In the north choir aisle is buried Almericus de Courcy, Lord
Kingsale (or Kinsale). His large monument shows him reclining on
a sarcophagus. The inscription reads:
" Here lyes the body of the Right Honourable ALMERICUS de
COURCY, Lord COURCY of COURCY-COUNTY and Baron KINGSALE, of the
Kingdom of Ireland descended from the famous JOHN De COURCY, Earl
of Ulster; (who in the reign of King JOHN, in consideration of
his great valour, obtain'd that extraordinary Priviledge to him
and his Heirs, of being cover’d before the King). This Lord was
much in favour with King Charles the II and King James the II and
commanded a troop of horse under the latter. He married Ann,
daughter of Robert Dring of Isleworth, in the county of Middlesex
Esq; by order of whose will this monument is erected to the
memory of her late Lord, he dying without issue. The said Lady
left divers charity’s to the parish of Isleworth: particularly
300 pounds to the Almes-Houses, 200 pounds to the Charity School,
100 pounds to poor house keepers; and is interred by her said
Lord, who dyed February the 9th 1719 aged 57 "
The monument gives his date of death in Old Style dating (we
now call this February 1720). The Courcy coat of arms is shown on
the monument – "argent 3 eagles displayed gules, crowned
or" (ie. a silver shield with three red eagles wearing gold
crowns). He was a son of John de Courcy and Ellen (Reagh) and
married Ann Dring in 1698 but they had no children. Lady Kinsale
was buried in 1724.
The so-called "De Courcy Privilege" of keeping a hat
on in the presence of royalty was apparently used frequently by
Almericus although the historical evidence for this privilege has
never been proved. The family took their name from
Courcy-sur-Dives in Calvados, France and they were lords of the
manor of Stoke Courcy in Somerset.
A photo of the monument can be purchased from Westminster
Abbey Library.