From the earliest years of its existence as a definite Science, Heraldry
is found to be most intimately associated with the Gothic Architecture
of England: and happy it was for the early Heralds, that in their days
the English Gothic was at work in the full strength of its first
maturity. And this alliance was never interrupted, or permitted to
decline from its original cordiality. As long as the Gothic flourished,
Heraldry held its own place in Architecture. And in the finest works
that exist amongst us, relics of the grand Gothic Ages of English
Architecture, Heraldry is ever present to adorn them with its graphic
records. In the spandrels of arcades, in panels, upon bosses in
vaulting, in stained glass, in encaustic floor-tiles, and indeed in
almost every position in which such ornamentation could be admissible,
the early Herald is found to have been the fellow-worker with the early
Gothic architect. Gothic Architecture, accordingly, has preserved for us
very noble collections and specimens of the most valuable illustrations
of our national Heraldry. Canterbury and York Cathedrals, and the Abbey
Churches of Westminster and St. Alban’s, with the Chapel of King’s
College, Cambridge, are especially rich in heraldic treasures: and
Westminster Hall and the northern Castles of Alnwick and Warkworth may
be specified as noble examples of secular Architecture, which retain
their heraldic enrichments.
IV. Gothic MONUMENTS, and in common with them their successors of the
Renaissance era, abound in every variety of armorial blazonry. And fine
examples of heraldic Monuments are no less abundant, than are the
Shields and other insignia that appear on particular memorials. The
principles which directed the selection of Shields to be introduced into
the composition of early Monuments are worthy of careful consideration:
and the same remark is no less applicable in the case of Architecture.
I must be content to specify a very small group of heraldic Monuments of
especial interest and value. In Westminster Abbey: the Monuments of
Queens ALIANORE of Castile, PHILIPPA of Hainault, ELIZABETH TUDOR, and
MARY STUART; the Monuments of King EDWARD III. and King HENRY VII.; and
those of ALIANORE DE BOHUN, Duchess of GLOUCESTER, the Countess of
LENNOX, the Countess of DERBY, the two DE VALENCES, Earls of Pembroke,
EDMUND, Earl of Lancaster, Lord BOURCHIER, and Sir GILES DAUBENEY, K.G.
In Canterbury Cathedral: the Monuments of the BLACK PRINCE, and of
HENRY IV. and JOANNA of Navarre. In Salisbury Cathedral: the Monument of
Earl WILLIAM LONGESPÉE. In St. Alban’s Abbey Church: the Monuments of
HUMPHREY, Duke of GLOUCESTER, and of the Abbots WHEATHAMSTEDE and
RAMRYGE. Also, other fine Monuments in the Churches at Elsyng in
Norfolk, Ewelme and Northleigh in Oxfordshire, King’s Langley in
Hertfordshire, and Cobham in Kent; in Beverley Minster, and in the
Beauchamp Chapel at Warwick.
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account