*PENRYN, (Cornwall) 216 cm. 264 mm. from London, stands on a hill, at the entrance of Falmouth-Haven by Pendennis-Castle,
and has so many gardens and orchards, that it resembles a T. in a wood. It is well watered with rivulets, and has an arm
of the sea on each side of it, with a good custom-house and kay, and other neat buildings. It drives a considerable trade
in drying and vending pilchards, and in the Newfoundland fishery; so that here are many merchants. It was anciently
governed by a portreeve; but K. Ja. I. made it a corp. consisting of a mayor, 11 ald. 12 C.C. with a recorder, steward,
&c. an office of record every three weeks, with a prison, and power to try felons in their jurisdiction. And he granted
that the mayor and 2 ald. should be justices of the peace, and that they should have a guild-hall. Here was once a mon.
which was a cell to Kirton; and here are still to be seen a tower and part of the garden walls, the ruins of a collegiate
Ch. founded by Branscomb, Bp. of Exeter; of which see the corp. holds the manor of the T. paying the Bps. a quit-rent for
the Mts. which are W. and S. and for the Fairs which are May 1, July 7, and Dec. 21. It had once a Mt. also on F. It has
no Ch. nor chapel, but bel. to the p. of Gluvias a quarter of a m. off. Here are the seats of the late Alex. Pendarvis,
and Mr. Sam. Ennys, celebrated for his fine gardens. It has sent members to Pt. ever since the 1st year of Q. Mary; and K.
Ja. II. in pursuance of his view to enslave the nation, by putting all corps, under the influence of the crown, granted it
a new charter, whereby their election was vested in the magistracy only; but the design being too bare-faced, it was never
made use of; all the inhs. that pay feot and lot, who are not much above 100, being the electors. Mr. Rymer gives this
very remarkable account, how Penryn was once saved by a company of strolling players, viz. That towards the latter end of
the 16th century, the Spaniards were landing to burn the T. just as the players were setting Sampson upon the Philistines;
which performance was accompanied with such drumming and shouting, that the Spaniards thought some ambush was laid for
them, and scampered back to their ships. Q. Eliz. founded a fr. sc. here. The seal of the T. is a curled head, according
to the signification of the name.