CURRENT LITERATURE.
A History of the Parishes of St. Ives, Lelant, Towednack, and Zennor.. By John Hobson Matthews. (Elliot Stock.)—This is a very elaborate work, reaching a magnitude which will try the patience of the general reader, but will probably delight the local enthu- siast. Mr. Matthews has had to make his choice between writing a lively sketch for the public, and putting together a standard book of reference for the student ; and we cannot blame him for taking the latter alternative. He begins with a description of the physical characteristics of the district, treats of its prehistoric— British and Roman—periods, the introduction of Christianity, and the early Christian antiquities. The " Manors and Lordships " form the subject of a special chapter; the Parish Church of St. Ives occupies another (St. Ives, originally a chapelry of Lelant, became a parish early in the fifteenth century) ; and yet another is given to the churches of Lelant, Towednack, and Zennor. In the Reformation period St. Ives appears in history. The Cornish- men, who then had a language of their own, " utterly re- fused thys newe English," desiring to have back their old Latin. St. Ives took part in the Cornish Pilgrimage of Grace, and John Payne, portreeve, was hanged in the middle of the town, after having entertained—so local tradition. has it—the provost-marshal at dinner. In 1558, the town became a Parliament- ary borough. It still gives its name to one of the six divisions of the county. In pre-Reform days, Cornwall had about a twelfth of the representation of England, many of its boroughs being "rotten " when they were made. The Subsidy Rolls now come in, and after them we have the Borough Accounts, reaching over a period of many years, full, as may be supposed, of interesting matter. A careful analysis of these would well repay the trouble
with the information that they yield about economical and social questions. Among the curious figures is " John the lazar." Money is spent for his clothes—" 2s. 4d. for a jerkin and a peare of breeches." Next year he gets another pair of frieze breeches for 2s. 8d., and three years later two women "who shrowded ye lazar" get six shillings for their trouble. In 1660 a large sum is spent on beer. Open-house seems to have been kept, for ten persons, presumably tavern-keepers, get from 13s. to 5s. for " beers the Coronation day." Zenobia Stevens must not be for- gotten, who, having outlived a 99 years' lease, came in person to ask for its renewal. " Go thee wayst home, An Z'noby, and live so long as thee lust," said the agent; and she lived to be 103.
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