Primates of all Britaine Legates to the Pope and as Vrbane the second said The Patriarkes as it were of another world And thus the Archbishops of Canterbury by the fauour which Austin had with Gregory the Great by the power of Lanfranke and by the industrie of Anselme were much exalted but how much that was to the grieuous displeasure and pining enuie of the Archbishops of Yorke you shall perceiue by that which followeth King Henry the first kept vpon a time his stately Christmas at Windsore where the manner of our kings then being at certaine solemne times to weare their Crownes Thurstine of Yorke hauing his Crosse borne vp before him offered to set the Crowne vpon the kings head But William of Canterbury withstood it stoutly and so preuailed by the fauour of the King and the helpe of the standers by that Thurstine was not onely disappointed of his purpose but he and his Crosse also thrust quite out of the doores William of Yorke the next in succession after Thurstine both in the See and Quarrell perceiuing that the force of his Predecessour preuailed nothing attempted by his owne humble meanes first made to the king and after to the Pope to winne the Coronation of king Henry the second from Theobald the next Archbishop of Canterbury But when he had receiued repulse in that sort of suite also and found no way left to make auengement vpon his enemy he returned home all wroth and as it was suspected wreaked the anger vpon himselfe After this another hurly burly hapned in a Synode assembled at Westminster in the time of King Henry the second before Cardinall Hugo Pope Alexanders Legate betweene Richard and Roger then Archbishops of these two Sees vpon occasion that Roger of Yorke comming of purpose as it should seeme first to the assembly had taken vp the place on the right hand of the Cardinall Which when Richard of Canterbury had espied hee refused to sit downe in the second roome complaining greatly of this preiudice done to his See Whereupon after sundrie replyes of speech the weaker in disputation after the manner of Schoole-boyes in the streets descended from hote words to hastie blowes in which encounter the Archbishop of Canterbury through the multitude of his attendants obtained the better So that he not onely plucked the other out of his place and all to rent his casule Chimer and Rochet but also disturbed the holy Synode therewithall in such wise that the Cardinall for feare betooke him to his feete the company departed their businesse vndone and the Bishops themselues moued suite at Rome for the finishing of their controuersie By these and such other successes on the one side the Bishops of Canterbury following tooke such courage that from thenceforth they would not permit the Bishops of Yorke to beare vp the Crosse either in their presence or Prouince And on the other side the Bishops of Yorke conceiued such griefe of heart disdaine and offence that from time to time they spared no occasion to attempt both the one and the other Whereupon in the time of a Parliament holden at London in the raigne of King Henry the third Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury interdicted the Londiners because they had suffered the Bishop of Yorke to beare vp his Crosse whiles he was in the Citie And much adoe there was within a few yeares after betweene Robert Kilwarby of Canterby and William Giffard of Yorke because he of Yorke aduanced his Crosse as hee passed through Kent towards the generall Councell The like happened also at two other seuerall times betweene Frier Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury and William Wickwane and Iohn de Roma Archbishops of Yorke in the dayes of King Edward the first At the length the matter being yet once more set on foote betweene Simon Islip the Archbishop of this Prouince and his aduersarie the incumbent of Yorke for that time King Edward the third in whose raigne that variance was reuiued resumed the matter into his owne hand and made a finall composition betweene them The which hee published vnder his broade Seale to this effect First that each of them should freely and without impeachment of the other beare vp his Crosse in the others Prouince but yet so that he of Yorke and his Successours for euer in signe of subiection should within two moneths after their inthronization either bring or send to Canterbury the image of an Archbishop bearing a Crosse or some other Iewell wrought in fine gold to the value of fourty pounds and offer it openly there vpon Saint Thomas Beckets Shryne then that in all Synodes of the Clergie and assemblies where the King should happen to bee present hee of Canterbury should haue the right hand and the other the left Finally that in broad streets and high-wayes their Crosse-bearers should go together but that in narrow lanes and in the entries of doores and gates the Crosier of Canterbury should go before and the other follow and come behinde Thus as you see the Bishops of Canterbury euermore preuailing by fauour or other meanes they of Yorke were driuen in the end to giue ouer in the plaine field Here endeth the Diocesse of Canterbury ANCIENT FVNERALL MONVMENTS WITHIN THE Diocesse of ROCHESTER THis Bishopricke is so ouershadowed by the nearnesse and greatnesse of the See of Canterbury that it lookes but like a good Benefice for one of his Graces Chaplaines yet for antiquitie and dignitie of a long succession of reuerend Lord Bishops it may equally compare with its neighbour of Canterbury For they had both one Founder to wit Ethelbert king of Kent who built this Church to the honour of Saint Andrew and endowed it with certaine lands which he called Priestfield in token that Priests should bee sustained therewithall Vnto which Iustus a Romane of whom before was consecrated Bishop by Saint Augustine Ethelbert assenting thereto by his presence Austin then made Clerke full well grounded Iusto that hight of Rochester full well bounded The Bishop then to preache and helpe Austin And to baptise the folke by his doctrine This Citie pent within so straight a roome was called in the time of the Saxon Kings the Kentishmens Castle and at this day shee and her little Diocesse may make their vaunt of their impregnable fortification by the Name Royall the maine defence of Britaines great Monarchie of the prowesse of their ancient Inhabitants of the pleasant scituation of so many countrey townes and of the profits arising from the fruitfulnesse of the soile Of all which reade if you please this Hexasticon Vrbs antiqua ferox bella est Rocestria situ Arx finitimis imperiosa locis Hic Deus è ligno fabricauit maenia firma Quae sibi quaeque suis sunt modo tuta salus Laeta racemiferos passimque per oppida colles Continet ac culti iugera multa Soli. This Diocesse for the most part is seuered from that of Canterbury by the riuer of Medway it consists onely of
