vefled in master Otwell Hill as heire to his mother the daughter and heire to Cosowarth to whome it likewise accrued by matching with the daughter and heire of that name a seate through his fruitfulnesse and other appurtenances supplying the owner large meanes of hospitalitie and by him so imployed who reckoneth to receiue most good when he doth it He deriueth himselfe from a populous and well regarded familie in Lancashire and matried the daughter of Denham and beareth G. a Cheuron betweene three Garbes Ermine Art he adioyning Saint Tue dwelleth master Richard Tremayn descended from a yonger brother of Colocumb house in Deuon who being learned in the lawes is yet to learne or atleast to practise how he may make other profit there by then by hoarding vp teasure of gratitude in the mindfull brests of poore and rich on whom hee gratis bestoweth the fruites of his paines and knowledge He married Coffyn hee beareth G. three Armes in circle ioyned at the Tronkes O. with hands proper Dudman a wel knowne foreland to most Saylers here shouldreth out the Ocean to shape the same a large bosome betweene it selfe and Rame head which are wel-neere twentie myles in distance Amongst sundrie prouerbs allotting an impossible time of performance the Cornishmen haue this one When Rame-head and Dudman meet Whose possession yet though not theÌ„selues met in Sir Peers Edgecumb as inioying that in right of his wife and this by descent from his Father Bodrugan a large demaines adioyning thereunto which I will not deriue from Sir Bors du Ganis though the neighbours so say was the dwelling of Sir Henrie Trenowith a man of great liuely-hood who chaunged his name with the house and lost house and holding through attainder for rebellion against king Henrie the seuenth The king bestowed it by an intailed gift vpon Sir Richard Edgecumb Next lyeth the foreremembred Carybayes Kery haz in Cornish signifieth to beare his seede or as some other define it delighting in seede descended to M. Charles Treuanion the present possessioner by a long ranke of auncestors from Arundels daughter and-heire his father married the daughter of Morgan and sister to the first Lord Hunsdons wife which brought him an honourable ally Three of this Gentlemans elder brethren Edward Iohn and Hugh forewent him in successioned their fathers inheritance and passed to the better world in a single life himselfe by matching the daughter and heire of Witchalse whose mother was coheire to Marwood hath raised issue vnto them and continueth the hope of posteritie Sir William Treuanions his Graundfire tooke to wife the said Sir Richard Edgecumbs daughter The Treuanions Armes are A. a Fesse B. charged with three Escalops O. betweene two Cheurons G. Roseland is a circuite containing certaine Parishes hereabouts and benefiting the owners with his fruitfulnesse so that though the original of his name came perhaps as master Camden noteth from his former thickets yet his present estate better resembleth a flowrie effect By this time we approch the limits of Falmouth Hauen vpon one of whose Creekes standeth the market and incorporate towne of Tregny not specially memorable in my knowledge for any extraordinarie worth or accident Of better regard is Truro alias Truru or Trisow as the principall towne of the Hauen priuiledged with a Mayraltie and benefited with the generall Westerne Sessions Coynages Markets Faires c. The shape of the towne and Etymon of the name may be learned out of this Cornish propheticall rime Truru Triueth cu Ombdina geueth try ru Which is to say Truro consisteth of three streetes and it shall in time bee said Here Truro stood A like mischiefe of a mysterie they obserue that in taking T. from the towne there testeth ru ru which in English soundeth Woe Woe but whatsoeuer shall become therof hereafter for the present I hold it to haue got the start in wealth of anyother Gornish towne and to come behind none in buildings Lanceston onely excepted where there is more vse and profit of faire lodgings through the Countie Assizes I wish that they would likewise deserue praise for getting and imploying their riches in some industrious trade to the good of their Countrie as the Harbours oportunitie inviteth them Descending from Truro to the Hauens mouth by water you are ouer-looked by sundrie Gentlemens commodious feates as Fen ten golian in English the Haâ—ts well lately appertaining to master Carmynow by interpretation often louing and now to master Holcomb who married the daughter of master Peter Courtncy Master Sayers house Ardeuora inhabited by master Thomas Peyton a Gentleman for his age and vertues deseruing a regardfull estimation Master Befcawnes Master Sayers but amongst all vpon that side of the riuer Taluerne for pleasant prospect large scope and other hous-keeping commodities challengeth the preeminence it was giuen to a yonger brother of Lanhearne for some six or seuen descents past and hath bred Gent of good worth and calling amongst whom I may not forget the late hind valiant Sir Iohn Arundell who matched with Godolphin nor Iohn his vertuous and hopeful succeeding sonne who married with Carew though this remembrance renew that sorrow which once I partly expressed in the insuing Epitaph Seeke not blind eyes the liking with the dead T is earth you see our Arundel is gone To ioyne with Christ as member to his head And skernes and pities this our bootlesse mone Yet pardon vs sweete soule mans nature beares We to thy losse should sacrifice our teares Thou time hast changed to eternitie But timelesse was that time in our regard Since â—â—ught thou leau'st vs saue the memorie Of thy deare worth so soone not to be spared Soft be the grine vnrathy resting bones Short be the date that vs againe atones Vpon the East side of the Hauens entrance Saint Maryes alias S. Mawes Castle witly his Point-blanke Ordinance comptrolleth any shipping that deserue a deniall of admission or passage and is commaunded by master Viuian a Gentleman who through his worth deserueth and with due