Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and CuriositiesAnonymous
History
Historical Description of Westminster Abbey, Its Monuments and Curiosities
Anonymous
Westminster Abbey
Near that of Henry III. is a small monument in memory of ELIZABETH TUDOR,
second daughter of Henry VII., who died at Eltham, in Kent, Sept. 14th,
1495, aged three years, from whence she was removed in great funeral pomp,
and here buried.
At the feet of Henry III. is an ancient monument of ELEANOR, Queen of
Edward I. On the sides of this monument are engraven the arms of Castile
and Leon, quarterly, and those of Fontheiu, hanging on vines and oak
leaves; and round the copper verge is embossed this inscription, in Saxon
characters: "Ici gist Alianor iadis Reyne de Engletere femme al Rey
Edeward Fiz (lerey Henry efylle alrey deespaygne econtasse de) puntif del
alme deli Deu pur sa pite eyt merci. Amen." Translation:--_Here lies
Eleanor, formerly Queen of England, wife to King Edward son of King Henry,
daughter of the King of Spain, and Countess of Ponthieu; upon whose soul
may God for His pity have mercy. Amen._ The upper line is visible on the
south side, the words within brackets are concealed under the tomb of King
Henry V., the remainder is on the north side. It is remarkable, the body
only of this Queen lies here interred, and her heart in the choir of the
Friars Predicants in London. She died Dec. 27, 1290.--_Cavalini._
The chantry of Henry V. is next, on each side of which are images as large
as life, guarding, as it were, the staircases ascending to it. Beneath is
the tomb of that glorious and warlike Prince, HENRY of MONMOUTH (so called
from the place of his nativity). On the upper slab lies a headless and
otherwise mutilated figure of the King, carved in oak, which was
originally covered with silver; the head appears to have been cast in
silver; but this, Camden says, "was gone when he wrote his Britannica, in
the reign of Elizabeth." This Prince was guilty of great extravagances in
his youth, and is said, with Sir John Falstaff, to have belonged to a gang
of sharpers; yet, upon his advancement to the crown made a most excellent
King, and, by the memorable battle of Agincourt, acquired to himself and
the English nation immortal glory. He died in France, Aug. 31, 1422, in
the thirty-fourth year of his age, and the tenth of his reign. In the
chantry above, is the saddle, helmet, and shield, supposed to have been
used at Agincourt, brought here at his interment.--_John Anderne,
sculptor._
The next is an ancient tomb to the memory of PHILLIPPA, third daughter of
William, Earl of Hainault, and Queen of Edward III., with whom she lived
forty-two years, and bore him fourteen children. Harding tells us, that
when an embassy was sent to choose one of the Earl's daughters, a certain
English Bishop advised to choose the lady with the largest hips, as
promising a numerous progeny. She died August 15, 1369; and the King, her
husband, bestowed a profusion of expense in performing her exequies and
erecting her tomb, round which were placed as ornaments the brazen statues
of no less than thirty kings, princes, and noble personages, her
relations.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account