excommunicated the Earl who little regarded it The Earl so dieth the Bishop cometh into England and reneweth his Suit to Earl William his Son and Heir obtaining to have the King his Mediator but prevail'd not for Earl William and his Brethren answer'd That their Father did the Bishop no wrong having gotten the Mannors by right of War The Bishop in the agony of his Spirit reneweth the Curse against their Father and them and said That the Lord had cast it grievously upon Earl William as is written in the Psalm In a Generation his Name shall be put out and his Sons shall be Vagabonds as touching the Blessing promis'd by the Lord of Encrease and multiply Earl William the Father at the time of his Death and Burial which was in the New Temple at London 17. Kal. Apr. 1219. and 4 Hen. 3. left 5 Sons and as many Daughters Earl William the eldest Son first married Alice the Daughter and Heir of Baldwin Earl of Albermarle c. After Eleanor Daughter of King John and died without Issue 6. Apr. 1231. 15 Hen. 3. Earl Richard the second Brother succeeded he married the Lady Gervasia and was slain in Ireland 18 Hen. 3. leaving no Issue Earl Gilbert the 3d Brother succeeded He married Margaret Daughter of William King of Scots and was kill'd by his own Horse at a Tornement at Hartford 21 Hen. 3. 1241. leaving no Issue Earl Walter the fourth Brother succeeded He married Margaret Daughter and Co-heir of Robert Lord Quiney and died at London 6. Dec. 1245. 30 Hen. 3. or as others report the 24. Nov. and was buried at Tinterne leaving no Issue Earl Anselm the youngest was at the death of his Brother Walter Dean of Salisbury but admitted to be Earl of Pembroke and Marshal and in haste married Maud the Daughter of Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford that he yet at last might propagate the most noble Family But Non est consilium contra Dominum for he died within 18 or 24 days after his Brother before he was actually possess'd of his County Thus according to the Malediction of the Bishop the Name of those great Earls Marshal was utterly extinct all the five Brethren being married and dying Childless within 15 Years Matt. Par. An. 1219 1245. p. 292 665 alibi King Edw. 1. in the zeal of his Religion his Father yet living took the Cross upon him and went to assist the Christians in the Wars of Jerusalem The Pope in recompence of his Charges granted unto him in the second Year of his Reign he being return'd the tenth part of all Ecclesiastical Benefices of the Kingdom for one Year and the like to his Brother Edmond for another But afterwards the King forgetting his old Devotion in the 11th Year of his Reign seiz'd all the Treasure of the Tenths collected for that purpose and laid up in divers places of the Kingdom and breaking open the Locks caus'd it to be brought unto him and employ'd it to his own use Stow. This taste of things separate to God drew him on to a further Appetite In the 23d Year of his Reign he took into his hands all the Priories Aliens throughout the Kingdom committing them as Charles Martel of old had done in France to Officers under him and allowing every Monk 18d a Week retain'd the rest for the charge of his War as he did also the Pensions going out of those Houses to the greater Monasteries beyond the Seas Yet obtain'd he further in the same Parliament of the Clergy and Religious Persons a Subsidy of half their Goods to the value of 100000l whereof the Abby of Bury paid 655 l. 11d q. Stow ib. p. 316. King Ed. l. being in great want by his subduing Scotland about the end of the 23th Year of his Reign caused all the Monasteries of England to be search'd and the Money found in them to be brought to London Wals. pa. 65. Cax l. 7. c. 39. Shortly after in the 24th Year of his Reign at a Parliament at St. Edmundsbury he required a Subsidy which the Laity granted But the Clergy pretending that Pope Boniface at the same time had forbidden upon pain of Excommunication that either Secular Princes should impose Tallages upon the Church-men or that Church-men should pay any they refus'd to supply the King's Necessity and having day to advise better on the matter till the next Parliament at London shortly after they persisted in the same mind Whereupon the King put them out of his Protection so that being robb'd and spoil'd by lewd persons without remedy to redeem the King's Favour the Archbishop of York and many of the Bishops laid down a fifth part of all their Goods in their Churches and some by other courses satisfy'd the King's desire and so recover'd his Protection But all the Monasteries within the Province of Canterbury were seiz'd into the King's hands and Wardens appointed in them to minister to the Monks and Religious Persons therein only what must be had of necessity taking all other Monies and Surplusage to the King's use So that the Abbots and Priors were glad to follow the Court and to repair their Error with the fourth part of their Goods The Archbishop of Canterbury after all this fearing the Pope's Excommunication continu'd in his refusal lost all he had was forsaken of his Servants forbidden to be receiv'd either in any Monastery or without and rested in the House of a poor Man only with one Priest and one Clerk How these Courses were censur'd in foro coeli is not in me to judge nor will I pry into the Ark of God's Secrets But see what followeth in the Story King Edward having with great Triumph subdu'd Scotland and taken the King Prisoner did at this present peaceably enjoy that Kingdom and govern'd it by his own Officers But e're three Months came to an end Wil. Wallis began such a Rebellion there as put all in hazard and in fine it was so reviv'd by Robert le Bruce the King 's natural Subject that at length he overthrew the King's Armies slew and beat out his Officers and without all recovery gain'd the Kingdom to himself and his Posterity King Edward attempting the recovery died at the entrance of Scotland His Son Edward II. pursuing his Father's intent with one of the greatest Armies that ever was raised by the English was miserably beaten and put to flight hardly escaping in his own person All his Life after full of Tumult not only his Nobles but his very Wife his Enemy abandoned of his Subjects turn'd out of his Kingdom imprison'd and traiterously murther'd In all which the Curse which his Father upon his Death-bed laid upon him if he should break the Precepts he gave him had no doubt a cooperation for he observ'd none of them Touching the pulling of Lands from the Church all have not always been of one mind For tho' the makers of the Statute of Mortmaine did truly think that the
1555. Concerning the Bishops it doth not appear how they gave their Voices but it may well be suppos'd that divers of them were against a total suppression and seeing in other Acts it is recorded after that when a Bill was granted with an unanimous consent of all parties none dissenting that then it was past Nemine dissentiente yet it is not so recorded upon this but although many might dissent and that publickly yet there was a major part of Temporal Lords present and so carried it by Voices It is testify'd of Bishop Latimer that he much desir'd that two or three Abbies of the greater sort might be preserv'd in every Shire for pious and charitable Uses Which was a wise and godly motion and perhaps the occasion that the King did convert some in part to good purposes Yet the Desolation was so universal that Jo. Bale doth much lament the loss and spoil of Books and Libraries in his Epistle upon Leland's Journal Leland being imploy'd by the King to survey and preserve the choicest Books in their Libraries If there had been in every Shire of England saith Bale but one solemn Library to the preservation of those Noble Works and Preferment of good Learning in our Posterity it had been yet somewhat but to destroy all without consideration it is and will be unto England for ever a most horrible Infamy amongst the grave Seniors of other Nations Adding further that they who got and purchased the Religious Houses at the Dissolution of them took the Libraries as part of the Bargain and Booty reserving of those Library Books some to serve their Jakes some to scour their Candlesticks and some to rub their Boots some they sold to the Grocers and Soap-sellers and some they sent over Sea to the Book-binders not in small numbers but at times whole Ship-fulls to the wondering of foreign Nations And after he also addeth I know a Merchant-man which all this time shall be nameless that bought the Contents of two noble Libraries for 40s a piece a shame it is to be spoken this stuff hath he occasioned instead of Grey Paper by the space of more than these ten Years and yet he hath enough for many Years to come a prodigious Example is this and to be abhorred of all men who love their Nation as they should do And well he might exclaim a prodigious Example it being a most wicked and detestable injury to Religion and Learning Yet thus are Men often transported with Passion in the heat of Reformation and fiery Zeal without Wisdom The Temporal Lords present in Parliament 23 Maii 31 Hen. VIII 1. Thomas Lord Audley of Walden Lord Chancellour died without Issue-male 30. Apr. 1544 3 â…š Hen. 8. Margaret his sole Daughter and Heir being first marry'd to Henry Dudley Son of John Duke of Northumberland slain at St. Quintins without Issue Anno 1557. After a second Wife to Thomas Duke of Norfolk who was beheaded in June 1572. By him she had Issue Thomas created by King James Lord Howard of Walden and after Earl of Suffolk and made Lord Treasurer but put out of his place and fined in the Star-Chamber termino ... Anno ... for miscarriage thereof and grievously afflicted by the wicked and odious practices of his Daughter Frances first marry'd to the Earl of Essex then divorc'd and marry'd to the Earl of Somerset and they both attainted and adjudg'd to death for the murther of Sir Thomas Overbury 2. The Duke of Norfolk at that time viz. in both Parliaments of 31 and 27 was Thomas Howard the third Duke of that renowned Family who suffering the spight of Fortune was upon the 12th of December in the 28th of the King committed to the Tower with his magnanimous Son and Heir apparent Henry Earl of Surrey Upon being first arraign'd and attainted the King lying on his Death-bed caused him to be beheaded 19. Jan. and deceasing himself on the 28th of the same Month left the sorrowfull Duke in Prison where he remained as I take it till Queen Mary set him at liberty to go against Wyat and being nothing fortunate in that imployment the Earl of Pembroke was put in his room and had the glory of the Service Thomas Howard Son of Henry Earl of Surrey beheaded and Grandchild of the last Duke was restor'd by Q. Mary and made the 4th Duke of Norfolk but affecting Marriage with the Qu. of Scots