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I Have by Preface given the reasons inducing me to write this small Tract, which per∣haps to some may seem imperti∣nent, to others sufficient for the exhibiting of a matter of this na∣ture: And that I may metho∣dize the business, and model it to my best advantage, and for the better understanding of the Rea∣der, (being poor, and deprived of such lights herein as are afforded by Records, and some Books of History and Survey) I will, so
near as I can, give, an account of these five Heads following, viz.
I. Of the Nature and Quality of the Prison.
II. Of the Order and Govern∣ment thereof.
III. Of the Officers thereof, and their several Duties.
IV. Of those Benefits and Pri∣viledges, which are vulgarly known and enjoyed by the Pri∣soners in the same Prison.
V. The Fees and other Charges belonging to the House, at a Prisoners Entrance and Exit.
Of which briefly thus:
I. To give an account what the Prison was two hundred years since, I must be beholding to Re∣port, which I assure was very cre∣dible,
and appears to me very rea∣sonable, and is thus: That the Prison then consisted of those Rooms or Holes over, and be∣longing to the Gate, built by King Lud, about the year of the world 3895. but since beautified and enlarged by others; neither had it then so goodly an Enter∣ance thereinto as now it hath, (nor half so many Turn-keys) but onely a little Door underneath the Gate towards Ludgate-hill, which still remaineth, though now quite useless.
When the Prison was in this condition, there happened to be prisoner there one Steven Foster, who (as poormen are at this day) was a Cryer at the Grate, to beg the benevolent Charities of pious and commiserate Benefactors
that passed by: As he was do∣ing his doleful Office, a rich Wi∣dow of London hearing his com∣plaint, enquired of him what would release him? To which he answered, Twenty pound, which she in charity expended; and clearing him out of Prison, en∣tertained him in her service, who afterward falling into the way of Merchandize, and increasing as well in wealth as courage, wooed his Mistress, Dame Agnes, and married her.
Her Riches and his Industry, brought him both great wealth and honor, being afterwards no less then Sir Steven Foster, Lord Mayor of the Honorable City of London; yet whilest he lived in this great Honor and Dignity, he forgat not the place of his
Captivity, but mindeful of the sad and irksom place wherein poor men were imprisoned, bethought himself of enlarging it, to make it a little more delightful and plea∣sant for those who in after times should be imprisoned and shut up therein: And in order there∣unto, acquainted his Lady with this his pious purpose and inten∣tion, in whom likewise he found so affable and willing a minde to do good to the poor, that she pro∣mised to expend as much as he should do for the carrying on of the Work; and having Posses∣sions adjoyning thereunto, they caused to be erected and built, the Rooms and places following; that is to say, The Paper house, the Porch, the Watch hall, the Upper and Lower Lumbries, the
Cellar, the Long-ward, and the Chappel for Divine Service; In which Chappel is an Inscription upon the wall containing these words:
This Chappel was Erected and Ordained for the Divine Worship and Service of God, by the Right Honourable Sir Steven Foster, Knight, sometime Lord Mayor of this Honorable City, and by Dame Agnes his Wife, for the use and godly Exercise of the Prisoners in this Prison of Ludgate, Anno 1454.
An act of so great piety and worth in a holy and religious Couple, is left without a paral∣lel in these uncharitable times, which sooner sets the Stamp of Authority to Demolishments and Devastations, than gives the fa∣vor
of an auspicious look towards the increase of piety, vertue, and godliness.
He likewise gave Maintenance for a Preaching Minister, which I suppose is in the hands of the Lord Mayor and Court of Al∣dermen, or some by their ap∣pointment, who to this day do allow a Minister for Sabbath∣days, but what Sallary he hath is not certainly known.
This was not all, his Charity stopt not here, he likewise ordain∣ed what he had so built, with that little which was before, should be free for all Freemen, and that they providing their own bed∣ding, should pay nothing at their departure for I odging or Cham∣ber-rent (as now they call it) which to many poor men be∣comes
oftentimes as burdensome as their debts, and are by the Keeper detained in prison as for debt, onely for their fees, though discharged and acquitted of what he was committed for.
This worthy Gentleman (sure) had some prophetick inspection into the Times that after him should ensue, and we now see come to pass, and therefore it seemed needful to his judicious Eye to lay a Charm or strong Obligation, and an absolute fore∣warning of the Master-Keepers that should after come there, not to take or receive any such mo∣ney for Lodging, as is now daily exacted and extorted from poor men: which that it might be ef∣fectual and obligatory enough to the deterring o•• them from the
breach thereof, was rendred in a style not ordinary, though very necessary, and is set down by Stowe in his Survey, to be in these words:
For Water and Lodging there is nothing to pay, As the Keeper shall answer at dreadful Doomesday
This Inscription engraven in Brass was set up (as a Monument∣al Testimony of the worthiness of the act) in the said Chappel, just by the former writing mentioned page 6. which some of the late Master-keepers (the introducer of the present Oppression of paying for Lodging) most basely and in∣juriously caused to be taken down, and set up over the out∣ward street doore, with these words engraven on the other
side, This is the Prison of Ludgate, absconding the former words in the wall, who could not but have a reflexion on his Conscience, whilst this Pillar of Truth and Antiquity stood staring in his face, and was so obvious to the Eye of the oppressed, and every honest beholder.
