requiescit Dominus Thomam Elham quondam Prior huius Ecclesâ— quicum Ann. 2. mens 11. et 4. dieb honorâ—fice vixisset 20. Febru 1440. obdormiuit in Domino Est nece substratus Ion Woodnesbergh tumulatus Huius erat gratus Prior Ecclesie aumeratus Quem colie ornatus hic tantus vhique nouatus Per loca plura datus fit sumptus testificatus Auctor erat morum probitatis laudis honorum Largus cunctorum cunctis dator ille laborum Quique Prioratum rexit sub schemate graium Annos hunc plenos per septenos quoque denos Quadringentenis Mil. eius bis quoque denis Annis septenis domini nondum sibi plenis ....... cum tibi Chrisle ... agone Quem precibus pane radiantis forte corone Hic iacet Dominus Thomas Chyllindene quondam Prior huius Ecclesie Decretorum Doctor egregius qui nauem islius Ecclesie ceteraque diuersa edisicia ..... qui post quam Prioratum huius Ecclesie 25. Sept .... et quinque diebus nobiliter rexisset tandem in die Assumptionis beate Marie virginis diem suum clausit extremum Ann. Dom. 1411. Cuius anime propiâ—ietur Deus Amen This man flourished vnder Archbishop Arundell who entirely affected him euen from the time that he deliuered him the Crosse at Westminster with all accustomed solemnitie in the presence of the King and most of the Nobilitie Preteriens flere discas et die miserere Et ne subsannes quia victus morte Iohannes Membris extensis iacet hic Sarisburiensis Sic non euades vindice morte cades Hic Prior Ecclesie Doctorque fuit Theorie Wulstam festo feria quarta memor esto Mille quater centum X. V. dant documentum Sint anime merces lux decor requies Amen Hic iacet reuerendus pater Wilhelmus Selling huius sacrosancte Ecclesie Prior ac sacre pagine Professor qui post quam hanc Ecclesiam per ann 22. mens 5 et 24. d. optime gubernasset migrauit ad Dominum Die viz. passionis Sancti Thome Martyris An. 1494. Doctor Theologie Selling Greca atque Latina Lingua predoctus hic Prior almus obit Omnis virtutis speculum exemplar Monachorum Religionis honor mitis imago Dei Hic requiescit in gratia miserecordia Dei Richardus Oxinden quondam Prior huius Ecclesie .... qui ob Aug. 4. 1338. Sub isto marmore requiescit corpus Magistri Richardi Willesford quondam Capellani Cantarie de Arundell cuius anime propitietur altissimus obijt 1520. Hic iacet Robertus Clifford Armiger frater recolende memorie Domini Richardi Clifford Episcopi Londoniarum quiob 9. die mens Martij Anno Dom. 1422. Cuius c. Hic iacet sub hoc marmore expectans miserecordiam Dei vonerabilis vir Magister Iohannes Bourchier Archidiaconus Cantuariensis qui quidem Iohannes migrauit ad Dominum 6. die mens Nouemb. 1495. Cuius anime de seta magna pietate propitietur Altissimus Heus tu sistito gradum qui obambulas Et quod scriptum est legito Gulielmi Gardneri Candidati Theologie Huius Ecclesie olim prebendarij Ossa hoc clauduntur sub marmore Obijt qui Sancti Michaelis .... luce Anno post milesimum quingentesimum Quadragesimo quarto Cui det Christus vitam tibi Lector perennem Holy crosse Church in Canterbury Hic .... Thomas Lynd primus Mayor Cant. Constantia vxor eius ... Feb. 12. Ann. Dom .... Hic iacet Clemens Harding Legum Baccalrius .... Clauditur hoc tumulo .... Multorum causas defendere quique solebat Hanc wortis causam euaderâ— non potuit Doctus indoctus moritur sic respice finem Vt. bene discedas quisquis es ista legens Saint Peters in Canterbury Thomas Ikham et Ione sa Femme 〈◊〉 Deiu de salmes eit mercy 〈◊〉 Hic iacet Wilhelmus Ikham quondam cit 〈…〉 qui obijt ... Iulij ... 1424. Orate pro anima Wilhelmi Septvaus 〈…〉 Orate pro bono slatu Iohaâ—â—is Biggs A 〈…〉 Cant .... Anno Dom. 1473. Saint Mildreds in Canterbury Orate pro animabus Thomâ— Wood 〈…〉 Hospitijre◠〈◊〉 patris in Christo Domini ... Maior is huius Cinitatis qui iâ— honore Iesu hanc capellam â—ieri fecit et 〈◊〉 garete vxoris eius filie Iohannis Moyle Armigeri Orate procis The white Friers obseruants This religious house was founded by one Sir Iohn Digges of this Countie Knight circa ann 1207. and valued at the suppression aâ— 39. l. 〈…〉 ob of yearely reuenue Herein were sometimes inteâ—â—ed 〈◊〉 Lord Badlesmere Steward of the houshold to King Eâ—ward the second who for his good seruice gaue to him and his heires the Castle of Leedes in this County which hee persidiously fortified against his Soueraigne Lord and Master and after that payed the due price of his disloyaltie vpon the gallowes Ann. 1321. Sir Giles Bâ—dilsmere or Badlesmere knight his sonne Dame Elisabeth Lady of Chilham Sir William Mauston knight Sir Roger Mauston his brother Sir Thomas Brockhall knight anâ— Lady Ioane his wife Sir Thomas Brockhall knight sonne to the said Sir Thomas and Lady Editha his wife Sir Falcon Payserer knight Sir Thomas Daynes knight Lady Alice of Maryms Lady Candlin Sir Alan Pemâ—ington of 〈◊〉 in the Countie of Lancaster knight who comming from the warres beyond Seas died in this Citie Lady Ladrie of Valence Sir William Trussell Sir William Baloyle Sir Bartholomew Ashburnham knights and Sir Iohn Montenden knight and a Frier of this house lie all here in terred The blacke Friers Minorites King Henry the third is said to bee the founder of this house in which were buried Robert and Bennet Browne Esquires Bennet daughter of Shelâ—ings and wife to Sir Edmund Hawte knight and after wife to Sir William Wendall knight The Hospitall of Saint Iames was erected by Elianor the wife of the said King Ed. 3. valued at the suppression to 32. l. 2. s. 1. d. ob Here sometime stood an house of blacke veyled Nunnes dedicated to S. 〈◊〉 founded by one of the Abbots of Saint Augustines esteemed to be worth vpon the suppression 38. l. 19. s. 7. d. ob per annum These Nuns were endowed with the Church of Redingate with other reuenues and were to pay twelue pence yearely to the Monkes of S. Augustine vpon his feast day on the high altar The Monastery of Saint Peter and Saint Paul commonly called Saint Austins Annis sexcentis preter tres Anglia mundi Christi nascentis micuit Baptismatis vnda The yeare of our redemption sixe hundred and three as these times do testifie Ethelbert king of Kent receiued the lauer of Baptisme in Saint Martins Church at the hands of Saint Augustine within two yeares after that he began the foundation of this Monasterie As I haue it out of this his Charter in the red booke of Canterbury In nomine Domini nostri Iesu Christi
