Which I find thus translated by Dr. Fuller, in his Worthies, though much abated of their elegancy in Latin:
If, Mildred! by thy care he be sent back, whom I request.
A sister good thou art to me, yea better, yea the best;
But if with stays thou keep’st him still, or send’st where seas may part,
Then unto me a sister ill, yea worse, yea none thou art;
If go to Cornwall he shall please, I peace to thee foretell;
But, Cecil! if he set to seas—I war denounce.—Farewell!
Whether this letter did procure Sir Henry Killigrew’s stay, and dismission from the intended service, I am unable to resolve, although well assured I am that his daughter by this Catherine Cooke was married to Sir Jonathan Trelawney, of Poole, Knt. Sheriff of Cornwall 36th Eliz.
As for the harbour itself, it is agreed by all mariners to be one of the best for safe anchorage, large circumference, and good riding for ships, that this kingdom affords. The
mouth or entrance, between the castles of Pendennis and St. Mawes, is about two miles over. The body of the harbour, from St. Mawes to Falmouth town, is about a league. From Falmouth to Turner’s Weare, upon the river Vale, two leagues; from whence an arm of it goes up towards Tregony, another towards Tresilian Bridge, a third towards Truro; all which places the salt water visits every tide. Beneath Turner’s Weare, on the north, another channel goes by Restrongar Passage to Carnen, and St. Perron Arworthal. From Falmouth town goeth up another creek to Penryn. Lastly, on the south there go into the country two creeks towards St. Mawes and St. Anthony. All these members or branches of the harbour are overlooked by lofty and pleasant hills, and are supplied with deep water, so that boats, ships, barges, and lighters every day, one where or another, carry and recarry goods and merchandizes to the remotest parts thereof. Hence it is that Mr. Carew says, “a hundred sail of ships may lie at anchor within the harbour of Falmouth, and none of them see the other’s topmast,” because of the steep hills and windings of the river.