/ ^
/-
VIEW
OP
DEVONSHIRE
IN MDCXXX,
WITH
A PEDIGREE OF MOST OF ITS GENTRY,
BY
THOMAS WESTCOTE, GENT.
EDITED BY
THE REV. GEORGE OLIVER, D. D.,
AND
PITMAN JONES, ESQ.
EXETER:
WILLIAM ROBERTS, 197, HIGH-STREET.
1845.
risAACFOO'f'
[___USRARY_
EXETER ;
PRINTED BY WILLIAM ROBERTS; 197, HIGH-STREET.
TO
BALDWIN FULFORD, OF FULFORD, Esq.:
Sir,
Allow us to introduce to the Public, through your auspices,
the hitherto unpubhshed Works of Westcotk, namely, his " View op
Devonshire" and the "Pedigree of most of its Gentry." The supply
of this desideratum in the History of the County, after two centuries, will
be welcomed by a discerning Public, under the sanction and patronage
of one who inherits, as you do, the merits and virtues of a long Une
of Ancestors — who is justly regarded as the beau ideal of an English
Gentleman ; and who possesses the confidence, esteem, and respect of
all parties. That you may long adorn your sphere of usefulness, and
be hailed as the pride of Devonshire, and the dehght of your worthy
Family and numerous Friends and Admirers, is the hearty wish of us,
who have the honour to be
Yom- obhged Servants,
GEORGE OLIVER.
PITMAN JONES.
WILLIAM ROBERTS.
CONTENTS.
BOOK I.
CHAF. PAGE.
I. Whence Devonshire is said to take name, and the divers opinions thereof. . 19
II. When the Danmonian Province was severed, and the limits thereof 25
III. Of the extent and bounds of Danmonia 29
IV. Of the limits, hundreds, market towns, and parishes in the County of Devon 31
V. Of the temperature of the air, and the nature of the Inhabitants 33
VI. Of the soil, beasts, fowl, fishes, grain, and fruits 35
VII. The constitution, nature, and quality of the Inhabitants 42
VIII, Of the sundry degrees of the Inhabitants, and the distinction of their vocations 44
IX. The second degree is of Yeomanry and Husbandmen 48
X. Of the Merchant, which is the third degree 51
XI. Of the last degree, which is Day-Labourers in Tin-works, and Hirelings in
Husbandry 52
XII. Of the Commodities this Country yields, and of Agriculture and Husbandry 54
XIII. Of the second Commodity, of Clothing and Drapery 59
XIV. Of Mines and Quarries of Stone ; and of the several sorts of either of them 63
XV. Of Mariners, Shipping, and Fishing 67
XVI. The several Governments of this County distinguished : and first of the Ec-
clesiastical 69
XVII. Of the Martial Government, with the chief and other Commanders 71
XVIII. Of the Civil or Politic Government : being the third 73
XIX. Of the Admiralty and Government for Maritime and Sea Causes 75
XX. The Stannary Laws and Government which concern Tinners and Tin Causes 75
XXI. The description of the Forest of Dartmoor where Tin is mined 79
XXII. Of certain Tenants of the Forest called Fenfield-men 84
XXIII. Of the Forest of Exmoor 88
BOOK II.
