THE EARLY COMMERCE OF PLYMOUTH. Sis 
John Pers, Richard Horswell, Simon Weryng, Richard Gerrard, 
Nicholas Sark, Langharne, and Laurence, who had a number of 
men to wait upon them. I conclude, however, that the transaction 
was profitable, from the significant entry, “‘Itm Spent in wyne 
when the Spaynards p* theyre money xxj*” The French captains 
were ‘‘comaundyd to come a lond” to be spoken with, that the 
peace might be kept within the port. Two shillings were spent 
on them in wine then; and they cost £1 6s. 8d. in maintenance 
when they were kept three days “a-lond” against their wills. 
In 1528-9 we have several miscellaneous receipts—5s. of a 
Spaniard ‘‘for a fray ;” Is. of “lewys meadowes and the ij pegons 
for Carde playinge ;” 20d. for a window forfeited to the town for 
a deodand; 3s. 4d. of John Norton for a bloodshed ; and- 20d. 
a-piece from Henry Martyn, John Moore, Robert Hmptoy, and Alst 
Saunders, brewers, for “brekyng of the assize of ale.” These 
were of course court fines. In the next year a “strayer nag” sold 
for 3s. 4d. In 1538-9 6s. were received for a “ ffustyan blankett” 
and a “‘harte of sylu’ and gilte which was taken from lytell Rawe 
the taylo* for an Excheyte to the Towne.” And even the fishing 
within the Cawsey was made a source of revenue. 
It has always been a question what became of the church plate 
taken from the churches in the town at the time of the Reforma- 
tion. An entry in the Receivers’ book, however, solves the problem, 
and supplies us with an inventory of these goods. They were sold 
to buy ‘gunpowder, bowys and arrowys,” and other munitions of 
war. 
Some of the items of expenditure are very amusing, and indeed 
the accounts generally would afford ample material for comment. 
Here, however, I can deal only with matters affecting the commerce 
of the town. Furze had to be found for the “ ffyre bekyn” at the 
Hoe, and candles for the bulwarks, as we find by the first account 
preserved, that of 1486. In the same year, too, are entries relating 
to the ordnance, and to the provision of ammunition. ‘“ Jheffry 
thomas barber ys man” was paid for making balls of “led and 
eyrryn” for “thykpeny ys bol werke.” In latter years we find 
stone shot used, some made of ‘“ More” and others of Staddon 
stone. It appears to have been the custom to drag the guns to and 
from the Hoe as need was; though the great guns may have been 
an exception. In this year also occurs the first of a long series of 
entries of payments to the watchman at Rame. For “ kepying off 
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