care and iudgement dischargeth the Martiall and ciuill gouernments committed to his trust hee beareth partie per fesse Ar. and Vnsase 6. in chiefe a Lyon rampant G. We will close vp this Hundred after our vsuall maner with the Gentlemen of marke but not orderly marked Such are Tanner who married the daughter of Rosicarrock who beareth A. on a chiefe S. three Morions heads O. Pomeroy a branch of Bery Pomeroy in Deuon he beareth O. a Lyon rampaÌ„t G. who matched with Tanner and whose daughter heire apparant hath taken to husband the yong Penkeuil who beareth A. two Cheurons and in chiefe a Lyon passant G. Polwheele whose name in deduced from his dwelling and his dwelling may be interpreted The mity worke linked in wedlock with the coheire of Trinâ—â—â—â—â—e in English The towne of the borough His mother was Lower of Trelask Palwheel beareth S. a Saultier engraysed Erm. Hearle lineally desoended from sundry Knights
her selfe vpon the family of the Dimocks Robert second sonne to the last mentioned Raphe saue one had issue Will. who maried Alice the daughter and heire of Tho. of Edmerston Wil. had another Wil. and he had Iohn and Iohn againe had Wil. This Wil. had Roger who vpon Iulian sister and coheire of Iohn Hill of Fleet begat Iohn and Richard father to the Gentleman now liuing and he matched with Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Southcott and one of the heires to her mother the daughter of Barnehouse besides which hee succeeded to his vncle Iohns inheritance who deceased issuelesse and being yet scarcely entred the limits of an healthfull olde age seeth his pedigree extended into two farther descents As for those outreaching mans memory I haue seene them very sufficiently verified his Armes are O. an Eagle displayed B. pruning her wing armed and langued G. Vpon the top of a creek hereby lyeth Crocadon the mansion of M. Treuisa a Gent. deriuing himselfe from the ancient and weldeseruing Chronicler of that name he beareth G. a garbe O. A mile aboue Halton standeth Cuttayle another house of M. Edgecumbs so named as wee may coniecture of the French Courtaile in English short cut because here the salt water course is straightned by the incroching banks The buildings are ancient large strong and fayre and appurtenanced with the necessaries of wood water fishing parks and mils with the deuotion of in times past a rich furnished Chappell and with the charity of almes-houses for certaine poore people whom the owners vsed to releeue It is reported credited thereabouts how Sir Ric. Edgecumb the elder was driuen to hide himself in those his thick woods which ouerlook the riuer what time being suspected of fauouring the Earle of Richmonds party against King R. the 3. hee was hotely pursued and narrowely searched for Which extremity taught him a sudden policy to put a stone in his cap tumble the same into the water while these rangers were fast at his heeles who looking downe after the noyse and seeing his cap swimming thereon supposed that he had desperatly drowned himselfe gaue ouer their farther hunting and left him liberty to shift away and ship ouer into Brittaine for a gratefull remembrance of which deliuery hee afterwards builded in the place of his lurking a Chappell not yet vtterly decayed And thus hauing coasted the Cornish side of Plymmouth hauen I hold it not amisse to make report of such great voyages as by the memory of our Chronicles or our owne view from this harbour tooke their beginning or ending Heere the neuer inough commended black Prince attended by the Earles of Warwick Suffolk Sarisbury and Oxford the Lord Chandos and others committed himselfe to the sea with a nauy of 300. bottoms for landing and maintayning his fathers right in France and hither after his glorious battell at Poictiers he returned with the captiue French King and his nobles Here the Lady Katherine daughter to the King of Spaine and wife to our Prince Arthur tooke land at her first arriuall in England Heere shipped himselfe the Lord Darcy sent by King Henry the 8. with a lusty crew of soldiers for that Ferdinands iust assistance against the Infidels but vsed by him as a stale for the vniust conquest of Christian Nauar. Here mostly haue the troups of aduenturers made their Rendez vous for attempting newe discoueries or inhabitances as Tho. Stukeleigh for Florida Sir Humfrey Gilbert for Newfound-land Sir Rich. Greynuile for Virginea Sir Martyn Frebisher and Master Dauies for the North-west passage Sir Walter Raleigh for Guiana c. Here Count Mongomery made forth with a more commendable meaning then able meanes or welspeeding effect for relieuing the hard besieged and sore distressed Rochellers Here Sir Fra. Drake first extended the point of that liquid line wherewith as an emulator of the Sunnes glorie he encompassed the world Here Master Candish began to second him with a like heroicall spirit and fortunate successe Here Don Antonio King of Portugall the Earles of Cumberland Essex and Notingham the Lord Warden of the Stanneries Sir Iohn Norrice Sir Iohn Hawkins and who elsewhere and not here haue euer accustomed to cut sayle in carrying defiance against the imaginarie new Monarch and heere to cast anker vpon their returne with spoyle and honour I omit the infinite swarme of single ships and pettie fleetes dayly heere manned out to the same effect And here in eightie eight the foreremembred Lord Admirall expected and set forth against that heauen-threatning Armado which to bee tainted with the shamefuller disgrace and to blaze our renoume with the brighter lustre termed it selfe Inuincible But I may not grow ouer-lasciuious in extolling King R. the 2. Anno 5. of his raigne by Act of Parliament restrained all passengers from shipping themselues in any other Ports theÌ„ such as are there set down of which Plymmouth was one From Plymmouth hauen passing farther into the countrie Hengsten downe presenteth his waste head and sides to our sight This name it boroweth of Hengst which in the Saxon signifieth a horse to such least