HO DALE ABBEY REPORT. 



Bloxam, to whom I sent a drawing of it, has favoured me 

 with the following most interesting particulars : — 



" The effigy of which you have kindly sent me a repre- 



" sentation, is exceedingly interesting, and as far as my 



" knowledge extends, is perfectly unique ; and, in pro- 



" nouncing an opinion upon it, I do so with reservation 



" till I have seen it, and examined it with care, which I 



" hope to do sometime in the early spring. . . . My 



"impression, judging from the drawing, is that it is the 



"sepulchral effigy of a Lector or Reader, or that of an 



" Exorcist,* both minor Orders in the Church. At the 



" ordination of both these orders a book was delivered by 



" the Bishop, which will account for the book held in 



" front. The surplice was the vestment worn at the 



" services of the Church by those of both of these minor 



" orders, and we have it in this effigy worn over the 



" Tunica Talaris or Cassock. It is not a Monastic habit, 



" but a vestment." 



The opinion of so eminent an authority needs no comment. 



The effigy, of which the fragments were found in the North 



Transept, was evidently of the same date, and the work of the ' 



same artist. 



Another singular monument lies between the two bases. This 

 is a double coped tomb of Purbeck marble, but unfortunately 

 very much decayed. Each half is charged with a cross fleury. 

 This is probably the memorial of a married couple. Mr. J. 

 Charles Cox suggests it is that of the persons who found 

 the funds to build the Chapter House. 



On the north side, and built into the stone platform, is 

 part of a very fine incised cross-slab. Besides numerous 

 tiles more or less perfect, and miscellaneous curiosities, a 

 large portion of an heraldic achievement from a monumental 

 brass, circa 1470, was found. There is the helm and most of 

 the lambrequin or mantling, but the crest and shield are at 

 present missing. The material of this appears to be zinc. 



* The office of a Lector was to read the lessons in Church, and of an 

 Exorcist to exorcise the catechumens, and to prepare the water for Baptism. 



