The Survey of Cornwall - Revision history

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<div style="width: 100%; align: left; border: 1px solid #D0B89D; background-color: #EFE7DE;"><div style="padding: 2em;">Touching the perſonall eſtate of the ''Corniſh'' Inhabitants, to begin with their name in generall, I learne by master ''Camden'' (who, as the Arch-antiquarie ''Iuſtus Lipſius'' teſtifieth of him, ''Britanniae nebulas claro ingenij ſole illuſtrauit'') that ''Ptolomey'' calleth them ''Damnonii'', Strabo, ''Oſtidamnii'', and Aretemidorus, ''Coſſini''.

Touching their particular denominations; where the ''Saxons'' have not intruded their newer vſances, they partake in ſome ſort with their kinſmen the ''Welſh'': for as the ''Welſhmen'' catalogize ''ap Rice, ap Griffin, ap Owen, ap Tuder, ap Lewellin, &c.'' vntill they end in the higheſt of the ſtock, whom their memorie can reach vnto: So the Weſterne ''Corniſh'', by a like, but more compendious maner, intitle one another with his owne & his fathers chriſten name, and conclude with the place of his dwelling; as ''Iohn'', the ſonne of ''Thomas'', dwelling as ''{{b|Pendaruis}}'', is called ''Iohn Thomas Pendaruis''. ''Rich''. his younger brother is named, ''Richard Thomas Pendaruis, &c.'' Through which meanes, diuers Gent. and others haue changed their names, by remoouing their dwellings, as ''{{b|Trengoue}}'' to ''{{b|Nance}}'', ''{{b|Bonithon}}'', to ''{{b|Carclew}}'', the other to ''{{b|Reſcrowe}}'', and many other.

Moſt of them begin with <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Tre, pol, penn.</span>''{{b|Tre}}, {{b|Pol}} or {{b|Pen}}'', which ſignifie a Towne, a Top, and a head: whenve grew the common by-word.

:By ''{{b|Tre}}'', ''{{b|Pol}}'', and ''{{b|Pen}}'',<br />You ſhall know the ''Corniſhmen''.

Neither doe they want ſome ſignification, as ''{{b|Godolfin}}, alias {{b|Godolghan}}'', a white Eagle: ''{{b|Chiwarton}}'', the greene Caſtle on the hill: which Gentlemen giue ſuch Armes; ''{{b|Reskimer}}'', the great Dogges race, who beareth a Wolfe paſſant. ''{{b|Carnſew}}'', alias, ''{{b|Carndrew}}'', a black rock: his houſe ''{{b|Bokelly}}'', which ſoundeth the loſt Goat: and a Goate he beareth for his coate: ''{{b|Carminow}}'', a little Citie: ''{{b|Coſowarth}}'', the high Groue, &c.

And as the ''Corniſh'' names hold an affinity with the ''Welſh'', ſo is their language deduced from the ſame ſource, and differeth onely in the dialect. But the ''Corniſh'' is more eaſie to bee pronounced, and not ſo vnpleaſing in ſound, with throat letters, as the Welſh.

A friend of mine, one maſter ''Thomas Williams'', diſcourſed once with mee, that the ''Corniſh'' tongue was deriued from, or at leaſt had ſome acquayntance with the Greeke: and beſides diuers reaſons which hee produced to proue the ſame, he vouced many wordes of one ſence in both; as for example:

{|
! Greeke. || Corniſh. || Engliſh.
|-
| ''Teino'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Tedna</span>''{{b|Tedna}}'' || Draw
|-
| ''Mamma'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Mamm</span>''{{b|Mamm}}'' || Mother
|-
| ''Epiſcopos'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Epskop</span>''{{b|Eſcoppe}}'' || Biſhop
|-
| ''Klyo'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Klowes</span>''{{b|Klowo}}'' || Heere
|-
| ''Didaskein'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Dhe dhyski</span>''{{b|Dathisky}}'' || To teach
|-
| ''Kyon'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Kei</span>''{{b|Kye}}'' || Dogge
|-
| ''Kentron'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Kentren</span>''{{b|Kentron}}'' || Spurre
|-
| ''Methyo'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Medhow 'drunk'</span>''{{b|Methow}}'' || Drinke
|-
| ''Scaphe'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Skath</span>''{{b|Schapth}}'' || Boat
|-
| ''Ronchos'' || <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Renki</span>''{{b|Ronchie}}'' || Snorting, &c.
|}

This language is ſtored with ſufficient plenty to expreſſe the conceits of a good wit, both in proſe and rime: yet they can no more giue a Corniſh word for Tye, then the Greekes for ''Ineptus'', the French for Stand, the Engliſh for ''Emulus'', or the Iriſh for Knaue.

