them confirmed by the Bishop of Rome whose Bull was inserted in the body of the Great Charter according to the custom of that Age. After all which he fell sick and soon after died and was buried according to his desire in this his new Church of Westminster § 7. One hundred and threescore years had now passed from the time of King EDWARD the Confessor during which space all the Kings and Queens of England had not been sparing in their Liberalities whilst living nor forgetful by their Legacies when dead to increase and multiply the Revenues of this Monastery when HENRY III. King of England commanded the old Fabrick of King EDWARD to be taken down and out of the largeness of his Princely mind began part of that work which is now standing laying the first stone thereof in the year 1220. and as an addition thereunto built a particular Chappel at the East end and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary But such was his misfortune at this time that having begun a work so ample and large that it exceeded the bounds and incomes of his revenue he was forced to have recourse to means not altogether so honourable as he could have wished to finish the same For by a wile or stratagem he procured money of the Citizens of London with which and by the help of the Monks who very much enlarged it towards the West at length after fifty years time and a wonderful charge it was finished § 8. But long had not this Church of King HENRY continued when a sudden fire hapning in the Palace hard by and the wind driving the devouring flames towards the Abby it took hold of the Church whereby the Roof which was then covered with Lead and all the Timber therein was consumed leaving nothing but the bare Walls as a mournful remembrance of its former splendour which by the assistance of King EDWARD I. and II. with the help of the Abbots was again repaired some of whom were especial Builders and Benefactors to this Monastery § 9. As SIMON LANGHAM who being Abbot and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury he discharged a debt of 2200 marks owing by this Covent to some Merchants he gave 400 pounds towards the finishing the body of the Church Books to to the value of 830 pounds And forgave this Church a debt which was owing him of 3954 pounds § 10. NICOLAS LITLINGTON Abbot who from the foundation built the Hall and great Chamber called Hierusalem with the West and South side of the great Cloister his Arms remaining there at this day viz. Quarterly Argent and Gules in the second and third a Fret Or on a Bend B. 3. Flowersde-lucies of the third He also erected the Granary which is now the dormitory for the Kings Scholars with the Tower adjoyning and a Water Mill for the use of the same Abby § 11. JOHN ESTNEY eased this Church of 3070 pounds which was owing to the See of Rome for the confirmation of their Abbots and built the great West Window at his own charge § 12. And JOHN ISLIP who was a man of great Authority in the time of HENRY the Seventh King of England He built that which is now the Deans House repaired much of the Church and other buildings belonging to this Monastery renewing all the Butteresses and placing in the Niches thereof the Statues of all the Kings and Queens that had been Benefactors to the same § 13. In this Abbots time it was that HENRY VII before-mentioned in the year 1502. intending a more sumptuous and curious Chappel to the honour of the Blessed Virgin than what King HENRY III. had already built pulled down that Structure so reared by him and erected that stately Edifice now called by his name which by LELAND and other learned Antiquaries is stiled not unworthy Orbis Miraculum or the wonder of the World The King himself laid the first stone thereof and forbad by his last Will and Testament that any but the Bloud Royal should be interred therein expending in the raising and finishing this curious Fabrick the sum of â—1400 pounds only § 14. From hence as to the buildings about the Church all things have continued without any eminent alteration or change until these our days But the Government thereof hath participated of divers variations and turns of Fortune For after it had remained almost a Thousand years under the regiment of Abbots and Monks It was resigned up by WILLIAM BENSON the Abbot and seventeen Monks into the Kings hands in pursuance of an Act of Parliament on the sixteenth day of January in the 31. year of the Reign of King Henry VIII being able to expend by the year 3471 pounds and two pence farthing so great were then her constant revenues Soon after the resignation in the year 1539. and that the Abbot was preferred but the Monks sent abroad to seek their fortunes the King took the Revenues into his own possession and ordered the Church to be governed by a Dean and Prebendaries placing therein BENSON who had been the last Abbot to be the first Dean But in the year 1541. this Government was dissolved and the Church turned into an Episcopal See having Middlesex for its Diocess and THOMAS THURLEBY for its Bishop who having much dilapidated and spent the Revenues allotted for its maintenance after nine years he was removed from thence to the Bishoprick of Norwich whereby a second time it reverted to be governed by a Dean and Prebendaries But when MARY Queen of England came to the Crown after the death of her Brother King EDWARD VI. it again changed its condition for the Queen having procured a Licence from her kinsman REGINALD POLE who was Archbishop of Canterbury a Cardinal and the Popes Legate here in England for disanulling the former institution of a Dean and Prebendaries setled therein JOHN FECKNAM Abbat and fourteen Monks in the year 1556. But with her life this Government likewise ended And with the entrance of Queen ELIZABETH into the Throne it reassumed to be governed by a Dean and twelve secular Canons and Prebendaries who turned it into a Collegiate Church placing therein besides petty Canons and others of the Quire to the number of thirty Ten Officers belonging to the Collegiate Dyet two Schoolmasters forty Scholars and twelve Alms-men with plentiful maintenance for all besides Stewards Receivers Registers a Library-Keeper Collectors and other Officers the Principal being the High Steward of Westminster who is usually one of the prime Nobility Most of these Revenues were embezled and â—â—crilegiously disposed of in the late Usurpation after the Martyrdom of King CHARLES I. his present Majesties most Royal Father as Dean and Chapters Lands But upon the happy Restauration of our King to his Crown and Kingdoms they return'd again to their former Proprietors and the Government continues the same at this day § 15. As the Abbots of this Monastery in
the River of Thames flowing about it That the Saxons who were now the Inhabitants had given it a Name suitable to its new condition by calling it Thorney Island or the Island of Thorns Here it was and on those Ruins of Apollo's Temple that Segebert or Sebert King of the East-Saxons soon after his Conversion to Christianity and his being Baptized by the hands of Augustine the Mong commanded another Noble Edifice and Christian Church should be Erected and Dedicated to the remembrance of its former Patron St. Peter And that there might not be wanting a sufficient number of Religious Persons continually to attend the Celebration of the Holy Sacraments and Services of this Church He was at the same time induced by the persuasion of Mellitus who was then Bishop of London to Build an adjoyning Covent and liberally to indow it for their better support and maintenance which from the scituation thereof and in opposition to another that was placed on the East side of the City of London took the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the West-Monastery or Minster as it is called at this day Of the famed Miracle and Story of the wonderful Consecration of this Church at that time by St. Peter himself who list to read may find it writ by AELRED Abbot of Rivauloe in the Life of EDWARD the Confessor as likewise in BARONIUS and ALFORDUS in their Ecclesiastical Annals Bishop USHER in his rise and original of the Churches of Great Britain with others § 4. This Church and Monastery with many more was cruelly harrased and destroyed by fire with all the Monks therein slain some Ages after the first institution by the outrage of the barbarous and inhumane Danes and so continued desolate and forsaken untill the days of King EDGAR by whose care and bounty it was again new cased and re-edified and by the vigilance of St. DUNSTAN supplied with a small number of Monks of the Order of St. BENEDICT setting over them for their chief Governour or Abbot the Bishop WOLSINE who by his exemplary holiness and piety gat himself the renown of being placed in the Kalendar for a Saint he died and was buried here saith Matthew of Westminster about the year nine hundred fifty eight § 5. Afterwards when King EDWARD the Confessor came from his exile out of Normandy and calling to mind the vows and promises he had then made to Almighty God in case of his restauration grew much troubled