beneath the Rood Loft, and so, through this opening, the priest at the altar 

 in the Edward chapel could see the priest at the Rood altar when celebrating 

 mass. Or perhaps some of my more experienced and learned hearers may be 

 able to explain it in some other way. 



All the windows in the church are, I believe, modern. There must have 

 been at some time a most wicked and wanton destruction of glass, for we are 

 told that " several, if not all, of the windows were formerly glazed with painted 

 glass, on which different armorial devices were portrayed." The old east 

 window contained the arms of the Priory of Norton, in Cheshire, and it is a 

 matter for regret that this window was ever removed. The living belonged 

 to the Priory of Norton at the time of the dissolution of religious houses 

 when the large tithes were alienated. Previous to that period the vicars were 

 generally selected from the canons of the Priory of St. Mary, Norton. 

 Stevens, in his " Monasticon " records several interesting particulars relating 

 to this benefice, and these would have been well illustrated by a glance at the 

 east window as it originally existed full of historic associations. In the east 

 window of the south aisle there used likewise to be a picture of a knight in 

 armour, and his wife kneeling opposite to him, and in the south windows were 

 emblazoned various devices and impalements of the Staunton family. All 

 these have long since passed away, and the only memorial in this church of 

 their grandeur and greatness is the splendid mediaeval brass on the tomb at 

 the east end of the south aisle. 



This brass has been much mutilated, and the inscription partly broken off 

 and taken away. I cannot tell you when or how, but I fancy it was done 

 many years ago. What is left reads thus — 



" Staunton Armigeri et Agnes uxor dicti Roberti, qure obiit i8th die mensis 

 Julii anno Domini — 0-458 {i.e., 1458), et dictus Robertus obiit — die mensis — 

 millesimo cccc (1400) — quorum animabus propicietur Deus. Amen." 



A scroll proceeds from the mouth of the lady on which is graven — 

 "illuminet vultum suum super nos, et misereatur nnstri." 



You will observe that there is a hiatus in this brass as to the date of death 

 of this Robert Staunton. This family is of very ancient origin, and Harold 

 was their patronymic. In the time of William II. they possessed many fair 

 manors and much influence. They were early located at Staunton, and 

 assumed their surname after that place in the reign of King John. The post 

 of High Steward of Donington Castle was hereditary in the family through 

 many reigns. The granddaughter of this Robert Staunton, whose name and 

 effigy is graven on the brass, was married in 1423 to Ralph Shirley, son of 

 Sir Ralph Shirley, who was a distinguished commander at the battle of Agin- 

 court, and from this union of the Stauntons and Shirleys descends the present 

 Earl Ferrers, of Staunton Harold, in this county. In two of the north 

 windows the arms of the Shirleys and Hesilriges were formerly emblazoned, 



