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By WALTER J. FLETCHER. 



(Read Dec. 13th, 1906.) 



HE beautiful altar tomb in the chancel of Wim- 

 borne Minster was erected by the illustrious 

 Margaret Beaufort, to the memory of her 

 father and mother, the Earl and Countess of 

 Somerset. 



Her grandfather, John de Beaufort, after- 

 wards Earl of Somerset, was the eldest son of 

 John of Gaunt and Catherine Swynford ; he 

 was born in the Castle of Beaufort in Anjou, 

 and in common with the other children of 

 this union was surnamed de Beaufort from his place of birth, 

 but they all bore for their arms a portcullis. He was created 

 Earl of Somerset during his father's life time, and he died 

 in 1410, leaving four sons and two daughters; Henry, the 

 eldest of the sons, died in his minority, and John, the second 



