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Carew, Richard, 1555-1620

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


Mary, into what new names Pontium & Coilleng there also mentioned,
are now metamorphized, I must say amplio.
Those buildings commonly knowne by the name of Launston, and written
Lanceston, are by the Cornishmen, called Lesteeuan (Lez in Cornish
signifieth broad, & those are scatteringly erected) and were
anciently termed Lanstaphadon, by interpretation, S. Stephens Church:
they consist of two boroughs, Downeuet and Newport: that (perhaps so
called) of downe yeelding, as hauing a steep hill: this, of his newer
erection. With them ioyne the parishes of S. Thomas & S. Stephens.
The parish Church of Launceston itselfe, fetcheth his title of
dedication, from Mary Magdalen, whose image is curiously hewed in a
side of the wall, and the whole Church fayrely builded.
The towne was first founded (saith M. Hooker) by Eadulphus, brother
to Alpsius, Duke of Deuon and Cornwall, and by his being girded with
a wall, argueth in times past to haue caried some valew.
A newe increase of wealth, expresseth it selfe in the Inhabitants
late repayred and enlarged buildings.


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