ancient memorial brasses of dorset. 163 

 Lytchett Matravers, St. Mary. 



1. — Thos. Pethyn, rector, c. 1470, in shroud, small, in 

 Chancel. 



2. — Inscription ; Margaret Clement " generosa specialis 

 benefactrix reedificacionis hujiis ecclesie 1505." 



3. — A matrix of a very large fret (the arms of Maltravers), 

 with marginal inscription to Sir John Matravers, 1365 

 (Cough's Sepulchral EfBgies, Vol. I., p. 117). Haines. 



THOMAS PETHYN. 



Position. — Mural, below a windoAv in the Chancel a little 

 Avest of the piscina. 



Size. — 15in. high by 4|in. wide at the feet. The inscrip- 

 tion 12 Jin. by 2 fin. 



Description.— This is the solitary example of a shroud 

 brass extant in Dorset, although there are matrices, one being 

 at present in St. Peter's, Dorchester. They are not found 

 earlier than the fifteenth century, one of the earliest being 

 the half effigy of Joan Mareys at Sheldwich, Kent, 1431. 

 Thomas Pethyn's effigy is probably c. 1470. The origin of 

 these peculiar effigies is given in Cotman's Brasses, Vol. II., 

 p. 51, to remind us "that the robes of pride will shortly be 

 exchanged for the winding-sheet, and that beauty and strength 

 are hastening to the period when they will become as the 

 spectre before them." The preparation for a shroud brass 

 cannot have been very different from the following, for a 

 marble effigy now in St. Paul's. 



" A monument being resolved upon, Dr. Donne sent for a Carver 

 to make for him in wood the figure of an Urn, giving him directions 

 for the compass and height of it ; and to bring with it a board, of the 

 just height of his body. ' These being got, then without delay a 

 choice Painter was got to be in readiness to draw his picture, which 

 was taken as foUoweth. — Several charcoal fires being first made in his 

 large Study, he brought with him into that place his winding-sheet 

 in his hand, and having put off all his clothes, had this .sheet put on 



