1904.] on Westminster Abbey in the Seventeenth Century. 631 



Abbey that goes back to the Confessors period ; while beneath the 

 floor may be laid in this most venerable sjDot the remains of our 

 greatest countrymen in the century that is before us, and the walls 

 may hold memorials on a modest scale, such as in recent years have 

 been filling the few spaces left in the main part of the church. 



I dare not speak of this as a scheme, but only as a dream. 

 Yet I see in it a possible solution of the problem that has baffled 

 us heretofore — how to maintain the splendid tradition of Abbey 

 burials, which otherwise will soon become merely a glory of the past. 

 Elaborate projects of new building have been devised, only to be set 

 aside as outrageous or impracticable. This is a possibility, worthy 

 at least of a thought, before we resign ourselves to despair. It would 

 involve a minimum of disturbance, and would reopen to public view 

 our most ancient chamber ; while in time to come an extension of the 

 scheme might include what is called the Chapel of St. Dunstan and 

 the ground now occupied by the gymnasium, if the interests of the 

 School were duly provided for elsewhere. 



I have put forward this suggestion quite tentatively and without 

 any intention of pressing it. I only say that it is worth consideration 

 and that the difficulties connected with it would not be insurmount- 

 able, if the idea should commend itself to the public mind and should 

 (•btain the sanction of the highest authorities. 



Quite apart from any such suggestion for the future, I would ven- 

 ture to express a hope that the time has come when, with the general 

 approbation of Englishmen, this little chapel may be restored to the 

 custody of the authorities of the Abbey, and used as in ancient days 

 for sacred purposes. A special interest would thus attach to it, as 

 being the only portion of St. Kdward's building which is still capable 

 of being used for Divine service. And arrangements could be made 

 by which reasonable opportunities for viewing it could be given at 

 other times. 



There is no reason for supposing that the King, in making use of 

 this portion of the long vaulted chamber or chapel for the keeping of 

 his treasures, intended to alienate the fabric from the Abbot and 

 Convent to whom his predecessors had granted it. Had he chosen to 

 keep his treasures elsewhere the chapel would have returned natur- 

 ally to its former use. 



After the second expulsion of the monks the whole property of 

 the Abbey vested in Queen Elizabeth ; and she of her Royal bounty 

 granted the whole of it to the Dean and Chapter of her new founda- 

 tion. This is shown by the words of her grant, which not only 

 gives the whole site, but in express words ' all the chapels ' {omnes 

 capellas). 



It would seem to be reasonable that if the State no longer requires 

 this chapel for the purposes of a Treasury, it should revert to its 

 ancient use. 



