DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32039#0043
THE VICARS’ CLOSE AT WELLS.
21
tlie fireplace is one of the windows shewn in Plate XXI., out of the jamb of
which a pulpit* for grace at meal-time, opens to the Hall by a small square
opening over the fireplace. A strict observance of grace was enjoined in one
of the injunctions laid down by the king, to the effect “ every Vicar
dining in the Common Hall sliall tarry Graceit is as follows : “ Xtfttt, That
none of the Vicars of the said new Close sitting in the Common Hall of the
same att the time of Dinner or Supper shall not by any manner of means from
henceforth depart from Dinner or Supper before Grace be said after Dinner
and Supper without Licence first desired and obteined of the Principalls of the
same new Close, if they bee att Dinner and Supper, and in their absence of
them which shall supply their Room under paine of iiijr/. to be paid and applyed
to the use of the aforesaid Close as often as he shall be found negligent, and
faulty in this behalfe.”*
Plate XXIII. shews the Fireplcice and the Iron Fireclogs to a larger scale,
with details of the same referred by letter. These are of a late style, but the
fireplace has good mouldings in the jamb and mantel-shelf; on which latter is
the scroll described in page 8, bearing an inscription which solicits the prayers
of the vicars in favour of Sir Richard Pomroy, and expresses solicitude for the
safety of his soul. The five shields are thus emblazoned: the first, to the left,
five bars or and azare, three escalop shells in chief, gules, charged with a
demi-horse issuant rampant, argent: the second are Bishop Beckington’s arms,
which are, argent on a fesse azure, between, in chief, three stags’ heads
caboshed, gules, attired or, and in base three pheons, two and one, sable, a
mitre labelled of thefourth : the third are the royal arms, as borne by Henry V.
and the subsequent sovereigns of England down to Queen Elizabeth, which are
quarterly quartered, first and fourth azure, three Jleurs-de-lis, two and one, or;
second and third, gides, three lions gardant, passant, in pale or: the fourth are
the arms of the united see of Bath and Wells, which are, azure, a saltier per
saltier, quarterly quartered, or and argent, with two keys endorsed, the upper
or, the lower argent, on the dexter side of the saltier ; and a sword or, on the
sinister side, both erect, charged with a crozier, erect, or: the fifth are those
of Pomroy, which are, argent, a lion rampant, or, within a bordure engrailed
azure.
Tke Statutes and Charter of Close Hall, p. 28, MS.
21
tlie fireplace is one of the windows shewn in Plate XXI., out of the jamb of
which a pulpit* for grace at meal-time, opens to the Hall by a small square
opening over the fireplace. A strict observance of grace was enjoined in one
of the injunctions laid down by the king, to the effect “ every Vicar
dining in the Common Hall sliall tarry Graceit is as follows : “ Xtfttt, That
none of the Vicars of the said new Close sitting in the Common Hall of the
same att the time of Dinner or Supper shall not by any manner of means from
henceforth depart from Dinner or Supper before Grace be said after Dinner
and Supper without Licence first desired and obteined of the Principalls of the
same new Close, if they bee att Dinner and Supper, and in their absence of
them which shall supply their Room under paine of iiijr/. to be paid and applyed
to the use of the aforesaid Close as often as he shall be found negligent, and
faulty in this behalfe.”*
Plate XXIII. shews the Fireplcice and the Iron Fireclogs to a larger scale,
with details of the same referred by letter. These are of a late style, but the
fireplace has good mouldings in the jamb and mantel-shelf; on which latter is
the scroll described in page 8, bearing an inscription which solicits the prayers
of the vicars in favour of Sir Richard Pomroy, and expresses solicitude for the
safety of his soul. The five shields are thus emblazoned: the first, to the left,
five bars or and azare, three escalop shells in chief, gules, charged with a
demi-horse issuant rampant, argent: the second are Bishop Beckington’s arms,
which are, argent on a fesse azure, between, in chief, three stags’ heads
caboshed, gules, attired or, and in base three pheons, two and one, sable, a
mitre labelled of thefourth : the third are the royal arms, as borne by Henry V.
and the subsequent sovereigns of England down to Queen Elizabeth, which are
quarterly quartered, first and fourth azure, three Jleurs-de-lis, two and one, or;
second and third, gides, three lions gardant, passant, in pale or: the fourth are
the arms of the united see of Bath and Wells, which are, azure, a saltier per
saltier, quarterly quartered, or and argent, with two keys endorsed, the upper
or, the lower argent, on the dexter side of the saltier ; and a sword or, on the
sinister side, both erect, charged with a crozier, erect, or: the fifth are those
of Pomroy, which are, argent, a lion rampant, or, within a bordure engrailed
azure.
Tke Statutes and Charter of Close Hall, p. 28, MS.