According to the Constituti∣on of the prison by the said Sir Steven Foster, it continued many years, and was, (and is still, though falsly) accounted the best and freest prison in all England, and it was so then, for as Charity built the House, so Charity main∣tained the prisoners in the House: But since men of corrupt and seared Consciences have got the dominion, who neither feare God, nor will serve men in their
generations, what is there, or what can there be expected from such men who make Gain both their God and Godliness, but the banishment of Charity and piety, the razing of Records, the de∣facing, obliterating, and pulling down the poor mans Pillar of Truth, and the horrid and inhu∣mane spoiling and impoverishing of the miserable and oppressed?
The water I finde not to be al∣together his gift, (which indeed is the onely thing that is free, though it may well be supposed by the former words in the Brass, that he had made a provision for the prisoners in that kinde) for that I perused lately a Book wherein I found a Memorandum, That Sir Robert Knowles gave maintenance for the supply of the
Prisons of Ludgate and Newgate with water for ever, leaving it to the care of the Company of Grocers; and that if at any time any s••op should be, that the water could not come to the places aforesaid (which God forbid) that then the M••ster and Wardens of the said Company shall repair to the Chamber of London, where the grand Instruments are kept, and to consult with the Lord Ma∣jor, Court of Aldermen, and Chamberlain for the finding out some other way for the supply thereof. It is set down more largely in the Company of Gro∣cers Journal-Book, to which I referre the Inquisitive.
II. As touching the Govern∣ment of the said prison, it will appear best in the Description of
the Offices holden in the House, which I shall endeavour to make perspicuous, as well by the Or∣ders by which they are Elected, as by some Explanatory Addi∣tions wherein there shall be occa∣sion, therein discovering the go∣vernment of the present, from that of the primitive Institution: And so as to this second ••ivision I shall onely say this: That the Political Orders by which it is governed by its own Officers, are derivative from the power of the Lord Mayor and Court of Al∣dermen of the City of London; many of whose Orders I have seen the Originalls of; and if so be that I could procure Copies of them, they would prove neither much useful nor profitable to me or the Reader, to publish.
The persons intrusted with the Government of the Prison, and the Execution of the said Orders, are the Master-Keeper, the two Stewards, and the seven Assistants for the time being, who likewise have made, and do still make, as occasion is offered, several and respective Orders, touching the decent and quiet Government of the Prison, the ordering and civil∣lizing of the Prisoners, and the punishment of misdemeanors and offences therin committed. I shall now pass from this, and come
III. To the several Offices therein holden, and to decypher (as near as I can) their Duties and proper Imployments, viz.
BEcause I finde the Office of Reader first set down in the publique Orders of the House, I therefore will in the first place exhibit his Duty, and manner of choosing. And the Orders by which he was appointed his Of∣fice and Imployment, I finde to be made in the Reign of our So∣vereign
Lady Queen Elizabeth, (for before her time I suppose their Service was the Mass) and to be nominated and chosen thereunto by the Master-Keeper, Stewards, and Assistants for the time being successively, and not by common Vote at Elections as other Officers are: appertaining to the appointment and injuncti∣on of whose duty, I finde two or three Orders, which I must be content onely to give the sum of, being denied the perusal of those kept privately, so as to take a transcript, & those which are pub∣lick and commonly exposed, be∣ing so obliterated, that from them I could not: But his duty was, To ring the Bell twice every day to Prayers (which is now fallen to the Officer, called A Running-Assistant,
for what reason I shall afterwards shew) which indeed is all the alteration which I finde in this Office from the primitive In∣stitution thereof; which said Run∣ning Assistant now ringing the Bell at ten in the Morning, and eight at Night, the people having likewise notice by the Church∣warden to repair to the Chappel, the Reader goeth into the Pew or Desk provided in the Chappel for the same purpose, joyning to the Pulpit, where he readeth such Prayers, Confessions, Psalmes, Chapters, and singing Psalms, as are appointed in a certain Book therefore given, for you must know, that the Common prayer is not there used now, according to the Appointment of the Insti∣tuters of the said Office) by reason of a prohibition by Sir R. T. when
he was Lord Mayor, who took a∣way or caused to be taken the said Book of Common-prayer former∣ly given and belonging thereunto. For the performance of which, he hath the allowance of two Shil∣lings eight Pence per moneth, one peny of every prisoner at his first coming, if he payeth Sixteen pence for his Table-money, and a dish of Meat out of the Lord Mayors basket when it comes in, which by reason of a fault that lies in, I know not well who, but yet I guess, pro∣ved often a very empty one.
There hath formerly been a custome to ring a bell for the space of a quarter of an hour at nine of the clock at night, for all strangers to depart the prison, which did be∣long to the Reader to do, but that bell hath been long down, and strangers are now warned to depart
by him that is called the Cham∣berlain; of which hereafter.
