Brass Rubbing: Sir Robert de Bures

From Horowitz. 2002. A catalogue of brasses published by the Victoria and Albert Museum considers Sir Robert to be "the finest military brass in existence." He is dressed in the fashion of his predecessors, but his costume is highly ornamented, down to the designs on his knee-cops. His mail coif seems to be separate from the rest of his shirt of mail, foreshadowing the later camail period discussed below. His shield is charged with the arms of the Bures family. Although his legs are crossed, he never went on a crusade. Sir Robert may have endowed a church: a possible reason for this position. (But again, Sir John D'Aubernoun was likely a church benefactor, and his legs are not crossed.) The "Robert de Bures" most mentioned in the records flourished between roughly 1290 and 1331, but two men may be intended, possibly father and son. Sir Robert's first wife was Alice, who bore him four sons. His second wife was called Hillaria. It is probably that he saw the brass completed during his lifetime and therefore wanted an elaborate portrayal of his armor and dress. Of the four surviving knights of the Surcoat Period, sir Robert's brass is the most intricately executed.

Horowitz, Mark R. The Monumental Brasses of England: The Horrowitz Collection. Morton Grove, IL: Portcullis Productions, 1980 (1979). p. 8-9. Horowitz, Mark R. The Monumental Brasses of England. The Horowitz Collection. New Edition, 2002. p.19. Howden, Jacqueline.Brass Rubbing Catalogue. Bucks, England: Clark Paterson Limited. p. 22, 109.