Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/63

40 Devon Notes and Queries. the same as Lysons ; Morrice (Betshanger, co. Kent) — samer arms : Crest — on a rest, a falcon ppr, beaked and helled or, Morrice — same arms: Crest — a hawk ppr, helled and jessed or. The Morrices of Betshanger bore this latter crest, at least I have the bookplate of Frederick Edward Morrice, showing it, and I have no information that they bore the crest attributed to them by Burke. From the above it would appear that the correct crest is a hawk, but why it should have been recorded as standing on a perch (we may take it that the stump of a tree is a rest or block, used when breaking in hawks) I cannot conceive, and on reading Essex Highways^ Byways attd Waterways^ by C. R. B. Barrett thought I had come upon the clue. He writes p. 20 under Quendon : " In 1717 the place was sold to John Maurice, the second son (? grandson) of Sir William Maurice, Secretary of State to Charles II.," and in a foot note : ** With regard to the Maurice Family I am able to state a curious fact. Some years ago in an old Billingsgate house (which was being pulled down) a Sussex iron fireplace was discovered bearing the arms, date and initials of one of the Maurice family. The arms are — gideSy a lion rampant reguardant or, the crest a hawk perched upon the stump of a tree, or, armed and helled gules. This house was just opposite the Cock Tavern, and the Sussex iron fireplace is now used as the Tavern sign — the hawk being compelled to do duty for a cock." Now this is unfortunate, as the crest on the fireback is most decidedly not a hawk perched on the stump of a tree or anything else, although it may have been intended for a hawk on the usual wreath or torce, but the bird is very short in the legs and has more the appearance of a moor-cock. I should be glad if anyone could refer me to Rolls of Arms where this crest of a hawk on rest or block is given, but the fact of the crest in the M.S. of Arms 1689, and the old fireback 1586, being shown as a hawk or bird would apparently go to show that the perch or rest is an innovation. G. J. WiNDYER Morris. 32. Controllers of Coinage in Devon and Cornwall in Fifteenth Century. — 1423, Oct. 21. Grant during pleasure to Richd. Hore, Clerk of the ofHce of Controller of the Coinage in Cos. Corn, and Dev., with such fees as Thos. Franklein, late Controller had. Cat. Pat. Rolls, Henry VI., p. 140. E.L.W.