worthie being slaine in battell neare to Baschama and there buried Simon sent to take the bones of his brother Ionathan I will vse the words of the Text And they buried him in Modin his fathers city And all Israel bewailed him with great lamentation and mourned for him verie long And Simon made vpon the Sepulcher of his father and his brethren a building high to looke vnto of hewne stone behinde and before And set vp seuen pillars vpon it one against another for his father his mother and foure brethren And set great pillars round about them and set armes upon the pillars for a perpetuall memorie and carued ships beside the armes that they might be seene of men sailing in the sea In like manner the Romanes notwithstanding their second law of the twelue Tables did sometime entombe their dead within the Citie but that was but seldome for the bones and ashes of Trajan the Emperour were put into a golden vrne and set in the Market-place vpon the top of a pillar of one whole peece being one hundred and fourty foot high And Galbaes bodie long neglected saith Tacitus and in the darke despightfully intreated Argius his Steward one of his principall bondmen buried with small ceremonie in his priuate garden But this was not vsuall amongst them Hospinian lib. 3. cap. 1. out of Durandus Vlpian and other Authours giues this reason wherefore both the Iewes and Gentiles vsed to burie their dead without the gates of Townes and Cities It was a custome in times of old saith he that men and women were buried in their owne priuate houses or within their owne priuate gardens but afterwards for the noysome savour and contagious stinke of the dead carkases so interred it was enacted That all burials should bee without Townes and Cities in some conuenient place appointed for that purpose And howsoeuer that this order was obserued by the Gentiles upon this reason onely Scilicet vt in vrbibus mundicies seruaretur aer minus inficeretur ex cadauerum putrescentium faetore Yet the true Christians and such as by their liuely faith were adopted the children of God had a further mysterie in this their manner of interments for by the carriage and buriall of their dead corps without their citie walls they did publikely confirme and witnesse that the parties deceased were gone out of this world to bee made free denizons of another citie namely Heauen there to remaine with the blessed Saints in eternall happinesse This order or custome of buriall without cities continued amongst the Christians vntill the time of Gregory the great for as then the Monkes Friers and Priests saith my foresaid Authour began to offer sacrifice for the soules departed so that for their more easie and greater profit they procured first that the places of sepulture should bee adioyning vnto their Churches and afterwards they got licence to burie within Churches Vpon this reason out of the said Gregory 13. q. cap. 2. Cum grauia peccata non deprimunt saith hee tunc prodest mortuis si in Ecclesijs sepeliantur quia eorum proximi quoties ad eadem sacra loca veniunt suorumque sepulturam aspiciunt recordantur pro eis Domino preces fundunt Antiquitus tantum extra vrbem in coemiterijs hominū corpora sepeliebantur pace Ecclesiae data intra vrbes ad Templorum limina postea etiam in ipsis templis sepeliri mos inualuit Constantinus in porticu Templi Apostolorum Constantinopoli Honorius in porticu Templi S. Petri Romae eius vxor intra idem Templum sepulti sunt Anciently the bodies of the dead were buried onely without cities in Coemiteries or sleeping places vntill the resurrection as the word signifies but persecution being ended and peace giuen to the Christian Church the manner grew in vse to burie within Cities at the entrance into their sacred temples yea and afterwards in the verie Churches themselues Constantine was buried in the porch of the Apostles in Constantinople Honorius in the porch of S. Peter in Rome and his wife the Empresse within the said Church But to come nearer home Austine the first Archbishop of Canterbury sent hither by the foresaid Gregory was interred in the porch of Saint Peter and Paul commonly called Saint Austins neare vnto Canterbury a religious house of his owne foundation and together with him sixe other Archbishops who next succeeded him whose reliques afterwards were remoued into the Abbey Church of which I shall speake hereafter Cuthbert or Cudbright th' eleuenth Archbishop of that Province obtained from the Pope a dispensation for the making of Coemiteries or Churchyards within Townes and Cities whereas here in England vntill his time within the walls thereof none were buried These following are the words in the Appendix to the booke of Rochester a Mss. in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie Cutbertus Archiepiscopus Cant. xi ab Augustino cum Romae videret plures intra Ciuitates sepeliri rogauit Papam ut sibi liceret Coemiteria facere quod Papa annuit reuersus itaque coemiteria vbique in Anglia fieri constituit This order of buriall being thus begun here in England it likewise followed that Graue-stones were made and Tombes erected with inscriptions engrauen upon them to continue the remembrance of the parties deceased to succeeding ages and these were called Epitaphs now an Epitaph is a superscription either in verse or prose or an astrict pithie Diagram writ carued or engrauen vpon the tombe graue or sepulchre of the defunct briefly declaring and that sometimes with a kinde of commiseration the name the age the deserts the dignities the state the praises both of body and minde the good or bad fortunes in the life and the manner and time