DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6913#0023
THE BE AUCHAMP CHAPEL, WARWICK.
9
On the death of the Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, he was appointed
Lieutenant-General of the whole realm of France, and of the Duchy of Normandy.
This was in the 14th year of Henry VI. and in the following year it appears that he
was at Caversham, in Oxfordshire, where his Will is dated, in the 55th year of his
age. After this event he appears to have occupied his official station in France,
and died there, as the epitaph on his tomb sets forth, in April, 1439—i. e. 17th of
Henry VI. His executors complying with the injunction of his Will, sent for the
body to be interred at Warwick ; and soon afterwards entered into agreements with
various artists and artizans to construct a chapel, and raise a tomb to his memory,
and to have the same executed in the most splendid and appropriate style. By an
inscription on the monument, apparently drawn up by the executors,* we are
informed that the Earl devised the chapel in his life-time, and that it was erected
m strict conformity to his last Will.f The inscription, as well as the tomb, with all
its fine statues, are still very perfect: the first is contained on two " Latten plates,
round about the" upper stone of the tomb, (see Agreement, No. 6) and its style
and facts are entitled to recital on the present occasion, in concluding our narra-
tive of the founder.
Preith devoutly for the sowel whom God assoille % of one of the
most wobshipfull knightes in his dayes of monhode and conning,
RICHARD BEAUCHAMP late Eorle of Wabbewik Lord Despenskk
of BeBGEVENNY and of mony OTHER grete LORDSHIPS WHOs' body RESTETH
HEBE UNDEB this TUMBE in a ful FEIRE vout of STONE set on the bare
and abhor vice, by every reasonable way and method adapted to his capacity and years, and to do -whatever is con-
ducive to his state, benefit, and honour."—Gough's " Description of the Beauchamp Chapel," 4to. 1809, from
Rymer; and with a reference to a similar patent, in French, in the Rolls of Parliament, vol. v. p. 411.
* These executors were, " Lord Cromwell, Lord Tiptoft, John Throkmorton, Ric. Curson, Thomas Huggeford,
Nic. Rody (his steward), and Will. Berks well, priest." The latter was Dean of the collegiate church, and, accord-
ing to Dugdale, kept the accounts respecting the building, &c. of the new chantry chapel. Indeed it is probable
that he was the architect, or manager of the works. His accounts were in the possession of the bailiff and bur-
gesses of Warwick, when Dugdale made his collections; and it is hoped they are still secure and perfect.
t Henry the Sixth gave particular directions in his Will, about the chapel at Cambridge. See the first volume
of this work. A copy of the Earl's Will is preserved in the Prerogative Office, Doctors' Commons, "Rouse, fol.
146, 6th Oct. A. D. 1422"—but it does not contain any description of the chapel, or reference to plots, "patterns
in papers"—" portraictures"—or models. Large extracts from this Will are given in Dugdale's Warwickshire,
edition 1565, p. 329.
t To acquit from sin, to pardon.
C. VOL. IV.
9
On the death of the Duke of Bedford, Regent of France, he was appointed
Lieutenant-General of the whole realm of France, and of the Duchy of Normandy.
This was in the 14th year of Henry VI. and in the following year it appears that he
was at Caversham, in Oxfordshire, where his Will is dated, in the 55th year of his
age. After this event he appears to have occupied his official station in France,
and died there, as the epitaph on his tomb sets forth, in April, 1439—i. e. 17th of
Henry VI. His executors complying with the injunction of his Will, sent for the
body to be interred at Warwick ; and soon afterwards entered into agreements with
various artists and artizans to construct a chapel, and raise a tomb to his memory,
and to have the same executed in the most splendid and appropriate style. By an
inscription on the monument, apparently drawn up by the executors,* we are
informed that the Earl devised the chapel in his life-time, and that it was erected
m strict conformity to his last Will.f The inscription, as well as the tomb, with all
its fine statues, are still very perfect: the first is contained on two " Latten plates,
round about the" upper stone of the tomb, (see Agreement, No. 6) and its style
and facts are entitled to recital on the present occasion, in concluding our narra-
tive of the founder.
Preith devoutly for the sowel whom God assoille % of one of the
most wobshipfull knightes in his dayes of monhode and conning,
RICHARD BEAUCHAMP late Eorle of Wabbewik Lord Despenskk
of BeBGEVENNY and of mony OTHER grete LORDSHIPS WHOs' body RESTETH
HEBE UNDEB this TUMBE in a ful FEIRE vout of STONE set on the bare
and abhor vice, by every reasonable way and method adapted to his capacity and years, and to do -whatever is con-
ducive to his state, benefit, and honour."—Gough's " Description of the Beauchamp Chapel," 4to. 1809, from
Rymer; and with a reference to a similar patent, in French, in the Rolls of Parliament, vol. v. p. 411.
* These executors were, " Lord Cromwell, Lord Tiptoft, John Throkmorton, Ric. Curson, Thomas Huggeford,
Nic. Rody (his steward), and Will. Berks well, priest." The latter was Dean of the collegiate church, and, accord-
ing to Dugdale, kept the accounts respecting the building, &c. of the new chantry chapel. Indeed it is probable
that he was the architect, or manager of the works. His accounts were in the possession of the bailiff and bur-
gesses of Warwick, when Dugdale made his collections; and it is hoped they are still secure and perfect.
t Henry the Sixth gave particular directions in his Will, about the chapel at Cambridge. See the first volume
of this work. A copy of the Earl's Will is preserved in the Prerogative Office, Doctors' Commons, "Rouse, fol.
146, 6th Oct. A. D. 1422"—but it does not contain any description of the chapel, or reference to plots, "patterns
in papers"—" portraictures"—or models. Large extracts from this Will are given in Dugdale's Warwickshire,
edition 1565, p. 329.
t To acquit from sin, to pardon.
C. VOL. IV.