Vetusta Monumenta: Ancient Monuments, a Digital Edition

Plates 2.45-2.50: Chantry Chapels in Winchester Cathedral (Original Explanatory Account)

media/vm2-45-50-account-01

[ (Page) 1 ]

EXPLANATION OF VOLUME II. Plates XLV. XLVII. XLVIII. XLIX.

THE monument of Cardinal BEAUFORT, or, to speak more properly, the sepulchral chapel in which his tomb stands, and probably his body lies, is one specimen of that perfection to which Gothic architecture seems to have been brought about the reign of Henry IV.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-02

[ (Page) 2 ]

The altar tomb is of Purbeck marble, having at the side five shields in complex quatrefoils and fret-work, and two at the end narrower; and at each corner of the tomb is a wreathed pillar with a circular capital. The east-end, with its two shields, is represented at B, and one of the side shields at C, Plate XLVIII. The ground of all the quatrefoil work round these shields has been inlaid with brass, but all the shields are robbed of their eschocheons [sic].

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-03

[ (Page) 3 ]

London or its neighbourhood14. The same year, as Chancellor (which office he held only for that year) he was commissioned to transact certain matters with Prussia15, and the year following to agree with the Earl of Northumberland16.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-04

[ (Page) 4 ]

that purpose, dated at Porchestser castle, June 21, 1417, 5 Henry V.43 and a general pardon, dated at the same place the same year44.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-05

[ (Page) 5 ]

the German army, under the command of the Duke of Saxony, Marquis of Brandenburgh, and the Archbishop of Treves, were defeated by the Bohemians, and the Cardinal in vain attempted to rally them, and was forced to retreat with them, in order to avoid being taken prisoner. But M. Aubery mistakes in saying that he returned to England for fresh troops, which he employed against France, instead of against the Bohemians, and was for this severely reprimanded by the Pope.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-06

[ (Page) 6 ]

guilty of high treason, which was expressly excepted. The Cardinal, who was then absent about the King’s business in Flanders, repaired to London without leave, which furnished a pretence for seizing his baggage at Sandwich. The Cardinal next day in the House of Lords offered to clear himself of the charge; and no person appearing to make it good, he was acquitted.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-07

[ (Page) 7 ]

state. We have seen instances of this from the public records. He availed himself of the king’s present disposition, to secure himself from any fresh attacks of the Duke of Gloucester, by procuring once more a general pardon, under the great seal, at Kenyngton manor, for all offences whatever, from the beginning of the world to the 28th of July 143786; and a subsequent writ of privy seal discharged him of all tenths for his temporalities and spiritualities in his diocese87.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-08

[ (Page) 8 ]

king Henry IV. and V. John earl of Somerset, Thomas duke of Exeter his brother, Joan countess of Westmoreland his sister, and John duke of Bedford; each monk to receive weekly two pence out of a fund to be settled by his executors, the monks to be changed every week.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-09

[ (Page) 9 ]

of their finding three monks daily to say mass for his soul as at Winchester. To the work and repair of the church of Lincoln, 200l. on condition of keeping his anniversary. To the king a golden dish for spices, and a gold cup and ewer, enameled with figures.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-10

[ (Page) 10 ]

the king at one time 20,000l. out of his own coffers, on the security of the crown jewels.

But this was not the only use he made of his wealth. In the year 1444 he made ample additions to the original foundation of the hospital of St. Cross, for the maintenance of 2 priests, 35 brethren, and 3 sisters.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-11

[ (Page) 11 ]

A similar one for John Knyght given in the History of Winchester p. 19 is not now to be found.

Another,

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-12

[ (Page) 12 ]

“the rest of his kingdom; in a word, he knew how to manage matters so well, that he had a better interest than the duke of Gloucester his nephew, though protector, and intirely ruined him.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-13

[ (Page) 13 ]

“ambitious purpose, was both great losse to his naturall prince and native countrie; for his hidden riches might have well helpen the king, and his secret treasure might have relieved the commonaltie, when monie was scant, and charges great.”

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-14

[ (Page) 1 ]

VOLUME II. Plates XLVI. XLVII. XLVIII. XLIX.

THE sepulchral chapel of bishop WAYNFLETE, behind the high altar of his cathedral at Winchester, is the second specimen of the improvement of Gothic architecture in the fifteenth century.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-15

[ (Page) 2 ]

with brass. The blue slab is adorned with a border of oak leaves. On it lies the figure of the bishop, holding his heart in his hands, habited in pontificalibus, with his mitre and crosier, rich jewels on his gloves, his wristbands studded; the ring on the middle finger of the right hand; the maniple and stole, the double-fringed chesuble; the crosier a pastoral crook of a singular form; the mitre richly ornamented. At his feet an angel holds a shield with his arms. See plate XLVII.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-16

[ (Page) 3 ]

scholars, bachelors. This has been mistaken for Magdalen-hall near the gate of Magdalen-college; but Wood11 shews it stood in a different spot. About eight years after (1456), the hospitals surrendering their hospital at Oxford to the founder, and the building being united to Magdalen-hall, the bishop, June 12, 1458, created and established it a college, under a president and five fellows.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-17

[ (Page) 4 ]

statutes of provisors and praemunire past 16 Ric. II.23 The same king granted him an especial and general pardon, dated Feb. 1, 146924, and renewed it two years after, May 30, 1471, about a month before Henry VI. was put to death25. He signed the oath of allegiance to Edward eldest son of Edward IV. that year26, and witnessed the delivery of the great seal at Stamford 1473 to the king, who gave it to the bishop of Durham27.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-18

[ (Page) 5 ]

In his last will he bequeathed legacies to all his servants, to all the religious of both sexes in Winchester, to all the clergy in that city, and to every fellow and scholar in Wickham’s two colleges and his own. “Kings,” says his biographer37, “who were his creditors, he made his debtors by a new contrivance, causing those from whom he had received every thing, to be in their turn indebted to him for something.”

