partly after their neerenesse to the places, from which it is fetched,
and partly by the good husbandrie, and abilitie of the Tiller. An
ordinarie Horse wil carrie two sackes of Sand, and of such the
borderers on the Sea, doe bestow, 60. at least, in euerie Acre, but
most Husbands double that number. The Inland soyle requireth not so
large a proportion, and in some places, they sow it almost as thinne
as their Corne: for if they should strow the same verie thicke, the
ground would become ouer-rancke, and choke the Corne with weeds.
A little before plowing time, they scatter abroad those Beat-boroughs,
& small Sand heaps vpon the ground, which afterwards, by the Ploughes
turning downe, giue heate to the roote of the Corne. The tillable
fields are in some places so hilly, that the Oxen can hardly take sure
footing; in some so tough, that the Plough will scarcely cut them, and
in some so shelfie, that the Corne hath much adoe to fatten his roote.
The charges of this Beating, Burning, Seeding and Sanding, ordinarily
amounteth to no lesse then twentie shillings for euerie Acre: which
done, the Tiller can commonly take but two crops of wheate, and two of
Oates, and then is driuen to giue it at least seuen or eight yeres
leyre, and to make his breach elsewhere.
Of Wheat there are two sorts, French, which is bearded, and requireth
the best soyle, recompencing the same with a profitable plentie: and
Notwheate, so termed, because it is vnbearded, contented with a meaner
earth, and contenting with a suteable gaine.
Rye is employed onely on those worst grounds, which will beare no
Wheate. Barley is growne into great vse of late yeeres, so as now
they till a larger quantitie in one Hundred, then was in the whole
Shire before: and of this, in the deare seasons past, the poore found
happie benefit, for they were principally relieued, and the labourers
also fed, by the bread made thereof; whereas otherwise, the scarcitie
of Wheate fel out so great, that these must haue made many hungrie
meales, and those out-right haue starued. In the Westerne-most parts
of Cornwall, they carrie their Barley to the Mill, within eight or
nine weekes from the time that they sowed it; such an hastie ripening
do the bordering Seas afford. This increase of Barley tillage, hath
also amended the Cornish drinke, by conuerting that graine into
Mault, which (to the il relishing of strangers) in former times they
made onely of Oates.
I haue beene alwayes prone to maintaine a Paradox, [21] that dearth
of corne in Cornwall (for with other Shires I will not vndertake to
meddle) so it go not accompanied with a scarcitie, is no way
preiudiciall to the good of the Countrie; and I am induced thus to
thinke, for the reasons ensuing: There are no two trades, which set
so many hands on worke, at all times of the yeere, as that one of
Tillage. The Husbandman finding profit herein, is encouraged to
bestow paines and charges, for enclosing and dressing of waste
grounds, which therethrough afterwardes become also good for pasture.
With the readie money, gotten by his weekely selling of corne, he
setteth the Artificer on worke, who were better to buy deare bread,
being but a part of his meate, and which he counteruaileth againe, by
raising the price of his ware, then to sit idly, knocking his heeles
against the wall. Their obiection, who feare least the transporting
of much away, will leaue too little at home, I answere with this
observation: When the price of corne falleth, men generally giue ouer
surplus Tillage, and breake no more ground, then will seme to
supplie their owne turne: the rest, they imploy in grazing,
wherethrough it falleth out, that an ill kerned or saued Haruest,
soone emptieth their old store, & leaueth them in necessity, to seeke new
reliefe from other places. Whereas on the other side, if through
hope of vent, they hold on their larger tillage, this retaineth one
yeeres prouision vnder-hand, to fetch in another, which vpon such
occasions, may easily bee left at home: and of this, what Cornishman
is there, that hath not seene the experience ?
For Fruites, both wild, as Whurts, Strawberies, and Raspies, and
longing to the Orchard, as Peares, Plums, Peareplummes, Cherries,
Mulberies, Chessenuts, and Walnuts, though the meaner sort come
short, the Gentlemen step not farre behind those of other parts; many
of them conceiuing like delight to grasse and plant, and the soyle
yeelding it selfe as ready to receyue and foster. Yet one speciall
priuiledge, which the neerenesse to the South, the fitnesse of some
grounds standing vpon lyme stones, the wel growing of Vines, and the
pleasant taste of their Grapes, doe seeme to graunt, I haue not
hitherto knowne by any to bee put in practise, and that is, the
making of Wines: the triall would require little cost, and (perhaps)
requite it with great aduantage.
