Charles Holmes, Esq., Rear-Admiral of the White; who is represented in a Roman habit, leaning against a cannon mounted on a sea carriage; an anchor, cable, and flag in the back ground.—“He died the 21st of Nov., 1761, Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty’s fleet stationed at Jamaica, aged fifty. Erected by his grateful nieces, Mary Stanwix and Lucretia Stowe.”—Wilton, sculptor.
In front of the monument to Admiral Holmes, is an old gravestone, plated with brass, with Latin inscription, to John of Windsor, nephew of Sir William of Windsor, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the reign of Edward III. He died April 4, 1414.
Near this spot was buried John Pym, the celebrated Parliamentary orator, who died December 13, 1643; and also James Usher, Archbishop of Armagh, 1656.
VI.—Chapel of St. Edward.
| 1. Henry the Third, 1272. 2. Queen Eleanor, 1290. 3. Henry the Fifth, 1423. 4. Queen Phillippa, 1369. 5. Edward the Third, 1377. 6. Margaret Woodville, Daughter of Edward the Fourth, on which is placed a Sword and Shield of State, carried before Edward the Third, 1316. 7. Richard the Second and Queen, 1399, 1394. 8. Coronation Chair of Edward the First, 1297. 9. Coronation Chair made for Mary, Wife of William the Third. 10. Tomb of Edward the First, 1307. 11. Shrine of Edward the Confessor, 1065. 12. Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester, 1397. 13. John of Waltham, Bishop of Salisbury, 1388. Pavement laid down in 1260. |
he first curiosity that commands your reverence is the ancient venerable shrine of St. Edward, once the glory of England, but now defaced and robbed of its beauty, by the devotees of this extreme pious man, all of whom were proud to possess some stone or dust from his tomb. This shrine was erected by Henry III. in 1269, to receive the remains of St. Edward, upon his translation from the shrine built by Henry II., upon the canonization of Edward, King of England (third of that name, and the last of the Saxon race), by Pope Alexander III., in 1163, who caused his name to be placed in the catalogue of saints, and issued his bull to the Abbot Laurentius, and the Convent of Westminster, enjoining, “That his body be honoured here on earth, as his soul is glorified in heaven.” He died in 1065. How costly the shrine, &c., was, appears by a record in the Tower.—Parl. Roll. 51st of Henry III. “Henry III., with consent of the Abbot and Convent of Westminster, pledged the jewels belonging to the body and shrine of Edward the Confessor to foreigners, being necessitated on account of heavy emergencies; the value of the said jewels amounted to £2,557. 4s. 8d.”
On the south side of the shrine, Editha, daughter of Goodwyn, Earl of Kent, and Queen of St. Edward, lies interred. The writers of those times commended her for beauty, learning, prudent economy, gentle manners, and inimitable skill in needlework, having wrought with her own hands the curious and magnificent robes the King used to wear on his collar days. She died at Winchester, Jan. 15, 1073. Part of a Latin epitaph on this excellent Princess has been handed down, and is to this effect:—
“Success ne’er sat exulting in her eye,
Nor disappointment heaved the troubled sigh;
Prosperity ne’er sadden’d o’er her brow,
While glad in trouble she enjoyed her woe:
Beauty ne’er made her vain, nor sceptres proud,
Nor titles taught to scorn the meaner crowd.
Supreme humility was awful grace,
And her chief charm a bashfulness of face.”