Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and CuriositiesAnonymous
History
Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and Curiosities
Anonymous
Westminster Abbey
Also one to the memory of Sir GEORGE SAVILLE, created by Charles I. Baron
of Eland, and Viscount Halifax, afterwards Earl, and lastly Marquis of
Halifax. He was Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal for some time in the reigns
of Charles II., James II., and William III.; and, at the beginning of the
reign of James II., he was, for a few months, Lord President of the
Council. He died April 5, 1695.
Here is the lofty and magnificent monument of Queen ELIZABETH, erected to
her memory by James I., her successor. The inscription speaks her
character, high descent, and the memorable acts of her glorious
reign:--"That she was the mother of her country, and the patroness of
religion and learning; that she was herself skilled in many languages;
adorned with every excellence of mind and person, and endowed with
princely virtues beyond her sex; that in her reign, religion was restored
to its primitive purity; peace was established; money restored to its just
value; domestic insurrections quelled; France delivered from intestine
troubles; the Netherlands supported; the Spanish Armada defeated; Ireland,
almost lost by the secret contrivances of Spain, recovered; the revenues
of both Universities improved, by a law of provisions, and, in short, all
England enriched; that she was a most prudent Governess, forty-five years
a virtuous and triumphant Queen, truly religious, and blessed in all her
great affairs; and that after a calm and resigned death, in the seventieth
year of her age, she left the mortal part to be deposited in this Church,
which she established upon a new footing. She died March 24, 1602, aged
seventy." Queen MARY, whose reign preceded that of Queen Elizabeth, was
interred here likewise. She died Nov. 17, 1558.--_Stone, sculptor._
At the end of this Aisle is a small tomb over which is a figure of a
child, erected to the memory of MARY, third daughter of James I., born at
Greenwich in 1605; and soon afterwards committed to the care of Lady
Knevet, in whose house at Stainwell she died, December 19, 1607, at two
years old.
And a child in a cradle, erected to the memory of SOPHIA, fourth daughter
of the same King, born at Greenwich in 1606, and died in three days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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