was heretofore attainted and beheaded in June 1572. Philip his eldest Son was in right of his Mother and by conveyance of the Castle and Honour of Arundel unto him Earl of Arundel and after restor'd in Blood 23d of Eliz. yet byfate of his Noble Family after long imprisonment and Attainder died in the Tower where his most honourable Son after restitution to his Earldom and other Dignities with a reinvesting of the great Office of Earl Marshal of England but now by God's Blessing and his own singular Wisdom hath gotten the upper hand of Fortune and is likely to leave it to a temperate and virtuous Son 3. The Duke of Suffolk both in this Parliament and in that of 27 was Charles Brandon and tho' he was not present at the passing of the Bill yet being a principal Parliament-man the King's Brother by Marriage and his minion in Affection it is very credible that he was a very great advancer of the business He had four Wives no Issue by the first a base Daughter and another by a second born in Wedlock A Son Henry that was Earl of Lincoln by his 3d Wife the King's Sister and Qu. of France and two Daughters and two Sons Henry and Charles by his fourth Wife His Son Henry Earl of Lincoln died without Issue in the life time of his Father the Duke His other Son Henry was Duke of Suffolk after his Father but both he and his Brother Charles died together of the Sweating Sickness the 14th of July 1551 without Issue Frances his eldest Daughter by the Qu. of France was married to Henry Grey Marquess of Dorset who in her Father's Title was created Duke of Suffolk and was beheaded the 23d of Febr. 1 Mariae leaving no Issue by a former Wife but three Daughters by this Frances whereof Jane marry'd to the Lord Guilford Dudley together with her Husband were beheaded without Issue 1 Mar. Catharine his second Daughter was marry'd to the Lord Herbert and divorced Mary the 3d Daughter was marry'd to Martin Reyes a Groom-porter as I have heard and died without Issue 4. The Marquess of Dorset in this Parliament of 31 H. 8. was Henry Grey that married Frances the eldest Daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk by the Qu. of France King Henry's Sister he had Issue by her a Son and 3 Daughters His Son Henry Lord Harrington died before him without Issue The Lady Jane eldest Daughter as we said before was married to the Lord Guilford Dudley and together with her Husband was beheaded Catharine his second Daughter ... Mary the
Earl of Sussex had five Sons whereof Egremont his Son by the second Wife was attainted of Treason Thomas the third Earl Son and Heir of Henry had two Wives but died without Issue 15. The Earl of Huntington was George Lord Hastings created 21. Henry 8. He had Issue Francis the 2d Earl and Sir Edward Hastings whom Queen Mary made Baron of Loughborough that died without Issue Sir Thomas Hastings also who died without Issue And Henry and William besides three Daughters Francis the 2d Earl had Issue Henry the third Earl who died without Issue and four other Sons whereof William died without Issue Sir George Hastings Brother of Francis succeeded in the Earldom and left many Male-branches whereof Henry the Issue of his eldest Son Francis was the fifth Earl and had Issue Ferdinando 16. The Earl of Hertford was Edward Seymour created Anno 29. Henry 8. made Duke of Somerset c. Edw. 6. He was committed to the Tower in the third Year of the King for divers great Offences but then obtained a Pardon and being arraigned of Treason and Felony 1 o Decemb 5. Regis was quit for the Treason and condemn'd for the Felony and therefore beheaded the 22d of July following He had two Sons by his first Wife that died without Issue Edward his 3d. Son or eldest by his 2d Wife the Lady Anne Daughter of John Stanhope Esq succeeded in all his Fathers Honours for a short time namely from the Death of his Father on 22 June 5. Edw. 6. to the End of the next Session of Parliament which was the 25th of April following But the Honours being entail'd upon him and therefore not forfeited for his Father's Attaindure for Felony Misfortune and the Malice of his Adversaries yet so wrought upon him as in this Session they were all taken from him by Parliament with most of his Inheritance which gracious Queen Elizabeth commiserating restor'd him to the Earldom of Hertford and Barony of Seymour To let pass his other Off-spring his Grandchild Edward the 3d. Earl of Hertford fell into King James's displeasure by marrying the Lady Arabella Stuart for which both of them were committed to the Tower 17. The Earl of Bridgwater was Henry Lord Daubeney created 20 July 30. Hen. 8. He died without Issue Anno Edw. 6. and so his Name Family and Dignity was extinct This Earl of Bridgwater was reduc'd to that extremity that he had not a Servant to wait on him in his last sickness nor means to buy Fire or Candles or to bury him but what was done for him in Charity by his sister Cicely married to John Bourchier the first of that Name Earl of Bathe Verba Henrici Bourchier manu sua scripta A Catalogue of the Barons present in Parliament 1. Audley Then John Tonchet Lord Audley who had Issue George Tonchet Lord Audley who had Issue Henry Tonchet Lord Audley who had Issue George Tonchet Lord Audley and Earl of Castle-Haven attainted and beheaded and the Barony of Audley being in see extinguisht 2. Zouche Was John Lord Zouche who had Issue Richard Lord Zouche who had Issue Edward Lord Zouche Son of George Lord Zouche Lord St. Maur and Cantelupe of Harringworth in Northamptonshire who sold his ancient Inheritance died without Issue-Male and his Barony extinct 1 Caroli His first Wife proving disloyal she was divorced from him that he regarded not the two Daughters which he had whom therefore he suffered to marry far below his Degree and Honour as himself saith in his Will upon Record The Eldest being married to Sir William Tate in Northamptonshire the other to in Worcestershire 3. De-laware Tho. Nest Lord De-laware Son of Tho. Lord De-laware that died the 16th Henry 8. married Eliz. Daughter and Co-heir of John Bonvill died without Issue William Nest Son of George Nest Brother of Tho. Lord De-laware being of the Age of 18 Years 1 Edw. 6. was disabled by Parliament to succeed his Uncle as conceiv'd to have imagined his Death and 2 or 3 of Philip and Mary was attainted of Treason by Commission in London Restored in Blood as Heir to Sir George his Father about 3 or 5 Eliz. and created a new Baron De-laware in 8. and had Issue Tho. De-laware Father or Grandfather of him now living 4. Morley Henry Parker made Lord Morley in right of Alice his Mother Daughter and Heir of William Lovell Lord Morley died 27 Novemb. 4. Mar. had Issue Henry who died in the Life of his Father leaving Issue Hen. Lord Morley that died at Paris 1578. Had Issue Edw. Lord Morley who died April 1618 and had Issue William Lord Morley and made Montegle 1 Jacobi and died 1622. and had Issue Henry Lord Morley and Montegle now living and Francis 5. Dacres Thomas Fines Lord Dacres of the South being in company with certain Gentlemen hunting in Nicholas Potham's Park there committed a Riot and Murther of Bransrigg He was hang'd at Tyburn on St. Peters Day 33 Hen. 8. He had issue Thomas Lord Dacres who died within age and Gregory Lord Dacres who died without issue 1594 and his Family so extinct Margery his Sister and Heir was married to Sampson Leonard who had issue Henry Lord Dacres who had issue Richard Lord Dacres Father of now Lord Dacres a Child 6. Dacres of Gilsland William died 1563 had issue Thomas Lord Dacres Leonard George S. P. Edward Francis George Lord Dacres Son of Thomas Lord Dacres being but 7 Years old and granted Ward to the Duke of Norfolk brake his Neck by a fall from a Vaulting-horse at Charterhouse Anno ... Eliz. And his Barony and Family extinct he dying without issue Male his two Sisters and Heirs were married to the Dukes Sons Philip Earl of Arundel and the Lord William Howard Thomas Lord Dacres Son of William Lord Dacres had issue William slain at Thetford 1569 his Sisters and Heirs Anne married to Philip Howard Mary married to Thomas Howard Elizabeth to Lord William Howard 7. Cobham George Brook Lord Cobham Son of Thomas Lord Cobham who died 1529 died 1558 had Issue William Lord Cobham He died 1597 and five other Sons which William had Issue Henry Brook Lord Cobham attainted and died 1618 S. P. and Sir William Brook S. P. and George Brook attainted and executed at Winchester An. 1603 the Barony extinct 8. Maltravers Henry Fitz-Alam Son of William Fitz-Alam the 10th Earl of Arundel which William died 35 H. 8. was in the life of his Father Lord Maltravers and Baron of Parliament and after the death of his Father the last Earl of Arundel of that Name 9. Ferrers Walter Lord Devreux Lord Ferrers of Chartley Son of John Devreux Lord Ferrers was created Vicount Hereford 1 Edward 6. had Issue Richard that died in the life of his Father and had Issue Walter Devreux Earl of Essex suspected to be poison'd and had Issue Robert Devreux Earl of Essex attainted and executed 1601 and Walter Devreux slain at the Siege of Roan Earl Robert had
Abbey-Stone Breast-high the Wall reft from the Corner Stones though it was clear above ground which being reported to me by my Servant Richard Tedcastle I viewed them with mine own Eyes and found it so Sir Roger utterly dâ—smayed with these Occurrents gave over his begun Foundation and digging a new wholly out of the ground about 20 Yards more forward toward the North hath there finished a stately House using none of the Abbey-Stone about it but employed the same in building a Parsonage-House for the Minister of that Town and about the Walls of the Church-yard c. Himself also shewed me that as his first Foundation reft in sunder so the new Bridge which he had made of the same Stone at the foot of the Hill which ascendeth to his House settled down with a Belly as if it would fall But if there be any Offences or ominous Consequences depending upon such Possessions he hath very nobly and piously endeavoured to expiate it for he hath given back to the Church three or four Appropriations Burnham Priory It was sometime the Southwells of St. Faith's whose Family is either extinct or gone out of the County It was afterwards Francis Cobbes Gent. who likewise is gone then Sir Charles Cornwallis Kt. wasted and by him sold to Alderman Soame who let the same to John Soame Esque his 2d Son deceased Peterston About the latter Years of Q. Eliz. was Rich. Mansers Gent. who had much suit and Quarrel with Firmine Gray about a Lease of it and died without Issue disposing it by a Will as was reported to one Roger Manser his Brother but they were of it by Armiger of Creake who married Richard Manser's Sister and left it to William Armiger his Son and Heir who sold it to my Lord Cooke to secure the Title Carbrocke a Monastery of Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem Sir Richard Southwell Knight a great Agent in spoiling the Abbeys was Owner of it he married Thomasin the Daughter of Sir Roger Darcy of Dambury and living together had no Issue by her but in the mean time he had by Mary Darcy Daughter of Tho. Darcy also of Dambury Richard Southwell of St. Faiths and Tho. Southwell of Mowrton Mary and Dorothy all born in Adultery and Katherine married to Tho. Audeley of Beer-Church in Essex Cousin and Heir Male to the Lord Audley born as it seems after the Death of Thomasin his Wife by the said Mary who then and before was by Sir Richard married to one Leech a Swallowman of Norwich that had been his Servant and now his Lady dying he took this Mary from Leech her Husband and married her himself alledging that she could not be Leech's Wife for that he had another former Wife then living hereupon a great Suit ensued in the high Commission Court where Sir Richard prevailed and enjoyed her with shame enough Sir Richard dieth without other Issue than by this Mary leaving the Abbey of St. Faiths to his base born Son Richard and Mowrton to his base Son Thomas His Son Richard marries Bridget Daughter of Sir Roger Copley Knight and had Issue by her Richard Thomas and Robert This last Richard married the Daughter of Sir Tho. Cornwallis and having Issue by her Sir Tho. Southwell and 2 or 3 other Sons dyeth in the life-time of his Father who for his 2d Wife marrieth his Maid the Daughter of one Styles Parson of Ellingham and by her had Issue Sir Henry Southwell and Dunsarry Southwell now owner of Mowrton and some Daughters whereof Ann was in London And this Richard the Father having wasted his Estate and sold the Abbey of St. Faiths to the Lord Chief Justice Hobart died a Prisoner in the Fleet. Tho. Southwell the other base Son of Sir Richard dieth without Issue and having given by his Will the Mannor of Mowrton to his Sister Audley for Life the Remainder to Thomas her younger Son Sir Tho. Southwell Nephew of the Testator seeketh to overthrow the Will and to have the Mannor as Heir at common Law to Thomas the Testator hereupon the Heir of Leech strikes in against them both labouring with Sir Thomas to falsifie the Will against Mrs. Audley and excluding Sir Tho. by alledging bastardy against him in Richard his Father for that Mary Darcy the Mother of this Richard was Wife to the Father of this Leech when Richard and Thomas the Testator was born This brought all the filthiness aforementioned to be raked over again and when all were notoriously defamed by it they all sit down without any recompence Tho. Audley that was in remainder died without Issue in the Life of his Mother whereby Mowrton came to his Brother Sir Henry Audley Anthony Southwell and Southwell Brothers of Sir Thomas were in the Robbery of Mrs. Grave and fled into Ireland Sir Henry Southwell married the Daughter of the Lord Hor in Ireland without Issue After the Death of Sir Richard Southwell his Nephew Sir Robert succeeded in the great Inheritance and the Hospital of Carbrock he married the Daughter of the Earl of Nottingham and died in the Flower of his Age leaving his Son the now Sir Thomas an Infant who about his full Age had a base Daughter by Dr. Corbett's Maid and marrying her privily liveth now in dis of her and keepeth the Daughter of one Eden in a poor House at Notton and hath consumed the greatest part of his Estate His Sister Mrs. Eliz. Florence liveth at Florence in Adultery with Sir Robert Dudley having another Wife before he married her and both of them still living Marham Sir Nicholas Hare Knight and John Hare Citizen and Mercer of London 3 Jul. Anno 38 H. 8. purchased of the King ... totum fitum circuitum ambitum praecinctum nuper Monasterii sive domus De Marham in ac totum sundum situm terram Ecclesiam Campanile domus aedificiorum c. ... necnon manerium nostrum de Marham cum omnibus terris ... c. Sir Nicholas Hare married the Daughter and Heir of Bassingbourn and had Issue Michael that died without Issue Robert that died without Issue and Richard that died without Issue and his Inheritance went away to his two Daughters the one married to Rouse the other to Timperley See more of this Sir Nicholas in the Speaker of Parliament Anno 31 H. 8. where he prophesied this ruin of his Family John Hare the Citizen had Issue Nicholas the Lawyer that died without Issue Ralph that died without Issue Edmund Lunatick at a Lodge in Enfield-Chase Hugh that died without Issue Rowland and John that had Issue and Thomas of Oxford that married and died without Issue Richard the elder married Eliz. Daughter of ... and had Issue Sir Ralph Hare Knight of the Bath and he married ... the Daughter of Alderman Hambden and John Son of John and Brother of Richard was Clerk of the Court of Wards and had Issue Nicholas who was Lunatick and died without Issue and Hugh now Lord
saith Malmsbury that which I saw perform'd for not long after his Son Roger Possessing his Father's Inheritance was Banish'd by King Henry I. for putting an Officer of the King 's to Death in an head-long fury Malms de Gest. Pont. p. 271. And his Sheriffwick went to Beaumont who Married his Sister Camb. 578. Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury with Hugh Earl of Chester was sent by William Rufus to assail the Welch-men in Anglesey which they perform'd with great cruelty not sparing the Churches For the Earl of Shrewsbury made a Dog-kennel of the Church of St. Fridank laying his Hounds in it for the Night time but in the morning he found them mad But it chanced that Magnus King of Norway came in the mean time to take also the same Island and encountering the Earl of Shrewsbury at Sea shot him in the Eye where only he was unarm'd and the Earl thereupon falling out of the Ship into the Sea was both Slain and Drown'd and dy'd without Issue Girald Camb. Hov. in Ann. 1098. Holl. ib. Cat. EE Shrewsb Geoffrey the 16th Abbot of St. Albans living whilst he was young a Secular Man and teaching at Dunstable did there about the beginning of King Henry I. make a Play of St. Catharine call'd Miracula and for Acting of it did borrow of the Sexton of St. Albans divers Copes that belong'd to the Quire of St. Albans for the Service of God and having used them prophanely in his Play both the House wherein they were and the Copes themselves were the next Night casually Burnt Geoffery for great Grief hereupon gave over the World and by way of a Propitiatory Sacrifice offer'd up himself a Monk in St. Albans where afterward in the Year 1119. viz. 19 or 20. of Henry I. he was made Abbot Lib. MS. de Abbatibus Sti. Albani Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis spoiling two Churches in Anglesey and part of the Isle was with all his Men Slain in the return Stow p. 217. Sherbourne in Dorsetshire was made an Episcopal See in the Year 704 or 705. And as the use of the time was with many Curses no doubt against him or them that should violate it or should get or procure it to be alien'd from that Bishoprick St. Oswald who flourish'd 270 Years after fortifi'd those Curses as is reported with divers other bitter imprecations It continu'd peaceably in the Possession of the Bishops till the time of King Stephen then Roger Bishop of that See translated by his Predecessor to Salisbury building three sumptuous Castles one at Sherbourn another at Devizes and the third at Malmsbury the King supposing they might turn to his prejudice sent for the Bishop and took and imprison'd him with some others of his Coat and calling a Council of the Peers and Baronage obtain'd a Statute to this effect That all Towns of Defence Castles and Munitions through England wherein Secular business was went to be exercised should be the King 's and his Barons And that the Church-men and namely the Bishops as Divine Dogs should not cease to bark for the desence and safety of their Sheep and to take diligent heed that the invisible Wolf that malignant Enemy wory not or scatter the Lord's Flock Thus the King obtain'd these Castles that he thirsted after with the Bishop's Person and Treasure beside And being summon'd hereupon to a Synod at Winchester by his Brother Henry Bishop there and Legate of the Pope he sent Albery de Vere Earl of Guisne and Chamberlain of England a Man of excellent Speech and singularly well learned in the Law whom some report to be made Chief Justice of England after the said Roger him I say did the King send to the Synod as his Attorney or Sergeant at Law to defend his Cause which he did with so great Art and Dexterity that nothing was therein determin'd But mark the issue e'er a twelve Month came to an end the Earl Albery de Vere was Slain in London Florileg in Ann. 1140. The King himself within another twelve month taken Prisoner and being deliver'd upon an exchange for the Earl of Glocester spoileth divers Churches by his Flemish Soldiers and buildeth the Nunnery of Wilton into a Castle where the Town is fired about his Ears his Men slain his Sewer Plate and other things taken and himself driven to escape by a shameful Flight He continueth his Wars with unprofitable Success falleth at discord with his Barons and is driven to make Peace with Duke Henry his Adversary His Son Eustace displeased therewith applieth himself to spoil Cambridge-Shire and those parts falleth upon the Lands of the Abby of Bury and carrieth the Corn to his Castles and sitting down to Dinner as he put the first Morsel in his Mouth he fell Mad and dy'd miserably Mat. Par. Ann. 1152. Stow Ann. 1153. In the end he stated the Crown upon the Duke Henry being compell'd thereto and dying had no lawful Issue Male to propagate his Family his Sons of that sort being taken away in his Life time Having spoken of those Curses set of old like Bulwarks about the Castle of Sherbourn to defend it against Sacrilegious Assailants and of the Operation they had in those Ancient Days it falleth very fitly in my way to shew also in what manner they have uttered their venome since that time of old for tho Poison temper'd by an Apothecary with over long keeping will lose its strength yet the Poison that lurketh in the Veins of Curses lawfully imposed is neither wasted nor weakened by Antiquity but oftentimes breaketh forth as violently after many Ages as if they were but of late denounced Like the implicite Curse that devour'd the seven Sons of Saul for breaking the Covenant with the Gibeonites made above Five Hundred Years before their time See therefore a farther Collection touching this matter delivered unto me above three Years since by a Person of great Place and Honour The Castle of Sherbourne was granted to the See of Salisbury by St. Oswel with several bitter Imprecations and Cursings on him or them that should get or procure Sherbourne to be aliened from that See St. Oswel praying that he or they might die Issueless or Unfortunately that should so take it King Stephen was the first that got it from that See after the first Donation Ann. 1139. His Death and his Son 's Dying Mad make it observable Will. Martel King Stephen's Sewer had it who being taken Prisoner gave it for his Ransome Ann. 1142. Reg. 7. Hoved ibid. p. 488. In Edward III. time the Earl of Salisbury had it who dy'd Issueless and not Fortunate Then the Duke of Northumberland had it who was Attainted After the Duke of Somerset had it who was Attainted After the Lord Paget had a Lease from the Bishop who was Attainted After him Sir Walter Rawleigh had it who was Attainted After him the Earl of Somerset had it who was Attainted for Felony The Crown had it Prince Henry had it
