defiled with their trampling, and made Puddle like; as also of one Puddle dwelling there, it is (as I suppose) called Puddle Wharf.

Then is there a Lane bewteen the Black Friers and the Thames, called in the 26th of Edw. III. Castle lane.

In this Lane also, is one great Messauge, of old time belonging to the Priory of Okeborn in Wiltshire; and was the Prior's Lodging when he repaired to London. This Priory being of the French Order, was suppressed by Henry V. and with other Lands and Tenements pertaining to the said Priory, was by Hen. VI. given to his College in Cambridge, called now the King's College.

About this Castle lane, was sometime a Mill or Mills, belonging to the Templers of the New Temple, as appeareth of Record. For King John, in the first Year of his Reign, granted a Place on the Fleet, near unto Baynards Castle, to make a Mill; and the whole Course of Water of the Fleet, to serve the said Mill.

I read also, that in the Year 1274. the 2d of Edward I. Richard Raison, and Atheline his Wife, did give to Nicho. de Musely, Clerk, ten Shillings of yearly free and quiet Rent, out of all his Tenements, with the Houses thereunto built, and their Appurtenances, which they had of the demise of the Master and Brethren of Knights Templars in England, next unto their Mill of Fleet, over against the Houses of Laurence de Brooke, in the Parish of St. Andrew next to Baynards Castle. Which Tenements lie between the Way leading to the said Mill on the West part. Also in the Rights belonging to Robert Fitzwater, and to his Heirs, in the City of London, in the time of Peace, it was declared in the Year 1303. that the said Robert, Castillon of London, and Banner-bearer, had a Soke (or Ward) in the City, that was by the Wall of St. Paul, as Men go down the Street before the Brewhouse of St. Paul, unto the Thames; and so to the side of the Mill, which is in the Water that cometh down from Fleet Bridge, and goeth so by London Walls, betwixt the Friers Preachers Church and Ludgate; and so that Ward turned back by the House of the said Friers, unto the said common Wall of the Chanonry of St, Paul. That is all of the Parish of St. Andrew; which is the Gift of his Ancestors by Seniority, as more I have shewed in the Castles.

Now here is to be noted, that the Wall of London, at that time, went strait South from Ludgate, down to the River of Thames. But for building of the Black Friers Church, the said Wall was by Commandment taken down, and a new Wall was then made, strait West from Ludgate to Fleet Bridge; and then by the Water of Fleet, to the River of Thames, &c.

In the year 1307. the 35th of Edw. I. in a Parliament at Carlile, Henry Lacie, Earl of Lincoln, complained of Annoyances done to the Water of Fleet: Whereupon it was granted, that the said Mill should be removed and destroyed.

And not only this Noble Earl, but the Commoners of London, and especially the Inhabitants of Holborn, were Complainants and Petitioners to the said Parliament. And the Annoyances they complained of, were these: That the Course of the Water was stop'd, that ran under the Bridges of Holborn and the Fleet, into the Thames: So that the Vessels that used to come up into that part of the City, with Goods and Commodities, under Fleet Bridge, as far as Holborn Bridge, could not pass. The Cause of which Stoppage, was not only the Key belonging to the said Mills, but Filth thrown in, &c.

This may more at large be understood by repeating the Record of the same: Viz. "The Petition of the Commonalty of London, complaining, That whereas the Course of the Water, which runneth at London, under the Bridge of Holborn, and the Bridge of the Fleet, into the Thames, was wont to be so large and broad, and deep, that ten or twelve Ships used to come up to the said Fleet Bridge, with divers Things and Merchandizes; and some of those Ships went under the Bridge, unto the foresaid Holborn Bridge. Now that Course was obstructed by the Filth and Inundation of Tanners, and by various other Stoppages made in the said Water; and chiefly by the raising of the Key, and by diverting of the Water, which they of the New Temple had made for their Mills, without Baynard Castle: So that the same Ships cannot come in as they were wont and ought to do. Whereupon the Commons pray, that the Maior taking with him the Sheriffs, and the discreeter Aldermen, view the Course of the said Water; that by the View and Oath of honest and lawful Men, he cause to remove all the Annoyances of the said Water, which he shall find; and to repair the foresaid Course, and to maintain it in such a State wherein it was wont to be antiently."

To this it was answered thus. "Let Roger le Brabazon, and the Constable of the Tower of London, the Maior and Sheriffs of London be assigned, that they, taking with them certain discreeter Aldermen of London, inquire by Oath, &c. how it hath been wont to be, and what Course. And let them remove the Annoyances which they find, and cause it to be maintained on the same State, wherein it was accustomed to be of old."

And this is further explained by King Edward I. his Patent, An. 35. to Roger de Brabanson, Rafe de Sandewyc, and John le Bland, Maior of the City, to this Tenor. "Whereas by a Complaint of some We have heard, that the Course of the Water of Fleet under the Bridge of Holborn, running down to the Thames, as well by Dung and manifold Filth cast into the said Water, as by the exaltation on a certain Key, by the Master and Brethren of the New Temple, London, for their Mills, upon the Thames, near Castel Baignard new made, is so stop'd up and streightned, that Boats with Corn, Wine, Faggots, and other Necessaries, cannot pass as they were wont, by the passage of the Course of that Water, from the Thames to the said Bridge; to the no little Grievance and Annoyance of the Men that inhabit near the Fleet, and the Neighbouring Parts, &c."

Here let me add what Mr. Prinn moved about the Year 1668. soon after the Fire of London: Whether such a Commission and Inquiry, to make this River Navigable to Holborn Bridge, or Clerkenwel, would not now be seasonable; and a Work worthy to be undertaken, for the publick Benefit, Trade, and Health, of the City and Suburbs?]

This Ward ascendeth up by the East Wall of the Black Friers, to the South-west end of Creed lane, where it endeth on that side.