Agan Tavas

Degol Pyran lowen dheugh why oll!

(English below)
Un Hembrynkyas a’n Sordyans - William Ham a Stoke Climsland
Nyns eus manylyon tuchya stuth bewnans William Ham, bytegens ny a wor del wrug ev kemeres y rann y'n Sordyans dre reson menek yn Tudor Cornwall gans A. L. Rowse (f120), gans troos-noten y'n Rolyow an Seneth vi544.
Yma an bluw Stock in Clymsland settyes yn nans dowr Tamer hag yma hi kerhynnys gans dowr Ynny abarth cleth. A vry yw bos yn 1437 pons flam noweth buyldyes dres dowr Tamer hynwys Pons an Margh an pyth a yllyr tus Stock in Clymsland drehedhes war droos aberth yn owr. Dre lyklod an pons a ros gallos dhe William Ham ha yemen harth aral dhyworth Stock in Clymsland hynwys John Alyn, dhe gemenessa gans aga hescowetha kepar ha John Tolle, yemen trygys yn Lamerton est dhe'n dowr. Messachys vyth kemerys dhyworth an Est a vya heb mar encressyes yn aga crefter kens bos danvenys dhe'n West yn Kernow. Rag henna yth esa aga le dorydhek ow kemeres, dre lyklod, tyller pur specyal rag lesa dyscontent gans an stuth taclow hag a wrug denythy prederow tybyans a sordyans.
Kyn nag eus cofscryfow synsys rag pluw Stock in Clymsland dhyworth 1456 bys 1536, y hyllyr supposya war a vya, dre lyklod, William Ham adro dhe vraster nerth an mytern. Aswonys yw an Pryns Du dhe vysytya an Ducheth hag a wrug kemeres ran dydro yn y negys. Yn despyt godhvos chons an sewyansow, ervyrys o ev kemeres y ran y'n Sordyans.
Der gemeres ran y'n Sordyans yth esa William Ham ow corra yn peryl y stuth avel yemen. Der an termyn cresosek helergh, yemen a ve person gans franklynsys ran bras lowr a dyr, 100 erow ha moy martesen. Nyns yw cler fatel wrug William Ham kemeres y stuth ha mar pe res tyr dhe' y hendasow a bewas y'n kensa le dhe'n Gurun.
Tuchya y hanow, yth esa ev ow tegy hanow kemyn lowr yn mysk tyogyon yn Kernow Est, specyly adro dhe Stock in Clymsland ha Lansant ha Sent Clar ha Cuidek. Den William Ham a ve cofscryfys y'n 'Acontys Kernow an Menester' in 1297, a wrug pewy pyth ogas dhe Manerjy Havod der an regnyans Edward 1sa, (13ves cansvledhen helergh ha 14ves cansvledhen). Ny wodhyen ny deth a y genesek na a ve ev lethys y'n Batel Blackheath. Yma cofscryf ystorek ow leverel bytegens del wrug Henry 7ves latha Lord Audley ha Flamank hag An Gov hag a wrug pardonna der warnyans brassa ran an dus kelmys y'n Sordyans.
Scryfys gans Frances Gibbs, hag a wruk trelyans ha fylmya gans Ray Chubb
One leader of the uprising - William Ham of Stoke Climsland
There is no information regarding William Ham's life circumstances, however we know that he took part in the Rebellion through a reference found on William Ham is in A.L. Rowse's Tudor Cornwall (p.122), with the footnote Rolls Parlt. vi. 544.
The parish of Stoke Climsland is situated in the valley of the river Tamar and is bounded by the river Inny on the north. It is significant that in 1437 a brand new bridge was built over the river Tamar, namely Horse Bridge, which could have been accessed by inhabitants of the parish of Stoke Climsland in about an hour by foot. It is probable that the bridge enabled Willam Ham and another rebel yeoman from Stoke Climsland called John Alyn to communicate with their counterparts such as John Tolle, a yeoman from Lamerton, east of the river. Any messages received from the East would have received the colouring of Willam Ham's and John Alyn emotional states before being passed on further west into the Cornwall. Therefore it is likely that their geographical position had a vital role in the spread of dissatisfaction with the state of affairs and fostered a conception of ideas about potential uprising.
