in you exciteth and serueth you till the vsurped poure of that man of Rome be clene abolished and put out of the hartes of the kyngs subiects And I shall with all my diligence applie my self to thaccomplishment of this his so godly commandement by Goddes grace And for as moche as I haue taken my leue of the Kyng and Quene and tarry for noothing now but only for the instrument called Custodias temporalium I eftsones beseche your mastirship to haue that in your remembraunce whan ye shall next repaire vnto the Court together with a discharge for takyng of any othe of the residentiaries of Sarum which suyrly they will exact of me oneles I bryng some thyng outher from the Kyng his highnes or elles from you his chefe Counsellor for to stopp their mouthes And as for seallyng of new obligacions if itt like you to commande your servaunt to send me them to morow by this brynger I shall seale them and send them to you without any tariaunce by the grace of God who preserue you and prosper you in all your godly purposes and interprises Murtelack the iiii daye of Iuin Yorn owne to comaunde Nic. Sarum But howsoeuer the honour of this act as also of the dissolution of Abbeys be principally attributed to Cromwell and his complotments yet at the same time there was others of the priuie Councell as forward and as able for their singular endowments to conclude a matter of that consequence as euer was Cromwell I meane Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury whose zeale and abilities are generally knowne to all that euer heard of the booke of Martyrs Sir Thomas Audley Knight speaker of the Parliament for his demerits created by Henry the eighth Baron Audley of Walden and also aduanced to the honour of the Chancellorship of England Sir William Pawlet Knight Comptroller of the Kings house who for his wisedome the said King created Lord S. Iohn of Basing and Knight of the Garter whom Edward the sixt made great Master of his houshold President of his Councell and Lord Treasurer of England whom he created Earle of Wiltshire and Marquesse of Winchester to whom Queene Elizabeth committed the keeping of the great Seale Who liued to see one hundred and three persons issue out of his loynes who died at Basing in Hampshire the tenth of March 1571. where hee was honourablie buried when he had liued eightie seuen yeares Another pillar of the State at that time was that wise and iudicious gentleman Sir Richard Rich Lord Chancellour of England vnder King Edward the sixth who in the first yeare of his raigne aduanced him to this office and created him Baron Rich of Leez in Essex These and other more of the Nobilitie had both their hands and heads in this businesse yet Cromwell Audley and Rich were thought to be the onely men who for their religious paines ranne into great obloquie with the common people insomuch that the Commons of Lincolnshire finding themselues fore troubled with this strange alteration and rising in rebellion presented diuers articles of aggrieuances to the Kings Maiestie Amongst the said Articles and demands of Robert Askâ and his rebellious crew the Commons of Yorkeshire Cumberland Westmerland Northumberland and the countries adiacent at the conference holden at Doncaster betwixt Thomas Duke of Norfolke Generall of the Kings Armie and certaine Commissioners on the partie of the said Captaine Aske and his fellow rebels Thus it was propounded by their Speaker Sir Thomas Hylton Knight The fowrt that Thomas Cromwell nor any of his bande or secte be not at our metinge at Doncastre but abcent themselfe from the Councell Also to haue the Lord Cromwell the Lord Chancellor and Sir Ryc Rich to haue condigne punyshment as subuerters of the gud lawes of the âeame and ouetemers of the slese secte of theys fals Heretykes first inuenters and brengers of them Likewise Doctor Leyton and Doctor Leâ who had bene loyned in commission with Cromwell for the visitation of religious Foundations of which hereafter were maliciouslye detracted by this demand of the Commons in the foresaid conference Also that Doctor Lee and Doctor Leyton may haue condigne punyshment for theyr extortions in time of visitation in brybes of some religyous houses x. lib. xx lib. and for other summes besyde horsys vowsens leases vndre Couent Seallys by them taken and other abomynable acts by them committed and done I might haue occasion here to speake of the abrogation of the Popes authoritie of the subuersion of religious foundations of the suppression of religious Votaries and of the reformation of Religion in that neuer-conquered Nation of Scotland where at this time Religion is double refined pure and spotlesse without ceremonie and plaine as a pike staffe without a surplise But I will reserue this narration till I come to speake of the conuersion of Scotland to the Christian faith As also of the Funerall Monuments which are there to be found which will be but a few if Sir Robert Cottons Librarie do not helpe me for by my owne obseruation in the famous maiden-citie of Edenborough and in the Parish Churches of other Townes the Sepulchres of the dead are shamefully abused or quite taken away yea and the Churches themselues with religious houses and other holy places violated demolished or defaced CHAP. XV. The policie vsed by the King and his Councell for the dissolution and extirpation of Religious Foundations and Religious Orders within this Realme of England and Wales The reformation of Religion of Inscriptions in Churches The Kings warrant of the surrender of Religious Houses An information made to Queene Elizabeth of the seuerall abuses done vnto the State generall and Crowne by the corruption of such as were imployed by her Father vpon the suppression of Abbeyes HEnry the eighth hauing as ye haue heard thus setled the Supremacy where he would haue it either by the aduise of politick Cromwell or by the example of proud Wolsey or else of himselfe hee being nothing so scrupulous in conscience nor so stayed in sacred resolutions as was Henry the fourth vpon a greedie desire to enrich his coffers began now to lay plots deuises and proiects for the vtter subuersion of all Abbeyes Priories Nunneries and other religious foundations within this his kingdome of England and Wales and first for an induction to the businesse He put in Commission his seruant Cromwell Thomas Lee and Richard Laiton Doctors of the Ciuill Law Thomas Bedell Deane of Cornwall Thomas Bartlet publike Notarie and others to visit all the foresaid religious Houses and to make inquirie of their Orders Founders values debenters reliques pilgrimages and other Queres but most especially they were to make diligent scrutinie and to learne vijs modis omnibus by all manner of meanes the wicked abuses of those times practised amongst the Fraternitie and Sisterhood of each seuerall Couent Which with their Commission they returned making a shamefull discoueriâ of the bestiall sensualitie of Monasticke profession This
to speake that their Crowne is not large nor their rounding conuenient but wantonnesse in apparell insolencie in behauiour filthinesse in words doe bewray the madnesse of the inward man Furthermore how great negligence is there in the Diuines when in the holy Vigils they will scarce vouchsafe to be present when at the holy solemnities of the diuine-seruice they seeme to bee gathered together to play and to laugh rather then to sing I will speake that which good men lament and euill men laugh at I will speake with sorrow if so be it may be spoken how they flow in banquettings in chambering and wantonnesse that now Clerkes houses may bee thought to be brothell houses of harlots and an assembly of plaiers There is dice there is dancing and singing there is watching till midnight with crying and shouting Thus the patrimony of Kings the almes of Princes yea and that more is the price of that precious bloud is ouerthrowne Had our fathers therefore for this purpose emptied their treasures hath the Kings bountifulnesse giuen lands and possessions to Christian Churches for this end that Clerkes harlots should be pampered with delicious dainties that riotous guests may be prepared for that hounds and hawkes and such like toyes may be gotten Of this the Souldiers cry out the common people murmure the iâsters and scoffers sing and dance and you regard it not you spare it you dissemble it Where is the sword of Leuy and zeale of Simeon which killed the circumcised Sichimites being the figure of them that defile the Church of Christ with polluted acts abusing Iacobs daughter as an harlot Where is the spirit of Moses that spared not his houshold kinsfolke worshipping the head of the calfe Where is the dagger of Phinâes the Priest who killing him that played the harlot with the Madianite with this holy emulation pacified Gods wrath where is the spirit of Peter by whose power couetousnesse is destroyed and Simoniall heresie condemned Endeauour to imitate O ye Priests in God It is time to rise against them that haue broken the Law of God I haue Constantines you haue Peters sword in your hands let vs ioyne right hands let vs couple sword to sword that the Leapers may bee cast out of the Church that the hallowed place of our Lord may bee purged and the sonnes of Leui may minister in the Church Go to carefully I beseech you lest it repent vs to haue done that which we haue done and to haue giuen that which wee haue giuen if we shall see that not to be spent in Gods seruice but on the riotousnesse of most wicked men though vnpunished libertie Let the reliques of holy Saints which they scorne and the reuerend Altars before which they rage moue you Let the maruellous deuotion of our Ancestours moue you whose almes the Clerkes furie abuseth c. To you I commit this businesse that both by Bishoplie censure and kingly authority filthie liuers may be cast out of the Church and they that liue in order may be brought in Not long after to wit in the raigne of Etheldred commonly called The vnready it was foretold by an holy Anchorite that forsomuch as the people of this Nation were giuen ouer to all drunkennesse treason and carelesnesse of Gods house first by Danes then by Normans and last of all by the Scots they should be ouercome Of which hereafter Edward the Confessor whilest he lay sicke of that sicknesse whereof he died after he had remained for two dayes speechlesse on the third day lying for a time in a slumber or soft sleepe at the time of his waking he fetched a deepe sigh and thus said O Lord God Almightie if this be not a vaine fantasticall illusion but a true vision which I haue seene grant me space to vtter the same vnto these that stand here present or else not And herewith hauing his speech perfect he declared how he had seene two Monkes stand by him as he thought whom in his youth he knew in Normandie to haue liued godly and died Christianly These religious men said he protesting to me that they were the messengers of God spake these words Because the chiefe gouernours of England the Bishops and Abbots are not the ministers of God but the deuils the Almighty God hath deliuered this kingdome for one yeare and a day into the hands of the enemy and wicked spirits shall walke abroad through the whole land And when I made answer that I would declare these things to the people and promised on their behalfe that they should doe penance in following the example of the Niniuites they said againe that it would not be for neither should the people repent nor God take any pitie vpon them And when is there hope to haue an end of these miseries said I Then said they when a greene tree is cut in sunder in the middle and the part cut off is carried three acres breadth from the stocke and returning againe to the stoale shall ioyne therewith and begin to bud and beare fruit after the former manner by reason of the sap renewing the accustomed nourishment then wee say may there bee hope that such euils shall cease and diminish With these words of the dying king though many that stood by were strucke with feare yet Stig and the Church-chopper Archbishop of Canterbury made but a iest thereof saying that the old man doted and raued now in his sicknesse Neuerthelesse within the same yeare the truth of this propheticall dreame or vision did plainly appeare When the conquerour William seized into his hands to glue vnto the Normans the most part of euery mans possessions in England tooke from the Bishops Sees all their ancient priuiledges and freedomes bereaued all the Monasteries and Abbies of their gold and siluer sparing neither Shrine nor Challice appropriating the said religious houses with their reuenues to himselfe degrading and depriuing as well Bishops as Abbats of their seats and honours and detaining many of them in prison during their liues that others of his owne followers might bee placed in their roomes By which meanes there was scarce left any man in authoritie of the English nation to beare rule ouer the rest insomuch that it was counted a reproach to be called an Englishman William surnamed Rufus sonne to the Conquerour and king of England endeauouring to abate the tumorous greatnesse of the Clergie restrained his Subiects from going to Rome withheld the annuall payment of Peter pence and was oftentimes heard to giue forth these words They follow not the trace of Saint Peter they greedily gape after gifts and rewards they retaine not his power whose pietie they do not imitate Nothing was now more in vse then seasing farming and merchandizing of Church-liuings and the chiefe agent in this businesse was one Ranulf Flambard the Kings Chaplaine afterwards Bishop of Durham for which he gaue a thousand pounds Robert Bluet gaue for the Bishopricke of Lincolne
the Prior and Couent of the White Friers Carmelites in Stanford the âbboâ and Couent of our blessed Lady of Bidlesden the Warden and brethren of the grey Friers of Couentrie Bedford and Alesbury surrendred vp them houses into the kings hands Battaile Abbey in Sussex Martine Abbey in Surrey Straâford Abbey in Essex Lewis in Suffex Saint Austines in Canterbury the new Abbey at the Tower hill the Minories without Aldgate the Nunnery at Clerken well The Hospitall of Saint Thomas Akers the Blacke-Friers the White-Friers the grey Friers and the Charterhouse Monks in London with the most or all other were surrendred after the same manner In September the same yeare Viz. An. 30. Hen. 8. by the speciall motion of great Cromwell all the notable images vnto the which were made any especiall pilgrimages and offerings as the images of our Lady of Walsingham Ipswich Worcester the Lady of Wilsdon the rood of Grace of our Ladie of Boxley and the image of the rood of Saint Sauiour at Bermondsey with all the rest were brought vp to London and burnt at Chelsey at the commandement of the foresaid Cromwell all the Iewels and other rich offerings to these and to the Shrines which were all likewise taken away or beaten to peeces of other Saints throughout both England and Wales were brought into the Kings Treasurie In the same yeare also the Abbey of Westminster was surrendred being valued to dispend by the yeare three thousand foure hundred and seuenty pound or by some 3977. l. 6. s. 4. d. ob q. as in the Catalogue of religious houses the Monkes being expelled King Henry placed therein a Deane and Prebendaries and made the last Abbot whose name was Benson the first Deane in the time of Edward the sixth it was made a Bishops See shortly after the benefits of the Church being abridged it came againe to a Deane and Prebends Againe Queene Marie ordained there an Abbot and his Monkes who continued not many yeares but were againe cut off by Act of Parliament And lastly Queene Elizabeth that wonder of the world made it a collegiate Church or rather a Nursery for the Church saith Norden for there she ordained to the glory of God the propagation of true Religion and good literature a Deane twelue Prebendaries an vpper master and an Vsher for the Schoole fourtie Schollers called the Queenes or Kings Schollers who as they become worthie are preferred to the Vniuersities besides Ministers Singers and Organists ten Quiristers and twelue well deseruing Souldiers Thus you see the interchangeable vicissitude of her foundacion and if it had not beene for the reuerend regard they had of the Sepulchres inauguration and vnction here of their famous Ancestors these forenamed Kings if I may ground my reason vpon the passages of those times had taken her commings in to haue inrichâ their owne coffers despoiled her oâ her vnualuable wealth and ornaments and battered downe to the ground her sacred Edâfice The fifth of December ân the soresaid yeare the Abbey of Saint Albaâs was surrendred by the Abbot and Monkes there by deliuering the Couent Seale into the hands of Tho. Pope D. Peter Master Canendish and others the Kings visiters Now all or the most of all the religious houses in England and Wales being thus surrendred the King summoned another Parliament at Westâminster for howsoeuer these forenamed religious orders and other more of their owne free and voluntary mindes good wills and assents without constraâât âoactâon or compulsion as are the words in the Statute of any manner of person or persons by due order of law and by their sufficient writings of Record vnder their Couent and common Seales had alreadie gâuen granted and confirmed renounced left and forsaken all their religious hâuââs with their lands and all other the appurtenances to the same belongingâ vnto the King his heires and successors for euer Yet it was thought necessarie by the King and his Councell that these their âo uâtaâic donations should bee further ratified by authoritie of that high ãâã whereupon it was enacted that all Monasteries with their Scites circuits and precincts laâds Lordships and all othâr franchises not onely those which were surrendred or dissolued before the session of this Parliament but also such as were to bee surrendred or dissolued hereafter shouâd bee vested deemed and adiudged to be in the very actuall and reall season and possession of the King his heires and successors for euer The religious Order of Saint Iohns of Ierusalem whose chiefe mansion house was in the precincts of Clerkenwell Parish within the Country of Middlesex consisting of gentlemen and souldiers of ancient families and high spirits could by no means be brought in to present to his Maiestie any of these puling petitions and publike recognitions of their errors thereby like the rest to giue a loafe and beg a shiue to turne themselues out of actuall possession and lie at the Kings mercie for some poore yearely pension But like stoâââ fellowes stood out against any that thought to enrich themselues with their ample reuenues vntill they were cast out of their glorious structures and all other their estates for these causes following alledged aâgainst them in open Parliament as appeares by the statute beginning thus The Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Commons of this present Parliament assembled hauing credible knowledge that diuers and sundrie the kings subiects called the Knights of the Rhodes otherwise called Knights of Saint Iohns otherwise called Friers of the religion of S. Iohn of Ierusalem in England and of a like house being in Ireland abiding in the parties of beyond the sea and hauing aswell out of this Realme as out of Ireland and other the Kings dominions yearely great summes of money for maintenance of their liuings Haue vnnaturally and contrary to the dutie of their alleageances sustained and maintained ãâ¦ã power and authoritie of the Bishop of Rome lately vsed and ãâã within this Realme and other the Kings dominions and haue not onely adhered themselues to the said Bishop being common enemy to the King our soueraigne Lord and to this his Realme vntruely vpholding knowledging and affirming maliciously and traiterously the same Bishop to bee supreme and chiefe head of Christs Church by Gods holy word Entending thereby to subuert and ouerthrow the good and godly laws and statutes of this realme for the abolishing expulsing and vtter extincting of the said vsurped power and authoritie but also haue defamed and slandered as well the Kings Maiestie as the Noblemen Prelates and other the Kings true and louing subiects of this Realme for their good and godly proceeding in that behalfe Vpon these causes and other considerations it was enacted That the Corporation of the said Religion as well within this Realme as within the Kings dominion and Land of Ireland should be vtterly dissolued and void to all entents and purposes And that Sir William Weston Knight as then Prior of the said Religion of this Realme of
foure orders Preched to the people for profit of themselues Glosed the Gospel as hem good liked For couetous of Copes construe it as thei wold So Chaucer in his prologues and in the Character of the Frier mentions foure Orders A Frere there was a wanton and a merry A Limyâour a full solempne man In all the Orders foure is none that can So much of daliaunce and faire language But to returne to the first of the foure orders which is that of S. Basill howsoeuer as I conceiue the order of Saint Dominicke was accounted one of the foure here in England this Basill surnamed the Great for his great learning liued about the yeare of Grace 300. he was a Priest in Caesââa the chiefe Citie of Cappadocia where he was borne and whereof afterwards he was chosen Bâshop He was the Authour of building of Monasteries whereas many might liue together for before his time the Monkes dwelt in caues and cels alone in desarts and solitarie places from the which hee drew them into Coenobies or Couents and instituted of discipline by the which they should no more wander but bee alwayes bound by one forme of Religion These Monasteries were schooles in the which the arts and Philosophie together with Diuiniâie true Religion and pietie were taugât to the end there might be learned and fit men alwayes readie to gouerne the Church it is said that he built so great and spatious a Monasterie in Armenia as it contained aboue 3000 Monkes and in the end reduced all the religious men of the East to a good forme of life He died in the yeare 379 full of yeares as of vertues when Damasus the first of that name held the See of Rome and the Emperour Valens an Ariân gouerned the East This Emperour was determined to haue dispossessed him of his Bishoppricke as he had done others but hearing him preach and speaking with him at Cappadocia he absteyned from expelling him his seate to which effect P. Opmer thus Basilius tantae doctrinae ac sanctitatis suit vt et Valens abstinueriâ ab expellendo eum sede cùm reuersus Cappadociameum concionantem audijsset atque venisset cum illo in colloquium It is holden that this Basill was the first which caused Monkes to make a vow after a yeares probation to liue in their Monasâeries vntill death to promise full obedience to their superiours and not to contradict their ordinances and moreouer to vow continencie and pouertie This order wheresoeuer they liue labour with their hands in imitation of the perfect Monkes of Aegypt and what they get with their labour they bring in common retaining nothing to themselues This order of this holy man doth flourish at this day in Italy especially in the dominions of Venice although all the Monasteries there which are of this order doe acknowledge the Abbey of Grottaferata twelue miles distant from Rome for their mother I doe not finde that any of this rule liued euer here in England which makes me beleeue that this was none of the foure Orders before specified The next Monasticke Order confirmed by the Church of Rome was that of the Doctor of all Doctors namely Saint Augustine He was borne in the Castle of Tegast in Carthage about the yeare of our redemption 358. his Fathers name was Patricius his Mothers Monica by whose intreaââes mingled with teares and the learned Sermons of Saint Ambrose hee was drawne from the errours of the Manachies from Saint Ambrose as then Bishop of Millan in Italie he returned into his owne countrey where hee obteyned of the Bishop of Hippo whereof he was afterwards Bishop himselfe a garden without the Towne causing a Monastery to be built there in which he liued of the labour of his hands in all integritie according to the institution of the Primitiue Church He died of a feuer at Hippo when he had sitten fourty yeares in his Bishopricke being seuenty and six yeares of age on the fifth of the Kalends of September leauing to posteritie two hundred and thirty bookes of his owne writing This order multiplied greatly throughout the whole Christian world howsoeuer branched into many seuerall orders differing both in habit and exercises as also in rule and precepts of life An Epitaph to the memorie of Saint Augustine which I found in the booke of Rufford Abbey Omnis plorat homo mox matris vt exit ab aluo Et merito quoniam veâit in vallem lachrimosam Solum nascentem risisse ferunt Zoroastrem Ergo monstrosum crede risum liquet istum Primus enim rerum fuit inventor magicarum Hoc Augustinus testatur vir preciosus Vir doctus vir magnisicus vir quippe beatus About some fourtie yeares after the death of Saint Augustine Saint Benedict vulgarly called Benet appeared to the world who is accounted the Patriarch and Father of all the Monkes of Europe Hee was borne in Vmbria a region in Italy of the noble familie of the Regards his Fathers name was Propre his Mothers Abundantia hee was sent to Rome at the age of ten yeares to learne the liberall Arts but being wearie of the tumults and warre during the raigne of Iustinian the Emperour hee went from thence into a desart neare vnto Sublacke a Towne some fourtie miles from Rome where he continued the space of three yeares or thereabouts doing very austere penance vnknowne to any saue one Monke called Roman but being afterwards discouered by certaine Shepherds the people by reason of the great âame of his integritie and holinesse of life flocked from all parts to see him who had such force to perswade them to abandon the world as in a short time they built twelue Monasteries and hauing giuen to euery our of them a good Superiour or Abbot desiring solitarinesse he retired himselfe with a good number of his best disciples to the mount Cassin neare to the Towne of old called Cassina Where hauing ruined all the idolatrous Temples and broken downe their Images hee built him a Monasterie which hee dedicated to Saint Iohn the Baptist with a Chappell to Saint Martin Drawing all the Monkes dispersed in Italy into one societie and companie to whom he gaue a certaine rule in writing by the which they and their successours should gouerne themselues according as Saint Basill had done before him and withall bound them to three seuerall vowes Chastitie Pouertie and Obedience to their superiours which decree was ratified by the Church of Rome for an Euangelicall law This congregation of the Benedictines grew by little and little to bee so great throughout all Christendome as is almost incredible Nulla Monasteria nisi Beneâdictina erat apud Anglos ab aetate Edgari vsque ad regnum Gulielmi primi There was no Monasteries saith a late Writer amongst the English from the time of King Edgar till the raigne of William the Conquerour but Benedictines This order saith the same Authour came first into England with Austin the Monke Bishop of
repaire to âee instructed in good literature and in the Catholicke faith lest that any thing in the English Church might be sinâsteâly expounded contrary to the vniuersall vnitie and so being established in the orthodoxall and right receiued Faith they might returne backe againe into their owne countrey For the doctrine and Schooles of the English Nation since the time of Archbishop Austin had beene interdicted by diuers Romish Bishops for certaine heresies which daily appeared after the comming in of the Saxons into Britaine by reason of the commixture of the misbeleeuing wicked Pagans with the Christians of holy conuersation Hee also caused a Church to be erected neare to the foresaid house or Colledge which he dedicated to the honour of the blessed Virgine Mary in which such of the English as came to Rome might celebrate dâuine Seruice and that therein if any of the said English there happened to depart this world they might be inâerred And all these that they might for euer be more firmly corroborated it was ordained by a generall decree throughout all the kingdome of the West-Saxons that in euerie familie one pennie should be yearely collected and sent ouer to blessed Saint Peter and the Church of Rome which in English Saxons was called Romescot that the English there abiding migât by that meane haue sufficient to liue vpon Thus âaâre Mathew of Westminsteâ surnamed the Flower-gatherer The which in substance is thus deliuerâd by a late writer yet in a different manner He meaning Ina instituted also a certaine yearely payment to the See of Rome enioyning euery one of his Subiects that possesâed in his house of one kinde of goods to the value of twentie pence that he should pay a pâny to the Pope yearely vpon Lammas day which at that time was contributed vnder the name of the Kings Almes but afterwards was called and challenged by the name of Peter-pence Another of the same gift by the said King hath these times He gaue to Rome eche yere The Rome pence thorrow West sex all about Perpetually to be well payd and clere For vnto Rome he went without all doubt After the example and with the like zeale of Ina Offa the most magnificent king of the Mercias in great deuotion went also to Rome and made euery house within his territories subiect to this payment of Romescot Ossa gaue through Mers the Rome penny Vnto the Church of Rome Afterwards about the yeare eight hundred and fiftie this tribute was confirmed and made further payable throughout all England For Ethelwolfe as then being sole Monarch of the Englishmen hauing beene sometimes for certaine yeares as Haneden and Brampton write Bishop of Winchester remembring his Ecclesiasticke profession and ordaining first that tithes and lands due to holy Church should be free from all tributes and Regall seruices in the nineteenth yeare of his raigne with the like deuotion of the two former kings went in pilgrimage taking with him his youngest sonne Alfred or Elfred to the foresaid chiefe Citie of the Romanes where he was both honourablie receiued and entertained by the Bishop of Rome and the whole Senate for the space of one yeare and vpwards in which time he rebuilt the English Schoole before remembred which lately had beene almost quite consumed with fire And in lieu of his kinde entertainment confirmed the former grant of Peter-pence causing it to bee payed throughout all his Dominions and further couenanted to pay yearely to Rome three hundred Markes thus to be employed one hundred to Saint Peters Church another hundred to Saint Pauls light and the third to the Pope a Saint that euermore will haue his share to the entent saith one that no Englishmen should doe penance in bounds as he saw some do before his face This Athilwolfe to Rome toke his way In pilgramage with him his sonne Aelfrede To Peter and Pole he graunted infenitife The Rome pence of all Englond As Flores saith as I con vnderstond Saith Harding cap. 105. And further to confirme the premisses may it please you to trouble your patience in the reading of these following hard rimes transcribed out of a namelesse old Author Adelwolfe his sonne att Chester his cite For al hys kyngs and Barons of estate Sent forth anone at hys parlament to be Whycheatte Chester was than preordynate To whyche al cam both Kyngs Duks and Prelat And odar al of honor or Empryse Hym for to do obeysaunce and servysse anon to Roome he went In pylgrymage wythe hooly good entent Wher he was so abydyng full too yer In hooly lyff and full perfactyon In ryall wyse as to a pryns afer And to the Pope wythe ful affectyon Hys comonyng ay had at hys electyon He gaue to Peter lyght And to Sent Poule whaâ is ful gret repayr Too thowsand mark of Venyse gold ful ryght For sustenaunce of the Chyrches ryght He Busschopp was in hys Fadars day And for defaut of heyr was crownyd kyng Wharfor whan he hys lond in good aray Fre of servysse had set above all thyng He grauntyd tythe of all hys lond ofspryng Tyll thre persones dwelling in vnyte Why charr on God dwellyng in Trynite And Roome pens he graunte vnto the Pope Perpetuelly to haue of al Englond So perfytt was hys mynd who couth hit grope In al goodnes growndyd I vndyrstond Thrugh al hys myght in al hys noble lond The Pece he kepte and in his Se iudicyall The common Law among hys peple all Edgar king of England made sharpe constitutions for the payment of this Tribute And it was one of the lawes of Edward the Confessour that euery householder which had triginta denariatas viuae pecuniae in domo sua de proprio suo Thirtie pence of ready money or of any kinde of cattell in his house of his owne proper should by the Law of the English giue a pennie to Saint Peter and by the Law of the Danes halfe a marke which pennie was to be demanded at or vpon the feast of Saint Peter and Paul and to be collected before the feast of Saint Peter ad vincula and not to be deferred to any further day And if any withheld the payment thereof any longer time complaint was to be made to the Kings Officers for that this penny was the Kings Almes And that the partie so offending should hee constrained by iustice to make payment thereof on paine of forfeiting his goods Now if any man had more dwelling houses then one hee was to pay onely for that house where he should happen to be resiant at the said feast of Saint Peter and Paul Henry the second vpon his conquest of Ireland imposed this tribute vpon that kingdome onely to curry fauour with the Pope who as then was Adrian the fourth called before his inthronization Nicholas Breakespeare borne at Abbots Langley in Hertfordshire For hee saith Speed in the life of the said Henry knowing how great and dangerous tumults the Popes had
his Master he entred into orders yet before he came to bee a Clergie man he serued in the warres which is not vnlikely saith mine Authour for after he was Bishop he was thrice in the field and did his Prince notable seruice He was first preferred to the Bishopricke of Wilshire whose See was then seated at Ramsbury by the speciall fauour of King Athelstan who being dead his brother Edmund who succeeded him in his kingdome louing him no lesse procured him to be chosen Archbishop In which pastorall charge hee continued many yeares in great fauour and authoritie vnder diuers Princes till towards the latter end of his time that Edwin a young King was sore exasperated against him for that this Bishop had caused him to be diuorced from his Queene for consanguinitie or some other reasons and excommunicated his Concubines causing one of them whom the king doted vpon to be fetcht out of the court by violence to bee burnt in the forehead with an hote iron and banished into Ireland But not long after he was taken away by death from the Kings displeasure in the yeare of our redemption 958. hauing sate Archbishop 25. yeares or thereabouts He writ diuers Tractates both in verse and prose mentioned by Bale and Capgraue will haue him in the Kalender of our English Saints and Confessours But to conclude such was his Epitaph Stemmate serenus iacet hic sacer Odo Seuerus Moribus excellens acriter peccata refellens Presul at indulgens omni pictate refulgens Ecclesie Christi Pugil inuictissimus isti O bone nunc Christe quia sic tibi seruijt iste Celi solamen sibi des te deprecor Amen The life and death of this Archbishop Lanfranck is set downe at large by William Malmsbury Io. Capgraue Nicholas Harpsfeild Archdeacon of Canterbury Mathew Parker Archbishop with others and out of them all by Francis Godwin now Bishop of Hereford Yet for method sake thus much because I find his body by a Table inscribed which hangs vpon his Tombe to be here interred He was borne in Italy at Pauia some twenty miles from Myllaine brought vp in the Monasterie of Becco in Normandie vnder Herlewin the learned Abbot of that house of which he became Prior from whence in regard of his singular wisedome and great knowledge in all good literature he was called by William the Duke of Normandie to be Abbot of Saint Stephens in Cane a Monasterie that the said Duke had founded And in the fifth yeare after his conquest of England he promoted him to this Archbishopricke which he laudablie gouerned the space of eighteene yeares It is said an action which much obscured all his former praises that he perswaded the Conquerour to leaue the kingdome of England to his younger sonne William Rufus which they said William thus requited the Bishop as the King thought being somewhat too busie in reprehending his manifold vices and exhorting him to godlinesse and vertue he so bitterly fell out with him that he banished him the Realme the poore old bishop trauelled to Rome and wandred vp and downe many countries till by intercession of friends hee was suffered to returne home and soone after died of an ague according to his owne desire Solebat enim Deum rogare vt velex dissenteria vel ex febri diem suum obiret propterea quod hi morbi nec memoriam nec loquelam auferant He would often desire God that he might take his end either by a fluxe or an ague for that in those kinde of infirmities men are wont to haue the vse both of speech and memorie to the last cast His death happened the 24. of May Ann. Dom. 1089. He bestowed much vpon the fabricke of this Church and the housing of the Monkes he built in a manner all the Archbishops pallace hee founded two Hospitals adioyning to this Citie hee gaue great summes of money and also a Mannor toward the building of the Cathedrall Church of Rochester and did much for the Abbey of Saint Albons Hee encreased the number of the Monkes of this Church from thirty to fourty restored the dignities and offices of old belonging to the Monasterie and recouered vnto the same 25. Manors that had beene taken from it wrongfully in times past by Odo Bishop of Bayon and Earle of Kent Hee was a profound Scholler for those times he writ the noble acts of the Conquerour he made learned Comments and Expositions of many parts of the Bible and tooke great paines in reforming the same the copies whereof were much corrupted throughout all England by the negligent ouer-sight of the writers To his memorie this Epitaph was composed Vixisti venerande Pater sapienter egens Vixisti vivens mors quoque vita tibi Inter diuitias pauper Lanfrance fuisti Diuitijs manans pauperum amator eras Per te florentes artes valuere latine Grecia sis nobis ecce triumphat ouans Tu Laios ortu Gallosque docendo leuasti Te sibi Primatem cardo Britannus habet In terra degens celestia regna petebas Exemptus terra sider a liber adis Sol geminos denis obsiderat igne diebus Promsit Luna diem nocte solutus abis Here is the Tombe of Archbishop Anselme borne in Augusta a Citie of Burgundie who followed his predecessours steps almost foot by foot First he came to Becco vpon the like errand as Lanfrank had done which was to obtaine knowledge in all good learning Lanfrancke being called away to Cane he was made Prior of Becco in his place and afterwards Abbot in which he continued 15. yeares vntill at the request of Hugh Earle of Chester he came ouer into England and had this Bishopricke bestowed vpon him some foure yeares after the decease of Lanfrancke for so long the king pursed vp the profits thereof by William Rufus who presently after his consecration fell out with his new Bishop and banished him the kingdome in which he trauelled vp and downe as an exile during the Kings life vntill by his brother King Henry the first he was called home and restored to all his former dignities But not long after he was likewise banished the Realme by the said Henry falling out with him concerning the disposing of Bishoprickes at the Kings pleasure giuing inuestiture and possession of them by the staffe and the ring within three yeares by the meanes and mediation of Adela or Alice Countesse of Blois the Kings sister he was restored not onely to his place but to all his goods and fruits gathered in the time of his absence Some two yeares after this his last returne falling sicke of a languishing disease hee died Aprill 21. Ann. Dom. 1109. in the sixteenth yeare of his gouernment Some 400. yeares after by the procurement of Iohn Morton one of his Successours he was canonized a Saint and one as worthy that honour as any that euer since his ãâã was canonized by the Pope for as his life
