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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 November 2011
So much has been written about the abbey church of Westminster and the historical monuments wherewith it is filled that to most people it may seem superfluous to write anything more about it. But as a matter of fact the Abbey and its church are still an architectural and archaeological mine that has really been little worked scientifically, and it is for that reason that I venture to lay before the Society of Antiquaries, which has always had a special interest in Westminster Abbey, some notes upon the funeral, the tomb or monument, and the chantry chapel of King Henry V.
page 129 note 1 Close Roll, 1 Henry VI, m. 21 d.; Rymer, x, 253.
page 130 note 1 This is not quite accurate. See the London account, post, from Letter Book K.
page 130 note 2 See Appendix A.
page 131 note 1 ‘Die… xxvj die Septembris.
Pro diversis herceis per ipsum apud Dovorr Cantuar Hospring Rouchestr Dertford Sanctum Paulum London, et Westmonasterium fiendis pro funere excellentissimi principis et domini Regis H. quinti de partibus Francie in Angliam per villas et Civitates predictas sic ducend et apud Westmonasterium predictum sepeliend.' Issue Roll (Pells), 10 Henry V, Easter, No. 645.
page 131 note 2 1422,15th October.
‘Ad cariagia et alia necessaria proherceis et aliis luminaribus circa funus carissimi domini et Patris nostri defuncti disponendis et expendendis infra libertates etc. pro denariis nostris in hac parte rationabiliter solvendis arestandum et capiendum. Et ea a civitate nostra Londoñ usque villam Dovorrie et a dicta villa usque dictam civitatem revertendo cariandum.’ Rymer, , Foedera, x, 255Google Scholar.
page 131 note 3 Letter Book K, pp. 2, 3.
page 132 note 1 I am indebted to Mr. C. L. Kingsford, M.A., F.S.A., for the above abstract of the account in Letter Book K.
page 133 note 1 Appendix B.
page 133 note 2 MS. 1st M. 14, f. 29. The account is headed:‘The Enterement of the moste famous and victorious prynce Kynge Harry the Vth weiche died at [bys devynes struck through and altered to] bojs devyncenes in France the xxxj day of August 1421’ ‘sic].
page 134 note 1 in margin: lordes that did accompany the corps on that Jorney.
page 134 note 2 London, 1548. The Victorious Actes of Kyng Henry the fifth, fol. 1.
page 136 note 1 For the Latin text, see Appendix C.
page 13170 note 1 Expense facte circa interiamentum domini regis
In lx Torchys emptis ponderantibus viije di. xxiiij lb. Cere precium Centene xlijs. et
precium libre iiijd. ob. xviij li. vjs.
In lx pauperibus amitis togis nigris portantibus diet, lx torchis lxs.
Et solut. pro armis et scutis firmatis super dictis Torchys iijs. xjd.
Et solut. ij hominibus portantibus capas usque ad gardinum quondam fratrum pre-dicatorum viijd.
page 138 note 1 In zabulo cariando et laborariis conductis pro via facienda pro equis introducendis in Ecclesiam et pro stramine et feno emptis super dictam viam struendis iiijs. iiijd.
page 138 note 2 Item quoad Funeralia et Sumptus sepulture nostre omnia ponimus in supervisorum et executorum nostrorum discretione: Ita quodDignitatis Regie conservetur Honor et damnanda superfluitas evitetur. Volumus tamen in speciali quod in Hersia nostra solemniori que serviet in die sepulture nostre sint inter ceteros tres cerei excellentiores ceteris unius quantitatis et forme, quinque minores illis tribus unius quantitatis, septem minores illis quinque unius quantitatis, et quindecim minores septem unius quantitatis. (Rymer, , Foedera, ix, 289.)Google Scholar
page 138 note 3 In expensis factis super Candelarijs operantibus circa herciam et in deposicione ejusdem ijs. viijd.
page 139 note 1 In pane cervisia et piscibus emptis pro vigilantibus in Ecclesia et in Camera Archidiaconi vs. iiijd.
