The Survey of Cornwall / And an epistle concerning the excellencies of the English tongue - Richard Carew

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.

Franchises, Cornwall hath the Duchy, Rialton, Clifton, Minhinet, Pawton, Caruanton, Stoke Cliuisland, Medland, and Kellylond, which haue their Baylifs as the Hundreds, to attend the publike seruices.

Hundreds there are but 9. East, West, Trig, Lesnewith, Stratton, Powder, Pider, Kerier, & Penwith, which containe [blank] tithings: by these the shire is deuided into limits, & all his rates proportioned as followeth:

Diuisions.