raigne of Hen. the seuenth Hen. the eight In the raigne of Ed. the sixt In the raigne of Q Mary In the raigne of Q Elizabeth In the raigne of King Iames. The Aetymologie Antiquity and Dignity of Heralds Heralds Priests Rosinus Ant. Rom. li. 3. c. 21. Heralds of France of noble descent Stow in the life of Brute The Armes of Brute Cold Harber the Heralds Colledge Eleanor Lady Wriothesley Ioan Wriothesley Io. Wriothesley Sir Hen. Grey Reginald Lord Grey Earle of Kent Sir Will. Cheyney and Margaret his wife The Heralds Office The body corporate of the Heralds Henry Spelman Gloss lit H. Iohn Leland the Antiquary Lelandi Strena â—â—lands New yeares gift The study of Antiquity in Hen. the eight The caâ—e King Hen had of Religion The workes of ancient Writers saued and conserued The Kings Libraries augmented The plaine â—â—le and forme of â—uncient Writers Britaine the Mother of worthy men and excellent wits This volume he called Antiphilachia written against the ambitious Empire or vsurped authoritie Reiall of the Bishop of Rome Albertus Pighius a Canon sometime in the Cathedrall Church of Vtrecht in the Low Countries Lelands affection toward his Country Four Bookes of illustrious men or of the British writers Learned Princes The wits of the British and English writers exercised in all kinds of good literature A wonderfull great number of Historiographers of British affaires Lelands laborious iourney throughout all England The description of all England in a quadrate table of siluer A Booke of the Topographie of England The names of seuerall nations Cities and great townes c. of Britaine in old time such as Cesar Tacitus Ptolimey other Authors haue made mention of restored together with the later and moderne names Of the Antiquitie of Britaine or of Ciuile History fiftie Bookes Sixe Bookes of the Islands adiacent to England Three bookes of the Nobility of Britaine His conclusion a delectabili vtili Commune voâ—â—â— Sir Rob. Cotton knight and Baronet Sir Tho. Bodley knights Pit Aetas 16. Io. Leland the Elder Elis. West Rog. Woodcocke and Ioane his wife Catherine Cauendish Alice Cavendish Marg Cavendish Lib. Esiens in bib Cott. Will. Burd Clarke of the Pipe Cowell lit C. Clarke of the Priuie Seale Io. Hartishorne Sergeant at Armes and Agnes his wife The office of Sergeant at Armes Cowell lit â— George Lord Maior Ioan and Marg. his wiues Iohn Kirkham and Elis. his wife Iohn Mynne The foundation of the Brotherhood in S. Botolpâ—s Edward Murell and Martha his wife William Campion and Anne his wife Henry Cantlow Sir William Cantlow knight Iohn Olney Lord Maior Tho. Muschampe Sir William Yerford Lord Maior and Elis. his wife Sir Roger Ree â—night and Rose his wife Tho. Bromflit Andrew Chyett Iohn Martin Lord Maior and â—atherine his wife * Eliae Reusneri Basil. Geneal Auctuarium edit Francosurt 1592 pag. 102. Historie generall of the Netherlands lib. 5 pag 227. impr an Dom. 1609. * Penes Simonds D' Ewes Equitem auratum abâ—epotem dicti Aâ—rini * In Registro Curiae Dum. Archidiaconi Lond. Libr. 4. sol 34. a b. * Escaety de a. 34. Eliz. parte 1. n. 11. Essex in Archiuis Tho. Pigot Richard Sutton W. Holland and Margaret his wife Rich Story and Ioan his wife Peter Fernefold Walter Turke Lord Maior Tho. Padington Marg. and Anne his wiues Will. Cogshall and Elis. his wife Nich. Wolbergh and Mar. his wife Rog. Hunning and Margaret his wife Tho. Paynard Vincent Catal. of Viscounts Ioan Coppinger Tho. Wandesford and Idonea his wife Will. â—oyliâ— Lord Maior and Catherine his wife Glanvile Agnes Cheyney Io. Rayning Will Porter and Elis. his wife Cowell lit C. Will. 〈◊〉 Io. Westcliffâ— Ioan his wife Will. Newport and Mossâ—s his wife Will Read and Maâ—g his wife M. Drayton Pol. 17. Song London lying like a halfe moone London Bridge the Crowne of Tames Camd. in Mid. Speed of Miâ— Gen 14.10 Hampton Court Camd in Mid. Câ—sar Commâ—nt lib. 5. Burials neere Stanes Spec. Brit. Lib. 1. cap. 2. Burials neere Brainford Burials of the dead slaine at Barnet field Camd. in Hert. The first battel of S. Albans Mss In bib Coâ— The second battell of S. Albans Camd. in Hert. Burials of the dead slaine in the battels at S. Albans Burials of the dead betwixt Stenenhaugh and Knebworth Camd. in Essex M. Drayton Song 19. Roman burials and the bones of Gyant-like found in Essex Burials neere Showbery Burials neere Barklow Ancient Tombes Danes-bloud Burials of the dead in and about Ashdown * â—â—â—inous * places * soules Battels and burialls of the dead â—â— and about â—he ancient Baâ—hg of Maldon 〈…〉 London Gâ—dwin Mss in lib. Sim. 〈…〉 aurat 〈◊〉 lib. 2 ca. 7. Mellituâ— quenched by his prayer the fire burning the Citie of Canterbury S. Ceada or Cedda 〈…〉 3. c. 2◠〈…〉 Tilbuâ—y Cities Sir Horace Vâ—â—e Baâ—on of Tilbury Sir Francis and siâ— Hoâ—ace Vere M. 〈…〉 Song 〈◊〉 S. Chad Bishop of Lichfield S. Erconwald Bed lib. 4 ca. 6. Cures by Saint Erconwald Horse-licter S. Theodred S. Egwulfe S. Richard Ex lib. Elien in bib Coâ— S. Roger. Mat. Paris an 1230. A strange Tempest M. D. Polyol Song 24. Felix the first Bishop of Dunwich or Dunmok Harding ca 91. Beda lib. 2. ca. 15 Hist. Eccl. Two and fifty religious stâ—â—ctures as many windmilâ— and as many toppe ships in Dunwich Recorda Dun. Camd. in Suss. The state of Dunwich since the foregoing time Six parish Churches Two houses of Friers One house of Templaâ—s Two Hospitals The couetouâ—nesse of the Masters and Officers The destruction of both Hospitals Three Chappelâ— The Cathedral Church vncertaine A strange and ancient buriall of a Bishop Bishops Seats anciently what they were A Mint in Dunwich Burials in the blacke Friers at Dunwich 〈◊〉 in the blacke Friers of Dunwich The foundation of the first Church in Bury The first foundation of the Abbey by the common people The second by K Canâ—â—e Ex Arch Turr. Lend * Bederics Court Farme or mansion house Camd. in Suss. Euersden Leland * Now but two The oath of the Alderman of Bury The broile betweene the Townesmen the Abbot and Couent of Bury Reliques in the Abbey Church out of a booke called Compend Com. pertorum in the treasurie of the Exchequer Aniles Fabulae S. Edmund King and Martyr Speed Hist ca. 11 * now Hoxon Ex lib. Abb. de Russ. in bib Col. S. Robert Martyr ex lib. Abb. de chateris in bib Cot. Alan Earle of Britaine and Kichmond Milles Catal. Rich. The building of Richmond Castle Tho. Plantaginet Earle of Norfolke Vincent Catal. Norf. Tho. Beauford Duke of Exceter Mary Queene of France Iohn Boon Abbot of Bury Out of a Lieger booke of the Abbey Cowell lit C. Conged'eslire Iohn Lidgate Monke * I know not * Promised * A dish made of marrow and grated bread * A Pancake * Couuremnet * Nappy Ale * Guâ—â—â— * Clocke * Verely * Nor Squire
