Penzance is remarkable in history for having been entered and burnt by the Spaniards, in the year 1595. From time immemorial a prediction had prevailed, that a period would arrive when "Some strangers should land on the rocks of Merlin, who should burn Paul's Church, Penzance, and Newlyn." Of the actual accomplishment of this prediction we receive a full account from Carew, from which it would appear that on the 23d of July, 1595, about two hundred men landed from a squadron of Spanish gallies, on the coast of Mousehole, when they set fire to the church of Paul, and then to Mousehole itself. Finding little or no resistance, they proceeded to Newlyn,[21] and from thence to Penzance. Sir Francis Godolphin endeavoured to inspire the inhabitants with courage to repel these assailants; but, so fascinated were they by the remembrance of the ancient prophecy, that they fled in all directions, supposing that it was useless to contend against the destiny that had been predicted. The Spaniards availing themselves of this desertion, set it on fire in different places, as they had already done to Newlyn, and then returned to their galleys, intending to renew the flames on the ensuing day; but the Cornish having recovered from their panic, and assembled in great numbers on the beach, so annoyed the Spaniards with their bullets and arrows, that they drew their galleys farther off, and availing themselves of a favourable breeze, put to sea and escaped.
It is worthy of remark, that when the Spaniards first came on shore, they actually landed on a rock called "Merlin." The historian concludes this narrative by observing that these were the only Spaniards that ever landed in England as enemies.
In recalling the historical events which have invested this town with interest, we had nearly omitted to state, that a tradition exists here, that Tobacco was first smoked by Sir Walter Raleigh in Penzance, on his landing from America. By the Philosopher of a future age Penzance will, doubtless, as the birth place of the illustrious Sir Humphry Davy, be regarded with no ordinary share of interest; and to those who may be led to perform a pilgrimage to the early laboratory of this highly gifted philosopher, the vignette at the head of the present chapter will be found materially useful in directing his steps.[22]
It would be inconsistent with the plan and objects of the present work to enter into the details of biography, that duty must be reserved for an abler pen, we shall therefore only state that the present distinguished President of the Royal Society was born in this town in the year 1779, and that after having received the earlier part of his education under Dr. Cardew at Truro, he was placed with a respectable professional gentleman of Penzance, of the name of Tonkin, in order that he might acquire a knowledge of the profession of a surgeon and apothecary. His early proofs of genius, however, having attracted a gentleman well known for his strong perception of character, he was fortunately removed to a field better calculated to call forth the latent energies of his mind. The result is too well known to require comment.
In the vicinity of the town are delightful walks through shady dingles, and over swelling hills, from whose summits we catch the most delicious sea and land prospects; and which are not a little heightened in beauty and effect by the glowing aerial tints so remarkably displayed in this climate at the rising and setting of the sun. Here too the Botanist may cull, in his rambles, a great variety of rare indigenous plants; with a catalogue[23] of which we shall now close the present chapter.
LIST OF INDIGENOUS PLANTS OF WESTERN CORNWALL.
Alisma Damasonium (Star-headed Water Plantain) between Penzance and Marazion.
A—— Ranuncoloides. Marazion Marsh.
Anchusa Officinalis (Common Alkanet) St. Ives, &c.
Anethum Fœniculum, common near Marazion.
A—— Graveolens. Marazion Marsh.
Aquilegia Vulgaris (Common Columbine) St. Ives, Goldsithney, &c.
Antirrhinum Orontium (Lesser Snapdragon) Gulval, Land's End.
A—— Montspessilanum (Bee Orchis) Penhryn.
Anthemis Nobilis (Common Chamomile) passim.
Anthyllis Vulneraria (dwarf with a red flower.) (Kidney-Vetch, Ladies' Finger). Downs, Whitsand Bay.
Aspidium Oriopteris (Heath Shield-fern) Gear Stamps and New Mill.
Aspidium Dilatatum. Variety. (Great Crested ditto) Moist Banks.
Asplenium Marinum (Sea Spleenwort) St. Michael's Mount, Land's End, Logan rock.
A—— Lanceolatum (Lanceolate ditto) Gulval, St. Michael's Mount, Lemorna Cove, &c.
Bartsia Viscosa (Yellow Viscid Bartsia) Cornfields near Hayle.
Brassica Oleracea (Sea Cabbage) Cliffs, Penzance.
Briza Minor (Small Quaking-grass) Cornfields between Gulval and Ludgvan.
Bunias Cakile (Sea Rocket) Beach between Penzance and Newlyn.
Campanula Hederacea (Ivy-leaved Bell-flower) Trevaylor Bottom, Gear Stamps, &c.
Chironia Littoralis (Sea Centaury) Beach between Penzance and Marazion.
Cochlearia Officinalis (Common Scurvy-grass) Cliffs near the Sea, common.
Convolvulus Soldanella (Sea Bindweed) Whitsand Bay, Marazion Green.
Cucsuta Epithymum (Lesser Dodder) common upon Gorse.
Cynosurus Echinatus (Rough Dog's-tail Grass) Ludgvan.
Daucus Maritimus (Wild Carrot) Land's end, Logan rock, Botallack, &c.
Dicranum Cerviculatum (Red-necked Forked Moss) Gulval, Scilly.
D—— Crispum (Curled ditto) St. Mary's, Scilly.
Drosera Longifolia (Long-leaved Sun-dew) Marsh between Marazion and Penzance.
Erica Vagans (Cornish Heath) Lizard Peninsula.
Erodium Maritimum (Sea Stork's Bill) Sea shore, common.
E—— Cicutarium (Hemlock's Stork's Bill) ditto.
Eryngium Maritimum (Sea Holly) Sea shore, common.
