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The Survey of Cornwall

R >> Richard Carew >> The Survey of Cornwall




After the names, language, and number thus perused, the Cornish
peoples disposition & quality of mind and body, as well ancient
as present, and then their degrees and recreations, succeed to be
surueyed. The first Inhabitants, or Aborigenes, as the Paynims held,
resembled those whom our stories affirme Brute to haue found here at
his landing, huge of body, rough of liuing, & sauage of conditions,
whome an old Poet desciphered in certaine verses, which I receiued of
my particular kind friend, and generally well-deseruing Countreyman
M. Camden, now Clarentieulx, which he since hath published.

--Titanibus ilia,
Sed paucis famulosa domus, quibus vda ferarum
Terga dabant vestes, cruor haustus, pocula trunci:
Antra lares, dumeta thoros, caenacula rupes,
Praeda cibos, raptus venerem, spectacula caedes,
Imperium vires, animos furor, impetus arma,
Mortem pugna, sepulchra rubus, monstrisque gemebat
Monticolis tellus, sed eorum plurima tractus,
Pars erat Occidui, terror maiorque premebat,
Te furor extremum Zephiri Cornubia limen.

Which sound thus in English.

This was the Titans haunt, but with
No plenty did abound,
Whom beasts raw hides for clothing seru'd;
For drinke, the bleeding wound ;
Cups, hollow trees; their lodging, dennrs ;
Their beds, brakes; parlour, rocks;
Prey, for their food; rauine, for lust;
Their games, life-reauing knocks.
Their Empire, force; their courage, rage ;
A headlong brunt, their armes ;
Combate, their death; brambles, their graue.
The earth groan'd at the harmes
Of these mount-harbour'd monsters : but
The coast extending West,
Chiefe foyson had, and dire dismay,
And forest fury prest
Thee, Cornwall, that with utmost bound
Of Zephire art possest.


But afterwards, the Cornishmen, through the conuersation of forraine
Marchants trading into their countrey for Tyn, by the testimony of
Diodorus Siculus; grew to a larger measure of ciuility, then others
their fellow, but more remoted Ilanders. From which ciuility, in the
fruitful age of Canonization, they stepped a degree farder to holines,
& helped to stuffe the church kalender with diuers Saints, either made
or borne Cornish. Such was Keby son to Solomon prince of Cor. such
Peran, who if my author

[59a]

the Legend lye not) after that (like another Iohannes de temporibus)
he had liued two hundred yeres with perfect health, tooke his last
rest in a Cornish parish, which therethrough he endowed with his name.
And such were Dubslane, Machecu, & Manslunum, who (I speake vpon Math.
of Westm. credit) forsooke Ireland, thrust themselues to sea, in a
Boat made of three Oxe skinnes and a halfe, with seuen daies victuall,
and miraculously arriued in Cornwall.

Of Cornishmen, whose industrie in learned knowledges hath recommended
their fame to their posterity, these few as yet are onely come to my
notice: [1170] Iohn of Cornwall, a student at Rome, and other places
in Italy, wrote of the Incarnation of Christ, against Peter Lumbard,
and dedicated the same to Pope Alexander the third, by whom he was
highly fauoured.

[1201] Simon Thurnay, after he had out-gone all the Oxford schollers
in prophane learning (sayth the commendably paynefull Antiquarie,
and my kind friend, Master Hooker) passed from thence to Paris,
and there so profited in the study of diuinitie, that he attayned
the chiefest place amongst the profound Sorbonists. But it was a
windy knowledge that thus filled his sayles of glory, which grew at
last so to tempest his wittes, as he held Aristotle superior to
Moses and Christ, and yet but equall to himselfe. But this extreame
surquedry, forfeyted his wittes, so as at last they could not serue
him to know any letter in the booke, or to remember ought that he
had done.

In King Henry the thirds time, liued Michael of Cornwall, admirable
(as those dayes gaue) for his variety of Latine rimes, who maintayned
the reputation of his Countrey, against Henry de Abrincis, the Kings
Arch-Poet, but somewhat angerly, as it seemeth by these verses against
the said de Abrincis:

Est tibi gamba capri, crus Passeris, & latus Apri,
Os leporis, catuli nasus, dens & gena muli,
Frons vetulae, tauri caput, & color vndique Mauri
His argumentis, quibus est argutia mentis,
Quod non a Monstro differs, satis hic tibi monstro.

[1292] Walter of Exon, a Franciscane Frier of Carocus in Cornwall,
at the request of Baldwin of Exon (de-) formed the Historie of
Guy of Warwick.

