The Nobility of Cornwall

At the end of the Twelfth Century, there were three baronies in Cornwall: Launceston, Cardinham and Trematon. As the Thirteenth Century progressed, in real world history, they merged into the Duchy of Cornwall.

Do you really want a castle?

There are effectively only a handful of castles in Cornwall. Most of these are motte and bailey castles, but during the game period those controlled by the barons are being hardened into shell keeps. If a player covenant creates a curtain-walled castle, it is the most extensive defensive architecture in the Duchy, until Richard of the Romans creates his ceremonial castle at Tintagel. That’s hard for locals to ignore.

Cornish land divsions

In later sections, the baronies are described as having a number of “knights’ fees”. In most of England, a fee includes sufficient land to support a knight, so the size of a fee varies with soil fertility and agricultural development. In Cornwall, things are more systematic. A Cornish knight’s fee is 4 Cornish acres, which is 36 farthings, which is 1080 English acres. Rent is paid in kind, not in money, in most of Cornwall.

Cornish manors don’t follow the English pattern. There are no demense manors as such, because the rulers either live in a castle or are priests. Similarly, there is no strip agriculture in Cornwall. Peasants are divided, in Lords of Men, into free, villeins and cottars, but this isn’t the Cornish way of classifying people.

In Cornwall there are free, conventionary and villein peasants. The most common type, conventionary, are people with seven year leases over land. Free people owe some basic dues. Villeins are rare, and increasingly rare as time goes on. Villeins are tied to land, but the Cornish rulers prefer people to become free. This is, on a continental basis, unusual.

Most tenants are required to

pay “due capons” which head taxes, not actual poultry.
make harvest journeys
grind at the lord’s mill
sue at the lord’s court
discharge the duties of reeve and tithing-man.
dwell upon the tenement and not till any part without the lord’s permission.
Other agreements are made on lord-and-vassal basis, including paying the heriot (the best beast on death).

Plot Hooks based on real-world Cornish history

1204: The Cornish paid a large fee so that there were no royal forests or forest courts in their county anymore. They still had the Stanneries, which are for miners. When the foresters lost their jobs, they stopped interacting with, and appeasing, the faeries around many settlements.
1217: Guala Bicchier, the Papal Legate to England, prevented clergy from partaking in the general amnesty offered in the Treaty of Lambeth. This forced a lot of priests, including those from Cornwall, to go to Rome for personal absolution. The loss of spiritual leadership and hole in the civil administration of Cornwall allowed demons and faeries to make sport.
1220: Pandulf, the Papal Legate to England, visited Cornwall. He took the shrievalty from Henry FitzCount (a natural son of Henry II or King John, sources vary) because he had withdrawn from the royal court without permission and was suspected of preparing to rebel. What John fitzCount did in response is not clear, but if there’s anyone willing and able to pay for an assassin, it’s him.
1224: John of Bayeux was made keeper of the coasts of Cornwall and Devon. He was required to provide beacons for every coastal parish. If your covenant is on a coastal headland, his people turn up and start stacking a bonfire.
1226: English ships were forbidden to visit French ports. This wrecked the smuggling and trading economies, but House Tytalus can help out for a favour in return.
1230: Ships and crews were requisitioned to invade Brittany. Being in the Royal Navy is not permitted under the code. Can you fake a shipwreck?
1242: William Marisco raided Devon and Cornwall, and seized Lundy Island, which lets you reuse the Diabolic Monk Pirate material from Antagonists. Henry III sent a strike team to capture him from Lundy. He was taken to London, and then hung drawn, and quartered. Henry III then built and stationed a castle on Lundy Island.

The Duchy and the Barony of Launceston

In 1220 there is no Duke of Cornwall: the previous holder of both the Duchy and the Barony of Launceston died without heirs in 1175, so his lands passed back to the Crown. The lands are administered for the Crown by the High Sheriff of Cornwall. This role is slightly different to that of the Sheriffs in England, because there is a vague legal precedent that Cornwall is a separate state that happens to be under the rule of the same king, like Wales, rather than a part of England proper. The High Sherriff calls his courts at the fortified town of Launceston, but the role changes hands rapidly, sometimes annually, and he might well be from anywhere in England.

