was High Sheriff of the County in the year 1480. leaving Edmond Denny to inherit his estate Edmond Denny was one of the Barons of the Exchequer in credit and favour Edm. Denny Baron of the Exchequer with King Edward the Fourth and Henry the Seventh He Married Mary the Daughter and Heir of Robert Troutbeck Esquire on whom he begat Thomas Denny from whom the Dennies in Norfolk are descended Anthony Denny second Son to Baron Denny was Knighted by King Henry Anthony Denny his high commendations the Eighth made Gentleman of his Bed-chamber Privy-Councellour and one of his Executors I cannot say he was bred any great Scholar but finde him a Mecaenas and grand favourer of Learned men For when the School of b Ascham Commend Epist fol. 210. Idem fol. 208. Sedbury in the North belonging to St Johns in Cambridg was run to ruine the Lands thereof being sold and embezeled Sr Anthony procured the reparation of the Schoole and restitution of their means firmly setling them to prevent future alienation Hear what character c Mr Ascham gives of him Religio Doctrina Respublica omnes curas tuas sic occupant ut extra has tres res nullum tempus consumas Religion Learning Common-wealth so employ all thy cares that besides these three things you spend no other time Let then the enemies if any of his memory abate of this character to what proportion they please pretending it but the Orators Rhetorical Hyperbole the very remainder thereof which their malice must leave will be sufficient to speak Sr Anthony a worthy and meriting Gentleman I finde an excellent Epitaph made on him by one the Learned'st of Noblemen His Epitaph made by the Lord Howard and Noblest of Learned men in his age viz. Henry Howard Earl of Surrey and eldest son to the Duke of Norfolk worthy the Reader his perusal Vpon the Death of Sir Anthony a Weavers Funeral Monuments p. 852. Denny Death and the King did as it were contend Which of them two bare Denny greatest love The King to shew his love 'gan far extend Did him advance his betters far above Neer place much wealth great honour eke him gave To make it known what power Princes have But when Death came with his triumphant gift From worldly cark he quit his wearied ghost Free from the corps and straight to Heaven it lift Now deem that can who did for Denny most The King gave wealth but fading and unsure Death brought him bliss that ever shall endure Know Reader that this Lord made this Epitaph by a Poetical Prolepsis otherwise at the reading thereof who would not conceive that the Author surviv'd the subject of his Poem Whereas indeed this Lord died beheaded 1546. in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth whom Sr Anthony out-lived being one of the Executors of his Will Nor was it the worst piece of service he performed to his Master when all other Courtiers declining the employment he truly acquainted him with his dying-condition to dispose of his soul for another world Sr Anthony died about the second of Edward the sixth Dame Joan his His issue by Dame Joan his wife Wife surviving him Daughter she was to Sr Philip Champernoon of Modbury in Devon-shire a Lady of great beauty and parts a favourer of the Reformed Religion when the times were most dangerous She sent eight shillings by her man in a Violet coat to Anne b Fox Acts Monuments fol. 1239. Aschough when imprisoned in the Counter a small sum yet a great gift so hazardous it was to help any in her condition This Lady Joan bought the Reversion in Fee of Waltham from King Edward the Sixth paying three thousand and hundred pounds for the same purchasing therewith large priviledges in Waltham-Forest as by the Letters Patents doth appear She bare two Sons to Sr Anthony Henry Denny Esquire of whom hereafter the second Sr Edward who by Gods blessing Queen Elizabeths bounty and his own valour atchieved a fair estate in the County of Kerry in Ireland which at this day is if any thing in that woful war-wasted Countrey can be enjoyed by his great Grandchild Arthur Denny Esq of Tralleigh The condition of Waltham Church from the Dissolution of the Abby untill the Death of King HENRY the Eighth HAving the perusal of the Church-Wardens accounts wherein their Ancient expences and receits are exactly taken fairly written and carefully kept I shall select thence some memorable Items to acquaint us with the general devotion of those dayes Know then there were six Ordinary Obits which the Church-wardens did annually discharge viz. For Thomas Smith and Joan his wife on the