4 6 NATURAL HISTORY 
in which King Arthur received his mortal wound : thus recorded 
by the Poet k : 
<c Naturam Cambela fontis 
Mutatam ftupet efle fui, tranfcendit in undas 
Sanguineus torrens ripas, et ducit in aequor 
Corpora caeforum ; plures natare videres, 
Et petere auxilium quos undis vita reliquit.” 
The other, a bloody battle, fought betwixt the Cornifh, and the 
Weft Saxons of Devonfhire, in the year 824 ’, in which many 
thoufands fell on each ftde, and the victory remained uncertain. 
Hence, after a run of about 1 2 miles, it becomes navigable for fand 
barges at Parbrok ; and at Eglofhel m , receives a plentiful addition 
to it’s ftream, from the River Laine A mile farther down, this 
River reaches the greateft bridge in this county, called Wade-- 
bridge : about the year 1460 there was a ferry here whilft the tide 
was in, and a very dangerous ford when the tide was retired, 
which moved the then Vicar of Eglofhel, one Mr. Lovebon, with 
great induftry and public fpirit, to undertake this bridge ; a great and 
ufeful, but tedious work. Beftdes the expence, fo difproportioned 
to his circumftances, in the courfe of the work, there arofe fuch 
difficulties, as might have baffled a more mechanical age than that 
in which he lived : the ground, for the foundation of fome of the 
piers, proved fo fwampy, that after repeated efforts another way, 
they were forced at laft to build on wool-packs ; however, it fhould 
never be forgotten, that by his follicitations, and the liberal contri- 
butions of others, but chiefly by his own perfeverance, and the 
bleffings of providence, he lived to accomplifh the bridge as it 
now ftands, with feventeen fair and uniform arches, reaching quite 
crofs the valley, to the great fafety of travellers, and the credit of 
his country. Hither come up fmall barks of 40 and 60 ton, and 
fupply the country with coal from Wales, with flat, which rifes about 
ten miles off, lime, timber, and groceries from Briftol. A mile farther 
down the Alan makes two fmall Creeks on the Eaft, in return for a 
brook or two which it receives; then keeping to the North-Weft, and 
fupplying two Creeks on the Weftern bank which run up into St. Illy, 
and little Petrock pariflies, in a mile more it reaches the antient 
town of Petrockftow, alias Padftow, where there is a pier, and fome 
k In Camden, page 23. and the Elaine, (Hinnulus) in Radnorshire, and 
1 See Saxon chronicle. Montgomery Ihife, &c. probably this River Lain, 
m That is, the Church on the River. had the name of Elaine from the fwiftnefs of 
" Some Rivers among the Britifh, fays Lhuyd it’s courfe. 
in Baxter’s gloflary, page 273, take their names 0 Leland, Vol. II. page 82. 
from animals ; as the Caru (Cervus) in Shropfhire, 
trade 
