foure orders Preched to the people for profit of themselues Glosed the Gospel as hem good liked For couetous of Copes construe it as thei wold So Chaucer in his prologues and in the Character of the Frier mentions foure Orders A Frere there was a wanton and a merry A Limyâ—our a full solempne man In all the Orders foure is none that can So much of daliaunce and faire language But to returne to the first of the foure orders which is that of S. Basill howsoeuer as I conceiue the order of Saint Dominicke was accounted one of the foure here in England this Basill surnamed the Great for his great learning liued about the yeare of Grace 300. he was a Priest in Caesâ—â—a the chiefe Citie of Cappadocia where he was borne and whereof afterwards he was chosen Bâ—shop He was the Authour of building of Monasteries whereas many might liue together for before his time the Monkes dwelt in caues and cels alone in desarts and solitarie places from the which hee drew them into Coenobies or Couents and instituted of discipline by the which they should no more wander but bee alwayes bound by one forme of Religion These Monasteries were schooles in the which the arts and Philosophie together with Diuiniâ—ie true Religion and pietie were taugâ—t to the end there might be learned and fit men alwayes readie to gouerne the Church it is said that he built so great and spatious a Monasterie in Armenia as it contained aboue 3000 Monkes and in the end reduced all the religious men of the East to a good forme of life He died in the yeare 379 full of yeares as of vertues when Damasus the first of that name held the See of Rome and the Emperour Valens an Ariâ—n gouerned the East This Emperour was determined to haue dispossessed him of his Bishoppricke as he had done others but hearing him preach and speaking with him at Cappadocia he absteyned from expelling him his seate to which effect P. Opmer thus Basilius tantae doctrinae ac sanctitatis suit vt et Valens abstinueriâ— ab expellendo eum sede cùm reuersus Cappadociameum concionantem audijsset atque venisset cum illo in colloquium It is holden that this Basill was the first which caused Monkes to make a vow after a yeares probation to liue in their Monasâ—eries vntill death to promise full obedience to their superiours and not to contradict their ordinances and moreouer to vow continencie and pouertie This order wheresoeuer they liue labour with their hands in imitation of the perfect Monkes of Aegypt and what they get with their labour they bring in common retaining nothing to themselues This order of this holy man doth flourish at this day in Italy especially in the dominions of Venice although all the Monasteries there which are of this order doe acknowledge the Abbey of Grottaferata twelue miles distant from Rome for their mother I doe not finde that any of this rule liued euer here in England which makes me beleeue that this was none of the foure Orders before specified The next Monasticke Order confirmed by the Church of Rome was that of the Doctor of all Doctors namely Saint Augustine He was borne in the Castle of Tegast in Carthage about the yeare of our redemption 358. his Fathers name was Patricius his Mothers Monica by whose intreaâ—â—es mingled with teares and the learned Sermons of Saint Ambrose hee was drawne from the errours of the Manachies from Saint Ambrose as then Bishop of Millan in Italie he returned into his owne countrey where hee obteyned of the Bishop of Hippo whereof he was afterwards Bishop himselfe a garden without the Towne causing a Monastery to be built there in which he liued of the labour of his hands in all integritie according to the institution of the Primitiue Church He died of a feuer at Hippo when he had sitten fourty yeares in his Bishopricke being seuenty and six yeares of age on the fifth of the Kalends of September leauing to posteritie two hundred and thirty bookes of his owne writing This order multiplied greatly throughout the whole Christian world howsoeuer branched into many seuerall orders differing both in habit and exercises as also in rule and precepts of life An Epitaph to the memorie of Saint Augustine which I found in the booke of Rufford Abbey Omnis plorat homo mox matris vt exit ab aluo Et merito quoniam veâ—it in vallem lachrimosam Solum nascentem risisse ferunt Zoroastrem Ergo monstrosum crede risum liquet istum Primus enim rerum fuit inventor magicarum Hoc Augustinus testatur vir preciosus Vir doctus vir magnisicus vir quippe beatus About some fourtie yeares after the death of Saint Augustine Saint Benedict vulgarly called Benet appeared to the world who is accounted the Patriarch and Father of all the Monkes of Europe Hee was borne in Vmbria a region in Italy of the noble familie of the Regards his Fathers name was Propre his Mothers Abundantia hee was sent to Rome at the age of ten yeares to learne the liberall Arts but being wearie of the tumults and warre during the raigne of Iustinian the Emperour hee went from thence into a desart neare vnto Sublacke a Towne some fourtie miles from Rome where he continued the space of three yeares or thereabouts doing very austere penance vnknowne to any saue one Monke called Roman but being afterwards discouered by certaine Shepherds the people by reason of the great â—ame of his integritie and holinesse of life flocked from all parts to see him who had such force to perswade them to abandon the world as in a short time they built twelue Monasteries and hauing giuen to euery our of them a good Superiour or Abbot desiring solitarinesse he retired himselfe with a good number of his best disciples to the mount Cassin neare to the Towne of old called Cassina Where hauing ruined all the idolatrous Temples and broken downe their Images hee built him a Monasterie which hee dedicated to Saint Iohn the Baptist with a Chappell to Saint Martin Drawing all the Monkes dispersed in Italy into one societie and companie to whom he gaue a certaine rule in writing by the which they and their successours should gouerne themselues according as Saint Basill had done before him and withall bound them to three seuerall vowes Chastitie Pouertie and Obedience to their superiours which decree was ratified by the Church of Rome for an Euangelicall law This congregation of the Benedictines grew by little and little to bee so great throughout all Christendome as is almost incredible Nulla Monasteria nisi Beneâ—dictina erat apud Anglos ab aetate Edgari vsque ad regnum Gulielmi primi There was no Monasteries saith a late Writer amongst the English from the time of King Edgar till the raigne of William the Conquerour but Benedictines This order saith the same Authour came first into England with Austin the Monke Bishop of
anima Radulphi de Dene Aui mei qui predictam Ecclesiam fundauit c. Sciant presentes c. quod nos Willelmus de Marci et Ela vxar mea dedimus et concessimus Deo et Sancto Laurentio de Oteham et Canonicis ibidem Deo seruientibus in liberam perpetuam Eleemosinam sex denarios quos predicti Canonici nobis annuatim soluebant de terra Roberti Rug. c. Hij sex denarij sint ad emendacionem refectionis conuentus in die Sancti Laurencij Hanc que donationem pro salute animarum nostrarum et Antecessorum nostrorum heredum nostrorum Sigillis nostris confirmauimus Testibus Radulfo Capellano Ailfredo Capellano Willelmo de Marci c. But these Canons did not continue long at Otteham the scituation of the place being vnfitting and very chargeable for so many liuing together in a Couent whereupon by the said Ela daughter and heire of the said Raph Dene and as then the widow of Iordan de Sackvile one of the Ancestors of that right honourable and no lesse ancient family of the Sackviles Earles of Dorset they were remoued to Begam a village in the South-west Verge of this County adioyning to Sussex such was the Charter for their remouall Sciant presentes c. quod ego Ela de Saukevil filia Radulphi de Dene in viduitate et legia potestate mea diuine pietatis intuitu concessi Abbati et Canonicis de Otteham propter magnas et intollerabiles inedias loci de Otteham quod transferant sedem Abbathie de Otteham vsque ad Begeham qui dicitur Beulin salua tenentia et dignitate aduocacionis quam mihi et heredibus meis tam vita quam in morte tenentur Preterea confirmaui omnes donaciones eisdem Canonicis quas pater meus eis dedit et Robertus de Dene frater meus eis dedit The land whereupon this house was built was giuen by one Sir Robert de Turnham a valiant knight who flourished in the raigne of king Richard the first and went with him to the warres in the holy Land as these old rimes do testifie King Richard wyth gud entent To yat cite of Iafes went On morne he sent aftur Sir Robart Sakevile Sir William Wateruile Sir Hubart and Sir Robart of Turnham Sir Bertram Brandes and Iohn de St Iohn And speaking further of this Turnhams valour he saith Robart of Turnham with his Fauchion Gan to crake many a croun But he was so busie in cracking the Sarasins Crownes that hee tooke the lesse heed I thinke of his owne for then and there he was slaine together with Robert de Bellemont surnamed Blanchmaines Earle of Leicester with other noble warriours whose great losse king Richard doth thus lament Alas he seyd yat I was bore My gud Barons by th nigh forlore Aslaw is Robart of Lecestre That was my curteys Mastre Euery her on him was worth a knight And Robart of Turnham that was wight William of Arsne and Sire Gerard Sire Bertram and Sire Pepard Thesbeth slaw and wel mo But to returne to Ela de Sackvile who hauing finished her religious fabricke did dedicate it to the honour of the blessed Virgine Mary and gaue it the name of a Priory which was valued at the suppression to 152. l. 19. s. 4. d. ob Sir Thomas Sackuile knight sonne and heire of Sir Andrew Sackuile by his second wife Ioane Burgese who was Sheriffe of Sussex and Surrey the eight of King Henry the fourth was here interred in the Church of Beigham as appeares by these words in his last Will dated the first of December 1432. Ego Tho. Sakevile miles de Com. Sussex volo me sepultum esse in Ecclesia de Beigeham Item lego Edwardo â—ilio meo omnia vtensilia domus mee c. Hee dyed in the same yeare the eleuenth of King Henry the sixth Here sometime in our Ladies Chappell lay interred the body of Richard Sackevile Esquire who dyed Ann. 1524. This Church was and that of Withiam in Sussex now is greatly honoured by the funerall Monuments of the Sackviles of whom I shall haue more occasion to speake hereafter Pensherst Here in this Church vnder a marble Monument whereon is yet to be seene the pourtraiture of a knight compleatly armed lyeth interred as it is deliuered vnto me by tradition the body of Sir Stephen Pensherst or Stephen de Penchester for so also I finde him called that famous Lord Warden of the Fiue Ports who flourished in the raigne of King Edward the first as appeares by this Record