Nottingham Yorke and Northumberland where without respect of age or sexe they laid all wast and left the Land whence they departed like to a desolate wildernesse From thence they came with the like furie into Edmunds territories and sacked Thetford a frequent citie in those daies but hee not able to withstand their violence fled into â—his Castle at Framingham wherein he was of them besieged and lastly taken in a village then called Heglisdune of a wood bearing the same name or rather yeelded himselfe to their torments to saue more christian bloud for it is recorded that because of his most constant Faith and profession those Pagans first beat him with bats then scourged him with whips he still calling vpon the name of Iesus for rage whereof they bound to a stake and with their arrowes shot him to death and cutting off his head contemptuously threw it into a bush after he had raigned ouer the East Angles the space of sixteene yeares Camden out of Abbo Floriacensis saith that the bloudy Danes hauing bound this most christian King to a tree for that he would not renounce christianity shot him with sharpe arrowes all his body ouer augmenting the paines of his torment with continuall piercing him with arrow after arrow and thus inflicted wound vpon wound so long as one arrow could stand by another as a Poet of midle time versified of him I am loca vulneribus desunt nec dum furiofis Tela sed hyberna grandine plura volant Though now no place was left for wound yet arrowes did not faile These surious wretches still they flie thicker then winter haile His body and head after the Danes were departed were buried at the same royall Towne as Abbo termes it where Sigebert the East Anglean King and one of his predecessors at his establishing of Christianity built a Church and where afterwards in honour of him was built another most spatious and of a wonderfull frame of Timber and the name of the Towne vpon that occasion of his buriall called vnto this day Saint Edmundsbury This Church and place to speake more fully to that which I haue written before Suenus the Pagan Danish King in impiety and fury burned to ashes But when his sonne Canute or Knute had made conquest of this Land and gotten possession of the English Crowne terrified and afrighted as saith the Legend with a vision of the seeming Saint Edmund in a religious deuotion to expiate his Fathers sacriledge built it anew most sumptuously enriched this place with Charters and Gifts and offered his owne Crowne vpon the Martyrs Tombe of whom for a conclusion take these verses following Vtque cruore suo Gallos Dionisius ornat Grecos Demetrius gloria quisque suiâ— Sic nos Edmundus nulli virtute secundus Lux patet patrie gloria magna sue Sceptra manum Diadema capud sua purpura corpus Ornat ei sed plus vincula mucro cruor The 20. day of Nouember in our Calender was kept holy in remembrance of this King and Martyr Puer Robertus apud Sanctum Edmundum a Iudeis fuit Martirazatus 4. Id. Iunij An. 1179. et illic sepultus Alanus Comes Britannie obijt An. 1093. his iacet ad hostium australe Sancti Edmundi ex eod lib. de chateris This Allan here buried or as some will haue it in the monastery of Rhedon sirnamed the Red or Fergaunt was the sonne of Eudo Earle of Britaine and entred England with William the Conquerour his Father in Law To whom the said Conquerour gaue the honour and County of Edwyn within the County and Prouince of Yorke by his Charter in these words I William sirnamed Bastard King of England giue and grant to thee my Nephew Allan Earle of Britaine and to thy heyres for euer all those Villages Townes and Lands which were late in possession of Earle Edwin in Yorkeshire with knights fees Churches and other liberties and customes as freely and honourably as the said Edwyn held them Giuen at the siege before Yorke Alban being a man of an high spirit and desirous to gouerne the Prouince entirely which he had receiued built a strong Castle by Gillingham a village which he possessed by which he might defend himselfe not onely against the English who were spoiled of their goods and lands but also against the fury and inuasions of the Danes When the worke was finished he gaue it the name of Richmond of purpose either for the greatnesse and magnificence of the place or for some Castle in little Britaine of the same name Here sometimes vnder a goodly Monument in the Quire of this Abbey Church lay interred the body of Thomas surnamed of Brotherton the place of his birth the fifth sonne of Edward the first after the Conquest king of England by Margaret his second wife the eldest daughter of Philip king of France surnamed the Hardy He was created Earle of Norfolke and made Earle Marshall of England by his halfe brother King Edward the second which Earledomes Roger Bigod the last of that surname Earle of Norfolke and Earle Marshall leauing no issue left to the disposition of the king his Father This Earle died in the yeare of our redemption 1338. Here lay buried the body of Thomas Beauford sonne of Iohn of Gaunt begotten of the Lady Katherine Swyneford his third wife who by King Henry the fourth was made Admirall then Captaine of Calis and afterwards Lord Chancellour of England He was created by the said King Earle of Perch in Normandy and Earle of Dorlet in England And lastly in the fourth yeare of King Henry the fifth he was created Duke of Exceter and made knight of the order of the Garter He had the leading of the Rereward at the battell of Agincourt and the gouernment of king Henry the sixth appointed to that office by the foresaid Henry the fifth on his death-bed He valiantly defended Harflew in Normandy whereof he was gouernour against the Frenchmen and in a pitched field encountring the Earle of Armiguar put him to flight He died at his House of East Greenwich in Kent vpon Newyeares day the fifth of Henry the sixth for whom all England mourned saith Milles The body of Mary Queene of France widow of Lewis the twelfth daughâ—er of King Henry the 7. and sister to king Henry the eight was here in this Abbey Church entombed After the death of Lewis with whom she liued not long shee married that Martiall and pompous Gentleman Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke She died on Midsomer Eeue 1533. Iohn Boon Abbot of this Monasterie had his tombe and interrement here in this Church who died in the beginning of February in the ninth yeare of the raigne of king Edward the fourth as appeares by the said kings Conged'eslire or permission royall to the Prior and Couent of this House to make choise of another Abbot as followeth Edwardus Dei gratia Rex Anglie Francie
Epitaph is engrauen Abbas Richardus de Wara qui requiescit Hic portat lapides quos hic portauit ab vrbe After the death of Richard de Ware Walter Wenlocke was chosen Abbot and preferred to the honour of Lord Treasurer by King Edward the first Hee was Abbot sixe and twenty yeares lacking sixe dayes died vpon Christmas day at night in the yeare 1307. And lieth buried vnder a marble stone whereupon this Epitaph to his high commendation is inlayed in brasse Abbas Walterus iacet hic sub marmore tectus Non fuit austerus sed mitis famine rectus Here lieth Richard de Barking Abbot of this Monastery who was an especiall Councellour to King Henry the third chiefe Baron of the Exchequer and Treasurer of England Who hauing beene Abbot 24. yeares died the 23. day of Nouember 1246. He was first buried in our Ladies Chappell in a Tombe of marble which was pulled downe by Frier Combe a Sacrist of this house Who layed a faire plaine marble stone ouer him with this Epitaph thus inscribed Richardus Barking Prior est post inclytus Abbas Henrici Regis prudens fuit ille minister Huius erat prima laus Insula rebus opima Altera laus eque Thorp census ocham decimeque Tertia Mortone castrum simili ratione Et Regis quarta de multis commoda charta Clementis festo mundo migrauit ab isto M. Domini C. bis xl sextoque sub anno Cui detur venia parte pia virgo Maria. Here in the Cloister vnder a flat stone of blacke marble lie the remaines of Gervais de Bloys so called of the place or Earledome which his father possest in France who was Stephen Earle of Bloys and Champaigne afterwards king of England He was his base sonne begotten of one Dameta a gentlewoman of Normandy He was brought into England by his father the fifth yeare of his raigne and in the same yeare made Abbot of this place In which gouernment he continued for the space of twenty yeares He deceased the 26. of August 1160. His Epitaph De Regem genere Pater hic Gervasius ecce Monstrat de functus mors rapit omne genus Euen father Gervase borne of kings race Loe is dead thus death all sorts doth deface Here lieth the body of Nicholas Litlington Abbot of this house who in the time of his gouernement which was for the space of 〈◊〉 yeares built the Abbots hall and the faire roome now called Ierusalem the West and South part of the Cloister and a Granary now the Schollers long Bed-chamber with the Tower adioyning as also the Water-Mill and many other Edefices He died Anno 1386. I found his Epitaph in a namelesse Manuscript in that neuer enough admired Librarie of Sir Robert Cotton Hacce Domo Ductor Nicholaus erat quoque structor Et sibi tunc sedem celo construxit edem M. semel C ter erat annus sex octuagenus Cum perit iste Abbas diuino flamine plenus Quinta dies fit ei requies in fine Nouembris Detur ei pietate Dei merces requici Amen Here lieth in the Cloister one Vitalis Abbot of this Couent preferred thereunto by William the Conquerour in the 16. of whose raigne 1082. he died vpon whose Tombe this Epitaph was engrauen alluding to his name like as for Laurence his successor Qui nomen traxit a vita morte vocante Abbas Vitalis transijt hicque iacet Here lieth the body of one Lawrence Abbot of this Monastery who obtained of Alexander the third that ambitious Bishop of Rome to himselfe and his successors the vse of the Miter the Ring and the Gloues the Pastorall Staffe before his time being their onely comportment as by the differing portraitures of the Abbots vpon their Tombestones may be easily discerned He died Anno 1176. to whose memory this allusiue Epitaph was made Clauditur hoc tumulo vir quondam clarus in orbe Quo preclarus erat hic locus est et erit Pro meritis vite dedit illi laurea nomen Detur ei vite laurea pro meritis Here lieth Gislebert Crispine Abbot who flourished in the raigne of King Henry the first and died in the yeare of our redemption 1114. His picture is vpon the graue stone inlaid with brasse with his Pastoral staffe onely without Miter Ring or other ornament with these verses Hic Pater insignis genus altum virgo senex que Gisleberte iaces lux via duxque tuis Mitis eras iustus prudens fortis moderatus Doctus quadriuio nec minus in triuio Sic tamen ornatus nece sexta luce Decembris Spiramen celo reddis ossa solo Here lieth interred the body of Edmund Kirton Abbot of this Monastery Doctor of Diuinity and a profound learned man he adorned Saint Andrewes Chappell wherein he lieth buried with the armes of many of the English Nobility These verses are inscribed vpon his monument Pastor pacisicus subiectis vir moderatus Hac sub marmorea Petra requiescit humatus Edmundus Kirton hic quondam qui fuit Abbas Bis denis annis cum binis connumerandus Sacre Scripture doctor probus immoprobatus Illustri stirpe de Cobildic generatus Coram Martino papa proposuit iste Ob quod multiplices laudes habuit honores Qui obijt tertio die mensis Octobris An. Dom. M. cccc.lx.vi Eleison Kyry curando morbida mundi Iohn Islip Abbot of Westminster a man of great authoritie and speciall trust with King Henry the seuenth lieth here interred He built the Deanes house as now it is and repaired many other places in this Monasterie in the windowes whereof saith Camden he had a quadruple deuice for his single name for somewhere he set vp an eye with a slip of a tree in another place one slipping boughes in a tree in other places an I with the said slip and in some places one slipping from a tree with the word Islip I cannot learne the time of his death by his Tombe yet I finde in a Manuscript wherein are diuers funerall collections and other Inscriptions of this Abbey which were gathered about the time of the dissolution that he died the second of Ianuary in the yeare 1510. the second of Henry the eight and also that in the Chappell of Saint Erasmus where he lieth buried vpon the wall ouer his Tombe was the picture of our Sauiour Christ hanging on the Crosse seeming to call and to giue good councell vnto mankind in these rimes Aspice serue Dei sic me posuere Iudei Aspice deuote quoniam sic pendeo pro te Aspice mortalis pro te datur Hostia talis Introitum vite reddo tibi redde mihi te In cruce sum prote qui peccas desine pro me Desine do veniam dic culpam corrige vitam Vnder this Crucifixe was the picture of the Abbot holding vp his hands and praying thus in old Poetrie En cruce qui pendis Islip miserere Iohannis
not die Wholly nor shall my best part buried lie Within my Graue And Martial lib. 10. Ep. 2. thus speakes of bookes and writings Reader my wealth whom when to me Rome gaue Nought greater to bestow quoth she I haue By him ingratefull Lethe thou shalt flie And in thy better part shalt neuer die Wilde fig-trees rend Messalla's marbles off Chrispus halfe horses the bold Carters scoffe Writings no age can wrong nor theeuing hand Deathlesse alone those monuments will stand My books are read in euery place And when Licinius and Messalla's high Rich marble Towers in ruin'd dust shall lie I shall be read and strangers euerie where Shall to their farthest homes my verses beare And in another Ep. thus much of his bookes 'T is not the Citie onely doth approue My muse or idle eares my verses loue The rough Centurion where cold frosts orespread The Scythian fields in warre my books are read My lines are sung in Britaine farre remote And yet my emptie purse perceiues it not What deathlesse numbers from my penne would flow What warres would my Pierian Trumpet blow If as Augustus now againe doth liue So Rome to me would a Mecaenas giue In like manner Ouid giues an endlesse date to himselfe and to his Metamorphosis in these words Iamque opus exegi c. And now the worke is ended which Ioues rage Nor Fire nor Sword shall raze nor eating Age Come when it will my Death 's vncertaine houre Which onely of my bodie hath a power Yet shall my better part transcend the skie And my immortall name shall neuer die For where-soere the Romane Eagles spread Their conquering wings I shall of all be read And if wee Prophets truly can diuine I in my liuing Fame shall euer shine S. Ierom in like manner in one of his Epistles writeth of the perpetuity of a funerall Elegie which he made himselfe to the deare memorie of his beloued Fabiola who was buried in the citie of Bethlem not because the said Elegie was cut or engrauen upon her Sepulchre but for that he had written it down in one of his volumes according to these his own words following Exegi monimentum tuum aere perennius quod nulla destruere possit vetustas incîdi Eulogium Sepulchro tuo quod huic volumini subdidi vt quocunque noster Sermo peruenerit te laudatam te in Bethlem conditaÌ„ Lector agnoscat Varus Tribune of Rome hath beene and will be longer remembred by Martials Epigram lib. 10. ep 26. then euer hee could haue beene by any funerall monument which is lately made thus to speake English Varus which as Romes Tribune didst command An hundred men renown'd in Aegypt land Now as a stranger Ghost thou dost remaine On Nilus shore promisd to Rome in vaine We could not dew with teares thy dying face Nor thy said funerall flames with odours grace Yet in my verse eterniz'd shalt thou bee Of that false Egypt cannot cousen thee Thus Lucan lib. 9. of his owne verse and Caesars victorie at Pharsalia O great and sacred worke of poesy Thou freest from fate and giu'st eternity To mortall wights but Caesar enuy not Their liuing names if Romane Muses ought May promise thee whilest Homer's honoured By future times shalt thou and I bee read No age shall vs with darke oblivion staine But our Pharsalia euer shall remaine Bookes then and the Muses workes are of all monuments the most permanent for of all things else there is a vicissitude a change both of cities and nations as we may thus reade in Ouids Metamorphosis lib. 15. For this wee see in all is generall Some nations gather strength and others fall Troy rich and powerfull which so proudly stood That could for ten yeares spend such streames of bloud For buildings onely her old ruines showes For riches Tombes which slaughtered fires inclose Sparta Mycenae were of Greece the flowers So Cecrops citie and Amphions Towres Now glorious Sparta lies vpon the ground Lofty Mycenae hardly to be found Of Oedipus his Thebes what now remaines Or of Pandions Athens but their names Thebes Babell Rome these proud heauen daring wonders Loe vnder ground in dust and ashes lie For earthly kingdomes euen as men doe die Bellay in his ruines of Rome translated by Spenser makes this demonstration or shew of that citie to the strange countrey man or traueller Thou stranger which for Rome in Rome here seekest And nought of Rome in Rome perceiu'st at all These same old walls old arches which thou seest Old palaces is that which Rome men call Behold what wreake what ruine and what wa st And how that she which with her mighty power Tam'd all the world hath tam'd her selfe at last The prey of Time which all things doth deuoure Rome now of Rome is the onely funerall And onely Rome of Rome hath victorie Ne ought saue Tyber hastning to his fall Remaines of all O worlds inconstancie That which is firme doth flit and fall away And that is flitting doth abide and stay It is a vanitie for a man to thinke to perpetuate his name and memory by strange and costly great Edifices for Not sumptuous Pyramids to skies vpreard Nor Elean Ioues proud Fane which heauen compeerd Nor the rich fortune of Mausoleus Tombe Are priuiledg'd from deaths extreamest doome Or fire or stormes their glories do abate Or by age shaken fall with their owne waight We haue many examples here in England of the small continuance as I may so call it of magnificent strong buildings by the sudden fall of our religious houses of which a late namelesse versifier hath thus written What sacred structures did our Elders build Wherein Religion gorgeously sat deckt Now all throwne downe Religion exild Made Brothell-houses had in base respect Or ruind so that to the viewers eye In their owne ruines they intombed lie The marble vrnes of their so zealous Founders Are digged up and turn'd to sordid vses Their bodies are quite cast out of their bounders Lie vnâ—interr'd O greater what abuse is Yet in this later age we now liue in This barbarous act is neither shame nor sinne Of walls towres castles crosses forts rampiers townes cities and such like monuments here in great Britaine which by age warres or the malignitie of the times are defaced ruined or utterly subuerted you may reade in learned Camden onely thus much out of famous Spenser personating the Genius of Verlame or Verulam sometimes a citie neare to S. Albons I was that Citie which the garland wore Of Britaines pride deliuered vnto me By Romane victors which it wonne of yore Though nought at all but ruines now I bee And lie in mine owne ashes as ye see Verlame I was what bootes it that I was Sith now I am but weeds and wastfull grasse Another English muse now liuing vnder the name of Watling one of the foure imperiall high wayes sings thus of the ruines of this citie Thou saw'st when Verlam once her head
disobeyed the mouth of the Lord was reproued by him who was the occasion of his errour as hee had it in commandement from God and withall told that his carcase should not come vnto the sepulcher of his Fathers Esay speaking in derision of the death and sepulture of the king of Babylon which was not with his Fathers for that his tyranny was so much abhorred thus noteth his vnhappinesse All the kings of the nations euen they all sleepe in glorie euery one in his owne house But thou art cast out of thy graue like an abhominable branch like the rayment of those that are slaine and thrust through with a sword which go downe to the stones of the pit as a carcase troden vnder feet Thou shalt not be ioyned with them in the graue Ieremie the Prophet speaking against the breakers of Gods sacred couenants brings in most commonly the want of buriall as a punishment for such their hainous offences as followeth Thus saith the Lord I will euen giue them into the hands of their enemies and into the hands of them that seeke their life and their dead bodies shall bee for meat vnto the fowles of the heauen and to the beasts of the earth And prophesying against Iehoakim he is inspired with these words Thus saith the Lord against Iehoakim the sonne of Iosiah king of Iuda they shall not lament him saying Ah my brother or ah sister neither shall they mourne for him saying Ah Lord or ah his glory He shall be buried as an asse is buried not honourably saith the Margent among his fathers euen drawne and cast forth without the gates of Ierusalem In other places of his prophesie thus They shall die of deaths and diseases they shall not bee lamented neither shall they be buried but they shall be as doung vpon the earth They shall be cast out in the streets of Ierusalem because of the famine and the sword and there shall be none to burie them both they and their wiues their sonnes and their daughters for I will poure their wickednesse vpon them Thus saith the Lord of hosts I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies and by the hand of them that seeke their liues and their carcases will I giue to bee meate for the fowles of the heauen and to the beasts of the field We haue diuers examples of this nature in the holy Scriptures But let vs go no further then to the lawes of our owne Nation by which the subiect is kept in awfull obedience Hee that commits treason is adiudged by our Lawes to bee hanged drawne and quartered and his diuided limbes to be set vpon poles in some eminent place within some great Market-towne or Citie He that commits that crying sinne of murther is vsually hanged vp in chaines so to continue vntill his bodie be consumed at or neare the place where the fact was perpetrated Such as are found guilty of other criminall causes as Burglarie Felonie or the like after a little hanging are cut downe and indeed buried but seldome in Christian mould as we say nor in the sepulchres of their fathers except their fathers had their graues made neare or vnder the gallowes And we vse to bury such as lay violent hands vpon themselues in or neare to the high wayes with a stake thrust through their bodies to terrifie all passengers by that so infamous and reproachfull a buriall not to make such their finall passage out of this present world The feare of not hauing buriall or hauing of ignominious and dishonourable buriall hath euer affrighted the brauest spirits of the world this feare made the dying Mezentius make this request to his enemy Aeneas No ill in death not so came I to sight Nor made my Lausus such a match One right Afford if pitie stoope tâ—a vanqâ—sht foe Interre mâ— corps Much hate of mine I know Surrounds me Dead from that fear'd furie saue And lay me with my sonne both in one graue This feare made the faire-helm'd Hector as Homer calls him being readie to combat with Ajax Telamon to propound this couenant Amongst you all whose breast includes the most expulsiue minde Let him stand forth as Combatant by all the rest design'd Before whome thus I call high Ioue to witnesse of our strife If he with home-thrust-iron can reacâ— th'exposure of my life Spoiling my armes let him at will conuay them to his tent But let my body be renurn'd that Troys two-stept descent Mâ—y â—â—see it in the funerall pile if I can slaughter him Apollo honouring me so much I 'le spoile his conquered limbe And beare his armes to Ilion where in Apollos Shrine I 'le hang them as my Trophies due his body I 'le resigne To â—e disposed by his friends in flamie Funeralls And hâ—nour'd with erected Tombe where Hellespontus fals Into Aegaeum and doth reach euen to your nauall rode That when our beings in the earth shall hide their period Suruiuers sailing the blacke sea may thus his name renew This is his Monument whose bloud long since did fates imbrew Whom passing farre in fortitude illustrate Hector slew This shall posteritie report and my fame neuer die Cicero in his second booke De gloria makes Aiax glorious in armes to intreate Hector that if it were his fortune to be vanquisht by him so renowned an enemy he would affoord his body worthie and honourable buriall and that his Tombe to succeeding ages might thus speake to all passengers Hic situs est vitae iampridem lumina linquens Cui quondam Hectoreo perculsus concidit ense Fabitur haec aliquis mea semper gloria vines Here he lies depriu'd of light Slaine by Hectors sword in fight Some one will euer tell this story So endlesse shall be Aiax glory Achilles hauing giuen Hector his deaths wound insulted ouer him as it is in the two and twentieth booke of Homers Iliads thus And now the dogs and fowles in â—oulest vse Shall teare thee vp thy corse expos'd to all the Greekes abuse To whom Hector makes his dying request on this manner He fainting said let me implore euen by thy knees and soule And thy great parents doe not see a cruelty so foule Inflicted on me brasse and gold receiue at any rate And quit my person that the Peeres and Ladies of our State May tombe it Thus you see how much the most heroicall spirits desir'd the honour of sepulture with the performance of all funerall rites howsoeuer Lucan in his fifth booke of the Pharsalian warres makes Iulius Caesar being as then in danger to be drowned to expostulate with the Gods and in a boasting manner to contemne all funerall exequies Concluding thus O Gods I craue No Funerall let the seas vtmost waue Keepe my torne carcase let me want a Tombe And funerall pile whilest look't for still to come Into all Lands I am and euer fear'd But this was but one of Caesars rodamantadoes or thundring