of the death of the person therein interred Of all funerall honours saith Camden Epitaphs haue alwayes beene most respectiue for in them loue was shewed to the deceased memorie was continued to posteritie friends were comforted and the Reader pu◠in minde of humane frailtie and indeed the frequent visiting and aduised reuiewing of the Tombes and monuments of the dead but without all touch of superstition with the often reading serious perusall and diligent meditation of wise and religious Epitaphs or inscriptions found vpon the tombes or monuments of persons of approued vertue merit and honour is a great motiue to bring us to repentance The invention of Epitaphs proceeded from the presage or forefeeling of immortalitie implanted in all men naturally and is referred to the Schollers of Linus the Theban Poet who flourished about the yeare of the world 2700 who first bewailed this Linus their master when he was slaine in dolefull verses then called of him Aelina afterward Epitaphia for that they were first song at burialls after engraued vpon the sepulchres Funerall monuments then of costly workmanship with curious engrauen Epitaphs were called Sepulchra id est semipulchra halfe faire and beautifull the externall part or superficies thereof being gloriously beautified and adorned and hauing
were tearmed Basilicae for that the Basilicae of the Gentiles which were large and spacious Hauls wherein Magistrates sat in iudgement and ministred iustice were conuerted into Christian Churches Whence Ausonius wrote thus Basilica olim negotijs plena c. The Basilica or Haul of Iustice in times past full of businesses is now as full of prayers and vowes or else because they were built in forme somewhat long in manner of those Basilicae But to returne backe againe to my Parishes which are called Benefices for Ecclesiasticall persons like as the preferments in Cathedrall Churches are tearmed Church Dignities and of these some are called Rectories or Parsonages some Vicaradges as will appeare by the sequele Parochia is sometime called Plebania and thus defined Plebania est aliud genus beneficij et maius quam Rectoria habet sub se Capellas et dignitatem esse putant interpretes Plebania is another kinde of Benefice and of greater circuite then a Rectorie it hath vnder it certaine Chappels and this Plebania or dignitas plebeia is said to be a Church dignitie by Interpretours Questionlesse these Plebanians were like our side-wasted Parishes in Lanchishire whose extensure is so large that to my owne knowledge some one of those Parish Churches hath fourteene Chappels of ease as we call them within the circumference of her limits and as it were vnder her iurisdiction all which are honoured with Parochiall rites Cathedrall Abbey and Parish Churches had great priuiledges of sanctuarie granted vnto them in former times Now a Sanctuarie is a place of refuge for offenders to escape punishment And these Sanctuaries were so called of an old Mosaicall rite vsed amongst the Israelites among whom euery Tribe had certaine Cities and places of refuge to which malefactours might repaire and for a time bee protected from the rigour of the Law Of which you may reade in the sacred writ Exod. 21.13 Numb 35.1 Deuter. 4.41 and Iosh. 20.2 And so likewise here in great Britaine Churches Church-yards Cities ploughs and high-wayes had many priuiledges in this kinde anciently granted and confirmed vnto them I will speake first of the last out of a late Writer who makes old Watling-streete thus to sing his verse Since vs his kinglie waies Mulmutius first began From 〈◊〉 â—gaine â—o Sea that through the Hand ran Wh 〈…〉 at in mâ—nd to keepe Posteritie might haue Appoâ—nting â—ust his course this priuiledge he gaue That no man might arrest or debtors goods might seize In any of vs foure his militarie waies Neare fiue hundred yeares before this King Mulmutius take it vpon the credit oâ— the British Story constituted diuerse lawes especially that Churches Ploughs and high wayes should haue liberties of Sanctuary by no authoritie violable That Churches should be free and enioy liberty for refuge consenting allowance of most Nations haue tollerated and in this kingdome it being affirmed also by constitution of King Lucius a Christian euery Church yard was a Sanctuary vntill by Act of Parliament vnder Hen. 8. that licence for protection of offences being too much abused was taken away Of Mulmutius Dunwallo for so hee is sometime called and his priuiledges to sacred places my old Mss. thus further speakes A kynge ther was in Brutayne Donwâ—lle was his nam Stale worth and hardy a man of grete fam He ordeyned first yat theeues yat to Temple slown wer No man wer so hardy to do hem despit ther That hath be moche suth yhold as hit begonne tho Hely Chyrch hit holdyth yut and wole euer mo Hereupon he called the Temples which hee built the Temples of peace and concord one of which was in London where now Blackwell Hall is another in Fleete-street as yet called the Temple Church wherein or in some of them himselfe Gorbomannus and other of the British kings were interred as by supposition it is deliuered Lucius king of the Britaines hauing abundantly distributed and giuen ample possessions and reuenues to Churches and Clergie men ordained that Churches with their Coemiteries or Church-yards should haue this priuiledge that what malefactour soeuer should thither make flight for his safetie he might there remaine without indemnitie Ethelwolfe and Alfred Kings of the West-Saxons gaue the like important priuiledges to these holy Edifices Athelstane sole Monarch of the Englishmen held the memory