that having been some time in England he had so long neglected to perform the same wherefore he called an Assembly or Convocation both of his Clergy and Nobility and related to them his intention of visiting the chief Pastor of the Church and his going to Rome according to the tenor of those Vows and Promises But this resolution of his was diverted by the earnest intreaties and persuasions of his Subjects who having but newly recovered a little breath from their former grievances and oppressions were fearful upon his so sudden departure that their peace might be disturbed and themselves relapse again under their old burthens and vexations so that laying before him even with tears in their eyes and hearts full of sorrow the imminent danger the Common-wealth must inevitably fall into upon his removal or withdrawing sought with all their endeavours that other measures might be taken wherein himself might not be altogether disquieted for the non-performance of his Promises nor they absolutely ruined by his absence And therefore with all diligence Embassadors were dispatched away to the Bishop of Rome who having related the case and procured a Breve from the Papacy for the dispensation with the said Vows they returned again to their disconsolate Master informing him of their success and the imposition injoyned him in lieu of his Promise viz. That all the expences that he had prepared for his Journey should be distributed among the poor and indigent and that he should build a new or repair some old Monastery to the honour of St. PETER § 6. This then was the occasion that our old ruined Abby founded by King SEBERT destroyed by the Danes and re-edified by King EDGAR now fallen into great decay was thought on as a place most proper for such an undertaking but much sooner was the performance thereof put in execution and the design accomplished when this pious King understood that it was the express will and command of St. PETER himself that he should do so If you will believe those who report that WULFINUS a man whose austerity of life and retirement from the world had gained him the reputation of being no small Prophet among his brethren had orders in a vision to inform him With all alacrity therefore he set himself to the work commanding that his Estate either in Gold Silver Jewels or Possessions should be decimated and appropriated to the pulling down the old ruined Church of King SEBERT and the erecting a most stately Edifice in the place thereof He removed the Parish Church of St. MARGARETS which then stood in the Cloisters of the old Abby and built another in the Church-yard that he might make more room for this his magnificent foundation for as such it was reputed by those who were eye-witnesses of it which for august majesty and excellent contrivance that Age could not parallel affording a pattern of framing Churches in the figure of a Cross which in succeeding times was emulated saith WILLIAM of Malmsbury with incredible expences For the greater honour of this new erected Fabrick in imitation of the glorious Emperour CONSTANTINE as the learned SPELMAN observes he called together an Assembly of all his chief Clergy and Nobility that they might be present on the day of the solemn dedication of this Church and witnesses of his Princely bounty and liberal Magnificence which was shewn by the endowing it with large Possessions adorning it with high priviledges and exemptions making it a perpetual Sanctuary and habitation for Benedictine Monks which he brought from Exeter and placed here who should be subject to no other person but to the King only To these he confirmed it to be the place for ever as it had been aforetime of the Kings Constitution and Consecration the Repository of the Royal Crown and Ensigns of Majesty and gave towards the same several rich Vestments golden Crows and Scepters a Dalmatick embroidered Pall a pair of Spurs Linnen Gloves a Tortois-shell Comb set in Gold a Chalice made of an Onyx stone bound about the foot with a Patten thereunto all of pure Gold with some other Royal Gifts and Perquisites to be used on the days of the Inauguration or Coronation of our Kings and Queens many of them remaining at this day preserved and in the custody of the Dean and Chapter of this Church All these Possessions Priviledges and rich Gifts were ratified at the same time by his signing and sealing three Royal Charters and getting
of RICHARD de Ware Abbot of Westminster in the year 1260. where in most artificial Work and delightful Figures you have the Jasper the Porphyry the Lydian the Touch the Alabaster and the Serpentine stones so laid and wrought to the Spectators satisfaction that you are unwillingly drawn from the sight thereof round the Squares and great Circles in Letters of Brass are some of the Verses still remaining which when entire were thus to be read concerning the duration of the World Si lector posita prudenter cuncta revolvat Hic finem primum mobilis inveniet Sepes trina canes equos homines super addas Cervos corvos aquilas immania cete Mundi quodque sequens pereuntis triplicat annos Sphaericus Archetypum globus hic monstrat Microcosmum Christi Milleno bis centeno duo deno Cum sexageno subductis quatuor anno Tertius Henricus Rex urbs Odericus Abbas Hos compegere Porphyreos lapides § 24. On the North-side of this Area was this Abbot buried next to the Tomb of AIMERY de VALENCE Earl of Pembroke after he had been Lord Treasurer of England and Abbot of this Monastery twenty three years he died on the Second of December 1283. but nothing now remains on his Grave-stone to distinguish it from the rest Not far from him was THOMAS HENLEY Abbot of Westminster interred And RICHARD SUDBURY another Abbot of this Monastery with Sir THOMAS CLIFFORD Governour of Berwick but all the Brass and Inscriptions are torn away On the South-side was Queen ANNE Wife to King RICHARD III. and Daughter to RICHARD NEVILL Earl of Warwick interred who died not without suspition of Poyson anno 1484. By whom lies WALTER WENLOCK Abbot of Westminster and Lord Treasurer of England who died at his Mannour of Pireford in Gloucestershire on the twenty fifth day of December 1307. after he had governed this Church twenty six years having a decent Marble-stone plated and laid over him by the South Door entering the Chappel of St. EDWARD of which there is nothing continuing at this day save a guess at the stones only There are five noble Monuments still remaining three on the North and two on the South part of this Sacriste but no Inscriptions or Epitaphs on any of them nor are they visible but by withdrawing the Hangings which are hung before them for the better adorning this place § 25. The first on the South is a Tomb of Freestone unfinished with these two Letters insculpt thereof A. C. and this 1557. and a little Ballister or Rail thereto adjoyning which was designed to remember ANNE of Cleve Queen of England Sister to WILLIAM Duke of Cleve and Gulich whom King HENRY VIII repudiated when he took to Wife the Lady KATHARINE HOWARD she died in the year 1557. and lyeth buried here at the head of King SEBERT § 26. The next is an antient Sepulchre of stone Arched where in a leaden Chest enclosed in Touch lie the remains of SEBERT King of the East-Saxons and ETELGODA his Queen who in the year 605 began the foundation of this Monastery as I have declared elsewhere he died on the last day of July in the year 616. and she the thirteenth of September 615. after they had finished this worthy design and therefore in the year 1307 their bodies were removed by the Monks of this Abby from the old Church erected by King EDWARD the Confessor and placed here hard by the Sepulchre of the Kings The Canopy erected over this Tomb of eight panes of delicate carved Wainscot contained as many painted Figures of St. PETER St. JOHN BAPTIST King SEBERT King EDWARD the Confessor c. with divers Verses of Questions and Answers under each of them which are all defaced and washed away and only a Table of Verses adjoyning to the Tomb which you will find among the Mounmental Inscriptions is still remaining to inform you who it is that lies there deposited § 27. On the North side next to the Chappel of St. EDWARD in a most noble Monument of Freestone canopied painted and adorned with Arms and gilt with Gold his Image thereon cross legged lies EDMUND CROUCHBACK Earl of Lancaster and younger Son of HENRY III. who was born at London on the sixteenth day of January anno 1245. about eight years after he was invested by the Pope into the Dominion of Sicily made Earl of Chester and Lord High Steward of England during life and after the death of his first Wife AVELINE went into the Holy Land afterwards returning he was by his Brother King EDWARD I. made Earl of Champaigne he founded the house of Nuns called the Minoresses without Algate in the Suburbs of London and going into France he died at Bayon from whence his body was brought and honourably interred in this place and this Monument erected to his memory This great Earl by BLANCHE his second Wife Daughter to ROBERT Earl of Artois third Son to LEWIS