Although there are no records held for the Stoke Climsland parish from 1456 until 1536, one might conclude that it is likely that William Ham would have been aware of the monumentality of the Crown’s power. It is known that the Black Prince visited the Duchy and had direct dealings with its business. Despite his awareness of potential consequences for him, he still decided to take part in the Rebellion.
By taking part in the rebellion William Ham risked his status of a yeoman. During the late medieval period, yeoman was a person who had a freehold of a significant portion of land, in as much as 100 acres and often even more. It is not clear how William Ham might have acquired his status and if his predecessors were yeomen directly associated with the Crown and given a post retirement gift such as land originally owned by the Crown.
In respect of Willam Ham’s name, he carries a relatively common surname found amongst farming families recorded over the centuries in the East Cornwall, in particular, around Stoke Climsland, Lezant, St Clear and Quethiock. A William Hamet was recorded in 'The Ministers Accounts of Cornwall in 1297', who held a property near Hammet Manor during the reign of Edward I (late 13th and early 14th centuries). It is not known if our William Ham was related to that person. It not is clear when he was born and if he was killed in the Battle of Blackheath. Historical records state however that Henry VII executed Lord Audley, Flamank and An Gof, and that he pardoned by proclamation a majority of rebels.
Written by Frances Gibbs, translated and filmed by Ray Chubb

(English below)
Un Hembrynkyas a’n Sordyans – Richard Borlase a Wenn
Boghes fenough yu aswonys a Richard Borlase; ef a wrello merwel y'n batel a Blackheath, mes nyns yu hemma certan. Ef yu campollys y'n "Reken a Dhalgenna po Convyctyans" a Henry vii. Reken a Dhalgenna yu onen may hasa substans an convyct yn gaja dhe'n myghtern. Gwrageth, bytegens, mar kyllons y provya substans bos y honen, o quyt. Ynweth y'n "Rol a Bardons " a Henry viii, deu berson yu campollys; an kensa yu Thomas Burlas, po Borlase, ha'n second yu Richard Burlas, po Borlase. An dheu yu descryfys avel "franklins" po burgesyon- "franklin " descryf neponen nep nyns usy sojettys dhe arluth fewdal, po dhe'n lagha fewdal. Thomas re bo broder Richard.
Yth esa an Manor a Vorlase-Burgess yn Sen Wenn solabrys an substans ha'n dre an tylu hen a Vorlase. Yth esa res dhe dylu Norman gans myghtern William Rufus, nep esa arluth a gastel y hanow Talfer, yn Normandy. Y erys a gemeras hanow a Vorlase dre hanow an tyller. Hem yu an le may trygas Richard Borlase. An er- gour dewetha an scoren cotha a werthas an pyth-ma, yn 1559, dhe John Hender, hag yth esa an bargen- tyr dhe'n os hedhyu war tyller an dre. Map yowynca, bys dalleth dhe whetegves cansvledhen, o demedhys gans eres a Dreluddra po Treludderow a Dreluddra yn Lulyn. Rag hemma a dhyeskynna Dr Borlase an den ystorek, ha'n tylu Borlase a Vockmer ha Danvers yn Little- Marlow.
Scryfys ha trelys ha fylmys gans Heather Ashworth
One Leader of the uprising – Richard Borlase of St Wenn
Very little is known about Richard Borlase; he may have died in the battle of Blackheath, but this is not certain. He is mentioned in Henry vii's "Bill of Attainder or Conviction ". A bill of attainder is one in which the convict' s goods must be forfeit to the crown. Wives, however, if they could prove property was their own, were allowed to keep the property. Again, Henry viii' s Roll of Pardons, two people are mentioned; Thomas Burlas, or Borlase, and Richard Burlas, or Borlase, both described as franklins, or freemen- a franklin was a person who was not subject to a feudal lord, or feudal laws. Thomas may have been Richard's brother.
The manor of Borlase-Burgess, in St Wenn was formerly the property and seat of the ancient family of Borlase. It was given to a Norman by King William Rufus, who was lord of a castle called Talfer, in Normandy. His heirs assumed the name of Borlase after the place. The last heir-male of the elder branch sold this estate, in 1559, to John Hender and the modern Borlase farm is on the site of their home. A younger son, about the beginning of the sixteenth century, married the heiress of Treluddra or Treludderow of Treluddra in Newlyn. From him descended Dr Borlase the antiquarian, and the Borlase family of Bockmer and Danvers in Little-Marlow.
