THE OLDER CHARITIES OF PLYMOUTH. 
31 
merit) for drawing a bill "to be layd in the ply anient howsse for 
the almeshowsse ; " and Mr. Fletwoode has another 10s. for his 
services in connection therewith, including speaking " in its favour 
in the howsse." Moreover the "sergeant of plyament" had 5s. 
(and subsequently a shilling more) to put the Speaker in mind of 
the Almshouse Bill. I am not aware, however, that any Act of 
Parliament was actually passed. 
The original Almshouse was probably an important building. It 
had a chapel, licensed by Bishop Lacy in 1540 — capella hospitalis 
prope cemeterium ecclesiae parochialis. Moreover, the site was 
originally much more extensive than the remnant which continued 
to the present generation — with herb-garden, orchard, fields, and 
barn. 38th Elizabeth Serjeant Hele let to his servant, John 
Kyder, a close of land and quyllet of meadow between the lane 
leading from Plymouth towards " the late salt mylle " of the south, 
the lands of the Almshouse west, and " the old mylle poole called 
Soure poole" north. And within the next half-dozen years the 
nature of an encroachment is specified in a lease granted in 1602 
to Robert Trelawny, of two houses newly builded on part of " the 
gardaine of the almeshouse of Plymouth north of the same, 
adjoining the lane leading from the West Churchy earde stile 
towards Stonehouse . . . and in the southside of the same waie, 
in the west parte of the said churchyearde and of parcell of the 
Schoolehouse there." These houses with gardens adjoining reached 
twenty-five yards from the churchyard, to the door and way leading 
into the Almshouse barn. 
An early benefactor of the town of Plymouth was John How, 
priest. He bore the same name as the last Prior of Plympton, but 
there is no direct evidence to show whether the two are one ; and 
a John How appears as paying 3s. 6d. in the old Town Rental 
already quoted, 6 and 7 Henry VII. I am inclined to believe, 
however, that the John How who founded the charities and the 
prior are the same. The bill is still extant under his hand and 
seal, dated September 30th, 1563, in which How gives to John 
Derye, Mayor of Plymouth (also 1557-8), and John Forde, 
alderman (Mayor 1555-6, 1562-3), 
These pcells of goods here specified, to weite, one clothe of blew velvett 
imbrodred w l flowers of venys gold & silek. Also one white sute of vesty- 
ments for priest diacon and subdiacon w l one Cope of the same sute of silke. 