THe authority of him that is Master of the Box, is by the prisoners esteemed almost Equal to the Master-Keeper, and by all the House respected with a respect befitting him, whose care and Courtesies to and for all men (to my own knowledge) hath exceed∣ed, and doth far exceed any with whom I have had yet to deal.
The Order by which he and the Under-steward are chosen, saith, that they shall choose (that is, the ••risoners at such election) two ••onest and discreet persons, the ••ne to be called The Master of the ••ox, the other The Under-steward, &c. To the Charge of which
Master of the Box is committed the keeping of the several Orders of the House, as well as all Ac∣compts of Moneys received upon Legacies given for the relief of poor prisoners (As for those given for their Release, I shall afterwards point 〈…〉〈…〉 at that Scylla or Caryb∣dis upon, or in which they miscar∣ry before they come to the ap∣pointed haven where the Donors intended their unlading) also the distribution of all bread or other provision sent in by the right hono∣rable the Lord Major or by any o∣ther private persons. And (which is the chief and most material) the Money which is begg'd at the Grates by the Cryers, with the Garnishes or Table money (as it is commonly called) payd by every prisoner at his Entrance, which i•• sixteen pence, and is bestowe••
weekly for bread, Candles, and other necessary Charges belong∣ing to the House, except what is paid out of it for Officers Salaries, as is, and shall be shewed in their proper places: He hath also a List or Roll of all prisoners, as well those that are upon the Charity, as those that are not, to whom (with the assistance of the Assistant for the day) he giveth their proportion and allowance of bread or other provisions according as by Order and custom of the House is ap∣pointed. The Gifts likewise of Market people, Burchers, Fish∣mongers, or any other benevolent or charitable person, which is taken by the Clerk of the Market, and brought in by him who is the Poste, is delivered to him or the Under Steward, for which they give receipts, and by either of them
in the presence of the Assistant for the day, is exposed to sale to the Charity-men as a Market: which Money so raised for such victualls or provisions is put into the Com∣mon Stock or Bank, and there remaineth till the Accompt day.
Once every Moneth there is an Election of Stewards, Assistants & Church-wardens, by the vote and consent of all the prisoners belong∣ing to the House; for the other Offices are onely by nomination and appointment of the Master-Keeper, Stewards and Assistants: but you must know, that no offices chosen by Election or suffrage of the prisoners, elected for any longer time then one month, and if he be found honest, that is, a popular Man, then he is again chosen, and so many moneths to∣gether, but if otherwise, he is eject∣ed,
and another chosen in his stead: this Election is alwayes on a Saturday. The monday aster this Election, is the Accompt-day, wherein the whole Moneys receiv∣ed or gathered in the Boxes, as also Legacies given that Moneth (if any) are summ'd up by the said Master of the Box, Under-steward and Assistants, and the divident of each Charity-man cast up; which done, the Master-Keeper of the prison (by order of his own ma∣king) receiveth two shillings four pence out of every mans Charity; if the divident amount to three shillings four pence to each man, otherwise he is to have but one shilling two pence for his moneths Lodging, and the rest to go on, to be paid at his being discharged from prison (all which is contrary to that former recited Distich ob∣ligatory,
made by that good Foun∣der and Benefactor, Sir Steven Foster.)
Here I may raise one Observa∣tion, That the Goalers Creatures and Confidents, are the poor Mans Enemies and Charity-Robbers: which you shall well perceive, if you observe, That all Charges of and belonging to the House, as well ordinary and certain, as ex∣traordinary and casual; are payd out of the common Stock of Cha∣rity money: and those ordinary Charges are such, as payment of officers fees, and buying of bread for the Charity and ample men, (which Ample men are such as are not Entred upon the Charity) which is in the whole one peny loaf every sunday after his being one Moneth Prisoner, and likewise Candles for the use of the House
in places necessary; for the Table money mentioned before, doth not answer that Charge by far, by reason of the Multitude of prisoners in the House: This kinde of Charge we grant to be good; Then Extraordinary Charges are, when any poor prisoner is sick, and is not able to supply his wants, or when any dieth, and is buried at the charge of the House, that is also good; but that which appears to me to be the most extraordina∣ry, and most unreasonable pay∣ment, is, to the Turn key of the Prison, who receiveth twelve shil∣lings per moneth out of the said Charity, for turning his Silver Key to let in the Gifts and Charity of the House (which God knows are very few) as the Lord Mayors Basket, and the other Provision mentioned before; which twelve
shillings, with what Salary is al∣lowed the Poste for his pains in fetching it, I do (and so will a hun∣dred men more beside) avouch to be as much as it is worth: All which Deductions and Payments made, with such as I shall mention hereafter, I have known when the remaining Divident to each Cha∣rity-man, hath amounted to no more then six pence per man, and indeed seldom more now adays; and I hope no sober man or Chri∣stian will judge that four pence in bread, and six pence in Money, can be a Competency sufficient to maintain a man a whole moneth, taking in withal that Allowance which cometh in by the Lord Ma∣jors basket. Some other matters also are pertinent to his Office, which as occasion serves, he doth perform with a pregnant reason,
and a very commendable honesty, according to that Trust reposed in him by the Charity-men, and the whole House. I shall next speak of
TOuching whose Duty and Office, there can no absolute alteration be made in any particu∣lar from that of the Master of the Box, he being indeed in power and form the same in the absence of the other, and his authority and act∣ings of the same latitude and ex∣tent; for he is chosen as a Dele∣gate or Adjutant to the former, to help him in the true and exact kee∣ping and stating of the Accompts, and for the writing out the same in the Accompt-Book every moneth; and in a word, to do all things in his absence, and to per∣form all those particular Duties
mentioned in the fore going Pa∣ragraph of the Master of the Box. I shall therefore end with them two, and come to
I Have made mention of seven several Assistants, that is, one for every day of the week, and there are so: but forasmuch as their office and duty is all one and the same without any alteration or dif∣ference, I shall make the descrip∣tion of one serve to delineate all the rest.
