London and Its Environs Described, vol. 5 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round ItAnonymous
History
London and Its Environs Described, vol. 5 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round It
Anonymous
London (England) -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; London (England) -- Gazetteers -- Early works to 1800
The monastery and church were rebuilt in the reigns of Richard II. and
Henry IV. but at the general suppression of religious houses were
surrendered to Henry VIII. in the year 1539; upon which the parishes of
St. Mary Magdalen, and St. Margaret, purchased the conventual church of
King Henry; and were the next year united by act of Parliament, and the
church being then repaired, was called by the new name of St. Saviour’s.
_Stowe._
Both the construction and extent of this Gothic structure resemble a
cathedral more than a parish church. The length is 260 feet, and that of
the cross isle 109: the breadth of the body is 54 feet, and the height
of the tower, including the pinacles, is 150 feet. The construction of
the windows, entrances, and every other part, is purely in the Gothic
style, except a modern door, which is neither Gothic, nor agreeable to
the rules of any other architecture. The tower, which is square, and
well proportioned, is supported by massy pillars over the meeting of the
middle and cross isles; it is crowned with battlements, and has a
pinacle at each corner.
In a chapel at the east end of the church is the monument of Bishop
Andrews, who was interred there; and in another part of the church is
that of the Bishop of Winchester; but the most singular monument is that
of the family of the Austins, erected in the last century, and repaired,
new painted, and gilt by the relations in 1706.
The first figure is a rock, upon which is written, _Petra erat_ XTS.
that is, The rock was Christ. Down this rock runs a stream of water; and
out of it glides a serpent, his old skin being stript off by the rock,
which is seen hanging on that part of his back that is not yet got
thro’. At the foot of the rock there grows standing corn, on which is a
label with these words, _Si non moriatur, non reviviscit_, that is, If
it dieth not, it liveth not again. Underneath the corn is this motto,
_Nos sevit, fovit, lavit, coget, renovabit_, _i.e._ He hath sown,
cherished, washed us, and shall gather us together and renew us.
Upon the top of the rock stands an angel, holding a sickle in his left
hand, and with his right pointing to the sun, which shines, and on its
lower rays is a label, upon which is, _Sol justitiæ_, _i.e._ The Sun of
righteousness.
On the sides of the monument are scythes, flails, shepherds crooks,
rakes, ploughs, harrows, and other instruments of husbandry hanging by a
ribband out of a Death’s head; and above them, _Vos estis agricultura_,
_i.e._ Ye are God’s husbandry.
On the outside of these a harvest man with wings is seated on each side,
one with a fork behind him, and the other with a rake. They have straw
hats, and lean their heads upon their hands, the elbows resting upon
their knees, as if fatigued with labour, and under them are these words,
_Messores congregabunt_, _i.e._ The reapers shall gather. Under all is a
winnowing fan, upon which is stretched a sheet of parchment bearing a
long inscription in Latin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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