Ancient funerall monuments within the vnited monarchie of Great Britaine, Ireland, and the islands adiacent with the dissolued monasteries therein contained: their founders, and what eminent persons haue beene in the same interred. As also the death and buriall of certaine of the bloud royall; the nobilitie and gentrie of these kingdomes entombed in forraine nations. A worke reuiuing the dead memory of the royall progenie, the nobilitie, gentrie, and communaltie, of these his Maiesties dominions. Intermixed and illustrated with variety of historicall obseruations, annotations, and briefe notes, extracted out of approued authors ... Whereunto is prefixed a discourse of funerall monuments ... Composed by the studie and trauels of Iohn Weeuer.

Saint Martins Ludgate.

Our old English writers affirme,* 1.1 that Lud King of the Britains (whom they make to be the repairer or new builder of London) was buried much what about this place, of which these rimes following.

* 1.2With Walles faire and Towres fresh about, His Citee great of Troynouant full faire, Full well he made, and battelled throughout. And Palays faire for Roialles to appeare, Amending other defectyue and vnfaire. From London stone to his * 1.3 Palays royall That now Ludgate is knowne ouer all.

Betweene London stone and Ludgate forth right, That called was then for his name Ludstone: He made men buyld, that London then so hight; His Palays faire, then made he then anone, With toures high, both of lyme and stone, Beside Ludgate; and his Temple there thereby His God to serue, and him to glorifye. When he had reigned by fourty yere all out He died so; and in his temple faire Entombed was with stories all about.

By another Author, more ancient, it is thus exprest.

* 1.4Walls he let make all aboute, and yates vp and doun, And aftyr Lud that was his name he cluped it Ludstoun. The heyest yat of ye toun yat yut stant ther and is, He let hit clupie Ludgate, after his owe name iwis: He let him tho he was ded burye at thulk yate, Theruore yut after him men clupeth it Ludgate.

* 1.5The Britaines record that Cadwallo called the Valiant, King of the Bri∣taines, after he had raigned in great honour the space of 48 yeeres, died in peace the 12 of Nouember, An. 677. and was buried in this place. Whose Image great and terrible,* 1.6 triumphantly riding on horse-backe, being artifi∣cially cast in brasse, the Britaines placed here vpon Ludgate, to the further feare and terrour of the Saxons; the greatnesse of which King is thus fur∣ther exprest.

* 1.7King Cadwall reyned full hele againe In Britayne land, as prime without pere Aboue English, as Lord Souerayne Ouer Saxons, Scottes, and Peights clere And English also as clere did appere.

A little more of this noble King Cadwall, out of my old Author Robert of Gloucester.

When Cadewall kyng of Brutons nobly ynough Had regnyd xlviii. yer, toward his deth he drogh. He dede aftyr Martyn Masse euen the sixt dey. The Brutons made deel ynough tho he ded ley,

Hii made a Kyngys toome, and hym al hol wyth ynne Upon an horse ridyng of bras put al wyth gynne. And vpon the west gate of London sette hit full hegh, In token of hys noblesse that men hit fer segh. A Chirch of Sent Martyn liuyng he let rere. In whyche yat men shold goddys seruyse do, And sing for his soul, and al Christene also.

Farewell my freyndes,* 1.8 the tyde abydeth no man, We be departed fro hence, and so ••all yee: But in this passage, the best song that we say can, Is Requiem eternam, now Iesu grant hit mee, When wee haue endyd all our aduersitee, Grant vs in Paradise to haue a mansion, That sh••ed his blood for our redemption▪ Therfore wee tendyrlie requier yee, For the souls of Iohn Benson, And Anne his wyff, of your charitie, To say a Pater Noster and an Aue.

These verses following were engrauen in copper on the strong Quadrant of Ludgate, built by Stephen Foster Lord Maior, and Dame Agnes his wife, for the reliefe of the Prisoners.

Deuout souls that passe this way, For Stephen Foster late Maior hertely pray, And Dame Agnes his Spous, to God consecrate. That this hous made for Londoners in Ludgate. So that for lodging and water Prisoners here nought pay As the kepers shall all ansqueare at dreadfull Doomys day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lud King of the Britaines.
• * 1.2

  Io. Harding.
• * 1.3

  Now the Bi∣shop of Lon∣dons house, saith Harding.
• * 1.4

  Rob. Glocest.
• * 1.5

  Cadwallo K. of the Britaines.
• * 1.6

  Ge••••••ay Mon.
• * 1.7

  Harding.
• * 1.8

  Iohn Benson and Anne his wife.