Stothard, Charles Alfred; Kempe, Alfred John: The monumental effigies of Great Britain: selected from our cathedrals and churches ; for the purpose of bringing together, and preserving correct representations of the best historical illustrations extant, from the Norman conquest to the reign of Henry the Eight (London, 1817)

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W^ILLIAM DE VALENCE, sonofHugtileBrun, Earl of March,andhatfBrother
by his mother, Isabel d'Angouleme, to Henry III, in 1247, came to England.
Soon after his arrival he was with great state and solemnity knighted by the king at
Westminster, who continuing to lavish favours on him and his brothers, and also
giving himself too much to their counsels, the indignation and hatred of the barons
was raised against them. In consequence William de Valence was obliged to quit
the kingdom, but returning three or four years after, commanded in the king's
army at the battle of Lewes, 1264. On seeing the day lost he fled to Pevensey,
and from thence to France; but it appears he did not remain there any time,
being at the battle of Evesham, 1265, which restored to Henry III. his regal
authority. William de Valence, 10th of Edward 1., 1283, was in the expedition
against the Welsh, and in 1296 being at Bayonne, was there slain by the French.
His monument is composed of an altar tomb of stone, on which is raised a
superstructure of oak, bearing the efhgy of the deceased, formed of the same
material: the whole of this wood-work was once covered with plates of copper
enamelled and gilt; but of these splendid decorations, there is scarcely any thing left
but what is to be found on the figure, which has also suffered in parts. The human
form is rudely expressed, a costly display of materials and workmanship appears to
have been the principal object of the artist who executed it; and it indeed gives a
very high idea of the goldsmith's art at that early period.
William de Valence is represented entirely in mail. On his head is a rich circle,
once adorned with stones or glass, but the empty collets now only remain. The
surcoat has been powdered with a number of little escutcheons bearing the arms of
De Valence, only three of these are left; the situation and number of those gone
may be easily traced. The rich lacing about the surcoat and arms, appears to have
been used for the purpose of concealing the unsightly joinings of the plates which
cover the figure. In the spurs it is remarkable that they have been fastened on with
cloth, in form of straps of an extraordinary thickness; of these, as might be expected,