This is a sumptuous and lofty pile of the Corinthian order, though of far less grandeur than that of her rival and victim Mary queen of Scots in the south aisle. It consists of a low basement pannelled with projecting pedestals, on which stands columns of black marble, having bases of white marble and gilt capitals; these support an enriched entablature, crowned by a semicircular canopy. In the recess is a thick slab supported by couchant lions, on which is a recumbent figure of the queen finely executed in white marble. Her attire is regal, but the crown that originally adorned her brow is gone; and the sceptre and mound which she held in her hands have been broken. The point lace frill of her chemise is turned back upon a broad plaited ruff, below which was a collar of the order of the garter, cast in lead and gilt; but the last portion of this was stolen when the iron railing was removed in . This monument was erected in , and cost

besides the stone,

Memoriae sacrvm. Religione ad primaevam sinceritatem restavrata, Pace fvndata, Moneta ad ivstvm valorem redvcta, Rebellione domestics vindicate, Gallia matis intestinis praecipiti svblevata, Belgio svstentato, Hispanica classe profligata, Hibernia pvlsis Hispanis, et rebellibvs ad deditionem coactis pacata, Redditibus vtrivsq.' Academiae lege annonaria plvrimvm adavetis, tota deniq.' Anglia Ditata prvdentissimeq. annos XLV administrata: Elizabetha, Regina victrix, triumphatrix, pietatis stvdiosissima, foelicissima, placida morte septvagenaria solvta, Mortales reliqvias, dvm Christo ivbente resvrgant immortales in hac Ecclesia celeberrima ab ipsa conservata et denvo fvndata deposvit.

Obiit xxiiii Martii, Anno Salvtis MDCII: Regni XLV. Aetatis LXX.

Memoriae Aeternae Elizabethae Angliae, Franciae et Hiberniae Reginae; R. Henrici VIII filiae, R. Hen. VII nepti R. Ed. IIII pronepti, Patriae parenti, Religionis et bonarvm artivm altrici, plvrimarvm lingvarvm peritia, praeclaris tum animi tum corporis dotibvs, regiisq.' virtvtibvs supra sexvm Principi Incomparabili; Jacobvs, Magnae Britanniae, Franciae, et Hiberniae Rex, Virtvtvm et Regnorvm haeres, bene merenti pie posvit.

On the base, west side:

Rego consortes et vrna, hic abdormimvs,

Elizabetha

et

Maria

Sorores, in spe Resvrrectionis.

The little recess where the altar stood in the north aisle contains a memorial erected by Charles II. to the bones of Edward V. and his brother, who were destroyed by the usurping Richard. They were found in , feet under ground, at the Tower, upon removing it for repairs. The monument was designed by sir C. Wren.

H. S. S. Reliquae Edwardi V. Regis Angliae et Richardi Dvcis Eboracensis. Hos Fratres germanos Tvire Londin. conclvsos, iniectisq.' Cvlcitris svffocatos; abidite et in honeste tvmvlari ivssit Patrvvs Richardvs perfidvs Regni predo: Ossa deside ratorvm, div et mvltvm quaesita, post annos cxc & I, Scalarvm in rvderibvs (Scalae istae ad Sacellvm. Tvrris Albae nvper dvcebant) alte defossa indiciis Certissimis sunt reperta: XVII die Jvlii Ao Dni MDCLXXIIII.

Carolvs II. Rex clementissimvs, acerbam sortem miseratvs, inter avita Monvmena, Principibvs infelicissimvs ivsta Persolvit. Anno Dom. 1678. Annoq-' Regni sui 30.

It should seem that this spot is peculiarly appropriated for children; for here lay Sophia and Mary, daughters of James I.; the former with a cradle, and the latter a pretty little altar-tomb, with an effigy of the infant. This aisle contains other tombs; an exceedingly heavy to George Saville, marquis of Halifax, who died in , aged , and that to Charles Montague, earl of Halifax, infinitely better imagined; and yet it is nothing more than a pedestal with vases and a pyramid. He died in , aged .

In the south aisle, the tomb of Margaret Tudor, mother of Henry VII. demands our notice; for the effigy of brass gilt is, without exception, of the best figures in the abbey. It is supposed to be the workmanship of Torrigiano; it is an altar-tomb of black marble; the front is divided into compartments by ornamented pilasters, between which are wreaths of flowers enclosing the royal arms. On the slab is her effigy, with her hands uplifted in prayer. The whole is of copper gilt. This lady died . The lady Margaret Lenox, grand-daughter to Henry VII. , lies farther west: she has an altar-tomb with her effigies of alabaster. The whole was formerly painted and gilt. She is in the robes of estate with a coronet, and at the sides of the tomb are kneeling figures of her children, viz. sons and daughters in the costume of the times. She died .

Scheemakers and Kent were employed to make a monument for the duke of Albemarle, which occupies the arch at the east end; it has a rostral column, with the duke in armour, a medallion, and weeping figure, turning her eyes upwards; her left elbow leaning on the medallion, sword, bullet, &c. arranged without taste, and poorly executed. On the pedestal is this inscription:--

Grace countess Granville, viscountess Carteret, relict of George lord Carteret, baron of Hawnes, & youngest daughter of John Granville, earl of Bath; John Gower, viscount Trentham, baron of Sittenham; grandson of lady Jane Leveson Gower, eldest daughter of the said earl of Bath; Bernard Granville, esq. grandson of Bernard Granville, brother to the said earl of Bath, have erected this monument in pursuance of the will of Christopher, duke of Albemarle.

This inscription occupies the base of the pedestals, and the circular front: it is not much mutilated.

Near it is a tall, but graceful musing statue (whose drapery is in too many small folds) on a pedestal.

To the memory of Catharine, lady Walpole, eldest daughter of John Shorter, esq. of Bybrook, in Kent, and

first

wife of sir Robert Walpole, afterwards earl of Orford. Horace, her youngest son, consecrates this monument. She had beauty and wit without vice or vanity, and cultivated the arts without affectation. She was devout, though without bigotry to any sect; and was without prejudice to any party, though the wife of a minister, whose power she esteemed but when she could employ it to benefit the miserable, or to reward the meritorious. She loved a private life, though born to shine in public, and was an ornament to courts, untainted by them. She died

August 20th, 1737

.

If we except the numberless folds of the garment, and perhaps

The principal object in this aisle is the monument of