Though　coffee…drinkers　first　met　with　much　ridicule　from　wits　about　town；　and　writers　of　broadsheet　ballads；　the　beverage　became　gradually　popular；　and　houses　for　its　sale　quickly　multiplied。　　Famous　amongst　these；　in　the　reign　of　the　merry　monarch；　besides　that　already　mentioned；　was　Garraway's　in　Exchange　Alley；　the　Rainbow；　by　the　Inner　Temple　Gate；　Dick's；　situated　at　No。　8；　Fleet　Street；　Jacobs'；　the　proprietor　of　which　moved　in　1671　from　Oxford　to　Southampton　Buildings；　Holborn；　the　Grecian　in　the　Strand；　〃conducted　without　ostentation　or　noise；〃　the　Westminster；　noted　as　a　resort　of　peers　and　members　of　parliament；　and　Will's；　in　Russell　Street；　frequented　by　the　poet　Dryden。
  These　houses；　the　forerunners　of　clubs；　were；　according　to　their　situation　and　convenience；　frequented　by　noblemen　and　men　of　quality；　courtiers；　foreign　ministers；　politicians；　members　of　learned　professions；　wits；　citizens　of　various　grades；　and　all　who　loved　to　exchange　greetings　and　gossip　with　their　neighbours　and　friends。　　Within　these　low…ceilinged　comfortable　coffee…house　rooms；　fitted　with　strong　benches　and　oak　chairs；　where　the　black　beverage　was　drunk　from　handless　wide　brimmed　cups；　Pepys　passed　many　cheerful　hours；　hearing　much　of　the　news　he　so　happily　narrates；　and　holding　pleasant　discourse　with　many　notable　men。　It　was　in　a　coffee…house　he　encountered　Major　Waters；　〃a　deaf　and　most　amorous　melancholy　gentleman；　who　is　under　a　despayer　in　love；　which　makes　him　bad　company；　though　a　most　good…natured　man。〃　　And　in　such　a　place　he　listened　to　〃some　simple　discourse　about　quakers　being　charmed　by　a　string　about　their　wrists；〃　and　saw　a　certain　merchant　named　Hill　〃that　is　a　master　of　most　sorts　of　musique　and　other　things；　the　universal　character；　art　of　memory；　counterfeiting　of　hands；　and　other　most　excellent　discourses。〃
  In　days　before　newspapers　came　into　universal　circulation；　and　general　meetings　were　known；　coffee…houses　became　recognised　centres　for　exchange　of　thought　and　advocacy　of　political　action。　Aware　of　this；　the　government；　under　leadership　of　Danby；　not　desiring　to　have　its　motives　too　freely　canvassed；　in　1675　issued　an　order　that　such　〃places　of　resort　for　idle　and　disaffected　persons〃　should　be　closed。　　Alarmed　by　this　command；　the　keepers　of　such　houses　petitioned　for　its　withdrawal；　at　the　same　time　faithfully　promising　libels　should　not　be　read　under　their　roofs。　They　were　therefore　permitted　to　carry　on　their　business　by　license。
  Next　in　point　of　interest　to　coffee…houses　were　taverns　where　men　came　to　make　merry；　in　an　age　when　simplicity　and　good　fellowship　largely　obtained。　　As　in　coffee…houses；　gossip　was　the　order　of　the　day　in　such　places；　each　tavern　being　in　itself　〃a　broacher　of　more　news　than　hogsheads；　and　more　jests　than　news。〃　　Those　of　good　standing　and　fair　renown　could　boast　rows　of　bright　flagons　ranged　on　shelves　round　panelled　walls；　of　hosts；　rotund　in　person　and　genial　in　manner；　and　of　civil　drawers；　who　could　claim　good　breeding。　　