He that is an Assistant is chosen, as hath been said, every moneth by all the prisoners at an Election, next after the Electing of the two Stewards; and by the Orders then read, is injoyned to the severall duties following, viz. To attend
in the Watch-hall all his day, to see what strangers come to speak with Prisoners, and to call them down to them, and to attend for the changing money for the Cryers at the grates: which duty is now wholly neglected, also to set down in writing what Moneys or other Gifts, of what kinde soever, are sent in for the prisoners in his day, and what monys is given to the Boxes, and to keep an accompt thereof, and the same to charge the Stew∣ards withal at the Accompt day, and to see the Accompts truly cast up, as well for all the prisoners as for themselves (by which we see they ought to be Charity men) and to see whether the charges of the House ordinary and extraordi∣nary brought in by the Stewards, ought to be allowed upon Ac∣compts: and that if he shall refuse
to hold the said imployment, be∣ing chosen thereto, then to forfeit one shilling for a fine to the use of the House, or to wear the Bolts or Shackles three days, or three nights, unless mitigated by the Master-Keeper, Stewards, and As∣sistants for the time being, or the major part of them: Thus far the contents of the Orders in general. Now he likewise hath power, ei∣ther by assumption or consent, that if one Prisoner abuse another, or that a Prisoner abuse or wrong any stranger, to commit to the Stocks, Bolts, or shackle any such distur∣ber or offender, without calling a Table of Officers for the publick adju••ging of the same. You must note, that the time that every As∣sistant cometh into his Office, is at eight of the Clock at night, and so continueth till eight the next
night; and the time of the Boxes opening is at five in the afternoon, and at nine at night. His duty for the day being performed, and day ended, it is his care (by some col∣lateral order) to see the Cellar clea∣red by ten of the Clock of all Pri∣soners, and the Prisoners to be in their lodgings quietly and civilly, for which (by either an Order or Custom of their own constitu∣ting) six pence is allowed out of the Charity-money every night, and is accounted thus to be spent, two pence for the Assistant, two pence for the Master of the Box, and the other two pence allowed in money or drink to him that is the Running-Assistant, or to the Scavenger, for bearing tow Can∣dles before them (good pay for ••••le imployment in a prison!)
Thus you see the sum of the
Duty of an Assistant, I have pur∣posely omitted the Magnificence of an Assistants going down the first night, with the flaring illumi∣nation of forty of fifty great Can∣dles, provided by the Prisoners, with the expence & charge which they were at therein, because it is lately laid aside, and I also judge it a matter both very vain and su∣perfluous: And herein, I think, I have left out nothing of the Of∣fice and Duty of an Assistant, at least nothing which is material, but what will be taught them who shall come to that preferment. For Salary, I think the better sort of them take none, I am sure there is nothing allowed them; but I be∣lieve the poorer sort borrow of the Charity what they cannot pay, and so discount for their duty. I come now to handle
HE that is so styled, attends upon the Cryers for chang∣ing of Mony, and also their Boxes at appointed hours, opens them at five in the afternoon, and at nine at night, sets up the Candles in their respective places, waits upon the Assistants and Stewards when they go to see the Cellar cleared of company after Evening Pray∣ers, looks to the Clock, rings the Bell to Prayers, is the Cryer for sale of Markets to Charity-men, hath many other small Employ∣ments incumbent upon him, for which his Salary is four shillings eight pence per moneth, and two pence out of the sixteen pence paid by every Prisoner at his first coming. This Officer stands in
the choice of the Master-Keeper, Stewards, and Assistants, as their Prerogative, as I shewed before in treating of the Appointment and Nomination of the Reader. Now follows
THere is a decorum observed in the number, though not in the quality, with the Churchwar∣dens in Parishes, they having the Stock of the Parish in their hands, these having none at all. Two of the youngest Prisoners are nomi∣nated at every Election to that Office, for the moneth ensuing, who refusing to hold it, are fined four pence to the use of the House, and so by gradation of two, till some wanting money to fine, are forced to hold. He that first holds
upon such Nomination and Ele∣ction, is styled the Upper Church∣warden, and hath no duty but on∣ly on Sabbath days; the other is Under Churchwarden, and is for all the week days to call to Pray∣ers when the Bell is rung; their duty likewise being to set downe such of the Charity as comes not to Prayers, who should be there∣fore fined one peny, but that Or∣der is now altogether neglected: He that performs his duty, hath at the Accompt-day for his reward one groat, and no more.
