It breedeth therefore little cause of maruaile, that euery
generall infection is here first admitted, & last excluded: yet the
many decayed houses, proue the towne to haue bene once very populous;
and, in that respect, it may stil retaine the precedence, as supported
by a weekly market, the greatest of Cornwall, the quarter Sessions for
the East diuision, and halfe yeerely faires. The iurisdiction
thereof is administred by a Maior and his brethren, and vpon warrant
of their Charter, they claime authoritie, to take acknowledgment of
statute bonds.
In former times, the Bishop of Cornwall (as I haue elsewhere related)
held his See at S. Petroos, in this towne, vntill the Danish pirats,
firing their Palace, [981.] forced them to remoue the same, with
their residence, vnto S. Germans. They were succeeded by a Priory,
and Friery; which later, serued a while as a house of correction,
for the shire, but with greater charge, then benefit, or continuance.
For other accidents, I find, that Perkyn Warbecke, [11.
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