THE PLYMOUTH LEAT MILLS REMOVAL BILL. 393 
THE PLYMOUTH LEAT MILLS EEMOVAL BILL. 
The following is a copy of the bill brought into Parliament in 
1593, by the Millowners whose property had been damaged by 
reason of the erection of mills on the Plymouth Leat, without 
payment of the compensation provided for by the Water Act. It 
was obtained by Mr. Worth from the records of the House of 
Lords, and bears the endorsement : "92 for the preservacon of 
[Toivching erased] the haven of Plymouth | Martis xx° Martij 92. 
The first reading | Lune xxvj 0 Martij 93. The secunde reading 
and comytted." The chairman of the committee was Sir Francis 
Drake, the builder of the mills complained of. 
An Act for the explanacone & trewe 
interpretacone of a Statute made in 
the xxvii yere of the Queues Ma ties 
raigne, intituled, An Acte for the pre- 
servacone of the Haven at Plymouthe. 
Whereas in the Parliam te holden in the xxvij th yere of her Ma ties 
moste gracious raigne, An Acte was made for the preservacone of 
the Haven at Plymouthe in the Countie of Devon in w ch yt ys 
emongste other things inacted That y* shoulde be lawfull to & for 
the Maiore and Cominaltie of the Towne of Plymouthe, & to 
their Successors at all tymes after the feaste of Easter, then next 
comminge to digge & myne a ditche or trenche contayninge in 
breadthe betweene sixe or seven foote over in all places, through 
& over all the Landes & grounde lyinge betweene the said Towne 
of Plymouthe & anye pte of the Kyver of Mewe als Mevie and to 
do dyvers other thinge menconed in the said Acte, necessarie for 
the bringinge & contynewinge of the said Eyver of Mewe als 
Mevie to the said Towne as by the said Acte more at Large 
appeareth. Which Act was meante and intended to be for the 
good of the said Towne of Plymouthe by providinge of freshe 
water for releiffe of the said Towne, and of suche Shippes as 
shoulde com into the said Porte or Haven & not for anye other 
