By the Rev. J. Ward. 



287 



leaden coffin was of a curious form, not unusual at that period, and 



took the shape of his body, having the head moulded to his features. 



It was six feet six inches long, and sixteen inches wide across the 



shoulders. The breast part had been moulded into the shape of a 



coffin plate, fourteen inches long by ten inches and a half wide, 



and had this inscription in raised letters : — 



"The Lord Henary Beauchampe deyed the 14 th day of March 1653, aged 27." 



The Parish Register thus records the burial: — 



" In the yeare of our Lord 1654 The right honerall lord henry Bechum who 

 died at Tilsy, was buryed hear the 30 th of March." 



In this case it was observed that upon the inscription had been 

 laid a bunch of rosemary and other flowers, the stems and seeds of 

 which preserved their form. 



Lord Henry Beauchamp's youthful son, who became third Duke 

 of Somerset and died at the early age of 19, lay alongside. Rich 

 crimson velvet had lined his coffin, and the brass plate bore the 

 following : — 



" Depositum Nobilissimi and Illustrissimi Principis Grulielmi Somersett' 

 Ducis, Hertfordioe Marchionis et Comitis, Vicecomitis Beauchamp, Baronis de 

 S ct0 Mauro, qui obiit. .XII. . . Die Decembris Anno Domini MDCLXXI, JEtatis 

 suae XIX." " 1671 Will. Lord Duke of Somerset was buried December 20 th ." 

 (Parish Register.) 



In 1612, Edward Lord Beauchamp ; 1637 Lady Arabella Sey- 

 mour; 1 1658 Lady Katharine Wincheuse; 2 1678 Francis Duke of 

 Somerset; 1699 Frances Lady Downes, 3 among other noble per- 

 sonages, obtained their last resting places in this chancel. 



All the leaden coffins, which were met with, were carefully de- 

 posited in Lord Ailesbury's new vault, in graves immediately 



1 The second Duke named this his first daughter, by Lady Frances Devereux, 

 after his early love and stolen bride, Lady Arabella Stuart, by whom he had no 

 children. 



2 This should have been Lady Katharine Finch, daughter of Heneage Earl of 

 Winchelsea, by Lady Mary Seymour, daughter of the second Duke of Somerset 

 by Lady Frances Devereux. 



3 Frances, daughter of Sir Francis Seymour afterwards first Lord Sey- 

 mour of Trowbridge. She married Sir William Ducie of Tortworth, Co. 

 Gloucester, (created Viscount Down in Ireland,) became a widow in 1697 and 

 died without issue in 1699. 



