land and waded thorow the Sea to discouer all the creatures therein insensible sensible the course of method summoneth me to discourse of the reasonable to wit the Inhabitants and to plot downe whatsoeuer noteworthily belongeth to their estate reall and personall and to their gouernment spirituall and temporall Vnder their reall state I comprise all that their industrie hath procured either for priuate vse or entercourse and trasfike In priuate life there commeth into consideration their Tenements which yeeld them sustinance and their houses which afford them a place of abode Euerie tenement is parcell of the demaynes or seruices of some Mannor Commonly thirtie Acres make a farthing land nine farthings a Cornish Acre and foure Cornish Acres a Knights fee. But this rule is ouerruled to a greater or lesser quantitie according to the fruitfulnesse or barrennesse of the soyle That part of the demaines which appertaineth to the Lords dwelling house they call his Barten or Berton The tenants to the rest hold the same either by sufferance Wil or custome or by cōuention The customary tenaut holdeth at Wil either for yeeres or for liues or to them and their heires in diuers manners according to the custome of the Mannour Customarie Tenants for life take for one two three or more liues in possession or reuersion as their custome will beare Somewhere the wiues hold by widdowes estate and in many places when the estate is determined by the Tenants death and either to descend to the next in reuersion or to returne to the Lord yet will his Executor or Administrator detaine the land by the custome vntill the next Michaelmas after which is not altogether destitute of a reasonable pretence Amongst other of this customarie Land there are seuenteene Mannours appertaining to the Duchie of Cornwall who doe euerie leuenth yere take their Holdings so they terme thē of certain Comissioners sent for the purpose haue continued this vse for the best part of three hundred yeeres through which they reckon a kind of inheritable estate accrued vnto them But this long prescription notwithstanding a more busie then well occupied person not long sithence by getting a Checquer lease of one or two such tenements called the whole right in question and albeit God denyed his bad minde any good successe yet another taking vp this broken title to salue himselfe of a desperate debt prosecuted the same so far forth as he brought it to the iutty of a Nisiprius Hereon certayne Gentlemen were chosen and requested by the Tenants to become suiters for stopping this gap before it had made an irremediable breach They repayred to London accordingly and preferred a petition to the then L. Treasurer Burleigh His L. called vnto him the Chauncellour and Coife Barons of the Exchequer and tooke a priuate hearing of the cause It was there manifestly prooued before them that besides this long continuance and the importance as that which touched the vndooing of more then a thousand persons her Highnesse possessed no other lands that yeelded her so large a benefit in Rents Fines Heriots and other perquisites These reasons found fauourable allowance but could obtaine no thorough discharge vntill the Gentlemen became suppliants to her Maiesties owne person who with her natiue supernaturall bounty vouchsafed vs gratious audience testified her great dislike of the attempter gaue expresse order for stay of the attempt since which time this barking Dogge hath bene musled May it please God to award him an vtter choaking that he neuer haue power to bite againe Herein we were beholden to Sir Walter Raleghs earnest writing who was then in the Countrey to Sir Henry Killigrews sound aduice and to Master William Killigrews painefull soliciting being the most kinde patrone of all his Countrey and Countreymens affaires at Court. In times past and that not long agoe Holdings were so plentifull and Holders so scarce as well was the Land-lord who could get one to bee his Tenant and they vsed to take assurance for the rent by 2. pledges of the same Mannour But now the case is altred for a farme or as wee call it a bargaine can no sooner fall in hand then the Suruey Court shal be waited on with many Officers vying reuying each on other nay thei are taken mostly at a ground-hop before they fall for feare of comming too late And ouer and aboue the old yerely rent they will giue a hundred or two hundred yeeres purchace and vpward at that rate for a fine to haue an estate of three liues which summe commonly amounteth to ten or twelue yeeres iust value of the land As for the old rent it carrieth at the most the proportiō but of a tenth part to that whereat the tenement may be presently improued somewhere much lesse so as the Parson of the parish can in most places dispend as much by his tithe as the Lord of the Mannour by his rent Yet is not this deare setting eueriewhere alike for the westerne halfe of Cornewall commeth far short of the Easterne and the land about Townes exceedeth that