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Earl of Stafford, who, in 1738, married Elizabeth, daughter
of A. Ewens, of the county of Somerset, Esq. by Elizabeth
his wife, eldest daughter of John St. Albyn, of Alfoxton, in
the same county, Esq. His heart was as truly great and
noble as his descent; faithful to his God, a lover of his
country, a relation to relations, a detester of detraction, a
friend to mankind, naturally generous and compassionate,
his liberality and his charity to the poor were without
bounds. We therefore piously hope, that at the last day,
his body will be received in glory into the eternal taber-
nacles; being snatched away suddenly by death, which he
had long meditated, and expected with constancy, he went
to a better life the 1st of April, 1762, having lived 61 years,
nine months, and six days. The Countess Dowager, in
testimony of her great affection and respect to her Lord's
memory, has caused this monument to be placed here."

It is nearly perfect, only soiled by age. The figures round the inscription are the ancient badges of honour belonging to the Stafford family, who descend by ten different marriages from the royal blood of England and France. ("Invented and stained by Robert Chambers.")

Another monument, to the memory of Nicholas Monk, Bishop of Hereford, brother to the Duke of Albemarle. He died in the year 1661.

At the east end two of the ancient arches of the wall remain tolerably perfect. The angles over them contain scrolls and branches of oak, and a figure holding a crown in each hand, the intercolumniation over the altar of St. Edmond appears to have had a painting on it, which has been covered by a dark wash; where that is broken, red paint is visible; and I fancied I could trace very imperfect outlines of figures. A large wooden cut has been pasted on the wall, obliterated nearly by the same substance; it has a border of small human figures, and in one place "osa," in another "Rer." Query, could this have been one of the requests for prayers for the soul of some deceased, put up during the short reign of Philip and Mary? Above is a

hand

handsome mural monument to the Countess of Stafford, who died in the year 1693, aged 74. Near it is a circular pedestal, on which is seated an absurd statue in Roman armour, intended for Francis Holles, son to the Earl of Clare. He died in 1622, aged 18. Adjoining is the tomb of Frances, Duchess of Suffolk, with her effigies robed, on a Doric altar. This is an exquisitely fine monument. Lady Jane Seymour, 1560, aged 19, and Lady Katharine Knollys, 1568, have mural monuments of the Corinthian order under the south-east window. The pleasing thought of representing Lady Elizabeth Russel asleep in a chair, on a pedestal, pointing to a skull under her right foot," she is not dead, but sleeps." DORMIT NON MORTUA EST, for a motto, has given rise to an idle fancy propogated from one Cicirone to another, that she “died by the prick of a needle." Her left hand is broken off. At her ladyship's right hand, John Lord Russel reclines in a posture as unnatural as his dress is badly executed, on a sarcophagus. Behind him is a Corinthian arch. He died in 1584, as did the infant, Francis, whose effigies lies at its feet.

The tomb of Sir Bernard Brocas, who was beheaded in 1400, is a grand Gothic recess in the wall on the south side, the canopy of which is as nearly like that of William de Dudley, to be described farther on, as possible; the effigies is a poor figure; and the lower part of the monument not so pure as that of Dudley's. Before it on a small elevation, has been the brass figure of Humphrey Bourchier, who was killed at the battle of Barnet, in 1471. The shields and a few ornaments are all that remains. The next is a large tomb, to the memories of Richard Pecksall and his two wives. Their effigies kneel under three Corinthian arches, the capitals are richly gilt, the ladies cushions, and himself on one placed on a pedestal, under him are four kneeling daughters. He lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth.

At the west end is a very superb marble tomb, with a sarcophagus at the base, and five (one of the middle ones being away) Ionic pillars on a slab, on which lay the effigies of

7

Edward

Edward, the eighth Earl of Shrewsbury, and Jane his Countess; over them is a grand arch of the Corinthian order, adorned with roses in pannels; and on its sides, two Composite pillars with an architrave, frieze, and cornice, several of the roses gone. He died in 1617, aged 57.

The brass effigies of Eleanor de Bohun, Duchess of Gloucester (who died in 1399) is inlaid on a tomb, a little elevated from the pavement, and in good preservation. One of the shields at the feet is gone.

On a tomb of the same description, under a canopy, is the figure of Robert de Wilsdeun, Archbishop of York, who died in 1397. At the feet of the above, a mitre in brass, for Henry Feine, Bishop of Chester, who died in 1661, aged 59. Near it, an the left, a marble slab, to Thomas de Woodstock, and Eleanor de Bohun.

A monument to the children of Henry III. is in the intercolumniation, between the Chapel of St. Edmond, and that of Saint Benedict, it now serves as a writing-desk to the person who attends at the gates of the south aisle; its top is covered with boards, and on them are the paper, pens, and ink. This cover serves to hide the rich Mosaic work, which either doth, or more probably did adorn it; that on the front is reduced to the marks in the stucco of the sparkling materials that once adhered to it, now gone to an unit: it is broken as with the end of a stick.

The back of the niche over the table has a red painted ground much decayed, on which are very imperfect traces of four children, whose draperics are a dirty yellow; the mouldings of the arch still show fragments of gilding and spots of red, as do the capitals of the pillar. Above this, are the remains of a painting evidently defaced on purpose; what it has been cannot be discovered on the closest inspection; there are, besides, marks where a statue has stood, which Strype gives us reason to suppose was of silver.

One cannot pass this place without at least noticing the strange and unnatural contrast of its present to its former state.

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