Godfrey, surnamed of Cornwall, was about that time a cunning
Schoole-man, and Diuinitie Reader in Paris.

[1342] William de Grenefild, from the Deanry of Chichester,
stepped to the Chauncellorship of England, and Archbishoprick of York,
under K. E. the first.

In Ed, the seconds daies, one Geffrey of Cornwall, is remembred
for a writer.

Iohn Treuisa, a Cornishman, liued in R. the 2. raigne, & translated
diuers books into English.

King Henry the fift not vnmindfull of the ciuiller Arts amongst his
Martiall exployts, founded an Vniversitie at Caen in Normandie,
& appointed Michael Tregury of Cornwall, for his rare gifts in
learning, to bee Gouernour thereof.

In Henry the sixts time, Iohn Skewish compiled certaine abbridgements
of Chronicles, and the warres of Troy.

King Henry the 7. promoted Iohn Arundel for his learning, to the
sea of Excester.

Neither is Thomas Triuet to be forgotten, as a writer, [60]
though he haue grauen his memory in a fairer letter, by building the
costly bridge at Bridge-water, of which sometimes he was Lord.

Within our remembrance Cornwall hath bred or harboured Diuines,
graced with the degree Doctorship, Moreman Tremayn, Nichols and Rolls.
Bachelers, Medhope, Stowel, Moore, Denis. Of Preachers, the shire
holdeth a number, plentifull in regard of other shires, though not
competant to the full necessity of their owne, all commendably
labouring in their vocation, though not endowed with an equal ability
to discharge the same.

In the Ciuil law there liued of late Doctor Kennals, & now doth
Doctor Carew, one of the ancientest masters of the Chauncerie;
in which calling, after his yonger yeres spent abroad to his benefit,
he hath reposed himselfe. Bachelers there are Carnsew, Kete, & Denis.
Barristers at the Common law, Chiuerton, Tremayne, Skawn, Michel,
Moyle, Courtnay, Tub, Treffry, Sayer. These testifie the honesty of
their carriage by the mediocrity of their estate: and (if they will
giue me leaue to report a iest) do verify an old Gentlemans prophesie,
who said that there stood a man at Polton bridge (the first entrance
into Cornwall, as you passe towards Launceston, where the Assizes are
holden) with a blacke bill in his hand, ready to knock downe all the
great Lawyers, that should offer to plant themselues in that Countie.
In earnest, whether it be occasioned through the countries pouerty,
or by reason of the far distance thereof from the supremer Courts,
or for that the multiplicity of petty ones neere at hand, appertaining
to the Dutchy, Stannary, and Franchises, do enable the attourneyes
and such like of small reading, to serue the peoples turne, and so
curtail the better studied Counsellours profiting; once certayne
it is, that few men of Law, haue either in our time, or in that of
our forefathers, growne heere to any supereminent height of learning,
liuely-hood or authoritie.

Of like fortune, but lesse number are the Phisicions; by how much the
fewer, by so much the greater witnesses of the soyles healthfulnes.
The most professors of that science in this Country, sauing only one
Io. 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 yeeres, with so often successe & general applause, that not
only the home-bred multitude beleeueth mightily in him, but euen
persons of the better calling, resort to him from remote parts of
the realme, to make trial of his cunning, 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 iudgment in vrines commeth little behind the skilfullest
in that profession. Mary his practise is somewhat strange and varying
from all others: for though now and then he vse blood-letting, and
doe ordinarily minister Manus Christi, and such like cordials,
[61] 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 houshould, if he be called abroad to visit any: The rest together
with the profits of his benefice (rather charitably accepted then
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 departed gratifyed with
somewhat, if his modestie will accept it. Briefly, 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 there-through 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 left faire reuenewes to his posterity.

