Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Second SeriesBottrell, William
General
Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Second Series
Bottrell, William
Cornwall (England : County) -- Social life and customs; Legends -- England -- Cornwall (County)
It is stated that Merlin came here with King Arthur, when he
slaughtered the Danes at the battle of Velan-druchar. The
separation of this prophetic stone is so slow that there appears
to be no danger of the world's ending just yet.
Parchapel Well.
To find the Saint's Well one should take a pathway bearing
westward, from a little below the church, and which leads over
Roskestal cliff to Pargwarra (we spell all names as the
inhabitants pronounce them). After crossing the brook and
mounting a hedge keep straight towards the sea, and on a pretty
level spot the ruined walls of St. Levan's baptistry will be found,
as also some traces of rude steps on a pathway that connected
this holy fount with an ancient chapel and burying-ground which
stood on ground so near the precipice that little, if any, of its
site now remains. We have heard old folks of St. Levan
(who were born there more than a century ago) say that in their
younger days Parchapel Well, as they always called it, was,
twice a year, regularly cleaned out and repaired, and the ground,
for a good space around, as well as the steps, cleared of weeds,
swept, and sanded. The first week of May being a time of
general well-dressing, Parchapel Well was never neglected then,
and it was also cleaned up against the feasten tide, when many
christenings usually took place.
Old folks also spoke of another time-honoured observance in
which the Saint's Well was shown due respect. Until within
half a century or so, it was a custom on Christmas-eve for
carol singers belonging to the higher side hamlets to assemble in
Sowah town-place round a large flat table-like rock called the
Garrack Zans (holy rock). Here they would commence singing,
and proceed to Roskestal, where at another Garrack Zans in that
town-place they would be joined by others, and all would thence
go singing down to Parchapel Well, where they would meet
with many singers from Treen and other lower-side places. At
the Well many an old carol would be chanted. One was never
forgotten, in which, according to our West Country version, Holy
Mary says to her dear child:—
"Go thee wayst out, child Jesus;
Go thee wayst out to play
Down by God's holy well.
I see three pretty chelderen
As ever tongue can tell."
This, for its sweet simplicity, is still a favourite in the west.
[149]
The rude steps, which may yet be traced (though almost overgrown
by rushes and other water-plants) will be regarded with
interest, as we learn from St. Levan traditions that great sinners
did penance by crawling over these rough stones on their bare
knees, and that the devout who desired or aspired to acquire
extraordinary grace, or indulgence, scrambled up all the way on
bare knees from chapel-door to holy fount.
A Legend of Pargwarra.
My William's love was heaven on earth,
Without it earth is hell.
Scott.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account