For fewell, there groweth generally in all parts great store of furze,
of which the shrubby sort is called tame, the better growne French, &
in some, good quantitie of Broome. The East quarters of the Shire are
not destitute of Copswoods, nor they of (almost) an intolerable price:
but in most of the West, either nature hath denyed that commodity, or
want of good husbandry lost it. Their few parcels yet preserued, are
principally imployed to coaling, for blowing of Tynne. This lacke they
supply, either by Stone cole, fetched out of Wales, or by dried
Turfes, some of which are also conuerted into coale, to serue the
Tynners turne.
Timber hath in Cornwall, as in other places, taken an vniuersall
downefall, which the Inhabitants begin now, and shall heereafter rue
more at leisure: Shipping, howsing, and vessell, haue bred this
consumption: neither doth any man (welnere) seek to repayre so
apparant and important a decay. As for the statute Standles,
commonly called Hawketrees, the breach of the sea, & force of the
weather doe so pare and gall them, that they can [22] passe vnder no
better title then scar-crowes.
Among creatures of a breathing life, I will only note such as minister
some particular cause of remembrance.
Touching venimous Wormes, Cornwall can plead no such Charter of
natures exemption, as Ireland. The countrey people retaine a
conceite, that the Snakes, by their breathing about a hazell wand,
doe make a stone ring of blew colour, in which there appeareth the
yellow figure of a Snake, & that beasts which are stung, being giuen
to drink of the water wherein this stone hath bene socked, will
therethrough recouer. There was such a one bestowed on me, and the
giuer auowed to haue seene a part of the stick sticking in it: but
Penes authorem sit sides.
This mention of Snakes, called to my remembrance, how not long since,
a merry Cornish Gentleman tryed that old fable to be no fable, which
sheweth the dangerous entertayning of such a ghest. For he hauing
gotten one of that kind, and broken out his teeth (wherein consisteth
his venome) used to carrie him about in his bosome, to set him to his
mouth, to make him licke his spittle, & when he came among
Gentlewomen, would cast him out suddenly, to put them in feare: but
in the end, their vaine dread proued safer then his foole-hardinesse:
for as he once walked alone, and was kissing this gentle playfellow,
the Snake in good earnest, with a stumpe, either newly growne vp, or
not fully pulled out, bit him fast by the tongue, which therewith
began so to rankle and swell, that by the time hee had knocked this
foule player on the head, & was come to his place of abode, his mouth
was scarce able to contayne it. Fayne was he therefore to shew his
mishap, and by gestures to craue ayd in earnest of the Gentlewomen,
whom hee had aforetime often scared in sport.
Of all maner vermine, Cornish houses are most pestred with Rats, a
brood very hurtfull for deuouring of meat, clothes, and writings by
day; and alike cumbersome through their crying and ratling, while
they daunce their gallop gallyards in the roofe at night.
Strangers, at their first comming into the West parts, doe complayne
that they are visited with the slowe sixe-legged walkers, and yet the
cleanely home-borne finde no such annoyance. It may proceed from
some lurking naturall effect of the Climate; as wee read, that the
trauailers who passe the Equinoctiall, doe there lose this manlike
hunting vermine, and vpon their returne recouer them againe.
The other beastes which Cornwall breedeth, serue either for Venerie,
or meate, or necessary vses. Beastes of Venery persecuted for their
case, or dammage feasance, are Marternes, Squirrels, Foxes, Badgers,
and Otters. Profitable for skinne and flesh, Hares, Conies and Deere.
The Foxe planteth his dwelling in the steep cliffes by the sea side;
where he possesseth holds, so many in number, so daungerous for
accesse, and so full of windings, as in a maner it falleth out a
matter impossible to disseyze him of this his ancient inheritance.
True it is, that sometime when he marcheth abroad on forraying, to
reuittaile his Male pardus, the Captaine hunters, discouering his
sallies by their Espyal, doe lay their souldier-like Hounds, his
borne enemies, in ambush betweene him and home, and so with Har and
Tue pursue him to the death. Then master Reignard ransacketh euery
corner of his wily [23] skonce, and besturreth the vtmost of his
nimble stumps to quite his coate from their iawes. He crosseth
brookes, to make them lose the sent, he slippeth into couerts, to
steale out of sight, he casteth and coasteth the countrie, to get the
start of the way; and if hee be so met, as he find himselfe
ouermatched, he abideth, and biddeth them battell, first sending the
myre of his tayle against their eyes, in lieu of shot, and then
manfully closing at hand-blowes, with the sword of his teeth, not
forgetting yet, the whiles, to make an honourable retraict, with his
face still turned towardes the enemie: by which meanes, hauing once
recouered his fortresse, he then gives the Fico, to all that his
aduersaries can by siedge, force, myne, sword, assault, or famine,
attempt against him.
