IN few yeeres after, as Simeon of Durham, Simeon of Durham. an ancient Writer, reporteth, Helen, the Mother of Conſtamtine the great, was the firſt that inwalled this Citie, about the yeere of Chriſt, 306. But howſoever thoſe wals of ſtone might be builded by Helen, yet the Britaines (I know) had no skill of building with ſtone, as it may appeare by that which followeth, about the yeere of Chriſt, 399. when Arcadius and Honorius, the ſonnes of Theodoſius Magnus, governed the Empire, the one in the Eaſt, the other in the Weſt. For Honorius having received Britaine, the Citie of Rome was invaded and deſtroyed by the Gothes; The Romanes left to govern in Britaine. after which time the Romanes left to rule in Britaine, as being imployed in defence of their Territories neerer home. Whereupon the Britaines, not able to defend themſelves againſt the invaſions of their enemies, were many yeeres together under the oppreſſion of two cruell Nations, the Scots and Picts, The Scots and Picts invade this Land. and at length were forced to ſend their Ambaſſadours, with Letters and lamentable ſupplications to Rome, requiring aide and ſuccour from thence, upon promiſe of their continuall fealtie, ſo that the Romanes would reſcue them out of the hands of their enemies. Hereupon, the Romanes ſent unto them a Legion of armed Souldiers, which comming into this Iland, and encountring with the enemies, overthrew a great number of them, and drave the reſt out of the frontiers of the Country. And ſo ſetting the Britaines at liberty, counſelled them to make a Wall, extending all along between the two ſeas, which might be of force to keepe out their evill neighbours, and then returned home with great triumph. The Britaines wanting Maſons, builded that wall, Britaines unskilfull of building with ſtone. not of ſtone (as they were adviſed) but made it of turfe, and that ſo ſlender, that it ſerved little or nothing at all for their defence. And the enemy perceiving that the Romane Legion was returned home, forthwith arrived out of their Boats, invaded their borders, overcame the Countrey, and (as it were) bare downe all that was before them.

Whereupon, Ambaſſadours were eftſoones diſpatched to Rome, lamentably beſeeching, that they would not ſuffer their miſerable Countrey to bee utterly deſtroyed. Then againe, another Legion was ſent, which comming on a ſudden, made a great ſlaughter of the enemy, and chaſed him home, even to his owne Countrey. Theſe Romanes at their departure told the Britaines plainly, that it was not for their eaſe or leaſure, to take upon them (any more) ſuch long and laborious journies for their defence, and therefore bade them practiſe the uſe of Armour and Weapons, and learn to withſtand their enemies, whom nothing elſe did make ſo ſtrong, as their faint heart and cowardiſe. And for ſo much as they thought, that it would be no ſmall helpe and encouragement unto their tributarie friends, whom they were now forced to forſake: they builded for them a wall of hard ſtone,Witchendus. from the Weſt Sea to the Eaſt Sea,Wall of ſtone builded by the Romanes, betwixt the Britains and Scots. right betweene thoſe two Cities, which were there made to keepe out the enemies, in the ſelfe-ſame place where Severus before had caſt his Trench: the Britaines alſo putting to their helping hands as labourers.

This Wall they builded eight foot thicke in bredth, and twelve foot in height, right as it were by a line from Eaſt to Weſt; as the ruines thereof, (remaining in many places till this day) doe make to appeare. Which worke thus perfected, they gave the people ſtraight charge to looke well to themſelves, they teach them to handle their weapons, and inſtruct them in warlike feats. And lest by the Sea ſide Southwards, where their Ships lay at harbor, the enemie ſhould come on Land; they made up ſundry bulwarkes, each ſomewhat diſtant from other, & ſo bid them farewell, as minding no more to return. This hapned in the dayes of Theodoſius the yonger, almoſt 500. yeeres after the firſt arrivall of the Romanes here, about the yeere after Chriſts Incarnation, 434.