the Chapter house with this Epitaph vpon his Monument En paruus Abbas hic parua clauditur arca In gestis magnus maior nec erat Patriarcha Willelmus Druleg illustri dignus honore Conuentum claustri qui multo rexit amore Pro dilectoris anima tui dulciter ora Sancti Augustini conuentus qualibet hora. I finde little or indeed nothing at all of such Abbots as succeeded little Drulege sauing their names thus recorded Iohn Deueniche the 57. Thomas Colwell 58. Michaell Peckham 59. William Wâld 60. Thomas Hunden 61. Marcellus Dandlyon 62. Iohn Hawlherst 63. George Pensherst 64. Iacob Seuenoke 65. William Selling 66. Iohn Dunster 67. Iohn Dygon 68. Thomas Hampton 69. and Iohn Essex 70. So that by this account there hath beene more Archbishops of Christ-Church then Abbots of Saint Austins by the number of three reckoning those sixe Bishops which haue beene since the dissolution The Abbot of this house was euer a Baron of the Parliament In S. Anns Chappell within the Church of this Monastery lay sometime buried the body of Iulian the daughter and heire of Sir Thomas Lâyborne knight The widow saith Vincent of Iohn Lord Hastings of Aburgaueny and mother of Lawrence Hasting Earle of Pembroke and after that wife of William de Clinton Earle of Huntington and Lord high Admirall of England who dyed about the yeare 1350. But of all these and thousands more here interred whose names I cannot learne not one bone at this time lies neare another nor one stone almost of the whole fabricke stands vpon another therefore I will take my leaue of this Abbey with these words of a late writer This Monasterie saith he as all the rest did came to her fatall period in the dayes of king Henry the eight whose vncouered walls stood so long languishing in time and stormes of weather that daily increased the aspect of her ruines till now lastly they are made subiect to other publicke vses and the whole tract of that most goodly foundation in the same place no where appearing Onely Ethelberts Tower in memorie and honour of the man as yet hath escaped the verdict and sentence of destruction whose beauty though much de faced and ouerworne will witnesse to succeeding ages the magnificence of the whole when all stood compleate in their glory together The reuenues yearely of this house were in the Exchequer 1412. l. 4. s. 7. d. ob q. it was surrendred 4. Decemb. 29. H. 8. At Harbaldowne not farre from this Monastery Archbishop Lanârank built an Hospâtall and dedicated the same to the honour of Saint Iohn to the which he annexed a Priorie of blacke Canons valued both together at the dissolution to 266. l. 4 s. 5. d. ob of yearely reuenue it was ordained for the lame and diseased which as yet is not altogether suppressed although much abated as I heare of her annuall possessions In which house was reserued the vpper leather of an old shoe which had beene worne as they gaue it out by Saint Thomas Becket this shoe as a sacred Relique was offered to all passengers to kisse faire set in copper and christall Hackington commonly called S. Stephens by Cant. This Church in former times was honoured with the sepulture of Lora or Lorâatta Countesse of Leicester daughter of William Lord Brews of Brember in Suffex and wife of Robert de Beâlemont surnamed Fitzpârnell Earle of Leicester and Lord high Steward of England a most honourable Lady who hauing abandoned all worldly pleasures sequestred her selfe wholly from the world to serue God deuoutly in this place who dyed about the yeare 1219. The manor and Towne of Elham was her inheritance Hic iacet Dominus Iohannes Gower nuper Vicarius istius Ecclesie qui obijt Decemb. 27. 1457. Cuius anââe Hic iacet Dominus Iohannes ââne quondam Vicarius istius Ecclesie qui obijt 8. Aug. 1457. Cuius anime pââpittetur altissimus Sir Christopher Hales and Sir Roger Manwood lie here fairely entomâed of whom hereafter according to my method But I must not let passe seuen almes houses here built by the said Sir Roger Manwood chiefe Baron of the Exchequer ann 1573. for aged honest poore folkes which he endowed with a yearely allowance of foure pounds in money bread and fewell for euery one of those almes-men It was called S. Stephens fâr that the image of Saint Stephen standing where the garden now is belonging to Sir Manwoods great house was sought vnto by many pilgrimes Reculuer At the vpper end of the South isle in this Church I saw a Monument of an antique forme mounted with two spires Wherein as the Inhabitants haue it by tradition the body of one Ethelbert a Saxon king who had his pallace royall here in Reculuer lieth entombed and the Anuals of Canterbury affirme as much And true it is that Ethelbert the first and first Christian king built here a Princely mansion for himselfe and his successours wherein diuers of the Kentish kings sometimes kept their courtly residence But whether he be this Ethelbert the second or Ethelbert surnamed Pren that lieth here interred it is not much materiall for they both dyed without any memorable act either of themselues or their kingdomes affaires and so dyed Cuthred and Baldred their next successours and the last kings of Kent Which kingdome erected by Hengist the yeare of mans happinesse 455. continued her gouernment 372. and ended her glory in the yeare 827. being made a Prouince to the West-saxons Egbert or Egbright the seuenth king of Kent in succession after Hengist gaue to one Bassa an English Saxon some land here in Reculuer whereupon he built him a Minster or a Monastery whereof Brightwald afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury was the first Abbot so that of this man and the Minster the poore Townes men may make great vaunts Here lyeth ..... Sandwey Esquire and âoane his wife who dyed 1437. Hen. sex 16. Hic iacet Dominus Thomas .... qui ob ..... Vos qui transitis Thomam deslere velitis Per me nunc scitis quid prodest gloria ditis Minster in the Isle of Tenet Here in this Church lyeth a Lady entombed in a Monument vpreared after a strange fashion inscribed with a Saxon-like character Ici gist Edile de Shornerepust Dame del espire I thinke her name was rather Thorne then Shorne one letter being mistaken for another in the engrauing My reason is this for that in this Parish there is a place called Thorne Neare vnto this Monument lie three flat Tombe-stones vnder which as I coniecture by the effigies vpon them three vailed Nunnes of the Saxon Nobilitie and of S. Mildreds Monasterie lye interred but the Inscriptions are gone Which Monasterie was founded vpon this occasion Egbert king of Kent aspiring to the Crowne by the traiterous murder of his two young Nephewes Ethelred and Ethelbert to pacifie Domneua sister to the said murdered Princes
Amen This Thomas Kempe was Nephew to Iohn Kempe Archbishop of Canterbury at whose hands hee receiued Consecration at Yorke place now called White hall Ann. 1449. Febr. 8. his Vnkle being as then Archbishop of Yorke This Bishop and not Duke Vmphrey as it is commonly beleeued by report built for the most part the Diuinitie Schooles in Oxford as they stood before Bodleyes foundation with walls Arches Vaults doores towers and pinnacles all of square smooth polisht stone and artificially depainted the Doctors Chaire to the liuely representation of the glorious frame of the celestiall globle He built also Pauls Crosse in forme as as it now standeth Here lieth Iohn Stokesley Bishop of this Church brought vp at Magdelene Colledge in Oxford and here enthronized Iuly 19. 1530. Who died Septemb. 8. 1539. A part of his Epitaph as yet remaines inlaid in brasse which approues him to haue beene a good Linguist and a great Schollar Huius in obscuro tumuli interiore recessit Stokesley cineres ossaque tecta iacent Cuius fama patens vite decus ingenijque Dexteritas ..... luce tamen Iste Deo Regique suo populoque fideli Viueret vt charus perpetuo studuit Exterius siquidem potuit regionibus .... .................... Qui Latias lustrauit opes intrauit hebreas Huic grecorum palma parata fuit Artes quid memorem vanas ad quas penetrauit Quum ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã auctus honore fuit .............. Virginis matris cultori certa supremum Natalem Marie fata dedere diem I reade in the Catalogue of Bishops and other writers for all the Inscriptions of any Antiquitie made to the memory of other Bishops here interred are altogether erazed or stolne away that William a Norman who enioyed this Bishopricke in the Conquerours time lieth here interred in the body of the Church Vnto whom the City of London acknowledgeth it selfe greatly beholding for that the king by his meanes and instant suite granted vnto them all kinde of liberties in as ample manner as they enioyed them in the time of his predecessour Ed. the Confessour These are the words of the Conquerours grant written in the Saxon tongue and sealed with greene waxe Williem king grets Williem Bisceop and Godfred Porterefan and ealle ya Burghwarn binnen London Frencisce and Englise frendlice and ickiden eoy yeet ic wille yeet git ben ealra weera lagay weore ye get weeran on Eadwards daege kings And ic will yeet aelc child by his fader yrfnume aefter his faders daege And iâ nelle ge wolian yeet aenig man coy aenis wrang beode God coy heald Which in English is to this effect following William king greetes William Bishop and Godfrey Portgraue and all the Burrow of London French and English friendly And I make knowne to you that ye be worthy to enioy all that Law and priuiledge which ye did in the dayes of King Edward And I will that euery childe bee his fathers heire after his fathers decease And I will not suffer that any man doe vnto you any iniurie God you keepe In thankfulnesse hereof the Citizens caused to bee engrauen an Epitaph vpon his Tombe in Latine thus Englished by Iohn Stow. To William a man famous in wisedome and holinesse of life who first with Saint Edward the king and Confessour being familiar of late preferred to be Bishop of London and not long after for his prudencie and sincere fidelitie admitted to be of Councell with the most victorious Prince William king of England of that name the first who obtained of the same great and large priuiledges to this famous City The Senate and Citizens of London to him hauing well deserued haue made this Hee continued Bishop twenty yeares and dyed in the yeare after Christ his natiuitie 1070. These marble Monuments to thee thy Citizens assigne Rewards O father farre vnfit to those deserts of thine Thee vnto them a faithfull friend thy London people found And to this Towne of no small weight a stay both sure and sound Their liberties restorde to them by meanes of thee haue beene Their publike weale by meanes of thee large gifts haue felt and seene Thy riches stocke and beauty braue one houre hath them supprest Yet these thy vertues and good deeds with vs for euer rest But this Tombe was long since either destroyed by time or taken away vpon some occasion yet howsoeuer the Lord Maior of London and the Aldermen his brethren vpon those solemne dayes of their resort to Pauls do still vse to walke to the grauestone where this Bishop lyeth buried in remembrance of their priuiledges by him obtained And now of late yeares an Inscription fastened to the pillar next adioyning to his graue called The reuiuall of a most worthy Prelates remembrance erected at the sole cost and charges of the right honourable and nobly affected Sir Edward Barkham knight Lord Maior of the Citie of London Ann. 1622. thus speakes to the walkers in Pauls Walkers whosoere you be If it proue your chance to see Vpon a solemnes skarlet day The Citie Senate passe this way Their gratefull memory for to show Which they the reuerend ashes owe Of Bishop Norman here inhum'd By whom this Citie hath assum'd Large priuiledges Those obtain'd By him when Conquerour William raign'd This being by thankfull Barkhams mynd renewd Call it the Monument of Gratitude Here lieth buried Fulk Basset Bishop of this Church preferred hither from the Deanrie of Yorke a Gentleman of an ancient great family second brother of that Gilbert Basset who through the stumbling of his horse fell in a certaine wood as hee went a hunting in the haruest time Ann. 1241. and brake so his bones and sinewes that within a few dayes after he dyed and shortly after euen in the same moneth the onely sonne of this Gilbert being a childe died whereby that lordlie inheritance came to this Fulk Basset who as he was a man of great linage and also of ample both temporall and Ecclesiasticall possessions so was hee a Prelate of an inuincible high spirit stout and couragious to resist those insupportable exactions which the Popes Legate Rustandus went about to lay vpon the Clergie and at such a time when the Pope and the king like the Shepheard and the Woolfe ioyned both together to destroy the Sheepfold Much what about which time to the same effect certaine rimes were scattered abroad as I haue before set downe in the Diocesse of Canterbury Such were the Popes rapines and enormous proceedings in those dayes all which this stout Bishop withstood to the vttermost of his power Hee died of the plague here in London Ann. 1258. hauing gouerned this See 14. yeares odde moneths A Monument was made to his eternall memory whereupon this Distich was inlaid in brasse Prudens fortis iacet hac Episcopus arca Bone Iesu. Bassettis ortus cui parcas summe Hierarcha Bone Iesu. Here lieth entombed in the
I found it in the Collections of Master Camden Hagnes hic iaceo coniux olim Gulielmi Lilia cognomen cui tribuere fui Septem ter denos aetas mea viderat annos Bis septem vixi tres quoque iuncta viro Mater eram foelix ter quinque prole puellae Sex fuerant numero caetera turba mares Me luce octaua mensis Sextilis adorta est Me luce vndecima sustulit atra lues Aeterne vs pateat Lector mihi lumina lucis Authorem lucis supplice mente roga Thomas Linacrus Regis Henrici viii Medicus vir et Grecè et Latine atque in re medica longe eruditissimus multos aetate sua languentes et qui iam animam desponderant vitae restituit Multa Galeni opera Latina lingua mira et singulari facundia vertit Egregium opus de emendata structura Latini sermonis amicorum rogatu paulo ante mortem edidit Medicine studiosis Oxoniae publicas lectiones duas Cantabrigiae vnam in perpetuum stabiliuit In hac vrbe Collegium Medicorum sua industria fieri curauit Cuius et Praesidens primus electus est Fraudes dolosque mirè perosus fidus amicis omnibus ordinibus iuxta charus aliquot annos antequam obierit Presbiter factus plenus annis ex hac vita migrauit multum desideratus Ann. Dom. 1524. die 7. Octob. Somewhat aboue the Tombe in the wall vnder the picture or pourtraiture of the Phoenix this Inscription Viuit post funera virtus Thomae Linacro clarissimo medico Iohannes Caius posuit ann 1557. This old Physitian and young Priest Tho. Linaker borne in the towne of Darby was like William Lilie for none of his works so famous as for his rudiments or instructions to the better vnderstanding of the Latine tongue Hic infra iacet corpus magistri Thome de Eure Legum Doctoris istius Ecclesie S. Pauli quondam Decani qui die nono mens Octobris Ann. Dom. millesimo quadringentesimo sui Decanatus anno duodecimo diem suum clausit extremum Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Hic iacet Magister Thomas Wynterburne Legum Doctor dum vixit Decanus huius Ecclesie S. Pauli qui obijt 7. die mens Decemb. An. Dom. 1478. Anime cuius sis Deus propitius Amen Hic iacet Magister Reymundus Pelegrim Canonicus huius Ecclesie Capellanus Commissalis Domini Pape qui obijt xi die mens Aug. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Hic iacet Magister Richardus Plessys quondam Can ......... ob M. CCC LX.I Gulielmus Harington Iurisconsultus Protonotarius Apostolicus D. Pauli Canonicus ex illis quos Residentiarios dicunt Patria Eboracensis natus in Pago qui Estryngton vocitatur Patre Gulielmo Haringtono viro claro genere orto in pago commerlandie non ignobili qui Neubyging nuncupatur Matre Iohanna filia Gulielmi Haske aliter Baliui dicti viri generosi in eodem pago Estryngton nata Memor exitus vite qui omnibus horis impendet hoc sibi sepulchrum posuit Anno salutis humane 1523. Here lieth buried in a Chappell built by himselfe wherein he founded three Chaplaines Sir Iohn Poultney foure times Lord Maior of London who founded also a Colledge in the Parish Church of S. Laurence called Poultney He built also the parish Church called little Alhallows in Thames street and the Carmelite Friers Church in Couentrie hee gaue reliefe to the prisoners in Newgate and in the Fleet and ten shillings the yeare to S. Giles Hospitall by Oldborne now Houlborne for euer and other Legacies too long to rehearse And died in the yeare 1348. Here lieth Hamond Chickwell Pepperer who had beene Lord Maior of this Citie sixe times within nine yeares And died about the yeare 1328. Here lieth the body of Anne daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgundie the wife of Iohn Plantaginet third sonne of king Henry the fourth Duke of Bedford Protector of the Realme of England and head of the common weale Who died the yeare 1433. Here in a Monument broken all a peeces lieth entombed the body of Iohn Neuill Lord Latimer whose widow Katherine Parre daughter of Sir Thomas Parre of Kendall and sister to William Lord Parre Marquesse of Northampton was the sixth and last wife to king Henry the eight He died in the yeare 1542. Sir Iohn Beauchampe Constable of Douer Castle Warden of the Cinque Ports knight of the Garter and Lord Admirall of England the second sonne of Guy Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke lieth buried here in the body of the Church within a little Chappell He died Ann. 1360. 34. Ed. 3. He was also Constable of the Tower of London as appeares by ancient Records Cum Rex nuper concesserit Iohanni Darcy de Knayth custodiam Turris London ad vitam suam et idem Iohannes propter alia negotia intendere non possit eidem custodire ex Regis assensu concessit custodiam predictam Iohanni de Bellocampo de Warwic ad totam vitam predicti Iohannis Darcy c. T. R. apud Mortelake 15. Marcij Ann. 26. Ed. 3.1 Pars. pat M. 17. Vpon some displeasure vpon false suggestions which the King had taken against him he was put by this office and to the same the truth being tried restored againe a little before his death For proofe Cum Iohan. Darcy cui nuper Rex custodiaÌ Turris London ad totaÌ vita suaÌ concesserit ob affectioneÌ quam habuit ad personaÌ Ioh. de Bellocampo de Warwick statuÌ quem idem Ioh. Darcy in custodia Turris predicte habuit prefato Ioh. de Bellocampo concesserit et Rex illaÌ concessioneÌ confirmauit post moduÌque ob quendaÌ rancoreÌ quem Rex erga ipsuÌ Ioh. de Bellocampo ex sinistra suggestione ipsi Regi facta concepisset ipsum de custodia illa amoueri fecit et âandem custodiam primo Bartholomeo de Burghesse postmodum Roberto de Morle concessisset Iamque ijdem Bartholomeus et Robertus viam vniuerse carnis ingressi sunt Rex ad gratum et laudabile obsequium siâi per dictum Iohannem diuersimodo impensum et ad hoc quod suggestio predicta minus vera existit sicut plenius Regi constat consideracionem habens ac volens ipsius proinde honori commodo prospicere in hac parte âundem Iohannem ad dictam custodiam restituit habendam ad totam vitam suam Dat. apud Villam Sancti Georgij iuxta Castrum de Beauford in Francia An. 34. Ed. 3. This deceased Nobleman saith Stow by ignorant people hath beene erroniously mistearmed and said to bee Duke Humphrey the good Duke of Glocester who lieth honourably buried at S. Albans in Hertfordshire In Idle and friuolous opinion of whom some men of late times saith hee haue made a solemne meeting at his Tombe vpon Saint Andrewes day in the morning and concluded on a breakfast or dinner as assuming themselues to be seruants and to hold diuersitie
and lastly put out the Almesmen from their houses appointing them xii d. the weeke to each person The Church of this Hospitall is now a preaching place for the French Nation Saint Martins Outwich Ecclesie Rector huius Iohn Breux tumulatus Artibus doctor vermibus esca datus Prebendam quondam cicestrensem retinebat Quem Petronille lux tulit e medio M. C. quater quinquageno nono sociato Sic predotatus vertitur in cinerem Augustine Fryers This religious house was founded in the well meaning deuotion of former times by Humphrey Bohun the fift of that name Earle of Hereford and Essex 1253. and was afterward reedified by Humphrey Bohun the ninth of that name Earle of Hereford and Essex Lord of Brecknocke and Constable of England who died Anno 1361. and was buried in the Quire of this Church This Frierie dedicated to the honour of Saint Augustine was valued vpon the surrender to King Henry the eight to 57 l. 4 s. per annum Here sometime did lie entombed the body of Richard Fitz-Alan the fourth of that name Earle of Arundell and Surrey who with Thomas Duke of Glocester Thomas Earle of Warwicke Henry Earle of Derby afterwards King of England and others combined and sware each to other against Robert Vere Duke of Ireland and Michael de la Pole Duke of Suffolke for abusing and misleading the King for which and some other causes which Richard the second obiected against them some of them were banished others condemned to perpetuall imprisonment and this Richard beheaded on the Tower hill Septemb. Anno 1397. the constancie of whose carriage at his arraignement passage and execution in all which he did not once discolour the honour of his bloud with any degenerous word looke or action encreased the enuy of his death vpon his prosecutors Here likewise lay sumptuously interred Iohn Vere the xii Earle of Oxford and Aubrey his eldest sonne who with Sir Thomas Tudensa knight who was also here buried and others their Councellors either through malice of their enemies or some offence conceiued by King Edward the fourth were attainted by Act of Parliament anno primo Edward 4 and put to Execution vpon the Tower hill the 26 of February 1461. William Lord Berkeley of Berkeley Castle honoured with the tâtâes of Viscount and Marquesse Berkely Earle of Nottingham and Earle Marshall of England was here inhumed who died Ann. 1492. This William as I had it from my deceased friend Aug. Vincent by his deed dated the third of Nouember Ann. 6. Hen. 7 gaue one hundreâ pounds to the Prior of this house for two Masses to be said presently and for euer at the Altar of our Lady and Saint Iames. Betweene which Altars the body of his wife Ioan who liued but a few dayes with him and is not at all mentioned in the Catalogues of Honour was buried who was the widow of Sir William Willoughbie before the marriage with the Marquesse And to pray for the prosperous estate of the said Marquesse and of Anne his then wife and of Edward Willoughby Richard Willoughby Anne Beauchampe and Elisabeth Willoughbie with all the issue of the said William and Ioane and especially for the soules health of the said Ioane and of Katherine her mother Duchesse of Norfolke Here sometime lay sumptuously entombed the body of Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham who by the sleights and practises of Cardinall Wolsey fell into displeasure with king Henry the eight and being condemned of high Treason for that among other matters hee had consulted with a Monke or wizard about succession of the Crowne was beheaded on the Tower hill May the 17. 1521. He was a noble Gentleman exceedingly much lamented of good men Of whose death when the Emperour Charles the fifth heard he said that a Butchers dogge meaning the Cardinall a Butchers sonne had deuoured the fairest Buck alluding to the name of Buckingham in all England Here was interred the bodie of Edward the eldest sonne of Edward the blacke Prince by Ioan his wife surnamed the faire Maide of Kent who was borne at Angolesme Ann. 1375. and died at 7. yeares of age Many of the Barons slaine at Barnet-field vpon Easterday 1471. were buried here in the bodie of the Church but now their bodies with these before remembred and the bodies of an hundred more mentioned by Stow of exemplarie note and knights degree are not onely despoiled of all outward funerall ornaments but digged vp out of their Requietories and dwelling houses raised in the place which was appointed for their eternall rest Some part of this Church is at this day yet standing but in that no monument of this kinde is remaining for it is conuerted into a Church for the Duch-Inhabitants of this Citie who in that kinde can hardly brooke any reuerend Antiquitie Saint Botolphs Bishopsgate Hic iacet Cardina vxor Richardi Shoder militis Iohanna filia eorundem ...... 14. April 1471. Sub hoc marmore iacet corpus Iohannis Redman quondam huius Ecclesie Rectoris benemerentissimi qui ab hac luce migrauit tertio die Iulij Ann. Dom. 1523. Neare to this gate if wee giue credit to our owne ancient Chronicles Nennius the sonne of Hely and brother of Lud and Cassibelane kings ouer the warlike Britaines was interred A man of a magnanimous spirit heroicall and valiant Who in the warres betweene Iulius Cesar and the Britaines sought couragiously in defence of his countrey causing Cesar to flie backe with the losse of his sword which Nennius tooke from him in single encounter and with which he slew Labienus Tribune of the Romane Nobilitie But the fifteenth day after this single opposition hee died of a wound receiued at the hands of Cesar in the same conflict the yeare of the worlds creation 3913. before the birth of our alone Sauiour 51. And here as I haue said was entombed with all funerall state and solemnitie and with him the sword which he tooke from Cesar the Emperour as he himselfe commanded Which sword was called Reddeath or rather Readie-death wherewith if any one had beene neuer so little wounded he could neuer escape with life Which you shall haue in such old verse as came to my hands At the north yate of London hii buriede this gud knyght And buriede in hys chest the swerd that was so bryght That he wan of the Emperor wythe grete honor enough That Reddedeth was ycluped whar with he hym slough I buriede wyth hym hit was as in tokneyinge Of hys Proesse that he hit wan of on so heigh a kyng I haue some other of the same subiect but of later times if you will reade them But Neminus brother of Cassybalayne Full manly fought on Iulius tymes twayne With strokes sore ayther on other bette But at the last this Prince syr Iulius Crosea mors his swerde in shelde sette Of the manly worthy Sir Neminus Whiche of manly
Rotulorum et Recordorum in Turri London remanentium qui obijt vltimo die Feb. Anno 1523. cuius Clericus paruae Bagiae or Clarke of the Petit Bagge is an Officer in the Chancerie of which sort there be three and the Master of the Rolles is their chiefe Their Office is to record the returne of all Inquisitions out of euery Shire all Liueries granted in the Court of Wards all ouster les maines to make all Patents of Customers Gawgers Controllers and Aulnegers all Conge d'eslires for Bishops all Liberateis vpon extent of Statute Staples the recouery of Recognisances forfeited and all Elegits vpon them the summons of the Nobilitie Clergie and Burgesses of the Parliament Commissions directed to Knights and other of euery shire for seassing of the Subsidies Writs for the nomination of Collectors and all trauerses vpon any Office bill or otherwise and to receiue money duel to the King for the same This Officer is mentioned Anno 33. Hen. 8. cap. 22. and it is like hee had first this denomination and stile of Petie Bagges because hauing to doe with so many Records of diuers kindes as aboue mentioned they were put in sundry leather Bagges which were not so great as the Clarke of the Hamper now vseth and therefore might be called Petits Bagges small or little bagges This Iohn Gyles was also keeper or Clerke of the Rolles and Records in the Tower of London an Office generally well knowne throughout all England the master whereof at this day is that learned Gentleman Sir Iohn Borrowes Knight vnder whom my vnderstanding friend Will. Collet and my industrious country-man Will. Riley alias Rouge-Rose Pursiuant at Armes doe officiate the place Dona requiem miserecordissime Iesu anime famuli tui Laurentij Bartlât nuper Registrarij Episcopi Lincol. qui obijt ... die octob An. 1470. Quisquis ades vultumque vides sta perlege plora Iuditij memor esto tui tua nam venit hora Sum quod eris fueramque quod es tua posteriora Commemorans miseris miserans pro me precor ora Te mediante tuus viuam post funera seruus Qui te dilexi Michael bene dummodo vixi Non Homo leteris tibi copia si fluat eris Hic non semper eris memor esto quod morieris Corpus putrebit quod habes alter habebit Es euanebit quod agis tecum remanebit The Temple Church The first Founder hereof is not certainely recorded some hold that it was built by Dunwallo Mulmutius about the yeare of the worlds creation 4748 the precincts whereof he made a Sanctuary or a place of refuge for any person therein to be assured of life liberty and limbs of which I haue spoken elsewhere Besides these priuiledges vnto Temples hee constituted diuers good lawes Of which he writ two bookes the one called Statuta municipalia the other Leges iudiciariae which is as much to say as the statute Law and the common Law Cooke Reports 3 part ad Lect. out of Bale cent 1. Hauing reduced his Realme into one Monarchie being before by ciuill warres and dissention seuered and brought into diuers dominions Hee raigned 40. yeares died the yeare of the worlds creation 4768. and was buried in this place with other of the British Kings But it appeareth by this inscription following ouer the Church doore in the stone worke that this holy Structure was newly founded of farre later times and dedicated to the honour of the blessed Virgine yet I thinke it is farre more ancient Anno ab incarnatione Domini M.C.lxxxv dedicata hec Ecclesia in honorem beate Marie a Domino Eraclio dei gratia Sancte Resurrectionis Ecclesie Patriarcha 11 Idus Februarij Qui eam annatim petentibus de iniuncta sibi Penitentia lx dies indulsit Knights Templers were the last Founders of this house which at the first were certaine noble Souldiers religiously bent who bound themselues by vow in the hands of the Patriarke of Ierusalem to serue Christ after the manner of Regular canons in chastitie and obedience and to defend Christian Religion the holy land and Pilgrimes going to visite the Lords Sepulchre they flourished for a time in high reputation for pietie and deuotion but as they increased in wealth so they fell to wickednesse insomuch that in the yeere 1308. all the Templers in England as also in other parts of Christendome were apprehended and committed to diuers Prisons and in the yeare 1312. all their lands were giuen to the Knights Hospitalers of the order of Saint Iohn Baptist called Saint Iohn of Ierusalem as I haue said elsewhere There are in this Temple many very ancient monuments of famous men for out of what respect I know not King Henry the third and many of the Nobility desired much to be buried in this Church shaped in marble armed their legges crosse whose names are not to be gathered by any inscriptions for that time hath worne them out vpon the vpper part of one of their portraitures Camden saith that hee hath read Comes Penbrochie and vpon the side this verse Miles eram Martis Mars multos vicerat armis Of Mars I was a doughty knight Mars vanquisht many a man in fight Vnder which monument lieth William Marshall the elder Earle of Penbroke a most powerfull man in his time being the Kings Marshall Generall of his Armie and Protector of the kingdome in the minority of King Henry the third vntill such time as he the said William died which was in the yeare 1219. 27 die Martij This Epitaph following goes also currant for this glorious and triumphant Earle as an Epitome of his noble vertues Sum quem Saturnum sibi sensit Hibernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normannia Gallia Martem Irelands Saturne Englands Sunne am I The Mars of France and Normans Mercury or thus Whom Ireland once a Saturne found England a Sunne to be Whom Normandy a Mercury and France Mars I am he This William had fiue sonnes William Richard Gilbert Walter and Anselme all Earles of Penbroke and Marshals of England Here by his father vnder the like monument lieth William the eldest sonne Earle of Penbroke Lord of Strighull Chepstow Caerwent Leigh or Liege Weshford Kildare Ossorie and Carlogh who died the sixt of Aprill 1231. as it is in the booke of Wauerly wherein this Epitaph is made to his memory Militis istius mortem dolet Anglia ridet Wallia viuentis bella minasque timens England laments the death of this braue Knight Wales laughs he liuing did her so affright The Annales of Ireland will haue him to be buried by his brother Richard in the Quire of the Friers Predicants in Kilkennie of whom it was thus written Cuius sub fossa Kilkennia continet Ossa Whose bones bestowed in graue so deep Kilkenny Towne doth safely keep Wheresoeuer he was buried a Martiall braue Earle he was which hee worthily shewed when as he set vpon Lehwellin Prince of Wales
whencesoeuer he come or for what offence or cause it be either for his refuge into the said holy place he be assured of his life liberty and limbes And ouer this I forbid vnder the paine of euerlasting damnation that no Minister of mine or of my Successours intermeddle them with any the goods lands or possessions of the said persons taking the said Sanctuary for I haue taken their goods and liuelode into my speciall protection and therefore I grant to euery each of them in as much as my terrestriall power may suffice all manner freedome of ioyous liberty and whosoeuer presumes or doth contrary to this my Grant I will he lose his name worship dignitie and power And that with the great traytor Iudas that betrayed our Sauiour he be in the euerlasting fire of hell And I will and ordaine that this my grant endure as long as there remaineth in England either loue or dread of Christian name King Edward the third built in the little Sanctuarie a Clochard of stone and timber and placed therein three bells for the vse of Saint Stephens Chappell About the biggest Bell was engrauen or cast in the mettall these words King Edward made mee thirtie thousand weight and three Take mee downe and wey mee and more you shall fynd mee But these Bells being to be taken downe in the raigne of King Henry the eight one writes vnderneath with a coale But Henry the eight will bait me of my weight In the Steeple of the great Church in the Citie of Roane in Normandy is one great Bell with the like Inscription Ie suis George de Ambios Qui trente cinque mille pois Mes lui qui me pesera Trente six mill me trouera I am George of Ambois Thirtie five thousand in pois But he that shall weigh me Thirtie six thousand shall find mee One lately hauing taken view of the Sepulchres of so many Kings Nobles and other eminent persons interred in this Abbey of Westminster made these rimes following which he called A Memento for Mortalitie Mortalitie behold and feare What a change of flesh is here Thinke how many royall bones Sleepe within this heape of stones Hence remou'd from beds of ease Daintie âare and what might please Fretted roofes and costlie showes To a roofe that flats the nose Which proclaimes all flesh is grasse How the worlds faire Glories passe That there is no trust in Health In youth in age in Greatnesse wealth For if such could haue repriu'd Those had beene immortall liu'd Know from this the worlds a snare How that greatnesse is but care How all pleasures are but paine And how short they do remaine For here they lye had Realmes and Lands That now want strength to stirre their hands Where from their pulpits seel'd with dust They preach In Greatnesse is no trust Here 's an Aker sowne indeed With the richest royall seed That the earth did ere sucke in Since the first man dy'd for sin Here the bones of birth haue cry'd Though Gods they were as men haue dy'd Here are sands ignoble things Dropt from the ruin'd sides of Kings With whom the poore mans earth being showne The difference is not easily knowne Her 's a world of pompe and state Forgotten dead disconsolate Thinke then this Sithe that mowes downe kings Exempts no meaner mortall things Then bid the wanton Lady tread Amid these mazes of the dead And these truly vnderstood More shall coole and quench the blood Then her many sports a day And her nightly wanton play Bid her paint till day of doome To this fauour she must come Bid the Merchant gather wealth The vsurer exact by stealth The proud man beate it from his thought Yet to this shape all must be brought Chappell of our Lady in the Piew Neare vnto the Chappell of Saint Stephen was sometime a smaller Chappell called our Lady of the Piew but by whom first founded I cannot finde To this Lady great offerings were vsed to be made Richard the second after the ouerthrow of Wat. Tilar as I haue read and other the Rebels in the fourth of his raigne went to Westminster and there giuing thankes to God for his victory made his offering in this Chappell By the negligence of a Scholler forgetting to put forth the Lights of this Chappell the Image of our Lady richly decked with Iewels precious stones Pearles and Rings more then any Ieweller saith he could iudge the price was with all the apparell and ornaments belonging thereunto as also the Chappell it selfe burnt to ashes It was againe reedified by Antony Widâuile Earle Riuers Lord Scales Vncle and Gouernour to the Prince of Wales that should haue beene King Edward the fifth Who was vniustly beheaded at Pomfret by the procurement of Richard Crook-backe Duke of Glocester then Lord Protectour the 13. of Iune 1483. Saint Margaret in Westminster Adioyning on the North side of the Abbey standeth Saint Margarets the Parish Church of the Citie of Westminster reedified for the most in the raigne of King Edward the fourth especially the South Isle from the piety of the Lady Marye Billing and her second husband Sir Thomas Billing chief Iustice of England in that Kings time Whose Monument with that to the memorie of her first husband William Cotton Esquire I haue here expressed Here lieth Dame Mary Bylling late wife to Sir Thomas Bylling Knight chiefe Iustice of England and to William Coton and Thomas Lacy which Mary died the 14 day of March in the yeare of our Lord God 1499. Blessed Lady c. haue mercy c. Ant Mary gratia plena on me haue mercy on me haue mercy Ecce ancila dom Fiat ãâ¦ã secund uerbu tuuÌ ãâ¦ã ãâ¦ã The inheritance of this Lady was the Lordship of Connington in Huntingtonshire The seate once of Turketell the Dane Earle of the East Angles who inuited ouer Swain King of Denmarke to inuade this kingdome He exiâ'd with most of his Nation by Saint Edmond the Confessor This his seate with other his large possessions were giuen by the same King to Walthâoâ Earle of Northumberland and Huntington to whom the first William gaue in marriage the Lady Iudithe his sisters daughter This Lordship with the Earledome of Huntington by the marriage of Mary that Earles daughter to Dauid the sonne of the first Malcolme King of Scots and the holy Margaret his wife Neece to Edward the King Confessor Grandchilde to Edmond surnamed Ironside King of the English Saxons and sister and heire to Edgar surnamed Ethelinge by which marriage the Stemme Royall of the Saxons became vnited into the bloud Royall of the Scottish Kings in whose male lyne that Earldome and this Lordship continued vntill Isabell the daughter and heire of Dauid Earle of Huntington and brother to Malcome William and Alexander successiue Kings of that kingdome brought them both by her marriage to Robert de Brus into that family She leauing the iust clayme of the Crowne of Scotland to Robert her eldest sonne whose sonne
