318 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
funds is almost inconceivable. All through the seventeenth century, 
and well on into the eighteenth, they were in difficulties; but 
they had very little idea of self-denial in the way of the reduction 
of banquets. They did stop paying their members ; and not only 
so but they managed eventually to get their members to pay them 
—a custom I am afraid not altogether confined to Plymouth, and 
not limited to the seventeenth century. 
When their difficulties were very pressing, they borrowed money 
in the first place, helped themselves to the charity property in the 
second (the chest of the Hospital of Orphans’ Aid was a capital 
bank), and wasted the town property in the third. They used to 
grant leases on lives or for fixed terms for fines at nominal rentals, 
and when all the property was leased would lease it again on rever- 
sion, two and three leases deep, securing the best bargains for 
themselves. Thus the estates of the town were rendered almost 
wholly unproductive, for they spent the fines as soon as they had 
them. By and by they went a step further and got rid of the fee. 
Very few Plymothians have any idea of the once enormous extent 
of the town lands. If they had been properly dealt with there 
would be no need of any rates in Plymouth; but they were wasted 
and spoiled. The lands of the corporation included the Marshes, 
on which Union Street and its adjuncts now stand; the “ Great- 
hill” above Pennycomequick, Tamelary, Windmill Park, &c., on 
the east; the Vawtiers, Crosse Down, Well Park, Mayes’ Cross, 
on the north; Frankfort Fields, adjoining the Marshes, on the 
west ; and property in Green, Bilbury, Kinterbury, St. Andrew, 
Stillman, Tin, Looe, Lyme, Lyneham, Buckwell, Petherick, Market, 
Castle, Vennell, Whimple, Treville, Finewell, High, Batter, Market, 
Notte, East, and Woolster Streets ; Katherine, Hoe, Loaders, White- 
friars, and Peacock Lanes ; also at Briton Side, Coxside, Southside, 
Friary Green, Old Town, the Hoe and the Quay, with Corpus 
Christi House and other properties adjoining. 
This however is a digression. ‘The average ordinary receipts of 
the Corporation during the latter half of the seventeenth century 
were about £500, though over £1000 was at times realized by the 
system of lease fines. The town custom had a singular course. In 
1659-60 it fell to £77 8s. 4d. In 1665-6 it was £239 Qs, 4d., 
the highest figure reached. ‘Then it oscillated a while between 
£60 or £70 and £150; and in 1680 commenced a steady decline, 
which brought it by 1690 to little more than £6. In 1696-7 it 
