Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/261

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 181 By the Rev. William Gunner. — A rubbing from the tomb of William de Basynge, Prior of Winchester. It represents a cm-ious combination of the cross with the portraiture of the deceased, whose mitred head is seen at the top of the slab, traced by incised lines, the gradated shaft of the cross below it being in slight relief. This slab forms the covering of a low raised tomb, on the south side, adjacent to the east end of the choir, in Winchester Cathedral. The wide bevelled edge of the tomb bears an inscription upon three sides, accurately shown in the facsimile presented by Mr. Gunner.— ►!< HIC • lACET • WILLELMVS • DE • BASYNGE • QVONDAM • PRIOR • ISTIVS • ECC'E • CVIVS • ANIME • PROPI- CIETUR • DEVS • ET • QVI • PRO AIA • EIVS • ORAVERIT • III • ANNOS • C • ET • XLV • DIES • INDVLGENCIE • PERCIPIET. There were two Priors successively of this name ; the first resigned in 1284, and was succeeded by another William de Basynge, who died in 1295, and was probably the dignitary thus commemorated. The privilege of using the mitre, crosier, and ring, rarely granted to any under the rank of an abbot, had been conferred upon the Prior of Winchester in the year 1254, by Pope Innocent IV.® The propriety, therefore, with which the mitre is found in this sepulchral effigy deserves notice, as a peculiarity of uncommon occurrence. It should be observed that a large cinquefoil is introduced immediately before the name WILLELMVS. By Mr. William F. Vernon. — A rondache of the fifteenth century, of a very rare description. (Seethe accompanying representations.) It is formed of several layers of strong leather, well compacted together by brass rivets, which pass through concentric iron bands, seven in number, on the face of the shield. These circles of metal (measuring in width from | in. to -j^^y in.) are placed at a little distance apart, the intervening spaces being about -j^^ in. The shield is slightly concave, on the exterior side ; it has a central umho, to which is affixed a spike, 2 in. long. The cavity formed by this boss served to protect the hand, as may be seen in the annexed representations. This kind of defence was ponderous this Profile of rondache, showing section of the umbo. specimen weighs 4 lb. 13 oz. Its diameter is 16^ in. A similar buckler, found on the Battle-field near Shrewsbury, is in the possession of the Duke of Northumberland, and preserved in the Museum at Alnwick Castlo.' ^ This curious tomb, which has pro- bably been removed from its original position, has been described by Gough, in his Sep. Monuni. ; and a representation, deficient in accuracy, is given by Mr. Cutts in his Manual of Cross-slabs, plate C7. 'J A rondache of this curious fashion is figured, also, in the Vetusta Monuinenta.