Augmentation Office. Miscellaneous Books. No. 259.

Book of payments from 20th March, 4 Edward VI, to 20th March, 5 Edward VI.

1551-52.

“Pencions out of Monasteries”

f. 16 d. Roundesivall.

Alloc’. Gardiani ibidem per annum vj li. xiij s. iiij d.[[21]] exr.

[21]. The above sum is written below viij li, crossed out.

Paide to them the xij of Aprill for theire quarters pencion due at Christenmas laste paste xxxiij s. iiij d.

Paide to him the xij of Aprill for theire quarters pencion due at Th annunciacion last past xxxiij s. iiij d.

Paide to them the xxij of Novembre for her quarters pencion due at Midsomer last past xxxiij s. iiij d.

Paide to them the xxij of Novembre for her quarters pencion due at Mighelmas last past xxxiij s. iiij d.

ELEANOR OF CASTILE

Fig. 12.
The Effigy of Queen Eleanor in Westminster Abbey; made by William Torel (anno 1291): from the drawing by Basire; Gough, “Sepulchral Monuments of Great Britain,” i, part i, plate xxiii.

ELEANOR OF CASTILE,
QUEEN OF ENGLAND
AND THE
MONUMENTS ERECTED IN HER MEMORY.

Tradition for over six hundred years has conferred the title of the “Good Queen Eleanor” on the Consort of Edward I, and does not fail to repeat the tale of one of the most beautiful episodes in the domestic annals of the mediæval English court; but the force of this tradition has, without doubt, been greatly strengthened by the existence of the remarkable series of monuments erected by King Edward to perpetuate the memory of the Queen.

The story of the “Regina bonæ memoriæ” may be of interest to those who read these pages, not only because the Cross erected at Charing was the finest of the memorial crosses, but because the artistic conception and much of the excellent craftsmanship lavished on these beautiful monuments had their origin in the district of London specially associated with the work of Charing Cross Hospital.

It will first of all be needful to recall something of the life and character of a Queen who made so powerful an impression on her people. That her influence must have been remarkable is sufficiently indicated by the fact that the crosses partook of the nature of shrines. They were built on consecrated ground and were intended to claim the prayers of the wayfarer. This great demand on the devotion of her people, which might readily have given the impression of being forced or exaggerated, was clearly held to be entirely fitting.