Corporation Chronicles: Being Some Account of the Ancient Corporations of East Looe and of West ...

Google

This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project

to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books

are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.

Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the

publisher to a library and finally to you.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.
We also ask that you:

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.

+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.

+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web

at |http: //books .google .com/I

Br
5?08

"^torporation
CDronlcIes.

Being some account of the

Ancient Corporations of

East Looe

And of

West Looe

In llie

County of Cornwall.

11

'X.

r?. cj "6

li

7 • "^

p^S^IP^@ppp@^{^

m

o

1

§

1

i

1
1

m

i

1
il

m
m

m

m

Harvard College
Library

I

C3 I CD

FROM THE BEQUEST OF

SUSAN GREENE DEXTER

1

il

HI

m

1^

111

m

m

m

m
m

m

ill

m

m

PMi^IUm^SMiMIMSPIM

HI

ID

r

Corporation CDronlcle$>

BEING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE

Ancient Corporations of East
LooE AND OF West Look

IN THE

County of Cornwall.

: o :

HY

A. L. BROWNE, M.A.,

S. Edmund Half., Oxford.

A?id sometime Vicar of East ami West Looe.

plymouth :
John Smith Plymouth Limited, Printers, Stationers, &c.,

102 Old Town Street.

jyo4.

^^ ^"^

c."^' ^7

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY ^
DEXTER FUND ^

CONTENTS.

Chapter.

Introduction

Page.
6

1. — Historical and Descriptive Notices of Looe
II.— East Looe Chaimers
III. — East Looe Constitution Book
IV.— East Looe Court Book (1664-1709) .

V. — East Looe Presentments
VI. — East Looe Mayoralty Accounts (1651-1855)
VII. — East Looe Corporation Chapel

VIII.— West Looe Charters
IX.— West Looe Court Books (1611-21) .
X.— West Looe Court Books (1641-69) .
XI— WEsr Looe Court Books (1672-82) .
XII. — West Looe Mayoralty Accounts
XIII.— St. Nicholas Chapel and Guildhall
XIV. — West Looe Presentments
XV. — The Bridge and Harbour

XVI.— East Looe Parliamentary Election (1796)
XVII. — East Looe Mayoral Election in 1823
XVIII. — Thomas Bond, the Historian of Looe
XIX. — Biographical Notes ....
XX.— Oddments .....

15

:^

46
63
69

as

94
101
112
126
142
153
159
166
173
176
179
185
191

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Name.

View of Looe in 1837

East Looe Corporation seal

The Old Guildhall, East Looe

East Looe Corporation Mages, Punch Bowl and
Ladles, Sergeants Hats and Cloaks

The Stocks of East Looe

East Looe Fire Engine

Street in East Looe, with Church Tower in the
Distance

West Looe Corporation Seal

Maces of the Sergeants of West Looe

Old Inn, West Looe

St. Nicholas Church— Exterior

St. Nicholas Church— Interior

Silhouette of Thomas Bond . .

Thomas Bond's House

Talland Church— Interior . . -

Page.

frontispiece.
29

37

52
66
77

89
94
132
140
154
155
179
181
186

iNTitoniwrios.

This work does not aspire to the dignity of a history, nor
does it claim the utility of a guide-book. It endeavours to give
just what it professes to give,—" Some Account of the Corpor-
ations of East Looe and West Looe." The principle adopted
in its preparation has been,— to let such papers and documents
as still survive tell the story, while connecting links have been
inserted, when necessary for coherence.

The compiler does not seek to supersede Bond's well-known
History of Looe ; he only seeks to supplement, and has there-
fore tried to avoid the repetition of matter already accessible in
that work. In some few cases the presentation of an intelligible
record, or the recital of the different steps in the growth and
developement of the corporate life, has compelled him to ignore
this rule. During the past six years the Looe Parish Magazine
has contained notes on the history of the towns, but with the
passing on of time, materials ready to hand became exhausted,
and other sources of information had to be sought. Permission
was sought from R. \. Peter, Esq , ex-mayor of East Looe, to
examine the records of the extinct Corporation, and readily
granted by him. The compiler eagerly availed himself of this
consent, and spent many dusty hours, in a study of the docu-
ments available.

With regard to the records of the also extinct Corporation of
West Looe, a long time elapsed before any could be found.
That such were existipg in Mr. Bond's time, is implied in his
book, and it was scarcely credible that they had been entirely
destroyed between his day and ours. Encouraged by this belief,
enquiries were diligently pressed, until with the assistance of
Mr. J. B. Hooper, of West Looe, a box in a cupl>oard in the
Maytrally House, containing a quantity of old papers, was
unearthed.

This compilation is the result of the investigation of these
two sets of records, and does not claim to be at all exbausti\e.

INTRODUCTION.

There is still much to occupy the attention and research of
one possessed of riper experience in the reading of old docu-
ments, than the present compiler.

For nearly three centuries each borough returned two
representatives to the House of Commons. Some little surprise
may therefore be felt at the absence of any systematic treatment
of their political history. But to have done so would have
been beyond the scope within which the compiler sought to
work. It might be reasonably urged, that political and municipal
life in these old world boroughs so intertwined and overlapped,
that the separation of the one from the other means a mutilated
presentation of the local history. This may be perfectly true,
but to have dealt adequately with this branch of the subject,
would have demanded a fuller research than the exigencies of
time permitted.

The documents on which this work is based, for the most
part describe the government of the boroughs; they disclose the
deeds and misdeeds of many, they show the angularities and
singularities of the rulers and the ruled. And while the writer
approached his task in a rather hyper-critical temper, it has been
his constant care never to be less than just to the memory of
those, who, in their day and generation, did service in Church
and State. At times the expressions used may seem to an
outsider unduly severe, but they represent a matured feeling
of abhorrence for that mental attitude which finds its happiness
in seeking to maintain the rivalry, which is reputed to exist
between the inhabitants of the two Looes. A sentiment, which
in 1885 successfully opposed the incorporation of the towns
under one charter, and put back the development of local
municipal life for some twelve years. This selfish localism, if
scotched, is not entirely killed ; but it is to be hoped that the
existence of the one governing body for both towns, which has
taken the form of an Urban District Council, will gradually
exorcise this unintelligent antipathy from local municipal life.

As far as possible, a little of everything has been selected
from the old records, as it seemed more than a pity to let such
interesting documents pass away, without some attempt to at
least record an analysis of their contents. Indeed, from the
inevitable wear and tear of age, from damp and past neglect,
many of the documents will be altogether undecipherable,
before many years have passed.

The work has been done in holiday time and in spare hours
gt home, but spare hours in the life of a clergyman to-day are

S INTKODUCTION.

few and far between. Week after week has too often gone by
without a page being turned or a. word written. Let this be
the writer's apology for imperfections which are manifest, in
what has been —at any rate to him —a labour of love.

He begs to offer his thanks — to Richard Peter, Esq , of
Launceston, for the invaluable analysis of the West Looe Court
Books, written out by himself in spite of his four score and ten
years — to A. E. Hurford, Esq., of Looe, for his kindly aid in
the elucidation of many a knotty point or an obscure writing,
and especially for revising the proofs, ^to C. Davies Gilbert,
Esq., of Trelissisck, for access to the MKS in his possession,
— toC. PrideaujL-Brune, Esq., of Padstow, for the use of his
library, ^to J. D. Enys, Esq., to E. Rashleigh, Esq., to the
Rev. T. Taylor, to D. Borlase Childs, Esq., the last Town
Clerk of East Looe, — to Mr, John Taylor, of West Looe, for
the loan of the last Mayoral Account Book of that borough,
—to Mr- T. H. Hicks, CO., of East Looe, for help in maoy
ways, — and to the proprietors of the " West Briton' and of
the "Cornish Times," — for their courteous permission to search
the files of their respective newspapers.

J

HISTORICAL NOTICES OF LOOE.

CHAPTER I.

Historical and Descriptive Notices of Looe.

AST LOOE first returned a member to
Parliament in the reign of Edward I.,
when J. Hurston was elected in the
year 1340. He appears to have been
deputed to represent Fowey at the
same time, and the sum allowed by
the Electors for their member's ex-
*^ penses in going to, staying at,
and returning from Westminister,
amounted to £4 t2s. In those days towns were not ambitious
of being constituted Parliamentary boroughs, as the electors
had to maintain the person elected. The privilege was dis-
continued therefore until the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when
Thomas Stone and Thomas West were returned. John
Wooley and Edward Cordell were elected in 1571.

West Looe was first summoned to return members to
Parliament in the sixth year of Edward VI., />., 1553, when
John Ashley and WilHam Morice were elected.

In the roll of King Edward IIL's fleet before Calais, it is
said that the port of Looe sent 20 ships and 315 sailors; Lon-
don furnished 25 ships and 662 sailors ; Plymouth 26 ships
and 603 sailors ; Fowey sent 47 ships and 770 men ; Padstow
two ships and 27 men.

A census of Cornwall was made in the year 1377, when the
population above the age of 14, omitting clergy and vagrants,
was 34,274. The two Looes are entered as independent,/.^.,
self-governing communities. The population of the township
of East Looe was 138, of West Looe, 131, and of Looe
Island o.

One of the earliest writers to mention Looe in his work is
William of Worcester, who in the year 1478 made a journey
from Bristol to St. Michael's Mount. Allen, in his history of
Liskeard, describes this writer as *' an eminent tourist of his

10 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

day. The most important places in his view are the religious
houses, but his passing remarks are, even on them, very brief;
they are all given in mongrel Latin." In the notes of his
travels are the following local references : —

" A Low usque Pollerewan, 5 miliaria. A Low havyn distat usque
Plymouth. 1 1 milaria. Low brygge is a very neate brygiBfe about vi.
bow-shots in length. The island of S. Michael de Low lies opposite
the towne of Low about one mile from the mainland."

Plymouth Corporation accounts contain an incidental re-
ference to Looe : —

" 1506-07. Item pd. for a man & a horse ij times to go for Nicholas
Adam of Loo to make the crosse and tlie vanys on the sty pell xvj."

Adam must have been a capable craftsman, as he was sent
for on another occasion.

In 1513 the ships of the port of Looe, in common with the
shipping of other ports, were pressed for the King's service.

The notice next in chronological order to be found, is

contained in a book known as ** Leland's Itinerary." The

writer was employed by Henry VIII. to search the Religious

Houses and the Cathedrals. He visited Cornwall in 1530,

and in his journal writes : —

" In the est syde also of this Poul Pyrre (Polperro), II miles off,
is another creke cawled Loow, being but a tyde creke, for at low water
benethe the bridge a man may both wade and ryde over in the somer.
There is on either syde of this smaule creke a small fisher village, hard
on the se shore, the one cawled Est and the other West Loow, Est
Loow being a market towne, and yn eyther of them a chapel. Also in
the sayd creke's mouth, neere sumwhat to the southe west, is a lowe
isle cawled S. Nicholas Isle, not a quarter of a myle far the mayne
shore, and conteyneth a VI. or VII. acres in cumpace, and feedeth
shape and conies. There is a bridge sumwhat above these II. vyllages,
of X. or XII. stone archis, over which men passe when the se ys yn.
Fro Fowey havyn to Loow creke the ground ny the se syde ys very
fertile of come and gresse, and no tynne werkes."

The same writer also adds, that : —

" Est Loow is a praty market towne. There ys a great bridge of
12 archys over Loow creke to go from one towne of Loow to the other.
Good wood about Loow creke. There ys a maner place cawled Trelaun
about thys creke, sumtyme Bonville, now the Marquise of Dorsete's.
Salmon taken yn thys creke."

The next reference is found in a ** Survey of Cornwall '*
by Richard Carew, of Antony. His work was first published
in 1602, and is the earliest general history of the County.
The historian describes his impressions of the towns : —

*' We will first pitch at the Looes, two several corporations, distin-
guished by the addition of East and West, abutting upon a navigable
creek and joyned by a faire bridge of many arches. They take that

HISTORICAL NOTICES OF LOOK. II

name from a fresh river, which there payelh his tribute to the sea ; and
the river, as I conjecture from his low passage between steepe coasting
hils ; for Loe and iowe after the Cornish pronunciation doe little differ.
East Loo voucheth less antiquity, as lately incorporated, but vaunteth
greater wealth, as more commodiously seated ; yet the foundation of
the houses is grounded on the sand, supporting these poor buildings
with a sufficient stableness. Their profit chiefly accrueth from their
weekly markets, and industrious fishing, with boats of a middle size,
able to brooke but not to crosse the seas ; howbeit they are not alto-
gether destitute of bigger shipping ; amongst which, one hath success-
fully retained the name of the George of Loo, ever since the first so
called did a great while silence in a furious fight and take 3 French
men of warre. The towne towards the sea, is fenced with a garretted
wall against any sudden attempt of the enemy.

'"West-Loo mustereth an endowment with the like means, but in a
meaner degree, and hath of late yeers somewhat releeved his former
poverty. Almost directly over against the barred haven of Loo, ex-
tendeth S. George's Island about half a mile in compasse, and plen-
tifully stored with conies. When the season of the yeere yeeldeth
opportunity, a great abundance of sundry seafoule breed upon the
stronde, where they lay and hatch their eggs, without care of building
any nests ; at which time repairing thither, vou shall see your head
shadowed with a cloud of old ones, through their diversified cries,
witnesing their general dislike of your disturbance, and your feet
pestered by a great crowd of young ones, some formerly, some newly
some not yet disclosed ; at which time you may make and take your
choice."

Joha Norden, surveyor of the Duchy 1605-26, wrote a
description of Cornwall, and in it says of ** East and West Low "
that they are ** two borowe townes vnited and knitt together
with a fayre large arched stone bridge, to which townes be-
longeth a prettie little harbor of the sowth sea. These townes
take name of the river runninge betwene them, and the river
runninge betwene the bankes, which are very high above the
currante of the water." Norden also adds, "the moste
commodious fishe and richeste fishinge is of the leaste fishe,
which is called a pilcharde : the commoditie that ariseth of
this silly small fishe is wonderful."

The result of the survey was not happy as far as it
concerned West Looe, as will be seen from the letter to the
mayor thereof reprinted in Chapter XX.

An official Visitation of Cornwall was made by the College
of Heralds in 1573 ^^^ again in 1620. The former does not
contain any reference to Looe. In the latter there appears the
following entry relating to West Looe, which begins with a pen
and ink sketch of the common seal of the borough : —

'• Pertbian alias West Laugh. This is the common seal of the towne
and boro' Pertbian alias West Laugh, in the county e of Cornwall which
was incorporated by the name of maior and burgesses * * and

12 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

these are to have perpetuall succession and enabled in lawe ta
purchase lands and tenements and likewise to assigne the same : and
the same name to plead and to be impleaded. And at this present
visitation, the 12th day of October, UVli), was John Francis, maior ;
John Harris, Esq, Recorder * * and Thos. Jane, towne clerke
of the same."

The latter visitation also contains the following notice of
of East Looe : —

** No Arms or Seal given." After a recital of the powers
and privileges conferred on the borough by Elizabeth's charter,
is added "And at this present visitation was John Eger, maior;
Sir Reginald Mohun, Knight and Barronett, Recorder ; and
Joseph Bastard, Steward and Town Clerk of the same towne
and borough ".

The next extract is taken from a Survey of the County
made under the authority of the House of Commons in the year
1649, and reads thus : —

" A survey of the boro' of Portpigham alias West Looe, lying and
being in the county of Cornwall, part of the annexed duchy and parcel
of the possessions of Charles Stuart, late Duke of Cornwall, but now
settled in trustees for the use of the commonwealth. This boro lieth
within the parish of Talland, and was formerly part of the manor of
Portloo ; but by Odo, Earl of Devonshire, it was ma<ie a boro' town,
and afterwards it was made a town corporate bj' Queen Elizabeth,
whereby power is given they to choose one of the burgesses yearly to
be mayor, and also to choose two burgesses to sit in parliament every
session, with many other privileges therein contained."

Browne Willis, in a work entitled ** Notitia Parliamentaria,"
published in 1730, gives this account of Looe : —

"The towne of East Loo contains about 2<M) houses & hjis a small
Saturday market of which the Corporation has the toll. Here is a
poor battery of four guns, and a little chapel of ease kept up by but-
tresses, in which the minister of S. Martins, the burial ])lace to this
town, should preach once in three weeks. Port Pighani is a corruption
of Port Bichan or Bian, the small or little port" He adds that ''On
a small creek of the sea lye the two little boros divided by a bridge of
If) arches (over the river) which you pass as you enter Cornwall from
Devonshire " — one would think from this method of exoressing the
position that East Looe was in Devonshire, instead of being some
12 miles west of the Tamar — "on your way through. Neither of the
towns can boast of great antiquity, they have no parish church for
either of them, a sure token, as Lelaiid says, of a new towne sprung
from a small hamlet: and in this vill of Port Pigham there is not sa
much as a chapel remaining, thougli in the time of Henry YIII. there
was one. which 1 suppose was pulled down at the destruction of the
Chantries, or rather desecrated; tradition alleging the new Cuildb.all
of the boro' to have been such and dedicated to S. Nicholas, which
seems very likelj'. because the tower now is. or was very lately, remain-
ing where the said hall stands. The town consists of a long steep
street, with about 100 houses. Touching the lords of this manor, I

HISTORICAL NOTICES OF LOOE. I3

have been informed that it first belonged to the Treverbins, by whom
it was first incorporated and made into a boro', then to the Car-
minowe's, then to the Courtenay's, and lately to the Duchy."

The difficulties of travelling in Cornwall used to be great.
A clergyman writing in 1788, says ^* Our object was how to
obtain a passage (from Torpoint) to Looe, without losing sight
of the noble sea. Saddle-horses would make the difficulties
of this route a pleasure, but with my carriage it is deemed
impracticable." Again he says that he was with his guide
'* five hours coming the eleven miles from Loo to Lostwithiel."

A History of the Boroughs of England and Wales, pub-
lished in 1792, gives this account of East Looe : —

" Political Character. This is one of those boroughs which exercise
their election privileges not at the will of the inhabitants, but at the
dictate of personal influence. This insignificant village was first incor-
porated by Queen Elizabeth in 1587. The corporation has the toll of
the market and holds the manor of the town from the Duchy of
Lancaster at a Fee-Farm rent of 20/- per ann. Right of election is in
the Ma^or, Burgesses and F'reemen. Number of voters about 50. The
Mayor is returning officer. Mr. Buller is proprietor of the Borough."

A History of the County by Lysons, published in 1814,

mentions that at East Looe : —

'' There is now a small market on Saturday for butchers' meat ;
there were within memory of man four fairs aimually, but they have
been discontinued for several years, There is a great pilchard fishery
at this place, from which they export abundance of pilchards and
pilchard-oil ; the imports are salt, limestone, &c. The corporation
consists of a Mayor and eight burgesses, who have the power of choosing
a Recorder. A deed of the reign of Henry IV. speaks of a plat of
ground given to the chapel of S. Mary."

Polwhele, in a History of Cornwall, published in 18 16,
writes: —

'"East and West Looe are situated at the mouth of the river which
bears the same name, and are connected by a bridge, long, narrow,
irregular of 15 archs. East Looe is a labyrinth of short, narrow, dirty
alleys, above which rises the low embattled tower of a little chapel. It
is mostly built on a small flat piece of ground, surrounded by the river
on the west and the sea on the south. West Looe lies in a Day on the
opposite bank, which, rising immediately from the water, presents a
long street of mean irregular houses creeping up the side of the hill,
with a small town-hall, anciently a chapel, and a few other buildings
on the brink of the river. The appearance of both towns, encircled
with very steep high hills, the sides of of which are covered witli gar-
dens, hanging one over another, and trees through which are seen other
straggling cottages, is remarkably picturesque."

Gilbert, writing in 181 7, gives this description of Looe in
his * Survey of Cornwall '.

"The situation of these towns, which line the eastern and western
banks of the river Looe, just before it falls into the English Channel,

14 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

is beautifully picturesque, being encompassed by an amphitheatre of
rapidly rising hills, the sides of which are adorned with clusters of
flourishing gardens intermixed with little rustic buildings, in some
places fringed with ivy and in others shaded by stately foliage. The
winding waters of the river, are soon lost to the eye on the northern
side by the closing in of heavy woods which rise over its cliffs to most
stupendous heights and whose waving tops close a pleasing
prospect."

''The southern side of the town (East Looe) facing the sea. is pro-
tected by a long platform, formerlj^ mounted with 1 1 guns, but the
number is now reduced to 4. Service was usually performed by the
parson of S. Martins once in three weeks, in tbe old chapel. In the new
chapel, service is regularly performed on Sundays, chiefly in the after-
noon. The patronage is vested in the heirs of Bishop Trelawny."

"West Looe enjoyed the benefit of a chapel in the reign of Henry
VIII. it was dedicated to S. Nicholas, and is supposed to have fallen
with the chantries in the time of Edward VI. It is now used as a Town-
hall. The tower has been long demolished, but the western end. which
is now clad with ivy, is ornamented with a cupola and a clock, and *
adjoining is an enclosure, which we conceive to have been used as a
burial ground. The boys attending the free mathematic«al school were
formerly provided with a blue dress and caps, but this has sometime
been discontinued."

Gilbert also mentions that, ** the towns had been noted for
the longevity of its inhabitants. John Manuel, who died in
May 1 815, aged 83, was the last of eleven persons, who had
died there in twenty weeks, more aged than himself. Among
these was a Mrs. Bray, aged 100."

The same author thus describes the alternative roads between

Looe and Plymouth : —

•■ The carriage road from Torpoint separates from the Liskeard road
at a village called Crafthole, whence it bends its way through another
village named Hessingford. and a fine cultivated countr3^ An alter-
native road branching off at Crafthole is passable only for horses and
foot passengers. This road runs over a lofty ridge of mountains,
facing the ocean. At the foot of these precipicies lie some humble
dwellings called Down Derry, and a little further on is a sandy beach
named Seaton. Tradition relates that here once stood a thriving
business town bearing this name, and that when it was in its pride
Plymouth was but a small fishing village. The town of Seaton is said
to have been overwhelmed, and the catastrophe was brought about — as
in the case of the filling up of Padstow harbour, — by the curse of a
mermaid, who had suffered injury from the sailors belonging to the
port. The road after leaving Seaton mounts the opposite summit and
winds through enclosures affording at short intervals much variegated
and delightful scenery, till it gains a towering height, whence it rapidly
descends into the town of East Looe. However a great part of this
elevation was washed away by a severe storm in 1817."

Here the historical and descriptive notices of the Looes,
such as we have been able to find, must end. They present, no
doubt, a certain amount of repetition, more especially among

HISTORICAL NOTICES OP LOOE. I5

those of later date. But in compiling them it seemed advisable
to accept this fact, in order that each writer's full presentation
of the place as it actually appeared to him, might be given.
Moreover each account gives some descriptive touch or state-
ment peculiarly its own. The object in making these selec-
tions, has been to attempt to convey a picture of the place to
the mind of the reader, illustrative of the Looes at the different
periods covered by their chartered history. More recent
notices are not inserted, as the general aspects and character-
istics of the two towns do not appear to have materially
altered till within the last half century, and this would not be
within the scope of this volume.

CHAPTER H.
The East Looe Charters.

His Borough consisted of the town-
ship of East Looe and the hamlet
of Shutta. Tradition asserts that
Shutta is the original town Mid that
East Looe was commonly called
" St. Mary's in the Marsh," from
the dedication of the chapel therein.
The tradition that Shutta is the
scene of the earlier settlement
probably has some historical basis,
naturally unobtrusive situation, about
lile from the sea front, would render it
less likely to attract the notice of pirates, who
in those early days infested the coast. Bond
quotes a charter granted to the men of Shete
(Shutta ?) by Eustace de Grenvill, and
suggests the time of King John as its probable
date. There is a transcript of the charter in
his history, which is not always intelligible,
but a rough translation is herewith given so
far as it is translatable ; —
Let al! men of the present and future know that I,
Eustace de Grenvill, have given, granted, transmitted

lO COKI'OKATION CllttONlCLliH OF LOOK.

and by this my present charter confirmed, to all our
men of Hhete the whole of my land of this town as a
fee-farm to have and to hold to them and their heirs for
all time freely, peacefully, absolutely and completely,
with all its appurtenances in level pasture land, in
roads, paths, m meadows, in water springs for mills, in
goings out and comings in, in escheats and in all o:her
amercements. Yielding therefore yearly to me and my
heirs fourteen marks, at the festival of Ht. Thomas the
Apostle seven marks, and at the festival of St. Michael
seven marks, in lieu of all service and taxes pertaining
to me and my heirs. Provided that tho gervice '*

* * to wit as much as pertains to the third
part of the fee of one soldier. # # # Provided
also that if 1 or our heirs have bjen made prisoners of
war my aforesaid men do bring us aid for the rescuing
of our bodies and the liberation of our persons, and this
as often as we be taken captive, which may GOD for-
bid. In addition let them render me aid to ni.ike my
son a soldier. This let them do also for my heirs.
Also let them render me aid for the marrying of my
dauif^hter. This same thing let them do for my heirs.
And it must be known that if perchance there be any
discord or strife between any of my men which ( atmot
be restored to concord by themselves, let them (;(»me to
me and my heirs, as to their lord, and there and then
in our presence be reconciled. And this compassion
will be mine and my heirs. And if perchance' any one
else have made complaint to me and my heirs about my
aforesaid men, and it ran be established before nie or
my heirs that these my aforesaid men themselves have
offended in this, I and my heirs will make amrtKhnent
forthwith. Further, when perchance any onc^ nf them
shall have died or completed his foe, my aforesaiel men
shall gUt'ird the heir and his land together witii the
appurtenances and castle (?), in accordance with the
advice of friends of the aforesaid heir; and the heir
himself shall be under the guardianship of his nearest
friend, and the aforesaid men shall do the servit e of that
latid to me and my heirs. And when the aforesaid heir
be of stich an age when he f)Ught to take possession of
the land, according to the custom of the realm, my
aforesaid men shall restore the aforesaid land with the
apputenances and castle (?), to the aforesaid heir in the
same state or even in a better than when they them-

EAST LOOE CHARTERS. . IJ

selves received that land and castle (?). Let my afore-
said men, in order that all this above- written may be
fairly held, place his own testimony in pledge. I
Eustacius and my heirs will guarantee to the aforesaid
men and their heirs the whole of the aforesaid land of
Shete together with appurtenances against all people.

** And that this my gift may remain duly and steadfastly
granted I have thought the present charter should be
strengthened by the affixing thereto of my seal.

WITNESSES, Jordan Ebbas de Durnford and
others."

It does not appear that there are any existing records
illustrative of East Looe prior to the reign of Edward
I., for Domesday Book and other records of intermediate
•date do not seem to make mention of it. In the 30th year of
the reign before mentioned, Henry de Bodrigan, High Sheriff
•of Cornwall, was lord of the town and certified his claim to
have divers privileges there, viz : — to have a market, a fair,
view of frankpledge, a ducking-stool, a pillory, assize of bread
and beer. Lucy, Lady Russel was associated with her son
Henry de Bodrigan in granting the charter conferring these
privileges.

In the second year of Edward II. Henry de Bodrigan
died, seised of the manor of Pendrym, with the Borough
of East Looe. At this time an inquisition was taken
wherein his estates are described, and amongst others the
borough of East Looe is mentioned. Hence it appears that
the borough, if not founded prior to that period, was at least
as ancient as the reign of Edward 11.

Otto de Bodrigan granted a charter confirming the privileges
conferred by Henry de Bodrigan. It is ** dated at Looe the
Pridaie the feaste of S. Peter ad Vincula, the yeare of the

l8 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

raigne of Edwarde the sone of Kynge Edward, the xiiij (1320).'"
It speaks of the towns of ** Loe and the Shouta," and a trans-
cription thereof will be found on page 260 in Bond's '* History
of Looe."

By these charters the inhabitants were raised from the
condition of villeins or serfs to that of freemen, possessing and
exercising independent privileges. Residents in a place
incorporated by the Earls or Lords thereof were usually
exempted from serving on juries, etc., in the County ; they
could regulate and exercise trade within their own jurisdiction,
and elect officers for the purpose of governing their borough.
Portreeve was the title generally given to the chief officer of
a borough, and Shirereeve (Sherift) to the chief officer of the
County. The Court Leet was the name of the assembly in
which the freemen of the borough met to discuss and to-
regulate their local business.

The charter next in historical order was granted by Queen
Elizabeth in 1588. In this year the neighbouring borough of
Liskeard also received a charter from the crown. It is
worthy of note that these two boroughs were incorporated by
EHzabeth in the same year that the Spanish Armada was
threatening her throne and her people's liberties. The style
prevailing in these charters is somewhat wordy, and so only
an epitomized translation is given.

The charter, after reciting East Looe to be an ancient
borough and that the inhabitants time out of mind have
enjoyed divers privileges, etc., as well as by prescription
as by divers grants, etc., ordains that the inhabitants shall
be one corporated body in name and in deed by the name
of Mayor and Free Burgesses of the Burgeship of East
Looe in the County of Cornwall. Power is conferred to-
hold lands and to let the same, to plead and be impleaded,,
to have a Common Seal, and to change the same if they
like, and to make Bye-laws. The Common Council ta
consist of nine of the more honest Burgesses to be called
Chief Burgesses, one of them to be assisting the mayor.
The Council to have a prison, two Seijeants at Mace, a
Clerk of the Market ; and to elect two Burgesses for
Parliament being "discreet and honest men." "Our
beloved Walter Conning, a merchant and honest man " to
be first mayor from the date of the Charter to Michaelmas
next, when another Burgess shall be chosen. Eight Chief
Burgesses are named — Ph. May, Ph. Hooper, Ph*

EAST LOOE CHARTERS. I9

Williams, John Hicks, Thos. Spoure, Thos. Ceilings,
Martin Conner, John White. The mayor to be Clerk of
the Market. A certain house commonly called the Hall
to be the Council House. Two Chief Burgesses to be
named by their fellows and presented for election to the
office of mayor each year. Any one refusing to serve,
to be committed to prison till he consents to serve, or
pays a forfeit.

Vacancies caused among the Chief Burgesses, by death,
removal, or from any other reason, to be filled by the
surviving members. Six to form a quorum for a valid
election. A chief Burgess may be removed by the Mayor
and Free Burgesses, "for any cause that doth seem
reasonable."

Power is given to appoint one or more officers or governors
for the better rule and government, and to remove the
Same if the need shall arise, also to increase the number
of the Chief Burgesses.

Bounds of the Borough defined.

A Court of Record to be held every Monday in every third
week before the Mayor or his Deputy, and two Chief
Burgesses. Pleas between the inhabitants or strangers
and inhabitants to the sum of /40, and between strangers
to the sum of £10 shall be within this jurisdiction, before
the Mayor or his Deputy and two Chief Burgesses.

The Mayor and Chief Burgesses or the major part of them
may elect a Recorder to exercise office either personally
or by a sufficient Deputy, ** so long as he shall behave
himself well in that office."

William Mohun, Knt,, to be Recorder during his life.

The Mayor to appoint two honest persons to be Sergeants at
Mace of the Court of the Boro' to execute processes, etc.
They shall each carry a mace with Her Majesty's arms
engraved thereon. They shall take oath before the Mayor
to faithfully execute and exercise their office.

Burgesses shall not implead others in any matter deter-
minable in the Boro' Court, or in any other Court, except
there be a defect of justice.

Power is granted to hold a Market every Saturday.

Power is given to hold two fairs annually, one on the feast
of S. Michael, and on the Eve : the other on the feast of

20 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Eve
thereof. Except the Fairs and Markets be to the hurt of
those already existing in the neighbourhood.

Stallage, Pickage, Fines, Amercements and Escheats
granted tothe Mayor and Burgesses, power to hold Manors,
Messuages, Lands, Tenements, Tenths of the Rector,
Rents, Reversions, Services or other possessions, in

. England and Wales or in any other place within Her
Majesty's possessions, which are not held in capite or
Knight's Service. Amount not to exceed in value ;^io
yearly in ancient rfents.

Power is given to retain all former privileges, yielding the
old rent. And pay to the Duchy 20/- yearly for all other
rents and demands whatsoever.

Witnessed at the Manor of East Greenwich in the 29th
year of Her Majesty's reign.

Charged before William Neal, Auditor of the Duchy,
14th Oct., 1588.

A Supplement made to Queen Elizabeth's Charter by

King James I.

After reciting the Charter of Queen Elizabeth, says that the
Mayor and Chief Burgesses have petitioned his Majesty
and shewn to him that some of the Fiee Burgesses chosen
according to the method expressed in the former Charter
refuse to take upon them the office of Mayor, whereby
the government is disturbed. And that the Boro' being
populous and a port for receiving of ships, barges and
other vessels, whereby divers inordinate persons come there
to the disturbance of the government of the place, humbly
besought his Majesty to extend his Royal munificience to
them and make an addition to their Liberties. His
Majesty then grants to the Mayor and Free Burgesses
that if any one chosen to the office of Mayor in pursuance
of the former Charter should not accept the said office,
that then he be cast out and shall pay to the said Mayor
and Burgesses £^ and be committed to prison for 10 days
or until he shall pay the fine.

Power is given to the Mayor and Chief Burgesses or the
major part of them to remove any Burgess for any fault

or offence for which he ought to be removed.

i

EAST LOOE CHARTERS. 21

The Mayor, Recorder and late Mayor to be Justices of the
Peace.

The Mayor, Recorder and late Mayor, or any two of them,
may hear and determine all felonies and offences not
extending to the loss of limb or member. The present
Mayor before he acts as Justice of the Peace to take an
oath of office before either Wm. Coode or Joseph
Bastard, Esqres The Recorder and present Justice to
take the oath before the Mayor.

The Mayor, Recorder and late Mayor, or any two of them,
may commit for treason, murder, felony, manslaughter or
robbery done or to be done, or for suspicion of felony, to
the Common Gaol of the County, to be tried by the
Justices of the Gaol delivery or before Justices appointed
to determine such charges.

All existing Liberties, Franchises, etc. are confirmed.

Witnessed and Confirmed at Westminster, 7th July,
in the 21st year of his Majesty's reigne.

Both the foregoing Charters were renounced in the reign of
Charles II. A copy of each of the several documents
connected with the renunciation is now inserted and they
read as follows : —

" To all whom these presents shall come the Mayor and
free burgesses of East Looe in the County of Cornwall
send greeting. Know yee that the said Mayor and
Burgesses before good consideration them hereunto
moving have granted and by these presents doe grant
unto our soveraigne King his heirs and successors. All
and singular the messuages, rents, arrearages of rents,
courts, goods, chattels, debts and demands, bonds, bills,
lands, tenements, herditaments with the appurtenances
whatsoever w^hereof or wherein the said Mayor and
free Burgesses now or att any time heretofore have been
seized, possessed or interested in right of their corpor-
ation in their corporate capacity by any meanes
whatsoever. And further for the consideration aforesaid
the said Mayor and Free Burgesses of East Looe
aforesaid have granted surrendered and yielded up by
these presents doe grant surrender and yield up unto our
Soveraigne Lord the King's Majesty all franchises,
charters, and letters patent of incorporation powers,
privileges, liberties and immunities whatsoever at any

22 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

time or times heretofore granted to or held or enjoyed
by the said Mayor and free burgesses or their prede-
cesoors by any way or means or by what name or names
whatsoever. And the said Mayor and free Burgesses doe
most humbly beseech his majesty to grant them a new
charter with such reservations, alterations and additions
as his majesty in his great wisdom shall think fitt. And
we the said Mayor and free Burgesses doe further by
presents, humby praye and authorize the Rt. Honble
John, Earle of Bach, for and on the behalf and in the
name of the said Mayor and free Burgesses of East Looe
aforesaid humbly to present this grant and surrender
unto his majestic and humbly to pray that the same
may be accepted and enrolled.

In witness whereof the said Mayor and free Burgesses in
their common hall assembled have hereunto sett their
common seal the twentieth day of October, in the six
and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne lord
Charles II.

At the same time as the Corporation surrendered their
charters, the Chief Burgesses individually surrendered their
office in the following form : —

** Know all men by these presents that I * *

one of the Capital Burgesses of the Borough of East
Looe in the County of Cornwall for divers good causes
and reasons me hereunto naming have Surrendered
Yielded up and released and by these presents do
surrender yield up and release unto * * of the
Borough of East Looe aforesaid all my Franchises
and Corporate Rights as one of the Capital Burgesses
and Freemen of the said Borough and all the Privileges
Emoluments and advantages thereunto appertaining or
belonging. To the intent and purpose that by virtue
of these said presents my said Franchises or Corporate
Rights with the Privileges Emoluments and advantages
thereunto belonging may be extinguished and that I
may henceforth cease to be a member of the corporation
of East Looe aforesaid and entitled to any of the
privileges and advantages accruing therefrom.

In witness thereto, etc."

Bond adds that ** the surrender was intended to have been
made to Charles II. The Corporation, by deed quoted above.

EAST LOOE CHARTERS. 23

appointed John, Earl of Bath, their attorney for this purpose ;
but before the Earl arrived in London, the King was dead."

A new Charter was granted to the town by James II. in
the first year of his reign, a summary of which is now given : —

Charter of James II.

After reciting his being willing that the Boro' of East Looe
may have an undoubted manner of keeping the peace and
good rule and government of the people there, etc., and
that whereas the Mayor, Burgesses and Inhabitants had
surrendered to his Majesty their several Charters, Lands,
Privileges, etc., which were accepted. At the request of
John, Earlof Bath, Lord Lieutenant of the County of
Cornwall, grants that the Boro' of East Looe shall be and
remain a Burrough and that the Inhabitants shall be one
Body Politique by the name of Mayor and Free Burgesses
of the Boro' of East Looe. And by that name may be
able to hold and possess Lands, Privileges, etc., to them
and their successors in Fee, also to give, grant and
demise the same. And by that name to plead and be
impleaded, to answer and be answered in whatsoever
Courts and Pleas.

Power is conferred to have a Common Seal and to change
it at will.

Twelve men of the better and more substantial burgesses,
dwelling within the Boro' to be called and named Alder-
men or Chief Burgesses and Council. These twelve
Aldermen, wherof the Mayor is to be one, to be the
Common Council for all things, matters, causes and
business touching the Boro'. And that one of the afore-
said Aldermen shall be Mayor.

And one honest and discreet man learned in the Law of
England shall be Recorder.

One good and discreet man nominated by the Recorder shall
be Town Clerk of his Majesty's Court within the Boro'.

The Common Council or the major part of them may make
Laws for the well ruling and governing of the Boro' and
Inhabitants.

One Prison or Gaol within the Boro'.

Two Serjeants at Mace shall be appointed. The Mayor or
his deputy to appoint a Clerk of the Market. Two Bur-
gesses shall be elected to serve in Parliament.

24 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

John Natt, Gentleman, to be first Mayor and a Justice of
the Peace, and a Coroner, and Clerk of the Maiket, and
Keeper of the Prison. To continue Mayor from the
making of this Charter till the Feast of St. Michael the
Archangell next ensuing, when another shall be elected.

Twelve first Aldermen to continue in office as long as they
shall carry themselves well in the same office.

The said Mayor and Aldermen may have gowns.
Thirty-six Free Burgesses appointed to continue in office as
long as they shall carry themselves well.

John, Earle of Bath, appointed Recorder and Justice of the
Peace for life.

'J'ne Mayor and Recorder may make a Deputy, the respective
Deputies to be Justices of the Peace, and to have such
powers as their principals.

Mayor and Council or the major part, shall have authority
each year in the Court held next before the Feast of St.
Michael to name two men, being Capital Burgesses, with
the intent that the Mayor and Aldermen and Burgesses
then present may choose one of them to be Mayor for the
year' ensuing. If any one so chose shall refuse to take
office, without some reasonable cause, it shall be lawful
for the Mayor to commit such person to prison, there to
remain till he will be sworn, or to put such fine upon him
as to them shall seem meet and him to detain in prison
till he shall render the fine.

The Mayor-elect to take oath before his predecessor, but if
he be dead or absent before two or more Burgesses.

If the Mayor dies or is removed from office the Aldermen or
major part of them to nominate two other persons, one of
whom is to be elected to fill the vacancy by the Alderman
and inferior Burgesses, which election must be within 14.
days of such death or removal.

If any one of the Chief Burgesses shall die or inhabit with-
out the Boro' or be removed from office, it shall be lawful
for the remainder or six of them, the Mayor to be one, to
elect another.

The Mayor and Aldermen may, for just cause, remove a
Burgess and appoint another.

The Common Council or major part of them may create any
office for the better government of the Boro.' And may
increase the number of Chief Burgesses.

EAST LOOE CHARTERS. 25

Extent and boundaries of the Boro' are defined.

A Court of Record to be held every Monday three weeks
throughout the year, before the Mayor or his sufficient
Deputy and two of the other Capital Burgesses, for
personal actions arising within the Boro', within one
hundred pounds damages.

Common Council or major part may appoint a Recorder.

A market every Saturday granted.

Four fairs yearly, ist on the Feast of St. Michael, and
morrow and vigil of that Feast. 2nd on the Feast of the
Blessed Virgin Mary and vigil and morrow. 3rd on the
1st of May, and to continue two days 4th on the ist of
August and to continue two days. A Piepowder Court
with Stallage, Pickage, and Amercements, etc., granted.

Grant of free fishery in all creeks and waters of East Looe.

The Corporation may have and hold Lands, Tenements, etc.,
in England and Wales, but not to exceed the yearly value
of ^40 in ancient statutes rendered.

Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen or major part of them,
whereof the Mayor and Recorder or their Deputies to be
two, when it shall seem fit or necessary, may make as many
Burgesses as they choose.

Mayor, Ex- Mayor and Recorder to be Justices of the Peace
and may hold Sessions in the year, to wit, one time with-
in a month of the Feast of St. Michael, and the other
within a month after Easter, but not to determine any
matter touching the life of the off'ender.

Other Justices not to intrude.

Grant of the Boro' Liberties, Commons, Wastes, Void Places,
Free Fishing, etc., with a Court of Record, Court Baron,
Frankpledge, Sessions of the Peace, Perquisites, Profits of
the Court, with Tolls, etc., and confirmation of ail other
Liberties and Franchises heretofore enjoyed. To be held
for ever in Fee Farm upon such rents as heretofore made.

His Majesty reserves power under his sign Manual to reniove
any Mayor, Recorder, Alderman or Town Clerk. Every
grant to be liberally expounded.

Charter granted without fine or fee.

Witnessed at Westminster, 28th March, in the first year
of His Majesty's reign.

26 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

It will be observed that the new Charter contained a clause
empowering the Crown to remove members of the Corporation,
and before long this power was exercised, as the following
extract from the Privy Council minutes shows : —

** At the Court of Windsor.

** 1 2th August, 1688.

"Present: — The King's most excellent Majesty,

** The Lord Chancellor Earl of Middleton.

*• The Lord President Lord Dartmouth.

**The Lord Privy Seal Lord Godolphin.

** Whereas by a Charter granted to the Borough of
East Looe, a Power is reserved to His Majesty by his
order in Council, to recover from their employment any
officers of the said Town, His Majesty in Council is
pleased to order and it is hereby ordered that the
following be removed from their several offices,
namely: — Philip Stephen — Mayor and Alderman,
Thomas Blight, Henry Eagar, Reg Hawkey, Philip
Hicks— Aldermen ; and Thomas Oben, Town Clerk and
Alderman."

Under the Charter of James H. the town continued to be
governed without any external interference until the year
1880, when a Royal Commission was appointed to enquire
into the condition of those Corporations which had been
unaffected by a previous Act for the reform of ancient
Municipal Bodies. The report of the Commissioners is
reprinted verbatim below : —

** The Corporation of East Looe is still governed by the
Charter of James II. mentioned in the former Report.

** The Mayor, twelve capital burgesses and free burgesses
imlimited in number are elected as before. The Mayor
receives no salary, and the accounts show that the
stipend of the Town Clerk has been reduced to £10.
The other officers are also appointed as in 1835.

" The two sessions at Easter and at Michaelmas are still
held. No trials take places at these sessions, but a
grand jury, selected from the inhabitants, is convened
for the purpose of preventing nuisances and encroach-
ments within the Borough. The Justices of the Peace
for the Borough hold petty sessions, and commit
summarily and grant licenses for public-houses, of which

\

EAST LOOE CHARTERS. 27

there are six or seven besides beer-houses, within the
Borough.

**The County Justices have no jurisdiction within the
Borough.

*^ There are two places of detention in the Borough, but
prisoners summarily convicted or committed for trial to
sessions or assizes are sent to the County Gaol at
Bodmin. The Corporation re-imburse the County under
arrangement for the expenses of prisoners sent from the
Borough to the County Goal, The inhabitants of the
Borough contribute to the police rate and to no other
County rates.

** The Court of Eecord, which existed under the Charter,
has for some years ceased to be held, and cases for-
merly tried in this court are now generally carried to
the County Court.

*' Since the Report of 1835 the revenues of the Corporation
have undergone certain important changes.

** In the year 1848, * East Looe and West Looe Harbour
and Bridges Act,' transferred the management of the
East Looe Harbour to the Harbour Commissioners
thereby created, and the whole of the dues, which up
to that time were received by the Corporation of East
Looe, were handed over to those Commissioners.

** About the year 1862 a good supply of water was secured
for the inhabitants of East Looe by the outlay of about
;^6oo by the Corporation, derived partly from loans
secured by their bonds, and partly from savings of Cor-
poration funds. Before this there was a very small and
uncertain supply.

