Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and CuriositiesAnonymous
History
Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and Curiosities
Anonymous
Westminster Abbey
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._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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