Sir Thomas Arundel, a younger 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 yonger 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 [62] 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 duty 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
number, 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 raine, 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 same name
and 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 Rich.
Greinuile the elder enterlace his home Magistracy, with martiall
employments abroad: whereof the K. testifyed his good liking by
his liberality. Which domestical example, encouraged his sonne
Roger the more hardily to hazard, & the more willingly to resign
his life in the vnfortunate Mary Rose. A disposition & successe
equally fatall to that house: for his sonne againe, the second
Sir Ric. after his trauell and following the warres vnder the
Emperour Maximilian, against the great Turke, for which his name
is recorded by sundry forrain writers and his vndertaking to people
Virginia and Ireland, made so glorious a conclusion in her Maiesties
ship the Reuenge (of which he had charge, as Captaine, & of the whole
fleet as Vice-admirall) that it seemed thereby, when he found none
other to compare withall in his life, he striued through a vertuous
enuy to exceed it in his death. A victorious losse for the realme;
and of which the Spaniard may say with Pirrhus, that many such
conquests would beget his vtter ouerthrow. Lastly, his son Iohn
took hold of euery martiall occasion that was ministred him, vntill,
in seruice against her Highnesse enemies, vnder the command of
Sir Walter Ralegh, the Ocean became his bedde of honour. Neither may
I without wrong passe ouer Captaine George Wray in silence, who (by a
rare temperature of vertues) breathed courage into his soldiers,
purchased loue amongst his acquaintance, and bred dismay in his
enemies. Or captaine Hender, the absolutest man of war for precise
obseruing martiall rules which his dayes afforded, besides his
commendable sufficiencie of head and hand for inuention and execution.
I will end with master William Lower, late captaine of Sir Frauncis
Veres companie in Netherland, who hath opened the war schoole vnto a
great many Cornish young gentlemen, that vnder his conduct sought to
conforme themselues to his patterne, euerie way accomplished, with all
the due parts of honour.

For Mechanical sciences the old Veale of Bodmyn might iustly expostulate
with my silence, if I should not spare him a roome in his Suruey,
while hee so well deserues it. This man hath beene so beholden to
Mercuryes predominant strength in his natiuitie, that without a teacher
hee is become very skilfull in welneere all manner of handy-crafts:
a Carpenter, a Ioyner, a Milwright, a free-Mason, a Clockmaker,
a Caruer, mettall founder, Architect, & quid non? yea a Surgeon,
Phisicion, Alchumist, &c. So as that which Gorgias of Leontium vaunted
of the liberall sciences, he may professe of the mechanicall,
viz. to be ignorant in none.

The Cornish minds thus qualified, are the better enabled to expresse
the same by the strong, actiue, &c healthfull constitution of their
bodies; touching each whereof a little in particular, though we shall
haue a fitter generall occasion to discourse therof, where we handle
their passetimes. For strength, one Iohn Bray (well knowne to me as
my tenant) carried vpon his backe, at one time, by the space welneere
of a Butte length, sixe bushels of wheaten meale, reckoning fifteen
gallons to the bushel, and the Miller a lubber of foure and twenty
yeres age, vpon the whole.

Iohn Romane, a short clownish grub, would beare the whole carkase of
an Oxe, and yet neuer tugged with him, like that so famous Milo,
when hee was a Calfe.

For activity, one Kiltor, committed to Launceston Gayle for the last
Cornish commotion, laying there in the castle-greene vpon his back,
threw a stone of some pounds wayght, ouer that Towres top, which
leadeth into the parke.

For health, 80. & 90. yeres age, is ordinary in euery place, and in
most persons, accompanied with an able vse of the body & his sences.
One Polzew, lately liuing, reached vnto 130, a kinsman of his,
to 112. one Beauchamp to 106. yea Brawne the begger, a Cornishman by
wandring (for I cannot say, by inhabitance) though Irish by birth,
out-scoreth a hundred winters, by I wote not how many reuolutions.
And in the parish where God hath seated my poore dwelling, I remember
the decease of foure, within 14. weekes space, whose yeres added
together, made vp the summe of 340.

Now to the degrees of their seuerall callings, wherein as I will poast
ouer the Dukes to another place, so for Noblemen, I may deliuer in a
word, that Cornwall at this present enioyeth the residence of none
at al. The occasion whereof groweth, partly, because their issue
female haue caried away the Inhabitance, together with the
Inheritance, to Gentlemen of the Easterne parts: and partly, for that
their issue male, little affecting [64] so remote a corner, liked
better to transplant their possessions neerer to the heart of the
Realme. Elder times were not so barraine: for besides the Lord
Tregoyes in Wil. Conquerours dayes, Bottraux Castle vaunted his Baron
of that title; both now descended to the Earles of Huntingdon: the
last deceased of which, retayning the honour, departed with the land
to my kinde friend master Iohn Hender, a Gentleman for his good parts,
employed by her Maiestie amongst others, in the peace gouernment of
the shire.

The Lord Bonuile his house was at Trelawne, alias, Trelawney, lately
purchased of her Highnes, by Sir Ionathan Trelawny, a Knight well
spoken, stayed in his cariage, and of thrifty prouidence.

The Lord Bray dwelt at [blank]: the Lord Brooke, at Kellington, where
one of them hath his tombe: the Lord Marney at Colquite: and the
Lord Denham at Cardenham.