Euphorbia Peplis (Purple Spurge) Marazion Green.
E—— Portlandica (Portland ditto) Scilly Islands.
Exacum Filiforme (Least Gentianella) Marazion Marsh, beyond the half way houses.
Genista Pilosa (Hairy Green-weed) Kynance Cove.
Gentiana Campestris (Field Gentian) Downs, Whitsand Bay, Lizard, &c.
Geranium Columbinum (Long-stalked Crane's-bill) Ludgvan.
G—— Sanguineum (Bloody Crane's bill) Kynance Cove.
Glaucium Luteum (Yellow Horned Poppy) Scilly Islands.
Helleborus Viridis (Green Hellebore) between Rosmorran and Kenegie, near the brook.
Herniaria Hirsuta (Hairy Rupture wort) between Mullion and the Lizard.
Hookeria Lucens (Shining Feather-moss) Trevaylor Bottom. Between Rosmorran and Kenegie.
Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense (Filmy-leaved fern) Among the loose stones at Castle An Dinas, on the east side.
Hypnum Scorpioides (Scorpion Feather-moss) Gulval, Zennor, &c.
H—— Alopecurum, variety (Fox-tail ditto) Gulval.
Illecebrum Verticillatum (Whorled Knot-grass) Gulval, Gear Stamps, Land's end.
Inula Helenium (Elecampane) Gulval, The Mount, St. Ives, Scilly.
Iris Fœtidissima (Stinking Iris, Roast Beef Plant) Madron.
Linum Angustifolium (Narrow-leaved pale Flax) St. Ives.
L—— Usitatissimum. Near Redruth.
Littorella Lacustris (Plantain Shoreweed). In a watery lane near Penzance.
Mentha Odorata (Bergamot Mint) Burian.
M—— Rotundifolia (Round-leaved Mint) Between Penzance and Newlyn, Whitsand Bay.
Myrica Gale (Sweet Gale, Dutch Myrtle) Marsh, Gulval, and Ludgvan.
Neckera Heteromalla (Lateral Neckera) Trevaylor Bottom, Try, &c.
Neottia Spiralis. Between Penzance and Marazion.
Orchis Pyramidalis (Pyramidal Orchis) near Hayle.
Ornithogalum Umbellatum (Common Star of Bethlehem) near Marazion.
Ornithopus Perpusillus (Common Bird's-foot) Gulval, Carne, &c.
Osmunda Regalis (Royal Moonwort) Poltair.
Panicum Dactylum (Creeping Panick Grass) Marazion Beach.
Pinguicula Lusitanica (Pale Butterwort) Bogs in the neighbourhood.
Pyrethrum Maritimum (Sea Feverfew) Sea-shore.
Rubia Peregrina (Wild Madder) Hayle-Helston, &c.
Reseda Luteola (Wild Woad, Dyer's Weed) Coarse lands beyond Marazion.
Rumex Sanguineus (Bloody-veined Dock) Gulval.
Ruscus Aculeatus (Butcher's Broom) Lemorna Cove, &c.
Salvia Verbenacea (Wild English Clary) St. Ives, Scilly, &c.
Samolus Valerandi (Brook-weed or Water Pimpernel) Land's end, &c.
Santolina Maritima (Sea Cotton weed) Marazion beach.
Saponaria Officinalis (Soap-wort) St. Levan, Tresco Island, Scilly.
Saxifraga Stellaris (Hairy Saxifrage) Logan rock.
Scilla Verna (Vernal Squill) St. Ives, near Zennor, Morvah, opposite to Three Stone Oar.
Scirpus Fluitans (Floating Club Rush) Gulval Marsh.
Scutellaria Minor (Lesser Skull-cap) Bogs, Gulval.
Scrophularia Scorodonia (Balm-leaved Figwort) St. Ives, Gulval, and Chyandour, plentifully.
Sedum Anglicum (English Stonecrop) very common.
S—— Telephium (Orpine or Livelong) Logan rock.
Sibthorpia Europæa (Cornish Moneywort) Moist banks, Gulval, Madron Well, Trereife Avenue; Helston, &c.
Silene Anglica (English Catchfly) common in Cornfields.
Solidago Virgaurea (Common Golden-rod) Penzance, &c.
Spergula Nodosa (Knotted Spurrey) near Marazion.
Spiræa Filipendula (Common Dropwort) Kynance Cove.
Stachys Arvensis (Corn Woundwort) Cornfields, common.
Tamarix Gallica (French Tamarisk) The Mount-Lizard, Scilly Islands, but very probably introduced.
Trichostomum Polyphyllum (Fringe Moss) Gulval, Kenegie, &c.
Trifolium Subterraneum (Subterraneous Trefoil) near the Sea-shore.
Verbascum Nigrum (Dark Mullein) Gulval.
Utricularia Vulgaris (Common Bladderwort) between Rosmorran and Kenegie.
FOOTNOTES:
[9] Penzance signifies, in Cornish, Holy-head, i. e. holy headland; and the town appears to have been so called in consequence of a small chapel, dedicated to that universal patron of fishermen, Saint Anthony, having formerly stood on the projecting point near the present quay. When it became necessary to adopt arms for the town, the true origin of its name was forgotten or overlooked, and the holy head of Saint John emblazoned. It would, however, appear from the Liber valorum, that Buriton was the old name of Penzance,—a sound which to the ear of the antiquary is full of historical intelligence, for the addition of Bury to the name of a town signified that it was a town with a castle; thus, Buriton signified Bury-town, i. e. the Castle town. Some cellars near the quay are to this day called the Barbican cellars; thus tradition points out the castle to have been upon, or near, the site of the present chapel.