Written, translated and filmed by Heather Ashworth

(English below)
Deu Hembrynkysy a’n Sordyans – Ralph Retallack a Golumb ha Thomas Pogrene a Bolgreen
Tuchya an dhew anedha, Ralph Retallack a Blu Golom ha Thomas Pogrene a Bolgreen, (Manerjy Polgreen ogas dhe Bolgoth dre lyklod), nyns ues muer aswonys yn aga hever marnas aga ran y'n sordyans 1497 ha’ga luefnosyans y’n petycyon erbyn tollow nag o teg.
Yth esa aga thyryow ha tytlys ha franchys ha pythow sesyes gans Henry Vll, wosa aga bos convyctys a drayson an moyha uhel ha sconyes dheworth an gwlascor dhe 22sa Metheven 1497, (an jeth provyes pan esa an gwryans trayson).
Yma cofscryfow an Seneth ow campolla ynweth bos an dhew goblegyes y’n ‘gwryansow traysonys Warbeck’, (Cofscryfow an Seneth 7ves mys Gwyngala 1497)
Yn despyt dhe’n taclow ma, tyryow ha tytlys Polgreen a ve restoryes dhodho y’n ‘gorthtro attentyans’ 1506 ow sewya pemont amont nag yw aswonys, (Arthurson et al 1987, Payton 1996). Tuchya Retallack, nyns ues menek pella yn y gever.
Scryfys gans Craig Truscott ha Maria Robins, hag a wruk trelyans gans Ray Chubb ha fylmya gans Tony Kalber
Two leaders of the uprising - Ralph Retallack of St Columb and Thomas Polgrene of Polgrene
Of both Ralph Retallack and Thomas Polgrene (Polgreen), of St Columb and Polgreen (most likely Polgreen Manor near Polgooth) respectively, very little is known apart from their part in the rebellions of 1497, and their signatures to the petition against the unfair taxation (Rowse 1943, Payton 1996)
Both had their lands, titles, liberties and property confiscated by Henry VII, following being convicted of high treason and banished from the realm on 22nd June 1497 (the date given as when the acts of treason took place).
Parliamentary records of the time also mention both as being implicated in the ‘treasonous acts of Warbeck’ (Parliamentary records 7th Sept 1497)
Despite this, Polgreen’s lands and titles were returned in the ‘reversal of attainder’ of 1506 following payment of an unknown amount (Arthurson et al 1987, Payton 1996). Of Retallack, there is no further mention.
Written by Craig Truscott and Maria Robins, translated by Ray Chubb, and filmed by Tony Kalber

(English below)
Un Hembrynkyas a’n Sordyans – William Antron a Antron
Helles usys dhe vos cofhes rag y gowethasow gans tarth a'n rebellyans Lyver Pysadow pympthek cans, naw ha deugans. Mes nyns o an kensa termyn an dre re wruk apperya yn termyn us passyes dhyworth Kernow wosa yn peswardhek cans seyek ha peswar ugans y Esla Seneth a-dhewedhes William Antron eth ha bos un an hembrynkysy mur y vry yn kensa sordyans a'n vledhen na. Antron, nep o denethys yn peswardhek cans deugans o esel tylu an randyr, nep re be Arlydhy an Maner Antron po Antronen yn plu Sythney rag denythyansow. Yn tredhek cans, y hendasow o fastyes yn ta Helles omma yn ogas sensy an rol a jyf styward po Mer an dre ha representya an burjestra yn Chy an Gemyn. Yn peswar cans unnek ha peswar ugans, yma Antron ow sewya yn clar yn y olow tros pan ef eth ha bos Esel Seneth rag an randyr ha kepar ha Richard Flamank tas a Thomas re be omraglysy'n cuntellyans a tollow avar yn y resekva y'n deweth peswardhek cans trygans. Ef a dal desmygy pana pellder ef a wruk gwary rol mur y brys yn formyans gnasan rebellyans gans kesunya Flamank hag An Gof. Tuchya degre cowethesek Antron o hevelep dhe Flamank ha'n dheu dhen eth ha bos Ysyly Seneth dhe Westminster peswardhek cans unnek ha peswar ugans po deudhek ha peswar ugans. A-dhyworth golokva dorythek bytegens Antron re wothfo An Gof kens an rebellyans par del an dheu anedha a wruk tryga yn kethsam randyr hag an ran na a Gernow cudha Helles dhe Glasney ha Penryn py le yth esa dhe Antron substans hevel bos cres an kensa rebellyans.
