Part 10
“And may God Almighty long preserve your Majesty, for the good of these your kingdoms, and your Royal Consort the Prince. So pray we, your little children: and let all your people say, _Amen_.”
In another part of the house, called _the Keeper’s Side_, are kept beggars, vagrants, dissolute and abandoned sturdy fellows, who have no honest means of support; and the lewd women who are taken up in the streets, where they spread debauchery and contagion among unwary youth: all these are kept to hard labour, and employed in beating of hemp and washing of linen. Many of these have been brought to a sense of their crimes, while others have voluntarily transported themselves to the plantations.
All these are not only supported, but in case of sickness, broken limbs, sores, or wounds, have advice, physic and surgery gratis.
Some years ago the Governors built a very large, strong and useful building, with three long rooms or galleries one over another, which are filled with boys and girls at work, who have a proper number of men and women to instruct them. They have here also a large and convenient brewhouse for brewing their own drink, and over that a malthouse. In short, every thing here is managed with the greatest prudence and œconomy. _Maitland._
LONDON WORKHOUSE _yard_, by the London Workhouse in Bishopsgate street.
LONG ACRE, so called from its being built on a long narrow piece of ground, anciently called The Seven Acres. It begins at Drury lane, by the end of Great Queen street, and reaches to St. Martin’s lane.
LONG ALLEY, 1. Black Friars. 2. Cable street. 3. Moor fields. 4. In the Strand.
LONG BOW STRING MAKERS, a company by prescription, and not by charter: but which still subsists, though bows and arrows have been so long out of use. It has, however, a coat of arms, and is governed by two Wardens and nineteen Assistants; but this fraternity have neither hall nor livery. _Maitland._
LONG CELLAR _court_, 1. Lower East Smithfield. 2. St. Catharine’s.
LONG _court_, near Whitechapel.
LONG _ditch_, Tothill street, Westminster. This street took its name from a water course there so called. _Maitland._
LONG _lane_, 1. Aldersgate street. 2. Barnaby street. 3. Shoreditch.
LONG _walk_, 1. Christ’s hospital. 2. Cross Keys court, Whitecross street, Cripplegate. 3. King John’s court, Barnaby street.
LONG’S _alley_, Roper lane in Crucifix lane, Barnaby street.†
LONG’S _court_, 1. Jamaica street, Rotherhith.† 2. Near Leicester fields.†
LONG’S _yard_, 1. East Smithfield.† 2. In the Green Walk.†
LOOKER’S _court_, King’s street, Oxford street.†
LOOM _alley_, Old Bethlem.
LORD MAYOR. See _Lord_ MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR’S _court_. See _Lord_ MAYOR’S COURT.
LORD MAYOR AND ALDERMENS COURT. Also see under the article MAYOR.
_House of_ LORDS, an edifice situated near Westminster Hall, by the Painted Chamber and Court of Requests. The print represents the stairs up which his Majesty enters, and adjoining is the office of ordnance.
Formerly the parliaments of England were held in Westminster Hall; but King Richard II. having occasion to call one in the year 1397, when that building was in a very ruinous condition, erected an house on purpose in the middle of the palace court, at a small distance from the gate of the old Hall. This was a plain and mean structure, open to the common people, that all might hear what passed; while the King’s person, and those assembled there for the service of the nation, were secured by a guard of archers maintained at the public expence. Two years after, Westminster Hall being rebuilt and sufficiently accommodated for the meeting of this great assembly, they met there again; till at length a taste for regularity and magnificence increasing with our improvements in arts, this noble room was taken for the great assembly of the national senate.
This room is spacious, lofty, and every thing within it is disposed with great regularity. It is hung with tapestry, representing the defeat of the Spanish armada, which is shewn in various designs; as, the first appearance of the Spanish fleet; the several forms in which it lay at different times on our coasts, and before the comparatively handful of English which pursued it; the place and disposition of the fleets when engaged; and, in fine, its departure. These are the great subjects. The whole is excellently performed, and as the materials in that original state are perishable, the late Mr. Pine has perpetuated them in very fine engravings. _English Architecture._ These designs are certainly well adapted to the place, as they perpetually present to view the importance of our navy, on which our principal strength depends.
