THE TUDOR HISTORIAN JOHN STOW DISCUSSES THE NEED FOR SOUND DEFENCE IN 1598
[Extract from John Stow, A Survay of London, 1598]
WALL ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON
This city of London was walled with stone, in the time of the Roman
government here, but yet very lately, for it seemeth not to have been walled in
the year of our Lord 296, because in that year, when Alectus the tyrant was slain
in the field, the Franks easily entered London and had sacked the same, had not
God, of his great favour, at the very instant, brought along the river of
Thames, certain bands of Roman soldiers, who slew those Franks in every street
of the city.
In a few years after, as Simeon of Durham, an ancient writer, reporteth,
Helen, the mother of Constantine the Great, was the first that inwalled this
city, about the year of Christ 306; but however those walls of stone might have
been built by Helen, yet the Britons, I know, had no skill of building with
stone, as it may appear by that which followeth, about the year of Christ 399,
when Arcadius and Honorius, the sons of Theodosius Magnus, governed the empire,
the one in the east, the other in the west; for Honorius having received
Britain, the city of Rome was invaded and destroyed by the Goths, after which
time the Romans left to rule in Britain, as being employed in defence of their
territories nearer home, whereupon the Britons not able to defend themselves against
the invasions of their enemies, were many years together under the oppression
of two most cruel nations, the Scots and Picts, and at the length were forced
to send their ambassadors with letters and lamentable supplications to Rome,
requiring aid and succour from thence, upon promise of their continual fealty,
so that the Romans would rescue them out of the hands of their enemies.
Hereupon the Romans sent unto them a legion of armed soldiers, which coming
into this island, and encountering with the enemies, overthrew a great number
of them, and drove the rest out of the frontiers of the country; and so setting
the Britons at liberty, counselled them to make a wall, extending all along
between the two seas, which might be of force to keep out their evil
neighbours, and then returned home with great triumph. The Britons wanting
masons built that wall, not of stone as they were advised, but made it of turf,
and that so slender, that it served little or nothing at all for their defence,
and the enemy perceiving that the Roman legion was returned home, forthwith
arrived out of their boats, invaded the borders, overcame the country, and, as
it were, bore down all that was before them.
Whereupon ambassadors were eftsoon dispatched to Rome, lamentably beseeching
that they would not suffer their miserable country to be utterly destroyed:
then again another legion was sent, which coming upon a sudden, made a great
slaughter of the enemy, and chased him home, even to his own country. These
Romans at their departure, told the Britons plainly, that it was not for their
ease or leisure to take upon them any more such long and laborious journeys for
their defence, and therefore bade them practice the use of armour and weapons,
and learn to withstand their enemies, whom nothing else did make so strong as
their faint heart and cowardice; and for so much as they thought that it would
be no small help and encouragement unto their tributary friends whom they were
now forced to forsake, they built for them
a wall of hard stone from the west sea to the east sea, right between those two
cities, which were there made to keep out the enemy, in the selfsame place
where Severus before had cast his trench. The Britons also putting to their
helping hands as labourers.
This wall they built eight feet thick in breadth, and twelve feet in
height, right, as it were by a line, from east to west, as the ruins thereof
remaining in many places until this day do make to appear. Which work, thus
perfected, they give the people strait charge to look well to themselves, they
teach them to handle their weapons, and they instruct them in warlike feats.
And lest by the sea-side southwards, where their ships lay at harbour, the
enemy should come on land, they made up sundry bulwarks, each somewhat distant
from the other, and so bid them farewell, as minding no more to return. This
happened in the days of the Emperor Theodosius the younger, almost 500 years after
the first arrival of the Romans here, about the year after Christ’s incarnation
434.