sixteenth of January Thomas Friend Joan and Joan his wives on the sixteenth of February Robert Peest and Joan his wife on the tenth of April Thomas Towers and Katharine his wife the six and twentieth of April John Breges and Agnes his wife the one and thirtieth of May. Thomas Turner and Christian his wife the twentieth day of December The charge of an Obit was two shillings and two pence and if any be curious to have the particulars thereof it was thus expended To the Parish-Priest four pence to our Ladies-Priest three pence to the Charnel-Priest three pence to the two Clerks four pence to the Children these I conceive Chorisâ—ers three pence to the Sexton two pence to the Bell-man two pence for two Tapers two pence for Oblation two pence Oh the reasonable rates at Waltham two shillings two pence for an Obit the price whereof in Saint Pauls in London was fourty shillings For forsooth the higher the Church the holier the service the dearer the price though he had given too much that had given but thanks for such vanities To defray the expences of these Obits the parties prayed for or their Executors left Lands Houses or Stock to the Church-Wardens Thomas Smith bequeathed a Tenement in the Corn-Market and others gave Lands in Vpshire called Pater-noster-Hills others ground elswhere besides a stock of eighteen Cows which the Wardens let out yearly to farm for eighteen shillings making up their yearly accounts at the Feast of Michael the Arch-Angel out of which we have excerpted the following remarkable particulars Anno 1542. the 34th of HENRY the 8th Imprimjs For watching the Sepulchre a groat This constantly returnes in every yearly account though what meant thereby I know not I could suspect some Ceremony on Easter-eve in imitation of the Souldiers watching Christs grave but am loath to charge that Age with more superstition then it was clearly guilty of Item Paid to the Ringers at the coming of the Kings Grace six pence Yet Waltham Bells told no tales every time King Henry came hither having a small house in Rome-land to which he is said oft privately to retire for his pleasure Item Paid unto two men of Law for their counsel about the Church-leases six shillings eight pence Item Paid the Attorney for his Fee twenty pence
appurtenances are reckoned up 1. Passefield 2. Walde 3. Upminster 4. Walthfare 5. Suppedene 6. Alwertowne 7. Wodeford 8. Lambehide 9. Nesingan 10. Brickindon 11. Melnhoo 12. Alichsea 13. Wormeley 14. Nichelswells 15. Hitchche 16. Lukendon 17. West-Wealtham Anno Dom. 1066 Anno Regis Harel 1. All these the King granted unto them cum Sacha Socha Tol and Team c. free from all gelts and payments in a most full and ample manner Witness himself Edith his Queen Stigand Archiepiscopus Dorobornensis Count Harold and many other Bishops and Lords subscribing the same Charter Anno Dom. 1067 Anno Regis Will. Conq. 1. Afterward Harold usurpeth the Crown but enjoyed it not a full year kill'd Harold Crowned killed buried at Waltham in Battle-fight by King William the Conqueror Where either of their swords if victorious might have done the deed though otherwise both their titles twisted together could not make half a good claim to the Crown Githa Mother of Harold and two religious men of this Abby Osegod and Ailric with their prayers and tears hardly prevailed with the Conquerour at first denying him burial whose ambition had caused the death of so many to have Harolds Corps with his two Brethren Girth and Leofwin losing their lives in the same battle to be entombed in Waltham Church of his foundation He was buried where now the Earl of Carlile his leaden Fountain in his Garden then probably the end of the Quire or rather some Eastern Chappel beyond it His Tomb of plain but rich gray Marble with what seemeth a Cross-Floree but much descanted on with art upon the same supported with Pillarets one Pedestal whereof I have in my house As for his reported Epitaph I purposely omit it not so much because barbarous scarce any better in that Age but because not attested to my apprehension with sufficient Authority A Picture of King Harold in glass was lately to be seen in the North-window Deforming Reformers of the Church till ten years since some barbarous hand beat it down under the notion of Superstition Surely had such ignorant persons been imployed in the dayes of Hezekiah to purge the Temple from the former Idolatry under the pretence thereof they would have rended off the Lilie-work from the Pillars and the Lions Oxen