assistants preached the Gospell of life vnto the Islanders and found meanes there to build a Church or Oratorie of wreathen wands as also a little cell thereunto adioyning and this was the first religious house dedicated to the seruice of the true God in all Britaine and these religious men the first beginners or founders of that famous fenny-seated Monastery which is partly standing at this day of which more hereafter when I come to speake of the religious Foundations in Somersetshire In the meane while will you reade what our countreyman Iohn Capgraue in his Catalogue of English Saints writes of Iosephs comming into this kingdome Thus in English Ioseph with his sonne Iosephes saith he and ten more of his assistants sent hither by Philip the Apostle out of France for the inhabitants saluation preached zealously and without feare the true and liuely faith Aruiragus as then swaying the Scepter of this land The which Aruiragus howsoeuer he was vnwilling at the first to giue them entertainment or to heare them preach any doctrine repugnant to the traditions of his predecessours yet because they came from such a farre remote countrey as the holy Land and that he saw their ciuill behauiour their sanctitie and strict course in the manner of their life and conuersation he gaue them a certaine Island to inhabite in the West part of his dominions all compassed about with lakes and standing waters called Ynswitrim or the glassie Isle of which saith he a certaine Metrician made this Tetrastich Intrat Analoniam duodena caterua virorum Flos Arimathie Ioseph est primus eorum Iosephes ex Ioseph genitus patrem comitatur Hijs alijsque decemius Glasconie propriatur George Owen Harry in his Pedigrees vpon report from others saith Ioseph brought ouer with him his sister Eurgaine who afterwards married a Britaine whose name was Starklos Iohn Harding in his Chronicle of England will haue fourteene to accompany Ioseph in this iourney and that amongst many Britaines conuerted by them to the Christian faith Aruiragus the king was one to whom Ioseph gaue a shield of the Armes which now we call S. George his Armes such are the rimes in the English of those dayes two hundred yeares since or thereabouts Ioseph full holy and full wyse Of Arymathie wyth his felowes fourtene Into this lond then came and gaue contene In Bretayne then this Ioseph dyd conuerte Brytons as how to know the incarnacyon Afore that Paynyms and also peruerte He taught them of his conuersacyon Of his passyon and his resurrectyon Wyth other thynges as the Chronycler sayth That apperteyneth to Christes fayth Ioseph conuerted king Aruiragus By hys prechyng to knowe the lawe deuyne And baptyzed hym as written hath Nennius The Cronycler in Bretayn tongue full syne And to Chryst lawe made hym enclyne And gaue hym a sheld of siluer whyte A crosse endlong and ouertwhart full perfyte These Armes were vsed throughout all Bretayn For a common sygne eche manne to know his nacyon From enemyes whiche now we call certayn Saint Georges Armes by Nenius enformacyon And thus these Armes by Iosephs creacyon Full long afore Saint George was generate Were worshcipt here of mykell elder date The seeds of true Religion thus sowne by the said Ioseph and his associates neare or vpon for about this accompt there is some difference amongst writers the yeare of our Sauiour Christ one hundred and fourescore Lucius surnamed Leuer Maur which signifies great brightnesse king of the Britaines vpon his request made to Eloutherius Bishop of Rome for as then and many yeares after the title of Pope was altogether vnknowne two learned Diuines were sent vnto him from the said Bishop at whose hands he receiued the lauer of baptisme And so it sell out our Histories say that not onely his wife and family accompanied him in that happie course but Nobles also and Commons Priests and people high and low euen all the people within his Territories And that generally all their Idols were then defaced the Temples of them conuerted into Churches for the seruice of God the liuings of their idolatrous Priests appointed for the maintenance of the Priests of the Gospell and that instead of 25. Flamines or high Priests of their idols there were ordained 25 Bishops as also for three Archflamines three Archbishops whereof one was seated at London another at Yorke and a third at Caerlion vpon the riuer Vske in Wales Of all which will it please you peruse a few lines penned by my foresaid Author Iohn Harding In the yere of Christes incarnacyon An hundryd fourescore and tenne Eleuthery the first at supplicacyon Of Lucius sente hym twoo holy menne That called wer Faggan and Duvyen That baptyzed hym and all his realme throughoute With hertes glad and laboure deuoute Thei taught the folke the lawe of Christ eche daye And halowed all the temples in Christes name All mawment and Idoles caste awaye Through all Bretayn of all false Goddes the same The Temples Flamines the Idoles for to shame Thei halowed eke and made Bishoppes Sees Twenty and eight at diuers grete citees Of three Archflamines thei made Archbishoprikes One at London Troynouant that hight For all Logres with lawes full authentikes To rule the Church and Christentee in right Another at Carlyon a towne of might For all Cambre at Ebranke the thirde From Trent North for Albany is kide Robert the Monke of Gloucester an old rimer who writes the language of our fathers about foure hundred yeares since doth summarily thus tell you how Ioseph planted and Luciuâ established the doctrine of Christ in this our kingdome of Britaine His liues you will say are neither strong nor smooth yet perhaps they may giue your palate variety and as you like them you shall haue more hereafter Lucie Coeles sone aftur hym kyng was To fore hym in Engelond Chrestondom non nas For he hurde ofte miracles at Rome And in meny anothur stede yat thurgh Christene men come He wilnede anon in hys herte to fong Christendom Therfor messagers wyth good letters he nom That to the pape Eleutherie hasteliche wende And yat he to hym and his menne xpendom sende And yat he myghte servy God he wilned muche therto And seyd he wold noght be glad er hit wer ydo Tho ye Pape hurde thes twey hâly men be sende Phagan and Damian hys soul to amende The ryghte beleue to teche and yaf him xpendom That folke faste aboute wide ther to com Thys was an hundryd sixti yer and too Aftur God was ybore this dede was ydoo Thus come lo xpendom into Brutayne lond But ther wer erst som preneliche xpendom had de fond As atte the plas of Glastyngbury Ioseph of Arimathie Liued ther in Christes lay wyth hij companie Ther wer tho in Brutayne false lawes to lere Eyght and twenty chese stedes Byshopriches as âit were And thre Erchtemples as hit wer heyghest of echon London and Ebrackwike and
raised vpon small occasions thought his way would bee much easier if he went onward with the Popes good fauour which he easily obtained for a fee viz. a penny yearely to bee payed to Saint Peter of euerie house in Ireland Edward the third in the 39. yeare of his raigne saith Treuisa the Continuer of Polychronicon ordained that this Tribute of Peter pence should not be from thenceforth any more gathered within this Realme nor any such payment made at Rome But howsoeuer saith Hollinshed in the said yeare this payment was abrogated at this time by King Edward it was after reneâed againe by the Pope and the money was gathered in certaine Shires of this Realme vntill the dayes of king Henry the eighth Parsons and Impropriators of Churches at this day in many places of England are payed this pennie vnder the name of a Smoke pennie This Chapter is growne much longer then I expected Of which an end CHAP. XVIII Of Parishes Bishoprickes Of the power and sanctitie of Bishops and Priests Of Sanctuaries and of the Ecclesâasticall state of England and Wales PArochia dicitâr locus in quo degit populus alicui Ecclesiae baptismali deputatus certis finibus limitatus A Parish is said to bee a place in which people doe hue assigned to some Christian Church and limited by certaine bounds Euaristus the first Bishop of Rome who suffered martyrdome vnder Traian the Emperour about the yeare of our redemption one hundred and ten ordained Curates and disposed of them to certaine places that they might administer the Sacraments to such people as were committed to their charge and withall he ordained that these Curates should bee nourished and maintained by those people of whose soules they had the cure whereupon they were called Parochi ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã à prebenco vel à mutua alimentorum praebitione Parochians or Parishioners of the mutuall exhibition and giuing of nourishment one to another the Priest for the soules of his people and the people for the maintenance of their Priest Dionisius that blessed Martyr Bishop of Rome circa ann 266. did attempt to doe the like throughout the whole Christian world appointing by distribution certaine places to which he assigned Ecclesiasticall persons there to administer the Sacraments pray and preach the word and to receiue the tenths of the possessions contained within the limits of the foresaid places Honorius Archiepiscopus Cantuar circa annum à salute reparata 636. Angliam primus in Parochias distribuere cepit Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury about the yeare of our saluation 636. began first to diuide England into Parishes But this opinion is controuerted by a late learned Antiquary and by him plainly approued that Honorius was not the first that made this diuision here in England but that Parishes were diuided and Parish-Churches built long before his time euen in the Primitiue Hierarchie of the Britaineâ And that in the time of King Arthur about the yeare of our Lord 490 when Dubritius was made Archbishop of South Wales diuers Churches with their endowments of Tithes oblations and other profits were appropriated to him the said Dubritius and his successours And that in those times Churches were built here no doubt can bee made Neither is it to be conceiued how Christianitie could be in any nation saith my Author much ancienter if generally receiued or by any number then Churches or some conuenient houses or other places in the nature of Churches appointed for the exercise of deuotion And expresse mention is made of a Church of which I haue spoken before built in Canterbury in the time of the Romanes to the honour of Saint Martin in which Augustine and his followers when they came first from Rome made their holy assemblies After that the stormes of Diocletians persecution were ouerblowen saith Bede which was circa Ann. 290. the faithfull Christians who in time of danger lay hid in dennes and deserts came forth and shewed themselues abroad renewed their Churches which before were ouerthrowne flat to the ground founded builded and perfited new Temples in honour of the holy Martyrs celebrated holy dayes consecrated the holy mysteries with pure mouth and heart and euery where as it were displayed their ensignes in signe of Conquest Aliquindo Parochia dicitur totus Episcopatus saith one and Parochia etiam Dioecesis Episcopalis dicitur saith another Sometime a Parish is said to be the whole Bishopricke and sometime the Episcopall Diocesse Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons diuided In duas Parochias Praâânciam the Prouince into two Parishes or Diocesses when as he erected a new Bishopricke at Winchester taken out of the Diocesse of Dorchester a ruinous Towne now in Oxfordshire In the yeare 680. Merciorum Prouincia in quinque Parochias est diuisa The Prouince of Mercia was diuided into fiue Parishes that is into fiue Bishopricks and thus Honorius may be said properly to haue beene the first vnder whom his Prouince was diuided into such Parishes or Bishoprickes Anno Dom. 747. in the raigne of Ethelbald king of the Mercians in a Synod holden at Clouesho it was decreed Vt singuli Episcopi omni anno Parochias suas circumirent That euery Bishop should go about or visit his Parishes once euery yeare And in the first Synod or Conuocation of the English Church holden at Hereford Ann. 670 it was determined Vt nullus Episcoporum Parochiam alterius inuadat sed contentus sit gubernatione creditae sihi plebis That no Bishop should haue ought to do in anothers Parish but bee contented with the charge of the people committed vnto him Kenulph King of the Mercians in his Epistle to Leo the third Bishop of Rome writes Quod contra Canones à Patre Gregorio constitut as auctoritas Dorobernensis Metropolitani in duas scinditur Parochias cuius ditioni duo decim subiacere debent Episcopi That contrary to the Canons of Saint Gregory the iurisdiction of the Metropoliticall See of Canterbury was diuided into two Parishes to whose authoritie twelue Bishops ought to be subiect To which point of his Epistle Leo makes this answer In sacro scrinio nostro reperimus sanctum Gregorium Predecessorem nostrum in integro ipsam Parochiam numero duodecim beato Augustino Archiepiscopo tradidisse Epis copos consecrandos We finde in our sacred Cabinet our Predecessour Saint Gregory to haue giuen and deliuered that Parish to blessed Augustine entire and whole with the number of twelue Bishops by him to bee consecrated These great Parishes or Bishoprickes were not made Diocesses or Iurisdictions together straight from the first budding of Christianitie but in succession of time as the number of Christians did increase and as the true faith was spread abroad For some Churches were vnder the charge of Curates other some of Abbots and of these were made these great Parishes or Bishopricks The dignitie and gouernment of which was appointed to learned and religious
men which did diligently ouersee like good Shepheards the flocks committed to their charge and these were called Bishops Episcopus Grece latine speculator interpretatur speculari enim debet mores vitia populi sibi subiecti intendere ad eorum salutem A Bishop both in Greeke and Latine signifies a beholder or a Scoute watch for he ought to behold and ouersee the manners conditions and vices of the people liuing vnder his gouernment and to vse the best meanes hee can for their soules health Homer calls Hector suum Episcopum because he was precipuus Troiae inspector et propugnator the chiefe ouerseer and defender of the Citie of Troy Nihil in hoc seculo excellentius sacerdotibus nihil sublimius Episcopis reperiri potest Nothing in this age more excelling then Priests nothing more sublime and high then Bishops can be found Honor et sublimitas Episcopalis nullis poterit comparationibus adaequari The Episcopall honour and dignitie can be equalled by no comparisons Esto subiectus Pontifici tuo et quasi parentem animae tuae ama Be subiect to thy Bishop and loue him as the father and nourisher of thy soule Nihil est in bac vita et maxime hoc tempore difficilius laboriosius et periculosius Episcopi aut Presbyteri officio sed apud Deum nihil beatius si eo modo militetur quo noster Imperator iubet Nothing in this life and specially at this time more difficult laborious and perillous then the office of a Bishop or Priest but before Almightie God no office more blessed if they fight and make warre after the same manner as they bee commanded by their Captaine our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. Omnis Pontifex saith Saint Paul ex hominibus assumptus pro hominibus constituitur in ijs qui sunt ad Deum vt offerat dona et sacrificia pro peccatis Euery Bishop or high Priest is taken from among the men and is ordained for men in things pertaining to God that hee may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sinnes They are Gods labourers Gods husbandrie and Gods buildings Let a man so thinke of them as of the Ministers of Christ and disposers of the secrets of God What is more pleasant saith William the Monke of Malmesbury in his Prologue to the Acts of our English Bishops then to rehearse the praise of our ancient Bishops that thou mayest know the deeds of them of whom thou hast receiued the rudiments of Faith and the incitements to a godly life No nation of the world saith Capgraue in the Prologue to his Catalogue of English Saints hath from the beginning beene so blest with holy learned and religious Bishops as England whose sanctitie did so shine that all which saw them and their good workes assuredly knew that they were the seed to whom God had imparted his blessings their conuersation and studie being alwayes about heauenly matters As the rod of Aaron did bud and blossome and bring forth ripe Almonds so the Church and Ministery of England by the meanes of our reuerend Bishops as of Gods sacred instruments did and still doth prosper flourish and bring forth fruits of righteousnesse to the glorie of God and comfort of all true Christian hearts Now before I conclude this point giue me leaue to speake a little further of the first institution of Bishops out of the booke of a namelesse Author written in Latine about three hundred yeares since translated into English by one William Marshall and imprinted at London by one Robert Wyer Ann. 1535 in the 27. of King Henry the eighth the booke is called The Defence of Peace After the tymes of the Apostles the nombre of Preestes beyng notablye augmented and increased saith he to avoyde sclaundre and occasyon of offendynge any man and to avoyde scisme and dyvysion the Preestes chose one among themselues which shulde dyrecte and ordre the other as touchynge to the exercysynge of the Ecclesiasticall offyce or service and the dystrybutyng of the oblacyons and the dysposynge and orderynge of other thyngs in the most conuenient maner leste yf euery man myght do this thinge after his owne pleasure as he lest himselfe the good ordre and servyce of the Churches myght be troubled by the reason of the dyuerse affeccions of men This Preeste whiche was so elected and chosen to ordre and rule the other Preestes by the custome and vsed maner of speakynge of them that came afterwards was onely called a Bysshop or ouerseer because not onely he was ouerloker of the Christen people for whiche cause all other Preests also were called Ouerseers in the Prymatyne Church but also because he had the ouersyght of the other Preestes Howsoeuer saith he in the same Chapter in the essentyall and inseparable auctoryte and dygnyte of Preesthood the Bysshops have no preheminence aboue other Preestes but onely in auctoryte accydentall being that the Bishop by the provydence of God is chosen vpon the former reason to have the rule and gouernment of the Clergie within his Diocesse For in the power and auctoryte of makyng and admynystryng the Sacraments and performing of other duties belonginge meerely to the Preesthood all Preestes saith he have all one auctoryte in kynde neyther the Bysshop of Rome or any other Bysshop hath this auctoryte any whyt more largely than any other hath who euer he be beynge called a symple or pryvate Preest And therfore it is to be mervayled wherfore some men do stryve styffely and frowardly affyrmynge yet no thynge reasonably that the Pope of Rome hath more large power of the keyes geuen to hym of Chryste than hath other Preestes seing that this cannot be proued by the holy Scrypture but rather the contrary For whiche thyngs to go on with my Author more euidently to be seene and perceyved you ought to vnderstande and knowe that these two wordes Presbyter and Episcopus that is to saye Preest or senyour and Bysshop were both of one sygnyfycacion and betokened all one thynge in the Prymatyue Church albeit they were put to sygnyfy one thynge of diuers propertyes for Presbyter was a name gyven to them of age which is as moche to saye as a Senyour or Elder And Episcopus was a name gyuen of cure or charge vpon other and is as moche to say as an ouerloker according to that of Saynt Iherom in a certayne Epystle to Euandre who sayth thus Presbyter and Episcopus the one is a name of age the other of dygnyte These dignified priests I meane Bishops euer since the Conquest their chiefe seate or chaire in Cities and their Churches haue euer since the sunne-shine of the Gospell beene called Cathedrall and in respect they were more spatious then other inferiour Parish Churches they were tearmed Basilicae of which will it please you heare Camden speake These greater Churches saith hee when the sauing light of Christ shone vpon the world
which you may reade more at large in Camden his diuision of Britaine and know more by Speed in his Type of this flourishing kingdome The Ecclesiasticall state of England is diuided into two Prouinces or Archbishopricks viz. of Canterbury and of Yorke The Archbishop of Canterbury âs stiled Metropolitanus et Primas totius Angliae and the Archbishop of Yorke Primas Angliae The Archbishop of Canterbury hath vnder him within his Prouince of ancient and late foundations Rochester his principall Chaplaine London his Deane Winchester his Chancellour and all the rest of the Bishopricks foure excepted viz. Chester Durham Carlile and the I le of Man which are annexed to the Archbishopricke of Yorke Euery Diocesse is diuided into Archdeaconries and the Archdeacon is called Oculus Episcopi The eye of the Bishop And euery Archdeaconrie is parted into Deanries and Deanries againe into Parishes Townes and Hamlets The Bishop is called the Ordinarie in the Ecclesiasticall Law Quia habet ordinariam iurisdictionem in iure proprio et non per deputationem for that he hath ordinarie iurisdiction in his owne proper right and not by deputation in causes Ecclesiasticall All the Archbishops and Bishops of England haue beene founded by the Kings of England and do hold of the King by Baronie and haue been all called by writ to the Court of Parliament and are Lords of Parliament And the Bishopricks in Wales were founded by the Princes of Wales and the Principalitie of Wales was holden of the King of England as of his Crowne And the Bishops of Wales are also called by Writ to Parliament and are Lords of Parliament as Bishops of England be There were within the Realme of England one hundred and eightâene Monasteries founded by the Kings of England whereof such Abbots and Priors as were founded to hold of the King per Baroniam and were called to the Parliament by Writ were Lords of Parliament and had places and voices there And of them were twenty sixe Abbots and two Priors as by the Rolles of Parliament appeare yet if you reckon the Abbot of Feuersham in Kent founded by King Stephen there were twentie and seuen which some do saith my learned Author warranted by these words in the Cartularie Et dedit Abbati et Monachis et successoribusâs is Minerium de Feuersham Com. Kane simul cum Hundredo c. tenend per Baroniam But saith he albeit this Abbot held by a Baronie yet because he was neuer that I finde called by Writ he neuer sat in Parliament Bishopricks in England with that of the Isle of Man are 37. whose extents I set downe in the passage of this worke Deanries 26. whereof thirteene were ordained by Henrie the eighth in the greater Cathedral Churches after the Monkes were thrust out Archdeacouries threescoââ Dignities and Prebends fiue hundred fourty foure Numbred also there are Parish churches vnder Bishops 9284 of which 3845. be Appropriat as I finde in a Catalogue saith he exhibited to King Iames. Now Appropriat Churches those are called which by the Popes authoritie comming betweene with consent of the King and the Bishop of the Diocesse were vpon certaine conditions tyed or Instruments vnited annexed and incorporate for euer vnto Monasteries Bishopricks Colledges and Hospitals endowed with small lands either for that the said Churches were built their Lordships and Lands or graunted by the Lords of the said Lands Which Churches afterwards when the Abbeyes and Monasteries were suppressed became Laye Fees to the great damage of the Church Henry the eighth presently vpon the suppression of Monasteries and his ordination of certaine Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches set dâwne by the aduice of his Counsell a number of Rules and Statutes to be obserued by the Officers and Ministers residing in the same As appeares by this Record following which I thought to transcribe Henricus Octauus Dei gracia Anglie Francie et Hibernie Rex Fidei Defensor ac in terra supremum Ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernie caput Vniuersis sancte matris Ecclesie silijs ad quorum noticiam presens Scriptum peruenerit Salutem Cumet nobis et Regni nostri Preceribus vniuer soque Senatui quâm Parliamentum vocamus visum sit Deo et confidimus nos huc mouente Monasteria que passim in regno nostro extabant tum propter graues et multiplices illorum enormitates tum ob alias iustas rationabilesque causas supprimere ââolere et in meliores vsus convertere Nos et diuine voluntati conformius ââmâius âre Christiana esseducentes vt vbi ignorantia et superstitio regnabant ibi sincerus Dei cultus vigeat et sanctum Christi Euangelium assidue et pure annuncietur Et preteria vt ad Christiane fidei ac pietatis incrementum iuuentus Regni nostri in bonis literis instituatur et pauperes perpetuo sustententur in ipsorum Monasteriorum loco Ecclesias ereximus et consâituimus Quarum alias Cathedrales alias Collegiatas vocari volumus pro quarum Ecclesiarum ac Collegiorum gubernaecione et regimine leges et statuta que sequntur prescribend curauimus quibus tam Decani et vtriusque ordinis Canonici quam ceteri omnes ministri pueri et pauperes qui in ipsis Ecclesijs commoraturi sunt pareant et ebsequantur eisque vt à nobis conditis et perfect is regantur et gubernentur Id quod si fecerint ingens sine pictatis incrementum in hoc regno nostro peruenturum esse confidemus Et nos expectatione ãâã voto nostro qui ad Dei optumi maximi gloriam ac fidei Christiane augmentum has Ecclesias ereximus et varijs ministrorum ordinibus enornauimus haâd quaquam fraudabimus Dat. c. The Statutes rules and orders were annexed hereunto which were very many and more then can conueniently be included in this short Treatise and more I thinke then were well performed As may partly be proued by an Inâunction from the Queenes Maiestie to the Archbishop of Canterbury Mathew Parker in these words By the Queene The Queenes Maiesty considering how the pallaces and houses of Cathedrall Churches and Colledges of this Realme haue ben both of ancyent and late tyme buylded and inclosed in seuerall to susteyne and kepe Socyeties of learned men professing Study and prayer for the edification of the Church of God and so consequently to serue the Common-weale And vnderstanding of late that within the houses hereof as well the chiefe Gouernours as the Prebendaries Students and members thereof being married do keepe particular housholds with their wiues children and Nurses whereof no small offence groweth to th entent of the Founders and to the quiet and orderly profession of studie and learning within the same hath thought meete to prouide remedie herein lest by sufferance thereof the rest of the Colledges specially such as be replenished with young Students as the very roomes and buildings be not answerable for such families of women and young children should follow the like example And
aboue mentioned is 8803. Here ends the Discourse ANCIENT FVNERALL MONVMENTS WITHIN THE Diocesse of Canterbury The Foundation of Christ-Church in Canterbury CHristian Religion of which I haue spoken before which presently after our blessed Sauiours passion was both preached and planted in this Island by Ioseph of Arimathea and his associates and after that aduanced and increased by Lucius King of the Britaines and his famous Clerkes being darkened ouerclouded and almost totally eclipsed with the contagious smoke arising from such abhominable sacrifices as were offered here vnto strange Idols was againe illumined and recomforted with the glorious beames of religious light by Augustine the Monke and his fellow-labourers in Christs vineyard Which Augustine sent hither from Rome by Gregory the great when he had found such fauour in the sight of King Ethelbert that he might freely preach the Gospell in this his countrey hee chose for assemblie and prayer an old Church in the East part of this Citie which was a long time before builded by the Romanes and hee made thereof by licence of the King a Church for himselfe and his successours dedicating the same to the name of our blessed Sauiour Christ whereof it was alwayes afterward called Christ-Church And by the meanes of the said Pope Gregory hee translated the Metropolitan See from London the Cathedrall Church being then at Saint Peters in Cornhill to this his newly consecrated Church here in Canterbury whereof he was the first Archbishop By these proceedings the prophesie of Merlin was fulfilled which foretold that Christianity should faile and then reuiue againe when the See of London did adorne Canterbury Of which out of an old Manuscript these following Rimes Erchebysshop furste of alle Seynt Austyn was ther But ye Erchcbysshops Se at London was er Tho camme Merlynes word to sothe atten ende Yat ye dignyte of London to Canterbery sholde wende Anothur chyrche in Cantyrbery he lete rere Yat is clupyd Christ Chyrche and now the Se is there Since which time this sacred structure by the pious and exceeding charges of succeeding Archbishops by the deuotion of those dayes made willing to disburse great summes is so raised aloft saith learned Camden to that maiestie and statelinesse that it striketh a sensible impression of Religion in the hearts and mindes of the beholders of which as also of the Citie will it please you reade this Ogdoasticon out of a Manuscript penned by Iohn Iohnston of Aberden sometimes the Kings professour of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of S. Andrewes in Scotland Quae minima in paruo regno pars ante fuisti Facta es Cantiadum regia prima Ducum Quae modica in magno imperio pars ante fuisti Maiorem fecit Pontificalis honor Alterius cum iura locitecum inde tulisti Facta es finitimis imperiosa locis Sponsa tibi Christi si tot cumulauit honores Non iterum huic par sit reddere velle suos To this his Church Austine adioyned a Monastery and dedicated the same to the blessed Trinitie into which Laurence his next Successour brought Benedictine Monkes the head whereof was called a Prior. Which word saith Lambard in his perambulation of Kent howsoeuer it soundeth was indeed but the name of a second Officer because the Bishop himselfe was accounted the very Abbot for in old time the Bishops were for the most part chosen out of such Monasteries and therefore most commonly had their palaces neare adioyning and gouerned there as Abbots By meanes whereof it came to passe that such Abbeyes were greatly enriched and endowed with wealth and possessions insomuch that this Priory at the dissolution being valued at Robin Hoods peniworths was found to be yearly worth besides iurisdiction ouer diueâs hundreds as you may finde in the Exchequer booke called Nomina Villarum two thousand foure hundred eightie nine pounds foure shillings nine pence But Henry the eighth saith Camden scattered this wealth heaped vp together in so many ages and dispersed these Monks in lieu of whom he placed in this Church a Deane an Archdeacon Prebendaries twelue and sixe Preachers who in places adioyning round about should teach and preach the word of God The Archbishoprick at this day whose Prouince containeth twentie two Bishoprickes and Diocesse the greatest part of Kent being but valued in the Kings bookes at two thousand eight hundred sixteene pounds seuenteene shillings nine pence Howsoeuer in former times the Archbishop was wont to pay to the Pope at euery income for his first-fruits ten thousand Ducats or Florens and for his Pall fiue thousand euery Ducate being of our Sterling money foure shillings sixe pence And as I finde it in an old Manuscript for Rom-scot or Peter-pence seuen pounds seuenteene shillings Seuentie three Archbishops in a continued traine of Succession haue sitten in this glorious chaire which at this present doth adde grace and honour to George Abbot Doctor of Diuinity sometime Deane of Winchester Master of the Vniuersitie Colledge in Oxford Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield from whence hee was remoued to London and from thence translated to this Metropoliticall seate of Canterbury Who hath bestowed great summes of money in building and endowing of an Hospitall at Guildford in Surrey the Towne wherein he was borne But now to come within the Cathedrall Church which hath beene and still is honoured with the funerall Monuments of many renowned Princes of which although it may iustly vaunt yet was it for nothing else so famous as for the life death sepulcure and Shrine of Thomas Beckât Archbishop of this See by which her estimation was aduanced beyond all reason measure and wonder This Thomas Becket was borne in London his fathers name was Gilbert a Merchant his mothers Mâtilda a stranger borne in Syria He was first taught and brought vp by the Prior of Mercon Abbey in Surrey and from thence sent to the Vniuersities of Oxford Paris and Bononia to study the Canon Law vpon his returne he proceeded Doctor of that faculty in Oxford after which as you may haue it in the History of his life written by the right reuerend Father in God Francis Godwin now Bishop of Hereford in short time he was preferred by Theobald Archbishop of this See vnto the Archdeaconry of Canterbury the Prouostship of Beuerley and the Parsonages of Bromfeeld and Saint Mary Hill a Prebend in Paules and another in the Church of Lincolne and withall commended by him so effectually to King Henry the second that he receiued him into the number of his Chaplaines aduanced him to the honour of Lord Chancellour of England and after the death of the said Theobald to this Grace and Primaâie of Canterbury presently after his consecration being yet scarcely warme in his seate vnder colour of defending the rights of his Church hee stubbornly opposed himselfe against his Lord and Soueraigne in all his royall proceedings insomuch that he was constrained to exile him the kingdome Of which you shall
precor horum He was a very seuere corrector of sinne depriuing many Clergie-men of their liuings in the first visitation of his owne Diocesse He repaired his pallace with 1101. l. and odde money which he recouered of Andrew Vfford Archdeacon of Midlesex adminâstratour of Iohn Vfford his predecessour for dilapidations hee built and endowed with good possessions a Colledge in this Citie which is now become a parcell of Christ-church in Oxford He bequeathed to his Church a thousand sheepe his vestments which were all cloth of gold a very sumptuous Coape and much plate he was a very ââugall and sparing man neuer esteeming pompe nor outward brauery which he shewed at his end desiring to be buried obscurely to auoid superfluous expence William Wittlesey succeeded the said Simon and was brought vp at Oxford at the charges of Simon Islip who was his Vnkle where hee proceeded Doctor of the Canon Law and by him sent to Rome to sollicite his causes and also to get experience by seeing the practise of that Court who after he had stayed there a time was called home and preferred by his Vnkles meanes vnto the place of Vicar generall then to the Deanrie of the Arches the Archdeaconrie of Huntington the Parsonages of Croydon and Cliff to the Bishopricke of Rochester from thence to Worcester and lastly after the decease of his said Vncle to this Archbishopricke of Canterbury in which he continued almost seuen yeares being the most of his time troubled with a tedious lingring disease whereof he died Iuly 5. 1374. He lieth buried ouer against his Vncle betweene two pillars vnder a marble Tombe inlaid with brasse which with his Epitaph is altogether defaced the brasse worne torne or stolne away these few words onely remaining ............ tumulatus Wittelesey natus gemmata luce ..... Sudburie natus Simon iacet hic tumulatus Martirizatus nece pro republica stratus Heu scelus infernum trux exitiale nefandum Presulis eximij corpus venerabile dandum In rabiem Vulgi ......... This is a fragment of an Epitaph composed to the memory of Simon Tibold the sonne of one Nigellus Tibold surnamed Sudbury of a Towne in Suffolke where he was borne a Doctor of the Canon Law who by degrees came to this Metropolitan Grace of Canterbury A man very wise learned eloquent liberall mercifull and wondrous reuerend all which could not deliuer him from vntimely death For he together with Sir Robert Hales Lord Prior of Saint Iohns Ierusalem and Chancellour or England were haled to the Tower-hill by the Rebels of Kent and Essex with infernall shouts and yells and there vniustly Nam ius calcatur violââtia cum dominatur and horriblie hackâ hewed and in that barbarous manner beheaded by these arch Trayâours Iune the fourteenth the yeare of our Lord 1381. and of the raigne of that vnfortunate King Richard the second the fourth hauing sate Bishop about six yeares Which lamentable storie the Chronicles at large declare When these hurlie burlies were at an end the body of this good Archbishop was conueyed to his owne Church and there honourablie inteââed vpon the South side of the Altar of Saint Dunstan This Bishop built the West-gate of this Citie and the wall from that gate vnto the North-gate commonly called by the name of the long wall and would haue done likewise about all the Towne if hee had liued The Maior and the Aldermen once a yeare vsed to come solemnly to his Tombe to pray for his soule in memory of this his good deed to their Citie saith Leland in his Commentaries It was the custome of old and so it is in these dayes for men of eminent ranke and qualitie to haue Tombes erected in more places then one for example and proofe of my speech I finde here in this Church a Monument of Alabaster at the feete of the blacke Prince wherein both by tradition and writing it is affirmed that the bones of William Courtney the sonne of Hugh Courtney the third of that Christian name Earle of Deuonshire Archbishop of this See lies entombed And I finde another to the memory of the same man at Maidstone here in Kent wherein because of the Epitaph I rather beleeue that his body lieth buried Of which hereafter when I come to that Towne Here lieth interred vnder a faire Monument Thomas Fitz-Alan or Arundell the third sonne of Richard Fitz-Alan Earle of Arundell Warren and Surrey by Eleanor his wife daughter of Henry Plantaginet Earle of Lancaster as I haue it in the Catalogue of Honour Who at the age of two and twenty yeares was consecrated Bishop of Ely which hee laudablie gouerned considering the greennesse of his age the space of fourteene yeares three moneths and eighteene dayes In which time hee was Lord Chancellour of England from Ely he was translated to Yorke leauing for an implement at his house of Ely a wonderfull sumptuous and costly Table adorned with gold and precious stones which belonged first to the King of Spaine and was sold to this Bishop by the blacke Prince for three hundred Markes Hee also bestowed the building of the great Gate-house of Ely house in Houlborne during his abode at Yorke which was about eight years he bestowed much in building vpon diuers of his houses and vnto the Church Besides many rich ornaments he gaue two great Basons of siluer and gilt two great Censers two other Basons of siluer and two Creuetts he gaue to the Vicars a siluer cup of great waight and a massie bowle of siluer to the Canons From Yorke he was remoued hither to Canterbury and here he sate one moneth aboue seuenteene yeares In which time at the West end of his Church hee built a faire spiâe steeple called to this day Arundell steeple and bestowed a tunable ring of fiue bels vpon the same which he dedicated to the holy Trinity to the blessed Virgine Mary to the Angell Gabriel to Saint Blase and the fifth to S. Iohn Euangelist Thus much he effected howsoeuer hee was no sooner warme in his seate then that he with his brother the Earle of Arundell were condemned of high Treason his brother executed and he banished the kingdome and so liued in exilement the space of neare two yeares vntill the first of the raigne of Henry the fourth This worthy Prelate died of a swelling in his tongue which made him vnable to eate drinke or speake for a time before his death Which happened Februar 20. Ann. 1413. An Author contemporarie with this Archbishop writes as followeth of the passages in those times as also much in the grace and commendation of this worthy Metropolitan Heu mea penna madet lachrimis dum scribere suadet Infortunata sceleris quibus horreo fata Non satis est Regem mundi deflectere legem Vt pereant gentes sub eo sine lege manentes Sed magis in Christum seuit qua propter ad istum Casum deslendum
and from that remoued to the title of Saint Rusine all which his Ecclesiasticall preferments were comprehended in this one verse composed by his cosin Thomas Kempe Bishop of London Bis Primas ter Praesul erat bis Cardine functus And to adde to all these honours he was twice Lord Chancellour of England He continued not here aboue a yeare and a halfe but died a very old man March 22. 1453. hee conuerted the Parish-Church of Wye into a Colledge of secular Priests Of which hereafter In a little history of the Archbishops of Yorke written in rythmicall numbers I finde these in his commendations Tunc Iohannes nobilis Kemp vociferatus Prius in Londonijs Presul installatus Et erectus Pontifex Metropolitanus Presul Archipresulem confirmat Romanus Mandans sibi pallium Martinus erectus Sagax Cancellarius Regis est effectus Cardinalis Presbiter digne sublimatur Sub Balbine Titulo sic laus cumulatur In Suthwell manerium fecit preciosum Multis artificibus valde sumptuosum Annis multis prospere curam sui gregis Rexit per iusticiam per normam legis Tandem vsque Cantiam Presul est translatus Illic Archiepiscopus est inthronizatus Apud Lambeth obijt labor iam finitur Et in Cantuaria corpus sepelitur Licet prohibuerit Abbas rigorose Iacet ibi condita gleba gloriose I finde little of any great worke or deede of charitie this Bishop performed besides his Manor of Suthwell here onely mentioned with all these his pennisome preferments but the reason is giuen in the Catalogue of Bishops that he died very rich and that in his life time he aduanced many of his kindred to great wealth and some to the dignitie of knighthood whose posteritie continued yet in this County of great worship and reputation euen to this day That he might die very rich I doe not denie but for the aduancement of his kindred to the honour of knighthood was no other title then his grandfather Sir Iohn Kempe and his Vncle Sir Roger enioyed his owne father Thomas being a younger brother to the said Sir Roger. Here lieth buried as by an inscription vpon a marble doth appeare Thomas Bourchier commonly called Bowser second sonne of William Bourchier Earle of Ewe in Normandie and brother to Henry Bourchier Earle of Ewe and Essex He was brought vp in Oxford ãâ¦ã preferred to the Deanrie of Saint Martins then to the Bishopâââââ oâ Worcester from whence he was translated to Ely and ãâ¦ã in this chaire of Canterbury wherein he sate 32. yeares and ãâ¦ã the time of his first consecration 51. yeares I finde not ãâ¦ã Englishman continued so long a Bishop or that any Archbishop ãâã before or after him in eight hundred yeares enioyed that place so long And to adde more honour to his Grace and money to his purse he was about two yeares Lord Chancelour of England and Cardinall tt S. Ciriaci in Thermis âât all this time for all these great and eminent promotions he left nothing behinde him to continue his memorie but an old rotten chest in the congregation house at Cambridge called Billingsworth and Bowser into which for the vse of the Vniuersitie Billingsworth before him had put in one hundred pounds and he forsooth imitating that munificent example put in one hundred and twenty pounds He died March 30. 1486. as appeared by ãâ¦ã ption vpon his Monument Hic iacet reuerendissimus pater Dominus D. Thomas ãâ¦ã quoâdam sacrosancte Romane Ecclesie S. Ciriaci in Thermi ãâ¦ã chiepiscopus huius Ecclesie qui obijt 30. die Marty 1486. ãâ¦ã propitietur altissimus Here lieth buried vnder a marble stone in a sumptuous Chappell vnder the Quier of his owne building Iohn Morton borne to the good of all England at Beere at Saint Andrews Milborn saith Camdeâ in Dorsetshire brought vp in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of the Ciuill and Canon Law he was first Parson of Saint Dunstans in London and Prebendarie of Saint Decumanes in Wales then Bishop of Ely Master of the Rolles Lord Chancellour of England Cardinall of Saint Anastatia and Archbishop of this Metropolitan See A man so well deseruing both of the Church and common-wealth that all honours and offices were too little which were conferred vpon him of a piercing naturall wit he was very well learned and honorable in behauiour lacking no wise wayes to winne loue and fauour by whose deepe wisedome and pollicie the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster whose titles for a long time had mightily disquieted the whole kingdome were happily vnited but our English Chronicles are so full and copious in this Bishops commendation as that I know not where to begin with him nor how to take my leaue of him Whilest he was Bishop of Ely which was about eight yeares hee bestowed great cost vpon his house at Hatfield in Hertfordshire now the mansion place of that right honourable Lord and one of the priuie Councell William Cecill Earle of Salisbury and at Wisbich Castle in Cambridgeshire a house belonging to that See all the bricke-building was done at his charges And in the time of his Primacie in this Church he bestowed great summes in repairing and augmenting his houses at Knoll Maydstone Alington Parke Charing Ford Lambith and Canterbury He bequeathed by his last Will in a manner all that hee had either vnto good vses or to such of his seruants as he had yet beene able to do nothing for He gaue to the King a Portuis to the Queene a ãâã to the ââdy Margaret his God daughter afterwards married to ãâ¦ã King of Scotland a cup of gold and tourry pâunds in ãâ¦ã Church of Ely his Myter and Crolle vnto his ãâã and ãâ¦ã giue nothing as hauing sufficieâtly prefârreâ them in his ãâ¦ã which family Robert Bishop of Worcester and many ãâ¦ã of very good note and qualitie in Dorsetshire and ãâ¦ã His Exâecutors he bound by oath to maintaine sufficiently ãâ¦ã at Oxford and ten at Cambridge for the space of twenty ãâ¦ã decease And it is not to be forgotten that the yeare before he died ãâã great charges he procured Anselme one of his predecesâours to be ãâã nized a Saint This good man died at his Manour of ãâã in the ãâã of October 1500. hauing enioyed this Archbishopricke ãâã enâ yeares in all quietnesse I finde no memoriall of him vpon his ãâ¦ã please you then to let these lines following serue for an Eulogium or Epitaph Iohannes Morton postquam Cantuariensem Prouinciam 13. Ann. rexisset obijt Dâlubrum ipse sumptuosum vinus in Ecclesii in subterraneo crypto ex truxât in quo humatus est Vir fuit prudens facundus atque grauis qualem Hen. 7. vitae socium morumque quasi magistrum plerumque penes se habuit Tulit sub Richardo Tyranno vitae discrimina exilium atque carceres à triâbus regibus Hen 6. Edwardo 4. Hen. 7. probata integeââmi prudentissiani que pâtris fides nunquam in dubium
he saw his cosin who before had serued him in the brauerie of a Souldier to bee now clothed in the habite of a Monke he was so dismayed in minde that gushing out with teares hee said I do grant you this Cosin of mine to be your Abbot and at your petition I do giue him the gouernment of the Abbey of Saint Augustine neither do I permit you to choose any other whom vnlesse you do presently receiue I will shortly burne your Abbey to ashes Then the Monkes seeing no remedie submitted themselues to the kings will in the premises But the foresaid Hugh refused the dignitie saying That he was a man in a manner vnlettered and one that had very little skill as well in religion as in Ecclesiasticall ordinances yet the king and the Monkes enforced him to accept of the honour offered neither would the king suffer him to depart from the Court before he was consecrated Abbot which was solemnized in the kings Chappell at Westminster by Mauricius Bishop of London I haue beene somewhat long in this narration yet I hope nothing at all troublesome or tediously impertinent This illustrious Abbot did many laudable acts to the great commoditie of his Church and distributed all his goods in workes of charitie He dyed full of yeares as of goodnesse the 26. of March ann 1120. and was buried on the North side of the Chapter-house built by himselfe from the foundation for whom this honourable remembrance was engrauen Abbas Eheu Floris specimen virtutis honoris Hic iacet in tumulo Presul peramabilis Hugo Floruit vt terris Pater hic pace quoque guerris Floret nunc celo Christi pugil iste sereno The next Abbot in succession was one Hugh de Trottescline Chaplaine to King Henry the first at the time of whose election great dissention for small trifles being betwixt the Monkes of Christ-Church and those of this Monastery William then Archbishop taking part with those angrie Votaries of his owne house denyed Abbot Hugh âenedictâon which ãâã was glad to obtaine from Seffria the first Bishop of ãâã This man brought in againe the old number of his Monkes which were threescore profest beside the Abbot He founded an Hospitall neare to his owne Abbey which he dedicated to the honour of ãâã and Saint ãâã to the maintenance whereof he giue ââne Acres of ground vpon which ãâã Hospitall was to be erected and all the ââthe of the Lordship of ãâã in this County with other possessions ãâã at the ãâ¦ã 7. s. 10. d. of yearely reuenue This Hospâtall was ordained and appointed especially for this ãâ¦ã if it should so happen that any protest Monke of this Monastery ãâ¦ã infected with any contagious disease but aboue aââ with the ãâ¦ã reason of which sicknesse or infectious maladie he could not ãâ¦ã the precincts of the Abbey without preiudâcâ and scandall to the ãâ¦ã âââerââtie that then he should be prouided for in this Hospitall of a conueânâent châmber of meate drinke and apparell in as full a measure as any one of his Brâthrân liuing in the Monastery Aâso if it should so happen that the father the mother the sister or brother of aây Monke of this Monastery âhouâd come to such great want and ândâgencie as that to the reproach of any of these ârâthren he or she be forced to aske at the gates the almes of the Fraternitie that thââ such of them so asking should be prouided for in this Hospitâll of sufficient ââââstentation according to the abilitie of the house by the aduise and consideration of the Abbot of Saint Austins and the Master of this Hospitall for the time being as further appeares by his Charter confirmed by many of his Successours This charitable Abbot dyed the yeare 1151. and was buried in the Chapter house by his Predecessour Siluester the Prior of this Monastery being elected Abbot vpon the decease of Hugh was denyed Benediction of Archbishop âheobald obiââting against him that he was a man defamed with many notorious offences but clearing himselfe before the Pope by what mâââes or money I know nât of all those enormous imputations laid to his charge vpon the sight of the Popes letters the Archbishop durst not but giue him admiâtaâââ This Siluester instituted that euery yeare during the time of Lent so many poore people should be prouided for of meate and drinke sufficient at ãâã and the charges of the Abbey as there were Monkes in the Couent ãâã dyed annâ 1161. and was buryed by his predecessour One Clarembaldus a lay man I thinke for he neuer wore other then a secular habite by the kings regall authoritie dâd now irregularly intrude vpon the possessions goods and gouernment of this Abbey which by maine violence he extorted and misapplyed for the space of 15. yeares vntill he was elected and one Roger a Monke of Saint Trinitie and keeper of an Altar in Christ-Church was elected to his place This Roger within a short time came greatly into the kings fauour who restored vnto him all the lands and possessions which Clarembalde had wickedly wrested from his Monastery He was consecrated by Pope Alexander the third in his owne person at Tusculane neare to Rome to whom and to his Church the said Pope restored the vse of the Mytre Sandalls and crosier which had beene neglected euer since the flight of Abbot Egelfine who first obtained that honour into Denmarke This man indured many miseries the most part of his life-time which was very long especially in the troublesome raigne of king Iohn And so to conclude with the words of mine Authour Anno Domini 1212. obijt Senâx plenus dierum qui diebus suis pro viribus multa adversae sustinuit sed omnia Deo cooperante illesa custodiuit in capitulo sub lapide albo sepelitur Cum tali Inscriptione Antistes iacet hic Rogerus in ordine primus Pastor deuotus quondam nunc nil nisi simus Mortuâs in cista requiesciâ nunc semel ista Qui viuus mundo parum requieuit eundo Roger being dead one Alexander a Monke of this Monastery and a most excellent Diuine was elected Abbot a man both in secular and Ecclesiasticall affaires well experienced and of king Iohn singularly beloued yet for all his good parts and great friends Archbishop Langton absoluteâly denyed him Benediction for it was in that time when the king and the Bishop were at sore variance so that he was constrayned to trauell to Rome where he receiued consecration at the hands of Pope Innocent the third Obijt Abbas iste Deo dilectus nocte viz. Dominica 4. Non. Octob. An. 1220 This Abbot was Vir corpore elegantissimus facie venerabilis literarum plenitudine imbutus And for taking part with his Soueraigne à summo honore in summam confusionem viliter praecipitatus erat saith Mat. Westminst ad An. 1209. By the generall consent of the whole Couent one Hugh Chamberlaine of this house
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 prâysed 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 Egelnoâh 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
foure distinct Deaneries namely Rochester Malling Dartford and Shorham Yet Shorham is but a Peculiar to the Archbishop who holds his prerogatiue wheresoeuer his lands do lie This Bishopricke is valued in the Exchequer at 358. l. 3. s. 7. d. farthing and was wont to pay to the Pope for first-fruits 1300. ducates and for Peter-pence 5. l. 12. s. Eightie Bishops and one haue sitten in this Chaire of Rochester more in number by nine then in that of Canterbury His name that now gouerneth the Helme is that right reuerend Father in God Iohn Bowles Doctor of Diuinitie brought vp in Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge In the whole numerous race of these Bishops succeeding Iustus three amongst others lye here interred howsoeuer no remembrance is now remaining of them by any funerall Monument most notable Paulinus Gundulphus and Gilbertus Of which the first after his death was honoured for a Saint The second was the best Benefactour that euer this Church found The third was so hatefull and iniurious to the Monkes that they neither esteemed him while he was liuing nor wailed him at all after that he was dead Paulinus a Romane borne was first made Bishop of Yorke by Iustus his predecessour in this place as then Archbishop of Canterbury about the 21. day of Iuly in the yeare of our Lord 625. and so he is reckoned to be the first Archbishop of that Prouince Yet I finde a Succession of British Archbishops of that place long before his time euer since the yeare of Grace one hundred and eightie or thereabouts Wherein Lucius king of the Britaines receiued the Christian faith the last of which race was one Tadiacus who at the comming in of the Saxons was with most of his countreymen enforced to flie into the mountanous countries of Cornwall and Wales and so consequently to forsake his pontificall Grace and Dignitie Of all which may it please you reade these verses out of the collections of Tho. Talbot sometime keeper of Records in the Tower Turbatis rebus Archipresul Tadiacus Ecclesie sedem deserit et patriam Archipontificum Tadiacus sedis Eborum Vltimus ex Britonum gentibus ille fuit Corpora sanctorum simul omnia vasa sacrorum Cunctas res reliquas transtulit ille sacras Expulsi Britones nomen patriamque relinquunt Dicti Wallenses nomine barbario But to returne againe to Paulinus from whom I am by occasion digressed who being now inuested in the sanctimonious robes of a Bishop neuer rested a moment but either instructed the people that flocked about him by preaching or else imparted Christ vnto them by Baptisme which he ministred in the open fields and Riuers Churches Oratories Fonts or places of Baptisme being not as yet builded it is said that in the Riuer of Swale in Yorkeshire hee christened in one day aboue ten thousand men besides women and little children which said riuer was a long time after reputed sacred amongst the ancient English He wonne miraculously Edwin king of Northumberland vnto Christ who with all the Nobilitie of his countrey and most part of the Commons hauing receiued the true faith came to the lauatorie of holy regeneration the eleuenth yeare of his raigne which was the yeare of our Lord 627. Thus Paulinus continued in the Prouince of Yorke preaching the word and administring the blessed Sacraments the space of seuen yeares euen vntill the death of King Edwin presently vpon which the State of his kingdome was so much infested with great slaughter and cruell persecution that no safetie could therein bee found either for himselfe or for the widow of King Edwin Queene Edelburgh both of them being Gods instruments for the conuersion of the Northumbrians to the embracement of Christian Religion saue onely by flight Whereupon he was constrayned to leaue his Bishopricke and to accompanie the said Queene with whom not long before hee came into that countrey backe againe into this kingdome of Kent But of Paulinus his first admittance to Yorke and his returne backe thus much in old Latine rimes Benedicam Dominum mundi plasmatorem Regem Regum omnium nostrum Saluatorem Recolendo pariter stilo cum veraci Dignos Archipresules sedis Eboraci Anno sexcentesimo Christi incarnati Quinto cum vicesimo sunt nouo creati Quorum Pastor nobilis primus est Paulinus Gregem pascit vtilis dum regnat Edwinus Septem annis regimen digne gubernauit Tunc ad Austrum redijt dum Gens Regem strauit At his returne from Yorke this See of Rochester was vacant and at the offer of Archbishop Honorius and at the request of King Edbald he tooke vpon him that charge which he right wisely and religiously gouerned the space of thirteene yeares vntill at his full and ripe age he was called away by death to receiue the glorious reward of his blessed labours Which happened Octob. the tenth Ann. 644.19 yeares 2. moneths and 21. dayes after his first consecration This Paulinus the third Bishop of this Diocesse was first interred vnder a very seemely Monument in the old Church of King Ethelberts foundation but about foure hundred and thirty yeares afterwards being canonized for a Saint his reliques were remoued enshrined in a coffin all of curious wrought siluer into the body of the new built Church by Gundulphus one of his Successours to the which according to the manner of those times much concourse of people came with many rich oblations such was his Epitaph Siste gradum clama qui perlegis hoc Epigramma Paulinum plora quem substraxit breuis hora Nobis per funus de Presulibus fuit vnus Prudens veridicus constans firmus amicus Anni sunt rati Domini super astra regentis Quadraginta dati quatuor cum sex quoque centis Paulinus being dead Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury aduanced one Ithamar a Kentishman borne to his place the first Englishman of this Nation that was a Bishop A man nothing inferiour either in life or learning to Paulinus or any of his Italian predecessours He departed this life about the yeare 656. Many miracles are said to be wrought by this religious Ithamar and great concourse of people frequented the place of his buriall which was at the first in the body of the Church But afterwards his reliques were remoued by Bishop Gundulph and enshrined and after him by Iohn Bishop of this Church who by his prayers at his Shrine was cured ab acerrimo oculorum dolore of a grieuous paine in his eyes For this and many other signes and tokens of his sanctitie hee was canonized if we may beleeue Capgraue and the fourth of the Ides of Iune solemnized to his memory Of whom a late writer thus Of Rochester we haue Saint Ithamar being then In those first times first of our natiue English men Residing on that seate Before I come to Gundulphus I will take Tobias by the way an Englishman the ninth Bishop of this Diocesse
in hac ipsa Ecclesia archa marmorea que ad nostra vsque tempora permanet sepultus est Idem Erconwaldus celeberrimum hoc S. Pauli templum nouis edificijs auxit prouentibus locupletauit et eidem immunitates nonnullas à Regibus impetrauit Tandem circiter annum Domini 685. spiritum Deo reddidit postquam annis vndecim in pontificatu sedisset Et magnifico sepulchro hic conditus est quod nostra memoria circiter annum Domini 1533. hoc loco visebatur This carefull holy Bishop Erconwald not onely bestowed great paines and charges vpon the beautifying and enlarging his Church with faire new buildings which he enricht with more ample reuenues and many immunities obtained from diuers kings and Princes but also procured from Pope Agatho the first sundry important priuiledges for the good of his Canons Habetur ergo Erkenwaldus saith Malmesbury Londonie maxime sanctus pro exauditionis celeritate fauorem Canonicorum nonnihil emeritus Venerable Bede and the Annals of this Church from whom the most of this Inscription is borrowed do attribute many miracles to the holinesse of this man in regard of which he was canonized and his Reliques translated Anno salutis millesimo centesimo quadragesimo and the fourteenth day of Nouember appointed to be kept sacred to his memory As in our Kalender may be seene Hic iacet Eustachius de Fauconberg quondam Episcopus huius Ecclesie qui multa bona contulit ministris Ecclesie S. Pauli This Bishop as appeares by an Inscription annexed to his Tombe had beene one of the Kings Iustices Lord Treasurer of England and twice Embassadour into France And dyed Octob. 31. 1228. hauing gouerned this See seuen yeares and sixe moneths Of whom I haue read this Epitaph in an old Manuscript Hic iacet Eustachius redolens vt Asyria nardus Virtutum multis floribus meritis Vir fuit hic magnus Episcopus ..... vt Agnus Vita conspicuus dogmate precipuus Pro quo qui transis supplex orare memor sis Vt sit ei saties alma Dei facies The like Inscription and Table is to the memory of Henry de Wingham so named of Wingham in Kent the place of his birth he had been Chamberlaine of Gascoigne Deane of Totenhall and Saint Martins twice Embassadour into France and Lord Chancellour of England Rex enim de fidelitate Domini Henrici de Vuengham experta confisus qui clericus eius et consiliarius extitisset specialis commisit eidem custodiam Sigilli He enioyed this Bishopricke but a short time being taken away by death Iuly 13. 1262. as appeares by this Epitaph De Wengham natus Henricus ad astra leuatus Hic nece prostratus iacet anno Pontificatus Ter vix Domini Mil. Sexagint bis que bis C. Huic sis saluamen Deus O te deprecor Amen Hic requiescit in Domino Rogerus cognomento Niger quondam Canonicus huius Ecclesie S. Pauli ac deinde in Londinens Episcopum consecratus Anno salutis 1228. vir in literatura profundus moribus honestus ac per omnia laudabilis Christiane Religionis amator ac defensor strenuus Qui cum pastorale officium vigilanter studiose rexisset Annis 14. diem suum clausit extremum apud Manerium suum de Stebunheath 3. Calend. Octob. Ann. Christi 1241. regnante Rege Hen. 3. Contigit his diebus dum Episcopus iste Rogerus in hac Ecclesia ante maius Altare staret infulatus ad celebrandum diuina quod tanta in aere facta est nubium densitas vt vix alterum discernere possit quam confestim sequnta est Tonitrui horribilis concussio cum tanta fulminis coruscatione ac fetore intollerabili vt omnes qui aderant rapide fugientes nihil verius quam mortem expectarent Solus Episcopus cum vno Diacono remansit intrepidus Aere tandem purgato Episcopus residuum rei Diuine expleuit You may reade more of him in Mathew Paris how stoutly hee withstood the Popes Nuntio comming here into England with a proling deuise to scrape vp money for his Master How this good Bishop cried out vpon the vnreasonable and shamelesse couetousnesse of the Court of Rome and how hee was the onely meanes of staying the course of such grieuous exactions There you may also reade the fearfull story of this Cymerian darknesse and horrible thunderclap which happened vpon the day of S. Pauls conuersion in this Cathedrall Church the Bishop being then at Masse Many miracles saith the same Author were wrought at his Tombe But let vs heare his Epitaph Ecclesie quondam Presul presentis in anno M. bis C. quater X. iacet hic Rogerus humatus Huius erat manibus Domino locus iste dicatus Christe suis precibus veniam des tolle reatus It was this Bishop Roger who excommunicated the Caursini a dangerous stout attempt in those dayes called the Popes Merchants but they were indeed most execrable Romane Vsurers who had entangled the king himselfe most of the Nobilitie and all others that had to do with the Court of Rome in their cunning snares They were called Caursini saith Paris quasi capientes vrsi deuouring Beares Orate pro anima Roberti Brabroke ..... quondam Episcopi huius Ecclesie cuius corpus hic tumulatur qui obijt 27. Augusti 1405. cum sedisset Ann. 20. This Bishop was aduanced to the honour of being Lord Chancellour vpon Saint Mathewes Eue in the sixth yeare of king Richard the second which office he enioyed no longer then the March following vpon some disagreement betwixt him and Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Of which you may reade more at large in Tho. Walsingham Hist. Angl. Here lieth interred the body of Robert Fitz-Hugh Bishop of London Doctor of Law and sometimes Archdeacon of Northampton who had beene twice Embassadour once into Germany and another time to Rome Hee was elected Bishop of Ely but died before his intended translation could be perfected Septemb. 22. Ann. 1435. To which effect thus speakes his Epitaph Nobilis Antistes Robertus Londoniensis Filius Hugonis his requiescit honor Doctorum flos Pontificij quem contulit Ely Rome Basilie Regia facta refert Plangite eum Rex grex tria natio tota Extera gens si qua nouerat vlla pium Gemma pudicitie spectrum bonitatis honoris Famaque Iusticie formula iuris erat Mors violenta rapit viuentem vnde cui mors Extitit et moritur vita beata tulit Mille quadragentis triginta quinque sub annis In festo Mauri celica regna petit Infra capellam istam requiescit corpus Domini Thome Kemp quondam Episcopi London fundatoris eiusdem et vnius Cantarie perpetue in eadem qui multa bona tempore vite sue Ecclesie Sancti Pauli et stetit 39. annis 84. diebus Episcopus London ac obijt 28. die mens Martij Ann. Dom. 1489. Cuius anime propitietur Deus
