A HISTORY OF CORNWALL 



built one ship of 160 tons, and Fowey one of 24O, 1 and in 1577 there were, as well, belonging to 

 Fowey, three of from 100 to 160 tons, and one of 100 tons to Looe. 2 A list of 1572 of coasting 

 traders, prepared by a customs official, assigns fifty-one to Cornwall, of which nine belonged to 

 Fowey, six to Padstow, seven to Saltash, four to Looe, and thirteen to Millbrook. 3 By 1582 these 

 figures had not altered much, Saltash being the same, and Looe and Fowey respectively one more 

 and one less, but Padstow had risen to twelve ; the number of loo-ton ships had decreased to three, 

 all owned in Fowey. 4 In 1583 the last full return of sea-going vessels gives Cornwall still the 

 three of 100 tons and upwards, two between 80 and 100 tons, and sixty-five of from 60 to 80 

 tons. 8 To man the ships there were 108 masters and 1,815 men. 



From these data it would seem that, whatever may have been the case with the rest of 

 Cornwall, Fowey had fallen back from the position it occupied in the reign of Henry VII. 6 The 

 bounties paid at this time on new ships of 100 tons and upwards show that London was making 

 enormous progress as a shipowning centre, and absorbing much of the ocean trade that had for- 

 merly been divided among many ports. Places like Bristol, Newcastle, and some of the east 

 coast ports, centres of distribution for manufactures or raw material, were following London, and 

 there was little left for many of the west-country ports which had previously possessed a foreign 

 trade except the local and Newfoundland fisheries and a coasting traffic. In contrast to the 

 flourishing industry existing farther eastward there was little or no shipbuilding beyond that sufficient 

 to supply local demand. Timber was comparatively scarce and dear, as were also most of the other 

 requisites, and freight must have been prohibitive in comparison with the cost at places nearer the 

 centres of import. The same disabilities continued later, and during the seventeenth and 

 eighteenth centuries Cornwall obtained practically no share of the lucrative contracts for building 

 men-of-war that occupied private yards from Hants to Durham. 



As Cornwall lay now in the main stream of maritime movement events of interest happened in 

 its ports before the occurrence of regular war. In 1568 a fleet of Spanish ships carrying half a 

 million or more of money intended for Alva took refuge in Fowey, Plymouth, and Southampton 

 in order to escape the Dutch and French privateers. Two vessels with 600,000 ducats on board 

 went up to Saltash, and Sir Arthur Champernoune, the vice-admiral of Devon, who at this 

 moment himself had three privateers at sea, urged Elizabeth to allow him to seize it, adding that 

 ' anything taken from that wicked nation is both necessary and profitable to our commonweal.' T 

 Elizabeth did not require much persuasion, and after a little hesitation the treasure was taken 

 simultaneously at the three ports, nominally to ensure its safety. At Fowey the money was lodged 

 in the house of Mr. John TrerFry. This act caused an immediate arrest of English residents and 

 goods in the Low Countries, which was followed by a retaliatory order against Philip's subjects in 

 England with a mandate to capture Spanish and Flemish ships at sea. This last order incidentally 

 throws considerable light on the so-called piracy of the time, much of which might be legal 

 or illegal according to the political needs of the moment. In 1574, one of the many critical 

 situations with Spain had recurred, and preparations had been made for defence. After the 

 danger had passed Elizabeth caused her thanks to be transmitted to ' the gentlemen of the west ' 

 for their diligence and zeal, ' which shall be holden in remembrance to their comfort.' In Cornwall 

 letters of thanks were sent to Arundel, Edgcumbe, Grenville, Mohun, and Arundel of Trerice. 8 

 Although Plymouth was the favourite port, the Cornish harbours were often points of departure and 

 arrival in the voyages to the westward which Spain was forcing upon English adventurers. On 

 20 September, 1565, John Hawkins arrived at Padstow on his return from his second West Indian 

 voyage, and on 25 January, 15689, he came to the 'unhappy end' of his third voyage, with the 

 few survivors, at Mount's Bay. John Newbery and Ralph Fitch put into Falmouth in March, 

 1582-3, on their voyage to India, and that harbour was used to some extent by several of the 

 purely military expeditions. 



No doubt the county furnished men, if not ships, for Drake's squadrons of 1585 and 1587, 

 but when 1588 came the year brought anxieties of defence rather than thoughts of over-sea 

 offence. In a lethargic fashion the government had for some years been preparing for the time of 

 trial in the way of organizing the local musters and placing the coast defences in a more efficient 

 condition. In 157 St. Mawes and Pendennis were the only fortifications in Cornwall ; the 

 former was armed with six heavy guns in bad condition, the castle itself was out of repair, and 

 the blockhouse at the water's edge unfinished ; the latter possessed eight guns and was also out of 



1 S. P. Dom. Eliz. cvii, 68. ' Ibid, xcvi, fol. 267. 



* Ibid. Add. xxii. The largest Millbrook vessel was only of 3 5 tons. 



| S. P. Dom. Eliz. clvi, 45. 5 Harl. MS. 4,228, fol. 45. 



In 1565 it was noted as having been retrograding for the past thirty years, although still possessing a 

 local trade (Exch. Spec. Com. 2,860). 

 ' S. P. Dom. Eliz. xlviii, 60. 



Acts of P. C. 24. October, 1574. In the council minute only surnames are given. 



492 



