A474 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
they had ample power to take the water, and levy penalties against 
all who interfered with them, Drake, through ties of friendship and 
family, represented an aggregate of property interests with which it 
was wiser to compound than, uncompelled, to strive. Thus they 
bought Drake’s goodwill, and made the best of it. What they did 
of their own motion proves that if left to themselves they could have 
done without his help. Indeed his aid was in the end worse than 
useless ; for—without intention—it became the fruitful source of 
controversy and litigation. The assumed philanthropy which Drake 
himself never claimed has cost Plymouth many thousand pounds. 
When Drake died the mills at Millbay passed for the time into 
the hands of William Stallinge until Thomas Drake, Sir Francis’s 
residuary legatee, obtained possession on the same terms as his 
brother. Before this, however, difficulties had arisen. The “ Black 
Book” records under the mayoralty of Richard Hitchings (1599- 
1600) a great controversy “through wronges offered to the Towne 
by Mr. Crymes touching our Ryver.” 
We learn what these “wrongs” were from the records of proceed- 
ings in the Star Chamber and elsewhere. Crymes, the owner of the 
manor of Buckland, apparently did not see why, if his friends the 
Drakes had mills on the leat, he should not enjoy the same advantage. 
Accordingly he proceeded to divert the stream, with the assistance 
of three friendly Justices—Sir John Gilbert, Tristram Gorges, and 
Henry Coplestone—who kindly assessed the damage to the Corpo- 
ration at a shilling a year; while divers tinners and others were 
encouraged to help themselves in a similar way. The ready fashion 
in which the three country gentlemen came to the aid of their brother 
landowner against the unfortunate Corporation aptly illustrates the 
position in which the Mayor and Commonalty stood with regard to 
the Drake interest, and the manifest wisdom of compounding there- 
with. , 
The entries in the Receivers’ Accounts with regard to the action 
of William Crymes and Thomas Drake, speak with sufficient 
clearness for themselves. They run as follows :— 
1598-9 Itm pd for carryenge a Ire to Mr. Maynerde 
of Tauistocke and for his paines in cominge hither 
aboute S* Fra Drakes last will and Testamt * en VT 
[A copy of the will cost 17s. 4d.] 
* Sir Francis left £40 to the poor of Plymouth. 
