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Directly over the tomb of St. Edward, was The Chantry, which had an altar-piece of fine carvings. Two steps are still in being, and the marks of its back against the wall, with a square niche on eash side. Two other recesses remain on the north and south walls of the chantry, which have had shutters that have been wrested from their hinges, now broken in the wall.

Over the place, where stood the altar, are thirty statues in four ranges; they are greatly broken and decayed. Round this oratory once hung the armour of Henry V. Some few, and very few, relics of this armour still remain; a plain rusty iron helmet, part of the saddle, and a shield without any symptom of royalty, are all that is left of this monarch's armour.

Ascending the parapet, facing the tomb of St. Edward, still lies the stony coffin of that saint. It is firmly bound with iron, covered with dust, and about the depth of the frieze of the monument.

Near this part of this venerable church, are several curious and interesting models of churches. The best of which is Sir Christopher Wren's, for erecting a tower and spire to the Abbey. This design was never executed, owing to the great columns having given way in their shafts. The other models, thirteen in number, are very fine; but the attendants can give no account of any but two: St. John's, Westminster, and St. Mary's in the Strand.

On the south side of the shrine just described lies Editha, daughter of Goodwyn, Earl of Kent, and Queen of St. Edward. She died in 1118.

The next monument to be described in this chapel is that of HENRY III. a correct view of which the reader will find in the Vignette on the title page of Vol. Part IV. of the present work. It is another effort of the skill of Cavalini, or some of his pupils. It is placed between the second and third pillars on the north side of the chapel, and is of exquisite workmanship and materials. It was originally extremely splendid; but is now mutilated, and most infamously destroyed, by the custom of breaking 6

away

away the inlaid pieces of red glass, and white, gilt next the mortar with gold. The pannels are of polished porphyry*, which have one or two cracks, and a small piece broken off the W. corner of that inside the Chapel, otherwise perfect, the Mosaic work round them of gold and scarlet.

The table of brass on which the effigies lies, which is nearly as perfect as when first made, except that the rich gilding is covered with dust, was supported by three twisted pillars at the four corners; but now, except at the N. W. corner, one of the three pillars are gone.

The effigies of Henry III. which is of a height from the floor, and of a size and materials to resist attack, is still perfect. It is of gilt brass, and is finely executed.

That part of the tomb next the north aisle within reach has shared the same fate as the rest; but towards the top, much of it is perfect. Two lozenges of verd antique, and a square of porphyry, are left on the side. The paint on the wooden canopy is nearly blistered off.

Henry III. died in the year 1272, after a troublesome reign of fifty-six years, aged sixty-five, and was buried by the Knights Templars, of whose order his father was the founder, with such splendour, that Wykes, the Monk, says he made a more magnificent figure when dead, than he had ever done when living. This is supposed to have been the first brazen statue cast in this kingdom.

On the sides of this monument are engraven the arms of Castile and Leon, quarterly, and those of Ponthieu, hanging on vines and oak trees. Round the copper verge is the following inscription in the Saxon character: "Icy gist Aleanor, jadis Reyne d'Angleterre, femme a Rex Edward Fiz." "Here lies Eleanor, formerly Queen of England, wife of Edward the First." Though the body of this queen lies interred in this chapel, her heart was buried in the choir of the Friars Predicants, in London.

Between

Dart. tab. 85. Vol. II. See also Sandford's Genealogies, 92; and Gough's Sepulchral Mon. I. 57, tab. XX. XXI.

Between the western pillar next to the tomb of Henry III. lies his son, Edward I. the husband of the above queen. It is a very plain tomb; and has sustained very little injury.

Rymer's Fœdera discovered to the Society of Antiquaries that this renowned monarch, surnamed Longshanks, was interred in a stone coffin, enclosed in a tomb, in this chapel, and that he was enclosed with wax, and a sum of money allowed to preserve the tomb. The Society determined to gratify their curiosity, and accordingly applied to Dr. Thomas, Dean of Westminster, for leave to have the tomb opened. The Dean being desirous to give all encouragement to curious researches, readily complied with their request. In the month of May, 1770, the time appointed for opening the tomb, the Dean, with about fifteen of the Society, attended, when, to their great gratification, they found the royal corpse as represented by that faithful annalist.

Sir Joseph Ayloffe, Bart. whom Mr. Pennant very justly calls an able and worthy antiquary, has furnished almost every particular of this business.