Wall about the Citie of LONDON. The Britaines after this continuing a lingring and doubtfull warre with the Scots and Picts; made choice of Vortiger to be their King and Leader: which man (as ſaith Malmesbury) was neither valorous of courage,Malmesb. nor wiſe of counſell,Bede. but wholly given over to the unlawfull luſts of his fleſh.The Britains given to gluttony, drunkenneſſe, pride, and contention. The people likewiſe (in ſhort time) being growne to ſome quietneſſe, gave themſelves to gluttony and drunkenneſſe, pride, contention, envie, and ſuch other vices, caſting from them the yoke of Chriſt. In the meane ſeaſon, a bitter Plague fell among them,The Brītaines Plagued for their ſinful life. conſuming in ſhort time ſuch a multitude, that the quicke were not ſufficient to burie the dead: and yet the remnant remained ſo hardned in ſinne, that neither death of their friends, nor feare of their owne danger, could cure the mortality of their ſoules; wherupon a great ſtroke of vengeance enſued upon the whole ſinfull Nation. For, being now againe infeſted with their old neighbours, the Scots and Picts, they conſult with their King Vortiger, Witchendus. and ſend for the Saxons, who ſhortly after arrived here in Britaine; Bede. where,The Saxons ſent for to defend the Britaines, but they drave thē into the Mountaines. ſaith Bede, they were received as friends: but as it proved, they minded to deſtroy the Countrey as enemies. For after they had driven out the Scots and Picts, they alſo drave the Britaines, ſome over the Seas, ſome into the waſte mountaines of Wales and Cornwall, and divided the Countrey into divers Kingdomes amongſt themſelves.

Theſe Saxons were likewiſe ignorant of building with ſtone, Saxons unskilfull of building with ſtone. untill the yeere 680. for then it is affirmed, that Bennet, Abbot of Wirrall, Maſter to the reverend Bede, Bennet, a Monke, brought in Maſons. firſt brought Artificers of ſtone houſes, and glaſſe windowes into this Iland, amongſt the Saxons: Arts, before that time, unto them unknowne, and therefore uſed they but woodden buildings. And to this accordeth Polychronicon, Woodden churches, and goldē prieſts. who ſaith, that then had yee woodden Churches; nay woodden Chalices, and golden Prieſts; but ſince, golden Chalices, and woodden Prieſts. And, to knit up this Argument, King Edgar, in his Charter to the Abbey of Malmesbury, dated the yeere of Chriſt 974. hath words to this effect: All the Monaſteries in my Realme, Monaſteries of rotten timber to the outward ſight, are nothing but worm-eaten and rotten Timber, and boords; and that worſe is, within they are almoſt empty and void of divine Service.

Thus much be ſaid for walling, not onely in reſpect of this Citie, but generally alſo of the firſt within the Realme. Now to returne to our Trinobant, (as Cæſar cals it;) the ſame is (ſince) by Tacitus, Ptolomæus, and Antonius, called Londinium, Longidinium; of Ammianus, Lundinum, and Auguſta, who calleth it alſo an ancient Citie. Of our Britaines, Lundaine; of the old Saxons, Lundenceaſter, Lundenbirig, Londennir. Of ſtrangers, Londra and Londres; of the inhabitants, London: whereof you may read a more large and learned Diſcourſe, and how it tooke the name, in that Worke of my loving friend, Maſter Camden, now Clarenceaulx, which is called Britania.

Concerning Mr. Camden, in his more abſolute relation of London, the Argument we have now in hand; I will be ſo bold as to borrow his owne words, as he hath ſet them downe in his Britania. Summing over the ſeverall names then given and attributed thereto, as formerly hath beene declared: hee comes to his owne iudgement:

