A Short Account of King's College Chapel Part 5

Froude, in his _History of England_ (I. 51), says of our ancestors: "They cannot come to us, and our imaginations can but feebly penetrate to them. Only among the aisles of the cathedrals, only as we gaze upon their silent figures sleeping on their tombs, some faint conceptions float before us of what these men were when they were alive."

There are four _Sepulchral Bra.s.ses_ on the floor of the chantries. The earliest one is that of Dr. William Towne, who is buried in the second chantry from the east, to which I have already referred as being the first roofed in. He is represented in academical costume; and on his hands hangs a scroll with the following words: "Farewell to glory, to reputation in learning, to praise, to the arts, to all the vanity of this world. G.o.d is my only hope."[16] Under his feet is the inscription: "Pray for the soul of Master William Towne, Doctor of Divinity, once a Fellow of this College, who died on the eleventh day of March, 1494.

Whose soul G.o.d pardon. Amen." The words "Pray for the soul" and "Whose soul G.o.d pardon. Amen," have been partially effaced.[17]

The most ancient bra.s.s after Dr. Towne's is that of Dr. Argentine, who is buried in the vestry on the south side nearest to the east. His figure is placed, according to his last desire, on the tombstone in his doctoral robes, with his hands elevated towards the upper part of the stone, where there was formerly placed a Crucifix. From his mouth proceed these words: "O Christ, Son of G.o.d and the Virgin, crucified Lord, Redeemer of mankind, remember me." Below his feet are the words: "This stone buries the body of John Argentine, Master of Arts, Physician, Preacher of the Gospel; Pa.s.senger, remember, thou art mortal; pray in an humble posture, that my soul may live in Christ, in a state of immortality." On a fillet round the tombstone the following words are engraved: "Pray for the soul of John Argentine, Master of Arts, Doctor of Physick and Divinity, and Provost of this College, who died February 2, 1507. May G.o.d have mercy on his soul. Amen."[18]

The next is that of Robert Hac.u.mblen, in the second chantry from the west on the same side. He is represented in ecclesiastical costume in processional vestments. On a label proceeding from his mouth is inscribed the following line: "O Christ, be thy wounds my pleasing remedy." This applies to a shield in the sinister corner of the stone, which represents the five wounds of Christ. The shield in the dexter corner is missing. It probably contained his coat of arms, which were: vert, a cross saltire argent between four lilies of the second. On the fillet, which on all sides surrounds the stone, are the words:

"O Lord, judge me not according to my actions.

I have done nothing worthy in Thy sight.

Therefore I beseech Thy majesty, That Thou, O G.o.d, wouldst blot out my iniquity.

Have mercy, Jesu."

At the corners are the evangelistic emblems. The inscription that was under his feet has been taken away. It may be that it contained the words "Pray for the soul," etc.

The fourth bra.s.s is in the next chantry toward the east, and is that of Robert Bra.s.sie. He is also in ecclesiastical costume in processional vestments, without the cope exposing the almuce. The label that proceeded from his mouth is missing. At his feet are the following words: "Here lies Robert Bra.s.sie, Doctor of Divinity, formerly Provost of this College, who departed this life November 10, A.D. 1558."

On the walls of the Ante-chapel there are several _Memorial Bra.s.ses_.

The oldest is a diamond-shaped one, on the left of the south porch, to the memory of John Stokys, Public Orator, who died 17th July, 1559. That of a similar shape on the right is a repousse tablet in copper, and is to the memory of J. K. Stephen, Fellow, who died February, 1892. In the last bay is one to Richard Okes, Doctor in Theology, who was Provost of the College from 1850 to 1888.

On the north wall there are seven tablets. Taking them in order of death, the first is to Roland Williams, S.T.P., Fellow, who died 15th February, 1870. Then Henry Bradshaw, M.A., Fellow, University Librarian, died 15th February, 1886; William Johnson (afterwards Cory), M.A., Fellow, and for many years a Master at Eton, died 1892; Charles Vickery Hawkins, Scholar, died 6th August, 1894; John Henry Middleton, M.A., Professorial Fellow, Slade Professor, died 1896; Arthur Thomas Reid, Scholar, who met his death in climbing a mountain near Bangor, North Wales, September, 1907; Frederick Whitting, M.A., Senior Fellow, who was for 24 years Bursar and 20 years Vice-Provost, died suddenly in London, 1st January, 1911. Other tablets in the chantries commemorate various members of the College.