daintie beasts it yeeldeth fittest pasture The countrie people haue a by word that Hengsten downe well ywrought Is worth London towne deare ybought Which grewe from the store of Tynne in former times there digged vp but that gainfull plentie is now fallen to a scant-sauing scarcitie Those workes afford store of the formentioned Cornish Diamonds The neighboring Inhabitants obserue also that when the top of Hengsten is capped with a cloud the same boadeth a showre within short time after Roger Hoâ—â—den reporteth that about Anno 806. a fleete of Danes arriued in West-wales with whome the Welsh ioyned in insurrection against king Egbright but hee gloriously discomfited them at Hengistendune which I take to bee this place if at least West-wales may by interpretation passe for Cornwall because the other prouince of that name is more commonly diuided into North and South This down is edged by Carybullock sometimes a parke of the Dukes but best brooking that name now it hath lost his qualitie through exchaunging Deere for Bullocke A little aside from hence lyeth Landwhitton now Lawhitton which as I haue elsewhere noted was exempted vnto Edwulff Bishop of Creditune from the Cornish Diocesse to which yet both for the temporaltie and spiritualtie the same oweth present subiection Mary into what new names PontiuÌ„ Coilleng there also mentioned are now metamorphized I must say amplio Those buildings commonly knowne by the name of Lauriston and written Lanceston are by the Cornishmen called Lesteeuan Lez in Cornish signifieth broad those are scatteringly erected and were anciently termed Lanstaphadon by interpretation S. Stephens Church they consist of two boroughs Downeuet and Newport that perhaps so called of downe yeeding as hauing a steep hill this of his newer erection With them ioyne the parishes of S. Thomas S. Stephens The parish
his liberality Which domestical example encouraged his sonne Roger the more hardily to hazard the more willingly to resigne his life in the vnfortunate Mary Rose A disposition successe equally fatall to that house for his sonne againe the second Sir Ric. after his trauell and following the warres vnder the Emperour Maximilian against the great Turke for which his name is recorded by sundry forrain writers and his vndertaking to people Virginia and Ireland made so glorious a conclusion in her Maiesties ship the Reuenge of which he had charge as Captaine of the whole fleet as Vice-admirall that it seemed thereby when he foūd none other to compare withall in his life he striued through a vertuous enuy to exceed it in his death A victorious losse for the realme and of which the Spaniard may say with Pirrhus that many such conquests would beget his vtter ouerthrow Lastly his son Iohn took hold of euery martiall occasion that was ministred him vntill in seruice against her Highnesse enemies vnder the commaund of Sir Walter Ralegh the Ocean became his bedde of honour Neither may I without wrong passe ouer Captaine George Wray in silence who by a rare temperature of vertues breathed courage into his soldiers purchased loue amongst his acquaintance and bred dismay in his enemies Or captaine Hender the absolutest man of war for precise obseruing martiall rules which his dayes affoorded besides his commendable sufficiencie of head and hand for inuention and execution I will end with master William Lower late captaine of Sir Frauncis Veres companie in Netherland who hath opened the war schoole vnto a great many Cornish yong gentlemen that vnder his conduct sought to conforme themselues to his patterne euerie way accomplished with all the due parts of honour For Mechanical sciences the old Veale of Bodmyn might iustly expostulate with my silence if I should not spare him a roome in this Suruey while hee so well deserues it This man hath beene so beholden to Mercuryes predominant strength in his natiuitle that without a teacher hee is become very skilfull in welneere all maner of handy-crafts a Carpenter a Ioyner a Milwright a free-Mason a Clockmaker a Caruer mettall founder Architect quid non yea a Surgeon Phisicion Alchumist c. So as that which Gorgias of Leontium vaunted of the liberall sciences he may professe of the mechanicall viz. to be ignorant in none The Cornish minds thus qualified are the better enabled to expresse the same by the strong actiue healthfull constitution of their bodies touching each wherof a little in particular though we shall haue a fitter generall occasion to discourse therof where we handle their passetimes For strength one Iohn Bray well knowne to me as my tenant carried vpon his backe at one time by the space welneere of a Butte length sixe bushels of wheaten meale reckoning fifteen gallons to the bushel and the Miller a lubber of foure and twenty yeres age vpon the whole Iohn Romane a short clownish grub would beare the whole carkase of an Oxe and yet neuer tugged with him like that so famous Milo when hee was a Calfe For actiuity one Kiltor committed to Launceston Gayle for the last Cornish commotion lying there in the castle-greene vpon his back threw a stone of some pounds wayght ouer that Towres top which leadeth into the parke For health 80. 