THE OLDER CHARITIES OF PLYMOUTH. 
65 
April 10th, 1624, there was received £20, the bequest of 
Robert Cowche of Moteley, " w^in the pish of Plymouth," to the 
Mayor and Commonalty for the use of poor artificers, to be lent 
to them gratis year by year for ever. This has disappeared. 
In the accounts of money collected in aid of the sufferers by 
the plague of 1625 there is also a reference to a receipt of £20 as 
part of a legacy left by Thomas Brockadon. 
Mark Cottell, of Cricklade St. Mary, in Wilts, by his will, dated 
March 8th, 1626, probate of which was granted in the following 
year, left to the town of Plymouth (where his father had sometime 
dwelt and was buried) £50 as a stock, the interest of which was 
to be distributed annually — one half to the poor and sick on St. 
Mark's day, with a noble to some learned preacher for preaching a 
sermon on the same day ; and the other half every year in the week 
before Christmas. There is no doubt this money was paid ; for 
in 1631 interest was carried to the credit of the poor account from 
Mark Cottell's legacy; and in 1634 we have the last distinct trace 
of it in an entry that £3 13s. 4d. had been received from Nicholas 
Sherwill in consideration of one £50 ; and that the Mayor had 
distributed £4 on account of the other, which he was to be allowed 
out of the Poor's Portion. There is a record also that money was 
paid under the will for preaching the sermon as provided. The 
Charity has disappeared, but it may have been applied to the 
general account of the Hospital of Poor's Portion. 
In February, 1628, Robert Trelawny and John Clement had 
livery and siesin for the Mayor and Commonalty of four houses in 
New Street, feoffed by Sir Thomas Wyes of Sydenham, and Sir 
Samuel Rolle of Insworth. This arose out of a bequest by 
Benjamin Baron, merchant, of London, of £100 to the Mayor 
and Commonalty of Plymouth, that they should pay yearly 40s. 
to the parson and churchwardens of Bickington, to be given to 
the poor of that parish within fourteen days in bread, shoes, and 
stockings ; also 20s. to be distributed in white and wheaten bread 
to the poor of Plymouth; the residue of the £100 to make a 
stock to set and keep the aforesaid poor people of Plymouth " on 
worke." The £2 have continued to be paid by the Corporation, as 
set forth in the Report of the Charity Commissioners, to the 
authorities of Bickington, but as far as Plymouth is concerned the 
VOL. IX. F 
