Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/293

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE. 223 fashion in such designs, appear to have been engraved on separate pieces, of a different material to the slab itself, and inlaid on its surface, a peculi- arity in sepulchral slabs uot unfrequently to be noticed in the northern parts of France. The matrices, or indents, intended to receive these in- crustations, now alone remain in the example communicated by Mr. Almack ; the material originally inlaid in them may have been brass, thus sparingly used for the sake possibly of economy ; but we are informed by ^Ir. Maclean that, according to his opinion, it Avas white marble, and both appear to have been frequently used on the continent in tombs of tliis description. This peculiarity, as also the general design of the figure, closely resem- bling that of continental memorials, would appear to warrant the conjecture that this slab was engraved by a French artificer. It is remarkable that a family of French origin, named de St. Quintin, doubtless from the ancient town of that name in the department of the Aisne, long celebrated for manufactures of linen and other tissues, appear to have had commercial transactions at Sudbury, in the times of Edward I., not very long before the date which may be assigned to this tomb. This fact is ascertained by the following record of an inquisition made at Sudbuiy, 3 Edw. I. " Yillata de Subyr'. Inquisitio facta, . . . De hiis qui discordia durante inter Regem et Comitissam Flandrie, contra inibicionem et defencionem Regis defuncti, et Regis qui nunc est, duxerunt vel duci feccrunt lanas aliquas ad partes transmarinas. Sec. " Dicunt quod Johannes Bare, Johannes Bonewile, miles de Bonevile, Thomas Knlvet, Johannes Knivet, Robertus de Sancto Quintino, et Johannes de Sancto Quintino, Reginaldus Cokerel, et Noelus de Aubianis®, Johannes Mulct, Johannes Bele, omnes mercatores Ambianenses, duxerunt et duci fecerunt lanas ad partes transmarinas, quot saccos nesciunt, et per portum Gypewic' illas duxerunt '." There can be little doubt that Seieve was the wife or near relation of this same Robert, the merchant of Amiens, thus called to account for transgress- ing the severe enactments against exportation of wool, long and extensively carried on in the eastern counties to the j^rejudice of English dealers. The name Seieve is of uncommon occurrence in this country : it may be noticed however in the Exeter Domesday, and twice amongst the inhabitants of Winchester, named in the survey taken in the reign of Henry I. ^ Weever, in his account of St. Gregory's church, Sudburv, states that " in the said church lie buried (as I have it in the notes of burials, from William-le-Neve, York Herald) the bodies of . . . Henry, father of Robert Saint Quintyn, Philip Saint Quintin," Sec." The effigy of Seieve de Seint Quintin appears to be of the earlier part of the folirteenth century. In its general design it bears much resemblance to the sepulchral brasses representing Margaret, Lady de Camoys, A.D. 1310, atTrotton, Sussex, and Joan, Lady Cobham, A.D., 1320, atCobham, Kent. She wears the same loosely fitting robe, with short sleeves reaching c Sic. Probably the riglit reading is « Liber Wiiiton. fol. {*, b. and 18. b. Anbianis, or Ambianis, Amiens. *' Fiinerall Monuments, p. 74 t. ' Rot. IIundr.,ii. p. 179.