VIII King of France Widow of HENRY King of Navarre Earl of Champagne and Bry had Issue three Sons THOMAS HENRY and JOHN and a Daughter who died with her Brother JOHN in France without Issue § 28. Next to this Tomb of EDMUND Earl of Lancaster is such another like Monument very beautiful to behold Canopied and gilt with Gold with an Image thereon for AYMER de Valence third Son to WILLIAM Earl of Pembroke who was Son of HUGH le BRUN Earl of Marche in the Confines of France and Poictiers by ISABEL his Wife Widow of King JOHN and sole Daughter to the Earl of Angolesme who took his Surname from the place of his Nativity and being Brother to HENRY III. by his Mother in June 1247 was sent for into England c who was a great Souldier in the Wars of Scotland Flanders France c. he was Guardian of the Mâ—rches of Scotland Lieutenant and Captain General of all the Souldiers there General of the Kings Forces from the River of Trent Northwards unto Roxborough in Scotland But going to Rome he was taken prisoner by JOHN MOILLEY a Burgundian and sent to the Emperour being obliged to pay 20000 pounds for his ransom After which he was again in the Scotch Wars and Governour of Rockingham Castel and at the taking of THOMAS Earl of Lancaster at Borough Brigge in the County of York but being one of those who gave sentence of death upon him at Pomfrat as he was attending Queen ISABEL into France anno 1323. he was murthered on the twenty third of June the same year his body being afterwards brought and buried here He had three Wives but had no Issue by any His first was BEATRIX Daughter to RALPH de NEAL Constable of France his second one of the Daughters of the Earl of Barr and his last was MARY Daughter to GUY de CASTILION Earl of St. Paul § 29. At the head of AYMER de VALENCE is the third and last Monument on this North side which is likewise
dedicated to Saint Blase in which Chappel Nicolas Lâ—â—lington Abbot of Westminster whom I have mentioned before was buried in the year 1386 after he had governed this Monastery twenty five years And Edward a Monk of Westminster who was Son of Owen Tuddor by Queen Katharine the Widow of Henry V. and Daughter of Charles VI. King of France he was Brother to Edmund Earl of Richmond and Uncle to King Henry VII There is neither Inscription or Epitaph remaining to distinguish their Grave-stones from the rest From hence going to the East-side of this Cross and next to Cowleys Tomb is a little Chappel of St. Benedict § 18. Which is sometimes called the Deans Chappel by reason some of the Deans of Westminster have been buried therein for whom there are two Tombs remaining On the South side that of Gabriel Goodman S. T. D. and Dean of this Church forty years he founded an Hospital and School at Ruthin in Denbighshire the town where he was born but dying on the Seventeenth day of July in the year 1601. aged 73. was buried here and had a Monument of black and white Marble with his Statue kneeling thereon erected to his memory and is yet in being On the North side one of his Predecessors under a raised Tomb of grey Marble having his Effigie engraven thereon in Brass with Arms and Epitaphs was interred viz. William Bill S. T. D. who was Master of Trinity College in Cambridge President of Eaton Dean of this Collegiate Church and grand Almoner to the Queen a man liberal in his gifts to this Colledge by several pieces of Silver Plate and other Largesses bestowed thereon he died on the fifteenth of July in the year 1561. Next to him on the same North side is an antient Tomb of Free-stone mixed with grey Marble and Brass with the Image of Alabaster representing an Archbishop in his Pontificalibus under a Canopy of the same stone placed there to remember Simon Langham that famous Monk Prior and Abbot of this Monastery afterwards Bishop of Ely London and Archbishop of Canterbury Bishop of Praenest in Italy Cardinal S. Sextus Chancellour and Lord High Treasurer of England and the Popes Legat here he died in the year 1367 at Avenion and was buried in the House of the Carthusians there which himself had founded but afterwards his bones were translated and interred here hard by the Altar of St. Benedict Against the East Wall of this Chappel is a most stately Monument above twenty six foot high most nobly adorned with Corinthian Columns and Pyramids of Alabaster Porphyry Lydian and diverse coloured Marble variously wrought and curiously gilt with Gold on whose Pedestal is the Image of a Countess in her Robes of estate cumbant at full proportion being erected by the command of Edward Earl of Hertford and Baron Beauchamp Son of Edward Duke of Somerset c. Vncle to King Edward VI. to the memory of his Wife the Lady Frances who was Daughter of William Baron Howard of Effingham Knight of the Garter High Admiral to Queen Mary Lord Chamberlain and Privy Seal to Queen Elizabeth and Son of Thomas Duke of Norfolk she died in the year 1598. In the midst of the Area of this Chappel is a noble Tomb of black and white Marble whereon are placed the Images of Lyonel Cranfield Earl of Middlesex who was Lord High Treasurer of England with that of the Lady Anne his second Wife he died in the year 1645. § 47. Next to this Chappel you are let into the Area or passage that leads you round the Chappel of the Kings by an Officer of the Church who attends there to wait upon all persons that are desirous of seeing the Monuments within whose Fee is what the particular bounty of each Gentleman shall think convenient to give him you may therefore save the civil Officer that trouble and better inform your self by taking these directions The first place you are led into on this South side will be the Chappel of St. Edmund the Archbishop but before you enter therein I would not have you overpass a little Monument between the Chappel of St. Benedict and this of St. Edmund being a small raised Tomb adorned with diverse coloured stones and Arched under which are the Effigies of four Children painted thereon in plano but there is no Inscription or Table belonging thereto in this Tomb are inclosed the bones of Richard John and Katharine Children of King Henry III. and was set up by Edward I. King of England for three of his Sons and a Daughter which he had by Eleanor his Queen Daughter of Ferdinand III. King of Castile viz. John Henry Alphonsus and Eleonore From this Tomb we go into the Chappel of St. Edmund § 48. On the right hand of the entrance you have a very antient Tomb of grey Marble about three foot high adorned with divers Coats of Arms which serves as a Pedestal to support a Wainscot Chest covered over with plates of Brass richly enamelled and thereon the Image of William de Valence Earl of Pembroke with a deep Shield on his left Arm in a Coat of Male with a Surcoat all of the same enamelled Brass gilt with Gold and beset with the Arms of Valence viz. Bar-rule Ar. B. an orle of Martlets Gules round about the inner ledge of this Tomb is most of the Epitaph remaining in the antient Saxon Letters and the rest of the Chest covered with Brass wrought in the form of Lozenges each Lozenge containing either the Arms of England or that of Valence alternately placed one after the other enamelled with their colours Round this Chest have been thirty little Brazen Images some of them still remaining twelve on each side and three at each end divided by certain Arches that serve as Niches to inclose them And on an outward ledge at the foot of each of these Images are placed a Coat of Arms in Brass enamelled with their colours This William de Valence for whom this curious Tomb was made was Son of Hugh le Brun Earl of March in the Confines of France and Poictiers by Isabel his Wife Widow of King John c. as I have said before in the description of his Sons Monument and being half Brother to King Henry III. was by him advanced to great honours who having married Joan the Daughter of Warren de Montechensey died in the year 1304 and had this Monument erected to his memory § 49. On the West side of this Chappel and next to the Tomb of William de Valence Earl of Pembroke is a most noble Monument for one of the Successors of that renowned Family of the Talbots Earls of Shrewsbury viz. Edward the eighth Earl thereof who died on the eighteenth of February 1617. aged 57 years and the Lady Jane his Countess who was the eldest Daughter and one of the Co-heirs of the last Lord Ogle of that name On a large Table of black Marble supported
