(Vol. v., p. 81.)
Having only commenced subscribing to "N. & Q." at the beginning of the
present year, I am not aware what has been said prior to this date, with
reference to the Collar of SS.; but should not Mr. Boutell's remarks
about this collar have been published, I beg to send them for the
information of those interested:
"Next to the Garter itself, the most celebrated knightly
decoration of this class is the Collar of SS. introduced by King
Henry IV., apparently as a memorial of the success with which his
aspiring ambition had been crowned: this letter S, repeated either
in links of gold, or in gold embroidery, worked upon a fillet of
blue, is the initial of the word 'Souveraine,' Henry's motto,
which he bore while Earl of Derby, and which, as he afterwards
became sovereign, appeared auspicious."
I dare say this idea of Mr. Boutell's may have been very ably refuted,
by having pointed out the existence of the collar on a knight who is
known _for certain_ to have died prior to the reign of Henry IV.; but I
must say that I have seen nothing in the Numbers of the current year
which alters my opinion.
With reference to what MR. LEWIS EVANS says, at page 38., I beg to
remark that he only assumes their dates _from current report_, for the
dates are not on either of the tombs he mentions; and I think MR. EVANS
is not a great studier of monumental effigies, otherwise he would not
talk of a knight being dressed in "a coif de mailles and pointed
helmet." I assume he means "_a camail_ and pointed bascinet."
LLEWELLYN, at p. 81., makes mention of several, but of the only two upon
which he ventures to fix a date, prior to Henry IV., one is "commonly
ascribed," &c., and the other is "vulgarly called," &c., so that I place
no reliance upon the truth of his deductions. Edwardus de la Hale, whom
he mentions as No. 7., died, I think he will find, in 1431, and not
1421.
As regards the brass of Sir Thomas Peryent and lady, at Digswell, Herts,
I may mention that although he wears a collar, yet I do not think it
ought to be fixed as certain that it is that of the SS., for no letter,
or portion of a letter, remains to prove it, although the collar which
Lady Peryent wears is perfectly distinct.