288 



over the head the stone has been cut into, to form a small square hol- 

 low, possibly to receive a brass ; a very illegible inscription in the An- 

 gio-lSTorman letter may be traced around part of the slab, but the date, 

 anno MCCC, 1300, is very plainly seen. 



N'o. 89. Effigy, in high relief, of a knight on a tombstone in the 

 grave-yard of the old 'church of Eatoath, county of Meath. The head 

 of the figure, which rests on a large cushion, is bare, without a beard, 

 and the general expression of the face is that of age. The hody is clothed 

 in the surcoat, but is without armour. The knight's good sword, with 

 heavy pommel, is, however, girt about his waist by a broad belt, and 

 hangs before him. The right arm and hand are in the attitude of sheath- 

 ing it, while the left holds the scabbard. There is great boldness and 

 character in the execution of this figure. 



ISTo. 90. Sketch of a small effigy from the old abbey of Gowran, 

 county of Kilkenny. The length of this figure is only two feet nine 

 inches, and it represents a juvenile person, possibly a chorister. The 

 head, which rests on a cushion, is either tonsured, or the thick flowing 

 hair is confined by a band across the forehead. The figure is clothed 

 in a long surplice, fitting close to the neck, with tight sleeves. The arms 

 rest on the chest, and the hands hold a large book, possibly a psalter, as 

 indicative of the ecclesiastical rank of the deceased. Diminutive effigies 

 such as this are of the rarest occurrence in Ireland. 



JN'o. 91. Effigy of a female of rank, with highly ornamented horned 

 head dress, characteristic of the 15 th century, from the old abbey of Gow- 

 ran. 



'No. 92. Fragment of a tombstone from the same abbey, which re- 

 presented a knight in the armour of the 15th century. The sword is 

 suspended from around the neck, and rests on the chest, as if laid on the 

 body after death. 



No. 93. Another and similar effigy from the same abbey. Strange to 

 say, the head and face of this effigy have been cut away, probably to allow 

 of the insertion of a brass plate, on which to engrave the features and 

 head armour. A large cushion supports the head, at either side of which, 

 and on the cushion, is engraved a hawk with wings partty extended. 



No. 94. Sketch of a flat tombstone from the abbey of Gowran, on 

 which a full-length male figure is carved in deeply incised lines. The 

 hair is cut close to the head, but falls over the ears. The moustache is 

 indicated, but no beard. The figure is clothed in a long loose robe, with 

 short tight sleeves. The feet are cased in shoes with ankle straps, and 

 rest on a rude representation of a writhing serpent. The evident want 

 of skill in this work stamps it of the 1 6th century, when the sculptors' 

 and builders' art in our realms was at its lowest ebb. 



No. 95. Tombstone from Rathmore Abbey, county of Meath, on which 

 the effigy of a knight, in the armour of the 1 5th century, is carved in 

 high relief. I give it as afibrding us an illustration of the holme or mas- 

 sive tilting helmet of the period, the large vizor of which is raised so as 

 to show the features of the wearer. 



