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\ V
o I'lii 1 ii V »,"ri"
PENDENNIS & St. MAWES
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF TWO CORNISH
CASTLES.
BY
S. PASFIELD OLIVER. F.S.A., F.R.G.S.,
CAPTAIN ROYAL ARTILLERY, AND CORRESPONDING MEMBER ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, ETC, AUTHOR
OP "MADAGASCAR AND THE MALAGASSY," " LES HOVAS/' "TWO ROUTES THROUGH HICARAGUA,"
"NURAGGHI SARDI," '*MBGAUTHIC STRUCTURES OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS," " DOLMEN-
MOUNDS AND AMORPHOUTHS OF BRITTANY," ETC., ETC., ETC
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.
" Pendinas tenet asperi cacumen
Celsnm montis, et intonat frequenter.
Mauditi quoque subsidet rotundum
Castrum el fulminat impetu furenti,
Portus ostia quk patent Falensis."
(Cygnea Cantio) Leland.
TRURO :
W. LAKE, PRINCES STREET.
LONDON
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL A Co., STATIONERS' HALL COURT.
1875.
(br 52.2.0.. 3a-
r
i-
W. LAKE, STBAM PRESS, TRURO.
To
Robert Were Fox, F.R.S.,
and his daughter, Anna Maria,
this slight token of
respect and affection
is offered by t/te Author.
PREFACE.
HE officers of a regiment like ours, which is scattered in many
places about the world at one time, have opportunities, too often,
perhaps, neglected, of collecting materials for the history of our
various military garrisons, forts, and stations.
On inspection of the regimental list lately published of the officers of the
Royal Artillery, I find that there are two hundred separate stations m which
they are quartered. By this it is apparent how wide a scope for research there
is now open to the regiment
The garrison branch of the service has, however, more especial facilities in
this respect: and officers detached in out of the way places, with the
charge of garrisons, could not better, perhaps, beguile the long dull winter
evenings, than by collecting information as to the history of their posts : and
this unquestionably, however moderate the degree of interest it might possess
for them, would be of great and real interest and value to the future historian.
The Royal Artillery Institution would not, in my humble opinion, be em-
ployed improperly, if it encouraged this useful exercitation in the field of his-
tory, by receiving and publishing historical monographs or sketches of the
kind suggested, compiled by officers of the Royal Artillery. At present it
refuses even to receive them.
Wherever I have been myself quartered, whether at home or on foreign
service, I have occupied a portion of my leisure hours in collecting a few
desultory notes of the locality and its associations, and these have from time
to time been published
The following slight historical sketches of two Cornish fortresses, in which
I was myself quartered in the year 1873, ^^e now offered, as a very humble
example of the sort of exercise I have been recommending, and I hope it will
be followed by many of my brother officers. The original sketches were read,
from my MS., to a small circle of friends, headed by Miss A. M. Fox, in the
castles themselves, at the conclusion of the meeting of the Cornwall Polytechnic
Institution, in the autumn of 1 873. They have since been completed, by the ad-
dition of a considerable amount of matter, gathered principally from the calen-
dars of the State and Clarendon Papers, and from certain old newspapers.
Not myself residing in London, with opportunities of easy access to its
libraries and records, I entrusted the collection and putting into shape of this
additional matter to a gentleman residing there, who has proved an able
assistant, and to whom my fullest acknowledgments and best thanks are
due. The names of some of the governors and lieutenant or deputy governors
of the castles, with dates of their appointments, and other dates since 1754,
have been supplied to me by the authorities at the war office, and I am
much indebted to them for their courtesy, which will be further acknow-
ledged at the proper places in the ensuing work.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
I. Pendennis Castle
I • • • • •
Frontispiece,
2. Turret, Pendennis Castle
3. GURGOYLE,
ditto
4. Embayed Window, ditto
5. Mayor's Cup at Penryn ...
6. Gurgoyle, Pendennis Castle
7. Royal Arms over Entrance to Castle
' • • « •
I • • I
• • • • • •
• « • • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • •
8. Entrance to Falmouth Harbour — from Pendennis
9. Gurgoyle, Pendennis Castle...
..• ... ... ...
10. St. Mawes Castle and Harbour facing
11. Gateway, St. Mawes Castle
12. Gurgoyle,
ditto
... ... ... ... ...
13. Entrance to Falmouth Harbour — from St. Mawes
page\
8
9
20
27
28
45
79
79
83
91
WORKS REFERRED TO.
Boase and Courtney's Bibliotheca Comu-
biensis, vol. 1. A to 0. 1874.
Borlase's Antiquities of Cornwall, 1759.
Britton and Brayley's Cornwall Illus-
trated, 1832.
Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 1873.
Burton's Diary, edit. 1828.
Calamy's Nonconformists Memorial, edit.
1862.
Camden's Britania, by Gibson, 1772.
Carew's Survey of Cornwall, edit. 1811.
Clarendon's History of the Rebellion,
Oxf. 1849.
Clarendon State Papers, Oxf. 1767.
Clarendon State Papers, Calendars.
Cottonian MSS.
Froude*s History, 1858.
Gentleman's Magazine.
Gilbert's Parochial History of Cornwall,
1838.
Grafton's Chronicles.
Grose*s Antiquities of England and Wales,
1787.
Hals* Parochial History of Cornwall, Part
n. 1719.P
Hals' Parochial History of Cornwall, in
Gilbert's History.
Hitchins' History of Cornwall, by Drew,
1824.
Holinshed's Chronicles, 1587*
Journals of the House of Commons.
Journals of the House of Lords.
Journal of the Boyal Institution of Corn-
wall.
The King's Collection of Maps, Drawings,
&c.
The King's Pamphlets.
Lake's, The Parochial History of Corn-
wall. 1868, &c.
Landsdowne MSS.
Leland's Cygnea Cantio, 1658.
Leland's Itinerary, Oxf. 1745.
Lyson's Magna Brittanica, vol. 3, 1806-22
Markham's Life of Fairfax, 1870.
Memoirs of Phib'p Melvill, Lieut-Gov. of
Pendennis, [1812].
Murray's Hand Book of Devon and Corn-
wall.
Newspapers of the year 1646.
Norden's Speculum BritannisB Pars. 1728.
Notes and Queries.
Polwhele's History of Cornwall. 1816.
Pryco's Archroologia Comu-Britannia,
1790.
Pryce's MSS.
Rushworth's Historical Collections.
Sprigge's Anglia Rediviva, 1647.
State Papers, Domestic Series
State Papers, Domestic Series, Calendars.
State Papers, Treasury Series, Calendars
Strickland's Lives of the Queens of En-
gland.
Tonkin's Parochial History of Cornwall,
in Gilbert's History.
Whitaker's Parochial History of Corn-
wall, in Gilbert's History.
TABLE OF CONTENTS,
PENDENNIS CASTLE.
Chapter I.
Pages.
Origin of name, various derivations 1—2
Pendennis a peninsula 2
Eariy fori;ification8 of the promontory of Pendennis » 2 — 3
A naval engagement between French and Spaniards in Falmouth harbour about
^vOf aaa aa« ••• ««« ««« ««« ••• ,«« ••• ••# ••• ••• ••• ••• •** ^
Bad animus of foreign powers against England at the same period 4
In 1537-9 (29-31, Hen. VIII) batteries and blockhouses were erected to protect
Falmouth and other harbours 4
In 1538, the oldest existing fortification of Pendennis (the block house) was erected 4
In 1539, the castle was ordered to be erected 4
Between 1542 and 15 U, it was begun and finished 4
The tradition of King Hen. Vlirs visit 6
Description of the castle and fortifications 5—6
Leland's Latin verse, and an English verse translation of it 7
Cannon and anminnition in the 16th century 7 — 8
Chapter II.
The site was held of the Elilligrew family by the Crown, till 1795 9—10
John Killigrew, captain or governor, 1544 10
His death, 1567. Inscription in Bndock Church 10
Sir John Killigrew, captain, 1567 10
In 1569, he is described as captain of Falmouth, alias Pendennis castle ... 10
He stays French vessels in 1670 1
The Earl of Bedford's account of the castle, 1574 1]
Sir J. Killig^Vs death, 1584. Inscription at Budock 11
John Killigrew, captain, 1584 •# ..• ••' 1
He is not named in the list of captains by any Cornish historian ... ... 1
Authority given to him to muster certain parishes for defence of the castle,
lOoO ... ... ..« ••• •*. ..* •«• *tt ••« ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ^^
X
Table of Contents,
The Spanish" Floating BabeV* 1588 11—12
" Barycades " to be constructed, 1593 12
Baskerville's letter relative thereto, and to the state of the ports in Cornwall,
loi/o, anci \wtjO ..a ••• tt* ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• • •• u a^
John Killigrew's petition as to repairing and fortifying the castle, and for
its supply with men, guns, &c. 10 men are already allowed to the castle.
He requires 60 men, and 7 guns, &o. Makes a liberal offer, 1595 ... 15
His further petition, 1596 ..15 — 16
The captain^s fees, lOs. per diem, 1596 16
Sir Francis Grodolphin's estimate of the castle, 1597 16
Sir Nicholas Parker, captain 1597 16
He is empowered to exercise the charge of captain by deputy in case of
necessity, lD«lo... ... ... ... ... ... .». ... ... ... lo— i/
Nicholas Burton his deputy 17
Sir N. Parker's account of the fortifying which is in progress. His com-
plaint that he has only one piece of serviceable ordnance, 1598 ... ... 17
The builder*8 account, 1598 17
Norden*8 account 17 — 18
••# •■• ■••
• • • fl •• ••• ••«
••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •••
• • • • • •
••• ••• at* ■•• ••• •••
••• ••• •••
!•• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ■••
#•• ••• ■■• ••• ••• ••• •■•
• •■ • • % ••• ■••
50 men allowed to the fort. Their wages 8d a day, 1598
Ordnance sent to the fort, June 1599 ...
Complaint of Sir N. Parker, that he has received but 4 pieces for the front
of the fort, which requires 12 : and that ordnance in St. Mawes castle
ought to be transfered to Pendennis, Aug. 1599 ...
He has 45 men " and not one officer,'* Aug. 1599
Hals's account of the fortifying, munifying, and garrisoning...
Carew's statement of the garrison, 1602
Carew*8 eulogy of Sir N. Parker
Sir N. Parker's intimacy with Lady Jane Eillig^ew
The Mayor's cup ^, ..
Sir N. Parker's death, 1603. Inscription at Budock
John Parker, captain or keeper, 1603 ...
He is not named in the list of captains by any Cornish historian
Sir John Parker, captain or keeper, 1607
He is not named in the list of captains by any Cornish historian
Sir Nicholas Hals or Halse said to have been governor in 1613 ...
Probably he was lieutenant-governor
Sir N. Hals favours the project of building a new town (afterwards called
Falmouth), at Smithike, representing how it would be advantageous to
the castle of Pendennis, 1613
Sir Robert Killigrew, captain, 1614
He is not named in the list of captains by any Cornish historian ...
18
18
•• ... ... .*• •*• ..* ...
... .«• ... ••.
... ... ... ... ••• ..• ••• ••• •••
... • • •
..t ... •••
*•• .••
• • • ..•
18
18
18
19
19
...19—20
20
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
••t kit ••*
. .* • • •
22
22
22
TabU of Contmts, xi
Distress of the soldiers of Pendennis castle, who have been without pay for
20 months. Their petition, 1625 22 — 23
Another petition of the distressed soldiers (50 men) 1625 23
Capt. John Bonython's complaint of the unprovided state of the castle, in
two letters to Sec. Conway, 1626 23
Capt. John Bonython (and not Sir N. Hals) is deputy captain of Pendennis
castle in lo^o , , z«l
The statements of Hals and Tonkin 23
Sir R. Kililigrew's petition for a supply for the castle and alterations in the
fortifications ; and for pay for the g^arrison of 50 men, who have been all
but starving, 1626 24
Sir John Killigrew's attempt to get Bonython removed from the deputy
captainship, April and May, 1626 24
Bon}thon'8 further letters to Sec. Conway, Oct. & Nov. 1626 24
Sir R. Killigrew's further petition, 1627 24
Warrant to add 50 more men for defence of the castle, 1627 25
Commencement of the repairs and alterations of the fortifications, 1627 ... 25
It is conjectured that the distressed soldiers received their pay at about this
^^^^^^ #•• ••• ■«• ••• ••• ••• •#• ••• •■• •■• * • • #•• ••# ••• fl»« mt%J
The same Sir Robert Eilligrew, jointly with his son, Sir William Killigrew,
capuun, lOiaO ... ... ... ..§ ••• »»* ••• ••• •• ••• ••• ••• ••§ •*)
They are not named in the list of captains by any Cornish historian 25
The grant to them of the captainship, with fees for them, and the garrison
of 100 soldiers, and 40^ per ann. for reparation of the fort 25
John Tresahar, lieutenant-governor, in 1628, complains that the lieutenant
at St. Ma wes summons captains of ^hips to that castle 25 — 26
Strength of the garrison at a general muster 26
Sir W. Killigrew's complaint, that for the last 2 years ships have been
stayed and questioned at St. Mawes castle, and this had been accustomed
to be done at Pendennis castle only, 1630 26
After both sides have been heard, it is ordered, that Pendennis is to call to
account ships which anchor on the west side, ^nd St. Mawes, those which
anchor on the east side, of the Black Rock, 1631 26
Sir W. Killigrew's petition to the king for that order to be stayed, 1631 26
The king, purposing to hear the differences himself, directs the order to
be stayed in the meantime, 1631 26 — 27
Reduction of the garrison from 100 to 50 men, 1632 27
Sir R. Ealligrew's protestation as this, 1632 27
Lord Arundel of Wardour's representation of the ill repair and the impor-
tance of the castle, 1634 27
Death of Sir Robert Killigrew, Nov. 1633 27
Sir William Killigrew alone, captain, 1633 27
Surrender of the captainship by Sir W. Killigrew, April, 1635 27
Xll
TabU of Contents,
Chapter III.
••• ••• ■■• ■■•
• • t • • •
• • • • •
• • • • •
Sir Nicholas Slanning, governor, 1635 ...
John Tresahar, lieutenant-governor ...
The king instructs Sir N. Slanning to take men and cannon from Pendennis
on a secret expedition to Cumberland, 1639
Commencement of the civil war, 1612
••• % •% •■• ••■
■•t ••• ••• •••
• • • • • •
Its nature
••• «•• ••• •■• ••# ••• ••• •••
••• • %% ••• ••• ••
••• ••• #•• ••• •#• flat ••
••• ••• ••• flflfl ••
••• ■•• ■•• ••• ■•• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••
••• ••• ■•• •■• ••■ ••• ••
)•• ••« t»fl ••!
28
28
28
28—29
29
29—30
30
30
30
30—31
Petition of Cornwall for repair of the castle
Sir N. Slanning slain at the battle of Bristol, 1643 ...
Col. John Arundel, governor, 1643
• * John for the King. " *• Old Tilbury "
Col. Tremayne, or Richard Anmdel^ lieut. -governor
The king's letter to Sir W. Killigrew, the former governor, promising for
Col. Arundel's son, Richard, the reversion of the government after his
latncr. i d4«>, J an , ... .,, ., , ... ,,, ol
Col Arundel harbours Queen Henrietta Maria in Pendennis castle about the
4th July, 1644 ...
Her flight thence
••• •■■ ••• >•• ••# ••• ••• ••• ••• ••
' • * • • •
(• •■• ■••
>•• ••■ »•• ••• ••# ••• »•• ••
• • • • • •
m
« • • « • ■
■•■ ••• ••• •••
• • • • • •
• • • • • t
• • • • • •
31
31—32
Powder supplied from the castle for the battle of Broadoak, 16 H 32
Duke of Hamilton a prisoner in the castle, 1644-5 32 — 33
Sir E. Hyde (Lord Clarendon) sent to the castle to have the frigate there i
readiness for the prince, 1645, Aug
Lord Norwich sues for the governorship, 1645, Oct.
Prince Charles directs the castle to be prepared for his abode there in the
winter, 1646, Oct
He orders an addition to the garrison, 1645, Nov.
The removal of the Duke of Hamilton from the castle, 1645, Nov.
The prince is troubled by the governor being misinformed that the prince
intends to displace him, in favour of Lord Hopton, 1645, Nov.
Col. Pickeringe is by Cromwell desired to be honourably interred, according
to one authority, in Pendennis, 1645, Dec. But this must be an error ..
Pendennis is declared to be victualled for a year, 1646, Jan
Prince Charles repairs thither, about 16 Feb., 1646
He hears of a design to seize his person, and his very servants are suspected
" The king's room "
He proposes to erect a chapel in the castle, 1646, Feb.
He embarks from Pendennis, 2 Mar., 1646
A contemporary newspaper account
Lord Hopton sends his infantry and some ammunition to Pendennis and St
Michael's Mount, 1646, Mar. ...
••• aflt ••• •••
« • t at
• • • ■ • •
••• ••• t*a •••
• • • • • •
t ■ • • • •
• • • ■ • •
•■• ■•• ••• t«t
• •• ••
33
33
33
34
34
34
35
35
36
36
36
36
37
37
37
Table of Contents, xiii
The expectation that the castle will shortly surrender, 11 Mar., 1646 38
120 musqueteors, armed, come out of Pendennis, and yield themselves to Sir
Thos. Fairfax, 14 Mar., 1646 38
Col. Arundel expects the coming of the parliament forces to Arwenack
house, and succeeds in burning great part of it before their arrival,
io inar., 1q4o ... ... ... ... ... ... ,., ,., ... ... .,, ... ...uo— ~u9
Two regiments are quartered there and in Pennycomequicke, for the
blocking up of the castle, 17 Mar., 1646 39
The expectation that the castle will soon be 'tractable/ 17 Mar. 39
The use of St. Mawes and Dennis castles, whose surrender was about the
16th and 18th March, in the operations against Pendennis (''T. M.'s"
»Mv\AjI ... ... ..( ..« .•« ..( ... •• ... ... ... ... ... ... ... OSF flv
The royalist man of war protecting Pendennis on the 17th Mar.
\ jl • 1*1. 8 lener^ ... ... ,,, ... ... ... ... ... ,,, ,,, ,,, ,,, 4U
The strength of the castle, as repoi-ted by one of the enemy, and his judg-
ment as to how it may be reduced (** T. M.'s" letter) 41
A royalist frigate fought and taken in Falmouth harbour, 18 Mar.,
(**T. M.'s" letter, and a newspaper account) 41
Sir Thos. Fairfax's summons to the governor to surrender, 18 Mar 42
Col. ArundePs reply, 18 Mar 42
The investment by land and sea. The five months' siege , 43
Newspaper judgment on the 23rd Mar 43
Fortifications to be raised on the isthmus to block up Pendennis by land,
^^ iUcU^* ••■ «a« ••• ••• •«• ••• ••■ ••• ••• «•« »«« ,,9 ,,f ,,^ ^O
An ambush, 26 Mar 44
Pendennis ** almost lined about " 28 Mar 44
Lords Hopton and Capel embark from Pendennis, 1 1 April 44
Letter from the council of war at Pendennis to the prince, informing him
of their state, and pra3ring a-^sistance. Provisions from Ireland for the
1500 in Pendennis hoped for. 11 April 44
The line nearly perfected for blocking up the castle, 15 April 44
Description of the entrenchments of the blockading forces 45
Description of the redoubt and works on the part of the defenders 4d
Col. Hammond's summons to the governor to surrender, 17 April 45
Col. Arundel's reply, 17 April 45
He expects 800 more will besiege them, 19 April 45
The castle supposed to be on treaty for surrender, 19 April, (Col. Forteecne) 45
Its " ambitious glory " 27 April 46
Capt. Batten's summons to the castle to surrender, 30 April 46
Curious verses made in the castle, likening it to Penelope, her suitors being
Fairfax, Hammond, Fortescue, and Batten, but her husband the King.
i^f»y ..• ... .a* ..I ... ..« ... ... ..( ... .(( ... .., ... ...4 1 ^O
XIV
Table of Contents,
••• ••• •••
• ■• ••• • * •
• •■ ••• ••• «»t tB* % % • t«* ••■ •■•
• •• ••■ • • % t«* •••
••• •••
• • • •••
• •• ••• ••§ ••• •••
••• «•• ••• •■•
■ • • • • <
• •• ••• •••
••• ••• •••
• •• It* ••• ••• •■•
• tfl ••• •••
• •• ••• ••• ••• •••
• •• ••• ••• Vt* ••• •••
• •• ••• •••
» ■ • • • •
• »• ••• ••• ■•• •#• •§• ■•• •■• ••• •••
••• «■• ■•• ••■
• ■• ••• ••• m 9 % •••
48
48
49
49
Directions for relief of the castle, 21 May
Col. Trema3me's escape
A ship with relief for the castle captured, 12 June ...
1 hose in the castle supposed to * droop * in consequence, 15 June
Letter from the castle to the prince, saying they must, if not relieved,
surrender in 3 weeks, 27 June
Soldiers ' run out ' of the castle daily, and say the same thing, 30 June
Hopes of the enemy, 30 June
A sally by boats for fetching in relief, about 25 July
Ships with relief stayed by contrary winds, about 15 July ...
News bent by a shallop to the prince, about 26 July
Officers reject overtures made to them to quit the castle for the service of
the king of Spain
Two hundred " great shot " fired from the castle in three days ...
Two shallops, in. spite of Capt. Batten, bring relief to the castle, but the
relief little, and the governor writes to Col. Fortescue, and takes two
days time to consider whether he will treat, 2 Aug. ...
Order for killing horses for provisions for the garrison ...
The governor begins to treat, 10 Aug.
He breaks off, 12 Aug
The resolve to blow up the castle, and fall upon the enemy, if honourable
terms should be refused
The governor again begins to treat, 14 Aug.
Chief articles agreed, 15 Aug.
Articles all agreed, 16 Aug. ...
The articles 53-4-6-6-7
The marching out of Pendennis. The ordnance, &c. The officers. The
sick. The women and children. The plot. (Capt. Batten's account) ... 57 — 8
What vessels, &c., were surrendered ^ 58
Haslock's letter as to the plot, the surrender, and the provisions in the
castle ... ... ••• ... ••« •#• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •■• •••
The nimiber and quality of the g^arrison 59
Parliament has letters as to the surrender, 21 Aug 59
Lord Clarendon's eulogy , 69 — 60
That 01 Hals ••• ... .*• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••.ou oi
The house of commons nominates and approves of Col. Fortescue to be
governor, JLo A ug. ... ... ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• • ••• •••
The house orders payment of £60 to the messengers who brought the news
of the surrender, 25 Aug 61
A day of public thanksgiving ordered, 25 and 28 Aug 61
Col. Richard Fortescue, governor, 1647 62
49
49
49
49
50
50
50
50
50
51
51
52
52
62
52
52
61
«•• >•• ..t ••• •!« ••• ••• ••• •••
Table of Contents,
XV
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The house of commons allows Col. Fortescue to be governor, 12 Mar., 1647
Sir Hardres Waller, governor, 1648
The house of commons orders the castle to bo delivered up to Sir Hardros
Waller, and the lords agree, 17 April, 1648
Henry Flamank, his chaplain. A memorial of him...
Shrubsall lieut -governor
Alleged destruction by him of a ruined college...
Alleged injury of the loggan stone, &c, by soldiers from the castle
A fight, close lo the castle, between Lord Hopton, upon his landing to
obtain provision, and the parliament forces, April, 1649
The house of commons considers about confirming the articles of surrender,
xXi iriar. , 1 oow ... ... ..• ••« «• •*• ... ... ••• ••• •.> ... ...
The house orders each of the four foot companies at the castle, to be com-
pleted to the number of 00. 10 May, 1650...
William Prynne a prisoner in the castle, 1652
His account of it
Character of Sir Hardres Waller...
Capt. John Fox, governor, 1658 ..
Robert Roberts, Jieut. -governor, Aug., 1658 ..'.
Lyson's account of the governorship
A letter from the governor is read in the house of commons, and referred to
the council of state
Col. Anthony Rowse, governor, 1659 ...
The house of commons approves of^him to be governor, 13 Feb., 1659
He is not named by Cornish historians in the list of governors of Pendennis
The notice (presumably) of him by Hals, and its inaccuracies
Chapter IV.
Sir Peter Killigrew, governor, 1660
His interest in the site of the castle
The town at Smithicke named 'Falmouth,' 1660, and made a corporate
town, with a saving of the rights of Sir P. Killigrew, 1661
Five foot companies to be continued in the castle, under command of CoL
Richard Arundel, 1660 P . .
Reduction of two of the five companies ordered, Jan. 1661 ...
Probably CoL Rich. Arundel was deputy governor...
Petition of Lionel Gatford, D.D., late chaplain of the castle, Aug. 1661
Warrant for Col. Harvey to be sent prisoner to the castle, Oct. 1661
A petition of one who served the king while he was at the castle, 1662 ...
Col Richard, afterwards Richard Lord Arundel, governor, 1662
Warrant to pay him £2000 for payment of the garrison, July, 1662
£377 10s. 8d. monthly, to be the pay of the throe companies in the garrison
and their ofiicers, Aug. 1662 ...
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Col. Legg, lient. -governor, 1663
£1143 to be paid him for ammunition and provision for the castle, 1663 ...
Sir Nicholas Slanning to have the office of governor in reversion after Col.
^vru im tji, xoox ,,, ,,. ... ... ,,, ,,, «■• ,,, ,,. ,,, ,,, ,,, ,,,
47 pieces of snpemmnerary ordnance immounted, remaining in the castle,
to be sent to the tower, 1661 ...
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Parish of Falmouth formed. Pendennis retained as a (detached) portion of
Budock parish, 1664 ...
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The governor, Col. Richard, is created Lord Arundel, 1665 ...
Ho is startled by a proposition to send 100 men, officered, to Plymouth, his
garrison being only 200, Nov. 1665
John Wildman to be imprisoned in the castle, 1666
The works to be repaired and fortified, the garrison to be victualled for 2
months, and the allotted number of soldiers to be filled up, there being
apprehension of invasion, 1666
A Mr. Desborough imprisoned 3 months in the castle, by mistake for Major
General Desborough, 1666
Sir John Stevens probably lieut. -governor in 1666 ...
The fire of London. Oaths of allegiance and supremacy to be taken by the
garrison. Only one, a Roman Catholic, refused Dec. 1666 72 — 73
Thegovemor is to set John Wildman at liberty, Oct. 1667 73
The war with Holland being at an end. the soldiers in the castle, except 60,
are disbanded, Oct. 1667 73
John Lord Arundel, governor, 1667 73
Lyson's account of the governorship from 1660 to the Earl of Bath's time 73
Hals' account of the governorship from 1647 to the Earl of Bath's time ...73 — 74
John GrenviUe Earl of Bath, governor, about 1670 74
Anne Pomeroy's petition, 1671 74
Sir Peter Killiflnrew's violent taking of £201 from the king's collector, for
repair of the castle ; and confinement of the collector in the castle, ICiiSO...
John Waddon, deputy governor
The earl's negotiations for delivering up the castle to the prince of Orange;
the earl to remain governor, 1689
Richard Trevanion, governor, 1697
Hals says he wan governor ...
The castle struck by lightning, 1717
Fees of the governor (£182 15s.), of the lieut-govemor (£73), and of the
gunners. 1719 (P) ,
Lieut-Colonel Arthur Owen, governor, about 1735 ...
Lieut-CoL Richard Bowles, lieut-govemor, from 1758 to 1769 ...
Col. William Fawcett, lieut-govemor, from 1769
The governor's death, 1774
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Table of Cotitents,
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lieut-Colonel Charles Beauclerk, governor, 1774
Col. Fawcett still lieut-govemor ...
The governor's death, 1775 ...
Lieut-General Robert Robinaon, governor, 1776
Grose names him as governor
Col Fawcett still lieut-govemor till about 1776
Major Newington Pool, lieut-govemor, from 1776 ...
The fortress repaired, about 1780
Fees of governor and lieut-govemor in 1787
The governor's death, 1 793 ...
General Felix Buckley, governor, 1798...
Lyson and Drew name him as governor
Major Pool still lieut-govemor
Pendennis lands purchased by the crown, 1795
Crab Quay Battery and Half Moon Battery added, about 1795
Major Pool resigned the lieut. -governorship, 1797 ...
Capt. Philip Melvill, lieut-govemor, from 1797
Little dwellings and gardens made by the soldiers on the south west of the
castle, encouraged by Capt. Melvill
French prisoners in the castle, an object of his care...
A memorial of him, by Drew
His death, 181 1. Inscription in Falmouth Church...
Capt. James Conaidine, lieut-govemor, 1811 — 1814 ...
lieut-CoL William Fenwick, lieut-govemor, from 1814 ...
The govemor's death, 1823 ...
General Sir M. Hunter, governor, 1823
Lieut-Col. Fenwick, still lieut-govemor, till 1882
The governor's appointment to the governorship of Stirling castle, 1832 ...
General Paul Anderson, govemor, 1832
Brevet Lieut-Col. Loftus Gray, lieut-govenior, from 1832 till his death, 1835
The office thereupon abolished
The govemor appointed colonel of the 78th Reg. of foot, 1887
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The office of govemer thereupon abolished
The modem system ,
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ST. MAWES CASTLE.
Chapter I.
Origin of name. Different derivations
Variations upon the name
Connection of the name with that of St. Malo
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The saint's residence at both places in the 6th century
Date of baildingi 1542| or a little earlier
Its cost 5000/....
Inscriptions
Description of the building
The tradition of King Hen. YIII's visit ...
Leland's verse...
Chapter II.
Michael Yyvyan, captain, keeper, or governor, 1544
Hals was misinformed about Sir B. Greice being the first captain
The site and the government of the castle given to Michael Vyyjran, by
XVXJLII^ AXwJUX Y T JLXX Bflfl ••• ■■• •■« ••■ •«• ••# ■•• flfli ••■ ••! •••
The castle strengthened and enlarged with two barbacans, aboat 1550 ...
