The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 4
Allen, Thomas
1827
Tomb of William de Valence.
The tomb of William de Valence, earl of Pembroke, half-brother | |
108 | to Henry III. who died at Bayonne, in France, on , stands on the right side of the door. It is an altar-tomb of stone, with quatrefoils, and as many shields on the sides, and little pannels with leaves at the ends, a broken wooden sarcophagus, with his effigy of oak lies on it, the right foot broken off. This was once plated with gilt copper; the cushion is enamelled with little golden circles on a blue ground; in them a quatrefoil of light blue, and on them a red cross. Between them are diminutive shields, , lions Visitors have rubbed the cushion, and in those places the colours, rich beyond description, are nearly perfect. His vest has small shields spread upon it, but they appear to be all broken off, except ; the marks where they have been are still visible, and many of the nails left in. The sword hilt is enamelled with a blue ground and fanciful gold ornaments, with roses, &c. the colours of which are perfect. The shield is of enamel, and contains barry of and an orle of martlets, gu. almost in the state when, made. A broken border of shields buried in dust remains on the side next the screen, with traces of enamelled lozenges of blue and white, and the lions may be discovered with great difficulty between the legs. Almost all the traces are stripped off from the sarcophagus, and the arches which once enclosed the statues are nearly broken away. Thus his tombs originally uncommonly splendid, is rendered even more wretched than many of its neighbours. Prayers offered up at the remains of Valence would have procured days indulgence soon after his interment; now the only indulgence his effigy receives is from the kindness of the dean's respectable verger, who some time since carefully nailed down the corners of the broken copper. |
