The present state of London: or, Memorials comprehending a full and succinct account of the ancient and modern state thereof. By Tho. De-Laune, Gent

SECT. 7.

Of Bridges, Rivers, &c.

VVE shall begin with the Bridge, which for admirable Workmanship, vastness of Foundation, for all Dimensions, for Solid Stately Houses, and Rich Shops built thereon, surpasseth all others in Europe; it hath Nineteen Arches, besides the Draw-bridge, Founded in a deep broad River. It is 800 Foot in Length, Sixty High, and Thirty Broad; it hath a Draw-bridge almost in the mid∣dle, and 20 Foot between each Arch. It was about the Year 1176, begun to be Built of Stone, and af∣ter the Labour of 33 Years Finished, viz. Anno

1209. which was a work of exceeding cost and dif∣ficulty, considering the great flux and reflux of the River in that place, so that it hath been frequently known that at the Ebbing and Flowing of the water, it falls with so violent a Cataract, that it has Drown'd many that would adventure to Shoot through the Arches at such times. Before some part of the Hou∣ses were burnt (for there hapned many grievous Fires there, of which and other Accidents, more hereafter) it lookt more like a stately and Continu∣ed Street, than a Bridge. The Charges of keeping this Bridge in Repair are so great, that there is a large House, a vast Revenue in Lands and Houses and Divers considerable Officers set apart for the constant care and Repair thereof: The principal whereof are the two Bridge-Masters, chosen out of the Body of the Liveries upon Midsummer-day, after the Sheriffs and the Chamberlain. Concern∣ing this Bridge, and the stupendious site and stru∣cture thereof, take the ingenious fancy of Mr. James Howel, in imitation of Sannazarius the famous Vene∣tian Poet, who writ the like about that City and the Rialto, the prime Bridge there.

Cum Londinensem Neptunus viderat Ʋrbem Vectus ibi propriis atque revectus Aquis, Dum Densam penetrat sylvam, lucos{que} ferentes Pro Ramis funes, pro foliis{que} cruces, Cum superimpositum torrenti flumine Pontem Viderat, & Rapido ponere jur freto, Cum tantos Muros, ferrumina, Castra, tot Arcus Vidit, & haec tergo cuncta jacere suo. Arcus, qui possunt totidem formare Rialtos Metiri siquis summa vel ima Cupit; Haec Deus undarum aspiciens, fluxusque retrorsum Tundere, & horrendos inde Boare sonos, Nunc mihi quanta velis terrae miracula pandas, Est primus Mundi pons, ait, iste Stupor.

The same Paraphas'd in English.

When Neptune, from his billows, London spy'd, Brought proudly thither by a high Spring-Tide: As through a floating Wood he steer'd along, And moving Castles cluster'd in a throng; When he beheld a mighty Bridge give Law Ʋnto his Surges and their fury awe; When such a shelf of Cataracts did roar, As if the Thames with Nile had chang'd her shoar; When he such Massy Walls, such Towers did eye, Such Posts, such Irons on his back to lie: When such vast Arches he observ'd, that might Nineteen Rialto's make, for depth and height: When the Cerulean God these things survey'd, He shook his Trident, and, astonish'd, said, Let the whole Earth now all her Wonders count, This Bridge of Wonders is the Paramount.

There was first a Ferry where this Bridge is built, and the Ferry-man and his Wife Dying, his only Daughter, a Maid, named Mary, with what her Parents left her, and the profits of this Ferry, built a House for Nuns, where the East part of St. Mary-Overy's Church now stands, and gave them the o∣versight and profits of the Ferry. This Nunnery was afterwards converted into a Co••lege of Priests, who built the Bridge of Timber, but the time when, is uncertain, but mention is made of it, Anno 994. when the Londoners overthrew a part of Sweyn King of Denmark's Army, who besieged them; many of the Danes being Drowned in the Thames, because in their hasty flight they took no heed of, or could not recover the Bridge.

This Bridge was burnt, Anno 1136. It was after∣wards new built; but the Charges of continual Re∣paration being so great, it was by the Aid of the Ci∣tizens

and others built of Stone, as beforesaid, the Timber Bridge having been maintain'd partly by the proper Lands thereof, partly by Legacies and Lib••∣rality of Divers Persons, and partly by Taxations in divers Shires, at least 215 years before the Bridge of Stone was built. And that we may give an Esti∣mate of the Payments and Allowances belonging to this great Bridge, it is recorded that in Henry the 7th's time it amounted in one year to above 815 l. by which may be guessed what improvement and increase it is come to by this time, the prices of things being so vastly altered.

