from which it appears to show that it is in memory of one Valerius Amandinus, and that his two sons made it to his honour. The lid is wrought with a slight cope, having a Maltese cross, terminating at the foot with a trefoil. There can be no doubt that the coffin once contained the body of this Valerius, which was afterwards displaced for the reception of an ecclesiastic, when the old lid was made in its present shape. The date of the first interment may be ascribed to the 3rd century, while the latter may belong to the 12th century. The skeleton within the coffin is in good preservation, considering the great lapse of time. There was nothing to indicate the rank of the ecclesiastic, for such he probably was; but he must have been a tall man, of great vigour, and barely of middle age.
The Chapter House of Westminster was built in 1250, by Henry III., on the site of the earlier Chapter House belonging to the Abbey, as founded by Edward the Confessor. It was, from its beauty, called “The Incomparable Chapter House.” It has been used for three purposes.
I. It was the chamber in which the Abbot and Monks, in the times of the ancient monastery, held their “Chapter,” or meeting for discussion and business; their meetings were held once a week. The Abbot and the four chief officers of the convent sat in the ornamented stalls opposite the entrance. The Monks sat on the stone seats round. The culprits, if there were any, knelt to receive their judgment before the Abbot’s seat, and were scourged before the central pillar.
II. Almost from the time of its first erection, it was used for the sittings of the House of Commons. The House of Commons came into existence in 1265, and at first sat in Westminster Hall with the House of Lords; but in 1282 they parted, and from that time for nearly 300 years its meetings were held in the precincts of Westminster Refectory (now destroyed), but usually in the Chapter House, which was lent to the Commons by the Abbot for that purpose. The Speaker probably sat in the Abbot’s stall, and the Members of Parliament in the seats of the Monks, and on the floor of the house. To the central pillar were attached placards and notices relating to the business or the conduct of the Members. Here were the debates on all the Acts of Parliament, passed from the time of Edward I. till the Reformation. There also were, from time to time, convened other assemblies for special purposes. Henry V., in 1421, summoned a meeting of 60 Abbots and Priors, and 300 Monks to discuss the reform of the Benedictine order; and Wolsey, as Cardinal Legate, in 1523, summoned the convocations of Canterbury and York, in order to be on a spot beyond the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The last Parliament which is known to have sat here was that which was assembled on the last day of the reign of Henry VIII. It will be seen that this building, from having for three centuries been the seat of the House of Commons, has been the scene of the chief acts which laid the foundation of civil and religious liberty of England, and was the cradle of representative and constitutional government, of Parliament, Legislative Chambers, and Congress throughout the world.
III. On the dissolution of the Ancient Monastery in 1540, the Chapter House passed into the possession of the Crown; from that time the Dean and Chapter of Westminster have held their meetings in the Jerusalem Chamber. In 1547, the first year of Edward VI., the House of Commons was transferred to the Chapel of St. Stephen in the Palace of Westminster, in which they remained till it was burned down in 1834. From that time till 1863 the Chapter House was used as the depository of the public records. During this period it was fitted up with book-shelves, which disfigured and concealed its beauties; its roof was taken down; its windows were filled up; and it was divided into two stories. In 1865, after the removal of the records to the Rolls House, in the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the Chapter House, in the 600th anniversary of the House of Commons, which it had so long sheltered, its restoration was undertaken at the request of the Society of Antiquaries, by Mr. Gladstone, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and by Mr. Cowper Temple, as First Commissioner of Works, and the requisite sum granted by Parliament for the repairs, which, under Mr. Gilbert Scott, have restored it as nearly as possible to its original state. The roof has been entirely rebuilt. The paintings, which were concealed by the book-shelves, are now disclosed; those at the east end, over the stalls of the Abbot and his four chief officers, are of the 14th century, and represent seraphs round the Throne of the Saviour. Those round the walls were painted in the 15th century, by one of the monks of the convent, named John of Northampton, and represent scenes from the Revelation of St. John, with pictures of fishes, birds, and beasts underneath. The figures on each side of the entrance, representing the Angel and the Virgin Mary, are ancient. The central figure is modern, but represents what was formerly there. The tiles on the floor, covered with curious heraldic emblems, are also now seen for the first time. The tracery of the windows has been restored after the model of the one which had been left uninjured on the northwest side. It still remains for them to be filled with stained glass, according to the original design.
