Sir Nic. Clifford, Sir H. Power, and certaine other Captaines,
who were sent by the Generals from Plymmouth to the campe: As some
of her Maiesties ships were also sent, who being come as farre as
the Lizard head, & those Captaines to the camp, matters there goe on
in prouident and orderly sort, a plot is layd for intercepting the
enemy by ambush, if he thrust on shore againe, whereto necessity must
soone haue pressed him, for renuing his consumed store of fresh water:
but within one houre after the arriuall of these Captaines, the winde,
which was vntill then strong at Southeast, with mist and rayne,
to haue impeached the Gallies returne, suddenly changed into
the Northwest, with very fayre and cleare weather, as if God had a
purpose to preserue these his rods for a longer time. The winde no
sooner came good, but away pack the Gallies with all the hast
they could.
Thus haue you a summary report of the Spaniards glorious enterprise,
and the Cornish mens infamous cowardise, which (were there any cause)
I could qualify by many reasons, as, the suddennesse of the attempt,
the narrownesse of the country, the opennesse of the towne,
the aduantage of the Gallies ordinance on a people vnprepared against
such accidents, through our long continued peace, & at that very time,
for the most part, eyther in their Tynne-workes, or at sea, who e're
the next day made resistance, euen with a handfull, and entred a
vowed resolution, to reuenge their losse at the next encounter,
if the enemy had landed againe.
So might I likewise say, that all these circumstances meeting in any
other quarter of the Realme, would hardly haue produced much better
effects. But I will not seeke to thrust my Countrymen into any other
folkes company, for shifting them out of sight.
Verily such sudden surprizes worke more indignity [159] then dammage,
and more dammage then disgrace, and haue so beene euer construed.
Moscho, a head Citie in a populous dominion, was burned by the
roguing Tartars, anno domini 1572 [Liu. lib. 3.]. The Capitoll,
a head fortresse, in a populous Citie, was taken by slaues
and outlawes, anno vrbis, 292. and yet, who therefore exalteth the
Tartars valiancy, aboue the Moschouite, or the Romanes slaues
& outlawes, aboue their masters? Besides, such nap-taking assaults,
spoylings, and firings, haue in our forefathers daies, betweene vs
and Fraunce, beene very common; and yet, who is so witlesse, as to
twite eyther of both, for the same?
But least hold can the author, and actor of this Tra-gedy take,
to build any vaunt hereon: for oftentimes small troups of ours,
against farre greater forces of theirs, yea (sometimes) after
forewarning, and preparance, haue wonne, possessed, ransacked,
synged, captiued, and carried away the townes, wealth,
and Inhabitants, not onely of their Indies, but of Portugall and
Spaine it selfe. Which Nombre de dios, S. Domingo, Cartagena,
the lower towne of the Groigne, Penecha, the suburbs of Lisbone,
and Cales wil testify, beyond all exception. But our Countrymen
leauing reason & example, excuse themselues by destiny. In fatis
they say (& not in fatuis) it was, that the Cornish people should
vndergo this misfortune: for an ancient prophecy, in their owne
language, hath long run amongst them, how there should land vpon
the rock of Merlin, those that would burn Pauls Church, Pensants,
and Newlyn. And indeed, so is the rocke called, where the enemy
first stept on shore. The prophesy is this:
Ewra teyre a war meane Merlyn
Ara Lesky Pawle Pensanz ha Newlyn.
Not farre from the lands ende, there is a little village,
called Trebegean, in English, The towne of the Giants graue:
neere whereunto, and within memory (as I haue beene informed)
certayne workemen searching for Tynne, discouered a long square vault,
which contayned the bones of an excessiue bigge carkas, and verified
this Etimology of the name.
At Saint Buriens, a parish of great circuit, and like benefit to
the Incumbent, King Athelstane accomplished his vowe, in founding a
Colledge of Priests, what time he had conquered the Sillane Ilands.
Chiwarton signifyeth, a house on the greene lay, and a Castle on a
greene hill is giuen by the Gent. of that name, who, in a quiet
single life, maketh no farther vse of his knowledge gotten in
the lawes, during his younger age, or that experience, wherewith a
long course of yeeres hath sithence enriched him, then may tend,
sine lucro, to the aduauncement of publike iustice, or, sine strepitu,
to the aduisement of his priuate acquaintance. Hee beareth A.
a Castle S. standing on a hill. V.
