Orgerius Duke of Cornwall, had a daughter named Alfride, the fame
of whose beauty, caused King Edgar to send Earle Athelwold, for
obtaining her at her fathers hands in mariage. But the Earle with
the first sight of this faire Lady, was so besotted in her loue, that
preferring the accomplishment of his lust, before the duety of his
alleageance, he returnes answer to the King, how the common report
far exceeded her priuate worth, which came much short of meriting a
partnership in so great a Princes bed: and (not long after) begged
and obtayned the Kings good will, to wed her himselfe. But so braue
a lustre could not lye long concealed, without shining foorth into
Edgars knowledge, who finding the truth of his Ambassadours falshood,
tooke Athelwold at an aduantage, slewe him, and maried her, beeing a
widdowe, whome hee had wooed a mayde.
[page 79]
Hitherunto, these titles of honour carry a kinde of confusednes,
and rather betokened a successiue office, then an established dignity.
The following ages receiued a more distinct forme, and left vs a
certeyner notice.
[1067.]
What time William the bastard subdued this Realme, one Condor
possessed the Earledome of Cornwall, and did homage for the same:
he had issue another Condor, whose daughter and heire Agnes, was
maried to Reignald Earle of Bristowe, base sonne to King Henry the
first.
This note I borrowed out of an industrious collection, which setteth
downe all the noble mens creations, Armes, and principall descents,
in euery Kings dayes since the conquest: but master Camden, our
Clarentieulx, nameth him Cadoc, and saith farther, that Robert Morton,
brother to William Conquerour, by his mother Herlot, was the first
Earle of Norman blood, and that his sonne William succeeded him;
who taking part with Duke Robert, against Henry the first, thereby
got captiuity, and lost his honour, with which that King inuested
the forementioned Reignald. In this variance, it is great reason,
that the ballance panche on his side, who hath both authority to
establish his assertion, and a rarely approued knowledge, to warrant
his authoritie. Hee dying issue-lesse, Richard the first gaue this
Earledome to his brother Iohn.
[1257.]
Iohns sonne, Henry the third, honoured therewith his brother Richard
King of the Romanes, a Prince no lesse plentifully flowing in wealth,
then his brother was often driuen to extreame shifts, through
needinesse: which made that barbarous age to poetrize,
Nummus ait pro me, nublt Cornubia Romae.
Money sayd, that for her sake,
Rome did Cornwall, to wife take.
He had issue, Henry Earle of Cornwall, who deceased issuelesse:
and Edmond, whose daughter and heire Isabell (sayth mine authour)
was married to Morice Fitsharding Lord Barckleigh: but others
affirme, that this Edmond dyed without issue.
Edward the, second, degenerating in his choyce, created his mynion,
Peter Gaueston, a Gascoyne, Earle of this County, whose posterity
ended in himselfe, and himself by a violent death.
The last title of this Earldome, expired in Iohn of Eltham, yonger
sonne to that King Edward. After which, King Edward the third,
by act of Parliament in the 11. yeere of his raigne, erected the same
to a Duchy, the first in England, and graced it with his sonne,
the blacke Prince: for his heroicall vertues did rather bestow,
then receiue estimation from whatsoeuer dignitie. Since which it is
successiuely incorporated in the Kings eldest sonne, and hath bene
so enioyed, by Richard the second, Henry the fift, Henry the sixt,
Edward his sonne, Edward the fift, Edward sonne to Richard the third,
Arthure, and Henry, sonnes to Henry the seuenth, and lastly, Edward
the sixt: 10. Dukes in the whole.
These Earles and Dukes haue from the beginning, beene priuiledged
with royall iurisdiction or Crowne rights, namely, giuing of liberty
to send Burgesses to the Parliaments, returne of writs, custome, toll,
Mynes, Treasure-trovee, wards, &c. and (to this end) appoynted their
speciall officers, as Sheriffe, Admirall, Receyuer, Hauener, Customer,
Butler, Searcher, Comptroller, [80] Gaugeor, Excheator, Feodary,
Auditor, Clarke of the Market, &c. besides the L. Warden, and those
others beforeremembred, whose functions appertayne to the iurisdiction
of the Stannary.
