A Windsor Guide from c.1811

Chapter 6 Part III - Of The Chapel of St George

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6 Part III - Of The Chapel of St George

Beaufort Chapel

At the west end of the south aisle, is a small Chapel, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, called Beaufort Chapel, many of that ancient and noble family being buried here. In this Chapel are two noble marble monuments; one erected to the memory of Charles Somerset, Earl of Worcester, and Knight of the Garter, who died April 15, 1526, and his lady, Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of William, Earl of Huntingdon. The Earl lies dressed in the habit of the garter, with his head resting on a helmet; and on his right side is his lady, in her robes of state.

On the back, sit two angels, weeping; and at their head stands an angel, displaying their arms within the garter. This monument is enclosed within a screen of brass work, gil; and has no inscription on it.

The other monument is to the memory of Henry Somerset, late Duke of Beaufort, Knight of the Garter. It is of white marble, exceedingly magnificent; two columns of the Corinthian order, with their shafts entwined with leaves and flowers, support the upper part of the monument, on which is placed, on each side, a flaming urn, adorned with leaves and flowers; and in the centre, the duke's coat of arms. In the middle, below, is his grace, dressed in his robes, in a reclining posture. Over him are curtains hanging down by the columns on each side, while on the background are represented in relievo, in the clouds, two angels holding a crown and palm, and several cherubs. Below the duke is St. George, killing the dragon; and on each side of the monument, between the columns, stands a statue, one representing justice, the other fortitude. On the base is a Latin inscription, to the following; purport:

"Beneath this marble, loaded with years and honours, sleeps Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, Baron Herbert, of Chepstow, Rhegian, and Gower, and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, eminent for his virtue and nobleness of soul. In him was united a singular prudence, with a renowned justice. He not only restored his fortune, which was overthrown by his enemies, but happily increased his ancient honours. Nor was he so intent upon his own private interest, as to neglect that of the public; for he was, in the reigns of Charles and James the second, president of the council in the principality of Wales, governor of the counties and cities of Gloucester, Hereford, Bristol, and all Wales; governor of the Castle of Briavel, and principal verdurer of the Forest of Dean; Lieutenant of the Boroughs of Malmsbury, Tewkesbury and Andover; Chamberlain and Privy Counseller to both the Charles's, to whom he cleaved with unspotted honour. He had to wife, Mary, the eldest daughter of the most honourable Arthur, Lord Capel, whom he dearly loved, by whom he had a most numerous offspring, etc. He died, aged 70, January 21, 1699.

On a neat marble tablet, affixed to the wall of the Chapel, is the following inscription:

This Chapel, (belonging to his ancestors) wherein lie buried not only the bodies of those whose tombs are erected, but likewise that of Henry, late Marquis of Worcester, his grandfather (so eminent for the great supplies of men and money afforded to his sovereign King Charles the Martyr, whose cause he espoused) and for keeping his Castle of Rheglan with a strong garrison, at his own expence, until it became the last but one in England and Wales that held out against the rebels, and then not yielding it until after a long siege, to Lord Fairfax, generalissimo of the parliament forces; in revenge of which obstinacy, as they termed it, it was demolished, and all the woods and parks, which were vast, cut down and destroyed, and his estate sold by order of the then rebellious parliament, to the great damage of himself and his posterity. Wherein also lies the body of

HENRY, The Restorer's First-Born Son.

This Chapel being, in the time of the aforesaid rebellion upon the before-mentioned account, much defaced, and the brass work, to a considerable value, plundered and embezzled, was restored to its primitive form and shape, and what was wanting thereto supplied, at the expense and charge of his grace, Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort, whose monument, etc., we have already given an account of.

The late repairs of this Chapel, was at the expense of the present Duke of Beaufort.

Urswick Chapel

At the north-west corner of this church, is Urswick's, or the Bread Chapel, so called from Dr. Christopher Urswick, Dean of Windsor, and joint promoter with Sir Reginald Bray, in finishing this fabric. This gentleman was also a faithful servant to Henry VII before his accession to the throne, and was afterwards employed by that prince on many embassies to foreign princes, on the most important subjects; and was in so great favour , that he was offered the greatest ecclesiatical honours, all which he refused, and anno 1505, resigned this deanery, and all his other preferments, contenting himself with the duties of his private parsonage e, at Hackney, where he died and was buried, 1521. His epitaph may be found in Weaver's funeral monuments; and, on the stone screen of this Chapel, is an ancient inscription in Latin, in English thus:

Pray for the souls of King Henry VII and Christopher Urswick, sometime Lord Almoner to the King, and Dean of this Chapel. Hail Mary, and blessed be thy most holy mother Ann, from whom thy most pure virgin flesh issued without stain. Amen. God have mercy on the souls of King Harry the seventh, and Christofyr Urswyck, and all Christian souls. Amen.

God, who by thy only begotten son didst redeem mankind, being incarnate of the virgin's womb, and having suffered death, deliver we beseech thee the souls of Harry VII and Christofyr, and all those whom Christofyr offended during life, from eternal death, and bring them to eternal life. Amen.

God have mercy.

In this Chapel is a neat marble tablet, to the memory of Colonel Robert Brudenell, son of the Earl of Cardigan; he was the deputy-governor of Windsor Castle, under his brother, the Duke of Montague, and died October 20, 1768.

Rutland Chapel

This Chapel is in the middle of the north aisle, and in the centre of it is a neat alabaster monument, erected to the memory of Sir George Manners, Lord Roos, in the reign of Henry VIII and of the Lady Ann, his wife, niece to Edward IV.

Sir George lies dressed in armour, his head resting on a helmet, and his feet on a unicorn, couchant. By his side lies his lady, in her robes of state, which were once beautifully blazoned, her head resting on a cushions supported by two angels. On each side of the tomb are their sons and daughters; and at one end are Angles displaying the family arms. Sir George died Oct. 23, 1513, and Lady Ann, April 22, 1526.

