WHereas by Authority of two several Acts of Parliament made and Ordained in the Third and fourth years of the Reign of Our late Royal Grandfather King James ( of blessed memory ) the River now running from Chadwell and Amwell , in Our County of Hertford , to the North parts of Our City of London , was at the great charge of Our said Grandfather , and other the Vnderstakers happily made and finished , since which time the water thereof is dispersed by Pipes and Branches through the several Streets and Places of Our said City , the Liberties and Suburbs of the same , and elsewhere , to the benefit and ease of Our Subjects there inhabiting , as well for the cleaning and sweet keeping of them in the times of Infection , as the preservation and safety of the Houses and Buildings , Goods and Riches therein , from the fearful danger of fire casually happening ; And such was the care and providence of Our said Grandfather , that the water in any place in the course thereof should not at any time be troubled or corrupted ( whereby the health or lives of the people might suffer or be endangered ) that by his Letters Patents of Incorporation dated the One and twentieth day of June , in the Seventeenth year of his Reign over this Our Realm of England , he created and erected a Governour and a Company , sucessively to Regulate , and carefully to Oversee all things appertaining to the said River ; and several strict Orders and Commands were made and given by Our late Royal Father ( of blessed memory ) for preservation of the said River , and preventing of such things as might be prejudicial thereunto ; Notwithstanding which , the present Governour and Company have represented unto vs , That great abuses are daily committed : We therefore taking into Our Princely consideration , That the preservation of the said River is of so great and especial consequence , are graciously pleased by this Our Royal Proclamation ( with the advice of Our Privy Council ) straitly to Charge and Command , That all and every the Grants , Clauses and Restrictions in the said Acts of Parliament , Letters Patents , and in all other Our Letters Patents , Orders and Proclamations concerning the said River Enacted , Made , Established , Granted or Confirmed , be from time to time carefully obeyed , observed , and performed ; And We do hereby strictly prohibit and forbid all and singular the Inhabitants of Our City of London , the Suburbs and Liberties thereof , Our City of Westminster , and also the inhabitants of Our several Counties of Middlesex and Hertford , and likewise all the Plummers , Paviers , and other Artificers whomsoever , and every of them , That they nor any of them , do or shall presume at any time or times hereafter , without the privity , permission and allowance of the Governour and Company aforesaid for the time being , to intermeddle with the said Works , or any of the Pipes or Branches thereof , or to convey or derive any Pipe or Branch , Pipes or Branches of the said Water into their or any of their Houses , or other places , nor shall fetch or carry the water out of the said River , the Pipes or Branches thereof , or otherwise hinder , waste or consume , disturb , infect , abuse or corrupt the same River , by setting up of Grates , overflowing of Grounds , making of Trenches or Drains , filling of Ponds , Fishing , watering of Cattel , keeping of Geese or Ducks thereupon , casting of Carrion thereinto , or by doing or permitting any misusance , annoyance , let , stoppage , or prejudice whatsoever to the stream of Our said River in any part of the Currant thereof , nor shall cut , spoil , take away or destroy any the Branches , Bridges , Wharfs , Posts , Rails , Banks , Mounds or Fences to the said River in any wise belonging or appertaining , or therewith injoyed , or lying neer , or behooful to the same , upon pain of Our high displeasure , and of such pains , penalties and punishments , as by the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom , or Our Prerogative-Royal can and may be inflicted upon the offenders for contempt of Our Royal Will and Pleasure herein declared : And We do hereby straitly Charge and Command all Mayors , Iustices of Peace , Commissioners of Sewers , Sheriffs , Bayliffs , Constables , Headboroughs , and all other Our Officers , Ministers and Subjects within Our said Cities of London and Westminster , the Suburbs and Liberties thereof , Our Counties of Middlesex and Hertford , whom the same shall or may concern , That they and every of them hereafter be vigilant and circumspect , that Our Royal Will and Pleasure herein declared , be from time to time effectually observed ; And that they and every of them in their several Offices and Places respectively , without excuse or delay , be upon all occasions aiding and assisting to the said Governour and Company , their Officers and Ministers , in the strict observance and execution of all and singular the Powers and Authorities , Limitations and Restraints herein before mentioned , and in the Grants and Prohibitions aforesaid contained , according to the true intent and meaning of these presents , when they shall be thereunto required by them or any of them , as they and every of them tender Our Pleasure , and will avoid the contrary at their perils .