Ludgate, what it is, not what it was, or, A full and clear discovery and description of ... that prison also, an exact catalogue of the legacies now belonging to the said prison, the names of the several donors, and the persons appointed to pay them ... / humbly presented to the Right Honorable Thomas Allen, Lord Mayor of this honorable city by M. Johnson ...
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Title
Ludgate, what it is, not what it was, or, A full and clear discovery and description of ... that prison also, an exact catalogue of the legacies now belonging to the said prison, the names of the several donors, and the persons appointed to pay them ... / humbly presented to the Right Honorable Thomas Allen, Lord Mayor of this honorable city by M. Johnson ...
Author
Johnson, Marmaduke, d. 1674.
Publication
London :: Printed by and for Tho. Johnson, and are to be sold by Fr. Gossinet ...,
1659.
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Subject terms
Ludgate Prison (England)
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A46912.0001.001
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"Ludgate, what it is, not what it was, or, A full and clear discovery and description of ... that prison also, an exact catalogue of the legacies now belonging to the said prison, the names of the several donors, and the persons appointed to pay them ... / humbly presented to the Right Honorable Thomas Allen, Lord Mayor of this honorable city by M. Johnson ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A46912.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 28, 2025.
Pages
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
LUDGATE,
What it is: Not what it was.
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
descriptionPage 2
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,
descriptionPage 3
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
descriptionPage 4
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
descriptionPage 5
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
descriptionPage 6
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
descriptionPage 7
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
descriptionPage 8
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
descriptionPage 9
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
descriptionPage 10
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
descriptionPage 11
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
descriptionPage 12
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
descriptionPage 13
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.
descriptionPage 14
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.
1. A Reader of Divine Service.
2. The Upper-Steward, called,
The Master of the Box.
...
descriptionPage 15
3. The Under-Steward.
4. Seven Assistants, that is, one
for every day of the week.
5 A Running-Assistant.
6. Two Churchwardens.
7. A Scavenger.
8. A Chamberlain.
9. A Running-Post.
10. The Cryers at the Grate,
which are commonly six in
number.
I. Of the Office of the Reader.
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
descriptionPage 16
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,
descriptionPage 17
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
descriptionPage 18
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
descriptionPage 19
by him that is called the Cham∣berlain;
of which hereafter.
II. Of the Upper-Steward, or
Master of the Box.
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
descriptionPage 20
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••
descriptionPage 21
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
descriptionPage 22
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,
descriptionPage 23
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,
descriptionPage 24
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
descriptionPage 25
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
descriptionPage 26
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,
descriptionPage 27
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
III. The Under-Steward.
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
descriptionPage 28
mentioned in the fore going Pa∣ragraph
of the Master of the Box.
I shall therefore end with them
two, and come to
IV. The Office and Duty of an
Assistant.
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
descriptionPage 29
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
descriptionPage 30
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
descriptionPage 31
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
descriptionPage 32
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
descriptionPage 33
V. The Office of Running-Assistant.
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
descriptionPage 34
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
VI. The Office of the Church∣wardens.
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
descriptionPage 35
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.
VII. Of the Office of the
Scavenger.
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
descriptionPage 36
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.
VIII. The Office of the Cham∣berlain.
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
descriptionPage 37
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
descriptionPage 38
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.
IX. The Duty of the Running-Poste.
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
descriptionPage 39
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.
X. The Office of the Cryers.
THere be six Cryers at the
grates, which divide the week
amongst them, and by their days
descriptionPage 40
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,
descriptionPage 41
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:
descriptionPage 42
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:
descriptionPage 43
Legacies and Ample-mony,
Th••s•• Legacies bequeathed by good
Benefactors deceased, for the
most part yearly, and for ever,
be as followeth.
SIr Thomas Gresham gave yearly
to this house for ever, to be paid
by the Chamberlain. 10 l.
Sir Roger Martin, by the Mer∣cers.
2 l.
Sir John Peache, by the Grocers. 5 s.
Sir John Kinsworth, by the Fish∣mongers
1 l.
Sir James Smith, by the Fishmon∣gers
3 s. 4 d.
Mr. John Draper, by the Skin∣ners
13 s. 4 d.
Sir Wil. Horn. by the Salters 5. s.