foure distinct Deaneries namely Rochester Malling Dartford and Shorham Yet Shorham is but a Peculiar to the Archbishop who holds his prerogatiue wheresoeuer his lands do lie This Bishopricke is valued in the Exchequer at 358. l. 3. s. 7. d. farthing and was wont to pay to the Pope for first-fruits 1300. ducates and for Peter-pence 5. l. 12. s. Eightie Bishops and one haue sitten in this Chaire of Rochester more in number by nine then in that of Canterbury His name that now gouerneth the Helme is that right reuerend Father in God Iohn Bowles Doctor of Diuinitie brought vp in Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge In the whole numerous race of these Bishops succeeding Iustus three amongst others lye here interred howsoeuer no remembrance is now remaining of them by any funerall Monument most notable Paulinus Gundulphus and Gilbertus Of which the first after his death was honoured for a Saint The second was the best Benefactour that euer this Church found The third was so hatefull and iniurious to the Monkes that they neither esteemed him while he was liuing nor wailed him at all after that he was dead Paulinus a Romane borne was first made Bishop of Yorke by Iustus his predecessour in this place as then Archbishop of Canterbury about the 21. day of Iuly in the yeare of our Lord 625. and so he is reckoned to be the first Archbishop of that Prouince Yet I finde a Succession of British Archbishops of that place long before his time euer since the yeare of Grace one hundred and eightie or thereabouts Wherein Lucius king of the Britaines receiued the Christian faith the last of which race was one Tadiacus who at the comming in of the Saxons was with most of his countreymen enforced to flie into the mountanous countries of Cornwall and Wales and so consequently to forsake his pontificall Grace and Dignitie Of all which may it please you reade these verses out of the collections of Tho. Talbot sometime keeper of Records in the Tower Turbatis rebus Archipresul Tadiacus Ecclesie sedem deserit et patriam Archipontificum Tadiacus sedis Eborum Vltimus ex Britonum gentibus ille fuit Corpora sanctorum simul omnia vasa sacrorum Cunctas res reliquas transtulit ille sacras Expulsi Britones nomen patriamque relinquunt Dicti Wallenses nomine barbario But to returne againe to Paulinus from whom I am by occasion digressed who being now inuested in the sanctimonious robes of a Bishop neuer rested a moment but either instructed the people that flocked about him by preaching or else imparted Christ vnto them by Baptisme which he ministred in the open fields and Riuers Churches Oratories Fonts or places of Baptisme being not as yet builded it is said that in the Riuer of Swale in Yorkeshire hee christened in one day aboue ten thousand men besides women and little children which said riuer was a long time after reputed sacred amongst the ancient English He wonne miraculously Edwin king of Northumberland vnto Christ who with all the Nobilitie of his countrey and most part of the Commons hauing receiued the true faith came to the lauatorie of holy regeneration the eleuenth yeare of his raigne which was the yeare of our Lord 627. Thus Paulinus continued in the Prouince of Yorke preaching the word and administring the blessed Sacraments the space of seuen yeares euen vntill the death of King Edwin presently vpon which the State of his kingdome was so much infested with great slaughter and cruell persecution that no safetie could therein bee found either for himselfe or for the widow of King Edwin Queene Edelburgh both of them being Gods instruments for the conuersion of the Northumbrians to the embracement of Christian Religion saue onely by flight Whereupon he was constrayned to leaue his Bishopricke and to accompanie the said Queene with whom not long before hee came into that countrey backe againe into this kingdome of Kent But of Paulinus his first admittance to Yorke and his returne backe thus much in old Latine rimes Benedicam Dominum mundi plasmatorem Regem Regum omnium nostrum Saluatorem Recolendo pariter stilo cum veraci Dignos Archipresules sedis Eboraci Anno sexcentesimo Christi incarnati Quinto cum vicesimo sunt nouo creati Quorum Pastor nobilis primus est Paulinus Gregem pascit vtilis dum regnat Edwinus Septem annis regimen digne gubernauit Tunc ad Austrum redijt dum Gens Regem strauit At his returne from Yorke this See of Rochester was vacant and at the offer of Archbishop Honorius and at the request of King Edbald he tooke vpon him that charge which he right wisely and religiously gouerned the space of thirteene yeares vntill at his full and ripe age he was called away by death to receiue the glorious reward of his blessed labours Which happened Octob. the tenth Ann. 644.19 yeares 2. moneths and 21. dayes after his first consecration This Paulinus the third Bishop of this Diocesse was first interred vnder a very seemely Monument in the old Church of King Ethelberts foundation but about foure hundred and thirty yeares afterwards being canonized for a Saint his reliques were remoued enshrined in a coffin all of curious wrought siluer into the body of the new built Church by Gundulphus one of his Successours to the which according to the manner of those times much concourse of people came with many rich oblations such was his Epitaph Siste gradum clama qui perlegis hoc Epigramma Paulinum plora quem substraxit breuis hora Nobis per funus de Presulibus fuit vnus Prudens veridicus constans firmus amicus Anni sunt rati Domini super astra regentis Quadraginta dati quatuor cum sex quoque centis Paulinus being dead Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury aduanced one Ithamar a Kentishman borne to his place the first Englishman of this Nation that was a Bishop A man nothing inferiour either in life or learning to Paulinus or any of his Italian predecessours He departed this life about the yeare 656. Many miracles are said to be wrought by this religious Ithamar and great concourse of people frequented the place of his buriall which was at the first in the body of the Church But afterwards his reliques were remoued by Bishop Gundulph and enshrined and after him by Iohn Bishop of this Church who by his prayers at his Shrine was cured ab acerrimo oculorum dolore of a grieuous paine in his eyes For this and many other signes and tokens of his sanctitie hee was canonized if we may beleeue Capgraue and the fourth of the Ides of Iune solemnized to his memory Of whom a late writer thus Of Rochester we haue Saint Ithamar being then In those first times first of our natiue English men Residing on that seate Before I come to Gundulphus I will take Tobias by the way an Englishman the ninth Bishop of this Diocesse
