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
amidst his foes By courage guided sought and scapt his death Loe here amongst his friends whom liking chose And nature lent hath vp resign'd his breath Vnripened fruit in grouth precious in hope Rare in effect had fortune giuen scope Our eyes with teares performe thine obsequy And hearts with sighes since hands could yeeld none aid Our tongues with praise preserue thy memory And thing his with grieft since we behind are staid Coswarth farewell death which vs parts atwaine E're long in life shall vs conioyne againe His sister maried Kendall Edward his vncle and heire by vertue of these entayles married the daughter of Arundel of Trerice and from a ciuill Courtiers life in his younger yeeres reposeth his elder age on the good husbandry of the country hauing raised posterity sufficient for transplanting the name into many other quarters He beareth A. on a Cheuron betweene three wings B. fiue Bezants Against you haue passed towards the West somewhat more then a mile Trerice anciently Treres oftreth you the viewe of his costly and commodious buildings What Tro is you know already res signifieth a rushing of fieeting away and vpon the declyning of a hill the house is seated In Edward the 3. raigne Ralphe Arundel matched with the heire of this land and name since which time his issue hath there continued and encreased their liuelyhood by sundry like Inheritours as S. Iohn Iew Durant Thurlebear c. Precisely to rip vp the whole pedigree were more tedious then behoouefull and therefore I will onely as by the way touch some fewe poynts which may serue in part to shew what place regard they haue borne in the Common wealth There was an Indenture made betweene Hugh Courtney Earle of Deuon Leiutenant to the King for a sea voyage in defence of the Realme and Sir Iohn Arundel of Trerice for accompanying him therein He was Sherife of Cornwall Iohn Earle of Huntingdon vnder his seale of Armes made Sir Iohn Arundel of Trerice Seneshall of his houshold as well in peace as in warre gaue him ten pound fee and allowed him entertaynment in his house for one Gentleman three Yeoman one boy and sixe horses The same Earle stiling himselfe Lieutenant generall to Iohn Duke of Bedford Constable and Admirall of England wrote to the said Sir Iohn Arundel then Vice-admirall of Cornwall for the release of a ship which hee had arrested by vertue of his office The Queene by her letter aduertised Iohn Arundel of Trerice Esquire that she was brought in child-bed of a Prince The King wrote to Sir Iohn Arundel of Trerice that he should giue his attendance at Canterbury about the entertaynment of the Emperour whose landing was then and there expected Iohn Arundel of Trerice Esquire tooke prisoner Duncane Campbell a Scot in a fight at sea as our Chronicle mentioneth concerning which I though it not amisse to insert a letter sent him from Tho. Duke of Norfolke to whom he then belonged that you may see the stile of those dayes By the Duke of Norf. RIght welbeloued in our hearty wise we commend vs vnto you letting you with that by your seruant this bearer wee haue receiued your letters dated at Truru the 5. day of this moneth of April by which we perceyue the goodly valiant and ieopardous enterprise it hath pleased God of late to send you by the taking of Duncane Camel other Scots on the sea of which enterprise we haue made relation vnto the Kings Highnesse who is not a little ioyous and glad to heare of the same and hath required vs instantly in his name to giue you thanks for your said valiant courage and bolde enterprise in the premises and by these our letters for the same your so doing we doe not onely thanke you in our most effectuall wise but also promise you that during our life wee will bee glad to aduaunce you to any preferment we can And ouer this you shall vnderstand our said Soueraigne Lords pleasure is that you shall come and repaire to his Highnes with diligence in your owne person bringing with you the said Captiue and the Master of the Scottish ship at which time you shall not onely be sure of his especiall thanks by mouth to know his further pleasure therein but also of vs to further any your reasonable pursuits vnto his Highnes or any other during our life to the best of our power accordingly Written at Lambeth the 11. day of Aprill aforesaid Superscribed To our right welbeloued seruant Iohn Arundell of Trerice The King wrote to Sir Iohn Ar. of Trerice touching his discharge from the Admiralty of the fleete lately committed vnto him that he should deliuer