ROBERT POCOCK. 45 



me inform you that crimps are a useful set of people, 

 acting as a medium between the captain and sailor. The 

 established fee for procuring 1 a seaman is two guineas. 



" Thursday, September 26th. Went to the sale of 

 Mr. L., lately ruined by having gunpowder on board 

 his vessel. There are penalties for having it in a ship 

 when at certain parts of the river. The police officers 

 are well skilled in Acts of Parliament wherein qui 

 tarn abounds. The martins flew very low this day in 

 the rain. Several cut down by boys with whips. 

 Many conjectures are given about those birds. I know 

 of no place where so many abound as Sheppey. 



"The Church of Minster in Sheppey is remarkable for 

 having a horse-head on the top of the spire in lieu 

 of a weather-cock, from which we have an improbable 

 traditional story; bat many persons resort in summer 

 to this village, and upon visiting the church seldom 

 leave it without hearing something of this tale, which 

 we shall entertain our reader with in poetry. 



"MINSTER. 



" Of monuments that here they show 

 Within the church, we draw but two ; 

 One an ambassador of Spain's, 

 The other Lord Sharland's dust contains ; 

 Of whom a story strange they tell, 

 And seemingly believe it well. 



" The Lord of Sharland on a day, 

 Happening to take a ride this way, 

 About a corpse observed a crowd, 

 Against their priest complaining loud, 

 That he would not the service say 

 Till somebody his fees should pay. 

 On this his lordship too did rave, 

 And threw the priest into the grave. 

 ' Make haste and fill it up,' said he ; 