encounter in the which after long fight they preuailed and the Danes were ouerthrowne and vanquished in the yeare of Grace 904. This victory saith Lambard and the like euent in another battell giuen to the Danes at Otford which also stands in the same valley begat as I gesse the common by-word vsed amongst the inhabitants of this vale euen till this present day in which they vaunt after this manner The Vale of Holmesdale Neuer wonne ne neuer shall These and many other victories atchieued by the valour of these Kentish Inhabitants giues me occasion to speake somewhat in generall of this flourishing countrey and first I will begin with a late writer To Canterbury then as kindly he resorts His famous countrey thus he gloriously reports O noble Kent quoth he this praise doth thee belong The hard'st to be controld impatientest of wrong Who when the Norman first with pride and horrour sway'd Threw'st off the seruile yoke vpon the English lay'd And with a high resolue most brauely didst restore That libertie so long enioy'd by thee before Not suffering forraine Lawes should thy free customes binde Then onely showd'st thy selfe of th' ancient Saxon kinde Of all the English Shires be thou surnamd the free And formost euer plac't when they shall reckoned bee And let this Towne which chiefe of thy rich countrey is Of all the British Sees be still Metropolis Of their throwing off the Norman yoke his learned Illustrator Selden thus speakes To explaine it saith he I thus English you a fragment of an old Monke When the Norman Conquerour had the day hee came to Douer Castle that he might with the same subdue Kent also wherefore Stigand Archbishop and Egelsin Abbot as the chiefe of the Shire obseruing that now whereas heretofore no Villeins the Latine is Nullus fuerat seruus and applying it to our Law phrase I translate it had beene in England they should bee now all in bondage to the Normans they assembled all the County and shewed the eminent dangers the insolence of the Normans and the hard condition of Villenage they resoluing all rather to die then lose their freedome purpose to encounter with the Duke for their countries liberties Their Captaines are the Archbishop and the Abbot Vpon an appointed day they meete all at Swanescombe and harbouring themselues in the woods with Boughs in euery mans hand they incompasse his way The next day the Duke comming by Swanescombe seemed to see with amazement as it were a wood approaching towards him the Kentish men at the sound of a Trumpet take themselues to Armes when presently the Archbishop and Abbot were sent to the Duke and saluted him with these words Behold Sir Duke the Kentish come to meete you willing to receiue you as their Liege Lord vpon that condition that they may for eâ—er enioy their ancient Liberties and Lawes vsed among their Ancestors otherwise presently offering warre being ready rather to die then vndergo a voke of bondage and loose their ancient Lawes The Norman in this narrow pinch not so willingly as wisely granted the desire and hostages giuen on both sides the Kentishmen direct the Normans to Rochester and deliuer them the County and the Castle of Douer Againe for this honour of the Kentish in hauing the foremost place in euery battell he deliuers thus much out of an old Author who writ in Latine about the time of Henry the second Which by him is likewise thus taught to speake English What performance king Cnut did among the Danes and Norwegians by English valour is apparant in that vntill this day the Kentish men for their singular vertue then showne haue prerogatiue alwayes to bee in the Vantgard as Wiltshire Deuonshire and Cornwall in the Rere And further for the prowesse of the Kentish men will it please you reade a peece out of Camden the like in effect as before The same commendation of ciuilitie and curtesie saith he which Caesar in old time gaue the Inhabitants of Kent is yet of right due vnto them that I may not speake of their warlike prowesse whereas a certaine Monke hath written How the Kentishmen so farre excelled that when our armies are ready to ioyne battell they of all Englishmen are worthily placed in the front as being reputed the most valiant and resolute souldiers Which Iohn of Salisbury verifieth also in his Polycraticon For good desert saith he of that notable valour which Kent shewed so puissantly and patiently against the Danes it retaineth still vnto these dayes in all battels the honour of the first and fore-ward yea and of the first conflict with the enemy In praise of whom William of Malmesbury hath likewise written thus The countrey people and Towne-dwellers of Kent aboue all Englishmen retaine still the resent of their ancient worthinesse And as they are more forward and readier to giue honour and entertainment to others so they are more slow to take reuenge vpon others Lambard in his perambulation speaking of the Estate of Kent saith The people of this countrey consisteth chiefly as in other countries also of the Gentrie and the Yeomanrie of which the first be for the most part Gouernors and the other altogether gouerned whose possessions also were at the first distinguished by the names of Knights fee and Gauelkinde that former being proper to the warriour and this latter to the husbandman But these tenures long since haue beene so indifferently mixed and confounded in the hands of each sort that there is not now any note of difference to be gathered by them The reuenues of the Gentrie are greater here then any where else which thing groweth not so much by the quantitie of their possession or by the fertilitie of their soile as by the benefit of the situation of the countrey it selfe Which hath all that good neighbourhood that Marc. Cato and other old Authors in husbandrie require in a well placed Graunge that is to say the Sea the Riuer a populous Citie and a well traded high-way by the commodities whereof the superfluous fruites of the ground be dearely sold and consequently the land may yeeld a greater rent These Gentlemen bee all for the most part acquainted with good letters and especially trained in the knowledge of the Lawes They vse to manure some large portion of their territories as well for the maintenance of their families as also for their better increase in wealth So that they be well employed both in the publique seruice and in their owne particular and do vse hawking hunting and other disports rather for their recreation then for an occupation or pastime The Yeomanrie or common people for so they be called of the Saxon word gemen which signifieth common is no where more free and iolly then in this Shire for besides that they themselues say in a clayme made by them in the time of king Edward the first that the Communaltie of Kent was neuer vanquished by the Conquerour but yeelded it selfe by composition
