away with the ball if they can catch it at aduantage But they may not so steale the palme for gallop any one of them neuer so fast yet he shall be surely met at some hedge corner crosse-lane bridge or deepe water which by casting the Countrie they know he must needs touch at and if his good fortune gard him not the better hee is like to pay the price of his theft with his owne and his horses ouerthrowe to the ground Sometimes the whole company runneth with the ball seuen or eight miles out of the direct way which they should keepe Sometimes a foote-man getting it by stealth the better to scape vnespied will carry the same quite backwards and so at last get to the goale by a windlace which once knowne to be wonne all that side flocke thither with great iolity and if the same bee a Gentlemans house they giue him the ball for a Trophee and the drinking out of his Beere to boote The ball in this play may bee compared to an infernall spirit for whosoeuer catcheth it fareth straightwayes like a madde man strugling and fighting with those that goe about to holde him and no sooner is the ball gone from but hee resigneth this fury to the next receyuer and himselfe becommeth peaceable as before I cannot well resolue whether I should more commend this game for the manhood and exercise or condemne it for the boysterousnes and harmes which it begetteth for as on the one side it makes their bodies strong hard and nimble and puts a courage into their hearts to meete an enemie in the face so on the other part it is accompanied with many dangers some of which doe euer fall to the players share For proofe whereof when the hurling is ended you shall see them retyring home as from a pitched battaile with bloody pates bones broken and out of ioynt and such bruses as serue to shortē their daies yet al is good play neuer Attourney nor Crowner troubled for the matter Wrastling is as full of manlinesse more delightfull and lesse dangerous which pastime either the Cornish men deriued frō Corineus their first pretended founder or at least it ministred some stuffe to the farcing of that fable But to let that passe their cōtinual exercise in this play hath bred thē so skilfull an habit as they presume that neither the ancient Greek Palestritae nor the Turks so much delighted Pelrianders nor their once countrymen and stil neighbours the Bretons can bereau them of this Laurell and matchlesse certes should they be if their cunning were answerable to their practise for you shall hardly find an assembly of boyes in Deuon or Cornwall where the most vntowardly amongst them will not as readily giue you a muster of this exercise as you are prone to require it For performing this play the beholders cast themselues in a ring which they call Making a place into the empty middle space whereof the two champiō wrastlers step forth stripped into their dublets and hosen and vntrussed that they may so the better commaund the vse of their lymmes and first shaking hands in token of friendship they fall presently to the effects of anger for each striueth how to take hold of other with his best aduantage and to beare his aduerse party downe wherein whosoeuer ouerthroweth his mate in such sort as that either his backe or the one shoulder and contrary heele do touch the ground is accounted to giue the fall If he be endangered and make a narrow escape it is called a foyle This hath also his lawes of taking hold onely aboue girdle wearing a girdle to take hold by playing three pulles for tryall of the mastery the fall-giuer to be exempted from playing againe with the taker and bound to answere his successour c. Many sleights and tricks appertaine hereunto in which a skilfull weake man wil soone get the ouerhand of one that is strong and ignorant Such are the Trip fore-Trip Inturne the Faulx forward and backward the Mare and diuers other like Amongst Cornish wrastlers now liuing my friend Iohn Goit may iustly challenge the first place not by prerogatiue of his seruice in her Maiesties gard but through hauing answered all challenges in that pastime without blemish Neither is his commendation bounded within these limits but his cleane made body and actiue strength extend with great agility to whatsoeuer other exercise of the arme or legge besides his abilitie vpon often tryall to take charge at Sea eyther as Master or Captayne All which good parts hee graceth with a good fellowlike kinde and respectfull carriage Siluer prizes for this and other actiuities were wont to be carried about by certaine Circumferanei or set vp for Bidales but time or their abuse hath now worne them out of date and vse The last poynt of this first booke is to plot downe the Cornish gouernment which offreth a double consideration the one as an entire state of it selfe the other as a