AUnciently vntill the Conquerors time,I.e., William I. and 200. yeres after, the Citie of London was watered beſides the famous Riuer of Thames, on the South part, with the riuer of the wels, as it was then called on the weſt, with a water called walbrooke, runing through the middeſt of the Citie into the riuer of Thames ſeruing the hart thereof. And with a fourth water or Boorne, which ran within the Citie, through Langboorne warde, watering that parte in the Eaſt. In the weſt Suburbes was alſo an other greate water, called Oldborne, which had his fall into the Riuer of wels: then was there 3. principall Fountaines, or wels in the other Suburbes, to wit Holly well, Clements well, and Clarkes wel. Neare vnto this laſt named fountaine, were diuers other wels, to wit Skinners well, Fags well, Tede well, Leders well, and Radwell. In weſt Smithfield there was a Poole, in recordes called Horſepoole, And one other Poole neare vnto the pariſh Church of S. Giles without Criplegate. Beſides all which they had in euery ſtreete and lane of the City diuers fayre wels, and freſh ſpringes: and after this manner was this Citie then ſerued, with ſweete & freſh waters, which being ſince decayed, other meanes haue beene ſought to ſupply the want, as ſhall bee ſhewed, but firſt of the aforenamed Riuers and other waters, is to be ſaid, as followeth.

Thames the moſt famous Riuer of this Iland, beginneth a little aboue aRiuer of Thames. village called winchcombe in Oxfordſhire, and ſtill increaſing paſſeth firſt by the vniuerſitie of Oxford, and ſo with a maruelous quiet courſe to London, and thence breaketh into the French Ocean by maine tides, which twiſe in 24. howers ſpace doeth eb and flow, more then 60. miles in length, to the great com- Riuers and other waters ſeruing this Citie 11 commodity of Trauellers, by the which all kinde of Marchandiſe be eaſily conueyed to London, the principall ſtore houſe, and ſtaple of all Commodities within this Realme: ſo that omitting to ſpeake of greate ſhips, and other veſſels of burden, there perteyneth to the Cities of London, weſtminſter and Burrough of Southwarke aboue the number as is ſuppoſed of 2000. Wherryes and other ſmall boates, whereby 3000. poore men at the leaſt bee ſet on worke and maintained.

That the Riuer of the wels whirries on the Thames. Riuer of wels in the weſt parte of the Citie, was of old time ſo called: it may be prooued thus, william the Conqueror in his Charter, to the Colledg of S. Martin, le Grand in London, hath theſe wordes: I do geue and grant to the ſame church all the land and the Moore, without the Poſterne, which is called Criplegate, on eyther parte of the Poſterne, that is to ſay, from the North corner of the wal, as the ryuer of the wels, there neare running departeth the ſame More from the wal, vnto the runing water which entreth the Cittie, this water hath beene ſince that time called Turnemill Brooke: yet then called the riuer of the Wels, which name of Ryuer continued: and it was ſo called in the raign of Edwarde the firſt: as ſhalbe ſhewed, with alſo the decay of the ſaide riuer,Decay of the Riuer of the Wels. in a fayre booke of Parliament recordes,parliament record. now lately reſtored to the Tower, it appeareth that a parlLetter missing; context obvious.iament being holden at Carlile in the yere 1307, the 35. of Edwarde the firſt, Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne, complayned that whereas in times paſt the courſe of water, running at London, vnder Oldeborne bridge, and Fleete bridge into the Thames, had beene of ſuch bredth and depth, that 10. or 12. Shippes, Nauies, at once with Marchandizes, were wont to come to the foreſaide bridge of Fleete, and ſome of them to Oldborne bridge:Riuer of wels bare ſhipes. now the ſame courſe by filth of the Tanners and ſuch others, was ſore decayed: alſo by raiſing of wharſes, but ſpecially by a diuerſion of the water made by them of the new Temple, for their milles ſtanding without Baynardes Caſtle, in the firſt yeare of King Iohn patent recorde Mils by Baynardes caſtle made in the firſt of King Iohn. and diuers other impedimentes, ſo as the ſaide ſhips could not enter as they were wont, and as they ought, wherefore he deſired that the Mayor of London with the Sheriffes, and other diſcrete Aldermen, might be appointed to view the courſe of the ſaide water, and that 12 Riuers and other waters ſeruing this Citie that by the othes of good men, all the aforeſaide hinderances might be remoued, and it to be made as it was wont of olde: whereupon Roger le Brabaſon, the Conſtable of the Tower, with the Mayor and Sheriffes were aſſigned to take with them honeſt and diſcrete men, and to make diligent ſearch & inquiry, how the ſaid ryuer wasRiuer ſocalled in the yeare 1307. in olde time, and that they leaue nothing that may hurt or ſtop it, but keepe it in the ſame eſtate, that it was wont to bee: ſo farre the recorde. Whereupon it followed that the ſaide riuer, was at that time clenſed, theſe mils remoued, and other thinges done for the preſeruation of the courſe thereof, notwithſtanding neuer brought to the old depth, and breadth, whereupon the name of riuer ceaſed, and it was ſince called a Brooke, namely Turnmil or Tremill Brooke,Turnemill brooke. for that diuers mils were erected vpon it, as appeareth by a fayre Regiſter booke, conteyning the foundation of the Priorie at Clarken wel, and donation of the landes, thereunto belonging, as alſo by diuers other recordes.