following Rex scripsit Stephano de Penecestre Constabulario Castri de Douor et custodi Quinque Portuum prouidere Naues et galeas sufficientes contra Regis aduentum in Angliam Et meliores et fideliores Regis amicos portuum predict secretius premuniat Vt ipsi caute et sine strepitu preparent se ad veniend in obuiam Regis in aduentu suo supradicto c. Dat. apud West c. 4. Iulij Claus. Anno 1. Ed. primi Cedul pendent Here lye also interred diuers of that ancient and highly renowned Familie of the Sidneys whose Monuments of any great antiquitie together with their Inscriptions are worne away with time Who deriue their race from William de Sidney Chamberlaine to king Henry the second Out of which came saith Camden Sir Henry Sidney that renowned Lord Deputy of Ireland who of the daughter of Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland and Earle of Warwicke begat Philip and Robert whom our late Soueraigne Lord King Iames created Baron Sidney of Penshert Viscount Lisle and Earle of Leicester And to giue more lustre to these foresaid honours he was elected knight and companion of the honourable Order of the Garter at an extraordinarie Chapter holden at Greenwich the day of May Ann. 1616. and enstalled at Windsor the seuenth of Iuly next following This Earle dyed the day of .... Ann. But here I cannot passe ouer in silence Sir Philip Sidney the elder brother being to vse Camdens words the glorious starre of this family a liuely patterne of vertue and the louely ioy of all the learned sort fighting valiantly with the enemy before Zutphen in Gelderland dyed manfully This is that Sidney whom as Gods will was he should be therefore borne into the world euen to shew vnto our age a sample of ancient vertues so his good pleasure was before any man looked for it to call for him againe and take him out of the world as being more worthy of heauen then earth Thus we may see perfect vertue suddenly vanisheth out of sight and the best men continue not long Seigneur Des Accords in his booke entituled Les Bigarrures a miscellanie or hotch-potch of sundry collections amongst many choice Epitaphs hath one selected out of the works of Isaac du Bellay the French Poet excellently composed to the memory of Sieur de Boniuet a
Camdene Seldeni gloria creuit Ingentes Dominos titulorum dote superbos Famo sosque Equites simul omnes si perijssent Quiuis Rex Orbi potis est renouare beatum Cottoni pectus nullâ est reparabile cera Ingenio quicunque vigent tua tecta frequenter Visebant tanquam à Phoebo responsa petentes Nunc Oracla silent sed non Schediasmate tantae Oceanum laudis liceat transnare misellum Nescio quid gaudens ad amici iusta litasse Omnia complectar celebrat Wigornia verbis Queis Neckami obitum crescitque in carmine verum Eclipsim patitur sapientia Sol sepelitur Cui si par vnus minus esset flebile funus He died at his house in Westminster the sixt of May about ten of the clocke in the forenoone Anno 1631. being aged threescore yeares three moneths and some few odde dayes He tooke to wife Elizabeth one of the daughters and heires of William Brocas Esquire by whom hee had issue onely one Sonne Sir Thomas Cotton Baronet now liuing who married Margaret Daughter of the Lord William Howard grandchild to Thomas Duke of Norfolke by whom hee hath issue one Sonne named Iohn and two Daughters Lucie and Francis But to returne I haue had many helpes I confesse from Sir Henry Spelman Knight and Iohn Selden Esquire the most learned Antiquaries now liuing of our times nor haue the helpes beene few which I haue long receiued from the well furnisht and daily increasing Librarie of Sir Simonds D'Ewes Knight whose iudicious directions and ready assistance were as often vouchsafed vnto mee as I had occasion to request and whose long studied and still intended labours for the publique good though in another kinde may in due time make his memory and themselues deare vnto posteritie Diuers of the Heralds haue much furthered these my intended designes namely Sir Richard and Sir Henry Saint George Knights Iohn Philipot and William Le Neue Esquires which I shall euer acknowledge as occasion presents it selfe Venerable Bede when hee compiled the Chronicles of the English Saxons had all the helpe that might be of the Bishops and learned men of this Land Cymbertus wrote vnto him all that was done in Lincolnshire Nothelmus also sent vnto him all that he had gathered together in Sussex Surrey and Kent Alcuinus gaue him his labours and collections for the Prouince of Yorke Daniel of Winchester made him priuie of all that was done amongst the west Saxons And from all other quarters of the Land were Letters Scrowles and writings directed vnto him by messengers to aide and assist him in his enterprise as he doth himselfe acknowledge in his Epistle Dedicatory to Ceolnulph King of the Northumbers Now generous Reader as hee had these helpes for the perfecting of his Ecclesiasticall Historie and as I haue had the acceptable assistance of many of my good friends studious in this kinde for the finishing of this first part and the rest of the worke now in hand which is already in a good forwardnesse let me intreate thy furtherance in the same thus farre that in thy neighbouring Churches if thou shalt finde any ancient funerall Inscriptions or antique obliterated Monuments thou wouldst be pleased to copie out the one and take so much relation of the other as tradition can deliuer as also to take the Inscriptions and Epitaphs vpon Tombes and Grauestones which are of these times and withall to take order that such thy collections notes and obseruations may come safely to my hands and I shall rest euer obliged to acknowledge thy paines and curtesie And I would earnestly desire the Tombe-makers of this Citie of London and elsewhere that they would be so carefull of posteritie as to preserue in writing the Inscriptions or Epitaphs which they daily engraue vpon Funerall Monuments from whom I shall expect the like kindnesse and to whom I will euer remaine alike thankfull For I intend God willing hereafter to publish to the view of the world as well the moderne as the ancient memorialls of the dead throughout all his Maiesties foresaid Dominions if God spare me life if not it is enough for me to haue begun as Camden saith in his Epistle to the Reader of his booke Britannia and I haue gained as much as I looke for if I shall draw others when I am dead into this argument whose inquisitiue diligence and learning may finde out more and amend mine It may seeme peraduenture vnpleasing to some for that I do speake so much of and extoll the ardent pietie of our forefathers in the erecting of Abbeyes Priories and such like sacred Foundations To the which I answer with Camden that I hold it not fit for vs to forget that our Ancestours were and we are of the Christian profession and that there are not extant any other more conspicuous and certaine Monuments of their zealous deuotion towards God then these Monasteries with their endowments for the maintenance of religious persons neither any other seed-plots besides these from whence Christian Religion and good literature were propagated ouer this our Island Neither is there any other act of pietie more acceptable in the sight of Almighty God then that of building Churches Oratories and such like sacred edifices for the true seruice of his heauenly Maiestie Ethelbert the first Christian King of Kent hauing built S. Pauls Church London and diuers other Churches and religious structures as I shew hereafter is thus commended to posteritie by this Epitaph following which passed with applause no question in those dayes Rex Ethelbertus hic clauditur in Polyandro Fana pians certus Christo meat absque Meandro King Ethelbert lyeth here closed in this Polyander For building Churches sure he goes To Christ without Maeander The pious care likewise and gracious intention of our late Lord and Soueraigne King Iames of famous memory had for the repairing of the foresaid Church of Saint Paul and the earnest desire and purpose which our dread Lord and Soueraigne now hath proceeding out of his zeale to Gods glory and his diuine worship for the repairing and vpholding as his Father intended of that venerable large Fabricke and goodly Pyle of building will be had in remembrance to all generations and their names will be registred in the booke of the liuing And the munificent allowance towards the said worke from William Laud now Lord Bishop of London of one hundred pounds by the yeare while he doth contiune there Bishop shall be commended and had in remembrance of all his Successours for euer It may perhaps bee distastfull to some for that I write so fully of the fall and backsliding of Religious Persons from their primitiue zealous ardour of piety making that the maine cause of the dissolution of Abbeyes which I doe for that some are of opinion that because many of these Monasteries were built vpon the occasion of rapine and bloud the Founders thereby thinking to expiate their guilt and make satisfaction for their sinnes an
buried in the euening by certaine men who had that charge who were called Vespillons Men of meaner ranke howsoeuer neuer so rich were not allowed this princely kinde of production to their graues for their corps were borne vpon their seruants shoulders whom they had manumitted a little before their deaths with a Trumpet onely sounding before them and some lights according to this of Persius Satyre 3. Then were prepared for his Funerall The Trumpet and the Lights And last of all This seeming happie man that would not doubt His health being composedly laid out On his high bed his biere and now daub'd o're And eu'n bedurted with th' abundant store Of ointments stretcheth tow'rd the citie gate His cold dead heeles and those whose best estate But yesterday was but to be his slaue Now weare their caps and beare him to his graue Man and woman though of equall degree and qualitie were borne in a different manner to their graues Man was borne vpon mens shoulders to signifie his dignitie and superioritie ouer his wife and woman at the armes end to signifie that being inferiour to man in her life time she should not be equalled with him at her death Which vse continued a long time vntill women by renouncing the world and liuing monasticall religious liues got such an honourable esteeme in the world that they were thought no lesse worthie of honour in that kinde then men and when as a widow dâ—ed hauing hâ—d but one husband they carried her to her graue with a crowne of chastitie vpon her head Condemned persons as they are now adayes were carried in waines or carts because they were thought vnworthy to bee borne by men who by their wicked demerits had procured the hand of iustice to cut them off by vntimely death from the societie of men CHAP. IIII. Of the excessiue expenses bestowed at Funeralls in former times I Might include