Is situate in the hundred of Pyder, and hath upon the north St.
Merryan; east, Little Pedrick; west, St. Evall and Mawgan; south, St.
Colomb. For the modern name, if it be not taken up in memory of Gerint
ab Erbin, one of King Arthur’s admirals at sea, slain by the Saxons at
London, (see DUNDAGELL,) the same is derived from the divine service
or worship of God performed in this church, for Ervan, Ervyn, in the
British tongue signifies a humble request or supplication, and
properly signifies at the holy Litany, as Litania in Latin. In the
Domesday Book or Roll, 1087, this district was taxed under the
jurisdiction of Trewinock, now Trewinicke, that is, the beloved lake,
or spring of waters, running to the sea; still the voke lands of a
manor. In the Inquisition of the Bishops of Lincoln and Winchester,
1294, Ecclesia Sancti Ervanis, in Decanatu de Bolton, was valued at
c_s._ In Wolsey’s Inquisition, 1521, it was rated 19_l._ 6_s._ 8_d._;
the patronage formerly in the Prior of Bodmin, who endowed it, now
Morice. The incumbent Vivian, and the parish rated to the 4_s._ per
pound Land Tax, 1696, 100_l._ 8_s._
Trembleigh, Trembleth, alias Trembleith, alias Tremblot, (see
TREMBLETHICK, in St. Mabyn) synonymous terms, signifies the wolf’s
town.
From this place was denominated an ancient family of gentlemen,
surnamed De Trembleth; who, suitable to their name, gave the wolf for
their arms; whose sole inheretrix, about Henry the Second’s time, was
married to John de Arundel, ancestor of the Arundels of Lanherne; who,
out of respect and grateful remembrance of the great benefit they had
by this match, ever since gave the wolf for their crest, the proper
arms of Trembleth.
In this town they had their domestic chapel and burying place, now
totally gone to decay, since those Arundels removed from hence to
Lanherne. This manor was anciently held of the manor of Payton, by the
tenure of knight’s service. And here John de Arundel held a knight’s
fee (Morton, 3d Henry IV.) as I am informed. In digging up the grounds
of this old chapel and burial-place not long since, was found an urn,
wherein were contained certain pieces of bones, ashes, and coals. The
remains of some human creature, that after death had his body burnt,
and committed to that kind of burial; which must be at least 1500
years past.
Tre-ranall, alias Tre-ranell, alias Tre-renell, (synonymous words,) in
this parish, is the dwelling of George Beare, Gent. that married
Lanyon; his father Arundel of Lanherne; his grandfather Keate; and
giveth for his arms, after the English, in allusion to his name, in a
field ―――― a bear ――――.
The barton of Trembleigh aforesaid is exempt and free from paying
tithe, either great or small, to the rector, by reason, as tradition
saith, there was a bargain or compact made betwixt the Trembleiths or
Arundels, lords thereof, the Prior of Bodmin, and the Rector of the
said church, at such time as it was first endowed, that the possessors
or owners of the said barton’s land should for ever annually pay upon
the high altar, to the said Rector, the full sum of ten shillings.