THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| Vol. XIX. No. 554.] | SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 1832. | [PRICE 2d. |
We select this Engraving as an illustration of the elaborate sculpturaldecoration employed in domestic architecture about three centuries since;but more particularly as a specimen of the embellishment of theecclesiastical residences of that period. It represents a chimney-pieceerected in the Bishop's palace at Exeter, by Peter Courtenay, who wasconsecrated Bishop of Exeter, A.D. 1477, and translated to Winchester, A.D.1486. He had formerly been master of St. Antony's Hospital, in London.
The bishop was third son of Sir Philip Courtenay of Powderham, knight,(fifth son of Hugh Courtenay, second Earl of Devonshire), who died 1463.
He was educated at Exeter College, Oxford; made archdeacon of Exeter 1453;dean of the same church, 1477.
[pg 418]He died 1491, and was probably buried in the chancel at Powderham, whereis an effigy of a bishop inlaid in brass. He built the north tower ofExeter cathedral, and placed in it a great bell, called after himPeter's bell, with a clock and dial: he built also the tower and goodpart of the church at Honiton (which before was only a chapel, now thechancel). In the windows of the tower are the arms of his parents, nowlost; but his paternal arms are on the pillars of the chancel.1
The heraldic embellishments of the chimney-piece are as follow:—
"The arms of Courtenay impaled by those of the see of Exeter are in thecentre compartment. In that on the left hand is the former coat single,supported by two swans collared and chained. Motto Arma Petri Exon epi.And on the right hand it impales Hungerford, supported by two boars withthe Courtenay label round their necks. Motto Arma Patris et Matris.
"Above the centre compartment is the mitre, with the arms of the see, anda label inscribed Colompne ecclesie veritatis p'conie;2 andhere the T is thrice repeated.
"The moulding of the arch is charged with the portcullis and foliagealternately; and on the point are the royal arms in a garter, andsupported by two greyhounds.
"The T with the bell appendant occurs on the sides of the centre coat;also the T single and labels, and over the top of the chimney the T and PC for Peter Courtenay.
"The three Sickles and the Sheaf in the angles of the three compartmentsare the badges of the barons of Hungerford."
Further explanation is necessary, as well as interesting for its connexionwith two popular origins—St. Antony's fire, and St. Antony, or "Tantony'sPig."
"The monks of the order of St. Antony wore a black habit with the letter Tof a blue colour on the breast. This may sufficiently account for theappearance of that figure among the ornaments of Bishop Courtenay's arms.The following extract from Stow's Survey o