In an ancient Cornish drama, brought into Oxford in 1450, the MS. of which is still preserved in the Bodleian Library, notice is taken of Enys, Arwinnick, Tregember, Kegyllack, Penryn woods, and Bohellan fields; from which it might be assumed that the author was a resident in the locality.
On the estate of Bohelland or Bethethland are the remains of a circular entrenchment, the diameter of which is about thiry fathoms.
Bohelland is said to have been the scene of a most singular tragedy which took place early in the seventeenth century. The particulars of this dreadful affair were detailed in a pamphlet published in 1618, entitled, News from Perin in Cornwall; of a most bloody and unexampled Murther very lately committed by a Father on his owne Sonne (who was lately returned from the Indyes) at the instigation of a merciless Step-mother. Together with their several most wretched endes; being all performed in the month of September last, anno 1618.
The pamphlet consisted of sixteen pages in black-letter, and was illustrated with several wood engravings.
The following account, said to have been taken from the above-mentioned pamphlet, is recorded by Saunderson in his annals of James I.
"The parent had been blessed with ample possessions and fruitful issue, unhappy only in a younger son, who taking liberty from his father's bounty, and with a crew of like condition that wearied on land, they went roving to sea, and in a small vessel southward, took boot from all they could master, and so increasing force and wealth, ventured on a Turk's man in the Streights; but by mischance their own powder fired themselves, and our gallant, trusting to his skilful swimming, got on shore upon Rhodes, with the best of his jewels about him; where offering some to sale to a Jew who knew them to be the Governor's of Algiers, he was apprehended, and as a pirate, sentenced to the gallies among other christians, whose miserable slavery made them all studious of freedom, and with wit and valour took opportunity of means to murder some officers, got on board of an English ship and came safe to London; where his misery, and some skill, made him servant to a surgeon, and sudden preferment to the East Indies. There, by this means he got money; with which returning back, he designed himself for his native county, Cornwall. And in a small ship from London, sailing to the west, was cast away upon that coast. But his excellent skill in swimming, and former fate to boot, brought him safe to shore, where, since his fifteen years' absence, his father's former fortunes much decayed, now retired him not far off to a country habitation, in debt and danger.
"His sister he finds married to a mercer, a meaner match than her birth promised. To her at first he appears a poor stranger, but in private reveals himself, and withal what jewels and gold he had concealed in a bow-case about him; and concluded that the next day he intended to appear to his parents, and to keep his disguise till she and her husband should meet, and make their common joy complete."
"Being come to his parents, his humble behaviour suitable to his suit of clothes, melted the old couple to so much compassion as to give him covering from the cold season under their outward roof, and by degrees his travelling tales, told with passion to the aged people made him their guest so long by the kitchen fire, that the husband took leave and went to bed. And soon after his true stories working compassion in the weaker vessel, she wept, and so did he; but compassionate of her tears, he comforted her with a piece of gold, which gave assurance that he deserved lodging, to which she brought him; and being in bed, shewed her his girdled wealth, which he said was sufficient to relieve her husband's wants, and to spare for himself; and being very weary fell fast asleep".
"The wife tempted with the golden bait of what she had, and eager of enjoying all, awakened her husband with this news, and he contrivance what to do; and though with horrid apprehension he oft refused, yet her puling fondness (Eve's enchantments) moved him to consent, and rise to be master of all, and both of them to murder the man, which instantly they did; covering the corpse under the clothes till opportunity to convey it out of the way."
"The early morning hastens the sister to her father's house, where she with signs of joy, enquires for a sailor that should lodge there the last night; the parents slightly denied to having seen any such, until she told them that he was her brother, her lost brother; by that assured scar upon his arm, cut with a sword in his youth she knew him; and were all resolved this morning to meet then and be merry".
"The father hastily runs up, finds the mark, and with horrid regret of this monstrous murther of his own son, with the same knife cuts his own throat."
"The wife went to consult with him, where in a most strange manner beholding them both in blood, wild and aghast, with the instrument at hand, readily rips herself up and perishes on the same spot."
"The daughter, doubting the delay of their absence, searches for them all, whom she found out too soon; with the sad sight of this scene, and being overcome with horror and amaze of this deluge of destruction, she sank down and died; the fatal end of that family."
"The truth of which was frequently known, and flew to court in this guise; but the imprinted relation conceals their names, in favour to some neighbour of repute and kin to that family. The same sense makes me therein silent also."
This dreadful event was wrought into a play by George Lillo, author of George Barnwell, entitled The Fatal Curiosity, and if terror and pity form the bases of tragedy, this is built on the most legitimate foundation.
Gluvias, says Norden , the churche for Penrin borrowe, yet but a chappell appendant unto Budock, called Capella de Behelland; so called because it was buylded upon certayne lande called Behellande feyldes.
[Extract from History of Cornwall, by Lake entry for Penryn, 1868 https://www.penryncornwall.com/lake.htm]
See also page 101: The Parochial History of Cornwall, Vol. 2, by Davies Gilbert—A Project Gutenberg eBook https://www.gutenberg.org/files/60556/60556-h/60556-h.htm