In cervisia empta pro pulsantibus et in denariis datis eisdem xvjd.
In emendacione iiij ollarum de argento contra enteramentum iijs. iiijd.
In remuneracione facta Johanni Grenewych et lotrici vestibuli pro eorum magno labore pro albis et aliis vestimentis detropatis in funeracione domini Regis ijs.
page 139 note 2 Now the muniment room in the south transept.
page 139 note 3 Probably the four that were hung athwart theshrine of St. Edward.
page 139 note 4 Torchys. De empcione ut infra ij Torchys pro Magno Altari.
De empcione pro interamento domini Regis Henrici vti nuper Regis Anglie lx torchys Summa Ixij Torchys.
page 139 note 5 Meremium. De Rem ij lodys meremij. Deempcione ut infra xij lodys meremij quercini. Et de empcione ut infra xij lodys meremij ulmini. Et de ij lodys meremij quercini provenientibus de barruris factis ad salvandam herciam tempore interamenti domini Regis H. vti ut patet inferius Summa xxviij lodys meremij.
page 140 note 1 See the complete list in Appendix D.
page 140 note 2 Equi cum frenis. De oblacione: iiij equi cumiiij frenis. Et liberantur domino Abbati.
Selle De oblacione: iiij selle Et liberantur Sacriste
Arma De oblacione: j gladius cum tota armatura pro j homine cum j cote Armur'.
Et liberantur Custodi vestibuli.
Trapper De oblacione: j Trapper de blodio velewet cum molendinis ventricijs et Antalopis de auro Et j Trapper de rubeo et nigro velewet cum cignis albis Et j Trapper de nigro velewet cum pennis albis vocatis Ostrych feders. Et j Trapper deblodio et rubeo velewet cum armis Anglie et Francie Et de j Trapper recept. postea de executoribus domini Regis de viridi velewet cum antalopis super j stage cum ramis aureis
Summa—v Trappers pro equis.
Inde liberantur executoribus domini Regis ij Trappers
Et liberantur Custodi vestibuli iij Trappers.
Summa—iij Trappers.
Vexilla Et recept. de iiij vexillis magnis. Et de xv vexillis parvis
Et liberantur Custodi vestibuli
[Summa.—xix vexilla magna et parva erased.]
Pensyles Et recept. de xxxix pensyles Et de j panno de trinitate Et de cxx virgis de
volantys (in duplicate roll valantys)
Summa xxxix pensyles et j pannus de trinitate et
cxx virge de volantys.
Et liberantur Custodi vestibuli.
page 141 note 1 See note 2 on preceding page.
page 141 note 2 Ibid.
page 141 note 3 Mantellum toga et curtyll Et recept. de jmantello largo de [purpura altered to] velveto purpureo Et de j toga de eadem secta Et j parva toga vocata curtyl.
Et liberantur Custodi vestibuli.
Furrura. Et de j furrurade Ermyn de mantello continente [blank]
Et de ij furruris de Menyver de togis continentibus intra lvij tymberys et xijwombys.
Et liberantur Custodi vestibuli.
Ornamenta auri et argenti super ymaginem de curbyl.
Et recept. de j corona argentea et deaurata cum diversis lapidibus et perlys ponderis.l. unciarum et di.
Et de i sceptro longo areenteo et deaurato ponderis xx unciarum.
Et de parvo sceptro cum pila et cruce argenteo et deaurato ponderis v unciarumet di.
Et de ij armillis argenteis et deauratis cum perlys et lapidibus ponderis xvijunciarum et di.
Et de anulo cum lapide precioso ponderis
Et totum liberatur Custodi vestibuli.
page 142 note 1 Meremium. Et recept. de ij lodys meremii provenientis de barruris factis pro salvacione hercie. Et liberantur sacriste.
