Part 2 (1/2)

THE

S V R V E Y

OF

C O R N W A L L

Written by Richard Carew, of Antonie, Esquire.

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To the Honorable, Sir Walter Ra- leigh Knight, Lord Warden of the Stannaries, Lieutenant Generall of Cornwall, &c.

This mine ill-husbanded Survey, long since begun, a great while discontinued, lately reviewed, and now hastily finished, appealeth to your L. direction, whether it should pa.s.se; to your correction, if it doe pa.s.se; and to your protection, when it is pa.s.sed. Neither unduely: for the same intreateth of the Province, and Persons,ouer whose bodies, and estates,you carrie a large, both Martiall, and ciuiil commaund, by your authoritie, but in whose hearts, and loues, you possesse a farre greater interest, by your kindnesse. Your eares, and mouth, haue euer beene open, to heare, and deliuer our grieuances, and your feete and hands, readie to goe, and worke their redresse, and that, not onely, alwayes, as a Magistrate, of your selfe, but also verie often,as a suiter, and solliciter to others, of the highest place. Wherefore, I, as one of the common beholden, present this token of my priuate grat.i.tude. It is dutie, and not pre- sumption, that hath drawne me to the offering; and it must be fauour,and not desert, that shall moue your Lords.h.i.+p to the acceptance: and so I take humble leaue, rest- ing no lesse willing to serue you, then vnder you.

Your Lords.h.i.+ps poore kinsman,

Richard Carew of Antonie.

To the Reader.

When I first composed this Treatise, not minding that it should be published in Print, I caused onely certaine written copies to bee giuen to some of my friends, and put Prosopopeia into the bookes mouth. But since that time, master Camdens often-mencioning this worke, and my friends perswasions, haue caused my determination to alter, & to imbrace a pleasing hope, that charitie, & good construction resteth now generally in all Readers. Albeit, I well know, how Opere in vario, no lesse then in longo, fas est obrepere somnum. And I acknowledge, this playing work to come so farr short, of satisfying, euen myselfe (though Suus cuiq; placet partus) as I haue little reason, to expect the applause of any other.

Besides the state of our Countrie hath vndergone so manie Alterations, since I first began these scriblings, that,in the reuiewing, I was driuen, either likewise to varie my report, or else to speake against my knowledge. And no maruaile, for each succeeding time, addeth, or raueth, goods, & euils, according to the occasions, which it selfe produceth : rather a wonder it were, that in the ceaselesse reuolution of the Vniuerse, any parcell should retaine a stedfast const.i.tution.

Reckon therefore (I pray you) that this treatise plotteth downe Cornwall, as it now standeth, for the particulars, and will continue, for the generall. Mine Eulogies proceede no lesse, from the sinceritie of a witnesse, then the affection of a friend: and therefore I hope, that where my tongue hath beene good, no mans eye will bee euill: and that each wel-minded Reader will wish a merrie pa.s.sage, to this my rather fancie-sporting, then gaine-fseeking voyage.

Farewell.

[1]

The Prosopopeia to the Booke.

I Crave not courteous ayd of friends, To blaze my praise in verse, Nor, prowd of vaunt, mine authors names, In catalogue rehea.r.s.e:

I of no willing wrong complaine, Which force or stealth hath wrought, No fruit I promise from the tree, Which forth this blooth hath brought.

I curry not with smoothing termes, Ne yet rude threats I blaste: I seeke no patrone for my faults, I pleade no needlesse haste.

But as a child of feeble force, I keep my fathers home, And, bashfull at eche strangers sight, Dare not abroad to rome,

Saue to his kinne of neerest bloud, Or friends of dearest price, Who, for his sake, not my desert, With welcome me entice.

T H E

S V R V E Y