This brooke hath beene diuers times ſince clenſed, namely and laſt of all to any effect. In the yeare 1502. the 17. of Henry the 7. the whole courſe of Fleete dike, then ſo called was ſcowred (I ſay) down to the Thames, ſo that boates with fiſh and fewell were rowed to Fleete bridge and to Oldborne bridge, as they of olde time had beene accuſtomed, which was a great commodity to all the inhabitantes in that part of the City.

In the yeare 1589. was granted a fifteene, by a common Councell of the Cittie, for the clenſing of this Brooke or dike and the money amounting to a thouſand markes was collected,Fleete dike promiſed to be clenſed: the money collected, but the Citizens deceiLetter missing.ued. and it was vndertaken that by drawing diuers ſpringes about Hampſtid heatLetter missing; context obvious.h, into one head and courſe, both the Citie ſhould be ſerued of freſh water, in all places of want, and alſo that by ſuch a follower, as men call it the channell of this brooke ſhoulde bee ſcowred into the Ryuer of Thames, but much money being therin ſpent, the effect fayled, ſo that the brookes by meanes of continuall incrochments vpon the banks gyttying ouer the water, and caſting of ſoilage into the ſtreame, is now become worſe cloyed and choken then euer it was before.

The running water ſo calledA running water called Walbrooke. by William the Conqueror in his ſaide Charter, which entreth the Citie &c. before there was any Riuers and other waters. 13 any ditch betwéene Biſhopſgate and the late made Poſterne called Moregate, entred the wal and was truely of the wall called Walbrooke not of Gualo as ſome haue farre fetched: it ranne through the Citie with diuers windinges from the North towardes the South into the riuer of Thames, and had ouer the ſame diuers Bridges, along the Streetes and Lanes, through which it paſſed. I haue read in an olde writing booke intituled the cuſtomesliber cuſtoms. of London, that the Prior of the Holy Trinity within Aldgate ought to make ouer VValbrooke in the ward of BrLetter missing.edſtreete, againſt the ſtone wall of the Citie, vz. the ſame Bridge that is next the Church of Al Saintes, at the wall. Alſo that the Prior of the new Hoſpitall, S. Marie Spittle, without Biſhopſgate ought to make the middle parte of one other Bridge next to the ſaide Bridge towardes the North: And that in the 28. yeare of Edwarde the firſt, it was by inquiſition found before the Maior of London that the pariſh of S. Stephen vppon walbrooke, ought of right to couer the courſe of the ſaide Brooke, and therefore the Shieriffes were commanded to diſtrayne the ſaide Pariſhioners ſo to doe in the yeare 1300. the keepers of thoſe Bridges at that time were VVilliam Iordan, and Iohn de Bauer. This watercourſe hauing diuers Bridges, was afterwardes vaulted ouer with Bricke, and paued leuill with the ſtreetes and lanes, where through it paſſed, and ſince that alſo houſes haue beene builded thereon, ſo tUnclear.hat the courſe of VValbrookeWalbrooke vaulted and paued ouer. is now hidden vnder ground, and thereby hardly knowen. Langborne waterWeinreb’s states that there is no evidence for this stream (Weinreb Langbourne).Harben addresses Stow’s description of the stream here, calling his inference of the name purely mythical and stating that there is no reason to suppose that there was ever a brook or stream running in this direction in this part of the City (Harben, Langbourne [The]). ſo called of the length thereof, was a greate ſtreame of water breaking out of the ground, in Fan Church ſtreete, which