A Historical Description of Westminster Abbey; Its Monuments and Curiosities

VIII.-Chapel of Islip, otherwise Saint John the Baptist.

the middle of this Chapel formerly stood the monument of Abbot ISLIP; it consisted of a ground plinth, or basement, on which was an alabaster statue of the Abbot, who was represented as a skeleton in a shroud or winding sheet. Over this was a canopy, on which was anciently a fine painting of our Saviour on the Cross, destroyed by the Puritans in Cromwell's time, who were enemies to everything that favoured Popish idolatry, though ever so masterly. Islip was a great favourite with Henry VII., and was employed by him in decorating his new chapel, and in repairing and beautifying the whole Abbey. He dedicated his own chapel to St. John the Baptist, and died May 12, 1532, and was buried in his own chapel.

On the right is the tomb of Sir CHRISTOPHER HATTON, and his lady, in reclining attitudes on cushions. Sir Christopher died September 10, 1619; and his widow erected this memorial of his virtues and of their own affectionate union.

On the left, opposite the Chapel of Islip, are two very ancient monuments of Knights Templars. The first, that of EDMUND CROUCHBACK, son of Henry III., so called, as some affirm, from the deformity of his person; but according to others, from his attending his brother in the holy wars, where they wore a crouch or cross on their shoulders as a badge of Christianity. From this Prince the House of Lancaster claimed their right to the crown. On the base, towards the area, are the remains of ten knights, armed, with banners, surcoats of armour and cross-belted, representing, undoubtedly, his expedition to the Holy Land, the number exactly corresponding with what Matthew Paris reports, namely, Edward and his brother, four Earls, and four Knights, of whom some are still discoverable, particularly the Lord Roger Clifford, as were formerly, in Waverley's time, William de Valence, and Thomas de Clare.

The next ancient monument is to the memory of AYMER DE VALENCE, second and last Earl of Pembroke of this family; he was third son of William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, "whom "he succeeded in his estates and honours. He was employed in "the Scottish wars in the reigns of Edward I. and II. Edward II., "in 1314, appointed him general of all his forces from the Trent "to Roxborough. He was appointed to attend Isabel, the Queen Mother, to France, and there murdered, on the 23rd of June, "1323."

The Countess of Lancaster's tomb is seen from the choir, but from this part is hid by the monument of Lord Ligonier; it is canopied with an ancient Gothic arch, the sides of which were decorated with vine branches in relief, the roof within springing into many angles, under which lay the image of a lady, in an

antique dress, her feet resting upon lions, and her head on pillars, supported by angels on each side. This monument covered the remains of AVELINE, Countess of Lancaster, daughter of William de Fortibus, Earl of Albemarle and Holdernesse, by Isabella, daughter and heiress of Baldwin, Earl of Devon. This lady married Edmund, Earl of Lancaster, son of Henry III., but died the very year of her marriage, Nov. 4, 1293.

On the right is a monument to the memory of General WOLFE, who was killed at the siege of Quebec, 1759. He is represented falling into the arms of a grenadier, with his right hand over the mortal wound the grenadier is pointing to Glory in the form of an angel in the clouds, holding forth a wreath ready to crown him, whilst a Highland sergeant looks sorrowfully on two lions watch at his feet. The inscription as follows:"To the memory "of James Wolfe, Major-General and Commander-in-Chief of "the British Land Forces on an expedition against Quebec, who, "after surmounting, by ability and valour, all obstacles of art "and nature, was slain in the moment of victory, on the 13th of "September, 1759, the King and the Parliament of Great Britain "dedicate this monument."-Wilton, sculptor.

On the right hand wall, side of Wolfe, is a monument to the memory of Bishop DUPPA, tutor to Charles II., a man of such exemplary piety, lively conversation, and excess of good nature, that when Charles I. was a prisoner in Carisbrooke Castle, he thought himself happy in the company of so good a man. He was born at Greenwich, and educated first at Westminster School, and then at Christ Church College, Oxford, of which he was afterwards Dean; and being selected for the Preceptor to the then Prince of Wales, was first made Bishop of Chichester, from thence translated to Salisbury, and after the Restoration to the See of Winchester. He died March 26, 1622, in the seventy-fourth year of his age."-Burman, sculptor.

