Home Introduction to effigies Places A–Z People A–Z Artists A–Z Heraldry Symbolism Materials Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland only WWW

NAME TYPE MATERIAL DATE John Shirley Recumbent knight Alabaster by Richard and Gabriel Royley 1570: Erected in 1585

Lying on a herringbone patterned mat, in full armour, the effigy's head reclines on a helmet with a Moor's Head crest. A double chain round the neck, he is holding a book in his uplifted hands. On the left side is a sword while on the right a large-handled dagger and a pair of gauntlets. At the feet is an open-mouthed lion that has lost its tail. The inscription round the ledge of the tomb-chest reads: Johanni Shirley, armigero, de literis et literarum studiosis optime merito, patriae amantissimo, et familiae suae ornamento, superstite, immatura morte praecepto, Georgius Shirley, primogenitus ejus filius, natura et beneficio devinctissimus, hoc pietatis et observantiae suae monumentum posuit. Obiit vero decimotertio die Septembris anno Dni millesimo quingentissimo septuagesimo quatuor filios et tres filias tantummodo supstites ex Jana lectissima sua conjuge filia et haerede Thomae Lovett armigeri, procreatos, relinquens. (To John Shirley, knight, best deserving from history and the students of history, most loving to his country and a surviving ornament to his family, destroyed by an untimely death. George Shirley, his first born son, most devoted by nature and by obligations placed this monument of his piety and reverance. He died on the 13th day of September in the year of our Lord 1570 leaving behind four sons and three daughters only surviving, born of Jane his most excellent wife, daughter and heiress of Thomas Lovett knight.) Originally there was another Latin inscription on a panel above the effigy, a typical Royley trait, however, this has now disappeared. Near the tomb is a (much later) inscription panel, which gives an English translation of the missing inscription: John Shirley, knight, who disregarding his own safety, fulfilled his duty to his country in the very prime of his life while his father still lived, when of his most excellent lady, the only daughter and heir of Thomas Court, knight, he had begotten five sons and three daughters. To the grief of all his own, and the great loss of the state, after flourishing for only thirty-five years, he found rest at last in the Lord. George his eldest son, generous and most devoted, in grief and sorrow set up this monument to his own filial piety and reverence. He died in the year of Our Lord 1570. The tomb-chest is decorated with shields. On the east of the north side: Paly of six or and azure, a canton ermine (Shirley) Gules, a chevron argent between three garbs or (Waldscheaf) Azure, a lion rampant between eight cross crosslets or (Braose) Gules, two bendlets or and argent (Milo Earl of Hereford) Or, three piles gules, a canton ermine charged with a griffin segreant sable (Basset of Braylesford) Or, a cinquefoil pieced sable (Braylesford) Argent, two bars on a canton sable a cinquefoil or (Twyford) Vairy argent and sable a canton gules (Staunton) Sable, a bend between six martlets or (Eccleshall) Paly of six argent and gules, a bend azure, charged with three horseshoes or (Meignell) Vaire argent and sable (De la Ward) Sable, a lion rampant argent armed and langued gules (Beauley). In the centre (and at the west and east ends of the chest) are the same twelve quarterings impaling: Argent three wolves passant sable (Lovett) Gules, two chevrons ermine (Cheveron) Argent, a cross engrailed gules (Drayton) Azure, a bend cotised between six martlets or (de Pratellis). Round the coat is the motto Vivit Post funera Virtus ('Virtue lives on after death'). The westmost arms, on which are still traces of the original paint: Qly. 1. Lovett 2. Dauncy 3. Drayton 4. de Pratellis. Fortunately the contract for this work has been preserved in the Record Office for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. In this the Royleys undertook to: '. . . arttificiallie, conninglie, decentlie, and substantiallie to devise, worke, and perfectlie and fullie set up at Bredon, before the feaste of the Annuciation of Our Lady next ensueinge, at or near the grave of John Shirley, Esquire, deceased the father of George Shirley, a very goode faier, well chosen, and durable allabaster stone. And on the upper part of the said tomb to make a very fair, decente, and well proportioned picture or portraiture of a gentleman, representinge the said John Shirley, with furniture and ornaments in armoure and aboute his necke a double cheyne of gold with creste and helmett under his heade, with sword and dagger by his syde, a lyon at his feete, and as being upon a matte. And on the north side to make three decente, usuall, and well proportioned escutcheons, with comptments aboute every one of them, the first whereof shall contain the very trewe arms of the said John Shirley only; the second, the very trewe arms of the said John and Jane his wife, empannelled together; and the third, the arms of the said Jane only, with one frenche pilaster between everyone of the said escutcheons, and likewise at ye west and east end of ye tomb an escutcheon of the said John and Jane quartered together; the whole to be painted and gilt, with good and convenible oyells, golde, and culloures.' From this we can see, even at this late date, that the effigy is just a representation 'of a gentleman' and not the likeness of the subject. The monument cost £22 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 Back to top of this page This website does not gather or store any visitor information.