HISTORY OF THE PLYMOUTH LEAT. 157 



*' most of the incommodities and dangers, and diverse others, 

 " shall not only be remedied but also some part of the said chan- 

 " nel of the said haven scoured and cleansed by the said river to 

 *^ the perpetual continuance of the same haven, a matter most 

 "beneficial to the realm, and where also, the INHABI- 



"TANTS OF THE SAME TOWN ARE INCORPORATED, BY KING 

 " HENRY THE 6rH, BY NAME OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON- 



" ALTY OF PLYMOUTH ; which is confirtned by your Majesty, 

 " and divers of your noble progenitors, Kings of this Realm ; may 

 " it therefore please your most exellent Majesty, of your most 

 " noble and abundant grace, and accustomed favor, that it may 

 " be enacted by this present parliament, that it shall be lawfull 

 ^* to, and for the said Mayor and Commonalty and their succes- 

 ** sors at all times, after the feast of Easter, now next coming, to 

 *' dig or mine a ditch or trench, containing in breadth between six 

 " or seven feet over, in all places tlirough and over all the lands 

 " and grounds lying between the said town of Plymouth and any 

 ^^ part of the said river Mew, alias Meuie ; and to dig, mine, break , 

 " bank, and cast up all and all manner of rocks, stones, gravel, 

 " sand, and all other letts in any places or grounds, for the con- 

 ^* venient and necessary conveying the same river to the said town : 

 ^' and further from time to time, to dorepairation and make wears, 

 *^ banks, and all other things necessary, whereby the said river 

 " may be brought and continue unto the said town, without let, 

 " denial, vexation, or trouble of the lord or lords, owner or owners 

 ^^ of the said ground, or of any other person or persons, by suit in 

 " the law, or otherwise, upon pain of twenty pounds for every 

 " time that they or any of them do attempt the contrary thereof; 

 *^ the one half thereof to be to our Sovereign Lady, and the other 

 *^ half to the mayor, commonalty, and their successors, to be re- 

 ^^ covered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information, wherein 

 " the party defendant shall not wage his law, nor in the said 

 " action, actions, or suits, any essoign, licence, or protection 

 " shall be allowed ; the said Mayor and Commonalty giving or 

 ^* paying to the said lord or lords, owner or owners of the soil 

 " where such things shall be made or done, in recompence and 

 ^' satisfaction of and for the land or ground so to be diged or mined, 

 *' for the full and absolute purchase of the same to them and their 

 " successors, so much money as, by two justices of the assize of 

 ** the County of Devon for the time being, shall be adjudged, 

 '^ ordained, and determined ; and also giving and paying to the 

 ** tenants, farmers, and occupiers of such land or ground, for such 

 *^ hurts or loses as they or any of them shall have or sustain by the 

 " same, as much as shall be assessed, adjudged, and determined 

 *• by the said two justices of assize; the same recompence and 

 ** satisfaction, as well concerning the lord or lords of the land as 

 ^* the tenants, farmers, and occupiers of the same ; to be paid by 

 ** the said Mayor and Commonalty of the said Borough, for the 

 *' time being or their successors, within the space of six weeks, 