Hospitale Partem Virgulti vulgo du verger inter Hospitale Canonicos attingentis A claustro quod est ante tanuam Ecclesie vsque ad extremitatâ—m muri et redditus ad sustentationem quatuor Canonicorum sacer dotum manentium in decimis de Triciaco Calliaco et de Braya Et centum solidos Parisiensis monete apud villam nouaÌ„ Sancti Georgij annuatim in festo Sancti Remigij persoluendos Vineam etiam et arpentum terre queiacent extra muros predicti loci Sancti Thome sicut corum scripto autentico continetur Ecclesie vestre auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus presertis scripti patrocinio communuimus Statuentes vt nulli omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpsâ—rit indignationem omnipoteâ—tis Dei et Beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Datum Laterani septimo Kalendas Augusti Pontisicatus nostri anno secundo Annoque Domini Millesimo centesimo octuagesimo nono These donations were afterwards viz. Ann. 1428. augmented by Iohn Duke of Britaine Montefort and Richmund as appeares by his Charter which I haue read Many other religious structures Churches Chappels and Oratories in forraine parts were erected and endowed to the memory of this our English Martyr Neare to the Gallerie of the Louure and adioyning to the Collegiate Church is a prettie faire street which at this day is called La rue de S. Thomas du Louure the streete of S. Thomas at the Louure Richard the first King of England after the surprisall of Acrres instituted an order of Knights which he called The Order of Saint Thomas they held the rule of Saint Augustine and tooke for their Patron the foresaid Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury as you may reade in the Theater of Honour lib. 9. cap. 11. But I stand too long gazing and glossing vpon this imaginarie monument digressing from the breuitie of that method which I haue proposed to my selfe Let me view the sumptuous monument still remaining of Edward surnamed the blacke Prince so by-named not of his colour but of his dreaded acts in battell vpon which this Epitaph is inlayd with brasse Cy gist le noble Prince Mouss Edward aisnez filz du tresnoble Roy Edward tiers iadis Prince d'aquitaine et de Gales Due de Cornwaille et counte de Cesâ—â—e qi morust eâ— la feste de la Trinite qestoit le vni iour de iuyn l'an de grace mil troiscens septante sisine Lalme de qi Dieu eit mercy Amen Tu qi passez oue bouche close Par la ou ce corps repose Entent ce qe te diray Sycome te dire le say Come tu es au tiel fu Tu seras tiel come ie su De la mort ne pensai ie mie Tant come iauoy la vie En tre auoi grand richesse Sont icy sis grand noblesse Terre Mesons et grand tresor Draps chiuaux argent et or Mes ore su ieo poures et chetifs Perfond en la tre gis Ma grand beaute est tout alee Ma char est tout gastee Noult est estroit ma meson En moy na sy verite non Et si ore me veisses Ie ne quide pas qe vous deisses Qe ie eusse onges home este Sy su ie ore tant changee Pur dieu priez au celestien Poy Qe mercy ait de barme de moy Tour ceulx qi pur moy prieront On a dieu maccorderont Dieu les mette en son Paraydis Ou nul ne Poet estre chetifs Thus Englished Here lieth the noble Prince Monsieur Edward the eldest sonne of the thrice noble King Edward the third in former time Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester who died on the feast of Trinitie which was the eight day of Iune in the yeare of Grace 1376. To the soule of whom God grant mercy Amen Who so thou be that passeth by Where these corps entombed lie Vnderstand what I shall say As at this time speake I may Such as thou art sometime was I Such as I am such shalt thou be I little thought on th' oure of death So long as I enioyed breath Great riches here I did possesse Whereof I made great noblenesse I had gold siluer wardrobes and Great treasure horses houses land But now a caitife poore am I Deepe in the ground lo here I lie My beautie great is all quite gone My flesh is wasted to the bone My house is narrow now and throng Nothing but Truth comes from my tongue And if ye should see me this day I do not thinke but ye would say That I had neuer beene a man So much altered now I am For Gods sake pray toth'heauenly King That he my soule to heauen would bring All they that pray and make accord For me vnto my God and Lord God place them in his Paradise Wherein no wretched caitife lies The death of this Prince which fortuned in the fourtie and sixth yeare of his age was a heauy losse to the state being a Prince of whom we neuer heard any ill neuer receiued other note then of goodnesse and the noblest performances that magnanimitie and wisedome could euer shew in so much as what praise can bee giuen to veâ—â—ue is due to him The compendious Chronicle of Canterbury written by one Thomas Haselwood a Canon of Leedes speakes more particularly of his militarie atchieuements in these words Edwardus filius Edw. 3. primogenitus Princeps Wallie fortunatissimus miles in bello audacissimus inter validissima bella gesta militaria magnisice ab eodem peracta Iohannem Regem Francie apud Poyteires debellauit pluribus tam nobilibus quam alijs de dicto regno captis interfectis eundem Regem captiuauit ipsum potenter in Augliam ductum Patri suo presentauit Henricum etiam intrusorem Hispanie potentissime in bello deuicit Petrum Hispanie Regem dudum à regno suo expulsum potenti virtute in regnum suum restituit Vnde propter ingentem sibi probitatem actus ipsius triumphales memoratum Principem inter regales Regum memorias dignum duximus commendandum Here lieth the body of Henry the fourth King of England whose Tombe is richly adorned and garnished about with the Armes of all the Christian Princes and most of the greatest Peeres of this kingdome then liuing vpon which I finde no Inscription who died 20. Mar. Anno Dom. 1412. aetat 46. Reg. 14. This King finished his politique and victorious raigne in peace and honour Howsoeuer the iniustice of his first entrance stepping into the seat Royall by the deposition and murder of his lawfull Soueraigne King Richard the second left a dishonourable staine vpon all his actions He aduised his Sonne Henry after him King vpon his death bed to punish the
his Master he entred into orders yet before he came to bee a Clergie man he serued in the warres which is not vnlikely saith mine Authour for after he was Bishop he was thrice in the field and did his Prince notable seruice He was first preferred to the Bishopricke of Wilshire whose See was then seated at Ramsbury by the speciall fauour of King Athelstan who being dead his brother Edmund who succeeded him in his kingdome louing him no lesse procured him to be chosen Archbishop In which pastorall charge hee continued many yeares in great fauour and authoritie vnder diuers Princes till towards the latter end of his time that Edwin a young King was sore exasperated against him for that this Bishop had caused him to be diuorced from his Queene for consanguinitie or some other reasons and excommunicated his Concubines causing one of them whom the king doted vpon to be fetcht out of the court by violence to bee burnt in the forehead with an hote iron and banished into Ireland But not long after he was taken away by death from the Kings displeasure in the yeare of our redemption 958. hauing sate Archbishop 25. yeares or thereabouts He writ diuers Tractates both in verse and prose mentioned by Bale and Capgraue will haue him in the Kalender of our English Saints and Confessours But to conclude such was his Epitaph Stemmate serenus iacet hic sacer Odo Seuerus Moribus excellens acriter peccata refellens Presul at indulgens omni pictate refulgens Ecclesie Christi Pugil inuictissimus isti O bone nunc Christe quia sic tibi seruijt iste Celi solamen sibi des te deprecor Amen The life and death of this Archbishop Lanfranck is set downe at large by William Malmsbury Io. Capgraue Nicholas Harpsfeild Archdeacon of Canterbury Mathew Parker Archbishop with others and out of them all by Francis Godwin now Bishop of Hereford Yet for method sake thus much because I find his body by a Table inscribed which hangs vpon his Tombe to be here interred He was borne in Italy at Pauia some twenty miles from Myllaine brought vp in the Monasterie of Becco in Normandie vnder Herlewin the learned Abbot of that house of which he became Prior from whence in regard of his singular wisedome and great knowledge in all good literature he was called by William the Duke of Normandie to be Abbot of Saint Stephens in Cane a Monasterie that the said Duke had founded And in the fifth yeare after his conquest of England he promoted him to this Archbishopricke which he laudablie gouerned the space of eighteene yeares It is said an action which much obscured all his former praises that he perswaded the Conquerour to leaue the kingdome of England to his younger sonne William Rufus which they said William thus requited the Bishop as the King thought being somewhat too busie in reprehending his manifold vices and exhorting him to godlinesse and vertue he so bitterly fell out with him that he banished him the Realme the poore old bishop trauelled to Rome and wandred vp and downe many countries till by intercession of friends hee was suffered to returne home and soone after died of an ague according to his owne desire Solebat enim Deum rogare vt velex dissenteria vel ex febri diem suum obiret propterea quod hi morbi nec memoriam nec loquelam auferant He would often desire God that he might take his end either by a fluxe or an ague for that in those kinde of infirmities men are wont to haue the vse both of speech and memorie to the last cast His death happened the 24. of May Ann. Dom. 1089. He bestowed much vpon the fabricke of this Church and the housing of the Monkes he built in a manner all the Archbishops pallace hee founded two Hospitals adioyning to this Citie hee gaue great summes of money and also a Mannor toward the building of the Cathedrall Church of Rochester and did much for the Abbey of Saint Albons Hee encreased the number of the Monkes of this Church from thirty to fourty restored the dignities and offices of old belonging to the Monasterie and recouered vnto the same 25. Manors that had beene taken from it wrongfully in times past by Odo Bishop of Bayon and Earle of Kent Hee was a profound Scholler for those times he writ the noble acts of the Conquerour he made learned Comments and Expositions of many parts of the Bible and tooke great paines in reforming the same the copies whereof were much corrupted throughout all England by the negligent ouer-sight of the writers To his memorie this Epitaph was composed Vixisti venerande Pater sapienter egens Vixisti vivens mors quoque vita tibi Inter diuitias pauper Lanfrance fuisti Diuitijs manans pauperum amator eras Per te florentes artes valuere latine Grecia sis nobis ecce triumphat ouans Tu Laios ortu Gallosque docendo leuasti Te sibi Primatem cardo Britannus habet In terra degens celestia regna petebas Exemptus terra sider a liber adis Sol geminos denis obsiderat igne diebus Promsit Luna diem nocte solutus abis Here is the Tombe of Archbishop Anselme borne in Augusta a Citie of Burgundie who followed his predecessours steps almost foot by foot First he came to Becco vpon the like errand as Lanfrank had done which was to obtaine knowledge in all good learning Lanfrancke being called away to Cane he was made Prior of Becco in his place and afterwards Abbot in which he continued 15. yeares vntill at the request of Hugh Earle of Chester he came ouer into England and had this Bishopricke bestowed vpon him some foure yeares after the decease of Lanfrancke for so long the king pursed vp the profits thereof by William Rufus who presently after his consecration fell out with his new Bishop and banished him the kingdome in which he trauelled vp and downe as an exile during the Kings life vntill by his brother King Henry the first he was called home and restored to all his former dignities But not long after he was likewise banished the Realme by the said Henry falling out with him concerning the disposing of Bishoprickes at the Kings pleasure giuing inuestiture and possession of them by the staffe and the ring within three yeares by the meanes and mediation of Adela or Alice Countesse of Blois the Kings sister he was restored not onely to his place but to all his goods and fruits gathered in the time of his absence Some two yeares after this his last returne falling sicke of a languishing disease hee died Aprill 21. Ann. Dom. 1109. in the sixteenth yeare of his gouernment Some 400. yeares after by the procurement of Iohn Morton one of his Successours he was canonized a Saint and one as worthy that honour as any that euer since his 〈◊〉 was canonized by the Pope for as his life
was elected sworne and blessed by the Popes Legate at Winchester before the king and many of the Peeres of the kingdome This Abbot was religious honest prouident and with learning and a godly life life greatly adorned and so departed from all worldly employment the third day of Nouember 1224. and was buried by the Altar of the holy Crosse vnder a flat marble stone thus engrauen Prosuit in populo Domini venerabilis Hugo Et tribuit sancte subiectis dogmata vite A prouident and discreete Brother of this house succeeded Hugh in the Abbotship to whom in like manner as hee did to Alexander the Archbishop vtterly denyed benediction and admittance for which he was enforced to trauell to Rome and there was sacred by the hands of Patrick Bishop of Albania and Cardinall by the Popes commandement This Abbots name was Robert de Bello belle rexit for the space of eleuen yeares Et obijt crastino sancti Mauri Abbatis ann 1252. His Epitaph Abbas Robertus virtutis odore refertus Albis exutus iacet hic à carne solutus Roger of Cicester by way of comprimise succeeded Robert for whose admittance or holy blessing Pope Innocent the fourth writ his powerfull letters to Boniâ—â—â—â— then Archbishop of Canterâ—urâ— but what 〈…〉 tooke I do not finde He founded the Church or Chappell of 〈…〉 in this Countie and sumptuously â—â—shâ—yned the reliques of Saint 〈…〉 He dyed on Saint 〈◊〉 day 1272. and was buried before S. 〈…〉 Altar vnder a marble-stone with his poâ—traiture engrauen thereupon and this short Epitaph Prudens et verus iacâ—t hac in â—â—robe Rogerus Constans et lenis popâ—li pastorque fidâ—lis The next that enioyed this dignitie was Nicholas de Spina he was conâ—secrated at Rome by the Bishop of Portua by the commandement of Pope Nicholas the third of whom hee was approued to be Virum prudentem 〈◊〉 us et doctrina multipliciter decoratum in temporalibus et spiritualibus 〈◊〉 Who when hee had with great wisedome gouerned his 〈◊〉 the sâ—aâ—e of ten yeares hee tooke his iourney by the kings permission to the Pope before whom he resigned his Abbotship to one Thomas Fiâ—â—on 〈◊〉 Findon succeeding by way of resignation bad benediction by the Popes appointment at Ciutta Vecchia not farre from Rome he performed 〈◊〉 worthy actions for the good of his Church and was euer ready with 〈…〉 and armour for the seruice of the king With great care and cost 〈…〉 the reliques of Saint Austine as I haue said before 〈…〉 had strenuâ—uslâ— gouerned his Church the space of 26. yeares 〈◊〉 eternitatis vocatus erat die sancte Iuliane virginis ann 13â—9 and was buried in a little Chappell wherein vsually euery day a Masse was 〈◊〉 for the whole Estate of the Church militant vpon earth vnder a marble stone inlaâ—d with brasse after the manner of a Bishop With this Epitâ—ph En iacet hic Thomas morum dulcedine tinctus Abbas egregius equitatis tramite cinctus Firma columna Domus in iudicio bene rectus Nec fuct hic Presul dono um turbine â—lâ—xus In pietate pater inopum damnis miseratus Nec fraudes patiens curarum Presbyteratus Iussu Pontificis summi .... capit isle Câ—tibus Angelicis nos Thome iungito Christe After the death of Findon one of this Fraternitie called Raph de Borne was elected Who presently vpon his election tooke his iourney to Avi 〈◊〉 the Popes Court where he was confirmed and consecrated by the Bishop of Hoâ—tia Hauing laudablie gouerned this house 25. yeares he dyed a venerable old man ann 1334. and was here honourably entombed in the North-wall Pervigil in populo morum probitate decorus Abbas hoc tumulo de Borne iacet ecce Radulphus Mille trecentenis triginta quater quoque plenis In Februi Mense celo petebat inesse This man is commended by Pope Clement the fifth as I finde it in the redde booke of Canterbury to haue beene Abbatem Religionis feruidum Zelatorum morum et etatis grauitate decorum scientia preditum in spiritualibus prouidum et in temporalibus circumspectum In the same yeare the first of March Thomas Poucyn Doctor of Diuinitie was chosen Abbot of this Monasterie he tooke his iourney for benediction to the Popes Court which then lay at Auinion in France the nine and twentieth of the same moneth of March whither hee came vpon Saint George his Eue following hee had his admittance and blessing at the hands of Pope Iohn the two and twentieth the day after the feast of Saint Barnabie he stayed at Auinion vntill the feast of S. Lawrence from whence taking his iourney for England he landed at Douer vpon S. Gregories day Now if any man of his coat dignitie and reuenue be desirous to know the expences of a iourney to Auinion here he may haue it taken out of the red booke of Canterbury to a single halfe-pennie His expences from Douer to Auinion which hee performed in three weeks and three dayes came to the summe of 21. l. 18. s. 2. d. his expences staying there from S. George his Eue vntill the Eue of S. Lawrence 18. l. 4. s. 5. d. ob and in his voyage backe to this Monasterie his expences came to 28 l. 8. d. About some nine yeares after this trauell he made an end of all his trauels by death on the day of the translation of Saint Augustine ann 1343. being all his time a carefull Shepherd ouer the flocke committed to his charge he was entombed by his predecessour Est Abbas Thomas tumulo presente reclusus Qui vite tempus sanctos expendit in vsus Illustris senior cui mundi gloria vilis L.V. à primo pastor suit huius oâ—ilis The next that succeeded Poucyn was one William Drulege a man of stature like little Zacheus but of a minde immense and vigorous or like Homers noble little Captaine Tydeus corpore paruus ingenio pugnax Maior in exiguo regnabat corpore virtus For to enlarge the reuenues of his Church he was euer wondrous solicitous and in defence of her liberties stout and magnanimous persisting still as deuoute and watchfull in his Ecclesiasticall contemplations as hee was wise and circumspect in his temporall employments Non quarendus quantus sit quisque seà qualis neque quam procerus sed quam probus A little man is as much a man as the greatest man of the Gard. But I may bee thought quickly to speake somewhat partially being none of these high puissant pikemen enough then of little men if not a little too much So to returne to this diminutiue Abbot Drulege who by the consent of the Couent ordained the feasts of Ianibert Nothelm Brithwold and Tatwin Archbishops to be celebrated twice in the yeare But to conclude when for the short time he sate he had much aduanced his Monasterie he dyed on the Vigils of Saint Mauritius which is the 11. of September 1349. and was buried in
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
place gaue the honor of knighthood to this Iohn Norton here entombed to Iohn Fogge Iohn Scot Thomas Lynde Gentlemen of this countrey and Souldiers of eminent performance in that seruice Sampson Norton Armig. cum LXXXVII sagittarijs in Seruitio Hen. 7. Eastbridge An Hospitall founded by king Henry the first or rather confirmed by him and founded by one Robert Bruce for Henry the first gaue for William his father Quicquid Robertus Brus dederat Ecclesie de Esteburch et fratribus ibidem regularibus valued at the suppression to bee worth 23. l. 18. s. 6. d. ob q. per annum Graueney Hic iacet Iohannes Marten Iusticiarius de communi Banco qui ob 24. Octob. 1436. Et Anna vxor eius This Anne was the daughter of Boteler brother to Boteler Lord Baron of Wenime Orate ... Iohannis Martin Ar. qui ob vltimo Octob. 1479. Hic iacet Ioanna quondam vxor Iohannis Boteler de Graueney fuit filia Richardi de Feuersham quondam domini de Graueney ob 3. Nouemb. 1408. 1. Reg. H. 4. Cuius Orate ... Tho. Borgeris Ar. qui ob 22. Nouemb. 1451. .... Pur Dame Iohanne de Feuersham et Ichan son filz Thomas Feuersham Iusticiarius et Ioanna vxor eius West Langdon Here sometime was a Monastery but by whom founded I cannot learne dedicated it was to the honour of Saint Thomas the Martyr and filled with white Canons premonstrates Of the yearely value of 56. l. 6. s. 9. d. This house was surrendred 13. Nouemb. Ann. 27. Hen. Octaui Great Chart. Orate pro ... Iohannis Toke de Godington in ista Parochia Armig. et Margarete Anne vx Margareta vxor prima erat filia Iohannis Waller de .... Com. Suffol Anna filia Iohannis Engham de Singleton in ista Parochia obijt Maij 20. Ann. 1513. I finde that foure of the Enghams of Shinglton succeeding one another as heires liued 329. yeares viz. Alen. 79. Richard 79. Robert 85. Moises 86. Little Chart. Hic iacet Iohannes filius .... Lancastri Heraldi Regis Armorum qui obiit 10. die Iunii An. 1441. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Orate pro animabus Stephani Norton Ar. qui me dedit ... This Norton was owner of Norton place in this Parish and a potent man in these parts who built or repaired this Church as it seemes by the Inscription Minster in Shepey In this little Island containing some twenty miles in compasse are the remaines of a ruinous little Monastery now called Minster built by Sexburgh the wife of Ercombert king of Kent Ann. 710. wherein shee placed Nunnes which was valued at the fatall period of all such foundations at 129. l. 7. s. 10. d. ob per annum Some part of it is now conuerted into a Parish Church in which are diuers funerall Monuments which haue beene remoued as I conceiue out of the Chappell adioyning some of which make a shew of wondrous great antiquitie One of them is thus inscribed Hic iacent Rogerus Norwood et Boon vxor eius sepulti ante Conquestum The Norwoods are a worthy ancient familie I confesse and may very wel for any thing that I know haue flourished before the Conquest but I am sure that the character of this Inscription is but of later times making but little shew of any great Antiquitie In the most holy name of Iesu prey for ye sowl of Iohn Soole late of ye toun of Feuersham Maire and Margaret his wyff Agnes and Elisabeth ther dawters and for the sowls of Richard Ware and Elisabeth fader and moder to the seyd Margaret his wyff and for all Christian sowls The which Iohn decessyd the day of ye decollation of S. Iohn Baptist. 1521. Here I saw some antique Monuments of the Shurlandâ— sometimes Lords of the Mannor of Shurland hereunto adioyning of whom the inhabitants haue many strange relations not worth remembring Sir Robert Shurland flourished in the raigne of king Edward the first Hic iacet Dominus Thomas Cheyne inclitissimi ordinis Garterij Miles Guardianus quinque Portuum ac Thesaurarius Hospitij Henrici octaui ac Edwardi sexti Regum Reginaeque Mariae ac Elisabethae ac eorum in secretis Consiliarius qui obijt .... mensis Decembris Ann. Dom. M.D.LIX. ac Reg. Reginae Elisab primo This Sir Thomas Cheyne was also Constable of Queene-borough Castle a strong fortresse in this Isle pleasant for sight built by King Edward the third to the terrour of his enemies and solace of his people vnto which he adioyned a Burgh and in the honour of Philip the Queene his wife called it Queene-borough as one would say the Queenes Burgh This hath beene an office euer thought worthy of many great personages as appeares by their Catalogue which I copied out of the Collections of Glouer alias Somerset Iohn Foxley was the first Constable Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the second Arnold Sauage knight the third Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury the fourth Robert de Veere Marquesse of Dublin and Earle of Oxford the fifth Iohn Cornwall Baron Fanhope the sixth Gilbert Vmfreuill the seuenth Will. le Scrope sonne of the Lord Scrope the eighth Humphrey Duke of Buckingham the ninth Iohn Norwood Esquire the tenth George Duke of Clarence the eleuenth Sir Thomas Wentworth the thirteenth Sir William Cheyneie the fourteenth Sir Francis Cheyneie the fifteenth this Sir Thomas Cheyneie the sixteenth Sir Richard Constable the seuenteenth Sir Edward Hoby the eighteenth Philip Earle of Mountgomerie now liuing Ann. 1630. the nineteenth The Mannor of Shurland seated Eastward from hence belonged to these Cheyneies and now to the said Philip Earle aforesaid whom King Iames created Baron Herbert of Shurland and Earle of Mountgomery vpon one and the same day viz. the fourth day of May 1605. And whom King Charles our dread Soueraigne hath made Lord Chamberlaine of his Houshold And to whom at this day by the death of his thrice noble Brother William Earle of Penbroke are added the honours and titles of Earle of Penbroke Baron Herbert of Caerdiffe in Wales Lord Parre and Roos of Kendall Marmion and S. Quintin Vlcombe Here in this Parish was anciently the mansion house of the family De Sancto Leodegario S. Leger now commonly called Sellenger one of the owners whereof namely Sir Thomas Sellenger who married Anne Duchesse of Exceter sister to king Edward the fourth lyeth here interred say the inhabitants amongst his ancestours But I finde him to bee entombed with his foresaid wife in the Collegiate Church of Windsore Here lyeth Iohn S. Leger Esquire and Margerie his wife sole daughter and heire of Iames Donnet .... 1442 ... Here lyeth Raph S. Leger Esquire and Anne his wife who dyed 1470. Here lyeth William Maidston Esquire who dyed 8. April ... 1429. Tho. Seint Leger seruir le Roy super salua custodia castri Rotten cum quadraginta equitibus per
in whose commendations Nicholas Harpsfeld sometime Archdeacon of Canterbury thus writeth I will vse his owne language Tobias a Brithwaldo Archiepiscopo consecratus vir ampliore honoratiore sede si locus hominem et homo locum non commendaret dignissimus qui Theodori Adriani discipulus fuit Quantum vero sub his praeceptoribus profecerit luculenter ostendit Beda qui cum omnium humanarum diuinarumque rerum scientissimum fuisse Latinam Graecamque linguam tam accurate atque maternam calluisse affirmat Hee dyed about the yeare 726. Here lyeth interred Gundulphus a Norman by birth the thirtieth Bishop of Rochester a man not greatly learned but very wise and industrious for he handled the matter so as hee procured not onely his Church to be new built but also the reuenues to be encreased He recouered diuers lands and possessions encroched vpon and taken away in former times by Odo Earle of Kent And besides diuers summes of money which hee contributed he bought a certaine Mannor called Heddre and gaue it to this his owne Church In all these matters hee was much helped by Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury who caused him to take into his Church not secular Priests as before had beene accustomed but Monkes Benedictines Gundulph himselfe being a Monke of that order vpon his first admittance to this See he found onely sixe secular Priests in the Church who were endowed scarcely with sufficient meanes to liue according to their place and callings Before his death he encreased his Church-reuenues to that height that it did and was able to maintaine fifty Monkes some say threescore The yearely value of this Monastery at the suppression amounted to 486. l. 5. s. The donations to this Monastery were confirmed by Pope Vrban the second in these words following Vrbanus Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei. Dilectis filijs Priori capitulo Ecclesie Roffen Ordinis sancti Benedicti Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Cum à nobis petitur quod iustum est et honestum tam vigor equitatis quam etiam ordo exigit rationis vt id per solicitudinem officij nostri ad debitum perducatur effectum Ea propter dilecti in Domino filij vestris iust is postulationibus grato concurrentes assensu personas vestras et Ecclesiam Roffen in qua diuino est is obsequio mancipati cum omnibus bonis que impresentiarum rationabiliter possidetis aut in futurum iust is modis prestante domino poteritis adipisci sub beati Petri protectione suscipimus at que nostra Specialiter autem terras decimas domus possessiones vineas prata et alta bona vestra sicut ea iuste et pacifice obtinetis vobis et per vos eidem Ecclesie auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus et presentis scripti patrocinio communuimus Salua in predictis decimis moderatione Concilij generalis Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Dat. Ianu. III. Id. Ianuar. Pontificatus nostri Anno octauo When as William the Conquerour built the great white square Tower of London hee appointed this Bishop to bee principall Surueyor of that worke who was for that time lodged in the house of one Edmere a Burgesse of London as it is in the booke of the Bishops of Rochester in these words Gundulphus Episcopus mandato Willelmi Regis magni presuit operi magne Turris London quo tempore hospitatus est apud quendam Edmerum Bargensem London This Bishop built a great part of the Castle of Rochester namely the great Tower which yet standeth Hee founded an Hospitall in Chetham which hee dedicated to the honour of Saint Bartholomew for the reliefe of such people as were infected with the foule disease of the Leprosie hee endowed it with sufficient reuenues which grant was confirmed by king Henry the third and discharged of all taxes and tallages by King Ed. the third He founded the Abbey at Malling which he consecrated to the blessed Virgine and placed therein blacke Nunnes Which Nunnery he gouerned himselfe during all his life time And lying at the point of death hee commended it to the charge of one Auice to whom notwithstanding he would not deliuer the Pastorall staffe before shee had promised canonicall obedience fidelitie and subiection to the See of Rochester and protested by oath that there should neither Abbesse nor Nunne bee from thenceforth receiued into the house without the consent and priuitie of him and his Successours This Nunnery was valued at the suppression at two hundred fourty fiue pounds ten shillings two pence halfepeny of yearely reuenue Ouer the Abbey gate yet standing is the likenesse of a Pastorall staffe This good Bishop dyed the seuenth of March 1107. and was buried where you see the pourtraitures of certaine Bishops sometimes artificially cut in stone and Alabaster but now cut almost all in peeces dismembred and shamefully abused as all other Monuments in this Church are of any antiquity so that neither reading nor tradition can giue vs any true notice of their names Gilbert de Glanuil before mentioned a gentleman of an ancient family was consecrated to this Bishopricke September 29. Ann. 1185. Betweene this man and his Monkes of Rochester was long and continuall debate by occasion whereof hee tooke away from them all their moueable goods all the ornaments of their Church their writings and euidences yea and a great part of their lands possessions and priuiledges wanting money to follow their suites against him they were forced to coyne the siluer of Saint Paulinus Shryne into money These controuersies were ended no otherwise then by his death which happened Iune 24. 1214. hauing ruled his contentious charge 29. yeares But the hatred of these Monkes against him was so dying with him as they would afford him no manner of Obsequies but buried him most obscurely or rather basely without either ringing singing or any other solemnitie and furthermore abused him with such like rime-doggerell Glanvill Gilbert us nulla bonitate refertus Hic iacet immitis amator maxime litis Et quia sic litem dum vixit solet amare Nunc vbi pax nulla est est aptior inhabitare These blacke Monkes whom I thinke if the matter were well examined would proue to be in the fouler fault were too malitious to remember that this Bishop founded S. Maries Hospitall at Strowd neare adioyning to this Citie called the New worke and endowed it witha liuelihood of 52. l. of yearely profits which it now enioyeth Here lyeth entombed the body of Walter de Merton so surnamed of Merton a village in Surrey where he was borne sometimes Lord Chancellour of England Bishop of this See and Founder of Merton Colledge in Oxford