ran downe with a ſwift courſe, weſt, through that ſtreete, thwart Graſtreet and downe Lombardeſtreete, to the weſt ende of S. Mary VVolnothes Church, and then turning the courſe South downe Shareborne lane, ſo termed of ſharing or deuiding, it brake into diuers rilles or rillets Sharebourne lane.to the Riuer of Thames, of this Bourne that warde tooke the name, and is till this day called Langborne warde, Langbourne warde. this Bourne alſo is long ſince ſtopped vp at the heade and the reſt of the courſe filled vp and paued ouer, ſo that no ſigne thereof remaineth more then the names aforeſaide, Oldeborne or Hilborne was the like water, breaking out aboute the place where 14 Riuers and other waters. where now the barsI.e., Holborn Bars. do ſtand, and it ran downe the whole ſtreete till Oldebourne bridge, and into the Riuer of the VVels, or Turnemil Brook: this Bourn was likewiſe long ſince ſtoped vp at the head, & in other places where the ſame hath broken out, but yet till this day, the ſaide ſtreete is there ſtill called high Ouldebourn hil, and both the ſides thereof together with al the grounds adioyning that lye betwixt it, and the riuer of Thames remayne full of ſpringes, ſo that water is there found at hand, and harde to be ſtopped in euery houſe.

There are (ſaith Fitzſtephen)Fitzſtephen. Holywell neare London, on the North ſide ſpeciall wels, in the Suburbes: ſweete, wholeſome, and cleare, amongſt which Holywel, Clarkes wel, & Clementes wel, are moſt famous and frequented by Schollers, and youths of the City in ſommer euenings, when they walke foorth to take the aire. The firſt, to wit, Holywel is much decayed and marred with filthineſſe, purpoſely layd there, for the heighthening of the ground, for garden plots: the fountaine called S. Clements wel, North from the Pariſh church of S. Clements, andClements well. neare vnto an Inne of Chancery, called Clements Inne, is thereof yet fayre curbed ſquare with harde ſtone, and is alwaies kepte cleane for common vſe: it is alwaies ful, and neuer wanteth water, the third is called Clarks well, or Clarken well, and is alſo curbed aboute ſquare with ſtone. Not far Clarkes wellfrom the weſt ende of this Clarkes well Church without the ſtone wall that incloſeth the Church, the other ſmaller wels that ſtood neare vnto Clarkes wel, to wit Skinners wel, Fagges well, Todwell, Loders well, and Redwell, are all decayed and ſo filled vp. that their places are now hardly diſcerned: ſomewhatSkinners well North from Holywell is one other well curbed ſquare with ſtone, and is called Dame Annis the cleare, Dame Annis the cleare. and not farre frō it but ſomewhat weſt, is alſo one other cleare water called Perilous Pond,Perilous pond becauſe diuers youthes by ſwimming therein haue béene drouned, and thus much be ſaide for fountaines and wels.

Horſepoole in Weſt Smithfielde was ſometime a greate water, Horſepoole.and becauſe the inhabitantes in that parte of the Citie did there water their Horſes, the ſame was in olde recordes called Horſepoole, it is now much decayed, the ſprings being ſtoped vp and the land water falling into the ſmall bottome, remayning in Riuers and other waters. 15 incloſed with Bricke, is but fowle: and is called Smithfielde Ponde.

The Poolepoole without Cripplegate. by S. Giles Churchyarde was a large water in the yeare 1244. for it is read that Anne of Lodbury was drouned therein, this Poole is now for the moſt parte ſtopped vp, but the ſpring is preſerued, and it was coopped about with ſtone by the Executors of Richarde VVhittington.

