CHAPTER I--IN THE OLD CITY
OF ROCHESTER
Strictly speaking, there were only six Poor Travellers; but, being a
Traveller myself, though an idle one, and being withal as poor as I hope to
be, I brought the number up to seven. This word of explanation is due at
once, for what says the inscription over the quaint old door?
RICHARD WATTS, Esq. by his Will, dated 22 Aug. 1579, founded
this Charity for Six poor Travellers, who not being ROGUES, or
PROCTORS, May receive gratis for one Night, Lodging, Entertainment,
and Fourpence each.
It was in the ancient little city of Rochester in Kent, of all the good
days in the year upon a Christmas-eve, that I stood reading this inscription
over the quaint old door in question. I had been wandering about the
neighbouring Cathedral, and had seen the tomb of Richard Watts, with the
effigy of worthy Master Richard starting out of it like a ship\'s figure-head;
and I had felt that I could do no less, as I gave the Verger his fee, than
inquire the way to Watts\'s Charity. The way being very short and very
plain, I had come prosperously to the inscription and the quaint old door.
"Now," said I to myself, as I looked at the knocker, "I know I am not a
Proctor; I wonder whether I am a Rogue!"
Upon the whole, though Conscience reproduced two or three pretty
faces which might have had smaller attraction for a moral Goliath than
they had had for me, who am but a Tom Thumb in that way, I came to the
conclusion that I was not a Rogue. So, beginning to regard the
establishment as in some sort my property, bequeathed to me and divers
co-legatees, share and share alike, by the Worshipful Master Richard Watts,
I stepped backward into the road to survey my inheritance.