THE CHILDREN’S STORY OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY [Illustration: _Photo W. Rice, F.R.P.S._ _Allen & Co (London) Ltd Sc_ _Westminster Abbey from Dean’s Yard._ ] THE CHILDREN’S STORY OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY BY G. E. TROUTBECK AUTHOR OF “WESTMINSTER ABBEY” (THE LITTLE GUIDES) NEW YORK FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY PUBLISHERS _Published 1909_ _Printed by_ MORRISON & GIBB LIMITED _Edinburgh_ TO LANCELOT, JACK, KATHARINE AND WILFRID PREFACE Readers of this little volume must not expect to find in it a full description of the Abbey buildings, or a complete list of all the tombs, monuments, and other beautiful and interesting things in the Abbey Church. That is not the aim of this book. Its chief object is to point out to British children how they may follow the great outlines of their country’s history in Westminster Abbey, from the earliest ages down to our own time,—from the days of the far-off, legendary King Lucius to those of King Edward VII. The words, “citizen of no mean city,” ought surely to come into our minds as we look round the Abbey and see there, as we clearly can see, a kind of outward expression of all that is best in our national character. The Abbey speaks to us of the deep religious feeling behind our shyness and reserve; of patriotism, and of self-sacrifice for our country; of love and respect for every form of good and noble service; of the wise moderation in our forms of government; of our wide sympathy with men of every race and creed. It is thus that Westminster Abbey can truly claim to be our great National Church. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. THE FOUNDATION AND BUILDING OF THE ABBEY 1 II. THE CORONATIONS 20 III. KING EDWARD THE CONFESSOR: 1042 TO 1066 41 IV. THE PLANTAGENETS OF THE DIRECT LINE FROM HENRY III TO RICHARD II: 1216 TO 1399 57 V. THE HOUSES OF LANCASTER AND YORK: 1399 TO 1485 75 VI. THE HOUSE OF TUDOR: 1485 TO 1603 88 VII. THE HOUSE OF STUART AND THE COMMONWEALTH: 1603 to 1714 110 VIII. THE HOUSE OF HANOVER AND THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 143 IX. THE NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH CENTURIES 168 X. THE WAX EFFIGIES 207