I. An entrance into the East Division, together with the original and progress
of the River Exe 93
II. Of the Hundred of Bamptou, containing six Parishes 96
III. Of the Hundred of Tiverton, containing five Parishes 98
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
IV. The Hundred of Halberton containeth three parishes 105
v. The progress of the River Culrae 112
VI. The original and progress of Greedy River 118
VII. Of Crediton and the Bishops thereof 120
VIII. Of the farther progress of the River Greedy, and the places adjacent 127
IX. Of the progress of the River Greedy to Cowley-Bridge, where it joins with Exe 131
X. Of the Antiquity and divers Names of the Gity of Exeter 135
XI. Of the Situation and Places worthy observation in this City 138
XII. Of the Dukes, Marquises, and Earls of Exeter 142
XIII. Of the Monasteries and Aims-Houses belonging to the City of Exeter 145
XIV. Of Bedford House and the noble Family of the Russells 147
XV. Of the Guildhall, Magistrates, and the several Corporations thereof 149
XVI. Of the Cathedral-Church of St. Peter's. — The antiquity and building thereof 153
XVII. Of the Bishops and other Dignitaries of the Church of Exeter 157
XVIII. The Bishops of Exeter after the Reformation 172
XIX. The Bishops of Exeter since the present Author's time unto this day, Oc-
tober 20th, 1695, by John Prince 176
XX. Of the Inferior Dignitaries of the Church of Exeter 180
XXI. The Monuments and Epitaphs in Saint Peter's Cathedral, Exon 182
XXII. An Epilogue or Conclusion on the View of Exeter 184
XXIII. Of the progress of the River Exe below Exeter 185
BOOK III.
I. Of the Circuit of the River Glyst 191
II. Of Powderham Castle and the Noble Family of Courtenay 200
III. A Catalogue of the Earls and Dukes of Devon before the Conquest 203
IV. Of the Earls of Devon after the Conquest, and First of Redvers 204
V. Of the right noble Family of the Courtenays, Earls of Devon . 208
VI. Of those other noble Families which have since been Earls of Devon .... 217
VII. Of Kenn, and some other places on the west side of the River Exe 218
VIII. Of places on the east side of the River Exe 223
IX. The Passage of the River Otter 224
X. Of Ottery St. Mary, and other places near it 229
XI. Of Colaton-Ralegh and Sir Walter Ralegh 236
XII. Of Budleigh Hundred in the East 240
XIII. Of Golyton Hundred and the Parishes adjacent to that Town 241
XIV. The Progress of the River Axe, and the Hundred of Axminster 245
XV. The Conclusion which should be the epiphonema of this Discovery 248
BOOK IV.
I. An entrance into the view and visit of the North Division 250
II. Of Comb-Martin and the Silver Mines there 252
CONTBNTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
III. Of Berry-Neibert, Bowdon, and Bishop Jewel 256
IV. Of Morthoe Tracy, and Mort-Stone 259
V. Of George-Ham and Pidickwell 263
VI. Of the River Taw, his spring and progress 265
VII, Of Affton and the Family of Stukely 270
VIII. Of Chulmleigh, and the Countess of Devon saving seven little Children
that were carrying to be drowned „, : . . 273
IX, Of Rings-Ash, with the original and course of the River Mole 276
X. Of Holland Botreaux, the Nymets, and other places near by 280
XI. Of the meeting of Mole and Taw, & their passage afterwards to Umberlegh 283
XII. Of Brightlegh and the Family of Giffard 286
XIII. Of Tawton-Bishop, Goodley, Newland, &c 289
XIV. Of Tawstock, and the noble Family of the Bourchiers, Earls of Bath 292
XV. Of the Borough of Barnstaple with the Description of the Town, with the
History of the Lord Audlegh 294
XVI. Of the progress of the River Yeo, of Chalacombe with the strange Burrows
therein, with some other neighbouring Parishes 300
XVII. Of Youlston and Ralegh, and the noble Family of the Chichesters 303
XVIII. Of Marwood and the Family of Westcote, with other Places and Families
in that tract 305
XIX. Of West-Down and the Hundred of Braunton 308
XX. The origin and course of the River Torridge, with Hercules-Promontory. . 311
XXI. Of the progress of the River Torridge, and the most eminent places near its
first original, as Putford, and the Hundred of Shebbear 315
XXII. Of the Hundred of Black-Torrington and places adjoining 317
XXIII. Of the progress of the River Okement, and of Okehampton 321
XXIV. Of Iddesleigh, Winkleigh, and other places in the way to Torrington .... 324
XXV. Of Torrington, and therein of the potent Families of RoUe, Barry, &c 327
XXVI. Of Monkley, and the Family of Hankford 331
XXVII. Of Buckland- Brewer, Parkham, Bideford, & the noble Family of Grenville 335
XXVIII. Of Westleigh, Northam, Kenith Castle, and Abbotsham 341
XXIX. Of the Island of Lundy, lying near this county, in the Severn Sea 343
XXX. The Conclusion of this Northern Journey 345
BOOK V.