seruiens Abbati et Conuentui de Lesnes qui obiit primo die mensis Ianuarij 1425. Cuius anime Lesnes Abbey In the yeare of our Lord 1178. the third of the Ides of Iune Richard Lucie a Councellour of State and chiefe Iustice of the Realme began the foundation of an Abbey at Lesnes or Westwood neare vnto this Towne of Eâ—â—th The extent of whose yearely reuenue as it was prized by the Commissioners at the suppression amounted to one hundred eighty sixe pounds and nine shillings When this his goodly fabricke was in all parts finished he presently forsooke and surrendred into the kings hands all both his offices and honours And betooke himselfe to the habite and profession of a Canon Regular in this house of his owne foundation where within a short while after euen in the same yeare to wit the fourteenth of Iuly 1479. he exchanged his Conuentuall blacke coole for a glorious bright heauenly crowne And here in the Quire of his Church hee was sumptuously entombed vpon whose Monument this Epitaph was engrauen Rapitur in tenebras Richardus lux Luciorum Iusticie pacis dilector vrbis honorum Christe sibi requies tecum sit sede piorum Iulia tunc orbi lux bis septena nitebat Mille annos C. nouem et septuaginta mouebat Now giue me leaue to go a little further with him and his heires as I finde the words in the Collection of Englands Protectours by Francis Thinne Lancaster Herald Sir Richard Lucie knight chiefe Iustice of England saith he was Protectour of England in the twelfth yeare of the raigne of king Henry the second in the absence of the king when hee was in Normandie and in the parts beyond the Seas Which Lucie in the thirteenth yeare of the same King did valiantly resist and politikely driue backe the Earle of Bolloigne inuading this kingdome He built the Abbey of Leosnes or Westwood in the Parish of Erith in Kent and not in Southfleet as some haue written in the yeare of Christ 1178. and the Castle of Chipping Augre in Essex He had issue Godfrey Bishop of Winchester and three daughters who after the death of Godfrey their brother were his heires Maude the eldest daughter was married to Robert the first called Fitzwater Aueline the second daughter was married to Richard Riuers of Stanford Riuers in Essex Rose the third daughter was married to Richard de Warren the naturall sonne of king Iohn as appeareth by a deed belonging to my selfe who had the Rectory of Leosnes beginning thus Rosa de Douer quondam vxor venerabilis viri Richardi filij Regis de Chillam And king Iohn by his Charter grants to another Rose her grandfathers lands in these words Rex reddidit Roesie de Douerita totam terram suam cum pertenenc qua eam contingit de heredit Richardi de Lucy avi sui tenend sibi hered c. Cart. 24. Reg. Iohannis numero 37. in Archi. Turris London The foresaid Godfrey de Lucy was consecrated Bishop of Winchester the first of Nouember 1189. And died Ann. 1204 hauing gouerned that See fifteene yeares He purchased of king Richard the first the Mannors of Wergraue and Menes which in times past had belonged to his Bishopricke he was a great Benefactour to this Religious house of Leosnes founded by his father wherein according to his will hee was enterred To whose memory this Epitaph was engrauen vpon his Tombe Lux mea lux Christi si terre ventre quiesco Attamen in celo sanctorum luce lucesco Presul de Winton fueram quondam Cathedratus Multum resplendens alto sanguine natus Nunc id sum quod eris puluis rota non retinenda Voluitur inuigila prudens nec differ agenda M. C. bis quatuorque annos his insuper addas Carnis vincla dies soluit secunda Decembris Vos qui transitis ancillam poscite Christi Sit Dominus mitis pulso purgamine tristi Wolwich Orate pro anima Iohannis Colin et Mathilde vxoris eius qui Iohannes obiit 27. Ianuar ..... Mathilda 25. Octob. 1397. Hic tacet Dominus Will. Prene quondam Rector huius Ecclesie viz. tempore Regis Edwardi quarti et postea Rector Ecclesie de Lymming qui fieri fecit istam Capellam et Campanile huius Ecclesie et in uita sua multa alia bona .... ob I. die Decemb. 1464. Willelmus Prene me fecit in honorem sancte Trinitatis Eltham Pray for the sowl of Dame Margerie Roper late wyff of Iohn Roper Suier daughter and one of the heires of Iohn Tattersall Suier who dyed 2. Februar 1518 Roper a name of eminent respect in this County honoured with the title of Baron Roper of Tenham by our Soueraigne Lord Iames late King of England giuen to Iohn Lord Roper now liuing Pray for the sowl of Iohn Morton sonne and heire of Margaret Morton of Asheby de la Zouch in the County of Leicester late wife to Tho. Squier who dyed 23. Aug. Prier pur l'alme Thomas Pierle qi morust le primer iour de Iuyl l'an de Grace Mil. ccc.lxix ..... Here lyeth Iohn Pasley yeoman Porter to king Henry the eighth and Agnes his wife which Iohn dyed .... 1509. Hen. 8.1 West Peckham Iohn Culpeper one of the Iustices of the Common Pleas in the raigne of king Henry the fourth founded here a Preceptorie or free-Schoole which he endowed with threescore and three pounds sixe shillings eight pence of yearely allowance Bromley In the Church wall lyeth the pourtraiture as I learne by tradition of Richard Wendouer Bishop of Rochester and Parson of this Towne He was consecrated 1238. and dyed 1250. yet it is said that his body was buried in Westminster by the kings speciall commandement for that he was accounted a very holy and vertuous man which I cannot much contradict Icy gist Mestre Water de Henche Qi fut Persone de Bromleghe 1360. Lewsham Hic iacet Georgius Hatecliffe Ar. Thesaurarius Domini Regis in Hibernia ac vnus clericorum compoti Hospitii regis obiit 1. Aug. 1514. Iohn Norbury founded a Priory in this Towne of Lewsham which hee replenished with blacke Monkes Aliens belonging to the Abbey of Gaunt in Flanders and thereupon called Aliens because they were Celles to some Monastery or other beyond the Seas The first foundation of these houses I do not finde but in the raigne of king Edward the third they were encreased to the number of one hundred and ten in England besides them in Ireland Aquitane and Normandy The goods of all which Priories the said king Ann. Reg. 12. because of his warres with France caused to be confiscated to his owne vse letting out their houses to farme with all their lands and tenements for the space of three and twenty yeares At the end of which Terme Peace being concluded betweene the two Nations he restored to the Priors Aliens their
houses lands and tenements Ann. Reg. 35. as by his patents may appeare in effect as followeth Edward by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitaine to all by these presents c. Although the Priory of Montacute in the County of Somerset by reason of the warres betweene vs and France with all the lands tenements fees aduowsons together with the goods and cattels belonging to the same hath beene of late taken into our hands and by vs farmed and rented forth as appeareth by diuers patents Now therefore since peace is betwixt vs and the noble Prince our most deare brother the king of France we for the honour of God and holy Church restore to the said Prior the Priory with all the lands tenements fees aduowsons and whatsoeuer else belonging to the same to hold the same in as free manner as they held it before And withall forgiue and release all arrerages of Rents which might bee due vnto vs by reason of any former grants In witnesse c. the sixth of February the 35. yeare of our raigne The like letters of restitution all the rest of the houses of Aliens had through England all which were cleane suppressed and vtterly dissolued by king Henry the fifth and their lands giuen by him and his sonne Henry the sixth to Colledges of learned men and to other Monasteries Greenwich This Parish Church is consecrated to the honour of Saint Aelphege sometime Archbishop of Canterbury who suffered martyrdome much-what about the same place where it now standeth Which Aelpâ—ege boâ—ne of great parentage brought vp in good learning preferred first to the Bishopricke of Winchester then to this of Canterbury a man admired for his strict manner of life and holy exhortations by both which hee conâ—uerted many vnto Christ was cruelly put to death by the Danish Pagans with many exquisite torments in the yeare of our Lord a thousand and twelue Of which in William Malmesbury Camden and the Catalogue of Bishops you may reade more at large It was long before these bloudy executioners would suffer his bodie to bee committed to the earth after the manner of Christian decencie yet at length that fauour was obtained and his body here first buried from whence within a short time after his reliques were remoued to Saint Pauls London and from thence at the commandement of king Knute to Canterbury He was canonized and the 19. day of Aprill allowed for celebration of his memory Some write that like another Stephen he was stoned to death that like him he prayed for his enemies and that Turkill generall of those Danes was conuerted to the faith at the sight of his constant martyrdome Here sometime stood an house of obseruant Friers which came hither about the latter end of the raigne of King Edward the fourth at whose hands they obtained a Chantrie with a little Chappell of the holy Crosse a place yet extant in the Towne and king Henry the seuenth builded for them an house adioyning to the Pallace which is there yet to be seene Here in this Towne was another Monastery of Friers Minorites and Aliens founded by King Edward the third and the foresaid Iohn Norbury which as Lewsham did belonged to the Abbot of Gaunt in Flaunders vntill such time as King Henry the fifth seising into his hands by occasion of warre all the lands of the Priors Aliens as I haue touched before bestowed this together with the Mannor of Lewsham and many other lands also vpon the Priory of Chartrehouse Monkes of Shene which hee had then newly erected to which it remayned vntill the time of the raigne of king Henry the eight who annexed it to the Crowne Depeford Orate pro anima ..... Weuer ..... Mercatoris et Maioris Stapul ville Calcis qui ob ..... Februar ... et pro .... Ioanne vx eius qui ob .... Martin the fifth Bishop of Rome granted by this Bull to these Staple Merchants in this Weeuers Maioralty at their earnest request an itinerarie or portable Aulter which they were to take with them to what place soeuer they trauelled to make any time of aboad and withall gaue them licence to elect a Priest to say Masse administer the Sacraments to heare their confessions to enioyne them penance and to giue them absolution as the cause should require The forme of which I hold it not much amisse here to set downe as I found it in an old Manuscript without name or date in the Earle of Exceters Librarie Martinus Episcopus Seruus Seruorum Dei dilectis filijs Maiori et eius locum tenenti ac Constabulario ceterisque Principalibus Societatis Mercatorum lanarum Stapule Anglie Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Sincere deuotionis affectus quem ad nos et Romanam geritis Ecclesiam non indigne meretur vt petitionibus vestris illis presertim quos ex deuotionis feruore prodire conspicimus quantum cum Deo possumus fauorabiliter animamus Hinc est quod nos vestris deuotis supplicationibus inclinati vt liceat vobis et posteris vestris Maiori et eius locum tenenti ac Constabulario nec non Principalibus societatis Mercatorum lanarum Stapule Anglie ac vestrum ac eorundem posterorum cuilibet habere Altare portatile cum debita reuerentia et honore Super quo in villa Calestie seu alibi etiam in transmarinis seu cismarinis partibus vbi pro tempore vos vel aliquem vestrum esse vel declinare et huiusmodi Stapulum lanarum teneri contigerit in locis ad hoc congruâ—ntibus et honestis positis per proprium vel alium Sacerdotem ydoneum Missas et alia diuina officia sine iuris alieni preiudicio in vestra et ipsorum ac aliorum Mercatorum dicte Societatis ibidem pro tempore presentium Nec non vestrorum et eorundem Posterorum ac Mercatorum familiarium presentia facere celebrari vobis et predictis posteris tenore presentium indulgemus Nulli ergo omnino homini liceat hanc paginam nostre concessionis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Dat. Mant. 3. Non. Nouemb. Pontificatus nostri Ann. primo By another Bull dated the same yeare and his Apostolicall authoritie he giues them free election of their Confessour the Priest The words are Aliquem ydoneum et discretum presbyterum eligere confessorem indulgemus qui quotiens vobis fuerit oportunum confessionibus vestris diligenter auditis pro commissis debitam vobis absolutionem impendat et iniungat penitentiam salutarem nisi forsan talia fuerint c. propter que sedes Apostolica c. Nulli ergo omnino hominum c. Dat. c. In English We fauourably yeeld to your deuout and pious supplications and we giue
Noster and an Aue. The pictures of Robert Agnes and Ioan inlaid in brasse seeme thus to speake Sancta Trinitas vnus Deus miserere nobis Et Ancillis tuis sperantibus in te O mater Dei memento mei Iesu mercy Lady help Robert Traps died the yeare 1526. this Robert had a daughter by Ioan his second wife married to one Frankland whose name was Iodoca I thinke Ioice an especiall Benefactour to Brasen-nose Colledge in Oxford as the principall the Fellowes and Schollars of that house do thankfully acknowledge by a faire Monument in the Northwall of the Chancell of this Church thus inscribed Felici piae et munificentissimae foeminae Iodocae Frankland viduatae filiae Roberti et Ioannae Trappes Londinensium Gratitudinis hoc officij et pietatis Monumentum adoptione filij Principalis et Scholares Collegij de Brasennose apud Oxoniens exhibuere Dilecti cineres non sic requiescitis vrnae In tenui vt vobis sola haec monumenta parantur Quae tandem vel sera dies pessundare possit Aenea vos monumenta â—egunt viuumque Trophaeum Aeternum meruistis enim viuumque Trophaeum Vobis vestra dedit Iodoca paerennius aere Nos etenim aeternumque omnes quos postera nobis Secla dabunt voces sumus immortale Sepulchrum Nomen Elisa tuum fama super aethera notum Aeâ—ternum magis atque magis post funera floret Vt Mater Patriae vicinis gentibus hospes Hostibus infestis terror pietatis Asylum Mitrati mastix Papae celebraris vbique Semper erit Britones inter clarissima Elisa Gloria dum Britonum atque Gens Angla vigebit Without this Church on the East end is engrauen this name Iohn Brokeitwell an especiall founder or new builder of the same and these rimes following Al yat wil gud warks wurch Prey for yem yat help thys Church Geuyng almys for cherite Pater Noster and Aue Saint Margaret Moses Prey for ye sowlygs of Michiel Forlace and Mary his wyf and in ye worschypp of God and our Lady for theyr Faders and Moders wyth ye sowlygs of al Christen of yowr cherite sey a Pater Noster and an Ave Maria Body I Mary Pawson ly below slepyng Soule I Mary Pawson sit aboue waking Both. Wee hope to meete againe wyth glory clothed Then Mary Pawson for euer blessed Saint Albons Woodstreet Here lyeth marmorate vndyr thys hepe of stoan Syr Harry Weuer Aldyrman and his Lady Dame Ioan. Thus worldly worschypp and honor wyth Fauour and fortun passyth day by day Who may wythstand deathys schorne when rych and por sche closyth in clay Wherfor to God hertelie we pray To pardon vs of our misdeed And help vs now in our most need Hic iacet in requie Woodcock Ion vir generosus Maior Londonie Mercerus valde morosus Miles qui fuerat ............. M. Domini mille centum quater ruit ille Cum x bis This Iohn Woodcock was Lord Maior Ann. Dom. 1405. in which his office he caused all the Weres in the Riuer of Thames from Stanes to the Riuer of Medway to be destroyed and the Trinks to be burned Saint Michaels Woodstreet Here lieth buried saith Stow the head of Iames the fourth King of Scots whose body bowelled rebollowed embalmed and inclosed in lead was conuayed from Flodden Field where he was slaine in battell the ninth of September being Friday 1513. by Thomas Howard Earle of Surry Lieutenant Generall of the English Army to this Citie of London presented to Queene Katherine and from hence sent to the Monastery of Shine in Surrey where it was regally interred Since the dissolution of which house in the dayes of king Edward the sixth I haue beene shewed saith hee the same body so wrapped in lead throwne into a waste roome amongst old timber stone lead and other rubble and further to shew the occasion of the buriall of his head here in this Church he declareth that the seruants of Lancelot Young Glasier to the late Queene Elizabeth being at Shine in new glasing the windowes either vpon a foolish pleasure or desire of the lead cut the head from the rest but smelling the sweete perfumes of the balmes gaue it to their Master who opening the head found therein the head of a man retaining fauour though the moysture were cleane dried vp whose haire both of Head and Beard was red which after he had well viewed and a while kept he caused to bee buried in Saint Michaels Woodstreet London the Church of the Parish wherein himselfe dwelled That the Head of this valorous King lieth here inhumed wee must beleeue the words of the Relator for I finde no Monument or outward apparance of it in the Church That his body not found till the day after the battell and then not knowne or descried because of his many wounds saue onely by the Lord Dacres was interred amongst the Carthusians in the Priory of Shine at Richmond I haue out of an old Manuscript the testimony of a man which saw his Sepulchre the same yeare of his death in the said religious house these are his words out of the Lieger booke of Whalley Abbey Anno Domini M. VC.XIII Hoc anno Iacobus Scotie Rex in Borea triumphaliter ab Anglis Rege Henrico valido exercitu contra Gallos vltra Mare debellante interemptus est Cuius corpus quom hec scripserim quoniam membrum ab Ecclesia euulsum de hoc mundo abcesserit huc vsque in domo Cartusiensium apud Rychmund mortalibus miserandum spectaculum inhumatum iacet Qui vidit testimonium perhibuit Et verum est testimonium eius Yet notwithstanding all this Iohn Lesley Bishop of Rosse affirmeth that it was held for certaine that the body thus found by the Lord Dacres was the body of the Laird Bonehard then slaine in the battell and that King Iames was seene aliue the same night at Kelso whence he passed to Ierusalem and there spent the rest of his dayes in holy contemplation And another of later times also affirmeth the place of this kings buriall to bee as yet vnknowne King Henry the eight saith hee who subuerted so many Churches Monuments and Tombes lyeth inglorious at Windsor and neuer had the honour either of the Tombe which hee had prepared or of any Epitaph that I now remember But his Brother in law King Iames the fourth of Scotland slaine at Flodden though the place of his buriall is vnknowne yet had this honourable Epitaph Fama orbem replet mortem sors occulit at tu Desine scrutari quod tegit ossa solum Si mihi dent animo non impar fata Sepulchrum Augusta est tumulo terra Britanna meo And Iohn Ionston in his Historicall Inscriptions of the Scottish Kings confirmes the same opinion of the vncertaintie of the place of this Kings interrement Reade if you please the verses of that worthy man Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Saint
alter subianitor Vna femina Matrona sub eadem duodecim alie femine Habeat etiam Magister ad sumptus Hospitalis duos homines honestos ad nutum libitum suum in omnibus negotijs tam propriis quam etiam in negotiis hospitalis sibi seruituros In iuramento Magistri Nullam que dispensationem aduersus aliquod statutum siue ordinationem Hospitalis predicti siue aduersus hoc iuramentum meum aut aliquam eius particulam impetrabo aut impetrari curabo neque ab aliis impetratum vllo modo curabo c. Hec omnia et singula in me recipio hec iureiurando promitto me fideliter obseruaturum sicut me Deus adiuuet et hec sacrosancta eius Euangelia Que omnia singula N. Abbati Westmonast Visitatori predicti Hospitalis spondeo c. incentum libris sterlingorum ad vsum Hospitalis predicti meipsum firmiter obligo c. Regule quedam obseruande Sit Magister continue residens in Hospitali predicto nullumque officium administrationem quarumcunque rerum aut cuiuscunque rei vel sub aliqua persona spirituali aut temporali cuiuscunque dignitatis aut conditionis fuerit acceptabit aut geret neque eiusdem Seruitor Capellanus Officiariusve Nec absit in Hospitalis negotiis vltra quadraginta in aliquo anno Pro singulis diebus necessarie sue absentie in Hospitalis causis habeat pro se duobus sibi Servitoribus tantum tres solidos Magister Hospitalis pro tempore existens habeat sibi vltra vnam Togam siue liberatam suam Pro expensis oris sui siue victus proque vadijs suis quibuscunque alijs necessarijs habeat triginta libras annuatim soluendas per manus suas proprias ad quatuor anni terminos vsuales per equales portiones Nec Magister nec alij portabunt vestes exteriores alterius coloris quam blanei anglice blew interiores possunt esse alterius coloris dummodo non sunt rubei vel alterius leuis coloris Omnes Conductijs exceptis portabunt in dextra parte Pectoris vnam Rosam rubeam amplam ad sex polices in circuitu de filis cericis aureis bene contextam et compactam cum Capicio eiusdem coloris There are diuers other the like ordinances which I omit This Hospitall being valued to dispend 529. l. 15. s. 7. d. ob by yeare was suppressed the tenth of Iune the seuenth of Edward the sixth a little before his death the Beds bedding and other furniture belonging thereunto with seuen hundred Markes of the said Lands by yeare he gaue to the Citizens of London with his house of Bridewell to the furnishing thereof and towards the furnishing of the Hospitall of S. Thomas in Southwarke lately suppressed This Hospitall was againe new founded erected corporated and endowed with lands by Queene Mary the third of Nouember in the fourth of her raigne the Ladies of the Court and Maydens of Honor a thing saith Stow not to be forgotten stored the same of new with beds bedding and other furniture in very ample manner and so it continues The Chappell of this Hospitall serueth now as a Parish Church to the Tenements thereof neare adioyning and others In which are diuers funerall Monuments but few of any Antiquitie Hic iacet Tho. Halsal Leighuieng Episcopus in Basilica Sancti Petri Rome Nationis Anglicorum Penitenciarius summe probitatis vir qui hoc solum post se reliquit Vixit dum vixit bene cui leuus conditor Goannes Douglas Scotus Dunkelheng Presul Patria sua exul 1522. This Bishop translated Virgils Aeneiads into the Scottish language compiled the palace of Honor and diuers other Treatises he fled into England for feare of being questioned in Parliament Here lieth Humphrey Gosling of London Vintnor Of the whyt Hart of this Parish a neghbor Of vertuous behauiour a very good Archer And of honest mirch a good company keeper So well enclyned to poore and rich God send more Goslings to be siâ—h Saint Martins in the fields O ye our frends yat here pas by We beseche yow vs to haue in memory Somtym we were as now be ye In tym to come ye shall be as we Edward Norrys and Ioan his wyff These wer our names whyl we had lyff Of yowr charite for vs to pray A Pater Noster and an Aue to say Of your cherity pray for the soule of Sir Humfrey Forster Knight whos body lyeth buried here in earth vndyr this marblâ—ston which decessyâ— the xviij day of the moneth of September 1500 ......... on whâ—s soule Iesu haue mercy Amen Hic iacet Thomas Barret prenobilis Armiger qui quidem Thomas erat abstractus de Sanctuario beati Petri VVestmonasterij et erudeliter intersectus per manus improrum contra leges Anglie et totius vniuersalis Ecclesie priuilegia et iura Anno Domini 1461. Anno illustrissimi Regis Ed. Quarti post conquâ—stum primo Sub eodem queque maâ—moreo lapide Iohannes Barret eiusdem Thome primogenitus sepelitur qui quidem Iohannes obiit ...... die ...... An .... Of this eminent thrice noble Esquire thus drawne and puld out of the Sanctuarie and cruelly murthered by the hands of wicked people against the Lawes of the land and priuiledges of the holy Church as appeares by this Inscription I haue read thus much following out of a namelesse Manuscript Thomas Barryt Squyr to Kyng Harry the syxt oftentyms imâ—loyd in the French warrys vndre the command of Iohn Duc of Bedford as alsoo Iohn Duc of Norfok beyng aswâ—y trew â—â—ge man to hys Souereygne Lord the Kyng hauyng taken Sanctury at Westmynstre to â—hon the fury of hys and the Kyngs enemys was from thense hayld foorth and lamentably hewyâ— a pâ—ees Abut whilke rym or a lityll before the Lord Skales late in an euenyng entryng a wherry Bott wythe three persoons and wghyng toowards UUestmynstre ther lykwys too haue takyn Sanctury was descryed by a wooman wher anon the wherry men fell on hym murthered hym and cast hys mangyld corps aloud by Sâ—ynt Mary Ouerys The Surname of Barret is at this day of exemplarie note and doth greatly resflourish by that worthy Gentleman Sir Edward Barret Knight Lord Baron of Newburgh Chancelour of the Dutchie of Lancaster and one of his Maiesties most honourable priuy Councell Saint Mary Rounciuall This was an Hospitall by Charing Crosse and a cell to the Priorie and couent of Rounciuall in Nauar in Pampalone Diocesse where a Fraternitie was founded in the 15 of Edward the fourth Hospitall of Saint Iames. This Hospitall was anciently founded by the Citizens of London for fourteene Sisters maidens that were leprous liuing chastly and honestly This Hospitall was surrendred to Henry the eight the 23 of his raigne the Sisters being compounded withall were allowed Pensions for the terme of their liues and the King builded there a goodly mannor house annexing thereunto a Parke The Foundation of the religious
