A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE The last will of Sir Henry Vere contains this entry : ' Also I will that my tombe be made in our Lady's Chappell, with a vault in the wall of alybaster, and tomb of the same with a Picter insolid on them.' There is nothing in the appearance of the countenan.rc of the effigy to warrant a belief that it was sculptured as a portrait statue. Dame Elizabeth Cheyne. Irthling- borough. This mutilated alabaster effigy represents a lady of the early years of the sixteenth century in a pedimental head-dress with long lappets, a partlet, gown and mantle. It apparently commemorates Elizabeth first wife of Sir Thomas Cheyne, and only daugh- ter of Henry Hodylston, by whose death in 1 5 1 1 she became possessed of the manor of Irthlingborough. Sir John Spencer, died 1522, and Isabel his wife. Great Brington. The Spencer tombs and effigies take a very high place among the sepulchral memorials of their period. Their condition is all that can be desired ; they have never been mutilated, restored, or repainted, and the rich soft tone which the monuments and figures have ac- quired by age is very striking. Of the ten effigies eight are carved in clunch, the two latest being in white marble from the hand of Nicholas Stone. Tempting as it might be to consider the Brington monuments as a whole, and to treat at large of the manifold heraldry and the rich late Gothic and Renaissance details of the tombs, the exigences of a strict system- atic arrangement of the effigies in the county, and of space, make it necessary to take the Spencer effigies indifferently with the others, as they fall by the deaths of the men into the chronological order which has been adopted, and to deal with them only in a like limited manner. The effigies of Sir John Spencer and Dame Isabel his wife repose upon a high altar-tomb divided on either side into three compartments containing shields within enriched quatrefoils. Over the figures rises a four-centred arched canopy with a quatrefoiled entablature, sur- mounted by an elaborate cresting, and flanked by panelled and embattled turrets. It is a memorial of great refinement, and of special interest as the latest Gothic monument with effigies in the county. The sculpture through- out is admirable, and none can doubt that faithful portraits are here presented. Sir John Spencer is represented wearing a simple gorget, his body being habited in a tabard. At the side openings of this gar- ment the cuirass and taces appear, and below it the tuiles and the mail skirt. The bras- sarts and avant-bras are hinged after the old manner, the coudi^res decorated with rosettes, the cuissarts and jambes plain, and the large-winged genouilleres and their single articulations ridged and engrailed. The feet are covered with engrailed sollerets ending with wide fluted sabbatons or toepieces, imi- tating the puffings of the civil fashion of the time. The heels resting on broad plate gauntlets, then just going out, show the construction of the soles and the straps fast- ening the sollerets. A scarlet mantle, lined green, falls to the feet, and is fastened across the breast by a continuously hinged band bearing the initials of the wearer. From the right side an estoc is suspended by a loop, and a sword on the left, both with Renais- sance details, as is to be expected. The head rests upon a tilting helm with barred sights, surmounted by the wreath, and crest. Dame Isabel Spencer, wears the pedimen- tal head-dress with double lappets, paned and diapered. Her hair is braided in front, and flows behind her shoulders to the waist ; she has a necklace from which a heart is suspended, and as this was the age of great gold chains, she wears three round her neck. The partlet is embroidered and edged with pearls, and the wrists similarly decorated. She is habited in a white kirtle edged with gold over a long scarlet gown covering her feet. From the girdle is suspended a rosary and a richly ornamented pomander chain ; a heraldic mantle is looped across the breast by a tasselled cord, and falls in broad folds to the feet ; it is embroidered with arms. At the feet are the mutilated remains of two squirrels. At the east end of the canopy below the arch is this inscription in Roman capitals : — here LIETH the BODDIES of sir JOHN spencer KNIGHT & DAME ISABELL HIS WIFE ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS & COHEIRES OF WALTER GRAUNT OF SNITTERFIELD IN THE COUNTIE OF WAR : ESQUIER HER MOTHER WAS THE DAUGHTER AND HEIRE OF HUMPHRIE RUDINGE OF THE WICH IN THE COUN : OF WORCESTER ESQ : WHICH JOHN AND ISABELL HAD ISSU SIR WILL'M SPENCER KNIGHT i. ANTHONY SPENSER 2. WHO DIED WITHOUT ISSU. JANE WIFE TO RICH : KNIGHTLEY ESQUIER SON'E & HEIRE OF SIR RICHARDE KNIGHTLEY OF FAWSLEY IN THE COUNTIE OF NORTH : KNIGHT. ISABELL MARIED TO SIR NIC'S : STRELLY OF STRELLY IN THE CON'TIE OF NOTT. KNIGHT. DOROTHYE MARIED TO SIR RICH : CATESBIE OF LEGERS ASHBIE IN THE COUN : OF NORTH : KNI : WHICH JOHN SPENC : DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 14 OF APR. A° D'NI 1522 414
