THE HOirSE OF aODOLPHIN. 411 



succeeded his uncle as Vice-warden of the Stannaries. The 

 shrievalty first fell to him in 1580, in which year also he was 

 raised to the knighthood by Queen Elizabeth. At the time of 

 the Armada, in 1588, he was Deputy -Lieutenant for the West of 

 Cornwall, and was in command of twelve full companies of men 

 for coast defence. He was also Governor of the Isles of Scilly, 

 where he built Star Castle. But, perhaps, he is best remembered 

 in the Duchy as the Cornish leader who, in 1595, when the 

 Spaniards having effected a landing near Mousehole burnt Paul 

 church and advanced on Penzance, routed the invaders and drove 

 them from the country. Tradition asserts that he maintained 

 a body of light horse at Godolphin house during these unquiet 

 times to be always ready for any emergency. After the Spaniards 

 had been successfully repulsed. Sir Francis seems to have turned 

 his attention to the encouragement of home industries. Cornish 

 mining was at that time in one of its periodical phases of 

 depression, and Sir Francis, who was himself owner of the 

 principal mine in the county, set himself, if possible, to revive it. 

 Accordingly Carew, a personal friend of Sir Francis, relates how 

 the latter entertained at Godolphin house a " Dutch minerals- 

 man ;" who probably brought with him some advanced conti- 

 nental ideas on mining, as Sir Francis is credited with the 

 subsequent introduction of improved methods of mine- working 

 which gave a new impetus to the whole industry. 



Sir Francis was sheriff for the second time in 1605. He 

 died in 1608, and was buried at Breage. He was succeeded by 

 his eldest son, another Sir William, who seems to have been a 

 man of many accomplishments. He had received a liberal 

 education, and we find his name entered in 158-4 as Fellow- 

 commoner of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Subsequently he 

 travelled into most parts of Europe, and is said to have acquired 

 a knowledge of several languages. In 1599 he accompanied 

 Robert, Earl of Essex, to the Irish wars, where he much dis- 

 tinguished himself and won his title. He remained in Ireland, 

 holding various posts of responsibility, until the supposed pacifi- 

 cation of that country, shortly after the death of Elizabeth, when 

 he returned to England. A vacancy occurring, about this time, 

 in the county representation. Sir William Godolphin was unani- 

 mously elected member for Cornwall to the first parliament of 



