Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/301

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Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries.
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each couple hand in hand. This may represent a conference of justices and gentlemen summoned by Sir Peter Carew in Exeter, or it may show the determined attitude of the Mayor and citizens, who refused to join the rebels though urged to do so.

In the group below the orator in the window is a country man in smock frock and round brimmed hat; he is an old man with long hair and a beard, and is holding up his hands in admiration of the orator above him. Facing him is another old man in furred gown and ruff; his hand rests on the shoulder of a boy. The stone is broken here, and the boy's feet are gone. Below the halberdier is the upper part of the figure of a lady with curled hair and trimmed mantle; the right hand is raised. The rest of the figure is broken away.

The other windows in the battlemented building is subdivided into two openings with round topped arches. A man sits at each; both are bearded, with furred robes. One has both hands extended over the window-sill, the other rests one hand on the head of a woman with a long flowing veil. Behind her are two soldiers with halberds, one with his cap in his left hand. A third halberd is visible, but the halberdier himself is not in view. The lady's hands are raised in appeal, but her attitude is one of great determination. There are three other figures in front of her, they seem to be only spectators. Below the halberdiers, an injured woman is being succoured by another. Hooker records an incident which may explain this group.

A man named Barnerd Duffill took on himself to attack the rebels without the orders or sanction of the officers in command. This was a very dangerous proceeding, and as the arguments of his fellows were of no avail, the Mayor sent for him and explained that he was under orders and must not act on his own initiative. Duffill still insisted that he should do the same thing again, so the Mayor had no alternative but to send him to prison. Duffill had a daughter, Frances, who seems to have inherited her father's determined character. On hearing her father was in prison she came in fury to the Mayor to demand his release; this being denied she not only used violent and abusive language to the Mayor, but struck him in the face. Her foolish