The noble brass statue of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, (who was
Chancellor of the University from 1617 to his death in 1630, and was the
donor of the Barocci MSS.,) which forms such a conspicuous feature in
the Picture Gallery, was presented this year by the earl's great nephew,
Thomas, the seventh Earl of Pembroke. It was cast by the famous artist
Hubert le Sœur, from a picture by Rubens, and is said to weigh about
1600 lbs. The letter of thanks from the University was read in
Convocation on April 19; it is criticized by Hearne in his _Diary_[198]
in the following terms: 'I am told that this letter is very silly and
poor, and that, among other things, his Lordship is told in it that the
statue is placed _in æde immortalitatis_. Now what this _ædes
immortalitatis_, church, temple or chappel of immortality is, I cannot
conceive, but am sure that the statue is at present fix'd in the Picture
Gallery, adjoyning to the Bodl. Library.'
[198] Vol. xcvi. p. 101.