Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/154

 ii8 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. a fox running off with a goose, and fighting cocks. At Abbotsham, North Devon, are the arms of John Vesey, after- wards Bishop of Exeter, denoting the time when he was Archdeacon of Barnstaple, soon after 1503. Hartland Church seems to have had no seats until Hugh Prust of Thorry " did at his owne charges paie for the erecting of all the seats, pews and seages in St, Mary's Guild or aisle." This was early in the i6th century, and the seats were "framed in the towne of Biddeforde." They are still in the church and bear the donor's initials H.P. It may be noted that seats (which were not all put up at once) usually first appear in a side aisle or chapel, as if they were not to be regarded as necessary throughout the church. On the whole the benches in North Devon are earlier, and display better work than those of the south. Of all the churches in Devon, Braunton and Mortehoe take the palm for completeness and beauty of work. The series at Mortehoe is Renaissance in style, and has a collection of weird beasts represented, the most night-raare-like characters. Sandford, near Crediton, is furnished with magnificent bench ends of late i6th century date, unlike any others in the Diocese. East Budleigh is the only church in South, or East Devon retaining its entire set of carved bench ends, remarkable for not having a single sacred emblem among them. This has been attributed to the puritanical influence of Walter Raleigh, Sir Walter's father, who is more likely to have instigated the work than (as local gossip loves to assert) his famous son. Undoubtedly the carved bench end with all its beauty was the forerunner of the pew system. Arms and initials introduced into the ornament denote private owners. The 17th century saw the erection of such elaborate structures as that which occupies so nmch space at Holcombe Rogus. The manorial chapel or transept became the family pew adapted not for worship but for comfort. We hear of the fireplace in these pews, and tales are told of the squire who would poke the fire violently if the parson preached too long. Such a fireplace is still extant at Bere-Ferrers enclosed beneath a square-headed arch which dates from the i6th century, when it was first put in, and its use has but recently been discontinued.