CORNISH, John

Cornish’s name was, not surprisingly, a common one in the west of Devon, and the identification of the man who represented Plympton Erle in 1453 thus presents some difficulties. As none of the known namesakes appear to have been of superior social status, it seems most probable that the MP was a local man, a baker who lived and worked in Plympton Erle, and was practising his trade by 1430, when one John Umfray was suing him for an unspecified trespass.1 KB27/675, rot. 21d. This was not his only brush with the law, for two years later he came into conflict with one John Cliffe over a similar transgression,2 KB27/686, rot. 53. while in the summer of 1444 he was among a group of 19 tradesmen of Plympton Erle whom the wealthy and influential Richard Fortescue* sued for having allowed their cattle to graze in his close near the town.3 CP40/734, rot. 200d. The lack of surviving borough records for Plympton Erle makes it impossible to tell whether Cornish ever held office locally, but he certainly failed to do so under the Crown. Nevertheless, his return to Parliament in 1453 despite his apparent lack of administrative experience may suggest that he commanded some respect in the borough and was chosen by the burgesses on account of his credentials as one of their number.4 If Cornish was a political placeman, it is just possible that he should be identified with a tucker from Exiland who in 1455 was among the retainers of Thomas Courtenay, earl of Devon, the lord of Plympton Erle, associated with their lord in his violent exploits (KB9/16/67), but there is no conclusive evidence that Courtenay took any pains to have his men returned in 1453.