I. The origin and progress of the River Tawmeer (Tamar) 346
II. Of Tamerton, Collacombe, and the Family of Tremayn 352
III. The origin of the River Lyil of Lydford, his antiquities and present state. . 355
IV. Of Trenchard-Lew, Marystow, Lifton, & other places in our way to Tavistock 361
V. Of the progress of the River Tavy, & of the Borough & Abbey of Tavistock 365
VI, Of the progress of the Tamar to the town of Plymouth by Buckland, Beer,
Tamerton, &c 372
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE.
VII. Of Plymouth : and therein of Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins. . 376
VIII. Of the progress of the River Plym, & its issue at Plympton, Plymstock, &c. 383
IX, The origin and progress of the River Yealm, his issue and neighbours .... 388
X. The River Arme, (Erme,) and the progress thereof 390
XL Of Kingston, R ingmore, Ugborough, and other places in our way to Kings-
bridge and near those parts 396
XII. Of Stokenham, Black-Awton, and other places near there about 400
XIII. The River Dart's proceeding, and what places he passeth by 403
XIV. The Antiquity and Description of Totnes . 409
XV, Of Ashprington, Brixham, Greenway, (and there of the ancient Family of
Gilbert,) and other places in our way to Dartmouth 419
XVI. The Port-town of Dartmouth, Paignton, Torr, and Cockington ; with the
noble Family of Gary 424
XVII, Of Chagford, Drewsteignton, Gidlegh; with the noble Family of Prouz . . 429
XVIII. Of Cheriton, Dunsford, Bridford, Dunchideock, Ashton, and other places in
our way to Chudleigh 434
XIX. Of Chudleigh, Bovey, Newton, Ogwell, and Haccombe; wherein of the
noble Family of Carew; with some other places and families 437
XX, Of Combinteignhead, the Teigntons, Teignmouth, Dawlish, and Mamhead 441
Author's Apology 446
PEDIGREE.
P.iGE,
Ameredith of Crediton and Slapton . . 596
Arscot of Arscot 489
Arscot of Annery 490
Arscot of Tidwell 490
Arscot of Holsworthy 490
Arscot of Tetcot 491
Arundell of Talvern 476
Arundell of Lanhern 477
Ashford of Ashford 481
Atwill of Kenton and Mamhead .... 612
Babington of Knoll 473
Bampfield of Poltimore 491
Barry of Winscot 556
Basset of Umberlegh 485
Battishill of Westwyke 540
Bear of Hunsham 461
Beaumout of Gittesham 498
Becket 458
PAGE,
Becket in Menwynyk 459
Bennet of Chudleigh 619
Berry of Croscombe 496
Berry of Berry-Nerber 497
Berry of Barley 497
Bishop of Choldash 557
Bluet of Holcombe-Rogus 512
Bodleigh (alias Bodley) of Dunscombe 499
Bonvile of Comb-Ralegh 465
Bourchier, Earl of Bath 460
Bowerman of Hemyock 518
Broughton of Warbrightleigh 632
Brown of Brownlarsh 589
Budokeside of Budokeside 465
BuUon, Earl of Ormond & Wiltshire 482
Burgoin of South-Tawton 476
Burgoin of Bideford 551
Burneby of Burneby . . 494
CONTENTS.
