Master Anthonie Rouse his Baylife by inheritance, and Richard Carew
of Antony his keeper by lease. Of the ancient officers, one yet
retayneth the name, though not the place, viz. M. Porter, to whose
ancestor, when Vantor was L. thereof, one by a deed before date,
gaue land, lying without the gate, by the title of Russell Ianitori
de Trematon, which he still enioyeth. M. Porters Armes are Sa.
Three Belles Ar. a Canton Erm.
It standeth in S. Stephens parish : the sheafe whereof, together with
other faire reuennues, M. George Wadham enioying in the right of his
wife, the daughter and heire to master Hechins, liberally bestoweth
in continuall hospitalitie.
Master Hechins armes, are Sa. a crosse Fleurty, [113] quarterly B.
and G. betweene 4. Lyons heades erased Sa. langued of the second.
M. Wadhams, G. a Cheuron betweene three Roses Ar.
The same parish also compriseth Saltash, in old writings, called
Villa de Esse; Esse his towne: and such Gentlemen there have been
of ancient descent and faire reuennues. The word Salt, is added
thereunto, because it standeth on the sea, & to distinguish it from
other places of the same name. It is seated on the declyning of a
steep hill, consisteth of three streets, which euery showre washeth
cleane, compriseth betweene 80. and 100. households, vnderlyeth the
gouernment of a Maior & his 10. brethren, and possesseth sundry
large priuiledges ouer the whole hauen, to wit, an yeerely rent of
boates and barges appertayning to the harbour, ancorage of strange
shipping, crowning of dead persons, laying of arrests, and other
Admirall rights, besides electing of Burgesses for the Parliaments,
benefit of the passage, foreclosing all others, saue themselues,
from dredging of Oysters, except betweene Candlemas and Easter,
weekely markets, halfe-yeerely fayres, &c.
The towne is of late yeeres well encreased and adorned with buildings,
& the townsmen addict themselues to the honest trade of marchandise,
which endoweth them with a competent wealth. Some 7. or 8. ships
belong thereunto.
It was not long since, that the neighbour-ministers successiuely
bestowed their paines in preaching there, on the market daies,
and the bordering gentlemen yeelded their presence. Sermon ended,
the Preachers resorted to one ordinary, and the Gentlemen to another.
This affoorded commendable effects to many works of loue and charity:
but, with the retorted blame, from one to another, it is now wholly
giuen ouer.
Heere, that great Carrack, which Sir Frauncis Drake surprised, in her
returne from the East Indies, vnloded her frayght, and through a
negligent fyring, met with an vnproper ending.
In this towne also dwelleth one Grisling, deafe from a long time,
who, besides his merry conceites, of counterfeyting by signes (like
the Romane Pantomimi) any kinde of occupation or exercise, hath a
strange quality, to vnderstand what you say, by marking the mouing of
your lips, especially if you speake deliberately, of any ordinary
matter, so as (contrary to the rules of nature, and yet without the
helpe of arte) he can see words as they passe forth of your mouth:
and of this I haue caused him to giue often experiments.
And if Plyny now liued, I suppose he would affoord a roome, in his
natural History, to a dogge of this town, who (as I haue learned by
the faithfull report of master Thomas Parkins) vsed daily to fetch
meate at his house there, and to carry the same vnto a blinde
mastiffe, that lay in a brake without the towne: yea, (that more is)
hee would vpon Sundayes conduct him thither to dynner, and, the meale
ended, guide him back to his couch and couert againe.
I had almost forgotten to tell you, that there is a well in this
towne, whose water will neuer boyle peason to a seasonable softnes.
At the foot of Saltash, there abbutteth vpon the sea, a rock,
called Ashtorre, alias, Effes Torre, which is inuested with the
iurisdiction of a mannour, and claymeth the suites of many Gentlemen,
as his freeholders in Knights [114] seruice. Below this, there is
a rock on eche side of the riuer, the one termed the Bull, the other
the Hen; that on Deuon, this on Cornwall side. The Hen standeth a
little distant from the shore, which giueth occasion to a Packe,
how between it and the land, the Queenes greatest ship may saile;
but it is meant of the farther distant.