^* The waterworks were constructed on lands the property
of the Corporation, and the regular supply thus obtained
enables them to deliver the water by a system of pipes
at the dwellings of the inhabitants for a very small
consideration. No power to levy a water rate is
possessed by the Corporation, but the money paid for the
water, forms a principal portion of their revenues.
There is also two public fountains at which the in-
habitants may obtain water free of charge. The ships
in the harbour are supplied from the same source, which
is said to be inexhaustable. The sum received for the
water varies, but in the year 1873-4 i* amounted to

28 CORPORATION CHRONICX-ES OF LODE.

between ;^8o and ;^9P, and it has since somewhat
increased. The rents of lands and houses belonging to
the Corporation produced between £60 and £yo. The
market dues now yield a trifling sum.

** The total revenue from the above and^other small sources
amounted in the same year to £178.

** The Mayor for the time being acts as Borough Treasurer^
and he keeps the accounts which are signed by him and
two members of the Corporation. These accounts are
not published. A specimen for 1873-4 ^^^^ t)e found in
the appendix,

**This sum was applied in payment of poor and gas
rates, in the salaries of the Serjeants-at-Mace, in wages
for collecting the water rents and keeping the markets
in order, in interest on loans for constructing the water-
works, and for a new townhall.

** The population amounts to about 1,000. It appears that
the inhabitants although invited to take up their free-
dom, have not manifested much inclination to do so»
They have to pay a stamp duty of £^ on becoming
freemen, and as this step is usually taken with a view
of qualifying as Capital Burgesses, which involves
another £2 stamp, they are deterred from incurring this
double outlay for a position to which no privileges or •
advantage is attached."

It will appear from this report that no charge of maladminis-
tration or misapplication of powers or property was urged
against the Corporation. Beyond the smallness of the
population within the area of the Town no cause was made to
demand the forfeiture of the Charter. Accordingly when such
forfeiture was impending, measures were adopted to apply for
the grant of a new charter, and during the mayoralty of Mr.
George Kerswill, (1884) ^^^ Privy Council sent a Commissioner
to hold a public enquiry in response to a petition for incor-
poration.

Mr. Borlase Childs, the Town Clerk, appeared for those who
signed the petition, being in number 132. Messrs. R. A.
Peter, T. H. Hicks and others supported the application, and
no opposition was offered. The Commissioner (Mr. Pelham)
at the end of enquiry stated that the petition would be strength-
ened if West Looe were included in the scheme. In July, 1885,
Mr. Pelham held a public enquiry at West Looe to ascertain
the disposition of the inhabitants towards the suggested union

EAST LOOE CHARTERS. 29

of the towns. At the outset he stated, that the Privy Council
were prepared to consider an application for the grant of a
charter, in the event of West Looe consenting to become
amalgamated with East Looe, and subject to the
property held by the West Looe trustees being properly pro-
tected. Several witnesses were called. At the end of the
evidence, Mr. Pelham asked, if any one present objected to any
and every scheme of incorporation? And "The Cornish Times"
records that several of those present immediately aVose
proclaiming their antagonism to such proposals. Thus the
enquiry closed, and with it, all there is to relate concerning
the charters of the two corporations which are now no more.

•ORATION SEAL.

CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

CHAPTER HI.
East Looe Constitution Book,

MADE a copy oftheConstitution Book
previous to the contested election of
1806, it was in such crink-crank writing
that it was difficult to make it out, and
I took a long time about it and I filled
up my leisure time in doing it."

Such was the evidence given by

Mr. Bond at the election petition in

1827, on his being examined as lo his

wledge of the Borough records. So, to the

industrious employment of his leisure hours

is due a copy of the Constitution Book, from

which the following reprint is made. The

last of these constitutions or regulations

for the government of the Borough, were

made anc ratified in the mayoralty of the

grandfather of Thomas Bond, the painstaking

copyist referred to above.

Towards the end of the Book are a number of
eiiUiss, preceded with the expression "Memor-
andum." These entries relate mainly to leases granted at
various times by the Corporation to their tenants. There is
a summary on the last page, also in the handwriting of Mr.
Bond, of the revenue obtained by the Corporation in certain
years by the then prevailing custom of farming the fairs, the
import tax on corn, the quay dues and the shambles.
The book itself opens thus : —

" Forasmuch as it hath pleased the Queen's Highness of
her special grace, abundance, favour and meer motion
to nominate, assign, and make her Highness Boro' of
East Looe in the County of Cornwall a Town incor-
porate and body politick (in rt nomine et facto), giving

EAST LOOE CONSTITUTION BOOK. 3 1

and presenting unto the Burgesses and Inhabitants of
the same Boro' divers liberties, privileges and juris-
dictions amongst the which it hath pleased her Majesty
to grant and ordain that the inhabitants beforesaid be
ruled and governed by the Mayor and nine principal
Burgesses calling themselves Counsellors of the said
Boro' for the time being. To which said Mayor and
principal Burgesses or to the greater part of them it
is and shall be lawful by virtue of her Majesty's
grant and ordinance beforesaid to make, ordain,
and constitute whatsoever reasonable orders,
statutes, and constitutions to them, or the greater
of them, seeming meet, necessary and expedient
within the Boro' aforesaid, liberty and precinct of
the same, for the good regiment and the govern-
ment of the inhahwitants there, as also for the profit,
and commodity of the same Boro' and commonality
thereof, so that the same orders, statutes, and con-
stitutions, be not repugnant or contrary to the laws
and statutes of this Realm of England. We therefore,
whose names are underwritten, the Mayor and prin-
cipal Burgesses of the Boro' aforesaid, most humbly and
dutifully accepting of her Majesty's grant and ordinance
aforesaid as also tendering to the advancement, benefit^
and common utility of the said Boro' and the Inhabitants
and commonality of the same, do by virtue of her
Hignesses grant and ordinance, and by authority of
the same, constitute and ordain the constitutions, etc.,
following : —

*' The Capital Burgesses of the BORO' abovesaid are
those whose names follow : — Thomas Spoor, Mayor ;
Philip Maiow, Gent. ; Walter Conner, Merchant ;
Philip Hooper, Owner ; Martin Conner, Owner ;
Philip Fitzwilliams, Thomas Colling, John Hicks,
John White."

On the strength of this authority the Mayor and Capital
Burgesses proceed to draw up a series of Bye- Laws to provide
for the adequate government of the Boro'. A verbatim copy
of these regulations is in existence, but it is not proposed to
reproduce them with all those endless technicalities which
appear in statements of a legal character. It will be sufficient
to state as briefly as possible the substance of each rule in the
order in which they are recorded : —

32 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

"^ ^~— ■ • 1 - - m

1. On the second Monday at the beginning of every year
the Mayor and the Capital Burgesses are to meet in the
Council Hall. Any member of the Corporation being absent
from such meeting without the consent of the Mayor, to be
fined the sum of fiwe pounds. The meeting to assemble at
eight o'clock in the morning.

2. Any person, after being elected to the office of Mayor,
and refusing to act, to pay a fine of 40/- and to be imprisoned
till the money is paid to the Mayor for the time being.

3. Any person elected to serve in any inferior office in the
Boro', and refusing to act, shall be fined 10/-.

4. Aliens discharging or loading cargoes on or from the
Quays of the Boro', shall pay a toll of four-pence a ton, others
to pay a toll of three-pence a ton, but those ' minding to cross
the seas ' for their own goods, to pay one penny.

5. ** Every Inhabitant shall pay towards the relief
and provision of the poor, besides the weekly contribution,
such sums of money as they may be assessed for by the Mayor
and principal Burgesses or the greater part of us for the time
being, for default of payment whereof, which is to be paid at
the chapel to the collectors, they shall be distrained by the
collectors and sergeants at mace or some of them, and if they
have not goods distrainable, that they shall be imprisoned
until it be paid."

6. No Inhabitant shall sue or implead another Inhabitant
in any court for any matter, cause, or action determinable
within this Boro', except it be for default of justice there,
upon pain of fine (£5). The offending party to be imprisoned
until the fine is paid.

7. '* Every channel and street to be scoured and cleaned
and kept clean, by tenants, owners and occupiers of houses and
lands adjoining the same, upon pain of 2s. for every default, to
be levied by the discretion of the Mayor, and none shall cast
and leave ballast on the Quay above 7 days together."

8. ** Every vessel, whether of townsman, or of others, within
the Realm of England, discharging salt, coal, grain, malt, peas,
beans, or other things, measurable by the bushel or peck, shall
pay for every such ship, one bushel, in the name of bushelage^
of such cargo, to the Mayor or his deputy. This toll to be
levied either by distress or action of debt, provided always that
a townsman importing such a cargo /or his oivn use shall not
pay bushellage— an 'alien for the like, two bushels.' "

EAST LOOE CONSTITUTION BOOK. 33

9. ** The Mayor for the time being, shall have— that he
may the better support and bear the charge that by reason of
his office shall happen to rise, — as well the aforesaid bushellage
as also the fees of the arrests called the town fees, to wit, of
•every person arrested Xlllld. and also the amercements, and
fines of the courts, accruing or arising during the time of
his Mayoralty."

10. An inhabitant taking into his house any person
coming to dwell in the town, without the Mayor's consent, will
be fined £5, unless the stranger departs again within one
month.

11. All vessels coming into the creek or harbour, to pay
to the M9,yor for the use of the commonality of the Boro,' 4d.
for an English, and 8d. for every alien ship.

12. No inhabitant shall suffer to dwell in their houses,
for longer than three days and three nights, any stranger with-
out the -sanction and sufferance of the Mayor and capital
Burgesses, upon pain of fine as aforesaid.

13. ** No inhabitant shall let, demise, or grant any house,
cellar, linneys, courtyard or other building to any stranger or
foreigner or other, not at the making of this constitution being
resident within the Boro,' upon pain of a fine of £10 for every
month that they shall so let, demise, or grant the same."

14. ** Every stranger or alien coming into this port to un-
load his goods or commodities or merchandise at the Quay,
•commonly called the Custom Quay, shall, as well sell and offer
(the goods) to many and divers inhabitants, as to one or a few,
and that it shall be lawful for any of the inhabitants of the Boro,
to buy thereof some reasonable quantity, so as others may have
some part also according to the (here there is a failure in the
MS) person so buying, upon pain of forfeiture of the same thing
so bought or sold contrary to the tenor thereof. In execution
whereof if the Mayor for the time being, is remiss and
negligent, that then the value thereof be levied upon him
by the next Mayor in succession."

Note. — It is not quite clear from the position of the last
paragraph in the document whether the application of this
stringent penalty upon an inefficient Mayor was limited in its
application to bye-law No. 14, or could be applied to all the
preceeding bye-laws.

15. Every alien or stranger unloading against the Quay, and
not on the Quay, shall pay a fine 2d. and a townsman id.

34 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

1 6. ** All the fines, amercements, and issues of the courts
besides that which ordinarily the understeward receiveth in
court, shall be levied by the Mayor for the time being, to the
use of the commonalty of the Boro.'*

"For th« avoiding of which inconvenience, and for the
preservation and maintenance of this towp and commonalty, let
it be established, constituted, and ordained, that from henceforth
no person or persons whatever dwelling and inhabiting out of
this Boro', shall by themselves or jointly with others, their
servants and factors, use the trade of bringing, making, saving
or selling of any kind of fish within this Boro*, upon pain of
forfeiting and losing the whole fish, by him or them saved,
bought, made, or sold, the one moiety thereof to be to the
repairing of the Friths, Quays or Bridge aforesaid, and the other
moiety to the use of the commonalty of this Boro."

I5.93-
In this year some additional regulations were drawn up and
published. They consist of: —

1. •* That all actions taken or belonging to the town, or to
the Mayor and burgesses, shall be taken and commenced in the
name of the Mayor and burgesses, and that if any other
burgesses in the town, do release or discharge any such action so-
conceived, without the consent of the Mayor and principal
burgesses, they shall forfeit as much as the full value of the
same action, to be levied as is aforesaid."

2. ** That all and every actions, deeds, or words lawfully
done or spoken by the Mayor or his brethren or any of them,
for and in behalf of his or their office or offices or for the Town,,
shall b.e maintained and supported and born by the common
charge of the Town, from time to time."

3. ** Whosoever inhabiting within this town, will not aid and
assist the Mayor in executing his office, being thereunto
required, shall suffer imprisonment the space of two days,
unless less punishment be thought sufficient by the said
Mayor."

4. ** That the disordered persons in the church, either by
themselves or their children, in time of prayer, shall forfeit and
pay 3d. for every offence not presently amended after warning
given."

5. ** That he that keeps tipling or unlawful games in his
house, or plays at unlawful games, or uses tipling during
prayer time, shall be imprisoned during the Mayor's pleasure.""

EAST LOOK CONSTITUTION BOOK. 35

1596.

An entry of other Bye-laws appears under the date above.

*'It is ordered, constituted, and established, that whatsoever
inhabitant of this town shall not come, upon warning given by
the Sergeant or other person appointed by the Mayor for the
time being, to work about the business of the town, and shall not
come according to the time appointed by the Mayor or his
deputy, shall pay for every default 3d. to be levied by distress,
or else be arrested upon an action of debt in the name of the
Mayor and burgesses, and thereupon proceeded with."

** It is ordained, etc, that henceforth (13th Sept.) the Mayor
shall not be charged to find any dinner for the Court Day, but
the steward shall have for his dinner, 6d. out of the stock, and
for the Law Day the Mayor shall prepare a dinner, and those
that dine with him shall pay 6d. apiece, the Mayor at the Law
Day shall have for the jury towards their dinner, 4d. apiece.'*

** Also it is ordained, that the Sergeants shall have the benefit
of the estreats, towards their travail and attendance for the year,
besides the fees that they have been accustomed to have by
the estreats."

*' Item, it is enacted this 4th day October, 1596, by the Mayor*
etc., that the owners or guiders of every barge who shall
make use of the Quays or Landing places of this Town, shall
pay 4d. for every quarter of a year, for landing Wood or Furze
on the Quay or Landing place, and without such payment,
they shall take no use thereof, for the occasion aforesaid. But
every barge that belongs to the Town, 3d. a quarter be levied
by distress or action of debt by the Quay Warden or Farmer
for the time being."

** Item, it is enacted that every boat of this town shall pay
3d. a quarter, and every ship or bark that comes from beyond
sea laden with salt, shall pay id. for a ton, after the quantity
entered in the Custom House, and i2d. for every other voyage
that they shall make,— an average to be paid, levied either by
distresss or action of debt by the Wardens or Farmers of
the same, for the time being."

(Five Signatories.)

1602.

Three bye-laws are enacted, as follows : —

I. ** It is constituted, etc , by the authority, that whoever
shall make default of coming or appearing before the Mayor

36 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LODE.

or his Deputy, at the Guildhall of theBoro',upon commandment
or appointment of the Mayor, either by himself or his Sergeant,
or any other by his commandment, shall forfeit and lose for
every such first default 3/4, and for a second default therein
6/8, and for the third offence therein 20/-, to be levied by
distress and sale of the offender's goods so di strained, giving
unto him the overplus, and in default of distress to be imprisoned
at the discretion of the Mayor or his Deputy and three of the
principal Burgesses, for default of payment."

2. **It is constituted, etc., by the like authority, that
whensoever the Serjeant or other, by the commandment of the
Mayor or his Deputy, for default of payment of any tax, rate,
or payment, rated, taxed, or assessed upon any Inhabitant of
the Boro', or for rent or duties due or belonging to the Mayor
and Free Burgesses and Commonalty, shall distrain any person
inhabitant of this Town, the person so distrained shall forfeit
and pay unto the Serjeant or other person that shall so distrain,
for every sum under i2d. that he shall be distrained for — 2d.,
and for every sum above i2d., for every I2d. so distrained for —
id. above the said 2d., to be levied out of the said distress so
taken."

3. ** And also it is constituted and established by the same
authority, that whosoever shall sell any drink by any less or
smaller measure for a penny, but such quart and measure as
are lately sealed and allowed by the Mayor, Mr. Wm Hicks and
Mr. Philip Mayow and other principal Burgesses underwritten,
shall forfeit and lose for every such offence i2d. and whosoever
shall sell any less measure of salt than the measure allowed,
shall forfeit for every such offence 3/4, which sums are to levied
by distress. He that offends a second time therein shall for-
feit and lose 6/8."

*' To these constitutions made and constituted the within
written 7th day of November 1602, we have subscribed our
names :— William Hicks, Phillip Mayow, Thomas Sporr,
John Hicks, John Parker, Henry Langstone."

*' The 19th of September, 1603, it is constituted, etc., by the
Mayor and Chief liuigesses whose names are under written,
that whensoever any person shall be chosen Mayor, and refuse
the same office, and pay his fine and penalty for so refusing,
that then the next Mayor chosen for that year, and taking the
office, shall have 20/- of that fine towards the charge of his
office, over and beside the sum of £3, which is formerly limited
towards him."

EAST LOOE CONSTITUTION BOOK. 37

2. " At the same time it is likewise coDStituted, etc., by
the said Mayor and Chief Burgesses, that whosoever of the
inhabitants of the Boto' shall be chosen by the Mayor and
Burgesses or six of them, unto the office and place of a Chief
Burgess, and shall refuse to be sworn and to execute the same
office, shall lose and forfeit the sum of iio, to be levied on his
goods by distress, or to be recovered against him in an action of
debt, or else be committed to prison uniil he shall so pay the
same, at the discretion of the Mayor and Chief Burgesses or
the greater part of them for the time being."

Sexto die Octobris, 1606.
"It is agreed by John Connyng,— Mayor ; Thomas Spuria
Philip Fitzwilliam, John Hicks, Thomas Lugger, Richard
Trigge and other Burgesses, that from henceforth, the Minister
of the Chapel shall go to St. Martin's, every Sabbath forenoon,
and he there to continue during the whole sermon, and then to
depart, and to minister Service in the Chapel for such persons
as are not able to go to St. Martin's, provided always that if
the said Minister be not able to go there, by reason of some
lawful impediment, that then he is to certify the Mayor thereof.

38 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

and to be in the Mayor's discretion when he shall go or not, and
also the like, if it be upon an extraordinary rain."

(2.) ** It is agreed by the Mayor, etc., that there shall be
two men elected and chosen, to search every Alehouse on the
Sabbath days, for such persons as absent themselves from the
Church and service of God ; and such persons offending, shall be
imprisoned at the discretion of the Mayor ; and the master of
the house to pay i2d. to the Poorman's Box for every time so
offending, and if he refuse to pay it, his body to be imprisoned
until he willingly pay the same."

1609.

** It is agreed and constituted by the Mayor, etc., that the
Mayor shall have, towards the discharging of his charge and
expences in his Mayoralty, yearly out of the Town Stock — £6.,
and for the better establishing hereof, the Mayor and the rest
of the principal Burgesses have hereunto put their hands the
day and year above written.

Edmund Fitzwilliams, Mayor, and five others.

** It is constituted, etc., that if any of those who are author-
ised by the Mayor to keep a common Tippling House this
year, do buy out of the Town any beer to sell again for their
profit, shall pay to the Mayor for every barrel containing a
quarter of a hogshead — 6d., for every half hogshead — i/-, and
for every hogshead — 2/-, to the use of the poor of the Town,
and for the better defraying of the charge that the said Town
hath of late been unto." .

1610.

** The 24th day of September, 1610, John Pope being elected
Mayor did refuse to execute the office, and according to the
Constitutions aforewritten in this Book, did offer to pay the
said Constitutions and did offer it in Court. Postea eodem
die he was contented to take the office, and his money was
repaid."

** The same day it is constituted, etc., that whosoever of the
Burgesses shall be chosen by the Mayor and Burgesses or the
most part of them, unto the office and place of a principal
Burgess, and refuse to be sworn and to execute the said office
within this Boro', shall lose and forfeit after notice thereof
given him, four pounds lawful money of England, to be levied
on his goods, or else to be committed to prison until he pay
the same."

\

EAST LOOE CONSTITUTION BOOK. 39

" The same day it is constituted, etc., that whosoever of
the Chief Burgesses shall refuse the office of Mayor being
thereunto chosen, shall lose and forfeit for such refusal, four
pounds lawful money of England, to be recovered as aforesaid
by the Mayor."

** It is constituted, etc., the 29th day of September, 1610,
that the Chief Burgesses or one or any of them, shall not be
taken and accepted for surety or sureties for any man being
arrested within the Boro', upon pain to pay for every such
default by any of them committed, the sum of 40/- to the
Mayor then being, to be levied upon the goods and chattels,
or the body of the person so offending, or to be imprisoned,
until he shall satisfy the same, at the discretion of the Mayor."

**The same day it is constituted, etc., that if any person or
persons whatsoever be arrested within this liberty, and
committed to the prison, and because the said prison is
thought by the Mayor and J3urgesses hereof, to be not
altogether sufficient and strong for the purpose aforesaid ; it is
agreed that there must be certain appointed to watch the said
prison when occasion serveth, at the charge of the Town, and
what the Mayor in his discretion thinks fit, is to be allowed."

14th day of November, 16 14.

** It is constituted, etc., that if any of the inhabitants of
this Boro' do any time depart, not being enabled by the Mayor
of the same, and do not return into the Boro' within the space
of six weeks next after his departure to show a reason for his
departure, that then the said person shall lose his freedom.
Provided always that this constitution shall not in any wise
be prejudicial to the sea-faring men within this liberty."

** The sign X of Thomas Egar, Mayor of the aforesaid

Towne."

** It is likewise constituted the day and year above written
by the Mayor, etc., that, if any vessel shall from henceforth
happen to come to load or unload any kind of goods and
merchandise whatsoever to be exported or imported, shall pay
unto the Mayor and Burgesses for the use of the same or to
their assigns, so much for every vessel and for every ton of
goods, in manner and form as followeth : —

Imprimis, A ship having a cock boat — 1 2d.
A vessel without a cock boat — 6d.
For every stranger loading or unloading -any
goods — 4d."

40 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

nth day of April, 1615.

**It is constituted, etc., that, if from henceforth there do-
happen any corn or grain to be brought into this harbour, by
any stranger dwelling without the liberty of the Boro', that
doth amount to the value of an hundred bushells, that then
the Mayor shall lawfully receive and take out of the said corn
one bushell. And if it be under an hundred bushells, that then
there shall not a bushell be paid, but there shall be paid out of
the same according to the rate, viz: — for fifty bushells—a
half bushell, and so according to the rate of one bushell in
the hundred."

6th day of February, 16 16.

" It is constituted, etc., that no persons whatsoever within
or without the Boro' shall wash any manner of clothes,
linen or woollen, or any other garment or unclean thing, that
shall be noysome or any way to the hindrance or let of any of
the inhabitants of the same ; for providing (sic.) of pot water or
water for other necessary uses, upon pain to forfeit for every
offence, by any one so committed, the value of 3/4. to be levied
upon the goods of the person so offending, and, if he do refuse
to pay the same, his body to be imprisoned until he shall
willingly pay the same."

29th day of September, 16 18.

" It is constituted, etc., that there shall be certain persons
nominated to impound pigs and hogs that do go about the
Town. And for every pig that the Pound Drivers do
impound, the owner of the said pigs shall pay theln, or any of
them, four-pence for every such impounding. Also the said
Pound Drivers shall have power to impound all such horses
and mares as the market people shall leave in the streets on
the market days, and every horse so sent to the Pound, the
owner of the same shall pay unto the Pound Drivers, or any
one of them, a penny ; also if any of the owners of the said
piggs or horses do violently take the piggs or horses from the
Pound Drivers, that the persons so offending shall forfeit and
pay for every such offence— 1 2d., to be levied on their goods
and chattels, and if he or she have no goods, then the bodies of
those so offending shall be committed to prison until they shall
willingly pay the same.

James Chubb, Mayor.

EAST LOOK CONSTITUTION BOOK. 4I

The nth day of November, 1622.

"It is constitued by the Mayor, etc., that from henceforth
on any market day, no corn as wheat, barley, or oats, shall be
brought or sold by any person whatsoever, until it be after the
hour of eleven of the clock, and after the tolling of the Town
Bell ; upon pain that every one so doing, both buyer and seller,
shall forfeit for every such offence 6/8, lawful money of England,
to the poor of the Boro.'

Thomas Egar, Mayor.

Denis Fitzwilliams, D. Chubb, John Egar.

The I St day of May, 1623.

** It is constituted, etc., that from henceforth all and every
ship and boat of any one dwelling within the liberty of this
Boro', and every vessel of any foreigner, or denizen, or alien,
that is moored and fastened to the Keys of this Town, Having
no loading nor merchandise in any one of them, shall give way
and leave unto all vessels of whatsoever sort, that have any
loading to be discharged in and upon the Quays, be it by
strangers dwelling out of the Boro' or any other, as well
inhabitants, or alien, or any whatsoever, without let or hin-
drance of the owner of the said ships, being beforehand so
moored or fastened. And for denying or refusing so to do,
then the Mayor and Burgesses or any their substitute shall,
after warning given unto the owners of the said ship, or bark,
or boat, loose the same with such conveniency as the said
ship may not be hindered of her mooring. And that to be
done at the discretion of the Mayor and Burgesses, or their
substitutes or key wardens, or anyone authorized by the Mayor
to collect such duties as belong to the Keys; in witness where-
of the Mayor and Burgesses aforesaid have subscribed their
names the day and year above written."

Thomas Egar, and six other signatures.

14th day of December, 1625.

**It is constituted, etc., that everyone that is bound in
recognizance within the Boro' for drawing or selling of ale and
beer,shall pay unto the Mayor and Free Burgesses their deputies
or assigns for the use of the Boro', so much monies as shall
be assessed or taxed on them for so doing, as appeareth under
to be paid, and if any one will not willingly pay the same, but
do refuse to pay such moneys as shall be thought fit for them
to pay, being demanded ; that then, for so refusing the vaiu« on

D

42 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

them SO •rated, shall be levied on them by distress upon the
goods and chattels of the party and parties so offending and
refusing the payment of the same, viz, — for the drawing or
selling of every hogshead of ale, 6d. — for the drawing of a
barrel of beer, 3d.

William Mayow, Mayor.

30th September, 1658.

Mr. Bond reports that the entries under this date are all
erased in the document from which he made his transcript.

The 15th day of November, 1660.

** It is constituted, etc., that all the inhabitants dealing
with strangers, and all strangers whatsoever that shall load
or unload goods or merchandise within this Port, on the
quays or any other free place of the same, shall pay all such
duties for all goods as is hereunder mentioned, to such person
or persons as shall be then deputed by the Slayor and Capital
Burgesses ; and those offending hereon, the respective sums
shall be levied by action or distress of the offenders goods, as
the Mayor for the time being shall order the same : —

"'Imprimis, For every ton of Iron exported or imported by

strangers — 2d.

For every slab of Tin or Lead — id.

For every ton of Hakes or Pilchards — 2d.

For every ton of Wine — 4d.

For every chest of Soap — 2d.

For every Ballot of Dowlas — 3d.

For every Ballot of Canvas — 2d.

For every ton of Train Oil — 2d.

For a ton of Conger Donn at 2od. per cwt. — 4d.

For Corn of all sorts imported from foreign
parts, 20 bushels to the ton— 4d.

For all Corn 20 bushels to the ton exported by
the country — 2d.

For every stick of roll Tobacco — ^^(?).

For every Ship or Bark belonging to strangers
having a Cock Boat — i6d.

For every Ship without one — lod.

EAST LOOK CONSTITUTION BOOK. 4^

For e\'ery ton of ballast taken from the quays
or beach by strangers — 4d.

For every Sand Barge which belongs to th&
river, to pay for every year — i2d.

And for all other goods and merchandise not here men-
tioned; belonging to strangers, to pay according to proportion
as above mentioned."

John Pope, Mayor ;

Edward Dobbins, Justice, and seven others sign.
The 7th day of October, 1668.

*• It is constituted, etc., that if any person or shipwright
whatsoever shall erect and build any vessel upon the Beach
or the place commonly called Churchend, or upon any place^
of Town Land, for any stranger or person living out of the
Boro', not being an inhabitant ; shall pay to the Mayor and
Capital Burgesses, sixpence for every ton which such vessel
or barge shall be measured. And this constitution is con-
sented unto to stand, and in testimony thereof we subscribe
our hand the day and year above written, and all such sums
to be recovered by action or distress of the offenders goods.*' *

Signed by Henry Eager, Mayor, and eight others..

** And moreover it is agreed and consented unto by the
Capital Burgesses of the said Corporation, that if any person
who shall at any time hereafter build any vessel whatsoever
for any stranger or shall conceal the same and thereby to-
deceive the Boro' and the inhabitants and from payment
of sixpence per ton, if any such may appear to be discovered.
by two sufficient witnesses, such builders of such vessel shall
then pay 2/- for every ton, to be levied by the offenders goods,
or by action at the pleasure of the Mayor for the time being.'*

The 22nd day of February, 1668.

** It is constituted, etc., by Henry Eager, now the Mayor
of the said Boro', and the Capital Burgesses, that if at any
time or times hereafter, any ship, friggat or other vessel what-
soever shall or may break up, move, tear, do any hurt or
damage to any of the keys, walls, timbers or mooring posts,
of or belonging to the said Port of East Looe, that such
owners or masters of such vessels, shall make up and
sufficiently repair the same breach or hurt within six days.
In default of so doing he shall by suit of law and distress pay

44 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

the same, at the will and discretion of the Mayor for the time
being."

Borough of East Looe. 24th October, 1670.

** It is constituted and consented unto by the Mayor, the
Justice, and the rest of the Capital Burgesses of the said Boro*,
that if any one within this Boro* shall at any time hereafter
having notice in person or by word of mouth left to their
house, for their appearance for any work to be done. for the
good and advantage of the said Burg, and neglecting or
refusing so to appear and to do their labour, shall forfeit for
every such default i2d., to be levied by distress and sale of
their goods. The persons to be subject to this constitution are
from the age of sixteen to sixty."

Anthony ElHsdon, Mayor.

** Borough of East Looe. 2nd September, 1700.

" Proposals of a constitution then made by the Mayor and
Magistrates of the said Boro' for the better government there-
of for the future.

" Imprimis. That for the time to come, all manner of ex-
pense of the Law Court days shall be laid aside and cease,
except in these three immediate particulars, viz.: —

For thirteen Jurymen these respective days — 13s. od.

For four Constables — 4s. od.

For the two Serjeants — 2s. od.

The whole nineteen shillings each Law Court day.

** Item, That the Mayor, and all others who are pleased to
•dine with him, shall pay their several and respective ordinaries
out of their own pocket, and whosoever will may invite a
friend, paying for the same accordingly.

" Item, That no grant shall be made of any Town Lands
but in open Court, and the same then heard and debated and
fairly contracted for, by and with the general consent of the
Mayor and Magistrates then present, or the major part of
them.

** Item. That the moneys so to be risen by such grants, shall
be appointed to the most necessary uses of the Boro', that shall
be found most requisite to needing the same.

** Item. That the Mayor of this Corporation for the future
be obliged every Saturday night during his Mayoralty to go
himself in person with his Constable to all public houses with-

EAST LOOE CONSTITUTION BOOK. 45

n the Boro', and see good order kept therein. If the Mayor
be then in health and at home in the town.

** Itetn. That the Mayor for the time being, shall command
one Constable every Lord's Day to tarry at home in the town^
and during the time of divine service beforenoon and afternoon,
to walk the streets to prevent all sorts of disorder by all per-
sons whatsoever, and each Serjeant to take it likewise in his
turn, that so between the Constables and the Serjeants of the
Boro', it may come to each man but once in six weeks.

** And lastly Ite?n. That every Mayor for the time to come,
shall, within three months he is- out of his Mayoralty, give an
account to the preceeding Mayor, and the Magistrates for the
time being, of all his receipts and disbursements, and to do
the same, at and in a Public Court held for the said Boro*, at
and before that time. And in default thereof to forfeit five
pounds to the use of the poor of the Boro'.

** In testimony and confirmation of these particulars, we the
present Mayor and Magistrates of the Boro', being the second
day of September 1700, and in the 12th year of the reign of
his present Majesty King William the Third over England,
assembled in the Guildhall of the said Borough, have set our
names, and resolve to observe the same in manner and form
as the said articles direct.

**This is in confirmation of the articles in the two preceed-
ing leafs, seeing there was not there room to subscribe our
names.

** Thomas Bond, Mayor.
** John Chubb, Justice.

**John Oben.

»* Thomas Blight.

*'John Dyer.

'' Philip Hicks."

CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

CHAPTER IV.
East Looe Oourt Book,

(llM14-17(j;i.)

liiy be well to insert here a copy of the
recognized method of procedure prevailing
n these Courts. It will, with others printed
hereafter, shew the very careful and method-
ical system in which the business was tran-
icted by the Corporation. The instruction
for conducting the Court Leet, reads
-^ thus:—

" Ring the Bell,— Cry the Court at
the ball stairs, — Proclaim the Court."
" Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez ! "

" All manner of persons that do owe suit and service to
this Court Leet and Law Day, or have anything to do at this
General Sessions of the Peace, now to be holden in and for
this Borough, draw near, and give your attendance, and
answer to your names."

" Read the list of Capital Burgesses, the Free Burgesses,
and the Free Tenants, and the Jury."

" Swear the Foreman, then the Jurors; call over the Jury,
and let the Sergeants count them."

" Read the Acts of Parliament, including the Riot Act, then
the Proclamation. Then say — If any one can inform this
Court or Inquest of any treasons, felonies, bloodshed, or any
other thing now given in charge or inquirable in these Courts,
let him come in, and he shall be heard."

" Call for Certificates, and adjourn the Court."
" In the evening the Court re-assembles, call over the Jury :
ask for their presentments, and try whosoever may be
delivered for trial : read over the presentments. Dismiss
the Court in this form : —

EAST LOOE COURT BOOK. 47

" All manner of persons that have any more to do at this
Court Leet and General Sessions of the Peace, let them come
forward, and they shall be heard, otherwise they may depart,
and give their attendance on a fresh summons."

*' GOD save the King.'*

Proceedure at the Mayor Choosing.

" Toll the Bell.— Cry the Court.— Oyez ! Oyez ! Oyez !

" All persons that have anything to do at the Court of our
Sovereign Lord the King, now here holden for this Borough,
may come forth and they shall be heard, and all others are
commanded to keep silence and suffer the Court to proceed.

*• Then proclaim — * This being the time and place appointed
by Charter for the election of the Mayor for this Borough for
the year ensuing, all manner of persons concerned therein are
to pay attention, and all others are to keep silence while the
election proceeds.'

'* Read the Act of Parliament. — Ask Mr. Mayor who he
chooses to name. — Ask the Capital Burgesses whether they
agree to the nomination.— If the Capital Burgesses agree, ask
the Mayor for which of the nominees he votes. —Then ask the
Capital Burgesses one and one. — Then ask the Free Burgesses
in the same manner. — Then the Mayor declares the election. —
Then * Huzza ! ' for the new Mayor. Adjourn the Court."

The method prevailing at the election of a Recorder was on
similar lines.

A formal resignation of the office was thus accepted : —

'* Capt. BuUer will say that he desires to resign the Re-
cordership. The Capital Burgesses are then to be asked, one
and one, whether they agree to accept the resignation, and give
his vote accordingly. If they are unanimous, the Mayor will
declare the resignation duly accepted, and that Capt. Buller is
duly removed from his office, and then order that the resigna-
tion and acceptance be duly recorded, that another Capital
Burgess be elected and appointed Recorder."

So much for the proceedure in the Corporation Courts.

The title of the oldest Corporation Record Book now extant
was : —

'* 1664 Liber Burgi de Looe.

Anno Regni Domini Nostri Caroli Secundo Dei Gratia nunc

Regis AngliaeT

48 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

The title page and some of the earlier pages of the Book
have now disappeared. In order to prevent further loss, the
Corporation at some time or other, caused the Book to be re-
bound. The Book naturally divides itself in two parts, the
first recording transactions prior to the surrender of the
Elizabethan Charter, and the second records transactions after
the grant of a Charter by James II. In the earlier period are
three different lists of names of persons somehow connected
with the Borough. These lists are divided into three classes —
Capital Burgesses, Freeholders or Free Burgesses, and
Resiants. These lists are contained in the record for the years
1670, 1673, 1677. They contain erasions, obliterations and
interlineations, evidently showing that though the lists were
made at the time dated, alterations were occasionally made to
adapt them to the succeeding circumstances of the Borough.

Also in this period are the records of the admission of five
persons as F'ree Burgesses, viz.: — John Trelawny, described as
son and heir of Baronet Trelawney ; Charles Osborne, a mem-
ber for the Borough in 1678; John Kendall de Treworgey,
member in 1685 » Henry Trelawny, member in 1688 ; N.
Cossen, Sheriff of the County in 1680. The Charter of
Elizabeth did not constitute any body of Free Burgesses,
while that of James II. did. So in the later portion of the
Book are entries of the admission of Free Burgesses, of some-
times a single individual, and sometimes in bodies of three, four
or five at a time. The Charter of James II. thus made a very
material and important alteration in the constitution of the
Borough, for it not only appointed the Capital Burgesses,
directing a perpetual succession in them, but it also contained
a provision for the appointment of Inferior Burgesses, with a
perpetuation of succession also in them.

The admission of the five Free Burgesses in the earlier
period being, as far as the Corporation was concerned, ultra
vires, must therefore have been of a complimentary nature to
those persons thus honoured.

In the lists of Capital Burgesses, referred to above, the num-
ber of those forming this body varies, being 9, 10 and 11
respectively.

We now come to a brief analysis of the contents of the
Book.

Borough of East Looe. — Law Court with view of Frank-
pledge at the Guildhall on May 17th, 1664, before Tho. Achyn,
Mayor, John Natt, Justice, and with other Capital Burgesses.

EAST LOOE COURT BOOK. 49'

Names of Jury, 15 in number, follow. No record of any
business.

On page 8, is a record of the election of Mayor. Four
Burgesses are named— Lewis Stuckley, Esq., R. Lukis,
Henry Eager, and Phillip Hicks.

** And then voted to stand and be put upon election these
two of the above fower, viz. : — Lewis Stuckley and Henry
Eager. Voices for Mr. Lewis Stuckley, of the Commons,
these 35 (elected). Voices for Mr. Henry Eager, 5. And
then VVilliam Ambrose was sworn Justice."

15th October, 1666. — At a Court held on this date, ** John
Comminge hath taken from James Dowbing and Thomas
Stapp the bargain and contract wch' they then took from
the Mayor and Capital Burgesses for the Shambles and Toll
Corne for the year next ensuing. And the sd John Com-
minge doth undertake to pay for the sd Shambles and Toll
Corn, one and thirty pounds and ten shillings, wch' is to-
be sufficiently payed forthwith by quarterly payments.

** Thomas Stapp then took the Keys for the yeare next
ensuing, and is to pay for that — £3.

** James Dowbing then took Fay res of the Borough and
is to pay yearly— £1. Then John Wilshman and James
Dowbing contracted and took of the Mayor, Mr. Richard Lukis,
and the other magistrates there, the Toll Corn and Shambles of
the said Borough for the year ensuing, and are to pay for the
same one and thirty poundes and ten shillings by quarterly pay-
ments, and the sd John Wilshman and James Dowbing to
* '•' '•' the payment thereof by their bill, jointly and
severaly."

A note is appended to the above entry. ** The Bakers that
buy in wheat the next tyme are to pay half the Toll- to the
farmers and in default to pay sd., for every bushell, wch they
or either of them shall demand."

5th November, 1666. — Court held before '* Johannes Pope,
Deputy Mayor, and other Burgesses of the Borough." No
cases entered.

2nd April, 1667. — Court held before the Deputy Mayor,
names of Jury given. Presentments are stated to have been
made, but none are recorded.

4th July, 1667. — Court held for election of a new Mayor in
place of Lewis Stuckley, deceased. John Pope and Philip-

50 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

Hicks nominated : — *' the Capital Burgesses vote for John
Pope, who is elected and sworn."

Court held 17th September. — Two cases of assault and one
of debt heard and deferred. Then at this Court the Free
Burgesses nominate four candidates for the office of Mayor,
the Mayor and the Capital Burgesses choose two of these,
and ** the Commons and the Free Burgesses elect the said
Richard Lukis, who was sworn the 29th."

Law Court with view of Frankpledge, 22nd October. — Before
" Richard Lukis, als Harry, Mayor there ; John Pope,
Justice there" and six others named Capital Burgesses.
Names of Jury, 13 in number given. No business recorded.
Blank space left probably for insertion of presentments made
by the Jury, but for some reason these were never entered.

23rd November, 1667. — Court held before '* Richard Lukis,
als Harry," and two others. Two cases entered. In one of
these, William Bond, Esq., proceeds against Ffrancis Stapp,
in a plea of debt. The defendant remanded in custody
because he would not plead.

28th October, 1668. — Court held before Richard Lukis,
Mayor, John Pope, Justice, and Philip Pope. Seven cases
entered. Then *' fower persons are put upon election * *
the Commons and Capital Burgesses doe by their votes chuse
Mr. Henry Eager to stand for Mayor of this Burgh the
ensuing yeare."

** 29th September, 1668.— And accordingly was sworne to
the office. And the present Mayor, Richard Lukis, then
sworn Justice of the Peace there."

**30th day of September, 1668. — Survey for the Toll, Corn
.and Shambles. John Wilshman then tooke it for the price of
;^36 3s. 2d., and to be farmed by him and James Dowbing, to
be paid quarterly, viz. - by four bills. Mr. Nicholas Reed
then tooke the Keyes in £->, 8s. od. per annum ; and John
Wilshman tooke the two ffayres in £1 i6s. 6d per annum."

19th October, 1668.— Court held before Henry Egar,
Mayor^ and six other named Burgesses. Three cases entered.
In the last, Philip Mayow, Esq., sues John Comminge for
debt. Case adjourned and finally adjudicated upon, ist
February, 1668 (old style), when defendant pays 6/4 due and
1 1/3 costs.

At a Court, held 3rd November, 1668. — The names of the
Innkeepers and their sureties are entered.

EAST LOOE COURT BOOK. 5I

At a Court (?), April, 1669. — A Jury, 13 in number, is sworn
and make presentments, a summary of which will be found
in Chapter V.

At a Court, held 9th August, 1669. — Three cases are entered.
In the second, Henry Jago, of Tregony, complains against
•Charles Grills, of Lanreath, the case being adjourned.

At the next Court, in two cases, the defendants live in
Morval Parish.

At a Court, held 20th September, 1669 — Two cases for trial,
in one of which the Mayor and Capital Burgesses are com-
plainants. Then, " were put upon election, Tho. Blight,
Philip Hicks, Valentine Paris, Anthony Ellesdon ; of these
iower, the Mayor and Capital Burgesses do put these two, Th.
Blight and Ant. Ellesdon. Voices for Mr. Blight, xxi., and all
the Capital Burgesses; for Mr. Ellesdon, 13 voices,"

At a Court, held 22nd November, 1669. — Before the Mayor
^nd the Justice, three cases down for trial, all of common-
place character.

At the Court, on 28th March, 1670.— Pour case?, in each of
which, one or other of the suitors are of St. Germans.

At the next two Courts, no cases.

At a Court, 5th April, 1670. — No cases entered, but a
marginal note adds, *' then after pleas allowed to be entered
for tryall btwn. Clenick and Cowbing : adjourned."

•

On May 3rd. — Three cases, with notes, in one instance, of
subsequent proceeding's, and at the end — ** plaintiff did not
prosecute, and judgement for defendant, for £3 3s. 4d." In
the second case, defendant is **of St. Martins, Juxta Eastlow,"
and in the third is **de Morval"; in both instances the matter
is settled out of Court.

At the rerqaining Courts of this year many cases are
^entered, but none present features of interest.

At the Court, 12th September, 1670. —Anthony Ellesdon
■and Nicholas Reed are named for/* submission to the resident
Burgesses and the Commons : for Mr. Ellesdon, 37 voices ;
for Nicholas Reed, 18."

At the Court, 12th October, 1670. — Recognizances taken
^* for the eight persons undernamed, bound to keep entertain-
ment and tipling houses for the year ensuing, within the
Burroughe, according to the custome."

52 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

On pages 67 and 68 are lists (i) of the Capital Burgesses,
nine in number ; (2) of Free Tenants, 105 in number ; among
whom are Jonathan Trelawny, Bart. ; John Trelawny, Esq. ;.
Walter Langdon. Esq, ; John Arundell, Esq. ; John Buller.
Esq. ; " Wardens de St, Martin," Rector de St. Martins, etc.
On the margin of page 67 is a " note, that on 24th Decemt>er,
1672, att the Court day there appeared Valentine Paris and
Waxity (pafier turn) . . have paid an alienation of 5/-,

and are in the right of their wifes admitted heirs " ; (3) of the
Resiants, 81 in number.

Court held i6th January, 1670, O.S. — One case entered. In
the last Margaret Hicks, widow, complains aj^ainst Blanch
Dobbin for 8'. rent. " And the said viiis was pd by William
Dobbin in behalf of the said Blanch, the def : and the pit:
Margaret in Court reed the 8'-, and so the account wns
ended, wh amount was in dispute betwn the pit ; and lier
sonne Th. Hicks to whom the rent should belong, as was

The remaining Courts in Mr. Ellesdon's myoralty were held
regularly, but are without any special points of interest.

KAST LOOE COURT BOOK. 53

25th September, 1671. — At a Law Court then held, two
-cases are entered and their hearing adjourned. Then comes a
record that **fower Capital Burgesses were put upon election
for a new Mayor according to the custome there used in East-
looe, viz : — Phillip Hicks. Valentine Paris, Nicholas Reed,
Philip Pope; of whom the rest of the Magistrates with
the former fower doe consent that the sd Nicholas Reed and
Philip Hicks are to be upon election, which of them shall be
put to the voices of the Magistrates and Commons to stand
Mayor for the next year, and then the said Nicholas Reed
was elected and then sworne."