of Iohn de Beuerley Archbishop of Yorke so sacred and reuerend for he honored him as his â—urelar Saint that he endowed Beuerley the place of the said Archbishops birth with many and those very great priuiledges and granted them liberties in these generall words As free make I thee As heart may think or eie may see Yea and there was granted vnto it the priuiledge of a Sanctuary so that Bankrupts and men suspected of any capitall crime worthy of death might be free and safe there from the danger of the law in which was erected a chaire of stone with this Inscription This seat of Stone is called Freed stool that is the chaire of peace vnto which what offender soeuer flieth and commeth hath all manner of Securitie Of the Sanctuary at Westminster first granted by Sebert King of the East-Saxons encreased by Edgar King of the West-Saxons and confirmed by the Charter of King Edward the Confessor I haue spoken before If any one guilty of offence flie from any place for refuge to the Church Church-doore to the Parson or Vicars house or into any part of his base or inner Court prouided that the said house and courts bee within consecrated ground it shall not be lawfull for any to take him from thence saue onely the Bishop or some of his Officers Now if this malefactour bee a filching knaue or an high-way robber and be taken with the bootie or if his theeuish purchase be altogether exhausted and spent yet if he haue any meanes otherwayes of his owne he shall make satisfaction to the partie or parties whom hee hath so wronged and if hee still continue to play the thiefe and make a custome of this manner of flight to Churches and Priests houses after restitution made he shall abiure the countrey and if he giue not satisfaction to the parties whose goods hee hath taken and purloyned no man shall dare to giue him lodging or entertainment without the kings speciall licence first obtained If a Clergie-man bee taken for felonie deliuered to the Ordinarie and breake prison and flie to the Church for sanctuarie or refuge he shall bee taken from thence and put into the same prison out of which he escaped for the Church ought not to defend him nor any publike malefactour Si ad pacem Regis venire noluerit But stay for if robbing from other mens works to embellish my owne writings be an offence it is high time for mee to take Sanctuarie yet giue me leaue to go a little further in my course and to speake somewhat out of other Authors of the Ecclesiasticall state of England of
kyng of Brutons nobly ynough Had regnyd xlviii yer toward his deth he drogh He dede aftyr Martyn Masse euen the sixt dey The Brutons made deel ynough tho he ded ley Hii made a Kyngys toome and hym al hol wyth ynne Upon an horse ridyng of bras put al wyth gynne And vpon the west gate of London sette hit full hegh In token of hys noblesse that men hit fer segh A Chirch of Sent Martyn liuyng he let rere In whyche yat men shold goddys seruyse do And sing for his soul and al Christene also Farewell my freyndes the tyde abydeth no man We be departed fro hence and so â—all yee But in this passage the best song that we say can Is Requiem eternam now Iesu grant hit mee When wee haue endyd all our aduersitee Grant vs in Paradise to haue a mansion That shâ—ed his blood for our redemption Therfore wee tendyrlie requier yee For the souls of Iohn Benson And Anne his wyff of your charitie To say a Pater Noster and an Aue. These verses following were engrauen in copper on the strong Quadrant of Ludgate built by Stephen Foster Lord Maior and Dame Agnes his wife for the reliefe of the Prisoners Deuout souls that passe this way For Stephen Foster late Maior hertely pray And Dame Agnes his Spous to God consecrate That this hous made for Londoners in Ludgate So that for lodging and water Prisoners here nought pay As the kepers shall all ansqueare at dreadfull Doomys day Christ Church The chiefe Foundresse of this religious house is said to be Queene Margaret the second wife of Edward the first sister of Philip the fourth surnamed the Faire King of France and eldest daughter of King Philip the hardy sonne of S. Lewes who died An. 1317. and was buried here before the high Altar Iohn de Dreux second sonne of Iohn Duke of Britaine by Beatrice his wife daughter of King Henry the third Earle of Britaine and Richmond gaue 300 l. to the building of some part of the Church glased all the windowes on the south side and also gaue many rich Iewels and ornaments to be vsed in the same so that he is accounted as a second Founder Diuers other Noble men and worthy Citizens gaue both lands and great summes of money towards the building and endowing of this religious Structure which was finished within 21 yeeres dedicated to the honour of God and our alone Sauiour Iesu Christ and replenished with grey Fryers Minorites valued at the generall suppression but at 32 l. 19 s. 10 d. This Abbey Church hath beene honoured with the sepulture of foure Queenes foure Dutchesses foure Countesses one Duke two Earles eight Barons and some thirty fiue Knights whose names are set downe by Stow in his Suruay of this honourable Citie and in all from the first foundation vnto the dissolution sixe hundred sixtie and hree persons of Qualitie were here interred In the Quire were nine Tombes of Alabaster and Marble inuironed with barres or strikes of iron one Tombe in the body of the Church coped also with iron and seauenscore graue-stones of Marble in diuers places all which were pulled downe taken away and sold for fiftie pounds or thereabouts by Sir Martin Bowes Maior of London An. 1545. The rest of the Monuments are now wholly defaced