160 HISTORY OF THE PLYMOUTH LEAT. 



In another chronicle, compiled by Edward Deeble, 

 who was Mayor of Plymouth in the years 1718, 

 1727 and 1739, stands the following statement. 



" Sir Francis Drake for his great care and diligence 

 " in conducting the river to Plymouth — 



" paid him in cash, £352. 16s." 



in another place it says — £352. 16s. 8d. 



This is certainly a close valuation of " care and 

 dihgence: — " where the £2. 16s. 8d. worth was be- 

 stowed should have been particularised. It looks 

 either as if Sir Francis had screwed his bargain tight 

 up ; or as if Mr. Joseph Hume's principles were in 

 fashion in the Corporation, and having " paid him 

 in cash" they had squeezed out a few shiUings dis- 

 count. Be that as it may the record says, "his 

 great care and diligence " cost the corporation £352. 

 16s. 8d. And then for the payment in kind, Sir Francis 

 knew^ very well that water and mills were of much 

 greater value in the neighbourhood of a growing town, 

 than out upon Dartmoor ; and having brought the 

 water in, he well knew what to do with it. The re- 

 cord continues — 



" And afterwards gave him a lease, for 67 years, of the 

 " whole profits of the Mills, marshes, and the water leading 

 " thereto, on reserving a reversionary rent of £34. 3s. 4d. a year, 

 " which Sir Francis Drake, of Buckland Monachorum, Bart., 

 " afterwards sold to the Governor of the Hospital of the orphan's, 

 " aid, for the sum of £l ,500, all the moiety of the malt and grist 

 " mills with all the profits thereunto belonging, for 32 years; the 

 " remainder of the time to come ; which brought in a clear profit 

 " about £300 a year, and expired in the year 1660." 



So it seems that one moiety brought in a clear rent 

 of £300 a year ; that is £600 a year for the whole, 

 for a term of 67 years. A very pretty thing in those 

 times. It must, however, be taken into the account, 

 that some of the mills were built at Sir Francis' own 

 expense, not that of the corporation only. 



Leaving Sir Francis in the enjoyment of his bar- 

 gain ; and the worshipful corporation to their dinner, 

 after their procession, let us now^ see what became 