Beneath is a tablet, "Sacred to the memory of JOHN THEOPHILUS BERESFORD, eldest son of Marcus Beresford, and the Lady Frances, his wife, Lieutenant in the eighty-eighth regi"ment of foot, who died in the twenty-first year of his age, at "Villa Formosa, in Spain, of wounds received from the exploding "of a powder magazine, at Ciudad Rodrigo, after he had passed "unhurt through eight days of voluntary service, of the greatest danger during the siege, for which he received the thanks of "the Commander-in-Chief. Brave and zealous in his military "duties, animated by a strong feeling of piety to God, and distinguished by his ardent filial affection and duty towards a "widowed mother, he has left to her the recollection of his rising virtues as her only consolation under the irreparable "loss she has sustained by his death. Born, Jan. 16, 1792, and "died Jan. 29, 1812; interred with military honours, in the fort “ of Almeida.—“ Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wicked"ness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul." "-Wisdom of Solomon, chap. iv., verse 11."-H.Westmacott, sculptor.

Next to this is a tablet to the memory of Sir JAMES ADOL PHUS OUGHTON, Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty's forces in North Britain. The inscription is a recital of his military employments, and a record of his death, which took place April 14, 1780, in the sixty-first year of his age.-Hayward, sculptor.

On the floor is the image of an Abbot in his mass habit, curiously engraved on brass, representing JOHN DE EASTNEY, who died March 4, 1498. By the records of the Church he appears to have been a great benefactor to it; he ornamented the grand west window with some noble paintings on glass, of which some little still remains. He gave the screen to the Chapel, and presented two images gilt for the altar of St. Peter and St. Paul, and one for the chapter-house. He paid the King £1,000. on account of the merchants, and £3,700 to the Court of Rome, due for the confirmation of abbots.

A little to the left, on another gravestone, plated with brass, is the figure of an armed Knight, resting his feet on a lion, and his head on a greyhound, which, as the register informs us, represents Sir JOHN HARPEDON, Knight, who died in 1457.

Adjoining this is a gravestone, on which have been the figures, in brass, of THOMAS BROWNE and HUMPHREY ROBERTS, two monks of this Church, who died in 1508.

On the right as you enter the Chapel is another gravestone, on which has been the effigy of Sir THOMAS PARRY, Knight, Treasurer of the Household, Master of the Court of Wards and Liveries to Queen Elizabeth. He died December 15, 1560.

IX.-Chapels of St. John the Evangelist, St. Andrew, and St. Michael.

URNING round on your right is an unique monument to the memory of Sir FRANCIS VERE, a gentleman of the first reputation, both for learning and arms, one "of the most accomplished soldiers of Queen Elizabeth's reign, having the command of the auxiliary troops in the "Dutch service, nearly twenty years." He died August 28, 1608, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. Loose armour is repre

sented being supported by four armed knights.

On the back of General Wolfe's monument is a tablet to the memory of Sir HUMPHREY DAVY, Bart., distinguished throughout the world "by his discoveries in chemical science; President of "the Royal Society; Member of the National Institute of France. "Born 17th December, 1778, at Penzance. Died 29th May, 1829, "at Geneva, where his remains are interred."

A monument is here erected by the East India Company, as a grateful testimony to the value and eminent services of Captain EDWARD COOKE, Commander of his Majesty's ship Sybille who, on the 1st of March, 1799, after a long and well-contested en

gagement, captured La Forte, a French frigate of very superior force, in the Bay of Bengal; an event not more splendid in its achievement, than important in its result to the British trade in India. He died in consequence of the severe wounds he received in this memorable action, on the 23rd of May, 1799, aged twentyseven.-Bacon, sculptor.

The next is a monument to the memory of Sir GEORGE HOLLES, nephew of Sir Francis Vere, and a Major-General under him. He died May, 1626, aged fifty. This monument was erected by John, Earl of Clare.-Nicholas Stone, sculptor.

Adjoining is a monument to the memory of Sir GEORGE POCOCK, K.B., Admiral of the Blue, who distinguished himself at the taking of Geriah, and in leading the attack at the reduction of Chandernagore; afterwards, with an inferior force, he defeated the French fleet under M. D'Ache in three several engagements; returning from his successful career in the East, he was appointed to command the fleet upon the expedition against the Havannah, by his united efforts in the conquest of which, he added fresh laurels to his own brow, and a valuable possession to this kingdom. A life so honourable to himself, and so endeared to his friends and his family, was happily extended to the age of eightysix, and resigned, in the year 1793, with the same tranquil and serene mind which peculiarly marked and adorned the whole course of it.-Bacon, sculptor.

