A clue as to which people historically went to which pub is given in one of the “Roxburghe Ballads,” (vol. ii. pg 307,) the collection of 1,341 broadside ballads from the seventeenth century,mostly English,originally collected by Robert Harley,1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (1661–1724),and later by John Ker,3rd Duke of Roxburghe.
London’s Ordinarie, or Every Man in his Humour
To a pleasant new tune
THROUGH the Royal Exchange as I walked, Where Gallants in sattin doe shine, At midst of the day,they parted away, To seaverall places to dine. The Gentrie went to the King’s Head, The Nobles unto the Crowne: The Knights went to the Golden Fleece, And the Ploughmen to the Clowne. The Cleargie will dine at the Miter, The Vintners at the Three Tunnes, The Usurers to the Devill will goe, And the Fryers to the Nunnes. The Ladyes will dine at the Feathers, The Globe no Captaine will scorne, The Huntsmen will goe to the Grayhound below, And some Townes-men to the Horne. The Plummers will dine at the Fountaine, The Cookes at the Holly Lambe, The Drunkerds by noone,to the Man in the Moone, And the Cuckholdes to the Ramme. The Roarers will dine at the Lyon, The Watermen at the Old Swan; And Bawdes will to the Negro goe, And Whores to the Naked Man. The Keepers will to the White Hart, The Marchants unto the Shippe, The Beggars they must take their way To the Egge-shell and the Whippe. The Farryers will to the Horse, The Blackesmith unto the Locke, The Butchers unto the Bull will goe, And the Carmen to Bridewell Clocke. The Fishmongers unto the Dolphin, The Barbers to the Cheat Loafe, The Turners unto the Ladle will goe, Where they may merrylie quaffe. The Taylors will dine at the Sheeres, The Shooemakers will to the Boote, The Welshmen they will take their way, And dine at the signe of the Gote. The Second Part to the Same Tune The Hosiers will dine at the Legge, The Drapers at the signe of the Brush. The Fletchers to Robin Hood will goe, And the Spendthrift to Begger’s Bush. The Pewterers to the Quarte Pot, The Coopers will dine at the Hoope, The Coblers to the Last will goe, And the Bargemen to the Sloope. The Carpenters will to the Axe, The Colliers will dine at the Sacke, Your Fruterer he to the Cherry-Tree, Good fellowes no liquor will lacke. The Goldsmith will to the Three Cups, For money they hold it as drosse; Your Puritan to the Pewter Canne, And your Papists to the Crosse. The Weavers will dine at the Shuttle, The Glovers will unto the Glove, The Maydens all to the Mayden Head, And true Louers unto the Doue. The Sadlers will dine at the Saddle, The Painters will to the Greene Dragon, The Dutchmen will go to the Froe, Where each man will drinke his Flagon. The Chandlers will dine at the Skales, The Salters at the signe of the Bagge; The Porters take pain at the Labour in Vaine, And the Horse-Courser to the White Nagge. Thus every Man in his humour, That comes from the North or the South, But he that has no money in his purse, May dine at the signe of the Mouth. The Swaggerers will dine at the Fencers, But those that have lost their wits: With Bedlam Tom let that be their home, And the Drumme the Drummers best fits. The Cheter will dine at the Checker, The Picke-pockets in a blind alehouse, Tel on and tride then up Holborne they ride, And they there end at the Gallowes.”