Soon after this fortunate augmentation of the allowance or income of those poor pensioners, intelligence arrived of a still further provision being made for them, by a gentleman lately deceased, of the name of _Cook_, {1130a} who lived in London, and left them by his will 2000_l._ in the 3 per cents; the interest whereof to be applied in augmentation of their weekly income. This charitable bequest, which is likely soon to be transferred into the hands of the corporation, as the trustees or guardians of these poor pensioners, will add it is to be hoped, another _half crown_ to their weekly allowance; which will render their situation very comfortable, compared with what it has been of late years. To have each chamber destitute of a fireplace furnished with that needful appendage, {1130b} would be to most of them a still further and very desirable accommodation. By an old MS. volume which has very lately fallen into the hands of this writer, he learns that one John _Loneyson_, or _Leneyston_, {1131a} by will bearing date in 1594, endowed this almshouse, and gave it an annuity of 10_l._ from 75, (or 76) acres of pasture, called _out marshes_, or _salt marshes_, lying and being in South Lyn, anciently purchased of _Charles Cornwallis_ and _George Nicholls_ Esqrs. and demised to _Elsdin_ by the corporation in the 2nd. year of James I. {1131b} How far this corroborates or contradicts the _Tablet_ in the church, which made such stir among our townsmen last year, may deserve some consideration from the member of the Hall. Beside the above endowment in land there was a sum of money amounting 600_l._ left by divers persons to this almshouse, the interest whereof to be applied to the support or maintenance of the pensioners: and as money bore then a higher interest than at present, the annual product of this provision amounted to no trifling sum. This money was placed in the hands of the corporation; 400_l._ of it laid out at interest, and 200_l._ employed in buying or trafficking in _rye_; whence it was sometimes called _rye money_. In short the 600_l._ and the 10_l._ a year before mentioned seem to have constituted formerly the chief of the funds of this almshouse: only in extraordinary cases, such as sickness, the pensioners were relieved by voluntary contributions. {1132a} It should be here further noted that it appears from the said MS. that in consideration of the above funds, the corporation formerly paid yearly in money to this almshouse 44_l._ and moreover 8_l._ 4_s._ by 9 chaldron of _coals_ and 200 _sedge_—making in all 52_l._ 4_s._ which, including the afore-mentioned extraordinary charges, is said to _surmount the interest of the whole money given_; which might well be supposed to have been the case. {1132b}