454 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
Harris is paid for ‘‘the helpe,” and that his expenditure is just 
double Hele’s. In what way the money was applied by Harris 
an entry of 1509-10 may enable us to judge :— 
It delyutyd to John Bryan for harry Strete and hym 
beyng burges of plement for the towne for ther 
labot and Expences durynge the plement and for 
rewards and pleasurs gyven to dyus lords of the 
Courte to be fryndely to the towne . / ies 
It has been suggested, since it was shown that the cost was 
defrayed by the Corporation, that the Act was obtained by Drake’s 
influence. The wording of these entries shows that the influence 
used had to be sought in some other quarter. In the absence of 
direct evidence to such effect I decline to believe that Drake sold 
his influence ; while if he had exercised any to advantage surely 
the Corporation should have obtained the Act more cheaply. 
But Drake was by no means the only man of influence con- 
nected with the Corporation. There were others who were equally 
competent to urge a suit at Court with himself. Thus when the 
town fortified Drake’s Island, at its own expense,* and was 
assigned a pension of £39 10s. 10d. out of the local customs to 
mantain it in a defensive position, the patent was obtained by 
William Hawkins, brother of Sir John—both early patrons of 
Drake, and to whose influence there is little doubt he owed his 
admission into the Corporation. The entry runs :— 
1579-80—Itm pd to w™ hawkins esquyre for money 
laied owte in peuryng the patent for the Llonde 
and for his charge in the suyte thereof ; ~ , xa 
* It would be very curious to trace why and when the island dropped its 
name of St. Nicholas for that of Drake, who had nothing at any time to do 
with it, and certainly never raised a battery there, as stated in Westward Ho! 
The fortifying began when Drake was under ten years of age, and was carried 
on at intervals, but always by the Corporation, aided by the Crown. Thus 
we read :— 
1547-8 Itm geven in Rewarde to the pst we brought the Coun- 
saylls lres for the fort to be made on saynt Nichos Irlond . xij 
[Work was done on the island this same year under the direction of Sir 
Francis Fleming ; and William Hawkins, John Elyott, John Ilcombe, and 
Richard Hooper rode to London about the business, and had £2 each. ] 
1583-4 Itm pd owt this yere in sondrie work, 
as in fortefyeinge, buyldinge, entrenchinge 
and other munytyons boughte for the forti- 
ficacon of St. Nicholas Island . c » ijlxxix"! xiiij* iij* 6b 
