HISTORY OF THE PLYMOUTH LEAT. 161 



of the water. Two or three miles of main pipe were 

 soon laid down ; whether lead or wood I do not find, 

 but rather suppose the latter ; public conduits were 

 opened in several parts of the town, to supersede the 

 wells ; and the more wealthy inhabitants contracted 

 with the corporation, to supply the water in their 

 respective houses. In 1602 we find the corporation 

 beginning to legislate on the subject ; and a pretty 

 sharp beginning they made. 



In an old corporation record is the following entry, 



" Duodecimo die Aprilis, anno Di. 1602." 

 " Memorand., that the daie and yeare aforesaid it was aggreed 

 "and condiscended by the Mayor and the most pte of the xij. 

 " and xxiiii. of this Borough, in the Guildhall, this daie assembled, 

 ** that from henceforth not any of the inhabitants of this borough 

 " shall take or convey from the greate pipe, wherein the freshe 

 " water doth runn thorough the said towne, any pte of the same 

 " water into any of theire houses, or otherwise, without the leave 

 " and license of the Mayor, twelve, and xxiiii. of the said borough, 

 " for the time beinge (or the greater pte thereof whereof the Mayor 

 " for the tyme beinge to be one ) under their handes in writinge, 

 " uppon payne of fortie poundes lawful! English money, to be 

 " paide to the Maior and Comyunitie, by hym and theym, that 

 " shall do the contrarie ; to be levied by distresse or imprisment 

 " of the offender at the discreation of the Maior for the tyme 

 " beinge. " 



Signed by the Mayor, and 24 others, amongst 

 whom is Thomas Drake, supposed to have been Sir 

 Francis's brother. " Forty pounds " fine, in the 

 year 1602, when wheat was about half a guinea a 

 quarter ! It seems they soon found out the value of 

 their new leat. 



In 1608 we find a list of" the wealthier inhabitants'' 

 who took leases of the water, in their own houses, 

 at an annual rent of four shillings : their number 

 amounts to 37 ! 



Taking wheat now at 50s. ; and then at 10s. 6d. ; 

 four shillings in that time will have been worth 19s. 

 or 20s. in the present ; whilst we pay 16s. But al- 

 lowing for this little advantage ; what a contrast does 

 the towa present in its present condition when up- 

 wards of 2,000 of the householders take the water into 

 VOL. IV. — 1834. w 



