SIR FRANCIS DRAKE AND THE PLYMOUTH CORPORATION, 487 
connection with the borough was, however, of earlier date. Thus 
we read in 1591-2: 
Itm pd for a dynner expectinge S™ Robert Cessell 
Comynge w°" came not, but my ladye Drake M' 
Harries M' Stroude and some of the M"™ of the 
town ‘ ; ; ; aie TANI 
It is hardly possible to exaggerate the importance of this letter 
of the Corporation, which is given in full from the original in the 
Public Record Office, copied by Dr. H. H, Drake. Even without 
the entries in the Corporate Accounts, it effectually disposes of the 
traditional Drake claim ; and with them it is absolutely conclusive. 
Clearer language could not be used than the statement of the 
Corporation : “ We procured from her Maty by Acte of Parliament 
. some part of the River Mevy, to be brought to our towne, 
which cost us and Sir Frauncis Drake, who upon composicion with 
ws undertook the bringeinge home of the same, a greate some of 
money. We have compounded and purchased of the owners the 
lande over which the same runneth.” The ‘‘greate some,” or the 
quota spent by Drake was, I have shown, upon the mills, hand- 
somely repaid to him by the grant of the mill lease. 
Thomas Payne Mayor and his brethren. To the Right honobl. 
Sr Robert Cyciil, Knight principal Secretary of our Sovarign 
Lady the Queene. 
As we have allwayes heertofore founde yor honorable favour in 
any our affayres, so we now humbly crave the Contynuance of the 
same in this our present occasyons. We procured from her Maty 
by Acte of Parliament in the 27th yeere of her happie raigne, 
some parte of the River Mevy, to be brought to our towne, which 
cost us and Sir Frauncis Drake, who upon composicion with us 
undertook the bringeinge home of the same, a greate some of 
money. We have compounded and purchased of the owners the 
lande over which the same runneth. And so have held and 
enjoyde the same ever since until now of late Willyam Crymes 
esquier, and some of his complices, seeking our disherison and the 
keepeinge away of the same water from us, hath lately erected 
certain classe (t) milles and Tanpitts where were never any before, 
and hath and doth riotously and unlawfully diverte and torne out 
a greate parte of our said River, to his said milles and Tanpitts 
for which we have suets dependinge in the starre chamber before 
yor honour and the reste of her matys most honbl. privy Counsell 
where the said Crymes found such favor the last terme upon his 
motion, as the same matter was referred by their honours to the 
