Soon shall the warrior's blood stain'd laurels fade, E'en learning's self, if void of virtuous aim, In the year 1819, the Rev. Dr. Auriel Hay Drummond, the rector of Hadleigh, set on foot a subscription in order to erect a more adequate monument. On the cenotaph supporting a pyramid of which this monument consists, and which rises at the foot of the old stone, is the following inscription: MARK this rude stone where Taylor dauntless stood, Like holy Stephen's, seek the opening skies: Views Truth dawn clear on England's bigot night. WESTHORPE HALL. The magnificent Hall at Westhorpe,-now numbered with the things that were-was for many years the residence of two most important personages in English history-Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and Mary, his wife, (who was the Dowager Queen of France, and sister of the destroyer of English Monasteries, Henry VIII.) Most probably there does not now exist a relic of this celebrated mansion-once the home of domestic peace-the abiding place of one of the few favorites of the cruel monarchand where was born Frances, his daughter, who marrying Henry Grey, afterwards Duke of Suffolk, became the mother of the learned, beautiful, and unfortunate Lady Jane Grey. The union of Charles Brandon, with the Princess Mary, presents in its progress, some of the most romantic features of a romantic age. He was the son and heir of Sir William Brandon, of Brandon, in this county, who bore a standard in the train of the Earl of Richmond, at the bloody battle of Bosworth. Being of a lively, ardent, and brave disposition-of great bodily strength and superior in knightly accomplishments, he soon gained the notice of young King Henry-obtained his friendship --and what is more extraordinary, although committing treason against the Kingly dignity of his Sovereign in espousing his sister, obtained a pardon, and kept the good will of the Monarch to his death. While at court, the sister of Henry, made an impression upon his heart. Their affection for each other was not suffered to ripen into an union, until the passion of both, had been destined to undergo severe penance and mortification. She in the bloom of her youth-the victim of state policy-was married to Louis XII of France, and doomed to suffer the pangs of being united to a man, for whom, it is believed, she felt no affection, while the true friend of her heart remained a widower, and a sojourner in, to her a foreign, although her native land. Louis, did not long survive his union with the English princess, and the hand of Mary, now Dowager Queen of France, was again free. She yet possessed her beauty-her grace-and all those accomplishments which won the heart of the English nobleman. On the demise of the French King, Henry is said to have become suddenly changed in his friendly demeanour towards Suffolk. From being kind he became distant and reserved -the ear of Brandon was no longer the depository of the monarch's secrets, and he occasionally treated him with a cruel hauteur, which contrasted strongly with his previous freedom and smiling good humour. Doubtless he foresaw the probable termination of matters as they now stood, namely, the marriage of his favorite with his sister, and his anger was roused against the parties in consequence. Strangely opposite, however, to his usual conduct, where a feeling of personal offence had taken possession of his mind, was his behaviour in this respect, for instead of taking due care that Suffolk, and the object of his love were kept asunder, he sent him, after a time, to the court of the widowed Queen, with letters of condolence on her late bereavement. The end might be guessed. The Queen and Suffolk no sooner gazed on each other than old times revived in their minds. They looked and loved. They found the flame of affection, which had so youthfully burned in their hearts again lighted up. Throwing aside all obstacles, and determining upon braving the stormy temper of Henry, and trusting to each other for support under their difficulties-they married. The union took place in 1514. It may well be supposed that the wrath of Henry, upon learning the real circumstances which had taken place, was of no mild nature. No doubt he perceived by this marriage, the line of succession to the throne in his own children, might be endangered, and therefore it was but natural, the connection of Brandon with Mary, should cause him much uneasiness. Indeed, as it has been incidently mentioned, this marriage did lead to an attempt to put aside the claims of Queen Mary, Henry VIII's daughter, by the claim of Lady Jane Grey, who was the granddaughter of Brandon and Mary, by their daughter Frances. At Westhorpe Hall, the Duke of Suffolk and his spouse, upon their return to England, resided many years. Their home was the temple of true affection, and although their course was neither unmarked by sorrow nor disappointment,—for where meanders the stream of life unchecked in its flow by shallows or torrents-their existence was yet to be envied. He was chivalrous, brave, and robust-she, the most beautiful creature of her time-learned in the elegant knowledge of the age and redolent of the most royal accomplishments. They had issue three children; Henry, created Earl of Lincoln; Frances, the mother of Lady Jane Grey, and Eleanor, who married Henry, Earl of Cumberland. The Hall of Westhorpe was of large dimensions, and had attached, a chapel with cloisters, in which existed a fine window of stained glass. The gardens, of large extent, were kept in the style of the continental pleasure grounds,the princess having imbibed a taste for the quaint conceits of the French mode of gardening by her short sojourn in France. The whole building is however removed. Martin, the historian of Thetford, gives us the last notice of its expiring existence in a note penned upon a casual visit to the place, and which while it breathes a melancholy farewell to the once renowned mansion, expresses a natural wonder, that such fine ornaments of the land, should be broken up and destroyed for ever, and without a cause. He says "I went to see the dismal ruins of Westhorpe Hall, formerly the seat of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. The workmen are now pulling it down as fast as may be, in a very careless and injudicious manner. The coping bricks, battlements, and many other ornamental pieces, are made of earth, and burnt hard, and as fresh as when first built. They might, with care, have been 'taken down whole, but all the fine chimnies and ornaments were pulled down with ropes, and crushed to pieces, in a most shameful manner. There was a monstrous figure of Hercules sitting cross legged with his club, and a lion beside him, but all shattered to pieces. The painted glass is likely to share the same fate. The timber is fresh and sound, and the building, which was very lofty, stood as erect as when first built. It is a pity that care is not taken to preserve some few of our ancient fabrics. To demolish every piece of old architecture is quite barbarous." The princess Mary died at Westhorpe, A. D. 1533, and was buried in the Church of the Monastery of Bury St. Edmunds. Her remains, in consequence of the destruction of the establishment were removed to St. Mary's Church, where they were suffered to repose without any inscription to mark the last resting place of one who in her time had sat upon a throne and shared the honours of a monarch. In the year 1731, the grave within which the remains of Mary Tudor were deposited was opened. A covering or coffin of lead was found, inclosing all that was mortal of the princess. On the breast was found the line "Mary, Queen of France, 1533." No memorial however was erected to her memory until upwards of twenty years afterwards, when Dr. Symonds, caused a small tablet to be set up at his own expence recording the following particulars :— SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MARY TUDOR THIRD DAUGHTER OF HENRY VII OF ENGLAND WHO WAS MARRIED, IN 1514, To AT THE MANOR OF WESTHORPE, IN THIS COUNTY; AND WAS INTERRED IN THE SAME YEAR IN THE AND WAS REMOVED INTO THIS CHURCH AFTER THE DISSOLUTION OF THE ABBEY. |