Destnans Antron dhe’n ben an keskerth dhe Loundres nyns yu compollys gans lyes scryfer yn maner kethsam mar ledoryon rebel erel. Mes an gwyryoneth o ef o gorrys dhe vernans hag ena dysenorys yn pympthek cans ha try po peswar hag yn forth na y dylu kellys aga substans yn pryjwyth ha nyns o bys yn pympthek cans ha deudhek y vap hag er Richard, a ylly dasjallynjya y dyr hengovek osteweth. Yn nawnjek cans ha seytek ha peswar ugans, Andrew George a wruk compollo dhe Antron yn y areth noweth yn Chy an Gemyn ages onen y ragvleynor wosa henna Helles dres termyn a wothya ha bos ran a gwartron votya polta brassa a Bor’Ya. An geryow George o yn kettesten a y trubyt y honen dhe’n keskerdhoryon a cans ha seytek ha peswar ugans nep a cofhas an stry agan hendas. Ef yu kewar rag henna ny a cofha Antron wosa henna ef yu sacrans dhe les kenedhlek a Gernow ef a wruk godhaf coth bos consydrys yn sur ages bleynoryeth mur y vry rag nep Esel Soweth Kernewek a Westminster kefrys termyn a ve ha hedhyu.
Scryfys gans Dr Garry Tregidga, hag a wruk trelyans gans Victoria Edwards ha Clive Baker, ha fylmya gans Victoria Edwards.
One leader of the uprising - William Antron of Antron
Helston tends to be remembered for its associations with the outbreak of the 1549 Prayer Book rebellion. But this was not the first time that the town had featured in Cornwall’s rebellious past since in 1497 its recent MP, William Antron, became one of the key leaders in the first uprising of that year. Antron, who was apparently born in 1440, was a member of a local family that had been Lords of the Manor of Antron or Antrenon in the parish of Sithney for generations. In the 1300s his ancestors were well established at nearby Helston holding the post of town Reeve or Mayor and representing the borough in the House of Commons. In 1491 Antron was clearly following in their footsteps when he also became the local MP and like Richard Flamank, the father of Thomas, had been involved in the collection of taxes earlier in his career in the late 1460s. It is worth speculating how far he played a pivotal role in the forging of the leadership of the rebellion by bringing Flamank together with An Gof. In terms of social status Antron was similar to Flamank and both men had been MPs at Westminster in the 1491-92 parliament. From a geographical perspective, however, Antron may have already known An Gof before the rebellion since they both lived in the same locality and that part of Cornwall covering Helston to Glasney and Penryn, where Antron also had property, appears to have been the epicentre of the initial rebellion.
Antron’s fate at the end of the march to London is not referred to by many writers in the same way as the other rebel leaders. But the reality was that he was also executed and then attainted in 1503/4 so that his family temporarily lost their estates and it was not until 1512 that Richard, his son and heir, was finally able to claim back his ancestral land. In 1997 Andrew George referred to Antron in his maiden speech in the House of Commons as one of his ‘predecessors’ since Helston over time had become part of the much larger constituency of St Ives. George’s comments were in the context of his own tribute to the marchers of 1997 who commemorated the struggle of their ancestors. It is therefore appropriate that we remember Antron since a dedication to Cornwall’s national interest that he stood for should surely be regarded as the key priority for any Cornish MP at Westminster both in the past and present.
Written by Dr Garry Tregidga, translated by Victoria Edwards and Clive Baker and filmed by Victoria Edwards.