North wall Iohn de Chishull who sometimes had beene Deane of Pauls Archdeacon and Bishop of London Lord Treasurer of England and twice Keeper of the great Seale He was consecrated Aprill 29. 1274 and died the tenth 1279. Vpon the Monument of Richard Newport Bishop of this Church here buried a little inscription not long since was to be read expressing the day and yeare of his consecration which was March 26. 1317. And the like of his death which happened August 24. 1318. the yeare following Raph Baldocke Deane of this Church was chosen Bishop vpon Saint Mathias day 1303. but was not consecrated till the yeare 1305. Ianuary 30. which he receiued at the hands of one Petrus Hispanus a Cardinall Bishop of Alba at Lions in France He was a man very well learned and amongst other things writ an History or Chronicle of England in the Latine tongue In his life time he gaue two hundred Markes toward the building of the Chappell on the East end of this Church now called The Lady Chappell wherein he lieth buried and in his Will bequeathed much toward the finishing of the same And here by the way saith mine Author it shall not bee amisse to note that in digging the foundation of this building there were found more then an hundred heads of cattell as oxen kine stagges c. which seeme to confirme the opinion of those that thinke the Temple of Iupiter was scituate in that place before the planting of Christian Religion tooke away those idolatrous sacrifices This Bishop was chosen Lord Chancellour by king Edward the first Vpon whose death he sent the great Seale to king Edward the second as then lying at Carliell This Raph is mistaken by some writers for Robert Baldock Bishop of Norwich yet I finde no such Bishop of that See in the Catalogue sometime Archdeacon of Midlesex and Chancellour of England Much what about that time a man that liued in the hatred of most people whom the old English Chronicle calleth a false peeld Priest these are the words Robart Baldok his false pilide Chanceler being as then Chancellour to Edward the second and in another place Ye pilide clerk Robart Baldok ye fals Chanceler Yet this pilide fals clerk was euer trew to the King his Lord and Master for which he was taken and imprisoned in Newgate London wherein he miserably ended his dayes Of which thus writeth the Author of the booke of Durham Robertus de Baldock Cancellarius 1325. captus cum Hugonibus de despensers quia Clericus fuit Sacerdos in nona porta Londiniarum poni fecit Edwardus Princeps et Isabella mater eius vbi pro nimia miseria mortuus fuit infra breue But to returne to Raph for I haue somewhat digressed from the matter Bishop of this Diocesse who when from his first confirmation by Robert of Winchelsey Bishop of Canterbury he had sate about eight yeares died on S. Iames his Eue 1313. at Stell Here lyeth buried Michaell Northbrooke Bishop of this See Doctor of Law who had his election confirmed Iuly 7. 1355. and died of the plague Septemb. 9. 1361. at Copford This Bishop gaue a chest with a thousand Markes which money was to bee lent to the poore vpon securitie as appeares by his will Michael de Northburghe nuper Episcopus Lond. legauit in testamento suo sic Item lego ad faciend vnam cistam que stabit in Thesauria Sancti Pauli mille Marcas in eadem includend de quibus possit quilibet pauper plebeus sub bona excedenti pignore mutuo recipere decem libras 1. Pars. Pat. Ann. 49. Ed. 3. M. 30. Here lieth interred vnder a marble stone neare to the Monument of Sir Christopher Hatton the body of Richard Clifford Archdeacon of Canterbury from which dignitie he was preferred to the Bishopricke of Worcester which he enioyed about six yeares and from thence translated to this See of London which hee laudably gouerned thirteene yeares and some moneths and died August 20. 1421. This Bishop in the yeare 1414. trauelled to the Councell of Constance and preached in Latine before the Emperour and other Estates there assembled In this Councell the long schisme was ended and Martin the fifth called before Otho Columna Cardinall of Saint George was chosen the sole Pope The Councell thinking it meete that thirtie persons should be added to the Cardinals in this election this our Richard Clifford was one of that number In which also there were some that named him to the Papacie Himselfe was the first that named the Cardinall Columna who thereupon the rest consenting was immediately elected Betweene the two pillars next vnto the Steeple on the North side of the body of the Church vnder a marble stone ouer which was built a kind of Tombe or Chappell of wood that by the burning of the steeple was consumed and quite defaced the body of Rich. Fitz-Iames lieth interred A gentleman of an ancient house learned and vertuous Doctor of Law brought vp in Merton Colledge in Oxford and sometimes Warden of the same from whence hee was aduanced to the Bishopricke of Rochester from thence translated to Chichester and from Chichester to London He bestowed much money in repairing the Church of S. Martins in Oxford as also in adorning and beautifying this his owne Cathedrall Church He died in the yeare 1521. Hic in Domino obdormiuit Iohannes Gandauensis vulgo de Gaunt à Gandauo Flandrie vrbe loco natali ita denominatus Edwardi tercij Regis Anglie filius à Patre comitis Richmondie titulo ornatus Tres sibi vxores in matrimonio duxit primam Blancham filiam heredem Henrici Ducis Lancastrie per quam amplissimam adijt hereditatem Nec solum Dux Lancastrie sed etiam Leicestrie Lincolnie Derbie comes effectus E cuius sobole Imperatores Reges Principes proceres propagati sunt plurimi Alteram habuit vxorem Constantiam que hic contumulatur filiam heredem Petri Regis Castillie et Legionis cuius iure optimo titulo Regis Castillie et Legionis vsus est Haec vnicam illi peperit filiam Catharinam ex qua ab Henrico Reges Hispanie sunt propagati Tertiam vero vxorem duxit Catharinam ex Equestri familia eximia pulchritudine feminam ex qua numero sam suscepit prolem Vnde genus ex matre duxit Henricus 7. Rex Anglie prudentissimus Cuius felicissimo coniugio cum Elisabetha Edw. 4. Regis filia e stirpe Eboracensi Regie ille Lancastriensium et Eboracensium familie ad exoptatissimam Anglie pacem coaluerunt Illustrissimus hic princeps Iohannes cognomento Plantagenet Rex Castillie Legionis Dux Lancastrie comes Richmondie Leicestrie Lincolnie Derbie locum tenens Aquitanie Magnus Seneschallus Anglie obijt Ann. 22. Regni Regis Ricardi 2. Annoque Domini 1399. His first wife Blanch here buried died of the plague saith
laid his foundation 137â His death was much lamented by the King the Nobilitie and commons of all England for with singular commendations hee had for a long time serued vnder Edward the third in the French warres and was employed by him vpon seuerall Embasies and his truth and good councell was euer much auailable to the whole state of the kingdome His obsequies were performed with great solemnity King Edward the third and all his children with the greatest Prelates and Lord Barons of the kingdome being there present His wife Margaret was here entombed with him by whom he had issue Thomas Manye who in his youth was drowned in a Well at Detford in Kent and Anne then his onely daughter and heire married to Iohn Lord Hastings Earle of Penbroke Margaret Lady Manye saith Iohn Stow here interred yet the Catalogue of Honour will haue her to be buried in the Minories died the 24. of March 1399. she was the onely daughter of Thomas of Brotherton Earle of Norfolke and Marshall of England second sonne of King Edward the first and her fathers onely heire after the death of her brother Edward which happened in the same yeare that his father departed the world She was for the greatnesse of her birth her large reuenewes and wealth created Dutchesse of Norfolke for terme of life she had beene first married to Iohn Lord Segraue and her last husband was the foresaid Sir Walter Manny Here sometime was interred the body of Philip Morgan Doctor of Law Chancelour of Normandy and Bishop of Ely a very wise man who with great commendations gouerned that See nine yeeres sixe moneths and foure daies and departed this life at Bishops-Hatfield October 25. 1434. Many funerall monuments were in this Church as you may finde them mentioned in the Suruay of London This religious house is now turned into an Hospitall consisting of a Master a Preacher a Free-Schoole with a Master and an Vsher fourescore decaied gentlemen Souldiers and forty schollers maintained with sufficient cloathing meate drinke lodging and wages besides Officers and Ministers to attend vpon them all so that the whole number now in the house with the attendants is one hundred and fourescore The greatest gift that euer at any time in England no Abbey at the first foundation thereof excepted or therewith to bee compared being the gift of one man onely whose name was Thomas Sutton of Castle Campes in the County of Cambridge Esquire borne at Knaith in the County of Lincolne who liued to the age of 79 yeares and deceased the 12. day of December 1611. somewhat before this his famous Foundation was fully accomplished Great Saint Bartholomewes This Priorie was founded by one Rahere a pleasant conceited wittie gentleman and a Courtier in the raigne of King Henry the first which he dedicated to the honour of God and Saint Bartholomew and placed therein blacke Canons or Canons regular himselfe became their first Prior his foundation was confirmed in these words Henricus Rex c. Sciatis me concessisse presenti carta me confirmasse Ecclesie beati Bartholomei London que est Dominica Capella mea et canonicis dominicis in ea Domino seruientibus quod sint ab omni subiectione terrena seruitute liberi vt sic aliqua Ecclesia in tota Anglia magis libera c. dat per manum nostram apud Winton 15 Iunij Anno reg 37. Here he died and was here buried in a faire monument renewed by Prior Bolton which Bolton was the last Prior of this house a great builder and repairer of the Priorie and the Parish Church and of diuers lodgings belonging to the same as also of new he builded the Mannor of Canonbury now called Canbury at Islington which belonged to the Canons of this house This Bolton and the rest of his brethren were portraied vpon a Table sometimes hanging in this Church now it is in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie holding vp their hands to the Crucifixe vnder whom these verses were depensiâd Gulielmo Bolton precibus succurrite vestris Qualis erat pater hic Domus hec cetera monstrant He died at his Parsonage house at Harrow vpon the hill as I haue it by relation the fourth of Edward the sixt and was there interred He surrendred vp this his Priorie the 30 of Henry the 8. which was then valued at 757 l. 8 s. 4 d. ob q. by yeere Here sometime lay entombed the body of Roger Walden Bishop of London Neuer had any man better experience of the variable vncertaintie of worldly felicity then he for from the estate of a very poore man he was suddenly raised to be Treasurer of England hauing beene first Secretarie to the King Deane of Yorke and Treasurer of the towne of Calis and then made Archbishop of Canterbury which honour he enioyed not past two yeares but was remoued from the same and forced to leade a priuate life a long time At last being once more lift vp to the honour of this Bishopricke of London he left this present life within the compasse of the yeere following Of this man thus writeth Thomas Walsingham who liued in those times and much what to the same effect I will vse his owne language Anno 1406. Dominus Rogerus de Waldene debitum Naturae soluit qui varia fortuna vectus expertus est sub breui tempore Quam sit inconstans incerta volubilis ipsa Errans instabilis vaga quae dum stare putatur Occidit et falso mutatur gaudia vultu Nempe ex pauperculo factus est Regni Thesaurarius and so proceeds on forwards with his story Vpon his monument this Epitaph was inlayd in brasse Hic iacet Rogerus de Walden Episcopus Londinens qui cum in vtraque fortuna plurimuÌ laborauit ex hac vita migrauit 2 die Nouem an dom 1406 Vir cultor verus Domini iacet intra Rogerus Walden Fortuna cus nunquam steterat vna Nunc requiem tumuli Deus omnipotens dedit illi Gaudet et in celis plaudet vbi quisque fidelis He denied his preferment to the Bishoppricke of London being preferred vnto him by the Pope saying that he would not accept of it from any but from the king As I finde thus recorded in the Tower Cum summus Pontifex nuper prouidisset Rogero Walden de Ecclesia Cathedral London prefatus tamen Rogerus dominicum beneficium sine Regis assensu et licentia acceptare noluit nec vult ni presenti Rex concedit eidem Rogero licentiam quod ipse tanquam verus Pastor et Episcopus dicte Ecclesie Cathedralis eandem ecclesiam capere valeat et acceptare T. R. apud W. 24. Iunij Little Saint Bartholomewes This Hospitall for the poore and diseased was founded by the forenamed Rahere Prior of great Saint Bartholomewes to be gouerned by a Master and eight Brethren being Priests for the Church and foure Sisters to see the poore
a masse of money from our credulous king Henry who had so deeply swallowed the gudgeon that his heart being ouer-ioyed saith Mathew Paris and raised euen to the height of exultation hee swore by Saint Edward to make a present voyage to Apulia and take possession of these dominions But at length this counterfeit ring vpon the touch was discouered and the good king knew himselfe deluded his Exchequer emptied and this Titulary-king his sonne Edmund abused Thus writes Mathew Paris the Monke of S. Albans who liued in those dayes and deciphers the Legerdemaine and iugling deuises of the Bishops of Rome to get money This Edmund was Lord Steward of this kingdome and Lieutenant of Gascoigne Who being sent into Aquitaine with an armie where he performed notable seruice died at Bayon in the yeare 1296. And within two moneths after his death his body was honourably transported into England Here lieth also entombed his first wife Aveline daughter and heire of William de Fortibus Earle of Albamarle by whom he had no issue who died the yeare 1269. Here lieth buried in a most magnificent Tombe befitting the greatnesse of his birth and the worthinesse of his Of-spring William de valence Earle of Penbroke so sirnamed of Valencia the place of his birth sonne of Hugh le Brun Earle of the Marches of Aquitaine and halfe brother by the mothers side to King Henry the third This William saith Stow was slaine at Bayon by the French in the yeare 1296. and with him Edmund Earle of Lancaster of whom I lastly spoke if wee may beleeue these verses of Harding But erle Edmond the kynges brother dere With twenty and sixe baners proud and stout The fift daye of Iune was accompted clere Of Christ his date a thousand yere all out Fourscore and sixteene without doubt At Bayon faught with the French menne certain Wher he in the feld that daye like a knyght was slain So was Sir William Valence erle of Penbroke than Sir Iohn Richmond and many other Baron Sir Iohn Saynct Iohn right a full manly manne Thenglishe hoste felly ther was bore doune By a bushement laied by colucion That brake on theim sore fighting in the feld Out of a wode in whiche that day were beld About the verge or side of his monument these verses are inlayd with brasse Anglia tota doles moritur quia regia proles Qua florere soles quem continet infima moles Guilielmus nomen insigne Valentia prebet Celsum cognomen nam tale dari sibi debet Qui valuit validus vincens virtute valore Eâ placuit placidus sensus morumque vigore Dapsilis et habilis immotus prelia sectans Vtilis ac humilis deuotus premia spectans Milleque trecentis cum quatuor inde retentis In Maij mense hunc mors proprio ferit ense Quique legis hec repete quam sit via plena timore Meque lege te moriturum inscius hore O clemens christe celos intret precor iste Nil videat triste quia preculit omnibus hisce Here lyeth entombed the body of Simon Langham who was first a Monke of this Abbey then Prior and lastly Abbot thence elected Bishop of London from thence before his consecration to London aduanced to the Bishopricke of Ely and from that place remoued to Canterbury hee held diuers liuings in commendam as the Archdeaconry and Treasureship of Wels with others He was both Treasurer and Chancelour of England at seuerall times It is scarce credible saith Godwin now Bishop of Hereford in his catalogue de presulibus Anglie that is reported of his wonderfull bounty and liberality to this monastery When hee was first made Abbot he bestowed all that he had gathered together being Monke and Prior in paying the debt of the house which was to the value of two thousand and two hundred markes and discharged diuers other summes of money also which particular Monkes did owe he purchased good land which he gaue vnto them When hee went out of England hee left them bookes to the value of 830 pound and Copes Vestments and other ornaments for the Church worth 437. pound At his death he bequeathed vnto them all his plate prised at 2700. pound and all his debts any where due which amounted vnto 3954. pound thirteene shillings and foure pence He also sent vnto this Abbey the summe of one thousand markes to buy forty markes a yeare land to encrease the portion of foure Monkes that daily should say Masse for the soules of himselfe and his Parents The money that he bestowed vpon this Abbey one way or other is reckoned by a Monke of the same to be no lesse then 10800. pound who thereupon compiled this Distich Res es de Langham tua Simon sunt data quondam Octingentena librarum millia dena But men of eminent place and authoritie cannot haue their due praise of all sorts of people nay rather in requitall of their best actions they shall reape nothing but opprobrious language for vpon his translation from Ely to Canterbury these two rayling riming Hexameters were made to his disgrace Letentur celi quia Simon transit ab Ely Cuius in aduentum flent in Kent millia centum The Isle of Ely laught when Simon from her went But hundred thousands wept at 's comming into Kent He sate Archbishop of Canterbury onely two yeares for being made Cardinall of Saint Sixtus by Pope Vrban the fift hee left his Archbishopricke and went to Auinion where shortly after he was made Bishop Cardinall of Preneste by Gregory the eleuenth where he liued in great estimation about eight yeares and died of a palsie wherewith hee was suddenly taken as he sate at dinner Iuly 22. 1376. he was buried first in the Church of the Carthusians which he himselfe had founded in the Citie of Auinion but after three yeares his bones by his appointment while he liued were taken vp and buried here a second time vnder a goodly tombe of Alabaster vpon which this Epitaph was sometime engrauen Simon de Langham sub petris hijs tumulatus Istius Ecclesie Monachus fuerat Prior Abbas Sede vacante fuit electus Londoniensis Presul et insignis Ely sed postea primas Totius Regni magnus Regisque minister Nam Thesaurarius et Cancellarius eius Ac Cardinalis in Roma Presbyter isâe Postque Prenestinus est factus Episcopus atque Nuncius ex parte Pape transmittitur istâc Orbe dolente Pater quem nunc reuocare nequimus Magdalene festo milleno septuageno Et ter centeno sexto Christi ruit anno Hunc Deus absoluat de cunctis que male gessit Et meritis Matris sibi celica gaudia donet Here lyeth Robert Waldby who being a yong man followed Edward the blacke Prince into France where he continued long a Student and profited so much as no man in the Vniuersitie where he liued might compared with him for all kinde of learning he was a good linguist very well seene
septimi nec non Thesaurarius Hospitij reuerendissimi Patris domini huius regni Cancellarij titulo Sancte Cecilie trans Tiberim sacro sancte Romane Ecclesie Presbyteri Cardinalis ordinati Qui quidem Willelmus ob 3. Iulij 1518. Here is an Epitaph cut in Brasse vpon a marble stone now almost worne out which was made to the memory of one Robert Haule Esquire murdered in this Church the manner whereof our Chronicles doe thus briefely relate In the battell of Nazers in Spaine this Robert Haule or Hawley and Iohn Schakell Esquires tooke the Earle of Dene prisoner who deliuered vnto them his sonne and heire as a pledge for assurance of performances Not long after this their Hostage was demanded by Iohn Duke of Lancaster in the Kings name whom they denyed to deliuer for which they were clapt in the Tower from whence escaping here they tooke Sanctuary to whom Sir Raph Ferreis and Sir Alan Buxhull with fifty armed men were secretly sent to doe this mischiefe who finding them at high Masse first drew Schakell by a wile out of the priuiledge of the Church then offering to lay hands on Hawley he manfully resisting with his short sword made them all flie off But in the end he was slaine in the Chancell commending himselfe in his last words to God the reuenger of such iniuries and to the liberty of our holy mother the Church With him was slaine a seruant of his thrust into the backe with a Iauelin and a Monke who intreated for him in respect of the holinesse of the place This wicked act was perpetrated the 11. of August 1378. the second of Richard the second These words following now onely remaining vpon his Monument Me dolus ira furor multorum militis atque ................... ..... in hoc gladijs celebri pietatis asylo Dum leuita Dei sermonis legit ad aram Proh dolor ipse meo Monachorum sanguine vultus Aspersi moriens chorus est mihi testis in evum Et me nunc retinet sacer is locus Haule Robertum Hic quia pestiferos male sensi primitus enses .................. Hic iacet Thomas Ruthal Episcopus Dunelmensis Regis Henrici septimi Secretarius qui obijt 1524. To this short Inscription Godwin in his Catalogue addeth a long story of the life and death of this Bishop Who was borne in Cicester saith he in the County of Glocester and brought vp in Cambridge where he proceeded Doctor of Law He was preferred to the Bishopricke of Durham by King Henry the seuenth after whose death hee was made one of the priuie Councell vnto the young King Henry the eight who esteemed greatly of him for his wisedome and learning and imployed him often in ambassages and other businesses of importance Amongst the rest it pleased the king one time to require him to set downe his iudgement in writing concerning the estate of his kingdome in generall and particularly to enforme him in certaine things by him specified This discourse the Bishop writ very carefully and caused it to be bound in Velime gilt and otherwise adorned in the best manner Now you shall vnderstand that it chanced himselfe about the same time to set downe a note of his owne priuate estate which in goods and ready money amounted to the summe of one hundred thousand pounds This account was written in a paper booke of the same fashion and binding that the other was which was prouided for the king Whereby it happened that the king sending Cardinall Wolsey for the other draught which he had so long before required of him the Bishop mistaking deliuered that which contained an estimate of his owne infinite Treasure This the Cardinall soone espying and willing to doe the Bishop a displeasure deliuered it as he had receiued it vnto the King shewing withall how the Bishop had very happily mistaken himselfe for now quoth he you see where you may at any time command a great masse of money if you need it As soone as the Bishop vnderstood his errour the conceit thereof touched him so neare that within a short spaââ after hee died at his house here in the Strand His intention was to haue repaired the Church of Cicester to haue built Bridges as he had begun that ouer the Riuer of Tyne and to haue done many other deeds of charitie if hee had not beene preuented by death Here lieth the body of Sir William Trussell knight and speaker of that Parliament wherein Edward the second king of England resigned his Diadâme and all ensignes of Maiestie to Edward his eldest Sonne This Trussell saith an ancient Author was a Iudge who could fit the house with quirks of Law to colour so lawlesse and treasonable an act as the deposing of a lawfull king And thereupon was chosen in the behalfe of the whole Realme to renounce all homage and obedience to the Lord Edward of Carnarvon his Soueraigne Lord and King The forme of which renunciation was by him the said Trussell pronounced at Kenelworth Castle the 20. of Ianuary 1326. in these disgracefull words which you may finde in Polychronicon I William Trussel in the name of al men of the lond of Engelond and of the Parliament Prolocutor resigne to the Edward the homage that was made to the somtym and from this tym forward now folowyng I defye the and priue the of al royal Powyr and shal neuer be tendant to the as for Kyng aftyr this tyme. The time of this Trussels death I cannot learne Here lieth interred before the Communion Table the body of Richard de Ware or Warren Abbot of this Monastery and sometime Lord Treasurer of England Who going to Rome for his consecration brought from thence certaine workmen and rich Porphery stones whereof and by whom hee made that curious singular rare pauement before the high Altar in which are circulary written in letters of brasse these ten verses following containing a discourse as one saith of the worlds continuance Si Lector posita prudenter cuncta reuoluat Hic finem primi mobilis inveniet Sepes trina canes equos homines super addas Ceruos coruos aquilas immania cete Mundi quodque sequens pereuntis triplicat annos Sphericus Archetypum globus hic monstrat Macrocosmum Christi milleno bis centeno duodeno Cum sexageno subductis quatuor anno Tertius Henricus Rex vrbs Odoricus Abbas Hos compegere Porphyreos lapides With these stones and workmen he did also frame the Shrine of Edward the Confessor with these verses Anno milleno Domini cum septuageno Et bis centeno cum completo quasi deno Hoc opus est factum quod Petrus duxit in actum Romanus ciuis Homo causam noscere si vis Rex fuit Henricus Sancti presentis amicus This Abbot died the second day of December 1283. after he had gouerned this Monastery three and twenty yeares and more Vpon whose grauestone this briefe
sent for soone after by Laurence it happened the same yeare that the same Laurence died and hee was appointed to succeed him where he sate about fiue yeares euen vntill the day of his exspiration Of which an old Anonimall Manuscript thus To whome Melite than playnly gan succede That fyve yere so rulyd the Chirche in ryght And than this erthe forsoke for heuens mede And went to blyss wher God wolde of his myght The yere of Crystes nativite by ryght Six hundryd full twenty and fowre accountyd Whan erthe hys corps had hyd and surmowntyd Gregory the Great Bishop of Rome writ to Mellitus concerning the purifying but not the pulling downe of Idolatrous Churches within these kingdomes An Epistle well worthy the obseruation which I haue read in Gotcelinus the Monke who writes of the life and actions of Saint Austin of other Bishops of the See of Canterbury as also of diuers Saints in those primitiue times and dedicates his workes to Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury Such was the letter of Gregory as followeth Dilectissimo silio Mellito Abbati Gregorius servus seruorum Dei Post discessionem Congregationis nostre que tecum est valde sumus suspensi redditi quia nichil de prosperitate vestri itineris audisse nos contigit Cum ergo Deus omnipotens vos ad reuerendissimum fratrem nostrum Augustinum Episcopum perduxerit dicite ei quid diu mecum de causa Anglorum cogitans tractaui videlicet quia Fana Idolorum destrui in eadem gente minime debeant sed ipsa que in eis sunt Idola destruantur Aqua benedicta in eisdem Fanis aspergatur Altaria construantur Reliquie componantur quia si Fana eadem bene constructa sunt necesse est vt a cultu Demonum in obsequium veri Dei debeant commutari vt dum gens ipsa eadem Fana sua novidet destrui de corde errorenâ deponat Dominum verum cognoscens et adorans ad loca que consuevit familiarius concurrat Et quia Boues solent in sacrificio Demonum multos occidere debet eis eciam de re hac aliqua solemnitas iramutari vt die dedicationis vel natalicijs sanctorum Martyrum quorum illic reliquie ponuntur tabernacula sibi circa easdem Ecclesias que ex Fanis commutate sunt de ramis arborum faciant religiosis conuiuijs solemnitatem celebrent Nec animalia immolent sed ad laudem Dei in vsum suum animalia occidant et Donatori omnium de sacietate sua gracias referent vt dum eis aliqua externis gaudia res exuantur ad interiora gaudia consentire facilius valeant Nam duris mentibus simul omnia abscidere impossibile esse non dubiam est quia et is qui summum locum ascendere nititur gradibus vel passibus non autem saltibus eleuatur Sic Israheletico populo in Egypto Dominus siquidem innotuit sed tamen eis sacrificiorum vsum quem Diabolo solebat exibere in cultu proprio reseruauit vt eis in suo sacrificio animalia immolare preciperet quatinus cor mutantes aliud de sacrificio ammitterent aliud retinerens Vt et si ipsa essent ânimalia que offerre consueuerant vero tamen Deo hec et non ydolis immolantes iam sacrificia ipsa non essent Hec igitur dilectionem tuam predicto Fratri necesse est dicere vt ipse in presenti iââic positus perpendat qualiter omnia debeat dispensare Deus te incolumem custodiat dilectissime fili Data die quinto decimo Kalendarum Augustarum imperante nostro Mauritio Tyberio pijssimo Augusto anno nono decimo post Consulatus eiusdem Domini anno octauo decimo Indictione quarta Hereby we may see the pious aduise and great pollicie of this learned Father of the Church for the conuerting of the misbeleeuing Pagans or heathen people of this kingdome from Idolatrie to the true worship of the euerliuing God My forenamed Author Gotceline in the 53. Chapter of his first Booke tells me that the names of the prime pillars of the English Church and the especiall propagators of the Gospell in these times were engrauen vpon the Tarpeyan Rocke at Rome of which number this my Mellitus is one of the principall As appeares by these Latine Rimes following sometime likewise engrauen or cut in the foresaid Rocke vnder each seuerall name to their further glory Dux Augustinus precellit in ordine primus Lauâiger mundus Laurenti sede secundus Tertius est gratus Mellitus melligeratus Quartus adest Iustus dulces dans nomine gustus Quintus Honorius Eccle vigor extat honorque Deus dedit est sextus cui dat sua munera Christus Theodorus iuxta fert sabbata septimus alma His septem ducibus viget Anglia totque diebus Additur octauus Monachorum Dux Adrianus Anglorum stella Mildretha refert sua mella Octo Patres Rome reliqui comitantur honore Ex Anglis nati meritis horum sociati Hinc manat diuis Euangelii via riuis Hi sunt Brithpaldus Tatynnus vosque Nothelme Et Iamberte patres primos proceres imitantes Tot simul Ecclesie cingunt frontem pictate It is written of Mellitus that when vpon a certaine time the Citie of Canterbury was by negligence set on fire and began to waste and consume away by much increasing of the flames so that no helpe of man nor casting of water thereon was able to quench or stay the same the greatest part of the citie being at length almost burnt and the furious flashes extending themselues euen vnto the Bishops place this good Bishop seeing mans helpe now to faile and trusting onely in the aide and succour of almighty God commanded that he might be carried out of his house and set against these fierce flames of fire piercing and flying all round about Now where the greatest rage of this burning was there was the place of Martyrdome of the foure holy crowned Saints Whan then the Bishop by his seruants was brought forth and set in this place here he began with prayer sicke as he was for he was often troubled with infirmities of body and much grieued with the Gowte notwithstanding euer whole and sound of minde to driue away the perill of the fire which the stout strength of strong men with much labour could not before bring to passe And behold the winde that blew from the South whereby this fire was first kindled and blasted abroad now suddenly bent against the South first tempered his blasts for feare of hurting the places right ouer in the other side and after quite quenching the flames ceasing and extinguishing the fire made all calme and well againe And truly this good man of God which did feruently alway burne with the fire of inward charity and was wont with his often prayers and holy exhortations to driue from himselfe and all his the danger of ghostly temptations and trouble by spirits of the aire might now
fourth of the Ides of September in the yeare of grace one thousand one hundred ninety and eight being the ninth yeare of King Richard the first as I haue it out of the Catalogue of Treasurers of England collected by Francis Thinne He bestowed much vpon the building of his Church S. Pauls as also vpon other Edifices belonging to his See which was the cause I coniecture wherefore the Shrine was erected to his memory Many miracles saith Mat. Paris were wrought at the tombe of Roger sirnamed the Blacke the foure and fortieth Bishop of this Diocesse who lieth buried neere to the preaching place in Saint Pauls Church vnder a monument of grey marble of which as also of him I haue partly spoken before Godwin Bishop of Hereford out of the foresaid M. Paris saith that this Roger was a reuerend man religious learned painfull in preaching eloquent a great House-keeper and of very gentle and curteous behauiour whereunto he might haue added as it is in my Author that hee was also stout and couragious For Rustandus the Popes Nuntio being earnest in a conuocation for setting forward a certaine prolling deuise to scrape vp money for his master he not onely withstood him openly but cried out vpon the vnreasonable and shamelesse couetousnesse of the Court of Rome and was the onely means of staying the course of that exaction For reuenge hereof not long after they began to frame an accusatioÌ against him at Rome alledging matters altogether false and friuolous It forced him to trauell thither and cost him great summes of money before he could rid his hands of that brable The yeare 1233. Walter Mauclerke Bishop of Carlile taking ship to passe ouer the seas was hindered by some of the Kings Officers for that he had no licence to depart the Realme These Officers for so doing hee excommunicated and riding straight vnto the Court certified the King what he had done and there renewed the same sentence againe About the same time the King gaue commandement for the apprehending of Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent who hauing sodaine notice thereof at midnight got him vp and fled into a Church in Essex They to whom the businesse was committed finding him vpon his knees before the high Altar with the Sacrament in one hand and a crosse in the other carried him away neuerthelesse vnto the Tower of London The Bishop taking this to bee a great violence and wrong offered to holy Church would neuer leaue the King which was Henry the third a King indeed very reâigious vntill he had caused the Earle to bee carried vnto the place from whence he was fetcht which was thought to bee a meanes of sauing the Earles life For though order was taken he should not scape thence yet it gaue the Kings wrath a time to coole and himselfe leisure to make proofe of his innocency By reason whereof he was afterward restored to the Kings fauour and former places of honour But the story here followeth which is also annexed to his tombe that aboue all others giues the truest testimony of his religious vigerous and vndaunted masculine spirit Vpon the day of the conuersion of Saint Paul while Roger Bishop of London was at high Masse within the Church of Saint Paul in London a sudden darknesse ouershadowed the Quire and therewith came such a tempest of thunder and lightning that the people there assembled thought verily the Church and Steeple had come downe vpon their heads There came moreouer such a filthy sauour and stinke withall that partly for feare and partly for that they might not abide the sauour they voyded the Church falling on heapes one vpon another as they sought to get out of the same The Vicars and Canons forsooke their Deskes so that the Bishop remained there onely with one Deacon that serued him at Masse Afterward when the aire began to clear vp the people returned into the Church and the Bishop qui remansit intrepidus who remained all the time nothing at all abashed went forward and finished the Masse Thus Roger hath a roome in this our Sainted throng Who by his words and workes so taught the way to heauen As that great name to him sure vainely was not giuen Now for a conclusion if you desire greatly to know the greatnesse of this christian name of Roger as the Poet here in this place seemes to call it consult with Verstegan in his Etymologies of the ancient Saxon proper names of men and women and he will tell you that Roger was at the first Rugard or Rougard and afterwards Rugar and with vs lastly Roger. Rou or Ru is our ancient word for rest repose or quietnesse gard to keepe or conserue so as Rugard now Roger is a keeper or conseruer of rest and quietnesse Such a keeper such a conseruer of peace and quietnesse was this our Bishop Roger whom I leaue to his eternall rest and repose and so take my leaue of this sometime his Diocesse Here endeth the Diocesse of London ANCIENT FVNERALL MONVMENTS WITHIN THE Diocesse of NORVVICH In Suffolke Dunwich THE first seate of the Bishops of this Diocesse was at Dunwich in Suffolke and the first Bishop thereof was Felix a Burgundian At Dunmok than was Felix fyrst Byshop Of Estangle and taught the Chrysten âayth That is full hye in heuen I hope His happie comming into this kingdome happened vpon this occasion as followeth Sebert or Sigebert king of the East Angles a man in all points learned and most Christian who whilest his brother was yet liuing being himselfe banished into France by his father Redwald was there baptised and instructed in the Faith of which faith he laboured to make all his Realme partakers as soone as he came vnto the Crowne Whose good endeuour herein the foresaid Felix did most earnestly fauour and with great praise applie himselfe Who when he came from Burgundy where he was borne and tooke holy orders into Britaine to Honorius the Archbishop vnto whom hee opened his desire and purpose which was to preach the word of God vnto the foresaid East Angles The Archbishop gladly gaue him licence and sent him forth to sow the seed of eternall saluation in the misbeleeuing hearts of the people of that countrey His zeale and vertuous desire proued not in vaine For this holy husbandman and happie tiller of the spirituall field found in that Nation plentifulnesse of fruite and increase of people that beleeued him For he brought all that Prouince being now deliuered by his helpe from their long iniquitie and vnhappinesse vnto the faith and workes of Iustice and in the end to the reward of perpetuall blisse and happinesse for euer according to the good abodement of his name which in latine is called Felix and in our English tongue soundeth Happy He was made Bishop about the yeare of our redemption 630. and chose Dunwich for his Episcopall Chaire being a Citie in foregoing ages spacious much frequented and well peopled
peicked after a strange fashion and a paire of Challices of course mettall lying vpon his breast the which was thought to be one of the Bishops of Donwiche but when they touched and stirred the same dead body it fell and went all to powder and dust And although these aforesaid three old Churches were not sumptuous great very faire after the manner fashion of Cathedral Churches now vsed yet it seemeth they might serue in those daies very well for it plainely appeareth in the book of the description of England and in the title of Bishoprickes and their Sees the thirteenth chapter whereas these words following are said Take heede for in the beginning of holy Church in England Bishops ordained and had their Sees in low places and simple that were conueniable and meete for contemplation and deuotion c. But in King William the Conquerours time by doome of Law Canon it was otherwise ordained that Bishops should remoue and come out of small townes and to haue their Sees in great Cities By meanes whereof it seemeth that the towne of Donwiche being then greatly decayed and also then likely more and more to decay as it hath done indeed from a great citie as some doe say or at the least from a very great ancient Towne to a little small Towne the Bishops seat of Donwich was remoued from Donwich to Elmham and Thetford and afterward to the Citie of Norwich whereas it yet remaineth There was a Mint in Dunwich for one Master Holliday told mee that he had a grote whose superscription on the one side was Ciuitas Donwic Diuers other things he told me of to make it a citie The Treatise is much longer but enough is already deliuered The succession of the Bishops of Dunwich is set downe by Bishop Godwin to which I refer my Reader The foundation of the Blacke Friers in Dunwich This religious Structure was founded by Sir Roger de Holishe Knight of the order you haue heard before of the time dedication value or surrender I finde not any thing Persons of note buried in the Church of this Monastery were as followeth Sir Roger de Holishe Knight the foresaid founder Sir Raufe Vfford and Dame Ione his wife Sir Henry Laxiffeld Knight Dame Ione de Harâile Dame Ada Crauene Dame Ione Weyland Sister of the Earle of Suffolke Iohn Weyland and Ione his wife Thomas sonne of Richard Brews Knight Dame Alice wife of Sir Walter Hardishall Sir Walkin Hardesfield Austin Valeyus Raph Wingfeld Knight Richard Bokyll of Leston and Alice and Alice his wiues Sir Henry Harnold Knight and Fryer The grey Friers of Dunwich was founded first by Richard Fitz-Iohn and Alice his wife and after by King Henry the third of which I haue no further knowledge Herein lay interred the bodies of Sir Robert Valence the Heart of Dame Hawise Ponyngs Dame Ideu of Ylketishall Sir Peter Mellis and Dame Anne his wife Dame Dunne his mother Iohn Francans and Margaret his wife Dame Bert of Furniuall .... Austin of Cales and Ione his wife Iohn Falleyâ and Beatrix his wife Augustine his sonne .... Wilexâes Sir Hubert Dernford Katherine wife of William Phellip Margaret wife of Richard Phellip Peter Codum I had the notes of these buried in these Monasteries as also of diuers other Monasteries in Suffolke and Norfolke out of the painefull collections of William le Neue Esquire Yorke Herauld truely copied out of the ancient originals thereof remaining in his custody Bury Saint Edmunds or Saint Edmundsbury This Town seemeth saith Camden to haue been of famous memory considering that when Christian Religion began to spring vp in this tract king Sigebert here founded a Church and it was called Villam Regiam that is a royall towne But after that the people had translated hither the body of Edmund that most christian King whom the Danes with exquisite torments had put to death and built in honour of him a very great Church wrought with a wonderfull frame of timber it began to be called Edmundi Burgus commonly Saint Edmundsbury and more shortly Bury But especially since that King Canutus for to expiate the sacrilegious impietie of his Father Suenus against this Church being often affrighted with a vision of the seeming-ghost of Saint Edmund built it againe of a new worke enriched it offered his owne Crowne vnto the holy Martyr brought vnto it Monkes with their Abbot and gaue vnto it many faire and large Mannors and among other things the Towne it selfe full and whole ouer which the Monkes themselues by their Seneschall had rule and iurisdiction Thus Knuts Charter began In nomine Poliarchie Iesu Christi saluatoris Ego Knut Rex totius Albionis Insule aliarumque nationum plurimarum in Cathedra regali promotus cum concilio decreto Archiepiscoporum Episcoporum Abbatum Comitum aliorumque omnium fidelium meorum elegisanciendum perpeti stabilimento ab omnibus confirmandum vt Monasterium quod Budrices Yurthe nuncupatur sit per omne euum Monachorum gregibus deputatum ad inhabitandum c. After a long recitall of his many donations corroborations priuiledges and confirmations of former grants he ends with an Additament of fish and fishing Huic libertati concedo additamentum scilicet maritimos pisces qui mihi contingere debent annualiter per Thelonei lucrum et Piscationem quam Vlskitel habuit in Pilla et omnia iura c. These gifts to this Abbey as to the most of all others were finally concluded with a fearefull curse to the infringers thereof and a blessing to all such that did any way better her ample endowments the Charter is signed with the marke which is the crosse and the consent of thirty and fiue witnesses of which a few as followeth â Ego Knut Rex c. hoc priuilegium iussi componere compositum cum signo Dominice crucis confirmando impressi â Ego Aelgifa Regina omni alacritate mentis hoc confirmaui â Ego Wulsâanus Archiepiscopus consensi â Ego Adelnodus confirmaâi c. After Knut one Haruey the Sacrist comming of the Norman bloud compassed the Burgh round about with a wall whereof there remaine still some few reliques and Abbot Newport walled the Abbey The Bishop of Rome endowed it with very great immunities and among other things granted That the said place should be subiect to no Bishop in any matter and in matters lawfull to depend vpon the pleasure and direction of the Archbishop which is yet obserued at this day And now by this time the Monkes abounding in wealth erected a new Church of a sumptuous and stately building enlarging it euery day more then other with new workes and whiles they laid the Foundation of a new Chappell in the raigne of Edward the first There were found as Euersden a Monke of this place writeth the walles of a certaine old Church built round so as that the Altar stood as it were in the mids
Citizens to pay them three thousand Markes after fiue hundred Markes a yeare toward the reparation of their Church besides they were adiudged to giue to the vse of the Church Vnam cuppam de pondere decem librarum auri valore centum librarum argenti A Cuppe weighing ten pounds in gold and worth an hundred pounds of money Whereby you may note saith Speed the proportion then betweene the value of gold and siluer This end was made by King Edward the first his Father being now dead at the request and solicitation of this Bishop His next successour William Midleton was also interred in this Church He reedified the same being so destroyed and profaned as you haue heard before and hallowed or consecrated the whole Fabricke anew in the presence of King Edward the first and many of his Nobles He departed this life the last of August Ann. 1288. in the eleuenth yeare of his Consecration Iohn Salmon placed in this See of Norwich by the Pope was here entombed he was Lord Chancellour of England for the space of foure yeares This Bishop built the great Hall and the Chappell in the Bishops pallace and a Chappell at the West end of the Church in which he ordained foure Priests to sing Masse continually He died Iuly the sixth 1325. William Ayermin likewise by the Popes authority was preferred to this Bishopricke as appeares by the sequele Cum summus Pontifex nuper Willelmum tunc Canonicum London in Episcopum Norwicens prefecisset sicut per literas bullatas ipsius summi Pontisicis Regi inde directas satis constabat ac Rex nono die Nouembris prox preteriâo per literas suas patentes sub Testimonio Edwardi filij sui primogeniti tunc custodis Regni Anglie Rege extra Regnum existente prefectionem ipsam gratiose acceptans cepit fidelitatemipsius Episcopi restituit ei temporalia Nunc Rex ratificans prefectionem receptionem predict mandat restituere ei Temporalia Teste Rege apud Kenelworth 13. Decemb. Pat. 20. Eââ 2. In the yeare 1319. saith F. Thinne in his Catalogue of Englands Chancellours and out of an old anonimall Latine Chronicler this Will. Ayremin was keeper of the great Seale and that he was taken prisoner by the Scots the words of his Author are in effect thus in English The Countie of Yorke and the countrie adiacent hauing receiued inestimable damages by the Scots William de Melton Archbishop of Yorke Iohn Hotham Bishop of Ely and Treasurer the Abbot of Saint Maries Yorke Sir William Ayremin Priest Chancellour of England Deane of Yorke the Abbot of Selbie and Sir Iohn Pabeham knight assembled together an armie of eight thousand to represse the violence of the enemie this armie consisted of Clerkes Monkes Canons and other spirituall men of the Church with Citizens and Husbandmen and such other vnapt people for the warres With these the Archbishop came forth against the Scots and incountred with them at a place called Mitton a little village vpon the Riuer of Swale Ouer which Riuer the Englishmen were no sooner passed but that the expert warlike Scots came vpon them with a wing in good order of battell in fashion like to a Shield eagerly assayling their enemies who for lacke of good gouernment were easily beaten downe and discomfited without shewing any great resistance Corruerunt ex nostris tam in ore gladij quam aquarum scopulis suffocati plusquam quatuor mille hominum there were slaine by the sword and drowned in the Riuer of our partie aboue foure thousand persons saith the Manuscript and the residue shamefully put to flight The Archbishop the Bishop of Ely the Abbot of Selbie and diuers other with helpe of their swift horses escaped The Mayor of Yorke named Nicholas Fleming was slaine Et capti sunt Domini Iohannes de Pabâham miles Dominus Willelmus de Airemin Canc. and Sir Iohn de Pabeham and Sir William Ayremin Priest were taken prisoners Iohn Harding who seldome giues condigne praise to the valiant doughtie Scot thus writes of this battell ...... in Myton medowe nere To Swale water lay then with great power Walter Warren among the haycockes bushed Vpon the byshop sodenly with Scots yssued And xv hundreth Englyshe there he slewe And home he went with kyng Robart full glad With prisoners many mo then men knewe The Byshop fled fro the felde full woo bestad With his Clerkes that then were full mad This was called the white Battell for that it consisted of so many Clergie men This Bishop died March the 17. hauing sate almost eleuen yeares at Sharing neare London whose body was conueyed for buriall to this his owne Church He gaue two hundred pound for order to be taken that two Monkes the Cellerers of the Couent should alwayes sing Masse for his soule Thomas Piercy was here interred a gentleman howsoeuer right honorably descended and highly befriended yet constrayned to admit of this Bishopricke by the Popes Prouisorie Bull as followeth Cum summus Pontifex nuper vacante Ecclesia Norwicen per mortem Willelmi vltimi Episcopi ibidem qui apud sedem Apostolicam diem clausit extremum eidem Ecclesie de venerabili viro Thoma Percy prouiderit ipsum Thomam in Episcopum loci illius presecerat Rex cepit sidelitatem ipsius Thome Temporalia ei restituit Teste Rege apud West 14. April Pat. Ann. 29. Ed. 3. Memb. 14. This Bishop gaue vnto the repairing of this Church which in his time was greatly defaced with a violent tempest the summe of foure hundred markes and obtained of the rest of the Clergie a great summe to the same purpose He bequeathed to the Chaunter of this his Church an house and certaine lands lying within the Lordship of Kimerle Gaeriton Fowrhow Granthorpe and Wychelwood vpon condition he should procure Masse daily to be said for his soule He died at Blofield not farre off the eight of August 1369. Vpon the death of Bishop Percy one Henry Despenser Canon of Salisbury was preferred by the Pope to this Bishopricke as I finde it thus recorded in the Tower Henricus Despenser Canonicus Saresburien per Papam ad Episcopatum Norwicen vacantem per mortem Thome vltimi Episcopi ibidem prefectus fecit regi fidelitate habuit restitutioneÌ Temporalium T.R. apud Clarendon 14. Aug. 2. Par. Pat. Anno 44. Ed. 3. Memb. 6. This man was called the warlike Bishop of Norwich for that in his youth he had beene a Souldier with a brother of his one Spenser a gentleman greatly esteemed for his valour being a chiefe Commander in the Popes warres by whose meanes this Henry obtained this dignitie and hauing changed his vesture but not his conditions in what manner of life he spent his youth in the same he most delighted euen in his waxing yeares For in the yeare 1381. most memorable was the seruice of this stout Bishop against the rebellious bondmen and Pesants of Norfolke whom he draue
out of their Trenches slew diuers and caused their mushrom king Iohn Littestar to be hanged drawne and headed and also caused all others that were the chiefe agents in that rebellion to be put vnto death and so by that meanes quieted the whole countrey an action howsoeuer some will say perhaps not agreeable to his calling worthie of eternall honour and remembrance Not long afterwards viz. 1383. he had another occasion to shew his martiall prowesse for being drawne on by Pope Vrban the sixt to preach the Crusado and to be generall against Clement the seuenth whom sundry Cardinals and great Prelates had also elected Pope hauing a Fifteenth granted to him for that purpose by Parliament after strong opposition of almost all the Nobles who resisted this businesse of the Crosse went with forces into Flanders to support the cause of Vrban against the Antipape Clement from whence after he had performed many exploits very happily taken Graueling Burbrough Dunkerke and Newport by assault and bin victor in a set Battell against thirty thousand abettours of Clements claime he was enforced to returne as destitute of those further succours which were expected out of England But the King vpon pretence that he had not obeyed his royall Mandate by which he required him before he transported to returne for a while seised vpon all his Temporalities to which he found grace with the King to be restored at the speciall sute of Thomas Arundell as then Bishop of Ely The which Seisin and Restitution is thus in effect recorded Hen. Episcopus Norwicens in Parliamento apud West Anno huius Regis 7. fuit impetitus de diuersis articulis misprisionuÌ vnde Temporalia Episcopatus sui seisita suerant in manum Regis c. Rex nunc restituit ei Temporalia predicta T. R. apud West 24. octob 1. par pat an 9 Ric. 2. M. 27. There was great contention betweene this Bishop and his Monkes for the space of fifteene yeares but they being too weake for him as you see all his opposites were at last were glad to giue him foure hundred markes to enioy their priuiledges in like sort as heretofore they had done He sate Bishop well neere 37. yeers and died August 23. 1406. as appeares by this mangled Epitaph vpon his monument Henricus natus le del spenser miles amatus Presul sacratus hic Norwicensis humatus Florens progenie ......... ................. M. Quadringeno Vigili sex Bartholomei Christo sereno Regi peregrat requiei After him the next succeeded one Alexander Prior of Norwich was elected Bishop by the Monkes which election the King so misliked as hee not onely kept him from his temporalties but also imprisoned him almost a whole yeare at Windsor Thomas Beaufort miles habuit custodiam Temporalium Episcopatus Norwicen a tempore mortis Henrici nuper Episcopi ibidem quamdiu in manibus Regis existerent ac fuit custos eorum a vigilia Sancti Bartholomei an no. 7. Hen. 4. vsque ad 23 diem Octob. proxi preterit per vnum annum integrum 8 Septimanas et 6 dies T.R. apud West 9 Iunij 2 pars pat an 9. Hen. 4. M. 19. Before the Altar of Saint George the body of Bishop Wakering lyeth buried who for his life learning and wisedome was highly esteemed in regard whereof before he was aduanced hither to Norwich King Henry the 4. made him Lord Keeper of the priuy Seale and so consequently he was of his priuy Councell in the yeare 1414. hee was sent to the generall Councell holden at Constance in Heluetia with Richard Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of Salisbury Bath and Hereford the Abbot of Westminster and the Prior of Worcester with diuers other Doctors and learned men of the spiritualtie besides Knights and Esquires in number all eight hundred horses so well appointed and furnished as well the men as horses that all nations meruailed to see such an honourable companie come from a Countrie so farre distant in this Counsell hee so behaued himselfe that for learning and wisedome hee obtained the generall applause of all the assemblie shortly after his returne he was consecrated Bishop viz. the last of May 1416. and hauing his charge with great praise about nine yeares he died the ninth of Aprill one thousand foure hundred twentie and fiue He built the Cloister which is to be seene at this day in the Bishops Pallace pauing the same with stones of diuers colours Vpon the dore vnder the Rood loft I finde this maymed Epitaph following inlaid in brasse Hic iacet absconsus sub marmore Presul honestus Seclo desunctus olim pastor quoque sponsus Istius Ecclesie cum digno culmine morum Prefuit egregie ......... .................. Dictus Walterus Lyghert cognomine notus ................. Euellens acriter mala germina fructus acerbi Dispersit pariter diuini semina verbi Anno milleno C. quater septuageno Annexis binis instabit ei prope finis Septima cum decima lux Maij sit numerata Ipsius est anima de corpore tunc separata Fili Christe Dei fons vite spes medicine Propitieris ei donans requiem sine fine This man in the catalogue of Bishops is called Walter Hart. In his predecessors daies the Citizens here of Norwich harbouring in their mindes their old grudge attempted many things against the Church but such was the singular wisedome and courage of the said Bishop whose name was Thomas Browne that all their enterprises tooke little effect and now by the policie and discretion of this Lighert or Hart the malitious humours of these malecontented Townesmen before reasonable well allaied was altogether extinguished He paued the Church and during his life maintained twelue students at Cambridge with all things necessary for them at his owne charges He departed this life the first of May 1472. as appeares by his Epitaph in the twentie and sixt yeare of his consecration and lieth buried neere vnto the Rood loft which he himselfe erected Here lieth buried the body of Iames Goldwell sometimes Deane of Salisbury Secretarie to King Edward the fourth and Bishop of this Diocesse who died in February M. cccc.lxxxxviii This Bishop was a great repairer or new builder of great Chart Church in Kent where as it is said he was borne Here lieth buried the body of Thomas Ian who died the first yeare of his consecration viz. anno 1499. After the decease of Ian Richard Nix succeeded of whom I finde little worth the rehearsing saith Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops hee hath the report of a vicious and dissolute liuer was blinde long before his death sate 36 yeares and died An. 1536. It is reported yet that this Bishop built the north crosse I le of this Church and guilded the roofe of the same vpon which his cote of Armes is to be seene In the Chapter House was a goodly monument to the memory of Sir Thomas Windham knight with this now maymed Inscription
Hengraue in Suffolke of which Familie and the owner of which Lordship was that renowned Lawyer Edmund de Hengraue who flourished in the raigne of Edward the first who died the 23. of May 1349. Sir Robert Bacon Richard Earle of Clare Roger Fitz. Osbert Lady Katherin his wife Sir Henry Bacon Sir Robert Bacon Knights Lady Sabina the wife of ... Bacon Iohn Bacon his sonne and nine other children Ione of Acris Countesse of Glocester William Woderow and Margaret his wife Founders of this Monasterie of Augustine Friers as I haue it in my notes from William Le Neue Sir Henry Bacon of Garleston or Garneston obiit 1335. Dame Alice Lunston obijt 1341. Dame Elianor wife of Sir Thomas Gerbrigge of Wickhampton obijt 1353. Dame Elianor .... Dame Ione Caxton obijt 1364. Dame Sibill Mortimer wife of Sir Raphe Pygott of Gelston obijt 1385. Sir Iohn Laune of Flixtonforth and Mary his wife Iohn Haukin Esquire obijt 1385. Iohn Belhowse Esquire obijt 1399. Alexander Falstolfe William March Esquire obijt 1412. Iohn Pulham gent. obijt 1481. Snoring Orate pro animabus Radulphi Shelton Militis Domine Alicie vxoris eius filie Thome de Vuedal militis qui quidem Radulphus obijt M. ccccxxiiii The Rector of this Church at this time as I am informed is that reuerend learned Diuine and bountifull house-keeper Robert Pearson Doctor of Diuinitie Archdeacon of Suffolke sometimes Fellow of Queenes Colledge in Cambridge To whom I am bound to acknowledge all thankfulnesse he being in the same Colledge my Tutor Shelton Pries pour l'ame du Mounsieur Rauf Shelton Maistres istius ville qui morust le 18. Nouemb. L'an de grace M.ccclxxiii ...... pour la femme fil du Mounsieur Plays ... Vnder a faire Grauestone lieth the body of Sir Iohn Shelton who married the daughter of Sir William Bullein this Inscription remaining Hic sum sepultus Iohannes de Shelton Miles Here is a Tombe vnfinished of Sir Iohn Shelton knight who married Margaret the daughter of the Lord Morley and had issue Sir Raph Shelton knight and three daughters Anne married to .... Sir Iohn Goosalue knight Alice married to the heire of Sir Thomas Ieselyn knight and Mary married to Sir Iames Skudamor knight Here is also another Tombe vnfinished of Sir Raphe Shelton knight who married to his first wife Mary the daughter of Sir William Woodhouse knight and had issue Thomas his sonne and heire who married the daughter of Baron Flowerdew Sir Iohn who married the daughter of the Lord Cromwell Raph vnmarried Edward who dyed young Audrie Shelton married to .... Walsingham in Kent By his second wife the daughter of Master Barrow he had issue Henry Shelton and two daughters .... How neare these times these come I doe not know for I haue no further instructions but from an imperfect Funerall Monument Neither had he I meane Master Howldich who first collected these Inscriptions Marham Here was a religious little house of white Nunnes valued at thirteene pounds sixe shillings pennie halfe penny The first Founder hereof was Isabell Countesse of Arundell in her widowhood the wife of Hugh de Albeney Earle of Arundell and Sussex as by these words following extracted out of the booke of Wauerley in Surrey will appeare Isabella Comitissa Arundell morum quidem grauitate non mediocriter adornata circa salutem anime sue diligens sollicita divina vt creditur inspiratione preuenita Abbatiam Monialium ordinis Cistercen Marham vocatam cum summa devotione hoc anno viz. 1252. construxit Cuius rei causa Abbatem nostrum duxit consulendum ac permissione Domini ipsius domum nostram intrauit societatem ordinis in capitulo nostro deuote petiit et obtinuit Quatuor Marcas vnum Dolium vini Conventui ad pitancias donauit And thus religious orders were enricht and made great feasts by the admittance of lay persons into their Fraternities and Sisterhoods as I haue touched before in my discourse cap. I finde that William Bishop of Norwich gaue vnto the Abbey of Nunnes in Marham the appropriation and patronage of the Parish Church of Saint Peter in Rockland within the Diocesse of Norwich Anno Christi 1349. Shouldham A Priory consecrated to the holy Crosse and the blessed Virgin replenished likewise with white Nunnes Gilbertines The valuation of whose endowments amounted to bee yearely worth an hundred seuenty and one pound six shillings 8. pence It may very well be that Robert de Monte alto or Monthault was the Founder for I finde in the Abbey booke of Langeley that he lieth here buried An honorable Familie anciently in this tract and in diuers other places of the kingdome Chappell in the field Founded by Iohn Brome or his Ancestours for a Deane and seuen Prebends in which lye buried besides the Founder Williom Rees Esquire and Margerie his wife Edmond Bokenham Esquire and Dionisia his wife Iohn Strange Elisabeth wiffe of Iohn Ienny daughter and heire of Io. Wedyrlye Raueningham Sir Iohn of Norwich knight founded a Colledge here at Raueningham the Kings licence and Antonyes Bishop of Norwich thereunto first obtained for a Master and eight brethren Priests Anno 24. Ed. 3. which will best appeare by his Charter which followes Vniuersis c. Iohannes de Norwico miles Salutem Illud Apostoli frequenter in animo revoluens Qualia seminaverit homo talia metet c. ad mei meriti et Margarete consortis mee c. ad honorem Dei Genetricisque sue Sancti Andree Apostoli omniumque sanctorum Collegium ex Magistro et octo confratribus Presbyteris in Ecclesia de Raueningham diuina perpetuis temporibus celebratur duxi peritorum consilio ordinand Quod Collegium domus Sancte Marie de Raveningham nominari dispono Dat. apud Thorpe iuxta Norwic. die xxv Iulij Anno Domini M.cccl Tomeston or Thonston Sir Thomas de Skardelow knight and Iohn his brother founded here a Chantrie of six Chapleines to pray for the soules of the said Thomas Iohn and Agnes his wife and their parents soules The donation beares date the 8. of Feb. 1349. the 23. of Ed. the third Valued it was at fiftie two pounds fifteene shillings seuen pence halfe penie Cockford Anno 1243. the Priory of blacke Canons Reguler at Cockford or Cokesford was founded by Sir Iohn de Canneto id est Cheney knight After him the Lord Say and after that the Lord Clinton were Patrons as I haue it out of a Manuscript Which Foundation was rated as others were at a low value to be of yearely reuenues one hundred fiftie three pounds seuen shillings and a pennie Tylney Smeeth So called of a smooth plaine or Common thereunto adioyning some two miles in extensure Pinguis adeo luxurians vt Paduana pascua videatur superasse So abundantly fertile that in fatnesse of soile it doth exceed the pastures about Padua in Italy For it serues