The　Bear；　at　the　bridge…foot；　situated　at　the　Southwark　side；　was　well　known　to　men　of　gallantry　and　women　of　pleasure；　and　was；　moreover；　famous　as　the　spot　where　the　Duke　of　Richmond　awaited　Mistress　Stuart　on　her　escape　from　Whitehall。　The　Boar's　Head；　in　Eastcheap；　which　gained　pleasant　mention　in　the　plays　of　William　Shakespeare；　when　rebuilt；　after　the　great　fire；　became　a　famous　resort。　　The　Three　Cranes；　in　the　Vintry；　was　sacred　to　the　shade　of　rare　Ben　Jonson。　　The　White　Bear's　Head；　in　Abchurch　Lane；　where　French　dinners　were　served　from　five　shillings　a　head　〃to　a　guinea；　or　what　sum　you　pleased；〃　was　the　resort　of　cavaliers；　The　Rose　Tavern；　in　the　Poultry；　was　famous　for　its　excellent　ale；　and　no　less　for　its　mighty　pretty　hostess；　to　whom　the　king　had　kissed　hands　as　he　rode　by　on　his　entry。　　The　Rummer　was　likewise　of　some　note；　inasmuch　as　it　was　kept　by　one　Samuel　Prior；　uncle　to　Matthew　Prior；　the　ingenious　poet。　　On　the　balcony　of　the　Cock；　near　Covent　Garden；　Sir　Charles　Sedley　had　stood　naked　in　a　drunken　frolic；　and　at　the　King's　Head；　over　against　the　Inner　Temple　Gate；　Shaftesbury　and　his　friends　laid　their　plots；　coming　out　afterwards　on　the　double　balcony　in　front；　as　North　describes　them；　〃with　hats　and　no　peruques；　pipes　in　their　mouths；　merry　faces　and　dilated　throats；　for　vocal　encouragement　of　the　canaglia　below。〃
  All　day　long　the　streets　were　crowded　by　those　whom　business　or　diversion　carried　abroad；　but　when　night　fell　apace；　the　keepers　of　stalls　and　shops　speedily　secured　their　wares　and　fastened　their　doors；　whilst　the　honest　citizen　and　his　family　kept　within　house。　　For　the　streets　being　unlighted；　darkness　fell　upon　them；　relieved　only　as　some　person　of　wealth　rode　homewards　from　visiting　a　friend；　or　a　band　of　late　revellers　returned　from　a　feast；　when　the　glare　of　flambeaux；　carried　by　their　attendants；　for　a　moment　brought　the　outlines　of　houses　into　relief；　or　flashed　red　light　upon　their　diamond　panes；　leaving　all　in　profound　gloom　on　disappearing。
  The　condition　of　the　thoroughfares　favouring　the　inclination　of　many　loose　persons；　they　wandered　at　large；　dealing　mischief　to　those　whose　duty　took　them　abroad。　　From　the　year　1556；　in　the　reign　of　Queen　Mary；　〃fit　persons　with　suitable　strength〃　had　been　appointed　to　walk　the　streets　and　watch　the　city　by　night；　to　protect　those　in　danger；　arrest　suspected　persons；　warn　householders　of　danger　by　fire　and　candle；　help　the　poor；　pray　for　the　dead；　and　preserve　the　peace。　　These　burly　individuals　were　known　as　watch　or　bell　men；　one　was　appointed　for　each　ward；　whose　duty　it　was　to　pass　through　the　district　he　guarded　ringing　his　bell；　〃and　when　that　ceaseth；〃　says　Stow；　〃he　salutes　his　masters　and　mistresses　with　his　rhymes；　suitable　to　the　seasons　and　festivals　of　the　year；　and　bids　them　look　to　their　lights。〃
  In　the　third　year　of　the　reign　of　King　Charles　II。；　whilst　Sir　John　Robinson　was　mayor　of　London　town；　divers　good　orders　were　made　by　him　and　his　common　council　for　the　better　service　of　these　watches。　　The　principal　of　these　set　forth　that　each　should　be　accompanied　by　a　constable　and　a　beadle　selected　from　the　inhabitants　of　their　respective　wards；　who　should　be　required　in　turn　to　render　voluntary　service　in　guarding　the　city；　from　nine　of　the　clock　at　night　till　seven　in　the　morning；　from　Michaelmas　to　the　1st　of　April；　and　from　that　date　until　the　31st　of　March；　from　ten　at　night　till　five　in　the　morning。