INDEX.
Abbey founded, [3]
—— rebuilt and endowed, [4]
—— pulled down and enlarged, [4]
—— Admission, Hours, &c. of, [2]
Aberdeen, Earl of, [54]
Addison, Joseph, [28], [101]
Agar, Doctor, [69]
Aiton, Sir Robert, [20]
Albemarle, Dukes of, [24], [30]
—— Duchess of, [24]
Alfred, Prince, [25]
Altar Decoration, [12]
Amelia, Princess, [25]
André, Major, [91]
Anne, Queen, James II.’s Daughter, [24]
—— Princess, [25]
—— Queen of James I., [27]
—— Queen of Richard II., [36]
—— Queen of Richard III., [113]
Anstey, Christopher, [107]
Argyle, Duke of, [28], [104]
Arnold, Dr. Samuel, [64]
Athelgoda, Queen of King Sebert, [11]
Atkyns, Edward, and Sons, [103]
Bagenall, Nicholas, [19]
Baillie, Dr. Matthew, [45]
Baker, John, [71]
Balchen, Admiral, [59]
Banks, Thomas, [73]
Bankes, Cornet W. G. Hawtrey, [53]
Barnard, Bishop, [37]
—— Major-Gen. Sir H. W., [53]
Barrow, Isaac, D.D., [101]
Barry, Sir Charles, [80]
Bartleman, James, [123]
Barton, Samuel, D.D., [114]
Bath, Earl of, [32]
Beauclerk, Lord, [61]
Beaufoy, Mrs., [73]
Beaumont, Francis, [115]
Belasyse, Sir Henry, [30]
Bell, Dr. Andrew, [98]
Bentall, Harriet, [120]
Bentinck, Archdeacon, [9]
Beresford, Lieutenant, [41]
Beverley, Countess of, [18]
Bill, Dr. William, [11]
Billson, Dr., [12]
Bingham, Sir Richard, [93]
Birch, Martha, [113]
Blackwood, Sir Henry, [55]
Blair and Bayne, Captains, [51]
Blanch of the Tower, [14]
Blois, Gervasius de, [118]
Blow, John, Doc. Mus., [65]
Bohun, Hugh de, and Mary, Grandchildren to Edward I., [38]
Booth, Barton, [111]
Boulter, Archbishop, [62]
Bourchier, Lord, [32]
Bourgchier, Sir Humphrey, [15]
Bovey, Katherine, [86]
Bradford, Bishop, [62]
Bringfield, Colonel, [73]
Brocas, Sir Bernard, [15]
Bromley, Sir Thomas, [31]
Broughton, John and Wife, [123]
Browne, Thomas, [42]
Brunel, I. K., [73]
Bryan, Captain, [65]
Buchan, Dr., [123]
Buckingham, Countess of, [20]
—— Dukes of, [27]
—— Duchess of, [27]
Buckland, Very Rev. W., D.D., [86]
Buller, Right Hon. C., [56]
Burland, Sir John, [97]
Burleigh, Lady, [19]
Burney, Dr. Charles, LL.D., [95]
—— Chas. Mus. D., [64]
Busby, Richard, D.D., [114]
Butler, Samuel, [110]
Buxton, Sir Thomas Fowell, [63]
Byrcheston, Abbot, [119]
Campbell, Sir Archibald, [102]
—— Sir James, [102]
—— Thomas, LL.D., [107]
Camden, William, [99]
Canning, George, [49]
Canning, Lord, [49]
Cannon, Robert, D.D., [87]
Carew, Baron, and Lady, [19]
Carey, Thomas, [38]
—— Henry, Baron of Hunsdon, [38]
Caroline, Queen, [25]
—— Princess, [25]
Carteret, Philip, [70]
—— Edward de, [70]
—— Elizabeth, Lady, [68]
Casaubon, Isaac, [100]
Catling, John, [120]
Cecil, Lady, [18]
Chamberlain, Hugh, M.D., [63]
Chapel of St. Benedict, [10]
—— St. Edmund, [13]
—— St. Nicholas, [18]
—— Henry VII., [21], [117]
