GRAFFITI IN ESSEX 7
church of Willingale Spain, where also are crossbows. Crossbows
are illustrated in many graffiti, some of them later than might at
first be expected: they were used by Essex countrymen at least a
century after the introduction of firearms into the Army. I show
two such illustrations, one from Little Totham (see Plate 1), the
other from Colchester Castle.
Also, there are remarkable figures of Norman soldiers, which
(by courtesy of the Curator) I have sketched from the figures
themselves on the wall of the Great Stair at Colchester Castle—
the roughness of the wall surface here almost prevents successful
copies by "rubbing". Two are a footsoldier with sword and
tabard, and a mounted man, armoured, with lance in rest. On the
Fig. 2. Three Figures on east court doorway,
Colchester Castle
east court doorway, in Colchester Castle, I have found a little
figure of a man in chain mail and surcoat, and a strange group of
three figures (see Fig. 2). The Historical Monuments Commis-
sion refer to this latter group in their Inventory of north-east
Essex, but describe it as consisting of men with spears and bows
and a double "fleur-de-lis" design. In fact, if carefully rubbed, the
central so-called "fleur-de-lis" design seems to be the face and
capped head of a man, whose hands are behind his back. In front
of him is a rectangular shape; on his right is a mailed long-bow-
man, while nearer to him, on his left, is a man with an axe. Can
this be an execution-scene from Norman or early Plantagenet
days ? Execution of death by beheading was introduced generally
by William I in 1076 and only some time later was this method
reserved for the death of distinguished prisoners, so that this