Besides this Bridge there are three other curious Sone-Bridges over that mighty Chargeable and beau∣tiful work or Channel, rendring Navigable the Fleet Brook, from the River Thames to Holborn-Bridge, which is 100 Foot Broad, on the sides of which are many huge Vaults to treasure up Coals for the use of the poor, &c. About the middle of this Chan∣nel stands Fleet-Bridge, being considerably advan∣ced, though it lies in a level with Fleet-street, and the bottom of Ludgate-Hill, so that all Waggons, Coaches, Carmen, &c. pass over it, the other two Bridges, viz. Bridewell-Bridge, and Fleet-lane∣Bridge are raised 14 Steps or Stairs above the Streets on each side of the said Channel, in order to the ad∣mittance or giving passage to all Lighters, Barges, Boats, Hoys, &c. which bring in plentifully every Tide, Coals; for which, and other Goods brought, there are certain Duties paid to the City, which were granted to the City by an Act of Parliament. This Channel was finished, Anno 1676. at the Cost of a∣bove 74000 l. And by the same Act of Parlia∣ment, H••lborn-Bridge, at the North-end of this Channel, was ordered to be enlarged, which is very commodiously done, to the great advantage of Passengers. The••e were several other inferiour Bridges mentioned by Stow and others, but being

of no great eminency (and can hardly now be dis∣covered) we pass them by.

Of Rivers, Aqueducts, &c.

The Great and famous River of Thames deserves precedency, not only of all other Rivers in England, but perhaps of the World; because it's breadth, depth, gentle strait and even Course, extraordinary wholsome Water and Tides, render it more com∣modious for Navigation, than any other that we read of. The Sea Flows up this River near fourscore miles, that is almost to Kingstone, 12 miles above London by Land, and 20 by Water, bringing the greater Vessels to London, and the smaller beyond; then against the stream, Boats are drawn to Oxford, and higher many miles.

It is High Water at this City when the Moon comes to the North-East and South-West points of Heaven, the one in our Hemisphere, and the other in the opposite Hemisphere. The highest Tides are upon a Land Flood, the Wind Northwest at the Equinoctial, and the Moon at Full; When these Four Causes concur (which is very rare) the River over-flows its Banks in some places, endamaging Westminster in their Cellars.

This Noble River opening Eastward towards Germany and France, is much more advantageous for Traffique then any other River of England.

There is a variety of excellent Fish, especially in∣comparable Salmon, and along its Banks on either side a fat and fruitful Soyl, pleasant with Meadows, and innumerable Palaces, and stately Buildings of the Nobility, Gentry, and great Citizens, that it yields as beautiful a sight as can any where be met withal; Which may be thus Described only from Windsor to London, with a little alteration of Mr. Draytons Lines.

But now this Flood upon his Voyage prest, (That finds with strength his beauty still increast, Where Windsor stood on Tip-toe to behold The Goodly Thames so far as e're he could: With Royal Houses Crown'd, of stately pride, On either Bank as he along doth glide) With sweet Delight doth his long Course pursue, Doth Oatlands, Hampton-Court and Richmond view, Then Westminster great Thames doth entertain, That vaunts her Palace and her sumptuous Fane: The Lands Chief Seat, that challengeth for hers Kings Coranations and their Sepulchers. Then goes along by that more beautious Strand, That shews the Wealth and glory of the Land▪ (Such sumptuous Seats within so little space Th' all-viewing Sun scarce sees in all his Race) By London leads, which like a Crescent lies, Whose Windows view with the be-spangled Skies, Her rising Spires so thick themselves do show, As do the Reeds that on her Banks do grow, There sees his Wharffs and People-crowded Shores: His bosom spread with shoals of labouring Oars: With that great Bridge that doth him most Renown, By which he puts all other Rivers down.