A monument to the memory of JOSEPH GASCOIGNE NIGHTINGALE, and his Lady. The lady is represented expiring in the arms of her husband; beneath, slily creeping from a tomb, the King of Terrors presents his grim visage, pointing his unerring dart to the dying figure, at which sight the husband, suddenly struck with astonishment, horror, and despair, seems to clasp her to his bosom to defend her from the fatal stroke. Inscription :"Here rest the ashes of Joseph Gascoigne Nightingale, of Mamhead, in the county of Devon, Esq., who died July 20, 1752, aged fifty-six; and of Lady Elizabeth, his wife, daughter and "co-heiress of Washington, Earl Ferrars, who died August 17, 1734, aged twenty-seven. Their only son, Washington Gas"coigne Nightingale, Esq., in memory of their virtues, did by his "last will, order this monument to be erected."-Roubiliac.

Next to this is a monument of note, sacred to the memory of SARAH, Duchess of Somerset, relict of John Seymour, Duke of Somerset, daughter of Sir Edward Alston, Knt. On the base of this monument are two charity boys, one on each side, bewailing the death of their benefactress, who is represented in a modern dress, resting upon her arm, under a canopy of state, and looking earnestly up at a group of cherubims issuing from the clouds above her. Underneath is a Latin inscription to this effect :"Here lies the late illustrious Duchess of Somerset, celebrated "for charity and benevolence, who erected a grammar school for 66 boys at Tottenham, in Middlesex, enlarged the income of the "Green-coat Hospital at Westminster, largely endowed Brazenose "College, in Oxford, and St. John's, in Cambridge, for the

"education and instruction of youth in good piety and literature. "She was likewise an encourager of trade and handicrafts, and "had a tender regard to old age, by erecting an almshouse at "Froxfield, in Wiltshire, for thirty widows. She was very "charitable to the poor of St. Margaret's, Westminster, where she "instituted a lecture, and gave many stately ornaments to the "Church." She died October 25, 1692.

Against the east wall is a tablet erected to the memory of ANN, wife of James Kirton, of Castle Carey, Somersetshire, Gent. She died September 7, 1603.

"Sir HENRY NORRIS, his Lady, and six sons. He was ancestor of the present Earl of Abingdon, and for his valour in the Low Countries, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was created Lord Norris, of Ricot. He died in 1601. His six sons are represented kneeling round the tomb; viz., William, John, and Thomas, on the south side; Henry, Edward, and Maximilian, on the north side. On the south side of the canopy in alto-relievo is represented the march of an army of horse, with an encampment in the back ground, together with the standard of the Belgic States, and a soldier bearing a shield, with the Norris's arms. On the summit is a small statue of Fame.

Up against the wall is a tablet to the learned Dr. YOUNG, M.D. The inscription sets forth that he was eminent in every department of human learning; and that, by obstruse investigation of letters and science, he at length unveiled the obscurity which had rested upon the hieroglyphics of Egypt. Died May 10, 1829, in the fifty-sixth year of his age.-Chantrey, sculptor. Next is a full length statue of Mrs. SIDDONS, a celebrated actress, as Lady Macbeth, in the Night Scene. Erected by subscription.-Thomas Campbell, sculptor.

Here is also a very neat monument to the memory of SUSANNA JANE DAVIDSON, only daughter of William Davidson, of Rotterdam, merchant, whom it pleased the Almighty to visit in the bloom of life with a lingering disease, of which she died at Paris, January 1, 1767, aged twenty.-Hayward, sculptor.

"MATTHEW BAILLIE, Fellow of the Royal College of London "and Edinburgh (born at Lanark, in Scotland), of the Literary “Institutions of Oxford and Glasgow, Professor of Anatomy; of great medical skill, of strict integrity, of sincere mind, and "liberal simplicity. This bust was put up by his medical asso"ciates. Died 9th of October, 1823, aged sixty-two."-Chantrey, sculptor.

A colossal figure of "THOMAS TELFORD, President of the "Institution of Civil Engineers, born at Glendinning, in Eskdale, "Dumfriesshire, in 1757; died in London, 1834. The orphan son of a shepherd, self educated, he raised himself by his extraordinary talents and integrity, from the humble condition of an operative mason, and became one of the most eminent Civil Engineers of the age. This marble has been erected near the spot where his remains are deposited, by the friends who revered

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