Pengueraz, in Cornish importeth a head to help; from which, some deduce the Etymon of Pengersick, a fayre house, in an vnfruitfull soyle, sometimes the inhabitance of M. Militon, Captaine of the Mount, and husband to Godolphin, whose sonne being lost in his trauaile beyond the seas, enriched 6. distafs with his inheritance. They were bestowed in mariage (but by me not orderly marshalled) as followeth: 1. to Erisy, and Sir Nicholas Parker. 2. to Lanine, 3. to Trefuses, and Tregodeck, 4. to Trenwith, Arundel, and Hearle, 5. to Bonithon. 6. to Abbot.
Not farre from thence, riseth Godolghan-ball, or hill, at whose foote standeth a house of the same name, and so intitling his owner, though lately declined (with a milder accent) to Godolphin: in Cornish, it signifieth, a white Eagle: and such armes they carry in this sort: G. an Eagle displayed with two heads, betweene three Floures de luce A.
This hill hath, for diuers descents, supplyed those Gent. bountifull mindes, with large meanes accruing from their Tynne-works, and is now possessed by Sir Frauncis Godolphin Knight, whose zeale in religion, vprightnesse in iustice, prouidence in gouernment, and plentifull housekeeping, haue wonne him a very great and reuerent reputation in his Countrey: and these vertues, together with his seruices to her Maiestie, are so sufficiently knowne to those of highest place, as my testimony can adde little light thereunto: but by his labours and inuentions in Tynne matters, not onely the whole Countrey hath felt a generall benefit, so as the seuerall owners haue thereby gotten very great profit out of such refuse works, as they before had giuen ouer for vnprofitable; but her Maiesty hath also receyued encrease of her customes by the same, at least to the value of 10. thousand pound. Moreouer, in those works which are of his owne particular inheritance, hee continually keepeth at work, three hundred persons or thereabouts, & the yerely benefit, that out of those his works accrueth to her Maiestie, amounteth, communibus annis, to one thousand pound at the least, and sometimes to much more. A matter very remorceable, and perchaunce not to be matched againe by any of his sort and condition in the whole Realme. He succeeded to the inheritance [154] of his vnkle Sir William Godolphin, who, as hath bene said before, demeaned himselfe verie valiantly in a charge which hee bare at Boloigne, towards the latter end of the reigne of King Henry the 8. & is like to leaue the same to another Sir William his sonne, who giueth hope, not onely of the sustaining, but increasing of the reputation of his family. Hee matched with Killigrew, his father with Bonython, his Graund-father with Glynne,
Diuers other Gentlemen there dwell in this Hundred, as Lanyne, the husband of Kekewitch, his father married Militon, and beareth S. a Castle, A. standing in waues B. ouer the same a Faulcon houerin with bels O. Pernwarne, that matched with the coheire of Tencreek, who beareth S. a Cheuron betweene three Flowers de luce A. Lagherne, who tooke to wife the daughter of Nants, and beareth B. a Cheuron betweene three Escalops, O. Nansperyan coupled in matrimonie, with [blank] and his two daughters and heires apparent, with Prideaux, and Mathew; who beareth A. three Losenges S.
Penwith. Hundred.
MY last labour, for closing vp this wearisome Suruey, is bounded, as Cornwall it selfe, and so the West part of England, with Penwith Hundred. The name, in English signifieth, the head of Ashen trees, belike, for some such eminent marke, while the Countrie was better stored of Timber. The Danes sayling about Penwith Steort (saith Houeden [997.]) made foule hauocke, in Devon and-Cornwall.
Vpon the North sea, lieth Nants, which importeth a valley, and houseth a Gent, who therethrough, hath worne out his former name, of Trengoue, in English,the Smithes towne, and assumed this: he married Sir Iohn Arundels daughter of Trerice: and beareth A. a crosse haumed S. During summer season, the Seales haunt a Caue, in the Cliffe thereby, and you shall see great store them, apparently shew themselues, and approch verie neere the shore, at the sound of any lowde musicke, or other such noyse.
Beyond Nants, M. Basset possesseth Tehiddy, who married Godolphin, his father Coffyn : he beareth O. three Piles in point G. a Canton Er. with a difference.
And so, leauing these priuate Inhabitances, & keeping still the North coast, we arriue at the towne, and port of S. Ies: both of meane plight, yet, with their best meanes, (and often, to good and necessarie purpose) succouring distressed shipping. Order hath bene taken, and attempts made, for bettering the Road, with a Peere, but eyther want, or slacknesse, or impossibilitie, hitherto withhold the effect: the whiles, plentie of fish is here taken, and sold verie cheape.
As you row to the Westwards from hence, the sea floweth into a large Caue, farder vp, then any man durst yet aduenture to discouer, and the Cliffes thereabouts muster long strakes of a glittering hiew, which import a shew of Copper: and Copper mynes are found, and wrought in the grounds adioyning.