The ſaid riuer of the Wels, the running water of Walbrooke, the Bournes aforenamed, and other the freſh waters that were in and aboute this Citie, being in proceſſe of time by incrochment for buildinges and otherwiſe vtterlie decayed, and the number of Citizens mightely increaſed, they were forced to ſéeke ſwéete waters abroade, whereof ſome at the requeſt of king Henry the thirde, in the 21. yeare of his raigne, were for the profite of the Citie, and good of the whole Realme Patent 1236.thether repayring, granted to the Citizens and their Succeſſors by one Gilbert Sanford, with liberty to conuey water from the towne of Teiborne, by Pypes of leade into their Citie, & the firſt Ceſterne of leade caſtellated with ſtone in the Citie of London was called the greate Conduit in weſt Cheape, and was begunne to bee builded in the yeare 1285. Henry Wales being then Maior: the water courſe from Padington to Iames hed hath 510. roddes, from Iames hed on the hill to the Mewſgate, 102. roddes, from the Mewſgate to the croſſe in Cheape 484. roddes.

The Tonne vpon Cornhil was Ciſterned in the yere 1401. Iohn Chadworth then being Maior.

Boſſes of water, at Belinsgate, by Powles wharfe, and by S. Giles Church without Cripplegate made aboute the yere 1423.

Water conueyed to the Gaoles of Newgate and Ludgate, 1432.

Water procured to the Standarde in weſt Cheape aboute the yeare 1431. king Henry the ſixt in the yeare 1442. graunted to Iohn Hatharley, Maior licence to take vp 200. fodar of Leade for the building of Conduites of a common Garnery and of a new Croſſe in weſt Cheape, for honor of the Citie.

The Conduit in Aldermanbury and the Standarde in Fleete ſtreete were made and finiſhed by the executors of Sir William East- 16 Riuers, and other waters Eaſtfielde in the yeare 1471. a Seſterne was added to the ſtanderd in Fleteſtreete, and a Seſterne was made at Fleete bridge, and one other without Criplegate in the yeare 1478.

Conduite in Graſtreete in the yeare. 1491.

Conduite at Oldbourne Croſſe aboute 1498. againe new made by William Lambe, 1577.

Little Conduite by the Stockes market aboute. 1500.

Conduite at Biſhopſgate aboute 1513.

Conduite at London wall aboute 1528.

Conduite at Aldgate without, aboute, 1535.

Conduite in Lothbury, and in Colemanſtreete.I.e., the Colemanstreet Conduit. 1546.

Conduite of Thames water, at Dowgate. 1568,

Thames water conueyed into mens houſesThames water conueyed into mens houſes, in the eaſt parte of the City. by pypes of lead from a moſt artificiall forcier ſtanding neare vnto London bridge and made by Peter Moris Dutch man in the yeare 1582. for ſeruice of the Citie, on the Eaſt part thereof.

ConduitesConduites in old fiſhſtreet. of Thames water by the pariſh churches of S. Marie Magdalen, and S. Nicholas Colde Abby neare vnto olde Fiſhſtrete, in the yeare 1583.

One other new Forcier was made neare to Broken wharfe, to conuey Thames waterThames water conueyed into the weſt part of the City. into mens houſes of weſt Cheape, about Powles, Fleeteſtreete &c. by an Engliſh Gentleman, named Beuis Bulman, in the yeare 1594. Thus much for waters, ſeruing this Citie, firſt by Riuers, Brookes, Boornes, Fountaines, Pooles, &c. And ſince by Conduites partly made by good and charitable Citizens, and otherwiſe by chardges of the commiUnderinking.naltie, as ſhalbe ſhewed in deſcription of Wards wherein they be placed.

And now ſome Benefactors to theſe Conduites ſhalbee remembred.

In the yeare 1236. certaine Marchants ſtrangers,Benefactors towardes the water conduitUnderinking.es. of cities beyonde the Seas, to wit Amiens, Corby, and Nele for priuiledges which they enioyed in this Citie, gaue 100. £. towardes the charges of conueying water from the towne of Teyborne. Robert Large then Maior 1439. gaue to the new water Conduites then in hand, forty Markes, and towarde the vaulting ouer of Walbrooke 200 markes.

Sir Riuers and other waters. 17 Sir Wiliam Eaſtfielde conueyed water from Teyborne and from Highbery.

