By the Bev. J. E. Jackson, F.S.A. 283 



daugliters married to Greinville and Bigot. The original inscrip- 

 tion on his altar-shaped tomb is written in large capital letters, the 

 first six inches, the last three and a half inches in height (the in- 

 scription evidently tapering to a narrower end like the stone itself), 

 in a very involved and enigmatical fashion used by the later Ro- 

 mans ; a specimen of which Leland saw on a Roman tablet inserted 

 in the walls of Bath.^ The larger letters are made to contain the 

 smaller ones. The present inscription would have been almost as 

 unintelligible to the ordinary archaeologist as the cuneiform writing 

 of Nineveh, had not the monks themselves provided the explanation 

 by repeating it in characters somewhat later, round the margin. 

 The words are : — 



"Hie jacet Ilbertus de Chat bonitate refertus, 

 Qui cum Brotona dedit hie perplurima dona." 

 " Here lieth Ilhert de Chat, who, of his exceeding bounty, bestowed on this 

 house, Broughton and very many other gifts." 



The age of this monument is certain, as Ilbert is witness to one 

 of the charters of Farley Priory about a.d 1187. The monument 

 has been repaired, and is taken care of at Lacock ; but it ought to 

 be here. It was found northwest of the chancel, and, from the way 

 in which the marginal inscription is cut, evidently stood against 

 the church wall; perhaps was built into the wall under an arch. 

 "When found, it looked "like a seat" in the north angle. 



These were the results of excavations in 1744. In 1841, during 

 some further alteration of the ground by the late Mr. Wade Browne, 

 a large slab, once the covering of a stone coffin, was found. On it 

 is the effigy of a cross-legged knight, in chain armour, sculptured 

 in low relief. On the shield, which lies, not by his side, but over 

 the whole body, occupying the full width of the stone, are the arms 

 of Dunstanville : Frctty on a canton a lion passant ; surmounted by a 

 label (the mark of an elder son). The Dunstanvilles were, in the 

 12th century when this Priory was founded. Lords of the large 



1297, and IJaitli: Bigot was a donor to Farley Priory of a mill at Box. An 

 Ismena de Chauz held land at Easton, Co. Wilts, Edward I. (Test, dc Nov.) and 

 a Robert de Chauz witnesses a deed of Lenton Priory, Co. Notts, (see Dugdale). 

 For several examples of the peculiar style of inscription on Ilbert's Tomb, see 

 note to Nichols's Hist, of Lacock, p. .353. 



' Leland Itiu. 11, G7. 



u2 