Plot hooks: The Shrievalty

The sheriffs are regularly swapped around, as a favour to various noble houses in England. This lets a rival covenant, or supernatural foe, drop a puppet into a powerful role.
A freshly-planned covenant uses the retinue of a new sheriff to send surveyors amd scouts into the area.
The sheriff changes often, but his work is still completed. The person who provides administrative continuity is a prime target for subversion by mundane and mystical powers. Who is it, how do they keep their role, and what do they want?

Launceston Castle was originally built by Robert of Mortain as a Norman motte and bailey. The castle took up the south-west quarter of the town, and had its keep in the north-east corner of the enclosure, so it was near the town centre. In the late 12th century, the keep was replaced in stone, and two stone gatehouses added. Over time towers were added to the walls and the buildings in the bailey were redone in stone. In purely architectural terms, it’s the strongest point in Cornwall in 1220.

In real history, when Richard of the Romans became Duke, he replaced the keep with a high tower, remade the walls, and tied the castle’s defences to those of the town. He also cleared out the bailey and put in a new great hall. Part of this was to allow his guest to view his parkland, which was just beyond the walls of the town. This demonstrated how secure and wealthy he was.

Plot hooks: Launceston

The reconstruction of Launceston fills the area with skilled masons, which the covenant may require. Can the magi steal way skilled labourers without angering the sheriff or, later, the Prince?
The demand for dressed stone is high, and even though there are many skilled miners in Cornwall, some of it may be coming from as far away as Wales. Magic makes finding, dressing and shipping stone easy. If the characters get into the stone business, do they need to make an agreement with Blackthorn, which is a powerful covenant that may be behind some of the shipments from Wales?
If the magi have created one of the few stone castles in Cornwall, then they are the obvious people for Richard to talk to when he wants to build his fortified palace in Launceston. Can they hide their nature, or control their the parameters of their relationship? They do not know that Richard will eventually become an Emperor, and House Guernicus will review his history.

The Barony of Cadinham and Restmorel Castle

The Barony of Cardinan (now Cardinham) had 79 knight’s fees in 1166 (the last comprehensive census. In 1220 Robert de Cardinan holds their ancestral castle at Cardinan, which was originally a motte and bailey put up by one of Robert of Mortain’s supporters.

They also hold Restmorel Castle, which was the seat of the kings of Cornwall before the Normans came. They are rebuilding it in stone, making it into a shell keep. In real history this happens sometime between 1192-1225 and they set up the village and market of Lostwithiel at the same time. When this work is finished they move the administration of their estates to the refurbished castle.

Slightly later, in real history, Isolda de Cardinham, Robert’s granddaughter, was his final descendant, so her husband, Thomas de Tracey, held it until 1264. It was taken by the Baron’s Revolt, then taken back by the king’s forces in 1265. After some politicking, Isolda gave it to Richard of the Romans in 1270. When Richard died, his son Edmund made Restromel his seat of power in the Duchy.

Plot hooks: Cadinham and Restmorel

The movement of a barony from one centre to another gives the magi great opportunities to interfere with a noble enemy.
Restmorel was the seat of the kings of Cornwall, so faeries are attracted to those who refurbish the city. Antique objects may be uncovered, and old stories may take material forms.
The new village and its market are important to the baron, and merchants who provide valuable goods, or purchase surplus local production with silver, can negotiate favours, and ensure its business is not investigated too carefully.
Isolda’s marriage is a perfect opportunity for magi to meddle, as is her retirement to a nunnery and the transition of the Barony to the Duchy.

Map of Restmorel

This is a modern map: in period the gate is defended by a square, stone tower. The outer wall is made of local slate, and has a diameter of 125 feet, and has a walk along the top, which is 25 feet high. This is protected by a parapet with battlements. The ringwork about the wall is a ditch 49 feet wide, by 13 feet deep. Restmorel is structurally similar to the other shell keeps found in Cornwall: its main distinguishing feature is that its walls are dug deeply into the earth of the motte on which it stands.

A – gate; B – guest chambers; C – kitchen; D – hall; E – solar; F – chapel

The Barony of Tremarton

Tremarton Castle was built upon a Roman fort just after the Norman invasion, and is either a motte and bailey or a shell keep in the game period. In 1166 Tremarton had 59 knights fees. In 1220 it is held by Reginald de Vautort. In real history, Reginald’s heir, Ralph, married Joan, the mistress of Richard of the Romans. Their son died without children, then Reginald’s brother, Roger, wasted most of the family’s money and sold the barony to Richard of the Romans in 1270 for 300 pounds. This was the same year Richard picked up Cardinham.

