[83]
Now then, if euery one thus entrusted, would remember that he had a soule to saue or lose, by the well or ill discharging of so waighty a function, and did accordingly from time to time bestowe his requisite endeauour, what the least fault could escape the espiall of so many eyes, or the righting amongst so many hands? But I haue thrust my sickle ouer-farre into anothers haruest: let my mistaking be corrected, and in regard of my good meaning, pardoned.
The Temporal gouernment of Cornwall, shooteth out also into two branches, Martiall, and Ciuill.
For martiall affaires, master Camden noteth out of Iohannes Sarisburiensis, that the Cornish mens valiancy purchased them such reputation amongst our ancestours, as they (together with those of Deuon and Wiltshire) were wont to be entrusted, for the Subsidiary Cohort, or band of supply. An honour equall to the Romanes Triarii, and the shoot-anker of the battell. With which concurreth the ancient, if not authenticall testimony of Michael Cornubiensis, who had good reason to knowe the same, being that Countryman, and more to report it: his verses, for which I haue also beene beholding to M. Camden, are these:
——Rex Arcturus nos primos Cornubienses Bellum facturus vocat, vt puta Caesaris enses Nobis non alijs, reliquis, dat primitus ictum Per quem pax lisque, nobis sit vtrumq; relictum Quid nos deterret, si firmiter in pede stemus, Fraus ni nos superet, nihil est quod non superemus.
I will now set downe the principall Commaunders & Officers, touching these martiall causes, together with the forces of the shire.
Lord Lieutenant generall, Sir Walter Ralegh.
| Sir Frauncis Godolphin, | | Sir Nicholas Parker, | | Sir Reignald Mohun, | Deputie | Peter Edgecumb, | or any 3. Lieutenants | Bernard Greinuile, | of them. | Christopher Harris, | | Richard Carew, |
Colonell generall, Sir Nicholas Parker. Marshall, Bernard Greinuile. Treasurer, Richard Carew. Master of the Ordinance, Will. Treffry. Colonell of the horse, Iohn Arundell of Trerise. Sergeant maior, Humphrey Parcks. Quarter Master, William Carnsew. Prouost Marshall, Iohn Harris. Scowt Master, Otwell Hill.
| Osburne. | Rusall. Corporals of the field, | Rattenbury. | Sled
Ammunition Master, Leon. Blackdon. Trench Master, Cooke.
[84]
Regiments. Companies, Numbers, Arm.Pikes, Muskets, Caliueri -------------------------------------------------- Sir Fra. Godol. | 12. | 1200. | 470. | 490. | 240. | Sir Will. Beuil | 6. | 670. | 225. | 315. | 130. | Sir Rei. Mohun | 6. | 600. | 200. | 210. | 190. | Ber. Greinuile | 10. | 1000. | 370. | 390. | 240. | Ri. Carew | 5. | 500. | 170. | 300. | 30. |*1 Antony Rouse | 6. | 760. | 270. | 320. | 170. | Ch. Treuanion | 5. | 500. | 180. | 190. | 130. | Will. Treffry | 4. | 400. | 140. | 130. | 130. |*2 Sir Nic. Parker | 2. | 200. | 60. | 80. | 60. |*3 Ha. Viuian | 1. | 100. | 40. | 40. | 20. |*4 Ar. Harris | 1. | 100. | 40. | 40. | 20. |*5 Summa, | 58. | 6030. | 2165. | 2535. | 1330. | --------------------------------------------------
[*1 For Causam Bay] [*2 For Foy] [*3 Fpr Pendennis] [*4 For S. Mawes] [*5 For the Mount]
This may serue for a generall estimat of the Cornish forces, which I haue gathered, partly out of our certificate made to the Lords 1599. partly by information from the Sargeant maior, & partly through mine own knowledge. There are many more vnarmed pikes, which I omit, as better fitting a supply vpon necessitie, then to bee exposed (for opposed) to an enemie.