Her beauty saved her

Back to Lichfield Cathedral (well it was raining), this carving is in the north aisle of the choir. In the reformation, this part of the cathedral was used to stable horses by the Parliamentarians. The cavalrymen sharpened there swords and knives on the intricate stone carvings that adorned the wall, all except for this one.

It is suggested that the beauty they saw in this carving saved her from being used.