deceiving the one of Q. Eliz. the other of K. James of a Multitude of thousand Pounds the Examination whereof was by His Majesty referr'd unto me among others and the two Brethren then agreeing among themselves the Reference was no further prosecuted But Mr. Toby Palvicini consuming his whole Estate sold the Abbey and Impropriation to Alderman Barcham and yet lieth in the Fleet for Debt if not lately at liberty Blackborough and Wrongey-Abbeys These were by granted and annexed to the See and Bishoprick of Norwich where Edmond Scaulter being made Bishop 27 Eliz. and doing as much as well he might to impoverish the Church made a Lease of most of the Manours and Lands thereof and amongst them of these two Abbies to Qu. Elizabeth for 29 Years at the lowest Rent he might which Bishop Goodwin in like cases termeth Sacrilege Queen Elizabeth assigneth this Lease to Sir Tho. he leaveth it to his Lady after the Countess of Southampton she setteth her term in these Abbies with the Mannors and Lands belonging to them to one Fisher a Skinner in London by the procurement of Wrenham her Servant Fisher entereth and enjoyeth them as undoubtedly his own Leaseth them for 21 Year to Harpley at a great encreased Rent Wrenham dieth without contradicting any thing his Son John Wrenham pretending that Fisher had the grand Lease but in trust for his Father who never paid penny for it exhibits one Bill in Chancery against Fisher another against his Son Sir Edward Fisher as having it from his Father a 3d against Harpley the Under-leaser The Lord Chancellour Egerton by an order declareth Harpley's Lease to be good who thereupon enjoy'd it quietly and dieth his Executrix setteth it to Sir Henry Spelman Wrenham exhibiteth a Bill against Sir Henry The Suits proceed to an hearing betwixt Wrenham and the Fishers The Lord Chancellour decreeth it against the Fishers and all claiming under them The Lord Chancellour Egerton gives over his place and Sir Francis Bacon placed in his room He reverseth the Decree and decreeth it back again to Sir Edward Fisher and by another Decree giveth also Sir Hen. Spelman's Lease unto him without calling or hearing Sir Henry Wrenham complaineth in a Petition to King James and taxeth the Lord Chancellour Bacon of Corruption and Injustice The King himself peruseth all the proceedings and approveth the Lord Bacon's Decree Wrenham is censured for his scandal in the Star-Chamber to loose his Ears on the Pillory c. A Parliament followeth in Jacobi both Wrenham and Sir Henry Spelman severally complain there It is found that the Lord Chancellour Bacon had for these Decrees of Sir Edw. Fisher a Suit of Hangings of eight score pounds The Lord Chancellour for this among other such crimes is deposed The Bishop of Lincoln is set in his room the Suits are again in agitation before him between Wrenham and Fisher and Sir Henry Spelman by a Petition to the King obtaineth a Review of the Proceedings against him upon which a Recompence is given him by Decree against Sir Edward Fisher. The Bishop of Lincoln is removed by King Charles and the Lord Coventry made Lord Keeper by whom the other Differences are at last compounded and the Grand Lease divided into many parcels Wrenham that raised this Tempest besides his misfortune in the Star-Chamber is never the richer by it but liveth a Projectour Sir Edward Fisher of 8000 l. as Bodon his Servant protesteth in the Suit is consumed and not to be seen of every Man Sir Henry Spelman a great loser and not beholden to Fortune yet happy in this that he is out of the Bryars but especially that hereby he first discerned the Infelicity of meddling with consecrated places Sir Tho. died without Issue Male and his Family extinct Mr. James out of whose Bowels his Father the Bishop hoped to raise a Family of note hath to this day no Issue at all Walsingham-Abby Dedicated to St. Mary Canons regular val at 446 l. 14s 4d One Sydney Governour of the Spittle there as was commonly reported when I was a Scholar at Walsingham was by the Townsmen imploy'd to have bought the Site of the Abby to the use of the Town but obtain'd and kept it to himself He had Issue Thomas and a Daughter Mother to Robin Angust the Foot-post of Walsingham Thomas by the advancement of Sir Francis Walsingham Brother to his Wife grew to great Wealth was Customer of Linne and about a miscarrige of that place was long harrowed in Law by Mr. Farmer of Basham and died leaving two Sons Thomas the eldest having the Abby c. married and died without Issue Sir Henry succeeded in the Abby c. married and died without Issue His Lady a vertuous Woman now hath it for life the remainder being given for names sake by Sir Henry to Robert Sydney the 2d Son of the Earl of Leicester Walsingham-Priory not mentioned in the Tax One Mr. Jenner was Owner of it and had Issue Thomas Francis and Bartholomew Francis a Lawyer of Gray's Inn married into Kent and was drowned in going thither by Boat Thomas the eldest had the Priory and 3 or 4 Sons and a Daughter one of his Sons or as some say two went up and down a begging His eldest he disinherited settling his Estate upon his younger Son John being my Servant who died in his Father's life Then he gave his whole Estate to his Daughter married to Bernard Vtbarr and a Daughter of hers his Grandchild with a particular Summ of Money to maintain Suit against his Son and Heir if he claimed any thing after his death Being dead his Son enter'd and got possession of the Priory but in fine with some little composition was wrested out by Vtbarr and now Vtbarr's Daughter coming to age it is to be sold by her Hempton-Abby al Takenham Dedicated to St. Mary and St. Stephen Black Canons Aug. 39 l. 9 s. If Sir Hen. Farmer had it he died without Issue Sir William Farmer had it and died without Issue-male His Brother was slain at Rising-Chase by the Rebels 2 Ed. 6. His Son Mr. Thomas Farmer had it and the Impropriation of Basham and wasting his Estate sold about 15 or 16 Mannors leaving none but his chief House Basham His eldest Son Thomas died a young Man his three Daughters unfortunate The eldest and youngest poorly married The middle to Mr. Barneys Son of Gunton who disinherited by his Father was slain by Tho. Betts his Wives Uncle of the half blood at a Marriage at Litcham Nicholas Farmer younger Brother of Thomas was attainted and pardoned for Coining and after taking a Boat to fly from the Serjeants was drowned in the Thames William 2d Son of Thomas a right honest Gentleman still hath the Impropriation and having been married about 18 Years hath only a Daughter Mr. Richard Benson bought the Abby and Mannor of Pudding Norton of Mr. Tho. Farmer consumed all and went into Wales
Colrane in Ireland Sir Ralph Hare to expiate this Sin of his Family gave the Parsonage impropriate of Marham worth 100 l. yearly to St. John's College in Cambridge Anno 16 and died leaving one only Child Sir John Hare who married Sir Thomas Coventry the now Lord Keeper's Daughter and hath by her she not being ... Years old ... Sons and Daughters with hope of a numerous Posterity God bless them Crab-House I have yet gotten little Intelligence of this Abbey but I hear that it was not long since John Wright's of Wigen-Hall in Marseland and that he had two Sons whereof ... his eldest Son consumed his Estate and sold the Abbey with the greatest part of the Land and died without Issue It came after to Mr. William Guybon of Watlington and is now in the hands of his Son and Heir Bromill Abbey Sir Thomas Woodhouse of Wapham 38 H. 8. purchased Bromill Abbey of the King he died without Issue and Sir Henry Woodhouse his Nephew succeeded who utterly consumed his whole Estate and selling the Abbey to John Smith Esq Suits arose thereupon which lasted many Years till the Death of Sir Henry in Nov. 1624. Mr. Smith hath only Daughters and no Son so that the Abbey is not like to continue in his Name Ex inform ipsius Jo. Smith 11 o. Nov. 1624. The Impropriation of Besthurst in Lancashire as I take it is worth 1600 l. per Annum being Sir Vrion Lea's Dereham Abbey Tho Dereham in the 33 H. 8. bought it of the King shortly after he was fetch'd out of it to the Tower about the Treason of his Brother Francis Dereham who was executed Thomas at length was delivered out of Prison he had Issue Thomas Robert John and Baldwin and a Daughter Thomas married ... and died without Issue Male Robert and John died without Issue Baldwin a decayed Merchant of London had Issue four Sons Thomas Dr. of Divinity John and Martha a Daughter non compos mentis Thomas succeeded his Uncle in the Inheritance and is now Knighted having Issue Thomas Thomas eldest Son of Sir Thomas married ... daughter of ... Scot Esque of ... in Kent she fell Lunatick in Child-Bed upon the Death of her Son ... 