90. yeres age is ordinary in euery place and in most persons accompanied with an able vse of the body his sences One Polzew lately liuing reached vnto 130. a kinsman of his to 112. one Beauchamp to 106. yea Brawne the begger a Cornishman by wandring for I cannot say by inhabitance though Irish by birth out-scoreth a hundred winters by I wote not how many reuolutions And in the parish where God hath seated my poore dwelling I remember the decease of foure within 14. weekes space whose yeres added together made vp the summe of 340. Now to the degrees of their seuerall callings wherein as I will poast ouer the Dukes to another place so for Noblemen I may deliuer in a word that Cornwall at this present enioyeth the residence of none at al. The occasion whereof groweth partly because their issue female haue caried away the Inhabitance together with the Inheritance to Gentlemen of the Easterne parts and partly for that their issue male little affecting so remote a corner liked better to transplant their possessions neerer to the heart of the Realme Elder times were not so barraine for besides the Lord Tregoyes in Wil. Conquerours dayes Bottreaux Castle vaunted his Baron of that title both now descended to the Earles of Huntingdon the last deceased of which retayning the honour departed with the land to my kinde friend master Iohn Hender a Gentleman for his good parts employed by her Maiestie amongst others in the peace gouernment of the shire The Lord Bonuile his house was at Trelawne alias Trelawney lately purchased of her Highnes by Sir Ionathan Trelawny a Knight well spoken stayed in his cariage and of thrifty prouidence The Lord Bray dwelt at the Lord Brooke at Kellington where one of them hath his tombe the Lord Marney at Colquite and the Lord Denham at Cardenham Boconnock also appertained to the Earles of Deuon and was by Frauncis Earle of Bedford solde to Sir William Mohun who deriued his pedigree from the ancient Barons of that name and is also issued from one of those Earles of Deuons sisters and heyres This together with other fayre possessions now resteth in Sir Reignald Mohun his sonne one that by his courteous iust and liberall course of life maintayneth the reputation and encreaseth the loue alwayes borne his ancestours The most Cornish Gentlemen can better vaunt of their pedigree then their liuelyhood for that they deriue from great antiquitie and I make question whether any shire in England of but equall quantitie can muster a like number of faire coate-Armours whereas this declineth to the meane One cause there is of both proceeding from the want of those supplies which seruice law and marchandise afford the more inward Inhabitants of the Realme as I haue else where touched yet this rule is not so generall but that it admitteth his exceptions for there are diuers whose patrimonies extend to a large proportion for the residue the cheapnes of their prouisions and their casualties of Tyn and fines which 2. later ordinarily treble the certaine reuennue of their rents enable them with their few scores to equall the expences of those Easterne dwellers who reckon by the hundreds besides they finde meanes by a suruey to defray any extraordinarie charge of building marriage lawing or such like Yet I cannot denie but that some in gaping for dead mens shooes find their improuident couetous humour punished with going barefoot This angle which so shutteth them in hath wrought many interchangeable matches with eche others stock and giuen beginning to the
to the iurisdiction of the Stannary To the preseruation of which royalties our Parliaments haue euer carried a reuerend regard For by that Act 17. Edw. 4. which enioyneth forrayne Marchants to bestow such money as they receiue for their wares in English commodities or to pay the same vnto Englishmen the Kings part of all forfeytures within Cornwall is reserued to the Duke So doth that 11. H. 7. concerning the reformation of waights measures prouide that it shall not be hurtful or preiudiciall to the Prince within the Duchy of Cornwall nor to any waights of the cunnage and so doth that 1. H. 8. touching Excheators exempt that officer in Cornwal It should seeme that the first Earles bare a heauy hand in commaund ouer their subiects for both diuers ancient records as I haue learned make mention of tributes imposed almost vpon euery thing of profit and it may farther be gathered in that as well townes as particular persons were faine to procure Charters and graunts from them for corporations faires markets taking or freeing frō tolls mines fishing fowling hawking hunting and what not so as vpon the matter the plight of a Cornish Inhabitant and a French pezant did differ very little Which bondage one not long agoe sought in part to reestablish vnder pretence of reuiuing a rent decayed euer since 9. H. 2. and aduancing her Maiesties profit to this end procured Letters patents that none should falt dry or pack any fish in Deuon or Cornwall without his licence and warrant A matter that would by consequence haue made him an absolute disposer of all the Westerne shipping and traffike and their sea and land dependants Few words but folding vp a multitude of inconueniences to her Maiestic the whole Commonwealth Wherefore the Cornish Iustices of the peace became hūble suiters to the Lords of her Highnes priuy Councell for a necessary and speedy redresse herein and through the neuer fayling forwardnesse and backing of Sir Walter Ralegh obtayned a reuocation Howbeit this ill weed rather cut off by the ground then plucked vp by the roote once yea twice or thrice grew forth againe but yet maugre the warmers and waterers hath by her Maiesties gracious breath beene euer parched vp and as is hoped will neuer shoote out heereafter at least it shall still finde an vnited resistance of most earnest suit and pregnant reasons to beate it downe The Earles had foure houses builded Castle-wise for their residence viz. Trematon Launceston Restormel and Liskerd But since the principality of Wales and this Duchy became vnited in one person the larger scope and greater commaund of that hath robbed this of his Lords presence by consequence the strength of these Castles could not so gard them against the battery of time and neglect but that from faire buildings they fell into foule reparations and from foule reparations are now sunke into vtter ruine King H. the 8. affecting his honor of Newelin respecting the cōmodities which Wallingford Castle might afford it tooke this last by act of Parl. frō the Duchy in lieu therof annexed certain mannors lying in Corn. falne to the Crowne through the Marques of Excesters attainder which Qieene Marie afterwards restored in tayle to his sonne the Earle of Deuon and vpon his issue-les decease receiued them againe It were against duetie to make question whether in this exchange the kings