Page:The Cornwall coast.djvu/261

 FROM HAYLE TO PERRAN 255 brother of the Conqueror. They do not appear to have gained a permanent settlement in Cornwall, however, till the reign of Henry II., when Thomas Baron Basset, of Hedendon, Oxfordshire, married Adeliza de Dunstanville and so took root at Tehidy. The family intermarried with the best local fami- lies — Grenvilles, Trelawneys, Godolphins, Rash- leighs, Prideaux. Francis Basset, who was asso- ciated with Grenville in the glorious victory of Stamford Hill, Stratton, was knighted by Charles I. after the fight of Braddoc Down. Some of his letters to his wife at this time are preserved, and they compare with Bevil Grenville's for touching simplicity and whole-hearted affection. His joy at the victories, which seemed to have established the Royal cause on a firm basis — at least in the West — is expressed in several of these. " Peace," he exclaims, "and I hope perpetual. Sadd houses I have seen many, but a joyfuUer pleasanter day never than this. Sende the money, as much and as soone as you can. Sende to all our ffriends at home, especially, this good news. I write this on my saddle. Every friend will pardon the illness of it, and you chiefly, my perfect joy." To this he adds in a postscript : " The Kinge and army march presently for Plymouth. Jesus give the King it and all. The King, in the hearing of thousands, as soon as he saw me in ye morning, cryed to mee, ' Deare Mr. Sheriffe, I leave Cornwall to you safe and sound.' " The letter is addressed " To my Lady Bassett, at her Tehidy, joyfuU. After the success near Lostwithiel." It was not long, however, before this joyfulness was turned to mourning. Grenville and many another gallant Cornishman fell in battle ; stronghold after stronghold gave way before the irresistible Fairfax ; and Basset