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Grenville, leading the van, attacked the enemy with so great valour that they gave way on the first charge, and fled to Liskeard with great loss of men and arms. The king’s troops followed them into Liskeard, and took the town without resistance.

In August, 1644, Boconnoc House was occupied by Essex’s general, Dalbier, and other officers; Charles sent a troop of horse from Liskeard, who surprised them in the midst of dinner, and brought them all, except Dalbier, prisoners to Liskeard. On 8 August, the king himself arrived at Boconnoc, but being in some danger left again for Glynn; finding the militia posted there, he returned, and slept all night in his carriage on the open downs. Next day he took up his quarters in Boconnoc House, and stayed there many days. Near the parsonage is shown the trunk of an oak, in which it is said the king’s standard was fixed, and near which he was standing, when a ball struck the tree.

Prince Charles was at Boconnoc in November, 1645.

Boconnoc and Bradoc were in early days chapelries of St. Winnow. The rectories of these two parishes were consolidated by parliament in 1806. Boconnoc church, which was dedicated 18 Oct., 1321, is mostly of the 15th century, and has been largely altered during the present century; it has no tower. The oaken communion table is carved underneath with these words, ‘Made by me, Raymond Mohun, 1629.’ The reredos, erected in 1888, is formed of Jacobean oak from Boconnoc house, and is noteworthy. The church was at one time a chapel of St. Winnow.

Some lead mines were worked in the park, temp. Charles I, but proved unprofitable.

In the parish are some interesting crosses, notably one erected in 1846 on a new shaft and base, on which a rather feeble inscription, and another (removed from Lanlivery) having a curious incised ornament. Much of its value and interest has, of course, been destroyed by its removal from its original locality.

BRADOC OR BROADOAK - Deanery of West. - The little 15th century church is dedicated to St. Mary. The church was at one time a chapelry of St. Winnow. (See under Boconnoc above.)

For the battle of Bradoc Downs see p. 64 above.

Here, too, it was that lord Essex (having with lord Robartes and others escaped), left general Skippon to surrender the parliamentary forces, 2 Sept., 1644. For their treatment by the Lostwithiel folk see p. 80.