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Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland only
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Tilton: St Peter

NAME

TYPE

MATERIAL

DATE

Everard Digby

Recumbent knight

Alabaster

1510

Sir Everard is depicted in plate armour with the hair curled inwards and his head resting on his helm. On his left arm he is carrying a tilting targe (note the bouche for the lance) on which there is a fleur-de-lis. This is a relatively late manifestation of such a shield, for very few effigies carry them after about 1460. Apart from the shield the effigy is unarmed. His hands are in prayer while his feet are resting on a lion.

The altar-tomb carries the Digby fleur-de-lis four times repeated on the north face (these give the impression of being restored) and once on the east end (this looks original).

Round the ledge of the tomb is the Latin inscription:

    Hic Jacet Everardus Diggeby Dris de Tilton et Stok Dri qui obiit vicesimo primo die mensis Januarii anno Dni MCCCCC nono. Cujus a'l'le pro pitietur Deus Amen.

    (Here lies Everard Digby, Lord of Tilton and Stoke Dry, who died 21 January 1510. May God protect his soul.)

Everard Digby, who was sometime Sheriff of Rutland, instructed in his will:

    My body to be buried in the church of St Peter at Tilton afore thymage of all the blessed saints at our Lady Altar there.

Digby's wife, Jaquet, was buried at Stoke Dry where there is an incised slab to her memory.


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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