Death of Michael Yyvyan, 1561
Hannibal Yyvyan, captain or keeper, 1651
An estimate made of ordnance for the castle, 1577
Hannibal Yyvyan insists npon having a better supply of ordnance, Ac.,
viz. : a whole culverin, 4 demi-culverins, 3 sakers, &o., 1595
His fees, lOs. per diem, 1596
Carew's statement of the garrison, 1602
His notice of < Master Yivian,' 1602
Sir Francis Yyvyan, captain, 1603
The gprant to him of the office
The expense of repairing the castle estimated
and others, 1609
Commissioners recommend for *JQOl. to be granted for fortification of the
castle ; and 10 pieces of ordnance to be allowed to it, 1623
Their description of the castle, as strong, Ac, but overtopped with high
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A warrant given to Sir Francis for 253/. for repairs and provisionfi, 1628...
Hannibal Bonithon, lieutenant-governor in 1630
Sir Wm. Eilligrew, captain of Pendennis castle, complains of Bonithon's
staying and questioning ships at St. Mawes, 1630
The certificate of the Trinity House as to the consequence or use of the
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Certificates of the borough of St. Mawes, Ac., that the staying and
questioning of ships at the castle, has been long accustomed, 1631 ...
Bonithon' 8 petition to the Admiralty, setting forth the chief points
deserving consideration, touching the difference between the castles.
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by Sir Wm. Godolphin
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Table of Conttnts. xix
After the Admiralty have heard both sides, they order, that Pendennis is
to call to account ships which anchor on the west sMe, and St. Mawes
those which anchor on the east side, of the Black Bock. May, 1631 ... 90
Sir Wm. Killig^w, of Pendennis, petitions for that order to be stayed,
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The king will hear the differences himself, and directs the execution of
the order to be stayed in the meantime, July, 1681 90
The Star Chamber sentences Sir Francis Yyvyan to be committed to the
Fleet, to pay a fine of 2000/., and to be removed from his office of
captain of St. Mawes, declaring him to have practised certain de-
ceptions in reference to his office, Nov. 1632 90
His fine of 2000/. is respited, Feb. 1688 91
Chapter III.
Sir Bobert le Grys, captain, 1632 92
Charges made against him as captain, which he answers, April, 1688 ... 92
He appoints John Stanbory lieutenant of the castle, 1634 92
The Admiralty deprive him, and appoint Capt. Bonithon to be continued
in tne omoo, iOt54 ... ... ... ... ... ... uss
Commissioners for survey of the castle, estimate the cost of neoessary
repairs at 534/. Aug. 1684 92
There were a master gunner and 12 soldiers in the castle, Aug. 1684 ... 98
Fees for the porter and gunner 12d., and every soldier 8d. per diem ... 98
Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey, captain, 1686 98
Curious terms of the grant to him 98
He is not named as governor by Cornish historians 98
Hannibal Bonithon still lieutenant of the castle, 1686 98
A report on the castle. Fees for the captain, 8s., the lieutenant, 18d.,
and soldiers, 8d. per diem, 1836 93
Depositions charging Bonithon with embezzlement, disaffection to the
king's cause, ^., Sept. 1646 ... 94
Major Hannibal Bonithon's surrender of the castle to Sir Thos. Fairft^
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His relation that the reputation of the treaty of Tressilian Bridge had
produced a surrender of the castle, wherein were found 13 guns, Ac... 95
Another contemporaneous account. Two great brass cannon found in
the castle ...
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Col. Amnders invitation to Major Bonithon ...
Lieutenant-Colonel Eekewich, captain, 1646
His appointment by the parliament ...
Haul's error as to the governorship, Ac. ...
Sir Richard Yyvyan, captain, 1660
His petition for a few more soldiers, there being only 1 gunner, and 12
soldiers, 1660 ...
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Table of Contents.
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Establishment of the garrison. Fees for governor, Ss., and deputy-
govemori Ss., and 200 soldiers each 8d. per diem, &c.| &c.) 1664
89/. allowed for repairs, 1664
Warrant for a grant to Viel Viviaii, in reversion after Sir Eiohard, of the
office of captain, 1665 . . .
Death of Sir Richard, Oct. 1665
Sir Vyel Vyvyan, captain, 1665 . . .
Account of the sale by him of the castle lands, to John Earl of Bath
Death of Sir Vyel, 1696
Sir Joseph Tredenham, captain, 1696
The transfer to him of the castle lands, 1696...
Mr. Boscawen, his deputy ...
Sir Joseph displaced in 1697
The Bight Honourable Hugh Boscawen, afterwards Viscount Falmouth, captain,
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Sir Joseph Tredenham prayed payment of the clearings due to himself,
his late deputy, and gunners, and payment was to be made, 1698
How the castle was armed. Fees of captain, deputy and gunners (Hals'
account), 1719
The captain made Viscount Falmouth, 1720 ...
His death, 1734
Major de Boon, captain, 1734
Adjutant Greneral Scipio Duroure, captain, about 1740 ..
His death, 1745. Inscription in Westminster Abbey
Lieutenant General Alexander Duroure, captain, 1745 ...
His death, 1765. Inscription in Westminster Abbey
Lieutenant General Sir B. Pigot, Bart., captain, 1765 ...
riifl Qeatn, x.i\fo ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Colonel Edward Morrison, captain, 1796
His appointment to be governor of Chester, 1796
Field Marshall Sir G«orge Nugent, Bart., captain, 1796 ...
Who were the owners of the castle lands in 1814 ...
Major Aloes, deputy governor, 1812 — 1815
Lieut.-Colonel Graham, deputy governor, 1815 — 1828
Major General Sir Alexander Cameron, deputy governor, 1828 — 1842
The office abolished, 1842 .
Death of the captain, 1849
The office abolished, 1849 ...
The modem system
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3ENDENNIS, the modem name, appears to be a comiption of the
Comu-Bridsh Pen, a head or promontory, (pedn, id., pL pennou),
and *Dinas, a fortress or bulvark. (See Borlase's "Antiquities of
Cornwall.") Dr. William Pryce, 1790, in his " Archseolt^a
Comu-Britannia " gives the same derivation. The account given by Hals is
somewhat different He says (p. 119)," the Compound Name Pen-den-is CasQs,
a a ronificd htadlan^ call^X":ilile Diiuu ot'Di^uV^ " Thii Ultl/Slnai has hstoiI m«iem^n!l^-
rmm tea lo «a. shich i> the renuiadcr of a vtty udcal fotlifLcuion, ud in all ILkelihood, RDmin."—
BotlAflc's ADtiquitict, p. 3^
Pendennis,
it's British, and signifies that it is the head ox chief Man's Castle j viz., the King
or Earl of CornwaPs. Otherwise, if the true Name thereof be Fen-dun-es
Castle, it signifies that it is the head or chief Fori or Fortress CastleJ^ There
is also a Pendinas near St Ives, and probably there are others in Cornwall
The promontory of Peudennis is almost an island. Leland says (vol 3,
fol. 10). "It is a Mile in Cumpace by the Cumpace and is almost environid
with the Se. and where it is not, the Ground is so low, and the Cut to be made
so litle that it were insulatid." And again (fol. 5), ^'Fendinas almost an isle."
Norden (p. 50), describes it as "a peninsula \y\ng poyntinge into the sea at
ye mouth of Falmouth Haven /' and adds, " It hath bene, as it seemeth, an
Ilande ; in the whole prouince no Hand comparable ; the forme whereof may
be thus described :" And then upon the same page he gives us a ground
plan of " Pendenis Jiande, * saying, " It is aboue lyi myle in circuit"
There is no evidence to show at what period the noble promontory of Pen-
dennis was first fortified, but at all events from the time when it was first
named Pendennis or Pendinas, it, doubtiess, was the site of a hill-fort, built,
perhaps, by the Ibero-Aquitanian invaders in pre-historic times. That it was
occupied by the Romans seems nearly certain. Borlase says (p. 291), " From
the situation of Pendinas — more advantageously shap'd for defence, and guard
of a noble Harbour (calPd by Ptolemy, CaUonis Ostium;) I should guess it
could never escape the notice and use of the Romans."
In the year 806, A.D., the Danes came into Cornwall and brought a fleet
there* at the invitation of the Cornish. Still, according to Borlase (p. 44),
"they wintered not here in Britain, till the year 854, as is particularly taken
notice of by the historians. It seems, it was their custom to return every year
to their own country, either to carry oflf their spoil, to visit their wives and
children, to recruit their forces, or to repair their ships, which could not be so
well done, or so securely attended to, in a foreign, and enem/s coimtry. This
fi-equent sailing to and fro brought them acquainted with all the secure landing
places on the coast, where, if the winds would not permit them to land in one
place, they soon knew where, in some other adjacent creek, they might shelter
their ships, and disbark their men with more safety and conveniency ; if
Early Fortifications.
they could not securely put on shore a great number in one place, 'tis natural
to imagine that they would divide into parties, and land as near one to the
other as possible : this, the many landing places so very little distant from each
other round the extremity of Cornwall (caird the Land's End), do abundantly
testify : as the Danes were so frequently obliged to land, and embark again,
another thing occurs to every one who will consider their works, (for works are
records and oftentimes the only remaining proofs and grounds of history) and
'tis this, that not caring easily to quit any land where they had once got footing,
and yet knowing well enough to provide for a secure retreat to their ships on
all events, they not only entrench'd themselves on the hills, but soon leam'd
(so instructive is necessity) to intrench and fortify their landing-places."
At about this period, therefore, sometime in the 9th century, but according
to Gilbert, A.D. 807, the promontory of Pendennis is believed to have been
fortified, as Gilbert has it, by the Danes, with a triple intrenchment of turf, earth
and stones, enclosing an area of 20 acres ; but, according to Polwhele, this
triple entrenchment was Roman or British. And Hals says (p. 129), "This
Castle of old consisted only of a treble Intrenchment of Turf, Earth and Stones,
after the British or Roman manner, upon the Top of the highest Hill in those
parts." Where this triple intrenchment may have been, there is no trace to shew.
In all probability it would be across the narrow neck of ground where the
Falmouth Hotel now stands, or between that and the docks.
No further fortification of Pendennis appears to have been attempted
until the time of Henry VIII.*
In the year 1537 — the fact is noted in Froude's history (vol 3, p. 248) — " the
harbours in general were poorly defended, and strange scenes occasionally took
place in their waters." For an example the historian cites (pp. 248-9), a report
by one John Arundel, of Trerice, to one Cromwell, of a spirited naval
* ** This most provident Prince, having shaken off the more than servile yoke of Popish tyrannie, and
espying that the Emperor vras offended for his divorce from Queen Katherine, his aunt, and thereto under-
standing that the French King had coupled the Dauphin his son with the Pope's niece, and married his
daughter to the King of Scots (1537), he determined to stand upon his own defense, and therefore with no small
speed, and like charges, he builded certain blokehouses, castles, and platforms upon divers frontiers of the
R^dme." — (Grafton^ as cited in the 36th Ann. Rep. Roy. Inst, of Com., p. 28 )
" The same time the King caused all the hauens to be fensed with bulworks and blockehouses, and riding
to Doner he took order to haue bulworks made alongst the sea Qxasia.**—Holinskedf vol. Ill, p. 946, anno 1539.
Pendmnis,
engagement between French and Spaniards in Falmouth Harbour. At the
conclusion of the report, Arundel says, "My lord, I and all the country will
desire the King's Grace that we may have blockhouses made upon our haven."
The historian adds (pp. 254 5) : "The animus of foreign powers was evidently
as bad as possible. Subjects shared the feelings of their rulers. The Pope
might succeed, and most likely would succeed at last, in reconciling France
and Spain ; and experience proved that England lay formidably open to
attack. It was no longer safe to trust wholly to the extemporized militia.
The introduction of artillery was converting war into a science; and the
recent proofs of the unprotected condition of the harbours should not be
allowed to pass without leaving their lesson. Commissions were issued for
a survey of the whole eastern and southern coasts. The most efficient
gentlemen in the counties which touched the sea were requested to send
up reports of the points where invading armies could be most easily landed,
with such plans as occurred to them for the best means of throwing up
defences. The plans were submitted to engineers in London ; and in
two years (i 537-1 539) every exposed spot upon the coast was guarded by an
earthwork, or a fort or block-house. Batteries were erected to protect the
harbours at St Michael's Mount, Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth, Dartmouth,
Torbay, Portland, Calshot, Cowes and Portsmouth. Castles were built at
Dover, Deal, Sandwich, and along both shores of the Thames."
In the year 1538 then, we may conclude, was erected the oldest existing
fortification of Pendennis, viz., the small block-house close to the water's edge
near the present rifle range. In the same year the monasteries were sup-
pressed.
It would appear, (see 26th Annual Report of the Royal Institution of
Cornwall, p. 28), according to the calculation of Sir Charles Lemon, Bart
(M.P., President Royal Institution of Cornwall in 1844), that the order for the
erection of Pendennis castle was given in the year 1539, and that the building
of it was "begun and finished between 1542 and 1544," when Leland, the
author of the Itinerary, saw it. (Cf post) The castle may be considered,
therefore, co-eval with the printing of the first authorized translation of the
bible (Cranmer's). Carew (p. 362) tells us : " On the west side, at the very
The Castle Erected.
coming in, there riseth a hill, called Pendennis, where King Henry the Eighth,
when he took order for fortyfying the seacoasts, caused a castle to be builded,
with allowance of a petty garrison, and some small store of ordnance."
Neither he, Leland, Camden, nor any other Cornish historian, gives any
precise date.
The oldest part of the castle or citadel of Pendennis, is, therefore, at the
present date not less than three hundred and thirty years old It appears to
have been built under the superintendence of a Mr. Treflfry, of Fowey, who
also built the other fortifications along the coast
" It is said that the King [Henry VIII] came to view the situation of his
two projected Castles of St Mawes and Pendennis ; that he passed two nights
at Tolvem, then a seat of the Arundells ; and that he crossed the river fi:om
thence to Feock, at a passage that has ever since gone by his name. There
is not, however, any trace of this joiuney to be foimd in histories of the
times, nor in any public document" — (Gilbert, voL 2, p. 280). Gilbert, how-
ever, (p. 280) speaks of the tradition as " universaUy believed in Cornwall"
The original building, with the exception of the exterior gate and guard-
house, must remain in much the same state as when first erected ; at all events
we can well judge of what it was originally. What alterations have been made
in it, have certainly not added to its state or beauty, however they may have
added to its security.
The great tower is circular, 35 feet in height, and 56 feet in exterior
diameter, with granite walls, 1 1 feet thick, pierced with circular and arched
embrasures to casements, in three tiers for artillery. The summit is also
provided with embrasures for artillery, the whole surmounted on the north
side, with a small look-out turret embattled for ornament ; this was probably
surmounted with a cupola, but in place of a cupola there is now only a small
flagstaff.
To the north from this tower projects a wing or block, which is of
lower elevation ; this is embattied and is of two stories. In this are the state
apartments, and it has a highly ornamented gateway approached by a draw-
bridge. The whole is encircled with a parapet waU, whose trace is a
Pendennis.
quindecagon, with embrasures for cannon, outside which again are a circular
ditch and a slight glacis. A guard-room protects the outer end of the
drawbridge.
The rougher portion of the solid masonry is composed of granite from
quarries at Mabe and elsewhere in the neighbourhood ; but the finer decorated
portions of the stonework are wrought in the famous Polruddon or Pentowan
stone, from the neighbourhood of St. AustelL Leland mentions "a fair
quarre of whit free stone on the shore rokks betwixt St Pentowan and Blak-
hed, whereof sum be usid in the inward parts of St Maure forteresse ; and
Pendinas castelle is of the same stone except the wallinge." Carew mentions
this stone in the parish of St Austell as somewhat resembling grey marble ;
and Norden calls it " the best free stone that Cornwall yealdeth, and the most
of the churches and towres thereabout were buylded of them.'* (See Hitchins
and Drew, vol. 2, p. 352).
The following is taken from Hitchins and Drew's History, published in
1824. "This celebrated fortress stands on the summit of a verdant hill,
gently sloping towards the isthmus which connects it with the mainland, but
descending with more abruptness towards the sea. This fortress, which is
built of Cornish granite, is proudly exalted on an elevation upwards of 300
feet from the sea, from which the whole entrance of the harbour is commanded.
[In the Parochial History of Cornwall, published by Lake, vol. i, p. 155, the
elevation above the sea at low water is said to be 198 feet]. The fortifications,
which are of an irregular shape, include an area of between three and four
acres. On the north or land side, it is defended by four cavaliers ; and the
traces of a horn and crown work constructed during the civil war, are at a
short distance. The banks of the ditch and citadel still remain ; the situation
of which was admirably calculated to check the progress of an enemy over
the isthmus. On the east, near the water's edge, is a battery of five guns
called Crab Quay ; and on the hill above is a half-moon battery. Within the
works are convenient barracks for troops, magazines and storehouses." (Vol
2, pp. 255-6).
Description of the Castle,
Leland, in his Cygnea Caniio, (lines 548-552), writes thus of the castles of
Pendennis and St Mawes : —
Pendinas tenet asperi cacumen
Celsum montis, et intonat frequenter.
Mauditi quoque subsidet rotundum
Castrum, et fulminat impetu furenti,
Portus ostia quit patent Falensis.
An English verse translation of these lines is given in Camden's Britannia,
by Gibson (voL i, p. 150). It is the following : —
High on a craggy rock Pendennis stands,
And with its thunder all the port commands ;
While strong St. Maudit's answers it below.
Where Falmouth's sands the spacious harbour show.
In King George the Third's collection at the British Museum, there is an
excellent drawing of Pendennis castle, north east view, by Buck, 1734.
With what description of cannon the castle was defended in the earliest
period after its erection, it is impossible to say, but it seems highly probable
that there were guns in it, rudely formed of iron bars welded together, and
bound hy hoops of the same metal, and that they threw stone shot Cast iron
cannon were first made in England about 1545, and brass cannon seven or
eight years previously : stone shot were fired fi-om the wrought-iron guns, and
iron shot from the cast-iron and fi:om the brass guns. (See 26th Ann. Rep.
Roy. Inst of Com., p. 31).
At about the date of the erection of Pendennis castle, cannon of iron and
bronze, under the names of guns, bombards, canon, and scloppi or schioppi,
and bound down to large heavy wooden beds or craddils, were employed in
sieges, both for attack and defence. Projectiles of lead, stone, iron, and in
Italy even bronze were thrown by them, also arrows, and a species of carcass
composition called Greek fire.
But it appears, fi-om the length of time during which sieges lasted, that the
art of opening a practicable breach by means of cannon, had not yet been
mastered Indeed, it is very doubtful whether with such powders as were used,
sufficient force could have been obtained for that purpose. Powder was still
a comparatively feeble agent ; the ingredients, potmded by hand in a mortar,
were themselves but imperfectly purified, the gas must have passed very slowly
8 Pendennis.
through the mixture, and an immense quantity of the charge must have been
blown out without being ignited To prevent excessive windage the leaden
shot were driven forcibly home into the bore of the piece by means of a
mallet and drift, and the soil nature of the metal allowed them to completely
fill the bore. With iron and stone shot, fired from the large guns, no drift
was used, but the shot was inserted from the muzzle, and the powder by a
scoop from the breech, which was then closed by a wooden tompion. The
hot iron was used to fire the charge through a vent, which was often
covered to keep the powder diy. But, rough as these appliances were, we
must not despise too much the cannon of those days. They were suited to
the age, and we have record of one shot kilUng twenty-two men.
A stone shot of raj^ lbs. weight and so inches in circumference, was
dredged up in Falmouth harbour in 1844, and Sir Charles Lemon conjectures,
that it was fired, towards the end of the reign of Elizabeth, from Pendennis,
from a piece called a basilisk, at a Spanish privateer in chase of a merchant
ship, and was one of the last stone shot ever fired in England. (See j6th
Aimual Report of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, p. 33.)
HE SITE of Pendennis castle at the time of the
building, and long afterwards, was held by the Crown
of the Killigrew family, of Arwenadt, at a small
yearly rent and a fine.
John Leland, librarian and antiquary to King
Henry VIII, visited Pendennis at about the time
of the erection of Pendennis castle, and he, in his
ly (voL 3, iol. lo). writes, "The very point of the
mouth being an hille whereon the King hath buildid a
s caullid Pendinant and longgith to Mr. Keligrewe."
1, writing nearly two hundred years later, says, " The
ews are also Lords of the land whereon the Castle of
mis stands, and receive yearly out of the Exchequer
same £13 6s. 8d." (And see Hab, p. izg.)
"KilJignnr'i the Lend bMhof Ihe Fan mid Town."
etition to the Council, which is preserved amongst
the Stale Papers (Dom. Ser. vol. 34a, foL 58), and the date of which is sup-
posed to be 1636, sees forth that the hill contains about 60 acres, and is worth
10
Pmdennis.
;^35 per annum, but that it has been leased for his majesty's use, by Sir John
Killigrew, at the rent of ^12 los. And Martin Killigrew's MS. history of the
Killigrews, written in 1737 or 1738, gives an account different in some par-
ticulars from the accounts of Hals and Tonkin. An abstract of this MS.
history is given in the twelfth number of the Journal of the Royal Institution
of Cornwall, for April, 1871, pp. 269-282, where it is stated (p. 269), that "the
original is not known to exist" At p. 280 is found the following : " Martin
Killigrew goes on to relate somewhat tediously, how Sir Peter [Killigrew (he
was captain of the castle from 1660 to 1662)], after some years soliciting at
the Treasury for justice to be done him as to Pendennis Castle — till then
held on a long lease, at ^2,000 fine and j[,i2 10s. yearly rent — ^got the
government to take a lease for 21 years, at ^200 a year, without a fine,
and retired to Ludlow in 1697." In 1795, the Pendennis lands were pur-
chased from Sir John Wodehouse, the then representative of the Killigrew
family (Lyson, voL 3, p. xcvi), in fee, for the crown's use.
The first captain or governor of Pendennis castle, was John Killigrew,
Esq., who was appointed by King Henry VIII, about the time when the
building was completed, and two or three years before the King's death,
probably in the year 1544. (See Journal Royal Institution of Cornwall, No.
XII, p. 272). This John Killigrew remained captain through the reigns of
Edward VI. and Mary, and until his death in the ninth year of Elizabeth.
He was buried in the parish church of Budock, where (see Lake, vol I, p.
1 50) a brass has the following inscription : —
" Here Ijreth John Killigrew, Esqier, of Arwenack, and Lord of* y^ Manor of Killigrew, in ComMrall ; and
Elizabeth Trewinnard, his wife. He was the first captaine of Pendennis Castle, made by King Henry the
eight, so continued until the nynth of Queen Elizabeth, at ^ich time God took him to his mercye, being the
year of our Lord 1567. Sir John Killigrew, knight, his sone, succeeded him in ye same place by the gifl of
Queene Elizabeth."
Sir John Killigrew, son of the first captain, succeded his father both at
Anvenack and at Pendennis in 1567. (Jour. Roy. Inst Com., XII, April,
1871, p. 272).
He appears not to have been created a knight before tlie year 1574. The
State Papers contain an account of artillery and stores delivered to John
Kylligrew. Esq., captain of Falmouth, alias Pendennis castle, dated 27th
March, 1569 (Dom. Ser. vol 49, no. 74); and a letter from John Kylligrew
to the Council, dated 30th July, 1570, in which he mentions, that he has
stayed several French vessels in the harbour of Falmouth, but has given them
hopes of a quick discharge (vol 71, no. 69). And among the Landsdowne
AISS. (18, art 93), there is a letter from the Earl of Bedford to the Lord
Treasurer, dated 3rd Aug. 1574, in which the Earl states, tliat he has been
" over Comwal, to view y« strength of y' County," and that the castle in Mr.
Killigrew's charge, is in very ill condition and unserviceable.
Sir John Killigrew remained captain of Pendennis castle until his death, in
the year 1584. He was buried in the parish church of Budock, and a brass
there (see Lake, vol. i, p. 150) has the following inscription : —
*' Here lyeth the bodies of Sir John Killigrewe, of Arwenack, in the Countye of Cornwall, knight, who de-
parted this life the 5 day of March, Anno XXVI, Rne. of Eliz., and Dame Mary, his «vife, daughter of Philip
Wolverston, of Wolverston-Hall, in the countie of Suff :, esq. He was the second captain that commanded
Pendennis Forte since the first erection thereof. He had issue by his saide wife 3 sonnes, viz.,
John, Thomas, and Symon ; and 2 daughters, Mary and Katherine. John, his sonne, married Dorothy,
daughter of Thomas Monck, of Poderridge. in the coiuity of Devon, Esq., by whom he had issue IX sonnes
and 5 daughters, in whose memorie John Killigrewe, grand-sonne unto Sir John Killigrewe, hath of a pious
mind erected this monument, An. D'm'i., 1617."
Sir John Killigrew was succeeded in the government of Pendennis castle
by his eldest son, John Killigrew, in 1584. Not one of the historians of
Cornwall names him in the list of captains. But there are preserved in the
Record Office several State Papers, which are of considerable interest in con-
nection with his captaincy. One supposed to be written by the Council to the
Commissioners of Musters in 1585, contains an authority for John Killegrew,
Esq., captain of Pendennis castle, to muster certain adjacent parishes, and to
summon them when necessary for the defence of the castle. (Dom. Ser., vol.
185. no. 54).
" In the year 1588, when the Spanish floating Babel pretended the conquest
of our island (which, like Joshua's army, they compassed, but, unlike him,
could not, with their blasting threats, overthrow our walls), it pleased her
Majesty, of her provident and gracious care, to furnish Cornwall with ordnance
and ammunition, from her own. store, as foUoweth, — Two Sacres, two Minions,
two Faulcons, of cast iron, well mounted upon carriages with wheels shod with
iron, and furnished with ladles, sponges, and rammers, with other necessaries.
12
Pendermis,
Shot of iron for the said pieces of each sort, twenty." (Carew, p. 213). With
regard to these pieces of ordnance, Sir Charles Lemon remarks (26th Ann.
Rep. Roy. Inst Com., p. 27), " I do not think it at all probable that any of
this artillery was sent to Pendennis — they appear to have been field guns,
intended to be moved from place to place, and not for the regular defence of
a castle ; for the sacres carried only a five pound ball, the minions four pound,
and faulcons, two pound." Sir Charles thinks that " the mention of iron shot
seems to imply that the use of other shot had not so far passed out of recol-
lection as to make it unnecessary to specify the sort of material with which
the guns were supplied." — (Ibid,)
Five years later, in August 1593, an order had been taken with the deputy-
lieutenants to " barycadee " all the ports in Cornwall ; as appears, together
with other interesting matter, in a paper published in the Journal of the
Royal Institution of Cornwall, No. XIV., for April, 1873, contributed by Mr.
Rowett, of Polperro, in which we read as follows : —
" The following letter, in the Cottonian Collection of Manuscripts, saved
from the fire at Ashbumham House, October 23, 1731, and now in the British
Museum (Cottonian MSS., Otho E, XI., foL 230), shows the state of the ports
in Cornwall in 1593-5.
" The portions burnt (indicated by italics) have been supplied by a careful
study of the context
" The " Barycades " alluded to, were, doubtless, hastily constructed fortifi-
cations on the coast.
" A map of the coasts of Devonshire and Cornwall, without date, but
evidently made at the same time, and now in the British Museum, (Cottonian
MSS., Aug : I : vol. 1 : 6), represents this plan of fortifications ; of which. Sir
Thomas Baskerville says : " the placis where to sett those Barycades I have
shewid them." It is labelled : " A plott of all the Coast of Cornwall and
Devonshire, as they were to be fortyfied in 1588, against the landing of any
Enemy ;" very neatly drawn on vellum, on two sheets, measuring together 5
ft 2 in. X 2 ft (Cott : Aug. I., i. 6). This has been engraved by Pine, and
was published with his plates of the tapestry hangings of the Hous« of Lords,
The Barricading Against Invasion. 13
which represented the defeat of the Spanish Armada. — See also the " Report
on the arrangements which were made for the internal defence of these king-
doms, when Spain by its Armada projected the invasion and conquest of
England;" privately printed in 1798, by the late John Bruce, Esq., of the
State Paper Office.
" To the
Most honorab/<? the Lords of her ma^^
Most Honorable pryvy CounselL
May itt pleas your Lordshippe to be advertise// that according to your
coraandement I have bin in Cornwall and have vewid all the porte towns and
crikes, bothe on the south and northe sea, and would have seen the southern
cuntry perticulerly in their divisions, w*outt drawing them into one body/ iff
the sisis* had nott bin so very great and the most parte of the gentillmen
and cymtxymen had so many defecks [as] I fynd in the porte towns, and fear
also in the rest of the cuntry, for I asure your laordshipe they have neytherf
store of munysions nor good: arms and for the most parte of the towns lytell
or noe arms are at all left in them, The reason is this they being so guarded
cary their armes w^ them for their defence to the sea, T?u order taken w* the
deputie Lyftenants, for the better d^ierue of those placis is this ; first to Bary-
cadee all those towns cts strongly as may be, the placis wher to sett those
Baryca//<w I have shewid them ; Then to take such order that nonn take any
Arms to sea w' hym, w^outt leaving the preporcion he is charged w' for the
• ■
defence of his towne, and th^z/ the mayor or other officers shall cause a revew
wekly to be taken, and when any such defalt is fownd to punishe acordingly/.
