in some of the Churches near Chippenham. 235 



almost entirely defaced ; many more utterly broken and destroyed. 



These simple durable and highly effective memorial brasses are 

 interesting to every lover of antiquity, because they show as in a 

 picture those of bygone ages ; the Prince, the Noble, the Lady, the 

 Knight, the Artizan, the Ecclesiastic, the Merchant, the Judge — 

 each in their appropriate costume ; the flowing robe ornamented 

 with fur and embroidery ; the armour of the soldier with its vary- 

 ing fashion according to the age ; and the unchanging vestment 

 of the cleric, &c. ; and thus over the very spots where their ashes 

 lie, and have lain for centuries, we have representations not fanciful 

 but, real of those commemorated. 



Shakespeare has spoken of these Monumental Brasses, and repre- 

 sents the King oj Navarre in "Love's Labour Lost," {Act I. So. 1) 

 as saying, 



" Let fame that all hunt after in their lives 

 Live register'd upon our ' Brazen Tombs,^ 

 And then grace us in the disgrace of death ; 

 When spite of cormorant devouring time 

 The endeavor of this present breath may buy 

 That honour, which shall bate his scythe's keen edge 

 And make us heirs of all eternity." 



Thus the Cormorant Time which has swallowed up so many 

 persons and their works, and his Scythe which has cut down so 

 many mighty ones of the earth, has not been able to swallow up 

 all of these Monumental Brasses, or sweep away the memories of 

 many, whose names yet remain deeply cut on these sepulchral 

 plates. 



But many useful purposes are served by these Monumental 

 Brasses. 



To the Genealogist, one who is fond of tracing old families and 

 shewing the descent of living persons from the illustrious or 

 wealthy of olden times, they afford authentic evidence of those long 

 passed away : they tell of the very times in which they lived, and 

 their connection, and property, and descent. To the Herald they 

 furnish examples of the original usage in bearing arms, and give 

 authorities in the appropriation and adjustment of badges and 

 other personal devices. The Architect will see in the beautiful canopies 