To the preseruation of which royalties, our Parliaments haue euer
carried a reuerend regard. For by that Act, 17. Edw. 4. which
enioyneth forrayne Marchants to bestow such money as they receiue
for their wares, in English commodities, or to pay the same vnto
Englishmen, the Kings part of all forfeytures within Cornwall,
is reserued to the Duke. So doth that, 11. H. 7, concerning the
reformation of waights & measures, prouide, that it shall not be
hurtful or preiudiciall to the Prince, within the Duchy of Cornwall,
nor to any waights of the cunnage: and so doth that 1. H. 8. touching
Excheators, exempt that officer in Cornwall. It should seeme,
that the first Earles bare a heauy hand in commaund ouer their
subiects: for both diuers ancient records (as I haue learned) make
mention of tributes, imposed (almost) vpon euery thing of profit;
and it may farther be gathered, in that, as well townes, as
particular persons, were faine to procure Charters and graunts
from them, for corporations, faires, markets, taking or freeing from
tolls, mines, fishing, fowling, hawking, hunting, and what not?
so as (vpon the matter) the plight of a Cornish Inhabitant and a
French pezant did differ very little.
Which bondage, one not long agoe sought in part to reestablish,
vnder pretence of receiuing a rent decayed euer since 9. H. 2.
and aduancing her Maiesties profit: & to this end procured Letters
patents, that none should salt, dry, or pack any fish in Deuon or
Cornwall, without his licence and warrant. A matter that would,
by consequence, haue made him an absolute disposer of all the
Westerne shipping and traffike, and their sea and land dependants.
Few words, but folding vp a multitude of inconueniences to her
Maiestie, & the whole Commonwealth.
Wherefore the Cornish Iustices of the peace, became humble suiters
to the Lords of her Highnes priuy Councell, for a necessary and
speedy redresse herein: and through the neuer fayling forwardnesse,
and backing of Sir Walter Ralegh, obtayned a reuocation. Howbeit,
this ill weed, rather cut off by the ground, then plucked vp by the
roote, once, yea twice or thrice grew forth againe, but yet, maugre
the warmers and waterers, hath by her Maiesties gracious breath beene
euer parched vp, and (as is hoped) will neuer shoote out heereafter,
at least it shall still finde an vnited resistance, of most earnest
suit, and pregnant reasons, to beat it downe.
The Earles had foure houses, builded Castle-wise for their residence,
viz. Trematon, Launceston, Restormel, and Liskerd. But since the
principality of Wales and this Duchy became united in one person,
the larger scope, and greater commaund of that, hath robbed this of
his Lords presence, & by consequence, the strength of these Castles
could not so gard them, against the battery of time, and neglect,
but that, from faire buildings, they fell into foule reparations,
and from foule reparations, are now sunke into vtter ruine.
King H. the 8. affecting his honour of Newelm, & respecting the
commodities, which Wallingford Castle might afford it, tooke this
last by act of Parl. from the Duchy, & in lieu thereof, annexed
certain manners lying in Corn.falne [81] to the Crowne, through the
Marques of Excesters attainder: which Queene Marie afterwards
restored in tayle to his sonne, the Earle of Deuon, and vpon his
issueles decease receiued them againe.
It were against duetie to make question, whether in this exchange,
the kings meaning went with his pretence; and yet wee finde it an
ordinary policy amongst Princes, to send their successours, with a
kinde of libera, or honoraria legatio, into the remoter quarters of
their dominions, as if they would shunne occasions of ielousie,
springing from an ouer-neere neighbourhood.
Howsoeuer, the same King, not long after, passed away, this Castle,
vnto Christs Colledge in Oxford, who vse it as a place of retrayt,
when the Vniuersitie is visited with any contagious sicknes.
I haue vnderstood, that question is made amongst men of knowledge,
what is become of this Duchy. Some holding it altogether extinct,
for want of the kings issue male: some auerring, that it is suspended
in nubibus (as they say) pro tempore: and some supposing, that it
continueth in full power, and that her Maiestie hath onely custodiam
ducatus, as of Bishopricks, sede vacante. Penes Iudicem lis sit.