reuenues Richard Cordelion his sonne confirmes the gift and exchange of the Canons made by his father by his Charter to be read in the Tower in these words Richardus Dei gratia c. Inde est quod sicut Pater noster mutationem Canonicorum secularium institutionem Canonicorum regularium fecit in Ecclesia de Waltham eis quasdam non as possessiones et veteres concessit confirmauit Sic nos laudabiliter virorum commutationem in prefata Ecclesia factam nostra autem approbamus Et pro salute predicti Patris nostri et Matris nostre et Fratrum nostrorum et pro salute omnium fidelium constitutionem Canonicorum Regularium in eadem Ecclesia factam donationes possessiones nouas que a Patre nostro eis facte sunt presenti carta nostra confirmamus Dat. c. Henry the third encreased much their reuenues with Faires and Markets a Faire here for seuen dayes and at Epping a Market euery Monday and a Faire for three dayes So by the munificence of these Kings their Successours and Subiects this Abbey at the generall suruey and surrender was valued at Robin Hoods pennieworths to dispend yearely 900. pounds foure shillings and foure pence The Catalogue of religious houses saith 1079. l. 12. s. and a pennie The Church of this Monastery hath escaped the hammers of destruction and with a venerable aspect sheweth vnto vs the magnitude of the rest of this religious Structure Herein Harold made his vowes and prayers for victorie when hee marched against the Norman Conquerour In which battell by the shot of an arrow through the left eye into his braines he was slaine the 14. of October being Saturday 1066. hauing raigned nine moneths and odde dayes whose body by the mediation of his mother Githa and two religious men of this Abbey being obtained of the Conquerour howsoeuer at the first by him denyed affirming that buriall was not fit for him whose ambition had beene the cause of so many funeralls was conueyed with great lamentation by his said mother Githa and a small deiected remainder of the English Nobilitie to this his owne Church and herein solemnly interred vpon whose Monument this Epitaph was engrauen Heu cadis hosle sero Rex a Duce Rege sutaro Par paris gladio milite valido Firmini iusti lux est tibi luce Calixti Pronior hinc superas hinc superatus eras Ergo tibi requiem deposcat vtrumque perennem Sicque precetur eum quod colit omne Deum A fierce foe thee slew thou a King he king in view Both Peeres both Peerelesse both fear'd and both fearlesse That sad day was mixt by Firmin and Calixt Th' one helpt thee to vanquish t'other made thee languish Both now for thee pray and thy Requiem say So let good men all to God for the call Girth and Leofwin his two brethren lost their liues likewise vnder Harolds Banner which was brondet saith Robert of Glocester with sygur of a man fyghtyng biset al about wyth gold and preciosse stons which Baner aftur the Bataile Duc William sent to the Pope in tokne of the victory Whose bodyes were in like manner brought to this Church and here entombed It is said that Girthe not holding it best to hazard the Kindome of England at one cast signified to the King that the successe of warre was doubtfull that victory was rather swayed by fortune then by valour that aduised delay was most important in martiall affaires and if so bee brother said hee you haue plighted your faith to the Duke retire your selfe for no force can serue against a mans owne conscience God will reuenge the violation of an oath you may reserue your selfe to giue them a new encounter which will be more to their terrour As for me if you will commit the charge to me I will performe both the part of a kinde brother and a couragious Leader For being cleare in conscience I shall sell my life or discomfit your enemy with more felicitie But the King not liking his speech answered I will neuer turne my back with dishonour to the Norman neither can I in any sort digest the reproach of a base minde well then be it so said some discontented of the company let him beare the brunt that hath giuen the occasion This Harold is much commended for his courteous affabilitie gentle deportment Iustice and warlike prowesse in nothing blame worthy saue that in the opinion of his owne valour he addicted himselfe wholly to his owne resolutions neglecting the wise deliberations of his best friends and Councellors And that his courage could neuer stoope to be lower then a King For which he is taxed to be an impious man falsely aspiring to the Crowne by vsurpation Of which my old Author with whom I will conclude hath these rimes Harold the falls Erle tho Sent Edward ded ley Hym selue let corone King thulk self dey Falsliche Richard the first king of England for his matchlesse valour surnamed Cordelion or Lions-heart is by some of our old English writers said to haue slaine a Lion and by the pulling out of his heart to haue gained that attribute or denomination the truth is that Hugh Nevill a gentleman of noble linage one of King Richards speciall familiars is recorded to haue slaine a Lion in the holy Land driuing first an arrow into his breast and then running him thorow with his sword whereupon this Hexameter was made Viribus Hugonis vires periere Leonis The strength of Hugh a Lion slue Which atchiuement belike was transferred from the man to the master and the story applied to the by-name of K. Richard This Hugh was high Iustice Gardian or Prothoforester of England He died about the sixt of King Henry the third being full of yeeres corpus eius saith Paris in Ecclesia de Waltam nobili Sarchophago marmoreo et in sculpto traditur sepulturae and his body was buried in this Church of Waltham vnder a noble engrauen marble Sepulchre Iohn Nevill his sonne non ultimus inter Angliae nobiles patris sui pedetentim sequens vestigia and the sonne and heire as well of his vertues as reuenues and offices being accused by one Robert Passelew a man of eminent authoritie vnder King Henry the third of diuers transgressions or omissions in the Forrest Lawes committed by him by his conniuencie or sufferance in this Forrest of Waltham and other the Kings Forrests Parks and Chaces was adiudged to pay a Fine of two thousand markes and ignominiouslie to be cast out of his offices which he tooke so to heart that not long after languishing away with sorrow he breathed out his afflicted spirit in Iuly 1245. at his Mannor of Whelperfield from whence he was conueyed to this Abbey and here honourably entombed by his father I finde in Registro Cartarum Abbatie de Waltam that these two Nevils were great benefactors to
it descending to William Clopton his sonne and heire and he dying without issue as did also Sir William Clopton the sonne of the aboue mentioned Sir William The said Mannor of Newenham passed by Conueyance dated at Ashdon 6. die Iunij an 13. Hen. 4. as did most of all the other large possessions of the Cloptons in Suffolke and Cambridgeshire to William Clopton of Melford the sonne and heire of Sir Thomas Clopton Knight who lyeth buried with his wife the daughter and heire of Mylde vnder a faire Tombe in the north Isle of the said Church of Melford called the Cloptons Isle as doth also the said William Clopton his sonne lie buried vnder the same Tombe and Margery his wife the daughter and heire of Elias Francis Esquire in the same Isle whose Epitaph is there found on her Graue-stone as followeth Hic iacet Margeria Clopton nuper vxor Willielmi Clopton Armig. filia et heres Elie Francis Armigeri que obijt ....... Iunij Anno Dom. M. cccciiii euius anime propitietur Deus And on this grauestone is there an Escutcheon of Clopton with an Ermine on the bend empaled with the Armes of Francis being gules a Salteire betweene foure crosses formie Patees Or from which said William and Margerie haue the three seuerall Families of Cloptons of Kentwell Castelins and Liston descended and the first beene much enobled by the marriage of the daughter and heire of Roydon descended likewise from the seuerall heires or coheires of Knyuet Belhous Fitz-warren Basset of Welledon and diuers other ancient families as was that familie of Lyston by the marriage of the daughter and heire of Say whose ancestors had beene long owners of that mannor and held it in Capite as Clopton now doth by the seruice of making Wafers at the Kings Coronation And because these foresaid three Families of Clopton did descend as I haue alreadie noted and were at once branched forth from Sir William Clopton of Lutons in the Countie of Suffolke Knight it shall not be impertinent to set downe his Epitaph as it is now to bee seene on his grauestone in the North Isle of the said Chappell of Melford Church amongst diuers others of his Ancestors being as followeth Orate pro animabus Willielmi Clopton militis et Iohanne Consortis sue Qui quidem Willielmus obijt vicesimo die Febrarij Anno Dom. millesimo quingentesimo tricesimo quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen And on the grauestone aboue this Epitaph is the Cloptons coate before mentioned empaled with Marrow which is Azure a fesse nebulee inter three Maydens heads coupes by the Shoulders Ar the periwiggs Or. Thus much of the Cloptons I had from that studious learned gentleman Sir Simond D'Ewes Knight of which much more when I come to Melford and Tallo-wratting Church in Suffolke Here lyth Nicholas Inglefield Esquyr sometime Controler of the hous to King Rychard the second who dyed the first of April in the yere of Grase M. cccc.xv whos soul Iesu perdon Amen Amen Amen Here end the Monuments in the Countie of Essex Additions or certaine Epitaphs and Inscriptions vpon Tombes and Grauestones within certaine Churches in the Citie of London Collected by my selfe and others not many yeares agoe of which few or none of any Antiquity are remaining in the said Churches at this present day such is the despight not so much of Time as of maleuolent people to all Antiquities especially of this kind In Saint Pauls IN this Cathedrall Church and neere vnto Sir Iohn Beauchamps Tomb commonly called Duke Vmfreys vpon a faire marble stone inlaid all ouer with brasse of all which nothing but the heads of a few brazen nailes are at this day visible and engrauen with the representation and cote-Armes of the party defunct Thus much of a mangled funerall Inscription was of late time perspicuous to be read as followeth Hic iacet Paganus Roet miles Guyenne Rex Armorum Pater Catherine Ducisse Lancastrie ...... This Sir Payne Roet had issue the aforesaid Dutchesse and Anne who was married to Geffrey Chaucer our famous English Poet who by her had issue Sir Thomas Chaucer whose daughter Alice was married to Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury by whom she had no issue and after to William de la Pole Duke of Suffolke and by him had Iohn Duke of Suffolke and others The abouesaid Katherine eldest daughter of this King of Armes was first married to Sir Otes Swynford Knight and after to Iohn of Gaunt the great Duke of Lancaster of whose issue by her is obserued to be descended a most royall and illustrious of spring videlicet Eight Kings foure Queenes and fiue Princes of England Sixe Kings and three Queenes of Scotland two Cardinals aboue twenty Dukes and almost as many Dutches of the kingdome of England diuers Dukes of Scotland and most of all the now ancient Nobilitie of both these Kingdomes besides many other potent Princes and eminent nobility of forraigne parts Saint Giles Criplegate Here vnder a large marble stone whereupon no Inscription is at this day remaining neither any Effigies of the deceased left both of which were inlaid and engrauen vpon the monument as I was credibly informed lieth interred the body of Sir Iohn Wriothesley Knight alias Garter principall King at Armes Father of William Wriothesley Yorke Herald who had issue Thomas Wriothesley Knight of the Garter Lord Chancellor of England and the first of that sirname Earle of Southampton His creation was the eighteenth yeare of the raigne of King Ed. 4. as appeares by this his Patent following Pat. 18. Ed. 4. m. 28. part 2. Rex omnnibus ad quos c. Salutem Sciatis quod cum non sit noâuÌ set iam diu ab antiquis teÌporibus vsitatuÌ quod inter ceteros Officiales Ministros quos PrincipuÌ lateribus pro coruÌ magnificencia atque gloria adherere decet eoruÌ officij ArmoruÌ cura coÌmittitur copiaÌ habere debeat vt nec teÌpus belloruÌ quibus neque pacis sine coÌuenientibus aptis Ministris debeat preteriri Nos igitur coÌsiderationis acteÌ in laudabilia seruicia que delectus nobis Iohannes Wrythe alias nuper dictus Norrey Rex ArmoruÌ parciuÌ BorialiuÌ Regni nostri Anglie in hijs que ad officium illud spectare intelliguntur exercuit dirigentes eund propterea non minus ob solerciam et sagacitatem quas in eo satis habemus exploratas in principalem Haraldum Officiarium incliti nostri Ordinis Garterij Armorumque Regem Anglicorum ex gracia nostra speciali ereximus fecimus constituimus ordinauimus creauimus et coronauimus ac per presentes erigimus facimus constituimus ordinamus creamus coronamus ac ei officium illud nec non nomen le Garter Stilum titulum libertates preeminencias huiusmodi officio conueniencia et concordancia ac ab antiquo consueta damus et concedimus ac ipsum in eisdem realiter
Young to inuest the now King of Sweden with the Order of the Garter who honoured him with the degree of Knighthood and granted an honourable augmentation vnto his Armes being the three Crownes of Sweden He was also imployed into France and from thence attending our now Queene when she came ouer in the first yeare of his Maiesties Raigne Henry Chitting Chester 1618. Iohn Borough Mowbray extraordinarie 23. Dec. 1623. and created the same day Norroy Augustine Vincent Windsor who died the ... of ... 1625 Of whom I haue spoken elsewhere and whose losse I doe still lament He left to future posteritie a Booke which he called A Discouery of Errors published by Raph Brooke Yorke Herald William le Neue Mowbray Herald extraordinary Iohn Philipott Somerset William le Neue aforesaid Yorke This William le Neue Yorke Herauld was imployed into France the first yeare of his Maiestie and from thence attended our Queene into England who with Sir Henry St. George Richmond Herald were royally rewarded by her Maiestie with the gift of a thousand French Crownes He was also employed to attend vpon his Maiesties Embassage which was sent in the yeare 1629. vnto the French king Lewis the thirteenth and at the Ceremonies done thereat he there performed his office in his Coat of Armes as appeareth in a French relation lately printed at his returne from thence the King rewarded him with a Chaine of gold of good value and a Medalle of his pourtraiture And further gaue him his Royall letters Mandatory vnto all his Officers and Subiects therein signifying that let me vse part of the Kings owne words le Sieur Guillaumâ le Neue Escuyer Herault Darmes du Roy de la grand Bretagne nostre trâscher et tresamè bon frere et beau frere par luy envoyè vers nous pour faire sa dicte charge D'Herault D'armes aux Ceremonies du serment de la paix faicte entre nous nostre dict frere de la quelle il sest dignement acquitââ a nostre contentement seu retournant vers son Maistre Nous vouloâs nous mandons et tresexpressement enioignons par an presents signees de nostre main c. Commanding by the said Instrument all his said Officers and Subiects to giue the said Herauld all manner of aide and assistance in his returne or not to molest or trouble him in his free passage or transportation of any of his goods And therein also prayed and required all Princes and States to do the like as a due vnto Heraulds so imployed And as they would haue him to doe the like at their request But no earthly powers can command the mercilesse ragings of the Sea For the said Herauld in his returne was ship-wracked vpon the coast of Douer and very dangerously escaped with the losse of most part of his goods excepting the foresaid Chaine and Medalle which after two dayes remaining in the sea was washed vp on shore euen in view of the place where he then remained In this Catalogue I obserue that Thomas Holinsworth Yorke Herauld and William Wriothesley Yorke Herauld sonne of the foresaid Sir Iohn Wriothesley Garter and others are omitted which with all other omissions in this particular discourse I referre to the iudicious reformation of the Colledge of Heraulds Pursuiuants of Armes their names sirnames and additions from the first of Henry the fift to this present time with their aduancements from Pursuiuants Extraordinary to Ordinary from Ordinary to Heraulds from Heraulds to Kings of Armes or otherwise Iohn Wrexworth first Antilope Extraordinary secondly Blewmantle thirdly Exceter fourthly Guyon King of Armes Nicholas Serby Falcon Ext. Rouge-Croix Leopard Herald of Armes Iohn Haswell Wallingford Blewmantle Clarence William Boys Antelope extr Rouge-Croix Exceter Giles Waster Falcon extr Rouge-Croix Mowbray Iohn Ashâââ Cadranexir Blewmantle Leopard Thomas Moore Antelope extr Blewmantle Guyon Thomas Browne Falcon extr obijt Roger Leigh Wallingford Roâge-croix Clarencieux Iohn Wrythe or Wriothesley here interred Antelope extraordinarie Rouge Croix Leopard Norroy Garter Thomas Collier Falcon extr Blewmantle Clarence Ireland Iohn Mowbrey Cadran ext Rouge Croix Exceter Clarentieux Pursuiuants of Armes created in the raigne of Henry the Sixt. Robert Ashwell first Antelope extr secondly Rougecroix thirdly Windsor William Haukeslow Wallingford Blewmantle Leopard Guyon Iohn Horsley Falcon Blewmantle Mowbray Iames Billet Antelope Rougecroix Chester Iohn Mallet Faulcon Rougecroix Clarence Richard Stanton Wallingford Blewmantle Chester Robert Durham Faulcon Rougââroix Exceter Thomas Holme Faulcon Clarencieux Iames Collyer Cadraâ Blewmantle Lancaster Iohn Ferrant Wallingford Blewmantle March Iohn Moore Antelope Rougecroix Chester Norroy Roger Mallet Faulcon Blewmantle Faulcon Herald Richard Ashwell Cadran Rougecroix Lancaster Ireland Thomas Tonge Antelope Rougecroix Richmond Norroy Pursuiuants of Armes created in the raigne of Edward the Fourth Henry Franke first Comfort secondly Blewmantle thirdly Yorke William Carlile Faulcon Rougecroix Richmond Norroy Richard Champney Callis Blewmantle Faulcon Gloucester Roger Stamford Guynes Rougecroix Chester Richard Slaske Comfort Rougecroix VVindsor Iohn Young Guines Blewmantle VVindsor Norroy Thomas Beuolt Barwike Rougecroix Lancaster Norroy Clarencieux Thomas VVaters Comfort Rougecroix Carlile Rowland Plainford Callis Blewmantle Yorke Robert Browne Guynes Rougecroix Richmond Thomas VVall Callis Blewmantle Richmond Norroy VVilliam Iennings Barwicke Rougecroix Lancaster Roger Bromley Faulcon Blewmantle Chester Iohn VVaters Roseblanch Rougecroix Yorke In the short raigne of Edward the Fift none were created In the raigne of Richard the Third the Pursuiuants were created Thomas Franke first Guines secondly Blewmantle George Berrey Comfort Rouge-croix Laurence Alford Rose blanch Blewmantle In the time of Henry the Seuenth were created these following VVilliam Tyndall first Guines secondly Rouge-Dragon thirdly Lancaster Raph Lagysse Callis Portcullis Yorke Iohn Ioyner Comfort Rougecroââ Riâhmond Norroy Thomas Hawley Roschlanch Carlilâ Norroy Clarencieux Thomas Hall Berwicke Rougecroix VViâdsore Garter Christopher Barker Callis Rouge-Dragon Richmond Norroy Garter Iohn Pond Hames Rouge-croix Somerset Allen Dagnall Guines Extr. Randalfe Iackson Montorgill Extr. Richard Ratcliffe Barnes Leonard VVarcopp Barwicke In the time of Henry created these Thomas Hawley Rouge-Croix Allen Dagnall first Portcullis in ordinary secondly Yorke Randolfe Iackson first Rouge-Dragon in ordinary secondly Chester Leonard Warcopp Blewmantle in ordinary Carlile Thomas Wriothesley Wallingford and next Garter and Knight Charles Wriothesley Barwike Rouge-Croix Windsor Richard Crooke Nottingham Rouge-Croix Windsor Thomas Mylner Callis Rouge Dragân Lancaster Iohn Narboone Blewmantle Richmond Thomas Traheyron Nottingham Portcullis in ordinary Somerset Bartholmew Butler Rouge-croix Yorke Vlster Richard Storke Risebanke obijt Foulk ap Howell Guines Rougedragon Lancaster Iustinian Barker Risebank Rougecroix Richard Ratcliffe Callis Blewmantle Somerset Gilbert Dethicke Hames Rougecroix Richmond Norroy Garter William Flower Guines Rouge-croix Chester Norroy Laurence Dalton Callis Rougecroix Richmond Norroy Edmund Atkinson Hames Blewmantle Somerset Simon Newbald Bullen obijt Martin Marolfe Callis Yorke Nicholas Tubman Hames Lancaster Richard Withers Guines Nicholas Narboone Bullen William Lambert Risebanke obijt Nicholas Fellow Callis obijt Henry Ray
Nottingham Yorke and Northumberland where without respect of age or sexe they laid all wast and left the Land whence they departed like to a desolate wildernesse From thence they came with the like furie into Edmunds territories and sacked Thetford a frequent citie in those daies but hee not able to withstand their violence fled into âhis Castle at Framingham wherein he was of them besieged and lastly taken in a village then called Heglisdune of a wood bearing the same name or rather yeelded himselfe to their torments to saue more christian bloud for it is recorded that because of his most constant Faith and profession those Pagans first beat him with bats then scourged him with whips he still calling vpon the name of Iesus for rage whereof they bound to a stake and with their arrowes shot him to death and cutting off his head contemptuously threw it into a bush after he had raigned ouer the East Angles the space of sixteene yeares Camden out of Abbo Floriacensis saith that the bloudy Danes hauing bound this most christian King to a tree for that he would not renounce christianity shot him with sharpe arrowes all his body ouer augmenting the paines of his torment with continuall piercing him with arrow after arrow and thus inflicted wound vpon wound so long as one arrow could stand by another as a Poet of midle time versified of him I am loca vulneribus desunt nec dum furiofis Tela sed hyberna grandine plura volant Though now no place was left for wound yet arrowes did not faile These surious wretches still they flie thicker then winter haile His body and head after the Danes were departed were buried at the same royall Towne as Abbo termes it where Sigebert the East Anglean King and one of his predecessors at his establishing of Christianity built a Church and where afterwards in honour of him was built another most spatious and of a wonderfull frame of Timber and the name of the Towne vpon that occasion of his buriall called vnto this day Saint Edmundsbury This Church and place to speake more fully to that which I haue written before Suenus the Pagan Danish King in impiety and fury burned to ashes But when his sonne Canute or Knute had made conquest of this Land and gotten possession of the English Crowne terrified and afrighted as saith the Legend with a vision of the seeming Saint Edmund in a religious deuotion to expiate his Fathers sacriledge built it anew most sumptuously enriched this place with Charters and Gifts and offered his owne Crowne vpon the Martyrs Tombe of whom for a conclusion take these verses following Vtque cruore suo Gallos Dionisius ornat Grecos Demetrius gloria quisque suiâ Sic nos Edmundus nulli virtute secundus Lux patet patrie gloria magna sue Sceptra manum Diadema capud sua purpura corpus Ornat ei sed plus vincula mucro cruor The 20. day of Nouember in our Calender was kept holy in remembrance of this King and Martyr Puer Robertus apud Sanctum Edmundum a Iudeis fuit Martirazatus 4. Id. Iunij An. 1179. et illic sepultus Alanus Comes Britannie obijt An. 1093. his iacet ad hostium australe Sancti Edmundi ex eod lib. de chateris This Allan here buried or as some will haue it in the monastery of Rhedon sirnamed the Red or Fergaunt was the sonne of Eudo Earle of Britaine and entred England with William the Conquerour his Father in Law To whom the said Conquerour gaue the honour and County of Edwyn within the County and Prouince of Yorke by his Charter in these words I William sirnamed Bastard King of England giue and grant to thee my Nephew Allan Earle of Britaine and to thy heyres for euer all those Villages Townes and Lands which were late in possession of Earle Edwin in Yorkeshire with knights fees Churches and other liberties and customes as freely and honourably as the said Edwyn held them Giuen at the siege before Yorke Alban being a man of an high spirit and desirous to gouerne the Prouince entirely which he had receiued built a strong Castle by Gillingham a village which he possessed by which he might defend himselfe not onely against the English who were spoiled of their goods and lands but also against the fury and inuasions of the Danes When the worke was finished he gaue it the name of Richmond of purpose either for the greatnesse and magnificence of the place or for some Castle in little Britaine of the same name Here sometimes vnder a goodly Monument in the Quire of this Abbey Church lay interred the body of Thomas surnamed of Brotherton the place of his birth the fifth sonne of Edward the first after the Conquest king of England by Margaret his second wife the eldest daughter of Philip king of France surnamed the Hardy He was created Earle of Norfolke and made Earle Marshall of England by his halfe brother King Edward the second which Earledomes Roger Bigod the last of that surname Earle of Norfolke and Earle Marshall leauing no issue left to the disposition of the king his Father This Earle died in the yeare of our redemption 1338. Here lay buried the body of Thomas Beauford sonne of Iohn of Gaunt begotten of the Lady Katherine Swyneford his third wife who by King Henry the fourth was made Admirall then Captaine of Calis and afterwards Lord Chancellour of England He was created by the said King Earle of Perch in Normandy and Earle of Dorlet in England And lastly in the fourth yeare of King Henry the fifth he was created Duke of Exceter and made knight of the order of the Garter He had the leading of the Rereward at the battell of Agincourt and the gouernment of king Henry the sixth appointed to that office by the foresaid Henry the fifth on his death-bed He valiantly defended Harflew in Normandy whereof he was gouernour against the Frenchmen and in a pitched field encountring the Earle of Armiguar put him to flight He died at his House of East Greenwich in Kent vpon Newyeares day the fifth of Henry the sixth for whom all England mourned saith Milles The body of Mary Queene of France widow of Lewis the twelfth daughâer of King Henry the 7. and sister to king Henry the eight was here in this Abbey Church entombed After the death of Lewis with whom she liued not long shee married that Martiall and pompous Gentleman Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke She died on Midsomer Eeue 1533. Iohn Boon Abbot of this Monasterie had his tombe and interrement here in this Church who died in the beginning of February in the ninth yeare of the raigne of king Edward the fourth as appeares by the said kings Conged'eslire or permission royall to the Prior and Couent of this House to make choise of another Abbot as followeth Edwardus Dei gratia Rex Anglie Francie
Office will it please reade thus much out of the Interpreter as followeth Master of the Court of Wards and Liueries saith he is the chiefe and principall Officer of the Court of Wards and Liueries named and assigned by the King to whose custody the Seale of Court is committed He at the entring vpon his Office taketh an Oath before the Lord Chancellour of England well and truly to serue the king in his Office to minister equall Iustice to rich and to poore to the best of his cunning wit and power diligently to procure all things which may honestly and iustly be to the kings aduantage and profit and to the augmentation of the right and prerogatiue of the Crowne truly to vse the Kings Seale appointed to his office to endeuour to the vttermost of his power to see the King iustly answered of all such profits rents reuenues and issues as shall yearely rise grow or be due to the King in his office from time to time to deliuer with speed such as haue to doe before him not to take or receiue of any person any gift or reward in any case or matter depending before him or wherein the King shall be partie whereby any preiudice losse hinderance or disherison shall be or grow to the King Ann. 33. Hen. 8. cap. 33. Buers Hic iacet Andreas de Buers Robertus de Buers filius eiusdem Andree militis qui Andreas obijt 12. die Aprilis Anno Dom. 1360. et dictus Robertus obijt 7. die mens Octob. Ann. Dom. 1361. quorum animabus Hic iacet Richardus Waldegraue miles qui obijt 2. die Maij Anno Dom. 1400. Ioanna vxor eius que obijt 10. Iunij 1406. Quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen Qui pro alijs oras pro se laborat Hic iacet Richardus Waldegraue miles qui obijt 2. Maij An. Dom. 1434. Iohanna vxor eius filia Thome de Montecamisij militis que obijt in festo Sancti Dionisij Anno Dom. 1450. Quorum animabus Amen Hic iacet Thomas Waldergraue miles Elisabetha vxor eius prima filia vna beredum Iohannis Fraye militis nuper capitalis Baronis Scaccarij qui quidem Thomas obijt 28. die 1500. Of your cherite prey for the souls of Edward Waldergraue and Mabell his wyff doughter and heyre of Iohn Cheney of Pynehoo in Deuonshyre and one of the heyres of Iohn Hill of Spaxton in the County of Somerset The which Edward decessyd the yere of our Lord God 1506. and the said Mabell ..... on whose souls Iesu haue mercy Amen Orate pro animabus Willelmi Waldegraue militis Margerie consortis sue qui quidem Willelmus obijt ... This Church of Buers is very neatly kept Out of the pedegree of the Waldegraues this story following was collected by Iohn Rauen Richmond Herald On a time a Gentleman of Northampton being at the signe of the Growne in Sudbury and hauing conference with master Edward Waldgraue of Bilston in Com. Suss. Esquire did make vnto him a very credible report of one Waldegraue in Northamptonshire affirming that he heard it reported of old time that these Waldgraues were of a very ancient antiquitie before William the Conquerours raigne and that his name should be Iohn who hauing one onely daughter and meeting with one Waldgraue which came out of Germany and was employed in the Conquerors seruices the said Germane Waldgraue related with Waldgraue of Northamptonshire concerning the marriage of his said daughter told him that if he would giue his consent that he might haue his daughter in marriage that then he would procure him a pardon from the Conquerour for the quiet enioying of his lands and liuings By which meanes he obtained the Conquerours grant with his owne hand and Seale for confirmation of all his lands vnto him and his posterity The which Pardon and grant remayneth to be seene at this day 1612. in the French tongue and is in the possession of the Lords of that Mannour Iohn Rauen Richmond Herald Thebarton Hic iacet Willelmus Iermey miles vnus Iusticiar Domini Regis de Banco suo et Elisabeth vxor eius qui quidem Willelmus obijt xxiij die Decembris Anno Domini M. cccclxxxiij Quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen Wingfield Here sometimes stood a Colledge or Chantrie by whom founded I haue not yet found out But the de la Poles Earles of Suffolke were the Patrons of it Valued it was at the dissolution to amount to fifty pounds three shillings fiue pence halfe penny of yearely reuenues Surrendred 36 H. 8. In this Colledge was buried the body of William de la Pole Lord Wingfield Earle Marquesse and Duke of Suffolke as also Earle of Penbroke After all these honours giuen him he was banished England for fiue yeares for being too familiar with Queene Margaret priuy and consenting to the yeelding and losse of Aniou and Mayne as also to appease the murmuring of the people for the murthering of the Duke of Glocester and as he was âaking of ship to passe for France he was surprised and taken on the sea by a ship of warre called the Nicholas belonging to the Duke of Exceter then Constable of the Tower of London and there presently beheaded and his body cast into the sea which was after found and taken vp againe at Douer brought to this Colledge and here honourably interred saith Hall as also the Catalogue of Honour by Brooke This happened in the yeare 1450. Iohn de la Pole sonne and heire of William aforesaid after the death of his Father Duke of Suffolke was likewise buried here at Wingfield Of which he was Lord and owner He died in the yeare 1491. In the Parish Church are these Inscriptions or Epitaphs Hic iacet Richardus de la Pole filius Domini Michaelis de la Pole nuper Comitus Suff. qui obijt 18. die Decembris Ann. Dom. 1403. Cuius anime propritietur Deus Hic iacet Magister Iohannes de la Pole silius Domini Michaelis de la Pole quondam Comitis Suffolcie Baccalaureus vtriusque iuris Canonicus in Ecclesia Cathedrali Ebor. ac in Ecclesia Collegiata de Beuerley qui ob 4. die mens Februarij Anno Dom. 1415. Hen. 54. These two were the sonne of Michaell de la Pole the first Earle of Suffolke of that surname Hic iacet Dominus Wingfild de Letheringham ....... Cuius anime This towne of Wingfield hath giuen name to a familie in this tract that is spread into a number of branches and is besides for knighthood and ancient gentilitie renowned and thereof it was the principall seat Donnington Hic iacet tumulatus Dominus Willelmus Wingfeld miles Dominus istius ville ac patronus istius Ecclesie qui obijt 1 Iunij Ann. Dom. 1398. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Hic iacet Willelmus Wingfeld Armiger Katherina vxor eius Dominus et Patronus istius
Citizens to pay them three thousand Markes after fiue hundred Markes a yeare toward the reparation of their Church besides they were adiudged to giue to the vse of the Church Vnam cuppam de pondere decem librarum auri valore centum librarum argenti A Cuppe weighing ten pounds in gold and worth an hundred pounds of money Whereby you may note saith Speed the proportion then betweene the value of gold and siluer This end was made by King Edward the first his Father being now dead at the request and solicitation of this Bishop His next successour William Midleton was also interred in this Church He reedified the same being so destroyed and profaned as you haue heard before and hallowed or consecrated the whole Fabricke anew in the presence of King Edward the first and many of his Nobles He departed this life the last of August Ann. 1288. in the eleuenth yeare of his Consecration Iohn Salmon placed in this See of Norwich by the Pope was here entombed he was Lord Chancellour of England for the space of foure yeares This Bishop built the great Hall and the Chappell in the Bishops pallace and a Chappell at the West end of the Church in which he ordained foure Priests to sing Masse continually He died Iuly the sixth 1325. William Ayermin likewise by the Popes authority was preferred to this Bishopricke as appeares by the sequele Cum summus Pontifex nuper Willelmum tunc Canonicum London in Episcopum Norwicens prefecisset sicut per literas bullatas ipsius summi Pontisicis Regi inde directas satis constabat ac Rex nono die Nouembris prox preteriâo per literas suas patentes sub Testimonio Edwardi filij sui primogeniti tunc custodis Regni Anglie Rege extra Regnum existente prefectionem ipsam gratiose acceptans cepit fidelitatemipsius Episcopi restituit ei temporalia Nunc Rex ratificans prefectionem receptionem predict mandat restituere ei Temporalia Teste Rege apud Kenelworth 13. Decemb. Pat. 20. Eââ 2. In the yeare 1319. saith F. Thinne in his Catalogue of Englands Chancellours and out of an old anonimall Latine Chronicler this Will. Ayremin was keeper of the great Seale and that he was taken prisoner by the Scots the words of his Author are in effect thus in English The Countie of Yorke and the countrie adiacent hauing receiued inestimable damages by the Scots William de Melton Archbishop of Yorke Iohn Hotham Bishop of Ely and Treasurer the Abbot of Saint Maries Yorke Sir William Ayremin Priest Chancellour of England Deane of Yorke the Abbot of Selbie and Sir Iohn Pabeham knight assembled together an armie of eight thousand to represse the violence of the enemie this armie consisted of Clerkes Monkes Canons and other spirituall men of the Church with Citizens and Husbandmen and such other vnapt people for the warres With these the Archbishop came forth against the Scots and incountred with them at a place called Mitton a little village vpon the Riuer of Swale Ouer which Riuer the Englishmen were no sooner passed but that the expert warlike Scots came vpon them with a wing in good order of battell in fashion like to a Shield eagerly assayling their enemies who for lacke of good gouernment were easily beaten downe and discomfited without shewing any great resistance Corruerunt ex nostris tam in ore gladij quam aquarum scopulis suffocati plusquam quatuor mille hominum there were slaine by the sword and drowned in the Riuer of our partie aboue foure thousand persons saith the Manuscript and the residue shamefully put to flight The Archbishop the Bishop of Ely the Abbot of Selbie and diuers other with helpe of their swift horses escaped The Mayor of Yorke named Nicholas Fleming was slaine Et capti sunt Domini Iohannes de Pabâham miles Dominus Willelmus de Airemin Canc. and Sir Iohn de Pabeham and Sir William Ayremin Priest were taken prisoners Iohn Harding who seldome giues condigne praise to the valiant doughtie Scot thus writes of this battell ...... in Myton medowe nere To Swale water lay then with great power Walter Warren among the haycockes bushed Vpon the byshop sodenly with Scots yssued And xv hundreth Englyshe there he slewe And home he went with kyng Robart full glad With prisoners many mo then men knewe The Byshop fled fro the felde full woo bestad With his Clerkes that then were full mad This was called the white Battell for that it consisted of so many Clergie men This Bishop died March the 17. hauing sate almost eleuen yeares at Sharing neare London whose body was conueyed for buriall to this his owne Church He gaue two hundred pound for order to be taken that two Monkes the Cellerers of the Couent should alwayes sing Masse for his soule Thomas Piercy was here interred a gentleman howsoeuer right honorably descended and highly befriended yet constrayned to admit of this Bishopricke by the Popes Prouisorie Bull as followeth Cum summus Pontifex nuper vacante Ecclesia Norwicen per mortem Willelmi vltimi Episcopi ibidem qui apud sedem Apostolicam diem clausit extremum eidem Ecclesie de venerabili viro Thoma Percy prouiderit ipsum Thomam in Episcopum loci illius presecerat Rex cepit sidelitatem ipsius Thome Temporalia ei restituit Teste Rege apud West 14. April Pat. Ann. 29. Ed. 3. Memb. 14. This Bishop gaue vnto the repairing of this Church which in his time was greatly defaced with a violent tempest the summe of foure hundred markes and obtained of the rest of the Clergie a great summe to the same purpose He bequeathed to the Chaunter of this his Church an house and certaine lands lying within the Lordship of Kimerle Gaeriton Fowrhow Granthorpe and Wychelwood vpon condition he should procure Masse daily to be said for his soule He died at Blofield not farre off the eight of August 1369. Vpon the death of Bishop Percy one Henry Despenser Canon of Salisbury was preferred by the Pope to this Bishopricke as I finde it thus recorded in the Tower Henricus Despenser Canonicus Saresburien per Papam ad Episcopatum Norwicen vacantem per mortem Thome vltimi Episcopi ibidem prefectus fecit regi fidelitate habuit restitutioneÌ Temporalium T.R. apud Clarendon 14. Aug. 2. Par. Pat. Anno 44. Ed. 3. Memb. 6. This man was called the warlike Bishop of Norwich for that in his youth he had beene a Souldier with a brother of his one Spenser a gentleman greatly esteemed for his valour being a chiefe Commander in the Popes warres by whose meanes this Henry obtained this dignitie and hauing changed his vesture but not his conditions in what manner of life he spent his youth in the same he most delighted euen in his waxing yeares For in the yeare 1381. most memorable was the seruice of this stout Bishop against the rebellious bondmen and Pesants of Norfolke whom he draue