—— St. Paul, [30]
—— St. Edward (& Shrine), [33]
—— St. John, [40]
—— Islip, Abbot, [40]
—— St. John the Evangelist, [42]
—— St. Andrew, [42]
—— St. Michael, [42]
Chardin, Sir John, [90]
Charles II., [24]
Chatham, Earl of, [51]
Chaucer, Geoffrey, [111]
Cherbury, Baron of, [16]
Children of Henry III. & Edw. I., [12]
Choir, New, [5]
Cholmondeley, Viscount & Sons, [71]
Churchill, George, [92]
Clanrickard, Countess of, [75]
Claypole, Elizabeth, [28]
Cleves, Ann of, [113]
Clifford, Lady, [18]
Clyde, Lord, [80]
Cobden, Richard, [57]
Colchester, William of, [39]
Conduit, John, [81]
Congreve, William, [84]
Cook, Benjamin, Doc. Mus., [122]
Cooke, Captain Edward, [43]
Cooper, Ensign Lovick Emilius, [53]
Coote, Sir Eyre, [55]
Cornewall, Captain, [82]
Coronation Chairs, [36]
Cottington, Lord and Lady, [32]
Cottrell, Clement, [89]
Courayer, Peter Francis, [118]
Courcy, Almericus de, [66]
Cowley, Abraham, [112]
Coxe, Sir Richard, [100]
Craggs, Secretary, [83]
Creed, Richard, Major, [92]
—— Richard, Lieutenant, [93]
Crewe, Lady Juliana, [37]
—— Jane, [37]
Crispinus, Geslebertus, [118]
Croft, William, Doc. Mus., [65]
Crokesley, Abbot, [17]
Crouchback, Edmund, [40]
Cumberland, Dukes of, [25]
D’Almade, Henry, [37]
Dalrymple, William, [97]
Daubeny, Lord, and Lady, [31]
Davenant, Sir William, [114]
Davidson, Susannah Jane, [44]
Davis, Colonel, [75]
Davy, Sir Humphrey, [43]
Denham, Sir James Stewart, [70]
Dickens, Charles, [105]
Dimensions, [4], [22], [118]
Dodd, James William, [119]
Dorchester, Viscount, [32]
Douglas, Lady Margaret, [22]
Draiton, Michael, [110]
Dryden, John, [113]
Dudley, William de, [19]
Dunbar, Viscount, [69]
Duppa, Bishop, [41]
—— Sir Thomas, [67]
Duroure, Scipio and Alexander, [120]
Eastney, Abbot, [41]
Editha, Qn. to Edward the Confessor, [34]
Edward the Confessor, [38]
—— I., [37]
—— III., and Children, [35]
—— V., [29]
—— VI., [26], [28]
Edwardes, Sir H., [58]
Egerton, James, [76]
—— Penelope, [75]
Eland, Lady, [39]
Eleanor, Queen to Edward I., [34]
Elizabeth, Queen, [29]
—— Princess, [25]
—— of Bohemia, [23]
Eltham, John of, [13]
Essex, Countess of, [32]
Evremond, Lord of St., [108]
Exeter, Earl of, [39]
Fairborne, Sir Palmes, [90]
Fairholm, Sophia, [97]
Fane, Sir George, and Lady, [19]
Fascet, Abbot, [39]
Ferne, Bishop, [17]
Filding, Ann, [89]
Fire, [4]
Fleming, James, [88]
Fletcher, Lieutenant-Colonel, [77]
Folkes, Martin, [93]
Follett, Sir William Webb, [54]
Forbes, Benjamin and Richard, [46]
Fox, Right Hon. Charles James, [76]
Frederick William, Prince, [25]
Freke, Elizabeth and Judith, [96]
Friend, John, M.D., [84]
Fullerton, Sir James, and Lady, [31]
Galofre, Sir John, [12]
Garrick, David, [99]
Gay, John, [105]
Gell, William Egerton, [121]