and lastly put out the Almesmen from their houses appointing them xii d. the weeke to each person The Church of this Hospitall is now a preaching place for the French Nation Saint Martins Outwich Ecclesie Rector huius Iohn Breux tumulatus Artibus doctor vermibus esca datus Prebendam quondam cicestrensem retinebat Quem Petronille lux tulit e medio M. C. quater quinquageno nono sociato Sic predotatus vertitur in cinerem Augustine Fryers This religious house was founded in the well meaning deuotion of former times by Humphrey Bohun the fift of that name Earle of Hereford and Essex 1253. and was afterward reedified by Humphrey Bohun the ninth of that name Earle of Hereford and Essex Lord of Brecknocke and Constable of England who died Anno 1361. and was buried in the Quire of this Church This Frierie dedicated to the honour of Saint Augustine was valued vpon the surrender to King Henry the eight to 57 l. 4 s. per annum Here sometime did lie entombed the body of Richard Fitz-Alan the fourth of that name Earle of Arundell and Surrey who with Thomas Duke of Glocester Thomas Earle of Warwicke Henry Earle of Derby afterwards King of England and others combined and sware each to other against Robert Vere Duke of Ireland and Michael de la Pole Duke of Suffolke for abusing and misleading the King for which and some other causes which Richard the second obiected against them some of them were banished others condemned to perpetuall imprisonment and this Richard beheaded on the Tower hill Septemb. Anno 1397. the constancie of whose carriage at his arraignement passage and execution in all which he did not once discolour the honour of his bloud with any degenerous word looke or action encreased the enuy of his death vpon his prosecutors Here likewise lay sumptuously interred Iohn Vere the xii Earle of Oxford and Aubrey his eldest sonne who with Sir Thomas Tudensa knight who was also here buried and others their Councellors either through malice of their enemies or some offence conceiued by King Edward the fourth were attainted by Act of Parliament anno primo Edward 4 and put to Execution vpon the Tower hill the 26 of February 1461. William Lord Berkeley of Berkeley Castle honoured with the tâ—tâ—es of Viscount and Marquesse Berkely Earle of Nottingham and Earle Marshall of England was here inhumed who died Ann. 1492. This William as I had it from my deceased friend Aug. Vincent by his deed dated the third of Nouember Ann. 6. Hen. 7 gaue one hundreâ— pounds to the Prior of this house for two Masses to be said presently and for euer at the Altar of our Lady and Saint Iames. Betweene which Altars the body of his wife Ioan who liued but a few dayes with him and is not at all mentioned in the Catalogues of Honour was buried who was the widow of Sir William Willoughbie before the marriage with the Marquesse And to pray for the prosperous estate of the said Marquesse and of Anne his then wife and of Edward Willoughby Richard Willoughby Anne Beauchampe and Elisabeth Willoughbie with all the issue of the said William and Ioane and especially for the soules health of the said Ioane and of Katherine her mother Duchesse of Norfolke Here sometime lay sumptuously entombed the body of Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham who by the sleights and practises of Cardinall Wolsey fell into displeasure with king Henry the eight and being condemned of high Treason for that among other matters hee had consulted with a Monke or wizard about succession of the Crowne was beheaded on the Tower hill May the 17. 1521. He was a noble Gentleman exceedingly much lamented of good men Of whose death when the Emperour Charles the fifth heard he said that a Butchers dogge meaning the Cardinall a Butchers sonne had deuoured the fairest Buck alluding to the name of Buckingham in all England Here was interred the bodie of Edward the eldest sonne of Edward the blacke Prince by Ioan his wife surnamed the faire Maide of Kent who was borne at Angolesme Ann. 1375. and died at 7. yeares of age Many of the Barons slaine at Barnet-field vpon Easterday 1471. were buried here in the bodie of the Church but now their bodies with these before remembred and the bodies of an hundred more mentioned by Stow of exemplarie note and knights degree are not onely despoiled of all outward funerall ornaments but digged vp out of their Requietories and dwelling houses raised in the place which was appointed for their eternall rest Some part of this Church is at this day yet standing but in that no monument of this kinde is remaining for it is conuerted into a Church for the Duch-Inhabitants of this Citie who in that kinde can hardly brooke any reuerend Antiquitie Saint Botolphs Bishopsgate Hic iacet Cardina vxor Richardi Shoder militis Iohanna filia eorundem ...... 14. April 1471. Sub hoc marmore iacet corpus Iohannis Redman quondam huius Ecclesie Rectoris benemerentissimi qui ab hac luce migrauit tertio die Iulij Ann. Dom. 1523. Neare to this gate if wee giue credit to our owne ancient Chronicles Nennius the sonne of Hely and brother of Lud and Cassibelane kings ouer the warlike Britaines was interred A man of a magnanimous spirit heroicall and valiant Who in the warres betweene Iulius Cesar and the Britaines sought couragiously in defence of his countrey causing Cesar to flie backe with the losse of his sword which Nennius tooke from him in single encounter and with which he slew Labienus Tribune of the Romane Nobilitie But the fifteenth day after this single opposition hee died of a wound receiued at the hands of Cesar in the same conflict the yeare of the worlds creation 3913. before the birth of our alone Sauiour 51. And here as I haue said was entombed with all funerall state and solemnitie and with him the sword which he tooke from Cesar the Emperour as he himselfe commanded Which sword was called Reddeath or rather Readie-death wherewith if any one had beene neuer so little wounded he could neuer escape with life Which you shall haue in such old verse as came to my hands At the north yate of London hii buriede this gud knyght And buriede in hys chest the swerd that was so bryght That he wan of the Emperor wythe grete honor enough That Reddedeth was ycluped whar with he hym slough I buriede wyth hym hit was as in tokneyinge Of hys Proesse that he hit wan of on so heigh a kyng I haue some other of the same subiect but of later times if you will reade them But Neminus brother of Cassybalayne Full manly fought on Iulius tymes twayne With strokes sore ayther on other bette But at the last this Prince syr Iulius Crosea mors his swerde in shelde sette Of the manly worthy Sir Neminus Whiche of manly
