Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/497

 AT NEWTON SOLNEY, DERBYSHIRE. U,l imagined. It was therefore with no small delight that the writer of this paper found within its walls two unnoticed knightly effigies of the highest interest, — a freestone figure in banded mail, adding a fourth to the three already observed in this kingdom ; and an alabaster statue, of the fourteenth century, exhibiting the camail tied down by points to the shoulder, — the only example hitherto noticed in England. The figure in banded mail is of the proportion of life, measuring from the feet to the neck (for the head has dis- appeared) 5 ft. i in. It lies on a flat, tapering slab, — the whole of freestone. Tufts of foliage, of Early-English character, sustain the feet. The design of the figure is sufficiently stiff, but the draping is not without freedom : all the details have been finished with the most minute exactness. For so ancient a sculpture, the effigy is in very good con- dition ; much of it, indeed, as sharp as if it had been carved but yesterday. The monument appears to be of the last quarter of the thirteenth century. The arming consists of hauberk and chausses of banded mail, without the smallest portion of plate in view. The surcoat is without sleeves, and slit up in front only. All vestige of its colour and enrichments has disappeared. A belt, of curious con- trivance, girds the surcoat and sustains the sword-sheath. The knightly sword has its cross-piece curved — the curve, as usual, tow^ards the blade ; the pommel is cinquefoiled. The shield, slung by its guige across the right shoulder, is slightly bowed, and has been triangular in its outline. No trace of armorial device or tincture can now be found on its surface. The spurs are of a single goad, and each is fastened by one strap only. It will be observed that the mailing appears on the inside of the hauberk as w^ell as the out ; and it decreases a little in size towards the extremities of the arms and legs. The annexed cut represents a portion from the upper part of the arm, of its natural size. (See next page.) The profile view has been copied with particular care, in the hope that it may be of use in determining the structure and material of this very puzzling kind of armour. It is scarcely necessary to say that the mailing throughout the figure is rendered in exactly the same manner. The effigy of our knight, undoubtedly a De Sohiey, is at present placed in an obscure corner of the north aisle, raised on a very rude substratum of brickwork. It seems highly