THE FIRING OF AKWENACK BY THE SPANIARDS. 293 



the whole peal being violently rung ; and this order was strictly- 

 observed on the coast of Cornwall, and mention of it is made 

 in the following account. 



The story is told in an examination of a fisherman called 

 Richard Perne, taken at Penryn, on February 6th, 1596, before 

 John Killegrew and Hanabal Vyvyan, the governors respectively 

 of Pendennis and St. Mawes Castles; and the original document, 

 telling the story in quaint and graphic language, is here printed 

 in its entirety. 



The letter from John Killegrew enclosing it, clearl}'^ shows 

 the unprotected state of the hai'bour, and the anxiety that was 

 felt for its better defence. 



In this behalf John Killegrew seems to have exerted himseK 

 for several years. In 1591'^* he petitions for an advance of money 

 to fortify the castle, stating that he is no soldier, but a true 

 subject ; and will defend the place with his life, and although 

 the loss of life would be little, he would lose with it a home not 

 far from the castle, which although it was of little value, was 

 his whole commonwealth, and would be the overthrow of his 

 posterity that depend on it. 



The garrison of the castle at that time consisted of the 

 captain, John Killegrew, Esq.,f who had 12d. a day (the same 

 sum that the Master Mason at Boscastle pier had, but with meat 

 and drink in addition), a deputy Captain, a Porter, a Master 

 Gunner and two other Gunners, with the train bands of Budock 

 and the adjoining parishes. 



♦State Papers Domestic, Elizabeth, Vol. 240, Public Record Office. 



f There appears to be some confusion as to the actual Killegrew who was 

 Captain of Pendennis about this time. On the brass of John Killegrew in Budock 

 Church it is stated that he was made the first captain of Pendennis Castle by 

 Henry VIII, and so continued until the ninth of Queen Elizabeth (1567), when 

 he was suceeeded^by his son Sir John Killegrew, who is expressly named on his 

 monument in the same church to have been the second capt-ain that commanded 

 Pendennis Fort, and to have died in the 26th Elizabeth (1583) ; these statements 

 appear perfectly trustworthy ; and yet in the roll of fees paid to the captains, etc. 

 of castles in the west parts (1595) .it is stated that John Killegrew, then the captain 

 was appointed by Her Majesty's Letters Patent, dated 26th January, 1560-1, for 

 the term of his life, behaving himself well. 