endowed the Colledge of these Feciales or Heralds with the seuenth part of this his sacred constitution Their Colledge at Rome was composed of twenty Heraulds chosen out of ancient and eminent families the chiefe whereof for excellence was called Pater Patratus because by being chiefe of that companie he ought to haue children and his owne Father yet liuing Their chiefe office was To take care that the Romanes did not commence and make vniust warre against any confederate Citie and that if any such a city had committed any thing against the conditions of the confederacie truce and entercourse then they were to go as Embassadours first to challenge their right in milde words which if denyed then to proclaime warre Neque iustum aliquod bellum fore censebatur nisi id per Feciales esset indictum Neither was any warre thought to be iust and lawfull but that which was denounced by these Feciales or Heralds In France saith Andrew Favine Heralds haue euer beene in high esteeme and not onely the King of Armes Mont-ioy S. Denis but also the other Heralds and Pursuiuants were of noble extraction and Mont-ioy could not be admitted without making proofe of his Noblenesse by three races as well of his Fathers stocke as by his mothers side There was two thousand pounds of rents in Lands and free tenure allowed for the said Mont-ioy particularly and a thousand pounds of annuall pension besides other rights As for the other Heralds they haue a thousand pounds in pension with other rights and priuiledges Now for such rights and priuiledges as were granted to kings of Armes and Heralds some doe ascribe them to the King and Emperour Charlemaigne others to Alexander the Great of Macedon and others to the Emperour of Germany Charles king of Bohemia fourth of that name nourished from his youth in the Court of the Father of Cheualrie Philip de Valoys king of France sixth and last of that name as here followeth the tenure in these words The Priuiledges granted to Kings and Heralds of Armes translated out of the French in the Theater of Honour My Souldiers you are and shall bee called Heralds Companions for kings and Iudges of crimes committed by Noblemen and arbitratours of their quarrels and differences You must liue hereafter exempted from going any more to warre or militarie factions Councell kings for the best the benefit of the weale publique and for their Honour and Royall dignitie Correct all matters vile and dishonest fauour widowes succour orphanes and defend them from all violence Assist with your counsell such Princes and Lords in whose Courts you shall abide and freely and without feare demand of them whatsoeuer is needfull for you as food rayment and defrayings If any one of them shall deny you let him bee infamous without glory or honour and reputed as criminall of high treason In like manner also haue you an especiall care to keepe your selues from vilifying your noble exercise and the Honour wherewith you ought to come neare vs at all times See there be no entrance into Princes Courts either of drunkennesse ill speaking flattery babling indiscreetly ianglery buffonnerie and such other vices which soyle and shame the reputation of men Giue good example euery where maintaine equitie and repaire the wrongs done by great men to their inferiours Remember what priuiledges we haue granted you in recompence of the painfull trauells in warre which you endured with vs. And let not the Honours which we haue bestowed on you bee conuerted to blame and infamie by dishonest liuing the punishment whereof we reserue to our selfe and to the Kings of France our Successours Seuen Danish Kings besides some of Norway and Sweden haue had for their proper appellation the name of Herald or Harold which is all one with Heralt saith Verstegan So honourable was it accounted of in old time that so many Kings thereby were called in regard as it appeareth that themselues might be honoured and respected as the most couragious of the armie Heralds saith Stow out of an old History written aboue sixe hundred yeares since which he found in the Reuestrie or Treasurie of Saint Pauls Church be they which our Elders were wont to call Heroes that is to say those which were greater or surpassing all men in Maiestie and yet inferiour to the Gods For whom the people of antiquitie did perceiue to be notable and surmounting all others in his acts and feates renowned in vertues and friendly or gracious vnto them him would they magnifie and exalt in the highest degree and as it were with their good words make him cosin to Iove the omnipotent Placing such amongst the Gods if it so were that they had wrought some miraculous feate aboue the common course of Nature But if there were no such miraculous or wonderfull deeds but that through their vertues they seemed wonderfull and honourable then thought they to call such persons not altogether Gods nor yet simplie men but inuented out a meane word and name for them calling them Heroes as it were halfe-gods and of this word Heroes or Heros groweth by corruption of vse this name Herald In the same place he proues that Heralds here in England were as ancient as the dayes of Brute who flourished aboue eleuen hundred yeares before the birth of Christ who bare saith hee Gules two Lions rampant endorsed Or according to this peece out of Hardings Chronicle He bare of Goulis twoo liones of golde Countre Rampant with golde only crouned Which kings of Troy in bataill barefull bold Neither can it be iustly said for all this that Heralds were not knowne nor in request in this kingdome but since the time of Brute For euen from the instant that the descendants of Adam were distinguished into Nobles and Yeomen there haue beene combats battells and encounters and consequently Heralds deriued from the body of Nobilitie Now at the length let me turne backe to the foresaid defunct Sir Iohn Wriothesley to whom and to the rest of the Kings Heralds and Pursuiuants of Armes king Richard the third in the first yeare of his raigne granted and gaue by his letters Patents all that messuage with the appurtenances called Cold-Harber in the Parish of All Saints the little in London freeing them à Subsidijs theolonijs omnibus Reipub. muneribus Dated at Westminster the second of March without fine or fee. How the said Heralds departed therewith saith Stow I haue not read but in the raigne of Henry the eight the Bishop of Durhams house neare Charing Crosse being taken into the Kings hand Cuthbert Tunstall Bishop of Durham was lodged in this Cold-Harber But in my iudgement I still digresse or at leastwise driue off my Reader ouer long from the knowledge of the time of this mans death which I cannot set downe neither certainly yet I gather by circumstances that it should be about the latter end of the raigne of king Hen. the seuenth Here lyeth buried by her
