Page:VCH Northamptonshire 1.djvu/501

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MONUMENTAL EFFIGIES Abbot Robert Kirton. Died 1528. Peterborough Cathedral. The sixth effigy in the great Benedictine church is that of a mitred abbot carved in clunch, and very much defaced. The figure is shown wearing the alb with its apparels, tunic, dalmatic, stole and chasuble. Upon the head appears the mutilated remains of the mitre, it rests upon two pillows, and is sup- ported on either side by angels. As this effigy is that of a mitred abbot there are only two to whom it can be ascribed — Kirton, forty-fourth abbot, and Chambers, forty-fifth and last abbot and first bishop, who would no doubt have been represented in a cope rather than a chasuble. The first mitred abbot of Peterborough was William Genge, elected in 1396, and from his time to that of Kirton it is recorded that the abbots had brasses for their monuments, all of which were despoiled in 1643. Robert Kirton was elected in 1496. He erected ' that goodly building at the east end of the church,' and the gateway leading to the deanery. He died in 1528, and was buried under a high tomb in the chapel of St. Mary. The effigies in Peterborough Cathedral may be compared with those early ecclesiastical figures in the cloisters at Westminster. They are not of so stately a character as those at Wells and York, nor do they occupy their original positions like those at Rochester, for in this respect they have shared the same fate as the Salisbury and Worcester monuments. They may be regarded as the most interesting series of early abbatical effigies in this country. PART II RENAISSANCE AND LATER PERIOD Chief-Justice Sir Robert Brudenell died 1 531, and Dames Margaret and Philippe his wives. Deene. The alabaster effigies of these three person- ages lie upon an altar-tomb of a debased Italian, or rather early English Renaissance style, divided on the sides by arabesque shafts, sculptured with naked figures and vine and ivy foliage, into three compartments, contain- ing shields in foliated lozenge-shaped panels. The Chief-Justice is shown in the full judicial costume, precisely such as is seen on the bench at the present day with the ex- ception of the head-gear. He wears a black cornered cap, a coif, and a scarlet gown with loose white sleeves, showing the close white sleeves of the doublet ; he has no tippet or hood, but a scarlet mantle fastened by an ouche on the right side, and a collar of SS with a pendent Tudor rose. Dame Margaret Brudenell, daughter and co-heir of Thomas Entwissel has her brown hair braided with black ribbon ; she wears a blue pedimental head-dress with black lappets, a white pleated partlet, and three gold chains round her neck. The white gown has divided sleeves with ruffles, the blue mantle is fastened by a gold chain, a loosely-knotted yellow sash is about her waist, and two lapdogs lie at her feet. Dame Philippe, the relict, daughter of Philip Englefield, wears the mourning habit, consisting of a long veil, and a barbe under the chin, according to her rank, a black gown with plain cufFs, and a long black mantle looped up under the right arm. It is doubtful whether any of the three figures are portraits. Round the verge of the tomb is the follow- ing inscription: of gotnr cijaritt prno for ti)c aoults of £sr robt bruttncll Unigljt late cfjict justice of tlje hgiigos como bcncfie at fatatiit anb fHargarct anli bame pijolgp Ijia fasbes t tobt tocti ue III iavt of 3anuaric ano tni m ccccc mi anil gc stg Ijac pijgUgipt bgclj tfjc iibiii tiag of ffiarc^c anno bni m ccccc iiiii ^ Igcn }txi on tofjoae souUca iiju tafac tncrcg 2lmen. At this point it will be convenient to allude to the three other effigies in the county in judicial dress. Sir Edward Montagu, successively Chief Justice of the King's Bench and of the Com- mon Pleas, is shown in his alabaster portrait effigy at Weekley in the robes of a judge. He died in 1557. Sir Christopher Yelverton, Judge of the Queen's Bench, died 1612, is represented in his excellent portrait effigy in alabaster, together with that of his wife, Mary Catesby, at Easton Mauduit, in full legal habits. In the same church is the portrait effigy in ala- baster of his son. Sir Henry Yelverton, Judge of the Common Pleas, died 1629, together with that of his wife, Margaret Beale. He is in complete legal dress, precisely the same as that of his father. In Stcane church is the careful portrait effigy in white marble of Sir Thomas Crewe, 415