Page:Walks in the Black Country and its green border-land.pdf/442

428 his name or the Bear and Ragged Staff. Robert Dudley. Earl of Leicester, lies here in effigy side by side with his Countess Lætitia. It is a superb monument, full of elaborate allegory, device, emblem, and inscription, and all the beautifully carved symbols of posthumous piety, faith, and hope. At the close of the long inscription in Latin, detailing the dignities and titles worn by him in his lifetime, it is stated that "He gave up his soul to God his Saviour on the 4th day of September, in the year of salvation, 1588." This monument was put up by "His most sorrowful wife. Lætitia, through a sense of conjugal love and fidelity to the best and dearest of husbands."

Close by stands the tomb of the Earl of Leicester's brother. Ambrose, a far better man. It was also erected to his memory by "His last and wel-beloved wiefe ye Lady Anne Coventes of Warr: in further testimony of her faythfvll love towardes him." Doubtless he was more faithful to her than his brother was to one or more of his wives. In or against the south wall of the chapel is the monument of the infant and only son of the Earl of Leicester, with his small and innocent effigy dressed in the peculiar long clothes of his time. Poor little fellow! few small human beings were ever born to such titles as are recorded in the inscription assigned to his memory. It calls him "the noble Impe Robert of Dudley,