1602  CAREW, Richard 

According to F E Halliday[1], the importance of Richard Carew has never been appreciated. While Shakespeare was writing for the London stage, Carew was quietly at work in his Cornish country house. This neglect is not due to any lack of merit; for Godfrey of Bulloigne is among the first great Elizabethan translations, The Examination of Men's Wits contains prose equal to anything of the period, A Herring's Tail is one of its most entertaining poems, and The Survey of Cornwall is a minor classic of our language.

Richard Carew (17 July 1555 – 6 November 1620) was a Cornish translator and antiquary, and in the westcountry best known for his county history, Survey of Cornwall (1602). Carew belonged to a prominent gentry family, and was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was a contemporary of Sir Philip Sidney and William Camden. He made translations of the first five cantos of Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered (1594), and Juan de la Huarte's Examen de Ingenios.

Carew became a member of the Elizabethan Society of Antiquaries, and his Survey of Cornwall (1602) was only the second English county history to appear in print. Later editions were published in 1723, 1769 and 1811. Carew died on 6 November 1620 and was buried in Antony church on 7 November.^[5]

In his Survey of Cornwall (John Jaggard, London 1602), Carew names the principal bridges in Cornwall as the only indication of the roads but he also lists the Weekly Markets and the yearly Fayres.

Bridges[2]: the River Tamer hath Polston, Gresham, Horse, and New Bridge. Lyner, that at Noddetor, Seton, and Loo, two bridges of the same manner. Foy river, Reprin, Lostwithiel. S. Nighton, or Niot. Fala river, Grampord, Tregny. Loo river, Helston. On the north coast, upon Camel, wade, Dilland, and Helland. Upon Devon, Trywartheuy, & c. for they are worth no curious enquiry.

The list of 20 fairs[3] begins with those held at Bodmin, Helston and St. Michael’s Mount on March 13, and finishes with the St Nicholas Day market at Bodmin.

The Survey of Cornwall, And, An Epistle Concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue was issued in London: printed for Samuel Chapman, at the Angel in Pallmall; Daniel Brown jun. at the Black Swan without Temple-Bar; and James Woodman, at Cambden's-Head in Bowstreet, Covent-Garden. 1723. This included an account of the life of the author by H**** C**** Esq. (thought to be Pierre des Maizeuax by some).

A New Edition was printed in London for B Law, in Ave-Mary-Lane; and J Hewett, at Penzance. 1769.

A further augmented version appeared in 1811, this time To which are added Notes Illustrative of its History and Antiquities by the late Thomas Tonkin, Esq. This was also published from the original manuscript by Francis Lord De Dunstanville and printed in London by T Bensley, Bolt Court, Fleet Street, for J Faulder, New Bond Street, and Rees and Curtis, Plymouth.

The survey of Cornvvall. Written by Richard Carew of Antonie, Esquire.

London: Printed by S. S[tafford] for Iohn Iaggard, and are to bee sold neere Temple-barre, at the signe of the Hand and Starre, 1602. (Harvard illustrated below, BL, C, Cardiff, UML, B, NLS and many others including Exeter Univ.).

 

Illustration courtesy of Early English Books Online. Copyright ProQuest. Original at Harvard University Library.

Page 54 transcribed:

This entercourse is obtayned by high wayes and Bridges: for high wayes, the Romanes did not extend theirs so farre: but those layd out of later times, are in the Easterne part of Cornwall, vneasy, by reason either of their mire or stones, besides many vp-hils and downehils. The Westerne are better trauaileable, as lesse subiect to these discommodities: generally, the statute 18. Eliz. for their amendement, is reasonably wel executed.

Bridges, the riuer Tamer hath Polston, Gresham, Horse, and New Bridge. Lyner, that at Noddetor, Seton, and Loo, two bridges of the same name. Foy riuer, Reprin, Lostwithiel, S. Nighton, or Niot, Fala riuer, Grampord, Tregny. Loo riuer Helston. On the North coast, vpon Camel, Wade, Dilland & Helland. Vpon Deuon, Trywartheuy, &c. for they are worth no curious enquiry.

For maintenance of traffike by buying and selling, there are weekely markets kept: In the Hundred of East, at Saltash, Launceston, and Milbrook. In West H, at Loo, and Liskerd. In Stratton H. at the Towne of the same name. In Lesnewith H. at Bottreaux Castle, and Camelford. In Powder H. at Foy, Lostwithiel, Grampord, Tregny, and Truro. In Trig H. at Bodmin. In Kerier Hun. at Helston, and Perin. And in Penwith Hundred, at Pensants, and at S. Ies. Of these, Bodmyn and Launceston are the greatest: this as placed in the broadest, that in the middle part of the Countie.

Fayres there are many, some which here ensue.
March 13 at Bodmyn, Helston S. Mishaels mount.
April 24. at Loo. 25. at S. Columbs, S. Probus.
May 1. at Launceston, Perin.
Iune 11. at Minhinet 24. at Laūcestō, pelint, probus, Colombs Iuly, on S. Margets day, at S. Stephens, S. Thomas transl. at Camelford.
On S. Iames day, at Golsinni, Saltash.
August 1. at S Germaines.

September, on S. Mathews day, at Liskerd, on S. Bartholmews, at Lostwithiel, on the Natiuitie of our Lady, at Kellington, S. Marie weeke, and Marcasiow.
October, on S. Dionise day, at Treuenna in Tintagel.
Nouember, on S Katherins day, at S. Thomas.
On S Leonards day, at Launceston and Tregny.
December, on S. Nicholas day, at Bodmyn. 

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[1] F.E. Halliday writing in History Today Volume 3 Issue 3 March 1953. Richard Carew, A Cornish Gentleman in the age of Elizabeth I.

[2] A footnote in the 1811 edition (presumably by Tonkin) notes: There have been several new bridges erected since Mr Carew’s time, which shall be taken notice of in their proper places; together with those omitted by him.

[3] Another footnote (1811): Mr Carew has forgotten to mention the weekly markets and mentions six.