360 THE CORNWALL COAST seven foot four in his stockings, was devoted and loyal to his heart's core ; it was he who, when Sir Beville fell fighting for King Charles at Lansdown, led the knight's son up the hill at the head of the gallant, irresistible Cornishmen. These Cornishmen had already proved their powers much nearer to Stratton. The battlefield known as Stamford Hill is close by; it was here that Sir Beville and Hopton defeated the Parliamentary forces under the Earl of Stamford and Chudleigh. The fight took place in 1643, and was one of those Royalist victories in the West that for a time made the cause of the King look very hopeful. The Cornish troops were outnumbered almost by two to one ; they were tired and hungry, and they had the worst of the ground, for the Roundheads had entrenched themselves ; yet they stormed the hill, routed the Parliament men, and took 1,700 prisoners. An old gun still lies there to mark the spot, and above is the inscription : " In this place an army of ye Rebels under ye command of ye Earl of Stamford received a signal over- throw by ye valour of Sir Bevill Grenville and ye Cornish Army. " If there be ever glory attach- ing to battlefields, it may be found here. While the battle was raging Grace Grenville, the wife of Sir Beville, was waiting in anguish of heart at Stowe, only to be pacified when her husband himself came home at night to tell her of the issue. Yet scarce two months had flown when the sorrowful Payne wrote telling his beloved mistress the sore tidings of Lansdown, where the Cornishmen followed their slain master's son up the hill with tears in their eyes. " They did say they would kill a rebel for every hair of Sir Beville's beard. But I bade
