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Article THE KNIGHTS OF ST. HELEN'S. ← Page 3 of 11 →
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The Knights Of St. Helen's.
sequent years the party-wall of either church was taken down , and the two structures thrown into one . It is recorded that Sir Thomas Gresham , as a recompense for the permission given for the erection of his tomb , had promised to leave a sum of money for the construction of a handsome steeple , but at his death no
provision was found in his will for the purpose . So it remains , and it is a fortunate occurrence that this church should have been one of the few which escaped the great fire whieh devastated the metropolis in Charles II . ' s reign , for it is replete with interest , and possesses many very noble monuments of the illustrious dead . Here lie the last earthlremains of several
y worthies of the choys of old ; ancl here stand , in good preservation , the interesting memorials which ivere constructed to their honour . The oldest and most interesting is the tomb of Sir John Crosby and his wife , erected at the end of the fifteenth
century , ancl one of the finest examples of that period . It is an altar-tomb , and is on the left hand side of the altar ; there are two whole-length recumbent figures in alabaster on the top . Sir John is in armour , with a mantle and collar , the latter consisting of roses and suns alternately arranged , ancl his hair is parted , ancl closely shorn , as the custom then was . The lady is habited in
a very close-fitting gOAvn , with a collar of roses round her neck . At their feet are two clogs . Nothing can exceed the mastery of sculpture as displayed in these effigies ; even the very principle and pathos of repose has been caught , and is exquisitely portrayed on the calm and tranquil faces . It is worth something to see this beautiful relic of ancient art b
y moonlight . The spectator , be he ever so little gifted with the fine phrenzy of the poet ' s eye , might almost expect to see the two forms become animated , and glide about the ghostly precincts of the solemn edifice . The inscription states :
_ " Orate pro animahus , Johannis Crosby , Militis Aid . atque tempore vitae majoris staple Vile Caleis , et Agnetis TJxoris su _ e , ae Thomae Richardi , Johannis , Margaratae et Johannae , Liberorum ejusdem Johannis Crosby , Militis . llie obiifc MCOOCLXXV et ilia JVICCCCLXVI , quorum animabus propitietur Deus . " Sir John Crosby was a great benefactor to the city of London , for it is recorded in the chronicles of Holinshed , that he
gave money for the repairs of the old London Wall , and for a tower on London Bridge , as well as sundry alms to the poor prisoners , and to the various charities . He was sheriff in 1470 , and was knighted in the following year by the king , Edward IV ., for suppressing Fauconbridge ' s attempt at insurrection . He built Crosby Hall , on land the property of St . Helen's Priory , ancl it is an old saying that the Hall was
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Knights Of St. Helen's.
sequent years the party-wall of either church was taken down , and the two structures thrown into one . It is recorded that Sir Thomas Gresham , as a recompense for the permission given for the erection of his tomb , had promised to leave a sum of money for the construction of a handsome steeple , but at his death no
provision was found in his will for the purpose . So it remains , and it is a fortunate occurrence that this church should have been one of the few which escaped the great fire whieh devastated the metropolis in Charles II . ' s reign , for it is replete with interest , and possesses many very noble monuments of the illustrious dead . Here lie the last earthlremains of several
y worthies of the choys of old ; ancl here stand , in good preservation , the interesting memorials which ivere constructed to their honour . The oldest and most interesting is the tomb of Sir John Crosby and his wife , erected at the end of the fifteenth
century , ancl one of the finest examples of that period . It is an altar-tomb , and is on the left hand side of the altar ; there are two whole-length recumbent figures in alabaster on the top . Sir John is in armour , with a mantle and collar , the latter consisting of roses and suns alternately arranged , ancl his hair is parted , ancl closely shorn , as the custom then was . The lady is habited in
a very close-fitting gOAvn , with a collar of roses round her neck . At their feet are two clogs . Nothing can exceed the mastery of sculpture as displayed in these effigies ; even the very principle and pathos of repose has been caught , and is exquisitely portrayed on the calm and tranquil faces . It is worth something to see this beautiful relic of ancient art b
y moonlight . The spectator , be he ever so little gifted with the fine phrenzy of the poet ' s eye , might almost expect to see the two forms become animated , and glide about the ghostly precincts of the solemn edifice . The inscription states :
_ " Orate pro animahus , Johannis Crosby , Militis Aid . atque tempore vitae majoris staple Vile Caleis , et Agnetis TJxoris su _ e , ae Thomae Richardi , Johannis , Margaratae et Johannae , Liberorum ejusdem Johannis Crosby , Militis . llie obiifc MCOOCLXXV et ilia JVICCCCLXVI , quorum animabus propitietur Deus . " Sir John Crosby was a great benefactor to the city of London , for it is recorded in the chronicles of Holinshed , that he
gave money for the repairs of the old London Wall , and for a tower on London Bridge , as well as sundry alms to the poor prisoners , and to the various charities . He was sheriff in 1470 , and was knighted in the following year by the king , Edward IV ., for suppressing Fauconbridge ' s attempt at insurrection . He built Crosby Hall , on land the property of St . Helen's Priory , ancl it is an old saying that the Hall was