IT is the Duty of the Scaven∣ger to keep the House cleansed in all the several places and parts thereof: To him it belongeth properly to put the Bolts or Shac∣kles
upon any Prisoner punished for the breach of Orders in the House, and to have of the offender one peny, the like of them that suf∣fer the Stocks, at their release: He hath for his standing Salary, five shillings eight pence per moneth, two pence of every Prisoner at his coming in first, out of the sixteen pence Table-money by him paid; which, as is all the rest, is paid by the Master of the Box at the Ac∣compt day.
THe Chamberlain is by single nomination of the Master-Keeper onely, and neither by the Table of Assistants, nor by com∣mon vote; the reason is, because to him is committed the keeping and looking to of all the Bedding
and Linnen, which is the Master-Keepers; to him it belongs to place men in Beds at their coming in, to furnish them with Sheets, for which he receives one shilling six pence, and pays to the Keeper at the rate of six pence for all Sheets used in the House; But then note, that Sheets afterwards are onely eight pence or twelve pence a pair, if you lye single, or with another: the Chamberlain is at the charge of the washing them into the bar∣gain. He should, by Order of the House, make the Beds for all the Charity men, for which he should (by an Order made for his advan∣tage) have two pence a moneth for his pains, which for a long time he hath received, though he never touches their Beds; but in the be∣ginning it was not so. He warns all strangers to depart the House at
ten of the clock at night, which formerly was done by ringing of a Bell: he hath no House Salary, but as aforesaid, yet lives well thereup∣on, having most of his subsistence at the Master-Keepers, and is as his houshold servant.
HE that is Poste is chosen by the Table or Court, con∣sisting of the Master Keeper, Ste∣wards and Assistants, and his du∣ty is to fetch in the Basket of bro∣ken meat from the right honorable the Lord Majors: to wayt upon the Clerk of the Market for such kinde of provision as he gets for prisoners of the Market people, which when brought home, is ex∣posed to sale among the Charity, as in a Market, and he that bids
most carries it: The reason is, be∣cause every one cannot partake of that little that is so sent, therefore he that hath the market, hath the less money, to prevent difference amongst the necessitous: The Clerk of the Market takes a Re∣ceipt for what he sends in, and so doe all that send in any provision: His business lies most abroad, and therefore called the Running-Poste; he hath four shillings per moneth Salary, one peny per moneth out of every charity mans divident, and the like out of the sixteen pence Table-money be∣fore spoken of, and no other allowance whatsoever.
THere be six Cryers at the grates, which divide the week amongst them, and by their days
and their houres, as they have so ordered the business, that they have mutual time of begging al∣lowed them: As for example: A Box is let down in the Hole at the Gate, at five in the afternoon, the man begs till about nine, and then it is taken up and open'd, and the Master of the Box takes an account thereof: in the morning the same Box is let down again, and the same man begs till twelve a clock; then another Box is let down, and another man begs till two, then the same goes in again till five; at which time the time the Box is open'd again, and the Cryer re∣ceives the fourth part of what is begged: The like decorum is held at the window toward Blackfriers, onely because of the little that is there, the Cryer hath half of what he gets. Thus go they by turns,
and what they so crave, and how it is bestowed, I shall hereafter make appear in the Chapter of Priviledges.
IV. Having given an account of the several Officers of the House, and their respective Duties, it fol∣lows in order to treat of the Privi∣ledges & Benefits vulgarly known and enjoyed by the Prisoners; and they properly consist in the Gifts and Legacies given by many wor∣thy men and good Benefactors, the Arms of some of them, with their names, hang up in the Chap∣pel at this day, and are most of them comprised in one entire Ta∣ble which is likewise there: In the top of which (in good old Cha∣racters) is thus written:
The Arms of our good Benefactors which giveth to the Relief of us poor men, in this Goal of Ludgate, Prisoners.
The Catalogue of whose names I had thought to have exposed to view as they are there set down, but having (by a very strange pro∣vidence) the sight of a book where∣in was set down the Names of all the Benefactors, whose Donations are now paid unto the House, the several summes they gave, and the persons or Companies which do pay the same, I chose rather to take a Breviate thereof, and pub∣lish it for general satisfaction, and afterwards to give you an account how they now differ in the present disposing thereof, from the origi∣nal intendment of the Donors, as by that Table before mentioned will appear. It is thus entituled:
Legacies and Ample-mony,
Here I observe two things: First, That some whose Names are in the forementioned Table, are not set down in this Book of Legacies, out of which I took this Catalogue, for there is wanting Sir Steven Foster, Sir Iohn Allen Mercer, Mr. Wyat, &c. And seondly, That what Legacies are now belonging and paid to the Prison, are onely the later Gifts of Benefactors; those large Donations of Charity given before the Reformation, be∣ing
too full of Superstition, and looking with faces like the merito∣rious Gifts of Papists, and there∣fore thought good by Avarice and Covetousness to be obliviated: Nor knew they a surer way to do it, that they might be utterly ob∣scured from the eyes of after A∣ges, but by consulting (as it were) with their Religion and tender Consciences, who soon resolved them, That the wisest way would be to demolish the Idolatrous Tombs and Sepulchres of those best of men, and greatest of Bene∣factors, and to take from before the eyes of the Godly those Mo∣numents of Brass, which spake one∣ly of their good works and deeds, defacing them as vain-glorious, & pretending they would be more advantagious to a thriving State to have them exposed to sale.