Lykwise fynding greatt inconvenienc and difficulties growe to the porte
towns by reason of the 2ccmy which is now held ther, w^^ is thatt the traynid
Bands are composedid of the best menn of all the country, and therfor taken
outt of many placis so distant that some ^them come 20 mills to their rande-
vous, by w^ means our best menn being drawene fi-om the towns upon the
cost^ have left them to the spoyle of the enymy, therfore w* the advise of
* In an accompanying note, Mr. Rowett says, the word " sisis " is intended for stMts.
t This word is written in substitution for the cancelled '* lyteU,**
M
Pendennis,
deputies Lyftenant itt is thought for in som poynts to alter thatt course and to
order itt in this sorte, that no Captain of the traynid Bands shall draw a mann
from the porte towns or villagis next adjoynyng w4n 2 or 3 mylles, butt all
those having their randevousis aparte and officers apoyntid in every village to
comand them shall upon all alarams draw themselfs by the conduckt of the
sayd officers to the porte towne apoyntid for their gard, wher som gentillmann
of worthe, thatt dwels next unto the sayd porte is to take charg of them and
of thatt place as of his garyson, and he is by no means to w' draw hymself
outt of thatt place to the ayd and assistance of any bther towne, butt ther to
abide at the place apoyntid to his charg/ the rest of the traynid and untraynid
bands w<=*» ar raysid outt of the inner parte of the cuntery ar to draw themselvs
into divers heds or one as they shall see cause to second any town [that] shal
be atemptid, this course is taken as most answerable to the nature of the
atempt now mad upon this coste, and will contynue till your Lordshypps
further order, Lykwise the deputies I^yfftenants for the better garding and for
the better ordering of the cuntry will continue to make a generall review on in
another ^^hy rtment dai\y^ [to] se all the defecks suplyed, the occasion of
which is growen by favoring their pore neybours, If you shuld so thinke itt
fitt itt were not amis to se«^/ an exfertnci^ captaine to see Ihess things per-
(ormed The menn duthe very much desir to have som captains sen/ to them to
lead them if the lyke ocasions ^r^yvail They desiiid me in my letters to
your Lordshipp to say this much unto you, as they will do lykwise in their part.
so craving pardon for my so teadious Letter I humbley take my leave
he who desirs to doe your
Lordships all servis
THO BASKERVILE
Plymouthe this 5 of August.
The letter bears the following endorsements :
5 Aug: 1593.
1595-
S' Thomas Baskervyle
to y* Consill pr<»
Plymoth.
To the most Honorable
the Lords of her ma^
most Honorable pryvy
Counsell.
The Proposal of Fortifying. 15
A petition of John Killigrew to the Council, the date of which has been
supposed to be 1591, but I think, from comparison of the petition next
mentioned, it must have been 1595, is preserved amongst the State Papers
(Dom. Ser., vol 240, No. 113), and is of considerable interest In this
petition he sets forth, that he, having charge of the castle, was sent for, with
Sir Nicholas Parker and Paul Jaye, concerning the strengthening, and he has
sent several petitions to their Lordships the last 6 or 7 years ; that it was
viewed 2 or 3 years past, by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who thought that, by
reason of the hill, the castle might be so fortified as to command the block-
house and the whole hill, or as much as might be offensive to the castle, and
that 1,400/ or 1,500/ would suffice, together with seven pieces of artillery,
and some men, ammunition, &c The petitioner oflfers to perform the work,
so as to save Her Majesty the pay of 70 men, amounting to 700/ or 800/
yearly. He represents that 100 men are required in other instances for
making new fortifications, while he demands but 60 in garrison ; 10, he says,
are already allowed to the castle, and 20 more are in pay ; and this is the
only expense he desires to charge Her Majesty with ; he will himself maintain
the other 30, his tenants oflfering their services, it being to their good, as
while they are attending the service of the castle they are kept from all other
county charges. He begs consideration of these oflfers ; is no soldier, yet a
true subject, with heart and mind to defend the place with his life ; and,
although the loss of life would be but little, he would lose with it a house not
far from the castle, and the living appertaining to it, for if the enemy pos-
sessed the castle they would have that also ; though it is of no great value,
yet it is his whole commonwealth, and would be the overthrow of his
posterity, who depend upon it He does not desire to receive the money,
but it may be left in such hands a3 their Lordships think fit ; if the sum
demanded do not finish the fortifications, he has 200/ as rents of assize in
Her Majesty's hands, which will be a sufficient pawn for finishing them as
oflfered. The parishes adjoining the castle may send 400 fighting men into
the castle, in less than three hours, which is as soon as any might be landed.
On the 6th Feb., 1596, he writes a letter from Pendennis castle to the
Council. I pray you (he says), in this dangerous time, to consider for the
i6
Pendennis.
fortifying, furnishing, and victualling of Pendennis castle ; better that i,ooo
men should lose tlieir lives than that the enemy should possess the place,
which would cost many lives and much wealth to regain. Sir Henry Palmer
knows its defects ; I have been twelve months a suitor about it, and have
made a liberal offer, considering my beggarly estate, for its fortifying. (Dom.
Ser., vol 256, no. 40.)
From an account, dated 23 Mar., 1596, (St. Pa. Dom. Ser. vol. 261, no.
108), it appears that the yearly fee paid to John Killigrew, as captain of
Pendennis castle, was ;;^ii8 12s. 6d. ; that is los. per diem.
Sir Fras. Godolphin, in a letter to Secretary Cecil, dated 31st -Dec 1597,
(Sl Pa. Dom. Ser. voL 265, no. 66), expresses his sense of the importance
and of the weakness of Pendennis. He writes as follows : — There are two
places in these western parts where, if not fortified, the enemy may easily
prevail ; the harbours of Falmouth and Scilly, the one commanded by Pen-
dennis, and the other by Hue HilL If these can be kept, other places will
be more difficult to attempt. If forced to front the enemy in these parts,
there will be great want of powder and shot
It appears probable that the tliird John Killigrew of Pendennis castle,
continued captain of it until his death, and that he died about the year 1597.
He was succeeded by Sir Nicholas Parker, whose accession to the captain-
ship may be taken to have been in about that year. Tonkin (in Carew, p.
359), makes him succeed immediately after Sir John Killigrew, who died in
1584, But, as we have seen, Sir John was succeeded in that year by his eldest
son, who continued captain till about 1597.
The Queen, in a letter to Sir Nicholas Parker, dated Westminster, 4th Feb.
1598 (St. Pa. Dom. Ser. voL 266, no 45), empowers him to exercise the charge
of capuin by deputy in case of necessity. She speaks also in this letter of
the intended new fortifications at Pendennis, which, it is evident, had by this
time been determined to be made upon an important scale. She writes to
him as follows : — ** By our patent we committed to you the charge of our
fortifications intended to be built upon the haven of Falmouth, and made you
colonel of certain foot companies appointed for its guard ; and, although in
The Fortifying,
17
the said patent there is no warrant given you to exercise the charge of captain
of the said fort by deputy, yet, if you find it necessary, for the safety of the
country from spoils, upon the landing of any enemy there, to leave the fort and
hold the field, with part of those companies under your charge, and such other
of our subjects as upon such occasion will be gathered together, you ma}
commit the guard of the fort to two of the most ancient captains of com-
panies there for the time, and employ yourself for our service elsewhere, as
occasion shall require."
Sir Nicholas Parker subsequently appointed Nicholas Burton his deputy
(See Carew, p. 359 )
At the date of the Queen's letter^ the works for the new fortifications at
Pendennis were in progress. Sir Nicholas Parker, in a letter to Lord Burgley,
dated Pendennis castle, the 27th Feb., 1598, writes : — "Since the beginning
of our works here, I have followed Paul Ivey's directions to compass the
ground to see how it will prove, and we find it somewhat rocky, which is like
to be chargeable. You will perceive by the engineer's draft enclosed, that he
has clean altered his plot, as he was mistaken in the ground, and for easing of
the charge has made it less than Sir Fras. Godolphin and myself thought
necessary. There are 400 workmen employed here, and our weekly charge is
80/., besides emptions, so that I have very little money left, having received
but 200/. to employ these, or more which might be had if money were before-
hand. My duty binds me to acquaint you of the weakness and insufficiency
of all things necessary for the defence of the castle. Upon my coming hither,
I had but one piece of serviceable ordnance ; this above all is to be supplied,
and many other matters fit for present service strengthened and amended,
for which I hope to have allowance made." (St Pa., Dom. Ser., vol. 266, no.
74). Paul Ivey, to whom the execution of the works appears to have been en-
trusted, writes to Lord Burgley, fi-om Pendennis castle, on the 28th Feb.,
1598 : — " At the works at Pendennis Hill, as much is weekly performed as is
possible with 400 men. The circuit of the fort will be 200 perches, which
may cost 6/. per perch, besides the emptions of wood to be employed in rais-
ing the work, and the repairing of tools." (St. Pa., Dom. Ser., vol. 266, no. 75).
Norden alludes to the fortifications, which were erected at this period, and
i8
Pendermis,
which still exist, where he says, " a peninsula lying poyntinge into the sea at
ye mouth of Falmouth hauen, wherin K. Henr. the 8 buylded a Castle of stone;
and since, Quen Eluabeth fortefyed it very stronglie with a very artificiall
forte," (p. 50) : though it sounds strange to our modem ears, that bastions and
connecting curtains built round-about a castle, should be called a " forte."
On the 18th October, 1598, a warrant was issued, to pay to Sir Nicholas
Parker ;^46 13s. 4d., the monthly wages of 50 men in the new fort at Falmouth,
from 7 October, to continue during pleasure (St. Pa., Dom Sen, Docquet,
vol. 268, no 81) : this is i8s. 8d. for each man for a month, or 8d. a day.
On the nth June, 1599, a warrant was issued, to pay to the Lieutenant of
Ordnance, ;^i9i los. id. for provision of ordnance for Pendennis fort, and
for carriage thither of the same, together with another proportion which was to
be sent from the Tower. (St Pa., Dom. Ser., Docquet, vol. 271, no. 7). On
the isth August, 1599, Sir Nicholas Parker wrote, from Pendennis castle, to
Sir Walter Raleigh, Lord Warden of the Stannaries, &a, at Court, as follows :
— " The ordnance, which, by letters of the whole Council, I was to receive
from Mr. Vyvyan [the captain of St Mawes castle] was denied me, and is
since countermanded by two of the Council \ were it but one, I should in
all humility have obeyed, although he disobeyed so many. Of all the ordnance
which came down, I have but four pieces for defence of the front of the
fort, which requires twelve at least. The castle of St. Mawes is impossible to
be defended, and leaving the ordnance there, strengthens the enemy against
us." (Vol 272, no. 48). The next day he writes to Secretary Cecil: —
** Thanks for your remembrance of my small strength, in a place so forlorn,
and only 45 men allowed me, and not one officer." (Vol 272, no. 49).
The following account given by Hals, of the fortifying, munifying, and gar-
risoning of Pendennis castle, is, as may be seen from the State Papers which
I have above referred to, not very accurate. Hals, writing in about the year
1750, relates (p. 129), that Queen Elizabeth, " in her Spanish Wars, raised the
new Fort and bettered the old Fortifications, as they are now extant So that
it is look'd upon as one of the most invincible Castles in this Kingdom,
having [had] in it above 100 Pieces of Cannon mounted, and some Thousands
of Foot Arms. After Queen Elizabeth had thus fortified and munified the
castle of FendeniSy she placed therein a band of loo Soldiers, and over them
placed, as her Goveraour, Sir Nicholas Parker^ Kt"
Sir Nicholas Parker was colonel-general of the forces in Cornwall. Carew,
writing in 1602, informs us (p. 212) that Sir Nicholas Parker^s garrison at Pen-
dennis, at that time, consisted of two companies of one hundred men each, of
whom eighty were armed with muskets, sixty with calivers, and sixty were pike-
men. He gives his estimate of other forces, and adds (p. 213) : — " This may
serve for a general estimate of the Cornish forces, which I have gathered,
partly out of our certificate made to the Lords 1599, partly by information
firom the Serjeant Major, and partly through mine own knowledge."
In another passage (p. 362) he estimates the character of the governor in a very
friendly spirit He says: — " Howbeit (the) greatest strength [of Pendennis] con-
sisteth in Sir Nicholas Parker, the governor, who demeaning himself no less kindly
and frankly towards his neighbours, for the present, than he did resolutely
and valiantly against the enemy when he followed the wars ; therethrough
commandeth, not only their bodies by his authority, but also their hearts by
his love, to live and die in his assistance, for their common preservation, and
her Highness' service."
It must have been this Sir Nicholas Parker, who appears to have made him-
self notorious by his fatal intimacy with that infamous syren. Lady Jane
Killigrew, the wife of the last Sir John Killigrew, of Arwenack, grandson of
the Sir John Killigrew, governor of Pendennis, mentioned above.
In Martin Killigrew's MS. history of the Killigrew's, as cited in the Journal
of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, No. XII, April, 187 1, p. 272, we find
" The said last Sir John KiUigrew, a sober good man, to his utter undoing,
marryed y« daughter of an ancient and honourable family, now in y« peerage,
in respect to whom I forbear the name ; making herself infamous, and first
debauched by y« Governor of Pendennis Castle."
This gay lady, who was a daughter of Sir George Fermor (p. 272, note),
afterwards fell into trouble, which is thus related by Hals (p. 127) : — " The
Country People hereabout will tell you, that in the Spanish Wars, in the latter
'End of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, (Lady Jane) went aboard two Dutch
Ships of the Hanse Towns, always free Traders in Times of War, driven into
20
Pendennis,
Falmouth Harbour by cross Winds, laden with Merchandizes on Account (as
was said) of Spaniards^ and with a numerous Party of Ruffians slew the two
Spanish Merchants, or Factors, on board the same, and from them took two
Barrels, or Hogsheads, of Spanish Pieces of Eight, and converted them to her
own Use. Now, these Offenders were try'd and found Guilty, at Lanceston^
of Wilful Murder, and had Sentence of Death passed accordingly upon them,
and were all executed except the said Lady Killigrew, the principal Agent and
Contriver of this barbarous Fact ; who, by the Interest and Favour of Sir
lohn Arundell, of Tolvermy Kt., and his Son-in-law Sir Nicholas Hals^ of Pen-
gersick, Kt obtained of Queen Elizabeth a Pardon, or Reprieve, for the said
Lady, which was seasonably put into the Sheriff of CornwaPs Hands." This
was in Queen Elizabeth's reign, and therefore before 1603. Many years
afterwards this Cornish Messalina was hospitably received by the corporation
of Penr}Ti, to whom, according to Hitchins and Drew (voL 2, p. 291), she pre-
sented a silver cup bearing the following inscription : — " From maior to maior
to the towne of Permarin (or Penryn), when they received me that was in
great misery. J.K., 1633." But Hals says (p. 127), " This \jQAy Jane Killi-
grew afterwards gave a Silver Cup to the Mayors of Penryn for ever, in Memory
of some Kindness in her Trouble received in that Corporation, 161 2." And
(p. 147) he gives the inscription thus " From Mayor to Mayor, to the Town of
Vtmyn, when they received tne in great Misery, Jane Killygrew, 16 13." And
these dates (161 2 and 16 13) agree. The cup was very massive, and was more
than two feet high. The drawing of the cup is from a sketch by Miss Annie
Shilson (Mrs. Quance, now unhappily deceased), in the loth voL of the Ham
Anastatic Drawing Society.
The "great misery" referred to in Lady Jane's inscription, originated,
according to Hitchins and Drew, in the scandalous outrage committed by her
as above related ; but I cannot agree with them in thinking so. The outrage
was committed many years before the date of the gift Davies Gilbert says
(vol. 2, p. 21) this " horrible story cannot possibly be true, in the manner or
to the extent in which it is related." And I do not believe it possible that the
Mayor and Corporation received a gift occasioned and motived in the way
suggested.
Sir Nicholas Parker, 21
Sir Nicholas Parker died in the year 1603.
In Budock church is the following inscription : —
D. O. M. Nicholas Parker, naturae munere generosae e stirpe eretus virtutis merito auratus eques creatuc
ortu Sussexstensis occasu Cornubiensis post plurimos pro Patria Principe pietate exantlatos labores his
tandem quiescit. •
( 1537 ) ( cepit.
Anno A > vivere <
( 1603 ) \ desit
Nicholaas Burton ejus in Praesidii Pendenisiani praefectura, vicarius obiens vices cique Propinquitatis
amicitiae testamenii vere conjunctissimus perpetuae memoriae ergo moriens posuit.
Sir Nicholas Parker was succeeded in the government of Pendennis castle
by John Parker, probably a son of Su: Nicholas. He is not named in the
list of captains of the castle by any Cornish historian. Amongst the State
Papers, however, is preserved irrefragable evidence of his captainship. The
20th May, 1603, is the date of the grant to John Parker of "the office of
Keeper of Falmouth Castle " for life (St. Pa., Dom. Ser., vol. i, no. 92, Ind.
Wt Bk., p. 2). John Parker may be supposed to have died in the year 1607.
In that year Sir John Parker, was appointed captain or keeper of Penden-
nis, or as it was then occasionally called, Falmouth castle. March, 1607, is
the date of the grant to Sir John Parker of " the office of keeper of Falmouth
Castle " for life. (St. Pa., Dom. Ser., voL 26, no. 100, Ind. Wt Bk., p. 56).
He is not named in the list of captains by any of the Cornish historians. His
captainship may be supposed to have continued to 1614. But there is room
for some question, whether it did not determine somewhat earlier. In 16 13,
Sir Nicholas Hals (or Halse) appears to have been either governor or lieutenant-
governor of the castle. Hals, the historian, and Gilbert and Tonkin speak of
him as governor. But it appears certain, that he was not governor in the
latter part of the year 16 14, as Sir Robert Killigrew appears to have been ap-
pointed in July of that year. And a gazette sent by George Lord Carew to
Sir Thomas Roe, speaks of Sir Robert Killigrew as succeeding Sir John Parker
in the " Captainship of Falmouth." (St Pa., Dom. Ser., vol. 95, no. 22). And
if Sir John Parker, while governor, resided at a distance from the castle, and
took little active part in its government, as, it is possible, may have been the
case, his lieutenant may have been commonly regarded as for all practical pur-
poses the governor, and even sometimes may have been addressed as governor
in letters and other documents. And we may, perhaps, consider Sir Nicholas
Hals to have been, his lieutenant in 16 13.
22 Fendennis,
Sir Nicholas Hals, as lieutenant-governor or governor of Pendennis castle,
was prominently connected with the rise into being, at about that date, of the
town afterwards called Falmouth, and now grown into so great importance.
There appear to have been then only a few dwellings at Smithicke and Penny-
come-quicke, besides the manor house of the Killigrew family at Arwenack ;
and Mr. Killigrew proposed to build there a new town. (Hals, p. 128; Gil-
bert, vol. 2, p. 8 ; Carew, p. 358). He was met by jealous opposition on the
part of Truro, Penryn and Helston, but in spite of this. King James I, in 16 13,
directed his privy counsellors, Hals tells us (p. 128), "to write to Sir Nicholas
HalSy of FeniongoUan^ Kt then Governor of Fendenis Castle, to be better in-
formed of the true merits of this Case ; and to know his own particular Senti-
ments about it." Sir Nicholas, "as soon as he received this Letter, made
Answer, That he well approved of Mr. Killigrew's Project for building a Town
and Custom-house at Smithicke, as being near the Mouth of the Fal Harbour ;
and briefly, amongst many others, for these Reasons especially : i. For the
quick and necessary Supply of such Ships, whose Occasions, or contrary
Winds, brought them in there, without being obliged (as they then were) to go
up Two Miles the River to Fenryn, or nine miles to Trurow, 2. For the
speedy supplying or reinforcing the Castle of Fendenis, contiguous therewith,
with Men, Ammunition, and Provisions, in case of any Enem/s sudden Inva-
sion, or endeavouring to take the same by Storm or Surprize, before the Country
Militia could be raised, or Recruits brought in for that Purpose." (Hals, p.
128). The King thereupon decided in favour of Mr. Killigrew's project, and
a town of comparative importance soon started into being.
Sir Robert Killigrew succeeded to the governorship of Pendennis castle in
16 14. The 7th July in that year, is the date of the grant to him of "the office
of Captain or Keeper of Pendennis Castle, for life." (St. Pa., Dom. Ser., vol.
77, no. 57 ; Grant bk,, p. 135). Not one of the historians of Cornwall names
him in the list of governors.
Amongst the State Papers may be found (Dom. Ser., voL 6, no. 137) a
petition dated in the year 1625 (Sept ?) from "the distressed soldiers of Pen-
dennis Castle," to the King, which sets forth as follows : — A month ago they
petitioned for their pay for 20 months, and order was given to the Lord
Hals and Bony than.
23
Treasurer to pay the same ; but their daily solicitations have been fruitless,
and they have been forced to pawn their bedding and other necessaries to buy
bread ; and they pray for an order for present payment for 2 1 months.
About two months later "the distressed soldiers of Pendennis Castle"
petitioned the Council of War, and set forth as follows : — The petitioners, to
the number of 50 men, should receive 8d. a day per man, but have not had
any pay these two years, and are ready to perish for want of ordinary susten-
ance. They must of force forsake the garrison unless relieved. (Vol. 10,
no. 69).
Capt. John Bonython wrote from Pendennis to Secretary Conway, on the
14th March, 1626, as follows: — ^The castle is entirely unprovided; not one
piece of ordnance mounted, nor have they a pound of shot. If lost, it would
trouble the Kingdom to recover it, and what shame they should suffer if S or
6 ships were to come in, and send 200 or 300 men to bum and spoil the
adjacent towns^ (Vol. 22, no. 97). And again, on the 31st, as follows: —
Various ships from Portugal, France and Spain have brought tidings that
great preparations are making in the last mentioned country for an invasion
of England Pendennis, instead of 40 pieces of ordnance, has not one
mounted, and yet platforms ready for alL (Vol 23, no. 106).
Captain John Bonython at this time was lieutenant-governor of Pendennis
castle. It is certain, that he was not governor. Sir Robert Killigrew was
governor. But captain John Bonython had command there, as we shall see
presently. Sir Nicholas Hals, in 1626, was neither governor nor lieutenant-
governor of the castle. The accounts given by Hals and Tonkin of the
government of the castle at this period, are therefore widely inaccurate. Hals,
afler speaking of Sir Nicholas Parker as governor (p. 129), says (p. 130) 3 "His
Successor in the Government of this Castle was Sir Nicholas HalSy of Fenton-
gollan, Knt, who died Govemour thereof in 1637." The account of Tonkin
(in Carew p. 359), is similar. In point of fact, Sir Nicholas Parker was
succeeded in the governorship by John Parker, and he by Sir John Parker, and
he by Sir Robert Killigrew, who remained governor for many years, and the
probability appears to be, that Nicholas Burton, Sir Nicholas Parkefs deputy,
was succeeded in the lieutenant-governorship by Sir Nicholas Hals, and he,
24 Pendennis,
years before 1637, by Capt. John Bonython. Nicholas Burton, in a petition
dated 1624, described himself as "late Lieutenant-Goveruor of Pendennis
Fort." (St Pa. Uom. Ser. vol 168, No. 77). He probably had resigned the
lieutenant-governorship, and been succeeded by Sir NicholasHals, in 16 13.
In 1626 (April?), Sir John Killigrew wrote to Secretary Conway, and
appealed to him to remove Captain John Bonython from the command of
Pendennis castle, on account of his misconduct, principally of a private and
personal nature against Sir John. (St Pa. Dom. Ser., vol. 25, No. 102).
A petition of Sir Robert Killigrew, captain of Pendennis castle, to the
Council of War, in 1626, (April ?), sets forth as follows : — Petitioner has been a
suitor for ten years for a supply for the castle and alterations in the fortifica-
tions. For 9 years there has not been a piece of ordnance mounted, and at this
time there are not above 4 barrels of powder. He prays for repairs, and also
that the garrison of 50 men may have their pay, which they have been 2 years
without " Had they not lived on limpets (a poor kind of shell-fish), without
bread or any other sustenance," save some small relief from the petitioner,
they had all been starved. (Vol 25, No. 105).
Capt John Bonython in a letter from Pendennis, dated the 26th May,
1626, to Secretary Conway, mentions, that on his return to the fort, he finds
the south bulwark fallen down. He speaks also of the continued malice of
Sir John Killigrew, who desires to remove Bonython, and to get himself
appointed. (Vol. 27, No. 73). In another letter from Pendennis to Secretary
Conway, dated the 22nd Oct., 1626, he speaks of the distressed condition of
himself and his soldiers for want of pay. (Vol. 38, No. 39). And in another,
dated the 26th Nov., 1626, he calls attention to the defenceless condition of
Pendennis : not a gun mounted, nor scarcely any ammunition ; and the
soldiers in great misery, having had no money for three years. (Vol. 40,
No. 29).
A petition of Sir Robert Killigrew, captain of Pendennis castle, to the
Council, dated the 12th Jan., 1627, sets forth as follows : — The petitioner has
wearied the Board with 69 several petitions during 1 1 years, importuning a
supply for the fort, and an order for the soldiers' pay, which is now 2^ years
in arrear. He prays an order for the latter object, some of the soldiers having
An evil time, 25
already perished for want All other forts have received some help. (Vol 49,
no. 6). It would be as surprising as it is painful, to find that these poor
soldiers were so long and shamefully neglected as they were, if it were not
known, that the Exchequer was at the time impoverished by the foolish and
fruitless war with Spain. It is both painful and surprising, to find a warrant
dormant, dated the 3rd April, 1627, to give order to the receiver general of
the revenues of Devon and Cornwall, to pay to Sir Robert Killigrew, captain
of Pendennis castle, 638/. 15J. per ann., for 50 men more to be added for
defence thereof (Docquet, voL 59, no. 17); and a warrant of the same date
to pay to Sir Robt. Killigrew and Sir Francis Godolphin, 1,117/., and 800/.
imprest, for repairing Pendennis castle, for new fortifications to be made there,
and for repairing the fort of St Mary's, Island of Scilly. (Docquet, vol 59,
no. 17). On the 6th Aug., 1627, Sir Robert wrote fi-om Pendennis to
Secretary Conway, and informed him, that they had wrought three weeks on
the repairs of the fortifications at Pendennis; reported the results, and
suggested alterations at an additional expense of 300/. (VoL 73, no. 49).
It may be charitably, and perhaps probably conjectured, that the distressed
soldiers received their pay at about this time.
Sir Robert Killigrew remained the sole governor of Pendennis castle until
the 2 1 St March, 1628.
His son. Sir William Killigrew, whose name, as well as his father's, is
omitted by all the historians of Cornwall in their lists of governors, was from
that date for several years, associated with Sir Robert Killigrew in the governor-
ship. The 2 1 St March, 1628, is the date of the grant made to Sir Robert
Killigrew and Sir William Killigrew, his son, of the offices of captain of the fort
at Pendennis, and colonel of 100 men there, for their lives, with survivorship,
with a fee of los. per diem for the captain, 46/. 13J. 4//. for 50 of the
soldiers, [/>., for a month's wages, at 8d. a day each man], and 638/. 15J. for
the other 50 lately appointed, [/>., for a year's wages, at 9d. a day each man],
and 40/. per annum for reparation of the fort ([Coll. Sign Man., Car. I,
Vol. 6, no. 62]. Vol. 96, no. 65).
John Tresahar, who was probably lieutenant-governor of Pendennis castle
in 1628, (he certainly was in 1636 — see St Pa. Dom. Ser. vol. 321, no. 16),
D
26
Fendennis,
wrote, from Pendennis, to Sir Robert Killigrew, on the loth April in that
year, and informed him, that Hannibal Bonython, Sir Francis Vivian's
lieutenant at St Mawes, troubled the harbour, by forcing the captains of ships
to present themselves at that castle. (Vol. 104, no. 38). On this subject
there arose a memorable dispute between the castles, as will be seen presently.
A certificate by William, Earl of Pembroke, dated the 22nd Aug., 1628, shows
the strength of the garrison of the fort at Pendennis, as found at a general
muster, to have been : — armed men, 394 ; pioneers, 99. (Vol 113, no. 55).
The " difference " between the castles had become more serious about the
end of the year 1630. In a petition of "Sir William Killigrew, captain of
Pendennis castle, to the Lords of the Admiralty," the date of which was
probably in that year. Sir William complains, that Hannibal Bonithon,
lieutenant to Sir Francis Vivian, in the castle of St Mawes, has for the last
two years compelled all ships to stay at the castle of St Mawes, and to make
certain declarations as to their passengers and commissions, which have been
accustomed to be made at Pendennis castle only. This practice, says Sir
William, was condemned by their Lordships two years ago, but is still con-
tinued in contempt He prays that Sir Francis Vivian, or Hannibal Bonithon
may be sent for. (Vol. 181, no. 5). Hannibal Bonithon was sent for
accordingly. And after both sides had been heard, the Lords of the Admiralty,
on the 6th May, 1631, made their order, "in the difference between the castles
of Pendeanis and St Mawes." This was their order. Pendennis is to call
to account ships which anchor on the west side, and St Mawes, those which
anchor on the east side of the Black Rock. (Vol 190, no. 33).
Against this order, however, Sir William Killigrew, on the 2nd July, 1631,
presented a petition to the King. The Lords of the Admiralty, says Sir
William, having taken away the ancient privileges of the fort of Pendennis in
the harbour of Falmouth, and given equal command to St Mawes, a block
house, to which there are but 16 men allowed; he prays that His Majesty
would stay that order, and hear what the petitioner can say thereon.
The petition is underwritten as follows : — The King, having declared his
purpose to hear these differences himself, directs the execution of the order
above mentioned to be stayed in the meantime. Greenwich, 1631, July 2,
The "difference" between the eastks.
(vol 196, nos. 7, aud 7. t). But I do not find that the King did hear the
difTerences, or that any order, aftet this interim order, was ever made.
In 1632, the garrison of Pendennis, which had been increased from 50 to
100 men in the year 1628, was reduced again to 50. This reduction was
not approved of by Sir Robert Killigrew, and he on the nth June, 1632,
wrote a letter on this subject to the Council of War. In this letter, he expressed
his opinion of the ill policy of the reduction, and he observed upon the
importance of the fort, the inadequacy of the garrison, and the small amount
of saving to be effected by the reduction ; and if they determiaed to make it,
he desired that his protestation might be kept (Vol aiS, no. 34).
A letter, the date of which was probably in 1634, from Thomas Lord
Arundel, of Wardour, to the Council, contains an account of "the ruins of
Pendennis Castle," with a request to the Council to take the same into con-
sideration ; Pendennis, continues the writer, being the only defence of one of
the most considerable harbours in England. (Vol a8i, no. 56).