Mr. Robert Ferrebras, by the Lea∣ther-sellers
6 s. 8 d.
...
descriptionPage 44
The Lady Elizabeth Morris, by
the Armorers 1 l.
Sir William Peacock, by the Ha∣berdashers 1 l.••s.
Mr. Tho. Cottels. Tallow chand∣ler,
gave to this House yearly for
ever, a hind quarter of Beef and a
peck of Oatmeal, by the Church∣wardens
of St. Dunstans in the
East, rated at 1 l.
The Lady Margaret North gave
yearly for ever in bread, 13 pence
every Sunday, out of the Kings-Head
Tavern by Newgate, 2 l. 12 s
Mr. Warner King, by the Fish∣mongers
1 l.
Mr. Wil. Roper, by the Parish
Clerks 1 l.
Mr. Tho. Dawson White-baker,
by the Churchwardens of St. E∣thelbrows
9 s.
Mistress Cocke Widow, by the
Salters. 5 s.
...
descriptionPage 45
Mrs. Margaret Dane Widow,
gave 12 stone of Beef, and 8 dozen
of bread, by the Ironmongers,
containing 1 l.
Mr. John Heydon Alderman, by
the Mercers 3 l.
The Lady Mary Ramsey, by the
Treasurers of Christs Hospital. 2 l. 10 s.
Mr. Peter Blundel, by the Sal∣ers
2 l.
The same Mr. Blundel gave more
by the Ironmongers 2 l.
Mr. John Bennet, by the Ar∣morers
1 l.
Mrs. Holligrave Widow, by the
Clothe-workers 5 s.
Mr. Robert Rogers, by the Lea∣therfellers
1 l.
Mr. Hugh Ofsley Alderman, by
the Leathersellers 5 s.
Mrs. Margaret Simcots Widow,
by the Chamberlain, every nine
descriptionPage 46
weeks in bread 5 s.
Mrs. Joan Sambach Widow, by
the Churchwardens of St. Brides 1 l.
Mr. John Simmons, by the Mer∣cers
4 s.
Mr. John Marsh, by the Mer∣cers
5 s.
Mr. John Wooller, by the Mer∣chant-taylors 1 l
Rich. Shipsey Yeoman, gave to
be paid in ten years, by 5 s per
year 2 l. 10 s
Mr. William Parker, by the Mer∣chant-taylors 1 l. 10 s
Rich. Jacob Vintner, gave yearl
to be paid for 257 yeares by Jo∣seph
Hewet Haberdasher, and Sa∣rah
his wife, or by their Heirs, &c.
out of the five Tenements in Lin∣colns
Inn Fields 2 l
Mr. Iohn Highlord senior, Skin∣ner,
gave to be paid by twent••
descriptionPage 47
shillings per year 5 l
Mr. Thomas Chapman Skinner,
by the Churchwardens of Saint
Pancras 6 s.
Mr. James Hodgson Vintner, by
the Churchwardens of St. Sepul∣chres
10 s.
Mr. John Kendrick, by the Dra∣pers,
for the relief of one Prisoner
of the Company 1 l. 10 s.
The Lady Mary Carey, Wife of
the Lord Carey, by H. Rochford
her Executor 2 l.
John Jucksey Merchant-taylor,
for the releasing a Prisoner out of
this House, to be paid out of cer∣••ain
Lands in Moreclack in Berk∣shire 1 l.
Lancelot Andrews Lord Bishop
of Winchester, gave two thousand
pounds, for purchasing of a hun∣dred
pound Land by the Year,
••o be distributed in four kindes
descriptionPage 48
1. Aged men. 2. Aged women
3. Fatherless children and orphans.
4. For release and relief of poor
Prisoners out of the four prisons
in London, and one in Southwark;
Of which five pounds cometh to
this Prison yearly, the Thursday
before Easter, one half for relief,
the other for release of Prisoners,
now paid by Mr. Shambrook in
Colemanstreet, Dr. Salmon in Step∣ney,
and Mr. Jones of the Tem∣ple
5 l.
Sir Ralph Freeman Lord Mayor
of London in 1633. by the Com∣pany
of Clothworkers 5 l.
