EABIiY TOPOGRAPHY OF FALMOUTH 157 



Petition to Restore the Custom House from Falmouth to Penrtn, 



A.D. 1660. 



To the Kingr's most excellent Ma*ie The humble petition of the Mayor 

 Aldermen and Burgesses of the Burrough of Perryn in the C"*y of Cornwall 

 In all humiUtie sheweth 



That the said burrough is very antient a Towne corporate and Markett 

 Towne comodiously sittuated on the harborrough of ffalmouth and sendeth two 

 Burgesses to the Parliament and hath beene very faithf ull and loyall to the Royal 

 interest of the Crowne of Ensrland (for which they have much suffered) and tyme 

 out of mind the Custom's house for receipt of yor Ma*'^^ customs hath been kept 

 there. 



But soe it is (May it please yr sacred Ma*i«) that Sir Peter Killigrew who is 

 seised of certaine Lands on w^ is built a new erected village called Pennycome- 

 quick als Smitheck distant about a mile from the said Burrough takeing advantage 

 of the troubles and incumbrances that lay on yor pet™' in respect of their Loyalty 

 and faithfulness to yor Eoyall father of glorious memory and to yor sacred Ma*i« 

 by his interest and solicitaion with the late tyrant Oliver Cromwell and vicious 

 suggestions and surmises about 5 years since pro(c)ured the said Customs house to 

 be removed from the said Burrough to the said Village and alsoe a weekly 

 markett and fEaires to bee kept there to the totall decay of trade in the said 

 Burrough and ruine of yor pet'"' and utterly disabling them to spare such sumes 

 of money as they ought and are willing for the use of yor Mai« or to serve yor 

 Mat>e in that measure they have formerly donne and their heart's wish yr 

 Petitioners must humbly beseech off yor Mat'^ to take their deplorable and sad 

 condition into consideration and to order the Commissioners for the Customs to 

 remove the said Custome House again to the said Burrough and that you would 

 bee graciously pleased not to graunt any faires or marketts to bee kept at ye said 

 Village which yor pet""^' are enformed the said Sir Peter endeavours to pcure and 

 if he hath gotten any order or warrt for the same yor Ma*^« would bee pleased to 

 recall it. 



And yor pet»'» as in duty bound shall ever pray. 



APPENDIX. 



Since the preceding pages were in type, the Editor has 

 drawn my attention to Whitaker's comment (p. 225, MSS, E.I.C.) 

 on the map of Smithick sea, or harbour, which contains valuable 

 information on the early Topography of Falmouth, and deserves 

 to be published in extenso. 



Mem. June 28th, 1792—1 saw for the second or third time a small old map of 

 Falmouth, belonging to the Lords, and kept in the office of their steward 

 Minehead ; and made th<- following extracts from it. 



At the bottom of the map is " Smj thick sea or harbour," that part of the 

 harbour which adjoins to Smythick as I previously placed it. 



