THE H0T7SE OF GODOLPHIN. 409 



appears, then, that in the time of Henry VI, the owner of 

 G-odolphin was Sir Edmund Arundell of Lamburne in Peransand. 

 By him it was sold to one, Stephens, " upon condition of a 

 kind of domineering, lording, or insulting tenure, and reserva- 

 tion of rent to his manor of Lamburne in Peransand ; viz. : that 

 once a year for ever the Reeve of the said Manor should come 

 to Godolphin, and there boldly enter the hall, jump upon the 

 table or table-board, and there stamp or bounce with his feet or 

 club, to alarm and give notice to the people of his approach, 

 and then and there make proclamation aloud three times, — yes ! 

 yes ! yes ! I am the Peeve of the Manor of Lamburne in 

 Peransand, come here to demand the old rent, duties and cus- 

 toms, due to the lords of the said Manor from the lands of 

 Godolphin — Upon which notice there is forthwith to be brought 

 him 2s. 8d. rent, a large quart of strong beer, a loaf of wheaten 

 bread worth sixpence, and a cheese of the like value ; which the 

 Reeve having received, he shall drink of the beer, taste the 

 bread and cheese in the place, and then depart carrying with 

 him the said rent and the remainder of those viands, to the 

 lords of the Manor aforesaid." 



At variance with the pedigree given by Col. Vivian, the same 

 chronicler, Hals, who claims descent from the Godolphins through 

 the female line, has a curious story to account for the origin of the 

 family name in the time of Henry VII. According to this story 

 the estates were at that time in the hands of a man called John 

 Knava, whose ancestor had acquired the property by marriage 

 with the heiress of the family of Stephens mentioned above. 

 Rising to a position of some influence in the county, the lord of 

 Godolphin was pricked sheriff of Cornwall in 1504 by Henry 

 VII ; who, in a fit of Tudor pleasantry " declared his great 

 liking of that gentleman in all circumstances for the said office, 

 but discovered as much dislike of his name ; . . . and further said 

 that, as he was pater patriae, he would transnominate him to 

 Godolphin whereof he was lord ; and accordingly caused or 

 ordered that in his letters patent under the broad seal of England 

 for being Sheri:ff of Cornwall, he should be styled or named 

 John Godolphin, of Godolphin, Esq." This " transnomination," 

 if it ever took place, probably represents the nearest English 

 equivalent to the Cornish territorial title. 