In this Chapel is another memorial of this noble family, viz. a brass plate gilt, whereon are the effigies of Ann, Duchess of Exeter, sister to King Edward IV and mother of the above Lady Ann Manners, and Sir Thomas Syllinger, her husband, with their arms blazoned, and a crucifix between them, with this insertion:

Within this Chapel lieth buried, Ann, Duchess of Exeter, sister to the noble King Edward the Fourth, and also Sir Thomas Syllinger, Knyght, her husband, who hath founde wythyn thys college a chantrie with two with two prests singing for evermore. On whose soul God have mercy. The which Anne, Duchess, died in the year of our Lord, a thousand CCCCLXXV, the dominical letter D primum S XIII day of January.

On a like plate, under the next window is engraved:

In the middle of the plate, the Doctor is represented in the habit of his degree, with St. Catherine behind him, kneeling before the Virgin Mary, with our Saviour in her lap.

Hastings Chapel

On the west side of the choir door, in the north aisle, is a chapel, built by Elizabeth, the wife of William, Lord Hastings, Chamberlain to King Edward IV, and Master of the Mint, who for his loyalty to that Prince, and his royal issue, was put to death by Richard III, in the Tower of London.

The roof of this Chapel is neat, and was formerly richly ornamented and gilt. At each end are several niches, in which images appear to have been placed, and under them several angels, displaying the arms of the family of Hastings.

This Chapel is dedicated to St. Stephen, whose history is painted on four panels in the inside of it, and still well preserved.

In the first panel is St. Stephen preaching to the people; in the second he is represented before the tribunal of Herod; in the third is the stoning of this primitive martyr, by the Jews; and in the fourth the saint is represented in a sleeping posture, and above him his beatification. On the foreground is inscribed in Latin:

and under the several panels, are similar apposite sentences.

The grave stones in the various parts of the Chapel not being usually noticed by strangers, we have omitted to point them out, as a particular account of them would swell this compendium beyond its intended limits.

Queen's Closet

On the north side of the choir, adjoining to the altar, is a gallery, called the Queen's Closet, formerly used only for the accommodation of the ladies at an installation: in 1780 it was considerably repaired, and completely furnished with desks, stools, cushions, curtains, etc. and here their Majesties and the royal family attend divine service, every Sunday morning during their summer residence at Windsor.

The wainscot and canopy are both in the Gothic style, and neatly painted in imitation of Norway oak. The curtains are of fine garter blue silk, and the chairs and stools are covered with the same. On the covers of the cushions, within an oval, encircled with flowers, are neatly worked the letters G.R.

In the second window are neatly painted the arms of their Majesties, by Bristow; a sun-flower by West, and a rose, by Jarvis.

In the third window is St. Catherine, and the crowning of Queen Esther.

In the east window is a representation of Nabal receiving David's messengers, vide 25th chap. 1st book of Samuel.

In the window, on the south side of the closet, is an excellent piece, in ancient stained glass, of the Wise Men's Offering.

The upper part of the window, next the choir is beautifully ornamented with Mosaic glass; in this window are three pieces, representing the Dissipation, Distress, and return of the Prodigal Son; the arms of Henry VII and other representations, which add to the ornament and decent neatness of the whole.

Chapter House

At the east end of the north aisle is the Chapter House, wherein all the business of the College is transacted: this room is not usually shown to strangers, yet we presume the following particulars will be acceptable to the reader.

Fronting the entrance is a fine whole length of the renowned and victorious Edward III in his robes of state; in his right hand he holds a sword, bearing the crowns of France and Scotland, in token of the many conquests he gained over those nations. Round the frame is written this inscription:

EDWARDUS TERTIUS INVICTISSIMUS ANGLIAE REX, HUJUS CHAPELIE ET NOBILISSIMI ORDINIS GARTERII FUNDATOR.

On one side of this portrait is kept the all conquering sword of this renowned Prince, which is six feet nine inches long.

The stranger having gone thus far, it is necessay he should now feel for his loose silver, as the Sexton by this time is preparing to make his bow.

Woolsey's Tombhouse
[More often spelt 'Wolsey' in the 20th C]

Adjoining to the east end of St. George's Chapel, is a free stone edifice, built by King Henry VII as a Burial place for himself and his successors, Kings of England; but this Prince afterwards altering his purpose, began the more noble structure at Westminster, and this fabric remained neglected until Cardinal Woolsey obtained a grant of it from King Henry VIII and with a profusion of expense unknown to former ages, designed and began here a most sumptuous monument for himself, from whence this building obtained the name of Woolsey's Tomb-House. This monument was so magnificently built, that Lord Bacon, in his Life of Henry VIII says it far exceeded that of Henry VII in Westminster Abbey; and at the time of the Cardinal's disgrace, the tomb was so far executed, that Banedetto, a statuary of Florence, received 4250 ducats for what he had already done, and £380.18s, sterling had been paid for gilding only half of this sumptuous monument.

The Cardinal dying soon after his retirement from Court, was privately buried in one of the Abbey Chapels at Leicester, and the monument remained unfinished, and in 1646 became the plunder of the rebels; and the statues and figures of gilt copper, of exquisite workmanship, made for the ornament of the tomb, sold to carry on the rebellion.
King James II converted this Chapel into a popish Chapel, and Mass was publickly performed here. The ceiling was executed by Berrio, who is allowed to have here excelled his other performances. The walls were finely ornamented and painted, but the whole having been entirely neglected since the rein of James II is now in a state of decay, and being no appendage to the College, it waits the royal favour to retrieve it from the disgrace of its present appearance.

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