Stranica 26 [26]
OCR
4 ORIGIN OF THE CITY pure fiction or pure conjecture. As a result, many competent historical writers have declined to meddle with the subject ; and so the legend-makers and theorisers have been left undisturbed. Within the past few years, however, some attempts have been made to put the history of London on a scientific base, the great Dr. Guest being one of the pioneers of the movement. In nine out of ten books, ————— = ae a ön a however, we still see the same old stories and the same old topographical mistakes appearing year after year. We learn that Ludgate was the chief entrance of Roman London, and was called after King Lud; that Billingsgate was called after King Belin, the only doubt being as to which ALDGATE PUMP King Belin, as there were several monarchs of that name; that Julius Caesar had something to do with the foundation of the Tower; that Helena, the mother of Constantine, first built the wall; and that, finally, Aldgate was the oldest of the city gates. We do not, it is true, often hear nowadays of Troy novant, but King Lucius is still gravely spoken of as the founder of St. Peters, Cornhill,