than to Henauld for a wife A Bishop and other Lordes temporall Wher in Chaumbre prevy and secretife At discouerit dischenely also in all As semyng was to estate Virginall Emong theim selfes our lordes for hie prudence Of the Bishop asked counsaill and sentence Whiche daughter of fiue should be the Queene Who counsailled thus with sad auisement Wee will haue hir with good hippis I mene For she will bere good soonnes at myne entent To which thei all accorded by one assent And chase Philip that was full feminine As the Bishop moost wise did determine But then emong theim selfes thei laugh fast ay The lordes than saied the Bishop couth Full mekill skill of a woman al way That so couth chese a lady that was vncouth And for the mery woordes that came of his mouth Thei trowed he had right great experience Of womanes rule and hir conuenience Now what experience this Bishop had in womens conueniency of bringing forth children I know not but it so fell out that she had issue by her said husband King Edward seuen sonnes and fiue daughters borne for the glory of our Nation 1. Edward Prince of Wales borne at Woodstocke 2. William borne at Hatfield in the County of Hertford 3. Lionell borne at the Citie of Antwerpe Duke of Clarence 4. Iohn borne at Gaunt the chiefe Towne of Flanders Duke of Lancaster 5. Edmond surnamed of Langley Duke of Yorke 6. William another of their Sonnes surnamed of Windsore where he was borne 7. Thomas the youngest sonne of King Edward and Queene Philip surnamed of Woodstocke the place of his birth Duke of Glocester Daughters 1. Isabell the eldest Daughter was married with great pompe at Windsore to Ingelram of Guisnes Lord of Coucy Earle of Soissoms and after Archduke of Austria whom king Edward his Father in law created also Earle of Bedford 2. Ioane desired in marriage by solemne Embassage from Alphons king of Castile and Leon sonne of king Ferdinando the fourth was espoused by Proxie intituled Queene of Spaine conueyed into that countrey where she presently deceased of a great plague that then raigned 3. Blanch the third daughter died young and lieth buried in this Abbey Church 4. Mary the fourth daughter was married to Iohn Montford Duke of Britaine 5. Margaret their youngest daughter was the first wife of Iohn de Hastings Earle of Penbroke It is reported of this Queene saith Milles that when she perceiued her life would enâ— she requested to speake with the King her husband who accordingly came to her in great heauinesse being come she tooke him by the hand and after a few words of induction shee prayed him that hee would in no wise deny her in three requests First that all Merchants and others to whom she ought any debt whether on this side or beyond the seas might be payd and discharged Secondly that all such promises as she had made to Churches as well within the realme as without might be performed Thirdly that hee would be pleased whensoeuer God should call him to chuse none other Sepulchre but that wherein her body should be layed all which were performed and so I leaue them both lying in one Graue expecting a ioyfull resurrection Richard the second King of England and France Lord of Ireland sonne to Edward Prince of Wales by Ioane daughter to the Earle of Kent being depriued both of liuing and life by that popular vsurper Henry the 〈…〉 by his commandement obscurely buried at Langley in Hertfortshire in the Church of the Friers Predicants was by the appointment of Henry the fift remoued from thence with great honour in a Chaire royall himselfe and his nobilitie attending the sacred reliques of this annointed King which he solemnly here enterred amongst his ancestors and founded perpetually one day euery weeke a Dirge with nine Lessons and a morning masse to be celebrated for the soule of the said King Richard and vpon each of those daies sixe shillings eight pence to be giuen to the poore people and once euery yeare vpon the same day of his Anniuerse twentie pounds in pence to be distributed to the most needfull He made for him a glorious Tombe and this glosing Epitaph deciphering the lineaments of his body and qualities of mind which to any who knowes vpon what points he was put out of Maiestie and State may seeme strange if not ridiculous thus it runnes Prudens et mundus Richardus iure secundus Per fatum victus iacet hic sub marmore pictus Verax sermone prudens suit et ratione Corpore procerus animo prudens vt Homerus Ecclesie fauit elatos suppeditauit Quemuis prostrauit Regalia qui violauit O bruit hereticos et eorum strauit amicos O clemens christe tibi deuotus suit iste Votis Baptiste salues quem protulit iste Hic iacet immiti consumptus morte Richardus fuisse felicem miserrimum Fabian who translated this Epitaph into English desirous as it seemes to extenuate the force of such palpable grosse flattery annexeth this stanza But yet alas although this meter or ryme Thus doth embellish this noble Princes fame And that some Clerke which fauored him somtyme Lâ—st by his cunnyng thus to enhanse his name Yet by his story appereth in him some blame Wherfore to Princes is surest memory Their lyues to exercyse in vertuous constancy But Iohn Harding speaking of the greatnesse of his houshold and the pride and whoredome therein as well amongst the Clergie as Laitie is more inuectiue in his rimes which to reade I hope will not be troublesome thus he begins Truly I herd Robert Ireleffe saye Clerke of the Grenecloth and that to the Houshold Came euery daye forthe most partie alwaye Ten thousand folke by his messis told That folowed the hous aye as thei wold And in the Kechin three hundred Seruitours And in eche office many occupiours And Ladies faire with their gentlewomen Chamberers also and lauenders Three hundred of theim were occupied then There was greate pride emong the Officers And of all men far passyng their compeers Of rich araye and much more costious Then was before or sith and more pretious In his Chappell were Bishoppes then of Beame Some of Irelond and some also of France Some of Englond and clerkes of many a realme That litill connyng had or conisance In musike honorably God his seruice to auance In the Chappell or in holy Scripture On mater of Goddis to refigure Lewed menne thei were in clerkes clothyng Disguysed faire in fourme of clerkes wise Their Perishyns full litill enfourmyng In Lawe diuine or else in God his seruise But right practyfe they were in couetise Eche yere to make full greate collection At home in stede of soules correction Greate Lechery and fornication Was in that house and also greate aduoutree Of Paramours was great consolacion Of ech degre well more of Prelacie Then of the temporall or of the chiualrie Greate taxe ay the kyng tooke through all the lond
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 diueâ—s 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 Beckâ—t 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 Mâ—tilda 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 Primaâ—ie 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
hellish ouation Which horrid act was committed the third of Iuly 1450. Pray for the soule of Iohn Septvaus Esquire of the Isle of Thanet sonne of Iohn Septvaus of this Parish Esquire and for the soule of Katherine his wife Which Iohn dyed Decemb. 18. 1458. I was as yee be now in dust and clay Haue mercy on my sowl yat bowght hit with yi bloodde For Elisabeth of Gherite a Pater-noster say Sumtymes I was the wyff of Edmonde Poodde In gratia et miserecordia Iesu hic iacet Iacobus Bourne Ar ... 1400. Hic iacent Iohannes Garrard et Ioanna vxor eius ob 1531. Hic iacent Laurentius Garrard qui obiit 1493. et Tho. Garrard eius filius qui ob 1487. Lenham The first thing remarkable that the Sexton of this Church will shew you is the Armes of one Apuldorfeild which he wonne by his valiant seruice against the Turkes and Sarasins in the holy Land tempore R. 1. his chiefe seat was at Linsted Thomas de Apuldorfeild Armig. per cartam suam datam 23. Ed. 3. dedit Willelmo de Linsted diuersas terras tenementa in Doddington et Linsted Hic iacet Valentine Barret Ar. qui obijt Nouemb. 10. 