Carew, A Survey of Cornwall (1602)
Book 1, Page 1:
Cornwall, the fartheſt Shire of England Weſtwards, hath her name by diuers Authors diverſly deriued. Some (as our owne Chroniclers) draw it from Corineus, couſin to Brute, the first Conqueror of this Iland : who wrastling at Plymmouth (as they say) with a mightie Giant, called Gogmagog, threw him ouer Cliffe, brake his necke, and receiued the gift of that Countrie, in reward for his proweſſe: Some, as Cerealis, (no leſſe miſtaken perhaps in that, then in his meaſures) from Cornu Galliæ, a horne or corner of Fraunce, whereagainſt nature hath placed it: and ſome, from Cornu Walliæ, which (in my conjecture) carrieth greateſt likelyhood of truth.
Book 1, Page 2:
I am not ignorant how sorely the whole storie of Brute, is shaken by some of our late writers, and how stiffely supported by other some: as also that this WRASTLING PULL between Corineus and Gogmagog, is reported to have befallen at Dover. For mine owne part, though I reverence antiquitie, and reckon it a kind of wrong, to exact an ever-strict reason for all that which upon credite shee delivereth; yet I rather incline to their side, who would warrant her authentic by apparent veritie. Notwithstanding, in this question, I will not take on me the person of either judge, or stickler: And, therefore, if there bee any plunged in the common floud, as they will still gripe fast, what they have once caught hold on, let them sport themselves with these conjectures, upon which mine averment in behalf of Plymmouth is grounded. The place where Brute is said to have first landed, was Totnes in Cornwall, and therefore this wrastling likely to have chaunced there sooner than elsewhere. The province bestowed upon Corineus for this exploit, was Cornwall. It may then be presumed, that he received in reward the place where hee made proof of his worth, and whose prince (for so with others I take Gogmagog to have beene) hee had conquered, even as Cyrus recompenced Zopirus with the citie Babylon, which his policie had recovered. Againe, the activitie of Devon and Cornishmen, in this facultie of wrastling, beyond those of other shires, doth seeme to derive them a speciall pedigree, from their graund wrastler – Corineus. Moreover, upon the Hawe, at Plymmouth, there is cut out in the ground, the pourtrayture of two men, the one bigger, the other lesser, with clubbes in their hands, whom they terme Gogmagog: And (as I have learned) it is renewed by order of the townesmen, when cause requireth—which should inferre the same to bee a monument of some moment. And lastly, the place having a steepe cliff adjoyning, affordeth an opportunitie to the fact.”
Book 1, Page 71:
Paſtimes to delight the minde, the Cornish men haue Guary miracles, and three mens ſongs : and for exerciſe of the body, Hunting, Hawking, Shooting, Wraſtling, Hurling.
Book 1, Page 75-76:
Wrastling is as full of manlinesse; more delightfull, and lesse dangerous: which pastime, either Cornish men deriued from Corineus, their first pretended founder, or (at least) it ministred some stuffe to the farcing of that fable. But to let that passe, their continual exercise in this play, hath bred them so skilfull an habit, as they presume, that neither the ancient Greek Palestritae, nor the Turks so much delighted Peluianders,not their, once countrymen, and stil neighbours, the Bretons, can bereaue them of this Laurell: and matchlesse, certes, should they be, if their cunning were answerable to their practise: for you shall hardly find an assembly of boyes, in Deuon or Cornwall, where the most vntowardly amongst them, will not as readily giue you a muster of this exercise, as you are prone to require it. For performing this play, the beholders cast themselues in a ring, which they call, Making a place: into the middle space whereof, the two champion wrastlers step forth, stripped into their dublets and hosen, and vntrussed, that they may so the better commaund the vse of their lymmes, and first shaking hands in token of friendship, they fall presently to the effects of anger: for each, striueth how to take hold of other, with his best aduantage, and to beare his aduerse party downe: wherein, whosoeuer ouerthroweth his mate in such sort, as that either his backe, or the one shoulder, and contrary heele do touch the ground, is accounted to giue the fall. If he be endangered, and make a narrow escape, it is called a foyle. This hath also his lawes, of taking hold onely aboue girdle, wearing a girdle to take hold by, playing three pulles, for tryall of the mastery, the fall-giuer to be exempted from playing again with the taker, and bound to answere his successour, &c.
Many sleights and tricks appertaine hereunto, in which, a skilfull weake man wil soone get the ouerhand of one that is strong and ignorant. Such are the Trip, fore-hip, Inturne, the Faulx, forward and backward, the Mare, and diuers other like.
Amongst Cornish wrastlers, now liuing, my friend Iohn Goit may iustly challenge the first place, not by prerogatiue of his seruice in her Maiesties gard; but through hauing answered all challenges in that pastime without blemish. Neither is his commendation bounded within these limits, but his cleane made body and actiue strength, extend (with great agility) to whatsoeuer other exercise, of the arme or legge: besides his abilitie (vpon often tryall) to take charge at Sea, eyther as Master, or Captayne. All which good parts hee graceth with a good fellowlike, kinde, and respectfull carriage.
Siluer prizes for this and other actiuities, were wont to be carried about by certaine Circumforanei, or set vp for Bidales: but time or their abuse hath now worne them out of date and vse.
Carew, R (1602). The Survey of Cornwall. Printed for E. LAW, in Ave-Mary-Lane; London. and J. HEWETT, at Penzance. MDCCLXIX. Available online via Archive.org.