239     AT THE ROSE TAVERN — A blown rose, in the field.
           Rev. IN COVEN[T] GARDEN — In the field, W. M. L.

William Long appears in the rate-books, 1651 and 1657, among the assessed on the east-side of Bridges street; and in the burial register he is noticed as buried in the churchyard, August 5th, 1661. His widow, Mary Long, issued a token as from Russell street, also in this collection, No. 974; her name is on the rate-book, 1663, assessed at 12s., and the Theatre Royal, 40s. Her burial is recorded in the parish register, "Jan. 29, 1673–4, Mary Long, widow." Their place of sepulture was in the north-west ground, behind the houses in King street. The headstone recorded William and Mary Long as the parents of twenty-four children. See Maitland, vol. ii. p. 665. Nothing of the stone is now known.

The Longs continued the tavern, which from its contiguity to the theatre, and close connection with it, became the vortex of libidinism, and was frequented by court bullies, literary men of loose character, and other gentry of no character at all. The scenes of the Morning Ramble; or the Town Humours, 1673, 4to, is laid at "the Rose tavern, in Covent garden." The drunken broils that arose from these midnight orgies led to murderous assaults, the fiendlike operations of bullies, who considered themselves men of fashion and were designated by the appellation of "the Hectors;" whose chief pleasure consisted in frequenting taverns for the glory of pinking or running through the body some fuddled fool, whom wine had made valiant, as an opposing party. Shadwell, in his comedy of The Scow'rers, 1691, written at a time when some consistency of an obedience to the laws was enforced, and these excesses had consequently greatly declined, observes of these cowardly ruffians—"They were brave fellows indeed! In these days a man could not go from the Rose tavern to the piazza once, but he must venture his life twice."

Women of a certain freedom of character frequented taverns at the commencement of the last century, and the Rose tavern was doubtless like the box-lobby of a theatre. In the Rake Reformed, 1718, 8vo, after describing the theatre, the Rose tavern is thus noticed:

"Not far from thence appears a pendant sign,
Whose bush declares the product of the vine,
Whence to the trav'ller's sight the full-blown Rose
Its dazzling beauties doth in gold disclose;
And painted faces flock in tally'd cloaths."

Dramatists and poets resorted to the house; and about 1726, when possibly something like order was established, Gay and other wits, by clubbing verses, concocted the well-known love ditty, entitled " Molly Mogg of the Rose," in compliment to the then barmaid or waitress. The Welsh ballad named Gwinifrid Shones, printed in The Choice: a Collection of English Songs, 1733, duod., vol. ii. pp. 92, 93, has also a passing notice of Molly as a celebrated toast:

"Some sing Molly Mogg of the Rose,
     And call her the Oakingham pelle;
Whilst others does ferses compose
     On peautiful Molle Lepelle."

Yet whatever were the extent of her charms to induce the adoration of such renowned wits, she appears to have retained her maiden name to the last. The record of her death, on Sunday, March 9th, 1766, at Oakingham in Berkshire, describes her as "Mrs. Mary Mogg, greatly advanced in years, but in her youth a celebrated beauty and toast, possessed of a good fortune that she had left among her relations."

Hogarth's third print of the Rake's Progress, published in 1735, exhibits a principal room at the Rose tavern. Leathercoat, the fellow with a bright pewter dish, and a candle, is a portrait; he was for many years a porter attached to the house.

Garrick, when he enlarged Drury lane theatre in 1776, previous to which it was little better than a barn, and raised the new front designed by Robert Adam, took in the whole of the tavern as a convenience to the theatre, and retained the sign in an oval department, a conspicuous part of the decoration, as shown in the engraving by J. T. Smith.

 

974     MARY LONG IN RVSSELL — A rose on stem, in the field.
           Rev. STREET. IN COVENT GARDEN — HER HALFE PENNY. M. L.

Mary Long was the widow of William Long (see No. 239), whose interment is recorded in the burial register of St. Paul, Covent Garden, August 5th, 1661. Under January 29th, 1673–4, is that of "Mary Long, widow;" and there are also the following entries: June 4th, 1678, "the porter from the Rose tavern;" and, September 30th, 1693, "a poore labourer from Mr. Long's, named John."