Once, euery Sheriffe is summoned to enter his account in the Duchy
Exchequer, at Lostwithyel, and from thence, referred ouer to the
Exchequer above.
Cornwall considered as a part of the Realme, sorteth her gouernment
into two kindes; spirituall, and temporall.
Touching the spirituall: In ancient times this Shire had his
particular Bishop: and I find, how in the yeere, 905. Forinosus the
Pope sent a sharpe letter to Edward the sonne of Alfride, reproouing
him, for suffering the West Saxons to be destitute of Bishops seuen
yeeres together. Whereon, by the aduice of his Councell, and
Arch-bishop Pleymund, he ordayned seuen bishops in one day; amongst
whome Herstane was consecrated to Cornwall, and Eadwolfe to Crediton,
which last had three townes in Cornwall, assigned him, to wit,
Pontium, Coelling, and Landwhitton, that thence he might yeerely visit
the people, to root out (as mine author sayth) their errours: for
before, as much as in them lay, they withstood the truth, and obeyed
not the Apostolike decrees. Whereon I ground two collections: the
first, that the light of the Gospell tooke not his originall shining
into these parts, from the Romish Bishop: the other that the Cornish
(like their cousins the Welsh] could not bee soone or easily induced
to acknowledge his iurisdiction. The Bishops see was formerly at
S. Petrocks in Bodmyn; but by reason the Danes burned there his
Church and palace, [979.] the same remooued to S. Germanes.
After that, Lumigius, from a Monke of Winchester, elected Abbot of
Tavistoke, [1031.] and from that Abbey, aduanced to the Bishoprick
of Creditune, by his grace with Canutus King of the Angles, obtayned
an annexion of Cornwall (lately fallen voyd) and so made one Dioces
of that and Deuon, as it hath euer since continued. This Bishoprick
had diuers faire houses and large reuenues in Cornwall: but one Veyzy,
Bishop of the dioces in King H. the 8. time, coniecturing (as it is
conceyued) that the Cathedrall Churches should not long ouer-liue the
suppressed Monasteries, made hauock of those liuings before-hand,
some by long leasing, and some by flat selling, so as he left a poore
remainder to his successours.
[82]
It oweth subiection to the Metropolitane of Canterbury, and hath one
onely Archdeaconry, which place is now supplied by master Thomas
Sumaster, who adorneth the Gentility of his birth, with the honestie
of his life, and by both sorts of feeding, approueth himselfe a
liberall and commendable pastor.
Certaine Peculiars there are, some appertaining to the dignities of
the Cathedrall Church at Exon, to wit, S. Probuss, and S. Peran:
and some to priuate persons, as Burien and Temple.
[Anno Mundi 3172.] For religious houses, I read, that in the time of
Paganisme, Cunedag builded a Temple in Cornwall to Apollo, but where
it stood I know not. Since it made roome to Christianity, my (not
ouer-curious) enquiry hath learned out these:
Pryories, at S. Germaines, Bodmyn, Tywardreth.
Nunries, at S. Martine.
Fryeries, at Launceston, Truro, Bodmyn.
Colledges, at Peryn, Crantock, Buryen.
Hospitals, at Helston.
Of parishes, the County hath 161. as master Camden noteth, and as
others haue, about 180.
Doubtles, the Hierarchy of our English Church, if it were kept fast
to his first institution, might with his far better effects, close
vp their mouthes, who would thrust vpon vs their often varying
discipline. But albeit neither our time can well brooke it, nor
the succeeding would long hold it: yet it shal not do much amisse,
to look vpon the originall beauty thereof, if (at least) I be able
to tricke the same truly out, & doe not blemish it with my pensil.