the ship which he sayled in to Sir Nic. Poynts The same yere the King wrote to him againe that he should attend him in his warres against the French king with his seruants tenants and others within his roomes and offices especially horsemen Other letters from the King there are whose date is not expressed neither can I by any meanes hunt it out One to his seruant Iohn Arundel of Trerice Esquire willing him not to repaire with his men and to wayte in the rereward of his army as hee had commaunded him but to keepe them in a readinesse for some other seruice Another to Sir Iohn Arundel of Trerice praying and desiring him to the Court the Quindene of Saint Hillarie next wheresoeuer the King shall then bee within the Realme There are also letters directed to Sir Iohn Arundell of Trerice from the Kings Counsell by some of which it appeareth that hee was Vice admirall of the Kings shippes in the West seas and by others that hee had the goods and lands of certaine Rebels giuen him for his good seruice against them The Queene wrote to Sir Iohn Arundell of Trerice praying and requiring him that hee with his friends and neighbours should see the Prince of Spaine most honourably entertained if he fortuned to land in Cornwall Shee wrote to him being then Sherife of Cornwall touching the election of the Knights of the shire and the Burgesses for the Parliament Shee likewise wrote to him that notwithstanding the instructions to the Iustices hee should muster and furnish his seruants tenants and others vnder his rule and offices with his friends for the defence and quieting of the Countrie withstanding of enemies and any other imployment as also to certifie what force of horse and foote he could arme These few notes I haue culled out of many others Sir Iohn Arundell last mentioned by his first wife the coheire of Beuill had issue Roger who died in his fathers life time and Katherine married to Prideaux Roger by his wife Trendenham left behind him a sonne called Iohn Sir Iohns second wife was daughter to Erisy and widdow to Gourlyn who bare him Iohn his succeeder in Tretice and much other faire reuenewes whose due commendation because another might better
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
parcel of the Cornish earth extendeth it selfe wider and compriseth more parishes then any other Hundred of the shire as stretching East and West from Foy to Falmouth and South and North welnere from one sea to the other In describing the same we must begin where we left to wit at Foy hauen in Cornish Foath It receyueth this name of the riuer and bestoweth the same on the town His entrance is garded with Block-houses that on the townes side as also the towne it selfe fortified fenced with ordinance The commeÌ„dation of which iudustry is principally due to the prouidence and direction of M. Wil. Treffry a Gent that hath vowed his rare gifts of learning wisdome courage to the good of his country made proofe therof in many occurreÌ„ts to whose iudicious correctioÌ„s these my notes haue bin not a little beholden His faire ancient house Castle-Wise builded and sufficiently flanked ouerlooketh the towne and hauen with a pleasant prospect and yet is not excluded from the healthfull ayre and vse of the country which occasioned his auncestours though endowed elsewhere with large reuennues of their owne and their wiues inheritance for many discents to make here their ordinary residence as is witnessed by their to ombestones which I haue seene in the church One of them about 145. yeeres sithence valiantly defended this his dwelling against the French what time they had surprized the rest of the towne Hee married one of Tremaynes heires his father the heire of Tresithny his graundfather the daughter of Killigrew and beareth S. a Cheuron betweene three Hawthornes A. But I will returne to the towne During the warlike raignes of our two valiant Edwards the first third the Foyens addicted themselues to backe their Princes quarrell by coping with the enemy at sea and made returne of many prizes which purchases hauing aduanced them to a good estate of wealth the same was wheÌ„ the quieter conditioned times gaue meanes heedfully and diligently employed and bettered by the more ciuill trade of marchandise and in both these vocations they so fortunately prospered that it is reported 60. tall ships did at one time belong to the harbour and that they assisted the siege of Callais with 47. saile Heereon a full purse begetting a stout stomack our Foyens tooke heart at grasse and chauncing about that time I speake