within this Chapter and not impertinently to these contents the ancient customes and manners of burying the dead in all Nations throughout all the habitable world but that would make the gate bigger then the citie this discourse of a greater bulke then all the rest of the booke besides you may finde this Treatise touched vpon in the Volumne of the Estates Empires and Principalities of the world as also in the Treasurie of Ancient and moderne Times the sixth booke where hee speakes of diuers customes and fashions of buriall of ancient obsequies and their ceremonies onely then a little of so much because I would not stray beyond my limits The ancient Romanes did vse them that were dead after two manners and they had two kindes of obsequies the first and most ancient was to couer the dead with earth and to bury them as we doe the other to burne their bodies but this manner did not continue long Sepeliri antiquius fuisse quam cremari Plin. lib. 7. cap. 54. Cremari apud Romanos non suit veâ—eris instituti terra condebantur at postquam longinquis hellis obrutos eruâ— cognouere est institutum tamen multae familiae priscos seruauere ritus Manut. de leg Rom. sol 125. Numa Pompilius was the inuenter of obsequies and hee instituted a high Priest who had the charge The first honour which they vsed to performe in the obsequies of famous persons was to commend the partie by an Oration Valerius Publicola made a funerall oration on the death and in the praise of Brutus In like manner Iulius Caesar being but twelue yeares old commended his grandfather and Tiberius at the age of nine yeares praised his father The second honour was to make Sword-players to fight Marcus and Decius sonnes to Iunius Brutus were the first that did practise this in honour of their father The third honour was to make a feast of magnificent furnishment The fourth was a distribution of meat to all the common people And such as I haue said before as could not be buried with the like and so great pompe for the expenses were in supportable were buried in the night time by the Vespillons clothed all in white who carried the dead body to his graue They had likewise an order that within some while after the obsequies they would strew diuers flowers and sweet odours upon the sepulchre as the Romane people did vpon the funerall monument of Scipio And also they accustomed yearely to garnish decke and adorne the tombes or graues of the dead with poesies crownes and garlands of all sorts of flowers Husbands saith Saint Ierom ad Pammachum were wont to straw spread or scatter ouer and vpon the graues and sepulchres of their deceased deare wiues violets roses lillies hyacinths and diuers purple flowers by which vxorious office they did mitigate and lessen the griefe of their hearts conceiued by the losse of their louing bedfâ—llowes The like expression of mutuall loue wiues shewed to their buried husbands Now aboue all flowers in these ceremonious obseruances the Rose was in greatest request and had the sole preheminence Romani saith Kirkman de Funeribus Romanorum lib. 4. cap. 3. verò Rosarum fuere studiosi vt ijs post mortem monimenta sua spargi supremo iudicio nonnunquam iusserint legato ad hanc rem relictâ— cui plerumque haec erat conditio ut in Rauennati inscriptione legimus vt quotannis Rosas ad monumentum eius deâ—errent ibique epularentur To which Io. Passeratius in his Rosa thus alludes Manibus est imis Rosa grata grata Sepulchris Et Rosa flos Florum Vnto the Tombes and Spirits of the dead The Rose is gratefull of all flowers the head And Anacreon in praise of the Rose thus sings in one of his odes I will vse the Latine translation Rosa honor decusque florum Rosa cura amorque veris Rosa coelitum voluptas And in another ode in commendation of the Rose more aptly to this purpose thus Medicatur haec aegris Defendit haec sepultos The Rose full many griefes doth cure Defends corps laid in sepulture The ancient Ethnicks did hold the springing of flowers from the graue of a deceased friend an argument of his happinesse and it was their vniuersall wish That the Tombe stones of their dead friends might bee light vnto them and that a perpetuall spring-tide of all kinde of fragrant flowers might incircle their verdant graues According to this of Persius Sat. 7. Dij maiorum vmbris tenuem sine pondere terram Spirantesque crocos in vrna perpetuum ver Lie earth light on their bones may their graues beare Fresh fragrant flowers let springtide still liue there But to come backe againe The magnificence in burning the bodies of the dead did farre exceed in charges all other kindes of funerall for which the bodies of persons of principall regard as you may reade in the Trauelles of George Sandys they burnt rich odours gold iewels apparell heards of cattell flocks of sheepe horses hounds and sometimes the concubines and slaues whom they
sacred Bishop or venerable Pastour were in such high and holy repute amongst the lay-people as that when any of them were espied abroad they would flocke presently about him and with all reuerence humbly beseech his Benisons either by signing them with the crosse or in holy prayers for them And further saith Bede it was the manner in those primitiue times of the people of England that when any of the Clergie or any priest came to a village they would all by and by at his calling come together to heare the word and willingly hearken to such things as were said and more willingly follow in workes such things as they could heare and vnderstand A wonderfull order of pietie both in priest and people Chaucer in the prologue to his Canterbury Tales giues vs the character of a religious and learned priest who in his holy actions did imitate the example of the Clergie of these times whereof I haue spoken but such were not to be had by the dozens in his dayes as by his writings appeares The Parsone A good manne there was of religioun And was a poore Parsone of a toun But rich he he was of holy thought and werke He was eke a lerned manne and a clerke That Christes Gospels truly would preach His Parishens deuoutly would he teach Benigne he was and wonder diligent And in adversitie full patient And soch one he was proued oft sithes Full loth were him to curse for his tithes But rather would he yeuen out of doubt Vnto his poore Parishens all about Both of his offring and of his substaunce He couthe in little thing haue suffisaunce Wide was his parish and houses fer asander But he ne left neither for raine ne thonder In sikenesse in mischiefe for to visite The ferdest in his Parish moch or lite Vpon his feete and in his hand a stafe This noble example to his shepe he yafe That first he wrought and afterward taught Out of the Gospell he the words caught And this figure he added eke thereto That if gold rust what should iron do For yef a priest be foule on whom wee trust No wonder is a leude man to rust And shame it is if a priest take kepe To see a shitten Shepherd and a cleane shepe Well ought a priest ensample for to yeue By his clennesse how his shepe should liue He set not his benefice to hire And let his shepe acomber in the mire And renne to London to sainct Poules To seken him a Chauntrie for soules Or with a brother hede to be withold But kept at home and kept well his fold So that the wolfe made him not miscary He was a shepherd and not a mercenary And though he holy were and vertuous He was not to sinfull men despiteous Ne of his speech daungerous ne digne But in his reaching discrete and benigne To drawne folke to heauen with fairenesse By good ensample this was his besinesse But if he were any persone obstinate Whether he were of high or low estate Him would he snibbe sharply for the nonis A better priest I know no where non is He wayted after no pompe ne reuerence Ne maked him no spiced conscience But Christes lore and his Apostles twelue He taught but first he folowed it him selue The Monasticall orders likewise in that age serued God in continuall prayer watching and fasting and preaching the word of life to as many as they could despising the commodities of this world as things none of theirs taking of them whom they instructed onely so much as might serue their necessities liuing themselues according to that they taught to others being euer ready to suffer both troubles yea and death it selfe in defence of the truth that they taught And in another place speaking of the religious and lay-people in the North countrey They had no money saith he but cattell for if they tooke any money of rich men by and by they gaue it to poore people Neither was it needfull that either money should be gathered or houses prouided for the receiuing and entertainment of the worshipfull and wealthy who neuer came then to Church but onely to pray and heare the word of God The King himselfe when occasion serued to come thither came accompanied onely with fiue or sixe persons and after prayer ended departed But if by chance it fortuned that any of the Nobilitie or of the worshipfull refreshed themselues in the Monasteries they contented themselues with the religious mens fare and poore pittens looking for no other cates aboue the ordinary and daily diet For then those learned men and rulers of the Church sought not to pamper the panch but to saue the soule not to please the world but to serue God Wherefore it came then to passe that euen the habite of religious men was at that time had in great reuerence so that where any of the Clergie or religious person came he should bee ioyfully receiued of all men like the seruant of God Againe if any were met going on iourney they ranne vnto him and making low obeysance desired gladly to haue his benediction either by hand or by mouth Also if it pleased them to make any exhortation as they passed by euery man gladly and desirously hearkened vnto them Vpon the Sondayes ordinarily the people flocked to the Church or to Monasteries not for belly-cheare but to heare the word of God And if any Priest came by chance abroad into the village the inhabitants thereof would gather about him and desire to haue some good lesson or collation made vnto them For the Priests and other of the Clergie in those dayes vsed not to come abroad into villages but onely to preach to baptise to visit the sicke or to speake all in one word for the cure of soules Who also at that time were so farre from the infection of couetousnesse and ambition that they would not take territories and possessions toward the building of Monasteries and erecting of Churches but through the earnest suite and almost forced thereunto by noble and wealthy men of the world which custome in all points hath remained a long time after saith he in the Clergie of Northumberland No lesse feruent in deuotion and austere in strictnesse of life in these dayes were the religious Votaries of the female sex I had almost forgotten saith Capgraue in the prologue to his booke of the English Saints the company of sacred virgines which like lillies amongst thornes despising all carnall pleasures with all the great pompe and riches of the world many of them being kings daughters did in all chastitie pouertie and humilitie adhere onely to their Sauiour Iesus Christ their celestiall Bridegroome for whose sake as in this subsequent Treatise will be shewne they did vndergo many exquisite torments and in the end were glorified with a crowne of martyrdome Deus ex sexu elegens infirmiore vt fortia mundi confunderent In a Lieger booke belonging sometime to the
Gregory Bishop of Rome approued of God by working of miracles and that brought Ethelbert the king and his people from the worshipping of Idols vnto the faith of Christ the dayes of whose office being ended in peace he deceased May 26. the said king Ethelbert yet raigning But from the Porch his body was remoued into the Church for in the yeare of our saluation 1221.5 Kalend. Maij. Iohn de Marisco then Prior of this Monastery with the rest of his Couent being desirous to know the place where the body of this Archbishop their patron was deposited after fasting and prayer caused a wall to be broken neare to Saint Austins Altar where they found a Tombe of stone sealed and close shâ—t vp with â—on and lead hauing this Inscription Inclitus Anglorum Presul pius et decus altum Hic Augustinus requiescit corpore sanctus And in the yeare 1300.3 Kal. Augusti Thomas Findon then being Abbot enshrined his reliques in a more sumptuous manner adding another Distich to the former expressing his affectionate loue to the said Saint Austin his patron Inclitus Anglorum Presul pius decus altum Hic Augustinus requiescit corpore sanctus Ad tumulum landis Patris almi ductus amore Abbas hunc tumulum Thomas dictauit honore But for the continuance of this mans memory this Monastery it selfe howsoeuer demolished surpasseth all funerall Monuments Inscriptions or Epitaphs for in regard he was the procurer of the building thereof the names of Saint Peter and Paul are now and were many hundred yeares since quite forgotten and the whole fabricke called onely S. Austins Austin a little before his death consecrated his companion Lawrence Archbishop of this See the next to succeed him in his gouernment lest either by his owne death as Lambard obserues or want of another fit man to fill the place the chaire might happely bee carried to London as Gregory the Pope had appointed Of which consecration my foresaid Manuscript Than Awstyn made Lawrence Archebysschop thar Whyls that he was on lyve for he wold nowght It vacond werk ne voyde whan he dede war So mykell than on yt he set hys thowght Of covetyse of good nothynge he rowght Ne of Estate ne yet of dygnyte But only of the Chyrche and cristente Lawrence by allusion to his name calâ—ed Lâ—urigeâ— thus conse 〈…〉 ceeded the said Augustine being archbishop 〈…〉 exhortation by works of charitie and 〈…〉 and by 〈…〉 a godly life to continue and encrease the number of Christian 〈◊〉 And like a true Pastour and Prelate solicitously careâ— not â—nely 〈◊〉 the Church of the Englishmen but also for the old inhabitants of 〈◊〉 of Scotland and Ireland amongst whom the sparkles of Christianitie were alreadie kindled The foundations of this Church being now well 〈◊〉 strongly layed the maine thing that thwarted his religious designes 〈◊〉 that Edbald king of Kent would not with all his godlâ— exhortaâ—â—ons 〈◊〉 ing a vitious young man be brought from his Paganisme to beleeue in the onely euerliuing God And that his people following the example o◠〈◊〉 king returned â—ikewise to the filthie vomit of their abhominable Idolaâ—â—â—e Lawrence perceiuing at last that neither his reprehensions nor faire words tooke any effect but rather incited the King and the Subiect to a more desâ—perate hatred of him and of his Religion determined to depart the kingdome to follow Bishop Iusto and â—ellite before banished and to recommend the charge of his flocke to God the carefull Shepherd of all mens soules But the night before the day of his intended departure saith Beda Saint Peter appeared vnto him in his sleepe and reprehended him sharply for purposing to runne away and to leaue the sheepe of Iesus Christ beset in the middest of so many Wolfes hee challenged him with Apostolicall authoritie argued with him a long while very vehemently and among all scourged him naked so terriblie as when he waked finding it more then a dreame all his body was gore bloud Thus well whipped he went to the king shewing him his stripes and withall related vnto him the occasion of those so many fearefull lashes which strucke such a terrour into the king as by and by he renounced his Idolls put away his incestuous wife caused himselfe to be baptized And for a further testimonie of his vnfained conuersion built a Chappell in this Monasterie of Saint Peter Of which I haue spoken before Of which more succinctly thus in my namelesse Manuscripâ— The folke of Estesex and of Kent Aftyr the dethe so of kynge Ethilbert And kynge Segbert that was of Estesex gent Who 's sonnes thre than exilde out full smert The Crysten feythe and wox anon peruert Susteynyng hole theyr old ydolatry Melâ—te and Iuste had banyshte out for thy But Lawrence than Archebysschop and Prymate For wo of that to god full sore than prayde Porposynge eke to leve all hys estate And follow Iuste and Mellet that wer strayde Owt of the lond so wer they both afrayde But that same nyght as Lawrence was on slepe Sent Peter so hym bett iyll that he wepe That all hys hyde of blod full fast gan renne Sayeng to hym whâ— wyll thow now forsake The floke that I the toke and dyd â—y sâ—nne Among the woâ—â—es to ravyshe and to take Thou hast forgett how I for gods sake Sufferd beâ—yng pryson and dethe at end For hys servâ—nds that he had me commend Wherfor on morrow he came to Ethelbalde And shewyd hym all how sore that he was bett In what wyse and by what wyght hym tolde Wherfor yt was wythouten longer lett For whyche the kynge was full of sorow sett In hast dyd send for Iust and eke Melite And them restoryd ther wher they were aâ—yte To teche the feythe and voyd Idolatry To baptyse eke as was expedyeâ—t The whyche they did as was than necessary The Archebysschop dyed that hight Lawrence The yere of Crist wyth good benyvolence Syx hundryd hole and ther withall nyntene Levyng this world for heuens blyse I wene This Laurence writ a learned booke of the obseruation of Easter and some exhortaâ—iue Epistles to the Bishops and Abbots of the Scottish Irish and Brittish Churches beseeching and praying them to receiue and keepe the societie of Catholicke obseruation with that Church of Christ which is spread ouer the whole world He died the same yeare that Edbald became Christian Februar 3. An. Dom. 619. and was buried in the Church Porch beside Augustine his predecessour For whom this Epitaph was composed Hic sacra Laurenti suut signa tui Monumenti Tu quoque iocundus Pater Antistesque secundus Pro populo Christi scapulas doâ— sumque dedisti Artubus huc laceris multa Vibice mederis Mellitus sometime an Abbot of Rome succeeded Laurence in this grace and Ecclesiasticall dignitie sent hither by Saint Gregory to assist Augustine in the seruice of the Lord by whom he was first consecrated Bishop of London during his abode in
that were at his deth and his body lyeth at Cawnterbury in a worschipful shryne wher as owr Lord sheweth for his Seruant S. Dunston many faire and grete myracles wherfor owr Lord be prâ—ysed world wythouten end Amen His reliques saith Capgraue were remoued to Glastenbury about foure and twenty yeares after his departure And so it is very probable for there he was first a Brother of the House and afterwards Abbot there the deuill came to him dancing by which the deuils merriment Dunstan knew the instant time of the death of Edmund the Brother of Athelstane slaine at Pucklechurch Of which my old Rimer Rob. of Glocester Seynt Dunstone was atte Glastonbery tho the kyng yhurte was And yut in the same stound he wiste of this cas For the deuell befor hym cam dawncyng and lowgh And as hit wer pleying made game enowgh This hely man wiste anon why his ioy was And that for the kyngs harme he made such solas Dunstone toward Pukelcherch dight hymself blive So that men tolde hym by the way the kyng was out of livs But at another time this merry deuill or some other came to him in another moode in likenesse of a Beare and would haue handled with rough Mittins as the prouerbe is yet Dunstane had the better in the conflict being neuer abasht with such an hellish encounter vpon which the foresaid Author of Polyolbion doth thus comment Dunstan as the rest arose through many Sees To this Archtipe at last ascending by degrees There by his power confirmd and strongly credit wonne To many wondrous things which he before had done To whom when as they say the Deuill once appear'd This man so full of faith not once at all afear'd Strong conflicts with him had in Myracles most great The day consecrated to the memory of this Saint was the 19. of May more of him if it be not needlesse when I come to Glastonbury Elphege of wom I haue spoken elsewhere borne of great parentage brought vp in all good learning at Derehirst not farre from Glocester a man of wonderfull abstinence neuer eating drinking or sleeping more then necessity compelled him spending his time altogether either in prayer study or other necessarie businesse was stoned to death like another Stephen by the Danes at Greenwich in the yeare 1012. canonized for a Saint and allowed the 19. day of Aprill for celebration of his memory suth ye yer of grace A thowsand and twelf they ladde hym to a place Wythowte the town of Grenewyche and stened hym with stenes As men did Seynt Stephenne and all to bruysed his benes This was doe the Ester weke in the Saterday As mor plenner in his lif se ther of men may Egelnoth surnamed The Good is likewise calendred amongst these Sainted Archbishops He was the sonne of an Earle called Agelmare and is said to haue beene Deane of Christ-Church in Canterbury which at that time was replenished for the most part with Canons wearing the habite and garments of Monkes but in profession and manner of life differing much from them Therefore when as in that same terrible tithing of the Danes in the time of Elphege all the Monkes were slaine except onely foure the Canons that were now the greater number gaue vnto their gouernour the name of Deane from which place he was taken to bee Archbishop Going to Rome to fetch his Pall he bought an arme of that blessed Father S. Augustine Bishop of Hippo for an hundred talents of siluer and a talent of gold and bestowed it vpon the Church of Couentrie Hee bestowed great paines and cost in repairing his Church and Monastery destroyed and burnt by the Danes and by his good aduise directed King Knute that fauoured him exceedingly vnto many honourable enterprises He dyed Octob. 