part of the Realme both which shal be seuerally handled Cornwall as an entire state hath at diuerstimes enioyed sundry titles of a Kingdome Principality Duchy and Earledome as may appeare by these few notes with which I haue stored my selfe out of our Chronicles If there was a Brute King of Brittaine by the same authority it is to bee proued that there was likewise a Corineus Duke of Cornwall whose daughter Gwendolene Brutes eldest sonne Locrine tooke to wife and by her had issue Madan that succeeded his father in the kingdome Next him I finde Henninus Duke who maried Gonorille one of King Leirs daughters and heires and on her begat Morgan but whiles he attempted with his other brother in law to wrest the kingdome from their wiues father by force of armes before the course of nature should cast the same vpon them Cordeilla the third disherited sister brought an armie out of Fraunce to the olde mans succour and in a pitched battell bereft Henninus of his life Clotenus King of Cornwall begat a sonne named Mulmutius Dunwallo who when this Iland had beene long distressed with the ciuil warres of petty Kings reduced the same againe into one peaceable Monarchy Belinus brother to that great terror of the Romanes Brennus had for his appaunage as the French terme it Loegria Wales and Cornwall Cassibelane succeeding his brother Lud in the kingdome gaue to his sonne Tennancius the Duchy of Cornwall After this Iland became a parcell of Iulius Caesars conquests the same rested it self or was rather vexed a long time vnder the gouernment of such rulers as the Romanes sent hither But the Bretons turning at last their long patience into a sudden fury rose in armes slewe Alectus the Emperour Dioclesians deputy and inuested their leader Asclepiodotus Duke of Cornwall with the possession of the kingdome Conan Meridock nephew to Octauius whome the Emperour Constantine appoynted gouernour of this Iland was Duke of
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
of K. Alfred namely how comming into Cornwall on hunting he turned aside for doing his deuotion into a Church where S. Guorijr and S. Neot made their abode quare whether he meane not their burials or rather so resolue because Asser so deliuers it and there found his orisons seconded with a happy effect Next I will relate you another of the Cornish natural wonders viz. S. Kaynes well but lest you make a wonder first at the Saint before you take notice of the well you must vnderstand that this was not Kayne the manqueller but one of a gentler spirit and milder sex to wit a woman He who caused the spring to be pictured added this rime for an exposition In name in shape in quality This well is very quaint The name to let of Kayne befell No ouer-holy Saint The shape 4. trees of diuers kinde Witby Oke Elme and Ash Make with their roots an arched roofe Whose floore this spring doth wash The quality that man or wife Whose chance or choice attaines First of this sacred streame to drinke Ther thy the mastry gaines In this Hundred the rubble of certaine mines and ruines of a fining house conuince Burchard Craneigh the Duchmans vaine endeuour in seeking of siluer owter howbeit hee afterwards lighted on a thriftier vayne of practising phisike át London where he grewe famous by the name of Doctor Bureot Killigarth being interpreted in English signifieth He hath lost his griping or reaching and by his present fortune in some sort iustifieth that name for the same hath lately forgone Sir William Beuill whome it embraced as owner Inhabitant by his sudden death and is passed into the possession of the faire Lady his widdow by her husbands conueyance It yeeldeth a large viewe of the South coast and was it selfe in Sir Williams life time much visited through his franke inuitingâ— The mention of this Knight calleth to my remembrance a sometimes vncouth seruaunt of his whose monstrous conditions partly resembled that Polyphemus described by Homâ—â— and Virgil and liuely imitated by Ariosto in his Orco or rather that Egyptian Polyphagus in whome by Suetonius report the Emperour Nero tooke such pleasure This fellow was taken vp by Sir William vnder a hedge in the deepest of Winter welneere starued with cold and hunger hee was of staturemeane of constitution leane of face freckled of composition well proportioned of diet naturally spare and cleanely inough yet at his masters bidding he would deuoure nettles thistles the pith of Artichokes raw and liuing birds and fishes with their scales and feathers burning coles and candles and whatsoeuer else howsoeuer vnsauorie if it might be swallowed neither this a little but in such quantitie as it often bred a second wonder how his belly should containe so much yet could no man at any time discouer him doing of that which necessitie of nature