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
to three such potent Princes Ensigne or Penon-bearer to one and Master of the Horse to Ioane the second wife of King Henry the fourth giues me occasion to speake somewhat in particular of these his honours and offices And first in generall of the signification and Etymology of the name of Esquire Next in degree after knights saith Camden in his treatise of Degrees of States in England are Esquires termed in Latine Armigeri that is Costrels or Bearers of Armes the same that Scutiferi that is Shield-bearers and Homines ad arma Men at Armes the Gothes called them Schilpor all of carrying the Shield as in old time among the Romanes such as were named Scularij who tooke that name either of the Escutcheons of Armes which they bare as Ensignes of their descent or because they were Armour-bearers to Princes or to the better sort of Nobilitie Ranulph Earle of Chester giues Viello Armigero suo tenementum in Bruhello to Viell his Esquire a Tenement in Bruhell And so Archbishops Bishops Barons knights huiusmodi Magnates and such sort of Peeres of the kingdome had their Esquiers In times past euery knight had two of these waiting vpon him they carried his Morion and Shield as inseparable companions they stucke close vnto him because of the said knight their Lord they held certaine Lands in Escuage like as the knight himselfe of the king by Knights seruice The old Gaulish knights saith Selden sate at their round table attended by their Esquires The Germans called an Esquire Schild-knapa or Shield-knaue or knaue a denotation of no ill qualitie in those dayes For here note by the way that Iohannes de Temporibus Iohn of the Times so called for the sundrie times or ages he liued was Shield-knaue vnto the Emperour Charles the Great Of whom he also was made knight as Verstegan affirmes in his Treatise of Honor and Offices The Interpreter out of Hotoman saith that these which the French men call Escuiers wee Esquiers were a militarie kind of vassall hauing ius Scuti which is as much to say as that they bare a Shield and in it the Ensignes of their Familie in token of their gentility or dignitie But these Esquires of whom I haue already spoken be now no more in any request fiue distinct sorts are onely remaining of these at this day The principall Esquires are accounted those that are select Esquires for the Princes bodie and such a one was Perient here interred Inter Armigeros qui fâ—unt non nascuntur Primarij habentur quatuor illi Armigeri ad corpus Regis Amongst Esquires which are made so by their offices not so borne those foure Esquires to the kings bodie are chiefe and princiall saith Sir H. Spelman The next vnto them be knights eldest sonnes and such an Esquire was the knights sonne in Chaucer who attended his father on pilgrimage to Thomas Beckets Shrine as doth appeare by their characters in the Prologues to the Canterbury tales Of which so much as tends to this purpose A Knyght ther was and that a worthy man That fro the tyme that he first began To riden out he loued cheualrie Trouth honour freedome and courtesie he was late come fro his voyage And went for to done his pilgrimage With him there was his son a yong squire A louer and a lusty Bachelere With his locks crull as they were laid in presse Of twenty yere of age he was as I gesse Curteys he was lowly and servisable And kerste before his Fader at the table In a third place are reputed younger sonnes of the eldest sonnes of Barons and of other Nobles in higher estate and when such heires males faile together with them also the title faileth In a fourth ranke are reckoned those vnto whom the King himselfe together with a title giueth Armes or createth Esquires by putting about their necke a siluer collar of S S and in former times vpon their heeles a paire of white spurres siluered whereupon at this day in the West parts of the kingdome they be called White-spurres for distinction from knights who are wont to weare gilt spurres and to the first-begotten sonnes onely of these doth the title belong In the fifth and last place be those ranged and taken for Esquires whosoeuer haue any superiour publicke Office in the common weale or serue the Prince in any worshipfull calling But this name of Esquire which in ancient time was a name of charge and office onely crept first among other titles of dignitie and worship so farre as I could euer obserue saith Camden in the raigne of Richard the second In ancient deeds we finde little mention made of gentlemen or Esquires but since the time of Henry the fourth these additions to names haue beene vsually inserted in writings by reason of the Statute of the first of Henry the fifth cap. 5. that in all cases wherein Processe of Outlary lieth additions shall be made of the estate degree or Misterie of which the parties sued are This Perient is here stiled also Penerarius Ric. secundi because as I coniecture he had the carriage of the Kings Penon Which word signifieth a Banner or Ensigne carried in warre or a little Streamer worne on the top of a lawnce by a Horseman A word borrowed from France for Penon in French signifieth the same thing Master of the Horse which office this deceased Gentleman enioyed vnder the Queene as aforesaid is he that hath the rule and charge of the Kings or Queenes stable being an office of high account Hitching Here lyeth Willyam Polter Gentylman who dyed the xx day of May in the fyfth yere of kyng Henry the eygth Here adioyning to the Towne was a Priory of white Friers Carmelites founded by king Edward the second Iohn Blomvill Adam Rouse and Iohn Cobham and dedicated to the Honour of our alone Saviour and the blessed Virgine valued in the Kings books vpon the surrender thereof which was vpon the ninth of May Ann. 26. Hen. 8. but at 4. l. 9. s. 4. d. Kinesburne or Kinesbourgh Here lyeth the carkasse of an old Castle interred in her owne ruines which in former times gaue entertainment to certaine obnoxious persons which called themselues the kings loyall good Subiects and the chiefe preseruers of his peace throughout all the adiacent countries as it is in the golden Register of S. Albans as followeth Stephanus Rex ad petitionem Abbatis Roberti ob honorem Albani Martyr is permisit dirui castrum de Kynesbury vbi antiquis temporibus latebant quidam Regales nequam homines Abbathie nimis infesti damnosi dicentes se Regis esse fideles et custodes pacis patrie cum potius pacem patriam perturbarent King Stephen at the request of Robert Abbot of Saint Albans and for the honour he bore to the holy Martyr S. Alban gaue commission for the pulling downe of the Castle of Kinesbury wherein in ancient times certaine
