Nevertheless, Bennoch was determined to get in, and he wished me to send
Lady Webster my card with his own; but this I utterly refused, for the
honor of America and for my own honor; because I will not do anything to
increase the reputation we already have as a very forward people.
Bennoch, however, called at a bookshop on the other side of the street,
near the gateway of the castle; and making friends, as he has a
marvellous tact in doing, with the bookseller, the latter offered to take
in his card to the housekeeper, and see if Lady Webster would not relax
her rule in our favor. Meanwhile, we went into the old church of Battle,
which was built in Norman times, though subsequently to the Abbey. As we
entered the church door, the bell rang for joy at the news of peace,
which had just been announced by the London papers.
The church has been whitewashed in modern times, and does not look so
venerable as it ought, with its arches and pillared aisles. In the
chancel stands a marble tomb, heavy, rich, and elaborate, on the top of
which lie the broken-nosed statues of Sir Anthony Browne and his lady,
who were the Lord and Lady of Battle Abbey in Henry VIII.'s time. The
knight is in armor, and the lady in stately garb, and (save for their
broken noses) they are in excellent preservation. The pavement of the
chancel and aisles is all laid with tombstones, and on two or three of
these there were engraved brasses, representing knights in armor, and
churchmen, with inscriptions in Latin.
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