The Survey of Cornwall: And an Epistle Concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue

This 1602 survey stands as one of the earliest systematic accounts of an English county, a pioneering work of regional documentation that helped establish the genre of county histories. Richard Carew writes not as an outside observer but as a native son, blending personal observation with historical detail, legend, and cartographic description to capture Cornwall's distinctive character. He traces the county's name to legendary origins, describes its harsh climate and rugged geography, catalogs its mineral wealth and agricultural practices, and meditates on what it means to be Cornish on the geographic and cultural margins of England. The work documents a Cornwall that was already ancient in its traditions, preserving customs and perspectives that would transform over the following centuries. Yet Carew's ambitions extend beyond mere topography. The appended "Epistle Concerning the Excellencies of the English Tongue" takes an unexpected turn, arguing passionately for the richness and capability of the English vernacular at a moment when Latin still dominated intellectual life. This combination of regional pride and linguistic advocacy makes the work a fascinating artifact of Tudor-Stuart England, valuable for anyone studying early modern literature, local history, or the emergence of English national consciousness.