29. Ann. 1038. hauing sat Archbishop seuenteene yeares and vpward Egelnoâ—h againe much grac'd that sacred Seat Who for his godly deeds surnamed was the Good Not boasting of his birth though com'n of Royall bloud For that nor at the first a Monkes meane Cowle despis'd With winning men to God who neuer was suffic'd Eadfine next ensues To propagate the truth no toyle that did refuse He was a secular Priest and first Chaplaine vnto king Harold who preferred him to the Bishopricke of Winchester from whence hee was remoued to this See of Canterbury He departed this life Octob. 28. An. 1050. after he had continued Archbishop twelue yeares almost All which time he was much oppressed with sicknesse he was interred in his owne Church and at the place of his buriall many miracles are said to haue beene wrought Lanfranke of whom I haue written before is recorded by Capgraue amongst our English Saints who saith that vpon his first entrance to this Metropoliticall gouernment he found the Monkes of Canterbury sicut omnes fere tum temporis in Anglia secularibus similes as all the rest were almost at that time in England like to secular persons for Venari aucupari et potibus indulgere consueuerunt They accustomed to hunt hawke and giue their minde to excessiue drinking which after a short time by gentle perswasions he reclaymed He was a man affable pleasant and humble skilfull in many Sciences prudent in counsell and gouernment of things and for Religion and life most holy Meruit ergo inter Sanctos annumerari Therefore he deserues to be numbred amongst the Saints Anselm for integritie of life and depth of learning euen admirable in regard whereof and of the many miracles which are said to be wrought by him liuing and by his Reliques he being dead hee was canonized a Saint about foure hundred yeares after his decease at the great charges of Iohn Moorton one of his Successours in the Archbishopricke Out of his learned braine he brought forth into the world many profound works at the least fiftie seuerall bookes or Treatises many of which are still extant The miracles likewise attributed to his holinesse are many mentioned by Capgraue The next that comes into this Catalogue is that farre famed Saint Thomas Becket of whom I haue already spoken enough in another place Thus much then at this time out of Polyolbion as followeth Saint Thomas Becket then which Rome so much did hery As to his christned name it added Canterbury There to whose sumptuous Shrine the neere succeeding ages So mighty offerings sent and made such pilgrimages Concerning whom the world since then hath spent much breath And many questions made both of his life and death If he were truly iust he hath his right if no Those times were much to blame that haue him reckon'd so Edmund a man famous for his vertue and great learning was borne at Abingdon in Barkeshire being sonne to one Edward Rich a Merchant his mothers name was Mabell In their elder yeares they forsooke each other by mutuall consent and betooke themselues to a Monasticall life Edmund their sonne
Rotulorum et Recordorum in Turri London remanentium qui obijt vltimo die Feb. Anno 1523. cuius Clericus paruae Bagiae or Clarke of the Petit Bagge is an Officer in the Chancerie of which sort there be three and the Master of the Rolles is their chiefe Their Office is to record the returne of all Inquisitions out of euery Shire all Liueries granted in the Court of Wards all ouster les maines to make all Patents of Customers Gawgers Controllers and Aulnegers all Conge d'eslires for Bishops all Liberateis vpon extent of Statute Staples the recouery of Recognisances forfeited and all Elegits vpon them the summons of the Nobilitie Clergie and Burgesses of the Parliament Commissions directed to Knights and other of euery shire for seassing of the Subsidies Writs for the nomination of Collectors and all trauerses vpon any Office bill or otherwise and to receiue money duel to the King for the same This Officer is mentioned Anno 33. Hen. 8. cap. 22. and it is like hee had first this denomination and stile of Petie Bagges because hauing to doe with so many Records of diuers kindes as aboue mentioned they were put in sundry leather Bagges which were not so great as the Clarke of the Hamper now vseth and therefore might be called Petits Bagges small or little bagges This Iohn Gyles was also keeper or Clerke of the Rolles and Records in the Tower of London an Office generally well knowne throughout all England the master whereof at this day is that learned Gentleman Sir Iohn Borrowes Knight vnder whom my vnderstanding friend Will. Collet and my industrious country-man Will. Riley alias Rouge-Rose Pursiuant at Armes doe officiate the place Dona requiem miserecordissime Iesu anime famuli tui Laurentij Bartlâ—t nuper Registrarij Episcopi Lincol. qui obijt ... die octob An. 1470. Quisquis ades vultumque vides sta perlege plora Iuditij memor esto tui tua nam venit hora Sum quod eris fueramque quod es tua posteriora Commemorans miseris miserans pro me precor ora Te mediante tuus viuam post funera seruus Qui te dilexi Michael bene dummodo vixi Non Homo leteris tibi copia si fluat eris Hic non semper eris memor esto quod morieris Corpus putrebit quod habes alter habebit Es euanebit quod agis tecum remanebit The Temple Church The first Founder hereof is not certainely recorded some hold that it was built by Dunwallo Mulmutius about the yeare of the worlds creation 4748 the precincts whereof he made a Sanctuary or a place of refuge for any person therein to be assured of life liberty and limbs of which I haue spoken elsewhere Besides these priuiledges vnto Temples hee constituted diuers good lawes Of which he writ two bookes the one called Statuta municipalia the other Leges iudiciariae which is as much to say as the statute Law and the common Law Cooke Reports 3 part ad Lect. out of Bale cent 1. Hauing reduced his Realme into one Monarchie being before by ciuill warres and dissention seuered and brought into diuers dominions Hee raigned 40. yeares died the yeare of the worlds creation 4768. and was buried in this place with other of the British Kings But it appeareth by this inscription following ouer the Church doore in the stone worke that this holy Structure was newly founded of farre later times and dedicated to the honour of the blessed Virgine yet I thinke it is farre more ancient Anno ab incarnatione Domini M.C.lxxxv dedicata hec Ecclesia in honorem beate Marie a Domino Eraclio dei gratia Sancte Resurrectionis Ecclesie Patriarcha 11 Idus Februarij Qui eam annatim petentibus de iniuncta sibi Penitentia lx dies indulsit Knights Templers were the last Founders of this house which at the first were certaine noble Souldiers religiously bent who bound themselues by vow in the hands of the Patriarke of Ierusalem to serue Christ after the manner of Regular canons in chastitie and obedience and to defend Christian Religion the holy land and Pilgrimes going to visite the Lords Sepulchre they flourished for a time in high reputation for pietie and deuotion but as they increased in wealth so they fell to wickednesse insomuch that in the yeere 1308. all the Templers in England as also in other parts of Christendome were apprehended and committed to diuers Prisons and in the yeare 1312. all their lands were giuen to the Knights Hospitalers of the order of Saint Iohn Baptist called Saint Iohn of Ierusalem as I haue said elsewhere There are in this Temple many very ancient monuments of famous men for out of what respect I know not King Henry the third and many of the Nobility desired much to be buried in this Church shaped in marble armed their legges crosse whose names are not to be gathered by any inscriptions for that time hath worne them out vpon the vpper part of one of their portraitures Camden saith that hee hath read Comes Penbrochie and vpon the side this verse Miles eram Martis Mars multos vicerat armis Of Mars I was a doughty knight Mars vanquisht many a man in fight Vnder which monument lieth William Marshall the elder Earle of Penbroke a most powerfull man in his time being the Kings Marshall Generall of his Armie and Protector of the kingdome in the minority of King Henry the third vntill such time as he the said William died which was in the yeare 1219. 27 die Martij This Epitaph following goes also currant for this glorious and triumphant Earle as an Epitome of his noble vertues Sum quem Saturnum sibi sensit Hibernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normannia Gallia Martem Irelands Saturne Englands Sunne am I The Mars of France and Normans Mercury or thus Whom Ireland once a Saturne found England a Sunne to be Whom Normandy a Mercury and France Mars I am he This William had fiue sonnes William Richard Gilbert Walter and Anselme all Earles of Penbroke and Marshals of England Here by his father vnder the like monument lieth William the eldest sonne Earle of Penbroke Lord of Strighull Chepstow Caerwent Leigh or Liege Weshford Kildare Ossorie and Carlogh who died the sixt of Aprill 1231. as it is in the booke of Wauerly wherein this Epitaph is made to his memory Militis istius mortem dolet Anglia ridet Wallia viuentis bella minasque timens England laments the death of this braue Knight Wales laughs he liuing did her so affright The Annales of Ireland will haue him to be buried by his brother Richard in the Quire of the Friers Predicants in Kilkennie of whom it was thus written Cuius sub fossa Kilkennia continet Ossa Whose bones bestowed in graue so deep Kilkenny Towne doth safely keep Wheresoeuer he was buried a Martiall braue Earle he was which hee worthily shewed when as he set vpon Lehwellin Prince of Wales