This Noble River hath her Original out of the side of an Hill in Cotswold Downs, a little above a Vil∣lage called Winchcomb, in Oxfordshire, where it was antiently called Isis, or the Ouse, running to Ox∣ford, and by the way receiving many small Rivulets and Brooks joyning at that City with the Char∣well, then by Abington, Dorchester, where the River Thame and Isis joyn, from whence it is called Tha∣m••sis, or Thames; thence by Reading, Maiden-head, Windsor, Stanes, and several other considerable Palaces, Towns, and stately Houses, to London, and receives the Medway, a considerable River that

runs by the City of Rochester, and Waters all the Southern parts of Kent: The length of it being, at least, if measured by the Journeys at Land, 180 Miles, and Ebbs and Flows, as before, near 80 Miles. The Common difference betwixt Tide and Tide is found to consist of 24 Minutes, which wanteth but 12 of a whole hour in 24, by which they come later than the other. Mr. Stow tells us that in his time (the first Edition of his Survey being Printed above 80 years ago) there were 2000 Wherries or small Boats, whereby 3000 Water-men got their Living, their Gains being most in Term-time, but now there are a great many more, this River being a Nursery to breed young Men sit for the Sea to Serve His Majesty, or the Merchants, &c. Besides these, there is an Infinite Number of Wherries, Tide-Boats, Tilt-Boats, Barges, Hoys, &c. for Pas∣sengers, or to bring necessary Provision of all sorts from all Quarters of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buc∣kinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hartfordshire, Mid∣dlesex, Essex, Surrey, and Kent, unto the City; but of the Navigation of London, we refer to the Chapter of Trade; and the Rates of Water-men to a distinct head, to be Treated of hereafter.

The Extent of the Jurisdiction and Prero∣gative of the Lord Mayor, Commonalty and Citizens of London on the River Thames, &c.

THe Lord Mayor of LONDON for the time being, and his Successors for ever in that great Dignity, have full Power and Authority over the Rivers of Thames and Medway, to inflict punish∣ment upon all Transgressors relating to the said Ri∣vers, the Water-Bayly of London being his Substi∣tute.

The Extent of this Jurisdiction begins at a place cal∣led Colnie-Ditch, a little above Stains-Bridge West∣ward, as far as London-Bridge, and from thence to a place called Yendall, otherwise Yenland, or Yen∣leete, and the Waters of Medway. This Authority and Jurisdiction belongs to the Lord Mayor, Com∣monalty and Citizens of London, by divers Grants, Charters, and Confirmations made by the Kings and Queens of England, besides sundry Acts of Par∣liament.

Yet there have been some contests betwixt the Lord Mayor, and the Lord High Admiral of Eng∣land about it, but after a fair and Judicial Tryal in open Court, the Controversie was decided in fa∣vour of the City, and the Lord Mayor was adjudg∣ed to be Conservator of the Thames. There were also some Controversies about the Rivers of Thames and Medway, but all differences were absolutely con∣cluded, Anno 1613. Sir John Swinnerton being then Lord Mayor, and Thomas Sparry Esq being then his Deputy in that Office. So that the Lord Mayor bears always since (as in former times) the stile of Conservator of the said River, within the said Li∣mits and Bounds.

And whereas there was a Company of Fishermen called Tinckermen, that with unlawful Nets and o∣ther devices, made an infinite destruction of the young Brood, or Fry of Fish, to feed their Hogs; by the singular care and cost of the Lord Mayor, and vigilance of the Citizens, they were many years ago supprest, and a regular and orderly manner of Fishing brought in use, that such a havock may not be made of the young Fry; As also sundry other a∣buses by unlawful Fishing, and some annoying Tim∣bers in Tilbury-hope, dangerous to Passengers, and destructive to the young Brood of Fish and Fisher∣mens Nets, were also to general benefit reformed. Likewise they took care to clear and cleanse the Ri∣ver

Westward of about 79 Stops or Hatches, con∣sisting of divers great Stakes and Piles, erected by Fishermen for their private lucre, and standing ill∣favouredly for Passengers near the Fair-Deep; but none now are left, except such as stand out of the passable high stream, that can prejudice none. The like Course was kept in the time of Henry the 4th, and Henry the 8ths times. There is also a watchful Eye that no Carrion nor Dead Carkasses be thrown into the River to pollute or infect the stream.

