William de Roos - Bottesford Leicestershire.

This tomb of William de Roos, 6th Baron Roos, is located at the church of St Mary the Virgin, Bottesford Leicestershire.

Roos was one John of Gaunts retainers and travelled with him on foreign business. He was one of the first to joined Henry Bollingbroke as soon as he arrived in England to depose Richard II, bringing a large retinue of followers to Henry's army. He was alongside Henry when Richard abdicated, and Henry was declared king. From 1403 to 1404 William de Roos held the office of Lord Treasurer of England under Henry IV. He was made a Garter Knight in 1404.

A finely carved alabaster effigy tomb commemorating William de Ros (also spelled Roos), the 6th Baron Ros of Helmsley (c. 1368–1414), a prominent Lancastrian nobleman, soldier, and royal official who served as Lord Treasurer of England under Henry IV. Erected in the early 15th century shortly after his death on November 1, 1414, it is located in the chancel of St Mary the Virgin Church in Bottesford, Leicestershire—part of the de Ros family estates centered around nearby Belvoir Castle (where William was initially buried). The effigy forms part of a larger 15th-century tomb chest, positioned on the right side of the high altar amid a cluster of de Ros family memorials, reflecting the barony's historical ties to the area since the 13th century.

The tomb features a recumbent (lying) effigy of the baron atop a rectangular stone chest, typical of high-status English medieval sepulchral art from the period. The chest itself is adorned with Gothic architectural elements, including cusped arches and possibly heraldic shields or weepers (mourner figures), though the visible portions emphasize the effigy's prominence. The surrounding chancel architecture, with its pointed arches and ribbed vaulting, complements the monument's Gothic style, creating an intimate, dimly lit chapel-like atmosphere enhanced by wrought-iron railings for protection. The alabaster material, prized for its smooth, luminous quality, allows for intricate detailing that captures the textures of armor and fabric, though time and weathering have imparted a soft, patinated gray tone to the stone.

The life-sized effigy depicts William de Ros in full equestrian plate armor, reclining in eternal repose with his head elevated on a great helm and his feet resting on a heraldic beast—likely a lion or wolf (symbolic of the de Ros arms: three water-bougets on gules). His pose is dignified and prayerful, with hands clasped at chest level in gauntleted fists, palms together in supplication, evoking piety amid martial prowess.

His head rests on a tilting helmet crested with a peacock (a badge associated with the de Ros family, symbolizing beauty and vigilance). The face is carved with a stern, bearded expression, eyes closed, and a slight mustache, conveying resolve. He wears a chaperon (a fashionable hood-like headgear) draped over the helm, with its long tail (lappet) falling beside his face, adding a touch of civilian elegance.

The figure is clad in a hybrid of late-14th/early-15th-century military garb, blending mail and plate for realism. A close-fitting coif of chainmail covers his neck and shoulders beneath articulated plate pauldrons (shoulder defenses) and vambraces (forearm guards). The torso is protected by a breastplate over a surcoat or jupon emblazoned with heraldic elements, while cuisses (thigh plates) and sabatons (foot armor) sheath the legs. A sword belt with a sheathed broadsword hangs low on his hips, the scabbard detailed with a wooden-like texture and metallic chape. Around his neck is the ornate SS collar, a gold chain of S-shaped links signifying Lancastrian loyalty (introduced by Henry IV, whom de Ros supported in deposing Richard II in 1399). On his left knee kneels the Garter badge, a dark blue ribbon encircling the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense ("Shame on him who thinks evil of it"), denoting his membership in the Order of the Garter, a rare honor for a baron of his era.

This effigy exemplifies the transition from rigid, columnar tomb figures of the 14th century to more naturalistic, individualized portraits of the 15th, likely crafted by a skilled Nottingham alabaster workshop. It not only honors de Ros's chivalric and political legacy— including his roles in royal commissions and the Wars of the Roses prelude—but also serves as a family touchstone in a church filled with later de Ros/Manners monuments, underscoring Bottesford's role as a dynastic necropolis.