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Carew, Richard, 1555-1620

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

the 2. wife brought in the side saddle fashion
of straw.
Suteable hereunto was their dwelling, & to that their implements of
houshold: walles of earth, low thatched roofes, few partitions, no
planchings or glasse windows, and scarcely any chimnies, other then
a hole in the wall to let out the smoke: their bed, straw and a
blanket: as for sheets, so much linen cloth had not yet stepped ouer
the narrow channell, betweene them and Brittaine. To conclude,
a mazer and a panne or two, comprised all their substance: but now
most of these fashions are vniuersally banished, and the Cornish
husbandman conformeth himself with a better supplied ciuilitie to
the Easterne patterne, which hath directed him a more thriuing forme
of husbandrie; and our halcion dayes of peace enabled him to applie
the lesson: so as, his fine once ouercome, he can maintaine himselfe
& his familie in a competent decencie to their calling, and findeth
monie to bestow weekely at the markets, for his prouisions of
necessitie and pleasure: for his quarterlie rent serueth rather as a
token of subiection to his Land-lord, then any grieuous exaction on
his tenement.


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