To all these intents and purposes the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen his Brethren, with the under Offi∣cers, meet eight times a year in the four Counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Kent, and Essex, and have a Judicial sitting for Maintenance of the Rivers Rights and Priviledges, where they have power to Impanel Juries, to make Inquisition after all Offences com∣mitted upon the River within their Exte••••, and as the Verdict given by the Jury makes it appear, so they proceed to the punishment of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sors according to the quality of the offence, whereof it may be proper to give this Memorable Instance, as it is Recorded by Mr. Stow in his Survey, page 20, Printed Anno 1633. and more briefly deliver∣ed by Mr. Howel in his Londinopolis, Printed Anno 1657. page 15. Thus.

Sir John Rolls Knight, and Lord Mayor of the Ci∣ty of London, and Conservator of the River of Thames, and Waters of Medway, as∣sisted and accompanied by the Aldermen and two Sheriffs then contemporary, and attended by the Recorder, and the Sub-conservation, or Water-Bay∣ly, with 50 Officers and Servants, took their Barges at Billings-gate, the third of July, 1616. and in a few hours arrived at Graves-end in Kent, where a Session for Conservancy of the said River was kept before the said Lord Mayor and his said Assistants, at which place and time a Jury of the Free-holders of

the said County being sworn to inquire of all Offen∣ces committed in any part of the River whatsoever, within the said County; The Common Sergeant of the City (the Recorder being then absent upon ex∣traordinary occasions) Delivered them a Charge to this effect, That for as much as there had not been any Session of Conservancy in many years passed kept by any Lord Mayor of London in that place, it was probable and evident they could not be well informed, neither of the Lord Mayor's Jurisdiction and power to Reform Annoyances and Offences there, and to inflict due punishments upon the Of∣fendors; nor of the Nature of the Service to be by them performed in the Course of their Inquiry; therefore he thought it convenient to make both the one and the other known unto them. Hereup∣on he shewed them that the Jurisdiction of the Court of London in the River of Thames, from Stanes Bridge Westward, unto the points of the River next unto the Sea Eastward, appeared to belong to the City, in manner and form following.

I. First in point of Right by prescription, as ap∣pears by an ancient Book called Dun••horp, That Civitatis fundationis, aedificationis, & constructio∣nis causa erat Thamesis Fl••v••us, quorum vero Ci∣vitatis & fluminis gubernationem tam duces, Ma∣jores, Custodes, Vicecomites, Aldr. & Magnates Ci∣vitatis Memoratae hucusque obtinuerunt & habue∣runt. Whence he inferr'd that the Government of the River hath, belonged to the City time out of mind.

In 21. H. 3. Jorden Coventry, one of the Sheriffs of the City, was sent by the Mayor and Aldermen to remove certain Kiddles that Annoyed the Rivers of Thames and Medway; who, ultra Yenland versus mare, did take divers persons that were Offenders, and imprisoned them; Whereupon complaint being

made to the King, he took the matter ill at the first, and sent for the Lord Mayor and Citizens to Ken∣nington; Where, upon hearing of the Matter be∣fore the said King, the Cities Jurisdiction over the said River was set forth and allowed, and the Com∣plainants convinced, and every one of them Amer∣ced at 10 l. and the Amercements adjudged to the City; And afterward their Nets were burnt by Judgment given by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in the Hustings.

1. R. 2. Writs were directed to the Sheriffs of Essex and Kent, Reciting the Cities Title, with Command not to suffer the Citizens of London to be molested contrary to the Liberties formerly granted and allowed unto them.

II. Secondly, In point of Right by Allowance in Eire, the Conservation of the Thames belongs to the City: For it was produced that 1 R. 2. before Hugh Bigot, Justice I••enerant, the Sheriffs and Citizens of London were called in Question for their Jurisdiction exercis'd on the Thames, be∣fore whom it was found, by a Jury in Southwark, Quod nullus habet aliquid Juris in Thamisia, us{que} ad Novum Gurgitem nisi Civis London.

In the 14, E. 2. The Constable of the Tower was Indicted by Divers Wards of London before the Justices in Eire at the Tower, De muneris & recep. Cove, pro Kedellis in Thamisiis & Consta∣bularius ad Kidellas respondet quod Justic. non habent Jurisdictionem extra London, prolitum: inde cognoscere cum praedict. Kidelli sunt in aliis Comitatibus, & Justic. dixerunt, aqua Thamisiae pertinet ad Civitatem London, usque Mare, & si velit respondeat; Who then Pleaded, Not Guilty.