For mine owne part, Camden in his Britannia concerning the name of London. (ſaith hee) ſeeing that Cæſar and Strabo doe write, that the ancient Britaines called thoſe Woods and Groves, by the name of Cities and Townes, which they had fenced with Trees, caſt down and plaſhed, to ſtop up all paſſage: Seeing alſo I have underſtood, that ſuch Woods or Groves are in the Britiſh Tongue named Llhwn: Of Britiſh Townes and Cities I incline a little to the opinion, that London thence tooke name, as one would ſay, by way of excellencie; The Citie, or A Citie thicke of Trees. But if herein I faile of the truth; let me (with good leave) give my conjecture. And here would I have no man to charge me with inconſtancie, while I diſport in conjecture; that whence it had the fame, London received nama frō Ships and ſhipping. thence alſo it took name, even from Ships, which the Britaines in their language call Lhong: ſo that Londinum may ſeeme to ſound as much as a Ship-Road, or Citie of Ships. For the Britaines terme a Citie Dinas, Dinas Brit. whence the Latines have fetched their Dinum. Dinum Lat. And hence it is, that elſewhere it is called Longidinium; and in the Funerall Song or Dumpe of a moſt ancient Britiſh * Poet. * Bard, Lhong-porth, that is, B3An Wall about the Citie of LONDON. An Harbour or Haven of Ships. And by this very terme Bononia, or Bolen in France, which Ptolomee calleth Geſſoriacum Navale, in the Britiſh Gloſſarie is named Bolunglhong:How many cities have derived their names frō Ships. as Naupactus, Nauſtathmos, Nauplia, Navalia Auguſti, &c.

But of theſe, none hath better right to aſſume unto it the name of a Ship-Roade, or Haven, than our London. For in regard of both Elements, moſt happy and bleſſed it is;The ſituation of London. as being ſituated in a rich and fertile ſoile, abounding with plentifull ſtore of all things, and on the gentle aſcent and riſing of an Hill, hard by the Thames ſide, the moſt milde Merchant (as one would ſay) of all things that the world doth yeeld: which ſwelling at certaine houres with the Ocean Tides, by his ſafe and deepe Channell (able to entertaine the greateſt Ships that be) daily bringeth in ſo great riches from all parts,The benefit of the Thames eb¦bing and flowing, & alſo of the ſhipping. that it ſtriveth at this day with the Mart-Townes of Chriſtendome for the ſecond Prize, and affordeth a moſt ſure and beautifull Road for Shipping. A man would ſay that ſeeth the Shipping there, that it is (as it were) a very Wood of Trees, disbranched to make glades and let in light: So ſhaded it is with Maſts and Sayles.

Who was the firſt Founder,Concerning the firſt founder of London. is by length of time growne out of knowledge: and intruth, very few Cities there are, that know theier owne firſt Founders, conſidering they grew up to their greatneſſe by little and little. But as other Cities, ſo this of ours, fathereth her originall upon the Trojans, as verily beleeving that Brute (the Nephew in the third deſcent of great Æneas) was the builder thereof. Brute supposed to bee the builder. But whoſoever founded it; the happy and fortunate eſtate thereof hath given good proofe, that built it was in a good houre, and marked for life and long continuance. Antiquity of London. And that it is for Antiquity Honourable, Ammianus Marcellinus giveth us to underſtand; who called it in his time, (and that was 1200. yeeres agoe) An old Towne. And Cornelius Tacitus in like manner, who in Nero’s dayes, 1540. yeeres ſince, reported it to have bin a place Very famous for freſh trade, concourſe of Merchants, & great ſtore of victuals, and all things neceſſary. This onely at that time was wanting to the glory thereof, London no free Citie, nor Colonie in the Romanes time. that it had the name neither of a free City, nor of a Colony. Neither verily could it have ſtood with the Romanes profit, if a Citie flouriſhing with Merchandize, ſhould haue enjoyed the right of a Colonie or Free Citie. And therefore it was (as I ſuppose) that they ordained it to be a Præfectura: London a Præfectura, governed by Officers yeerely ſent to it from Rome. for ſo they termed all Townes where Marts were kept, and Iuſtice miniſtred: Yet ſo, as that they had no Magiſtrates of their owne: but Rulers were ſent every yeere to governe in them, and for to miniſter Law, which in publike matters, namely of Taxe, Tributes, Tolles, Cuſtomes, Warfare, &c. they ſhould have from the Senate of Rome. Hence it commeth that Tacitus, the Panegyriſt, and Marcellinus call it onely a Towne.

