It was a knightly fashion, lasting from the first quarter of the fourteenth century until the first quarter of the fifteenth, to wear both beard and moustache, or what might be called an "imperial." If the clean-shaven effigy is assumed to be a portrait one, the lifetime of its original is consequently excluded from the period lying between 1325 and 1420, and must be placed either before or after it. That it cannot be placed after it, is indicated by the fashion of the armour. Plate armour, towards which genouilleres were the first step, came into use about 1310; and as the knight is clad in mail, he may be safely assumed to have lived before that date. It is true that the mailed gauntlet with separated fingers is not generally seen until late in the thirteenth century, but an incised slab at Bitton, representing Sir John de Bitton, with the date 1227, shews the back of the open hand with the fingers both mailed and separate; so that the fingered gauntlet would not appear to absolutely require a late thirteenth century date, or to negative an earlier one. personal appearance of the knight, conjointly with. the fashion of his armour, seem to point to a period ranging from about 1227 to 1310. A Sir William de Molineux was knighted in 1255, and another Sir William de Molineux was also knighted in 1289, by Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster. To one of the two the effigy must be assigned, and a nearer approach to identification is perhaps impossible.2 The The triangular shield of the more westward figure bears no device, nor any trace of one having been erased. It is consequently a matter of conjecture 2 The pedigree in Baines' History of Lancashire states that Sir William Molyneux, sixth in descent from the original grantee of Sefton, was knighted in 1255. He had a son, Richard, whose son William was knighted in 1289. His son, Sir Richard, had a son Sir William, who had Sir William, knighted at Navarret, by Edward the Black Prince, in 1367.—Editor. whether the effigy, which is much defaced, is one of a Molyneux or not.3 The effigy lies cross-legged, with the head resting on two cushions, and the feet upon a small crouching, robed and girded human figure, of which the head has disappeared. The armour is of mail, but the head is covered by a conical bonnet or bascinet, the visor of which is raised. The thighs are encased in a gamboised or quilted defence, reaching to the knees, which are protected with genouilleres, and the lower part of the legs, before and behind, by iron plates or jambarts. The feet are covered with chain mail, and "pryck" spurs are worn. The hands are in fingered gloves of mail. A short surcoat reaching to the knees covers the body. The figure is represented as drawing his sword. Both beard and moustache are worn, and this circumstance places the date of the personage represented somewhat after 1325-a time when the use of plate armour was extending. Upon the east wall of the north chapel, and above the piscina, a marble monument is affixed to the wall, as a memorial of Charles William, third Earl of Sefton, who died on the 2nd of August, 1855, aged 59. On the opposite and south side of the church, in what was probably the Bulkley Chantry, a tomb, somewhat raised above the floor, is covered by a slab of white marble, on which the Molyneux arms-with supporters, coronet, and motto Vivere sat vincere-together with a skull, cross-bones, and hour-glass, are cut in relief. This tomb bears the names of the Right Hon. Caryll, Viscount Molyneux, who died on the 2nd of February, 16991700, aged 77; and also of his son, the Right Hon. William, Lord Viscount Molyneux, who died on the 8th of March, 1717-18, in the 62nd year of his 3 Both effigies are drawn on the vellum pedigree at Croxteth, the earliest part of which was written in Queen Elizabeth's time.