_Curious Monumental Brass_.--I have a rubbing of a Brass, presenting
some peculiarities which have hitherto puzzled me, but which probably
some of your more experienced correspondents can clear up.
The Brass, from which the rubbing is taken (and which was formerly in
the Abbey church of St. Albans, but when I saw it was detached and lying
at the Rectory), is broken off a little below the waist; it represents
an abbot, or bishop, clad in an ornamented chasuble, tunic, stole, and
alb, with a maniple and pastoral staff. So far all is plain; but at the
back (i.e. on the surface hidden when the Brass lay upon the floor) is
engraved a dog with a collar and bells, apparently as carefully executed
as any other part. Can you tell me the meaning of this? I can find no
mention of the subject either in Boutell or any other authority. The
fragment is about 18 inches long, and the dog about 6, more or less.