minde Yet had I store Copartners in my woe No ease but anguish my distresses finde Hâ—re lies a man his lâ—st livâ—s breath doth blow And ere the sorry man be fully dead The Rats doe prey upon his face or head Whilst thus I languish in my woes appeares Time in his manâ—lâ— looking fresh and blâ—â—he Yet whiles his eyes did shed some drops of teares Wherewith he seem'd as he would whet his â—â—the Quoth Time by mâ—â—shall sorrowes be appeased And now 's the time thou shalt of cares be eased I did present this Booke which I did writ Into Times hands who tooke it and perused it Yea but saith Time thou must discover yet Who this Dog is who else will be excused For able I so clear'd thine eyes to see him So may not others yet Time would have all flye him And for thy verses covertly disclose The secret sense and yet doth shadow truth Explaine this Blacke Dog who he is in Prose For more apparant then thy Poem sheweth Truth needs no colours then this Dog by kinde Make knowne before as he is knowne behinde My Sythe quoth Time is now prepar'd to cut There is no sithâ—â—â—t Times shall longer dure Newgates Blacke Dog must Time to silence put I le brâ—â—ke his teeth and make his biting sure The shâ—â—es of Mâ—â—â— on Dogs of cruell kinde Time shall confound that beare so bad a minde Haue thou no doubt but Time shall set thee free And 〈◊〉 hâ—râ—after learne â—hee to beware Of 〈◊〉 Blacke Dog and doe his dangers flee Gâ—ve othâ—rs wâ—rning least like fall their share Sâ—â— to 〈◊〉 world when thou â—rt freed from hell Newgates Blacke Dog thou saw and knew too well And for thy Poem drawes to a conclusion Times plâ—â—sâ—re is that thou this Dog expresse Iâ— shape in nâ—turâ— man yet mens confusion A madding Câ—r who doth from kinde regrâ—sse A mothers sonne and most for to be wondred Of mothers sonnes this Dog hath spoyl'd a hundred In lowly sort complaine to highest â—owers Truth will be heard and truth must not be hid With for like wiles this Dog poore soules devoures This Dog of meâ— desipher I thee bid And though there be Curs many of his kindâ— Say but the truth and yet leaue nought behinde When time had said I from my feare awake Yet had I writ what premises containes I was no illusion mov'd me this Poem make But griefes indured and woes my heart sustaines Greefe care and woe my silly heart doe clog Fettered to shame by this Cur Newgates Dog Now as I haue describ'd him in some sort As he is fearefull vnto all him see His devillish practises given to report And set them downe as wicked as they be Here ends my Poem Newgates Blacke Dog by name As it deserues either commend or blame FINIS
that party for so farre as he can remember he never saw that fellow before in his life Yet H. promiseth that it will be proved against the Cutpurse so the Countrey man and H. take their leaues of the Iustice making shew as though they would come againe though it be no part of H. his meaning H. goeth straight to Newgate where he fals in hand with the Cutpurse swearing vnto him by his honesty that hee hath laboured â—he party who had his purse cut to take his money again and not to give evidence against him assuring him with many oathes that if he mâ—y haue his money againe he will presently go out of the towne The Cutpurse taking H. his hand that no man shal giue Evidence against him at the Sessions doth presently send abroad to his friends for the money which as soone as it commeth he deliverâ—th to H. and withall a large overplus because he will bee sure of H. his favour This done H. goes to the Countrey man and fels him he got no more but six or seven pounds of which if he will accept and proceed no further against the party he hath it to pay him marry he will not be knowne to the Countrey man but that he had that money of some friends of the cutpurses who vpon the former condition is willing it should be paid if not to haue his money againe The countrey man having haste out of the City is glad to take it out of which summe if it be seven pounds H. must haue halfe so that the poore man of ten pounds hath but three pounds ten shillings whereas the Cunny-catcher by this account hath got at one hand and an other very neere forty Markes the money shardâ— the Countrey man takes Horse and away he rides Againe H. his mouth is stopt and the next Sessions the Cutpurse is quit by Proclamation no man being there to giue evidence against him Author O wonderfull peece of villany I will trouble thee no further thou hast told enough and I will tell no more who heares but this which is already spoken will hold these knaues for execrâ—ble Uâ—rlets So for this time I will