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dignity and impressiveness about them which not even their draggled features and faded, moth-eaten garments, laden with the dust of centuries, can efface. The reason of this is clear; they are really extraordinary works of art, masterpieces of a handicraft that is almost unknown at the present day.

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As historical portraits, too, the wax effigies have a fascination all their own. Not only are they wearing the very garments worn by their originals in life, but the wax faces were moulded in the cast that actually touched the royal features. As we turn from one figure to another of this curious assemblage, each life-like portrait in its stately clothes seems to speak to us from the

past with strange distinctness, and bring us suddenly into close communion with bygone centuries.'

The north door of the Abbey is at present (1890) undergoing restoration, the rose window having been renewed in what is believed to be its original aspect. A short distance from this stands the church of St. Margaret's, Westminster, dwarfed, indeed, by its huge neighbour, but serving at the same time as an admirable scale by means of which to gauge the great proportions of Westminster Abbey. St. Margaret's is the church of the House of Commons, and, except St. Paul's and the Abbey, is the oldest foundation in London, having been founded by the Confessor and dedicated to Margaret, the Martyr of Antioch. It was rebuilt in Edward the First's time, restored by Edward IV., and again in the unfortunate modern fashion in 1877-1878. Many important assemblies were held in this church during the Commonwealth; here Hugh Peters, Calamy, Owen, Baxter, Lightfoot, Burnet, Sprat, and and a host of other well-known men, have preached. The east window, a splendid specimen of Gouda work, was originally ordered by Henry VII. for his own chapel, but not finished in time. It was presented by Henry VIII. to Waltham Abbey, and after a series of adventures was purchased for St. Margaret's in 1758. Among those buried in the church are Milton's second wife, Katherine Woodcocke, James Harrington, and John Skelton. Memorial tablets have been put up to Sir Walter Raleigh, who was beheaded in Old Palace Yard and buried in the chancel, and to Caxton, who is buried in the churchyard. Memorial windows have also been erected recently to Sir Walter Raleigh, John Milton, Sir Thomas Erskine May, Lord and Lady Hatherley, and Lord Frederick Cavendish. A window in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee, with an inscription by Robert Browning, was erected in 1887.

London is not the seat of an archbishop, and therefore contains no Canterbury Cathedral or York Minster. But it does contain the residence of the Primate, Lambeth Palace, the building which for over six hundred years has been the London residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury. Situated on the south bank of the Thames, nearly opposite the Houses of Parliament, the cluster of towers and buildings comprising the Palace forms one of the most picturesque objects in London. An engraving of it stands at the head of this chapter. Four in the long succession of archbishops have been noted for their building propensities. The fine Early English Chapel was built by Archbishop Boniface about 1245. Like most buildings of its class, it has suffered much at the hands of foes and restorers, but is undoubtedly the most ancient structure of the group. It is 72 feet long and 25 broad, and is divided by an old oak screen erected by Laud. One archbishop only, Parker, who died in 1575, lies within its walls. the east end is a handsome old panelled room, known as Parlour,' which also communicates with the private apartments.

Adjoining

'Cranmer's The chapel

is entered through a chamber known as the Post Room, from the fact that an ancient wooden pillar occupies the centre. Legend asserts that Lollards were tied to this post and scourged. From this room is made, by a winding turret. stair, the ascent of the Lollards, or, as it should correctly be termed, the Water Tower, the work of the second great builder, Archbishop Chicheley, in 1434. It is the massive square tower at the eastern extremity of the river front. The staircase is made of rough logs, which are said to be those which Chicheley's builders placed there. The upper floor is wholly taken up with the so-called 'Lollards' Prison,' a room 13 feet long, 12 broad, and 8 high. Rough massive boards line the apartment, and upon them are cut a few inscriptions, among them being Cranmer's motto, Nosce te ipsum-Know thyself,' and another uttering the useful prayer, I.H.S. cyppe me out of all el compane. Amen.' The room is lighted by two small windows, and it contains a fireplace. Large rings fastened in the walls are supposed to have been used to chain up the prisoners. Although the Lollards' Tower of Foxe was, as we have shown, at St. Paul's, there can be no doubt that many victims of ecclesiastical persecution have here suffered.

by a lantern, is of

The large and handsome gate-house at the western end of the river front is the work of Cardinal Morton, about 1490. The fine old hall with the lantern roof, to the east of the gate-house, stands on the site of the ancient hall which was destroyed during the Commonwealth. It is the work of Archbishop Juxon, the prelate who stood by the side of Charles I. on the scaffold, who shared the exile of Charles II., and who had the somewhat rare distinction of being favourably remembered by that unworthy monarch in the days of his prosperity. Upon the accession of Charles II. Juxon was made Primate, and immediately set about the building of this hall. It is It is 93 feet long, 38 wide, and 50 high. The roof, lighted in the centre oak, and into one of the windows has been collected a few of the remaining fragments of ancient glass. The library, which it now contains, was founded by Archbishop Bancroft in 1610, and has been enriched by successive benefactions. It contains some superb MSS., notably the Gospels of MacDurnan, about 900 A.D., an Apocalypse of the tenth century, a St. Alban's Chronicle of the fifteenth, and a MS. relating to the rights and privileges of the clergy, done by command of Laud in 1637. Among the printed treasures are a New Testament on vellum, belonging to the first book ever printed with movable type, viz., the Gutenberg Bible, a magnificent perfect copy of The Chronicles of Great Britain, printed by Caxton in 1480, and a Golden Legend by Wynkyn de Worde. As might be expected, the collection is rich in works on Divinity, and on matters connected with the Anglican Church. There are about 30,000 books, 2,000 MSS., and an invaluable series in 41 volumes of the Registers of the official acts of the archbishops from 1274 to 1744.

In the room known as the Guard Chamber, remarkable for a fine old

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