not any one remaining at this day saue such which are of later times The blacke Fryers This House was founded by Robert Kilwardby Archbishop of Canterbury and the Citizens of London An. Dom. 1276. This Archbishop towards the latter end of his time made a collection saith Godwin for the building of a Monasterie for the Fryer Minors in London Many contributed so largely thereunto as he hauing the helpe of a certaine old Tower which yeelded him stones without charge finished the same with other mens money and was able to affoord the foundation for another at Salisbury King Edward the first and Eleanor his wife were great Benefactors to this worke This was a large Church richly furnished with ornaments and honoured by the burials of many great Personages diuers Parliaments and other great meetings haue beene holden in this Monasterie which is now altogether demolished and other new buildings erected in the same place This order of blacke Fryers Predicants were remoued hither from Oldbourne where they had continued 55 yeeres The reuenewe of this house was valued at 104 l. 15 s. 5 d per annum being surrendred into the Kings hands 12 of Nouember the 30 of Henry the 8. Persons of kingly princely and noble descent of eminent high place and qualitie to the number of fiftie and vpwards are reckoned by Io. Stow out of the Register of this house to haue bin here entombed to whose relation I leaue my Reader onely giue me leaue to speake of one Vpon a Table fastened to a pillar this inscription was not long since here to be read as I haue it out of the collections of Tho. Talbot Here lyeth the body of the Lady Elizabeth the daughter of Sir Bartholomew Balitismere wife of William Bohun Earle of Northampton and mother of the Earles of March and Northampton and of Elizabeth Countesse of Arundell She died 5 Id. of Iune Anno Christi 1378. She was interred before the high Altar Saint Andrewes Wardrobe Cernite sub Betra iacet hac Hatfeeld tumulata Et Margareta claris natalibus orta Anglica parte Patris fuerat Normannaque Matris Traxerat ex ort ..... vterque parent ..... clara Hec fuit Domina Domine Salop Comitisse Anno milleno C quater Lx quoque deno Atque die deno Iunij decessit ameno Eius prestet opem pius anime Deus Amen Prey ...... Katherin Riplingham ..... died M. cccc .... This erazed Inscription is made more plaine by the last Will and Testament of the defunct here interred of which this is a copie in effect I Dame Katherin Riplingham widow of London aduowes the xiij day of Feuerer M. cccc.lxx.iii.xiii Ed. iiii My soule to God my body to be buried in the Chancell of Seynt Andrew at Baynards Castle London I bequeth to the Monastery of Westminster to prey for the souls of my Husbands William Southcote there beryed c. I will that my Feoâ—â—ees performe the award of master Iohn Wood Clerke and Nicholas Lathell indifferently chosen betwene me and Richard Welden Squier and Elisabeth his wiff my doghtyr and Thomas S. Iohn Squier and Alice his wiff doghtyr of one Richard Langham to make a lawfull estate of all my lands in London to Elisabeth Welden my doghter the remaynder to the next heires of William Southcote sometime my Husband fader of the same Elisabyth c. I will the remaynder of all my lands to the right heires of Thomas Baysham my fader I will to my doghtyrs doghtyr Alys S Iohn my gold ryng also to my Doghtyrs son Robart Welden my Maysor which his moder heretofore gaue to me
whencesoeuer he come or for what offence or cause it be either for his refuge into the said holy place he be assured of his life liberty and limbes And ouer this I forbid vnder the paine of euerlasting damnation that no Minister of mine or of my Successours intermeddle them with any the goods lands or possessions of the said persons taking the said Sanctuary for I haue taken their goods and liuelode into my speciall protection and therefore I grant to euery each of them in as much as my terrestriall power may suffice all manner freedome of ioyous liberty and whosoeuer presumes or doth contrary to this my Grant I will he lose his name worship dignitie and power And that with the great traytor Iudas that betrayed our Sauiour he be in the euerlasting fire of hell And I will and ordaine that this my grant endure as long as there remaineth in England either loue or dread of Christian name King Edward the third built in the little Sanctuarie a Clochard of stone and timber and placed therein three bells for the vse of Saint Stephens Chappell About the biggest Bell was engrauen or cast in the mettall these words King Edward made mee thirtie thousand weight and three Take mee downe and wey mee and more you shall fynd mee But these Bells being to be taken downe in the raigne of King Henry the eight one writes vnderneath with a coale But Henry the eight will bait me of my weight In the Steeple of the great Church in the Citie of Roane in Normandy is one great Bell with the like Inscription Ie suis George de Ambios Qui trente cinque mille pois Mes lui qui me pesera Trente six mill me trouera I am George of Ambois Thirtie five thousand in pois But he that shall weigh me Thirtie six thousand shall find mee One lately hauing taken view of the Sepulchres of so many Kings Nobles and other eminent persons interred in this Abbey of Westminster made these rimes following which he called A Memento for Mortalitie Mortalitie behold and feare What a change of flesh is here Thinke how many royall bones Sleepe within this heape of stones Hence remou'd from beds of ease Daintie â—are and what might please Fretted roofes and costlie showes To a roofe that flats the nose Which proclaimes