At a Court on i6th October, 1671. — Three cases, two of
which are settled between the parties, and the third is
adjourned.

On page 84 are entered the names of the Innkeepers (Tip-
latores) of the Borough, the recognizance being each in ^10,
and two sureties in £5 apiece.

At a Court held 27th November. — Before Nich. Reed, Mayor,
Anthony Ellesdon, Justice, three cases are entered of the usual
character. In one of them, however, the plaintiff, by leave,
being Nicholas Reed, the Mayor, the case is settled between
the parties.

Court held nth day of May. — Five cases for debt, etc.
In one case the defendant is a resident in Shutta, in another in
"** Westloo," in a third and fourth case the defendants are to
remain in custody for '* inflicting blows on the head" of the
•complainant.

At the next Court, one case. — Then none till the Court held
30th May, when an action is entered by leave, between one
of St. Germans against a resident in * Dueloe,* which is
settled between the parties. At the later Courts in this year,
only ordinary cases entered, with notes of subsequent pro-
ceedings thereon.

Court held i6th day of September, 1672. — "And at this
Court, four persons of the Capital Burgesses put upon
election ; of the aforesaid persons the rest of the voices doe
agree that Mr. Valentine Paris and Mr. Hicks are to stand,
one of them to be by the Commons elected, who by their
voices (34) doe elect Mr. Philip Hicks, and then sworne
Mayor."

nth October, 1672. — Court held, one case by leave entered,
then follow the names of the Innkeepers, seven in number,
with names of their sureties and amounts of recognizances.

54 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

.■^■^^■^■^^^^— M^^— ■■! I , , m ,m, m m . , ■■-■-... ■ , .,,.■■■ — .--■-._■-. — .1..—

2ist Octobfer, 1672.- Law Court with view of Frankpledge^
before Philip Hicks, Mayor, Nicholas Reed, Justice, and four
others named Capital Burgesses. The Jury, 15 in number,
are sworn and make presentments of the usual kind. Among
which are the Mayor, etc., for **not repairing the leads and
windows of the Chappie," ** for not repairing and keeping up
the Clock att the Chappie Tower," ** for not providing two
stout troughs for the shutte of water at Shutta," also *' Agnes,
the daughter of John Ryan, for encroaching on the Towne
Lands," also **the heirs of Philip Diggens for a relief," also-
•' Nathaniel and Thomas Skinner for battery and bloodshed,"
and several persons for *' feeding hoggs at their dores," also
** Richard Scadgell for refusing to exchange his farthing which
he hath put forth." This is curious as showing that trades-
men's tokens were issued in Looe. Are any extant in
collections ?

28th October, 1672.— Court held, five common law cases-
entsred, preceeded by this note : -

'* Att this Court was John Trelawny, Esq., sone and heire
of Baronet Trelawny, admitted to his freedome of the said
Borrough and Corporation and thereunto sworne."

30th December, 1672 — ** Before Philip Hicks, Mayor there,
Samuel Medhope by pleader Edward White, complains
against Maria Wills" ; after the case had been adjourned thrice,
complainant declines to prosecute ; three other cases entered
at this Court.

On page loi are lists: — 'i)— Of Capital Burgesses, 11
in number. (2) — Of the Free Tenants, commencing with
Jonathan Trelawny, Recorder. (3) — Of the Resiants, 63 in
number.

On page 103 are these entries: — xviii. day of May, 1674,.
William Stephens, Mayor. **Then came Thomas Dobbin
and pd. the alienation for Edward Dobbin, his father's land
in the sd. Borroughe, and pd. Mr. Mayor his rent accustomed
10 -." ** Margaret Pope, single woman, daughter and heiress
of William Pope, her deceased father, came and pd. for three
Reliefs wch. is lod. to every new tenant, in all 2/6." Three
entries of the same nature follow— "And then Margaret
Dymond for keeping open her shop in the Corporation and
her shop window there upon Christmas day last, in contempt
of the day and the power of the Corf>oration, being fyned for
the same to the sum of 10/-, after a presentment thereof, wh.

EAST LOOK COURT BOOK. 55-

she then paid Mr. Mayor." (These entries are out of their
proper chronological order).

At a Court held i8th August, 1673.— Nathaniel Ambrose
complains against Eichard Buller, of Morval, the defendant
being condemned — because he did not plead — in 47/1, includ-
ing costs.

At a Court 8th of September, 1673. — ** The Magistrates of
the sd. Burroughe appeared then, and William Stephens
elected Mayor by voices 28, and Mr. Natt, also upon election
with Mr. Stephens." No business entered at the first three
Courts, then the record of some Courts with common law
cases for trial ; five of these are settled between the contending
parties.

On page 115 is the record of the election of the new Mayor;.
Thomas Blight — ** had 20 voices,'' and John Natt — ** had 12
voices."

Court held 26th October, 1674. — Before Thomas Blight and
other Capital Burgesses. Among the presentments made by
the *'Jury for his Ma'ties Law Court" are the Mayor, etc ,.
for not cleaning the inside of the ** Chappie," also for not
repairing the Cage and the ** Cucking-StoUe," also Gartred
Boulger for not repairing her house, " very dangerous to the
towne." To this last presentment is added a note " she hath
tyme given her to repair this nuisance 14 days."

At a Court on 15th February, 1674, (O.S.) — ** John
Dyniond, being called, refuseth to serve as a Juror." ** Fyned
10/-" is added in a note.

At a Court held 29th March, 1675. — A marginal note states
**and this day no appearance of magistrates to hold Court,
save Mr. Keed, et inde adjourned "

At a Court held 13th September, 1675. — One case entered ^.
and "John Natt receives 25 voices for the office of Mayor,
and Nich. Ambrose had 18 voices." No cases of interest are
recorded this year.

At a Court held 25th September, 1676. - Before ** Barronet
Jonat. Trelawny," Recorder, and others ; Philip Pope and Nich.
Ambrose are named for the Mayoralty. The number of votes
given to each candidate is omitted, and the result only record-
ed thus — ** And the sd. Philip Pope elected by the Burgesses
and Commons."

On the same page is the entry. — "Law Court with view of
Frankpledge held 20th October, 1676," but there is no record

56 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

of any business. Then overleaf, under date previous to the
above, — 9th October, is the list of Innkeepers, etc , with a
foot note '* The first Court of Philip Pope, Mayor."

Court held 27th, November, 1676. — Before Philip Pope,
Mayor. ** At the same Court was the View of the weights and
measures of the Corporation, and William Dobbin and Thomas
Btapp sworne to view and try. But adjourned unto another
day.'' This is the only transaction recorded at this Court.

Court held 29th January, 1676, O.S. — Richard Buller com-
plained against Francis Hicks in a plea of trespass, the
matter was, however, settled between the parties.

Law Court with View of Frankpledge held 30th April,
1677. — Before Philip Pope, Mayor, John Natt and two other
named Burgesses. It is recorded that — " John Williams,
John Ham, Henery Chubb, Tho. Rogers — named by the former
Overseers of the Poore for the ensuing yeare to serve and
refuseth to be sworne."

A Jury, 15 in number, is sworn and makes certain present-
ments on oath-^ 13 in all. Among these the Mayor, etc., for not
repairing the Cistern of the Conduit ; the same for not repairing
^* the carriages of the gunns;" *' for defect of the Cucking-
Stole," ** Robert Deeble for an alienation of Philip Symons'
land— (note on margin — pd. 25/-). ** Peter Mellow and
Sollomon Crosse for driving their trade in Towne and being
not admitted free so to doe." Five inhabitants, including one
of Shutta, for ** keeping shopp not being admitted freemen."

Court held 4th January, 1677, O.S. — Before Philip Pope,
Mayor, and six other Burgesses. Philip Pope complains
against two persons refusing to pay the ** Duty to his Maj*s
accompt," and the following articles are seized to satisfy the
claim in one case, viz. — '• Fforty fower hatts, one ffeather
boulster and two ffeather pillows of the defendants' goods and
chatties."

Court held 17th September, 1677. — Mr. Reed and Mr.
Ambrose named for the office of Mayor, ** and the Magistrates
and Common Council persons doe vote for Mr. Ambrose — 26
voyces, and for Mr. Reed — viii. voyces. And the said
Nathaniel Ambrose was sworn to the execution of his office of
a Mayor the 29th day of September, 1677."

Mr. Ambrose's first Court, 8th October, 1677. — 2 cases
entered of ordinary character ; then at a Court on the loth
October is list of Innkeepers with their sureties, etc.

EAST LOOE COURT BOOK. 57

Pages 142-143 contains lists of names of (i) — The Capital
Burgesses, 13 in number, including Jonat. Trelawny, Bart.,
Recorder ; (2) — The Free Tenants, among whom are Col. John
Trelawny, the heirs of Walter Langdon, Esq., John BuUer,
Esq., John Arundel, Esq., *' Mr. Thomas Dobbin for Mr.
Hicks, land in Castle Street," ** Robert Deeble for Collings,
land, etc ; " (3) — Resiants, among these, eighty number, are the
names — Cowth, White, Trout, Stephens (a doctor). Chubb,
Coade, Cook, Sawdy, Rogers, Smyth, ** Cardew's son-in-law,"
Hosken, Hicks, Symonds, Snell, Nichols, Congdon, Dingle,
Hocken, Treffry, Wilshman, Hambly, Kitt. The list is inter-
esting, not only because it gives the names of people living in
Looe at this time, but it is even more so for its omission of
names which are the most general in Looe to-day.

Law Court, with view of Frankpledge, 23rd October,
1677. — A Jury, .15 in number, is sworn and makes on oath 16
presentments. Among which the Mayor, etc., "for not hold-
ing the Clerk of the Markett's Court : " also " Madam Langdon
for a Relief for land in towne;" also Elizabeth Hearle, " for
leaving a boate at the Key very dangerous for children " ; also
*' Sir Walter Moyle, Knt., for an alienation of land;" — ten
persons are presented for not being Freemen. The Courts are
held regularly in the year, but the cases are all of the ordinary
kind. At the Law Court held on 15th April, 1678, names of
the Jury, but not their presentments, entered.

Court held 9th September, 1678. — Nicholas Reed and John
Chubb named for the office of Mayor. Mr. Reed has 19 voices,
and Mr. Chubb has xij voices. Mr. Reed is sworn Mayor on
29th September, 1678.

On page 176, at a Court held 30th May, I680— is a memor-
andum of the election of "Jonathan Trelawny, Baronettus,"
to the office of Recorder, and of his taking the oaths of
allegeiance and of his acceptance of the declaration against the
"Solemn League and Covenant." The signature "Jona.
Trelawny " is appended. The remaining Courts in the year
do not present any case of interest.

At a Court held 20th September, 1681. — Thos. Blight was
elected Mayor, and on the 29th was sworn in and made the
usual declaration.

Court held 6th August. — One case entered, for trespass,
with notes on subsequent proceedings. Ultimately settled
2 1 St April, 1684, the Jurors assessing the damages at
£9 3s. od.

58 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

The name of the ne5ct Mayor is John Pope, there is not
however any entry of either his election or his being sworn in.
His first Court was on October 9th. No business is entered.

On page 210 is a Mem. that on i6th April, 1685, before
Jonat. Trelawny, Bart., at the Guildhall ; Charles Trelawny,
Esq., John Arundle, Junr., Esq., Ffrancis Kelly, Esq., and
Thomas Kelly, Esq., '*were sworn Free Burgesses," and
made the usual declaration. Over leaf is the same formal
declaration signed by H. Trelawny, Thos. Achyn, and
William Martin, and another at a later date by Reginald
Hawkey. John Natt is Mayor this year, but his election is
not recorded.

On page 216, under date 12th October, 1685, is the entry of
Thos. Blight's declaration on taking office as Mayor. On
October 26th, '* Law Court with view of Frankpledge and
Sessions of the Peace." A jury 13 in number is sworn but
no business recorded. The same statement is true of the Law
Court, May 4th, 1686.

Court on 27th September, 1686 — Two Chief Burgesses,
Reginald Hawkey and John Pope, are named for the office of
Mayor, the latter is elected and the record of his making the
declaration appears. On 8th November, the Innkeepers and
their sureties with their respective recognizances are taken
at a Court then held. The Law Courts in this Mayoralty are
again without the entry of presentments, and the ordinary
Courts do not record any points of interest.

At the Court iglh September, 1687.— Reg. Hawky, gent,
Nathaniel Ambrose, merchant, Philip Stephens, gent., and
Philip Hicks, merchant, are named in the first instance by
the Capital Burgesses for the office of Mayor. The actual
voting is not given, but on 29th September, Philip Hicks is
sworn in and signs the declaration as Mayor, with John Pope
as Justice. Nath. Ambrose also makes and signs the same
declaration, though for what reason is not stated.

At the Court held 15th October, 1688. — Nathaniel Ambrose
is described as Mayor, no entry of his election or the formali-
ties to be observed previous to taking office being mentioned.
The Court immediately before this one bears date 24th
September, 1688, and Philip Stephens is entered as Mayor.

On and after 26th November, 1688. — The Magistrates
sitting with the Mayor and the Justice are no longer described
merely as " Burgesses of the Borough," but are dignified with
the title of "Aldermen," until i6th September, 1689.

EAST LOOK COURT BOOK. 59

On 25th July, 1689. — Robert Jagoe is sworn Constable of
the Borough ** in loco Paskai Gourd.''

The last Court of ** our Lord the King, James II.'* is on
28th January, 1688, (O.S) The next Court is not dated by
the year of the Sovereign's reign, but the one held next in
order on nth March, 1688, is described as the Court of **our
Lord the King, and of our Lady the Queen." Ten Courts in
succession pass without any case being entered for trial. At
the remaining Courts in this year two cases are down for
trial, and in one or these the prosecutor does not appear.

Court held loth September, 1689. — Reginald Hawky and
John Oben, '* with the unanimous assent of the Capital Bur-
gesses " are named for the office of Mayor. John Oben is
elected. His first Court is held 28th October, 1689. — The
Innkeepers, 13 in number, appear, and are bound in J2io
apiece, with two sureties for each in £^.

Court held i8th November. i68g — Before John Oben,
gent. — Mayor, and other Capital Burgesses ; Johanna Collings
pays a relief upon the death of her late husband. (This is the
only entry of such a payment in this book).

On page 243 is a list of nine persons sworn Free Burgesses
on 3rd May, 1689. The two first names are ** Charles Grills,
Esq , and Dr. John James "

At a Law Court on i5lh May. —A jury, 13 in number, is
sworn. The only business done at t he Court and entered, is that
five named persons are sworn Free Burgesses. Among them
is Richard BuUer and John Chubb, merchant.

On page 251, at a Court held 22nd September, 1690.—
Reginald Hawky, gent., and Henry Eager, merchant, were
named by the Capital Burgesses for the office of Mayor, and
the former was elected and took the usual oaths. His first
Court is on 26th October, when a jury of the ordinary number
is sworn, but no business is recorded. A list of the Inn-
keepers, etc:., fills pages 255-6. The next page is a blank,
and then the page also numbered 256 contains entry of a Law
Court with names of the jury, and records that '* Will. Williams
was sworn a Free Burgess at this ('ourt." Then follows
another blank page. Not a single case is recorded as entered
for trial in this Mayor's term of office.

On page 257, at a Court held 28th September, 1691. —
Thomas Blight, gent., and Henry Eager, merchant, are named
for the Mayoralty, the latter is chosen and sworn. At a

6o CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

Court on the *'last day*' of November, after customary list of
Innkeepers, etc., one case of trespass is entered, with notes of
subsequent proceedings thereon.

At a Court on 4th March, i6gi. — The Mayor is ertered as
plaintiff in a suit of trespass on the case. At the remaining
Courts in this year only two cases in all are entered.

At a Court held lyth September, 1692.— Thomas Blight,
gent., is chosen and sworn Mayor. Courts held as usual, but
again only a very few cases entered..

Thos. Hicks elected Mayor, and sworn 29th September,
1693. Charles Trelawny succeeds him in 1694, and John
Oben in 1695. In each instance the unsuccessful candidate is
John Natt. On i6th December, 1695, *' John Dyer,
Chirugus," is sworn a Capital Burgess, and on 28th Sep-
tember 1696, is chosen Mayor, defeating John Natt.

August 9th, 1697.— Thomas Edy, "one of the constables, is
excused from his ottice."

September 20th, 1697. — Thomas Blight chosen Mayor.
Six Free Burgesses are elected during his term of office.

At a Court held 12th September, 1698.— John Chubb, junr.,
is elected a Capital Burgess, and on the same day is chosen
Mayor for the year ensuing. Philip Hicks is the unsuccess-
ful candidate

2 1 St August, 1699. — " Pascatius Gourd is excused from the
office of constable. '^

At a Court held nth September, 1699. — Thomas Bond is
elected first a Capital Burgess and then Mayor for the ensuing
year. At the same Court **Henricus Seymour, Baronettus/*
Doctor Francis Cook, and two other named persons are made
Free Burgesses. No cases are entered at the first four Courts
in Mr Bond's Mayoralty, and at the fifth, Henry Soady and
Barnard Cleer were sworn ** Impounders and Triers of
Weights and Measures."

At a Court held 23rd September, 1700. — Thos. Blight,
gent., is chosen Mayor. The total number of cases entered
for trial in his year of office are four.

. At a Court held 15th September, 1701. — ** Thomas Giver
was dismissed from the office of Constable," and John Dyer
was elected Mayor.

The first Court held in the reign of '* Our Lady Queen
Anne" is on 27th April, 1702 and two cases are down for trial

KAST LOOK COURT BOOK. 6l

with notes of later proceedings. Below the record of a Court
on 5th June, 1702, is a deposition *' Thomasine Gaich came
before me likewise and took her corporal oath, that John
Wilshman gave the said Thomasine Gaich severall opprobious
words and drew blood of her, and that she is afraid that the
said John Wilshman will do her some bodily harm."

At a Court held 28th September, 1702. — John Chubb is
elected Mayor, eleven case of the ordinary character are entered
for trial this year. At the second Court 23rd October, 1702, is
an entry which, owing to the torn condition of the paper, can
only be partially reproduced : — ** At this Court Sr Richard
Vyvyan, Barrt.; John Trewinnow, Rector ; John Grubb and
B. Bassett. Churchwardens ; Thomas Drift and Walter
Williams, Overseers of the Poor, for pish of Mawgan in
meneg was for taking into this Towne Richard Grubb,
Sadler."

2nd September, 1703, Thomas Bond elected Mayor, defeating
John Oben. At a Court 27th December, 1703, two overseers
are sworn, and at a Court loth January, 1703, O.S., John
Wilshman and Philip Gourd are sworn to the execution of some
office, the title of which is left out in the entry. Then Barnard
Cleer, a Sergeant at Mace, in full satisfaction of a claim by
Thomas Jewell, paid £^ 4s. 8d. Immediately follows the
deposition of William Rame, taken before the Mayor, '* who
upon his oath saith that he heard John Harper, of the Borrough
of West Loo, to swear three severall tymes.'' The six
succeeding Courts are without cases. Thomas Bond was
apparently re-elected to the office of Mayor, though there is no
record of such election. In his second year seventeen Courts
are held, and four cases are entered for trial. Under date loth
April, 1705, is the entry, '* then John Hancocke was elected
Churchwarden, and John Deeble and John Hill were elected
Overseers for the ensuing year."

At the foot of page 366 is a memorandum that the Honorable
Henry Seymour, Bart., and George Clerk, Esq., were elected
to serve as two Burgesses for the Borough in the Parliament
summoned to meet at Westminster. The return is dated 22nd
May, 1705.

At a Court held loth September, 1705. — Thomas Blight,
Gent., defeats John Oben in the contest for the Mayoralty.
Nine Courts are held this year, but in none of them is a case
entered for trial. At the Lady Day Court, Henry Coade is
chosen Churchwarden for the borough.

62 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

A Court held 20th October, 1706, — Before John Dyer, Gent.,
Mayor. There is no record of the election. Twelve Courts
are held in the year and again not a case entered for trial.

At a Court held 22nd September, 1707, — Thomas Blight
defeats John Hawkey for the office of Mayor. Immediately
beneath this record is the entry that **At the same time it is
passed and agreed upon, that for the space of live years now
and ensuing, all persons shall be free and quit of all Tolls and
Charges of standing in the severall Fairs which shall bee held
during all the sd tyme within this Burroughe, for anything pay-
able to this Burroughe and the Mayor and Burgesses thereof,
and shall have all convenient use of standing during ye tyme
att ye sd fairs being held on Michas' day, Candlemas day
yearly." The signatures of the Mayor and three others are
attached. Sixteen Courts are recorded as held in the year, and
three cases are entered.

At a Court held 23rd September, 1708, — John Chubb, Junr.,
defeats Thomas Blight in the Mayoral election. Fourteen
Courts are held in the year, and at none of them is a case
entered for trial.

At a Court held ist November, 1708. — Is a memorandum
that ** Maria Eudy, widow, was admitted a Free Tenant of the
Burroughe in the place of Rich. Eudy, her late husband, also
that Thomasine Gaich was admitted in the place of Elizabeth
Gaich, her mother, now dead."

The last entry in the Book is on a page much torn and
otherwise defaced. It is the customary record of a Court held
ist August, 1709.

KAST LOOE PRESENTMENTS,

VHAPTKH V.
The East Looe Present mont*.

FEW of the presentments are en-
tered in the Court Book, and are
there described as being made by
Ihe Jury, "on his Majesty's Law
Court day." The Rreater part of
them are found on loose sheets of
paper and are sometimes signed by
the foreman of the Jury. Mr. Bond
states that the earliest presentments
he could find bore the date 2nd
October, 1664, and from thence till
f that century, the series is moderately
Some extracts from those on the odd
are now given —

— I he Mayor and Capital Burgesses are

el For not repairing "the Chappel, the

tl e Keyes ;" for not providing " a Minister

Chappel;" also "for not providing a

n„ tole' in the ancient place at the dock."

ill those that frequent not the parish

cl urch at the t me of Divine Service, according to the list

forme ly gven nto the Court," Two men (named) for

Tannmg of Leather within the Burroughe and not bringing

it into the market place, to have it sealed according to law."

i666.^The Mayor, etc., "for not providing r&yles and
postes for the Keyes; for not fitting of the Gunnes with
carriages and other necessaries belonging thereto ; " — " for not
giving order to the Constables to seeke after and take up all
such unruly children as abuse the Sabbath." John Williams
is presented for putting sheep on the common without
the Mayor's leave,

1668.— Several named persons are presented for living in
the town "not being sworn freemen,"

64 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

1669. — The Mayor, etc., are presented for failure to repair
the roofs, windows, pulpit and seats in the " Chappell" ; for not
repairing the Almshouse going towards Barbican ; *' for not
causing the * barr ' at the mouth of the channell to be rid ;" and
sundry walls are presented as being dangerous to inhabitants.

1670. — Arthur Masters and Nicholas Short are presented
*' for sellinge of beere and cyder not being licenced thereto ;"
four men (named) for ** feeding hog^es at their doors." At
the end of this sheet appears the folTdwing notice: — " To the
Sargents at Mace, «Tames Dowbing and Bernard Cleere, to
each and either of them. You are hereby required that you
summon the several persons above named which stood
presented at the last Law Court, that they make their appear-
ances Monday next, the 9th of this instant May, to answer
their several presentments. Given under my hand this 6th
day of May, 1670, Edw. Tomlinson."

1671. — The Clerk of the Market is presented for *' not
waving the bread and butter according to custom on markett
days " ; Peter Hosken and Philip Spriggs for suffering their
children to break the * Chappel windows' ; Richard Scadgell for
abusing of Mr. John Natt, a Magistrate of the Corporation ;
Philip Hicks for '*not nay ling fast his old boat which is very
dangerous to chifdren." ** We present the way against Mrs.
Oben's wall being very narrow ; and the office of Clerk to the
Markett."

1672. — The Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented for
not reviewing the bounds of this Corporation, for not pro-
viding troughs for the shute at Shutta, for not providing a door
for the Almshouse ; the Town Clerk of this Corporation for not
keeping a true record.

1673. — The Jury present the Mayor and Capital Burgesses for
not repairing tne Chapel Books; for not repairing the Conduit ;
for not repairing the Pound. They present Mr. H. Hearle and
Mephiboseth White for leaving of sand on the walk at Church-
end; also **Mr. John Natt for giving the Mayor of this
Corporation the ly several times and calling him. fool which
w^as done the 23rd of this April instant." ** John Pope who,
as Philip Scadgell says, drew blood from him and withall
Scadgell said that the Mayor and the Justice could witness the
same." "Richard Scadgell for abusing the Jury and by
calling them a company of bottle heads."

1674. — *' Whereas at our last Law Court Sessions held for
this Boro' and Corporation, the Jury there sworn, amongst

i-:ast looe presentments. 65.

other things in their presentments, presented divers persons, as
well freemen as others whose names are under- written, for
Reliefs and Alienations and other defaults to be paid to the said
Corporation respectively as foUoweth," and then comes a long
list of such persons before the usual presentments ; amongst
which latter, the Rector of St. Martin's is presented for the side
wall of a house, described as being very dangerous. The
Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented for neglect of their
services. At the foot of the paper is written this instruction ;
'* The Sargent s at Mace are required to summon the respective
persons above named that they appear at the next Common
Court to answer their charges, whereof they are not to fayle,
witness my hand the 8th day of May, A.D. 1674, \Vill
Stephens, Mayor."

1675.- — This preface is inserted — " Presentments of the Jury
at the Law Court of the said lioro' 26th Aprill, who have not
appearedto answer their several presentments." Mr. Nathaniel
(Ambrose) for *' taking down the Cucking-stool and not putting
it up again." ** John Langstone, of Shutta, for selling and
cutting down trees upon the Town Land unto Henry Hosking,
of West Looe, who carried away the said trees." ** Collonel John
Trelawney " for an alienation. The Jury also present all those
who ** go not to the place of publique worship of God upon the
Lord's day." Also the ** Town Drivers tor leaving horses
tyed at the Shambles." '^Thos. Dobbing for an alienation of
Mr. Phillip Pope's land, being old walls in Castell Street,
which paid lod, being as is supposed 2d. gained." Two-
cordwainers or corryers for living in town. *• Abigail Eager
and Eliz. Waymouth presented for forestalling the markett in
this town contrary to the laws."

1675. — The Mayor and Capital Burgesses' are presented for
not providing a bellrrope at the Chapel, and for not ** whitting'*
the tower for a sea-mark. The customary presentments
for reliefs and alienations and for living in the boro' with-
out being adrpittfed to the freedom of the same, are duly
entered. *V'^"

1676.— The Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented for
not repairmg ** the Stocks which formally was kept in the
towne," also '* for not swearing a Pound-driver, for horses
stand very dangerous in the markett," also for not repairing
the Conduit, etc.

1677.— The Chapel Tower, the ** Cugging-stool," the
Conduit, etc., are again presented.

«6

3

1678.- -The presetiunenis this year are mainly i
with the condition of [he ' Keyes,' which are staled t
parts very danReroiis Sir Waller Moyle is presented for an
alienation. The (Jonslahles gre presented for not keeping
rule over the boys. The " Chapperi'ijwer"aj;^in lacks '■ white-
ning, being a mark for seamen," jind the bread is sold tin-
weighed. The ■■ renters of the Toll corn for not touling the
tel at the lime of markett."

1679.— The Constables ure presented for i
ar, of ConvwticleB kept in the town.

EAST LOOE PRESENTMENTS. 67

1680.— The Streets, tower, •* kugging-stool and keyes" are
presented, also two men *' for keeping hoggs not having a
convenient place." •

1 68 1. — The Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented
■** for granting privilidges which are an annoyance to the
towne land." Mrs. Joan Vine for a relief upon the boat
of Walter Vine, her husband. 13 men for not being free-
men. The Mayor *• for not keeping the Clerk qf the Markett
Court being often presented."

1682. — The Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented for
not keeping a Scavenger to clean the streets ; for not putting
up a post on the new keyhead at Churchend ; ** for not keep-
ing a searcher and sealer of leather; " for not providing a Bible
and a Common Prayer Book for the Chapel ; for not repairing
the Cage, etc. " The Constables and Sargants for not looking
after private Conventicles, the publique being sufferers.**
John Dingle, Constable, for not attending the Magistrate on
his Law Court. Two men are presented for coming to live
in the town " without acquainting the Mayor and not giving
security ; " tower still un whitened.

Presentments for 1683-84 not preserved.

1685. — ^^^^ Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented
^*for not providing a minister to serve in the Ghappel ; " and
for not repairing the breach of the seas at Churchend. " We
present, by the information of Mr. John Chubb, the heirs of
Mr. Nicholas Keed, for not passing their accompt for the
town." •' The Sargants for not touling the bell before the
Court according to custom, being the complaint of many that
otherwise would have given their attendance." Thomas
Stephens for not paying ** his income."

1686. — Wanting.

1687. — The alms-house, pound doors, the new key head
and the streets are presented as being out of repair.

1688. — A house of Mr. John BuUer is presented as being
out of repair and dangerous towards the street. Also the
Constables for ** not doeing their ofifice on the Lord's day."

1689 — Wanting.

1 690- 1 69 1 - — Are without entries of interest.

1692.— The Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented for
*• not repairing the new key-head which is ready to fall and
will be a great loss to the Corporation."

68 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

1693. — The Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented for
*' not repairing the defence which may be needed against the
enemy," and the road going to Shutta ; several persons for
neglecting to repair their hedges, and another for heaving
rubbish into the streets ; ** and all those Capital Burgesses
who have not passed their accompts according to custom.

1694. — The M^yor and Capital Burgesses are presented for
** not repairing the Bounds against the Marquet St. land;"
for not repairing the bulwarks at Churchend ; for not repair-
ing the " stepp at the new key." Several deaths are presented
this year.

1695. — Nothing of interest.

1696. — The Chapel roof, the Town Hall, the Shambles, the
want of Pound drivers, etc., are presented. '* The Right
Reverend Father in God, Jonathan, Lord Bishop of Exon, for
a house in a dangerous condition," and also two others for the
the same reason. Elizabeth Chandler, servant to Mrs. Coade,
and Mr. Carter's maid, for misconduct. Nine men for not
being freemen. Two women for coming into the town without
licence from the Mayor. Mdward Fox for " coming into the
markett early and bying barley before the poor are there."

1697. — Sundry persons are presented for failing to keep
their garden hedges in repair. A note is inserted in a different
hand opposite these names, assessing the penalty at 5d., and at
the end of the presentments another entry, that unless the
default is repaired, a further penalty of 5d. The condition of
the Chapel is declared dangerous Margery Ball is presented
*' for kipping a strange child which is thought will be charge-
able to the town."

1698, — Amongst others '^John Grills for not taking down
his ould walls," and then the Mayor's judgment **one month's
time given for drawing the same down."

1699. — The tower again needs ** whitting, as it is a great
mark to seamen." The cocks of the conduit, the keys, some
deaths, etc., are presented. John Natt for encroaching on the
town land.

1700. — The Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented for
not having a *' measure sworn according to custom."

1701-1 705.— Missing. In the latter year, the Mayor is
presented for " not letting us in the Chaple or town hall " ** A
remembrance for the fifty pounds given by Mr. John Stevens of
Bristol, shipmaster, to the poor of East Looe, and the interest

KAST Loot PRKSIiNTMKNTS.

69

lo be converted lo the proper use according to the said will."
W. Doustow for coming into town and' ''not bringing a
satificate." Ten persons for not being freemen.

r7o6. — The Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented
" for not repairing the alms-house which hath often been
presented, and all things reaoy and always neglected." Also
for not ■' chusing Waywardens according to the Act of Parlia-
ment."

The next and last presentments extafit on odd sheets are
for the year 1726. The Mayor and Capital BurgesseS for
*' not paying the interest on Mr. Stephens money." For " not
respecting the presents which have often been presented."

I'llAI'TKIC Vf.
The East Looe Mayoralty Accounts.

HE revenues of the Corporations of
East and West Looe were not great
and were generally applied to repairs
of the streets, quays, &c., to enter-
tainments at corporate meetings to
which each Corporation invited the
members of the other. At these
municipal banquets, after the health
of the reigning Sovereign had been
the next toast was " The two I.ooes,"
and then "The two Looes" a second time.
And in connection with this toast the follow-
ing story has been preserved by Bond. Dur-
ing the War which ensued between this
id France after the Eevolution, a
learned Doctor of Divinity was present at
one of the Mayoral entertainments, and when
" Two Looes " was given he began to wonder
why such a toast should be proposed and
with three cheers. Upon "Two Looes" a
second time being given and the cheers

70 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

repeated, the learned divine rose up and begged to be informed
as to the cause of the toast, stating that he was aware of the
penalty attached to making such an enquiry, but as he had
not heard of any victory over the French, he wished to know
what had occurfed at '* Toulouse" to obtain such an
enthusiastic reception.

Each Mayor, at the end of his year of office, presented to
his successor a statement of the moneys he had received and
disbursed on the Town Account. Such accounts as are extant
previous to the year 1728, are on separate sheets of paper, and
in consequence only few are to be found. The date of the
earliest is 1651, and of the latest in this group 1718. The
accounts which begin in the year 1728 are entered in a book
set apart for that purpose. The older statements are fre-
quently illegible owirtg to the torn or otherwise defaced con-
dition of the paper In no case are the accounts reprinted in
extenso. Only extracts are given which are of interest either
for the illustration they afford of municipal custom and prac-
tice, or for the quaintness of a particular entry. Occasionally,
when it has seemed desirable, a few words, by way of
explanation, are inserted in a foot-note.

jc j!c -;: Mayor, 1651-52. — What I have laid out for ye
towne's accompt since ye ist of October.

Payd John Pomery for mending ye hall sfcares ... £0 6
Ye porteres for making clene ye Cburchend and

putting up ye bull post ... ... ... 4

Ye Cor te day for ourselves and ye Sergen tea ... 5 10
Pd. a sicke seman yt came out of one of ye frigates

from Pensance ... ... ... fi

To 4 Ffrenchmen and 2 Dichmen wh : were taken 1 6

The receipts for the year amounted to £/^'] iBs. od., and the
disbursements to £/^y 6s. lid.

Thomas Dobbing, Mayor, 1652-53.

Paid when Colonel Rouse was here, (1.) ... £0

To our jurney to Recorder BuUer

For poste letters to Ffowye ...

The High Steward in my fathers year for fees

Joan Trefry for going to Mr. Moyle, (2.)

Letter sent to Col. Ben net. (3.)

For clensing the Steeple House, (4.)

(1) An Anthony Rouse was M P. for the Towns in 1«*4.

(2) John Moyle was elected in 1B49 to represent the borough in the Long Parliament
Tice Lower disabled for loyalty. The Moyle family liyed at Bake.

(3) Col Bennet, MP. for the Towns in 1654, with Rouse.

(4) During the Common we ilth ' Lectures ' were apparently giyen in the Chapel, and
the expenses for ordinaries are entered in tho accounts for 1651-52 nt intervals of seven
days.

()

6

5

6

1

6

10

1

2

1

EAST LOOE MAYORALTY ACCOUNTS.

71

A poore man which had a Breefe, (1.) ...
Payd when viewed towne and parish deedes
For firing of towne arms ...

**Suma £44 12s. Od."

£0

2 6

1

14

5
3

6
3

8
2

4

£5 IG 6

2

6

6

1

17
10

£1

Received for the towne beginninge the 17th December, wh
was Court Day, 1652.

Received at the table the some of ... ... £9

Of Richard Charke for kellidffe and ballast ... 18

John Trefry a quarters rent tor the iolle come ... 3 8
Of mv father for the shambles, a quarterns rent
Of IVlr. Benjamin Oben for his freedome
Of Mr. Snell for loading coales
For cayage of hake and cotiger of Mr. Goodyear, etc.

• Suma £54 138. 3d."

Edward Dobbing, 1659-60.

Att ye Taverne ye Law day in expence ...
To a pore man wh. lay here 3 days sicke ...
To a pore man yt came out of Turkey ...
To ye charge of a blind man
When ye Kih(r (Charles EI.) was proklaimed here
For a barrel! of powder

Henry Eager, 1669-70.

Ffor our dinner

For hire and wine when ye markett tolls (was) let

To 3 poore men yt lost their ship in Mount's Bay

To 3 men yt lost their ship at Lan<l's End

To 3 men yt lost their ship on ye Goodwin Sand ...

Gave 3 poore men from Sally fSallee)

For our dinner and wine and bier when Barent

Trelony was hier
For a dinner and for wine and bier 3'e 29th of Ma^'

when Mr. Hancock preached att ye Chappie ...
Gave a poore seaman and his wife, man yt lost all

their goods by their livinge in Ireland

Thomas Blight, 1674-75.

Ffor ye Sergeants cloakes

To ye County stocke (rate) on single ye other

uouoie ... ... ... ... ...

For 10 ling and 100 buckhorn for Mr. Seymor (M.P.)
Mr. (2) Tomlinson's Court Fees, 17/-, more for

other bisiness he did
For a new latch for ye Chappie dore and mending

ye planching
For bisketts for ye boyes when we vewed ye Bounds
To one yt pretended gret lose by fire
For 5 steepes and 12 postes set in ye key...

o
4
1
1
3
1

8
6

3 9 8

13 1

1 &

£3 15

10

G

15

7

4

5

6

16

6

(1) Down to the end of the last century but one, destitute persons were sent on to the
parish of «hr>ir birth, and received pisses which entitled them to relief in the various
towns through which they journeyed. Before beiug assisted such persons were often
whipped, jjottr eneonrager Its autres.

(2) Town Clerk.

72

CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

John Natt, 1675-76.

Mr. Bullers' Hinde and Mr. Langdon's and Sir
Jonathan's when they brought ye beefe and
corn at Xmas

Ye bailiffs for arristing Jolin Wilshman ...

My expences in goyeng to Liskeard to take the
oath before the Justices, and paid ye dark ...

Barnard Cleer and Nich. Short for attending 18

I charge nothing for Mr. John Richards about

John Wilshman's suit
Received from Mr. Henry Seymour for ye poore...

Nathaniel Ambrose, 1677-78.

Ff or 8 pairs of bandoliers
To the Muster Master ...

When Sir Jonathan was in Towne (this entry
appears three times)

Nicholas Reed, ] 678-79.

in going to

Ffor my charges and ye Seargeants

Midlent Assizes
Att ye sealinge of John Wilshman's writings
Disbursed for going to Laneston for myself and

company
To a woman yt brought half a venison from

LI,wl<«Wllw ••• ••• •■■ • • •••

To Mr. Oben for swearing of Ffreemen ...
John ClKibb, 1679-80.

For glazing of ye Chappell windows
To ye Innkeeper when ye venison was eton
For several letters from Sir Jonathan
Att ye Assize for myself and Nich. Short
More twenty shillings of ye rent was payd Mr.
John Oben for charging Nich. Short att ye
Assize being on ye towne account.

John Pope, 1686-87.

For Powder 10/9, paper and thread 6d. ...
For ye delivery of ye Charter ...
To travellers and castaway men in ye yeare
For my expence and charge in the yeare
My charges in going to take the Test

John Dyer, 1696-97.

Robert Ffrancis for interest money due from ye

^ 1.^ vV H\7 ••• ••• •>• ■■• •••

Straw to ye Ffrenchmen prisoners

For horses to carry ten women amd children and

for lodging forty fower Newfoundland men,

women and children
For lodging one hundred and seven men, women

and children and for horses to carry them to

Passage Way

£0 8

5 6

6

18

5

£10 6
8

4

£0 15

4

2 10

2

7 6

£4 9 9

1 6

2 3

1 12

£0 11 3

1 6

1 17 8

1

6 8

£14

1 13 4

2 2 10

EAST LOOK MAYORALTY ACCOUNTS. 73

To a wounded soaldier and a horse to carry him to

Essenfurd ... ... ... ... ... £0 17

For firing ye gunnes with powder 3 tymes and wine 1 IMl

Henry Burt for mending ye ways up by ye gunnes 1 6

Ditto ditto Lady Well 2 (>

For carrying a man from ty thing to ty thing ... 16
In expences going to Shutta several tymes with ye

Constables ... ... ... ... ... 3 3

John Oben, Mayor, 1705-06. — John Oben ace/ to ye Cor-
poration as he was Mayor from Mich. 1705 to the same feast
of Mich. 1706.

Imprimis — Hee charge to himself for reed, of Peter

Westcott and Henry Coade, for a year's rent

for the toll corue and shambles ... ... £26 1

Reed, of Mr. Thomas Bond, ye late Mayor, ye

balance of his ace/ ...
Reed, of Rebecca Gunney for a lease
More of Rich. Udy for ye like ...
Reed, of Mr. Paxton and Mr. Ffox an old arreare

to ye towne ... ... ... ... 10

More reed, of my Lady Trelawny, for 3 yeares

dungg in 16/- per ann., in Mr. Bond's, Mr.

Chuob's, and my own mayoralty, in all ... 2 8

Reed, of Bernard Cleere and family towarde ye

towne rent due Mich. ... .. ... 7 18 9

2

1 4

2

1

1 6

£42 10

7

£0 2
5

6

6

2

4 14

6

Discharged and by disbursements followinge : —
Pd. at the Sessions att Liskeard to be sworue (3rd

\JC\>n% X t\J*)j ... ... ... ... ...

Expences then ...

The same morning pd. Mathew Burrough for enter-

tainning of soulders, and for 1/- in drink att

ye hurrah for ye Recorder ...
Paschoe Goard for all things for ye cloakes
Pd. Wm. Wms. for entertaining a sicke souldier

and expences ... ... ... ... 1

Pd. Mr. Dennys for ye Queen's rent for ye towne

due Mic, and allowed not ye tax ... ... 15 4

Pd. Henry Skinner abt ye Chappell by consent of

ye Towne in Court ...
To Wm. Wms. in Court for a Bridge rate
For p'tage of a proclamation
To Henry Sawdy the Clerke for his yeare's salary
Pd. Saway for -i yeare's salary before it was due ...
Expences att the Assizes and pd. ye Cryer
Pd. B. Cleere for dubbing the stocks
More pd. him for i yeare s Court fees
For y« Jureymen, Constables, Sergeants, and Mr.

otapp's dinners
Gave the Jur^ to drink then

5

2

2

6

5

3

4

4

a

2

6

74 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

Some money I advanced to Mr. Hambly, all his

salary being more ... ... ... ... £0 4 G

Gave a poore souldier which came from Barcelona <>

The greate tax for ye Towne ... ... ... 17 7.^

Expence of viewing the Bounds... ... ... 10 6

Extraordinarys at tavern beyond the Magistrates'

Clubb, by consent of the Magistrates ... 5

For Powder this yeare to Mr. J. Chubb, sen., and

to Com. Grub ... ... ... ... 11 4

To old Rich. Sowden ... ... ... ... d

Deduct for Margery Rayne toll corne in my yeare
wh. the farmers beinge not able to collect de-
ducted so much to mee beinge ... ... <>

Spent in the whole yeare on several occasions of

meetinge on the towne acc/ ... ... ... 17 4

Disburst in all ... ... £44 7

Reed, in all ... ... 42 10 7 Errors excepted.

Due to John Oben to
balance from ye towne ... £1 10

This acc/ was exhibited to ye Towne 23rd December, 1706,
and the towne bonds were then yeilded upp by John Oben to
Dr. Dyer, the present Mayor.

The acc/ of John Oben, Mayor, 1711-12. — Disbursed as
follows : —

The expence att the Taverne ... ... £2 D H

Spent to encourage the going on with a yarne

jKLariLe V V ... ... ... ... mU

Expence at the yarne buying to encourage them to

goe on to buy yarn at Looe * ... ... 30

Gave a poore Minister's widdowe as she said and

taken by the French ... ... ... 6

Expence att the Courte wch should have been the

fortnight had itt not been for the old Hambly's

mis liajce ... ... ... ... it

Gave a poore woman with a pass having as she said

been a prisoner in Ff ranee ... ... 6

Spent to distribute Major-Generall Trelawny's New

Yeare Gift ... ... ... ... 1 (>

Spent att the Courte with the yarne buyers ... 19

Expence att Looe on occasion of the Queen's

birthday ... ... ... ... (figures

torn out)

Old Dick Hambly had of me more towards his

yeare's salary ...
Paid Mr. Knill remainder of the expence of Mich

Law Court day att his house ... ... 2 8

ii V

* Wool was carded and spun by the country people, then brought to the market held
in Looe for sale to the yam buyers, and the Mayor very wisely made it his business to
encourage this.industry.

EAST LOOE MAYORALTY ACCOUNTS. 75

Expence of keepinjr the Day of the Queen's

accession to the Throne ... ... ... £0 1*J

Henry Skinner for niendinjj the Chapell Cross, being

blown away with tlie stornie ... ... 2 <>

Expence of messenjjer to have the Poore Rate
signed by Mr. Trelawny or Mr. Grills ahd their

V.y 1 V^l Im ••• ••■ ••• •••

Indenture for John Hicks to place him with Will.

Hoskyn and 2 stamp pages
At the Tavern for bottles of wine to p'sent to the

Counsel who met att Looe on the appeal
Old Dick Hambly more towards his salary ... '

More Expence on Ace. of the surrender of

Dunkirke
Expence of the Court being election day
Old Dick Hambly had of me more
Exigence of sentling to Cannon Kendall abt the

warrant agst the Townsmen to appear att

Lostwithiel for arrears ... ... ... 4 (i

Old Dick Hambly's daughter-in-lawe more which

she said was due to her father-in-lawe ... 10

Paid Hawkey wh. he pd. the painter for his work

abt. the Slemorandum of Mr. Stephen's gift of

£r)() wh. he set up in ye Town Hall ... ... 5

Disbursements ... ... £52 10 10.^

Receipts ... ... ... 34 6 11

2

2

i)

8

12

1

3

11

(J

1

This ace: was exhibited to the Towne 15th October, 1712,
and all the towne notes and bonds were then delivered upp by
me to Hawkey, the present Mayor. As witness my

hand, John Oben.

