Striking Watches
Hon. Mr. Barrington mentions that a thief was detected by watches called “strikers,” which he says were introduced in the reign of Charles II.; but repeating watches were worn in the time of Ben Jonson. In his “Staple of News,” we read—
—It strikes! one, two,
Three, four, five, six. Enough, enough, dear watch,
Thy pulse hath beat enough. Now stop and rest;
Would thou couldst make the time to do so too;
I’ll wind thee up no more.