dyed M. ccccc.xxxi Cheston Quem tegit iste lapis Radcliffe cognomine functus .... et in cineres vertitur vnde fuit Icy gist Damoselle Iohanne clay que trespassa l'an de Grace M. cccc.le xxii iour Octobre iour Saint M. lun Euesque Here sometime stood a little Nunnery I know not by whom founded but thus it is confirmed in the Catal. of religious houses Henr. Rex Anglie Dominus Hibernie Dux Normannie Aquitanie et comes Angedauie c. Shestrehunt Monial totam terram Dom. ten cum pertinentijs suts que canonicis de cathele c. quos amoueri fecimus dat apud West xi Aug. Anno Regni nostri xxiiii This Nunnery was valued in the Exchequer to be yeerely worth twenty seuen pound sixe shillings eight pence This village is called in old Writings Chesthunte Shestrehunte and Norden saith cur non Chestin Castanetum of Chesnut Trees Bishops Hatfield This Church is much honoured by the Sepulture of that prudent great Statesman Robert Baron Cecill Earle of Salisbury Lord Treasurer of England father of William Lord Cecill Earle of Salisbury one of the honourable priuy Councell now liuing Anno 1630. and keeping royall hospitality at his Mansion house hereunto adioyning which sometimes did belong to the Bishops of Ely whereupon it was named Bishops Hatfield Of Robert this Earle here interred I shall speake more when I come to let downe his Epitaph Harding Hic iacent Wilielmus Seabroke qui obijt 2 April 1462. et Ioana vxor eius ...... quorum ... Orate pro animabus Mathei Cressy et Iohanne vxoris eius quondam filie Edmundi Peryent Ar. et Anne dicti Mathei vxoris quondam filie Thome Vernon Armigeri que Iohanna obijt xxix Nouemb. M. cccc.lxxviii Hic iacent Wilielmus Anabul et Isabella vxor eius qui quidem Wilielmus obiit 4 die Octob. 1456. Saint Albans Abbey I thinke it not much amisse to speake a little of this Protomartyr of England Saint Alban whose reliques lie here interred to whose name and for his eternall commemoration both this Towne and Monastery werâ— built and consecrated He was a Citizen and a Knight of that famous Citie Verulam which stood hereby beyond the little riuer who giuing entertainement at his own house to Amphibalus a Christian and one of the Clergie was by him his guest conuerted from Paganisme to the true profession of Iesus Christ and when Dioclesian who made Maximian his companion in the Empire went about by exquisite torments to wipe Christian Religion quite out of the memory of men was the first in Britaine that with inuincible constancie and resolution suffered death for Christ his sake of which persecution â—s also of his Martyrdome my often alledged Author Robert of Glocester shall tell you in his old verse Two Emperors of Rome wer on Dioclesian And anoder hys felaw that het Maximian And wer both at on tym the on in the Este ende The oder in the west of the world alle cristendom to shende For the luther Maximian westwarde hider soughte And christen men that he fonde to strang deth he broughte Churchen he pulde a doun ther ne moste non stonde And al the bokes that he myghte fynde in eny londe He wolde late berne echon amydde the heygh strete And the christenmen asle and non alyue lete Such God was yvor vpon cristendom Such persecucion as ther was hadde ther be non For yunâ—a monethe ther wer seuentene thou send and mo I martred for our Lordes Loue nas ther a grete wo Wyth oute oder grete halwen that hii heold longe in torment As Seynt Cristene and Seynt Feye and also Seynt Uincent Fabian and Sebastian and othur as men rede That heold faste in the fey and hadde non drede And among men of this londe ther wer many on I martred at thulke tym Seint Albon was on He was the furste Martir of Brutayn that com Muche was the shome men dude in Christendom Undyr this Luther Emperor Another not so ancient hath it thus The Emperour Dioclesyan Into Britayne then sent Maximian This Maximian to surname Hercelius A Tyraunte false that Christente anoyed Through all Britayne of werke malicious The christoned folke felly and sore destroyed And thus the people with him foule accloyed Religyous men the Prests and Clerkes all Wemen with chylde and bedred folkes all Chyldren soukyng vpon the mothers pappis The mothers also withouten any pytee And chyldren all in their mothers lappis The crepyls eke and all the christentee He killed and slewe with full grete cruelte The Churches brent all bokes or ornaments Bellys reliquys that to the Churche appendes He slew that tyme and martyred Saint Albone Now when neither perswasions nor cruell torments could make him forsake the true faith such was the sentence of his death as I finde it in a legend of his passion and martyrdome which to giue your palate variety I will set downe in such English as I haue in the said Legend or Agon In the tyme of the Emperoure Dioclesyan Albone Lorde of Uerolamye Prynce of Knyghts and Stewarde of all Brutayne durynge his lif hath despysyd Iubyter and Apollyn oure Goddes and to them hath doo derogacyon and disworschyp wherfor by the Lawe he is iudged to be deed by the honde of somme knyght and the body to be buried in the same place where his heed shal be smyten of and his sepulture to be made worshcipfully for thonoure of knyghthode wherof he was Prynce and also the crosse whych he bare and Sklauin that he ware shold be buried wyth hym and his body to be closyd in a Cheste of leed and so layed in his sepulture This sentence hath the Lawe ordeyned by cause he hath renyed our principall Goddes His iudgement being giuen after this manner he was brought from the Citie Veralam to this his place of execution which as then was an hill in a wood called Holme-hurst where at one stroke his head was smitten off But his Executioner saith venerable Bede had short ioy of his wicked deede for his eyes fell to the ground with the head of the holy Martyr of which will you heare another writer Thousands of torments when he had endur'd for Christ his sake At length he died by dome thus giuen his head away to take The Tortor proudly did the feat but cleere he went not quit That holy Martyr lost his head this cruell wretch his sight He suffered martyrdome in the yeare of Christ saith Stow 293. the twentieth day of Iune saith Bede howsoeuer the two and twentieth day of the same moneth was appointed by the Church to be kept holy to his memory as we haue it in our English Calender Many Miracles are said to be wrought by this sacred Martyr both liuing and dead but I will leaue them for that they will be thought incredulous in this age and come to the foundation of this Abbey The Sepulchres of
pulchro nobilitata libro Postque magisque ergo delubra terra Britannae Claret Londinum claret Oxonium This learned reuiuer of Antiquities writ a Chorographicall Description of the most flourishing Kingdomes of England Scotland Ireland the Ilands adioyning out of the depth of Antiquitie As also the famous history of Queene Elizabeth the mirrour of all Princes of the world There is likewise another booke said to be of his penning called Remaines concerning Britaine but especially England and the inhabitants thereof Sir Richard Saint George Knight Norroy Sir Richard Saint George Knight Clarencieux a Gentleman euer ready to giue me his best furtherance in this worke Created the 23. of December 1623 and now liuing 1631. Sir Iohn Borough Knight a learned Gentleman created Norroy the foresaid 23. of December 1623. Heralds of Armes their Names Sirnames and Additions from former times to this present yeare 1631. These Heralds at this day are onely sixe which by the names of their additions Lancaster Richmond Chester Somerset Yorke Windesor These are created to attend Dukes in Marshall executions and in all things endeauour themselues for the defence of their societie First I finde a Herald by his addition called Wales 15. Iulij 2 pars pat an 17. R. 2. m. 13. And afterwards he was called Percy Herald 6. Augusti Anno 2. Hen. 4. As also one Bardolfe Herald of Armes anno 22. R. 2. And Windsore Herald confirmed an 3. Rich. 2. Heralds in the raigne of King Henry the Fift William Brugges alias Chester afterwards Garter William Horsley alias Leopard afterwards Ireland Iohn Wrexworth alias Exceter afterwards Guyon Nicholas Serby alias Leopard Iohn Hoswell alias Clarence William Boys alias Exceter Giles Waster alias Mowbray Iohn Ashwell alias Leopard afterward Lancaster King of Armes Heralds in the raigne of King Henry the sixt Thomas More alias Windesore afterward Guyonne Roger Legh Chester afterwards Clarencieux Iohn Wrythe or Wriothesley Leopard Herald and afterward Garter as aforesaid Thomas Collier Clarence afterward Ireland Iohn Mowbray Exceter afterward Clarencieux Robert Ashwell Windesore William Hawkeslow Leopard afterward Guyonne Iohn Horsley Mowbray Iames Billet Chester Iohn Millet Clarence Richard Stanton Chester Robert Dunham Exceter Heralds in the time of Edward the Fourth Iames Collier Lancaster Iohn Ferrant Windsore afterward March Iohn More Chester afterward Norroy Roger Mallet Falcon. Richard Ashwell Lancaster afterward Ireland Thomas Tonge Richmond afterward Norroy Henry Franke Yorke William Carlile Richmond afterward Norroy Richard Champney Faulcon afterward Glocester Roger Stamford Chester Richard Slaske Windsore In the time of Edward the fift murdered in the Tower whose raigne was but ten weekes and foure daies no officers of Armes were created In the time of Richard the Third Roger Bromley Chester 1 R. 3 Iohn Waters Yorke 1 R. 3. In the raigne of Henry the 7. these Heralds following Iohn Young Windsore alias Norroy Thomas Beuolt Lancaster afterward Norroy and lastly Clarencieux Thomas Waters Carlyle Rowland Playnford Yorke Robert Browne Richmond Thomas Wall Richmond afterward VVindsore then Norroy VVilliam Iennyngs Lancaster VVilliam Tyndall Lancaster Raph Lagysse Yorke Iohn Ioyner Richmond afterward Norroy In the time of Henry the eight created as followeth Thomas Hawley Carlile afterward Norroy Thomas Wall Windsore afterward Norroy as before Christopher Barker Richmond and next Garter Iohn Ponde Somerset William Fellow Lancaster after that Norroy Thomas Byseley Yorke William Hastings Somerset Allen Dagnall Yorke Randolfe Iackson Chester Richard Crooke Windsore Leonard VVarcopp Carlile Charles VVriothesley VVindesore Thomas Mylner Lancaster Iohn Narboone Richmond Thomas Traheyron Somerset Bartholmew Butler Yorke afterwards Vlster Fulk ap Howell Lancaster Richard Radclyffe Somerset Gilbert Dethick Richmond afterward Norroy then Garter VVilliam Haruey Somerset afterwards Clarentieux VVilliam Flower Chester afterwards Norroy This Chester attended the Embassage sent by the Marquesse of Northhampton when he carried the Garter to the French King Henry the second Anno 5. Edwardi sexti In the time of Edward the Sixt. Lawrence Dalton Richmond afterward Norroy Edmond Atkinson Somerset In Queene Maries raigne Martin Marolfe Yorke 1. of her raigne obijt 1563. the 5. of Elizabeth Nicholas Tubman Lancaster Nicholas Narboone Richmond afterward Vlster Heralds created in the happy Raigne of Queene Elizabeth Iohn Cocke Lancaster 1. Eliz. 1558. imployed to attend the Earle of Leycester Lieutenant and Gouernour generall of Queene Elizabeths forces in the Lowe Countries Robert Cooke Chester 4. Eliz. 1562. and next Clarentieux Richard Turpyne Windsore 7. Eliz. 1564 William Colborne Yorke 7. Eliz. 1564. Hugh Cotgraue Richmond 9. Eliz. 1566. Iohn Hart Chester Herald 9. Eliz. who writ a booke of the Reformation of the English Orthographie imprinted Ann. Dom. 15. Raph Langman Yorke 10. Eliz. 1567 William Dethick Yorke 12. Eliz. 1569. and next of all Garâ—er 28. Eliz. 1586. In the time of his being Yorke Herauld he was imployed to attend the Embassage sent by the Earle of Sussex to carry the Garter to the Emperour Maximilian And afterwards was ioyned Embassadour with the Earle of Shrewsbury to carry the Garter to the French King Henry Robert Glouer Somerset 14. Eliz. 1571. A man he was of infinite industrie and incredible paines a man of an excellent wit and learning witnesse that Catalogue of Honour begun by himselfe in Latine and finished by his kinsman Thomas Milles in which he vndertooke to cleare the Dâ—sâ—cents and Royall pedegrees of our Kings and Nobilitie he attended the Embassage sent by the Earle of Darby which carried the Garter to the French King Henry the third And was Princely rewarded He died 10 of Aprill 1588. aged 45. yeares and lieth buried in S. Giles Church Criâ—plegate to whose memory a Monument is there erected whose inscription you may reade in Stowes Suruay Edmund Knight Chester 17. Eliz. 1574 afterwards Norroy Ann. 34. Eliz. 1592. as before Nicholas Dethicke Windsore 26. Eliz. 1583. obijt Ianuar. 