Aboue Saltash, Cargreen, a fisher towne, sheweth it selfe, but can
hardly muster a meane plight of dwellings or dwellers: so may their
care be greene, because their wealth is withered.
Neere thereunto is Clifton, a neat seated house, appertayning to one
of the Arundels, descended by a yonger brother, from those of Trerice;
he maried Hill, his father, Cole.
Neither hath your eye scarcely quitted that, when it receiueth Halton,
the pleasant and commodious dwelling of M. Anthony Rouse, both which
benefits, he empleyeth to a kind & vninterrupted entertainment
of such, as visit him vpon his not spare inuiting, or their owne
occasions, who (without the selfe guilt of an vngratefull wrong)
must witnes, that his frankenesse confirmeth their welcome,
by whatsoeuer meanes, prouision, the fewell of hospitality, can in
the best maner supply. His auncestours were Lords of little Modbury
in Deuon, before the descent of times grew to a distinguishment,
by the date of writings: which mannour, together with other lands,
through a lineall succession, fell to be possessed by Raphe,
Wil. Raphe, Iohn, Wil. Raphe, and Raphe, whose daughter and
heire Elizabeth, bestowed the same, with her selfe, vpon the family
of the Dimocks, Robert, second sonne to the last mentioned Raphe,
saue one, had issue Will, who maried Alice, the daughter and heire
of Tho. of Edmerston. Wil. had another Wil. and he had Iohn,
and Iohn againe had Wil. This Wil. had Roger, who vpon Iulian,
sister and coheire of Iohn Hill of Fleet, begat Iohn and Richard,
father to the Gentleman now liuing, and he matched with Elizabeth,
daughter of Thomas Southcott, and one of the heires to her mother,
the daughter of Barnehouse: besides which, he succeeded to his vncle
Iohns inheritance, who deceased issuelesse: and being yet scarcely
entred the limits of an healthfull olde age, seeth his pedigree
extended into two farther descents. As for those outreaching
mans memory, I haue seene them very sufficiently verified: his Armes
are, O. an Eagle displayed B. pruning her wing, armed and langued G.
Vpon the top of a creek hereby, lyeth Crocadon, the mansion of
M. Treuisa, a Gent, deriuing himselfe from the ancient and
weldeseruing Chronicler of that name: he beareth G. a garbe O.
A mile aboue Halton, standeth Cuttayle, another house of M. Edgecumbs,
so named (as wee may coniecture) of the French Courtaile, in English,
short cut; because here, the salt water course is straightned, by the
incroching banks. The buildings are ancient, large, strong and fayre,
and appurtenanced with the necessaries of wood, water, fishing, parks,
and mils, with the deuotion of (in times past) a rich furnished
Chappell, and with the charity of almes-houses for certaine poore
people, whom the owners vsed to releeue. It is reported, & credited
thereabouts, how Sir Ric. Edgecumb the elder, was driuen to hide
himself in those his thick woods, which ouerlook the riuer, what time
being suspected of fauouring the Earle of Richmonds party, against
King R. the 3. hee was hotely pursued, and narrowely searched for.
[115] Which extremity taught him a sudden policy, to put a stone in
his cap, & tumble the same into the water, while these rangers were
fast at his heeles, who looking downe after the noyse, and seeing
his cap swimming thereon, supposed that he had desperately drowned
himselfe, gaue ouer their farther hunting, and left him liberty to
shift away, and ship ouer into Brittaine: for a gratefull remembrance
of which deliuery, hee afterwards builded in the place of his lurking,
a Chappell, not yet vtterly decayed.
And thus hauing coasted the Cornish side of Plymmouth hauen,
I hold it not amisse, to make report of such great voyages, as,
by the memory of our Chronicles, or our owne view, from this harbour,
tooke their beginning or ending.
Heere the neuer inough commended black Prince, attended by the Earles
of Warwick, Suffolk, Sarisbury, and Oxford, the Lord Chandos and
others, committed himselfe to the sea, with a nauy of 300. bottoms,
for landing and maintayning his fathers right in France; and hither,
after his glorious battell at Poictiers, he returned, with the captiue
French King and his nobles.