The Sum of these known Lega∣cies is about 70 l. but some of them I find are out of date, having run their full race and time out, therefore I do think 60 l. is the extent of what annually comes in.
The smaller sort I finde to be rightly bestowed, that is, for the Relief of the Prisoners in bread, or otherwise. And those are com∣monly received by the Master of the Box: The greater Sums are bestowed for Release of Prisoners, as they call it: The way of Relief is to be understood, the supplying of them with necessaries, as victuals or money: That called Release, is thus: That when a poor man hath got his Discharge from both Com∣••ters, and run the Gantlope of Clerks Fees, and fobb'd Actions, whereby his small stock is utterly exhausted, and he hath not where∣with
with to run quite through the Re∣giment of Extortions, he stops at the doore. By the Turn-key is brought him a Bill of Fees to be paid (which I shall speak of when I come to treat of Charges and Fees) wherein Lodging leads the Van, which he not being able at present to pay, shall be detained until he either doth, or else give security to pay it, though perhaps his Creditors took his own Bond for twenty times a greater Sum: if he can procure no such security there he must lye until the next Quarter, or that some Legacy be brought by some Company, or other person, for to discharge Pri∣soners, and then by Petition to them presented, signed by the Keeper (which he doth for his own ends) very likely the man shall b•• immediately turn'd out.
Corruption in some, and Policy in others, hath made it customary now, that these larger Gifts never come within the Prison, but are swallowed up in the Paper-Office by the Keeper, for Lodging and Fees (which is that Scylla or Ca∣rybdis I before spake of) contrary to the intendment of the deceased Donors.
I have heard it credibly spoken by a knowing and rational man, that these moneys (and much more than these) was at their appointed times used to be paid to the Stew∣ards of the House, who kept the moneys in stock, and if a Prisoner ••ay there that might be discharged from his Creditor or Creditors, for the sum of three, four, or five pound, did by his easie Address procure the said money, and his discharge immediately followed.
Note, That Lodging was not then exacted cum privilegio, as now it is, the more the pity: But this I am confident of, that of this sixty pound a year, or thereabouts, there is not above Ten that the Prisoners taste of, the rest by that other Project is converted into Lodging-money, as I have suffici∣ently shewed.
Now I have begun to unlock the hid Treasures of Ludgate, I intend, according to my poor ability, to signifie what more I understand to be given them sreely, and for their necessary Sustenance, and not to the use before spoken of.
To be upon the Charity of the House is the accounted benefit which a poor man receives, and that he is admitted unto by Peti∣tion, and shewing the Copy of his Freedom to the Master-Keeper,
two Stewards, and seven Assist∣ants; and of this kinde there are about fifty in number, sometimes more, seldom less now adays, who partake of what Moneys is begg'd at the Grates, &c. as I shall de∣monstrate.
I gave you an account of six Cryers, and their maner and turns of Crying; and also that the Mo∣ney by them begg'd, was put into the custody of the Master of the Box until the Accompt-day, and it is so; at which time it is cast up by the Stewards and Assistants, and after the charges of the House is taken out of it for that moneth, as the buying of Bread for the Charity-men, and Ample-men, (that is, such as are not upon the Charity) the buying of Candles, the paying of Officers their small Salaries, and other things incident
and necessary for the House, as I have shewed; then I say, they in the next place cast it up into shares or dividents for each Charity∣man; which done, the Bell being rung, they come all up into the Chappel, where the Under Steward reads in the Accompt-book to this purpose: We the Stewards and Assistants, having perused the Ac∣compt for this moneth, being such a day of the moneth, do finde that it hath pleased God to bestow up∣on us out of the Boxes, by good Benefactors (the House charges being deducted) the sum of eight pound eight shillings (or the like) to be divided amongst fifty Cha∣rity-men and women, which comes to three shillings four pence apiece, for which we bless God, and give thanks.
A man hearing this reade, would
he not, being on the Charity, ex∣pect to receive it, think you? But stay, when he comes to the Master of the Box to have his share, he shall finde him to write thus in a Paper:
This I have often found to be the Accompt, nay sometimes no∣thing at all in a moneth, when for∣merly every mans share hath come to sixteen, eighteen, or twenty shillings a moneth; and at a good time, as Easter and Christmas, it may be three or four pound apiece, therefore this may well be called Ludgate, What it is: Not what it was.
