THE MONUMENTAL BRASSES OF WARWICKSHIRE. 
83 
inscription, which still runs round the edge of the tomb:— 
“ Of your charitie pray for the soule of | Alice Clifton late the 
wyffe of Robert Clifton, Esq. and daughter of Simon Digby 
Esq., wh: Alice | . . . | and the year of our Lord God 
MCCCCCVI. on whose soules Jhu have mercy. Amen.” 
From Dugdale we learn that Simon Digby, the father of 
Alice Clifton, first supported the House of York in the Wars 
of the Roses, and received considerable benefits in conse¬ 
quence. He afterwards “fought stoutly ” for the House of 
Lancaster at Bosworth, and reaped a rich reward. He was 
Constable of the Tower in the reign of Henry VII., and 
acquired the Manor of Coleshill in that king’s reign, after the 
execution of Sir Baldwyn Mountfort, the previous holder, 
who assisted Perkin Warbeck. 
III. — Sir John Fenton, L.B., Vicar, Official of Coventry, 
1566. C. Haines. 
The influence of the Reformation will be noticed in the 
altered dress of this cleric, who is vested in a long Genevan 
preacliing-gown with high collar and wide sleeves, beneath 
which the collar and cuffs of his cassock are visible. The 
priest wears long hair, and is not tonsured. He points with 
his right forefinger to a closed book inscribed with the words 
verbu bet, which lie holds in his left hand. 
At his feet is a plate 1ft. 5in. by 4Jin. bearing this 
inscription :— 
Ibere lletb tbe bobp of Spr 3obn tfenton prest 
JGacbelar of law sumtpme vicar of fbts ebureb anb 
©ffisball of Coventree. limbo beceasseb tbe jvlt bape 
of /Ibape 15(36. limbose soule 5esus parboil. Bitten 
The title “Syr” should be noticed as an exception to 
Fuller’s rule quoted above. The post-Reformation prayer 
for the dead will also be noticed. 
In Latham’s Dictionary this passage is quoted : “ Official 
is that person to whom the cognizance of causes is com¬ 
mitted by such as have ecclesiastical jurisdiction.— Ay life, 
Pareryon Juris Canonici .” 
The three brasses described above have been restored by 
Messrs. Waller. 
IV. — Inscription. Mary Milward, 1G51. C. 
This inscription is not recorded by Haines. It is in 
very refined Gothic characters, and is engraved on strips of 
brass 4Jin. wide set round a large flat stone. 
