AUSTEN, WILLIAM, an English metal founder of the fifteenth century, is worthy of a brief notice in this place, in so far as he had a great share in the construction of the cele brated tomb at Warwick, in St. Mary's church, of Richard de Beauchamp, earl of Warwick, who died in 1439. In a document given in Dugdale's 'Warwickshire,' William Austen is styled, ' citizen and founder of London,' from which and the details of the agreement, it appears that he was not the designer or mo deller of the figures which he cast in brass, for it is expressly stated that he is to work from models made of timber. Will. Austen, citizen and founder, of London,' xiv.
30 II. 6, coveuanteth &c. to cast, work, and perfectly to make, of the finest latten (brass) to be gilded, that may be found, xiv. images embossed, of lords and ladies in divers ves tures called weepers, to stand in housings made about the tomb, those images to be made in breadth, length, and thickness, &c., to xiv. patterns made of timber. Also he shall make xviii. less images of angells, to stand in other housings, as shall be appointed by pat terns, whereof ix. after one side, and ix. after another. Also he must make an hearSe to stand on the tombe above and about the prin cipal image that shall lye in the tomb accord ing to a pattern; the stuff and workmanship to the repairing to be at the charge of the said Wil. Austen.
`The said William Austen, xi. Feb. 28 1L6, dal) covenant to cast and make an image of a man armed, of fine kitten, garnished with certain ornaments, viz. with sword and dagger; with a garter; with a helm and crest under his head, and at his feet a bear musted (muz zled), and a griffon perfectly made of the finest latten, according to patterns ; all of which to be brought to Warwick and laid on the tombe, at the peril (risk) of the said Austen.' In the opinion of Flaxman, these works of Austen are equal to what was done in Italy at the same time ; and though he is mentioned only as the founder, he may possibly be the designer of the figures, as the patterns spoken of in the covenant may have been made in relation to size and costume, and not as exact', models to prepare the casts from. The monu ment, one of the earliest and best in England, is still in a good state of preservation, and is of brass ; the meaning therefore of the word latten, which has been disputed, is evidently brass. •