The Britons after this, continuing a lingering and doubtful war with the
Scots and Picts, made choice of Vortigern to be their king and leader, which
man (as saith Malmesbury) was neither valorous of
courage, nor wise of counsel, but wholly given over to the unlawful lusts of
his flesh; the people likewise, in short time, being grown to some quietness,
gave themselves to gluttony and drunkenness, pride, contention, envy, and such
other vices, casting from them the yoke of Christ. In the mean season, a bitter
plague fell among them, consuming in short time such a multitude that the quick
were not sufficient to bury the dead; and yet the remnant remained so hardened
in sin, that neither death of their friends, nor fear of their own danger,
could cure the mortality of their souls, whereupon a greater stroke of
vengeance ensued upon the whole sinful nation. For being now again infested
with their old neighbours the Scots and Picts, they consult with their king
Vortigern, and send for the Saxons, who
shortly after arrived here in Britain, where, saith Bede, they were received as
friends; but as it proved, they minded to destroy the country as enemies; for
after that they had driven out the Scots and Picts, they also drove the
Britons, some over the seas, some into the waste mountains of Wales and
Cornwall, and divided the country into divers kingdoms amongst themselves.
These Saxons were likewise ignorant of building with stone until the
year 680; for then it is affirmed that Benet, abbot of Wirrall, master to the reverend Bede, first brought
artificers of stone houses and glass windows into this island amongst the
Saxons, arts before that time unto them unknown, and therefore used they but
wooden buildings. And to this accordeth Policronicon, who says, “that then had
ye wooden churches, nay wooden chalices and golden priests, but since golden
chalices and wooden priests.” And to knit up this argument, King Edgar in his
charter to the abbey of Malmesbury, dated the year of Christ 974, hath words to
this effect: “All the monasteries in my realm, to the outward sight, are
nothing but worm-eaten and rotten timber and boards, and that worse is, within
they are almost empty, and void of Divine service.”
Thus much be said for walling, not only in respect of this city, but
generally also of the first within the realm. Now to return to our Trinobant
[London] (as Cæsar hath it) [or actually Trinovantium, as Caesar really did call
it, after the iron age tribe, the Trinovantes, who inhabited what is now
Suffolk, Essex and East London area]; the same is since by Tacitus, Ptolemæus,
and Antoninus, called Londinium, Longidinum; of Ammiamus, Lundinum, and
Augusta, who calleth it an ancient city; of our Britons, Lundayne; of the old
Saxons, Lundenceaster, Lundenbrig, Londennir; of strangers Londra and Londres;
of the inhabitants, London; whereof you may read a more large and learned
discourse, and how it took the name, in that work of my loving friend, Master
Camden, now Clarencieux [the great historian William Camden (1551-1623), Clarenceux
King of Arms], which is called Britannia.
This city of London having been destroyed and burnt by the Danes and
other Pagan enemies, about the year of Christ 839, was by Alfred, king of the
West Saxons, in the year 886, repaired, honourably restored, and made again
habitable. Who also committed the custody thereof unto his son-in-law,
Ethelred, Earl of Mercia, unto whom before he had given his daughter Ethelfled.
And that this city was then strongly walled may appear by divers
accidents, whereof William of Malmsbury hath, that about the year of Christ
994, the Londoners shut up their gates, and defended their king Ethelred within
their walls against the Danes.
In the year 1016 Edmund Ironsides
reigning over the West Saxons, Canute the Dane bringing his navy into the west
part of the bridge, cast a trench about the city of London, and then attempted
to have won it by assault, but the citizens repulsed him, and drove them from
their walls.
Also, in the year 1052, Earl Goodwin, with his navy, sailed up by the
south end of the bridge, and so assailed the walls of this city.
William Fitzstephen, in the reign of King Henry II., writing of the
walls of this city, hath these words: “The wall is high and great, well towered
on the north side, with due distances between the towers. On the south side
also the city was walled and towered, but the fishful river of Thames, with 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
city being far more in length from east to west than in breadth from south to
north, and also narrower at both ends than in the midst, is therefore compassed
with the wall on the land side, in form 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 towers
or bulwarks (as we now term them) in due distance every one from other, as
witnesseth our author, and ourselves may behold from the land side. This may
suffice for proof of a wall, and form thereof, about this city, and the same to
have been of great antiquity as any other within this realm.
