Page:The Cornwall coast.djvu/243

ST. IVES 237 This rising, which began in Devonshire, rapidly- spread throughout Cornwall ; it was, indeed, the fiercest and most serious of all the risings against an enforced Reformation. It ended in disaster ; many Cornishmen were killed either in the field or by hanging afterwards ; among whom was John Payne, mayor or portreeve of St. Ives. Of the religious aspect of the quarrel nothing need be said ; but it is certain that the compulsory intro- duction of the English Bible and Prayer Book proved the death-blow of the Cornish language. It did not die at once, but it speedily began to languish, and two centuries later was practically extinct. During the Civil War St. Ives sided with the Parliament, and its church, therefore, does not contain the letter of thanks from King Charles that is so commonly seen in Cornish churches. The little town was always strong in local patriotism, and sturdily nursed its own interests as a fishing port ; yet a study of its Borough Accounts proves that it could be generous at times, and these accounts are such delightful reading that a few extracts must be quoted. They begin with the year 1573 ; the quaintness of diction and the " indifferent spelling " add piquancy and remote- ness to some of the entries. Many of these have to do with expenses towards the keep of foundlings, burying of the dead by the parish, and other charities ; thus, a very few years from the commencement, we have : — " Pd. Eliz : Rodger to keepe a base childe founde by the p'rishe and for half of a pecke of blye, XVIIId. Pd. Alee caraway who releeveth certaine childi"en of the parishe, VId. Pd a poore man of Morestowe whose house was burnte and his wiefe distracted of her witts, Xlld."