Fragmenta Regalia | Page 5

of London, rise the noble buildings of
Westminster, most remarkable for the courts of justice, the parliament,
and St. Peter's church, enriched with the royal tombs. At the distance of
twenty miles from London is the castle of Windsor, a most delightful
retreat of the Kings of England, as well as famous for several of their
tombs, and for the ceremonial of the Order of the Garter. This river
abounds in swans, swimming in flocks: the sight of them, and their
noise, are vastly agreeable to the fleets that meet them in their course. It
is joined to the city by a bridge of stone, wonderfully built; is never
increased by any rains, rising only with the tide, and is everywhere
spread with nets for taking salmon and shad. Thus far Paulus Jovius.
Polydore Vergil affirms that London has continued to be a royal city,
and the capital of the kingdom, crowded with its own inhabitants and
foreigners, abounding in riches, and famous for its great trade, from the
time of King Archeninus, or Erchenvinus. Here the kings are crowned,
and solemnly inaugurated, and the council of the nation, or parliament,
is held. The government of the city is lodged, by ancient grant of the
Kings of Britain, in twenty-four aldermen--that is, seniors: these
annually elect out of their own body a mayor and two sheriffs, who
determine causes according to municipal laws. It has always had, as
indeed Britain in general has, a great number of men of learning, much
distinguished for their writings.
The walls are pierced with six gates, which, as they were rebuilt,
acquired new names. Two look westward:
1. Ludgate, the oldest, so called from King Lud, whose name is yet to
be seen, cut in the stone over the arch on the side; though others

imagine it rather to have been named Fludgate, from a stream over
which it stands, like the Porta Fluentana at Rome. It has been lately
repaired by Queen Elizabeth, whose statue is placed on the opposite
side. And,
2. Newgate, the best edifice of any; so called from being new built,
whereas before it was named Chamberlain gate. It is the public prison.
On the north are four:
1. Aldersgate, as some think from alder trees; as others, from
Aldericius, a Saxon.
2. Cripplegate, from a hospital for the lame.
3. Moorgate, from a neighbouring morass, now converted into a field,
first opened by Francetius {1} the mayor, A.D. 1414.
4. And Bishopsgate, from some bishop: this the German merchants of
the Hans society were obliged by compact to keep in repair, and in
times of danger to defend. They were in possession of a key to open or
shut it, so that upon occasion they could come in, or go out, by night or
by day.
There is only one to the east:
Aldgate, that is, Oldgate, from its antiquity; though others think it to
have been named Elbegate.
Several people believe that there were formerly two gates (besides that
to the bridge) towards the Thames.
1. Billingsgate, now a cothon, or artificial port, for the reception of
ships.
2. Dourgate, VULGO Dowgate, I.E., Water-gate.
The cathedral of St. Paul was founded by Ethelbert, King of the Saxons,
and being from time to time re-edified, increased to vastness and

magnificence, and in revenue so much, that it affords a plentiful
support to a bishop, dean, and precentor, treasurer, four archdeacons,
twenty-nine prebendaries, and many others. The roof of this church, as
of most others in England, with the adjoining steeple, is covered with
lead.
On the right side of the choir is the marble tomb of Nicholas Bacon,
with his wife. Not far from this is a magnificent monument,
ornamented with pyramids of marble and alabaster, with this
inscription:
Sacred to the memory of
Sir Christopher Hatton, son of William, grandson of John, of the most
ancient family of the Hattons; one of the fifty gentlemen pensioners to
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth: Gentleman of the privy chamber; captain
of the guards; one of the Privy Council, and High Chancellor of
England, and of the University of Oxford: who, to the great grief of his
Sovereign, and of all good men, ended this life religiously, after having
lived unmarried to the age of fifty-one, at his house in Holborn, on the
20th of November, A.D. 1591.
William Hatton, knight, his nephew by his sister's side, and by adoption
his son and heir, most sorrowfully raised this tomb, as a mark of his
duty.
On the left hand is the marble monument of William Herbert, Earl of
Pembroke, and his lady: and near it, that of John, Duke of Lancaster,
with this inscription
Here sleeps in the Lord, John of Gant, so called from the city of the
same name of Flanders,