Pannum nigrum. Et recept. de iiij et iij virgis panni nigri pendentis circa herciam. Summa iiij iij virge Inde liberantur subsacriste iiij virge Et custodibus Ecclesie x virge Et distribute inter pauperes et servientes lxix virge.
page 142 note 2 Recepcio forinseca. Et de fine facto cum executoribus domini Regis Henrici quinti pro Hercia et.ij.c torches existentibus in Ecclesia tempore funeracionis dicti Regis de liijli. vjs. viijd. nihil adhuc quia non dum soluto.
Et Recepta de domina Iohanna nuper Regina Anglie pro quodam fine facto cum eadem pro xxiiij pannis aureis oblatis in obsequiis domini Henrici quintinuper Regis Anglie xxxiijli. vjs. viijd.
Et Recepta pro iiijc et dj. libris cere venditis pro sustentacione iiij cereorum continue ardencium
per CC iiij dies circa tumbam domini Regis Henrici quinti hoc annoixli.
Et Recepta pro xxiiij torches accommodatis et pro vasto eorundem in anniversario ejusdem domini
Regis ardencium tam ad dirige quam ad missam magnam hoc anno xls.
Et in xx lb. cere venditis per subsacristam hoc anno precium libri v. xs.
page 143 note 1 2nd ed., i, 311.
page 143 note 2 Walcott, M. E. C.,‘The Inventories of Westminster Abbey at the Dissolution,’ Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, iv, 313.Google Scholar
page 144 note 1 Hall, Edward, The Union ofthe two noble and illustre famelies of Lancastre and Yorke, etc. (London, 1548).Google Scholar The Victorious Actes of Kyng Henry the fifth, fol. xxxiii, dors.
page 146 note 1 These last two words are painted over an earlier set of letters which seem to be Omobvsa.
page 148 note 1 In the duplicate roll (no. 404) ‘super’ occurs instead of ‘pro’.
page 148 note 2 Issue Roll (Pells) 10 Henry V, Easter, no. 403, m. 19.
page 148 note 3 ‘In pane et cervisia et caseo emptis pro carpentariis cementariis daubatoribus tegulatoribus et eorum servientibus operantibus circa tumbam et circa domum elemosinarii de novo edificandam per vij septimanas xviijs.’
page 148 note 4 ‘In pane cervisia et alijs victualibusemptis pro supervenientibus in Sacristia toto tempore facture tumbe domini Regis iiijs.
In rewardo facto Roberto Cowper capitali Carpentario operis predicte tumbe xs.
Et solut. pro parte ferramenti ad finem tumbe domini Regis ultra xxs. solutos computanti viijs.
In iiij libris candelarum de cera et x libris de cepo emptis ijs. ijd.’
page 152 note 1 Acts of the Privy Council of England, N.S. i, (1542-1547) 328.Google Scholar
page 152 note 2 Ibid.
page 152 note 3 P. C. C. 40 Marche. I am indebted to Mr. Wilfrid Hemp, F.S.A., for this information.
page 153 note 1 Rymer, T., Foedera, x, 490, from Patent Roll 9 Henry VI, part i, m. 21 dors.Google Scholar
page 153 note 2 Rymer, T., Foedera, ix, 289.Google Scholar
page 154 note 1 Patent Roll, 16 Henry VI, part ii, m. 39 dors.
page 154 note 2 Patent Roll 17 Henry VI, part i, m. 17.
page 155 note 1 ‘Et solut. diversis fabris et carpentariis removentibus et evellentibus clausuram ferream et ligneam circa tumbam RegisHenrici vli et circa altare sancte Trinitatis pro no[vo] edificio ibidem erigendo in toto xxs.’
page 155 note 2 ‘Et recept. de clausura ferrea et lignea stante circa tumbam Regis Henrici vti in grosso vjli xiijs. iiijd.
Et de clausura lignea stante circa altare sancte Trinitatis prope tumbam Regispredjctinihil adhuc’ [Roll 19683.]
