The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-25
HUMAN HEART BEQuESTS
Peculiar Testimonials Made From
Affection and Regard.
Custon, Supposed to Have ori=i-
mated During the Period of the
Early Crusaders - Peculiar Fcn-
lures Of Recommendations About
Edward and ROber; Bruce.

The strange clause in the will of tho
late Marquis of Butte, directing that his
heart be buried in the Mount of Olives in
the Holy Land, recalls hest of similar
requests made in the past by historical
personages.
The custom of an individual bequeath-
ing his heart TO his favorite church, abb
hey. CT locality token of supreme re-
gard, dates from the time OF the First
Crusade. and is supposed by some to have
originated among those who died in that
expedition. During the Middle Ages
when no mention had been made by :he
deceased person regarding the disposal OF
his heart, the relations or friends saw
that it was removed carefully embalmed,
and enclosed in a costly casket to be pre-
served as precious treasure, or entomo-
eb with special honor.
Among remarkable heart requests may
be mentioned that of Robert, the famous
Earl of Mellent and Leicester. who died
in Ills in the Abbey of Preaux, where his
body was buried. But his heart. by his
own order. was conveyed TO the hospital!
at Buckley, to be there preserved in salt.
He had been among the early Crusaders
in the Holy Land, and was. says Henry
political affairs of all who lived between
this and Jerusalem. His mind was en-
lightened. his eloquence persuasive, his
shrewdness acute.
Isabella, daughter of William Marshal.
Earl of Pembroke. and wife of Richard,
brother of Henry H. died at Berkhamstead
in 1888, and ordered her heart to be sent in
a silver cup to her brother, then Abbot OF
Tewkesbury, to be there buried before the
high altar. Her body was buried at Beau
lieu, in Hampshire. The noble Isabella,
Countess Of Gloucester and Cornwall" says
Matthew Paris. was taken dangerously Ill
of the yellow jaundice and brought TO the
point OF death. She became senseless, and
after having had the ample tresses of her
flaXen hair cut off and made full confess
sion of her sins she departed to the Lord
together with a boy to whom she had given
birth. When Earl Richard, who had gone
into Cornwall, heard of this event he broke
out into the most sorrowful lamentations
and mourned inconsolsbly." Henry. their
son, while attending mass in the church OF
st. Lawrence. at Eiterbo. in Tuscany. was
cruelty murdered by Simon and Guy de
Montfort, in revenge for the death of their
father at the battle of Evesham, in which,
however, he appears to have had no part
His heart was sent in golden vase to
Westminster Abbey. where it was depos-
tied in the tomb of Edward the Confess
sor. On his monument was gilt statue
holding his heart, labeled with these
lords: Il beQueath TO my father my heart
pierced with the dagger His father,
Richard, King of the Romans. having been
thrice married. died in 1872 from grief at
his sons murder. His body was buried at
the Abbey Of Hayies his own foundation
and his heart was deposited in the Church
OF the Minorite Brethren at Oxford. under
costly pyramid erected by his widow.
1t is remarkable that the two sworn
foes. Edward / of England and Robert
Bruce, King of Scotland should have alike
decided to send their hearts to be buried
In the Holy Land. Each gave the order
on his deathbed: each had the same mo-
tive for giving 1t; and the injunction of
each WIS destined to be unperformed. But
had their wishes been realized the hearts
OF these two inveterate enemies would
have met TO rest quietly together for ever
In the same sepulchre.
The story of the fate of Bruce's heart
= very romantic. AS he lay on his death
bed, N 1SZs, he entreated Sir James Dou-
glas. his dear and trusty friend, to carry
his heart to Jerusalem, because he had
not, on account of his war with England.
been able to fulfill vow which he had
made 10 assist in the Crusade. Sir James,
weeping exceedingly. vowed on the honor
of a knight, faithfully to discharge the
trust reposed in him. After the Kings
Heath. his heart was taken from his body,
embalmed. and enclosed in a silver case
which, by chain. Douglas suspended to
his neck, and then, having provided
suitable retinue to attend him, departed
for the Holy Land.
On reaching Spain he found the King of
engaged n wit he
Moors. and thinking any contest with
Saracens consistent with his vow, he
Joined the Spaniards in a battle against
the Moors, but, ignorant OF their mode OF
hghting, was soon surrounded by horse
mon, so that escape was impossible. In
desperation. he took the precious heart
from his neck, and threw 1t before him,
shouting aloud: GO, brave heart, where
thou wouldst have led, and Douglas will
follow thee. He was soon struck down
and his dead body was found after the bat
tie, lying over the heart of the King His
remains were carried away by his friends,
and honorably buried in his own church of
St. Bride. at Douglas. Bruces heart was
entrusted to the charge of Sir Simon Lo-
card. of Lee. who bore 1t back to Scotland,
Ind deposited il beneath the altar in Mel
rose Abbey, where. perhaps, it still re-
mains. From this incident, Sir Simon
changed his name from Locard to Lock-
heart las it used TO be spelled) and bore
In his arms a heart within a fetterlock.
with the motto, .'Corda serrata pando'
From the same incident the Douglases
bear human heart. imperially crowned.
and have in their possession an ancient
sword, emblazoned with two hands hold
Ing heart and dated 1929. the year in
which Bruce died.
Ar nri 1alr ad al
Scott's "Marinion.'' has this stanza:
81 will ye charge, pfter Eat I depart,
To holy grave. and there bury my heart
Let il rename ever bottle tyne and hour
To ye last day nj Saviour
Mrs. Hemans has some beautiful lines |
on Bruce's heart. in Meirose Abbey, of l
which the following is the first stanza:
Heart! that didst pres forward still, |
Where the trumpei's note rang shrill
Where the knigiitly swords crossing,
ADc the plumes, like foar. tossing.
Leader OF the charging spear,
Fiery heau:-and lest thou heTeg
May this narrow spot inurn
Aught that could beat and burn?''
Edward, Lord Windsor. of Brakeman. |
Bucks. who died at Spa. January 81. 1874 |
bequeathcd his body TO be buried In he |
cathedral church Of the notle city o. |
Liege. with a convenient tomb to rs |
memory, but his heart to be enclosed N /
lead, and sent to England, there to ne |
buried in the chapel at Brakeman. ne |
der his fathers tomb, in token of a true |
Englishman.' The case containing this /
heart, which has on IT long inscription
is still in the vault at Brakeman. and /
was seen in 1sis. when Isaac d'Israeli was
buried in the same vault.
The circumstances respecting .he heart /
of Lord Edward Bruce. who was kiilsd |
in duel in 1913. are interesting His
body was inferred at Bergen, In Holland
where he died. and a monument vas