spacious, and in a strait Line comes out of Holbourn, and runs Northwards to Hatton Wall. And at the corner of this Street and Cross street, there is a handsome large Chappel, but not yet finished. In Cross street, over against Kirby street, is Hatton Yard; a very large Place, taken up with Stables and Coach Houses; and hath a passage into Vine street.

Saffron hill takes its beginning at Field lane, and runs Northwards to Vine street. It is a Place of small Account, both to Buildings and Inhabitants; and pestered with small and ordinary Alleys and Courts, taken up by the meaner Sort of People; especially the East side, unto the Town Ditch, which separates this Parish from St. James's Clarkenwel. And over this Ditch, most of the Allies have a small boarded Bridge: As Castle Alley, Bell Alley, and Blue Ball Alley. Other Places on this Hill, are Bull head Alley, and Dobbins Alley, both very small and ordinary. Strangways street hath small Houses, but something better than the Allies; and hath a passage, by a Bridge, over the Ditch. Lewis Yard, pretty large and airy, with Gardens in the middle, and indifferent well inhabited; the Entrance to it down Steps. Peter street, hath pretty good new Brick Buildings, especially the lower part by the Ditch. Harp Alley, nasty and inconsiderable. Paved Alley, but mean; hath a passage up Steps into Hatton Garden; and the Entrance into it is but ill, and by some called Pissing Alley. Lamb Alley, narrow and ordinary, hath a passage into Scroops Court: But this Part is not properly Saffron hill, but part of Field lane; which said Lane is already spoken of. Hatton Court, small and ordinary. Blue Court, goes as far as the Ditch. Wood's Alley, very small and ordinary. George Alley, long and ordinary, hath a passage into Scroop's Court. Blue Boar Court, small and indifferent, with a narrow ascending Entrance. Titus Court, very mean. And thus to make an end of Holbourn Parish, and the Places Good and Bad contained in it.]

But now without Ludgate, on the Right Hand or North Side, from the said Gate, lieth the Old Baily, as I said. Then the high Street, called Ludgate hill, down to Fleet lane: In which Lane standeth the Fleet, a Prison House, so called of the Fleet or Water running by it, and sometime flowing about it, but now Vaulted over.

I read, that Richard I. in the 1st Year of his Reign, confirmed to Osbert (Brother to William Longshampe, Chancellor of England, and Elect of Ely) and to his Heirs for ever, the Custody of his House or Palace at Westminster, with the keeping of his Gaol of the Fleet at London. Also King John, by his Patent dated the 3d of his Reign, gave to S. Archdeacon of Wells, the Custody of the said King's House at Westminster, and his Gaol of the Fleet, together with the Wardship of the Daughter and Heir of Robert Leveland, &c.

About the Year 1586. the Prisoners of the Fleet petitioned the Lords of the Council. The Warden had let and set to Farm, the Victualling and Lodging of all the said House and Prison, to one John Harvey; and the other Profits of the said Fleet, he had let to one Thomas Newport, then Deputy there under the Warden: And these two being very poor Men, having neither Land nor any Trade to live by; nor any certain Wages of the said Warden. So that these, being also greedy of Gain, lived by Bribing and Extortion. And they did most shamefully extort and exact from the Prisoners; and raised new Customs, Fines and Payments, for their own Advantage: And cruelly used them, shutting them up in close Prisons, when they found Fault with their wicked Dealings; not suffering them to come and go within the said Prison, as they ought to do; nor permitting their Friends to come unto them, that should travail in their Causes for their better Relief. Which, with other their abominable Misdemeanours, without Reformation, might be the poor Prisoners utter Undoing.

And for the doing these Wrongs with the greater Secrecy, they made away with a Book, that was always ready to be shewed, containing all Orders and Constitutions of the said House. That all Men committed, might see what they ought to have in the said Prison; and what every one ought to do, touching all manner of Duties, Rights, Constitutions and Ordinances, to be observed and kept in the Fleet. The Customs of which Fleet were, That every Prisoner should have Meat, Drink, and other Necessaries and Commodities, and be well and decently used, as was meet for every Man's Degree.

All this the Prisoners set forth in their Petition. And therefore prayed their Lordships to appoint Commissioners to come to the Fleet, and examine Newport and Harvey. And to separate the one from the other, that they might have no Conference together. And to be examined severally, upon Interrogatories already prepared to be ministred to them. And that the Prisoners might be examined touching their Doings. And to take such good Order for the Redress thereof, as to their Lordships should seem convenient.

In the said Year 1586. I find a Commission granted forth for the Relief of the Fleet. And for more convenient Use, the Recorder Fleetwood, by Commandment of the Archbishop of Canterbury, did abreviate and explain it.

Further, in the Year 1593. the Prisoners of the Fleet preferred a Bill to the Parliament, touching the Orders and Reformation of the Fleet; which Joachim Newton, Deputy Warden, did all he could to hinder. They therefore petitioned the Lord Treasurer Burghley to forward it. And to shew what Reason they had to exhibit the Bill, they sent a Paper of Articles, in number Twenty eight; of the Murders and other Misdemeanors of the said Joachim.]

Then is Fleet Bridge, pitched over the said Water, whereof I have spoken in another Place.

Then also, against the South end of Shoe lane, standeth a fair Water Conduit; whereof Will. Eastfield, sometime Maior, was Founder. For the Maior and Communalty of London, being possessed of a Conduit Head, with divers Springs of Water gathered thereinto, in the Parish of Padington, and the Water conveyed from thence, by Pipes of Lead, towards London, unto Tyborn; where it had lain for the space of six Years, and more. The Executors of Sir William Eastfield, obtained Licence of the Maior and Communalty, for them, in the Year 1453. with the Goods of Sir William, to convey the said Waters, first, in Pipes of Lead, into a Pipe begun to be laid besides the great Conduit Head at Maribone; which stretcheth from thence unto a Separal, late before made against the Chappel of Rounseval, by Charing-Cross, and no further. And then from thence to convey the said Water into the City, and there to make Receit or Receits for the same,