Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 12.djvu/72

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. xn. JULY 25, im

laugh while you sigh. As a poet he shines even more than as a philosopher."

This is true, and we thank the poet for his kindly legacy left to us upon this little wall tablet in our church as bearing out the saying, once made in my hearing, that "every American is at heart more or less an Englishman." May it always be more rather than less !

The next memorial in this old church intimately connected with the United States is the great west window to the memory of Sir Walter Kaleigh, placed there at a cost exceeding 600. by the liberality of American citizens. It was the outcome of a casual remark made to an American gentle- man by Archdeacon (as he then was) Farrar, that Raleigh's headless body lay in St. Mar- garet's Church beneath the chancel, with no memorial save a small tablet. Not much is required to keep such a man in mind, but still it is pleasant to have such things. The small tablet in question for many years fulfilled its purpose, for by visitors from all parts of the world it has been eagerly sought after and carefully scanned. The inscription tells us that Within y e Chancel of this Church was Interred

The Body of the

Great S r Walter Raleigh, K 4

on the Day he was Beheaded

in Old Palace Yard, Westminster

Oct r 29 th An Dom. 1618

Reader Should you reflect on his Errors

Remember his many virtues

And that he was a mortal.

This inscription is the ancient one from the oaken tablet of 1618, which has been super- seded and perpetuated by the ornamental one as we now see it at the east end of the south aisle. Walcott, in his ' History of the Church,' states that " the old wooden tablet was replaced in 1845 at the expense of several subscribers." It has been pic- turesquely said, and with much justice, that Raleigh's real monument is the Old Dominion of the United States, and we of old England can readily admit the truth of this, and therefore see the verities of the case which prompted the erection of this fine west win- dow, showing, as Dr. Farrar plainly put it, that England's " great traditions are their heritage no less than ours," and that this brilliant memorial commemorates nothing less than the founding of the New World. This window is a very fine specimen of the modern glass-painter's art, arid I again am indebted to Mrs. Sinclair's very useful booklet for the description, which is as follows :

"The upper lights show two banners held by angels, containing respectively the arms of the

United States of America, and the royal arms of Great Britain. Below are two shields to the left, containing the arms of Edward the Confessor: Azure, a cross patoncee between five martlets, four in the cantons of the cross, and one in base, or ; and those of the See of Westminster, Azure, a cross patonce'e between five martlets or ; on a chief of the second, a pale quarterly of France and England, between two united roses of York and Lancaster. Next to these are two angels holding respectively the Tudor badge : Vert, a ' portcullis with chains pendant, and in chief a crown or, a device used by all the descendants of John of Beaufort, Earl of Lancaster, son of John of Gaunt, third son of Edward III. ; and the emblem of Ireland : a crowned harp ; and two shields to the right bearing the arms of the City of Westminster : Azure, a portcullis or ; on a chief of the first, a cross patoncee between five martlets, four in the cantons of the cross, and one in base, or, between two roses, seeded and barbed vert ; and those of the Abbey of Westminster : Azure, on a chief indented or, a crown on the dexter, and a mitre on the sinister, both gules. Five elaborately ornamental tabernacled niches hold portraits of the following great personages of the period, with their respective coats of arms above their heads. In the centre stands Queen Elizabeth in a most elaborate toilette, with ruff and ornaments of the period, a red rose on her breast. On the right of the Queen is Sir Walter Raleigh ; next to him is his friend and patron, Henry. Prince of Wales, son of James 1. ; and it is most instructive to note the points of difference in his escutcheon from that of his kinswoman Queen Elizabeth. On the left of the Queen, Spenser occupies one panel, and the other represents Sir Humphrey Gilbert, Raleigh's half-brother, the celebrated navigator. The arms of Queen Elizabeth were : Quarterly, first and fourth, azure, three fleurs-de-lis or, for France ; second and third, gules, three lions passant guardant or, for England. Raleigh's shield is emblazoned : Gules, seven lozenges in bend argent. The arms of Prince Henry were: Quarterly, first and fourth, the arms of France and England as above ; second, or, a lion rampant within a double tressure, flowered, counter-flowered gules, for Scotland ; third, azure, a harp or, stringed argent ; a label of three points argent for difference. Spenser's: Quarterly, argent and gules ; on the second and third quarters a fret or ; over all, on a bend sable, three escallops of the first. Gilbert's arms are Argent, on a chevron sable three roses of the field. The panels represent : 1, sailing of Raleigh for America ; 2, the landing of Raleigh in America ; 3, Spenser presented to Queen Elizabeth by Raleigh; 4, imprisonment of Raleigh; 5, burial of Raleigh."

Underneath are to be seen the lines (and to many they constitute the chief charm of the memorial) by the late James Russell Lowell, sometime the American Ambassador to England :

The New World's sons, from England's breast we drew

Such milk as bids remember whence we came ; Proud of her Past, wherefrom our Future grew,

This window we inscribe with Raleigh's name.

These lines are very beautiful, and express most felicitously the thoughts suggested by such a memorial, and it is to be regretted that