When they had
marched by, without firing either a volley or a salve, his
majesty dismounted from his horse, and entering his carriage,
retired to Whitehall."
Besides such diversions as were enjoyed in the parks, the people
had various other sources of public amusement; amongst these
puppet-shows, exhibitions of strength and agility, bear-baiting,
cock-fighting, and dancing obtained. Until the restoration,
puppet-shows had not been seen for years; for these droll dolls,
being regarded as direct agents of Satan, were discountenanced by
the puritans. With the coming of his majesty they returned in
vast numbers, and were hailed with great delight by the people.
One of these exhibitions which found special favour with the
town, and speedily drew great audiences of gallants and ladies of
quality, was situated within the rails of Covent Garden. And so
perfect were the marionettes of this booth in the performance of
divers sad tragedies and gay comedies, that they had the honour
of receiving a royal command to play before their majesties at
Whitehall. Amongst the most famous tumblers, or, as they were
then styled, posturemakers, of this reign were Jacob Hall the
friend of my Lady Castlemaine, and Joseph Clarke, beloved by the
citizens. Though the latter was "a well-made man and rather
gross than thin," we are told he "exhibited in the most natural
manner almost every species of deformity and dislocation; he
could dislocate his vertebrae so as to render himself a shocking
spectacle; he could also assume all the uncouth faces he had seen
at a quaker's meeting, at the theatre, or any public place.
Pages:
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403