Sir Robert Killigrew died on the 26th Nov., 1633. (Bibl. Corn.)
Sir William Killigrew was sole captain of the castle from that date till
April, 1635.
Sir William Killigrew, on or shortly before the 17th April, 1635, surrendered
the captainship of Pendennis castle. (See St Pa. Dom. Ser., vol. 288, no. 94).
He died in Oct, 1693. (BibL Com.)
Chapter III.
R William Killigrew's successor in the government of
Pendennis castle, was Sir Nicholas Slanning. He was
appointed by letters patent of the king, dated the 17th
April, 1635. (St. Pa., Dom. Ser., vol. 288, no. 94). John
Tresahar was his lieut -governor. {Vol. 321, no. 16).
On the 2sth February, 1639, Sir Nicholas Slannmg
received instructions from the king, to take ordnance,
aition and men from " Falmouth port," on a secret ex-
)n for the king to Cumberland. (St Pa., Dom. Ser., voL
o. 88.) What may have been the object of this secret
tion, does not appear. It was the time of the Scots'
:s, and possibly Sii Nicholas Slanning was to have taken
subduing the Scots.
ne now to the unhappy period of the civil war in
Hallam says, (vol. 2, p. 150, loth edit.) "with
es, with much peril of despotism on the one hand, with
more of anarchy on the other, amidst the apprehensions and sorrows
of good men, the civil war commenced in the summer of 1642."
The civil war, 29
Unquestionably whjen the chivalry of England, with heavy hearts and much
uncertainty, chose sides, there were many high-minded and earnest men of
both parties, with whose conflicting feelings we cannot but all sympathize.
Some held, that the king's triumph would be the death of national freedom,
and maintained the legal right on the part of subjects illegally treated, to
resist such treatment ; whilst many feared lest, monarchy should be entirely
destroyed by parliamentary power. Nearly all wished for the preservation of
the monarchy in some shape or other ; at the beginning, only a very few
advanced thinkers dreamed of a republic. The feelings possessing the minds
of many earnest and honourable men at that time, may be illustrated in
the persons of the gallant Sir William Waller on the one side, and Sir Henry
Slingsby on the other. Neither of these brave Englishmen thought the worse
of friends who took the side hostile to his own. Waller wrote to Sir
Ralph Hopton, " Hostility itself cannot violate my friendship to your person,
but I must be true to the cause wherein I serve." Waller called God to wit-
ness the hatred he had of entering upon what he touchingly designated as " a
war without an enemy," and he adds in reference to the parts which he and Sir
Ralph had to act " in this tragedy ^l " Let us do it in a way of honour, and
without personal animosities." (Pol., vol. iv., p. 98, note). Sir Henry Slingsby
expressed similar sentiments, when he, among others, was first called on by the
king, (whom he served loyally, and for whom he suffered death upon the
scaffold), to raise forces against the Scots. Slingsby went on to Braham moor
to see some light horse, there levied and exercised, and he mournfully calls it
the " spectacle of our public death." He writes, " It is, I say, a thing horrible
that we should engage ourselves in war one with another, and with our venom
gnaw and consume ourselves."
In the midst of the general ferment which prevailed throughout the nation,
Cornwall presented a petition to the house of commons, soliciting a redress of
grievances. Among these grievances the petition set forth that the castles of
St. Mawes and Pendennis were much decayed in their fortifications ; and that
the harbours of Fowey and Helford had been left without means of defence.
The petitioners therefore prayed, that the former might be speedily repaired,
and that the value of the latter might be taken into consideration ; that such
30
Pendennis,
measures might be adopted as would put the county into a respectable state of
defence. The parliament calculated upon meeting with little opposition to
their measures from any Cornish fortress except Pendennis castle, the captain
of which, Sir Nicholas Slanning, was well known to be in the interest of the
king. (PoL,voL iv, p. 97).
In 1643, the defeat of the parliamentary forces was so decisive in the
memorable battle of Stratton, that the war was driven for several months away
from Cornwall In Somersetshire the Cornish reaped fresh laurels, at Lans-
down and at the siege of Bristol, where St Nicholas Slanning and CoL John
Trevanion were slain. Of these brave young officers Lord Clarendon observes,
that "they were the life and soul of the Cornish regiment, neither of them
exceeded twenty- eight, their friendship for each other was unbounded and
entire." These heroes, with Sir Beville Grenville, had raised companies of
volunteers among the Cornish, and led them to victory in the royal cause.
(Pol, vol iv, p. 98). Su: Nicholas Slanning's death was on the 6th July, 1643.
He is referred to in the following distich, cited on p. xvii of Murray*s Hand-
book for Devon and Cornwall
The four wheels of Charles's wain,
Grenville, Godolphin, Trevanion, Slanning, slain.
On the death of Sir Nicholas Slanning, the king appointed to the
governorship of Pendennis castle, Col John Arundel, of Trerise in
Newlyn. His unalterable attachment to the royal cause, procured for him the
name of ^^ John for the King" He was M.P. for Cornwall in Queen Elizabeth's
reign, and "when she was encamped there with her Army, in expectation of the
Spaniards Landing, 1588" (Hals, p. 130), and was called " OldTtlburyy' in con-
sequence ; or as Polwhele says, " was at the battle (?) of Tilbury, whence his
nickname." In 1643, when he was appointed governor of Pendennis castle,
John Arundel was sixty-seven, some accounts say, eighty-seven years of age.
Tonkin says, that this " John Arundel and his mother-in-law lived to a very
great age." (Pryce's MS).
Who was lieutenant-governor of Pendennis castle under Arundel, admits of
some doubt Col Lewis Tremayne, of Heligan, certainly held some position of
importance at the castle during John ArundeFs governorship ; and some of his
The queen sheltered by Arundel,
31
descendants now living at Heligan, believe him to have been lieutenant-
governor. But there are also grounds for supposing that Richard Arundel,
the eldest son of the governor, may have been his lieutenant Certainly he was
with him in the castle ; and Sir William Killigrew, the former governor, who,
as we have seen, resigned the governorship in 1635, was, in January, 1643,
desirous that the reversion of the government, after John Arundel, should be
bestowed on his son Richard Arundel, and petitioned the king accordingly.
The king wrote a letter in reply, which now is in the possession of J. Rashleigh,
Esq., of Menabilly, and to his courtesy I am indebted for a copy of it The
letter is addressed, " To Sir William Killigrew," and is as follows : —
Will KilUgrcw.
Votir suite unto me chat I would conferre upon Mr. Arundell of Trerise Eldest sonne the reversion after
his/her of the government of Pendennis Castle which I had formerly bestowed upon you, is so great a testimonye
of your affection to my service & of your preferring the good of that before any Interest of your owne that I
have thought fitt to lett you knowe in this particulai way, how well I take it & that my conferring that place
according to your desire shall bee an earnest imto you of my intentions to recompence & reward you in a
better (kinde ?)
restinge Your assured frend
Oxford the xath CHARLES R.
Jan: 1643.
So soon after the appointment ot John Arundel to the governorship as July
1644, he testified to his unfaltering loyalty, by harbouring at Pendennis castle,
his queen, Henrietta Maria. Polwhele says (vol. iv., p. 98, note aa.), "The
1 6th of June in Exon, she was delivered of the illustrious Princess Henrietta
Maria. But the poor Queen was forced thence the next Sunday [the 23rd.]
Frighted by Essex she went in her litter for Cornwall" The parliamentary
army, under the earl of Essex, was pursuing her. She hastened to Pen-
dennis, where some Dutch vessels, sent thither by the prince of Orange for
her service, were ready to transport her swiftly into France. (Clar. Hist.
Rebel, bk. viii, par. 84).
The following from the sheriff of Cornwall to Mrs. Basset, written presum-
ably at the time of the queen's flight to Pendennis castle, suggests the 3rd or
4th of July as probably the day on which she was received there. (See Lake,
vol. iv, Supp. p. 5 ; and see Lyson, vol 3, p. 104.)
This thyrd of July 1644.
Deare Wifle, ..Here is the woefuUest spectacle my eyes yet ever look'd on : the most wome and weak
pitifull creature in ye world, the poore Queene shifting for one hour's lifie longer.
32
Pendennis,
The queen, according to Agnes Strickland's account (voL 5, p. 314,
edition 1851), which probably in this particular is correct, remained only one
night in Pendennis castle, and sailed early the following morning, in a Dutch
vessel, for France. Agnes Strickland gives the 29th June as the date. The
queen, according to Polwhele (iv, 98, note aa.), "arrived at Brest, the 5th of
July, 1644." One of the "king's pamphlets," entitled "A true Relation of the
Queen's Departure from Falmouth into the Brest in the West of France. Lond.
July 22, 1644", relates, that " the designe of her expedition could not bee
carried with so much secrecy, but it was discovered to the Lord Admirall, who
on the first information of it, knowing of what consequence was her departure
into France, did command all the ships then in the westerne parts to overtake
her : they could not (at the first command) come so easily as was desired,
but having knowledge of what importance was the businesse, with Wind and
sayle they made haste to overtake her. And indeed had the Wind bin more
propitious to them, they had gone neer to have possessed themselves of this
mighty prize." There follows in the same pamphlet, a letter giving details
of the pursuit, and of the firing at the queen's vessel This pamphlet gives as
the date of the queen's departure, the 14th July.
The diary of a royalist Essex gentleman, Mr. Richard Symons, who
accompanied the king, as one of his lieutenants, through the campaign,
informs us that previous to the battle of Broadoak, viz., on Monday, 26
August, 1644, "Also this day came to us 100 barrels of powder, &c, from
Pendennis Castle." (Lake, vol iv., Supp. p. 13).
It was in this year (1644), that the duke of Hamilton was sent to Pendennis
castle, to be detained a prisoner there. He had by his unaccountable conduct
given cause for his loyalty to be suspected, and the king, " to prevent his
doing further mischief," had him sent " in custody to the castle of Bristol, and
from thence to Exeter, and so to the castle at Pendennis in Cornwall." (Clar.
Hist Rebel, bk. vii, par. 408). According to Lyson (vol. 3, p. 104), the
duke was imprisoned there during 1644 and the following year. And it
appears firom Clarendon's account, that the duke was not removed thence,
until "about the month of November" in the year 1645. (Bk. ix, par. 158).
A duke imprisoned^ and a lord agog.
33
Afterwards he acted " a great part for the King," and was general in the head
of a great army. (par. 154.)
Towards the end of August, 1645, *^^ chancellor (Sir E. Hyde), was sent
by the prince to Pendennis castle, " under pretence of giving some direction
in the matter of the customs, but in truth to take care that the frigate provided
for the prince's transportation might be in readiness, and victual to be privately
made ready, to be presently put on board when the occasion should require."
(CI. Hist Reb. bk. ix, par. 79).
On the 8th Oct., 1645, Lord Norwich wrote from Havre to Sir E. Hyde,
who was then at Pendennis castle. He says : — He will be with him in a few
days, if he can pass through the parliamentary forces. With great professions
of affection, he renews his propositions, sent by his servant, for the govern-
ment of Pendennis castle ; if they are not entertained, he has discharged his
duty, and will write on the gate as he passes, that you can have no more of a
cat than his skin. He urges most strongly, that the prince be not sent to
France. He has read seven romances of ten volumes to make him valiant
enough to relieve Exeter. If he can only get Orandates and Arsace over
with him, he is made, and England saved If he is not to have Pendennis,
he will steer his course some other way, where he may hope to do the king
service, and not follow after him with his thumbs in his girdle. (Clar. St. Pa.
no. 1987). And on the i8th or 28th of the same month, he writes a further
letter from Havre to Sir E. Hyde, pressing his propositions for the command
of Pendennis, with extravagant professions of attachment to his sweet, dear,
young master, with the king and queen, on whom his soul dotes, &c (No.
2008). It does not appear, that the propositions of Lord Norwich for the
government of Pendennis, were entertained And as we have seen, the king
had already bestowed the reversion of the government after John Arundel,
upon his son Richard Arundel
On the 29th Oct, 1645, the prince of Wales wrote to Lord Hopton and
Sir E. Hyde, who were then at Pendennis, and directed them, to put the castle
in order for his highnesses reception and abode there the ensuing winter.
(Clar. St Pa. no. 2010).
34
Fendennis,
On the 2nd Nov., 1645, the prince at Liskeard issued a warrant to the
governor of Pendennis, ordering an addition to the garrison. (No. 2015).
The duke of Hamilton was removed from Pendennis for two reasons : one,
that " it was enough foreseen that the prince himself might be put to a retreat
to Pendennis-castle " (CL Hist. Reb. ix, par. 158), and it was not thought
fit that he should reside there with him, who was so much in the king^s
displeasure : the other, that " many good men " were solicitous regarding the
influence the duke had with the governor, " of which there was so universal a
suspicion, that many letters were writ to the council, that if he were not
speedily disposed to some other place, they feared the castle would be
betrayed : and sir Richard Greenvil writ earnestly to the prince about it, and
sir Harry Killigrew (a person of entire affection to the king, and a true friend
of the governor) very importunately. So that about the month of November,
the king^s warrant for his removal was sent to sir Arthur Basset, governor of
the Mount ; who went to Pendennis in the morning, and took him with him
to the Mount, in order to removing him to Scilly, when the time should
require it ; the duke expressing great trouble and discontent that he should
be removed, and the governor, and all that family and garrison, made show
of no less grief to part with him, he having begotten a great opinion in that
people of his integrity and innocence" (par. 158).
The prince was very much troubled at a letter he received from Sir Richard
Greenvil, near the end of November, 1645, "and the more" "because he
[the princej had discerned that [Sir Richard Greenvil] laboured very much
to infuse a jealousy into the governor of Pendennis-castle, that the prince
intended to remove him from that command, and to confer it upon the Lord
Hopton ; to which purpose [Sir Richard] had written to [the governor] from
Okington, (when the Lord Hopton and the chancellor were sent down [to
Pendennis castle] to assist him in the fortifying and supplying that castle ;
which if they had not [done,] it could not have held out, as it did afterwards),
that the lord Hopton had a commission to take that charge from him ; but
that [the governor] should not sufifer such an affront to be put upon him ; for
[Sir Richard] and all [the governor's] friends would stick to him in it:
The prince^ the duke, and the governor.
35
whereas there was never the least thought or intention to make any alteration
in that government" (Clar. Hist. Rebel, vol. 4, par. 104).
The subjoined letter is said by Polwhele (vol. 4, p. 100), to have been
written to Col. Ciely, " then at Pendennis Castle." Polwhele says : " The
original is among the family papers of the Rev. George Moore, of Grampound,
who very obligingly copied it, for my purpose." The Parochial History of
Cornwall, published by lake, (vol iv, supp. p. 25), gives the letter with this
heading, " Cromwell to Colonel Ciely at Pendennis Castle." But this heading
does not appear in Polwhele, and so, no doubt, the letter itself was not so
headed. This then is the letter.
December loth, 1645, Teverton.
Sr.
Its the deseir of Sr. Gilbert Pickeringe that his deceased Brother Col. Pickeringe should bee enterred in
your guarrison, And to the end his funeral may bee sollemnized with as much Honor as his memorie calls for,
you are desired to give all possible assistance therein, the particulars will be oflfered to you by his Maior,
Maior Gubbs, with whorae I deseir you to concurr herein ; and believe itt sir you will not only lay a huge
obligation upon myselfe and all the officers of this Annie, but I dare assure you the General himselfe will take,
it for an especial favor and will not lett it goe without a full acknowledgment. But what neede I prompt him
to soe honourable an action whose owne ingenuitye wil be argument sufficient heerin, whereof rests assured
your humble servant
OLIVER CROMWELL.
Was CoL Ciely " then at Pendennis Castle," as Polwhele supposes ? There
are letters preserved amongst the Clarendon Slate Papers, one from CoL
Slingsby at Pendennis, dated the 23rd Dec, 1645 (No. 2055), and one from
John Arundel at Pendennis castle, dated the 24th Dec, 1645 (^o. 2058),
both of them written to Lord Clarendon himself (then Sir E. Hyde), which
distinctly negative any such supposition, as that the parliamentary troops, in
December, 1645, ^^id temporary occupation of Pendennis castle. Nor is it
probable, that Col. Ciely was a royalist and under Anmdel at Pendennis
castle, and that CoL Pickeringe was a prisoner of war there. Col. Ciely is not
named in the list presently referred to, of the garrison in 1646. We may
suppose, therefore, that he was in command of some other castle (or
**guarrison ") than Pendennis castle, in December, 1645.
In January or February 1646, Sir E. Hyde wrote to Mr. Secretary Nicholas,
that Pendennis castle was victualled for a year, and they would soon retreat
there. (No. 2108.)
36
Fendennis,
The prince, who "came to Truro on the 12th day of February" (1646),
(Clar. Hist. Rebel, bk. ix. par. 145), "having stayed some days at Truro, went
to Pendennis ; intending only to recreate himself for two or three days, and
to quicken the works, which were well advanced ; his highness having issued
all the money he could procure towards them, and colonel Slingsby intending
them with great diligence and activity. But in the very morning that he
meant to return to Truro, [his] army being then retired, and Fairfax at the
edge of Cornwall, the lord Hopton and the lord Capel sent advertisements,
that they had severally received intelligence of a design to seize the person
of the prince ; and that many persons of quality of the country were privy
to it Hereupon the prince thought it most convenient to stay where he
was, and so returned no more to Truro. The time of apparent danger
was now in view, and if there were in truth any design of seizing the prince's
person, they had reason to believe that some of his own servants were not
strangers to it." (Bk. ix., par. 147.)
It was probably at about this date, if ever, that the prince, suspecting, as
has been seen, his own servants, who were in the castle, retired into the room
there, whidi still retains the name of the king's room. We read, (Hitch, and
Drew, vol. 2., p. 256.): "There is still a room in this castle, which retains the
name of the king's room ; and in a closet over, there was formerly a small
fire-place, about twelve inches square. In this closet, according to tradition,
Charles was concealed. This, and a vacancy for a seat opposite the fire-place,
were demolished [about 1808,] when this part of the Castle underwent some
repairs."
Amongst the Clarendon State Papers, there is a draught proposal by the
prince, dated Feb. 1646, Pendennis, to erect a chapel in the castle. In this
paper (no. 2133), the prince rehearses his motives for dedicating a place of
worship within the garrison, invites contributions, and directs that this resolu-
tion and request should be published in all churches and chapels in the
Duchy, and that contributors' coats of arms should be fixed up in the chapel,
and that Lionel Gatford, chaplain to the garrison, should receive and pay
monies.
The prince sheltered by Arundel, 37
After the battle of Torrington, (i6th Feb., 1646,) "Sir Ralph Hopton fled
into Cornwall with the remnant of his force, sending the news to the Prince
of Wales and his Council at Pendennis Castle, where the greatest consterna-
tion prevailed." (Life of the great Lord Fairfax, p. 265.) Lord Clarendon's
account is, that "the lords Hopton and Capel" sent advices to Pendennis, to
the effect, that it was not fit to venture his highness any longer "in that castle,
(which would not only not preserve his person, but probably, by his stay there,
might be lost ; which by his absence might defend itself,) and that he should
remove to Jersey or Scilly." (Clar. Hist Rebel, bk. ix. par. 148!) "The
next morning, being Monday the second of March," "the governor and his
son were called into the Council [at Pendennis castle], and made acquainted
with the prince's resolution that night to embark himself for Scilly, being a
part of Cornwall ; from whence, by such aids and relief as he hoped he should
procure from France and foreign parts, he should be best able to relieve them.
And accordingly that night, about ten of the clock, he put himself aboard,
and on Wednesday in the afternoon by God's blessing arrived safe in Scilly."
(Bk. ix. par 149.)
It is interesting to see the accounts given of the prince's embarkation in
different news-letters printed in a newspaper of the period. The "Perfect
Diurnal" (no. 136,) has news "out of the West," by a letter of the 3rd of
March, that " the Prince is in Pendennis Casde, expecting a wind for France^
the Country generally hate them, and rise for us ;" but adds, " Besides this
former, there be other letters come to the Speaker and other Members of
Parliament, certainly affirming that the Prince is gone to Sea, with the Lord
Capely L. Culpepper^ Ned Hide, and many others of quality in company, there
being three ships of them in all, whereof one of them upon the first setting
out, viz., Sunday night last March i, it being a tempestuous night, was cast
away in sight of Land ; .... the Prince and Company with the other two ships
are gone for Silly Island (as tis said)."
On the 9th March, 1646, Sir Ralph Hopton, having previously sent his
infantry and a considerable part of his ammunition to Pendennis castle and
St Michaels mount, capitulated his cavalry to Sir Thomas Fairfax, who at
this time had the command of the parliamentary forces in the west
Thereupon some of the parliamentary party imagined that Pendennis
castle would forthwith surrender on moderate conditions. In a newspaper,
("A Perfect Diurnall,") for the i6th to the 23rd of March, is printed a letter
dated "Truro, March 11," in which the writer, after speaking of the treaty
which is in progress with the Lord Hopton for the disbanding of his forces,
says, "We doubt not, but Pendennis will upon the disbanding of these Forces,
incline to moderate terms, the Govemour thereof is a Gentleman of good
Fortune and Estate in the Country, and in all likelyhood will not be so mad
to see all the whole Gentry at liberty, injoying their owne, and himself as it
were in prison, injoying nothing that is his own. I cannot express with what
joy most of the Officers receive those conditions, and wish they had sooner
known our intentions towards them."
On the 14th of March, according to Whitelock, (p. 197,) "a hundred and
twenty Musqueteers armed, came out of Pendennis Castle, and yielded them-
selves to Sir Thomas Fairfax.^^
CoL Arundel, in anticipation of the coming of the parliament forces to
establish themselves before Pendennis at Pennycomequicke, and at Arwenack
house as head quarters, saUied forth from the castle on the i6th of March,
and would have burned both the house and the town ; but the enemy coming
somewhat earlier than was expected, the soldiers of the castle succeeded only
in burning a great part of the manor house. This is that ancient mansion of
the Killigrews, which we are told, (Hitch, and Dr., vol. 2, p. 258), was, in
1567, esteemed the finest and most costly in the county. Tonkin, (in Gilb.
vol 2, p. 18, and in Carew, p. 359), and Polwhele (vol 4, p. loi, note x),
credit Sir John Killigrew with having, with his own haqds, set fire to it, in
order that the enemy " might not find shelter in it" And Hitchins and Drew
say, (vol 2, p. 258), "this house was set on fire ; but whether by Sir John
Killegrew, its owner, who was a zealous royalist, to prevent it from falling into
the hands of the adverse party, or by the malice of the governor of Pendennis
Castle, under that pretext, is rather uncertain. A manuscript history of the
Killigrew family asserts the former." It is the latter which is asserted in the
extract from a copy of the manuscript history given below; and it appears that
Sir John Killigrew died in 1636, (see Bibl. Com.), and that, in 1646, his
The castle menaced^ and the menace met. 39
widow, although she had been divorced, held the property. The account
given by the Killigrew MS., as cited in the Journal of the Royal Institution
of Cornwall for April, 187 1, No. xii, p. 275, is as follows: — "In the year
1648, y** said infamous Lady Jane died. (Sir Peter came into his estate,) but
came not time enough to prevent y* malicious and envious Governor of
Pen(}ennis from burning his fine house of Arwenack, upon Sir William Waller's
(Oliver's general) coming to besiege y*^ Castle." The Killigrew MS. was
written many years after the burning. The governor of Pendennis intended
to burn not the house only, but the town also, as appears in a cotemporaneous
account, in a letter signed "T.M.," which will be cited presently. The
imputation of envious and malicious motives to the governor, in reference to
an act which appears to have been simply strategical and defensive, appears
to have been made under a misapprehension of the facts.
On the 17th of March, Sir Thos. Fairfax had quartered two regiments in
Pennycomequicke : and he himself, with the best of his party, was established
in the part of Arwenack house, which they had saved fi*om the burning, the
day previous. With these two regiments, they intended to block up the
castle on the land side.
The " Perfect Diurnal " for the i6th to the 23rd March, prints a letter which
had been read in the house of Commons on the 19th March. The letter
contains the following : — " For the Castle of Ptndcfinis^ I make no doubt as
soon as this Army is totally disbanded (which though it begin to morrow,
will take two or three days before it be ended, make what speed we can) we
shall find them tractible ; if not, we shall settle this Country in such a posture
of Security against that place, as will compell them in a short time to hearken
to worse Propositions then they now might have had, if they persist in a
refusall of the Summons intended to be sent them." This letter was written
probably on or about the 17 th March.
A very interesting letter "From Truro the 19th of March, 1645," (^-^-j ^^A^\
and signed "T.M.," is printed in a pamphlet printed " March 26, 1646," and
entitled "Sir Thomas Fairfaxes taking of Dennis Castle, &c, with the
Generalls summons sent in to Pendennis Castle, &c" From this letter I
extract the following: — "The Fort on the East side of the harbour of
40
Petidennis,
Faymouth^ and right over against Pendennis Castle [i.e. St Mawes Fort] is
yeelded up by Bowthan (that was the Lieutenant thereof) unto the General
five dayes since, who hath placed a very strong Garrison in it ... . Yesterday
. . . . Dennis Castle .... was yeelded up ... . it will prove to be of very
great use to us, for the taking in of Pendennis^ by meanes that our ships lying
there, may prevent (by the helpe of St Mawes) the conjunction of any ships
for the reliefe thereof : I went with the Generall and the Committee to receive
the possession of this Fort, and in the way the Generall went unto Arwinkle,
Sir Peter KilkgreTiPs house, where and in the Village of Pennicomquicke we
had quartered two Regiments for the blocking up of Pendennis Casrie on the
land side. The day before the Generall sent thither those two Regiments, the
enemie in the Castle set on fire Sir Peters house, and burned a great part therof
downe to the ground, and would have done the like with Pennicomequicke^ had
not our mens unexpected comming prevented them in the Castle .... the
man of War that hath 40 pieces of Ordnance in him which lyeth a ground on
the North side of the Fort let us passe very quietly through Pennicomquicke^
and to Arwinkle, which lyes within half musket shot of the enemies Out-workes
but is blinded by the houses and trees, so that they cannot see those that are
on the other side of the house; but when we came off and were past
Pennicomequicke^ and advanced into an open field in our way backe to Perin^
the ship that lay on the North side of the Castle let flye at us, but their shot
(by God's mercy) did us no harme, though the bullets flew very neer us, and
one grazed not far from mee, which wee found, and was a bullet of some 1 2 1.
weight As soon as the Generall came to Perin he caused a summons to be
drawne up, and sent it by his Drum-Major unto the Govemour of the Castle,
requiring him to yeeld it unto hipi for the use of the Parliament, using divers
reasons to perswade him thereunto; But Arundell of Trcverse who is the
Govemour thereof, gave him a peremptory denyall, saying, that hee was 70
years old, and could not have many dayes to live, and therefore would not in
his old years blemish his honour in surrendering thereof, and would be rather
found buried in the mines thereof, than commit so vilde a Treason, (or words
to that effect). Questionlesse the place is very strong, as well by its naturall
scituation, (it being almost an Island, and seated on a rising hill) as by Art
lak'rn^ of a frigate.
41
and great industry ; and it is victualled (as they say) for nine or ten moneths,
and they have in it about one thousand or twelve hundred men, all desperate
persons, and good souldiers ; and they have powder and shot great store, and
at least eighty great Guns mounted, besides forty in the «hip which lies on the
North side of the Castle. Therefore the Generall resolves to block it up very
close both by Land and Sea : which hee may the better doe, in regard that
we have Denis Castle, and the Haven of Heiford on the west, and St Maws
on the east ; and for that, if we draw a line thwart the narrow necke of Land,
a little on this side Arunnkle house, which is not above Musquet shot over :
Pendents Castle will remaine unto them but as a close and sure prison, and so
in the end the belly will conquer them, without striking of a " stroake. Here
are in this Fort many very considerable men, and the most desperate Persons,
and the violentest enemies that the Parliament hath in this kingdom : and the
Country reports, they have a very great masse of wealth in this Castle, for this
was ever a place the enemy did much confide in : I verily beleeve that if the
Workes were once perfected for blocking of them up, two thousand good foote
would keep them in, that they should not be able to break forth to annoy the
Countrey. Fenicomquicke and Ftryne will be able to entertain that number
very well .... This last night one of the ships which came down with Sir
George Askew, fell into the Harbour of Falmouth, on St Mawes side, and
notwithstanding both the Block-house, and the Bulwarke at the poynt of
Pendennis shot very furiously at her, yet she came very safely into the Harbour,
and so passed upon the Tide, to a place in the harbour called Mawpasse
passage, where a Frigot of Dunkerks had run herselfe aground and [which]
came in on purpose to assist Pendennis Castle, she had in her 26 pieces of
Ordnance, and though our men entered her, yet she stood very stoutly to her
defence, yet at last we masterd her, and took all the men out of her, and put
in her about fifty men of our owne, and so intend to make her a Man of
VVarre to serve the State, and she may prove very usefull, for she is an
exceeding good sailer, and will bee good against our enemies Navigable ships,
that so we may take them. Sir, most of the great Malignants of the
Countrey (unlesse those that are in Pendennis and the Mount) are come in ;
If you alone do not take some speedy course to remove them out of the
42
Fendennis.
County, untill the County bee fully setled, I feare it will not bee long before
we shall have new troubles here. Thus with the tendernesse of my best love
and service I rest,
Yours in what ever 1 may serve you^
T.M.
To whom the letter was written, or by whom, does not appear. The writer
appears to have been of good position in Sir Thos. Fairfax's army ; and it
may have been Sir Richard Fortescue whom he addressed.
The taking of the frigate in Falmouth harbour is, with some additional
particulars, mentioned, under date "Thursday, March the 19," in a newspaper
headed " Perfect Occurrences of both Houses of Parliament, and Martiall
Afifairs." " We have taken a ship at Falmouth, that fought some houres ; it
is laden with wines, some letters are intercepted to the King, and others also
from Ireland, (again). Fendennis not yet summoned, the Generall exceeding
busie at Truro, Hopton not yet declared what he will do, very few go to the
King."
