Cox, writing in 1912, listed Cornish churches he recorded retaining painted panel copies of the celebrated 1643 LETTER OF CHARLES 1st in which the King expressed his gratitude to the particular loyalty of Cornwall. Cox noted several have disappeared in the last half of the nineteenth century, he did not identify these. On those surviving at the time he made his survey he commented :“The majority of the letters date from the restoration of the monarchy (1660), the originals having been destroyed during the Commonwealth. The copies differ slightly in orthography and exact expression, for instance, the letter located in St Mawnan is enclosed in an elaborate frame and “costly” old engraving has the “queer” mistake of being dated 1642 instead of 1643.”Cox also comments that some of the letters are ‘Modern paper copies’.
A LETTER OF THANKS FROM KING CHARLES 1st OF BLESSED MEMORY, DATED SEPT: 10, 1643.
We are so highly sensible of ye extraordinary Merits of our County of Cornwall of their zeal for ye Defence of our Person & ye Just Rights of our Crown in a time When we could contribute So Little to Our own Defence or their Assistance, in a time When not only no Reward appeared, But great & probable Dangers Were threatened to Obedience & Loyalty of men Great & eminent Courage & patience in their indefatigable proscecution of thinges at Work against so Strong Rich Populous Cities & so plentifully furnished with Men Arms Money Ammunition & provisions of all kinds & the wonderful Successes with Which it hath pleased Almighty God though With the loss of Some Eminent persons, who shall never be forgotten by us to reward their Loyalty & patience By Many Strange Victories over their & our enemies, In dispite of all humane probabilities & all Imaginable Disadvantages that as We Cannot be forgetful of so great Deserts, So We Cannot but desire to publish to all the World & perpetuate to all time the Memory of their Merits & of Our acceptance of the Same & to that end we do hereby tender our royal thanks to that our County in ye most Publick and lasting Manner We can devise Commanding Copies herof to be read in every Church & Chapel therein & to be keept for ever as a record in ye Same yt as Long as the History of these times & of this Nation shall continue the Memory of how Much ye County hath Merited from us & our crown may be derived with it to Posterity : Given at our camp at Sudley Castle ye 10th of September, 1643. (Cox transcript from St Minver Church)
As we visit the numerous Parish Churches in Cornwall we are recording the “Letters” that may be still extant. We will update the following schedule from time to time.
