AUnciently vntill the Conquerors time , 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 Riuer of Thames . the most famous Riuer of this Iland , beginneth a little aboue a 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 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 sp●ake 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 shal be 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 par●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 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 was in ●lde 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 , Riuer socalled in the yeare 1307. 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 dece●ued . and it was vndertaken that by drawing diuers springes about Hampstid hea●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 , she 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 called A running water called Walbrooke . by William the Conqueror in his saide Charter , which entreth the Citie &c. before there was 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 customes liber custom● of London , that the Prior of the Holy Trinity within Aldgate ought to make ouer Walbrooke in the ward of B●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 William Iordan , and Iohn de Bauer . This watercourse hauing diuers Bridges , was afterwardes v●ulted 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 that the course of Walbrooke Walbrooke vaulted and paued ouer . is now hidden vnder ground , and thereby hardly knowen . Langborne water 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 Wolnothes Church , and then turning the course South downe Shareborne lane , Sharebourne lane . so termed of sharing or deuiding , it brake into diuers rilles or rillets 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 now the bars do stand , and it ran downe the whole streete till Oldebourne bridge , and into the Riuer of the Wels , 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 , Clements well . North from the Parish church of S. Clements , and 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 , Clarkes well or Clarken well , and is also curbed aboute square with stone . Not far from 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 , Skinners well Fagges well , Todwell , Loders well , and Redwell , are all decayed and so filled vp . that their places are now hardly discerned : somewhat 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 from 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 .