Henrici Septimi Olim
Regis Conjux, Atque; Henrici Octavi Regis Mater Inclyta; Obiit Autem
Suum Diem In Turri Londoniarum Die Secund.
Feb.
Anno Domini 1502,
37 annorum aetate functa.
The modern tombs in the abbey, best worth the viewing, are those of
the duke of Newcastle, on the left hand as we enter the north door,
of Sir Isaac Newton, at the west end of the choir, of Sir Godfrey
Kneller, and Mr. Secretary Craggs at the west end of the abbey, of
Mr. Prior among the poets at the door which faces the Old Palace
Yard, of the Duke of Buckingham in Henry VII.th's chapel, and that
of Doctor Chamberlain on the North side of the choir: most of these
are admirable pieces of sculpture, and show that the statuary's art
is not entirely lost in this country; though it must be confessed
the English fall short of the Italians in this science.
Westminster Hall is one of the largest rooms in Europe, being two
hundred and twenty-eight feet in length, fifty-six feet broad, and
ninety feet high. The walls are of stone, the windows of the Gothic
form, the floor stone, and the roof of timber covered with lead; and
having not one pillar in it, is supported by buttresses. It is
usually observed that there are no cobwebs ever seen in this hall,
and the reason given for this is, that the timber of which the roof
is composed is Irish oak, in which spiders will not harbour; but I
am inclined to believe that this is a fact not to be depended on,
for I find the timber for rebuilding and repairing the Palace of
Westminster in the reign of Richard III.
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