SHORT HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE DUCHY OF CORNWALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume VIII, Issue 1, 1 April 1903, Page 21

SHORT HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE DUCHY OF CORNWALL.

The following 1 historical facts are collected from Black's Guide to the Duchy of Cornwall : — In the beginning of all things Cornwall and Devonshire were referred to as " The Tin; Islands." Probably Phoenician and Carthaginian traders were their original settlers. Cornwall formed the Kingdom of Damonia, and long resisted the Saxons, and remained almost unbroken in power till the days of the Norman Conquest. The Conqueror bestowed nearly the whole County on his half-brother, Robert of Mortain, and thus arose the "Earldom of Cornwall," "which was considered too important a possession to be held by anyone under "Royal rank." In 1336 the earldom was raised to a duchy by Edward 111., in favour of his son, the Black Prince, and of his heirs, eldest sons of the Kings of England. Cornwall has always been loyal to the Crown, and during the Civil War the Cornish people were heartily royalist, and fought stubbornly and well, gaining for the King, in 1642-3, the two important

battles of Braddock Down and Stratton. Old Pendennis Castle has sheltered two Royal fugitives. Queen Henrietta Maria took refuge in it in 1644, on her voyage to France, and later Prince Charles (Charles J.1.) sailed thence to the Scilly Islands. Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort visited Cornwall in 1846. The Queen stepped ashore at the pier at St. Michael's Mount, where the print of her foot has been marked by an inlaid brass.