And now touching the maintenance and reparing the said wall. I read,
that in the year 1215, the 16th of King John, the
barons, entering the city by Aldgate, first took assurance of the citizens,
then brake into the Jews’ houses, searched their coffers to fill their own
purses, and after with great diligence repaired the walls and gates of the city
with stone taken from the Jews’ broken houses. In the year 1257, Henry III.
caused the walls of this city, which were sore decayed and destitute of towers,
to be repaired in more seemly wise than before, at the common charges of the
city. Also in the year 1282, King Edward I. having
granted to Robert Kilwarby, archbishop of Canterbury, license for the enlarging
of the Blackfriars’ church, to break and take down a part of the wall of the
city, from Ludgate to the river of Thames; he also granted to Henry Wales,
mayor, and the citizens of London, the favour to take, toward the making of the
wall and enclosure of the city, certain customs or toll, as appeareth by his
grant. This wall was then to be made from Ludgate west to Fleet bridge along
behind the houses, and along by the water of the Fleet unto the river of
Thames. Moreover, in the year 1310, Edward II. commanded the citizens to make
up the wall already begun, and the tower at the end of the same wall, within
the water of Thames near unto the Blackfriars, etc. 1328, the 2nd of Edward
III., the walls of this city were repaired. It was also granted by King Richard
II. in the tenth year of his reign, that a toll should be taken of the wares
sold by land or by water for ten years, towards the repairing of the walls, and
cleansing of the ditch about London. In the 17th of Edward IV. Ralph Joceline,
mayor, caused part of the wall about the city of London to be repaired; to wit,
betwixt Aldgate and Aldersgate. He also caused Moorfield to be searched for
clay, and brick thereof to be made and burnt; he likewise caused chalk to be
brought out of Kent, and to be burnt into lime in the same Moorfield, for more
furtherance of the work. Then the Skinners to begin in the east made that part
of the wall betwixt Aldgate and Bevis Marks, towards Bishopsgate, as may appear
by their arms in three places fixed there: the mayor, with his company of the
Drapers, made all that part betwixt Bishopsgate and Allhallows church, and from
Allhallows towards the postern called Moorgate. A great part of the same wall
was repaired by the executors of Sir John Crosby, late alderman, as may appear
by his arms in two places there fixed: and other companies repaired the rest of
the wall to the postern of Cripplegate. The Goldsmiths repaired from
Cripplegate towards Aldersgate, and there the work ceased. The circuit of the
wall of London on the land side, to wit, from the Tower of London in the east
unto Aldgate, in 82 perches; from Aldgate to Bishopsgate, 86 perches; from
Bishopsgate in the north to the postern of Cripplegate, 162 perches; from
Cripplegate to Aldersgate, 75 perches; from Aldersgate to Newgate, 66 perches;
from Newgate in the west to Ludgate, 42 perches; in all, 513 perches of assize.
From Ludgate to the Fleet-dike west, about 60 perches; from Fleetbridge south
to the river Thames, about 70 perches; and so the total of these perches
amounteth to 643, every perch consisting of five yards and a half, which do
yield 3536 yards and a half, containing 10,608 feet, which make up two English
miles and more by 608 feet.
OF ANCIENT AND PRESENT RIVERS, BROOKS, BOURNS,
POOLS, WELLS, AND CONDUITS OF FRESH WATER, SERVING THE CITY, AS ALSO OF THE
DITCH COMPASSING THE WALL OF THE SAME FOR DEFENCE THEREOF.
Anciently, until the Conqueror’s time, and two hundred years after, the
city of London was watered, besides the famous river of Thames on the south
part, with the river of Wells, as it was then called, on the west; with the
water called Walbrooke running through the midst of the city in the river of
Thames, serving the heart thereof; and with a fourth water or bourn, which ran
within the city through Langborne ward, watering that part in the east. In the
west suburbs was also another great water, called Oldborne, which had its fall
into the river of Wells; then were there three principal fountains, or wells,
in the other suburbs; to wit, Holy well, Clement’s well, and Clarkes’ well.
Near unto this last-named fountain were divers other wells, to wit, Skinners’
well, Fags’ well, Tode well, Loder’s well, and Radwell. All which said wells,
having the fall of their overflowing in the aforesaid river, much increased the
stream, and in that place gave it the name of Well. In West Smithfield there
was a pool, in records called Horsepoole, and one other pool near unto the
parish church of St. Giles without Cripplegate. Besides all which, they had in
every street and lane of the city divers fair wells and fresh springs; and
after this manner was this city then served with sweet and fresh waters, which
being since decayed, other means have been sought to supply the want, as shall
be shown. But first of the aforenamed rivers and other waters is to be said, as
following:
Thames, the most famous river of this island, beginneth a little above a
village called Winchcombe, in Oxfordshire; and still increasing, passeth first
by the University of Oxford, and so with a marvellous quiet course to London,
and thence breaketh into the French ocean by main tides, which twice in
twenty-four hours’ space doth ebb and flow more than sixty miles in length, to
the great commodity of travellers, by which all kind of merchandise be easily
conveyed to London, the principal storehouse and staple of all commodities
within this realm; so that, omitting to speak of great ships and other vessels
of burthen, there pertaineth to the cities of London, Westminster, and borough
of Southwark, above the number, as is supposed, of 2000 wherries and other
small boats, whereby 3000 poor men, at the least, be set on work and
maintained.