1623 and so continueth having yet only a Daughter Thetford Hitherto I have kept my self within my Circle let us see for our further satisfaction whether the like fortune haunted the Monasteries without it we will begin with Thetford The Monastery of the Black Nuns of St. Gregory in Thetford being the Benedictines was the Duke of Norfolk's whose Misfortunes are here before in other places too often mentioned He sold the same to Sir Richard Fulmarston Knight who died without Issue Male leaving it to his Daughter and her married to Sir Edward Clark Knight Sir Edward Clark had two Sons by her and a Son by his second Wife Sir Edward Clark Knight of St. Michael the eldest Son spent most of his Life in one Prison or other had Issue a Son Sir Henry Clark Baronet that died without Issue Male in the Life of his Father who consuming his whole Inheritance sold the chief Seat of his Blickling to the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sir Henry Hobart and this Monastery upon Exchange and Money to Mr. Godsalve for Buckingham-Ferry which he ... Mr. Godsalve put over the Monastery among other Lands to Mr. John Smith and Owen Shepheard and having consumed all his Estate went beyond Sea Mr. Smith and Mr. Shepheard had a long and chargeable Suit about Mr. Godsalve's Estate and sold the Monastery to Sir William Campion who now hath it but with Suit and Trouble Sir Edw. ... the elders second Son Francis died without Issue This great and eminent Family is wholly extinct as those also of Fulmarston's Godsalve's and Smith's for Smith hath no Issue Male. I must here note that this Sir Edward ... the Elder was one of the greatest Hunters by way of Concealment after Church Goods and Lands that was in his time and that sowing these unfortunate Pieces of new gotten Cloth into the Garment of his old Inheritance the new hath not only rent away the old Garment but the Family it self to which it served Pentney Priory Pentney Priory was purchased of the Kâ—ng Anno 37 H. 8. by Thomas Mildmay the Auditor whose Son Sir Thomas sold it to Francis Windham one of the Justices of the King's-Bench he entailed it first upon his own Issue then to his Brother 's Roger and Thomas the Dr. after to his Sister Coningsby and after that to Edmund and Edmund's natural Brothers all which dying without Issue it came to Thomas Windham Esq Son of Sir Henry Windham who in Anno 1622 sold it to Sir Richard Ballache Knight and he in Anno 1631 to Judge Richardson The Abbey of Radegundis at Bradefalk in Kent by Dover is now Sir Tho. Edolph's Knight who did lately build a fair House upon the Site of the Monastery and it hath fallen down three times his two Brothers lunatique Ex relat Mrs. Meares qui duxit Vxorem Edw. Pegton Baronet St. Lawrence-Abbey by Canterbury now in the hands of Edolph lunatique whose Grandfather was also lunatique his Grandfather first purchased the Abbey Shirburn Shirburn-Abbey some time a Cathedral-Church yet belonging to the Bishop of Salisbury saith Cambden p. 214. impres 1610. Sir John Horsey having no Issue left for Name sake to Sir Ralph Horsey of Cambridgeshire the Monastery and Parsonage of Shirburn who wasting much his Estate sold them to Mr. Stikles and he to my Lord Digby about 1620. The Castle and the Manner was assigned from the Bishop of Salisbury to Queen Elizabeth and by her to Sir Walter Rawleigh after beheaded then it came to Prince Henry who died shortly after then it came to the Earl of Somerset who being attainted the King granted it to my Lord Digby The Bishoprick being void Toby Matthew should have had it but would not take it upon Sir Walter Rawleigh's conditions but Henry Cotton accepting and performing them his Son was born blind who notwithstanding was made a Minister had 3 or 4 Parsonages and was Canon in Salisbury yet died a Beggar Hale's-Abbey Hale's-Abbey and Manour for the most part viz. 500 Acres granted to the Lord Admiral Seymor in fee 19 Aug. 1. Edw. 6. He beheaded it returned to the King Edw. who 12 June reg 4. granted all with the 500 Acres to the Lord Marquiss who 16 June eodem Anno leased it to Hodgkins for 21 Years at 159 l. 16 s. but as it seems came again to the Crown for Q. Eliz 18 July reg 7. leased it again to Hodgkins for 21 Years at 159 l. 16 s. Woods Regalities c. excepted ut videtur Hodgkins had three Sons all died poorly but he gave his Estate to his Daughter married to Hobby St. Ousey given by King Edward to Thomas Lord Darcy and ... slain at St. Quintins John had Issue Thomas Lord Darcy whose
off the arm of Eli's Father's house i. e. the Authority and Honour of the Priesthood which was performed when Solomon cast out Abiathar ... of Eli out of the Priest's Office and bestowed it on Zadock being of another Family 1 King 2. 26. Secondly That all of his Family should die before they came to be old which himself did partly see in his own Sons Thirdly That his sons Hophni and Phinehas should die both in one day Fourthly That he should see his enemy possess his office and that the remnant of his family should crouch and be suitors to him for relief and favour All which undoubtedly came to pass And yet with all this was not the Wrath of God appeased but spreading it self into a further Agony of Indignation fell not only upon the whole People of Israel but also upon the holiest Monuments of the Glory of God The Word of the Lord became rare and precious There was no manifest Vision The Army of Israel is beaten by the Philistines and about 4000 of them slain in one Battle and 30000 in another The Ark of God taken Prisoner and carried Captive into the House of Dagon the Philistines Idol Hophni and Phinehas died Eli falleth backward and breaketh his Neck The Wife of Phinehas falleth untimely into Travail and dieth with Grief 1 Sam. chap. 2. 3 4. Fourscore and five Priests of Eli's House are at Saul's Commandment tyrannously slain all in one Day Nob the City of the Priests with the Men Women Children Sucklings Oxen Sheep and Asses all destroyed 22. 18. And finally to cut the Priesthood for ever from the House of Eli Solomon cast Abiathar out of it being the fourth in Succession after Eli and brought in Zadock of another Family 1 Chron. 6. 8. Oh the dreadful Justice of Almighty God! But such of old was the Fruit of Sacrilege and such Effects it still produceth Joash stoned Zachariah in the Court of the Temple This double Sacrilege of Person and Place was punished by the Slaughter of his People Loss of his Treasure Diseases of his Body and Murther of his Person as we have already cleared in Sacrilege of the Person So Vzziah entering the Sanctuary by force and attempting the Priest's Office in burning Incense committed Sacrilege of Place and Person was punished as we have cleared Ahaz committeth Idolatry and spoileth the Temple of the Treasure and some other Ornaments He is first given into the hands of the Azarites or Assyrians then Pekah King of Israel slayeth 120000 of his Soldiers all in one day and taking 200000 Women and Children Prisoners took away also much Spoil which they brought to Samaria The Edomites also beat him and captivated his People and the Philistines took and inhabited many of his Cities In this Affliction he farther spoileth the Temple of the Vessels and shutteth it up and dying an Idolater and Sacrilegious is not buried in the Sepulchre of his Father but a-part in Jerusalem 2 Chron. 28. Nebuchadonosor otherwise called Nebuchadnezzar spoileth the Temple carrieth thence all the Treasure and Holy Vessels 2 King 24. 13. slayeth those that were fled thither for Safety after by his Servants burnt it 2 Chron. 36. 17. He is stricken with Madness cast out of his Kingdom liveth among Beasts and like a Beast feedeth upon Grass till his Hairs were grown like Eagles Feathers and his Nails like Birds Claws Dan. 4. 3. And in the Days of his Grand-Child was his Family clean extinguished and his great Empire taken from him by Force and given to the Persians Dan. 5. Antiochus Epiphanes Son of Antiochus the Great King of Syria entereth into the Sanctuary and taketh away the Golden Altar and the Treasure of the Temple even 1800 Talents Presently his Posterity and Glory altereth his Captains are slain his Armies beaten and all his Affairs were so unfortunate that calling his Friends unto him confesseth that he was fallen into that Adversity and Flood of Misery for that Evil he had done at Jerusalem For I took saith he all the Vessels of Gold and Silver that were in it ... and I know that these Troubles are come upon me for the same Cause and behold I must die with great Sorrow in a strange Land Thus in Passions of Grief he ended his Days cap. 6. 11. Yet did not this end his Tragedy for his Son Antiochus Eupater was depriv'd of his Kingdom by his Uncle Demetrius and put to Death and altho' Alexander Epiphanes his other Son a Brother of Antiochus Eupater recover'd the Kingdom and slew Demetrius and fortified himself by the Marriage of Cleopatra Daughter of Ptolemy King of Aegypt to his great Happiness as he thought yet God turned it to his own Destruction for Ptolemy took both her and the Kingdom from him and gave them to his Enemy Demetrius Nicanor and whilst he fled to save his Life to his Friend Zabdiel the Arabian he struck off his Head and sent it to Ptolemy 1 Maccab. 11. 9. notwithstanding this his Son Antiochus Theos being but a Child by the Help of Tryphon was restored to his Father's Kingdom and overthrew Demetrius Nicanor Cap. 11. 54. who flying is imprisoned by Arsaces King of Persia Cap. 14. 2. and after slain so that Antiochus seemeth not secure but the Hand of God is still upon the Posterity of Antiochus Epiphanes the Sacrilegist for even now doth Tryphon himself murther his Grand-child Antiochus Theos and ending that Line usurpeth the Kingdom 1 Maccab. 33. 31. Read 2 Maccab. 9. 7. Touching the Sacrilegious Attempt made by Antiochus and some of his Soldiers upon the Temple of ... or Diana as Lyra taketh it in Persia and the terrible Destruction that fell immediately upon them mentioned 2 Macc. 1. 16. I pass it over as not belonging to this place Heliodoras the Treasurer of King Seleucus is sent by his Master to fetch the innumerable Money that was in the Temple of Jerusalem not belonging to the Provision of the Sacrifices but deposited there in safety for Widows and Orphans The high Priest Onias declareth to him that there was not above 400 Talents of Silver and 200 of Gold and both he and the rest of the Priests and the rest of the City prayed instantly to God to preserve the Treasury notwithstanding Heliodorus and his Souldiers approach unto it and presently there appeared a terrible Man on Horse-back richly barbed between two young Men of notable strength and the Horse running fiercely upon him struck him on the Breast with his Fore-foot and the young Men scourged him continually with many sore stripes so that Heliodorus falling to the Ground and covered with great Darkness was carried away in a Horse-Litter desperate of Life till by Entreaty Onias prayed for him and thereupon the young Men appearing again to Heliodorus willed him to give Onias thanks because God for his sake had spared his Life Seleucus after this would have sent another but Heliodorus advising him to send his Enemy he gave it over 2