septimi nec non Thesaurarius Hospitij reuerendissimi Patris domini huius regni Cancellarij titulo Sancte Cecilie trans Tiberim sacro sancte Romane Ecclesie Presbyteri Cardinalis ordinati Qui quidem Willelmus ob 3. Iulij 1518. Here is an Epitaph cut in Brasse vpon a marble stone now almost worne out which was made to the memory of one Robert Haule Esquire murdered in this Church the manner whereof our Chronicles doe thus briefely relate In the battell of Nazers in Spaine this Robert Haule or Hawley and Iohn Schakell Esquires tooke the Earle of Dene prisoner who deliuered vnto them his sonne and heire as a pledge for assurance of performances Not long after this their Hostage was demanded by Iohn Duke of Lancaster in the Kings name whom they denyed to deliuer for which they were clapt in the Tower from whence escaping here they tooke Sanctuary to whom Sir Raph Ferreis and Sir Alan Buxhull with fifty armed men were secretly sent to doe this mischiefe who finding them at high Masse first drew Schakell by a wile out of the priuiledge of the Church then offering to lay hands on Hawley he manfully resisting with his short sword made them all flie off But in the end he was slaine in the Chancell commending himselfe in his last words to God the reuenger of such iniuries and to the liberty of our holy mother the Church With him was slaine a seruant of his thrust into the backe with a Iauelin and a Monke who intreated for him in respect of the holinesse of the place This wicked act was perpetrated the 11. of August 1378. the second of Richard the second These words following now onely remaining vpon his Monument Me dolus ira furor multorum militis atque ................... ..... in hoc gladijs celebri pietatis asylo Dum leuita Dei sermonis legit ad aram Proh dolor ipse meo Monachorum sanguine vultus Aspersi moriens chorus est mihi testis in evum Et me nunc retinet sacer is locus Haule Robertum Hic quia pestiferos male sensi primitus enses .................. Hic iacet Thomas Ruthal Episcopus Dunelmensis Regis Henrici septimi Secretarius qui obijt 1524. To this short Inscription Godwin in his Catalogue addeth a long story of the life and death of this Bishop Who was borne in Cicester saith he in the County of Glocester and brought vp in Cambridge where he proceeded Doctor of Law He was preferred to the Bishopricke of Durham by King Henry the seuenth after whose death hee was made one of the priuie Councell vnto the young King Henry the eight who esteemed greatly of him for his wisedome and learning and imployed him often in ambassages and other businesses of importance Amongst the rest it pleased the king one time to require him to set downe his iudgement in writing concerning the estate of his kingdome in generall and particularly to enforme him in certaine things by him specified This discourse the Bishop writ very carefully and caused it to be bound in Velime gilt and otherwise adorned in the best manner Now you shall vnderstand that it chanced himselfe about the same time to set downe a note of his owne priuate estate which in goods and ready money amounted to the summe of one hundred thousand pounds This account was written in a paper booke of the same fashion and binding that the other was which was prouided for the king Whereby it happened that the king sending Cardinall Wolsey for the other draught which he had so long before required of him the Bishop mistaking deliuered that which contained an estimate of his owne infinite Treasure This the Cardinall soone espying and willing to doe the Bishop a displeasure deliuered it as he had receiued it vnto the King shewing withall how the Bishop had very happily mistaken himselfe for now quoth he you see where you may at any time command a great masse of money if you need it As soone as the Bishop vnderstood his errour the conceit thereof touched him so neare that within a short spaâ—â— after hee died at his house here in the Strand His intention was to haue repaired the Church of Cicester to haue built Bridges as he had begun that ouer the Riuer of Tyne and to haue done many other deeds of charitie if hee had not beene preuented by death Here lieth the body of Sir William Trussell knight and speaker of that Parliament wherein Edward the second king of England resigned his Diadâ—me and all ensignes of Maiestie to Edward his eldest Sonne This Trussell saith an ancient Author was a Iudge who could fit the house with quirks of Law to colour so lawlesse and treasonable an act as the deposing of a lawfull king And thereupon was chosen in the behalfe of the whole Realme to renounce all homage and obedience to the Lord Edward of Carnarvon his Soueraigne Lord and King The forme of which renunciation was by him the said Trussell pronounced at Kenelworth Castle the 20. of Ianuary 1326. in these disgracefull words which you may finde in Polychronicon I William Trussel in the name of al men of the lond of Engelond and of the Parliament Prolocutor resigne to the Edward the homage that was made to the somtym and from this tym forward now folowyng I defye the and priue the of al royal Powyr and shal neuer be tendant to the as for Kyng aftyr this tyme. The time of this Trussels death I cannot learne Here lieth interred before the Communion Table the body of Richard de Ware or Warren Abbot of this Monastery and sometime Lord Treasurer of England Who going to Rome for his consecration brought from thence certaine workmen and rich Porphery stones whereof and by whom hee made that curious singular rare pauement before the high Altar in which are circulary written in letters of brasse these ten verses following containing a discourse as one saith of the worlds continuance Si Lector posita prudenter cuncta reuoluat Hic finem primi mobilis inveniet Sepes trina canes equos homines super addas Ceruos coruos aquilas immania cete Mundi quodque sequens pereuntis triplicat annos Sphericus Archetypum globus hic monstrat Macrocosmum Christi milleno bis centeno duodeno Cum sexageno subductis quatuor anno Tertius Henricus Rex vrbs Odoricus Abbas Hos compegere Porphyreos lapides With these stones and workmen he did also frame the Shrine of Edward the Confessor with these verses Anno milleno Domini cum septuageno Et bis centeno cum completo quasi deno Hoc opus est factum quod Petrus duxit in actum Romanus ciuis Homo causam noscere si vis Rex fuit Henricus Sancti presentis amicus This Abbot died the second day of December 1283. after he had gouerned this Monastery three and twenty yeares and more Vpon whose grauestone this briefe
Sanguine perfuso reparasti quem pretioso Here lieth entombed the body of Raph Selby descended from the ancient family of the Selbies of Billesdun in the County of Northumberland a Monke of this fraternitie a learned Doctor in the ciuill and canon lawes and one exceedingly beloued and fauoured of King Henry the fourth and Henry the fift in the eight yeare of whose raigne hee departed this world Anno 1420. as by this Epitaph appeareth Ecce Radulphus ita Selby iacet hic Cenobita Doctor per merita prepotens lege perita Legibus ornatus a regibus et veneratus Ordo eiusque status per cum fit conciliatus M. C quater x bis post partum virginis iste Michaelis festo tibi spirauit bone Christe Not farre from this Selby lieth buried vnder a marble stone the body of Iohn Windsore one of the noble familie of the Windsores sometime residing at Stanwell in this County a great commander in the warres of Ireland vnder Richard the second and in the battaile of Shrewesbury vnder King Henry the fourth who died in the second yeare of King Henry the fift vpon Eester Eue the seuenth of Aprill 1414. as this Epitaph sheweth Est bis septenus M. Christi C quater annus Vespera Paschalis dum septima lux fit Aprilis Transijt a mundo Io. Windsore nomine notus Corde gemens mundo confessus crimine lotus Fecerat heredem Gulielmus auunculus istum Miles et Armigerum dignus de nomine dignum Dum iuuenilis erat bello multos perimebat Postea penituit eorum vulnera fleuit Recumbens obijt hic nunc in carcere quiescit Viuat in eternum Spiritus ante Deum But now I will conclude the funerall Monuments of this Abbey with the death and buriall of our most learned English Poet Geffery Chaucer whose life is written at large by Thomas Speght who by old copies reformed his workes which the Reader may see a little before the beginning of his bookes He departed out of this world the 25. day of October in the yeare of our Lord 1400. after had liued 72. yeares Thus writeth Leland Chaucer liued till he was an old man and found old age to be grieuous and whilest he followed his causes at London he died and was buried at Westminster The old verses which were written on his graue at the first were these Galfridus Chaucer vates et fama Poesis Materne hac sacra sum tumulatus humo Thomas Occleue or Okelefe of the office of the priuie Seale sometime Chaucers scholler for the loue he bare to the said Geffray his master caused his picture to be truely drawne in his booke De Regimine Principis dedicated to Henry the fift according to which that his picture drawn vpon his Monument was made as also the Monument it selfe at the cost and charges of Nicholas Brigham gentleman Anno 1555. who buried his daughter Rachell a childe of foure yeares of age neare to the Tombe of this old Poet the 21. of Iune 1557. such was his loue to the Muses But to returne againe to Chaucers picture to which these verses were added by the said Occleue Although his life be queint the resemblaunce Of him that hath in me so fresh liuelinesse That to put other men in remembraunce Of his Person I haue here the likenesse Doe make to the end in soothfastnesse That they that of him haue lost thought and minde By this Peniture may againe him finde The Inscriptions vpon his Tombe at this day are after this manner Qui fuit Anglorum vates ter maximus olim Galfridus Chaucer conditur hoc tumulo Annum si quaeras Domini si tempora mortis Ecce notae subsunt quae tibi cuncta notant 25 Octobris 1400. Aerumnarum requies mors N Brigham hos fecit musarum nomine sumptus About the ledge of the Tombe these verses were written Si rogitas quis eraâ— forsan te fama docebit Quod si Fama negat mundi quia gloria transit Haec monumenta lege Now it shall not be amisse to adde to these Epitaphs the iudgements and reports of some learned men of this worthy and famous Poet and first of all let vs heare his Scholler Occleue Vir tam bonis literâ—s quam generis prosapia clarus these are his lines of him in his foresaid booke de regimine Principis Alas my worthy maister honourable This lands very treasure and richesse Death by thy death hath harme irreperable Vnto vs done her vengeable duresse Dispoiled hath this land of the sweetnesse Of Rhetorige for vnto Tullius Was neuer man so like among vs. Also who was heire in Philosophy To Aristotle in our tongue but thee The steppes of Virgill in Poese Thou suedst eken men know well inough What combre world that thee my master slough Would I slaine were Iohn Lidgate a Monke of Burie in his Prologue of Bocchas of the fall of Princes by him translated saith thus in his commendation My Master Chaucer with his fresh Comedies Is dead alas chiefe Poet of Britaine That whilome made full pitous Tragedies The faule also of Princes he did complaine As he that was of making soueraine Whom all this Land should of right preferre Sith of our Language he was the load-sterre That excellent and learned Scottish Poet Gawyne Dowglas Bishop of Dunkeld in the Preface of Virgils Aeneados turned into Scottish verse doth thus speake of Chaucer Venerable Chaucer principall Poet without pere Heuenly trumpet orloge and regulere In eloquence baulme conduct and dyall Milkie fountaine cleare strand and rose ryall Of fresh endite through Albione Island brayed In his legend of noble Ladies sayed Spenser in his Fairie Queene calleth his writings The works of heauenly wit Concluding his commendation in this manner Dan Chaucer Well of English vndefiled On Fames eternall beadrole worthy to be filed Sir Philip Sidney likewise and M. Camden speake much in the deserued praise of this worthy Poet whom I leaue to his eternall rest Vnder the Clocke in the Church I haue read this Inscription Dic mihi quid prodest horas numerare fugaces Cum cessant perdas quod numerare libet This Church hath had great priuiledge of Sanctuarie within the precinct thereof as Stow saith in his Suruay of London to wit the Church Churchyard Close and all that which is still called the Sanctuarie Which Priuiledge was first granted by Sebert king of the East Saxons the first Founder thereof Since encreased by Edgar King of the West Saxons renewed and confirmed by King Edward the Confessor as appeareth by this his Charter following Edward by the grace of God king of Englishmen I make it to bee knowne to all generations of the world after me that by especiall commandement of our holy Father Pope Leo I haue renewed and honoured the holy Church of the blessed Apostle Saint Peter of Westminster and I order and establish for euer that what person of what condition or estate soeuer he be from
actiue strong family of the Cornwailes hath these words Vpon the riuer Temd saith hee is seene Burford which from Theodoricke Saie and his posteritie came vnto Robert Mortimer and from his posteritie likewise vnto Sir Geffrey Cornwaile who deriued his descent from Richard Earle of Cornwall and king of the Almaines and his race euen to these dayes hath flourished vnder the name of Barons of Burford but not in the dignitie of Parliamentarie Barons whereas it is holden of the King for to finde fiue men for the Armie of Wales and by seruice of a Baronie But more of these Cornwalls when I come to the vsuall place of their buriall for this Gentleman was casually here interred dying here in this Towne as hee passed from London into his owne countrey Here lyeth Henry Gosse and Alice his wif ..... 1485. Al yow this way by me sal pas Considyr what I am and who I was Bird I was first Iohn by name Here in Acton Preest and Parson of the same Fifty yere and three gouerne did I here And fynisht my liff in the two and fortyth yere Aftyr a thowsand ccccc of owr Lords first commyng In erth me to redeme by sore peyne sufferyng And now I haue peyd the stipend of this lyff Yeldyng my flesh to wormes wythout eny stryff For my soul intercede that glory it may opteyne Where with the blessyd Trinity eternally it may reyne And for yow ageyn prey by whos cherite I am relevyd To sweet Iesu with whos blood I am redemyd Hendon Hic iacet Iohannes de Brent Armiger .... obiit .... An. Dom. 1467. These Brents were Gentlemen of ample possessions in this tract whose chiefe residence was in Brentstreet hereunto adioyning from whom saith Norden that street tooke her denomination As also the little Brooke of Brent which giueth name to Brentford now called Brainford The most remarkable man of this Surname was one Falcatius or Falke de Brent who for his matchlesse prowesse and all-daring forwardnesse was so beloued of king Iohn that he gaue him in marriage Margaret the daughter of Warrin Fitz-Gerald his Chamberlaine late the wife of Baldwin de Riuers sonne of William Earle of Deuon and Exceter A match thought farre vnfit for such a man but the King would haue it so Whereupon this was written Lex connectit cos amor concordia lecti Sed Lex qualis amor qualis concordia qualis Lex exlex amor exosus concordia discors This Fowke liued in the like grace and fauour with king Hen. the third for by his fierie valour the said king got the victorie at Lincolne against Lewis the sonne of the second Philip king of France and his owne rebellious Barons But not long after looking ouer much vpon the height of his Fortunes and remembring too often his former good Seruices to the State he presuming vpon his Soueraignes lenitie committed many horrible outrages for which after pardon of his life hardly obtained he was adiudged to perpetuall banishment in which he ended his dayes at Rome in extreme miserie and was there buried most ignobly Ann. 1226. Hic iacet Thomas Iacob et Iohanna vxor eius qui quidem Tho. ob 1441. Iohanna .... 1400. Here lyeth Iohn Downmeer and Ioan his wyf Who 's soulys Iesu pardon ..... 1515. Hic iacet Petrus Goldesbrough ciuis et Aurifaber London qui obijt 1422. ....... Sancte Petre Pastor pro me precor esto rogator Finchley Vpon the North wall of this Church the last Will and Testament of one Thomas Sanny is hung vp thus written in a table In Dei nomine Amen Anno Domini 1509. primo anno Henrici octaui octauo die mens Nouembris I Thomas Sanny of the Estende in Finchley in the County of Midlesex whol in mynd and sick of Body do mak my last wyl and testament in form folowyng First I bequeth my soul to almyghty God to owr Lady and to al the Seynts in hevyn And my body to be buryd in the Churchyard of our Lady of Finchley Item I wil after the deth of my wyff the hous callyd Fordis and Stockwoodfeeld shallen whyl the world lastyth pay out of the seyd hous and lands forty shillyng yerly to Preests to syng for my soul my Moders soul my wyffs soul my chyldren my kyndred soulys and al Christian soulys and a nobil to the reparacion of the seyd hous and dispose to hygh ways and to pore peple or in oder good dedes of cherite And also I wil that the Chirch wardens fal yerly see this donne for euer Item I wil that this be grauyn in a ston of Marbull that al men may see hit as in my wil mor playnly doth appere Iesu mercy Lady help Here lieth entombed the body of Sir Thomas Frowicke knight Lord chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas. The circumscription about his Monument is defaced and gone In the Catalogue I finde thus much Thomas Frowick miles constitutus erat Iusticiarius de Banco xxx die mens Septembris Ann. xviii Hen. vii et obijt xvii die mens Octobris Anno M. CCCCC VI et XXII Hen. VII Adioyning to this is another marble thus inscribed Ioan la Feme Thomas de Frowicke gist icy Et le dit Thomas Pense de giser aueque luy Hic iacet Thomas Aldenham Armig. et Chirurgus illustriss Principis Henrici sexti qui obiit 1431. Hadley Of yowr .... pray ... sowl of Iohn Goodyere Esquyre and Ione his wyff which .... died ... 1504. whos sowls To the honour of Sir Henry Goodyer of Polesworth a knight memorable for his vertues saith Camden an affectionate friend of his made this Tetrastich An ill yeare of a Goodyer vs bereft Who gon to God much lacke of him here left Full of good gifts of body and of minde Wise comely learned eloquent and kinde Enfield ..... Iocosa quondam silia et vna heredum .... Domini Powes ac etiam silia et vna heredum Domine Marchie ..... et vxor famosissimo militi ...... Tipâ—ofte .... dic Septemb. ..... 1446. Cuius anime et omnium fidelium defunctorum IHC pro sua sanctissima passione misereatur To make this time-eaten Inscription somewhat more plaine I finde this Iocosa to haue beene the daughter and coheire of Edward Charleton Lord Powys in Wales married to Iohn Lord Tiptoft father of Iohn Lord Tiptoft first of that surname Earle of Worcester who liued here at Enfield house built by himselfe or some of his Ancestors Harnsey Iesu Chryst Maryes Sonn Have mercy on the soul of Iohn Skeuington An ancient familie resyding at Brumfield neare adioyning Edmundton Here lieth interred vnder a seemelie Tombe without Inscription the body of Peter Fabell as the report goes vpon whom this fable was fathered that he by his wittie deuises beguiled the deuill belike he was some ingenious conceited gentleman who did vse some
Prynces in pease most amate In Grece Archbyshop elected worthely And last of Carlyel rulyng pastorally Kepyng nobyl Houshold wyth grete Hospitality On thowsand fyve hundryd thirty and sevyn Invyterate wyth pastoral carys consumyd wyth age The nintenth of Iun reckonyd ful evyn Passyd to hevyn from worldly pylgrâ—mage Of whos soul good pepul of cherite Prey as ye wold be preyd for for thus must ye lie Iesu mercy Lady help Here lieth Sir Henry Collet knight twise Maior of London who died in the yere of our redemption 1510. This Hâ—nry was sonne to Robert Collet of Wendouer in Buckinghamshire and father to Iohn Collet Deane of Pauls in the first time of his Maioraltie the Crosse in Cheape-side was new builded in that beautifull manner as it now standeth Richardus iacet hic venerabilis ille Decanus Qui fuit etatis doctus Apollo sue Eloquio forma ingenio virtutibus arte Nobilis eternum viuere dignus erat Consilio bonus ingenio fuit vtilis acri Facunda eloquij dexteritate potens Non rigidus non ore minax affabilis omni Tempore seu puero seu loquerere sexi Nulli vnquam nocuit multos adiuvit omnes Officij studuit demeruisse bonos Tantus hic et talis ne non deleatur ademptus Flent Muse et laceris mesta Minerua comis Obijt anno 1532. etat circiter 40. This Pace succeeded Collet in the Deanrie of Pauls a man highlie in fauour with king Henry the eight by whom he was employed as Embassadour to Maximilian the Germane Emperour as also to Rome in the behalfe of Cardinall Wolâ—ey who stood in election for the Popedome Hee writ diuers learned treatises yet extant Nam vir erat saith Bale viriusque literaturae peritia praeditus Nemo ingenio candidior aut humanitate amicitior He was a right worthie man and one that gaue in counsell faithfull aduâ—ce learned he was also and indued with many excellent good gifts of nature curteous pleasâ—nt and delighting in Musicke highlie in the Kingsfauour and well heard in matters of weight Here was I borne and here I make myne end Though I was Citizen and Grocer of London And to the office of Schrevalty did ascend But things transitorie passe and vanische sone To God be geeuen thanks if that I haue ought done That to his honowre and to the bringing vp of youth And to the succowre of the Age for sewerly this is soth By Avise my wyff children were left me non Which we both did take as God had it sent And fixed our myndes that ioyntly in on To releue the poore by mutuall consent Now mercifull Iesu which hast assystyd owre intent Have mercy on owre sowles and as for the residew If it be thy will thou mayst owre Act continew Vpon the same marble these verses following The fyve and twentyth day of this monyth of Septembyr And of owre Lord God the fifteenth hundryd and fowrty yeere Master Nicholas Gibson dyde as this tombe doth remembyr Whose wyff aftyr maryed the worschypful Esquier Master William Kneuet on of the kings privy chamber Much for his time also did he endeuer To make this Act to continew for euer This pious act here mentioned in this Epitaph is a free-Schoole founded at Radcliffe in this Parish by the said Nicholas and Avise for the instruction of threescore poore mens children by a Schoolemaster and an Vsher with an Almeshouse for fourteene poore aged persons and this Foundation continues to this day Saint Leonards in Stratford Bow This religious structure was sometime a Monasterie replenished with white Monkes dedicated to the honour of our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ and Saint Leonard founded by King Henry the second in the 23. yeare of his raigne And valued at the suppression to be yearely worth an hundred one and twenty pounds sixteene shillings In this Abbey Church sometime lay entombed the body of Iohn de Bohun eldest sonne and heire of Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex Which Iohn de Bohun to vse the words of Milles in his Catalogue of Hereford Earles after the death of his father Humfrey was fifth Earle of Hereford Constable of England and Patron of the Abbey of Lanthony fourth Earle of Essex of that Surname and fifth Lord of Brecknock Because this Earle Iohn in regard of his weaknesse of body by a continuall sicknesse was not able to performe this office of the Constableship of England Edward the third at this Earles intreatie did substitute Edward Bohun the Earles younger brother Vice-Constable vnder him for the tearme of his life But Earle Iohn died at Kirby Thore the 20. of Ianuary vpon Saint Fabian and Sebastians day 1136. the tenth of Edward the third leauing no issue and was buried at Stratford Abbey not farre from London This Iohn married first Alice the daughter of Edmund Fitz-alan Earle of Arundell who died in childbed and was buried at Walden with her Infant sonne after it was christened His second wife was Margaret daughter of Raphe Lord Basset of Drâ—yton a Baron of the best ranke in those dayes by whom hee had no issue Hertfordshire For Ecclesiasticall gouernment onely some part of this Shire belongeth to the Diocesse of London the rest to the Bishopricke of Lincolne Now because the Bishop of Lincolne hath so large a Territorie vnder his iurisdiction I wâ—ll be so bold as to borrow a few Funerall Inscriptions which I haue collected in this County and within his charge and imprint them with those which are properly for London Diocesse Alhallowes in the Towne of Hertford Off yowr cherity prayeth to God and Alhalwin hertely For Ser Ion Chappilaine somtym of yis plas Vicary Almighty Iesu resseve his sowl to grase and mercy Icy gist Isabele Newmarche iadis Damosele a tresâ—oble Dame Isabele Roigne d' Engletere This Isabell Newmarch or de nouo Mercatu a name of great reputation in the raigne of King Henry the third was Maide of Honour to that Isabell Queene of England who was second wife to Richard the second daughter of Charles the sixth King of France Hic iacet Lodouicus Baysbury Capell Henrici sexti ac Prebend Ecclesie Cathedral Lincoln .... M. ccccxxviii Here lyeth vndyr this ston William Wake And by him Ione his wyff and Make Somtym yeman of Iohn Duc of Bedfords hors And lat Survayor wyth king Henry the sixt he was Gentylman mad he was at the holy Grav On qwos sowls Almyghty God mercy hav Hic iacet Iohannes Prest quondam Ianitor Hospitii Katherine nuper Regine Anglie ....... This Priest was Porter to that Katherine Queene of England who was the onely wife of that inuincible Conquerour of France Henry the fifth and daughter of Charles the sonne of Charles aforesaid King of France Saint Nicholas Hic iacet Alicia Tymyslow quondam Dominella Domine Ducisse Lankastrie que obiit 17 Septemb. 1396. This faire yong waiting Chamber-maid for so much the word