That the river of Wells, in the west part of the city, was of old so
called of the wells, it may be proved thus:—William the Conqueror in his
charter to the college of St. Marten le Grand, in London, hath these words: “I
do give and grant to the same church all the land and the moor without the
postern, which is called Cripplegate, on either part of the postern; that is to
say, from the north corner of the wall, as the river of the Wells, there near
running, departeth the same moor from the wall, unto the running water which
entereth the city.” This water hath long since
been called the river of the Wels, which name of river continued; and it was so
called in the reign of Edward I., as shall be shown, with also the decay of the
said river. In a fair book of parliament records, now lately restored to the
Tower, it appeareth that a parliament being holden
at Carlile in the year 1307, the 35th of Edward I., “Henry Lacy, earl of Lincoln,
complained, that whereas in times past the course of water, running at London
under Oldborne bridge and Fleete bridge into the Thames, had been of such
breadth and depth, that ten or twelve ships navies at once, with merchandise,
were wont to come to the foresaid bridge of Fleete, and some of them to
Oldborne bridge: now the same course, by filth of the tanners and such others,
was sore decayed; also by raising of wharfs; but especially, by a diversion of
the water made by them of the new Temple, for their mills standing without
Baynardes Castle, in the first year of King John,
and divers other impediments, so as the said ships could not enter as they were
wont, and as they ought: wherefore he desired that the mayor of London with the
sheriffs and other discreet aldermen, might be appointed to view the course of
the said water; and that by the oaths of good men, all the aforesaid hindrances
might be removed, and it to be made as it was wont of old. Whereupon Roger le
Brabason, the constable of the Tower, with the mayor and sheriffs, were
assigned to take with them honest and discreet men, and to make diligent search
and enquiry how the said river was in old time, and that they leave nothing
that may hurt or stop it, but keep it in the same state that it was wont to
be.” So far the record. Whereupon it followed that the said river was at that
time cleansed, these mills removed, and other things done for the preservation
of the course thereof, notwithstanding never brought to the old depth and
breadth; whereupon the name of river ceased, and it was since called a brook,
namely, Turnmill or Tremill brook, for that divers mills were erected upon it,
as appeareth by a fair register-book, containing the foundation of the priory
at Clarkenwell, and donation of the lands thereunto belonging, as also divers
other records.
This brook hath been divers times since cleansed, namely, and last of
all to any effect, in the year 1502, the 17th of Henry VII., the whole course
of Fleete dike, then so called, was scowered, I say, down to the Thames, so
that boats with fish and fuel were rowed to Fleete bridge, and to Oldborne
bridge, as they of old time had been accustomed, which was a great commodity to
all the inhabitants in that part of the city.
In the year 1589 was granted a fifteenth, by a common council of the
city, for the cleansing of this brook or dike; the money amounting to a
thousand marks, was collected, and it was undertaken, that by drawing divers
springs about Hampstead heath into one head and course, both the city should be
served of fresh water in all places of want; and also, that by such a follower,
as men call it, the channel of this brook should be scowered into the river of
Thames; but much money being therein spent, the effect failed, so that the
brook, by means of continual encroachments upon the banks getting over the
water, and casting of soilage into the stream, is now become worse cloyed and
choken than ever it was before.
