harm: the image of the King likewise, I suppose, formerly lay here upon the ground, now elevated upon a tomb, in the choir as aforesaid." Gough in his Sepulchral Monuments, (Part i.a) seems also to agree with this notion, since, in his description of John's Tomb, he says, "The royal body is supposed to lie under Lady-chapel, in a stone vault, in a strong chest, in which, upon opening, was found a leaden coffin, but without any marks or inscription. The tomb aboveground being also opened was found quite empty. The Annals of Worcester, published by Mr. Wharton, expressly say, he was buried coram magna altari inter. SS. Oswaldum et Wulstanum. The then choir was afterwards converted into the Lady-chapel; and when the high-altar was placed where the communion-table now stands, and the floor of the new choir had gained a considerable elevation by a subterraneous vault made underneath, the King's Tomb, now hidden from view, was taken down and erected before the new high-altar, as it had formerly stood between the sepulchres of the two Bishops. From this relation, as well as from Green's history, it seems that the bodies of the Saints Oswald and Wulstan, were not more stationary in their monuments than that of King John; as they were also translated from their original burial-places into portable shrines for the purpose of carrying in ceremonial processions. It is supposed, that at last these shrines were fixed in the side-aisles of the Lady-chapel, and that their tombs which lay before the altar in the middle one, were left undestroyed, but vacant. great degree of sanctity was, however, attached to both of these resting-places, and, upon the destruction of those shrines, a part of the devotion, formerly paid to the Saints, was transferred to the tombs of two Bishops which stood near them."

A

Mr. Greenb continues to observe, that the body of King John is, in reality, supposed to be deposited in a deep sepulchral vault in St. Mary's Chapel, between two gravestones, which bear the effigies of ancient Bishops. The vault, he relates, was of stone, and contained a strong chest,

a London, 1786, fol. page 37.
b History of Worcester, pages 70-74.

in which was a leaden coffin, as already described in the extract from Gough; and if within this "be not the body of the King," adds the historian, "we must be content with an absolute ignorance of the place where it lies."

Although it would appear that these different tombs have been opened, yet the question was not perfectly decided until the present Cenotaph was searched in 1797, when there was found sufficient evidence that the King's body lay within it; and previous to giving some notices of this celebrated examination, it will not be improper to state a few particulars of the former ones. In Mr. Green's work is the copy of a MS. note inserted in Dr. Thomas's Survey of Worcester Cathedral, which states that on July 24th, 1754, the sepulchre of John was found within the modern monument: that it was made of purbeck marble, painted of a vermillion colour, ornamented with gold lions: that this sarcophagus was covered with wood, over which were laid some flat sandstones; and that the spaces were filled with rubbish. The other grave in St. Mary's vault, has also been repeatedly opened; and the coffin each time ascertained to be there. The subject of King John's burial having been again brought forward in the Gentleman's Magazine for October, 1819, pages 307-310; after quoting from Chambers' History of Worcester, a notice is there given from the memoranda of a Mr. Jeal, Sexton of the Cathedral, concerning another examination beneath the stone at the East end of the Church. It relates that, on Tuesday, November 26th, 1793, in the presence of the Dean and some others, the stone was removed, when they discovered several bones placed in the fragment of a stone coffin, but without any appearance of either lead or wood. They also searched into one of the side graves, on which is laid an episcopal effigy, and made a similar discovery; and, from the circumstances of the centre coffin being broken, and the other being covered only by the effigy, Mr. Jeal supposed that the figure of King John, now in the choir, was once placed over the mutilated coffin in the same

manner.

Thus it was that doubt upon the subject continued to prevail, when, at a repair of the Cathedral, Mr. Green sug

gested the opening of the present Cenotaph, to ascertain, if possible, whether the royal remains might not at last be there. Accordingly on Monday, the 17th of July, 1797, the tomb was opened, and a stone coffin was found within containing a skeleton, whose scull was detached and lying in a different position to the body. Some of the teeth and anatomical details were in good preservation, but, notwithstanding the remains had been embalmed by Thomas de Wodestoke, Abbot of Croxton, there were evident marks of putrefaction. This ecclesiastic was the physician of King John, and preserved his heart and bowels at Croxton Abbey in the County of Stafford.

The dress discovered upon the body, was similar to that upon the effigy on the exterior; excepting that there were no gloves upon the hands, and that, instead of a crown, a monk's cowl, used by the King's desire as a preservative against evil spirits, was found upon his head. This fitted very exactly, but the buckles or clasps of the straps were gone, having probably been of some precious material, and were most likely removed during the Civil Wars. The body was clothed in a long robe, which seemed to have been of crimson damask of a peculiarly strong texture, and some of its embroidery remained near the right knee; the whole object was then, however, of a dusky brown. The legs were covered with an ornamented close dress tied at the ankles, whilst the bones of the feet were visible through the decayed parts of the drapery, of which no account could state the material with certainty. The left hand, as in the stone effigy, once held a sword, but it was then greatly mutilated and scattered down the same side of the body. The whole length of these remains measured five feet six inches and a half.

The coffin found within the tomb was of the plain white Higley stone of Worcestershire, and was broken by a considerable fracture which appeared to cross it obliquely. It was discovered laid upon the choir pavement, without being let into it, and its original lid is the stone on which the King's effigy is carved, that fitting it exactly in every part. The tomb remained open but a very short period, for so great was the impatience of the multitude to view its con

tents, that it was found prudent to close them up on the following day. Notwithstanding this discovery of the royal body, Mr. Green still held his own conjectures about its original place of burial; he however published a particular account of this examination, with a plate representing the appearance of the corse, a copy of which is inserted beneath. Statements by other hands have also been printed in the Gentleman's Magazine, for 1797, Part ii. and in the Supplement to Dr. Nash's History of Worcestershire, Vol. ii. page 88.