| This is an elaborate and costly pile, like that of Elizabeth. It is principally of the Corinthian order, and of similar design, but its dimensions and elevation are much greater. It is constructed of different coloured marbles, and consists of a plinth, which has projecting pedestals on each side, which sustain columns supporting the entablature, and a canopy; beneath which, upon a sarcophagus ornamented with lions' heads, &c. is a recumbent figure of the queen. She wears a close coif and a laced ruff; her mantle is lined with ermine, and fastened over the breast with a jewelled brooch. Her feet rest against a seated lion, crowned, supporting the emblems of sovereignty.
|
| On the sarcophagus and base are the following inscriptions:
D. O. M. Bonae Memoriae, et spei aeternae Mariae Stvartae Scotorvm Reginae, Franciae Dotariae, Iacobi V. Scotorvm Regis filiae et haeredis vnicae Henricii VII. Angl. Regis ex Margareta, maiori natv filiae (Iacobo IIII . Regis Scotorvm matrimonio copvlatae) proneptis Edwardi IIII Angl. Regis ex Elizabetha filiarv' svarvm natv maxima abneptis. Francisci II. Gallorv.' R. conivgis coronae Angl. dv' vixit certae, & indvbitatae haeredis, et Jacobi Magnae Britanniae monarchae potentissimi matris.
Stirpe vere Regia et antiqvissima prognata erat, maximis totivs Europae Principib' agnatione et cognatione conivncta, et exquisitissimis animi, et corporis dotibvs, et ornamentis cvmvlatissima; 'vervm vt svnt variae rervm hvmanarv' vices,) postqvam annos plus minvs viginti, in cvstodia detenta, fortiter, et strenve (sed frvstra) cvm malevolorvm obtrectationibvs, timidorvm svspicionibvs, et inimicorv' capitalium insidiis conflictata esset, tandem inavdito, et infesto Regibvs exemplo, securi percutitur; et contempto mvndo, devicta morte lassito carnifice, Christo servatori animae salvte. Jacobo filio spem regni, et posteritatis, et vniversis caedis infavstae spectatoribvs exemplv' patientiae com'endans, pie, patienter intrepide, cervicem, Regiam, secvri maledictae svbiecit, et vitae cadvae sortem; cvm coelestis Regni perennitate com'vtavit. VI Idvs Febrvarii, Anno Christi MDLXXXVII. AEtatis xxxxvi.
Si generis splendor rarae si gratia formae
Probri nescia mens, inviolata fides,
Pectoris invicti robvr sapientia candor,
Nixaqve solantis spes pietate Dei:
Si morvm probitas dvri patientia fraeni,
Maiestas, bonitas pvra, benigna manvs,
Pallida fortune possint, vitare tonantis
Fvlmina, quae monies, templaqve sancta petvnt,
Non praematvra fatorvm sorte perisset;
Nec fieret maestis tristis imago genis.
Jvre Scotos, thalamo Francos, spe possidet Anglos;
Triplice sic triplex, ivre corona beat.
Felix, hev nimivm foelix, si tvrbine pvlsa
Vicinam sero conciliasset opem.
Sed cadit vt terram teneat, nvnc morte trivmphat,
Frvctibvs vt sva stirps, pvllvlet inde novis.
Victa neqvit vinci, nec carcere clavsa teneri
Non occisa mori, sed neqve capta capi.
Sic vitis svccisa gemit foevndior vvis,
Scvlptaqve pvrpvres, gemma decore micat,
Obrvta frvgifero sensim sic cespite svrgvnt
Semina, per mvltos, qvae latvere dies.
Sangvine sancivit foedvs cvm plebe Iehova,
Sangvine placabant nomina sancta patres.
Sangvine conspersi qvos praeterit ira penates;
Sangvine signata est quae modo cedit hvmvs,
Parce Devs, satis est infandos siste dolores;
Inter fvnestos pervalet illa dies,
Sit Reges mactare nefas vt sangvine post hac
Pvrpvres nunqvam terra Britannia flvat.
Exemplum pereat caesae cvm vvinere Christae:
Inqve malvm praeceps avthor et actor eat.
Si meliore, svi post mortem, parte trivmphet,
Carnifices sileant, tormina clavstra, crvces.
Qvem dederant cvrsvm svperi, Regina peregit.
Tempora laeta Devs, tempora dvra edit.
Edidit eximivm fato properante Iacobvm,
Qvem Pallas, Mvsae, Delia, fate colvnt.
Magna viro, maior, natv, sed maxima partv;
Conditvr hic Regvm filia, sponsa, parens.
Det Devs vt nati, et qvi nascentvr ab illa,
Aeternos videant hinc sine nvbe dies.
H. N. Gemens,
|