dwarfe to death saith my foresaid Author Much more might bee said of this little-great man but I am called for my selfe to the Presse and to speake more then I haue done in the praise of little men I may be thought to flatter my selfe He died in the yeare 1346. in the twentieth of the raigne of King Edward the third I read in a booke of the order of Carmelites of which Fraternitie he was one as also Prouinciall of them all throughout all England penned by Iohn Bale before his conuersion a part of an Eulogium composed to the memory of this Baconthorpe which may serue for an Epitaph Thus. Iohannes de Bachonethorpe Doctor resolutus Carmelita Hic Bachone fuit Iohannes natus in vrbe Anglica quo felix terra priore fuit Parisio dulces hausit de fonte liquores Post tamenin patrio claruit ipse solo Exposuit libros Petri sed sanccius esse Est ratus in quartum peruigilare librum Fecit Aristotelem clarum inclitumque legenti Dans Testamentum clarius omne navum .......... Vpon a faire marble stone in the Quire this Inscription following is engrauen in brasse Hic iaces corpus Willelmi Boleyn militis qui obijt x. Octobris Anno Dom. M. ccccc.v Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Let it be the greatest honour to this noble deceased Knight for that he was great Grandfather to the most renowned and victorious Princesse Elizabeth late Queene of England which will best appeare by the Light of Great Britaine learned Camden in his Introduction to the History which he writ of her long and prosperous raigne beginning as followeth The Linage and descent of Elizabeth Queene of England saith he was by her Fathers side truly Royall for daughter she was to King Henry the eight grand daughter to Henry the seuenth and great grand-daughter to Ed the fourth By the Mothers side her descent was not so high howbeit noble it was and spread abroad by many and great Alliances throughout England and Ireland Her great grand-fathers father was Ieffrey Bolen a man of Noble birth in Norfolke Lord Maior of the Citie of London in the yeare 1457. and at the same time honoured with the dignitie of Knighthood An vpright honest man of such estimation that Thomas Lord Hoo and Hastings Knight of the Order of Saint George gaue him his daughter and one of his heires to wife and of such wealth as he matched his daughters into the Noble houses of the Cheineys Heydons and Fortescues left his sonne a goodly inheritance and bequeathed a thousand pounds of English money to bee bestowed vpon the poore in the Citie of London and two hundred in Norfolke This mans sonne William Bolen was chosen amongst eighteene most choice Knights of the Bath at the Coronation of King Richard the third to whom Thomas Earle of Ormond who was in such fauour with the Kings of England that hee alone of all the Nobleman of Ireland had his place and voice in the Parliaments of England and aboue the Barons of England also gaue his daughter and one of his heires in marriage By her besides daughters married to Shelton Calthorp Clere and Sackvill men of great wealth and noble descent and other children hee begat Thomas Bolen whom being a young man Thomas Howard Earle of Surry who was afterward Duke of Norfolke a man much renowned for his worthie seruice and atchiuements in the warres chose to be his sonne in law giuing vnto him his daughter Elizabeth in marriage and Henry the eight after he had performed one or two very honourable Embasies made him first Treasurer of his Houshold Knight of the Order of Saint George and Viscount Rochford and afterwards Earle of Wiltshire and Ormond and made him Lord Keeper of the priuie Seale This Thomas among other children begat Anne Bolen who in her tender yeares being sent into France attended on Mary of England wife to Lewis the twelfth and then on Claudia of Britaine wife to Francis the first and after she was dead on Margaret of Alencon who with the first fauoured the Protestants Religion springing vp in France Being returned into England and admitted amongst the Queenes Maides of Honour and being twenty two yeares of age King Henry in the thirtie eight yeare of his age did for her modestie âempered with French pleasantnesse fall deeply in loue with and tooke her to wife by whom he had issue Elizabeth aforesaid Queene of England Thome Presbyteri ..... lapis iste retentum Funus habet .... qui sumptu dedit hoc pauimentum Anno milleno quater et C septuageno Octauo Stephani liquit terrestria festo Vt celi detur requies sibi quisque precetur En iacet hic stratus Helby Thomas vocitatus Saluet eum Christus tribuens sibi gaudia lucis Vnder this ston Ligs Iohn Knapton Who died iust The twenty eight of August M. ... xc and on Of thys Chyrch Peti-Canon Vnder the picture of Saint Peter is portraied the Sea a Ship Nets and Fishes with this distichon Ecclesiam pro naue rego mihi climata mundi Sunt mare Scripture Retia piscis homo The figures of the Sunne and Moone are painted here vpon the Frontispiece of the Clocke to whom the Clocke comparatiuely seemes to speake in this Hexastich vpon the same place likewise depicted Horas significo cunctas quas Phebe diebus Quas solet atque tua pallida nocte Soror Nec magis errarem Rector mihi si foret idem Vos qui et queque regit motibus astra suis. Tempora nam recte designo si mihi doctus Custos assiduam conferat artis opem In English Phoebus I tell all th' houres and all as right As thou or thy pale Sister day and night Nor I no more then you in ought should erre If he ruld mee who guides you and each starre For times I rightly tell to me of 's Art If my learnd keeper will his helpe impart In imitation of this it may bee that Thomas Scot in his Philomythie makes a Clocke to compare with a Diall and the difference to be partly decided by the Wethercocke of which a little although not much to the purpose I confesse Vpon a Church or steeples side neere hand A goodly Clocke of curious worke did stand Which ouerpaysde with lead or out of frame Did time miscall and euery houre misname The Diall hearing this aloud gan crye Kind neighbour Clocke your glib tongue tels a lye Reforme your errour for my Gnomon saith You gad too fast and misse an houres faith Foole quoth the Clocke reforme thy selfe by me The fault may rather in thy Gnomon be Had'st thou told euer truth to what end then Was I plac'd here by th' art of cunning men The Weathercocke vpon the steeple standing And with his sharpe eye all about commanding Heard their contention wild them to appeale To him the chiefe of all that common weale Told them that he was
many Townes and Cities the bodies of the Christians haue wanted the rites and ceremonies of buriall it was neither fault in the liuing that could not performe them nor hurt to the dead that could not feele them Yet notwithstanding all this which I haue spoken the bodies of the dead are not to be contemned and cast away especially of the righteous and faithfull which the holy Ghost hath vsed as Organs and instruments vnto all good works for if the garment or ring of ones father be so much the more esteemed of his posterity by how much they held him dearer in their affection then are not our bodies to bee despised being wee weare them more neare vnto our selues then any attire whatsoeuer CHAP. VII Of Cenotaphs Honorarie and religious Of the reuerence attributed to these emptie Monuments A Cenotaph is an emptie Funerall Monument or Tombe erected for the honour of the dead wherein neither the corps nor reliques of any defunct are deposited in imitation of which our Hearses here in England are set vp in Churches during the continuance of a yeare or for the space of certaine moneths Octauia the sister of Augustus buried her sonne young Marcellus that should haue beene heire in the Empire with sixe hundred Cenotaphs or hearses and gaue to Virgil more then fiue thousand French crownes in reward for the writing of sixe and twentie Hexameters in her sonnes commendation all which you may haue for nothing in the latter end of the sixth booke of his Aeneidos These Cenotaphs were of two sorts they were made either to the memory of such as were buried in some other remote funerall monument or to such which had no buriall at all The first kinde of these Cenotaphs are called by Suetonius in the life of Claudius Honorarie tombes erected Honoris vel memoriae gratia Such as the souldiers made to the memorie of Drusus neare vpon the riuer of Rhine howsoeuer his body was carried to Rome and there interred in Campo Martio Alexander Seuerus slaine by the treacherie of certaine seditious French souldiers about the yeare of grace 238 An Emperour saith Sir Thomas Eliot who translated his story out of Greeke whose death all Rome lamented all good men bewailed all the world repented whom the Senate deified noble fame renowned all wise men honoured noble writers commended had his Cenotaph erected in France neare vnto the place where he was slaine but his body was carried to Rome and there interred vnder a most rich magnificent sepulchre as Lampridius affirmes Septimius Seuerus the Romane Emperour died in Yorke in the yeare of mans saluation 212. out of which Citie his corps were carried forth to the funerall fire by the sixth Legion of his souldiers called Victrix after the militarie fashion committed to the flames and honoured with iusts and Turneaments in a place neare beneath the Citie Westward where is to be seene a great mount of earth raised vp as for his Cenotaph But his ashes being bestowed in a little golden pot or vessell of the Porpherite-stone were carried to Rome and shrined there in the Monument of the Antonines Constantine or Constantius the younger sonne to Constantine the Great who is supposed to be the builder of Silcester in Hampshire died at Mopsuestia in Cilicia and was interred in Constantinople in the Sepulchre of his Ancestours Yet he had a Cenotaph or emptie monument built to his memory in the said now-ruined Citie of Silcester And many there were that in honour and remembrance of them had such monuments built about which the souldiers were wont yearely to iust and keepe solemne Turneaments in honour of the dead The second kinde of Cenotaphs were made Religionis causa to the memory of such whose carcases or dispersed reliques were in no wise to bee found for example of such as perished by shipwracke of such as were slaine cut mangled and hew'd apeeces in battell or of such that died in forraine nations whose burials were vnknowne For in ancient times it was thought that the Ghost of the defunct could not rest in any place quietly before the body had decent buriall or the performance thereof in as ample manner as could possibly be imagined Aeneas as it is fained by the helpe of Sibylla Cumea descending into hell found Palinurus his shipmaster drownd not long before among many more wandring about the lake of Styx because his body was vnburied which kinde of punishment is thus related by the Prophetesse Phaers translation This prease that here thou seest beene people dead not laid in graue A pitious rable poore that no reliefe nor comfort haue This Boate-man Charon is And those whom now this water beares Are bodies put in ground with worship due of weeping teares Nor from these fearfull bankes nor riuers hoarce they passage get Till vnder earth in graues their bodies bones at rest are set An hundred yeares they walke and round about these shores they houe And then at last full glad to further pooles they do remoue Then after this she puts him in comfort with hope of Exequies and honorable buriall thus Since whan O Palinure both all this madnesse come on thee Wouldst thou the Limbo-lake and dolefull flouds vntombed see Vnbidden from this banke doest thou indeed to scape intend Seeke neuer Gods eternall doome with speech to thinke to bend Yet take with thee Aeneas word and comfort thus thy fall For they that border next vnto that mount and Cities all By tâkens great from heauen shall be compelld thy bones to take And tombe they shall thee build and solemne seruice shall thee make And Palinurus name for euermore the place shall keepe This spoken from his heauy heart his cares abating creepe And sorrowes partly shranke and glad on earth his name he knew Vlysses at the commandement of Circes went downe into the lower shades where he met with his companion or fellow-traueller Elpenor who desired of him buriall with the ceremonies thereof as also a Sepulchre which Vlysses granted and erected to his memory a Cenotaph Doe not depart from hence and leaue me thus Vnmournd vnburied lest neglected I Bring on thy selfe th incensed Deitie I know that saiâd from hence thy ship must touch On th' Isle Aeaea where vouchsafe thus much Good King that landed thou wilt instantly Bestow on me thy royall memory And on the foamie shore a Sepulchre Erect to me that after times may heare Of one so haplesse Let me these implore And fixe vpon my Sepulchre the Ore With which aliue I shooke the aged Seas And had of friends the deare societies To these inania busta or vacua Sepulchra the friends of the defunct would yearely repaire and there offer sacrifice vpon Altars erected neare to the Cenotaph for that purpose calling vpon the spirit ghost or Manes of him to whose memory the Cenotaph was made by which ceremony they imagined that the body of the party deceased would lie some where or other at reââ and his
in their Pontificals with Tapers burning denounced the senâtence of Excommunication in this forme By the authoritie of Almighty God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost and of the glorious mother of God and perpetuall Virgin Mary of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and of all Apostles and of all Martyrs of blessed Edward king of England and of all the Saints of heauen we excommunicate accurse and from the benefits of our holy mother the Church we sequester all those that hereafter willingly and maliciously depraue or spoile the Church of her right And all those that by any craât or wilinesse do violate breake diminish or change the Church liberties and free customes contained in the Charters of the common liberties c. But I speake here of such sacrilegious persons as do rob and bereaue the Church of her treasure and sacred ornaments a sinne of such onely which do misprise and contemne Religion a sinne which hath beene by the very Pagans obserued neuer to escape vnpunished Cum oppidum Tolosanum in terra Gallia Quintus Cepio Consul diripuâsset multumque auri in eius oppidi templis furisset quisquis ex ea direptione aurum attigit misero cruciabilique exitu perijt Quintus Cepio with his company hauing taken and spoiled the Towne or Citie of Tholouse in France entred forcibly into the holy Temples out of which sacrilegiously hee tooke to the quantitie of one hundred and ten thousand markes in gold and fiue hundred millions of marks in siluer but euery man of them which were guilty of that robbery with all their kindred and families died within that yeare and not aboue one of them did carry so much as one piece thereof home to his owne house This treasure of Tholouse was a part of the Delphian riches For Brennus the brother of Belinus king of great Britaine Captaine of the Gaules brake open the Temple of Apollo at Delphos for the riches and the gold therein which had beene offered to the Gods which hee committed to publike spoile The most part whereof was conuaid by the Tectosages a people of the West part of Narbon to this city of Tholouse but presently vpon this sacriledge and contempt of the Gods the most of his armie which consisted of one hundred and fifty thousand footmen and fifteene thousand horsemen were discomfited and slaine and hee so furiously possessed that hee slue himselfe with his owne hands quis enim laesos impune putaret Esse deos For who could thinke the Gods thus wronged Their punishment would be prolonged Virgil makes these Church-robbers these contemners of Religion to bee more miserably then others tormented in hell Phlegyas miserrimus omnes Admonet magna testatur voce per vmbras Discite iustitiam moniti non temnere Diuos Phlegyas most of misers all Amongst those caytiues darke and loud with voice to them doth rore Learne Iustice now by this and Gods aboue despise no more This Phlegyas king of the Lapithes a people dwelling in a part of Thessalie hauing done infinite dammages in Greece surprizing many Townes and Cities became in the end so ouer weening and foolish bold that hee sacked the foresaid Temple of Apollo in Delphos and slue Philamon that cunning Harper the sonne of Apollo who brought an armed power to rescue his fathers oracle Vpon which sacriledge and contempt of the gods all the countrey of the Phlegyans was vtterly ruinated with an earthquake and flaming arrowes shot from heauen which killed most of the people and the few that remained died of the plague and for this high handed offence their foresaid king is still plagued in hell Which verses of Virgil to that purpose thus paraphrastically translated will it please you to reade ouer againe Phlegias king most wretched in that place Forewarneth all of his great misery And as sad witnesse of his pitious case In those dimme shades he cries out wofully Learne to doe Iustice and by my contempt Of the high Gods do you like fate preuent Histories affoard infinite examples of this kinde in all sorts of Religions yea Christian kings and other Potentates in all ages haue misprised the true onely all-sauing God by the sacrilegious taking away of the rights riches and ornaments of holy Church yet it hath beene obserued that they seldome or neuer escaped scotfree as the sequele of this worke will shew Seuere punishments haue formerly beene inflicted vpon Church robbers of the meaner ranke by the strictnesse of our Lawes here in England For an instance in the twentieth yeare of Edward the fourth on the 22. day of February fiue notable malefactors were put to death at London for robbing of Churches and other places especially the collegiate Church of Saint Martins le grand in London for the which three of them were drawne to the Tower-hill and there hanged and burnt the other two were pressed to death Wee haue not heard of the hanging of any such Church robbers in these our dayes for Sublata causa tollitur effectus the cause taken or if you will stolne away the effect will consequently cease For what man will venture a turne at the Gallows for a little small siluer chalice a beaten-out pulpit cushion an ore-worne Communion-cloth and a course Surplisse these are all the riches and ornaments of the most of our Churches and these are more by the Surplisse then by some of the Parishioners may bee thought perhaps fitting to be allowed such is now the sleight regard we haue of the decent setting forth of sacred Religion Of which a late writer Sacred Religion mother of forme and feare How gorgeously sometimes dost thou sit deckt What pompous vestments do we make thee weare What stately piles we prodigall erect How sweet perfum'd thou art how shining cleare How solemnly obseru'd with what respect Another time all plaine and quite threed-bare Thou must haue all within and nought without Sit poorely without light disrobd no care Of outward grace to amuze the poore deuout Powerlesse vnfollowed scarcely men can spare Three necessarie rites to set thee out Either truth goodnesse vertue are not still The selfe same which they are and alwayes one But alter to the proiect of our will Or we our actions make them wait vpon Putting them in the liuery of our skill And cast them off againe when we haue done CHAP. X. Of the rooting vp taking away erazing and defacing of Funerall Monuments in the reignes of King Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth Of the care Queene Elizabeth of famous memory had for the preseruation of the same Her Proclamation in the second of her raigne against defacing of Monuments TOward the latter end of the raigne of Henry the eight and throughout the whole raigne of Edward the sixth and in the beginning of Queene Elizabeth certaine persons of euery County were put in authority to pull downe and cast out of all Churches Roodes grauen Images Shrines with their
Abbey of Rufford I finde these verses following of the constant sufferings of certaine virgine martyrs Quid de virginibus dignum loquere aspice fidem Fides ob veram sert mala multa sidem Huic ardens lectus solidum subuertere fidem Nec mors ipsa potest cui Deus ardor inest Tecla fer as Agathes Ergastula vulnera vicit Margarita truces virgo Lucia duces Balnea Cecilie feruentia nil nocuere Agneti nocuit flamma furorque nichil Nil etas nil mundus eis nil obfuit hostis Cuncta domant superant infima summa tenent His ornamentis fulget Domus Omnipotentis But I will conclude this Chapter with the words of Camden speaking of the Monasticall life and profession The profession of this Monasticall life saith he began when Pagan Tyrants enraged against Christians pursued them with bloudy persecutions For then good deuout men that they might serue God in more safety and security withdrew themselues into the vast wildernesses of Egypt and not as the Painims are wont with open mouth to giue it out for to enwrap themselues willingly in more miseries because they would not be in miserie Where they scattered themselues among mountaines and desarts liuing in caues and little cells here and there in holy meditations At first solitary and alone whereupon in Greeke they were called Monachi that is Monkes but after they thought it better as the sociable nature of mankinde required to meete together at certaine times to serue God and at length they began to cohabite and liue together for mutuall comfort rather then like wilde beasts to walke vp and downe in the desarts Their profession was to pray and by the labour of their owne hands to get liuing for themselues and maintenance for the poore and withall they vowed pouerty obedience and chastitie Athanasius first brought this kinde of Monkes consisting of lay-men into the West-Church Whereunto after that Saint Austen in Afrike Saint Martin in France and Congell one of the Colledge of Bangor in Britaine and Ireland had adioyned the function of regular Clergie It is incredible how farre and wide they spread how many and how great Coenobies were built for them so called of their communion of life as also Monasteries for that they kept still a certaine shew of solitarie liuing and in those dayes none were more sacred and holy then they and accordingly they were reputed considering how by their prayers to God by their example doctrine labour and industrie they did exceeding much good not onely to themselues but also to all mankinde But as the world grew worse and worse so those their holy manners as one said rebus cessere secundis that is Gaue backward in time of prosperitie But of the pietie of religious professours in the Primitiue times of the sanctitie of British and Saxon Kings of their Queenes and issue royall as also of other persons of exemplarie zeale and holy conuersation I doe speake hereafter in particular as I come to the places of their interments CHAP. XII Of the fall or backsliding as well of religious persons as of lay-people from the foresaid zealous ardour of pietie THis heate of deuotion which I haue spoken of continued not long in this Island For as the Clergie and other religious orders grew rich in faire buildings proud furniture and ample reuenues so they daily increased in all kindes of disorders which was no sooner perceiued but put in practise by the Laitie our kings declined from their former sanctitie and which the worst was after their examples many others especially of the Nobilitie did follow their licentious traces Examples of Princes being alwayes of greater force then other lawes to induce the people to good or to euill Nam haec conditio Principum vt quicquid faciant praecipere videantur To proue as much as I haue spoken In the yeare of Grace 747 Cuthbert Archbishop of Canterbury by the counsell of Boniface Bishop of Mentz called a Conuocation at Cliffe beside Rochester to reforme the manifold enormities wherewith the Church of England at that time was ouergrowne Our kings forsaking the companie of their owne wiues in those dayes delighted altogether in harlots which were for the most part Nunnes The rest of the Nobilitie following their example trode also the same trace The Bishops likewise and other of the Clergie that should haue beene a meanes of the reforming these faults in others were themselues no lesse faultie spending their times either in contentions and brables or else in luxurie and voluptuousnesse hauing no care of study and seldome or neuer preaching Whereby it came to passe that the whole land was ouerwhelmed with a most darke and palpable mist of ignorance and polluted with all kinde of wickednesse and impietie in all sorts of people In which Conuocation after long consultation with those his Bishops or Suffraganes and the rest of the Clergie which were holden in greatest esteeme for their learning in number thirtie for the reformation of these horrible abuses endeauouring thereby like a good Pastour to turne away the wrath of God which seemed to hang ouer this land and to threaten those plagues which not long after fell vpon it when the Danes inuaded the same Edgar surnamed the peaceable King of England in the yeare 969. called together his Bishops and other of his Clergie to whom hee made this or the like Oration as followeth Forsomuch as our Lord hath magnified his mercy to worke with vs it is meete most reuerend Fathers that with worthy workes we answer his innumerable benefits for neither by our owne sword possesse we the earth and our owne armes hath not saued vs but his right hand and his holy arme for that he hath beene pleased with vs. Meete therefore it is that we submit both our selues and our soules to him that hath put all things vnder our feet and that we diligently labour that they whom he hath made subiect vnto vs may bee made subiect vnto his lawes And truly it is my part to rule the Laitie with the law of equitie to doe iust iudgement betwixt man and his neighbours to punish Church-robbers to represse rebels to deliuer the weake from the hands of his stronger the poore and needie from them that spoile them And it also belongeth to my care to haue consideration to the health quietnesse or peace of the Ministers of the Church the flocke of Monkes the companies of Virgines and to prouide the things needfull for them The examining of whose manners belongeth vnto you if they liue chastly if they behaue themselues honestly towards them which bee abroad if in diuine seruice they bee carefull if in teaching the people diligent if in feeding sober if moderate in apparell if in iudgement they be discreet If you had cured these things by prudent scrutinie by your licence I speake O reuerend Fathers such horrible and abhominable things of the Clerkes had not come to our eares I omit
fiue thousand pounds and one Herbert Prior of Fiscane in Normandy bought for his father whose name was Losinge the Abbacie of Winchester and for himselfe the Bishopricke of Norwich Whereupon a versiâier of that age made these rythmes Surgit in Ecclesia monstrum genitore Losinga Symonidum secta Canonum virtute resecta Petre nimis tardas nam Symon ad ardua tentat Si praesens esses non Symon ad alta volaret Proh dolor Ecclesiae nummis venduntur aere Filius est Praesul pater Abbas Symon vterque Quid non speremus si nummos possideamus Omnia nummus habet quid vult facit addit aufert Res nimis iniusta nummis sit Praesul Abba Thus translated by Bale in his Votaries A monster is vp the sonne of Losinga Whiles the law seeketh Simony to flea Peter thou sleepest whiles Simon taketh time If thou wert present Simon should not clime Churches are prised for syluer and gold The sonne a Bishop the father an Abbot old What is not gotten if we haue richesse Money obteineth in euery businesse In Herberts way yet it is a foule blot That he by Simony is Bishop and Abbot But Simonie was not so common now as other sinnes for the Clergie in generall gaue themselues strangely to worldly pleasures and pompous vanities they wore gay rich garments gilt spurres embroidered girdles and bushie locks The Monkes of Canterbury as well nigh all other Monkes in England were not vnlike to secular men they vsed hawking and hunting playing at dice and great drinking thou wouldest haue taken them to haue beene great Magnificoes rather then Monkes they had so many seruants and attendance of goodly aray and dignity Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury by the permission of King Henry the first assembled a great Councell of the Clergie at Westminster wherein he depriued many great Prelates of their promotions for their seuerall offences and many Abbots for other enormities forbidding the farming out of Church dignities In the raigne of King Henry the second the abuses of Church-men were growne to a dangerous height saith well the Monke of Newborough lib. 2. cap. 16. for it was declared saith he in the Kings presence that Clergie men had committed aboue an hundred murthers in his raigne Of which nine yeares were as then scarcely expired And in the 23 of his raigne the Nunnes of Amesbury were thrust out of their house because of their incontinent liuing Rog. Houed Richard Cordelion king of England being told by a certaine Priest called Fulco a Frenchman that he kept with him three daughters namely pride couetousnesse and lechery which would procure him the wrath of God if he did not shortly rid himselfe of them answered That he would presently bestow his three daughters in marriage the Knights Templers said he shall haue my eldest daughter Pride the white Monkes of the Cisââux order Couetousnesse and my third daughter Lechery I commit to the Prelates of the Church who therein take most pleasure and felicitie And there you haue my daughters bestowed among you In the raigne of Henry the third the Templars in London being in great glory entertained the Nobilitie forraine Embassadours and the Prince himselfe very often insomuch that Matthew Paris Monke of Saint Albans who liued in those dayes cried out vpon them for their pride who being at the first so poore as they had but one horse to serue two of them in token whereof they gaue in their seales two men vpon one horsebacke yet suddenly they waxed so insolent that they disdained other orders and sorted themselues with Noblemen But this their insulting pride had a quicke period for shortly after to wit in the beginning of King Edward the seconds raigne in the Councell at Vienna this their so highly esteemed order was vpon cleare proofe of their generall odious abhominable sins and incredible Atheisticall impieties by them practised vtterly abolished throughout all Christendome And by the consent of all Christian Kings depoâed all in one day taken all and committed to safe custody And thus being politâkely apprehended their lands and goods were seised vpon the heires of the Donours here in England and such as had endowed these Templars with lands entred vpon those parts of their ancient patrimonies after this dissolution and detained them vntill not long after they were by Parliament wholly transferred vnto the Knights of the Rhodes or of S. Iohn of Ierusalem A littâe before the vniuersall extinguishment of this order of the Templars Philip the French King caused 54. of that Order with their great Master to be burnt at Paris for their hainous vngodlinesse In the raigne of Edward the third the Clergie of England exceeded all other Nations in the heaping vp together of many Benefices and other spirituall promotions besides at that time they held the principall places both of trust and command in the kingdome Some of them had twenty Benefices with cure and some more and some of them had twenty Prebends besides other great dignities William Wickham at the death of William Edington Bishop of Winchester was made generall Administratour of spirituall and temporall things pertaining to that Bishopricke and the next yeare was made Bishop of Winchester This Wickham besides the Archdeaconry of Lincolne and Prouostship of Welles and the Parsonage of Manihant in Deuonshire had twelue Prebends Simon Langham was Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancelour of England Iohn Barnet Bishop of Bath and Treasurer of England The foresaid Wickham Keeper of the priuie Seale Master of the Wards and Treasurer of the Kings reuenues in France Dauid Wellar Parson of Somersham Master of the Rolles seruing King Edward in the Chancery fortie yeares and more Ten beneficed Priests Ciuilians and Masters of the Chancery William Muâse Deane of S. Martins le Grand chiefe Chamberlaine of the Exchequer Receiuer and Keeper of the Kings Treasure and Iewels William Ashby Archdeacon of Northampton Chancellour of the Exchequer William Dighton Prebendary of Saint Martins Clerke of the priuie Seale Richard Chesterfield Prebendary of S. Stephens Treasurer of the Kings house Henry Snatch Parson of Oundall Master of the Kings Wardrobe Iohn Newenham Parson of Fenistanton one of the Chamberlaines of the Exchequer and keeper of the Kings Treasurie and Iewels Iohn Rouceby Parson of Hardwicke Surueior and Controuler of the Kings works Thomas Britingham Parson of Ashby Treasurer to the King for the parts of Guisnes and the marches of Caleis Iohn Troys Treasurer of Ireland diuers wayes beneficed in Ireland Pope Vrban the first made a decree against the heaping together of many Benefices or spirituall promotions by one man for the execution whereof he sent commandement to the Archbishop of Canterbury and by him to all his Suffragans to certifie in writing the names number and qualities of euery Clerke Benefices or liuings within their seuerall Diocesse Whereupon this or the like certificate was brought in I finde inter Breuiâ
possessyon therof and of all the goods and implements to be indifferently sold eyther for redy money or at dayes vpon suffyciente suretyes so that the same day passe not one yeare and a half Ye shall deliuer to the sayd Head and Brethren soche parte of the sayd money and goodes as ye by your discrecions shall thynke meete and convenyente for their dispeche And further to see them have convenyente pensyons by yuur wisdomes assygned accordyngly Whych done and moreouer seeing the rightfull and due debts there payd and satysfyed aswell of the reuenewes as of the sayd stuffe as to reason and good conscyence apperteyneth and yowr charges reasonably allowed ye shall proceede to the dissolutyon of the sayde howle and forther in our name take possessyon of the same to be kept to our vse and profyte Ye shall furthermore bring and convaye to our Tower of London after your seyd discressyons all the rest of the seyd money plate Iueâles and ornaments that in any wise shall come to your hands by meane of the premisses or of any parte therof Straytely chargynge and commandyng all Maiâes Sheriffes Bayliffes Constables and all other our officers ministers and subiects to whom in this case it shall apperteyne that vnto yow and euery of yow in execucion herof they be helpynge ayding favoringe and assistyng as they will answere vnto vs to the contrary at their vttermost perrilles Yeven c. An Information made to Queene Elizabeth by ...... of the seuerall abuses and frauds done vnto the State generall and Crowne by the corruption of such as haue bine imployed by her Father vppon the suppression of the Abbeyes and Continuance of the same Part of the corrupt deceitfull fraudulente and vnrighteouse dealinge of many Subiects of this Realme at and since the visitation and suppression of Abbeyes which with all the rest God by his grace hath made me hate and refuse and also deteste and resiste in otheres to the vtmoste of my small powere beyng contrary to this commaundemente of the second Table Thou shalâ not ââeale wherby the possessiones reuenues and treasure of the Crowne have byn vnmesurably robbed and diminyshed to the great offence of God and slaunder of the Gospell and to the no small impouereshynge and weakenynge of the Imperiall Crowne and vtter vndoinge of a nomber of your Maiesties pore Tenants and Subiects and so to the great slaundere of your Maiestie and withdrawinge of their harts from you whos Acte it is told them to be and so to them it semeth because some of your seales be at all or most parte of them and the confirmacion of your head officers at the reste and to the vttere spoyling and vndoynge before God and good men of a nomber of lerned persones and exelente witts who vnderstanding that many before them had byne therby greatly enriched and advaunced and that the gapp thervnto as vnto a vertue was made wyde opene for all without any punyshement but rather commendacions were and âre still the easilier ouercom by temptacion of the wisedome of Satane the world and the fleshe to seeke and labour to become riche by like wicked wayes of whom as the nomber is now of late yeres increased so also deceave they moore subtillie and detestablie and in more things then euer before For redresse wherof and of a nombere of other cunnynge and clenly Thefts and decepts which I know and can in time remember and discouere beside the multetude out of my compasse sayd by common brute to be in other calings There must be pennede by some persones learnede in the Lawe that be knowne to hate all kynds of vnrighteousnes some strong Act or Actes to passe by Parliament and afterwardâ to be roundly executed with great penalties forfeitures and ponyshments to reche vnto lands goods and bodie as the greatnes or the smalnes of the case shall require without the which God wil be yet more offended the Gospell more slaundered the Crowne more impouereshed and wekened your people more vndone your Maiestie more slaundered your peoples harts more drawne from you the lerned persones and exelente witts of your people more spoyled and many other particuler euills will grow thereby besides Gods great strokes which at length will come without repentance and amendment Wheras yf reformacion be had God wil be therin pleased the Gospelle commended the Crowne enriched your people profited ther loues towards you encreased the learned and exelente wittes enforced from deceite to seeke prefermente and welthe by godly and honeste meanes and many other things will grow therby besides Gods good blessing which your Maiestie shall be sure to haue for it Deceiptfull and vnrighteouse dealings viz. at and vpon the visitation and suppression of Abbeyes Wher the Images of gold and siluer c. with the costelye Shrines Tabernacles Alteres and Roodloftes and the pretious Jewelles rich Stones and perles c. belonging to the same and the pixes phallaces Patenes Basines Ewers candlestickes Crewets challices Sensors and multitudes of other riche vesselles of gold and siluer c. And the costly Alter clothes curtenes copes vestments Aulbes Tunicles and other riche ornaments and the fine linnen iette marble precious wood brasse iron lead belles stone c. and the houshould plate householde stuffe and furniture of housholde and the Leases and chattalles and the horses oxen kine sheepe and other cattell and the superfluous howses and buildings and multitudes of other things that belonged to Abbeyes c. were worth a million of gold The salles of the parte whereof were so cunningly made and the preseruation of the rest was suche that your Maiesties Father and the Crowne of England hade in comparison but meane portiones of the same of which muche was vnpayd by ill dealinge in many yeres aftre For the fynding out of which and punishyng the great decept and fraude thear was not then nether hath thear byne at any time since for the like euilles afterwards also committed to this day any good order or diligent labour taken but let passe as though to fynd out and punishe such wickednes were no profite to the Prince and Crowne or good seruice to God All which haue byne the easelier let slip because perhaps some of them that sholde haue punyshed vnder the Prince might also be partly guiltie and so Caâââce Cathee Item wher diueres of the Visitores and Suppressores had afterwards yerly allowance of Fees annueties corodies c. graunted by the Abbeyes c. to themselues their servaunts and friends was it likely that they came by them without fraude Item the most part of the Evedences of Abbeyes and Nunneries were pilfered away sold and loste as herein following vnder the title of your Maiesties tyme more playnlie aâpereth Item Mannores Landes and Tânements and other hereditaments were ofte solde at vnder yerly Rents by many subtile deceipts and frawdes Item many Lands and Tenements c. were sometime solde with thapportenances at the old yerly Rents but where the
Canterbury Hee the said Saint Benet died about the yeare of our Lord fiue hundred and eighteene and was buried in his owne Oratorie consecrated to Saint Iohn where as before was wont to be the Altar of Apollo He liued 63. yeares Saint Francis was borne in the Towne of Assile in the Duchie of Spoletum in Italy in his young yeares he dealt in the trade of Merchandise but by reason of a great sicknesse at the age of two and twenty yeares he contemned all worldly dealings and gaue himselfe wholly to heauenly meditations he put a shirt of haire vpon his bare skinne and a sacke vpon it girding himselfe with a cord going also without hose or shooes Et victus ostiatim emendicans begging from doore to doore so as the fame of him being spread ouer neighbour countreys many drawne by his holinesse abandoned the world and became his disciples making profession of pouerty but yet to labour and take paines for a poore liuing For these he built an Abbey in the Towne where he was borne and wrate a rule as well for those which were vnited vnto him as for such as should come after him which was approued and confirmed with many Indulgences Priuiledges Graces and Pardons by Pope Innocent the third and Honorius that succeeded him After the confirmacion whereof he ordained that his Friers should be called Fratres minores or Minorite Friers to witnesse their greater humilitie One Adam Sousbout a Germane Diuine Ann. 1227. vpon his entrance into this order writes thus to his Father at Delphos Quà m sit vita breuis quam sit via lubrica quamque Mors incerta bonis quae praemia quaeque parata Sint tormenta malis horum meditatio nostra est Quod facimus quod firmamus quod et esse perenne Optamus testamentum Saluete valete Care pater cari Fratres caraeque Sorores This Scraphicall Saint Francis died the fourth of October 1226. and was canonised by Pope Gregorie the ninth ann 1276. Ann. 1224. About two yeares before the death of Saint Francis these Friers Minorites came into England Et benigne a Rege Henrico tertio sunt suscepti Cantuar collocati fuerunt They were graciously receiued of Henry the third and placed in Canterbury And afterwards anno 1269 one of the Ancestours of Sir Dudley Digge commonly called Digges Emit Insulam vocatam Bynnewyght in Cantuar. et locum Porte super stonestreete ad opus Fratrum Minorum et tempore oportuno transtulit Fratres ad illam bought an Island in Canterbury called Bynnewyght and the place of a gate ouer Stone-streete for the vse of the Friers Minorites to which hee translated them in conuenient time The Friers Minors saith Stow first arriued in England at Douer nine in number fiue of them remained at Canterbury and did there build the first Couent of Friers Minors that euer was in England the other foure came to London and lodged at the preaching Friers the space of fifteene dayes and then hired an house in Cornhill of Iohn Traners one of the Sheriffes they buiââded there little cels wherein they inhabited the deuotion of the Citizens toward them and also the multitude of Friers so increased that they were remoued by the Citizens to a place in S. Nicholas Shambles which Iohn Iwyn Citizen and Mercer of London appropriated vnto the Communalty of the Citie to the vse of the said Friers and became himselfe a lay Brother Contemporarie with Saint Francis was Saint Dominicke a Spaniard borne in a Towne called Calogora in the Diocesse of Osma His fader was namyd Felix and his Meder Iohane saith an old Agon from Calogora hee came into Gascoigne where hee continued ten yeares preaching and drawing Christian Princes into armes against the Albigeoâs certeyne Heretiques Qui damnato matrimonio vagos suadebant corcubitus atque âsum carnium prohibebant Who condemned Matrimonie perswaded licentious copulations and forbad the eating of flesh whose errours hee repressed by his Sermons From thence he went to Rome to the Councell of Lateran vnder Innocent the third where hee obtained licence of the said Pope to put himselfe vnder what rule he should like best that was allowed by the Church whereupon he made choise of that of Saint Antonie with sixteene of his disciples and hauing made certaine constitutions it was confirmed by Honorius the third about the yeare of our Lord 1206. Then going to Tholouse he exhorted his Friers and sent them to preach two and two together perswading them to bee preachers both in deed and name These Friers Preachers came first into England in the yeare 1221. where they had louing entertainment and houses built Of which my old Author Then deide Seynt Hugh an half yer and no mo That was Bishop of Lincolne and ther after the fyrst yer The order of Frere prechours bygan that âas neuer Seynt Domnyk hit bygan in the yere of gease ywis M. C. C. no mor forsothe hit ys Of the gluttonie and drunkennesse of this order which so farre declined like others from the first institution one of their owne side thus writ Sanctus Dominicus sit nobis semper amiâus Cuicanimus nostro iugiter praeconia rosâro De cordis venis siccatis ante lagenis Ergo was laudes si tu nos pangere gaudes Tempore Paschali fac ne potu puteali Conveniat vti quod si sit vndique muti Semper erant Fratres qui non curant nisi ventres All things degenerate in time and stray in a manner from the right course for example the order of Saint Benet which had flourished a long space with great reputation of holinesse diââered so much from the first institution of their Founder that neither the decrees and authoritie of holy Fathers generall and prouinciall Councels could reforme or draw them to their first principles vntill the sanctitie of one Odo or Otho Abbot of Cluâââ Burgandy and one of Saint Benets order reuiued in a manner from ãâã to life this Monasticall profession forcing them to obserue and obseruing himselfe from point to point all that was practised in the time of S. Benedict So as many of their Abbots which were drawne by his good example reformed also their Abbeyes not onely in France but as well in Spââne Germany Italy and England and for that this reformation ãâã his first beginning at Cluni the vnion of so many Abbeyes was called the congregation of Cluni and euery yeare by the Popes permission and authoritie all the Abbots of this congregation met at a certaine place and they called it the generall Chapter whereas they treated of the order and life of Monkes putting out and punishâng such as had offended This Odo liued in the yeare of our Lord 913. It was no long time after ere that these Benedictines fell againe to their old vomit their great wealth hauing made them proud idle luxurious carelesse of Gods house and in most or all of their actions
extreamely vitious Whereupon one Robert Abbot of Molesme a Towne in Burgundy peâceiuing that the Benedictines Monkes of his owne house as of all other Monasterâes had almost quite left and forsaken the ancient rule and discipâiâe that Benet had giuen them he left his owne house taking with him one aâd twenty of the honestest Monkes he could finde to a solitarie stupendiouâ and neuer inhabited place called Cisteux or Cistercium neare to âââgres in the said Duchie of Burgundy where hee erected a new Abbey for his new companions whom hee called Cistercians of the place where the Abbey was scituated The liberties immunities and priuiledges of this Order was generally confirmed by Alexander the fourth Bishop of Rome circa An 1258. Bulla Pape Alexandri quarti de Confirmatione omnium libertatum immunitatum priuilegiorum c. ordinis Cisterciensis Alexander Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei. Dilectis filijs Abbati Cistercij eiusque coahbitibus et conventibus vniuersis Cisterciensis ordinis Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Solet annuere sedes Apostolica pijs votis et honestis pâtentium precibus fauorem beneuolum impertiri Ea propter dilecti in Domino filij vestris iustis postulationibus grato concurrentes assensis omnes libertates et immunitates à predecessoribus nostris Romanis Pontificibus siue per priuilegia seu alias Indulgentias ordini vestro concessas nec non libertates et exemptiones secularium exactionum à Reâibus et principibus vel alijs Christianâ sidelibus rationabiliter vobis indultas auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus et presentis scripti patrocinio communuimus Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraâre Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petriet Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Dat. Lateran X. Kal. Martij Pontificatus nostri Anno secundo This Cistercian Brotherhood was first established here in England by one Walter Espeke who founded the first Abbey of the said Order at Riuaux or Rivall in Yorkeshire about the yeare 1131. according to this old Distich sometimes depicted vpon the wall at the entrance into the said Abbey Anglia Millesimo centes Anno quoque et vno Christi et tricesimo micuit Cistercius Ordo Some fifteene yeares after this foundation and about the yeare 1098. S. Bernard surnamed the Mellifluous a man noblely descended borne at the Castle of Fountenay in Burgundy with thirtie of his companions amongst which three were his owne brethren became religious men in this Monasterie This Bernard in short time became very famous as well for his learning of which his diuine writings full of sweetnesse beare witnesse as for the holinesse of his life in regard of which hee was sent by his superiour to lay the foundation of that great and famous Abbey of Clareuaux or Claravallensis neare to the riuer Aulbe about Langâes which Abbey a Nobleman of the countrey had then lately built and thus began the Monkes of the Order of Saint Bernard which is all one with the Cistercian Monkes sauing a little difference in the habit both of them obseruing the rule of Saint Benet This good man Saint Benet came to the Abbey of Cisteux when he was eighteene yeares old at the age of 25 he was consecrated Abbot of Claravall Et diuino magis instinctu quam humana industria legem Domini didicit quam tanta doctrinae munificentia et eloquij suavitatâ enarrauit vt communi Doctorum consersu Mellistui Doctoris cognomen sit adeptus saith Opmer The Archbishoprickes of Genua and Millan hee refused and onely contented himselfe with the gouernment of this Abbey of Claravall in the which he continued 38. yeares Hee died the fifth of Nouember about the yeare of Grace 1160. and was buried in his owne Monasterie when he had liued 63 yeares He built the Monasterie of Saint Vincent and Anastasius in Rome to the gouernment of which he preferred one Peter Bernard his Scholler who was afterward Pope of Rome by the name of Eugenius the thârd In his time by himselfe and his meanes one hundred and sixe Abbeyes of this Order were built and reestablished vpon the forefront or some other places within these Abbeyes this sentence is most commonly depensild grauen or painted taken out of Saint Bernard Bonum est nos hic esse quia homo viuit puriùs cadit rariùs âurgit vâlociùs incedit cautiùs quiescit securiùs moritur felicâùs purgatur ãâã praemiatur copiosius Amongst many Epitaphs made to the immortall memorie of this Mellifluons Doctor these following may suffice Ecce latet clare vallis clarissimus Abbas Qui summis summus qui sibi parvus erat Relligionis apex lux mundi laus Monachorum Vox verbi pacis sanctio iuris amor Instructus velox sublimis pauper abundaâs Artibus ingenio sanguine veste bonis Laudis eget titulo cuius laus non sit ad omnes Cuius honor cuius crescere fama fuit Nunc vero quem plangit adhuc quem predicat orbis Si laudare velim laus mea laude caret Dura malum cunctos tulit horruit ediâicauit Vana Deum requiem spreuit amauit habet Another alluding to the name of Claravall Sunt clare valles sed claris vallibus Abbas Clarior hijs clarum nomen habere dâdit Clarus auis clarus meritis et clarus honore Clarier eloquio Relligione magis Mors est clara cinis clarus clarumque sepulchrum Clarior exultaâ spiritus ante Deum Another vpon his owne name Ardens Bernardus aut ardens aut bona nardus Iure vocatur propter quod nunc celebratur Ardens feruore vita sublimis odore Nardus que vere virtutis signa fuere Iste fuit per quem patuit doctrina sophie Preco Dei Doctor fidei Cytarista Marie It is said by one that approaching neare to his end he spoke thus to his brethren Tria vobis obseruanda relinquo que in stadio presentis vite quo cucurrimemini me pro viribus observasse Nemini scandalum facere volui si aliquando accidit sedaui vt potui Minus semper sensui meo quam alterius credidi Lesus de ledente nunquam vindict im expetij Three things I require you to keepe and obserue which I remember to haue kept to my power as long as I haue been in this present life I haue not willed to slander any person and if any haue fallen I haue hid it as much as I might I haue euer lesse trusted to my owne wit and vnderstanding then to any others If I were at any time hurt harmed or annoyed I neuer craued vengeance of the partie which so wronged me Which is thus more succinctly set downe by another who hath written the life of the said Bernard Beati Bernardi metricum Testamentum Et primo sui Prioris interrogatio Que vite forma qui
mores que sacta norma Quid dâceat quid non instrue sancte pater Respunsio ipsius Bernardi Que âeci primâ vâbis facienda relinquo Nulium âuâauâ discordes pacificaui Lefus âustinui nec mihi complacui Within one hundred yeares after the first spreading abroad of these Cistercian and Bernardin Monkes the Benedictines wanted another reformation which was attempted by Peter one of the same Order surnamed âââoron of a Mountaine so called at the foote of which he liued in a caue for the space of three yeares doing daily penance Vpon this mountaine he built a little Church which he called of the holy Ghost be ware aâwayes a âlâaine of Iron vpon his bare flesh vpon it a shirt of haire being in continuall prayer and reforming the rule of Saint Benet which was then much degenerated Hee obtained of the Pope a confirmation of his rule vpon which hee celebrated the first generall Chapter of his Order After which in the seuentie ninth yeare of his age he was chosen Pope about the yeare of our redemption 1â94 by the name of Celestin the fifth where vpon this reformed order were called Celestins the number of which increased so fast that he himselfe consecraced for them fixe and âhirtie clââsters in Italy wherein were sixe hundred Monkes amongst others this was one of Celestin the Popes caueats for his new reformadoes Tunc Celestinus cris si celestia mediteris If heau'nly things thou lt meditate Then shalt thou liue in heuenly state Their first comming into England was much what about the yeare 1414. The sanctitie of the Francischan Minorite Friers growne cold one Berâard of Sienna a gentleman of a noble extraction moued with an holy and ãâã deuotion laboured much for the reformation of that Order which ãâã some assistants effected taking away the abuses which were crept ãâã causing the Friers to liue in common and to haue nothing proper to ãâã following simplie the institution of their father Saint Francis ãâã called Obseruant Minorite Friers because they were obseruan ãâ¦ã S. Francisci propterea meliores more obseruant to keepe the ãâã and orders of Saint Francis and therefore the better This Order ãâ¦ã the yeare of Iubile 1400. or thereabouts it was first confirmed by ãâã Couââell of Cââsâânce afterwards by Eugenins the fourth and other ãâ¦ã the fourth brought them into England and Henry the seuenth auhmented their numbers in whose time they had six famouâ Cloisters here in this kingdome Many other reformations haue beenâ ãâã time to time of the Franciscans as by the Minims Recoâlects Pen ãâã ãâã ries Capuchins c. and by many others which happened sinced ãâã lution here in England or much what thereabouts One Norbert Archbishop of Magdebourgh leauing the world retired himselfe with certaine companions into a certaine place called ãâ¦ã of which this order tooke denomination where hee squared ãâ¦ã himselfe his fellowes and successours to obserue much what after the order of Saint Augustine which was approued and confirmed by Calixtus the second Honorius the second made them regular Charions Their Abbots were perpetuall and euer consecrated by Bishops They had power to conferre their lesser Orders to their Monkes and to blesse all thâ ornaments of the Church and to do all other ceremonies but where as conseâration is required in the blessing yet they might celebrate soâemne and ãâã Masse with the myter crosier staffe cappe and other ornaments which belong to the Episcopall order and dignitie The first institution of this order was about the yeare 1120. their first house here in England was at Newhouse in Lincolnshire These Votaries pretend to haue had their first institution at mount Carmel in Syria where Elias and other heretofore liued solitarily and that the place being inhabited by many Hermites Almericke Bishop of ãâã drew them together liuing dispersed about the mountaine and ãâ¦ã them a Monasterie in that mount neare vnto a fountaine They say a fâthââr one Albert Patriarch of Ierusalem a very famous man set downea rule from the life of Elias out of a certaine Greeke booke of the institution of the first Monke and from the rule of Saint Basill the Great giuing it to keepe to one Brocard who was Prior of Mount Carmell and to his Hermits which rule of Albert they vowed to obserue which was afterwards confirmed by Pope Honorius the third They affirme that the Virgine Mary appeared vnto one of their order and presented vnto him a Scapularie saying Receiue my beloued this Scapularie which I giue vnto thy order in signe of my fellowship Whereupon they vsurpe the title of ãâã tres Ordinis beatae Mariae Virginis de monte Carmelo Friers of the Order of the blessed Virgine Mary of mount Carmell Their first apparition ãâã the world was about the yeare 1170. Their entrance into England and seating themselues at Newenden in Kent of which hereafter was about the midst of the raigne of King Henry the third These like as other Orders haue beene diuers times reformed euer as they did degenerate from their primitiue sincerity at this day they are called Carmes discalced or bare footed Friers by a certaine constitution confirmed by the Apostolique authoritie in a generall Chapter held at Alcara de Henares in the yeare of our redemption 1581. There were likewise Carmelin or Carnie ãâã Nunnes here in England Iohn Bale who writ of the writers and the best learned men of great Britaine writ also a large Treatise of this Order of Carmes or Carmelites whose antiquitie institution and progresse he sets downe in one of ãâ¦ã sages as followeth De Antiquitate Fratrum Carmelitarum Tanta est Carmeli Fratrum de monte vetustas Quim mentâm superet cunctorum pene virorum Namque per Hâliam datur Ordo fuisse Prophetam Hie primo inceptus sacro quoque iure statutus Qui postquam curru raptus fuit in Paradisum Flammato successit et vates Heliseus Condita quinque virum ter claustra fuere per illum Quem post affirmant Ionam fuisse Prophetam Cui successerunt Abdias atque Micheas Et plerique alij quos non memorare necesse est Tempore non Christi Montem Baptista Iohannes Carmeli Andreas et Apâstolus incoluerunt Nathaniel Ioseph Vir Virginis atque Marie Sanctus Iheronimus et quidam nomine dictus Nilas Marcellus quorum Pauli fuit alter Petri Discipulus fuit alter deinde beati Tunc in honore pia fuit Ara sancta Marie Monte in Carmeli prenescentum que virorum Tunc in Hierusalem Claustrum fuit aurea porta Quondam nempe loco qui vulgo sertur ab omni Ac in monte Syon claustrum primo Muliârum Multe denote quod percoluere Sorores Sincletica Euprepia Polycrasia item Melania Combustum primo verum fuit à Mahumeto Postque per Eraclum destructum post quoque Paulo Euersum rursus Danorum et ..... Regio .... Per .... Karoli reparatum tempore magni Ast vbi
capta primo fuit Acon in pede cuius Est mons Carmeli Syriamque Asyamque coacti Linquere sunt Fratres in Europam Lodouici Translati Regis Francorum sunt ope sancti Anglia bissenos illos tenuit tamen annos Qua Regione moram traxere ...... He speakes much in the honour of this religious Order of which hee was a member in the Monasterie of the Carmes within the Citie of Norwich and findes himselfe much aggrieued at a certaine Lollard as he calls him and a Frier mendicant who made an Oration and composed certaine virulent meeters against this and other of the Religious orders which hee caused to bee spread abroad throughout the most parte of England in the yeare 1388. and here will it please you reade these his cursing rimes Per decies binos Sathanas capiat Iacobinos Propter et errores Iesu confunde Minores Augustienses Pater inclite sterne per enses Et Carmelitas tanquam falsos Heremitas Sunt confessores Dominorum seu Dominarum Et seductores ipsarum sunt animarum Iââ is destrâctis et ab hinc cum Demone Ductis Fraus dolus ex bunt pax et bona vita redibunt Hij non seribantur cum iustis sed deleantur De libro vite quibus dicat Deus Ite These Sathanicall strong lines as the phrase is now did at the first greââly distaste my ââââend Author Iohn Bale being one of the Fraternitie Sed ãâ¦ã deformitatem suam videbat but afterwards when as he say his owne deformitie and blindnesse exuebat habitum sise professionis he put off the habite of his cloistered profession he rooted out erazed and defaced the maleuolent character of Antichrist as hee saith himselfe and consequently embraced the reformed Religion and writ many-most bitter Inuectiues against al sorts of our English Votaries This Bale flourished in the raigne of King Henry the eighth and was liuing in the second yeare of Edward the sixth about which time he writ his Centuries Thus much which is more then I determined to haue spoke touching the order of the Carmes The order of Grand Mont was instituted at Grand Mont in Limosin in France about the yeare of our redemption one thousand seuentie sixe vnâder the rule of Saint Benedict by Stephen a gentleman of Auuergne who being sent by his father to Molon Bishop of Beâuent to bee instructed by him he spent twelue yeares learning the institutions and rule of Saint Benedict Going from thence and hauing duely obserued the liues of many Hermites and Monkes and seene what was worthie of imitaâiân in the end he seââed himselfe vpon the top of an high hill in Limosin being at that time thirtie yeares old whereas hee built a little cottage Hee prescribed a rule of Saint Benedict to his disciples himselfe liuing with bread and water and died being eightie yeares old I finde very few Couents of this religious Order here in England one there was at Abberbury in Shropshire confirmed by the Bull of Gregorie the ninth Bishop of Rome as followeth Gregorius Episcopus Seruus sernorum Dei Dilectis filijs Priori Fratibus de Abberburi Grandimontensis ordinis Hereforde Dioc. Salut Apostolicam benedictionem Iustis petentium desiderijs dignum est nos facilem prebere consensum et vota que a rationis tramite non discordant effectu prosequente complere Ea propter dilecti in domino filij vestris iustis postularionibus grato concurrentes assensio possessiones redditus alâa boâ a vesira siâcue ea omnia iuste pacifice possidetis vobis per vos domui vestre auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus presentis scripti patrocinio communuiâhus Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmation is infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presâmpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei beatorum Petri Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Dat. Avagnie Non. Febr. Pontificatus nostri Anno Sexto To speake nothing of their opinion being altogether vnprofitable who ãâ¦ã Saint Peters disciple and Bishop of Rome was the first founder of this order It is receiued for more truth that one Cyriacus Patriarch of Ierusalem who shewed S. Helen the mother of Great Constantine where the Crosse was whereon our blessed Sauiour was crucified was thâ first that instituted this Order in memoriall of the inuention of the Crosse and gaue ordââ that these Friers should euer afterwards carrie a Crosle in their hands but by reason of ãâã his martyrdome vnder the Apostata Iulian and the cruell persecutions of the Christians this order became almost quite extinguished vntill Pope Innocent the third gaue it new life since which time it haâh euer flourished here and beyond Seas with some little reformation like the rest of its fellowes This holy order came into England in the yeare of our saluation 1244. Their first Câoister was at Colchester their greatest Monasterie was neare vnto the Tower hill London as yet called by the name of Cruched Friers They did not of late as the first institution carry the Crosse in their ãâã but ware a crosse of red cloth or skarlet fixed to then habit on their breast About the yeare 13â7 the order of the Trinitarian Friers came into England an order whose chiefe charge was to go and gather money to redeeme Christians that were captiues vnder the ââranny of the ãâã and Infidels whereupon they were called Monachi de Redemptioâe ãâ¦ã rum Monkes of the redemption of captiues This order was instituted by a Frier called Iohn Matta and Felix Anachorita who liued a solitarie life in France and were warned in their sleepe as the tale goes to repaire to Rome to the Pope and to seeke for a place of him to build them a cloister Which they did and their petition being to them granted they laid the foundation of the Monasterie now called Saint Thomas of the Mount in mount Celia Rome wherein Frier Iohn died and was buried as appeares by an Arch or ancient Sepulchre of marble in the little Church of the said Church on the which this Epitaph or Inscription is engrauen Anno Domini et incarnationis 1197. Pontificatus verò domini Innocentij Pape terij Anno primo 15 Kaldanuar institutus est nutu Dei Ordo Sanctissimae Trinitatis et captiuorum à Fratre Iohanne sub propria regula sibi ab Apostolica sede concessa sepultus est idem Frater Iohannes in hoc loci Ann. Dom. M. CC. XIII Mense Decembris vicesimo primo Yet for all this these Trinitarians say that the holy and blessed Trinitie and not Frier Iohn neither any of the Saints gaue them this their rule and order to which effect in all their Couents these Rimes are painted or engrauen Hic est ordo ordinatus Non à sancto fabricatus Sed a solo summo Deo This blessed Order first began By God and not by Saint nor man
which I haue read depicted round about the Cloister of the Carthusians at Paris doth shew sent for the foresaid Bruno to Rome whose disciple hee had beene where he remained for a time and did much helpe to pacifie the troubles there at that time by his prayers he parted from Rome and taking his way by Calabria he came into a desart called the Tower in the Diocesse of Squilace where he stayed with his compaâions making their residence in certaine caues vnder the ground The which when one Roger the Prince of that countrey vnderstood he went to visit this holy man Bruno and gaue to him and his societie all that desart whereas they built a Church in the which Bruno remained alone where his companions liued and in that place hee died ann 1102. and there was buried Vpon whose Sepulchre this Epitaph was insculped Primus in hac Christi fundator ouilis Eremo Promerui fieri qui tegor hoc lapide Bruno mihi nomen Genetrix Germania meque Transtulit ad Calabros grata quies nemoris Doctor eram Preco Christi virnotus in orbe Desuper illud erat gratia non meritum Carnis vincla dies Octobris sexta resoluit Ossa manent tumulo spiritus astra petit He was canonized in the yeare 1520. Priors of their grand Monasterie at Carthusia from Bruno the first till Bruno d' Affrinques who gouerned that house ann 1611. haue beene fourty and foure This order came into England about the yeare 1180. and at Witham in Somersetshire built their first cloister Afterwards they came to London and had a faire sumptuous house neare vnto Smithfield London which is now Suttons Hospitall another they had called Sein or Shene in the countie of Surrey now best knowne by the name of Richmond There were foure Orders here in England of begging Friers who did challenge for their Patrons S. Augustine S. Francis S. Dominicke and Saint Basill but in their discipline and rule of life they came farre short of their first Institutors who both tooke paines with their hands as labourers and as learned writers as their workes do testifie of all Orders these Mendicants haue euer been most bitterly inueighed against by their owne writers as I shall shew hereafter Quidam nouus ordo Fratrum Londini apparuit incognitus Papale tamen autenticum palam ostendens ita vt tot ordinum confusio videretur A certaine new and vnknowne order of Friers appeared in London shewing openly the Popes authenticall Bull for their admission so that then there seemed to be a confusion of so many Orders saith Paris These were called Fratres de poenitentia Iesu or Fratres de Sacca Friers of the repentance of Iesus or Friers of the Sacke for that they carried sacks and for that they were clad in sackcloth These had their first house a little without Aldersgate London and obtained licence of King Henry the third in the fifth yeare of his raigne to remoue from thence vnto any other place and within some two yeares afterwards hee gaue to them the Iewes Synagogue in Colmanstreet ward which was defaced by the Citizens of London after they had slaine seuen hundred Iewes and taken away all their goods After which time Eleanor wife to King Edward the first tooke into her protection and warranted vnto the Prior and Brethren De poenitentia Iesu Christi of London the said land in Colechurch street in the Parish of Saint Olaue in the old Iury and S. Margaret in Lothbury by her granted with consent of Stephen de Fulborne Vnder-Warden of the Bridge-house and other Brethren of that house for threescore Markes of siluer which they had receiued of the said Prior and Brethren of Repentance toward the building of the said Bridge This Order of Friers gathered many good Schollers and multiplied in number exceedingly vntill by a generall Councell it was decreed that there should no more Orders of begging Friers be permitted but onely the foure Orders and so from that time these Friers decreased and fell to nothing There were also Nunnes of this order which were called Sachettes whether they had any Couent in England or not I do not know But great S. Lewis King of France being stirred vp by Queene Blaunch his mother in the yeare of our saluation 1261. hauing giuen vnto the Brethren of the Sacke or of the repentance of Iesus Christ a certaine house vpon the riuer of Seine a little beneath S. Michaels bridge in the Parish of Saint Andrew des Artes at Paris as by his charter which I haue read appeares gaue also to the Nunnes of the same order another house to inhabite in the said Parish where neither of the orders made there any long abode but were expelled in the time of the said King leauing onely the name of Sachettes vnto the streete About the yeare 1048. the Sarazins being masters of Ierusalem and of the holy Temple which they ruined certaine gentlemen and Italian Merchants vsed to frequent the ports and maritime towns of Syria and Aegypt who for that they brought merchandise which was pleasing vnto those countries were well entertained not onely by the gouernour of the Towne but by the Calife of Aegypt These Christians going often to Ierusalem to visit the holy places and hauing no place of retreat within the citie they obtained leaue to build a Church a Pallace with certaine Monasteries for the lodging of Pilgrimes But in the end they caused an Hospitall to bee built for the receiuing of all sorts of Pilgrimes both sicke and whole and in like manner a Church which was dedicated to S. Iohn Baptist. In the yeare 1099. the citie of Ierusalem being recouered against the impulsions of the Infidels by Godfrey of Bullein Duke of Lorraine this order was instituted the Kings of France were soueraignes of this order who granted them diuers immunities They bare fiue crosses gules in forme of that which is at this day called Ierusalem crosse representing thereby the fiue wounds that violated the bodie of our Sauiour None were to be admitted if of a defamed life or not of the Catholike religion They were to be gentlemen of bloud and of sufficient meanes to maintaine a port agreeable to that calling without the exercise of mechanicall sciences as appeares by these demands propounded by the Pater-Guardian vpon their admission and the Knights answers Guard Quid quaeris Miles Quaero effici Militem sanctissimi Sepulchri Guard Cuius coâditionis es Mil. Nobilis genere Pare ãâ¦ã bis Christianis ortus Guard Habes vnde ãâ¦ã litaris dignitatis conseruare possis absque mercibus et ãâ¦ã Habeo Dei gratia They tooke the Sacrament to heare euery day ãâã if they might conueniently if warres were commenced against the ãâã to serue there in person or to lend other in their stead no ãâ¦ã To oppugne the persecutours of the Church to shunne vniust warres ãâã honest gaine and priuate duels Lastly to
be reconcilers of dissentions to aduance the common good to defend the widow and orphane to ãâã from swearing periurie blasphemie rapine vsury sacriledge murder and drunkennesse to auoid suspected places the companie of ãâ¦ã to liue chastly irreproueably and in word and dead to ãâã theâselues worthy of such a dignity This oath taken the Pater ãâ¦ã his hand vpon his head as hee kneeâed before the entrance ãâ¦ã saying Esto tu fidelis strenuus bonus robustus âiles ãâ¦ã Christi sanctissimi Sepulchri quite cum âlectis suis in ãâ¦ã a celloâ redignetur Amen Then he gaue him a paire of spurres which he put on his heeles and after that a sword being before hâllowed with this ãâã Exaudi quaesumus Domine Deus preces nostras ãâ¦ã qua se ââmulus tuus hic cingi desiderat Maiestatis tuae dextera digââââ ãâã quatenus possit esse defensor Ecclesiârum viduârunu ãâ¦ã que Deo servientium contra Paganorum saeuitiam ãâ¦ã sit terror atque formido praestans ei aequè persecutionis ãâ¦ã effectum Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Amen Then he ãâã him to vse this sword in defence of the Church and himselfe and to the confusion of Infidels by these words Accipe N. sanctum gladium Iâ nomine Patris et Filij et Spiritus sâncti Amen Et vlaris eo ad ãâã tuam et sanctae Dei Ecclesiae et ad confusionem inimicorum ãâ¦ã sidei Christianae et quantum humana imbecillitate poteriâ ãâ¦ã laedas Quod ipse praestare dignetur qui cum Patre et Spârita ãâ¦ã per omnia secula seculorum Amen The sword being ãâã agaââââ ãâã Knight was to gird himselfe there with to whom the Pater Guardian ãâã spoke Accingere N. gladio tuo super faemur inum potentiss me ãâ¦ã Domini nostri Iesu Christi Et attende quod sancti non in ãâ¦ã sidem vicerunt regna Then the Knight arising and forthwiââ kneeling ãâã to the Sepulchre enclining his head vpon the same he was citated ãâã by the said Pater-Guardian by receiuing three strokes with a sword ãâã shoulder and by the saying of these words following thrice oâer I go constituo et ordino te N. Militem sanctissimi Sepulchri Domini nostri Iesu Christi In nomine patris et filij et Spiritus sancti Amen I constitute and ordaine thee N. a knight of the holy Sepulchre of our Lord Iesus Christ in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Amen Anno Dominii 1117. Gotfredus Aldemarus Alexandrinus and Hugo de Planco de Paganis Godfrey aforesaid Duke of Lorraine and King of Ierusalem being dead and Baldwin then raigning this order of Knighthood first began and a seat was granted them in the Temple of Ierusalem whereupon they were called Knights Templers or Knights of the Temple By entreaty of Stephen Patriarch of Ierusalem Pope Honorius brought in this order and confirmed their societie giuing them a white garment whereunto Eugenius the third added a red crosse on the breast The charge of these Knights was to guide Trauellers on the way of Ierusalem and to entertaine strangers Of the time when these as also the other Knights came first to haue Hospitalls and houses here in England I do speake hereafter In the yeare after Christs Natiuitie 1148. contrarie to Iustinians constitutions which forbad double Monasteries that is to say of men and women together one Gilbert Lord of Sempringham in Lincolnshire whose fathers name was Ioceline a knight this Gilbert was a man very deformed in his body but very studious and learned Hee went ouer into France where by his study in the liberall Arts he obtained both the name and degree of Master and comming home hee instructed both the boyes and girles of his owne countrey in the same disciplines Out of which number when they came to maturitie of yeares he collected a company consisting of men and women and gaue them a rule to obserue which hee had taken out of Saint Augustine and Saint Benets rules Eugenius the third Bishop of Rome admiring much his deuotion and forwadnesse like as others did his holinesse confirmed this his religious order Which so grew and increased that himselfe laid the foundation of thirteene religious honies of the same Order whereof the chiefest was at Sempringham and whiles he liued which was one hundred and sixe yeares had in them seuen hundred Gilbertin Brethren and eleuen hundred Sisters parted one from another by walls you must thinke of which as also of the whole order a scoffing Poet of those dayes thus versified translated by Bale in the Acts of English Votaries out of Latine thus The Monkes sing the Masse the Nuns sing the other Thus doth the Sister take part with the Brother Bodies not voices a wall doth disseuer Without deuotion they sing both together Againe thus What should I much prate An order it is begun of late Yet will I not let the matter so passe The silly Brethren and Sisters alas Can haue no meeting but late in the darke And this you know well is a heauie warke Againe of these Friers and Nuns Some barren are of these some fruitfull bee Yet they by name of Virgins couer all More fertile sure and better beareth shee Who blest is once with croysier Pastorall Now scarce of them is found one barren Doe Till age debarre whether they will or no. Brigide or Briget that holy Queene of Sweden in the yeare 1376 did institute the like order as aforesaid of Monkes and Nunnes which was confirmed by Gregorie the eleuenth in the first yeare of his Popedome She obtained of the said Pope that the Monasteries of her said order should bee common as well for men as women yet there should bee such a sâparation by walls as the one should haue no meanes to come vnto the other but vpon great necessitie She would also haue but one Church for both sexes and that the Monkes as Ministers of sacred things should bee below and the Nunnes aboue to say their seruice and prayers but the Lady Abbesse should haue power to command both yet men should haue charge of thaâ which did belong to the Diuine Seruice and to the ornaments of the Church and that there should be one amongst them that should be called Prior or Confessour She also ordained that they should haue lands and possessions wheron to liue but the superintendance to prouide for all things that should be needfull for the one and the other as well for victualls as apparell should belong vnto the Abbesse That it should not bee lawfull for either men or women to go out of their Monasterie without great necessitie and then they should demand leaue of the Abbesse They held the rule of S. Augustine with certaine Articles added by this famous Queene Some are of opinion that this forme of Religion was first inuented in Greece but that the Fathers had ordained that the men should remaine seperated
