Devon Notes and Queries. 105 In glass. In the fan-light over front door, Fortescue, with Gu. 3 swords in pale org. (Trosse) in pretence. In the hall (painted on wood). Fortescue impaling Cham- pememty Prideaux and Speccott respectively (3 shields). In the window on staircase. Fortescue impaling Speccott, Prideaux, Htngeston, Sotfthcote, Champemoun respectively, For- tescue of Spriddkston impaling Fortescue of Fallapit and Fortescue impaling ReyneU (7 shields). The illustrations are from photographs by Mr. J. S. Amery. Maxwell Adams. 72. Knowstone and Molland. — These two parishes have for centuries been consolidated as one benefice. They are the original of R. D. Blackmore's " Nympton-in-the Moors," and the late Rev. John Froude, who died in 1852 after 47 years' incumbency, is the original of " Parson Chown." One or two old inhabitants can still remember bis eccentricities, and how he was anything but an ensample to the flock. But the double names of these villages are interesting. In Sir Geo. Carew's Scroll of Arms (597) Knowstone is called " Knowstone Beauple " or " Knockton Beauple." Sir Robert Beauple, we are told, was a knight in the time of Edward I. The Manor of Molland (423 and 424) is said to have been bought in the time of King John by Sir Wm. de Boterells of Wm. de Beaumes. From him it evidently derives its name of Molland Bottreaux. A hamlet on the road to Knowstone is known to this day as Bottreaux Mill, usually pronounced "Better's Mill," somewhat nearer the original name of Boterells These two parishes — where I served for a time as curate — are still in the most remote, dreary and primitive corner of North Devon, and in the days of the early Plantagenets the district must have been a ^ry wild one indeed. Yet from the names above mentioned, it seems probable that the descendants of the Normans,, who came with William, penetrated into these parts and thought them worth culti- vating, and even appear to have made their homes there. The " Frenchified " combination of the vowels '* eau " in Beauple, Bottreaux and Beaume, points to a Norman origin. Arthur P. Lancefield.