At the upper end of the room is the throne, upon which the King is seated on solemn occasions, in his robes, with the crown on his head, and adorned with all the ensigns of majesty.
On the right hand of the throne is a seat for the Prince of Wales, and on the left, for the next person of the Royal Family.
Behind the throne are places for the young Peers who have no votes in the house.
At a small distance below the throne, on the King’s right hand, are the seats of the two Archbishops, and a little below them the bench of Bishops. On the opposite side of the house, sit those Peers who rank above Barons; the President of the King’s Council, and the Lord Privy Seal, if they are Barons, here sit above all Dukes, Marquises, and Earls; and the Marshal, Lord Steward, and Lord Chamberlain, sit above all others of the same degree of nobility with themselves.
Just before the throne are the woolpacks across the room, on which are seated the Dignitaries of the law. The Lord High Chancellor, or Keeper of the Great Seal, sits on that nearest the throne, with his great seal and mace by him; he is Speaker of the house of Lords. On the other two woolpacks which are placed parallel to this, sit the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls, and the other Judges. These have no vote in the house, but they are advised with in points of law, on all occasions wherein a knowledge of the laws is necessary. The reason why all these sages are placed on woolpacks, may probably be to remind them of the great importance of wool and sheep to this nation.
The Clerk of the Crown, who is concerned in all writs of Parliament, and the Clerk of the Parliament, who records every thing done there, sit on a form behind a table.
Without the bar sits the King’s first Gentleman Usher, called the Black Rod, from a black wand he carries in his hand. Under him is a Yeoman Usher, who waits at the inside of the door, a Crier without, and a Serjeant at Mace, who always attends the Lord Chancellor.
When the King is present with the crown on his head, the Lords sit uncovered, and the Judges stand till his Majesty gives them leave to sit.
In the King’s absence the Lords, at their entrance, do reverence to the throne, as is done by all who enter the presence chamber. The Judges then may sit, but may not be covered, till the Lord Chancellor or Keeper signifies to them, that the Lords give them leave to be so. The King’s Counsel and Masters in Chancery also sit; but may on no account be covered.
Upon the days when the King goes in state to the house, either at the opening or breaking up of the sessions, the Park guns are discharged; and his Majesty arriving at the house of Lords, enters a room adjoining to it, called the Prince’s Chamber, where he puts on his robes and crown, and from thence is conducted into the house by the Lord Chamberlain, where all the Lords are dressed in their scarlet robes, and being seated on the throne, sends for the Commons by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. On their appearing, his Majesty’s speech is read by the Lord Chancellor to this grand united Assembly; after which his Majesty returns in the same manner as he came, in his state coach drawn by eight fine horses, attended by his guards, and the guns firing.
A stranger cannot any way form a more just notion of the dignity of the English nation, than by attending this noble and august Assembly, when the King is present, with the crown upon his head, and not only his Majesty, but all the Lords are in their robes, and the Commons attending without the bar.
This house, in conjunction with the King and Commons, has the power not only of making and repealing laws; but of constituting the supreme judicature of the kingdom; the Lords here assembled take cognizance of treasons and high crimes committed by their Peers, and others; try all who are impeached by the Commons; and acquit or condemn without taking an oath, only laying the right hand upon their breasts, and saying _Guilty_, or _Not guilty upon my honour_. They receive appeals from all other courts, and even sometimes reverse the decrees of Chancery: and from this highest tribunal lies no appeal.
All the Lords Spiritual and Temporal have the peculiar privilege of appointing proxies to vote in their stead, when from sickness or any other cause, they cannot conveniently appear: but such as would make proxies are obliged, at the beginning of every Parliament, to enter them in person.
The Lords give their suffrages or votes, beginning at the puisne, or lowest Baron, and then proceeding in a regular series, every one answering apart, _Content_, or _Not content_. If the affirmatives and negatives are equal, it passes in the negative, the Speaker not being allowed a voice, unless he be a Peer of the realm. _Chamberlain’s Present State._ See _House of_ COMMONS.