1440. et Cecilia vxor cius que obijt 2. Marcij 1440. quorum animabus Hic iacet Gulielmus Maries honorandus Armiger Hen. 5. deinde Armiger reuerendi in Christo Patris ac Domini D. Hen. Cardinal qui obiit vltimo die Aug. Ann. 1459. Hic iacet Richardus Horne filius Iohannis Horne nuper de east Leuham Armig .... ob ... Regis Hen. 6. Cornu eius exaltabitur Chaloke a Church founded by the Apuldorfeilds In this Church in each window are the armes of Apuldorfeild where in their coate armour they are figured The Mannor of Otterpley which since by the Moiles came vnto the Finches was part of their possessions as I haue it out of the collection of Glouer Somerset Herald Ospringe In this Church I saw little remarkable In the Belfray I reade this verse insculpt or cast in the mettall about the circumference of the Bell. Hac in conclaue Gabriele tu pange suaue Chilham Orate Willelmi Smersoll de Smersholl ... et vxor eius et pro anima Sander goldsmith Neare to this village is a little hillock to be seene wherein as the inhabitants doe dreame one Iullaber a Giant or a witch lieth interred but others of more exact iudgement do imagine that Iulius Cesar in his second voyage to this kingdome was sharply encountred here by the Britaines and that among others hee lost one Laberius Durus a Marshall of the field who was the man here buried and that from him this hillock became to be named Iul-laber Tenham Hic iacet Iohannes Frogenhall Ar. qui ob 11. Nouemb. 1444. Orate pro anima Willelmi Mareys Ioanne et Ioanne vxorum eius Vpchurch In the wall of this Church I saw an old Monument garnished about with Akornes and Oke-leaues wherein the Parish Clerke told me as hee had receiued it by tradition from his predecessours that one Woodâ—okes an eminent man in this County should be entombed which I can neither approue nor contradict Horton Monkes A Priory but by whom founded I cannot reade dedicated to the honour of Christ and his blessed Apostle S. Iohn filled with blacke Monkes Cluniacks so called from the sanctimonious puritie of one Odo Abbot of Cluni beyond Seas a Benedictine Frier who liued in the yeare of Grace 913. This house was valued at the suppression at 111. l. 16. s. 7. d. ob Bobbing Orate specialiter .... Alexandri Clifford Ar. et Margarete vxoris eius .... obijt die An. 1400. et Margareta obijt 19 Ian. 1488. This Alexander as appeares by the pedegree was the sonne of Sir Lewes Clifford knight and this Margaret his wife the daughter of Walter Culpeper Orate specialiter pro animabus Arnoldi Sauage militis qui obijt in vigil Sancti Andree Apost Ann. 1410. et Domine Ioanne vxor eius que fuit fil ..... the daughter of Eckingham by the pedigree This Sauage was the third Constable of Queeneborrow Castle Hic iacet Arnoldus Sauage Miles filius Arnoldi Sauage militis qui obijt in Festo Natiuitatis beate Marie virginis Ann. Dom. 1420. Hic iacet in gratia et miserecordia dei Katherina que â—uit vxor Arnoldi Sauage militis filia domini Rogeri Scales que obijt 7. Nouemb. 1437. Cuius c. I shall haue occasion to speake much of the Sauages when I come to that honourable familie of the Sauages of Rock-Sauage vpon the Riuer of Weeuer in the County of Chester whose ancestours lye entombed at Macclefeild in the same Tract Bradesoke A Monastery of white Canons dedicated to S. Radegund and built by the parents of Henry de Wingham Bishop of London in the raigne of king Henry the third valued to be yearely worth 142. l. 8. s. 9. d. Dauington or Daunton A Priory of blacke Nunnes of which you may reade in the Record at the Tower Carte Antiq. lit R.R. Milton Church Hic iacet Iohannes Norwood Armig. ob 1400. Prey for the soule of Iohn Norwood Esquire ... 1496. This latter Iohn was Constable of Queeneborrow Castle the first of Edward the fourth This family of the Norwoods hath for a long time flourished in this County they had their residence at a mansion of their owne name in this Parish which is by a daughter and heire deuolued to the Nortons gentlemen of good account Many faire Monuments of both these families are in this Church but the Epitaphs are all gone Thomas Alefe Esquir and Margaret hys wyff Ly vndir this playn ston God grant hem euirlastyng lyff To whom we hop thar gon He dyed as her ys to be sine On thowsand five hundryd thirty nine Who so that for ther sowles will pray God giue hem meede at Doomys day Pray for the soules of Sir Iohn Norton knight and Dame Ioane his wife one of the daughters and heires of Iohn Norwood Esquire who dyed Febr. 8. 1534 This Sir Iohn Norton was knighted by a forraine Prince vpon this occasion Margaret Duchesse of Sauoy daughter of Maximilian the Emperour and Gouernesse of the Low-countries for Charles the young Prince of Castile sent to king Henry the eight earnestly desiring to haue 1500. Archers to aide her against the Duke of Geldres who did daily infest the young Princes Territories The king granting her request appointed Sir Edward Poynings of this County knight Baneret a valiant Gentleman and an expert commander to be Lieutenant and leader of these troupes who with other English Gentlemen vnder his conduction performed such worthy exploits as that for them they were highly commended and Princely entertained at the Court of Burgoigne by the said Lady Margaret and the Prince of Castile who at the same time and
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
the world can send The noble seat of Kings it is for port and royalty Of all the Realme the fence the heart the life and lightsome â—y The people ancient valourous expert in chiualry Enriched with all sorts and meanes of Art and Mystery Take heedfull view of euery thing and then say thus in briefe This either is a world it selfe or of the world the chiefe Sir Robert Dallington knight in his view of France comparing the City of Paris with London saith That Paris is the greater the fairer built and the better scituate London is the richer the more populous the more ancient which is an honour as well to great Cities as to great families And more ancient it is then any true Record beareth witnesse saith Speed Fabuled from Brute Troynouant from Lud Ludstone but by more credible writers Tacitus Ptolemy and Antonine Londinium by Amianus Marcellinus for her successiue prosperitie Augusta the greatest title that can be giuen to any It was the first built Citie questionlesse of all in the kingdome Of which my old Rimer Robert of Glocester Ye furste lordes and maistres that in yis londe wer And ye chyff tounes furst yey leâ—e arer London and Euerwyk Lyncolne and Leycestre Colchestre and Canterbery Bristoâ— and Wercestre And many oyer tounes mo in Engelond and in Walis This Citie in respect of all other Cities of this Island doth shew as the Cedars among other trees being the seat of the British kings the Chamber of the English the modell of the land and the Mart of the world for thither are brought the silke of Asia the spices from Africa the Balmes from Grecia and the riches of both the Indies East and West No citie standing so long in fame nor any for diuine and politike gouernment may with her be compared It would ask saith Camd. a long time to discourse particularly of the good Lawes and orders of the laudable gouernment of the port and dignitie of the Maior and Aldermen of their forward seruice and loyaltie to their Prince of the Citizens curtesie the faire building and costly furniture the breed of excellent and choice wits their gardens in the suburbs full of daintie Arbours and banqueting roomes stored also with strange herbes from forraine countries of the multitude strength and furniture of their ships the incredible store of all sorts of merchandise and of the superabundance of all things which belong to the furniture