imperious wicked persons wondrous much offensiue and malicious to the Abbey tooke vp their priuie lodgings saying that they were the Kings faithfull seruants and keepers of the peace of the countrie when as to the contrary they rather ouerthrew and disquieted all peaceable gouernment and the whole countrey Here end the Monuments in the Countie of Hartford Essex West Ham. QVeene Mawd wife to king Henry the first passing ouer the riuer of Ley at Ouldford hardly escaped danger of drowning after which shee gaue order that a little beneath at Stretford there should be a bridge made ouer the water going ouer which towards West Ham I saw the remaines of a Monasterie pleasantly watered about with seuerall streames which William Montfichet a Lord of great name of the Norman race built in the yeare of our Lord 1140. The reuenues of this house were much augmented and confirmed by king Richard the second in the tenth yeare of his raigne as by his charter amongst the Records in the Tower appeareth Dedicated it was to the honour of Christ and Mary his blessed mother replenished with blacke Monkes And valued at the suppression to be worth 573. l. 15. s. 6 d. ob q. Diuers other beside the founder endowed this religious Structure Some of whose donations I finde to be confirmed by the said William Montfichet in this manner Willelmus de Montefixo omnibus prepositis ministris hominibus suis tam Francis quam Anglis Salutem Sciatis quod ego concedo et confirmo donationem quam fecerunt Ecclesie Sancte Marie de Ham Matheus Geron de tota terra sua de Cambridg cum pertinenciis absque omni servicio Geraldus de Hamma de vno prato per concessum Martini filia sui aliorum siliorum suorum Donationem etiam quam fecit ergo Capellanus meus â—ecime Dominii mei c. Quod si quis hominum meorum Elemosinam de terra facere voluerit quod de feodo meo sit non concedo vt alibi det nisi ad Abbatiam meam de Ham. Et insuper si quis hominum meorum quicquam beneficii deinceps eidem Ecclesie facere voluerit in terra prato vel quacanque re libere donet hec omnia que et ego concedo confirmo Abbatic Monachis de Ham â—â—perpetuum Precor igitur omnes homines meos vt islam meam Elemosinam manuteneant et conseruant Hiis testibus Margareta vxore mea Richardo de Poylei Humfrido filio Eustachii Willelmo filio Richardi Willelmo de Byron The Seale of this deed is in blouddy waxe The Baronie or habitation of this familie de Monte Fixo or Montfichet was Stansted in this County from whom the Towne is called Stansted Montfichet to this day They were reputed men of very great Nobilitie vntill that their ample inheritance was diuided among three Sisters One of which progenie namely Richard was in the raignes of king Iohn and Henry the third famous for his high prowesse and chiualrie Three the most forcible and valiant knights of England saith Stow in those dayes were Robert Fitz-water Robert Fitz Roger and Rich. Mont-Fichet Here lieth Iohn Hamerton Esquvr Sergeant at Armes to kyng Henry the eyght and of Edith his wife and Richard Hamerton his brother of the Parysh of Fedston in the County of Yorke Which Iohn and Richard fell both sicke in an houre and died both in one houre Ann. Dom. M. ccccc.xii on whose Sowles Iesu haue mercy Amen Hic iacet Henricus Ketleby quondam Serviens illustrissimi Principis Henrici filii metuendissimi Regis Hen. septimi qui obiit 8. die Augusti 1508. Hic sub pede iacet Margareta quondam vxor Iohannis Ketleby de Com. Wigorn. Armig. que obiit 10. die Iunii .... Of your cheritie prey for the sowles of Io. Eglesfeeld who died 13. of August 1504. and for the sowl of Edith his wyf Who died 22. of Iune 1533. Of your cherite prey for the soul of Walter Froste of West Ham Esquyr and Sewar to kyng Harry the eyght and of Anne his wyff doughter of ..... and widow of Richard Caly Merchant of the Staple of Calis Which Anne died the xxiii of October 1527. For the word Sewar saith Minshew I haue heard of an old French book containing the Officers of the king of Englands Court as it was anciently gouerned that he whom in Court we now call Sewar was called Asseour which commeth from the French Asseoir to set setle or place wherein his Office in setting downe the meate is well expressed Or Sewar saith he is deriued perhaps from the French word Esquire id est a Squire because he goeth before the meat as a Squire or Gentleman Vsher. The Fees allowed to this Officer in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth as I haue it out of a generall collection of all the Offices of England in her dayes was thirtie and three pounds thirteene shillings foure pence Orate pro anima Valentini Clerke Elisabethe vxoris eius qui quidem Valentinus obiit 6. die Iunii 1533. et dicta Elisabetha .... Waltham Stow. Here lyeth Sir Georg Monox knight somtym Lord Maior of London and Dame Ann his wyfe whych Sir Georg dyed ..... 1543. and Dame Ann 1500. This Lord Maior reedified the decayed Steeple of this Church and added thereunto the side Isle with the Chappell wherein he lieth entombed He founded here a faire Almeshouse in the Churchyard for an Almesse Priest and thirteene poore Almesse people which he endowed with competent reuenues He also made a cawsey of timber for foot Trauellers ouer the marshes from this Towne to Lock-bridge Ilford Hic iacet Thomas Heron filius heres Iohannis Heron militis Thesaurar Camere Domini Regis qui obiit in Alderbroke 18. Martii 1517. et Ann. Reg. Regis Henrici 8. nono The valiant Familie of the Herons or Heiruns in foregoing ages were the warlike possessors of very large reuenues in the County of Northumberland parcels of whose Baronie was Chipches Tower Swinborne and Foard Castles belonging now to the houses of the Woderingtons and Carrs Raynam Hic iacet Richardus Pasmer generosus quondam Scriba communis Thesauri pro Magistro et conventu Rhodi in Prioratu Sancti Iohannis Ierusalem in Anglia nec non Seneschallus Hospitii Sancti Iohannis tempore reuerendi Patris fratris Willelmi Tournay Prioris ac etiam Superuisoris omnium Maneriorum terrarum et tenementorum infra regnum Anglie ad Priorem dicti Prioratus pertinentium tempore presati Prioris ac tempore reuerendorum Patrum fratrum Io. Longstrother Io. Weston Io. Kendall .... obiit vii die Octob. Ann. Dom. M. ccccc Barking Here lyeth Rychard Cheyney and Ioane his wyf Whych Rychard dyed 1514. on whos ... Iohn Scot and Ioane his wyf ... 1519. Vnder the picture of a Ship sailing in the haven this Inscription Desiderata porta Inveni Portum spes et