Pastyme With Good Companye

Post details: Catherine of Valois - Kissing A Dead Body

02/29/08

04:11:30 pm, by

, 159 words

Categories: Kings And Queens, British History

Catherine of Valois - Kissing A Dead Body

Catherine of Valois

Henry V's queen Catherine of Valois died in 1437. Her grandson King Henry VII made major alterations to Westminster Abbey, which involved moving her embalmed body.

She was placed in a crude coffin constructed of flimsy boards, and was left above ground. Ew.

Marriage of Henry V and Catherine of Valois

Catherine remained a public spectacle in the Abbey for over 200 years!!!

Vergers used to charge a shilling to take off the coffin's lid so curious visitors could view her corpse for themselves. However, seeing was not enough for some of the guests to Westminster, one Samuel Pepys, who went to the Abbey on his 36th birthday did more than just look.

Portrait of Samuel Pepys by J. Hayls. Oil on canvas, 1666.

"I had the upper part of her body in my hands, and I did kiss her mouth, reflecting upon that I did first kiss a Queene."

Catherine's body was finally removed from public display in 1776.......

Permalink 4 comments

Comments:

Comment from: Andy [Visitor]

· http://spicycauldron.com

Euuuurgh! So the famous diarist indulged in quick spot of necrophilia eh? Double euuurgh! x

Permalink 03/06/08 @ 02:31

Comment from: Admin [Member]

· http://www.doubledeckerbuses.org/pastyme/

Andy -> Yep Pepys was creepy, but thank goodness for his prolific writing!

Permalink 03/06/08 @ 09:05

Comment from: Alison [Visitor]

· http://beloved-eleanor.co.uk/blog

Eww! Bad Samuel! I wonder if she's in the tomb I'm thinking of, which is above where the St Edward the Confessor tomb is and now closed to the public?

Oh well, must be better than where she was poor woman :D

Permalink 03/06/08 @ 18:33

Comment from: Admin [Member]

· http://www.doubledeckerbuses.org/pastyme/

Alison -> Thanks for stopping by! Apparently she was moved in 1878 to a position under the altar in Henry V's chantry. According to online sources you can still see her painted wooden funeral effigy on display at the museum at Westminster Abbey.

Permalink 03/08/08 @ 19:38

Welcome to the blog of amateur historians Matthew James Didier and Sue Darroch. Partners in life and in crime, we endeavor to entertain you with snippets from our combined historical research. Past time with good company indeed, as we shall introduce you to Kings and Knaves, Queens and Mistresses, Cons and Heroes, from our collective past......from events well known to those perhaps all but forgotten, we will do our best to bring you interesting historical factoids from around the globe. It is our belief that through understanding our past we will all gain a better perspective on our future.