High Gate

Sworn at High gate—a ridiculous custom formerly prevailed at the public-houses in High gate, to administer a ludicrous oath to all travellers of the middling rank who stopped there. The party was sworn on a pair of horns, fastened on a stick: the substance of the oath was, never to ki the maid when he could ki the mistre , never to drink small beer when he could get strong, with many other injunctions of the like kind; to all which was added the saving cause of "unle you like it best." The person administering the oath was always to be called father by the juror; and he, in return, was to style him son, under the penalty of a bottle.