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NAME TYPE MATERIAL DATE Francis and Dorothy Shirley Recumbent knight and lady Alabaster by Richard and Gabriel Royley 1571: Erected in 1585

Francis's head rests on his tilting helm complete with a Moor's Head crest. With hair cut short he has a beard and moustache. He holds a book in his hand, and wears a ruff and double chain round his neck, his sword is by his left side while his dagger and gauntlets lie at his right. He has a ring on the first finger of each hand and a lion at his feet. Dorothy's head rests on an ornamental cushion, her hair cut short under a close-laced cap. Wearing a long dress tied with small cords she has a ruff and a triple chain round her neck. In her left hand she holds a book while on the first and third fingers of each hand she wears a ring. From her belt hangs a long chain, almost to her feet, from which depends a locket and a cross. In front of the tomb-chest are the figures of the couple's three sons and four daughters. From west to east they are the eldest son John, who is in armour and is holding a shield with the arms: Shirley impaling Qly. 1st and 4th Lovett, 2nd and 3rd Ermine, a bordure azure bezanty (Turvile) 2. Argent, a cross gules voided of the field between four cross crosslets of the second (Billings) 3. Gules, three lions passant in pale argent (Gifford of Worchester) 4. De Pratellis 5. Per pale or and azure a chevron ermine (Drayton) 6. Argent, a chief indented azure (Cranford) 7. Drayton. The middle son, Edward, is represented in a shroud, signifying that he predeceased his father. The third son, Arthur, holds a shield with the arms: 1. Shirley 2. Basset of Drayton 3. Waldsheafe 4. Braose 5. Eccleshall 6. Staunton 7… a fess between three martlets… (?). Impaling the same seven coats as John. The first (Cassandra) third (Alice) and fourth (Elizabeth) daughters are wearing ornamental chains and holding shields. The second (Anne) has neither shield nor chain. Cassandra's arms are: Qly. 1st and 4th checky . . . (?) 2nd and 3rd Argent, a cross flory azure (Le Clerk), impaling Shirley. Alice's shield is coated with: Qly. 1st and 4th Azure, an eagle displayed argent (Cotton) 2nd and 3rd Or, a saltire and chief gules (Bruce), impaling Shirley. Elizabeth's shield: Qly 1st and 4th Argent, a fess between three roses gules (Powtrell), 2nd and 3rd Shirley. Impaling Shirley. The inscription reads: In memorie of Frauncis Shirley, Esquire, the very pattrene of hospitalitie, and of the famouse woman Dorothie his wife, who bothe died in the Year of Our Lord God MCCCCCLXXI, theire executours made this monument. At the west end of the tomb are two round shields. One has the arms of Gifford (azure three stirrups and straps or) round which is the inscription Dorothia Shirley, daughter to Sir John Gifford, knight. The other arms are 1. Shirley 2. Basset of Drayton 3. Milo 4. Braylesford 5. Eccleshall 6. Staunton 7. . . . a fess between three martlets. . . (?) Round this is the motto De Sire y Fo ('King and Faith' - the 'i' in 'Foi' has been omitted). Francis purchased Breedon priory church from King Henry VIII at the time of the Dissolution 'for a burial place for himself and all his successors forever' . This church, now demolished, was attached to the West End of the present church. On demolition the Shirleys disinterred the bodies and moved them into the north aisle of the present church. 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.