Tickets for the Mathematical Adventure, "a lottery to be drawn at Stationers' hall on March 25th next," were announced in the Post-boy newspaper, February 25th, 1698–9, to be had at "the Rose coffee-house, by the play house."

The Rose Tavern, Covent Garden.

This noted Tavern, on the east side of Brydges-street, flourished in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and from its contiguity to Drury-lane Theatre, and close connection with it, was frequented by courtiers and men of letters, of loose character, and other gentry of no character at all. The scenes of The Morning Ramble, or the Town Humour, 1672, are laid "at the Rose Tavern, in Covent Garden," which was constantly a scene of drunken broils, midnight orgies, and murderous assaults, by men of fashion, who were designated "Hectors," and whose chief pleasure lay in frequenting taverns for the running through of some fuddled toper, whom wine had made valiant. Shadwell, in his comedy of the Scowrers, 1691, written at a time when obedience to the laws was enforced, and these excesses had in consequence declined, observes of these cowardly ruffians: "They were brave fellows, indeed! In those days a man could not go from the Rose Tavern to the Piazza once, but he must venture his life twice."

Women of a certain freedom of character frequented taverns at the commencement of the last century, and the Rose, doubtless, resembled the box-lobby of a theatre. In the Rake Reformed, 1718, this tavern is thus noticed:

"Not far from thence appears a pendent sign,
Whose bush declares the product of the vine,
Whence to the traveller's sight the full-blown Rose
Its dazzling beauties doth in gold disclose;
And painted faces flock in tally'd clothes."

Dramatists and poets resorted to the house, and about 1726, Gay and other wits, by clubbing verses, concocted the well-known love ditty, entitled Molly Mogg of the Rose, in compliment to the then barmaid or waitress. The Welsh ballad, Gwinfrid Shones, printed in 1733, has also this tribute to Molly Mogg, as a celebrated toast:

"Some sing Molly Mogg of the Rose,
And call her the Oakingham pelle;
Whilst others does farces compose,
On peautiful Molle Lepelle."

Hogarth's third print of the Rake's Progress, published in 1735, exhibits a principal room in the Rose Tavern: Lethercoat, the fellow with a bright pewter dish and a candle, is a portrait; he was for many years a porter attached to the house.

Garrick, when he enlarged Drury-lane Theatre, in 1776, raised the new front designed by Robert Adam, took in the whole of the tavern, as a convenience to the theatre, and retained the sign of the Rose in an oval compartment, as a conspicuous part of the decoration, which is shown in a popular engraving by J. T. Smith.

In D'Urfey's Songs, 1719, we find these allusions to the Rose:

"A Song in Praise of Chalk, by W. Pettis.

"We the lads at the Rose
A patron have chose,
Who's as void as the best is of thinking;
And without dedication,
Will assist in his station,
And maintains us in eating and drinking."

"Song.—The Nose.

"Three merry lads met at the Rose,
To speak in the praises of the nose:
The flat, the sharp, the Roman snout,
The hawk's nose circled round about;
The crooked nose that stands awry,
The ruby nose of scarlet dye;
The brazen nose without a face,
That doth the learned college grace.
Invention often barren grows,
Yet still there's matter in the nose."

Rose Tavern. In Russell Street was also another "Rose" Tavern, a noted place of debauchery in the Stuart times. Constant allusions to it occur in the comic writers of the age; Shadwell, for instance, in The Scourers, makes one of the characters observe, "Thou wilt never be his fellow . ... oh! had you seen him scower as I did! oh! so delicately, so like a gentleman! how he cleared the 'Rose' Tavern." Mr. Larwood tells us that here, in 1712, was arranged the fatal duel between Lord Mohun and the Duke of Hamilton, of which we shall have to say more when we come to its actual scene, Hyde Park. How the character of "The Rose" for morality stood in the reign of Queen Anne, may be gathered from the following lines of the "Rake Reformed:"—

"Not far from thence appears a pendant sign,
Whose bush declares the product of the vine;
Where to the traveller's sight the full-blown 'Rose'
Its dazzling beauties doth in gold disclose,
And painted beauties flock in tallied cloathes."

Hogarth has given a picture of one of the rooms in this house in his "Rake's Progress." "In 1766," adds Mr. Larwood, "the tavern was swallowed up in the enlargements of Drury Lane by Garrick; but the sign was preserved, and hung up against the front wall." An engraving of it is shown in Pennant's "London."