meaning went with his pretence and yet wee finde it an ordinary policy amongst Princes to send their successours with a kinde of libera or honoraria legatio into the remoter quarters of their dominions as if they would shunne occasions of iclousie springing from an ouer-neere neighbourhood Howsoeuer the same king not long after passed away this Castle vnto Christs Colledge in Oxford who vse it as a place of retrayt when the Vniuersitie is visited with any contagious sicknes I haue vnderstood that question is made amongst men of knowledge what is become of this Duchy Some holding it altogether extinct for want of the kings issue male some auerring that it is suspended in 〈◊〉 as they say pro tempore and some supposing that it continueth in full power and that her Maiestie hath onely Custodiam Ducatus as of Bishopricks sede va 〈…〉 e Fenes Iudiceralis sit Once euery Sheriffe is summoned to enter his account in the Duchy Exchequer at Lostwithyel and from thence referred ouer to the Exchequer aboue Cornwall considered as a part of the Realme sorteth her gouernment into two kindes spirituall and temporall Touching the spirituall In ancient times this Shire had his particular Bishop and I find how in the yeere 905. Forinosus the Pope sent a sharpe letter to Edward the sonne of Alfride reproouing him for suffring the VVest Saxons to be destitute of Bishops seuen yeeres together Whereon by the aduice of his Councell and Arch-bishop Pleymund he ordayned seuen Bishops in one day amongst whome Herstane was consecrated to Cornwall and Eadwolfe to Crediton which last had three townes in Cornwall assigned him to wit Pontium Coelling and Landwhitton that thence he might yeerely visit the people to roote out as mine authour sayth their errours for before as much as in them lay they withstood the truth and obeyed not the Apostolike decrees Whereon I ground two collections the first that the light of the Gospell tooke not his originall shining into these parts from the Romish Bishop the other that the Cornish like their cousins the Welsh could not bee soone or easily induced to acknowledge his iurisdictiō The Bishops see was formerly at S. Petrocks in Bodmyn but by reason the Danes burned there his Church and palace the same remooued to S. Germanes After that Lumigius from a Monke of Winchester elected Abbot of Tauistoke and from that Abbey aduanced to the Bishoprick of Creditune by his grace with Canutus King of the Angles obtayned an annexion of Cornwal lately fallen voyd and so made one Dioces of that and Deuon as it hath euer since continued This Bishoprick had diuers faire houses and large reuenues in Cornwall but one Veyzy Bishop of the dioces in King H. the 8. time coniecturing as it is conceyued that the Cathedrall Churches should not long ouer-liue the suppressed Monasteries made hauock of those liuings before-hand some by long leasing and some by flat selling so as he left a poore remainder to his successours It oweth subiection to the Metropolitane of Canterbury and hath one onely Archdeaconry which place is now supplyed by master Thomas Sumaster who adorneth the Gentility of his birth with the honestie of his life and by both sorts of feeding approueth himselfe a liberall and commendable pastor Certaine Peculiars there are some appertaining to the dignities of the Cathedrall Church at Exon to wit S. Probus and S. Peran and some to priuate persons as Burien and Temple For religious houses I read that in the time of Paganisme Cunedag builded a Temple in Cornwall to Apollo
but where it stood I know not Since it made roome to Christianity my not ouer-curious enquiry hath learned out these Pryories at S. Germaines Bodmyn Tywardreth Nunries at S. Martine Fryeries at Launceston Truro Bodmyn Colledges at Peryn Crantock Buryen Hospitals at Helston Of parishes the County hath 161. as master Camden noteth and as others haue about 180. Doubtles the Hierarchy of our English Church if it were kept fast to his first institution might with his far better effects close vp their mouthes who would thrust vpon vs their oftē varying discipline But albeit neither our time can well brooke it nor the succeeding would long hold it yet it shal not do much amisse to look vpō the originall beauty thereof if at least I be able to tricke the same truly out doe not blemish it with my pensil At the planting of Christian religion Monasteries cathedrall Churches were likewise founded which serued for seedplots of the ministery sent them abroad in yerely progresses to labor the Lords vineyard Afterwards about the time of our last conquest the country was sorted by a more orderly maner into parishes euery parish cōmitted to a spirituall father called their Parson who stept into that roome not by election as some imagine but mostly by the nomination of him that eyther built the Church or endowed the same with some liuelyhood or was L of the soyle where it stood As for Vicarages those daies knew few for they grew vp in more corrupt ages by the religious houses encrochmēts Besides this Incūbent euery parish had certaine officers as Church wardens Sidemen and 8. men whose duety bound them to see the buildings ornaments appertaining to Gods seruice decently maintayned good order there reuerētly obserued And lest negligence ignorance or partiality might admit or foist in abuses corruption an Archdeacon was appointed to take account of their doings by an verely visitatiō they there sworn duly to make it He they againe had their Ordinary the Bishop euery 3. yere to ouerlook their actions to examine allow admit the ministers as they and the Bishop were sēblably subiect to the Metropolitanes suruey euery 7. yere For warning the Clergy imparting their superiours directions the Curats chose yerely their Deanes rurall The Bishop in his cathedrall church was associated with certaine Prebēdaries some resident who serued as his ghostly coūsel in points of his charge others not bound to ordinary residēce who were called to cōsultation vpon things of greater cōsequence for