John Oben, Mayor, 1717-18.— John Oben's ac/ to the Towne
of Eastlooe of his receipt and disbursements while he was
Mayor of same Towne beginning the 29th September, 171 7,
and ending 29th September, 171 8, as folio weth :— ^

Said John Oben, Mayor, charges himself with the
profit of the toll corn, f aires, and marketts lett
to Pasco Oord and John Dingle that yeare for £24 17
More for the Towne dung lett that yeare for ... 10

With rents reed, and to receive from rents to the

Town free and con ventionary in all ... ... 10

Total ... £35

Disbursements by John Oben, Mayor, on the Towne ace/ in
the yeare as folio weth : —

The day he was sworn it cost him in expences

Expences of the Survey to lett the marketts

The stamp parchment for the certificate of taking

the Sacramt.
Expence of the Law Court att the Taverne

£0 15
5

1>

7
4 11

9
6

76 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK,

2

I)

14

:i

a

♦>

1

H

Expence of the Jury and Constables iliat day more £2 2 10
The Jury had of me that day to drink the King and

Church, and my Lord's health and prosperity

to the Corporation ... ... ... ... 7 T)

Expence at Looe to encourage the yarne markett 4 G

Gave the Overseers of the poore for thej*. the

Constables and Sargeants to drink Mr. BulJer's

health on dividing the victuals ... ... 1

The farmers of the marketts and faires liad of me

to encourage them ...
The Great Rate charjied on the Towne revenue ...
Expences at Looe with Mr. Lyne, the Crowner to

stopp informing agst the Towne for not crown-
ing of people
The Key minders had to drink of me
Expences at Looe on whipping Rich Bird, a

dangerous vagrant, out of Towne ... ... 2 11

Gave Diana Skinner, who was come from Dock

very green with the smallpox to go out of

Towne, people beinor mucli afraid
Expence over setting Saml. Hicks at liberty
Pd. Mr. Dennys the Towne fee-farm rent beyond

allowance ...
Expence on the King's birthday
William Snell for keeping Hicks' child ... ... 1

Expences at Looe again with the Commissioners of

the Land 'i'ax ... ... ... ... (> (>

The Court being held in course it cost me that day

(7th July) about the Towne business ... 5 G

My expences at attendance of the Assize being one

day out extraordinary on being summoned to

give acc/ of the Town weights and measures ... 12 G

The expence at the election of at the Tavern of

the New Mayor ... ... ... ... 14 9

Receipts ... ... ... £8.i V^

Disbursements ... ... (m :^ 7^

1

f>

1

r>

5

Remains to John Oben to
Balance ... ... ... £29 10 7i

The foregoing is the last of the Mayoral accounts made out
on loose sheets of paper to be found in the muniment chest in
which the records of the East Looe Corporation are preserved.

Thk M.wor's Account Book.

(172H.1845.)

At the end of this book, from which the remaining extracts are
taken, is a Hst of persons within the borough in receipt of
relief in the years 1 707-11. The age and ailment of each
recipient is fully entered with the payments made. The

EAST LOOK MAYORALTY ACCOUNTS. 77

Statements were presumable presented and allowed at the
Easter Vestry, as the day cited in both cases is Easter
Tuesday, and in 1707 a noie is added that " Robert Francis is
named Churchwarden within the sd. Biirroughe for the year
ensuing."

T!ie next entry at this end of the Iwok is a list of notices
published by the authority of the Mayor in 1844, and then an
account of some money expended on the " new quay," followed
by a copy of a letter from the Mayor appealing to the Board
of Customs for pecuniary help towards defraying the cost of a
wall, which the Corporation purposed building to protect
Church End from the encroachment of the sea.

{See P'igt SO.-)

The last enlry reads " wrote to Mr. Hope about the China
Bowl left by him at Waterloo (House) and retained by Mr.
Boys, belonfiing to the Corporation. Captain James Nicholas
informs me that there are only seven of the Bowls now in his
possession."

78 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK,

H

7

r>

8

(>

It;

11

4

10

12

r>

5

y

[}

9

June, 1845. — ** These seven China Bowls were brought from
Trenant by William Dann and left at Captain N's house."

1729.— Richard Dyer, Mayor.

Mr. Clarke, at the butcher's feast .. ... £0 1 8

A new hand for the clock ... ... ... 11 8

The constables ()d. a week wn going their rounds ... 1 ♦> 8

1732. — Edw^ard Trelawny, Esq., Mayor.

Exchanging the old wei<>hts for new ones ... 8

Brinjjing them from Plymouth and a leather has? to

put them in ...
Painting and guilding ye dial plate of ye clocke ... 1
Matts for ye chapel and a form
blending ye sheep foulds
Paving ye streets in ye Towne ... ... 1

1735.— Richard Dyer.

Paid wn Esq. Trelawny came from his travels ... 4

Wn he went away to London

Wn Jane Scadgeil was whip'd

For lace for hatts and clokes ... ... 1

1736.— Thos. Bond.

Oave the freemen jis usual ... ... ... li) G

Electing Doctor Oyer and all former expences of

toasts in my Mayoralty ... ... ... !(> H

The two Jury's in money as usual ... . 10

1739.— Paul Nicholas.

Postag of a leter from ye Mayor of Plymouth yt
ye Tan tor was att Plyth for convoy for ships to
iN^ewfoundland ... ... ... ?t

1742.— George Dyer.

Gaol and Marshalsea money and Bridge rate ... 10

1745. — Charles Trelawny, Esq.

Pd. Mr. Cara ye Clerk of ye Chapel ... ... 18

For looking after the clock ... ... ... 10

Charges when ye Mayor came to see ye wall at

Churchend after he came from London ... 8 9

Postag of letters on ye May()r's ace -. ... ... 19

Charges when Mr. Pine dined here 2 Sundays ... 12 G

1746.— James Buller, Esq., Mayor. (Nich. Dyer, deputy).

To tlie freemen to drink wlien you was elected ... £1 1
A hgd. of cyder ye rejoicing Day to ye Inhabi-
Dan L8 v.iy •«• ••• ••• ••• •••

Wood that day for a bonfire

Powder that day

Other charires that dav ...

If)

•J

5

1

1()

2

(1) Prob«bly on receipt of tidlriKs ot th«j defeat uf Piinco Charles Edward, by tho
< iovernu.eut troops at CiiUodfti.

EAST LOOK MAYORALTY ACCOUNTS. 79

sheepf olds for the Fair ... ... ... £0 6

The 2 sergeants 8/6 each as per custom ... ... 17

1747.— Nich. Dyer.

In charges when peace wa3 proclaimed (1) ... £0 15

1751. — Charles Trelawny, Esq , Mayor. (Paul Nicholas^
deputy).

15 gallons of ale at viewing ye bounds (2) ... £0 15

Expences on ditto ... ... ... ... 14 9^

Lining and mending ye communion cloth ... 2 2

Entertaining the parson ... ... ... 16 6

1752. — James Buller, Esq., (Paul Nicholas, deputy).

Charges for the 4 feasts and to the poor this year £56 12 If
Expences on hearing the Gov. was safe at Lisbon (3) 1 y 44
Freight of the Corporation Bowl (4) ... ... 1 10

1753. — James Dyer.

Entertainment extraordinary on chusing Recorder £5
For ye bread table ... ... ... ... 6

1758.— John Searle.

Received for two fairs ... ... ... ... £1 12 3^

Ditto for 2 bushels of salt ... ... ... 6 8

1759. — John Hoskins,

Received for the markets ... ... ... £9 3 6^

Paid for dubbing ye butchers stocks ... ... 2 4

1760.— The Rev. William Buller, Dean of Canterbury, 1790-93.
Bishop of Exeter, 1793-96. (John Searle, deputy.)

Expences of a Treat for the gentlemen when ye

King was proclaimed (5) ... ... ... £1 9 6

Gave ye people yt assisted in putting out ye fire in

a chimney ... ... ... ... ... 5 6

Advertizing and crying Candlemas Fair off. The

general Fast being proclaimed for that day ... 5 10

Horse hire for 3'e sergeant, m 3^ horse being lame ... 5

Expences concerning the Turnpike and counter

petitions sundry times ... ... ... 8

1762- -John Searle.

Entertaining ye gents and freemen on ye birth of

ye Prince of Wales (6) ... ... ... £0 12 6

(1) Treaty of Aix-la-Chapell<», closing the war of the Spanish succession.

CJ) A saying used to be common in Cornwall, that no business could be done without
eating and drinking, and in Mr. Bond's opinion the Looers were not behind their
neighbours in this re8i)ect, as these accounts show.

(8) Earthquake at Lisbon.

(4) Each of the Boroughs had a very large and elegant China i)unch-bowl, which waa
given to them l)y Admiral Sir Joseph Knigbt, a native of East Looe. The entry probabl7
refers to this bowl

{5) George III.

(<>) Afierwnrds George IV.

8o CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

Expence of holding a new Fair on Aufi^. 12th ... £0 3 4
Crying off ye market as Candelmas Fair fell on a

Saturday ... ... ... ... ... 2 7

1763.— Francis Buller, Esq.

Cleaning Church end after a storm ... ... 2 fJ

Entertaining the gentlemen and sargeants and

constables when peace was proclaimed (1) ... 17 i)

1764. — John Hoskins.

Received of Rich . Peake as a penalty laid by the
Court for cutting down an elm tree on the
Town land ... ... ... ... ... 2

Paid expences of a petition to the House of
Commons about the repeal of the Cyder Tax,
and also about making a road in the parish of
S. Germans ... ... ... ... 10

1769- John Searle.

Horse hire for John Soady to ride to Liskeard to
enquire the price of corn to settle the weight
of bread by ... ... ... ... £0

A box to hold ye old books in ye upper Town hall

The dial at Churchend ...

To ye people to drink yt tride ye (fire) engine

1771.— Sam. Nicholas.

For a horse and Sam. Basset going to Lord

Edgcomb when ye Dutch ship was here ... i.'0

To Rich. Johns whose house was burnt at Duloe . .

1772.— John Buller, Esq.

For crying Candelmas Fair as it fell on a Saturday
at St. Germans. Lostwithiel. Bodmin. Lanreath,
Plint, Millbrook ... ... ... ... £0 3

Board and nails to put the hue and cry up ... 1>

1773.— James Dyer.

Constables beer on Sundays ... ... ... £0 13 3

A mallet and a pole to fix the glove on at ye fairs (2) ♦>

A port for the breach ... ... ... ... H 2

1778.— John Whitter.

Rich. Hocking for horse and self to Buckland
Down to enquire if one John Butty, was late
a Capt. in the Wiltshire Militia, as we had the
said jIt. Butty in custody, on suspicion of being
a spy ... ... ... ... ... £0 7

Cleaning the arms after watching ... ... 6 8

(1) Treaty of Paris signed, ending war with France and Spain.

(V) Gilbert mentions that " the displaying of a glove at fairs is an ancient and
widely extended custom." Lysons says, '' that it was continued in his day at Chester."
In our own day the custom still holds at Modbury and Kingsbridge, in the County of
Devon.

.5

2

G

12

1

3

»>

*rf

(y

KAST LOOK MAYORALTY ACCOUNTS. 8l

1781. — James Nicholas.

To the SerjaittR instead of new cloaks ... ... £3 3

Rev. Mr. iJiemon a Brief from bouse to bouse ... 2

Tbos. Tonkin wbose house was burnt at Constantin 2

1784.— Thomas Ball.

Expences when peace wa.s proclaimed. (I) ... £1 4 G

After my hist mayoralty ac was settled I paid
Mr. Keast one year's fee-farm rent which was
never accounted for, see my ace/ Mich. 1777-78

1785.— C. M. Pole, Esq., (John Whitter, deputy).

One year's Land Tax £2. and Poor Rate £1 4s. ... £3 4
Put up the benches at Churcbend ... ... Id

1786.— William Graves, Esq., (John Whitter, deputy).

Received of Robert Debell for rent of a linhay ... £0 14
Paid pound drivers salaries ... .. ... r>

To distressed tinners and other people... ... 2 4 4

1798. -John Whitter.

Beer pfiven to tlie populace wlien tlie guns were

firedonaccountof Admiral Duncan's victory (2) £2 2

1802. — Render Whitter.

Expences attTeuding the great gunns and am-
munition. (3) ... ... ... £0 17 ()

To ^Ir. Triffgs for engrossing an Address to (His)

Majesty ... ... ... ... T)

1804.— James Nicholas

Washing the surpluses ... ... ... £10

For a new surplus (surplice)... ... ... 2 17 ()

1805 —Thomas Bond

Sept. 20th. The new chapel of East Looe being
this da3' first opened for Divine Service, gave
the singers of the parish of St. Keyne, who
att^ided and sung ... ... ... £1 1 <>

1806. —Charles Bawden.

To the Lansallors singers at the Chaple ... £1 1

1809.— James Nicholas.

Entertaining the Corporation on Jubilee Day (4)... £3 13 6

1810. John Harris Nicholas.

To the constables for guarding the French prisoners £0 5
Wm. Hocking's salary as quay master (first mention

of such an officer) ... ... ... ... £10

(1) Treaty of Versailles ending the war with Franco and the United States signed
in 1783.

(2) The Dutch fleet defeated at Catrpvrdown (1797.)

(i) Hrobibly on the conclusion of war with France by the Peace of Amiens.
(4) Of George III.

82

CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

£1 1
2

£1 {y

£i:5 I)

5

1 18

*>

£1 11» 4
1 4 3

5

1811. — James Nicholas.

A new flute for the Chappie

<iave the singers for an entertainment 2 .vears

1812.— Thomas Campbell.

Mrs. Roach for keeping the Chapel clean

1814. — John Keast.

For wine drank at the rejoicing for Peace (1)

Lemons for rejoicings

Rum drunk at the rejoicings

Remains due for expence of rejoicings ...

1815.— William Soady.

To bread, moneys, etc . given awy when viewing

the bounds ...
Li<luor then ... —

Repairing drums broke wlien viewing tlie lounds
For mendinfif tho serpentine walk and tlie walk at

the guns and Parade
To tlie ])oor warden one ]»onnd to be i)aid Thos.

Ludlow on his quitting Looe.

1818. — John Keast.

Engrossim; Address of condolence on tlie death of
Her Majesty (2)

1835. — Robert Grigg.

To Th. Shapcott on ace/ of Corporation sittings in

the Clmpel
For 'Standard Newspaper' to June as per bill
To Betty Shapcott for cleaning the Corporation

I '\? «\ ci ••• ••• ■•• •■•

For the Western Luminary Newspai)ei
1837.— James Nicholas.

June 24th. Expences proclaiming the Queen

1844. -William Nicholas.

Cleaning the streets after the storm

Building a wall against the biise of the old one at

Churchend
Repairing Albatross cellar after the storm
Paid a poor woman for a pig stye which 1 caused to

be removed to abate a most horrid nuisance ...

1845. — William Nicholas.

Paid Constables for being on duty the night of Dec.
24th, when a rescue from the town prison was
threatened

£0 r>

£0 i:^

4 17

6

2

1 lU

4

£0 18

£0 4

6

ir>

4

6

£<) 12 6

(1) At the end of the Peninsular War.

(2) Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburgh, wife of George III. A reprint of tl
Address to the Prince Regent, mentioned in this entry, will be found on another puK<

EAST LOOK MAYORALTY ACCOUNTS.

83

Viewing the Town Bounds on April Htb, 2 fljii?
carriers 2/-. coppeis given away 4 -, cakes o,<). 2
bots of wine 5 -, beer 8 '4. in all

1845.— William Nicholas.

Bindinjj 2 prayer books for Corporation

Oil for lighting the streets ...

Martin. 2 journeys to Menheniot with his cart for

the iron work for the railroad
Horse hire, feeding and ostler and expences going

to Liskeard to the Bank and to see Mr Anstis

concerning the money promised by Sir W.

Trelawny, (I had a gig) ...
Journey and expences at the assize (the Mayor of

West Looe leaving the carriage on my hands

after I had bespoke it during his absence.

supposing he would pay a part as hitherto) ...
Pjiid the boys' for finding the Town Wheel (thrown

over the (|iiay)

a 4 10

£0 H C>

H {>

CIlArTER VII.

East Looe Corporation Chapel.

OME doubt has overhun*^^ the
question of the proper dedi-
cation of the old Chapel in East
Looe, which was the legitimate
fore-runner of the present Parish
Church of Looe. A very general
delusion prevailed that it was
dedicated to S. Anne, the mother
of S. Mary the Virgin ; while an
indifferently authenticated legend assigned it to S. Keyne.
Of the two alternatives, the latter was less likely than the
former. However, both of them, in the light of recent
research, appear to be erroneous. To be sure there was some
solid reason behind the old local tradition, which favoured the
former alternative. In this wise, on a centre buttress of the
old bridge, there used to stand a small chapel, or ^

■»»*v.

-^4 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

dedicated to S. Anne. The Chapel disappeared ages ago, and
the old bridge has gone as well. But the name of the person
to whom it was dedicated lingeted in local tradition and
fastened itself on to the Parish Church. Reverting again to
the initial question, a careful and painstaking search through
pages of venerable records — records which tell of how the
Church of England was alive and active centuries ago — has
supplied a simple and easy solution of the question. The
Episcopal Registers, belonging to the diocese of Exeter,
record that in the year 1259, on the Saturday after the Feast
of S. Dennis (October 9th), Walter Bronescombe, Bishop of
Exeter, dedicated the Church of S. Mary de Loo.

This dedication would probably be responsible for the
name ** S. Mary's in the Marsh," by which East Looe was,
for a short time, once known.

As to how the Chapel was served in the earlier centuries of
its life, and what its relation to S. Martin's Church may have
been, there are at present no means of ascertaining. The
only reference to its existence is in a deed of the time of
Henry IV , which mentions a plot of ground in the town as
belonging to it.

Whatever may have been the fate of its property at the time
of the Reformation, the actual fabric escaped the despoiler ;
and, in the seventeenth century, the Chapel had become
apparently a property of the Corporation. A reference to the
Corporation accounts shew that the care of the fabric and
the maintenance of the ornaments, and the provision of a
priest to minister to the people, was a recognised charge oji
the borough revenues. Though, to judge by some of. the
presentments made by the Jury at different periods, this duty
and responsibility was not accepted as fully as it might have
been. The Constitution Book contains, at an early date, a
regulation specifying the duties to be done on Sundays by the
priest, who acted as Chaplain to the Mayor ; and, on occasion
his worship is presented for faihng to provide one to minister
in the Chapel. The record book also contains entries of the
election of a Churchwarden, though ' this latter officer's
functions may have been more immediately connected with
S. Martin's Church.

In the year 1700, the Chapel was subject to some process of
renovation and Bond has preserved the wording of the
inscription commemorating the fact. The tablet containing

EAST LOOK CORPORATION CHAPEL. 85

the inscription was found placed over the seats in which the-
wives of the Aldermen of the Boro* sat. and reads thus : —

This Chapel was repaired

AT the sole cost OF THE HoNBLE.

Sir Henry Seymour, Bart.,

AND THE HoNBLE. BrIGADIER

Trrlawny, burgesses in PARLIAT

FOR THIS Corporation,

Thomas Bond, Maior,

1700.

Bond also mentions another tablet, commemorating yet
another renovation, erected over the seats in which the wives
of the Aldermen of West Looe sat. The inscription runs as
follows : —

These seats were

BUILT, and this ChAPEL

beautified, at the sole cost

AND charge of THE HONBLE. AND

Right Revd. Father in God Sir

John. Trelawny, Bart., Lord Bishop

of Winchester, Prelate of ye most

Noble Order of the Garter.

1715-

However, in the year 1716, Sir Jonathan Trelawny, Bishop of
Exeter and Recorder of the Corporation, noticing the negligence
of his brother corporators in matters ecclesiastical, gave a
benefaction of £1000 for the maintenance of a priest or
chaplain to minister to the townsfofk of East and West Looe,.
vesting the patronage in himself and his heirs. The duties
of this priest were to read prayers daily in the Chapel as^
the Prayer Book requires, and to preach to the people on
Sunday afternoons. But the Bishop's intentions being wider
than his means, the benefaction was not actually forthcoming,
and amongst the town papers is a copy of a decree of the
Court of Chancery resolving the difficulty. The date is 5th
July, 1769, and the Order which tells the whole story may be
thus summarised : ''The Bishop, as Bishop of Exeter, became
possessed of two manors in Cornwall. He leased these to
trustees in trust, and directed his trustees to raise out of-
the rents, fines, etc., of the manors the sum of £1000, to be
laid out in the purchase of sheaf tithes or some such invest-
ment, and these when purchased were to be assigned to ten
trustees, and out of the proceeds these trustees were to

86 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

apply four parts out of five in payment of the stipend of the
priest of the Church ministering at East Looe. The fifth part
to be paid to the schoolmaster. (He also left £1000 to the
S.P.C..K., but rev^oked this and gave that sum to the Bishopric
of the West Indies.) He gave directions for investment of the
£1000 and as to the appointment of trustees. The Bishop
died somewhat embarrassed, and his heirs and trustees did
not raise the ^1,000 for the stipend of the priest for Looe, but
they paid interest at 5 per cent, on the amount. The suit
was brought in Chancery against the lieu heirs of the Bishop
to have the trusts carried out. Several of the co-heirs were
out of the jurisdiction of the Court, but Catherine Trelawny
was in England, and stated her willingness to pay o\ er the
/"i,ooo and arrears of interest; but the original ten trustees
had long since died. No others had been appointed, and she
did not know whom to pay. It was ordered that the £"1,000
and interest should be paid into court, and that ten trustees
appointed and approved by the court be appointed, and that
the £1,000 be laid out in the purchase of Bank 3 per cent.
Annuities. Power was given for any parties to apply for
further directions from the court, after the above scheme is
carried out by the Attorney General. Mrs. Trelawny was
ordered to pay the costs of the suit, except the reference to
the i\i aster in Chancery to ascertain the amount due from
her, which appeared, from a note on the outside of the copy
to be ^1,079, with ^36 costs."

Presumably this Order was acted upon, and a succession of
Chaplains duly appointed. Bond's comment on the benefac-
tion is characteristic. He writes : —

** The inhabitants of West Looe are allowed to sit in
the Chapel by courtesy. Though Bishop Trelawny's
endowment was for their benefit, in common with the
inhabitants of East Looe, he could not grant the right to
sit in the Chapel also."

One wonders what would have been the comments of the
ladies of the Aldermen of West Looe, on reading such a
remark anent their " reserved seats."

In 1805 the Chapel being, as Bond relates, in a very
^decayed state, it was determined by John Buller, Esq., M.P.,
and Recorder of the Borough, with the consent of the
Corporation, to have it taken down, and to build a new
Chapel on the same spot. Local tradition asserts that the
undertaking was not altogether without a political object.

KAST LOOK CORPORATION CHAPEL. 87

Be this as it may, the old Chapel was destroyed. In the act
of demolition, two piscinas were found closed up in the walls,
and about the middle of the north wall, a low and narrow
sharp-pointed arch door-way was discovered, which led to a
narrow flight of winding steps in the wall, leading up to the
rood-loft. The remains of an arch walled up on the south
side of the Tower, which appeared very ancient, were found.
On the 7th April, the first stone of the new building was laid
by Vice-Admiral Sir Edward BuUer, Bart., also a Recorder
and M.P., for the Borough. The oldest Baptismal Register
records that *' service was first performed in the new Chapel
on Sunday, 28th September, 1806, by the Rev. Richard Cory,
chaplain." Bond estimates the cost of the new Chapel at
** upwards of ;^i,5oo," and describes it as *' about the same
size as the old one as to its exterior, but the walls being less
thick, it is somewhat larger inside ; and it is built to a few
inches (to make it square, which the old one was not) on the
•exact spot where the old one stood. The old tower was not
taken down, but remains, and declines from the perpendicular,
owing, perhaps, to its being built on sand."

Under date 28th December, 181 9. — A Commission was
appointed by the Bishop of Exeter, under an Act of Parlia-
ment passed in the 45th year of George III., to report to him
"*' the nature and yearly value of the living of East Looe."
The Rev. William Ferend IMitchell, D.D., Rector of Saint
Martin's, near Looe ; The Rev. Stephen Puddicombe, \'icar
of Morval ; The Rev. John Wood, Vicar of Duloe ; Thos.
Campbell, Esq., and John Keast, Esq., were nominated to
be the Commissioners for this purpose. Such portions of the
report as seem of interest are now given : —

** We whose names are hereunto subscribed being the
Commissioners ... do humbly certify unto the
Lord Bishop of Exeter ... by the oaths of Thomas
Bond and Clement Triggs, and by all other lawful ways
and means, have used our utmost endeavour to inform
ourselves both of the nature and the yearly value of the
Chapel of East Looe in East Looe, within his Lord-
ship's Diocese ; and that the answers subjoined do con-
tain the best and truest information we have been able
to obtain concerning the premises."

" We conceive that the Chapel of East Looe is a Donative^
and exempt from all ecclesiastical jurisdiction ; we cannot
learn who the patron is. The present Chapel has been
built on the same spot on which a very antient chapel

88 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

stood, which being in great decay (tho' service was
performed in it) it was advisable for fear of accidents to
destroy.*'

*' When the old Chapel was built or by whom is not known,
but it is supposed by some of the inhabitants to have been
built at the expence of an antient family called DeBod-
rugan, who were then, as is conjectured, ownersi of the
manor of East Looe. Otto de Bodrigan was high lord of
the manor in the reign of Edward II."

**We cannot learn that the Chapel ever was united to or
consolidated with any other Church. The Borough of
East Looe is not deemed a parish of itself. The tythes
arising within the Borough are paid to the Rector of St.
Martins-by-Looe. The inhabitants of East Looe marry
and bury at St. Martins and generally have their children
baptized there, tho' at times children are baptized in the
Chapel and a register (the only one known to be in
existence) begins on October 4th, 1709. In this register
are two or three memorandums entered signifying that the
Rector of St. Martin's had directed the Chaplain of Looe
Chapel not to baptize in the Chapel. The memorandum
of the first order runs thus: — * N.B. From December
20th, 1738 to March 27th, 1739, the Rector of St. Martin's
would not allow any children to be baptized at the
Chapel.' But in April, 1739, the Chapel Register records
the christenings there again, and from thence to the 24th
November, 1751. Then follows this memorandum : ^Item
— No children were baptized in the Chapel in the years
1752 and 1753, the Rector of St, Martin's and the Vicar
of Talland insisting on their being baptized in their
respective parish churches.' N.B. The Borough of West
Looe is in the parish of Talland, and from its vicinity to
the Chapel of East Looe, the inhabitants of West Looe
used to have their children baptized at the Chapel of East
Looe. In the year 1754 ^^o children are baptized in the
Chapel as recorded in the Register* Then follows this
memorandum : — * Mem. No children are to be registered
in this book, but those who by permission are baptized by
the curate in the Chapel or privately in case of sickness ;
whose names, etc., are also to be signified to the Rector of
the Parish, and registered in the parish register. To
which rule those whom it may hereafter concern must
refer themselves.' N.B. This book ought carefully to be

KAST r.OOE CORHOKATION <

preserved as none of the entries pre\ioiis to this memo, are
entered in any other register."

'The lef^ister then goes on from February, 1755, pretty
rei^'iilarly to theyear 1S07, since which children christened
in the Cliaj>el have been registered in the Parish Register."

' We are not awaie tli;it the Incumbent of the Paiiiii of
St. Martin's is obliged to do duty himself or to provide
a Curate to do duly for him in the Chapel, tho' Browne
Willis, in writing of Looe. says lliat the Parson of St.

90 CORPORATION CHRONICLKS OF LOOK.

Martin's is obliged to perform Divine Service in the
Chapel once in three weeks."

" The Chapel of East Looe is about one mile distant from
the Parish Church. The fabric is in good repair, being
lately rebuilt, and is very handsome and sufficiently
capacious for the accorfimodation of the inhabitants/'

** What the antient and accustomed duty at the Chapel was,
we have no means of ascertaining, but about fifty years
aj;o prayers were read on Wednesdays and Fridays, with
a forenoon and afternoon service on Sundays. For some
years last past the prayers on working days have been
discontinued, and only ser\ice performed once on the
Sabbath, alternating forenoon and afternoon."

(Here is inserted a long paragraph dealing with the endow-
ment left by J>ishop Trelawny, and the subsequent history of
the same. This matter is fully entered into above ) To
continue the Commissioners report : —

*' We apprehend the Chaplain of Looe Chapel has generally
received about thirty pounds per annum And as the
Kev. Sir Harry Trelawny, Clerk and Baronet, and James
Huller, of J )ownes, in the County of Devon, Esq., are
the heirs at law of Bishop Trelawny, they by agreement
among themselves alternately nominate by writing, under
their hand and seal, upon any vacancy, the Chaplain to
Looe Chapel. They, therefore, are the present patrons as
to this endowment. But the Body Corporate of East
Looe conceives as to other concerns of the Chapel that
they are the patrons, as they conceive the Chapel belongs
to them, they having from time immemorial kept the
same in repair, and the preserjt Chapel was built at the
ex pence of a former Recorder of the Borough, as a
compliment to the Corporation. This then is the endow-
ment which the Chaplain has, and out of it he usually
pays two or three pounds a year to the Clerk."

** There is not any house in East Looe, or elsewhere, for
the express residence of the Chaplain. The present
Chaplain, the Rev. Richard Cory, resides on his living of
hlndelion, about thirty miles from Looe; and he has
nominated the Rev. Wm. Batt to officiate for him as
Chaplain, and pays Mr. Batt for so doing, the sum of
. . . yearly. The said Mr. Batt resides at East Looe,
but, being ('urate of a neighbouring parish, can only
perform Divine Service once on Sundays in the Chapel,

KAST LOOE CORPORATION CHAPEL. 9I

which he generally does by alternating morning and
evening service."

*' It may be proper to mention that Mr. Cory, the present
Chaplain, used to receive his salary for serving the
Chapel from Mr. Cleather, a Solicitor in Plymouth, lately
deceased, and that since Mr. Cleather*s death, he had
not been able to discover nor did he beforehand know,,
from whence, or how, Mr. Cleather obtained the interest
of the said money."

No doubt this report paved the way for a change in the
ecclesiastical status of the Chapel. But there is no evidence
to shew that the local members of the Commission made any
suggestions, useful or otherwise, for putting to a fuller use
the Chapel and its endowment. Perhaps they were not
invited to do so. The report was apparently housed in some
pigeon-hole, and its existence was forgotten for a quarter of a
century. However, the Chui;ch Building Commissioners in
1845, prepared and presented an address to the Crown in
Council, which embodied a scheme for the consolidation of
the two Boroughs into one ecclesiastical parish, stating: —

*'That, having taking into consideration all the circum-
stances attending the parishes of St. Martin's and
Talland, in the County of Cornwall and Diocese
of Exeter, it appears to be expedient to unite and
consolidate certain and contiguous parts of the said
parishes into a separate and distinct district, to be
assigned to the consecrated Chapel, situated at East
Looe, for all ecclesiastical purposes, and to be constituted for
the purpose of affording accommodation for attending
divine service to the persons residing in the district, and
for enabling the spiritual person serving such Chapel to
perform all ecclesiastical duties within the district
attached to such Chapel, and for the due ecclesiastical
superintendence of such district, and the preservation
artd improvement of the moral habits of the persons
residing therein ; and that such district should be named
* The consolidated chapelry district of East and West
Looe'; and should consist of the Boroughs of East Looe
and of West Looe, and be bounded as follows — that is ta
say: — On the north, by Saint Martin's Wood, Low
Water Mark, and Kilminorth Wood ; on the west, by
Furze-hill, Inner Grattans, Outer Grattans, Row Park,
Three Corner Park, Lower Bramble Park, and Little
Meadow; on the south, by Pool Park, Crawl Park>

92 CORPORATION CHRONICLKS OF LOOK,

Benches, Little Slad, and Low Water Mark; and on the
east, by Will Down, Higher Windmill, part of Harhican
or Bishop's Meadow, part of Redding Pitt Meadow and
Garden, Trigg's Field, Wood Park, Tarr Park, Pitt Land,
Great Wood Park, Lower New Park, bun Rising,
Shutta Field, and Shott's Hay."

To this scheme the Royal Assent was given, and on 30th
June, 1845, the ecclesiastical parish of Looe came into
existence. On I>eceml)er 27th, in that yeai, the Rev. R W.
Barnes was, on the nomination of Henry Philpotts, J3ishop
of I'jxeter, appointed to the new Incumbency.

Whether this formation of a new parish was altogether a
judicious step, is a (question fairly open to discussion. Jt was
obviously done in the interests of West Looe ; as the then
Parish Cjhurch of Talland, was more distant from the inhabi-
tants of that Borous^h, than St Martin's was from East Looe.
At this time the Chapel in West Looe was still serving a
secular purpose, and there were no means for maintaining a
priest to minister to the people. True, some oF the Vicars of
Talland had resided in West Looe ; but no evidence is avail-
able to shew that any effort was made by them to provide
Church Services within the Borough. Moreover, the stipend
of the Vicars of Talland has ever been too scanty for the
provision, out of the one income, of the stipend of a Curate,
to reside in, and minister to, the inhabitants of \\'est Looe.

The ecclesiastical habits and customs of this Boro' were not
materially affected by the elevation of the old Chapel in East
Looe to the dignity and status of a Parish Church for the two
towns. The custom of reserving seats for West Looe people
in it and the Baptismal Register shew that use was commonly
made of the old Chapel by either side of the estuary. How
ancient this custom was, there are no means of ascertaining ;
clearly it was a recognized use in the year 17 15. and no doubt
had prevailed long before that date. It should also be
remembered that the Trelawny endowment left in 1716, was
for a priest to minister to the people of both parishes, but he
was to serve in the Chapel of East Looe. Thus by the
consolidation of the two parishes in 1845, the inhabitants of
West Looe obtained the right to use the Chapel, which had
only been allowed before as a matter of courtesy. At any rate
at the time of the fusion no voice was raised in opposition
to the scheme, nor were any objections alleged. The act was
accepted in the spirit in which the offer was made, as an honest

EAST LOOE CORPORATION CHAPEL. 93

effort to promote the religious well-being of the western
Boro.'

By this consolidation the inhabitants of East Looe had
obviously nothing to gain. The Rectory of St. Martin's was a
valuable one and a levy on its emoluments would, with the
Trelawny endowment, have amply sufficed to pay the stipend
of a Curate to minister to the inhabitants in the old Chapel,
which might have been transferred from the custody of the
Corporation and entered within the jurisdiction of the Rector of
St. Martin's. In this way the historical connection between
the old Parish Church and the bulk of the parishoners would
have been maintained.

In both instances the old parish churchyards continued to be
the burial grounds for the respective Boroughs. Thus has
been kept up to some little extent a feeling of loyalty and
attachment to "God's House and' God's Acre," wherein
successive generations of Looe people have worshipped in life
and rested in death for some six centuries.

Will the reader pardon this somewhat tedious digression —
which is only inserted to ensure an accurate and fair pre-
sentation of the practical objects and results of the con-
solidation of the parishes — being put on record ? As to the
wisdom of such a union, we do not express any opinion. We
only relate the facts in their chronological order, and point
out the purposes they were intended to serve. If it be true
that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the subsequent
fusion of the two Boroughs, for controlling and administering
the Port, and for educational, sanitary, and other civil
purposes, gives that measure of justification which success
alone can bestow.

Mr. Barnes, the first Incumbent, writing in the year 1850,

said : —

" That the arrangement of the Church, made in 1806, was
of a very objectionable because unchurch-like character;
and by subscriptions made by the inhabitants of the
Looes, a re-arrangement of the Church, exclusively of
the gallery, was commenced on the festival of S. John
the Evangelist, in the year 1849. The Church at present
has no chancel ; but endeavours are being made to obtain
a suitable portion of ground toward the sea for this
purpose."
This last object was achieved during the incumbency of the
Rev. E. Douglas Jones, when the present Church was built

94 COKPORATLON CHRONICLES OF LOOK,

on the old site, and the extension of the chancel was made
possible by a grant of land from the Corporation, for this
purpose, in 1882. Thus the last transaction between Church
and State in Looe, was as creditable to the one as it was
satisfactory to the other.

UUAPTEH VIII.
The Charters of West Looe or Portbiarham.

HE Borough on the Corporation Seal is called
Portuan, The impression of the seal is a man
holding a bow in his right hand, and an arrow in
the left, with the le<;end; "Por-tu-an, other wys
called Westlo."

WEST LOOK CORPOKATION SEAL.

There is reason to believe that this Borough was first
incorporated under the name Porbuan, by Richard, King of
the Romans and Earl of Cornwall, who granted sundry
privileges in the Borough to Odo de Treverbyn. Bond
suggests that the name Porhuan in the Charter should read

CHARTERS OF WEST LOOE OR PORTBIGHAM. 95

Polruan. If this theory be correct, the Charter would apply
to the small town situated on the opposite side of the river to
Fowey. However, at the hearing of the West Lcoe election
petition in 1822, the lawyers engaged on either side accepted,
without demur, the application of the Charter in question to
West Looe as correct. Upheld by their authority, we shall
not be far wrong, without definite proof to the contrary, in
maintaining that West Looe was first incorporated by
Richard, Earl of Cornwall, previous to the year 1325.

Some slight support is given to this belief by a statement
of Browne Willis, who writes : —

** The first record I have seen of West Looe or Portpigham,
is the following ; — * Ann. 22 Hen. iii. Hugh de Treverbin,
plaintiff, and Odo Treverbin and his wife, defendants,
levied a fine of the manor of Portloe.'"

Now, while Portbigham and Port Looe are two distinct
manors, they adjoin each other ; and Bond suggests that both
manors belonged to the Treverbyn family.

A Confirmation of the Charter in question by King
Edward H., is here inserted: —

Transcription of Charter confirmed by Edward II.

*' The King . . greeting."

** We have inspected the charter, which Richard, Earl of
Poitou and Cornwall, made to Odo de Treverbyn in these
words : —

** To all to whom this present writing shall come, Richard,
Earl of Poitou and Cornwall, greeting : Know ye, that I
have granted and confirmed for me and my lieirs, to Sir
Odo de Treverbyn and his heirs, that his Boro' of Porbuan
shall be a free Boro'. And that the burgesses of the same
Boro' shall be free and quit of all customs, and they may
buv and sell all merchandise in markets and fairs, and in
all places throughout the whole county of Cornwall : Also
I have granted that if any one shall reside for a year and
a day in the same Boro,' without just claim he shall,
according to the law of other free Boros' be c^uit of all
neifty and servitude. Also I have granted . . that
they shall have in the same Boro' a market on Wednesday
in every week and a fair once a year, to continue for
three days; to wit on the eve and on the day, and on
the morrow of St Michael; so that the said Odo and
his heirs shall receive and have all issues and advantages

Cj6 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

pertaining to the said fair; saving everywhere all pleas
which pertain to the crown of the Lord the King. Where-
fore we will, that the same Odo and his heirs, shall and
entirely and peaceably hold the aforesaid liberties for ever.
And that this grant shall be preserved, ratified and
unshaken, I have testified this present writing by the
affixing of my seal : these being witnesses.

Hugh de Saint Philiberto.

Ralf de Bulling.

Robert Fitz-william.

Walter Fitz-william.

Richard de Kilvard.

Hugo de Tregenioz," and many others.

Then follows the formal ratification of the charter by the
King. Dated at Portchester, 1325, A.D.

The effect of this Charter was to exempt the inhabitants of
this Borough from the jurisdiction of the Duchy Minister, i.e.,
the Sheriff. They were therefore subject to suit at their own
leet.

A Charter was given to the town by a Hugh de Treverbyn,
and it is quoted by Bond. Where he saw the Charter is not
stated, though he does say it was without date. The donor
of this Charter mentions his father's name — Odo. Hugh de
Treverbyn's Charter is given thus : —

"To all 'Xtian people by whom this writnge shall be seen
or heard, Hugh of Treverbyn sendeth greetinge.

** Knowe yee that I for me and my heirs doe quit claime
unto all my Burgesses of the borough of Portbygham
and their heires, the sum of sixpence, wch sd sixpence,
Odo, my father, did use to receive of the severall . . .
w'hin the sd boroughe, p'served for me and my heires
wth ye forfeitures and amercements, wch other ye free
burgesses for ('ornwall doe make of our assise of sellinge
beare, and so that I the sd Hugh and my heires the sd
sixpence of ye sd burgesses in ye sd boroughe of Port-
bigham, or of their heires, for the future may not have.

** And I the sd Hugh and my heires doe grant unto the
burgesses of ye boroughe of Portbygham and their
heires, all the libertyes and antient customs wch other
ye free burgesses in Cornwall have, viz, Helstone and

CHARTERS OF WEST LOOE OR PORTBIGHAM. ^J

Lanceston. And that this may remayne sure I have
hereunto put my seale.

" These beinge witnesses :— Jo. de Killigarth

Nichol de Tallan, etc."

In the reign of Henry \^., Edward Courtenay, Earl of
Devon, died, seised of this Borough. The succeeding Earl
was attainted early in the reign of Edward IV., from which
period, to the first year of Henry VII., the Borough con-
tinued in the hands of the Crown ; but that King created
Edward Courtenay, Knight, Earl of Devon, and granted him
among other possessions the Borough and Manor of Port-
hyham. This Earl's grandson was attainted and executed in
the reign of Henry VIII., when it was again annexed to the
Crown, and assigned to the Duchy of Cornwall. In 1574^
Queen Elizabeth granted a formal Charter of Incorporation,,
a summary of which is now added : —

West Looe Charter.

After reciting West Looe to be an ancient town and that the^
inhabitants from the time whereof the memory of man is not
to the contrary, have enjoyed privileges and divers other
liberties, etc., as well by prescription as by reason of Charters
anciently made by Edward de Courtney, heretofore Earl of
Devon, and his ancestors. And whereas the town by poverty
of the inhabitants is brought to ruin, the said inhabitants
petition the Queen to create them into a Body Corporate, **to
the dread and terror of the wicked and to the reward of the^
good.'* Whereupon the Queen creates the town a Free
Borough in name and deed by the name of " The Mayor and
Burgesses of the Borough of Portbyan, otherwise West Looe
in our County of Cornwall."

Power is conferred to hold lands and to let the same, to
plead and to be impleaded, to have a Common Seal, and to
change the same if they like. The Common Council to consist
of 12 of the most discreet and honest men to be called the
principal Burgesses, who, or the major part of them, are to
make Bye-laws.

The Council to have a Steward and two Sergeants-at-Mace.
The Mayor to be the Clerk of the Market. The Mayor and
Burgesses to elect two Burgesses for Parliament, at the charges-
and costs of the Borough, as aforetime. Thomas Francis, an
honest man, to be the first and modern Mayor, from the date
of the Charter to Michaelmas next, when another Burgess

'98 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

shall be chosen. The 12 Chief Burgesses are named--- Ralph
Stappe, Leonard Bay lye, John Haye, Garret otherwise Charke,
John White, Edmund Dale, Thomas Dale^ John Welshe,
William Jesup, James Garland. William Clarke, and Peter
<jrifFen. William Bevill, Esq., to be the Steward. The
Mayor and Steward for the time being to be Justices of the
Peace.

Power is given to have a Council House in which to
transact the affairs of the Corporation. The Mayor and Chief
Burgesses, or the major part of them, to assemble there yearly
at the Feast of Michaelmas, and to nominate two from
amongst the Chief Burgesses for the office of Mayor, for
the year ensuing, before and in the presence of the other
inhabitants. (There is a great omission in this place in the
original enrolment of the Charter, it being evidently intended
that the inhabitants should elect one of these two to be
Mayor, as will be seen later on.) Any one refusing to serve,
after his due election, to be fined and detained in prison till
the fine be paid or he consents to serve.

Should the Mayor die, or be removed from his office, the
Chief Burgesses are to nominate two of their number before,
and in the presence of, the other inhabitants, to fill the
vacancy. Then the major part of the inhabitants present
may, and shall, elect one of these two Burgesses to be
Mayor.

If a Burgess shall die, or cease to be resident within the
Borough, or be removed from office, the Mayor and Capital
Burgesses shall, within eight days, elect another inhabitant to
be a Burgess for life. The same rule to prevail in case of a
vacancy arising in the office of Steward. The Mayor for the
time being, may elect the Sergeants- at -Mace, who may
•execute processes, etc., as in the City of London. The
Sergeants-at-Mace may each carry a '* Mace engraved with
our Arms within the precincts of the^ Borough." All officers
of the Borough to take an oath on their admission to office.

The bounds of the Borough to continue as of old, and the
Mayor and Burgesses are to make perambulations in order to
ascertain these limits.

A Court of Kecord may be held every Wednesday, except
in the weeks of Easter, Whitsuntide, and Christmas, for the
recovery of debts not exceeding £^, **A11 fines, amercia-
ments, and all other profits " from the Courts to be levied for
the benefit of the commonalty of the Borough.

CHARTERS OF WEST LOOK OR PORTBIGHAM. 99

The Corporation may have " the Assize of Bread, Wine and
other victuals and also of measures and weights," **and all
other things pertaining to the office of the Clerk of the
Market" and to have all fines, etc., thence accruing.

A view of Frank-pledge may be held at Michaelmas and
Easter before the Mayor and Steward.

The market may be held every Wednesday and two fairs
yearly, one on the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, to continue
for three days, and the other on the 15th, i6th, and 17th of
October, together with a Court of ** Pie Poudre " to be held at
the same time. All fines and profits, etc., arising from these
markets and fairs to be the property of the Corporation.