309 Bowbell 402 Bowrd 607 Boydale 526 Boys 782.368.382.804.674.678 Boyland 805.368 Boyvile 782 Boxhull 380.484 Brabazon 368 Bradwardin Archbishop 222.223 Bradshaw 687 Bradlaine 322 Bray 468.429.450.523 Braybroke 640.328.329.429.381 Braybroke Bishop 360 Braham 753 Braâ 429 Brampton 809.367 Bradene 579 Brands 318 Brandon Charles Duke of Suffolke 602.620.726.769 Braunch 826.815 Brember 410 Brews Lord 260. Brews 806.720.752.753 Brech K 459 Brereton 514 Brent 294.532.290 Bredon 332 Bret 8â8 Breakespeare Pope 57â 175.152.391 Brendward 329 Brenton Bishop 325 Brember 410 Bregwin Archbishop 249 Breux 418 Bryene or Bruin 325 Bryan 778.593.426 Bricot 369 Bâuget Nun 335 Briton 201.202 Briset Baron 428.429.430.431 Briggs 587 Bâigham 489 Brittingham 72 Brickles 408 Brithwald Archbishop 248.258 Brocas Ep. to the Reader Broke 754.114.591.324 Baron 328.329 Brockhall 238 Brome 796.865.790 Brockholl 294 Brokenbury 521 Brokitwell 393 Bromflet Lord 588 Bromeley 675.679 Brompton 367 Browne 134.235.807.238.675.579.636.795 856 Browne Bishop 869 Brond 816.817 Bâotherton E. Marshall 433.726 Brugge or Brugges the first king at armes named Garter 659 Brugge Lord Maior 412 Brun 479.655 Bruin 602.625 Bruno the first Carthusian 144.145 Brunham 791 Bruchelle 235 Bruâ 496 Brudenell Lord 656 Brute King 374.375.396 Buckland 331 Bucks head borne in procession 603 Bucton 784.781 Budrices Yurthe 721 Bull 239.429 Bunbury 110 Burgese 319 Burgoine 325.326 Burley 367 Burd 693 Burleton 334 Burton 398 Burnell Lord 635 Burnham 817 Burford Baron 531 Burgh 740 7â5.860.440.349.716 Burrow 390 Bury S. Edmonds burned 733 Bury 380 Burials of the dead slaine in battaile 344.345.704.705.706.707.708 777 Burials vide Discourse Cap. 2 3 4 5 Burwash 212 Burstall 448 Bushop 527 Busbrig 436 Butts 812.525 Butterfield 537 Butterwick 742 Butler vide Botâler Buxton 814 C Cade 279.391.747 Cadwall King 386 Canies 370 Caly 598 Calthorp 825.796.859.805 Camden 673.677 Camoys 822 Campion 695 Candlin 238 Candish 742. vide Cauendish Cantlow 695 Canute or Knute King 721. his Charter to Bury S. Edmunds 819 Capell or Attecapell 272.417.742 Capgraue 263 Cary Baron Hunsdon Cary Lord Chamberlane cosin german to Queene Elizabeth 544 Cary Earle of Douer 606.544 Carey Lo. Falkland 592 Carew castle 731 Carew 114.426.731 Carbonell 744 Carlile 672 Carre 599 Cardinals 383.384 Carhill 526 Carleton vide Charleton Carrs 599 Carmelite namelesse 611 Carpenter 379 Carpenwald K. 62 Casy 395 Castle 863 Catcher 537 Catesby 327 Caue 114 Cawne 327 Cauz 448 Cauendish Earle of Newcastle â30 Cauendâsh 112.528 69â Cauâsini what 300 Caxion 864 Cecil William Earle of Salisbury 511 230 Cely 274 Cenotaphs vide Discourse cap 7. Challoner 430 Chareport 27â Chardport 111 Chadwort 542 Chapman 333 Chapney 672 Chamberlain 409.547.857 Champion 417 Chancey 549 5â6 Chamceux 6â5 Charles King Dedication and 497 Charles Emperor 319 Chandry 543 Charleton 324.534.751 misnumbred 822 Charles 317.750.825.826 Chartsey 743 Chaucer 489 4â1 Chaire of Marble 459 Cheake or Cheke 760 783 Chesterfield 72 Chency 776.700.835.865.866.686.330 284 599.550 Chickwell 371 Chicheley Archbishop 227 Chicheley Lord 409 Chint 625 Chyett 696 Chillenden 236 Chishull Bishop 363 Chirch 655 Chitting 687 Christianity in Wales euer since Lucius his reigne 414 Cholmundeley 499 Chute 294 Church Robbers 42 Churchyard 497 Clay 551 Clare Earle of Glocest. 589 322 323 632. 734. c. Clarembald 255 Claudine Contentus 265 Claydon 751 Clark 111 Clauell 527 Claudius Emperor 708 Clauering 825.329.826 Cley 483 Clere 797.783 Clement 327 Clerk of the Pipe 694. Of the priuy Scale 694. Of the Crowne 700 Clerk 732.598 Clerk Bishop 426 Clifton 270.804.811.805 Clinton Lo. 866 Clifford Bishop 364. Clifford 656 281.237.429 831 Cliâherow 265 Clock comparing with the Sunne Moone and the Dyall 800 Clopâân 659.660.609 747 776 742.743 Clot âââ 770 Cobham 327.291 329 330.328 Cââk 676.781.607 Cockame 381 Codum 72â Cââ 622.623 Câslin 594 Coggesââll 699.609.617.636 657 Coill Kâng 612 Coke and Cooke 625.650.673.682 ââ4 550.182.625 Coâaâ 608 Colby 547 Cole 411 Colin 337 Colins 529 Colwell 259.276.277 Colâhester 611 Câliât 140 761.368.369.540 Collyer 671.674.679.675 Câlvyle 751 ãâã 676.681 ãâã 274 Colpeper âide Culpeper Columbers 297.330 Combe 486 Compton 535.336 Constenton 317 Conge Dâsââire its form and interpretation 726.727 Constable of Chester 811 Conyers 760 Coââgesbieâ a familie 592 Constable 284 Conghurst 317 Contention betwixt the Archbishops of Canterbury and York for primacy 305.306 Coâstantin Emperor 612 Constance Dutchesse of Lancaster 365 Constance Dutchesse of Northfolke 425 Copeland 402 Copledike 114 Coppinger 54.700 780 Cornwalleys 764.765.406 Cornwall Baron 284.531 Corbevill 268 Cornelius Van Dun 499 Corineus 396.397 Cornburgh 648 Coronation of King Ed. first 456 Cordall 748.60 Corpus Christi play 405 Cotgraue 676.681 Cotton Rob. his death and Epitaph Epistle to the Reader and 496 Cotton 759.550.493 Cotet 805 Cote 732 Courtney 544.436 Courtney E. of Deuon 328 Courtney Archbishop 225.285.869 Couentry 402 Cowall 814 Cowgate 805.807 Cowâelit 263 Coway stakes 704 Crane 545.778 Crancumbe 448 Cranmer Archbishop 103.506 His wisdome 507 Cranuile 744 Creketot 734 Creke 766 Crew 820 Cresner 335 Cressenor 744 Cressacre 401 Creuequer 286 Cressy 376 645.551.39â Crispe 267 Crispin and Crispinian 271 Crispin 487.829 Cryoll Lo. 322.336 Crymvill 606 Cromwell Lo. Tresurer 700 Cromwell 104.114.864.501.593.509 512 Crongethorpe 805.807 Dela Crois 209 Crosby 421 Crosses at Lincolne Granthan c. 464 Crooke 676 Croston 427 Crowland 649 Cromer 235.279 863 Cudden 859 Culpeper 272.281 326.327.338.796 Cunred 252 Cunebelin or Kimbalin King 608 Cure first of the Kings euill 453 Curteys 537.594 Cuthbert Archbishop 214.249.67 S. Cuthbert Bishop 151 S. Cuthberts feast 349 D DAcre 291.498 Dacres vide Fines Dayner 238 Dayres 682 Daker 291 Dalusse 406 Dalton 673 676.680.68 Dallington 3â0 Damory Lord 44.544 Danyell 535.548 Dannet 629 Danset 416 Dondlyon 259 Danewott 707 Dance of Pauls 378 Dammary 628 Darosse 814 Darland 700 Darcies 534.371.426.609.640 Darell 294.235 Dauy 582.815.332.591 Dauid K 46 Debenham 80 Deynes or Dennis 764.859 Deyncourt 651 Deyre 274 Dey 718 De la Pole 759.863.744 328.758 Pole 231 De la Downe Denne 416 497 Dennys 859 Denneyes 784 Denny Ed. E. of Norwich 6â6 Denny 645.852 Dengayn 805 Dentwell 592 Dene Archbishops 231. Dene 318 Denham 751 Denbank 829 Denston 781 Deodate Archbishop 299 Derik 89 Dernford 721 Dering 292.293.294.295 Derings Droff ibid. Derham 855 Dernford 721 Dethick 681.677.682.676.680.683.669 672 The Deuill a dancer 300. A merry Gentleman 534 Deuenish 250 Deus dedit Archbishop 247 Dew 333 D'Ewes 697.698.653.397.660.718.208.311 alibi Dialogue twixt a Secular Priest and a Fryer 734 Digge 238.134.367 270 Digon 259 Dighton 520.72 Dilcock 606 Dinham Lord 609 Diocesse of London 72 Distich in Guild Hall 399 Dissention betweene the Couent of Bury S. Edmonds and the Townsmen vide Quarrell Disse 806 Dominella 542 Domneua 261 Donations to religious houses with blessings and curssings 62 Donwalle King 181 Donet 331.286 Doreward 619 Douer Isab. Countesse of Assile 213 Douer Rose 337 Douglas Bishop 446.491 Downmeer 532 Dowe 782 Downe 331 Drake 814.823.610 Drayton 4.303.345 alibi Dreux Earle of Richmond 387 Drury 744.760.730.779.778 Dââlege the little Abbot
Hardman 732 Harleton 609 Harpington 805 Hââsenet Archbishop 870 Harpley 759 Hastings E. of Penbrooke 259 Hastings Lord 259 700 Hastings Lord Hastings Wayford and Ruâhin 805 Hastings 831 750 804.805 Haselwood â06 Haswell 678 Hastiludium 443 Haâfield 611.388 Hatcher 276 Hatton 364 Hatecliffe 338 Havering 651 Haukedon 744 Hawkin 863 Haule or Hawley 483.484 Hawberke 329 Hawte or Haute 238.239.275.327 Hawley 675 Hawling 806 Hawlherst 259 Hawkewood 623 Heath Bishop 314 Heydon 591 81â.329 Helby 800 Helle Lord 588 Helena Empresse 612 Helke 825 Helington 826 Henry Eatle of Northumberland 573 Hen. 8. king 78. c. 430 Hen. the 7. king 476. Elizabeth his Queene ibid. Hen. the 2. king 160.199.201.642 Hen. the 4. king 206 his last Will and Testament 208 Hen. the fifth 339.475 Hen. the 3. king 454.455.642 Hen. the first king 474.762 Katherine his wife 475 Hen. de la Felde â31 Henand â53 Henche 338 Hengham 235.367.368 Hengist king 260.317 Heueningham or Henningham 535 654.656 Hennage 297.537 Hengraue 744 863.828.804 Heningham 535.656.854 Heralds their Etymologie Antiquity and dignitie 683.684 ââ5 6ââ The Heralds office their corporation 687 Heralds their manner of creation 662 663 664 665.666.667.669 Heralds their Catalogue and succession 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 679 680 681 682 683 Heruy 783 Herbert Earle of Penbrooke 284 Herbert Bish. 786.787 788.789.862 Herbert 780 Herbert 500 Hermites â50 Hermitage 500 499 Herneden 330 Hewn 390.537 599 Hert 537 Hestinford 805 Hesilt 3â2 Heton 155 544 Hetersete 805 Hetcorne 288 Heth 91 Hewyt 515 Hewn 599 Higham 812.821 Hikifrick his wondrous act 866 Hill 405.581 Hilton 103 Hildetha 599 Hinkley 779 Hinxworth 546 Hobart 861.862 Hoby 284 Holbroke 863 Holden 624 Holes 591 Holinesse of religious and lay-persons in the Primitiue times discourse cap. 11 Holinesse of Bishops and Priests 178 Holmes 379 Holland Duke of Exceter 4â4 Holland Earle of Exceter 637 Earles of Kent 211 Holland 699 Holt 529 Holy Crosse of Bromholme 858 Holmsworth 678 Holish 7â0 Holliday 720 Honorius Archbishop 247 Honell 828 Hoo 315.398 Hopkins 110 Hopton 114.783 Hopton Bishop 870 Horsa 317 Hore 803 Horne Church or Hore Church 646 647 Horne 270 misprinted Horkesley 611 Horsley 674 Hornley 334 Hosewyf 296 Hosiar 423 Hotham Bishop 792 Howard Katherine Queene 514 Howard Lady Katherine Dutchesse of Norfolke 774.775 Howard Iohn and Thomas Dukes of Norfolke 687.830.831.832 833.134.835.836.837.838.839 Howard Thomas Earle of Arundell and Surrey Earle Marshall 847 Howard 796.804.842 Howard Philip E. of Arundell 291 Howard Lord Will. Epistle to the Reader and â9â Howard Tho. Earle of Surrey 39â Howard Siâ Iohn and ãâ¦ã wife 77â 773 The name of Howard deriued 854 Howell 676 804 Howlditch 80â 864 Humbert Bishop â6â Hunning ââ9 Hunt âââ Huntingdon âââ Husle â14 Hungar and Hubbâ âââ Hubert de Burgo 118 439.854.8â Hubert Archbishop 218 Huâden 259 Huâoline 483 Humfrey D. of Glocâster 555 Humphrey Duke of Buckingham 284 Howard Tho. and Theoph ãâã Earleâ of Suffolke 626 Howard 654 772.773 850 Howard Hen. Earle of Surrey 852 853 Howards Surname deâiued 853 854 I IAcob 5â9 532 Iackson 676 Iambert Archbishop 249 Ian Bishop 795 869 Iames the 4. King of Scotland 393 394 395 837.838 Iames the sixt and first king 358.496 Icklesham 318 Iden 721 Iames 325 Iegon Bishop 870 Ienone â31 Ienny 783.865 Iennyng 675.770 537 Ierningham 769.784 770.779 Iermey â58 781 783 De Ieâninta 825 Iewes brought into England their scorne and mockery of Christianitie 377 their banishment ibid. Ifield 701 Ikham 238 Ilkerishale 863 Images c. 125 In a king 173 Incent 587 Inglefield 660 Ingleby 543 Ingham 817 818 Ingelricus 390 Inglosse 784 Innocent 535 Inscription vpon Chensford Church 641 Inscript vpon Melford Church 747 Inscriptions vpon bellâ 633 Inscriptions 583 584 587 Inscription vpâââ Font 569 Inscrip to the pictur of Christ 509 Inscription ãâã the âââlyard 409 Inscription ouer the Sauoy gate 445 Inscription vpon the Standard Cheape 402 Inscription vnder Saint Peters picâââe 8â0 Inscription vnder the picture of Q Elizabeth 392 Iâscripâion in Saint Peters Church Cornwall Lond. 413 Iohn King 219.465 Iohn Lord Clifford 574 Ioân faire maid âf Kent 4â9 Ioan Queene 210 Ioâelin 291 Iohn de Pichâm Earle of Harford 541 Iohn âe âtrange Lord Stâange 530. Io ãâ¦ã Sââange ibidem Iohn ãâã Snepey Bishop of Rochester â13 Iohn de âempoâibus 595 Iohnson 4 Iohnston 198.308 alibâ Iohn Earle of Somerset 2ââ Maâquesse Dorset Iohn de Dreux 387 Ioyner 675 Ioyce Lady Tiptost 554.765 Iordan le Brune 655 Ioseph of Arytnathea 58.60 Iâsââne 549 Iâeipre Will Earle of Kent 289 Iââlesse 472 Isabell Countesse of Arundell 864 Isabell Câuntesse of Atholl 213 Isakeas 235 Iâââham 610 Iseley 235 59â âslâp Archbishop 223.224 Abâât 488 Iââhiâgham 427 Iâham ãâã Bishop 311 Iâd 323 Iudges fined for bribery 367 âuga 6â1 Iulius Caesar 397.724 Ready Death his sword taken from him 420 Iullaber 280. misnumbred Iustus Archbishop 247.308 Iwin 134 Ivy 855 K KAtherine Queene 475.514 Katherine Dutchesse of Norffolke 419 Kââynewhat 164 K bull 618 Kell 825 Kelley the Alchumist 45.46 Kâmâis 731 Kempe Bishop 228.274.360.361.752 Kemâig 806 Kemdall 599 Kenneth King 459 Kenulph king 177 Kentâshmen throw off the Norman yoke 346 Kentish yeomanry 347 Kent 500 Kenton 438 Kânwalch king 177 Kerdeston 125 Keryell 265 Ketleby 538 Kille 641 Kilwarby Archbishop 306.388 Kinesbourgh Castle 596 Kinnugale 807 Kingston 114.769 King 610 Kirkham 695 Kirâon 534.487 Kiââ Bishop 539 Kâapton 800 Kneuer Lord Chancellour 855 Lord Knâuet ibid. Hen. 856. Kneuet 855 541.783.815 Knevinton 601 Knivet 657 â knife instead of a Seale 631 Knight 677.417.435 Knighton 827 Knowles or Knolles 402.403.436 L LAberius durus 280 Lacy 332.659 744 Lacy Earle of Lincolne 365 366 Lagisse 675 Layton 109.104 Laynham 750 misnumbred Laken 333 Lambard Will. peramb. of Kent avouched in many places Lambe 754 Lambert 252 Lamberne 655 Lancaster 283 654 Landâard 606 Langleys 267.628.634 Langton Archbishop 219 202.3â8 Laud Will. Bishop of London Epistle to the Reader and pag. 383 Langham Archbishop 389.479 Langham 444 Lanfranke Archbishop 259.291.785 Larke 827 Large 628 Lathell 389 Lathum 651.652 Laurence Abbot 417 Launde 410 Laune 263 Lauerocke 524 Laurence Archbishop 242.245 Lawlesse Court 605 Law 324 Laxisfield 720 Leche 625 Lee 548.727.103.104 Leeds 276 Legh 67â Legge 329 Legare 263 Leyborne 259 287. Iulian Gountesle of Huntington 260 Leyton 103 Leicester 368 Leicester Archbishop of Smirna 806 Leyland Iohn his laborious iourney his New yeares gift to King Henry his books his death and buriall 688.689.690.691.692 Lempster 404 Le Neue Epistle to the Reader 678 859. alibi Leonell Duke of Clarence 740 74 Lhewelin Prince 650 Letters A Letter from Gregory the Great to Mellitus 711 Letters transcribed out of the originall A Letter from Edward the fourth to the Prior and Couent of Lewes in Sussex which I had from my very louing friend Henry Lily from whom I haue also had many vse full Collections 77 Letters from Henry the eight to his
declamations in a storme onely to his poore Bargeman Amyclas being as then out of all hope or helpe for buriall saue in the bottome of the sea otherwise at another time I do not doubt but that he would haue desired sepulture with all her ceremonies as earnestly as Hector or any one of his nine fellow-worthies For neuer any saith Camden neglected buriall but some sauage nations as Bactrians which cast their dead to the dogs some varlet Philosophers as Diogenes who desired to bee deuoured of fishes some dissolute Courtiers as Macaenas who was wont to say Non tumulum curo sepelit natura relictos I 'm carelesse of a graue Nature her dead will saue As another said De terra interram quaeuis terra Sepulchrum From earth to earth wee go Each earth 's alike graue so Lucius Scipio likewise being ouerthrowne at the battell of Thapsus where hee was Generall fled disguisedly by sea for his owne safety but being driuen by a storme into the Bay of Hippo where Caesars Nauie lay to guard the shores and perceiuing them himselfe and his Barke both lost he stabbed himselfe with his ponyard leapt ouerboard and drowned himselfe in the maine vttering vpon his instant resolution certaine words in disdaine of buriall Thus exquisitely deliuered in verse by my worthy Friend the continuer of Lucans Historicall poeme My course is runne and though this armed hand Shall testifie I could haue di'd by land The Ocean likes me best within the maine Vnknowne for euer Scipio shall remaine O let my floating carcase neuer come To land lest Affricke should bestow a Tombe And to her sonnes in after ages show A Monument of vanquisht Scipio Loath he was that his dead bodie should either suffer despight or receiue fauour from his enemies so that I thinke no otherwise of his imprecations then I do of Caesars These carelesse Mecaenas-like resolutions make so many I beleeue of especiall note amongst us who either vpon a sparing or precise humour are content to commit to the earth their parents wiues children and the nearest vnto them in tenebris with little better than Sepulchra asinorum This office of burying the dead this last dutie done to our deceased friends hath euer had the prime place of commendation by Lucan lib. 18. for that he so solicitously tooke care to giue all funerall dues to the head lesse Trunke of great Pompey cut off by the treachery of the vngratâfull base Ptolomey vpon whom he is made in the said booke to bestow this Epitaph Here the great Pompey lies so Fortune pleasde To instile this stone whom Caesars selfe would haue Interr'd before he should haue mist a graue And Virgil makes buriall an honour to such as are slaine in battell and so consequently of others Meane while th'vnburied bodies of our mates Ciue wee to graue sole honour after fates Go honour those braue soules with their last dues Who with their bloud purchas'd this land for vs. Toby his burying of the dead was acceptable vnto God as the Angell testifieth And the Lord himselfe being to arise againe the third day commended that good worke of those religious women who poured those pretious ointments with sweete odours vpon his head and body and did it to bury him And the Gospel hath crowned them with immortall praise that tooke downe his bodie from the crosse and gaue it honest and honourable buriall Which signifieth saith S. Augustine that the providence of God extendeth euen vnto the very bodies of the dead for he is pleased with such good deeds and doe build vp the beleefe of the resurrection Where by the way saith he we may learne this profitable lesson how great the reward of almes done vnto the liuing may be since this duty and fauour showne but vnto the dead is not forgotten of God Decent buriall according to the qualitie of the person deceased with attendants of kindred and friends is an honour to the defunct Hezekiah saith the text slept with his fathers and they buried him in the highest sepulchre of the sonnes of Dauid and all Iudah and the inhabitants of Ierusalem did him honour at his death We commend many of vs I am sure doe that good worke of Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester who caused the bones and other reliques of such sacred Princes and sainted Prelates as there had beene buried in that Church and dispersed abroad in seuerall odde corners to bee placed together in seemly monuments vpon the top of the new partition built by himselfe for the same purpose And likewise wee cannot but loue the memory of such who vpon the dissolution and finall destruction of our religious structures caused so many funerall monuments with the bodies therein included to bee remoued into other neighbouring Churches where by all likelihood they may rest in peace and safety vntill the last sound of the Trumpet In the works of Aurelius Prudentius Clemens a Spaniard by birth an ancient Christian Poet and one Qui palmam inter omnes Christianos Poetas obtinuit who flourished about foure hundred yeares after the incarnation of our Lord and Sauiour I finde this Funerall Hymne following of which and not impertinently I may make some vse here in this place translated by Sir Iohn Beaumont Baronet O God the soules pure fiery spring Who different natures wouldst combine That man whom thou to life didst bring By weakenesse may to death decline By thee they both are fram'd aright They by thy hand vnited be And while they ioyne with growing might Both flesh and spirit liue to thee But when diuision them recalls They bend their course to seu'rall ends Into drie earth the body falls The feruent soule to heau'n ascends For all created things at length By slow corruption growing old Must needs forsake compacted strength And disagreeing webs vnfold But thou deare Lord hast meanes prepar'd That death in thine may neuer reigne And hast vndoubted wayes declar'd How members lost may rise againe That while those generous rayes are bound In prison vnder fading things That part may still be stronger found Which from aboue directly springs If man with baser thoughts possest His will in earthly mud shall drowne The soule with such a weight opprest Is by the body carried downe But when she mindfull of her birth Her selfe from vgly spots debarres She lifts her friendly house from earth And beares it with her to the starres See how the emptie bodie lies Where now no liuely soule remaines Yet when short time with swiftnesse flies The height of senses it regaines Those ages shall be soone at hand When kindly heate the bones reuiues And shall the former house command Where liuing bloud it shall infuse Dull carcases to dust now worne Which long in graues corrupted lay Shall to the nimble aire be borne Where soules before haue led the way Hence comes it to adorne the graue With carefull labour men affect The limbes dissolu'd last honour haue And fun'rall Rites with
reedification of the thing broken as to the said Iustices shall seeme meete vsing therein the aduise of the Ordinary and if neede shall bee the aduise also of her Maiesties Councell in her Starre-chamber And for such as bee already spoiled in any Church or Chappell now standing Her Maiestie chargeth and commandeth all Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries or Ecclesiasticall persons which haue authoritie to visit the Churches or Chappels to inquire by presentments of the Curates Churchwardens and certaine of the Parishoners what manner of spoiles haue beene made sithens the beginning of her Maiesties raigne of such Monuments and by whom and if the persons be liuing how able they be to repaire and reedifie the same and thereupon to conuent the same persons and to enioyne them vnder paine of Excommunication to repaire the same by a conuenient day or otherwise as the cause shall further require to notifie the same to her Maiesties Councell in the Starre-chamber at Westminster And if any such shall be found and conuicted thereof noâ able to repaire the same that then they bee enioyned to doe open peâance two or three times in the Church as to the qualitie of the crime and partââ belongeth vnder like paine of Excommunication And if the partie that offended bee dead and the executours of the Will left hauing sufficient in their hands vnadministred and the offence notorious The Ordinary of the place shall also enioyne them to repaire or reedifie the same vpon like or any other conuenient paine to bee deuised by the said Ordinary And when the offendour cannot be presented if it be in any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church which hath any reuenue belonging to it that is not particularly allotted to the sustentation of any person certaine or otherwise but that it may remaine in discretion of the gouernour thereof to bestow the same vpon any other charitable deed as mending of high-wayes or such like her Maiestie enioyneth and straightly chargeth the gouernours and companies of euery such Church to employ such parcels of the said sums of any as any wise may be spared vpon the speedy repaire or reedification of money such Monuments so defaced or spoiled as agreeable to the originall as the same conueniently may be And where the couetousnesse of certaine persons is such that as Patrons of Churches or owners of the personages impropriated or by some other colour or pretence they do perswade with the Parson and Parishioners to take or throw downe the Bels of Churches and Chappels and the lead of the same conuerting the same to their priuate gaine and to the spoiles of the said places and make such like alterations as thereby they seeke a slanderous desolation of the places of prayer Her Maiestie to whom in the right of the Crowne by the ordinance of Almighty God and by the Lawes of this Realme the defence and protection of the Church ãâã this Realme belongeth doth expresly forbid any manner of person to taâe away any Bels or lead of any Church or Chappell vnder paine of imprisonment during her Maiesties pleasure and such further fine for the contempt as shall be thought meete And her Maiestie chargeth all Bishops and Ordinaries to enquire of all such contempts done from the beginning of her Maiesties raigne and to enioyne the persons offending to repaire the same within a conuenient time And of their doings in this behalfe to certifie her Maiesties priuie Councell or the Councell in the Starre-chamber at Westminster that order may be taken herein Yeuen at Windsor the xix of September the second yeare of her Maiesties raigne God saue the Queene Imprinted at London in Pauls Churchyard by Richard Iugge and Iohn Cawood Printers to the Queenes Maiestie Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis This Proclamation was seconded by another to the same purpose in the fourteenth yeare of her Maiesties raigne charging the Iustices of her Assise to prouide seuere remedie both for the punishment and reformation thereof But these Proclamations tooke small effect for much what about this time there sprung vp a contagious broode of Scismatickes who if they might haue had their wills would not onely haue robbed our Churches of all their ornaments and riches but also haue laid them lâuell with the ground choosing rather to exercise their deuotions and publish their erronious doctrines in some emptie barne in the woods or common fields then in these Churches which they held to be polluted with the abhominations of the whore of Babylon Besides about that time these foresaid wilfull Sectaries did penne print and spread abroad certaine seditious Pamphlets as still they doe against our booke of Common Prayer against all Ecclesiasticall gouernment and against all the rites and ceremonies vsed in this our orthodoxall Church of England inuenting out of their owne corkie braines a new certaine noâorme of Liturgie to themselues thereby to bring into the Church all disorder and confusion These Renegadoes are at this day diuided and subdiuided into as many seuerall Sects as there be seuerall Trades in the greatest Market-towne As into Brownists Barowists Martinists Prophesiers Solifidians Famelists rigid Precisians Disciplinarians Iudaicall Thraskists c. and into a rable numberlesse In the three and thirtieth yeare of Queene Elizabeth the sixteenth day of Iuly in the morning Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington repaired to one Walkers house neare vnto Broken warfe of London where conferring with one of their Sect named William Hacket of Owndale in the County of Northampton Yeoman they offered to anoint him king But Hacket taking Coppinger by the hand said You shall not need for I haue beene already anointed in heauen by the holy Ghost himselfe Then Coppinger asked him what his pleasure was to be done Go your way both said he and tell them in the citie that Christ Iesus is come with his fanne in his hand to iudge the earth And if any man aske you where he is tell them he lies at Walkers house by Broken-wharfe and if they will not beleeue it let them come and kill me if they can for as truely as Christ Iesus is in heauen so truely is he come to iudge the world Then Coppinger said it should be done forthwith and thereupon went forward and Arthington followed but ere he could get downe the staires Coppinger âad begun below in the house to proclaime newes from heauen of exceeding great mercy that Christ Iesus was come c. with whom Arthiâââon also cried the same words aloude following him along the streets from thence by Warling-street and Old Change toward Cheape they both adding beyond their commission Repent England repent After they had both thus come with a mightie concourse of common multituâe with an vniforme cry into Cheape neare vnto the Grosse and there finding the throng and prease of people to increase about them in such sort aâ they could not well passe further nor be conueniently heard of them all as they desired they got them vp into an emptie pease cart
Abbey of Rufford I finde these verses following of the constant sufferings of certaine virgine martyrs Quid de virginibus dignum loquere aspice fidem Fides ob veram sert mala multa sidem Huic ardens lectus solidum subuertere fidem Nec mors ipsa potest cui Deus ardor inest Tecla fer as Agathes Ergastula vulnera vicit Margarita truces virgo Lucia duces Balnea Cecilie feruentia nil nocuere Agneti nocuit flamma furorque nichil Nil etas nil mundus eis nil obfuit hostis Cuncta domant superant infima summa tenent His ornamentis fulget Domus Omnipotentis But I will conclude this Chapter with the words of Camden speaking of the Monasticall life and profession The profession of this Monasticall life saith he began when Pagan Tyrants enraged against Christians pursued them with bloudy persecutions For then good deuout men that they might serue God in more safety and security withdrew themselues into the vast wildernesses of Egypt and not as the Painims are wont with open mouth to giue it out for to enwrap themselues willingly in more miseries because they would not be in miserie Where they scattered themselues among mountaines and desarts liuing in caues and little cells here and there in holy meditations At first solitary and alone whereupon in Greeke they were called Monachi that is Monkes but after they thought it better as the sociable nature of mankinde required to meete together at certaine times to serue God and at length they began to cohabite and liue together for mutuall comfort rather then like wilde beasts to walke vp and downe in the desarts Their profession was to pray and by the labour of their owne hands to get liuing for themselues and maintenance for the poore and withall they vowed pouerty obedience and chastitie Athanasius first brought this kinde of Monkes consisting of lay-men into the West-Church Whereunto after that Saint Austen in Afrike Saint Martin in France and Congell one of the Colledge of Bangor in Britaine and Ireland had adioyned the function of regular Clergie It is incredible how farre and wide they spread how many and how great Coenobies were built for them so called of their communion of life as also Monasteries for that they kept still a certaine shew of solitarie liuing and in those dayes none were more sacred and holy then they and accordingly they were reputed considering how by their prayers to God by their example doctrine labour and industrie they did exceeding much good not onely to themselues but also to all mankinde But as the world grew worse and worse so those their holy manners as one said rebus cessere secundis that is Gaue backward in time of prosperitie But of the pietie of religious professours in the Primitiue times of the sanctitie of British and Saxon Kings of their Queenes and issue royall as also of other persons of exemplarie zeale and holy conuersation I doe speake hereafter in particular as I come to the places of their interments CHAP. XII Of the fall or backsliding as well of religious persons as of lay-people from the foresaid zealous ardour of pietie THis heate of deuotion which I haue spoken of continued not long in this Island For as the Clergie and other religious orders grew rich in faire buildings proud furniture and ample reuenues so they daily increased in all kindes of disorders which was no sooner perceiued but put in practise by the Laitie our kings declined from their former sanctitie and which the worst was after their examples many others especially of the Nobilitie did follow their licentious traces Examples of Princes being alwayes of greater force then other lawes to induce the people to good or to euill Nam haec conditio Principum vt quicquid faciant praecipere videantur To proue as much as I haue spoken In the yeare of Grace 747 Cuthbert Archbishop of Canterbury by the counsell of Boniface Bishop of Mentz called a Conuocation at Cliffe beside Rochester to reforme the manifold enormities wherewith the Church of England at that time was ouergrowne Our kings forsaking the companie of their owne wiues in those dayes delighted altogether in harlots which were for the most part Nunnes The rest of the Nobilitie following their example trode also the same trace The Bishops likewise and other of the Clergie that should haue beene a meanes of the reforming these faults in others were themselues no lesse faultie spending their times either in contentions and brables or else in luxurie and voluptuousnesse hauing no care of study and seldome or neuer preaching Whereby it came to passe that the whole land was ouerwhelmed with a most darke and palpable mist of ignorance and polluted with all kinde of wickednesse and impietie in all sorts of people In which Conuocation after long consultation with those his Bishops or Suffraganes and the rest of the Clergie which were holden in greatest esteeme for their learning in number thirtie for the reformation of these horrible abuses endeauouring thereby like a good Pastour to turne away the wrath of God which seemed to hang ouer this land and to threaten those plagues which not long after fell vpon it when the Danes inuaded the same Edgar surnamed the peaceable King of England in the yeare 969. called together his Bishops and other of his Clergie to whom hee made this or the like Oration as followeth Forsomuch as our Lord hath magnified his mercy to worke with vs it is meete most reuerend Fathers that with worthy workes we answer his innumerable benefits for neither by our owne sword possesse we the earth and our owne armes hath not saued vs but his right hand and his holy arme for that he hath beene pleased with vs. Meete therefore it is that we submit both our selues and our soules to him that hath put all things vnder our feet and that we diligently labour that they whom he hath made subiect vnto vs may bee made subiect vnto his lawes And truly it is my part to rule the Laitie with the law of equitie to doe iust iudgement betwixt man and his neighbours to punish Church-robbers to represse rebels to deliuer the weake from the hands of his stronger the poore and needie from them that spoile them And it also belongeth to my care to haue consideration to the health quietnesse or peace of the Ministers of the Church the flocke of Monkes the companies of Virgines and to prouide the things needfull for them The examining of whose manners belongeth vnto you if they liue chastly if they behaue themselues honestly towards them which bee abroad if in diuine seruice they bee carefull if in teaching the people diligent if in feeding sober if moderate in apparell if in iudgement they be discreet If you had cured these things by prudent scrutinie by your licence I speake O reuerend Fathers such horrible and abhominable things of the Clerkes had not come to our eares I omit
Regis Ed. 3. Ann. 24. that William Fox Parson of Lee neare Gainsborough Iohn Fox and Thomas of Lingeston Friers Minors of that Couent in Lincolne were indited before Gilbert Vmfreuill and other Iustices in partibus de Lindesey apud Twhancaster die Sabbati post festum sâncti Iohannis Baptiste in the said yeare for that they came to Bradholme a Nunnery in the County of Nottingham the eighteenth of the Kal. of February and then and there rapuerunt abduxerunt inde contra pacem Domini Regis quandam Monialem nomine Margaretam de Euernigham Sororem dicte Domus exeuntes eam habit Religionis induentes eam Rob. virid secular ac etiam diuersa bona ad valenc quadragint solid Violently tooke and forcibly from thence carried away against the peace of their Soueraigne Lord the King a certaine Nunne by name Margaret de Euernigham a sister of the said house stripping her quite out of her religious habit and putting vpon her a greene Gowne Robe or Garment of the secular fashion and also diuers goods to the value of forty shillings In this Kings raigne Robert Longland a secular Priest borne in Shropshire at Mortimers Câliberie writ bitter inuectiues against the Prelates and all religious orders in those dayes as you may reade throughout this book which he calls The vision of Piers Plowman Presently after in the raigne of Richard the second Iohn Gower flourished who in his booke called Vox clamantis cries out against the Clergie-men of his time first Quod Christi scholam dogmatizant eius contrarium operantur 2 Quod potentiores alijs existunt 3 Quod carnalia appetentes vltra modum delicatè vinunt 4 Quod lucris terrenis inhiant honore Prelacie gaudent non vt prosint sed vt presint Episcopatum desiderant Quod legibus positiâis quae quamuis ad cultum anime necessarie non sunt infinitas tamen constitutiones quasi quotidie ad eorum lucrum nobis grauiter imponâât Quod bona temporalia possidentes spiritualia omittunt Quod Christus pacem suis discipulis dedit reliquit sed Prelati propter bona terrena guerras contra Christianos legibus suis positiuis instituunt prosequuntur Quod cleri sunt bellicosi Quod scribunt docent ea quae sunt pacis sed in contrarium ea quae sunt belli procurant Quod nomen sanctum sibi presumunt appropriant tamen sibi terrena nec alijs inde participando ex caritate subueniunt Quod intrant Ecclesiam per Symoniam Quod honores non onera Prelacie plures affectant quo magis in Ecclesia cessant virtutes vitia multipliciter accrescunt Quod Rectores in curis residentes cuââs tamen negligentes venationibus praecipue voluptatibus penitus intendunt Quod Presbyteri sine curis siue stipendarij non propter mundiciâm ordinis honestatem sed proptâr mundi otia gradum Presbyteratus appetunt assumunt Much more he speakes against the abuses and vices of Church-men as also against the lewd liues of the Schollars in Cambridge and Oxford which he calls the Churches plants concluding thus his third book Sic quia stat cecus morum sine lumine clerus Erramus Laici nos sine luce vagi In his fourth booke hee speakes of Monkes and all other religious Orders Quod contra primi ordinis statuta abstinentie virtutem linquunt delicias sibi corporales multipliciter assumunt Ripping vp their faults in particular Chaucer who was contemporarie and companion with Gower in the Plowmans tale the Romant of the Rose and in his Treatise which hee intitles lacke Vpland writes as much or more against the pride couetousnesse insatiable luxurie hypocrisie blinde ignorance and variable discord amongst the Church-men and all other our English votaries As also how rude and vnskilfull they were in matters and principles of our Christian institutions to whose workes now commonly in print I referre my Reader for further satisfaction In a Parliament holden at Westminster the eleuenth yeare of King Henry the fourth the lower house exhibited a Bill to the King and the Lords of the vpper house in effect as followeth To the most excellent Lord our King and to all the Nobles in this present Parliament assembled your faithfull Commons doe humbly signifie that our Soueraigne Lord the King might haue of the temporall possessions lands and reuenues which are lewdly spent consumed and wasted by the Bishops Abbats and Priors within this Realme so much in value as would suffice to finde and sustaine one hundred and fifty Earles one thousand and fiue hundred Knights sixe thousand and two hundred Esquiers and one hundred Hospitals more then now be But this Petition of spoiling the Church of England of her goodly patrimonies which the pietie and wisedome of so many former ages had congested was by the King who was bound by oath and reason to preserue the flourishing estate of the Church so much detested that for this their proposition he denied all other their requests and commanded them that from thenceforth they should not presume to intermeddle with any such matter This King as also his sonne and grandchilde were wondrous indulgent to the Clergie although they were daily disquieted with the bellowing of the Popes Prouisorie Bulls For Henry the fifth was so deuour and seruiceable to the Church of Rome and her Chaplaines that he was called of many the Prince of Priests And Henry the sixth surnamed the holy wa an obedient childe and no lesse nay more obsequious to the See Apostolicall then any of his predecessours howsoeuer I finde that once he reiected the Popes Bull concerning the restoring of the Temporalities of the Bishoppricke of Ely And now giue me leaue a little to digresse speaking somewhat by the way of the denomination of this word Bulla and why the Bishops of Rome call their leaden Seales by which they confirme their writings Bulls This word Bulla was called ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã id est à Consilio of councell For that anciently a golden Bull broach or ornament round and hollow within was vsually fastened about the necks or breasts of young children and semblablie to all their pictures signifying thereby that their render vnbridled age ought to be gouerned by the graue councell and good aduise of others of more maturitie in yeares And from hence the Bishops of Rome borrowed the name for their leaden Seales vpon one part of which the name of the Pope is to be read on the other the head of Saint Paul on the right side of the Crosse and of Saint Peter on the left are to bee seene Honoris tamen non praelationis gratia factitatum hoc ab Ecclesia Nam quanquam S. Petrus sit Princeps Apostolici ordinis tamen Ecclesia voluit eos indiscretae esse excellentiae But this was done of the Church saith my Author in regard of honour not of preheminence For although
Saint Peter be the head of the Apostolike Order yet the Church will haue them to be of an vndistinct excellence Now the Popes per liter as suas bullatas Regi directas did preferre whom they pleased and how they pleased to any Ecclesiasticall promotion here in England One example for all Innocent the seuenth by his Bull preferred Richard Fleming first to the Bishopricke of Lincolne then to the Archbishopricke of Yorke and lastly driue him backe againe by his roaring Bull to his first preferment of Lincolne All which this King thus ratifies Cum nuper summus Pontifex Richardum tunc Episcopum Lincoln a vinculo quo eidem Ecclesie tenebatur absolnerit ad Ecclesiam Ebor transtulerit Nec non à vinculo quo eidem Ecclesie Ebor. cui tunc preerat tenebatur absoluit ipsum ad prefat Lincoln Ecclesiam duxerit restituend transferand ipsumque in Episcopum Ecclesie Lincoln prefecerit Rex fidelitatem cepit ipsius Episcopi restituit ei temporalia Teste Rege apud West 3. Augusti Such was the absolute authority of the Pope whose name saith a namelesse Author was neuer Peter except you grant Saint Peter to bee one and the first howsoeuer many of them haue had that name giuen vnto them in baptisme the reason whereof is thus diliuered Nemo ex omnibus Romanorum Pontificibus Petri nomen sibi assumpsit etsi nonnulli in Baptismate ita nominati ex quadam erga Apostolorum Principem reuerentia Now let me returne this Digression being much longer then I expected as also this Chapter which I will conclude as briefly as I may in the meane while take this short story which I finde in the fourth part of Sir Edward Cokes reports Act. de Scandalis The Abbot of S. Albons commanded his seruant to go into the Towne or some place neare adioyning and to desire a certaine mans wife to come vnto him with whom he said he had an earnest desire to talke The seruant obeyed and like a good trustie Roger performed his Masters commandement in bringing the woman to his priuate chamber Now so soone as the Abbot and the wife were together the seruant well knowing his masters minde withdrew himselfe out of the way and left them together alone in the chamber The Abbot then began to accoast the wise telling her first that her array was meane poore and grosse array to which she answered That her array was according to her small abilitie and the abilitie of her husband The Abbot knowing in what most of women take the greatest delight told her that if she would be ruled by him she should haue as good array to weare as the best woman in the Parish where shee dwelt and so began to sollicite her chastitie The woman giuing no eare to his libidinous motions the Abbot assaulted her with struglings and baudy embracings thinking to get that by force which hee could not obtaine by faire meanes But she still resisted all his encounters promises and perswasions by which he detained her in his chamber a long time against her will The husband hauing notice of this abuse offered to his wife began to talke of the matter and said that he would haue an Action of false imprisonment against the Abbot for detaining his wife against her will so long in his chamber The Abbot hearing of this adding one sinne to another did sue the innocent poore husband in the Ecclesiasticall Court vpon an Action of defamation because forsooth the husband had giuen out and published abroad that my Lord Abbot would haue made his wife a dishonest woman The matter being opened in the Court the husband had a Prohibition c. This cunning sinne amongst other their crimes was vsually put in practise by the Church-men of other countries witnesse Francis Petrarch Archdeacon of Parma in Italy in one of his Epistles sine titulo to his namelesse friend wherein he anatomises the Romane Clergie Thus translated Here Venus with her wanton toyes Is honour'd with base bauds and boyes Adulterie whoredome and incest Is honour'd here among the best And counted but for sports and playes Euen with our Prelats of these dayes The wife is rauish'd from her spouse And to the Papall seat she bowes The poore goâd man must leaue the Towne Such ordinances are set downe And when her belââe riseth hie By Cardiâals who with her lie The husband must not dare complaine But take his wife with childe againe And dangerous it was for a Lay-man in Iohn Gowers dayes to accuse any of the Clergie with a matter of truth As you may perceiue by the sequele Hoc dicit clerus quod quamuis crimine plenus Sit non est laici ponere crimenei Alter alterius cleri peccata fauore Excusat quod in hijs stat sine lege reus Non occusari vult à caliis tamen illos Accusat que sibi libera frena petit Libera sunt ideo peccata placentia Clero Sit nisi quod Laici iura ferantur ibi Presbiter insipiens populum facit insipientem Et mala multa parit qui bona pauca sapit Chaucer writes of the same Mennes wiues they wollen hold And though that they been right sorye To speake they shull not bee so bold For sompning to the Consistory And make hem saie mouth I lie Though they it sawe with her iye His Lemman holden openly No man so hardy to aske why They âaine to no man that it longeth To reproue them though they erre Sir Thomas Moore reports how in this kings dayes a poore man found a Priest ouer-familiar with his wife and because hee spake it abroad and could not proue it the Priest sued him before the Bishops Officiall for defamation where the poore man in paine of cursing was commanded that in his Parish Church he should vpon the Sonday stand vp and say Mouth thou liest Whereupon for fulfilling of his penance vp was the poore soule set in a pew that the people might wonder at him and heare what hee said and there all aloud when he had rehearsed what he had reported by the Priest then he set his hands on his mouth and said Mouth thou liest And by and by thereupon he set his hands vpon both his eyes and said But eyne by the Masse ye lie not a whit Abbots and Priours in these dayes did ouer-awe all sorts of lay-people yea the greatest Potentates which made Edward the fourth write thus to the Priour of Lewes in Sussex more like a poore petitioner then a great Prince concerning a matter wherein the Prior and Couent went about to cosin his seruant Vincent Deare and welbeloued in God we greet you well and wher we been enformyd yat many yeres past by yowr letters endentyd vndre yowr Couuent Seal grauntyd to owr trusty and welbelowed servant Iohn Vincent Esquyr fader to owr ryght welbelowed seruant Bryan Vincent certain of yowr londes and rentes within yowr Lordshyp of Conesburgh to
haue to the seyd Iohn and to his heyres beryng therfor a certayn yerly rent specyfyd in yowr seyd indentures and afterwards the seyd Iohn and Bryan his son hadd of yowr graunt the same londes and tenements with othyr by yowr othyr indentures yervpon made betwex yow tham whych endentures wer seald by yow and the seyd Iohn in thabsens of his seyd son delyuered and left in yowr kepyng of trust and soon aftyr fortuned him to be sleyne at the lamentable conflyct of Wakfeld in the seruice of the ryghte noble and famous Prynce owr fader whom God rest And now as we hear ye labor and entend to put owr seyd servant hys son from the seyd londes and tenements contrary to yowr fyrst and latyr graunte a for expressyd and agenst ryght and good conscyens yf hit be as is surmysed We therfor exhort and desyr yow to suffre owr seyd servant to have and enioy the seyd londs and tenements according to yowr forseyd couenants and graunts and to delyuer vnto him the seyd later endentures concerning the same as his fader so left of trust in yowr kepyng And beside that to shew to owr seyd servant in any othyr matyrs lawfull and reasonable that he shall a have adoo with yow yowr beneuolences and herty fauors and the rathyr and mor especyally at owr instance and contemplacyon of theys owr letters wherin ye shall not only doo vs a singular plasur but caus vs for the sam to have yow and yowr plas in the mor herty fauor and recomendacyon of owr good grase Yeuen vndre owr Signet at owr palas of Westminstre the xix day of Iun. To ouerpasse the short time during the Protectorship and raigne of King Richard the third let vs come vnto Henry the seuenth in whose dayes religious persons did wallow in all kindes of voluptuousnesse to the Kings no little griefe who by his breeding vnder a deuout mother as also in his owne nature was euer a zealous obseruer of religious formes To bridle whose incontinent liues he caused an Act to be made bearing this title An Act to punish Priests for their incontinencie Of which so much as will serue for this purpose Item For the more sure and likely reformation of Priests Clerks and religious men culpable or by their demerits openly reported of incontinent liuing in their bodies contrary to their Order It is enacted ordained and stablished by the aduice and assent of the Lords spirituall and temporall and the Commons in the said Parliament assembled and by authority of the same That it be lawfull to all Archbishops and Bishops and other Ordinaries hauing Episcopall iurisdiction to punish and chastice Priests Clerks and religious men being within the bounds of their iurisdiction as shall be conuicted before them by examination and other lawfull profe requisite by the Law of the Church of Aduoutrie Fornication Incest or any other fleshly incontinencie by committing them to ward and prison there to abide for such time as shall be thought to their discretions conuenient for the qualitie and quantitie of their trespasse And that none of the said Archbishops Bishops or other Ordinaries aforesaid be thereof chargeable of to or vpon any Action of false or wrongfull imprisonment but that they be vtterly thereof discharged in any of the cases aforesaid by vertue of this Act. In his sonnes raigne the Pope being here in England at the point verticall of his all-commanding power and religious Orders growne to the height of their abominable sinnes both of them had a sudden downfall as will appeare in the subsequent Chapters But of the pietie and impuritie of Monkes and other religious Votaries of the first and latter times take for a conclusion of this as also of the precedent Chapter these riming Hexameters as I haue them out of the booke of Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire a Manuscript in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie Inuectio Walonis Britonis in Monachos Sacrilegis Monachis emptoribus Ecclesiarum Composui Satyram Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus esse solebat Dura cibaria dum per agrestia rura colebat Nulla pecunia nulla negocia prepediebant Sobria copia parua colonia sufficiebant Pro venialibus capitalibus inuigilabant Tam venalia quam capitalia nostra placebant Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est violenter Ecclesiastica comparat omna dona potenter Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est sine fructu Intrat ouilia desuper ostia non sine luctu Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est sine causa Clamat ad ostia spiritualia iam sibi clausa Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus inde vocatur Quando rapacibus atque tenacibus assimulatur Terra pecunia magna Palatia templa parantur Vnde potencia siue superbia magnificantur Desunt caetera CHAP. XIII Of the abrogation abolition and extinguishment of the Popes supreme and exorbitant authoritie within the King of Englands Dominions KIng Henry the eighth vpon occasion of delay made by Pope Clement the seuenth in the controuersie of diuorcement betwixt him and Queene Katherine and through displeasure of such reports as hee heard had beene made of him to the Court of Rome or else pricked forward by some of his Counsellours to follow the example of the Germanes caused Proclamation to be made on the eighteenth day of September Anno reg 22. forbidding all his subiects to purchase or attempt to purchase any manner of thing from the Court of Rome containing matter preiudiciall to the high authoritie iurisdiction and prerogatiue Royall of this Realme or to the hinderance and impeachment of the Kings Maiesties noble and vertuous intended purposes Vpon paine of incurring his Highnesse indignation and imprisonment and further punishment of their bodies for their so doing at his Graces pleasure to the dreadfull example of all other Not long after it was enacted that appealeâ such as had been vsed to be pursued to the See of Rome should not be from thenceforth had neither vsed but within this Realme and that euerie person offending against this Act should runne into the dangers paines and penalties of the Estatute of the Prouision and Premunire made in the fiue and twentieth yeare of the raigne of King Edward the third and in the sixteenth yeare of King Richard the second And shortly after this it being thought by the ignorant vulgar people that to speake against any of the lawes decrees ordinances and constitutions of the Popes made for the aduancement of their worldly glorie and ambition was damnable heresie it was enacted that no manner of speaking doing communication or holding against the Bishop of Rome called the Pope or his pretensed authoritie or power made or giuen by humane lawes or policies and not by holy Scripture nor any speaking doing communication or holding against any Lawes called Spirituall Lawes made by authoritie of the See of Rome by the policie of men which were repugnant and contrariant to the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme or the Kings Prerogatiue royall
should be deemed reputed accepted or taken to be Heresie It was also enacted that no manner of appeales should be had prouoked or made out of this Realme or any the Kings dominions to the Bishop of Rome or to the See of Rome in any causes or matters happening to be in contention and hauing their commensement and beginning in any of the Courts within this Realme or within any the Kings dominions of what nature condition or qualitie soeuer they were Vpon this followed another Act restraining the payment of Annates or first-fruits to the Bishop of Rome and of the electing and consecrating of Bishops within this Realme Another Act was made concerning the exoneration of the Kings Subiects from exactions and impositions theretofore paied to the See of Rome and for hauing licences and dispensations within this Realme without suing further for the same in which the Commons assembled complaine to his Maiestie that the subiects of this Realme and other his dominions were greatly decaied and impouerished by intollerable exactions of great summes of money claimed and taken by the Bishop of Rome and the See of Rome as well in pensions censes Peter-pense procurations fruits sutes for prouisions and expeditions of Bulls for Archbishoprickes and Bishopricks and for delegacies of rescripts in causes of contentions and appeales iurisdictions legatiue and also for dispensations licences faculties grants relaxations Writs called Perinde valere rehabitations abolitions and other infinite sorts of Bulls breeues and instruments of sundrie natures names and kindes in great numbers ouer long and tedious here particularly to be inserted It was affirmed in this Parliament that there had been paied to the Pope of Rome onely for Bulls by our English Bishops and other of the kingdome since the fourth of Henry the seuenth to that time threescore thousand pound sterling The next yeare following in a Parliament begun at Westminster the third of Nouember the Pope with all his authoritie was cleane banished this Realme and order taken that he should no more bee called Pope but Bishop of Rome and the King to be taken and reputed as supreme head in earth of the Church of England called Anglicana Ecclesia And that hee their Soueraigne Lord his heires and successours kings of this Realme should haue full power and authoritie from time to time to visit represse redresse reforme order correct restraine and amend all such eârours heresies abuses offences contempts and enormities whatsoeuer they were which by any manner spirituall authoritie or iurisdiction ought or might lawfully bee reformed repressed ordered redressed corrected restrained or amended most to the pleasure of Almighty God the increase of vertue in Christs religion and for the conseruation of peace vnitie and tranquilitie of this Realme any vsage custome forraine lawes forraine authority prescription or any thing or things to the contrary thereof notwithstanding In this Parliament also were granted to the King and his heires the first-fruits and tenths of all spirituall dignities and promotions His stile of supremacie was further ratified and declared to bee set downe in this forme and manner following in the Latine tongue by these words Henricus octauus Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Fidei defensor in terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hibernicae supremum caput In the English tongue by these Henry the eight by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defendour of the faith and of the Church of England and also of Ireland in earth the supreme head Which stile was enacted to bee vnited and annexed for euer to the imperiall Crowne of this his Highnesse Realme of England Vpon the first expulsion of the Popes authoritie and King Henries vndertaking of the Supremacie the Priests both religious and secular did openly in their Pulpits so farre extoll the Popes iurisdiction and authority that they preferred his lawes before the kings yea and before the holy precepts of God Almighty Whereupon the King sent his mandatory letters to certaine of his Nobilitie and others in especiall office thinking thereby to restraine their seditious false doctrine and exorbitancie And here let me tell you that amongst many letters of important affaires which I found in certaine Chandlers shops of our Parish allotted to light Tobacco pipes and wrap vp peniworths of their commodities all which I gaue to Sir Robert Cotton Knight and Baronet the onely repairer of ruined antiquirie whom I knew the contents therof shewing some passages of former times would preserue them for better vses I happened vpon certaine letters following tending to the same purpose of which I haue already spoken Henry R. By the King RIght trusty and right welbiloued Cousin we grete you well And wher it is commen to our knowlaige that sundry persons aswell religious as seculer Priests and curats in their peroches and dâueâse places within this our Realme do dailly asmoche as in them is set foâthe and extolle the iurisdiction and auctoritie of the Bishop of Rome ortherwyse called Pope sowing their sediciouse pestylent and false doctryne praying for him in the Pulpit and makyng hym a God to the greate deceyte illudyng and seducyng of our subgietts bryngyng them into errors sedicyon and euyll opynyons more preferryng the power lawes and Iurisdictyon of the said Bishop of Rome then the most holly lawes and precepts of almighty God We therfore myndyng not only to prouide for an vnitie and quietnes to be had and contynued among our said subgietts but also greatly couâtyng and desyryng them to be brought to a perfectyon and knawlege of the mere veritie and truth and no longer to be seduced nor blynded with any suche superstitiouse and false doctryne of any erthly vsurper of godds lawes will therfore and commaund you that wher and whensoeuer ye shall fynde apperceyve know or heretell of any such sedicious personnes that in suche wise do spreade teche and preache or otherwise set forth any suâhe opynyons and perniciouse doctryne to the exaltatyon of the power of the bishop of Rome bryngyng therby our subgietts into error gruge and murmuracyon that ye indelaydly doo apprehend and take them or cause them to be apprehended and taken and so commytted to Ward ther to remayne without bayle or mayneprise vntill vpon your aduertisement therof vnto vs or our Councell ye shall know our further pleasure in that behalfe Ye uen vndre our Signet at our Manor of Grenwich the xvii day of Aprill This letter was thus endorsed To our right trusty and welbiloued cousin and Counsellor Th erle of Sussex In Iune or Iuly following these maiesticall commanding Epistles were seconded and made more strong by an Act of Parliament called An Act extinguishing the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome Of which I hold it not amisse to set downe so much as principally tends to the purpose To begin then at the beginning For as much as notwithstanding the good and wholesome lawes ordinances and statutes heretofore made enacted