LORINERS, or _Bitt-makers_, appear to have been an ancient company, though they were not incorporated by letters patent till the tenth of Queen Anne, in the year 1712, by the name of _The Master, Wardens, Assistants, and Commonalty of Lorimers, London_. They are governed by a Master, two Wardens, and twenty-four Assistants, with a livery of sixty-nine members.
They have a small but convenient hall, adjoining to London Wall, at the end of Basinghall street.
LOTHBURY, extends from Cateaton street to Throgmorton street. This street, which Mr. Stow says was anciently called _Lathbery_ and _Loadbery_, he imagines took its name from its being chiefly possessed by founders, who cast candlesticks, chafing dishes, &c. which they afterwards turned with the foot to make them smooth and bright; and making a _loathsome_ noise in the opinion of the passengers who were unused to it, the street was thence called _Loathbury_: but it more probably took its name from these things being turned by the lath, as they evidently were, even from his description; and that Lathbery was afterwards corrupted to Loathbury.
LOVE _court_, 1. George alley, Shoe lane. 2. Gravel lane. 3. Love lane, Mutton lane. 4. Old Horselydown. 5. Petticoat lane. 6. St. Olave street.
LOVE _lane_, 1. Bank side, Southwark. 2. Broad Sanctuary. 3. Old Gravel lane. 4. Rotherhith Wall. 5. Thames street. 6. Willow street, Bank side. 7. Wood street, Cheapside.
LOVEL’S _court_, Pater noster row, so called from the family of the Lovels, who had a large house in Ivy lane, called Lovel’s Inn, which formerly belonged to the Earls of Britain. _Stow._
LOVEL’S _rents_, Gravel lane.†
LOVEL’S _yard_, Whitecross street, Old street.†
LOVER GUN _alley_, Green Bank, Wapping.
LOVE’S _yard_, Old Horselydown lane.†
LOW LEYTON or LEIGHTON, a village pleasantly situated on the side of a hill near Walthamstow, at the foot of which runs the river Lee. In this parish are several handsome seats belonging to wealthy citizens, and other gentlemen; especially the ancient manor house and seat of Ruckholts, which some time ago belonged to Benjamin Collyer, Esq; of whom it was purchased by the Earl Tylney: but of late years this seat has been deserted by its owners, and not long since was converted into a public breakfasting house, and so continued for about six years, during which it was much frequented by gentlemen and ladies. But it is now pulled down, and the materials sold.
Goring House, also called the Forest House, is loftily situated fronting the forest. It once belonged to the Abbot of Waltham, and afterwards came to the Gorings Earls of Norwich; after which it was in the possession of Sir Gilbert Heathcote, whole descendant sold it to Mr. Bosanquet of London, merchant.
The beautiful seat of the late Sir Fisher Tench, Bart. is a more modern structure, adorned with large and delightful gardens, with plantations, walks, groves, mounts, and canals stocked with fish and fowl: but Sir Fisher’s successors have lately sold it to Mr. John Stanniland of London, haberdasher.
The manor house of Leyton has a fine prospect over the marsh and river towards Hackney; this, together with a paddock, was sold by Mr. David Gansel, Lord of the manor, to the late Sir John Strange, who improved this seat with additional buildings and handsome gardens; but his son John Strange, Esq; has lately parted with his interest in it to Mr. Bladen.
This parish is washed on one side by the river Lee or Ley, from which the village obtains its name, and rises in a gentle ascent for about two miles, from the river to Waltham Forest: on which side lies one ward of the parish called Leyton Stone, in a pleasant and healthful situation, insomuch that the number of the inhabitants being greatly increased, a chapel of ease has been lately built for their convenience.
The parish church is a small building consisting of a chancel and two isles. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary; and the patronage of the vicarage is vested in Mr. Gansel.
LOWER _court_, Little Minories.
LOWER GUN _alley_, Green Bank, Wapping.
LOWER SHADWELL, near Shadwell dock.
LOWER _street_, 1. East Smithfield. 2. Islington. 3. Shadwell.
LOWER TURNING _lane_, Shadwell.
