The following inscription referred to the latter : 



"Here is the monument of Sir Barnard Drake, Kt., who had to wife 

 Dame Garthod, the daughter of Bartholomew Fortescue, of Filly, Esqre., 

 by whom he had three sons and three daughters, where of whear five 

 living at his death namely, John, Hugh, Marie, Margaret, and Helen. 

 He died 10th April, 1586, aud Dame Garthod, his wife, was here buried 

 12th February, 1601, unto the memorie of whom John Drake, Esqre., 

 his son, hath set this monument. Anno. 1611." The church contains 

 another memento of the Drake family in its Communion plate, which is 

 very handsome, consisting of a flagon, a chalice, and two salvers, all of 

 silver and weighing 4lbs. and loz. An inscription records its presenta- 

 tion in 1730 by Sir William Drake. The parish registers are veiy 

 interesting, commencing from the year 1653. They contain a 

 memorandum of an older register, bearing date from April 28th, 1562, 

 which has, however, entirely disappeared. 



Above the village, Musbury Castle occupies a commanding position on 

 the summit of the hill. It forms one of a chain of earthworks extending 

 from Axmouth on the coast a long distance inland, which it is believed 

 were constructed by the Durotriges or Morini of Dorset as a defence 

 against the incursions of the hostile Danmonii of Devonshire. 



The day had now become delightful, and the Devonshire country 

 was looking its best. After leaving Musbury a drive of half- 

 an-hour through narrow lanes brought the party to Coombpyne. 

 At first sight there was nothing specially attractive in the 

 appearance of this little village. The parish anciently belonged 

 to the family of Coffin and was then called Coombe Coffin j 

 subsequently in the time of Henry III, it passed to the family of 

 Pyne, the owners of Shute, and was then called Coombpyne. The 

 principal farmhouse, adjoining the church, was in the time of Edward I. 

 a convent, and traces of the ancient buildings and nuns' walk are still 

 visible. The church is interesting, belonging to the 13th century of 

 Early English and Decorated styles of architecture, consisting of a nave, 

 chancel, tower, and porch, with triple lancet window over the Com- 

 munion Table. But the chief attraction lay in the set of Communion 

 plate which is the possession of Coombpyne. This dates to the latter 

 part of the 15th century, and therefore is one of the few remaining 

 examples of pre-Reformation Communion plate in this country. In his 

 work on " Old English Plate " Mr. Cripps figures and describes the plate 

 of Nettlecombe, Corpus Christi, and Trinity College (Oxford), and says 

 that "these with other found at Leominster, Chewton Mendip, Coomb 

 Pyne, and Wyllie are all that have come to the knowledge of the writer. ' 



