346 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
in the old guildhall at Totnes; it is endorsed, “Mr. Prince’s 
Articles,” and it is stated to be made between the Mayor and Bur- 
gesses of the Borough of Totnes, and John Prince, of St. Martin’s, 
in the city of Exeter. It recites a verbal agreement having been 
made between the Mayor and Burgesses and Mr. Prince, concerning 
the paying him a salary of £50 per annum, for officiating in and 
exercising of the office of vicar or minister of the word of God at 
Totnes, for the term of seven years; and the Corporation accord- 
ingly agreed to pay him that sum by quarterly payments, and 
further, to procure at their cost a presentation, institution, and 
induction of Mr. Prince into the vicarage of Totnes, and to keep 
him indemnified from charges for dilapidations concerning the 
vicarage-house, and from all tenths and other duties. Mr. Prince 
covenants that he will permit the Mayor and Burgesses to receive 
and take the rents and profits of the vicarage-house and gardens 
thereunto belonging, and the dues payable out of the rectory of 
Totnes, and the benefit of all gifts for the vicar and such person as 
should be lecturer or curate. The cost of induction, presentation, 
and first-fruits, paid by the Corporation, amounted to £35, as 
appears by a paper pinned to the agreement. 
In 1675 the old town of Totnes must have presented to John 
Prince, when first he came to supply its church, a very different 
appearance to what it does to the tourist of to-day; though it yet 
retains a great many of those architectural features which remind 
us of its former importance, and which have caused a member of 
this Institution, in his Plea for the Picturesque in our Devonshire 
Towns, to fitly call it ‘‘the Chester of Devon.” 
When Prince came to Totnes, its four ancient gateways (only two 
of which now remain) were all standing; and one of these, the 
east gate across the main street (yet extant), had then its carriage- 
way and its ‘“needle’s eye’ for foot passengers. The rows or 
piazzas were longer than at present, some part having been de- 
stroyed—rows beneath which the ‘‘ hose of fine Totnes,” celebrated 
in romance, was sold, and under which at fair-times the dealers 
from all parts exposed their wares. Its old walls too could be 
traced to a greater extent than now. There was, I think, one 
object he could look on with much veneration, and one which 
to-day presents much the same appearance that it did two hundred 
years ago; viz., the keep of the castle of Judhael de Totnes, which 
in Henry VIII.’s reign is referred to by Leland, who says: ‘‘ The 