matters of principal importāce the Archbishop had his prouincial Sinod the whole clergy their national Now then if euery one thus entrused would remember that he had a soule to saue or lose by the well or ill discharging of so waighty a function and did accordingly from time to time bestowe his requisite endeuour what the least fault could escape the espiall of so many eyes or the righting amongst so many hands But I haue thrust my sickle ouer-farre into anothers haruest let my mistaking be corrected and in regard of my good meaning pardoned The Temporal gouernment of Cornwall shooteth out also into two branches Martiall and Ciuill For martiall affaires master Camden noteth out of Iohannes Sarisburiensis that the Cornish mens valiancy purchased them such reputation amongst our ancestours as they together with those of Deuon and Wiltshire were wont to be entrused for the Subsidiary Cohort or band of supply An honor equall to the Romanes Triarii and the shoot-anker of the battell With which concurreth the ancient if not authenticall testimony of Michael Cornubiensis who had good reason to knowe the same being that Countryman and more to report it his verses for which I haue also beene beholding to M. Camden are these Rex Arcturus nos primos Cornubienses Bellum facturus vocat vt put a Caesaris enses Nobis non alijs reliquis dat primitus ictum Per quem pax lisque nobis fit vtrumque relictum Quid nos deterret si firmiter in pede stemus Fraus ni nos superet nihil est quod non superemus I will now set downe the principall Commaunders Officers touching these martiall causes together with the forces of the shire Lord Lieutenant generall Sir VValter Ralegh Deputie Lieutenāts Sir Frauncis Godolphin or any 3. of them Sir Nicholas Parker or any 3. of them Sir Reignald Mohun Peter Edgecumb or any 3. of them Bernard Greinuile or any 3. of them Christopher Harris or any 3. of them Richard Carew or any 3. of them Colonell generall Sir Nicholas Parker Marshall Bernard Greinuile Treasurer Richard Carew Master of the Ordinance VVil. Treffry Colonell of the horse Iohn Arundell of Trerise Sergeant maior Humfrey Parcks Quarter Master VVilliam Carnsew Prouost Marshall Iohn Harris Scowt Master Otwell Hill Corporals of the field Osburne Rusall Rattenbury Sled Ammunition Master Leon. Blackdon Trench Master Cooke Regiments Cōpanies Number Arm pikes Muskets Caliuers Sir Fra. Godol 12. 1200. 470. 490. 240. Sir Will. Beuil 6. 670 225. 215 130. Sir Rei Mohun 6. 600. 200. 210. 190. Ber. Greinuile 10. 1000. 370. 390. 240. Ri. Carew 5. 500. 170. 300 30. Antony Rouse 6. 760. 270. 320. 170. Ch. Treuanion 5. 500. 180. 190. 130. Will. Treffry 4. 400. 140. 130. 130. Sir Nic. Parker 2. 200. 60. 80. 60. Ha. Viuian 1. 100. 40. 40. 20. Ar. Harris 1. 100. 40. 40. 20. Summa 58. 6030. 2165. 2535. 1330. This may serue for a generall estimat of the Cornish forces which I haue gathered partly out of our certificate made to the Lords 1599. partly by information from the Sargeant maior partly through mine owne knowledge There are many more vnarmed pikes which I omit as better fitting a supply vpon necessitie then to bee exposed for opposed to an enemie The number as it standeth much exceedeth the shires proportion if the same be compared with Deuon and other Counties which groweth for that their neerenesse on all quarters to the enemy and their farnesse from timely succour by their friends haue forced the Commaunders to call forth the vttermost number of able hands to fight and rather by perswasion then authority procured them to arme themselues beyond lawe and their ability Which commendable indeuour shall not I hope ought not I am sure turne them to the preiudice of any vnwonted charge hereafter They are all prouided of powder bullet match in competent sort order taken for furnishing of victuals and mounting a third part of the shot at least vpon cause of seruice Light horses the Lords in their directions enioyne for orders sake and the Lieuienants excuse it by insufficiency Hitherto neither hath the commaundement bin reuoked nor the omission controlled In the yeere 1588. when the Spanish floting Babel pretended the conquest of our Iland which like Iosuahs armie they compassed but vnlike him could not with their blasting threats ouerthrow our walles it pleased her
many noble men besides But not too much of this least a partiall affection steale at vnwares into my commendation as one by my mother descended frō his loynes and by my birth a member of the house Certaine olde ruines yet remaining confirme the neighbours report that neere the waters side there stood once a towne called Weststone house vntill the French by fire and sword ouerthrew it In the yeere one thousand fiue hundred ninetienine the Spaniards vaunts caused the Cornish forces to aduance there a kind of fortification and to plot the making of a Bridge on barges ouer that strait for inhibiting the enemies accesse by boates and Gallies into the more inward parts of the hauen But it may be doubted whether the bridge would haue proued as impossible as the Sconcefell out vnnecessarie Master Peter Edgecumbe commonly called Peers married Margaret the daughter of Sir Andrew Lutterel his father Sir Richard married the daughter of Tregian his father Sir Peers married the daughter and heire of Stephan Durnford and his father Sir Richard married the daughter of Tremayn These names of Peers and Richard they haue successiuely varied for sixe or seuen descents Hee beareth for his Armes Gules on a Bend ermine betweene two Cotises Or. 3. Bores heades coped arg armed as the three Langued is the field A little inward from Mountedgecumb lieth a safe and commodious Road for shipping called Hamose and compounded of the words Ose and Ham according to the nature of the place Here those vessels cast anchor which are bound to the Eastwards as those doe in Catwater who would fare to the West because euerie wind that can serue them at Sea will from thence carrie them out which commoditie other Roads doe not so conueniently affoord