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143
the springs at Knightsbridge, the river Thames, the King's
Conduit in the palace yard, and ordinary wells. The
importance of the Knightsbridge supply is seen by reference
to a petition in the State Paper Office:—
Petition of the Inhabitants of Westminster
to the King praying for a restoration of
the Water Supply lately taken from
them. May 1631.
To the Kings Most excellent Matie
The humble Petition of all the Inhabitants of ye Maties
Cittie of Westminster
Sheweth unto ye Most excellent Matie
That all the Water wch serveth the said Cittie as well for the use
and health of yor Maties People there as also for the cleansing and
cleering of the said Cittee hath it beginning from the Springs and
Wastes of yor Maties parke of Marybone and Tyborne and is thence
conveyed in Pipes through Hide Parke, the benefitt whereof hath
ben found so good to us yor Maties said subjects that under God wee
conceave hath ben and is the only Prserving of us from the Plague
and likewise danger of fyers of both wch wee have had fearfull
experience of late. The wch water is now taken of from us by
ye Keepers of yor Maties said Parke of Hide under a pretence that
the Ponds there lack water for yor Maties deere wch Pondes wee
know to be soe filled that the water runneth at waste downe the
Comon Ditches.
Most humble beseech yor excellent Matie gratiously
to consider the p'miaes and the necessity
wee are in, And that yor Matie will be pleased to
reserve the examming and fynall determining
thereof the Right Hon. the Lord Chamberlaine,
High Steward of this yor Maties Cittee of Westminster
and Wee as in all dutie bound shall ever
pray for yor Most excellent Matie
[Endorsed:—]
At the Court of Greenewich,
22 May 1631.
His Matie is graciously pleased to reserve this Peticon to the
Lord Privy Seale, Lord Chamberlayne, Earle of Holland and the
Viscount Dorchester who are to call before them on Wednesday
next in the afternoone at Whitehall both the Peticoners and Thomas
Baldwin Comptroller of the Works and having heard whch they
can say concerning this Complaint to settle such order therein for
the Comodity of the Citty of Westminster as they shall judge
fitting or otherwise to report the same unto his Matie
DORCHESTER.
From an entry in the Vestry minutes fifty years later, the