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Ecclesiastical: Alban

The shrine of the protomartyr at St. Alban's Abbey, although by no means so rich as the one raised by kingly munificence, was a splendid monument of the pious zeal of Symon, the nineteenth abbot, at the commencement of the twelfth century. His whole time, we are told, seems to have been spent in obtaining gold, silver, and precious stones, to adorn the shrine of the saint. This was in form somewhat resembling an altar-tomb, but rising, with a lofty canopy over it supported on pillars, and was intended to represent the saint lying in great state. The inside contained a coffin enclosing his bones, and this was inserted in another case which on the two sides was overlaid with figures cast in gold and silver, showing the chief acts of Alban's life, in raised and embossed work. At the head was placed a huge crucifixion, with a figure of Mary on one side, and St. John on the other, ornamented with a row of very splendid jewels. At the feet was an image of the Virgin, holding her Son to her bosom, seated on a throne; the work of gold, highly embossed, and enriched with precious stones, and very costly bracelets. The four pillars which supported the canopy were shaped like towers, and all of plate gold, supporting a canopy, the inside of which was covered with crystal stones. Abbot Symon also dedicated to the church "a very large cup of gold," says Matthew Paris, "than which there was none more noble or beautiful in all England. It was made of the purest gold by that renowned goldsmith, Master Baldwin, adorned with flowers and foliages of the most delicate workmanship, and set round with precious stones in the most elegant manner." Besides this, he gave a vessel to contain the eucharist "of the finest gold enriched with precious stones of inestimable value."