vpon the credit of tradition to sayle neere Rye and Winchelsea they stifly refused to vaile their bonets at the summons of those townes which contempt by the better enabled Sea-farers reckoned intolerable caused the Ripiers to make out with might and mayne against them howbeit with a more hardy onset then happy issue for the Foy men gaue them so rough entertaynment at their welcome that they were glad to forsake patch without bidding farewell the merit of which exploit afterwards entitled them Gallants of Foy and it may bee they sought to eternize this memorable fact after the Greeke and Romane maner by inuesting the towne of Golant with that name notwithstanding quaere whether a causelesse ambitioÌ„ in the postetitie turned not rather Golant into Gallant for their greater glory Once the townesmen vaunt that for teskuing certaine ships of Rye from the Normans in Henrie the thirds time they beare the armes and enioy part of the priuiledges appertaining to the Cinque-ports whereof there is some memorie in their Chauncell window with the name of Fisart Bagga their principall Commaunder in that seruice Moreouer the prowesse of one Nicholas sonne to a widdow neere Foy is deskanted vpon in an old three mans songs namely how he fought brauely at sea with Iohn Dory a Genowey as I coniecture set forth by Iohn the French king and after much bloudshed on both sides tooke and slew him in reuenge of the great rauine and crueltie which hee had forecommitted vpon the English mens goods and bodies Yet their so often good successe sometimes tasted the sawce of crosser speeding for Tho. Walsingham telleth vs that Sir Hugh Calueley and Sir Th. Percy deputed to gard the sea by R. the 2. Anno 1379. chanced there to meete a Cornish barge belonging to Foy harbour which hauing worne out his victuals and time limited for the like seruice was then sayling homewards neither would be entreated by those knights to ioyne companie with them howbeit they bought this refusall verie deare For no sooner was the English fleete past out of sight but that a Flemmish man of warre lighted vpon them and after a long and strong resistance ouermastred them as well at last in force as they did at first in number tooke the Barge sunk it and slaughtered all the Saylers one onely boy excepted who in the heate of the bickering seeing which way the game would goe secretly stole aboord the Flemming and closely hid himselfe amongst the ballast Ouer a while this Pirate â—ast Anker in an English harbor where the boy hearing his Countrimens voice that were come aboord riseth from his new buriall bewrayeth the fact so wrought meanes for their punishment and his owne deliuery Not long after our Foy gallants vnable to beare a low sayle in their fresh gale of fortune began to skum the Seas with their often piracies auowing themselues vpon the Earle of Warwicke whose ragged staffe is yet to be seene pourtrayed in many places of their Church Steeple and in diuers priuate houses as also to violate their dutie at land by insolent disobedience to the Princes Officers cutting off amongst other pranckes a Pursiuants eares whereat king Edward the fourth conceiued such indignation as hee sent Commissioners vnto Lostwithiel a towne there by who vnder pretence of vsing their seruice in sea affaires trained thither the greatest number of the Burgesses and no sooner come then laid hold on and in hold their goods were confiscated one Harrington executed the chaine of their hauen remoued to Dartmouth their wonted iolity transformed into a sudden misery from which they striued a long time in vaine to releeue themselues but now of late yeres doe more and more aspire to a great amendment of their former defects though not to an equall height of their first aboundance Where I may not passe in silence the commendable deserts of Master Rashleigh the elder descended from a younger brother of an ancient house in Deuon for his industrious iudgement and aduenturing in trade of marchandise first opened a light and way to the townesmens newe thriuing and left his sonne large wealth and possessions who together with a dayly bettering his estate conuerteth the same to hospitality and other actions fitting a Gent. well affected to his God Prince and Countrey He married the daughter of Bonithon his father of Lanyne and beareth S. a plaine Crosse betweene 2. Croissants A. Anno 28. H. 6. there was an Act of Parliament made to restraine the abuses of sea-officers in wrong exactions at Foy and some other hauens The Lord of Pomier a Norman encouraged by the ciuil warres