requireth Moreouer he would take a hot yron out of the fire with his bare hand neuer changed his apparell but by constraint and vsed to lie in strawe with his head downe and his heeled vpwards Spare he was of speech and in stead of halfe his words vsed this terme Size as I will Size him for strike him hee is a good Size for man c. Ouer-sleeping or some other accident made him to lose a day in his accompt of the weeke so as he would not beleeue but that Sunday was Saterday Saterday Friday c. To Sir William he bare such faithfulnesse that hee would follow his horse like a spanyell without regard of way or wearinesse waite at his chamber doore the night time suffering none to come neere him and performe whatsoeuer hee commanded were it neuer so vndawfull or dangerous On a time his master expecting strangers sent him with a panier to his 〈◊〉 at the sea side to fetch some fish In his way he passed by a riuer whereinto the tide then flowed and certaine fishermen were drawing their nets which after Iohn Size had a while beheld hee casts to haue a share amongst them for his master So into the water he leaps and there for the space of a flight shoot wadeth and walloweth for swimme hee could not sometimes vp and sometimes downe carrying his panier still before him to his owne extreame hazard of drowning and the beholders great pittying vntill at last all wet and wearied out he scrambleth and home he hieth with a bitter complaint to his master of his ill fortune that he could not catch some fish aswell as the rest where so much was going In this sort he continued for 〈◊〉 yeeres vntill vpon I wot not what veâ—â—â—â— or vnkindnesse away he gets and abroad he rogues which remitter brought him in the end to his foredeferred and not auoyded destiny for as vnder a hedge hee was formd pyning so vnder a hedge hee found his miserable death through penury Sir Williams father maried the daughter of Militon his graundfather the daughter and heire of Bear whose liuelyhood repayred what the elder brothers daughters had impaired The Beuils Armesart A a Bull passant G. armed and tripped O. In the same parish where Killigarth is seated Master Murth inheriteth a house and demaynes Hee maried Treffry his father Tregose One of their auncestours within the memorie of a next neighbour to the house called Prake burdened with 110. yeeres age entertained a British miller as that people for such idle occupations proue more handie then our owne But this fellowes seruice befell commodious in the worst sense For when not long after his acceptance warres growe betweene vs France hestealeth ouer into his countrey returneth priuily backe againe with a French crew surprizeth suddenly his master and his ghosts at a Chrisemas supper carrieth them speedily vnto Lahueghey and for coth the Gent. to redeeme his enlargement with the sale of a great part of his reuenewes A little to the Westwards from Killigarth the poore harbour and village of Polpera coucheth betweene 2. steepe hils where plenty of fish is vented to the fish driuers whom we call Iowters The warmth of this Hundred siding the South hath entierd many Gent. here to make choyce of their dwellings as M. Buller now Sherife at Tregarrick sometimes the Widestades inheritance vntill the fathers rebellion for feited it to the Prince and the Princes largesse rewarded therewith his subiects Wides lades some led a walking life with his harpe to Gentlemens houses wherethrough and by his other actiue qualities hee was intitled Sir Tristram neither wanted he as some say a bele I sound the more aprly to resemble his patterne Master Buller married the daughter of one Williams a Counsellour at lawe in Deuon his father a younger branch of the ancient stocke planted in Somerset shire tooke to wise the widdowe of Courtney and daughter and heire to Trethurffe by whose dower and his owne indeuour he purchased and left to his sonne faire possessions but not vnencumbred with titles which draue
this Gentleman to salue them all by new compositions with the pretenders and for compassing the same to get an extraordinary experience in husbandry His ancestours bare S. on a playne Crosse A. quarter pierced 4. Eagles of the field At S. Winowe in habiteth M. Thomas Lower commendable through his double prouision against the warres as hauing both furnished himself with great ordinance for priuate defence of the County and thrust forth his sonnes to be trayned in martiall knowledge and exercises for the publike seruice of the Countrey His wife was one of Reskimers daughters and heires his mother the daughter of Treffry his house descended to his auncestour by match with Vpton Hee beareth B. a Cheuron engrayled O. betweene three Roses A. Laureast is the inheritance of M. Iohn Harris a Gent. employing his sound iudgement and