and Cherubims from the Bases of Brass However there is still a place called Harolds-Park in our Parish by him so denominated Let not therefore the village of Harold on the North side of Ouse neer Bedford properly Harewood or Harelswood on vulgar groundless tradition contest with Waltham for this Kings interment The Re-foundation of WALTHAM-ABBY by HENRY the Second ONe will easily believe that at the death of King Harold Waltham-Abby Waltham Canons in a sad condition Founded by him was in a swoon and the Canons therein much disheartned However they had one help which was this that Edward the Confessour was the confirmer of their Foundation whose memory was not onely fresh and fair in all mens mindes bearing a veneration to his supposed sanctity but also King William the Conquerour had the best of his bad titles by bequest of the Crown from this Confessour So that in some sense Waltham-Abby might humbly crave kindred of King William both deriving their best being from one and the same person The industry of Rob. Fuller last Abbot of Waltham Know Reader that what ever hereafter I alledg touching the Lands and Liberties of Waltham if not otherwise attested by some Author in the margin is by me faithfully transcribed out of Waltham Leidger-Book now in the possession of the Right Honourable JAMES Earl of Carlile This Book was collected by Robert Fuller the last Abbot of Waltham who though he could not keep his Abby from dissolution did preserve the Antiquities thereof from oblivion The Book as appears by many inscriptions in the initial Text-letters was made by himself having as happy an hand in fair and fast writing as some of his Sir-name since have been defective therein Anno Dom. 1102 Anno Regis Hen. 1 3. Not long after the Conquest Waltham-Abby found good Benefactors and Queen Maud gives Waltham Monks a Mill. considerable additions to their maintenance For Maud the first Queen to King Henry the first bestowed on them the Mill at Waltham which she had by exchange for Trinity-Church in London which I take to be part of the Trintly-Priory now called the Dukes-place Anno Dom. 1130 Anno Regis Hen. 1. 31. Adelisia second wife to King Henry the first being possessed of Waltham as part of her Revenue gave all the Tythes thereof as well of her Demesnes Queen Adelisia the Tythes as all Tenants therein to the Canons of Waltham Mean time how poorly was the Priest of the place provided for Yea a glutton Monastery in former ages makes an hungrie Ministrie in our dayes An Abby and a Parsonage unimpropriate in the same place are as inconsistent together as good woods and an Iron Mill. Had not Waltham Church lately met with a Noble Founder the Minister thereof must have kept more fasting-dayes then ever were put in the Roman Calender Anno Dom. 1135 Anno Regis Steph. 1 King Stephen though he came a wrong way to the Crown yet did all King Steven his bounty right to the Monastery of Waltham as who generally sought the good will of the Clergie to strengthen himself and confirmed all their Lands profits and priviledges unto them Anno Dom. 1156 Anno Regis Hen. 2 2. King Henry the second utterly dissolved the foundation of Dean and eleven King Henry dissolves the Dean and Canons at Waltham Canons at Waltham The debauchedness of their lives is rendred in his Charter as the occasion thereof Cum in ea Canonici Clericique minùs religiosè aequaliter vixissent ita quòd infamia conversationis illorum multos scandalisasset Whether these were really or onely reputed vitious God knows seeing all those must be guilty whom power is pleased to pronounce so Sure it is King Henry outed this Dean and Canons and placed an Abbot and Regular Augustinians in their room encreasing their number to twenty four And because to use the Kings own words it was fit that Christ his Spouse should have a new dowry he not onely confirmed to this Monastery the primitive patrimony mentioned in the Confessors Charter cum peciis terrae With many pieces of land and tenements which their Benefactors since bestowed upon them but also conferred the rich Manors of Sewardstone and Eppings on this Monastery The whole Charter of King Henry is too long to transcribe but some passages Augustinians substituted in their room therein must not be omitted First the King had the consent of Pope Alexander for the suppression of these Canons the rather moved thereunto quia praedictis Canonicis sufficienter provisum fuit because the aforesaid expelled Canons had sufficient provision made for them For grant them never so scandalous this was to add