George II., [25]
—— Prince, [24]
Gethin, Grace, [96]
Gifford, William, [99]
Gloucester, Duke of, [23], [36]
—— Duchess of, [16]
Godolphin, Earl, [90]
—— Charles, and Wife, [121]
Goldsmith, Oliver, M.D., [104]
Goodman, Gabriel, D.D., [10]
Grabe, John Ernest, [99]
Gray, Thomas, [109]
Grote, George, [99]
Guest, General, [59]
Hales, Stephen, D.D., [100]
Halifax, Earls of, [28], [58]
—— Marquis of, [29]
Handel, George Frederick, [102]
Hanway, Jonas, [57]
Harbord, Sir Charles, [89]
Hardy, Sir Thomas, [81]
Hargrave, General, [89]
Harley, Anna Sophia, [19]
Harpedon, Sir John, [42]
Harrison, John, Rear Admiral, [98]
Harsnet, Carola, [88]
Hastings, Warren, [56]
Hatton, Sir Christopher, [40]
Haule, Robert, slain in the Choir, [115]
Hawkes, Walter, [120]
Hawkins, Enoch, [123]
Henry III., [34]
—— VII. and his Queen, [25]
—— of Monmouth, [35]
—— Prince of Wales, [23]
Herbert, Edward, [72]
Herries, Charles, [88]
Hertford, Countess of, [10]
Hervey and Hutt, Captains, [75]
Heskett, Sir Thomas, and Lady, [63]
Heylin, Peter, D.D., [68]
Hill, Jane, [72]
Holland, Baron, [77]
Holles, Francis, [14]
Holles, Sir George, [43]
Holmes, Admiral, [33]
Hope, Admiral Sir G., [77]
—— Brigadier the Hon. Adrian, [53]
—— General, [57]
—— Mary, [103]
Horneck, Dr., [114]
—— William, [78]
Horner, Francis, [56]
Howe, Lord Viscount, [87]
Hunter, John, [73]
Hyde, Ann, Wife of James II., [23]
Ingram, Sir Thomas, [20]
Ireland, Dean, [87], [99]
Islip, Abbot, [40]
James I., [27]
James, Dame Mary, [63]
Johnstone, George Lindsay, [69]
Jonson, Ben, [110]
Julius, Captain William, [92]
Kane, Richard, [62]
Keble, John, [83]
Kemble, John, [44]
Kempenfelt, Admiral, [46]
Kendall, Mrs., [39]
—— James, [94]
Kerry, Earl and Countess of, [45]
Kildare, Countess of, [11]
Killigrew, Robert, [73]
King, William, [96]
Kirk, Percy, [62]
Kirton, Abbot, [45]
—— Ann, [43]
Kneller, Sir Godfrey, [96]
Knights of the Bath, installation of, [24]
Knipe, Thomas, [95]
—— Captains John and Robert, [96]
Knollys, Lady, [14]
Lake, Colonel, [77]
Lancaster, Countess of, [40]
Langham, Archbishop, [10]
Laurence, William, [120]
Laurentius, Abbot, [118]
Lawrence, General, [75]
Legendary Sculptures, [36]
Le Neve, Richard, [68]
Levinz, William, [74]
Lewis, Sir George Cornewall, [55]
Ligonier, Field-Marshal Lord, [47]
Livingstone, Doctor, [80]
Locke, Joseph, R.A., [70]
Londonderry, Marquis of, [52]
Londonderry, Lady, [120]
Lort, Sir Gilbert, [47]
Loten, John Gideon, [72]
Louisa, Princess, [25]
Lytton, Edward Bulwer, [17]
Macaulay, Lord, [102]
—— Zachary, [78]
Macintosh, Sir J., [76]
Mackenzie, Hon. James Stuart, [104]
Macleod, Lieutenant-Colonel, [30]
Malcolm, Sir John, [48]
Manners, Lord, [51]
Manningham, General Coote, [58]
Mansell, Thomas, [72]
