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
0 S. Breock 0. 15. 0 Withiel 0. 5. 0 Carnenton 0. 10. 0 Vwel 0. 10. 0 Sum. tot deductions 15. 10. 113. 1. 6. THE SVRVEY OF CORNWALL The second Booke IN this second booke I will first report what I haue learned of Cornwall and Cornishmen in general and from thence descend to the particular places and persons as their note-worthie site or any memorable action or accident of the former or later ages shall offer occasion The highest which my search can reach vnto I borrow out of Strabo who writeth that the Westerne Bretons gaue ayde vnto the Armorici of Fraunce against Caesar which hee pretended for one of the causes why he inuaded this Iland Next I find that about sixtie yeeres from the landing of Hengist one Nazaleod a mightie King amongst the Bretons ioyned battell with Certicus Soueraigne of the West-Saxons and after long fight with his owne death accompanied the ouerthrow of his armie Yet the Bretons thus abandoned by fortune would not so forsake themselues but with renued courage and forces coped once againe with Certicus and his sonne Kenrick at Certicesford thogh equally destitute of successe as before Gurmund an arch-Pirate of the Norwegians was called by the Saxons out of his late conquered Ireland to their aide against Careticus king of the Bretons whom he ouercame in battel and inforced his subiects to seeke safegard by flight some in Wales some in Cornwall and some in little Breteigne since which time they could neuer recouer againe their auncient possession of the whole Iland Howbeit not long after Iuor sonne to Alane king of the said little Breteigne landed in the West parts wanne from the Saxons Cornwall Deuon Somerset shires by force of armes and then established his conquest by a peaceable composition with his aduerse partie Adelred king of West-sex inuaded Deuon and Cornwall whom Roderick king of the Bretons and Blederick Prince of those prouinces encountred and discomfited which notwithstanding processe of time reaued from him and added such strength to his enemies that he was driuen to abandon Cornwall and retire into Wales So the Cornishmen quitting their libertie with their prince stouped to the cōmaund of Egbert King of West-sex and with their territorie saith William Malmsburie enlarged his confines Athelstane handled them yet more extremely for hee draue them out of Excester where till then they bare equall sway with the Saxons left onely the narrow angle on the West of Tamer riuer for their Inhabitance which hath euer since beene their fatall bound On their Reguli as Vincentius deliuereth he imposed an yerely tribute of 20. li. in gold 300. li. in siluer 25. oxen and hunting hounds and hawkes at discretion To these afflictions by home-neighbours of bondage tribute and banishing was ioyned a fourth of spoyling by forrayne enemies for Roger Houedon telleth vs that the Danes landed in sundry places of Cornwall forrayed the Countrey burned the Townes and killed the people To whom succeeded in the like occupation Godwin and Edmond magnus King Harolds two sonnes discomfiting the forces opposed against them harrowing Deuon and Cornwall and then retiring with their prey into Ireland After the conquest when K. H. the first inuaded Griffin ap Conan Prince of Wales he distributed his armie into three portions one of which wherein consisted the forces of the fourth part of England and Cornwal hee committed to the leading of Gilbert Earle of Strigill In Henry the thirds time by the testimony of Mathew Paris William Earle of Sarum after long tossing at sea with much adoe about Christmas arriued in Cornwall and so afterwards did Earle Richard the Kings brother at two seuerall times the later of which being destitute of horses and treasure he prayed therein ayde of his loyals When Edward the third auerred his right to the Crowne of Fraunce by the euidence of armes the French for a counterplea made an vnlawfull entry into Deuon and Cornwall but Hugh Courtney Earle of Deuon remooued it with posse Comitatus and recommitted them to the wooddē prison that brought them thither Yet would not the Scots take so much warning by their successe as example by their precedent if at least Froissarts ignorance of our English names bred not his mistaking in the place By his relation also Cornwals neere neighbourhead gaue oportunity of accesse both to the Earle Montford when he appealed to that Kings ayd for recouering his right in Brittaine albeit I cannot bring home Cepsee the designed port of his landing and after his captiuitie to the messengers of his heroicall Countesse employed in the like errand And from Cornwall the Earle of Sarum Wil. de Mesuile and Philip de Courtney set to sea with 40. ships besides Barks and 2000. men at armes besides Archers in support of that quarrell Lastly his authoritie enformeth me that those souldiers of Cornwall who vnder their Captaines Iohn Apport and Iohn Cornwall had defended the Fort of Bercherel in Brittaine against the power of Fraunce aboue a yeree space in the end for want of due succours vpon an honourable composition surrendred the same Queene Margaret wife to H. 6. vpon her arriual out of Fraūce after the losse of Barnet field receiued great ayd though to smal purpose frō the Deuon and Cornish men vnder the conduct of Thomas Earle of that shire And so much were those Western people addicted to that name as they readily followed Sir Edw. Courtney his brother Peter Bishop of Excesler what time they assisted the Duke of Buckingham in his reuolt against Richard the third Neither did his suppressour and successour H. the 7. finde them more loyall for the Cornish men repining at a Subsidy lately graunted him by Act of Parliament were induced to rebellion by Thomas Flammock a Gentleman Michael Ioseph a Black-smith with whom they marched to Taunton there murdering the Prouost of perin a Commissioner for the sayd Subsidy and from thence to Welles where Iames Touchet Lord Audely degenerated to their party with which encrease they passed by Sarisbury to Winchester and so into Kent But by this time Lords Commons were gathered in strēgth sufficient to make head against them and soone after black Heath saw the ouerthrow of their forces in battell and Loudon the punishment of their seducers by iustice In the same fatall yeere of reuolts Perkin Warbeck a counterfeit Prince landed in Cornwall went to Bodmyn assembled a trayne of rake-hels assaulted Excester receyued the repulse and in the end sped as is knowne and as he deserued The last Cornish rebellion was first occasioned by one Kilter and other his associats of a Westerne parish called S. Keueren who imbrued their wicked hands in the guiltles blood of one M. Body as he sate in Commission at Helston for matters of reformation in religion and the yere following it grew to a general reuolt vnder the
Cornwall At the Sinode of Arles in Fraunce there was present one Corinius sonne to Salomon Duke of Cornwall After the abouenamed Octauius his decease Maximianus a Romane who maried his daughter succeeded him also in gouernment betweene whome and the foreremembred Conan grew great warres which concluding at last in a peace Maxim passed with an armie into Fraunce conquered there Armorica naming it little Brittaine and gaue the same in fee to Conan who being once peaceably setled wrote ouer vnto Dionethus or Dionotus Duke or King of Cornwall as Mathew of West termeth him to send him some Maidens whom he might couple in mariage with his people whereon S. Vrsula her companions the 11000. virgins were shipped miscaried as their welknown history reporteth Nicholas Gille a French writer deliuereth vpon the credit of our British Historians that about this time Meroueus a Paynim king of Fraunce caused his owne sonne to be throwne into the fire and burned for that he had slayne the king of Cornwall as he returned from a feast Hee also maketh mention of one Moigne brother to Aurelius and Vter-pendragon Duke of Cornwall gouerner of the Realme vnder the Emperour Honorius Caredoc Duke of Cornwall was employed sayth D. Kay by Octauius about founding the Vniuerfitie of Cambridge And vpon Igerna wife to Gorlois Duke of Cornwall Vter begat the worthy Arthur and a daughter called Amy. This Arthur discomfited in fight one Childerick a king of the Saxons and afterwards vpon certaine couenants suffred him quietly to depart the Realme But Childerick violating the word of a king bound with the solemnity of an othe inuaded estsoones the Westerne coasts harrowing the Country as he passed vntil Cador Earle of Cornwall became Gods Minister to take vengeance of his periury by reauing off his life That Marke swayed the Cornish septer you cannot make question vnlesse you will withall shake the irrefragable authoritie of the round tables Romants Blederic Duke of Cornwall associated with other Welsh kings darrayned a battell against Ethelferd king of the Northumbers by the valiant forgoing of his life got his partners the victory Iuor sonne to Alane king of little Brittaine first wan from the Saxons Cornwall Deuon and Somerset shires by force of armes and then taking to wife Ethelburg cousin to Kentwin