Page:Cornwall (Salmon).djvu/82

CORNWALL certain is that from 981 till the Cornish diocese was joined to that of Devon, St. Germans was the headquarters of the Cornish episcopate. Besides its priory, Bodmin is said to have had thirteen chapelries. The priory, founded in 938, originally Benedictine, was given to Austin canons by Bishop Warelwast. It was one of these canons that, in 1177, carried away the precious remains of St. Petrock to France; but this caused such an uproar of indignation, that they were returned. The case in which the bones were kept is still shown. At the Dissolution the site of the priory was sold to Stern hold, versifier of the Psalms. A few remains are embodied in the existing Priory-house. Cornwall has ever been prompt in leading forlorn hopes ; and two men of Bodmin, Flamank and Joseph, led the men of the West Country in their armed resistance to Henry Vn.'s heavy taxation. Exeter refused to receive them, but they proceeded to Taunton, and then to London. Not until 2000 lay dead on Blackheath did the gallant Cornishmen ac- knowledge that they were beaten ; and they then suffered the scant mercy of a cold-blooded unforgiving king. This was in 1496. A few weeks later Perkin Warbeck, calling himself Richard IV., landed near Land's End. He .was proclaimed at Bodmin, and 3000 brave Cornishmen gathered round him, to be worsted at Exeter and deserted by their would-be king at Taunton. Cornwall suffered heavily from 64