III. He went further, in point of Right; that this Jurisdiction belonged to the City by antient Charters, 8 R. 1. that is 480 and odd Years ago. Dominus Richardus Rex, Filius Regis Henrici secundi con∣cessit & firmiter praecepit, ut omnes Kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia amoveantur ubicunque fuerint in Tha∣misia; —1. Joh. Rex concessit, & firmiter praece∣pit ut omnes Kidelli qui sunt in Thamisia vel in Medway amoveantur, & ne caeteri Kidelli alicubi ponantur in Thamisia vel in Medway super forf. 10 1. sterlingorum.

Then he urged the Famous Charter of King Henry the III. which ran thus:

Henry by the Grace of God, King of England, Lord of Ireland, Duke of Normandy, and Aquitain, and Earl of Anjou, un∣to all Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, Justices, Sheriffs, Stewards, Ministers, and to all Bayliffs and to all his True Men, Greeting: wotteth well, that we for the health of our Soul, and the health of the Soul of King John our Fader, and the Souls of our Ancestors; and also for the Com∣mon profit of our City of London, and of all our Realms, have Granted and stedfastly Commanded, That all the Weares that be in Thames or in Medway be done away: and that from henceforth no Weares be set in Thames or Medway, upon the forfeiture of 10 1. Also we claim quit to our Citizens of London, all that, that our Constable of our Tower of London was wont to take of the said Weares. Wherefore we will, and stedfastly Command, that no Constable of the aforesaid Tow∣er at any time from henceforth forward, any thing ask, nor any Grievance do to any of the same City by E••cheson of the same Weares; it is to us known enough, and by our true Men do us to understand, that most privacy and least profit might fall unto the same City, and to the whole Realm by Enche∣sen

of the same Weares; which we make for ever firm and stable unto the same City, as the Charter of our Lord King John our Fader, which our Ba∣rons of London thereof have reasonably Witnes∣sed. Witnesses Eustace of London, Peter of West∣minster, &c. at Westminster the 18th of February, in the Year of our Reign Eleven.

Besides these he produced divers others in this King's Reign to the purpose aforesaid, and the 7th. of E. III.

IV. This Jurisdiction belongs to the City of Lon∣don by Acts of Parliament, W. 2. cap. 47. an. 13. No Salmons to be taken from the Nativity of our Lady, unto St. Martins Day in all points, nor none to be taken in Mill-Pools from the midst of April, until Midsummer, under penalty for the first Offence, of burning of Nets and Engines; the second Offence, Imprisonment for a Quarter of a Year; the third Offence, for a whole Year.

13. R. II. confirms the restraint of taking Sal∣mons in many Waters, from the midst of April, un∣til Midsummer, upon the same pain; nor within that time to use any Nets, called Stalkers, nor any other Engine, whereby the Fry may be destroyed. He urged likewise 17 R. II. cap. 9. and the 11. H. VII. cap. 15.

1 Eliz. cap. 17. Against Nets, Wheeles, and other Engines, for destroying the Fish, against kil∣ling of Salmon and Trouts out of season, against killing Pike or Pickerel, not ten Inches long, or Salmon not 16 Inches long, or Trout not 8 Inches long, or Barbel 12 Inches and more; nor to Fish with any Nets, but such whereof every Meash or Mash shall be two Inches and a half broad, An∣gling excepted. This not to extend to Smelts, Roches, Minoes, Bullhead, Gudgeons, or E••les, in place where the same have been used to be taken, The Offender to lose for every Offence. 20 ••s. and

the Fish, also the unlawful Nets, Engines and In∣struments.

The Mayor of London (Inter alia) hath full Pow∣er and Authority by this Act to Inquire of all Of∣fences Committed contrary thereunto, by the Oaths of 12 Men or more, and to Hear and Determine all and every the same, and inflict Punishments, and impose Fines accordingly.

