Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Observations Made In A Visit To The Tombs In Westminster Abbey,
a chain of gold twenty inches long , with a crucifix , enamelled and curiously wrought . This the king undoubtedly wore upon his breast while living . The silent language of Edward through the , little image , to every beholder , was , " I am more righteous than thou . " The friendship contracted between Edward and his crucifix did not terminate with life , for he ordered it to hold the same honourable place
near his heart , in the tomb . Keep presented this rich relic to King James , being exactly in his own way . James wisely considering it might be more useful to the living than the dead , and that it bore a high value , made no scruple to keep it , but ordered the bones of the saint , which bore none , to be carefully replaced . I submit to the judgment of every catholic in Christendom , whether the king did not commit sacrilege ? I submit to every man ' s conscience , whether he himself would not have done the same ?
' ' EDWARD THE FIRST S TOMB . The first tomb on the ri ght , as we enter , is the p lainest in the whole Abbey , and belongs to one of the greatest monarchs , Edward the Pirst . It is about nine feet long , four high , and three broad : The top , I think , consists of ' one coarse marble slab . The man who has raised an immortal name bhis actionscan add but little by a
y , monument . We are told , the Society of Antiquarians in London , having observed that Rymer , in his Fcedera , mentions Edward the First , called Longshanks , being interred in a stone coffin , and in a stone tomb , in one of the chapels in Westminster Abbey ; that he was covered with wax , and that a sum of money was allowed to preserve the tomb ;
they applied to the Deari , in 1774 , for leave to open it , who granted the request . Upon taking off the slab , the stone coffin was seen immediately below it . - On removing the lid , a plain coarse linen cloth offered itself to view ; which being taken away , a royal mantle of crimson velvet was found , immediately covering the royal corpse . When this was removedthe king appeareddressed in his own robe
, , of gold and silver tissue ,. which was white . He was adorned with a profusion of jewels , which were very brilliant , nor had the robes undergone the least decay , but were firm to the touch . He held a sceptre in each hand , bright as the jewels . That in the right , four feet six inches long , terminated with a cross : that'in the left , five feet and half an inchwith a dove .
, They raised up the crown , and his head appeared bare . His face and hands were perfect , and , like his robes , were solid , and without ' any symptom of decay . The eye-balls moved in their sockets . The whole body was neatly covered with a cere-cloth , which every where , adhered to the skin , as if a part of it . The colour was that of chocolate ; the upper part of the nosebetween the eyeswas not
promi-, , nent . Between the chin and the under lip appeared a considerable hollow . There was no beard . He was not uncovered lower than the face . The feet felt sound , nor did there seem a disproportion in the legs , by which he could acquire the name of Longshanks , He
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Observations Made In A Visit To The Tombs In Westminster Abbey,
a chain of gold twenty inches long , with a crucifix , enamelled and curiously wrought . This the king undoubtedly wore upon his breast while living . The silent language of Edward through the , little image , to every beholder , was , " I am more righteous than thou . " The friendship contracted between Edward and his crucifix did not terminate with life , for he ordered it to hold the same honourable place
near his heart , in the tomb . Keep presented this rich relic to King James , being exactly in his own way . James wisely considering it might be more useful to the living than the dead , and that it bore a high value , made no scruple to keep it , but ordered the bones of the saint , which bore none , to be carefully replaced . I submit to the judgment of every catholic in Christendom , whether the king did not commit sacrilege ? I submit to every man ' s conscience , whether he himself would not have done the same ?
' ' EDWARD THE FIRST S TOMB . The first tomb on the ri ght , as we enter , is the p lainest in the whole Abbey , and belongs to one of the greatest monarchs , Edward the Pirst . It is about nine feet long , four high , and three broad : The top , I think , consists of ' one coarse marble slab . The man who has raised an immortal name bhis actionscan add but little by a
y , monument . We are told , the Society of Antiquarians in London , having observed that Rymer , in his Fcedera , mentions Edward the First , called Longshanks , being interred in a stone coffin , and in a stone tomb , in one of the chapels in Westminster Abbey ; that he was covered with wax , and that a sum of money was allowed to preserve the tomb ;
they applied to the Deari , in 1774 , for leave to open it , who granted the request . Upon taking off the slab , the stone coffin was seen immediately below it . - On removing the lid , a plain coarse linen cloth offered itself to view ; which being taken away , a royal mantle of crimson velvet was found , immediately covering the royal corpse . When this was removedthe king appeareddressed in his own robe
, , of gold and silver tissue ,. which was white . He was adorned with a profusion of jewels , which were very brilliant , nor had the robes undergone the least decay , but were firm to the touch . He held a sceptre in each hand , bright as the jewels . That in the right , four feet six inches long , terminated with a cross : that'in the left , five feet and half an inchwith a dove .
, They raised up the crown , and his head appeared bare . His face and hands were perfect , and , like his robes , were solid , and without ' any symptom of decay . The eye-balls moved in their sockets . The whole body was neatly covered with a cere-cloth , which every where , adhered to the skin , as if a part of it . The colour was that of chocolate ; the upper part of the nosebetween the eyeswas not
promi-, , nent . Between the chin and the under lip appeared a considerable hollow . There was no beard . He was not uncovered lower than the face . The feet felt sound , nor did there seem a disproportion in the legs , by which he could acquire the name of Longshanks , He