DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9695#0064
Ixii
INTRODUCTION
The only other copy known to me of a part of Mundy's
work is that contained in Add. MS. 33420, a volume of
Collections for the History of Cornwall, made by Thomas
Tonkin the Cornish historian (1678—1742). This MS.
was, for some years, in the possession of the Ley family
of Penzance, and was purchased by the authorities of the
British Museum from the late Colonel H. H. Ley in
December, 1888. Part 4 of the work consists of extracts
made by Tonkin from Mundy's remarks on the "County
of Cornewall and Towne of Penrin," together with a short
note on the author and an abstract of the contents of his
complete work. The portion of Tonkin's extract relating
to the rising in Penzance in 1648 was reproduced by
J. S. Courtney in his Guide to Penzance, and is the only
piece of Mundy's writing, as far as can be discovered, that
has so far ever been printed. Tonkin is responsible for
the statement that Mundy intended to publish his work.
He prefaces his extract from the MS. with the remark1,
" Peter Mundy being bred up also to the Sea and Mer-
chandise from his Youth and of A Rambling Genius has
Compiled A Large thick Folio Book Adorn'd with cuts,
both drawn and Printed....Which Book He intended for
the Press had not Death prevented him." Tonkin may
have had the authority of the Worths, who then owned
the MS., for Mundy's intentions as to its ultimate fate
and also for his information that Richard Mundy was the
father of Peter. The author himself, however, gives no
hint that he contemplated printing the account of his
Travels. He tells us, in his Preface, that the diaries of
his early voyages were only " cursary " and superficial and
" nott soe puntuall as I oughtt or Mightt have Don, never
Making accompt to make Much accompt off itt2." His
aim, when he first began his work, was to " keepe my owne
remembraunce " and " to pleasure such Freinds Thatt are
Desirous to understand somwhatt off Forraigne Countries2."
Later, in 1639, he tells us that he intended to re-copy and
1 Add. MS. 33420, fol. 104 b.
2 See p. 3.
INTRODUCTION
The only other copy known to me of a part of Mundy's
work is that contained in Add. MS. 33420, a volume of
Collections for the History of Cornwall, made by Thomas
Tonkin the Cornish historian (1678—1742). This MS.
was, for some years, in the possession of the Ley family
of Penzance, and was purchased by the authorities of the
British Museum from the late Colonel H. H. Ley in
December, 1888. Part 4 of the work consists of extracts
made by Tonkin from Mundy's remarks on the "County
of Cornewall and Towne of Penrin," together with a short
note on the author and an abstract of the contents of his
complete work. The portion of Tonkin's extract relating
to the rising in Penzance in 1648 was reproduced by
J. S. Courtney in his Guide to Penzance, and is the only
piece of Mundy's writing, as far as can be discovered, that
has so far ever been printed. Tonkin is responsible for
the statement that Mundy intended to publish his work.
He prefaces his extract from the MS. with the remark1,
" Peter Mundy being bred up also to the Sea and Mer-
chandise from his Youth and of A Rambling Genius has
Compiled A Large thick Folio Book Adorn'd with cuts,
both drawn and Printed....Which Book He intended for
the Press had not Death prevented him." Tonkin may
have had the authority of the Worths, who then owned
the MS., for Mundy's intentions as to its ultimate fate
and also for his information that Richard Mundy was the
father of Peter. The author himself, however, gives no
hint that he contemplated printing the account of his
Travels. He tells us, in his Preface, that the diaries of
his early voyages were only " cursary " and superficial and
" nott soe puntuall as I oughtt or Mightt have Don, never
Making accompt to make Much accompt off itt2." His
aim, when he first began his work, was to " keepe my owne
remembraunce " and " to pleasure such Freinds Thatt are
Desirous to understand somwhatt off Forraigne Countries2."
Later, in 1639, he tells us that he intended to re-copy and
1 Add. MS. 33420, fol. 104 b.
2 See p. 3.