A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE PART I ' GOTHIC PERIOD Abbot Benedict. Died 1193. Peter- borough Cathedral. The effigy lies north and south, upon a modern tomb, in the retro-choir at the back of the high altar. The figure is sculptured in rather low relief in polished grey marble, and represented bareheaded, with the tonsure, and the face closely shaved. It is shown habited in an alb, a chasuble, with the orphrey attached to it in front, and taking the form of the archiepiscopal pall. Below the chasuble the ends of the stole appear. Round the neck is apparently the amice, but as there is no indication of any turning over, or of the apparel, the collar of the chasuble may be intended. The pastoral staff is held diagonally across the body, in the right hand ; it has a simple crook curved outward. The ferule of the staff is thrust into the jaws of a double-headed and winged dragon, perhaps in allusion to that verse of the Psalms : ' Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder : the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.' The left hand holds a clasped book of the Gospels. Over the head of the figure is a semicircular trefoil canopy, surmounted by a rude repre- sentation of a Norman building such as are found in illuminated MSS. and on seals of this period. Abbot Benedict ruled the monastery from 1 177 until his death in 1193. The figure is sculptured upon a slab narrowing to the feet which, according to the practice of this early period, formed the external lid of the coffin placed level with the pavement. Abbot Robert de Lyndeseye. Died 1222. Peterborough Cathedral. The effigy is placed second from the west end of the south aisle of the choir. It is carved in polished Purbeck marble. The head rests upon a pillow placed lozenge-wise. The whole of the face has been destroyed, but from its general form it appears to have been bearded. The abbot is represented bareheaded, with the tonsure, he has the amice about his neck, and is vested in the alb, stole and chasuble. A pastoral staff has been held in the right hand and the left holds the Gospels. Above the figure is a semicircular trefoil canopy supported upon sculptured capitals. The slab upon which the effigy is carved ' The following section is based upon An Account of the Recumbent Monumental Effigies in Noitkamfilon- shire, by the writer (1866-76), which is not within easy reach of the public. narrows quickly to the feet and takes the shape of a coffin-lid, and must originally have been placed level with the ground and used for that purpose. ' ViRGiLius.' Died 1228. Castor. This is the demi-effigy of a tonsured eccle- siastic, vested apparently in the amice and chasuble, and sculptured in rather an unusual manner upon a coffin-lid of Barnack stone 'en dos d' ane.' It is probably intended to represent ' Virgilius Persona seu Rector ' who was presented to the church by the abbot and convent of Peterborough, and whose death is recorded to have taken place in 1228. Abbot Walter de St. Edmund. Died 1245. Peterborough Cathedral. In chronological order this is the third of the abbatical effigies. It lies in the south aisle of the choir third from the west end, and is sculptured upon a coffin-shaped slab of grey marble originally polished. The abbot is shown bareheaded, with the tonsure, and wearing a short beard, arranged, like the hair, in small curls. The forehead is lined with furrows and the figure is evidently that of an aged man. He is vested in the alb, with an ornamented parure or apparel at the feet ; a tunic, or it may be the dalmatic, and the chasuble from which there is a very curious and unusual pendent ornament, probably a weight to keep this garment in place. There is no stole visible, and over the left wrist is a very long and narrow maniple. The amice appears about the neck, in the right hand is a pastoral staff with the simple crook turned inwards, and in the left the book of the Gospels. The feet rest upon a winged dragon into whose jaws the end of the staff is thrust. Over the head of the figure rises a pointed cinquefoiled canopy, springing from shafts with sculptured capitals and moulded bases, and surmounted by a representation of a building with towers and three-light windows. Sir Robert de Vere. Died 1249. Sud- borough. This memorial finds its place in the midst of the period during which military effigies had their rise. The figure of an illustrious soldier is presented fully clad in armour of the fashion that had its development in the latter part of the twelfth century, from the military habits of the companions and soldiers of the Conqueror, and was rapidly perfected, though practically the same defence in 1250. Sir Robert de Vere was famous in arms, a 394