The Mayor and Burgesses may have and enjoy all customs
liberties, franchises, etc , as the Burgesses, Tenants, and
Inhabitants have heretofore used, either by prescription or by
Charter.

Witnessed at Westminster, the 14th day of February, 1574.

The practical administration of local affairs under this
Charter is shown by the analysis of the Borough records, so far
as they exist, which will be found in the next chapters. By
some means or other the surrender of the Charter was avoided,
when other boroughs surrendered their Charters in the reign of
Charles II. From certain entries in the Mayoral accounts for
the year 1685, it would appear that the Charter had been
demanded by James II., but he confirmed and returned it
with its privileges unimpaired. In thankfulness for this mercy
the Corporation consumed '*two bottles of canary."

From this time onwards the Corporation continued to enjoy
its Charter without let or interference, until after the Reform
Act of 1832, when the first Municipal Corporations Commis-
sion was appointed. A summary of the report issued by
the (Commissioners in 1835, which deals with West Looe, is
here inserted.

West Looe.
Population 593. <

The Corporation exists and administers under a Charter
granted in 1574. The Corporation consists of a Mayor,
twelve Capital Burgesses, and an indefinite number of
Free Burgesses. The governing body is composed of the
Mayor and four Capital Burgesses, who form the Common
Council. The Mayor is elected by the Common Council
from among the number of Capital Burgesses. The

lOO CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

Capital Burgesses are elected by the Common Council out
of the Free Burgesses. The Free Burgesses are elected out
of the inhabitants by the Common Council. The Officers
of the Corporation are a Steward, elected by the Common
Council for life, a Town Clerk, and two Sergeants-at-
Mace.
No Sessions of the Peace for the Borough are held. A
Court Leet is held twice a year. A Court of Record
formerly held, has now fallen into desuetude. The Goal
consists of two cells, without any day room or yard, and is
only fit for a lock-up. The Police force is insufficient.
Since the passing of the Reform Act (1832), the expence
of paving the town, which had hitherto been defrayed by
a patron, has been paid by a rate.

The revenue, which arises from rents, quay dues, etc., is
£^S a year. Any expenditure exceeding that sum was,
previous to the Reform Act, paid by the patron and
Steward of the Borough, John Buller, Esq., of Morval.

Home of the town property is let by private contract to
members of the Corporation, and until last year no
written accounts were kept. The Mayor for the time
being was the receiver of the borough revenues and
applied the same according to his own discretion, and
rendered no account. Since the passing of the Reform
Act, a book had been provided in which the accounts have
l>een regularly entered, and it is intended that in future
they shall be audited annually by the Corporation.

The Commissioners observe that since the disfranchisement
of the borough the (Corporation may be regarded as
liaving no further functions to exercise ; and on every
ground it appears desirable that a Corporation from
which no public benefit has been, or is likely to be
derived, should be discontinued.

In spite of the unfavourable nature of the preceeding
report, the ('harter was not revoked. The subsequent fate
of the (Corporation is recorded in the report of the Municipal
Corporations' Commission of 1880, certain portions of which
are added in order to complete this section. The Commis-
sioners state : -

'* It is considered that the Corporation ceased to exist in
1869. The last Mayor, Mr. Nathaniel Hearle, was at
the time of his death, in 1869, the only Member of the
Corporation, there bsing at that time neither burgesses

noi any public ollicers, and no corporate act has Vieen

done since. On the death of Mr. HearJe the Duchy of

Cornwall claimed the Corporation property as being

within the Duchy, and took possession of the title deeds

in the corporation chest."

After claiming the property, the Ducliy "conveyed the

same with the fair dues and tolls to certain elective trustees "

upon trust, among other things for " making and maintaining

the sewers of the borough, for supplying water, improving

the streets, maintaining schools, and for the relief of the sick

and poor. The annual value of the property thus, conveyed,

after paying the rent of £S to the Duchy, amounted to l^o."

CIIArfKR IS.
The West Looe Court Books.

HE proceedings of two dirfetent
Courts are detailed m boroiigh
records, some of whicli are still
extant. The one called the Law
Court of the Borough was lieid
twice a year, and was iu fact the
Court Leet ; and the other, called
simply " the Court," was lield every
IS the Court '

In the

^ the Lav

held at two periods of tlit- year
the Court Baron monthly, or as oflen as
need required. The business done at the
Court Leet related to the appointment of the
oiticers of the lH>rough, the Mayor or Reeve,
the Constables, etc., and to the presentment
of nuisances, offences, and matters of that
description. The business of tlie ('ourt
" related to fines and heriots to be paid

to the lord of the manor ; to the descent and
succession of property ; pleas were taken of

102 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

all personal actions, such as debt, trespass, trespass on the
case, etc., the process being enforced by attachment and
distress. Pleas of debt are most numerous. Inhabitants of
neighbouring parishes are occasionally parties to a suit.

A Court of " Pie-Poudre " was granted by the Charter, but
apparently was never held. This Court, deriving its name
from the French ** Pieds Poudres " (Dusty Feet), might be
held on the occasion of a market or fair, to settle in a rough
and ready manner, any disputes arising between sellers, buyers,
and spectators. The old *' Pie-Poudre Court of London " is
said to be still in existence nominally, but, like the ** Court of
Hustings," it has been superseded by the modern Police
Courts in actual practice.

Lists of names which, from the marks made against them,
appear to have been called over, generally preceded the
entries of the proceedings at the Law Courts. These lists
consist of the *' Chief Burgesses," the *' Free Tenants," and
the *• Residentes " or •' Resiants." Mereweather states that
these lists cease altogether after the year 1759.

It would seem from the records, that the Mayor and Corpo-
ration were the chief lords of the various tenements within the
borough, held in burgage tenure ; and, as these pages will
show, as such they claimed the payment of a fixed sum to
them upon the death of every free tenant, or upon the alien-
ation or transfer of the land to another person. This fixed
sum was formally known as a ** Relief''

Another term often used in these records is '* Conventionary
Tenant,'^ It was very commonly employed in the* old
boroughs of Cornwall, and means a tenant who pays a small
fixed rent. Concerning another term which occasionally is
found, Blunt, in his Legal Dictionary, writes: —

" It is in divers manors in Cornwall the calling of all resiants
therein above the age of 16 to swear fealty to their lord,
to pay 2d. per poll, and a penny per ann. ever after as a
common fine, and these are called when sworn — "censores."

The expression " View of Frank-pledge^ which is also con-
stantly appearing, is an alternative title for ** Court Baron.**
Its original intention was to review the frank-pledges, that is
to say. the freemen who were pledges for each others good
behaviour. The power conferred by this privilege enabled
the Corporation to extract a fine on any transfer of real pro-
perty in the borough by sale or death. That this was a

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. IO3.

profitable source of revenue, is shown by the corporatioi>
accounts.

Formerly every action entered for trial in a civil suit, which
was not one of debt, was (wrongly) called ** trespass on the
case.'' Every suit might have been entirely different, but they
were all entered under this title. Hence the frequency with
which this expression occurs in these records.

The methods of procedure in these courts were probably
identical with those prevailing in East Looe Courts, a full
account of which will be found in the introduction to chapter iv.

After the attainder of Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, the
Borough was annexed to the Crown, and some of the records-
of the Court Leets are preserved in the Public Kecord Office.

In the first of these, dated 1545, the court is described as
"the court of the most dread Prince Henry VHI. '* The jury
are described as "the twelve for the Lord the King." Among
the presentmerrts, one John Hay is presented to the office of
Reeve, and the expenses of a Steward are charged. The
defaults of 13 persons were presented who owed suit at the
court, and are therefore amerced.

Three other courts appear to have been held this year, but
without a jury.

Similar courts were held in the year after, when the twelve
men present a person as a common receiver of vagabonds, and
for a breach of the peace, etc. At a later court in the same
year, the same John Hay is mentioned as Mayor of the
Borough ; another is called the Court of the Manor.

In 1549, a Law Court is held with a jury as before, who
repeat the presentments mentioned above.

in a record of the Court Leet in 1562, the defaults of the
' residentes ' were presented, and the expenses of a bteward are
charged as before. The extracts represent the earliest records
extant of the West Looe Courts.

The borough records were examined in the year 1822, under
the authority of a warrant issued by the Speaker of the House
of Commons. The whole of the Record Books then found to
be in existence were ten in number, (i.) No book of

(1) —During the trial of the West Looe Election Petition (1822) one of the witnesses
called was Sarah Hoskins, aged 66, who proved that she had lived in the Borough all
her life. She remembered that the door of the Town Hall was broken open about 50
years ago, by a man named John Roach, who took away the chest containing the
records. There was a great uproar at the time, and she did not know where the chest,
was carried.

I04 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

J>ye-laws or Constitutions, or any reference to such a book
which generally exists in other corporations, e t:^., the con-
tiguous borough of Jiiast Looe, was to be found, and except in
1702, there is no entry whatever of any bye-laws made by the
select body. Ihe bye-law in question relates to grants of
town lands, which were required in future to be made in open
court.

The earliest Court Book extant to-day, consists of 36 pages
of original records, the first date is November 6th, 16x1, and
the last is 13th September, 1615.

This book is almost contemporary with that wonderful
translation of the Holy Scriptures which is still called the
" Authorised Version."

The second Court Book consists of 20 pages, it begins w^ith
October, 1615, and ends on 19th April, 1617.

Of the Court Book for the year 1620-21, only pages i-io
are extant.

The next Court Book begins with 27th October, 1641, and
ends its record in 1669. It contains 120 sheets, for the most
part in an indifferent condition.

l^'ol lowing this comes a Court Book, paged 2 to 66 con-
secutively. It begins with the date ist May, 1672, ending on
2 1 St March, 1682 (Old Style).

Sundry odd pages of other Court Books have been found
and in every instance extracts are made from them. In each
case extracts are inserted in their proper chronological place.

I'^or the exhaustive analvsis and translation of these books,
which now follows, the compiler is entirely indebted to Richard
Peter, Esq., of Launceston.

1 611 — If).

On pages 1 and 2, of the book conmiencing 1611, are
< opies in English of an indenture and of a document verifying
it. On page 3 the ordinary records of proceedings at the
courts begin in Latin : — elections of Mayor, Sergeants-at-
Mace, Clerks of the Market, etc., then lists of the Free
Tenants and Residents, and then of the Jury for '* the Lord
the King," followed by their presentments. The first is
against John llarell for having encroached upon a piece of land
of the Mayor and Burgesses called ** the Key." Two other
persons are presented for like encroachments, and another for
encroaching on an un-named piece of ground. Two others for

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. IO5

depositing pebbles on waste land of the boio* without leave.
Also Mayor and Burgesses of ** East Loo" because they had
permitted " le keye " which they held of *' West loo" to be
ruinous and in decay. And then come the entries of old
undetermined cases, and of new ones for trial in the Law
Court. Before leaving the presentments a few more are
translated as they show attention to small matters in support
of rule and order. Wm. Mellowe and John Truscott were
charged with placing their victuals and other goods in the
Town Hall without licence. John Francis with offering fish
for sale within the boro' not being licenced thereto. John
Jesup in contempt of the authority of the boro' had said that
*' he did not know there was any Mayor of a boro' for asses '*'
(This ill-mannered person was afterwards placed at the
mercy of the Mayor, and was fined 21/-).

On page 8 of this book are entries of several cases tried at
a court held on the 19th February, 161 1, in and for ** The
Boro' of Liskerrett, alias Liskerd." No explanation is given
for this interpolation. The successor to this court was held
I St of April following. The next entry (in Latin) is that
*' One gelding of a white colour was found wandering upon the
Down within the jurisdiction of this court, 24th July, 1612."

At a court 9th September, 1612, the (capital Burgesses
seem to have been reduced to eleven.

At a court 28th October, a jury, 16 in number, present
among other things that ** Stephen Jesupe drew blood from the-
body of Robert Geffrye." That Henry Husband and
Thomas Peake fought together within the boro'. That John
Lyon had encroached upon a certain curtilage of the Mayor
and Burgesses. That Will Cocks had permitted his messuage
to be ruinous and in decay to the hurt of the neighbours there.
Two persons pay small sums (2d. and lod.) on having become
owners of tenements within the boro.*

Court held 23rd April, 161 3. — Names are given of nine
persons (homagers) sworn on the jury, and the record of their
presentments, among them being one for diverting rainwater
from its right course in descending to the Boro*. Another
against two persons who had brought actions of law against
several persons of the Borough for causes determinable in the
Borough Court. Two are charged with encroachments on
Corporation property. The deaths of two Free Tenants and
who their respective heirs are, were presented. A ** Relief " is
imposed in both instances.

I06 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

At the Law Court held on 28th April, 161 3, David Grubb,
one of the Sergeants-at-Mace, informed the Court that John
Grose and six others, one being a widow, had washed **ura'*
without licence. Each was fined two-pence.

Court held i8th August, 1613. — Robt. Harell, one of the
Clerks of the Market, presented that Stephen Joye had sold
bread of light weight contrary to the statute. Fined six-
pence. Also that Cyprina Garrat had refused to sell bread as
she ought:

The next entry is a list of 42 Free Tenants and of 53
Residents, and later on, the names of 12 Capital Burgesses
are given.

Law Court held 20th October, 161 3. — The 15 Jurors for
the Lord the King, present the sale by Thos. Symon, a Free
Tenant, of certain land within the boro' ; also by Emanuel
Langford, Esq., of certain other such land, whereby reliefs
had accrued. They also presented that John Mellowe had
dismissed his apprentice contrary to the form of the statute.
And that four named persons had encroached on lands of
the boro' ; one had obstructed the road leading to a boro'
well ; four others had allowed their sea-pebbles (?) to lie on
land of the boro' without leave ; and five others had placed
furze ricks on boro' lands without licence.

At the court held 12th January, 161 3 (Old Style), a
Sergeant-at-Mace presented John Garrat because he did not
use the measure and assize of ale, according to the form of the
statute.

At the court held 30th March, 161 4, Thomas Rundell
presented John Grills for that *• he advised . . to sell
bread to the said Thomas for silver in hand."

The entries of occurences at the various courts held thence-
forth to the 26th of April, 161 5, are of the general character
of those which have been above extracted. On that day it is
recorded that John Morth, Esq., was said to have acquired
for himself and his heirs, a messuage and garden within the
boro', then or lately held by Wm. Luke, wherefore a ** relief"
had become due.

The latest record entered in this book is that of 13th
September, 1615. The notes of three or four subsequent
courts, are of dates too far apart to justify a belief for them
to be considered regular entries of the proceedings of a
tribunal, which had for many previous years exercised
important functions.

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. I07

Qn a stray piece of paper having thereon the date 20th
January, 1615, is a record as follows: — '* James I. by the
grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, etc., to David
Grubb one of the Sergeants-at-Mace of the Borough, and
also to . . or to either of them." Then comes a warrant
authorizing them to levy out of the cattle, goods and chattels
of Valentin Tregonndiee, or Nicholas Popham, his surety —
3/6, which Robert Jeffery had recovered in the Borough
Court in an action of trespass on the case against Valentin
Tregondiee, with 20/4 damages, etc. Robert Harell was
Mayor. On the same sheet is another warrant of a similar
character: — ** James I. . . to the Sergs.-at-Mace " to
apprehend William Luke or Thomas Rundle and bring them
before the Boro' Court. Both warrants are issued under the
seal of Thomas Jane.

1615-1617.

On the first leaf of the record is a form in English, of the
oath of allegiance to James I. and his sucessors. This is
followed by a list in Latin of the Free Tenants, 42 in number,
beginning with Bernard Greinville, Knt.,* Philip Bevill, Esq.,
John Trelawny, Esq., Richard Buller, Esq., John Murth,
P^sq., Hugh Trelawny, Esq., Richard Dandye, gent., Garman
Puckey, parishoners of Talland, etc. Then follow names of
* Resiants,' 54 in number, and names of Capital Burgesses, 14 in
number. These lists are suceeded by brief entries of cases for
for trial at the Law Courts, in Latin. One entry will sufficiently
show the character of all. *' Boro' of Portbihen, otherwise
West Loo. Walter Tresise, by pleader John Mellowe,
complains against Robert Slade in a plea of trespass." The
next is a plea of debt, then one of trespass and assault.

At a court held i8th October, 161 5, it is recorded in English
that *' John Harell at his own request having regard to his old
age and inability of bodye was with the consent of the Mayor
and the seven other principal burgeses removed from being a
Chief Burgess and Robt. Ffrauncis was elected in his place."
'* At this court Thomas Arundell, Esq., did paie unto the Mayor
and Burgesses of this Boro' for one quarter rente dew at the
Feast of S. Michael Th' Archangell last past 3/4." On page 5
the names of 14 jurors aie entered, and their presentments are
in Latin. One is that John Garratt, John Grose and Stephen
Gerry had thrown ** maerm" on the waste land. (Query, does
** maerm" mean pebbles.)

* For short notices of Grenville and others, see chapter xix.

I08 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

At the same court the Jury agreed that every person who
should thereafter wash or eviscerate any fish in " le brose"
of the well, should pay for every sucl) offence 3/4, one half to
the person informing of the offence, and the other half thereof
to the Mayor and Burgesses of the borough.

At the court held November 31st, David Grubb complained
that Richd. Lavers had on the i8th October last, within the
jurisdiction of that Court, assaulted him and drawn blood from
his body.

Court held 19th April, 1616. — It was agreed by the Mayor
and other Burgesses ** That that part of the Downe which
lieth on the west side of the town well be let for 2 crops at 6/6
the acre. And thereupon came John Garratt (and 3 others)
& did take the same for 2 crops to tillage & not to pasture at
6/8 the acre. And to bring 60-lb. sacks of seams of good
worth into every acre for one crop." In this year the names
of 46 Free Tenants are given, four tenants follow, then 55
** Residentes" are named. After these are the names of 12
** Capital Burgesses," and then another 15 names of " Resi-
dentes."

Upon a loose sheet, in Latin — ** Borough of Porbighan.
Thomas Cloke complains against William Snell and Jane his
wife in a plea of trespass on the case. Pledges to prosecute,
John Doe, Richard Roe."

" And thereupon the sd complainant in his own proper
person complains that whereas the sd plaintiff on the 24
July, in the 14th year of James I., at the instance and
request of the sd Jane, on the day and year aforesaid,
lent the sd Jane, whiles she was sole, four shillings of
lawful English money. And the said Jane, on the year
and day aforesaid, here at Porbighan, within the juris-
diction of this court, in consideration thereof, when she
was sole . . . faithfully promised that she would
well & honestly pay & satisify the said four shillings to
the plaintiff whensoever she was requested to do so.
Nevertheless, the sd Jane not regarding her promise &
undertaking in that behalf, but contriving & intending
subtilly to deceive the said complainant and to defraud
him of the sd 4/- ; whiles she was sole, the said William
Snell and Jane arranged between themselves to marry
according to the Ecclesiastical Laws of this Kingdom
of England. But they have not paid nor has either
of them paid the plaintiff, although he has requested

WEST LOOE COURT BOOKS. IO9

as aforesd th sd Jane, while sole. And the sd William
Snell & Jane have by contrivance between themselves
married in form, etc. (payment) has often been demanded,
that is to say, here on the day and year above written
. . . But the sum and the whole and every part
of it has been contradicted (refused), and is hitherto
denied. Wherefore the sd complainant saith that he
is injured and hath sustained damage exceeding 6/8."

The record of the later history of this suit is not to be
found.

At a court held 19th April, 161 7, John Grose, one of the
Constables of the Borough, informed that John Gerry, an
inhabitant, had on the Sunday after the last Law Court, in
the time of Divine Service, shouted & kept divers person in
their dwelling-houses by playing at " Painted Charters."''

At a court held 14th May, 161 7, the Jury presented
** Richard Hoar for drawing blood on the body of John Haly,
within the borough." They also presented, ** that Sylvester
Gourd and another, had turned the water which cometh from
the Downe out of its usual course." Also that the Down-
drivers had neglected their duty, as also had the Clerk of the
Market. Also they presented Jane, the wife of William
Sweet, for "a Skold." Also three persons for making ricks
upon the Down.

1619.

A leaf of the Court Book for this year records in Latin,
** Borough of Portbyhan, otherwise Westloo. A Law Court
of the borough aforesaid, there held 3rd November, 16 19,
before John Francis, Mayor of the borough." The names are
given of a Jury, and on the other side of the leaf is written in
English, a note of the presentments made by them. Among
these presentments are the following : ** We p'sente one
. . . Foxe, a bargeman, for unlading of limestones upon
the Keye to the hurt of the townsmen," ** Robt Harle " and
six other named persons, **for that we suppose that their
houses and courts are built on and upon the town land."
Other presentments are upon ordinary subjects.

This Jury inserts the following note : — *' We doe agree that
if any straungers doe shute any sand or owre or lime or other
lading out of a barge or cock boat uppon any of the Keyes of

* The accused person had possibly been smearing the walls, or chalking, or sooting
the pavements, with rude caricatures of some residents, whom he desired to bring into
ridicule or contempt.

no CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

the town he shall paye for every suche barge or cock loade

-/4."

Three persons are presented for ** overcharging " the
Common before they were sworn townsmen.

1620-21.

Of the Law Court Book for the year 1620, pages i-io are
extant.

On page i is, first a list of Free Tenants beginning with (in
Latin) *• Burnard Greinvile, Knight ; Richard Buller, Knight ;
John Trelawny, Esquire ; Edward Murth, Esquire; Thomas
Arundle, Esquire; Thomas Furse, Gentleman; William Dan -
dye, Gentleman ; John Garratt, Gentleman," and many names
undistinguished by title follow. Then are entered in Latin
** Names of Residents" the first named being Ambrose
White. That list is followed by a list of the '♦ Capital Bur-
gesses " one of whom, John Garrat, is Mayor.

On page 2 is title and date of the court.

On the feast of St. Michael the Archangel in the i8th year of
the reign of our Lord James now King of England, France and
Ireland and Scotland, A.D. 1620. On that day (2Qth
September), John Garratt was elected and sworn Mayor of the
Borough for the then ensuing year, and afterwards two j^ersons
were sworn Sergeants-at-Mace, and two others Clerks of the
Market, and two were appointed "Downe-drivers." Entries
succeed of many old and new cases of trial in the court.
Notes of similar cases are made at each court held for the year
to 5th September 1621, inclusive.

At a court held 7th November, 1621, it is recorded in Latin,
that it was "before John Garrat, still being Mayor of the
Borough because John Grose, who had been elected Mayor at
the preceding Michaelmas, had been and was veak and infirm,
and unable as yet to walk and to performe the duty of his
office."

At a court 17th January, 1621, the names of a Jury are
written, and on the second side of the sheet it is recorded in
Latin : — " At this Court, held 17th day of January, 1621,.
Thomas Arundell, Esq., took of the Mayor and Burge^s of this
Borough, the Mill demised to John Lampen and others, with its
waters and the liberty of a Water-course by or through the
Waste called ' Le Down ' of the Borough aforesaid to his own
liberty. To be held immediately for the term of one hundred
years, rendering ^3 6s. 8d. yearly and keeping the Mill-house in

WEST LOOE COURT BCK)KS. Ill

repair and surrendering compensation made to Lam pen and
others. '* The yearly rent of ^"3 6s. 8d. to be paid quarterly
by even portions to help the tenant according to the agree-
ment." This is signed by ten persons, four of them by their
marks.

1622.

Court held 22nd May, names only of the jury, and short
notes of cases to be tried are entered. Simon Peake was
Mayor at this time, but to the end of his official year,
nothing is found in the Court Book worthy of being
extracted, except, perhaps, that on the outside of one of the
sheets under date 20th December, 1622, is a note of present-
ments made by the Jury, among v hich is ** We presente
Walter ISellicke, beinge one that did abuse the juries and
refused himself to serve, toe fine him 3/4."

A loose sheet bearing date 2nd May, in this year, contains
the record of a Law Court on this day with names of Jury
sworn thereat. Among the presentments on the usual
subjects is one ** That Jane Sweet, the wife of William Sweety
was a Common Scoulde."

A warrant issued in this year authorizes •* WiUiam Sadg-
more, one of the Sergeants-at- Mace, to apprehend . . and
to bring his body before the court of the borough to answer
a complaint of David Grubb. Under seal of Thos. Jane^
Sub- Seneschal. John Grose, Mayor, Sept. 28th, 1622."

1624.

Of the Court Book for this year only a single page is extant^
and bears thereon the date 17th November. It contains a
list of jurors and the presentments made by them. Among
these are: — ** We found Walter White, Major of our Towne;"^
*' We presente Thomas Powde for making a hoggstye in the
strete;" **We presented John Jope leavying robble in the
strete."

COKPORATION <

OHAPTIcn X.
West Loo« Court Books.

:tracts from

COURT BOOKS.

WEST LOOE

i^OROUGH of West Looe, other-
"■' wise Porthbigham, 27th Octo-
ber, 1 64 1.

On a torn and defaced sheet
are the names of Free Tenants,
Burgesses, etc., of the borough;
Richard Buller, Knight ; Sir
John Trelawny, Bart. ; Samuel
Rolles, Knight ; Walter Lang-
don, Esq., Thomas Arundell, Esq., Edward Murth, Esq.,
Thomas Purse, Clerk ; William Dandy, gent. ; the heirs of
William Cocke, etc.

Law Court held then before Anthony Grubb, Mayor, and
the Capital Burgesses. As "Jurors for the lord the King,"
Henry Pine, Thomas Francis, and 16 others are named, two
of whom appear to have been fined lad. each, possibly for not
answering to their names.

Presentments made by this Jury (in English) amongst
Others, that Thomas Love and other persons named had
alienated lands within the borough.'- That Robert Harrell
and Thomas . . . had made ricks on the . . . That
Rich. Grubb and William Gord, junr. be the Clerks of the
Market, Rob. Jeffery and Thos. Knight be Down-drivers.
They also present that "John Abbot and Symon Olliver had
left down their hedges by the highway." That Rose Manning
had sold drink without licence. Walter Harrell " for letting
an old barge lie on the town lands, to the annoyance of the
inhabitants."

WEST LOOE COURT BOOKS. II3

Then follow, cases of trespass and debt for trial, beginning
with the old cases undetermined at former Courts. On
some of these, appear notes subsequently made of the decisions.

Court held 3rd November, 1641. A single case entered for
debt.

On the 24th November are entered the names, sureties, etc.,
of the innkeepers of the borough, the recognizances being
«ach in £10.

Court held on 5th and 26th January, 1641. (O.S.) Com-
anon law cases only.

nth May, 1642. — Court held and two cases entered,
followed by list of names of 15 Jurors who present the
Mayor and Capital Burgesses for not repairing " the town
keyes," ditto for not repairing the town well, and amending
certain ways ; also a rehef due. Also Thomas Knight for
letting dung in the highway (fine i2d.). Jane \^'alsh and
Eliz. Piper for ** schoaldings, or schoalds." T. Eliz for an
assault on Jane Walsh. William Colling and Rich. Winter
for carrying away earth from the Down. John Abbott for
"letting down his wardes going to Henofer." Several persons
for selling drink without licence. These presentments are
followed by entries of common law cases.

Courts held 22nd June, 13th July, 23rd August, 14th
September, 1642. At this last mentioned court, William
Eadgcumbe was sworn a Capital Burgess. A court was
held 29th October, at which 13 named persons were
sworn jurors who, among other things, presented Robert
Harle to be Mayor for the ensuing year ; Pasko Gorde
to be " seariant " (sergeant) ; Cloake and Gard to be Clerks
•of the market ; Piper and Jeflfery to be Down-drivers.
** John Whitt, of Eglisscale, for leaving of rubble in the
street which doth anoi the Kings Maj.'s highwaye ; "
also all persons who encroach upon the town land and who
make ricks upon the town land without licence; the town
ways for not being sufficiently repaired ; and the Mayor and
Burgesses for not repairing the town well.

Court held 9th November, before Robert Harle and Capital
Burgesses of the borough, list of the inn-koepers and their
sureties.

Court nth January, 1642. (O.S.)— Ordinary cases only.
Courts I St February, 22nd February, 15th March, common
law cases.

114 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK

Courts 5th April, and 26th April, 1643. ^^ *h® latter the
names of 15 persons are entered as jurors. They present j.
among other things, the town gate (yeat), and the hedge by
the gate, also the towji well, and the pound, ** being not
lawful." Also Eliz. Wood, widow, for keeping pigs upon the
down or common ''which be Mathew Rads, of East Looe,""
and the gate at ** Henofor ** as being not lawful. Among the
presentment of deaths is that of Sir Richard Buller, Knt.

1643. — The entries at succeeding courts to the 25th October
contain no matter of public modern interest, and on that day
names of Free Tenants, Capital Burgesses and Resiants are
entered, as are also the names of 15 Jurors. Among other
things, they present William Eadecombe to be Mayor, David
Whitt for hedging in a part of the common for a garden, also
** the keye that was Mr. Walter Fitzwilliams' to be town land,
and the Mayor and Burgesses for not repairing it." Lists of
innkeepers with their sureties are periodically entered in these
records.

On 17th January, 1643. (OS.) — William Sadgn:iore and
Joseph Hawden were sworn ** Constables," and George Cloke
was discharged.

On I St May, 1644. — A jury presents the discharged George
Cloke, "for laying of hands upon the Mayor and for tearing of
his clothes." Certain persons are charged for scolding, striking^
and biting one another.

On 6th November, 1644. — Robert Frauncis was Mayor.
The Jury presented Henry Eadgcomb and John Dyer to
be Clerks for the weighing of bread, also Robert Harris
for throwing of ''sope ashes " in the highway going to the mill,
also the highway going to Hanafore, the highway from
the Widow Vine's door to the Bridge End, and the town well.

At the court 14th May, 1645. — Robert Frauncis being
Mayor, the Jury 13 in number, among other things presented
*' the Waie Wardens" for not repairing the highways; that
** Chanler's Keay was Town Land " ; Roger Whitt was
presented for assault and battery upon the body of John
Panson, William Gord for the same on John Harper, ''Joan
Cole for keeping of bad rule," '* Marion Harvie for selling
drink being not 'bound in recognizance,'' Mary Carrow for the
like, and " Thos. Troute for a blodshed upon ti.e body of
Antony Grubb."

On 26th October, 1645— Lists of the Free Tenants, Capital
Burgesses, etc., are entered. These are followed by a list of

WEST loop: court books. ' 115

jurors who present William Garrat to be Mayor, also several
other ordinary matters.

Names of inn keepers and their sureties are entered 26th
November, 1645.

1646. — Names of 13 jurors sworn 29th April, who made
presentments only upon ordinary subjects.

October 27th, 1646, a jury presented John Harle to be
Mayor, and, among other thinj^s, Will Bernard and Thos.
Knight to be ** Overseers of the highways"; and, among
ordinary presentments, that ** all the highways want mending,
especially Thos. Knight's house and the Alms-houses"; also
Denizell Whitt for ** anoying the highwaye on the Downe
called Boats-poole"; and •* the house which Will. Cardew
now dwelleth in, not knowing whose it is, in the right of the
towne."

1647. - On the 19th May, John Harle being Mayor, the jury
presented amongst other things, ** all those that leave dung
before their door to the great annoyance of those that pass by."
They also presented the new ** keye " for not being in repair,
and also " the rest of the keays within this borough." Also
Mary Ann Harvie for keeping a stranger's horse upon the
commons, and Antony Hocken for taking a horse out of the-
pound and turning him to the commons again. Also two
persons for carrying away of the '* greete " from the
commons.

On the 25th October, 1647, lists are entered of the then
Free Tenants, etc., at the head of which are the names : — *' Sir
John Trelawny, Knt , and Bart.; Francis BuUer, Esq.; Sir
Samuel Rooles, Knt.; Walter Langdon, Pjsq ; Thos.
Arundle, Esq.; Edward Morth, Esq.; Thos. Furse, Clerk;
Will Dandy, gent. ; Will. Garret."

At the Law Court held 28th October, 1647, before Thos
Ffrancis, Mayor, John Harle, Robt. Francis and other
Capital Buri^^esses, jurors are sworn and make usual present-
ments of officers for the ensuing year, of neglects to repair,
of nuisances on the public ways, etc Thos. Wills and
Hannibal Couch for battery and bloodshed upon one another ;
John Piper for throwing lilthy water and also for keeping
pi«;s and suffering other filth to come in the house of his
neighbours ; also the Mayor and Capital Burgesses for not
repairing •* the Stockes"; ** all those that encroach on the
town land by leaving of timber or any other thing without
leave or agreeing with the Mayor for the same."

Il6 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

Court 17th November, 1647, — The innkeepers and their
sureties enter into recognizances.

At the several succeeding courts nothing of interest is
entered until at the court 12th April, 1648, this entry
appears: — ** 12th Aprill, 1648, Lifttenant Rich Langstone, of
St. Martyn juxta Loe, bought a baye mare wth a whitt star in
the forehead and the eares crept, the price being vi,l (six pounds)
George Langston being the seller and Nich. Broad the
surety."

At the court 3rd May, 1648, a jury was sworn whose
presentments disclose only ordinary matters, except the death
of Sir Samuel Rolls, Knt. Succeeding courts to 26th
September contain no new feature. On that day George Epps
was presented for Mayor. Under date i8th October, 1648, a
list of the Free Tenants is entered.

Court 25th October. — A jury is sworn (of 18 persons) whose
presentments disclose no new feature.

(In the title of almost every court up to the 17th January,

1648, (O.S.) the year of the King's reign is stated, and on that
day it is thus entered, as usual in Latin, ** Borough of Porti-
bighan or West Loe, a court there held on the 17th day of
the month of January in the year of our Lord the King
Charles, by the Grace of God of England, Scotland, France,
and Ireland, King, etc., xxivth, before George Epps, Mayor.")

The court nth April, 1649, is entered as a Law Court,
held on that day before George Epps, Mayor, etc., stating only
the year of our Lord. A jury was then sworn, their names
being given, and they made presentments as usual, among these
is a presentment of the death of Thos. Arundel, Esq., and that
John Arundel, Esq., was his heir. The following courts
are entered simply with the day of the month and year ;
the more formal entries are stated to have been held before
the Mayor, etc. These formulae are continued throughout the
year 1649, until the 24th October, on which day the date 1649
is written out in Latin.

The names of Free Tenants, etc., entered at that court
appear nearly the same as in the preceding list. At the end of
this list is the entry (in ungrammatical Latin^ " names of the
jury for the keepers of the liberty of England by the authority
of Parliament." Subjoined to this Latin note are these words
in English, *' These were returned upon talis." Then follow
the names of 22 persons who at a court held 24th October,

1649, as a jury made presentments of the ordinary form on

WEST LOOE COURT BOOKS. II 7

the usual subjects. One of these being John Piper and
Margery Seargent for ** scoulding."

Court 14th November, 1649. — '* By the general consent of
the Mayor and Capital Burgesses, John Piper was put out from
being Constable," and at the same court the innkeepers entered
into the usual recognizances, Thomas Bawden being Mayor.

The jury sworn at the court held 15th May, 1650, made na
presentments which are recorded.

At the court 22nd May, 1650, ** the Mayor and Capital
Burgesses consented that Peter Keckewich, Esq., John Tre-
hawke, and Walter Harell, Gent, are to pay 30/- yearly so long
as they shall lay on lands, and make use of the Town Lands
where timber is usually landed, and they are to give posts for
repairing of the Keye."

On the 29th September, 1650, Anthony Grubb was chosen by
voices, Mayor for the year ensuing. At subsequent courts it is
noted that certain persons agreed with the Mayor and Capital
Burgesses for leases and rents of small pieces of land, etc., at
fixed rents. At the court held 23rd October, 1650, lists of
names of the Chief Burgesses, Free Tenants, Residents, and
jurors succeed each other. The jury make presentments of the
ordinary kind, among them being '* against Philip Grills
for encroaching on town lands and suffering of rubble in the
highway going to Pedarla ; also Richard Peake, * Gabriel
Grubb, John Gourd and eleven others are presented, but
for what cause is not stated.

At the court 27th November, 1650, Gabriel Grubb and others,
were sworn Freemen of the Borough, and recognizances
were taken of the tiplers and their sureties. Succeeding courts
to the 30th April, 1651, have no note of public modern
interest. On that day a jury was sworn, who, among ordinary
presentments, present Henry Randall and his wife Honner for
'* scoulds ;" Thos. Whitt for keeping a ** shoffell bord play ;" the
well in Mr. Anthony Grubb's garden to be the town's ; Henry
Randell's wife, John Here's wife, Elizabeth Johns and six
others " for cutting of furze in places on the Down not allowed
of.'* At the same court it is recorded that " Margarett Grills,
the daughter of John Grills, deceased, was bound apprentice
to Joane Grubb according to the form of the statute, she had
with her, 20/- in money, and as much in cloaths to make her a
new coate cost 7/2, and a new pair of shoes cost i4d."

♦ See " The Pickwick Papers " by Charles Dickens, chapter xxix.

Il8 CORPORATION CHRONICLKS OF LOOK.

At a court held 4th June, 1651. — '* John Pyne, being Church-
warden the year befonj, came and passed in his account and
brought in 13/4, which was delivd over unto William Curtis
(who) was in Churchwarden for this year now following." The
preceding entry is followed by a note that " Margaret Grills,
l)y the consent of Anthony Grubb and the Capital Burgesses,
was putt apprentice to Jone Grubb and her assigns until she
should be twenty one years of age, according to the statute,
and had with her 20^- in money, and 7/- towards cioathes*''

Succeeding courts to 22nd Octol)er, 1651, contain no entry of
interest. On that day the court was held before George
Cloke, Mayor, and the Capital Burgesses, and entries are
made of the lists of the Capital Burgesses, etc., as usual. A jury
then sworn, and made presentments, among which is noted
a default in ** repairing the highway from Hugh Gord's door
so far up as Culver Well, and that plat of land at the east end of
the Town JIall had escheated to the town," i.e.j had reverted
to the lords on extinction or failure of the prior estate.

At a court held .'ird December, 1651, two persons were
sworn *• Bread Weighters." At the .same court several persons
were sworn Freemen of the Borough.

25th February, 1651 (O.S.) — " It is consented that three at
least oi the magistrates, upon v/arning, do attend the Mayor
at the Ifall at each court there held."

17th May, 1652. — William Courtis paid into court for his
Church wardenship for the year past £1 17s. 3d., and Hugh
(iourd was appointed Warden for the ensuing year.

At the same court the jury presented the waste lands at the
east end of the Chapel or Town Hall " for an e.scheate to the
towne"; Nicholas Jew for making furze ricks on the town walls,
**the tenement that Will Cardew dwelleth in as an escheat
to the towne " ; Thos. Trout for not repairing his house, l-)eing
<langerous " to passengers l)y " ; John Harper and Robert
Gillevant for battery and bloodshed on each other ; the
Mayor and Capital Burge.sses for not cleansing the "Cannell"
from the lower Shutt to Mr. Bawden's house end; and the
names of 11 persons for not being Freemen.

At a court held 15th September, 1652, John Piper is
mentioned as having bought the town furze at Pedarle for 20 -
and he was to have time between that day and ist Noveml)er,
**to cut them down and to carry them away."

On 29th September, 1652, Mr. William Eadgcombe was
elected Mayor, and he was sworn at a court held on 27th

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. II9

October, when the jury presented among other things, that John
Hodge and Elinor Sweete had not repaired the way before
their houses, and that Penticost Oliver was the joint heir of
Jessop's lands. Thos. Clements was chosen and sworn Steward.

At a Law Court held 26th October, 1652, William Collings
voluntarily took his oath before the Mayor and Capital
Burgesses— that whereas some years past there was a certain
debt due unto Agnes Pine, of Port Looe, widow, from John
Welsh, of Tallan, and Robert Francis, senr., of this corporation
is surety — that about ten years since he had the said widow
Pine say to him *• I have a bond against John Welsh, 1
marvaile he doth not come and take up his bond, there is but
fower or five nobells to pay of the debt." W. Collings signs
by a. mark ; W. Eadgcombe, ditto ; Geo. Cloke, ditto ; R.
Hearle, senr., ditto. " This is also witnessed by me Thos.
Clements, Steward, and divers others then present."

The court 4th May, 1652, was held before the Mayor,
Capital Burgesses, and Mr. Thos. Clements, Steward for the
Corporation, and among the presentments of the jury are: —
*' The Mayor and Capital Burgesses and Constables for not.
punishing of disorders on the Lord's day"; the ** Down-
drivers for not pounding the hogs that have spoyled and
turned up the Down in divers places " ; two persons for laying
sand on the "Keyes"; " Jno. Pope, of East Loo, for laying of
planks and timber on the Key" ; the waste land at the east
«nd of the Town Hall to be town land; *' Nicholas Foote for
a common ale house haunter " ; ** Wm. Hill, the younger, for
suffering disorder in his house to the great disturbance of his
neighbours."

At a court held ist January, 1652, an action for slander is
entered.

At a court held 25th May, 1653.— The collectors for the
poor passed their accounts, and brought in 8/3 which was left
in Mr. Mayor's hands.

On 29th September, 1653, Thomas Francis was elected
Mayor, and sworn in at the next court (19th October, 1653).
After the record of his election is the following entry : —
'* Thomas Francis, the elder, be uniformly chosen to be Mayor,
who, according to custome ought not to have beene sworne
until the Law Courte daye, was this daye sworne Mayor, by
reason that William Eadgecombe, the former Mayor, is
deceased by death." The oath was taken before the seven
Capital Burgesses and Thomas Clements, the Steward.

I20 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

At a Law Court held 26th October, 1653, ^^® entered lists
of names, (i) Of the Capital Burgesses, nine in number.
(2) Of the Free Tenants, among whom are Sir John Tre-
lawny, Knight ; Ffrancis Buller, Esq. ; heirs of Sir Samuel
Rolls, Walter Langdon, Esq. ; heirs of Tho. Arundle, Esq. ;
Thomas Ffurse, Clerk, etc. (3) Of the Freemen. Following
thes?e lists are the names of a jury, and among the present-^
ments made by them are :— ** for laying of dirt in the street —
an annoyance to the passers and travellers by, as well of town
people as strangers ; for not repairing the highway, from the
" Stockes " to the Culver Well ; the waste land at the east end
of the chapel to be town land."

At a court held i6th November, 1653, F)igory Grubb was
dischar.i>:ed from his Constableship ; and the Mayor and Bur-
gesses let to Mr. Robert Francis, the elder, the Pound Park^
for li\ e years from 28th October last, at a yearly rent of 45/8,.
and he to repair the gate and hedges at his own cost.

At a court held 7th December, 1653, depositions of witnesses
are set forth touching the lands and tenements of Edward
Eadgecombe left him by his father, Will. Eadgecombe, late
Mayor of the borough.

Law Court 2nd May, 1654. — '^^® J^^Y present Gabriel
Gruhl) for a battery and bloodshed on Mrs. Anne Garrett ;
Robert Grills for keeping a pig on the Down, to the annoyance
thereof.

26th October, 1654.— Robert Francis chosen Mayor, at a
court held on that day. Among the presentments of the jury
are: — "the house Will. Hurdon dwells in to be an escheate
to the town, there being no lord that can be found unto it ; *'
*' Rob. Welsh's house annoyed by John Piper, with stinking"
water."

At a court held 17th February, 1654 (O.S.), is the entry
" that Edward Eadgecombe and Richard GefFery were last
Easter appointed and chosen collectors and overseers for the
poor of the borough, being not formerly sworn, were both
now sworn to their office and received warrant to distrain such
as neglected and refused to pay their rates, and are to continue
in their office until Easter week next coming when they are to
bring in their accounts, and the rate fully levied, and all the
arrears thereof, or sufficient distress for the same with their
disbursements for the year beginning 25th March, 1654, and
ending with the year 1655, upon the 25th March."

WEST LOOE COURT BOOKS. 121

Court held 7th May, 1655. — Among the presentments made
are : — Edward Eadgcombe and Rich. Jeffery to be surveyors
of I he highways within the borough ; for a battery and assault
against the Down-drivers and for hindering them in doing their
office ; for pound breach ; for an assault of battery and blood-
shed upon Mephiboseth White.

Joshua Bawden was elected Mayor, 30th October, 1655,
The presentments under this date are only of the customary
character.

At a court held 7th May, 1656, the jury present Thomas
Mellow, for keeping shop without licence.

At a court held 27th August, 1656, Digory Grubb complains
against John Gourd in an action for trespass, and Pjdward
Tomlinson is entered as the plaintiflf's attorney.

At a court held 27th October, 1656, Thomas Francis, the
younger, being Mayor ; Thos. Dyer entered into recognizances
in the sum of ^40, *• to appear at the next Law Court, to
answer what hath been laid to his charge concerning the base
child imputed on him by Dorothy Whitt." Among the things
presented by the jury at this court are two of assault and
battery and bloodshed, and Thos. Trout for laying down wards
upon his lands, on the south side of the Chapel.

From loth December, 1656, onwards, the style of the court
is usually ** Borough of West Loo " only.

Among presentments under date 22nd April, 1657. — The
Mayor, etc., for not repairing the Key, joining the new Key\
for not causing the garden hedge above the Chapel to be
repaired. At this court appear Thos. Dyer and his sureties,
who are freed and discharged by the town from all charges
for and towards the relief of a base child of which, by
Dorothy Whitt, he is reputed to be the father.

Thos. Bawden, Mayor. — At a court 26th October, 1657, are
entered the customary lists, the second of which is under the
heading " names of Freeholders," and the third is under the
heading " names of Freemen." The presentments contain no
new entry. Recognizance of the tiplers are given as in
former years. At this court "Walter Harell is sworn Free-
holder to a part of the land of John Garrett, being a * pallace
or court lodge,* joinuig with the Kay."