other praise-worthy parts to the seruice of his Prince and country the good of his friends and himself His wife was daughter and heire to Hart his mother sister to M. Chr. Harris which by his vncles yet want of issue intitleth him with a faire expectancy Hee beareth S. 3. Croissants within a border A. Treworgy is owed by M. Kendul and endowed with a pleasant and profitable fishing and command of the riuer which flitteth vnder his house He maried with Buller his mother was daughter to Moyle of Bake and beareth A. a Cheuron betweene 3. Dolphins S. Master Glyn of Glynfoord manifesteth by this compounded name the antiquitie of his descent and the ordinary passage there ouer Foy riuer The store of Sammons which it affoordeth caused his ancestours to take the Sammon speares for their Armes for hee beareth A. a Cheuron betweene three Sammon speares S. Sundry more Gentlemen this little Hundred possesseth and possessioneth as Code who beareth A. a Cheuron G. betweene three Crowes May G a Cheuron vary betweene three Crownes Athym A. a Maunche Maltaile S. within a border of the first charged with Cinquefoyles as the second Grilles c. But want of information and lothnes to waxe tedious maketh mee fardle vp these and omit the rest It is hemmed in on the West by the East side of Foy hauen at whole mouth standeth Hall in Cornish a moore and perhaps such it was before better manurance reduced it to the present fruitfulnesse The same descended to Sir Reignald Mohun from his ancestours by their match with the daughter and heire of Fits-Williams and amongst other commodities is appurtenanced with a walk which if I could as playnly shew you as my selfe haue oftentimes delightingly seene it you might would auow the same to be a place of diuersified pleasings I will therefore do my best to trace you a shaddow thereof by which you shal in part giue a gesse at the substance It is cut out in the side of a sleepe hill whose foote the salt water washeth euenly leuelled to serue for bowling floored with sand for soaking vp the rayne closed with two shorte hedges and banked with sweete senting flowres It wideneth to a sufficient breadth for the match of fiue or sixe in front and extendeth to not much lesse then halfe a London mile neyther doth it lead wearisomely forthright but yeeldeth varied yet not ouer-busie turnings as the grounds oportunity affoordeth which aduantage encreaseth the prospect and is conuerted on the foreside into platformes for the planting of Ordinance and the walkers sitting and on the back part into Summer houses for their more priuate retrait and recreation In passing along your eyes shall be called away from guiding your feete to descry by their fardest kenning the vast Ocean sparkled with ships that continually this way trade forth backe to most quarters of the world Neerer home they take view of all sized cocks barges and fisherboates houering on the coast Againe contracting your sight to a narrower scope it lighteth on the faire and commodious hauen where the tyde daily presenteth his double seruice of flowing and ebbing to carry and recarry whatsoeuer the Inhabitants shall bee pleased to charge him withall and his creekes like a young wanton louer folde about the land with many embracing armes This walke is garded vpon the one side by Portruan on the other by Bodyneck two fishing villages behinde the rising hill beareth off the colde Northren blasts before the towne of Foy subiecteh his whole length and breadth to your ouerlooking and directly vnder you ride the home and forraine shipping both of these in so neere a distance that without troubling the passer or borrowing Stentors voyce you may from thence not only call to but confere with any in the sayd towne or shipping Mounsieur la Noüe noteth that in the great hall of iustice at Paris there is no roome left for any more images of the French Kings which some prophetically interpreted to signifie a dissolution of that line if not of the monarchy But this halsening the present flourishing estate of that kingdome vtterly conuinceth of falshood A farre truer foretoken touching the Earle of Deuons progeny I haue seene at this place of Hall to wit a kind of Fagot whose age and painting approueth the credited tradition that it was carefully preserued by those noble men but whether vpon that prescience or no there mine author failes me This fagot being all one peece of wood and that naturally growen is wrapped about the middle part with a bond and parted at the ends into foure sticks one of which is againe subdiuided into other twayne And in semblable maner the last Earles inheritance accrued vnto 4. Cornish Gent. Mohun Trelawny Arundell of Taluerne and Trethurffe and Trethurffes portion Courtney of Ladocke and Viuian do enioy as descended from his two daughters