V. He proceeds to assert the Cities Right, to the Conservation of the Thames, and the Waters of Medway, by way of Inquisition, whereof there were two, the one taken at Raynam in Essex, the other at Gravesend in Kent, before Sir William Cambridge Grocer. then Lord Mayor of London, 9 Henry V. where it was presented, that whereas by the antient Ordinances of London, the Meshes of Nets should be two Inches in the fore part, and one Inch in the hinder part, and it being found that the Offences according to the said Inquisitions, are Contra li∣bertates & consuetudines Civitatis, it was adjudged that the Nets should be burnt, according to the antient Custom in that behalf provided.

VI. He goes on after to prove that this Right belongs to the City by Decrees. In 8 Henry IV. the Mayor and Aldermen did exhibit their humble Pe∣tition to the King's Councel, reciting, that (time out of mind) they had the Conservation and Cor∣rection of the River of Thames, of all Trincks, Nets, and other Engines whatsoever, in the River of Thames and Medway placed, and have used to make a Sub-Conservator under them: and complaining that Alexander Bonner then Sub-Conservator, hav∣ing discharged his Duty in removing Kiddles, he was ill intreated by the owners, dwelling in Erith, Bra∣triferry, Barking, Woolwich, and other places in the Counties of Kent and Essex: and upon hear∣ing

of the matter in Camera Stellata, they were found Guilty, and Constrained to submit themselves to the Lord Mayor, and ordered to bring always their Nets unto him, before they should use them, and that the Kiddles then taken should be at the disposition of the Lord Mayor: so the Offenders made their submission accordingly.

VII. He proceeds; This Right appertains to the City of London, by Letters Patents, which he pro∣ved by a Grant made by Edward IV. to the Earl of Pembroke, for setting up a Wear in the River of Thames: which Grant was Revoked, and Cancelled at the Request of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, upon shewing their Right, therefore alleaged it was contrary to their antient Liberties. At which time the Cities Title to the Conservancy of the Thames and Medway was at large set forth, and recited to have been shewn to the Lord Chancellor, and to the said Earl and his Counsel, which accordingly was also read.

VIII. He reinforceth the Right of the City by Proclamations, whereof one was made by H. VIII. in the 34 of His Reign, wherein it is affirmed, that the Lord Mayor and his Predecessors, have had by divers Grants of the Kings of England, and by Acts of Parliaments enjoyed always the Conservacy of the Thames without Impediments or Interrupti∣on: By which Proclamation it was Commanded that none should resist, deny, or impugne the Lord Mayor or his Deputy in doing or executing any thing that might conduce to the Conservacy of the River, and of the Fish and Fry within the same.

IX. He produceth Report, for in a Contro∣versie betwixt the Lord Admiral, and the Lord Mayor, for the Measuring of Coals and other things

upon the Thames, it then fell into Debate, to whom the Conservacy of the Thames did belong, which cause was referred by Queen ELIZABETH's Coun∣cel of State, 1597, to the Attorney-General, and So∣licitor, who joyntly Certified amongst other things, that the Conservancy and care of the said River, did, and ought, to belong to the City of London.

X. By quo Warranto it was proved that the Conservacy of the Thames, belongs to the City: for 3 Jac. a quo Warranto was brought against the City in the Exchequer, to know by what Title She claimed the Conservacy of the River of Thames, and the Waters of Medway; whereupon the City made Her Title Good thereunto, by antient prescription, and otherwise: so Judgment was given in Her Fa∣vour.

XI. He goes on afterwards to confirm the Right of the City, by Proof of Ʋsage, in regard the Lord Mayor and Aldermen have time out of mind made Ordinances, concerning the Good Government of the River of Thames, as well for the Seasons and Manner of Fishing beneath London-bridge Eastward, upon pain of certain Penalties, as appears from time to time, from the Reign of Henry III. and so down∣ward.

The Lord Mayor hath removed Kiddles, Wears, Trinks, and other unlawful Engines, and reformed the disorders of such as have offended besides in the River of Thames, and inflicted punishment upon Offenders accordingly.

The Right of the City appears also by the Writs, and Preceps under the Teste of the Lord Mayor, to the Sheriffs of Kent and Essex, for the Returning of Juries before him, to inquire of Offences done in the River. The same Right of the City appears also by Commissions, whereof divers have been directed

to the Lord Mayor, to put in Execution the, Acts of Parliament, made for Conservance of the Thames and Medway, and to inquire of all Offences made, or done in the said Waters, and to punish the De∣liaquents accordingly.