It is reported that in times past there was an ordinary passage ouer this water to a place on Deuon side called Horsecoue but long since discontinued At the higher end of a creek passing vp from hence Milbrook lurketh between two hilles a village of some 80. houses and borrowing his name from a mill and little brook running therethrough In my remembrance which extendeth not to aboue 40 yeeres this village tooke great encrease of wealth and buildings through the iust and industrious trade of fishing and had welneere forty ships and barks at one time belonging therevnto But our late broyles with Spayne haue set vp a more compendious though not so honest way of gayning and begin by little and little to reduce these plaine dealers to their former vndeserued plight Yet do they prescribe in a suburbiall market as I may terme it to Plymmouth for their reliefe by intercepting if not forestalling such corne and victuals as passing thorow their streights cannot for want of time or weather get ouer Crymell passage to the other and surely they are not vnworthy of fauour for this towne furnisheth more able Mariners at euery prest for her Highnesse seruice then many others of far greater blaze It chanced about twenty yeeres sithence that one Richaurd wife to Richard Adams of this towne was deliuered of two male children the one ten weekes after the other who liued vntil baptisme the later hitherto Which might happen in that the woman bearing twinnes by some blow slide or other extraordinary accident brought forth the first before his time and the later in his due season Now that a childe borne in the seuenth moneth may liue both Astrologers and Phisicions doe affirme but in the 8. they deny it and these are their reasons The Astrologers hold that the child in the mothers wombe is successiuely gouerned euery moneth by the seuen Planets beginning at Saturne after which reckoning he returning to his rule the 8. month by his dreery influēce infortunateth any birth that shal then casually befall whereas his succeeder Iupiter by a better disposition worketh a more beneficiall effect The Phisicions deliuer that in the seuenth moneth the childe by course of nature turneth itself in the mothers belly wherefore at that time it is readier as halfe loosed to take issue by any outward chance Mary in the eightth when it beginneth to settle againe and as yet retayneth some weakenes of the former sturring it requireth a more forcible occasion that induceth a slaughtering violence Or if these coniecturall reasons suffice not to warrant a probability of the truth Plynies authority in a stranger case shall presse them farther for hee writeth that a woman brought a bed of one childe in the seuenth moneth in the moneths following was also deliuered of twinnes A part of Mount-Edgecumb and of this Milbrook though seuered from Deuon by the generall bound yet vpon some of the foreremembred considerations haue bene annexed thereunto Aside of Milbrook lyeth the Peninsula of Inswork on whose neckland standeth an ancient house of the Champernons and descended by his daughters and heires to Forteskew Monck and Treuilian three Gentlemen of Deuon The site is naturally both pleasant and profitable to which the owner by his ingenious experiments daily addeth an artificiall surplusage Passing somewhat farther vp you meet with the foot of Lyner where it winneth fellowship with Tamer that till then and this yet longer retayning their names though their ouer-weake streames were long before confounded by the predominant salt water A little within this mouth of Lyner standeth East-Antony the poore home of mine ancestours with which in this maner they were inuested Sir Iohn Lerchedekne Knight and not priest for he was so called of his family and not by his calling as in Froissard you shall note the like to be familiar amongst the nobility of Gascoigne by Cecill the daughter and heire of Iordan of Haccumb had issue 9. sonnes Ralph Waryne Richard Otho Iohn Robert Martyn Reignald and Michael Richard married Ione the daughter of Iohn Bosowr that bare him Thomas in whome the heires male of this multiplyed hope tooke an end Warine afterwards knighted tooke to wife Elizabeth one of the daughters and heires to Iohn Talbot de Castro Ricardi and on her begate three daughters and heires Alienor wedded to Sir Walter Lucy Margery to Sir Thomas Arundel of Taluerne and Philip to Sir Hugh Courtney of Bauncton which I take is now named Boconnock From Lucy descended the Lord Vaux and others Margery dyed childlesse anno 1419. as is testified by her toomb-stone in West-Antony Church where shee lyeth buried Sir Hugh Courtney was second sonne to Ed. Earle of Deuon had 2. wiues the first Maud daughter of the L. Beaumond to whose children for want of issue in the elder stock that Earledome deuolued the later our foreremēbred Philip who left her inheritance to her only daughter Ione and she taking a patterne from her fathers fortune espoused likewise 2. husbands viz. Sir Nicholas Baron of Carew and Sir Robert Vere brother to Iohn Earle of Oxford to Sir Nicholas shee bare Thomas Nicholas Hugh Alexander and William to Sir Robert Iohn and became
