Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and CuriositiesAnonymous
History
Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and Curiosities
Anonymous
Westminster Abbey
Above is a tablet to Dr. Vincent, with the inscription thus
translated:--"Here rests whatever is mortal of WILLIAM VINCENT, who having
received his education in this College, returned to it when he had
completed his academical studies, and from the situation of Junior Usher,
arose to that of Head Master; he was at length exalted to the office of
Dean of the Church, for which he entertained the greatest affection: on
the subject of his life, his literary attainments, and his moral
character, let this monumental stone be silent. He owes his origin to the
respectable family of the Vincents, of Shepy, in the county of Leicester;
he was born in London, 2nd November, 1739, and died on the 21st December,
1815."
Doctor RICHARD BUSBY.--On this fine monument is the effigy of this learned
grammarian in his gown, looking earnestly at the inscription. In his right
hand he holds a pen, and in his left a book open. Underneath, upon the
pedestal, are a variety of books, and at the top are his family arms. The
inscription is very elegantly written, and highly to his praise;
intimating that whatever fame the school of Westminster boasts, and
whatever advantage mankind shall reap from thence in times to come, are
all principally owing to the wise institutions of this great man. He was
born at Lutton, in Lincolnshire, September 22, 1606; made Master of
Westminster College, December 23, 1640; elected Prebendary of Westminster,
July 5th, 1660, and Treasurer of Wells, August 11th, the same year; and
died April 5th, 1695.--_Bird, sculptor._
Affixed to the pillars in this cross are two tablets; one to the memory of
Dr. ANTHONY HORNECK, who was born at Wettenburgh, in Zealand, but educated
at Queen's College, Oxford; was King's Divinity Professor and Chaplain, a
Prebendary of this Church, and Preacher at the Savoy. He died of the
stone, January 31, 1696, aged fifty-six. The other to the memory of Dr.
SAMUEL BARTON, a Prebendary of this Church, and a person of admirable
genius and learning. He died September 1715, aged sixty-eight.
In front of Dr. Barrow's monument, lies the remains of that once
celebrated poet, Sir WILLIAM DAVENANT, who, upon the death of Ben Jonson,
succeeded him as Poet Laureate to Charles I., but having lost his nose by
an _accident_, was cruelly bantered by the wits of the succeeding reign.
He was a vintner's son at Oxford, whose wife, being a woman of admirable
wit and sprightly conversation, drew the politest men of that age to their
house, among whom Shakspeare was said to be a frequent visitor. His
education was at Lincoln College, where he became acquainted with Endimion
Porter, Henry Jermain, and Sir John Suckling. He died in 1668, aged
sixty-three.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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