king of Westsex enioyed the same by composition Roderit king of the Bretons in Wales and Cornwall vnder whom Bletius was Prince of this last and of Deuon valiantly repulsed Adelred king of Westsex what time he assayled him in Cornwall yet in the end being ouer-matched in number and tired with continuall onsets he was driuen to quit the same and retire himselfe into Wales Polidor Virgill maketh mention of one Reginaldus Comes Britannorum in the time of king Etheldred Dungarth king of Corn by mischance was drowned Alpsius is recorded about this time for Duke of Deuon and Cornwall Orgerius Duke of Cornwall had a daughter named Alfride the fame of whose beauty caused King Edgar to send Earle Athelwold for obtaining her at her fathers hands in mariage But the Earle with the first sight of this faire Lady was so besotted in her loue that preferring the accomplishment of his lust before the duety of his alleageance he returnes answer to the King how the common report far exceeded her priuate worth which came much short of meriting a partnership in so great a Princes bed and not long after begged and obtayned the Kings good wlll to wed her himselfe But so braue a lustre could not lye long concealed without shining foorth into Edgars knowledge who finding the truth of his Ambassadours falshood tooke Athelwold at an aduauntage slewe him and maried her beeing a widdowe whome hee had wooed a mayde Hitherunto these titles of honour carry a kinde of confusednes and rather betokened a successiue office then an established dignity The following ages receiued a more distinct forme and left vs a certeyner notice What time William the bastard subdued this Realme one Condor possessed the Earledome of Cornwall and did homage for the same he had issue another Condor whose daughter and heire Agnes was maried to Reignald Earle of Bristowe base sonne to King Henry the first This note I borowed out of an industrious collection which setteth downe all the noble mens creations Armes and principall descents in euery Kings dayes since the conquest but master Camden our Clarentieulx nameth him Cadoc and saith farther that Robert Morton brother to William Conquerour by his mother Herlot was the first Earle of Norman blood and that his sonne William succeeded him who taking part with Duke Robert against Henry the first thereby got captiuity and lost his honour with which that King inuested the forementioned Reignald In this variance it is great reason that the ballance panche on his side who hath both authority to establish his assertion and a rarely approued knowledge to warrant his authoritie Hee dying issuelesse Richard the first gaue this Earledome to his brother Iohn Iohns sonne Henry the third honoured therewith his brother Richard King of the Romanes a Prince no lesse plentifully flowing in wealth then his brother was often driuen to extreame shifts through needinesse which made that barbarous age to poetrize Nummus ait pro me nubit Cornubia Rome Money sayd that for her sake Rome did Cornwall to wife take He had issue Henry Earle of Cornwall who deceased issuelesse and Edmond whose daughter and heire Isabell sayth mine authour was married to Moriee Fitsharding Lord Barckleigh but others affirme that this Edmond dyed without issue Edward the second degenerating in his choyce created his mynion Peter Gaueston a Gascoyne Earle of this County whose posterity ended in himselfe and himself by a violent death The last title of this Earldome expired in Iohn of Eltham yonger sonne to that King Edward After which King Edward the third by act of Parliament in the 11. yeere of his raigne erected the same to a Duchy the first in England and graced it with his sonne the blacke Prince for his heroicall vertues did rather bestow then receiue estimation from whatsoeuer dignitie Since which it is successiuely incorporated in the Kings eldest sonne and hath bene so enioyed by Richard the second Henry the fift Henry the sixt Edward his sōne Edward the fift Edward sonne to Richard the third Arthure and Henry sonnes to Henry the seuenth and lastly Edward the sixt 10. Dukes in the whole These Earles and Dukes haue from the beginning beene priuiledged with royall iurisdiction or Growne rights namely giuing of liberty to send Burgesses to the Parliaments returne of writs custome toll Mynes Treasure-trovee wards c. and to this end appoynted their speciall officers as Sheriffe Admirall Receyuer Hauener Customer Butler Searcher Comptroller Gaugeor Excheator Feodary Auditor Clarke of the market c. besides the L. Warden and those others beforeremembred whose functions appertayne
