THE EARLY COMMERCE OF PLYMOUTH. 295 
however have been some continuing cause at work; for when, in 
1464, the Corporation petitioned for the reduction of the rent 
which they paid the Priors of Plympton, they piteously declared 
‘the Boroughe and towne is fallen into great ruyne and decaye, 
and so like to contynewe in decaye, if that the same Boroughe and 
towne be not shortlie relieued or otherwise puided for.” And then 
they go on to cite the “great and intollerable charges and coste, as 
well by the adventure of the sea and otherwise, by the Inhabitants 
of the same Boroughe and towne sustayned within these few yeres, 
to the valew of Tenn thousand pounde and above, as the great and 
intollerable chargé that the said May and Coyaltie and their 
Successors have had in tymes past, and hereafter shall have, and 
be putt vnto, for the yerelie mayntenaunce and safeguard of the 
said Boroughe and Towne, and the port of the same, w* is one of 
the most principall and fayrest ports at this tyme within this 
Realme, and the kaye and onlie defence of all the Covntrie ther- 
vnto adioyning, and necessarie to be kept and mayntayned as well 
in tyme of peace as of warre.” 
However in 16th Henry VI., 1437, as appears by an old customs 
book of Plymouth in the Public Record Office, the oldest pre- 
served, sixty-five cargoes were imported into Plymouth. Guienne, 
Landerneau, Brest, Guerrande, Oporto, Lisbon, Norway, Denmark, 
Holland, Genoa, Dusant or Dufant, and Spruce, each sent ships 
hither ; and London, Dartmouth, Guernsey, Exmouth, Fowey, and 
Exeter among home ports. The local vessels mentioned are—the 
George, Mary, Catherine, Antony, Margaret, and Christopher of 
Plymouth ; the Julian and Richard of Stonehouse ; the Christopher 
of Millbrook ; the Margaret of Yalmouth; the Catherine, Thomas, 
and Mary of Landulph; the Richard, Christopher, and James of 
Saltash ; and these sixteen ships brought twenty-eight cargoes. 
The leading local merchants were—Robert Folthym, John Nigholls, 
John De La Lande, Thomas Hoker, William Pollard, Walter 
Clovelly, Stephen Chapman, Peryn Thomas, John Shippeley, 
Thomas Bythman, John Pagnell, Walter Facey, Thomas Gille, 
John Martyn, Thomas Pyppe, John Seeley, John Halbye, John 
Facey, T. Glede, Thomas Smyth, Fardell, Thyche, Caskes, and 
Hall. In 1450 too the customs of Plymouth and Fowey con- 
tributed £40 a year to the “‘despences” of the Royal household ; 
Exeter and Dartmouth, £50; Bristol figured for £266 13s, 4d. ; 
and Hull for £400. 
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