488 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION, 
three cheefe Justices of Assises of this Circuit, and conceavinge 
his doeinge and proceedinge were against law and justice, And 
findeigne the said Justices inclyninge to certify so much unto that 
honbl. courte, he procured Sir John Gilberte Knight, Tristram 
Georges, and Henry Coplestone, esquires, to sett downe an order 
under their hands, that the said Mr. Crymes and his heires shall 
diverte and have some parte of our said ryver, to serve his said 
milles, payeinge us xlid. the yeere, which will tende to our utter 
disinherisson, and the overthrow of our whole towne, ffor if the 
said Crymes be permitted, to tourne out and take any parte of our 
said water, others over whose lande the same ryver is convaide, 
will do the like, and so we shall have none to come to our towne, 
as by a particular of our greevances (wheaewith this bearer will 
acquaynt yor honor) may appeare, wherein we most humbly crave 
yor honbl. favour, and so with our humble duetyes, and harty 
prayers for your honors longe preservacon humbly take our leave. 
Plymouthe, the xiiith of the instant September, 1601.—Yor 
honors at Commandemente, Thomas Payne Mayor and _ his 
brethren. 
There are a few other references to this suit in the Municipal 
Records and the State Papers, which show that among the 
defendants with Crymes were Richard Hele, John Browne, 
Richard Browninge, Richard Cripps, and John Edwards. It is 
worth while noting that the leat mills, though leased to Drake, 
were treated by the Mayor and Commonalty as their own :— 
The mills erected by the complaynants uppon the said new 
river are any way prejudiciall or hurtfull to any y” Highness 
Subjects, but verie beneficiall to a great multitude of y* Maties 
Subjects as well inhabiting hereabouts as to those alsoe which by 
sea arrive thither with shippinge in the more readie and speedy 
victuallinge and furnishinge them with necessaries and otherwise. 
It was in fact only under the powers obtained by the Corporation 
that Drake could erect the mills at all; and it was in their own 
capacity and not as in any way representative of or empowered by 
him, that they defended their rights. Had any authority been 
derived from Drake, or any gift been made by him, the Corporation 
must have shown it to establish their title. 
Next in point of date is the couplet on the Corporation portrait 
of Sir Francis— 
Who with fresh streams refreshed this town that first, 
Though kissed with waters, yet did pine with thirst. 