Sundry other Gentlemen people that remote quarter as Lauelis, &c.
touching whom I must plead, non sum informatus.
Diogenes, after he had tired his Scholers with a long Lecture,
finding at last the voyde paper, Bee glad, my friends (quoth hee)
wee are come to harbour. With the like comfort, in an vnlike
resemblance, I will refresh
[160]
you who haue vouchsafed to trauaile in the rugged
and wearyfome path of mine ill-pleasing stile, that
now your iourney endeth with the land; to whose
Promontory (by Pomp. Mela, called Bolerium:
by Diodorus, Velerium: by Volaterane, Hele-
nium: by the Cornish, Pedn an laaz: and
by the English, The lands end) be-
cause we are arriued, I will
heere sit mee downe
and rest.
Deo gloria: mihi gratia. 1602. April. 23.
The Table of the first Booke.
| Accidents.
| generall, in the first | Elements.
The Suruey of | booke, reporting her | Inhabitants.
Cornwal contai- |
neth a description | Special,in the 2.book, | Topographical,
| containing matters | Historicall.
Accidents, wherein are deliuered the name & shape. Fol. 1.
Climat. 2.
The quantitie, length and breadth. ibid.
Borders. ibid.
Commodities of the situation. 3.
Discommodities. 4.
Temperature. 5.
Elements.
Earth aboue, forme, qualitie. 5.
Things of life, growing, and feeling.
Earth vnder, Mynerals. 6.
Precious, Diamonds, Pearle, and Agats. 7.
Water fresh, springs, riuers, ponds. 26.
Therein the fish. 28.
The taking. 30.
Sea, things liuelesse: liuing, fish, foule.
Things of life, growing.
Mats. 18.
Hearbs. 19.
Corne, | dressing. ibid.
| kindes. 20.
Trees for fruit. ibid.
Fewel, timber. 21.
Things of life, feeling.
Wormes. 21.
| Venery. 22.
Beasts, | meat. 23.
| vse. 24.
Birds. ibid.
Minerals.
Stones for walling, windowes, couering, pauing, ;yme. 6.
Mettals : Tynne : 7.
Copper. 6.
Siluer and Gold. 7.
Tynne-works.
Kindes, finding. 8.
Colour, bignesse. 10.
| Aduentures. ibid.
Working, expressing the persons : | Captaine. ibid.
| Labourers. ibid.
Maner, tooles. ibid.
Loose earth, rockes. 11.
Conueyance by water, engines, Addits. ibid.
Tynne-dressing.
Breaking, stamping, drying, crazing, washing. ibid.
Blowing. 12.
Iurisdiction.
Charter. 16.
Officers supreme : L. Warden, Vice-warden. 17.
Inferior: Stewards, Gaylour. 18.
Iuries: great, petty. ibid.
Witnesses. ibid.
Orders.
Sharing. 12.
Places: Wastrel, Seuerall. 13.
Bounds, doales, measure. ibid.
|in time, 13. | | places. ibid.
Coynage | | and their | times. ibid.
| Post, 14. | | Officers. ibid.
Price by free sale, Preemption. 17.
Vsury in Tynne: black, white. 15.
Sea : things liuelesse.
Briny, Salt-mils, Ilands, hauens. 26.
Sand, Orewoods, Shels and Nuts, Shipping. 27.
Sea : things liuing.
Fish, partaker of the fresh. 28.
Therein the fashion, shelly, flat, round. 30.
Within hauen. 29.
Their taking, generall and particular. 30.
Vpon the coast. 31.
Sauing and venting. 33.
Foule : eatable, not eatable. 35.
Inhabitants : estate real.
Priuate: grounds, houses. 36.
Entercourse: bridges, high wayes. 53.
Traffike : markets, fayres ibid.
Wayghts and measures. 54.
Inhabitants : estate personall.
Names. 54.
Language. 55.
Number. 57.
Disposition ancient. ibid.