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
burial of a Duke whose heire was maried to the prince But who it should bee I cannot deuise albeit my best pleasing coniecture lighteth vpon Orgerius because his daughter was married to Edgar At the last Cornish commotion S. Richard Greynuile the elder did with his Ladie and followers put themselues into this Castle there for a while indured the Rebels siege incamped in three places against it who wanting great Ordinance could haue wrought the besieged small scathe had his friends or enemies kept faith and promise but some of those within slipping by night ouer the wals with their bodies after their hearts and those without mingling humble intreatings with rude menaces he was hereby wonne to issue forth at a posterne gate for patley The while a part of thoserakehels not knowing what honestie and farre lesse how much the word of a souldier imported stepped betweene him and home laid hold on his aged vnweyldie body and threatned to leaue it liuelesse if the inclosed did not leaue their resistance So prosecuting their first treacherie against the prince with suteable actions towards his subiects they seized on the Castle and exercised the vttermost of their barbarous crueltie death excepted on the surprised prisoners The seely Gentlewomen without regard of sexe or shame were stripped from their apparrell to their verie smockes and some of their fingers broken to plucke away their rings and Sir Richard himselfe made an exchange from Trematon Castle to that of Launceston with the Gayle to boote This Castle vaunteth the Lord Warden his steward by Patent Master Anthonie Rouse his Baylife by inheritance and Richard Carew of Antony his keeper by lease Of the ancient officers one yet retayneth the name though not the place viz. M. Porter to whose ancestor when Vantor was L. thereof one by a deed before date gaue land lying without the gate by the title of Russell Ianitori de Trematon which he still enioyeth M. Porters Armes are Sa. Three Belles Ar. a Canton Erm. It standeth in S. Stephens parish the sheafe whereof together with other farre reuennues M. George Wadham enioying in the right of his wife the daughter and heire to master Hechins liberally bestoweth in continuall hospitalitie Master Hechins Armes are Sa. a crosse Fleurty quarterly B. and G. betweene 4. Lyons heades erased Sa. langued of the second M. Wadhams G. a Cheuron betweene three Roses Ar. The same parish also compriseth Saltash in olde writings called Villa de Esse Esse his towne and such Gentlemen there haue bene of ancient descent and faire reuennues The word Salt is added thereunto because it standeth on the sea to distinguish it from other places of the same name It is seated on the declyning of a steep hill consisteth of three streets which euery showre washeth cleane compriseth betweene 80. and 100. households vnderlyeth the gouernment of a Maior his 10. brethren and possesseth sundry large priuiledges ouer the whole hauen to wit an yeerely rent of boates and barges appertayning to the harbour ancorage of strange shipping crowning of dead persons laying of arrests and other Admirall rights besides electing of Burgesses for the Parliaments benefit of the passage foreclosing all others saue themselues from dredging of Oysters except betweene Candlemas and Easter weckely markets halfe-yeerely fayres c. The towne is of late yeeres well encreased and adorned with buildings the townsmen addict themselues to the honest trade of marchandise which endoweth them with a competent wealth Some 7. or 8. ships belong thereunto It was not long since that the neighbour-ministers successiuely bestowed their paines in preaching there on the market daies and the bordering gentlemen yeelded their presence Sermon ended the Preachers resorted to one ordinary and the Gentlemen to another This affoorded commendable effects to many works of loue and charity but with the retorted blame from one to another it is now wholly giuen ouer Heere that great Carrack which Sir Frauncis Drake surprised in her returne from the East Indies vnloded her frayght and through a negligent fyring met with an vnproper ending In this towne also dwelleth one Grisling deafe from a long time who besides his merry conceites of counterseyting by signes like the Romane Pantamimi any kinde of occupation or exercise hath a strange quality to vnderstand what you say by marking the mouing of your lips especially if you speake deliberately of any ordinary matter so as contrary to the rules of nature and yet without