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Edward is depicted lying on a rolled up mat dressed in a ruff, full plate armour and the robes
of the Order of the Garter. The Garter is on the left knee, while a bull, with a coronet
round its neck, lies at the feet. The coronet that the earl was wearing is now missing and all
that is left are
the holes in the head into which the fixing pins would have been inserted.
Isabel is depicted in ermine robes, a high toupee, ruff, highly embroidered sleeves and close
puckered wristbands. Her head, bedecked with a cap and jewelled circlet, is resting on a double
cushion. In the year of her father's death, the couple's twelve-year old daughter, Elizabeth,
who is depicted kneeling on a cushion at their feet, married William Cecil. She died four years
later and a monument to her memory was raised in Westminster Abbey.
The inscription, beneath two arches, on two tablets, reads as follows:
The right honourable and noble Lord Edwarde, Erle of
Rutland, Lord Rossie of Hamelac, Trusbote, and Belvoyre, lieth
here buried. In the yeare 1569 he was sent into the North parts
in the tyme of those civill troubles; there made lieutenante
to Thomas Erle of Sussex (then Lord general of Her / Masties armie),
and also colonell of the footemen, and one of the
counsell in that service, he then being but 20 years of age,
and ward to her mastie. He travelled into Fraunce 1570.
He was made Lieutennent of the county of Lincolne
1582. He was made Knight of the Garter 1584. On
the 5th day of July 1586, as chief comissioner for
her majestie he concluded with the scottishe
King's comissioners at Barwicke Upon
Tweed a league of amitye betweene the two realmes. On
the 14th of April following, being Good Friday 1587,
he departed this life near Puddle Wharfe in London, from
whence his corps was hither brought, and burried the 15th day of
May next followinge. He left issue by his honourable
wife Isabel Holcroft, daughter to Sir Thomas Holcroft,
knight, one daughter, named Elizabeth, then of the
age of elevene yeares and almost four monythes,
which daughter was married in January 1588 to William
Cicell, esquire, eldest sonne to Sir Thomas Cicell, knight,
eldest sonne to the Lord Burghley, then and now Lord
High Treasoror of Englande; by whom she left yssue one
sonne named William, and died at London in April 1591.
The whole is surmounted by a coat of arms: Manners with quarterings and impalments Qly.
1st and 4th Argent, a cross and border engrailed sable (Holcroft)
2nd Argent, a squirrel sejant cracking a nut gules
3rd Argent, an eagle sable taking up a child gules (Kilchech).
Edward, born in 1549, was the son of Henry, the second earl.
In 1585 it is recorded that
he had as many as 41 servants including a trumpeter. The following year he was one of the
commission arrayed to try Mary Queen of the Scots. On 12 April 1587 Elizabeth appointed him
Lord Chancellor, a post he only briefly held, for he died two days later.
Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland
Text copyright Max Matthews 2002. Selected text copyright Bob Trubshaw 2025–6.
Images copyright Max Matthews 2002 or Bob Trubshaw 2002, 2025–6.
No copying or reproduction without prior written permission.
Published by Heart of Albion Press
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