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HENRY GRENFIELD. 

 THE TRURO GRAMMAR SCHOOL, 



Heney Gkenfield. — In No. XI of this Journal, page 190, there was 

 published an inquiry, by " T. Q. C", concerning " Henry Grenfield," a native 

 of Truro, the author of a volume of poetry, comprising " God in the 

 Creature," and other poems and odes. The publication bears date, 1686 ; 

 and, through the courtesy of Mr. Tannahill, Chairman of the Grammar 

 School Committee of the Truro Town Council, we learn that " Henry 

 Grenfield " was Master of the Truro Grammar School from September, 1685, 

 to December, 1693. His volume of poetry is dedicated : "To the Worshi^Dful 

 " the Mayor, the Eight Honourable the Eecorder, with the Honourable and 

 " Worshipful Justices, Aldermen, and all the rest of the Worthy Capitol 

 " (sic) Burgesses of the Eeformed and Loyal Corporation of the Borough of 

 " Truro, in the County of Cornwall ;" and there are expressions in the 

 " Epistle Dedicatory " which clearly identify the Poet with the School- 

 master. For instance : 



" I cannot but with a chearful Humility, declare my self under a 

 " double Obligation of all possible Eespect and Service to your Honourable 

 " and most Loyal Fraternity, and particularly of my present Address, tho 

 " with so minute and homely an Offering." * * * " In this Ancient Corpora- 

 " tion I drew my first Breath ; and to this therefore would gladly pay the 

 *' first fruits of my Honest (howsoever unfortunate) Endeavours. But to 

 " this natural Incitement of Love and Honour, we have in you the happy 

 "Accession of a most generous and noble Loyalty." * * * * 



At some lengih, he exjDatiates on the excellence of " Loyalty ! the grand 

 " Comprehension, in one Word, of all Publick and Political Virtue ;" and 

 affirms " that Loyalty, wherever she lights, tho on a Dunghil, carries a com- 

 *' manding Lustre in her Face ; but an advantageous setting off the Jewel in 

 " Generous and Noble Metals (such as your selves) ; as it mightily commands 

 " its Beauty, so ought jiroportionably to heighten its Value : " * * * " In the 

 " present State of Truro, 'tis now (Thanks be to Heaven) easie to see awful 

 *' Authority, and a most Eatioual, Ingenuous Candor, going Hand in Hand, 

 " and everywhere to the grief of Faction, but the Delight of God, and all honest 

 " Men, embracing and greeting each other with a Holy Kiss." * * * "As for 

 " Silver and Gold, such as the more splendid and Heroical Pieces of Poesie, I 

 " have none ; but such as the Cornish Muse affords, once in the Name of all 

 " that's Good, I humbly present you with, as the humble Specimens of an 

 " unmodish, hearty Gratitude : And this is a second Obligation I would have all 

 " Men to know I lye under to your Honourable and most Loyal Fraternity " ; 

 <i « « * "I am (Sirs) undabitably secured of no Inferior Place in your 

 "Favour, by many pregnant Instances, but more esj)ecially by your last 

 *' most sensible demonstration of Kindness, the character whereof is in- 

 " delibly written in my Heart (as with a Diamond). Nor shall the Eecognition 

 " of the same on all suitable occasions be only ingeminated in my Mouth, 

 *' but also seconded by agreeable Action, so far forth as the Sphere and 

 "Abilities, which the Divine Goodness hath allotted me to act in, and by, 

 " shall permit." 



We learn that the earliest mention of the existence of the Truro 

 Grammar School is found in a petition respecting a contested election, 