Bury (alias Berry) of Berry-Nerber 495
Bury (alias Berry) of Coleton 496
Butler, Earl of Ormond and Wiltshire 483
Callard of Callard 582
Calwodeley of Calwodeley 514
Gary of Castle-Cary 507
Gary of Hunsdon 509
Gary of Gockington 510
Gary of Clovelly 510
Garew of East Anthony 528
Carwithen of Carwithen, &c 552
Challons 614
Charles of Moreton and Tavistock . . 541
Cheyney of Pinhoe 518
Ghichester, Viscount Carrickfergus . . 608
Ghichester of Ralegh 604
Ghichester of Arlington 607
Ghichester of Hall 608
Ghichester of Widworthy 609
Ghudleigh of Ashton 462
Globerry of Bradston 555
Glotworthy of Clotworthy, &c 480
Glotworthy of Clotworthy 563
Cole of Slade, &c 519
Colins of Baron's-Down 562
Colleton of Exeter 619
Cooke of Thome 555
Copleston of Copleston & Warlegh . . 503
Copleston of Bow 505
Copleston of Bicton and Eggesford . . 505
Copleston of Otterham and Woodland 506
Copleston of Bowdon 506
Copleston of Wyke 506
Cottle of Sampford-Peverell, &c 475
Gourteuay, Earl of Devon 570
Gourtenay of Powderham 573
Gourtenay of MoUand 574
Gourtenay of Wotton and Ladock . . 575
Gourtenay of Upcott 576
Gourtenay of Ugbrook 576
Crocker of Lynham 550
Gruwys of Cruwys-Morchard 516
b
PiGG.
Culme of Chamston 515
Davils of Balston, &c 611
Davy of Sandford 598
De Aubernon of Daubernon 517
Dennis of Holcombe-Burnell & Bicton 615
Dennis of Orlegh 616
Dennis of CoUiscomb 617
Dennis of Malcot 617
Desmond, Earl of 477
Dillon of Ghimwell 549
Dinham 494
Donne of Donne-Ralph 515
Dowrish of Dowrish in Sandford .... 618
Dowrish of Heath-Barton, Whitestone 618
Drake of Ash 467
Drew of Sharpham, &c 582
Drew of Drews Cliff, &c 583
Duke of Poer-Hayes, &c 559
Edgcombe of Stonehouse, &c 494
Edmonds of Salisbury and Plymouth 524
Ellacot of Exeter 479
Esse (or Ash) of Thuborough 633
Esse (or Ash) of Glist Fomison .... 633
Eston of Eston 565
Evelegh of West Evelegh, &c 563
Farringdon of Farringdon 464
Farringdon of Farringdon 609
Fitz of Fitz-Ford 466
Floyer of Floyers-Hayes 556
Forde of Chagford, &c 527
Ford of Fordmoor 528
Fortescue of Filleigh, &c 498
Fortescue of Wimpston 625
Fortescue of Buckland-Filleigh .... 625
Fortescue of Fallopit 626
Fountain of Bawcombe 548
Fowel of Fowelscombe 521
Franceis of Combe-Flory .... 462
Frankcheyney of Glist-Gerard 517
Fry,of Exeter and Pawlet 502
Fulford of Fulford 612
Fursland of Bickington 598
,-i\' f%.
14
3v6
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Gale of Dartmouth and Crediton .... 567
Gay of Goldsworthy 564
Geare of Heavitree 565
Giffard of Brightlegh 627
Giffard of Weare 628
Giffard of Tiverton 628
Gilbert of Compton 566
Giles of Bowden and Dean Prior. . . . 530
Godwine of Clistwill and Godwins . . 540
Gove (alias Gough) of Woodbury . . 547
Grenville of Stow, Cornwall 630
Grenville of Penheale 631
Hakewell of Exeter 545
Haadcock of Comb-Martin 560
Harris of Hayne 531
Harris of Lanrest 532
Harris of Radford 532
Hatch of Aller 603
Haydon of Lympstone, &c 579
Hele of South-Hele 533
Hele of Wisdom 533
Hele of Wembury 533
Hele of Holbeton 534
Hele of Exeter and Fleet 535
Hele of Newton-Ferrers 535
Hele of Brixton 535
Henscot of Henscot 589
Herle of West-Herle 514
Hext of Kingston 503
Hill of Shilston 503
Hillersdon of Hillersdon, &c 529
Holbeam of Holbeam 502
Holcomb of Holcomb 531
Hone of Ottery St. Mary 538
Honychurch of Tavistock, &c 591
Hoper of Blackmore 525
Huckmore of Bokeyt 501
Huddisfield of Shillingford 500
Huish of Denniford 488
Huishof Sand 488
Hull of Larkbear 517
Hurst of Exeter and Oxton . 487
PiGE.
