BRASSES

Monumental slabs of bra , much used in the middle ages, with effigies carved in outline upon them. An historical and descriptive account of bra es used as sepulchral memorials would occupy too much space for this work. Perhaps as much of the history as we shall be expected to give is included in the following paragraph from the “Manual of Monumental Bra es,” (Oxford, 1848,) to which we may refer for a full discu ion on this subject. “The earliest bra of which we have any record was that of Simon de Beauchamp, who died before 1208, thus mentioned by Leland, “He lyith afore the highe altare of S. Paule’s chirch in Bedeford, with this epitaphie graven in bras, and set on a flat marble stone:— De Bello Campo jacet hic sub mar more Simon Fund at or de Neweham. ” Several others of the thirteenth century, now lost, are enumerated by Gough.” At the present time, the earliest bra known is that of Sir John d’Abernon, 1277; one other of the same century still remains at Trumping ton. From this period their numbers gradually increased until about the middle of the sixteenth century, when they became le common. The latest observed example is at St. Mary Cray, Kent, 1776. It is remarkable that the earliest bra es are quite equal, in beauty of form and execution, to any of a later date. From the early part of the fifteenth century a gradual decline of the art is visible, and towards the end of the sixteenth century it became utterly degenerate. It seems needle to add, that the interest of bra es is derived, in a great degree, from the light which they throw on med iæval costume, and the habits of our ancestors. The destruction of bra es at the Reformation was great; at the Rebellion still greater. The mention of this spoliation by Drake, the historian of York, is worth volumes of mere particulars. “Let no man hereafter say, ‘ Exegi monumentum ære perennius ;’ for now an æris sacra fames has robbed us of most of the ancient monumental inscriptions that were in the church. At the Reformation this hairbrained zeal began to show itself against painted gla , stone statues, and grave-stones, many of which were defaced and utterly destroyed, along with other more valuable monuments of the church, till Queen Elizabeth put a stop to these most scandalous doings by an expre act of parliament. In our late civil wars, and during the usurpation, our zealots began again these depredations on grave-stones, and stripped and pillaged to the minutest piece of metal. I know it is urged that their hatred to Popery was so great, that they could not endure to see an “ orate pro animâ ,” or even a cro , over a monument without defacing it; but it is plain that it was more the poor lucre of the bra , than zeal, which tempted these miscreants to this act, for there was no gravestone which had an inscription cut on itself that was defaced by anything but age throughout this whole church.”