He in God's bosom smote the heart,
Which yet is honour'd on the bank of Thames.[13]
The citizens of Viterbo had a picture of the young prince's murder painted on the wall in his memory; "and a certain poet beholding the painting, spoke thus:
Henry, the illustrious offspring of great Richard,
Fair Allmaine's king, was treacherously slain,
As well this picture shows, while home returning
From Tripoli, by royal favour guided;
Slain in the service of the cross of Christ
By wicked hands. For scarcely mass was done,
When Leicester's offspring, Guy and Simon fierce,
Pierced his young heart with unrelenting swords.
Thus did God will; lest if those barons fierce
Returned, fair England should be quite undone.
This happened in the sad twelve hundredth year
And seventieth of grace, while Charles was king.
And in Viterbo was this brave prince slain.
I pray the Queen of Heaven to take his soul again."[14]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Dean Stanley says in his "Memorials of Westminster," "The bones of such an ox (Bos primicerius) were discovered under the foundations of the Victoria Tower, and red deer, with very fine antlers, below the River Terrace." I derive this from Professor Owen. Bones and antlers of the elk and red deer were also found in 1868 in Broad Sanctuary in making the Metropolitan Railway.
[2] "Memorials of Westminster," Dean Stanley, p. 21.
[3] Lectures delivered in America. Charles Kingsley.
[4] "Memorials of Westminster," Dean Stanley, p. 28.
[5] "Memorials of Westminster," Dean Stanley, p. 46.