principally regarding and tendring the quiet rest prosperite and tranquillite of our Nobles and Commons and their conservacion no lesse then our own directed lately our letters vnto you and other Iustices of our Peace throughout this our Realme conteyning our admonicion and gentill warenyng to haue such speciall regard to the dewties of your offices accordyng to the trust we haue in yow that not only for thymportance it is both vnto vs and our common welth ye shuld see our high dignite of Supremacie of our Church wherwith it hath pleased almighty God by his most certain and vndoubted word to endowe and adorne our auchtorite and Corone imperiall of this our Realme to be set forth and impressed in all our Subiects harts and mynds and to forsee that the mayntenors of the Bisshop of Roomes vsurped and fayned auctorite with all his Papisticall supersticions and abuses wherwith he hath in times past abused the multitud of our subgiects of whose yoke tyranny and skornefull illusion we haue by Gods porveiaunce deliuered this our realme and of other his Satellites whiche secretly did vphold his faction shuld be by yow diligently serched enqwired and tried owt and so broughte to our Iustices to receaue condigne punyshement according to their demerits but also that tale tellers about the cuntriee and spraders of rumours and false inventors of newes to put owr people to feare and stirr them to sedicyon shulde be apprehended and punyshed to the terrible example of others Also that vagabonds and valiant Beggers shal be avoyded and haue worthy corrections And for the same purpose to kepe watches and to see commen Iustice with indifferency and without corrupcion to be obserued and ministred vnto all owr Subgiects like as by the porporte and contents of our said Letters ye may more amplie perceiue We haue thervpon ben credably enformed that sondry of yow haue for a time so well done yowr dewties and endeuoired your selues in fulfilling our admonitions and caused the euill doers to be punyshed according to their demerites that our louing Subgiects haue not ben disquieted of a long season vntill now of late that sum vngracious cankred and maliciouse persons haue taken boldnes to attempt with sondry diuelish persuasions to moue and seduce our trewe subgiects vsing false lies and most vntrewe rumors And amonst them we vnderstand sondry Parsons Vicars and Curats of this our Realme to be chieffe which to bring our people to darkenes of their own perverse mynde not only to blynde our Commons do rede so confusely hemming and hacking the word of God and soche our Iniunctions as we haue lately set forthe that almost no man can vnderstand the trewe meanyng of the said Iniunctions but also secretly haue suborned certeyne spreders of Rumors and false tales in corners which doo interpreat and wrast our trewe meanyng and intention of owr said Iniunctions to an vntrewe sense For wheras we haue ordeyned by owr said Iniunctions for thavoyding of sondry striues processis and contentions risyng vpon aege vpon lineall discents vpon title of Inheritances vpon legittimation or Bastardie and for knowlege whither any person is our subiect borne or no Also for sondry other causes that the names of all childer christened from hensforth with ther birth ther fathers and mothers names and likewise all mariages and burialls with the time and date thereof shuld be registred from time to time in a boke in euery Parish Church surely and safeây to be kept They haue bruted and blowen abrode most falsely and vntrewely that we doo entende to make some new exactions at all christenyngs weddings and burials The whiche in no wise we euer meaned or thought vpon aâleging for to fortefy and color there false and manifâst lies that therin we go abowt to take away the liberties of the realme For conservacion wherof they fayne that Bisshop Beckett of Canterbury which they haue to fore called Saynt Thomas died for where in dede there was neuer soch thing done nor ment in that time nor sithens For the said Beckett neuer swarved nor contended with owr progenitor Kyng Henry the second but only to lett that those of the Clergie shuld not be punyshed for their offences nor iustyfyed by the Courts and lawes of this Realme but only at the Bisshops pleaser and after the decrees of Roome And the causes why he died was vpon a wilfull reskewe and a fray by him made and begon at Canterbury Which was neuerthelesse afterward alleged to be for soche liberties of the Churche which he contendyd for during his life with tharchbisshop of Yorke chiefly to haue soche priuiledge that no Kyng of England ought euer to be crowned by any other Bisshop but oonly by the Bishops of Canterbury Yea and in case he shuld be absent or fugitiue out of the Realme the Kyng shuld neuer be coroned by any other but constrayned to abide his retorne These and soche other detestable and vnlawfull liberties of the Church nothing concerning the common weale but only the partie of the Clergie the said Thomas Becket most arrogantly desyred and trayterouslye sewyd to haue contrary to the law of this our Realme To the which most false interpretacions and wrasting of our trewe meanyng they haue ioyned such myscheuous lyes and false tales for markyng of catals and like seditious devises wherevpon owr people were lately stirred to sedition and insurrection to ther vtter ruyne and destruction onles almighty God who by his diuine prouidence gaue vnto vs habundance of force as he alwaies dothe vnto rightfull Princes had so with clemencie illumyned vs that where as we with th edge of the swerde and by our lawes might haue ouerthrowen and destroyed them there wyues children and posterite for euer we neuerthelesse as ye can right well remember extended vpon them at that time our benigne and mercifull pardon These miserable and Papisticall superstitious wretches nothing regarding the same nor caring what danger and myschiefe our people shuld incurre haue both raysed the said olde rumors and forged new sedicious tales intendyng asmoche as in them lyeth a new commotion and all to satisfye there cankred harts Wherfore and for the imminent daunger to yow and all our good subgiects and the troble that might ensewe onlesse good and ernest prouision to represse them be taken thervpon We desyre and pray yow and neuerthelesse straytly charge and commaund yow that within the Precinct and lymyts of yowr charge ye shall not only endeuor your self and employ your most diligence to inquyre and fynd owt such cankerd Parsons Vicars and Curats which doo not trewly and substancially declare our said Iniunctions and the very worde of God but momble confusely seying that they be compelled to rede them and bydd ther Parishens neuerthelesse to doo as they did in times past to lyue as ther fathers and that the olde fashion is the best and other crafty sedicious parables But also with your most effectuall vigilancy doo enserche and trie owt such sedicious tale tellers
the King And in case they shall by him or otherwise lerne and knowe that Melanchton is there arryued then his grace wold that the said Haynes and Mount shall in such sort as they be not moche noted resorte vnto him and for the disuading of his continuance there or alteration of his opinion and alluring of him hither to vse suche reasons and persuasions as be before written with suche other as they can further deuise for that purpose To the which Haynes and Mount the Kings pleasure is ye shall deliuer like copies of the said Deanes booke and Bishops Sermons to be shewed vnto the said Melanchton or otherwise vsed as may be most expedient for thachyeuement of the Kings purpose in that behaulfe Ye shall also vnderstande that the kings pleasure is ye shall write to Sir Iohn Wallop and send vnto him therwith like copies willing him in case he shall haue certain knowledge that tharticles be true written in these his letters concernyng the French Kings sending into Germany for the continuance of the Bishop of Romes pretended supremacie to repaire with the said copies to the French King and not only to set the same furth with such reasons as he can deuise in that part shewing how moche it shal be against his honour both to geue himselfe subiect to the said Bishop and moue other to doo the semblable but also to declare vnto him that the Kings highnes remembring his old frendly promises concernyng the mayntenance of his cause and of his procedyngs touching the same cannot thinke it a litle strange that the said French King seing his Maiestie hath in his doings touching the said Bishop of Rome moued neyther his nor any Princes subiects will mâue and styr the Germayns to condescende vpon a contrary opinion both to themselfs and to his grace in this behalfe And that his Maiestie must nedes thinke this Amytie moche touched in that he shuld moue any state or cuntrie to doo that thing whiche is so moche against the Kings highnes and his owne promes vsing all the waies to disuade him from the dishonorable obedience of the said Bishops See mouing him to inclyne to the Kings iust opinion touching the same Finally the Kings pleasure is ye shall write an other letter to the Bishop of Aberden signifying that the Kings Maiestie taketh it very vnkindly that the King his Nephieu wold now embrace without his aduise or counsail being his derest frend and Vncle and now in liege and Amytie with him the mariage of Mounsieur de vandous daughter wherevnto he wold geue non eare at his graces ouerture hertofore made of the same In your seid letter imputing a great negligence therein to the said Bishop and other of his Masters counsail seing their Master sheweth not in the doing therof suche amytie towards the Kings highnes as the frendship betwene them doth require And to make an end his grace will in no wise that Barnes of Haynes shall tarry for any further instruction of the Bishop of Canterbury or any other his grace hauing determyned to sende the same after by Master Almoner and Heth but that he Master Haynes and Mount shal with all possible diligence departe immediatly in post without lenger tarying thenne for this their depeche shal be necessary soo as their abode empeche not the Kings purpose touching the said Melanchton And thus fare youe most hartly well From Langley in moche hast this Monday at iiii of the clocke at after none Your louyng Frends T. Norffolk George Rocâford Also before the beginning of that Parliament wherin the Popes supreme authoritie here in England was abolished these remarkable Inductions following were set downe and commanded by the King and his Councell to be suddenly put in execution First to send for all the Bishops of this realme and speciallie for suche as be nerest to the Courte and to examine them a parte whether they by the law of God can proue and iustifie that he that now is called the Pope of Rome is aboue the generall Counsaile or the generall Counsail aboue him Or whether he hath gyuen vnto him by the law of God any more auctority within the realme then any other foreyn Bishop Item to deuise with all the Bishoppes of this realme to set furth preach and cause to be preched to the Kings people that the said Bishop of Rome called the Pope is not in auctoryte aboue the generall Counsell but the generall Counsell is aboue him and all Bishpos And that he hathe not by Goddes law any more iurisdiction within this realme then an other forraine Bishop being of any other realme hath And that such auctority as he before this hath vsurped within this realme is both against Gods law and also against the generall Counsalles Which vsurpation of auctoritie onely hath growen to him by the sufferance of Prynces of this realme and by none auctority from God Item therefore that order be taken for such as shall preach at Paules Crosse from henceforth shall continually from Sonday to Sonday preach there and also teach and declare to the people that hee that now calleth himselfe Pope nether any of his Predecessours is and were but onely the Bishops of Rome and hath no more authoritie and iurisdiction by Gods law within this realme then any other forraine Bishop hath which is nothing at all And that such authoritie as hee hath claimed heretofore hath been onely by vsurpation and sufferance of Princes of this realme And that the Bishop of London may bee bound to suffer none other to preach at Paules Crosse as hee will answer but such as will preach and set forth the same Item that all the Bishops within this realme bee bound and ordered in the same wise and cause the same to bee preached throughout all their Diocesses Item that a speciall practise be made and a straight commandement giuen to all Prouincialls Ministers and rulers of all the foure Orders of Friers within this realme commanding them to cause the same to be preached by all the Preachers of their religions and through the whole realme Item to practise with all the Friers Obseruants of this realme and to command them to preach likewise or else that they may be stayed and noâ suffered to preach in no place of the realme Item that euery Abbot Prior and other heads of religious houses within this realme shall in like manner teach their Conuents and brethren to teach and declare the same Item that euery Bishop shall make speciall commandements to euerie Parson Vicar and Curate within his Diocesse to preach and declare to his Parishoners in likewise Item Proclamations to be made throughout the realme containing the whole Act of Appeales And that the same Act may bee impressed transumed and set vp on euery Church doore in England to the intent that no Parson Vicar Curate nor any other of the Kings subiects shall make themselues ignorant thereof Item the Kings prouocations and appellations made from the Bishop
the Prior and Couent of the White Friers Carmelites in Stanford the âbboâ and Couent of our blessed Lady of Bidlesden the Warden and brethren of the grey Friers of Couentrie Bedford and Alesbury surrendred vp them houses into the kings hands Battaile Abbey in Sussex Martine Abbey in Surrey Straâford Abbey in Essex Lewis in Suffex Saint Austines in Canterbury the new Abbey at the Tower hill the Minories without Aldgate the Nunnery at Clerken well The Hospitall of Saint Thomas Akers the Blacke-Friers the White-Friers the grey Friers and the Charterhouse Monks in London with the most or all other were surrendred after the same manner In September the same yeare Viz. An. 30. Hen. 8. by the speciall motion of great Cromwell all the notable images vnto the which were made any especiall pilgrimages and offerings as the images of our Lady of Walsingham Ipswich Worcester the Lady of Wilsdon the rood of Grace of our Ladie of Boxley and the image of the rood of Saint Sauiour at Bermondsey with all the rest were brought vp to London and burnt at Chelsey at the commandement of the foresaid Cromwell all the Iewels and other rich offerings to these and to the Shrines which were all likewise taken away or beaten to peeces of other Saints throughout both England and Wales were brought into the Kings Treasurie In the same yeare also the Abbey of Westminster was surrendred being valued to dispend by the yeare three thousand foure hundred and seuenty pound or by some 3977. l. 6. s. 4. d. ob q. as in the Catalogue of religious houses the Monkes being expelled King Henry placed therein a Deane and Prebendaries and made the last Abbot whose name was Benson the first Deane in the time of Edward the sixth it was made a Bishops See shortly after the benefits of the Church being abridged it came againe to a Deane and Prebends Againe Queene Marie ordained there an Abbot and his Monkes who continued not many yeares but were againe cut off by Act of Parliament And lastly Queene Elizabeth that wonder of the world made it a collegiate Church or rather a Nursery for the Church saith Norden for there she ordained to the glory of God the propagation of true Religion and good literature a Deane twelue Prebendaries an vpper master and an Vsher for the Schoole fourtie Schollers called the Queenes or Kings Schollers who as they become worthie are preferred to the Vniuersities besides Ministers Singers and Organists ten Quiristers and twelue well deseruing Souldiers Thus you see the interchangeable vicissitude of her foundacion and if it had not beene for the reuerend regard they had of the Sepulchres inauguration and vnction here of their famous Ancestors these forenamed Kings if I may ground my reason vpon the passages of those times had taken her commings in to haue inrichâ their owne coffers despoiled her oâ her vnualuable wealth and ornaments and battered downe to the ground her sacred Edâfice The fifth of December ân the soresaid yeare the Abbey of Saint Albaâs was surrendred by the Abbot and Monkes there by deliuering the Couent Seale into the hands of Tho. Pope D. Peter Master Canendish and others the Kings visiters Now all or the most of all the religious houses in England and Wales being thus surrendred the King summoned another Parliament at Westâminster for howsoeuer these forenamed religious orders and other more of their owne free and voluntary mindes good wills and assents without constraâât âoactâon or compulsion as are the words in the Statute of any manner of person or persons by due order of law and by their sufficient writings of Record vnder their Couent and common Seales had alreadie gâuen granted and confirmed renounced left and forsaken all their religious hâuââs with their lands and all other the appurtenances to the same belongingâ vnto the King his heires and successors for euer Yet it was thought necessarie by the King and his Councell that these their âo uâtaâic donations should bee further ratified by authoritie of that high ãâã whereupon it was enacted that all Monasteries with their Scites circuits and precincts laâds Lordships and all othâr franchises not onely those which were surrendred or dissolued before the session of this Parliament but also such as were to bee surrendred or dissolued hereafter shouâd bee vested deemed and adiudged to be in the very actuall and reall season and possession of the King his heires and successors for euer The religious Order of Saint Iohns of Ierusalem whose chiefe mansion house was in the precincts of Clerkenwell Parish within the Country of Middlesex consisting of gentlemen and souldiers of ancient families and high spirits could by no means be brought in to present to his Maiestie any of these puling petitions and publike recognitions of their errors thereby like the rest to giue a loafe and beg a shiue to turne themselues out of actuall possession and lie at the Kings mercie for some poore yearely pension But like stoâââ fellowes stood out against any that thought to enrich themselues with their ample reuenues vntill they were cast out of their glorious structures and all other their estates for these causes following alledged aâgainst them in open Parliament as appeares by the statute beginning thus The Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Commons of this present Parliament assembled hauing credible knowledge that diuers and sundrie the kings subiects called the Knights of the Rhodes otherwise called Knights of Saint Iohns otherwise called Friers of the religion of S. Iohn of Ierusalem in England and of a like house being in Ireland abiding in the parties of beyond the sea and hauing aswell out of this Realme as out of Ireland and other the Kings dominions yearely great summes of money for maintenance of their liuings Haue vnnaturally and contrary to the dutie of their alleageances sustained and maintained ãâ¦ã power and authoritie of the Bishop of Rome lately vsed and ãâã within this Realme and other the Kings dominions and haue not onely adhered themselues to the said Bishop being common enemy to the King our soueraigne Lord and to this his Realme vntruely vpholding knowledging and affirming maliciously and traiterously the same Bishop to bee supreme and chiefe head of Christs Church by Gods holy word Entending thereby to subuert and ouerthrow the good and godly laws and statutes of this realme for the abolishing expulsing and vtter extincting of the said vsurped power and authoritie but also haue defamed and slandered as well the Kings Maiestie as the Noblemen Prelates and other the Kings true and louing subiects of this Realme for their good and godly proceeding in that behalfe Vpon these causes and other considerations it was enacted That the Corporation of the said Religion as well within this Realme as within the Kings dominion and Land of Ireland should be vtterly dissolued and void to all entents and purposes And that Sir William Weston Knight as then Prior of the said Religion of this Realme of
amore reorum Ne desperetis venie dum tempus habetis To the picture of Christ speaking thus to man in the agonie of his Passion Aspice mortalis fuit vnquam pasâo talis Peccatum sperne pro quo mea vulnera cerne Aspice qui transis quia tu mihi causa doloris And thus exhorting man to amendment of life Aspice Serue Deisic me posiâere Iudei Aspice deuote quoniam sic pendeo pro tâ Aspice mortalis pro te datur hostia talis Inâroitum vite reddo tibi redde mihi te In cruce sum pro te qui peccas desine pro me Desine do veniam dic culpam corrige vitam The Knights Templers before they came to that house now called the Temple had an house in Holborne which is now Southampton place where in their Chappell was a representation of Christs Sepulchre with these verses brought from Ierusalem Vita mori voluit et in hoc tumulo requieuit Mors quia vita fuit nostram victrix aboleuit Nam qui confregit nigra inferna ille subegit Educenâo suos cuius Dux ipse cohortis Tartarus inde gemit et mors lugens spoliatur Another Inscription vpon the same Hac sub clausura recubat Christi caro puro Sub cura semper stat nostra figura Est Deus hic tantus natus de Vigine quantus Militie caput hic mundi medicena iacet hic Another Sum Deus ex quo carnem sumsi sed sine neuo âlebs mea me ligno fixit pendente maligno Aspice plasma tuum qui transis ante sepulchrum Qui triduo iacui cum pro te passus obiui Quid pro me pateris aut quae mihi grata rependis Sum Deus et puluis sed regnes si modo serues Pro te passus ita tu pro me prospera vita Pro te plagatus pro me tu pelle reatus Vpon the picture of the holy Lambe Mortuus et viuus idem sum Pastor et agnus Hic agnus mundum instaurat sanguine lapsum Many were the Altars here in England consecrated to the blessed Virgine Mary more then to Christ mâny the pictures and statues many the Churches erected and dedicated to her holinesse and many were the exorbitant honours due onely to our blessed Sauiour attributed to her heauenly Deitie As did appeare by Inscriptions numberlesse about her Altars Of which some few In celo lata nos seruet Virgo beata Sede locata pia nostri memor esto Maria. Que super astra manet lapsorum vulnera sanet Que celo floret pro nobis omnibus oret Sit nobis grata virgo super astra leuata Ora mente pia pro nobis virgo Maria. Virgo Dei genetrix sit nobis auxiliatrix Stella Maria maris succurre pijssima nobis Virgo Dei digna poscentibus esto benigna Mater virtutis det nobis dona salutis Liberet à pena nos celi porta serena Virgo Maria tuos serva sine crimine servos Virginis auxilium foueat nos nunc et in euum Virgo fecunda pia tu nos à crimine munda Nos benedic grata pia mater et inviolata Nos iuuet illud Ave per quam patet exitus a ve Virgo salutata iuuet omnes prole beata Nos Gabriele nata saluet partu grauidata Virginis intacte cum veneris ante figuram Pretereundo caue ne sileatur Ave. Sol penetrat vitrum penetratur nec violatur Sic Virgo peperit nec violata fuit Hac non vade via nisi dicas Ave Maria Semper sit sine ve qui mihi dicit Aue. O Regina lucis almae syderum Intacta parens puerpera virgo Salutisque nostre digna propago Parce iam parce mitissima quaeso Hanc animam Christo redde benigna Et miserere canentis Osanna Her salutation Virgo salutatur verboque Dei grauidatur Nec grauat intactum gremium verbum caro factum Virgo parens humilisque Deo cara sibi viles Anâuem calcauit que prima superbia strauit Virgo parit puerum lumen de lumine verbum Est vox celestis lux celica stellaque testis In the Churches of Corpus Christi most commonly these Inscriptions following Hic est cibus qui plene reâicit non corpus sed animam non ventrâm sed mentem si quis ex hoc comederit viuet in eternum Panis mutatur specie remanente priore Sed non est talis qualis sentitur in ore Res occultatur quare nam si videatur â unc abhorreres manducare timeres Panis mutatur in carnem sic operatur Christus ipse verum sub pane latens caro Verbum To the portraitures of the soure Euangelists these Per Euangelica dicta deleantur nostra delicta Euangelicis armis muniat nos Conditor orbis Euangelica lectio sit nobis salus protectiâ Foâs Euangelij repleat nos dogmate celi Que âeque naturas retinent nec vtrique figuras Sic actâs Christi describunt quatuor isti Queque sâb obscuris de Christo dicta figuris His aperire datur in his os ipse notatur About or neare to the Altars consecrated to all Saints Deâ venie munus nobis Rex trinus et vnus Virga virens Iesse nos verum ducat ad esse Sâââobis portus ad vitam virginis ortus Sumamus portum vite per virginis ortum In vite portu saluemur virginis ortu Ortus solamen det nobis virginis Amen Nos ditet venia sanctissima Virgo Maria. Nos rege summe pater nos integra protege Mater Nos ope conforta celorum fulgida porta Nos famulos serva genetrix à morte proterva Nosiungat thronis veri thronus Salomonis Ad fontem venie ducat nos dextra Marie Ad celi decoranos transfer virgo decora Impetret à genito nobis veniam pia Virgo Turmis Angelicis societ nos conditor orbis Ordo Phrophetarum minuat penas animarum Cetus Apostolicus sit nobis semper amicus Martyribus sisti faciaââos gratia Christi Grex confessorum purget peccata reorum Virginci flores nostros delete dolores Nos regâ nos muni Sanctis Deus omnibus vni Indulgences and Pardons granted by the Bishop of Rome to certaine Churches and Altars were likewise depensild vpon the walls In forme as followeth Alexander Episcopus Seruus seruorum Dei vniuersis Christi sidelibus presentibus futuris salutem Apostolicam benedictionem Liceâ ad oânes S. R. E. sideles muniâicentiâ nostre dextram debeamus extendere debitricem maxime tamen spiritualis gratie prerogatiua nos decet illos atâollere dignioribus beneficentie nostre fauoribus ampliare qui se nobis S. R. F. feruentiori deuotione exibent in fide stabiles in opere sideliâer âffiâaces Sane igitur cupientes vt Ecclesia S. Ia. C. preementioribus frequentetur âo noribus vt Christi âideles eo libentius deâotionis causa consluânt
woods were vnvalued as ofte they were the same went from the Kyng without recompenââ Item Mannores Lands and Tenements c. sold to diuers and after the woods were felled and solde and the Rents enhaunced or for great fines leased out for many yeres then the same Mannores lands c. were retorned to the kyng in exchange for other lands that had plentie of woods and were vnenhauncede and vnleased in all or in parte or the Leases were nere expyred Item muche Lands and Tenements and many great woods and other hereditaments were then solde away wher the money for the same by deceptfull defrawde was not payd in many yeres after the due dayes of paymente So likewise in the time of the reigne of King Edward the sixt your Maiesties Brother many things were done amisse though not so many and so great as befoar Exchanges more were then in King Henries tyme and almost as badde wherof the Rents of many of them muste needs decaye in a great parte when that Leases shall end that were made by the Exchangârâs or when their Bonds made to warrant thos Rents shall either be lost or not extended Much Lands c. were sold at vnder values by great decepte of many And in the shorte tyme of the Reigne of Queene Mâry your Maiesties Sister many great gifts Sales and Exchanges were made wherein was great deceipt and losse to the Prince and Crowne In your Maiesties time and before all or the greateste parte of all the Evidences of the Lands possessions and hereditaments of all the Abbeyes c. have by litle and litle by fraudulent meanes byne so pilfered and solde awaye and so drawne into many priuate mens handes that there is almoste none of them left to your Maiesties vse so that your Maiestie hath nothing to mainteyne your title yf neede so requyre but onely the long possession and your owne Records made since suppression whereof a nomber of them be gone This Informer a man in authoritie as appeares by the sequele of whose name I am ignorant proceeds further in the rehearsall of many more deceipts frawdes and corruptions vsed by diuers of the Officers of those dayes onely for their owne lucre and advauncement which are too many here to set downe I will end this Chapter with the conclusion of his arguments When I speke saith he write or worke against thes and multitudes of like things what adoe ther is on euery side and what outcries ther iâ againste me and what inward hatred is borne me which sometime brekâs foarth and shewes it selfe by their sowre lookes bittere speches and taunt and by their liftings at me and paying me home one way or other when they can themselues or when others canne for them your Maiestie woââ wondere yf you knewe And the more because some of them beare great shew and name of good men and Gospelers But alas piteous ones God amend them and vs all That we together that profâsse the Gospell may studye and strive not onely to loue and doe what he commands and to hate and resist what he forbids But also thos of vs that be in authoreââ to bring all others ther vnto by great intreaty and good rewards yf that will serve yf not by roughe threats and sharpe strokes as he hath appointed for the bringing home vnto himself of euery creature CHAP. XVI The time of the institution of Religious Orders Their seuârall names and Authours and the infinite encrease of their Fraternities and Sisterhoods THe Popes of Rome challenging a succession from Saint Peter and seeking to imitate the Hebrewes began to institute Ostiaries Acolites Exorcists Readers Subdeacons and Deacons The Office of the Ostiarle was to open and shut the Church doores to looke to the decent keeping of the Church and the holy ornaments laid vp in the Vestrie which is now the charge of the Vergers as I take it in Cathedrall Churches Acolites or Acoluthites were to follow and serue the Bishop or chiefe Priest to prouide and kindle the lights and lamps of the Church and to register the names of such as were catechized Exorcists had the power giuen them to expell vncleane spirits and by fasting and prayer to free such persons as were so possest Readers quos Pastores à pasco nominatos putat Am ... osius matutânâ tempore Prophetarum Apostolorumque scripta legebant ac populum diuinis lectionibus quasi pascebant Which Saint Ambrose supposeth to be called Pastours by the Apostle Paul did reade the writings of the Prophets and Apostles at the time of morning prayer and did feede as it were the people with such diuine lessons The office of the Subdeacons was to set and giue out the Psalmes in solemne tunes to receiue the oblations of the faithfull to write the liues and Agons of the Martyrs and to declare or make more plaine vnto the people the Epistles of the Apostles Deacons had the charge to releeue widowes and orphans and other poore faithfull people and to distribute vnto them the almes which deuout Christians had giuen to that intent They were also allowed to preach the Gospell to interprete the Scriptures and appointed to adorne the sacred Altars and helpe the Priest in diuine Seruice a place officiated now by our Parish Clerkes these were chosen to bee men full of religion integritie of life faithfulnesse and bountie after the example of the Churhes of Ierusalem and Antioch who were called Clerkes some of these were made by the imposition of hands Priests others Deacons to the end the Bishop of Rome might imploy them to instruct the Christians which then increased and were so many as he could not alone execute the charge To these Priests he gaue the chiefe care of soules to the end that administring the Sacraments to the people of God they might with the Bishop attend prayer and preaching Presbyterorum vero munus erat baptisare Episcopis adesse consilijs orationibus esse intentos frangere panem in commemorationem Christi annunciando mortem eius orare super infirmos vngentes eos oloo in nomine Domini The office indeed of Priests was to baptise to be assistant to the Bishops in Councell to be attent and earnest in prayer to breake the bread of life in remembrance of Christ preaching or declaring his death and passion to visite and pray for the sicke giuing them extreme Vnction in the name of the Lord. And Presbyter saith one dicitur quasi praebensiter as shewing the way of saluation to the ignorant people They were likewise saith the same Author called Sacerdotes men consecrated to God in respect of their sacred orders and pious imployments which by him is thus deciphered Quinque enim sunt dignitates Sacerdotum prae ceteris Primo dicitur sacerdos quasi sacris dotatus scilicet sacris ordinibus quia ipse est in summo gradu qui est Sacerdotum Secundò Sacerdos quasi
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 Limyâour 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 Caesââa the chiefe Citie of Cappadocia where he was borne and whereof afterwards he was chosen Bâshop 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 Diuiniâie true Religion and pietie were taugât 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 Ariân 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 Monasâeries 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 intreaââes 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 veâit 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 âame 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 Beneâdictina 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
mores que sacta norma Quid dâceat quid non instrue sancte pater Respunsio ipsius Bernardi Que âeci primâ vâbis facienda relinquo Nulium âuâauâ discordes pacificaui Lefus âustinui nec mihi complacui Within one hundred yeares after the first spreading abroad of these Cistercian and Bernardin Monkes the Benedictines wanted another reformation which was attempted by Peter one of the same Order surnamed âââoron of a Mountaine so called at the foote of which he liued in a caue for the space of three yeares doing daily penance Vpon this mountaine he built a little Church which he called of the holy Ghost be ware aâwayes a âlâaine of Iron vpon his bare flesh vpon it a shirt of haire being in continuall prayer and reforming the rule of Saint Benet which was then much degenerated Hee obtained of the Pope a confirmation of his rule vpon which hee celebrated the first generall Chapter of his Order After which in the seuentie ninth yeare of his age he was chosen Pope about the yeare of our redemption 1â94 by the name of Celestin the fifth where vpon this reformed order were called Celestins the number of which increased so fast that he himselfe consecraced for them fixe and âhirtie clââsters in Italy wherein were sixe hundred Monkes amongst others this was one of Celestin the Popes caueats for his new reformadoes Tunc Celestinus cris si celestia mediteris If heau'nly things thou lt meditate Then shalt thou liue in heuenly state Their first comming into England was much what about the yeare 1414. The sanctitie of the Francischan Minorite Friers growne cold one Berâard of Sienna a gentleman of a noble extraction moued with an holy and ãâã deuotion laboured much for the reformation of that Order which ãâã some assistants effected taking away the abuses which were crept ãâã causing the Friers to liue in common and to haue nothing proper to ãâã following simplie the institution of their father Saint Francis ãâã called Obseruant Minorite Friers because they were obseruan ãâ¦ã S. Francisci propterea meliores more obseruant to keepe the ãâã and orders of Saint Francis and therefore the better This Order ãâ¦ã the yeare of Iubile 1400. or thereabouts it was first confirmed by ãâã Couââell of Cââsâânce afterwards by Eugenins the fourth and other ãâ¦ã the fourth brought them into England and Henry the seuenth auhmented their numbers in whose time they had six famouâ Cloisters here in this kingdome Many other reformations haue beenâ ãâã time to time of the Franciscans as by the Minims Recoâlects Pen ãâã ãâã ries Capuchins c. and by many others which happened sinced ãâã lution here in England or much what thereabouts One Norbert Archbishop of Magdebourgh leauing the world retired himselfe with certaine companions into a certaine place called ãâ¦ã of which this order tooke denomination where hee squared ãâ¦ã himselfe his fellowes and successours to obserue much what after the order of Saint Augustine which was approued and confirmed by Calixtus the second Honorius the second made them regular Charions Their Abbots were perpetuall and euer consecrated by Bishops They had power to conferre their lesser Orders to their Monkes and to blesse all thâ ornaments of the Church and to do all other ceremonies but where as conseâration is required in the blessing yet they might celebrate soâemne and ãâã Masse with the myter crosier staffe cappe and other ornaments which belong to the Episcopall order and dignitie The first institution of this order was about the yeare 1120. their first house here in England was at Newhouse in Lincolnshire These Votaries pretend to haue had their first institution at mount Carmel in Syria where Elias and other heretofore liued solitarily and that the place being inhabited by many Hermites Almericke Bishop of ãâã drew them together liuing dispersed about the mountaine and ãâ¦ã them a Monasterie in that mount neare vnto a fountaine They say a fâthââr one Albert Patriarch of Ierusalem a very famous man set downea rule from the life of Elias out of a certaine Greeke booke of the institution of the first Monke and from the rule of Saint Basill the Great giuing it to keepe to one Brocard who was Prior of Mount Carmell and to his Hermits which rule of Albert they vowed to obserue which was afterwards confirmed by Pope Honorius the third They affirme that the Virgine Mary appeared vnto one of their order and presented vnto him a Scapularie saying Receiue my beloued this Scapularie which I giue vnto thy order in signe of my fellowship Whereupon they vsurpe the title of ãâã tres Ordinis beatae Mariae Virginis de monte Carmelo Friers of the Order of the blessed Virgine Mary of mount Carmell Their first apparition ãâã the world was about the yeare 1170. Their entrance into England and seating themselues at Newenden in Kent of which hereafter was about the midst of the raigne of King Henry the third These like as other Orders haue beene diuers times reformed euer as they did degenerate from their primitiue sincerity at this day they are called Carmes discalced or bare footed Friers by a certaine constitution confirmed by the Apostolique authoritie in a generall Chapter held at Alcara de Henares in the yeare of our redemption 1581. There were likewise Carmelin or Carnie ãâã Nunnes here in England Iohn Bale who writ of the writers and the best learned men of great Britaine writ also a large Treatise of this Order of Carmes or Carmelites whose antiquitie institution and progresse he sets downe in one of ãâ¦ã sages as followeth De Antiquitate Fratrum Carmelitarum Tanta est Carmeli Fratrum de monte vetustas Quim mentâm superet cunctorum pene virorum Namque per Hâliam datur Ordo fuisse Prophetam Hie primo inceptus sacro quoque iure statutus Qui postquam curru raptus fuit in Paradisum Flammato successit et vates Heliseus Condita quinque virum ter claustra fuere per illum Quem post affirmant Ionam fuisse Prophetam Cui successerunt Abdias atque Micheas Et plerique alij quos non memorare necesse est Tempore non Christi Montem Baptista Iohannes Carmeli Andreas et Apâstolus incoluerunt Nathaniel Ioseph Vir Virginis atque Marie Sanctus Iheronimus et quidam nomine dictus Nilas Marcellus quorum Pauli fuit alter Petri Discipulus fuit alter deinde beati Tunc in honore pia fuit Ara sancta Marie Monte in Carmeli prenescentum que virorum Tunc in Hierusalem Claustrum fuit aurea porta Quondam nempe loco qui vulgo sertur ab omni Ac in monte Syon claustrum primo Muliârum Multe denote quod percoluere Sorores Sincletica Euprepia Polycrasia item Melania Combustum primo verum fuit à Mahumeto Postque per Eraclum destructum post quoque Paulo Euersum rursus Danorum et ..... Regio .... Per .... Karoli reparatum tempore magni Ast vbi
doth lie Another Lest Alexanders noble name my friend should thee beguile Away for here both treachery doth lurke and mischiefe vile Another Though Alexander after death did vomit matter blacke Yet maruell not he dranke the same and could not cause it packe Vpon the yeare of Iubelie aforesayd kept by this Pope Alexander The Romane Priest that promised both heauen and starres to sell By treacherie and murtherings hath made a gap to hell This Alexander before by deuillish meanes he obtained the Papacie was called Rodericus Borgia a Spaniard borne in Valentia But of him enough except it tended more to the matter Now may it please you reade certaine blanke verses taken out of my fore remembred Author Piers Plow man who speakes in his language of the Pope and Cardinals Pardons and pilgrimages effectually to this purpose Passus 19. God amend the Pope that pilleth holy Kirke And claymeth before the Kyng to be kept of Christen And counteth not though cristen be killed and robbed And fynd folke to fight and christen folk to spill Agayne the old law and new law as Paule therof wytnesseth Non occides mihi vindictam c. I ne knew neuer Cardinall that he ne come fro the Pope And we Clarks when they come for her Commens payen For her pelures and palfreis and pilors that hem folow The Commune clamat quotidie eche a man to other The contrey is the curseder that Cardinals commen in And there they lig and leng more lechery there raigneth Therfor quod this victory by very god I would That no Cardinals ne come among the commen peple But in her holines helden hem styl At Avion among the Iewes cum sancto sanctus eris Or in Rome as their rule wyl the relikes to kepe In the seuenth passage he deliuers his opinion of the Popes Pardons in these words The Prieste preued no pardon to do well And demed that Dowell Indulgence passed Biennales and Triennales and Byshops letters And how Dowell at the day of dome is dignely vndersongen And passed all the Pardon of S. Peters Church A little after in the same passage thus Soules that haue sinned seuen sythes deadly And to trust to these Trentals truely me thynketh Is not so siker for the soule as to do well Therfore I red you renkes that rich be on this erth Apon trust of treasure Trientales to have Be ye neuer the bolder to breake the ten hestes And namely ye Maisters Mayres and Iudges That haue the welth of this world and for wise men be holden To purchase you Pardons and the Popes Buls At the dreadfull dome whan the dead shall arise And commen all tofore Christ accounts for to yeue How thou leadest thy lyfe here and his lawes kepest And how thou didest day by day the dome wil reherse A poke full of Pardons there ne prouinciall letters Though ye be founden in the fraternitie of the iiii Orders And haue Indulgence an hundryd fold but if Dowell you helpe I beset your patents and your pardons at a pyes hele Therfore I counsell all christen to crye god mercy And make Christ our meane that hath made amends That God give vs grace here or we go hence Such workes to worke while we ben here That after our deathes day Dowell reherse At the day of Dome we did as he highte The same Author shewing what true pilgrimage is breathes forth these blanke verses following Nay by my soule health quoth Piers and gan for to sweare I nolde fang a ferthyng for Saynt Thomas shryne Truth wold loue me the lesse long tyme therfor after And if ye wyll to wend well this his the way thither Ye must go thorow mekenes both men and wyues Tyll ye come into conscience that Christ wit soch That ye louen our Lord God leuest of all thynges And that your neighbours next In no wyâe appeire Otherwise than thou woldist he wrought to thy selfe In the same passage Ye that seke S. Iames and Saintes at Rome Seke saint Truth for he may saue you all In another place Pass 12. He doth well withoute doute that doth as beuti techeth That is if thou be man maryed thy make thou loue And lyue forth as law wyll whyle ye lyuen both Right so if thou be religious ren thou neuerfurther To Rome nor Roch Madon but as thy rule techeth And hold the vnder obedience that high way is to heuen And yf thou be mayden to mary and myght well continewe Seke neuer no saint further for thy soules health Pilgrimage is called of the Latines Peregrinatio quasi peregre abitio a going into a strange countrey for a short pilgramage is not worth a pin neither is that Image in so much honour or respect in that countrey where it is as in farre countries For example the Italians yea those that dwell neare Rome will mocke and scoffe at our English and other pilgrims that go to Rome to see the Popes holinesse and Saint Peters chaire and yet they themselues will runne to see the Reliques of Saint Iames of Compostella in the kingdome of Galicia in Spaine which is aboue twelue hundred English miles And so the Spaniards hold Rome to be a very holy place and therefore spare no cost or labour to go thither And so of other pilgrimages Pilgrimage was also called Romeria quia Romam vt plurimum peregrinationes because pilgrimages forth most part were made to Rome Now hauing acquainted my Reader omitting many particulars I confesse which will more plainly appeare in the sequele by what deuises and meanes the Religious Votaries and others of the Clergie within this kingdome as also the Bishop of Rome who most commonly went away with the best share augmented their reuenues and deceiued the poore Commons I am here to speake of a yearely tribute paied onely to the See of Rome which many times I obuiously meete withall from the payment whereof neither the King nor the Clergie nor any housholder ãâã in England or Ireland were priuiledged and this was called ãâã which is a Saxon word compounded of Rome and Scot as you wouâd say the ãâã bute due to Rome or an Apostolicall custome or the see of ãâ¦ã penning or Denarij Sancti Petri Peter pence From which payment ãâã Mathew the Monke of Westminster neither the King nor the Archbishop Bishop Abbot nor Prior were exempted I he first âounder of ãâã Tribute was Inas or Ina king of the West-saxons Of which the foresaid Mathew thus writes Ina the pious and potent king of the West Saxons leaâing his temporall kingdome thereby to gaine an eternall to the gouernment of his kinsman Ethelard trauelâed on pilgrimage to Rome where in the said Citie by the permission of Gregory the second hee built an house which he called The English Schoole vnto which the kings of England and the Regall Image as also Bishops Priests Clerkes and others might
repaire to âee instructed in good literature and in the Catholicke faith lest that any thing in the English Church might be sinâsteâly expounded contrary to the vniuersall vnitie and so being established in the orthodoxall and right receiued Faith they might returne backe againe into their owne countrey For the doctrine and Schooles of the English Nation since the time of Archbishop Austin had beene interdicted by diuers Romish Bishops for certaine heresies which daily appeared after the comming in of the Saxons into Britaine by reason of the commixture of the misbeleeuing wicked Pagans with the Christians of holy conuersation Hee also caused a Church to be erected neare to the foresaid house or Colledge which he dedicated to the honour of the blessed Virgine Mary in which such of the English as came to Rome might celebrate dâuine Seruice and that therein if any of the said English there happened to depart this world they might be inâerred And all these that they might for euer be more firmly corroborated it was ordained by a generall decree throughout all the kingdome of the West-Saxons that in euerie familie one pennie should be yearely collected and sent ouer to blessed Saint Peter and the Church of Rome which in English Saxons was called Romescot that the English there abiding migât by that meane haue sufficient to liue vpon Thus âaâre Mathew of Westminsteâ surnamed the Flower-gatherer The which in substance is thus deliuerâd by a late writer yet in a different manner He meaning Ina instituted also a certaine yearely payment to the See of Rome enioyning euery one of his Subiects that possesâed in his house of one kinde of goods to the value of twentie pence that he should pay a pâny to the Pope yearely vpon Lammas day which at that time was contributed vnder the name of the Kings Almes but afterwards was called and challenged by the name of Peter-pence Another of the same gift by the said King hath these times He gaue to Rome eche yere The Rome pence thorrow West sex all about Perpetually to be well payd and clere For vnto Rome he went without all doubt After the example and with the like zeale of Ina Offa the most magnificent king of the Mercias in great deuotion went also to Rome and made euery house within his territories subiect to this payment of Romescot Ossa gaue through Mers the Rome penny Vnto the Church of Rome Afterwards about the yeare eight hundred and fiftie this tribute was confirmed and made further payable throughout all England For Ethelwolfe as then being sole Monarch of the Englishmen hauing beene sometimes for certaine yeares as Haneden and Brampton write Bishop of Winchester remembring his Ecclesiasticke profession and ordaining first that tithes and lands due to holy Church should be free from all tributes and Regall seruices in the nineteenth yeare of his raigne with the like deuotion of the two former kings went in pilgrimage taking with him his youngest sonne Alfred or Elfred to the foresaid chiefe Citie of the Romanes where he was both honourablie receiued and entertained by the Bishop of Rome and the whole Senate for the space of one yeare and vpwards in which time he rebuilt the English Schoole before remembred which lately had beene almost quite consumed with fire And in lieu of his kinde entertainment confirmed the former grant of Peter-pence causing it to bee payed throughout all his Dominions and further couenanted to pay yearely to Rome three hundred Markes thus to be employed one hundred to Saint Peters Church another hundred to Saint Pauls light and the third to the Pope a Saint that euermore will haue his share to the entent saith one that no Englishmen should doe penance in bounds as he saw some do before his face This Athilwolfe to Rome toke his way In pilgramage with him his sonne Aelfrede To Peter and Pole he graunted infenitife The Rome pence of all Englond As Flores saith as I con vnderstond Saith Harding cap. 105. And further to confirme the premisses may it please you to trouble your patience in the reading of these following hard rimes transcribed out of a namelesse old Author Adelwolfe his sonne att Chester his cite For al hys kyngs and Barons of estate Sent forth anone at hys parlament to be Whycheatte Chester was than preordynate To whyche al cam both Kyngs Duks and Prelat And odar al of honor or Empryse Hym for to do obeysaunce and servysse anon to Roome he went In pylgrymage wythe hooly good entent Wher he was so abydyng full too yer In hooly lyff and full perfactyon In ryall wyse as to a pryns afer And to the Pope wythe ful affectyon Hys comonyng ay had at hys electyon He gaue to Peter lyght And to Sent Poule whaâ is ful gret repayr Too thowsand mark of Venyse gold ful ryght For sustenaunce of the Chyrches ryght He Busschopp was in hys Fadars day And for defaut of heyr was crownyd kyng Wharfor whan he hys lond in good aray Fre of servysse had set above all thyng He grauntyd tythe of all hys lond ofspryng Tyll thre persones dwelling in vnyte Why charr on God dwellyng in Trynite And Roome pens he graunte vnto the Pope Perpetuelly to haue of al Englond So perfytt was hys mynd who couth hit grope In al goodnes growndyd I vndyrstond Thrugh al hys myght in al hys noble lond The Pece he kepte and in his Se iudicyall The common Law among hys peple all Edgar king of England made sharpe constitutions for the payment of this Tribute And it was one of the lawes of Edward the Confessour that euery householder which had triginta denariatas viuae pecuniae in domo sua de proprio suo Thirtie pence of ready money or of any kinde of cattell in his house of his owne proper should by the Law of the English giue a pennie to Saint Peter and by the Law of the Danes halfe a marke which pennie was to be demanded at or vpon the feast of Saint Peter and Paul and to be collected before the feast of Saint Peter ad vincula and not to be deferred to any further day And if any withheld the payment thereof any longer time complaint was to be made to the Kings Officers for that this penny was the Kings Almes And that the partie so offending should hee constrained by iustice to make payment thereof on paine of forfeiting his goods Now if any man had more dwelling houses then one hee was to pay onely for that house where he should happen to be resiant at the said feast of Saint Peter and Paul Henry the second vpon his conquest of Ireland imposed this tribute vpon that kingdome onely to curry fauour with the Pope who as then was Adrian the fourth called before his inthronization Nicholas Breakespeare borne at Abbots Langley in Hertfordshire For hee saith Speed in the life of the said Henry knowing how great and dangerous tumults the Popes had
Northampt. Rutlande Northampt. 107. l. 7. s. Null 308. 10. 4. Roffen 358. l. 3. s. 7. d. q. Lanc. Roffen 34. l. 13. s. nul 92. 2. 0. 0. 0. Sarum 1367. l. 11. s. 8. d. Wiltes Berks. Wiltes 70. l 12. s. 2. d. Berkâ 71. l. 12. s. q. Sarum 70. l. 11. s. 8. d. ob 47. 395. 12. 3. 2. 2. Winton 3885. l. 3. s. 3. d. ob q 2491. l. 9. s. 8. d. ob 2793. l. 4. s. 7. d. q. q. Southampt Surrey Winton 67. l. 15. s. 2. d. ob Surrey 91. l. 3. s. 6. d. ob nul 353. 14. 10. 5. 1. Wigorn. 1049. l. 17. s. 3. d. ob q. Wigorn. Warwicke Wigorn. 58. l. 9. s. 11. d. nul 195. vltra 12. Capell in Euâsham 1. 8. 1. 2. Domus Religios Hospital Collegia Cantarie Libe Capelle Valores Decanatum Decima Cleri 13. 2. 3. 17. nul 336.14 s 10. d. 52. 5. 11. 87 102. l. 1117. l. 13. s. ob 10. 3. 1. 17. 100. l. 255. l. 8. s. 16. 4. 6. 41. 100. l. 520. l. 16. s. 8. d 5. 1. 1. 14. 100. l. 222. l. 14 s. 6. d. ob q. 19. 8. 2. 84. 204. l. 10. s. 901. l. 6. d. ob 25. 4. 3. 32. 199. l. 13. s. 9. d. 846. l. 12. d. 20. 4. 2. 47. 133. l. 6. s. 8. d. 228. l. Memorandum That vnder the title of Benefices in euery Diocesse is contained in figures two numbers The first doth shew how many be of 30. l. in her Maiesties Records and vnder 40 l. The other number how many be of 40. l. value and vpwards And vnder those figures be other figures which do shew how many of them be Vicarages As for example in the title of Benefices in Bathe and Welles you haue 380. Benefices of them there is 14. of 30. l. value and vnder 40. l. and 5. of 40. l. value and vpwards And of those of 30. l. value there are 6. Vicarages and of those of 40. l. 1. Vicarage as may appeare by the figures and so of the rest Summe totall of all the promotions Spirituall at the Taxation of the first fruits and Tenths viz. Â Â Â Â Archbishopricks and Bishop 0021. Â Â Â Deanries 0011. Â Â Â Archdeaconries 0060. Â Â Â Dignities and Prebends in Cathedrall Churches 0394. Â Â Â Benefices 8803. Â Â Â Religious Houses 0605. Â Â Â Hospitalls 0110. Â Â Â Colledges 0096. Â Â Â Chauntries and free Chappels 2374. Â Â Â Sum. Totalis 12474. Â Â Â The yearely value of all the said Promotions according to the Rate and Taxation of the first fruits and tenths amounteth by estimation to 330180. l. 10. s. 0â d. Â The yearely tenth of the Cleargie amounteth by estimation to 015041. 01. 02. ob q. The yearely value of the Clergies Liuings according to the said Tenth is 150410. 12 00 Â Of the which sum of 450410 l. 12. s. defaulke for the yearly value of the Bishoprickes of Chestre Oxford Peeterburgh Bristoll and Gloucester Not parcell of the Taxation of first fruits and tenths the summe of 1888. l. 13. s. 4. d. q. and then remaineth 1480511. l. 12 s. q. To the which adde for the yearly value of the possessions of the Colledges in both the Vniuersities and the Colledges of Windsor Eaton New Colledge by Winchester and Woluerhampton the summe of 10568. l. 8. s. 4. d ob Parcell of the taxation of first-fruites viz. â for the possessions of the Colledges in Cambridge 2762. l. 19. s. ob in Oxford 4693. l. 17. s. ob Windsore 1396. l. 17. s. 1. d. q. Eaton 996. l. 12. s. q. New Colledge 628. l. 13. s. 6. d. and Woluerhampton 89. l. 9.8 d. and then the summe is 159080. 00 04 ob q. So there hath been taken from the possessions of the Clergie sithence the dissolution of Religious Houses Colledges and Chauntries hitherto in value by estimation parcell of the said 320180. l. 10. s. to temporall vses 161100. 09 07 q. After the dissolution of the Religious Houses Henry the eighth erected these sixe Bishopricks to wit Westminster Chester Peterburgh Oxford Bristow and Gloucester whereof the fiue last are in esse And at the same time he erected also these Cathedrall Churches hereafter mentioned wherein he founded a Deane and the number of Prebends following viz. Cantuarien 12. Winton 12. Wigorn. 10. Cestren 06. Peterburgh 06. Oxon. 06. Elien 08. Gloucestre 06. Bristoll 06. Carlioll 04. Dunelm 12. Roffen 06. Norwicen 06. The yearely value of the said Cathedral Churches newly erected with the Collegiate Churches of Windsore Westminster and Woluerhampton ouer and besides the petticanons and other inferiour Ministers amounteth by estimation 5942. 08. 02. Â So the yearely value of the Clergies Liuing together with the said summe of 150410. l. 12. s. ouer and besides the Colledges in the Vniuersities and of Eaton and New Colledge aforesaid amounteth by estimation to 156253. 00. 02. Â There are Parsonages appropriate in England according to my collection whereof there be Vicarages endowed ouer and besides diuerse Personages whereof there is no endowment of Vicarages viz. 003236. 00. Â Â All which Parsonages of right belonging to the Altar and should bee the proper liuing of âhe Clergie a few onely excepted which belong to Bishopricks Cathedral Churches and the Colledges before mentioned remaine in the Laities hands which if you esteeme one with another after 40 l. amount to the sum of 129440 00 00 Â Besides all this if search and examination were made throughout England it would bee found that the most part of the best Liuings remaining in the possession of the Clergie in euery Diocesse either by Leases confirmed corrupt Aduousanes or by the iniquitie of Patrons and vnlearned Ministers remaine also in the Laities hands The first summe vnder euery Bishopricke is the originall value at the taxation of first-fruits and tenths the other summe is the value now remaining of Record for the payment of first-fruites Sithence the taxation of first-fruits and tenthes there hath been taken from Bishopprickes in value with 140 l. for the decay of the faculties viz. 06894 04 09 Â There are Parsonages to the number of 41 made appropriate sithence the taxation of first-fruites and tenths which amount to the yearely value of viz. 01663 14 09 q. The Colledge of Llandewy breeuie in the Diocesse of S. Dauids hauing a Chauntership and 13 Prebends was lately taken away amounting to the summe of 00148 05 09 Â Memorandum that the tenth of the Clergy in some Diocesses as London Chichester Hereford Worcester and others is more then is expressed in the title of Tenth for there the tenth is set downe as it is chargeable to her Maiestie the rest is allowed in lieu of certaine Lands taken away from the Bishopprickes Canterbury and Elie haue the tenth allowed wholly sauing that Canterbury yeeldeth an account of 9. l. 2. s. 1. d. The number of Benefices as is
Tuesday the yeare 1220. his venerable body receiued the glory and renowne of translation in the fiftieth yeare after his passion But to returne It is said that these foure knights despairing to obtaine the Kings pardon wandred vp and downe for a time like vagabonds and runagates vpon the earth being hstefull to all their kindred as well as to their countreymen vntill at length they resolued to go a pilgrimage to Rome where Pope Alexander the third enioyned them this penance which was to trauell to Ierusalem and there to liue as penitenciall conuertites in the blacke mountaine where they finished their dayes and were buried in Jerusalem before the doore of the Temple for whom this inscription was framed Hic iacent miseri qui martirizauerunt beatum Thomam Archiepiscopum Cantuariensem Of these foure Knights which murdered this Archbishop and of the three Bishops which conspired together against him I found these Hexaâiâers in an old Manuscript in Sir Robert Cottons Library Quatuor hij proceres Reginaldus Filius Vrsi Hugo de Morvilla Willelmus que Tracensis ãâã Brito Thomam necuere beatum Hij tres Gâlfridus qui primus Eliacensis Gilbertus Foliot qui Presul Londoniensis Amborum complex Sarum Presul Iocelinus Aduersus Thomam conspirauere beatum The body of this murdered Bishop was buried first in the vndercrost of the Church but shortly after it was taken vp and laid in a most sumptuous Shrine in the East end at the charges of Stephen Langton his successour being matriculated by the Pope a glorious Saint and Martyr To this new shrined Martyr people of all degrees and from all parts flocked in pilgrimage as Chaucer thus hath it in his Prologue to his Canterbury tales fro euery shires end Of Englond to Canterbury they wend The holy blisfull Martir for to seeke That hem hath holpen wher they were seke They loaded the Shrine with such large offerings that the Church did all round about abound with more then Princely riches whose meanest part was pure gold garnished with many precious stones Whereof the cheesest was a Regall of France or a rich gemme offered by King Lewis who asked and obtained you may be sure he buying it so deare that no passenger betwixt Douer and Whitesand should perish by shipwracke Such pressing there was to touch him and such creeping and kneeling to his Tombe that the prints of their deuotion in the marble stones remaine to this day Euery pillar resounding the miracles of this reputed Martyr and the Church it selfe dedicated to Christ forced to giue place to the name of Saint Thomas His bloud was as then almost matched in vertue with our blessed Sauiours and his old shoe deuoutly kissed by all passengers The building of this shrine is thus briefly described by that painfull Antiquarie Io. Stow. It was built saith he about a mans height all of stone then vpward of Timber plaine within the which was a chest of iron containing the bones of Thomas Becket Skull and all with the wound of his death and the peece cut out of his skull laid in the same wound The timber worke of this Shrine on the out side was couered with plates of gold damasked and embossed with wires of gold garnished with broches images Angels chaines precious stones and great orient pearles the spoile of which Shrine in gold and iewels of an inestimable value silled two great chests one of which sixe or eight strong men could do no more then conuey out of the Church all which was taken to the Kings vse and the bones of Saint Thomas by commandement of the Lord Cromwell were then and there burnt all to ashes Which was in September the yeare 1538. Hen. 8.30 Diuers Epitaphs were composed to the memory of this much honoured Martyr expressing the cause time and place of his martyrdome For example Annus Millenus centenus septuagenus Primus erat Primas quo ruit ense Thomas Pro Christi sponsa Christi sub tempore Christi In Templo Christi verus amatâr obit Quis moritur Presul Cur pro grege qualiter Ense Quando natali Quis locus ara Dei Quinta dies Natalis erat Flos orbis ab orbe Carpitur et fructus incipit esse Poli. Henricus natus Matildis regna tenebat Sub quo Sacratus Thomas mucrone cadebat This Anthem was likewise made to his honour Tu per Thome sanguinem quem pro te impendit Fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas asâendit For the bloud of Thomas which he for thee did spend Grant vs Christ to clime where Thomas did ascend The Pope writ to the Clergie of England to make a new Holiday for this late Martyr an extract or clause whereof followeâh Wee admonish you all and by the authoritie which wee retevne doe straightly charge you that you celebrate the day of the suffering of the blessed man Thomas the glorious Martyr sometime Archbishop of Canterbury euery yeare in most solemne sort and that with deuout prayers ye endeuour your selues to purchase forgiuenesse of sinnes that he which for Christs sake suffered banishment in this life and martyrdome in death by constancie of vertue through continuall supplication of faithfull people may make intercession for you to God The tenor of these letters were scarcely read but euery man with a loud voice began to recite and sing Te Deum laudamus Furthermore because his Suffragans had not exhibited due reuerence to him their father either in time of his banishment or at his returne from the same but rather persecuted him that they might openly confesse their errour and wickednesse to all men they made this Collect. Be fauourable good Lord to our supplication and prayer that we which acknowledge our selues guilty of iniquitie may be deliuered by the intercession of Thomas thy blessed Martyr and Bishop Amen This Collect was likewise vsed by the Couent of S. Albons and other Religious Votaries vpon the day of his martyrdome Robert the first Earle of Dreux and the fourth sonne of Lewis the grosse King of France laid the foundation of a Collegiate Church to the honour of this supposed holy Martyr called S. Thomas du Louure in Paris the reuenues whereof were augmented by his wife Agnes Countesse of Bray and confirmed by the Bull of Clement the third Bishop of Rome in these termes Clemens Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei Dilectis filijs Canonicis Ecclesie sancti Thome de Louurea salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Iustis peâentsum desiderijs facilem nos conuenit prebere consensum et vota que à rationis tramite non discordant effâctu prosequente complere Ea propter dilecti in Domino silij precibus inclinati nobilis femine Comitisse Braye possessiones et redditus à Roberto Comiâe quondam marito suo ab ipsa et liberis eius in âlecmosynam Ecclesie vestre conâessos Scilicet Curiam in qua erant edificata stabula vt ibi construeretur
