Brass Rubbing: Alice de Bryene

From Horowitz. 2002. Alice wears the widow's dress incorporating the popular horned headdress sheltered by a veil. In fact, it is possible that she or the brass designer wanted to emulate the brass of Alianore de Bohun in Westminster Abbey (1997.05.0009), since the design is strikingly similar in both brasses. Her neck is hidden beneath a barbe, and she wears a kirtle covered by a mantle lined with fur. Portions of a triple canopy and two shields survive; her inscription and two shields are lost. Dame Alice was the daughter and heir of Robert de Bures, a direct descendant of the knight represented on the famous brass found in this church (1997.05.0004). Around 1376, she married Sir Guy de Bryene, whose father was a KG (Knight of the Garter) and a Member of Parliament for 40 years. After her husband's death in 1386, Dame Alice proceeded to run her lands in Suffolk and to raise her two daughters, Phillippi and Elizabeth. A day-book of expenses for her manor of Acton survives for the fiscal year ending 28 September 1413, detailing more than 12,000 meals served. The book records the names and numbers of guests to each meal, the food served and the monies spent. An example for Thursday, 6 October 1412: Breakfast, 8 people; dinner, 22; supper, 22 Pantry: 56 white loaves & 8 black loaves; wine from what remained; ale from the stock Kitchen: One quarter of bacon, one lamb, 24 pigeons Alice de Bryene died on 7 March 1435, having remained a widow for 49 years.

Horowitz, Mark R. The Monumental Brasses of England: The Horrowitz Collection. Morton Grove, IL: Portcullis Productions, 1980 (1979). p. 25-26. Horowitz, Mark R. The Monumental Brasses of England. The Horowitz Collection. New Edition, 2002. p.30-31.