or necessitie of mans life According as Hadrianus Iunius writes in his Philippeis thus turned into English Thicke built with houses London is with riches stuffed full Proud if we may so say of men that therein liue and dwell Where in most plenteous wise abound all things that tongue can tel Will. Warner writing of the foundation and Founder of this renowned Citie giues it the like attributes Now if the Conquerour this Isle had Brutaine vnto name And with his Troians Brute began manurage of the same For razed Troy to reare a Troy fit place he searched then And viewes the mounting Northerne parts These fit quoth hee for men That trust as much to flight as fight our bulwarkes are our brests The next Arriuals here perchance will gladlier build their nests A Troians courage is to him a Fortresse of defence And leauing so where Scots be now he South-ward maketh thence Whereas the earth more plenty gaue and aire more temperature And nothing wanted that by wealth or pleasure might allure And more the Lady Floud of Flouds the Riuer Thamis it Did seeme to Brute against the foe and with himselfe to fit Vpon whose fruitfull banks therefore whose bounds are chiefly said The wantlesse Counties Essex Kent Surrey and wealthy Glayde Of Hartfordshire for Cities store participating ayde Did Brute build vp his Troy-nouant in closing it with wall Which Lud did after beautifie and Luds-towne it did call That now is London euermore to rightfull Princes trew Yea Prince and people still to it as to their store house drew For plenty and for populous the like we no where view Howbeit many neighbour-Townes as much ere now could say But place for people people place and all for sinne decay But of this matter many haue spoken much and it is needlesse for me to say any more especially considering that I shall haue occasion to say somewhat hereafter vpon the said subiect when I come to the buriall of king Brutus In the meane time I will conclude with a Rime Dogerell in commendation of London as the Authour himselfe calls it who was Robert Fabian Alderman and Sheriffe of this honourable Citie in the ninth yeare of king Henry the seuenth which you may reade in the Prologue to the second volume of his Chronicle of England and France Now woulde I fayne In wordes playne Some Honour sayne And brynge to mynde Of that auncyent Cytye That so goodly is to se And full trewe euer hath be And also full kynde To Prince and kynge That hath borne iust rulynge Syn the fyrste winnynge Of this Iland by Brute So that in great honour By passynge of many a showre It hath euer borne the flowre And laudable brute Of euery Cytye and towne To serche the world rowne Neuer yet caste downe As other many haue be As Rome and Carthage Hierusalem the sage With many other of age In storye as ye may see Thys so oldely founded Is so surely grounded That no man may confounde yt It is so sure a stone That yt is vpon sette For though some haue yt thrette With Manasses grym and great Yet hurte had yt none Cryste is the very stone That the Cytye is sette vpon Whyche from all hys foon Hath euer preserued yt By meane of dyvyne seruyce That in contynuall wyse Is kept in deuout guyse UUythin the mure of yt As houses of Relygyon In diuerse places of thys towne Whyche in great deuocyon Ben euer occupyed When one hath done another begyn So that of prayer they neuer blyn Such order is these houses wythin Wyth all vertue allyed The Paryshe Chyrches to reken Of whyche nomber I shall speken Wherein speke many preste and deken And Eryste dayly they serue By meane of whyche sacryfyce I truste that he in all wyse Thys Cytye for her servyce Doth euer more preserue This Cytye I meane ys Troynouaunt Where honour and worschipp doth haunt UUyth vertue and ryches accordaunt No Cytye to yt lyke To speke of euery commodity Fleshe and fishe and all dentye Cloth and sylke wyth wyne plenty That ys for hole and syke Brede and ale wyth spyces fyne Wyth houses fayre to soupe and dyne Nothyng lackynke that is condygne For man that ys on molde UUyth riuers freshe and holsome ayer Wyth women that be good and fayre And to thys Cytye done repayre Of straungers many folde The vytayle that herein is spente In thre housholdes dayly tente Betwene Rome and ryche Kent Are none may theym compare As of the Mayre and Shriues twayne
I found it in the Collections of Master Camden Hagnes hic iaceo coniux olim Gulielmi Lilia cognomen cui tribuere fui Septem ter denos aetas mea viderat annos Bis septem vixi tres quoque iuncta viro Mater eram foelix ter quinque prole puellae Sex fuerant numero caetera turba mares Me luce octaua mensis Sextilis adorta est Me luce vndecima sustulit atra lues Aeterne vs pateat Lector mihi lumina lucis Authorem lucis supplice mente roga Thomas Linacrus Regis Henrici viii Medicus vir et Grecè et Latine atque in re medica longe eruditissimus multos aetate sua languentes et qui iam animam desponderant vitae restituit Multa Galeni opera Latina lingua mira et singulari facundia vertit Egregium opus de emendata structura Latini sermonis amicorum rogatu paulo ante mortem edidit Medicine studiosis Oxoniae publicas lectiones duas Cantabrigiae vnam in perpetuum stabiliuit In hac vrbe Collegium Medicorum sua industria fieri curauit Cuius et Praesidens primus electus est Fraudes dolosque mirè perosus fidus amicis omnibus ordinibus iuxta charus aliquot annos antequam obierit Presbiter factus plenus annis ex hac vita migrauit multum desideratus Ann. Dom. 1524. die 7. Octob. Somewhat aboue the Tombe in the wall vnder the picture or pourtraiture of the Phoenix this Inscription Viuit post funera virtus Thomae Linacro clarissimo medico Iohannes Caius posuit ann 1557. This old Physitian and young Priest Tho. Linaker borne in the towne of Darby was like William Lilie for none of his works so famous as for his rudiments or instructions to the better vnderstanding of the Latine tongue Hic infra iacet corpus magistri Thome de Eure Legum Doctoris istius Ecclesie S. Pauli quondam Decani qui die nono mens Octobris Ann. Dom. millesimo quadringentesimo sui Decanatus anno duodecimo diem suum clausit extremum Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Hic iacet Magister Thomas Wynterburne Legum Doctor dum vixit Decanus huius Ecclesie S. Pauli qui obijt 7. die mens Decemb. An. Dom. 1478. Anime cuius sis Deus propitius Amen Hic iacet Magister Reymundus Pelegrim Canonicus huius Ecclesie Capellanus Commissalis Domini Pape qui obijt xi die mens Aug. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Hic iacet Magister Richardus Plessys quondam Can ......... ob M. CCC LX.I Gulielmus Harington Iurisconsultus Protonotarius Apostolicus D. Pauli Canonicus ex illis quos Residentiarios dicunt Patria Eboracensis natus in Pago qui Estryngton vocitatur Patre Gulielmo Haringtono viro claro genere orto in pago commerlandie non ignobili qui Neubyging nuncupatur Matre Iohanna filia Gulielmi Haske aliter Baliui dicti viri generosi in eodem pago Estryngton nata Memor exitus vite qui omnibus horis impendet hoc sibi sepulchrum posuit Anno salutis humane 1523. Here lieth buried in a Chappell built by himselfe wherein he founded three Chaplaines Sir Iohn Poultney foure times Lord Maior of London who founded also a Colledge in the Parish Church of S. Laurence called Poultney He built also the parish Church called little Alhallows in Thames street and the Carmelite Friers Church in Couentrie hee gaue reliefe to the prisoners in Newgate and in the Fleet and ten shillings the yeare to S. Giles Hospitall by Oldborne now Houlborne for euer and other Legacies too long to rehearse And died in the yeare 1348. Here lieth Hamond Chickwell Pepperer who had beene Lord Maior of this Citie sixe times within nine yeares And died about the yeare 1328. Here lieth the body of Anne daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgundie the wife of Iohn Plantaginet third sonne of king Henry the fourth Duke of Bedford Protector of the Realme of England and head of the common weale Who died the yeare 1433. Here in a Monument broken all a peeces lieth entombed the body of Iohn Neuill Lord Latimer whose widow Katherine Parre daughter of Sir Thomas Parre of Kendall and sister to William Lord Parre Marquesse of Northampton was the sixth and last wife to king Henry the eight He died in the yeare 1542. Sir Iohn Beauchampe Constable of Douer Castle Warden of the Cinque Ports knight of the Garter and Lord Admirall of England the second sonne of Guy Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke lieth buried here in the body of the Church within a little Chappell He died Ann. 1360. 34. Ed. 3. He was also Constable of the Tower of London as appeares by ancient Records Cum Rex nuper concesserit Iohanni Darcy de Knayth custodiam Turris London ad vitam suam et idem Iohannes propter alia negotia intendere non possit eidem custodire ex Regis assensu concessit custodiam predictam Iohanni de Bellocampo de Warwic ad totam vitam predicti Iohannis Darcy c. T. R. apud Mortelake 15. Marcij Ann. 26. Ed. 3.1 Pars. pat M. 17. Vpon some displeasure vpon false suggestions which the King had taken against him he was put by this office and to the same the truth being tried restored againe a little before his death For proofe Cum Iohan. Darcy cui nuper Rex custodiaÌ„ Turris London ad totaÌ„ vita suaÌ„ concesserit ob affectioneÌ„ quam habuit ad personaÌ„ Ioh. de Bellocampo de Warwick statuÌ„ quem idem Ioh. Darcy in custodia Turris predicte habuit prefato Ioh. de Bellocampo concesserit et Rex illaÌ„ concessioneÌ„ confirmauit post moduÌ„que ob quendaÌ„ rancoreÌ„ quem Rex erga ipsuÌ„ Ioh. de Bellocampo ex sinistra suggestione ipsi Regi facta concepisset ipsum de custodia illa amoueri fecit et â—andem custodiam primo Bartholomeo de Burghesse postmodum Roberto de Morle concessisset Iamque ijdem Bartholomeus et Robertus viam vniuerse carnis ingressi sunt Rex ad gratum et laudabile obsequium siâ—i per dictum Iohannem diuersimodo impensum et ad hoc quod suggestio predicta minus vera existit sicut plenius Regi constat consideracionem habens ac volens ipsius proinde honori commodo prospicere in hac parte â—undem Iohannem ad dictam custodiam restituit habendam ad totam vitam suam Dat. apud Villam Sancti Georgij iuxta Castrum de Beauford in Francia An. 34. Ed. 3. This deceased Nobleman saith Stow by ignorant people hath beene erroniously mistearmed and said to bee Duke Humphrey the good Duke of Glocester who lieth honourably buried at S. Albans in Hertfordshire In Idle and friuolous opinion of whom some men of late times saith hee haue made a solemne meeting at his Tombe vpon Saint Andrewes day in the morning and concluded on a breakfast or dinner as assuming themselues to be seruants and to hold diuersitie
fyue hundryd and eighteen yere Inscriptions in the Stilliard the house sometime of the German-Merchants Haec domus est laeta semper bonitate repleta Hic Pax hic requies hic gaudia semper honesta Item Aurum blanditiae pater est natusque doloris Qui caret hoc maeret qui tenet hic metuit Item Qui bonis parere recusat quasi vitato fumo in flammam incidit Saint Mary Bothaw .......... Chich .... vocitatus ..... Robertus omni bonitate refertus Bauperibus largus pius extitit ad mala tardus Moribus ornatus iacet istic intumulatus Corpore procerus his Maior arte Grocerus Anno milleno C quater x quater anno ............. This Robert Chichley was Lord Maior An. 1422. hee appointed by his Testament that on his birth day acompetent dinner should be ordained for 2400 poore men housholders of this city euery man to haue two pence in money Saint Michaels Crooked lane Here lieth entombed in a Chappell of his owne foundation Sir William Walworth Knight Lord Maior of London whose manfull prowesse against that arch-Rebell VVat Tyler and his confederates is much commended in our English Chronicles his monument was shamefully defaced in the raigne of King Edward the sixt as many others were but since it was renewed by the Fishmongers he died Anno 1383. as appeareth by this Epitaph Here vnder lyth a man of Fame William Walworth callyd by name Fishmonger he was in life time here And twise Lord Maior as in bookes appere Who with courage stout and manly might Slew Wat Tyler in King Richards sight For which act done and trew entent The King made him Knight incontinent And gaue him armes as here you see To declare his fact and Chiualrie He left this life the yere of our God Thirteene hundryd fourescore and three od Iohn Philpot Nicholas Brember and Robert Launde Aldermen were knighted with him the same day To this Maior the King gaue 100 pound land yeerely and to each of the other 40 pound land by yeare to them and their heires for euer He founded a Colledge to this parish Church for a Master and nine Priests or Chaplaines Worthy Iohn Louekin Stockfishmonger of London here is leyd Four times of this City Lord Maior hee was if truth be seyd Twise he was by election of Citizens then being And twise by the commandment of his good Lord the King Cheef Founder of this Church in his life time was he Such louers of the common-welth too few ther be Of August the fourth thirteene hundryth sixty and eyght His flesh to Erth his soul to God went streyght Sir William Walworth was an apprentice to this Iohn Louekin Here lyeth wrapt in clay The body of William VVray I haue no more to say Saint Laurence Poultney This Church was increased with a Chappell of Iesus by one Thomas Cole for a Master and a Chaplaine the which Chappell and Parish-Church was made a Colledge of Iesus and of Corpus Christi for a Master and seuen Chaplaines by Iohn Poultney Maior and was confirmed by Edward the third in the twentieth of his raigne So that of him it was called Saint Laurence Poultney in Candlewickstreet This Colledge was valued at 79. l. 17. s. 11. d. per ann and surrendred in the raigne of Ed. the sixth The thrice honourable Lord Robert Radcliffe the first earle of Sussex of that name and Henry Radcliffe his sonne and heire as of his possessions so of his honours were first interred in this Collegiate Church whose relique were afterwards remoued to Boreham in Essex Saint Mary Abchurch Hac gradiens fortis tua lingua precando laboret Esto memor mortis dum virtus vivida floret Dum vita fueris quid agas circumspice mente Nam tu talis eris qualis concido repente Corpora Gilberti Melites celat lapis iste Eius vxoris Christine quos cape Christe Saint Mary Colechurch So called of one Cole the builder thereof King Henry the fourth granted licence to William Marshall and others to found a brotherhood of S. Katherine in this Church to the helpe of Gods seruice because Thomas Becket and S. Edmund Archbishops of Canterbury were baptised herein Alhallowes Barking On the North side of this Church was sometime builded a faire Chappell founded by king