244 ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 



nature of both armour and sometimes crest, may explain an 

 apparent error ; there may have been a third altar-tomb there. 



Leland says : " Ther be two of the Brounyngs, sumtyme 

 Lordes of Melbyrie, that hath tumbes in the church hard by the 

 manor place," then giving inscriptions, but following them with 

 this remark, " These epitaphies were written upon two tumbes 

 yn the chirch at Melbury. But I learned there that a saying 

 was, that the body of one of these Brunings was buried at 

 Milton Abbey, and the body of the other at Cerne." 



Both inscriptions are well cut, that to Sir Giles Strangways is 

 remarkable for the ornaments between the words, and is worth 

 examination for these alone ; it may also be regarded as possibly 

 a palimpsest, the rivets not being of original metal. 