(English below)
Un Hembrynkyas a’n Sordyans - John Trevysall a Vadron
Nyns us covath travyth tuchya Trevysall saw Scryf attainder. Yma nebes skylas rag hemma – mars o John Trevysall y hanow gwyr, martesen nyns o ef a vry lowr rak gasa scryvennow hag a wruk gul menek anodho. Skylys erel yu nyns o hynwyn tylu settys; an usadow rag hynwyn tylu a dheth yn termyn whetegves cansbledhen. Kens dhe henna, tus a wruk cafos leshynwyn grondyas war aga ober, po nebes gesyans, po y a wruk cafos patronymics (X map po myrgh Y) po yth esa skyla aral.
Yth yu possybyl bos hynwyn Kernow ancoth dhe scryvynyoryon Sawsnek, ha martesen scryvynyor a wruk clewes hanow “Trevysall” mes tus Kernow a wruk leverel “Trevisa”. Hem yu afydhys pan ve gyvyans, whegh bledhen awosa pan henwys an attainder John Trevysall, mes scryfys a ve Trevysa avel dewys yntra deu. Nyns us skylys rag gyvyans covathys, mes yma deryvadow tylu dhe les. Hem yu redya, yn ran:
“Thomas Tretherf a Dretref, Kernow., m. ha e. dhe John, ha Mary y wrek (m. ha e. dhe John Trevysa po Trevysall ha cothmens ha e. dhe Henry Trevysa) hag Amica Trevisa, gwedhowes hag asectoures dhe John Trevysa, 23ves Mys Me.”
Martesen Tretref yu Trereife yn Vadron. Yma'n gwythres ma ow cusulya John Trevysall nep a ve attaintys o an kethsam John Trevysa nep a ve campollys gans y vroder Henry yn gwythres (A. 10288) ogas dhe 1468 ha redya:
“Lyther attorney gans John Trevysa hag Amisia y wrek dhe William John, chaplen, ha John Pellour, delyfra seisen dhe Henry Trevysa ha Martin Pendre, a dyryow, yn Lannargh Mor, Hellys, Hellogan, Bodryvyell, Trewodones, Carvolgh, Carnegynfyn, Boswyn, Trevynsyn, Penhelek Byan, Polleowe, Trefoyll ha Padystowe. Lannargh Mor, 10ves Mys Est, 22 Edward IV. Selyow.”
An den-jentyl ma o perhenek tyr y’n lurneth, hag y fyth da desmygy moy tuchya pen tyluyow a Vadron.
Scryfys ha trelys ha fylmys gans Matt Blewett.
One leader of the uprising - John Trevysall of Madron
There is no record of any Trevysall outside of the bill of attainder. There are several reasons for this – if John Trevysall was truly his name, then he may not have been important enough to leave other documents that mention him. Another reason is that surnames in Cornwall were not fixed; the custom for fixed family names came in during the sixteenth century. Before that, people had nicknames based on their work, or some joke, or they had patronymics ( X son or daughter of Y). Or there was another reason.
It is likely that Cornish names were strange to English clerks, and maybe a clerk heard “Trevysall” but Cornish people said “Trevisa”. This is confirmed when a pardon, six years after the attainder, named John Trevysall, but wrote Trevysa as an alternative. The reason for the pardon is not recorded, but it has some useful family information. It reads in part:
“Thomas Tretherf, of Tretref, Cornw., s. and h. of John, and Mary his wife (d. and h. of John Trevysa or Trevysall and kinswoman and h. of Henry Trevysa) and Amicia Trevisa, widow and executrix of the said John Trevysa, 23 May.”
Perhaps Tretref is Trereife in Madron. This deed suggests that John Trevysall who was attainted was the same John Trevysa who was mentioned with his brother Henry in a deed (A. 10288) around 1468 which reads:
“ Letter of attorney by John Trevysa and Amisia his wife to William John, chaplain, and John Pellour, to deliver seisin to Henry Trevysa and Martin Pendre, of lands, &c. in Lannargh Mor, Helstonburgh, Hellogan, Bodryvyell, Trewodones, Carvolgh, Carnegynfyn, Boswyn, Trevynsyn, Penhelek Byan, Polleowe, Trefoyll and Padystowe. Lannargh Mor, 10 August, 22 Edward IV. Seals.”
This gentleman was a landowner in the area, and it would be good to find out more about the leading families of Madron.
Written translated and filmed by Matt Blewett.