Disposition later, of mindes, holinesse. 58.
Sciences: Diuines. ibid.
Ciuilians. 59.
Phisicians. 60.
Statemen, Martiall, Free schooles. 61.
Mechanicall. 62.
Disposition later, of bodies: strength: ibid.
Actiuity, health. 63.
| Nobility and Gentlemen. ibid.
Degrees : | Townsmen. 65.
| Husbandmen. 66. Poore. 67.
Recreations
Feasts: Saints, 69.
Haruest, Church-ale. 68.
Pastimes of the minde : songs, 72.
Guaries. 71.
Pastimes of the body: shooting, 72.
| goales, 73.
Hurling to | countrey, 74.
Wrastling, 75.
Games. 76.
| Gouernours, ibid.
Gouernment, as an entire State: | Royalties. 79.
Gouernment, as a part of the Realme, Spiritual: Arch-bishop,
Bishop, Arch-deacon, 82.
Peculiars. 81.
Gouernment, as a part of | Martial | Commaunders, 83.
the Realme, Temporal: | | Forces, ibid.
Orders, Forts. 84.
Beacons, Poasts. 85.
Ciuill Magistrates: Iudges, 89.
Iustices, 88.
Vice-admirall, Coroners, Clarke of the market. 87.
Corporations, 86.
Parliaments. 90.
Ciuill Ministers: Constables, Baylifs, 85.
Gaylour. 90.
Limits: Hundreds, Franchises, parishes. 86.
Proportions: places to meete, rates. ibid.
The end of the first Table.
Table of the fecond Booke.
Topographicall. Historical
COrnwall in generall. 96.
East Hundred. 98.
Plymmouth hauen. 98. Edgecumb. 99.
Rame head. ibid. Richaurd Adams strange
Causam bay. ibid. child-birth. 103.
S. Nicholas Iland. 99. Carew. ibid.
The bridge. ibid. Lerchdeacon. 102.
Mount-Edgecumb. ibid. Agnes Cornish, her strange
West Stonehouse. 100. escape from drowning. 107.
Hamose. ibid. Danney. 108.
Milbrook. 101. S. Germanes Priory. ibid.
Insworke. ibid. Kekewitch. 109.
Antony. 102. S. Germanes Chauncel. ibid.
Lyner riuer. ibid. Moyle. ibid.
Saltwater pond. 104. Smith. 110.
Banqueting house. 107. Langdon. ibid.
Beggers Iland. ibid. Fleets from Plymmouth ha-
Sheuiock. 108. uen. 114.
Crafthole. ibid. Carack burned. 113.
S. Germanes. ibid. Trematon besieged. ibid.
Cuddenbeake. 109. Bond. 111.
Seaton. 110. Grenuile. ibid.
Wotton. ibid. Porter. 112.
Trematon Castle. 111. Wadham. ibid.
Saltash. 112. Grisling vnderstanding speach
Ash torre. 113. by sight. 113.
Henpoynt. ibid. A charitable dogge. ibid.
Cargreene. ibid. Arundel. ibid.
Hengsten. 115. Rouse. ibid.
Carybullock. ibid. Treuice. 114.
Lawhitton. ibid. Harris. 116.
Lanceston. 116. Corington. 117.
Wrey. ibid.
Trelawney. ibid.
Stratton Hundred. 117.
Straton towne. 117. Chamond. 118.
Bude. 118. Arscot. ibid.
S. Mary Wike. 119. Rempthorne. ibid.
Thomasin Bonauenture. 119.
Lesnewith Hundred. 120.
Bottreaux Caftle. ibid. Iohn Northampton. 112.
Tintogel. ibid. Earle Richard of Corn-
Dosmery poole. 122. wall. ibid.
Camelford. ibid. King Arthur. ibid.
Bousening. 123.
Trigge Hundred. ibid.
Bodmyn. 123. Perkin Warbeck. 124.
Scarlets well. 126. Childrens forhalfening. ibid.
Temple. 127. Sir Anthony Kingston. ibid.
Halgauer Court. 126.
Carnsew. 127.
Roscarrock. ibid.
West Hundred. 127.
