And it is worth your Obfervation, that as far as to the Gates of the Choir the Pillars are filletted with Brafs, but all beyond with Free-ftone; from which Circumftance fome take Occafion to determine the Bounds of the different Enlargements of this Church at different Times, but I think, with much Uncertainty. Answerable to the middle Range of Pillars are Columns adjoining to the Walls, which as they rife fpring into Semi-Arches, and are every where met in acute Angles by their Oppofites, thereby throwing the Roof into a Variety of Intaglio's, as the Term is, which are no other than little ornamental Carvings at the Clofings and Croffings of the Lines. On the Arches of the Pillars are Galleries of double Columns, 15 Feet wide, covering the Side-Ifles, and enlightened by a middle Range of Windows, over which there is an upper Range, of larger Windows; by thefe and the under Range, together with the four capital Windows, facing the N. S. E. and W. the whole Fabric is fo admirably enlightened, that in the Day-time you are never dazzled with a Glare, nor incommoded with Darknefs. In the Walls between the Columns were fhallow Niches, arched about eight or ten Feet high, on which the Arms of the original Benefactors were depicted, and over them in Saxon Characters, their Titles, &c. but these are almost all defaced by the Monuments of the Dead, which are placed before them.

The next Thing obfervable is the fine Paintings in the great Weft Window, of Abraham, Ifaac, and Facob; Mofes and Aaron, and the 12 Patriarchs; the Arms of his late Majefty, K. Sebert, and Q. Elizabeth; K. Edward the Confeffor; and the late worthy Dean, Dr. Wilcox, Bishop of Rochester; this Window was fet up in the Year 1733, and is very curious; to the Left of which, in a leffer Window, is a Painting of one of our Kings (fup

pofed

pofed of Richard II.) but the Colours being of a Water Blue, no particular Face can be diftinguifhed. In the Window, on the other Side the great Window, you will fee a lively Representation of Edward the Confeffor in his Robes, and under his Feet his Arms painted. There are fome other Remains of this ancient Art scattered up and down in the Windows, but none fo perfect as these.

Having now taken a Survey of the open Parts of this Church, the next Thing to be viewed is the Choir, which you can only fee during the Times of divine Service; the grand Entrance into which is by a Pair of Iron Gates finely wrought. The Floor is paved with the finest black and white Marble: The ancient Stalls are covered with Gothic acute Arches, fupported by fmall Pillars of Iron, and painted Purple; but what you should particularly remark, is an ancient Painting near the Pulpit, of that most beautiful Prince Richard II. fitting in a Chair of Gold, and dressed in a Veft of Green flowered with Gold having on Shoes of Gold powdered with Pearls. This Piece is in Length fix Feet eleven Inches, and in Breadth three Feet seven Inches; the lower Part much defaced. The next Thing to be remarked, is the fine Altar enclofed with a curious Balluftre, within which is a Pavement of Mofaic Work, made at the Charge of Abbot Ware, and faid to be the most beautiful in its Kind of any in the World. By fome Latin Verses it appears, that the Stones whereof it is compofed are of Porphyry, and that it was laid in the Year 1272, near 490 Years ago. The Altar, which had formerly ftood in a Chapel at Whitehall, is a stately and beautiful Piece of Marble, and was removed from the Stores at Hampton-Court in the Year 1707, by Order of her late Majefty Queen Anne, who prefented it to this Church. On each Side the Altar are Marble Doors

open

opening into St. Edward's Chapel, where our Kings retire to refresh at their Coronations.

There are feveral Afcents to the Roof of this Church, particularly one at the Weft Corner of the North Crofs, another at the Eaft Corner of the South Crofs; and over the South-West Tower are fmail Chambers, faid to have been formerly the Habitation of Bradshaw, Prefident of the Rebels bloody Court, where he ended his Days in deep Melancholy before the Reftoration.

H

Of HENRY VIIth's Chapel.

