452 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
of the reference is in the complete answer it gives to a suggestion 
that Drake got a hint for the Plymouth Leat in this voyage from 
the Peruvian aqueducts. It equally disposes of the idea that Drake 
originated the scheme in his mayoralty—1581-2. Nay more, we 
have here full proof that there was a water scheme already in 
existence, which during Drake’s mayoralty no steps were taken to 
further,—and not only a scheme, but the scheme which the Cor- 
poration subsequently carried out. The Meavy was the only local 
“river,” then as now, from which a gravitation supply could be 
brought. 
It is a remarkable fact that a man of so much energy as Drake 
should have had one of the most unimportant mayoralties of that 
generation. Only two municipal acts have been definitely attributed 
to him in his year of office, and these he certainly did not do. He 
has been credited with having caused the aldermen to wear scarlet 
gowns; but the bye-law to that effect was made several years 
before. To him has also been attributed the expenditure of some 
of his ‘‘Spanish prize money” in the erection of the ‘‘ compass on 
the Hoe.” The following entry in the Corporation Accounts will 
show whence the money really came: 
Itm p? for all the charges in makinge the compasse 
as by a Bill mentioninge the pticulars thereof 
shewed at this accompt appeareth . vj 
Drake’s only connection with the ‘‘ compass” is in fact its erection in 
his mayoralty. It has been imagined, indeed, that if Drake did not 
pay for the compass he planned or suggested it. But the Accounts 
forbid the supposition. The compass of 1581-2 simply replaced 
one erected in 1569-70, and plastered in the next year; and the 
entries show that this hitherto mysterious structure, which has 
excited so much speculation, was a mere landmark of masonry 
surmounted by a vane, intended to show the cardinal points and 
which way the wind blew—very useful, but not in anywise 
marvellous. 
There are no further entries about the water until we come to 
the Water Act. This statute was applied for and obtained in the 
mayoralty of Christopher Brooking, 1584-5. ‘Towards the close of 
1584 Elizabeth called a new Parliament—the first since 1572— 
and advantage was at once taken by the Corporation to fortify 
