288 Collections for a History of West Lean. 



better construction, as it was certainly of better character than the 

 rest, it was determined to preserve and restore it, as a chapel for 

 the service for the burial of the dead, and as a receptacle for the 

 ponderous monnments, which could not with either safety or pro- 

 priety be removed to another building. A new porch, made 

 sufficiently high to receive in its open gable a bell to be tolled at 

 funerals, has, accordingly, been added on the south, in lieu of the 

 mean and dilapidated structure which j^receded it ; the plaster ceiling 

 which concealed the timbers of the roof has been removed ; and the 

 whole chantry put into substantial repair, at the cost of W. J. 

 Evelyn, of Wotton, Surrey, Esq., a tablet above the door recording 

 his liberality. 



I may now proceed to describe the monuments, in their order. 



The earliest, in point of date, is a large and costly memorial to 

 John Evelyn, Esq., of alabaster and marble, removed from the 

 destroyed chancel, and built into the most western of the brick 

 arches in the north wall. Mr. Evelyn and his wife are kneeling 

 upon cushions, face to face, at a fald-stool, beneath a double semi- 

 circular arcade, supported by a central bracket. He is clad in a 

 civilian's gown, with hanging braided sleeves, and has a ruff round 

 his neck : she has a long flowing dress, with tight sleeves, gauntlets, 

 and ruff, her hair is plaited in a plain band upon her forehead, from 

 which a long veil with lace edging hangs down behind and is 

 caught up beneath the arms in front. Against the base, in alto 

 relievo, are kneeling figures of their children, three sons and eight 

 daughters, the eldest son attired like his father, but without braid 

 upon the sleeves of his gown ; his brothers, behind him, in knee 

 breeches and short cloaks ; all of them with pointed beards and 

 moustaches. Of the daughters, who are habited like their mother, 

 the two eldest and the youngest have their veils gathered up in 

 front ; the others wear theirs hanging in straight folds to the 

 ground. An absurd local tradition that these eleven children were 

 all blind may, perhaps, be explained by the fact that their eyes are 

 uncoloured, while those of their parents are painted. There is a 

 a heavy pediment, supported by Corinthian pillars of red and white 

 marble, and surmounted by a draped shield, sculls, &c. The arms 



