Most of the Inhabitants can
no word of Cornish; but very few are ignorant of the English: and yet
some so affect their owne, as to a stranger they will not speake it:
for if meeting them by chance, you inquire the way or any such matter,
your answere shal be, Meea nauidua cowzasawzneck, I can speake no
Saxonage. The English which they speake, is good and pure, as
receyuing it from the best hands of their owne Gentry, and the
Easterne Marchants: but they disgrace it, in part, with a broad and
rude accent, and eclipsing (somewhat like the Somersetshire men)
specially in pronouncing the names: as Thomas they call, Tummas &
Tubby: Mathew, Mathaw: Nicholas, Nichlaaz: Reginald, Reinol: David,
Daaui: Mary, Maari: Frauncis, [57] Frowncis: Iames, Iammez: Walter,
Watty: Robert, Dobby: Rafe, Raw: Clemence, Clemmcowe, &c. holding
herein a contrary course of extension to the Italians abridgement,
who terme Frauncis, Cecco: Dominick, Beco : Lawrence, Renzo: as also
to the Turks, who name Constantinople, Stampoli: Adrianople, Adrina:
an Olifant, Fil: and the Sicilians, who curtayle Nicholas, to Cola.
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