Rose Tavern (The) stood in Russell Street, Covent Garden, adjoining Drury Lane Theatre.² Part of it was taken down in 1776, when Adam, the architect, built a new front to the former theatre for Garrick, then about to part with his patent. In Charles II.'s time it was kept by a person of the name of Long (buried at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, August 5, 1661), and afterwards by his widow. Tavern tokens of the house still exist.

May 18, 1668.—It being almost twelve o'clock, or little more, to the King's Playhouse, when the doors were not then open; but presently they did open; and we in, and find many people already come in by private ways into the pit, it being the first day of Sir Charles Sedley's new play so long expected, The Mulberry Garden; of whom, being so reputed a wit, all the world do expect great matters. I having sat here awhile and eat nothing to-day, did slip out, getting a boy to keep my place; and to the Rose Tavern, and there got half a breast of mutton off of the spit, and dined all alone.—Pepys.

I left some friends of yours at the Rose.—Sedley's Bellamira, 4to, 1687.

Sir Fred. Frolic. Sing the catch I taught you at the Rose.—Etherege, Love in a Tub, 4to, 1669.

Woodcock. By the Lord Harry, Sir Positive, I do understand Mathematics better than you; and I lie over-against the Rose Tavern in Covent Garden, dear heart.—Shadwell, The Sullen Lovers, 4to, 1668.

Or sipping Tea while they relate
Their evening's frolic at the Rose.
The School of Politicks, p. 40, 1690.

Tope. Pub, this is nothing; why I knew the Hectors, and before them the Muns and the Tityre Tu's;¹ they were brave fellows indeed; in those days a man could not go from the Rose Tavern to the Piazza once, but he must venture his life twice, my dear Sir Willy.—Shadwell, The Scowrers, 4to, 1691.

Whackum (a city scowrer, and imitator of Sir William Rant). Oh no, never talk on't. There will never be his fellow. O had you seen him scower, as I did, oh so delicately, so like a gentleman! How he cleared the Rose Tavern? I was there about law-business, compounding for a bastard, and he and two fine gentlemen came roaring in, the handsomeliest and the most genteely turned us all out of the room, and swinged us and kicked us about, I vow to God 'twould have done your heart good to have seen it.—Ibid.

Here Prior has laid the opening scene in The Hind and the Panther Transversed.

Johnson. Nay faith, we won't part so ... let us step to the Rose for one quarter of an hour, and talk over old stories.

Bayes. I ever took you to be men of honour, and for your sakes I will transgress as far as one pint.

Johnson. Well, Mr. Bayes, many a merry bout have we had in this house, and shall have again, I hope.—Prior and Montague, The Hind and the Panther Transversed, 1687.

Lucy. Pray, sir, pardon me.

Brazen. I can't tell, child, till I know whether my money be safe (searching his pocket). Yes, yes, I do pardon you; but if I had you in the Rose Tavern in Covent Garden, with three or four hearty rakes, and three or four smart napkins, I would tell you another story, my dear.—Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer, 4to, 1707.

Suppose me dead, and then suppose
A club assembled at the Rose,
Where from discourse of this and that,
I grow the subject of their chat.
Swift, Verses on his own Death.

Tho' he and all the world allow'd her wit,
Her voice was shrill and rather loud than sweet;
When she began,—for hat and sword he'd call,
Then after a faint kiss,—cry, 'Bye; Dear Moll:
Supper and friends expect me at the Rose.
Tatler, No. 2, April 14, 1709.

He is an excellent critick, and the time of the play is his hour of business; exactly at five he passes through New Inn, crosses through Russell Court, and takes a turn at Will's till the play begins; he has his shoes rubbed and his periwig powdered at the Barber's as you go into the Rose.—The Spectator, No. 2.

The hangings [at Drury Lane Theatre] you formerly mentioned are run away; as are likewise a set of chairs, each of which was met upon two legs going through the Rose Tavern at two this morning.—The Spectator, No. 36.

