CAEMINOW OF CARMINOW. 223 



this family only, by means of which the errors of the Visitation 

 pedigree may be readily observed and corrected, whilst they cite 

 documentary evidence of the most authentic kind in proof of 

 almost every step in the descent, from the reign of Henry the 

 third to the death of the last heir male of the elder branch in 

 that of Henry VI (1442). 



I venture to reproduce this comparative pedigree, and it may 

 be safely accepted by all Cornishmen who claim descent from 

 Carminow, as the nearest approach to accuracy which is now 

 attainable. The proofs must be studied in the volume of the 

 Harleian Society to which reference has been made ; and they 

 well deserve the attention of all heraldic students, as shewing 

 the great industry and care of the editors, as well as ''the 

 necessity," to use their own words, " of testing the truth of the 

 Visitation Pedigrees by independent evidence" (Preface, p. vii). 

 Whilst then, we must abandon the claim of relationship to the 

 blood royal, and wait, perhaps, in vain for proof that the early 

 valour of the Carminows was tested by the invasion of Imperial 

 Csesar, we may at least accept such traditions as supporting the 

 high repute in which they were held in the days of chivahy; 

 and if the more critical and less romantic mind of our day 

 refuses to be satisfied with the evidence adduced in favour of 

 their pedigree and arms being traced upwards to the time of 

 King Arthur, Sir Harris Nicolas has at least shown that it was 

 accepted and believed in the court of the Earl Marshal, as will 

 be more fully noticed when we come to treat of the question 

 of armorial bearings. 



Lysons truly states that the Carminows of Carminow cannot 

 be traced with any certainty further back than the reign of 

 Henry III. The name does not occur in Domesday, nor in the 

 very full index ~of names of places and persons in the folio 

 Volumes of the Record Commission, " Placitorum abbreviatio 

 tempore Eic. I— Ed. II," (1189-1327). No other Pubhc Eecord 

 exists prior to the commencement of Hen. III.'s reign. Robert 

 Carminow, who commences the pedigree, held lands, probably 

 Carminow, by military service, 40 Hen. Ill,* and his son Robert 

 appears to have inherited the adjoining Manor of Wynyanton, 

 as well as that of Merthyn, by his marriage with the heiress of 



* Visitation of Cornwall in 1620, p. 296. 