At the planting of Christian religion, Monasteries & cathedral
Churches were likewise founded, which serued for seed plots of the
ministery, & sent them abroad in yerely progresses, to labour the
Lords vineyard. Afterwards, about the time of our last conquest,
the country was sorted by a more orderly maner into parishes,
& euery parish committed to a spirituall father, called their Parson,
who stept into that roome, not by election (as some imagine)
but mostly, by the nomination of him that eyther built the Church,
or endowed the same with some liuelyhood, or was L. of the soyle
where it stood. As for Vicarages, those daies knew few, for they
grew vp in more corrupt ages, by the religious houses encrochments.
Besides this Incumbent, euery parish had certaine officers, as
Churchwardens, Sidemen, and 8. men, whose duety bound them to see
the buildings & ornaments appertaining to Gods seruice, decently
maintayned, & good order there reuerently obserued. And lest
negligence, ignorance, or partiality, might admit or foist in abuses,
& corruption, an Archdeacon was appointed to take account of their
doings by an yerely visitation, & they there sworn duly to make it.
He & they againe had their Ordinary, the Bishop, euery 3. yere to
ouerlook their actions, & to examine, allow, & admit the ministers,
as they and the Bishop were semblably subiect to the Metropolitanes
suruey euery 7. yere. For warning the Clergy, & imparting their
superiours directions, the Curats chose yerely their Deanes rurall.
The Bishop, in his cathedrall church, was associated with certaine
Prebendaries, some resident, who serued as his ghostly counsel in
points of his charge, & others not bound to ordinary residence,
who were called to consultation, vpon things of greater consequence:
& for matters of principal importance, the Archbishop had his
prouincial Sinod, & the whole clergy their national.
[83]
Now then, if euery one thus entrusted, would remember that he had a
soule to saue or lose, by the well or ill discharging of so waighty
a function, and did accordingly from time to time bestowe his
requisite endeauour, what the least fault could escape the espiall
of so many eyes, or the righting amongst so many hands? But I haue
thrust my sickle ouer-farre into anothers haruest: let my mistaking
be corrected, and in regard of my good meaning, pardoned.
The Temporal gouernment of Cornwall, shooteth out also into two
branches, Martiall, and Ciuill.
For martiall affaires, master Camden noteth out of Iohannes
Sarisburiensis, that the Cornish mens valiancy purchased them such
reputation amongst our ancestours, as they (together with those of
Deuon and Wiltshire) were wont to be entrusted, for the Subsidiary
Cohort, or band of supply. An honour equall to the Romanes Triarii,
and the shoot-anker of the battell. With which concurreth the
ancient, if not authenticall testimony of Michael Cornubiensis,
who had good reason to knowe the same, being that Countryman,
and more to report it: his verses, for which I haue also beene
beholding to M. Camden, are these:
Rex Arcturus nos primos Cornubienses
Bellum facturus vocat, vt puta Caesaris enses
Nobis non alijs, reliquis, dat primitus ictum
Per quem pax lisque, nobis sit vtrumq; relictum
Quid nos deterret, si firmiter in pede stemus,
Fraus ni nos superet, nihil est quod non superemus.
I will now set downe the principall Commaunders & Officers, touching
these martiall causes, together with the forces of the shire.
Lord Lieutenant generall, Sir Walter Ralegh.
| Sir Frauncis Godolphin, |
| Sir Nicholas Parker, |
| Sir Reignald Mohun, |
Deputie | Peter Edgecumb, | or any 3.
Lieutenants | Bernard Greinuile, | of them.
| Christopher Harris, |
| Richard Carew, |
Colonell generall, Sir Nicholas Parker.
Marshall, Bernard Greinuile.
Treasurer, Richard Carew.
Master of the Ordinance, Will. Treffry.
Colonell of the horse, Iohn Arundell of Trerise.
Sergeant maior, Humphrey Parcks.
Quarter Master, William Carnsew.
Prouost Marshall, Iohn Harris.
Scowt Master, Otwell Hill.
| Osburne.
| Rusall.
Corporals of the field, | Rattenbury.
| Sled
Ammunition Master, Leon. Blackdon.
Trench Master, Cooke.