non est mihi crede tacendum Anglorum Primas sub primo culmine primas Qui tennit sedes melius dum sperat in edes Hunc Rex compellit eum de sede repellit Dum Simon Rome supplantat federa Thome Hic Thomas natus Comitis fuit intitulatus Clericus aptatus Doctor de iure creatus Legibus ornatus facundus moringeratus Cam Christo gratus in plebe que magnisicatus O quam preclarus tam purus immaculatus Ad Regale latus tandem fuit illaqueatus Tramite subtili latitans plus vulpe senili Rex studet in sine Thomam prostrare ruine De tribus audistis cum Rex scelus intulit istis Presul adiutor fuit hijs quodammodo tutor Non contra legem sed ab ira flectere Regem Nomine pastoris temptauerat omnibus horis Semper erat talis restat dum spes aliqualis Sicanira mortem poterat saluasse cohortem Rex ââlit hoc triste quod Cancellarius iste Tempore quo stabat hos tres constanter amabat Sic procurator pius extitit Mediator Cartas quod Regis habuerunt munere legis Pontificis more summi pro Regis amore Sic pacem mittit mortis gladiumque remittit Hec ita fecisset pactum si Rex tenuisset Sed que iurauit hodie cras verba negauit Cernite pro quali culpa magis in speciali Pontiâici tali sine causa materiali Rex fuit iratus sed altera causa reatus Est plus secreta tunc Rome quando moneta Simonis ex parte Papam concludit in aâtâ Ecce per has causas sub Regis pectore clausas Hec scelus obiecit Thome qui nil male secit Regis fautores super hoc tunc anteriores Fraudibus obtentum concludunt Parliamentum Sic de finali Rex pondere iudiciali Exilio demit Thomam nee amore redemit Sic Pater absque pare quem Rex spoliauit auare Partes ignotas tunc querit habere remotas Sic pius Antistes casus pro tempore tristes Sustinet curam sperat reuocare futuram Christus eum ducat saluet que salute reducat Si vt vterque status sit ei cum laude beatus Vpon his restauration to this his Bishopricke by Henry the fourth Duke of Lancaster the same Author thus writes Iustos laudauit iniustos vituperauit Hos confirmauit hos deprimit hos releuauis Regni primatem crudelem per feritatem Quem Rex explantat Dux ex pietate replantat Henry Chichley Bishop of this See lies here on the North side of the Presbitery in a Tombe built by himselfe in his life time hee was borne at Highamâerrys in Northamptonshire where he began the foundation of a goodly Colledge and an Hospitall which were finished by his two brethren his Executours Hee was brought vp in New Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Law and where he founded two Colledges one called Bernard Colledge renewed by Sir Thomas White and named Saint Iohns Colledge and all Soules Colledge which yet continueth in the same estate he left it one of the fairest in that Vniuersitie Hee was employed much in embassages by King Henry the fourth who preferred him to the Bishopricke of Saint Dauids where he sate fiue yeares and was then translated hither by his sonne King Henry the fifth He was a man happie enioying alwayes his Princes fauour wealth honour and all kinde of prosperity many yeares wise in gouerning his See worthily bountifull in bestowing his goods to the behoofe of the common-wealth And lastly stout and seuere in due administration of iustice When hee had gouerned this Sec. 29. yeares a longer time then euer any did in fiue hundred yeares before him he died April 12. Ann. 1443. Vpon whose Monument I finde this Epitaph Hic iacet Hen Chicheley L. Doctor quondam Cancellarius Sarum âui anno 7. Hen. 4. Regis ad Gregorium Papam 12. in Ambassiata transmissus in Ciuitate Senensi per manus eiusdem Pape in Episcopum Meneuensâm consecratus est Hic etiam Henricus anno 2. Hen. 5. Regis in hac sancta Ecclesia in Archiepiscopum postulatus à Ioanne Papa 23. ad eandem translatus qui obijâ anno Dom. 1443. Mensââ Apr. deâ 12. Cetus sanctorâm ãâ¦ã iste precetur Vt Deus ipsorum merâââs ââbâ propictetur I finde another more vnlearned Epitaph of him by which he is but little honoured being such an especiall furtherer of learning Pauper eram natus post Primas hic ââeuatus âam sum prostratus vermiâââ ãâã paraius Ecce meum tumulum M. CCCC.XLIII Here lies interred in the Martyrdome an Archbishop very noble and no lesse learned one of the honourable familie of the Staffords sonne saith the Catalogue of Bishops vnto the Earle of Stafford but I finde no such thing in all the Catalogues of Honour a man much fauoured by King Henry the fifth wo preferred him first to the Deanrie of Wells gaue him a Prebend in the Church of Salisbury made him one of his priuie Councell and in the end Treasurer of England And then although this renowned King was taken away by vntimely death yet hee still went forward in the way of promotion and obtained the Bishopricke of Bath and Welles which with great wisedome hee gouerned eighteene yeares from whence he was remoued to this of Canterbury in which he sate almost nine yeares and in the meane time was made Lord Chancellour of England which office hee held eighteene yeares which you shall hardly finde any other man to haue done vntill waxing wearie of so painfull a place he voluntarily resigned it ouer into the Kings hands And about three yeares after that died at Maidstone Iuly 6. Ann. 1452. Vpon a flat marble stone ouer him I finde this consabulatorie Epitaph Quis fuit enuclees quem celas saxeâ moles Stafford Antistes fuerat dictusque Iohannes Qua sedit sede marmor queso simul ede Pridem Bathonie Regni totius inde Primas egregius Pro presule funde precatus Aureolam gratus huic det de Virgine natus Much more may be read of this Bishop in the booke called Antiquitates Britannicae penned by Mathew Parker Archbishop of this place and in the Catalogue of Bishops by Francis Godwin Bishop of Hereford as also in the Catalogues of the Lords Chancellours and Treasurers of England collected by Francis Thinne In a decent Monument on the South side of the Presbitery Iohn Kempe Archbishop of this See lieth interred who was borne at Wye in this County of Kent brought vp at Oxford in Merton Colledge where hee proceeded Doctor of Law Hee was made first Archdeacon of Durham then Deane of the Arches and Vicar generall vnto the Archbishop Stafford Not long after he was aduanced to the Bishopricke of Rochester remoued thence to Chichester from Chichester to London from London to Yorke from Yorke to Canterbury he was first Cardinall of the title of Saint Balbine
arriuall here in England and was married to king Ethelbert with these conditions made by her parents That it should be lawfull for her to keepe inuiolable the rites of her Religion and enioy the presence and instructions of her learned Bishop Luitharde whom they appointed to assist and helpe her in matters of her faith She was a woman of vertuous and holy inclination spending much of her time in prayer almes-deeds and other workes of charitie frequenting daily her Oratorie within Saint Martins a Church built in former times by the beleeuing Romanes wherein her reuerend assistant Luitardus vsed also to instruct and exhort the people to newnesse of life and Religion so that by her example and his preaching many of the Kentish Paynims were brought in to beleeue the glad tydings of the Gospell These proceedings with his wiues perswasions wrought so effectually with good king Ethelbert that his heart was softned and his eares already opened to receiue and embrace the doctrine of S. Austine Whereupon some do gather that the happinesse of his and his Subiects conuersion may as well be attributed to Berta and her French attendants as to Austine and his fellow-disciples Of which an old namelesse Rimer very ancient Whan Ethilbert hadde regned bot a yer Sent Awstyn hym to Cristen feyth conuert Thrughe goddys grase as clerly dyd apere Who hadde to wyffe Berta that was advert To Cristen feyth in Fraunce afore convert That helpt therto wyth all hur dylygens As Awstyn dyd wythe all benyvolens She was likewise an earnest parswader and a pertaker with her husband Ethelbert in and for the propagating and erecting of Religion and religious structures as I obserue out of the same Authour Kynge Ethilbert wythe ryall gret expens Gret Mynsters made of hyghe reuyrens In Rochestre and eke in Canterbery For Bysschoppys sees that wer ful necessary Atte London eke sent Pawles edyfyed In whyche so then shuld be the Bysschoppys Se Thus hely Câyrch tha Pâyns ther fortyfyed Wythe alle kynde thynge that was necessary For sustenauns of the Christyante So dydde hys wyff hur part wythe all hur myght To fortefy the cristen in thâyr ryght This blessed Queene died before her husband neare vnto whom he desired to be buried ann 622. for whom this Distich was composed Moribus ornata iacet hic Regina beata Berta Deo grata fuit ac homini peramata Here sometime lay the body of Edbald entombed king of Kent the sonne and heire of the before named Ethelbert by his Queene Berta who began his raigne as wickedly as his father ended his worthily for hee refused to entertaine the doctrine of Christ and polluted himselfe by the marriage of his mother in law his owne fathers second wife but at length being conuerted by Archbishop Lawrence from his idolatrie and incestuous matrimonie hee endeuoured by all meanes possible to propagate and maintaine the state of the Gospell The king of Kent Edbald his furst wyf forsoke And held hym to hys Christendom yat he furst toke And built a Chappell within this Monasterie in honour of Mary the blessed mother of God endowing it with sufficient maintenance wherein after the continuance of 24. yeares raigne hee was buried ann 640. His wife Emma the daughter of Theodebert king of Lorraine was buryed by him Here lieth Ercombert the sonne of the said Edbald king of Kent a religious king who suppressed all the Temples of the heathen Idols and commanded the fast of Lent to be obserued His wife Sexburgh daughter of Anna king of the East Angles was layed by him This King hauing raigned foure and twentie yeares and odde monethes finished his dayes ann 664. Egbert succeeded his father Ercombert and if the murther of his two cosin-Germans had not much blemished his peaceable gouernment he might well haue holden place with the worthiest of the Kentish kings He died in the tenth yeare of his raigne anno 673. and was buried here by his predecessours And so in like manner this Church was honoured with the sepulchres of Lothaire Withred Edelbert and other Kentish kings and also with the shrines of many English Saints whose sacred Reliques as they were then esteemed brought both great veââration and bencht to this religâouâ Structure The first man of eminencie that I finde to haue bâene eâshrined in this Abbey was Saint Augustine the first Archbishop of this See of Canterbury a Romane borre and a Monke of Saint Benets order who with others was sent hither out of Italie by Gregory the great Pope of Rome to preach the word of God to this our English nation hee with his fellowes to the number of fourty persons landed in the Isle of Tenet within this County where they were shortly after visited of king Ethelbert But the story is frequent and I shall be often touching vpon it by the way and hiâ Legend is too long for my intended short discourse therefore I hope the Reader will rest contented with this abbreuiation for both Whils Ethelbert was reignyng kyng of Kent Sainct Austin sent by Gregory of R. bishop Landed in Tenet with Clerkes of his assent And many Monkes to teache the saith I hope That clothed were vnder a blacke cope Whiche in Procession with crosses and Bells came The Latinies syngyng in Iesus his name In the yere of Chryst his incarnacion Fiue hundreth fourescore and sixtene King Ethelbert had in his dominacion Alâ Kent throughout with greate ioy as was seen Were baptised then in holy water clene To whome Gregory sent Mellito and Iusto With other Clerkes and Doctors many mo Gregory him made Archbishop of Canterbury Of all Englande hiest then Primate And had the Paule with hiest legacye By Gregory sent to him and ordinate Fro London then thus was that tyme translate To Canterbury the sea Metropolitan And London sette as for his suffrigan Saynt Augustine then with helpe of Ethelbert Saynt Augustines made and Christes Church also That Christes Church hight as it was adverte And sacred so by hym and halowed tho For the chiefe Sea Metropolitan so Of all England by Gregory ordinate And Saynt Augustine of all England Primate This man was of an exceeding tall stature well fauoured of a very amiable countenance but of his learning I finde little worthy of remembrance sine doctrina sana docebat saith one ac sine perceptibili lingua ignotae praedicabat genti He died the 26. of May in the thirteenth yeare of his first entrance into England and was buried first without doores neare to the Church of this Monastery because the Church was not finished and afterwards his body was remoued into the North Porch of the said Church in which place fiue of his Successours were likewise interred Vpon the Tombe of this Austine this Epitaph was insculped in Latine thus translated Here resteth the body of Augustine the first Archbishop of Canterbury that was sent into this Land by Saint
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 shât vp with âon 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 calâed Lâurigeâ thus conse ãâ¦ã ceeded the said Augustine being archbishop ãâ¦ã exhortation by works of charitie and ãâ¦ã and by ãâ¦ã a godly life to continue and encrease the number of Christian ãâã And like a true Pastour and Prelate solicitously careâ not ânely ãâã the Church of the Englishmen but also for the old inhabitants of ãâã of Scotland and Ireland amongst whom the sparkles of Christianitie were alreadie kindled The foundations of this Church being now well ãâã strongly layed the maine thing that thwarted his religious designes ãâã that Edbald king of Kent would not with all his godlâ exhortaââons ãâã ing a vitious young man be brought from his Paganisme to beleeue in the onely euerliuing God And that his people following the example oâ ãâã king returned âikewise to the filthie vomit of their abhominable Idolaâââe 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 desâperate hatred of him and of his Religion determined to depart the kingdome to follow Bishop Iusto and âellite 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 Melâte 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 ây sânne Among the woââes to ravyshe and to take Thou hast forgett how I for gods sake Sufferd beâyng pryson and dethe at end For hys servânds 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 aâyte To teche the feythe and voyd Idolatry To baptyse eke as was expedyeât 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 exhortaâiue 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
was buried here in the Church by his predecessour To whose memory this Epitaph was cut vpon the stone coffin Pontificis glebe Taâwini Cantia prebe Thura decus laudes cuius dogmate gandes Huâus doctrina carnisti menâe ferina Et per cuâ Christi peâ tare iugum dedicisâi Here sometime lay interred the body of Nothelme Archbishop who for that he well and wisely gouerned his See was called Noble helme ãâã was borne in London and was one of the Priests of Saint Pauls a great louer of venerable antiquitie he was and one to whom Bede acknowledgâth himselfe to be much beholding for diuers matters which vpon his ââport he inserted into his Ecclesiasticall History He died October 17. An. 74â His Epitaph was after this manner Hac scrobe Nothelmus iacet Archiepiscopus almus Cuius vita bono non est indigna patrono Cunctis iste bonus par in bonitate Patronus Protegit hic iustos vigili munimine Custos Cutbert Archbishop of Canterbury not long before this time had procured of king Eadbert that the bodies of all the Archbishops which were to succeed should not bee buried at Saint Augustines as they had beene heretofore but at Christ-Church and so according to his desire the âuneralls of himselfe and his successour Bregwin were there solemnised and their bodies therein interred The Monkes of Saint Austins tooke the matter hainously to haue the buriall of their Archbishops discontinued and began to make complaint vnto the Pope But Christ-Church men were so farre from fearing the Pope for the same Pope had confirmed their priuiledges but a little before at the sute of Bregwin that they chose one Lambert or Iainbert Abbot of Saint Augustines for their Archbishop assuring themselues he would be now as earnest a defender of their liberties as heretofore he had beene an oppugner in the behalfe of Saint Augustines But they found it otherwise for perceiuing his end to approach he tooke order to be buried in Sâânt ãâã but he was the last of all the Archbishops there in ãâ¦ã Archbishop â7 yeares and liued ninetie foure his funeralls were ãâ¦ã pompe and celebritie and his body honourablie entombed here in ãâã Chapter-house Vpon which this Epitaph was engrauen Gemma Sacerdotum ãâ¦ã remotum Clauditur hac fossa ãâ¦ã âssa Sub hac molecinis ãâ¦ã âinis Incola nunc celi populo ãâã âideli I finde some Epitaphs to the memory of sundrie Abbots of this Monastery and first of the first Abbot one Peter a Priest who was chosen to this place by Saint Augustine as I haue said before This man was sent Legat into France by king Ethelbert and in his returne for England was drowned in a Crecke called Amflete his body was taken vp and buried after a homely manner of the inhabitants of that countrey yet afterwards remoued from thence and honourably interred in the Towâe of Bulleyâe in a place of Saint Maries Church conuenient for so worthy a person For whom a Monument was erected within this Abbey bearing this Inscription Quem notat hunc metrum meritis nomine Petrum Abbas egregius primus Laris extitit huius Dum semel hic transit mare ventus in vrbe remansit Bolonia celebris virtutibus est iâi crebris He was drowned about the yeare 614. My old Anonimall Manuscrip speakes of this first Abbot to the like effect Than Austyn mad Peter the cheffe Prelat Of an Abbey now callyd seynt Ausâyns In Canterbery of whiche denominat He was Abbot as sent Bede dyffyns Who aftar as he to Fraunce was sent fro thens On embassyat was drownyd on the se And beryed at Boleyne wyth solempnite Whar grete vertue God for hym shewyth Full ofte as ther playnly ys recordyd And to thys dey yet alwey renewyth So hoâe he was wythe Crist myserecordyd And wyth his seynts trewly euer concordyd As seyât Bede seythe ryght in his dyaloge Amonge the seynts is put in Cathologe Iohn a monke of this house and the third man of note which came ouer with Austin was elected Abbot of this house and receiued benediction at the hands of Archbishop Laurence He died Ann. 618. and was buried here in our Ladies Chappell and this was his Epitaph Omnibus est annis pietas recitanda Iohannis Culmine celsa nimis pâtribusque simillima primis Vir probus mitis fuââ hic si fare velitis Integer mundus sapâens Abbasque secundus Ruffinian was here interred by his predecessour Iohn who dyed Ann. 626. Pausa patris sani patet istec Ruffiniani Abbatis terni quo frenditur hostis Auerni Gratiosus succeeded Ruffinian in his holy gouernment a man gracious saith mine Author with God and all good men And so ended his worldly pilgrimage Ann. 640. Hic Abbas quartus Gratiosus contulit artus Cuius adest pausa miti spiramine clausa Petronius was sacred to this Ecclesiasticall dignitie by Archbishop Honorius Ann. 640. and died Ann. 654. Abbas Petronius bonitatis odore refertus Subiectos docuit vitiorum sorde pianit Nathaniel vir probitate decoratus and absolute in all perfections was consecrated Abbot here in his owne Church by Archbishop Deus-dedit which he laudably gouerned thirteene yeares and died Ann. 667. Spiritus in celis Abbatis Nathanielis Nos faciat memores Patres memorare vâlitis Adrian borne in Africa Abbot first of the Monastery of Niridia neare vnto Naples a man wondrous well learned in the holy Scriptures throughly instructed both in Monasticall discipline and Ecclesiasticall gouernment very skilfull of the Greeke and Latine tongues and withall very expert in the liberall Sciences of Astronomie and Musicke who together with âheodore brought first of all in the tunes and notes of singing in the Church which for a little time was onely vsed and knowne here in Kent but afterwards learned and practised through all the Churches of England by the meanes of reuerend Bishop Wilfride who brought from Kent Iames and Stephen two Musitians the first Masters of song in the Churches of the kingdome of Northumberland But to descend to more particulars The Archbishopricke of Canterbury was offered to this Adrian by Vitâllâam the Pope that excellent Musitian who wrote the Ecclesiasticall Canon and first brought singing and Organs into the Church which hee refused to vndertake preferring a Monke of his acquaintance namely Theodore spoken of before to the same place in whose companie hee trauelled into England and had the companie and helpe of this Adrian in all things hee went about to effect within England Hee was consecrated Abbot of this Monastery by the said Theodore in the gouernment of which he continued nine and thirtie yeares In which time hee obtained many priuiledges of Theodatus the Pope for his Abbey as also of Oswin king of the Deirians He dyed honae memoriae senex a reuerend old man of good and perfect remembrance ann 708. and was honourablie
the Chapter house with this Epitaph vpon his Monument En paruus Abbas hic parua clauditur arca In gestis magnus maior nec erat Patriarcha Willelmus Druleg illustri dignus honore Conuentum claustri qui multo rexit amore Pro dilectoris anima tui dulciter ora Sancti Augustini conuentus qualibet hora. I finde little or indeed nothing at all of such Abbots as succeeded little Drulege sauing their names thus recorded Iohn Deueniche the 57. Thomas Colwell 58. Michaell Peckham 59. William Wâld 60. Thomas Hunden 61. Marcellus Dandlyon 62. Iohn Hawlherst 63. George Pensherst 64. Iacob Seuenoke 65. William Selling 66. Iohn Dunster 67. Iohn Dygon 68. Thomas Hampton 69. and Iohn Essex 70. So that by this account there hath beene more Archbishops of Christ-Church then Abbots of Saint Austins by the number of three reckoning those sixe Bishops which haue beene since the dissolution The Abbot of this house was euer a Baron of the Parliament In S. Anns Chappell within the Church of this Monastery lay sometime buried the body of Iulian the daughter and heire of Sir Thomas Lâyborne knight The widow saith Vincent of Iohn Lord Hastings of Aburgaueny and mother of Lawrence Hasting Earle of Pembroke and after that wife of William de Clinton Earle of Huntington and Lord high Admirall of England who dyed about the yeare 1350. But of all these and thousands more here interred whose names I cannot learne not one bone at this time lies neare another nor one stone almost of the whole fabricke stands vpon another therefore I will take my leaue of this Abbey with these words of a late writer This Monasterie saith he as all the rest did came to her fatall period in the dayes of king Henry the eight whose vncouered walls stood so long languishing in time and stormes of weather that daily increased the aspect of her ruines till now lastly they are made subiect to other publicke vses and the whole tract of that most goodly foundation in the same place no where appearing Onely Ethelberts Tower in memorie and honour of the man as yet hath escaped the verdict and sentence of destruction whose beauty though much de faced and ouerworne will witnesse to succeeding ages the magnificence of the whole when all stood compleate in their glory together The reuenues yearely of this house were in the Exchequer 1412. l. 4. s. 7. d. ob q. it was surrendred 4. Decemb. 29. H. 8. At Harbaldowne not farre from this Monastery Archbishop Lanârank built an Hospâtall and dedicated the same to the honour of Saint Iohn to the which he annexed a Priorie of blacke Canons valued both together at the dissolution to 266. l. 4 s. 5. d. ob of yearely reuenue it was ordained for the lame and diseased which as yet is not altogether suppressed although much abated as I heare of her annuall possessions In which house was reserued the vpper leather of an old shoe which had beene worne as they gaue it out by Saint Thomas Becket this shoe as a sacred Relique was offered to all passengers to kisse faire set in copper and christall Hackington commonly called S. Stephens by Cant. This Church in former times was honoured with the sepulture of Lora or Lorâatta Countesse of Leicester daughter of William Lord Brews of Brember in Suffex and wife of Robert de Beâlemont surnamed Fitzpârnell Earle of Leicester and Lord high Steward of England a most honourable Lady who hauing abandoned all worldly pleasures sequestred her selfe wholly from the world to serue God deuoutly in this place who dyed about the yeare 1219. The manor and Towne of Elham was her inheritance Hic iacet Dominus Iohannes Gower nuper Vicarius istius Ecclesie qui obijt Decemb. 27. 1457. Cuius anââe Hic iacet Dominus Iohannes ââne quondam Vicarius istius Ecclesie qui obijt 8. Aug. 1457. Cuius anime pââpittetur altissimus Sir Christopher Hales and Sir Roger Manwood lie here fairely entomâed of whom hereafter according to my method But I must not let passe seuen almes houses here built by the said Sir Roger Manwood chiefe Baron of the Exchequer ann 1573. for aged honest poore folkes which he endowed with a yearely allowance of foure pounds in money bread and fewell for euery one of those almes-men It was called S. Stephens fâr that the image of Saint Stephen standing where the garden now is belonging to Sir Manwoods great house was sought vnto by many pilgrimes Reculuer At the vpper end of the South isle in this Church I saw a Monument of an antique forme mounted with two spires Wherein as the Inhabitants haue it by tradition the body of one Ethelbert a Saxon king who had his pallace royall here in Reculuer lieth entombed and the Anuals of Canterbury affirme as much And true it is that Ethelbert the first and first Christian king built here a Princely mansion for himselfe and his successours wherein diuers of the Kentish kings sometimes kept their courtly residence But whether he be this Ethelbert the second or Ethelbert surnamed Pren that lieth here interred it is not much materiall for they both dyed without any memorable act either of themselues or their kingdomes affaires and so dyed Cuthred and Baldred their next successours and the last kings of Kent Which kingdome erected by Hengist the yeare of mans happinesse 455. continued her gouernment 372. and ended her glory in the yeare 827. being made a Prouince to the West-saxons Egbert or Egbright the seuenth king of Kent in succession after Hengist gaue to one Bassa an English Saxon some land here in Reculuer whereupon he built him a Minster or a Monastery whereof Brightwald afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury was the first Abbot so that of this man and the Minster the poore Townes men may make great vaunts Here lyeth ..... Sandwey Esquire and âoane his wife who dyed 1437. Hen. sex 16. Hic iacet Dominus Thomas .... qui ob ..... Vos qui transitis Thomam deslere velitis Per me nunc scitis quid prodest gloria ditis Minster in the Isle of Tenet Here in this Church lyeth a Lady entombed in a Monument vpreared after a strange fashion inscribed with a Saxon-like character Ici gist Edile de Shornerepust Dame del espire I thinke her name was rather Thorne then Shorne one letter being mistaken for another in the engrauing My reason is this for that in this Parish there is a place called Thorne Neare vnto this Monument lie three flat Tombe-stones vnder which as I coniecture by the effigies vpon them three vailed Nunnes of the Saxon Nobilitie and of S. Mildreds Monasterie lye interred but the Inscriptions are gone Which Monasterie was founded vpon this occasion Egbert king of Kent aspiring to the Crowne by the traiterous murder of his two young Nephewes Ethelred and Ethelbert to pacifie Domneua sister to the said murdered Princes
the seuenth was taken out of his house and carried into France from whence by ransome he freed himselfe Chart Magna Betweene the Chancell and the North Chappell of this Church is an Altar-Tombe round about the verge of which is engrauen this Epitaph following in brasse and betwixt euery word the figure of a well alluding to the name of the parties there vnderneath interred Anime Willelmi de Goldwelle Auicie vxoris sue per miserecordiam Dei in pace requiescant Qui quidem Willelmus septimo die mensis Maij dicta Avicia octauo die Aprilis Litera Dominicalis B. ab hac luce migrarunt Ann. Domini M. CCCC.LXXXV Quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen Iames Goldwell of this family Bishop of Norwich was a repairer of this Church as appeares by this broken Inscription in the top crosse window ..... Magistro Iacobo Goldwelle ..... Ecclesie sancti Pauli London qui hoc opus repara ...... And in the East window it is thus to be read in the glasse Memoriale reuerendi patris Domini Iacobi Goldwell Episcopi Norwicen In a North window of the North Chappell haue beene sixteene pourtraitures of men in glasse all kneeling whereof most remaine whose names are as followeth Iohannes Webbe Iohannes Hosewyf Thomas Wred Iohannes Turlepyn Willelmus Malemayne Iohannes Litihey Iohannes Bockon Iohannes Chillinton Iohannes Atte Iohannes Yardherst .......... In midst of whom as the Priests then are Dominus Richardus Medhurst and Dominus Walterus Wilcock Now as it goes by tradition from the father to the sonne these were the builders of this Church In the middest of the East-window in the South Chappell of this Church is the picture of the foresaid Bishop Goldwell kneeling and in euerie quarry a golden well or fountaine his Rebus or Name deuise and crosse the window inscribed ..... Iacobo Goldwelle Episcopo Norwicen qui ..... opus fundauit Ann. Christi M. CCCC.LXXVII whereby it appeares that this Bishop was Founder of this Chappell The corner stone of the foundation of this Chappell on the outside is made like a Graue-stone with a Crosse cut thereupon Orate pro anima Iohannis Toke Armigeri nuper de Goddington istius paroch Cuius corpus iacet hic tumulatum ac pro animabus Margarete et Anne vxorum suarum Que quidem Margareta filia fuit naturalis dum vixit Iohannis Walworth nuper in Comitatu Suff. dicta Anna filia etiam naturalis Iohannis Engeham Armigeri nuper de Syngleton istus paroch Qui vero Iohannes Toke obijt vicesimo die Maij Ann. Dom. M. CCCCC.XIII Quorum animabus propitietur Deus Altissimus Hic iacent Thomas Twesden generosus qui obijt 8. die Decembris Ann. Dom. 1500. et Benedicta vxor eius Quorum animabus propitietur Deus Sancta Trinitas Deus miserere nobis Hic iacet Willelmus Sharpe et eius quinque consortes qui Willelmus obijt 29. die Septemb. Ann. Dom. 1499. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Seuington Hic iacet Margareta Barry Quondam vxor Edwardi Barry Armiger Que quidem Margareta obijt ..... mensis .... Ann. 1400. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Hic iacet Ioanna Barry quondam vxor Willelmi Barry militis Pater de celis Deus miserere nobis Fili Redemptor mundi Deus miserere nobis Spiritus Sancte Deus miserere nobis Sancta Trinitas vnus Deus miserere nobis Orate pro anima Iohannis Barry militis Orate pro anima Isabelle quondam vxor Willelmi Barry Militis Pater de celis As before about the verge of this and the other Grauestone Here is also a Monument whereupon a man armed is pourtraied the Inscription whereof is altogether perished which in all likelihood was made to the memory of Sir William Barry knight the husband of the fore-remembred Isabell. At the lower end of the Church and neare to the Bellfree lyeth the body of one of these Barryes pourtraied in compleat armour about the Verge of his Monument this Inscription Hic iacet Vmfridus Barre Ar. Quondam Dominus istius ville et Patronus istius Ecclesie Qui obiit in die Sancte Marie Magdalene An. Dom. 1431. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Camden in his Chorographicall description of Ireland and in the County of Corke writes greatly to the honour of this surname of Barry These are his words as followeth Beneath Corke saith he the riuer parting in twaine enuironeth a large and very pleasant Island ouer against the principall dwelling house of that most ancient and noble family of the Barries which thereupon is called Barry Court For that family is deriued from Robert de Barry an English man a personage of great worth and renowned who notwithstanding chose rather among the first to be chiefe indeed then to seeme chiefe who in the winning of Ireland receiued wounds and hurt and the first man he was in Ireland that manned and brought the Hawke to hand His posterity by their long approued loyaltie and martiall prowesse deserued to receiue of the kings of England first the title of Baron Barry afterwards of Vicount Butiphant and for their great lands and wealth gat among the people the surname of Barry More that is Barry the Great ..... Iohannes Fynch Armiger Qui obiit 19. die Mensis Maij Ann. Dom 1442. Cuius This I conceiue to be some younger branch of the Nobly descended family of the Finches of whom there is mention made among the Monuments in Braborne Church before where they are stiled Herbert vel Finch not vnaptly thereby continuing the memory of their originall name and ancestry as being lineally descended from Hen. Fuz-Herbert Chamberlaine to king Henry the first who married the daughter and heire to Sir Robert Corbert and had issue by her a sonne named Herbert who likewise had issue a sonne named Herbert Fitz-Herbert Who by his first wife Luce daughter and coheire of Milo Earle of Hereford and high Constable of England had issue a sonne named Peter Fitz Herbert from whom the Herberts Earles of Penbrooke are descended and by Matilda his second wife after his death re-married to the Lord Columbarij he had issue Mathew Fitz-Herbert who was one of the Magnates or Barons at the making of Magna Charta and was likewise one of those potent Noblemen for the king that made the accord betweene king Iohn and the Barons at Runnyng Mead betweene Windsore and Stanes his sonne likewise called Herbert Fitz Mathew was the fourth Baron that is mentioned in the Rowl of the Parliament at Tewkesbury The change of this name Finch seemeth to haue beene about the latter end of king Hen. the third at which time many other families suffered like alteration as appeareth by a supersedeas Ann. 8. E. 2. therein mentioning that Herbertus Filius Herberti dicti Finch was a Ward 28. E. primi and so could not personally serue with the king in his warres in Scotland and
Primates of all Britaine Legates to the Pope and as Vrbane the second said The Patriarkes as it were of another world And thus the Archbishops of Canterbury by the fauour which Austin had with Gregory the Great by the power of Lanfranke and by the industrie of Anselme were much exalted but how much that was to the grieuous displeasure and pining enuie of the Archbishops of Yorke you shall perceiue by that which followeth King Henry the first kept vpon a time his stately Christmas at Windsore where the manner of our kings then being at certaine solemne times to weare their Crownes Thurstine of Yorke hauing his Crosse borne vp before him offered to set the Crowne vpon the kings head But William of Canterbury withstood it stoutly and so preuailed by the fauour of the King and the helpe of the standers by that Thurstine was not onely disappointed of his purpose but he and his Crosse also thrust quite out of the doores William of Yorke the next in succession after Thurstine both in the See and Quarrell perceiuing that the force of his Predecessour preuailed nothing attempted by his owne humble meanes first made to the king and after to the Pope to winne the Coronation of king Henry the second from Theobald the next Archbishop of Canterbury But when he had receiued repulse in that sort of suite also and found no way left to make auengement vpon his enemy he returned home all wroth and as it was suspected wreaked the anger vpon himselfe After this another hurly burly hapned in a Synode assembled at Westminster in the time of King Henry the second before Cardinall Hugo Pope Alexanders Legate betweene Richard and Roger then Archbishops of these two Sees vpon occasion that Roger of Yorke comming of purpose as it should seeme first to the assembly had taken vp the place on the right hand of the Cardinall Which when Richard of Canterbury had espied hee refused to sit downe in the second roome complaining greatly of this preiudice done to his See Whereupon after sundrie replyes of speech the weaker in disputation after the manner of Schoole-boyes in the streets descended from hote words to hastie blowes in which encounter the Archbishop of Canterbury through the multitude of his attendants obtained the better So that he not onely plucked the other out of his place and all to rent his casule Chimer and Rochet but also disturbed the holy Synode therewithall in such wise that the Cardinall for feare betooke him to his feete the company departed their businesse vndone and the Bishops themselues moued suite at Rome for the finishing of their controuersie By these and such other successes on the one side the Bishops of Canterbury following tooke such courage that from thenceforth they would not permit the Bishops of Yorke to beare vp the Crosse either in their presence or Prouince And on the other side the Bishops of Yorke conceiued such griefe of heart disdaine and offence that from time to time they spared no occasion to attempt both the one and the other Whereupon in the time of a Parliament holden at London in the raigne of King Henry the third Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury interdicted the Londiners because they had suffered the Bishop of Yorke to beare vp his Crosse whiles he was in the Citie And much adoe there was within a few yeares after betweene Robert Kilwarby of Canterby and William Giffard of Yorke because he of Yorke aduanced his Crosse as hee passed through Kent towards the generall Councell The like happened also at two other seuerall times betweene Frier Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury and William Wickwane and Iohn de Roma Archbishops of Yorke in the dayes of King Edward the first At the length the matter being yet once more set on foote betweene Simon Islip the Archbishop of this Prouince and his aduersarie the incumbent of Yorke for that time King Edward the third in whose raigne that variance was reuiued resumed the matter into his owne hand and made a finall composition betweene them The which hee published vnder his broade Seale to this effect First that each of them should freely and without impeachment of the other beare vp his Crosse in the others Prouince but yet so that he of Yorke and his Successours for euer in signe of subiection should within two moneths after their inthronization either bring or send to Canterbury the image of an Archbishop bearing a Crosse or some other Iewell wrought in fine gold to the value of fourty pounds and offer it openly there vpon Saint Thomas Beckets Shryne then that in all Synodes of the Clergie and assemblies where the King should happen to bee present hee of Canterbury should haue the right hand and the other the left Finally that in broad streets and high-wayes their Crosse-bearers should go together but that in narrow lanes and in the entries of doores and gates the Crosier of Canterbury should go before and the other follow and come behinde Thus as you see the Bishops of Canterbury euermore preuailing by fauour or other meanes they of Yorke were driuen in the end to giue ouer in the plaine field Here endeth the Diocesse of Canterbury ANCIENT FVNERALL MONVMENTS WITHIN THE Diocesse of ROCHESTER THis Bishopricke is so ouershadowed by the nearnesse and greatnesse of the See of Canterbury that it lookes but like a good Benefice for one of his Graces Chaplaines yet for antiquitie and dignitie of a long succession of reuerend Lord Bishops it may equally compare with its neighbour of Canterbury For they had both one Founder to wit Ethelbert king of Kent who built this Church to the honour of Saint Andrew and endowed it with certaine lands which he called Priestfield in token that Priests should bee sustained therewithall Vnto which Iustus a Romane of whom before was consecrated Bishop by Saint Augustine Ethelbert assenting thereto by his presence Austin then made Clerke full well grounded Iusto that hight of Rochester full well bounded The Bishop then to preache and helpe Austin And to baptise the folke by his doctrine This Citie pent within so straight a roome was called in the time of the Saxon Kings the Kentishmens Castle and at this day shee and her little Diocesse may make their vaunt of their impregnable fortification by the Name Royall the maine defence of Britaines great Monarchie of the prowesse of their ancient Inhabitants of the pleasant scituation of so many countrey townes and of the profits arising from the fruitfulnesse of the soile Of all which reade if you please this Hexasticon Vrbs antiqua ferox bella est Rocestria situ Arx finitimis imperiosa locis Hic Deus è ligno fabricauit maenia firma Quae sibi quaeque suis sunt modo tuta salus Laeta racemiferos passimque per oppida colles Continet ac culti iugera multa Soli. This Diocesse for the most part is seuered from that of Canterbury by the riuer of Medway it consists onely of
in whose commendations Nicholas Harpsfeld sometime Archdeacon of Canterbury thus writeth I will vse his owne language Tobias a Brithwaldo Archiepiscopo consecratus vir ampliore honoratiore sede si locus hominem et homo locum non commendaret dignissimus qui Theodori Adriani discipulus fuit Quantum vero sub his praeceptoribus profecerit luculenter ostendit Beda qui cum omnium humanarum diuinarumque rerum scientissimum fuisse Latinam Graecamque linguam tam accurate atque maternam calluisse affirmat Hee dyed about the yeare 726. Here lyeth interred Gundulphus a Norman by birth the thirtieth Bishop of Rochester a man not greatly learned but very wise and industrious for he handled the matter so as hee procured not onely his Church to be new built but also the reuenues to be encreased He recouered diuers lands and possessions encroched vpon and taken away in former times by Odo Earle of Kent And besides diuers summes of money which hee contributed he bought a certaine Mannor called Heddre and gaue it to this his owne Church In all these matters hee was much helped by Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury who caused him to take into his Church not secular Priests as before had beene accustomed but Monkes Benedictines Gundulph himselfe being a Monke of that order vpon his first admittance to this See he found onely sixe secular Priests in the Church who were endowed scarcely with sufficient meanes to liue according to their place and callings Before his death he encreased his Church-reuenues to that height that it did and was able to maintaine fifty Monkes some say threescore The yearely value of this Monastery at the suppression amounted to 486. l. 5. s. The donations to this Monastery were confirmed by Pope Vrban the second in these words following Vrbanus Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei. Dilectis filijs Priori capitulo Ecclesie Roffen Ordinis sancti Benedicti Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Cum à nobis petitur quod iustum est et honestum tam vigor equitatis quam etiam ordo exigit rationis vt id per solicitudinem officij nostri ad debitum perducatur effectum Ea propter dilecti in Domino filij vestris iust is postulationibus grato concurrentes assensu personas vestras et Ecclesiam Roffen in qua diuino est is obsequio mancipati cum omnibus bonis que impresentiarum rationabiliter possidetis aut in futurum iust is modis prestante domino poteritis adipisci sub beati Petri protectione suscipimus at que nostra Specialiter autem terras decimas domus possessiones vineas prata et alta bona vestra sicut ea iuste et pacifice obtinetis vobis et per vos eidem Ecclesie auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus et presentis scripti patrocinio communuimus Salua in predictis decimis moderatione Concilij generalis Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Dat. Ianu. III. Id. Ianuar. Pontificatus nostri Anno octauo When as William the Conquerour built the great white square Tower of London hee appointed this Bishop to bee principall Surueyor of that worke who was for that time lodged in the house of one Edmere a Burgesse of London as it is in the booke of the Bishops of Rochester in these words Gundulphus Episcopus mandato Willelmi Regis magni presuit operi magne Turris London quo tempore hospitatus est apud quendam Edmerum Bargensem London This Bishop built a great part of the Castle of Rochester namely the great Tower which yet standeth Hee founded an Hospitall in Chetham which hee dedicated to the honour of Saint Bartholomew for the reliefe of such people as were infected with the foule disease of the Leprosie hee endowed it with sufficient reuenues which grant was confirmed by king Henry the third and discharged of all taxes and tallages by King Ed. the third He founded the Abbey at Malling which he consecrated to the blessed Virgine and placed therein blacke Nunnes Which Nunnery he gouerned himselfe during all his life time And lying at the point of death hee commended it to the charge of one Auice to whom notwithstanding he would not deliuer the Pastorall staffe before shee had promised canonicall obedience fidelitie and subiection to the See of Rochester and protested by oath that there should neither Abbesse nor Nunne bee from thenceforth receiued into the house without the consent and priuitie of him and his Successours This Nunnery was valued at the suppression at two hundred fourty fiue pounds ten shillings two pence halfepeny of yearely reuenue Ouer the Abbey gate yet standing is the likenesse of a Pastorall staffe This good Bishop dyed the seuenth of March 1107. and was buried where you see the pourtraitures of certaine Bishops sometimes artificially cut in stone and Alabaster but now cut almost all in peeces dismembred and shamefully abused as all other Monuments in this Church are of any antiquity so that neither reading nor tradition can giue vs any true notice of their names Gilbert de Glanuil before mentioned a gentleman of an ancient family was consecrated to this Bishopricke September 29. Ann. 1185. Betweene this man and his Monkes of Rochester was long and continuall debate by occasion whereof hee tooke away from them all their moueable goods all the ornaments of their Church their writings and euidences yea and a great part of their lands possessions and priuiledges wanting money to follow their suites against him they were forced to coyne the siluer of Saint Paulinus Shryne into money These controuersies were ended no otherwise then by his death which happened Iune 24. 1214. hauing ruled his contentious charge 29. yeares But the hatred of these Monkes against him was so dying with him as they would afford him no manner of Obsequies but buried him most obscurely or rather basely without either ringing singing or any other solemnitie and furthermore abused him with such like rime-doggerell Glanvill Gilbert us nulla bonitate refertus Hic iacet immitis amator maxime litis Et quia sic litem dum vixit solet amare Nunc vbi pax nulla est est aptior inhabitare These blacke Monkes whom I thinke if the matter were well examined would proue to be in the fouler fault were too malitious to remember that this Bishop founded S. Maries Hospitall at Strowd neare adioyning to this Citie called the New worke and endowed it witha liuelihood of 52. l. of yearely profits which it now enioyeth Here lyeth entombed the body of Walter de Merton so surnamed of Merton a village in Surrey where he was borne sometimes Lord Chancellour of England Bishop of this See and Founder of Merton Colledge in Oxford
To whose memory Sir Henry Savill that rare Grecian and exact reuiuer of Antiquities now deceased late Warden of the said Colledge and Prouost of Eaton with the fellowes of the same taking downe an old marble Tombe haue erected another Monument ouer him of Touch and Alabaster bearing this Inscription Waltero de Merton Cancellario Angliae sub Henrico tertio Episcopo Roffensi sub Edwardo primo Rege vnius exemplo omnium quotquot extant Collegiorum Fundatori maximorum Europae totius ingeniorum faelicissimo parenti Custos Scholares domus Scholarium de Merton in Vniuersitate de Oxon. communibus Collegij impensis debitum pietatis Monumentum posuere Ann. Dom. 1598. Henrico Savile Custode Obijt in vigilia Simonis Iudae Ann. Dom. 1277. Edwardi primi quinto Inchoauerat Collegium Maldoniae in agro Surr. Ann. Dom. 1264. Hen. tertij 48. cui dein salubri consilio Oxonium Anno 1270. trans extrema manus faelicissimis vt credi par est auspicijs accessit anno 1274. ipsis Cal. Aug. anno Regni Regis Edwardi primi secundo Magne senex titulis Musarum sede sacrata Maior Mertonidum maxime progenie Haec tibi gratantes post saecula sera nepotes En votiua locant marmora sancte parens Haymo de Heath or Hythe so named of Hithe a Towne in this tract where he was borne lyeth buried by the North wall he was Confessour to King Edward the second This man built much at his Mannor houses of Troscliffe and Hawling In the Towne of Hithe before named he founded the Hospitall of Saint Bartholomew for reliefe of ten poore people endowing the same with twenty Markes of yearely reuenue He resigned his Bishopricke into the Popes hands of whom he had receiued consecration in the Court at Rome Ann. 1352. and liued about some six yeares after that a priuate life with the Monkes in this Priory This Bishop saith the booke of Rochester bought a precious Miter which was Thomas Beckets of the Executours of the Bishop of Norwich which hee offered at the high Altar on S. Pauls day 1327. Iohn de Shepey so likewise surnamed from the place of his birth vpon Haymo his resignation was by the Pope elected to this Bishoprick hee was Lord Treasurer of England in the two and thirtieth yeere of King Edward the third in which office he continued about three yeeres euen vntill his death which happened the nineteenth of October 1360. His portraiture is in the wall ouer his place of Buriall Here ouer against Bishop Merton lieth buried vnder a faire Marble Tombe the body of Iohn Lowe Bishop of this Diocesse borne in Worcestershire and brought vp in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Diuinitie He liued for a time in the Abbey of the Friers Augustines in Worcester of which order he was Prouinciall Vir aetate sua ab omni parte doctus So that in regard of his great learning and painfulnes in preaching he was preferred first to the Bishoprick of Saint Asaph by King Henry the sixt and after that translated to this of Rochester hee writ diuers learned works and was a carefull searcher after good bookes so as diuers copies of some ancient Fathers had vtterly perished but for his diligence Hee died the yeere 1467. hauing gouerned the See of Saint Asaph foure yeeres and and this of Rochester foure and twenty The inscription vpon his Tombe is almost all gone only these words remayning ...... Iohannis Low Epis ...... ...... miserere mei Domine Credo videre Dominum in terra viventium O quam breve spatium huius mundi sicomp ..... Sic mundi gloria transit Sancte Andree Augustine orate prop nobis I doe not finde the certainty of any other of the Bishops of this Diocesse to haue bin buried in this Cathedrall Church for most commonly in ancient times as now they departed from this place before they departed from the world this Ecclesiasticall preferment being but a step to some higher aduancement A word therefore or two of Saint William here enshrined and the like of the Priory and so I will take my leaue of this most ancient and no lesse reuerend Episcopall Chaire and goe to Gillingham for the rest of the funerall Monuments in this Church are of later times which I reserue for another Volume This Priory erected by Gundulph and the number of her religious Votaries encreased by him from sixe secular Priests to threescore blacke Canons or Monkes with ample reuenues for their maintenance was within the compasse of one hundred yeares what by casuall fire what by the falling out of the Monkes and Bishop Glanvill and what by the calamities it sustained in the warres of King Iohn brought to that ruine and pouerty that the beauty of all her goodly buildings was altogether defaced her Church burned her sacred Vtensiles by robbery and suites in law embezelled mispent and consumed and the whole Couent greatly indebted Anno 1179.3 Id. Aprilis Rofensis Ecclesia cum omnibus officinis cum tota vrbe infra extra muros combusta est anno 97. ex quo Monachi in eadem Ecclesia instituti sunt It was now therefore high time saith Master Lambard to deuise some way whereby this Priory and Church of Rochester might be if not altogether restored to the ancient wealth and estimation yet at the least somewhat relieued from this penury nakednesse and abiection Therefore Laurence of Saint Martins Bishop of this Church and Councellour of King Henry the third perceiuing the common people to bee somewhat drawne by the fraud of the Monkes to thinke reuerently of one William that lay buried in the Church and knowing well that there was no one way so compendious to gaine as the aduancement of a Pilgramage procured at the Popes Court the canonization of the said William with Indulgence to all such as would offer at his Tombe vnderpropping by meanes of this new Saint some manner of reuerend opinion of the Church which before through the defacing of the old Bishop Paulinus his Shrine was declined to naught This Saint William was by birth a Scot of Perthe by trade of life a Baker of bread in charitie so abundant that hee gaue to the poore the tenth loafe of his workmanship in zeale so feruent that in vow he promised and in deed attempted to visit the holy Land and the places where Christ was conuersant on earth In which iourney as he passed through Kent he made Rochester his way where after that he had rested two or three dayes he departed toward Canterbury but ere he had gone farre from the Citie his seruant that waited on him led him of purpose out of the high-way and spoyled him both of his money and life This done the seruant escaped and the Master because he dyed in so holy a purpose of minde was by the Monkes conueyed hither to Saint Andrewes laid in the Quire and promoted by the
And besides Geruasius Dorobernens or Geruis a Monke in Canterbury who flourished in the raigne of king Henry the first affirmeth that the fore-ward in all battels belongeth to them by a certaine preheminence in right of their manhood And it is agreed by all men that there were neuer any bondmen or villaines as the law calleth them in Kent Neither bee they here so much bounden to the Gentrie by Copyhold or customarie tenures as the Inhabitants of the westerne Countries of the Realme be nor at all indangered by the feeble hold of Tenant Right which is but a descent of a tenancie at will as the Common people in the Northerne parts be for Copyhold tenure is rare in Kent and Tenant Right not heard of at all But in place of these the custome of Gauelkinde that is Giue all Kinne preuailing euery where in manner euery man is a Free-holder and hath some part of his owne to liue vpon And in this their estate they please themselues and ioy exceedingly in so much as a man may finde sundrie Yeomen although otherwise for wealth comparable with many of the gentile sort that will not yet for all that change their condition nor desire to be apparrelled with the titles of Gentrie Neither is this any cause of disdaine or of alienation of the good minds of the one sort from the other For no where else in all this Realme is the common people more willingly gouerned To be short they be most commonly ciuill iust and bountifull so that the estate of the old Franklyns and Yeomen of England either yet liueth in Kent or else it is quite dead and departed out of the Realme for altogether Thus farre in effect out of Lambard Briefly saith Selden it had the first English King in it was the first Christianity among the English and Canterbury then honoured with the Metropolitique See all which giue note of Honourable Prerogatiue But I will conclude this commendation of Kent with these verses following taken out of the foresaid Author of Polyolbion in the same Song When as the pliant Muse straight turning her about And comming to the Land as Medway goeth out Saluting the deare soyle O famous Kent quoth she What countrey hath this Isle that can compare with thee Which hast within thy selfe as much as thou canst wish Thy conies Venson Fruit thy sorts of Fowle and Fish And what with strength comports thy hay thy corne thy wood Nor any thing doth want that any where is good Now here before I take my leaue of this little See of Rochester it shall not seeme impertinent I hope to shew with what great courage and happinesse this Church hath euer vpholden her rights and priuiledges not onely against the Monkes of Canterbury which laboured much to bring it vnder but also against the See it selfe of the Archbishops For example in the raigne of king Henry the third and after the death of Benedict the Bishop of Rochester the Monkes made choise of one Henry Sanford that great wise Clerke which preached at Sittingbourne that such a day the soules of king Richard the first Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canterbury and another Priest were deliuered out of Purgatory and no more soules that day but onely they three as God had reuealed it vnto him three seuerall times whereof when the Monkes of Christ-Church had intelligence they resisted the election challenging that the Pastorall staffe or Crosyer of Rochester ought of very right to be brought to their house after the decease of the Bishop and that the election ought to be made in their Chapiter The Monkes of Rochester maintained their owne choise and so the matter waxing warme betweene them it was at the length referred to the determination of the Archbishop he againe posted it ouer to certaine Delegates who hearing the parties and weighing the proofes gaue sentence with the Monkes of Rochester and yet lost as they thought good loue and amity among them But as the Poet saith Male sarta gratia nequicquam coit sed rescinditur Fauour that is euill peeced will not ioyne close but falleth asunder And therefore this their opinion failed them and their cure proued but to be patched for soone after the sore brake out anew and the Canterbury Monkes reuiued their displeasure with such a heat that Hubert of Burgh Earle of Kent and chiefe Iustice of England was driuen to come into the Chapter house and coole it and to worke a second reconciliation betweene them Neither for all that as it may seeme was that flame quite extinguished For not long after viz. Ann. 1238. the Monkes of Christ-Church seeing that they themselues could not preuaile intituled their Archbishop Edmund with whom also the Rochester Monkes waged law at Rome before the holy Father as touching the election of Richard Wendeouer whom they would haue had Bishop by the space of three whole yeares together and at the length either through the equitie of the cause or the weight of their purse saith my Author ouerthrew him vpon Saint Cuthberts day in ioy whereof they returned home with all hast and enacted in their Chapter house that from thenceforth for euer Saint Cuthberts feast as a Trophey of their victory should be holden double both in their Church and Kitchin And not thus onely but otherwise also hath the See at Rochester well holden her owne for during the whole succession of fourescore Bishops and one as I haue said before which in right line haue followed Iustus she hath continually maintained her chaire at this one place whereas in most parts of the Realme besides the Sees of the Bishops haue suffered sundrie translations by reason that in the Conquerours time order was taken that such Bishops as before had their Churches in countrey Townes and Villages should forthwith remoue and from thenceforth remaine in walled Townes and Cities which ordinance could not by any meanes touch Rochester that was a walled Citie long time before king Williams gouernment Here endeth the Diocesse of Rochester ANCIENT FVNERALL MONVMENTS WITHIN THE Diocesse of LONDON AS before I haue said somewhat of the Cities of Canterbury and Rochester so giue me leaue to speak a little of this great Citie of London collected out of as well ancient as moderne writers And first I will borrow a few lines from Iohn Iohnston before remembred sometimes Professour of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of S. Andrewes in Scotland who in a graue note and serious stile compiled certaine Latine verses in praise of this our Metropolis or soueraigne Citie of this Island Which I finde to be translated by Philemon Holland thus This Citie well Augusta call'd to which a truth to say Aire Land Sea and all Elements shew fauour euery way The weather no where milder is the ground most rich to see Doth yeeld all fruits of fertile soile that neuer spent will be And Ocean that with Tams streame his flowing tide doth blend Conueyes to it commodities all that