depicted thereon erected here to continue the remembrance of Philippa one of the Daughters and Coheirs of John Lord Mohun of Dunster who was first married to the Lord Fitz-Walter afterwards to Sir John Golosre Knight and lastly to Edward Plantagenet Duke of York Son of Edmund of Langley fifth Son of King Edward III. who was killed at the Battel of Agincourt she died and was buried here in the year 1474. § 64. Beyond this Tomb towards the West under an Arch in the Wall lies the Image of a woman at full proportion leaning on her left Arm in a Cypress vail all of a mouldering stone which being decayed by reason of its brittleness and that the Monument is very plain seems to be of much greater Antiquity than really it is having no Inscription Paintings or adornments but a Coat of Arms where Cecill with quarterings Impaling Mannors is to be seen and was here placed for the Lady Elizabeth sole-Daughter and Heir of Edward Mannors Earl of Rutland by Isabel his Wife Daughter of Sir Thomas Holcroft of the Vale Royal in the County of Chester Knight she was Wife of Sir William Cecill Knight commonly called Lord Burleigh Son and Heir apparent to Thomas Earl of Exeter by whom she had Issue William called Lord Ross she departed this life the eleventh of May anno 1591. and lieth here as the entering thereof in the Heralds Office and those Arms above placed over her Effigies do sufficiently testifie § 65. Next to this is a Monument of Alabaster Porphyry and diverse coloured stones adorned and gilt with Gold having on the Pedestal the Image of a young man and woman kneeling with a little Babe in swadling bands between them and on a Table supported by this Pedestal is a large Statue of a Lady at full proportion combant in her Robes of Estate of the same Alabaster painted and gilt with Gold and environed with a Grate where the Lady Winifrid Marchioness of Winchester is said to be intombed she was descended from the antient Family of the Bruges first married to Sir Richard Sackvile Knight Chancellour of the Exchequer by whom she had the Lord Buckhurst and the Lady Dacres of the South with other Children afterwards to John Paulet Marquess of Winchester whose Widow she died in the year 1586. § 66. On the South side of this Chappel is an antient Tomb in the Wall of grey Marble with his Portraiture ingraven on Brass in his Episcopal habit with a Miter on his head and a Crosier Staff in his hand canopied with an Arch of curious wrought stone under which William Sutton alias Dudley Bishop of Durham lies interred he was the Son of John Lord Dudley and died about the year 1482. as may be gathethered from part of an Epitaph still remaining in Brass round the Verge of his Tomb. § 67. Here is a most noble and Magnificent Monument towards the Southeast part Angle of this Chappel set up against the same Wall by the command and charge of William Cecill Lord Burlegh to the remembrance of his Wife and Daughter being twenty four foot high containing divers Arches and Canopies supported by Corinthian Pillars and adorned with Pyramids of Porphyry Lydian Touch and various coloured Marble curiously carved and gilt with Gold On the upper part of this Monument under a small Arch is a little figure of an antient man praying on his knees and in his Parliament Robes with the Collar and Jewel of the Order of St. George about his neck to represent the aforesaid William Cecil Lord Burlegh Lord High Treasurer of England Privy Counsellour to Queen Elizabeth and Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter who died on the fourth day of August in the year 1598. and lay in state in this Church six days afterwards he was translated to Stamford where in St. Martins Church his body was interred On the Pedestal are two Images at full proportion cumbant in their Robes of Estate of Alabaster painted and adorned with Gold the furthermost of Mildred Lady Burlegh Wife of the above-said William she was the eldest Daughter of Sir Anthony Coke Knight by Anne the Daughter of Sir William Fitz-Williams Knight who was a Lady of no less eminent in her time for her extraordinary Charity than for her Piety and great Learning being well versed in the Greek and Latine Tongues she had many Children by her Husband all dying in their Infancy except Anne Robert and Elizabeth She died in her grand Climacterick year on the fourth day of April 1589 and was buried from her house at Westminster in this Chappel The other of her Daughter the Lady Anne Countess of Oxford who maried Edward Vere Lord High Chamberlain of England and the seventeenth of the name of Vere Earl of Oxford by whom she left Issue only three Daughters who dying at the Queens Palace of Greenwich on the fifth day of June 1588. was brought and interred in the floor of this Chappel On each side of this Pedestal are two Canopies supported by some little Corinthian Columns curiously painted with Azure and gilt with Gold underneath each of which is a Deaths-head enchased in Crystal with with these words Mors Janua vitae and Mors mihi Lucrum by the latter at the head of their Mother and Grandmother are three little Images of female Children kneeling the Lady Elizabeth the Lady Bridget and the Lady Anne Vere and by the former at the feet of his Mother and Sister the figure only of a Youth kneeling for Robert Cecill Son of the above-mentioned William and the Lady Mildred his Wife who married Elizabeth Brook Daughter of the Lord Cobham all living when this Monument was erected § 68. Beyond this against the East Wall is another comly Monument where under an Artificial Canopy the Curtains withdrawn and held up by two Corinthian Pillars of divers coloured Alabaster and Marble adorned and gilt with Gold are two Images kneeling at a Table the one of a Knight in Armour placing his left hand on a Deaths-head The other of his Lady with a Book lying before her on the same Table praying and lifting up their eyes towards the Azure Sky representing an Artificial Heaven painted on the roof of the Canopy beset with Cherubims little Angels and gilded Stars On the out-side of the same Monument are many larger figures of Angels naked Youths and Cupids all of polished Alabaster with a Fame standing on a bleeding heart with a device and Motto being set up here by Sir George Fane of Buston Knight in the County of Kent for the Lady Elizabeth his Wife who was Daughter of Robert Baron Spencer of Wormleighton who died in the year 1618. § 69. Under this Monument close to the Wall is an antient plain raised Tomb of grey Marble with an Inscription in Brass round the ledge still remaining and some Coats of Arms on the Pedestal whereby may be gathered that Nicolas Baron Carew and his Wife the Lady Margaret who was
Canopied with a comely Arch of Freestone adorned with Arms and Masons-work which was made for George Flaccet Abbot of this Monastery but the Inscription and Epitaph round the ledge is torn away § 130. On this Tomb is placed a stone Coffin with a lid of the same and a Crucifix carved thereon wherein is yet to be seen the bones and Skelliton of an embalmed body much defaced as it should seem by the removal of this Capsula from some other place but whose body it is that lies therein I will not aver as meeting no evidence sufficient to confirm it But that it cannot be the body of Humfrey de Bohun Earl of Essex Hereford and Northampton who was Lord High Constable of England and the last of that name as the Officers of the Church have received it by Tradition is evident for that he was buried with his Father Grandfather and great-Grandfather in the Abby Church of Walden in Essex the antient repository of that noble Family as may be seen more at large in the Monasticon Anglicanum and in Sir William Dugdales Baronage of England yet two of his Children which he had by Elizabeth the Daughter of Edward I. were buried here viz. Hugh and Mary And there is a little Monument against the North Wall of grey Marble under that of Thomas Curey erected for them from whence this story might take its original I am inclined therefore to think that it were not improbable to believe it the body of Thomas Mylling Abbot of Westminster and Bishop of Hereford Privy Counsellour and Favourite to King Edward IV. and Godfather to his eldest Son Prince Edward who dying about the year 1493. was buried in the midst of this Chappel and that when the large Vault and Tomb which takes up a great part of the Area of this Chappel was made for Thomas Earl of Exeter and his Ladies this Coffin might be taken up and set by here and the rather for that in Camdens Collection of this Churches Monuments which were taken before the erection of the said Tomb there is no mention of such a Coffin as this which had it been here in his time I am persuaded he would not have overpassed without some observation thereon Yet further if we diligently take notice of the Coffin it self with the form of the Cross on the Cover and compare it with many more of the like fashion both at Canterbury York Durham c. wherein are conserved the bodies of some Bishop or Archbishop it will add to the confirmation of this opinion but I submit to the more Judicious in Antiquities of this nature § 131. The next to George Flaccet Abbot of Westminster lies Thomas Ruthall Bishop of Durham who was Secretary to King Henry VII and died in the year 1524. in a comely Tomb of Freestone with an arched Canopy variously adorned and set forth with Arms both of his See and Family under which is his Image in his Episcopal habit with a Miter on his head and a Pastoral staff in his left hand placing his feet on the back of a Lion couchant but there is no Epitaph or Table belonging thereto § 132. At whose feet is the third ancient Monument without a Canopy or any Inscription where on a raised Pedestal of Freestone lies the Image