Wiliam Combes Sheriffe 1441. gaue to the worke of the Conduits. x.£.

Richarde Rawſon one of the Sheriffes 1476. gaue, xx £.

Robert Reuel one of the Shiriffes 1490. gaue, x.£.

Iohn Mathew Maior 1490. gaue xx.£

William Bucke Taylor in the yere, 1494. gaue 100. markes towardes repayring of Conduites.

Dame Thomaſon widow, late wiſe to Iohn Perciuall Taylor, Maior in the yere 1498. gaue towards the Conduit in Oldbourne, xx. markes.

Richarde Shore one of the Shiriffes 1505. gaue to the Conduit in Oldborne. x £.

The Lady Aſcue widow to Sir Chriſtopher Aſcue, 1543. gaue towardes the Conduites, C.£.

Dauid Wodren, Shiriffe, 1554. gaue towardes the Conduit at Biſhopſgate xx.£.

Edwarde Iackman one of the Shiriffes 1564. gaue toward the Conduites. C.£.

Barnarde Randolfe common Sarieant of the Citie 1583. gaue to the water Conduits. 700.£

Thus much for the Conduits of freſh water to this Citie.

The ditchI.e., City Ditch. which partly now remaineth,Liber Dunſtabla. and compaſſed the wal of the Citie, was begun to be made by the Londoners in the yere 1211. & was finiſhed in the yere 1213. the 15. of king Iohn, this ditch being then made of 200. foote brode,DitchI.e., City Ditch. about London 200. foote brode. Liber Trinitate cauſed no ſmal hindrance to the Canons of the holy Trinity, whoſe church ſtoode neare vnto Aldgate: for that the ſaide ditch paſſed through their grounde, from the Tower of London, vnto Biſhopſgate. This ditch being originally made for the defence of the cittie was long together carefully clenſed and mainteyned as neede required, but now of late neglected and forced eyther to a very narrow and the ſame a filthy channel, or altogether ſtopped vp for gardens planted, and houſes builded thereon euen to the very wall, and in many places vpon both ditch and wall, to what danger of the citie, I leaue to wiſer conſideration: and can but wiſh, that reforma C tion 18 Riuers and other waters ſeruing this Citie. tion might be had.

In the yeare of Chriſt, 1354. the 28. of Edwarde the third, the ditch of this citie flowing ouer the banke into the Tower ditch the king commanded the ſaide ditch of the citie to be clenſed, and ſo ordered, that the ouerflowing thereof, ſhould not force any filth into the Tower ditch. Anno 1379. Iohn Filpot Maior of London cauſed this ditchI.e., City Ditch. to be clenſed and euery houſehold to pay v.ď. which was for a daies worke towardes the charges thereof. Richarde the 2. in the tenth of his raigne, granted a Tole to bee taken of wares ſolde by water, or by lande for 10. yeares towardes repayring of the wall and clenſing of the ditch.

Thomas Fawconer Mayor 1414. cauſed the ditch to be clenſed. Ralf Ioceline, Maior 1477. cauſed the whole ditch to be caſt and clenſed, and ſo from time to time it was clenſed and otherwiſe reformed.

In my remembrance alſo the ſame was clenſed, namely the Moore ditch, when Sir Wiliam Hollies was Maior in the yeare 1540. And not long before or after, from the Tower of London, to Aldgate. It was againe clenſed in the yere 1549. Henry Amcotes being Mayor,Plentie of fiſh in the towne ditch. at the charges of the companies at which time the ſaide ditchI.e., City Ditch. lay open without eyther wall or pale, hauing therein great ſtore of very good fiſh of diuers ſortes, as many men yet liuing who haue taken and taſted them, can well witnes: but now no ſuch matter the charge of clenſing that ditch isſaued & great profit made by letting out the banks with the ſpoile of the whole ditch. I am not ignorant of two fifeteenes granted by a common counſell in the yeare 1595. for the reformation of this ditch, and that a ſmal portion thereof, to wit, betwixt Biſhopſgate, and the Poſterne called Moregate, was clenſed and made ſomewhat broder: but filling againe very faſt, by reaſon of ouer raiſing the ground neare adioyning, therefore neuer the better: and I will ſo leaue it.