Here the Lady Katherine, daughter to the King of Spaine, and wife to
our Prince Arthur, tooke land, at her first arriuall in England.
Heere shipped himselfe, the Lord Darcy, sent by King Henry the 8.
with a lusty crew of soldiers, for that Ferdinands iust assistance,
against the Infidels: but vsed by him as a stale, for the vniust
conquest of Christian Nauar.
Here, mostly, haue the troups of aduenturers, made their Rendez vous,
for attempting newe discoueries or inhabitances: as, Tho. Stukeleigh
for Florida, Sir Humfrey Gilbert for Newfound-land, Sir Rich.
Greynuile for Virginea, Sir Martyn Frobisher, and Master Dauies, for
the North-west passage, Sir Walter Raleigh for Guiana, &c.
Here, Count Mongomery made forth, with a more commendable meaning,
then able meanes, or welspeeding effect, for relieving the hard
besieged, and sore distressed Rochellers.
Here, Sir Fra. Drake first extended the point of that liquid line,
wherewith (as an emulator of the Sunnes glorie) he encompassed
the world.
Here, Master Candish began to second him, with a like heroicall
spirit, and fortunate successe.
Here, Don Antonio, King of Portugall, the Earles of Cumberland, Essex,
and Notingham, the Lord Warden of the Stanneries, Sir Iohn Norrice,
Sir Iohn Hawkins (and who elsewhere, and not here ?) haue euer
accustomed to cut sayle, in carrying defiance, againt the imaginarie
new Monarch; and heere to cast anker, vpon their returne with
spoyle and honour.
I omit the infinite swarme of single ships, and pettie fleetes,
dayly heere manned out to the same effect.
And here, in eightie eight, the foreremembred Lord Admirall expected,
and set forth, against that heauen-threatning Armado, which, to bee
tainted with the shamefuller disgrace, and to blaze our renoume with
the brighter lustre, termed itselfe, Inuincible. But I may not grow
ouer-lasciuious in extolling.
King R. the 2. Anno 5. of his raigne, by Act of Parliament,
restrained all passengers from shipping themselues in any other Ports
then such as are there set down: of which Plymmouth was one.
[116]
From Plymmouth hauen, passing farther into the countrie, Hengsten
downe presenteth his waste head and sides to our sight. This name it
borroweth of Hengst, which in the Saxon signifieth a horse, & to such
least daintie beasts it yeeldeth fittest pasture. The countrie people
haue a by word, that,
Hengsten downe, well ywrought,
Is worth London towne, deare ybought.
Which grewe from the store of Tynne, in former times, there digged vp:
but that gainfull plentie is now fallen to a scant-sauing scarcitie.
Those workes afford store of the formentioned Cornish Diamonds,
The neighbouring Inhabitants obserue also, that when the top of
Hengsten, is capped with a cloud, the same boadeth a showre within
short time after.
Roger Houeden reporteth, that about Anno 806. a fleete of Danes
arriued in West-wales, with whome the Welsh ioyned in insurrection
against king Egbright, but hee gloriously discomfited them,
at Hengistendune, which I take to be this place (if at least
West-wales may, by interpretation, passe for Cornwall) because the
other prouince, of that time, is more commonly diuided into
North and South.
This down is edged by Carybullock, sometimes a parke of the Dukes,
but best brooking that name, now it hath lost his qualitie, through
exchaunging Deere for Bullocke.
A little aside from hence, lyeth Landwhitton, now Lawhittan, which
(as I haue elsewhere noted) was exempted vnto Edwulff Bishop of
Creditune, from the Cornish Diocesse, to which yet, both for the
temporaltie, and spiritualtie, the same oweth present subiection.
Mary, into what new names Pontium & Coilleng there also mentioned,
are now metamorphized, I must say amplio.
Those buildings commonly knowne by the name of Launston, and written
Lanceston, are by the Cornishmen, called Lesteeuan (Lez in Cornish
signifieth broad, & those are scatteringly erected) and were
anciently termed Lanstaphadon, by interpretation, S. Stephens Church:
they consist of two boroughs, Downeuet and Newport: that (perhaps so
called) of downe yeelding, as hauing a steep hill: this, of his newer
erection. With them ioyne the parishes of S. Thomas & S. Stephens.
