This
window has a double subject. The two left hand panels depict William
the Conqueror resting upon a mighty sword while he presents the
deed of Tamworth castle to his champion Marmion. The two right
hand panels show Marmion asleep and Editha striking him with her
crozier for banishing the nunnery. When he awoke the wound failed
to heal and Marmion allowed the nuns to return. This story came
about after Marmion having dispossessed Editha’s nunnery,
fell into a deep sleep after a drinking party following a day’s
hunting in Hopwas Wood. During this he saw a vision in which Editha,
now sainted, appeared to him. The offended saint hit Marmion with
her crozier and inflicted a wound which refused to heal until
Marmion repented and compensated her, allowing her a new nunnery
to be built at Polesworth. At the top of this window appears a
picture of Marmion’s Castle at Tamworth. And at the foot
we find the arms of William the Conqueror, Marmion, Freville and
Mr. Willington (the donor). |
