The Qualities of the Natives (1880)

This county [of Devon] as it is populous, so are the natives of a good and healthy constitution of body; of proportion and stature generally tall, strong, and well compact; active and apt for any forcible exercises (and if I may have leave to borrow a stranger’s words in their encomium); bold, martial, haughty of heart, prodigal of life, constant in affections, courteous to strangers, yet greedy of glory and honour. And Diodorus Siculus saith the Danmonii were accounted most civil and courteous people.

And our pleasant witted poet, Michael, extolleth them extraordinarily for valour and strength of body; and yet taketh not therein the liberty allowed to poets, to add to the subject whereof they write, but truly reporteth what is well known and seen by them performed; who in activity surmount many other people, especially at football, hurling, and wrestling, wherein they are generally equal with the best in any county. Arid I may boldly say of my countrymen as Horace did of his,

… In wrestling we The skilful Greeks surpass in high degree.

A full report of their skill in wrestling and nimbleness of body whereof the Danmonii have been and still are so famous you may find in the Survey of Cornwall. But to make a question (as one hath done) whether they have it from their first planter, Corineus (that famous wrestler) or from the nature of the climate of the country, or (as I may best say) from their diurnal practice, I think it will not be answered without some difficulty, unless you say from all.

In knowledge of arts and variety of studies in all sciences and learning, very capable and ingenious; and hath yielded, and presently doth (whom in their convenient places I shall have fitter opportunity to remember), as many worthy divines, civilians, physicians, and men excellent in all other pro-fessions and arts as are elsewhere in any so small a compass to be found.

In matters of civil policy, causes of justice, judicature, and government of the common weal, wise, pregnant, and politic, discreet, and of sound judgment and integrity; so that the chief seats of justice have been very often most worthily supplied: which this our age can very sufficiently testify, as well as many former. For martial affairs, by land or sea, forward and valiant; and, as a great and noble commander of late times said of one (intimating, as it seemed, the like in general), in service, painful; in peril, resolute; in action, in¬dustrious; in execution, quick and ready; in council, provident; fierce, yet with judgment: as their fierceness was nothing abated by advisement, nor their advisement dazzled by their fierceness, but both so equally compounded and conjoined, that they have been bold to take QUID NON? for a motto, (as Sir Humphrey Gilbert).