1596. Richard Lee Richmond 27. Eliz. 1584. afterwards Clarentieux Nicholas Paddy Lancaster 31. Eliz. 1588. Humphrey Hales Yorke 30. Eliz. 1587. obijt Ianuar. 16. 1591. William Segar Somerset 31. Eliz. 1588. afterwards Norroy then Garter vt supra Iames Thomas Chester 34. Eliz. 1592. March 26. Raph Brooke Yorke 34. Eliz. 1592. March 16. William Camden Richmond afterward Clarencieux vt supra Iohn Rauen Richmond Thomas Lant Windsor Robert Treswell Somerset was imployed to attend vpon the embassage sent by the Earle of Nottingham to Philip the third King of Spaine to receiue his Oath for the Peace in anno 1604. Richard St. George Windsor then Norroy and now Clarentieux Francis Thinne Lancaster a Gentleman painfull and well deseruing in his office whilest he liued William Penson Chester 1. Iacobi 1602 Samuell Thompson Windsor Ingenious Nicholas Charles as Milles calls him whose iudicious knowledge in Pedegrees and Armes shewed learning to liue in Herauldrie William Penson Lancaster 10. Decemb. 1613. Thomas Knight Chester Sir Henry St. George Richmond was sent ioynt Embassadour with the Lord Spence and Sir Peter
the worlde This done I haue matter of plenty already prepared for this purpose that is to say to write an History to the which I entend to ascribe this title De Antiquitate Britannica or else Civilis Historia And this worke I entend to diuide into so many bookes as there be Shyres in England and shires and great dominions in Wales So that I esteeme that this Volume will enclude a fifty bookes whereof each one seuerally shall containe the beginnings encreases and memorable acts of the chiefe Townes and Castles of the Prouince allotted to it Then I entend to distribute into sixe bookes such matter as I haue already collected concerning the Isles adiacent to your noble realme and vndre your subieccyon Wherof three shall be of these Isles Vecta Mona and Menavia somtime kyngedomes And to superadde a worke as an ornament and a right comely garlande to the enterprises aforesaid I haue selected stuffe to be distributed into three bookes the which I purpose thus to entitle De Nobilitate Britannica Wherof the first shall declare the names of Kynges and Quenes with their children Dukes Earles Lordes Capitaynes and rulers in this realme to the commynge of the Saxons and theyr Conquest The seconde shall be of the Saxons The thirde from the Normans to the reygne of your most noble grace descending lineally of the Brytayne Saxon and Norman kynges So that all noble men shall clerely perceyve their lyneall parentele Now if it shall be the pleasure of Almighty God that I may lyve to performe these things that be already begonne and in a great forwardnesse I trust that this your realme shall so we le be knowne ones paynted wyth his native colours that the renowne thereof shall geue place to the glory of no other region And my great labours and costes procedynge from the most habundant fountayne of your infinite goodnesse towards me your pore scholar and most humble servaunt shall be euydently seane to have not only pleased but also profyted the studyouse gentill and equall reders This is the briefe declaracyon of my laboriouse iourney taken by mocyon of your hyghnesse so much studying at all houres aboute the frutefull preferment of good letters and auncyent vertues Christ contynue your most royall estate and the prosperyte wyth successyon in kyngely dignite of your deere and worthylye beloued sonne Prynce Edward grauntynge you a numbre of Pryncely sonnes by the most gracyouse benygne and modest Lady your Quene Cataryne Iohannes Leylandus Antiquarius Iohn Bale in his declaration vpon this Treatise saith that the next yeare after that Leyland presented this New-yeares Gift to king Henry the said king deceased and Leyland by a most pitifull accident fell besides his wits which was the cause belike that these his workes were neuer imprinted howsoeuer at this day the written copies thereof are in some priuate mens custody which learned Camden saw as he himselfe acknowledgeth when hee compiled that matchlesse Chorographicall description of Great Britaine But those learned Authors which Leyland gathered together in his iourney and which hee conserued to augment the Kings Libraries and his owne are I doubt by the iniquitie of times quite lost and perished And here I might take occasion to speake of the great spoile of old Bookes and all other reuerend Antiquities at and vpon the suppression of Abbeyes and reformation of Religion As also of the due praise belonging to such men in these dayes who like Sir Robert Cotton with labour and charges collect and safely preserue these ancient Monuments of learning for the publique good and commodity of the whole kingdome But of this when I come to that inestimable rich Treasurie that famous and renowned Library in the Vniuersitie of Oxford whose principall Founder was Sir Thomas Bodley knight deceased To returne then to our Antiquarie Leyland Many other workes saith Bale in the foresaid declaration hath Leyland written of whom some are emprinted as the Assertion of king Arthure the Birth of Prince Edward the Song of the Swanne the decease of Sir Thomas Wiet the winning of Bullein and the commendation of Peace Some are not yet printed as his Colleccyons of the Byshoppes of Brytayne of the Vniuersytees of the same of the orygynoll and increase of good learnynges there Of his Epigrammes and Epitaphs and the lyfe of kynge Sygebert with many other more He died franticke the 18. day of Aprill Anno redemptionis humanae 1552. Of whom this Ogdoasticke following was composed either by himselfe as the stile sheweth or by some other in his name saith Pitseus Quantum Rhenano debet Germania docto Tantum debebit terra Britanna mihi Ille suae gentis ritus nomina prisca Aestiuo fecit lucidiora die Ipse antiquarum rerum quoque magnus amator Ornabo patriae lumina clara meae Quae cum prodierint niueis inscripta tabellis Tum testes nostrae sedulitatis erunt These verses were annexed to his Monument as I haue it by tradition This our Leland is called by writers Lelandus iunior in regard of another Iohn Leland who flourished in the time of king Henry the sixth taught a Schoole in Oxford and writ certaine Treatises of the Art of Grammer Which Leland saith Pits was tum in versu tum in prosa multo elegantior in omni Latinitate purior tersior nitidior quam ferebat illius at at is communis consuetudo As well in verse as prose much more elegant and in all the Latine tongue more pure polisht and neate then the custome of that age did commonly affoard Whereupon this riming Hexameter was made to his commendation Vt Rosa slos slorum sic Leland Grammaticorum But to take my leaue of both these Lelands and go forward to what ancient Inscriptions I haue sometime found in this Church Blessyd Lady moder and Virgyn have mercy and pety on ye soul of yowr powere mayd Elisabyth West yat here lyeth beryed ye whych decessyd ye yere of owr Lord M. ccccc.vii ye vii of Octobre O mater Dei miserere mei Amen Hic ..... Rogerus Woodcocke ciuis et Hat London Ioanna vxor eius .... M. ccccxxii Qui venisti redimere perditos noli dampnare redemptos Epitaphs and Inscriptions within certaine Churches of this Cittie colâ—â—cted about some thirtie seuen yeares since by Robert Treswell Esquire somerset Herald lately deceased Of which few or none are to be found at this present time Saint Botolphs Aldersgate Hic iacet Katherina Cauendish quondam vxor Thome Cauendishe nuper de Cauendish in Com. Suffolke Armig. que obijt xv die Septemb. Anno Dom. M. cccc.lxxxxix Cuius anima requiescat in pace Hic iacet Alicia nuper vxor Thome Cauendish de Cauendish et de Scaccario excellentissimi Principis Domini Henrici viij que quidem obijt xij Nouemb. Ann. Dom. M. ccccc.xv Cuius anime propitietur Altissimus Amen Here lyeth buried vnder this Stone Margaret
to that most martyred king Saint Edmund who in their rude massacre then slaine The title of a Saint his Martyrdome doth gaine Now to come to Norwich the first Bishop of Norwich was William Herbert the second Euerard the third William Turbus the fourth Iohn of Oxford the fift Iohn de Grey of these I haue written before The sixt was Pandulfus the Popes Legate hee was consecrated at Rome by Honorius the Third Bishop of Rome and died the fift yeare of his consecration 1227. The seuenth was Thomas de Blundeuill an officer of the Exchequer preferred thereunto by Hubert de Burgo the famous chiefe Iustice of England he died August 16. 1236. The eight Radulph who died An. 1236. The ninth was William de Raleigh who was remoued to Winchester The tenth was Walter de Sufield the eleuenth Simon de Wanton the twelfth Roger de Sherwyng the thirteenth William Middleton of whom before The fourteenth was Raph de Walpoole translated to Ely The fifteenth was Iohn Salmon the sixteenth was William Ayermin of whom before The seuenteenth was Antony de Becke Doctor of Diuinitie a retainer to the Court of Rome and made Bishop by the Popes Prouisorie Bull. Hee had much to doe with the Monkes of his Church whom it seemeth hee vsed too rigorously He also withstood Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury in his visitation appealing from him to Rome This boisterous vnquiet humour it seemes was his death for it is said that hee was poisoned by his owne seruants The eighteenth Bishop was William Bateman who died at Auinion in the yeare 1354. and was there buried of whom hereafter The ninteenth was Thomas Piercy The twentieth was Henry Spencer The one and twentieth was Alexander of whom before The two and twentieth was Richard Courtney Chancellour of the Vniuersitie of Oxford a man famous for his excellent knowledge in both lawes A man of great linage great learning and great vertue and no lesse beloued among the common people He died of a Fluxe in Normandy at the siege of Harflew Septemb. 14. 