The Otters, though one in kind, haue yet two seuerall places of haunt:
some keepe the Cliffes, and there breede, and feede on Sea-fish,
others liue in the fresh ryuers, and trade not so farre downe, who
being lesse stored with prouision, make bold now and then to visite
the land, and to breake their fast upon the good-mans Lambs, or the
good-wiues pultrie.
Of Conies, there are here and there some few little Warrens, scantly
worth the remembring.
Cornwall was stored not long since with many Parkes of fallow Deere.
But king Henrie the eight being perswaded (as it is said) by Sir
Richard Pollard, that those belonging to the Duke, could steed him
with little pleasure in so remote a part, and would yeeld him good
profit, if they were leased out at an improoued rent, did condiscend
to their disparking. So foure of them tooke a fall together, to wit,
Cary bullock, Liskerd, Restormel and Lanteglos. Howbeit,this good
husbandrie came short of the deuisers promise, and the Kings
expectation: wherethrough the one was shent for the attempt, and
the other discontented with the effect. Notwithstanding, as Princes
examples are euer taken for warrantable precedents to the subiect: so
most of the Cornish Gentlemen preferring gaine to delight, or making
gaine their delight, shortly after followed the like practise, and
made their Deere leape over the Pale to giue the bullockes place.
Parkes yet remaining, are in East Hundred, Poole, Sir Ionathan
Trelawneys: newly reuiued, Halton, M. Rouses, lately impaled: and
Newton, M. Coringtons, almost decayed. In West Hundred, Boconnock,
Sir Reginald Mohuns. In Powder Hundred, Caryhayes, M.Treuamons.
In Stratton Launcels, M. Chamonds. In Kerier Hundred, Trela warren,
M. Viruans: and Merther, M. Reskymers.
Red Deere, this Shire breedeth none, but onely receiueth such, as in
the Summer season raunge thither out of Deuon: to whome the Gentlemen
bordering on their haunt, afford so course entertainment, that
without better pleading their heeles, they are faine to deliuer vp
their carcases for a pledge, to answer their trespasses.
Beastes seruing for meate onely, or Pigs, Goates, Sheepe, and Rother
cattell. For meate, draught, and plowing, Oxen: for carriage, and
riding, horses: for gard, attendance, and pleasure, Dogs of sundrie
sorts.
What time the Shire, through want of good manurance, lay waste and
open, the Sheepe had generally [24] little bodies, and course
fleeces, so as their Wooll bare no better name, then of Cornish
hayre, and for such hath (from all auncientie) beene transported,
without paying custome. But since the grounds began to receiue
enclosure and dressing for Tillage, the nature of the soyle hath
altered to a better graine, and yeeldeth nourishment in greater
aboundance, and goodnesse, to the beastes that pasture thereupon:
So as, by this meanes (and let not the owners commendable industrie,
turne to their surcharging preiudice, least too soone they grow
wearie of well-doing) Cornish Sheepe come but little behind the
Easterne flockes, for bignes of mould, finenesse of Wooll often
breeding, speedie fatting, and price of sale, and in my conceyte
equall, if not exceede them in sweetnesse of taste, and freedome from
rottennesse and such other contagions. As for their number, while
euerie dweller hath some, though none keepe many, it may summe the
totall to a iolly rate. Most of the Cornish sheepe haue no hornes,
whose wool is finer in qualitie, as that of the horned more in
quantitie: yet, in some places of the Countie there are that carrie
foure hornes.
The Deuon and Somersetshire grasiers, feede yeerely great droues of
Cattell in the North quarter of Cornwall, and vtter them at home,
which notwithstanding, Beefe, Whitfull, Leather or Tallow, beare not
any extraordinarie price in this Countie, beyond the rate of other
places: and yet, the oportunitie of so many Hauens, tempteth the
Marchants (I doubt me, beyond their power of resistaunce) now and
then to steale a transportation, and besides, vttereth no smal
quantitie for the reuitailing of weather-driuen shippes. Some
Gentlemen suffer their beastes to runne wilde, in their Woods and
waste grounds, where they are hunted and killed with Crossebowes,
and Peeces, in the maner of Deere, and by their fiercenesse, and
warinesse, seeme to haue put on a part of the others nature. Each
Oxe hath his seuerall name, vpon which the driuers call aloud, both
to direct and giue them courage as they are at worke.
