ON THREE SEPULCHRAL MONUMENTS AT CLIFTON REYNES IN THE COUNTY OF BUCKINGHAM.
Clifton Reynes is a small secluded village about a mile from Olney, in Buckinghamshire, but on the opposite bank of the Ouse. The church consists of a chancel with a north aisle; a nave with north and south aisles; and a low, massive, embattled tower at the west end.
The chancel aisle, which is separated from the chancel by two Decorated arches, appears to have been built as a sepulchral chapel. The earliest existing monument in it is placed in the north wall within a canopied recess, with good foliated tracery of the Decorated period. It consists of two recumbent effigies, male and female, carved in oak, and placed on a modern slab supported by Grecian brackets.
The knight wears a coif de mailles, bound with a fillet encircling the head; a hauberk reaching nearly to the knees; a sleeveless surcoat, the skirt partly open in front; his sword is suspended by a plain belt or leathern strap hanging obliquely from the right hip, and fastened in front by a plain buckle. The leg-armour, which does not now appear, was doubtless shown by colour on the surface. The spurs are gone, but the straps remain. The toes are pointed. The right leg is crossed over the left. With the right hand he is sheathing his sword, and with the left he holds the scabbard. He has genouillères, but no bosses at the shoulders or elbows. No beard or moustachios appear; his head rests on two cushions; his feet on a dog very rudely figured.