Others they haue not paſt two or three naturall, but are fayne to borrow of the Engliſh: mary, this want is releeued with a flood of moſt bitter curſes, and ſpitefull nick-names.

They place the adiective after the ſubſtantiue, like the Grecians and Latines, as Father ours, <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Margh gwydn</span>''{{b|March guiddn}}'', horſe white, &c.

<span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Onen, dew, tri, peder, pymp, hwegh, seyth, eth, naw, deg, udnek, dowdhek, tredhek, peswardhek, pymthek, hwetek, seytek, etek, nownsek, ugens, dew ugens, kans, mil, deg mil.</span>In numbering they ſay, 1 ''{{b|Wonnen}}'', 2 ''{{b|Deaw}}'', 3 ''{{b|Tre}}'', 4 ''{{b|Pidder}}'', 5 ''{{b|Pimp}}'', 6 ''{{b|Whey}}'', 7 ''{{b|Zith}}'', 8 ''{{b|Eath}}'', 9 ''{{b|Naw}}'', 10 ''{{b|Deag}}'', 11 ''{{b|Ednack}}'', 12 ''{{b|Dowthack}}'', 13 ''{{b|Tarnack}}'', 14 ''{{b|Puzwarthack}}'', 15 ''{{b|Punthack}}'', 16 ''{{b|Wheytack}}'', 17 ''{{b|Zitack}}'', 18 ''{{b|Itack}}'', 19 ''{{b|Naunzack}}'', 20 ''{{b|Eygganz}}'', 40 ''{{b|Deaw Eigganz}}'', 100 ''{{b|Cans}}'', 1000 ''{{b|Mille}}'', 10000 ''{{b|Molla}}''.

<span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Durda dhe'hwei. Durnostadha (Duw re rollo nos da dhywgh). Fatl'yw genowgh hwei? Da durdala dhe'hwei (Duw re dallo dhywgh hwei). Bedhowgh hwi lowenek. Bennath Duw genowgh. Hwor. Hora. [...] (Pronter). Grugyar. Kasek. Re'm lowta. War ow fay. Molleth Duw en dha [...] ('God's curses in your [...]'). Pedn an Jowl. Pedn broas. Pedn mosek.</span>''{{b|Durdatha why}}'', is Good morrow to you. ''{{b|Terneſtatha}}'', Good night. ''{{b|Fatlugan a why}}'': How do you? ''{{b|Da durdalatha why}}'': Wel I thanke you. ''{{b|Betha why lawanneck}}'': Be you mery. ''{{b|Benetugana}}'': Farewell. A ſiſter, they call ''{{b|Whoore}}'': a whoore, ''{{b|whorra}}'': a prieſt, ''{{b|coggaz}}'': a partridge, ''{{b|grigear}}'': a Mare, ''{{b|cazock}}''. ''{{b|Relauta}}'': by my troth. ''{{b|Warra fay}}'': by my fayth. ''{{b|Molla tuenda laaz}}'', ten thouſand miſchiefs in thy guts. ''{{b|Mille vengeance warna thy}}'', a thouſand vengeances take thee. ''{{b|Pedn ioll}}'', deuils head: ''{{b|Pedn brauze}}'', great head: ''{{b|pedn mowzack}}'', ſtinking head: and ſo ''in infinitum''. Which termes, notwithſtanding thogh they witnes their ſpite on the one ſide, yet retayne they as great a proofe of their deuotion on the other: for the Lords Prayer, the Apoſtles Creed, and the ten commaundements, haue beene uſed in ''Corniſh'' beyond all rememberance. But the principall loue and knowledge of this language, liued in ''Doctor Kennall'' the Ciulian, and with him lyeth buryed: for the Engliſh ſpeach doth ſtill encroche vpon it, and hath driuen the ſame into the vttermoſt skirts of the ſhire. Moſt of the Inhabitants can no word of ''Corniſh''; but very few are ignorant of the Engliſh: and yet ſome ſo affect their owne, as to a ſtranger they will not ſpeake it: for if meeting them be chance, you inquire the way or any ſuch matter, your anſwere ſhal be, <span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">My na vydnav kowsel Sowsnek ('I will not speak English')</span>''{{b|Meea nauidua cowzaſawzneck}}'', I can ſpeake no Saxonage. The Engliſh which they ſpeake, is good and pure, as receyuing it from the beſt hands of their owne Gentry, and the Easſerne Marchants: but they diſgrace it, in part, with a broad and rude accent, and eclipſing (ſomewhat like the Somerſerſhire men) ſpecially in pronouncing the names: as Thomas they call, ''Tummas & Tubby'': Mathew, ''Mathaw'': Nicholas, ''Nichlaaz'': Reignald, ''Reinol'': David, ''Daaui'': Mary, ''Maari'': Frauncis, ''Frowncis'': ''Iames, Iammez: Walter, Watty: Robert, Dobby: Rafe, Raw: Clemence, Clemmowe, &c.'' holding herein a contrary courſe of extenſion to the ''Italians'' abridgement, who terme ''Frauncis, Cecco: Dominick, Beco: Lawrence, Renzo:'' as alſo to the ''Turks'', who name ''Conſtantinople, Stampoli: Adrianople, Adrina: an Olifant, Fil:'' and the ''Sicilians'', who curtayle ''Nicholas'', to ''Cola''.