to confess that they had done evil and were amerced twenty Marks to the Abbot which he not onely remitted unto them but also on their submission assoiled them from the Excommunication Anno Dom. 1248 Anno Regis Hen. 3 33. The brawls betwixt the Abbot and Townsmen of Waltham were no sooner The sute betwixt the Abbot of Waltham and the Lord of Chesthunt ended but far fiercer began betwixt the said Abbot and the Lord of Chesthunt on the like occasion This Chesthunt is a large Parish in Hertford-shire confining on the West of Waltham so called saith * In his short Survey of Hertford-shire Norden quasi Castanetum of Chestnut-trees though now I believe one hardly appears in the whole Lordship In this sute Plaintiff Peter Duke of Savoy the Kings dear Uncle first founder I take it of the Savoy in London on whom the King conferred many Lordships and Chesthunt amongst the rest Judges Ralph Fitz-Nicolas John of Lexington Paulin Peyner Seneschal Henry of Bath Jeremy of Caxton Henry de Bretton Defendant Simon the Abbot and the Covent of Waltham Solicitor Adam de Alverton The Case The Plaintiff endeavoured to prove that the stream of Ley called the Kings-Stream dividing Hertford-shire from Essex ran thorow the Town of Waltham all the land West thereof belonging to the Manor of Chesthunt This was denied by the Defendant maintaining that Small-Ley-stream running welnigh half a mile West of Waltham parted the Counties all the interjacent meadows pertained to Waltham Perusing the names of these the Kings Justices at Westminster who would A like not the same not suspect but that this Henry of Bath was Bishop of that See considering how many Clergy-men in that age were imployed in places of Judicature But the suspicion is causless finding none of that name in the Episcopal Catalogue Others in like manner may apprehend that Bretton here mentioned was that Learned Lawyer afterwards Bishop of Hereford who wrote the * See Godwin in his Bishops of Hereford Book De Juribus Anglicanis and who flourished in the latter end of the Reign of this King Henry the third But his name being John not Henry discovereth him a different person Not long after this sute was finally determined and Peter Duke of Savoy remised and quit-claimed from him and his Heirs to the said Abbot and his Successors the right and claim he had to ask in the same Meadows and Marshes of the said Abbot This is called in the Instrument sinalis concordia though it proved neither final nor a concord For soon after this palliaâ—cure broke out again and the matter was in variance and undetermined betwixt Robert the last Abbot and the Lord of Chesthunt when the Abby was dissolved Many accessions besides those common prolongers of all sutes namely the heat of mens anger and the bellows of instruments gaining by Law did concur to lengthen this cause 1. The considerableness and concernment of the thing controverted being a large and rich portion of ground 2. The difficulty of the cause about the chanels of that River which Proteus-like in several Ages hath appeared in sundry formes disguised by derivations on different occasions 3. The greatness of the Clients Chesthunt Lordship being alwayes in the hand of some potent person and the Corporation of Waltham Covent able to wage Law with him Hence hath this sute been as long-liv'd as any in England not excepting that in * Cambden in Glocester-shire Glocester-shire betwixt the posterity of Vice-Count Lisle and the Lord Barkley seeing very lately if not at this day there were some sutes about our bounds Waltham Meadows being very rich in grass and hay but too fruitful in contentions For mine own part that wound which I cannot heal I will not widen and seeing I may say with the Poet Non nostrum inter vos tantas componere lites No power of mine so far extends As for to make both parties friends I will not turn of an unpartial Historian an engaged person who as a neighbour wish well to Chesthunt as a Parishioner better to Waltham as a Christian best to both And therefore so much for matter of fact in our Records and Leiger-books leaving all matters of right for others to decide Mean time whilest the Abbot and Monks of Waltham were vexed with the men of Chesthunt they found more favour if publick fame belies them not from some loving women in that Parish I mean the Holy Sisters in Chesthunt-Nunnery whose House when ever Founded I finde some ten years since thus confirmed by Royal Authority