80 ANCIENT MEMORIAL BRASSES OF DORSET. 



lion's head erased gules. John de Govys presented 

 Roger Dobyn to " Longa Kurchel " in 1324. This 

 brass is near this date, c. 1340, when Norman- 

 French was spoken at the English Court. Inscrip- 

 tions to priests were then for the most part in Latin, 

 the canonical language, while those of knights and 

 ladies were in French, and rarely found after 1420. 

 This is probably one of the oldest brasses in Dorset. 



Norman-French inscriptions being rare, we may 

 compare with this example two others, viz., that 

 in the nave of Chinnor, Oxfordshire, late 14th 

 century, being : 



" Adam Rameseye gist ycy Dieu de sa alme eit 

 mercy Ame," 



and that in Hellesdon Church, Norfolk, c. 1360, all 

 being brief but very beautiful in their simplicity 



" Richard de Heylesdone & Beatrice sa feme 

 gisont icy Dieu de lo' almes eit m'cy amen." 



