THE EARLY COMMERCE OF PLYMOUTH. 313 
Sir Gawen Carew. Finally the townsfolk learnt how to make guns 
for themselves. And I may note here that divers were not unknown. 
In 1548-9 a gun-chamber was dropped overboard, and was picked 
up again by divers, who had 6s. 8d. for the work. It is a small 
matter, but I may as well record also that in the following year 7s. 
was paid for painting the town drum and 20d. for covering it. 
The Corporation were at some cost concerning the preservation 
of the haven from the damage caused by the tin-streamers. A 
commission relating to the tinners is mentioned as early as 1486. 
In 1538-9 divers “ platts of the Town and port were made,” tyn- 
works viewed on behalf of the town, and a presentment entered 
concerning the haven, while by the order of the Lord High Admiral 
a “view” was taken of Cattewater. Two years later 3s. 8d. were 
paid for “‘ viewing the streame Brok that descends down hurtfull 
to the haven.” In 1542-3 there was riding to the petty sessions 
at Ermington against the tinners; and in 1543-4 there was a nisi 
prius suit against them. In 1544-5 John Sprye had £1 13s. 4d. 
for ‘ payntyng a platt” of the haven. Two years later he made 
another “ platt,” which was taken to Sir Peter Carew; and the tin- 
work was viewed again. You know that Acts of Parliament were 
framed to restrain the streamers from damaging the haven; and 
that one of the chief objects of Drake in the construction of the 
leat was to repair this damage by flushing the harbour, 7.e. Sutton 
Pool. 
The commerce of Plymouth was at a low ebb in the concluding 
years of the sixteenth century.* Drake and Hawkins, and most of 
their companions, had passed away, and with them for a time the 
spirit of the earlier Elizabethan days. The townsfolk lived in con- 
tinual dread of Spanish attack—a dread quite justified by the fact 
that in March, 1596, a party of Spaniards landed from a pinnace 
at Cawsand and set sundry houses and boats on fire; while in 
April, 1599, some Spanish vessels actually captured and carried off 
fishing boats from within the Sound. Every now and then the 
alarm was made by “the watchman at Rame” that the Spaniards 
had come, and almost every fleet that passed was thought to be 
* In the year Michaelmas to Michaelmas, 1571-2, there were sixty-nine 
_ships belonging to Plymouth—One of 100 tons; two of 80; three of 60; 
four of 50; eleven of 40; two of 85; seven of 30; five of 25; twelve of 
20; three of 16; four of 15; three of 12; eleven of 10; and one of 6 tons. 
Bristol and Southampton had fifty-three each. 