East and West Loo. ibid. Beuill. 130.
S. Georges Iland. 128. Iohn Size, a strange eater. ibid.
Liskerd. ibid. Murth. 131
S. Neot. 129. Wideslade. ibid.
S. Kaines well. ibid. Lower. 132.
Polpera. 131. Kendall. ibid.
Fining house. 130. Glyn. ibid.
Hall walke. 132. Mohun. ibid.
Earl of Deuons fagot. 133.
Powder Hundred. 134.
Foy hauen and towne. 134. Treffry. 134.
Trewardreth. 136. Nicholas of Foy. 135.
Lostwithiel. 137. Treasure non troue. 136.
Restormel Castle. ibid. A graue found. 137.
Roche. 138. Gallants of Foy. 135.
The tyde well spring. ibid. Rashleigh. 136.
Hainborough. ibid. Bone, deafe and dumb. 139.
S. Probus. 140. Hill. 140.
Lanhadron. ibid. Tremaine. ibid.
Grampond. ibid. Bodrugan. 141.
Dudman. 141. Trauanion. ibid.
Roseland. ibid. Lostwithiel custome. 137.
Tregny. ibid.
Truro. ibid.
S. Mawes Castle. 142.
Pider Hundred. 143.
Padstowe. 143. Prideaux. 143.
Wade bridge. ibid. Cosowarth. 144.
Nine sisters. ibid. Trerice. 145.
Castellan Denis. ibid. Trenance. 148.
S. Colombs. 144. Tredenick. 149.
Peran in Sabulo. 148. Nants well halfening. 144.
Bors neeuas. ibid.
S. Agnes Hill. ibid.
New kay. ibid.
Kerier Hundred. 149.
Falmouth. 149. Trefuses. 150.
Pendenis. ibid. Parker. ibid.
Perin. 150. Killigrew. ibid.
Hailford hauen. 150. Carclew. 151.
Hauterdauis. 151. Penrose. 152.
Mainamber. ibid. Erisy. ibid.
Helston. 152. Saintabyn. ibid.
Lo poole. ibid. Militon. ibid.
Meneag. ibid. Godolphin. 153.
Penwith Hundred. ibid.
S. Ies. 154. Nants. 154.
The Caue. ibid. Pomeray. 154.
S. Michaels mount. ibid. Vere. 155.
Mounts bay. 156. Pensants burning. 156.
Pensants. ibid. Chiuerton. 159.
Trebegean. 159.
S. Buriens. ibid.
Lands end. ibid.
F I N I S
AN
E P I S T L E
OF
Richard Carew Esq;
CONCERNING
The EXCELLENCIES of the
English Tongue.
-------------
LONDON,
Printed in the Year M.DCC.XXIII.
An Epistle concerning the Excellencies
of the Engliih Tongue.
IT were more fitting (in respect of discretion) that men should first
weigh Matters with Iudgment, and then incline their Affection where
the greatest Reason swayeth. But ordinarily it falleth out to
the contrarie; for by Custom we first settle our Affection, and then
afterwards draw in those Arguments to approve it, which should have
forgone to perswade ourselves. In this preposterous Course (seeing
that antiquity from our Elders and uniuersalitie of our Neighbours
do entitle with a Right) I hold myself the more freely warranted
delirare, not onely cum vulgo, but also cum sapientibus, in seeking
out with what Commendations I may attire our English Language,
as Stephanus hath done for the French, and diuers of other Nations,
for theirs.
Locutio is defined Animi sensus per vocem expressio. On which
ground I build these consequences, That the first and principal point
sought in euerie Language, is that we may expres the Meaning of our
Minds aptly to each other. Next, that we may do it readily and
without more adoe. Then fully, so as others may thoroughly
conceiue us. And last of all, handsomely, that those to whom we
speak may take pleasure in hearing us: So that whateuer Tongue will
gain the Race of Perfection must run upon these four wheeles,
SIGNIFICANCIE, EASINESS, COPIOUSNESS, and SWEETNESS; of which the
two former import a Necessitie, the two latter a Delight. Now if
I can proove, That our English Language for all or the most part
is comparable if not preferable to any other in use at this day,
I hope the assent of any impartial Reader will pass on my side.