they were taken so suddenly and with such Violence as they dy'd within five or six days no Man daring come near them for fear of the Infection Hereupon ensued all other Calamities their Enemies assail them both by Sea and Land they invade their Forts and their Trenches fire their Navy and to be short make a general Confusion of the whole Army An hundred and fifty thousand Carthaginians lie dead on the Ground Imilco himself who lately possess'd all the Cities of Sicily except Syracuse which he also accounted as good as his own flieth by Night back into Carthage and feareth now the losing of it This great Commander saith Diodorus that in his Haughtiness plac'd his Tent on the Temple of Jupiter and preverted the Sacred Oblations to his prophane Expences is thus driven to an ignominious Flight chusing rather to live basely and contemn'd at home than to expiate his wicked Sacrilege by a deserved Death But he came to such Misery that he went up and down the City in a most loathsome Habit from Temple to Temple confessing and detesting his Impiety and imploring at length some Capital Punishment for an Atonement with the Gods ended his Life by the extremity of Famine Diodor. Sicul. Hist. lib. 14. p. 285. seqq A. M. 3576. Cambyses the Son of Cyrus the Great being at Thebes in Aegypt sent an Army of 50000 Men to spoil the Ammonians and to burn the Temple and Oracle of Jupiter Hammon Himself with the rest of his Forces march'd against the Aethiopians But ' ere ever he had gone the fifth part of his Journey his Victuals so fail'd him that his Men were forced to eat their Horses and Cattle And whilst like a Man without Reason he still forc'd them to go on and to make a shift with Herbs and Roots Coming to a Desart of Sand divers of them were constrained to tithe themselves and eat the tenth Man whereby his Voyage was overthrown and he driven to return His other Army that went to spoil and fire the Oracle after seven Days travel upon the Sands a strong South Wind raised the Sands so violently upon them as they were all overwhelmed and drowned in them Herodotus in Thalia lib. 4. pag. 167 and 168. Cambyses after this in despight to the Egyptians wounded the sacred Calf Apis which they worshipt for their God with his Sword upon the Thigh Her pag. 169. Derided the Image of the God Vulcan and entring the Temple of the Cabitans where none might come but the Priest burnt the Images of their Gods pag. 147. Presently upon wounding Apis he fell Mad and committing divers horrible Facts as he mounted upon his Horse his Sword fell out of the Scabbord and wounded him in the same part of the Thigh wherein he had wounded Apis and thereon he died having Reigned but seven Years and leaving no Issue Male or Female to succeed him in the great Empire of his Father Cyrus for securing of himself and his Posterity wherein he had formerly murther'd his Brother Smerdis Herod Thalia lib. 3. pag. 183. seq A Rich Citizen of Egypt longing to eat of a goodly Peacock that was consecrate to Jupiter hired one of the Ministers to steal it who going about to do it was at the first interrupted by a Serpent and the second time the Peacock that had lived by report an Hundred Years flew towards the Temple and resting a while in the mid way was after seen no more The practice being discover'd by a brable between the Parties about the Hiring Money the Minister was justly punished by the Magistrate for his Treachery but the Citizen that long'd to eat of the sacred Fowl swallowed the Bone of another Fowl was choaked therewith and died a very painful Death Aelian de Animal l. 11. c. 33. Dionysius the elder rose by his own Prowess from a private Man to be King of Sicily and in performing many brave Exploits both in Italy and Greece committed divers Sacrileges upon the Heathen Gods and defended them with Jests Having conquer'd Locris he spoiled the Temple of Proserpina and sailing thence with a prosperous wind Lo quoth he what a fortunate Passage the Gods give to sacrilegious Persons Taking the Golden-Mantle from Jupiter Olympius he said it was too heavy for Summer and too cold for Winter and gave him therefore one of Cloath So from Aesculapius he took his Beard of Gold saying it was not seemly that the Son should have a Beard when his Father Apollo himself had none at all With such Conceits he robbed the Temples of the Golden Tables Vessels Ornaments and things of price Dedicated to the Gods Whereupon ensued a change of his Fortunes for afterwards he was ordinarily overcome in all his Battles and growing into contempt of his Subjects was murthered by them at last Jus. lib. 20. in fine pa. 184. His Son named as himself succeeds in the Kingdom and ordain'd as it were to extirpate the Family of his Father put his Brethren and their Children to death He groweth Odious also to his Subjects and falling into Civil War with them is thrice overcome by them and after various Events is at last driven out of his Kingdom irrecoverably He seeth the Death of his Sons his Daughter violently ravish'd his Wife who was his Sister most villanously abus'd and in fine murther'd with his Children His Days he consum'd in Exile among his Enemies where he lived not only Despised but Odious to all consorted with the basest People and in the vilest Manner and so ending his Tragedy gave Plutarch occasion to say That neither Nature nor Art did bring forth any thing in that Age so wonderful as his Fortune Just. lib. 21. pa. 187. Plut. in Timoleon p. 240. Antiochus the Great King of Syria being overcome by the Romans and put to a great Tribute not knowing how to pay it thought that necessity might excuse his Sacrilege and therefore in the Night spoils the Temple of Didymaean Jupiter But the Countrey People rising upon the Alarm of it slew both him and his whole Army Just. lib. 32. pa. Q. Fulvius Flaccus Pontifex spoiled the Temple of Juno ... One of his Sons dies in the War of Illyricum and the other lying desperately Sick himself between Grief and Fear falleth Mad and hangeth himself Liv. Dec. 5. lib. 2. pa. 47. a. Divers that had spoil'd the Temple of Proserpina at Locris were by Q. Minutius sent fetter'd to Rome The Romans sent them back again to the Locrians to be punish'd at their pleasure and caused the things taken out of the Temple to be restor'd with Oblations besides for an Atonement Liv. Dec. 4. lib. 2. p. 44. b. Agathocles surprizing the Lipareans imposeth a Ransom of Sixty Talents of Silver upon them They made as much toward payment of it as they could and desired Day for the rest saying That they had never upon any necessity medled with that which was consecrated to the Gods Agathocles would none of that Answer but
terrible Fire broke out of an House and spreading suddenly over a great part of the Town the whole Company was disperst and only the Monks left to end the Office begun The Funeral notwithstanding proceeded afterwards in great Solemnity the Bishops and Abbots of Normandy attending it But when the Mass was done and that the Bishop of Ebroscen at the end of his Sermon had desired all that were present to pray for the dead Prince and charitably to forgive him if he had offended any of them one Anselm Fitz-Arthur rising up said aloud The Ground whereon ye stand was the floor of my Father's House and the Man for whom ye make Intercession took it violently from him while he was Duke of Normandy and founded this House upon it I now therefore claim my own and forbid him that took it away by violence to 〈◊〉 covered with my Earth or to be buried 〈◊〉 my Inheritance The Bishops and Nobility hearing this and understanding it to be true by the Testimony of others presently compounded with the Party in fair manner giving him 60 s. in Hand for the place of Burial and promising a just Satisfaction for the rest for which he received afterwards a 100 l. in Silver by consent of Henry the Conqueror's Son This Blur being thus wiped away they proceeded to put the Corps into the Tomb or Coffin prepared by the Mason whereupon another followed very loathsome for it being too short and strait as they strove violently to thrust the Corps into it the fat Belly not being Boweled burst in pieces and vapoured forth so horrible a savour as the smoak of Frankincense and other Aromaticks ascending plentifully from the Censers prevail'd not to suppress it but both Priest and Company were driven tumultuously to dispatch the Business and get them gone Thus much of the Disasters touching the Person of the Conqueror To which may be added that his very Death proceeded from a violent Accident happening unto him in the Sacking of Medant where the heat and heaviness of his Armour and the extream clamor upon his Soldiers wrought as was reported a Dissolution of his Entrails à ruina intestinorum ejus liquefacta saith Gemeticensis for tho' he liv'd a while after yet he languish'd till his Death But note by the way that he who had in his Life-time destroy'd so many Churches and Burying-places being dead although he were so great a King yet he wanted the Office of his Children Friends and Servants to carry him to Church or to take care of his Burial that being carried thither by others the very Fire wherewith he had devoured certain Churches interrupted his Passage that being come to the Church he that had put so many by their places of Burial was now put by his own And lastly that when the place of his Burial was obtain'd for Money it happened fatally that it was too strait to receive him as tho' the Earth of the Church which he had so grievously injured were unwilling to open her Mouth to entertain him But after all difficulties Did he not rest quiet at last Reason would he should for the Grave is Asilum Requiei the Sanctuary of Rest and he did enjoy it for many Ages Yet the Bishop of Bajeux in the Year 1542. opened his Tomb and brought to light his Epitaph hidden in it Graven upon a Gilded-plate of Brass But in the Year 1562. certain French Soldiers with some English that under the Conduct of the Chastillon took the City of Caen and fell to spoiling of Churches there did barbarously break down and deface the Monument of this great King and as tho' the Malus Genius of the Churches which himself had destroy'd still pursued him with Revenge did take out his Bones and cast them away Verst p. 184. What befel these Soldiers that thus rifled Churches appeareth not obscurity and oblivion do conceal them But the lamentable end of the Chastillon himself that suffered this Outrage is very notorious in the Massacre of Paris To come to his Posterity his Sons were four all of them at times in War amongst themselves Robert the eldest deprived of his Birth-right the Crown of England first by his Brother William then by his Brother Henry who also took from him his Dutchy of Normandy put out his Eyes and kept him cruelly in Prison till the Day of his Death His only Son Richard hunting in the New-Forest was slain in the Life of his Father by an Arrow shot casually as Florentius Wigorneinsis reporteth Others name him Henry and say he was hanged there like Absalom by the Hair of the Head Be it one or both the Death was violent and in the New-Forest But thus Robert died without Issue nothing prospering with him as Stow noteth after his Father Cursed him Richard second Son of the Conqueror Duke of Beorne as Stow saith died also in the same Forest in the fifteenth Year of his Father upon a pernicious Blast that happened on him but Gemeticensis lib. 11. c. 9. saith with a blow of a Tree William Rufus the third Son was contaminate as well with his own as his Fathers Sacrilege for he would part with no Bishoprick that came into his Hands without Money for it by reason whereof he had lying upon his Hand for want of Chapmen thirteen Bishopricks at the time of his Death He was also slain in the same Forest An. with an Arrow out of the Quiver of God shot casually by Sir Walter Tyrell and as Florentius reporteth in the very self-same place where a Church did stand till the Conqueror destroy'd it He also died without Issue Gemeticens lib. 7. cap. 9. Henry the fourth Son being King Hen. I. abstain'd as I imagine Hunting in the New-Forest but God met with him in another Corner for having but two Sons William legitimate and Richard natural they were in the fifteenth Year of his Reign both drowned with other of the Nobility coming out of France and himself dying afterward without Issue Male in the Year 1135. gave a period to this Norman Family Here I must observe as elsewhere I have done that about the very same point of time viz. 68 Years wherein God cut off the Issue of Nebuchadnezzar and gave his Kingdom to another Nation after he had invaded the holy Things of the Temple About the very same point of time I say after the Conqueror had made this Spoil of Churches did God cut off his Issue Male and gave his Kingdom to another Nation not of Normandy but Bloys Inter An. 1061. An. 1070. Vrsus Abbot was made Sheriff of Worcester by William the Conqueror and building a Castle in Worcester near the Monastery cut a part of the Church-yard into the Dike of his Castle which Aldred the Arch-Bishop of York seeing said to him Hatest thou Urse have thou God's curse unless thou takest down this Castle and know assuredly that thy Posterity shall not long inherit this Ground of St. Mary ' s. He foretold