Lastly, He makes good the Right and Title of the City, by the Continual Claim She has made thereunto, as appears in those various Contests She had with the Lord Admiral of England, wherein af∣ter divers Debates and Disputes, She still came off well, and made Her Title good. Which moved King Jamts in the third Year of His Reign, to put a Final Determination to the Business, by the Let∣ters Patents he passed unto the City, wherein he saith, That ad omnem Controversiam in hac parte Temporibus, tam presentibus quam futuris tollen∣dam, & omne Dubium amo vendam; that to cut off all Controversies, as well of the present times, as of Future, and to remove all Doubts, he did Con∣firm and Ratifie the said Right unto the City of London, &c.

I. This Office of Conservator of so Noble a River, is of great Extent, for he is to preserve the Cur∣rency of the stream, on the Banks on both sides.

II. To preserve the Fish and Fry within the same, that no Fishermen use unlawful Nets or Engines, or fish at Prohibited Seasons.

III. To hinder the erection of any Weares, Kid∣dles, or Engines, and the knocking in of any Posts, Piles, or Stake., which may in any sort hinder the Stream, or Navigation; and to pull them up, if al∣ready done, and punish the Offenders: also to pre∣vent all incroachments upon the Rivers, and the Banks thereof: likewise to inquire of all Bridges,

Flood-Gates, Mill-dams, and such like Annoyances; and whether any do hurl in any Soyl, Dust, or Rub∣bish, or other Filth whatsoever to choak her.

But for the strength and safety of the River against the Invasion of an Enemy, by Block-Houses, Forts, Bastions, or Castles, and the securing of the Merchant and Navigation to and fro, that Charge belongs to the Soveraign Prince.

The former Charge, Care, and Circumspection belongs properly to the City of London, which is Seated in a fit place to be watchful over her, for which Vigilance, the Thames Rewards the City abundantly, by bringing her in the Spices of the South, the Jewels of the East, and the Treasures of the West, yea a considerable share of the richest Merchandizes of the World, &c. so that this Fa∣mous River may be said, to be (as it were) the Ra∣dical Moysture of London, and its best Friend; which was hinted by the Lord Mayor to King James; for the King being displeased, because the City would not lend Him a Sum of Money, told the Mayor and Aldermen, that he would Remove His Court with all the Records of the Tower, and the Courts of Westminster-Hall, to another place, with further expressions of that kind. The Lord Mayor calmly heard all, and at last Answered, Your Ma∣jesty hath Power to do what You Please, and Your City of London will obey accordingly; but She hum∣bly Desires, that when Your Majesty shall remove Your Courts, You would please to leave the Thames behind You.

Besides the inestimable Benefit that this Noble River brings to the City, and the Adjacent places, by the easie conveyance of all Sorts of Goods and Mer∣chandizes, almost all the Fuel for Firing being also brought by it from Newcastle, Scotland, Kent, Es∣sex, &c. It supplies the City in very many places

with excellent wholsom Water, convey'd into all the Adjacent Houses by Water Engines, of great cost and Artifice. So much for the Thames.

The City of London is supply'd with pure Spring-Water, from above Twenty Conduits, so Commo∣diously placed, that they serve all the Chiefest parts of the City. And in all parts, though on the highest Ground, It is abundantly Served with Pump Water, and those Pumps in many places hardly. Six Foot deep in the Ground.

Of the New-River.

This Famous and never-to-be-forgotten Work brought by the Liberal Charge and Exquisite Skill of one Worthy Man, Sir Hugh Middleton, Knight and Baronet, Citizen and Goldsmith of London, de∣serves an everlasting Memorial. Several Wells and Springs of sweet and fresh Water with which the City was served, being Decayed, sundry Projects were on Foot to supply that want; but this Prin∣cipal Device was found out by the aforesaid Gentle∣man, and the Difficulties and vast Expence made it for some time to be retarded, but Courage and a Resolution to promote the Publick Good, promp∣ted him on to the Atchievment, which since hath proved happily Commodious, and of infinite Uti∣lity to the whole City, so that the brave Adventurer deserves a Statue to Eternize his Name, and Trans∣mit his Memory, to keep it Fresh (like his Waters) to future Ages. Now as Mr. Stow speaks very in∣geniously, if those Enemies to all Good Actions, Danger Difficulty, Detraction, Contempt, Scorn, and Envy, could have prevailed by their Malevo∣lent Interposition, either before, at the beginning, and in the very Birth of the Attempt, and a good while after, this work had never been accomplished.