In point of fact, Pendennis was summoned the day previous, namely
the 1 8th. On that day, Sir Thos. Fairfax summoned Col. Arundel to
surrender the castle of Pendennis on fitting conditions. His haughty letter
is preserved, along with CoL Arundel's reply to it, amongst the Clarendon
State Papers.
Sir Thomas Fairfax to Mr. John Arundel,
Sir, — Being come into these parts with the army, where it hath pleased God to j^ve us so good success,
as now no body of an army is remaining to oppose us, nor indeed through the great mercy of God in any part
of the Kingdom considerable : I thought fit before any extremity of force were used against you, to send you
this summons, by which I demand you to deliver up the Castle of Pendennis, and all things belonging to that
Garrison for the service of the Kingdom, which if you incline to, you may have conditions befitting yourself
and the quality of those that are with you : I expect your answer in two hours, and rest Your Servant,
THOMAS FAIRFAX.
The governor of Pendennis castle took ** less than two minutes resolution,"
and returned immediately this spirited reply.
Col. John Arundel to Sir Thomas Fairfax,
Sir, — The Castle was committed to my Government by his Majesty, who by our laws hath the command of
the Castles and Forts of this Kingdom ; and my age of seventy summons me hence shortly. Vet I shall desire
no other testimony to follow my departure than my conscience to God and loyalty to his Majesty, whereto I
am bound by all the obligations of nature, duty, and oath. I wonder you demand the Castle without
authority from his Majesty ; which if I should render, I brand myself and my posterity with the indelible
The summons and the siege, ^ 43
character of Treison. And having taken less than two minutes resolution, I resolve that I will here bury
myself before I deliver up this Castle to such as fight against his Majesty, and that nothing you can threaten
is formidable to me in respect of the loss of loyalty and conscience. Your Servant,
JOHN ARUNDEL, op Trbrisb.
z8. March 1645.
Pendennis castle was invested closely by land and by sea. It held out
gallantly for five months, from the middle of March until the middle of
August, 1646, and was the last fortress but one, (Raglan castle, Monmouth-
shire), that surrendered to the parliament.
During the siege, little appears to have been done in the way of actual bom-
bardment, though there are still shot marks on the north west side of the castle,
from which it has been supposed that the garrison did suffer from bombardment
to some extent. It suffered principally from want of provisions, and towards
the end was reduced to a deplorable condition. However, when it became
at length impossible to hold out any longer, and negotiations were entered
into for the surrender, with such spirit on the part of the besieged* were they
carried on, that the real condition of the garrison was unsuspected by the
other party, and as advantageous terms were procured for this as had been
obtained by any other garrison during the war.
How much interest was felt by parliament and the nation in the siege, and
how closely its progress was watched, is shown in the newspapers of the
period.
The "Mercurius Britanicus" for the i6th to the 23rd March, 1646, gives
the following " Intelligence. The King's Western Army quite moldered
away : Hopton^ Capel^ and IVentworih bound for another Country. We have
gained as great a power over the Harbour at Fa/mouthy as they in Pendennis,
who will have enough to do now to preserve themselves." The fort of St
Mawes, it will be remembered, had surrendered to the parliament, on the i6th.
The ^* Weekly Account" for the 25th to the 31st of March, 1646, prints a
letter dated " Bodman, March 24," which begins, " The Generall with the
body of the Army is now come to Bodman, having left Colonell Hammon with
a sufficient strength of Horse and Foot to block up Pendennis by Land, which
will be easily done by raising Fortifications upon the Isthmus, which is very
narrow."
The same newspaper contains intelligence for the 26th : — " This day came
the unwelcome newes of the death of that religious and truly valiant Gentleman
Colonel Ingoldsby who with other Commanders going to view Pendennis
Castle received a shot from the Enemy who lay in ambush behind a Mud-wall."
The "Moderate Intelligencer" (no. 56), under date "Saturday, March 28."
has this. " Letters from the west tell us, that his Excellency Sir Tho, Fairfax
having left Pendennis almost lined about, and sent a party towards the Mount
of countrymen to block it up, was returned to Bodman from Truro^ which
was 20 miles, and all in one day : As for the Mount, there is 700 men in it,
yet its conceived not to be a long work. When col. Hamond^ who as before
we told you was before Pendennis castle, with col. Ingoldsby^ and coL
Foriescues Regiments, hath perfected the Line, and some Cornish are come to
2&'^\%\.2X Pendennis, \it is to attempt upon the Mount: zs (ox Pendennis^
they are blades of the right stamp, and having within 200 Tun of wine, spare
not to be daily drunk, and this the Governour incourages, that their discontents
take not overmuch hold of them, which are very great already, they are at
sixpence /<?r diem^ nor will that hold long."
" Sir Ralph Hopton and Lord Capel embarked at Pendennis, and joined the
Prince of Wales at Scilly, on April 11." (Life of Fairfax, p. 267).
On the nth April, 1646, the Council of War at Pendennis castle, wrote a
letter of intelligence and entreaty to the prince, informing him, that the quarters
of the emeny, as to the land forces, were at Arwenack house, and they had a
line from sea to sea ; that the garrison were in a bad state, and that there was
great want of clothes : and praying, that supplies might be sent speedily from
France and Ireland. The letter was signed by John Arundel and 21 others.
(Clar. St Pa, no. 2 171). Enclosed in this letter, was a paper, showing the
"provisions designed" for the garrison of Pendennis, for 1500 men, for 6
months, (the list ending with 20 gross of tobacco pipes), to be sent from
Ireland. (No. 2195).
The "Scotch Dove" Tno. 129), for the 8th to the 15th April, says : — "From
Pendennis is certified that the line is nere perfected, and the Castle close blockt
up ; the Enemy are full of jealousie one of another, many drop away and
come to us. Captaine Rivers^ and a Lieutenant-Col. came out and brought
52 men with them."
With regard to the entrenchments of the blockading forces, it should here
be mentioned that they extended close to Arwenack. Many of their works
were conspicuous in 1824 (when Hitchins and Drew's history was published),
stretching from the bottom of the Rope Walk behind Arwenack across
the isthmus to the sea, and which must have cut off all communication
between the garrison of Pendennis and the adjacent conntry.
On the part of the defenders, the brow of Pendennis hill was defended by
a homwork cop.sisting of a pentagonal redoubt, with flanks ** en tenailUy The
parapets and ditch of this redoubt still remain, though overgrown with
bushes ; the flanking lines can barely be traced. Old Tilbury seems to have
been a good engineer, judging from the judicious tracing of these works,
which effectually command the isthmus.
On the 17th April, Colonel Arundel was a second time summoned to
surrender Pendennis castle to the parliament. This time the summons was
by a letter addressed to him by Col. Robert Hammond, who probably had
been left by Sir Thomas Fairfax in command. Col. Hammond's letter is
amongst the Clarendon State Papers, (no. 2183), but I find no copy of it in
the British Museum.
To this letter, John Arundel returned answer the same day, that he had
already answered Sir Thomas Fairfax's demand, and he refused to surrender
the castle ; at the same time he thanked Col. Hammond for the civility of his
letter, (no. 2184).
On the 19th April, John Arundel wrote a letter of intelligence to Mr.
Edgeman, in which he mentioned, that 800 of the Plymouth forces were
coming to besiege them, and said, that both Pendennis and the Mount must
soon surrender, (no. 2188).
The "Perfect Diurnal" (no. 143), mentions, that on the 19th of April,
Pendennis was upon treaty for surrender. (And see The Weekly Account,
no. 17). At this time Col. Hammond was engaged in reducing St Michael's
Mount, and Col. Fortescue probably was in command of the land forces
46
Pendennis,
besieging Pendennis, and if Pendennis was actually on treaty, it was probably
with him.
The "Mercurius Britanicus" (no. 128), gives this intelligence of the 27th
April : — " The strong Castle of Dunstar is surrendered to Col. Blake^ so that
there is not a spot of earth in the West but what is the Parliaments^ save
Pendennis^ which holds out with an ambitious glory, that they alone remain
unconqueredy and so will do as long as their canary lasts ; yet this humour is
but a flash, and will quickly over."
On the 30th April, Capt Batten, who was the " vice-admiral of the parlia-
ment's navy, investing Pendennis," summoned the castle to surrender to the
parliament Whitelock gives the 22rd May as the date (p. 206); but this
appears to be an error.
The " Perfect Diurnal" (no. 147) contains the following : —
"The Summons from Captaine Batten to Pendennis Castle.
" Sir, — That you have been already summoned by the commander in chiefe of the land forces, I am not
ignorant of, and as I am sent hither for the blocking up of the castle by Sea, as the Land forces doth on shoare.
I conceive it my duty likewise to doe the like ; I do therefore in the name of both the Honourable Houses of
Parliament, demand your Castle and Garison to bee delivered unto mee, to bee put into such hands, as may
keep it, for the use of the King and Parliament, which if you consent to, I shal promise to all those that are
desirous to go for Oxford passage by Sea to Weytnouth, and from thence safe conduct thither. And if there
be any Gentleman that desires to go for France, safe passage thither in these ships under my command
and those that will go home to their habitations, to passe quietly without molestation ; And shall likewise
grant any other thing, that is safe or requisite for you to demand, or my selfe to grant, I do not heare mention,
the great blessings wherewith God hath blest the endeavours of the Parliament Forces of late, both by Land
and Sea, nor the unlikelinesse that you can be relieved either by Sea or Land, if there were means to do it»
supposing most of those things are sufficiently known to you, all my ayme and endeavours are, that this poore
nation may be settled in peace, and every man enjoy his own, and if you deny my demands, I am not out of
my way, for heare (God A^illuig) I intend to spend the summer, what ever I do in the winter. Sir your
answer to this is desired by your Friend WILL : BATTEN,
" From on hoard His Majesty's Shi^ the St. Andrews, 30 Apr. 1646.
" To the Governour Officers and Souldiers of Pendennis Castle these**
Still the garrison held out, and no doubt John Arundel wrote a letter to
Capt. Batten, distinctly refusing to surrender.
It was probably in the early part of May, that one of the besieged in Pen-
dennis castle, who had a turn for verse-making, and some scholarly attainment,
besides such soldierly and noble qualifications as were possessed by "one and
all," or, let us say, by most of the unfortunate garrison, celebrated their loyalty
and endurance, and sang the queenliness and excellence of Pendennis castle,
in an ode, so quaint, and so interesting and curious, that it deserves to be res-
A summofiSy and an ode, 47
cued from oblivion. It was printed in London, in the latter part of the year
1646, in a pamphlet concerning the surrenders of Pendennis and Scillie.
The printing appears to have been somewhat careless. For example, "enlips"
is printed for "eclipse," **Rune" for ** Ruine," ** as " for "is," "/>x«w"for
^^ipsam^^ ''^perses'^ for ^^perstes.'^ I will give the ode corrected as to these
errors ; and, for the further convenience of the reader, somewhat modernized
in respect of punctuation, apostrophes, and other matters. The heading of
the ode is, " Verses made in Pendennis Castle when it was besieged by sea
and land.". It will be seen, that these verses describe Pendennis as a most
faithful wife, as a very Queen Penelope, who, during the long absence of her
royal husband, her Ulysses, who is the King of England, is beleaguered by
importunate suitors, Fairfax, Hammond, Fortescue, and Batten, but resists
them all.
Lady Penelope, fair Queen, most chast,
Pendennis, of all Royall Forts the last.
The last, the only, Fort ne'er conquered was,
Ne'er shall be ; who in constancy doth passe
The rest of all thy sisters, who to thee
(The eclipse of all thy kinde) but strumpets be : —
Great Fairfax^ sonne of Mars, Bellona's love,
Whose victories she prizes highly, farre above
Caesar's, presents the Trophies and Renowne,
Promising the Queen of Forts a Triple Crowne.
Scorne the high climbering Phaeton. Or let the Suime
Thy husband be, or be, for aye, a Ruine.
Brave Hamond coveteous is, but cannot speed.
But Fortescue is harsh ; of him take heed.
He that so dogged is, now he 's a wooing ;
His suit, once granted, will be thy undoing.
If now the man his humor cannot hide.
Wise Abigail his suite will not abide.
48
Pendennis,
Batten in's floating Castle, Neptune like,
For love of thee his lofty sayles would strike,
Become thy Captaine, might it be his hap ;
Thou shouldst fall fast into faire Thetis' lap.
Or, wert thou fain, for the Indies, to be sold,*
He'd Danae's Bosome fill with showres of gold.
He'd court his Lady, like a silver swan
Vpon the mayne ; nor should there be a man
In's winged fleet, that should not speak thee faire.
But, with his cannon thunderings in the aire.
Would make thee musick, and withall to wonder.
To hear him speake so sweetly, and to thunder.
Weepe not as one forsaken and forlone ;
Thine own Vlysses will, in time, return e,
Embrace, and hugge, thee in his Royall Armes,
Ne'er conquered yet by force, nor woon by charmes. —
Brave Governor, be still but what thou art,
England may be subdued erse thy great heart.
The following note is appended to the verses : —
" The Author of these verses after the surrender added the ensuing: —
** Ovid. Penelopen ipsam, perstes modo, tempore vinces."
On the 2 1 St May, Lord Jennyn wrote from St Germains to Lord Culpeper,
referring to letters he had received about Pendennis castle, and giving direc-
tions for its relief (Clar. St. Pa., no. 2224).
Polwhele says (Vol. 4, p. loi, note, citing Tonkin's MSS.), that "Lewis
Tremayne of Heligan in St Ewe, Lieutenant Colonel, was in the castle of
Pendinas during the siege ; whence he made almost a miraculous escape by
swimming over from one of the block-houses to Trefusis-point, through all the
* This line is conjectural. The pamphlet, which has several misprints elsewhere, certainly has some here.
It gives the line thus :— Or, where they love forth Indies, to be sold.
The siege continues.
49
enemy*s fire." If this story is true, Lieut -Col. Lewis Tremayne must be dis-
tinguished from Col. Lewis Tremayne, who was in the castle at the surrender.
Whitelock chronicles (p. 208) that "A ship was taken with Ammunition and
Provisions (or Relief of Pem/ennis Castle, and divers letters intercepted in her."
June the 12th, 1646. And the "Perfect Diurnal" (no. 150) gives this intelli-
gence : — " The house this day received a Letter of the taking a Ship with
Ammunition, and Provision for reliefe of Pendennis Castle, and many Letters
therein from the Prince, M. Hide and others which was enclosed in the said
Letters. The house ordered, in respect the Letters were in ciphers, that they
should be referred to a C[ommittee] to finde out the keys to the ciphers."
The "Weekly Account" (no. 25), under date June 15, has this : " Letters
from our Leagure before Pendennis in Cornwall intimates that the Enemy in
the Castle begins to droop, having received the unwelcom'd news of the
taking of their ship laden with Provisions and Ammunition intended for
reliefe of the said Castle, so that it is probable there will be capitulations sud-
denly, & great hopes of their surrendring."
On the 27th June, J. Digby and thirteen others in Pendennis castle, wrote
a letter to the prince, informing him that they were reduced to the last ex-
tremity, and must, if not relieved, surrender in three weeks. The copy of this
letter, which is among the Clarendon State Papers (no. 2251) is endorsed by
Lord Clarendon, " Received July 13, at Jersey, and sent at once to the
Prince."
" The Moderate Intelligencer " (no. 69), under date June 30, has this : —
" The letters from Pendefinis say, the souldiers run out daily, which its possible
may be a benefit to the Castle : The common report of the souldiers that
come out, is, that it cannot hold out above three weeks, ihey shoot con-
tinually both canon and small shot, and yet few have been killed."
"The Perfect Diurnal" (no. 153,) under date 30 June, says: — "great
hopes there is that Pendennis will be surrendred within 3. weekes there pro-
visions being well neare spent."
In Sprigge's " Anglia Rediviva," published in 1647 (pp. 302-3), I find the
following : — " About the latter end of July the Enemy made a sally by Botes
to fetch in reliefe, but were forced back with losse. About ten days before
50
Pendennis,
which a Summons was sent them, but they in hope of Reliefe by Ships from
Saint MalloweS^ returned a deniall \ and after those Ships were by contrary
windes beaten to Morleys^ yet the Enemy persisted in his obstinacy, expecting
a propitious blast to bring their Reliefe to them ; nor could the fate of Oxfordy
Worcester and Litchfield surrendred, comming to their eares, work them to any
other resolution then to hold out, without his Majesties speciall Warrant to
surrender, whom the Governour was very earnest to obtaine liberty to send unto ;
or if not to the King, at lest to the Prince, and would faine have perswaded
Colonel Fortescue to condiscend thereto, as but a common curtesie, but could
not prevaile, he not understanding it so ... by a Lieutenant of ours, whom
Colonel Fortesaie exchanged another of theirs for, he understood that a Shallop
had gone forth about the 26 oi July to the Prince his Highnesse, to certifie
him of their condition, unable to hold out many days without Reliefe . . .
Captaine Batten kept ten large Boats and Barges well manned, before the
mouth of the Harbour every night, within command of the Castle, drawing
them off in the morning : One morning when he was newly drawne off, a
Shallop got in by stealth, which caused great triumph in the Castle ; but 'twas
conceived (and Colonel Fortescue was so informed by good hands) that little
Reliefe was in it, save a Hogs-head or two of Wine . . . Some Overtures
were made to the Enemy within, to goe for Flanders, an Agent from the King
of Spaine came for that purpose, desiring to speak with some of the Souldiers
in the Castle, while some of ours should be by ; which being granted, he
made an Overture to some Papist Officers of entertainment in the King of
Spaine' s service in Flanders \ they desired to be satisfied of the Agents
authority, and to see the conditions ; which being readily condiscended unto
and performed on the Agents part, they answered him, That at present they
were engaged, but should they be once free, next to their present Master they
would serve his Majesty of Spaine : This curtesie was taken well from Colonel
Fortescue by the Enemy and the Agent ; and certainly anything belonging
meerly to civility, without involving danger in its consequence, was never
denied by him .... The Enemy in the Castle kept fires all night, for
direction to any Reliefe that should make towards them. They were very
prodigall of their powder, making two hundred great shot in the space of three
The want of provisions, 5 1
dayes at our men, but without any great execution, only three of our men being
slaine thereby : The AVork of keeping them in so straitly from Reliefe, was very
great, and was not performed without very hard duty to our Souldiers, the
Enemy within being so numerous, which therefore redounds as much to the
honour of the Besiegers : and Captain e Batten with his Ships by Sea was
no lesse carefull and vigilant, though indeed he wanted Shallops and Pinaces
for the service."
"The Moderate Intelligencer" (no. 75), under date Friday, Aug. 7, gives this
news: — " The letters from Pendennis tell us, there hath come in another Shallop,
since that mentioned last week, but in both its believed little of relief, and
the rather, because the Govemour sent last week a letter to Col. ForiescuCy
to know if he had power to treat with him, and that, the conditions agreed,
whether he would, or could give warrant they be made good ? alleadging, it
would be a dishonour to him to treat, and when agreed, to bee contradicted
by another. Colonel Fortescue sent him word, he had power : The Govemour
took some two days time, whether they be in treaty is not known, some think
he will suddenly, others, that this is but a complement Captain Batten doth
what he can to hinder, but he wants shallops and pinaces. ''
In the same pamphlet in which the ode is printed, which is given above,
there is printed an order, which was issued by the governor, for killing horses
for provisions for the garrison. This order, which is undated, is as follows : —
" It is ordered, and Col. Jenens Levi : [this must be a misprint, and Col.
Charles Jennens and Capt. Lewis may have been intended,] General Buckly
and Maior Brittayne are hereby desired and appointed to view all the horses
within this Garrison, and that they take particular notice of all such horses as
are fit to be killed for beefe, for provisions for the Garrison, and that they give
an account of their doings herein to-morrow at two of the clock in the afternoon
unto the Govemour and Council.
"John Arundell, Govemour of Pendennis."
"The Moderate Intelligencer" (no. 76), under date Aug. 13, has this: —
"We told you last week, that the Govemour of Pendennis had taken time to
consider, having rid himself & the Castle of a Gentleman, who is escaped to
France, whose influence hath hitherto kept oflf a Treaty, is now begun to treate,
52 Pendennis,
and we believe will suddenly accord." In the newspaper entitled ** Perfect
Occurrences &c./' under date August the 15th, there is this : — "This day by
letters from before Pendennis Castle, we were acquainted that the Treaty (by
reason the besieged stand upon so high termes) was broken oflf at present."
It appears by John Haslock's account of the surrender, which will be cited
presently, that one Digbie, with a hundred or more of the gentry in the castle,
upon the breaking off of the treaty, engaged themselves by oath, to blow up
the castle, and then to fall upon the land forces of the parliament, if honour-
able terms of surrender should be refused to them. However, Col. Fortescue
"contrived a way to bring on the treaty again, which took :" (see /osf J or as
the newspaper entitled " Perfect Occurrences &c.," under date Aug. 17, has it,
" From the West, the letters speak of Messengers sent out of Pendtnnis Castle
againe to Collonel Fortesaie to treate for the surrender thereof, and that they
seeme to be more willing to hearken to termes than before." " The Moderate
Intelligencer" (no. 77), under date Friday, Aug. 21, has this particular account :
— " We had this day the conclusion from Pendennis Castle, which was thus :
Monday the 10 the Commissioners of both sides met, the names of those for
the Parliament were Col. St, Atibin^ High sheriflfe, Col. Bmnett^ Sir Geo. Ayscue^
Col. Herlin^ Lieut, col. Fiich, Lieut, col. Townsend^ Serjeant m2i]0X Jennings y
captain Mainard, For the castle, Serjeant major Shipman, Col. Rich. Arundel^
col. Slaughter, col. Jennings, col. Tremain, L. coL Brocket, Joseph June and
Neinl Bligh Esq. They sate in consultation untill Wednesday noon, and then
their Commissioners brake oflf in great discontent, and away : we might here
give you the demands of each at that time, and how they differed, but that will
be superfluous. Colonel Fortescue finding this unexpected rupture, contrived
a way to bring on the treaty again, which took : thereupon they began again,
Friday, the 14, and agreed all by the 1 5, towards night,save the time of surrender:
the 16, they agreed to the articles, and signed them, which are as followeth."
Then follow the articles. And then the writer proceeds, " This so good a
work of gaining this place of so great consequence, as it speaks much to the
praise of all therein intrusted, so in particular of Col. Fortescue, who no doubt
will be rewarded with that trust, and made Governour thereof, he is an honest
man, and for the Establishment"
The full text of the articles for the surrender is given in the " Moderate
Intelligencer" (no. 77), in the "Perfect Diurnal "(no. 161), and in "Rush-
worth's Historical Collections" (pt. 4, vol. i, pp. 295-7). Rushworth makes
reference to the surrender, and adds the articles, as follows : —
" Much about the same time was Pendennis Castle surrendered ^ PendennU-
Castle suiTcn-
to the Parliament, being a very strong Place, situate in the utmost *^*^'''^-
part of Cornwall, standing upon the Sea, and commanding in a
great part the Harbour of Falmouth. It had been Garison'd for
the King by the Honourable John Arundel^ of Trerise^ Esquire,
and was beleaguered by part of Fairfax's Army, under the Com-
mand of Colonel Fortescue by Land, and by Capt Batten^ the
Parliament's Vice-Admiral, by Sea: And after a considerable
Siege, and gallant Resistance, was surrendered on these Articles.
''Articles agreed on the i6th of August, Anno. Dom. 1646, the^si^iilndcr
between Sir Abraham Shipman, Lieut.-CoL Richard Arundel, CoL cLsur^^
William Slaughter, CoL Charles Jennings, CoL Lewis Tremain, '^' '^^
Nevil Bligh, and Joseph June, Esq ; LieuL-CoL Anthony Brocket,
on the behalf of the Honourable John Arundel of Trerise, Esq;
Governor of the Castle of Pendennis, of the one Party: And
CoL John St. Aubin, Esq ; High Sheriff of the County of Comwal,
Sir John Ayscue, Knt.y CoL Robert Bennet, Lieut.-CoL Edward
Herle, Lieut, -CoL Tho. Fitch, Lieut, -CoL Richard Townsend,
Major Thomas Jennings, and Capt, Walter Maynard, on the behalf
of the Honourable CoL Richard Fortescue, Commander in Chief
under his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairfax, of all the Forces of Horse
and Foot within the County of Comwal ; and the Honourable Capt,
William Batten, Vice-Admiral and Commander in Chief of the
whole Fleet employ' d for the service of King and Parliament ^ on the
other Party,
I. T^HAT the Castle of Pendennis^ with all Fortresses, Forts, Fortifications,
A thereunto belonging, the Ships and all other Vessels lying under the
Castle, with the Furniture and Provisions unto them appertaining, all Ordnance
54 Tcndennis,
of all sorts, with their Equipage, and all Arms, Ammunition, Provisions, and
all other Implements of War, Necessaries and Commodities of and belonging
to the said Castle and Garrison (except what otherwise shall be disposed by
these Articles), shall without any manner of diminution, spoil' or embezzle-
ment, be delivered upon Afonday the 17th day of this Instant August^ at Two
of the Clock in the Afternoon, into the Hands and Custody of the Two Com-
manders in Chief by Sea and Land respectively, or such person or persons as
shall be by them appointed for receiving of the same. And that immedi-
ately, upon signing the said Articles, the said persons shall be admitted into
the Castle, to see the just performance of the Premises, and Hostages given
for the due observance of them.
2. T\{^\.John Arundel o{ Trcrise^ Esq, Governor of the said Castle of Fen-
dennis, with his family and Retinue, and all Officers and Soldiers of Horse and
Foot, and all the Train of Artillery, and of the Ships, as well Reformado'd
Officers as others; and all Gentlemen, Clergymen, and their FamiHes and
Servants, shall march out of the Castle of Fendennis, with their Horses, com-
pleat Arms, and other Equipages, according to their present or past Com-
mands and Qualities, with flying Colours, Trumpets sounding. Drums beating,
Matches lighted at both ends, Bullets in their Mouths, and every Soldier
Twelve Charges of Powder, with Bullets and Match proportionable, with all
their own proper Goods, Bag and Baggage, with a safe convoy unto ArunncA-
Downs. And because his Majesty hath neither Army nor Garison in England
to our knowledge, they shall there lay down their Arms (saving their Swords)
unless such who are Officers in Commission, who with their Servants are to
retain their Arms according to their Qualities ; Country Gentlemen and their
Servants their Swords, only Ensigns their Colours ; where such persons as
Col. Foriescue shall appoint, are to receive them : And as many as desire it
are to have Passes from the Commanders in Chief, to pass to their several
Dwellings, or to such other places under the Power of the Parliament, or be-
yond the Seas, as they shall desire, and not be plundered, searched, or injured
in their March, or after, they not doing anjthing to the prejudice of the Par-
liament's Affairs ; and no man to be prejudiced for the giving any of the persons
The articles for the surrender, 55
comprized in the said Articles, Entertainment in their Houses : And that the
old Garison-Soldiers who have Houses in the Castle, shall have 28 days after
the Surrender, for the removing and disposing of their Goods.
3. That the Prince's Servants with their Arms, and all Commanders, Offi-
cers, Gentlemen, Ladies, Gentlewomen, Clergymen, and all others, with their
Retinue, that desire it, shall have liberty to pass with their Bag and Baggage,
and what else is allowed in the Articles, beyond the Seas ; and to that purpose
there shall be provided by the Vice-Admiral a sufficient Number of Navigable
Vessels, with a Convoy for their safe Transporting from the Haven of Falmouth^
within 28 Days after the Surrender of the said Castle, to be landed at St
Maloes, in France; and in the mean time to be assigned Free Quarters at
convenient Places by Col. Fortescue^ Commander in Chief; and during the
said time, that they be not plunder'd or injured, they acting nothing prejudi-
cial to the Parliament-Aflfairs.
4. That Col. Wise^ and all Officers and Soldiers of his Regiment, or as many
of them as desire it, be shipt in jRz/w<7//M-Harbour, in Vessels to be provided
by the Vice-Admiral, and landed at Swansey in Wales : And that such as are
of the County of Cornwall be shipt and landed at Looe ; and those that be of
Devon, to be landed at Yalme ; and all to be shipt with Bag and Baggage and
such Arms as formerly allowed them, nor to be plunder'd nor injured in their
Passage.
5. That whereas by reason of the long Siege of the Castle of PendenniSy
many of the Officers and Soldiers of the said Garison are grown into great
necessity of all such things as might enable them to march to their several
dwellings, many sick and wounded ; and to the intent they may be supplied
with Necessaries for their Accommodations within the time limited to them
by these Articles, it is promised and consented unto by the Commissioners for
the Leaguer, to and with the Commissioners for the Castle, That Five hun-
dred Pounds Sterling shall be deliver'd into the hands of the Commissioners
of the Castle, or any Three of them, at 8 of the Clock To-morrow morning at
Penrin, to be distributed among the Officers and Soldiers aforesaid as they
shall think fit ; and they are not to take any Free Quarter in their Marches.
6. That all Goods taken from any person for the accommodation of this
Garison or any person therein, shall be restored to their proper Owners, or
such as they shall appoint ; and all Goods now in the Castle that properly be-
long to any other persons, shall be restored to the Owners thereof : And if
any person carry away any Goods not properly belonging unto him, and deny
to deliver them upon demand, in presence of any Officer in Commission, he
shall lose his Bag and Baggage, and have such Punishment as the now Governor
of the Castle and the Commander in Chief, or any Two of them, shall think
fit : But all Persons may retain whatsoever was taken from persons in Arms,
as lawful Prize of War.
7. That the Governor, and all Field Officers, with their several Retinues, shall
be allowed Carriage by Sea and Land, to carry away their said Goods to any
place within their Country.
