A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE lies upon a plain stone altar-tomb, and pre- sents a well-proportioned and martial figure clad in a suit just like that of his companion in arms Sir George Fermor. Such must have been the appearance of the splendid retinue of captains who were sent to Holland with the Earl of Leicester in 1585, and in this harness he appeared on the celebrated field of Zutphen in the following year, and soothed the last hours of his friend Sir Philip Sidney. The sword-belt offers an excellent example of the ' hangers.' On the north side of the tomb, kneeling before faldstools charged with impaled coats, are figures of Lord Russell's three sisters — Ann, Countess of Warwick ; Elizabeth, Countess of Bath ; and Margaret, Countess of Cumberland. They wear jewelled cauls, rufife, and scarlet mantles lined ermine. On the south side are three figures of men in armour, wearing scarlet cloaks lined ermine. These are the three brothers of Lord Russell, who also kneel before faldstools bearing the respective impaled coats of their marriages. Sir John Nedham. Died 1616. Lich- borough. The alabaster effigy lies upon a tomb of the same material, and represents the Gentle- man Pensioner in a suit of armour so carefully detailed as to make it almost a certainty that it was copied from the harness of office. More- over the full-length coeval portrait in civil dress in the possession of Mr. Edward Grant of Lichborough Hall, with the original pen- sioner's axe alongside of it, indicates that the effigy is a faithful likeness. The head rests upon a helmet, the latest example in the county of this military pillow ; it is decorated with a copious plume of feathers, a good instance of the feather fashions of the time, common alike with soldiers and civilians, as well as to noblemen's bedposts. Every gentleman pen- sioner had a man to carry his axe when he was not in duty bound to carry it himself. Both in the effigy and the picture the knight carries a stick in token of his quality. Sir Anthony Mildmay, died 16x7, and Dame Grace his wife. Apethorpe. The effigies lie upon a well proportioned and stately tomb, with a canopy in the form of a dome of two stages, with excellent life- size allegorical figures at the sides and on the frieze of the canopy, the whole memorial being of alabaster. Sir Anthony, son of Sir Walter Mildmay, is represented in the usual armour of the time, with large tuiles of Almayne rivet over trunk hose, and lies upon a finely platted mattress of careful make. Dame Grace, co-heir of Sir Henry Sherington of Lacock, wears a gown, mantle and hood k calcche. Both figures strongly resemble the full-length portraits formerly in the long gallery of the delightful house at Apethorpe, chiefly of Sir Walter Mildmay's building, which were unhappily sold a few years ago. On the tomb and canopy are many shields of arms. Sir Arthi;r Throckmorton, died 1626, and Dame Ann his wife. Paulerspury. These alabaster effigies lie upon a con- tinuous tomb of black and white marble at the west end of the chancel aisle. Sir Arthur wears a coif, large falling bands and cuffs, and a complete suit of the armour of his time that has been so often exemplified. The right leg has been restored in stone. The lady, who was daughter of Sir Thomas Lucas of Col- chester — together with Lord Lisle, ' in cold blood barbarously murdered ' — has her hair crisped, and wears an old-fashioned single ruff, and a tight bodice with slashed virago sleeves. The effigies are doubtless portraits, and are early instances of the abandonment of the recumbent position. Robert Lord Spencer, died 1627, and Margaret his wife. Brington. The clunch effigies of Lord Spencer and his wife lie upon an altar-tomb, under a semi- circular canopy, enriched with armorial bear- ings, and supported upon fluted Corinthian columns with black marble capitals ; above the entablature on each side are three pyra- mids with shields on their bases. Lord Spencer is represented in a complete suit of armour, decorated throughout with an Italian taste, and of an earlier date than that in which he died. He is shown in a close helmet or burgonet with the visor up, a plate gorget and a peascod breastplate, with the skirts or bases charged with arms. Round the waist is a strap with three buckles, from which an estoc is suspended by a loop and tassel. The whole of these are of iron, and the straps and buckles in complete working order. The head rests upon a green grass mound, and the heels upon the gauntlets. The Lady Spencer wears a French hood edged with pearls. Her hair is arranged in a number of small curls close to the face, and brushed back. She wears a plain open ruff and a simple pleated dress of a pale lilac colour. Below the waist some drapery is loosely disposed over a sort of heraldic hetse, which covers the lower part of the figure. The peculiar costume of this effigy is doubt- less in allusion to the circumstances of Mar- .20