Denizell White was chosen and sworn Constable at a court
held 2nd December, 1657.

122 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

At a court 7th April, 1658, Mr. Robert Harell was sworn
" ^lajestrate," and Mr. Timothy Mellow was dismissed his
Constableship, and chosen and sworn '*^ Majestrate,*' 4th May,

1658.

Anthony Grubb was elected Mayor, 26th October, 1658.

Robert Harell, Mayor, 25th October, 1659. — Presentments
made at this court are: — The ** Court Lodge, at the Chapel
end," and the garden joining with the Chapel, to be waste
lands ; ** Thomas Francis, of Port Loo, for bringing in of
Henry Chubb to dwell in his house, not giving security to the
Mayor for freeing of the town from his charge."

The presentments at the court i6th May, 1660, were of the
usual character.

(On the 1 8th May, 1660, Charles H. was proclaimed King,
to fill the throne of his late father, Charles I. He left
Holland on the 23rd May, and on the 29th May he entered
London. During the Commonwealth, the records are almost
uniformly in English. R.P.)

At a Law Court held on the 3rd October, 1660, the title is
written in Latin, and in English reads thus : *' A Law
Court there held on the 3rd day of October, in the twelfth
year of the reign of our lord Charles H., by the grace of God,
King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of
the Faith, etc., ... in the year of our Lord, 1660."
Then follow the names of the Free Burgesses, before whom
the court was held, then the names of the Free Tenants and
of the " Resiants." The name of the Mayor is given as
Thomas Francis. Proceedings at this and succeeding courts
are then entered, and usually in the form theretofore adopted.

At the Law Court 7th May, 1661, Marian Memory was
presented by the jury for *' selling beer, and doth not keep
lodgings." Two persons were sworn wardens for the poor.

26th October, 1662. — Philip Harell was elected Mayor.

On 13th May, 1663, ^ court was held before Joshua Bawden,
Deputy-Mayor, in the absence of Philip Harell, the Mayor.

Similar entry, 23rd September, 1663, — ^^ ^^^ ^^st mentioned
court, Thos. Mellow was chosen Mayor. He and eight others
are named as the Capital Burgesses, in an entry made on
the 14th of that month.

At a court held 14th September, 1664, Peter Westcott is
chosen Mayor.

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. 1 23

Only ordinary matters are recorded at the courts held
between that date and the court held 8th February, 1664
(O.S.), when the following entry appears : — " Recognizances
"of innkeepers and keepers of entertainment within the said
'* borough, entered into this present eighth day of February,
"for observation of Lent, in p'suance of His Ma'ties Pro-
" claniacon in this behalfe. William Gourd, one of the
" Sar<^^ents at Mace, thereupon his Oath saith that, he
•' summoned the p'sons undernamed to appear to enter into
" recognizances, viz." (Seven person are named, six of them
being females. Ten person seem to have been bound, nine of
them in 5s (or 5d.) each, and one in los. (or lod.)

April 1 8th, 1665. a court with view of Frankpledge held,
and a jury sworn, but no presentments or act recorded.

On the 13th September, in the same year, this entry was
made : — '* Att this court the above sd Mayor (Peter Westcott)
*' and Capitall Burges-es of the sd Burrough have unani-
" mously elected and chosen Henery Seymour, Esq., to be
*' Recorder of the sd Burrough durini^^ his naturall life. And
" I the said Henery Seymour have this day made choyce of
** Edward Tomlinson, Gent., to be Steward and Towne Clark
*' of the sd Burrough and my Deputy there." (Signed) '* H.
Seymour."

24th October, 1665.— At ^ court held at the •* Guildhall,"
within the borough, before Joshua Bawden, Mayor, a jury of
13 was sworn. Ordinary proceedings at the Law Courts then
and thence to the 8th August, 1666, alone are recorded. On
the last named day, it is noted that Geo. Trebell had taken
Pound Park, for three years, for pasture only.

On 19th September, 1666, Robert Harell was elected Mayor
for the year then ensuing.

On 24th October, 1666, a jury was sworn, and piresented the
Mayor and Capital Burgesses for not weighing the bread ; for
not repairing the *'Keyes"; for not repairing the highway from
Lower Shutt to Mr. Hendra's barn ; also the Waywardens for
not repairing the highway from Ebbotts' door to the Alms-
houses ; and among the presentments on the usual subjects —
John Pasco and other named persons, for not going to Church
on the Lord's Day.

1 6th January, 1666. (O.S.) — Richard Peake was dismissed
by the Mayor from his Constableship.

On page 104 it is stated, that at the court held nth
February, 1666, (O.S.) ** came John Arundell, of Tremadart, in

124 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

the Parish of Dueloe, Esq., landlord of, amongst other lands
within the said borough, certain lands granted to John Johns,
alias Dyer, for 99 years, if three named persons should so
long live, yielding 6/- upon every life, and reciting that Hugh
John, one of the lives, was dead, upon whose death 6/-
became due to Arundell, for '* herryott" or •* Farleiffe^' which
sd John Johns refused to pay. And the said Arundell hath
this day produced two witnssses who affirmed upon their
" corporall " oaths, that Hugh Johns was dead, and that they
saw him dead in his bed, at Chatham, and saw him interred
in Chatham Churchyard, and was so buried in or abont 20th
June, 1665. All which the said witnesses affirmed upon their
oaths upon the Holy Evangelist of God, before Robert Harle,
Mayor, and Edward Tomlinson, Steward, and Justice of the
Peace." (The signatures are subscribed.)

September i6th, 1667.— Thomas Mellow was nominated
Mayor, and the Law Court ** with view of Franckepledge of
the borough holden in the Guildhall, on 23rd October, Anno
Dom." 1667, was before ** Thomas Mellow, Mayor" and six
named Capital Burgesses. Three common law cases only
entered. Throughout the Mayoralty of Thos. Mellow, notes
of such cases and of proceedings connected with them alone
appear up to 30th September, 1668.

At "The Law Court held and kept at the Guildhall," 26th
October, 1668, before Peter Westcott, Mayor, etc., no business
is recorded.

At the court 7th April, 1669, Pasco Gourd returned an
attachment against *' certayne Culme and Lyme Stores,
*' attached as the goods of William Wills, of West Loo,
^* hatter. The goods were taken away from the Pit. Wills by
■** clayme of a Deed form'ly made by the sd Willm. Wills."

26th October, 1669. — The Magistrates and Commons do elect
Mr. Philip Harell, Mayor.

On the back of the sheet paged 120, is entered a memoran-
dum, of which the following is the substance. At the court
held at the Guildhall, 1668, 29th July, the depositions of
Stephen Gillard, Edw. Tomlinson, and Joshua Bawden, were
taken, by desire of Ibbet Couch, widow, for the better setting
forth her estate to the house in West Loo, whereof her
brother George has taken in trust for her, from Thomas Trout.
The substance of Gillard's deposition is — that a little time
before the death of George Cloake, when Cloake was on his
death bed, he told the deponent that the house he lately took

WEST LOOE COURT BOOKS, I25

of Thos. Trout of West Loo, the landlord thereof, he the
said George, was made a party to that lease. The truth was
that he took it for his sister, Ibbet Couch, and the reason was
because that Hannibal Couch, her then husband, was a person
of an idle life and conversation, and had spent and consumed
much of the goods of the said Ibbet, and was likely to have
sold this house also, if he had known that it was taken for
Ibbet with her money ; and further, he said Geo. Cloake said
to this deponent, "God forbid that he should wrong her of it,
for her money paid for the fine and estate of the said house."
And alRo said, "haply that some of her children might be the
better for her-(it}." Edward Tomlinson deposed— That upon
some conference with Thos. Trout, touching the house which
George Cloake took of him in West Loo, he wa<! told that the
lease and estate of that house was paid for wilh Ibbet Couch's
money, and the estate thereof did truly belong to her, for
that the said George Cloke was made by the said Ibbet Couch,
trustee for her, to be a party to that lease because that
Hannibal, the then husband of the said Ibbet, would have
sold and consumed that estate, if he had had any power
therein, and this the said Thos. Trout, then landlord of the
said house {since deceased} often told him. If a deposition of
Joshua Bawden were taken, it must have been on another
sheet, which is lost, as the book ends with this entry.

126 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

CHAPTER XI.
West Looe Court Books.

EXTRACTS FROM AND TRANSLATIONS OF THE WEST LOOE

COURT BOOKS.

1672 82.

[OROUGH of West Looe, otherwise Porthbigham.

On page two are written in English, a form of
the Oath that it is not lawful upon any pretence
whatever to take arms against the King, and of
the declaration disavowing *' The Solemn League
and Covenant."

Following these forms is the apparently auto-
graph signature ** Christopher Mynards," the
words "provided this Court Book, Ann. Dom. 1672," being
added. Page three, contains the names, in Latin, of the
Capital Burgesses, and of the eight Free Tenants, under the
date 3rd May, 1672. Overleaf, are Conventionary Tenants.
On page four, is an entry — on what presumably had been a
blank space, at all events it is out of order as to date — *' Chat
at the Law Court held 13th May, 1674, Jo^^ii Couch, of
Peneronde, within the Parish of Mynhenyott, Cornwall,
yeoman, showed to the court an indenture dated 3rd July,
24 Car. IT., whereby Katherine Pope, sometime the widow of
Thomas Frauncis, her former husband, together with John
Pope, of East Loo, merchant, her now husband, devised and
granted to the said John Couch and his assigns, certain houses
and lands in West Loo, viz. : — The house wherein Peter
Westcott, clothier, then dwelt, the house in which the said
Thos. Frauncis then lived, and one meadow and one garden,
two courleges, and one old house in West Loo, to hold to the
saitl John Couch and his assigns to the severel uses in the said
indenture mentioned, for the term of 99 years, to commence
on the death of the said Katherine." (Signed) '* John Couch."

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. I27

At the live subsequent courts, only cases of the usual
nature are noted.

At a court held 25th September, 1672, two cases entered,
followed by the entry, in Latin, that at that court four named
Capital Burgesses were proposed, from whom the next Mayor
was to be chosen.

They seem unanimously to have chosen M^. Eobert Harell,
who on the 29th September, 1672, was declared by the
*' Magistrates and Commons " Mayor for the ensuing year.

23rd October, 1672. — Before ** Robert Harell, Mayor, and
Thomas Bawden, Christ. Mynard, Joshua Bawden, Peter
Westcott, and others." Recognizances of the six innkeepers
each in £10, and of their sureties each in £^ were taken.

4th December, 1672. — Court held, no business recorded.

22nd January, 1672, (O.S.). — One case is entered. This
entry is succeeded by a note of the adjournment of four
successive court days, and *• Law procedgs soe far copied out
for Mr. Spry."

Page 10 begins with the statement in Latin, that *' Nicholas
Short, of East Looe, weaver, acknowledged that he owed the
Lord the King £10, and Mephiboseth White, of West Looe,
dyer, ;^5 to the same, and Charles Badcock, £^ to the same,
to be levied, etc., if the said Short should fail personally to
appear at the next court to answer all things, which, on the
part of Robert Harell, the Mayor, might then be brought
against him."

28th May, 1673. — Court held. One case entered, the
subsequent proceedings noted below.

On page 11, it is noted that on the 17th August, 1673, ^^^^
persons (named) were *' put upon the election." That on the
29th September, four of the Capital Burgesses and 15 of the
"Common Men" voted for Mr. Thomas Mellow who was
elected. And on the 27th October, 1673, ^^ ^^s sworn Mayor
of the Borough, and at the same court a jury of 13, named,
make presentments 12 in number, among these : — " Mr. Dyer
for not wayenge the bread according to custome;" ''The
Mayor and Capital Burgesses for not havinge a Cage and
Cucking Stole in the Towne for punishinge offenders and lewd
wimmenn." Other presentments refer to non-repair, to waste
lands, to deaths of Free Tenants, etc. The Constables and
Churchwardens are presented for neglecting their offices, as
also are the Down-drivers. To these presentments is subjoined

128 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

# -

the following note : — "The jury present John Cardew for sueinge
and arrestinge Stephen Gillard, by process of Trematon, m
Talland Churchyard, wch is out of the jurisdiction of this
Corporacon, and contrary to the privilege of a Freeman of the
sd Corporacon." *

30th October, 1673 — At this court one case noted with the
subsequent proceedings therein, Tbd recognizances of the
* tiplers ' and their sureties are recordea in the usual manner.

At the next four courts no business is recorded. 1 hen ten
brief entries of 10 other courts held in Mr. Mellow's Mayoralty
follow. Next is recorded the ordinary formalities on the 23rd
September, 1674 ^^^ election of a Mayor. On 29th September.

1674, I^eter Wescott was elected.

This last entry is succeeded out of its oider of date by
presentments, 13th May, 1674. ^'^^ ^^^t four of these
presentments are against the Mayor for not weighing the bread,
and for neglecting certain repairs. The other ten present-
ments are against named individuals, but upon ordinary
subjects.

27th October, 1674, ^^^^ ^^^^® ^^ heading only of a court held
before ** Thomas Mellow, old Mayor," and Peter Westcott
and four Capital Burgesses, is noted.

28th October, 1674, court.— Peter Westcott, Mayor Rc:
cognizances taken from the eight keepers of *' ale-houses" and
their sureties.

No cases entered at any of the courts held till 28th April,

1675, when one case is entered, but the complainant did not
prosecute, and it failed.

Again three courts to the 15th September, 1675, and no
business done.

On page 17 (second side), on the same day, is the entry —
partly in bad Latin, residue in English — ** Persons named on
the election for new Mayor : —

Philip Harell, Joshua Ba^wden,
Christopher Mynard, Baronet Trelawny,

Westcott, Mayor, (votes) for Baronet Trelawny and Bawden.

Joshua Bawden. (votes) for Baronet Trelawny.

"* This lftnguag<) " ProcesH of Trematon" is ] uzzling. There was certitinly %
Jail at Trematon attached to the old Castle there. Carew (lfJ02) HHys, "to this
Gaole prisoners were brought upon actions from ull plnctt.H iq purteunt to th»t larfe
liOrdship (Ducby)lf they eanrot by suretyship discharge themselves fiom bailie's ain-sl."
Talland was within the Ducby. and the process may have issued from the Lord Warden's
Court, and John Oordew may legally have taken his debtor to Trematon. B.P.

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. 12^

Robert Harell (votes) for Baronet Trelawny and Mr. Bawden.
Thomas Mellow, (votes) for Baronet Trelawny and Mr^
Bawden.**

The 29th September, 1675. — ** Mr. Joshua Bawden is;^
elected by 24 voices."- *' And the said Joshua Bawden was
sworne to the execution of the office of * Mayor for the yeare
ensuing the sixteenth day of October, Anno Dom, 1675."

On page 18, under date October, 1675, are lists of names of
(i) Capital Burgesses, (2) The Free Tenants, (3) The Con-
ventionary Tenants or ftesiants. These lists are followed by
the title of a Law Court, held 26th October, 1675, before
Joshua Bawden, Mayor, etc., when the recognizances of the
tiplers and their sureties were taken.

1 6th February, 1675. (O.S.) Court held, Joshua Bawden^
Mayor. One case, with notes of proceedings thereon at
subsequent courts.

At the court 31st May, 1676, Stephen Hocken and William
Vorstrett were sworn to "officiate as Overseers of the Poor
for the remaitider of the year," and Luke West was sworn to-
the office of Down-driver.

The courts of June, July, and 2nd August, 1676, are simply
noted as *' adjourned.*'

The court 30th August, 1676, was held before Joshua
Bawden, Mayor, and Jonathan Trelawny, Bart., Harelip
Mellow, Mynards, and Westcott. One case entered there.

Court 2oth September, 1676, decided by the votes of the
Mayor and all the three other Capital Burgesses present, that
Sir Jonathan Trelawny should be Mayor for the ensuing year.

On page 22 — Court held 25th October, 1676. — Lists are
entered — first, the name '* Henry Seymour, Esq., Recorder" ;
then secondly, the names of the Capital Burgesses ; thirdly^
the Free Tenants ; fourthly, the ** Conventionary Tenants " ;.
fifthly, the names of persons that day '* admitted and sworn
free."!^

* On referring back to the record of the Mayoral election in 1674, when Mr-
Wcstcott was chosen, I find there was a contest for the office between him and Philip
llarelL The contest and its result probably led to a feud, and to unpopularity for Mr
Westcott, the victor. The utter barrenness of his courts throughout the year, and the-
extracts which I have made of the proceedings at the 1675 election point to such a
concljsion. R.P.

tThis last list (5) contains the names of Sir John St Aubyn, Baronet, Thomas
Maddiford, Esq., Thomas Gates, Esq., Jonathan Trelawny, Esq., William Martin, Esq ,.
Lewis Stncklev, Esq , Thomas Gate, gentleman, John Butler, Esq . Charles Osborne,
Esq., John Vivian, Thos. Vivian, Francis Vivian, Wm Coleman, Wm. Carter. Sixteen
other persons are sworn in addition to these, four of them are described as esquires,.

130 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

At a court 31st October, 1676, it is recorded " that Colonel
Trelawny, of Trelawne, Escjuire, was then admitted and
sworn a Capital Burgess of the said Corporation ... hy
and with the consent, good-liking and desire of all the Capital
Burgesses there present.

Tested by me,

Edward Tomlinson, Steward."

Court 28th February, 1676, held before Jonathan Trelawny,
Bart., Mayor, John Trelawny, Esq , Mellow, Westcott,
Mynard, Philip Harle and Robert Harle, when — '* It was
ordered by Mr. Mayor upon hearing the difference between
Mr. Philip Harle and his sisters touching a house in West
Loo, that Philip Harle should pay his sisters £5 by the ist
April then next. In default of such payment he was to deliver
possession of the house to his sisters." Each party agreed to
this " Reference."

Another entry at this court is — That Elizabeth Harell,
widow, had ** compounded " with Thomas Mellow '* Deputy
Mayor" in the absence of Jonathan Trelawny, Bart., Mayor,
for a plat upon the Common of the Town for 21 years, from
25th March 1677, at the yearly rent of 12 pence.

4th April, 1677. — Court before Thos. ^Mellow, Deputy
Mayor, and three Capital Burgesses. No business recorded.

22nd November, 1676. — Before Jonathan Trelawny, Bart.,
Mayor, etc. It is here noted that Thomas Mellow became
security to the Town for a debt of Agnes Gest, and then the
Mayor deputed the said Mellow to execute the office of Clerk
of the Market for the year ensuing. At this court also Thomas
Francis was called to answer for " certain misdemeanours
which he had committed, and that he had called the Pound-
keeper a knave," for which the Mayor now gave him into
the custody of the Constable. And Francis was adjudged
to get *' his freedom submitted to the Court," and to
pay a fine of 8/6 for his offence. A case of Tomlinson
v. Gourd was referred to Messrs. Bawden and Mellow.
** And then Walter Bawden tooke the benefitt of the

and twelve as gentlemen. Considering the persons who are included in these lists, and
the nature and size of West Tiooe at this period, the probability is that some of these
gentlemen were non-resident If so, this was clearly an illegal act ; because none but
Resiants could owe suit at the Court Leet, and could be sworn there. A.L.B.

National politics may, perhaps, at this time, have influenced the acts of small
boroughs. Inter alia, the then existing Parliament (The Pension Parliament) had sat for
more than 15 years ! 1

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. I3I

Fayres and Keyes for this yeare for the price of fifty-three
shillings."

24th January, 1676. (0 S.) — Court held before Mellow, the
Deputy Mayor. One case, and *' Mr. Robert Harell was then
sworne to be a Magistrate of the Corporation." Entries of
four cases for trial follow.

On page 28 are lists of Capital Burgesses, the Free Tenants
and Resiants 8th May, ifiyy, names of, and presentments by,
13 jurors. A summary of matters presented on this occasion
will be found in Chapter XIV.

19th September, 1677. — Court held before Jonathan Tre-
lavvny, Bart , Mayor, and the Capital Burgesses, one case
'• Referred to the Mayor."

2 1st September, 1677 —Court held before Deputy Mellow,
etc. Same ca^e as was referred to the Mayor at last Court, re-
entered. Again referred to the Mayor.

22nd September, 1677. — Court held before the Deputy. No
case entered. (Here follows a re-entry, I think, of the two
•cases entered 19th September, or, at all events, of one of
them. R.P.)

Then on page 31 appears the entry, that at the court lyth
September, it was agreed upon by the Magistrates then present
that, '* Mr. Philip Harell coming home again befoie IMichael-
Tnas is to be one of two persons '*upon election " as Mayor."

29th September. — ' Votes for Mr. Mynards 22, for Colonel
Trelawny 14, Mr. Myn^irds elected Mayor."

On page 32 —At the Law Court with view of Frankpledge
held 24th October, 1677, Christopher Mynards was sworn
Mayor, and he presided as Mayor. Mellow, Westcottand Robert
Harell were the Capital Burgesses who attended. A jury of 13
made presentments, extracts of which \vill be found in Chapter
XIV.

7th March, 1677, (O.S.) — Court held before Christopher
Mynards, Mayor; Mellow and VVestcott, v\hen it is recorded
in Latin "that Rhoda Langdon, widow, lately the wife of
Walter Langdon, Esquire, her deceased husband, comes by
Robert Francis, of East Looe, and asks to be admitted Free
Tenant for lands within the Boro', and paying for the whole
eightpence yearly. Two shillings for Relief."

Court held 29th May 1678, before Mynards (Mayor) and four
others. One case is entered — Chr. Mynards v. Nicholas Short

132 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

the elder, which was apparently arranged between the parties.
Suhseiiuentiya note is made, that the case has been referred to
the Jiayor, who had decided in favour of the plaintiff.

Court 4th Auijiist, 1678 — Mynards, Mayor. A noteapp<ears
of the return of tw.) horses or mares to their owners, on the
suretyship of John Goard, that they would appear and answer
for the trespass upon the lands on which the animals respec-
tively had been found.

25th September, 1678. -Court held. One case entered, in
which Thomas Tomlinson complains against Nicholas Francis
for trespass, and subsequently settled between the parties.

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. I33

At the same court, two Capital Burgesses are, according to
-custom, named ; one of w^hom is to be chosen Mayor for the
year ensuing.

Court held i6th October, 1678, when presentments of the
usual character were made.

Page 36 begins with the title '* Names of Capital Burgesses,
Col. John Trelawny, Esquire, Mayor, in the year 1678 and
1679." There are eight Burgesses on the roll, of whom Col.
Trelawny is one. Names of 54 Free Tenants follow,
succeeded by 102 names of ** Conventionary Tenants or
Occupiers '* The Wardens of Talland are entered in English,
as one '* set '* of Free Tenants.

At a *• court of the lord the King (Charles II.) held at the
Guildhall, within the Borough, on the 30th October, 1678,
before John Trelawny, Esq., Mayor," and other named
•Capital Burgesses, two cases of trespass are entered ; and the
names of the *' tiplatores," within the boro', and their sureties.

The following court was held 8th January, 1678, (O.S.) and
-another on February 9th. — '• To this court came Martin John^
Benedict Clift, William Jasper, and at their own request, by
the assent of the Mayor and Capital Burgesses and Freemen
present, according to the custom of the boro', were sworn ;
each of them were sworn a Free Burgess of the boro' afore-
said."

At a court held i6th April, 1679, the Mayor being absent,
** Robert Harell and Mellow were named, of whom one should
execute the office of Deputy Mayor, when the Mayor was
absent, and Harell was elected.*'

The court held 14th May, 1679, is thus dignified ** Law
Court (or a lawful court) of the lord the King, with view of
Frankpledge, and Sessions of the peace of the lord the King,
for the borough aforesaid." Thirteen persons were sworn as
the jury, '* to enquire for the lord the King, and for the said
borough." For presentments then made, see Chapter xiv.
At the same court, John Cardew was committed to the
King!s prison, for the boro', for refusing to find sureties for his
good conduct, he having spoken many scandalous words in
conteiimpt of and against the authority of the said court. The
same John Cardew had to defend himself in an action brought
by Margaret Hosken for some trespass. (Whether she were
spinster, wife or widow, does not appear. But it may
probably be assumed that the good lady had in some way
moved his temper, and amoved his discretion.)

134 CORPOKATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

At the court held 9th July, 1679, it is recorded in English,,
that the offenders Vallack and two others '* were suppressed
for three years for selling beere or ale within the Boro,' or a
warrant would issue to bring them before the Mayor for
sureties to be of good behaviour, and for levying a fine of 20/-
on their first conviction for selling without licence."

At the court 24th September, 1679, came Christopher
Mynard. — And there is shown here to the court an
indenture dated 24th August last, made between the
aforesaid Christopher Mynard of the one part and John
Sharpe alias Garratt, of Plymouth, and Jane his wife, and
Anne Sharpe, alias Garratt, of Plymouth, widow, of the
other part. By which indenture the said Sharpe and
two others gave, released and confirmed to the said
Mynard and his heirs for ever, four messuages, one orchard,
three gardens and two acres of meadow land or there-
abouts, with the appurtenances, situate and being within
the domain of the Mayor and Burgesses of West Looe.
The same premises being free tenements of the Mayor
and Burgesses of West Looe aforesaid, to be had and held
by the said man, his heirs and assigns for ever of the
Chief Lords of the fee. Rendering therefore the accus-
tomed suit and service to the Mayor and Burgesses and
paying yearly 2/. The said Christ. Mynard did fealty at
the same court.

(The exact substance of this record is given, as it shows the
ancient West Looe Burgage Tenure.)

A list of the Capital Burgesses, the Free Tenants and the
I'ree Burgesses is given in October of this year, and shows
that the Free Burgesses are increasing. At this court, Henry
Seymour, Esq , was at his own request removed from his
office of Recorder of the Boro,' and John Trelawney, of Tre-
lawne, in the County of Cornwall, Esq., with the unanimous
assent and consent of the Mayor and Capital Burgesses of the
same baro,' was duly elected in his place, he then and there
took his oath for exercising that office. The innkeepers and
their sureties enter into the usual recognizances. It is worthy
of note, that the penalties for selling beer without a licence are
larger than they had been, before the misconduct of Tho.
Vallack and his fellows in the earlier part of the year 1679.

At the court loth December, 1679, the Sergeants at Mace
certified that under the Mayor's warrant to levy a fine of 5/-
on the goods of John Juell and Richard Furse (the Down-

WEST LOOE COURT BOOKS. I35.

drivers), they had seized four pewter dishes of John Juell which
had been appraised at 4/- and ordered to be sold. John Juell
had paid the appraised value of 4/- and had his dishes
restored. There is a similar entry respecting a levy on a
pewter platter of John Cardew for duties, etc. The platter had
been appraised at 2/- and had been sold to John Cardew for
that sum.

A copy of a letter sent by the Privy Council to the Mayor,
etc., is entered on page 50 of this Law Court Book. It is thus
entitled.

*' A true copy of the letter sent by the Council to the
Mayor, etc."

*' After our hearty commendations; Whereas by an Act
made in the 13th year of His Majesty's reign, for the well
governing and and regulating of corporations, it is enacted
that all persons, who, on the 24th of December next,
should be Magistrates, Aldermen, Common-councilmen,
etc., and other persons then bearing any office of
magistracy or place of trust, concerning the government
of the respective cities, corporations, boroughs, etc.,
within the kingdom of England and dominion of Wales,
shall take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and
likewise an oath declaring it unlawful upon any pretence
whatever to take arms against the King, and also shall
publicly subscribe a declaration against the Solemn League
and Covenant. And whereas it is therein farther enacted,
that no person shall for ever be placed in any of the said
offices, that shall not within one year previously have
taken the sacrament according to the rites and ceremonies
of the Church of England, and likewise on election the
three oaths aforesaid, and subscribed the said declaration.
And that the said oaths and declaration shall be from time
to time duly administered to such persons who are to take
the same. And that the persons authorised to administer
the said oaths and tender the said declaration, shall cause
memorandums or entries to be made of all such oaths and
subscriptions, and deliver the same once a year to the
respective town clerks, or clerks of the said cities, corpor-
ations, and boroughs, who shall cause the same to be entered
into a book or register belonging thereto. Wherefore His
Majesty at the board having taken into consideration the
great importance to the public peace of the kingdom, as-,
well as to the orderly and quiet government of such city,,
corporation, and borough, we do, in his Majesty's name,.

136 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

hereby require you, with all convenient speed, to give an
account to his Majesty at this board, whether the said Act
hath been duly put in execution from time to time within
your borough of West Looe, and whether memorandums
or entries have been kept of the same, as by the said Act
is directed. And further, that you take eflfectual care, that
all the matters contained in the said Act be strictly put
into execution in future in relation to the taking of the
sacrament, and the oaths, and making of the subscription,
and the keeping of entries of the same ; of which we expect
a punctual account and observance fiom you And you
are also carefully to examine whether all such as have been
already chosen into any place rr ottice of magistracy, trust,
or other employment, concerning the government of your
said borough of West Looe have already taken the
sacrament and the said oaths, and subscribed the said
-declaration ; and if you find any who have failed therein,
that you forthwith cause every such person to be removed,
such election being void. And you are likewise to return
the names of all such persons who, having accepted any
election to such places, and not taken the sacrament and
and oaths, and subscribed the declaration, have yet
presumed to sit or act in any of the said places. And of
all your proceedings herein, and you are to give a just and
true account to his Majesty at this .board from time to
time. And so we bid you heartily farewell.

From the court at Whitehall, the 26th day of March,
1680.

Finch, C.
Anglesey, C.P.S. Albermarle.

Worcester. Bridgwater.

Bathe,

L. Jenkins. S. Godolphin.

Thomas Dolman.

A copy of the official reply is entered on the same page as
that containing the latter portion of the above letter. A
transcription follows, commencing thus : —

** The town's answer to this letter."

'* 6th June, i68o."

*' May it please yr Lordshipps,'*

** Whereas we have received a commandment from
ye Lordshipps by a letter bearing date the 26th day of

WEST LOOK COURT BOOKS. 1 37

March, requiring us to put in execution within our Cor-
poration and Borough of Portbyhan, also \^^est Loo, an
Act of Parliament, made in the Thirteenth year ot his
Majesty's most gracious reign, entitled, an Act for the
Well-governing and Regulating Corporations. We do
most humbly certify, that in obedience to yr Lordshipps
letter, we have made a particular and strict enquiry, and
find that the present Mayor, Steward, and Capital Bur-
gesses of our said Borough, with the Steward's Deputy,
and the Town Clerk (except Mr. Philip Hearle, one of
the Capital Burgesses of our said town and borough),
had, before their election into their several offices and
places of trust and employment in the said Corporation,
taken the oath of allegiance and supremacy, and the oath
wherein it is declared that it is not lawfull upon any
pretence whatsoever tp take arms against the King, and
did likewise subscribe the declaration against the Solemn
League and Covenant, and received the holy and blessed
Sacrament according as the said Act doth direct. And
forasmuch as the said Mr. Phillipp Hearle hath not con-
formed with the Act, we have thought fit to, remove the
same. Phillipp Hearle hath accordingly removed him-
self from the said office and place of trust, in the said
borough. And for the future, shall take care that he be
not elected into any office or place of trust in the borough
before he or they have performed what the said Act
requires. And shall, from time to time, inform yr Lord-
ships of our proceedings therein." *' And so we remain,
Yr Lordshipps most humble servants,

J. Trelawney, Steward. Thomas Mellowe, Mayor^
Christopher Mynards. Jona. Trelawney.

Peter Westcott."

At the court held 29th November, 1680, Peter Westcott,
Gentleman, was sworn Mayor for the year ensuing. (He was
the first of whom it is recorded, that he took the oaths as re-
quired by the act quoted above). The presentments at his
first court are illegible, the writing being defaced by damp and
age.

At the court held 24th of NovemT^er, 1680, is the entry, in
Latin, ** be it remembered that Jonathan Trelawney, Baronet,
on this day is duly elected and appointed Chief Seneschal or
Kecorder of this Boro' of Portybyan, otherwise West Loo, for
and during the term of his natural life. And the said Jona.
Trelawney then and there took the oath for due execution of

138 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

his office, and the several oaths of allegiance and the declar-
ation." The auto^^raph ** Jona. Trelawney '* is subjoined.
Then follows, in Latin, the entry ** Edward Trelawney, Clerk,
was, then and there before the Mayor and Capital Burgesses of
the Boro' aforesaid, with their unanimous consent and assent,
sworn a Freeman of the same Boro'."

At the court held 27th April, 1681, the two Down-drivers,
Richard Furse and John Jewell, were ordered to attend the
next court, to give an account of their office and to deliver up
all things pertaining thereto, and in the meantime to repair
the Common Pound of the Boro,' on pain of 20.'-.

At the court i8th May, 1681, the two Down-drivers are
again ordered to yield up at the next court all things belonging
to their office, and in the meantime to repair the Pound, on
pain of 40 -.

The 2gth of September, 1681, Thomas Bawden was elected
Mayor. And he elected Pascoe Gour(i, senr., and Nicholas
Grills, Serjeants at Mace (Hach took the oaths, and the
Mayor subscribed a Declaration against the validity of the
^* Solemn League and Covenant.") The Law Court records
during Mr. Bawden's mayoralty to May 2nd have no special
interest. On the last named day a court was held, as it is said,
*' before Thomas Bawden, Mayor there ; Jonathan Trelawny,
Baronet, Recorder of the same Boro'." Orders of the court
were : — " that Walter Jew be committed for his great abusive
language in court, for his disturbing the court and contemning
its authority, and that he be fined ;^2o, and is hereby fined
twenty pounds accordingly by this court." Also that ** John
Cardew be suppressed for selling ale."

At the court held 14th June, 1682, Kichard Furse paid 1/6
as ** Relief upon the alienation to him of lands called Lifton
Land, within the Boro', and he was admitted tenant thereof."
Two other persons pay ** Reliefs " upon deaths, and are sever-
ally admitted tenants.

At a court on 29th September in this year, Robert Hearle
was elected and took the usual oaths. On subscribing to the
Declaration he distinctly signs his name ** Robt. Harell." At
his first court the Clerk still writes the name ** Hearle " and
follows it with those of Sir Jonathan Trelawny, Chief Steward
or Seneschal, John Tippet, Gentleman, and five other Chief
Burgesses. The innkeepers and their sureties enter into their
respective recognizances. And the entry as to these is
immediately succeeded by a ** Memorandum that the Mayor

WEST LOOE COURT BOOKS. I 39

and Principal Burgesses at the immediate above said court, did
lease and grant unto Thomas Bawden, one of the said Prin-
cipal Burgesses, his executors, etc., all that plat of ground .
betweeen Chandlers Key and the said Mr. Bawden's house
there ; which said waste place is the place were the inhabitants
of the said Boro' by licence of the said Mayor use to lay timber
I except out of this grant a place to trim and grave ships,
vessels and boats, and a sufficient way to pass, carry and
re-carry). To hold the premises from the date thereof, until
the 2gth day of September the next, under the rent of
£1 13s. od. And the said Mayor, etc., were to free the said
Bawden from all persons lawfully disturbing him.

Subscribed at the court held on the day and year aforesaid,
1682.

Eobt. Harell, Mayor.

The signe of Peter Westcott.

Sign of Nicholas Grills.
Sign of John Lee.

John Tippett, Christopher Maynards.

Witness, John Oben, Town Clerk."

On 26th October, 1682, Charles Johns and Charles Badcock
were sworn ** Assessors" (i^e., persons chosen to fix the
amount) of fines and amerciaments to be inflicted in the
Boro* Court. And they '* sei on the head for contumacy of
every Free Tenant, for default at each of the two Law Courts
held immediately before the last Law Court, and the same
fine (three pence each) for the last mentioned court. They
also assessed a fine of ;^2o lately laid upon Walter Jew for his
disturbing of and misbehaving himself in the Law Court,
on the 7th of May last."

The headings and a note of one relief paid at the earlier of
the two Law Courts, held in March and November, 1682,
respectively, appear on the last sheet, which closes the records
contained in this book.

Richd. Peter, The Cottage, Launceston.

30th September, 1901. (Born 9th October, 1809.)

It is unfortunately impossible to further continue this
analysis of the proceedings in the Corporation Courts of this
ancient borough, as the books recording them are now no
more. The cover of one such, bearing this inscription : —
** This book was given to the towne of West Looe by the
Honble. Edward Trelawny, Esq., one of his Majesties

Conimissione

s of the

Victu

lling

Office

, A.]).

7(0

Master

Peter Jewel,

Mayor,'

has

siirvi

ed.

That s

of these

records were

existing

at thfc

betr

nning

of the

xix.

Century

is evident from the

qiiotal

ons

made

from

hen

by the

counsel engai,'ed on either side, at the eniiuiry held before
a Committee of the House of Commons, into the proceedings
at a contested election in the year 1S22. Such ijuotations as
are therein preserved are here insfrted.

"At a court held April 20th. 1703, l'hili|) Minard, Edward
Frew, John Thomas, Sanniel Jew, nef^lecling to join their
brethren in returning the presentments, were fined 40/-

WEST LOOE COURT BOOKS. I4I

each, and disfranchised ; and upon submission, the Court
restored their freedom."

** At a court held in 1705, Philip Grills, a Free Burgess is
adjudged disfranchised, for great misbehaviour in abusing
the Mayor and Magistrates of this Corporation."

The Court Leet having been intermitted, and as it would
seem, by the intentional neglect of the Corporation; in
the year 1709 the Leet Jurj present : — (inter alia) '' that
no person ought to be sworne free of this borough, unless
presented by the jury of the said borough."

In the same or the following year, a complaint is made against
the Mayor, for witholding from his successor the town
books ; and two years after this presentmenJt of the Leet
Jury, one of the presentments at the court, is cut out in the
middle of one of the pages of the book.

After that date, traces are apparent, that the Corporation
used every effort to get rid of the Court Leet, and many
years passed without its being held at all, and afterwards
it was continued only at intervals. In the meantime the
corporation, who in 1678, began for the first time to admit,
on their own election. Free Burgesses, made from time to
time considerable numbers of them, many of them being,
in defiance of the Charter, non-residents.

At length the Mayor was ousted by ** quo warranto." x\fter
a long interval, a Court Leet was held, and 67 Free
Burgesses resigned, and others were presented by the jury.
Notwithstanding this effort to restore the ancient consti-
tution of the borough, the corporation again acquired their
ascendancy, for at the beginning of the xviii. century the
larger portion of both free and Capital Burgesses resided
without the borough, while the inhabitants were excluded,
from their municipal privileges."

COKPOKATION (

West Looe Mayaral Accaunts.

ERE is lilile lo be added litre to (he
remarks introducing the selections made
from the Mayoral Accounts of I'-ast
Looe. The earliest accounts were kept
in a book, only portions of which have
been found. With much care and labour
these portions were collected together
and rebound, by the workmen engaged
in the Public Record Office, The paper
is sadly dilapidated, and the writing
defaced by damp and age. To do the
book justice, requires the knowledge of

e compiler has no claim to be, so he must
ith offering a transcript of one or two of

an e\pei

perforce be content

the pages most easily deciphered, as a sample of what the

contents appear to be.

The West Looe Accounts for the latter half of the xvii.
century are on loose sheets of paper, and when this fact is
realized, our wonder is, not that so few are still extant, but
rather that any have survived so lonj;. The earliest, in this
group, is dated in the Mayoralty of Thomas Francis, 1654,
and the latest, is dated 1685, the year of the accession of
James II. The income at the disposal of the Mayor, for
administrative purposes during this pieriod, ranged from ^20
to ^30 a year. But it was not uncommon for his worship to
retire a poorer man than he was before he assumed office.
This may account for the difficulty Which at times confronted
both Corporations in finding a person willing to incur the
necessary expense. Still, if tradition may be relied upon, the
office was not altogether without emolument. It also appears
that the income was not entirely disbursed for what, in these
prosaic days, is described as " administrative purposes."
Certain entries would scarcely be passed by the Government
Auditor, in the reign of Edward Vll.

WEST LOOE MAYORAL ACCOUNTS. I43

There are not any accounts extant for the xviii. century.
Indeed, from the report of the Royal Commission in 1832,
it would appear that none were kept, till rumours of the
appointment of such an enquiring body reached Looe, when
a book for this purpose was purchased, and the annual
receipts and expenditure dilligently entered therein, till the
year 1861. After this date, none are entered, and the Cor-
poration shortly afterwards ceased to exist.

EXTRACTS FROM THE CORPORATION ACCOUNT BOOKS.

1578— 1861.

The 18th October, 1578, John Jesup, Mayr of the Borough
of Pollpdn, did make his acont of the mony that was
reseveyed for the hywaye, wyche doth amont to los. 8d.

John Harell and Thomas Clarke, warns' of the weys, for
that yer.

Harry Lorre, Mayr, for the yer folloynge.

Thomas Lob and Thomas Clarke, waye warnes.

Due to paye at Mychellms, the yere, 1579 : —

Richard Gill for tyinber ... ... £0 4

Robert Wallche ... ... ... 9

Hary Le ... ... ... ... 9

Ellitt Meynard ... ... ... ... 1 4

Edmoii Davie ... ... ... ... I t)

Fitter Demcke hatb in his hand for key mony ... 3 8

John Cock, his due to haod to Michalmas ... 3 9

Wyll Jesup ... ... ... ... 6

Richard Gyll bath payd in part of payment of the
stall money.

The 29th November, the yere above written, John Jesup
made a just accompt of his election before the Mer and his
brother.

Reseveyed of Sady for the fayer mony ... £0 4 5

Resevej'ed of Lob for the hey ways ... ... 18 1

Delivered before the Mayor the half the yere next above
written : —

Hary Wellcbe doconfes to owe for the town mony £0 3 3
For f ers (furze) ... ... ... 12

John Olemeds for fers ... ...' ... 2 4

Hary Loree beinge Mer did refound of the townes mony 3/-

Ano Dni 1579, Hary Lore, Mayr, the 24th August : —

The Ma3'or and the twellf (twelve) wt " divers
others of the towiie did rekoned for the hey
wey mony wyche doth amont to Thomas Lob
his hand ... ... ... ... £19 1

144 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

The niaydnes gatherynge wyche brought that day

anionte to ... ... ... ... £11 10

John (leake hath payd ... ... ... 6 10

Hary Cocke moust paye vs of ihe mony above
written.

In the xxi. yere of the Rayne of our Soverrente Laye
Elezebethe.

In yere of the Mershepe of Harrye Lowrye.

Item — Peade Petter Peake for making of the tabelo horde, xviiid.
For makinge up of the wendoo. vid.
Hellere (slater) for hellinee of the chapell, xviiid.
For lafe (lath) for nales. for c lafes, xviid.
„ For his horde 1/-, for laime.
Lede out by the Mare for a peare of geveses (gyves) xid.
To Colakote tow shellmgcs to give to the showes.
For making of the dearke house dore, vij. grotes.
For a loke. iiij.
To John Defoe for makinge nales and gemes (hinges

or iron ring handles) aboute the kofer, vij.
John Jesop. charges when he wente to Pleraowes, iiij.
For 2(K) of shell stones, xij.

This count was leved and payd the 29th September, the

yere above written.

Anno Dni 1580, the 20th of October.

Remr tliat John Geacke. beynge Mer the yere abouf written, hath
pas hia accont for all matters except for the xxxs. iid. and for
the tres that did growe on the keye and hath delivered in rede
mony to John Harell, beyinge Mer for this present yere,
xlvs. iiij.

The Maior hath ped out to heipe tofrpaj-e the subsidie, iiijs. viij.

Allowed and paid the 21st of May, 1594.

What mony Mr. Grose hath leayed out : —

Item — Leayed out for wyne when Sr William went to London, for

one quart, viiid. (1)
Two sodares yt came out of Ffrance, iid.
Item — Payd out for a potell of wyne at Sr Williams' comcinge

home from London, xxd.
Item — Payd to the collectors yt gathered the hose of pleinte, iid.
Item — Layd out to Henry Lowrie. is. xd.
Item — Layd out at Liskeard corte. xs. id.
Payd by the Maior to the pavors, iis.
More payd for breakinge of the rocke viijd.
Payd unto Harry Lowre for his worke. vs,
Payd unto Mr. Prideaux for conselers' feese.

1594-
John Geake hath made his accompt as it appeareth the day
and yere aforesaid, and the wey wardens hath made their
accompt.

(1) Sir William Bevill, Steward of the BorouKh. See Chapter xx. for note on him
•nd others.

WEST LOOE MAYORAL ACCOUNTS. I45

There reniaineth in the towne stock xijd., the which remaineth in

the Master Maiors hands.
Due unto the towne from Thomas Bucke and Will Carthew (.') for

the pond park the soinme of viijs.

The 5th daye of Jannie, 1695.

John Harell, the yeare past beinge Maior, hath made his
accompt as followeth : —

Imprimis — Harry Hichens for his incomminge, iiis.
Thomas Martin for his incomminge, iiis.
William Weston for the waye mony upon . . in plege and the

towne-drivers hath payd xijd.
Walter West payd for rent of a plat at chapell ent. vs. iiij.
So he made an end of his accompt for all matters save for the

waye mony.
Master Maior hath in his hands of the towne mony, xxxs.

The above is the last extract from the book ending 1601.

Thomas Francis, Mayor, 1654 — 55.

