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314

VIEW FROM THE TOWER.

to the dining-room are composed of pikes, on the top
of which are two coats of mail, said to be those of
illustrious personages, once prisoners here, John,
King of France-and David, King of Scotland!
The tapestry of the Dining-room contains the history
of Hero and Leander; and the Bed-chamber has six
ebony chairs, curiously studded with ivory. Here,
also, is tapestry, exhibiting stories from the Heathen
Mythology. From the top of THE TOWER waves the
Royal Standard, fourteen yards long and eight broad;
when hoisted, it indicates the presence of the King or
Royal Family! From these leads, over which we crawled,
and
upon
which we at length stood in an erect posture,
is a most delightful panoramic prospect! TWELVE
counties are beheld in circular succession, viz. Middle-
sex, Essex, Hertford, Bucks, Berks, Oxford, Wilts,
Hants, Surry, Sussex, Kent, and Bedford! An hour
may be most amusingly passed on this eminence in
marking the spires of churches and the turrets of
stately mansions, which are scattered on every side in
rich and variegated profusion. The landscape here
exhibited, with the meandering Thames immediately
below you, is an enlarged section of the rural beauties
of our beloved country.

We now proceed to the last division of THE CASTLE, the Lower Ward or Court, where we meet with the Collegiate Church or THE CHAPEL OF ST. GEORGE.

There are several Collegiate Churches in England; as Rippon, Westminster, Southwell, &c.-but this is the only Collegiate Chapel now remaining, and retains

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HENRY EIGHTH'S LAST WILL.

315

the name, having been founded by a King. Henry the First built a Chapel at Windsor, which was enlarged by Henry the Third; it was, however, rebuilt by Edward the Third, but not completed till the reign of Henry the Eighth. It has, however, been much decorated and improved by his present Majesty, at an expense of £20,000! It is a curious circumstance that HENRY THE EIGHTH, in his last will and testament, bearing date 30th Dec. 1546, appointed four solemn Obits, or Masses, to be kept yearly, after his decease, in this College of WINDSOR, with several orders respecting his interment. The WILL is of considerable length, descends into a variety of particulars, and is highly gratifying to the curiosity.

Knowing, from the faithful pen of History, the real character of this monarch, Henry the Eighth, the two introductory paragraphs of his very pious WILL shall be transcribed; it will be remembered that this monarch was the head of OUR PROTESTANT REFORMATION.

"In the name of GOD, and of the glorious and blessed Virgin our Lady Saint Mary, and of all the holy company of HEAVEN-WE, Henry, by the grace of God, King of England, Fraunce and Irelande, Defender of the Faith, and in Erth ymediately under God the supreme hed of the Church of England and Irelande, of that name, height, &c. &c. calling to our remembrance the dignitie, estate, honour, rule and gouvernance that God hath called us unto in this world, and that neither we nor any other creature mortall

316

HENRY EIGHTH'S LAST WILL.

knowith the tyme, place, whenne ne where it shall please Almighty God to call him out of this transitory woorld; willing, therefore, and minding, with God's grace, before our passage out of the same, to dispose and ordre our latter mind, will and testament in that sort as we trust it shall be acceptable to ALMIGHTY GOD, our only Saviour Jesus Christ, and all the hole company of Heaven, and the due satisfaction of all godly brethren on Erth!-have therefore, now, being of hole and perfaict mynd, adhering holy to the right faith of CHRIST and his doctrine, repenting also our old and detestable lief, and being in perfect will and mynde, by his grace, never to return to the same nor such like; and minding, by God's grace, never to vary therefro as long as any remembrance, breth, or inward knowledge doth or may remayn within this mortal body; moost humbly and heartly do commend and bequeath our soul to ALMIGHTY GOD, who, in personne of the Sonne, redeemed the same with his most precious body and blood in tyme of his passion; and, for our better remembrance thereof, hath left here with us, in his church militant, the consecration and administration of his precious body and blood, to our no little consolation and comfort, if we as thankfully accept the same as he lovingly, and undeserved on man's behalf, has ordeyned it for our only benefit, and not his. And, as for my BODY, which, when the soul is departed, shall then remayne as a cadaver, and so return to the vile matter it was made of, were it not for the crown and dignitie which God hath called us unto, and that

HENRY EIGHTH'S LAST WILL.

317

we would be noted as an infringer of honest worldly policies and custumes, whenne they be not contrary to gode laws, we would be content to have it buryed in any place for christian folke, were it never so vile; for it is but ashes, and to ashes it shall agen! Nevertheless, bicaus we would be lothe, in the reputation of the people, to do injury to the dignitie which we unworthilie are called unto, WE are content, and also, by these presents, our last WILL and TESTAMENT, do will and ordeyn, that our Body be buryed and enterred in the Quere of our College of Windesour, midway between the Stalle and high Aultare, and there to be made and sett, as soon as conveniently may be doon after our decease, by our exeecutours, at our caust and charge, if it be not doon by us in our lief time, an honourable tomb, for our bones to rest in, which is well onward, and almost made therefor alreadye, with a fayre grate about it-in which we will also, that the bones and body of our true and loving Queen Jane be put also; and that there be provided, ordeyned, made and sett, at the cost and charge of us, or of our executours, if it be not doon in our lief, a convenient Auller, honourable prepared and apparelled, with all manner of things requisite and necessary for daily masses, there to be said perpetually while THE WORLD shall endure !

MR. WARTON has pronounced this Chapel of St. George the most complete specimen of the florid Gothic in the kingdom. Its interior is singularly neat

Storied windows, richly dight,

Casting a dim, religious light

318

PAINTINGS OF THE CHAPEL.

calculated to soothe even the most perturbed bosom to peace and serenity. The CHOIR is a pattern of admirable workmanship. The Stalls of the Sovereign and Companions of the Order display a profusion of rich carved work. On the front of the stalls, the actions of St. George are pourtrayed; and on the pedestals may be seen representations of the history of THE REDEEMER, from his nativity to his ascension! The mantle, helmet, crest and sword of each Knight are placed on the canopies of the respective stalls. Over the canopies the arms of the Knight are displayed, elegantly emblazoned on silk; and at the back of each stall are the titles of the personage to whom it belongs, with his arms neatly engraven and emblazoned on copper. The SOVEREIGN's banner is of rich velvet, much larger than those of the Knights; the mantling of rich brocade, with every possible embellishment! The altar is decorated with a painting of the Last Supper, by West. The window above the altar has a most beautiful representation of the Resurrection; the east window, the Angels appearing to the Shepherds; the west window, the Adoration of the Magi; and that in the south aisle, the Nativity of Christ: but the window attracting most attention is the west window of the west end of the body of the church, having eighty compartments-patriarchs, bishops and saints being there delineated in an almost endless profusion! In this COLLEGIATE CHURCH are a great many chapels, or small recesses, with monuments belonging to great families, where the priests

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