the helpe of arte he can see words as they passe forth of your mouth and of this I haue caused him to giue often experiments And if Plyny now liued I suppose he would affoord a roome in his natural History to a dogge of this town who as I haue learned by the faithfull report of master Thomas Parkins vsed daily to fetch meate at his house there and to carry the same vnto a blinde mastiffe that lay in a brake without the towne yea that more is hee would vpon Sundayes conduct him thither to dynner and the meale ended guide him back to his couch and couert againe I had almost forgotten to tell you that there is a well in this towne whose water will neuer boyle peason to a seasonable softnes At the foot of Saltash there abbutteth vpon the sea a rock called Ashtorre alias Esses Torre which is inuested with the iurisdiction of a mannour and claymeth the sultes of many Gentlemen as his freeholders in Knights seruice Belowe this there is a rock on eche side of the riuer the one termed the Bull the other the Hen that on Deuon this on Cornwall side The Hen standeth a little distant from the shore which giueth occasion to a Packe how between it and the land the Queenes greatest ship may saile but it is meant of the farther distant Aboue Saltash Cargreen a fisher towne sheweth it selfe but can hardly muster a meane plight of dwellings or dwellers so may their care be greene because their wealth is withered Neere thereunto is Clifton a neat seated house appertayning to one of the Arundels descended by a yonger brother from those of Trerice he maried Hill his father Cole Neither hath your eye searcely quitted that when it receiueth Halton the pleasant and commodious dwelling of M. Anthony Rouse both which benefits he employeth to a kind vninterrupted entertainment of such as visit him vpō his not spare inuiting or their owne occasions who without the selfe guilt of an vngratefull wrong must witnes that his frankenesse confirmeth their welcome by whatsoeuer meanes prouision the fewell of hospitality can in the best maner supply His auncestours were Lords of little Modbury in Deuon before the descent of times grew to a distinguishment by the date of writings which mannour together with other lands through a lineall succession fell to be possessed by Raphe Wil. Raphe Iohn Wil. Raphe and Raphe whose daughter and heire Elizabeth bestowed the same with
thither hath lately remoued his residence he beareth party per Cheuron B. et E. in chiefe two stagges heads cabased O. Vpon the North-sea thereby bordereth Stow so singly called Rer eminentiam as a place of great and good marke scope and the auncient dwelling of the Greynuiles famous family from whence are issued diuers male branches and whither the females haue brought in a verie populous kinred Master Bernard Greinuile sonne and heire to Sir Richard is the present owner and in a kind magnanimitie treadeth the honourable steps of his auncestors Tonacumb late the house of Master Iohn Kempthorne alias Lea who married Katherine the daughter of Sir Peers Courtney is by his issuelesse decease descended to his brothers sonne hee beareth A. three Pine-apple trees V. Returning to the Westwards wee meete with Bude an open sandie Bay in whose mouth riseth a little hill by euerie sea-floud made an Iland and thereon a decayed Chappell it spareth roade onely to such small shipping as bring their tide with them and leaueth them drie when the ebbe hath carried away the Salt-water Vpon one side hereof Master Arundel of Trerice possesseth a pleasant-seated house and demaines called Efford alias Ebbingford and that not vnproperly because euerie low water there affordeth passage to the other shore but now it may take a new name for his better plight for this Gentleman hath to his great charges builded a Salt-water Mill athwart this Bay whose causey serueth as a verie conuenient bridge to saue the way-farers former trouble let and daunger It is receiued by tradition that his belsire Sir Iohn Arundel was forewarned by I wot not what Calker how he should bee slaine on the sands For auoyding which encounter he alwaies shunned Efford dwelt at Trerice another of his houses But as the prouerb sayth Fata viam inuenient and as experience teacheth mens curiosity Fato viam sternit It hapned that what time the Earle of Oxford surprized S. Michaels mount by policy and kept the same by strong hand this Sir Iohn Arundel was Sherife of Cornwall wherethrough vpon duety of his office and commaundement from the Prince hee marched thither with posse Comitatus to besiege it and there in a skirmish on the