King Arthur received his mortal wound

 

n which King Arthur received his mortal wound : thus recorded

by the Poet k :

<c Naturam Cambela fontis

Mutatam ftupet efle fui, tranfcendit in undas

Sanguineus torrens ripas, et ducit in aequor

Corpora caeforum ; plures natare videres,

Et petere auxilium quos undis vita reliquit.”

The other, a bloody battle, fought betwixt the Cornifh, and the Weft Saxons of Devonfhire, in the year 824 ’, in which many thoufands fell on each ftde, and the victory remained uncertain.

Hence, after a run of about 1 2 miles, it becomes navigable for fand barges at Parbrok ; and at Eglofhel m , receives a plentiful addition to it’s ftream, from the River Laine A mile farther down, this

River reaches the greateft bridge in this county, called Wadebridge : about the year 1460 there was a ferry here whilft the tide was in, and a very dangerous ford when the tide was retired,

which moved the then Vicar of Eglofhel, one Mr. Lovebon, with great induftry and public fpirit, to undertake this bridge ; a great and ufeful, but tedious work. Beftdes the expence, fo difproportioned

to his circumftances, in the courfe of the work, there arofe fuch difficulties, as might have baffled a more mechanical age than that

in which he lived : the ground, for the foundation of fome of the

piers, proved fo fwampy, that after repeated efforts another way,

they were forced at laft to build on wool-packs ; however, it fhould

never be forgotten, that by his follicitations, and the liberal contri-

butions of others, but chiefly by his own perfeverance, and the

bleffings of providence, he lived to accomplifh the bridge as it

now ftands, with feventeen fair and uniform arches, reaching quite

crofs the valley, to the great fafety of travellers, and the credit of

his country. Hither come up fmall barks of 40 and 60 ton, and

fupply the country with coal from Wales, with flat, which rifes about

ten miles off, lime, timber, and groceries from Briftol. A mile farther

down the Alan makes two fmall Creeks on the Eaft, in return for a

brook or two which it receives; then keeping to the North-Weft, and

fupplying two Creeks on the Weftern bank which run up into St. Illy,

and little Petrock pariflies, in a mile more it reaches the antient

town of Petrockftow, alias Padftow, where there is a pier, and fome

k In Camden, page 23. and the Elaine, (Hinnulus) in Radnorshire, and

1 See Saxon chronicle. Montgomery Ihife, &c. probably this River Lain,

m That is, the Church on the River. had the name of Elaine from the fwiftnefs of

" Some Rivers among the Britifh, fays Lhuyd it’s courfe.

in Baxter’s gloflary, page 273, take their names 0 Leland, Vol. II. page 82.

from animals ; as the Caru (Cervus) in Shropfhire,