And how I indeavor to performe the same, this short labor shall
manifest.
I. To begin then with the SIGNIFICANCIE of the English Tongue,
it consisteth in the Letters, Words, and Phrases. And because the
Greeke and Latine have ever borne away the prerogatiue from all
other Tongues, they shall serue as the Touchstones whereby to make
our Tryall.
For LETTERS, we haue C more then the Greekes, K and Y more then
the Latines, and W more then them both, or then the French
and Italians.
In those common to them and us, we have the use of the Greek B in
our V, of our B they haue none; so have we of their [uppercase lambda]
and [uppercase theta] in our Th, which in the wordes that and things
expresseth both; but of our D they haue none. Likewise their T we
turn to another use in yield, than they can; and as for E,G, and J,
neither Greekes nor Latines can make use of them as we doe in
these Words, each, edge, joy. True it is, that we in pronouncing the
Latine use them also after this manner; but the same, in regard of
the ancient and right Romane deliuerie, altogether abusively; as may
appear by Scaliger, Sir Thomas Smith, Lipsius, and others.
Now, for the Significance of WORDS, as every Indiuiduum is but one,
so in our native English-Saxon Language, we find many of them suitably
expressed by one Sillable: Those consisting of more are borrowed
from other Nations; the Examples are infinite, and therefore I will
omit them as sufficiently notorious.
Again, for expressing our Passions, our Interjections are very apt
and forcible; as, finding ourselves somewhat agrieued, we crie, Ah!
if more deeply, Oh! if we pity, Alas! when we bemoan, Alacke!
neither of them so effeminate as the Italian Deh, or the French Helas:
In detestation we say Phy ! (as if therewithall we should spit) in
attention, Haa; in calling, Whowpe ; in hollowing, Wahalowe: all which
(in my Ear) seem to be deriued from the very Natures of those
severall Affections.
Grow from hence to the Composition of Words, and therein our Language
hath a peculiar Grace, a like Significancie, and more short then
the Greekes, for example, in Moldwarpe we express the Nature of the
Animal; in Handkercher the thing and the use; in the word upright,
that Virtue by a Metaphore; in Wisdome and Doomesday, so many
Sentences as Words; and so of the rest: for I give only a Taste,
that may direct others to a fuller Observation of what my sudden
Memorie can represent unto me. It may pass also the Masters in
this Significancie, that all the proper Names of our People do in a
manner import somewhat, which from a peculiar Note at first of some
of the Progenitors, in process of time inverted itself in a possession
of the Posterity, even as wee see the like often befall to those
whose Fathers bare some uncouth Christian Names. Yet for the most
part we avoid the blemish given to the Romanes in like Cases, who
distinguished their People by the Imperfections of their Bodies;
from whence grew their Nasones, Labeones, Frontones, Dentones,
and such like; however, Macrobius coloureth the same: Yea,
so significant are our Words, that amongst them sundry single ones
serve to express divers things; as by the word Bill is meant a Weapon,
a Scrowle, and a Bird's beake; by Grave may be understood, sober,
burial-place, and to carve; and so by Light, marke, match, file, sore,
and pray, the Semblables.
Again, some SENTENCES, in the same words carrie a divers Sence,
as till, desert Ground; some signifie one thing forward and another
backward, as Feeler I was, noe Foe; which to return with it is,
Of one saw I releef. Some signifie one thing forward and another
thing backward, as this, Eye, did Madam erre; Some carrie a contrarie
Sence backward to that they do forward, as I did level ere vew,
Vew ere level did I.
Some deliver a contrarie Sence by the divers pointing, as the
Epistle in Dr. Wilsons Rhetorick, and many such like, which a curious
Head, Leisure, and Time might pick out.
Neither may I omit the Significancie of our Proverbs,
concise in Words, but plentiful in Number, briefly pointing at
many great Matters and under a Circle of a few Sillables prescribing
sundrie available Caveats.
Lastly, our Speech doth not consist onely of Words, but in a sort
even of Deeds; as when we express a Matter by Metaphores, wherein the
English is verie fruitful and forcible.