Jewell of Bowden 536
Kelly of Kelly 540
Kenisham of Brixton 566
Kendal of Treworgy, &c 598
Kildare, Earl of . . . , 477
Kirkham 458
Kirkham of Blackdon, &c 523
KnoUes of Little-Hempston 474
Langford of Langford 462
Larder of Pynes 624
Le Hart of Yarnacombe 603
Levermore of Exeter 597
Lippincot of Lippincot, &c 554
Loveis of Ogberd in Tamerton 629
Lowman of Uplowman, &c 580
Lumen, or De Lumine, of Uplowman 579
Lutton of Cofford 478
Lynne of Exeter 457
Mallock of Axmouth 548
Marshall of Teigngrace 502
Marshall of Exeter, &c 502
Martin of Comb-Martin 594
Marwood of Westcot 604
Mathew of Dodbrook, &c 599
Melhuish of Witheridge 623
Mohun of Hall in Cornwall 610
Molford of Chulmleigh, &c 603
Montague, Lord Chief Justice 633
More of Moorhays 624
Munck of Potheridge 468
Newcombe of Great- Worthy 531
Newcourt of Pickwel 478
Noble of Exeter and Belston 561
Norris of Chulmleigh 541
Norris of Winkleigh 626
Northcote of Uton, &c 599
Parker, (alias Jorden) of Northmolton 538
Parker of Exeter 564
Passemere of Passemere-Hayes .... 525
Paulet of Sampford-Peverel 488
Pawlet of Rode, Hinton, &c 474
Perriam of Exeter, &c 584
CONTENTS.
Pery of Water in Membury 545
Petre of Tor-lkian 546
Pointingdon of Penny cott 547
Pointingdon of Meryfield 547
. Pollard of King's-Nymet 493
Pollard of Way and Horwood 552
Pollard of Knowston-Beauple 553
Preston of Up-Ottery, &c 588
Prestwood of Exeter, North-Huish, &c. 545
Prideaux, Sir Edmund, of Farvvay . . 472
Prideaux of Orchardton & Thuborough 470
Prideaux of Orchardton 471
Prideaux of Soldon 472
Prideaux of Nutwell 486
Prouse of Exeter 597
Prouz of Gidley and Chagford 568
Prye of Horwell in Colebrook 611
Putt of Gittisham , 629
Pyne of East-Down, &c 544
Ralegh of Fardel 535
Reynell of Trumpington, &c 576
Reynell of Malston 578
Reynell, Sir Richard 578
Reynell of Greedy- Widger 578
Risdon of Bableigh 507
Roberts of Comb-Martin 609
Rolle of Stevenstone 593
Roskimer of Haylford, Cornwall .... 632
Rouse (alias Le Rouse) of Modbury 580
Sainthill of Sainthill, &c 537
Samuel of Restormel 533
Samuel of Cornwall 623
Sapcotts 551
Saverey of Totnes 562
Seward of Slokeinteignhead 559
Seymour of Berry-Pomeroy 479
Shapcott of Exeter 602
ShillingfordofShillingford 468
Skinner of Cowley 599
Slader of North-Tawton, &c 524
Slanning of Ley 563
Somaster 551
Somaster of Painsford 551
Somaster of Widecombe 500
Southcote of Mohun's-Ottery 537
Staplehill of Bremble in Ashton .... 624
Staveley of East-Buckland, &c 562
St. Leger of Annery 483
Stowford of Stowford 592
Strode of Ermington and Newnham 542
Strechlegh of Strechlegh 514
Stukeley of Kenn and Faringdon .... 579
Stukeley of Affeton 585
Sture of Marridge 512
Thorn of Thorn in Holsworthy 525
Todenham of Church-Taunton 478
Tothill of Exeter and Peamore 520
Trelawriey of Pool in Menhenniot . . 561
Tremayne of CoUacomb 587
Trevillian of Nettlecombe 558