-EDITOR. age. After each inscription, the words, "May his "soul rest in peace. Amen," occur. A further inscription commemorates the Right Hon. Richard, Lord Viscount Molyneux, who died on the 12th of December, 1738, aged 60; and Mary, Lady Molyneux, his wife, who died on the 19th of March, 1766. Another adjoining monument of black marble, of similar character, is to the memory of the Right Hon. Bridget, Lady Viscountess Molyneux, daughter and heiress of Robert Lucy, of Charlcote, co. Warwick, Esq., wife of William, Lord Molyneux, who died on the 23rd of April, 1713, bearing also the words Requiescat in pace. On the same slab is commemorated Caryll, Lord Viscount Molyneux, who died on the 11th of November, 1745, in his 62nd year. A small stone on the floor bears the name of William Molyneux, son of the Hon. Richard and Mary Molyneux, who died on the 15th of February, 1706-7. Another flat stone marks the grave of the Hon. Bridget Molyneux, youngest daughter of William, Lord Viscount Molyneux, who died on the 16th of October, 1733 ; with the words, "May her soul for ever rest in "peace." Near to this is a flat stone, bearing in low relief, on a shield surrounded by an incised line, the arms of Sherburne and Bayley quarterly, impaling Molyneux. The inscription on a brass plate let into this stone is given at the foot of page 61. This stone was discovered on the removal of a pew floor in 1893, and was moved to its present position, within the rails at the east end of the south aisle, by order of the Right Hon. the Earl of Sefton, K.G., for its greater security, and to avoid its being concealed by a portion of the organ. 4 First and fourth-[Argent] a lion rampant guardant [Vert], Sherburne ; second and third-[Argent] an eagle displayed [Vert], Bayley; impaling[Azure] a cross moline pierced in the centre [Or].-EDITOR. The portion of the church known as the Blundell Chapel lies west of the Molyneux Chapel in the north aisle, from which, and from the more westerly portion of the aisle, it is separated by screens. A stone, inscribed "Robart Blundell, 1656," lies just within the doorway. Another Robert Blundell5 died in March, 1616, and was buried at Sephton on the 23rd of that month. He left precise directions in his will with regard to the position of his grave, desiring that he should "be buried at "Sephton in the usual place where my ancestors "have been buried, that is to say under or near "unto the form where I do usually sit, standing "in the north aisle of the said church." may refer to the seat forming three sides of a square which is still standing in the chapel. In this chapel also William Blundell, known as "the "Cavalier," who died on the 24th of May, 1698, was buried. Here besides are the graves of Robert Blundell, who died at Liverpool, on the 9th of August, 1807; and of Henry Blundell, Esq.,' who died on the 28th August, 1810, aged 86, to whose memory a marble monument of elaborate sculpture is placed above the north door. 6 This This monument, depicting the deceased relieving Genius and Poverty, was designed and executed by John Gibson, R.A., during his apprenticeship to Messrs. Franceys, of Liverpool, before he had gone to study in Rome. The inscription, said to be from the pen of William Roscoe, runs as follows: "O! Blest with all that life to man endears, Belov'd, respected, crown'd with length of years; But those no more now charm his cultur'd eye, 'Tis Charity survives the general doom, Springs with perennial growth, and triumphs o'er the tomb." 6 A tablet on the north wall of the chapel commemorates Elizabeth, wife of Henry Blundell, who died on the 25th of February, 1767, in the 33rd year of her age; Robert Blundell, her husband's father, who died on the 5th August, 1773, aged 78; Catharine, his mother, who died on the 1st of October, 1749, aged 52; and Margaret, his father's second wife. It was with reference to this chapel, in which so many members of the Blundell family are laid, that Nicholas Blundell, who died in 1631, complained that Sir Edward Molyneux, Parson of Sephton, among other "wrongs and ingerys" done by him, had taken away his "right of the church, "that is to say of knely'g and tary'g in a chapel "ye north side of the said church." On an altar tomb on the south side of the chapel are inscribed the names of Mary Coppinger, who died on the 6th of August, 1734, aged 30; Nicholas Blundell, of Crosby, died on the 21st of April, 1737, aged 66; William Blundell, died on the 20th of May, 1740, aged 6 months; Christopher Pippard, died on the 6th of May, 1771, aged 35; Henry Pippard, died on the 29th of November, 1771, aged 79; Frances Pippard, his wife, died on the 17th of April, 1773, aged 67; Nicholas Blundell, their son, died on the 6th of January, 1795, aged 55. On a flat stone are the names of Nicholas Blundell of Little Crosby, Esq., who died on the 21st of April, 1737, aged 68; and of Mary Coppinger, his daughter, who died on the 6th of August, 1734, aged 20. A marble slab is affixed to the south wall of the chancel, in memory of the Rev. Antony Halsall, Master of the Free School, Crosby, a Manxman, 6 Of the Crosby family. 5 Of the Ince family. |