THE FOUNDERS OF CHARLES CHURCH. 
99 
and expedients by which the foreshadowed troubles might be 
warded off or mitigated. In a labour of this national character 
each one had to confine his attention to his own locality ; each one 
had to do his duty in the parish, city, or town where his lot was 
cast; and the worthy magistrates of Plymouth evidently determined 
to try and develope in the town greater sobriety and thoughtful- 
ness, feeling assured that if their fellow-citizens were only full of 
loyalty to their country, and could face the difficulties, whatever 
they might be, coming, in a spirit of sober watchfulness in guarding 
the civil and religious privileges which had been handed down to 
them, the storm, fierce though it might be, would only tend to 
make the sapling of freedom strike deeper and broader roots, and 
become more firmly than ever fixed in our land. 
These inducements may and probably did strongly move the 
Council. No record of the debate is preserved ; but the conclusion 
arrived at is to be found in the resolution inscribed in the White 
Book for 1634, and the ideas actuating the worthy rulers of our 
town are best stated in the very words used on the occasion. 
" Whereas this Burrough of Plymouth in the County of Devon 
is so populous, and of late times so much increased, that the Church 
heer is unable to receive and corteyne a multitude of inhabitants 
thereof, who, by reason thereof, repayre not to the Church nor heare 
devyne service on the Sunday, as they ought ; And whereas the 
advancement and propogation of the honor and service of God is, 
and ought to be, the chiefest ayme and end of all good magistrates 
and Christians; And whereas some worthy and well devoted 
Gentlemen, our neighbours, have already exprest themselves liberal 
benefactors toward so good and religious a work ; we the said Mayor 
and major part of the Magistrates and Common Council within the 
said burrough, assembled in the Guildhall thereof, for the advance- 
ment of God's glory and furtherance of so needful and pious a 
work, doe enacte constitute order and agree that (with the gracious 
licence and leave of His Majesty) there shall be, with all convenient 
speed, a new church erected and founded within the Borough of 
Plymouth aforesaid, in and upon that piece or parcell of land 
commonly called or known by the name of the Coney Yard now 
Gayer's Yard, lately dedicated and given to us by John Hele, of 
Wembury, Esquire, to that use ; And we do further agree that a 
petition be preferred His Majesty for his royal assent thereunto, 
and grant that all that part and parcell of ground messuages houses 
lande and tenements, and of the inhabitants thereof, situate within 
the said burrough commonly called or known by the names of 
Looe Street Ward, Briton-side, Catdowne and part of Yintry Ward, 
and other messuages lands and tenements within the said burrough, 
