“Preieth devoutly for the Sowel whom god assoille of one of the moost worshipful Knyghtes in his dayes of monhode and conning Richard Beauchamp late Eorl of Warrewik lord de spenser of Bergavenny, and of mony other grete lordships, whos body resteth here under this tumbe, in a fulfeire vout of Stone set on the bare rooch, thewhich visited with longe siknes in the Castel of Roan therinne decessed ful cristenly the last day of April the yer of oure lord god M. CCCCxxxxix, he being at that tyme Lieutenant gen’al and governer of the Roialme of Fraunce and of the Duchie of Normandie. by sufficient Autorite of oure Sov’aigne lord the King Harry the vi. thewhich body with grete deliberacon’ and ful worshipful condiut Bi See And by lond was broght to Warrewik the iiii day of October the yer aboueseide, and was leide with ful Solenne exequies in a feir chest made of Stone in this Chirche afore the west dore of this Chapel according to his last will And Testament therein to rest til this Chapel by him devised i’ his lief were made. Al thewhuche Chapel founded On the Rooch, And alle the Membres thereof his Executours dede fully make and Apparaille by the Auctorite of his Seide last Wille And Testament And thereafter By the same Auctorite They dide Translate fful worshipfully the seide Body into the vout aboveseide, honured be god therfore.”[58] The effigy may be considered as one of the finest works of this class executed during the middle ages, and it derives additional interest from the fact of the original contract for its construction being still in existence. Of this beautiful work the late C. A. Stothard executed four views, in his magnificent volume on the Monumental Effigies of Great Britain, in a spirit worthy of so fine a subject. He ascertained that the ponderous figure of latten or bronze which lay upon the altar-tomb was loose, and with considerable effort succeeded in turning it over, when the armour at the back was found to be as carefully and accurately represented as in front, having all the parts of a suit, its straps and fastenings, displayed with singular minuteness. It is, in this respect, a perfectly unique effigy, and of great value to the historic painter, or student in ancient armour. On the preceding page we have given the two views of the effigy, as pictured by Mr. Stothard.