DAMB KILLIGRBW AND THE SPANISH SHIP. 285 



and having procured a safe conduct to London from the Com- 

 missioners, they laid their complaint before the higher authorities, 

 with the result that the Earl of Bedford instructed Sir Eichard 

 Q-renville, and Mr. Edmond Tremayne, to make a searching in- 

 vestigation into the matter. 



As might have been expected, this enquiry had a far different 

 result to the previous one, the truth having been extracted from 

 unwilling lips : it is needless to follow in detail the story as 

 narrated by witness after witness, briefly it is as follows : 



The plot originated with Dame Killigrew, who on the 

 Sunday in question, ordered Hawkins and Kendall to board the 

 Spaniard. From the evidence of the governor of the rival 

 Castle of St. Mawes, it is clear that one of Sir John Killigrew's 

 men came, with the news that the Spanish ship was about to 

 leave, and also requested him not to hinder her doing so. The 

 men beforenamed went to the Lime Kiln,'* where they met 

 amongst others, several sailors, who had remained at Pendennis 

 Castle aU day, of which fortress Sir JohjD. Killigrew was then 

 the governor. 



After an unsuccessful attempt to induce the Spanish 

 merchants to go on board their ship, with the probable object of 

 leaving no witness behind to tell the tale, about midnight the 

 party boarded the ship, and being aided by a couple of Flemings, 

 they bound the crew, and set sail ; when outside the Bar, 

 Kendall and Hawkins were put on board their boat, with sundry 

 bolts of Hollands and leather, of which they ' ' would have 

 taken more but the sailors would not consent, saying there was 

 enough sent away already," and made for the land, mooring 

 their boat at the stake by the smiths' forge, near Sir John 

 Arundell's house, f 



The plunder was taken to Arwenack, and divided amongst 

 Lady Killigrew and Mrs. Killigrew, a couple of ladies at 

 Penryn, and the maids and servants in the house, not omitting 

 ' ' old Knowdeu and long William." Lady Killigrew on receiving 

 the stuff was very ill contented that it was of no more value, and 



* The Lime Kiln stood at the creek at Market Strand then known as the 

 " Lime Kiln Creek." 



t The Smiths' Forge is supposed to have stood on the south side of the 

 creek at Market Strand, from which the ancient name of Smithike was 

 derived. 



