_Chief authorities for this paper_: Dugdale and Oliver’s _Monasticon_; old documents connected with Tavistock, recovered in ancient oak chest in 1886; various papers on Tavistock Worthies, in the _Transactions of the Devonshire Association_; Mr. A. H. Bullen’s “Life of William Browne,” in the _Dictionary of National Biography_; and Mr. Wm. Carew Hazlitt’s Introduction to the Roxburghe Club Edition of Browne’s Works, 1868. ----- Perhaps it was the rich and varied beauty round his home that forced some scraps of verse from the rugged soul of our Puritan incumbent, Thomas Larkham. At all events, two hundred years later, Vicar Bray was versifying in the quiet seclusion of his vicarage, and inscribing his best lines on slate slabs for the garden walls; and at the same time, Mrs. Bray was writing her local tales in imitation of Scott, sending letters to Southey about the borders of the Tamar and Tavy, and commending to his kindly notice her poetical _protegée_, the modest and gentle maid-servant, Mary Collins. Then, also, Miss Rachel Evans was writing verse, as well as prose; and her brother-in-law, Mr. H. S. Stokes, was beginning his career as a west-country poet here in Tavistock. [Illustration: WEST VIEW OF TAVISTOCK ABBEY, 1734. (_From an Engraving by S. and N. Buck._) ] Transcription: [For the most noble John, Duke and Earl of Bedford, Marquess of Tavistock, Baron Russel of Thornbaugh, and Baron Howland of Streatham. Proprietor of these Remains. This Prospect is humbly Inscrib’d by Your Grace’s most Dutiful, and Obedient Servants, Sam^l & Nath^l Buck. Ordigarius or Orgarius Duke of Devonshire & Cornwall, whose Daughter was married to K. Edgar, Very probably kept his Court here, till his son Odulph built this Abbey Anno 961, for then the whole Mannor of Tavistock, & Jurisdiction thereof, were given to the Monastery with view of Frank Pledge, Gallowes Pillory assize of Bread Beer &c. The Church was dedicated to St. Mary &. St Rumon. The Danes burnt it but it was soon rebuilt. In the Reign of Ed. I. The abbot claim’d the aforesaid Priveleges, which were by that King allow’d & confirm’d. There were some famous Men Abbots thereof, particularly two Bishops & one Earl of Devonshire; of the Courtenay family, Lectures were herein read in the Saxon language to preserve it in Memory; it was of the Dignity of the Mitred Abbots, who sat as Barons in Parliament. Their Power and Priveleges continued till the Dissolution by K. H. 8. who gave it to John L’^d Russel, in which Noble Family it still continues. Annual Value £902 5 7¾. S. & N. buck delim et sculp 1733 ]