The running water, so called by William the Conqueror in his said
charter, which entereth the city, etc. (before there was any ditch) between
Bishopsgate and the late made postern called Moorgate, entered the wall, and
was truly of the wall called Walbrooke, not of Gualo, as some have far fetched:
it ran through the city with divers windings from the north towards the south
into the river of Thames, and had over the same divers bridges along the
streets and lanes through which it passed. I have read in a book entitled the Customs of London, that the prior of the Holy Trinity within Aldgate
ought to make over Walbrooke in the ward of Brod street, against the stone wall
of the city, viz., the same bridge that is next the Church of All Saints, at
the wall. Also that the prior of the new hospital, St. Mary Spittle without
Bishopsgate, ought to make the middle part of one other bridge next to the said
bridge towards the north: and that in the twenty-eight year of Edward I. it was
by inquisition found before the mayor of London, that the parish of St. Stephen
upon Walbrooke ought of right to scour the course of the said brook, and
therefore the sheriffs were commanded to distrain the said parishioners so to
do, in the year 1300. The keepers of those bridges at that time were William
Jordan and John de Bever. This water-course, having divers bridges, was
afterwards vaulted over with brick, and paved level with the streets and lanes
where through it passed; and since that, also houses have been built thereon,
so that the course of Walbrooke is now hidden underground, and thereby hardly
known.
Langborne water, so called of the length thereof, was a great stream
breaking out of the ground in Fenchurch street, which ran down with a swift
course, west, through that street, athwart Gra street, and down Lumbard street,
to the west end of St. Mary Wolnothes church, and then turning the course down
Shareborne lane, so termed of sharing or dividing, it brake into divers rills
or rillets to the river of Thames: of this bourn that ward took the name, and
is till this day called Langborne ward. This bourn also is long since stopped
up at the head, and the rest of the course filled up and paved over, so that no
sign thereof remaineth more than the names aforesaid.
Oldborne, or Hilborne [= Holborn] was the like water, breaking out about
the place where now the bars do stand, and it ran down the whole street till
Oldborne bridge, and into the river of the Wells, or Turnemill brook. This
bourn was likewise long since stopped up at the head, and in other places where
the same hath broken out, but yet till this day the said street is there called
High Oldborne hill, and both the sides thereof, together with all the grounds
adjoining, that lie betwixt it and the river of Thames, remain full of springs,
so that water is there found at hand, and hard to be stopped in every house.
There are (saith Fitzstephen) near London, on the north side, special
wells in the suburbs, sweet, wholesome, and clear; amongst which Holy well,
Clarkes’ well, and Clement’s well, are most famous, and frequented by scholars
and youths of the city in summer evenings, when they walk forth to take the
air.
The first, to wit, Holy well, is much decayed and marred with filthiness
purposely hid there, for the heightening of the ground for garden-plots.
The fountain called St. Clement’s well, north from the parish church of
St. Clement’s and near unto an inn of Chancerie called Clement’s Inn, is fair
curbed square with hard stone, kept clean for common use, and is always full.
The third is called Clarkes’ well, or Clarkenwell, and is curbed about
square with hard stone, not far from the west end of Clarkenwell church, but
close without the wall that incloseth it. The said church took the name of the
well, and the well took the name of the parish clerks in London, who of old
time were accustomed there yearly to assemble, and to play some large history
of Holy Scripture. And for example, of later time,
to wit, in the year 1390, the 14th of Richard II., I read, the parish clerks of
London, on the 18th of July, played interludes at Skinners’ well, near unto
Clarkes’ well, which play continued three days together; the king, queen, and
nobles being present. Also in the year 1409, the 10th of Henry IV., they played
a play at the Skinners’ well, which lasted eight days, and was of matter from
the creation of the world. There were to see the same the most part of the
nobles and gentles in England, etc.
Other smaller wells were many near unto Clarkes’ well, namely Skinners’
well, so called for that the skinners of London held there certain plays
yearly, played of Holy Scripture, etc. In place whereof the wrestlings have of
later years been kept, and is in part continued at Bartholomew tide.
Then there was Fagges well, near unto Smithfield by the Charterhouse,
now lately damned up, Todwell, Loder’s well, and Radwell, all decayed, and so
filled up, that their places are hardly now discerned.
Somewhat north from Holywell is one other well curved square with stone,
and is called Dame Annis the clear, and not far from it, but somewhat west, is
also one other clear water called Perillous pond, because divers youths, by
swimming therein, have been drowned; and thus much be said for fountains and
wells.
