[1793, Part I., pp. 113-116.]
Honiton, in the south-east border of Devon, constituting part of the Axminster hundred, is 156 miles west of London, near the river Otter, which hence, after a course of 10 miles, and passing the town of Ottery St. Mary, falls into the English Channel at Otterton. It is bounded on the east by the parishes of Moncton and Offwil, on the south by Farway and Sidbury, on the west by Gittisham and Awliscombe, and the river on the north divides it from Crombrawleigh. The parish is small, being about 8 miles in circumference, and is in good cultivation. The soil, which varies, is chiefly a rich loam and clay, and mostly pasture and meadow land. About five tons of butter are sent weekly to London during the season from the vicinity ; of course the cheese is defective in quantity and quality. The inclosures, which are small, are screened by luxuriant hedges. Trees, but not of a large kind, are numerous. The cyder made in the adjacent parishes is greater and better than in this.
The manor of Honiton was possessed by Drago, a Saxon, but was given by William I. to his half-brother, Robert, Earl of Moreton, afterwards Earl of Cornwall, son of Harlotta, the Conqueror's mother, to whom succeeded William his son, who, taking part with Robert the Norman against Henry I., was taken and lost his possessions. The manor, now in the gift of Henry, was presented to De Redvers, Earl of Devon. Isabella de Fortibus, the last of this family, sold it to Edward I., who then transferred it to Sir John Knovil. On the restoration of Hugh Courtenay to the Earldom of Devon, he, probably by purchase, obtained the manor ; for Hugh Courtenay, the second earl, gave it to his son, Sir Philip, a proof the property was not annexed to the title. With this family it has continued ever since, William Lord Viscount Courtenay being the
VOL. XIV. 12

*See Sir William Pole's "Collections on Devonshire," 4to., Nichols, 1791.
† See Baretti's "Tour to Italy," cum multis aliis.
‡ "Ex dono Gulielmi Pole, armigeri, qui ex amore hanc oppidam, pene 400 annis intermissi, jam juri burgensium restoravit in parliamento, 16to regis Caroli, anno Domini 1640, secundum antiquum sigillum hujus burgis." Engraved round the borough seal, with the arms of Pole.
§ See Burnet's "History of his Own Times," vol. i., fol., p. 625, 1724.
|| Sir Thomas Putt, Bart., was the first mayor; but, being also chosen member, the king removed him, and John Pole, Esq., was elected.
¶ By an Act passed 30 Geo. III. for improving the town.

"Corripuit me flamma vorax depressa resurgo,
Ac aucto didici fortius ore loqui."

The only remains of the ancient building is an effigy placed in an elevated niche at the west end of the tower, which tradition reports as the figure of Elizeas Harding, clerk, who in 1523 was a great benefactor to, if not the founder, of, this edifice. It is dedicated to All Saints. There are a Presbyterian, an Independent, and General Baptist meetings. The parish church is half a mile distant on a bold eminence, the access to which is by a wide road and walk, which is very ancient. The living is a rectory, charged in the king's books at £40 4s. 2d.- the present value about £400 per annum. The parsonage is a little to the right of the church, is a good house, and has an extensive glebe. The tithes are due in kind, but are at present paid by a composition of 2s. 3d. in the £, according to the real rent. Near the church are stables to accommodate those who ride. The chancel, the most ancient part, was probably a little chapel of mendicant friars - its situation near the roadside favours this idea. The body, consisting of a nave and aisles, were added by degrees. Bishop Courtenay, lord of the manor about 1480, built the tower, which is square, embattled 63 feet high, with five bells. The church, including the chancel, is 75 feet long, and 48 feet broad. The churchyard is rather small, adorned with eight fine spiral yews. It has few, but some old, tombs ; a headstone for Thomas Baker, a butterman, who was robbed and murdered near Exeter, April 17, 1724. In the north side of the church a monument for Anne Baker, who died July 24,1770, aged 25 ; also Susan Baker, her mother, relict of Rev. Thomas Baker, rector of Hungerford, Berks, who died October 25, 1785, aged 74. Near the door a tomb for Thomas Mar-
12-2

* During the progress of Charles I. in the West, on the 25th of July, 1644, he slept one night at Dr. Marwood's, a physician, in Honiton. "Collectanea Curiosa," vol. ii., No.13. This was, doubtless, the son of the above. This house is now the property and residence of W. J. Tucker, M.A., rector of Widworthy, who is a maternal descendant from both these. The house was built by John Marwood, physician and Bridget his wife, 1619.
† There are no armorial insignia recorded in the College of Arms for Takell, now in Sir W. Pole's Collection of Arms of Devonshire families but the name is arranged in the list. This John Takell was a person of property, who lived in Honiton in Henry VII.'s time. He was versed in the law; and his only daughter married Baldwin Mallet, solicitor to Henry VIII. On two flat stones, near the above pillars, are these inscriptions: "Hic jacet Johanna Takell, vidua, quæ obiit 13 die Julii, 1529." "Hic jacet magister Johannes Rygge, quondam rector hujus ecclesiæ, thesaurus Crediton.'. No date to the latter; but to each, "Cujus animæ parcet Deus. Amen."

* This beautiful church is in expectation of a picture from the pencil of Ozias Humphry, Esq., as a tribute of respect and love for the place of his birth.
† Who was proctor for the Bishop of Exeter in the parliament held at Carlisle. See Atterbury's "Rights of an English Convocation," p. 488. The earlier part of the list of rectors I present on the authority of a memorandum in an old register.
‡ A small acknowledgement is paid to Sir George Yonge, K. B., the chapel having been built on a spot given from the manor of Battishorn. A chapel of the same name, and a leper house adjoining, existed at Taunton prior to Henry VIII. See Toulmin's "History of Taunton," 4to., 1791.
§ Prince's "Worthies of Devon "; Wood's "Athen. Oxon." ; Cleveland's "History of the Courtenays," folio.
|| Locke's "Western Rebellion," 8vo., Taunton.
¶ A tenement of Sir George Yonge's, in Luppit, is called Honiwell. This shows the word was in use.

[1793, Part I., pp. 393, 394.]
Inclosed I send a drawing (Plate I.) of St. Michael's church, Honiton, together with the inscription.
The yew-tree which is at the east end of the church is the only monument of Mr. William Baker, attorney-at-law, and his wife, who planted it from his garden, a few years previous to his death, at the feet of his wife: it is about thirty years standing. The spiral yews, which adorn the walk, were planted about seventy years since by Mr. Serjeant Sheppard, some time member for Honiton, from his garden, now belonging to Mr. Edward Carter, attorney-at-law. His monument described as above referred, was principally composed of a marble slab, which used to decorate his hall, as being thought more durable than any then to be procured.

* In June, 1724, twenty-nine persons died of the small-pox. In July, fifty-four died; fifty of the same disorder. In 1731, nearly the same number in a month : inoculation was then little known. 1780, were many children of disease. 1783, influenza prevailed. Since the tax on baptisms, in 1783, many persons evade the entering by private baptism. 1788, three persons were buried in one week, whose united ages were 272 years.

JOHN FELTHAM.