This city was divided from east to west, and from north to south. I am further to show how the same was of old time broken into divers parts called wards, whereof Fitzstephen, more than four hundred years since, writeth thus:--“This city, (saith he) even as Rome, is divided into wards; it hath yearly sheriffs instead of consuls. It hath the dignity of senators in aldermen,” etc. The number of these wards in London was, both before and in the reign of Henry III., twenty-four in all; whereof thirteen lay on the east side of the said Walbrooke, and eleven on the west. Notwithstanding these eleven grew much more large than those of the east; and therefore in the year of Christ 1393, in the 17th of Richard II., Faringdon ward, which was then one entire ward, but mightily increased of buildings without the gates, was by act of parliament appointed to be divided into twain, and to have two aldermen, to wit, Faringdon within, and Faringdon without, which made up the number of twelve wards on the west side of Walbrooke, and so the whole number of twenty-five on both sides. Moreover, in the year 1550, the mayor, commonalty, and citizens of London, purchasing the liberties of the borough of Southwark, appointed the same to be a ward of London, and so became the number of thirteen wards on the east, twelve on the west, and one south of the river Thames, in the said borough of Southwark, in the county of Surrey, which in all arise to the number of twenty-six wards, and twenty-six aldermen of London. Wards on the east part of Walbrooke are these:-- 1 Portsoken ward without the walls. 2 Tower street ward. 3 Ealdegate ward. 4 Lime street ward. 5 Bishopsgate ward, within the walls and without. 6 Brod street ward. 7 Cornehil ward. 8 Langbourne ward. 9 Billingsgate ward. 10 Bridge ward within. 11 Candlewick street ward. 12 Walbrooke ward. 13 Downgate ward. Wards on the west side of Walbrooke are these: 14 Vintry ward. 15 Cordwainer street ward. 16 Cheape ward. 17 Colman street warde. 18 Basinghall warde. 19 Cripplegate ward, within and without. 20 Aldersgate ward, within and without. 21 Farringdon ward within. 22 Bread street ward. 23 Queenhithe ward. 24 Castle Baynard ward. 25 Farringdon ward without the walls. One ward south the river Thames, in the borough of Southwark, by the name of 26 Bridge ward without. OF PORTSOKEN WARD, THE FIRST IN THE EAST PART Seeing that of every of these wards I have to say somewhat, I will begin with Portsoken ward without Aldgate.