THe ancient division of this Citie,The Citie of London divided from East to west, into a South halfe and a North halfe. was into Wards or Aldermanries: and therefore I will beginne at the East, and so proceed thorow the high and most principall street of the Citie to the West, after this manner:

First, through Aldgate street, to the West corner of Saint Andrews Church, called Vndershaft, on the right hand, and Limestreet corner on the left; all which is of Aldgate Ward. From thence through Cornehill street, to the West corner of Leaden-hall; all which is of Limestreet Ward. From thence, leaving the street that leadeth to Bishopsgate on the right hand, and the way that leadeth into Grasse-street on the left, still through Cornehill street, by the Conduit, to the West corner against the Stockes; all which is in Cornehill Ward.The Stocks market the midst of the Citie. Then by the said Stockes (a Market-place both of Fish and Flesh, standing in the midst of the Citie) through the Poultry, (a street so called, to the great Conduit in West Cheape, and so through Cheape to the Standard, which is of Cheape Ward, except on the South side from Bow-lane to the said Standard, which is of Cordwayner-street Ward. Then by the Standard to the great Crosse, which is in Creplegate Ward on the North side, and in Breadstreet Ward on the South side: and to the little Conduit by Pauls gate, from whence (of old time) the said high street stretched straight on to Ludgate, all in the Ward of Farringdon within, then divided truely from East to West: but since,S. Pauls Church burned in the Conquerour time. by meanes of the burning of Pauls Church, which was in the reigne of William the first, Mauricius, then Bishop of London, laid the foundation of a new Church, so farre in largenesse exceeding the old, that the way towards Ludgate was thereby greatly straightned, as before I have discoursed.

Now, from the North to the South,The Citie divided frō north to south, into an east halfe & a west halfe. this Citie was (of old time) divided, not by a large highway or street, as from East to West, but by a faire Brooke of sweet water, which came from out the North Fields, through the Wall and midst of the Citie, into the River of Thames, and which division is (till this day) constantly and without change maintained. This water was called (as I have said) Walbrooke; The course of Walbrooke, and reason of the name. not Gallus brook, of a Romane Captaine, slaine by Asclepiodatus, and throwne therein, as some have fabuled; but of running through and from the Wall of this Citie. The course whereof, (to prosecute it particularly) was and is from the said Wall, to Saint Margarets Church in Lothbury; from thence, beneath the lower part of the Grocers Hall, about the East part of their Kitchen, under Saint Mildreds Church, somewhat West from the said Stockes Market: from thence, through Buckles berry, by one great house builded of stone and Timber, called the old Barge; because Barges out of the River of Thames were then rowed up so farre into this Brooke, on the backe-side of the houses in Walbrooke street, (which street taketh name of the said Brooke) By the West end of S. Iohns Church upon Walbrooke, under Horshooe Bridge, L3by The Citie divided into parts. by the West side of Tallow-Chandlers Hall, and of the Skinners Hall, and so behind the other houses to Elbow lane, and by a part thereof, downe Greenewitch lane, into the River of Thames.

This is the course of Walbrooke, The course of VValbrooke arched over. which was (of old time) bridged over in divers places, for passage of horses and men, as need required: but since, by meanes of encrochment on the banks thereof, the channel being greatly straightned, and other annoyances done thereunto, at length the same (by common consent) was arched over with bricke, and paved with stone, equall with the ground, where-through it passed, and is now in most places builded upon, that no man may by the eye discerne it; and therefore the trace thereof is hardly knowne to the common people.

This Citie being thus divided from East to West,This City divided intowards and from North to South; I am now further to shew, how the same was (of old time) broken into divers parts, called Wards, whereof Fitzstephen, Fitzstephen. more than foure hundred yeeres since, writeth thus: This Citie (saith he) even as Rome, is divided into Wards: it hath yeerely Sheriffes, in stead of Consuls: It hath the dignity of Senators in Aldermen, &c.

The number of these Wards in London, Wards in London 25. Patent Record. were both before and in the reigne of Henry the third, 25. in all: whereof 13. lay on the East side of the said Walbrooke, and 11. on the West. Notwithstanding, these 11. grew much more large than those on the East: and therfore in the yeere of Christ, 1393. the seventeenth of Richard the second, Faringdon Ward, which was then one entire Ward, but mightily increased of buildings without the gates; was by Parliament appointed to be divided into twaine, and to have two Aldermen, to wit, Faringdon within, and Faringdon without, which made up the number of twelve Wards on the West side of Walbrooke, and so came the whole number of 25. on both sides.Wards in London 26.

Moreover, in the yeere 1550. the Maior, Communalty, and Citizens of London, purchasing the liberties of the Burrough of Southwarke, appointed the same to be a Ward of London; and so became the number of thirteene wards on the East, twelve on the West, and one South the River Thames, in the said Borough of Southwarke, in the County of Surrey; VVards in London and the Borough of Southwarke, 26. which in all arise to the number of 26. Wards, and 26. Aldermen of London to governe them.

One ward is south the River of Thames in the Burrough of Southwarke, by the name of, 26. Bridge ward without.