Mr. Hildbrand Horden was the son of Dr. Horden, minister of Twickenham in Middlesex; and was an actor upon the stage, and had almost every gift that could make him excel in his profession, and was every day rising in the favour of the public, when, after having been about seven years upon the stage, he was unfortunately killed at the bar of the Rose Tavern, in a frivolous, rash, accidental quarrel, for which Colonel Burgess, one who was resident at Venice, and some other persons of distinction, took their trials, and were acquitted. He was remarkable for his handsome person; and before he was buried, several ladies well dressed came in masks, which were then much worn, and some in their own coaches, to visit him in his shroud.—List of Dramatic Authors appended to Scanderbeg, a Tragedy, 8vo, 1747.

In this house [the Rose Tavern] George Powell spent great part of his time; and often toasted to intoxication his mistress, with bumpers of Nantz-brandy.—Davies's Dramatic Misc., vol. iii. p. 416.

Here (November 14, 1712) the seconds on either side arranged the duel fought the next day between the Duke of Hamilton and Lord Mohun, as "John Sisson, the drawer of the Rose Tavern," deposed in evidence before the coroner. The duke and Lord Mohun were here the same day, the duke and General Macartney (Lord Mohun's second) drinking part of a bottle of French claret together.

One Leathercoat, a porter at this tavern, has been immortalised by Hogarth in Plate III. of The Rake's Progress, and by Fielding in The Covent Garden Tragedy, 1732. On January 19, 1763, the night of the production of Mallet's tragedy of Elvira, Edward Gibbon and his father dined with the "only Scot whom Scotchmen did not commend."

I then undressed for the play. My father and I went to the Rose, in the passage of the play-house, where we found Mallet, with about thirty friends. We dined together, and went thence into the pit, where we took our places in a body, ready to silence all opposition. However, we had no occasion to exert ourselves.—Gibbon's Journal.

---

² Strype, B. vi. pp. 67, 74.

¹ Bilboe and Tityre Tu are two Hectors in Wilson's popular comedy of The Cheats (1662), "one usurping the name of a Major, the other of a Captain."

1091. The Rose Coffee House, Covent Garden. Russell Street. 'By the play-house.' Formerly The Rose Tavern and during its existence from about 1651 to 1766 is mostly referred to as a tavern. The earliest mention of Rose Coffee-house appears to be 1698–99.

1651

William Long is given in the 1651 parish records as landlord of The Rose as early as 1651. An undated Token issued here with initial W.M.L.-AT.THE.ROSE.TAVERN.IN. COVEN.GARDEN. Long died in 1661 and buried at St. Paul's, Covent Garden. His widow kept on the house; she too issued an undated Token. Burn No. 842:

O.—MARY .LONG. IN.RVSSELL—A rose on stem
R.—STREET .IN . COVENT. GARDEN—HER HALFE PENNY. M. L.

1666

The London Gazette, 10 May, 1666, gives an insight to the precautions taken to prevent the spread of the Plague: 'Nicholas Hurst, an Upholsterer, over against the Rose Tavern, in Russell-street, Covent-Garden, whose Maid Servant dyed lately of the Sickness, fled on Monday last out of his house, taking with him several Goods and Household Stuff, and was afterwards followed by one Doctor Cary and Richard Bayle with his wife and family, who lodged in the same house; but Bayle having his usual dwelling-house in Waybridge, in Surrey. Whereof we are commanded to give this Public Notice, that diligent search may be made for them, and the houses in which any of their persons or goods shall be found may be shut up by the next Justice of the Peace ...' (Sampson—History of Advertising.)

1668

Samuel Pepys visited the Rose Tavern, 18 May 1668 'and there got half a breast of mutton off the spit, and dined all alone. ... '

1691

In 'The Scowrers' in 1691, is mentioned, 'a man could not go from the Rose Tavern to the Piazza once, but he must venture his life twice.'

1696

Hildebrand Horden, the actor, was killed here on 18th May, 1696 'in a frivolous and accidental brawl at the bar'. Captain Burgess, who had been English resident in Venice, and other persons of distinction were charged with causing Horden's death; Burgess escaped, but was pardoned in 1697. The Rose is referred to in the D.N.B. as 'a notorious haunt of gamblers and rufflers'.

1698–99

The 'Post Boy' 25 Feb. 1698–9, announces that tickets for the Mathematical Adventure 'a lottery to be drawn at Stationers' Hall on March 25th next' were to be had at 'the Rose coffee-house, by the play-house'.

