HIC IACET DOMINUS THOMAS CHEYNE INCLITISSIMI ORDINIS GARTERIJ
MILES: GUARDIANUS QUINQUE PORTUUM, AC THESAURARIUS HOSPITIJ,
HENRICI OCTAVI, AC EDWARDI SEXTI, REGUM: REGINAEQUE MARIAE, AC
ELIZABETHAE, AC EORUM IN SECRETIS CONSILIARIUS, QUI OBIJT ...
MENSIS DECEMBRIS: ANN. DOM. M.D.LIX. AC REG. REGINAE ELISAB.
PRIMO.
and continues,--
"This Sir _Thomas Cheyne_ was also Constable of Queene-Borough
Castle, a strong fortresse in this Isle, pleasant for sight,
built by King _Edward_ the third; to the terrour of his enemies,
and solace of his people; unto which he adioyned a Burgh, and in
honour of _Philip_ the Queene his wife, called it Queene-Borough,
or as one would say the Queenes Burgh. This hath been an office
ever thought worthy of many great personages."
Among these "great personages" three of the Cheneys followed each
other as Constables,--Sir William, as thirteenth; Sir Francis, as
fourteenth; and Sir Thomas aforesaid, as fifteenth, in their
succession.
The three effigies of the Cheneys in the south transept, formerly a
Chantry of Toddington church, are ranged facing the east wall, on the
site of the antient altar. The remaining portions of the tombs have
been built together to the shape of the originals, as near as may be,
and the mutilated figures laid on them.
The first of the series from the south wall is Dame Anne Cheney, wife
of Sir Thomas Cheney, K.G., buried at Minster, and daughter of Sir
John Broughton. She survived her husband two years, and was buried at
Toddington.
The effigy, of white stone, is greatly denuded,--she wears a
close-fitting cap, small ruff, long gown buttoned down in front,
collar edged with fur, full sleeves puffed and slashed at the
shoulders. The head rests on two embroidered cushions, the hands are
raised in prayer.
Underneath, on each side are three panels, in one is a crest,
apparently _a squirrel sejant cracking a nut_ (BROUGHTON?)--the others
have blank matrices of shields, surrounded by scroll-work. The brass
shields which originally covered them are gone.