The Musical Cries of London in Shakespeare's Time

Extract

Dr. Wheatley, in an article on London in the time of Shakespeare, says, “The Cries in the streets were much the same as those recorded in the 15th Century.” (From “London Luckpenny”). He goes on to mention particularly the Cry of “What d'ye lacke?” and Rock Sampire, Old Boots, Buy a Mat, Small Coal, Green Brooms. Also he mentions the Cries outside the prison doors for the “poor women in the dark dungeons,” and “Bread and Meat for the tender mercy of God to the poor prisoners of the Marshalsea.” He would have been much interested in the complete collection of these old Cries, which are preserved to us in the works of three great musicians who were contemporaries of Shakespeare.