information and actual observation have supplied the deficiencies, and corrected the imperfections of historical narration. That the editor, in filling up this department of his work, has succeeded to the satisfaction of his readers, is more than he can presume to hope, especially as he has not been able on all occasions to satisfy himself. For the local information which is inserted he acknowledges his obligations to many friends, and the reason why more has not been introduced, is, because more was not communicated. In some instances he has been enabled to correct a few errors of his predecessors; but he has his fears, that he has furnished employment for others in the same department. Nor can these blemishes be wholly avoided. The prosecution of inquiry produces diversified opinions on the same fact, which naturally tend to distract the attention of the writer. The mind, thus fluctuating in a state of indecision, imperceptibly communicates its hesitations to the work, and, by so doing, involves in uncertainty those statements which every reader wishes to receive detached from doubt. The progressive improvements also, which are incessantly taking place in machinery and arts, impose a new aspect on facts, so that records become questionable, where all due allowance not made in the same proportion as history disagrees with existing realities. Of family dignity, illustrious descent, and genealogical honors, but little, comparatively speaking, has been introduced into these volumes. To those who congratulate themselves on the pride of ancestry,—the superior blood which revels in their veins, and on the titles which have accompanied their predecessors,—a memorial of pedigree would no doubt be pleasing; but few only, besides such as are personally concerned, would feel an interest in the splendid spectacle, or trouble themselves with climbing the genealogical tree; and for such as these this work is more immediately designed. is "The most lasting families," says.Dr. Borlase, "have only their seasons, more or less, of a certain constitutional strength. They have their spring, and summer sunshine glare, their wane, decline, and death. They flourish, and shine perhaps for ages: at last they sicken; their light grows pale; and, at a crisis when the offsets are withered, and the old stock is blasted, the whole tribe disappears, and they leave the world as they have done in Cornwall. There are limits ordained to every thing under the sun, 'Man being in honor, abideth not.' Of all human vanities, family pride is one of the weakest. "Reader go thy way; secure thy name in the book of life, where the page fades not, and the title neither alters nor expires:-leave the rest to Heralds, and the parish Register." SAMUEL DREW. Ancient state of Cornwall, considered in connexion with that of Britain..... of the ancient Britons... Religion of the ancient Britons Remains of the ancient Britons still visible in Cornwall land-holders, agricultural resources, and public roads Geographical situation, general appearance, vegetable productions, soils, 553 581 591 599 627 657 Health, longevity, customs, manners, and general character of the Cornish. 707 VOLUME II. List of parishes, extent of population, number of acres, &c. &c........... 1 Extent of the Archdeaconry of Cornwall Benefices of Cornwall-their value Account of ancient religious houses, hospitals, &c. in Cornwall Great increase of population in Cornwall within the three last centuries.. Parochial history, alphabetically arranged High Sheriffs of Cornwall Historical account of the Scilly Islands... 679 15 685 687 ....... THE HISTORY OF CORNWALL. CHAP. L Ancient State of Cornwall considered, in connexion with that of Britain. SECTION I. General Observations. Ir frequently happens, that the origin of tribes and nations is buried in impenetrable obscurity. A cloud which is too dense for the eye of the historian to penetrate, rests on the regions of remote antiquity; and, in proportion to the lapse of time, obscures those scattered rays of light, which might otherwise guide him in his researches. Hence it is, that those primitive facts, which every reader fancies he should behold with admiration, are alike concealed, both from him who reads, and from him who writes. An ardent desire to penetrate those hidden recesses of darkness, naturally awakens a principle of curiosity, which, when called into exercise, it is more easy to indulge than to repress. But curiosity, unable to bear disappointment with fortitude, and finding no gratification in established facts, has recourse to conjecture, whose magical influence instantly transforms possibilities into probabilities, and probabilities into certainties. And where probability fails, the assistance of some marvellous cause is introduced by fancy, which, instead of furnishing new light, nearly extinguishes those scattered rays which remain; and, blending itself with romantic tradition, covers the whole with an air of fable. Nor is it difficult to assign a reason, why the seeds of provincial, and even of national history, should be thus enveloped in obscurity. In the barbarous ages of the world, the migrations of families and tribes, whether dictated by caprice, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. excited by interest, or produced by accident, exhibit a state of society, in which few are able, and perhaps none are disposed, to transmit their scanty memorials to posterity. And when nothing of an extraordinary nature attends their origin, the period and occasion of their settlement must be too insignificant to demand a permanent record from others, whose minds have been enlightened by civilization and science. In this state the infancy of colonies passes away. And as the progression of colonies from infancy to maturity are slow and imperceptible; before they can acquire a sufficient degree of importance to excite public attention, the circumstances of their origin are either wholly forgotten, or remembered only in the legends of tradition. If we turn from the origin of tribes and nations, to survey the names by which they are respectively distinguished, we shall find the same obscurity, the same impenetrable cloud, the same conjecture, and the same disappointment. In both instances, imagination, operating under the influence of foreign or imaginary causes, supplies the place of fact, and finally leaves us with suspicions, that the most plausible theories, and commanding derivations, are rather specious than incontrovertible. But these difficulties, though formidable against actual certainty, can present no obstacle to inquiry. We have a right to examine, even where we have no right to decide; and to state opinions where we cannot furnish commanding evidence. Agreeably to this principle, while treading on those obscure margins of history, where light and darkness seem to meet, and to lose themselves in each other, we shall have recourse to the more plausible derivations of the learned; and, placing them before the reader, finally submit the selection to his own judgment and choice. Cornwall, it is well known, was originally, in common with other parts of this island, inhabited by some of those tribes, which, although distinguished among themselves by local appellation, were afterwards known to foreigners, under the general denomination of Britans or Britons; a denomination evidently taken from that of the country in which they resided. When these tribes were oppressed by their invaders, and unable to preserve their primitive independence, a considerable portion of them fled to this extremity of the island, and took up their final residence in Cornwall; in which place they continued, until both the vanquisher and the vanquished were blended together in one undistinguished mass. Some notices however, of their ancient manners and customs, we may still gather from the memorials which they have left behind them, in the monuments of their superstitions, and in the remains of their language, which is now become orally extinct, and which may be said to have |