48 MY DEVON YEAR 



ramparts a palace and a fortress built on the rock, 

 and, perhaps in their owner's view, destined to endure 

 as long as their foundations. 



The ruins of the Norman's work still stand and 

 circle others of a date later by five hundred years. 

 During that period the descendants of the Conqueror's 

 friend enjoyed their possessions, exercised baronial 

 rights, and retained the favour of their princes. In 

 the fourteenth century Nicholas Pomeroy was High 

 Sheriff of Devon ; Sir Thomas also filled the Shriev- 

 alty, and his son enjoyed like high office after him. 

 Others followed, and the family continued to be a 

 power in the land until 1549, when Devon opposed 

 the "Act for Reforming the Church Service" tooth 

 and nail, and many of the leading nobles of the county 

 were enjoined to pacify the common folk "by gentle 

 means, if possible, but others, if necessary." 



Among the malcontents was the reigning lord of 

 Pomeroy, a man of military knowledge and prowess. 

 He had followed the wars with distinction in France 

 during the reign of Henry VIII., and perchance, like 

 many military veterans of a later date, took strong 

 ground on all questions involving his creed, and held 

 tolerance no virtue. Him the discontented gentry 

 elected their leader, and after preliminary successes, 

 the knight lost the day at Clist Heath, nigh Exeter, 

 yet retained sufficient interest at Court to escape with 

 his hot head on his shoulders. But the last of the 

 Pomeroys who ever lorded it at Berry was he, and 

 whether he compounded for his life by yielding up 