The Cornish horses, commonly are hardly bred, coursely fed, low of
stature, quicke in trauell, and (after their growth and strength)
able inough for continuance: which sort proue most seruiceable for a
rough and hilly Countrie. But verie few of them (through the owners,
fault) retaine long this their naturall goodnesse. For after two
yeeres age, they vse them to carrie sackes of Sand, which boweth
downe, and weakneth their backes, and the next Summer they are
imployed in harrowing, which marreth their pace. Two meanes that so
quaile also their stomackes, and abate their strength, as the first
rider findeth them ouer-broken to his hands. Howbeit now, from
naught, they are almost come to nought: For since the Statute 12. of
Henry the eight, which enableth eueri man to seize vpon horses that
pastured in Commons, if they were vnder a certaine sise, the Sherifes
officers, reckoning themselues specially priuiledged to poll in their
masters yeere, haue of late times, whether by his commandement, or
sufferance, accustomed to driue those waste grounds, and to seize
on those not voluntarie statute-breaking Tits, so as nature denying a
great harace, and these carrying away the little, it resteth, that
hereafter, not the dammes Foale, but the dames Trotters, be trusted
vnto, This consideration [25] hath made me entertain a conceite, that
ordinarie Husbandmen should doe well to quit breeding of Horses, and
betake themselves to Moyles: for that is a beast, which will fare
hardly, liue verie long, drawe indifferently well, and carrie great
burdens, and hath also a pace swift, and easie enough, for their Mill
and market seruice. By which meanes, looke what is abated from the
vsuall number of Hacknies, should (with a gainefull recompence) be
added to their goodnes: and hereof this quarter hath alreadie taken
some experiment. For, not long sithence, it hapned that one brought
ouer an hee Asse, from France, because of the strangenesse of the
beast (as euerie thing where it comes first, serves for a wonder)
who following his kind, begat many monsters, viz. Moyles, and for
monsters indeed, the Countrie people admired them, yea, some were so
wise, as to knocke on the head, or giue away this issue of his race,
as vncouth mongrels.
Amongst living things on the land, after Beastes, follow Birds, who
seeke harbour on the earth at night, though the ayre bee the greatest
place of their haunt by day.
Of tame Birds, Cornwall hath Doues, Geese, Ducks, Peacockes, Ginney
duckes, China geese, Barbarie hennes, and such like.
Of wild, Quaile, Raile, Partridge, Fesant, Plouer, Snyte, Wood-doue,
Heathcocke, Powte, &c.
But, amongst all the rest, the Inhabitants are most beholden to the
Woodcockes, who (when the season of the yeere affordeth) flocke to
them in great aboundance. They arriue first on the North-coast, where
almost euerie hedge serveth for a Roade, and euerie plashoote for
Springles to take them. From whence, as the moyst places which
supplie them food, beginne to freeze vp, they draw towards those in
the South coast, which are kept more open by the Summers neerer
neighbourhood: and when the Summers heate (with the same effect from
a contrarie cause) drieth vp those plashes, nature and necessitie
guide their returne to the Northern wetter soyle againe.
Of Hawkes, there are Marlions, Sparhawkes, Hobbies, and somewhere
Lannards. As for the Sparhawk, though shee serue to flie little
aboue sixe weekes in the yeere, and that onely at the Partridge,
where the Faulkner and Spanels must also now and then spare her
extraordinarie assistance; yet both Cornish and Deuonshire men employ
so much trauaile in seeking, watching, taking, manning, nusling,
dieting, curing, bathing, carrying, and mewing them, as it must
needes proceede from a greater folly, that they cannot discerne
their folly herein. To which you may adde, their busie, dangerous,
discourteous, yea, and sometimes despiteful stealing one from another
of the Egges and young ones, who, if they were allowed to aire
naturally, and quietly, there would bee store sufficient, to kill
not onely the Partridges, but euen all the good-huswiues Chickens
in a Countrie.
Of singing Birds, they haue Lynnets, Goldfinches, Ruddockes, Canarie
birds, Blacke-birds, Thrushes, and diuers other; but of Nightingals,
few, or none at all, whether through some naturall antipathie,
betweene them and the soyle (as Plinie writeth, that Crete fostereth
not any Owles, nor Rhodes Eagles, nor Larius lacus in Italy Storkes)
or rather for that the Country is generally [26] bare of couert and
woods, which they affect, I leaue to be discussed by others.
Not long sithence, there came a flocke of Birds into Cornwall, about
Haruest season, in bignesse not much exceeding a Sparrow, which made
a foule spoyle of the Apples. Their bils were thwarted crosse-wise
at the end, and with these they would cut an Apple in two, at one
snap, eating onely the kernels. It was taken at first, for a
forboden token, and much admired, but, soone after, notice grew,
that Glocester Shire, and other Apple Countries, haue them an
ouer-familiar harme.