pardon and as many karynes and on the oon side of the Chirche ther is a sacryfice that is at Seynt Iohn Baptist aulter and there is the table that our Lord ete att vpon Mandy Thurrysday And also the tables of stone with the x Commandementys that our Lorde yaf to Moyses vpon the mount of Synai And ther ys a iiii square of the v barley loues and of the twoo fishes and also there is our ladyes keuyrchef Item in that same Chirche on the hygh aulter be the hedys of seynt Peter and Poule and the hed of Zacharie the Prophet fader of S. Iohn Baptist wyth dyuers odyr reliquys Item in the same Chirchyard stondith a chapel that ys callid Sanctum Sanctorum there is the face of our Lord there may ye haue xiiii M. yere of pardon and as many karynes Whan the Emperour Constantyne was christened tho spake he to Pope Siluestre In that that I have geuen my hous to the wurschip of god graunt you mekely his grace to all them that willingly come to this towne Thoo answerd Pope Siluestre our Lord Ihu Criste that by his gret mercy hath purged you of your gret lazarye he mut purge alle them that visityth this Chyrch of all her synne and of all other penance He that woll not beleue this may goo to seynt Latrynes before the quyer dore and there he may see in a marbill all that is wryten here From seynt Iohns day vnto Scrouetyd all this pardon is doubled and fro Scrouetide vnto Ester the pardon is threfolde double Blessyd is he that may deserve to have this pardon And in the same chapel abouesaid may come noo weemen Item aboue that chapel on the lefre syde ar stoppys which sometyme ware at Iherusalem and who so goth op tho steppys on his knees he deliuerith o soul out of Purgatory Item in the Chirch of Seynt Eustace you may have relyse and pardon of all synne And he that is shreuen and repentant of his sinne he hath a M. yere pardon and as many karynes My Author hauing spoken of the Indulgences and priuiledges granted to these principall Churches and the great benefit which deuout pilgrimes receiue which come to visit these sacred structures and highly reuerence the holy reliques therein contained he proceeds in this place according to his promise to giue his Reader knowledge what a karyne is A karyne saith he is too goo wulward vii yere Item to fasten bred and watter the Fryday vii yere Item in vii yere not too slepe oon nyght there he slepith a nother Item in vii yere not to com vndir noo couered place but yf it bee to here Masse in the Chirch dore or porche Item in vii yere nott to ete nor drynke out of noo vessel but in the same that he made hys avow in Item he that fulfillyth all thes poyntis vii yere duryng doth and wynnethe a karyne that ys to sey a Lentdum Thus may a man haue at Rome as he concludes gret pardon and Soul helth blessyd ben thoos pepull and yn good tyme borne that reslayyeth thes graces and well kepith them Of the which pardon and grace our Lord Ihesu Cryst mot grant to euery good Crysten man Amen Then follow the Indulgences granted to other lower Churches in Rome but by these you may imagine the rest And by both iudge of the Pardon 's granted by seuerall Popes to the Cathedrall Conuentuall and Parochiall Churches of England And thinke what concourse of pilgrimes and other people daily visited the foresaid Churches which will hereafter appeare within each seuerall Diocesse And here giue me leaue a little to speake of a certaine generall Pardon or Indulgence granted by Alexander the sixth Bishop of Rome to this Realme of England By which he enriched himselfe and the Church-Ministers and emptied the purses of many of the Kings subiects Towards the latter end of the yeare one thousand fiue hundred being the yeare of Iubile so called for that it is the yeare of ioy or deliuerance the foresaid Bishop of Rome sent hither to King Henry the seuenth one Iasper Powe or Pons a Spaniard a man of excellent learning and most ciuill behauiour to distribute the Heauenly Grace as hee termed it to all such as letted by any forcible impediment could not come to Rome that yeare to the Iubile which was there celebrated The Articles contained in the Bul of this great Pardon or Heauenly Grace were as followeth The Articles of the Bulle of the holy Iubiley of full remissyon and gret ioy graunted to the Relme of Englond Wales Irelond Gernesey and Garnesey and other places vndre the subiection of oure Soueraygne Lord King Henry the seuenth to be distributyd accordyng to the trew meanyng of our holy Fader vnto the Kyngs Subiects Ower most holye Fader the Pope Goddes Vicar in erthe of hys holye and gracyous disposycion faderla beholdyng the hole flok of christen peple comitted to hys cure and charge daylie studyeth diligently the helth and welfar of yowr sowles And in as moche as in his holynes prouydeth for all soche perelles and ieoperdies as may fall to the same by grauntyng of gret Indulgence and remishyon of synnes and trespasses Where as the holye yere of grace now of late passyd that ys to say the yere of remishyon of all synnes ye yere of ioye and gladnes was celebrate devowtely and solenly keped by grete and infenite nombre of Cristen pepull in the Cowrte of Rome Ower saide most holie Fader the Pope as well consideryng the infenite nombre of cristen peple bothe spyrituall and temporall which was desirous to haue had the sayd remishyon and Grace and wold haue visetted the sayd Cowrte of Rome saue only that they were lette eyther by sikenesse feblenesse pouerte long distance and gret ieoperdie or besines and charges of spirituall or temporall occupacions or at that tyme purposed not to optaine and perchase the sayd Grace and now be in will and desire to haue the same As willyng and effectually desiring to prouyde and withstond the most cruell purpose and infenyte malice of our most cruell enemyes of our cristen feithe the Turks whiche continually studieth and gretely inforceth hymselfe with alle hys myght and strenght to subuert and vtterly destroye the holye Religion of our Souerayne Criste. As it is nott vnknowen how now of late the sayd most cruell enemy hath opteyned and goten with grete myght and power many and dyuers grete citees and castles As Modon Neopoâton and Corona with many oder Townes and possessions which was than in the dominatyon and possession of cristen peple And most cruelly hath sleyne and âestroyed infenite nombre of cristen peple withowt mercy or pite bothe by water and by londe Seeyng and consideryng his Holynes that he of hymselfe is not sufficyent ne of power to resiste and withstonde the forsayd gret malyces and porposes without the ayde and helpe of cristen peple Hath statuâed ordeyned and graunted of his Pastorall power
raised vpon small occasions thought his way would bee much easier if he went onward with the Popes good fauour which he easily obtained for a fee viz. a penny yearely to bee payed to Saint Peter of euerie house in Ireland Edward the third in the 39. yeare of his raigne saith Treuisa the Continuer of Polychronicon ordained that this Tribute of Peter pence should not be from thenceforth any more gathered within this Realme nor any such payment made at Rome But howsoeuer saith Hollinshed in the said yeare this payment was abrogated at this time by King Edward it was after reneâed againe by the Pope and the money was gathered in certaine Shires of this Realme vntill the dayes of king Henry the eighth Parsons and Impropriators of Churches at this day in many places of England are payed this pennie vnder the name of a Smoke pennie This Chapter is growne much longer then I expected Of which an end CHAP. XVIII Of Parishes Bishoprickes Of the power and sanctitie of Bishops and Priests Of Sanctuaries and of the Ecclesâasticall state of England and Wales PArochia dicitâr locus in quo degit populus alicui Ecclesiae baptismali deputatus certis finibus limitatus A Parish is said to bee a place in which people doe hue assigned to some Christian Church and limited by certaine bounds Euaristus the first Bishop of Rome who suffered martyrdome vnder Traian the Emperour about the yeare of our redemption one hundred and ten ordained Curates and disposed of them to certaine places that they might administer the Sacraments to such people as were committed to their charge and withall he ordained that these Curates should bee nourished and maintained by those people of whose soules they had the cure whereupon they were called Parochi ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã à prebenco vel à mutua alimentorum praebitione Parochians or Parishioners of the mutuall exhibition and giuing of nourishment one to another the Priest for the soules of his people and the people for the maintenance of their Priest Dionisius that blessed Martyr Bishop of Rome circa ann 266. did attempt to doe the like throughout the whole Christian world appointing by distribution certaine places to which he assigned Ecclesiasticall persons there to administer the Sacraments pray and preach the word and to receiue the tenths of the possessions contained within the limits of the foresaid places Honorius Archiepiscopus Cantuar circa annum à salute reparata 636. Angliam primus in Parochias distribuere cepit Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury about the yeare of our saluation 636. began first to diuide England into Parishes But this opinion is controuerted by a late learned Antiquary and by him plainly approued that Honorius was not the first that made this diuision here in England but that Parishes were diuided and Parish-Churches built long before his time euen in the Primitiue Hierarchie of the Britaineâ And that in the time of King Arthur about the yeare of our Lord 490 when Dubritius was made Archbishop of South Wales diuers Churches with their endowments of Tithes oblations and other profits were appropriated to him the said Dubritius and his successours And that in those times Churches were built here no doubt can bee made Neither is it to be conceiued how Christianitie could be in any nation saith my Author much ancienter if generally receiued or by any number then Churches or some conuenient houses or other places in the nature of Churches appointed for the exercise of deuotion And expresse mention is made of a Church of which I haue spoken before built in Canterbury in the time of the Romanes to the honour of Saint Martin in which Augustine and his followers when they came first from Rome made their holy assemblies After that the stormes of Diocletians persecution were ouerblowen saith Bede which was circa Ann. 290. the faithfull Christians who in time of danger lay hid in dennes and deserts came forth and shewed themselues abroad renewed their Churches which before were ouerthrowne flat to the ground founded builded and perfited new Temples in honour of the holy Martyrs celebrated holy dayes consecrated the holy mysteries with pure mouth and heart and euery where as it were displayed their ensignes in signe of Conquest Aliquindo Parochia dicitur totus Episcopatus saith one and Parochia etiam Dioecesis Episcopalis dicitur saith another Sometime a Parish is said to be the whole Bishopricke and sometime the Episcopall Diocesse Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons diuided In duas Parochias Praâânciam the Prouince into two Parishes or Diocesses when as he erected a new Bishopricke at Winchester taken out of the Diocesse of Dorchester a ruinous Towne now in Oxfordshire In the yeare 680. Merciorum Prouincia in quinque Parochias est diuisa The Prouince of Mercia was diuided into fiue Parishes that is into fiue Bishopricks and thus Honorius may be said properly to haue beene the first vnder whom his Prouince was diuided into such Parishes or Bishoprickes Anno Dom. 747. in the raigne of Ethelbald king of the Mercians in a Synod holden at Clouesho it was decreed Vt singuli Episcopi omni anno Parochias suas circumirent That euery Bishop should go about or visit his Parishes once euery yeare And in the first Synod or Conuocation of the English Church holden at Hereford Ann. 670 it was determined Vt nullus Episcoporum Parochiam alterius inuadat sed contentus sit gubernatione creditae sihi plebis That no Bishop should haue ought to do in anothers Parish but bee contented with the charge of the people committed vnto him Kenulph King of the Mercians in his Epistle to Leo the third Bishop of Rome writes Quod contra Canones à Patre Gregorio constitut as auctoritas Dorobernensis Metropolitani in duas scinditur Parochias cuius ditioni duo decim subiacere debent Episcopi That contrary to the Canons of Saint Gregory the iurisdiction of the Metropoliticall See of Canterbury was diuided into two Parishes to whose authoritie twelue Bishops ought to be subiect To which point of his Epistle Leo makes this answer In sacro scrinio nostro reperimus sanctum Gregorium Predecessorem nostrum in integro ipsam Parochiam numero duodecim beato Augustino Archiepiscopo tradidisse Epis copos consecrandos We finde in our sacred Cabinet our Predecessour Saint Gregory to haue giuen and deliuered that Parish to blessed Augustine entire and whole with the number of twelue Bishops by him to bee consecrated These great Parishes or Bishoprickes were not made Diocesses or Iurisdictions together straight from the first budding of Christianitie but in succession of time as the number of Christians did increase and as the true faith was spread abroad For some Churches were vnder the charge of Curates other some of Abbots and of these were made these great Parishes or Bishopricks The dignitie and gouernment of which was appointed to learned and religious
heare a peece out of Harding in the life of Henry the second He exiled then Thomas of Cauntorbury Out of Englande and many of his alliaunce For cause of his rebellious gouernaunce And as he came fro Rome by Fraunce awaye With language fel he prayede the Kyng that daye The poyntes to mende And now if you will giue me leaue a little to digresse I will tell you a tale beleeue it as you lift reported by the said Thomas Becket himselfe how that being in banishment our blessed Lady gaue him a golden Eagle full of precious ointment inclosed in a stone vessell commanding him to preserue it foretelling withall that the kings of England which should be therewith anointed should be strong champions and stout defendours of the Church that they should be bountifull benigne and fortunate and that they should peaceably recouer such lands or territories as had beene before lost by their predecessours so long as they had this Eagle with the viall or sacred vessell in their custody telling him withall that hee should bee a Martyr This vision happened to him forsooth at Sens in France in the Nunnes Church consecrated to Saint Columbe in which Citie hee found Pope Alexander the third a man like himselfe of an ambitious and turbulent âierie spirit into whose bosome saith Hollinshead he emptied whole cart-loads of complaints and grieuances like a contumacious rebell against his soueraigne Lord excommunicating and cursing with bell booke and candle all that did any way adhere vnto the kings partie But now to returne to the words by which hee did expresse his strange and incredible apparition which I will set downe in the same language as I found them anciently written in the Lieger booke of the Abbey of Whalley in Lanchishire Thus he begins Quando ego Thomas Cantuar. Archiepiscopus exul ab Anglia fugie bam ad Franciam veni ad Papam Alex. qui tunc Senonis erat vt ei ostenderem malas consuetudines abusiones quas Rex Anglie in Ecclesiam in troducebat Quadam nocte cum essem in Ecclesia Sancte Columbe in Monial rogaui Reginam Virginum vt daret Regi Anglie et hered propositum et voluntatem emendandi se erga Ecclesiam et quod Christus pro sua miserecordia ampliori dilectione ipsum faceret diligere Ecclesiam Statim apparuit mihi beata Virgo habens in pectore istam aquilam auream siue lapideam accipiens Aquilam de pectore suo ampullam includit Aquilam cum Ampulla in manu mea posuit et hec verba per ordinem dixit Ista est vnctio per quam Reges Anglie debent inungi non isti qui modo sunt regnant regnabunt quia maligni sunt propter peccata sua multa amiserunt amitterent Sunt autem Reges Anglie futuri qui inungerentur vnctione benigni pugiles Ecclesie erunt Nam isti terram amissam à parentibus pacisice recuperabunt donec Aquilam cum Ampulla habeant Est autem Rex Anglorum futurus qui primo mungeretur vnctione ista qui terram amissam à parentibus scilicet Normanniam Aquitaniam recuperabit sine vi Rex iste erit maximus inter Reges est ille qui edificabit multas Ecclesias in terra sancta fugabit omnes Paganos de Babilon in âadem Ecclesias ediâicabit plures quotiescunque Rex portabit Aquilam in pectore victoriam habebit de inimicis suis regnum eius semper augmentabituâ tu autem es Martyr futurus Tunc rogaui beatam Virginem vt ostenderet mihi vbi custodirem tam preciosum Sanctuarium que dixit mihi est vir in ciuitate isla Willielmus Monachus Sancti Cipriani Pictauie eiectus iniuste ab Abbate suo de Abbachia sua qui rogat Papam vt Abbatem suum compellat vt eum in Abbachiam suam reducat trade sibi Aquilam cum Ampulla vt eam ad Ciuitatem Pictauie portet et in Ecclesia Sancti Gregorij que est iuxta Ecclesiam Sancti Hillarij eam abscondat in capite Ecclesie versus occidentem sub lapide magno ibi inuenietur in tempore oportuno et erit vnctio Regum Anglorum Henry the first Duke of Lancaster vnder Edward the third in the warres of France had it deliuered to him by an holy man say they which found it by reuelation But of this enough if not too much This Archbishop Becket being recalled from exile and restored to his former honours and reuenewes carried himselfe more obstinately then before perturbing the whole State with curses and excommunications in maintaining of Ecclesiasticall liberties as he pretended but most of all this kinde of dealing grieued the King who cursed the time that euer he made him Archbishop Which is thus explained in old rimes For which the King was with him sore displeased That then he sayd had I had men that ment Myne honeste I were not thus diseased With such a Clerk thus greeued and vneased It happened amongst other foure Knights to be present at this speech of the King namely Reynald Fitzâvrse Hugh Moruill William Tracy and Richard Briton who gathered thereby that they should do a deed very acceptable vnto him if they killed the Archbishop Whereupon without either warrant or priuitie of their Soueraigne they posted into England came with their swords drawne into this his owne Church and therein most barbarously murdered him with many blowes vpon Tuesday the 28. of December Ann. Dom. 1170. as saith Mat. Paris who in the same place obserues that many remarkable occurrences behappened this Martyr euer vpon the Tuesday more then vpon any other day in the weeke Mars secundum poetas saith he Deus belli nuncupatur vita Sancti Thome secundum illud Iob vita hominis militia est super terram tota suit contra hostem bellicosa passus fuit die Martis et translatus die Martis Die Martis sederunt Principes aduersus eum apud Northampton Die Martis actus est in exilium Die Martis apparuit ei Dominus apud Pontiniacum dicens Thoma Thoma Ecclesia mea glorificabitur in sanguine tuo Et die Martis reuersus est ab exilio Martyrij palmam die Martis est adeptus Et Die Martis Anno 1220. venerabile eius corpus gloriam translationis suscepit anno 50. post passionem eius In English as followeth Mars according to the Poets is called the God of warre the life of Saint Thomas according to that of Iob the life of man is a warfare vpon earth was a continuall conflict against the enemy vpon the Tuesday he suffered vpon Tuesday he was translated vpon Tuesday the Peeres of the Land sat in councell against him at Northampton Vpon Tuesday he was banished vpon Tuesday the Lord appeared to him at Pontiniacke saying Thomas Thomas my Church shall be glorified in thy bloud Vpon Tuesday he returned from exile vpon Tuesday he got the palme or reward of Martyrdome and vpon
non est mihi crede tacendum Anglorum Primas sub primo culmine primas Qui tennit sedes melius dum sperat in edes Hunc Rex compellit eum de sede repellit Dum Simon Rome supplantat federa Thome Hic Thomas natus Comitis fuit intitulatus Clericus aptatus Doctor de iure creatus Legibus ornatus facundus moringeratus Cam Christo gratus in plebe que magnisicatus O quam preclarus tam purus immaculatus Ad Regale latus tandem fuit illaqueatus Tramite subtili latitans plus vulpe senili Rex studet in sine Thomam prostrare ruine De tribus audistis cum Rex scelus intulit istis Presul adiutor fuit hijs quodammodo tutor Non contra legem sed ab ira flectere Regem Nomine pastoris temptauerat omnibus horis Semper erat talis restat dum spes aliqualis Sicanira mortem poterat saluasse cohortem Rex ââlit hoc triste quod Cancellarius iste Tempore quo stabat hos tres constanter amabat Sic procurator pius extitit Mediator Cartas quod Regis habuerunt munere legis Pontificis more summi pro Regis amore Sic pacem mittit mortis gladiumque remittit Hec ita fecisset pactum si Rex tenuisset Sed que iurauit hodie cras verba negauit Cernite pro quali culpa magis in speciali Pontiâici tali sine causa materiali Rex fuit iratus sed altera causa reatus Est plus secreta tunc Rome quando moneta Simonis ex parte Papam concludit in aâtâ Ecce per has causas sub Regis pectore clausas Hec scelus obiecit Thome qui nil male secit Regis fautores super hoc tunc anteriores Fraudibus obtentum concludunt Parliamentum Sic de finali Rex pondere iudiciali Exilio demit Thomam nee amore redemit Sic Pater absque pare quem Rex spoliauit auare Partes ignotas tunc querit habere remotas Sic pius Antistes casus pro tempore tristes Sustinet curam sperat reuocare futuram Christus eum ducat saluet que salute reducat Si vt vterque status sit ei cum laude beatus Vpon his restauration to this his Bishopricke by Henry the fourth Duke of Lancaster the same Author thus writes Iustos laudauit iniustos vituperauit Hos confirmauit hos deprimit hos releuauis Regni primatem crudelem per feritatem Quem Rex explantat Dux ex pietate replantat Henry Chichley Bishop of this See lies here on the North side of the Presbitery in a Tombe built by himselfe in his life time hee was borne at Highamâerrys in Northamptonshire where he began the foundation of a goodly Colledge and an Hospitall which were finished by his two brethren his Executours Hee was brought vp in New Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Law and where he founded two Colledges one called Bernard Colledge renewed by Sir Thomas White and named Saint Iohns Colledge and all Soules Colledge which yet continueth in the same estate he left it one of the fairest in that Vniuersitie Hee was employed much in embassages by King Henry the fourth who preferred him to the Bishopricke of Saint Dauids where he sate fiue yeares and was then translated hither by his sonne King Henry the fifth He was a man happie enioying alwayes his Princes fauour wealth honour and all kinde of prosperity many yeares wise in gouerning his See worthily bountifull in bestowing his goods to the behoofe of the common-wealth And lastly stout and seuere in due administration of iustice When hee had gouerned this Sec. 29. yeares a longer time then euer any did in fiue hundred yeares before him he died April 12. Ann. 1443. Vpon whose Monument I finde this Epitaph Hic iacet Hen Chicheley L. Doctor quondam Cancellarius Sarum âui anno 7. Hen. 4. Regis ad Gregorium Papam 12. in Ambassiata transmissus in Ciuitate Senensi per manus eiusdem Pape in Episcopum Meneuensâm consecratus est Hic etiam Henricus anno 2. Hen. 5. Regis in hac sancta Ecclesia in Archiepiscopum postulatus à Ioanne Papa 23. ad eandem translatus qui obijâ anno Dom. 1443. Mensââ Apr. deâ 12. Cetus sanctorâm ãâ¦ã iste precetur Vt Deus ipsorum merâââs ââbâ propictetur I finde another more vnlearned Epitaph of him by which he is but little honoured being such an especiall furtherer of learning Pauper eram natus post Primas hic ââeuatus âam sum prostratus vermiâââ ãâã paraius Ecce meum tumulum M. CCCC.XLIII Here lies interred in the Martyrdome an Archbishop very noble and no lesse learned one of the honourable familie of the Staffords sonne saith the Catalogue of Bishops vnto the Earle of Stafford but I finde no such thing in all the Catalogues of Honour a man much fauoured by King Henry the fifth wo preferred him first to the Deanrie of Wells gaue him a Prebend in the Church of Salisbury made him one of his priuie Councell and in the end Treasurer of England And then although this renowned King was taken away by vntimely death yet hee still went forward in the way of promotion and obtained the Bishopricke of Bath and Welles which with great wisedome hee gouerned eighteene yeares from whence he was remoued to this of Canterbury in which he sate almost nine yeares and in the meane time was made Lord Chancellour of England which office hee held eighteene yeares which you shall hardly finde any other man to haue done vntill waxing wearie of so painfull a place he voluntarily resigned it ouer into the Kings hands And about three yeares after that died at Maidstone Iuly 6. Ann. 1452. Vpon a flat marble stone ouer him I finde this consabulatorie Epitaph Quis fuit enuclees quem celas saxeâ moles Stafford Antistes fuerat dictusque Iohannes Qua sedit sede marmor queso simul ede Pridem Bathonie Regni totius inde Primas egregius Pro presule funde precatus Aureolam gratus huic det de Virgine natus Much more may be read of this Bishop in the booke called Antiquitates Britannicae penned by Mathew Parker Archbishop of this place and in the Catalogue of Bishops by Francis Godwin Bishop of Hereford as also in the Catalogues of the Lords Chancellours and Treasurers of England collected by Francis Thinne In a decent Monument on the South side of the Presbitery Iohn Kempe Archbishop of this See lieth interred who was borne at Wye in this County of Kent brought vp at Oxford in Merton Colledge where hee proceeded Doctor of Law Hee was made first Archdeacon of Durham then Deane of the Arches and Vicar generall vnto the Archbishop Stafford Not long after he was aduanced to the Bishopricke of Rochester remoued thence to Chichester from Chichester to London from London to Yorke from Yorke to Canterbury he was first Cardinall of the title of Saint Balbine
and from that remoued to the title of Saint Rusine all which his Ecclesiasticall preferments were comprehended in this one verse composed by his cosin Thomas Kempe Bishop of London Bis Primas ter Praesul erat bis Cardine functus And to adde to all these honours he was twice Lord Chancellour of England He continued not here aboue a yeare and a halfe but died a very old man March 22. 1453. hee conuerted the Parish-Church of Wye into a Colledge of secular Priests Of which hereafter In a little history of the Archbishops of Yorke written in rythmicall numbers I finde these in his commendations Tunc Iohannes nobilis Kemp vociferatus Prius in Londonijs Presul installatus Et erectus Pontifex Metropolitanus Presul Archipresulem confirmat Romanus Mandans sibi pallium Martinus erectus Sagax Cancellarius Regis est effectus Cardinalis Presbiter digne sublimatur Sub Balbine Titulo sic laus cumulatur In Suthwell manerium fecit preciosum Multis artificibus valde sumptuosum Annis multis prospere curam sui gregis Rexit per iusticiam per normam legis Tandem vsque Cantiam Presul est translatus Illic Archiepiscopus est inthronizatus Apud Lambeth obijt labor iam finitur Et in Cantuaria corpus sepelitur Licet prohibuerit Abbas rigorose Iacet ibi condita gleba gloriose I finde little of any great worke or deede of charitie this Bishop performed besides his Manor of Suthwell here onely mentioned with all these his pennisome preferments but the reason is giuen in the Catalogue of Bishops that he died very rich and that in his life time he aduanced many of his kindred to great wealth and some to the dignitie of knighthood whose posteritie continued yet in this County of great worship and reputation euen to this day That he might die very rich I doe not denie but for the aduancement of his kindred to the honour of knighthood was no other title then his grandfather Sir Iohn Kempe and his Vncle Sir Roger enioyed his owne father Thomas being a younger brother to the said Sir Roger. Here lieth buried as by an inscription vpon a marble doth appeare Thomas Bourchier commonly called Bowser second sonne of William Bourchier Earle of Ewe in Normandie and brother to Henry Bourchier Earle of Ewe and Essex He was brought vp in Oxford ãâ¦ã preferred to the Deanrie of Saint Martins then to the Bishopâââââ oâ Worcester from whence he was translated to Ely and ãâ¦ã in this chaire of Canterbury wherein he sate 32. yeares and ãâ¦ã the time of his first consecration 51. yeares I finde not ãâ¦ã Englishman continued so long a Bishop or that any Archbishop ãâã before or after him in eight hundred yeares enioyed that place so long And to adde more honour to his Grace and money to his purse he was about two yeares Lord Chancelour of England and Cardinall tt S. Ciriaci in Thermis âât all this time for all these great and eminent promotions he left nothing behinde him to continue his memorie but an old rotten chest in the congregation house at Cambridge called Billingsworth and Bowser into which for the vse of the Vniuersitie Billingsworth before him had put in one hundred pounds and he forsooth imitating that munificent example put in one hundred and twenty pounds He died March 30. 1486. as appeared by ãâ¦ã ption vpon his Monument Hic iacet reuerendissimus pater Dominus D. Thomas ãâ¦ã quoâdam sacrosancte Romane Ecclesie S. Ciriaci in Thermi ãâ¦ã chiepiscopus huius Ecclesie qui obijt 30. die Marty 1486. ãâ¦ã propitietur altissimus Here lieth buried vnder a marble stone in a sumptuous Chappell vnder the Quier of his owne building Iohn Morton borne to the good of all England at Beere at Saint Andrews Milborn saith Camdeâ in Dorsetshire brought vp in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of the Ciuill and Canon Law he was first Parson of Saint Dunstans in London and Prebendarie of Saint Decumanes in Wales then Bishop of Ely Master of the Rolles Lord Chancellour of England Cardinall of Saint Anastatia and Archbishop of this Metropolitan See A man so well deseruing both of the Church and common-wealth that all honours and offices were too little which were conferred vpon him of a piercing naturall wit he was very well learned and honorable in behauiour lacking no wise wayes to winne loue and fauour by whose deepe wisedome and pollicie the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster whose titles for a long time had mightily disquieted the whole kingdome were happily vnited but our English Chronicles are so full and copious in this Bishops commendation as that I know not where to begin with him nor how to take my leaue of him Whilest he was Bishop of Ely which was about eight yeares hee bestowed great cost vpon his house at Hatfield in Hertfordshire now the mansion place of that right honourable Lord and one of the priuie Councell William Cecill Earle of Salisbury and at Wisbich Castle in Cambridgeshire a house belonging to that See all the bricke-building was done at his charges And in the time of his Primacie in this Church he bestowed great summes in repairing and augmenting his houses at Knoll Maydstone Alington Parke Charing Ford Lambith and Canterbury He bequeathed by his last Will in a manner all that hee had either vnto good vses or to such of his seruants as he had yet beene able to do nothing for He gaue to the King a Portuis to the Queene a ãâã to the ââdy Margaret his God daughter afterwards married to ãâ¦ã King of Scotland a cup of gold and tourry pâunds in ãâ¦ã Church of Ely his Myter and Crolle vnto his ãâã and ãâ¦ã giue nothing as hauing sufficieâtly prefârreâ them in his ãâ¦ã which family Robert Bishop of Worcester and many ãâ¦ã of very good note and qualitie in Dorsetshire and ãâ¦ã His Exâecutors he bound by oath to maintaine sufficiently ãâ¦ã at Oxford and ten at Cambridge for the space of twenty ãâ¦ã decease And it is not to be forgotten that the yeare before he died ãâã great charges he procured Anselme one of his predecesâours to be ãâã nized a Saint This good man died at his Manour of ãâã in the ãâã of October 1500. hauing enioyed this Archbishopricke ãâã enâ yeares in all quietnesse I finde no memoriall of him vpon his ãâ¦ã please you then to let these lines following serue for an Eulogium or Epitaph Iohannes Morton postquam Cantuariensem Prouinciam 13. Ann. rexisset obijt Dâlubrum ipse sumptuosum vinus in Ecclesii in subterraneo crypto ex truxât in quo humatus est Vir fuit prudens facundus atque grauis qualem Hen. 7. vitae socium morumque quasi magistrum plerumque penes se habuit Tulit sub Richardo Tyranno vitae discrimina exilium atque carceres à triâbus regibus Hen 6. Edwardo 4. Hen. 7. probata integeââmi prudentissiani que pâtris fides nunquam in dubium
was buried here in the Church by his predecessour To whose memory this Epitaph was cut vpon the stone coffin Pontificis glebe Taâwini Cantia prebe Thura decus laudes cuius dogmate gandes Huâus doctrina carnisti menâe ferina Et per cuâ Christi peâ tare iugum dedicisâi Here sometime lay interred the body of Nothelme Archbishop who for that he well and wisely gouerned his See was called Noble helme ãâã was borne in London and was one of the Priests of Saint Pauls a great louer of venerable antiquitie he was and one to whom Bede acknowledgâth himselfe to be much beholding for diuers matters which vpon his ââport he inserted into his Ecclesiasticall History He died October 17. An. 74â His Epitaph was after this manner Hac scrobe Nothelmus iacet Archiepiscopus almus Cuius vita bono non est indigna patrono Cunctis iste bonus par in bonitate Patronus Protegit hic iustos vigili munimine Custos Cutbert Archbishop of Canterbury not long before this time had procured of king Eadbert that the bodies of all the Archbishops which were to succeed should not bee buried at Saint Augustines as they had beene heretofore but at Christ-Church and so according to his desire the âuneralls of himselfe and his successour Bregwin were there solemnised and their bodies therein interred The Monkes of Saint Austins tooke the matter hainously to haue the buriall of their Archbishops discontinued and began to make complaint vnto the Pope But Christ-Church men were so farre from fearing the Pope for the same Pope had confirmed their priuiledges but a little before at the sute of Bregwin that they chose one Lambert or Iainbert Abbot of Saint Augustines for their Archbishop assuring themselues he would be now as earnest a defender of their liberties as heretofore he had beene an oppugner in the behalfe of Saint Augustines But they found it otherwise for perceiuing his end to approach he tooke order to be buried in Sâânt ãâã but he was the last of all the Archbishops there in ãâ¦ã Archbishop â7 yeares and liued ninetie foure his funeralls were ãâ¦ã pompe and celebritie and his body honourablie entombed here in ãâã Chapter-house Vpon which this Epitaph was engrauen Gemma Sacerdotum ãâ¦ã remotum Clauditur hac fossa ãâ¦ã âssa Sub hac molecinis ãâ¦ã âinis Incola nunc celi populo ãâã âideli I finde some Epitaphs to the memory of sundrie Abbots of this Monastery and first of the first Abbot one Peter a Priest who was chosen to this place by Saint Augustine as I haue said before This man was sent Legat into France by king Ethelbert and in his returne for England was drowned in a Crecke called Amflete his body was taken vp and buried after a homely manner of the inhabitants of that countrey yet afterwards remoued from thence and honourably interred in the Towâe of Bulleyâe in a place of Saint Maries Church conuenient for so worthy a person For whom a Monument was erected within this Abbey bearing this Inscription Quem notat hunc metrum meritis nomine Petrum Abbas egregius primus Laris extitit huius Dum semel hic transit mare ventus in vrbe remansit Bolonia celebris virtutibus est iâi crebris He was drowned about the yeare 614. My old Anonimall Manuscrip speakes of this first Abbot to the like effect Than Austyn mad Peter the cheffe Prelat Of an Abbey now callyd seynt Ausâyns In Canterbery of whiche denominat He was Abbot as sent Bede dyffyns Who aftar as he to Fraunce was sent fro thens On embassyat was drownyd on the se And beryed at Boleyne wyth solempnite Whar grete vertue God for hym shewyth Full ofte as ther playnly ys recordyd And to thys dey yet alwey renewyth So hoâe he was wythe Crist myserecordyd And wyth his seynts trewly euer concordyd As seyât Bede seythe ryght in his dyaloge Amonge the seynts is put in Cathologe Iohn a monke of this house and the third man of note which came ouer with Austin was elected Abbot of this house and receiued benediction at the hands of Archbishop Laurence He died Ann. 618. and was buried here in our Ladies Chappell and this was his Epitaph Omnibus est annis pietas recitanda Iohannis Culmine celsa nimis pâtribusque simillima primis Vir probus mitis fuââ hic si fare velitis Integer mundus sapâens Abbasque secundus Ruffinian was here interred by his predecessour Iohn who dyed Ann. 626. Pausa patris sani patet istec Ruffiniani Abbatis terni quo frenditur hostis Auerni Gratiosus succeeded Ruffinian in his holy gouernment a man gracious saith mine Author with God and all good men And so ended his worldly pilgrimage Ann. 640. Hic Abbas quartus Gratiosus contulit artus Cuius adest pausa miti spiramine clausa Petronius was sacred to this Ecclesiasticall dignitie by Archbishop Honorius Ann. 640. and died Ann. 654. Abbas Petronius bonitatis odore refertus Subiectos docuit vitiorum sorde pianit Nathaniel vir probitate decoratus and absolute in all perfections was consecrated Abbot here in his owne Church by Archbishop Deus-dedit which he laudably gouerned thirteene yeares and died Ann. 667. Spiritus in celis Abbatis Nathanielis Nos faciat memores Patres memorare vâlitis Adrian borne in Africa Abbot first of the Monastery of Niridia neare vnto Naples a man wondrous well learned in the holy Scriptures throughly instructed both in Monasticall discipline and Ecclesiasticall gouernment very skilfull of the Greeke and Latine tongues and withall very expert in the liberall Sciences of Astronomie and Musicke who together with âheodore brought first of all in the tunes and notes of singing in the Church which for a little time was onely vsed and knowne here in Kent but afterwards learned and practised through all the Churches of England by the meanes of reuerend Bishop Wilfride who brought from Kent Iames and Stephen two Musitians the first Masters of song in the Churches of the kingdome of Northumberland But to descend to more particulars The Archbishopricke of Canterbury was offered to this Adrian by Vitâllâam the Pope that excellent Musitian who wrote the Ecclesiasticall Canon and first brought singing and Organs into the Church which hee refused to vndertake preferring a Monke of his acquaintance namely Theodore spoken of before to the same place in whose companie hee trauelled into England and had the companie and helpe of this Adrian in all things hee went about to effect within England Hee was consecrated Abbot of this Monastery by the said Theodore in the gouernment of which he continued nine and thirtie yeares In which time hee obtained many priuiledges of Theodatus the Pope for his Abbey as also of Oswin king of the Deirians He dyed honae memoriae senex a reuerend old man of good and perfect remembrance ann 708. and was honourablie
entombed here in our Ladies Chappell with this Epitaph Qui legis has apices Adriani pignora dices Hoc sita sarcophago sua nostro gloria pago Hic decus Abbatum patrie lux vir probitatum Subuenit à celo si corde rogetur anhelo These seuen Abbots aboue mentioned were all outlandish men sent hither either at the first to accompanie Augustine or afterwards Mellitus and Iustus in their iourney from Rome Albinus the Scholler of Adrian and Abbot of this house was here interred who as he followed his Master in his office so did he in all his good and godly wayes And so died in the 24. yeare of his Abbotship 732. and was buried by his Master Laus Patris Albini non est obnoxia fini Gloria debetur sibi quam sita vitae meretur Multa quippe bonos faciens virtute patronos Abbas efficitur bonus hic et honore petitur Shortly after the decease of Albin one Nothbaldus a Monke of this fraternitie was chosen Abbot in which office hee continued about sixteene yeares died ann 748. and was buried neare his predecessours Nothbaldi mores rutilant inter Seniores Cuius erat vita subiectis norma polita Aldhumus was the next Abbot in the time of whose gouernment the buriall of the Archbishops was taken away from the Church of this Monasterie by the cunning sleight and ouerswaying authoritie of Archbishop Cuthbert as I haue partly touched but howsoeuer his holy brethren of this Couent did impute all the fault vnto the supine negligence of their Abbot in that he did not more carefully defend this their common cause Whereupon after his death which happened ann 760. some 12. yeares they fastened this Epitaph vpon a pillar neare to the place of his buriall bewraying the viperous malice of this Monkish broode to him their deceased father Fert memor Abbatis Aldhumi nil probitatis Pontificum Pausani cassat tutans male causam Prisca premens iura dum Cuthbertus tumulatur Fulta sepultura sanctis per eum reprobatur About a yeare Lambert or Ianibert before remembred was Abbot of this house afterwards Archbishop He procured six plough lands of ground to this Abbey of king Edbert in little Mongham Ethelnothes Guttardus Cunredus Wernodus cosin to Offa and Cuthred kings of Mercia and Kent of whom this Wernode obtained many rich gifts for this his Monasterie Diernodus Wintherus Readmundus Kimbert Eta Degmund Alfred Ceolbert Bectane Athelwold Vlbert Eadred Alchmund Sittulfe Cadred Luling Beorline Alfricke who by his familiarity with king Edmund obtained two plough-land to his Monasterie Elsnoth Siricius who was first a Monke in Glastonbury then Abbot of this Monastery from hence preferred to the Bishopricke of Wiltshire and thence remoued to this Primatship of Canterbury A man much blamed in our ancient Histories for perswading with his countreymen to buy their peace with the Danes who had inuaded Kent and âssâx with the price of sixteene thousand pounds Wulfrike Elmer a man of great holinesse from hence aduanced to the Bishopricke of Sherborne and after some yeares falling blinde gaue ouer that gouernment returned to this Abbey wherein all the rest of his dayes he led a priuate life Elstan first Prior of the house whom king Knute would haue preferred to the Bishopricke of Wânchester which hee denyed neither would hee haue taken this but by the importunate sute of his brethren These Abbots aboue named some twenty eight in number succeeded one another of whom albeit we may beleeue that many memorable and good actions were performed yet time which weareth all things out of remembrance hath left little of them remarkable to this age Wulfrike the second succeeded Elstan Vir probi consilij and often employed vpon Embasies to the Pope He translated the body of Saint Mildred into another place of the Church hee dyed suddenly ann 1059. by the iust iudgement of God saith the story because he neglected the beautifying of our Ladies Chappell being thereto commanded by S. Dunstan who had conference in a vision with the blessed Virgin concerning that matter Vpon the death of Wulfrike one Egelfine succeeded and receiued benediction from Archbishop Stigand about the yeare 1063. he was sent about I know not what Embasie to Pope Alexander the second to whom the Pope gaue this honour That it should bee lawfull for him and his successours to vse the Mytre and Apostolike Sandall But presently vpon his returne home he fled ouer Seas into Denmarke for feare of William the new Conquerour And being no sooner thus gone without licence first obtained his goods were confiscate to the King and one Scotland by birth a Norman inuested in his place This Abbot receiued many gracious fauours from the Conquerour He recouered much land vniustly taken from his Monasterie with diuers immunities He was a great cause for the confirmation of the ancient Franchises and liberties of Kent he built a great part of his Church anew and remoued the bones of Adrian and other Abbots with the bodies of foure Kentish kings being but obscurely buried and entombed them in the Quire of the Church vnder princely Monuments hee dyed the third day of September ann 1087. and was buried in a vault vnder the Quire in S. Maries Chappell Abbas Scotlandus prudentibus est memorandus ...... libertatis ...... dare gratis Actu magnificus generosa stirpe creatus Viribus enituit sanctis sancte quoque vixit One Wido was the next Abbot who repaired the Tombe or Shrine of Saint Augustine he dyed August 13. ann 1091. and was buried in a vault vnder S. Richards Altar Whose tombe-stone was thus inscribed Hunc statuit poni tumulum mors atra Widoni Cui stans sede throni superi det gaudia doni One Hugh de Flori or Floriaco a Norman borne neare a kinne to the Conquerour vnder whom and his sonne William Rufus being a strenuous and an expert Souldier hee had serued in the warres both of Normandie and England who comming with William Rufus vpon a time to visit Saint Austines Shryne would needs be made a Brother of this Fraternitie which being granted he sold forthwith all his lands in Normandie hauing neither wife nor childe and tooke vpon him the Monasticall habite This Hugh had scarce continued one yeare of probation when as the foresaid Abbot Wido departed the world vpon whose death the Monkes of Saint Austines comming to William Rufus to obtaine licence to elect a new Abbot the king swore by Lukes face that he would haue no election at all for he intended to take all the spirituall liuings of England into his owne hands Well for this time they went away with each one a flea in his eare yet afterwards it was decreed that two circumspect graue Monkes together with this Hugh de Flori should be sent to the king to procure his fauour for an election either by petition or price when these presented themselues vnto his sight and that
fashion in former times fetched from the French which they call rebus or name-deuises examples of the same are frequent Neare to this Church sometime stood that goodly Abbey founded by Stephen king of England grandchilde to the Conquerour dedicated to Saint Sauiour replenished with blacke Monkes of Cluni valued at the suppression to be well worth according to the fauourable rate of such endowments in those dayes 286. l. 12. s. 6. d. ob yearely such was the charter of his donation Stephanus Rex c. Archiepiscopis Episcopis c. salutem Sciatis me pro salute anime mee Matildis Regine vxoris mee Eustachij filij mei aliorum puerorum meorum antecessorum Regum Anglie dedisse c. Manerium meum de Fauresham ad fundand Abbatiam vnam ibidem ae ordine Monachorum Cluniacensium c. Sciatis etiam quod dedimus ego et Matildis Regina mea Willelmo de Ipra in Escambium pro eodem Manerio de Fauresham Lillechire cum pertinencijs suis de hereditate Regine Teste H. Episcopo Winton fratre meo Rogero Episcopo de London Richardo de Lucy Hen. de Essex c. This king died at Douer of an Iliack passion mixed with his old disease the Emrods Octob. 25. 1154. hauing raigned 18. yeares ten moneths and odde dayes and was buried in this Church of his owne foundation Of which heare these ancient rimes Aftur king Harry euyn Then regnyd king Stevyn The Erlys son Bloys he was truly He wedded Mold the doghter of Mary A good man he was bedeme I trow king Harry was his Eme He regnyd here XUIII yere And to Feuersham in Kent men him bere He deyed without issue truly Then regnyd his cosin Harry Stephen was a most worthy Souldier saith one and wanted nothing to haue made him an excellent king but a iust title but that was wanting The whiche he found whyles he was liuing so And reigned here in much trouble and wo. And had this Realme without any ryght Fro th'emprise Maude that faire Lady bryght And this was the cause that he was driuen perforce to defend his vsurâped authoritie by the sword which must needs procure him the hatred of many who thus speake of him in old English King Stephen his luthenesse withdrew yers a fewe But er Uyer were goo he ganne to wex a shrewe For he wende aboute and robbyd the lond and to grownd broght Then the toune of Wyrcester he brent all to noght But to conclude with the words of a late writer This Stephen was a man so continually in motion saith he that we cannot take his dimension but onely in passing and that but on one side which was warre on the other we neuer saw but a glaunce on him which yet for the most part was such as shewed him to be a very worthy Prince for the gouernment Hee kept his word with the State concerning the relieuement of Tributes and neuer had Subsidy that we finde But which is more remarkable hauing his sword continually out and so many defections and rebellions against him hee neuer put any great man to death Besides it is noted that notwithstanding all these miseries of war there were more Abbeyes built in his raigne then in an 100. yeares before which shewes though the times were bad they were not impious the king himselfe being mente piissimus as he was miles egregius His body rested here in quietnesse vntill the dissolution when for the gaine of the lead wherein it was encoffined it was taken vp and throwne into the next water So vncertaine is man yea greatest Princes of any rest in this world euen after buriall Here sometime likewise lay interred Maud his wife the daughter of Eustace Earle of Bulloigne the brother of Godfrey and Baldwin of Bulloigne kings of Ierusalem by her mother Mary sister to Maud Queene of England wife of Henry her predecessour who dyed at Heueningham Castle in Essex the third of May 1151. Whose Epitaph I found in a namelesse Manuscript Anno milleno C. quinquagenoque primo Quo sua non minuit sed sibi nostra tulit Mâthildis selix coniux Stephani quoque Regis Occidit insignis moribus et titulis Cultrix vera Dei cultrix et pauperiei Hic subnixa Deo quo frueretur eo Femina si qua Polos conscendere queque meretur Angelicis manibus diua hec Regina tenetur Eustace the sonne and heire apparant of Stephen and Queene Maud liued not long after his mother for being highly displeased with the agreement betwixt his father and Henry Fitzempresse afterwards king of England by which he was made hopelesse euer to haue the Crowne as his fathers Successour in a fury he departed the Court purposing to raise himselfe by his owne meanes and so marched along destroying the countrey alwayes as he went vntill he came to Saint Edmundsbury where he was honourably receiued of the Monkes of that Monastery But hee came not for meat but money and thereupon vngratefully vrged them for a great summe to set forward his heady designes yet the wiser amongst them vnwilling to be wagers of new warres which though ill for all sorts yet proued euer worst for the Clargie mens possessions denyed his request Wherewith eâraged be commanded his owne men to carry their corne and other prouision into his owne Castle situated hard by But being set at dinner the very first morsell he put into his mouth draue him into a Frensie whereof shortly after he dyed His body was brought to this Abbey and here interred by his mother His death happened the tenth day of August 1152. He was married to Constance sister of Lewis the seuenth king of France daughter of king Lewis the Grosse by whom he had no issue In this Abbey saith Robert of Glocester is a pece of ye hely croys which Godfrey Boylon forkyndred had sent to king Stephene Tunstall Hic iacet Margareta filia Iacobi Cromer militis vxor Iohannis Rycils heredis de Elsingham .... qui obiit ... 1496. Sittingborne Here lyeth Iohn Crowmer Esquire and Ione his wife who died Ann. Dom. 1539 .... on whose soules A family of knightly descent and ample reuenues one of which house called William Crowmer Esquire sonne of Sir William Lord Maior of London high Shiriffe of Kent in the fury of Iack Cade and the Kentish and Essex rebells was sacrificed at Mile-end and cut shorter by the head like as the day before they had serued Sir Iames Fienes Lord Say and Sele and Treasurer of England in Cheape-side whose onely daughter this Crowmer had married Whose heads giue me leaue to go a little further pitched vpon high poles were carried by the villaines through the Citie of London who caused their trunklesse faces in spight and mockerie to kisse one the other at euery street-corner as they marched along in this their damnable triumph and
Friers and Nunnes in such veneration and liking that they thought no Citie in case to flourish no house likely to haue long continuance no Castle sufficiently defended where was not an Abbey Priory or Nunnery either placed within the walls or situate at hand and neare adioyning And surely omitting the residue of the Realme hereof onely it came to passe that Douer had Saint Martins Canterbury Christ-Church Rochester Saint Andrews Tunbridge the Friers Maidstone the Chanons Greenwich the Obseruants and this our Leedes her Priory of Chanons at hand About two hundred yeares since the Prior of this House with three of his Chanons and others layed violent hands vpon the body of a Monke of Saint Albans whereupon many more quarrels would haue ensued if that Boniface the ninth Pope of Rome hearing thereof had not by his Bull authorised the Abbot of Saint Edmundsbury to heare examine and determine all controuersies betwixt the two Houses and to absolute the delinquents after competent satisfaction made to the wronged parties Thus goes the Bull. Bonifacius Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei Dilecto filio Abbati Monasterij de Sancto Edmundo Norwicen dioc Salutem et Apostolic ben Conquesti sunt nobis Abbas et Conuentus de Sancto Albano Ordinis Sancti Benedicti Lincoln Dioc. Quod Wilhelmus de verduno Prior Monasterij de Ledes ordinis Sancti Augustini Thomas de Maydenston Nicholaas Shirton Iohannes de Reuham dicti Monasterij de Ledes Canonici Magistrum Hugo de Forsham clericus Antonius Messager Iohannes Frere et Iohannes Linne laici Cantuar. Dioc. in Fratrem Iohannem de Stopeleya Monachum dicti Monasterii de Sancto Albano manus iniecerunt Dei timore postposito temere violentas Ideoque discretioni tue per Apostolica scripta mandamus quatenus si est ita dictos sacrilegos tandiu appellatione remota excoÌmunicatos publice nunties et facias ab omnibus arctius euitari donec super hiis satisfecerint competenter et iidem Clericus et Laici cum tuarum testimonio litterarum ad sedem venerint Apostolicam absoluendi Canonici vero debite absolutionis beneficium assequantur Dat. Lateran xii Kalend. Nouemb. Pontificatur nostri Anno octauo I haue the rather inserted this Bull for that it may bee the more plainly vnderstood how the most of all causes in those times concerning the Clergie were arbitrated not alwayes by the authority of the learned Bishops of this land but by Commissions purchased from the Bishops of Rome This Priory was valued in the Records of the late suppression at three hundred fourescore and two pounds of yearely reuenue Mottenden or Motindene Lambard speaking of Motindene which name hee deriues from two Saxon words Moo and Dene which is the proud valley a name imposed as he thinkes for the fertilitie thereof saith That hee hath not heard nor hitherto found any thing touching the Religious House of Motindene in Hetcorne saue onely that the head thereof was called Minister and that the House it selfe was of the yearely value of sixty pounds Neither would I saith he haue affoorded it so much as paper or place here but onely that you might vnderstand with what number of buildings variety of sects and plenty of possessions Popery was in old time prouided for and furnished No corner almost without some Religious house or other Their sects and orders were hardly to be numbred and as for their lands and reuenues it was a world to behold them I finde that the yearely extent of the cleare value of the Religious liuings within this Shire amounted to fiue thousand pounds Bishoprickes Benefices Friaries Chaunteries and Saints-offerings not accounted Which thing also I do the rather note to the end that you may see how iust cause is giuen vs both to wonder at the hote zeale of our ancestours in their spirituall fornication and to lament the coldnesse of our owne charity towards the maintenance of the true Spouse of Iesus Christ. For if euer now most truly is that verified which the Poet long since said Probitas laudatur et alget Boxley William de Ipre a Towne in Flanders the base sonne of Philip Viscount de Ipre Lieutenant to king Stephen in the warres against Maud the Empresse for which seruice the king created him Earle of Kent founded this Abbey Ann. 1146. which he consecrated to the blessed Virgine Mary and planted it with a Couent of white Monkes of Saint Barnards order which he translated hither from Claravall in Burgundie which as good children were to follow and obey the rules and ordinances of the Abbey of Claravall in all things These are the words in the institution Anno 1146. fundata est Boxleia in Cancia filia Claravallis propria And further Quod ipsa Abbathia sit subdita Abbathie de Claravalle c. It was ordinarie both beyond Sea and here in England for one religious house to beget another as will appeare by the sequele for not many yeares after her first foundation this Abbey it selfe was the mother of Robertsbridge in Sussex The yearely value of this house was esteemed at the suppression to be worth 218. l. 19. s. 10. d. This Monastery in former times was famous for a woodden Roode by which the Priests for a long while deluded the common people vntill their fraud and Legierdemain was detected Bocton Malherb At Bocton Malherb saith learned Clarentieux hath dwelt a long time the familie of the Wottons out of which in our remembrance flourished both Nicholas Wotton Doctor of the Lawes who being of the priuie Councell to king Henry the eighth King Edward the sixth Queene Mary and Queene Elizabeth sent in Embassage nine times to forraine Princes and thrice chosen Committee about Peace betweene the English French and Scottish liued a goodly time and ranne a long race in this life with great commendation of pietie and wisedome and also Sir Edward Wotton whom for his approued wisedome in weightie affaires Queene Elizabeth made Controller of her house and King Iames created Baron Wotton of Merley If you would know any more reade Hollinshead who hath written a Treatise of this family from Richard Wotton who flourished in the raigne of King Edward the first vnto these Wottons who yet do liue in our memory This Church is honoured with the sepulture of many of this noble progenie but I haue no inscription nor Epitaph for any saue onely for him who was twice Lord Maior of London The first time in the third yeare of king Henry the fifth the second in the ninth of king Henry the sixth Here lyeth Nicholas Wotton Esquire ... twice Lord Maior of London .... who was borne the 26. of October 1372. and dyed Septem 14. 1448. .... being 76. yeares of age Newenden This Towne harboured the first Carmelite Friars that euer were in this kingdome for about the midst of the raigne of king Henry the third this order came ouer the Sea arriued in this land
therefore was released of his Escuage for all his lands in Kent and Sussex which together with some of the ancient patrimony and seuen knights sees at Nethersfield in the County of Sussex are not yet alienated from this honorable family who by their paternall Ancestors and Matches are descended from many honorable houses and especially by Sir Moyle Finches Lady Elizabeth sole daughter and heire to Sir Thomas Heneage Vicechamberlaine and Councellor of Estate to Queene Elizabeth by whom she had many children and in her widdowhood receiued from King Iames the dignity of Vicecountesse of Maydestone and by King Charles was created Countesse of Winchelsey to her and to her heires Males ARCHBISHOPS OF CANTERBVRY CANONIZED SAINTS ANd first to begin with the first which was Austin the Monke famous for the many miracles which he wrought if we may beleeue the Legend Amongst which this following is said to be one Saynt Austyn entryd into Dorsetshyr giue me leaue to vse the character of my old Agon and came into a town wher as wer wycked peple and refusyd hys doctryn and preching vtterly and droof hym out of the town castyng on hym the tayles of Thornback or like fishes Wherfor hee bysought almyghty God to shew hys Iudgement on them And God sent to them a shameful token For the chyldren that were borne after in that place had tayles as it is said tyl they repentyd them It is seyd comynly that this fill at Strode in Kent but blessyd be God at thys day is no such deformyte The first of these fables is likewise written by Alexander Esseby saith Lambard and the later by Polydore Virgil who fathers it vpon Thomas Becket handling that hot contention betweene king Henry the second and Thomas Becket saith that Becket being at the length reputed for the kings enemy began to be so commonly neglected contemned and hated that when as it happened him vpon a time to come to Stroude the inhabitants thereabouts being desirous to despite that good Father sticked not to cut the taile from the horse on which he roade binding themselues thereby with a perpetuall reproach For afterwards by the will of God it so happened that euery one which came of that kindred of men which had played that naughty pranke were borne with tailes euen as brute beasts be Thus Polidore Virgils History howsoeuer if you respect the stile method and matter a good worke is blemished with this and other old wiues tales and follies For as hee was by office a collectour of the Peter-pence to the Popes gaine and lucre so sheweth he himselfe throughout by practise a couetous gatherer of lying fables fained to aduance not Peters but the Popes owne Religion kingdome and Miter saith my foresaid Author The day of the Translation was anciently kept holy the 26. day of May. The next canonized Archbishop which I finde was Honorius who was vnus ex discipulis beati Pape Gregorij vir magne reuerentie in rebus Ecclesiasticis sublimiter instructus one of the Schollers of blessed Pope Gregory a man of great reuerence and in Ecclesiasticall affaires highly instructed saith Capgraue in the life of the holy Saint Honorius propter virtutem et Euangelij predicandi studium honorandus plane et suspiciendus Honorius for his vertue and studious endeuour of propagating the Gospell throughly to be honoured and had in admiration saith Harpsfeld Many are the miracles attributed to his holinesse which were performed before vpon and after the translation of his Reliques which are needlesse to relate being like the rest of that kinde incredible The third Saint of this See in Capgraues Calender is Deus-dedit A deo datus or Deodat for before his name was Frithona so named after his election to this Archbishopricke of which a late writer thus descants in his Canto of the Catalogue of ancient English Saints Of Canterbury here with those I will begin That first Archbishops See on which there long hath bin So many men deuout as raisd that Church so high Much reuerence and haue wonne their holy Hierarchy Of which the first that did with goodnesse so in flame The hearts of the deuout that from his proper name As one euen sent from God the soules of men to saue The title vnto him of Deodat they gaue Verus erat Dei cultor vitiorum mortificator Virtutum amator verbi diuini non segnis sator c. He was a true worshipper of the euerliuing God a mortifier of vices a louer of vertues no slow vnprofitable sower of the diuine word and so forth In the like phrase much more is deliuered by Capgraue of this holy Bishop and Confessour He writ a booke of the Bishops of Canterbury his predecessour as witnesseth Pitseus That learned Priest Theodore succeeded Deodat as in seat so in Sainting Vnto this man all the British Bishops and generally all Britaine yeelded obedience first he was in his life as also in his discipline exercising the authoritie of his place wondrous seuerely Neuer before his time had England so many happy dayes nor so many learned men as vnder him and a little after Much might be said of his sanctity out of Capgraue and others but I will make an end with his end out of an old Manuscript Theodor yat was of Cawnterbury Erchbysshcoppe than and eke the hygh Prymat Of fowrscor yer of age so than did dy That twenty yer and two held that estat To grete honore and worschippe fortunat The yer of Crist syr hundryd forscore and ten Was whan hys sowl fro fleshe was lesed clen Odo surnamed Seuerus the Confessour for his singular austeritie of life and many vertues is reckoned in the new Legend amongst the Saints Of whom the foresaid Author of Polyalbion thus sings Then Odo the Seuere who highly did adorne That See yet being of vnchristened Parents borne Whose countrey Denmarke was but in east-East-England dwelt He being but a childe in his cleare bosome felt The most vndoubted truth and yet vnbaptiz'd long But as he grew in yeares in spirit so growing strong And as the Christian Faith this holy man had taught He likewise for that faith in sundry battels fought Dunstan succeeded Odo whose miracles by him wrought are said to be so many and so farre beyond beleefe that where to begin I know not much lesse where to end I will looke vpon him as I finde him lying on his death-bed where hee saw many strange visions of heauenly ioyes were shewed vnto him for his great comfort And vpon holy Thursday to vse the words of the old Legend he sente for alle hys brethren and askyd of them foryeuenesse and alsoo forgaue them all trespaces and assoyled them of all theyr synnes and the thyrd dey aftyr he passyd owt of this world to God full of vertues the yere of our Lord ix honderd lxxxviii and hys sowle was borne vp to Heuen wyth mery song of aungels all the peple hering
To whose memory Sir Henry Savill that rare Grecian and exact reuiuer of Antiquities now deceased late Warden of the said Colledge and Prouost of Eaton with the fellowes of the same taking downe an old marble Tombe haue erected another Monument ouer him of Touch and Alabaster bearing this Inscription Waltero de Merton Cancellario Angliae sub Henrico tertio Episcopo Roffensi sub Edwardo primo Rege vnius exemplo omnium quotquot extant Collegiorum Fundatori maximorum Europae totius ingeniorum faelicissimo parenti Custos Scholares domus Scholarium de Merton in Vniuersitate de Oxon. communibus Collegij impensis debitum pietatis Monumentum posuere Ann. Dom. 1598. Henrico Savile Custode Obijt in vigilia Simonis Iudae Ann. Dom. 1277. Edwardi primi quinto Inchoauerat Collegium Maldoniae in agro Surr. Ann. Dom. 1264. Hen. tertij 48. cui dein salubri consilio Oxonium Anno 1270. trans extrema manus faelicissimis vt credi par est auspicijs accessit anno 1274. ipsis Cal. Aug. anno Regni Regis Edwardi primi secundo Magne senex titulis Musarum sede sacrata Maior Mertonidum maxime progenie Haec tibi gratantes post saecula sera nepotes En votiua locant marmora sancte parens Haymo de Heath or Hythe so named of Hithe a Towne in this tract where he was borne lyeth buried by the North wall he was Confessour to King Edward the second This man built much at his Mannor houses of Troscliffe and Hawling In the Towne of Hithe before named he founded the Hospitall of Saint Bartholomew for reliefe of ten poore people endowing the same with twenty Markes of yearely reuenue He resigned his Bishopricke into the Popes hands of whom he had receiued consecration in the Court at Rome Ann. 1352. and liued about some six yeares after that a priuate life with the Monkes in this Priory This Bishop saith the booke of Rochester bought a precious Miter which was Thomas Beckets of the Executours of the Bishop of Norwich which hee offered at the high Altar on S. Pauls day 1327. Iohn de Shepey so likewise surnamed from the place of his birth vpon Haymo his resignation was by the Pope elected to this Bishoprick hee was Lord Treasurer of England in the two and thirtieth yeere of King Edward the third in which office he continued about three yeeres euen vntill his death which happened the nineteenth of October 1360. His portraiture is in the wall ouer his place of Buriall Here ouer against Bishop Merton lieth buried vnder a faire Marble Tombe the body of Iohn Lowe Bishop of this Diocesse borne in Worcestershire and brought vp in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Diuinitie He liued for a time in the Abbey of the Friers Augustines in Worcester of which order he was Prouinciall Vir aetate sua ab omni parte doctus So that in regard of his great learning and painfulnes in preaching he was preferred first to the Bishoprick of Saint Asaph by King Henry the sixt and after that translated to this of Rochester hee writ diuers learned works and was a carefull searcher after good bookes so as diuers copies of some ancient Fathers had vtterly perished but for his diligence Hee died the yeere 1467. hauing gouerned the See of Saint Asaph foure yeeres and and this of Rochester foure and twenty The inscription vpon his Tombe is almost all gone only these words remayning ...... Iohannis Low Epis ...... ...... miserere mei Domine Credo videre Dominum in terra viventium O quam breve spatium huius mundi sicomp ..... Sic mundi gloria transit Sancte Andree Augustine orate prop nobis I doe not finde the certainty of any other of the Bishops of this Diocesse to haue bin buried in this Cathedrall Church for most commonly in ancient times as now they departed from this place before they departed from the world this Ecclesiasticall preferment being but a step to some higher aduancement A word therefore or two of Saint William here enshrined and the like of the Priory and so I will take my leaue of this most ancient and no lesse reuerend Episcopall Chaire and goe to Gillingham for the rest of the funerall Monuments in this Church are of later times which I reserue for another Volume This Priory erected by Gundulph and the number of her religious Votaries encreased by him from sixe secular Priests to threescore blacke Canons or Monkes with ample reuenues for their maintenance was within the compasse of one hundred yeares what by casuall fire what by the falling out of the Monkes and Bishop Glanvill and what by the calamities it sustained in the warres of King Iohn brought to that ruine and pouerty that the beauty of all her goodly buildings was altogether defaced her Church burned her sacred Vtensiles by robbery and suites in law embezelled mispent and consumed and the whole Couent greatly indebted Anno 1179.3 Id. Aprilis Rofensis Ecclesia cum omnibus officinis cum tota vrbe infra extra muros combusta est anno 97. ex quo Monachi in eadem Ecclesia instituti sunt It was now therefore high time saith Master Lambard to deuise some way whereby this Priory and Church of Rochester might be if not altogether restored to the ancient wealth and estimation yet at the least somewhat relieued from this penury nakednesse and abiection Therefore Laurence of Saint Martins Bishop of this Church and Councellour of King Henry the third perceiuing the common people to bee somewhat drawne by the fraud of the Monkes to thinke reuerently of one William that lay buried in the Church and knowing well that there was no one way so compendious to gaine as the aduancement of a Pilgramage procured at the Popes Court the canonization of the said William with Indulgence to all such as would offer at his Tombe vnderpropping by meanes of this new Saint some manner of reuerend opinion of the Church which before through the defacing of the old Bishop Paulinus his Shrine was declined to naught This Saint William was by birth a Scot of Perthe by trade of life a Baker of bread in charitie so abundant that hee gaue to the poore the tenth loafe of his workmanship in zeale so feruent that in vow he promised and in deed attempted to visit the holy Land and the places where Christ was conuersant on earth In which iourney as he passed through Kent he made Rochester his way where after that he had rested two or three dayes he departed toward Canterbury but ere he had gone farre from the Citie his seruant that waited on him led him of purpose out of the high-way and spoyled him both of his money and life This done the seruant escaped and the Master because he dyed in so holy a purpose of minde was by the Monkes conueyed hither to Saint Andrewes laid in the Quire and promoted by the
are curiously engrauen these words Credo quod redemptor meus viuit And vpon the basis of the same Crosse these obsolete Latine rimes Es test is Christe quod non iacet hic lapis iste Corpus vt ornetur sed Spiritus vt memoretur Hem tu qui transis magnus medius puer an sis Pro me funde preces quia sic mihi fit venie spes Hic iacet Matilda nuper vxer Willelmi Laken Seruiens ad Legem qui ob 2. die Decemb. 1408. iuxta eam ex parte australi Iohanna filia sepelitur que obijt 3. die Octob. anno supradicto O mercifull Iesew Haue mercy on the sowl of Sir Iohn Dew Here lye interred diuers of the Chapmans who were sometime owners of Stone-castle Hic Christi versus Payname iacet ecce Rogerus Pauperibus multum dedit hic pecunia cultum ........ M. C. quater deca ...... In Maij vicena rapit hunc mors .... Here lies William Banknot and Anne his wyff Swete Iesew grant to them and vs euerlastyng lyff Pray yow hertely for cheritie Say a Pater Noster and an Aue. 1400. Here lyeth the bodyes of Sir Iohn Wilshyre knight and of Dame Margaret his wife Which Sir Iohn dyed 28. Decemb. 1526. And Margaret dyed ... of .... This knight is entombed in a faire Chappell of his owne foundation he was Controller of the Towne and Marches of Calleis Ann. 21. Hen. 7. 1506. He had onely one daughter and heire named Bridget married to Sir Richard Wingfield As I haue it in these words out of the Visitation booke of Huntingtonshire by Nicholas Charles Lancaster Herald Sir Richard Wingfield knight of the Garter Chancellour of the Duchie of Lancaster and of the Bed-chamber to King Henry the eight by his wife Bridget who was daughter and heire to Sir Iohn Wilshyre knight had Stone house or Stone-castle in Kent neare Grauesend To whom the king gaue Kimboulton Castle he was of the priuie Councell and died Embassadour in Spaine and was buried at Toledo Dartford Hic iacet Iohannes Hornley Theologie Baccal qui obijt 1477. Si fterent Artes Hornley tacuisse Iohannem Non possent ista qui tumulatur humo In septem fuerat liberalibus ille magister Prudens castus maximus atque fide Doctrine sacre tunc Baccalareus ingens Oxonie cunctis semper amandus erat Consilio valuit sermones pandere sacros Nouerat et doctos semper amare viros Pauperibus largus fuerat quos nouerat aptos In studijs patiens sobrius atque fuit Moribus insignis cunctis virtute refulgens Pro tantis meritis spiritus astra petit O pytefull Creater concerning erthly sepulter Of Katryn Burlton at x day wythin Iun. Thousand IIII C. LXXXXVI yer Occurrent wyth Rychard Burlton Iantlman Spows to the Katryn ..... Expired thousand ..... Throu the prayor of thes twein Sal he be savyd fro endlysse pein King Edward the third founded here a goodly faire Monastery about the yeare of his raigne of England the thirtieth and of France the seuenteenth In which he placed women religious Votaries or white Nunnes Which Nunnery at the generall dissolution was found to bee well worth three hundred and eightie pounds by yeare This Priory for so it was called by the Founder was taken as all the rest into the hands of king Henry the eight of which he made a fit dwelling place for himselfe and his Successours which remaines to this day howsoeuer somewhat ruinous But will it please you peruse this Memorandum not impertinent to this matter in the visitation of Kent and Sussex made by Clarentieux Beuolt the 21. yeare of king Henry the eight Dame Elizabeth Cresner being Lady Prioresse of Dartford at that time Memorand that the said Lady doth witnesse that king Edward the third was first Founder of the said place and the second Founder was king Richard the second And in the said place lieth buried the Lady Bridget daughter to king Edward the fourth a religious women in the same place Also Dame Ioane daughter to the Lord Scrope of Bolton and Prioresse of the same place and Dame Margaret daughter of the Lord Beaumont also sometime Prioresse of the same place And also there lyeth daughter and wife to Sir Maurice Berkeley This Lady Bridget here interred was the fourth daughter of Edward the fourth by his wife Queene Elizabeth she was borne at Eltham here by the tenth of Nouember 1480. She tooke the habite of Religion when she was young and so spent her life in contemplation vnto the day of her death which happened about the yeare 1517. the eight of King Henry the eight Crayford Orate pro animabus Roberti Woodford Iohanne vxoris eius qui Robertus obijt .... 1489. Hic iacent Rogerus Apleton vnus Auditorum serenissimorum Regum Hen. quinti Hen. sexti ac Iohanne vxoris Hen. quarti Katherine vxoris Hen. sexti Reginarum Anglie Principatus totius Wallie Ducatus Cornubie Com. Cestrie qui ob .... 1400. Agnes vxor eius Domina de Holbury que ob 1437. Cum venerit dies Domini in miserecordia eius egrediemur Hic iacet Henricus Elham vnus Auditorum .... et Elisabetha vxor eius filia Rogeri Apleton ... ob ... 1479. Hic iacet Iohannes Elham vnus Auditorum ... 1481. Vite probitas mortis despectio Erith In the vpper end of the South Isle of this Church stands a faire tombe with this Inscription left at the first imperfect Elisabeth second wife to George late Earle of Shrewsbury Lord Steward to king Henry the seuenth and to king Henry the eight his Houshold by whom she had issue Iohn and Lady Anne wife to William Earle of Penbroke Lord Steward of Queene Elizabeths Houshold which Lady Anne had beene married before to M. Peter Compton Esquire by whom she had issue Sir Henry Compton knight now liuing This Elizabeth Countesse of Shrewsbury was daughter and one of the heires of Sir Richard Walden knight Lord of the Towne of Erith whose body lyeth here likewise entombed Pray for the sowl of Syr Richard Walden knight and Lady Margerie his wife which Syr Richard decessyd 25 of March 1536. And Margery decessyd the sixth of May 1528. whos sowls god pardon Orate pro anima Richardi Walden Armig. Elisabethe vxoris eius que ob 25. Octob. 1496. et Richardus obiit ... die ... mens ... Ann. miles quorum animabus Ellin Atticor gist icy Dieu de sa alme eit mercy Orate pro anima Domini Iohannis Stone quondam vicarij Ecclesie parochialis de Lesnes alias Erith qui ob 13. April 1475. O vos omnes qui hic transitis prome orate Precibus vestris qui fratres estis meque iurate Hic iacet Radulphus Criel Ar. qui obiit 6. Decemb. 1447. Cuius anime propitietur altissimus Hic iacet Rogerus Sentcler quondam
seruiens Abbati et Conuentui de Lesnes qui obiit primo die mensis Ianuarij 1425. Cuius anime Lesnes Abbey In the yeare of our Lord 1178. the third of the Ides of Iune Richard Lucie a Councellour of State and chiefe Iustice of the Realme began the foundation of an Abbey at Lesnes or Westwood neare vnto this Towne of Eââth The extent of whose yearely reuenue as it was prized by the Commissioners at the suppression amounted to one hundred eighty sixe pounds and nine shillings When this his goodly fabricke was in all parts finished he presently forsooke and surrendred into the kings hands all both his offices and honours And betooke himselfe to the habite and profession of a Canon Regular in this house of his owne foundation where within a short while after euen in the same yeare to wit the fourteenth of Iuly 1479. he exchanged his Conuentuall blacke coole for a glorious bright heauenly crowne And here in the Quire of his Church hee was sumptuously entombed vpon whose Monument this Epitaph was engrauen Rapitur in tenebras Richardus lux Luciorum Iusticie pacis dilector vrbis honorum Christe sibi requies tecum sit sede piorum Iulia tunc orbi lux bis septena nitebat Mille annos C. nouem et septuaginta mouebat Now giue me leaue to go a little further with him and his heires as I finde the words in the Collection of Englands Protectours by Francis Thinne Lancaster Herald Sir Richard Lucie knight chiefe Iustice of England saith he was Protectour of England in the twelfth yeare of the raigne of king Henry the second in the absence of the king when hee was in Normandie and in the parts beyond the Seas Which Lucie in the thirteenth yeare of the same King did valiantly resist and politikely driue backe the Earle of Bolloigne inuading this kingdome He built the Abbey of Leosnes or Westwood in the Parish of Erith in Kent and not in Southfleet as some haue written in the yeare of Christ 1178. and the Castle of Chipping Augre in Essex He had issue Godfrey Bishop of Winchester and three daughters who after the death of Godfrey their brother were his heires Maude the eldest daughter was married to Robert the first called Fitzwater Aueline the second daughter was married to Richard Riuers of Stanford Riuers in Essex Rose the third daughter was married to Richard de Warren the naturall sonne of king Iohn as appeareth by a deed belonging to my selfe who had the Rectory of Leosnes beginning thus Rosa de Douer quondam vxor venerabilis viri Richardi filij Regis de Chillam And king Iohn by his Charter grants to another Rose her grandfathers lands in these words Rex reddidit Roesie de Douerita totam terram suam cum pertenenc qua eam contingit de heredit Richardi de Lucy avi sui tenend sibi hered c. Cart. 24. Reg. Iohannis numero 37. in Archi. Turris London The foresaid Godfrey de Lucy was consecrated Bishop of Winchester the first of Nouember 1189. And died Ann. 1204 hauing gouerned that See fifteene yeares He purchased of king Richard the first the Mannors of Wergraue and Menes which in times past had belonged to his Bishopricke he was a great Benefactour to this Religious house of Leosnes founded by his father wherein according to his will hee was enterred To whose memory this Epitaph was engrauen vpon his Tombe Lux mea lux Christi si terre ventre quiesco Attamen in celo sanctorum luce lucesco Presul de Winton fueram quondam Cathedratus Multum resplendens alto sanguine natus Nunc id sum quod eris puluis rota non retinenda Voluitur inuigila prudens nec differ agenda M. C. bis quatuorque annos his insuper addas Carnis vincla dies soluit secunda Decembris Vos qui transitis ancillam poscite Christi Sit Dominus mitis pulso purgamine tristi Wolwich Orate pro anima Iohannis Colin et Mathilde vxoris eius qui Iohannes obiit 27. Ianuar ..... Mathilda 25. Octob. 1397. Hic tacet Dominus Will. Prene quondam Rector huius Ecclesie viz. tempore Regis Edwardi quarti et postea Rector Ecclesie de Lymming qui fieri fecit istam Capellam et Campanile huius Ecclesie et in uita sua multa alia bona .... ob I. die Decemb. 1464. Willelmus Prene me fecit in honorem sancte Trinitatis Eltham Pray for the sowl of Dame Margerie Roper late wyff of Iohn Roper Suier daughter and one of the heires of Iohn Tattersall Suier who dyed 2. Februar 1518 Roper a name of eminent respect in this County honoured with the title of Baron Roper of Tenham by our Soueraigne Lord Iames late King of England giuen to Iohn Lord Roper now liuing Pray for the sowl of Iohn Morton sonne and heire of Margaret Morton of Asheby de la Zouch in the County of Leicester late wife to Tho. Squier who dyed 23. Aug. Prier pur l'alme Thomas Pierle qi morust le primer iour de Iuyl l'an de Grace Mil. ccc.lxix ..... Here lyeth Iohn Pasley yeoman Porter to king Henry the eighth and Agnes his wife which Iohn dyed .... 1509. Hen. 8.1 West Peckham Iohn Culpeper one of the Iustices of the Common Pleas in the raigne of king Henry the fourth founded here a Preceptorie or free-Schoole which he endowed with threescore and three pounds sixe shillings eight pence of yearely allowance Bromley In the Church wall lyeth the pourtraiture as I learne by tradition of Richard Wendouer Bishop of Rochester and Parson of this Towne He was consecrated 1238. and dyed 1250. yet it is said that his body was buried in Westminster by the kings speciall commandement for that he was accounted a very holy and vertuous man which I cannot much contradict Icy gist Mestre Water de Henche Qi fut Persone de Bromleghe 1360. Lewsham Hic iacet Georgius Hatecliffe Ar. Thesaurarius Domini Regis in Hibernia ac vnus clericorum compoti Hospitii regis obiit 1. Aug. 1514. Iohn Norbury founded a Priory in this Towne of Lewsham which hee replenished with blacke Monkes Aliens belonging to the Abbey of Gaunt in Flanders and thereupon called Aliens because they were Celles to some Monastery or other beyond the Seas The first foundation of these houses I do not finde but in the raigne of king Edward the third they were encreased to the number of one hundred and ten in England besides them in Ireland Aquitane and Normandy The goods of all which Priories the said king Ann. Reg. 12. because of his warres with France caused to be confiscated to his owne vse letting out their houses to farme with all their lands and tenements for the space of three and twenty yeares At the end of which Terme Peace being concluded betweene the two Nations he restored to the Priors Aliens their