of a Mitered Abbot in the Vestments wherein he was accustomed to sing or say Mass with a Miter on his head a Crosier staff in his hand and a Ring on his finger a Spaniel Dog at his feet and two Angels supporting his Pillow all of the same Freestone curiously ingraved under which William de Colchester Abbot of Westminster is said to be interred § 133. Against the East Wall of this Chappel is a most magnificent and stately Monument about twenty six foot high where by an ascent of Greeses of black and white Marble you are led to a curious fashioned Tomb of an admirable composure framed of the Porphyry the Lydian Touch Serpentine Agate Alabaster and divers coloured stones finely wrought and adorned with Gold At the four corners whereof are as many Pyramids of black Marble Supported by Pedestals of the same whereon are placed threescore and four Shields of Arms painted in their proper colours with the names matches and quarterings belonging to that noble Family These Pyramids and the Tomb are overshadowed by a glorious arched Canopy every where beset with Coats of Arms Golden Slips Branches Pomegranates Roses c. with other flory and fruit-work very pleasant and delightful to behold on each side of the outward part of this arched Canopy are two Magnificent Pyramids of black Marble adorned with Shields Banners Pennons Cannon Culverins Musquetons Halberts Half-pikes Drums Fifes with other Instruments of War and warlike Trophies carved on the same Marble and gilt with Gold Over the Canopy are no less than twenty several Corinthian Columns supporting and composing various forms of Architecture diversly placed on the noble Arch whereby the whole becomes very beautiful and magnificent which was erected here by George Carey Lord Hunsdon Governour of the Isle of Wight Knight of the Garter Privy Counsellour and Lord High Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth for his Father the Lord Henry Carey Baron of Hunsdon Governour of Berwick Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners Justice in Eure on this side Trent Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter Lord High Chamberlain Privy Counsellour and Cousin German to Queen Elizabeth who died in the 71 year of his age anno 1596. and for his Mother the Lady Anne Daughter of Sir Thomas Morgan Knight § 134. By these two illustrious persons in the same Vault lies Thomas Carey second Son to Robert Lord Carey of Leppington Earl of Monmouth and Brother to the last Earl of that surname he was of the Privy Chamber to King Charles I. and greatly favoured by him but upon the death of that Royal Martyr he fell suddenly sick and died in the thirty third year of his age having a little Monument of white Marble against the North-east Angle of this Chappel placed of late to his memory § 135. Next to which directly North are two large Statues at full proportion The one of a man in Armour The other of a Lady in a Cypress Veil of white Marble both reposing themselves and resting their arms on a Table of black under a Canopy the Curtains withdrawn with an Atchievement of Arms all of curious wrought Alabaster but there is no Inscription or Epitaph which was ordered to be defaced upon the restauration of his Sacred Majesty by reason it was set up for one Collonel Edward Popham an opposer of his Majesties undoubted right to his Kingdoms but by the intercession of some of his Ladies Friends who had eminently served his Majesty the stone was only turned whereon the Epitaph was insculpt and the Monument permitted to remain Sed Nigro carbone notanda § 136. On the left hand of the door of this Chappel
towards the West being the first Tomb on that side you have under an antient large Arch in the Wall a little Monument of grey Marble on which is portraitured and finely ingraven the Effigies of a Knight in Armour reposing his head on his Helm crested with an Unicorns head coped and crowned and at each of the four corners a Coat of Arms insculpt of the same brass with several Caskets and Coffers with an Inscription in part remaining round the Verge of the Tomb whereby may be gathered that Sir Thomas Vaughan Knight who was first Chamberlain to Edward Prince of Wales and afterwards Treasurer to his Father King Edward IV. lies underneath § 137. Here is a most noble Tomb in the midst of this Chappel raised about five foot from the Pavement of black and white Marble the Pedestal set about with fourteen Escutcheons of Arms and on the top the Images at full proportion of an Earl in his Parliament Robes with the Collar George and Mantle of the Garter and his Countess in her Robes of Estate with a Garb supported by two Lions rampant placed on a Torce under the feet of the Earl and a Griffon passant under those of his Countess all of the aforesaid white Marble admirably polished and curiously ingraven with an Epitaph round the Verge expressing that Thomas Cecill Earl of Exeter and Baron Burleigh Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter and Privy Counsellour to King James lies there interred together with his first Wife whose Image that is on the Tomb the Lady Dorothy Nevill Daughter and one of the Co-heirs of the Lord Latimer As likewise his second Wife the Lady Frances Bridges of the noble Family of the Lord Shandois whose Effigies is not here though there be left room on the North side of her Husband as it should seem for that purpose § 138. On the South side by the foot of this Tomb at the head â—f the entrance into the Lord Hunsdons Vault was Charles Howard a Child of two years old interred anno 1670. having a little stone placed over his Grave he was the third Son of Charles Earl of Carlile § 139. Coming from this Chappel of St. Iohn Baptist on each side the entrance are two little Monuments of Alabaster black and white Marble with some small Figures thereon adorned with Arms and Epitaphs That on the West for Juliana Crew Daughter of Sir Randolph Crew Knight Lord Chief Justice of England â—y Juliana Clepesby his Lady who was the Daughter and Heir to that antient Family in the County of Norfolk She died on the twelfth of April anno 1621. § 140. The other on the East for the Lady Jane Crew one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of Sir John Pultney of Mistertonpultney in the County of Leicester Knight and Wife of Sir Clyppesby Crew Knight she died in the thirtieth year of her age anno 1639. and had this little Monument erected by her Husband for her Passing from these Monuments we are led to The Chappel of St. Erasmus § 141. Where by opening a door on your right hand you are let into the undercroft being something dark by reason of the vicinity of the houses erected in the Church-yard almost adjoyning to the Windows Yet you may see a plain Marble Table supported by four small Pillars of wrought Brass and fixed to a Pedestal of the same stone where formerly had been placed the Skeleton in his shrowd curiously insculpt and composed of Alabaster with an Epitaph circumscribed and several Verses thereon which are all now taken away except the Table c. under which was John Islip Abbot of Westminster interred The fame of this Abbot with his benefactions to this Church I have discoursed on elsewhere yet I forgot to tell you how he designed a stately Tower and Lanthorn with a goodly Chime of Bells to be placed therein over the midst of the Cross of this Church but finding the foundation of the old Pillars too weak to support his Structure the Bells were set up in one of the Western Towers where they remain to this day Moreover he caused this Chappel to be made and dedicated to St. Erasmus and adorned the Roof with curious Masons work and neat Carvings with several devices and intaglio's and many rebus's a fancy much in esteem about that time alluding to his name as sometimes you have one slipping boughs in a tree otherwhile an Eye with a slip of a tree and again a Youth slipping from a bough of a tree with a Label proceeding out of his mouth with I slip thereon and the like The whole Vault being interlaced with his Coat of Arms viz. Erm a Fess between three Weesels Gules and such like devices as are the Windows in the Oratory above full of the same But before we take our leaves of this obscure place yet well deserving our pains of seeing we must not let pass the memory of a noble Gentleman who hath a Monument placed here for him § 142. Against the East Wall whereof is a comly Tomb of black and white Marble on whose Pedestal is the Epitaph and on one side the Image of a Knight in Armour lively representing the Original with his Lady on the other excellently figured in curious wrought Alabaster adorned with weeping Cupids and mournful Hymens extinguishing their Torches with Arms and Paintings which was erected by the Lady Alice Daughter of Thomas Fanshaw Esquire the Kings Remembrancer for Sir Christopher Hatton Knight of the Bath her Husband Son and Heir to Sir Christopher Lord High Chancellour of England by whom she had twelve Children He died on the tenth day of September 1619. There is a small Table of black and white Marble against the Wall on the East side of this Chappel nigh the Windows that let in light from the South side of the Church containing a further Encomium of this worthy Gentleman § 143. There was likewise buried here without any Tomb or Grave-stone the Lady Anne sole Daughter and Heir of John Mowbray Duke of Norfolk Wife to Richard Duke of York Son to King Edward IV. but she dying without Issue the Dukedom of Norfolk came to the Family of the Howards § 144. Ascending from this undercroft by a pair of stone Stairs into the Oratory it self wherein nothing remains but some of the rebus's in the Windows as I have said before It being at present made use of before It being at present made use on as a repository for those Statues of our Kings Queens and Princes of the Bloud Royal which lay on their Cenotaphs when their Exequies were celebrated in this Church being here preserved in their Robes of Estate with their Royal Habiliments and other Ensigns of Majesty in Presses of Wainscote viz. Edward III. King of England and Philippa his Queen Henry V. and Queen Katherine Henry VII with Elizabeth his Queen and Henry Frederick Prince of Wales in one Press with Queen Elizabeth King James and Queen Anne
