Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/299

 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. 235 Flemish city. This would not follow from the introduction •of the spires. If the carving were the work of a Fleming, as seems probable from its style, he would no doubt have worked from a verbal or written description, and he would <:onsider that every church or public building must have at least one spire. This circumstance would also account for the incorrect position of some of the buildings. The wall is continued for a short distance beyond the gatehouse ; behind it is yet another church with a very tall spire, St. Sidwell's, no doubt, and an important looking dwelling-house with three large trees in a row in front. Out- side the city walls are five more trees, the foliage varied and elaborately worked. On the left, directly beyond the shield, is a dramatic scene, a man is being stoned. He is prone on the ground, quite at the lower edge of the stone — an old man with beard and moustache, wearing a long furred robe and a double pleated ruff round his neck. More than half the depth of the stone is occupied by the stone-throwing mob ; the second from the top is a woman who is taking missiles — turnips perhaps — from her basket. About the middle of the group a bearded man on his knees is interceding for the victim. Hooker tells us that Mr. Walter Raleigh met an old woman with her beads in her hand going to church at St. Mary Clyst ; he reprimanded her for using the beads, saying that religion was reformed, and she would be punished if she did not obey the law. The woman in great indignation roused the other parishioners so that they fell on Mr. Raleigh on the road to Topsham, and might have killed him had he not been rescued by some mariners of Exmouth. I think this is the episode represented here, though the encounter with the woman is omitted. She is no doubt the very active missile-thrower with the basket. Beyond the extended feet of Mr. Raleigh is a small headless figure, much damaged, carrying what may be an oar ; no doubt he represents the rescuing party of mariners from Exmouth. Just at this point is a diagonal patch about twelve inches long and from half to three inches wide where the stone has been rubbed smooth, so some of the details are not easy to decipher.