Sir William Sanderson

In the west aisle of the north transept of Westminster Abbey is an alabaster and black marble monument to historian Sir William Sanderson. This shows his bust and the Latin inscription can be translated:

Sacred to the memory of William Sanderson, Knight, Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the King, a man famous for his family, learning, untainted fidelity to his prince, his writings and integrity. He wrote in English (among other pieces) and published his history of the lives of Mary, Queen of Scots, James and Charles the First, kings of Great Britain. After great hardships sustained under the late tyranny of rebels, after daily fatigues at home and abroad (bravely overcome), after a full length of 90 years of this troublesome life (having still his understanding perfect), he went to a better, 15 July 1676. To her most deserving husband, with whom for 50 years he had lived very amicably, Bridget, daughter of Sir Edward Tyrrel, Knight, and mother of the Maids of Honour to the most noble and serene Queen Catherine, hath with tears erected this monument.

On a panel below:

Here lies also the most excellent woman Lady Bridget, noble in family and in marriage and yet more noble in the virtues, about the foremost in faith, in piety in marriage, in beneficence to all, which Christian lady departed her life on the 17th January 1681 aged 88. Esther Nurse, granddaughter of her sister, heir to her will, and her substitute as the leading maid of honour to that esteemed Queen had this monument to her built.

The date given for Bridget is in Old Style dating, now called 1682. The monument was originally in the central aisle but was displaced in 1743 by that to Admiral Wager and moved to its current position.

William was born in Lincolnshire, son of William (died 1638), a merchant, and his wife Margaret (Snedale) and was a great-nephew of Sir Walter Raleigh. In about 1626 he married Bridget who became a maid of honour to Catherine of Braganza, queen of Charles II, and later to Mary of Modena, queen of James II. "Mother of the maids of honour" in the inscription means presumably that she was senior maid of honour. As a Royalist he suffered under the "rebels", ie. Oliver Cromwell's men, during the English Civil War. After the restoration of Charles II he was knighted. Bridget was buried near William. They had no children.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography