John Dryden - Glorious John!

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W. J. Loftie, adding to the incomplete work of Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of Fetter Lane with a mention of John Dryden:

Both the Holborn and Fleet Street ends of Fetter Lane were for more than two centuries places of execution.

Some have derived the name from the fetters of criminals, and others from "fewtors," disorderly and idle persons, a corruption of "defaytors," or defaulters; while the most probable derivation is that from the "fetters" or rests on the breastplates of the knights who jousted in Fickett's Field adjoining.

An interesting Moravian Chapel has an entry on the east side of Fetter Lane. This has memories of Baxter, Wesley, and Whitefield.

It was bought by the Moravians in 1738, and was then associated with the name of Count Zinzendorf.

It was attacked and dismantled in the riots.

Dryden is supposed to have lived in Fetter Lane, but Hutton, in "Literary Landmarks," says the only evidence of such occupation was a curious stone, existing as late as 1885, in the wall of No. 16, over Fleur-de-Lys Court, stating:

Here lived
John Dryden,
Ye Poet.
Born 1631—Died 1700.
Glorious John!

But he adds there is no record when or by whom the stone was placed.

Otway is said to have lived opposite, and quarrelled with his illustrious neighbour in verse.

In any case, Fleur-de-Lys Court lies outside the boundaries of the parish we are now considering.

It may, however, be mentioned that the woman Elizabeth Brownrigg, who so foully tortured her apprentices, committed her atrocities in this court.

Praise God Barebones was at one time a resident in the Lane, and in the same house his brother, Damned Barebones.

The house was afterwards bought by the Royal Society, of which Sir Isaac Newton was then President, and the Royal Society meetings were held here until 1782.

Next: Holborn: Inns of Chancery: Thavie's Inn