Washington sentinel., 1898-02-19
IT, = ..I, SENTINEL
The Tomb OF an EuelIsn King.

Ane AOAnD OF an Eugllsh ming.
''In the heart OF the Westmin-
ster gray"--in the circle of kings
round the shrine where the air is
heavy with iame-lies the greatest
of English kings since Alfred. The
great lawgiver, the great politi-
clan, the great organizer OF the
medieval English polity, as the
First Edward is described by DR..
Stubs, fitly closes the most bril-
liant Of the medieval centuries.
Only by remembering what the
thirteenth century was both IN
England and the Continent, and
the vast area OF progress which it
measures, shall we understand the
noble work of the sovereign who,
though educated in France, and
never able to speak the English
tongue, was every inch an English
man. In Europe it was the CEN
tury of the greatest sovereigns,
n scholars and statesmen; the most
4 noble period Of architecture, the
p last act of the Crusades, the last
struggle of the Papacy with the
vet undiminished strength Of the
empire. England, in spite of the
Third Henry's weak and ignoble
rule, had shared to the full the
marvellous progress Of the time.
She had learned much from her
Norman conQueroTS, whom she
now led captive in turn; and much,
too, Of Europe, its markets as we'll
as its seats of learning; and much
from the Crusades. The little
island set in the crystal sea, had
become a European emporium.
London,
The little London OF Plantagenet S--s.
Quaint labyrinthe knot OF topping
lanes,
And thornY spires a1ame with starlike
vanes,
had probably not more than fifty
thousand inha bitantS when Edward
came to the throne. Yet England
under the Angeving had become a
country of busy ports and harbors
for foreign trade. 1t
was to rule such an England that
Edward was called; nation that
had burst the bonds OF feudalism;
a people hardy, resourceful and
long-suffering; easily ready for
war, and with large outlook on
the new born time; a people thriv-
ing and adventurous led by cap
tains of industry at home and
abroad; a religious people sur
rounded by stately and solemn
abbeys and ministers, and giving
itself in its thousands to the wars
and pilgrimages Of the Crusades;
a people loving above all king to
whom they could give their affec-
tions. Such a man they found in
Edward; a king who lay on the
bare ground OF the battle field at
night with his men; who refused,
like David Of old, TO drink that
which had almost cost the lives Of
his thirsty iellow-soldieTs. Every
subject through this realm was
drawn closer to the king who wept
bitterly at the news Of his father S
death, though il gave him a crown;
whose hercest burst for vengeance
was called out by an insult to his
mother, whose crosses rose as
memorials of his love and sorrow
at every spot where his wiie's bier
rested"
Edward died during his last
Scottish campaign at little viii
lage on the Solwsy Firth, on July
7, 1897. His body was borne with
great funeral ponp to Waltham
Abbey, where it lay for nearly
fifteen weeks by the side OF Har-
old. In October the kings body
was taken to London, Parliament
<laving met and given orders that
il should be moved to West
minister Abbey with all the honors
befitting so great a monarch.
Alter resting tor three nights sue
cessively in the churches Of Holy
Trinity, St. Paul's and the Friars
Minors, it was brought in an open
chariot attended by a great con-
course Of mobiles to the Abbey on
October ~, where it was inferred
on the following day. The great
est Of the Plantagenets lies in a
huge marble coffin, on the south
side OF the Coniessor's S chapel, and
at the head Of his father, King
Z Henry Ills monument. 1t beaIs S
the inscription
EDwARDvs PRnIus scoToRvM MALLEvs