All articles filed in Ars Magica

Tenancy Carew notes that commonly 30 acres make a farthing, 9 farthings make a Cornish acre. 4 Cornish acres are a knight’s fee. Most tenants are required to pay “due capons” which are probably head taxes, not actually capons. make harvest journeys grind at the mill sue at the court discharge the duties of reeve…

Living things in Cornwall Herbs: Cornwall has a vast amount of Seaholm and Sampire. Seaholm is candied or made into a syrup. It’s a restorative.  Rofa folis? Also has Hyssop, sage, pelamountayne, marjorum, and rosemary. Few Cornish people farm, comparatively: food is imported from Devon and Somerset. Wild fruits include “whurts, strawberries, and raspies.” Orchards provide…

Carew’s Survey of Cornwall is an interesting little book, filled with useful material and much quoted by my more modern sources.  It was written in 1605, and the version I’m using, which is copied from Internet Archive, has the linguistic quirks of the time. It uses the f for long s, and has the letters…

I’ve boiled down enough of the legends from Cornwall to move forward, but need to add in the mundane politics. This brings into focus Richard, the younger brother of King Henry III, who was effectively the ruler of England at various times, and after making himself the richest guy in England, he literally buys the…