  These　rules　were　not；　however；　vigorously　carried　out；　the　volunteers　were　frequently　unwilling　to　do　duty；　or　when；　fearful　of　fine；　they　went　abroad；　they　usually　spent　their　time　in　tippling　in　ale…houses；　so　that；　as　Delaune　remarks；　〃a　great　many　wicked　persons　capable　of　the　blackest　villainies　do　creep　about；　as　daily　and　sad　experience　shows。〃　　It　was　not　only　those　who；　with　drawn　swords；　darted　from　some　deep　porch　or　sheltering　buttress；　in　hopes　of　enriching　themselves　at　their　neighbour's　expense；　that　were　to　be　dreaded。　　It　was　a　fashion　of　the　time　for　companies　of　young　gentlemen　to　saunter　forth　in　numbers　after　route　or　supper；　when；　being　merry　with　wine　and　eager　for　adventure；　they　were　brave　enough　to　waylay　the　honest　citizen　and　abduct　his　wife；　beat　the　watch　and　smash　his　lantern；　bedaub　signboards　and　wrench　knockers；　overturn　a　sedan…chair　and　vanquish　the　carriers；　sing　roystering　songs　under　the　casements　of　peaceful　sleepers；　and　play　strange　pranks　to　which　they　were　prompted　by　young　blood　and　high　spirits。
  Among　those　who　made　prominent　figures　in　such　unholy　sports　was　the　king's　eldest　son；　my　Lord　Duke　of　Monmouth。　　He　and　his　young　grace　of　Albemarleson　to　that　gallant　soldier　now　deceased；　who　was　instrumental　in　restoring　his　majestytogether　with　some　seven　or　eight　young　gentlemen；　whilst　on　their　rounds　one　Sunday　morning　encountered　a　beadle；　whose　quaint　and　ponderous　figure　presented　itself　to　their　blithe　minds　as　a　fit　object　for　diversion　in　lieu　of　better。　　Accordingly　they　accosted　him　with　rough　words　and　unceremonious　usage；　the　which　he　resenting；　they　came　to　boisterous　threats　and　many　blows；　that　ended　only　when　the　poor　fellow　lay　with　outstretched　limbs　stark　dead　upon　the　pavement。　　Sir　Charles　Sedley　and　Lord　Brockhurst　were　also　notable　as　having　been　engaged　in　another　piece　of　what　has　been　called　〃frolick　and　debauchery；〃　when　〃they　ran　up　and　down　all　night　almost　naked　through　the　streets；　at　last　fighting　and　being　beaten　by　the　watch；　and　clapped　up　all　night。〃
  It　was　not　until　the　last　years　of　the　merry　monarch's　reign　that　there　was　introduced　〃an　ingenious　and　useful　invention　for　the　good　of　this　great　city；　calculated　to　secure　one's　goods；　estates；　and　person；　to　prevent　fires；　robberies　and　housebreakings；　and　several　accidents　and　casualties　by　falls　to　which　man　is　liable　by　walking　in　the　dark〃　This　was　a　scheme　for　lighting　the　streets；　by　placing　an　oil…lamp　in　front　of　every　tenth　house　on　each　side　of　the　way；　from　Michaelmas　to　Lady…day；　every　night　from　six　of　the　clock　till　twelve；　beginning　the　third　night　after　every　full　moon；　and　ending　on　the　sixth　night　after　every　new　moon；　one　hundred　and　twenty　nights　in　all。　　The　originator　of　this　plan　was　one