Tucker (alias Tooker) of Exeter 526
Upton of Puslinch and Trelaske .... 519
Vowel (alias Hooker) of Exeter .... 526
Wadham of Edge 634
Waller of Sidbury and Hampshire . . 623
Walrond 484
Waltham of Brenton, &c 583
Warr of Hestercombe 491
Westcote (alias Lyttleton or Luttle-
ton) of Frankley 621
Westcote of Westcote and Raddon . . 622
Whitlock of Frithelstock 583
Whyddon of Chagford, &c 581
Wichalse of Chudleigh 627
Williams of Stowford 521
Willoughby of Knoll-Adrian, Wiltshire 619
Willoughby, Lord Brook 620
Willoughby of Payhembury 620
Wise of South-Sydenham 553
Wivellof Crediton 611
WoUacomb of Comb 539
Wood(alias de Bosco)of North-Tawton 589
Wood of Lewtrenchard . 590
Wood (alias Atwood) of Hareston , . 591
CONTENTS.
PAGE. ^^''^^
Worth of Exeter, &c 561 Yeo of Heanton-Sachville 592
Worthal of Cotley 629 Yeo of Huish 593
Wrey of Wrey. &c 567 Yeo of Hatherleigh 593
Wykes of North-Wyke 557 Yerworth of Ipplepen 524
Wykes of Bindon 558 Young of Axminster, &c 600
Yard of Bradley, &c 601 Zoiich, Lord John 475
MEMOIR
OP
THOMAS WESTCOTE.
A Devonshire Family of some repute, bearing the name of Westcote,
was established at an early period at Westcote, in the Parish of Marwood,
near Barnstaple. One of its members of the name of Thomas, in the former
part of the fifteenth century, married Ehzabeth, daughter and heiress of
Sir Thomas Lyttelton, of Fraukley, in the county of Worcester, knight :
the fruit of this union was that celebrated Lawyer and Chief Justice of the
King's Bench, Sir Thomas Lyttelton,* Knight of the Bath, who died on the
23rd of August, 1481. From the silence of Sir WHham Pole we are dis-
posed to think that the subject of this memoir was not descended (though
he himself entertained such a belief,) from the Family in the Parish of
Marwood. Perhaps his came originally from the parish of Bishop's-Taw-
ton, in Devonshire; at least we read in the Register of Edmund Stafford,
Bishop of Exeter, vol. i. foho 149, that this noble Prelate, in considera-
tion of the faithful services rendered by Richard Westcote, of the manor of
Bishop's-Tawton, manumitted and discharged him and his offspring on the
23rd of April, 1412, "a Jugo et onere nativitatis, \nllenagii et servitutis cum
tot^ sequel^ suii." About a century later Thomas Westcote, the Grandfa-
ther of our Historian, and Heraldist, held an Estate in West-Raddon, in the
Parish of Shobrook, Devon, of Sir John Talbot, of Grafton, in the county of
Worcester, knight, and Margaret (Troutbeck), his wife. This Estate was
subsequently purchased by the Westcotes of the Talbots ; but certainly later
than October, 1589, as the Talbot Rental of that year sufficiently proves.
Thomas Westcote, the author of "The View of Devonshire," and of
* A f 5 ^^sstcote ; Argent, a chevron between three escallops, sable.
t Lyttelton ; Argent, a bend cotized sable, within a bordure, bezanty, gules.