LOWER WELL _alley_, Green Bank, Wapping.
LOWER WET DOCK, near Deptford.
LOWER’S _yard_, Long Walk, King John’s court.†
LOWMAN’S _pond_, a narrow street or lane in Southwark, so called from its being built on a spot which was before a pond. In this street is the house of ——— Clark, Esq; the front of which faces the garden. It is remarkable, that this front, which has a mixture of Gothic and modern architecture, is completely covered with flints and shells; as are also the garden walls, which are crowned with little turrets of grotto work; the garden is laid out with great order, and every thing has a neat, whimsical, and grotesque appearance.
LOWMAN’S _street_, Gravel lane.†
LUCAS’S _alley_, Quaker street, Spitalfields.†
LUCAS’S _street_, Rotherhith.†
LUCAS’S _yard_, Cock alley, Wapping.†
LUDGATE, is situated 797 feet south of Newgate, and according to Geffry of Monmouth, took its name from King Lud; but as that historian has justly forfeited all credit among the learned, his assertion has no weight; for it is certain that the ancient Britons had no walled towns. The name of this gate is therefore with much greater propriety derived from its situation near the rivulet Flood, Flud, Vloet, Fleote or Fleet, which ran into Fleet Ditch.
The present gate was erected in the year 1586, with the statue of Queen Elizabeth on the west front, and those of the pretended King Lud, and his two sons Androgeus and Theomantius or Temanticus on the east. _Strypes edit. of Stow._
LUDGATE PRISON. This gate was in the year 1373, constituted a prison for poor debtors, who were free of the city, and was afterwards greatly enlarged by Sir Stephen Forster. This gentleman had been a poor prisoner, and was begging at the gate, when a rich widow going by, asked him what sum would procure his discharge? To which he replied, Twenty pounds. This sum, which at that time was a very considerable one, she generously disbursed; and taking him into her service, he, by his indefatigable application to business, and his obliging behaviour, gained the affections of his mistress, and married her; after which he had such extraordinary success in trade, that he became Lord Mayor of London, and was honoured with Knighthood. Sir Stephen, in the midst of his great prosperity, thought of the place of his confinement, and having acquainted his Lady with a design he had formed of enlarging the prison, she also resolved to contribute to its execution. They caused several of their houses near the gate to be pulled down, and in their stead erected a strong, square stone building, containing the following rooms, viz. the porch, the paperhouse, the watch-hall, the upper and lower lumberies, the cellar, the long ward, and the chapel, in which last there is the following inscription:
“This chapel was erected and ordained for the divine worship and service of God, by the Right Honourable Sir Stephen Forster, Knight, some time Lord Mayor of this honourable city, and by Dame Agnes his wife, for the use and godly exercise of the prisoners in this prison of Ludgate, _anno_ 1454.”
These worthy founders not only settled a salary for a Chaplain of this prison, which our author supposes is in the hands of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, or some others by their appointment; but ordered that all the rooms in these additional buildings should be for ever free to all unfortunate citizens, and that they, on providing their own bedding, should pay nothing at their discharge for lodging or chamber rent: but the avaricious keepers have long ago broke thro’ this appointment, and contrary to the express orders of the donor, take rent for the rooms he built for the sole use of the poor.
As the domestic government of this prison is very singular and remarkable, we shall give a compendious account of it, from a work published some time ago, by one who had been long a prisoner there.
For the government of the prison, and the punishment of crimes and misdemeanors committed therein, the master keeper and prisoners chuse from among themselves a reader of divine service; an upper steward, called the master of the box; an under steward; seven assistants, who by turns officiate daily; a running assistant; two church-wardens; a scavenger; a chamberlain; a running post; and the criers or beggars at the grates, who are generally six in number.
The reader is chosen by the master keeper, stewards, and assistants, and not at a general election, as the other officers are. Besides reading prayers, he was formerly obliged to ring the bell twice a day for prayers, and also for the space of a quarter of an hour before nine at night, as a warning for all strangers to depart the prison; but on account of the dignity of his office, he is now exempted from these servile employments, and others in his stead are appointed to perform them. The reader’s salary is 2s. 8d. _per_ month; a penny of every prisoner at his entrance, if his garnish amount to sixteen pence; and a dish of meat out of the Lord Mayor’s basket.