Joshua Bawden's accompt what I have disbursed for ye

towne business as followeth : —

Imprimis for ye jury at Michaelmas ... ... £0 4

For 4 quarts and one pynt of saclce, 18d. per qt. ... 6 9

Nov. — More laid out to one man and his wife and

childien yt cam fro Ireland ... {)

More for W nieti yt lost there ship ... 6

Dec. — Gave to Ffrancia Wills when he went to

Crafto ... ... ... ... 10

28. — Gave a Ffrenchman ... ... 1

•Jan. 12. — Pd for a pare of shoes for Mathew Dier 1 6

15. — Gave to a sayman which was taken by a

Brest man of war ... ... 2

22. -Pd to Will Popham and Peter Westcott

for 3 montlis rate ... ... 10

26.— Pd John Winton and Well GoiU'd for
ca?*ing away 2 barges of robble from ye
barge under ye cay ... ... 4

Gave a pore sayman of London yt lost

his ship

Feb. 12. — Payd Thos Gord for mending ye cayes...

14. — Pd Will Gord for bringing 1 barge of

scones ... •.. ...

24. — Pd Peter Cossens when he was prest
(impressed for the Navy) ...
^lar. 8. — Pil ye Hondred Bayly when he warned
me to Size
11.— Pd Will Popham and Peter Westcott for

3 months rate
13. — Pd Will Courtise when he went to St.

13. — We spent about ye busness at Est Loo ...
21. — Pd John Honey for clensing ye late (leat)
24. — For my charge for going to Size and
horse hire

3

11

4

6

•>

*rf

6

8

10

8

•
1

6
6

10

6

146 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

Apl. 4. — Pd John Honey for clensing ye streete

by Danell Bath dore ... ... £0 6

17. — Pd a pore man yt came out of Turkey ... 2

24. — Spent about to wne busness ... ... 3 6

30. — Pd a pore man that came from Turkey ... 4

May 7. — Payd to ye jury ... ... ... 4

For 1 quart of sack ... ... 1 6

26. — Pd Thomas Dier for earring a poste

letter to Foay (Fowey) ... ... 16

29.— Pd Mr. Arford and Timothy Mellow for

copiing ye Charter ... ... 13

More spent upon Mr. A.rford att ye doing

of it ... ... ... 16

July 3. — Pd to 4 Ffrenchmen yat was taken by a

Dunkark (ship) ... ... 4

4.'— For going to Plymith to speak 4

15. — Pd John Honey for mending ye stile to

Hanavope 4

18.— To Will Popham and Peter Westcott for

3 months rate ... ... ... 10

22. — Pd to Elizobeth Doney for lodging a

taken man and his meat for the day

and his supper ... ... 4

23. — Spent about towne busness ... ... 8

Aug. 2.— Payd to ye Hondred Bayly 1/- and

spent upon him 0/6 ... ... 1 6

18. — Spent when ye indentures were made ... 1 2

20. — For my expence to Bodmin 2/- and horse

hire 3/4 ... ... ... 5 4

26. — For my horse hire and expence for goinge

to Shillinghame (1) ... ... 1 6-

Sept. 3. — Gave to 6 Ffrenchmen wh was taken ... 4

12. — Gave a pore woman wh had 4 children ... 3-

17. — Payd for sack at ye last court ... 9

22. — Payd to the Ffrenchman yat was taken... 2

24. — Pd to a . . that came to the Rogations

(Beating the Bounds) ... ... 6

Oct. 1.— To Peter Weskott and Will Popham for

3 months rate ... ... ... 10

11. — Spent about ye towne busness ... 3

12. — Gave to a man of our town yt was taken

aD sa^ ... ... ... &

14. — To Ffrauncis Wills for hi (gh) rent of

Poijpark ... ... ... 5

20. — Gave to Pl'moth men yat was taken att 2

vinies . • . ... ...

21. — To 3 men tlrat was taken

22. — Payd for maken cleane ye hall

23. — For getting in a new bench in ye towne

hall and labour and nales ...
24. — Payd Mr. Clements hia fees (2)

Payd William Courtice for goinge to

Penryn ... ... ... 5

(1) A residence of Sir Richard Buller. See Chapter xx.

(2) Steward and Town Clerk.

1

2
2

1

10

10

WEST LOOE MAYORAL ACCOUNTS. l\']'

26.— To Pasko Gord and William Gord for

their fee ... ... ... £0 5

To the poste ... ... ... 3 4

Payd out to ye Spaniard as I will account in several

payments ... ... ... ... 2 10 4

More payd ye solger ... ... ... 6

Suma £10 6 I)

Received by me the account day by me Thomas Ffrancis,.
£2 I OS. od., ye 4th of November, 1656.

Promised from ye widdow Cloak 15/-, and then cost me
twenty more.

Account of whatt I have received for the year 1655,.
beg'ing the 29th Octtober : —

Nov. 23. — Received of Georg. Williams for incum-

\. lAa£ ••• ••• ■•• •••

Dec. 11. — Received of Mr. Robert Ffrancis
Received of Dido Gadgcomb
18. — Received of Walter Harell for landing
tymber
Feb. 12. — Received of Nicholas Jew ...

1656.

Apl. 26. — Received of Stephen Gillard for rent and

layinge of his ship
May 6. — Received of Pasko Gord for ye faire ...
7. — Received of William Nattell for incom-

\ v\\gL ••• »•• ••• •••

Jnne4. — Received of Philip Grills for incoming...

Aug. 27. — Received of Thos. Mellow for incoming

Sep. 16. — Received of John Randell for laying of

renus ... ... ...

Oct. 13. — Received of Mr. A.rundell 1 j'eares rent
for ye milles
20. — Received of Dinzell Whitt for rent
27. — Received of Thos. Bawden ye hous and
garden
Received of John Honey for ])oundage...
28. — Received of William Ambrose for rent of
new cay
Received of Richard JefPery for rent ...
Received of Tamson Gadgecomb for rent

of her lands
Received of Philip Grills for rent of the

pig houses
Received of Thomas Bawden for Mr.

Kekewichis account of last year
Received for ye keyes this yeare
Received from Edward Gadgcomb for
rent ... ... 5 0*

£0
5

3

11

5

1

£0

3 10
5

3
3
3

2

a

4

4

1

6

1
5

4

4

2

10
6

^8

CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

Received of Margery Cloak for interest
of Hf) - ... ... ... £0 2

Received of Stephen Gillard for rent ... 8

£12 17 6

1

The last year there was £^ one for the Kayes, and there
as also due 25/- for repairing the Almshouses.

Thomas Bawden, 1657—58.

ccount of my disbursements for being Mayor : —
Ffor watching of Henry Peake I '-, and in here and

bred 2d. ... ... ... ... £0 1 2

To 2 taken men of Kent ... ... ... 3

Payd out the interest moneys as followith (then

comes a list of persons who are apparently in

receipt of some relief this year) ...
And for my allowance

Anthony Grubb, 1658—59.

Ffor 2 quarts of sack when we were at Deuloe, and

tobackow ... ... ... ... £0

Ffor a paire of shoes for Mother Dix ...
For sacke when Collonel 'IVeloney was here
Ffor the steward
Ffor the post

Robert Harell, 1659-60.

Sending a packett of letters to Ffoye ... ... £0

When we were at Treworkey, in wine

Paid to poore distressed peopell from time to time

For mending the boUen ground (the bowling

fifL\3\^[l») ••• ••• ••• •••

Joshua Bawden, 1665 — 66.

Oave to the butler at Trelawne ... ... £0

Spent when we red Mr. Seemor's money
Mending the gate to Hannafour

Thomas Mellow, 1667- 68.

To one lame vvh had a pass co travel on charity to

his friends
A poore man with his wife and 4 children with

one burnt in the fire, I gave
When we had a court of trial between Garrat and

Gord in a dinner
Spent at East Loo when we talked about ye som-

1110119 ... ... ... ...

Item — I charge for my allowans from ye towne ...

Peter Wescott, 1668 - 69.

I gave the cook and butler at Trelawne ... £0

Paid at Stratton for 8 ordinaries and for horse meat
and for beer and wine ...

1

2
1

10
3

2

15

8

6

6

4

4
8
6

4

£0

1

8

4

6

8

3

6

2

18

8

V

WEST LOOK MAYORAL ACCOUNTS. I49^»

£0

6

&

6

8

1

£0 10

17

4

1

2

5

Joshua Bawden, 1670—71.

To 5 Ffrencbmen wh lost there shipp
For saoke when Mr. Kendall was at Loo
Spent with the crowner
For lickur at court day ... ....

For 1 bottel of wine when we elected Mr. Semor...

Christopher Minards, 1671—72.

For ye pounde and balve and half quarter of bread
weights and a bagg tow hould them in

Pd a mistake in the last account

Pd for Harper when (he) was amaze ...

Spent at court for likor for Mr. Tomlinson (1) ...

Spent att general meeting for the renewing (writ-
ing out afresh) of our constitution ... 9

Robert Harell, 1672-73.

To 3 prest men put ashore sike ... ... £0 6^

When I was Ma^ror in 1666 then I was distressed
by the Sheriffs beleefs for ye towne busness
and put to charge the sum of ... ... 10

Thomas Mellow, 1673—74.

For calling a new fay re at fower places ... £0 1 6

Spent in publique about ye towne business with

Mr. Mayor of Eastlo ... ... ... 2

To 3 poore women of Plymouth which went about

ye country by lysens for charity to release

their husbands from ye Turks ... ... 1

Spent with Mr. Tinkomb when he brought barly

for ye poore ... ... ... 6

Spent with ye Justice at Eastlow when they

viewed ye bridge
Spent when I reed ye rynde money from ye tanners
For new drawing and inlarging ye constitution ...
For my alio wans and ye Sergeants fees ... 4

Joshua Bawden, 1675 — 76.

For repairing of Lestwithiel brigg ... ... £0

Spent when we apprehended ye horse theives

To a poore man wh came out of Turkey, captured

b> the Saley (Sallee) Rovers ... ... 4

Sir Jonathan Trelawny, 1676—77.
(Thomas Mellow, Deputy Mayor.)

Paide Walter Bawden at ye firste survey of ye

towne land ... ••• ... £0 7

Paide for calling ye survey of Eastloo ... 4

Expended on those that tooke paynes about Prest

in ye hall when he was mazed ... ... 2

Expended on ye Ffreemen at May day ... 5

For fower yards of green cloth for a carpett for

ye towne hall tabel ... ... ... 1 14 4

3

6^

10

10

6

5

1

6

3

6

(1) The Town Clerk.

t50 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

For tymber and niakin^e ye cookinge stoole
Paschow Gourd for last yeare's salery left to pay
Ffor my sallery I charge nothing.

Thomas Mellow, 1678—79.

Expence at first ordering ye watch and ye ward ...
For one payre of bandaleers for the towne use ...
For five pound of powder ...
Ye postage of fower proclamations from ye Sherif
Will. Keast and Abell Dyer for making ye watch

iJ \J \Jk*j\Z ••• ••• ••• •••

Paide for stocking and cleaning a muskett
Charges of a post letter from London when Parlia-
ment is dissolved
To distressed seamen and travellers at several

u\ 111^!!) ••• •«• ••• • •

Thomas Mellow, Mayor, 1679—80.

When East Loo maaristrates came to visit ye Col. I

spent then in all
Expended on Mr. Blight, the Procter, when he

came to take ye answers of ye fishermen
When Mr. Carey was sent to towne with ye newes

of ye porougation of ye Parliament
<Tave ye porter wlien we were at Trelawne feast ...
When we were at Liskeard about ye Churchwarden

and 2 witnesses to go to Liskerd ye same time
<Tave Mr. Harle to balance his accompt 1/6,

expended on ye family more

Thomas Bawden, Mayor, 1681—82.

Disburst for a later and news from Mr. Oben
^pent when Sir Jonathan came to towne, but did

not come
>Spent at Boaden's and Gourd's house when Mr.

Oben and ye Magistrates rote out the addrease
Disburst to travellers and ye Ffrench
For ye sergants cloakes triming and working
Ye charge for repairing ye tower

- 1682-83.

For one bo tell of sack for ye Parson Handcocke ...
Paid when ye ffares and keyes and waste land was

To the Cor (o) ner, Mr. Langdon, for his fees
Proclaiming ye Kinges proclamation ...
Bought three paires of bandaleares
Expended at Boaden's when ye addrease was

signed by ye Mayor and Magists and Freemen 5

Name of Mayor not given, 1685.

Spent ye day ye t^ing was proclaimed in wine

and beer and bonfire ... ... ... £10

£0

14

7

11
10

2
2

1

6

()

1

6

2

6

15

8

£0 14

4

2

:5

6

13

♦)

6

£0

1

2

6

1
3
6

3

8
8
1

4

4

11

£0

2

4

13

1

7

6
4

6

* From the Law Court Book it appears that •' Robert Harell " was Mayor this year,
f James II., by whom the Charter of Incorporation was confirmed.

WEST LOOK MAYORAL ACCOUNTS. I5I

Paid for postin*? of letters from Mr. Oben concern-
ing our Charters when he was at London ... £0 *J 4

Paid Mr. Oben when lie took his journey for

London with our Charters ... ... 1 15

For tow bottells of canary when our Charter was

brought home ... ... ... 4

Tow bottells of canary and 3 botells of clarett
wine when ye Earell of Bath and Sir Jonathan
Trelany ani other gentlemen was with him ... Cy <>

For one case of beere and 4 botells of wine that
was sent tow Capten Trelany and his souldgers
on ye Downe ... ... ... I)

This is the last of the second group of the Mayoral
Accounts.

EXTRACTS FROM THE MAYOR's ACCOUNT BOOK.

1832 — 61.

This book is in an excellent state of preservation, and
begins with a ** Survey and particulars of the several Tene-
ments, Estates and Lands belonging to the Corporation of
Portbyhan otherwise West Looe." This is followed by a list
of ** Chief Rents issuing out of lands in the Borough of West
Looe and payable to the high lord."

Nathaniel Hearle was Mayor for the period, with which the
book deals.

1832-33.

Paid for this book ... ... ... £10

Mayor for jury dinner and other expenses ... 10
Thomas Anngear and William Hickey, Town

Sergeants ... ... ... ... 2 2

William Hickey, care of town clock, one year ... 10

Receipts £49 16 1

Disbursements ... £26 10 6i

•* Seen and allowed, by us — J. Bnller, Steward,

Anthony Jeeves,
S. Puddicomb,
L Willcocks,
R. Thomas, and
William Willcocks."

1834—35.

Two years Land Tax for Pound Park, Hill
Meadow, and the Copper Ore Quay, omitted in
my two former accounts ... ... £0 10

152 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

Building a pig's house
Drink for tne masons

1836-37.

Expences of proclaiming Queen Victoria, the sum
1838-39.

Paid Mr. Tickell, Town Clerk

1839-40.

Expences of a treat to the inhabitants of West
Looe on the day of Queen Victoria's Marriage
Paid Edward Bundle, Beceiver's salary
Donation from the Corporation to the West Looe
new roads

1841—42.

Expences of entertainment to the inhabitants of
West Looe on the " Christ itig " of the Duke of
Cornwall

Paid Charles Tregema for two hats and silver lace
for Town Sergeants

1842—43.

Beceived from Thos. Anngear for the fair
Beceived from Jas. Anngear for the cattle fair ...
Beceived copper ore dues from the South Caradon
Mine, from Ed. Bundle

Beceipts £96 13 7

Disbursements ... £96 7 U

£0 10
6

9

£4 13

6

£5

0-

£7 4
10

2

40

£15

0-

3 19

a

£1 8
10

7

55 19

10

1843—44.

Paid Miss Nancy Bundle for instructing eight poor
girls of West Looe, in reading and writing ...

1844—45.

Gave to Mr. Tickell for the widows of four

drowned men
Paid the Bev. Bichard Buller, a donation to the

East Looe Chapel
Expences of attending the Assizes at Bodmin

1846-47.

Gave a donation for "deeping " the river near the
u u ay ... ... ... ...

1847—48.

Cash to Bobt. Pearce and family to emigrate ... 2
Paid John Bichards a half-year's (Tithe) Bent

Charge for Pound Park ... ... 13 9

The remaining accounts do not present any points of
interest. The last entry in the book is for the year 1860 — 61.

£10

£2

10
4

£12

ST. NICHOLAS CHAPEL AND GUILDHALL.

153

CHAPTER XI IT.

St.

Chapel and Quildhall.

EL DOM has a place of worship
in this country suffered such
strange vicissitudes of fortune as
have befallen the Chapel dedicated
to St. Nicholas, in West Looe.
What the immediate purpose of
its foundation was, is lost in the
mists of the Middle Ages. Was it
built to serve as a Chantry Chapel,
or as a Chapel of Ease to the
Parish Church of Talland ? Persons learned in ecclesiastical
history, sometimes assert the one and sometimes the other
theory to be the more correct. Either surmise may be right,
and the lack of reliable information makes one as likely as the
other. The reader will please himself which belief he accepts,
and should, if wise, keep his decision strictly private. Should
he do otherwise, he will get into trouble with those who
disagree with him, for presuming to have an opinion of his
own. It is at any rate tolerably certain that the Chapel was
built sometime before the thirteenth century, and the follow-
ing translation of a deed, dated 1336, conveying property for
the support of a priest to minister therein, implies the then
existence of the Chapel : —

TALLAND.

Confirmation of the endowment of the Chapel of

Porthbigham,
given at Alverton, on the 15th day of July, 1336.

John^ by Divine permission ^ Bishop of Exeter, to all
who may see these Letters ^ gi'^eting in the holy bonds
of the Saviour,

Seeing that the condition of the present life is uncer-
tain, and those things which are seen point to those
things which are not seen, a beloved son, John Dawney,

CORPOKATION t

PNICLES OF LOOE.

Knight, taking into consideration the foregoing truths,
and wishing to provide for the last day and to make a
proper provision for the last journey, has been anxious
for the endowment of the Chapel of St. Nicholas, Porth-
bigham, in our Diocese, built by his ancestors and certain

ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH.

le uit<l as a Guildhall bj/ llie Corporiil'imi (■/ Wei

ST. NICHOLAS CHAPEL AND GUILDHALL.

155

Others of Talland devoted to God, in which parish the
said Cliapel is kiiuwn to be situated. Further, the
knight aforesaid humbly seeks through us for the endow-
ment to be, confirmed : we, therefore, willing to grant
this favour, the details of the scheme having been sub-
mitted to us. in order that Divine worship may be

increased by the devotion of the faithful, we forthwith
ratify the foregoing by our own i'ontifical authority, that
a Priest as aforesaid be appointed by us and our
successors to the said Chapel to celebrate the Diviae
Mysteries, unless he be hindered by infirmity of body, or
from other reasonable cause. By this permission we do

156 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

• ■" . ■ ■ . ■ •

not intend anything to be introduced prejudicial to the
Church of the aforesaid parish.

The next bit of history connected with the Chapel is found
with the foregoing in the Exeter Diocesan Registers.

In the year 1400, Stafford was Bishop of Exeter, and in
those days, there being no Bishop of Truro, West Looe was
in his Diocese. Now the people *of West Looe, finding the
Church at Talland too far away, sent a petition to Bishop
Stafford, asking him to send them down a Priest to look after
them, and hold services in their Church of St. Nicholas.
They had a Church, they wanted a Parson ; but the Bishop
was a i\ase and business-like Bishop. He was quite prepared
to send them a Parson — if they were prepared to pay for him.
We can imagine the many meetings and long debates which
took place on the receipt of this answer ; but at last they
made up their minds, and so we find thie following entry in the
registers at Exeter : — *' License granted to the inhabitants of
West Looe to have Divine Service at their own charges in
the Chapel of St. Nicholas there— 23rd June, 1400, A.D.,'*
and down to St. Nicholas came John Trethewey, and so well
do they seemed to have liked John Trethewey, that fourteen
years afterwards another Trethewey, Walter Trethewey,
was the Chaplain at St. Nicholas.

What was its fate at the Keformation ? If it was a Chantry
Chapel, it would have certainly shared the fate of others of
that character, and have been ruthlessly suppressed by
Edward VL and his ministers, who deprived the nation of so
much and gave back so little. This much is certain, the
endowment disappeared and has not since been heaid of. The
only wonder is that the very structure was not taken as well.
Probably it would have gone, had not West Looe been shortly
afterwards granted a Charter of Incorporation, which, amongst
other things, empowered the Corporation to have a Council
Hall. Thus, a building was ready to hand for this purpose in
the Chapel of St. Nicholas, disused and despoiled. An
assertion is occasionlly heard that the Chapel was not annexed
for this use till the restoration of Charles II. But a realiza-
tion of the spirit of that age makes such a theory inherently
improbable. Further, the West Looe Corporation Accounts
do not contain entries for the repair of the building as a
Chapel, such as appear in the accounts of the sister body,
and when mention is made of the building the term generally
used for its description is *' Guildhall," and seldom ** Chapel.**

ST. NICHOLAS CHAPEL AND GUILDHALL. I57

Even when the latter term is used, the reference invariably
implies a use for secular purposes.

When Bond wrote his history of Looe, the idea that the
buildittjg had ever been anything else than a Guildhall, was a
vague tradition, aiid' he refers to it thus: —

" West Looe . f hks nothing remarkable to notice,
except its Guildhall, which tradition says, was formerly a
Chapel of Ease dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron
saint of mariners or fishermen. It has a turret, with a
bell and a clock in it , . . Round the railings of the
bench, for the Mayor and Burgesses to sit on, is this
inscription :^* Erected in the Mayoralty of Colonel John
Trelawny, 1679.' Adjoining the stairs of this hall are
still to be seen the remains of a cage for scolding women ;
bat to the credit of the sex, it has not been used of late
years."

In the MS of Mr. Bond, is a note that the cupola was
placed on the tower in the year 1835.

As a Guildhall the Chapel continued to serve till the year
1 85 1, when it was recovered for ecclesiastical uses. The story
of its reconciliation and its restoration is of some interest, and
is best told in a letter written by the Rev. E. Seymour, Vicar
of the parish at that time, to J. R. Richards, Esq., of Looe.
The letter reads : —

•* The restitution and restoration of St. Nicholas,
West Looe, was, I am glad to say, initiated and carried
out by me, and mostly at my expense.

The Mayor, sole representative of the ancient borough,
giving it back to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for the
Church. Mr. Buller, of Morval, and his mother
generously assisting, as also did Henry, Bishop of
Exeter.

Before the restorat|C»]^the jail looked through the iron
bars of the windows ii^^o the Church where the aisle now
is.

The tower was a cage for scolding women — a Cornish
institution, and as at Truro, a most effective one. The
Church has been used as a justice room, a dais in the
chancel recorded on a beam its dedication to such use.

When we were compelled to pull down and re-build
the east wall, we found in it the sills of the east window.
It was 'too late then to restore it, and the present granite

158 ■ CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE-

window had been cut and brought home. But its
discovery established the antiquity of the building, the
window being a double lancet one. There is at the
Exeter Registry a statement that on the petition of the
inhabitants of West Looe, ,a, salary being found, the
Bishop sent a Priest to serve.jt.

In the east wall, I found bullets not fired, which I may
have now, and a little stone jug, which I left in the
piscina for a cruet It was old, for it had been built in
the wall ever since the revolution.

In the south wall of the nave, about mid-way, there
was a door walled-up, showing that originally there had
been a staircase or entrance from the high land above,
and also signs of a stone bench, as existing early where
no seats were provided.

The chancel was so short as to give no room hardly for
a choir. 1 therefore lengthened it, at the expense of the
nave, by adding an additional set of principals in the
roof. The said beams coming out of the old -San hstf,
which Nelson took, and which was at that time being
broken up at Plymouth."
With this restoration to religious use the connection be-
tween the Corporation and the building happily ended, and
St. Nicholas Chapel is henceforth incorporated into the
Parish of Looe, as a Chaf)el of Ease to ihe Parish Church of
the same.

The date inscribed on the Chapel bell is 1737.

WEST LOOE PRESENTMENTS.

159

CHAPTER XIV.

The West Looe Presentments.

HE presentments made ** by the jury for the lord
the King," in this borough, are for the most part
entered in the Court Books. Extracts from these
presentments will be found, for the most part, in
the exhaustive report on such Court Books as
are still extant, made by Mr. R. Peter.

The presentments quoted from, in this chapter^
were entered on odd sheets of paper, which are now all in a
more or less dilapidated state. They are probably the original
presentments drawn up by the jury at the Court Leet, and are
commonly signed by the foreman. Occasionally a list of the
jurors accompanies the record, to which it is attached by a pin.
In consequence of the presentments being written on odd
sheets, only a small proportion of them are still surviving.
The earliest of these sheets bears the date 1675, and the
latest 1798.

1675. — Imprimis— The death of Walter Fitzwilliams is pre-
sented for an ** analation." The " key commonly called
Chanlers Key,'* is presented to be town land ; also " the
chimly of the mansion house to be very dangerous '* ; also
*' John Borden, for suing of Nicholas Jope out of the borough
and contrary to our ancient constitution.'*

1676.— Peter West cot is presented for ** making of breaches
upon the Town Common, and all those people that keep piggs
contrary to the statute. John Sawdy, of St. Martins, and
John Kayne, of East Looe, for carrying away of earth from
the Common. John Tippet, gent., with eleven others for not
being sworn townsmen." At the October court, in the same
year, the Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented for ** not
having a cage and stocks in repair. The Town Well for not
being useful to the inhabitants, also the Constables, for not
visiting the ale-houses."

l6o CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

1677. — -A-t a court held in May, among other presentments,
*' John Dowbing, of Milbroke, for casting lymestcfnes in the
river, to the annoyance of the inhabitants.*' The deaths of
Walter Langdon, Esq., and three others are presented. John
Randle and John Jewell to be Down-drivers. Boger James
is presented for ** keeping a horse tyed at his door, hindering
the way before his door in the night at May Day, and would
not remove the horse, but said he would keep him there in
despite of anybody, and throw the person (complaining) over
the key." Two persons are presented ** for not being sworne
Freemen."

1678. — The presentments at the May court ^.re prefixed with
the following instruction : — \,.

** To Pasco Gourd and John Gourd, Sarjeants of , the
Mace, of the borough."

*' These are in his Majesty's name to will and command
you that you or one of you do summon or warn the
persons under named that they and any of them
do personally appear at the next court to be held for the
said borough at the Guildhall there upon Wednesday the
nine and twentieth day of this instant May by ten of the
clock in the forenoon then to answer to all the present-
ments whereof they stand presented at last Law Court
by the jury."

** Given under my hand this twentieth day of May
Anno Domini 1678."

*' Edward Tomlinson, Steward."

The jurors ** present Mr. John Stapp, Mr. Tomlinson*s son-
in-law, and doe hold him nor his wife and children fitt to live
nor inhabit in our borough." At the October court the jurors
** present Thomas Sillyphant, and find him not fit to inhabit
in this our town of West Looe.*' Also five persons are pre-
sented for alienations, and two for not being sworn Freemen.

1679. — The record for this year has been duly entered in
the Law Court Book, and the court held 14th May, is thus
dignified, ** A lawful court with view of Frankpledge and
Sessions of the Peace." Thirteen persons were sworn as the
jury to enquire for the lord the King. Their first present-
ment on oath is *' that the Mayor and Capital Burgesses
were in default for not having a weight to weigh bread sold
within the boro'." Then follow presentments of an alienation
of lands ; of a chimney in decay to the danger of the inhabi-
tants ; of the death of John Harell, who had been a Free

WEST LOOK PRESENTMENTS. l6l

Tenant, and that his son Robert was his heir ; of Thomas
Vallackand two others who *' had sold and were still selling
ale without a licence of the Mayor and having no licence
from the King as common tiplers '* ; *• the Constables for
neglecting their duty to go through the whole boro' every
night next following the Sunday, and because they had not
arrested such as were common spouters on the Sunday and
other evil doers.'* And they continued all former usual pre-
sentments.

At the court held in October, 1679, the jury ** for the lord
the King," again present the Mayor and Capital Burgesses for
neglecting to provide a weight for weighing bread. Also for
failures to repair ** the highway leading from the Down-gate
to the wharf or keyes belonging to the borough." And for
omitting to repair the wharf itself. They also present that
*** the place within the boro' called the Towne Well is parcel
of the lands of the Mayor," etc. Also that the place called
Chandlor's Courte belongs to the same. They present the
Mayor .and Burgesses of East Looe for neglecting to repair
the wharf called *' The Newkey," within the boro' of West
Lobe. Also the death of a Free Tenant. Some Free Tenants
are presented for omitting ** suit of court."

At the court held in May, 1680, the jury (13 in number)
present the neglect to provide a bread-weight, and to repair
the road from the Down -gate, followed by a few presentments
of the usual character.

At the October court of the same year, the paper on which
the presentments are entered is so torn and the writing so
much defaced by damp, that the record cannot be satisfactorily
interpreted.

1681. — At a court held in April, the jury (13), present: —
(i) All persons who are in default for their suit in the Boro'
Courts. (2) The death of Jonathan Trelawny, Bart., one of
the Capital Burgesses and also a Free Tenant of the boro* ;
and that Jonathan Trelawny was his son and owed a relief to
the boro*. Then follow a number of presentments on the
usual affairs of the court.

At the October court the jury made presentments similar in
character to those of former courts adding ** All matters
previously presented and not reformed."

1682. — The jurors present : — the want of repair to the prison
and to the gate on the way to Henafore, also the need of a
'* Cage '* within the boro*, the neglect to supply a weight for

l62 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

sellinj^ the bread, and the '* reliefs*' due on the deaths of
certain Vree Tenants.

1686. — The wife of Richard ... is presented for taking
a pig from the Down-drivers. The Waywardens are pre-
sented for not having the streets in repair, and three men
for not having the way by their doors in good repair. *' John
Wilshnian, of East Looe, is presented for sending his ^rvant
and his horse to fetch earth from the Downe of this Corpora-
tion."

1687. — ** ^'fi ^o fi"^ Mr. Peter ... to be Mayor this
year." Then is recited the list of presentments of the usual
kind.

'* Presentments made by the jurors this 13th day of May,
1690." Printed in full.

" Wee p'sent Jonathan Trelawny, Ld Bishop of Exon,
for leavon Down his ward against the Common.

** Wee p'sent the Deputy Mayor for not way in g bread and
trying the flaggons.

'* Wee p'sent the pales betweene Mr. Martyn and th6
towne.

*• Wee p'sent the Mayor for not repairing the Pound.

** Wee p'sent all thos that turn pigges about the town
without wards.

*' Wee p'sent the Mayor of East Loo for not repairing the
New Key.

" Wee p'sent the Pound-drrvers not looking after the
('ommons. Fine 5s.

•* Wee p'sent the Constable for not lookin to the boys on
the Sabbath. Sub-poena 5s.

" We p'sent Thomas Jeffery, Richard Furz, Thomas
Hawden, for analations to the Mayor.

** We p'sent Elizabeth Furz, Mary Knight, for not repair*
ing the strete before their dors and we present all those
that ow sut here to-day and not appearing.

'* We p'sent all those that formerly was p'sented and not
traversed."

(Signed) Henrici Hodge.

At the October court two persons are presented for alienations
and two men ** for not repairing the strete according to
promise." Three for "not paying their money for the poor."

WEST LOOE PRESENTMENTS. 1 63.

1 69 1. —Only the presentments at the October Court are-
extant. Mephiboseth White is presented ** for keeping upon
the Town Common more than his stent." **The Mayor for
not having the town late (leaJt) cleaned/' ** Solomon Grose
for sawing "the Down-gate and not repairing the same.'* Five
persons for alienations.

1692. — None in existence.

1693. — -f^ ^^® presentments at the May court are : — The
Mayor and Capital Burgesses ** for not repairing the Town-
gate near the Downe," also '* the gate at Henyfor.** Mr.
Oben, the Town Clerk, is presented for not attending to
the former presentments. John Stap and Roger White are
found to be *' searchers and sealers of leather."

The October presentments begin with this expression of
gratitude ; ** We heartily thank Magger General Trelawny
for his kindnis in reparing the Town Kees." The heirs of Mr.
Foot are presented ** for not earring away the robull which is
anoyace to travellers."

1694.— The presentments of lx)th courts are preserved, but
the paper i$ so torn and damaged as to make the entries for
the most part unintelligible.

At the October court, amongst other things, a garden and a
wall are presented, and then '* the moneys which Mr. James
Kendall sent to the town which is not distributed."

1695. — The presentments at both courts are preserved.
Chandlers Court is presented as town land ; the death of
Thomas Dandy for an alienation ; the almshouse for want of
repair ; and one person for not being a Freeman.

1696. — The May court presentments alone survive ; in them
the Mayor and Capital Burgesses are presented for not
weighing the bread, also for not repairing the almshouse,
** Benjamin Haroll being sworn one of the jurors and for not
attending his place and office"; ** Mr. Foot for leaving the
rubbish of his old house in the footway to the great annoyance
of travellers and inhabitants " ; •* the death of John Peake and
we find Peter Peake, his brother, to be next heir."

1697. — The October court presentments alone survive,,
amongst them : — ** The hedge adjoining to the Town-gate for
not being repaired" ; **the street from one end of the town
to the other for not being repaired " ; ** John Clogg, wool
comber, for setting up of his employment and bringing in

164 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

of a family without a certificate or discharge " ; also three
•deaths for alienations.

1698. — At the court held in May, amongst many other
presentments: — '* We presente the Mare and Captol Burges
for not kiping the house that was gras (Grace) galgant in
repar/' ** We presente the Mare and Captol Burges fore not
weing (weighing) the bread as it hath been formly.*' ** We
presente the death of Philip Jue and Thomas Casel, of Foay,
for alnations." " We presente Robert Cleaft for leving robel
in the strete." *' Wee presente all those that owe sute and
carves to ther Magestes Corte and dante appere." ** Wee
presente all those presentments that hath been presented and
not travished (traversed) formly." ** Wee presente the
gardene opposite hereto on the west side to be in decay in
-default of the heirs of Wm. Foote, of Tiverton, deed, that
^iem reparandi usque 29th September next, sub-poena LXs."

1699. — Presentments at the May court : — ** Wee p'sent the
Mayor and Constables for not punishing of wicked and la^ey
persons both old and young which absent themselves from the
service of God and prophane the Sabbath day.'* ** Wee
p'sente the streets within our borough for not being repaired
according to promise because there is moneys allotted for the
•doeing of it and now we judge to be the fittest time in all the
year for the repairing of it," and then come presentments of
the ordinary nature.

1700. — Presentments without any special points of interest.

1701 . — Only the May court presentments are extant, amongst
them, Philip Grubb's garden is presented for being open to th0
highway. ** We present Daniell Sargent, servent to Mr.
Peter Westcott, junr., for casting a stone out of his master's
window about eleven or twelve o'clock at night, the 21st day
of February."

The next presentments extant are for the courts held in the
year 1714. In April fourteen presentments are made, amongst
them are two persons for an ** alienation " ; the Pound, the
streets and the ** keys " for needing repair ; Ferdinand©
Harell ** for keeping a horse to the Down having no right
there"; ** Mr. Westcot for leaving . . above the well in
Well Lane, which doth anoy the water ;" Nathan Cooke for
coming into towne without liberty from the lowne " ; " all
Freemen that doe not come to the court to do suit and service
-as belongs to them '* ; four men named ** to be Freemen."

WEST LOOK PRESENTMENTS. 165

At the October court, two deaths are presented for alien ^
ations. '* John Lucas for coming into the towne and keeping
trade house." ** Wee present the key that East- Looe Major
is to repair and the keyes the Major of our town is to repaire
and the streets we present that are much out of repair which
was presented last court."

The presentments next in existence are those for Aprils
1 7 17. — They offer nothing of interest beyond the presentment
of •* William Rallakey and his sister for living in the town
without a certificate." The presentments made at the October
court, in the same year, are i6 in number, of these, six are
directed against the * late Mayor,' for neglect-of duty in many
ways. Three deaths are presented ; " the house that Jacob-
Jew now living in being in danger of falling " ; also the town
shute.

1 7 16. — At the October court. — Of the eight presentments-
recorded, the * late Mayor' is mentioned for neglect of duty
three times. Also ** the Waywardens for not doeing their
ofis" ; •* all Freemen not attending the Law Court " ; ** Samuel
Jew, the elder, for abusing the late Constable in executing
of his office"; "Thomas Jew, the son of Samuel Jew, in
abusing the late Constable in executing of his office."

1 7 18 — At the October court, ten presentments are made,.
they are all of the usual type. From this date, onwards,.
there is a gap in the record of the presentments, a gap not
broken till the year named below.

1750.— At the May court, the Mayor is presented for not
weighing the bread and for not trying the weights and
measures ; •* the present Mayor fon not repairing the streets
and canells, and likewise for not repairing ^he stocks and cage,
and for not repairing the key from Mr. Charles Bawden's to-
the step below the Town Hall " ; '* Nathaniel Hearle, Robert
Mynard, Arthur Grils, for keeping hogs to run the streets " ;
*' Roger Pope for entertaining strangers" ; *' Thos. Soady for
not takeing away the rubbish which came off from the house
at Bridgend."

1778. — The next surviving list of presentments is for the
October court in this year, they are seven in number. The
late Mayor's neglects form the substance of three present-
ments. Johan Sarjent and the heirs of John Hearle, junr.,^
are presented for not repairing their respective quays.

1793. — None of the presentments made during the inter-
vening years have been preserved, at any rate among the old

l66 COHPORATIOS CHRONICLES OF IXWE.

Corporation papers. At the October court, in this year, nine
presentments are made, be|];iDning, as usual, with the last
Mayor's delinquincies, e.g. " We present the late Mayor for
not trevasing the last presentments." The present Mayor and
sis others for " not pairing up their hedges at the higher end
of the town " ; " Sir Harry Trelawny for leaving rubbis in
the street "; "Mr. John Binns and Co. for not cutting a
gutter under ground at their cellar at Chandler's Court, and
leaving their pilchard pickle to settle in the town, being very
offensive and a great newcience, and for not covering their
pickle pit being very dangerous for children."

1798. — .\t the October court, amongst other matters pre-
sented, " John BuUer, Ksq , for not repairing the wall and
rails behind the malt house." " The proprietors of the Meet-
ing-house for not railing their hedge joining with the high-
way " ; the executors of John Sarjent for not repairing their
quay, and the late Mayor and the Down-drivers for not execut-
ins- tlieit respective offices."

Though many of the preceding notices relate to matters
trivial in themselves, yet they throw considerable light on the
manners and customs of our predecessors, and on the circum-
stances attending their every day life.

CHAPTER XV.
The Bridge and Harlsour.

X. Davies Gilbert, in describing Looe, writes that
" the old bridge connecting the two boroughs
was about 384 feet in length, and it varied in
breadth from lo feet 3 inches to 6 feet 8 inches.
The bridge originally stood on 15 arcbes,
scarcely two of which were on the same scale,
including two square openings made for the
more easy passage of rafts and timbers. The
span of the arche.s varied from 2a feet to 9 feet :
the last arch on the eastern side was built up
1 the last century. The indulgence for building this bridge
/as granted 22nd October, 141 1 ; on its centre stood a cha^
r oratory dedicated to S. Anne, mother to the blessed Virgin

THE BRIDGE AND HARBOUR. 167

Mary. The chapel was licenced for Divine Service by
Edmund Lacey, Bishop of Exeter, i8th November, 1436.
Inscriptions on granite tablets at each end state that it was
repaired by the county in 1689."

In 1852, after much debating at the Quarter Sessions, a
grant was made for building a new bridge, the foundation
stone being laid June i6th, 1854, ^^^ ^^e whole structure
being completed and opened in the following year. The new
bridge is about 100 yards further up the river than the old
one was, and cost ;^2,984.

Having made this short reference to the bridge, we must
pass on to the harbour, the dues from which were a consider-
able source of revenue to the Corporation of East Looe in
the eighteenth century. A detailed account of the revenue
for one quarter, in the year 1751, has come down intact on an
odd sheet of paper. The statement for one month for that
period, which is inserted here, will show the character of the
trade of the port : —

** An account of what I have received for keage, since the
last day of March to the last day of April, 1751, by
me Joseph Soady, Coll : of the same."

*' April—

5. — Received of Peter Rippin, an open
boat, for keage of 5 casks of brandy
from London ... •*• £^ i 3

9. — Received of J. Callso, an open boat

of Penzance, for the wreck goods ... 10

33. — ^^Received of E. Crispin, for 3 tons and

i of hemp from London, for Foye... 2 4

15. — Received of John Venters, an open

boat and for 3 tons of ballace ... i 10

17. — Received of Richard Evens, for his

slupe and for 6 tons of ballace ... 3 4

23. — Received of/John Hicks, for his slupe

and for 4 tons of ballace ... 28

23. — Received of Thos. Soady, for 58 quar-
ters 01 wheat, sent to Plymouth ... 10

:29. — Received of Capt. Cotton, for 2 hds.
of sperits, from London to Lost-
withiel •«• ••• ... 4

1 68 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

The total receipts for the quarter were £'^ 17s. 6d., and the
Collector's salary for the period was 10/-

There would appear to have been considerable friction, from
the middle of the century onwards, between the Corporation
and the traders using the port. In 1788, the body corporate
sought counsel's opinion on the matters in dispute, and as the
subject is of some interest, the case as presented by the cor-
poration with the opinion thereon, is inserted in full. The
case reads thus : —

** The article" {i e., * the bye-law) ** imposing a duty on the
import and export of corn is confined to strangers only
and does not extend to townsmen or inhabitants, the
reason assigned for which is — That at that time and long^
after, no corn was imported or exported by the townsmen
or inhabitants, but now for some years past, it hath be-
come a great trade amongst them as cornfactors, to buy
very large quantities of-Corn.an^ng the country farmers-
and to lodge the same in their lofts and cellars in the
boro,' and from thence to lade the same on board ships
or vessels moored to or lying by or near the publicke
quays and places within the boro' for exportation, and in
like manner they sometimes import corn without paying
anything, in either case objecting that they are not
strangers as mentioned in the bye-laws. The said quays
at a great expence are repaired and kept in repair by the
Corporation. In the 29th Charles II. the quays, by a
commission executed and returned into the exchequer,
were appointed as public exchequer quays for lading and
unlading goods, etc., charged with the rates and duties
due to the King. The Coirporation therefore consider
themselves liable to keep them in repair, but there is no-
fund provided specially for that purpose. The bye-law
in question, you will observe, states no special ground on
which the duties are laid, or any particular purpose to-
which the produce is applicable, and prescribes no ways
or means for charging or levying any of the imposed
duties, and sets no penalty or forfeiture on non payment ^
and no distress or action at law is remembered to have
been used for enforcing the law. It has, however, been
submitted to and the duties paid, for such of the articles
as have from time to time been exported or imported.
The Corporation are desirous of making a new bye -law,

* See bye-law under date 30th September, 1658, in Constitution Book, and re-enaotodL
in 1685.

MmLx

THE BRIDGE AND HARBOUR. 169

for charging the townsmen and inhabitants with a duty
of two-pence a ton on. all corn imported and exported by
them, in case they have power so to do, and to that end
your opinion is desired."

The opinion on the case is signed by G. Hill, and is as
follows : —

•' I think the Mayor and Free Burgesses by their Common
Council, have not authority under their Charter or other-
wise to make a bye-law charging the townsmen and
inhabitants of the boro' with a duty of 2d. per ton for all
corn imported or exported by them. For the King can
in no case impose a new duty on the subject unless
where it is for the subject's benefit, which it does not
appear to be in this case, and the King cannot empower
another to do what he could not do himself."

In 1840 the Corporation sought counsel's opinion on some
points arising from their responsibility for the maintenance of
the sea fences of the town. Those defences had been so
impaired by severe storms as to endanger the safety of the
town. In order to raise money to repair the damage the
Corporation wished to dispose of a part of their property
either in fee or for a long lease. Hitherto the Corporation
had only granted leases for a term of 99 years, determinable
on lives. And the Corporation being an old one had not been
affected by the then recent Municipal Corporation Act of 1835.
Counsel's opinion was requested as to whether the Corporation
had the power to alienate either in fee or for a long term
of years. The opinion given is : —

*' As the Corporation of East Looe is not affected by the
" late Municipal Acts, the corporate body has all the
'* powers it possessed under the old law ; by which the
*' Corporation had the power, as has been frequently held
*' and practised, of alienating in fee, or for a long term
'* of years, or in any manner they should think fit, their
'* corporate property."

A second point on which opinion was sought at this time
was, whether the Mayor and Corporation had power to levy
a small sum per ton on any goods that are shipped from the
quays of the said borough, the streets of which, as well as the
said quays, were much injured by the carts in which they are
brought. The following opinion was returned : —

"No new toll can be levied by a subject, whether a
** Corporation or individual, without the authority of the

11

170 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE,

" Crown, in matters in which the Crown has authority,
"or by Act of Parliament. But any person, either a
** body corporate or individuals, may insist upon a pay-
*' ment before any person is allowed to pass over or use
** their land. If therefore the quays are the property of
*' the Corporation, and no person has a right to use them,
** the Corporation may demand a payment for any person
** going upon them or using them. And the present
** payment for vessels mooring to them, seems to afford
** proof that the q-uays are the exclusive property of the
** Corporation. If so, I am of opinion the Corporation
** may demand a payment of any merchandize brought
** upon them and shipped from them.

'* (Signed)
** H. Alworth Merewether, loth December, 1840.**

In 1844 the Corporation had again need to apply for advice
from this counsellor. The case submitted to him fully tells
its own tale, and although only one of the points raised relates
to the quays, the case is inserted here in default of finding
a more suitable place for it. The case and opinion are thus
stated : —

** The Corporation of East Looe has unfortunately for some
time past been divided by differences which prevent the
members thereof from acting together. The legal majority
for the election of a new Mayor is seven, but six will
suffice for the election of an Alderman in the place of one
who is dead or has resigned. The present Mayor has
been in office for several years, no new Mayor having
been elected on the day appointed by the Charter for the
election of a new Mayor, in consequence of the non-
attendance of the legal majority for that purpose. The
Corporation is possessed of certain quays and other
property, and as a legal majority cannot be obtained to
concur in any act, it is very desirable to know whether
the Mayor can by himself legally do any act to improve
the income derivable from the quays, by charging certain
dues or sums for the use of the quays not heretofore
charged ; and whether he can take any legal steps by
himself for the recovery of any dues or tolls heretofore
paid ; also whether he can by himself without the con-
currence of a legal majority distrain for any rents due for
the Corporation property ; or give any tenant a legal
notice to quit any premises rented of the Corporation ; or.

