Beneath, In A Large Square, King
James I. Is Represented Standing In Gilt Armour, At Whose Feet Are A
Lion And Unicorn, Both Couchant, The First The Supporter Of England,
And The Other For Scotland.
On the west side of the gate is the
figure of Fortune, finely gilded and carved, with a prosperous sail
over her head, standing on a globe, overlooking the city.
Beneath
it is the King's arms, with the usual motto, Dieu et mon droit, and
under it, Vivat rex. A little lower, on one side, is the figure of
a woman, being the emblem of peace, with a dove in one hand, and a
gilded wreath or garland in the other; and on the other side is the
figure of charity, with a child at her breast, and another in her
hand; and over the arch of the gate is this inscription, viz.,
Senatus populusque Londinensis fecit, 1609, and under it, Humphrey
Weld, Mayor, in whose mayoralty it was finished.
2. Bishopsgate, which stands north-west of Aldgate, is supposed to
have been built by some bishop about the year 1200. It was
afterwards several times repaired by the merchants of the Hanse
Towns, on account of the confirmation of their privileges in this
city. The figures of the two bishops on the north side are pretty
much defaced, as are the city arms engraven on the south side of it.
3. Aldersgate, the ancient north gate of the city, stands to the
westward of Bishopsgate. On the north, or outside of it, is the
figure of King James I. on horseback, who entered the city at this
gate when he came from Scotland, on his accession to the throne of
England. Over the head of this figure are the arms of England,
Scotland, and Ireland; and on one side the image of the prophet
Jeremy, with this text engraved, "Then shall enter into the gates of
this city, kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding
on chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah,
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem." And on the other side, the
figure of the prophet Samuel, with the following passage, "And
Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your
voice in all that you have said unto me, and have made a king over
you." On the south, or inside of the gate, is the effigy of King
James I. sitting on his throne in his robes.
4. Newgate, so called from its being built later than the other
principal gates, is situated on the north-west corner of the city,
said to be erected in the reign of Henry I. or King Stephen, when
the way through Ludgate was interrupted by enlarging the cathedral
of St. Paul's and the churchyard about it. This gate hath been the
county jail for Middlesex at least five hundred years. The west, or
outside of the gate is adorned with three ranges of pilasters and
their entablements of the Tuscan order.
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