Effigy of Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmoreland and his Wives. The Earl of Westmorland lived until the reign of Henry the Sixth (age 8), and was buried at Staindrop [Map], where he had founded and amply endowed a collegiate church. In the chancel of this edifice was erected an altar-tomb, bearing his effigy and those of his two wives, but which has since been removed, with reckless ignorance and barbarous feeling, to an obscure corner in the south-west quarter. His first wife, whose figure reposes on the left hand of that of the Earl himself, was Margaret, eldest daughter of Hugh Earl of Stafford, by Philippa (age 96), daughter of Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick. Joan de Beaufort (age 51), his second wife, was the only daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, by his concubine Catherine Swinford, whom he afterwards espoused. Joan was the widow of Robert Ferrers. She died A. D. 1340, and, although she is commemorated by an effigy at Staindrop (the monument most probably being prepared during the life-time of herself and her husband), she was buried in Lincoln cathedral [Map], near her mother, under an altar-tomb, with the following epitaph:

Filia Lancastrise Ducis, inclita sponsa Johanna [Daughter of the Duke of Lancaster, the famous wife Johanna]

Westmorland primi subjacet hic comitis. [Westmorland the first earl is subject here]

Desine, scriba, suas virtutes promere, nulla [Cease, scribe, to earn your virtues, no]

Vox valeat merita vix reboare sua. [A voice worthy of its merits can scarcely be restored]

Stirpe, decore, fide, fama, spe, prece, prole, [Stock, adornment, faith, reputation, hope, prayer, offspring]

Actubus et vita polluit ymmo sua. [He pollutes?? his own life and activity]

Natio tota dolet pro morte, Deus tulit ipsam [The whole nation mourns for death, God has taken it]

In Bricii festo C. quater M. quater X. [On the feast of Bricius, 1425]