Cemetery: St. Patrick's Cathedral & Earl Of Cork'S Monument *********************************************** Ireland Genealogy Projects Archives Dublin Index Copyright ************************************************ File contributed by: C. Hunt & Mary Bradley ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL Mason's description of the monument erected by Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork, to the memory of his second wife, Catherine, only daughter of Sir Geoffery Fenton, principal Secretary of State for Ireland. 'The upper stage of this monument is appropriated to Robert Weston, Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, whose effigy is placed under an arch, in a recumbent posture, arrayed in his Chancellor's robes. Two slabs of black marble are placed under him, separated by a small coat of arms. On them is inscribed as follows: - Here lyeth interred the body of that reverend, honorable, Gentleman, Robert Weston, Esq., Doctor of the civil and cannon lawes, grand-father to the Ladie Katherine Countess of Corke, being sometimes one of the Lords of Justices of Ireland, and for six years, Chancellor of this Realm. Who was so learned, judicious and upright in the course of judicature, as, in all the time of that employment, he never made order or decree that was questioned or reversed; he changed his mortall for an eternall life, the 20 of May 1575; whose honorable memorie no time shall extinguish. 'Lower down are two arches, where the statues of Sir Geoffry and Lady Fenton, each in a praying posture, and dressed in robes of state. Above them are two marble slabs, separated by cherubim and bearing the following inscriptions': - Here lieth intombed the body of the twice honorable Sir Geoffray Fenton, Kt, Secretary and Privy Councellor to Queen Elizabeth and King James, of blessed memory, for the affairs of Ireland, and which imployment he preformed with great justice; he was father to the Ladie Katherine, Countess of Corke, and departed this life the 24 of October, 1608; whose workes and virtues will never die. In memorie of the honorable and virtuous ladie, the Ladie Alice Fenton, wife of Sir Geoffray Fenton, and Mother to the Ladie Katherine, Countess of Corke, whose religious and charitable courteous life was an example to her sex. She decessed the 20 May 1631, but will ever live in the happy remembrance of all posterity. 'In the next stage of this monument are placed, recumbent on a table of black marble, the effigies of the Earl and Countess of Cork, clothed in their robes, mantles and coronets. On the side of this table is the following inscription': - This Monument was erected for the Right Honorable Sr Richard Boyle, Ks, Lord Boyle, Baron of Yough | all, Viscount of Dungarvan, Earl of Corke, Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, of the King's Privy Counsell of this realm, and one of the Lordes Justices for the Government of this Kingdom; in memory of his most de | ar, virtuous and religious Wife, the Ladie Katherine, Countess of Corke, and their Posteritie, as also of her Grand-father Dr. Robert Weston, sometimes Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and one of the Lordes Justices for the Go | vernment thereof; whose daughter, picture THE EARL OF CORK'S MONUMENT IN ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL (from Mason's History of St. Patrick's) Alice Weston, was married to Sir Geoffray Fenton, Ks, principal Secretary of | State in this Realm, and they had issue, the said Ladie Katherine Countess of Corke, who lieth here interred | with her said Father and Grand-father, who virtues she inherited on earth and lieth here intombed | with them, all expecting a joyfull resurrection. Quae obit decimo sexton Februarii 1629. Underneath the Earl and Countess are two arches, wherein are the statues of some of their children. Between the arches is a table, whereon we read as follows''; - AN The issue of the Right 1 NO Honorable Richard, Lord 6 DO Boyle, Earl of Corke, and the Ladie Katherine his wyfe, with the armes 3 MI of such of their daughters NI husbands as are married 1 'At the top of the monument is the well known motto of the Earl of Cork': - GODS PROVIDENCE IS OUR INHERITANCE Originally this monument stood against the east wall of the choir where the high altar used to be, and was built over the family vault, which was constructed at the same time (1681). Owing to a strong objection to its position, after a long controversy, it was removed to a place inside the sacrarium in 1684; and in 1868, it was again removed to its present position against the south wall of the nave.' W. FitsG. Source: Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead in Ireland Vol. 6. 1904, (FHL # 0258795)