run or two into it, and one only out, and all the filth of the town centering here, besides the many conveniences that are placed over it, make the water very bad, and altogether useless; and so foul, that when it purges itself, which it does once a year, it stinks exceedingly, and sometimes the fish rise in great numbers, so thick that they are easily taken: they are chiefly roach and eels. It is very deep: being plumbed, it was found eight yards in the deepest place, which is by the common stathe: the liberty hereof belongs to the lord of the manor of Diss, and without his leave no man can keep a boat, or fish, except at his own stathe, where every one can lay in bow-nets, leaps, eel-poles, or any other engines, to catch what fish they can there, without the lord's license. If the passage out of this Mere be stopped up, it is of great damage, by overflowing the yards that lie round it; wherefore it is viewed at the leet, and if it be not clear, the tanner, to whom it always belongs to keep it so, is amerced, as is the township if they do not keep up the rails at its mouth, for want of which in 1639, a man, as he watered his horses, was drowned, and the town was fined. It is of great use in case of a fire, as was experienced in 1640, when the great fire happened in that street; all the wells and pumps being dry, the town was saved by this water.
The chief streets are Smith-street, or Mound-street, so called from the mound or hill that rises the whole length of it; Tem-street, or Mere-street, which lies along the Mere's side; Dirt-street, properly enough so called; Market-street, and St. Nicholas's-street.
The hamlets are Cock-street, where the fair is kept on St. Simon and St. Jude, Walcote, Wolsey, Heywood, and Westbrook.
The market is kept weekly on Friday, the chief of which consists in the linen-cloth manufacture, for which this market is famous, great quantities of it being sold here; the streets being newly paved is a great ornament, as well as service to the town.
In 1602 there were 400 communicants, and at this time [1736] it contains near 240 families, and near 2000 souls.
It is now [1736] assessed to the King's tax at 2300l. In the civil wars, during the association, when the publick charges were levied by the month, there were two valuations made of this town, one at 2616l. per annum, the other at 2700l. per annum, which far exceeds the present real value. It paid 7l. for every tenth, when the taxes were assessed that way.
The leet fees for Diss and its hamlets now [1736] paid to the capital lord, is 1l. 13s. 4d. per annum.
The following arms have been born by the predecessors of, and are now [1736] born by,
The Rev. Mr. Edward Bosworth (see p. 22.)
Mr. Thomas Coggeshall (see p. 24.)
Mr. Thomass Sheriffe (see p. 25.)
Mr. John Goodwin, or, three pallets sab. on a chief gul. three martlets of the field.
Mr. William Camell, gironne of eight or and sab. a crescent. arg.
