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form to the present day. The prosperity, and, probably, the existence of the town, since the erection of the Cobb, have been intimately connected with its security, alternately rising and falling with that structure, as will be perceived in the sequel. The extent of the Cobb, the immense labour and industry that must have been used in order to erect it in a situation of such difficulty, will remain a memorable proof of the enterprising genius, perseverance, and abilities of those merchants.

There was a Hospital for Lepers in the town, dedicated to St. Mary and the Holy Spirit, by which it is evident the inhabitants had not been free from the afflicting disease of leprosy,-introduced, according to most authors, from Egypt, in the tenth and eleventh centuries. The infected persons were cast off from the society of mankind, and not permitted to ask alms, unless by a procurator appointed for that purpose. It must have been established at an early period: 10th Cal. Dec., 1336, indulgencies were granted by the Pope to collect alms towards repairing the fabric and its bell-tower. There is every reason to suppose that it subsisted solely by charitable donations. In the Chantry Roll it is valued at 38s. 11d. per annum.

* The Popes frequently granted indulgences to these establishments in order to their support, which held good for a certain number of years repetition of a specified number of Paternosters and Ave-marias. The usual tenor of these bulls was that a contribution secured the donor of pardon "for all synes forgotten and offences done against fader and moder, and of all swerynges negli. gently made," &c. Mr. Flight's house, in Broad street, is supposed to have been built on the site of the former hospital. In old deeds it is called the Tower-House.

What an assistance the king derived from this town may be learnt from the roll of King Edward III.'s fleet at the siege of Calais, 1347, in the Cotton Library, where it appears that Lyme furnished the expedition with four ships and sixty-two mariners. They were to be provided with every necessary for fifteen days after setting sail at the town's expence,—the rest of the time the king paid them.

·

The next year was marked by the occurrence of a serious calamity. Fabian, and the generality of our historians, say that the great plague which broke out at Cathay, in Asia, 1346, made its first appearance in England, on the sea-coast of Dorsetshire, from which its ravages were communicated through Devon and all parts of the kingdom. No pestilence had been so fatal since that in the time of Vortigern, mentioned by Bede. Few survived the seizure above two or three days; some died in a few hours. Knyghton observes things were sold almost for nothing :A horse, worth 40s., was sold for 6s. 8d.; a good fat ox at 6s.; a cow at 1s.; a heifer or steer at 6d.; a mutton at 6d. ; an ewe at 3d.; a lamb at 2d.; a hog at 5d.—The inhabitants of towns fled into the country. The great pestilence had swept away so many priests that a chaplain could hardly be got to serve a church under ten marks, or ten pounds per annum; whereas before they might have been had at two marks, with their diet; and men would hardly accept of a vicarage at twenty marks per annum. "The Sarum Registers," says Hutchins, “from August 8th, 1348, to Lady-day, 1349, contain the admission of seventy incumbents." The plague continued till

form to the present day. The prosperity, and, probably, the existence of the town, since the erection of the Cobb, have been intimately connected with its security, alternately rising and falling with that structure, as will be perceived in the sequel. The extent of the Cobb, the immense labour and industry that must have been used in order to erect it in a situation of such difficulty, will remain a memorable proof of the enterprising genius, perseverance, and abilities of those merchants.

There was a Hospital for Lepers in the town, dedicated to St. Mary and the Holy Spirit, by which it is evident the inhabitants had not been free from the afflicting disease of leprosy,-introduced, according to most authors, from Egypt, in the tenth and eleventh centuries. The infected persons were cast off from the society of mankind, and not permitted to ask alms, unless by a procurator appointed for that purpose. It must have been established at an early period: 10th Cal. Dec., 1336, indulgencies were granted by the Pope to collect alms towards repairing the fabric and its bell-tower. There is every reason to suppose that it subsisted solely by charitable donations, In the Chantry Roll it is valued at 38s. 11d. per annum.

* The Popes frequently granted indulgences to these establishments in order to their support, which held good for a certain number of years, on the repetition of a specified number of Paternosters and Ave-marias. The usual tenor of these bulls was that a contribution secured the donor of pardon "for all synes forgotten and offences done against fader and moder, and of all swerynges negli. gently made," &c. Mr. Flight's house, in Broad street, is supposed to have been built on the site of the former hospital. In old deeds it is called the Tower-House.

What an assistance the king derived from this town may be learnt from the roll of King Edward III.'s fleet at the siege of Calais, 1347, in the Cotton Library, where it appears that Lyme furnished the expedition with four ships and sixty-two mariners. They were to be provided with every necessary for fifteen days after setting sail at the town's expence,—the rest of the time the king paid them.

The next year was marked by the occurrence of a serious calamity. Fabian, and the generality of our historians, say that the great plague which broke out at Cathay, in Asia, 1346, made its first appearance in England, on the sea-coast of Dorsetshire, from which its ravages were communicated through Devon and all parts of the kingdom. No pestilence had been so fatal since that in the time of Vortigern, mentioned by Bede. Few survived the seizure above two or three days; some died in a few hours. Knyghton observes things were sold almost for nothing:A horse, worth 40s., was sold for 6s. 8d.; a good fat ox at 6s.; a cow at Is. ; a heifer or steer at 6d.; a mutton at 6d.; an ewe at 3d. ; a lamb at 2d.; a hog at 5d.-The inhabitants of towns fled into the country. The great pestilence had swept away so many priests that a chaplain could hardly be got to serve a church under ten marks, or ten pounds per annum; whereas before they might have been had at two marks, with their diet; and men would hardly accept of a vicarage at twenty marks per annum. "The Sarum Registers," says Hutchins, “from August 8th, 1348, to Lady-day, 1349, contain the admission of seventy incumbents." The plague continued till

form to the present day. The prosperity, and, probably, the existence of the town, since the erection of the Cobb, have been intimately connected with its security, alternately rising and falling with that structure, as will be perceived in the sequel. The extent of the Cobb, the immense labour and industry that must have been used in order to erect it in a situation of such difficulty, will remain a memorable proof of the enterprising genius, perseverance, and abilities of those merchants.

There was a Hospital for Lepers in the town, dedicated to St. Mary and the Holy Spirit, by which it is evident the inhabitants had not been free from the afflicting disease of leprosy,-introduced, according to most authors, from Egypt, in the tenth and eleventh centuries. The infected persons were cast off from the society of mankind, and not permitted to ask alms, unless by a procurator appointed for that purpose. It must have been established at an early period: 10th Cal. Dec., 1336, indulgencies were granted by the Pope to collect alms towards repairing the fabric and its bell-tower. There is every reason to suppose that it subsisted solely by charitable donations. In the Chantry Roll it is valued at 38s. 11d. per annum.*

*The Popes frequently granted indulgences to these establishments in order to their support, which held good for a certain number of years, on the repetition of a specified number of Paternosters and Ave-marias. The usual tenor of these bulls was that a contribution secured the donor of pardon "for all synes forgotten and offences done against fader and moder, and of all swerynges negli. gently made," &c. Mr. Flight's house, in Broad street, is supposed to have been built on the site of the former hospital. In old deeds it is called the Tower-House.