And although it was not in name loftier; London flouriſhed equall with any other place. yet in wealth, riches and proſperity, it flouriſhed as much as any other: yea and continued in manner alwaies the ſame, under the dominion of Romanes, Engliſh-Saxons, and Normans, ſeldome or never afflicted with any great calamities. In the reigne of Nero, when the Britaines had conſpired to recover and reſume their liberty under the leading of Boadicia; Suetonius Paulinus, Lieutenant for Rome. the Londoners could not with all their weeping teares, hold Suetonius Paulinus, but that after he had levied a power of the Citizens to aide him, he would needes diſlodge and remove from thence, leaving the Citie naked to the enemy; who forthwith ſurprized and ſlew ſome few, whom either weakneſſe of ſexe, feebleneſſe of age, or ſweetneſſe of the place had detained there.

This City of Londō having bin deſtroyed & burnt by the Danes & other Pagan enemies,The Citie of London dſstroyed by the Danes and againe repaired. about the yeere of Chriſt 839; was, by Alfred, King of the Weſt-Saxons, in the yeere 886. repaired, honourabley reſtored,The Citie of London lay waſte, & not inhabited for the ſpace of almoſt 50 yeeres. and made againe habitable: Who alſo committed the cuſtody thereof unto his ſonne in law, Ethelred, Earle of Mercia, unto whom before he had given his daughter Ethelfled.

And that this Citie was then ſtrongly walled, may appeare by divers accidents; W. Malmeſbury. whereof William of Malmesbury hath,Aſſur. that about the yeere of Chriſt, 994 the Londoners did ſhut up their gates,Marianus. and defended their King,Florentius. Ethelred, within their Wals againſt the Danes.

In the yeere 1016. Edmund Ironſide, reigning over the West-Saxons, Canutus the Dane, bringing his Navy unto the weſt part of the Bridge, did caſt a trench about the Citie of London, and then attempted to have won it by aſſault: but the Wall about the Citie of LONDON. the Citizens repulſed him, and drave them from their Wals.

Alſo in the yeere 1052. Earle Godwin, with his Navie ſayled up by the South end of the Bridge, and ſo aſſailed the Walles of this Citie.

William Fitzſtephen,W. Fitzstephen. in the reigne of Henry the ſecond, writing of the Wals of this Citie, The Citie of London walled round about by the River of Thames. hath theſe words: the wall is high and great, well towred on the North ſide, with due diſtance betweene the Towres. On the South ſide alſo, the Citie was walled and towred: but the fiſhfull River of Thames, by his ebbing and flowing, hath long ſince ſubverted them.

By the North ſide, he meaneth from the River of Thames in the Eaſt, to the River of Thames in the Weſt: for so ſtretched the Wall in his time, and the Citie being farre more in length from Eaſt to Weſt, than in breadth from South to North; and alſo narrower at both ends, than in the middeſt, is therefore compaſſed with the Wall on the Land ſide, in forme of a bow, except denting in betwixt Cripplegate and Alderſgate. But the Wall on the South ſide, along by the River of Thames, was ſtraight, as the ſtring of a bow, and all furniſhed with Towres or Bulwarkes, (as we now terme them) in due diſtance every one from other, as witneſſeth our Author, and our ſelves may behold for the Land ſide. This may ſuffice for proofe of a Wall, and forme thereof about this Citie, and the ſame to have beene of great Antiquity, as any other within this Realme.

