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Carew, Richard, 1555-1620

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


On the West side, at the verie comming in, there riseth a hill,
called Pendenis, where king Henrie the eighth, when hee tooke order
for fortifying the Sea coasts, caused a Castle to bee builded,
with allowance of a pettie Garrison, and some small store of
Ordinance. Another, somewhat like thereto in plot, but different
in sight, was s. Mawes then erected in the other side, at Saint Mawes,
of which Castle, I haue spoken heretofore.
Saint Mawes lieth lower, and better to annoy shipping: but Pendenis
standeth higher, and stronger to defend it selfe. It should seeme,
the fortifier made his aduantage of the commoditie, affoorded by
the ground, and shot rather at a safe preferuing the Harbour,
from sodaine attempts of little Fleetes, and the mastering of Pirates,
then to withstand any great Nauie, or maigne inuasion.
But her Maiestie casting an equall eye to both, or rather a sharper
sight to this later, as quickned through the enemies diuers pretences
against these places (whereof Falmouth, by myracle, not prouidence,
escaped one) raysed a new fort with a Garrison, vpon the Hawe
at Plymmouth, and at her great charges, with some little helpe
of the Countrie, added an increase of fortification and souldiers
to Pendenis.


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