Chapter Lucy to Lumbercourt of L by Brewer's Readers Handbook

(“Parth-lud,”in Latin Porta-Lud.)

Lud (General), leader of the distressed and riotous artisans in the manufacturing districts of England, who, in 1811, endeavoured to prevent the use of powerlooms.

Luddites, the riotous artisans who followed the leader called general Lud.

Above thirty years before this time, an imbecile named Ned Lud, living in a village in Leicestershire, being tormented by some boys,…pursued one of them into a house, and…broke two stocking-frames. His name was taken by those who broke power-looms.—H. Martineau.

Lud’s Town, London, as if a corruption of Lud-ton. Similarly, Ludgate is said to be Lud’s-gate; and Ludgate prison is called “Lud’s Bulwark.” Of course, the etymologies are only fit for fable.

King Lud, repairing the city, called it after his name, “Lud’s town; “the strong gate which he built in the west part he named “Lud-gate.” In 1260 the gate was beautified with images of Lud and other kings. Those images, in the reign of Edward VI., had their heads smitten off.…Queen Mary did set new heads upon their old bodies again. The 28th of queen Elizabeth, the gate was newly beautified with images of Lud and others, as before.—Stow: Survey of London (1598).

Ludovico, chief minister of Naples. He heads a conspiracy to murder the king and seize the crown. Ludovico is the craftiest of villains, but, being caught in his own guile, he is killed.—Sheil: Evadne or The Statue (1820).

Ludovico in Shakespeare’s Othello (1602).

Ludwal or Idwal, son of Roderick the Great, of North Wales. He refused to pay Edgar king of England the tribute which had been levied ever since the time of Æthelstan. William of Malmesbury tells us that Edgar commuted the tribute for 300 wolves’ heads yearly; the wolf-tribute was paid for three years, and then discontinued, because there were no more wolves to be found.

O Edgar! who compelledst our Ludwal hence to pay
Three hundred wolves a year for tribute unto thee.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, ix. (1612).

Lufra, Douglas’s dog, “the fleetest hound in all the North.”—Sir W. Scott: Lady of the Lake (1810).

Ellen, the while, with bursting heart,
Remained in lordly bower apart…
While Lufra, crouching at her side,
Her station claimed with jealous pride.
   —Sir W. Scott: Lady of the Lake, vi. 23 (1810).

Luggnagg, an island where the inhabitants never die. Swift shows some of the evils which would result from such a destiny, unless accompanied with eternal youth and freshness.—Swift: Gulliver’s Travels (1726).

Lugier, the rough, confident tutor of Oriana, etc., and chief engine whereby “the wild goose” Mirabel is entrapped into marriage with her.—Fletcher: The Wild-goose Chase (1652).

Luke, brother-in-law of “the City madam.” He was raised from a state of indigence into enormous wealth by a deed of gift of the estates of his brother, sir John Frugal, a retired merchant. While dependent on his brother, lady Frugal (“the City lady”) treated Luke with great scorn and rudeness; but when she and her daughter became dependent on him, he cut down the superfluities of the fine lady to the measure of her original state—as daughter of Goodman Humble, farmer.—Massinger: The City Madam (1639).

Massinger’s best characters are the hypocritical
“Luke” and the heroic “Marullo.”
   —Spalding.

Luke, patriarch’s nuncio, and bishop of the Druses. He terms the Druses

…the