Chapter I: Preface

Readers of this little volume must not expect to find in it a full description of the Abbey buildings, or a complete list of all the tombs, monuments, and other beautiful and interesting things in the Abbey Church. That is not the aim of this book. Its chief object is to point out to British children how they may follow the great outlines of their country’s history in Westminster Abbey, from the earliest ages down to our own time,—from the days of the far-off, legendary King Lucius to those of King Edward VII.

The words, “citizen of no mean city,” ought surely to come into our minds as we look round the Abbey and see there, as we clearly can see, a kind of outward expression of all that is best in our national character. The Abbey speaks to us of the deep religious feeling behind our shyness and reserve; of patriotism, and of self-sacrifice for our country; of love and respect for every form of good and noble service; of the wise moderation in our forms of government; of our wide sympathy with men of every race and creed.

It is thus that Westminster Abbey can truly claim to be our great National Church.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
I. THE FOUNDATION AND BUILDING OF THE ABBEY 1

II. THE CORONATIONS 20

III. KING EDWARD THE CONFESSOR: 1042 TO 1066 41

IV. THE PLANTAGENETS OF THE DIRECT LINE FROM HENRY III TO
RICHARD II: 1216 TO 1399 57

V. THE HOUSES OF LANCASTER AND YORK: 1399 TO 1485 75

VI. THE HOUSE OF TUDOR: 1485 TO 1603 88

VII. THE HOUSE OF STUART AND THE COMMONWEALTH: 1603 to 1714 110

VIII. THE HOUSE OF HANOVER AND THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 143

IX. THE NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH CENTURIES 168

X. THE WAX EFFIGIES 207

XI. THE MONASTIC BUILDINGS 215

XII. SOME OF THE ABBOTS 234

XIII. WESTMINSTER SCHOOL 244

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PHOTOGRAVURES

WESTMINSTER ABBEY FROM DEAN’S YARD _Frontispiece_
From a Photograph by W. RICE, F.R.P.S.

FACING PAGE
THE NORMAN CLOISTER 14
From a Photograph by W. RICE, F.R.P.S.

TOMB OF PRINCE JOHN OF ELTHAM 68
From a Photograph by W. RICE, F.R.P S.

HENRY VII’S CHAPEL 122
From a Photograph by W. RICE, F.R.P.S.

PHOTOGRAPHS

KING SEBERT’S TOMB 10
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

CORONATION CHAIR, WITH SWORD AND SHIELD OF STATE 20
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

NORTH AMBULATORY, WITH TOMBS OF HENRY III AND EDWARD I 30
From a Photograph by W. RICE, F.R.P.S.

SHRINE OF KING EDWARD THE CONFESSOR 40
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

RICHARD II 56
From a Photograph by G. A. DUNN.

TOMBS OF EDMUND AND AVELINE OF LANCASTER AND OF AYMER DE
VALENCE 62
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

CHAUCER’S TOMB 74
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

MARGARET BEAUFORT, COUNTESS OF RICHMOND, AND MARY QUEEN
OF SCOTS 90
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

SHAKSPEARE’S MONUMENT 104
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

POETS’ CORNER 136
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

MONUMENT OF GENERAL WOLFE 142
From a Photograph by W. RICE, F.R.P.S.

MONUMENT OF THE EARL OF CHATHAM 150
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

STATUE OF WILLIAM WILBERFORCE 168
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

CHARLES JAMES FOX 178
From a Photograph by W. RICE, F.R.P.S.

STATESMEN’S CORNER, EASTERN AISLE 186
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

GRAVES OF NEWTON, HERSCHEL, DARWIN, AND KELVIN 198
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

WAX EFFIGIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH AND CHARLES II 208
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

SOUTH CLOISTER 215
From a Photograph by W. RICE, F.R.P.S.

THE CHAPTER-HOUSE 222
From a Photograph by G. A. DUNN.

THE JERUSALEM CHAMBER 238
From a Photograph by D. WELLER.

LITTLE DEAN’S YARD—ENTRANCE TO GREAT SCHOOL 248
From a Photograph by W. RICE, F.R.P.S.