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Forts and Castles there are; some, olde and worne out of date; and
some in present vse, with allowance of garrison.

Amongst the first sort, I reckon these, appertayningto the Duchy,
as also Tintogel, and diuers round holds on the tops of hils; some
single, some double, and treble trenched, which are termed, Castellan
Denis, or Danis, as raysed by the Danes, when they were destyned to
become our scourge.

Moreouer, in this ranke wee may muster the earthen Bulwarks, cast vp
in diuers places on the South coast, where any commodity of landing
seemeth to inuite the enemie, which (I gesse) tooke their originall
from the statute 4. H. 8. and are euer sithence duely repayred,
as need requireth, by order to the Captaynes of those limits.

Of the later sort, is a fort at Silley, called [blank] reduced to a
more defensible plight, by her Maiesties order, and gouerned by the
foreremembred Sir Frauncis Godolphin, who with his inuention and
purse, bettered his plot and allowance, and therein hath so tempered
strength with delight, and both with vse, as it serueth for a sure
hold, and a commodious dwelling.

The rest are S. Michaels mount, Pendenis fort, and S. Mawes Castle,
of which I shall haue occasion to speake more particularly in my
second booke.

Of Beacons, through the neernesse to the sea, and the aduantage of
the hilly situations, welneere euery parish is charged with one,
which are watched, secundum vsum, but (so farre as I can see) not
greatly ad propositum: for the Lords better digested instructions,
haue reduced the Countrey, by other meanes, to a like ready, and much
lesse confused way of assembling, vpon any cause of seruice.

For carrying of such aduertisements and letters, euery thorow-fare
weekly appoynteth a foot-Poast, to giue [86] his hourely attendance,
whose dispatch is welneere as speedy as the horses.

The last branch of my diuision, and so of this book, leadeth me to
entreat of Cornwals ciuill government, as it passeth for a part of
the Realme; and that may againe be subdiuided into iurisdiction
particular, and general.  The particular iurisdiction is exercised
by Constables, Stewards of Courts Barons, and Leets, Franchises,
Hundreds, & Portreeues, & Maiors; of boroughs & corporations of
the Stannaries, we haue spoken already.  The generall, by the Clarke
of the market, Coroners, Vice-admiral, Sherife, Iustices of the
peace, & Iudges of assize.

Constables of the hundreds the shire hath none, but this office for
giuing of warnings, & collection of rates, is supplyed by the deputy
Baylifs, who performe it not with that discretion, trust, secrecy,
& speed, which were often requisite to the importance of the affaires.
I haue knowne the Iudges moued diuers times, for their opinion
touching the erecting of some, & found them of seueral resolutions,
which giueth little encouragement to an innouation.  Neither can the
parish Constables well brooke the same, because it submitteth them
to a subalterne commaund, more then of custome; whereas now in their
parishes they are absolute, the least whereof hath one, the middle
sized 2. the bigger 3. or 4.  I would not wish the blaze of their
authority blemished, if there were as much care vsed in choyce of
the persons, as the credit of their place deserueth.  Wise direction
without diligent execution, proueth fruitles.  Now, as the former is
deriued from her Maiesty to the Lords, & from the Lords to the
Iustices; so this later lieth in the hands of the Constables.
Watches and searches oftentimes carry waighty consequence, and
miscary in the managing: and it was seene in the last Cornish
rebellion, how the Constables commaund & example, drew many of the
not worst meaning people, into that extremest breach of duty.

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