In the duplicate roll [19682] among the recepta forinseca thesale of the grate is entered as: ‘De clausura ferrea et lignea stante circa Tumbam Regis H. quinti vendita hoc Anno [vjli. xiijs. iiijd.struck out and] xli. [written over].
In a list of paintings in the abbey church quoted by Stanley, Dean (Memorials, p. 640)Google Scholar there occurs: ‘Johannes Redyng senior fieri fecit clausuram Altaris Sancte Trinitatis pro xxli.’
page 156 note 1 From the way in which the Tudor steps gradually bury the bases of the piers, itseems as if the ante-chapel of the old Lady-chapel was not raised more than about one step above the ambulatory level.
page 156 note 2 These have broken carving in the hollows like the arch to the east.
page 158 note 1 Scott, G. G., Gleanings from Westminster Abbey (2nd edition, Oxford and London, 1863), 91, 92.Google Scholar
page 158 note 2 Genealogical History, 288.
page 164 note 1 John Kemp, the archbishop of York, was made cardinal in 1439 and died in 1452, but he was neither an executor nor an overseerof King Henry's will.
page 164 note 2 He is a bearded figure in gown and long upper tunic, with a broad flap hat with a scallop in front on his head. In the left hand he holds a large clasped book, but the right, which probably held his staff, is gone. Slung by a strap over the right shoulder and hanging at his left side isa wallet.
page 164 note 3 He has a long palm-branch in the left hand; the right, which held probably the cup and devil, has gone.
page 165 note 1 This is crossed by iron bars at the springing line.
page 167 note 1 On the front is inscribed ‘Sub Hac Tabvla (Altari Olim Hvjvsce Sacelli) Div Prostrata, Igne Confracta, Reqviescvnt Tandem, Varias Post Vices Hic Demvm Jvssv Victorlæ Reginæ Deposita, Ossa Catharine De Valois, Filiæ Caroli Sexti, Franciæ Regis, Vxoris Henrici Qvinti, Matris Henrici Sexti, Aviæ Henrici Septimi. Nata MCCCC. Coronata MCCCCXXI. Mortva MCCCCXXXVIII.’
page 173 note 1 Although this sculpture clearly represents the crowning of the king, it will be seen that his robes are not those in which heought to have been figured, namely, the colobium sindonis or dalmatic, andthe pallium regale or cope, but the long gown, the hooded tippet, and the mantle which are put on him instead at the end of the service. This blunder, for it certainly is one, apparently originated at Westminster itself, for in the great mass book which was given to the church by abbot Nicholas of Litlington in 1380, the first rubric of the coronation office, Hic est ordo secundum quod Rex debet coronari et inungi, is accompanied by an illumination representing the king being crowned while wearing the parliament robes. Since so few of the king's subjects could or can possibly witness the actual crowning, whereas the sovereign could be seen of many on his coming away from the church in his parliament robes, it is easy to imagine how the mistake arose. It may be noted that the monumental effigies of both King Richard II and King Henry IV represent them in the parliament robes; and that in the coronation picture of King Henry VI in the well-known ‘Pageant of the Birth, Life, and Death of Richard Beauchamp earl of Warwick’ [Brit. Mus. Cott. MS., Julius E iv, f. 23 b], the young sovereign is similarly habited.
page 174 note 1 Legg, L. G. W., English Coronation Records (Westminster, 1901), xlvii.Google Scholar
page 174 note 2 Rege itaque in solio suo taliter collocato pares regni dictum regem undique circumstantes manibus palam extensis in signum fidelitatis offerent se ad dicti regis et dicte corone sustentacionem…facto prius dicto regi ab omnibus proceribus regni tune presentibus publice super dictum pulpitum homagio.
page 177 note 1 Third and revised edition (London, 1869), 602, 607.
page 178 note 1 Op. cit., third and revised edition (London, 1869), 606.Google Scholar
page 180 note 1 Monumenta Westmonasteriensia, etc., by K[eepe], H.. (London, 1682.)Google Scholar
