Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 5).djvu/198



Some pieces of armour traditionally said to have been worn by the retainers of the Earl of Bath. Much of this armour was stolen some years ago.

Cf. "Devon and Cornwall N. and Q.," x, pt. ii, pp. 85, 86; Murray, "Guide to Devonshire," p. 246. WEMBURY. Helmet. Tradition. Associated with the monument to Sir Warwick Hele. Arms. ''Arg. five fusils in pale gu., the middle one charged with a leopard's face or.'' (Hele.) Crest. ''On a chapeau gu. turned up erm. an eagle's claw or.''

Cf. "Devon and Cornwall N. and Q.," x, pt. ii, p. 85; xi, p. 93; Murray, "Guide to Devonshire," p. 240. DORSETSHIRE DORCHESTER. Sword, blade 17-1/2 in. long; hilt, 3 in.; quillons, 3-1/2 in. Tradition. This sword is reputed to have come from Spain, and is on the effigy in armour of Sir John Williams of Herringstone, ob. 1617. The sword passes through an opening in the stone and cannot be removed. Cf. G. C. Niven, "A Short Guide to St. Peter's Church," p. 22. NETHERBURY. [Communicated by Mr. Wallis Cash, who kindly supplied the photographs.] Close helmet, 1570, crested, a bird ducally gorged (Fig. 1608). Tradition. Associated with the More, or Moor, tomb in the south aisle of the church (Fig. 1609), over which it is placed. The Moor, or More, family owned Melplash manor, which came into the family through the marriage of Walter More, of Marnhull, with the heiress of Melplash. Among the descendants was Sir Thomas More, who was Sheriff of Dorset in the reign of Henry VIII. Local tradition relates that after a duel in which the knight buried in the chancel was victorious, a dove settled on his helmet, thus showing that his cause was just. Arms. ''Arg. a fess between three moor cocks sa.'' (More.) Crest. ''A moor cock sa. ducally gorged.''