LOVE AT LUD GATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 236, 5 October 1935, Page 10 (Supplement)

LOVE AT LUD GATE.

Until the reign of George 111. there stood near St. Martin’s Church the sixth gate of London, known as Lud Gate, where there was a famous prison for debtors. A romantic love story originated in the debtors’ prison in the fifteenth century. A young man, named Stephen Forster, was imprisoned for debt. As he was mournfully looking out of the grated window a rich widow passed. She was arrested by the sad plight of Forster and asked him what sum would purchase his liberty. Forster replied that ££o was required to free him from Lud Gate. The widow paid the money and took Stephen Forster into her service, where he behaved most admirably. Friendship between the two ripened into love and Forster married his benefactress. To complete this fairy tale in real life the poor debtor of Lud Gate became Lord Mayor of London. After his death his widow enlarged the debtors’ prison and built a new chapel. She also had inserted in the wall a brass plate on which was the following inscription: Devout souls that pass this way For Stephen Forster, late Mayor, heartily pray; And Dame Agnes his spouse to God consecrate That of pity this house made for Londoners in Lud Gate, So that for lodging and water, prisoners here nought pay, As their keepers shall answer at dreadful Doomsday.