The name "River of Wells" is easily to be understood, if we draw again upon Stow, who, in treating of "Auncient and present Riuers, Brookes, Boorns, Pooles, Wels, and Conduits of fresh water seruing the Citie," &c., says-- "Aunciently, vntill the Conquerors time, and 200 yeres after, the Citie of London was watered besides the famous Riuer of Thames on the South part; with the riuer of the WELS, as it was then called, on the west; with water called WALBROOKE running through the midst of the citie into the riuer of Thames, seruing the heart thereof. And with a fourth water or Boorne, which ran within the Citie through LANGBOORNE ward, watering that part in the East. In the west suburbs was also another great water, called OLDBORNE, which had his fall into the riuer of Wels: then was there 3 principall Fountaines or wels in the other Suburbs, to wit, Holy Well, Clements Well, and Clarkes Well. Neare vnto this last named fountaine were diuers other wels, to wit, Skinners Wel, Fags Wel, Loders Wel, and Rad Well; All which sayde Wels, hauing the fall of their ouerflowing in the foresayde Riuer, much encreased the streame, and in that place gaue it the name of Wel. In west Smithfield, there was a Poole in Recordes called HORSEPOOLE, and one other Poole neare vnto the parish Church of Saint GILES without CRIPPLEGATE. Besides all which they had in euerie streete and Lane of the citie diuerse fayre Welles and fresh Springs; and, after this manner was this citie then serued with sweete and fresh waters, which being since decaid, other means haue beene sought to supplie the want." Here, then, we have a list of Wells, which are, together with those I have already mentioned, quite sufficient to account for the prettier name of the "River of Wells." Of these wells Stow writes in his deliciously-quaint phraseology:-- [Sidenote: "_Fitzstephen. Holy well._] There are (saith _Fitzstephen_) neare London, on the North side special wels in the Suburbs, sweete, wholesome, and cleare, amongst which _Holy well_, Clarkes wel, and Clements wel are most famous, and frequented by Scholers, and youthes of the Cittie in sommer evenings, when they walke forthe to take the aire. "The first, to wit, Holy well, is much decayed, and marred with filthinesse laide there, for the heightening of the ground for garden plots. [Sidenote: _Clements well._] "The fountaine called S. Clements well, North from the Parish Church of S. Clements, and neare vnto an Inne of _Chancerie_, called _Clements_ Inne, is faire curbed square with hard stone, kept cleane for common vse, and is alwayes full. [Sidenote: _Clarks well._] [Sidenote: _Playes by the Parish Clarks at Clarks well._] [Sidenote: _Players at the Skinners well._]