AVING now faid as much as will be thought necefiary, without being tedious, of what relates to the Architecture of this ancient Abbey, it remains still to say something of that famous Building called Henry VIIth's Chapel, which, as we have already hinted, is undoubtedly of much later Date than the Fabric we have been defcribing. This Wonder of the World, as it may well be ftiled, is adorned without with 16 Gothic Towers, all beautifully ornamented with admirable Ingenuity, and jutting from the Building in different Angles. It is fituated to the Eaft of the Abbey, to which it is fo neatly joined, that at a fuperficial View it appears to be one and the fame Building. It is enlightened by a double Range of Windows that throw the Light into fuch a happy Difpofition, as at once to please the Eye and infpire Reverence. In the Towers are Niches, in which flood a Number of Statues, that for Expreffion were hardly to be equalled; but thefe were removed by Order of the Rump Parliament, left they should tumble upon the Heads of fome of its Members. These Towers are joined to the Roof, and made to ftrengthen it by Gothic Arches.

The

The Afcent to the Infide is from the Eaft End of the Abbey by Steps of black Marble under a stately Portico, which leads to the Gates opening to the Body or Nave of the Chapel, before you enter which you may obferve a Door on each Hand, opening into the Side-Ifles; for it is compofed of a Nave and Side-Ifles, every Way answering the Plan of a Cathedral. The Gates by which you enter the Nave are well worth your Obfervation: They are of Brafs moft curiously wrought in the Manner of Frame-Work, having in every other open Pannel a Rofe and Portcullis alternately. Being entered, your Eye will naturally be directed to the lofty Ceiling, which is wrought with fuch aftonishing Variety of Figures as no Description can reach; the Stalls are of brown Wainscot with Gothic Canopies, most beautifully carved, as are the Seats with ftrange Devices; more particularly the Carving under the Seats are monftrous Reprefentations of beaftly Actions, but so strongly expreffed by the Artificer, that nothing on Wood is now remaining equal to it: The Pavement is of black and white Marble, done at the Charge of Dr. Killigrew, once Prebendary of this Abbey, as appears by two Infcriptions, one on á Plate of Brafs infixed in the Rife towards the Foun der's Tomb; the other cut in the Pavement. The East View from the Entrance prefents you with the Brafs Chapel and Tomb of the Founder, and round it, where the Eaft End forms a Semicircle, are the Chapels of the Duke of Buckingham and Richmond, and the open Spaces and Windows, where is the Tomb of Sheffield Duke of Buckingham, and the Effigy of the Countess of Richmond. The Side-Ifles open to the Nave at the East End, on each Side the Founder's Tomb; and at the Eaft End of the South Ifle is the Royal Vault; and of the other, the Monuments of the Princes murdered; the Walls, as well of the Nave as of the South Ifles, are wrought

into the most curious Imagery imaginable, and contains 120 large Statues of Patriarchs, Saints,Martyrs, and Confeffors, placed in Niches, under which are Angels fupporting Imperial Crowns, befides innumerable fmall ones, all of them efteemed fo curious, that the best Masters have travelled from abroad to copy them. The Windows which are 13 on each Side above, and as many below, in the North and South Ifles, befides the fpacious Eaft Window jut out into the Gothic Towers, and were formerly of painted or diapered Glafs, having in every Pain a white Rofe, the Badge of Lancaster, or an the initial Letter of the Founder's Name, and Portculliffes, the Badge of the Beaufort's crowned, of which there are fome now remaining. The Roof is flattifh, and is fupported on Arches between the Nave and the Side Ifles, which turn upon twelve ftately Gothic Pillars curiously adorned with Figures, Fruitage, and Foliage. The Length of this Chapel within is 99 Feet, the Breadth 66, and the Height 54.

We fhall now proceed to the Curiofities that are ufually fhewn to Strangers in Weminfier-Abbey.

Of the TOMBS and other MONUMENTS in the several CHAPELS.

W E have already taken Notice, that there are ten enclosed Chapels belonging to Wefiminfer-Abbey, including Henry VIIth's, juft now defcribed; but as it would be a tedious Work to enter minutely into a Description of each, we fhall rather chufe to go Hand in Hand with your Guides, in giving you an Account of their Contents.

The Names of the feveral Chapels, beginning from the South Crofs, and fo paffing round to the North Crofs, are, in order, as follow: 1. St. Ber

nedict: