Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/152

 ii6 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. 90. "All is not Fable." — I have before me a small book of 86 pages with the above title. The title page bears neither the name of the author, the publisher's or printer's imprint, nor the date of issue. On the fly-leaf is the following inscription in ink : " By the Hon' Louisa Clifford." " This little volume was printed at Chudleigh, but never published. With a very few exceptions the whole impression was destroyed, but it was immediately reprinted with several emendations. The reprint was also suppressed." Can any of your readers substantiate the statements that the book was written by the Hon. Louisa Clifford and printed at Chudleigh. I should also be glad to know the date of publication, together with any other particulars concerning it. Curiosus H. 100. Sittings in Churches (IX., p. 36, par. 35). — In making his enquiry as to when seats were first introduced into churches, Mr. Fred. Day propounds a question that is practi- cally unanswerable. The following notes on seats in churches may however be of interest to him. I make no attempt to discuss the postures customary to churchmen for prayer or praise at different periods ; but merely write from personal knowledge of various churches in the West of England. We have to remember that in the middle ages the church, at any rate in a small parish, was the only public building in the place, and served for all local purposes. The chancel and sanctuary were reverently screened off from the rest of the building ; parclose screens enclosed side altars, if there were any ; and the nave, a large open space, was at the disposal of the parishioners. Here miracle plays were acted, and local affairs discussed. Inventories of domestic furniture for this period shew us how large a part stools and benches played in the household, and we may reasonably suppose that such stools and benches could be brought into the church if required. When the halls of the noblest were set with trestle tables and benches that could be removed when done with, a plank supported on two logs would serve for church seats at a time when comfort was not so greatly studied. It must be remembered that save for occasional sermons from some passing preacher, or such dramas as above alluded to, the services were short and would not long keep the worshippers on their knees.