Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/280

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omit the mention of the lady to whom we are in- debted for its admirable preservation. A modest marble against the north wall commemorates at the .same time her name and generosity. She was Catherine the wife of Sir Richard Leveson, of Trentham in the county of Stafford; who, " taking " notice that the tombs of her noble ancestors being " much blemished by consuming time, but more " by the rude hands of impious people, were in " danger of utter ruin by the decay of this chapel, " if not timely prevented; did in her life-time give " 50I. for its speedy remedy, and by her last will 4: and testament, bearing date the 18th of Decem- " ber 1673, bequeathed 40I. per annum, issuing " out of her manor of Foxley in the county of Nor- u thampton, for the perpetual support and preser- " vation of these monuments, in their proper state; " the surplusage to be for the poor brethren of To this bequest she appointed the celebrated anti- quary William Dugdale (whose exhortations, and veneration for these precious remains of ancient sculpture, had induced her to make this provision for their preservation) and his heirs, conjointly with the mayor of Warwick, trustees for ever.

The choir, originally begun by Thomas Beau- champ Earl el* Warwick, and finished by his son

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