FOOTNOTES:

[16] In all cases I have refrained from using the Latin, and have contented myself with giving the English translation.

[17] The words "Pray for the soul," or "May whose soul G.o.d pardon," were sufficient excuse for fanatics such as Dowsing to destroy or deface the beautiful bra.s.ses in various parts of the kingdom. But the fanatics were not alone to blame; for it is well known that churchwardens and even inc.u.mbents of our churches have in many cases taken up and sold the bra.s.ses to satisfy some whim of their own in what they called "restoration" of the edifice over which they had charge.

[18] It may appear to my readers somewhat strange that in this case the words "Pray for the soul" and "May G.o.d have mercy, &c." are intact.

Until 1898 this chantry had a boarded floor above the slab, the fillet round not being visible. The figure itself with label was affixed to a board and placed in the vestry for those who cared to inspect it. When the floor was removed the Bra.s.s was placed in its proper place on the slab and the whole inscription could then be seen. There are the matrixes of four coats of arms. Probably they were King's, Eton, the University, and Argentine's own coat, which was gules, three covered cups argent. At the upper corners of the fillet are the evangelistic emblems of St. Matthew and St. John, while those of St. Mark and St.

Luke, which were evidently at the bottom, have been taken away.

Conclusion

LIKE human beings, the chapel has received well-merited praise from many, while some have used their knowledge (or want of it) to criticise.

Fuller speaks of it "as one of the rarest fabricks in Christendom, wherein the stonework, woodwork, and gla.s.swork contend which shall deserve most admiration." To quote Carter again: "It is ent.i.tled to be ranked with the finest buildings of the world," although he further goes on to say: "The exterior aspect is perhaps justly open to some criticism, but it has received unqualified abuse at the hands of some writers." Ruskin was very severe, comparing it to a billiard table, turned upside down, the four corner turrets being the four legs; but he afterwards, it is said, retracted. The late Rev. Augustus Austen Leigh, Provost of the College from 1888 to 1905, in writing a history of the College, says: "Like other really great works, King's Chapel produces an impression which is instantaneous, and at the same time permanent. It does not disarm criticism, but it compels admiration. And if anyone is inclined to criticise, let him look at the exterior on a moonlight night from the south side of the Quadrangle, or from the top of Trinity Street, or let him take his stand within the ante-chapel at the northwest corner on a bright summer's day, and cast his eye along the coloured gla.s.s and stone vaulting till he catches a part of the east window rising above the stately rood-loft; and if he does not feel that there is an inspiration in the building which is above criticism, he must be a man that hath no music in himself."

I cannot end this brief sketch better than by quoting Wordsworth's two famous sonnets on King's College Chapel:--

"Tax not the Royal Saint with vain expense, With ill-matched aims the Architect who planned-- Albeit labouring for a scanty band Of white-robed Scholars only--this immense And glorious work of fine intelligence!

Give all thou canst; high Heaven rejects the lore Of nicely-calculated less or more; So deemed the man who fashioned for the sense These lofty pillars, spread that branching roof Self-poised, and scooped into ten thousand cells, Where light and shade repose, where music dwells Lingering--and wandering on as loth to die; Like thoughts whose very sweetness yieldeth proof That they were born for immortality.

What awful perspective! while from our sight With gradual stealth the lateral windows hide Their portraitures, their stone-work glimmers, dyed In the soft chequerings of a sleepy light.

Martyr, or King, or sainted Eremite, Whoe'er ye be, that thus, yourselves unseen, Imbue your prison-bars with solemn sheen, Shine on, until ye fade, with coming night.

But from the arms of silence--list! O list!

The music bursteth into second life; The notes luxuriate, every stone is kissed By sound, or ghost of sound, in mazy strife; Heart-thrilling strains, that cast, before the eye Of the devout, a veil of ecstasy!