The upper steward, or master of the box, is by all the prisoners held in equal esteem with the keeper of the prison. To him is committed the keeping of all the several orders of the house, with the accounts of cash received upon legacies; the distribution of all the provisions sent in by the Lord Mayor, and others; and the cash received by garnish and begging at the grates, which he weekly lays out in bread, candles, and other necessaries. He also keeps a list of all the prisoners, as well those that are upon the charity, as those that are not; to each of whom, by the aid of the assistant for the day, he distributes their several proportions of bread and other provisions. He receives the gifts of the fishmongers, poulterers, and other market people, sent in by the clerk of the market, by the running post, for which he gives a receipt; and afterwards, in the presence of the assistant for the day, exposes all to sale to the charity men, by way of market; and the money arising thereby is deposited in the common stock.
This officer, with the under steward, assistants, and church-wardens, are elected monthly by the suffrages of the prisoners; but all the other officers, except the chamberlain, are appointed by the master keeper, stewards, and assistants. These frequent elections are designed to prevent frauds and abuses in the respective officers; but when they are known to be men of probity, they are generally re-elected, and often continue in their posts many months.
The under steward is an assistant to the upper steward, in whose absence or indisposition, he performs the several functions of his office.
The assistants, who are seven in number, are chosen monthly with the stewards, and one of them officiates daily. His business is, to attend in the hall, to enter all charities, and keep an account of the money taken out of the boxes, which are opened at five o’clock in the afternoon, and at nine at night. This money he pays to the upper steward, at the passing of whose accounts the stewards are auditors.
Every person nominated for the office of an assistant, on refusing to serve, forfeits one shilling to the use of the public, or instead thereof is put in fetters for three days. The officiating assistant is invested with the power of a magistrate, and can commit a prisoner to the stocks or shackles, for the abuse of any person. He is to see the cellar cleared every night, by ten o’clock, of all the prisoners; for which he receives 6d. out of the charity money; 2d. of which is for his own use; 2d. for the upper steward; and 2d. for the running assistant. This office was anciently in such esteem, that the assistant at his entering upon it, used to be ushered into the hall at eight o’clock at night, by forty or fifty great candles lighted, and carried by so many prisoners.
The running assistant attends upon the criers at the grates to change money; he opens the boxes; puts up candles in their respective places; attends upon the stewards and assistants; looks after the clock; rings the bell for prayers, and is crier at the sale of provisions. His salary is 4s. 8d. _per_ month, and an eighth part of the garnish.
The church-wardens are chosen from among the youngest prisoners. The upper warden’s business is to call to prayers on Sundays, after the bell has done ringing; and the under warden’s is to call the prisoners to prayers all other days. They likewise take cognizance of all persons upon the charitable foundation; who in default of attendance are fined one penny each. For this service the under warden has a salary of 4d. _per_ month; and when duly elected, the penalty for not serving is 4d.
The scavenger’s office is to keep clean the prison, and to fetter, or put offenders in the stocks: for which he is intitled to receive one penny from each criminal, together with a salary of 5s. 8d. _per_ month, and 2d. out of every sixteen pence of the garnish money.
The chamberlain, who is chosen by the keeper of the prison, takes care of all the bedding and linen belonging to the keeper; places men at their coming in; furnishes them with sheets, and gives notice to the strangers to leave the prison by ten o’clock at night. This officer was formerly obliged to make the charity mens beds, for which he received two pence a month.
The running post’s employment is fetching in a basket the broken meat from the Lord Mayor’s table, provisions from the clerk of the market, private families, and charities given in the streets; which when so inconsiderable as not to admit of being divided among them all, are publicly sold, as before. The salary annexed to this office is 4s. a month; one penny out of each man’s dividend, and one penny out of every sixteen pence of garnish money.
The criers are six in number; two of whom daily beg at the grates: he at the grate within, is allowed one fourth of what is given, and he at that on Blackfriars side, one half of what is given there.