22O MARGARET BEAUFORT AND WIMBORNE MINSTER. 



son, became Duke of Somerset, and married Margaret, widow 

 of Sir Oliver St. John, only daughter of John Lord Beauchamp 

 of Bletshoe Manor, Bedfordshire, and the issue of their union 

 was an only daughter, Margaret Beaufort, who was born in 

 1441. Her father, the Duke of Somerset, died on zyth May, 

 1444, at the age of 39, and his title passed to his next 

 brother ; and his daughter, not quite three years old, became 

 sole heiress to her parents' vast estates. The Duke of Somerset 

 was buried at Wimborne Minster, and it is supposed he was at 

 the time living at Kingston Lacy, near Wimborne, which came 

 to him through his ancestor John of Gaunt. The tomb was 

 erected by Margaret Beaufort at the end of the i5th century, 

 probably about the year 1498, or 54 years after her father's 

 death. 



On the top of the tomb are the life-sized effigies of John, 

 Duke of Somerset, and his wife Lady Margaret, beautifully 

 carved in alabaster. 



The tomb is a fine example of the best artistic work of the 

 period in which it was erected, and it is remarkable for the 

 wonderful amount of detail it contains, and is a lasting testi- 

 mony of the skill and ability of the illustrious lady who erected 

 it. The tomb is in a wonderfully good state of preservation, 

 considering the conspicuous position it occupies. The greatest 

 care must have been taken in selecting the materials of which it 

 is made, as it would be exceedingly difficult at the present day to 

 procure slabs of Purbeck marble of. such excellent quality and 

 size. 



The tomb is placed in the centre of the eastern arch between 

 the .chancel and the south chancel aisle. The base is orna- 

 mented with quatrefoil and small niches, and the sides are 

 divided into panels filled with delicate tracery, and in the centre 

 of each panel is a shield ; those on the south side were probably 

 covered with brass plates, which have unfortunately disappeared. 

 The Duke is clad in armour, every detail of which is most care- 

 fully worked out. The helmet is surrounded with a coronet, and 

 had a motto inscribed in front, a few letters of which are still 



