The criers are six in number; two of whom daily beg at the grates: he at the grate within, is allowed one fourth of what is given, and he at that on Blackfriars side, one half of what is given there.
The Monday after every monthly election, the accounts are audited and passed, and the balance divided; but if it amounts to 3s. 4d. per man, the keeper of the prison, says our author, arbitrarily extorts from each prisoner 2s. 4d. without the least colour of right: but if the dividend rises not so high, he then only takes 1s. 2d. the other moiety of the 2s. 4d. being charged to the prisoners account, to be paid at the time of his discharge. Another great grievance the prisoners labour under, is, their being obliged to pay the turnkey 12s. per month, for no other service than that of opening the door to let in gifts and charities sent to the prison, which often amount to little more than what he receives. Johnson’s Description of Ludgate.
It is, however, necessary to inform the reader, that this account was printed many years ago; and indeed it is to be hoped that these grievances are already remedied; if they are not, it is high time that they were; for here justice and humanity loudly call for a reformation.
The annual sums paid to this prison by the several companies, and other regular benefactions, amount to upwards of 62l. besides a hind quarter of beef and a peck of oatmeal from the tallow chandlers company; nineteen stone of beef and five dozen of bread from the ironmongers company, and the provisions sent in by the Lord Mayor and other benefactors.
The fees to be taken by the keeper of Ludgate, and the turnkeys under him, allowed of, and confirmed at a court of Aldermen, held on the 19th of January 1686.
At the coming in of every prisoner 1s. to the turnkey, and 2d. to the officer who conducts him thither.
The keeper finding and providing beds, bedding, mats and cords, sheets, blankets, and coverlets, the prisoners pay him for the bed lodging 3d. per night; for the second lodging 2d. and for the third or meanest lodging 1d. per night.
The keeper is to provide clean sheets every month for all his beds, and the prisoners who lie in them are to pay monthly to the chamberlain for washing them, 8d. between them, and no more.
But when the prisoners find their own beds and bedding, which the keeper is by no means to hinder, the prisoner is only to pay 3d. per week for bed-room; or for chamber-room 4d. at the most per week; and not above two to lie in a bed.
If the prisoner by his inability can go no farther than a couch, he is to pay only one penny per week for chamber-room, and only one penny per week for lamps and candles, which the keeper is to provide.