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قراءة كتاب Historical Description of Westminster Abbey Its Monuments and Curiosities

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‏اللغة: English
Historical Description of Westminster Abbey
Its Monuments and Curiosities

Historical Description of Westminster Abbey Its Monuments and Curiosities

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دار النشر: Project Gutenberg
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subjects remain; one represents the Adoration of the Kings; another, apparently the Raising of Lazarus; the subject of the third is doubtful, though some figures remain; the fourth is destroyed. The small compartments in the architectural enrichments are filled with variously-coloured pieces of glass inlaid on tinfoil, and have still a brilliant effect. The compartments not occupied by figures were adorned with a deep blue glass resembling lapis lazuli, with gold lines of foliage executed on it. The smaller spaces and mouldings were enriched with cameos and gems; some of which still remain. This interesting work of art lay neglected in a Chapel near the North Transept, till Mr. Blore, with the permission of the Dean and Chapter, had it placed for security in the case in which it is now seen. It is supposed to have originally formed part of the decoration of the high altar. Its date may be fixed at the close of the thirteenth or beginning of the fourteenth century.

Between this Chapel and the next, is a monument of Mosaic work, erected for the children of Henry III. and Edward I. This certainly was once a rich and costly monument; for in the records of the Tower, there is the King’s order for erecting such a one in this place, and for allowing Master Simon de Wells five marks and a half to defray his expenses in bringing from the city a certain brass image to set upon the tomb of his daughter Catherine, and for paying to Simon de Gloucester, the King’s goldsmith, seventy marks, for a silver image for the like purpose.

On the left, before you enter the Chapel of St. Edmund, is a large stone, once plated with brass, under which was interred Sir John Galofre; he was famous in the reign of Richard II., for his wisdom and valour, and was prosecuted by the discontented Lords. He died at Wallingford, in Berkshire, in 1396.

The tombstone, with inscription on a brass plate of Dr. Billson, is seen on the floor, next that of Sir John Galofre. He died in 1616.

 

 


II.—Chapel of St. Edmund.

Left Hand.

1. John of Eltham, Son of Edward II. 1334.
2. Earl of Stafford, 1762.
3. Monck, Bishop of Hereford, 1661.
4. Children of Edward III., 1350.
5. Duchess of Suffolk, 1563.
6. Holles, Son of Earl Clare, 1662.
7. Lady Jane Seymour, 1560.
8. Lady Katharine Knollys, 1568.
9. Lady Elizabeth Russel, 1601.
10. Lord John Russel, 1584.
11. Sir Bernard Brocas, 1339.
12. Sir Humphrey Bourgchier, 1471.
13. Sir Richard Pecksall, 1571.
14. Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, 1617.
15. Earl of Pembroke, 1296.
16. Robert de Waldeby, 1397.
17. Duchess of Gloucester, 1399.
18. Countess of Stafford, 1693.
19. Dr. Ferne, Bishop of Chester, 1661.
20. Above the Duchess of Suffolk’s
Monument is one to Mary Countess of
Stafford and her Son, 1719.

 

On the left as you enter is a monument sacred to the memory of John of Eltham, second son of Edward II., and so called from Eltham, in Kent, the place of his nativity, where our English Kings had once a palace. His statue is of alabaster, the head encircled in a coronet of large and small leaves, remarkable for its being the first of the kind. His habit is that of an armed Knight. He died in Scotland, in 1334, at the age of nineteen, unmarried, though three different matches had been proposed to him; the last of which, to Mary, daughter of Ferdinand, King of Spain, he accepted, but lived not to consummate it.

At the foot of this is a monument with the following inscription:—“In this Chapel lies interred all that was mortal of the most illustrious and most benevolent John Paul Howard, Earl of Stafford, who in 1738 married Elizabeth, daughter of A. Ewens, of the county of Somerset, Esq. His heart was as truly great and noble as his high descent. Faithful to his God. A lover of his country. A relation to relations. A detester of detraction. A friend to mankind. Naturally generous and compassionate, his liberality and his charity to the poor were without bounds. Being snatched away suddenly by death, which he had long meditated and expected with constancy, he went to a better life the 1st of April, 1762, having lived sixty-one years nine months and six days.” The figures round the inscription are the ancient badges of honour belonging to the Stafford family, who descended by ten different marriages from the royal blood of England and France.—Invented and stained by Chambers.

Next to this is a small table monument, on which lie the figures of William of Windsor, sixth son of Edward III., who died in his infancy; and of Blanch of the Tower, sister to William, who likewise died young, having obtained their surnames from the places of their nativity. About 1350.

Against the wall is a monument of Nicholas Monck, Provost of Eton, Bishop of Hereford, and brother of George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, &c. He died December 11, 1661, aged fifty.—Woodman, sculptor.

On an altar tomb lies the effigy of Lady Frances, Duchess of Suffolk. She was the daughter of the famous Charles Brandon, by Mary, the French Queen, daughter to Henry VII., and became herself Duchess of Suffolk, by marrying Henry Grey, then Marquis of Dorset, but upon her father’s decease created Duke of Suffolk, and afterwards beheaded for being concerned in dethroning Queen Mary. She died in 1558-9.

Against the wall above is a monument to the memory of Mary, Countess of Stafford, and of Henry, Earl of Stafford, her son, who died abroad in 1719, and was buried in this Chapel.

The next, representing a youth in Grecian armour sitting on a Greek altar, to the memory of Francis Holles, by John, Earl of Clare his afflicted father. This brave youth, after returning home from a campaign in Flanders, died August 12, 1622, aged eighteen. His epitaph is thus written:—

“What so thou hast of nature or of arts,
Youth, beauty, strength, or what excelling parts
Of mind and body, letters, arms, and worth,
His eighteen years beyond his years brought forth;
Then stand and read thyself within this glass,
How soon these perish, and thyself may pass:
Man’s life is measured by the work, not days;
Not aged sloth, but active youth, hath praise.”

N. Stone, sculptor.

Next are two tablets, one to the memory of the Right Honourable the Lady Katherine Knollys, chief Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth, and wife to Sir Francis Knollys, Knt., Treasurer of her Highness’s household. She died January the 15th, 1568. This Lady Knollys and Lord Hunsdon, her brother, were the only children of William Carey, Esq., by Lady Mary, his wife, one of the daughters and heirs of Thomas Bulleyne, Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond, and sister to Anne Bulleyne, Queen of England, wife to Henry VIII., father and mother to Queen Elizabeth. What is farther remarkable, Lady Knollys’ only daughter was mother of the favourite Earl of Essex.

The other to Lady

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