:

On lifting up the lid of the tomb, the royal body was found wrapped in a strong thick linen cloth, waxed on the inside the head and face were covered with a sudarium, or face-cloth of crimson sarcenet, wrapped into three folds, conformable to the napkin used by our Saviour in his way to his crucifixion, as we are told by the church of Rome. On flinging open the external mantle, the corpse was discovered in all the ensigns of majesty, richly habited. The body was wrapped in a fine cere-cloth, closely fitted to every part, even to the very fingers and face.

The writs de cera renovanda circa corpus regis Edwardi primi being extant, gave rise to this search.* Over the cerecloth was a tunic of red silk damask; above that a stole of thick white tissue crossed the breast; and on this, at six inches dis

tant

Archæologia, III. 376, 398, 399. Similar writs were issued on account of Edward III. Richard II. and Henry IV. A search of the same nature lately took place on account of Charles I. but without the authority of such a writ: a simple exercise of the royal authority being deemed sufficient,

tant from each other, quatrefoils of filligree-work, of gilt metal, set with false stones, imitating rubies, sapphires, amethysts, &c.; and the intervals between the quatrefoils on the stole, powdered with minute white beads, tacked down in a most elegant embroidery, in form not unlike what is called the true-lovers' knot. Above these habits was the royal mantle of rich crimson satin, fastened on the left shoulder with a magnificent fibula, of gilt metal, richly chased, and ornamented with four pieces of red, and four of blue, transparent paste, and twenty-four more pearls.

The corpse, from the waist downwards, was covered with a rich cloth of figured gold, which falls down to the feet, and was tacked beneath them. On the back of each hand was a quatrefoil like those on the stole. In the king's right hand was a sceptre, with a cross of copper gilt, and of elegant workmanship, reaching to the right shoulders. In the left hand was the rod and dove, which passed over the shoulder and reached his ear. The dove stood on a ball placed on three rauges of oak leaves of enamelled green; the dove, white enamel. On the head was a c own charged with trefoils made of gilt metal.*

The head was lodged in a cavity of the stone coffin, always abservable in those receptacles of the dead.

The Archæologia gives many other minute particulars of the dess of the royal corpse. It was habited in conformity to antient usage, even as early as the time of the Saxon Sebert. The use of the cere-cloth is continued in our days: in the instance of George II. the two serjeant-surgeons had 1221. 8s. 9d. each for opening and embalming; and the apothecary 1527. for a fine double cere-cloth, and a due quantity of rich perfumed powders.†

Eleanor of Castile, Queen of Edward I. was deposited here in the year 1290: she lies between the first and second pillars from the east on the same side. This meek and beautiful figure of a most amiable and affectionate queen, is of brass, double gilt. This

Archæologia, Vol. III. p. 402.

gilding

✦See Sandford's Genealogies, p. 129, (ap. Pen.) where this dress is repre

sented on a seal, with tolerable accuracy.

t

gilding is only perceptible on the nose and garment on the right arm, which have been robbed by curious visitors, till the soil of ages is taken off; and there the gold is fresh and perfect. The figure rests on a tablet of the same metal, placed on an altar of Petworth marble. Her head is supported by two pillows of gilt brass, once richly ornamented. The gilding is still visible on the sides, which have been often rubbed. The figure is nearly perfect, and is very fine; but the joining of the thumb to the right hand is extremely clumsily executed.

Close to the pavement, under the feet of the corpse, is the end of a leaden pipe, little more than an inch in diameter, (and injured by some foot or other weight) which, Mr. Malcolm thinks, was intended to convey air to it, as it certainly was placed there on building the tomb.

On this side, next the north aisle, are several fragments of the paintings which once adorned it, consisting of red and black on the mouldings and pannels. Part of this has been chipped off with an axe, " by some stupid insensible reformer.”*

The third monarch whose body was interred here, was the glorious King Edward III. son of the murdered Prince Edward II. His tomb is on the south side between the second and third pillars. His figure at full length, of gilt brass, lies beneath a rich Gothic shrine, also of brass. It is plainly habited; his hair disheveled; and his beard long and flowing. His gown reaches to his feet; each hand holding a sceptre.

The Gothic ornaments of the tomb are extremely beautiful. His children, represented as angels, in brass, surround the altar-tomb.† The canopy is beautiful Gothic work, but mutilated.

Between the first and second pillars, at his feet, is the marble tomb of his worthy queen Philippa. Her figure in alabas

ter,

Mal. Lond. Red. I. 95.

✦ Sandford, 177. Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, I. 139, Tab. iv, lvi. apud Pen. 60.

Ibid. 172. Gough's Sep. Mon. I. 63, Tab. xxiii. Pen, ubi supra.

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