[84]
Regiments. Companies, Numbers, Arm.Pikes, Muskets, Caliueri
--------------------------------------------------
Sir Fra. Godol. | 12. | 1200. | 470. | 490. | 240. |
Sir Will. Beuil | 6. | 670. | 225. | 315. | 130. |
Sir Rei. Mohun | 6. | 600. | 200. | 210. | 190. |
Ber. Greinuile | 10. | 1000. | 370. | 390. | 240. |
Ri. Carew | 5. | 500. | 170. | 300. | 30. |*1
Antony Rouse | 6. | 760. | 270. | 320. | 170. |
Ch. Treuanion | 5. | 500. | 180. | 190. | 130. |
Will. Treffry | 4. | 400. | 140. | 130. | 130. |*2
Sir Nic. Parker | 2. | 200. | 60. | 80. | 60. |*3
Ha. Viuian | 1. | 100. | 40. | 40. | 20. |*4
Ar. Harris | 1. | 100. | 40. | 40. | 20. |*5
Summa, | 58. | 6030. | 2165. | 2535. | 1330. |
--------------------------------------------------
[*1 For Causam Bay]
[*2 For Foy]
[*3 Fpr Pendennis]
[*4 For S. Mawes]
[*5 For the Mount]
This may serue for a generall estimat of the Cornish forces, which I
haue gathered, partly out of our certificate made to the Lords 1599.
partly by information from the Sargeant maior, & partly through mine
own knowledge. There are many more vnarmed pikes, which I omit,
as better fitting a supply vpon necessitie, then to bee exposed
(for opposed) to an enemie. The number as it standeth, much
exceedeth the shires proportion, if the same he compared with Deuon
and other Counties: which groweth, for that their neerenesse on
all quarters to the enemy, and their farnesse from timely succour
by their friends, haue forced the Commaunders, to call forth the
vttermost number of able hands to fight, and rather by perswasion
then authority, procured them to arme themselues beyond lawe and
theirability. Which commendable indeuour shall not, I hope,
ought not, I am sure, turne them to the preiudice of any vnwonted
charge hereafter.
They are all prouided of powder, bullet, & match in competent sort,
& order taken for furnishing of victuals, and mounting a third part
of the shot (at least) vpon cause of seruice.
Light horses, the Lords in their directions, enioyne for orders sake,
and the Lieutenants excuse it by insufficiency. Hitherto neither
hath the commaundement bin reuoked, nor the omission controlled.
In the yeere 1588. when the Spanish floting Babel pretended the
conquest of our Iland (which like Iosuahs armie they compassed,
but vnlike him could not with their blasting threats ouerthrow our
walles) it pleased her Maiestie of her prouident and gracious care,
to furnish Cornwall with ordinance and munition, from her owne store,
as followeth:
| of cast Iron, well mounted vpon carryages
2. Sacres | with wheeles, shodde with Iron, and fur-
2. Minions | nished with Ladles, Spunges, and Ram-
2. Faulcons | mers, with all other necessaries.
Spare axeltrees, sixe.
Spare pairs of wheeles, shod with Iron, three.
Shot of Iron for the sayd pieces, of eche sort, twenty.
Canon corne powder for the said ordinance, sixe hundred
wayght.
Fine corne powder, three thousand six hundred waight.
Lead, three thousand sixe hundred wayght.
Match, three thousand sixe hundred wayght.
All which, saue the ordinance itselfe, partly by piecemeale
employment, and partly by ouerlong, or euil keeping, is now growne
to nought, or naught.
[85]
After the sudden surprize of Pensants, anno 1595. by direction from
the Lords, order was taken, that vpon any alarum, the next Captains
should forthwith put themselues with their companies, into their
assigned seacoast townes, whom the adioyning land-forces were
appoynted to second and third, as the opportunity of their dwellings
affoorded best occasion.
The yeere following, by a new commaund, 4000. were allotted out,
and prouided in a readines to march for the ayd of Deuon, if cause
so required, as the Lord Lieutenant of that County had the same order,
vpon like necessitie, to send an equall number into Cornwall.