Richard the first and much augmented by king Edward the first Edward the fourth gaue licence to his cosin Iohn Lord Tiptost Earle of Worcester to found here a Brotherhood for a Master and Brethren And he gaue to the Custos of that Fraternitie the advowsion of the Parish Church of Stretham in Surrey with all the members and appurtenances the Priory of Totingbeck and a part of the Priory of Okeborne in Wiltshire both Priors Aliens and appointed it to be called the Kings Chantrie In Capella beate Marie de Barking king Richard the third founded herein a Colledge of Priests and reedified the decayed structure Great concourse of people came hither to our Lady of Barking a pilgrimage vntill the Colledge was suppressed and pulled downe in the second of Edward the sixth and the ground whereupon it stood imployed as a Garden plot Many funerall Monuments are yet remaining in this Parish Church which you may reade in the Suruay of this Citie Saint Mary Wolnoth Here lieth Sir Iohn Arundell knight of the Bath and knight Baneret Receiuor of the Duchy ....... Grey daughter to the Lord Marquese Dorset who died 8. Febr. the 36. of the reigne of king Hen. the 8. This Sir Iohn Arundell was of the house of Lanherne in Cornwall a family of great respect in that county Of which I shall haue further occasion to speake when I come to Saint Columbs where this mans Ancestors lye entombed The Christian name of his wife with time worne or torne out of the brasse was Elianor the third daughter of Thomas Grey Marquesse Dorset halfe brother by the mother to Edward the fifth by Cicely daughter and heire of William Bonvile Lord Harrington Quid caro letatur cum vermibus esca paratur Terre terra datur Caro nascitur moriatur Orate pro anima Simonis Eyre ......................................... vnder this defaced Monument Simon Eyre the sonne of Iohn Eyre of Brandon in Suffolk lieth interred He was Lord Maior in the yeare 1445. Hee built Leaden Hall for a common Granary for the Citie and a faire large Chappell on the East side of the Quadrant ouer the Porch whereof was painted Dextra Domini exaltauit me And on the North wall Honorandus famosus Mercator Symon Eyre huius operis Fundator He gaue 5000. l. and aboue the poore Maids marriages and did many other works of charitie Hee died the 18. day of September 1459. Saint Nicholas Acons O ye dere frendys whych sall here aftyr be Of yowr deuotion plese ye to remembyr Me Richard Payne which of this noble cite Somtym whylst I liud was
it descending to William Clopton his sonne and heire and he dying without issue as did also Sir William Clopton the sonne of the aboue mentioned Sir William The said Mannor of Newenham passed by Conueyance dated at Ashdon 6. die Iunij an 13. Hen. 4. as did most of all the other large possessions of the Cloptons in Suffolke and Cambridgeshire to William Clopton of Melford the sonne and heire of Sir Thomas Clopton Knight who lyeth buried with his wife the daughter and heire of Mylde vnder a faire Tombe in the north Isle of the said Church of Melford called the Cloptons Isle as doth also the said William Clopton his sonne lie buried vnder the same Tombe and Margery his wife the daughter and heire of Elias Francis Esquire in the same Isle whose Epitaph is there found on her Graue-stone as followeth Hic iacet Margeria Clopton nuper vxor Willielmi Clopton Armig. filia et heres Elie Francis Armigeri que obijt ....... Iunij Anno Dom. M. cccciiii euius anime propitietur Deus And on this grauestone is there an Escutcheon of Clopton with an Ermine on the bend empaled with the Armes of Francis being gules a Salteire betweene foure crosses formie Patees Or from which said William and Margerie haue the three seuerall Families of Cloptons of Kentwell Castelins and Liston descended and the first beene much enobled by the marriage of the daughter and heire of Roydon descended likewise from the seuerall heires or coheires of Knyuet Belhous Fitz-warren Basset of Welledon and diuers other ancient families as was that familie of Lyston by the marriage of the daughter and heire of Say whose ancestors had beene long owners of that mannor and held it in Capite as Clopton now doth by the seruice of making Wafers at the Kings Coronation And because these foresaid three Families of Clopton did descend as I haue alreadie noted and were at once branched forth from Sir William Clopton of Lutons in the Countie of Suffolke Knight it shall not be impertinent to set downe his Epitaph as it is now to bee seene on his grauestone in the North Isle of the said Chappell of Melford Church amongst diuers others of his Ancestors being as followeth Orate pro animabus Willielmi Clopton militis et Iohanne Consortis sue Qui quidem Willielmus obijt vicesimo die Febrarij Anno Dom. millesimo quingentesimo tricesimo quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen And on the grauestone aboue this Epitaph is the Cloptons coate before mentioned empaled with Marrow which is Azure a fesse nebulee inter three Maydens heads coupes by the Shoulders Ar the periwiggs Or. Thus much of the Cloptons I had from that studious learned gentleman Sir Simond D'Ewes Knight of which much more when I come to Melford and Tallo-wratting Church in Suffolke Here lyth Nicholas Inglefield Esquyr sometime Controler of the hous to King Rychard the second who dyed the first of April in the yere of Grase M. cccc.xv whos soul Iesu perdon Amen Amen Amen Here end the Monuments in the Countie of Essex Additions or certaine Epitaphs and Inscriptions vpon Tombes and Grauestones within certaine Churches in the Citie of London Collected by my selfe and others not many yeares agoe of which few or none of any Antiquity are remaining in the said Churches at this present day such is the despight not so much of Time as of maleuolent people to all Antiquities especially of this kind In Saint Pauls IN this Cathedrall Church and neere vnto Sir Iohn Beauchamps Tomb commonly called Duke Vmfreys vpon a faire marble stone inlaid all ouer with brasse of all which nothing but the heads of a few brazen nailes are at this day visible and engrauen with the representation and cote-Armes of the party defunct Thus much of a mangled funerall Inscription was of late time perspicuous to be read as followeth Hic iacet Paganus Roet miles Guyenne Rex Armorum Pater Catherine Ducisse Lancastrie ...... This Sir Payne Roet had issue the aforesaid Dutchesse and Anne who was married to Geffrey Chaucer our famous English Poet who by her had issue Sir Thomas Chaucer whose daughter Alice was married to Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury by whom she had no issue and after to William de la Pole Duke of Suffolke and by him had Iohn Duke of Suffolke and others The abouesaid Katherine eldest daughter of this King of Armes was first married to Sir Otes Swynford Knight and after to Iohn of Gaunt the great Duke of Lancaster of whose issue by her is obserued to be descended a most royall and illustrious of spring videlicet Eight Kings foure Queenes and fiue Princes of England Sixe Kings and three Queenes of Scotland two Cardinals aboue twenty Dukes and almost as many Dutches of the kingdome of England diuers Dukes of Scotland and most of all the now ancient Nobilitie of both these Kingdomes besides many other potent Princes and eminent nobility of forraigne parts Saint Giles Criplegate Here vnder a large marble stone