THE MONUMENTAL BRASSES OF WARWICKSHIRE. 
51 
of this in the present example. The justice holds in his 
hands, which are raised in prayer, a scroll, the symbol of his 
office ; at his right side he wears a tasselled pouch or purse 
called a (jijpciere, attached to his girdle. His feet are encased 
in wide shoes. 
Margery Holte wears the dress in fashion during the first 
half of the 16th century. Her head-dress is that called, 
from its shape, the kennel or diamond-shaped head-dress. It 
was a sort of bonnet having a round cap at the back, and in 
front long lappets which hung down each side of the face, and 
were supported by wires so as to form an angle over the 
forehead. In the present example there are additional 
lappets or streamers. The lady’s gown is high-necked and 
has a deep pointed collar, and is confined at the waist by a 
belt with a metal clasp. The sleeves are very large, and are 
ornamented with two rows of puffs, four bands, and wide 
scalloped cuffs. The voluminous folds of the dress, and the 
way in which it is tucked up at the side, are marks of the style 
of a provincial artist. 
Beneath the effigies of the justice and his wife is the 
following inscription in black letter : 
Gbomas Ibolte bere h?etb m qraue, 3 bu for tbpn passion 
On bpm tbou baue compassion, Bnb bis soolc bo saue. 
Under this inscription, on separate plates, are the effigies 
of a son in a gown like his father’s, but without the cloak, and 
of two daughters attired like the mother. There is a poor 
representation of the brass in Dugdale (p. 879). Dugdale 
(p. 872) says that Tlios. Holte “ being a learned Lawyer and 
Justice of North Wales in Henry VUIth’s time, as also in 
Commission for the peace in this Shire the greatest part of 
that king’s reign, wedded Margerie the eldest of the seven 
daughters and co-heirs to William Willington of Barclieston 
Esquire (a wealthy merchant of the Staple) who survived 
him, and afterwards became the wife of Sir Ambrose Cave, 
Knight. And by her he left issue Edward Holt, Esquire, 
which Edw. having had his education with Sir John St. Leger 
(then of Weoley Castle in Com. Wigorn,) as by his father’s 
will appears, was in 14 Eliz. constituted one of the Justices 
of Peace for this County, and in 26 Eliz., Shiriff; and dyed 
8 Febr. 35 Eliz.” 
Aston Hall was built in 1618 by Sir Thomas Holte, the 
grandson of the Thomas commemorated by this brass. It 
will be noticed that the effigy of Margery Holte was placed 
on the grave before her death. 
