THE EARLY COMMERCE OF PLYMOUTH. 303 
one sold, in 1494-5, for 20s. These boats were lent out. In 1487 
the charge was 8d. a time for the little boat, and 16d. for the big 
one ; and they were hired in that year not only by merchants of 
the town—John Ileombe, William Rogger, Thomas Yogge, John 
Gew, Thomas Grayson, Thomas Crapp, Richard Bovey, Thomas 
Bull, Janet Elwin, William Dawe, William Nycoll, and John 
Perse, but by the “ Prior of the White Friars,” a Frenchman, and 
“the owners of the brokyn shypp.” One John Adryan had charge 
of the carriers. In 1493 the charge was 6d. a tide, but the carriers 
do not seem to have been profitable, judging from the entry of one 
year’s expenses ; and they soon disappear from the accounts. 
There is one record of the rents of the town property accidentally 
preserved for the year commencing Michaelmas, 6th Henry VII. 
(1491). It contains 156 entries, including 14 of the shambles. 
The total rents in that year were £23 13s. 7d... For the shambles 
£4 11s. 8d. were paid. William Bold, Robert Warweke, Richard 
Gue, William Joseph, William Chopyn, and Robert Ayer, rented 
in the “Shamell” at 8s.; in the “other part” of the Shamell, 
Matthew Chapyn, 7s.; Gelam Bocher, 6s. 8d.; Richard Drap, 
John Moysen, Robert Hore, Roger Joseph and Thomas, at 4s. The 
Guildhall Shamell made 10s. 
However, the chief value of this rent roll is the proof it gives of 
what has been a much-disputed point—the existence of a house of 
Black Friars in Plymouth. There is an entry of the payment of 
2s. by the ‘‘Dom* psbiterus;” and of 2s. 4d. by the ‘“ Custod. 
Dom* Eleosinar;” and these entries therefore settle the point 
beyond all question. 
The Cawsey is mentioned as existing in the very earliest accounts 
we have. It is worthy of special note as the first structural pro- 
vision of which there is any record, for the accommodation of the 
trade of the port. The various entries concerning it, when put 
together, show clearly that it was a little pier at the mouth of 
Sutton Pool, near the site of the present Barbican Pier, and per- 
haps occupying almost precisely that position. In 1487 no less 
than £5 16s. was spent upon the Cawsey. Twenty boat-loads of 
stones are charged for, and eleven large stones, called “sling 
stones,” some of which are specified as being intended for within 
and others for without the Cawsey. ‘There are frequent entries of 
this kind, and indeed the Cawsey was continually demanding 
repair, 
