62 



through a deputy or vicar, for a Richard Field is named as such by- 

 Bishop Wykeham in 1397. We see no self denial in the act of 

 spoliacion of his successor's income even to found a college at 

 Cambridge like "King's." Prophete fully repaired Ringwood Rectory 

 by royal grants [HarL MSS,, 431, 18) and helped the Berkeleys of 

 Bisterne to found their chantry near Ringwood. On 8th April, 

 1416, being in London, he made his own will and soon afterwards 

 died. This v^ill is at Somerset House [PPC 33 Marche), In it he 

 desires to be buried either at Leighton Buzzard or Ringwood, and 

 as his brass is in Ringwood Church, he probably lies there, although 

 the exact grave is unknown, the brass having been moved in modern 

 times for convenience and preservation. 



The brass, which is six feet long {see Plate V.), exhibits the wear 

 of more than four and a half centuries, its inlay of white metal or 

 silver being destroyed, as well as its inscriptions, portions of its 

 shields, saintly figures and canopy. The tonsured head of Prophete 

 is represented as lying on a diapered cushion. The vestments are 

 a surplice with hanging sleeves over which is the almuce. The 

 hands are clasped as in prayer. The morse or brooch fastening the 

 almuce bears a figured head with a nimbus, probably of Christ. 

 On the cope are eight saintly figures on pedestals under canopies — on 

 the right side St. Michael in triumph, St. John Baptist with a lamb 

 and book, St. Peter with his key, St. Paul and his sword, these last 

 two being the dedication saints of the Ringwood church. On the 

 left side is St. Winifred with a book — her pedestal is inscribed Sea 

 Wefrd, below is St. Katherine with wheel and sword, then next St. 

 John with a chalice and dragon, and the lowest is probably Christ 

 in triumph over the dragon, slaying it with a cross-hilted spear. 

 The canopy has foliage ornamentation similar to John d'Campeden 

 at St. Cross, Winchester, and Thomas Ayhvard at Havant — all three 

 are probably the work of the same artist. As the features on each 

 brass differ it may be assumed that a likeness is intended. If so, 

 John Prophete had a round handsome happy face — his lines had 

 fallen in pleasant places ; if he had his worries he also had a good 

 share of prosperity and friends. As a memento of the stormy time 

 of the 15th century in the making of England, may this brass long 

 be preserved at Ringwood as an interesting local object for the 

 historian and antiquary. 