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-19

[ (Page) 1 ]

VOLUME II. Plate L.

AFTER an interval of fourteen years from the death of bishop Waynflete, of which Peter Courtney, bishop of Exeter, filled the see for six, and Thomas Langton, from Salisbury, seven, and a year’s vacancy between them, RICHARD FOX was nominated to it by Henry VII.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-20

[ (Page) 2 ]

[Win-]chester was the reward of his success in these negotiations14. The king sent him afterwards ambassador of France, 149115, and again, 1494, to Scotland16.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-21

[ (Page) 3 ]

chapter-clerk, &c38. But from this he was dissuaded by Oldham, bishop of Exeter, who contributed no less than 6000 marks towards the building of this new college. He obtained a licence in mortmain, Nov. 26, 1516; and his charter of foundation bears date, March 1, following.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-22

[ (Page) 4 ]

executed by bishop Fox. The screen, side partition walls, with the walls and windows of the ailes, were finished and glazed with painted glass at his expence, or by contributions of his procuring.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-23

[ (Page) 5 ]

The mouldings of the windows within and without are ornamented with a leaf and a pelican, placed alternately, and on the uppermost fascia R.W. is interwoven among the branches of a running vine, as at R, plate XLIX.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-24

[ (Page) 6 ]

Due to the formatting of this text, no preview is available. Click "Read more/less" below, then scroll down to view text for page 6.

Read more/less…
media/vm2-45-50-account-25

[ (Page) 7 ]

Due to the formatting of this text, no preview is available. Click "Read more/less" below to view text for page 7.

Read more/less…

Translations of the Longer Passages:

Plate L, Page 3 [p. 21 of the set], lines 14-21: He has displayed to us that singular prudence of his, for which he, Richard, bishop of Winchester, has always enjoyed public commendation, by no more certain proof than that he has consecrated on his own initiative (or “on his own” or “suitably”) and built at his own expense a magnificent college for the three principal languages and their superior literatures and ancient authors. My mind foresees that one day that college, like a holy temple dedicated to the finest literature, will be counted throughout the whole world among the chief beauties of Britain; that the wonder of its trilingual library, which should not lack good authors, will draw a great many to Oxford, as Rome once lured them to herself to behold her wonders.

Plate L, Page 5 [p. 23 of the set], lines 40-45: SOUTH WALL. FIRST CHEST. In this chest, A.D. 1661, were buried together indiscriminately the bones of princes and prelates, which had been scattered because of sacrilegious heathenism (or “barbarity”). North Side. In this chest [and] the other facing it (or “on the opposite side”) are the remains of the bones of kings Cnut and Rufus, queen Emma, bishops Wina and Alwin.

Plate L, Page 6, [p. 24 of the set]: SECOND CHEST. South Side. King Edmund died A.D., whom this chest contains. Christ, receive Edmund, who bore the royal scepter while his father was alive. (This is also the translation of the North Side transcription.) THIRD CHEST. South Side. King Edred died A.D. 955. In this tomb rests pious king Edred, who had most nobly ruled these lands of the Britons. (This is also the translation of the North Side transcription.)
NORTH WALL. FOURTH CHEST. King Adulph died A.D. 857. In this chest lie together the bones of Kyngils and Adulph, the former the founder. The latter was the benefactor. King Kyngils died A.D. 641. In this chest lie together the bones of Kyngils and Adulph, the former the founder. The latter was the benefactor. FIFTH CHEST. King Egbert died A.D. 837. Here King Egbert rests with King Kenulph. Each bestowed exceptional gifts upon us. North side. King Kenulph died A.D. 714. Here King Egbert rests with King Kenulph. Each bestowed exceptional gifts upon us.
SIXTH CHEST. In this chest [and] the other facing it (or “on the opposite side”) are the remains of the bones of kings Cnut and Rufus, queen Emma, bishops Wina and Alwin. North side. In this chest, A.D. 1661, were buried together indiscriminately the bones of princes and prelates, which had been scattered because of sacrilegious heathenism (or “barbarity”).
On the North wall within the choir, the following inscriptions over arches of monuments: Here rest the limbs of the eminent bishop Richard Toclyve, upon whom may there be the joys of heaven above. He died A.D. 1189. This tomb contains the body of John of Pontoise, eminent bishop of Winchester. He died 1304.
North wall without the choir. The body of Ethelmar, whose heart this stone now contains, has (lit. “is given”) a tomb in Paris, where he died. He died A.D. 1261. He who lies here, Hardicanute, bore the scepter of the kingdom. He was also son of Emma and Cnut. He died A.D. 1042.

Plate L, Page 7 [p. 25 of the set], lines 2-6: Inside is the heart of Nicholas, formerly bishop of Winchester, whose body is at Waverly. Inside is the body of Richard, son of William, the Conqueror and Duke of Bearland. Here lies Richard, son of king William the elder and duke of Bearland.