THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF OLD PLYMOUTH. 341 
Henry Sutton, and in a case which, for some reason or other, had 
been reserved, either for consideration or for a reference as to the 
course to be adopted, he presumed to absolve the offender, a breach 
of duty which Bishop Brantyngham thought it necessary to visit 
with excommunication on the 17th September. He was soon, how- 
ever, reconciled to the bishop, and probably no great harm was done. 
In June, 1387, the commissioners appointed in the Scrope and 
Grosvenor controversy sat in this church, and in the Refectory of the 
Friary. In 1385, Richard II. was in Scotland, and, among other 
knights, Lord Scrope and Sir Robert Grosvenor were with the King 
and his army. During the expedition Scrope challenged the right of 
Grosvenor to bear the arms, "Azure, a bend or ;" and in August, 
1385, a proclamation was made " throughout the host in Scotland, 
that all who were interested in the dispute should appear at New- 
castle-on-Tyne on the 20th of the month. Lord Scrope attended, 
but the further consideration of the subject was adjourned, and the 
suit continued for upwards of four years." It is unnecessary to 
detail the circumstances of this controversy here, but Scrope suc- 
ceeded in fully establishing his right to bear the arms. The 
commissioners wandered over the kingdom taking evidence. In 
Devonshire they seem to have sat at Plymouth and at Tiverton, 
and among those who gave evidence were Richard de Sutton and 
Johan Fitz Richard de Sutton, Esquier.* 
Almost the only knowledge we have of the structure is from 
the map or chart which is familiar to us all, many copies and fac- 
similes having been made, f You will notice how prominently the 
Convent of the White Friars stands out. The church, with its 
chancel, indicated by the cross over it, is very conspicuous. The 
tower and spire must have been very handsome, and apparently not 
inferior to that of St. Andrew. The buildings were very extensive. 
At the dissolution the whole came to the King, from whom, it 
is stated (and if so, presumably by purchase), it passed into the 
* See Scrope and Grosvenor Roll (De Controversia in Curia Militari inter 
Ricardum le Scrope et Robertum Grosvenor Milites Rege Ricarclo Secundo, 
1385-1390. E recordis in Turre Londinensi asservatis). Edited by Sir 
N. Harris Nicolas. 
f This map is supposed to have been drawn in the reign of Henry VIII. 
It includes a sketch of the coast from the Land's End, with views of the 
principal places. It is on parchment, and, I believe, about 18 inches wide, 
and 15 feet long. Mr. Worth thinks that Leland may have had something 
to do with it. 