—— Edward, [72]
Mansfield, William, Earl, [52]
Margaret, Edward IV.’s Daughter, [36]
Markham, William, [121]
Mary I., Queen, [29]
—— II., [24]
—— Queen of Scots, [23]
Mary, Daughter of James I., [29]
Mason, William, [109]
Matilda, Queen of England, [34]
Maurice, Frederick Denison, [38]
Mead, Richard, M.D., [71]
Methuen, John, [95]
—— Sir Paul, [95]
Mexborough, Countess of, [39]
Middlesex, Earl of, [11]
Millyng, Bishop, [39]
Milton, John, [109]
Miserere, description of, [24]
Monck, Bishop, [14]
Monk, Bishop, [65]
—— R., and Wife, [123]
Montague, Captain, [76]
—— Edward Wortley, [121]
Montpensier, Duke of, [27]
Moorsom, Capt. William Robert, [53]
Morgan, William, [72]
Mountrath, Earl and Countess of, [45]
Murray, Sir Robert, [114]
Newcastle, Dukes of, [49], [50]
Newton, Sir Isaac, [78]
Nightingale, J. Gascoigne, & Lady, [43]
Norris, Lord, [44]
North Aisle, [63]
—— Transept, [47]
North-west Tower, [76]
Northumberland, Duchess of, [20]
Novello, Vincent, [47]
Octavius, Prince, [25]
Organ, [5]
Oughton, Sir James, [41]
Outram, William, D.D., [101]
—— General, [87]
Owen, Thomas, [94]
Oxford, Countess of, [19]
Painted Glass, [9], [53], [73], [115]
Palmerston, Lord, [51], [52]
Paoli, Pasquale de, [94]
Parry, Sir Thomas, [42]
Pearce, Bishop, [85]
Pecksall, Sir Richard, [15]
Peel, Right Hon. Sir R., [47]
Pembroke, Earl of, [16], [40]
Perceval, Right Hon. Spencer, [71]
Phillippa, Queen, [35]
Phillips, John, [111]
Pitt, Right Hon. William, [51], [81]
Plenderleath, Dr. John, [67]
Pocock, Sir George, [43]
Pollock, Sir George, [80]
Popham, Colonel, [38]
Preston, George, [121]
Price, Martha, [75]
Prideaux, Sir Edmund, and Wife, [68]
Priestman, Henry, [71]
Pringle, Sir John, [100]
Prior, Matthew, [108]
Pritchard, Mrs., [106]
Puckering, Sir John, [31]
Pulpit, [80]
Pulteney, Daniel, [118]
Purcell, Henry, [65]
Pym, John, [33]
Radley, Bridget, [90]
Raffles, Sir Thomas Stamford, [65]
Rennell, Major, [78]
Reredos, New, [6]
Richard II., [36]
Richardson, Sir Thomas, [98]
Richmond, Duke of, [26]
—— Duchess of, [26]
—— Countess of, [23]
Roberts, Humphrey, [42]
—— John, [112]
Robinson, Sir Thomas and Lady, [103]
Robinson, Sir Lumley, [84]
Ross, Lady, [20]
Rowe, Nicholas and Daughter, [105]
Rupert, Prince, [23]
Russel, Lady, [14]
—— Lord, and Son, [15]
Ruthall, Bishop, [39]
St. John, Lady, [19]
Sandwich, Earl of, [30]
Sanderson, Sir William, [59]
Saunders, Clement, [48]
Sausmarez, Captain Philip de, [64]
Scott, Grace, [48]
Screen at the back of the Organ, [78]
Sebert, King, [11]
Seymour, Lady Jane, [14]
Shadwell, Thomas, [109]
Shakspeare, [106]
Sharp, Granville, [108]
Shovel, Sir Cloudesley, [96]
Shrewsbury, Earl of, and Lady, [15]
Siddons, Mrs., [44]
Smedley, Rev. Edward and Wife, [122]
