The Parochial History of Cornwall, Volume 3 (of 4)
History
The Parochial History of Cornwall, Volume 3 (of 4)
Cornwall (England : County) -- History; Geology -- England -- Cornwall (County)
Within this parish stands the borough town of East Looe, that is to
say, the town that stands on the east side of the River Looe; for as
loo, looe, lough, in the old Scots and Irish tongues and the French,
signifies a lough, a lake, or pool of water, so it is sometimes used
in the same sense in old British. East and West Looe towns, situate in
the Looe Haven or harbour thereof, afford opportunities to the
inhabitants for foreign and domestic trades and merchandizes to be
imported and exported, to their no small advantage. In which town of
East Looe there is a chapel or oratory for divine service, wherein the
rector of St. Martin’s, or his curate, officiates on Sundays for
convenience of its inhabitants. It was of old a privileged manor by
prescription, all which was confirmed by a charter from Queen
Elizabeth, the 29th year of her reign, whereby it was also
incorporated by the name of the Mayor and free Burgesses, consisting
of a Mayor and eight chief Burgesses or Council, the two Members of
Parliament elected by the majority of them. It is also privileged with
administration of justice within the liberties or precincts thereof,
as also with a market on Saturday weekly, and fairs on the 2d of
February and the 29th of September yearly.
The arms of this town are a gallot (high ship) in the sea, rigged with
ropes and yard, bearing three escutcheons, each charged with the arms
of De Bodrugan.
The writ to remove an action of law, depending in this Court Leet of
East Looe, to a superior; and the precept for election of Members of
Parliament from the Sheriff must be thus directed: “Majori et
Burgensibus Burgi sui de East Looe, in comitatu Cornubiæ, et eorum
cuilibet, salutem.”
The history of Kevorall is by mistake placed under St. Germans, a
contiguous parish, only parted by the Lynar or Seaton river, which
should be placed here.
TONKIN.
Mr. Tonkin has not any thing relative to this parish or town, but a
long quotation from Browne Willis, wholly uninteresting; and a
conjecture that the chapel at Looe is dedicated to St. Kenna, usually
pronounced St. Kayne, adding as a confirmation, that her festival is
kept on the 30th of September, and that on the eve of that day a fair
is established in the town.
THE EDITOR.
It will be unnecesary to enter on any details respecting either St.
Martin’s parish or Looe, since every thing curious or interesting may
be found in a most excellent work: “Topographical and Historical
Sketches of the Boroughs of East and West Looe, in the County of
Cornwall, with an account of the Natural and Artificial Curiosities,
and Picturesque Scenery of the Neighbourhood. By Thomas Bond, Esq.
London, printed by and for J. Nichols and Son, 25, Parliament Street.”
Since Mr. Bond’s work was published, both Looes have lost the
privilege of sending Members to Parliament; and it is said that a
spirit of active exertion has already superseded the listless reliance
on patronage which used to characterize small borough towns.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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