whereupon no Inscription is at this day remaining neither any Effigies of the deceased left both of which were inlaid and engrauen vpon the monument as I was credibly informed lieth interred the body of Sir Iohn Wriothesley Knight alias Garter principall King at Armes Father of William Wriothesley Yorke Herald who had issue Thomas Wriothesley Knight of the Garter Lord Chancellor of England and the first of that sirname Earle of Southampton His creation was the eighteenth yeare of the raigne of King Ed. 4. as appeares by this his Patent following Pat. 18. Ed. 4. m. 28. part 2. Rex omnnibus ad quos c. Salutem Sciatis quod cum non sit noâ—uÌ„ set iam diu ab antiquis teÌ„poribus vsitatuÌ„ quod inter ceteros Officiales Ministros quos PrincipuÌ„ lateribus pro coruÌ„ magnificencia atque gloria adherere decet eoruÌ„ officij ArmoruÌ„ cura coÌ„mittitur copiaÌ„ habere debeat vt nec teÌ„pus belloruÌ„ quibus neque pacis sine coÌ„uenientibus aptis Ministris debeat preteriri Nos igitur coÌ„siderationis acteÌ„ in laudabilia seruicia que delectus nobis Iohannes Wrythe alias nuper dictus Norrey Rex ArmoruÌ„ parciuÌ„ BorialiuÌ„ Regni nostri Anglie in hijs que ad officium illud spectare intelliguntur exercuit dirigentes eund propterea non minus ob solerciam et sagacitatem quas in eo satis habemus exploratas in principalem Haraldum Officiarium incliti nostri Ordinis Garterij Armorumque Regem Anglicorum ex gracia nostra speciali ereximus fecimus constituimus ordinauimus creauimus et coronauimus ac per presentes erigimus facimus constituimus ordinamus creamus coronamus ac ei officium illud nec non nomen le Garter Stilum titulum libertates preeminencias huiusmodi officio conueniencia et concordancia ac ab antiquo consueta damus et concedimus ac ipsum in eisdem realiter
1421. Frater Robertus Rose obijt 16. Decemb. 1420. This Carmelite was Doctor of Diuinitie in Oxford of whom that Vniuersitie had such an opinion for his learning that they honoured him with the title of supreme Master He writ much yet neuer offended the VVickleuists he liued long and enricht his Monastery many as well in estate as with diuers kindes of Sciences Frater Iohannes Thorpe Doctor ingeniosus obijt 12 Augusti 1440. This Thorpe writ many bookes as well Diuine as humane but for one he was most remarkable which he entituled The Laborinth of Logicke wherein he shewed so exquisitely the subtle Elenchs of that Art that thereby he gained the surname of Ingenious Doctor Which with his Epitaph was engrauen vpon his Tombe Frater Henricus Wychingham obijt 14. Marcij 1447. Frater Iohannes Kynynghale Prior Prouincialis Anglie obijt 28. Aprilis 1451. Frater Iohannes Tauerham obiit 19. Septemb. 1451. Frater Petrus de Sancta fide 8. die Nouemb. 1452. Frater Nicolaus Grey obiit 7. Aprilis 1458. Frater Adam Berton Frater Galfridus Bee obiit 13. Octobris 1492. Frater Thomas Martirxet obiit 18. Iunii 1508. Frater Robertus Loue Prior Prouincialis Anglie 1517. Frater Willelmus Wroxham obiit in Conventu Calisie 23. Augusti 1383. Frater Willelmus Raymund obiit 1. Augusti 1386. Frater Henricus Mylebam Frater Ricardus Water obiit 5. Marcii 1485. Frater Willelmus Worsted obiit 11 Septemb. 1494. Frater Thomas Penyman Frater Iohannes VVhytyng obiit 24. Iunii 1524 Frater Symon Pykerynge obiit 24. Februar 1525. Frater Robertus Browne 1525. Domina Emma Carmelita reclusa Soror in Religione obijt 2. Decemb. 1422. Frater Hugo de Vuedale miles ante ingressum ordinis obijt 10. Aprilis 1390. Frater Willelmus Crongethorpe miles ante ingressum ordinis obijt 12. Aprilis 1332. Frater Philippus Cowgate magnus Mercator primus Fundator Conventus ante ingressum ordinis obijt 23. Aprilis 1283. In the yeares 1348. from the first of Ianuary to theÌ„ first of Iuly there died in this Citie of Norwich fifty seuen thousand one hundred and foure persons besides religious Votaries Whereupon the Prior and Couent of this house deuised a Prayer for the deliuerance of certaine Carmelites out of Purgatory which died in that contagious sicknesse as followeth Deus immense bonitatis ac sempiterne clementie pietatis affectu pro alijs rogare cogimar qui pro nostris peccatis nequaquam sufficimus confisi tamen de tua gratuita benignitate humiliter deprecamur vt per meritum passionis vnigenitiatque dilecti filij tui Iesu Christi per merita piissime matris eius ac omnium Sanctorum atque Sanctarum animas Fratrum nostrorum omnium fidelium defunctorum a penis liberare digneris qui liberasti tres pueros de Camino ignis ardentis et de manu Regis iniqui Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum Amen Now here to make an end of the Funerall Monuments which I finde in this famous Citie as also to take my leaue of the same may it please you runne ouer these verses of Iohn Ionston a Scottish Britan penned in the praise of the foresaid Citie of Norwich Vrbs speciosa situ nitidis pulcherrima tectis Grata peregrinis delitiosa suis. Bellorum sedes trepido turbante tumultu Tristia Neustriaco sub duce damna tulit Victis dissidijs postquam caput ardua coelo Extulit immensis creuit opima opibus Cultus vincit opes et cultum gratia rerum Quam benè si luxus non comitetur opes Omnia sic adeò sola haec sibi sufficit vt si Fo rs regno desit haec caput esse queat Thus translated by Philemon Holland Doctor of Physicke A Citie seated daintily most faire built she is knowne Pleasing and kinde to strangers all delightfull to her owne The seat of war whiles ciuill stirs and tumults yet remaind In William the Normans daies she grieuous losse sustaind These broiles and iars once past her head aloft againe She bare in richnesse infinite and wealth she grew amaine Her port exceeds that wealth and things all superfine this port How happy were it if excesse with such wealth did not sort So alsufficient in her selfe and so compleate is she That if neede were of all the Realme the Mistresse she might be Attilborrough The Booke of Woodbridge saith that Sir William Mortimer Knight Lord of this Mannor here founded a Chappell of the holy Crosse who died on Tuesday the 12 of Nouember 1297. and was buried in this his owne Chappell others say that Sir Robert Mortimer and Margery his wife were the founders of a Colledge here which they likewise consecrated to the honour of the holy Crosse valued in the Kings bookes at twenty one pounds sixteene shillings halfe pennie Burials in the Chappell of this Colledge were as followeth Sir William Mortimer as before Sir Robert Mortimer who died at Attilburgh the 25 of September 1387. Sir Thomas Mortimer Mary Falstalph who was wife to Sir Thomas Mortimer who died the second of May 1406. Sibill Mortimer died the 9 of Nouember 1334. Margery Falstalphe daughter of ... died 24. of October 1341. Constantine Mortimer Father to Constantine who died 12 Nouember 1334. Sir Iohn Radcliffe knight of the Garter in the raigne of Henry the sixt Roger his brother and Philip his wife Thomas Brampton Robert Wetnall Alice Warner Elisabeth wife of Thomas Garret Esquire Of this Village and the foundation of the Colledge thus Camden writes Attilborrough saith he the seat of the Mortimers an ancient family who being different from those of Wigmore bare for their Armes a shield Or Seme de floures de Lyz Sables and founded here a Collegiat Church where there is little now to be seene the Inheritance of these Mortimâ—rs hath by marriage long since accrued to the Radcliffes now Earles of Sussex to the Familie of Fitz-Ralph and to Sir Ralph Bigot it is the inheritance at this day of Sir Alexander Radcliffe of Ordsall in the County of Lancaster knight of the Bath Windham William d Albiny Butler to King Henry the first founded here a Priory of which thus much out of his Charter as followeth Notum sit c. quod Ego Willelmus de Albenâ—yo Pincerna Domini Regis Henrici primido concedo c. Priori et conuentui de Wymundeham in liberam puram et perpetuam eleemosinam pro salute anime mee et vxoris mee patris mei matris mee et omnium parentum meorum totam Ecclesiam de Wymundeham cum omnibus pertinencijs c. Test. Rog. Bygoth et filij eius c. He endowed this his religious edifice with faire possessions consecrated it to the blessed Virgin Mary placed blacke Monkes therein and gaue it to the Abbey of Saint Albans for a Cell it was valued in the Exchequer to be yearely worth seuentie two pounds fiue shillings foure pence