Scripta ferunt post se que liquerat exposuisse Pro dilectoris anima tui dulciter ora Albani sancti conventus qualibet hora His next successor was Iohn Stoke of whom as also of all the rest in the Catalogue I haue already spoken and now I will returne backe againe to the rest of the Epitaphs and Inscriptions which I finde in the Church In a wall in the body of the Church ouer a vault Vir Domini verus iacet hic Heremita Rogerus Et sub eo clarus meritu Heremita Sigarus Memoriale Domini Thome Rutland quondam subprior is huius Monasterij qui ex luce migrauit M. ccccc.xxi cuius anime propitietur altissimus Amen Ecce sacerdos eram iam factus vile cadauer Et cito puluis erit queso memento mei Siste gradum qui ad me venit hic funde precator Me deus vt leuet ducat ad vsque polum Vpon his brest on the portraiture this English Distick is ingrauen Iesus Chryst Marys son Hav mercy on the sowl of Rychard Stondon This Towne vaunts her selfe very much of the birth and buriall of Sir Iohn Mandeuill Knight the famous Trauailer who writ in Latine French and in the English tongue his Itinerary of three and thirty yeares And that you may beleeue the report of the Inhabitants to bee true they haue lately pensild a rare piece of Poetry or an Epitaph for him vpon a piller neere to which they suppose his body to haue beene buried which I thinke not much amisse to set downe for although it will not bee worth the reading yet doe but set it to some lofty tune as to the Hunting of Antichrist or the like I know it will be well worth the singing marke how it runs All yee that passe on this pillar cast eye This Epitaph read if you can 'T will tell you a Tombe onâ—'t stood in this roome Of a braue spirited man Iohn Mandeuill by name a knight of great fame Borne in this honoured Towne Before him was none that euer was knowne For trauaile of so high renowne As the Knights in the Temple crosse-legged in marble In armour with sword and with sheeld So was this Knight grac't which time hath defac't That nothing but ruines doth yeeld His Trauailes being donne he shines like the Sun In heauenly Canaan To which blessed place O Lord of his grace Bring vs all man after man That he was borne here in this Towne I cannot much deny but I am sure that within these few yeares I saw his Tombe in the Citie of Leege within the Church of the religious house of the Guilliammits with this Inscription vpon it and the verses following hanging by on a table Hic iacet vir nobilis D. Ioannes de Mandevile Al D. ad Barbam miles Dominus de Campdi natus de Anglia Medicine professor deuotissimus orator bonorum largissimus pauperibus erogator qui toto quasi orbe lustrato Leo â—ij diem vite sue clausit extremum Ann. Dom. M.CCC.lxxi Mens Nouemb. die xvi Aliud Hoc iacet in tumulo cui totus patria viuo Orbis erat totum quem peragrasse ferunt Anglus Eques que fuit nunc ille Britannus Vlysses Dicatur Graio clarus Vlysse magis Moribus ingenio candore sanguine clarus Et vere cultor Relligionis erat Nomen si queras est Mandevil Indus Arabsque Sat notum dicet finibus esse suis. The Church-men will shew you here his kniues the furniture of his horse and his spurres which he vsed in his trauells Vndyr this Ston lyeth beryed here He that whylom was Balyff of this town Callyd somtym William Smyth Esqwyere To whom of his Sins God grant remission Elisabyth his wyff a woman of renown Here lyeth alsoo enterryd in this grav Cryst on her sowl hav compassion And grant them in heuen a plase to hav Vpon the same marble vnder the picture of the Crosse these words are engrauen which the foresaid Smith seemes to speake By this tokyn of the holy cross Good Lord sav owr sowls from loss Elisabeth his wife these Cryst who dyed for vs on the Rood tree Sav the sowl of my Husbond owr chyldren and mee Here lieth .... Raph Rowlat Citizen of London Merchant of the Staple and Ioan his wife Which Raph dyed M. cccccxix on whose This familie is now extinct and the inheritance diuolued by marriage vnto the Maynards as appeareth by an Epitaph vpon the wall not long since made for on of the Maynards who married one of the heires of Sir Raph Rowlat knight To the picture of Christ hanging on the Crosse this inscription was lately to be read vpon one of the pillars in the Church Fly the falshode of the fiend for he wil fownd the Dread not my dreadful doomes for I dyed for the. Cal on me thy Sauyour Chryst I can chere the My mercy is more than thy misse I may amend the See how my syde was perced for the and I shal help the. In this Abbey Church is a goodly Font of solid brasse wherein the kings children of Scotland were wont to be baptized which Font Sir Richard Lea knight Master of the Pioners brought as a spoile out of the Scottish warres and gaue it to this Church As may appeare by this loftie and arrogant inscription about the same as if the Font in it owne person did proclaime the knights act to all passengers in these words lately Englished When Leeth a Towne of good account among the Scots and Edinbrough their chiefe Citie were on a fire Sir Richard Lea knight saued mee from burning and brought mee into England And I being mindfull of this so great a benefit whereas before I was wont to serue for baptizing of none but Kings children haue now willingly offered my seruice euen to the meanest of the English Nation Lea the Victour would haue it so Farewell In the yeare of our Lord M.D.xliii and of the raigne of King Henry the eight xxxvi These already written are all the Epitaphs or inscriptions which I finde in this Abbey Church howsoeuer it doth retaine the ashes of many a worthie man conquered by death both before and since the Conquest As of Egfrid king of the Mercians sonne to great Offa the Founder who added to those twenty Lordships or Mannors wherewith his father at the first endowed this foundation Terram quinque Maneriorum in loco dicto Pynefeld cum terminis suis antiquis manerium de Sauntridge et Tirefeld Cartas que Patris sui benigne in suae serena concessione confirmauit pro confirmatione regni sui sua prosperitate nec non pro salute paterne sueque anime antecessorum suorum Ecclesiam suam per omnia salubriter protegendo saith the golden Register of this Abbey The first businesse that this King vndertooke after hee came to the Crowne was the restauration of ancient priuiledges to the Church and great hope
fortuna valete Nil mihi vobiscum ludite nunc alios Here are to be seene the ruines of the first Nunnery in England built in the infancie of the Saxons conuersion to Christianitie by Erkenwald Bishop of London which he dedicated to the honour of Christ and the blessed Virgine Mary his mother in which he placed blacke Nunnes and made his Sister Ethelburgh the first gouernesse or Abbesse ouer the rest Wherein she deuoutly spent her dayes and died the 5. of the Ides of October about the yeare 678. Her next successor was Hildetha who gouerned her charge with great austeritie and strictnesse of life for many yeares till being ouerladen with deâ—â—epit old age she laid aside the burthen of mortality and entred into the ioyes of heauen the Ides of December about the yeare 721. Many miracles saith venerable Bede were wrought here in this Church famous for the Sepulture of these and other Saints at the Shrynes of these holy handmaidens of God much confirming the doctrine of those dayes for which in that most pregnant and fruitfull age of Saints they were canonized and their dayes kept holy This house was valued at the suppression to be worth 1084. l. 6. s 2. d. ob q. In nomine Dei nostri et Saluatoris Iesu Christi Ego Erkenwaldus Episcopus Prouincie Est Saxonum seruorum Dei seruus Dilectissimis in Christo sororibus in Monasterio quod appellatur Berecing habitantibus quod deo auxiliante construxi Concedo vt tam vos quam posteri vestri in perpetuum vt constructum est ita possideatis Et ne quis Presul â—uiuslibet sit ordinis vel qui in meum locum successerit vllam in eodem Monasterio exerceat potestatem Nec sui iuris ditione contra canonum decreta inquietudines aliquas facere presumat Ea vero tantum faciat in predicto Monasterio que ad vtilitatem animarum pertinent ordinationes Sacerdotum vel consecrationes Ancillarum Dei. Ipsa vero sancta congregatio que propter dei amorem ibidem deo laudes exhibet moriente Abbatissa ex seipsa sibi aliam eligat cum dei timore Omnes terras que michi ex deuotionibus Regum sunt concesse ad nomen eiusdem Monasterij quemadmodum donate sunt ex integro et quieto iure possideant sicut chartule donationum continent quas in presenti vobis tradidi Et ne quis sorte improbus negator huius donationis erumpat ideo sigillatim has terras in hac chartula enumerandas et nominandas optimum duxi Quarum prima c. Here he reckons vp all the Mannors Lordships and other donations to this his Monasterie in particular concluding thus Si quis autem Episcoporum cuiuslibet dignitaris fuerit velsi quis omnium secularium potestatum contra hanc chartulam canonice et regulariter a me constitutam contendere presumpserit vel aliquid ex inde subtrahere sit seperatus a consortio Sanctorum in hoc seculo omnium et in futuro celestis Regni portas clausas contra se vndique inveniat a Sancto Petro clauiculario celestis Regni a quo michi licentia huius Priuilegij data et permissa fuerat per os beatissimi Agathonis Apostolice sedis Presulis cum Romam adij ante an xviii Ann. ab incarnatione Domini DC lxxvij Chartula autem hec a medictata confirmata in sua stabilitate nichilominus maneat ✚ Ego Erkenwaldus Episcopus Donator pro confirmatione subscripsi ✚ Ego Wilfridus Episcopus consensi et subscripsi ✚ Ego Hedda Episcopus consensi et subscripsi ✚ Ego Guda Presbyter et Abbas consentiens subscripsi ✚ Ego Eghaldus Presbyter et Abbas consentiens subscripsi ✚ Ego Hagona Presbyter et Abbas consentiens subscripsi ✚ Ego Hooc Presbyter et Abbas consentiens subscripsi Sig. ✚ num manus Sebbi Regis Est saxonum Sig. ✚ num manus Sigihardi Regis Sig. ✚ num manus Suebred Regis Ex Registro regio Dagenham Hic iacet Richardus Treswel filius Iohaunis Treswel generosi qui obijt 18 Iulij 1509. Here lieth Anne Barentine wyf to Syr William Barentine who dyed 27 Decem. 1522. on whos Here lieth Sir Thomas Vrswicke Knight ..... Recorder of London who died ..... By the meanes of this Recorder Vrswick whose perswasions were forcible with the Citizens King Edward the fourth was receiued into London with generall applause Anno regni sui vndecimo who entring into the Bishop of London his Palace by a Posterne gate there tooke King Henry the sixt and the Archbishop of Yorke George Neuill Prisoners and sent them both to the Tower on Maundy Thursday Here lieth Elizabeth Fitz-Lewis wyfe of Sir Richard Fitz-Lewis daughter of Sir Raph Sheldon she dyed the second of Ianuary M. ccccc.xxii vpon whos sowl Thorndon not farre off where now the Lord Petre hath a goodly faire house was in times past saith Camden the dwelling place of this worshipfull Familie of Fitz-Lewis the last of which name if wee may beleeue the common report by occasion that the house happened to be set on fire in the time of his wedding feast was piteously himselfe therein burnt to death Wennington In the Church of this little Parish which as I am told containes but twelue Mansion houses are three ancient monuments shamefully defaced howsoeuer some fragments of their inscriptions remaining ...... Gilderburgh .... l' an de grace ... Mil. ccc.lxxxix ..... Ioanna Ioanna Enfants Iohan et Mariore de Gildesburgh gisent icy Dieu de lour almes eit Mercy Amen ..... Mariori qe fust la seme Iohan de Gildesburgh gist icy Dieu des'alme eit mercy Amen Aueloy Hic iacet Radulphus de Kneuynton obitus eius die Iouis ante sestum sancti Nicholai Anno Dom. M.ccc.lxxiii Reg. Regis Ed. tertij xlvii litera Dominicalis F. Hic iacet Editha Pert vxor Willelmi Pert que in vita sua prudens fuit et fidelis ob xxviii Septemb. M. cccc.l.vii cuius anime South Okenden Hic iacet Ingstramus Bruin miles quondam Dominus istius Ville et huius Ecclesie Patronus qui obijt 12. Aug. 1400. One of the Ancestors of this Bruin as I haue it out of a booke of the visitation of Essex in the Heralds office was Chamberlaine to King Edward the first who gaue him the Mannor of Bekingham in Kent who married â—sold the sole heire of this Mannor of south Okenden who serued Q. Elianor wife to the said King Edward which gaue to them diuers Lordships in Hampshire This Familie of Bruin saith Camden was in former ages as famous as any one in this tract Out of the two heires female whereof being many times married to sundry husbands Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke the Tirels Berners Harlestons Heueninghams are descended and of that house there be males yet remaining in Southamptonshire Coringham The Monuments in this Church which haue beene many
tempore Ed. 3. an honourable title as well in France as in England but afterward applied vnto Seruants and Groomes whereupon when the Gentrie reiected it by changing the name they began to be called Gentlemen of the Bedchamber Orate pro animabus Iohannis Barrington et l homasine vxoris eius qui quidem Iohannes obiit 8. die mens Nouemb. 1416. et Thomasina obiit 15. Septemb. 1420. Quorum animabus Ryding from Ralegh towards Rochford I happened to haue the good companie of a gentleman of this countrey who by the way shewed me a little hill which he called the Kings Hill and told me of a strange customarie Court of long continuance there yearely kept the next Wednesday after Michaelmas day in the night vpon the first cockcrowing without any kinde of light saue such as the heauens will affoard The Steward of the Court writes onely with coales and calleth all such as are bound to appeare with as low a voice as possiblie he may giuing no notice when he goeth to execute his office Howsoeuer he that giues not an answer is deeply amerced which seruile attendance said he was imposed at the first vpon certaine Tenants of diuers Mannors hereabouts for conspiring in this place at such an vnseasonable time to raise a commotion The title of the Entrie of the Court hee had in memory and writ it downe for me when we came to Rochford Thus it runnes in obscure barbarous rimes Curia de Domino Rege dicta sine Lege Tenta est ibidem per eiusdem consâ—etudinem Anteortum solis luceat nisi polus Seneschallus solus scribit nisi colis Clamat clam pro Rege in Curia sine lege Et qui non cito venerit citius penitebit Si venerit cum lumine errat in regimine Et dum sunt sine lumine capti sunt in crimine Curia sine cura iurata de iniuria Tenta die Mercurij prox post festum Sancti Michaelis Thus much haue I spoken of a Lawlesse Court for which I haue neither law nor reason For I am sure that this discourse is impertinent and quite from the subiect to which I haue tied my selfe to treat of Yet I hope these lines will not seeme much vnpleasing for my Reader to peruse when his minde is ouercharged with dull heauie and vncomfortable Epitaphs Rochford I am looking for some Monument or other in this Church to the memorie of some one of the Lords of ancient Nobilitie to which this Towne gaue the Surname of Rochford as now it giues the title of Viscount Rochford to that truly honourable and right worthie gentleman Henry Cary Lord Hunsden and Earle of Douer Pris pur Anne Snokeshall fille Iohn filol de Landmare qe gist ici Dieu de salme eit pite et mercy qe ob iour de Seynt Valentin â—an Iâ—su crist M. ccc.lxxxxvi Of your cherite prey for the sowl of Rose Crymvill wyf of Richard Crymvill Which Rose desesyd viii April M. cccccxxiiii on her sowl Iesu haue mercy Hic iacet Maria Dilcock que obiit xiiii die Decembris Ann. Dom. M. Vc. Cuius anime .... The Tower and the Steeple of this Church was built from the ground as the inhabitants by tradition affirme by Richard Lord Rich Baron of Leez and Chancellour of England A most prudent and iudicious Statesman a singular treasure and supporter of the kingdome who for his great good deserts receiued the office of Chancellour of England at the hands of King Edward the sixth Howsoeuer the Armes of the Butlers Earles of Ormond whose inheritance this Towne was in times past are cut in some places on the stone Robert Lord Rich and Earle of Warwicke lately deceased founded here sixe Almes houses for fiue poore impotent men and an aged woman But here let me conclude what I haue spoken of this towne with the words of Camden More inward saith he is Rochford placed that hath giuen name to this Hundred now it belongeth to the now Earles of Warwicke Barons Rich and in old time it had Lords of great nobility surnamed thereof whose inheritance came at length to Butler Earle of Ormond and Wiltshire and from them to Sir Thomas Bullen whom King Henry the eight created Viscount Rochford and afterward Earle of Wiltshire out of whose progenie sprung that most gratious Queene Elizabeth and the Barons of Hunsdon Pritlewell Swein de Essex before remembred built here a Priory for blacke Monkes which he dedicated to the blessed Virgine Mary Which was much augmented by others and holden to be a cell to the Priory of Lewes vntill the yeare 1518. when as a great contention arose betweene the two Houses insomuch that Iohn Prior de Pritlewel noluit soluere vnam Marcam Priori de Lewes nomine subiectionis This house was valued at the suppression to be worth 194 l. 14. s. 3. d. ob yearely Hic iacet Magister Iohannes Lucas Theologie Bacchalaureus quondam vicarius istius Ecclesie Parochialis qui ob 16. Ian. 1477. Cuius anime Prey for the sowl of Iohn Cock the younger and Margaret his wyff Whych Io. dyed ...... 1522. Her vndyr this Grauston lyth beryed Richard Bowrd ... Marchant of Callys .... dyed ... 1432. Vnder this inscription these words are engrauen in a trewe Loues knot Quod servaui perdidi quod expendi habui Quod donaui habui quod negaui perdidi Stangate Here sometime stood a small Priory built by the Predecessours of the Prior of Lewes about what time I cannot learne valued to bee yearely worth 43. l. 8. s. 6. d. Saint Osithes Whose ancient name was Chich now growne out of vse by reason of Osith the virgine of royall parentage who being wholly deuoted to the seruice of God was here stabbed to death by the Danish pyrates in the yeare 653 in the moneth of October And being by our Ancestours honoured for a Saint Richard de Beaveyes Bishop of London in her memoriall built here a religious house of Regular Chanons about the yeare 1120. in the raigne of King Henry the first His grant I haue read in the Records of the Tower beginning thus Richardus Dei gratia London Episcopus c. Salutem Sciatis quod ego dedi Ecclesie Sancte Osithe virginis de Ciz ecclesias de Sudemenestra et de Clachentona cum omnibus que ad illas pertinent c. King Henry confirmes and augments this donation by his Charter dated at Roan in the nineteenth yeare of his raigne And many others so added to the reuenues of this Monastery that at the time of the suppression it was valued at 758. pound fiue shillings eight pence This Bishop the founder was diuers times about to resigne his Bishopricke that he might become a regular Canon in this his owne new built Monasterie and that the rather because being taken with an irrecouerable Palsie he well knew his time to be
short But he so long deferred the execution of this intent that he was surprised by death before he could performe it the sixteenth day of Ianuarie 1127. He was Warden of the marches of Wales and gouernour of the County of Salop he sate Bishop twenty yeares in which time beside the building of this Monastery he purchased diuers whole streets and much housing neere to his Cathedrall Church of Saint Pauls All which he pulled downe and leauing the ground vnbuilt for a Cemitery or Churchyard enclosed the same with a wall which for the most part remaineth but at this day so couered with houses as it can hardly be seene The Canons of this house desired his body to be here buried which they entombed vnder a marble Monument with this inscription Hic iacet Richardus Beauueis cognomine Rufus London Episcopus vir probus et grandeuus per totam vitam laboriosus Fundator noster religiosus et qui multa bona nobis et Ministris Ecclesie sue sancti pauli contulit obijt xvi Iaenuarij M. c.xx.vii cuius anime propitietur altissimus Woodham waters In this Church I finde no monument of any great antiquity howsoeuer here was the ancient seate of the Lords Fitz-waters who being nobly descended saith Camden were of a most ancient race deriued from Robert the yonger sonne of Richard sonne to Gislebert of Clare accounted Earle of Hertford but in the age lately foregoing translated by a daughter into the stocke of the Radcliffes the predecessors of the Earles of Sussex Woodham Mortimer Prey for the sowlys of Iron Cokar and Christian his wyf which Ion dyed the viii of Octobre on thowsand fowr hundryd seuenty and eight and the seyd Ion for the helth of his sowl gaue by his Testament and last Will to God and to his Church a yeerely rent of xx pens and iii. schillyngs iiii pens for kepyng his obit in this Chirch to bee takyn out of his croft callyd Windets yerly for euer Maldon In this towne stood the pallace royall of Cunobeline or Kimbaline King of great Britaine a Prince that spent his yonger yeares in the warres vnder Augustus Caesar of whom he receiued the order of Knighthood by whom he was so fauoured that by his alone request the peace of this kingdome was continued without the payment of Romane Tribute who hauing for a long time enioyed peace in the vniuersall peace of the world for in the xiii yeare of his raigne the God of peace our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ was borne of the blessed Virgin He trained vp his people in a more ciuill and peaceable kinde of gouernement then that to which they had beene formerly accustomed and departed this world in peace within this his Citie of Maldon then the chamber of his kingdome in the one and twentieth yeare of our redemption when he had raigned thirty and fiue yeares of whom thus writeth my Author Io Harding ca. xlv Kymbaline so was his sonne and heyre Noryshed at Rome instruct with Cheualre That knyght was made wyth honor greate and â—ayer By Octauian reigning then enterly Emperor then of Romes great Monarchy In whose time was both peace and all concord Through all the worlde and borne was Christ our Lorde He was buried in this his chiefe citie some say at London Hic iacet Henricus Coggeshale filius et heres Thome Coggeshale filij Thome Coggeshale Armigeri qui obijt 9. Ian. 1427. cuius Quisquis eris quitransieris sta perlege plora Sum quod eris fueramque quod es pro me precor ora Orate pro anima Thome Darcy Ar. corporis Regum Edwardi quarti et Henrici sexti et nuper vnius Iusticiar ad pacem in com Essex ac filij et heredis Roberti Darcy militis nec non pro anima Margarete consortis sue vnius filiarum et heredis Iohannis Harleton in com Suffolk Ar. qui quidem Tho. obijt 25. Mens Septemb. 1485. Hic iacet Rogerus Darcy Ar. filius et heres Tho. Darcy Ar. pro corpore illustrissimi Principis Henrici septimi Regis Anglie et Elizabetha vxor eius filia Henrici Wentworth militis qui obijt vltimo die Septemb. 1508. Diuers other faire monuments but shamefully defaced are here erected to the memory of the Darcies a numerous familie and for antiquity and noblenesse of birth of great respect in many places of this kingdome Sir Robert Darcy Knight remembred in the former inscription by his last will and testament bequeathed his body to be buried in this Church the substance whereof I haue read in an old Manuscript as followeth Robert Darcy Knight made his Testament the 5 of October Anno Domini 1469. his body he willed to be buried in all Hallowes Church of Maldon before the Altar in the Isle where his father lieth in a Tombe of marble Also he willed l markes to be disposed for two thousand masses for him to be said within sixe weekes next after his deceyse iiii d. for euery masse and that they be charged for to prey for his soule his wifs soul his fathers and his mothers and for all his sisters soules and for all their husbands soules and for all the soules that he is bound to prey for Of which said l. markes hee willed to haue somewhat euery Prist that dwelled in Penbroke hall in Cambridge Also he willed that euery Fryer that was a Prist in Colchester haue xx d. and euery little Fryer vi d. to say three dirgees considering that he was a brother of that Order And the house of Chennesford xl s. the house of Clare xx s. and each yong Frier vi d. considering that hee was a brother of their Order And he made his Executors Elizabeth his wife Io. Clopton Esquire Nicolas Saxton and Richard Astley Clerkes And the superuisors of this his Testament my Lord of Essex my Lord Dinham Thomas Mountgomery and Thomas Tirrill Knights lowly beseeching the said Lord of Essex the Lord Dinham Sir Thomas Mountgomery and Sir Thomas Tirrill to helpe his sonne Thomas and all his children Also hee willed that my Lord of Essex and the Lord Dinham should each of them haue a But of Malmesey and that Sir Thomas Mountgomery and Sir Thomas Tirrill should each of them haue a pipe of red wine Also he willed that his brother Iohn Clopton one of his Executors should haue for his labour xx.l. Also he willed mistresse Anne Darcy his brothers wife to haue xx markes Yeuen at Danbury the day and yeare aboue said This his will was proued quarto diâ— mensis Maij coram reuerendo in Christo Patre Domino Thoma Episcopo London infra manerium suum de Wekeham Anno Domini 1470. One King a Butcher with his two wiues Alice and Anne lie here interred vnder a goodly marble richly inlayd with brasse his Axe for his Armes with this Epitaph who died 1415 Subiacet hic pictus diues durus