Henricus Rex Anglie Dominus Hybernie Dux Normanie Aquitanie Chesthunt Nunnery Founded Comes Andegavie c. Shestrehunt Moniales totam terram Dom. teneant cum pertinentiis suisque Canonicis de Cathele c. quos amoveri fecimus Datum apud West xj Aug. Anno Regni nostri xxiiij But this subject begins to swell beyond the bounds intended unto it lest therefore what we intended but a Tract should swell to a Tome we will here descend to matters of later date Onely be it premised that some years before the Dissolution Robert the Copt-Hall past to King Hen. 8. last Abbot of Waltham passed over the fair seat of Copt-Hall unto King Henry the eighth Thus as the Castor when pursued by the Hunter to make his escape is reported to bite off his own stones as the main treasure sought after and so saves his life by losing a limb So this Abbot politickly parted with that stately Mansion in hope thereby to preserve the rest of his revenues However all would not do so impossible it is to save what is design'd to ruine and few years after the Abby with the large Lands thereof were seized on by the King and for some Moneths He alone stood possessed thereof The Extraction Charter Death and Issue of Sir Anthony Dennie on whom King Henry the Eighth bestowed WALTHAM-ABBY AT the Dissolution King Henry bestowed the Site of this Abby with A Lease of Waltham-Abby given to Sir Anthony Denny many large and rich Lands belonging thereunto on Sr Anthony Dennie for the terme of Thirty one years Let us a little enquire into his extraction and discent I finde the name very Ancient at a Speed or rather Sr Rob. Cotton in Huntingdon-shire Chesterton in Huntington-shire where John Denny the great souldâ—er in France the Heir-general was long since married to the worshipful and Ancient Family of the Bevils It seems a branch of the Male-line afterwards fixed in Hertford-shire Whereof John Denny Esquire valiantly served Henry the fifth in France where he was slain and buried with Thomas his second Son in St Dionys his Chappel their interment in so noble a place speaking their worthy performances In the Reign of Queen Mary a Frier shewed their Tombes to Sr Matthew Carew together with their Coates and differences Henry eldest son of this John Denny begat William Denny of Chesthunt in Hertford-shire which William
a fixt aim and strong hand who hits decency and misseth gaudiness and sluttery But there is a generation of people who over-do in the spirit of opposition such conceive that a tressel is good enough for Gods Table and such a Table Covering enough for it self Item For Lattices for the Church-windows fifteen shillings Fain would I for the credit of our Church by Lattices understand Casements if the word would bear it Yet surely it was not for covetousness wholly to spare glazing but thrift to preserve the glass that these Lattices did fence them on the outside Item Paid for a Bay Nagge given to Mr Henry Denny for the Abby wall three pound seventeen shillings This Nagge was rather a thankful acknowledgment of Mr. Denny his propriety then a just valuation of what the Parish received from him for it followeth Item To Labourers which did undermine the said wall fourty five shillings nine pence What then may the materials of that wall be presumed worth in themselves I conceive this was a building which ranged East beyond the old Steeple the demolishing whereof brought much profit to the Parish whose Wardens for some years drave a great trade in the sale of Lead Stone and Timber all devoured in the roofing flooring and finishing of their Steeple Anno 1563. Eliz. 6 to Imprimis For an old house in the old Market-place thirteen pound six shillings eight pence This Tenement low-rented yielded annually nine shillings Now the Parish sold it and another house in West-street outright letting Leases also of their other Church-lands for twenty one years such bargains made a Feast for the present age and a Famine for posterity Item For the old timber in the little Vestiary of St Georges Chappel fifteen shillings In vain have I enquired for the scituation hereof long since demolished and no wonder if St George his Chappel cannot be found when St George himself is affirmed by c Phâ—â—â—ppus Melancthon in Apologia Articulo 21. confessionis Augustana some as one never existent in rerum natura Item Received of Mr Denny for one Cope of Cloth of gold three pound six shillings eight pence Item For two Altar-Cloaths of Velvet and silk two pound It seemeth the Parish did not part with all