-^

THE BRIDGE AND HARBOUR. 171

in short, whether the Mayor can by himself, and without
a concurence of a legal majority do any act, or take any
step whatever. In the Charter there is nowhere any
authority given to the Mayor to act independently of the
Corporation, except as the Judge of a Court of Record
held once in three weeks for the recovery of small debts.
In the Charter, after the clauses enabling the Corporation
to make bye-laws and to have a prison, is the following: —
' And that in the borough aforesaid there shall and may
be, or may be able to be from time to time hereafter, two
or more officers called Sergeants-of-the-Mace for executing
of precepts, commands, attachments and other processes
in the said borough, to them directed by the Mayor or
other officers of the said borough as matters shall arise
or be necessary.* It is scarcely supposed that this clause
would enable the Mayor to act independently of the legal
majority of the Corporation in any of the cases before
stated, but most probably refers to the judicial character
of the Mayor as Judge of the Court of Record. The
trade of this place being on the increase it is desirable
to increase the revenue of the Corporation. The quays
before mentioned are exchequer quays, but the Corpora-
tion keep them in repair, and are entitled to the quay
dues, etc."

And the opinion is as follows : —

*' The Mayor, as head of the Corporation, can only act in

* corporate matters, requiring consent and involving the
' exercise of choice or discretion, with the concurence of

* the majority of the Council duly convened at a proper
'' corporate meeting for that purpose. But all executive

* ministerial and judicial acts he may, as head of the
'Corporation, do by himself: — Consequently I am of

* opinion, that he cannot alone and without such con-
nivance, demand or enforce any new dues not heretofore

' taken : — But he may demand or enforce by his officers,

* the Sergeants-at-Mace, or the proper toll-taker, the tolls
' and dues heretofore taken. He may also direct his
' officers to distrain for rent. But he cannot, I think,
' change the tenants of the Corporation, nor give a notice

* to quit for that or any other purpose."

" (Signed) Henry Al worth Merewether, 1844."

Shortly before 1848 East Looe was threatened with destruc-
tion by an irruption of the sea, which, disturbed by the

172 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

erection of wharves within the mouth of the river, had made
a large breach in the shore at Ghurchend. The harbour was
injured in many places by boulders and rocks in its bed, the
quays were inconvenient and dilapidated, and the narrow
time-eaten bridge of fourteen arches, with the steep approach
from West Looe, had become ruinous and dangerous. At this
time the place had to depend on the exertions of its inhabitants
and neighbours for existence and improvement. Mr. J. BuUer,
of Morval, and his family, always evinced an interest in its
welfare, and with his advice and that of his nephews, the
member for Liskeard and the Rector of Lanreath, it was
decided to seek Parliamentary powers to improve the port.
Under the Act which was entitled *' the East and West Looe
Harbour and Bridge Act," and passed in 1848, thirteen
Commissioners were elected, viz. :— The Mayors of East and
West Looe and Liskeard, the Treasurer ot the Looe and
Liskeard Canal, six persons of Looe, St. Martin's and Talland,
and three from Liskeard. The Board caused a breakwater
to be constructed at Churchend and a groin at the mouth of
the river, and this fully repaired the former injuries from the
sea. New and convenient quays were built and others
repaired and altered. The harbour was deepened by the
removal of rocks and stones from the bed. In consequence
of these improvements much material prosperity was ex-
perienced by the inhabitants.

CHAPTER XVI.
A Parliamentary Election.

HE following account of the Parliamentary Elec-
tion for the Borough of East Looe in the year
1796 has been preserved. It is evidently the
work of an eye-witness, being written in the
first person singular. The record, though un-
otficial, is interesting as it describes the system
and methods which then prevailed in those old-
world boroughs.

" The Mayor, Aldermen, and Freemen entered
the hall about eleven of the clock. The usual
Proclamation was then made. I asked whether
the bell had been rung, and was answered it
had. I then read the Sheriff's precept ; then the Act of
2 G. 2 against bribery and corruption ; then the Act of 3 G. 3
against Freemen's votes ; I then administered the oath to the
Mayor as returning officer, and he took and signed the same.
Then Reginald Pole-Carew, Esq., in an elegant speech
recommended John Duller, of Wivelscombe, in the County
of Cornwall, Esq., and William Graves, Esq., as candidates.
Mr. Samuel May and Mr. Thomas Trout, two of the Free
Burgesses came forward, and in rather an embarrased manner
said they gave their votes for John Buller, Esq., and Wdliam
Waddinglon, Esq., of Chatham Place, in the City of London,
and Mr. Trout then delivered a petition signed by himself and
several others. A gentleman who had been sitting on the
right hand of the Mayor then rose and declared himself a
candidate, being asked his name (which for reasons best
known to himself he had not made known, though he had
been in Looe for some days) he answered that it was William
Waddington, Esq., etc. He then harangued the assembly
for about half-an-hour, and made a very good speech. When
he had finished I called on the Capital and Free Burgesses to
give their votes. Myself, Mr. Joseph Soady, and Mr. William
Keast were the only Capital Burgesses that voted, the others

174 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

being either absent or disqualified. We gave our votes for
John Buller, Esq., and William Graves, Esq.

Mr. Waddington objected to Mr. Keast's vote, as he did
not reside in Looe. The Free Burgesses were then called, and
Mr. Thomas Trout being the first qualified voter named,
voted for John Buller, Esq., and William Waddington, Esq.
Mr. Carew, Mr. Howell, Mr. Coytmore, and Lieut. Nicholas
gave their votes for Mr. Buller and Mr. Graves, Mr.
Samuel May being called gave his vote for John Buller,
Esq., and William Waddington, Esq., Mr. Bawden,
Mr. Lemon, Capt. Campbell, Rev. Nicholas Dyer, Mr.
Tickell, Mr. Daw, Mr. Maynard, and Lieut. Dyer gave
their votes for Mr. Buller and Mr. Graves. The other
Free Burgesses were either disqualified or absent. I
then asked whether there were any voters who had not
given their votes. I asked this twice. Mr. Waddington
made an objection to all the votes not resident in the Borough
of East Looe, and at last made (if I mistake not) an objection
to those who reside within the borough as well. He said at
some period of the business that the Charter was forfeited.
He then called upon those persons who had signed the
petition which had been delivered, they came forward and
demanded the vote, some as freeholders and others as in-
habitants. They gave their votes for Mr. Waddington, but
the Mayor declared each vote as given not to be good, and
that he refused to accept the same.

Mr. Waddington then demanded a poll, but it was answered
by Mr. Carew, Sir William Lemon and others, that what had
been doing was the poll. I then begun to read the list of
voters, such, I mean, as were admitted legal ones by the Mayor,
but after I had counted four or five, the Mayor said there was
no need to read any more, for that only two voters had voted
for Mr. Waddington, and that all the others had voted for
Mr. Buller and Mr. Graves, and the Mayor then declared them
both to be duly elected. Mr. Waddington said he thought
there ought to be a special return made to the Sheriff in order
to enable him (Mr. Waddington) to petition the House of
Commons. This was objected to, as the majority of voices
had made the election, and there was no occasion to take notice
of the names of the two voters. The entries were then filled
up and signed, sealed, and delivered by the Mayor, and the
business ended."

The original petition referred to in the above record has
been preserved and is thus composed : —

A PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION.

^75

To the Worshipful the Mayor and Aldermen, the Common
Council of the Borough of East Looe in the County of
Cornwall.

Gentlemen,

We, the undersigned, being Free Burgesses, In-
habitants and Freeholders of this Borough, do hereby com-
plain of, and formally protest against, the admission of
non-resident persons to the privileges of this Borough ; and
against all Acts done in reference to the election by virtue
thereof ; the same being contrary to the true spirit and
discretions of the Charter, and subversive of the undoubted
Franchises of the Resident Free Burgesses, as well as highly
injurious to the fair claim of the principal inhabitants and
freeholders to partake of those privilegies ; and we do now
present ourselves personally and tender our votes at this
election, for and in behalf of William Waddington, Esq.,.
of Chatham Place, in the City of London, to be one of the
representatives in Parliament of this Borough, believing
ourselves to be justly entitled to do so.

Dated East Looe, May 31st, 1796.

)

William Thomas,
Richard Oliver,
John Oliver, J-

John Clinnock,
John Richards,

Thomas Trout,
Samuel May,

Francis Couch, \

John Gill,
William Pengelly,
William White, y
Robert Debell,
Edward Pengelly,
Methuslah Bone, >

Inhabitants and Householders in
the Boro*.

J

[ Free Burgesses and Inhabitants,

Inhabitants and Freeholders in
the Boro'.

CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

'HAPTER XVll.
The East Looe Mayoral Election In 1S2S.

^ EFEREhCE was made in some
of the documents appearing in
Chapter xv. to the differences
existing viithin the Corporation,
L 1 lather between a predominant
. lion of ihe corporate body
and the general inhabitants
of the borough, during the
^ earlier years of the last
century We are indebted
to the proprietors of the " West Briton " lor an account of the
election of the JIayor in the year 1S23, when these differences
had hecome acute. The immediate consequences, which are
also recorded, were both singular, and in some respects,
amusing.

"On the day appointed (September 26th) for electing a
Mayor, the present possessor of that office stated that he
would not allow any person who was not a resident in the
I>orough to be put in nomination ; he declared that the Irady
corporate had violated the Charter, which had in coni,cqi;ence
become forfeited ; and he finally adjourned the meeting, a.nd
locked up the hall door and put the key in his pocket."

A second account of the same incident relates, that " A
large number of inhabitants assembled in the Guildhall to
witness the proceedings at the election of the Mayor. After
the court had been opened with the usual forms, Mr. Grigg
was elected by a majority of the Corporation. But on the
return being notified to Sir. Keast, the retiring .Mayor, he
refused to administer the oaths. The court was therefore
adjourned, and Captain Campbell, E,N,, took the keys of the
hall. But on being served with a written demand for them
from the Mayor he reluctantly surrendered them, kha duo
consultation it was agreed that Mr. Grigg should be swom
into ofHce by Captain Campbell, being an Alderman and a

EAST LOOE MAYORAL ELECTION. 1 77

Magistrate. Unfortunately before this could be done the
Captain was taken violently ill and died. Mr. Keast the
retiring Mayor, therefore continues to hold office till the
legality of his conduct has been decided on by a higher
court."

A third account relates, that " On September 26th, a Court
Leet was held and a Court Session. The Mayor enquired of
the Town Clerk if there were any business, a negative reply
was given. A petition was then presented to the Mayor as
Judge of the Court Leet by a solicitor, signed by about 50
householders, praying to be admitted to the freedom of the
borough. The Recorder and Aldermen protested against the
reception of this petition, but the Mayor received it as Judge
of the Leet. The court then adjourned till three o'clock to
give the jury time to make out their presentments. At three
the court re-assembled, but the jury did not arrive till 4-30.
The Town Clerk then read the presentments, which the jury
had unanimously signed. After the usual presentments, the
following were read : —

We present four non-resident Aldermen who claim to be
Capital Burgesses contrary to the Charter.

We present Sir Edward Buller, claiming to be Recorder of
this borough, although he is not a resident, nor is he learned
in the Law of England, as the Charter requires.

We present Captain Soady and Mr. Grigg, claiming to be
Capital Burgesses, although they have not been sworn.

We present Thomas Bond, Esq., Alderman and Town
Clerk, for holding these' two offices.

The last presentment was for a number of persons resident
within the borough and not sworn Freeman.

As a set-off agamst the attempt made by the Mayor and
his party to restore the ancient relationship between the
Corporation and the inhabitants of the town, a demonstration
was organized by the Buller faction. '• A procession entered
the town in the following order: — Sir Edward Buller's
carriage, containing Sir Edward and Lady Buller and Captain
Mulcaster, and Miss Buller sitting on the box with the coach-
man. The carriage was drawn by labourers on the estate.
A few of the Corporation were seen to lend their aid in draw-
it, but these with their dependents were the only inhabitants
participating in the procession. Next came a phaeton, con-
taining two ladies, and drawn- by the female servants of the

I7S CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

Cotporation. Then a gig, drawn by an elegant "Arabian."
Lastly, a cart, drawn by two horses of the real Duloe breed —
this vehicle is said to have contained two hogsheads of cider,
and from the abundance of laurels with which it was
surrounded, it is supposed by many that the Mayor-elect must
have been sheltered under these appropriate emblems of such
a cause !!!"

A Mr. R. Stephenson, who was at that time nursing the
boroughs for political purposes of an anti-Buller character,
" on the loth of the following month gave a ball and supper
to encourage the supporters of the Mayor. Prior to the
entertainment, upwards of 300 well-dressed inhabitants,
chiefly female, paraded the streets with silk banners, preceded
by a band of music. The procession was addressed by Mr.
Keast, on the Parade." It is also related that " the amuse-
ments of the evening were highly enlivened by the kind
attention paid by Mr. Keast to the numerous company."

Mr. Keast was a popular character in his year of office, as
in the previous May Che ladies of Looe presented him with a
silver cup, as a proof of their gratitude to him for his success-
ful endeavours to provide the town with an adequate water
supply.

The rivalry between the contending parties came to a
climax at a contested Parliamentary Election in the year 1827.
A petition presented against the successful candidates led to
the whole question at issue between the corporators and the
inhabitants being threshed out before a Committee of enquiry
nominated for this purpose by the House of Commons. The
decision of the Committee was unfortunately adverse to the
claims advanced by the ordinary householders of the town.

THOMAS BOND.

viiAPTEu xvni.

Thomas Bond,

ANY account of the Corporations of
K^ast Looe and West Looe would
be sadly incomplete without some
reference to Mr. Bond, one of the
most interesting characters associ-
ated with their history. More
especially as through his official
connection with both bodies, the
credit of his fame is their common
property.

Some memoranda in Mr. Bond's
own handwriting give a few par-
ticulars of his family and his own
early history. He writes : —

" ^Ty great grandfather, Thomas Bond, born in the year
1650, came to East Looe to live from Calstock, and was
made a Free Burgess by James IPs Charter in 1685, he
died in 1726, after twice serving [he office of Mayor."

" My grandfather, Thomas Bond, was born in the year
1689, and died in 1747, having been once Mayor."

"My father, Thomas Bond, was born in 1735. and was
bound apprentice to Wr. James Tuckett, Merchant and
Grocer, of East Looe, for five years at a premium of
^55. He was a member of both Corpocations, and died
'" ^773- ^y poor mother, Phillippa Chubb, whose
person I bear but a slight recollection of, was born 8th
March, 173b, christened (I find by the Chapel Register)
next day, privately I suppose, and died 12th July, 1773-"

"When I was christened does not appear in the Parish
Register, owing to the neglect, I presume, of Mr. Toup.

l8o CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

Poor Mr. Giddy once told me that he had a memorandum
of the time, Mr. John BiiUer and Parson Dyer were my
godfathers and Mrs. Giddy my godmother."

'* I believe I was put to school at Liskeard, in July, 1775,
and that Mr. Saltren boarded me for £1^ 13s. a year.
In September, 1775, put to a drawing school, Peter
Darnault (a Frenchman), master. Entrance fee, 10/6.
Two f;uineas a year. Allowed at school, -/6 a week for
pocket. I apprehend I quitted Liskeard school in 1781.
Mr. Lyne had 40/- a year for my schooling, and it was
usual to present to him 10/6 every year for a new year's

gift."

From another source, Mr. Bond is stated to have been born
on February 6th, 1765, and after leaving school he was
apprenticed to a local attorney.

In the year 1789, he ws appointed to the Town Clerkship of
West Looe, on the death of Mr. W. Dangar. The same office
was conferred upon him in East Looe, on the nomination of
the Recorder (the Rev. W. Buller, Dean of Canterbury), in
1790.

These two appointments were held by Mr. Bond for nearly
40 years, and sometime during his tenure of otiice, the records
of both Corporations seem to have been diligently examined
by him, and arranged and classified in a methodical manner.
Indeed, some of the documents have been found tied up into
bundles, with his notes and comments neatly written outside.
It is entirely due to his industry that the East Looe Constitu-
tion Book has survived, a book which affords an almost
unique history of the growth of the laws by which the
borough was governed, from its very incorporation. Such
work as this bears witness to the appreciation he felt for these
old documents and records, an appreciation which might well
have been copied by those who came after him. Documents
and record-books which he quotes in his history, are now not
to be found.

His account of Looe was published in 1823, and on the
advice of the publisher 500 copies were printed and issued.
The MS of this work is in the possession of Mr. Davies
Gilbert, of Trelissick, by whose kindness we were permitted
to see the many sheets, covered with writing in a clear firm
hand.

Mr. Bond relates, that ** in 1803, a Volunteer Company,
under the title of the East and West Looe Volunteer Artillery,

THOMAS BOM). l8l

was established and kept in pay for six years. They learned
the exercise of the great guns, and also of small arms; 70
stand of small arms, and every requisite for their use being
supplied by Government. The C ompany, on an average,
consisted of from 60 to 70 men, and were commanded by a

Captain and two Lieutenants of their own choosing. The
dress was a dark blue coat and pantaloons, with red facings,
and yellow wings and tassels, and a white waistcoat. Not a
single man of the Company died during the six years, which
is certainly very remarkable." Hence the nick-name given

l82 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

the Company was " The Looe Die-Hards." There is a
portrait in oil, at Trelissick, of Mr. Bond, who was chiefly
instrumental in raising the detachment, which he com-
manded '•' The portrait shows him in his military uniform.
It is related that the gallant warrior had a sword, whereon
was inscribed the legend *' My life-blood for the Two Looes.'*
Tradition also adds, that at gun practice his standing in-
struction was, *' Don't fire, boys, till 1 am round the corner."
Traditions, however, are sometimes inexact.

Contemporary opinion reckoned Mr. Bond as the most
influential person in both boroughs, at any rate during the
later years of his life. It is therefore all the more regrettable,
that for political purposes, he was ranged w^ith a party who
successfully excluded the inhabitants generally, from their
proper share in the municipal life of the towns. There' may
have existed solid reasons in his day, w^hich made such a
policy advisable, but what these reasons were, if they existed,
it is impossible now to say. No doubt the diary he kept, would
throw much valuable light on his motives, were it still avail-
able. Unfortunately it no longer exists. Considering the
influence he exercised in the town, the Jury of the East Looe
Court Leet, in September, 1823, showed considerable courage
in presenting him, for being at one and the same time a
member of the Corporation and a paid servant of it. Possibly
this presentment led to his resignation of the Town Clerkship
soon afterwards.

By the courtesy of C. Davies Gilbert, Esq., of Trelissick,
we are enabled to insert the following notes from the private
diary of his grandfather, C. Davies Gilbert, President of the
Royal Society, a cousin of Mr. Bond. The notes briefly
describe the latter's funeral.

December, 1837.

Monday i8th, Mr. Bond died this morning at eight o'clock.
For Mr. Bond's sense of gratitude to my father for the manner
in which he had conducted himself as Guardian, see Mr.
Bond's pocket-book, December 4th, 1794.

Thursday, 21st. — Came to Looe by sea. I slept in the
house now given me by Mr. Bond.

Saturday, 23rd. — All the resident Aldermen breakfasted
with me. The coflin being taken in a hearse to St. Martins
Church, we all walked there and back.

* The other Officers were Lieutenant Hearle and Lieutenant Nicholas.

THOMAS BOND. I 83

The Mayor and all the Aldermen attended, and the Maces
veiled with crape and inverted were borne before the coffin
to the limits of the town.

Sunday, 24th, — On this day the Aldermen assembled at
the Mayor's house and walked to the Chapel, having the
Maces covered with crape and so placed before the Mayor
and Justice. An organ in the Chapel played, but not only
were there not carols, but there was not any singing at all.

Many marks were justly paid to Mr. Bond's memory.

And finally, on September 3rd of the following year, I was
•elected an Alderman in Mr. Bond's place having been sworn
a Freeman forty years before.

The Gentleman's Magazine (1838) contains the following
memorial notice of Mr. Bond : — " At East Looe, aged nearly
73, Thos. Bond, Esq. He was nominally in the profession
of the law, but he never sought practice, and lived on his
ample private fortune, universally esteemed and respected.
His reading was very extensive, especially in the more ancient
and recondite parts of tenures, etc. He published a work of
much local research."

A marble tablet was subsequently placed in the south
transept of St. Martins Church by Mr. Davies Gilbert, the
residuary legatee. We conclude this notice with some lines
by the same friend, which bear an eloquent testimony to Mr.
Bond's capabilities as a host.

Lines suggested by the agreeable evening spent at Mr.
Bond's on his Birthday, February 6th, 1832.

COME gentle Muse 1 descend, and deign

This once to inspire my lay,
And celebrate in tuneful strain

My favorite's natal day.

For though till now our timid hands

Have never swept the Lyre,
This theme unwonted, heaven commands

And fills the soul with fire.

Tis true Apollo ne'er has twined

His laurels round our brow,
But who Apollo's scorn would mind

Should Bond applaud us now.

We'll sing how on the Birthday night

The moments quickly flew ;
The fire blazed merrily and bright,

As e'er was seen in Looe.

CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOK.

Each face waa happy and serene,
Each heart Beemqd full of mirth ;

And as the Ladles ;;rBced the scene,
Of chiit tliere waa no deiirth !

Then came the supper - Social meal 1

That time of cureless glee I
With which all present seem to feel

Most cordial sympathy.

The lauf^h and joke rani; loud and long

The wine it sparkled high,
And many a ^ay and loyal song.

Oft ma;r that merry group again.

In friendly converse meet :
And free fi'cim sorrow, care and pa

Their wishes kind repent.

Then let us in our toasti unite
To Bond raftstty justly due :
That be may lonu he tlie delight
And boast of happy Looe.

, KABT-BOURN, 1832-

BIOGKAPHICAL NOTES.

CHAPTER XIX.
Soma Biosraphlcai Notes.

FEW short notices of the more
important personages mentioned
in the Court Books and other
records of the Corporations,
have been reserved for the con-
cluding chapter. To place all
these notices in one chapter
^^;.:^^ seemed less confusing liian
to insert such particulars in
a series of foot-notes, which
would involve either much repetition or much inconvenience
to the reader. The notices are intentionally brief, and only
such details are given as will facilitate the identification of the
different county magnates and their appendages, who, for
political or other purposes, interested themselves in the
Looes. I have to thank Sir William Trelawny and the Rev.
G. Pole-Carew, for their invaluable assistance in identifying
the different members of the Trelawny and Duller families,
whose names appear in the records.

AcHYM, of Trenake, in Pelynt. — This family appears to
have been of some consequence in the county, and it was
long in possession of many good estates in the neighbourhood
of Looe. One of this name was Mayor of East Looe, in
1663-65.

Thomas Arundell, Free Burgess of West Looe, from 1620
onwards, was the son of John Anindell, of Trerice, and owner
of a moity of the manor of Tremadart, in Duloe. Thomas
purchased the chief part of the rest of the manor, and settled
there. He died in 1648. The Arundell family held the West
Looe Mill and Pool from the Corporation, on a lease for 100
years, at an annual rental of £^ 6s. 8d. Date of lease, 1621.

l86 CORPORATION CHROKICLES OF LOOE

William Bkvill (afterwards knighted), appointed Ste'JP
of West Looe by Elizabeth's Charter, was owner of the n
of Kilhgarth, in Talland Parish.

PHILIH Bevill, Free Hurgess, of West Looe, from 1615,
son of the aliove. At his death this family, in the male line,
became extinct.

EicH.SHD Bulleu, Free Burgess of West Looe, from 1615
onwards, was part owner of the Jiiaiior of Tregarrick, in
Pelynt, where he was buried. An ancestor of the BuUers of
Morval and Shilhnghai

SiB RiCHABn BuLLKR, Knt.. Free Burgess of West Looe,
'&om 1615 onwards, wasp

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 187

in Pelynt, Sheriff of Cornwall, 1637, M.P. for St. Germans
162 1, Saltash 1625 — 26, General of the Parliamentary Forces
in Cornwall.

John Buller, Free Burgess of East Looe 1670, and of
West Looe, from 1676 onwards, was the second son of Sir
Francis Buller, of Shillingham, and married Anne, daughter
and heiress of Walter Cood, of Morval, which manor and
other estates he thus became possessed of. His second wife
was Anne, the only daughter and heiress of Walter Langdon,
of Keverell.

Francis Buller, Free Burgess of West Looe, from 1676
onwards, was either son or grandson of Sir Richard Buller,
of Shillingham.

John (Francis) Buller, Mayor of East Looe, 1746, married
Rebecca, daughter of Bishop Trelawny, of Winchester, in

1716.

James Buller, Mayor of East Looe, 1752, was the elder
son of the above, and is an ancestor of Sir Redvers Buller, of
Downes.

John Buller, Mayor of East Looe, 1764, Recorder of the
same 1754—86, Mayor of West Looe (by mandamus) 1763,.
and again 1764, was brother of the above James.

William Buller, Clerk in Holy Orders, was Mayor of East
Looe 1760, 1767, 1774, 1780, Recorder of the same 1786 — 97,.
Dean of Canterbury 1790—93, Bishop of Exeter, 1793 — 96.

Francis Buller, Mayor of East Looe, 1762.

John Buller, Recorder of East Looe, 1802, Steward of
West Looe 1816, was grandson of James Buller, of Downes
and Morval.

Sir P^dward Buller, of Trenant, Recorder from 1807 on-
wards. He was educated for the Royal Navy and commanded
the Maita, of 50 guns, in the battle between the English under
Sir Robert Calder, and the combined fleets of France and
Spain. For his services he was created a Baronet, and
appointed naval A.D.C. to the Prince Regent. He died in
1827.

Charles Buller, Steward of West Looe 1814 — 16.

Chubb, of East Looe and Pellis (Pollis) Court, in S. Martins
Parish . ' * We know not," writes Gilbert, * * when this family be-
came seated at Pellis Court, but in 16 11, Daniel Chubb, of East
Looe, merchant, son of Henry Chubb, of Pellis Court, married

1 88 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

Phillippa Fitzwilliams, of East Looe, and the said Henry
settled a house, called the Tennis Court, on his wife for life.
This Daniel was a Capital Burgess and Mayor of East Looe
in 1627. There was a James Chubb (most probably another
son of Henry) Mayor of East Looe, in 161 8. Daniel dying in
1 65 1 had two sons, John and Christopher. The eldest of the
two left a son, also named John, who married Bridget Collier,
of Lanlivery, in 1698, and was Mayor in 1698 and in certain
subsequent years. In 17 14, he was appointed a Deputy Vice-
Admiral of South Cornwall, by John Trelawny, and died in
July, 1736. John, only son of the above, born in 1699, was
Surveyor of the Salt Duties for Cornwall and the Port of
Plymouth. He married Phillippa Phillips, and their only
child married Thomas Bond, the father of the historian,
he died while serving the office of Mayor, in the year 1750."
Mr. Bond has preserved in his book the following story,
connected with one or other of the above John Chubbs, and
the East Looe '* cage " : —

Hannah Whit and Bessie Niles, two women of fluent
tongues, having exerted their oratory on one another,
at last deemed it prudent to leave the matter in dispute
to be settled by the Mayor. Away then they posted to
his worship, who turned out to be a very Solomon in
his judical capacity. The first woman who arrived had
scarce begun her tale, when the other bounced in full of
rage and commenced hers also. The wordy warfare was
waged with unbated vigour and volubility, until His
Worship ordered the const#ibles to be called and each
of the combatants thought her antagonist was to be
punished, and the result proved that each thought right.
When the constables arrived, His Worship delivered the
following judgment : **Take," said he, "these two women
to the Cage and keep them there till they have settled
their dispute." They were immediately conveyed thither,
and after a few hours confinement, became as quiet and
as inoffensive beings as ever breathed, and were then
liberated to beg Mr. Mayor's pardon.

William Dandy, Free Burgess of W^est Looe, from 1620 on-
wards, was Under-sheriff of Cornwall, 1603, 161 1 and 1620. The
name Dandy frequently appears in the West Looe records.
The family seat was Trewren, in Lanreath ; they are said to
have been descended from a younger branch of the baronial
.family of Dawnay, of Sheviocke, and became extinct in

1783.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 189

William Graves, Mayor of East Looe 1776 and 1786,
Recorder of the same 1797 — 1801, was a son of Admiral
Graves, of Thankes, in the Parish of Antony. He was
appointed a Master in Chancery in 1784, and died in 1801.

Sir Bernard Grenville, Knt., Free Burgess of West Looe,
from 1 6 15 onwards, Sheriff of Cornwall, 1596, married the
only child and heiress of Sir Philip Bevill, of Killigarth.
Their son, the famous Sir Bevil Grenville, sold Killigarth to
John Hallet, a merchant of Looe. This explains the entry
*' heirs of John Hallet," on the list of Free Burgesses of East
Looe, in 1672.

Sir John Grenville, afterwards Earl of Bath, was Recorder
of East Looe, under the Charter of James H., in 1685. ^^ is^
reported that in the same year he carried with him into
Cornwall, no less than 15 Charters for different towns, a pro-
ceeding which earned for him the title of '* Prince Elector."

Charles Grills, Free Burgess of West Looe, 1689, was
the eldest son of Sir John Grills, of Court, in Lanreath.

John Harris, of Lanrest, near Liskeard, was Recorder of
West Looe, Circa 1620. Carew describes him as a magistrate
and a provost marshall, in 1599, and a " gentleman employing
his sound judgement and other praiseworthy parts, to the
service of his prince and country, and the good of his friends
and himself"

Christopher Harris, Free Burgess of West Looe, 1615,
M.P. for the borough, 1621, son of the above, married
Gertrude, only sister of Sir Bevil Grenville, and died a few
months after his father.

R. Hawkey, Free Burgess of East Looe, 1687, was possibly
one of the family of this name living at Liskeard.

Thomas Kendall, of Chiswick, in Middlesex, Free Bur-
gess of West Looe, from 1676 onwards, married Mary Hallet^
of Killigarth. Their only daughter, Mary, died unmarried, in
1 7 10, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

James Kendall, a younger brother of the above, was
Governor of Barbadoes, and one of the Lords of the
Admiralty under Queen Anne. He represented one or other
of the Looes in more than one Parliament, and died suddenly
in 1708

John Kendall, of Treworgey, in Duloe, was a Free Burgess
of West Looe, 1672, and of East Looe, 1678. He contested
the boroughs six times, and impoverished himself in conse-

190 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

quence, and having no issue, sold Treworgey, which had
belonged to his family since 1385, to William V\ illiams, a
merchant of Bodinnic.

Walter Lang don, of Keverell, Free Burgess of I^ast Looe,
from 1672 onwaids, and of Webt Looe, 1641. *• The original
name or his family was Lizard, which was exchanged for that
of Langdon, eight generations before 1620." This Walter
was M.P. for East Looe in 1674, ^"^ ^^^^ i^ 1676, leaving
an only daughter, who married John Buller, of Morval. A
handsome monument in St. Martins Church was erected in
his memory.

Sir William Mohun, Knt. — First Kecorder of East Looe
(1588). His son was Sir Reginald Mohun, Bart., Recorder of
East Looe, 1620. Carew refers to him "as the widower of
two wives." He removed the family seat from their ancient
home at Hall, near Fowey, to Boconnoc. He was a D.L.
for Cornwall, and commanded six companies of local forces,
which comprised 200 men armed with pikes, 210 armed with
muskets, and 1 90 cavaliers.

Sir Walter Moyle, Knt., of Bake, in St. Germans, Free
Burgess of East Looe, 1678. He married a daughter of Sir
William Morice. b^ecretary of State to Charles 11. He was
M.P. for Cornwall 1650, and Sheriff 1671, and died in 1701.

John Morth or Murth, Free Tenant of West Looe, 1615.
The name of this family frequently appears on the list of Free
Tenants in the xvii. century. They owned the manor of
Talland. Jeffery Murth, the last of the male line, died in
1748, On the floor of Talland Church are laid several stones
commemorating departed Murths. Carew's contemporary
married a Trefifry : his father, a Tregoose.

William Martin, Free Burgess of East Looe, and of West
Looe, 1676. Walter Langdon, of Keverill, married Rhoda,
daughter of William Martin, of Linridg, Devon. This may
account for his connection with Looe.

Charles Morice Pole, Mayor of East Looe, 1785, was a
younger son of Reginald Pole, Esq., of Antony. He served
as an Admiral in the Royal Navy, was created a Baronet for
his services, and died in 1830.

Sir Lewis Stuckley, Free Burgess of West Looe, 1656,
was Mayor of East Looe, 1664 — ^5> ^"^ ^^®^ during his term
of office.

Sir Samuel Rolle, Knt., Free Burgess of West Looe,
1641. His third wife being a member of the Carew family

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.

Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart., Free Burgess of West Looe,
from 1676 onwards. His family owned a moiety of the
manor of Great Treuatit and of Tremadart, in Duloe. His
mother, Katherine, was the daughter of John Arundell, of
Trerice.

John Vivian, Free Burgess of West Looe, 1676, was the
eldest son of John Vivian, He married Anne, daughter of
Sir John Trelawny, hence his connection with the borough.

Thomas Vivian, Free Burgess, 1676, was the eldest son
of the above.

Francis Vivian, Free Burgess, 1676, third son of the above
John, was a captain in the army. His daughter married Sir
Richard Vyvyan, Bart.

CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF 1

CHAPTER XX-
Oddmttpta.

BHERE are inserted in this chapter, reprints of a
selection from the odd papers belonging to the
late Corporations, which from their disconnected
character, cannot well be incorporated with any
of the groups in which the documents hitherto
treated, naturally divide themselves. They are,
therefore, formed into a section by themselves.
Some of them areletters or addresses to persons
in authority in the State, others are instructions to the Cor-
porations. These papers illustrate the relationship existing
in a bye-gone age, between the borough and the higher
authorities. The reprints teli their own story, so seldom need
any explanatory notes. They are printed exactly as written,
with their peculiarities in diction and spelling unaltered. To
do otherwise would spoil much that is interesting, and, in
some measure, amusing,
(i) "ATT his Maj. Commission House in Fleet Street,
London."

"25(h Novemr., 1635."
"WHEREAS the Mayor and Inhabitants of the Towne of
" Westloe ... of the possessions of the Duchie of
"Cornwall, within the County of Cornwall, doe now
" stand charged before his Maj. Auditor of the said
" Duchie with the some of ffortie shillings p. ann. for a
" little close of land called Pound Park, did petition this
" Board and alledge that they have antiently enjoyed the
" said close of land, and did and doe yearely pay unto his
" Maj the five shillings p. ann. for the same untill about
" twenty yeares since the said some of ffortie shilling p.
■' ann, came to be charged on them by Mr. Notden's
" Survey. Now for that itt hath appeared unto the
" Board by certificate from his Maj. Auditor of the said
" Duchie that the said ffortie shillings p. ann. came first

ODDMENTS. 195

•*in charge upon the Survey of the said Mr. Norden ; it
*' was thought fitt and ordered by the Board that the said
levy of ffortie shillings p. ann. uppon the said Mayor &
Inhabitants shall be respited untill further order and
resolution to give for the finall setling or discharge of
"the said levy."

•*Ex by Na: Tomkins.*'

( (
( {

((

** To the Maior of Portpighan als Westloo."

** These are in the King's Name to will and require you ta
"make your appearance at His Majesties audit, to bfr
" holden at Lostwithiel, in the County of Cornwall, for
the revenue of the Dotchy of Cornwall, the 17th day of
October next, in the morning. Then and there to yeild
Accomp, and to pay unto the King's Majesties use, all
such sums of mony as shall be found due from you by
** vertue of any Grant or Lease from the Crowne ; or by
"vertue of any Deed, Assurance, Assignment or Con-
'* veyance from any person or persons claiming from the
" Crown, and that you bring with you this Precept, and
" your last half years Acquittances. Whereof fail you
'* not, as you will eschew the penalties for such defaults.
"From London, the 21st day of July, 1676."

*' Your loving friend,"

" J. Symes, D. Auditor."

Joshua Bawden's receipt, dated "the Feast of St. Mich : th'^
Arch.," in quitance of this citation has survived. It is signed
by " John Tregagle, Arm., Receiver General, and James
Symes, Auditor." The sum paid was 58/5J.

The " King's Audit " may be thus explained : — When a
crown grant was made to a corporate body or an individual,
there was usually a small annual sum reserved as rent. These
rents were collected from lords of the numerous manors, from
Mayors of Corporations and lessees of lands and of rights,
(e.^. of foreshore) at fixed times and places. The court for
receiving them and examining into the accuracy of accounts
relating to them was called an " Audit," and the examiner
and receiver an "Auditor," or his " Deputy." In feudal times,,
the royal personages and their immediate servitors expected
the respectful attendance upon them of the principal person

194 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

(say Mayor) who owed suit, and perhaps a few shillings as well,
to the great source of his own greatness. The above citation
and explanation is inserted to illustrate the charge for attend-
ing the audit made in the Mayoral accounts of each borough.

Letter of the Mayor of East Looe to the Eight Reverend
Bishop Trelawny.

Looe, 29th September, 1703.

" My Lord,

*< The inhabitants of this burrough have againe
chossen mee for theyr Mayor. My Lord, I shall carefully
observe two things whilst I am in this station :— first, to
sweare no man of this burrough, magistrate or other-
wise, without a possetive command from your lordship.
Secondly, not to presume to draw up any petition to
the Honnorable Burgesses of this Burrough, or any
others, on any account whatever, without your lordship's
direction, instruction, and approbation ; let the necessityes
of our T. & burrough be what they will. My Lord, I
hope your lordship will not be offended, if I presume
humbley, submissively, and in all dutifullness, to aske
your lordship, whither it " b'ant hard " upon every
magistrate in Looe to bee two years in foure Mayor
(and Justice) of this towne, which, as we now are, must
bee and is.

^' My Lord, the antient magistrates of this towne having
leased out all the towne lands, thare remaynes nothing
now but a little standing rents, which every year growes
less and less, and is only capable of defraying the incident
charges of it, can afford almost nothing towards repara-
tions.

^* My Lord, the inhabitants in generall cast their aspertions
upon the Mayor and Majest, for not seting in order the
whole disorder, without enabling them to the doeing of it.
If they should suffer an equall rate to be made, I would
goe myself in the collection, and lay it out with the
utmost frugality to the use intended ; but tis impossible
for the best men in the world to make bricke without
straw. My Lord, I crave leave to speake but one word
more, which is this : — did the enemie but know our
circumstances, we should certainly sure be made the

ODDMENTS. I95

subjects of their pray, and the objects of theyr fury ; for
if but a boate, with twenty arm'd men, did but presume
to land heare, the whole towne must fly before them ;
and our circumstances are deplorable, and call for com-
passion.

•** My Lord, I did this day desire the several artisses of this
borrough to notifie to nie what it might cost to repayre
all things repayrable, and heres what they have signified
to mee ; but which way to effectuate it I cannot tell.
My Lord, wee have appointed the Law Court for Munday
ivth day of October ; what commands your Lordship hath
to lay upon mee, that day shall bee obayed. With all
the dutifulness and zeale immaginable,

"** My Lord, I am your lordships most dutifull, obedient,

** faithfull humble Servant,

*' Tho. Bond."

■" These for the Right Reverend Father in God, Jonathan
Lord Bishop of Exon, att Trelawne, humbley p'sent."

Press Warrant, 1708.

^* Burrough of East Lowe in Cornewall."

^* To the Conbles, Churchwardens and Overseers of the
** Poore of & within the said Burrough, to each & any
** 01 them.

•** Whereas an Act hath passed the p'sente Session of
** Parliament entituled an Act for the speedy & effectuall
** recruitinge of her Ma'ties land forces «^ marines for
** the service of the yeare 1709, and whereas we have
** qualified ourselves according to the direction of the sd
** Act to act as Commissioners for putting the said Act in
** execution within the sd burrough & the limits thereof.
** These are therefore in her Ma'ties name to require &
** command you and every one of you on receipt hereof
** to make diligent search wthn the said Burrough & all
** places & limits thereof for all such able bodied men as
** doe not follow or exercise any lawful calHnge or
** imployment or have not some other lawful! & sufficient
** support & maintenance & these & each of them there

196 CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

** to be found, to apprehend and secure & to bring them
** & each of them before us att the house of Mr. John
" Knill, Innkeeper, within the sd burrough on Tuesday
** next, being the 8th day of this instant March, by 3 of
** the clock in the afternoon of that day, then & there to
** be examined, if they shall be judged by us to bee
" within the description of the sd. Act of Pari : & fitt to
*' bee sent into her Ma' ties service for land soldiers or
" marines. And hereof yu or either of you may not faile
** att yor perills & to make returne of this our Warrt att
** the tyme or place above mentioned. And as an
** encouragement to yu for Yr paines & good service in
** the sd Act gives yu a reward not only of twenty
** shillings for every man yu shall seize & wh : shall
** thereupon bee delivered over & entertained into her
" Ma' ties service as the Act directs, but also six pence
** p' diem accordinge to the number of dayes that every
** such man shall bee kept in yr custody untill such
" delivery as aforesaid.

** Given under our hands & seales the 5th day of March, in
" the 7th yeare of the raigne of our most gracious
** Soveraigne Lady, Anne, by the grace of GOD, Queene
*' of Greate Brittaine. Ann : Dom : 1708."

** John Chubb, Mayor. (seal)

" John Dyer. (seal)

''John Oben." (seal)

Copy of a letter from •* The Gentlemen of Looe to the
Govenour of Jamaica."

*' Looe, October 8th, 1743.

** May it please your Excellency,*'

** William Sowden, of this Borough (Gunner's
mate), of His Majesty's Ship Superbe, certifyed as
qualified for a Gunner. We presume to recommend
him to your excellency's favour for a Gunner's warrant,
or such preferment as he may deserve, not doubting all
our townsmen will meet with due encouragement in the
West Indies.

" Please to accept our best wishes.

ODDMENTS. I97

** Being with all imaginable submission may it please your
excellency.

" Your excellency's most obliged,

** Faithful, humble, servants,

*' John Chubb, G. Dyer,

*' Thomas Bond, Nich. Dyer,
'' Paul Nicholas, John Dyer."

"* To His Excellency, Edward Trelawney, Esq., Govenor
of Jamaica, at Jamaica."

Copy of a letter from J. Trelawny, resigning the Recorder-
ship.*

"Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen of the Corporation of East
Looe,"

** As my illhealth intirely disables me from serving
you in the manner I have always desired to do, I must
desire that you will give me leave to retire and betake
myself for the rest of my days to private life. I return
you my humble thanks for all your favours, and in
particular for the honor of the Recordship, which the
present situation of my affairs obliges me to resign. I
am sensible how much it becomes me to make an apology
for many failings aud omissions in my duty, but hope
that the abundance of your good nature will incline you
to excuse them.

■*' I shall always be glad to hear of your welfare,

'* And am Gentlemen,

*' Your faithful humble servant,

" J. Trelawny "

** Nov. 2nd, 1734. (Eecd. 28th Deer. 1734.)

See introduction to Chapter iv.

ICjS CORPORATION CHRONICLES OF LOOE.

*' Whitehall/'

'* loth Deer., 1792.'*

** Sir,

** The King having by His Royal Proclamation
bearing date the 21st day of May, 1792, been pleased to-
charge and command all His Majesty*s Magistrates and
Civil officers throughout His Kingdom of Great Britain
to exert themselves for the suppression of divers wicked
and seditious writings, published and industriously dis-
persed with a view to excite discontents, tumults, and
disorders in this realm : and His Majesty having been
informed that the circulation of the said writings and of
others of a similar tendency have nevertheless lately been
renewed with much activity in different parts of this
Kingdom, has commanded me to communicate to you
His Majesty's directions that it should be given in charge
to the Grand Jury at the next ensuing General Quarter
Sessions of the Peace for the Town of East Looe
diligently to encjuire, and true presentment to make of all
such wicked and seditious writings so published and
industriously spread as aforesaid within the said town, as
shall be given them in charge, or shall otherwise come to-
their knowledge, in order that the Authors, Printers,
Publishers and distributors of all such wicked and
seditious writinfjs as aforesaid may be severally dealt
with for their said ofTences according to law."

** I am Sir,

** Your most humble obedient servant,

** Henry Dundas."
*• To the Mayor of East Looe.**

*' East Looe.**

** To His Royal Highness, George Augustus Frederic,
Prince of VVales, Duke of Cornwall, etc., Regent of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland."

** We the Mayor, Recorder, Capital Burgesses, Free Bur-
gesses and Inhabitants of the Borough of East Looe, in the
County of Cornwall, beg leave to assure your Royal High-
ness of the deep affliction which we feel in the death of
her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte ; and to express to

ODDMENTS. 199

your Eoyal Highness our sentiments of sincere condolence
in this truly melancholy event. We trust and hope that
resignation to the Divine Will and the sincere and uni-
versal expressions of love and affection which this
melancholy event has produced from all his Majesty's
subjects, will in time abate the intense sorrow which
your Eoyal Highness must feel in such a severe visita-
tion."

((

Agreed at the meeting that this address be signed by his
Worship the Mayor, and that Vice- Admiral Sir Edward
Buller, Member of Parliament for this Borough, be
requested to present it or get it presented to his Royal

Hiirhness the Prince Regent."

John Smith Plymoxjth Limited, Printers, 102 Old- Town Street, Plymoxjth.

I