8. That no Officer, Soldier, or other Person comprized within these Articles,
shall be reproached, or have any disgraceful Words or Affironts offered, or be
stopt, searched, plundered or injured in their Marches, Rendezvous, Quarters,
Journeys, Places of Abode, or Passages by Sea or Land ; and if any such thing
be done. Satisfaction to be made, according to the Judgment of any Two
Commissioners or more, being of equal Number of each Party : Nor shall any
of the Persons aforesaid be compelled to take up Arms against the King, nor
be imprisoned for any Cause of publick or private Concernment, during the
space of 28 days after the Surrender of the said Castle ; nor for any Cause of
Publick Concernment, for 28 days after the said 28 days are ended.
9. That if any Person within the Garison be sick or wounded, that they
cannot take the benefit of the Articles at present, they shall have liberty to
stay, and be provided for at convenient places until they recover, and then
they shall have the fruit and benefit of these Articles.
10. That all Persons comprized in this Capitulation, shall enjoy their Estates,
Real and Personal, they submitting to all Orders and Ordinances of Parlia-
ment, and shall fully enjoy the benefit of these Articles.
11. That all Prisoners of War of either side be set at liberty: and that
liberty be given immediately after the Surrender of the said Castle, to the
The surrender.
57
Governor thereof, to give notice to their Friends of the Surrender of the said
Castle ; and that no Vessel coming with Relief within Ten days after the Sur-
render, shall be made Prize.
12. That if any of these Articles shall in any Point be broke or violated by
any person or persons in Pendennis or comprized within this Capitulation,
the fault and punishment shall be upon them 6r him only who made the
Breach or Violation, and shall not be imputed or charged on any other not
assenting thereunto, or acting therein.
13. That all Persons comprized in these Articles, shall upon request have
Certificates under the hands of the Commander in Chief respectively, That
such persons were in the Castle at the time of the Surrender thereof, and were
otherwise to have the benefit of these Articles.
14. That the Commanders in Chief respectively shall give Passes to one or
two Messengers with their servants, not exceeding Six, to go to the King by
Sea or Land, from the Governor, to give an Account to him of the Proceedings
of this Treaty and Conclusion thereof; and to return and receive the benefit
of these Articles.
15. That Commissioners be appointed on both sides for the performance of
the Articles, and Places appointed for the Accommodation of Sick Men.
16. That Confirmation of all the precedent Articles shall be procured from
the Parliament, or from his excellency Sir Tho, Fairfax^ within Forty Days
after the signing of these Articles."
The " Perfect Diurnal" (no. 162), under date Aug. 31, mentions letters "from
Cap. Batten^^ and says : — " By these Letters we had also the particulars more
fully of the enemies marching out of Pendennis, as follows, That the number
of Souldiers that marched out were 800, who laid down their Arms halfe a
mile from the Casrle, and disbanded ; most of the Officers and Gentlemen
intend to goe beyond Seas. In the Castle was six double barels of Powder,
37 single found presently, more heard of, 11 00 round shot, 2500 weight of
Match, 2000 weight of small shot, 1900 muskets, 95 pieces of canon, a
murtherer, some pikes, and brown bils, 4 Knights, 8 Colonels, 6 Lieut -Colonels,
6 Majors, 17 Captains, 17 Lieutenants, 21 Ensignes, 3 Quartermasters, 15
Officers of the Traine, 16 Gunners, the whole number above 1000. 200 sicke
H
58 Pendennts,
left behind, 200 women and children, their provisions remaining little and bad,
their spirits and resolutions great and desperate. A hundred of them resolved,
yea engaged themselves by Oath, whereof the L. Dighies brother was one to
blow up the Castle and themselves, if they could not get honourable terms,
which was grounded upon the dissolving the first treaty."
The newspaper " Perfect Occurrences of both Houses of Parliament and
Martiall Affairs," under date Aug. 20, mentions the surrender of Pendennis,
and adds, — " 40 great Pieces of Ordnance taken, one great ship that bore the
Queen formerly between France and England^ one Shallop, and some other
Boates, store of Arms, but Provisions little, as you may understand by the
former, 7 great peeces of ordnance in the ship, many peeces unmounted about
the Castle." (And see Whitelock, pp. 220, 221). These pieces unmounted,
together with the 40 great pieces, would make up probably the 95 reckoned
by Capt Batten.
According to Sprigge (p. 334), Pendennis castle yielded 17 Aug., 1646;
1 7 having been slain in the siege ; 94 guns, 860 arms taken by Col. Fortescue :
the commanders of the enemy being CoL Arundel and Sir John Digby.
A letter from John Haslock, (" Chyrurgion to the Vice-Admirall Captain
Batten in the St. Andrew,") printed, in 1646, in the pamphlet above referred
to in which the ode is printed, gives " A true relation of the surrender of Pen-
dennis." The letter (corrected as to a few misprints and matters of punctuation
and the like), is as follows : —
•* Loving Friend, The well wishes of a friend, besides this. — ^These may as well certifie you of our health,
as of the surrender of Pendennis Castle to Colonell Fortescue and oure Commanders, The very truth is, they
would not have yielded to the Colonell, but, to auoyde contention, the Admirall desired they would treaty with
both : which treaty at first did not hold ; for they had no mind to the land forces, (neither valued them), as, in
my hearing, the governor of the Castle told the AdtniralL But, as siure as may be, at the breaking of the first
treatie, they went into the Castle, and took an oath, (all the GentreyX to split the ordnance, of which we have
found fourscore and odd, and to blow up the Castle, and soe to fall upon the land forces, to live and die together.
This you may verye credible reporte, for I have heard it from the mouths of the best of them, and Sir Henry
Kiiegrew, my patient, with home I was two howers before they surrendered to us. But the prevention of this
plot was by meanes of the AdmiralL For he had soe wrought with some that came aboard, that he put all the
Souldiers in a mutinie : and by this meanes, Di^ne and his crew could not performe their bloody designe. And
boe they come again to treate, and siurendered the 17. Day. There was (noe bread) nor drink, onely a litle
water, nor meat, only a cask of horse salted, but pouder and shot enough. We had taken their best shallop
firom them, that no other durst venter to them. I believe there is betwixt 3 and 400 sicke left behind ; the rest
are marcht to their homes, only some that are to be transported into France. Haste calls away, but I hope to
prattle more with thee over a pipie shortly ; therefore, only remembering my love to father Hadley, master
Warton, Brother Baker, and all the honest crew, I rest, your loving friend, JOHN HASLOCK."
The surrender, and an eulogy.
59
The date, apparently, is about 26 Aug., 1646. (See in the pamphlet itself,
the preceding letter of the 25th, and its allusion to this one).
The above letter was, with other papers, " printed and published by the
Originall copies, according to order of Parliament"
The same pamphlet contains "A list of the Officers and Souldiers belonging
to Pendennis Castle at the surrender thereof," called on the title-page, " A
List of the names of all the Colonels, Majors, Captaines, Lievtenants, and
other Officers that were therein."
The list gives names of 11 " Collonels " (including " John Arundel
Governor," Sir Abraham Shipman, Richard Arundel, William Slaughter,
Charles Jennens, and Lewis Tremaine) ; 6 ** Lieutenant Collonels," including
Anthony Brockett j 7 "Majors"; 14 "Captains," including Joyne ; 5 "Re-
formed Capt" ; 11 (more) " Captains " ; 29 Lieutenants : 7 " Ensignes " ; 10
(more) "Ensignes"; 3 Quartermasters: "Of Common Souldiers, 732;"
(inclusive apparently of 300 " gentlemen that had command in the castle,"
and of whom 7 are named, one of them Nevill Bligh) ; " Of the Councell of
Warre," 3, all named ; " Of the Train of Artillerie," 8, including a General,
a Controller, a Commissary of the Magazine, his assistant, Quartermaster,
Marshall of the Garrison, and Conductors, all named ; Gunners, 26, including
the Master-Gunner, and the Waggon-Master's Man, all named ; " Chaplaines,"
5, all named ; " Chyrurgions," 3, all named.
The "Perfect Diurnal," (no. 160), under date Friday, Aug. 21, has this : —
" This day came Letters to the House of the surrender of Pendennis Castle on
Tuesday last the most impregnable strength in England." The articles were
agreed on Sunday, the i6th.
Lord Clarendon has a passage which is worth quoting, in which he compares
with the conduct of other garrisons, that of the garrison of Pendennis, and speaks
of how much their exceptional courage and virtue did for the cause of the king.
This is the passage (book x. pars. 72 and 73). "72. Whilst these disputes
continued between the parliament and the Scots, concerning the king's person,
the army proceeded with great success in reducing those garrisons which still
continued in his majesty's obedience; whereof though some surrendered
more easily, and with less resistance than they might have made, satisfying
6o Pendennis,
themselves with the king's general order, and that there was no reasonable
expectation of relief, and therefore it would not be amiss, by an early sub-
mission, to obtain better conditions for themselves; yet others defended
themselves with notable obstinacy to the last, to the great damage of the
enemy, and to the detaining the army from uniting together; without. which
they could not pursue the great designs they had. And this was one of the
reasons that made the treaty with the Scots depend so long, and that the
presbyterians continued their authority and credit so long; and it was observed,
that those garrisons which were maintained and defended with the greatest
courage and virtue, in the end obtained as good and as honourable conditions
as any of those who surrendered upon the first summons."
" 73. Which was the case of Pendennis-castle ; which endured the longest
siege, and held out the last of any fort or castle in England ; and refused all
summons ;• nor admitted any treaty, till all their provisions were so near con-
sumed, that they had not victual left for four and twenty hours ; and then th^y
treated, and carried themselves in the treaty with that resolution and uncon-
cemedness, that the enemy concluded that they were in no straits ; and so
gave them the conditions they proposed ; which were as good as any garrison
in England had accepted. This castle was defended by the governor thereof,
John Arundel of Trerice in Cornwall, an old gentleman of near fourscore
years of age, and of one of the best estates and interest in that county ; who,
with the assistance of his son, Richard Arundel (who was then a colonel in
the army, and a stout and diligent officer, and was by the king after his return
made a baron, lord Arundel of Trerice, in memory of his father's service, and
his own eminent behaviour throughout the war), maintained and defended
the same to the last extremity."
Hals' account of the conduct of this garrison during the siege is also interest-
ing. Hals says (p. 130) : — "Which gentleman (John Arundell) was by K.
Charles made Governor of Pendents Castle ; during whose Command happen'd
a tragical Siege thereof, by the Pari Army under CoL Fortescue\ wherein
Besieged and Besiegers show'd unparallel'd Valour and Conduct for six Months
Space ; when at length it was surrender'd upon honourable Conditions ; the
Soldiers going forth with their Arms mounted and Colours flying, more con-
I^ejoicings, and a public thanksgiving, 6i
sum'd with Sickness and Famine within the Walls, than destroyed by their
Enemies from without : Having been driven to that Extremity, that the
Governor, Soldiers, and many other Gentlemen, and Ladies therein, were
forced for some Time to eat Horse- Flesh, for Want of other Victuals \ being
hemm'd in by the Parliament's frigats at Sea on one Side, and surrounded by
their Army at Land on t'other ; so that no Relief of Men or Provisions
could be brought into the Garrison. Whereby it was forced to capitulate and
surrender as aforesaid, 1647, (before which Time all other Castles in England^
except Ragland in Wales^ were yielded up to the Parliament). And the
Hunger-starv'd Soldiers of Pendenis, who came out thence, regaling too freely
on Victuals and Drink, brought themselves into incurable Diseases, whereof
many died. So that here, as in many other Places, it was observed that more
Men and Women died by too often putting their Hands to their Mouths, than
by clapping iheir Hands to their Swords ; as the Jews did on surrender of
Jerusalem to the Romans after the Siege and Famine there."
On the 25th Aug. 1646, in the house of commons, letters, with the articles
of the surrender of Pendennis castle, and a particular of the ammunition and
other stores found in it, and a list of the officers and others in it who sur-
rendered, were read : and Col. Richard Fortescue was nominated and approved
of to be governor of the castle, and a committee was appointed to consider
how he might be settled in the government, and to devise for an addition
to the ancient establishment. (Commons Journals, vol. 4, p. 651.)
The house also, on the same day, resolved, " that the sum of Threescore
Pounds be bestowed upon the three Messengers, that brought the News of
the Rendering of Pendennis Castle ; to each of them Twenty Pounds apiece ;
And that the Committee of the West do pay the said Twenty Pounds apiece
to each of them accordingly." (p. 652.)
The house also, on the same day, ordered, that Tuesday, the 22nd Sept,
" be set apart for a day of Public Thanksgiving, for the great Mercy of God
to the Forces of the Parliament, in the Reducing of the several Garisons and
Castles of Worcester y Wallingford, Ruthen^ Ragland^ and Pendennis, ^^ (p. 652.)
And on the 28th of August, the subject having been considered also by
the house of lords, the 8th of September for London, and the 22nd Septem-
62 Pendennis,
ber for other places, were appointed days of public thanksgiving. The entry
of the order in the Lords Journals (see vol. 8, p. 475) is as follows : —
" 1646.
** Die Veneris 28® Aug.
" Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That
Tuesday^ being the 8th day of September^ now next coming, be set apart for a
Day of Public Thanksgiving, within the cities of London and Wesfr^ Lines
of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality, and Ten Miles about, for
the great blessing of God upon the Forces of the Parliament, in the reducing
of the several Castles and Garrisons of Worcester^ Wallingford^ Ruihen^
Ragland^ and Pendennis, and that the Lord Mayor of the City of London do
take Care that the Ministers of the several Churches and Chapels within the
City of Iu)ndon and Liberties thereof, may have timely Notice hereof.
" Ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That
Tuesday y being the 22th Day of September now next coming, be set apart for
a Day of Public Thanksgiving, to be observed and kept in all Churches and
Chapels, in the several Counties, Cities, and Places, in the Kingdom of
England, above Ten Miles distant from the City of London, for the great
Mercy of God to the Forces of the Parliament, in the reducing of the several
Garrisons and Castles of Worcester, Wallingford, Ruthen, Ragland, and
Pendennis; and that the Members of this House, that serve for the said
several Counties, Cities, and Places, do take Care that timely Notice hereof
may be given to the respective Ministers within the Places aforesaid."
Several of the historians of Cornwall mention, that John Arundel was
succeeded in the governorship ot Pendennis castle by Col. Richard Fortescue.
He it was to whom the castle had surrendered in August, 1646. In the
Commons Journals (vol. 5, p. no), is found this entry for the 12th March,
i54y : — "That this House doth allow of Col. Richard Fortescue to be
Governor of Pendennis Castled
Col. Fortescue did not remain long in the enjoyment of the governorship.
On the 17th April, 1648, the house of commons ordered the castle to be
delivered up to Sir Hardres Waller : and " further ordered, that the Captain,
Lieutenant, and Soldiers in the said Castle, upon the delivery up of the said
The government under the parliament, 63
Castle, shall be indemnified in what they have formerly done." (Com. Jour,
vol. 5, pp. 533-4.) What it was that they had formerly done, and were to be
indemnified in, does not appear : neither does the reason of Col. Fortescue's
being deprived of the captainship in favour of Sir Hardres Waller appear.
Possibly the explanation might be found in a letter of intelligence, dated
17-20 April, which is amongst the Clarendon State Papers (no. 2764), and
mentions that Sir H. Waller was repulsed by Fortescue of Pendennis. How-
ever, the orders of the commons were agreed to by the lords, the same 1 7th
April, (see p. 534.)
The chaplain of Pendennis castle, under Sir Hardres Waller, was Mr.
Henry Flamank. This reverend and honourable gentleman, it may here be
mentioned, was, in 1662, "ejected" from the church of England and from
the livmg of Lanivet, which he then held, by means of the Bartholomew Day
Act of Uniformity ; which was the occasion upon which so many ministers of
the church of England nobly relinquished their livings, as they could no
longer, after the passing of that act, hold them, without violating their con-
sciences. And a memorial of Mr. Henry Flamank is accordingly to be found in
Calam/s Nonconformists' Memorial Calamy says of him (vol i, p. 353); —
" He was a very genteel man, of considerable learning, great natural abilities,
a clear head, a strong memory, and lively affections. His method of preaching
had in it something so peculiarly convincing, that it seldom failed of some
success. Such a happy mixture of seriousness and good nature, is rarely to
be met with, especially so recommended by those stated evidences of sincerity,
which rendered him unsuspected of affectation or ill design. He was very
much esteemed by the more serious gentry of the Western counties, and
beloved as well as reverenced by meaner persons." Some considerable time
after his expulsion from Lanivet, he was called to be minister to a congre-
gation at Tavistock, where he died in 1693. (see Jour. Roy. Inst Corn-,
for Oct., 1865, P- 74-)
According to Drew (Hitch, and Dr., vol 2, p. 129), one Shrubsall was
governor of Pendennis castle, during the Commonwealth. Certainly he was
not governor. He may probably have been lieutenant-governor, under Sir
Hardres Waller.
64 Paidennis,
The Puritan soldiers of the castle, under Shrubsall, are said to have wantonly
destroyed the remains of a desolated college at Sl Buryan (p. 129.) Other
ravages committed in the neighbourhood at this period, are also attributed
to the soldiers of Pendennis castle ; for instance, the Logan stone of Men-
amber, in the parish of Crowan, is said to have been thrown off its balance,
by a detachment sent from Pendennis for the purpose ; a most improbable
tradition. The insignia of royalty were mutilated in those times certainly,
as well as anything that was thought to savour of image worship ; but even
this, doubtless, was done only by the lower and baser description of fanatic
troopers, and was discouraged by the higher-minded and better educated officers.
One of the King's Pamphlets, published in April, 1649, i^ London, is en-
titled, " A great fight near Pendennis Castle in Cornwall between the Lord
Hopton and the Parliaments Forces, upon the landing of his men for the
fetching in of provision." The account given of this " great fight " is as
follows : — " The Lord Hopton struck in at a Creek near Pendennis^ where he
landed many of his men for the fetching in of provision, and other accommo-
dation ; but before they could facilitate and accomplish their Design, the Par-
liaments Forces at Pendennis having notice thereof, a considerable party of
Horse and Foot were forthwith commanded out, who hastned to welcome their
coming in, and endeavoured to get between them and the water, for the inter-
cepting of their passage ; but through the malignity of the Cornish men their
design was almost frustrated ; for after few hours march they were discovered,
and the Enemy in a posture to receive them, who upon their neer approach
saluted each other with the tokens of Mars^ and after a hot conflict the Hop-
tonians retreated within command of their Ships, our men pursued, kiled 19,
wounded many, and made good their retreat with the losse of 7 men. Their
ordnance did much retard our pursuit, by which meanes most of them got
safe aboard having many Boats in readiness to receive them ; otherwise few of
them had escaped : some of the Land souldiers deserted them at their coming
ashore, who say, That the Lord Hopton is commander in chief of that Squad-
ron, and of all the Land forces thereunto belonging, and that his Colours (or
Ensigns) are yelow, with black bulets in the midst, and on the top thereof, this
Motto written in Characters of Gold, For Charles the Second.*' (p. 3.)
A ^^ great fight ^^ and a literary prisoner, 65
On the 28th March, 1650, the house of commons had the articles for the
surrender of Pendennis castle in Aug. 1646, under consideration. They had
not at that time been confirmed, nor were they then confirmed • (Com. Jour.,
voL 6, p. 388).
On the loth May, 1650, the commons ordered, that "each of the Four
Foot Companies at Pendennis Castle^ Dennis Fort^ and the Mounts be com-
pleted to the Number of Sixscore ;" and that the committee of the army
should pay them after they had been mustered, in like manner with the rest of
the army. (Com. Jour., vol. 6, p. 411).
I find the following notice of the imprisonment of William Prynne in "the
castie, (communicated by Mr. William Sandys), in " Notes and Queries," 3rd
sen, voL 3, p. 392 : — " William Prynne was a prisoner in Pendennis castie in
1652; where, as he says, he had *few books, and less light to read' While
there he 'penned' : — 'Pendennis, and all other standing Forts, Dismantied;
or, Eight Military Aphorisms, Demonstrating the Uselessness, unprofitableness,
hurtfulness, and Prodigall Expensiveness of all standing English Forts and
Garrisons, to the People of England,' Ac. Published, 1657. Amongst other
examples of the uselessness, as he calls it, of garrisons or forts, he mentions
that — * Since my imprisonment in Pendennis Castle^ a Turkish man of Warr
at mid-day, in the view of all the Garrison and my selfe, came up to the mouth
of the Harbor, and very near the Block-house ; took a great English Lightor
of thirty tun, sunk the vessel, in the place, and carried away some twelve
persons in it prisoners into Sally or Tunis \ after which she came close up to
the harbour two or three mornings together, till chased away from thence
by a Man of Warre.' This does not speak much for the gunnery practice of
Pendennis at that time."
In Burton's Diary (vol 3, p. 518), in a note, Mr. J. T. Rutt says of Sir
Hardres Waller : — " He appears to have been in great favour with the Crom-
wells, and was as fully engaged as any of the High Court of Justice in the
judgment on the King. Yet, on his arraignment in 1660, as may be seen in
" The Trials of the Regicides," he prevailed to save a life, probably soon closed
in prison, by professions of penitence which have been littie credited either
by royalists or republicans."
66 Pendennis,
Whether Sir Hardres Waller was deprived of or resigned the governorship
of Pendennis castle I have not ascertained. On the 6th Aug., 1658, the com-
missioners for nomination of commission officers had prepared a list of a
governor and commission officers for the garrison of Pendennis, and this list
was on that day reported to the house of commons and read. The list names
Capt. John Fox as governor, and Robert Roberts as lieutenant Whether
Capt Fox, as well as others in the list, was then nominated for appointment,
or whether he was then already governor of the castle, appears uncertain. He
is mentioned as governor of Pendennis in 1654, in the following, which Mr.
W. F. Cornish, of Budock, has kindly copied for me from his books : — "Jane,
the daughter oi John Fox, then Governor of Pendenis, was bom the 18th of
februar}' & baptized the 7th of March 1654." Not improbably he was lieut-
govemor in 1654, and appointed governor, in accordance with a nomination by
the commissioners, in 1658.
Lyson says (p. 105, citing, in note, "Perfect Diurnal," July 29, 1649): —
"After the surrender which took place in the month of August, 1646, the be-
sieging officer. Colonel Fortescue, was made governor by the parliament : he was
succeeded by Capt Fox, and the latter, in 1649, by Sir Hardress Waller." But
certainly, as we have seen, Su: Hardres Waller became governor next after Col.
Fortescue, and Capt Fox next after Sir Hardres Waller. Capt Fox, however,
may have been lieutenant-governor for years prior even to 1654. Robert
Roberts probably was appointed lieutenant-governor in 1658.
On the 7th Jan., 1659, a letter from the governor of Pendennis castle was
read in the house of commons, and referred to the council of state (Com.
Jour., vol 7, p. 805).
Whether the death of Capt Fox occurred between this 7 th Jan. and the
13th of February, 1659, I have not ascertained
However, on the 13th of February, 1659, the house of commons resolved,
" that Colonel Anthony Rowse be, and is hereby approved of to be. Governor
of Pendennis Casiie" (Com. Joum., vol 7, p. 842). CoL Rowse is not named
by any of the Cornish historians in the list of governors. He probably retained
the office until the Restoration, in 1660.
Governors under ihe parliament. 67
A curious verse, in which one Rouse is satirized, is cited by Hals. My
reasons for thinking it not improbable that Colonel Anthony Rowse of Pen-
dennis was really the person satirized by the Cavalier party in that verse, and
that Hals was in error, in supposing that one Captain Rouse was ever governor
of St Mawes castle, will be found hereafter. The passage in Hals may per-
haps not improperiy be cited in this place. He writes (in Gilb., voL 2, pp.
277-8) : — "Durmg the interregnum of Cromwell, Sir Richard Vyvyan, as a
person disaffected to his government, was displaced from the gubemation of
this castle, and one Captain Rouse put in his place, which gentleman, as I have
been informed, before the war broke out between King Charles I. and his Par-
liament, was of such low fortune in the world that he lived in a barn at Land-
rake, and lodged on straw, till he got a commission to be a Captain in the
Parliament Army under the Earl of Essex, which brought him into money and
credit ; so that at length he was posted the Commander or Crovemor of this
Castle, who behaved himself so very proud, grand, severe, and magisterial to-
wards the neighbouring gentlemen of the royal party, that it gave occasion to
John Trefusis, Esq., to make this short description of him in verse, which the
Cavalier party, when they met to drink the King's health, would commonly
sing in derision of the Governor, and call it their passado, viz. : —
In wealth Rouse abounds ;
He keepeth his hounds.
Full fourteen couple and more.
When he lived in a house
With a owl and a mouse.
Oh ! they say he was wondrous poor. — Oh ! they say.
Part of this bam aforesaid, tempore William IH, as I am informed, was
converted to a dwelling-house, the other part was made a Presbyterian meeting-
house, by Mr. Robert Rouse, of Wootten."
Chapter IV,
1660, when all England was engaged in singing
the favourite ditty,
Oh ihc iwnCy-nlDih et Hiy,
Tl was a gloriDua day.
When the King did er^oy hia awn qgiiip,
on the restoration of Charles II, Sir Peter Killigrew
was already governor of Pendennis castle. Lyson
says (vol. 3, p. 105. citing, in note, "Mercurius
vlarch 15, 1660); "In the month of March, 1660,
lligrew was made governor by General Monk."
the Killigrew family, as we have seen, that the site
was held by the crown. The house of commons,
i ordered, that Sir Peter Killigrew should be paid
atisfaction for his services, and for his tosses in con-
his interest in Pendennis castle. (Com. Jour., vol,
a 1660, the yearly rent and fine under which the
mds were held by the crown, were, as we have seen
(p, 10), commuted to a yearly rent of ;£aoo, with no fine.
During Cromwell's usurpation, Sir Peter, then Peter Killigrew, although of
a family remarkable for their loyalty, contrived to make such interest with the
existing government, as to procure considerable advantages for his town at
Smithicke (Lyson, vol 3, p. 100 ; Hitch, and Dr., vol i, p. 250).
The governor and his new town, 69
" In 1660 a royal proclamation declared, that henceforward its name should
be Falmouth; and in 1661 it was invested by charter with all the dignities of a
corporate town." (Murray, p. 401). According to Hitchins and Drew (vol.
I, p. 250), it was first named Falmouth on the 20th Aug., 1660. Lyson says
(vol 3, p. 100), " This town is first recorded by the name of Falmouth in the
charter of King Charles II, bearing date 1661, which incorporates the principal
inhabitants by the style of mayor, aldermen and burgesses." Amongst the
State Papers is a grant, dated the 12th Aug., 1661, to the town of Falmouth,
lately called Smithwick, and the port of Falmouth, of incorporation, with a
saving of the rights of Sir Peter Killigrew. (St. Pa., vol 40, no. 44).
State Papers issued at Whitehall, in 1660 (?), declare that five foot com-
panies in the garrison of Pendennis castle are t<J be continued, under command
of Col. Rich. Arundel. (St Pa., vol. 26, nos. 16-19). On the 29th January,
1 66 1, however, the king ordered the sheriffs of Cornwall to reduce two of the
five foot companies of the garrison, (vol 29, no. 63).
Not improbably CoL Rich. Arundel, who was the son of the Col. John
Arundel by whom the castle had been defended against the parliament, and
was himself in the castle during the siege, was in 1661, and during all Sir
Peter Killigrew's government, lieutenant-governor of the castle.
On the 16th Aug., 1661, Lionel Gatford, D.D., petitioned the king for the
vicarage of Plymouth, alleging, that he had served in the late wars as chaplain
of Pendennis castle, to the loss of liberty and estate. (St Pa., vol. 40, no. 57).
On the 31st Oct, 1661, a warrant was issued for Colonel Harvey to be sent
[prisoner] to Pendennis castle, (vol. 43, no, 135).
A petition dated in 1662, of John Dewnes, for the oflSce of page of the
back stairs to the queen, sets forth, that he was twice in danger of hanging
and twice of drowning, in conveying a letter fi"om the late king to his majesty
at Pendennis castle, within 12 hours 'after receipt whereof, his majesty left
the country : that the petitioner was promised a reward, but never received it,
and has been utterly undone by his loyalty. Annexed to the petition is a
certificate of Henry Arundel and three others in favour of the petitioner,
(vol 55, no. 65).
70
Pendennis,
Probably, Sir Peter Killigrew died, governor of Pendennis castle, about
July, 1662. Col. Richard Arundel, the son of the former governor, CoL John
Arundel, succeeded Sir Peter Killigrew.
The 29th July, 1662, is the date of a warrant to pay to Richard Arundel
2000/. at present, and such further sums as the treasurer shall find necessary
for payment of the garrison of Pendennis. (St Pa,, docquet, vol. 57,
no. 113). The 25th Aug., 1662, is the date of a warrant to pay to Richard
Arundel, out of the revenues payable for the duchy and county of Cornwall
377/. \os, Zd, monthly, for the pay of three companies and three oflScers in
Pendennis garrison, (vol 58, no. 75). It is possible that CoL Rich. Arundel,
at these dates, may still have been only lieutenant-governor.
However, in July, 1663, the lieutenant-governor was Col. Legg. Presum-
ably therefore, Col. Arundel, at all events by that time, had been made
governor. The 22nd July, 1663, is the date of a warrant to pay to Col.
Legg, lieutenant of Pendennis castle, 1,143/. iix. io</., for ammunition and
provisions for the castle. (St Pa., docquet, vol. 77, no. 30).
Col. Arundel is described expressly as governor of Pendennis, in a warrant,
dated the 31st Aug., 1663, to pay him, from the revenues of the duchy,
377/. 10^. 8/f. monthly, for the garrison, with arrears due since its reduction
to three companies, (vol 79, no. in).
Amongst the State Papers, there are three several warrants, dated respectively
the 22nd and 25th March, and the 2nd April, 1664, for a grant to Sir Nicholas
Slanning, K.B., in reversion after Col Rich.. Arundel, of the office of governor
or captain of Pendennis castle. ([Ent Book 16, p. 74.] vol 95, no. 11;
vol. 95, no. 41 ; [Ent Books 16, p. 122 ; and 21, p. 6.] vol. 96, no. 21).