Amen This Thomas Kempe was Nephew to Iohn Kempe Archbishop of Canterbury at whose hands hee receiued Consecration at Yorke place now called White hall Ann. 1449. Febr. 8. his Vnkle being as then Archbishop of Yorke This Bishop and not Duke Vmphrey as it is commonly beleeued by report built for the most part the Diuinitie Schooles in Oxford as they stood before Bodleyes foundation with walls Arches Vaults doores towers and pinnacles all of square smooth polisht stone and artificially depainted the Doctors Chaire to the liuely representation of the glorious frame of the celestiall globle He built also Pauls Crosse in forme as as it now standeth Here lieth Iohn Stokesley Bishop of this Church brought vp at Magdelene Colledge in Oxford and here enthronized Iuly 19. 1530. Who died Septemb. 8. 1539. A part of his Epitaph as yet remaines inlaid in brasse which approues him to haue beene a good Linguist and a great Schollar Huius in obscuro tumuli interiore recessit Stokesley cineres ossaque tecta iacent Cuius fama patens vite decus ingenijque Dexteritas ..... luce tamen Iste Deo Regique suo populoque fideli Viueret vt charus perpetuo studuit Exterius siquidem potuit regionibus .... .................... Qui Latias lustrauit opes intrauit hebreas Huic grecorum palma parata fuit Artes quid memorem vanas ad quas penetrauit Quum ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã auctus honore fuit .............. Virginis matris cultori certa supremum Natalem Marie fata dedere diem I reade in the Catalogue of Bishops and other writers for all the Inscriptions of any Antiquitie made to the memory of other Bishops here interred are altogether erazed or stolne away that William a Norman who enioyed this Bishopricke in the Conquerours time lieth here interred in the body of the Church Vnto whom the City of London acknowledgeth it selfe greatly beholding for that the king by his meanes and instant suite granted vnto them all kinde of liberties in as ample manner as they enioyed them in the time of his predecessour Ed. the Confessour These are the words of the Conquerours grant written in the Saxon tongue and sealed with greene waxe Williem king grets Williem Bisceop and Godfred Porterefan and ealle ya Burghwarn binnen London Frencisce and Englise frendlice and ickiden eoy yeet ic wille yeet git ben ealra weera lagay weore ye get weeran on Eadwards daege kings And ic will yeet aelc child by his fader yrfnume aefter his faders daege And iâ nelle ge wolian yeet aenig man coy aenis wrang beode God coy heald Which in English is to this effect following William king greetes William Bishop and Godfrey Portgraue and all the Burrow of London French and English friendly And I make knowne to you that ye be worthy to enioy all that Law and priuiledge which ye did in the dayes of King Edward And I will that euery childe bee his fathers heire after his fathers decease And I will not suffer that any man doe vnto you any iniurie God you keepe In thankfulnesse hereof the Citizens caused to bee engrauen an Epitaph vpon his Tombe in Latine thus Englished by Iohn Stow. To William a man famous in wisedome and holinesse of life who first with Saint Edward the king and Confessour being familiar of late preferred to be Bishop of London and not long after for his prudencie and sincere fidelitie admitted to be of Councell with the most victorious Prince William king of England of that name the first who obtained of the same great and large priuiledges to this famous City The Senate and Citizens of London to him hauing well deserued haue made this Hee continued Bishop twenty yeares and dyed in the yeare after Christ his natiuitie 1070. These marble Monuments to thee thy Citizens assigne Rewards O father farre vnfit to those deserts of thine Thee vnto them a faithfull friend thy London people found And to this Towne of no small weight a stay both sure and sound Their liberties restorde to them by meanes of thee haue beene Their publike weale by meanes of thee large gifts haue felt and seene Thy riches stocke and beauty braue one houre hath them supprest Yet these thy vertues and good deeds with vs for euer rest But this Tombe was long since either destroyed by time or taken away vpon some occasion yet howsoeuer the Lord Maior of London and the Aldermen his brethren vpon those solemne dayes of their resort to Pauls do still vse to walke to the grauestone where this Bishop lyeth buried in remembrance of their priuiledges by him obtained And now of late yeares an Inscription fastened to the pillar next adioyning to his graue called The reuiuall of a most worthy Prelates remembrance erected at the sole cost and charges of the right honourable and nobly affected Sir Edward Barkham knight Lord Maior of the Citie of London Ann. 1622. thus speakes to the walkers in Pauls Walkers whosoere you be If it proue your chance to see Vpon a solemnes skarlet day The Citie Senate passe this way Their gratefull memory for to show Which they the reuerend ashes owe Of Bishop Norman here inhum'd By whom this Citie hath assum'd Large priuiledges Those obtain'd By him when Conquerour William raign'd This being by thankfull Barkhams mynd renewd Call it the Monument of Gratitude Here lieth buried Fulk Basset Bishop of this Church preferred hither from the Deanrie of Yorke a Gentleman of an ancient great family second brother of that Gilbert Basset who through the stumbling of his horse fell in a certaine wood as hee went a hunting in the haruest time Ann. 1241. and brake so his bones and sinewes that within a few dayes after he dyed and shortly after euen in the same moneth the onely sonne of this Gilbert being a childe died whereby that lordlie inheritance came to this Fulk Basset who as he was a man of great linage and also of ample both temporall and Ecclesiasticall possessions so was hee a Prelate of an inuincible high spirit stout and couragious to resist those insupportable exactions which the Popes Legate Rustandus went about to lay vpon the Clergie and at such a time when the Pope and the king like the Shepheard and the Woolfe ioyned both together to destroy the Sheepfold Much what about which time to the same effect certaine rimes were scattered abroad as I haue before set downe in the Diocesse of Canterbury Such were the Popes rapines and enormous proceedings in those dayes all which this stout Bishop withstood to the vttermost of his power Hee died of the plague here in London Ann. 1258. hauing gouerned this See 14. yeares odde moneths A Monument was made to his eternall memory whereupon this Distich was inlaid in brasse Prudens fortis iacet hac Episcopus arca Bone Iesu. Bassettis ortus cui parcas summe Hierarcha Bone Iesu. Here lieth entombed in the
then was saith Stow that this Sir Miles Partridge did set an hundred pound vpon a cast at dice against it and so wonne the said Bell-house and Bells of the King and then caused the Bells to bee broken as they hung and the rest pulled downe This Sir Miles was hanged on the Tower-hill the 26. of February in the sixth yeare of Edward the sixth for matters concerning the Duke of Somerset howsoeuer guiltlesse of any offence either against the king or his Councell as he tooke it vpon his death There was a faire Chappell of the holy Ghost on the North side of Pauls Church founded in the yeare 1400. by Roger Holmes Chancellour and Prebendary of Pauls for seuen Chaplaines and called Holmes Colledge Their common Hall was in Pauls Church-yard on the South side This Colledge was suppressed in the raigne of Ed. the sixth In this Chappell were buried Adam de Bury Alderman and Lord Maior of London in the yeare 1364. Anne the daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgundy the first wife of Iohn Plantaginet third sonne of king Henry the fourth Duke of Bedford who died in the yeare 1433. Sir Iohn Poultney knight foure times Maior of London in the yeare 1337. builded a faire Chappell on the North side of Pauls Church wherein he was buried He founded a Colledge in the Parish Church of Saint Laurence called Poultney Hee builded the Parish Church of little Alhallowes in Thames street and the Carmelite Friers Church in Couentrey He gaue releefe in Newgate and in the Fleet and ten shillings a yeare to Saint Giles Hospitall by Oldborne for euer And other Legacies saith Stow speaking of the Honour of Citizens too long to rehearse He died about the yeare 1348 But of him I haue spoken somewhat before Vnder the Quire of Pauls is a large Chappell dedicated to the name of Iesu by whom founded I do not know But it was thus confirmed in the 37. of Hen. the sixth as appeareth by his patent thereof dated at Crowdowne to this effect Many liege-men and Christian people hauing begun a Fraternitie and Guild to the honour of the most glorious name of Iesu Christ our Sauiour in a place called the Crowds of the Cathedrall Church of Pauls in London which hath continued long time peaceably till now of late Whereupon they haue made request and wee haue taken vpon vs the name and charge of the foundation to the land of Almighty God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost and especially to the honour of Iesu in whose honour the Fraternitie was begun c. It was likewise confirmed by Hen. the 7. the 22. of his raigne and by H. 8. the 27. of his raigne In this Chappell lieth buried Margaret the eldest daughter and coheire of Richard Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke second wife of Iohn Lord Talbot the Terrour of France first of that Surname Earle of Shrewsbury But of her I haue spoken before Many haue beene here interred as Iohn of London vnder the Northroode 1266. Iohn Louell Iohn of Saint Olaue and Sir Allen Boxhul with others as you may reade in the Suruay of London This Sir Allen Boxhul was knight of the Garter in Edward the thirds dayes and neare vpon the first foundation of that honourable order He was Constable of the Tower custos of the Forest and Parke of Clarendon the Forest of Brokholt Grouell and Melchet a man highly in fauour with the said king Edward Hee was buried by Saint Erkenwalds shrine about the yeare 1380. And here I think it will not bee vnfitting to set downe the number of the Shrines sacred to the honour of diuers Saints in the Cathedrall Church as they stood in the yeare 1245. First the Shrine of S. Erkenwald which was very sumptuous the fourth Bishop of this See which stood in the East part of the Church aboue the high Altar The Shrine of S. Mellitus first Bishop of this Diocesse afterwards of Canterbury The Shrine of Richard Fitz-Neile Bishop of London Ann. 1189. The Shrine of Egwolphe or Egtulphe here Bishop all beset with precious stones he was the seuenth Bishop of this Diocesse as then called Bishop of the East Angles He was a learned man and so shewed himselfe in the Conuocation holden by Cuthbert Archbishop of Canterbury Ann. 747. There was also a glorious Shrine super magnum Altare but to whose holinesse dedicated I do not reade Here sometimes was a Shrine with a portable coffin in the same place where Sir William Cockaines Tombe is erected with an Altar built to the honour of God the blessed Virgine S. Laurence and all Saints by one Roger Waltham Precentour of the Church as did appeare by this Inscription following which was legible though somewhat erazed before the erection of the foresaid Monument Hoc Altare in honore Dei beate Virginis Marie Matris eius ac Sancti Laurentij Martyris omnium Sanctorum construxit hanc Voltam cum adiacentibus picturis Martyris et Ymaginum in Septis ereis hic posuit cum duabus Caglarijs suis per perpetuum .... Dominus Rogerus Waltham huius Ecclesie Precent ........ pro salute anime sue et pro salute anime Regine ...... omnium ........ Amen There was likewise a Chantrie with an Altar sacred to the blessed Virgine Mary contiguous to the Bishops pallace and the body of the Church founded by Sir Gerard Braybroke knight Edmund Hamden Iohn Boys Esquires and Roger Albrighton Clerke for one Chantrie Priest daily to say Masse and pray for the soule of Robert Braybroke Bishop of London then liuing and for his soule whensoeuer he should passe out of this world For âhe soule of Nicholas Braybroke late Canon of this Church and for the soules of all the faithfull departed As may appeare by these Deeds following copied out of the originals vnder seale in the custodie of Sir Simonds Dewes knight Omnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos presens scriptum peruenerit Gerardus Braybrok iunior Miles Edmundus Hampden Armig. Iohannes Boys Armiger Rogerus Albryghton Clericus salutem in Domino sempiternam Nouerit vniuersitas vestra quod nos Gerardus Edmundus Iohannes Rogerus predict de licentia speciali excellentissimi Principis Domini nostri Domini Henrici Dei gratia Regis Anglie et Francie ac Domini Hibernie illustris per suas literas patentes Sigillo suo magno in cera viridi impressato sigillatas pro se et heredibus suis nobis data et concessa vnam Cantariam de vno Capellano diuina ad Altare beate Marie infra Palacium Episcopi Londonien in London naui Ecclesie Sancti Pauli contiguam pro salubri statu venerabilis in Christo Patris ac Domini Domini Roberti Dei gratia Episcopi Londonien dum vixerit et pro anima sua cum ab hac luce migrauerit ac anima Magistri Nicholai Braybrok nuper Canonici Ecclesie Pauli London nec non animabus omnium fidelium defunctorum singulis
serued It was valued at the suppression to 305. l. 6. s. 7. d. yearely The Church remaineth a Parish to the Tenants dwelling in the precinct of the Hospitall in which are many faire Funerall Monuments Whose Inscriptions or the most of them are set downe in the Suruay of London these following onely omitted Hic iacent Thomas Malefant Miles Baro de Winwore et Dominus de S. George in Com. de Clamorgan et Dominus de Okneton et Pile in Com. de Penbroke in Wallia qui obijt 8. die Maij 1438. et Domina Margareta vxor eius filia Thome Asteley Ar. Nep. de Domino de Asteley et Henricus âilius âorundem Tho. et Margarete Quorum animabus propitietur Altissimus Amen The xiiiic yere of our Lord seventy and three Passyd Sir William Knyght to God Almightie The fiftenth dey of Iuil Master of this place Iesu for his mercy reioyce hym with his grace The xiiiic yere of our Lord and eight Passyd Sir Robart Greuil to God Almight The xii dey of April Broder of this place Iesu for his mercy reioice him with his grace Philip Lewis restyth vnder yis ston Yat in Iun deseisyd the dey six and twenty Wyth Agnes hys wyf yat were both on The xiiiic yere of our Lord and seuen and fifty Subiacet ecce pede Iohn Stafford mortis in ede Iustus deuotus discretus et ad pia motus Qui bona plura loco dum vixit contulit isti Mille quater centum quater et sexto quoque Christi Luce Nouemberis deca ter .......... Vt sit propitius anime Christus precor Amen Saint Sepulchers In this Church lyeth buried the body of that vnfortunate Lord Thomas Fiâes Baron Dacres of the South Who was executed at Tiborne the 29. of Iune 1541. for that hee with others going to hunt in Master Pelhams Parke at Laughton in Sussex and meeting with some companie casually by the way with whom and his confederates ensued a quarrell in which a priuate man one Iohn Busbrig was slaine by the said Lord or some of his associates which were Io. Mantell Io. Frouds and George all three executed for the same fact at Saint Thomas Waterings The death of this Lord was generally lamented being an hopefull gentleman of 24. yeares of age This happened in that bloudie yeare when Henry the eight vnsheathed his sword vpon the neckes of the Nobilitie Here lieth the heart of Iohn Goodfellow for his sowl and al yat died wyth hym and al Christen sowls I prey yow for cherite sey a Pater Noster and an Ave Mary Saint Bridgets or Brides Vndyr this ston William Weuer doth ly Cityzon and Elisabeth his wyf hym by He died the viii and she the vii dey of September Leuing Geffrey Mary and Ellin thar children as I remember Who 's sowls God receyve to fauor and pease Wyth Ioyes to lyve that neuyr sal cease 1409. The White Friers These Friers were called Fratres beatae Mariae de monte Carmeli first founded by Sir Richard Grey knight ancestor to the Lord Grey of Codnor in the yeare 1241. King Edward the first gaue to the Prior and brethren of that house a plot of ground here in Fleetstreet whereupon to build their house which was afterwards new builded by Hugh Courtney the third of that Christian name Earle of Deuonshire the yeare before he died which was Aun 1350. Sir Robert Knolles knight was a great builder here also in the raigne of Richard the second and of Henry the fourth who being borne but of meane parentage in the County of Chester was by his valiant behauiour aduanced from a common Souldier in the French warres vnder Edward the third to a great Commander and being sent Generall of an Armie into France in despite of their power he draue their people before him like Sheepe destroying Townes Castles and Cities in such a manner and number that long after in memory of this act the sharpe points and gable ends of ouerthrowne houses and Minsters were called Knolles Miters After which minding to make himselfe as welbeloued of his countrey as he was feared of forraine nations hee built the goodly faire Bridge at Rochester ouer the Riuer of Medway with a Chappell and a Chantrie at the East end thereof He founded a Colledge with an Hospitall adioyning thereunto in the Towne of Pontefract in Yorkeshire of which hereafter He founded also an Hospitall in the Citie of Rome for entertainment of English trauellers or pilgrimes to that Citie in place where Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury had builded a Chappell of the holy Trinity which to this day retaines the name and is a Seminarie for our English Fugitiues He deceased at his Mannor of Scone Thorpe in Norfolke was brought to London and honourably buried by the Lady Constance his wife in the body of this Church which he had newly builded Ann. 1407. the 15. of August Of whom in his life saith Stow were made verses in Latine thus by him put into English O Robert Knowles most worthy of Fame By thy Prowesse France was made tame Thy manhood made the French to yeeld By dint of sword in towne and feeld Here sometime lay entombed in a goodly Monument of Alabaster the body of Robert Mascall Bishop of Hereford a man for his good learning and good life admired and beloued of all men He was often employed by Henry the fourth to whom he was Confessor vpon Embasies to forraine Princes and in the yeare 1415. sent with two other Bishops to the Councell of Constance Hee built the Quier Presbytery and Steeple of this Church and gaue many rich ornaments to this religious house wherein he died 22. Decemb. 1416. William Lord Montacute Earle of Salisbury and king of the Isle of Man was here entombed Whose noble Acts saith Walsingham to write worthily were a commendable matter He founded the Abbey of Bisham Montague in Barkshire and died at a Iusts and Turney at Windsore in the yeare 1343. For the rest here interred I referre my Reader to the Suruay of London This house was valued at 26. l. 7. s. 3. d. and was surrendred the tenth of Nouember the 30. of king Hen. the eight Since the writing of the premisses I chanced to haue the perusall of a Manuscript penned in the praise of this religious Order out of which I collected diuers Epitaphs which in times past had beene engrauen vpon the Sepulchers of certaine Carmelites here in the Church of this Priory interred And first I finde that Stephen Patrington vir omnibus praestantioribus animi dotibus omnibus virtutibus preditus et multiplici doctrinae varietate instructus was here buried in the body of the Quire He was borne in the County of Yorke and brought vp in the Vniuersitie of Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Diuinitie He writ many learned bookes and was an admirable Preacher to whose Sermons alwayes
who inuaded his Territories in his absence whilst he was prosecuting the warres in Ireland and returned from that battell a triumphant Conquârour Vnder another Monument lieth the body of Gilbert Marshall Earle of Penbroke and Marshall of England Lord of Longevile in Normandy Leinster in Ireland and of Chepstow Strighull and Caerwent in Wales This Potent Peere of the Realme saith Mathew Paris in Ann. 1241. proclaimed a Turnament in scorne of the kings authoritie whereby such disports were forbidden to be holden at Hertford in the County of Hertford to which place when many both of the Nobilitie and Gentrie were assembled it happened that himselfe running by the flinging of his horse was cast out of his sadle and the horse gaue him such a blow on the breast that he died the same day being the fifth of the Kalends of Iuly 1241. as aforesaid His bowels were interred in the Abbey Church in the Towne of Hertford with the bowels of one Sir Robert de Say knight a gallant gentleman slaine in the same exercise These kinde of Iusts or Turnaments were brought in with king Stephen and practised in many places of England in such an outragious manner and with such slaughter of Gentlemen that to suppresse such an heathenish disport it was decreed by Parliament that whosoeuer therein were slaine should want Christian buriall and their heires be disinherited Hic requiescit ..... R ... Ep .... Quondam Visitator generalis ordinis Milicie Templi in Anglia in Francia in Italia .... This was a fragment of a funeralâ Inscription insculped vpon one of these crosse-legged Monuments as I found it amongst other Collections by one studious in Antiquities in Sir Robert Cottons voluminous Librarie which he proues by the pedegree of the said Lord Rosses to haue beene made to the memory of one Robert Rosse a Templer who died about the yeare 1245. and gaue to the Templars his Mannor of Ribston William Plantaginet the fifth sonne of king Henry the third lieth here interred who died in his childhood about the yeare 1256. En Iacobus templo Bayle requiescit in isto Qui fuerat gratus medio Templo sociatus Cui Deus esto pius eius miserando reatus Vitam mutauit in mensis fine secundi M. C. quater que dato Lxx quater annumerato Cui sit solamen Christus dic protinus Amen Robertus iacet hic Thorne quem Bristollia quondam Pretoris merito legit ad officium Huic etinim semper magne Respublica cure Charior cunctis Patria duitijs Ferre inopi auxilium tristes componere lites Dulce huic consilio quosque iuuare fuit Qui pius exaudis miserorum vota precesque Christe huic in celis des regione locum Orate pro anima Richardi Wye socij comititiui interioris Templi ob 9. Mar. 1519. Cuius anime Domine secundum delictum meum noli me iudicare Deprecor maiestatem tuam vt tu deleas iniquitatem meam Ecce quid eris Hic iacet Willelmus Langham quondam custos huius Templi qui obijt ......... 1437. Tu prope qui transis nec dicis aueto resiste Auribus et corde hec mea dicta tene Sum quod eris quod es ipse fui derisor amare Mortis dum licuit pace manente frui Sed veniente nece postquam sum raptus amicis Atque meis famulis orba ...... domus Me contexit humo deplorauit que iacentem Inque meos cineres vltima dona dedit Vnde mei vultus corrosit terra nitorem Queque fuit forme ......... Ergo Deum pro me cum pura mente precare Vt mihi perpetua pace frui tribuat Et quicunque rogat pro me comportet in vnum Vt mecum meneat in regione Poli. William Burgh iadis Clerk de Chancelleri Gist icy Dieu de s'alme eyt mercy Amen Saint Clement Danes So called because Harold surnamed Harefoot for his swift footmanship king of England of the Danish line and other Danes were here buried This Harold was the base sonne of king Canut by his concubine Alice of Woluerhampton in Staffordshire a Shoomakers daughter His body was first buried at Westminster but afterwards Hardicanut the lawfull sonne of Canut being king commanded his body to bee digged out of the earth and to be throwne into the Thames where it was by a Fisherman taken vp and buried in this Churchyard He died at Oxford 1040. hauing raigned three yeares and eight moneths Hic iacet .... Iohannes Arundell .... Episcopus Exon. qui ob die mens Maij 15 ... 1503. This maymed Inscription would tell vs thus much that Iohn Arundell descended of the ancient and most worshipfull house of the Arundels of Lanherne in Cornwall Bishop of Exceter lieth here vnder interred who died March 15. 1503. Hic iacet corpus venerabilis .... Io ..... Booth Legum Bacalaureus Episcopus Exon ..... ob primo April 1478. This Bishop gouerned his Church wondrous well and builded as some suppose the Bishops See in the Quire but being weary of the great troubles which were in his countrey betweene king Edward the fourth and the Earle of Warwicke he remoued from thence to his house of Horsleigh in Hampshire where he died Orate pro anima Willelmi Booth militis fratris Episcopi Exon. qui ob 6. April 1478. Hic iacet Edmundus Arnold postremus Aprilis Quem dolor heu rapuit tristis atroxque dies Istius Ecclesie Rector meritissimus olim Et summus Mâdice Doctor in arte fuit Non Ipocrate minor erat nec doctior vllus Non Opifex mirum vincit Apollo virum M. D. deme ter .x. semel v. Christi anno Cui vitam Medicus det sine sine Deus Sauoy So called of Peter Earle of Sauoy the first builder thereof which being ouerthrowne by the Rebels of Kent it was againe raised and beautifully rebuilded by king Henry the seuenth for an Hospitall and dedicated to the honour of Saint Iohn Baptist for which he purchased lands for the reliefe of an hundred poore people Of which you may reade this Inscription engrauen ouer the Gate towards the Street 1505. Hospitium hoc inopi Turbe Sauoia vocatum Septimus Henricus fundauit ab imo solo Henry the seuenth to his merite and honor This Hospitall foundyd pore people to socor Many officers ordinances orders and rules were appointed by the Founder for the better gouernment of this Hospitall some of which I haue read briefly extracted out of the Grand Charter viz. Per nomen Magistri et Capellanorum Hospitalis Henrici Regis Anglie septimi de Savoy Duo Presbiteri seculares conductitij Duo homines seculares honesti ac literati quorum alter Subsacrista alter Subhospitalarius Quatuor homines honesti qui Alteriste vocentur Quinque alij honesti homines viz. 1. Clericus Coquine 2. Panetarius 3. Coquus 4. Ortulanus 5. Ianitor Duo alij alter subcoquus
in Philosophie both naturall and morall in Physicke and the canon Law very eloquent an excellent Preacher and esteemed so profound a Diuine as he was thought meete to be the professour of Diuinity or Doctor of the Chaire in the Vniuersitie of Tholouze For these his good gifts hee was much fauoured of the blacke Prince then of King Richard his sonne who preferred him to the Bishopricke of the Isle of Man from that preferment he was translated to the Archbishopricke of Dublin in Ireland thence to Chichester and lastly to the Archbishopricke of Yorke where he sate not fully three yeares but died the 29. of May 1397. His Epitaph is quite worne or torne away from his monument yet I found it in a Manuscript in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie Hic fuit expertus in quouis iure Robertus De Walbye dictus nunc est sub marmore strictus Sacre Scripture Doctor fuit et geniture Ingenuus medicus Plebis semper amicus Presul Adurensis post hec Archas Dublinensis Hinc Cicestrensis tandem Primus Eborensis Quarto Kalend Iunij migrauit cur sibus anni Milleni ter C. septem nonies quoque deni Vos precor orate quod sint sibi dona beate Cum sanctis vite requiescat et hic sine lite In an old riming Manuscript of the succession of the Archbishops of Yorke I finde thus much of this man Tunc Robertus ordinis Fratris Augustini Ascendit in Cathedram Primatis Paulini Lingua scientificus sârmonis Latini Anno primo proximat vite sue fini De carnis ergastulo Presul euocatur Gleba sui corporu Westminstre humatur Here vnder a marble stone in the Chappell royall lyeth the body of Iohn Waltham Lord Bishop of Salisbury who had beene master of the Rolles keeper of the priuie Seale and Treasurer of England in which office he continued till his death which happened in the yeare 1395. hauing sate bishop 7 yeares and executed the Treasurorship foure yeares King Richard the second loued him entirely and greatly bewailed his death In token whereof hee commanded that hee should be buried here among the Kings hoc anno saith Walshingham viz. in the yeare 1395. obijt Iohannes de Waltham Episcopus Sarum regni Thesaurarius qui tantum Regi complacuerit vt etiam multis licet murmurantibus apud monasterium inter Reges meruit sepulturam He lieth in the pauement vnder a flat marble stone iust beside King Edward the first vpon which his Epitaph was inlayd in brasse with his portraiture in Episcopall robes now defaced and almost quite perished Here lyeth another Bishop here buried but not in so conspicuous and princely a place of the Church as doth Waltham who was likewise by the Kings speciall commandement here inhumed for that he was accounted a very holy and vertuous man namely one Richard de Wendouer Parson of Bromley and Bishop of Rochester who died in the yeare 1250. and in the raigne of King Henry the third Here lieth interred Sir Humfrey Bourchier Lord Cromwell the sonne of Henry Bourchier Earle of Essex by Isabell daughter of Richard Earle of Cambridge and sister to Richard Duke of Yorke who in aide of his kinsman King Edward the fourth was slaine at Barnet field vpon Easter day 1471. And here lieth interred another Humfrey Bourchier who was the sonne and heire of Iohn Bourchier Lord Berners who was also slaine at the same battaile to whose memories this Epitaph yet remaines Hic Pugil ecce iacens Bernet fera bella cupiscens Certat vt Eacides fit saucius vndique miles Vt cecidit vulnus Mars porrigit arma cruore Sparsim tincta rubent dolor en lachrimabilis hora Lumine nempe cadit quo christus morte resurgit Bourchier Humfridus clara propagine dictus Edwardi Regis qui tertius est vocitatus Iohn Domini Berners proles et paruulus heres Quartus et Edwardus belli tenet ecce triumphum Quo perit Humfridus vt Regis vernula verus Cyronomon mense sponse Regis fuit iste Elisabeth sibi sic sua virtus crescit honore Armis conspicuus quondam charusque Britannis Hic fuit Vt celis viuat deposcite votis Here lieth entombed in a slight monument in the wall Thomas Mylling sometime Abbot of this Monastery from whence he was preferred to the Bishopricke of Hereford by King Edward the fourth vnder whom he was of the priuie Councell and was Godfather to Prince Edward his eldest Sonne He was a Monke of this house being but a youth and then went to Oxford where he studied vntill hee proceeded Doctor of Diuinitie in which time he attained good knowledge in the Greeke tongue which in those dayes was geason saith the reuerend Author of the Bishops Catalogue He died in the yeare 1493. Here in an obscure place of this Church lieth the body of Hugoline Chamberlaine to King Edward the Confessor of whom this Storie is written in the life of the said Edward King Edward one afternoone lying in his bed with his curtaines round about him drawne a poore pilfering Courtier came into his Chamber where finding the Kings Casket open which Hugolin had forgotten to shut he tooke out so much money as hee could well carry and went away but insatiable desire brought him againe the second and third time for such a ready prey vntill the King who lay still all this while and would not seeme to see began to speake to him and bade him speedily be packing for he was well if he could see for if Hugoline came and tooke him there he were not onely like to loose all that he had gotten but also to stretch an halter The fellow was no sooner gone but Hugoline came in and finding the Casket open and much money taken away was greatly moued But the king willed him not to be grieued For said he he that hath it hath more need of it then we haue This Hugolin saith M. Camden was buried in the old Chapter house of this Church Vpon whose Monument these sillie verses were engrauen Qui ruis iniuste capit hic Hugoline locus te Laude pia clares quia martyribus nece clareâ For learning in this kings dayes was so low ebbed in England that betweene Thames and Trent there was scant one found which could vnderstand Latine This passage of the aforesaid pilfery is delineated and wrought in the Hangings about the Quire with the Portraitures of the king Hugolin and the Theefe vnder which are these verses Ecce nimis parca furis manus exit ab archa Celat opus furis pietas non regula iuris Tolle quod habes et fuge Hic iacet Willelmus Bedel Ar. et Cecilia vx eius filia heres Domini Roberti Grene militis ac etiam heres domini Iohannis Cley militis qui quidem Willelmus fuit Thesaurarius Hospitij excellentissimi Principis Margarete nuper Comitisse Richmondie Darbie matris Regis Henrici
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 âs 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 yunâa 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
procured his lands and reuenues backe againe from the Conquerour and by himselfe and his forcible perswasions with others he did further enrich his Abbey with many faire possessions 15 Richard succeeded him who solemnly magnificently did consecrate the Church which his predecessour Paul had finished and built a Chappell of himselfe to the honour of Saint Cuthbert in which hee was entombed with this Epitaph Abbas Richardus iacet hic vt pistica nardus Redolens virtutum floribus et merit is A quo fundatus locus est hic edisicatus Ingenti studio nec modico precio Quem nonas decimas Februo promente Kalendas Abslulit vltima sors et rapuit cita mors 16 Geffrey the Abbot gaue many rich ornaments to this his Monastery with a Challice and a couer all of massie pure gold which afterwards hee sent to Pope Celestine the second vt ipsius sedaret auaritiam volent is hanc Ecclesiam appropriare that he might appease or mitigate the couetousnesse of his holy father of Rome who was willing and went about to impropriate this Abbey Abbas Galfridus Papa cui fuit ipse molestus Hic iacet innocuus prudens pius atque modeslus 17 Raph his successor built anew the lodgings for the Abbots and gaue diuers rich Copes and Vestments for the ornament of his Church 18 Robert was the next Abbot who procured the Church of Luton to be annexed to this and deliuered his Monastery from the seruitude of the Bishop of Lincolne which was a controuersie of long continuance and in the end agreed vpon by composition which agreement was confirmed by Alexander the third Bishop of Rome about the yeare 1178. as by his Bull to that purpose appearent Bulla de compositione facta inter Lincoln Ecclesiam et Ecclesiam beati Albani Alexander Episcopus seruus seruoruÌ Dei. Dilecto filio Roberto Abbati monasterij Sancti Albani Salutem et apostolicam ben Ea que compositione seu concordia mediante rationabili prouidentia statuuntur in sua debent stabilitate consistere Et ne alicuius temeritate in posterum valeant immutari Apostolice sedis ea conuenit auctoritate muniri Ea propter dilecte in Domino fili Roberte tuis postulationibus grato concurrentes assensu compositionem que inter Lincoln Ecclesiam et monasterium beati Albani super Processionibus de Herfordshira de quibus inter vtramque Ecclesiam controuersia fuerat sicut in instrumento exinde facto continetur vtriusque partis assensu rationabiliter facta est tibi et prefate Ecclesie tue auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus Statuentes vt nulli omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis dei et beatorum Petrie et Pauli Apostolorum eius se neuerit incursurum Dat. Auagn xi Kal. Feb. pontificatus nostri anno vij About twenty yeares afterwards vpon some new quarrels belike arising betweene the two foresaid Churches this composition and transaction was againe confirmed by Clemens the third in these words Clemens Episcopus seruus seruorum dei dilectis filijs Abbati et conuentui Sancti Albani Salutem et Apostolâcam ben Cum inter vos ex vna parte et Ecclesiam Lincolnien et Capitulum eius ex altera controuersia verteretur super eo quod Capitulum ipsum Ecclesiam vestram proponebat Ecclesie Lincolnien de iure esse subiectam inter vos concordia de assensu partium intercesserit Nos itaque volentes que super causarum litigijs concordia vel iuditio rationabiliter statuuntur firmitatem perpetuam optinere et ne processu temporis in scrupulum recidue contentionis deueniaât literarum amminutulis memorie commendare concordiamillam sicut rationabiliter facta est et ab vtraque parte recepta et in scripto autentico continetur auctoritate Apostolica conâirmamus et presentis Scripti patrocinio communuimus Statuentes vt nulli as before Dat. Lateran Id. Martij Pontisicatus nostri Anno secundo 19 Symon Abbot caused many bookes to be written for the vse of the Couent in his time one Adam Steward of the monastery made the Kitchin much more large and gaue both money and lands to the Couent and Monastery ideo saith my Author ob preclara eius merita inter Abbates in capitulo sepulturam meruit optinere therefore for his good deserts hee deserued to be buried in the Chapter-house amongst the Abbots 20 Carine caused a coffin and a Shrine to be new made wherein he put the reliques of Saint Amphibalus Richard Cordelion King of England being taken prisoner by Leopold Duke of Austria and his ransome set at one hundred thousand pound commandement was directed from his Iustices that all Bishops Prelates Earles Barons Abbots and Priors should bring in the fourth part of their reuenues towards his deliuerance at which time the shrines in the Churches were fleeced and their Chalices coined into ready money yet this Abbot quia Regi erat amicissimus redeemed the Chalices and all other the rich offerings to the glorious shrines within his Church for two hundred markes This Carine was the first Abbot of this house that was dignified with Miter and Croisier 21 Iohn de Cella did many workes of piety and purchased the Church of Saint Stephen with certaine lands thereunto adioyning for one hundred and twenty markes which he did assigne to the Officers of his Kitchin 22 William amongst many of his pious acts reedified Saint Cuthberts Chappell being as then ruinous and ready to fall downe which hee new made in the honour of Saint Cuthbert Saint Iohn the Baptist and Saint Agnes the Virgine vpon which dedication he caused these verses to be insculped ouer the high Altar Confessor Cuthberte Dei Baptista Iohannes Agnes virgo tribus vobis hec ara sacratur 23 Iohn of Hertford was a great benefactor to this Abbey 24 His successor Roger did wondrously loue the beautie of the house of God which he euidently did demonstrate by the great cost and charges he bestowed vpon this his owne Church besides he caused to be made three tunable Bels for the Steeple two to the honour of Saint Alban and the third to Saint Amphibalus which he appointed to be rung at nine a clocke euery night whereupon it was called the Corfue or couer fire bell 25 After Roger succeeded Iohn of Berkamstede of whom because hee did nothing memorable in his life time nothing shall be spoken in this present page Sed taman Lectorem monemus saith the Booke vt conuertatur ad pietatis opera et omnipotenti deo pro eius anima preces fundat 26 Iohn Marines gaue a Censer to his church of a great price besides many other necessaries 27 Hugh his successor inlarged the reuenues of his church with many faire possessions and obtained of Edward the second diuers great gifts with a crucifixe of gold beset with precious stones a cup of
Eclipsis hee eius particularis Nam sua seu prima nunc vita latet tenebrata Altera sic lucet sic nomen eique resplendet Quod per defectum nunquam patietur Eclipsim Nam per vim fame stat mortis vulnus inane Cur exoretur pro Patre pioque rogetur Lux quia vera fuit subiectis dummodo rexit Semper perpes ei lux luceat ac requici Pausa sit perpetue vita vinat duplicique Nominis ac anime sic vinere vult meruitque 4. Vpon a Monke of this Abbey here entombed Quem Natura mirum natu fecit generosum Grataque sors Dominum mos atque patrem Monachorum Nunc abijt sed non obijt quia nomine viuit Nec recubat magis astch vigilat quia fama superstes Vestitu Maurus fuit in victu Benedictus Pacomius monitis Basilius rudimentis Nec sibi defuerat ipsum decuit quod habere Impar nam steterat Pater absque pare Pro Pastore pecus plebs pro domino gemit omnis Almaque Sponsa flet cecidisse virum Astra tamen ciuem letentur habere perhennem Exultatque Polus quod sit ei thalamus 5. Vpon a Monke of this house here buried Qui lacrimans Lazarum revocasti quadraduanum Ad vitam Monachum reuoces sic hic tumulatum Fac tecumque frui requie cum luce perhenni Vendicat ex iure vixit Monachaliter ipse 6. Vpon another Brother of the Couent here interred Iste Pater pater iste pius Pater hic tumulatus Et pater mater Pedagogus eratque minister Dum rexit pecorum fuerat cur quod tribuendum Quatuor hijs restat nunc detur eique reviuat In voto Fratrum quia tot fuit vnus eisdem Stoque vices que modos alternauit variantes Morte premi talem culpat pietas pietatem 7. Vpon Iohn Cressy a young youth of the ancient familie of the Cressyes hereby at Harding Dum puer ipse fui puer libroque vacaui Mortis mole rui moriens hic me sepeliui Here 's magnus eram preclara stirpe que natus Dumque superfueram Iohn Cressy rite vocatus Qui pretergrederis lege pro me postque preceris 8. Vpon another young boy where buried I know not Que iuuenes que senes pueros que viros premit omnes Mors sub mole tua precor in te voce sub ista Sit tibi posse breue nunquam fatum puerile Per te mutetur sit canus cum morietur Viâ vndennis eram morsu cum mortis obibam 9. Dum mater plorat puer hic in morte laborat Dumque Petra tegitur rogat vt requies sibi detur Vt rogat ipsae sibi sit perpes pax requiei Sic nos clamemus secum pariterque rogemus Vt sibi cum requie lux lucescat sine fine 10. Vpon Thomas Pakington slaine in the first battell here in Saint Albans who was Sword-bearer to Henry Lord Percy Earle of Northumberland here also slaine as I haue said before He lies buried in Saint Peters Church in this Towne with an Epitaph vpon a marble-stone to the same effect Me vis prostrauit me post mortem tumulauit Hac sub mole petre perij seu sic periere Tres magni Domini fueram tunc scutifer vni Portitor ac gladij pax sit eique mihi Ipse Thomas dictus Pakington eramque vocatus 11. Vpon Margaret Biseworth a Maide Qui legis hec memora iacet hic quod femina clara Que Margareta fuerat Byesworth vocitata Hanc mors seua nimis etas sibi dum iuuenilis Infuit intacto steterat dum corpore Virgo Peste sua strauit hic stratam tumulauit M. semel x querno C quater ter I. sibi iuncto V. que die binamartis decies repetita Transijt à seculo sibi propicius Deus esto 12. Vpon Iohn Dunstable an Astrologian a Mathematician a Musitian and what not Musicus hic Michalus alter nouus Ptholomeus Iunior ac Athlas supportans robore celos Pausat sub cinere melior vir de muliere Nunquam natus erat vicij quia labe carebat Et virtutis opes possedit vnicus omnes Cur exoptetur sic optandoque precetur Perpetuijs annis celebretur fama Iohannis Dunstapil in pace requiescat hic sine fine 13. Vpon one Peter buried in the lower part of this Quire Petrum petra tegit qui post obitum sibi legit Hic in fine chori se sub tellure reponi Petra fuit Petrus petree quia condicionis Substans solidus quasi postis relligionis Hic sibi sub Petra sit pax pausa quieta 14. Vpon one Peter Iones a Doctor and a Parson a confabulatorie Epitaph Quis iacet hic Pastor quis item graduamine Doctor Quod nomen Petrus cognomen quale Iohannes Annis quot rexit ter trinis quot sibi vixit Lustra bis septem Quis finis sanctus eidem Vixit enim sancte moriens sic desijt atque 15. Hic soboles cineris hic proles mulieris Compausant vtero pariendi rursus ab vno Partu puluereo renouatur vitae secundo Et sub perpetuo mors manet exilio In this Manuscript are diuers other Epitaphs of his making which I shall meete withall by the way I had like to haue forgotten Alan Strayler the Painter or Limmer out of the pictures in the golden Register of all the Benefactours to this Abbey who for such his paines howsoeuer he was well payed and for that he forgaue three shillings foure pence of an old debt owing vnto him for colours is thus remembred Nomen Pictoris Alanus Strayler habetur Qui sine fine choris celeslibus associetur But it is high time to take leaue of the Abbey which at the first as you may perceiue by the premisses was endowed with much land and many large priuiledges and daily augmented and successiuely confirmed by the charters of many of our English and Saxon Kings and Princes and much enlarged in all by sundrie Abbots and other sincere well-affected persons So that before the dissolution such were the priuiledges of this place that the King could make no secular Officer ouer them but by their owne consentâ they were alone quite from paying that Apostolicall custome and ãâã which was called Rom-scot or Peter-pence whereas neither King Archâishop Bishop Abbot Prior nor any one in the kingdome was freed from the payment thereof The Abbot also or Monke appointed Archdeâcon vnder him had pontificall iurisdiction ouer the Priests and Lay-men of all the possessions belonging to this Church so as he yeelded subââtion to no Archbishop Bishop or Legate saue onely to the Pope of ãâã This Abbot had the fourth place among the Abbots which sate as âââons in the Parliament house Howsoeuer Pope Adrian the fourth âhose surname was Breakespeare borne hereby at Abbots Langley grantâd this indulgence to the Abbots of this Monasterie that as Saint Alban was distinctly knowne to be the first
and Maud his wife Which Tho. died the third of December 1536. 38. Hen. 8. De Sudeley Domina natus Iohn Lind que vocatus Morte ruit stratus hic Armiger intumulatus Aula Mareschallum quem regia nobilitauit Egra lues rapuit raptum cineri sociauit Supplico qui graderes seu in marmore lumina figes Ora cum superis sit sibi pausa pijs ob 3. Septemb. Ann. 1464. Hic iacet Iohannes Bernwel de villa Sancti Albani in Com. Hert. gen qui obiit .... 1400. Dummodo vixisti quia spemque fidem tenuisti Fulâor Ecclesie cultor fuerasque Marie Vita salus requies tibi cum deitate Iohannes Sit Bernwel prima mors et tua vita secunda Hic iacet Symon Bernwel qui ob 28. Ian. Ann. 1455. Hic iacet Reginaldus Bernwell qui ob 12. April 1477. Here lyeth Brian Lockley who died .... 1507 ...... and Alice Lockley who died .... 1546. Here lyeth Richard Lockley Elisabeth and Agnes his wyfs Whych Richard dyed Ann. 1544. for their sowls and al Christian sowls of yowr cherite say a Pater Noster and an Ave. Vnder a marble stone in the Quire a religious man lieth interred whose name is worne or stolne out with the brasse onely the forme of a Rose remaineth and in the turnings of the leaues this Inscription Lo al that ere I spent somtym had I. Al that I gav to good intent that now hav I. That which I nether gav nor lent that now aby I. That I kept til I went that lost I. An old translation from these Latine couplets following Quod expendi habui Quod donani habeo Quod negaui punior Quod servaui perdidi Hic iacet Dominus Edwardus Hill miles ordinis Sancti Iohannis Baptiste qui obiit ..... Ann ... M. cccccxxxvi This knight was one of the Fraternitie of that religious order of S. Iohns Ierusalem an Hospitall Of which I haue spoken in another place Saint Michaels within Saint Albans Iohn Pecock et Mawd sa âemme gisoââicy E Dieu de sont almes eit mercy Amen Hic iacet Thomas Woluey or Woluen Latomus in Arte nec non Armiger illustrissimi Principis Ric. secundi quondam Regis Anglie qui obijt Anno Dom. M. ccccxxx in vigilia Sancti Thome Martyris Cuius anime propitiâtur Deus Amen This man as farre as I vnderstand by this Inscription was the master Mason or Surueior of the kings stone-works as also Esquire to the Kings person Hic iacet Richardus Wolven or Woluey Lathonius filius Iohannis Woluen cum vx ãâ¦ã Agneâe Agnete cum octo âiliis decem filiabus suis qui Richardus ob ..... Ann. 1490. quorum animabus Vertitur in cineres isto sub marmore corpus Willelmi Lili spiritus astra petit Quisquis es hoc facies supplex pia numina poscas Vt sibi concedat regna beata poli Saint Stephens within Saint Albans Hic iacent Willelmus Robins Armiger nuper Clericus Signeti Edwardi quarti nuper Regis Anglie Katherina vxor eiusdem Willelmi qui quidem VVillielmus obijt iiij die Mensis Nouembris Ann. Dom. M. cccclxxxij ãâã animabus ..... Clericus Signeti or Signetti Clarke of the Signet is an officer continually ãâã attendant on his Maiesties Secretarie who alwayes hath the custodie of the priuie Signet as well for sealing his Maiesties priuie letters as also ãâã grants as passe his Maiesties hands by Bill assigned Of these there be ãâã that attend in their course and were vsed to haue their diet at the ãâã table More largely you may reade of their Office in the Statute ãâã Ann. 27. Hen. 8. ca. 11. Here lyeth Robert Turbervile Esquire and Dorothy his wife whych Robert died 26. Feb. 1529. and Dorothy 7. Octob. 1521. Sancta Trinitas vnus Deus miserere nobis Here lyeth Sir Iohn Turbervile Vicar of this Church who died ..... 1536 ..... Quos tegit hec petra iunxit thorus domus vna Iam puluis factus William Dauy nomine dictus Cum Margareta sponsali fedore iuncta Cum prece deuota qui transis sta precor ora Hic iacet Iohannes Gril quondam Magister Sancti Iuliani Vicarius istius Ecclesie qui ob ..... 6. die Decemb. 1449. Cuius Anime propitietur altissimus Saint Germans About the yeare of the worlds redemption 429. when as the Pelagian heresie budded forth afresh in this Island and so polluted the British Churches as that to auerre and maintaine the truth they sent for German Bishop of Auxerre the place of his birth a man of moche noble lygnage taught and enformed wel in the Artes liberalle lerned in the scyence of the Decretees droytes and lawe saith his Legend and Lupus Bishop of Troies out of France who by refuting this heresie gained vnto themselues a reuerent account among the Britains but chiefly German who hath at this day thorowout all this Island many Churches dedicated to his memorie Now vnderstand that neere to the walls of the old Citie Verulam was as then a plot of consecrated ground wherein the bodies of such as had professed Christianitie and suffered martyrdome vnder the persecution of the Romane Emperours were interred In which the said German openly out of the pulpit preached Gods word to the people where afterwards the beleeuing Christians built this Chappell and dedicated it to his honour for that by his doctrine and other good meanes hee had conuerted many thousands to the true profession of Christian Religion This German commanded the Sepulchre of Saint Alban to be opened and therein bestowed certaine reliques of Saints that those whom one heauen had receiued should also be in one Sepulchre together lodged Thus much saith Camden I note by the way that ye may obserue and consider the fashions of that age This Chappell or rather the ruines of it are remaining at this day and put to a prophane and beastly vse The foundations of Sopwell S. Iulians and Saint Mary Pree About this Towne of Saint Albons the Abbots of the Monasterie in a pious and deuout intent erected a little Nunnery at Sopwell valued but at threescore and eight pound eight shillings per annum Saint Iulians Spittle for Lepers and another named Saint Mary de Pree or Saint Mary in the Medow for diseased weemen Neere vnto which they had a great Mannour named Gorombery where Sir Nicholas Bacon knight Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England a man of rare wit and deepe experience father of Sir Francis Bacon knight Lord Verulam Viscount Saint Alâan Lord Chancellour of England lately deceased one that might iustly challenge as his due all the best attributes of learning built an house beseeming his place and calling and ouer the entrance into the Hall caused these verses to be engrauen Haec cum perfecit Nicholaus tecta Baconus Elisabeth regni lustra fuere
short But he so long deferred the execution of this intent that he was surprised by death before he could performe it the sixteenth day of Ianuarie 1127. He was Warden of the marches of Wales and gouernour of the County of Salop he sate Bishop twenty yeares in which time beside the building of this Monastery he purchased diuers whole streets and much housing neere to his Cathedrall Church of Saint Pauls All which he pulled downe and leauing the ground vnbuilt for a Cemitery or Churchyard enclosed the same with a wall which for the most part remaineth but at this day so couered with houses as it can hardly be seene The Canons of this house desired his body to be here buried which they entombed vnder a marble Monument with this inscription Hic iacet Richardus Beauueis cognomine Rufus London Episcopus vir probus et grandeuus per totam vitam laboriosus Fundator noster religiosus et qui multa bona nobis et Ministris Ecclesie sue sancti pauli contulit obijt xvi Iaenuarij M. c.xx.vii cuius anime propitietur altissimus Woodham waters In this Church I finde no monument of any great antiquity howsoeuer here was the ancient seate of the Lords Fitz-waters who being nobly descended saith Camden were of a most ancient race deriued from Robert the yonger sonne of Richard sonne to Gislebert of Clare accounted Earle of Hertford but in the age lately foregoing translated by a daughter into the stocke of the Radcliffes the predecessors of the Earles of Sussex Woodham Mortimer Prey for the sowlys of Iron Cokar and Christian his wyf which Ion dyed the viii of Octobre on thowsand fowr hundryd seuenty and eight and the seyd Ion for the helth of his sowl gaue by his Testament and last Will to God and to his Church a yeerely rent of xx pens and iii. schillyngs iiii pens for kepyng his obit in this Chirch to bee takyn out of his croft callyd Windets yerly for euer Maldon In this towne stood the pallace royall of Cunobeline or Kimbaline King of great Britaine a Prince that spent his yonger yeares in the warres vnder Augustus Caesar of whom he receiued the order of Knighthood by whom he was so fauoured that by his alone request the peace of this kingdome was continued without the payment of Romane Tribute who hauing for a long time enioyed peace in the vniuersall peace of the world for in the xiii yeare of his raigne the God of peace our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was borne of the blessed Virgin He trained vp his people in a more ciuill and peaceable kinde of gouernement then that to which they had beene formerly accustomed and departed this world in peace within this his Citie of Maldon then the chamber of his kingdome in the one and twentieth yeare of our redemption when he had raigned thirty and fiue yeares of whom thus writeth my Author Io Harding ca. xlv Kymbaline so was his sonne and heyre Noryshed at Rome instruct with Cheualre That knyght was made wyth honor greate and âayer By Octauian reigning then enterly Emperor then of Romes great Monarchy In whose time was both peace and all concord Through all the worlde and borne was Christ our Lorde He was buried in this his chiefe citie some say at London Hic iacet Henricus Coggeshale filius et heres Thome Coggeshale filij Thome Coggeshale Armigeri qui obijt 9. Ian. 1427. cuius Quisquis eris quitransieris sta perlege plora Sum quod eris fueramque quod es pro me precor ora Orate pro anima Thome Darcy Ar. corporis Regum Edwardi quarti et Henrici sexti et nuper vnius Iusticiar ad pacem in com Essex ac filij et heredis Roberti Darcy militis nec non pro anima Margarete consortis sue vnius filiarum et heredis Iohannis Harleton in com Suffolk Ar. qui quidem Tho. obijt 25. Mens Septemb. 1485. Hic iacet Rogerus Darcy Ar. filius et heres Tho. Darcy Ar. pro corpore illustrissimi Principis Henrici septimi Regis Anglie et Elizabetha vxor eius filia Henrici Wentworth militis qui obijt vltimo die Septemb. 1508. Diuers other faire monuments but shamefully defaced are here erected to the memory of the Darcies a numerous familie and for antiquity and noblenesse of birth of great respect in many places of this kingdome Sir Robert Darcy Knight remembred in the former inscription by his last will and testament bequeathed his body to be buried in this Church the substance whereof I haue read in an old Manuscript as followeth Robert Darcy Knight made his Testament the 5 of October Anno Domini 1469. his body he willed to be buried in all Hallowes Church of Maldon before the Altar in the Isle where his father lieth in a Tombe of marble Also he willed l markes to be disposed for two thousand masses for him to be said within sixe weekes next after his deceyse iiii d. for euery masse and that they be charged for to prey for his soule his wifs soul his fathers and his mothers and for all his sisters soules and for all their husbands soules and for all the soules that he is bound to prey for Of which said l. markes hee willed to haue somewhat euery Prist that dwelled in Penbroke hall in Cambridge Also he willed that euery Fryer that was a Prist in Colchester haue xx d. and euery little Fryer vi d. to say three dirgees considering that he was a brother of that Order And the house of Chennesford xl s. the house of Clare xx s. and each yong Frier vi d. considering that hee was a brother of their Order And he made his Executors Elizabeth his wife Io. Clopton Esquire Nicolas Saxton and Richard Astley Clerkes And the superuisors of this his Testament my Lord of Essex my Lord Dinham Thomas Mountgomery and Thomas Tirrill Knights lowly beseeching the said Lord of Essex the Lord Dinham Sir Thomas Mountgomery and Sir Thomas Tirrill to helpe his sonne Thomas and all his children Also hee willed that my Lord of Essex and the Lord Dinham should each of them haue a But of Malmesey and that Sir Thomas Mountgomery and Sir Thomas Tirrill should each of them haue a pipe of red wine Also he willed that his brother Iohn Clopton one of his Executors should haue for his labour xx.l. Also he willed mistresse Anne Darcy his brothers wife to haue xx markes Yeuen at Danbury the day and yeare aboue said This his will was proued quarto diâ mensis Maij coram reuerendo in Christo Patre Domino Thoma Episcopo London infra manerium suum de Wekeham Anno Domini 1470. One King a Butcher with his two wiues Alice and Anne lie here interred vnder a goodly marble richly inlayd with brasse his Axe for his Armes with this Epitaph who died 1415 Subiacet hic pictus diues durus
Bell on which is cast a peece of coine of siluer of King Edward the fourth it was giuen by one of the Countesses of Essex as one may partly gather by an old Inscription vpon it is the Bowsers knot Tiltey Here sometime stood a Monastery founded by Maurice Fitz-Gilbert before remembred not long after the Conquest which he dedicated to the honour of the Virgine Mary and therein placed white Monkes of the Cistertian order The donations to this religious house are confirmed in the Records of the Tower Cart. Antiq. lit S. The valuation of it at the suppression was 177. l. 9 s. 4. d. This Monasterie is not altogether ruinous in the little Church whereof I found these Funerall Inscriptions following Bruntingthorpe neare to Leicester hath long beene the habitation of the ancient familie of Dannet saith Master Burton who beareth sable Guttee Argent a Canton Ermine one of which familie lieth here interred with this Epitaph Hic iacet sepultus cum coniuge Maria Gerardus Dannet de Bruntingthorp in Com Lecestr Ar. serenissimi Regis Henrici octaui Consiliarius qui obijt Anno Christi M. ccccc.xx mensis Maij quarto The armes afore blazoned are ouer the Monument of this Councellour to king Henry Abbas famosus bonus viuendo probatus In Thakley natus qui iacet hic tumulatus Thomas dictatus qui Christo sit sociatus Rite gubernauit istumque locum peramauit Great Easton Orate .... Willelmi Moigne Ar .... qui obiit .... M.ccc.v This William Moigne or Monke held this Mannor of Easton ad montem for so it was anciently called with Winterborne and Maston in the Countie of Wilts by seruice of being Clarke of the Kings Kitchin and keeper of his Lardarie tempore Coronationis Hatfield Brad-oke So called saith Camden of a broad spread Oake in which Towne Robert de Vere the third Earle of Oxford and great Chamberlaine of England founded a Priorie for blacke Monkes About the beginning of the raigne of King Henry the third valued at the suppression at 157. l. 3. s. 2. d. ob per annum which Priory Aubrey de Vere the third of that Christian name Earle of Oxford enfeoffed with the Tithes of this Towne and to the instrument of his donation he affixed by a harpe string as a labell to the bottome of the parchment a short blacke hafted knife like vnto an old halfe penny whitle instead of a Seale These are the words in his Grant Per istum cultellum Albericus de Vere tertius feoffauit Prioratum et Conventum de Hatfeeld Regis alas Brodoke cum omnibus decimis in villa predicta Habend c. a festo Assumptionis beate Marie virginis in puram perpetuam Eleemosinam c. Of this old manner of signing and sealing of deeds you may read Lambard in his perambulation of Kent pag. 318. This Robert was first entombed in the Church of his owne foundation and at the dissolution remoued into the Quire of this Parish Church where he lieth crosse-legged with this inscription now almost worne out Sire Robert de Veer le premier count de Oxenford le tierz git ci Dieux del alme si luy plest sace merci Oi pur lame priera xl iors de pardonn anera Pater Noster Sir Robert Vere the first and third Earle of Oxford lieth here God if he please have mercy of his soule whosoeuer shall pray for his soule shall obtaine fourty dayes Pardon He died in the yeare 1221. Hic iacent Thomas Barington Ar. Anna vxor eius qui quidem Thomas obijt v. Aprilis M. cccc lxxij Anna obiit proximo die sequenti Quorum animabus propitietur Altissimus At Barington Hall within this Parish saith that learned delineator of Great Britaine M. Camden dwelleth that right ancient familie of the Baringtons which in the raigne of King Stephen the Barons of Montfitchet inriched with faire possessions since which time this house is much enobled by the marriage of Sir Thomas Barington knight with Winifred the daughter and coheire of Sir Henry Pole knight Lord Montague sonne of Margaret Plantaginet Countesse of Salisbury descended of the bloud royall being the daughter of George Duke of Clarence Great Dunmow Exoretis miserecordiam Dei pro anima Walteri Bigod Armigeri qui obijt 17. die mens Mar. 1397. Simon de Regham iadis Parson de Dunmow gist icy Dieu de son alme eit mercy Amen Of yowr cherite prey for the sowls of Iohn Ienone Esquyr somtym on of the Common Pleas of Westmynstre and Alys his wyff Whych Iohn dyed xvii Septembyr M. Vc.xlii Little Dunmow Iuga the wife of one Baynard a Nobleman that came in with the Conquerour the builder of Baynards Castle in London founded the Priority in this village in the beginning of the raigne of Henry Beauclerke and entreated Mauricius Bishop of London to dedicate the Church to the honour of the virgine Mary to which the same day she gaue halfe a Hide of land Her sonne and heire Geffrey Baynard placed blacke Chanons therein by the consent of Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury This house was valued at the suppression to be yearely worth 173. l. 2. s. 4. d. The Church of this monastery is as yet standing in the Quire whereof betweene two pillars lieth the body of Matilda the faire entombed who was the daughter of Robert Fitz-water the most valiant knight of England About the yeare 1213. saith the booke of Dunmow there arose a great discord betwixt king Iohn and his Barons because of Matilda surnamed the faire daughter of Robert Fitz-water whom the King vnlawfully loued but could not obtaine her nor her fathers consent thereunto Whereupon and for other like causes ensued warre through the whole Realme The king banished the said Fitz-water amongst other and caused his Castle called Baynard and other his houses to be spoiled Which being done he sent a messenger vnto Matilda the faire about his old Suit in Loue Et quia noluit consentire toxicauit eam And because she would not agree to his wicked motion the messenger poisoned a boiled or potched Egge against she was hungrie and gaue it vnto her whereof she died the yeare 1213. In the yeare following after her death her banished father was restored to the kings fauour vpon this occasion It happened in the yeare 1214. king Iohn being then in France with a great armie that a truce was taken betwixt the two Kings of England and France for the terme of fiue yeares and a riuer or arme of the Sea being betwixt either host there was a knight in the English host that cried to them of the other side willing some one of their knights to come and iust a course or two with him Wherupon without stay Robert Fitz-water being on the French part made himselfe ready ferried ouer got on horseback and shewed himself ready to the face of