Sone men cluped Constantyn Without the walls of this Towne stood a large and stately Monastery which Eudo Sewar to king Henry the firsâ— founded and consecrated to the honour of Christ and Saint Iohn Baptist wherein he placed blacke Monkes The Ancestors of the right honourable Sir Edward Sackvile knight of the Bath and Earle of Dorset were great benefactours or rather cofounders of this religious structure For in the booke of the Abbey of Colchester I haue read that Iordanus de Saukevil miles et Baro de Bergholt Saukevil filius heres Roberti Saukevil superstes tempore Stephani Regis Henrici secundi confirmavit Ecclesie Sancti Iohannis de Colecestria in perpetuam Eleemosinam manerium de Wicham or Witham quod pater sâ—us Robertus eidem Ecclesie donauerat The foresaid Eudo founded likewise in this Towne an Hospitall for people infected with the contagious disease of Leprosie which he dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalen Here was another religious house wherein were placed brethren of the holy Crosse but by whom founded I cannot finde Valued at the suppression to 7. l. 7.5.8 d. per annum Robert Lord Fitzwater in the yeare 1309. founded here an Abbey for Friers Minors into whose order and House he entred himselfe in the yeare 1325. and then and there tooke vpon him the habite of a religious Votary wherein he spent the rest of his dayes Ann. M.ccc.ix saith the booke of Dunmow Robertus filius Walteri custos de Essex fundamentum posuit Ecclesie Fratrum Minorum de Colcestria And in the Catalogue of such Emperours Kings Princes and other potent personages which from the beginning haue entred into this religious order This Robert is reckoned for one These are the words Frater Dominus Robertus Fitzwater Baro fundator Conventus Colcestrie intrauit ibidem ordinem Ann. Domini Milesimo tricentesimo vicesimo quinto This house was valued at the suppression at 113. l. 12. s 8. d. of yearely reuenewes Earles Colne So called of the Sepulture of the Earles of Oxford which deriue their descent saith Camden from the Earles of Guines in France and haue the surname of Vere from Vere a Towne in Zeland In this parish Church are two Monuments of this familie of the Veres the one lieth crosse-legd with a Sarasins head vpon his tombe which Sarasin say the Inhabitants this Earle slew in the holy Land The other of them with his wife lieth entombed at her feet is the Talbot at his feet the Boare they are both shamefully defaced They were remooued out of the Priory neare adioining at the suppression as I was told This Priorie was first founded by Aubrey de Vere soone after the Conquest which he dedicated to the honour of God and Saint Andrew and placed therein black Monks translated from Abingdon to which Abbey he made this Priory to be subiect vpon this occasion as I haue it out of the booke of Abingdon Godfrey de Vere the sonne and heire of the foresaid Aubrey by Beatrice his wife dying in his fathers life time was buried in the Monastery of Abingdon to which he had beene a benefactor whereupon saith the Story Aubrey his father and Beatrice his mother were determined to choose Abingdon for their buriall place in respect of the tender affection they bore to their child But their Lands lying here in Essex farre off they procured a Grant from King Henry the first to build a religious House at Colne in Essex for their soules health their Sonnes and others as also for their Sepultures et hanc domum Sancto Andrâ—e Apostolo dedicatam subiectam et coherâ—ntem Ecclesie Abingdonen si faciebant Not long after the finishing of this worke and a little before his death Aubrey the Founder tooke vpon him the habite of Religion in this his owne house wherein hee died and was here buried by a younger sonne of his named William in whose remembrance this Epitaph was engrauen vpon their Monument Cedunt a vita votis animisque cupita Barbarus et Scita Gentilis et lsraelita Has pariter metas habet omnis sexus et et aes En puer en senior Pater alter filius alter Legem fortunam terram venere sub unam Non iuvenie â—ote quas epotavit Athene Non vâ—tulo vote vires velopes valuere Sed valuere fides et predia quae memoramus Vt valeant valeant per secula cuncta precamus For the said Aubrey de Vere and Beatrice his wife I found this Inscription to be engrauen vpon their Monument in the booke of Colne Priory Here lyeth Aulbery de Veer the first Erle of Guisnes the sonne of Alphonsus de Veer the whyche Aulbery was the fownder of this place and Bettrys hys wyf syster of kyng Wylliam the Conquerour This Priorie was valued at the fatall ouerthrow of such like buildings to be yearely worth 175. l. 14. s. 8 d ob The house is standing at this day conuerted into a priuate dwelling place as also the old Chappell to it wherein are diuers Monuments vnder which lie buried many of this thrice honourable Familie of the Veres but they are all gone to decay and their Inscriptions by time and stealth quite taken away Vpon one Tombe of Alabaster which is thought to bee the ancientest is the pourtraiture of a man lying in his armour crosse-legged but what was carued at his feet cannot be discerned Vpon another is one lying armed wtih the blew Bore vnder his head which was also crosse-legged as I was informed but now is nothing remaining from the middle downeward A third of wood armed crosse-legged on his Target the Armes of the house of Oxford and there lieth by him a woman made of wood which is thought to haue beene his Lady and Countesse Here are two more likewise in wood armed and crosse-legged the one hath an Hound or Talbot vnder his feet the cote Armour of the other is quite broken away with his Target Here is one in Alabaster not crosse-legged the Garter about one of his legges what is vnder his feet cannot be discerned A woman pourtrayed in Alabaster with a Falcon vnder her feet and a little Monument of Alabaster vpon which is the image of one in a Gowne with a purse hanging at his girdle hee is in length about foure foot But I will shew the Reader the names of such Earles and others of this house which by supposition and certainty are said to haue beene heere interred which may giue some light to the further knowledge of these in this manner intombed Aubrey de Vere the sonne of Aubrey Chamberlaine vnder King Henry the first or Camerarius Anglie as I finde it in old Cartularies hauing lost this his Office of great Chamberlaine and other dignities in the turmoiles betweene King Stephen and Maude the Empresse was by the said Empresse and Henry the second as you may haue it more fully in Vincents discouery of errours
body of Robert Bourchier Lord Chancelor of England in the fourteenth yeare of King Edward the third from whom saith the light of great Britaine Clarentieâ—x sprang a most honourable progenie of Earles and Barons of that name Here stands a monument vnder which one of the right honourable familie of the Veres lieth interred it is much defaced .... Georgio Vere filio Georgii Vere .... militis ....... 1498. High Esterne Here lyeth Dame Agnes Gate the wyf of Sir Geffrey Gate knight the which Sir Geffrey was six yeares Captane of the Isle of Wyght and after Marshal of Caleys and there kept with the Pykards worschipul warrys and euyr entendyd as a good Knyght to please the Kyng in the partyes of Normandy wyth al his myght which Agnes dyed the ix of Decembyr M. cccc.lxxxvii on whos soul Iesu haue mercy Amen Prey for the sowl al ye that liue in sight Of Sir Geffrey Gate the curtesse knight Who 's wyff is beryed here by Goddys might He bowght the Manor of Garnets by right Of Koppeden gentylman so he behight Of this Witnesses his wyff and Executors This yer ...... delihowrs xxii Ian. M. cccc lxxvii Pater de celis Deus miserere nobis Fili redemptor mundi Deus miserere nobis Sancta Trinitas vnus Deus miserere nobis This Manour of Garnets here mentioned and all his other inheritance as I haue it by relation from the Inhabitants about fourescore yeares after the death of this Sir Geffray was forfeited to the Crowne by the attaindour of Sir Iohn Gate Knight beheaded on the Tower hill with Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland and Sir Thomas Palmer Knight for that they had endeuoured to haue made Lady Iane the daughter of Henry Grey Duke of Suffolke by Frances his wife who was the daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke by Mary his wife second sister to King Henry the eight and the wife of Guilford Dudley the fourth sonne of the said Duke of Northumberland Queene of England the xxii of August M. ccccc 53. the first of Queene Mary Barmiston Of your cherite prey for the sowl of Peter Wood Who died the thirtyth dey of May Vnto hym that was crucified on the rood To send hym ioyes for ay Castle Heningham Here lieth interred vnder a Tombe of marble and Tuch now ruinous Iohn de Vere the fift of that Christian name Earle of Oxford Lord Bulbeck Samford and Scales and great Chamberlaine of England Vpon which monument I finde nothing engrauen but the names of his children which he had by his wife Elizabeth daughter heire of Edward Trussell of Staffordshire knight Banneret Which were three sonnes and three daughters namely Iohn de Vere the sixth of that Christian name Earle of Oxford Aubrey de Vere second sonne Geffrey Vere the third sonne Father of Iohn Vere of Kirbey Hall of Sir Francis Vere knight the great Leader in the Low countries and of that renowned Souldier Sir Horatio Vere knight Lord Baron of Tilbery in this County Elizabeth married to Thomas Lord Darcy of Chich Anne wife to Edmund Lord Sheffield and Francis married to Henry Howard Earle of Surrey This Earle Iohn was knight of the Garter and Councellour of State to king Henry the eight Who died here in his Castle at Heueningham the 19. of March 1539. Prey for the soul of Dorethy Scroop dawghter of Richard Scroop brother to the Lord Scroop of Bolton .... who .... 1491. This Dorothie was sister of Elisabeth the widow of William Lord Beaumont and daughter of Richard Scroope knight the second wife of Iohn de Vere the third of that Christian name Earle of Oxford In a parchment Roll without date belonging to the Earle of Oxford I find that one Lucia belike some one of that right honourable house founded a Priory in this Parish for blacke veyled Nunnes Which she dedicated to the holy Grosse and the blessed Virgine Mary Of which religious foundation she her selfe was the first Prioresse whose death was wondrously lamented by Agnes who did next succeed her in that office and the rest of the Couent who desire the prayers and suffrages of all the religious houses in England for her soules health The forme whereof to transcribe cannot seeme much impertinent to the subiect I haue in hand nor tedious to the iudicious Reader Anima domine Lucie prime Fundatricis Ecclesie Sancte Crucis et Sancte Marie de Heningham et anime Ricardi et Sare Galfridi et Dametre et Helene et anime omnium defunctorum per miserecordiam Dei requiescant in pace Amen Vniuersis sancte Matris Ecclesie filiis ad quos presens scriptum peruenerit Agnes Ecclesie sancte crucis Sancte Marie de Henigeham humilis Ministra eiusdemque loci conuentus eternam in Domino salutem Post imbres lacrimarum et fletuum innundacionem quam in transitu karissime Matris nostre venerande Lucie prime Priorisse ac fundatricis Domus nostre fudimus que vocante Domino tertio Idus Iulij viam vniuerse carnis ingressa terre debitum humani generis persoluit manum misimus ad calamum vniuersitati vestre scripto denunciantes calamitatem quam patimur subtracta enim tam felici matre in hac valle miserie simul cor nostrum dereliquit nos ec mirum cum eadem tot virtutum polleret moribus tantis gratiarum rutilaret honoribus tot meritorum fragaret odoribus vt merito illi congruat hoc nomen Lucia quod est lucis scientia Recte ideo Lucia dicta quia nomen beate virginis Lucie sortita illius pro viribus imitabatur exempla Illa meritis precibus fluxum sanguinis in Matre deleuit Ista in se omnis motus concupiscentie carnalis restringens fluxum in aliis incontinentie contaminationis per ariditatem sancte conuersationis sobrie vite radicitus extirpauit Illa sponso suo carnalem copulam nutu diuino subtraxit Ista vt nouimus vinculo Matrimonij septies constricta consortii virilis ignara incontaminata semper illesa permansit ita de laqueo venantium temporaliter est erepta Et hoc fecit diuina prudentia vt nullum preter eum admitteret amatorem Ista etiam discreta fuit in silentio vtilis in verbo verecundia grauis pudore venerabilis singulis compassione proxima pre cunctis contemplatione suspensa sicque studuit bene agentibus esse per humilitatem socia vt per zelum iusticie delinquentium corrigeret errata Vnde in titillatione carnis ex ea didicimus habere prudentiam in aduersitate fortitudinem in tribulatione patientiam in desperatione solatium in periculo refugium in estu refrigerium in asperitate lenitatem Et suit nobis ipsius exemplo lectio frâ—quentior oratio pinguior feruentior affectus Quid multa tanta efflorâ—â—â— in hac benignissima virgine pia matre nostra virtus abstinentie tanta ieiuniorum vigiliarum nec non
at dinner vpon the day of his coronation and whether this be she here buried or not I know not Richard Lions held the said Mannor after her by the seruice of making Wafers vpon the day of the Kings Coronation and of seruing the King with the same Wafers as he sits at dinner the same day Leez Abbey This Abbey of old time was founded by the Gernons now it is the seate of the Right Honourable and one right worthy of all his due honours Robert Lord Rich Baron Leez and Earle of Warwicke now liuing An. 1631. This Abbey or Priory was valued at the time of the suppression as it is in the catalogue of Religious houses to be yearely worth one hundred forty one pound fourteene shillings eight pence Rickling Humfrey Waldene le premer gist icy Dieu de salme eit mercy Amen Hic iacet Henricus Langley Armig. qui obijt xx Sept. M. cccc.lviii et Margareta vxor cius vna filiarum et heredum Iohannis Waldene Armigeri que obijt v. Martii M. cccc.liii Hic tacet Thomas Langley Ar. qui obijt 1 Mar. M. cccc.lii Here lyth Henry Langley Esquyr and Dame Katherin his wyff whych Henry departyd this lyff 11 April M. cccc lxxx viii and Dame Katherine died ..... the yere of our Lord God M. ..... on whos Vpon this last marble stone are the portraitures in brasse of the three daughters of Henry Langley amongst whom his inheritance was diuided as I haue it by tradition as Waldens was before whose chiefe seate was at Langley Wilbores in this parish Thaxted This Church is spatious beautifull and built Cathedrall-like but neither in this Church in Braintrie nor scarcely in any other Church seated within a Market Towne shall you finde either Monument or Inscription onely some two or three Inscriptions are here remaining Her lyth Rychard Dammary and Alys his wyff and Rychard Dammary his sonn Ione Elizabyth and Ann on whos soulys God hau mercy Which Rychard the yongyrgawe a Meide callyd Abel Meide for a perpetual mynd yerly to be kept for ther soulys and al christen soulys Syr Walter Clerk gist icy Dieu de s'alme eit mercy Orate pro animabus Richardi Large et Alicie vxoris eius qui quidem Richardus obijt 27. Martij 1458. The Inhabitants say that this Richard Large was brother to a certaine Lord Maior of London named Large who at his death bestowed wondrous largely vpon the poore and the repairing of high waies which I take to haue beene Robert Large Maior of London Anno 1440. who gaue 120. l. to poore prisoners and euery yeare for fiue yeare 403. Shirts and Smockes 40. paire of Sheetes and one hundred and fifty Gownes of good Frize to poore people To poore Maids marriages one hundred markes to repairing high waies one hundred markes to fiue hundred poore people in London euery one sixe shillings viii d the rest of his bountifull charitie you may reade in Stow Suruay Little Easton Here is a goodly Tombe of marble on the north side of the Chancell â—nder which saith Brooke in his Catalogue of Nobility William Bourchier Earle of Ewe in Normandy lyeth interred but Vincent whom I rather beleeue in his discouery of Brookes Errors approues this Earle as also his wife Anne the daughter of Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester to be buried in the Abbey of Lanthonie by Gloucester If this monument could speake like others by her inscription it might haply decide the controuersie but all the words vpon it are Fili Dei miserere mei Mater Dei miserere mei Which seemingly commeth by a labell from a man and a woman thereupon pourtraied Of this Earle more when I come to Lanthony Betweene the Chancell and the Bowsers Isle or Chappell is a very costly arched Tombe of polished marble inlaid with brasse the picture of a man and a woman and in diuers places of the foresaid Arch on the womans side is the Fetter lock and Bowsers knot but without inscription By supposition made to the memorie of Henry Bourchier sonne of William Bourchier aforesaid Earle of Essex and Ewe and Isabell his wife daughter of Richard Earle of Cambridge and sister of Richard Duke of Yorke Which Henry died quarto Aprilis 1483. a valiant and worthie Nobleman he was fortunate in Martiall enterprises and in matters of peace so learned wise and politicke that he was thought fit by Edward the fourth to be Lord Chancellour of England In the same Chappell on the North side remaineth a very faire Altar Tombe of marble within the which lyeth the body of Henry Lord Bourchier and Louaine and Earle of Essex Sonne and heire of William Bourchier that died before his father and grandchilde to Henry Earle of Essex next before mentioned ouer his Tombe hangeth as yet part of his achieuements as the cote of his Armes Helme Crest and sword This Earle brake his necke by a fall from his horse the twelfth day of March in the one and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of King Henry the eight 1539. His horse was young saith Stow and he the oldest Earle in England for if you will reckon the yeares from the death of his Grandfather who liued after his sonne the father of this Henry as I haue said before vntill the yeare of this his fatall misfortune you shall finde them to be fifty sixe and what age he was at his Grandfathers death you may imagine In the Hall of the Mannor house of Newton in the Parish of little Dunmowe remaineth in old painting two postures the one for an ancestor of the Bourchiers combatant with another being a Pagan king for the truth of Christ whom the said Englishman ouercame and in memory thereof his descendants haue euer since borne the head of the said Infidell as also vsed the surname of Bourchier or Bowser Here are foure wondrous ancient Monuments of the Louaines all the Inscriptions of them are worne out these few words excepted Sire Thomas Louaine ici gist Margarie la file Moun .... This noble familie of the Lovaines in former ages did here inhabite by the name of Fitz-Gilbert one of which house namely Maurice Fitz-Gilbert was surnamed de Louaine as descended from Godfrey of Louaine brother to Henry the sixth of that name Duke of Brabant Who being sent hither to keepe the honor of Eye his posterity flourished among the Peeres of this Realme to the time of Edward the third when the heire generall was married to the house of Bourchier This Bowsers Chappell for it is so commonly called is now the buriall place for the noble familie of the Maynards In Northburne natus Robertus sum vocitatus De terra factus in terram sumque redactus Intercedendo spiritum tibi Christe comendo Propitietur Deus Benefactoribus omnibus Ecclesie pauperis huius The treble Bell in the steeple of this Church is called the Bowsers
her deceased father Ingelrick enriching the Colledge of Saint Martins le grand in London first founded by him and her vncle Edward hee honours and aduanceth her two brethren William Peuerell Castellane or Keeper of Douer Castle and Payne Peuerell Baron of Bourne or Brun in Cambridgeshire the founder of Barnwell Abbey Standard bearer to Robert Duke of Normandy in the holy warre against Infidels He prefers her kindred and friends he sollicites her by the messengers of the Deuils Bedchamber his slie enchanting Bawdes and comes sometimes himselfe like Iupiter in a golden shower Thus by these forcible demonstrations of his loue and vnauoidable allurements especially from a King shee was brought at length to his vnlawfull bed vnto whom shee bare a sonne named William who was Lord of Nottingham the founder of Lenton Abbey His mother toucht with remorse of conscience for her sinnes to expiate her guilt for such was the doctrine taught in those daies founded a Colledge here in this village of Hatfield which shee consecrated to the honour of God and S. Mary Magdelen wherein setting apart all worldlie employments she spent the remainder of her dayes and here departed her life about the yeere 1100. sixteene yeeres after the death of the Conquerour Here she lieth buried and her image or portraiture cut in stone is to be seene at this present day in the Church window This house was a Cell to Saint Albons valued to be yeerely worth 83. l. 19 s. 7. d. Harlow Hic iacet Robertus Symond quondam Auditor principalis Regis Henrici septimi in Ducatu suo Lancastrie ..... qui ob ......... Erumnarum portus meta viarum mors ....... Iohn Drunkeston .......... Vulnera quinque Dei sint medicina mei Scilicet Pia mors Passio Christi Danbury Hic iacet Gerardus quondam filius heres Gerardi Braybroke militis qui obijt xxix Marcij M. cccc.xxii Icy gist perne Femme a Gerard Braybroke fille a Monsieur Reynold de Grey Seignour de wilton que morust viii jour d'aueril l'an de grace M. cccc.xiiii a qua Dieu fait mercy I shall haue occasion to speake of the Braibrokes when I come to Braibroke in Northamptonshire of which they were Lords Here lie two men armed in their portraitures and crosse legged which were as it goes by relation from father to the sonne of the familie of the Darcies who for a time had here their habitation Although it be somewhat from my purpose yet I hold it not much amisse to ammuse my Reader with a short story Vpon Corpus Christi day in the yeare 1402. the third of Henry the fourth at Euensong time the Deuill entred into this Church in the likenesse of a Gray Frier and raged horribly playing his parts like a Deuill indeed to the great astonishment and feare of the parishioners and the same houre with a tempest of whirlewind and thunder the top of the Steeple was broken downe and halfe of the Chancell scattered abroad Great Baddow Hic iacet Robertus Tendering nuper Firmarius Manerij de magna Baddow qui obijt xx Octob M. ccccc.xxxvii Anno Hen. viii xxix This prayer following is inlaid in brasse vpon the marble ✚ Omnipotens misericors Deus i◠cujus potestate humana conditio consistit animam famuli tui Roberti queso ab omnibus absolve peccatis ut penitentie fructum quem voluntas ejus optabit preventus morte non perdat Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Amen Hic tumulantur Thomas Kille Margeria uxor ejus qui quidem Thomas erat Pincerna quondam cum illustri Principe Tho. Woodsloke Duc◠dudum Glocestrie deinde cum nobilissima Domina Comitissa Hereford postea cum Christianissmo Principe invictissimo Henrico quinto ultimo cum honore dignissimo Katherina Regina ejusdem Domini Regis consorte nove Cantarie Sancte Trinitatis in Capella istius Ecclesie Fundator qui quidem Thomas plenus annorum obijt xvii Decemb. M. cccc.xlix dicta Margeria penultimo die Februarij M. cccc.lxi.ex hac luce migravit Principibus placuisse viris non ultima laus est Orate .......... Badewe ........ Ed. 3. I read that one Edmund Badewe did hold certaine Tenements in this Towne by Sergeantie viz. to keepe and conuey one of the Kings Palfreyes for the space of twentie daies at the Kings charges when hee shall happen to come into these parts Anno 5. Ed. 3. Chensford Orate pro animabus Iohannis Biglon nuper Carnificis istius ville Florentie uxoris eius qui quidem Iohannes obiit ..... die .... An. Dom. 1500. et dicta Florencia obijt 1. Nouemb 1509. Quorum animabus This marble Monument is faire inlaid with brasse besitting the corps of a more eminent man then a Butcher From a labell of brasse these words seeme to proceed out of his mouth Ostende mihi Domine miserecordiam tuam From hers these Et salutare tuum da nobis This Church was reedified about some hundred thirtie and seuen yeares since as appeareth by a broken inscription on the out side of the South wall Prey for the good estat of the Townshyp of Chelmsford that hath bin willying and prompt of helpys to .... this Chirch and for all them that be ..... M. cccc.lxxxix Here stood a small religious house built by Malcolme king of Scots for Friers Preachers valued at 9. l. 6. s. 5. d. per annum Engerston Hic iacet Iohannes Rocheford Ar. filius Domini Radulphi Rocheford militis qui obiit decimo die Nouemb. 1444. et anno Regis Henrici sexti 24. Of this surname I haue spoken before in Rocheford Hic iacet Gertrudis filia Iohannis Terrel de Warley equitis aurati coniux prenobilis viri Gulielmi Petri Equitis aurati quae obiit 28. Maii. 1541. Her said Husband that graue Councellour and Secretary of State to king Henry the eight Edward Queene Mary and Elizabeth lieth likewise here interred Who liued some thirtie sixe yeares after the death of this Gertrude his first wife euen to these later times whose Epitaph according to my method I reserue for another part of these my funerall Monuments Vnder the picture of Christ in one of the windowes are these two words Petra nostra Waltham Abbey This Abbey was founded by a King of England who of all other raigned least and lost most For within the compasse of a yeare hee lost both his life and his kingdome at one cast and both of them to a Stranger I meane Harold the second the sonne of Earle Godwin Who hauing built and sufficiently endowed this his Foundation for a Deane and eleuen secular blacke Canons he caused it to bee consecrated to the honour of a certaine holy Crosse found farre Westward and brought hither by miracle King Henry the second new builded this Monastery and placed therein Regular Canons augmenting their number to foure and twenty and also their
men To tell the worlds full strength what creatures liued then When in her height of youth the lustie fruitfull earth Brought forth her big-lim'd brood euen Gyants in their birth Neere to Showbery in Rochford Hundred are certaine hils in which the bodies of the Danes there discomfited and slaine in the raigne of Edmund Ironside lie buried in Essex What way saith Camden in Essex this country looketh toward Cambridgeshire Barklow sheweth itselfe well knowne now by reason of foure little hils or Burries cast vp by mans hand such as in old time were wont to be raised as Tombes for Souldiers slaine whose reliques were not easie to be found But when a fifth and sixth of them were not long since digged downe three troughes of stone were found and in them broken bones of men as I was informed The country people say that they were reared after a field there fought against the Danes for Dane wort which with bloud-red berries commeth vp here plenteously they still call by no other name then Danes-bloud of the number of Danes that there were slaine verily beleeuing that it bloometh from their bloud The parish Church of Ashdown or Assandun giues buriall to the slaughtered bodies of many braue English Souldiers for Edmund sirnamed Ironside King of England hauing fought sixe battels with the Danes within the compasse of one yeare in which at the beginning hee had the better putting them euer to rout plaied here in this place his last prize where he was so defeyted by the meanes of false Edrick his counsell that he lost the flower of the English Nobilitie In memoriall of which Battell king Canutus the Danish Conquerour built this Church at such time when as vpon remorse and repentance for the bloud which he had shed he erected Chappels in what part soeuer he had foughten any field and shed Christian bloud Of which my old Rimer Robert of Glocester Knute moche louyd Engâ—ysshmen and the loud thertoo And holy Chyrche susteyned as hym ought to doo And restoryd Abbeyes stroyed that wer befor And Chyrches lette arere that allwer forlor And Chyrches now he lette arere in stedests most thar Where he had Battayles doo and men yslaw ar As vpon Asshedonne and about ther Al for the soulygs of hem that sleyne ther were Certaine small hillocks are remayning neare to this Church at this day out of which haue beene digged the bones of men Armour and the water chaines of horse bridles as the Inhabitants told me Claudius the Emperour saith S Danyel had the honour of taking the whole Isle of Britaine to the Romane Empire which though thus wonne was not till a long time after ouercome For now the Britaines vnderstanding the misery of their dissociation how their submission brought but the more oppression colleague themselues against the Romanes taking their occasion vpon the outrages committed on the person and state of Queene Vaodicia or Boudicea widow of Prasutagus king of the Icenians the Inhabitants of Norfolke Suffolke Cambridge and Huntingtonshires a great and rich Prince who at his death had left Nero his heire and two daughters hoping thereby to free his house from iniuries But it fell out contrary for no sooner was he dead but his kingdome was spoiled by the Cenâ—urions his house ransackt by slaues his wife beaten and his daughters rauished Besides the chiefe men of the Icenians as if all the region had beene giuen in prey were rest of their goods and the kings kinsmen esteemed as captiues with which contumely and feare of greater mischiefe they conspire with the Trinobants the Inhabitants of Midlesex and Essex and others not yet inured to seruitude to resume their liberty And first set vpon the Garrisons of the Veteran Souldiers whom they most hated defeited the ninth Legion whereof they slew all the foote forced Cercalis the Legat and leader to flight and put to the sword seuenty thousand Romanes and associates inhabiting this municipall Towne Comolodunum now Maldon as also London and Verulam before Suetonius the Gouernour of the Prouince could assemble the rest of the dispersed forces to make head against their armie conducted by Vaodicia who with her two daughter brought into the field to moue compassion and reuenge incites them to that noble and manly worke of liberty Which to recouer she protests to hold her selfe there but as one of the vulgar without weighing her great honour and birth resolued to winne or dye Many of their wiues were likewise there to be spectatours and incouragers of their husbands valour But in the end Suetonius got the victory with the slaughter of fourescore thousand Britaines of the Romanes onely foure hundred were slaine and not many moe hurt saith Tacitus lib. Annal. 14. ca. 11. Vaodicia seeing the ouerthrow of her Army was notwithstanding vnuanquished in her owne Noble Spirit and scorning to be a spectacle in their Triumphs or a vassall to their wills after the example of Cleopatra she made an end of her miseries and life by poyson She was affoarded honorable buriall and so were the rest of her vanquished Armie there slaine according to their qualitie neare vnto the places where the battell was strucken BISHOPS OF LONDON CANONIZED SAINTS MEllitus the first Bishop of this See after the remouall of the Archbishopricke to Canterbury had a shrine erected to his honour in this Church as I haue touched before In his time and partly by his instigation this Cathedrall Church was built by Ethelbert King of Kent He was consecrated Bishop of London by Saint Austin Archbishop of Canterbury the yeare 604. In the gouernment whereof hee continued nineteene yeares in which time and about the fourth yeare of his consecration he went to Rome to conferre with Boniface the Pope about diuers things and was by him honourably entertained A yeare or two after his returne died both Ethelbert King of Kent as also Sebert of the East Angles whom he had conuerted to the Christian Faith King Sebert left behinde him three wicked sonnes that being neuer baptized came notwithstanding one day into the Church at Communion time and asked the Bishop what hee meant that hee deliuered not of that same fiâ—e bread vnto them as he was wont to their father Sebert and did yet vnto the rest of the people He answered that if they would be washed in the water of life as he was and the rest of the people there present then would he deliuer vnto them of this bread also but otherwise neither was it lawfull for him to deliuer nor them to receiue it This notwithstanding they would haue enforced him and when they could not preuaile were so enraged as they expelled him their dominions hardly holding their hands from doing him violence at that time Hee being thus exiled went first vnto Laurence Archbishop of Canterbury and finding him in little better case then himselfe was at London departed into France together with Iustus Bishop of Rochester Being
