Prev | Current Page 209 | Next

Carew, Richard, 1555-1620

"The Survey of Cornwall And an epistle concerning the excellencies of the English tongue"

Anno 32. H. 8. an act of Parliament
was made for repayring, amongst others, the Borough townes of
Launceston, Liskerd, Lostwithiel, Bodmyn, Truro, and Helston
in Cornwall, but with what fruit to their good, I cannot relate.
Within late yeeres memorie, the sea-coast Townes begin to proclaime
their bettering in wealth, by costly encrease of buildings; but those
of the Inland, for the most part, vouch their ruined houses, and
abandoned streets, as too true an euidence, that they are admitted
no partners in this amendment. If I mistake not the cause, I may
with charitie inough wish them still the same fortune: for as is
elsewhere touched, I conceyue their former large peopling, to haue
bin an effect of the countries impouerishing, while the inuasion of
forraine enemies draue the Sea-coast Inhabitants to seeke a more safe,
then commodious abode in those Inland parts.
Strangers occasioned to trauaile through the shire, were wont, no
lesse sharply then truly, to inueigh against the bad drinke, course
lodging, and slacke attendance which they found in thosehouses that
went for Innes: neither did their horses better entertainment, proue
them any welcomer ghests then their masters: but in stead of remedy,
they receyued in answere, that neither such an outcorner was
frequented with many wayfarers, nor by hanging out signes, or
forestalling at the Townes end, like the Italians, did they inuite
any; and to make great prouision vpon small hope of vtterance, were
to incurre a skorne-worthy losse, seeing Aspettare, & non
venire (saith the same Italian) is one of the tre cose da morire.


Pages:
197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221