and heires Sir Reig. Mohun is widdower of two wiues the one daughter to Sir Henry Killigrew the other to Sergeant Heale his father Sir William married first the daughter of Horsey and one of the heires by the common law to Sir Iohn her late brother and next the widdowe of Trelawny who ouerliuinghim enioyeth this Hall as part of her ioynture a Lady gracing her dignitie with her vertue and no lesse expressing then professing religion Reignald father to Sir William wedded the daughter of Sir VVilliam Treuanion The armes of the Mohuns are O. 2 Crosse engrayled Sa. Powder Hundred SOme impute the force of Powder vnto this that the same is conuerted at an instant from his earthy substance to a fiery and from the fire into ayre euery of which changes requireth a greater enlargement one then other wherefore it finding a barre ouer vnder and on the back and sides by the pieces strong imprisonmēt by consequence breaketh forth with a sudden violence at the mouth where the way is least stopped driueth before it the vnsetled obstacle of the bullet imparting thereunto a portiō of his fury To which through want of a probable Etymon I may in part resemble the hundred of Powder not only for the names sake but also because this
land and waded thorow the Sea to discouer all the creatures therein insensible sensible the course of method summoneth me to discourse of the reasonable to wit the Inhabitants and to plot downe whatsoeuer noteworthily belongeth to their estate reall and personall and to their gouernment spirituall and temporall Vnder their reall state I comprise all that their industrie hath procured either for priuate vse or entercourse and trasfike In priuate life there commeth into consideration their Tenements which yeeld them sustinance and their houses which afford them a place of abode Euerie tenement is parcell of the demaynes or seruices of some Mannor Commonly thirtie Acres make a farthing land nine farthings a Cornish Acre and foure Cornish Acres a Knights fee. But this rule is ouerruled to a greater or lesser quantitie according to the fruitfulnesse or barrennesse of the soyle That part of the demaines which appertaineth to the Lords dwelling house they call his Barten or Berton The tenants to the rest hold the same either by sufferance Wil or custome or by cōuention The customary tenaut holdeth at Wil either for yeeres or for liues or to them and their heires in diuers manners according to the custome of the Mannour Customarie Tenants for life take for one two three or more liues in possession or reuersion as their custome will beare Somewhere the wiues hold by widdowes estate and in many places when the estate is determined by the Tenants death and either to descend to the next in reuersion or to returne to the Lord yet will his Executor or Administrator detaine the land by the custome vntill the next Michaelmas after which is not altogether destitute of a reasonable pretence Amongst other of this customarie Land there are seuenteene Mannours appertaining to the Duchie of Cornwall who doe euerie leuenth yere take their Holdings so they terme thē of certain Comissioners sent for the purpose haue continued this vse for the best part of three hundred yeeres through which they reckon a kind of inheritable estate accrued vnto them But this long prescription notwithstanding a more busie then well occupied person not long sithence by getting a Checquer lease of one or two such tenements called the whole right in question and albeit God denyed his bad minde any good successe yet another taking vp this broken title to salue himselfe of a desperate debt prosecuted the same so far forth as he brought it to the iutty of a Nisiprius Hereon certayne Gentlemen were chosen and requested by the Tenants to become suiters for stopping this gap before it had made an irremediable breach They repayred to London accordingly and preferred a petition to the then L. Treasurer Burleigh His L. called vnto him the Chauncellour and Coife Barons of the Exchequer and tooke a priuate hearing of the cause It was there manifestly prooued before them that besides this long continuance and the importance as that which touched the vndooing of more then a thousand persons her Highnesse possessed no other lands that yeelded her so large a benefit in Rents Fines Heriots and other perquisites These reasons found fauourable allowance but could obtaine no thorough discharge vntill the Gentlemen became suppliants to her Maiesties owne person who with her natiue supernaturall bounty vouchsafed vs gratious audience testified her great dislike of the attempter gaue expresse order for stay of the attempt since which time this barking Dogge hath bene musled May it please God to award him an vtter choaking that he neuer haue power to bite againe