On the 30th May, 1664, a warrant was issued to CoL Arundel to deliver to
the ordnance officers 47 pieces of supernumerary ordnance unmounted, found
in the castle in 1661, to be sent to the Tower. ([Ent book 20, p. 16,] vol.
98, no. 133.) These must have been brought into the castle by Sir Ralph
Hopton's infantry, on their retreating there in 1646, before the siege.
In 1664, that portion of Budock parish which lay within the fortifications
of Pendennis, was cut off or detached from the remainder of that parish, by
the formation of the parish of Falmouth, by Act of Parliament (Hitch, and
The making ready against invasion, 7 1
^■■1 111! I ■ ■ I 1 ■. ■ .■■■■»■■ ■■Ill ■ I ■ I I , . ■ I .. I ■ ■ ■ I ^.^^—1 ■ I ■ ^— ^— ^■^1— i »
Dr. vol I, pp. 251,5). It was deemed inexpedient to include Pendennis in
the new parish of Falmouth, as it had been described hitherto in official
documents as being in the parish of Budock. On this account it was retained
as a portion of Budock parish, although detached.
Before the i8th November, 1665, Col. Richard had been created Lord
ArundeL On that date, a warrant was issued to him by that name, to send
100 foot soldiers from Pendennis castle, with all expedition, to Plymouth
([Ent book, 22, p. 311,] vol. 137, no. 36). On the 26th of the same month,
CoL Henry Norwood wrote from Plymouth to Lord Arlington, that the
governor of Pendennis was extremely startled by the proposition to send away
100 men, his garrison being only 200, and that he, CoL Norwood, thought the
matter should be referred to the Earl of Bath, (vol. 137, no. 112). We may
presume that this was done, and that the 100 soldiers were not sent away from
Pendennis.
John Wildman was imprisoned in Pendennis castle in 1666. On the 12th
January in that year, a warrant was to be issued to Lord Arundel, the governor,
to receive into his custody in Pendennis castle, John Wildman, and to detain
him prisoner there, for engaging in treasonable and seditious practices, ([Ent.
book, 23, p. 5,] vol. 145, no. 4).
On the 26th June, 1666, Secretary Morice wrote from Whitehall, a circular
letter to the governors of forts and garrisons, to the effect that, there being
apprehensions of danger from sudden invasion, the king desired the governor
to use all industry to have his works repaired, fortified, and victualled for two
months, and to fill up the allotted number of soldiers. This letter was sent
to the several governors of Portsmouth, Plymouth, Tynemouth, Dover, Hull,
Pendennis, Berwick, Scarborough, Landguard Fort, Isle of Wight, and Holy
Island, ([Ent book, 14, pp. 98, 9], vol 160, no. 5). On the nth July, 1666,
Francis Bellott wrote from Pendennis to Williamson, the editor of the Gazette,
saying : Lord Arundel, the governor, has been to the castle, according to the
king's commands, and has ordered provisions for the garrison ; he has gone to
Truro to meet the deputy lieutenants and justices ; the country is in a good
posture of defence, and they profess themselves ready to serve, which both
horse and foot proved in a false alarm (vol 162, no. 78). And in a letter of
72
Pcndennis,
the 23rd, he added : — Lord Arundel and the other deputy lieutenants met at
Bodmin, and so settled afifairs, that on any invasion there will be a full and
noble appearance (voL 164, no. 71).
It was at about this time that Major General Desborough was to have been
imprisoned in Pendennis castle. By mistake for him a Mr. Desborough was
imprisoned there for three months. On the nth August, 1666, his wife wrote
to Lord Arlington, sa)dng: — Lord Craven and Sir Richard Browne have
informed her how much she and her husband are indebted for Lord Arlington's
influence in the Council, though a clause in the order for her husband's release
will render him always a suspicious person, unless his own faithfulness may be
taken warrant for his good behaviour, he having ventured his life in His
Majesty's service ; her husband has been prisoner three months in Pendennis
castle, in mistake for Major General Desborough ; he begs consideration, his
case being different from traitors and suspicious persons that go under bail ;
his misfortunes have almost ruined him, being a younger brother, and his
estate unable to bear the charges of imprisonment ; she begs employment for
him ; he must lemain where he is unless he can gain further liberty from the
the council (voL 167, no. 52).
It is probable that in Nov. 1666, Sir John Stevens was lieutenant governor
of Pendennis castle. He is described in a letter of Fras. Bellott, dated the
2ist Nov. 1666, at Pendennis, as governor of the castle, (vol 178, no. 167).
And it is certain that at that date Lord Arundel was the governor. The
governor, however, was often absent from the castle, and the lieutenant
governor, who usually resided there, may, very likely, have been regarded as
practically more governor than the governor.
Consequent upon the great fire of London, and the Catholics being, "without
shadow of proof," (CaL St. Pa., Dom. Ser., 1665-6, Preface, by Green) fixed
upon as the authors of it, the oaths of allegiance and supremacy were imposed
in many garrisons. Thomas Holden wrote a series of three letters to James
Hickes from Falmouth, in Dec. 1666, saying, in the first; — the soldiers of
Pendennis castle have, with one consent, taken the oaths of allegiance and
supremacy, and received the sacrament : in the second ; — ^the only Pendennis
The garrison under suspicion, 73
■
soldier who refused the oath of allegiance and supremacy was one of Lord
Arundel's own servants, a Roman Catholic; in the third; — ^the soldiers
belonging to Pendennis have received 12 months' pay. (voL 180, no. 25;
vol. 181, no. 25 ; voL 182, no. 4).
John Wildman, who, it will be remembered, was imprisoned in the castle in
1666, was set at liberty, by Lord Arundel, the governor, in Oct 1667, upon
instructions from secretary Morice. ([Ent Book 28, p. 6.] voL 219, no. 5).
The war with Holland being at an end, most of the soldiers of Pendennis
castle were disbanded in Oct 1667. On the 2nd of that month, Thomas
Holden wrote to James Hickes, that all the soldiers in Pendennis castle, except
60 of Lord Arundel's company, were disbanded, and were to be paid off that
week, (vol 219, no. 25).
For the history of Pendennis castle, up to this date, I have been able to
avail myself not only of the various Cornish and other histories, but also of
the Calendar of State Papers. The Cornish histories supply little information
relative to Pendennis castie after the year 1667. Of the State Papers of the
domestic series, only those belonging to the years 1547 — 1639 ^^^ i(>(io
— 1667 inclusive, are calendared. The calendar for those years appears to be
very admirably done, and there is a good index to each of the 33 volumes. It
may be hoped that many more such volumes will be added in due course.
Meanwhile, the calendar failing along with the works of Cornish and other
historians, I am unable to. give the reader more than a very brief and meagre
history of the castle from the year 1667.
According to Lyson, Richard Lord Arundel was succeeded by his son, John
Lord Arundel in the governorship of Pendennis castle. I do not find any
other authority for this statement Lyson says, "After the restoration, Richard
Lord Arundel (son of the brave veteran by whom the castle had been so ably
defended), his son, John Lord Arundel, and John Grenville, Earl of Bath,
were successively governors" (p. 105, citing in note Hals). But Hals's
account of the governorship from 1647 to the Earl of Bath's time is as follows :
— **After the surrender of this Castle, as aforesaid, by John Arundell^ he was
succeeded in that dignity by CoL Fortescue: and he was succeeded by Capt
K
74
Fendennis.
Fox. As after the Restoration of King Charles II. Fox was succeeded by
Richard Lord Arundell, and he by the Earl of Bath J* (p. 130).
John, Earl of Bath, was governor not only of Pendennis castie, but at the
same time also of Plymouth Citadel, From the following petition presented
to him by Anne Pomeroy of Plymouth, and of which I have been furnished
with a copy by the kindness of Mr. R. N. Worth, the talented and erudite
author of the histories of Devonport and Plymouth, it would appear that
Capt William Pomeroy served the king in 1646, as captain of his majesty's
ship St George, which was intended or used for defence of Pendennis castle.
This is the petition : —
"To the Right Hon^e. John Earll of Bathe,
The humble petic5n of Anne Pomeroy of Plym? widd.
Humbly Sheweth
That Capt William Pomeroy, Dec^ yo^ peticOners late husband faithfully
serued our late Soueraigne Lord King Charles the first of blessed memory in
all y« trubles, as Cap*, of horse, against Plymouth, and afterward as Cap*,
of his Maj*» shipp' St George, for defence of Pendennis Castie, & upon
surrender thereof hee was forced to go for France, and fi"om thence to
Jerzie, where hee continued many yeares, and fi"om thence beeing ordered &
sent by his Majesty, our Soueraigne Lord King Charles y« Second to Scilly to
conduct a ship frO thence to Jerzey for his Maj** seruice hee was in his
course thither taken & carried in to Plymouth, where hee was keept a long
tyme prisoner.
Then upon his Maj*» happy restoreation yo^ peticdners sayd husband, was
made Cap*, of his Maj*?. Friggott Dolphin, in w^^ cdmand hee dyed leaueing
yo^ peticOner five chilldren, and in a uerry poore and sad condicion.
The premises considered yo'. peticOn'. doth most humbly beeseech yo^
Lo^p to recOmend her distressed condicon to his Maj*« Justices of the peace
of the county of Deuon to the end, that at y« next meeting att y^ sessions at
Exon your peticOn' may receiue such reliefe for the support of her selfe and
poore children, as is vsially allowed in such cases. And yo^ peticOn' shall
euer pray for yo' Lo^p honnour and prossperitie."
A violent proceeding and a timely welcome. 75
The Earl of Bath wrote under the petition the following recommendations.
"Royal Citadell of Plymo Sep'. 22th, 167 1.
I doe recomend the p'ticOn' to his Maj'?. Justices of the peace and doe
desire them, at y* next sessions for this County, to take y« peticdne" peticOn
in to Considerac5n and to releiue her accordingly. I finding the Contents
thereof to bee true.
BATHE."
The petition is endorsed, — " Mrs. Pomeroys peticon. To have 20 nobles
as a gratuity."
In March, 1688, Sir Peter Killigrew, of whom the Pendennis lands were
held by the crown, took violent measures for obtaining firom the crown money
for repair of the castle. Amongst the Treasury Papers, is a copy of a paper
from Mr. John Kent, collector of the port of Penrhyn, touching ;^2oi ox. ^d,
taken from him by Sir Peter Killigrew, who came with an armed force to his
house after 10 o'clock at night, Sir Peter saying, the king was his tenant, and
Pendennis castle wanted repairing, and with the money he would repair it ;
and further touching the collector's arrest and confinement at the castle.
In 1689, in the house of John Waddon, who was then the deputy governor
of Pendennis castle, John, Earl of Bath, the governor, " first treated with the
Prince of Orange's Commissioners, in order to render into his [the Prince's]
possession the castles of Pendennis and Plymouth, which soon after was
performed, on condition of the Earl's holding his former dominion as
governor of those places under him; whereupon he caused the Prince's
declarations to be first proclaimed or published in those garrisons amongst
the soldiers ; who received and heard the same with great joy, shouts, and
acclamations, to the utter destruction of King James's jurisdiction and power
in Cornwall and Devon, and establishing that prince's." (Hals in Gilb.,
voL I, p. 105).
Hals (in Gilb., vol 4, p. 116), mentions, that one Richard Trevanion, after
accompanying William III, " in all his Irish and Flanders war," " was posted
to the command of Pendennis Castle in Cornwall, where he died."
In November 171 7, the castle was struck by lightning during a thunder
storm. The lightning in its course struck through the walls of the building.
76 Fendennis,
which are eight or nine feet thick, and it is said to have removed enormous
stones of five or six hundredweight, and to have so damaged the fort, that for
some time it was indefensible, (see Lyson, vol 3, p. 104). This last word
must be greatly in exaggeration of the fact : the portion of the castle struck
may have been temporarily uninhabitable.
Hals (in Gilb. voL 2, p. 278), says, " The Governor of Pendennis hath yearly
from the Crown 182/. los, ; his Lieutenant-Governor, 73/. ; the Master Gunner,
36/. j and two other Gunners, 36/. each." Hals wrote in about the year 17 19.
I am indebted to the courtesy of the authorities at the war office, for the in-
formation, that Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Owen was governor of Pendennis
castle, and that he died in 1774 ; also that Lieutenant Colonel Richard Bowles
was appointed lieutenant governor in 1758, and died in 1769, and Colonel
William Fawcett was appointed lieutenant governor in 1769 ; and Lieutenant
Col9nel Charles Beauclerk was appointed governor on the i6th Nov., 1774,
and died in 1775; ^.nd Lieutenant General Robert Robinson was appointed
governor on the 27th Sept, 1775. Grose names Major General Robinson as
governor, as will be seen presently.
Col. Fawcett, the lieutenant governor of the castle, was appointed governor
of Gravesend in about the year 1776. Major Newington Pool was appomted
lieut.-govemor of the castle, on the 2nd Oct, 1776. These facts, also, I have
from the authorities at the war office.
Grose, in the first volume of his "Antiquities of England and Wales," pub-
lished in 1787, in the article upon Pendennis castle, says : — "This fortress has
lately undergone great repairs.... Its establishment is a Governor at ;^3oo os.
per ann. A Lieutenant Governor at ;^9i 6s. per ann. The present Governor
is Major General Robert Robinson. The Lieutenant Governor, Major
Nevison Pool."
Lieutenant General Robinson died the 8th Feb. 1793 ; and CJeneral Felix
Buckley was appointed governor of the castle on the nth Feb. 1793 j I have
these facts also from the authorities at the war office. Lyson, writing in about
1814, says, (voL 3, p. 105), "The present governor is General F. Buckley."
And Drew, writing in about 1824, says the same. (vol. 2, p. 358).
Lieutenant Governor MdvilL
77
In 1795, as I have said already (p. 10), the Pendennis lands were purchased
by the crown, from the then representative of the Killigrew family, in fee,
having previously been leased.
It was at about this time, in all probability, that Crab Quay battery and the
Half Moon battery, were added to the fortifications of Pendennis.
Major Pool resigned the lieutenant governorship of the castle in 1797:
and on the 29th June, 1797, Capt Philip Melvill was appointed lieutenant
governor. I have these facts also from the authorities at the war office.
Drew writes, (Hitch, and Dr. vol. 2, p. 256), concerning Pendennis castle, and
lieutenant governor Melvill, (he was never governor). "On the south west
side are several little dwellings, with beautiful gardens attached to each. These
erections, and this cultivation, originated with Governor Melvill, who encour-
aged his soldiers to build cottages, and raise vegetables for their families, by
furnishing them with tools, and with the ground on which these evidences of
industry appear." The little dwellings and the gardens here spoken of have
now been destroyed.
In the "Memoirs of Philip Melvill, Lieut Gov. of Pendennis CaStle; with an
appendix containing extracts from his diaries and letters. Together with two
letters and a sermon occasioned by his death. [1812] Lond.," mention is made
of the care and interest he lavished upon the soldiers of his garrison, and it is
mentioned (p. 1 1 7), that " Some French prisoners taken by our army at
Corunna, and brought with them to Pendennis, were likewise the object of
his care."
To lieut -governor Melvill, Falmouth owes the foundation of the Misericordia
society, and other excellent institutions.
Drew says of him, (voL 2, pp. 257-8), "Among the brave defenders of this
important fortress, the late Governor Melville, from the extraordinary sufferings
which marked his life while in India, and from that humanity, benevolence, and
piety, which distinguished his conduct while the commander of this place,
demands a tribute of respect .... During his residence at Pendennis, he was
respected and beloved by all who were favoured with his acquaintance. By
bis death the affluent lost an amiable companion, who was ever ready to stim-
ulate them to every benevolent work; and the poor, a benefactor who
78 Pendennis,
sympathised with them in their distresses." He died at Pendemiis castle, the
29ih Oct 1811, (Memoirs, p. 153), and was buried in Falmouth Church.
(P- 152)-
In Falmouth church is the following inscription : —
"In memory of Philip Melvill, Esq , Lieut. •Governor of Pendennis Castle, who died on the apth of
October, 1811, aged 49 years. In him was united Exalted Piety, UnaflTected Humility, Diffusive Benevolence,
enriched with every grace that can adorn the Christian Character. He gloried only in the Cross of ChrisL"
Capt James Considine was appointed lieutenant governor on the 2nd
Nov. 181 1 ; he died in 1814 ; Lieut-Colonel William Fen wick was appointed
lieutenant-governor on the 6th Jan. 1814 : the governor, General Buckley
died on the 14th Sept 1823 3 General Sir M. Hunter, G.C.M.G., G.C.H., was
appointed governor on the 22nd Sept 1823 : I have these facts also through
the obligingness of the authorities at the war office.
Drew, writing in about 1824, says (Hitch, and Dr. voL 2, p. 358), "Lieut
CoL W. Fenwick is lieutenant governor, and resides ia the Castle." The
Gentleman's Magazine (ciL pt 2. p. 181, [1832,]) mentions, that CoL William
Fenwick was "severely wounded at the Maya Pass in the Pyrenees, July 25,
1813 ; when he suffered amputation very high in the right thigh, and on his
arrival in England was appointed Lieut -Governor of Pendennis Castle :" aiid
that he died of apoplexy, 7 July, 1832. The Bibliotheca Comubiensis men-
tions, that he died at Pendennis castle.
General Sir M. Hunter was appointed to the command of Stirling castle on
the 23rd July 1832 ; and on the same day General Paul Anderson, C.B., K.C.,
was appointed governor of Pendennis castle in his stead ; Brevet Lieut-CoL
Loftus Gray was appointed lieutenant governor on the 25th July, 1832 ; he
died the 20th Aug., 1835 > ^^^ ^^^ office of lieutenant-governor of the castle was
thereupon abolished : the governor, General Anderson was appointed colonel
of the 78th regiment of foot, on the 9th Feb., 1837 \ and the office of governor
of the castle was thereupon abolished : — I have these facts also through the
obligingness of the authorities at the war office. At the present day, whoever
happens to be the commanding officer of the royal artillery stationed at the
castle, is the sole representative of the ancient governor or lieutenant-
governor, inasmuch as he is the only officer in the place, as I happened to be
in the year 1873.
St. MAWES castle.
Chapter I.
In some ancient records, the village of St Mawes is called St. Mary's
1 a/iM St Mawes, whence some have argued that Mawes is nothing
more than a corruption of Maiy (see Lyson, p. 153, and Hitchins
and Drew, vol a, p. 348). Tonkin observes (in Carew, p. 337),
that it was " called St Mary's, for that it was buitt upon the priory lands of
St Anthony, a Cell of Plsfniplon St Mary's in Devon."
In r543, Leiand gives the name as S. Maws, S. Mauditus andS. Mausa
aiias La Vausa. He writes (vol j, fol. 13), " From %. Juste Pille or Creke to
S. Mauditus Creeke is a Mile dim. The Point of the Land betwixt S. Just Or.
and S. Maws is of sum cauUid Pendt[rtas\ on this point stondith as yn the
8o Sf, Mawes.
Entery of S. Maws Creek, a Castelle or Forteres late begon by the King.
This creke of S. Afaws goith up a 2. Myles by Est North Est into the Land,
and so far it ebbith and flowith j and there is a Mylle dryven with a fresch
Brook that resortith to the creke. Scant a quarter of a Mile from the Castel
on the same side upper into the Land is a Praty Village or Fischar Town with
a Pere caullid S. MawSy and there is a Chapelle of hym and his Chaire of
Stone [a litle with]out and his Welle. They cauUe this Sainct there S. Mat.,.
he was a Bishop in Britain and paintid as a Schole-Master." And again (vol.
vii, App. p. 121), " On the very North Shoore of the sayde Creeke toward the
havyn's Mouth ys a poor Fischar Village cawled S. Mausa alias La Vausa, and
nyght to this Village toward the same Haven ys a Fortelet lately buylded by
the Contery for the Defens of the Haven."
" The name of this saint, says Mr. Whitaker, is so disfigured by provincial
pronunciation, both in Bretagne and in Cornwall, that we should hardly
recognize Maclovius in Machutus and Machu, if all the names were not
used by the same author for the same person; and should never believe
St Maudite, St Mat, or St Mawe of the island, to be the very Machu,
Machutus, or Maclovius of the Continent, if the former had not been averred
to have been what we know the latter was, a bishop in Bretagne. This stroke
of traditional history rivets all the links of intelligence into one chain. The
well, the chair, and the chapel, combine to mark the residence of the saint at
this place. He came to Corsult in the Danmonian region, in that half of it
which was then called Cornwall, and in that part of this half which was then
denominated Corsult, but is now the parish of St Just In his way from
Wales, he settled at a point of the sea shore here, then all solitary in itself, and
merely a long sloping descent of rock to the water, with a broad, lofty heath at
the back of it, I believe giving appellation to the whole. Here he lived as a
hermit, forming himself a chair in the rock above the well, for enjoyment of
the warm situation, in occasional surveys of the creek under him, of the har-
bour upon his right, and of the sea in front of the latter, then all assuredly as
solitary almost as the very site itself. From this place, as the fame of his
sanctity drew many persons to visit him, St Mawes was induced to repair to
the Continent, and he accordingly embarked for St Maloes." (Hitchins and
The name, and the building.
8i
Drew, vol. 2, pp. 349-50). These incidents are supposed to have taken place
about the middle of the sixth century.
Norden speaks (p. 50) of " the castle of St Moze^^ as being, with Pendennis
castle, " a stronge defence of Falmouth hauen."
Lyson writes, (vol. 3, p. 153) "St. Mawes castle was built by King Henry
the Eighth, for the protection of Falmouth harbour, in 1542." It appears
however, from one of the inscriptions, which will presently be cited, that
King Henry the Eighth in the 34th year of his reign, that is in 1543, caused
the castle to be built Probably, it was half built in 1542. At p. 99, of the
Magna Britannia (voL 3), there is a print of " Falmouth Haven, &c," from a
chart drawn in the reign of King Henry VIH, preserved in the British
Museum. In this print "Pendynas' is marked, but no fort is drawn there;
St Mawes is not named, but St. Mawes fort is drawn, and over it are written
the words * half made.' It would appear from this, that the building of St
Mawes castle was begun somewhat earlier than the building of Pendennis
castle ; and the map may be presumed to have been made in 1542.
The cost of the building of St Mawes castle has, by one of its lieutenant
governors, been stated to have been " 5000/. or thereabouts." ( Vide post p.
87.;
The occasion of the building of St Mawes and Pendennis castles, has been
set forth in the former part of this work (p. 4).
Speaking of St Mawes castle, Lyson says (voL 3, p. 153), *• Mr. Trefrey of
Fowey, had the superintendence of the works, and at his request Leland
wrote some Latin inscriptions, to be placed on the building." " And although
(write Hitchins and Drew, voL 2, p. 348), all the inscriptions that he wrote
have not been engraven on the stones, the following still remain.
Over the arms of Henry VIII, as you enter, is
Honora Henricum octavum Anglis, Franciz, et Hibernix, regem excellentissimum.
Respect Hsnry VIII, the most renowned King of England, France, and Ireland.
Over the great door facing Pendennis Castle, is again the arms of Henry
VIII, and on the doors are the following lines :
Semper vivet antma regis Henrici octavi qui anno 34 sui regni hoc fecit fieri.
May the soul of King Henry VIII. live for ever, who in the 34th year of his reign commanded
this to be built.
82 Sf, Mawes,
On the front are cut the three following :
Semp^ honos Henrice tuus laudesque manebunt,
Henry thy honour and praises shall always remain.
Gaudeat Edwardo nunc Duce Comubia felix.
May happy Cornwall now rejoice Edward being chief.
Edwardus fama referat factisque parentem.
May Edward resemble his father in deeds and reputation."
The first of these five Latin inscriptions, as Lyson mentions (vol. 3, p. 153),
is "on the outside of the wall of the half-moon battery, in front of the
Castle;" the second he describes as "over the front door, which faces the
entrance of the harbour " (;vivet should be viuat); the third, cut out upon one
of the three barbacans, is seen when one has passed the drawbridge ; the
fourth is about the southern barbacan erected by King Edward VI ; and the
fifth is about the northern barbacan erected by him.
The third and fourth appear in Leland (voL 3, fol. 46), in this form.
Semper Henrice^ honos tuus, laudesque manebunt
Gaudeat Eduuardo duce nunc Comubia felix.
The first and second do not appear in Leland at all But Leland gives the
two following, which do not appear inscribed upon the walls, or upon <he
bastions.
Henricus Oct. Rex Angl. Franc, et Hibemiae invictiss. me posuit praesidium reipubL terrorem hostib.
Imperio Henrid naves submittite vela.
Carew, in 1602, wrote (p. 337); — "Upon the east side of the haven's
entrance, St Mary's, alias S. Mawes Castle, with its point-blank ordnance,
comptroUeth any shipping, that deserve a denial of admission or passage."
And again (p. 362): — "S. Mawes lieth lower, and better to annoy shipping,
but Pendennis standeth higher, and stronger to defend itself." And Drew
wrote, in 1824 (Hitch, and Dr., vol. 2, p. 348) : — "This castle, though erected
nearly at the same time that Pendennis was rendered formidable, and though
built by the same monarch, is vastly inferior both in size and situation. All
the works of which it can boast, are completely commanded by some elevated
ground close behind, on which none of the guns in the fortress can be brought
to bear to dislodge an enemy. The castle at present, though otherwise kept
in excellent repair, is not fortified ; but there is an open battery below, near
the edge of the water, which in conjunction with the opposite garrison, must
very much annoy an invading foe." And the Parochial History of Cornwall
Description of the caslU. 83
published by Lake in i868 (vol 3, p. 309), has the following; — "S. Mawea
Castle, which consists of a round fort, and a battery mounted with heavy
cannon, is in good condition, and effectually commands the entire entrance of
Falmouth Harbour." The height of the building from its base to the coping
on the parapet above the leads is 44 feet ; but its extreme height, including
that of the tower, is about 64 feet.
There is a tradition that King Henry VIII visited his two forts of S. Mawes
and Fendennis. This tradition I have already noticed (p. 5), whOe treating
of Pendennis castle.
The Latin verse in which Leland mentions St. Mawes and Pendeuiis
castles, together with an English verse translation of it, will be found at p. 7.
AEL VYVYAN, Esq., was (he first captain or
governor of St Mawes castle.
Tonkin (in Carew, p. 337), says: — "The
Caslle was built and fortified by King Henry
VIII, and upon the dissolution of the priory
of Plympton St. Mary, the lands whereon it
I given by that Prince to Michael Vivian, of
, Esq-, who was made the first governor thereof."
in Gilbert, vol a, p. 277), says: — "After the
>f the Priory of St Anthony, a6, Henry VIII,
'astle and the land whereon it stands, together
I'ernment thereof, as I am informed, was given
J to Sir Robert Le Greice, Knight, an Arragonist
whose son, in Queen Elizabeth's reign, sold the
thereof to Hanniball Vyvyan Esq. of Tre-
lowarren, who therefore was made Governor thereof." Lyson (vol. 3, p. 154)
and Drew (Hitch, and Dr. voL 2, p. 349), leave it in doubt, whether Michael
Vivian or Sir Robert Le Greice was the first captain. Hals wrote in about 17 19.
It is the fact, as will be seen, that a Sir Robert le Grys was, in 1632, governor
of the castle. Of him neither Hals, nor any other of the above-named
authorities, makes mention. It may, therefore, be concluded that the only
governor with a name like Sir Robert le Greice, was, not the first, but the
fourth governor. And Tonkin's statement may be credited, that the lands
whereon the castle stands were given by King Henry VIII to Michael Vyvyan,
Esq., and that he was made the first governor, about 1544.
The strengthenings and the ordnance, 85
The castle was strengthened and enlarged with two barbacans in the time of
king Edward VI, it may be supposed about the year 1550. (See the petition
of the lieu t -governor in 1631,/^x/ p 87.)
" Michael Vyvyan/' the first captain, died in July, 1561. (See Calendar of
St. Pa. Dom. Sen Lemon, 1 547-1 580, p. 179.)
He was succeeded in the captainship of St. Mawes castle by his son (Hals
in Gilb., vol. 3, p. 134), Hannibal Vyvyan, Esq., in 1561.
During his captainship, on the 12th June, 1577, an estimate of ordnance
for the castle was made, which is preserved amongst the State Papers, (Dom.
Ser. voL 114, no. 13.)
On the 31st Oct., 1595, he wrote from the castle to Sir George Carew,
lieutenant of ordnance, to the following effect : — I acknowledge the receipt
of half a last of powder, and a ton of shot, return a brass cannon, a demi
culverin, and other iron ordnance, as unsen-iceable, and want a receipt I
gave my opinion as to what pieces I thought necessary for St Mawes' castle,
where I will not dwell, unless I have a better supply, viz. a whole culverin,
four demi culverins, and three sakers, with some more muskets and powder.
(Vol. 254, no. 41.)
From an account dated the 23rd Mar., 1596, and preserved amongst the
State Papers (vol. 261, no. 108), it appears that the captain's fees at this time
were ;£^ii8 12s. 6d. annually, that is, los. per diem.
If Carew's "general estimate" is to be credited, Hannibal Vyvyan, in
1602, had for St Mawes one company of 100 men, of whom 40 were pike-
men, 40 were armed with muskets, and 20 with calivers. (Seep. 212.) I
have already observed upon his general estimate.
Carew, after speaking of St Mawes castle, says (p. 338), it " is commanded
by Master Vivian, a gentleman, who through his worth deserveth, and with
due care and judgment dischargeth, the martial and civil governments com-
mitted to his trust" Carew wrote in 1602.
Hannibal Vyvyan died, probably, in 1603.
He was succeeded in the captainship by his son (Hals in Gilb. voL 3, p.
134), Francis, afterwards Sir Francis Vivian. Amongst the State Papers
86 St. Mawes,
([Ind Wt Book, p. 15] vol. 5, no. i) is the grant, dated i Dec., 1603, to
Francis Vivian, of the office of keeper of St. Mawes castle, for life.
