THE DERBV COMPANY OF MERCERS. 1 47 



pounds the said Major & Burgesses are to give securitie to 

 Hugh Bateman, Gent, in Trust for the said Company, to be lent 

 for three years without interest." These works were situate at the 

 bottom of St. Michael's lane. "The water engine was invented 

 by a Mr. Sorocold with a great deal of art. It at the same time, 

 with one wheel, throws up water to a cistern joining St. Michael's 

 Church, which from thence is conducted by two pipes, and supplies 

 all parts of the town at a cheap rate, and turns a malt mill and 

 bores elm trees for pipes, all at the same time and all managed by 

 one man."* 



The history of this loan is interesting, because it shews that the 

 Company, which received its grant from the Corporation, was in 

 a position to lend the money to the Town, and the Mayor & 

 Burgesses, probably for pecuniary reasons, were unable to repay it 

 at the time agreed upon. Various demands for the money were 

 made during a period of about twenty years, in which time no less 

 than nine members of the Company held the office of Mayor. 

 On Nov. 28th, 1695, seven months after the repayment had become 

 due, it was ordered "that Mr. Abraham Crompton & Mr. Jos. 

 Parker present wardens of the Company, that they shall waite 

 upon Mr. Noton Mayor to demand the fforty pounds, lent the 

 Corporation by the said Company which was lately due." On 

 April 6th, 1697, it was ordered "that Mr. Gilbert Cheshire 

 Steward, & Thos. Bott & Dan. Watton psent wardens, do attend 

 Mr Major, to acquaint him that the said Company does expect 

 5 p' cent for the forty pounds, that was due from the Corporation 

 since the bond became due.'' After waiting three years, on 

 April 2nd, 1700, it was "ordered that Mr. Hugh Bateman be 

 desired to waite uppon the next Common Hall, to demand the 

 money due uppon a bond, taken in his name, from the Major 

 and Burgesses of this Burrowe, in trust for the Mercers Company, 

 w"* hath been due to the said Company severall yeares." 



This visit to the Council, when sitting, had some effect, for 

 on Oct. 26th the same year the Company "Rec'' then of y" 



* WooUey's MSS., quoted by Simpson in " History of Derby," 1826, p. 5J2. 