Queen Elizabeth granted Power to the Citizens by Act of Parliament, for Cutting and Conveying of a River, from any part of Middlesex or Hart∣fordshire to the City of London, with a Limitation of ten Years time, for the performance thereof. But She dyed before it was undertaken. King James Granted the like, but without limitation of time. And when others would not undertake it, Sir Hugh Middleton did, with infinite Pains and vast Charge, both begin and finish it. He brought it from Amuel and Chadwel, two Springs near Ware in Hartfordshire, from whence, in a turning and winding Course, it Runs threescore Miles before it reaches the City.

At the North-side of the City at Islington, he built a large Cistern to receive it, and from thence it is dispersed in Pipes, serving the highest parts of London in their lower Rooms, and the Lower parts in their higher Rooms.

It was begun the 28th of February, Anno Dom. 1608, and finished in five Years.

It can hardly be imagined what difficulties and rubs there were in the way, through which the Wa∣ter was to pass, some being Ozie, Soft, and Muddy; other again as Hard, Craggy, and St••ny; in some places the Channel is Thirty Foot deep; in other places it is carried over Valleys in open Troughs betwixt Hills, which Troughs are supported by Wooden Arches, some of them fixt in the Earth very deep, and rising in Height above 23 Foot. Over this New-River are made 800 Bridgs, some of Stone, some of Brick, and some of Wood, and six hundred Men have been at once imployed in this Great Work.

The River being brought to the said Great Cistern, the Water was not let in till Michaelmas Day, Anno 1613. Sir John Swinnerton, then Lord Mayor, and Sir Thomas Middleton, Brother to the

said Sir Hugh, being Elected Lord Mayor for the Ensuing Year. In the Afternoon, Sir John Swin∣nerton, and Sir Thomas Middleton, with Sir Henry Mountague, the Recorder of London, and many of the Worthy Aldermen, Rode in a Solemn man∣ner to see the Great Cistern, and first Issuing of the strange River thereunto, which was then made Free Denizen of London; and the Solemnity was thus:

A Troop of Labourers of the Number of Sixty or more, well Apparrelled, and wearing Green Monmoth Caps, after the Brittish manner, all alike, carried Spades, Shovels, Pickaxes, and such like Instruments of Laborious Employment, and march∣ing after Drums twice or thrice about the Cistern, presented themselves before the Mount, where the Lord Mayor and the Aldermen were (with a Wor∣thy Company besides,) and one Man in the behalf of the rest, delivered a handsom Speech in Verse; at the Conclusion of which, the Flood-Gates flew open, and the Stream ran Cheerfully into the Cistern, the Drums Beating, and Trumpets Sounding in Trium∣phant manner, and a Gallant Peal of Chambers gave a Period to the Entertainment.

Upon which brave Man, these Lines were made.

Ad Hugonem Middleton Equitem Aurat um, De stupenda hac aquarum opera.

Compita qui fluvium per Londinensia Duxti, Ʋt jam quisque suis vicus abundet aquis, Non Aganippe tuas satis est depromere laudes, Haec scaturigo novae quam tibi fundit aquae.

Before we leave this Head, although it is no•• necessary to give a particular Account of every Con∣duit, whereof there are many in and about the City (as was said,) and one now a Rearing in the place of the Old Conduit, at the West end of Cheap•• side, which is intended to be a Stately one, and be∣seeming the Magnificence of the City, and that Gallant Street where it is to be Erected, &c. Ye•• that neatly-wrought Conduit in Stocks-Market, a•• the West end of Lumbard-street, is not to be omitted, whereupon is placed a very Magnificent Statue of KING CHARLES the II. on Horse∣back, Trampling upon an Enemy, all in Excellent White-Marble, at the Sole Cost and Charges of Sir Robert Viner, who was Lord Mayor of Lon∣don, in the Year 1675.

There is likewise a very Magnificent Statue of King CHARLES the I. on Horse-back, all of•• Solid Brass, at Charing-Cross; the Figures of both which are here Exhibited.

[illustration]

THE K. AT THE STOCKs MARKET

[illustration]

THE K. AT CHARING CROSs.