"He was slaine as ye haue heard, and afterwards buried in the Cathedral Church of Canterbury."
Ibid.
Now Godwin, in his valuable work De Presulibus, states, that his body was buried under the high altar of St. Dunstan's, Canterbury. But in Winkle's Cathedrals (London, 1836), vol. i. p. 38., we find Stow's account corroborated; for—
"The monument of Archbishop Sudbury, who was beheaded in 1381 [1382], is in the northern aisle, nearly parallel with the altar; it bears no effigy, but is surmounted by a sumptuous canopy of very elegant architectural design, but now much mutilated."
Of course, the fact that his monument is in the cathedral, does not prove that his body was buried there. I shall be glad to learn from any of your correspondents, what evidence there is for Godwin's assertion. Gostling, in his Walk in and about the City of Canterbury (5th edit. Cant. 1804), though he mentions the prelate's benefactions to the cathedral (pp. 12. 79.), and his tomb (p. 220.), does not state his place of sepulture. At p. 60., however (note ‡), in a brief notice of St. Dunstan's Church, he says:
"In a vault under the family chancel of Roper here is kept a skull, said to be that of the great Sir Thomas More; it is in a niche of the wall, secured with an iron grate, though some say his favourite daughter, Margaret Roper, who lies here, desired to be buried with it in her arms. The vault being full, was closed up not many years since."
This curious coincidence is at least worth noting.
I trust that the interest necessarily attaching to any remains of so celebrated an historical personage, will prove a sufficient apology to your readers for the length of this note.
W. SPARROW SIMPSON, B.A.