Horsepoole, in West Smithfield, was some time a great water; and because
the inhabitants in that part of the city did there water their horses, the same
was in old records called Horsepoole; it is now much decayed, the springs being
stopped up, and the land water falling into the small bottom, remaining
inclosed with brick, is called Smithfield pond.
By St. Giles’ churchyard was a large water called a Pool. I read in the year
1244 that Anne of Lodburie was drowned therein; this pool is now for the most
part stopped up, but the spring is preserved, and was coped about with stone by
the executors of Richard Whittington.
The said river of the Wells, the running water of Walbrooke, the bourns
aforenamed, and other the fresh waters that were in and about this city, being
in process of time, by incroachment for buildings and heightenings of grounds,
utterly decayed, and the number of citizens mightily increased, they were forced
to seek sweet waters abroad; whereof some, at the request of King Henry III.,
in the twenty-first year of his reign, were, for
the profit of the city, and good of the whole realm, thither repairing, to wit,
for the poor to drink, and the rich to dress their meat, granted to the
citizens and their successors, by one Gilbert Sanforde, with liberty to convey
water from the town of Teyborne [Tyburn] by pipes of lead into their city.
The first cistern of lead, castellated with stone in the city of London,
was called the great Conduit in West Cheape, which was begun to be built in the
year 1285, Henry Wales being then mayor. The water-course from Paddington to
James head hath 510 rods; from James head on the hill to the Mewsgate, 102
rods; from the Mewsgate to the Cross in Cheape, 484 rods.
The tun upon Cornhill was cisterned in the year 1401; John Shadworth
then being mayor.
Bosses of water at Belinsgate, by Powle’s wharf, and by St. Giles’
church without Cripplegate, made about the year 1423.
Water conveyed to the gaols of Newgate and Ludgate, 1432.
Water was first procured to the Standard in West Cheape about the year
1285, which Standard was again new built by the executors of John Welles, as
shall be shown in another place. King Henry VI., in the year 1442, granted to
John Hatherley, mayor, license to take up two hundred fodders of lead for the
building of conduits, of a common garnery, and of a new cross in West Cheape, for
the honour of the city.
The Conduit in West Cheape, by Powle’s gate, was built about the year
1442; one thousand marks were granted by common council for the building
thereof, and repairing of the other conduits.
The Conduit in Aldermanbury, and the Standard in Fleet street, were made
and finished by the executors of Sir William Eastfield in the year 1471; a
cistern was added to the Standard in Fleete street, and a cistern was made at
Fleetbridge, and one other without Cripplegate, in the year 1478.
Conduit in Gra street, in the year 1491.
Conduit at Oldbourne cross about 1498; again new made by William Lambe
1577.
Little conduit by the Stockes market, about 1500.
Conduit at Bishopsgate, about 1513.
Conduit at London wall, about 1528.
Conduit at Aldgate without, about 1535.
Conduit in Lothbury, and in Coleman street, 1546.
Conduit of Thames water at Dowgate, 1568.
Thames water, conveyed into men’s houses by pipes of lead from a most
artificial forcier standing near unto London bridge, and made by Peter Moris,
Dutchman, in the year 1582, for service of the city, on the east part thereof.
Conduits of Thames water, by the parish churches of St. Mary Magdalen,
and St. Nicolas Colde Abbey near unto old Fish street, in the year 1583.
One other new forcier was made near to Broken wharfe, to convey Thames
water into men’s houses of West Cheape, about Powle’s, Fleete street, etc., by
an English gentleman named Bevis Bulmer, in the year 1594. Thus much for waters
serving this city; first by rivers, brooks, bourns, fountains, pools, etc.; and
since by conduits, partly made by good and charitable citizens, and otherwise
by charges of the commonalty, as shall be shown in description of wards wherein
they be placed. And now some benefactors to these conduits shall be remembered.
In the year 1236 certain merchant strangers of cities beyond the seas,
to wit, Amiens, Corby, and Nele, for privileges which they enjoyed in this
city, gave one hundred pounds towards the charges of conveying water from the
town of Teyborne. Robert Large, mayor, 1439, gave to the new water conduits
then in hand forty marks, and towards the vaulting over of Walbrooke near to
the parish church of St. Margaret in Lothbery, two hundred marks.
Sir William Eastfield, mayor, 1438, conveyed water from Teyborne to
Fleete street, to Aldermanbury, and from Highbury to Cripplegate.