—— Francis, [121]
Smith, John, [88]
Somerset, Duchess of, [18], [44]
Sophia, Daughter of James I., [29]
South Aisle, [83]
—— Transept, [99]
South, Robert, D.D., [113]
Southey, Robert, [107]
Spelman, Sir Henry, [20]
Spencer, Edmund, [110]
Spotswood, Archbishop, [11]
Sprat, Bishop, [20], [84]
—— Archdeacon, [20], [85]
—— George, [11]
Stafford, Earls of, [13], [14]
—— Countess of, [14], [16]
Stag, Motto on a, [101]
Stained Glass Windows, [53]
Stanhope, Earls of, [79]
—— Charles Banks, [78]
Stanley, Lady Augusta, [21]
Stanley, Sir Humphrey, [18]
Staunton, Sir George, [67]
Stephenson, Robert, [70], [80]
Stepney, George, [95]
Stewart, Arabella; [23]
—— Captain John, [72]
Storr, Admiral, [47]
Strode, General, [92]
Stuart, Hon. Sir Charles, [46]
—— Esme, heart of, [26]
Suffolk, Duchess of, [14]
Sussex, Countess of, [32]
Sutton, Rev. E. L., [67]
Sword and Shield, [36]
Taylor, Sir Robert, [99]
Telford, Thomas, [45]
Temple, Diana, [89]
Teviot, Viscount, [69]
Thackeray, W., [102]
Thomas, Bishop, [86]
Thomson, James, [106]
Thornburgh, Gilbert, [71]
Thynne, Capt. William Frederick, [53]
—— Thomas, murdered, [92]
Thynne, William, [98]
Tierney, George, [77]
Tompion and Graham, [80]
Totty, Admiral, [45]
Townshend, Colonel, [90]
Trigge, General Sir Thomas, [93]
Triplett, Thomas, D.D., [101]
Tudor, Elizabeth, [34]
Tufton, Richard, [17]
Twysden, Heneage, [74]
Tyrrell, Admiral, [85]
Usher, Archbishop, [33]
Valence, William de, [16]
Valois, Katharine, [20]
Vaughan, Sir Thomas, [38]
Vaults, Royal, [25], [26]
Vere, Sir Francis, [43]
Vernon, Admiral, [50]
Vialls, Thomas, [119]
Villettes, Lieutenant-General, [46]
Villiers, Sir George, [20]
Vincent, Hannah, [47]
—— William, [114]
Vitalis, Abbot, [118]
Wade, General, [87]
Wager, Admiral, [51]
Waldeby, Robert de, [16]
Wales, Prince and Princess of, [25]
Walpole, Lady, [24]
Walsh, General, [119]
Waltham, Bishop, [37]
Warren, Sir Peter, [48]
—— Bishop, and Lady, [54], [60]
Watson, Admiral, [59]
Watt, James, [31]
Watts, Isaac, D.D., [94]
Webber, Edward Augustus, [121]
Wemyss, Ann, [97]
Wesley, John and Charles, [95]
West, Admiral, [68]
West End of the Nave, [78]
Westmoreland, Countess of, [69]
Wetenhall, Edward, M.D., [100]
Wharton, Henry, [83]
Whytell, Ann, [72]
Wilberforce, William, [66]
Willcocks, Bishop, [85]
William III., [24]
Williams, Charles, [69]
Wilson, Sir A. and Lady, [73]
Winchester, Marchioness of, [19]
Windsor, William of, [14]
—— John of, [33]
Wintringham, Sir Clifton, [57]
Wolfe, General, [41]
Woodfall, Elizabeth, [123]
Woodford, Lieut.-Col. Charles J., [53]
Woodward, John, M.D., [74]
Woollett, William, [123]
Wordsworth, William, [83]
Wragg, William, [96]
Wyat, James, [100]
York, Duke of, [25]
—— Duchess of, [20]
Young, Dr., [44]