flowed into it by Act of Parliament the next year following being the 33d of his Reign to the Number one and other of But as the Red-sea by the miraculous Hand of God was once dried up so was this Sea of Wealth by the wastfull Hand of this Prince immediately so dried up as the very next year viz. Regni 34. the Parliament was drawn again to grant him a great Subsidy for in the Statute-book it is so stiled and this not serving his turn he was yet driven not only to enhance his Gold and Silver-money in Anno 36 but against the Honour of a Prince to coin base Money and when all this served not his turn in the very same year to exact a Benevolence of his Subjects to their grievous Discontent Perceiving therefore that nothing could fill the gulf of his effusion and that there was now a just cause of great expence by reason of his Wars at Bulloign and in France they granted him in the 37th Year 2 Subsidies at once and four Fifteens and for a Corollary all the Colleges Free-Chapels Chantries Hospitals c. before-mentioned in Number 2374. upon confidence that he should dispose them as he promised solemnly in the Parliament to the Glory of God who in truth for ought that I can hear had little part thereof The next year was his fatal Period otherwise it was much to be feared that Deans and Chapters if not Bishopricks which have been long levelled at had been his next design for he took a very good Say of them by exchanging Lands with them before the Dissolution giving them rackt Lands and small things for goodly Manners and Lordships and also Impropriations for their solid Patrimony in finable Lands like the exchange that Palamedes made with Glaucus much thereby encreasing his own Revenues as he took 72 from York besides other Lands Tenements Advowsons Patronages c. in the 37th of his Reign which are mentioned particularly in the Statute 37. Henry VIII cap. 16. He took also 30 and above as I remember in the 27th Year from the Bishop of Norwich whom he left not that I can learn one Foot of the goodly Possessions of his Church save the Palace at Norwich and how many I know not in the 37th Year also from the Bishop of London I speak not of his prodigal Hand in the Blood of his Subjects which no doubt much alienated the Hearts of them from him But God in these eleven Years space visited him with 5 or 6 Rebellions In Lincolnshire Anno 28 and 3 one after another in Yorkshire Anno 33 one in Somersetshire Anno 29 and again in Yorkshire Anno 33. And though Rebellions and Insurrections are not to be defended yet they discover unto us what the displeasure and dislike was of the common People for spoiling the Revenues of the Church whereby they were great losers the Clergy being mercifull Landlords and bountifull Benefactors to all Men by their great Hospitality and Works of Charity Thus much touching his own Fortunes accompanying the Wealth and Treasure gotten by him as we have declared by confiscating the Monasteries wherein the prophetical Speech that the Archbishop of Canterbury used in the Parliament 6. Henry IV. seemeth performed That the King should not be one farthing the richer the next Year following II. What happened to the King's Children and Posterity Touching his Children and Posterity after the time that he entered into these Courses he had two Sons and three Daughters whereof one of each kind died Infants the other three succeeding in the Crown without Posterity His base Son the Duke of Richmond died also without Issue and as the Issue of Nebuchodonosor was extinct and his Kingdom given to another Nation the 68th Year after he had rifled the Temple of Jerusalem and taken away the holy Vessels so about the same period that King Henry VIII began to sack the Monasteries with their Churches and things dedicated to God was his whole Issue extinct Male and Female base and legitimate and his Kingdom transferred to another Nation and therein to another Royal Family which is now His Majesty's singular happiness that had no hand in the like depredation of the Monasteries and Churches of that Kingdom there committed by the tumultuous if not rebellious Subjects Contrary as it seems to the good liking of our late Sovereign King James who as is reported said that if he had found the Monasteries standing he would not have pulled them down not meaning to continue them in their superstitious Uses but to employ them as Chorah's censers to some godly purposes Wherein most piously he declared himself both in restoring as I hear some Bishopricks and divers Appropriations in Scotland and also by moving the Universities of England to do the like as by his gracious Letter doth appear which shall here following be expressed in the end So his Grandfather King James the 4th of Scotland when he was solicited by Sir Ralph Sadler then Embassador from King Henry to augment his Estate by taking into his Hands the Abbies James refus'd saying What need I take them into mine Hands when I may have any thing I require of them And if there be Abuses in them I will reform them for there be a great many good Which was a wise answer and if King Henry had done the like here he might have had an immense and ample Revenue out of the Monasteries and old Bishopricks while they enjoyed their Lands being a third part of the Kingdom as appears by Doomsday-Book by way of First-fruits Tenths Pensions and Corrodies yearly that he should never have needed at any time to ask one Subsidy of his Subjects To return where we left off having spoken of the extinguishment of the Issue of King Henry whereof the immortally renown'd Princess Queen Elizabeth was the golden period Let us cast our Eyes upon the principal Agents and Contrivers of this Business III. What happen'd to the Principal Agents The Lord Cromwel was conceived to be the principal mover and prosecutor thereof both before and in the Parliament of 27 and 37 Hen. VIII and for his good service impenso impendendo upon the 18th of April before the beginning of the Parliament of 31 which was on the last of the Month he was created Earl of Essex and his Son Gregory made Lord Cromwell yet e're the Year was past from the end of the Parliament of 31 he fell wholly into the King's Displeasure and in July 32 he was attainted and beheaded professing at his Death that he had been seduc'd and dy'd a Catholick His Son Gregory Lord Cromwell being as I said made a Baron in the life time of his Father and invested with divers great Possessions of the Church supported that new risen Family from utter ruine but his Grandchild Edward Lord Cromwell wasting the whole Inheritance sold the head of his Barony Oukham in Rutlandshire and exchanging some of the rest all that remained with the E. of Devonshire for
he went to this place to visit the Prince whom they called the King of Bohemia My Son seeing what the King was about and how he had prophaned the Church by making it a Store-house said to my Lord Craven That he fear'd it might be ominous to the King my Lord answer'd I will tell him what you say and turning to the King said This Gentleman fears this that your Majesty doth will not be prosperous to you the King answered That was but a Conceit and so pass'd it over But mark what follow'd upon it The King within a few Months after passing in a Bark with the Prince his eldest Son over the Delf of Harlam his Boat was casually stemm'd and overturn'd by a Barge that met him in the Night and tho' he himself with great difficulty was sav'd yet that hopefull Prince his Son had not that wofull happiness to be drowned right-out but after he was drench'd in the Water and gotten upon the Mast of the Bark wherein they perish'd he was there most miserably starv'd with Cold and frozen to Death And the Father himself while he lamented the death of his Son was by an unusual death of Princes taken away by the Plague laying thus the first Stone of his unfortunate Building like that of the Walls of Jericho in the death of his eldest Son and prevented in the rest by his own death God's Judgments are his Secrets I only tell Concurrences The other German Princes persecuted with the Sword and spoil'd of their Liberties How carefull the Heathens were not to misuse things consecrated to Almighty God When the Philistines had taken the Ark they with all Reverence plac'd it in the House of their God Dagon and fearing to keep it return'd it back with Oblations So Nabuchodonosor having taken away the holy Vessels of the Temple abused them not to prophane uses but kept them religiously in the House of his God And when Belshazar and his Kingdom was by the Justice of God extinguished for abusing of them and that thereby they came to the Hands of Cyrus in the Conquest of Babylon he understanding that they belonged to the Temple of God in Jerusalem would not be owner of them but sent them back to Jerusalem St. Jerom notes on Dan. 5. Quam diu vasa fuerunt in idolis Babylonicis non est iratus Dominus videbantur enim rem Dei secundum pravam quandam opinionem tamen divino cultui consecrâsse postquam autem humanis usibus divina contaminant statim poena sequitur post sacrilegium Most remarkable is the Piety of the Heathen King Darius 2 Macab 1 34 who hearing of the Pit wherein the holy Fire had been hid by the Prophet Jeremy and being turn'd into Water