From the Chamber of London,
in lieu of 250 l. this Prison is to
receive 1 l. 11 s. 3 d. the half of
3 l. 2 s. 6 d. the other half to
others: the Gift of Mr. William
Middleton 1 l. 11 s. 3 d.
John Stone Haberdasher, some∣time
descriptionPage 49
living in Bow Churchyard,
gave for ever out of a Tenement
in Bow lane, called the White Grif∣fin
2 l.
It was paid till the year 1650.
In anno 1632. Iohn Meredith of
London, Skinner, gave for ever to
buy Coals every November year∣ly,
Elizabeth his Wife his Execu∣trix.
1 l. 2 s.
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
descriptionPage 50
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.
descriptionPage 51
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
descriptionPage 52
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.
descriptionPage 53
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.
descriptionPage 54
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,
descriptionPage 55
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
descriptionPage 56
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
descriptionPage 57
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:
Lodging 2s. 4 d.
Poste & Chamberlain 3 d.
Markets (perhaps) 5 d.
Remains 4 d.
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
descriptionPage 58
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
descriptionPage 59
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.
descriptionPage 60
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,
descriptionPage 61
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
The Charges to Prisoners at their
Entrance and Exits.
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
descriptionPage 62
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
descriptionPage 63
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
descriptionPage 64
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.
descriptionPage 65
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
descriptionPage 66
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,
descriptionPage 67
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
descriptionPage 68
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.
Chambers at 3 d. per night.
The Star Chamber hath three
beds for five men 8 s. 9 d.
The New Chamber four beds, 14 s.
The Carpenters Chamber hath
descriptionPage 69
four beds, 14 s.
Two Hoppets, two beds 7 s.
Another little Hoppet, with a
single bed 1 s. 9.
The Sun Chamber, four beds 14 s.
The Horn Chamber and the
Hoppet, three beds 10 s. 6 d.
The Chequer Chamber and the
Hopper, three beds 10 s. 6 d.
Weekly, is 4 00 06
Chambers at 2 d. per night.
The inner Knights Ward, four
beds 9 s. 4 d.
The outward Knights Ward,
three beds 7 s.
The inner Portcullis, four beds 9 s 4 d.
The outward Portcullis, three
beds 7 s.
Weekly, is 1 12 8
descriptionPage 70
Chambers or Lodgings at one
peny per night.
The Long Ward, twelve beds 14 s.
The Lumbry, twelve beds 14 s.
The Womens Hole and Hop∣pet,
five beds 5 s. 10 d.
Weekly, is 1 13 10
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.
descriptionPage 71
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,
descriptionPage 72
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.
descriptionPage 73
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
descriptionPage 74
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
descriptionPage 7
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.
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
The SONG.
THe Ninth of February, fifty
and eight,For to be Arrested it was my hard
lot;I call'd for a Duce to better my fate,
Which forc'd me to Ludgate on a
Sergeants trot.
Where I espy'd a muckle tall manRussling of Papers in a little room,He look'd like a Turnkey, and askt
me my Name,But he read unto me my Fourteen
pence Doom.
Out of his Pocket he pull'd a great
Key,
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
As bright as a Pistol, it frighted
me sore;••nto a great Room he shew'd me the
way,And for nine months I could scarce
finde the door.
I walk'd up and down with a sor∣rowful
heartAt the sight of the Shackles, the
Bolts, and the Stocks,The Pris'ners shew'd me the Cellar
so dark,Which drowned me faster than
Doors and their Locks:
Where a Crab-footed Tapster star'd
me in the face,He told me a Running-Assistant
there stood:He askt me four Groats for Candles
and Bread,I told him I never was us'd to such
food.
descriptionPage [unnumbered]
An old man with a Broom I espy,d
I'd thought he'd bin going to sweep
the Streets,He told me he would me a Lodging
provide,But first I must pay eighteen pence
for my Sheets.
Then I to a Court of Justice was
call'd,Thinking some Law or Religion to
hear,Because two Books before him lay spred,But alas, they were Orders for
Pris'ners to fear.
A Garnish then was buzz'd in my
ear,With that me thought my Money
grew scant,I afterwards found, what I then
did not fear,But a Cloak to my back I i'th morn∣ning
did want.
FINIS.
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