between panelled coats of arms that still show traces of the
heraldic colouring. The top slab is of Purbeck marble adorned
with two fine deeply incised brasses. A charming detail,
which may be easily overlooked, is the small monkey which
can be seen to the left of the knights' plumes. It was included
in memory of a pet who saved Sir John's eldest son when his
house at Petches was burnt down.
On the other side of the nave is a second chapel—the
Kempe chapel—which is not architecturally so interesting.
Both the East window and the screen (which was designed
by the Rev. E. Geldart, a vicar of Little Braxted) are modern
and the window to the North has been blocked up. But the
king post of the roof, four splayed, is worth notice. Here is
also an amusing carving of a masque of "Scandal" with
asses ears and wide grinning mouth, at the base of the
South-East arch. Historically, however, the chapel is of great
interest. It was, before its dissolution, the school chapel of
the Holy Trinity Guild through whose archway we approached
the church—and the 30 boys who were taught Latin may
have had some of their lessons here and certainly attended
mass daily. It is also interesting for its memorials. The
Kempes, after whom the chapel is named, were for centuries
the great family of the neighbourhood, who rebuilt Spains
Hall in Elizabethan times. Two monuments to them should
be noted. The altar tomb, with its Latin inscription, reads,
"Praye for the souls of Robert Kempe, Esq. and Anne his
wife, which Robert died the last day of June in the year of
our Lord 1524, upon whose soul the Lord have mercy".
The second memorial is to William Kempe, who died in
1628, and to his wife Phillipa. The monument—an oval
shield, surrounded by scrolls and flowers—was erected in
1652. From the inscription we learn that he was "Pious, just,
hospitable, Master of himself, so much so that what others
scarce do by force and penalties, Hee did by a voluntary
constancy, hold his peace for seven yeares".
This refers to so extraordinary a story that it must be told
in brief. William Kempe in a fit of jealousy accused his wife
of being unfaithful and was so striken by remorse that he