Lastly, anno 1599. when the Spanish fleet was againe expected,
the Cornish forces voluntarily assembled themselues, and made head,
at the entrance, middle, and Westpart of their south coast.
As for soldiers sent into other places, Cornwall yeeldeth, vpon euery
occasion, a proportionable supply to the wants of Ireland; neither is
acquitted from performing the like seruice for Fraunce, if the
employment be in Brittaine or Normandy. Which often ventings
notwithstanding, vpon the instance of Captaine Lower, and the
sollicitation of his friends, there passed ouer this last yeere
into Netherland, at one time, 100. voluntaries and vpwards, there to
serue under Sir Frauncis Vere. And besides, they often make out men
of warre against the Spaniards.
Forts and Castles there are; some, olde and worne out of date; and
some in present vse, with allowance of garrison.
Amongst the first sort, I reckon these, appertayningto the Duchy,
as also Tintogel, and diuers round holds on the tops of hils; some
single, some double, and treble trenched, which are termed, Castellan
Denis, or Danis, as raysed by the Danes, when they were destyned to
become our scourge.
Moreouer, in this ranke wee may muster the earthen Bulwarks, cast vp
in diuers places on the South coast, where any commodity of landing
seemeth to inuite the enemie, which (I gesse) tooke their originall
from the statute 4. H. 8. and are euer sithence duely repayred,
as need requireth, by order to the Captaynes of those limits.
Of the later sort, is a fort at Silley, called [blank] reduced to a
more defensible plight, by her Maiesties order, and gouerned by the
foreremembred Sir Frauncis Godolphin, who with his inuention and
purse, bettered his plot and allowance, and therein hath so tempered
strength with delight, and both with vse, as it serueth for a sure
hold, and a commodious dwelling.
The rest are S. Michaels mount, Pendenis fort, and S. Mawes Castle,
of which I shall haue occasion to speake more particularly in my
second booke.
Of Beacons, through the neernesse to the sea, and the aduantage of
the hilly situations, welneere euery parish is charged with one,
which are watched, secundum vsum, but (so farre as I can see) not
greatly ad propositum: for the Lords better digested instructions,
haue reduced the Countrey, by other meanes, to a like ready, and much
lesse confused way of assembling, vpon any cause of seruice.
For carrying of such aduertisements and letters, euery thorow-fare
weekly appoynteth a foot-Poast, to giue [86] his hourely attendance,
whose dispatch is welneere as speedy as the horses.
The last branch of my diuision, and so of this book, leadeth me to
entreat of Cornwals ciuill government, as it passeth for a part of
the Realme; and that may againe be subdiuided into iurisdiction
particular, and general. The particular iurisdiction is exercised
by Constables, Stewards of Courts Barons, and Leets, Franchises,
Hundreds, & Portreeues, & Maiors; of boroughs & corporations of
the Stannaries, we haue spoken already. The generall, by the Clarke
of the market, Coroners, Vice-admiral, Sherife, Iustices of the
peace, & Iudges of assize.
Constables of the hundreds the shire hath none, but this office for
giuing of warnings, & collection of rates, is supplyed by the deputy
Baylifs, who performe it not with that discretion, trust, secrecy,
& speed, which were often requisite to the importance of the affaires.
I haue knowne the Iudges moued diuers times, for their opinion
touching the erecting of some, & found them of seueral resolutions,
which giueth little encouragement to an innouation. Neither can the
parish Constables well brooke the same, because it submitteth them
to a subalterne commaund, more then of custome; whereas now in their
parishes they are absolute, the least whereof hath one, the middle
sized 2. the bigger 3. or 4. I would not wish the blaze of their
authority blemished, if there were as much care vsed in choyce of
the persons, as the credit of their place deserueth. Wise direction
without diligent execution, proueth fruitles. Now, as the former is
deriued from her Maiesty to the Lords, & from the Lords to the
Iustices; so this later lieth in the hands of the Constables.
Watches and searches oftentimes carry waighty consequence, and
miscary in the managing: and it was seene in the last Cornish
rebellion, how the Constables commaund & example, drew many of the
not worst meaning people, into that extremest breach of duty.