*FOWEY, (Cornwall) or FOY, 192 cm. 240 mm. from London, has a commodious haven in the Channel, is a populous place,
extending above 1 m, on the E. side of a r. of its own name, has a fine large old Ch. and a great share in the fishing-
trade, especially pilchards. It rose so much formerly by naval wars and pyracies, that, in the R. of Edw. III. its ships,
refusing to strike when required, as they sailed by Rye and Winchelsea, were attacked by the ships of those ports, but
defeated them; whereupon they bore their arms, mixed with the arms of those 2 Cinque-Ports, which gave rise to the name of
the Gallants of Fowey. Mr. Carew says 60 sail of tall ships once bel. to this harbour, of which 47 were sent to the siege
of Calais. And we learn from Carmden, that, this T. quartered a part of the arms of every one of the Cinque-Ports with
their own, intimating, that they had at times triumphed over them all; and indeed once they were so powerful, that they
took several of the French men of war. In the R. of Edw. III. they rescued certain ships of Rye from distress, for which
this T. was made a member of the Cinque-Ports. Edw. IV. favoured this T. so much, that when the French threatened to come
up the r. to burn it, he caused 2 towers, the ruins of which are yet visible, to be built at the publick charge for its
security: but he was afterwards so disgusted with the inh. for falling upon the French, after a truce proclamed with Lewis
XI. that he took away all their ships and naval stores, together with a chain drawn cross the r. bet. the 2 forts above-
mentioned, which was carried to Dartmouth. 'Tis said they were so insolent, that they cut off the ears of the K's.
pursuivants; for which some lives were forfeited, as well as estates. The corp. consists of a mayor, recorder, 8 ald. a
townclerk, and 2 assistants. The Trefryes have long had a mansion here. The Mt. is S. the Fairs Shrove-Tu. May-day and
Sept. 16. Here are a fine old Ch. a fr. sc. and a hos. the latter endowed by Mr. Rathleigh. The manor bel. to a
neighbouring priory, till the Diss. when it was annexed to the duchy of Cornwall; but the toll of the Mt. and Fairs, and
keyage of the harbour, were vested in the corp. on the payment of a fee-farm rent of about 40 s. to the duchy. It does not
appear to have sent members to Pt. before the 13th of Q. Eliz. Here is a coinage for the tin; of which a great quantity is
dug in the country to the N. and W. of it. The r. Fey, or Foath, is very broad and deep here, and was formerly navigable
as high as Leftwithiel.