Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey

The next approach was made to the space under the daïs, west of Henry's VII's monument, where Edward VI's grave had been already in 1866 indicated on the pavement. A shallow vault immediately appeared, containing one leaden coffin only, rent and deformed as well as wasted by long corrosion, and perhaps injured by having been examined before. The wooden case had been in part cleared away and the pavement had evidently been at some previous time wholly or partially removed. Over the coffin were a series of Kentish rag-stones, which had been steps — one or more shaped with octagon angle ends, and the fronts of them bordered with a smooth polished surface surrounding a frosted area of a light grey colour within the border. These were probably the original steps of the dais, and must have been placed in this position at the time when, in 1641, the Puritans destroyed the monumental altar under which Edward VI. was buried. This conclusion was greatly strengthened by the interesting discovery that the extreme piece of the covering at the foot was a frieze of white marble 3 feet 8 inches long, 7 inches high, and 6 inches thick— elaborately carved along the front and each end, while the back was wrought to form the line of a segmental vaulted ceiling; and the ends pierced to receive the points of columns. These features at once marked it as part of the marble frieze of Torregiano's work for this 'matchless altar,' as it was deemed at the time. The carving is of the best style of the early Renaissance period, and is unquestionably Italian work. It combines alternations of heraldic badges, the Tudor roses and the lilies of France, placed between scrollage of various flowers. It still retained two iron cramps, which were used to join a fracture occasioned by the defectiveness of the marble, and it also exhibited the remains of another iron cramp, which was used to connect the marble with the entire fabric. Deep stains of iron at the ends of the marble had been left by an overlying bar (probably a part of the ancient structure), which was placed on the carved¹ surface, seemingly to strengthen the broken parts.

Underneath these fragments, lying across the lower part of the coffin, was discovered, curiously rolled up, but loose and unsoldered, the Discovery of leaden coffin-plate. It was so corroded that, until closely spected in a full light, no letter or inscription was discernible, inscription. With some difficulty, however, every letter of this interesting and hitherto unknown inscription was read. The letters, all capitals of equal size, one by one were deciphered, and gave to the world, for the first time, the epitaph on the youthful King, in some points unique amongst the funeral inscriptions of English sovereigns². On the coffin of the first completely Protestant King, immediately following the Royal titles, was the full and unabated style conferred by the English Reformation—'On earth under Christ of the Church of England and Ireland Supreme Head.'³ Such an inscription marks the moment when the words must have been inserted — in that short interval of nine days, whilst the body still lay at Greenwich, and whilst Lady Jane Grey still upheld the hopes of the Protestant party. It proceeds to record, as with a deep pathetic earnestness, the time of his loss — not merely the year, and month, and day — but 8 o'clock, in the evening,' that memorable evening, of the sixth of July, when the cause of the Reformation seemed to flicker and die away with the life of the youthful Prince.

Note 1. When the vault was finally closed, it was determined to remove and properly relay the whole covering, by placing a corbel plate of three-inch Yorkshire stone on either side, the middle ends of which were supported by laying the iron tie-bar before alluded to across the grave. By this means the effective opening of the width of the grave was reduced, and the short stones of the old covering obtained a good support at their ends. And thus the ancient iron tie-bar of the monument was finally utilised.

Note 2. Although the plate had original been perfectly flat, it was now rolled up and forcibly contracted by the corrosion of the outer surface, which has expanded, while the inner surface, being much less corroded, has been contracted, and thereby the flat plate has assumed the appearance of a disproportioned cushion.

Note 3. On the coffin of his father at Windsor no inscription exists. By the time that his sisters mounted the throne, the title was slightly altered.

Note 4. It may be noted here that when the stone covering was removed at the back of the coffin, the skull of the King became visible. The cerecloth had fallen away, and showed that no hair was attached to the skull. —Compare the account of his last illness in Froude, vol. v. p. 512. 'Eruptions came out over his skin, and his hair fell off.