Part 19 (2/2)
The conuenientest & vsual places of a.s.sembly for the whole County, is Bodmyn : for the East and North, Launceston: for the South and West, Truro: for the East, Liskerd: for the North, Camelford: for the South, S. Colombs; for the West, Helston.
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For the Hundreds of East, Kellington : of West, Lanreath; of Trig, Bodmyn: of Lesnewith, Camelford: of Stratton, that towne: of Powder, Grampond: of Pider, S. Columbs: of Kerier, Helston: of Penwith, Pensants.
East H. hath parishes 30. corporations 2.
West H. parishes 19. corporations 2.
Trig [blank]
Lesnewith [blank]
Stratton [blank]
Powder [blank]
Pider [blank]
Kerier [blank]
Penwith [blank]
Corporations are priuiledged with the administration of iustice, within their liberties, more or lesse, according to the purport of their Charter.
Such are Saltash, Launceston, Liskerd, Eastloo, Westloo, Bodmyn, Camelford, Lostwithiel, Padstowe, Grampond, Truro, Helston, Perin.
The Maiors and Recorders, in some of these, are Iustices of the peace, for their owne limits, and welneere allof them haue large exemptions and iurisdictions. A garment (in diuers mens opinions) ouer-rich and wide, for many of their wearish and ill-disposed bodies. They alleadge for themselues, that speedy iustice is administred in their townes, and that it saueth great expences, incident to a.s.size trials, which poor Artificers cannot vndergoe. But the other answere, that these trials are often poasted on, with more haste then good speed, while an ignorant fellow, of a sowter, becomes a magistrate, & takes vpon him peremptory iudgement, in debts and controuersies, great and doubtfull. Againe, the neernesse of commencing their suits, draweth on more expences, then the shortnes of tryals cutteth off, whereas longer respite would make way to deliberation, and deliberation open the doore to reason, which by the fumes arising from cholers boyling heat, is much obscured. Thus dooth the opportunity inure them to vexation; vexation begetteth charges, and charge hatcheth pouerty: which pouerty, accompanied with idlenes (for they cannot follow law, and worke) seeketh not to releeue itselfe by industry, but by subtilty, wherethrough they become altogether depraued in body, goods, and minde. Adde hereunto that the Maior exercising his office but during one yeere, for the first halfe thereof is commonly to learne what he ought to doe, & in the other halfe, feeling his authoritie to wane, maketh friends of that Mammon, & serueth others turnes, to be requited with the like, borrowing from iustice, what hee may lend to his purse, or complices: for as it hath bene well sayd, He cannot long be good, that knowes not why he is good. They conclude, how from these imperfect a.s.sociations, there spring pride amongst themselues, disdayne at their neighbours, and Monopolies against the Commonwealth.
This inuectiue is somewhat deeply steeped in gall, & must therefore bee interpreted, not of all, but the worst. Surely, for mine owne part, I am of opinion, that how commodious soeuer this iurisdiction may proue amongst themselues, it falleth out sundry times very distastefull and iniurious towards strangers; and strangers they reckon all that are not Burgesses. Now, let such a one bee arrested within their corporations, no sureties but townsmen can finde acceptance, be his behauiour neuer so honest, [88] his cause neuer so iust, his calling neuer so regardfull, & his ability neuer so sufficient; yet if he haue none acquaintance in the towne, if the action brought, carry a shew of waight, if the bringer be a man of sway, in, or neere the towne, if any other townsman of the higher sort beare him an old grudge, he must be contented to fret the colde yrons with his legges, and his heart with griefe: for what one, amongst them, will procure an euerlasting enemy at his doore, by becomming surety for a party, in whom he possesseth none, or little interest? The ancients vsed to grace their Cities with seuerall t.i.tles, as Numantia bellicosa, Thebae superbae, Corinthus ornata, Athenae doctae, Hierusalem sancta, Carthago emula, &c. and the present Italians doe the like touching theirs, as Roma santa, Venetia ricca, Florenza bella, Napoli gentile, Ferrara ciuile, Bologna gra.s.sa, Rauenna antiqua, &c. In an imitation whereof, some of the idle disposed Cornish men nicke their townes with by-words, as, The good fellows.h.i.+p of Padstowe, Pride of Truro, Gallants of Foy, &c.
The Clarke of the markets office, hath beene heretofore so abused by his deputies, to their priuate gaine, that the same is tainted with a kinde of discredit, which notwithstanding, being rightly & duly executed, would worke a reformation of many disorders, and a great good to the Common-wealth.
Foure Coroners, chosen by the voyces of the freeholders, do serue the s.h.i.+re, who for the present are, Bligh, Tub, Trenance, and b.a.s.t.a.r.d.
The Vice-admiralty is exercised by M. Charles Treuanion, a Gentleman, through his vertue, as free from greedinesse, as through his faire liuelyhood, farre from needinesse: and by daily experience giuing proofe, that a minde valewing his reputation at the due price, will easily repute all dishonest gaine much inferiour thereunto, & that in conuersing with the worst sort of people (which his office oftentimes enforceth) he can no more be disgraced, then the Sunne beames by s.h.i.+ning vpon a dunghill will be blemished.
I haue here set downe the names of those Commissioners for the peace, who at this present make their ordinary residence in Corn. as they stand placed in the Commission, where the priority is mostly deferred to antiquity.
Q. Fra. G.o.dolphin M. 1.| Carolus Treuanion 16.
Q. Nic. Parker M. 2.| Thomas S. Aubin 17.
Q. Iona. Trelawney M. 3.| Q. Rob Moyle 18.
Q. Reg. Mohun M. 4.| Q. Ed Hanc.o.c.k. 19.
Q. P. Petrus Edgecomb 5.| Tristramus Arscot 20.
Q. Ric. Carew de Anth. 6.| Thomas Lower 21.
Q. Bern. Greinuile 7.| W. Treffry de Fowey 22.
Q. Antonius Rowse 8.| Iohannes Hender 23.
Petrus Courtney 9.| Q. Willi. Wray 24.
Q. Tho. Chiuerton 10.| Georgius Kekiwiche 25.
Q. Christ. Harris 11.| Q. Arth. Harris 26.
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