sands which deuide the mount from the continēt he fulfilled the effect of the prophecy with the losse of his life and in the said mounts Chappell lieth buried So Cambises lighted on Ecbatana in Egypt and Alexander Epirot on Acheros in Italy to bring them to their end So Philip of Macedon and Atis the sonne of Croesus found a chariot in a swords hilt and an Iron poynted weapon at the hunting of a Bore to delude their preuentiue wearinesse So Amilcar supped in Siracusa the Prince of Wales ware a Crown thorow Cheapside in another sort and sense then they imagined or desired And so Pope Gerebert and our King H. the 4. trauailed no farther for meeting their fatall Hierusalem then the one to a Chappell in Rome the other to a chamber in Westminster S. Marie Wike standeth in a fruitfull soyle skirted with a moore course for pasture and combrous for trauellers Wic by master Lambert signifieth a towne by master Camden Stationem vel Sinum vbi excercitus agit This village was the birth-place of Thomasine Bonauenture I know not whether by descēt or euent so called for whiles in her girlish age she kept sheepe on the fore-remembred moore it chanced that a London marchant passing by saw her heeded her liked her begged her of her poore parents and carried her to his home In processe of time her mistres was summoned by death to appeare in the other world and her good thewes no lesse then her seemely personage somuch contented her master that he aduanced her from a seruant to a wife and left her a wealthy widdow Her second mariage befell with one Henry Gall her third and last with Sir Iohn Perciual Lord Maior of London whom she also ouerliued And to shew that vertue as well bare a part in the desert as fortune in the meanes of her preferment she employed the whole residue of her life and last widdowhood to works no lesse bountifull then charitable namely repayring of high waies building of bridges endowing of maydens relieuing of prisoners feeding and apparelling the poore c. Amongst the rest at this S. Mary Wike she founded a Chauntery and free-schoole together with faire lodgings for the Schoolemasters schollers and officers and added twenty pound of yeerely reuennue for supporting the incident charges wherein as the bent of her desire was holy so God blessed the same with al wished successe for diuers the best Gent. sonnes of Deuon and Cornwall were there vertuously trained vp in both kinds of diuine and humane learning vnder one Cholwel an honest and religious teacher which caused the neighbours so much the rather and the more to rewe that a petty smacke onely of Popery opened a gap to the oppression of the whole by the statute made in Edw. the 6. raigne touching the suppression of Chaunteries Such strange accidēts of extraordinary aduancemēts are verified by the ample testimonie of many histories and amongst the rest we read in Machiauell how beit controuled by the often reproued Iouius that Castruccio Caestracani climed from a baser birth to a farre higher estate For being begotten in Lucca by vnknowne parents and cast out in his swadling clouts to the wide world he was taken vp by a widdowe placed by her with a Clergy man her brother giuen by him to a Gent called Francesco Guinigi and by Guinigi left tutor to his onely sonne From which step his courage and wisedome raysed him by degrees to the soueraignty of Lucca the Senatorship of Rome the speciall fauour of the Emperour and a neere hope only by death preuented of subduing Florence Lesnewith Hundred LEsnewith Hūdred taketh his name of a parish therein as Stratton doth of a towne memorable for nothing else It may be deriued either from Les which in Cornish signifieth broad and newith which is new as a new breadth because it enlargeth his limits farther into Cornwall on both sides whereas Stratton is straightned on the one by Deuon or from Les and gwith which importeth broad Ashen trees g for Euphonias sake being turned into n. The first place which heere offreth it selfe to sight is Bottreaux Castle seated on a bad harbour of the North sea suburbed with a poore market town yet entitling the owner in times past with the stile of a Baron from who by match it descēded to the L. Hungerford resteth in the Earle of Huntingdon The diuersified roomes of a prison in the Castle for both sexes better preserued by the Inhabitants memorie then discerneable by their owne endurance shew the same heeretofore to haue exercised some large iurisdiction Not farre from thence Tintogel more famous for his antiquitie then regardable for his present estate abbutteth likewise on the