lying farther in the Countrey The reason of this enhaunsed price may proue as I gesse partly for that the late great trade into both the Indies hath replenished these parts of the world with a larger store of the Coyne-currant mettals thē our anceltours enioyed partly because the banishment of single-liuing Votaries yonger mariages then of olde and our long freedome from any sore wasting warre or plague hath made our Countrey very populous and partly in that this populousnes hath inforced an industrie in them and our blessed quietnes giuen scope and meanes to this industrie But howsoeuer I ayme right or wide at this once certayne it is that for these husbandry matters the Cornish Inhabitants are in sundry points swayed by a diuerse opinion from those of some other Shires One that they will rather take bargaines at these excessiue fines then a tolerable improued rent being in no sort willing to ouer a penny for they reckon that but once smarting and this a continuall aking Besides though the price seeme very high yet mostly foure yeeres tillage with the husbandmans payne and charge goeth neere to defray it Another that they fal euery where from Commons to Inclosure and partake not of some Easterne Tenants enuious dispositions who will sooner preiudice their owne present thrift by continuing this mingle-mangle then aduance the Lords expectant benefit after their terme expired The third that they alwayes preferre liues before yeeres as both presuming vpon the Countries healthfulnesse and also accounting their family best prouided for when the husband wife and childe are sure of a liuing Neither may I without wrong conceyle the iust commendation of most such wiues in this behalfe namely when a bargaine is so taken to these three it often falleth out that afterwards the sonne marieth and deliuereth his yeruing-goods as they terme it to his father who in lieu thereof
by his wiues assent which in many auncient deeds was formall departeth to him and his daughter in lawe with the one halfe of his Holding in hand Now though after the fathers decease the mother may during her life turne them both out of doores as not bound by her owne word and much lesse by her husbands yet I haue seldome or neuer knowne the same put in practise but true and iust meaning hath euer taken place Yet another vnconscionable quirk some haue of late time pried into viz. in a ioynt-lease to three intended by the taker and payer to descend successiuely and intirely one of them passeth ouer his interest to a stranger who by rigour of law shall hold it during the liues of the other twaine The ordinary couenants of most conuentionary Tenants are to pay due Capons doe haruest iournyes grinde at the Mill sue to the Court discharge the office of Reeue and Tithing-man dwell vpon the Tenement and to set out no part thereof to tillage without the Lords licence first obtained Which conditions are yet enlarged or restrained according to the Demifors humour Vsuall it is for all sorts of Tenants vpon death at least if not surrender or forfeyture to pay their best beast for a Heriot yea if a stranger passing thorow the Countrey chaunce to leaue his carkase behind him he also must redeeme his buriall by rendring his best beast which he hath with him to the Lord of the soyle or if he haue none his best Iewell or rather then fayle his best garment then about him in lieu thereof But this custome hath beene somewhat shaken in comming to triall and laboureth of a dangerous Feuer though the Cornish Gentlemen vse all possible remedies of almost fas et nefas by pleading the 11. poynts of the Lawe to keepe it on liue The free Tenants seruices are ordinary with those of other places saue that they pay in most places onely fee-Morton releefes which is after fiue markes the whole Knights fee so called of Iohn Earle first of Morton then of Cornwall and lastly King of this Land whereas that of fee-Gloucester is fiue pound And to accomplish this part I haue heere inserted a note of the Cornish Knights fees and acres which I receyued from my learned and religious kinseman Master Robert Moyle Record Feod Milit. in Cornub. fact Anno 3. H. 4. vt sequitur HEnricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Francâ—â— Dominus Hiberniae dilectis nobis Vicecom Escaetori nostris in Com. Cornub. ac Iohanni Colshil Iohanni Tremayn seniori collectoribus auxilij 20. solidorum de quolibet feod Milit. tento de nob sine medio in Com. praedicto ad Blanchiam primogenitam filiam nostr ammaritand iuxta formam statuti anno regni Domini Edwardi nuper Regis Angliae Aui nostri 25. edict assignai salutem Quasdam euidentias quas de libris rotulis memorand Scaccarii nostri exhiberi fecimus pro informatione vestra super captione inquisitionum diuersorum feodorum in Com. praedicto viz. de rubro libro vnam scedulam duos rotulos de euidentiis nuper collectoribus auxilii pradicti auo nostro ad filium suum primogenitum milit faciend anno Regnisui 20. concessi vobis mittimus sub pede sigilli