This is done, because with the
Keeper it is sic volo, sic jubeo, &c. though there is a pretence of an Order of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen for his recei∣ving it, but I could never see it: and if there be, it was granted when Charity did (as Iustice should do) run down like a mighty stream, but the channel being now almost quite dried up, the banks thereof having been cut by the oppressing hand of Wars and Calamities, it is now high time for the present Lord Mayor and Court, to search into the reason of its granting, and to abrogate it, for poor mens lives are much concerned therein, to my knowledge; for three shillings four pence will go further with a sick and indigent man, then a groat of six pence will, especially in a Prison.
I will give you a short Example
of an honest and charitable act of the Master Keepers, for which I think he had no Order of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen: It pleased God to inflict sickness upon me after my being in Prison about a moneth or six weekes, I then not being upon the Charity, and being a very poor man, and altogether friendless (a poor wife and childe excepted) was at the Accompt-day allowed four shil∣lings eight pence by the Stewards and Assistants, in consideration of my charge in my sickness, and my known poverty, which the Keeper understanding, took half of it for his Lodging, and left me the other to repair my broken and disloca∣ted fortunes. I could give other like Examples of his kindness to Prisoners, but that is not here my business.
The freest Gift, and now most esteemed Benefit, is that of the Lords Mayors basket, which is twice (or thrice sometimes) in a week, and is divided amongst poor Prisoners: His Lord ship likewise sends in light bread sometimes when he takes it from the light Ba∣kers, which is likewise a great help when it comes.
What is sent in by the Clerk of the Market, as Chumps of Beef, or any other kinde of provision, and likewise by the Water-bayliff, as unsized Fish, but that very sel∣dom, is (as I told you) exposed to sale as in a Market amongst the Charity-men, by which meanes every man receives a like benefit.
I may conclude this fourth Head with this observable Truth, That all the benefits (I mean of Lega∣cies) formerly given to Prisoners,
doth not adde to their relief a far∣thing a day, which is small allow∣ance: And that if it were all be∣stowed amongst the Prisoners in general, as it should be, it would not amount to a peny day for each man. To come now to
A Freeman of London being arrested by Action Entred in either of the Compters, may refuse to go to the Compter (as is usuall) but may require to go im∣mediately to Ludgate, which the Keeper thereof cannot deny to re∣ceive into custody, although no Duce facias be brought then, but shall afterwards be sent for; which way, (if practised) would save many a pound to poor men, which the Sergeants and yeoman do day∣ly
extort from them: But the usual way indeed is to go to the Compter being arrested, and take a Duce, which costs fixteen pence, and so go to Ludgate with the officers, for which service onely they will often exact three, four, or five shillings, sometimes more of a poor man, though their just due is but two pence.
When the officers have brought him to Ludgate, the Turnkey takes him into custody upon sight of his Duce, and enters his Name and Addition, into a Book kept for that purpose, for which Entrance, (or turning of the Key) the Priso∣ner pays fourteen pence.
Having paid that, and being turn'd into the Prison, his next work is to fit himself with a Lodg∣ing, which is of three sorts, or se∣veral rates, and is one peny, two
pence, or three pence per night.
Being furnished by the Cham∣berlain of the House with lodging, his next payment is for Sheets, which is eighteen pence, and is paid to the said Chamberlain, who is accomptable to the Master-Keep∣er at a certain rate for the same, whose goods they onely are.
Before he shall repose himself in his new provided Lodging, his Chamber fellowes will acquaint him with a Garnish of 4 shi••lings, to be by him paid, and by them spent, either in Coals or Candles for their own proper use, or else in a Dinner or Supper, as they can agree; for non-payment of which, though through poverty, or for refusing through obstinacy, his Clothes shall be taken privately from him in the night (or Mobb'd, as they call it) which shall be de∣tained
by he knows not who, until such time as he hath paid the utter∣most farthing.
Having rested one night, he shall the next day be called upon for a due of sixteen pence, which is to be paid to one of the Stewards of the House, and is called Table∣money, with which Candles, &c. is bought for the use of the House, every night set up in places neces∣sary.
These Fees and Dues must be paid by every Prisoner be he never so poor, at his Entrance, amount∣ing in all to eight shillings, which I have particularly mentioned, to undeceive such who think Ludgate to be so free a Prison, and that the Fees are small, and the Benefits and Priviledge therein very great, which in their due place I have discovered.
But now to administer a word of Instruction to such as desire, (not being brought in upon, nor sued to Execution) to have liberty to go out: It is wrought by two se∣veral ways, though by one and the same Engine, Money.
He, I say, that would have his liberty, must procure to go either with a Keeper, or else upon Secu∣rity; In order to which, he must send to each Compter to know what Actions are Entred against him, which must be certified under the Clerks hands, and will cost four pence the Search, as much for eve∣ry Action, and four pence for the Clerks hand to them.
