Jump to content

Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/84

From Wikisource
This page needs to be proofread.

Devon Notes and Queries. 53 to those of Greneway at Tiverton, but the figures of smaller size. There were four lozenges, two above and two below the effigies, but all the brasses have disap- peared. At present the lower portion of the gravestone is covered by the seats. The inscription incised on a ledger line : — " Hie iacet Joh's Lane M'cator hui's q*e Capelle Fu'dator cu' Thomasia uxore sua q'i diet* JoKes obiit xvo die Februarii An'o D'ni MilljoeececXxviij'>" which may be read — " Here lies John Lane, merchant, Founder of this Chapel, with Tboinasine, his wife, which said John died the 15 day of February in the year of our Lord, 1528." The exterior, which is constructed of the reddish-brown stone of the district, with white stone dressings, is much ornamented. The parapet is battlemented on a base pierced with quatrefoils. Below is a string course, over each window are two groups of little figures apparently illustrative of scenes taken from the life of our Lord, with a corbel head in the centre and a four-leaved ornament between. Eight buttresses of three stages rise between the windows and at the ends, and a comparatively modern sundial has been placed on the south-west apex of the parapet. On the second stages are sculptured the Founder's monogram or mark, or pairs of shears crossed, above them ships in water, apparently merchantmen, with sails set or furled, of different sizes, and form interesting examples of the vessels of the period. Over these are anchors, with the Founder's initials. On the third stage are brackets, on which figures were probably designed to be placed. The sculptures, although now much denuded, were originally sharp and well-modelled. Shafts were formerly carried up from the buttresses, terminating in funnacles above the parapet. These were omitted when the battlements were renewed. Immediately below the sills of the windows, cut in large raised. letters on white stone, runs this inscription : — " In honor of God and his Blessed Mother Mary Reme'h' the Saulis of John Lane w* a pafnosf S* ave Mary and the Sawle of Tkomsyn his wiffe to haue In Memory tvith all other ther Cheldryn &> frendis of youre awne Cheryty which were Fownders of this Chapell <§• here lyeth yn Cepulture The yere of ower Lorde God I thovsant fvye hvndrith Syx and twynti God of his grace On ther hoyth