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which the design has been preserved by means of an engraving was in France, and commemorated Philip and John, the two sons of Louis VIII., who reigned from A.D. 1223 to 1226; and the earliest brass known to be still in existence,^[1] is the bold and martial effigy of Sir John d'Aubernoun, which is preserved in the church of Stoke d'Abernon, in this county of Surrey; with this brass, accordingly, I commence my proposed descriptive notices of "The Monumental Brasses of Surrey."

This brass, when in its original state of completeness, consisted of the armed effigy of the knight, two small shields of arms, one on either side, a little above his head, and an inscription in Norman-French, which formed a border to the entire composition. This description was written in single Lombardic, or Uncial capitals, according to the usage of the time, with stops between each word, and a cross at its commencement; the letters were also inclosed within two narrow fillets of the metal. The brass-work of this inscription is entirely lost; the time-worn stone, however, still shows that it was thus expressed, ✠ SIRE : IOHN : DAVBERNOVN : CHIVALER : GIST : ICY : DEV : DE : SA : ALME : EYT : MERCY : and that it commenced in the centre of the stone at its head. Of the two small shields, that on the sinister side of the slab is lost; the dexter shield remains, and it is charged with the arms of d'Aubernoun, Azure, a chevron or. This effigy has been preserved with scarcely any injury throughout the long period that has passed away since the time of Edward I. It represents the knight as armed in a complete suit of mail (chain-armour). The body is