The parish Church of Launceston itselfe, 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 [117] large hall, for holding the shire-Assizes,
the Constables dwelling house, and the common Gayle.
About 60. yeares 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 ancient 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 Trerice. Richard his
father tooke to wife, one of Kelwayes heires; and Degory his
graundfather, 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 a border 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 lineall 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
battelaxes 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 Mannour of the same name: the Benefice is giuen by
Excester Colledge in Oxford, none but the fellowes admittable,
wherethrough it hath successiuely 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.
[118]
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 owne 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 pearced S.
M. Bligh, B. a Griffon segreant O. armed G. betweene 3.
Croissants A.
M. Lower, B. a Cheuron engrayled O. betweene three Roses A.
M. Truisa 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 especially 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 Strata, 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 extraordinary 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 circuit.
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 Treuenner, 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 Gent, 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, & thither hath lately remoued
his residence; he beareth party per Cheuron B, et E, in chiefe two
stagges heads cabased 0.
[119]
Vpon the North-sea, thereby, bordereth Stow, so singly called,
Per eminentiam, as a place of great and good marke & scope, and the
auncient dwelling of the Greynuiles famous family, from whence are
issued diuers male branches, and whether the females haue brought
in a verie populous kindred. Master Bernard Greinuile, sonne and
heire to Sir Richard, is the present owner, and in a kind magnanimite,
treadeth the honourable steps of his auncestours.
Tonacumb, late the house of Master Iohn Kempthorne, alias, Lea,
who married Katherine, the daughter of Sir Peers Courtney, is, by his
issuelesse decease, descended to his brothers sonne: he beareth A.
three Pine-apple trees V.
Returning to the Westwards, wee meete with Bude, an open sandie Bay,
in whose mouth riseth a little hill, by euerie sea-floud made
an Iland, and thereon, a decayed Chappell: it spareth roade onely to
such small shipping, as bring their tide with them, and leaueth
them drie, when the ebbe hath carried away the Salt-water.
Vpon one side hereof, Master Arundel of Trerice possesseth a
pleasant-seated house, and demaines, called Efford, alias Ebbingford,
and that not vnproperly, because euerie low water, there affordeth
passage to the other shore: but now it may take a new name, for his
better plight: for this Gentleman hath, to his great charges,
builded a Salt-water mill, athwart this Bay, whose causey serueth,
as a verie conuenient bridge to saue the way-farers former trouble,
let, and daunger. It is receiued by tradition, that his belsire,
Sir Iohn Arundel, was forewarned, by a wot not what Calker. how he
should bee slaine on the sands. For auoyding which encounter,
hee alwaies shunned Efford, & dwelt at Trerice, another of his houses.
But, as the prouerb sayth, Fata viam inuenient, and as experience
teacheth mens curiosity, Fato viam sternit. It hapned, that what
time the Earle of Oxford surprized S. Michaels mount by policy,
and kept the same by strong hand, this Sir Iohn Arundel was Sherife
of Cornwall, wherethrough, vpon duety of his office, and commaundement
from the Prince, hee marched thither, with posse Comitatus,
to besiege it, and there, in a Skirmish on the sands, which deuide
the mount from the continent, he fulfilled the effect of the prophecy,
with the losse of his life, and in the said mounts Chappell
lieth buried.
So Cambises lighted on Ecbatana in Egypt, and Alexander Epirot,
on Acheros in Italy, to bring them to their end. So Philip of
Macedon, and Atis the sonne of Croesus, found a chariot in a
swords hilt, and an Iron poynted weapon at the hunting of a Bore,
to delude their preuentiue wearinesse. So Amilcar supped in Siracusa,
& the Prince of Wales ware a Crown thorow Cheapside, in another sort
and sense then they imagined, or desired. And so Pope Gerebert,
and our king H. the 4, trauailed no farther, for meeting their
fatal Hierusalem, then the one to a Chappell in Rome, the other to
a chamber in Westminster.