fashion in former times fetched from the French which they call rebus or name-deuises examples of the same are frequent Neare to this Church sometime stood that goodly Abbey founded by Stephen king of England grandchilde to the Conquerour dedicated to Saint Sauiour replenished with blacke Monkes of Cluni valued at the suppression to be well worth according to the fauourable rate of such endowments in those dayes 286. l. 12. s. 6. d. ob yearely such was the charter of his donation Stephanus Rex c. Archiepiscopis Episcopis c. salutem Sciatis me pro salute anime mee Matildis Regine vxoris mee Eustachij filij mei aliorum puerorum meorum antecessorum Regum Anglie dedisse c. Manerium meum de Fauresham ad fundand Abbatiam vnam ibidem ae ordine Monachorum Cluniacensium c. Sciatis etiam quod dedimus ego et Matildis Regina mea Willelmo de Ipra in Escambium pro eodem Manerio de Fauresham Lillechire cum pertinencijs suis de hereditate Regine Teste H. Episcopo Winton fratre meo Rogero Episcopo de London Richardo de Lucy Hen. de Essex c. This king died at Douer of an Iliack passion mixed with his old disease the Emrods Octob. 25. 1154. hauing raigned 18. yeares ten moneths and odde dayes and was buried in this Church of his owne foundation Of which heare these ancient rimes Aftur king Harry euyn Then regnyd king Stevyn The Erlys son Bloys he was truly He wedded Mold the doghter of Mary A good man he was bedeme I trow king Harry was his Eme He regnyd here XUIII yere And to Feuersham in Kent men him bere He deyed without issue truly Then regnyd his cosin Harry Stephen was a most worthy Souldier saith one and wanted nothing to haue made him an excellent king but a iust title but that was wanting The whiche he found whyles he was liuing so And reigned here in much trouble and wo. And had this Realme without any ryght Fro th'emprise Maude that faire Lady bryght And this was the cause that he was driuen perforce to defend his vsurâ—ped authoritie by the sword which must needs procure him the hatred of many who thus speake of him in old English King Stephen his luthenesse withdrew yers a fewe But er Uyer were goo he ganne to wex a shrewe For he wende aboute and robbyd the lond and to grownd broght Then the toune of Wyrcester he brent all to noght But to conclude with the words of a late writer This Stephen was a man so continually in motion saith he that we cannot take his dimension but onely in passing and that but on one side which was warre on the other we neuer saw but a glaunce on him which yet for the most part was such as shewed him to be a very worthy Prince for the gouernment Hee kept his word with the State concerning the relieuement of Tributes and neuer had Subsidy that we finde But which is more remarkable hauing his sword continually out and so many defections and rebellions against him hee neuer put any great man to death Besides it is noted that notwithstanding all these miseries of war there were more Abbeyes built in his raigne then in an 100. yeares before which shewes though the times were bad they were not impious the king himselfe being mente piissimus as he was miles egregius His body rested here in quietnesse vntill the dissolution when for the gaine of the lead wherein it was encoffined it was taken vp and throwne into the next water So vncertaine is man yea greatest Princes of any rest in this world euen after buriall Here sometime likewise lay interred Maud his wife the daughter of Eustace Earle of Bulloigne the brother of Godfrey and Baldwin of Bulloigne kings of Ierusalem by her mother Mary sister to Maud Queene of England wife of Henry her predecessour who dyed at Heueningham Castle in Essex the third of May 1151. Whose Epitaph I found in a namelesse Manuscript Anno milleno C. quinquagenoque primo Quo sua non minuit sed sibi nostra tulit Mâ—thildis selix coniux Stephani quoque Regis Occidit insignis moribus et titulis Cultrix vera Dei cultrix et pauperiei Hic subnixa Deo quo frueretur eo Femina si qua Polos conscendere queque meretur Angelicis manibus diua hec Regina tenetur Eustace the sonne and heire apparant of Stephen and Queene Maud liued not long after his mother for being highly displeased with the agreement betwixt his father and Henry Fitzempresse afterwards king of England by which he was made hopelesse euer to haue the Crowne as his fathers Successour in a fury he departed the Court purposing to raise himselfe by his owne meanes and so marched along destroying the countrey alwayes as he went vntill he came to Saint Edmundsbury where he was honourably receiued of the Monkes of that Monastery But hee came not for meat but money and thereupon vngratefully vrged them for a great summe to set forward his heady designes yet the wiser amongst them vnwilling to be wagers of new warres which though ill for all sorts yet proued euer worst for the Clargie mens possessions denyed his request Wherewith eâ—raged be commanded his owne men to carry their corne and other prouision into his owne Castle situated hard by But being set at dinner the very first morsell he put into his mouth draue him into a Frensie whereof shortly after he dyed His body was brought to this Abbey and here interred by his mother His death happened the tenth day of August 1152. He was married to Constance sister of Lewis the seuenth king of France daughter of king Lewis the Grosse by whom he had no issue In this Abbey saith Robert of Glocester is a pece of ye hely croys which Godfrey Boylon forkyndred had sent to king Stephene Tunstall Hic iacet Margareta filia Iacobi Cromer militis vxor Iohannis Rycils heredis de Elsingham .... qui obiit ... 1496. Sittingborne Here lyeth Iohn Crowmer Esquire and Ione his wife who died Ann. Dom. 1539 .... on whose soules A family of knightly descent and ample reuenues one of which house called William Crowmer Esquire sonne of Sir William Lord Maior of London high Shiriffe of Kent in the fury of Iack Cade and the Kentish and Essex rebells was sacrificed at Mile-end and cut shorter by the head like as the day before they had serued Sir Iames Fienes Lord Say and Sele and Treasurer of England in Cheape-side whose onely daughter this Crowmer had married Whose heads giue me leaue to go a little further pitched vpon high poles were carried by the villaines through the Citie of London who caused their trunklesse faces in spight and mockerie to kisse one the other at euery street-corner as they marched along in this their damnable triumph and