out of their Trenches slew diuers and caused their mushrom king Iohn Littestar to be hanged drawne and headed and also caused all others that were the chiefe agents in that rebellion to be put vnto death and so by that meanes quieted the whole countrey an action howsoeuer some will say perhaps not agreeable to his calling worthie of eternall honour and remembrance Not long afterwards viz. 1383. he had another occasion to shew his martiall prowesse for being drawne on by Pope Vrban the sixt to preach the Crusado and to be generall against Clement the seuenth whom sundry Cardinals and great Prelates had also elected Pope hauing a Fifteenth granted to him for that purpose by Parliament after strong opposition of almost all the Nobles who resisted this businesse of the Crosse went with forces into Flanders to support the cause of Vrban against the Antipape Clement from whence after he had performed many exploits very happily taken Graueling Burbrough Dunkerke and Newport by assault and bin victor in a set Battell against thirty thousand abettours of Clements claime he was enforced to returne as destitute of those further succours which were expected out of England But the King vpon pretence that he had not obeyed his royall Mandate by which he required him before he transported to returne for a while seised vpon all his Temporalities to which he found grace with the King to be restored at the speciall sute of Thomas Arundell as then Bishop of Ely The which Seisin and Restitution is thus in effect recorded Hen. Episcopus Norwicens in Parliamento apud West Anno huius Regis 7. fuit impetitus de diuersis articulis misprisionū vnde Temporalia Episcopatus sui seisita suerant in manum Regis c. Rex nunc restituit ei Temporalia predicta T. R. apud West 24. octob 1. par pat an 9 Ric. 2. M. 27. There was great contention betweene this Bishop and his Monkes for the space of fifteene yeares but they being too weake for him as you see all his opposites were at last were glad to giue him foure hundred markes to enioy their priuiledges in like sort as heretofore they had done He sate Bishop well neere 37. yeers and died August 23. 1406. as appeares by this mangled Epitaph vpon his monument Henricus natus le del spenser miles amatus Presul sacratus hic Norwicensis humatus Florens progenie ......... ................. M. Quadringeno Vigili sex Bartholomei Christo sereno Regi peregrat requiei After him the next succeeded one Alexander Prior of Norwich was elected Bishop by the Monkes which election the King so misliked as hee not onely kept him from his temporalties but also imprisoned him almost a whole yeare at Windsor Thomas Beaufort miles habuit custodiam Temporalium Episcopatus Norwicen a tempore mortis Henrici nuper Episcopi ibidem quamdiu in manibus Regis existerent ac fuit custos eorum a vigilia Sancti Bartholomei an no. 7. Hen. 4. vsque ad 23 diem Octob. proxi preterit per vnum annum integrum 8 Septimanas et 6 dies T.R. apud West 9 Iunij 2 pars pat an 9. Hen. 4. M. 19. Before the Altar of Saint George the body of Bishop Wakering lyeth buried who for his life learning and wisedome was highly esteemed in regard whereof before he was aduanced hither to Norwich King Henry the 4. made him Lord Keeper of the priuy Seale and so consequently he was of his priuy Councell in the yeare 1414. hee was sent to the generall Councell holden at Constance in Heluetia with Richard Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of Salisbury Bath and Hereford the Abbot of Westminster and the Prior of Worcester with diuers other Doctors and learned men of the spiritualtie besides Knights and Esquires in number all eight hundred horses so well appointed and furnished as well the men as horses that all nations meruailed to see such an honourable companie come from a Countrie so farre distant in this Counsell hee so behaued himselfe that for learning and wisedome hee obtained the generall applause of all the assemblie shortly after his returne he was consecrated Bishop viz. the last of May 1416. and hauing his charge with great praise about nine yeares he died the ninth of Aprill one thousand foure hundred twentie and fiue He built the Cloister which is to be seene at this day in the Bishops Pallace pauing the same with stones of diuers colours Vpon the dore vnder the Rood loft I finde this maymed Epitaph following inlaid in brasse Hic iacet absconsus sub marmore Presul honestus Seclo desunctus olim pastor quoque sponsus Istius Ecclesie cum digno culmine morum Prefuit egregie ......... .................. Dictus Walterus Lyghert cognomine notus ................. Euellens acriter mala germina fructus acerbi Dispersit pariter diuini semina verbi Anno milleno C. quater septuageno Annexis binis instabit ei prope finis Septima cum decima lux Maij sit numerata Ipsius est anima de corpore tunc separata Fili Christe Dei fons vite spes medicine Propitieris ei donans requiem sine fine This man in the catalogue of Bishops is called Walter Hart. In his predecessors daies the Citizens here of Norwich harbouring in their mindes their old grudge attempted many things against the Church but such was the singular wisedome and courage of the said Bishop whose name was Thomas Browne that all their enterprises tooke little effect and now by the policie and discretion of this Lighert or Hart the malitious humours of these malecontented Townesmen before reasonable well allaied was altogether extinguished He paued the Church and during his life maintained twelue students at Cambridge with all things necessary for them at his owne charges He departed this life the first of May 1472. as appeares by his Epitaph in the twentie and sixt yeare of his consecration and lieth buried neere vnto the Rood loft which he himselfe erected Here lieth buried the body of Iames Goldwell sometimes Deane of Salisbury Secretarie to King Edward the fourth and Bishop of this Diocesse who died in February M. cccc.lxxxxviii This Bishop was a great repairer or new builder of great Chart Church in Kent where as it is said he was borne Here lieth buried the body of Thomas Ian who died the first yeare of his consecration viz. anno 1499. After the decease of Ian Richard Nix succeeded of whom I finde little worth the rehearsing saith Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops hee hath the report of a vicious and dissolute liuer was blinde long before his death sate 36 yeares and died An. 1536. It is reported yet that this Bishop built the north crosse I le of this Church and guilded the roofe of the same vpon which his cote of Armes is to be seene In the Chapter House was a goodly monument to the memory of Sir Thomas Windham knight with this now maymed Inscription
40. plough lands of grouÌ„d of the kings of Mercia and Kent to their Monasterie Vt in charta * Wido the 42. Hugh de Flori 4â— Guliel Spina in bib Cot. Hugh the second 44. Will. Thorne or Gul. Spina in bib Cott. Alexander surnamed Cementariâ—â— Theologus the 48. Hugh the third the 49. Abbot Robert de Bellâ— the 50. Roger the second 51. Thomas Findon 〈…〉 Raph de Borne the 54. Mssan bib Cot. Thomas Poucyn the 55. In bib Cot. William Drulege the â—6 Mâ—re Archbishop then Abbots by three Iulian Counâ—eâ—â—e of Hâ—ntington Catal. in Hunting Io. Speâ—d 〈…〉 Pâ—iory of Haâ—â—baldowne Lamb. peram in Harbaldowne Lora Countesse 〈◊〉 Leicâ—ster 〈…〉 Catal. Caâ—den in Kent Sir Iohn Gower and Sir Iohn Deâ—e Priests Sir Roger Manwoods Almes-house A pilgrimage◠〈◊〉 S. Stephens 〈◊〉 Ethelbert the second king of â—â—nt The end of the Kentish kingdome The found 〈…〉 the Abbey at Reculuer ... Sandwey 〈◊〉 his wife Sir Thomas a Priest â—dila Lady Thorne Thrâ—e vailed Nunnes The foundation of Minster Abbey Io. Caâ—graue in v. â—a Dom. Mssâ—a bib Cot A Maledicton The death of Domneua The buriall of Thunnor 〈◊〉 Dom. â— Mildred 〈◊〉 on of Mildred Hungar and Hubba the sonnes of a Beare Mâ—ssâ—in bib Câ—â—t Caygraue iâ—â—nia 〈◊〉 b. 〈◊〉 Eadburgh 〈◊〉 first English Nunne surnamed 〈◊〉 Camden in K. Speed Hist. The foundation of the white Friers and of the old Hospitall A Manuscript Tho. Legatt Tho. Hadlow William Beckleâ— Iohn Sandwich Denis Plumcooper The foundation â—f the free Schoole Richborow Claudius Contentus Caâ—nd Kenâ— Goshall Leuerick Septvau S. 〈◊〉 Harsletâ— Clitherow ... Oldâ—â—stell Ioane Keriell Stow. Annal. Harding 〈◊〉 Sir Iohn Philpot. knight Lord Maior of London Stow. Annal. Stow. Suruay Speed Hist. 22. Ric. 1 The Walsingham in vita Ric. 1. Sir Thomas Ba knight Wingham Colledge Lamb peramb. Blechendens 〈◊〉 Tho. S. 〈◊〉 and Ioane 〈◊〉 wife Albina the wife of 〈◊〉 Iohn Digge 〈◊〉 Ioane his wife Sir Iohn Digge knight and Ioane his wife Sir Robert Ashton knight Lord Warden Admirall of a 〈◊〉 Chiefe Iustice of Ireland Lord Treasurer Executor to K. Edward the third Foundation of the Castle Church Lamb. peramb. The Priory of S. Martins or Gods-house in Douer Regist. eccl 〈…〉 in bib Cot. S. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Lond. Stow. 〈◊〉 William 〈◊〉 the sonne of Iudge Fineux Wilâ—iam Sir 〈…〉 the controuler of 〈◊〉 Sir William Scot knight Hollinshed Elisabeth Lady Poynings Camden in Kent Isâ—bell Ladie 〈◊〉 Ioane the wife of Io. Digges Dionisia Finch Vincent Harbard alias Fâ—nch in the genealogie of the 〈◊〉 of Nedde felâ—â— Sir Robert Gower knight Pashley Ioane Pashley in the window â—â—mmatiâ—n of the 〈◊〉 at â—olâ—â—ton â—â—o Godfraâ— Sir Iohn Culâ—peper kniâ—ht and Agnes his wiâ—â— â—â—den in Rut. The Pâ—ioâ—y of 〈◊〉 Iohn Maâ—sâ—â—â— pâ—efeâ—menâ—s Hollins An 1241. Paris â—hinne Anon. in bib Cott Mansels death in 〈◊〉 Ex Epitâ—m Râ—â—geri Houeden in bib Coâ— A Benefice for Dogges meaâ— * Earle of Leiâ—cester Mansel the cause of the warres betweene Henâ—y the third and his Barons Paris â—n 1252 Charge of soules 〈◊〉 Culkin and 〈◊〉 his wife 〈…〉 and Ioane his wife A free Sâ—â—â—ole 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 his sonne Sir 〈◊〉 knight and Dennis his wife Ric. Lâ—â—e to Cely â—enalâ— Deyre Foundation of the Colledge o◠〈◊〉 The Kempe and Beatrice his wife Lamb. peramb. Iohn Andrew a Pilgrime Foundation of the Colledge of Ashford Elisabeth Countesse of Atholl Semane Tong Baron of the fiue ports Io. 〈◊〉 and his wife Wil. Norton and Elisabeth his wife Will. Thorne Richard Norton and Ioane his wife Iohn â—â—st Thomas Read William Vpton Agnes Feuersham William Leedes Henry Hatcher and Ioane his wife Richard Colwell Camden Remaineâ— Foundation of Feuersâ—am Abbey Ex Arch Turris London The death and buriall of King Stephen Addition to Rob. Gloc. 〈◊〉 Paris An. 1154 Harding c. 12â— Rob. Glocest. S. Daniel No subsidies in K Stephens time 〈◊〉 â—omp 〈◊〉 in bib Cot. Spâ—â—d Maud the wife of K Stephen In bib Cot. Eustace King Stephens sonne 〈◊〉 Monkâ— of Chester 〈◊〉 Dâ—rob His death and buriall Rob. Gloc. Margaret Riâ— kill Io. Crowmer and Ioane his wife Will. Crowmer Sir Iames Fienes I.o. Treasurer Iohn Septvaus and Katherine his wife Elisabeth Poodd Iames Bourne Io. Gerard and Ioane his wife Laurence Gerard and Tho his sonne Apuldorfeild Clipeus honoris Glouer Somerset Herald Valentine Barret and Siciliâ— his wife â—â—ll Maries Smersoll Iul-laber Camd. in Kent Io. Frogenhall Will. Mareys Ioane and Ioane his wife Woodokes The Priory 〈◊〉 Horton Monâ—â—â— The order 〈…〉 Alex Clifford and 〈◊〉 his wife Visit of Kent Glouer Sir Arnold Sauage knighâ— and Ioane his wife Sir Arnold Saâ—uage knight Katherine Lady Sauage Foundation of Bradesoke Abâ—bey Eâ— Arch 〈…〉 Iohn and Iohn Norwood Visit. Kent Glouer Thomas Alefe and Margaret his wife Sir Iohn Norton knight and Ioane his wife Stow. Annal. Sir Edward Pâ—ynings Sir Iohn Norton Io. Fogge Iohn Scot Tho. Lynd knights of the field Inter Bundel Indent â—e guerra apud pelles Foundation of the Friary at Eastbridge Iudge Martyn and Anne his wife Visit. Kent Iohn Martyn Ioane Butler Ioane Feuersham Tho. Feuersham and Ioane his wife Found of the Abbey Io. Toke Margaret and Anne his wife Glouer alias Somerset Lancaster king of Armes Stephen Norton Foundation of Minster Nunnery Roger Norwood and Bena his wife Io. Soole and Margaret his wife Shurland Inter Bundellas Indent de guerra apud pel Maidston Found of the Colledge first an Hospitall William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury * Sure he meanes Cardinall for I cannot finde him to be Chancellour Sir Iohn Wotton Priest the first Master of this Colledge Woodvill Chancery of Maidston Leedes Priory Eâ— Arch 〈◊〉 London Io. and William Bloor Iames Donet Io. Paynter Mssâ—n â—ib Cot. A quarrell betweene the Canons of Leedes and the Monkes of S. Albans The Religious House at Motinden Boxley Abbey Cart. Ant. in Arch. Turris London The Roode of Grace at Boxley Lamb. peramb. Camd. in Kent Hollins p. 1402. An. Reg Elis. 27 Nicholas Wotton Lord Maior of London Newenden Priory The first Carmelite Friars in England Lamb peramb. Lambard Combewell Abbey Iohn Elys Sir Nicholas Sandwich Priest Visit. Kent Will. Brent and Elisab his wife Sir W. Walkesley knight Tho. Elys and Thomasin his wiâ—â— William Bâ—rre Glouer alias Somerset The Colledge of Bradgare Dame Elisab Nâ—vill Camd in Cumberland So in this County Sutton Valence Horton Kirby and others haue like distinctiue surnames Richard Derâ—â— â—â—ow Annal. Iohn Dering An Eschurchion Io. Dering and Iulian his wife Nic Dering and 〈◊〉 his wife 〈◊〉 Dering Beneâ— his wife Hen. and Rich. Malemaines Brent the Mad-braine Rich. Dering Tho. his sonne Will. Goldwell and Avice his wife Goldwell Bishop of Norw a repairer of this Church The builders oâ— founders of this Church Bishop Goldwel the founder of the South Chappell Io. Tokâ— Marg. and Anne his wifes Tho. Twesden and Benedict his wife Will. Sharpe and his fiue wiues Margaret the wife
of Edward Barry Ioan Lady Barry Sir Iohn Barry knight Isabell â—â—dy Barry Sir â—ill Barry knight Humfrey Barry Robert Barry the first in 〈◊〉 land that broughthawke to hand Vide Vincent contra Brooke pag. 130. * M S. Tho Talbot clerici Rotulorum in um Lond. Mathew Paris pag 342 Selden in his Titles of Honour of Barons Plota 18. H 3. apud Westm. Bracton de Exceptionibus li. 5. cap. 9 pag. 5. Supersedeas de An. 8. Ed. 2. in dorso â— Austin Archbishop â—olidor the Popes collectour â— Honorius Archbishop Hist. Eccl. Ang. Sexâ— sar c. 8. S. Deodat Archbishop M Drayton Polyol 24 Song S. Theodore Archbishop â— Odo Archbishop S. Dunstane Archbishop * instant * holy Capgraue Song 1â— S. Elphege Arch. Martyr Rob. Glocest. S. Egelnoth Archbishop Godwin â— Eaâ—â—â—â—e Archbishop S. Lanfranke Archbishop S. Anselm Archbishop S. Thomas commonly called Thomas of Canterbury * honourd S. Edmund Archbishop Miss in bib Cott. 〈◊〉 Popes absolute power Hâ—s tyâ—â—nny The conclusion of this Diocesie The 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 Conuention for the 〈◊〉 The Archbishops 〈◊〉 the generall 〈◊〉 Lambard The end of the strife for the Primacie Hardinâ— ca. 88 Lamb. peramb. Paulinus Bishop of Rochester and first of Yorke Beda l. 2. c. â— Mss. in bib Cot. Bedal 〈◊〉 â— Camd. in Ricâ— Bâ—l. l. 2. c. 2 Hist. Archiepis Ebor. in bib Cot. Ex lib. Anon. in bib Cott. Ithamar Bishop of Rochester Cap. in vit S. Ithamari M. Draiâ—on Polyol 24. Song Tobias Bishop of Rochester Harps Hiâ—â— Eccles Angl octaâ—um Saecul c. â— Gundulph Bishop of Rochester Godwin de praeâ—ul Ang. Bulla Vrbani secundi in bib â—im D'ewes Equit aurat M ss in bib Cot. The Hospitall of Chetham Malling Abbey Lamb peramb. Gilbert de Glanvill Bishop of Rochester Godwin The Hospitall in Strowd Walterus Merâ—ton Bishop of Rochester Sir Hen. Sauill Haymo s. S. Barthol Hosp. in Hithe In bib Cott. Iohn de Shepey Bishop of Rochester Lord Treasurer Io. Lowe Bishop of Rochester Bale Cent. 4. Godwin Priory of Rochester Lib. Rossen in bib Cott. Lamb. per amb S. William of Rochester Neua Legenda Capgrauiâ— Lib. Rossen in bib Cot. Io. Beaufits and Isabel his wife Io. Beaufits and Alice his wife Rob. Beaufits Sara his wife Will. Beaufits Ioane Bamme Iohn Bamme her sonne The â—â—iery Com. in â—enâ— The Almes-house oâ— Hospitall Catigern and Horsa The battell of Ailesford Horsted Catigern his sepulchre Ric Charles Alice his wife Will Suayth Alice his wife Rob. Watton Will. Watton Benet and Alice his wiues Rob. Watton Alice his wife Io. Norwood The Mannor of Norwood Io. Constenton and Sara his wife Otteham Abbey In Archiâ—is Turris London Sixe pence for exceedings vpon S. Laurence day In Arch. Tur. London Begham Priory Ela de Sackvile and Sir Robert Turnham founders Rob. Glocest. The death of Sir Robert Turnham Rob. Gloâ— * haire Sir Tho. Sackvile knight In the prerogatiue office Sir Stephen Pensherst knight Ex Arch. Turrâ—â— London Sidney â—amd in Kenâ— Sir Philip Sidney knight The Epitaph for Mons. Boniuet Hugh Lord Staff and Tho. Bradlaine his Bow-bearer Camd in Kent Priory of Tunbridge Richard de Clare Earle of Gloucester Lib. Theoles Mss. Camd. Remaines Hugh de Audley Earle of Glocester and Margaret his wife Vincent Discouery of errors Raph Earle of Stafford and Margaret his wife Bagot Baron of Stafford Vincent Dis. errours The foundation of the free-Schoole at Tonbridge Edward Bourchier vulgo Bowser and Agnes his wife Haydok Haymund Robert Lawe Priest Tho. Brooke and Clemence his wife Tho. Gregby Robert Totleherst Iohn Yardly and Ioane his wife William Potkin and Alexandra his wife The foundation of the Schoole and Almeshouse in Sennock Lamb. Peramb Tho. Brenten Bishop of Rochester Godwin Catalogue of Bis. Sir Bruin knight Câ—md in Essex Stow. Annal. Reg. Stratton Parson Camd. in Camb Rich. Ieames a Blacksmith Tho. Gawge Iames Peckham and Margaret his wife Reynold Peckham and Ioice his wife * Cupbearer Will. Peckham and Katherine his wife Tho Peckham and Dorothie his wife Iames Peckham and Agnes his wife Martin PeckhaÌ„ and Margerie his wife Sir Thomas Willoughby and Bridget his wife Iohn Loft Priest Io. Alphegh and Isabel his wife Thinne Collect. Camd. in Lincol. Willoughby Earle of Vandosme Io. Wood. Edmund Read S. Katherines Chappell Sir Ric. Clement knight and Anne his wife Ric. Astall Hawte Glouer Somerset Ioane Lady Cobham Margery Lady Cobham Lib 〈◊〉 in hil Cot. Henry Lord Cobham Margaret Lady Cobham Ioane Lady Cobham Tho. Lord Cobham and Maud his wife Iohn Lord Cobham Cobham Colledge Sir Iohn Oldcastle knight Lord Cobham Ioane Baronesse Cobham Sir Reignold Braybroke knight Lord Cobham Reignold and Robert Braybroke Lamb. pâ—ramb Nicholas Hawberke Lord Cobham Io. Broke Lord Cobham and Lady Margaret his wife Tho. Lord Cobham and his three wiues Raph Cobham Io. Terrye Io Clauering in bib Cot. Henry Lord Cobham prime Iustice of England Stephen de Penchester or Peâ—shuâ—st Lord Warden Ioane Alice his daughters and heires Ioane maâ—ned to the said H. Lord Cobham Alice to Philip de Columbars Io. Smith and Margery his wife Tho. Sharpe The Nunnery at Heigham Robert Ereby Ioane and Ioane his wiues Tho. Ereby and â—sode his wife Almeshouse Tho. Buckland Alice Walleys Ric Downe and Margery his wife Io. Bederenden Tho. Petle and Isabell his wife In a window Iohn Donat and Alice his wife Eckisford William Alisander Io. Pole Palme Hic Daâ—â— master of the Iewell house Maryd Davy William Rikell and Katherine his wife Sâ—ow Annal. Sir Peter Lacy Priest Tho. Brendon and Ioane his wife Rich. Hunt and Ioane his wife 〈◊〉 Hesilt Baron of the Exchequer and Agnes his wife 〈◊〉 Martyn 〈◊〉 his wife S. Hildeferths Nicholas Boneuant and Agnes his wife Reignold Thomas Ric. Bonâ—uant Io. Sorewell Priest Sir Iohn Lumbard Priest Maud Laken and Ioane her daughter Sir Io. Dew Priest Roger Payname Will Banknot Anne his wife Sir Io. Wilshyre knight and Margaret his wife Stow. Annal. Sir Ric Wingseeld knight of the Garter Bridget his wife Io Hornley Katherine Burlton and Richard her husband The Priory of Dartford Burials in this Prioâ—y The birth and death of Bridget Plantagineâ— Rob. Woodford Ioane his wife Ro. Apleton and Agnes his wife Elisabeth CouÌ„tesse of Shrewsbury * Iohn dyed in his infancy Sir Ric. Walden knight and Dame Margery his wife Richard Walde Allin Atticor Sir Io. Stone Priest Iohn Crioll Roger Sentcler Mathew Paris Ric. de Lucie the founder Râ—g Heuâ—den An. 1179. Ex vet Mss. in â—o Cot. Godfrey Lucy Bishop of Winchester Io. Colin and Maud his wife Sir William Prâ—ne Priest Inser vpon the great Bell. Margery Roper Iohn Morton Tho. Pierle Foundation of Peckham Schoole Richard Bâ—shop of Rochester Walter Hench Parson George Hatteliffe The Priory of Lewsham Priors Aliens Their goods and lands consiscate King Edward surnamed Longshanks did the like An. Reg. â—3 vpon the like occasion Restitution of the 〈◊〉 Aliens
Iohns In Lib. Colt Iordan and Robert Sackvile Foundation of the Hospitall for Lepâ—â—s Foundation of the Friery of the holy Crosse Foundation of the Minories In bib Cott. Mss. in bib Cotâ— Camd. in Oxford The foundation of Colne Prioâ—ie In Rib. Cott. Aubrey de Vere and William his sonne Mâ—â— in bib Coâ— Aubrey de Vere the first Earle of Oxford surnamed the grimme Lib. Alb. de Colne Aubrey de Vere the second Earle of Oxford Hugh de Vere Earle of Oxford Robert de Vere 〈◊〉 of Oxford Robert de Vere the sonne of Robert Earle of Oxford Robert de Vere Earle of Oxford and Duke of Ireland Speed in vita R. 2. Aubrey de Vere Earle of Oxford Iohn de Vere Earle of Oxford Io de Vere E. of Oxford Maud Countesse of Oxford Tho. Paycock Butcher and Christian his wife Robert Paycock Elis and Ioan his wiues Tho. Paycock Marg and Anne his wiues Iohn Paycock and Ioan his wife Io. Kebull Isabel and Ioan his wiues 〈◊〉 Goldwyre Isabel and Christian his wife Foundation of Coggeshall Abbey 〈◊〉 in bib Cott Camd. in Essex Io. Doreward and Isab. his wife Bartholomew Lord Bourchier Marg. and Idonea his wiues Rob. Bourchier Lo Chancelor Camd. in Essex Agnes Lady Gate Peter Wood. Io. Vere Earle of Oxford In the Catalogue of honour Brooke Dorothie Scroope The foundation of a Priorie in Heueningham Lucie Lady Prioresse of Heningham Vpon the Crucifiâ—e Vpon the vergine Mary Vpon the image of Lucie Sir Io. Hawkewood knight Stow Annal. In bib Cot in Arch Tuâ—â— Lonâ— 1 Pars 〈◊〉 Ann. 8. H. 4. m. â—0 * Paul Ioâ—â—us in Eâ—g Camd. in Essex Stow Annal. William Holden and Agnes his wife Tho. Lord Audley Tho. Holden Mathew West Priest Rector Io. Nichols and his foure wiues Lechec The like before in Feuersham Hugh Price Abbot Io. Chynt Priest Rector Robert Wyld Priest Rector The foundation of Walden Abbey In Arch. Tuâ—r 〈◊〉 Camd. in 〈◊〉 * The Duke of Glocester because the Swan was his cognisance Abstract 〈…〉 An 41. Ed. 3. An â— Rich. 2. Leez Abbey Humfrey Waiden Hen Langley and Mar. his wife Tho. Langley Hen Langley and Lady Katherine his wife Ric. Dammary and Alice his wife Sir Walter Clarke Priest Rich. Large and Alice his wife Will. Bourchier 〈…〉 Earle of Ewe Hen. Bourchier E. of Essex Hen. Bourchier E. of Essex Stow Annal. Out of certaine ancient collections in Essex Sir Tho. Lovaine knight Camd. in Essex Robert Northburnt In the window The foundation of Tiltey Abbey Des. Leicest lit B. Gerard Dannet 〈◊〉 Mary his wife Tho de Thakley Abbot Will. Moigne Ann 2â— Ed. 1. The foundation of the Priorie Ex Mss. in bib Colt Robert de Vere Earle of Oxford Tho. Barington and Anne has wife Camd. in Essex Miiles Catal. Walter Bigod Simon Regham Io. Ienone and Alice his wife The foundation of the Priory of Dunmow Out of an abstract of the Chronicle of Dunmow in bâ—b Cott. Matilda surnamed the faire Ex predict lib Dunmow Stow Annal. Stow. Annal. Sir Rob. Fitz-water knight Extract lib. Dunmow in saepe dict bib Cott. Walter of Clare or Walter Fitz-Robert Extract lib. de Dâ—â— perdâ—ct The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Dunmowe now cast and christenâ—d Io Blakemore Prior. Radcliffe Patron of the Priory of little Dunmow Newton Hall Ro. Radcliffe Earle of Sussex Shee tooke the title of Supremacy vpon her in the beginning of her raigne which she relinquished before her death Tho. Coggeshall and Ioane his wife Tho. Browne The Hospitall in Newport The Foundation of the Colledge at 〈◊〉 Io. Holland Earle of Exceter Camd. in Essex Sir Ed. Holland Earle of Mortaigne and his wife Io. Scot the first Master of this Colledge Robert Freuyt Tho. Plantagines Duke of Glocester Hollins p. 489. Catal. of Hon. Brooke Elianor Duchesse of Gloucester Cronie tripart in bib Cot. The Swanne the Duke of Gloc. cognisance Histor Ang. l. 20. Camd. in Essex The foundation 〈◊〉 Hatfield Colledge â—ob Symond â—eraâ—â— Braybroke and his wife Darcies Hollins 〈…〉 Annal The Deuill of Danbury Ro. Tendering Tho. â—ille and Margâ—ry his wife Abstract â—eâ— in Scaccar Iohn Biglon Butcher and Florance his wife Io. Rochford Gertrude Lady Petre. The foundation of Waltham Abbey Waltham Crosse. Cart. Ant. Litur R.R. Stow Annal. speed The death of king Harold The buriall of King Harold Girth and Leoâ—win King Harolds brethren Camd Remaines Sir Io. Hayward in vita Will. 1. The Charter of K. Harold Rob. Glocest. Hugh Nevill cheefe Forrester of England Mat 〈◊〉 ad an 12â—0 〈◊〉 eodem an 〈…〉 Paris ad an 1145. Iohn Nevill In bib Col. Robert Passelew Dannil in vil Hen 3. Paris Paris eod an Remaines pa. 16. Iohn and Ioan Cressy Sir Edward Denny knight and Ioan his wife Cart. Antiq. liâ— M. * A little Couent of Friers subiect to the Chanons and their Rules Priorie de cornuto Stow Suruay Hore-Church Hen. Arundell Will. Ailiffe Iulian Lady Roche Suruay Katherine Fermor Tho. Seargill Elis. his wife Rob. Glocest. * poore * readie for God Auery Cornburgh Beatrice his wife and Doctor Crowland Elis. Hannys Taleworth Ab. Rel. in Scac. Rich. Ballard and Margerie his wife 〈…〉 his wife 〈…〉 wife 〈…〉 Hall * Ex Autographo eiusdem carie dat an 2 Eâ— 1. penes Radulphum Lathum Aâ—mâ—g dominum Mancrie eiusdem * Escaetr de a. 41. E. 3. * Ex Autographo eiusdem cartae dat 10. Iulij a. 15. E. 1. penes R. L. praedictum * Rot Pat. de a. 3. R. 2. parte 3. * Penes Rad. Lath praedict * In this place t is probable the words to be supplied are Pro animabus filiorum suorum et * She was the daughter of Sir Wiâ—liam Roche Knight William Cook Elis. his wife Tho. Alderton and Alice his wife Camd. in Essex Rog. Lancaster In his Crono descrip of Essex a Mss. Iordan le Brune Rich. Chirche Butler Staple Sir Giles Chanceux Scot Sir Io. Greyton Lamberne Sir Lucas Tâ—anye Sâ—ow â—alsing History of Wales Thomasia Tho. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Heâ—â—ngham Tho. Fige Ioan Wyborne Iohn Pinchon and Ioan his wife Margaret Barners Iohn Barners Constance Barners Io. Barners and Elis. his wife Nic. Barners Marg his wife Catal. of Honour title Essex Isabell Tyrell Elis. Tyrell Sir Io Tâ—rell and Alice his wife Their children Tho. Tirell Catherine Tirrell Edward Mackwilliams his sonne Henry and Anne his wife Sir Wil. Clopton Sir Tho. Clopton Ed. Clopton Penes Simonds Dâ— Ewes Equit. aurat Autographum vidi penes S. D' Ewes Eq. aurat William Clopton Margery Clopton Abstract Releuior de Scaccar Regis termino Hill a. 37. Ed. 3. Sir Will. Clopton Knight and Ioane his wife Sir Payne Roet King of Armes Geffrey Chaucer Brother in Law by marriage to Iohn Duke of Lancaster Ex Arch. Turr. Lond. * Wryothesley Garter principall King of Armes In Arch. Turr. Lond. Kings of Armes in the raigne of King H. the 5. Hen. the Sixt. Ed. the fourth Riâ—h the third Kings in the