all flesh is grasse How the worlds faire Glories passe That there is no trust in Health In youth in age in Greatnesse wealth For if such could haue repriu'd Those had beene immortall liu'd Know from this the worlds a snare How that greatnesse is but care How all pleasures are but paine And how short they do remaine For here they lye had Realmes and Lands That now want strength to stirre their hands Where from their pulpits seel'd with dust They preach In Greatnesse is no trust Here 's an Aker sowne indeed With the richest royall seed That the earth did ere sucke in Since the first man dy'd for sin Here the bones of birth haue cry'd Though Gods they were as men haue dy'd Here are sands ignoble things Dropt from the ruin'd sides of Kings With whom the poore mans earth being showne The difference is not easily knowne Her 's a world of pompe and state Forgotten dead disconsolate Thinke then this Sithe that mowes downe kings Exempts no meaner mortall things Then bid the wanton Lady tread Amid these mazes of the dead And these truly vnderstood More shall coole and quench the blood Then her many sports a day And her nightly wanton play Bid her paint till day of doome To this fauour she must come Bid the Merchant gather wealth The vsurer exact by stealth The proud man beate it from his thought Yet to this shape all must be brought Chappell of our Lady in the Piew Neare vnto the Chappell of Saint Stephen was sometime a smaller Chappell called our Lady of the Piew but by whom first founded I cannot finde To this Lady great offerings were vsed to be made Richard the second after the ouerthrow of Wat. Tilar as I haue read and other the Rebels in the fourth of his raigne went to Westminster and there giuing thankes to God for his victory made his offering in this Chappell By the negligence of a Scholler forgetting to put forth the Lights of this Chappell the Image of our Lady richly decked with Iewels precious stones Pearles and Rings more then any Ieweller saith he could iudge the price was with all the apparell and ornaments belonging thereunto as also the Chappell it selfe burnt to ashes It was againe reedified by Antony Widâ—uile Earle Riuers Lord Scales Vncle and Gouernour to the Prince of Wales that should haue beene King Edward the fifth Who was vniustly beheaded at Pomfret by the procurement of Richard Crook-backe Duke of Glocester then Lord Protectour the 13. of Iune 1483. Saint Margaret in Westminster Adioyning on the North side of the Abbey standeth Saint Margarets the Parish Church of the Citie of Westminster reedified for the most in the raigne of King Edward the fourth especially the South Isle from the piety of the Lady Marye Billing and her second husband Sir Thomas Billing chief Iustice of England in that Kings time Whose Monument with that to the memorie of her first husband William Cotton Esquire I haue here expressed Here lieth Dame Mary Bylling late wife to Sir Thomas Bylling Knight chiefe Iustice of England and to William Coton and Thomas Lacy which Mary died the 14 day of March in the yeare of our Lord God 1499. Blessed Lady c. haue mercy c. Ant Mary gratia plena on me haue mercy on me haue mercy Ecce ancila dom Fiat 〈…〉 secund uerbu tuuÌ„ 〈…〉 〈…〉 The inheritance of this Lady was the Lordship of Connington in Huntingtonshire The seate once of Turketell the Dane Earle of the East Angles who inuited ouer Swain King of Denmarke to inuade this kingdome He exiâ—'d with most of his Nation by Saint Edmond the Confessor This his seate with other his large possessions were giuen by the same King to Walthâ—oâ— Earle of Northumberland and Huntington to whom the first William gaue in marriage the Lady Iudithe his sisters daughter This Lordship with the Earledome of Huntington by the marriage of Mary that Earles daughter to Dauid the sonne of the first Malcolme King of Scots and the holy Margaret his wife Neece to Edward the King Confessor Grandchilde to Edmond surnamed Ironside King of the English Saxons and sister and heire to Edgar surnamed Ethelinge by which marriage the Stemme Royall of the Saxons became vnited into the bloud Royall of the Scottish Kings in whose male lyne that Earldome and this Lordship continued vntill Isabell the daughter and heire of Dauid Earle of Huntington and brother to Malcome William and Alexander successiue Kings of that kingdome brought them both by her marriage to Robert de Brus into that family She leauing the iust clayme of the Crowne of Scotland to Robert her eldest sonne whose sonne
twelue shillings The Austine Friers founded by one Remigius or by the King but by what King or to what Saint dedicated or to what value it amounted I do not know Others say it was founded by one Roger Mynyoth The bodies which I finde to haue beene herein buried are these which follow Elizabeth daughter of Sir Tirru Rosabart Elisabeth wife of William Garueys ..... sonne of Sir Raphe Pigott Sir Edmond Hengrane and Dame Alyce his wife daughter of Iohn Lile Margaret Howard 1416. Sir Iohn â—owell Knight Sir Robert Vfford Sir Iohn Geney and Dame Alice his wife obijt 1454. Dame Margery wife of Sir Edward Hastings and of Sir Iohn Wyndham daughter of Robert Clyfton 1456. Dame Katherin Ferris wife of Sir Iohn Radclyffe 1452. Iohn Bacun sonne of Sir Roger 1461. and Maude his wife 1456. Iohn sonne of Iohn Bacun obijt 1462. and Margaret his wife Ione wife of Robert Boys daughter of .... Wychingham 1400 Edmond Wychingham Esquier who died 1472. Sir Thomas Lord Morley obijt in Calleis Sir Robert Morley and Dame Anne his wife Iohn Morley Esquire Sir Thomas Soterley Esquire and Elisabeth his wife obieerunt 1477. Thomas Wedderby