Herein we were beholden to Sir Walter Raleghs earnest writing who was then in the Countrey to Sir Henry Killigrews sound aduice and to Master William Killigrews painefull soliciting being the most kinde patrone of all his Countrey and Countreymens affaires at Court. In times past and that not long agoe Holdings were so plentifull and Holders so scarce as well was the Land-lord who could get one to bee his Tenant and they vsed to take assurance for the rent by 2. pledges of the same Mannour But now the case is altred for a farme or as wee call it a bargaine can no sooner fall in hand then the Suruey Court shal be waited on with many Officers vying reuying each on other nay thei are taken mostly at a ground-hop before they fall for feare of comming too late And ouer and aboue the old yerely rent they will giue a hundred or two hundred yeeres purchace and vpward at that rate for a fine to haue an estate of three liues which summe commonly amounteth to ten or twelue yeeres iust value of the land As for the old rent it carrieth at the most the proportiō but of a tenth part to that whereat the tenement may be presently improued somewhere much lesse so as the Parson of the parish can in most places dispend as much by his tithe as the Lord of the Mannour by his rent Yet is not this deare setting eueriewhere alike for the westerne halfe of Cornewall commeth far short of the Easterne and the land about Townes exceedeth that lying farther in the Countrey The reason of this enhaunsed price may proue as I gesse partly for that the late great trade into both the Indies hath replenished these parts of the world with a larger store of the Coyne-currant mettals thē our anceltours enioyed partly because the banishment of single-liuing Votaries yonger mariages then of olde and our long freedome from any sore wasting warre or plague hath made our Countrey very populous and partly in that this populousnes hath inforced an industrie in them and our blessed quietnes giuen scope and meanes to this industrie But howsoeuer I ayme right or wide at this once certayne it is that for these husbandry matters the Cornish Inhabitants are in sundry points swayed by a diuerse opinion from those of some other Shires One that they will rather take bargaines at these excessiue fines then a tolerable improued rent being in no sort willing to ouer a penny for they reckon that but once smarting and this a continuall aking Besides though the price seeme very high yet mostly foure yeeres tillage with the husbandmans payne and charge goeth neere to defray it Another that they fal euery where from Commons to Inclosure and partake not of some Easterne Tenants enuious dispositions who will sooner preiudice their owne present thrift by continuing this mingle-mangle then aduance the Lords expectant benefit after their terme expired The third that they alwayes preferre liues before yeeres as both presuming vpon the Countries healthfulnesse and also accounting their family best prouided for when the husband wife and childe are sure of a liuing Neither may I without wrong conceyle the iust commendation of most such wiues in this behalfe namely when a bargaine is so taken to these three it often falleth out that afterwards the sonne marieth and deliuereth his yeruing-goods as they terme it to his father who in lieu thereof
by his wiues assent which in many auncient deeds was formall departeth to him and his daughter in lawe with the one halfe of his Holding in hand Now though after the fathers decease the mother may during her life turne them both out of doores as not bound by her owne word and much lesse by her husbands yet I haue seldome or neuer knowne the same put in practise but true and iust meaning hath euer taken place Yet another vnconscionable quirk some haue of late time pried into viz. in a ioynt-lease to three intended by the taker and payer to descend successiuely and intirely one of them passeth ouer his interest to a stranger who by rigour of law shall hold it during the liues of the other twaine The ordinary couenants of most conuentionary Tenants are to pay due Capons doe haruest iournyes grinde at the Mill sue to the Court discharge the office of Reeue and Tithing-man dwell vpon the Tenement and to set out no part thereof to tillage without the Lords licence first obtained Which conditions are yet enlarged or restrained according to the Demifors humour Vsuall it is for all sorts of Tenants vpon death at least if not surrender or forfeyture to pay their best beast for a Heriot yea if a stranger passing thorow the Countrey chaunce to leaue his carkase behind him he also must redeeme his buriall by rendring his best beast which he hath with him to the Lord of the soyle or if he haue none his best Iewell or rather then fayle his best garment