men To tell the worlds full strength what creatures liued then When in her height of youth the lustie fruitfull earth Brought forth her big-lim'd brood euen Gyants in their birth Neere to Showbery in Rochford Hundred are certaine hils in which the bodies of the Danes there discomfited and slaine in the raigne of Edmund Ironside lie buried in Essex What way saith Camden in Essex this country looketh toward Cambridgeshire Barklow sheweth itselfe well knowne now by reason of foure little hils or Burries cast vp by mans hand such as in old time were wont to be raised as Tombes for Souldiers slaine whose reliques were not easie to be found But when a fifth and sixth of them were not long since digged downe three troughes of stone were found and in them broken bones of men as I was informed The country people say that they were reared after a field there fought against the Danes for Dane wort which with bloud-red berries commeth vp here plenteously they still call by no other name then Danes-bloud of the number of Danes that there were slaine verily beleeuing that it bloometh from their bloud The parish Church of Ashdown or Assandun giues buriall to the slaughtered bodies of many braue English Souldiers for Edmund sirnamed Ironside King of England hauing fought sixe battels with the Danes within the compasse of one yeare in which at the beginning hee had the better putting them euer to rout plaied here in this place his last prize where he was so defeyted by the meanes of false Edrick his counsell that he lost the flower of the English Nobilitie In memoriall of which Battell king Canutus the Danish Conquerour built this Church at such time when as vpon remorse and repentance for the bloud which he had shed he erected Chappels in what part soeuer he had foughten any field and shed Christian bloud Of which my old Rimer Robert of Glocester Knute moche louyd Engâysshmen and the loud thertoo And holy Chyrche susteyned as hym ought to doo And restoryd Abbeyes stroyed that wer befor And Chyrches lette arere that allwer forlor And Chyrches now he lette arere in stedests most thar Where he had Battayles doo and men yslaw ar As vpon Asshedonne and about ther Al for the soulygs of hem that sleyne ther were Certaine small hillocks are remayning neare to this Church at this day out of which haue beene digged the bones of men Armour and the water chaines of horse bridles as the Inhabitants told me Claudius the Emperour saith S Danyel had the honour of taking the whole Isle of Britaine to the Romane Empire which though thus wonne was not till a long time after ouercome For now the Britaines vnderstanding the misery of their dissociation how their submission brought but the more oppression colleague themselues against the Romanes taking their occasion vpon the outrages committed on the person and state of Queene Vaodicia or Boudicea widow of Prasutagus king of the Icenians the Inhabitants of Norfolke Suffolke Cambridge and Huntingtonshires a great and rich Prince who at his death had left Nero his heire and two daughters hoping thereby to free his house from iniuries But it fell out contrary for no sooner was he dead but his kingdome was spoiled by the Cenâurions his house ransackt by slaues his wife beaten and his daughters rauished Besides the chiefe men of the Icenians as if all the region had beene giuen in prey were rest of their goods and the kings kinsmen esteemed as captiues with which contumely and feare of greater mischiefe they conspire with the Trinobants the Inhabitants of Midlesex and Essex and others not yet inured to seruitude to resume their liberty And first set vpon the Garrisons of the Veteran Souldiers whom they most hated defeited the ninth Legion whereof they slew all the foote forced Cercalis the Legat and leader to flight and put to the sword seuenty thousand Romanes and associates inhabiting this municipall Towne Comolodunum now Maldon as also London and Verulam before Suetonius the Gouernour of the Prouince could assemble the rest of the dispersed forces to make head against their armie conducted by Vaodicia who with her two daughter brought into the field to moue compassion and reuenge incites them to that noble and manly worke of liberty Which to recouer she protests to hold her selfe there but as one of the vulgar without weighing her great honour and birth resolued to winne or dye Many of their wiues were likewise there to be spectatours and incouragers of their husbands valour But in the end Suetonius got the victory with the slaughter of fourescore thousand Britaines of the Romanes onely foure hundred were slaine and not many moe hurt saith Tacitus lib. Annal. 14. ca. 11. Vaodicia seeing the ouerthrow of her Army was notwithstanding vnuanquished in her owne Noble Spirit and scorning to be a spectacle in their Triumphs or a vassall to their wills after the example of Cleopatra she made an end of her miseries and life by poyson She was affoarded honorable buriall and so were the rest of her vanquished Armie there slaine according to their qualitie neare vnto the places where the battell was strucken BISHOPS OF LONDON CANONIZED SAINTS MEllitus the first Bishop of this See after the remouall of the Archbishopricke to Canterbury had a shrine erected to his honour in this Church as I haue touched before In his time and partly by his instigation this Cathedrall Church was built by Ethelbert King of Kent He was consecrated Bishop of London by Saint Austin Archbishop of Canterbury the yeare 604. In the gouernment whereof hee continued nineteene yeares in which time and about the fourth yeare of his consecration he went to Rome to conferre with Boniface the Pope about diuers things and was by him honourably entertained A yeare or two after his returne died both Ethelbert King of Kent as also Sebert of the East Angles whom he had conuerted to the Christian Faith King Sebert left behinde him three wicked sonnes that being neuer baptized came notwithstanding one day into the Church at Communion time and asked the Bishop what hee meant that hee deliuered not of that same fiâe bread vnto them as he was wont to their father Sebert and did yet vnto the rest of the people He answered that if they would be washed in the water of life as he was and the rest of the people there present then would he deliuer vnto them of this bread also but otherwise neither was it lawfull for him to deliuer nor them to receiue it This notwithstanding they would haue enforced him and when they could not preuaile were so enraged as they expelled him their dominions hardly holding their hands from doing him violence at that time Hee being thus exiled went first vnto Laurence Archbishop of Canterbury and finding him in little better case then himselfe was at London departed into France together with Iustus Bishop of Rochester Being
iustly preuaile against the winde and easily cease these temporall flames and obtaine that they should neuer hurt him nor his See more of him before in Canterbury After the death of Mellitus the Church of London was long without a Pastor euen vntill that Segebert the sonne of Segebert surnamed the little obtaining the Kingdome of the East Saxons by the perswasion of Oswin King of Northumberland became a Christian and procured Ceada a vertuous and godly Priest to be consecrate Bishop of his country which was done in the holy Iland neere to Barwicke by Finan Bishop of Durham from whence he returned to this his Diocesse and began with more authoritie to perfect the worke hee had already begun erecting in diuers places Churches making Priests and Deacons who in preaching baptising might assist him especially in the Cities of Ithancester Tileburg the one standing vpon the Thames the other vpon a branch thereof called Pant in which two places diuers newly assembling together christened he instructed them after the rules of religious persons as farre as their tender capacity could then conceiue And hereby way of digression let me speake somewhat of this small hamlet of Tilbury in ancient time the seat of the Bishops of London and no question in those daies when as Bishop Cedda by baptisme ingraâted the East Saxons in the Church of Christ a prettie faire citie howsoeuer it consisteth now onely of a few cottages much honoured by that famous religious and fortunate great Commander in the warres Sir Horace Vere Knight Lord Vere of Tilbury Of whom and of his elder brother Sir Francis Vere Knight deceased and honourably buried like as hee was an expert and valiant warriour in the Abbey of Westminster a late Poet hath thus written Then liu'd those valiant Veres both men of great command In our imployments long whose either Marshall hand Reacht at the highest wreath it from the top to get Which on the proudest head Fame yet had euer set But to returne this man of God Cedda hauing at first and last continued a long time in these countries preaching the word of life by which hee made a great haruest vnto Christ went downe into his owne countrie of Northumberland which he oftentimes vsed to visite where he builded a Monasterie at Lestinghen wherein he died and was buried of whom no more vntill I come to speake of that Foundation saue onely these verses following ....... Now London place doth take Which had those of whom time Saints worthily did make As Cedda Brother to that reuerend Bishop Chad At Lichfield in those times his famous seat that had Is Sainted for that See amongst our reuerend men From London though at length remoou'd to Lestingen A Monastery which then richly he had begun Erconwald the sonne of Offa King of the East Saxons and the fourth Bishop of this Diocesse was likewise as I haue already spoken canonized of whom venerable Bede thus writes At that time saith he when Sebba and Sigher ruled the East Saxons the Archbishop which was Theodore appointed ouer them Erconwald to be their Bishop in the Citie of London the life and conuersation of which man both before he was Bishop and after was reported and taken for most holy as also euen yet the signes and tokens of heauenly vertues and miracles doe well declare For vntill this day his Horse-licter being kept and reserued by his Schollers wherein he was wont to be carried when hee was sicke and weake doth daily cure such as haue agues or are diseased any otherwise And not onely the sicke persons that are put vnder or laid by the Horse-licter to be so healed but also the chippes and pieces that are cut off from it and brought to sicke folkes are wont to bring them speedie remedie This and many other the miracles wrought by him if wee may beleeue Capgraue was the cause of his canonization questionlesse he was a deuout and vertuous man and bestowed his patrimony in the building of two Monasteries one for Monkes at Chertsey in Surrey another for Nunnes at Barking in Essex of which before Thus much then here for a conclusion as followeth Him Erkenwald ensues th' East English Offa's sonne His Fathers Kingly Court who for a Crosiar fled Whose workes such fame him wonne for holinesse that dead Time him enshrin'd in Pauls the mother of that See Which with reuenues large and priuiledges he Had wondrously endow'd to goodnesse so affected That he those Abbeyes great from his owne power erected At Chertsey neere to Thames and Barking famous long Theodred Bishop of the Diocesse may challenge a place in this my Kalender for that he was sirnamed the Good pro praerogatiua virtutum for the preheminence of his vertues saith Malmesbury lib. 2. de Pontif. Anglor he flourished about the yeare 900. he was buried vnder a high tombe by the window of the vault going downe into S. Faiths Church Of Egwulfe and his Shrine I haue already written all that I know Richard Fitz-neale had his Shrine in S. Pauls Church but vpon what ground or for what reason he was thus much honoured I doe not learne He was the sonne of Nigellus or Neale Bishop of Ely and was made Treasurer of England by the purchase of his father the foresaid Nigellus Richardus filius Nigelli Episcopi Eliens pro quo Nigellus pater emit officium Thesaurij a Rege auaro pro Quadragint Marcis pro quibus pecunijs Nigellus pater spoliauit Ecclesiam Eliens Thesauro suo et ornamentis This purchase was made when as the King Henry the second went to the wars of Tolous It is further written in the booke of Ely that this Richard Fitz-neale after the buriall of Nigellus his father being also an enemy to the Church of Ely as his father had beene before made hast to passe ouer the Seas to King Henry the second fearing that some euill would be prepared against him if the Church should haue sent any thither before him At whose comming to the King he accused the Monkes of Ely of many things and did therewith so edge the King against them that the King sending into England charged by Wunnecus one of his Chaplaines that the Prior of Ely should be deposed and the Monkes with all their goods to be proscribed and banished This man being Treasurer to King Henry the second the treasure of the said Henry the second at his death came vnto one hundred thousand markes notwithstanding the excessiue charges of the King many waies This Richard being Bishop of London by the name of Richard the third and the Kings Treasurer was chosen for the gouernement of this See in the yeare of our redemption one thousand one hundred eighty and nine being the first yeare of King Richard the first and was consecrated Bishop at Lambeth by Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury in the yeare of Christ one thousand one hundred ninety he died the
with inhabitants Famous also for a Mint therein some men of the towne can yet shew of the coines which are sterling pence with this inscription Ciuitatis Dunwic But now by a certaine peculiar spite and enuy of Nature that suffereth the greedy sea to haue what it will and encroch still without all end the greatest part thereof is violently carried away with the waues and it lieth as it were desolate The common fame and report of the Inhabitants is that before the towne came to decay there belonged thereunto two and fifty religious houses as parish Churches Priories Hospitals and Chappels as many Windmils and as many toppe Ships But certaine it is as appeareth by manifest and sound Record which I haue seene saith Stow that euen of late time there was within the said towne sixe parish Churches two houses of Friers an house which had beene of Templars two Hospitals and three Chappels foure of these parish Churches are now of late swallowed vp in the Sea and but two of them remaining on the land to wit Saint Peters and All Saints The Inhabitants of Dunwich desiring succour for their Towne against the rage of the Sea affirme that a great piece of a Forrest sometime thereby is deuoured and turned to the vse of the Sea In the raigne of William the Conquerour saith Camden Dunwich had in it two hundred and sixe and thirty Burgesses an hundred poore people it was valued at fiftie pounds and threescore thousand Herings of gift for so we reade in Domesday booke In the raigne of Henry the second as William of Newborough writeth It was a towne of good note and full stored with sundry kindes of riches At which time when England was all on a light fire with new stirres and broiles this towne was so fortified that it made Robert Earle of Leicester afraid who with his armie ouer-ranne all the parts thereabout at his pleasure But to draw neerer to these our times I haue read and copied out a large Treatise of Dunwich now in the custody of Sir Simonds D'Ewes Knight of which so much in this place as I finde to bee any way pertinent to the premisses and my purpose This treatise or relation of Dunwich was written in the raigne of Queene Mary and sent to one Master Dey from a friend of his whose name is there concealed Sir c. Sixe parish Churches were anciently in Dunwich the first was Saint Leonards now drowned in the sea the second Saint Peters now standing the third Saint Iohns likewise swallowed vp of the Sea the fourth Saint Martins now lying vnder the waues the fift Saint Nicholas now altogether shipwrackt and the sixt the Parish of All Saints now standing and remaining Also there was two houses of Friers very faire Churches and building walled round about with a stone wall with diuers faire gates as yet there may be seene the which grey Friers was of the order of Saint Francis and called the Friers Minors and the blacke Friers were of the order of Saint Dominicke and were called the Friers Preachers Also there was in the said Towne an ancient and very old Church called the Temple of our Lady the which Church by report was in the Iewes time and was valted ouer And the roofe of the same Church and also the Isles were leaded all ouer And it was a Church of great priuiledge and pardon in those daies and was indowed with diuers Rents Tenements Houses Lands and other profits and commodities both free and coppie as well in Donwiche Westelton Dyngle c. as also in diuers other places c. And commonly there was kept a Court called Donwiche Temple Court on the day of All Soules for the leuying and gathering vp of the yeerely reuenue of the same Also there is in the said Towne two Hospitals the one is called Saint Iames which Church is a great one and a faire large one after the old fashion and diuers tenements houses and lands to the same belonging to the vse of the poore sicke and impotent people there But now lately greatly decaied and hindred by euill Masters of the said Hospitall and other euilly disposed couetous persons which did sell away diuers lands and rents from the said Hospitall to the great hinderance of the poore people of the said Hospitall as plainely it is to be proued The other Hospitall was of the holy Trinitie and was and is called the Mason Dieu whereof the Church is now pulled downe and decaied by the meanes of such euill Masters and couetous persons as decayed the other Hospitall But there is yet diuers tenements houses lands and rents remaining to the vse of the poore of the same Hospitall The which Mason Dien was an house of great priuiledge and a place exempt and there was a very little proper house and a proper lodging for the Masters of the same for the time being to dwell in As there hath beene masters of the same Mason Dieu in times past that hath beene worshipfull viz. one there was of late daies a Master of Arte and another that was a Squyre and such like c. I would to God these iniuries and wrongs done to these two poore Hospitals might be restored and reformed againe to their former estate For surely whosoeuer shall doe it shall doe a good worke before God I pray God bring it to passe Amen Also there was in the said Towne of Donwiche three Chappels wherof one was of Saint Antony another of Saint Francis and a third was of Saint Katherine The which three Chappels were put downe when all the houses of Religion were put downe But you shall further vnderstand that the common fame of a great number of credible persons is and hath beene for a long time past that there hath beene in the Towne of Donwiche before any decay came vnto it fiftie and two parish Churches houses of Religion Hospitals and Chappels and other such like as many wind-mils and as many toppe Ships Also I thinke you doe remember the manner forme and fashion of the building and making of Saint Iohns Church and Saint Nicholas Church how they were close sled both North and south and the steeples in the middest like Cathedrall Churches now vsed and as it seemeth as the old manner of Cathedrall Churches then was And most likest so was the Church of Saint Felix for certainly one of these three Churches was the Bishops seat of Donwiche if one of them were not after another as the Sea drowned them And further you shall certainly vnderstand that when Saint Iohns Church was taken downe there lay a very plaine faire Grauestone in the Chancell and when it was raised and taken vp next vnder the same Grauestone was a great hollow stone hollowed after the fashion of a man for a man to lye in and therein a man lying with a paire of Bootes vpon his legges the forepart of the feete of them
for his sapience In citees all he held well vnitees Greate Iustes ay and ioyous tournements Of Lords and knightes he made great assemblees Through all the lande by his wise regimentes They purposed hole by their common assentes To croune hym kyng of all great Italy Within halfe a yere for his good gouernaly But Stow out of Paulus Iouius writes more fully of this marriage In the moneth of Aprill saith he Leonell Duke of Clarence with a chosen companie of the English Nobilitie went towards Millaine there to marrie with Violentis the daughter of Galeasius the second of that name Duke of Millaine at whose comming to Millaine such abundance of treasure was in most bounteous manner spent in making most sumptuous feasts setting forth stately sights and honouring with rare gifts aboue two hundred Englishmen which accompanied his sonne in law as it seemed to surpasse the greatnesse of most wealthie Princes for in the banquet whereat Francis Petrarch was present amongst the chiefest guests there were aboue thirtie courses of seruice at the table and betwixt euery course as many presents of wondrous price intermixed all which Iohn Galeasius chiefe of the choise youth bringing to the table did offer to Leonell There were in one onely course seuenty goodly horses adorned with silke and siluer furniture and in the other siluer vessells Falcons hounds armour for horses costly coates of mayle breast plates glistering of massie steele helmets and corselets decked with costly crestes apparell distinct with costly Iewells souldiers girdles and lastly certaine gemmes by curious Art set in gold and of purple and cloth of gold for mens apparell in great abundance And such was the sumptuousnesse of that banquet that the meates which were brought from the table would sufficiently haue serued ten thousand men But not long after Leonell liuing with his new wife whilest after the manner of his owne countrey as forgetting or not regarding his change of ayre he addicted himselfe ouer-much to vntimely banquetings spent and consumed with a lingring sicknesse died at Alba Pompeia called also Languvill in the Marquisat of Mont-ferrat in Piemont on the Vigill of Saint Luke the Euangelist 1368. in the two and fortieth yeare of his fathers raigne First he was buried saith Camden in the Annalls of Ireland in the Citie of Papie hard by Saint Augustine the Doctor and afterward enterred at Clare in the Couent Church of Austin Friers in England He had issue onely by his first wife one daughter named Philip. Of which you may reade before in the printed copie of the parchment Roll and in the Chronicle of Iohn Harding as followeth His wife was dedde and at Clare was buried And none heire he had but his doughter faire Philip that hight as Cronicles specified Whom quene Philip cristened for his heire Tharchbishop of Yorke for his compeire Hir godmother also of Warwyk the countesse A Lady was of all greate worthynes And in another place Chyldren had he noone but Philip heire By Elizabeth his first wyfe which the kyng Edward maryed to Edmond Mortymer Th erle of Marche that was his warde full yyng Who gate on hir Roger their derelynge Philip the onely daughter of Leonel Plantagenet Duke of Clarence saith Milles agreeing with the former yet going a little further was married vnto Edmund Mortimer Earle of March vpon whom the said Edmund begot Roger and Roger Anne who being married vnto Richard Earle of Cambridge thereby transported the right of the kingdome vnto the House of Yorke I finde in my notes of Burialls in Monasteries that these persons following were also interred in this Priory Church Richard Earl of Clare whom some will haue to bee Founder Dame Alice Spencer Sir Iohn Beauchamp knight Iohn Newborne Esquire who amongst others brought the body of the foresaid Leonell Duke of Clarence into England Iohn Wiborough William Golderich William Capell and Eleanor his wife The Lady Margaret Scroope daughter of .... Westmerland Iohn Kempe Esquire Robert Butterwyke Esquire Ione Candishe daughter of Clopton Dame Eleanor Wynkepery Stoke Clare Here at Stoke adioyning to Clare was a Colledge founded by one of the Mortimers Earle of March valued in the kings bookes to bee yearely worth three hundred twenty foure pounds foure shillings penny halfe penny In this Colledge was entombed the body of Sir Edmund Mortimer the last Earle of March and Vlster of that house Lord of Wigmore Trim Clare and Conaught the Grandchilde of that Edmund Earle of March who married the daughter and onely heire of Leonell Duke of Clarence as it is in the Roll. This Edmund saith Camden in regard of his royall bloud and right to the Crowne stood greatly suspected to Henry the fourth who had vsurped the kingdome and by him was first exposed vnto dangers in so much as he was taken in a battell fought at Pelale in Wales by Owen Glendowr a Rebell and afterward whereas the Percies purposed to aduance his right he was conueyed into Ireland kept almost twenty yeares prisoner in the Castle of Trim suffering all miseries incident to Princes of the bloud while they lye open to euery suspicion and there through extreame griefe ended his dayes the nineteenth day of Ianuary 1424. in the third yeare of the raigne of Henry the sixth Of the foresaid battell his taking and miserable imprisonment thus much out of Harding as followeth Syr Edmonde then Mortimer warred sore Vpon Owen and did hym mekyll tene But at laste Owen laye hym before Where in batell they faught as well was sene Where Owen toke hym prisoner as then full kene With mekell folke on eyther syde slayne And set Edmonde in prysone and great payne He wrote vnto the kyng for great socoure For he had made with Owen his fynaunce To whom the kyng wold graunt then no fauoure Ne nought he wold then make him cheuesaunce For to comforte his foes disobeysaunce Wherfore he laye in fetters and sore prisone For none payment of his great raunsone Here also lay buried the bodies of Sir Thomas Grey knight and his first wife Luce the wife of Walter Clopton Sir Thomas Clopton and Ade his wife Sudbury Saint Gregories In this Church I saw a marble stone some foure yards long and two broad sometimes inlayd all ouer with brasse vnder which the Inhabitants say that Simon Theobold alias Sudbury lyeth interred which may bee true for howsoeuer he hath his Tombe in the Cathedrall Church at Canterbury of which he was Archbishop as I haue written before yet that may be perhaps onely his Cenotaph or honorarie funerall Monument This Simon built whilest hee was Bishop of London the Chappell or vpper end of the Church where this spatious Grauestone lies couched As appeares by this Inscription in the glasse window Orate pro Domino Symone Thepold alias Sudbury qui istam Capellam fundauit Anno Domini M. cccclxv in commemoracione omnium animarum dedicat dat consecrat In
a Cathedrall Church at his owne charges as doth appeare by the sequele Norwich S. Trinities the Cathedrall Church HErebertus dictus Losinga Abbas quondam Rameseie qui sedem Thedford a Rege Willelmo emerat in Anglia magnus fuit Simonie âomes hic postquam erroneum inuentutis impetum desteâissit Romam iuit ac rediens sedem suam vsque Norwicum transtulit vbi et celebre fundauit Monasterium de rebus quidem proprijs non Episcopalibus sed et apud Tedford Monachos cluniacenses instituit hic septus dicere consueuit Erranimus inuenes Emendemus senes thus much out of an old Manuscript of the Abbey of Euesham anciently put into English by the Translator of Polychronicon as followeth Abowte that time Herbert Losange that had ben somtyme Abbot of Ramsay and was thenne Byshop of Tedford was a grete noury for Simony for he had boughte the Bysshopryche of the Kynge But after warde he was sory and bywept the vnskylfull rest of his youth And toke the waye to Rome and came home agayne and chaunged and torned his See from Tedford to Norwyche And he founded a solempne Abbaye wyth his owne catayle and not wyth the catayle of his Bysshopryche But at Tedford he ordained Monkes of Cluny that were ryche in the world and clere of Religion to Godward And had ofte in mynde the worde of Iherom That sayd we erryd in our yougth amende We vs in our age His repentance doth also appeare by the context of his Charter beggining thus In nomine Patris et âilij Spiritus sancti Amen Herbertus Episcopus infirmitatis impuritatis proprie conscius ante iustum clementem Iudicem Deum mores vitam expono meam ei reuelans Inuentut is mee ignorantias c. Igitur pro redemptione vite mee meorumque omnium peccatorum absolutione apud Norwicum in honore et nomine sancte indiuidue Trinitatis Ecclesiam primum edificaui quam caput et matrem Ecclesiam omnium Ecclesiarum de Northfolke et Suthfolke constitui et consecraui Preceptis igitur consessionibus Willelmi Regis et Henrici Regis fratris sui consilio Anselmi Cant. Archiepiscopi et omnium Episcoporum et Primatum totius Regni Anglie in Ecclesia eadem Monachos ordinaui c. His donations to this his mother Church of Norfolke and Suffolke follow which are many and great for he endowed it with as much lands as might sufficiently maintaine threescore Monkes who had their faire and spatious Cloisters But after they were thrust out by King Henry the eight there were substituted for them a Deane sixe Prebendaries and others Witnesses to this his Charter were King Henry the first and Maud his Queene eleuen Bishops and foure and twenty Earles Lords and Abbots to euery name the signe of the crosse Facta est hec donatio Anno Domini M.C. ordinatione Gregorii Episcopi Rom. apud Wyndressores The first stone of this religous Structure was laid by Herbert himselfe in the yeare after Christs natiuitie one thousand ninetie sixe with this inscription Dominus Herbertus posuit primum Lapidem In nomine Patris Filij et Spiritus Sancti Amen That is Lord Bishop Herbert laid The First Ston In The Name of The Father The Sonne And holy Ghost Amen This Bishop was borne at Orford in Suffolke his Fathers name was Robert de Losing Hee was Prior of the monasterie of Fiscane in Normandie and came backe into England at the request of William Rufus and liuing in the Court for a time behaued himselfe in such sort that hee was much fauoured of the King and obtained diuers great preferments at his hands whereby it came to passe that within the space of three yeares hee had so feathered his nest as he could buy for his Father the Abbacy of Winchester and for himselfe the Bishopricke of Thetford which I haue partly touched here and in another place Hauing finished this pious Fabricke according to his minde hee then determined to build an house for himselfe for as yet he had none in Norwich the See being so lately remoued from Thetford and therefore on the north side of the Church hee founded a stately palace And more such was his repentance for his Simony committed hee built fiue Churches one ouer against the Cathedrall Church on the other side of the riuer called S. Leonards another in this Citie also another at Elmham a fourth at Linne and a fift at Yarmouth He was an excellent Scholler for those times and writ many learned Treatises mentioned by Pitsaeus in his booke de illustribus Anglie Scriptoribus Aetat duodecima where he cals him vir omnium virtutum et bonarum literarum studijs impensè deditus mitis affabilis corpore venusto vultu decoro moribus candidus vita integer A man earnestly addicted to the studies of all vertues and good learning milde affable comely of personage gracefull of countenance blamelesse in his carriage pure innocent and sincere in the course of his life The Monkes of Norwich made great meanes and sute to haue this Herbert a canonised Saint but such impediments were alwaies in the way that it could not be obtained He departed this life the two and twentith of Iuly in the yeare of grace one thousand one hundred and twenty and was buried in this Church of his owne Foundation by the High Altar to whose memory these verses following were engrauen vpon his monument Inclytus Herbertus iacet hic vt pistica nardus Virtutum redolens floribus et meritis A quo fundatus locus est hic edificatus Ingenti studio nec modico precio Vir fuit hic magnus probitate suâuis vt agnus Vita conspicuus dogmate precipuus Sobrius et castus prudens et Episcopus almus Pollens Concilio clarus in officio Quâm .... vndecimas Iulio promente Kalendas Abstulit vltima sors et rapuit cita mors Pro quo qui transis supplex orare memor sis Vt sit ei saties alma Dei facies One Euerard who next succeeded Herbert lieth here interred who although saith Godwin he enioyed this Bishopricke for a long space yet time the deuorer of all things hath left nothing of him to our remembrance but that when he had gouerned his Church 29 yeares hee ended this life Octob. 15. 1150. Here in the Presbyterie lay buried the body of Bishop Turbus a Norman by birth being in his youth a Monke and afterwards Prior of this monasterie In his time this Cathedrall Church was burned by casuall fire he died in the 25. yeare of his consecration the 17. of Ianuarie Neere vnto the high Altar lieth buried the body of Iohn of Oxford sometimes Deane of Salisbury and Bishop of this Diocesse This man finished the Church which Herbert being preuented by death had left vnperfected and repaired that which by fire was lately defaced He built diuers Hospitals for impotent and diseased people Hee founded Trinitie Church in
Ipswich and reedified diuers houses which were by fire decaied He was chaplaine to King Henry the second and with him in especiall fauour euer firmely adhering to his partie against Thomas Becket who had stubbornely opposed himselfe against his said Soueraigne Lord and Master He was employed in diuers Embasies as to Rome to Seines in France and to Sicily about the marriage of Ioane the third and yongest daughter of the said King Henry to William the second of that name King of Sicill Duke of Apulia and Prince of Capua In the soliditie of good doctrine in the maturitie of iudgement and in all the graces of rhetoricall speech hee did wondrously abound He was quicke and dexterous in the managing and prosperous in the dispatching of waightie affaires He writ a History of the Kings of Britaine as also a Booke Pro Rege Henrico contra S. Tho mam Cantuariensem for King Henry against S. Thomas of Canterbury besides a treatise of his iourney into Sicily and certaine Orations and Epistles to Richard Archbishop of Canterbury He died the 26 yeare of his consecration the second of Iune in the second yeare of King Iohn Iohn de Grey entirely beloued of King Iohn who preferred him to this Bishopricke was here entombed in whose commendations Bale and Pitseus doe in effect thus agree Vir erat foelici et faceto ingenio eruditione insignis consilio expeditus et quantumuis in dictis facetus in factis tamen vbi res postulabat senerus virtutum omnium amator et cultor omnium vitiorum osor et exterminator Iohanni Anglorum Regi gratissimus in magna semper authoritate apud ipsum remansit splendidis functionibus ornatus A man he was of a pleasant and facetious wit in the knowledge of all good literature excellent in counsell ready and intelligent and howsoeuer in his words merrie and iocond yet in his actions as occasion did require he was seuere and rigorous a louer and reuerencer hee was of all vertues and a despiser and rooter out of all vices He was a gracious Fauourite to King Iohn euer vnder him in great authoritie and honoured with offices of especiall trust and confidence Naââ cum Rex rebelles Hibernos compescuisset eorumque vires fregisset hunc Graâium tanquam virum strenuum magnae prudentiae fidelitatis exploratae reliquit ibi supremum Presidem vt eos auctoritate sua in officio contineret For when the King had repressed the rebellious Irish broken dispersed then forces he left this Grey as an hardie able man of singular wisedome and tried fidelitie Prorex or Lord Deputie of Ireland that by such his power and commission he might keepe that stiffe-necked nation in obedience He was well seene in the lawes of the Realme saith Godwin wise and of great integritie in regard whereof the King was very desirous to haue made him Archbishop of Canterbury of which I haue spoken somewhat before to which Grace indeed he was solemnly elected and his election published in the Church before the King and an infinite number of people But by the exorbitant authoritie of the Pope this election was disanulled whereupon much mischiefe ensued He built that goodly Hall at Gay wood neare Linne in Norfolke and the rest of the Fabricke adioyning Hauing sate about fourteene yeares hee died neare Poytiers in his returne from Rome Obijt eodem anno quo Rex Iohannes saith Bale in the same yeare in which King Iohn deceased the first of Nouember Whose body was conueyed to this his owne Church He was an Historiographer and writ a booke which he called Schalecronicon as also other workes mentioned by Bale in his Centuries Die vero Sancti Vlstani decimo tertio Calendas Iunij obijt Episcopus Norwicensis Vualterus cognomento de Sufeld apud Colecestriam delâtum est corpus eius ad Norwicensem Ecclesiam suam Cathedralem honorificè tumulandus ad cuius tumbam miracula dicebantur coruscate Hic namque in vsus pauperum instante tempore famis omnia vasa sua coclearia cum toto thesauro suo pauperibus erogauerat Mat. Paris Ann. 1257. Vpon the Feast day of Saint Wolstan the thirteenth of the Calends of Iune Walter surnamed de Sufield Bishop of Norwich departed this world at Colchester from whence his body was conueyed to this Cathedrall Church here to be honourably interred At whose Tombe many miracles are reported to be wrought which are ascribed to his holinesse For it is remembred of him that in a time of extreme famine hee sold all his plate and distributed it to the poore euery pennyworth He lieth buried in our Ladies Chappell which was of his owne building He founded the Hospitall of Saint Giles here in the Citie endowing it with faire possessions insomuch that it was valued at the suppression to be yearely worth fourescore and ten pounds twelue shillings Simon de Wanton sometimes the Kings Chaplaine one of his Iustices and Bishop of this Diocesse was here interred by his predecessour Walter de Sufield He died about the yeare 1265. hauing sate eight yeares and obtained of the Pope licence to hold all his former liuings in Commendam for foure yeares In the same Chappell as I take it Roger de Sherwyng was entombed who died about Michaelmas 1278. hauing sate thirteene yeares Of whom I finde little remarkable yet he is memorable for that in his time by an incendiarie outrage the Citizens set fire on the Priorie Church The story is thus deliuered by our late writers taken out of Rishanger the Continuer of Mathew Paris his History in the last yeare of King Henry the third About the moneth of Iune in a Faire that was kept before the gates of the Priory there fell great debate and discord betwixt the Monkes of Norwich and the Citizens there which increased so farre that at length the Citizens with great violence assaulted the Monastery fired the gates and forced the fire so with reed and drie wood that the Church with the books and all other ornaments of the same and all houses of Office belonging to that Abbey were cleane burned wasted and destroyed so that nothing was preserued except one little Chappell The King hearing of this detestable and sacrilegious deuastation rode to Norwich where beholding the deformed ruines he could hardly refraine from teares and caused enquirie to be made of the fact whereupon thirty young men of the Citie as also a woman that first carried fire to the gates were condemned hanged and burnt It is thought saith Hollinshead that the Prior of the house whose name was William de Brunham was the occasion of all this mischiefe who had got together armed men and tooke vpon to keepe the Belfray and Church by force of armes but the Prior was well enough borne out and defended by this his Bishop The Monkes for their part appealed to Rome and so handled the matter that they not onely escaped punishment but also forced the
released to the Monkes of Castell-acre the lands granted by his Ancestours in the three and thirtieth of King Henry the third and of his owne good will to the increasing of it he gaue the Sand pits and for the confirmation of the same grant he put to the Seale of his armes hanging at the parchment by a silke string which manner of sealing was vsuall in those dayes Castell-acre In the raigne of King William Rufus William Warren the second Earle of Surrey founded here a Monastery of blacke Monkes Cluniakes to the honour of God and our blessed Lady Saint Mary of Acre and the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and for the Monkes of Saint Pancrace there seruing Which Abbey afterwards his sonne and his sonnes sonne both named Williams and Earles of Surrey confirmed ratified and augmented Witnesses to the first Charter Will. Braunch Waukelin de Rosew Robert de Mortuo mare or Mortimer c. To the second Charter Raph de Pauliaco c. To the third William Bishop of Norwich who dedicated the Church and many others Of which Charters take a little touch out of authenticall Records ãâ¦ã am presentibus quam futuris quod ego Willelmus comes de ãâ¦ã pro salute anime mee et patris mei et matris mee et heredum meâââ dedi et presenti Charta confirmaui deo et Sancte Marie de Acra et Moââââis ibidem Deo seruientibus Ecclesiam de Acra Nouerint c. concedo Deo et sancte Marie de Acra et sanctis Apostolis Peââo et Paulo et Monachis de sancto Pancratio ibidem deo seruientibus in ipsa Accra duas carucatas terre quas eidem Ecclesie pater meus et mater mea dederunt c. Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Willelmus c. quando feci dedicare Ecclesiam Sancte Marie de Acra dedi Monachis ibidem c. omnes donatioâes quas antecessores mei scilicet Auus meus et pater meus et Barones sui eidem Ecclesie dederunt c. et duas solidatas terre c. Hijs Tesâibus Will. Norwicen Episcopo qui eandem Ecclesiam dedicauit c. This foundation was valued at the suppression at three hundred twenty foure pounds seuenteene shillings fiue pence halfe penny qua surrendred the 2â of Nouember 29 Hen. 8. West-acre Radulphe de Torneio founded the Monastery of Canons in Westacre which did professe to lead a godly life after the example of the Apostles as ãâã mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles where it is said that the number of âheââhat did beleeue were all of one heart and one minde and none of them said that any thing which he had was his owne but they had all things in common and because as in the Charter of his gift he declareth that the holy Fathers did call this the canonicall rule affirming that whosoeuer did leade such a life was thereby made a companion and Citizen with the Apostles Therefore hee pronounceth in his said Charter that whosoeuer did infringe this his donation or alter or change it into Monkes or into any other Order or Rule should be held accursed c. Oliuet Sacerdos de Acra Galterusque suus filius cum magna sanctitate ãâã Wâslacram huic canonice norme cum omnibus âuis rebus se tradiderunt ãâã territorio Radulphi de Torneio Ego Radulphus de Torneio cum vxore mea Aclit omnibus que meis pueris Rogerio Radulpho pro nobis et animabus anââcessorum nostrorum concedimus et confirmamus Ecclesie omnium Sanctorum de Acra et Oliueti Sacerdoti et Gualterio suo filio omnibus canonicis ibi manenâibus suisque posteris deo ibidem seruientibus Feodum quod Oliuet Saceâdos sub me tenuit c. Huius confirmationis sunt testes Gislebertus Blondus Willel de Portis Willel de Lira Rogerus Gros. Galterus Capellanus c. The valuation of this religious structure at the suppression was three hundred eight pounds nineteene shillings eleuen pence halfe penny qua Catton Pray for the soul of Iohn Bronde and Agnes his wyffe which Iohn dyeâ 26 Ianuary 1542. Orate pro anima Agnet is Wrongey .... Reuerendus in Christo Pater Robertus Bronde Prior Norwicen Ecclesie me vitriari fecit anno Christi 1538. Frettenham or Frekenham Hic iacet Margareta filia Iohannes White filij secundi Iohannis White militis vxor Egidij Seyntlowe aâmig domini de Mayston filij Alicie filie et heredis Roberti Burnham de Lynne et vxoris Iohannis White secundi predicti Que obijt in vigilia Natalis Domini anno Dom. M.D.xxxii O Crist Iesu pity and mercy haue On Alis Burnham that whylom was the wyff Of Gyles Thorndon which lyeth here in graue And her defend from wars of Fendish stryff Make her pertaker of eternall lyff By the merits of thy passioun Whych with thy blood madest our redemptioun Snitterton or Snisterton Orate pro anima Iohannis Bokenham Armigeri nuper filij Hugonis Bokenham de Lyuermer magna nec non Nepotis et heredis Edmundi Bokenham de Snisterton qui obijt xv die Mensis octobris anno Domini M. cccc.lxxxiiii et pro animabus Anne et Iohanne .... quorum animabus .... Orate pro anima Georgij Bokenham armigeri de Snisterton filii et heredis Iohannis Bokenham qui obiit xxi die octobris anno M.D.xxiii Cuius anime ... Ingham or Hyngham Vnder a faire Tombe of free-stone very curiously wrought lieth the body of Sir Oliuer Ingham with his resemblance in his coate Armour his belt gilt spurs and the blew Garter about his leg his Creast the Owle out of the Iuie bush with a crowne on the head thereof He being a great trauailer lyeth vpon a Rocke beholding the Sunne and Moone and starres all very siueây set forth in mettall beholding the face of the earth about the Tombe twenty and foure mourneâs Sir Oliuer Ingham knight whom the yong Duke Edward had made keeper of Aquitaine gathered a great army and inuaded the Prince of Aniou which the French King contrary to couenants did with hold and brought it wholly to the dominion of England anno Reg. Regis Ed. secundi 19. Burdeaux the capitall citie of Aquitaine and then English gaue an excellent testimony of her loyalty nor lesse of martiall wit and valour For the French Army comming before her she to abuse their hope set open her gates and displayed vpon her Powers the golden Lillies as if shee were theirs but the French which securely entred found little good hospitality Sir Oliuer de Ingham was Captaine and Lord Warden there for King Edward who with his Garrison-Souldiers and aide of the Inhabitants slew of them great multitudes and preserued Burdeaux anno Reg. Regis Ed. 3.13 Hickeling The buriall place of the worthy familie of the Woodhouses wherein a monument remaineth to the memory of Sir William Woodhouse knight Here sometime
or late Of your cheriry say a Pater Noster for the soul of Tho. Drake Wendling Here was a Priory of Augustine Friers founded by Sir William de Wendling Priest valued at fiftie fiue pounds eighteene shillings foure pence halfe pennie qua Elingham neere Bungay Orate pro anima Willelmi Ellingham .... et consortis sue ... Orate pro anima Ricardi Billington ... Petrus Lyng Rector istius Ecclesie .... Orate pro anima Roberti Bonefelow ... These Inscriptions aboue written are depensild in the glasse windowes Here lyeth buried one More of Norwich to whose memory some wit of those times but the time of his death I doe not know playing and making dalliance with his name made this Epitaph following More had I once More would I haue More is not to be had The first I .... the next is vaine The third is too too bad If I had vsâd with More regard The More that I did giue I might haue made more vse and fruit Of More while he did liue But time will be recald no more More since are gone in briefe Too late repentance yeelds no more Saue onely paine and griefe My comfort is that God hath More Such Mores to send at will In hope whereof I sigh no more But rest vpon him still Hempton A Priory of blacke Canons founded by one Richard Ward who tooke vpon him holy Orders and liued in this house of his owne foundation which he consecrated to the honour of God our blessed Lady and Saint Stephen it was valued at the suppression at thirty nine pounds nine shillings Shornborn Here is an ancient monument in this Church to the memory of one of the Shornborns or Shernburns but so fouly defaced as nothing remaines to know the man who lies vnder it sauing a Vulture splaid which is the Crest of the Shernborns Many other Crests and Coate Armes are there also which I meddle little withall yet to vse Camdens words I doe not see how this Church could haue bin omitted for that Foelix the Burgundian Bishop of this Diocesse who first brought the East-Englishmen to the Christian faith and state of perpetuall felicitie built in this place the second Church of Christians in this Country for the first he founded at Babingley where he landed Langley The Booke of the Carmelites in Couentrie saith that Sir Roger Helke Baron who married Elianor daughter to the Earle of Oxford of whom came Robert Clauering father to Iohn father to Robert that married the daughter of the Lord Alan Zouch was the first founder of this Monastery The Catalogue of Religious houses which is very imperfect saith that the Ancestor of the wife of Sir Francis Bigot Knight together with her sisters were the Founders Another tels me that Sir Roger Kell Knight was the first founder and that the Patronage thereof came to the Vffords and Dacres by marriage but of this name there is a Religious house in Lecestershire another in the County of Hertford and so there may be a mistake A Nunnery it was valued at one hundred twenty eight pounds nineteene shillings nine pence halfe penny The persons of remarkable account interred in this Abbey Church were these Sir Roger Kell the Founder Sir Robert sonne of Sir Roger Sir Iohn sonne of Sir Robert Sir Roger sonne of sir Robert Sir Robert sonne of Kell knights Sir Iohn Clauering Anno Domini 1332. obijt Iohannes de Clauering aâpud Heyno aduocatus Ecclesie de Langeley in octabis die Epiphanie et sepelitur in presbiterio in conuentuali eiusdem Ecclesie ex parte aquilonari eodem anno obijt Domina Iohanna de Burgh et hic sepeliri meruit Sir Robert Thurkeby Sir Thomas Roscelyn Sir Peter Roscelyn Sir Hugh Gurnage Sir Geffrey Saye Sir Henry Lymesey Sir Fulco Cardeston or Kerdeston Sir William Kerdeston Sir Roger Kerdeston knights Anno Domini 1328. obijt Margareta quondam vxor Domini Willelmi filii Rogeri de Kerdeston militis et iacet in Ecclesia Abbathie Langeley ante Altare Crucis iuxta Dominum Thomam de Kerdeston Archidiaconum Norf. ex parte aquilonari Qui Thomas obiit anno 1270. Anno Domini 1337. obiit Dominus Rogerus de Kerdeston miles et sepelitur in Ecclesia Abbathie de Langeley iuxta matrem suam ex parte Australi Sir Peter Egfend sir Iohn Lodnes sir Iohn Dunham sir Charles Charleton sir Ely Norfolke sir Charles de Ierninta sir Robert de Grys sir Robert Helington sir Iohn Vfford sir Robert Vfford sir Thomas Vfford sir Hugh Gurney sir William Redham sir Philip Weston sir Robert de Vallibus sir Iohn Saye Symond Grys sir Iames Awdley sir William de Poole knights Dame Marian de Zouche Mother of sir Robert sonne of sir Roger Zouche knights Dame Ione wife of Robert Benhale Dame Agnes wife of Fulc Dame Ione wife of Iohn Dunham Dame Agnes Clauering Dame Margaret Benhall Dame Eue Audeley Dame Agnes wife of sir Simond Grys Dame Ione daughter of sir Robert Vfford vxor Willelmi Bowet Dame Denys Ynglos wife of sir Henry Ynglos Dame Alice wife of Thomas Charles Ladies Stiskey In the north side of this Church lie entombed Iohn Calthorpe Esquire and Alice Ermingland his wife the monument defaced vpon which is their portraicts in coate Armor Cockthorpe In the Chancell vnder a faire Tombe lieth the body of Christopher Calthorpe Esquire no inscription is remaining a familie sometime of great account in these parts saith Camden Cley iuxta mare In this Church are some defaced monuments to the memory of the Symonds Iohn Symonds and Agnes his wife lye buried in the south Chappell Another of the Symonds with his two wiues Anne and Margaret Plumsted Here vnder a faire Grauestone lieth buried Iohn Plumsted Esquire Receiuer generall of the Dutchie of Lancaster Hunworth Vnder a faire Grauestone here in the Chancell lie buried Edmund Braunche and Anne Calthorpe his wife with their coates impaled Burrughmagna In the south Chappell of the Chancell Henry Berney Esquire lieth buried which Henry married the daughter of .... Appleton of Essex named Alice by whom he had issue Thomas Henry Iohn Edward and Richard and three daughters as appeareth by the pictures vpon the defaced Tombe Vnder another Tombe lieth Iohn Berney Esquire who married first the daughter of Read and afterwards the daughter of Sydnor Here lieth Iohn Berney grandfather to Henry Berney who had to his first wife ... the daughter of Southwell to his second the daughter of Wentworth Vnder a faire Grauestone lieth inhumed the body of Iohn Berney Esquire the great Grandfather of Henry who married the daughter of Henningham Another Iohn Berney Esquire lieth here also vnder a large stone the inscription whereof is altogether almost erazed Thetford In the parish Church of Saint Maries a faire monument thus inscribed In memoriam Radulphi Fulmerston Equitis aurati Dominiceque Alicie vxoris eius ... Edwardus Clere Armiger hunc Tumulum
erexit ... Transit sicut Fulmerston gloria mundi Propitietur Deus animabus Mortuorum Saint Peters Hic iacet Willelmus Knighton ... M. cccc.lxix .... Peter Larke and Elisabeth his wyff on whos souls sweet Iesu haue pite Saint Cuthberts ...... Iohannes Bernard et Elis ..... M. ccccc.xi Here in this towne was a Religious house of Friers Preachers dedicated to the holy Trinitie and Saint Mary which Arfast Bishop of the East-Angles made his Episcopall chaire Afterwards Henry Duke of Lancaster made it a societie of Friers Preachers it was valued at thirty nine pounds sixe shillings nine pence Arfast who died circa annum 1092. was herein buried with this Epitaph vpon his monument Hic Arfaste pie pater optime et Arca Sophie Viuis per merita virtutum laude perita Vos qui transitis hic omnes atque reditis Dicite quod Christi pietas sit promptior isti ãâã âââers Augustines in this I owne was founded by Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Blanch his wife others say by Henry Earle of Lancaster and Leicester It was valued at three hundred twelue pounds foureteene shillings foure pence Here lye buried Dame Margery Todenham Dame Elisabeth wife of Sir Thomas Hângraue daughter of Sir Iohn Harling with many other you may imagine whose names I haue not The blacke Friers here was founded by Sir Edmond Gonvile Lord of âirâingford in this County Parson of Terington and Steward with Iohn Eââe Warren and with Henry Duke of Lancaster It was dedicated to S. Sepulchre The value I haue not learned Buried in the Church of this monâsterâ were Sir Iohn Bretâ knight Dame Agnes Honell Dame Maud Talââe wife of Peter Lord of Rickinghill Dame Anastisia wife of Sir Richard Walsingham A Priory of blacke Canons dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Iohn was here founded by one of the Bigods or Bigots Earle of Norfolke Valued at fourty nine pounds eighteene shillings and a penny Surrendred the 16. of February 31. Hen. 8. Here was a religious structure for blacke Nunnes consecrated to the honour of God and Saint Gregory but by whom sounded I do not know It was valued in the Exchequer at fifty pound nine shillings eight pence Here sometimes stood a Colledge or gild dedicated to the blessed Virgine Mary valued at the suppression to be yearely worth one hundred nine pounds seuen shillings Hugh Bigod or Bigot Steward of the House to King Henry the first built and endowed a religious House here for blacke Monkes Benedictines or Cluniacks These words following are in the Instrument of his Foundation I Hugh Bigod Steward to King Henry by his grant and by the aduice of Heâbert Bishop of Norwich haue ordained Monkes of the Order of Cluny in the Church of S. Mary which was the Episcopall seate of Thetford which I gaue vnto them and afterwards founded another more meet for their vse without the Towne This Monastery was found at the suppression to be in the Kings bookes foure hundred eighteene pounds sixe shillings three pence halfe penny of yearely reuenues This Hugh the Founder was created Earle of Norfolke by King Stephen in the first yeare of his raigne He died very aged in the 24. yeare of King Henry the second and was buried in this Priory of his owne foundation to whose memory this Inscription was engrauen vpon his Funerall Monument Orate pro anima religiosissimi viri Hugonis Bigod Fundatoris huius Monasterij Seneschalli Hospitij prepotentissimo Principi Henrico Conquestoris filio Anglie Regi et Comitis Norfolcie qui quidem Hugo obiit pridie Kalend. Martii anno milesimo centesimo septuagesimo octauo Propter miserecordiam Iesu requiescat in pace Anno 1107. Optimates Angliae Richardus de Radvarijs Rogerius cognomento Bigotus mortui sunt in Monasteriis Monachorum sepulti sunt quae in propriis possessionibus ipsi condiderunt Rogerius autem apud Thetfordum in Anglia Richardus vero tumulatus apud Montisburgum in Normannia Super Rogerium Cluniacenses Alonax di tale scripserunt Epitaphium Clauderis exiguo Rogere Bigote sepulchro Et rerum cedit portio parva tibi Diuitiae sanguis facundia gratia Regum Intereunt mortem fallere nemo potest Diuitiae mentes subuertunt erigat ergo Te pietas virtus consiliumque Dei Soli moerebat virgo ter noctibus octo Cùm soluis morti debita morte tua It should seeme by the premisses that this Roger Bigot who was Sewer to King Henry the first and Father of the foresaid Hugh was the first founder of this religious Edifice or at least wise of some other in this Towne for Monkes of the order of Cluny And Stow in his Annalls agrees with my Author Ordericus This yeare saith he Maurice Bishop of London Robert Fitzhamon Roger Bigot founder of the Monastery of Monkes at Thetford Richard Redvers Councellours to the King Milo Crispen and many other Noblemen of England deceased Roger Bigot the second of that surname Earle of the East Angles or Norfolke He died about the yeare 1218. and was here interred Hugh Bigot sonne of the foresaid Roger Earle of Norfolke lay here buried who died the ninth of Henry the third 1225 Roger Bigot sonne and heire of Hugh aforesaid Earle of Norfolke and first Marshall of England of that Family was here entombed if his last will and Testament was performed Of which so much as tends to that purpose In Nomine Patris et Filij et Spiritus Sancti Amen Ego Rogerus Bigot Comes Norfolcie et Mareschallus Anglie in bona prosperitate constitutus condo Testamentum meum sub hac forma Inprimis commendo animam meam Christo c. et corpus meum in Ecclesia beate Marie Thetfordie sepeliendum Postea lego c. Huius Testamenti Executores constituo Dominum Symonem de Monteforti Com. Lecestren Dominum Richardum de Clara Com. Glouern Hertford Dominum Willelmum Malberbe Dominum Thomam Denebanke Dominum Hugonem de Tudeham c. Dat. apud Cestreford die Mercurij proximo ante festum Sancti Barnabe Apostoli anno Domini M.cclviii He died about eleuen yeares after the making of his will without issue of a bruise running at Tilt anno 1269. Roger Bigot the last of that Familie Earle of Norfolke and Marshall of England was here buried together with his first wife Alina Alyva or Adeliza daughter of Philip Lord Basset and widow of Hugh de Spenser Iustice of England she died in Aprill in the ninth yeare of Edward the first and he in the 35. of the said Kings raigne Iohn Lord Mowbray Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall of England Earle of Nottingham Lord and Baron of Segraue and of Gower sonne and successour of Iohn the first Duke of Norfolke in the dignities aforesaid was here entombed with his wife Elianor daughter of William Lord Bourchier and sister of Henry Bourchier Earle of
the Monthaults and the Mowbrays which now after long languishing as it were by reason of old age hath giuen vp the ghost In the Porch of this Parish Church is a Grauestone vnder which say the inhabitants which I haue heard sworne by others Isabell Queene of England the wife of Edward the Second lieth interred vpon the Grauestone are two words onely remaining which make the country people so thinke of the matter which are .... Isabelle Regine .... now by these the case is made plaine to any than can distinguish between the Cases Nominatiue and Genitiue that this stone was laid to perpetuate the remembrance of some one of that Queenes seruants Flytham This was a Nunnery and a Cell to Walsingham of yearely value threescore and two pound ten shillings sixe pence halfe penny Yngham This was a Priory of blacke Monkes Benedictines a Cell to Saint Albans founded by the Ancestours of Sir Oliuer Yngham knight consecrated to the honour of the blessed Virgin Mary valued at seuenty foure pounds two shillings seuen pence halfe penny Herein lay buried Sir Miles Stapleton and Ione his wife the daughter and heire of Sir Oliuer Yngham Sir Miles sonne of the said Miles and Ela his wife the daughter of Vfford Sir Brian Stapleton sonne of the second sir Miles and his wife daughter of the Lord Bardolfe Sir Miles sonne of sir Brian and Dame Katherin his wife daughter of sir Pots and after married to sir Thomas Sackuile which are likewise here buried Dame Ione Plase daughter of sir Miles Stapleton Dame Ela Perpoint which had two husbands .... Edmond Stapleton and his wife daughter of Clyfton Sir Roger Boys and his wife Linne Linne saith Leland sometimes a famous Hauen there as the Church stands now was anciently without faile an Abbey for the graues of many religious persons as yet appeare in the Church and the lodgings of the Abbey are now conuerted into the Archdeacons house This Monastery I imagine to haue beene the house of the Carmelites founded by the Lord Bardolfe Lord Scales and Sir Iohn Wingenhall Anno 1269. the dedication nor the value thereof I doe not finde The blacke Friers was founded by Thomas Gedney and the white Friers by Thomas de Feltsham and thus much is the little of them which I haue learned Here was an Hospitall dedicated to Saint Iohn valued at seuen pounds sixe shillings and eleuen pence Here I haue no Inscriptions of antiquitie Loddon This Church was built by Iames Hobart knight one of the priuie Councell to King Henry the Seuenth who lieth here buried as I haue it by relation of whom and of the Familie will it please you reade what learned Camden writes The riuer Yare saith he receiueth a brooke which passeth by nothing memorable but Halles-hall and that onely memorable for his ancient owner Sir Iames Hobart Atturney generall and of the priâie Councell to King Henry the seuenth by him dubbed knight at such time as he created Henry his sonne Prince of Wales who by building from the ground the faire Church at Loddon being his parish Church Saint Oliues bridge ouer Waueney that diuideth Norfolke and Suffolke the Cawsey thereby and other workes of piety deserued well of the Church his country and the common weale and planted three houses of his owne issue out of the second wherof Sir Henry Hobart likewise Atturney Generall to King Iames is lineally descended The foresaid Sir Henry Hobart knight and Baronet was aduanced by the said King the sixteenth of October in the eleuenth yeare of his raigne to be Lord chiefe Iustice of the Common pleas in which office hee died the twenty sixt day of December the first yeare of the raigne of our gracious Soueraigne King Charles magna Reipub. iactura a great losse to the weale publike as Sir Henry Spelman writes Here lieth Margaret the wife of Sir Iames Hobart who died Anno 1494. as I haue it out of certaine funerall Notes Yarmouth This Towne is beautified with a spatious faire Church hauing a wondrous high Spire Steeple built by Herbert the first Bishop of Norwich in the raigne of William Rufus All the funerall Monuments of antiquitie in this Church are vtterly defaced Inscription nor Epitaph now remaining except that this may passe current for one Elyn Benaker mercy dooth craue God on her Sowl mercy more haue In the three and twentieth yeare of King Edward the Third happened a most grieuous and lamentable Plague in this Towne which brought within the compasse of one yeare seauen thousand fiftie and two persons to their graues the which is witnessed by an ancient Latin Chronographicall Table hanging vp in the Church The Parsonage which was yearely worth before the sicknesse seuen hundred Markes was afterwards scarse worth forty pound by yeare The bodies of all the dead were buried in the Church and Church-yard and in such and such places of the same as the Townesmen can shew you at this day The Priory of Carmelites or white Friers Was Founded by King Edward the first Anno Domini 1278. herein lay buried Dame Maud wife of Sir Laurence Huntingdon who died 1300. Sir Iohn de Monte Acuto obijt 1392. Nicholas Castle Esquire who died 1309. and Elisabeth his wife these are all I finde here to haue beene buried and this is all that I can speake of this religious house The blacke Friers was founded by Godfrey Pelegren and Thomas Falstolfe The Grey Friers by William Gerbrigge Neare to this Towne was a Colledge of Saint Iohn Baptist first founded by Robert de Castre after by Iohn Falstolfe Esquire Father to Sir Iohn Falstolfe that Martiall Knight who had a faire seat at Caster and who was Knight of the Garter in the raigne of Henry the sixth Thomas Talbot sometimees keeper of the Records in the Tower did collect out of an old Calender in a Missale the names of certaine eminent persons for the soules of whom the Religious Votaries in and about Yarmouth were bound to pray the most of which number were buried in the Parish Church and in their Monasteries as followeth Margaret the wife of Sir Iohn Falstolfe daughter of Sir Iohn Holbroke knight Iohn Fastolfe and Ione his wife Richard Alexander William Thomas Robert Fastolfs Clarence Fastolfe the wife of Sir Robert Ilketishale Knight who dyed 1393. William Ilketishale their sonne Parson of Hesingham who dyed the Ides of December 1412. Iohn Falstolfe Doctor of Diuinitie a Frier Preacher Richard Falstolfe an Augustine Frier with many more of that ancient and noble Familie Godfrey Pelegren aforesaid and his wife Thomas the sonne of Sir Thomas Bowet Knight Ione the daughter of Iohn Wilshire wife to Robert Cromer Registred and buried in the Augustine Friers these William de Vfford Earle of Suffolke who dyed 15. Feb. 1382. Michaell and Michaell de la Pole Earles of Suffolke Sir Thomas Hengraue Knight of
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. ârayton Pâl Song xvi Scipio Gentilis lib. Orig. sing Panuinius in lideritu sepeliend mortuos Râmaines Camd. Remaines Aeneââ ãâã Trump ãâ¦ã Inuen ãâã Rosin de Autin Romano ãâ¦ã l. â cap. 59. Gen. 1â 2. Sam.