Boconnock also appertained to the Earles of Deuon, and was by
Frauncis Earle of Bedford, solde to Sir William Mohun, who deriued
his pedigree from the ancient Barons of that name, and is also issued
from one of those Earles of Deuons sisters and heyres. This together
with other fayre possessions, now resteth in Sir Reignald Mohun his
sonne, one that by his courteous,iust, and liberall course of life,
maintayneth the reputation, and encreaseth the loue alwayes borne
his ancestours.

The most Cornish Gentlemen can better vaunt of their pedigree, then
their liuelyhood: for that, they deriue from great antiquitie, (and I
make question, whether any shire in England, of but equall quantitie,
can muster a like number of faire coate-Armours) whereas this
declineth to the meane. One cause there is of both proceeding from
the want of those supplies, which seruice, law and marchandise, afford
the more inward Inhabitants of the Realme, as I haue elsewhere
touched: yet this rule is not so generall, but that it admitteth his
exceptions: for there are diuers, whose patrimonies extend to a large
proportion; & for the residue, the cheapnes of their prouisions, and
their casualties of Tyn, and fines (which 2. later ordinarily treble
the certaine reuennue of their rents) enable them with their few
scores, to equall the expences of those Easterne dwellers, who reckon
by the hundreds: besides, they finde meanes by a suruey, to defray any
extraordinarie charge of building, marriage, lawing, or such like.
Yet I cannot denie, but that some, in gaping for dead mens shooes,
find their improuident couetous humour punished with going barefoot.

This angle which so shutteth them in, hath wrought many
interchangeable matches with eche others stock, and giuen beginning
to the prouerbe, that all Cornish gentlemen are cousins; which endeth
in an injurious consequence, that the king hath there no cousins.
They keepe liberall, but not costly builded or furnished houses,
giue kind entertainement to strangers, make euen at the yeeres end
with the profits of their liuing, are reuerenced and beloued of their
neighbours, liue void of factions amongst themselues (at leastwise
such as breake out into anie daungerous excesse) and delight not in
brauerie of apparrell: yet the women would be verie loth to come
behind the fashion, in [65] newfanglednes of the maner, if not in
costlynes of the matter, which may perhaps ouer-empty their husbands
purses. They conuerse familiarly together, & often visit one another.
A Gentleman and his wife will ride to make mery with his next
neighbour; and after a day or twayne, those two couples goe to a
third: in which progresse they encrease like snowballs, till through
their burdensome waight they breake againe.

And heere I thought requisite, to lay downe the names of such Cornish
gentlemen, as I find recorded to haue come in with the Conquerour.


Gentlemen descended from those, who came
in with the Conquerour, and now resi-
ding in Cornwall.

Arundell. Greinuile.

Basset. Karrow, alias, Carew.
Bluat, alias, Bluet.
Beauchamp. Mowne, alias, Mohun.
Bray. Malet.
Bellet. Miners.
Beuill.
Barret. Pomeray.

Courtenay. Rouse.
Chaumont, alias, Chamond.
Samtalbin, alias, Semtabyn.
Denis. Saulay, alias, Saule.


If the variety of Armes disclaime from any of these names, I will not
stand vpon a stiffe iustification: and yet it is to bee noted, that
diuers Cornish Gentlemen, borne yonger brothers, and aduanced by
match, haue left their owne coats, & honoured those of their wiues
with the first quarter of their shields. Which error their posteritie
likewise ensued, as also, that before these later petty differences
grew in vogue, the Armes of one stocke were greatly diuersified in the
younger braunches.

I had also made a more paynful, then perfect collection of most of
the Cornish Gentlemens names & Armes: But because the publishing
thereof might perhaps goe accompanied with diuers wrongs, to my much
reuerenced friends the Heralds, by thrusting my sickle into their
haruest; to a great many my Countrymen, whom my want of information
should be forced to passe ouer vnmentioned; and to the truth it selfe,
where my report (relying vpon other mens credits) might through their
errour intitle me the publisher (though not the author) of falshood:
I rather thought fit altogether to omit it, and to note onely, that of
diuers Gentlemen there haue bene in Cornwall, either their names are
worne out, or their liuings transferred by the females, into other
families: as likewise, sundry of those there now inhabiting, are
lately denized Cornish, being generally drawne thither (besides other
more priuate respects) through eyther the desire of change, which the
disease of discontent affecteth, or the loue of quiet in so remote
a corner, or the supposall of commodities there arising, and accruing,
or the warrantize from ouerlooking & bearing, where little difference
in quality tendeth to an [66] equality in estates.

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