The antiquity of S. Maries Drury and Agnes his wife Sir William Drury Sir Robert and Sir William Drury Sir William Carew Knight and Margaret his wife Io. Carew and Marg. his wife Videsis Camd. in Penbrokeshire Io. Kemis Abbot of Bury the last Elis. Shantlow Io. Smith Io. Fiâ—erâ— The Chatter of Ed. 4. for the Foundation Ex lib. Abbatie de Bury This Colledge dedicated to the honour name of Iesus The Foundere The value The time of the foundation The definition of a Chantrie and of a Guild Id. Hen. Spelman lit G. Sir Tho. Barnardiston and Elis. his wife Barnardiston The foundation of Ikesworth Priory Cam. in Suff. The first comming of Friers Augustines into England Ioan of Acres Countesse of Glocester and Herdord Edward Mont-hermer Lionell Duke of Clarence Elis. his wife Harding c. 187. The character of Leonell Duke of Clarence Hard. ca 186.187 Leonell in election to be king of Italy Stow Annal. A most sumptuous feast Costly gifts giuen Fragments of a feast sâ—fficient to serue ten thousand men Cap. 186. Cap. 187. Catal. of Honour The foundation of Stoke Colledge Sir Edmund Mortimer Earle of March Camd. in Radnorshire Hard. cap. 201. Simon Archbishop of Canterbury The foundatioÌ„ of All Soules Chappell The foundation of Sudbury Colledge The foundation of the Friers The education of Archbishop Simon His preferments Ex Arch. Turris Lond. His death Mss In bib Cot. Sir Robert Hales The readie pronenesse of the common people to rebellion The cruelty and pride of the baser sort of people The horrible strange tones and vociferations of Balles roaring boyes these Rebels Feare and distraction caused by commotion Io Duke and â—â—ne his wife Iohn Waldegraue George Waldgraue and Anne his wife Sir Wil. Waldgraue Knight buried at Callis Stow Annal. Hollins Tho. Eden Doctor of the Lawes Will. Clopton Marg. his wife Mar. and Tho. Clopton Francis Clopton Sir Will. Cordal knight The foundation of the Priory at Butley Mic. de la Pole E. of Suffolke Gurmond king of Denmarke Gurmound christened Hard ca. 109. Hadley the Kings â—ear Sâ—ow Camd. Io. Bottold Burials The foundation of the Friâ—â—â— Preachers Buâ—ialls The foundation of the Friers Carmelites Burialls Foundation of the Grey Friers Burialls Persons Registred Iohn Albred and Agnes his wife Io Kempe and his three wiues Rob. Partrich and his wiues The Foundation of the Priory of S. Mary of Woodbridge Ex Regist. Prior de Woodbridge Sir Robert Vfford Earle of Suffolke Milles. Sir William Vfford Earle of Suffolke Raph de Vfford Lord chiefe â—ustice oâ— Ireland 〈◊〉 Annal Hiâ—era A wicked chiefe Iustice. Ioy vpon the death of the Iustice. Rob. Lambe and Alice his wife ... Lambe Symon Brooke and his wiues Christopher Willoughby and his wife The Nunnery of Campsey The foundation of a Chantrie in the Priory Church at Campsey King Edwards Charter In Arch. Turris to Lond. Raph de Vfford here buried in our Ladies Chappell The Priory of Letheringham Sir Will. Wingfield Knight Will. Wingfield Sir Rob. Wingfield Knight Wiâ—â—field knight Sir Antony Wingfield knight of the Gaâ—â—or Naunton Hâ—n Naunton Tristram Elisabeth This is likewise in the Prioty Church here at Letheringham Sir Rob Naunton Master of the Court of Wards D. Cowell lit M. Sir Andrew Buers knight and Robert his sonne Sir Rich. Waldgraue knight and Ioan his Lady Sir Rich. Waldgraue knight and Ioane his wife * Mountcheâ—sie Sir Tho. Waldgraue knight and Eliz. his wife Ed. Waldgraue and Mabell his wife Sir Will. Walde-graue knight and Margerie his wife The Antiquity of the Waldgâ—aues Sir Will. Iermey 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 his wife Wingfield Colledge Will. de la Pole 〈◊〉 of Sufâ—olke 〈◊〉 de la Pâ—le 〈◊〉 of Sufâ—â—lke Rich. dela Pole Iohn de la Pole Wingfield of Letheringham Camd. in Susâ— Sir Will. Wingfield knight Will. Wingfield and Katherine his wife Sir Rob. Wingfield and Elis. his wife Io. Appulton Ioh. Appulton and Margaret his wife Tho. Appulton Margerie Appulton Rob. Appulton and Mary his wife Alice Harpley Cotton In the pedegree of Edmund Cotton Esquire now liuing 1631. The foundation of Babewell Priory â—nna King of the East Angles and Ferminus his son Egfrid King of 〈◊〉 Lib. 〈◊〉 Hist. 3. cap. 18. Anna his issue Etheldred Abbesse of â—â—ly Sâ—â—burgh Abbesse â—f â—ly Whitgith a Menchâ—on Ethilburge Abbesse of Beâ—king Bedâ— Edelburge Abbesse 〈◊〉 Bâ—igges in France Bede Speed cap. 11. Will. Câ—lleâ— Ioan Baret Ione Ranyngham Io. Ranyngham Sim. Todyng and Ione his wife Roger Boreham and Kaâ— his wife The foundaâ—ion of the Priory of blacke Canon◠〈…〉 Meâ—â—ingham Colledge Bursyerd or Brusyerd a Nunnery 〈◊〉 foundâ—tiâ—n of Wangford Pâ—â—oâ—y The foundation of the Nunnery of Bungeâ— The Playsere â—nd Anne his wiâ—e Will. Playâ—ers Christopher Playfers Tho. and Will. Playfers The foundation of the Monastery of Eye Camd. in Sufâ— King Stephens Charter of confirmation 〈…〉 of his â—â—â—teâ— Will. Cornwalleis Rob. Bucton Sir Iohn Dennys Priest Sir Iohn Cornwalleis knight and Mary his wife Sir Tho. Cornwalleis knight and Anne his wife Camd. in Suâ—â— Hen. Cornwalleis Will. Ioice and Katherine his wife Io. Timperley Marg. his wife Will. Timperley Tho. Timperley and Etheldred his wife The foundation of Flixton Nunnery The Priory of Walton Eâ— Arch. Turris Lonâ— Cart. antiq liâ— R R. The Monastery of Edwardstow The foundation of Heringfleete Abbey The foundation of the Priory at Leiston Io. Spring Tho. Spring the rich Clothier Tho. Spring Clothier Iames Spring Sigebert king of the East-Angles a Monke His death The fâ—undaâ—â—â—on of the Mâ—nasterie of 〈◊〉 Gorlâ—â—oe Friâ—â—â— Tho Scroopâ— a Bishop in Ireland Sir Iernegon or Ierningham Stow Annal. An. reg Hen. 8.10 Ric. Wingfield Ric. Ierningham Ric. Weston Will. Kingstone Knights Ierningham Iennings The foundation of Snape Pâ—â—â—ry The 〈◊〉 of Hâ—â—on The foundation of Wykes Monastery Iohn Ewell and Agnes his wife George Hamund Lady Thomasin Hamund Abell Sir Iohn Howard and Lady Alice his wife Sir Will. Tendring knight and Katherin his wife Ioan Redmeld Katherin de Tenderyng Lady Windsore Iohn Peyton Sir Io. Peyton Knight Camd. in Cambridgeshire The foundation of the Monastery of Dodnath 〈◊〉 foundaâ—â—â—â— of Sibton â—â—â—ey The Foundation of the Priory of Relingfield Rendlesham a Towne of great note in former times Beda li. 2. ca. 25. Camd. in Suff Speed ca 19. Redwald Swidâ—lm kings of the East Angles Ratisford Hospitall Rombrughe Camd. in 〈◊〉 Iohn Textor Burialls at Fernham Sir Rich. Lucie found buried in the Abbey of Lesnes Ann. 1030. 〈◊〉 Gregories Church in â—â—â—lbury In Allhalowes at Sudbury In the Cherche of Chylton In the Church of Acton In the Chercâ— of Ikelingham In S. Maryes Cherche at Bery In the Cherch of Saxam parua In the Cherch of Hauerell In the Cherch of Thurloo magna In Dallam Cherch In the Cherch of Wetherden In the Cherch of Bucsall In the Cherch of Cretynge In the Cherch of Badley In the Cherch Wâ—theringâ—t In the Cherch of Eye In the Cherch of Yaxley In the
was conceiued of his further proceedings had not God cut him off by vntimely death the 17. day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 796. and in the first of his raigne hauing had neither wife nor issue His bodie with all due obsequies was here Princely interred neare to the Shrine of S. Alban This Abbey Church was likewise honoured with the Sepulture of Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland whose storie out of many writers is in this manner extracted This Robert Mowbray a most valiant Souldier seeing his countrey destroyed and ouerrunne euen vnto Alnewicke castle by Malcolme King of Scotland and his armie made head against the said Malcolme not staying for directions from his King William Rufus and so sore and suddenly distressed his forces that both king Malcolme himselfe and his sonne Prince Edward were there slaine Hereupon this Earle growing proud and greatly suspected by King William began to fortifie the Kings Castles with munition for Armes against the like inuasion and indeed against the Kings will who sent him word somewhat roughly to desist from his doings and presently to repaire to his presence which whilest he lingered and neglected to do king William sent his brother Henry to spoile Northumberland and immediately followed after himselfe where without much adoe he tooke the Earle and committed him prisoner to Windsor Castle This Robert Mowbray and William of Anco with others conspired to depriue the King both of Crowne and life and to haue set vp Stephen de Albamarle his Aunts sonne as Houeden and Walsingham will haue it But I reade in an old Manuscript that he fauouring the proceedings of Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury Pro amore bono Ecclesie innocentem vitam finiebat Cuius anime propitietur Deus As the words are Rex ipsum cum alijs decollari mandauit The king commanded that he with others should be beheaded his companion Anco being punished with losse both of his eyes and his virilitie He died in prison saith one writer In ipso Ergastulo deficiens mortuus est regnante Henrico Rege Whose Lands in Normandy as also for the most part here in England the said King Henry gaue to Nigell de Albeney viro probo et illustri Another writer tells vs that he married Maud the daughter of Richerius de Aquila a potent man in the Conquerours dayes and that after foure and thirtie yeares of imprisonment hee died without issue in these words Mathildis autem potenti viro Roberto de Molbraio Comiti Norbandum brorum nupsit qui eodem anno contra Willielmum Rufum Regem Anglorum rebellauit Sed paulo post captus fere 34. annis in carcere praefati Regis Henrici fratris eius sine prole consenuit The same Author deliuers his marriage thus in another place Robertus vt fines suos vndique dilataret ditissimis contubernalibus affinitate potentum sibi copulatis robustior ardua tentaret Mathildem generosam virginem Richerij de Aquila duxit quae neptis erat Hugonis Cestrensis Comitis ex sorore nomine Iudith And in the said page he sets downe his character and the number of the Lordships which he possest here in England with his great power and riches thus Robertus Rogerij de Molbraio filius potentia diuitijsque admodum pollebat audacia et militari feritate superbus pares despiciebat superioribus obtemperare vana ventositate turgidus indignum autumabat Erat autem corpore magnus niger et hispidus audax dolosus vultu tristis ac seuerus Plus meditari quam loqui studebat et vix in confabulatione ridebat Hic nimirum cclxxx villas in Anglia possidebat This man of this high spirit and ample possessions became in the end to bee a shorne Monke of this Monastery as you may reade in the Catalogues of Honour wherein hee died Ann. 1106. To whose memory a Monke of his order made this Epitaph Which he caused to be engrauen vpon his Monument vpon the North side of the Vestrie where he was interred Vir probus fortis quem virtus nescia mortis Condecorat cista iacet hic Robertus in ista Cui dat cognomen Moulbraia nobile nomen Norhandunbrorum comes fuit hic Monachorum Dux erat optatus prudens pius peramatus Hic Monachus fidus hic Martisin agmine sidus Exijt è terris huius mundi quoque guerris Anno milleno Domini centenoque seno Quarta die Februi Pax sit eique mihi Amen Here sometimes was interred the bodie of Alexander Necham whose knowledge in good Arts made him famous throughout England France Italie yea and the whole world and that with such incredible admiration that he was called Miraculum ingenij the wonder and miracle of wit and sapience He was an exact Philosopher an excellent Diuine an accurate Rhetorician and an admirable Poet. As did appeare by many his writings which he left to posteritie some of which are mentioned by Bale He was borne in this Towne as appeares by a certaine passage in one of his Latine Poems cited by Camden and thus englished by his Translator Doctor Holland This is the place that knowledge tooke of my natiuitie My happie yeares my dayes also of mirth and iollitie This place my childhood trained vp in all Arts liberall And laid the groundworke of my name and skill Poeticall This place great and renowned Clerkes into the world hath sent For Martyr blest for nation for site all excellent A troupe here of religious men serue Christ both night and day In holy warfare taking paines duly to watch and pray Camden in his Allusions to names tells vs that he being desirous to enter into religion in this house after he had signified his desire writ thus to the Abbot Laconically Si vis veniam sin autem tu autem Who answered as briefly alluding to his name thus Si bonus sis venias si nequam nequaquam Whereupon saith he he changed his name to Neckam A Monke of this house made this Hexamiter allusiuely to his name Dictus erat Nequam vitam duxit tamen equam He is thought by some saith Bale to haue beene a Canon Regular and to haue beene preferred to the Abbotship of Glocester as another in this old language will haue it And master Alisander that Chanon was er I maked was of Gloucestre Abbot thulk yer viz. 7. Reg. Regis Iohannis But this may be vnderstood of Alexander Theologus of whom I haue spoken elsewhere who was contemporarie with him for I finde that this Alexander was Abbot of Saint Maries in Circester or Cirencester At the time of his death which happened about foure hundred and thirteene yeares since Alexander cognomento Nequam Abbas Cirecestrie literarum scientia clarus obiit Ann. Dom. 1217. lit Dom. C. prid Kal. Feb sepultus erat apud Fanum S. Albani cuius anime propitietur Altissimus Amen Now if
a Cathedrall Church at his owne charges as doth appeare by the sequele Norwich S. Trinities the Cathedrall Church HErebertus dictus Losinga Abbas quondam Rameseie qui sedem Thedford a Rege Willelmo emerat in Anglia magnus fuit Simonie â—omes hic postquam erroneum inuentutis impetum desteâ—issit Romam iuit ac rediens sedem suam vsque Norwicum transtulit vbi et celebre fundauit Monasterium de rebus quidem proprijs non Episcopalibus sed et apud Tedford Monachos cluniacenses instituit hic septus dicere consueuit Erranimus inuenes Emendemus senes thus much out of an old Manuscript of the Abbey of Euesham anciently put into English by the Translator of Polychronicon as followeth Abowte that time Herbert Losange that had ben somtyme Abbot of Ramsay and was thenne Byshop of Tedford was a grete noury for Simony for he had boughte the Bysshopryche of the Kynge But after warde he was sory and bywept the vnskylfull rest of his youth And toke the waye to Rome and came home agayne and chaunged and torned his See from Tedford to Norwyche And he founded a solempne Abbaye wyth his owne catayle and not wyth the catayle of his Bysshopryche But at Tedford he ordained Monkes of Cluny that were ryche in the world and clere of Religion to Godward And had ofte in mynde the worde of Iherom That sayd we erryd in our yougth amende We vs in our age His repentance doth also appeare by the context of his Charter beggining thus In nomine Patris et â—ilij Spiritus sancti Amen Herbertus Episcopus infirmitatis impuritatis proprie conscius ante iustum clementem Iudicem Deum mores vitam expono meam ei reuelans Inuentut is mee ignorantias c. Igitur pro redemptione vite mee meorumque omnium peccatorum absolutione apud Norwicum in honore et nomine sancte indiuidue Trinitatis Ecclesiam primum edificaui quam caput et matrem Ecclesiam omnium Ecclesiarum de Northfolke et Suthfolke constitui et consecraui Preceptis igitur consessionibus Willelmi Regis et Henrici Regis fratris sui consilio Anselmi Cant. Archiepiscopi et omnium Episcoporum et Primatum totius Regni Anglie in Ecclesia eadem Monachos ordinaui c. His donations to this his mother Church of Norfolke and Suffolke follow which are many and great for he endowed it with as much lands as might sufficiently maintaine threescore Monkes who had their faire and spatious Cloisters But after they were thrust out by King Henry the eight there were substituted for them a Deane sixe Prebendaries and others Witnesses to this his Charter were King Henry the first and Maud his Queene eleuen Bishops and foure and twenty Earles Lords and Abbots to euery name the signe of the crosse Facta est hec donatio Anno Domini M.C. ordinatione Gregorii Episcopi Rom. apud Wyndressores The first stone of this religous Structure was laid by Herbert himselfe in the yeare after Christs natiuitie one thousand ninetie sixe with this inscription Dominus Herbertus posuit primum Lapidem In nomine Patris Filij et Spiritus Sancti Amen That is Lord Bishop Herbert laid The First Ston In The Name of The Father The Sonne And holy Ghost Amen This Bishop was borne at Orford in Suffolke his Fathers name was Robert de Losing Hee was Prior of the monasterie of Fiscane in Normandie and came backe into England at the request of William Rufus and liuing in the Court for a time behaued himselfe in such sort that hee was much fauoured of the King and obtained diuers great preferments at his hands whereby it came to passe that within the space of three yeares hee had so feathered his nest as he could buy for his Father the Abbacy of Winchester and for himselfe the Bishopricke of Thetford which I haue partly touched here and in another place Hauing finished this pious Fabricke according to his minde hee then determined to build an house for himselfe for as yet he had none in Norwich the See being so lately remoued from Thetford and therefore on the north side of the Church hee founded a stately palace And more such was his repentance for his Simony committed hee built fiue Churches one ouer against the Cathedrall Church on the other side of the riuer called S. Leonards another in this Citie also another at Elmham a fourth at Linne and a fift at Yarmouth He was an excellent Scholler for those times and writ many learned Treatises mentioned by Pitsaeus in his booke de illustribus Anglie Scriptoribus Aetat duodecima where he cals him vir omnium virtutum et bonarum literarum studijs impensè deditus mitis affabilis corpore venusto vultu decoro moribus candidus vita integer A man earnestly addicted to the studies of all vertues and good learning milde affable comely of personage gracefull of countenance blamelesse in his carriage pure innocent and sincere in the course of his life The Monkes of Norwich made great meanes and sute to haue this Herbert a canonised Saint but such impediments were alwaies in the way that it could not be obtained He departed this life the two and twentith of Iuly in the yeare of grace one thousand one hundred and twenty and was buried in this Church of his owne Foundation by the High Altar to whose memory these verses following were engrauen vpon his monument Inclytus Herbertus iacet hic vt pistica nardus Virtutum redolens floribus et meritis A quo fundatus locus est hic edificatus Ingenti studio nec modico precio Vir fuit hic magnus probitate suâ—uis vt agnus Vita conspicuus dogmate precipuus Sobrius et castus prudens et Episcopus almus Pollens Concilio clarus in officio Quâ—m .... vndecimas Iulio promente Kalendas Abstulit vltima sors et rapuit cita mors Pro quo qui transis supplex orare memor sis Vt sit ei saties alma Dei facies One Euerard who next succeeded Herbert lieth here interred who although saith Godwin he enioyed this Bishopricke for a long space yet time the deuorer of all things hath left nothing of him to our remembrance but that when he had gouerned his Church 29 yeares hee ended this life Octob. 15. 1150. Here in the Presbyterie lay buried the body of Bishop Turbus a Norman by birth being in his youth a Monke and afterwards Prior of this monasterie In his time this Cathedrall Church was burned by casuall fire he died in the 25. yeare of his consecration the 17. of Ianuarie Neere vnto the high Altar lieth buried the body of Iohn of Oxford sometimes Deane of Salisbury and Bishop of this Diocesse This man finished the Church which Herbert being preuented by death had left vnperfected and repaired that which by fire was lately defaced He built diuers Hospitals for impotent and diseased people Hee founded Trinitie Church in
Ipswich and reedified diuers houses which were by fire decaied He was chaplaine to King Henry the second and with him in especiall fauour euer firmely adhering to his partie against Thomas Becket who had stubbornely opposed himselfe against his said Soueraigne Lord and Master He was employed in diuers Embasies as to Rome to Seines in France and to Sicily about the marriage of Ioane the third and yongest daughter of the said King Henry to William the second of that name King of Sicill Duke of Apulia and Prince of Capua In the soliditie of good doctrine in the maturitie of iudgement and in all the graces of rhetoricall speech hee did wondrously abound He was quicke and dexterous in the managing and prosperous in the dispatching of waightie affaires He writ a History of the Kings of Britaine as also a Booke Pro Rege Henrico contra S. Tho mam Cantuariensem for King Henry against S. Thomas of Canterbury besides a treatise of his iourney into Sicily and certaine Orations and Epistles to Richard Archbishop of Canterbury He died the 26 yeare of his consecration the second of Iune in the second yeare of King Iohn Iohn de Grey entirely beloued of King Iohn who preferred him to this Bishopricke was here entombed in whose commendations Bale and Pitseus doe in effect thus agree Vir erat foelici et faceto ingenio eruditione insignis consilio expeditus et quantumuis in dictis facetus in factis tamen vbi res postulabat senerus virtutum omnium amator et cultor omnium vitiorum osor et exterminator Iohanni Anglorum Regi gratissimus in magna semper authoritate apud ipsum remansit splendidis functionibus ornatus A man he was of a pleasant and facetious wit in the knowledge of all good literature excellent in counsell ready and intelligent and howsoeuer in his words merrie and iocond yet in his actions as occasion did require he was seuere and rigorous a louer and reuerencer hee was of all vertues and a despiser and rooter out of all vices He was a gracious Fauourite to King Iohn euer vnder him in great authoritie and honoured with offices of especiall trust and confidence Naâ—â— cum Rex rebelles Hibernos compescuisset eorumque vires fregisset hunc Graâ—ium tanquam virum strenuum magnae prudentiae fidelitatis exploratae reliquit ibi supremum Presidem vt eos auctoritate sua in officio contineret For when the King had repressed the rebellious Irish broken dispersed then forces he left this Grey as an hardie able man of singular wisedome and tried fidelitie Prorex or Lord Deputie of Ireland that by such his power and commission he might keepe that stiffe-necked nation in obedience He was well seene in the lawes of the Realme saith Godwin wise and of great integritie in regard whereof the King was very desirous to haue made him Archbishop of Canterbury of which I haue spoken somewhat before to which Grace indeed he was solemnly elected and his election published in the Church before the King and an infinite number of people But by the exorbitant authoritie of the Pope this election was disanulled whereupon much mischiefe ensued He built that goodly Hall at Gay wood neare Linne in Norfolke and the rest of the Fabricke adioyning Hauing sate about fourteene yeares hee died neare Poytiers in his returne from Rome Obijt eodem anno quo Rex Iohannes saith Bale in the same yeare in which King Iohn deceased the first of Nouember Whose body was conueyed to this his owne Church He was an Historiographer and writ a booke which he called Schalecronicon as also other workes mentioned by Bale in his Centuries Die vero Sancti Vlstani decimo tertio Calendas Iunij obijt Episcopus Norwicensis Vualterus cognomento de Sufeld apud Colecestriam delâ—tum est corpus eius ad Norwicensem Ecclesiam suam Cathedralem honorificè tumulandus ad cuius tumbam miracula dicebantur coruscate Hic namque in vsus pauperum instante tempore famis omnia vasa sua coclearia cum toto thesauro suo pauperibus erogauerat Mat. Paris Ann. 1257. Vpon the Feast day of Saint Wolstan the thirteenth of the Calends of Iune Walter surnamed de Sufield Bishop of Norwich departed this world at Colchester from whence his body was conueyed to this Cathedrall Church here to be honourably interred At whose Tombe many miracles are reported to be wrought which are ascribed to his holinesse For it is remembred of him that in a time of extreme famine hee sold all his plate and distributed it to the poore euery pennyworth He lieth buried in our Ladies Chappell which was of his owne building He founded the Hospitall of Saint Giles here in the Citie endowing it with faire possessions insomuch that it was valued at the suppression to be yearely worth fourescore and ten pounds twelue shillings Simon de Wanton sometimes the Kings Chaplaine one of his Iustices and Bishop of this Diocesse was here interred by his predecessour Walter de Sufield He died about the yeare 1265. hauing sate eight yeares and obtained of the Pope licence to hold all his former liuings in Commendam for foure yeares In the same Chappell as I take it Roger de Sherwyng was entombed who died about Michaelmas 1278. hauing sate thirteene yeares Of whom I finde little remarkable yet he is memorable for that in his time by an incendiarie outrage the Citizens set fire on the Priorie Church The story is thus deliuered by our late writers taken out of Rishanger the Continuer of Mathew Paris his History in the last yeare of King Henry the third About the moneth of Iune in a Faire that was kept before the gates of the Priory there fell great debate and discord betwixt the Monkes of Norwich and the Citizens there which increased so farre that at length the Citizens with great violence assaulted the Monastery fired the gates and forced the fire so with reed and drie wood that the Church with the books and all other ornaments of the same and all houses of Office belonging to that Abbey were cleane burned wasted and destroyed so that nothing was preserued except one little Chappell The King hearing of this detestable and sacrilegious deuastation rode to Norwich where beholding the deformed ruines he could hardly refraine from teares and caused enquirie to be made of the fact whereupon thirty young men of the Citie as also a woman that first carried fire to the gates were condemned hanged and burnt It is thought saith Hollinshead that the Prior of the house whose name was William de Brunham was the occasion of all this mischiefe who had got together armed men and tooke vpon to keepe the Belfray and Church by force of armes but the Prior was well enough borne out and defended by this his Bishop The Monkes for their part appealed to Rome and so handled the matter that they not onely escaped punishment but also forced the