During his captainship, on the 12th June, 1609, Sir William Godolphin and
others wrote to Lord Salisbury, inclosing in their letter an estimate of expense
of the reparations which they thought necessary for St Mawes castle, (vol 45.
no. 113.)
In 1623, Sir John Ogle and others were commissioned to survey the castle ;
and they recommended, that ;^7oo should be granted for its fortification, and
that 10 pieces of ordnance should be allowed to it (See the lieut-govemor's
petition in i6^\yfost, p. 87.) In their report, they described the castle as of
good strength and well situated, and out of reach of Pendennis shot, but
overtopped with high ground. (St Pa. Dom. Ser., vol. 186, no. 81.)
It does not appear that tlieir recommendations were fully acted upon.
However, a warrant appears to have been issued, on the 3rd July, 1628, for
the payment of ;^253 to Sir Francis Vivian, for repairs and provisions for the
castle. (voL 109, no. 12.)
In 1630, Hannibal Bonithon was lieut-govemor of the castle, and had
been probably for some years past Sir William Killigrew, who, with his father,
was then captain of Pendennis castle, in that year complained, that, for tlie
last two years, ships had been stayed and questioned at St Mawes castle, and this
had been accustomed to be done at Pendennis castle only. On the 19th Jan.
1 63 1, the master, wardens, and assistants of the Trinity House, on the entreaty
of Hannibal Bonithon, certified to the lords of the Admiralty, that the castle
of St. Mawes is of great consequence for the safety of the country, for other
let to hinder the enemy from landing on the east side of ** that port " there is
none. (voL 182, no. 75.) And on the 22nd of Jan. 1631, the mayor and
burgesses of St Mawes sent in their certificate to the lords of the Admiralty
that the commanders of the castle there have required all shipping to make
their repair to the castle for 40 years, and they have heard that the like course
was used ever since the castle was finished. (voL 183, no. ii.) And on the
same day a similar certificate was sent in by the inhabitants of St. Just, Phil-
leigh, and Anthony. (voL 183, no. 12.)
The " difference " between the castles. 8 7
On the 15th Feb. 1631, Lieut Hannibal Bonithon, having drawn up an
elaborate statement of certain chief points touching the difference between the
castles, including some of particular interest with reference to the history of
St Mawes castle, embodied this statement in a petition to the lords of the
Admiralty. The petition is amongst the State Papers (vol. 184, no. 22), and
is worth giving in extenso,
*• To the right hono^i? the Lords Com" for the Nauie and Adm'v of
England.
Certain cheife points considerable touching the difference
now in question between his Ma*^ Castles of St Mawes and
Pendennys in Cornwall
1. First that his Ma** Castle of St Mawes in or about the 30th year of
the raigne of King Henry the 8th was erected by the care of the State upon
the east side of the mouth of the harbour of Falmouth for the better safeguard
of the said harbo'^, and service of the said late King and his successors, and
situate in the most convenient place for offence and defence to the purposes
aforesaid costing his Ma'y 5000/. or thereabouts.
2. It was much strengthened and enlarged w^ two Barbicans by the care
of the King and State in the time of King Edw : 6, as a piece of principal!
importance fitt to be upheld continued and supplyed for his Ma^ service.
And by both those Kings imbellisht w*** lasting omam** of their memory,
w<* under favo' I believe noe fort in England hath the like, viz'., having past
the drawbridge, above his Ma^. Armes stands cutt out in the wall, Semper
honos Henrice tuus laudesque manebunt; Round about a maine Bullwark
oppositt to the Sea, intending a kingly cSmaund to all shipping, (w<* is now
drawen in question) you may reade, Honora Henricum octavum Anglia,
Franciae, et Hibemiae Regem excellentissimum, within this foresaid work in
the firme stony edifice is written, Viuat anima Regis Henrici octaui qui aimo
tricessimo sui Regni hoc fecit fieri.
About the Northern Barbican erected by King Edw. 6, stands Edwardus
fama referat factisque parentem. About the south Gaudeat Edwardo nunc
Duce Comubia fcelix.
88 Sf, Mawes,
3. The plott of S' Mawes castle drawen by Mr. Norden upon special
cQmaund in the time of Queen Eliz., w**» a Blockhouse under it, no wais to
be undervalued.
4. A draught of the river of Falmouth w* the depths at a lowe water, by
wc*i may be seene the importance of St Mawes castle, being opposed to the
principall resistance of all Sea forces.
5. That in the time of R. Elizabeth, it was many times thought fitt to
have been fortified round, as appeth by sundry plotts to that purpose, And
some 7 years sithence or thereabouts, being viewed by his Ma'* Comr«, S"" John
Ogle & others, recomended, and allowances for the fortificacon, and supply
of it graunted, vizt tenn peeces of Ordinance, with 700/. or thereabouts for
fortificacon, w^*» notw**» standing the present Captain thereof Sr Francis Vivian
hauing many times petitioned for, and not gotten, yet by his own care and
purse hath remedied many defects.
6. By the care and foresight of the now Lord Threr, \i.e. Treasurer,] it
hath been of late within this 6 months or thereabouts exactly viewed by
certaine gentlemen designed thereto by his Iop, whose certificate will testify
the useful necessity and importance of the place, and w<* allowances is heere
humbly againe desired may with fitt conveniency be dispatched.
7. That St. Mawes castle was erected before Pendennys or neere about the
same tyme ; and hath been allwaise cOmaunded by two distinct, & not one
subordinat Cap*" to the other, but both imediat from the Kings and Queenes
of England ; And the cSmaund of the said castle w'*» all the powers priviledges
preheminences and regards thereunto belonging is graunted by Lr6s Patents
of his late Maiy to S*" Francis Vivian and elder then S' Robert Killigrewes
Patent, wherein yor Lop» shall fynd that S"" Robert Killigrew is to take noe
other priviledge in that harbor for cOmaund then S"" Francis Vivian, or from
S*" Francis Vivian.
8. That the Cap*° of the said Castle of St. Mawes, & his Lieftenants for
the tyme being ever since the erection thereof, haue used to cause all shipps
passing or endeavouring to passe before the same into or out of the said
harbour to strike their flags and to doe their duty to the said Castle, as to a
fort of the Kings, and to cSmaund and cause the Cap*" or Master of every
Bonithon's petition, 89
such shipp to come a shore to the said Castle there to be examined for
discovery of such matters as might be for the service of the king and safety of
the said Castle, without giving any unnecessary molestacon to the pties (w*=^
they never haue donne, though it may be untruely suggested) The doing
hereof hath been, and is a matter of due hono' & necessary use to and for his
Ma'y and his service in those parts, and the abolishing of it may produce very
ill and contrary eflfects, whereof the dangers that may ensue are such and
the like
1. St Mawes hauing not the power to call shipping, her ordinance for the
most part lying without, may be turned upon the Castie, or nayled upp.
2. The necessary use of her erection is taken away, being for the East
part of Comewall the principall defence The towne of S' Mawes hauing been
twice fyred, and the country thereabouts foraged by the French in the tyme of
King Henry the 8.
3. Pyratts, and any enemy may enter that harbo , and runne w*in the
Castles, where they may doe any spoile, ransack his Ma*>. subiects, robb the
Tinn Merch'*, w<^ most consists in that port, and retume in spight of Pen-
dennys, as it apped by Moy Lambert the Dutch Admirall, who received from
Pendennys 27 shott to noe purpose.
4. Shipps in like manner w**» prohibited goods, others also refusing to pay
the King's Customs may pass forth, nay this will be noe sooner bruited, but
you will haue the customers themselves carried away, when they shall heare
St Mawes Castle must not stop them, as lately they haue been threatned.
5. The principall bent of both those Castles is to keepe the enemy from
coming in, wch Queene Eliz : was well informed of, S"" Nicholas Parker hauing
procured from the Councill Board a warrant to fetch some peeces from S'
Mawes, she herself not only countermanded this warr' but sent more peices
' thither.
6. Lastly the ill consequence, the like cQmaund being never heretofore
sought by any, that two such absolute Forts, the whole strength of a Country
should be reposed in one man's trust, expressely contrary to the gracious in-
tentions of soe many famous Kings and Queenes of England as appeth by
their broad seals.
M
90 St. Mawes.
Theis things considered, w^^ in his Ma^.? behalfe and for his service, I
humbly present to yo"" Lop*; May it please yo*" hono" that the
premises may be seriously examined, to settle and confirme yo*" pet*"
& his Successors in the due bono*" and exercise of the necessary and
accustomed service aforesaid rightfully belonging to his place And
to tak such further order touching the premises as to hono*", state,
and Justice shall appteyne.
And yo' pef shall ever pray for yo*" bono""
The paragraph numbered 7 in the petition, requires some little explanation.
It will be remembered, that Sir Nicholas Parker, captain of Pendennis castle,
was, in 1598, by letter of the queen Elizabeth, empowered to exercise the
charge of captain of that fort by deputy, in case of necessity ; and subse-
quently, in exercise of the power conferred upon him by that letter, he appoint-
ed Nicholas Burton his deputy. Such a power was never conferred upon any
captain of St. Mawes castle, and its lieutenants were appointed immediately
by the crown. The captain and deputy captain of that castle, are curiously
called by Bonithon, two distinct, and not one subordinate captain to the
other, but both immediate from the kings and queens of England He con-
sidered his own appointment, as being immediate from the crown, in that
quality superior to the appointment of any deputy captain of 'Pendennis
castle ; and it is to this superiority that he points in the curious passage I am
noticing.
The petition was presented in February. In May, the lords of the Admir-
alty having heard both sides, ordered, that Pendennis castle was to . call to
account ships which anchored on the west side, and St. Mawes castle, those
which anchored on the east side of the Black Rock. In July, Sir William
Killigrew of Pendennis, petitioned the king for that order to be stayed ; and
the king, declaring his intention to hear the differences himself, directed
the execution of the order to be stayed in the meantime : but whether he did
ever hear the differences himself, is, to say the least, doubtful.
On the 1 6th Nov. 1632, in a suit instituted in the court of Star Chamber,
by Hugh Trevanion versus Sir Francis Vivian, Hannibal Bonithon, John
A governor in disgrace, 91
Wilkinson and Henry Teage, the defendant Vivian, being captain of the
castle of St Mawes, was declared by the court to have practised a variety of
deceptions in reference to his ofiice, particularly his not keeping the proper
number of soldiers in garrison, and his putting the money received for their
wages into his own purse. He was sentenced to be committed to the Fleet,
to pay a fine of ;^2ooo to the king, and to be removed from his office of
captain. As against the other defendants, the suit was dismissed. (VoL 225.
no 36.) It appears, however, from an account, dated the 13th Feb. 1633, of fines
imposed in the Star Chamber, with marginal notes, that Sir Francis Vyvyan's
fine of 2000/, for misconduct as captain of St Mawes, was respited, (vol.
232. no. 43.) *
N the removal of Sir Francis Vyvyan, in November
1633, from his office of captain of SL Mawes castle,
Sir Robert le Grys was appointed to the captainship
in his stead.
Certain notes made, on the 17th April 1633, by
Lord Cottington, of charges againgt Sir Robert le
G17S as captain of St Mawes castle, and his answers
rges, are preserved at the Record Office. (St Pa. Dom
J7. no, 8.).
, Sir Robert Le Grys took it upon himself to displace
nibal Bonithon, and to appoint John Stanbury to the
governorship of the castle in his stead. Capt.
however, made his case known to the lords of the
and they took it upon themselves to appoint him to
ed in the office of lieutenant-governor. And on the
3rd of July, they directed Sir William Courtenay, John Trefusis, Richard
Erisey and Hugh Boscawen to survey the ordnance and stores of the castle,
and to deliver them to Capt Bonithon, and to cause John Stanbury to sur-
render to him the keys and chaige of the castle, (vol 271. no. 10). And
Capt. Bonithon thereupon was re-established in the lieutenant-governorship,
of which he had never properly been deprived {vide super, p. 90.)
On the 14th of August, the commissioners, having surveyed the castle, re-
ported to the lords of the Admiralty, that they estimated the cost of necessary
repairs at 534/. loj. (vol. 273. no. 43.)
On the 19th of September, Capt Bonithon wrote from the castle, to the lords
of the Admiralty, and gave them a list of officers and soldiers within the castle,
Hannibal Bonithon,
93
there attending on the 5th August 1634. There were a master gunner and 12
soldiers, (vol. 274. no. 28.) And on the 28th of October, he wrote from the
castle to Lord Cottington, and enclosed m his letter a certificate of payment
to the porter and gunner of the castle, i2df. per diem, and every soldier M,
per diem. (voL 276. no. 38, i.)
Sir Robert le Grys, was succeeded in the captainship, in the year 1635, t>y
Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel and Surrey. The 23rd of March, 1635, ^
the date of the grant to the earl of the office of captain of the castle, " the
same being void by the death of Sir Francis Vivian, late Captain thereoL"
([Docquet], voL 316, no. 102). Sir Francis Vyvyan had, as has been seen,
been removed from the office, by the Star Chamber, in 1632, and succeeded
in it by Sir Robert le Grys. Although the death of Sir Francis may have
happened only a short time previous to the appointment of the earl, it is
rather unaccountable that the death of Sir Francis should be mentioned in the
grant to the earl, as making the office void in 1635. I do not find that the
earl is named in the list of captains of the castle by any of the historians of
Cornwall.
Capt Hannibal Bonithon remained lieutenant of the castle during the
earl's captainship. In September, 1635, complaints having been against him
by soldiers of the castle, Capt Bonithon wrote to the council, defending
himself with reference to those charges, (vol. 298, no. 33).
In the year 1636. a report was made on St Mawes castle ; it is a short one,
and it may be worth while to give it in extenso. It is amongst the State
Papers (Dom. Sen, vol. 340, no. 40).
" St Mawes Castle.
Institution and Consequence of this Castie, viz^
Earle of Arundel and Surrey Captaine at 3*- p diem
The lieutenant at xviii<*. p diem
Fourteen Soldiers and Gunners whereof two at i2<*p diem
apeece and y« rest at 2A p diem apeece
Total ...
}
p.
Annum.
I
s.
d.
54
15
00
27
07
06
182
10
CO
^264
12
06
This hath allways beene paid out of his Ma^ Revenews of Devonsheire
and Cornwall
There is a Company of loo men neere adioyning that are appointed to
address themselves to y« Castle uppon any occasion."
On the death of the earl, Captain, now Major, Bonithon, who had been,
since 1630, lieutenant of the castle, was advanced to be its keeper or captain.
Not long after his appointment, namely in November, 1643, several soldiers
of the garrison gave information against him at Bodmin, touching his conduct
as governor. And in January, 1644, articles were exhibited at the general
sessions of the peace at Truro, charging Major Bonithon with embezzling the
soldiers* pay, smuggling tobacco, and disaffection to the king's cause. Sub-
sequently, witnesses were called up and examined touching these articles^ and
their depositions, made the 15th September, 1645, ^.re preserved amongst
the Clarendon State Papers. The next day. Sir Richard Grenville wrote from
Truro to the prince of Wales, and he enclosed these depositions. (Clar. St
Pa., no. 1 961). It appears certain that the governor at this time was, even in
high quarters, under suspicion of treason or disaffection to the king's cause.
Such a suspicion may be thought to have been justified by subsequent
events. Not only did Major Bonithon, immediately after the treaty of
Tressillan Bridge, send to Sir Thos. Fairfax to be received into favour by
him, and offering to deliver up the castle, but when Col. Arundel, the
governor of Pendennis castle, knowing the comparative weakness of St
Mawes, thereupon sent to Major Bonithon, inviting him to come in to the
castle of Pendennis and join his fortunes to those of the true-hearted royalist
gentlemen who were in garrison there. Major Bonithon refused this invitation,
and chose rather to seek favour with the Parliamentary party.
Sir Thomas Fairfax, in his letter dated March, 1 646, " to the Honourable
William Lenthall, Esquire, Speaker of the Honourable House of Commons,"
in which he informs the speaker of the conclusion of the treaty at Tressilian
Bridge with Sir Ralph Hopton, for the disbandment of his cavalry, to the
number of four or five thousand, says, after informing him of the treaty : —
The surrender. 95
" The reputation of this hath already produced a surrender of Saint Mawes
Castle, wherein we found about thirteen Guns, and a good proportion of
Ammunition ; which place gives you a better interest in Falmouth harbour,
then the Enemy hath : For by the advantage hereof, you may bring m
Shipping without hazard, which they cannot"
The whole letter is given in The Parochial History of Cornwall (Lake's),
vol. I, p. 155.
Another letter must be cited, which is of considerable interest. It is one
of several come " to the House of the progresse of affairs in the West ;" and
it had reached the house of Commons on the 19th of March. It is printed
in the "Perfect Diumall'* for the i6th to the 23rd of March, 1646, and
contains the following : —
" Every houre more Gentlemen of Quality doe come in, and this day Col.
Trevanion came from Penririy and some of his Officers came to Truro with
their Colours flying, and their men armed even from the Lord Hopiom head
quarters which are now at Camborne; This hath wrought such operation upon
the Govemour at Saint Mawes (the principall Fort that commands the Haven
at Falmouth^ having a greater command thereof than the Castle and Fort of
Pendennis) that he hath sent to the Generall to bee received into favour, and
will deliver up the Castle, Fort, Ordnance, Armes, and Ammunition : and
accordingly there is forces sent away this night to take possession thereof.
Arundell the Govemour of Pendennis sent to tempt the Govemoiu: at St
Mawes to come in the Castle of Pendennis; hee refused the same and as
afpresaid craved the ayd of this Army. There are two great Brasse pieces fo
Ordnance in the Fort, of about 4000 weight a piece."
Sprigge, in his " Anglia Rediviva" (p. 215), says : — ^Al though Arundell the
govemour of Pendennis^ sent to command him to come into the Castle of Pen-
dennis^ he fearing some evill intended against him, refused and persisted in his
former desire : whereupon the General sent him conditions, with a Summons ;
which were accepted, and he agreed to surrender."
And Sprigge mentions (p. 334), that the castle yielded on the 13th of
March; and that 12 guns, 160 arms, and 2 colours were taken by General
Fairfax.
96 St Mawes.
The castle having been surrendered to the parliament by Major Bonithon in
March, was without a governor or a lieutenant-governor, until August 1646.
On the 28th of August, Lieutenant-Colonel George Kekewich was appointed
captain of the castle by the parliament.
The Lords Journals (voL 8. p. 465.), contain the following entry for the
1 8th August, 1646.
'*Upon reading the Petition of Lieutenant-Colonel George Kekewich : shewing,
" That he hath been in the service of the State, in Plynwuih, Cornwall^ and
Devonshire^ ever since the beginning of these Troubles ; and being reduced, he
is out of any Employment : therefore desireth some Place, whereby he may do
the State further Service." It is Ordered, That this House thinks it fit the
Petitioner be made Governor of St Mawes Castle in Cornwall; and that the
Concurrence of the House of Commons be desired herein."
And there is the following entry (p. 475) for the 28th August.
" Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled. That
Lieutenant George Kekewich be Captain of St Mawes Castle^ in the County of
ComwalU^
A curious mistake appears to have been made by Hals, who believed that
Captain Rouse, " during the interregnum of Cornwall," was appointed to " the
gubemation of this Castle." (Hals in Gilbert, vol. 2. p. 277.) It is the fact,
that one Colonel Rowse was appointed governor of Pendennis castle by the
parliament in 1659. One may the more easily believe, that it was this Colonel
Rowse of Pendennis, who was satirized by the cavalier party, in the verse which
Hals cites, and that Hals was misinformed as to the castle which he was
appointed to govern, when one finds that Hals was certainly in error in sup-
posing that Sir Richard Vyvyan was governor of St Mawes castle during the
interregnum, and that Hals writes : — " During the interregnum of Cromwell,
Sir Richard Vyvyan, as a person disaffected to his government, was displaced
from the gubemation of this Castle, and one Captain Rouse put in his place."
(p. 277.) Otherwise, one might have supposed, that during the governorship
of Lieut-Colonel Kekewich, one Captain Rouse was lieut-govemor of St Mawes
castle, and Hals' error was no greater than the common inaccuracy of calling
a lieut-govemor, governor ; and that it was by a curious coincidence, that
A new ^^ establishtnent,^^
97
during CapL Rouse's lieut-governorship of St Mawes castle, CoL Rowse was
governor of Pendennis castle. Lyson follows Hals in his account of the
governorship of St. Mawes at this period. (voL 3, p. 154.) The passage in
Hals will be found cited, super p. 67.
la 1660, shortly after the Restoration, Sir Richard Vyvyan, son of the
former governor, Sir Francis Vyvyan, (Hals, in Gilb. vol. 3, p. 134,) and a
zealous royalist, was captain of the castle.
It is of course certain, that so good a royalist was not appointed by the
parliament, and therefore the presumption is, that Lieut-Colonel Kekewich,
whom the parliament did appoint in Aug. 1646, remained the governor of the
castle until the Restoration, and then was displaced in favour of Sir Richard
Vyvyan, by King Charles II.
Among the state papers is a petition of " Sir Richard Vyvyan, Bart, Captain
of St Mawes castle," dated 1660. (November?). (voL 22, no 192.) Sir
Richard prays for a few more soldiers to maintain the watch ; he sets forth
that there are at present but one gunner and 1 2 soldiers, and they have to be on
guard every other night ; and the castle is useful to Falmouth harbour. And
he annexes to his petition a certificate by the master &c of the Trinity House,
that St Mawes castle is of especial use for the safety of Falmouth harbour,
and the fortifying and mannmg of it is necessary for trade there. The certi-
ficate is dated the 29th Sept i66o.
In 1664, the garrison was established at an expense of 9/. iir. per diem, to ,
commence firom the 25th day of June, 1664. The particulars of this " estab-
lishment " are contained in an entry preserved at the Record Office, (St Pa.
IDom. Sen [Ent Book 20. p. 24.] voL 100. no. 67.), and are as follow : —
s.
Two Captains one of y™ to bee Governqur )
at 8s. each p. diem ... ... ...J
Two lieuten'* each 4s.
Two Ensignes each 3s.
Four Serjeants each i8d. .
Six Corparalls each i2d.
Two Drummers each lod. .
00
16
00
00
08
00
00
06
00
00
06
00
00
06
00
00
01
8
N
98 5/. Mawes.
06
13
04
00
05
00
00
02
6
00
03
00
00
02
06
00
01
00
Two hundred Souldiers each 8d. ...
V^IIclUiAlIlC ••• ... •«• ••• •••
Chirurgien
Two Gunners each iSd.
Three Matrosses each lod.
Fire & Candles for Guards
09 II 00 — p diem.
That was to be the establishment from the 25th June, of the Scilly Isles, of
Trusco, and of St. Mawes castle.
The date is July 15th, 1664, and the signatures are as follow : —
ALBEMARLE.
J. SOUTHAMPTON.
HENRY BENNET.
A warrant was issued on the i8th July, 1664, for payment to the governor
of 89/ 1 7 J. 6d, expended for repairs of the castle, (vol. 100, no. 81.)
A warrant was issued on the 26th May, 1665, for a grant to Viel Vivyan,
in reversion after Sir Richard Vivyan, Bart, his father, of the ofiice of captain
of the castle. (Clar. St Pa. vol. 122. no. 49.)
Sir Richard Vyvyan is stated in Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, to have
died on the 3rd Oct. 1655. This may be a misprint for 1665. Certainly Sir
Richard was living in that year. Not improbably he died before the end of it.
He was succeeded in the governorship by his son, (see Hals in Gilb. vol.
3, p. 134,) Sir Vyel Vyvyaa
Hals relates (in Gilb. vol. 2, p. 277,) that Sir Vyel Vyvyan "was so far
imposed upon by John Earl of Bath, by licence of King Charles II., as to
sell the inheritence of the lands whereon this castle stands, to him for 500/.;
who forthwith transferred it over to Sir Joseph Tredinham, Knight, who then
became Governor thereof."
Sir Vyel Vyvyan died without issue in the year 1696. (Burke). It may be
presumed, that Sir Joseph Tredenham was appointed to the governorship of
the castle in that year ; and that the transfer to him of the castle lands by the
Earl of Bath, did not occur until after the death of Sir VyeL
Vyvyan^ Tredenhaniy ami Bosanven,
99
It appears probable from a report dated in 1698, which will be mentioned
presently, that Sir Joseph Tredenham was still governor up to nearly that date.
And I think the statement contained in Hitchins and Drew's history that he
was made governor by King Charles II., is as likely to be erroneous as the
statement by the same authority that he was displaced at the Revolution of
1688. (Hitch. & Drew, vol 2, p. 349, and see Lyson, vol. 3, p. 154.)
The deputy governor in Sir Joseph Tredenham's time was Mr. Boscawen.
Sir Joseph Tredenham was displaced from the governorship by King
William III., (Hals in Gilb. vol 2, p. 277 ; Hitch & Drew, vol 2, p. 349 ;
Lyson, vol 3, p. 154), presumably in the year 1697, or 1698, and certainly
before April, 1698.
He was " succeeded by Hugh Boscawen, Esq., afterwards Lord Falmouth."
(Lyson, and see Hitch & Drew, ubi sup,)
Sir Joseph Tredenham, after the appointment of his deputy to the gover-
norship, presented a petition to the lords of the Treasury, praying payment
of the clearings due to himself, his late deputy and gunners in the castle of
St. Mawes ; stating what was due, and submitting the matter to their lordships.
The earl of Ranelagh made a report dated i6th April, 1698, upon this petition.
(St. Pa. Trea. Ser.) In the minute book, vol. 9. p. 47, 21 Dec 1698, is the
following : — " The sum due to Sir Joseph Tredenham & Mr. Boscawen for
the garrison of St. Mawes, is to be paid by the Earl of Ranelagh." (Cal. St Pa.
Tr. Ser.)
Hals, who wrote probably about 17 19, (he speaks of the government of the
castle having been given by King William III. "to his Privy Councillor, the
Right Honourable Hugh Boscawen, Esq., now in posession thereof at the
writing of these lines" — see Hals in Gilb. vol 2, p. 277 — and Mr. Boscawen
was made Viscount Falmouth in 1720), says (in Gilb. vol. 2, pp. 276-7), with
reference to St Mawes castle, " having now about thirty cannon, demy cannon
and culverins pertaining thereto (but scarcely so many soldiers of war). The
Captain and Keeper whereof hath from the King 54/. 15X.; his deputy 27/. 7^.
6//.; three Gunners in all 72/." As to the fees and the number of soldiers, a
comparison of this account with that given for the year 1664 {vide sup,)^ may
give rise to some doubt as to the accuracy of Hals' statement
loo Sf, Mawes,
In 1720, the Right Honourable Hugh Boscawen was created Viscount Fal-
mouth. (Lyson, vol. 3, p. 102.)
He died the 25th Oct 1734. (Burke).
Lyson says, (vol. 3, p. 154.), that Sir Joseph Tredenham "was displaced,
and succeeded by Hugh Boscawen, Esq., afterwards Lord Falmouth, who was
removed in 1734, Major de Roen being then appointed by King George II."
Lord Falmouth was removed by death in 1734.
Major de Roen succeeded Viscount Falmouth in the governorship in 1734.
Adjutant General Scipio Duroure succeeded Major de Roen in the governor
ship, but at what exact date I have not ascertained ; it may have been about
1 740.
Adjutant General Duroure died in 1 745. He was buried in Westminster
Abbey, and on a monument erected there to his memory is inscribed the fol-
lowing : —
"Scipio Duroure Esqre., Adjutant General of the British Forces, Colonel of the X2th Regiment of Foot
and Capuin or Keeper of bis Majesty's Castle of St. Mawes. He died from wounds received at the battle of
Fontenoy, May 10.1745." ^
This gallant soldier was succeeded in the governorship of St. Mawes castle
by his brother, Lieut General Alexander Duroure, in 1745 : who retained the
governorship probably until his death in 1765. On the same marble on which
the memory of his brother is perpetuated in Westminster Abbey, appears the
following inscription : —
" And Alexander Duroure Esqre., Lieut. General of the British Forces, Colonel of the 4th or King's own
Regiment of Foot, and Captain or Keeper of his Majesty's Castle, of St. Mawes. He died at Toulouse in
France after 57 years' faithful service, January a, 1765."
On the 8th May, 1765, Lieut. General Sir R. Pigot, Bart., was appointed
captain or keeper of the castle. He retained this office until his death in
1796. On the 2nd Aug. 1796, Col. Edward Morrison was appointed to the
governorship of St. Mawes castle. But on the 2nd of November, of the same
year, he was removed to the governorship of Chester. On the ist Nov. 1796,
Field Marshal Sir George Nugent, Bart., G.C.B., was appointed captain or
keeper. For all this information I am indebted to the courtesy of the
authorities at the war office.
Lyson, writing in 1814, says (vol. 3, p, 154), **The Castle estate is in moieties
between the Marquis of Buckingham and James Buller, Esq., M.P."
The governorships and its abolition.
lOI
On the 24th Sept 181 2, during Sir George Nugenfs governorship, Major
Martin E. Aloes was appointed deputy governor of the castle, the previous
deputy governor having died in 181 1. Major Aloes was removed to a post
in Edinburgh in 18 15. On the i8th May, 181 5, Lieut. Colonel C. D.
Graham was appointed deputy governor. lie retained that office until his
death, 7th July, 1828. On the 23rd Oct 1828, Major General Sir Alexander
Cameron, K.C.B., was appointed deputy governor. He resigned the office
on getting a reward, the 26th April, 1842. The office itself was thereupon
abolished. Sir George Nugent retained the captainship until his death, the
nth March, 1849. The office of captain was thereupon abolished. I am
much indebted to the authorities at the war office for their courtesy in
supplpng to me all this information, which I could not easily have obtained
without their assistance. Lyson, writing in 1814, (vol. 3, p. 154.) and Drew
writing in 1824, (vol. 2, p. 349.), name General Nugent as the governor.
Since the abolition of the offices of governor and deputy governor, there
has been no other representative of those ancient officers, than the officer of
artillery for the time being having command of the garrison, which I happened
to be in the year 1873.
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