Church of Launceston it selfe fetcheth his title of dedication from Mary Magdalen whose image is curiously hewed in a side of the wall and the whole Church fayrely builded The towne was first founded saith M. Hooker by Eadulphus brother to Alpsius Duke of Deuon and Cornwall and by his being girded with a wall argueth in times past to haue caried some valew A newe increase of wealth expresseth it selfe in the Inhabitants late repayred and enlarged buildings They are gouerned by a Maior and his scarlet-robde brethren and reape benefit by their fayres and markets and the County Assizes The Statute of 32. Henry 8. which tooke order touching Sanctuaries endowed this towne with the priuiledge of one but I find it not turned to any vse To the town there is adioynant in site but sequestred in iurisdiction an ancient Castle whose steepe rocky-footed Keepe hath his top enuironed with a treble wal and in regard thereof men say was called Castle terrible The base court compriseth a decayed Chappell a large hall for holding the shire Assizes the Constables dwelling house and the common Gayle About 60 yeeres past there were found certaine leather coynes in the Castle wall whose faire stamp and strong substance till then resisted the assault of time as they would now of couetousnesse A little without the towne were founded a Friery and anno 1128. an Abbey furthered by Reignald Earle of Cornwall About 2. miles distant from Launceston Penheale mannour coasteth the high way claiming the right of anciēt demain sometimes appertaining to the Earles of Huntingdon but purchased not long sithence by the late M. George Greinuile who descended from a yonger brother of that family and through his learning and wisdome aduanced his credit to an especiall good regard in his Countrey He maried Iulian one of the 6. daughters and heires of William Viel and Iane the daughter to Sir Iohn Arundel of Trerne Richard his father tooke to wife one of Kelwayes heires and Degory his graund-father one of the inheritors to Tregarthen which helps together with his owne good husbandry haue endowed his sonne with an elder brothers liuelyhood he beareth G. three Restes O. In Lezant parish heereby master Christopher Harris owneth a third part of Trecarell the proiect and onset of a sumptuous building as coheire to the last Gentleman of that name but admitteth no partner in the sweetly tempered mixture of bounty and thrift grauity and pleasantnes kindnesse and stoutnes which grace all his actions Hee beareth Sa. three Croissants within aborder A. Neither may wee forget Master Coringtons house of Newton old to him by succession yet new in respect of his owne antiquitie diuers his auncestors haue reaped the praise and reputation of a stayed carriage howbeit one of them through his rash but merrie prankes is to this day principally remembred by the name of the mad Corington I haue heard him deliuer an obseruation that in eight liniall descents no one borne heire of his house euer succeeded to the land hee beareth A. a Saultier Sa. Trebigh a priuiledged franchise is by his Lord Master William Wray conuerted to a generall welcomer of his friends and neighbours Hee married the daughter of Sir William Courtney his father the coheire of Killigrew Hee beareth Sa. a Fesse betweene three battel-axes A. Poole for his low and moyst seate is not vnaptly named houseth Sir Ionathan Trelawny farre beneath his worth calling he married Sir Henry Killigrews daughter his father the coheire of Reskimer his graundfather Lamellyns Inheritrix Poole standeth in Mynhinet parish where Sir Ionathan hath a large priuiledged Mānour of the same name the Benefice is giuen by Excester Colledge in Oxford none but the fellowes admittable wherethrough it hath sccessiuely beene graced with three well borne well learned and welbeloued Incumbents Doctor Tremayne Master Billet and Master Denis Out of Sir Ionathans house is also descended Master Edward Trelawny a Gentleman qualified with many good parts Their armes are A. a Cheuron S. betweene three Oke-leaues Vert. Sundrie other Gent. rest beholden to this hundred for their dwellings who in an enuiable mediocritie of fortune do happilie possesse themselues and communicate their sufficient means to the seruice of their prince the good of their neighbours and the bettering of their own estate of which sort are M. Becket who beareth S. a Fesse betweene three Boares heads coped sixe Crosses crosselet Fichee O. M. Tregodecke who beareth A. a Cheuron betweene three Buckles S. M. Spurre G. on a Cheuron O. a rose of the first and 2. mullets pearnd S. M. Bligh B. a Griffon legreant O. armed G. betweene 3. Croissants A. M. Lower B. a Cheuron engrayled O. betweene three Roses A. M. Treuisa G. a garb O. M. Chiuerton A. a Castle S. standing on a hill V. Manaton A on a Bend S. three mullets of the field and some others Stratton Hundred STratton Hundred extendeth the breadth of Cornewall to the North as that of East beginneth it on the South and therefore it shall next succeede His circuit is slender but his fruitfulnesse great and the Inhabitants industrie commendable who reape a large benefit from their orchyards and gardens but specially from their Garlick the Countreymans Triacle which they vent not onely into Cornwall but many other shires besides Stratton the onely market towne of this Hundred gaue the same his name and if I mistake not taketh it from Strota a street other memorable matter to report thereof I finde not any Vpon one side of the towne lyeth master Chamonds house and place of Launcels so called for that it was sometimes a Cell appertaining to the Abbot of Hartlond This Gentlemans father late deceased receiued at Gods hands an extraordinarie fauour of long life Hee serued in the office of a Iustice of peace almost 60. yeeres He knew aboue 50. seuerall Iudges of the westerne cercuit He was vncle and great vncle to at least 300. wherein yet his vncle and neighbour master Greynuile parson of Kilkhampton did exceed him He married one of the daughters and heires of Treuenuer and by her saw fiue sonnes and two daughters the yongest out-stepping 40. yeeres Sir Iohn Chamond his father a man learned in the common lawes was knighted at the Sepulchre and by dame Iane widdowe to Sir Iohn Arundell of Trerice and daughter to Sir Thomas Greynuile had an elder sonne called Thomas whose two daughters and heires by Arscot caried part of the lands to Tripcony and Treuanion with whome they matched Master Chamond beareth A. a Cheuron betweene 3. flowers de Luce G. In Launcels parish also standeth Norton the house of M. Tristram Arscot a Gēt who by his trauailing abroad in his yonger yeres hath the better enabled himselfe to discharge his calling at home He tooke to wife Eulalia the widdow of the wise and vertuous M. Edmond Tremayne and daughter of Sir Iohn Sentleger whose stately house of Anery in Deuon he purchased