Obs. The name (from its situation near the City gate so called) of an ancient debtors’ prison in London; phr. † to take Ludgate (see quot. 1585). Hence † Ludgatian (-thian, -tion), a debtor, bankrupt.
1585. Higgins, Nomenclator, 324. Argentariam dissoluere … To play the bankerupt: to take Ludgate.
1600. B. Jonson, Ev. Man out of Hum., I. i. Alwaies beware you commerce not with Bankroutes, or poore needie Ludgathians.
1606. Dekker, Sev. Sins, I. (Arb.), 11. The Master, the Keepers, and all the Prisoners of Ludgate. Ibid., 12. It was a bird pickt out of purpose (amongst the Ludgathians) that had the basest and lowest voice, and was able in a Terme time, for a throat, to give any prisoner great ods for ye box at the grate.
1607. [E. Sharpham], Cupid’s Whirligig, III. i. E 3. I am none of these Ludgations that beg for fourescore and ten poore men: my suite is only for my selfe.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Lud’s-bulwark, Ludgate Prison.
