At the east
end of the north aisle of the choir is a plain flag, bearing the words--
King Edward IIII. And his Queen Elizabeth Widville
The coat of mail and surcoat, decorated with rubies and precious
stones, together with other rich trophies once ornamenting this tomb,
were carried off by the Parliamentary plunderers. Edward's queen,
Elizabeth Woodville, it was thought, slept beside him; but when the
royal tomb was opened in 1789, and the two coffins within it examined,
the smaller one was found empty. The queen's body was subsequently
discovered in a stone coffin by the workmen employed in excavating
the vault for George the Third. Edward's coffin was seven feet long,
and contained a perfect skeleton. On the opposite aisle, near the
choir door, as already mentioned, rests the ill-fated Henry the Sixth,
beneath an arch sumptuously embellished by Henry the Eighth, on the
key-stone of which may still be seen his arms, supported by two
antelopes connected by a golden chain. Henry's body was removed
from Chertsey, where it was first interred, and reburied in 1484, with
much solemnity, in this spot. Such was the opinion entertained of his
sanctity that miracles were supposed to be wrought upon his tomb, and
Henry the Seventh applied to have him canonised, but the demands of
the Pope were too exorbitant.
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