1415. in the second yeare after his consecration His body being brought into England was honourably interred at Westminster The three and twentieth was Iohn Wakering of whom I haue spoken before The foure and twentieth was William Alnwick translated to Lincolne of whom hereafter in his place of buriall The fiue and twentieth was Thomas Browne Bishop of Rochester who being at the Councell of Basill had this Bishopricke cast vpon him before euer he vnderstood of any such intent toward him In his time the Citizens of Norwich vpon an old grudge attempted many things against the Church but such was the singuler wisedome and courage of this Bishop that all their enterprises came to none effect he sate nine yeares and died anno 1445. where buried I doe not finde The sixe and twentieth was Gualter Hart or Lyghart The seauen and twentieth was Iames Goldwell The eight and twentieth was Thomas Ian. The nine and twentieth was Richard Nyx of whom before The thirtieth was William Rugge alias Reps a Doctor of Diuinitie in Cambridge He sate 14 yeares and deceased anno 1550. The one and thirtieth was Thyrlhey a Doctor of Law of Cambridge the first and last Bishop of Westminster translated to Ely The two and thirtieth was Iohn Hopton a Doctor of Diuinity of Oxford and houshold Chaplaine to Queene Mary elected to this Bishopricke in King Edwards daies He sate 4 yeares and died in the same yeare that Queene Mary did for griefe as it was supposed The three and thirtieth was Iohn Parkhurst who lieth buried in his Cathedrall Church vnder a faire Tombe with this Inscription Iohannes Parkhurstus Theol. professor Gilford natus Oxon. educatus Temporibus Mariae Reginae pro tuenda conscientia vixit exul voluntarius postea Presul factus sanctissime hanc rexit Ecclesiam per. 16. An. ob 1574. aetat 63. Vivo bono docto ac pio Iohanni Parkhursto Episcopo vigilentissimo Georgius Gardmer posuit hoc monumentum The foure and thirtieth was Edmund Freake Doctor of Diuinity who was remoued from hence to Worcester The fiue and thirtieth was Edmund Scambler houshold Chaplaine for a time to the Archbishop of Canterbury hee was consecrated Bishop of Peterborough Ianuary 16. anno 1560. and vpon the translation of Bishop Freake preferred to this See where hee lieth buried vnder a faire monument hauing this Inscription or Epitaph Edmundi Scambleri viri reuerendissimi et in ampliss dignitatis gradu dum inter homines ageret locati corpus in hoc tegitur tumulo obijt Non. Maij anno 1594. Viuo tibi moriorque tibi tibi Christe resurgam Te quia iustifica Christe prebendo fide Huic abeat mortis terror tibi viuo redemptor Mors mihi lucrum est tu pie Christe salus The sixe and thirtieth was William Redman Archdeacon of Canterbury consecrated Ianuary 12. an 1594. He was sometime fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and bestowed 100. markes vpon wainscotting of the Library there Hee died a few daies before Michaelmas Anno 1602. The seauen and thirtieth was Iohn Iegon Doctor of Diuinity and Deane of Norwich fellow sometimes of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge and afterwards master of Bennet Colledge of the time of his death or how long he enioyed this high dignitie I haue not learned The eight and thirtieth was Iohn Ouerall Doctor of Diuinitie sometimes Fellow of Trinitie Colledge Master of Katherine Hall and the Kings Professor in Cambridge afterwards Deane of S. Pauls a learned great Schooleman as any was in all the kingdome how long hee sate or when he died I doe not certainly know Samuel Harsenet Doctor of Diuinity sometime Master of Penbroke Hall in Cambridge Bishop of Chichester and now graced with the metropoliticall dignity of the Archbishoprick of Yorke was the nine and thirtieth Bishop of this Diocesse Which at this time is gouerned by the right reuerend Father in God Francis White Doctor of Diuinitie the Kings Almoneâ— sometimes Deane as also Bishop of Carlile an excellent learned man as his workes now extant doe testifie Now it here followes that I should say somewhat of the scituation circuit commodities and other particulars of this Diocesse like as I haue done of London but that is already most exactly performed and to the full by that learned and iudicious Knight and great Antiquary Sir Henry Spelman in his booke before mentioned called Icenia a Manuscript much desired to come to the open view of the world Here endeth the Ancient Funerall Monuments within the Diocesse of Norwich and this Booke FINIS A funerall Elegie vpon the death of Sir Robert Cotton Knight and Baronet Lib. 8. ep 3. Lib. 10. Epig. 11. In conclu li. vlt. 1. Siluester Transl. Properâ— lib. 3. El. 2. Ruines of Time M. â—rayton Pâ—l Song xvi Scipio Gentilis lib. Orig. sing Panuinius in lideritu sepeliend mortuos Râ—maines Camd. Remaines Aeneâ—◠〈◊〉 Trump 〈…〉 Inuen 〈◊〉 Rosin de Autin Romano 〈…〉 l. â— cap. 59. Gen. 1â— 2. Sam.
great Commander in the warres which by some English wit was happily imitated and ingeniously applyed to the honour of this our worthy chiefetaine Sir Philip written vpon a Tablet and fastened to a pillar in S. Pauls Church London the place of his buriall as the sequele will more plainly shew La France et le Piemont les cieux et les Arts Les Soldats et le Mondeont fait comme six parts De ce grand Bonniuet cor vne si grand chose Dedant vn seul tombeau ne pouuoit estre enclose La France en a le corps que elle aurit esleue Le Piemont a le ceur qu'il auoit esprouue Les cieux en ont l'esprit et les Arts la memoire Les Soldats le regret et le monde la gloire In English as followeth France and Piemont the Heauens and the Arts The Souldiers and the world haue made sixe parts Of Great Bonniuet for who will suppose That onely one Tombe can this man enclose France hath his body which she bred and well loued Piemont his heart which his valour had proued The Heauens haue his soule the Arts haue his Fame The Souldiers the griefe the world his good name A briefe Epitaph vpon the death of that most valiant and perfect honorable Gentleman Sir Philip Sidney knight late Gouernour of Flushing in Zealand who receiued his deaths wound at a battell neare Zutphen in Gelderland the 22. day of September and dyed at Arnhem the 16. day of October 86. Whose Funeralls were performed and his body interred within this Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London the 16. day of February next following in the yeare of our Lord God 1586. England Netherland the Heauens and the Arts The Souldiers and the world haue made sixe parts Of noble Sidney For who will suppose That a small heape of stones can Sidney enclose England hath his body for she it fed Netherland his bloud in her defence shed The Heauens haue his soule the Arts haue his Fame The Souldiers the griefe the world his good Name These Elegies also following penned in the praise of the said Philip by our late Soueraigne Lord King Iames that sole Monarch of many Nations giue a glorious lustre to his Heroicke actions In Philippi Sidnaei interitum Illustrissimi Scotorum Regis Carmen Armipotens cui ius in fortia pectora Mauors Tu Dea quae cerebrum perrumpere digna Tonantis Tuque adeo biiugae proles Latonia râ—pis Gloria deciduae cingunt quam collibus artes Duc tecum et querula Sidnai funera voce Plangite nam vester fuerat Sidnaeus alumnus Quid genus et proauos et spem floremque iuuentae Immaturo obitu raptum sine fine retexo Heu frustra queror heu rapuit Mors omnia secum Et nihil ex tanto nunc est Heroe superstes Praeterquam decus et nomen virtute paratum Doctaque Sidneas testantia Carmina laudes The same translated by the said King Thou mighty Mars the Lord of Souldiers braue And thou Minerve that dois in wit excell And thou Apollo who dois knowledge haue Of euery art that from Parnassus fell With all your Sisters that th aire on do dwell Lament for him who duely seru'd you all Whome in you wisely all your arts did mell Bewaile I say his vnexpected fall I neede not in remembrance for to call His race his youth the hope had of him ay Since that in him doth cruell Death appall Both manhood wit and learning euery way But yet he doth in bed of Honor rest And euermore of him shall liue the best Eiusdem Regis in Eundem Hexasticon Vidit et exanimem tristis Cytheraea Philippum Fleuit et hunc Martem credidit esse suum Eripuit digitis gemmas colloque monile Mars iterum nunquam ceu placitura foret Mortuus humana qui lusit imagine Diuam Quid faceret iam si viueret ille rogo In English When Venus sad saw Philip Sidney slaine She wept supposing Mars that he had bin From fingers Rings and from her necke the chaine She pluckt away as if Mars nere againe She ment to please In that forme he was in Dead and yet could a Goddesse thus beguile What had he done if he had liu'd this while Tunbridge In this ruinous Church which like the Caâ—tle carries with it a shew of venerable antiquitie I finde no funerall Monument of elder times remarkable in the north window onely are depicted the pourtraitures of the Lord Hugh Stafford kneeling in his coate-armour and his Bow-bearer Thomas Bradlaine by him with this inscription Orate pro animabus Domini Hugonis Stafford et Thome Bradlaine Arcuar .... This Hugh Lord Stafford afterwards Earle of Buckingham was Lord of this Mannor of Tunbridge by his grandmother Margaret the onely daughter and heire of Sir Hugh Audley Earle of Glocester of whom hereafter when I come to Stone in Staffordshire the place of his buriall Neare to the ruinous walls of the Castâ—â—â—stood a Priory pleasantly seated which in the shipwracke of such religious structures was dasht all a peeces founded by Richard de Clare Earle of Gloucester about the yeare 1241. for Canons of Saint Augustines order and consecrated to S. Mary Magdalen Which Priory was valued by the Commissioners at the suppression to be yearely worth 169. l. 10. s. 3. d. This Richard the founder dyed at Emmersfield in the Mannor-house of Iohn Lord Crioil here in Kent 14. Iulij Ann. 1262. his bowels were buried at Canterbury his body at Tewxbury and his heart here in his owne Church at Tunbridge Hee was Vir nobilis et omni laude dignus To whose euerlasting praise this Epitaph was composed Hic pudor Hippoliti Paridis gena sensus Vlissis Aeneae pietas Hectoris ira iacet Chaste Hippolite and Paris faire Vlisses wise and slie Aeneas kinde fierce Hector here ioyntly entombed lye Here sometime lay entombed the bodies of Hugh de Audley second sonne of Nicholas Lord Audley of Hâ—leigh Castle in the County of Stafford who was created Earle of Gloucester by king Edward the third and by the marriage of Margaret second daughter of Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester surnamed the red and sister and coheire to Gilbert the last Earle of that surname Lord of Tunbridge This Hugh dyed the tenth of Nouember 1347. Ann. 21. Ed. 3. I finde little of him remarkable saue his good fortunes being a younger brother to marry so great an inheritrix and to be exalted to such titles of honour His wife Margaret first married to Pierce Gaueston Earle of Cornwall dyed before him in the yeare of our Lord 1342. the 13. day of Aprill They were both together sumptuously entombed by Margaret their daughter the onely heire of her parents wife to Raph de Stafford Earle of Stafford The said Raph de Stafford and Margaret his wife were here likewise entombed at the feet of their father and