THE OLDER CHARITIES OF PLYMOUTH. 
03 
Sir Francis Drake (Mayor 1581-2, Member 1593) had left £10 
to the poor j £20 to the poor people of the Almshouse, to be paid 
in equal instalments over three years ; and another £10 to be 
distributed at the discretion of the Mayor — £40 in all. 
Martyn White left £20. 
Walter Peperell (Mayor 1575-6, 1590-1) gave £10, to be yearly 
paid. 
John Rewbie left £10. 
Mr. Baron (Mayor 1594-5) 20s. annuity, to be charged on his 
lands for ever. 
John Scoble, merchant, in 1591 gave £10, to be converted for 
the provision of [fire TJwood for the poor, yearly to be employed. 
Anthony Goddard left an amount not specified. 
John Phillips, merchant (Mayor 1593-4), gave £5. 
Sir John Trelawny (Mayor 1597-8, 1611-12) left £15. 
Thomas Middleton, merchant, of London, afterwards Sir Thomas, 
gave £20 to be converted for the provision of [fire ^wood for the 
poor, yearly to be employed. The Receivers' Accounts say he paid 
£20 for certain godly uses in 1590-91 ; and according to a bond 
entered into by the Mayor and Commonalty, the £20 advanced by 
Middleton was given in trust for the redemption of articles pawned 
by people too poor to redeem the same, and for the extension of the 
terms for which money had been lent thereon. 
This list does not include a legacy of £50, and an annuity of 
£10, left under the will of Sir John Hawkins (member 1571-72) 
at his death in 1595. £4 15s. was paid to Matthew Boyes, 
the Town Clerk, in 1598-99, for "making and seekinge" this 
bequest ; but I have not been able to trace its payment. The £50 
might easily escape notice, as it would not, unless attended by 
exceptional circumstances, be carried into the general accounts ; 
but it is not easy to see how all mention of the annuity should 
fail, if it was received. On the other hand the memorial verses 
placed near the cenotaph of Hawkins, in St. Dunstan's in the East, 
by his widow, speak of the poor of Plymouth as benefited by his 
"great and gracious legacy." As she puts it, they 
" Have had, now have, and shall have 
Many a crown." 
Sir Richard Hawkins, Sir John's son, was at his father's death, and 
for several years after, a prisoner in Spain (until the end of 1602). 