Other Castles of Cornwall

Bocastle: is a Norman motte and bailey castle.
Ennor is a shell keep in the capital of Scilly.
Tintagel was, in real history, part of the Manor of Boissney, which was purchased by Richard of the Romans. He refitted Tintagel to tie his family to the myth of Arthur. Many of the ruins visible in the real world are from his refit. Richard used it for feasts, and his son lived Edmund there while his father was still alive.
Tregony: is a new motte and bailey, built on a previously fortified site, by Henry de Pomeroy on behalf of John, Earl of Cornwall, in the reign of Richard 1 (no later than 1199). :
Truro Castle is abandoned and in ruins. In the real world the land it sits on was vacant by 1270, and a new castle was eventually built there. If you need a ruined castle for a story, this seems perfect.

Church lands

Before the Norman invasion, there were seven “bishops” in Cornwall, and they had the right of both secular and sacred justice. The most powerful of these was at St Germans until 1049, when it, Tawnton and Crediton were merged with Exeter. When the Normans took over they couldn’t be having with these pocket bishoprics. They placed all of Cornwall into a single archdeaconery within the Bishopric of Exeter, then gave that job to a Norman. The older bishoprics become deaneries in the new structure. The Normans also reworked the hundreds of Cornwall, and restructured the church lands to be coterminal. The church is a major landholder in Cornwall, an increases its holdings during the time of Richard of the Romans, who sponsors new foundations.

Plot hooks from the the Seven Deanries

The deaneries in 1220 are below.

There isn’t a single bishop regularly in Cornwall: the closest ones are in Exeter and across the Channel. If a player character needs one, they must travel. There being no bishop, there is likewise no cathedral in Cornwall. This makes fighting demons trickier, so local depend more on saints, holy wells, and folk magic.
The Deanery of East is centred on St Germans, which has a collegiate church. This serves as the administrative centre for the deacon. It’s where magi might seek learned people, scribes, and the materials for book making.
In East-Anthony is a Benedictine Monastery. Attached to it are a cell of the Black Monks of Angiers. They were originally emigres from France in the reign of Richard I. The group venerates Saints Sergius and Bacchus. This paired set of saints were warrior-brothers. They apparently underwent adelphopoiesis, which is, depending on your theology, a rite that makes two men brothers, or a sort of lifelong romantic union. These saints are important to many modern, gay Catholics. This makes this cell of monks a useful hook for troupes wanting to explore themes around medieval homosexuality.
At Trebeigh there is a preceptory of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem. Henry de Pomeroy was a major benefactor of theirs and they may still have some of his treasure. The Knights have all kinds of odd privileges, freeing them from all law but their own, saving only “life and limb”. This makes them excellent foes for a covenant.
West: is centred on the collegiate church at St Neot, which is named for the brother of Alfred the Great. This saint was tiny, and may have some link to the diminutive faeries. His story is given in greater detail in the chapter on saints.
Trigg Major: Centres on St Stephen near Launceston. In 1226, in the real world, the bishop forced the secular canons there to move to a new foundation, “under the Rule of St Austin” beneath the castle. “Secular canons” is sometimes a codeword for magi.
There’s probably a nunnery at Altarnun. If there isn’t the faeries will put one there.
Trigg Minor: There is a wealthy monastery of Augustinian canons at Bodmin. In 1180 one of the monks stole the body of the Founder, Saint Petroc, and sailed to Brittany with it. Henry II forced them to give it back. The story might be retold in 1220, with the magi coming to the rescue of the kidnapped saint.
In the east of Bodmin there is a place called St Lawrence which is a leprosarium, “well-endowed for 19 lepers”. Polwhele says leprosy spreads to England in about 1100. He describes it as a white eczema over all the body, and says all such shelters are legally under the supervision of the first house of this type, at Burton in Leicstershire. There is a 5 pound fee to join the leprosarium, so it may be for the scions of noble families. This could also be a blind for a covenant: people don’t willingly go there.
At Temple there is a small cell or temple of Templars. They run a relocation service for fallen women. Well, the women disappear – where they go is not clear.
Pider: St Crantoc is the premier house, and possibly collegiate, but St Colum may also be significant. St Bennet in Lavinet is a nunnery.
Powder: St Probus is the collegiate church. Tywardeeth is a priory of Augustians. St Michael Penkiwell is an ancient endowed house with a chantry. In real history, toward the end of Henry III’s reign, a convent of Augustinians settles in Truro.
Kerrier: The largest town is probably Penryn. There’s a collegiate church called Glaseney in the parish of Gluvias according to one source, but it seems to have been founded in 1265 as the largest collegiate church in Cornwall, with a proctor and 12 canons. St Keverne has a sanctuary. St Martin has a nunnery. St Michael’s Mont and the Scilly Isles are in this deanery. Constantine also has a pre-Norman church of some note.

