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English-French Library Carew, Richard, 1555-1620 - The Survey of Cornwall

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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.

One point of their former roughnesse, some of the Westerne people
do yet still retaine, & therethrough in some measure, verifie that
testimonie which Mathew Westm. giueth of them, together with the
Welsh, their auncient countrimen: namely, how fostering a fresh
memorie of their expulsion long agoe by the English, they second
the same with a bitter repining at their fellowship: and this the
worst sort expresse, in combining against, and working them all the
shrewd turnes which with hope of impunitie they can deuise: howbeit,
it shooteth not to a like extremitie in all places and persons, but
rather by little and little, weareth out vnto a more milde and
conuersable fashion.  Amongst themselues they agree well, and
companie louingly together: to their gentlemen they carrie a verie
dutifull regard, as enured in their obeysance from their ancestors,
and holding them as Roytelets, because they know no greater.
Onelie it might be wished, that diuers amongst them had lesse spleene
to attempt law-suits, for pettie supposed wrongs, or not so much
subtiltie and stiffenesse to prosecute them: so should their purses
be heauier, and their consciences lighter: a reporter must auerre
no falshood, nor conceale any truth.

We must also spare a roome in this Suruey, to the poore, of whom
few Shires can shew more, or owne fewer then Cornwall.
Ireland prescribeth to be the nurserie, which sendeth ouer yeerely,
yea and dayly whole Ship-loades of these crooked slips, and the
dishabited townes afford them rooting: so vpon the matter, the whole
County maketh a contribution, to pay those Lords their rent.
Manie good Statutes haue beene enacted for redresse of these abuses,
and vpon the first publishing, heedfully and diligently put in
practise: but [68] after the nine dayes wonder expired, the law
is forgotten, the care abandoned, and those vermine swarme againe
in euerie corner: yet those peeuish charitable cannot be ignorant,
that herethrough, to the high offence of God and good order, they
maintaine idlenes, drunkennesse, theft, lecherie, blasphemie,
Atheisme, and in a word, all impietie: for a worse kind of people
then these vagabonds, the realme is not pestered withal: what they
consume in a day, wil suffice to releeue an honest poore parishioner
for a week, of whose work you may also make some vse: their staruing
is not to be feared, for they may be prouided for at home, if they
list: no almes therefore should be cast away upon them, to the
robberie of the needy impotent; but money least of all: for in giuing
him siluer, you do him wrong, by changing his vocation, while you
metamorphize him from a begger to a buyer. Lacks he meat, drinke,
or apparrell? (and nothing els he ought to be owner of) he must
procure them of the worst by free gift, and not make choice, for a
iust price, of the best.  Well, though the rogue laugh you to scorne
at night, the alewife hath reason the next day to pray for you.

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