Alderman Amongst many other of this Fraternitie I finde that one Benedictus Icenus or Benet of Norfolke a Brother of this House and of this Order of Saint Augustine was likewise here buried in the Chapter house who died in the yeare of our saluation 1340. Vir pius prudens facundus omni serentiarum genere nobiliter instructus et cum primis sui temporis Theologis meritò conferendus A man godly wise fluent of speech in all kindes of Sciences nobly instructed and right deseruingly to be compared with the prime Diuines of his dayes For his singular grace in preaching and his able power in perswading he was so beloued of Antony Becke the Bishop of this Diocesse as that he made him Suffragane or as it were Copartner with him in his Episcopall function The Grey Friers was founded by one Iohn Heslynford and of this Foundation I finde no further Some say that the Blacke Friers was founded by King Edward the second which I confesse I cannot contradict For I finde no otherwise neither of the Foundation the time dedication order nor value onely my Notes from Master Le Neue tell me that these persons following were in the same interred William Manteley Iohn Debenham Margaret Harpington Ione wife of Richard Wychingham daughter of Fastolfe obijt 1459. Thomas Yugham obijt 1455. Sir Simond Felbrigge obiit 1442. and Dame Katherin his wife obiit 1449. Dame Margaret first wedded to Sir Gilber Talbot afterward to Constantyne Clyfton obijt 1434. Dame Alice wife of Sir Roger Hâ—rsik 1458. Iohn Pagraue Esquire 1467. Iohn Berney Esquire and Ione his wâ—â—e Iohn Howldiche 1487. Iohn â—illys 1490. Edmond sonne of Iohn Hastings 1487 and Eleanor his wife daughter of Sir Edward Woodhowse Knight The religious Monastery of the white Friers or Carmelites was founded by Philip Cowgate a rich Merchant and Maior of this Citie Ann. Dom. 1268. who when he had made an end of the Fabricke thereof which he endowed with faire possessions tooke vpon him the habite and order of a Carmelite and entred the house wherein he ended his dayes In the Church of this religious structure was buried Sir Oliuer Ingham Knight obijt 1292. Dame Lo .... Argentein Dame Eleanor Boteler Dame Alice Boyland Sir Bartholomew Somerton knight and Dame Katherin his wife Sir Will. Crongthorp and Dame Alice his wife Sir Oliuer Gros Knight Iohn father of Sir Raph Benhall Dame Ione wife of Sir Thomas Morley Robert Banyard Esquire Sir Oliuer Wigth Sir Peter Tye Knights Marg. Pulham Dame Elizabeth Hetersete Dame Katherin wife of Sir Nich. Borne Ione wife of Iohn Fastolphe Thomas Crunthorp and Alice his wife Dame Alice Euerard 1321. Dame Alice Withe 1361. Sir Walter Cotet Sir Thomas Gerbrigge 1430. Dame Eliz. his third wife first married to Sir Iohn Berry and daughter of Sir Robert Wachesham obijt 1402. Sir Edmond Berry 1433. And Dame Alice his wife daughter of Sir Thomas Gerbrigge Elizabeth first wife of William Calthorpe daughter of Sir Reignold Lord Hastings Waysford and Ruthin which died 1437. Haukin fil .... de Com. Lanc. Clement Paston obijt 14 .... Richard 1479. children of Sir William Calthorp George 1479. children of Sir William Calthorp Cecily children of Sir William Calthorp Iohn 1400. children of Sir William Calthorp Thomas 1400. children of Sir William Calthorp Iohn Deugayne gent. obiit 1488. Robert Smart Esquire abijt 1488. Sir William Calthorp obijt 1494. Dame Margery wife of Sir Iohn Paston daughter of Sir Thomas Brews 1495. Iohn sonne of Sir William Stoarer 1495. Margaret wife of Sir Thomas Pigott 1498. In the Manuscript of this Religious Order before remembred written by Iohn Bale these Carmelites following are registred to haue beene buried in this Monastery I will vse his Latine Hiâ— sunt viri illustres qui sepeliuntur in Conventu Carmelitarum Norwici Frater Gilbertus de Norwico Episcopus Hamensis obijt Anno Dom. 1287. 9. die Octobris Frater Iohannes Leycester Archiepiscopus Smirnanensis obijt Anno Domini 1424. 6. Nouembris Frater Vmfridus Necton obijt 1303. This Necton was Doctor of Diuinitie in Cambridge and Professour Erat viâ— solidè doctus disputator subtilis Concionator vehemens He was a man solidly learned a subtle disputant a very earnest Preacher saith Pitseus Of whom Leland hath left this Distichon Laudibus Humfredum meritis super astra feramus Cui data Grantenae laurea prima scholae He writ diuers bookes mentioned by Bale as also by Pitseus Frater Andreas Felmingham Frater Robertus Walsingham obijt 1310. This Walsingham saith Pitseus was Vir acuti ingenij solidi iudicij bonae vitae magnae doctrinae A man of an acute wit a sound iudgement a good life of great learning And Bale speaking of him saith He was a man of great repute in the Vniuersitie of Oxford for his Quodlibets ordinary questions and his Interpretations of the sacred Scriptures which he made manifest to the world Frater Galfridus Stalham Frater Galfridus Mylsam obijt anno Dom. 1346. 5. Ianuar. Frater Adam Saxlingham Frater Iohannes Folsham Prior Prouincialis Anglie obijt 1348. April 8. This Folsham proceeded Doctor of Diuinity in Cambridge Pitseus giues him his praise in a graue stile Bale ironically saith that indeed he was a Doctor and none of the meanest for by his chopping of Logicke hee could turne blacke into white men into Asses and Schoole-diuinitie into naturall Philosophie He writ many learned workes Frater Ricardus Euges ob 4. die Iulij 1361. Frater Willelmus de Sancta fide ob 25. April 1372. Frater Thomas Ziburgh obijt 24. Iulij 1382. Frater Robertus Pulham Frater Walterus Disse Legatus Apostolicus ob 22. Aug. 1404. Frater Adam Hawling ob 25. Feb. 1408. Frater Thomas Keming obijt 26 Aug.
