The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1893-01-07
THE TOMB OF KINGS.
st. Georges Chapel and It's His
torio Contents.
Its Erection Was Begun Over Five Hun
dred Years Ago and 1t Las Been
the Resting Place of Many
Deceased Monarchs.

st. Georges chapel is so intimately
interviewer with the joys and the sor-
VOWS Of the royal family that short
historical account of the same Us the
burial place of English kings may at
the present moment interest our read
ers. The chapel as it now stands was
commenced in the reign of Edward ".
I147D. Bishop Beauchamp and Sir Regi-
nald Bray being the architects. But
two ckapcls, built on the same site by
Henry /. in the twelfth and Edward Ill
in the fourteenth century, preceded 1t.
From an architectural point of view its
vaulted roof, with richly carved PEN
dentivcs, is a grand specimen OF Tudor
work, like those in the chapelS OF the
seventh Henry at Westminster Abbey
and of Kings college, Cambridge. Its
beautiful west and east windows be-
long to . slightly earlier period. On
either side Of the choir arc ranged the
richly carved stalls of the knights Of
the garter, with their banners pendent
above, each knight having his helmet,
lambrigain, crest and sword; the me-
mentoes of the dead being their ar
mortal bearings. In st. Georges chapel,
or in immediate proximity to it, are
buried the remains of several of the
kings of England. Here is the tomb of
Edward ". inclosed by "a range Of
steel gilt cut eXcellently well in church
work." not by Quintin Matsys, but by
Master John Tresilian, smith. On the
arch above hung this kings coat of
mail covered over with crimson velvet
and thereon the arms of France and
England embroidered with pearls and
gold interviewer with rubieS. This
trophy of honor was stolen by Capt.
Fogg in 1912, who also robbed the
treasury Of the chapel Of all the rich
altar plate.
Here rests Henry VI, removed hither
from the abbey Of Chertsey, and EAST
beside him the once famed Edward
sleeps" together with his wife, Dame
Elizabeth Widvilc' Henry VIII. was
laid here when the life departed from
his body by the side Of the only woman
he ever seemed to love-Jane Seymour.
The tombhousc at the eastern end,
magniiccntly restored and decorated
during the present reign, was built by
his father. but was abandoned for the
yet prouder structure OF Westminster.
There his favoritc, Cardinal Woolsey,
began to rear himself monument Of
almost regal splcndor. This, however,
was left incomplete and untenanted at
his death. Its bronzed adornments
were sold and the sarcophagus was at
last conveyed to st. Paul's to receive
the remains Of Nelson. In the same
vault as Henry VIII. is the coffin where
in is laid the body of King Charles,
brought Either from London and carried
stealthily by night, as the flakes of
winter snow fell silently on the pail, to
be laid at rest in the now desecrated
chapel. For a long time the exact |
burial place of the Inflated king was
unknown, but the London Queen in the |
year 1915 caused search to be made in |
the spot designated by Evelyn. The |
coffin was found and opened in the |
presence CT the prince regent and the |
duke CT Cumberland. Beneath the |
chapel George III. constructed vault |
for his family, and there he rests with |
his wife and several of his family, in
Guiding the two sons who followed him |
upon the throne. For time the body
Of the prince consort was laid in the |
royal vault. but was afterward removed |
to the magnificent mausoleum which |
has been erected in the park of Windsor. |