nostri mandantes vt inspect euidenc praed vlterius inde tam per casdem euident quam per Inquisitiones super praemiss per vos capiend pro commodo nostro faciatis quod de iur e per vos videatur faciend It a quod euidenc prad vna cum toto facvestro in premiss hoc breue ad Scaccarium nostrum super compot vestrum proxim de eodem auxilio redend Baronibus de dicto Scaccario nostro ibidem liberaÌ„dum habeatis Teste Iohanne Cokayn apud Westmonast 30. die Ianua Anno Regni nostri 2. Rotl memorum de anno 3. Hillar record Hundred de Penwith WIll de Campo Arnulphiten 7. feod di in Luduon trewedryn Maien Kellemeke Will. Basset ten 1. feod in Tihidi Trenalga Mich. de Bray ten 2. partes vnius feod in Bray Alanus Bloighon ten 2. feod in Tremall Haeres Marcide Walestbren ten 2. partes feod in Veno Episcop Exon. ten dimid feod in Lauestli Haeres Iocei Dynnan ten 1. feod in Gorten Comes Gloc. ten 4. part vnius feod in Draynneck Idem Comes ten 1. feod in Couerton Idem Comes ten 1. feod in Binnerton Idem Comes ten 5. part 1. feod in Loigans Haeres Ties ten dimid feod in Alwerton Marchio Dorset ten 4. feod in Trenwel Hundred de Lysnewith WIll de Botriaux tenet in isto Hundred in Walebreux 1. feod Idem Will. ten in Polruman di feod Idem Will. ten in Wolueston 1. feod Idem Will. ten in Tresciward 1. feod Idem Will. ten in Worthauale 1. feod Reginald de Ferrar in ead Hund. 7. feod Will. de Witha Iohan. de Crammon tenent in Trewint Westdisart 1. feod Idem Will. de Campo Arnulphi ten 1. feod in Heliset Idem Will. ten in Oterham 1. feod Idem Will. in Donneghny Crugplegh di feod Simon Giffard ten 1. feo in Donneghny de la Bruer Henric. de la Pomerey ten in Lesnewith Treuyghan di feod Rogerus de Crammon ten in Moteland 1. feod Omnia praedicta feod sunt feod Mortanne Haeres Iocei Dinan ten in Ouer rescradeck nether rescradeck di feod Hundred de Stratton HErbertus de Pyn ten in Middeland 3. feod Idem ten in Bere 1. feod in Deuon Idem ten in Alwington in Deuon 2. feod Idem ten Mar wonchurch 1. feod Idem ten in Pensenteinon Trethewy Westory 2. feod Comes Gloc. ten 2. magna feod in Kilkham land Ranulphus de Albo Monasterio tenet in Stratton 1. feod Thomas de Wamford ten in Efford 1. feod Henric. de Killigreu ten 1. feo in Orchard marries Iohannes de Cobbeham in Lancols 1. feod quod Abbas conuentus de Hartland tenent in pur perpet elem Idem ten in Wiston Scrpeknol 1. feod Idem ten in burgo paruo Ponte knol Sunondsham 1. feod quod Abbas conu praed clam tenere in pura perpet elem Idem ten 3. part 1. feod in Turlebere Idem ten 1. feod 6. part 1. feod in Hilton simul cum Ferewil in Deuon Rogerus de Carmmon ten 1 feod in Hormecot Refcher Rex ten 1. feod in Bostinne Idem ten Lamaylwen 1. feod quod Oliuerus de Crammon ten Idem ten in Nantoige 1. feod di feod Iohanna Lengleis ten 1. feod in Wadfaste Guilielmus de Campo Arnulphi ten 1. feod in Pennalim Idem ten 1. feod 2. partes 1. feod in Wike Prior de Lanceston ten ¼ 1. feod in Borton Haluethus Maliuery ten di feo milit in Tamerton Omnia praedicta feod sunt parua feod praeter 2. feod in Kilkam lond Hundred de East IOhanna de Rame ten 1. fe magnum de Seniock Nicholaus Danne ten 1. partem feod
learning liuely-hood or authoritie Of like fortune but lesse number are the Phisiciōs by how much the fewer by so much the greater witnesses of the soyles healthfulnes The most professours of that science in this County sauing only one 10. Williams can better vouch practise for their warrant then warrant for their practise Amongst these I reckon Rawe Clyes a black Smith by his occupation and furnished with no more learning then is suteable to such a calling who yet hath ministred Phisike for many yeres with so often successe general applause that not onely the home-bred multitude beleeneth mightily in him but euē persons of the better calling resort to him from remote parts of the realme to make trial of his cūning by the hazard of their liues sundry either vpon iust cause or to cloke their folly report that they haue reaped their errands end at his hands But farre more commendable is M. Atwel sometimes Parson of Caluerly in Deuon now of S. Tue in Cornwall For besides other parts of learning with which he hath bene seasoned he is not vnseene in the Theoricks of Phisike can out of them readily and probably discourse touching the nature and accidents of all diseases Besides his iudgement in vrines commeth little behind the skilfullest in that profession Mary his practise is somewhat strange varying from all others for though now and then he vse blood-letting and doe ordinarily minister Manus Christi and such like cordials of his owne compounding a poynt fitting well with my humour as enabling nature who best knoweth how to worke yet mostly for all diseases he prescribeth milk and very often milk and apples a course deepely subiect to the exception of the best esteemed Practitioners and such notwithstanding as whereby either the vertue of the medicine or the fortune of the Phisicion or the credulitie of the