Beſides theſe, they haue taken vp certayne peculiar phraſes, which require a ſpeciall Dictionarie for their interpretation: of which kinde are, Tis not ''bezibd'' (''that is'', fortuned) to me: Thou haſt no ''road'' (ayme), he will never ''ſcrip'' (eſcape) it, he is nothing ''pridy'' (handsome), as alſo ''boobiſh'' (lubberly), ''dule'' (comfort), ''lidden'' (by-word), ''ſhune'' (ſtrange), ''thew'' (threaten), ''skew'' (ſhunne), ''hoaſe'' (forbeare).

To reproue one of lazines, they will ſay, Doeſt thou make Idle a coate? that is, a coate for idlenes? In coniecturing what number may effect a thing, they adde, ''or ſome'': as two, or ſome: ten, or ſome: twentie, or ſome: ''id eſt'', thereabouts.

[...]

Of better regard is Truro, ''alias'', Truru, or Trifow, as the principall towne of the Hauen, priuiledged with a Mayraltie, and benefited with the generall Weſterne Seſſions, Coynages, Markets, Faires, &c. The ſhape of the towne, and ''Etymon'' of the name, may be learned out of this ''Corniſh'' propheticall rime.

:<span style="width: 39%; position: absolute; right: 0;">Truru, Truedh yw; Omdedna ny'n jevydh trei ru.<br />('Truro, It's a pity, Shrinking it won't have three rows (woes)')</span>''{{b|Tru ru,}}<br />{{b|Triueth eu,}}<br />{{b|Ombdina geueth try ru.}}

Which is to ſay, Truro conſiſteth of three ſtreetes, and it ſall in time bee ſaid, Here Truro ſtood. A like miſchirf of a myſterie, they obſerve, that in taking ''T.'' from the towne, there reſteth ''{{b|ru, ru,}}'' which in Engliſh ſoundeth, ''Woe, woe:'' but whatſoever ſhall become therof hereafter, for the preſent, I hold it to haue got the ſtart in wealth of any other ''Corniſh'' towne, and to come behind none in buildings, Lanceſton onely excepted, where there is more vſe, and profit of faire lodgings, through the Countie Aſſizes. I wiſh that they would likewiſe deſerue praiſe, for getting, and imploying their riches, in ſome induſtrious trade, to the good of their Countrie, as the Harbours oportunitie inuiteth them.
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==Links==
*[https://archive.org/details/surveycornwalla00caregoog Archive.org - The Survey of Cornwall, 1769 edition]