40. plough lands of grouÌd of the kings of Mercia and Kent to their Monasterie Vt in charta * Wido the 42. Hugh de Flori 4â Guliel Spina in bib Cot. Hugh the second 44. Will. Thorne or Gul. Spina in bib Cott. Alexander surnamed Cementariââ Theologus the 48. Hugh the third the 49. Abbot Robert de Bellâ the 50. Roger the second 51. Thomas Findon ãâ¦ã Raph de Borne the 54. Mssan bib Cot. Thomas Poucyn the 55. In bib Cot. William Drulege the â6 Mâre Archbishop then Abbots by three Iulian Counâeââe of Hântington Catal. in Hunting Io. Speâd ãâ¦ã Pâiory of Haââbaldowne Lamb. peram in Harbaldowne Lora Countesse ãâã Leicâster ãâ¦ã Catal. Caâden in Kent Sir Iohn Gower and Sir Iohn Deâe Priests Sir Roger Manwoods Almes-house A pilgrimageâ ãâã S. Stephens ãâã Ethelbert the second king of âânt The end of the Kentish kingdome The found ãâ¦ã the Abbey at Reculuer ... Sandwey ãâã his wife Sir Thomas a Priest âdila Lady Thorne Thrâe vailed Nunnes The foundation of Minster Abbey Io. Caâgraue in v. âa Dom. Mssâa bib Cot A Maledicton The death of Domneua The buriall of Thunnor ãâã Dom. â Mildred ãâã on of Mildred Hungar and Hubba the sonnes of a Beare Mâssâin bib Câât Caygraue iâânia ãâã b. ãâã Eadburgh ãâã first English Nunne surnamed ãâã Camden in K. Speed Hist. The foundation of the white Friers and of the old Hospitall A Manuscript Tho. Legatt Tho. Hadlow William Beckleâ Iohn Sandwich Denis Plumcooper The foundation âf the free Schoole Richborow Claudius Contentus Caând Kenâ Goshall Leuerick Septvau S. ãâã Harsletâ Clitherow ... Oldââstell Ioane Keriell Stow. Annal. Harding ãâã Sir Iohn Philpot. knight Lord Maior of London Stow. Annal. Stow. Suruay Speed Hist. 22. Ric. 1 The Walsingham in vita Ric. 1. Sir Thomas Ba knight Wingham Colledge Lamb peramb. Blechendens ãâã Tho. S. ãâã and Ioane ãâã wife Albina the wife of ãâã Iohn Digge ãâã Ioane his wife Sir Iohn Digge knight and Ioane his wife Sir Robert Ashton knight Lord Warden Admirall of a ãâã Chiefe Iustice of Ireland Lord Treasurer Executor to K. Edward the third Foundation of the Castle Church Lamb. peramb. The Priory of S. Martins or Gods-house in Douer Regist. eccl ãâ¦ã in bib Cot. S. ãâã ãâ¦ã Lond. Stow. ãâã William ãâã the sonne of Iudge Fineux Wilâiam Sir ãâ¦ã the controuler of ãâã Sir William Scot knight Hollinshed Elisabeth Lady Poynings Camden in Kent Isâbell Ladie ãâã Ioane the wife of Io. Digges Dionisia Finch Vincent Harbard alias Fânch in the genealogie of the ãâã of Nedde felââ Sir Robert Gower knight Pashley Ioane Pashley in the window ââmmatiân of the ãâã at âolââton ââo Godfraâ Sir Iohn Culâpeper kniâht and Agnes his wiââ ââden in Rut. The Pâioây of ãâã Iohn Maâsâââ pâefeâmenâs Hollins An 1241. Paris âhinne Anon. in bib Cott Mansels death in ãâã Ex Epitâm Rââgeri Houeden in bib Coâ A Benefice for Dogges meaâ * Earle of Leiâcester Mansel the cause of the warres betweene Henây the third and his Barons Paris ân 1252 Charge of soules ãâã Culkin and ãâã his wife ãâ¦ã and Ioane his wife A free Sâââole ãâ¦ã and ãâã his sonne Sir ãâã knight and Dennis his wife Ric. Lââe to Cely âenalâ Deyre Foundation of the Colledge oâ ãâã The Kempe and Beatrice his wife Lamb. peramb. Iohn Andrew a Pilgrime Foundation of the Colledge of Ashford Elisabeth Countesse of Atholl Semane Tong Baron of the fiue ports Io. ãâã and his wife Wil. Norton and Elisabeth his wife Will. Thorne Richard Norton and Ioane his wife Iohn ââst Thomas Read William Vpton Agnes Feuersham William Leedes Henry Hatcher and Ioane his wife Richard Colwell Camden Remaineâ Foundation of Feuersâam Abbey Ex Arch Turris London The death and buriall of King Stephen Addition to Rob. Gloc. ãâã Paris An. 1154 Harding c. 12â Rob. Glocest. S. Daniel No subsidies in K Stephens time ãâã âomp ãâã in bib Cot. Spââd Maud the wife of K Stephen In bib Cot. Eustace King Stephens sonne ãâã Monkâ of Chester ãâã Dârob His death and buriall Rob. Gloc. Margaret Riâ kill Io. Crowmer and Ioane his wife Will. Crowmer Sir Iames Fienes I.o. Treasurer Iohn Septvaus and Katherine his wife Elisabeth Poodd Iames Bourne Io. Gerard and Ioane his wife Laurence Gerard and Tho his sonne Apuldorfeild Clipeus honoris Glouer Somerset Herald Valentine Barret and Siciliâ his wife ââll Maries Smersoll Iul-laber Camd. in Kent Io. Frogenhall Will. Mareys Ioane and Ioane his wife Woodokes The Priory ãâã Horton Monâââ The order ãâ¦ã Alex Clifford and ãâã his wife Visit of Kent Glouer Sir Arnold Sauage knighâ and Ioane his wife Sir Arnold Saâuage knight Katherine Lady Sauage Foundation of Bradesoke Abâbey Eâ Arch ãâ¦ã Iohn and Iohn Norwood Visit. Kent Glouer Thomas Alefe and Margaret his wife Sir Iohn Norton knight and Ioane his wife Stow. Annal. Sir Edward Pâynings Sir Iohn Norton Io. Fogge Iohn Scot Tho. Lynd knights of the field Inter Bundel Indent âe guerra apud pelles Foundation of the Friary at Eastbridge Iudge Martyn and Anne his wife Visit. Kent Iohn Martyn Ioane Butler Ioane Feuersham Tho. Feuersham and Ioane his wife Found of the Abbey Io. Toke Margaret and Anne his wife Glouer alias Somerset Lancaster king of Armes Stephen Norton Foundation of Minster Nunnery Roger Norwood and Bena his wife Io. Soole and Margaret his wife Shurland Inter Bundellas Indent de guerra apud pel Maidston Found of the Colledge first an Hospitall William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury * Sure he meanes Cardinall for I cannot finde him to be Chancellour Sir Iohn Wotton Priest the first Master of this Colledge Woodvill Chancery of Maidston Leedes Priory Eâ Arch ãâã London Io. and William Bloor Iames Donet Io. Paynter Mssân âib Cot. A quarrell betweene the Canons of Leedes and the Monkes of S. Albans The Religious House at Motinden Boxley Abbey Cart. Ant. in Arch. Turris London The Roode of Grace at Boxley Lamb. peramb. Camd. in Kent Hollins p. 1402. An. Reg Elis. 27 Nicholas Wotton Lord Maior of London Newenden Priory The first Carmelite Friars in England Lamb peramb. Lambard Combewell Abbey Iohn Elys Sir Nicholas Sandwich Priest Visit. Kent Will. Brent and Elisab his wife Sir W. Walkesley knight Tho. Elys and Thomasin his wiââ William Bârre Glouer alias Somerset The Colledge of Bradgare Dame Elisab Nâvill Camd in Cumberland So in this County Sutton Valence Horton Kirby and others haue like distinctiue surnames Richard Derââ ââow Annal. Iohn Dering An Eschurchion Io. Dering and Iulian his wife Nic Dering and ãâã his wife ãâã Dering Beneâ his wife Hen. and Rich. Malemaines Brent the Mad-braine Rich. Dering Tho. his sonne Will. Goldwell and Avice his wife Goldwell Bishop of Norw a repairer of this Church The builders oâ founders of this Church Bishop Goldwel the founder of the South Chappell Io. Tokâ Marg. and Anne his wifes Tho. Twesden and Benedict his wife Will. Sharpe and his fiue wiues Margaret the wife
Stâw Annal. The finall dissoluââââ of Pââories Aliens Aelphege Archbishop of Canterbury Caâgraut in vita Elphege Ditmaâ Marâââ ãâã The Friery aâ Greenwich Lamb. peramb. The Priory Weeuer and Ioane his wiâe The Popes Bul to the Staple Merchants for a portable Altâr and a Masse-priest Their Priest Confessour The forme of an Absolution The definition of a Merchant What Pedlers are Staple whar Burialls at Otford Alrick king of Kent Bartilmew the Saint at Otfârd and his offering A part of Saint Tho Beckets ãâã Burials in Holmes Dalâ M. Drayton Polyol Song 18. Io. Sariâââr de Nugis Curial li. 6 ca 18. Camd. in Kent The Gentrie of Kent The Yeomanry of Kent The conclusion of this Diocesse Lamb. Godwin Lamb. Camd. Midlesex * Yorke * Other Speed Midlesex In Midlesex Albions England Chap. 14. The foundation of Saint Pauls Church Diploma Regis Ethelberti In Arch. Turris Lond. Cartae antiqua A. Sebba king of the East-Saxons Lib. 4. cap. 11. Etheldred king of England surnamed The Vnready Will. Malms Rob. Glocest. * they i Lib 6 cap. â âib 1â ca âlt * Etheldred Erkenwald Bishop of Lond. De gestis Pontif. lib. 2. Beda lib. 4. ca. 6. Harpsfeeld Secul 7. cap. 13. Eustace de Fauconbridge Bishop of Lond. In bib Cott. Henry de Wingham Bishop of London Mat. Paris Lib. Mon. de Wauerley in bib Cott. Rager the black Bishop of London Rob. Braybrooke Bishop of London Rob. Fitz-Hugh Bishop of London Thomas Kempe Bishop of London Brian Twyn Antiq. Acad. Ox. Iohn Stokesley Bishop of London William Bishop of London Charta London Fulke Basset Bishop of London Mat. ãâã Paris In bib Cott. Io. Chishull Bishop of Lond. Mat. Westm. Rich. Newport Bishop of London Raph Baldocke Bishop of London Godwin Catal. Stow. Annal. Fran. Thinne Rob. Glocest. Michaell Northbrooke Bishop of London In Arch. Turris Lond. Rich. Clifford Bishop of London Godwin Catal. Richard Fitz-Iames Bishop of London Godwin de Praesul Ang. Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Blanch Duchesse of Lancaster Fabian Constance Duchesse of Lancaster Vpodigma Neust. Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne In bib Cott. Vincent Catal. Lib. Moâ de Whalley Laurence Allerthorp Lord Treasurer * Francis Thinne In Arch. Turris Lond. Sir Simon Burley knight of the Garter Stow. Annal. In Arch. Turris Lond. Sir Raph Hengham chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench. Iudges fined for briberie and extortion Stow. Annal. Fulke Louell Archdeacon of Colchester Io. Boys Nich. Rikkell and Isabell their wife William Worsley Deane of this Church .... Odeây Canon of this Church Iohn Colet Deane of this Church Cent. 5. William Liââ the first Master of Paulâ Schoole Bale Cent. 5. Tho. Linakâr phisition and his vale Tho. de Eure Deane of Pauli Tho. Wynterburne Deane of Pauls Reymund Pilgrim Canon Rich. Pleââys Canon William Harington Secretary Apostolicall Siâ ãâ¦ã Lord ãâã In Arch. Turrââ Lond. In Arch. Turris Lond. Suruay Rich. Piriton Archdeacon of Colchester Margaret Countesse of Shrewsbury Râmaines Romaines The foundation ãâ¦ã Peâây Canons Polyol 1. Song ââland ad Cyg Cant. Brute King of great Britaine Gildas Cambrius Hard. in viâ Bruti * forth * âhe * an hauââ âowne * thither * there The body of a boy found in Saint Bânâis Church-yard by Pauls Whaâfe enshrined afterwards in this Church who was martyred by the Iewes Stow. Annal. ãâã Paris ãâã codem Pardon Church-yard Thomas More Deane of Pauls Dance of Pauls Chappell in Pardâ Church yard Gilbert Becket Portgraue of London Stow Sur. in Faring Ward Chappel at the North doore of Paulâ Charnell-house with our Ladies Chappell Sir Hen. Barton Sir George Mirfin knightâ Rob Barton Bell-house in Pauls Church-yard Holmes Colledge Adam de Bury Lord Maior Anne Duchesse of Bedford Poultneys Chappell Sir Iohn Poultney Iesus Chappell Sir Alan Boxhul knight of the Garter Shrines in S. Pauls Ex. Mss. in bib Cot. Camd. in Mid. Dierius alij Sir Hen. Spelman Gloss. liâ C. Regist. lib. 3. Epist. 14. Cardinals of S. Paul ãâ¦ã Church William Wâst Canon and Cardinall Iohn Good Chanâer of the Bale William Lily Lud King of the Britaines Io. Harding Now the Bishop of Londons house saith Harding Rob. Glocest. Cadwallo K. of the Britaines Geâââay Mon. Harding Iohn Benson and Anne his wife The foundation of christ-Christ-Church or the Friers Minorites Margaret the â wife of King Ed. 1. ââgist Frat. Miâ Mss. in bib Cât The foundation of the blacke ãâã in vita R K. ãâã chiâpiscopi Suruey of London Elizabeth Countesse of Northampton Margaret Hatfâeld Katherine Riplingham Her Will Tho. Riplingham His Will Agnes Milborne Nicholas Faringdon Lord Maior The Foundation of S. Martins In Arch turris London Lib. S. Martin Stow Sur. Iohn Pemberton Vpon a Table in the north Isle A Table in the Quiâe Deus Diabolus Vita Mors. Coelum Infârnum Ioan the wife of Baron Thorp Stow Annal. William Brecke-speare Robbert Traps Agnes and Ioan his wiues Robert Agnes Ioan. Ioice Frankland An Inscription ânder the portraiture of Queene Elizabeth Io. Brokitwell Michael Forlace and Mary his wife Mary Pawson Sir Hen. Weââeâ knight and his wife Ioan. Sir Iohn Woodcocke Lord Maior The head of Iames the 4. king of Scotland Stow. Annal. Suruay Lond. Lib. Monasterij de Whalley in Com. Lanc. Io. Lesle in vil Iac. 4. Remaines pa. 371. The mount of Flodden * De corpore enim nondum compertum est Inscâiptâ the waââ Shanke bone of 28. inches long Camâen in Cornwall * In Cornwall Râb Glocest. * saith * wiâh Gogmagog the last Giant Camd. in Essex Selden in his Illuâârâtions Polyol Song 1. Tho. Morsted Giles Dewes Iohn Burton ãâã Ienet his ãâã âholl Moore Doctor of Law ând Agnes his brothers wife Sir Godfrey Bullen Lord Maior Catal. of honouâ Tho. Bullen Iohn Pickering and ãâã his wife Tho. Cressly and Agnes his wife The foundation of the Collegiate Chappell at Guild-hall Hollins Speed Hist. Foundation of Mercers Chappell Stow. Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Ioane his wife Thomas Butler Earle of Ormond Camden in the County of Tipperary Ireland Becket was borne neere to this Church here he had a shrine and his picture ouer the Chappell dore Iohn Rich. Stow Suruay Ambrose Cressacre Iohn Peris and Margaret his wife Raph Tilney and Ioan his wife Yarford Io. Allen Lord Maior Stow Suruay Iohn Couentrie Lord Maior Fabian Stow Annal. Stow Suruay Vnder the Statue of K. Ed. the sixt vpon the Standard in Cheape Tho. Knowles Lord Maior and Ioane his wife Tho. Knowles Ioan Spenser Walter Lempster ãâã of ãâã Simon Street Agnes his wife Will. Goldhirst and Margaret his wife Stephen Spilman Sheriffe of London Ric. Grey Sheriffe of London R. Marlow Lord Maior Corpus Christi play Ric. Hill Master or Sergeant of the kings câller Sir Charles Blunt knight Lord Mountioy Camd. in Shrop. Camd. in Darbishire Rob. Dalusse Baâher and Alice his wife Io Micolt and Ioan his wife Raph Astry Lord Maior Margery and Margaret his wiues
raigne of Hen. the seuenth Hen. the eight In the raigne of Ed. the sixt In the raigne of Q Mary In the raigne of Q Elizabeth In the raigne of King Iames. The Aetymologie Antiquity and Dignity of Heralds Heralds Priests Rosinus Ant. Rom. li. 3. c. 21. Heralds of France of noble descent Stow in the life of Brute The Armes of Brute Cold Harber the Heralds Colledge Eleanor Lady Wriothesley Ioan Wriothesley Io. Wriothesley Sir Hen. Grey Reginald Lord Grey Earle of Kent Sir Will. Cheyney and Margaret his wife The Heralds Office The body corporate of the Heralds Henry Spelman Gloss lit H. Iohn Leland the Antiquary Lelandi Strena ââlands New yeares gift The study of Antiquity in Hen. the eight The caâe King Hen had of Religion The workes of ancient Writers saued and conserued The Kings Libraries augmented The plaine ââle and forme of âuncient Writers Britaine the Mother of worthy men and excellent wits This volume he called Antiphilachia written against the ambitious Empire or vsurped authoritie Reiall of the Bishop of Rome Albertus Pighius a Canon sometime in the Cathedrall Church of Vtrecht in the Low Countries Lelands affection toward his Country Four Bookes of illustrious men or of the British writers Learned Princes The wits of the British and English writers exercised in all kinds of good literature A wonderfull great number of Historiographers of British affaires Lelands laborious iourney throughout all England The description of all England in a quadrate table of siluer A Booke of the Topographie of England The names of seuerall nations Cities and great townes c. of Britaine in old time such as Cesar Tacitus Ptolimey other Authors haue made mention of restored together with the later and moderne names Of the Antiquitie of Britaine or of Ciuile History fiftie Bookes Sixe Bookes of the Islands adiacent to England Three bookes of the Nobility of Britaine His conclusion a delectabili vtili Commune voâââ Sir Rob. Cotton knight and Baronet Sir Tho. Bodley knights Pit Aetas 16. Io. Leland the Elder Elis. West Rog. Woodcocke and Ioane his wife Catherine Cauendish Alice Cavendish Marg Cavendish Lib. Esiens in bib Cott. Will. Burd Clarke of the Pipe Cowell lit C. Clarke of the Priuie Seale Io. Hartishorne Sergeant at Armes and Agnes his wife The office of Sergeant at Armes Cowell lit â George Lord Maior Ioan and Marg. his wiues Iohn Kirkham and Elis. his wife Iohn Mynne The foundation of the Brotherhood in S. Botolpâs Edward Murell and Martha his wife William Campion and Anne his wife Henry Cantlow Sir William Cantlow knight Iohn Olney Lord Maior Tho. Muschampe Sir William Yerford Lord Maior and Elis. his wife Sir Roger Ree ânight and Rose his wife Tho. Bromflit Andrew Chyett Iohn Martin Lord Maior and âatherine his wife * Eliae Reusneri Basil. Geneal Auctuarium edit Francosurt 1592 pag. 102. Historie generall of the Netherlands lib. 5 pag 227. impr an Dom. 1609. * Penes Simonds D' Ewes Equitem auratum abâepotem dicti Aârini * In Registro Curiae Dum. Archidiaconi Lond. Libr. 4. sol 34. a b. * Escaety de a. 34. Eliz. parte 1. n. 11. Essex in Archiuis Tho. Pigot Richard Sutton W. Holland and Margaret his wife Rich Story and Ioan his wife Peter Fernefold Walter Turke Lord Maior Tho. Padington Marg. and Anne his wiues Will. Cogshall and Elis. his wife Nich. Wolbergh and Mar. his wife Rog. Hunning and Margaret his wife Tho. Paynard Vincent Catal. of Viscounts Ioan Coppinger Tho. Wandesford and Idonea his wife Will. âoyliâ Lord Maior and Catherine his wife Glanvile Agnes Cheyney Io. Rayning Will Porter and Elis. his wife Cowell lit C. Will. ãâã Io. Westcliffâ Ioan his wife Will. Newport and Mossâs his wife Will Read and Maâg his wife M. Drayton Pol. 17. Song London lying like a halfe moone London Bridge the Crowne of Tames Camd. in Mid. Speed of Miâ Gen 14.10 Hampton Court Camd in Mid. Câsar Commânt lib. 5. Burials neere Stanes Spec. Brit. Lib. 1. cap. 2. Burials neere Brainford Burials of the dead slaine at Barnet field Camd. in Hert. The first battel of S. Albans Mss In bib Coâ The second battell of S. Albans Camd. in Hert. Burials of the dead slaine in the battels at S. Albans Burials of the dead betwixt Stenenhaugh and Knebworth Camd. in Essex M. Drayton Song 19. Roman burials and the bones of Gyant-like found in Essex Burials neere Showbery Burials neere Barklow Ancient Tombes Danes-bloud Burials of the dead in and about Ashdown * âââinous * places * soules Battels and burialls of the dead ââ and about âhe ancient Baâhg of Maldon ãâ¦ã London Gâdwin Mss in lib. Sim. ãâ¦ã aurat ãâã lib. 2 ca. 7. Mellituâ quenched by his prayer the fire burning the Citie of Canterbury S. Ceada or Cedda ãâ¦ã 3. c. 2â ãâ¦ã Tilbuây Cities Sir Horace Vââe Baâon of Tilbury Sir Francis and siâ Hoâace Vere M. ãâ¦ã Song ãâã S. Chad Bishop of Lichfield S. Erconwald Bed lib. 4 ca. 6. Cures by Saint Erconwald Horse-licter S. Theodred S. Egwulfe S. Richard Ex lib. Elien in bib Coâ S. Roger. Mat. Paris an 1230. A strange Tempest M. D. Polyol Song 24. Felix the first Bishop of Dunwich or Dunmok Harding ca 91. Beda lib. 2. ca. 15 Hist. Eccl. Two and fifty religious stââctures as many windmilâ and as many toppe ships in Dunwich Recorda Dun. Camd. in Suss. The state of Dunwich since the foregoing time Six parish Churches Two houses of Friers One house of Templaâs Two Hospitals The couetouânesse of the Masters and Officers The destruction of both Hospitals Three Chappelâ The Cathedral Church vncertaine A strange and ancient buriall of a Bishop Bishops Seats anciently what they were A Mint in Dunwich Burials in the blacke Friers at Dunwich ãâã in the blacke Friers of Dunwich The foundation of the first Church in Bury The first foundation of the Abbey by the common people The second by K Canââe Ex Arch Turr. Lend * Bederics Court Farme or mansion house Camd. in Suss. Euersden Leland * Now but two The oath of the Alderman of Bury The broile betweene the Townesmen the Abbot and Couent of Bury Reliques in the Abbey Church out of a booke called Compend Com. pertorum in the treasurie of the Exchequer Aniles Fabulae S. Edmund King and Martyr Speed Hist ca. 11 * now Hoxon Ex lib. Abb. de Russ. in bib Col. S. Robert Martyr ex lib. Abb. de chateris in bib Cot. Alan Earle of Britaine and Kichmond Milles Catal. Rich. The building of Richmond Castle Tho. Plantaginet Earle of Norfolke Vincent Catal. Norf. Tho. Beauford Duke of Exceter Mary Queene of France Iohn Boon Abbot of Bury Out of a Lieger booke of the Abbey Cowell lit C. Conged'eslire Iohn Lidgate Monke * I know not * Promised * A dish made of marrow and grated bread * A Pancake * Couuremnet * Nappy Ale * Guâââ * Clocke * Verely * Nor Squire
Cherch of Ockley In the Cherch of Thâendeston In the Cherch of Battam In Codnam Cherche In the Cherch of Belyngs magna In S. âaââance Cherche as Ipsewyche Shotley Cherche In the Cherch of Belstede Eston Cherch In Mâtleâdâ Cherch In Lackefelde Cherch In Debnam Cherch Kenton Cherch Playford Cherche Knotfall Cherch In the Cherche of Walderswyke In Beckelles Cherche More in Beckelles Coue Cherche Leystoât Cherche Somerleton or Somorley Cherche Olton Cherch Soterley Chercheâ The diuision of the Diocesse of the East-Angles Elmham the Bishops âeate Baldwin the first Bishop Godwin Catal. Theâford the Bishops seate Arfastus the first Bishop Godwin out of Maâmsbury William the ââst Bishop of Thetford and the first of Norwich The foundation of the Bishops See at Norwich Herbert the first Bishop of Norwich Cart. Antiq. in Arch. Turris Lond. Godwin de ãâã Ang. Maââs de gest Regum Ang. lib. 4. ââ vet Mss in bib Cot. Euerard Bishop of Norwich Will. Turbus Bishop of Norwich Io. Oxford Bishop of Norwich Pits aetat 13. Io. Grey Bishop of Norwich De praesul Angl. Walter de Sufield Bishop of Norw The foundation of Saint Giles Hospitall Si. de Wanton Bishop of Norw Rog. ãâ¦ã Bishop of Norw Iohn Salmon Bishop of Norw Will. Ayremin Bishop of Norw Câp ââ3 Tho. Piercy Bishop of ãâã Hen. Spenser Bishop of ãâã Tho. Walsing in vita R. 2. ãâã Arch. Turris ãâ¦ã Alexander Bishop of Norwich ãâã Arch. Tur. ãâã Io. Wakering Bishop of Norwich Hollins A. 2. H. 5. Walter Lyghart Bishop of Norâwich Ia. Goldwel Bishop of Norwich Tho. Ian. Bishop of Norwich ãâ¦ã of Norwich Richard Brome ãâã Boswell The âamilie of Bosvile oâ Boswell Clere and his wife Elis. Waters Beauchampâ Chappell His buriall Simon Folkarde Baconthorpe Prior. Io. Baconthorpe the resolute little Doctor Pit Ann 1346. Baconthorpe a Dwarfe Mss. in custod And. Treswell Sir William Bolen knight of the Bath Tho. a Priest who paued a part of the Church Tho. Helby Io. Knapton S. Peters picture The bragge of the clocke Tho. Scot Philo. Anne Flint * thiâ * them * that Osbornes Elis. Ellis Iohn Mers Tho. Ellis Maior of Norwich and Marg. his wife Henry Wilton and Mar. his wife Rich. Ailmer and Ioan his wife Judge Windam Ioan London Izod Read Sir Peter Read knighted by Charles the fift Emperour Tho. Sheffe and his wife Marion Iohn Prince Priest Margery Hore Verst in our english names of contempt Rob. Thorpe Tho. Warnys Priest Io. Asker oâ Alger Maior The Gâey Frieâs The Blââke Friers The ãâ¦ã Burialls in the whâte Friers Carmeliââs Vmphrey Necton Ro. âalsyngham ãâã Folsham Rob. Rose Lady Emma 2 Recluse or Anchoresse and of this order Sir Hugo Vuedal knight Sir Will. Crongethorpe knight Philip Cowgate the Founder A grieuous great plague in Norwich A prayer for the deliueraÌce of certaine Carmes out of Purgatory Ex Mss. Balei de Carmelitis The praise of Norwich Vide Camden The foundation of the Colledge of Attilborrough Burials at Attilborrough Sir Alex. Radcliffe of Ordsall now owner of Attilborroâ Anu 1031. The foundation of the Priory of ãâã Ex ãâ¦ã Lond. The Priory made an Abbey Io. Wheâonsseaâ Mss. in bâb Cât Burials at ãâã Ex Annal. de Wauerley in bib Cot. Romaines âpon ãâã None Io. Townsend Sir Rog Towneshead knight Bardolfe Anne Lady Higham Lib. 2. cap. 16. Lord Montaigne surnamed Higham Sir William Butts knight and his Lady Sir Nicholas Bacon knight and Baronet Sir Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper Sir Francis Bacon Lord Chancellour Sir Raph Shelton and Alice his wife The foundation of Blackney Priory Camd in Norf. The Resolute Doctor Iohn Vnctân Iohn Câââll Iohn Bocher and Marg. his wife Tho. Drake Io. Waith and Marg. his wife Io. Darosse and his wife Io Avelyn Vicar Io. Glouer Vicar Williâm Roys Isabell Tilney Iane Kneveât Io. Styward Marg. his wife George Linsted Will. Davy Marg. Thorne Sir Roger Harsicke knight The foundation of the Abbey of Castle Acre ãâã Brââd and Agnes his wiââ In a glâââe Window Margaret White Alice Burnham Io. Bokenham George Bokenham Sir Oliuer Ingham knight Stow Annal. Hollins Spâed cap. 1â Sir Will. Woodhouse The foundation of Hickling Priory Rochfords Thomas Sutton Rob. Goddard Ric. Zorke Sir Fredericke Tâlney knight a man of high stature Sixteene knights of the Tilneys successiuely Tilneys inheritance deuolued to the Howards by marriage Io. Fincham Eliz. Fincham Io. Fincham The foundation of S Benets in the Holme An Abbot of Holme hanged Camd. in Norf. Iohn Clipesby Iohn Clipesby Catherine Clipesby Hen Spelman Hen. âpelman and Ela his âââe Sir Iohn Spelman knight Elis. his wife Sir Hen. Spelman knight Io Spelman and Marg. his wife Will. Spelman Sir Will. Yeluerton knight and Iohn his sonne Hen. Nottingham and his wife * that made * Quire Hen. Le Strange Sir Roger Le Strange knight for the body to âing Henry the âââenth Camd. in Norf. Stow Annal. Ex Arch. Turris London The foundation of Penteney Abbey Ex. lib. Abb. de Langley Ric. Baxter cowardly slain Tho. Baxter Tho. Drake and Elis. his wife The foundation of Wendling Priory Shernburne Shernbârn the second Christian Church of âi is Country ãâã by ãâ¦ã The foundation of the Monastery of Langley Out of ãâã of Annalâ belonging to this Priory ãâ¦ã Collââs Io. ãâã and Alice his wife Christopher Calthorpe Io. Symonds and Agnes his wife Symonds Anne and Margaret his wiues Io. ââumsted Ed. Braunche and Anne his wife Henry Berney and Alice his wife Io. Berney and his wiues Another Iohn Berney and his wiues Io Berney Io. Berney Sir Raphâ Fulmerston and Alice his Lady Will. Knigton Peter Larke and his wife The foundation of the Friers Preachers Arfastus Bishop of Thetford Ex Mss Anân in bib Cot. Iââ Colledge ãâã Thetford The foundatioÌ of the ãâã Monastery at Thetford Caââd in Norf. Hugh Bigot Earle of Norf. Orderie Vital Vtic. Ecclesiast Hist. lib. 11. Roger Bigot Sewer to king Hen. the ãâã Stow ãâ¦ã Roger Bigot Earle of Norf. Hugh Bigot Earle of Norf. Roger Bigot Earle of Norf. Marshall of England His Will out of Camdens collections in bib Ceââ Roger Bigot Earle of Norf. and Marshall of England the last and Alina his wife Io Mowbray Duke of Norfolke and Eleanor his wife Iohn Lord Mowbray Duke of Norfolke Iohn Lord Howard Duke of Norfolke Ex Arch Turr. Lond. Hollins pa. 759. Sir Iohn Beaumont Baronet deceased in his Poeme of Bosworth field Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Henry Fitz Roy Duke of Richmond Henry Howard Earle of Surrey and Frances his wife Camd. in Norf. Pit de illust Ang. scriptoribus pag. 923. Hen. How Poem Sir Anthony Denny Leâand ân suis Nâijâ The death of Sir Tho. Wiat. Annal. Stow. Hollinâ Hali. Speed Hâââ Alice ãâã ãâ¦ã Rob. Seman Will. Pyllis Kneuetâ Camd. in Nors Tho. Browne âuckenham âriory Sir Iohn Erââââham Knight ââundation of the Nunnery Sir Will. Chamberlaine knight of the Garter The foundation of S. Andrewes at Bromholme ãâ¦ã The holy Crosse of Bromholme Capgraue in the life of S. Edâââd King and ãâã ãâã compertorum Camd. ãâ¦ã âaphe ãâã Robert ãâã Nâââ Io Deynes and Katherine his wife Io. Shildgate George Lord Audley The foundation of the Chappell and Priory at Walsingham out of a ãâ¦ã increasing Librarie of Sir ãâ¦ã Camd. in Norf. Erasmus of the pilgrimage to Wâlsingham Queene Isabels seruant Flytham Priory The Foundation of the Priory of Yngham Burials in the Priory Church Leland in his Commentaries The foundation of the Friers Carmelites The blacke and white Friers in Linne S. Iohns Hospitall Sir Iames Hobart knight the builder of this Church ãâã lit I. Margaret Laââ Hobart Bishop Herbert the builder of the Church Elinâââââker Stow Annal. ex lib. priorat de Tur. Burials of such as ââed of the plague The white Friers The Blacke Friers The Grey Friers The Colledge of S. Iohn Baptist Sir Iohn Falstolfe knight of the Garter Burials and persons to be prayed for in religious houses in about Yarmouth Ed. de Hengraue a renowned Lawyer Sir Raph Shalton knight and Alice his wife ãâ¦ã Lady ãâã Ioâ Shelton ãâã Sir Raph Shelton ãâã âunnery In bib Cott. Mss. in bib ãâã monds ãâã Eq. aurât Shuldââ ãâã Priory of Nunnes The foundatioÌ of the Chappell in the Field The foundatioÌ of Raueningham Colledge Ex Arch. âuâr Lond. Cart. Antâq The foundatioÌ of a Chantrie at Tomeston The foundatioÌ of the Priory of Cockford âen Spâhmanni ãâã aurat âânia âhe story of Hikifrick here ãâã The strange ãâ¦ã of ãâã Camâ in Perth Hayâs Earles of Arrol or Eâtol Io. Ionston Heroes Scoâ âaâgraâe in viâ ãâ¦ã confessoria S. ãâã his ãâ¦ã places Godwin de presul Aug.
his wyef which Elenor dyed M.D.xxxiiii Iohn Felbrydge and Margery his wyef in the glasse wyndoo Thomas Sampson esquyer which dyed in Anno M. ccccxxxix and Margery his wyef Iohn Ienney Esquyer Matylda doughter of Iohn Bokell esquyer and Margery his wyves which Iohn dyed M. cccclx Etheldred Ienny doughter of Robart Cleere knight which dyed in anno M.D.ii. Iohn Hopton Esquyer and Margaret his wyef Iohn Hopton Agnes and Margaret his wyves Iohn Norwiche esquyer dyed the xv of Apryll in anno M. ccccxxviii and Matylda his wyef the xx of September in anno M. ccccxviii Elizabeth Kneuet doughter of Thomas Hopton late wyefe to Thomas Kneves esquyer whych dyed in anno M. cccclxxi Thomasyn Tendering late wyef of William Tendering esquyer on of the doughters of VVilliam Sidney and Thomasyn Baryngton which Thomasyn dyed in anno M. cccclxxxv Robart Garneis esquyer which dyed the xiiii of May M. ccccxi and Kateren his wyef M. ccccv Thomas Garneis esquyer dyed in anno M.D.xxvii Peter Garneis esquyer dyed in anno M. cccc.xiii Edward Garneis Esquyer dyed the third of May in anno M. cccclxxxv and Elizabeth his wyef Iohn Rede Mayre of Norwyche dyed the xi of Nouember in Anno M.D.ii. and Ione his wyef which had viii sons and iiii doughters Which Ione dyed in anno M.D.iii. William Rede of Beckelles and Margaret his wyef which Margaret dyed in anno M.D.xl and had v sons and vii doughters Isabell Bowes doughter of Iohn Bowes gent. and Anne his wyef ..... dyed the xx of Ianuary in anno M.D.xxx Thomas Saint Gebon dyed in anno M. cccclxxxviii Margery Barney late wyef of Iohn Barney esquyer which dyed in anno M.D.xlviii Robart Inglosse esquyer which dyed in anno M. cccclxv Margaret Iernegan the wyef of Edward Iernegan esquyer doughter of Sir Edward Bedingfelde knight which Margaret dyed the xxiiii of Marche in anno M.D.iiii Humfrey the son of Iohn Iernegan esquyer of Somerleton dyed in ann M. ccccxlvi Iohn Falstaff esquyer dyed M. ccccxlv and Kateren his wyef doughter of ...... Bedingfelde M. cccclxxviii William Bedyngfelde nuper Rectoris istius Ecclesie obijt in anno M.D.iii. Iohn Bomsted gent. dyed the vii of Apryll in anno M. cccclxxix Ales Bomsted late wyef of William Bomsted William Plafers esquyer and Ione his wyef which William dyed the iii of February in anno M.D.xvi. Thomas Plafers esquyer late Patron of the cherche and Anne his wyef syster and heyre of Roger Denneis late of Tauingto esquyer which Thomas dyed the xxi of September M. cccclxxix Sir Robart Ty knight which dyed the viii of October in anno M. ccccxv Monsieur Quier de Welyngton est Dame Hawes sa femme ..... Here endeth the Funerall Monuments within the County of Suffolke Norfolke BIsus the fourth Bishop of the East-Angles waxing old and sickly diuided his Diocesse into two parts whereof the one hee appointed to bee the Iurisdiction of a Bishop that should haue his See at North Elmham in Norfolke in the other at Dunwich aforesaid he continued himselfe as also did others of his Successours to the number of eleuen Elmham pagus obscurus et ignobilis an obscure little village and of no estimation saith Harpsfield Saecul 8. cap. 9. was thus honoured and enriched with the residence of many reuerend holy Bishops successiuely from Baldwin who was the first vntill by reason of the great troubles of those times in the Danish warres this See as also the other at Dunwich stood voide almost an hundred yeares vntill King Edwy the twentie ninth Monarch of the Englishmen about the yeare 955. preferred one Athulfe to this Bishopricke of the East Angles who gouerned the whole Diocesse alone and constantly kept his abode here at Elmham aforesaid after whom succeeded Alfrid Theodred and Theodred Athelstan Algar Alwyn Alfricke and Alfrey after him Stigand who enioying the place but a short time was depriued the like happened to Grinketell his successour who being conuicted to haue vsed vnlawfull meanes in obtaining this Dignitie was likewise depriued and Stigand restored to it againe From whence he was aduanced to the See of Winchester and after to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury and being so preferred hee found the meanes to procure this Bishopricke of the East-Angles vnto Egelmare his brother All these Bishops vntill the time of William the Conquerour had their Sees here at Elmham The said Conquerour substituted his Chaplaine Arfastus in the place of Egelmare by whose aduice the See was translated from Elmham to Thetford a man very vnlearned and of no extraordinary parts at all being Chaplaine to the Conquerour who was then but Duke of Normandy he would needs make a iourney to Becco in Normandy where Lanfranke afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury was then Abbot as also where Arfastus had beene a Monke and well esteemed of for his learning because that before Lanfranks comming he was Luscus inter Strabones amongst a number of drones meerely vnlearned onely a little smattering of learning he had with which he made a faire shew But now by this time by Lanfranks meanes the monastery of Becco was become euen a very Vniuersity flourishing with all knowledge of good letters Hither Arfastus coming after a pompous and bragging manner attended with a great troupe Lanfranke who by and by at the first blush espied Arfastus his ignorance caused an Abcee to be laid before him ferociam hominis Italica facetia illudens mocking the pride of the man with an Italian wittie ieast which ieast or ieering scoffe Arfastus so tooke to heart as hee neuer lynne till he had caused the Duke to banish Lanfranke out of Normandy Howbeit when Lanfranke came to take his leaue of the Duke hapning to ride on a lame iade the Duke fell into such a laughter at the halting of his horse as in that merry mood by meanes of some friends hee was quickly reconciled to him againe This Bishop died about the beginning of the raigne of King William Rufus Vpon the death of Arfastus one William Herbert sirnamed Galfagus for the summe of a thousand and nine hundred pounds obtained of the said King William Rufus this Bishopricke for himselfe and the Abbacy of Winchester for his father for satisfaction of which Simony this penance was enioyned him by Pope Paschalis the second that he should build certaine Churches and Monasteries which hee religiously performed This Towne of Thetford hauing bin first sacked by Suenus the Dane who in a rage set it on fire in the yeare 1004. and sixe yeares after spoiled againe by the furious Danes so that it had lost all the beautie and dignitie that formerly it had this Bishop did all he could to adorne and set it out but being vnable belike to doe so much as he intended hee remoued his Seate from hence to Norwich being a citie as then very faire built spatious and eminent where he first erected
non dedit orbi Mors erit vnius vita sed alterius Rara auis in terris confectus morte Viattus Houerdum baeredem scripserat ante suum Dicere nemo potest recte perijsse Viattum Ingenij cuius tot monimenta vigent In another place to the said Lord Henry Howard thus Accipe Regnorum Comes illustrissime carmen Quo mea Musa tuum laudavit maesta Viattum Againe Perge Houerde tuum virtute referre Viattum Dicerisque tuae clarissima gloria stirpis This Sir Thomas Wiat the Translatour of Dauids Psalmes into English died of the pestilence in the West countrey being on his iourney into Spaine whither he was sent Embassadour from the King vnto the Emperour in the yeare 1541. But to returne this Earle had together with his learning wisedome fortitude munificence and affabilitie yet all these good and excellent parts were no protections against the Kings displeasure For vpon the twelfth of December the last of King Henry the eight he with his Father Thomas Duke of Norfolke vpon certaine surmises of Treason were committed to the Tower of London the one by water the other by land so that the one knew not of the others apprehension The fifteenth day of Ianuary next following hee was arraigned at Guild Hall London where the greatest matter alledged against him was for bearing certaine Armes that were said belonged to the King and Prince the bearing whereof hee iustified To be short for so they were with him hee was found guilty by twelue common Iuriars had iudgement of death and vpon the nineteenth day of the same moneth nine dayes before the death of the said King Henry the eight was beheaded at Tower Hill He was first interred in the Chappell of the Tower and afterwards viz. in the raigne of our late drad Soueraigne King Iames of famous memory his remainders of ashes and bones were remoued to this place by his second sonne Henry Earle of Northampton as appeares by the foresaid Inscription Many more goodly Tombes and Grauestones but without Inscriptions are in this Church made for the remembrance of this Heroicall Progenie of the Howards and their Matches who haue here a faire and beautifull Castle fortified with a banke ditch and walls of great thicknesse wherein are thirteene Towers inwardly furnished with buildings right commodious and necessarie the resemblances and figures whereof had been cut and delineâted if the hastinesse of the Presse would haue permitted Of this surname of Howard thus Verstegan writes in his treatise Of our ancient English Titles of Honour Dignities and Offices And of the word Holdward This ancient and honourable name of Office saith he hath receiued the inâury of time which hath worne it out of vse and memory The l and d being for easinesse of sound omitted in the pronunciation as in sundrie other words the like is seene it became of Holdward which signifieth the gouernour or keeper of a Castle fort or hold of warre to be Howard Which name of Office albeit we haue long since lost yet retaineth our Realme to the high honour and illustrious ornament thereof the great and ââghâ noble familie vnto whom it is now the surname and it is like that at first it so became to be vpon the bearing of such a warlike honourable Office and charge Orate pro animabus Iohannis Plomer et Margerie vxoris eius qui istum fontââ fâciebant Keteringham Here lyeth Henry Grey the Son of Syr Thomas Grey knyght of Heton and Ione hys wyffe that was Syster to the Duc of Norffolk who dyed at Venys and Emme the wyffe of thaforseyd Henry Grey the doughter of Willyam Apleyard of the seyd County of Norffolk Esquyer .... Orate pro anima Thome Heueningham Armigeri filij et heredis Iohannis Heueningham militis et Baronetti Qui obijt vltimo die Ianuarij ânno Domini M. cccclxxxxix Orate pro anima Anne nuper vxoris Thome Heueningham Armigeri filie heredis Thome Yard Armigeri que obijt anno Domini M. cccccviii The Tombe for Thomas her husband is arched whereupon the pictures of himselfe and his wife are grauen in brasse himselfe hauing fyve sonnes likewise engrauen in brasse behynd him and she six doughters There is another Tombe erected to the memory of Sir Anthony Heveningham knight without Inscription This Towne is now the place of residence of the most ancient Familie of the Heueninghams which hath beene very honourably matched and with whom few families in England doth parallel for a Knightly descent Of which I haue read this note out of certaine Antiquities collected by Master Howldiche Ann Dom 1020. in the raigne of King Canutus Gualfride de Heueningham was Lord of Heueningham in the County of Suffolke of which house hath beene 25. Knights with Sir Io. Heueningham now liuing An. 1610. Their originall indeed is from that Towne of Heueningham in Suffolk which is possessed by them to this day Where in a particular Chappell adioyning vnto the Parish Church lie three statues cut out of the heart of Oke of their Ancestours of great antiquitie in their full postures Two of them representing men the other a woman which doth appeare to haue beene very curiously painted and gilt West Dereham or Derham Hubert Deane of Yorke afterwards Bishop of Salisbury and from thence translated to Canterbury was Founded of a Monastery in this Towne where he was borne in the raigne of King Henry the second for his owne soules health and for the soules health of his Father and Mother and of Ranulph de Glanvile and Bertha his wife who brought him vp He bought the land whereupon this Monastery was built of one Geffrey Fitz. Geffrey of Derham He placed therein Regular Canons of the order of Premontre vpon the dedication thereof to God and the most glorious virgine Mary but the particulars of the Foundation will best appeare by his Charter thus recorded Omnibus sancte Matris Ecclesie filijs presentibus et futuris Hubertus dei gracia Eboracensis Ecclesie Decanâs eternam in domino salutem Prudentis est hijs que saluti anime proficiunt dum potest intendere transitorijs eterna commutare Quod quidem intelligentes in Honore Dei et gloriose Virginis Marie Matris eius quoddam Cenobium Premonstratensis ordinis in feudo nostro apud Dereham fundauimus pro salute anime nostre et patris et matris nostre et Domini Ranulph de Glanvile et Domine Berte vxoris eius qui nos nutrierunt et pro salute fratrum sororum consanguineorum Familiarium et omnium amicorum nostrorum et preâate Domui et Canonicis dedimus et concessimus et presenti charta nostra confirmavimus totum tenementum in eadem villa cum pertinentijs quod de Galfrido filio Galfridi emeramus c. Witnesses to this his Foundation were Iohn Bishop of Norwich Ranulph de Glanvile Lord chiefe Iustice of England Walter Fitz. -Robert Geffrey Fitz-Peter
Richard de Derham Parson of the Church Nicholas de Derham and Elias de Derham brethren Which Elias was one of the Executors of the last Will and Testament of the said Archbishop Hubert Ann. 7. Iohannis Regis from which Nicholas de Derham descended Tho. Derham of Crimplesham Esquire Ann. 3. H. 5. that married Elisabeth daughter and heire of Baldwin de Vere of Denuere in this County Esquire yonger brother to Robert de Vere of Addington Esquire from whom Sir Thomas Derham knight now Lord of West Derham aforesaid is descended Buckenham New Hic iacet Alicia quondam vxor Willelmi Knyvet Armigeri Que erat filia Iohannis Grey filij Reginaldi Grey Domini de Rythyn que obiit quarto die mensis Aprilis Anno Domini M. cccclxxiiii ..... Hic iacet Thomas Ivy Capellanus qui obijt xix diâ mensis Septembris ann Domini M. cccclxxxiii Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Hic iacet Robertus Seman Capellanus qui obijt nono die Iunij ann Dom. M. cccclxv Cuius anime ... Orate pro anima Willelmi Pyllys qui obijt xxv die Decembris Anno Domini M. cccccxxxi Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Here are many old Monuments all without Inscriptions vnder which diuers of the Familie of the Knevets lie buried An ancient house and renowned saith Camden euer since Sir Iohn Kneuet was Lord Chancellour of England vnder King Edward the third and also honourably allied by great marriages For ouer and besides these of Buckenham now Baronets from hence sprang those right worshipfull Knights Sir Thomas Kneuet Lord Kneuet Sir Henry Kneuet of Wiltshire and Sir Thomas Kneuet of Aâhewell Thorp and others Buckenham old Vpon a Grauestone in the south side of the Church ouer which stone there now are Pewes built there is in brasse portraied a Crane from whose heke is a scrowle with these two words Deo gratias and vpon a piece of brasse ouerthwart this inscription Orate pro anima Thome Browne cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Here was a religious Foundation of blacke Canons dedicated to Saint Iames valued at one hundred one and thirty pounds eleuen shillings of yearely commings in Erpingham Vnder a goodly faire Grauestone lieth the body Sir Iohn Erpingham knight he is figured vpon the stone in complete armour and the monument is bordered with this inscription Hic iacet Iohannes de Erpingham miles quis multa bona fecit tempore vite sue ... At each corner of the marble a Doue siluer crowned holding a Mase or Scepter in her pounce Sir Thomas Erpingham was knight of the Garter in the raigne of Henry the fourth Cromer Here lyeth the body of Sir Simon Felbrigge or Felbridge knight of the Garter in the raigne of Henry the fift He lieth in complete Armour on both his Emerases the Crosse of Saint George holding in his right hand a Penon of Armes his Belt bossed and gilt his Hanger by his side his Spurs gilt the blew Garter about his right legge his feet resting on a Lyon all ingrauen in brasse his wife by his side on like manner in brasse very sumptuously garnished with bracelets Iewels and her attire according to those times I haue no inscription to know any further Carow A religious house of blacke Nunnes consecrated to the holinesse and honour of the blessed Virgin Mary founded by King Stephen the founder of many such sacred Edifices valued in the Kings bookes to be yearely worth fourescore and foure pounds twelue shillings penny halfe penny qua Gregory the tenth as I take it granted by his Bull this priuiledge inhibition following to the Nunnes of this Priory Gregorious Episcopus Seruus Seruorum Dei dilectis in Christo filiâbus Priorisse et conuentui de Carrone Norwicen Dioc. Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Exposita nobis ex parte vestra petitio ... quod vos ad iâstantiam precum quorundam Nobilium Anglie quibus propter suam potentiam resistere non valeatis tot iam recepisti in Monasterio vestro Moniales quod vix potestis domus redditibus congrue sustentari Quare auctoritâââ presentium vobis inhibemus vt nullam recipiatis in grauamen Monasterij vestri de cetero in Monacham vel Sororem Dat. Perusii xij Kalend. Septembris Pontificatus nostri anno tertio East Harling I find by certaine notes of burials sent vnto me from my friend master Taylor of Fleetstreete London these persons following to haue beene interred in this parish Church Sir William Chamberleyn Knight of the Garter and Dame Anne his wife daughter of Sir Robert Harling Knight He was graced with this high Order in the raigne of Edward the fourth Sir Robert Harling Knight Elisabeth Trussell sister of sir William Chamberleyn Sir Iohn Harling knight Debenham Here by the foresaid Notes lie buried Iohn Farmingham qui obijt anno M. cccc.xxiiij and Margaret his wife Robert Cheak and Rose his wife George Neuill and his wife Iohn Neuill Iohn Cheake qui obiit M. cccc.lxxxx Suffield Here lyeth buried vnder a faire Tombe the bodies of Iohn Symonds gentleman and Margaret his wife daughter of Francis Moundeford Esquire ... Bromholme William Glanuile founded the Church of Saint Andrew at Bromholme in the Diocesse of Norwich in the yeare 1113. saith an old Anonimall Mss. which I haue In the Pedegree of the right honourable Edward Earle of Dorset I finde this note following Beatrix daughter and coheire of William Sakeuile Lord of Bracksted Nayland and mount Bures in Essex and brother to Iordan Sakeuile married to William de Glaunuile Lord of Bromholme and founder of the Church of Bromholme anno 17. Hen. primi a house it was of Benedictines valued to be yearely worth an hundred pounds fiue shillings fiue pence Here was also sometime a Priorie of blacke Monkes Cluniacks dedicated to Saint Sepulchre founded by G. Glanuile and valued at one hundred forty foure pounds nineteene shillings halfe penny qua Bromholme sometime a Priory saith Camden founded and enriched by G. Glanuill and seated on the sharpe top of an hill the crosse whereof our ancestors had in holy reuerence I know not for what miracles Thomas Rudhorne Bishop of S. Dauids who flourished in the raigne of Henry the fourth hath in his history these words to the same effect Capulanus quidam portauit quandam crucem ligneam in Angliam quam affirmauit esse de ligno in quo pependit Christus et Monachis de Bromholme obâulit et postea locus coruscabat miraculis A certaine Priest brought ouer with him saith he a woodden Crosse into England which he affirmed to be the Crosse whereupon our Sauiour Christ was crucified which he deliuered to the Monkes of Bromholme after which the place did shine gloriously with miracles But the story of this holy Crosse is more fully deliuered by Capgraue on this manner Saint Helene saith he hauing found the Crosse did diuide