his Wife in the other Descending again by the same Stairs and leaving this Chappel on our right hand we cross over the Area to a wooden frame of four or five steps that brings us into that other most noted Chappel of this Church viz. The Chappel of St. Edward the Confessor § 145. Because his body was translated hither from the old Church of his own erection to this of King Henry III. where he had a new Tomb and Shrine covered with Gold built for him in the midst of this Chappel by the same King a great part thereof to be seen at this day It is likewise called the Chappel of the Kings for that many of our Kings and Queens until the time of King Henry VII were accustomed to be buried therein But before I shall enter into a description of any of their particular Monuments I shall take leave to say something concerning this religious King and the Feretory made here for him § 146. He was the Son of King Etheldred and Emma his Queen who being long deprived of his Inheritance by the usurpation of Canutus Harold and Hardiâ—nute the Danes that had murthered his Brother Edmund and occasioned his flight into Normandy for his protection at lengâ—h was restored to his Crown and Kingdom where he became so eminent for his sanctity and remarkable for his holiness that he was observed to be the first who obtained that extraordinary priviledge from God in curing a disease of swelling in peoples throats which was afterwards thereof called the Kings Evil and hath since been derived to all his Successors He was so compassionate and pitiful towards his Subjects sufferings and oppressions that he remitted the annual Pension of 4000 pounds called Danegelt to the English Legates So chaste that he is said not carnally known his own Wife and so patient that he was scarce ever seen to be angry But after his death the many infirmities and cures of all sorts of diseases which are reported immediately to have followed at his Tomb was the chief motive that persuaded William the Conquerour to adorn his Sepulchre with a rich Shrine sparkling with Gold and Silver Six and thirty years after this his body being taken out of the ground and being found intire and uncorrupt with his joynts as flexible as if they had been alive and his Garments preserving their former freshness struck such an admiration in the beholders that every where the news thereof â—ung for a miracle and therefore his body on the thirteenth day of October in the year 1163 was translated by Thomas of Becket Archbishop of Canterbury in the presence of King Henry II. and another costly Shrine prepared wherein to place it and on which day he was solemnly Canonized by the Bull of Pope Alexander III. § 147. After this upon the rebuilding of this Church by King Henry III. his body was removed out of the old Church of his own erection into this Chappel prepared for him on which day a magnificent and Royal Feast was kept in the Palace hard by as a commemoration of it and a third Shrine prepared whereon to place the other two and inclose his sacred body part whereof is remaining at this day The upper part of this Feretory which we now behold was all covered with Plate of the purest Gold so artificially wrought by the most cunning Goldsmiths and set about with pretious stones that it amounted to an inestimable value the under part which is still in being was framed by the command and at the charge of Richard de Ware Abbot of Westminster with a part of those stones and by the same workmen which composed the Pavement before the High Altar curiously adorning it with chequered and fine shining coloured Marble On each side the Base of this Feretory are three small Niches divided by Serpentine Columns supporting the Arches for the sick and infirm to repose themselves when they came hither and I have seen a large Chest or Coffin bound about with strong bands of Iron lying about the midst of the inside of this Shrine where I suppose the body of that pious King may still be conserved There is now an Inscription in Letters of a late hand gilt with Gold round the midst of this Marble frame which you will find among the Monumental Inscriptions but heretofore there were other Verses ingraven on the same stone after this manner Anno milleno Domini cum septuageno Et bis centeno cum completo quasi deno Hoc opus est factum quod Petrus duxit in actum Romanus civis homo causam noscere si vis Rex fuit Henricus sancti praesentis amicus The Floor of this Chappel was likewise at the same time and by the same Abbot inlayed with the like stones a great part remaining though something defaced at this day § 148. Under which Pavement on the North side the Feretory of St. Edward lies Editha Queen of England his Wife who was Daughter to Goodwin that treacherous Earl of Kent she was a Lady of a singular piety and sweet modesty died in the year 1074. but hath no Monument or Grave-stone erected for her § 149. On the South side the same Shrine under this beautious Floor was Matilda Queen of England interred she was the Daughter of Malcolme King of Scots and Wife to King Henry I. who brought unto him divers Children viz. William Richard and Mary who perished by shipwrack and Maud the Empress Wife to Henry V. Emperour and Mother to King Hen. II. of England This Queen would every day in Lent walk from her Palace to this Church barefoot and bare-legged and wearing a Garment of hair she would wash and kiss the feet of the poorest people and give them Alms she founded the Priory of Christchurch without Aldgate and the Hospital of St. Giles in the Fields nigh London she built the Bridge at Stratford over the River Lea and repaired many of the Highways and afterwards anno 1118. dying was buried in this Church without any Tomb or Monument § 150. Under the same Pavement was John and Margaret two Children of William de Valence Earl of Pembroke interred having two small stones of grey Marble placed over them without any Inscription between the Shrine of St. Edward and the Tomb of King Henry V. § 151. Henry Son to Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall who was the Second Son of John King of England returning from the Holy Land whilst he was hearing Mass at Viterbium in Italy was slain by Simon and Guido Sons to Simon Mountford Earl of Leicester Anno 1269. his body being buried in the Monastery of Hailes but his heart placed in the Coffin with St. Edward § 152. On this Pavement is a large grey Marble stone beautifully adorned and set about with fine Imagery work in curious wrought Brass between the Shrine of St. Edward and the Tomb of Philippa his Mother the Inscription being torn away