Patient hath recouered sundry out of desperate and forlorne extremities This his reputation is of many yeeres standing and maintayneth it selfe vnimpayred But the same soareth to an higher pitch by the helpe of another wing and that is his liberalitie On the poore he bestoweth his paines charges gratis of the rich he taketh moderately but leaues the one halfe behind in gift amongst the houshold if he be called abroad to visit any The rest together with the profits of his benefice rather charitably accepted thē strictly exacted from his Parishioners he powreth out with both hands in pios vsus and will hardly suffer a penny to sleepe but neuer to dwell with him Few Townes there are in Cornwall or any other shire between that and London which haue not in some large measure tasted of his bountie None commeth in kindnes to see him but departeth gratifyed with somewhat if his modestie will accept it Briefely his sound affection in religion is so wayted on by honesty of life and pleasantnesse of conuersation that in Fabritius his voluntary pouertie he is an equall partner of his honour and possesseth a large interest in the loue of his neighbours My loue to vertue and not any particular beholdingnes hath expressed this my testimony For persons imployed in state affaires and therethrough stept to preferment that I may not outstride late remembrance Sir Richard Edgecumb the elder was Comptroller of the houshold and priuie Counseller to King Henry the seuenth being sent by him also in diuers Ambassades in one of which to the Duke of Britaine he deceased King Henry the eight made like vse in this last kind of Iohn Tregonwel who graduated a Doctor and dubbed a Knight did his Prince good seruice and lest faire reuenewes to his posterity Sir Thomas Arundel a yonger brother of Lanhearn house maried the sister to Queene Katherine Howard in Edward the 6. time was made a priuie Counseller but cleauing to the Duke of Somerset he lost his head with him Sir Henry Killigrew after Ambassades and messages and many other employments of peace and warre in his Princes seruice to the good of his Countrey hath made choyce of a retyred estate and reuerently regarded by all sorts placeth his principall contentment in himselfe which to a life so well acted can no way bee wanting Master George Carew in his younger yeeres gathered such fruit as the Vniuersitie the Innes of Court and forrayne trauell could yeeld him vpon his returne he was first called to the Barre then supplyed the place of Secretarie to the Lord Chauncellour Hatton and after his decease performed the like office to his two successours by speciall recommendation from her Maiestie who also gaue him the Prothonotaryship of the Chauncery and in anno 1598. sent him Ambassadour to the King of Poland and other Nothern Potentates where through vnexpected accidents he vnderwent extraordinary perils but God freed him from them he performed his duety in acceptable maner and at this present the common wealth vseth his seruice as a Master of the Chauncery Cornwall no doubt hath affoorded a far larger proportion of well deseruing and employed members to the good of their Prince and Countrey albeit they fall not within the compasse of my knowledge it is likely that the succeeding age wil much encrease the nūber by meanes of her Highnes bounty who to that end hath established seed-plots of free Schooles with competent pentions out of her owne cofers for the teachers at Saltash Launceston and Perin three market townes of the County In descending to martiall men Arthur claimeth the first mention a Cornishman by birth a King of Britaine by succession the second of the three Christian worthies by desert whom if you so please that Captayne of Armes and Venery Sir Tristram shall accompany From them I must make a great leap which conuinceth me an vnworthy associat of the antiquary Colledge to Sir Iohn Naphant who if I mistake not was by country a Cornish man though by inhabitance a Calisian where H. 7. vsed his seruice in great trust and Cardinal Wolsey owned him for his first master More assured I am that Sir Iohn Arundell of Trerne vpon a long fight at sea took prisoner one Duncane Camel a hardy Scottish Pirate and presented him to K. H. the 8 for our Chronicles report it Towards the end of that Kings raigne Sir Wil. Godolphin also demeaned himselfe very valiantly in a charge which hee bare beyond the seas as appeared by the skarres hee brought home no lesse to the beautifying of his fame then the disfiguring of his face Whose Nephew of the fame name dignity hath so inriched himselfe with sufficiency for matters of policy by his long trauell for martial affaires by his present valiant cariage in Ireland that it is better knowne how far he outgoeth most others in both then easily to be discerned for which he deserueth principall commendation himselfe So did Sir Ric. Greinuile the elder enterlace his home Magistracy with martiall employments abroad whereof the K. testifyed his good liking by