1702–14

Ashton lists 'The Rose' Coffee-house, Covent Garden. No. 36 of 'Spectator', 11 April, 1711, records an amusing theft here: 'The hangings you formerly mentioned are run away; as are likewise a set of chairs, each of which was met upon two legs going through the Rose Tavern at two this morning.'

1712

John Sisson described as 'the drawer of the Rose Tavern' deposed in evidence before the coroner, that in the Rose on 14th November 1712, the seconds on either side arranged the duel to be fought on the following day between the Duke of Hamilton and Lord Mohun in Hyde Park. Lord Mohun was killed in the duel.

1718–20

In 1718, the Rose is described as 'a great resort for loose women'. Strype, 1720, mentions the Rose 'adjoining Drury-lane Theatre'.

1726

About 1726, John Gay, poet and dramatist, concocted with others, the love-ditty entitled 'Molly Mog of the Rose' as a compliment to the waitress there. Her death is recorded on 9 March, 1766, in Berkshire; Mrs. Mary Mogg is described as 'greatly advanced in years, but in her youth a celebrated beauty and toast, possessed of a good fortune, which she left among her relations'. (Burn—Tokens.) 'Tavern Anecdotes' 1825, associates Mrs. Mogg, and 'Sweet Molly Mogg of the Rose' with 'The Rose' in Wokingham, Berkshire, which inn stands to this day.

1732–35

'Leathercoat', for many years a porter at the Rose, Covent Garden, figures in 'The Covent Garden Tragedy' by Fielding, 1732. Hogarth's third print in The Rake's Progress, published 1725, depicts the chief room at the Rose, with Leathercoat and a bright pewter dish and a candle, as a portrait.

1747

A 'terrific affair for the Freemasons' was held on 16th May 1747, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. 'Three rows of the pit were specially railed-off for the Masons'; the notice requested 'those Brethren who intend accompanying the Grand Master to the Play are desired to meet His Lordship c1oath'd at the Rose Tavern, the corner of Bridges Street, Covent Garden.' (Macqueen-Pope. Drury Lane.)
     From this notice we learn that the Rose stood at the corner of Bridges Street; as all earlier references mention only Covent Garden, or Russell Street, we may assume the Rose stood at the junction of Bridges and Russell streets. Burn, in fact, places the Token issued at the Rose by 'W.M.L.' before 1661, under Bridges Street.

1763

On 19 January 1763, the night of the production of Mallet's tragedy 'Elvira', Edward Gibbon's Journal records: 'My father and I went to the Rose, in the passage of the play-house, where we found Mallet, with about thirty friends. We dined together, and went thence into the pit, where we took our places in a body, ready to silence all opposition. However, we had no occasion to exert ourselves.' A few weeks later, James Boswell records on 3rd February 1763: 'I took up my associates at the Rose Tavern and went into the pit [Drury Lane Theatre] at four. ... Dr. Goldsmith came into the seat behind me. ...' (Boswell's London Journal, Pottle, Heinemann, 1950.)
     Batty's Copper Coinage, No. 4607B, lists an undated Token: 'Rose Tavern, Gt. Russell St. Check Two Pence Halfpenny.'

1766

The Drury-lane Theatre was enlarged in 1766, taking in the Rose Tavern, a new entrance was made in Bridges Street to suit the requirements of Garrick. Early in January 1776, Garrick arranged to sell to Sheridan, Linley, and Ford, his half of the Patent, the sale being completed 24 June, 1776. 1 find no later mention of the Rose, than 1766, when it was swallowed by the extensions to the theatre, and presumably the business was not removed or revived elsewhere. Many anecdotes of the Rose are to be found in books on London; notably, the 'Tatler', 'Spectator', Cunningham, Wheatley, Timbs, and others.

1091 “Rose in the Covent Garden, or Bedford Berry” Tavern 1636–40s; “Rose Tavern in Coven Garden” c1648–61; Rose “in Rvssell Street in Covent Garden”; “The Rose Covent Garden” 1661–90s; “Rose coffee-house, by the play-house”; “Rose tavern” 1698–1766. Drurylane Theatre was enlarged in 1766, taking in the Rose Tavern.

12511 Rose Tavern in Drury Lane 1690-98. May be the same as No. 1091.