their gallantry at once but made several stakes thereof and parcelled them out as their necessities did require Item Received of Mr Tamworth twenty loads of timber ready hewed which he gave to the Parish This Gentleman by his bounty to the Publick seems better known to God then to me having neither heard nor read of any of his name living in or near to Waltham Item For taking down the stairs in the Abby seven shillings eight pence This was part of the Nag-purchase whereby we collect that a large structure was by this bargain conveyed to the Parish Item For taking down the Lead from the Charnel-house and covering the Steeple eighteen shillings The Steeple was conceived above the Charnel-house as in height so in honour Wherefore now the Lead taken from it b was a Which is now but tiled translated to the covering of the Steeple Call this removing of this metal from one part of the Church to another onely the borrowing of St Peter to lend to St Paul Item For the Arch-Deacons man coming for a Record of all the Inhabitants of the Parish four pence I know not on what Canon this was founded It may be her Majestie in those dangerous times desired not out of Pride but necessary Policy to know the number of her Subjects and might enjoyn the Arch-Deacons in their respective Visitations to make this inquiry But Day begins to dawn and the light of our Age to appear matters coming High time to knock off within the memory of many alive We will therefore break off Waltham since affording no peculiar observables Onely will add that Sr Edward Grand-childe to Sr Anthony Denny was created by King James a Camdens Brit. in Essex Baron of Waltham and since made by King Charles Earl of Norwich A Noble person who setled on the Curate of Waltham to whom before a bare Stipend of Eight pound did belong one hundrod pound per annum with some other considerable accommodations tying good Land for the true performance thereof The Abby is now the Inheritance of this Earls Grand-childe by Honora his James Earle of Carlile present owner of Waltham Nicholas the most eminent Abbot of Waltham daughter James Hay Earl of Carlile who Married Margaret Daughter to Francis Earl of Bedford by whom as yet he hath no Issue for the continuance of whose happiness my prayers shall never be wanting The Reader may justly expect from me a Catalogue of all the Abbots of this Monastery But to do it falsly I dare not lamely I would not perfectly I cannot and therefore must crave to be excused Onely let me observe that Nicholas Abbot of Waltham was most triumphant in power of any in his place he flourished in the Reign of King Richard the second and was b Hen de Knighton de eventibus Angl. lib. v. pag 2687. one of the fourteen Commissioners chosen by Parliament to examine the miscariages in that Kings Reign since the death of his Grand-father Amongst the Natives of Waltham for States-men John de Waltham bears John de Waltham away the bell He was keeper of the Privy Seal in the Reign of King Richard c Hen. Knighton ut prius pag. 2685. Roger Waltham a learned writer the second being the third in number chosen amongst the fourteen Commissioners aforesaid impowred to examine all misdemeanours of State And now was not Waltham highly honoured with more then a single share when amongst those fourteen two were her Gremials the forenamed Nicholas living in Waltham and this John having his name thence because birth therein But amongst Scholars in our Town Roger Waltham must not be forgotten Canon of St Pauls in London and a great favourite to Fulk Basset Bishop thereof He wrote many learned books whereof two especially one called d Bale de script Brit. cent 4 pag. 302. Hugh Nevil buried in Waltham Compendium Morale the other Imagines Oratorum commend his parts and pains to posterity Pass we from those who were Born to eminent persons Buried therein Here we first meet with Hugh Nevile a Minion of King Richard the first he was Interred in Waltham Church saith my e Mat. Paris in Anno 122â— page 315. and also Robert Passe lew Author in Nobili Sarcophago Marmoreo insculpto in a Noble Coffin of Marble engrav'd If a Coffin be call'd Sarcophagus from consuming the Corps surely Sacriledg may be named Sarcophago-phagus which at this day hath devoured that Coffin and all belonging thereunto We spoil all if we forget Robert Passellew who was Dominus fac totum in the midle and fac nihil towards the end of the Reign of Henry the third Some Parasites extolled him by allusion to his name Pâ—ssâ—le-eau