commend thee to thy other businesse wishing thy liberty as I doe mine owne and if thou haue occasion command me to doe thee good if it lye in my power Zany Sir I thanke you for your courteous offer but yet I must tel you I could tell twenty such prancks as these are which these Cunny-catching fellowes haue played but indeed they keepe one order almost in performing them all but since you think here is inough I will say no more and so fare you well Author Thus haue you heard gentle Reader how at large this Blacke Dogge is desciphered which Dogge as he is is worthy of your generall hate but for I haue with paines concluded my Booke vnder that title I will not request you according to the old Proverbe Loue me Loue my Hound but onely loue me and hang my Dogge for he is not worthy so good a name as a Hound Certaine fearefull Visions a pâ—aring to the Authour of this Booke most worthy to bee noted WHen as blacke Titan with his duskie robe Had Tellus clouded with his curtaines night Faire Phoebus peering vnderneath earths globe With winged Steeds hence takes his course aright Titan hee leaues to beare imperiall sway Commanding Night as Phoebus did the day The fiery Chariot posteth under ground With Titans Mantle all the Earth is spread And wreathes of Ieat about his temples bound Earths Cell coale blacke sweet Morpheus calls to bed No time to walke to sport to game to see I did obey that must commanded bee Layd in my bed I 'gan for to recount A thousand things which had been in my time My birth my youth my woes which all surmount My life my losse my libertie my crime Then where I was unto my minde recalling Me thought Earth gap'd and I to Hell was falling Amidst these feares that all my senses cumber Care clos'd mine eyes and sorrow wrâ—ng my heart Opprest with griefe mine eye-lids 'gan to slumber But borne to woes must of more woes have part A thousand Furies to my heart appearing That did affright my soule with ugly searing Thus lay I long beholding Hell and Devills Agast with mazes almost dead in feares Not knowing how to rid mee from the evills They shew in action and in lookes appeares One Anticke monster hidious foule and grim Me most appall'd and most I lookt at him Thought I at last I will cry out for ayd Striving to crie neere dead affright with feare I heard a voyce which like an Angell sayd Bee not dismayd for thou shalt see and heare Men devils devils men one both both all delâ—ding Worlds evils wrack then sheeps cloth wolves pray concluding Hearing a voyce my heart was much revived Noting the words I did some courage take But sudden ioyes hath sudden woes atchieved A sudden noyse this hellish crew did make Threatning by shewes as though they would devoure My life and soule subdued by terrors power Thought checkt my mind feares senses all amazing Hell broken loose eyes visions furies affrighting Subdu'd earths powers upreares hearts insight a gazing Terror of minde with hope cries feares faint arighting Helpe me orequelled waking with dread I espied Grac'd gracious Minerva who thus to my outery replyed FEare not at all nor saint thou with beholding But light thy Lampe and take thy Pen in hand Write what thou feest thy Uisions all unfolding I will direct and let thee understand What all these Hell hounds shadow by appearing Uiew thou their worst and then write of their fearing Subdu'd by words which did all works exceed Ravisht with joyes such feature to behold Abjecting feare my glutted eyes I feed Upon her brightnesse which all harmes control'd Glimpse of her brightnesse senses all endearing Legions of Devils could no more fright with fearing I preas'd my selfe to take the hardest steele And from the Flint I beat forth sparkes of fire Kindling the Lint my ready Match I feele Yeelding my Lampe the light of my desire Soon spied Minerva with Lawrel crown'd and Bayes Mirror divine feature of worthlesse praise Before her feet submissively I tell Pardon I crav'd fearing I was too bold Rise up quoth she and view these Hags of Hell For divers secrets must thy pen unfold Make true record what shall be shew'd to thee For these are they which worlds deceivers be I le clense thine eyes least vapours doe offend I le cleare thy wits and give a pleasing muse The deasest eare shall to thy talke attend The worke so worthy thou mayst not refuse Newgates Blacke Dog with Pen and Inke depaint Curres of this kinde shall thereby have restraint Not for my sake doe thou what I require But for his sake and with that word me showes A faire old Man whose teares foretold desire And in a mantle mourner-like he goes His veines like Azure his haire as