DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6911#0042
22
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
The following extracts from the Will of Henry the Seventh contain many
particulars respecting the chapel and tomb which were then making and intended
for this monarch.
EXTRACT FROM THE
WILL OF KING HENRY THE SEVENTH,
Made at Richmond the 31st day of March, 1509, in the xxivth year of his reign.
After invoking the propitiation of the Redeemer, *' Lady Sainte Mary," and all the host
of heavenly angels, he states :—
" And for asmoche as we have receved oure solempne Coronacion, and holie Inunction,
within our Monastery of Westminster, and that within the same Monasterie is the commen
Sepulture of the Kings of this Reame; and sp'ially bicause that within the same, and among
the same Kings, resteth the holie bodie and reliquies of the glorious King and Confessour
Saint Edward, and diverse other of our noble Progenitours and blood, and specially the body
of our graunt Dame of right noble memorie Quene Kateryne wif to King Henry the Vth, and
doughter to King Charles of Fraunce ; and that we by the grace of God, p'opose right
shortely to translate into the same, the bodie and reliquies of our Vncle of blessed memorie
King Henry the Vlth. For thies, and diverse other causes and considerations vs sp'ially
moevying in that behalf, we wol that whensoever it shall please our Salviour Jhu Crist to call
vs out of this transitorie lif, be it within this our Royme, or in any other Reame or place
without the same, that our bodie bee buried within the same Monastery : That is to saie in
the Chapell where our said graunt Dame laye buried, the which Chapell we have begoune to
buylde of newe, in the honour of our blessed Lady.
" And we wol that our Toimnbe bee in the myddes of the same Chapell, before the High
Aultier, in such distance from the same, as it is ordered in the plat made for the same
Chapell, and signed with our hande: In which place we wol, that for the said Sepulture of
vs and our derest late wif the Quene, whose soule God p'donne, be made a Toivmbe of Stone
called Touche, sufficient in largieur for us booth. And upon the same, oon Ymage of our
figure, and an other of hers, either of them of Copure and gilte, of suche faction, and in suche
maner, as shal be thought moost conuenient by the discrecion of our Executours, yf it be not
before doon by our self in our daies. And in the borders of the same Towmbe, be made a
convenient scripture, conteinying the yeres of our reign, and the daie and yere of our decesse.
And in the sides, and booth ends of our said Towmbe, in the said Touche under the said
bordure, we wol tabernacles be graven, and the same to be filled with Ymages, specially of our
said avouries of Coper and gilte. Also we wol that incontinent after our decesse, and after
that our bodye be buried within the said Towmbe, the bodie of our said late wif the Quene,
bee translated from the place where it nowe is buried, and brought and laid with oure bodye
in our saide Towmbe, yf it be not soo doon by our self in our daies. Also we wol, that by
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
The following extracts from the Will of Henry the Seventh contain many
particulars respecting the chapel and tomb which were then making and intended
for this monarch.
EXTRACT FROM THE
WILL OF KING HENRY THE SEVENTH,
Made at Richmond the 31st day of March, 1509, in the xxivth year of his reign.
After invoking the propitiation of the Redeemer, *' Lady Sainte Mary," and all the host
of heavenly angels, he states :—
" And for asmoche as we have receved oure solempne Coronacion, and holie Inunction,
within our Monastery of Westminster, and that within the same Monasterie is the commen
Sepulture of the Kings of this Reame; and sp'ially bicause that within the same, and among
the same Kings, resteth the holie bodie and reliquies of the glorious King and Confessour
Saint Edward, and diverse other of our noble Progenitours and blood, and specially the body
of our graunt Dame of right noble memorie Quene Kateryne wif to King Henry the Vth, and
doughter to King Charles of Fraunce ; and that we by the grace of God, p'opose right
shortely to translate into the same, the bodie and reliquies of our Vncle of blessed memorie
King Henry the Vlth. For thies, and diverse other causes and considerations vs sp'ially
moevying in that behalf, we wol that whensoever it shall please our Salviour Jhu Crist to call
vs out of this transitorie lif, be it within this our Royme, or in any other Reame or place
without the same, that our bodie bee buried within the same Monastery : That is to saie in
the Chapell where our said graunt Dame laye buried, the which Chapell we have begoune to
buylde of newe, in the honour of our blessed Lady.
" And we wol that our Toimnbe bee in the myddes of the same Chapell, before the High
Aultier, in such distance from the same, as it is ordered in the plat made for the same
Chapell, and signed with our hande: In which place we wol, that for the said Sepulture of
vs and our derest late wif the Quene, whose soule God p'donne, be made a Toivmbe of Stone
called Touche, sufficient in largieur for us booth. And upon the same, oon Ymage of our
figure, and an other of hers, either of them of Copure and gilte, of suche faction, and in suche
maner, as shal be thought moost conuenient by the discrecion of our Executours, yf it be not
before doon by our self in our daies. And in the borders of the same Towmbe, be made a
convenient scripture, conteinying the yeres of our reign, and the daie and yere of our decesse.
And in the sides, and booth ends of our said Towmbe, in the said Touche under the said
bordure, we wol tabernacles be graven, and the same to be filled with Ymages, specially of our
said avouries of Coper and gilte. Also we wol that incontinent after our decesse, and after
that our bodye be buried within the said Towmbe, the bodie of our said late wif the Quene,
bee translated from the place where it nowe is buried, and brought and laid with oure bodye
in our saide Towmbe, yf it be not soo doon by our self in our daies. Also we wol, that by