Long’s yard, 1. East Smithfield.† 2. In the Green Walk.†
Looker’s court, King’s street, Oxford street.†
Loom alley, Old Bethlem.
Lord Mayor. See Lord Mayor.
Lord Mayor’s court. See Lord Mayor’s Court.
Lord Mayor and Aldermens Court. Also see under the article Mayor.
House of Lords, an edifice situated near Westminster Hall, by the Painted Chamber and Court of Requests. The print represents the stairs up which his Majesty enters, and adjoining is the office of ordnance.
Formerly the parliaments of England were held in Westminster Hall; but King Richard II. having occasion to call one in the year 1397, when that building was in a very ruinous condition, erected an house on purpose in the middle of the palace court, at a small distance from the gate of the old Hall. This was a plain and mean structure, open to the common people, that all might hear what passed; while the King’s person, and those assembled there for the service of the nation, were secured by a guard of archers maintained at the public expence. Two years after, Westminster Hall being rebuilt and sufficiently accommodated for the meeting of this great assembly, they met there again; till at length a taste for regularity and magnificence increasing with our improvements in arts, this noble room was taken for the great assembly of the national senate.
This room is spacious, lofty, and every thing within it is disposed with great regularity. It is hung with tapestry, representing the defeat of the Spanish armada, which is shewn in various designs; as, the first appearance of the Spanish fleet; the several forms in which it lay at different times on our coasts, and before the comparatively handful of English which pursued it; the place and disposition of the fleets when engaged; and, in fine, its departure. These are the great subjects. The whole is excellently performed, and as the materials in that original state are perishable, the late Mr. Pine has perpetuated them in very fine engravings. English Architecture. These designs are certainly well adapted to the place, as they perpetually present to view the importance of our navy, on which our principal strength depends.
At the upper end of the room is the throne, upon which the King is seated on solemn occasions, in his robes, with the crown on his head, and adorned with all the ensigns of majesty.