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
dyed M. ccccc.xxxi Cheston Quem tegit iste lapis Radcliffe cognomine functus .... et in cineres vertitur vnde fuit Icy gist Damoselle Iohanne clay que trespassa l'an de Grace M. cccc.le xxii iour Octobre iour Saint M. lun Euesque Here sometime stood a little Nunnery I know not by whom founded but thus it is confirmed in the Catal. of religious houses Henr. Rex Anglie Dominus Hibernie Dux Normannie Aquitanie et comes Angedauie c. Shestrehunt Monial totam terram Dom. ten cum pertinentijs suts que canonicis de cathele c. quos amoueri fecimus dat apud West xi Aug. Anno Regni nostri xxiiii This Nunnery was valued in the Exchequer to be yeerely worth twenty seuen pound sixe shillings eight pence This village is called in old Writings Chesthunte Shestrehunte and Norden saith cur non Chestin Castanetum of Chesnut Trees Bishops Hatfield This Church is much honoured by the Sepulture of that prudent great Statesman Robert Baron Cecill Earle of Salisbury Lord Treasurer of England father of William Lord Cecill Earle of Salisbury one of the honourable priuy Councell now liuing Anno 1630. and keeping royall hospitality at his Mansion house hereunto adioyning which sometimes did belong to the Bishops of Ely whereupon it was named Bishops Hatfield Of Robert this Earle here interred I shall speake more when I come to let downe his Epitaph Harding Hic iacent Wilielmus Seabroke qui obijt 2 April 1462. et Ioana vxor eius ...... quorum ... Orate pro animabus Mathei Cressy et Iohanne vxoris eius quondam filie Edmundi Peryent Ar. et Anne dicti Mathei vxoris quondam filie Thome Vernon Armigeri que Iohanna obijt xxix Nouemb. M. cccc.lxxviii Hic iacent Wilielmus Anabul et Isabella vxor eius qui quidem Wilielmus obiit 4 die Octob. 1456. Saint Albans Abbey I thinke it not much amisse to speake a little of this Protomartyr of England Saint Alban whose reliques lie here interred to whose name and for his eternall commemoration both this Towne and Monastery werâ— built and consecrated He was a Citizen and a Knight of that famous Citie Verulam which stood hereby beyond the little riuer who giuing entertainement at his own house to Amphibalus a Christian and one of the Clergie was by him his guest conuerted from Paganisme to the true profession of Iesus Christ and when Dioclesian who made Maximian his companion in the Empire went about by exquisite torments to wipe Christian Religion quite out of the memory of men was the first in Britaine that with inuincible constancie and resolution suffered death for Christ his sake of which persecution â—s also of his Martyrdome my often alledged Author Robert of Glocester shall tell you in his old verse Two Emperors of Rome wer on Dioclesian And anoder hys felaw that het Maximian And wer both at on tym the on in the Este ende The oder in the west of the world alle cristendom to shende For the luther Maximian westwarde hider soughte And christen men that he fonde to strang deth he broughte Churchen he pulde a doun ther ne moste non stonde And al the bokes that he myghte fynde in eny londe He wolde late berne echon amydde the heygh strete And the christenmen asle and non alyue lete Such God was yvor vpon cristendom Such persecucion as ther was hadde ther be non For yunâ—a monethe ther wer seuentene thou send and mo I martred for our Lordes Loue nas ther a grete wo Wyth oute oder grete halwen that hii heold longe in torment As Seynt Cristene and Seynt Feye and also Seynt Uincent Fabian and Sebastian and othur as men rede That heold faste in the fey and hadde non drede And among men of this londe ther wer many on I martred at thulke tym Seint Albon was on He was the furste Martir of Brutayn that com Muche was the shome men dude in Christendom Undyr this Luther Emperor Another not so ancient hath it thus The Emperour Dioclesyan Into Britayne then sent Maximian This Maximian to surname Hercelius A Tyraunte false that Christente anoyed Through all Britayne of werke malicious The christoned folke felly and sore destroyed And thus the people with him foule accloyed Religyous men the Prests and Clerkes all Wemen with chylde and bedred folkes all Chyldren soukyng vpon the mothers pappis The mothers also withouten any pytee And chyldren all in their mothers lappis The crepyls eke and all the christentee He killed and slewe with full grete cruelte The Churches brent all bokes or ornaments Bellys reliquys that to the Churche appendes He slew that tyme and martyred Saint Albone Now when neither perswasions nor cruell torments could make him forsake the true faith such was the sentence of his death as I finde it in a legend of his passion and martyrdome which to giue your palate variety I will set downe in such English as I haue in the said Legend or Agon In the tyme of the Emperoure Dioclesyan Albone Lorde of Uerolamye Prynce of Knyghts and Stewarde of all Brutayne durynge his lif hath despysyd Iubyter and Apollyn oure Goddes and to them hath doo derogacyon and disworschyp wherfor by the Lawe he is iudged to be deed by the honde of somme knyght and the body to be buried in the same place where his heed shal be smyten of and his sepulture to be made worshcipfully for thonoure of knyghthode wherof he was Prynce and also the crosse whych he bare and Sklauin that he ware shold be buried wyth hym and his body to be closyd in a Cheste of leed and so layed in his sepulture This sentence hath the Lawe ordeyned by cause he hath renyed our principall Goddes His iudgement being giuen after this manner he was brought from the Citie Veralam to this his place of execution which as then was an hill in a wood called Holme-hurst where at one stroke his head was smitten off But his Executioner saith venerable Bede had short ioy of his wicked deede for his eyes fell to the ground with the head of the holy Martyr of which will you heare another writer Thousands of torments when he had endur'd for Christ his sake At length he died by dome thus giuen his head away to take The Tortor proudly did the feat but cleere he went not quit That holy Martyr lost his head this cruell wretch his sight He suffered martyrdome in the yeare of Christ saith Stow 293. the twentieth day of Iune saith Bede howsoeuer the two and twentieth day of the same moneth was appointed by the Church to be kept holy to his memory as we haue it in our English Calender Many Miracles are said to be wrought by this sacred Martyr both liuing and dead but I will leaue them for that they will be thought incredulous in this age and come to the foundation of this Abbey The Sepulchres of