This being done, and that he de∣sires to go out with a Keeper, he must for his first days progress pay two shillings six pence to the Head Turnkey, twelve pence to the
Under-Turnkey, & eighteen pence to the Keeper that attends upon him, which is also a Prisoner; and twelve pence to the Turnkey, and as much to his Keeper every day of his going out afterwards.
If a Prisoner will go out without such an Attendant, it must be by Security of two men, such whom the Keeper or Turnkeys shall ac∣cept of, and judge sufficient, each of them entring into Bond several∣ly, for his true imprisonment, and likewise one other Bond for pay∣ment of his Lodging to the Ma∣ster-keeper; for which the Turn∣key takes as his Fee, five shillings at the least, nay, I know some of whom he hath demanded twenty shillings, for his good will to let him out after Bonds sealed, for which the Prisoners must pay too, with some saucy expences to boot,
and what they condition for week∣ly, must be truly and punctually paid, or he is soon fetch'd in and deprived of Liberty, and his Bond cancell'd and made void.
But supposing a Prisoner to end with his Creditor, and that he bring in his Discharge from each Compter, he shall then find to pay at his Exit, the several Fees fol∣lowing, viz. Two shillings the Master-Keepers Fee, 14 pence the turning of the Key, twelve pence for every Action that lies against him; if he be charged in Execu∣tion, then it is two shillings six pence, and as much for every Writ that lies against him: these added to his Lodging, proves sometimes as much, or more than the original Debt, and yet perhaps the Credi∣tor never the nearer being satisfi∣ed. The justness of taking which
Fees, I refer to the Legislators to consider of.
Having stept thus far into the Discovery of matters, I shall give you likewise an account what the Keeper makes of his Lodgings, and also name you the Chambers as they are called by the Prison∣ers, and their several Rates, and then give all in one gross Summe: And first to begin with the several Rooms at three pence per night, with the number of Beds therein contained, two persons lying in bed for the most part.
The Lodgings at this rate amount to seven pound seven shillings per week:
And is in a year, Three hundred sixty one Pound, fourteen shil∣lings four pence.
Now if an Objection should be, That there is not so many constant∣ly, and that sometimes men die, and then the money is lost.
To this I answer: That it may, and wil be affirmed, that take those who are abroad upon Security, which likewise pay for their Lodg∣ings, with those that are within, which must pay, that then these beds would not contain them.
And to the second, That when men do dye, and though they be maintained in their sickness, and buried after their deaths by the Charity of the House, yet the Keeper will seize upon whatsoever they have in the House; as clothes, bedding (if they have any) or o∣ther matters, unless he be paid his Lodging-rent by some friend; A custom not usual, till Covetous∣ness turn'd the Key; but if a man had been buried at the charge of the House, his clothes were by the Stewards and Assistants expo∣posed to sale amongst the Prison∣ers,
and the money for them re∣ceived was put into the Master of the Box his hand, for repairing the the loss of the Stock by such dis∣bursements.
Having peep'd into every Room in the House, I think I had best step down into the Cellar too, and out of barrels of Beer and Ale, I shall finde the Keeper hath a very considerable Profit running into his purse.
He is the Head-butler of King Luds House, onely for his ease he lets it out to another, which is no prisoner, who allows him sixteen shillings a barrel for all the Beer and Ale that is drawn in the Cel∣lar; The Tobaco he meddles not with, but allows that profit to this his Under-butler, with which, it is is supposed he findes fire, pipes and Candles, and that I think is all he can do.
What he payes a Barrel for his Beer and Ale to the Brewer, I know not, but it is sold to prison∣ers at 2 pence a full pot for Beer, and two pence a quart for Ale, though none of the strongest.
His certain weekly draught I know not, but did you but see the Cellar how it is dayly throng'd with prisoners and their friends, you would guess it to be about twenty barrels in a week.
Now suppose it so, and that he pays the Brewer 12 shillings a barrel for both, which is as much as it is worth, then this kinde of Trade brings in the Keeper about four pound a week, for which he wets not his finger. This, if constant, comes to 2 hundred and 8 pounds per yeare. Now notwithstand∣ing all this, yet such is the cove∣tous
cruelty of the Keeper and his Turnkeys, that if any drink be sent to a prisoner by a friend, they will take it away at the door, and give it to such as least want it, and some∣times break the vessels, though perhaps the person it was sent to, is ready to perish for want of a draught of it: I hope he hath no order of the Lord Major and Court of Aldermen for these kinde of practises. Authority I am sure does think that the profit thereof belongs to the prison, but I finde that it is transmitted into Blackfryers. This added to his o∣ther In-comes by Lodgings, doth amount to betwixt 5 and 600 l. per annum, besides his fees at the door which I hope is more then the Conscience of a good Magistrate will suffer to be the annuity of one Goaler onely. I need not trouble
my self to conclude with a prayer to the Magistrate, for regulating these things, because the beginning supplies that in speciall to the per∣sons impowered with Authority, as well as good Consciences, (I hope) to do it: And truly after my tedious writing of this Tragi-Comedy, I think it fit to repose my self and Reader with a Song fitted to the purpose, compsed by a merry Drollist that was lately a Prisoner there.