miserrimum On a Table Perfect and Prudent Richard by right the Second Vanquish'd by fortune lies here now graven in stone True of his word and thereto well resound Seemly in person and like to Homer as one In worldly prudence and ever the Church in one Vpheld and favour'd and casting the proud to ground And all that would his Royal State confound Anno Dom. 1399. 107. Annae Ricardi secundi Regis Angliae uxoris Epitaphium Sub petra lata nunc Anna jacet tumulata Dum vixit mundo Richardo nupta secundo Christo devota fuit haec facilis bene nota Pauperibus prona semper sua reddere dona Jurgia sedavit praegnantes relevavit Corpore formosa vultu mitis speciosa Praebens solamen viduis aegris medicamen Anno milleno ter centum quarto nonageno Julii septeno mensis migravit amaeno Hoc jacet Anna loco Britonum redimita corona Cui vâ—r Richardus jure secundus erat Cui Pater illuâ—â—ris gnata generoque superbus Romae ter foelix induperator erat Wenceslaus illam magna comitante caterva Londinum misâ—t laetus ovansque pater Cujus in adventu ludi spectacula fiunt Regali pompa regia virgo venit Sed bona sunt hominum tenui pendentia fîlo Reges Regâ—nas mors capit omne rapit Haec Regina fuit magna de stirpe Quiritum Omnibus illa fuit foemina chara viris Larga coloratis virtutum splendida gemmis Nunquam laeta parens nam sine prole jacet Forma fragilis An Epitaph on Queen Anne Wife to King Richard the Second Queen Anne Richard the Seconds Wife Lieth buried in this place Adorned with the Britains Crown With whom she found much grace Whose noble Sire of Daughter proud Of Son-in-law full glad Of Rome thrice happy Emperour was And that large Empire had Wenceslaus so call'd by name Who thus in joyful plight Sent her to London guarded well With valiant men of might Against whose coming Plays were made And Sights and Shews were seen With Princely pomp to gratifie This noble Virgin Queen But all mens treasures last not long They hang but on a twine Or slender thread death Kings and Queens Doth all catch up in fine This Queen was of the Royal Race Of Romans by descent Of all belov'd most dear to most In honour relucent Full liberal and bountiful Adorn'd with virtues rare No Child she had but issueless She lies without such care Favour fadeth 108. Epitaph viz. Iâ—y gift Henri jadis Ren. de Angleterre Seigneur de Hirlande e Duâ— de Aquitanne le fiz l Ren. Iohn c. Tertius Henricus jacet hic pietatis amicus Ecclesiam stravit istam quam post renovavit Reddet ei munus qui regnat trinus unus Tertius Henricus est Templi conditor hujus 1273. Dulce bellum inexpertis The friend of pity and almsdeed Henry the Third whilom of England King Who this Church brake and after his meed Again renewed into this fair building Now resteth here which did so great a thing He yield his meed that Lord of Deity That as one God reigns in Persons three 109. Epitaph viz. Omnibus insignis virtutum laudibus heros Sanctus Edwardus Confessor Rex venerandus Quinto die Jani moriens super aethera scandit Sursum corda Moritur Anno Domini 1065. 110. Epitaph viz. Margareta illustrissimi Regis Angliae Franciae Domini Edwardi quarti Dominae Elizabethae Reginae serenissimae 〈…〉 sortis ejusdem filia quinta proles 〈…〉 ae nata fuit 19. die mensis Aprilis Anno 〈…〉 omini 1472. obiit 11. die Decem 〈…〉 is cujus animae propitietur Deus 〈…〉 men 〈…〉 obilitas forma decorque tenella juventus 〈…〉 simul hîc ista mortis sunt condita cista 〈…〉 t genus nomen sexum tempus quoque mortis 〈…〉 oscas cuncta tibi manifestat margo sepulchri 〈…〉 11. In obitum Edwardi Tertii Regis invictissimi Epitaphium Round the Verge and on a Table 〈…〉 ic decus Anglorum flos Regum praeteritorum 〈…〉 rma futurorum Rex clemens pax populorum 〈…〉 rtius Edwardus Regni complens Jubilaeum 〈…〉 victus Pardus pollens bellis Machabaeus 〈…〉 sperè dum vixit regnum pietate revixit 〈…〉 mipotens rexit jam coelo coelice Rex sit Tertius Edwardus fama super aethera notus Of English Kings here lies the beautiful flower Of all before passed and a mirrour to them A merciful King of peace conservator shall sue The third Edward the death of whom may rue All English men for he by Knighthood due Was Libard invict and by feat martial To worthy Machabe in vertue peregall Pugna pro patria Anno Dom. 1377. 112. Philippae Reginae uxoris Edwardi tertii Epitaphium Gulielmi Hannonis soboles postrema Philippa Hic roseo quondam pulchra decore jacet Tertius Edwardus Rex ista conjuge laetus Materno suasu nobiliumque fuit Frater Johannes Comes Mavortius heros Huic illam voluit consociare viro Haec junxit Flandros conjunctio sanguinis Anglis In Francos venit hinc Gallica dira lues Dotibus haec raris viguit Regina Philippa Forma praestanti Religione fide Foecundae nata est proles numerosa parenti Insignes peperit magnanimosque duces Oxonii posuit studiosis optima nutrix Regineas aedes Palladiamque Scholam Conjux Edwardi jacet hic Regina Philippa Obiit Regina Philippa Anno Dom. 1369. Disce vivere The Epitaph of Queen Philippe Wife of Edward the Third Fair Philip William Henaldes Child And youngest Daughter deere Of roseat hue and beauty bright In tombe lies hilled here Edward the third through Mothers will And Nobles good consent Took her to Wife and joyfully With her his time he spent His Brother John a martial man And eke a valiant Knight Did linck this Woman to this King In bonds of marriage right This Match and Marriage thus in bloud Did bind the Flemmings sure To English men by which they did The Frenchmens wrack procure This Philip flow d in gifts full rare And treasures of the mind In Beauty bright Religion Faith To all and each most kind A fruitful Mother Philip was Full many a Son she bred And brought forth many a worthy Knight Hardy and full of dread A careful nurse to Students all At Oxford she did found Queens Colledge she dame palace School That did her fame resound Queen Philippe died in the year of our Lord. 136 Learn to live 113. Epitaph viz. Dormit non mortua est Foeliâ—issimae Memoriae sacrum Elizabethae Russelliae posuit Anna soror mâ—rens 114. The Epitaph On Henry V. King of England Gallorum mastix jacet hic Henricus in Urna 142â— Domat omnia virtus Pulchra virumque suum sociat tandem Katherinâ— Otium fuge O merciful God what a Prince was this Which his short time in martial acts spent In honour of conquest
under which lies Thomas of Woodstock sixth Son to King Edward III. who was Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Glocester a man of great Nobility and Renown whom Richard II. his Nephew betrayed and afterwards caused him to be barbarously murthered at Calis anno 1397. He married Elenore one of the Daughters and Co-heirs of Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex who lieth buried in St. Edmunds Chappel as I have declared before by whom he had Issue one Son and three Daughters viz. Humphrey who died without Issue Anne who was Wife of Edmund Earl of Stafford Joan who died unmarried and Isabel who was a Nun at the Minoresses in London § 153. Towards the North side of this Chappel at the foot of the Tomb of King Edward I. is another large grey Marble stone fairly set forth with fine ingraved brass whereon is the Effigies of a Bishop in the Vestments of his Office with a Miter on his head and a Pastoral staff in his right hand with the Pictures of the twelve Apostles divided and embroidered on either side of him and other artificial Imagery work about it the Epitaph round the Ledge being worn away but was here placed by the command of Richard II. whose Favourite he was to the memory of John Waltham the twenty sixth Bishop of Salisbury anno 1388. He was constituted Master of the Rolles 1382 then Keeper of the Privy Seal and in the year 1391. Lord High Treasurer of England in which Office he continued until his death which hapned in the year 1395. and was buried in this place § 154. Here is likewise on the West side the Feretory of St. Edward hard by the Skreen that separates the High Altar from this Chappel the Chair or Seat whereon our Kings are accustomed to be Inaugurated and Crowned It appears extreamly antient both in its fashion and materials being made of solid hard firm wood with a back and sides of the same under whose Seat supported by four Lions curiously carved insteed of feet lies that so much famed stone whereon the Patriarch Jacob is said to have reposed his head in the Plain of Luza it is of a blewish steel-like colour mix'd with some eyes of red triangular rather than any other form and being broken resembles a Peble The ruines of the Chair it self shews that heretofore it hath been fairly painted and gilt with Gold but at present it is much defaced you have a small Table of Verses hanging thereon but by reason they give us little light concerning the antient story of this stone and Chair I shall trouble your patience with a short Narrative thereof which is reported to have been first in Gallicia of Spain at Brigantia where Gathel King of Scots there sate on it as his Throne Thence it was brought into Ireland by Simon Brech first King of Scots who transplanted it into that Isle about seven hundred years before Christ It was brought out of Ireland by King Ferguze abut 370 years afterwards into Scotland and in the year of our Lord 850 was placed at the Abby of Scone in the Sheriffdom of Perth by King Kenneth where the Coronation of his Ancestors usually had been celebrated who caused this Distich to be ingraven upon it Ni fallat vatum c. And to be inclosed in this wooden Chair Afterwards when Edward I. King of England had overcome John Balliol King of Scots in many Battels he returned in the year 1297 to England bringing with him great Spoyls among which this Throne with the Crown and Scepter of their Kings were likewise taken and offered by him here at the Shrine of St. Edward and ever since hath been made use on as the accustomed Throne whereon our Kings do usually â—it on the days of their Inauguration As to the Prophesie insculpt on this Stone it seems happily to be accomplished sometime since when James VI. King of Scotland came to the Imperial Crown of England whose Grandson and Heir King Charles II. our present Sovereign now enjoys it § 195. The North side of this Chappel is taken up by three noble Tombs That towards the West is a plain Monument of grey Marble raised about five foot from the ground being on the right hand of the entrance without any Inscription or adornments more than a Table of Verses hanging by to inform you that Edward I. King of England Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine Lord of Ireland and Son to King Henry III. by Eleanor Daughter to the Earl of Province lies there intombed He took to Wife Eleanor Daughter to Ferdinand III. King of Castile and Lions who warred often with the Scots and that successively won Barwick c. and in the years 1308. died and was buried here § 156. Eleanora first Wife to this Edward King of England lies under that neat Tomb Northeast of the Feretory of St. Edward whose Pedestal is composed of Freestone and grey Marble whereon are the Arms of England Castile Leon and Pontois ingraven with a Sepulchre painted on the backside to be seen in the Area with divers Monks praying thereat all in plano on this Tomb is her Image in curious wrought Brass gilt with Gold her hair dishevelled and falling in very comly order on her shoulders her head crowned under a â—ine Canopy supported by two Cherubims of the same curious gilded Brass half encompassed on her left side with a screen of Iron wrought through in divers pleasant forms and delightful figures an Epitaph carved on the ledge in French and a Table hanging by in Latine and English Rhime to tell us further that she was only Daughter to Ferdinand III. King of Castile and Leon by Joan his second Wife Heir to Guydo Earl of Ponthieu by which the Earldom of Ponthieu devolved of right to the Kings of England She was Mother of King Edward II. and died in the year 1298. § 157. Between these two lie the Father of this Edward King of England viz. Henry III. under a most sumptuous Monument made Altar-wise of three ascents the first containing only a plain Pedestal of grey Marble wherein there be several Ambries and Lockiers made use of heretofore to lay up the Vestments and rich Copes belonging to the Altar of St. Edward The other is a composure of curious work framed of diverse coloured Marbles and glittering stones resembling those on the Feretory of S. Edward chequered and gilt with Gold supported at each corner by four twisted or Serpentine Columns of the same speckled Marble all brought from beyond the Seas by his Son Edward on purpose to adorn this his Fathers Sepulchre on the top whereof is placed his Image in his Royal Habiliments of solid Brass curiously wrought and gilt with Gold having a Lion at his feet an half Canopy over his head and an Epitaph in French round the ledge all of the same gilded Brass with a Table of Verses hanging by to let us know that this Henry King of England
Son of King John by Isabel Daughter to the Earl of Angolesme was a pious Prince and highly to be commended for all virtues He built the Chappel of our Lady as I have said elsewhere pulled down the Church of K. Edward and erected that which is now standing giving thereto many Royal Gifts of Copes Jewels and rich Vessels that it equalled in Riches all the Churches on this side the Alps he made a golden Chest and Coffin wherein to repose the Reliques of St. Edward adorned his Shrine translated his body into this Chappel prepared for him and was himself after he had reigned fifty six years and eighteen days buried on the North side thereof under this stately Monument anno 1273. § 158. There is another small Tomb of black and grey Marble on the North side of this Chappel at the feet of King Henry III. which hath formerly been adorned with Brass and a little Image thereon but at present there is nothing remaining but part of the Model being one Pillar thereof of the Chappel of King Henry VII to whose Daughter the Lady Elizabeth which he had by his Queen the Daughter of King Edward IV. this little Monument was placed who died in the year 1493. being not much above one year old and was buried under § 159. There are likewise on the South side of this Chappel or the Feretory of St. Edward three stately Monuments and one little Tomb. Towards the East lies Philippa Queen of England Wife to King Edward III. She hath a curious neat black Marble Tomb with her Image thereon of polished Alabaster her head crowned and supported by two Angels of the same round about the Pedestal are thirty sweetly carved Niches wherein had been placed as many Images with their Coats of Arms at their feet expressing who they were in Alabaster painted and gilt with Gold as the remains of some of them at this day declare which when intire were as follows At the head William Earl of Henault Father to the said Queen John King of France Edward III. King of England her Husband Lodowick the Emperour and Edward Prince of Wales her eldest Son At the feet the King of Navarre the King of Bohemia the King of Scotland the King of Sicily and the King of Spain On the left side of the Tomb Jone Queen of Scotland John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Jone Princess of Wales Lionel Duke of Clarence Isabel Countess of Bedford John Duke of Lancaster Jone Dutchess of Clarence Edmund Earl of Cambridge Jone Dutchess of Lancaster and Thomas Earl of Buckingham On the right side the Empress Mother to the said Queen her Brother also Marcus Duke of Gelderland Eleanora Dutchess of Gelderland John Earl of Henault Mary Dutchess of Britain Lodowick Duke of Bavaria the Countess of Pembroke Charles Son to the King of France and the Duke of Brabant There is no Inscription or Epitaph about this Tomb but a Table of Verses in Latine and English Metre declaring her exemplary piety and virtues and that she was Daughter of William of Bavaria Earl of Henault who died in the year 1369. and was buried here § 160. By her in another sumptuous and noble Monument lies Edward III. her Husband whose Image all of solid Brass and gilt with Gold in his Royal Robes is placed on a frame of the same Brass circumscribed with an Epitaph in Latine and fixed to a Pedestal of grey Marble round about which are many little Images still remaining all of solid brass richly enamelled and gilt with Gold representing the Sons and Daughters of this mighty Prince on the right side was Edward Prince of Wales Jone of the Tower given in marriage to the King of Spain Lionel Duke of Clarence Edmund Duke of York Mary Dutchess of Britain and William of Hatfield On the left side Isabel Lady of Coucy William of Windsor John Duke of Lancaster Blanch of the Tower Margaret Countess of Pembroke and Thomas of Woodstock Duke of Glocester This Edward the third of that name King of England since the Conquest was Son to Edward II. by Isabel Daughter to Philip le Bell King of France whose Brother dying without Issue and she being the next Heir this King Edward first laid claim to the Crown of France in right of his Mother notwithstanding their Salique Law by which the Females are barred from the Inheritance and prosecuted the War so successfully that he won Calais recovered Aquitaine and Normandy took John King of France and David King of Scots Prisoners and adding the Arms and Title of France to his own after he had reigned fifty years he died and was buried here under this noble Monument having a Table of Verses affixed thereunto in English and Latine meeter § 161. At the head of King Edward III. is the other stately Monument on this South side the Feretory of St. Edward composed much after the like form with that foregoing having two Images placed on a frame and circumscribed with an Epitaph all of solid brass gilt with Gold on a Pedestal of grey Marble meanly adorned whereunto is a Table affixed informing us that Richard II. King of England and France and Lord of Ireland with his first Wife Anne who was Daughter to Wenceslaus King of Bohemia and Emperour of the Germans who died anno 1394. lie there interred This Richard was Son to Edward Prince of Wales by Jone Daughter to the Earl of Kent After he had reigned twenty two years he was deposed by Henry of Lancaster and not long after anno 1399. was murthered and buried at Langley among the Dominicans but in the year 1414. his body was removed from thence by Henry V. King of England and nobly intombed here at Westminster who caused to be erected this Monument over him § 162. Between this Tomb of King Richard and that of Edward III. is a little small raised Monument of grey Marble whereon hath been the Effigies of a Child engraven on Brass now taken away but so much of the Epitaph remaining whereby may be gathered that under that small Tomb lies Margaret Daughter and fifth Child to Edward IV. King of England and France and Lord of Ireland by the Lady Elizabeth his Wife who was born the nineteenth day of April Anno Dom. 1472. and died the eleventh of December following § 163. On this Tomb stands an old rusty Sword seven foot in length and eighteen pounds in weight with a Buckler or deep Shield which are reported to be made use on by Edward III. in his Wars in France and are placed on this Tomb adjoyning to his Monument as a remembrance thereof § 164. The East side of this Chappel of St. Edward is taken up by that magnificent Monument of Henry V. King of England enclosed within a small Chappel by it self arched of curious worked stone and set about with admirable carvings Intaglio's and devices as trees of Palm Harts Royal and Swans gorged with Crowns and chained