332 



COENISHISMS IN ANCIENT LITEEATURE. 

 (Xth CENTUEY to 1689). 



Bx Bhv. S. RUNDLB. 



Many words, that are generally thought to be Cornish both 

 in usage and pronunciation, are found extant in various deeds, 

 poems, and writings of all kinds, that owed their existence in no 

 sense of the word to Cornwall. It is therefore interesting to 

 find still extant here words that have become obsolete in other 

 parts of the country. Sometimes scorn is cast on the usage of 

 provincialisms, and severe measures are taken to stamp it out. 

 An acquaintance with the ancient literature will teach us that 

 very often the peasant's language is far more akin to pure 

 English than that of those who profess to act as his teacher. 

 It is, however, necessary to add that it is not meant that the 

 words in this paper are all exclusively Cornish. 



I have divided my subject into three parts: — The first 

 relates to the occurrence of Cornish words, still in use, in writings 

 from English authors. A sub-division is concerned with instances 

 of Cornish pronunciation of words to be met with in English 

 documents. The second division deals with Cornish words, and 

 pronunciation, found in literature of the west country other than 

 Cornwall. In the third part, examples of the antiquity of 

 Cornishisms, both in expression and pronunciation, are adduced 

 from Cornish documents. 



I will not tempt your patience with a long list of the 

 books and documents that have been laid under toll. I feel, 

 however, that I ought at least to say that I have experienced 

 great help from Miss Courtney's and Mr. Couch's Grlossaries of 

 E. and W. Cornwall in giving explanation of Cornish words. 



A few Cornish words appear for the first time in print as such. 

 Eor the purposes of this paper, " English " may be defined as 

 including all parts of the country with the exception of Cornwall. 

 "Ancient" refers to the period from the tenth century to the 

 end of the seventeenth century, embracing the first beginnings 

 of our language and its practical consoJidation at the time of the 



