< HAP. in. TIII-: xi-:\v JMVI-:I; \VOIM\S BEGUN. 11:; 



entreating- them to oppose the Repeal bill, on the ground 

 that the stream of fresh water proposed to be brought 

 into the northern parts of the city "would be a thing 

 very commodious for the preservation of health in the 

 city, and which stream hath been already brought 

 onward about ten miles at the charges of Mr. Hugh 

 Myddelton, the city's deputy, amounting already to the 

 sum of 3000/. and above." 1 



Worse than all, was the popular opposition which 

 Myddelton had to encounter. The pastor of Tottenham, 

 writing in 1631, speaks of the New Riveras "brought 

 with an ill wille from Ware to London." 2 Stowe, who 

 was a contemporary and enthusiastic admirer of Myd- 

 delton, says bitterly, " If those enemies of all good 

 endeavours, Danger, Difficulty, Impossibility, Detraction, 

 Contempt, Scorn, Derision, yea, and Desperate Despight, 

 could have prevailed, by their accursed and malevolent 

 interposition, either before, at the beginning, in the very 

 birth of the proceeding, or in the least stolne advantage 

 of the whole prosecution, this Worke, of so great worth, 

 had never been accomplished." 3 Stowe records that he 

 rode down divers times to see the progress made in 

 cutting and constructing the New River, and " diligently 

 observed that admirable art, pains, and industry were 

 bestowed for the passage of it, by reason that all grounds 

 are not of a like nature, some being oozy and very muddy, 

 others again as stiff, craggy, and stony. The depth of 

 the trench," he adds, "in some places descended full 

 thirty feet, if not more, whereas in other places it required 

 a sprightful art again to mount it over a valley in a 

 trough, between a couple of hills, and the trough all the 

 while borne up by wooden arches, some of them fixed 

 in the ground very deep, and rising in height above 

 twenty-three feet." 



1 * Common Council Journals,' 25th 

 May, 1610. Cambell, Mayor. 



2 ' Briefc Description of the Townc 



..1 Tottenham.' I'.y tin- lli-v. Wil- 



VOL. I. 



liam Bedwell, Pastour of the Parish 



of Tottenham. 4to. London, 1631. 



3 Stowe's ' Survey.' Ed. 1633. 