And so much for the Significancie of our Language in meaning.
II. Now for his EASINESS in learning; the same also shooteth out
into Branches, the one, of others learning our Language, the second,
of our learning that of others. For the first, The most part of
our Words, (as I have touched) are Monasillables, and so the fewer
in Tale and the sooner reduced to Memorie. Nither are we loaded with
those Declensions, Flexions, and Variations which are incident to
many other Tongues, but a few Articles govern all our Verbs and Nownes,
and so we read a verie short Grammar.
For easie learning of other Languages by ours, let these serve
as Proofes; there are many Italian words which the Frenchmen cannot
pronounce, accio, for which he saith ashio; many of the French which
the Italian can hardly dispence withall; as Bailler, Chagrin,
Postillon; many in ours which neither of them can utter, as Hedge,
Water, &c. So that a Stranger, tho never so long conversant
amongst us, carrieth evermore a Watch-word upon his Tongue,
to descrie him by; but turn an Englishman at any time of his Age
into what Country soever, allowing him due respite, and you shall
see him profit so well, that the imitation of his Utterance will in
nothing differ from the Pattern of that native Language. The want of
which towardness cost the Ephramites their Skinns: Nither doth this
cross my former Assertion of others easie learning our Language.
For I mean of the Sense and Words, and not touching
the Pronunciation.
III. But I must now enter into the large Field of our Tongues
COPIOUSNESS, and perhaps long wander up and down, without finding
easie way of issue, and yet leaue many parts thereof unsurveyed.
My first Proofe of our Plenty, I borrow from the choise which is
given us by the use of divers Languages. The Ground of our owne
appertaineth to the old Saxon, little differing from the low Dutch,
because they more than any of their Neighbours, have hitherto
preserved that Speech from any great Forrein Mixture: here amongst,
the Britons have left divers of their Words interspersed, as it were
thereby making a continual claim to their possession. We may also
trace the Footsteps of the Danish bitter (though not long during)
Soveraigntie in these parts; and the Roman also imparted unto us of
his Latine Riches with no sparing Hand. Our Neighbours the French
have been likewise contented we should take up by retail, as well
their Terms as their Fashions, or rather we retaine yet but some
Remnant of that which once here bare all the Sway, and daily renew
the Store. So have our Italian Travellers brought us acquainted with
their sweete relished Phrases, which (so that their Conditions crept
not in withall) were the more tollerable; yea even we seek to make
our Good of our late Spanish Enimie, and feare as little the hurt of
his Tongue, as the dint of his Sword. Seeing then we borrow (and that
not shamefully) from the Dutch, the Britaine, the Roman, the Dane,
the French, the Italian, and Spaniard, how can our Stock be other
than exceeding plentifull? It may be objected, that such patching
maketh Littletons Hotch-pot of our Tongue, and in effect, brings the
same rather to a Babelish Confusion, than any one entire Language.
It may again be answered, that this Theft of Words is no less
warranted by the Priviledge of a Prescription ancient and universall,
than was that of Goods among the Lacedemonians by an enacted Law:
for so the Greekes robbed the Hebrewes, the Latines the Greeks,
(which filching, Cicero with a large Discourse in his Books
de Oratore defendeth) and (in a manner) all other Christian Nations
the Latine. For evidence hereof many Sentences may be produced
consisting of words, that in their Original are Latine; and yet
(save some smal variance in their Terminations) fall out al one
with the French, Dutch, and English; as Ley, ceremonious persons,
Offer prelate preest, Clear candles flamme, in Temple Cloistre,
in Cholericke Temprature, Clisters Purgation is pestelent,
Pulers preservative, subtil Factors, Advocates notaries practize,
Papers Libells, Registers, Regent, Magesty in Palace hath tryumphant
Throne, Regiment, Sceptre, Vassels, Supplication, and such like.
Then even as the Italian Potentates of these Dayes make no difference
in their Pedigrees and Successions, between'the Bed lawfull or
unlawfull, where either an utterward or a better desert doth force
or entice them thereunto: so may the consenting practise of these
Nations passe for a just Legitimation of these bastard Words,
which either Necessitie or Convenience hath induced them to adopt.