William Combes, sheriff, 1441, gave to the work of the conduits ten
pounds.
Richard Rawson, one of the sheriffs, 1476, gave twenty pounds.
Robert Revell, one of the sheriffs, 1490, gave ten pounds.
John Mathew, mayor, 1490, gave twenty pounds.
William Bucke, tailor, in the year 1494, towards repairing of conduits,
gave one hundred marks.
Dame Thomason, widow, late wife to John Percivall Taylor, mayor, in the
year 1498 gave toward the conduit in Oldbourne twenty marks.
Richard Shore, one of the sheriffs, 1505, gave to the conduit in
Oldbourne ten pounds.
The Lady Ascue, widow of Sir Christopher Ascue, 1543, gave towards the
conduits one hundred pounds.
David Wodrooffe, sheriff, 1554, gave towards the conduit at Bishopsgate
twenty pounds.
Edward Jackman, one of the sheriffs, 1564, gave towards the conduits one
hundred pounds.
Barnard Randulph, common sergeant of the city, 1583, gave to the water
conduits nine hundred pounds.
Thus much for the conduits of fresh water to this city.
THE TOWN DITCH WITHOUT THE WALL OF THE CITY
The ditch [in fact, a moat], which partly now remaineth, and compassed
the wall of the city, was begun to be made by the Londoners in the year 1211, and was finished in the year 1213, the 15th of King
John. This ditch being then made of 200 feet broad, caused no small hindrance
to the canons of the Holy Trinity, whose church stood near unto Aldgate; for
that the said ditch passed through their ground from the Tower of London unto
Bishopsgate. This ditch being originally made for the defence of the city, was
also long together carefully cleansed and maintained, as need required; but now
of late neglected and forced either to a very narrow, and the same a filthy
channel, or altogether stopped up for gardens planted, and houses built
thereon; even to the very wall, and in many places upon both ditch and wall
houses to be built; to what danger of the city, I leave to wiser consideration,
and can but wish that reformation might be had.
In the year of Christ 1354, the 28th of Edward III., the ditch of this
city flowing over the bank into the Tower ditch, the king commanded the said
ditch of the city to be cleansed, and so ordered, that the overflowing thereof
should not force any filth into the Tower ditch.
Anno 1379, John Philpot, mayor of London, caused this ditch to be
cleansed, and every householder to pay five pence, which was for a day’s work
towards the charges thereof. Richard II., in the 10th of his reign, granted a
toll to be taken of wares sold by water or by land, for ten years, towards
repairing of the wall and cleansing of the ditch.
Thomas Falconer, mayor, 1414, caused the ditch to be cleansed.
Ralph Joceline, mayor, 1477, caused the whole ditch to be cast and
cleansed, and so from time to time it was cleansed, and otherwise reformed,
namely, in 1519, the 10th of Henry VIII., for cleansing and scowering the
common ditch between Aldgate and the postern next the Tower ditch. The chief
ditcher had by the day seven pence, the second ditcher six pence, the other
ditchers five pence. And every vagabond (for so were they termed) one penny the
day, meat and drink, at charges of the city. £95 3s. 4d.
In my remembrance also the same was cleansed, namely the Moore ditch,
when Sir William Hollies was mayor, in the year 1540, and not long before, from
the Tower of London to Aldgate.
It was again cleansed in the year 1549, Henry Amcotes being mayor, at
the charges of the companies. And again, 1569, the 11th of Queen Elizabeth, for
cleansing the same ditch between Aldgate and the postern, and making a new
sewer, and wharf of timber, from the head of the postern into the town ditch,
£814 15s. 8d. Before the which time the said ditch lay open,
without wall or pale, having therein great store of very good fish, of divers
sorts, as many men yet living, who have taken and tasted them, can well
witness; but now no such matter: the charge of cleansing is spared, and great
profit made by letting out the banks, with the spoil of the whole ditch.
I am not ignorant of two fifteenths granted by a common council in the
year 1595, for the reformation of this ditch, and that a small portion thereof,
to wit, betwixt Bishopsgate and the postern called Mooregate, was cleansed, and
made somewhat broader; but filling again very fast, by reason of overraising
the ground near adjoining, therefore never the better: and I will so leave it,
for I cannot help it.