was after a long time taken thence by Nehemiah for the kindling of the Altar-Fire he caused the very place wherein these sanctified things had once been laid to be walled about and as holy Ground to be for ever sequestred from Prophanation Pompey the Great having taken the City Jerusalem by force and broken into the Temple seeing the inestimable Treasure and Riches thereof would neither take nor suffer any â—hing to be taken thence but commanded all things to be cleansed and the Sacrifices to be continued as they were formerly The Copy of His Majesty's Letter to the Vniversity of Oxon touching Glebe Tythes in Parsonages impropriated to be reduced to the sufficient and incumbent Minister as is here mention'd before James Rex RIght trusty and well belov'd We greet you well the Zeal that Religion might be well planted in this Realm and all other our Dominions hath caused Vs to enter into Consideration of all means that might best serve to the furtherance hereof Wherein finding that no one thing is a greater impediment than want of competent living to maintain Learned Men in such places of our Kingdom where the ordinary Benefit of the Vicarages doth not suffice and the Parsonages are impropriate and in Lay-mens Hands We have found that there could not be a readier way to supply that defect than if those Impropriations of Tythes might be converted again to the right use for which they were at present instituted wherein by God's Grace we have a purpose to do in such of of them as now are or shall be in Our Hands whatsoever Our State may well bear By which Example of Ours we presume to induce all others possess'd of the like to imitate Vs as far as with their Ability they may In the mean time We have consider'd that to give beginning to so good a work none were more fit than the Colleges in the Vniversities who being so eminent Members of Our State and having divers of them many such Impropriations and some of them also a desire as We are inform'd to provide for such persons out of such Livings as shall fall within their powers to dispose their Example should have great efficacy into all good men in this sort to advance the Glory of Christ's Gospel And because there may occur in the performance hereof some such particular difficulties as are unknown to Vs We have thought good before We entred further into it to recommend this Matter to your Consideration requiring you Our Chancellour and in your absence the Vice-Chancellour and Heads of Houses to assemble your selves and such discreet Men of all the Colleges as you shall think meet for such a Consultation and to propose that matter amongst you and to consider and set down some speedy course how upon the Expiration of the Years in being of any Lease of Tythes or Glebe impropriate the same may afterwards be so devised as Ecclesiastical Persons bred in the Houses to whom the same do belong respectively may be maintain'd and enabled to execute their Functions and yet the College provided of such things as are necessary for maintaining the same whereof We have no intention to wish any prejudice knowing well how fit it is that they be supported by all good means whatsoever of which your Deliberation and Resolution We do require you to advertise Vs with as convenient speed as you may both by Writing under your Hands and by some discreet Persons to be sent to Vs or Our Council to make Report of your doings therein Given under Our Sign at our Castle of Windsor the 10th of July 1603 in the first Year of the Reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland 30th CHAP. VIII The particulars of divers Monasteries in Norfolk whereof the late Owners since the Dissolution are extinct or decayed or overthrown by Misfortunes and grievous Accidents ABout the Year I suppose 1615 or 1616 I described with a Pair of Compasses in the Mapp of Norfolk a Circle of 12 Miles the Semi-diameter according to the Scale thereof placing the Center about 24 the chief Seat of the Yelvertons within this Circle and the Borders of it I inclosed the Mansion-houses of about 24 Families of Gentlemen and the sight of as many Monasteries
Barkenham a Miller who sold it to Mr. John Rivett now living The Augustine Friars came from Eyer to one Shavington a Bastard who died without Issue and by his Will gave it to one Waters other than the former and to the Heirs of his Body This Waters died without Issue whereupon the Augustine Friars was to revert to his Heir but having none because he was a Bastard great Suit ensued about it But John Ditefield being then in Possession of it left it by Descent as it seemeth to his Son John Ditefield who gave it in Marriage with Thomasin his sister to Christopher Pickering brother of the then Lord Keeper and he then recovered it in Chancery and sold it to John Lease John Lease pulling down the Buildings selleth first the Stones and then dividing the Ground into divers Garden-rooms sold the same to divers Persons The Cell of Priests was near the Guild-hall and the Prior's House was somewhat remote from it by St. Margaret's Church The College was sometime Mr. Houghton's after Parker's then Ball 's lately Sendall's and now Hargott's all of them save Hargott are extinct and gone and Mr. Hargott is on the declining Hand the Site of the Prior's House was lately consecrated and annexed to St. Margaret's Church-yard for a Burying-place Shouldham-Abbey Sir Francis Gaudy of the Justices of the King's Bench was owner of it he married the Daughter and Heir of Christopher Cunningsby Lord of the Manour of Wallington and having this Manour and other Lands in right of his Wife induced her to acknowledge a Fine thereof which done she became a distracted Woman and continued so to the day of her Death and was to him for many Years a perpetual affliction He had by her his only Daughter and Heir Eliz. married to Sir William Hatton who died without Issue-Male leaving also a Daughter and Heir who being brought up with her Grandfather the Judge was secretly married against his Will to Sir Robert Rich now Earl of Warwick The Judge shortly after being made chief Justice of the Common-pleas at a dear Rate as was reported was suddenly stricken with an Apoplexy or double Palsie and so to his great loss died without Issue-Male e'er he had continued in his Place one whole Michaelmas Term and having made his appropriate Parish-Church a Hay-house or a Dog-kennel his dead Corps being brought from London unto Walling could for many days find no Place of Burial but in the mean time growing very offensive by the Contagious and ill Savours that issued through the Chinks of Lead not well soder'd he was at last carry'd to a poor Church of a little Village there by called Runcto and buried there without any Ceremony lieth yet uncovered if the Visitors have not reformed it with so small a Matter as a few paving Stones Sir Robert Rich now Earl of Warwick succeeded in the Inheritance by his Wife of this Abby with the Impropriation and his great Possessions amounting by Estimation to 5000 l. a Year and hath already sold the greatest part of them together with this Abbey and Impropriation unto the Family of Mr. Nich. Hare the Judge's Neighbour and chiefest Adversary For among divers other goodly Manours that Sir John Hare hath purchased of him or his Feoffees he hath also bought this Abbey of Shouldham and the Impropriation there with the Manour belonging to the Abbey valued together at 600 l. yearly Rent Binham-Priory Binham Priory a Cell of St. Albans was granted by King Henry 8. to Sir Thomas Paston he left it to Mr. Edward Paston his Son and Heir who living above 80 Years continued the Possession of it till Caroli R. and having buried ... his Son and Heir apparent left it then unto his Grandchild Mr. Paston the third Owner of it and thereby now in the Wardship to the King Mr. Edward Paston many Years since was desirous to build a Mansion-house upon or near the Priory and attempting for that purpose to clear some of that Ground a Piece of Wall fell upon a Workman and slew him perplexed with this Accident in the beginning of this Business he gave it wholly over and would by no means all his Life after be perswaded to re-attempt it but built his Mansion-house a very fair one at Appleton Castle-Acre-Abbey Sir Tho. Cecil Earl of Exeter was owner of it and of the impropriate Personage here he had Issue Sir William Cecil Earl Exeter who married Eliz. the Daughter and Heir of Edw. Earl of Rutland and had Issue by her dying as I take it in Child-bed his only Son William Lord Rosse This William Lord Rosse married Anne the Daughter of Sir Tho. Lake and they living together in extreme Discord many infamous Actions issued thereupon and finally a great Suit in the Star-Chamber to the high Dishonour of themselves and their Parents In this Affliction the Lord Rosse dyeth without Issue and the Eldest Male-line of his Grandfather's House is extinguished Sir Richard Cecil was second Son of Sir Thomas Cecil Earl of Exeter and had Issue David who married Eliz. the Daughter of John Earl of Bridgewater and is now in expectation to be Earl of Exeter His third Son was Sir Edw. Cecil Knight his 4th and 5th Tho. Cecil and Christopher drowned in Germany Sir Tho. the Grandfather Earl of Exeter made a Lease of this Monastery and Impropriation to one Paine as I take it by whose Widow the same came in Marriage to Mr. Humfrey Guibon Sheriff of Norfolk Anno 38. Eliz. whose Grand-child and Heir Tho. Guibon consumed his whole Inheritance and lying long in the Fleet either died there a Prisoner or shortly after Sir Edw. Coke Lord Chief Justice married for his second Wife the Lady Eliz. Hatton one of the Daughters of the said Earl Tho. and afterwards bought the Castle of Acre with this Monastery and Impropriation of his Brother-in-Law Earl William Son of Earl Thomas since which time he hath felt abundantly the Change of Fortune as we have partly touched in Flitcham-Abbey West-Acre-Abbey This also belonged to Sir Tho. Cecil of whom we have now spoken he sold both it and the Impropriation of West Acre to Sir Horatio Palvicini an Italian that before his coming into England had dipt his Fingers very deep in the Treasure of the Church Being in his Youth in the Low-countries as his Son Edward affirmed to me he there secretly married a very mean Woman and by her had Issue him this Edward but durst never discover it to his Father as long as they lived together his Father being dead he came into England and here married a second Wife by whom he had Issue his Son Toby and for his Wive's sake disinherited him his eldest Son Edward and conferred all his Lands with the Abbey and Impropriation of West Acre to Toby and his Heirs Edward after the Death of his Father grows into contention with his Brother Toby and in a Petition to King James accuseth both his Father and his Brother for