IV, MEMOIR OF THOMAS WESTCOTE.
" The Pedigrees of most of our Devonshire Families,"* now for the first
time submitted to the public, was the third son of Philip Westcote, of
West-Raddon, who married Katharine, daughter of George Waltham, of
Brenton, in the Parish of Exminster, Devon, gentleman. Their marriage
was celebrated on the 17th of October, 1557 : as we learn from the Re-
gister of Shobrook, which also records the baptism of our Author on
the 17th of June, 1567. Speaking of Shobrook, he says, "Here my
poor'"se!IF was first'nursed.'' Of liis early life we can glean but slender
materials. In liis Apologetical Epistle to the Reader, he says, "Alas !
Sir, you know, how httle I busie myself with, and among so many
offices the Country yields, I could procure none, nor any friend that
would sohcit for me." To the objection started, "that in his youth
he was a soldier, a traveller, and a courtier, and had now a long time
retired to a private country hfe, and in his old and latter age little qualified
for undertaking a work of such magnitude, which required not only
labour, but painful travels and expenses ;" he rephes, that " having by
ordinary reading, observation, search, and discourse, collected long since
some few particulars of the antiquities and other notes and observings of
this County, it was my chance (as often I did ) to come in presence of an
honourable personage ( Edward, Earl of Bath,) whose eminent virtues assure
me he is now with God : — it pleased him in discourse of the state of this
Country to propose certain questions to those that were present : to some
of them, when I had given a more satisfying answer than he on the sudden
expected, he perceived I had a great desire that some one would undertake
the Description of tliis Shire, as Mr. Carew had done for Cornwall, He
thereon took opportunity to be the primum mobile of this Discourse; and at the
next fit convenience did poweifully persuade, and he cheerfully animated and
seriously required me to undertake tliis work, (as he was pleased to term it
office;) and not to sufifer the ancient renown of the generosity of this Province
to be any longer neglected and buried in obhvion, which had bred so many
famous men in all professions." At first Mr. Westcote, pleading his inabiUty
♦ A Manuscript on Heraldry, belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, had been
described to the Editors as having been written by Mr. Westcote, but on collation it was
found to have been more ancient; beginning with 1573, and finished about the period of
the Heralds' last visitation in 1620; neither was it confined to Devonshire. From page
9, we may infer that it was compiled by Richard St. George, esq., Norroy king of arms.
MEMOIR OF THOMAS WESTCOTE. V.
and unfitness, declined the undertaking; but his Lordship would admit no
excuse; and "his continued persuasions encouraged mv faintness for a brief
private discourse," but which the author never intended for pubhcation.
Mr. Risdon, " his worthy friend," testified, in page 95, of his " Survey
of Devon," "that Mr. Westcote was endowed with many good parts, and
was a lover of antiquity;" and several passages of the work prove that he
was acquainted with the best society in the county.
Every reader wall give Mr. Westcote credit for his laborious zeal to pre-
serve the remembrance of past times; and though in these days of deeper
research and more refined criticism, he may smile at the author's credulitv
and far fetched observations, yet he will be disposed to make every allowance
for the age, and will be entertained with the quaintness, candour, and good »
humour of his guide. What is inserted between brackets in the text has f
been added by the Rev. John Prince, Author of the " Worthies of Devon." I
As to his " Pedigrees of most of our Devonshire Families" it is evident,
that he is chargeable with some egregious mistakes and errors, to which ,
Mr. Prince has added many more. We have done what we coiild to revise I
and correct several; but regret that we are unable to present this Work to i
the reader with more satisfaction to ourselves.
In all probability Mr. Westcote resided at West Raddon, with his elder
brother, Robert, who died a bachelor, and was buried on the 6th of March, /
1636, old style,* but whom Mr. Prince, in his " Worthies of Devon," page j