expiration of twenty years other merchants had settled in Lyme. When Henry III. ascended the throne the town promised to revive, and many houses were built. What the sea had spared the French devastated: they landed from their fleet, and laid waste the town with fire and sword. The merchants again retired with their wares, leaving those who remained in a state of extreme depression: they had no possibility of paying the farm, and set forth in their petition their being impoverished by many assaults of the enemy. The king generously commiserated their sufferings: he reduced them of all arrears, and reduced their fee-farm rent from £21. 6s. 8d. to £5.

After the destruction of the greater part of the town by the sea, particular attention appears to have been paid to the construction of sea-walls. Any stranger who came to reside and trade in Lyme, without being made a freeman of the borough, was obliged to pay 3s. 6d. per week to the Corporation, which sum was to be applied to the repairs of the Cobb and sea-walls. Indeed, no merchant who failed in obtaining the freedom could hope for success in commercial transactions: he could not purchase a cargo till every freeman had, by not acceding to the price during the three days (till the expiration of which no foreigner could bid), tacitly refused to avail themselves, from excessive price asked, &c., of the privilege of being first served.

During the latter part of the glorious reign of Henry V. the town may be presumed to have been gradually reco

vering from its recent state of depression. The civil wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster, being principally carried on at a distance, little affected this part of the country.

In the reign of Henry VI., 1433, under the pretence of the country being overrun with robbers, four commissioners were empowered to summon and tender an oath to persons of quality to keep the peace, both themselves and their retainers. The real object in view was the detection of those who favoured the House of York. Hutchins observes, that scarce a tenth part of the gentry are mentioned in the roll. In Lyme the only persons who gave in their names were John Crogg and Thomas Tinham: they are placed on the list as considerable men, who were able to disperse £12 per annum.

In the 22d year of Edward IV., 1481, by a petition, it appears that the ravages of the sea had been renewed. The burgesses and inhabitants set forth," that the town by the tides and overflowing of the sea was often wasted, and many inhabitants departed from it; and that the port was by tempests destroyed, to the damage of vessels and merchants, and more accidents like to happen for want of repairs." The king, on this report, granted the town and its liberties in fee-farm for sixty-five years, paying only five marks, i. e. £3. 6s. 8d. per annum.

Dean Chandler speaks of salt fish at Lyme, great quantities of which were used there. It is conjectured that

pilchards were at that time taken in the West Bay, though now they seldom advance so far east.

Nothing of particular consequence occurs till the reign of Henry VIII., who, A. R. 35, reciting the former grant, confirmed the same for fifty years after the end of the former term. The queen (C. Parr), on the same consideration, granted the mayor and burgesses to hold the same, from the end of the term of fifty years, granted by the king, for sixty years more, and all liberties, &c., they to repair the Cobb during that time at their own charge. Mayors were elected a long time prior to this reign, though the exact period is not now known.

Mary, in the first year of her reign, granted a market on Fridays, and fairs on February 13 and October 2, N.S. with a court of piepouder to the mayor and burgesses.

Leland visited the town, and in his peculiar style gives this description of it:-"From Axmouth to Lime, about four miles by meatly good ground, but no plenty of wood. Lime is a praty market town, set in the rootes of a high rokky hille down to the hard shore. This town hath good shippes and usith fishing and marchauntice. Marchaunts of Morleys in Britaine much haunt this town. There cummith a shalow broke from the hilles, about a three miles by north, and cummith fleting on great stone, through a stone bridge in the botom. The tounesmen commonly call this water the Buddel. One Borough, a marchaunt man in time of minde, buildid a fair house in Lime, having a goodly tower at the entery of it. [Hut

obins says it stood in the Butter-Market, but is now rebuilt.] There is but one paroch chirch in Lime. There is no haven at Lime: but a quarter of a mile by W.S.W. from the town is a great and ... *in the sea for so

cour of shippes."

From this period many merchants came to reside, and an extensive trade was carried on with the merchants of Morlaix and the Norman islands. The fairs were attended by traders from a distance, who made large purchases, and met with a ready sale for their merchandize to the inhabitants and dealers from the interior. The settlers about this time were many of them of French extraction, as their names clearly discover. The town, though in a promising state of improvement, on an inspection of the register, &c. cannot be considered to have been very populous. The Cobb had been re-erected during one of the preceding reigns by the townsmen: it was built in the sea, without any outer pier, and again received damage from storms.

At the commencement of the following reign, when Camden visited it, the Cobb still continued out of repair, and the town in a state of decline: it was hardly reputed a sea-port town, or haven, and only frequented by fishermen. He says, "it has a pier below, well defended from the winds by rocks and tall trees."

In the course of a few years great changes took place:

* Defaced in Leland's MS.

pilchards were at that time taken in the West Bay, though now they seldom advance so far east.

Nothing of particular consequence occurs till the reign of Henry VIII., who, A. R. 35, reciting the former grant, confirmed the same for fifty years after the end of the former term. The queen (C. Parr), on the same consideration, granted the mayor and burgesses to hold the same, from the end of the term of fifty years, granted by the king, for sixty years more, and all liberties, &c., they to repair the Cobb during that time at their own charge. Mayors were elected a long time prior to this reign, though the exact period is not now known.

Mary, in the first year of her reign, granted a market on Fridays, and fairs on February 13 and October 2, N.S. with a court of piepouder to the mayor and burgesses.

Leland visited the town, and in his peculiar style gives this description of it:-"From Axmouth to Lime, about four miles by meatly good ground, but no plenty of wood. Lime is a praty market town, set in the rootes of a high rokky hille down to the hard shore. This town hath good shippes and usith fishing and marchauntice. Marchaunts of Morleys in Britaine much haunt this town. There cummith a shalow broke from the hilles, about a three miles by north, and cummith fleting on great stone, through a stone bridge in the botom. The tounesmen commonly call this water the Buddel. marchaunt man in time of minde, buildid a fair house in Lime, having a goodly tower at the entery of it. [Hut

One Borough, a