In the West parts of Cornwall, during the Winter season, Swallowes
are found sitting in old deepe Tynne-workes, and holes of the sea
Cliffes: but touching their lurking places, Olaus Magnus maketh a
farre stranger report. For he saith, that in the North parts of the
world, as Summer weareth out, they clap mouth to mouth, wing to wing,
and legge in legge, and so after a sweete singing, fall downe into
certaine great lakes or pooles amongst the Canes, from whence at the
next Spring, they receiue a new resurrection; and hee addeth for
proofe hereof, that the Fishermen, who make holes in the Ice, to dip
vp such fish with their nets, as resort thither for breathing, doe
sometimes light on these Swallowes, congealed in clods, of a slymie
substance, and that carrying them home to their Stoues, the warmth
restoreth them to life and flight: this I haue seene confirmed also,
by the relation of a Venetian Ambassadour, employed in Poland, and
heard auowed by trauaylers in those parts: Wherethrough I am induced
to giue it a place of probabilitie in my mind, and of report in this
treatise.
After hauing thus laid open euerie particular of the land, naturall
order leadeth my next labour, to bee imployed about the water, and
the things incident thereunto: the water I seuer into fresh and salt.
Touching fresh Water, euerie hill wel-neere sendeth forth plentifull,
fresh, cleare and pleasant springs, profitable for moystning the
ground, and wholesome for mans vse, & diuers by running through
veines of Mettals, supposed also medicinable for sundrie diseases;
of which more in their particular places. These springs, (as
seuerall persons assembling, make a multitude) take aduantage of the
falling grounds, to vnite in a greater strength, and beget Ryuers,
which yet are more in number, and swifter in course, then deepe in
bottome, or extended in largenesse. For they worke out their bed
through an earth, full of Rockes and stones, suting therethrough,
the nature onely of some speciall fishes, of which kind are, Minowes,
Shoats, Eeles, and Lampreys. The rest are common to other Shires,
but the Shote in a maner peculiar to Deuon and Cornwall: in shape
and colour he resembleth the Trowt: howbeit in bignesse and
goodnesse, commeth farre behind him. His baites are flies and
Tag-wormes, which the Cornish English terme Angle-touches. Of the
Ryuers and Hauens which they make, occasion will be ministred vs to
speake particularly in the next booke; and therefore it shall
suffice to name the chiefest here in generall, which are on the
South coast: Tamer, Tauy, Liner, Seaton, Loo, Foy,
Fala, Lo. On the North, Camel, Halae.
Of fresh water Ponds, either cast out by nature, or wrought out by
Art, Cornwall is stored with verie few, though the site of so many
narrow vallies offereth [27] many, with the onely charge of raysing
an head. But the Oceans plentifull beames darken the affecting of
this pettie starlight: touching whose nature and properties, for his
saltnesse in taste, strength in bearing, course in ebbing and flowing,
the effects are so well knowne to the vulgar, as they need not any
particular relation; and the causes so controuersed amongst the
learned, as it passeth mine abilitie to moderate the question: onely
this I will note, that somewhat before a tempest, if the sea-water
bee slashed with a sticke or Oare, the same casteth a bright shining
colour, and the drops thereof resemble sparckles of fire, as if the
waues were turned into flames, which the Saylers terme Briny.
Amongst other commodities affoorded by the sea, the Inhabitants make
vse of diuers his creekes, for griste-milles, by thwarting a bancke
from side to side, in which a floud-gate is placed with two leaues:
these the flowing tyde openeth, and after full sea, the waight of the
ebbe closeth fast, which no other force can doe: and so the
imprisoned water payeth the ransome of dryuing an under-shoote wheele
for his enlargement.
Ilands, S. Nicholas in the mouth of Plymmouth, S. George before Loo,
S. Michaels Mount, and the Ilies of Scilley.
Hauens on the South coast there are, Plymmouth, Loo, Foy, Falmouth,
Helford, and the Rode of Mounts bay. On the North, S. Ies, and
Padstowe, of which more hereafter.
Diuers of these are dayly much endammaged by the earth which the
Tynners cast up in their working, and the rayne floods wash downe
into the riuers, from whence it is discharged in the hauens, and
shouldreth the sea out of his ancient possession, or at least,
encrocheth vpon his depth. To remedy this, an Act of Parliament was
made 23. H. 8. that none should labour in Tynneworks, neere the Deuon
and Cornish hauens: but whether it aymed not at the right cause, or
hath not taken his due execution, little amendement appeareth thereby
for the present, and lesse hope may be conceyued for the future.