“A volume of coarse and worthless narratives, entitled ‘An historical account of the Late Great Frost, in which are discovered, in several Comical Relations, the various Humours, Loves, Cheats, and Intreagues of the Town, as the same were mannaged upon the River of Thames during that season.’ London. 1684. 12mo.
“‘Freezland-Fair, or the Icey Bear Garden. 1682.’
“‘News from the Thames; or the frozen Thames in tears. January 1683-4.’ Half sheet, folio.
“‘A winter wonder, or the Thames frozen over; with remarks on the resort there. 1684.’
“‘A strange and wonderfull relation of many remarkable damages sustained, both at sea and land, by the present unparaleled Frost.’ London. 1684. Half sheet small folio, 2 pages.
“Notwithstanding the admiration with which London Bridge had long been regarded, on account of its appearance as an actual street over the Thames; in 1685 its very confined limits seem to have attracted attention, and to have produced at least somewhat of reformation. There is a tradition extant, though I have not as yet been able to trace it to any printed authority, that the cross over the dome of St. Paul’s having been cast in Southwark, the street of London Bridge was too narrow, and its numerous arches too low, to allow of it being that way brought into the City: and Hatton, in his ‘New View of London,’ volume ii., page 791, shews us that in his time the enlarging of the Bridge was recorded upon the North side of the Nonesuch House, in the following inscription:—
“‘Anno MDCLXXXV., et primo Jacobi II. Regis,
This Street was opened and enlarged from 12, to the width of 20 foot:
Sir James Smith, Knight, Lord Mayor.’