And now touching the maintenance and repairing the ſaid Wall,Wals of London repaired. I read, that in the yeere 1215. the 6. of King Iohn, the Barons entring the City by Ealdgate, Roger of Randover. firſt took aſſurance of the Citizens,Mat. Paris. then brake into the Iews houſes,Ranul. ſearched their coffers,Cogſhal. to fill their owne purſes: and after, Mat. Paris. with great diligence repaired the wals and gates of the Citie, with ſtones taken from the Iewes broken houſes. In the yeere 1257. Henry the third cauſed the wals of this Citie, which were ſore decayed, and deſtitute of Towres and Towrets, to be repaired in more ſeemely wiſe than before, at the common charges of the Citie. Alſo, in the yeere 1282 King Edward the firſt, having granted to Robert Kilwarby, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, licence for the enlarging of the Blacke Friers Church, to breake and take downe a part of the Wall of the Citie, from Ludgate to the River of Thames: He alſo granted to Henry Waleis, Maior, and the Citizens of London, the favour to take toward the making of the wall, and incloſure of the Citie, certaine cuſtoms, or toll, as appeareth by his Grant. This wall was then to be made from Ludgate weſt to Fleetbridge, along behinde the houſes, and along by the water of the Fleet unto the River of Thames. Moreover, in the yeere 1310. Edward the ſecond commanded the Citizens to make up the Wall already begunne, and the Tower at the end of the ſame Wall, within the water of Thames, neere unto the Blacke Friers, &c. 1322. the ſecond of Edward the third, the Wals of this Citie were repaired.Patent. It was alſo granted by King Richard the ſecond, in the tenth yeere of his reigne, that a toll ſhould be taken of the wares, ſold by Land or by Water, (for tenne yeeres) towards the repairing of the Wals, and cleanſing of the Ditch about London. In the 17. of Edward the fourth, Ralph Ioſeline Maior, cauſed part of the Wall about the Citie of London to be repaired; to wit, betwixt Ealdgate and Alderſgate. He also cauſed the Moore-field to be ſearched for clay, and bricke thereof to be made and burnt: he likewiſe cauſed chalke to be brought out of Kent, and to be burnt into lime in the ſame Moore-field, for more furtherance of the worke. Then the Skinners, to beginne in the Eaſt, made that part of the Wall, betwixt Ealdgate and Buries markes, towards Biſhopſgate; as may appeare by their Armes in three places fixed there. The Maior, with his Companie of Drapers, made all that part betwixt Biſhopſgate and Alhallowes Church in the ſame Wall, and from Alhallowes towards the Poſterne called Mooregate. A great part of the ſame Wall was repaired by the Executors of Sir Iohn Croſby, late Alderman, as may appeare by his Armes in two places there fixed: And other Companies repaired the reſt of the VVall to the Poſterne of Cripplegate.

In a Record which I have ſeene, and affirmed alſo by Iohn Rouſe, and (after him) by Raphael Holinſhed, I finde thus written: Rivers and other Waters ſerving this Citie. written: In Anno 1477. by the diligence of Ralph Ioſeline, Maior of London, the Wall about London was new made, betwixt Aldgate and Creplegate. He cauſed the Moore-fields to be ſearched for clay, and bricke to be made and burnt there. He cauſed chalke alſo to be brought out of Kent, and in the ſame Moore-fields to be burnt into lime, onely for the furtherance of that worke. The Maior, with his company of Drapers, made all that part betwixt Biſhopſgate and Alhallowes Church in the ſame wall. Biſhopſgate new builded. Biſhopſgate it ſelfe was new built by the Merchants Almanes of the Stillyard. And from Alhallowes Church in the wall, towards Mooregate, a great part of the ſame was builded, of the goods, and by the Executours of Sir Iohn Crosby, ſometimes an Alderman, and Maior of London, as may appeare by his Armes thereon fixed in two places. The Company of Skinners made that part of the wall betweene Ealdgate and Buries markes, towards Biſhopſgate; as may appeare by their Armes in three places fixed. The other Companies of the Citie, made the other deale of the wall: which was a great worke to be done in one yeere.

The Goldſmiths repaired from Creplegate towards Alderſgate, and there the worke ceaſed. The circuit of the wall of London on the lands ſide, to wit, from the Tower of London in the Eaſt, unto Ealdgate, Circuit of the Wall from the Eaſt to the Weſt, and accordingly to every gate. is 82. Perches: from Ealdgate to Biſhopſgate, 86. Perches: from Biſhopſgate in the North, to the Poſterne of Creplegate, 162. Perches: from Creplegate to Alderſgate, 75. Perches: from Alderſgate to Newgate, 66. Perches: from Newgate in the Weſt, to Ludgate, 42. Perches: in all, 513. Perches of aſſiſe. From Ludgate to the Fleet-Dike Weſt about 60. Perches: from Fleet-bridge South to the River Thames, about 70. Perches: and ſo the Totall of theſe Perches amounteth to 643. every Perch conſiſting of 5. yardes and an halfe; which doe yeeld 3536. yards and an halfe, containing 10608. foot, which make vp two Engliſh miles, and more by 608. foot.