The Grey Rock in the Wood

St Michael’s Mont is a monastery, but it gets taken by noblemen and held against the authorities repeatedly, as if it were a castle. Most recently, Henry de la Pomeroy took it by force. When Richard I was off crusading, he left Bishop Longchamp of Ely as his chancellor (the office of regent hadn’t been invented at this stage). Henry of Pomery fled the failing Norman possessions in Brittany, and in service of Prince John (who was earl of of Cornwall) personally murdered Richard’s son. He then fled to Cornwall, to raise it in rebellion against Richard (or Longchamp, which was much the same thing legally). He fortified Mount Saint Michael, and held against Richard’s forces until 1196. There is an alternative history in which he committed suicide when Richard I was ransomed, and his ghost hangs about being tormented or causing trouble.

Saint Michael’s Mount used to be a hill surrounded by a forest, which was later developed, at least partially. It’s name in Cornish is still Karrek Loos yn Koos, the “grey rock in the wood”. The land used to extend six miles south of the the Mount, to a line from Mousehole to Cudden Point. It vanished in an inundation.

Plot hooks

Saint Michael appeared on the rock in 495. People make pilgrimages to the Kader Migell: a stone seat he left there, that is difficult to reach. Sitting on the chair is the traditional end of pilgrimage to the Mount. When Saint Keyna visited the mount she sat on the chair and gave it the same power as her well: whichever of a set of newlyweds uses it first will have the power in the marriage.

The forest of trees under Mount Bay is, in the real world, just a remnant, but in Mythic Europe, particularly at certain times, might it not be a full and verdant woodland? What, or who, might dwell therein?

Two towns, Lelant and Pillackm near Hayle, were both covered in a single night. Lelant was the mother church of St Ives, which argues it once had a substantial population.

The land around the Chapel Rock at Perran-Porth has been washed away, but the Lord allows pilgrimages to it to continue. It’s possible to walk, dry foot, to the island at eleven o’clock, despite the sea clearly being in the way. It’s a mystery, or a Divine regio, if you’re a magus.

Cudden Point hides a treasure, sought by children at extreme low tides. Sometimes they even find it, although that may just be faeries starting their games. Time for some more Hunt: “Amongst other things, an especial search is made for a silver table, which was lost by a very wealthy lord, by some said to be the old Lord Pengerswick, who enriched himself by grinding down the poor. On one occasion, when the calmness of summer, the clearness of the skies, and the tranquillity of the waters invited the luxurious to the enjoyments of the sea, this magnate, with a party of gay and thoughtless friends, was floating in a beautiful boat lazily with the tide, and feasting from numerous luxuries spread on a silver table. Suddenly no one lived to tell the cause the boat sank in the calm, transparent waters ; and, long after the event, the fishermen would tell of sounds of revelry heard from beneath the waters, and some have said they have seen these wicked ones still seated around the silver table.” This may be an Infernal aura or regio.

Hunt notes that the main anchorage in Mount Bay is called a “Gwavas Lake”. Folkloristically it was a lake, but the sea has eaten into the land so far that it is now aggregated to the ocean. There is a forest of beech trees visible under the water, which sweeps under the water from Gawas to the Mount. Beech nuts can be collected on the shore after rough tides, at at neap tides, visitors may cut wood from the beech trees. In the real world, there is the remnant of a forest under the bay, which has been investigated by archaeological digs. The beech nuts may be a vis source.