"St. Keyne," quoth the countryman, "many a time Drank of this Crystal Well; And before the Angel summoned her, "If the husband of this gifted Well A happy man thenceforth is he, For he shall be master for life. "But if the wife should drink of it first, The stranger stoopt to the Well of St. Keyne, "You drank of the Well, I warrant, betime," He to the countryman said; But the countryman smiled as the stranger spoke, "I hasten'd as soon as the wedding was done, And left my wife in the porch; But i'faith she had been wiser than me, For she took a bottle to church." The water of this Well is at times covered over with a very beautiful, slender, fern-like vegetable, which feels, when dry, like velvet. Whether it grows on the sides or at the bottom of the Well, I do not recollect. SUPPLY OF WATER. In speaking of water I may here state that the two Looes have very fine water. At East Looe there is a Conduit at the Western end of the town, which generally supplies the place, though sometimes, in long drought, it runs but a small stream, when St. Martin's Well, within the precincts of the borough, or the Spring at Shuta, may be resorted to, each affording a supply of very fine water. There is also a Well within the borough, called Lady Well, near Barbican Rocks; but this Well does not supply much water in Summer. These two Wells (St. Martin's and Our Lady's) I have no doubt were consecrated and dedicated to the Saints whose names they bear. East Looe, from its increased population, requires to be supplied with more water: Shutta Spring and St. Martin's Well are rather too far off: the conveying the water from either of these Springs, in pipes or otherwise, owing to local situation and circumstances of the intervening ground, would be attended with a great expense. Perhaps the best and easiest mode of getting a supply would be by driving an adit into the hill from whence the Spring issues which supplies the Conduit. The present Cistern of the Conduit contains about twenty hogsheads. In the front of the Conduit is a leaden tablet with the following inscription: Repaired at the Charge of Sir JOHN TRELAWNY, Bart. Cost Thirty Pounds. In the Mayoralty of JOHN CHUBB, Jun. 1727. West Looe Shoot affords fine water, and plentiful, even after the longest droughts; but it is rather too far from East Looe. APPENDIX. LIMITS OF THE PORT OF LOOE, TAKEN FROM THE RETURN OF THE COMMISSIONERS. WE whose names are subscribed, being four of the Commissioners in the Commission hereunto annexed mentioned, for the doing and executing the several matters and things in the said commission contained relating to the Town of Looe, a Member of the port of Plymouth, in the said commission mentioned, in pursuance of and obedience unto the said commission, do humbly certify the Right Hon. the Barons of his Majesty's Court of Exchequer at Westminster; that by virtue of the said commission to us and others therein named and directed, we did, on the sixth day of February one thousand six hundred and seventy-six, and at several days and times afterwards, and before the return of the said commission, personally repair unto the town of Looe, a member of the port of Plymouth aforesaid, in the said commission mentioned, and did search, view, and survey the open places there and thereabouts. And by virtue of the said commission we do hereby set down, appoint, and settle the extents, bounds, Q and limits of the said member to be as followeth : viz. From Knaland Point, in the parish of Lan-sallas, in a supposed direct or right line eastward, to a town or village commonly called Wrickle, about five miles Eastward from Looe, together with all bays, harbours, havens, creeks, rivers, pills, strands, streams, barrs, roads, channels, or places within the said limits contained. And by virtue of the said commission we have assigned and appointed, and by these presents do assign and appoint, the several places hereafter-mentioned to be places, keys, or wharfs respectively, for the landing and discharging, lading or shipping of any goods, wares, or merchandize within the said Town of Looe, a member as aforesaid, or within the limits or districts thereof (that is to say), that open place, key, or wharf, commonly called the higher key, which is built into the river, containing in length from the front or head thereof Eastward, to Mr. Richard Pope's wall, fifty foot or thereabout, and in breadth at the front or head from North to South, and in all other places twenty-seven foot or thereabout; also the Middle key or Crane key, being likewise built into the river, and containing in length, from the front or head Eastward to Mr. Philip Pope's wall, fortyeight feet or thereabout, and in breadth at the head or front, and in each other place, forty-two foot or thereabout; also the Lower key, at the South end of the town, which is also built into the river, and containing in length, from the front or head Eastward to the street, forty-five feet or thereabout, and in breadth at the head or front, and at each other place, thirty-one foot or thereabout; which said places so assigned and appointed are, in our judgments and discretions, most convenient and fit for the uses and services aforesaid. And we do by these presents set down, appoint, and settle the extents, bounds, and limits of the said places, keys, or wharfs to be as aforesaid. And we do hereby and by virtue of the said commission utterly prohibit, disannul, make void, determine, and declare all other places within the said town of Looe, a member as aforesaid, or within the limits or districts thereof, from the privilege, right, and benefit of a place, key, or wharf, for the landing or discharging, lading or shipping of any goods or merchandize as aforesaid (except as in the said commission is excepted). In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, in Looe aforesaid. PHILLIP POPE, Mayor. CHARLES OSBORNE, Surveyor-general of the Customs. JOHN MARTIN, Searcher. JOHN NATT. Et CAROLUS OSBORNE, Ar. LODOVIC SHIRLEY, Ar. Et SAMUEL NEALE, Gen. Tres Commmissiona' in com'is'on prd. nomi'at. |