C 3. 163 in. (1, 3.) Vide plate 5.
Above, a shield containing arms, three battle-axes, impaled with unicorn, salient. Below an animal coiled up asleep, possibly intended for a dog or a sheep (the latter is partly indicated by the incised lines upon it, as though it had been recently clipped.) Between it and the shield is a pair of scissors, with the blades open. The battle axes are the arms of the Dennis family, but the one bearing the unicorn as a charge is very doubtful. (according to Randle Holme, "He beareth Azure, a Unicorn saliant, Argent. This is born by Dune."6) C 4. 16 in. (1, 3.) Vide plate 1.
In the centre, and occupying rather more than one-
third of the entire panel, is a shield covered with leaves.
overlapping each other. Upon this, in the direction of
a bend sinister, is a pair of spring-shears, with very
broad ends. In the dexter chief is a dish-shaped recep-
tacle, containing some rounded bodies; it has a straight
piece projecting downwards like a bouquet holder, and
above is an ordinary suspending handle. Below the
shield is a symmetrical scroll-like ornament. Above it,
the upper part of the figure of an angel terminating at
the bust. The head is bare, with long hair, face in
profile, wings appear over either shoulder. The body
is clothed in a loose habit, reaching high up in the
neck, and terminating in a flat collar. This is usually
believed to represent Bishop Blaise (Blaze), the patron
saint of woolcombers, with his insignia; and Polwhele
thus alludes to it: "On one seat is a representation of
Bishop Blaze, at which, I have heard, was once an obit
sung or said."7
In 1838, Mr. D. M. Stirling, in his
account of the Church, notes, "the ancient oak seats,
on one of which I observed a representation of Bishop
Blaze." Nevertheless, this explanation is certainly in-
accurate. The distinguishing emblem of the bishop, "is
an iron comb, such as is used by woolcombers, which is
said to have been an instrument of his torture."
"9 The
blunt-ended shears is an implement employed in the
6 Academy of Armory (1688) bk. ii. ch. 9, p. 177.
7 Hist. of Devonshire, ii. 220.
8 Watering Places on the S. E. Coast of Devon, 138.
REV. S. BARING-GOULD, Lives of the Saints, ii. (1878), 48. Church of Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, there is a wall painting of St. Blaise, holding a pastoral staff in one hand and a wool comb in the other. An engraving of it, with description, will be found in Surrey Archæol. Collections, viii. (1883), 60.