HIS REMAINS INSPECTED. On lifting up the lid of the tomb, the royal body was found wrapped in a ftrong thick linen cloth, waxed on the infide: the head and face were covered with a fudarium or face-cloth of crimfon farcenet, wrapped into three folds, conformable to the napkin ufed by our Saviour in his way to his crucifixion, as we are affured by the church of Rome. On flinging open the external mantle, the corpfe was difcovered in all the enfigns of majesty, richly habited. The body was wrapped in a fine linen cere-cloth, closely fitted to every part, even to the very fingers and face. The writs de cera renovanda circa corpus regis Edwardi primi* being extant, gave rife to this fearch. Over the cere-cloth was a tunic of red filk damafk; above that a ftole of thick white tiffue croffed the breast, and on this, at fix inches diftant from each other, quatrefoils of philligree-work, of gilt metal fet with falfe ftones, imitating rubies, fapphires, amethyfts, &c.; and the intervals between the quatre-foils on the ftole, powdered with minute white beads, tacked down into a moft elegant embroidery, in form not unlike what is called the true lover's knot. Above thefe habits was the royal mantle of rich crimson fattin, faftened on the left fhoulder with a magnificent fibula, of gilt metal richly chafed, and ornamented with four pieces of red, and four of blue, tranfparent paste, and twenty-four more pearls. THE Corpfe, from the waist downwards, is covered with a rich cloth of figured gold, which falis down to the feet and is tucked beneath them. On the back of each hand was a quatre-foil like thofe on the stole. In his right hand is a fceptre with a cross of copper gilt, and of elegant workmanship, reaching to the right Archælogia, iii. 376, 398, 399.—Similar warrants were issued on account of Edward III. Richard II. and Henry IV. 67 68 ELIANOR HIS EDWARD III. QUEEN OF EDWARD I. fhoulder. In the left hand is the rod and dove, which paffes over ELIANOR of Caftile, the beautiful and affectionate queen of THE murdered prince Edward II. found his grave at Glocefter: his fon, the glorious warrior Edward III. refts here. His figure at full length, made of copper once gilt, lies beneath a rich gothic fhrine of the fame material. His hair is disheveled, his beard long and flowing. His gown reaches to his feet. Each hand holds a fceptre. The figures of his children in brass furround the altar tomb. His worthy queen Philippa was inter The dress is reprefented on a feal of this monarch's, in Sandford's Genealogy, 120, with tolerable accuracy. + Archælogia, iii. 402. Sandford, 131. Sandford, 177.-Gough's Sepulch. Mon. i 139. tab. Iv. Ivi. red EDWARD III. red at his feet*. Her figure in alabafter represents her as a moft masculine woman. She died in 1369: her royal spouse in 1377. His latter end was marked with misfortunes; by the death of his fon the Black Prince; by a raging peftilence; but more by his unfeasonable love in his doating years. How finely does Mr. Gray paint his death, and the gay entrance of his fucceffor into power, in the bitter taunt he puts into the mouth of a British bard! Mighty victor, mighty lord, Low on his funeral couch he lies ↑ No pitying heart, no eye, afford A tear to grace his obfequies. Is the fable warrior fled? Thy fon is gone: he refts among the dead! The swarm, that in thy noon-tide beam were born Gone to falute the rifing morn. Fair laughs the morn, and foft the Zephyr blows, While, proudly riding o'er the azure realm, In gallant trim the gilded veffel goes; Youth on the prow, and pleasure at the helm; That, hufh'd in grim repofe, expects his evening-prey. THE tomb of the wafteful unfortunate prince Richard II. and his first confort Anne, daughter of Wincelaus king of Bohemia, is the next in order t. Their figures, in the fame metal as the former, lie recumbent on it. He had directed these to be made in his life-time, by B. and Godfrey, of Woodstreet, goldsmiths: the expence of gilding them cost four hundred marks. The counte * Sandford, 172.—Gough, i. 63. tab. xxiii. ✦ Sandford, 203.-Gough's Sepulch. Mon. i. 163, tab. lxi. Ixii. 69 RICHARD II. nance 70 HIS PORTRAIT. HENRY V. RICHARD II. nance of Richard is very unlike the beautiful painting of him on board, fix feet eleven inches high, by three feet feven inches broad. He is reprefented fitting in a chair of state, with a globe in one hand, the fceptre in the other; a crown on his head; and his drefs extremely rich and elegant; many parts marked with his initial, R. furmounted with a crown. His countenance remarkably fine and gentle, little indicative of his bad and oppreffive reign *. THIS picture, after the teft of near four hundred years, is in the highest preservation; and not lefs remarkable for the elegance of the coloring, than the excellent drawing, confidering the early age of the performance. We must allow it had been re-painted; but nothing seems altered, if we may collect from the print made by Vertue, excepting a correction in the fite of the cross iffuing out of the globe. The back ground is elevated above the figure, of an uneven furface, and gilt. The curious will find, in Mr. Walpole's Anecdotes, vol. i. an ingenious conjecture of the method of painting in that early period, which has given fuch amazing duration to the labors of its artists. THIS portrait was originally hung up in the choir of the abby; but about a dozen years ago was removed to the ferufalem chamber. WITHIN a beautiful chapel of gothic workmanship, of open iron-work, ornamented with various images, is the tomb of the gallant prince Henry V.† a ftriking contrast to the weak and Vetufta Monumenta, tab. iv. + Sandford, 289. luxurious HENRY V. AND QUEEN. luxurious Richard. This was built by Henry VII. in compliment to his illuftrious relation and predeceffor. His queen Catherine had before erected his monument, and placed his image, cut in heart of oak, and covered over with filver, on an altar tomb; the head was (as the guide tells us) of folid filver, which, in the reign of Henry VIII. was facrilegiously stolen away. The wooden headlefs trunk ftill remains. On each fide of this royal chapel is a winding ftaircafe, inclof ed in a turret of open iron-work, which leads into a chauntry founded for the purpose of maffes, for the repofe of the foul of this great prince. The front looks over the fhrine of the Confeffor. Here is kept a parcel of human figures, which in old times were dreffed out and carried at funeral proceffions; but at present very defervedly have got the name of the ragged regiment. More worthy of notice is the elegant termination of the columella of the two staircases, which spread at the top of the turrets into roofs of uncommon elegance. ONE end of this chauntry refts against that of the chapel of Henry VII. Among the ftone ftatues placed there is the French patron St. Dennis, moft compofedly carrying his head in his hand. On the fouth fide of the chauntry, over his monument, is the representation of his coronation. The figure of Henry is diftinguished by a wen under his chin. It is probable that it was belonging to that monarch, as it is not to be fuppofed that the fculptor would have added a deformity *. CATHERINE, his royal confort, had less respect payed to her Mr. Carter intends to engrave this in his fpecimens of antient fculpture. remains. |