Part 10 (1/2)
”_Shall we all die, We shall die all, All die shall we, Die all we shall._”
which quaint lines are also found on a tombstone at Gunwalloe and elsewhere. Trelowarren itself has some interesting pictures, in particular the Vand.y.k.e of Charles I. presented by Charles II. in acknowledgment of Sir Rd. Vyvyan's services to his father. This family also possesses the pearl necklace of Queen Henrietta Maria, in which she sat for the painting now at Hampden Court.
But of all the charming spots up these rocky and wooded creeks commend me to Condora, for there in 1735 were found twenty-four gallons of Roman bra.s.s coin. Think of it, dream of it, penniless man. Not a few coppers, but twenty-four gallons!
What a beautiful sound have some of these Cornish names! Rosemullion Head juts out over the Helford River on the north, and above it we have Rosemerrin and the Swan Pool, and not far off St. Anthony in Roseland.
It is true that Rhos only means a heath, and that we are on the borders of the gorse-grown districts, known as Roseland; but the word has different a.s.sociations for the ”foreigner,” and whatever the true meaning, the lovely name brings to memory the thought and the scent and the colour of the lovelier flowers.
FOOTNOTES:
[3] Dinsul. There is good reason to think Sul = the Sul of Bath ”Aquae Sulis,” and this again the ”Sally, Sally Waters” of our nursery game.
Many of her attributes have been taken over by St. Keyne.
[4] Appendix B. See pp. 201-2.
[5] Mary Mowes, _i.e._ the Virgin.
CHAPTER VII
NOOKS AND CORNERS FROM FALMOUTH TO TRURO
_The Rise of Pendennis Castle: Sir John Arundel: The Killigrews: Sir Walter Raleigh: The General Post Office and Falmouth: Penryn: The Fal: The Stannary Courts: Old Truro: Foote and Lowry._
THE RISE OF PENDENNIS CASTLE
When Henry VIII. took thought for the coast defences of his semi-island, Falmouth was one of the places that benefited. At St. Mawes and Pendennis batteries were erected and in Budock Church is the bra.s.s of John Killigrew, with this pertinent inscription: ”Heere lyeth John Killigrew Esquier of Arwenack ... he was the first Captaine of Pendennis Castle, made by King Henry the eight and so continued untill the nynth of Queene Elizabeth, at which time G.o.d tooke him to his mercye, being the yeare of our lord 1567. Sr. John Killigrew knight his sonne succeeded him in the same place by the gift of Queene Elizabeth.” Henry VIII.'s batteries were not the first fortifications erected on this high point of land, which is literally the ”headland fortress.” There were formerly three lines of entrenchment, due to an older architect than the Mr. Treffry, of Fowey, who was responsible for this and other of the Cornish defences. Indeed from its position--it is almost surrounded by water--it was marked out both as a refuge and a point of vantage, and was probably fortified before history was more than stories handed down from father to child, or sung by wandering bards who had been given an honoured place by the hearth-fire.
SIR JOHN ARUNDEL
When the war broke out between Charles I. and his Parliament, Henry Killigrew was a member of the House. ”I shall provide a good horse, a good buff coat, a good brace of pistols, and I doubt not I shall find a good cause,” quoth he when Ess.e.x was appointed General and one and another were saying what troops they could raise; and so went out and rode post to Falmouth and plunged devotedly into the gallant struggle.
He would not take any command, though he was in every action and always where there was the most danger. But it was an Arundell, not a Killigrew, who held Pendennis for the King, old John Arundell of Trerice, who as a young man had been at Tilbury when Queen Elizabeth reviewed the troops; and who was known as ”Game to the Toes,” ”John for the King,” and ”Old Tilbury.” To him came the unhappy Queen, Henrietta Maria, rested at Pendennis for a moment, and then winged her way back to France. A couple of years later her son, Charles, embarked here for the Scilly Isles; and shortly after, the news reached Arundell that after the conference on Tresillian Bridge the King's forces had been disbanded, and that the long struggle was over. Across the water Sir John grimly watched the surrender of St. Mawes, and when he found there were malcontents among his men, gave them a safe conduct and let them go. For himself, had he not fought at Edgehill, Lansdowne, and Bradock Down? Summoned to surrender he said he had but a few more days to live and he would not stain them with dishonour. To Fairfax he replied:
”Col. John Arundell to Sir Thomas Fairfax.
”Sir,--The castle was committed to my Government by his Majesty, who by our laws hath command of the castles and forts of this kingdom; and my age of seventy summons me hence shortly. Yet I shall desire no other testimony to follow my departure than my conscience to G.o.d and loyalty to his Majesty, whereto I am bound by all the obligations of nature, duty, and oath. I wonder you demand the castle without authority from his Majesty; which if I should render, I brand myself and my posterity with the indelible character of treason. And having taken less than two minutes resolution, I resolve that I will here bury myself before I deliver up this castle to such as fight against his Majesty, and that nothing you can threaten is formidable to me in respect of the loss of loyalty and conscience.
”Your servant, ”JOHN ARUNDELL, ”of Trerice.
”_18th March, 1646._”
Stout words from a stout heart; but though the castle, closely invested by land and sea, held out for five lean months and only surrendered on honourable terms, yet surrender it did; being the last place in England, with the one exception of Raglan, so to do. And on August 17, 1646, the garrison marched out ”with their horses, complete arms, and other equipages, according to their present or past commands or qualities, with flying colours, trumpets sounding, drums beating, matches lighted at both ends, and bullets in their mouths.” So great a stir had Sir John's defence made that not only did the House of Commons vote large sums to the messengers who brought the news that he had yielded, but September 22, 1646, was by their order set apart as a day of public thanksgiving for the surrender ”of the garrisons of Pendennis and four other castles.”
THE KILLIGREWS: SIR WALTER RALEIGH