and we verily thinke saith he it was that which was first built to Saint seruice But what manner of towne this was and how great the Abbey was while it stood heare Leland speake who saw it standing The Sunne saith he hath not seene either a Citie more finely seated so delicately standeth it vpon the easie ascent or hanging of an hill and a little riuer runneth downe on the East side thereof or a goodlier Abbey whether a man indifferently consider either the endowment with reuenues or the largenesse or the incomparable magnificence thereof A man that saw the Abbey would say verily it were a Citie so many gates there are in it and some of brasse so many Towers a most stately Church vpon which attend three others also standing gloriously in one and the same Church yard all of passing fine and curious workmanship If you demand how great the wealth of this Abbey was a man could hardly tell namely how many gifts and oblations were hung vpon the tombe alone of Saint Edmund and besides there came in out of lands and reuenueâ— a thousand fiue hundred and threescore pounds of old rent by the yeare The Abbot and Couent of the Monasterie gouerned the Townesmen and all within Banna Leuca within the bounds of a mile from the towne by their Steward who euer gaue the oath to the new elect Alderman which was deliuered in these words following copied out of a Lieger booke sometimes belonging to the said Abbey Ye schall swere that ye schall bere yow trewly and fethfully in the Office of the Aldermanscipe of this Town of Bury ayens the Abbot and the Couent of this place and all her mynistris ye scall bere kepe and maintaine Pees to yowre powere and ye schall nor thyng appropre nor accroche that longyth to the said Abbot and Couent nor take vpon the thyngis that long on to the Office of the Baylishchipp of the seyd Town Alsoo that ye schall not procure be yow nor be noon othir priuyly nor openly ony thyng vnlawfull that myght be harme or damage onto the seyd Abbot and Couent nor suffre to be don but that ye schall be redy to meynteyn and defende them and here mynystris yn all the ryghtis and customs that of dew long on to them inasmoche as ye mey leyfully do Thees artycles and poyntis ye schall obserue and kepe the tym that ye stand in this office So help yow God and all hys Seynts and be this Boke Notwithstanding this oath the Townesmen now and then fell so foule vpon the Abbot and Couent that they imprisoned the Abbot strucke the Monkes with the Bailiffes and Officers belonging to the Abbey assaulted the Abbey gates set fire on them and burned them with diuers houses neere adioyning that belonged to the Monasterie They burnt a Mannor of the Abbots called Holdernesse Barne with two other Mannors called the Almoners barne and Haberdone also the Granges that stood without the South-gate and the Mannor of Westlie in which places they burnt in corne and graine to the value of a thousand pounds They entred into the Abbey court and burnt all the houses on the north side as Stables Brewhouses Garners and other such necessary houses They burned the Mote hall and Bradford hall with the new hall and diuers Chambers and Sollers to the same halls annexed with the Chappell of Saint Laurence at the end of the Hospitall hall also the Mannor of Eldhall the Mannor of Horninger with all the corne and graine within and about the same Assembling themselues together in warlike order and aray they assaulted the said Abbey brake downe the gates windowes and dores entred the house by force and assailing certaine Monkes and seruants that belonged to the Abbot did beat wound and euill intreat them brake open a number of chests coffers and forssets tooke out Chalices of gold and siluer bookes vestments and other ornaments of the Church beside a great quantity of rich plate and other furniture of household apparell armour and other things beside fiue hundred pounds in ready coyne and also three thousand Florens of gold All these things they tooke and carried away together with diuers Charters Writings and Miniments as three Charters of King Knute foure Charters of King Hardicanute one Charter of King Edward the Confessor two Charters of King Henry the first and other two Charters of King Henry the third which Charters concerned as well the Foundation of the same Abbey as the grants and confirmations of the possessions and liberties thereunto belonging Many more are the outrages committed at seuerall times by the Townesmen against these cloistered brethren which are recorded in the foresaid Lieger booke of S. Edmunds bury all which to relate would seeme incredible and make this my digression I confesse too much ouerlong and troublesome thus then to returne The Dedication the Foundation the time and the Founders and the value of this Religious structure may be partly gathered by the premisses it was replenished with Monkes Benedictines or as some say Cluniacks it was surrendred into the Kings hands the fourth of Nouember in the one and thirtith yeare of Henry the eight Amongst other Reliques the Monkes of this Church had Saint Edmunds shirt certaine drops of Saint Stephens bloud which sprung from him at such time as he was stoned and some of the coles with which Saint Laurence was broiled They had certaine parings of the flesh of diuers holy Virgins and a sinew of Saint Edmund laid vp in boxes They had some Skuls of ancient Saints and Martyrs amongst which was one of Saint Petronill or Pernell which the country people were taught to lay to their heads thereby to be cured of all kinde of agues They had the bootes of Saint Thomas of Canterbury and the sword of Saint Edmund It was in vse here amongst the Monkes as often as they desired raine to carry with them in their Processions a coffin wherein the bones of Saint Botolph were inclosed hoping thereby the sooner to haue pleasant shoures to refresh the drie parched earth They had certaine waxe candles which euer and onely they vsed to light in wheat-seeding these they likewise carried about their wheat grounds beleeuing verily that hereby neither Darnell Tares nor any other noisome weedes would grow that yeere amongst the good corne These Reliques they had and many more which wrought many strange effects by their owne relation The Abbots of this house were Barons of the Parliament But now to come to the burials of certaine worthy personages in this Abbey Church of Bury and first Here lay sometimes enshrined the sacred Remaines of Edmund King of the East Angles and Martyr who was the sonne of one Alkmund a Prince of great power in these parts In the raigne of this King Edmund Hungar Hubba two Danish Captaines with an innumerable multitude of Heathen Danes entred the Land at the mouth of Humber and from thence inuaded
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 Naâ—â— cum Rex rebelles Hibernos compescuisset eorumque vires fregisset hunc Graâ—ium 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 delâ—tum 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