The history of the worthies of England who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

Souldiers.

King ARTHUR, Son to Uther-Pendragon, was born in Tintagel-Castle in this County, and proved afterward Monarch of Great Britain. He may fitly be termed the British Hercules in three respects,

• 1. For his illegitimate birth, both being Bastards, begotten on other mens * 1.1 wives, and yet their Mothers honest women, deluded, the one by Miracle, the other by Art-Magick of Merlin, in others personating their husbands.
• 2. Painfull life, one famous for his twelve labours, the other for his twelve vi∣ctories against the Saxons, and both of them had been greater, had they been made less, and the reports of them reduced within compass of proba∣bility.
• 3. Violent and wofull death, our Arthurs being as lamentable, and more ho∣nourable, not caused by Feminine Jealousie, but Masculine Treachery, being murdered by Mordred, near the place where he was born.

* 1.2 As though no other place on Britains spacious earth, Were worthy of his end, but where he had his birth.

As for his Round-Table, with his Knights about it, the tale whereof hath Trundled so smoothly along for many ages, it never met with much beliefe amongst the judicious. He died about the year Anno Dom 542.

And now to speak of the Cornish in generall. They ever have been beheld men of Valour. It seemeth in the raign of the aforesaid King Arthur, they ever made up his Van-Guard, if I can rightly understand the barbarous Verses of a * 1.3 Cornish Poet.

Nobilis Arcturus nos primos Cornubienses, Bellum facturus vocat (ut puta Caesaris enses) Nobis, (non aliis reliquis) dat primitus ict•…•…m.

Brave Arthur, when he meant a field to fight, Us Cornish-men did firstof all invite. Onely to Cornish (count them Cesars swords,) He the first blow in Battle still affords.

But afterwards in the time of King * 1.4 Canutus, the Cornish were appointed to make up the Rear of our Armies. Say not they were much degraded, by this transposition from Head to Foot, seeing the judicious in Marshaling of an Army, count the •…•…rength (and therefore the credit) to consist in the Rear thereof.

But it must be pitied, that these people misguided by their Leaders, have so often abused their valour in rebellions, and particularly in the raign of King Henry the seventh, at Black-heath, where they did the greatest execution, with their Arrows, reported to be the * 1.5 length of a Taylors-yard, the last of that proportion, which ever were seen in England. However the Cornish have since plentifully repaired their credit, by their exemplary Valour and Loyalty, in our late Civil Wars.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Alomena wife to Amphitruo, and Igern wife to G•…•…loise Pr. of Cornwall.
• * 1.2

  Draytons Po∣lyolbion pag. 5.
• * 1.3

  Michael Cor∣nubiensis.
• * 1.4

  Joan. Sarishu. de nugu Curial. 5. cap. 18.
• * 1.5

  L▪Verulam, in King Henry the seventh pag. 171.