Period referred to: End of the 17th century
Sound category: Ambient > Communal living and confinement
Title of work: A London Spy
Type of publication: Social investigation
Author: Ned Ward
Year of publication: 1698-1700
Page/volume number: Unknown
Ned Ward visits Bedlam lunatic asylum
Accordingly we were admitted through an iron gate, within which sat a brawny Cerberus of an indigo colour, leaning upon a money-box. We turned in through another iron barricade, where we heard such a rattling of chains, drumming of doors, ranting, holloaing, singing and rattling, that I could think of nothing but Don Quevado's vision, where the damned broke loose, and put Hell in an uproar.
[. . .]
We then moved on till we found another remarkable figure worth our observing, who was peeping through his wicket, eating bread and cheese, and talking all the while like a carrier at his supper, chewing his words with his victuals. All that he spoke was in praise of bread and cheese. Bread was good with cheese, and cheese was good with bread, and bread and cheese was good together, and abundance of such stuff, to which my friend and others stood listening.