156 HISTORY OF THE PLYMOUTH LEAT. 



In 1585, however, they applied to parhament, and 

 got an act '^ For the improvement of the Haven," of 

 which the following is a copy ; and may serve as a 

 contrast to the verbose and perplexed documents of 

 that august body in our day. 



Stat. 27th. Eliz. Chap. 20th. 



" WHEREAS, your Majesty's town of Plymouth, in the Coun- 

 " ty of Devon, being an ancient borough town, bordering upon the 

 " main sea, yet having a pleasant and safe harbour and road for 

 ^* ships, within or near the same, commonly called Plymouth 

 " Haven; where, as well your Majesty's ships as the ships and 

 " vessels of divers your Highness's Subjects, trading into foreign 

 " parts, and from port to port within this realm, do often upon 

 *' necessity and otherwise arive, harbour, refresh, and victual them- 

 " selves, as well with fresh water, being a thing very necessary 

 " for them, as with diverse other things; hath for the most part 

 ** of the year, none or at least very little fresh water, within a mile 

 " of the said town or thereabout, a matter very incommodious ; 

 " by reason whereof your Majesty's ships, and the ships of your 

 " Highness's Subjects, arriving and harbouring in the said haven, 

 " as is aforesaid, the mariners are many of the same are oftentimes 

 " driven by necessity to go a mile or more from the said town, and 

 " their ships, to fetch water for their necessary uses ; by reason 

 " whereof divers times they lost divers good winds and opportu- 

 " nities, which they might take benefit of, if they might water 

 " themselves near their ships : besides the said town being subject 

 " to fire as well by the enemy (for the same was once burned by 

 " the French in time of war) as by negligence and other mishap 

 ** at home, there is no water in or nearer the said town for the 

 " most part of the year (especially in summer time, when the 

 '* dangers be greatest) than a mile, or sometime more, as the 

 " drought is. And, whereas, also the said haven of Plymouth, 

 ** being one of the principal havens and harbours in the west part 

 ** of England, doth daily quer and fill with the sand of the tin- 

 " works and mines near adjoining the same; and, in short time, 

 " will be utterly decayed, if some redress and speedy remedy be 

 ** not had." 



" And, whereas, also tliere is a water or river within the said 

 "County of Devon, called the water or river of Mew, alias Meuie, 

 "distant from the said town about eight or ten miles; part of 

 " which water or river, with some charge, will be brought into 

 "the said town of Plymouth, without any great prejudice or 

 " damage to any owner or owners of any land through which the 

 " same shall be conveyed ; by reason (the most part) in effect all 

 " the said lands is either barren and heathy, or else hilly and dry 

 " grounds, which will be bettered and amended by the water that 

 " shall be brought through the same; by bringing of which water 