then about him in lieu thereof But this custome hath beene somewhat shaken in comming to triall and laboureth of a dangerous Feuer though the Cornish Gentlemen vse all possible remedies of almost fas et nefas by pleading the 11. poynts of the Lawe to keepe it on liue The free Tenants seruices are ordinary with those of other places saue that they pay in most places onely fee-Morton releefes which is after fiue markes the whole Knights fee so called of Iohn Earle first of Morton then of Cornwall and lastly King of this Land whereas that of fee-Gloucester is fiue pound And to accomplish this part I haue heere inserted a note of the Cornish Knights fees and acres which I receyued from my learned and religious kinseman Master Robert Moyle Record Feod Milit. in Cornub. fact Anno 3. H. 4. vt sequitur HEnricus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Francâ—â— Dominus Hiberniae dilectis nobis Vicecom Escaetori nostris in Com. Cornub. ac Iohanni Colshil Iohanni Tremayn seniori collectoribus auxilij 20. solidorum de quolibet feod Milit. tento de nob sine medio in Com. praedicto ad Blanchiam primogenitam filiam nostr ammaritand iuxta formam statuti anno regni Domini Edwardi nuper Regis Angliae Aui nostri 25. edict assignai salutem Quasdam euidentias quas de libris rotulis memorand Scaccarii nostri exhiberi fecimus pro informatione vestra super captione inquisitionum diuersorum feodorum in Com. praedicto viz. de rubro libro vnam scedulam duos rotulos de euidentiis nuper collectoribus auxilii pradicti auo nostro ad filium suum primogenitum milit faciend anno Regnisui 20. concessi vobis mittimus sub pede sigilli nostri mandantes vt inspect euidenc praed vlterius inde tam per casdem euident quam per Inquisitiones super praemiss per vos capiend pro commodo nostro faciatis quod de iur e per vos videatur faciend It a quod euidenc prad vna cum toto facvestro in premiss hoc breue ad Scaccarium nostrum super compot vestrum proxim de eodem auxilio redend Baronibus de dicto Scaccario nostro ibidem liberaÌ„dum habeatis Teste Iohanne Cokayn apud Westmonast 30. die Ianua Anno Regni nostri 2. Rotl memorum de anno 3. Hillar record Hundred de Penwith WIll de Campo Arnulphiten 7. feod di in Luduon trewedryn Maien Kellemeke Will. Basset ten 1. feod in Tihidi Trenalga Mich. de Bray ten 2. partes vnius feod in Bray Alanus Bloighon ten 2. feod in Tremall Haeres Marcide Walestbren ten 2. partes feod in Veno Episcop Exon. ten dimid feod in Lauestli Haeres Iocei Dynnan ten 1. feod in Gorten Comes Gloc. ten 4. part vnius feod in Draynneck Idem Comes ten 1. feod in Couerton Idem Comes ten 1. feod in Binnerton Idem Comes ten 5. part 1. feod in Loigans Haeres Ties ten dimid feod in Alwerton Marchio Dorset ten 4. feod in Trenwel Hundred de Lysnewith WIll de Botriaux tenet in isto Hundred in Walebreux 1. feod Idem Will. ten in Polruman di feod Idem Will. ten in Wolueston 1. feod Idem Will. ten in Tresciward 1. feod Idem Will. ten in Worthauale 1. feod Reginald de Ferrar in ead Hund. 7. feod Will. de Witha Iohan. de Crammon tenent in Trewint Westdisart 1. feod Idem Will. de Campo Arnulphi ten 1. feod in Heliset Idem Will. ten in Oterham 1. feod Idem Will. in Donneghny Crugplegh di feod Simon Giffard ten 1. feo in Donneghny de la Bruer Henric. de la Pomerey ten in Lesnewith Treuyghan di feod Rogerus de Crammon ten in Moteland 1. feod Omnia praedicta feod sunt feod Mortanne Haeres Iocei Dinan ten in Ouer rescradeck nether rescradeck di feod Hundred de Stratton HErbertus de Pyn ten in Middeland 3. feod Idem ten in Bere 1. feod in Deuon Idem ten in Alwington in Deuon 2. feod Idem ten Mar wonchurch 1. feod Idem ten in Pensenteinon Trethewy Westory 2. feod Comes Gloc. ten 2. magna feod in Kilkham land Ranulphus de Albo Monasterio tenet in Stratton 1. feod Thomas de Wamford ten in Efford 1. feod Henric. de Killigreu ten 1. feo in Orchard marries Iohannes de Cobbeham in Lancols 1. feod quod Abbas conuentus de Hartland tenent in pur perpet elem Idem ten in Wiston Scrpeknol 1. feod Idem ten in burgo paruo Ponte knol Sunondsham 1. feod quod Abbas conu praed clam tenere in pura perpet elem Idem ten 3. part 1. feod in Turlebere Idem ten 1. feod 6. part 1. feod in Hilton simul cum Ferewil in Deuon Rogerus de Carmmon ten 1 feod in Hormecot Refcher Rex ten 1. feod in Bostinne Idem ten Lamaylwen 1. feod quod Oliuerus de Crammon ten Idem ten in Nantoige 1. feod di feod Iohanna Lengleis ten 1. feod in Wadfaste Guilielmus de Campo Arnulphi ten 1. feod in Pennalim Idem ten 1. feod 2. partes 1. feod in Wike Prior de Lanceston ten ¼ 1. feod in Borton Haluethus Maliuery ten di feo milit in Tamerton Omnia praedicta feod sunt parua feod praeter 2. feod in Kilkam lond Hundred de East IOhanna de Rame ten 1. fe magnum de Seniock Nicholaus Danne ten 1. partem feod