Italian Mid-15th century character in the shapes of many of the plates, indeed they are reminiscent of the armour represented in the famous Warwick effigy, which, as we are practically certain, was copied from an Italian Messaglia suit that the Earl must have purchased in Italy during his travels in that country in the early part of the 15th century." This is certainly not consistent with these being the effigies of the second Baron Dacre and his son Thomas Fynes, who died in 1533 and 1528 respectively.

The feet of each figure rest upon a couchant animal, that under the feet of the northern or elderly man is no doubt intended for a bull, collared and chained, and although it is somewhat mutilated, I cannot accept it as the wolf-hound of the Fiennes. The animal beneath the feet of the southern effigy has lost its head and is very much mutilated, but from its short wavy coat and form is intended doubtless for a lion or some such animal.

Round each of the necks is a collar of S.S., that much discussed insignia. The collar of the man on the right or north side terminates in a rose pendant, and that of the man on the left or south side in a jewel. Neither collar has any portcullis or other symbol, but the S's are close together.

Although many things about the collar of S.S. are still obscure, it is clear that it was the livery of the Duke of Lancaster, and was not introduced before his time, and although there are differences of opinion as to what the letters S.S. indicate, it is generally agreed that it was a badge which was conferred upon those who held some personal office in the retinue or household of the House of Lancaster, as this connection can be traced in nearly all the monumental effigies of the Lancastrian period bearing the collar.

The form of the collar underwent a gradual but welldefined change. First of all it is found as a close-fitting collar of some dark material with the letter S placed at equal distances around it, the ends being united by a chain or buckle, and later by a trefoliated clasp.

33 Vide Camoys Brass at Trotton.

33

The collar increased in size as time went on, hanging low down the neck, and the S.S. were placed closer together, ultimately touching one another, and the fillet came to be abandoned. In the reign of Henry VII., when it was revived, the King's Beaufort badge of the portcullis was added. This was continued with the Tudor Rose till the reign of Elizabeth, when a Garter knot was introduced between the S.S., and so we see it in the effigy of Sir John Jeffrey, at Chiddingly."

The collars at Herstmonceux have the S.S. placed close together, or set transparently as jewellers would say, each letter being joined to the next by little chains or eyes. There is no portcullis, but on the elder figure there is a pendant rose, and on the younger a pendant jewel or

ornament.

Judging therefore by the form of the collar, one would be inclined to place its date just prior to the commencement of the reign of Henry VII., rather than at the later date required if these are the effigies of Thomas, 2nd Lord Dacre, and his son.

Before we leave the collar of S.S., the point arises as to whether the reputed originals of these effigies were entitled to wear such a collar. They were probably not, although this point cannot now be answered absolutely in the negative, as at that late period the badge had been assumed by unauthorised persons, so that the Act 24, Henry VIII., c. 13, was passed limiting the use to knights. However, what is more relevant, the absence of the portcullis seems to preclude the idea of the wearers being later than the commencement of Henry VII.'s reign.

But the most interesting and instructive article of attire on each of the effigies is the heraldic tabard. It is surprising that amongst all the descriptions written of this tomb in not one have I found the slightest reference to these tabards. Everyone seems to have overlooked the very thing that would lead to the true identity of the wearers.

84 S.A.C., Vol. XIV., p. 242. For collar of S.S. see Arch. Cant., Vol. I., p. 73.