in hac ipsa Ecclesia archa marmorea que ad nostra vsque tempora permanet sepultus est Idem Erconwaldus celeberrimum hoc S. Pauli templum nouis edificijs auxit prouentibus locupletauit et eidem immunitates nonnullas à Regibus impetrauit Tandem circiter annum Domini 685. spiritum Deo reddidit postquam annis vndecim in pontificatu sedisset Et magnifico sepulchro hic conditus est quod nostra memoria circiter annum Domini 1533. hoc loco visebatur This carefull holy Bishop Erconwald not onely bestowed great paines and charges vpon the beautifying and enlarging his Church with faire new buildings which he enricht with more ample reuenues and many immunities obtained from diuers kings and Princes but also procured from Pope Agatho the first sundry important priuiledges for the good of his Canons Habetur ergo Erkenwaldus saith Malmesbury Londonie maxime sanctus pro exauditionis celeritate fauorem Canonicorum nonnihil emeritus Venerable Bede and the Annals of this Church from whom the most of this Inscription is borrowed do attribute many miracles to the holinesse of this man in regard of which he was canonized and his Reliques translated Anno salutis millesimo centesimo quadragesimo and the fourteenth day of Nouember appointed to be kept sacred to his memory As in our Kalender may be seene Hic iacet Eustachius de Fauconberg quondam Episcopus huius Ecclesie qui multa bona contulit ministris Ecclesie S. Pauli This Bishop as appeares by an Inscription annexed to his Tombe had beene one of the Kings Iustices Lord Treasurer of England and twice Embassadour into France And dyed Octob. 31. 1228. hauing gouerned this See seuen yeares and sixe moneths Of whom I haue read this Epitaph in an old Manuscript Hic iacet Eustachius redolens vt Asyria nardus Virtutum multis floribus meritis Vir fuit hic magnus Episcopus ..... vt Agnus Vita conspicuus dogmate precipuus Pro quo qui transis supplex orare memor sis Vt sit ei saties alma Dei facies The like Inscription and Table is to the memory of Henry de Wingham so named of Wingham in Kent the place of his birth he had been Chamberlaine of Gascoigne Deane of Totenhall and Saint Martins twice Embassadour into France and Lord Chancellour of England Rex enim de fidelitate Domini Henrici de Vuengham experta confisus qui clericus eius et consiliarius extitisset specialis commisit eidem custodiam Sigilli He enioyed this Bishopricke but a short time being taken away by death Iuly 13. 1262. as appeares by this Epitaph De Wengham natus Henricus ad astra leuatus Hic nece prostratus iacet anno Pontificatus Ter vix Domini Mil. Sexagint bis que bis C. Huic sis saluamen Deus O te deprecor Amen Hic requiescit in Domino Rogerus cognomento Niger quondam Canonicus huius Ecclesie S. Pauli ac deinde in Londinens Episcopum consecratus Anno salutis 1228. vir in literatura profundus moribus honestus ac per omnia laudabilis Christiane Religionis amator ac defensor strenuus Qui cum pastorale officium vigilanter studiose rexisset Annis 14. diem suum clausit extremum apud Manerium suum de Stebunheath 3. Calend. Octob. Ann. Christi 1241. regnante Rege Hen. 3. Contigit his diebus dum Episcopus iste Rogerus in hac Ecclesia ante maius Altare staret infulatus ad celebrandum diuina quod tanta in aere facta est nubium densitas vt vix alterum discernere possit quam confestim sequnta est Tonitrui horribilis concussio cum tanta fulminis coruscatione ac fetore intollerabili vt omnes qui aderant rapide fugientes nihil verius quam mortem expectarent Solus Episcopus cum vno Diacono remansit intrepidus Aere tandem purgato Episcopus residuum rei Diuine expleuit You may reade more of him in Mathew Paris how stoutly hee withstood the Popes Nuntio comming here into England with a proling deuise to scrape vp money for his Master How this good Bishop cried out vpon the vnreasonable and shamelesse couetousnesse of the Court of Rome and how hee was the onely meanes of staying the course of such grieuous exactions There you may also reade the fearfull story of this Cymerian darknesse and horrible thunderclap which happened vpon the day of S. Pauls conuersion in this Cathedrall Church the Bishop being then at Masse Many miracles saith the same Author were wrought at his Tombe But let vs heare his Epitaph Ecclesie quondam Presul presentis in anno M. bis C. quater X. iacet hic Rogerus humatus Huius erat manibus Domino locus iste dicatus Christe suis precibus veniam des tolle reatus It was this Bishop Roger who excommunicated the Caursini a dangerous stout attempt in those dayes called the Popes Merchants but they were indeed most execrable Romane Vsurers who had entangled the king himselfe most of the Nobilitie and all others that had to do with the Court of Rome in their cunning snares They were called Caursini saith Paris quasi capientes vrsi deuouring Beares Orate pro anima Roberti Brabroke ..... quondam Episcopi huius Ecclesie cuius corpus hic tumulatur qui obijt 27. Augusti 1405. cum sedisset Ann. 20. This Bishop was aduanced to the honour of being Lord Chancellour vpon Saint Mathewes Eue in the sixth yeare of king Richard the second which office he enioyed no longer then the March following vpon some disagreement betwixt him and Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Of which you may reade more at large in Tho. Walsingham Hist. Angl. Here lieth interred the body of Robert Fitz-Hugh Bishop of London Doctor of Law and sometimes Archdeacon of Northampton who had beene twice Embassadour once into Germany and another time to Rome Hee was elected Bishop of Ely but died before his intended translation could be perfected Septemb. 22. Ann. 1435. To which effect thus speakes his Epitaph Nobilis Antistes Robertus Londoniensis Filius Hugonis his requiescit honor Doctorum flos Pontificij quem contulit Ely Rome Basilie Regia facta refert Plangite eum Rex grex tria natio tota Extera gens si qua nouerat vlla pium Gemma pudicitie spectrum bonitatis honoris Famaque Iusticie formula iuris erat Mors violenta rapit viuentem vnde cui mors Extitit et moritur vita beata tulit Mille quadragentis triginta quinque sub annis In festo Mauri celica regna petit Infra capellam istam requiescit corpus Domini Thome Kemp quondam Episcopi London fundatoris eiusdem et vnius Cantarie perpetue in eadem qui multa bona tempore vite sue Ecclesie Sancti Pauli et stetit 39. annis 84. diebus Episcopus London ac obijt 28. die mens Martij Ann. Dom. 1489. Cuius anime propitietur Deus
North wall Iohn de Chishull who sometimes had beene Deane of Pauls Archdeacon and Bishop of London Lord Treasurer of England and twice Keeper of the great Seale He was consecrated Aprill 29. 1274 and died the tenth 1279. Vpon the Monument of Richard Newport Bishop of this Church here buried a little inscription not long since was to be read expressing the day and yeare of his consecration which was March 26. 1317. And the like of his death which happened August 24. 1318. the yeare following Raph Baldocke Deane of this Church was chosen Bishop vpon Saint Mathias day 1303. but was not consecrated till the yeare 1305. Ianuary 30. which he receiued at the hands of one Petrus Hispanus a Cardinall Bishop of Alba at Lions in France He was a man very well learned and amongst other things writ an History or Chronicle of England in the Latine tongue In his life time he gaue two hundred Markes toward the building of the Chappell on the East end of this Church now called The Lady Chappell wherein he lieth buried and in his Will bequeathed much toward the finishing of the same And here by the way saith mine Author it shall not bee amisse to note that in digging the foundation of this building there were found more then an hundred heads of cattell as oxen kine stagges c. which seeme to confirme the opinion of those that thinke the Temple of Iupiter was scituate in that place before the planting of Christian Religion tooke away those idolatrous sacrifices This Bishop was chosen Lord Chancellour by king Edward the first Vpon whose death he sent the great Seale to king Edward the second as then lying at Carliell This Raph is mistaken by some writers for Robert Baldock Bishop of Norwich yet I finde no such Bishop of that See in the Catalogue sometime Archdeacon of Midlesex and Chancellour of England Much what about that time a man that liued in the hatred of most people whom the old English Chronicle calleth a false peeld Priest these are the words Robart Baldok his false pilide Chanceler being as then Chancellour to Edward the second and in another place Ye pilide clerk Robart Baldok ye fals Chanceler Yet this pilide fals clerk was euer trew to the King his Lord and Master for which he was taken and imprisoned in Newgate London wherein he miserably ended his dayes Of which thus writeth the Author of the booke of Durham Robertus de Baldock Cancellarius 1325. captus cum Hugonibus de despensers quia Clericus fuit Sacerdos in nona porta Londiniarum poni fecit Edwardus Princeps et Isabella mater eius vbi pro nimia miseria mortuus fuit infra breue But to returne to Raph for I haue somewhat digressed from the matter Bishop of this Diocesse who when from his first confirmation by Robert of Winchelsey Bishop of Canterbury he had sate about eight yeares died on S. Iames his Eue 1313. at Stell Here lyeth buried Michaell Northbrooke Bishop of this See Doctor of Law who had his election confirmed Iuly 7. 1355. and died of the plague Septemb. 9. 1361. at Copford This Bishop gaue a chest with a thousand Markes which money was to bee lent to the poore vpon securitie as appeares by his will Michael de Northburghe nuper Episcopus Lond. legauit in testamento suo sic Item lego ad faciend vnam cistam que stabit in Thesauria Sancti Pauli mille Marcas in eadem includend de quibus possit quilibet pauper plebeus sub bona excedenti pignore mutuo recipere decem libras 1. Pars. Pat. Ann. 49. Ed. 3. M. 30. Here lieth interred vnder a marble stone neare to the Monument of Sir Christopher Hatton the body of Richard Clifford Archdeacon of Canterbury from which dignitie he was preferred to the Bishopricke of Worcester which he enioyed about six yeares and from thence translated to this See of London which hee laudably gouerned thirteene yeares and some moneths and died August 20. 1421. This Bishop in the yeare 1414. trauelled to the Councell of Constance and preached in Latine before the Emperour and other Estates there assembled In this Councell the long schisme was ended and Martin the fifth called before Otho Columna Cardinall of Saint George was chosen the sole Pope The Councell thinking it meete that thirtie persons should be added to the Cardinals in this election this our Richard Clifford was one of that number In which also there were some that named him to the Papacie Himselfe was the first that named the Cardinall Columna who thereupon the rest consenting was immediately elected Betweene the two pillars next vnto the Steeple on the North side of the body of the Church vnder a marble stone ouer which was built a kind of Tombe or Chappell of wood that by the burning of the steeple was consumed and quite defaced the body of Rich. Fitz-Iames lieth interred A gentleman of an ancient house learned and vertuous Doctor of Law brought vp in Merton Colledge in Oxford and sometimes Warden of the same from whence hee was aduanced to the Bishopricke of Rochester from thence translated to Chichester and from Chichester to London He bestowed much money in repairing the Church of S. Martins in Oxford as also in adorning and beautifying this his owne Cathedrall Church He died in the yeare 1521. Hic in Domino obdormiuit Iohannes Gandauensis vulgo de Gaunt à Gandauo Flandrie vrbe loco natali ita denominatus Edwardi tercij Regis Anglie filius à Patre comitis Richmondie titulo ornatus Tres sibi vxores in matrimonio duxit primam Blancham filiam heredem Henrici Ducis Lancastrie per quam amplissimam adijt hereditatem Nec solum Dux Lancastrie sed etiam Leicestrie Lincolnie Derbie comes effectus E cuius sobole Imperatores Reges Principes proceres propagati sunt plurimi Alteram habuit vxorem Constantiam que hic contumulatur filiam heredem Petri Regis Castillie et Legionis cuius iure optimo titulo Regis Castillie et Legionis vsus est Haec vnicam illi peperit filiam Catharinam ex qua ab Henrico Reges Hispanie sunt propagati Tertiam vero vxorem duxit Catharinam ex Equestri familia eximia pulchritudine feminam ex qua numero sam suscepit prolem Vnde genus ex matre duxit Henricus 7. Rex Anglie prudentissimus Cuius felicissimo coniugio cum Elisabetha Edw. 4. Regis filia e stirpe Eboracensi Regie ille Lancastriensium et Eboracensium familie ad exoptatissimam Anglie pacem coaluerunt Illustrissimus hic princeps Iohannes cognomento Plantagenet Rex Castillie Legionis Dux Lancastrie comes Richmondie Leicestrie Lincolnie Derbie locum tenens Aquitanie Magnus Seneschallus Anglie obijt Ann. 22. Regni Regis Ricardi 2. Annoque Domini 1399. His first wife Blanch here buried died of the plague saith
lieth buried He died Ann. Dom. 1450. Here lieth Giles Dewes who sometime was seruant to king Henry the 7. and king Hen. the 8. Clerke of their Libraries and Schoolemaster for the French tongue to Prince Arthur and to the Lady Mary Who died 1535. Saint Michael Bassishaw or Bassingshall Iohn Burton lyeth vnder here Sometimes of London Citizen and Mercer And Ienet his wife with their progeny Been turned to erth as ye may see Frends free what so yee bee Prey for vs we you prey As you see vs in this degree So shall you be another dey He deceased in the yeere 1460. he was a great benefactor to the building of this Church as appeareth by his marke placed throughout the whole roofe of the Quire and middle Isle of the Church Huc ades atque tuis metire viator ocellis Quam breuis inclusos illigat vrna duos Vt modo tu vir fuit hic hec femina quondam Nunc gelidi pars est huius vterque soli Nomen Abel More erat cognomen Exoniensum Cesarij Doctor iuris in vrbe fuit Agnes alterius nomen coniuxque Iohannis More fuit huius Abel qui modo frater erat Vt cupis ergo tibi faciant post funera viui Has modo tute breues quisquis es ede preces Hic Abel primo hic Agnes releuetur ab Agno Qui prius agnino sanguine lauit oues Obijt Abel 1486. Agnes 1499. quorum animabus Saint Lawrence in the Iewrie Hic incineratur corpus quondam Gaulfridi Bulleyn ciuis merceri Maioris London qui ab hac luce migrauit An. Dom. 1463. cuius anime pax sit perpetua This Sir Geffray or Godfrey Bullen Lord Maior of London was the Sonne of Geffrey Bullen of Salle or Saull in Norfolke Esquire Hee married Anne the eldest daughter and coheire of Thomas Lord Hoo and Hastings by whom he had issue Sir William Bullen of Blickling in Norfolke Knight fâther to Thomas Bullen Viscount Rochford Earle of Wilshire who was father to Anne Bullen Marchionesse of Penbroke the second wife of King Henry the eight and the happy mother of our late Soueraigne Elizabeth Queene of England with all thankefulnesse euer to bee remembred This Lord Maior gaue to poore house holders in London 1000 l and 200 l to the like vse in Norfolke besides many liberall gifts to Prisons Hospitals and lazar houses Hic iacet Thomas Bulleyn de comitatu Norfolcie Armiger qui obijt vltimo die mensis Aprilis An. Dom. 147â cuius The honorable Merchant Ion Pickering And Elisabyth lie vndyr this ston Of the English merchant Venturers vndyr the kyng In the Martis beyond See gouernor was this Ion Thirty yeere and more that roome he did manteyn To his honor and worschip and died in Nouembyr The xxix day Mcccc fourty and eyght certeyn Who 's soul and al Christians for cherite remembyr Hic Thomas Cressey London mercerus humatur Et Agnes Coniux sua postea suppeditatur M. Domini C quater his x. annoque secundo Sexta luce Iunij iâit hic de .... mundo Guild Hall Chappell This Chappell or Colledge of our Lady Mary Magdalen and of all Saints was founded about the yeere 1299. by Peter Fanclore saith Stow Adam Francis and Henry Frowike whose reuenew was much augmented by K. Richard the second K. Henry the sixt and diuers citizens of London so that at the suppression it was endowed with sufficient maintenance for a Custos seauen Chaplaines three Clarkes and foure Quiristers at which time it was valued at xii l xviij s ix d per an Here haue beene many Tombes and marble stones inlaid with brasse whose inscriptions and portraitures are all either worne out with time torne out or quite defaced onely this Epitaph remaining En Thomas Frances pius hic qui lustra per octo Custos extiterat iacet semper requiescat ob Mar. 4. 1488. Ouer the doore of the Councell Chamber in Guild hall was and yet is as I thinke this Distich Carolus Henricus Viuant Defensor vterque Henricus Fidei Carolus Ecclesie Long prosperity To Charles and Henry Princes most puissant The one of the Faith The other of the Church Chosen defendant These verses were depicted here and in other places about this Citie the yeare 1514. when Charles the fift Emperour was here in England to shew in what golden bands of loue these two potent Monarches were enlinked for that amongst other couenants then concluded and confirmed betwixt them by corporall Oathes one was that the Emperour promised to stay for and take to wife the young Princesse Lady Mary King Henries then onely daughter afterwards Queene of England Why the Titles defender of the Church and Faith were attributed vnto these two Princes is vulgarlie knowne because Charles chosen Emperour to purchase the Popes fauour directed forth a solemne Writ of Outlawry against Martin Luther who then had giuen a great blow to the Papall Crowne And King Henry likewise was renowned in Rome for writing a booke against the said Luther vnderpropping the tottering or downe-cast countenance of the Popes Pardons which Luther shrewdly had shaken The Pope therefore to shew himselfe a kinde Father vnto these his sonnes gaue them these Titles which were in truth none other then the same which they sware vnto when the Crownes of their Empires were first set vpon their heads The Hospitall of Saint Tho. of Acars or Mercers Chappell This Hospitall was founded by Thomas Fitz-theobald de Heili and Agnes his wife Sister to Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury in the raigne of Henry the second and dedicated to Saint Thomas of Acon or Acars in the holy land They gaue to the Master and Brethren of this house the lands with the appurtenances that sometimes were Gilbert Beckets father to the said Thomas in the which he was born there to make a Church This Hospitall was valued at the suppression to dispend yeerely 277 l. 3 s. 4 d. it was surrendred the 30 of Henry the 8. the 21 of October and was since purchased by the Mercers by meanes of Sir Richard Gresham Here lyeth entombed Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Dame Ioane his wife he died Anno Dom. 1428. and she 1430. Hic iacet Thomas filius Iacobi comitis Ormundie ac fratris Iacobi comitis Wilts Ormundie qui quidem Thomas obijt secundo die 1515 anno regni Regis Henrici Octaui 37. cuius The Ancestors of these Earles saith learned Camden were in old time the Butlers an honourable office in Ireland and from thence came this Surname Le Boteler or Butler imposed vpon them and certaine it is that they were linked in most neere alliance vnto Saint Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury as who deriue their descent from his sister which was a great motiue to make them choose this place for their buriall and that after he was murdered they were
laid his foundation 137â His death was much lamented by the King the Nobilitie and commons of all England for with singular commendations hee had for a long time serued vnder Edward the third in the French warres and was employed by him vpon seuerall Embasies and his truth and good councell was euer much auailable to the whole state of the kingdome His obsequies were performed with great solemnity King Edward the third and all his children with the greatest Prelates and Lord Barons of the kingdome being there present His wife Margaret was here entombed with him by whom he had issue Thomas Manye who in his youth was drowned in a Well at Detford in Kent and Anne then his onely daughter and heire married to Iohn Lord Hastings Earle of Penbroke Margaret Lady Manye saith Iohn Stow here interred yet the Catalogue of Honour will haue her to be buried in the Minories died the 24. of March 1399. she was the onely daughter of Thomas of Brotherton Earle of Norfolke and Marshall of England second sonne of King Edward the first and her fathers onely heire after the death of her brother Edward which happened in the same yeare that his father departed the world She was for the greatnesse of her birth her large reuenewes and wealth created Dutchesse of Norfolke for terme of life she had beene first married to Iohn Lord Segraue and her last husband was the foresaid Sir Walter Manny Here sometime was interred the body of Philip Morgan Doctor of Law Chancelour of Normandy and Bishop of Ely a very wise man who with great commendations gouerned that See nine yeeres sixe moneths and foure daies and departed this life at Bishops-Hatfield October 25. 1434. Many funerall monuments were in this Church as you may finde them mentioned in the Suruay of London This religious house is now turned into an Hospitall consisting of a Master a Preacher a Free-Schoole with a Master and an Vsher fourescore decaied gentlemen Souldiers and forty schollers maintained with sufficient cloathing meate drinke lodging and wages besides Officers and Ministers to attend vpon them all so that the whole number now in the house with the attendants is one hundred and fourescore The greatest gift that euer at any time in England no Abbey at the first foundation thereof excepted or therewith to bee compared being the gift of one man onely whose name was Thomas Sutton of Castle Campes in the County of Cambridge Esquire borne at Knaith in the County of Lincolne who liued to the age of 79 yeares and deceased the 12. day of December 1611. somewhat before this his famous Foundation was fully accomplished Great Saint Bartholomewes This Priorie was founded by one Rahere a pleasant conceited wittie gentleman and a Courtier in the raigne of King Henry the first which he dedicated to the honour of God and Saint Bartholomew and placed therein blacke Canons or Canons regular himselfe became their first Prior his foundation was confirmed in these words Henricus Rex c. Sciatis me concessisse presenti carta me confirmasse Ecclesie beati Bartholomei London que est Dominica Capella mea et canonicis dominicis in ea Domino seruientibus quod sint ab omni subiectione terrena seruitute liberi vt sic aliqua Ecclesia in tota Anglia magis libera c. dat per manum nostram apud Winton 15 Iunij Anno reg 37. Here he died and was here buried in a faire monument renewed by Prior Bolton which Bolton was the last Prior of this house a great builder and repairer of the Priorie and the Parish Church and of diuers lodgings belonging to the same as also of new he builded the Mannor of Canonbury now called Canbury at Islington which belonged to the Canons of this house This Bolton and the rest of his brethren were portraied vpon a Table sometimes hanging in this Church now it is in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie holding vp their hands to the Crucifixe vnder whom these verses were depensiâd Gulielmo Bolton precibus succurrite vestris Qualis erat pater hic Domus hec cetera monstrant He died at his Parsonage house at Harrow vpon the hill as I haue it by relation the fourth of Edward the sixt and was there interred He surrendred vp this his Priorie the 30 of Henry the 8. which was then valued at 757 l. 8 s. 4 d. ob q. by yeere Here sometime lay entombed the body of Roger Walden Bishop of London Neuer had any man better experience of the variable vncertaintie of worldly felicity then he for from the estate of a very poore man he was suddenly raised to be Treasurer of England hauing beene first Secretarie to the King Deane of Yorke and Treasurer of the towne of Calis and then made Archbishop of Canterbury which honour he enioyed not past two yeares but was remoued from the same and forced to leade a priuate life a long time At last being once more lift vp to the honour of this Bishopricke of London he left this present life within the compasse of the yeere following Of this man thus writeth Thomas Walsingham who liued in those times and much what to the same effect I will vse his owne language Anno 1406. Dominus Rogerus de Waldene debitum Naturae soluit qui varia fortuna vectus expertus est sub breui tempore Quam sit inconstans incerta volubilis ipsa Errans instabilis vaga quae dum stare putatur Occidit et falso mutatur gaudia vultu Nempe ex pauperculo factus est Regni Thesaurarius and so proceeds on forwards with his story Vpon his monument this Epitaph was inlayd in brasse Hic iacet Rogerus de Walden Episcopus Londinens qui cum in vtraque fortuna plurimuÌ laborauit ex hac vita migrauit 2 die Nouem an dom 1406 Vir cultor verus Domini iacet intra Rogerus Walden Fortuna cus nunquam steterat vna Nunc requiem tumuli Deus omnipotens dedit illi Gaudet et in celis plaudet vbi quisque fidelis He denied his preferment to the Bishoppricke of London being preferred vnto him by the Pope saying that he would not accept of it from any but from the king As I finde thus recorded in the Tower Cum summus Pontifex nuper prouidisset Rogero Walden de Ecclesia Cathedral London prefatus tamen Rogerus dominicum beneficium sine Regis assensu et licentia acceptare noluit nec vult ni presenti Rex concedit eidem Rogero licentiam quod ipse tanquam verus Pastor et Episcopus dicte Ecclesie Cathedralis eandem ecclesiam capere valeat et acceptare T. R. apud W. 24. Iunij Little Saint Bartholomewes This Hospitall for the poore and diseased was founded by the forenamed Rahere Prior of great Saint Bartholomewes to be gouerned by a Master and eight Brethren being Priests for the Church and foure Sisters to see the poore
came an incredible concurse of people saith Leland Hee was for the space of fifteene yeares Prouinciall of the Carmelites Confessor he was to king Henry the fourth and held of him in great estimation as also to his Queene and his eldest sonne Henry Prince of Wales who when he came to the Crowne preferred him to the Bishopricke of Saint Dauids in Wales Being at the Councell of Constance he was by the Pope translated to Chichester not long after which he departed this world and as it is in the Records in the Tower before his translation could be perfected in the yeare 1417. the 22. of September But I will come to the Inscription vpon his Tombe in verse and prose as followeth Hic Frater Stephanus de Patrington requiescit Nomine reque fuit norma corona Pater Ens Carmelitis Rector Doctor Prior Anglis Confessor celebris Regis et ipse manens Henrici Quinti Meneuensis quoque Presul Câristus in aureolam pillea mutet ei ................. Magister Frater Stephanus Patrington sacre Theologie venerabilis Doctor et Prior Prouincialis Fratrum Carmelitarum in Prouincia Anglie annis xv Confessor Domini Regis Henrici quinti. Episcopus Meneuens et Postulatus Cicestriens obijt Londonijs in Conuentu Ann. Dom. M. cccc.xvij.xxij die Mens Septembris Hic varia scripsit opuscula vtilitati Studentium Here somtime lay buried the bodie of Nicholas Kenton borne in Kenton a village in Suffolke about ten miles from Ipsewich he was matriculated and instructed in the rudiments of learning amongst the Carmelites at Ipswich From whence he went to Cambridge where he attained to the full perfection of all solide discipline In poesie and Rhetoricke hee was exquisitely well exercised an acute Philosopher he was and a singular diuine He writ many learned Comments vpon sundrie places of the Scripture and many other workes mentioned by Bale He was Prouinciall of his order in England for the space of twelue yeares and had vnder his gouernment aboue a thousand and fiue hundred Carmelites Hee desired not long before his death to giue ouer his Prouinciallship saying Se iam malle precibus et Deo liberè vacare quam praxi attendere parere potius deinceps velle quam preesse Which was granted after much earnest suite made to all his Couents He died in the Dormitorie of this house the fourth day of September in the yeare of our Lord 1468. to whose honour this riming Epitaph was annexed to his funerall Monument Kenton Doctoris Carmilite Nicholai Sic Peccatricis anime miserens Adonai Carmeli gentis curam qui rexit in Anglis Ipsa bis senis fungens summus Prior annis Huic sibi propitius veniam prestet pater almus Cuius spiramen scandens supra astra sit Amen Iohn Miluerton a Carmelite Frier of Bristow was here entombed hee was Doctor of Diuinitie and of the Chaire in the Vniuersitie of Oxford from whence he was sent for to Paris by Iohn Sorethe the Prouinciall of his Order where by a generall Synode he was chosen Prouinciall of his order through England Scotland and Ireland At length because he defended such of his order as preached against endowments of the Church with temporall possessions hee was brought into trouble committed to prison in Castle S. Angelo in Rome where he continued three yeares and at length was deliuered through certaine of the Cardinals that were appointed his iudges but in the meane time he lost the Bishopricke of Saint Dauids to which he was elected He writ diuers learned workes before after and during the time of his imprisonment which are mentioned by Bale in his fift centurie At the last full of yeeres and cares he here ended his life the last day saue one of Ianuary in the yeare of our redemption 1486. and was buried in the Quire of this monasterie with these nicking Hexameters engrauen vpon his monument Clauditur hic subtus prudens veri reserator Carmeli cultor Doctrine firmus amator Rite Iohannes Oxoniensis in ordine Doctor Sic orthodoxe sidei validus releuator Post Prouinquecialis vixit pluribus annis Mirifice crebro vexatus tempore dampnis Huic reus est sceleris annus magni tribulantis Gaudeat ob meritum constans robur patientis Ipsum turbauit vir fortis perniciose Tandem Catholice trusus superat speciose Aureolam Deus vt det Myluerton numerose Optemus fuerat plexus licet inuidiose Iohn Loneye Doctor of Diuinity and a Carmelite Frier was here interred in the cloister of the Church to whose memory this distich was made Clauditur hoc claustro Frater Loneye Iohannes Expertus mundo celo fruiturus vt heres This Loney saith a late writer was vir acuâi ingenij magnae doctrinae multae lectionis boni zeli multae industriae A man of an acute wit excellent doctrine much reading ardent deuotion great industrie Hee with twelue other Doctors did condiscend to the decree saith my Mss of Master William Barton Chancellour of the vniuersitie of Oxford for the condemning of the sixteene Articles of Iohn Wickliffe of the Sacrament of the Altar An Epitaph vpon Iohn Palgraue Prior sometimes of this house Huius confratris grauis est instantia causa Qua domus hec superest proceraque fabrica libris Et murus validus excludit Tamesis vndas Vestes dat sacras sibi det vestes Deus albas Of this Prior I finde no further neither of any other of the Carmelites buried within this conuentuall Church Black Friers Church in Oldborne In old time about the yeere 1221. there was a religious house of Friers Predicants without the Bars in Oldborne to which order Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent was an especiall Benefactor giuing vnto them that noble Pallace at Westminster now called White Hall Thus Hubert was a faithfull seruant to King Iohn and to his sonne Henry the third a carefull Patriot of the State and one who vnfainedly loued his Country who when he had made triall of the variable changes of Fortune as being seldome or neuer but either highly in the Kings loue or in the Subiects hatred or in the Kings heauy displeasure and the peoples generall applause lastly being full fraught with yeers as he was with many eminent vertues he died in the fauour of God the King and all good men at his Mannor of Bansted in Surrey the Ides of May Anno 1243. Hee was first here intombed but afterwards as though he had beene fatally ordained to take no more rest in his graue then quietnesse in his worldây employments his body was translated at the same time when these Friers were remoued from Oldborne into London to that house now called the blacke Friers neere vnto Ludgate where belike it takes no better rest then others haue done so buried Saint Dunstans in the West Hic iacet Iohannes Gyles nuper vnius Clericorum parue Bage cancell Dominorum H. Regum septimi et octaui ac custos siue clericus
who inuaded his Territories in his absence whilst he was prosecuting the warres in Ireland and returned from that battell a triumphant Conquârour Vnder another Monument lieth the body of Gilbert Marshall Earle of Penbroke and Marshall of England Lord of Longevile in Normandy Leinster in Ireland and of Chepstow Strighull and Caerwent in Wales This Potent Peere of the Realme saith Mathew Paris in Ann. 1241. proclaimed a Turnament in scorne of the kings authoritie whereby such disports were forbidden to be holden at Hertford in the County of Hertford to which place when many both of the Nobilitie and Gentrie were assembled it happened that himselfe running by the flinging of his horse was cast out of his sadle and the horse gaue him such a blow on the breast that he died the same day being the fifth of the Kalends of Iuly 1241. as aforesaid His bowels were interred in the Abbey Church in the Towne of Hertford with the bowels of one Sir Robert de Say knight a gallant gentleman slaine in the same exercise These kinde of Iusts or Turnaments were brought in with king Stephen and practised in many places of England in such an outragious manner and with such slaughter of Gentlemen that to suppresse such an heathenish disport it was decreed by Parliament that whosoeuer therein were slaine should want Christian buriall and their heires be disinherited Hic requiescit ..... R ... Ep .... Quondam Visitator generalis ordinis Milicie Templi in Anglia in Francia in Italia .... This was a fragment of a funeralâ Inscription insculped vpon one of these crosse-legged Monuments as I found it amongst other Collections by one studious in Antiquities in Sir Robert Cottons voluminous Librarie which he proues by the pedegree of the said Lord Rosses to haue beene made to the memory of one Robert Rosse a Templer who died about the yeare 1245. and gaue to the Templars his Mannor of Ribston William Plantaginet the fifth sonne of king Henry the third lieth here interred who died in his childhood about the yeare 1256. En Iacobus templo Bayle requiescit in isto Qui fuerat gratus medio Templo sociatus Cui Deus esto pius eius miserando reatus Vitam mutauit in mensis fine secundi M. C. quater que dato Lxx quater annumerato Cui sit solamen Christus dic protinus Amen Robertus iacet hic Thorne quem Bristollia quondam Pretoris merito legit ad officium Huic etinim semper magne Respublica cure Charior cunctis Patria duitijs Ferre inopi auxilium tristes componere lites Dulce huic consilio quosque iuuare fuit Qui pius exaudis miserorum vota precesque Christe huic in celis des regione locum Orate pro anima Richardi Wye socij comititiui interioris Templi ob 9. Mar. 1519. Cuius anime Domine secundum delictum meum noli me iudicare Deprecor maiestatem tuam vt tu deleas iniquitatem meam Ecce quid eris Hic iacet Willelmus Langham quondam custos huius Templi qui obijt ......... 1437. Tu prope qui transis nec dicis aueto resiste Auribus et corde hec mea dicta tene Sum quod eris quod es ipse fui derisor amare Mortis dum licuit pace manente frui Sed veniente nece postquam sum raptus amicis Atque meis famulis orba ...... domus Me contexit humo deplorauit que iacentem Inque meos cineres vltima dona dedit Vnde mei vultus corrosit terra nitorem Queque fuit forme ......... Ergo Deum pro me cum pura mente precare Vt mihi perpetua pace frui tribuat Et quicunque rogat pro me comportet in vnum Vt mecum meneat in regione Poli. William Burgh iadis Clerk de Chancelleri Gist icy Dieu de s'alme eyt mercy Amen Saint Clement Danes So called because Harold surnamed Harefoot for his swift footmanship king of England of the Danish line and other Danes were here buried This Harold was the base sonne of king Canut by his concubine Alice of Woluerhampton in Staffordshire a Shoomakers daughter His body was first buried at Westminster but afterwards Hardicanut the lawfull sonne of Canut being king commanded his body to bee digged out of the earth and to be throwne into the Thames where it was by a Fisherman taken vp and buried in this Churchyard He died at Oxford 1040. hauing raigned three yeares and eight moneths Hic iacet .... Iohannes Arundell .... Episcopus Exon. qui ob die mens Maij 15 ... 1503. This maymed Inscription would tell vs thus much that Iohn Arundell descended of the ancient and most worshipfull house of the Arundels of Lanherne in Cornwall Bishop of Exceter lieth here vnder interred who died March 15. 1503. Hic iacet corpus venerabilis .... Io ..... Booth Legum Bacalaureus Episcopus Exon ..... ob primo April 1478. This Bishop gouerned his Church wondrous well and builded as some suppose the Bishops See in the Quire but being weary of the great troubles which were in his countrey betweene king Edward the fourth and the Earle of Warwicke he remoued from thence to his house of Horsleigh in Hampshire where he died Orate pro anima Willelmi Booth militis fratris Episcopi Exon. qui ob 6. April 1478. Hic iacet Edmundus Arnold postremus Aprilis Quem dolor heu rapuit tristis atroxque dies Istius Ecclesie Rector meritissimus olim Et summus Mâdice Doctor in arte fuit Non Ipocrate minor erat nec doctior vllus Non Opifex mirum vincit Apollo virum M. D. deme ter .x. semel v. Christi anno Cui vitam Medicus det sine sine Deus Sauoy So called of Peter Earle of Sauoy the first builder thereof which being ouerthrowne by the Rebels of Kent it was againe raised and beautifully rebuilded by king Henry the seuenth for an Hospitall and dedicated to the honour of Saint Iohn Baptist for which he purchased lands for the reliefe of an hundred poore people Of which you may reade this Inscription engrauen ouer the Gate towards the Street 1505. Hospitium hoc inopi Turbe Sauoia vocatum Septimus Henricus fundauit ab imo solo Henry the seuenth to his merite and honor This Hospitall foundyd pore people to socor Many officers ordinances orders and rules were appointed by the Founder for the better gouernment of this Hospitall some of which I haue read briefly extracted out of the Grand Charter viz. Per nomen Magistri et Capellanorum Hospitalis Henrici Regis Anglie septimi de Savoy Duo Presbiteri seculares conductitij Duo homines seculares honesti ac literati quorum alter Subsacrista alter Subhospitalarius Quatuor homines honesti qui Alteriste vocentur Quinque alij honesti homines viz. 1. Clericus Coquine 2. Panetarius 3. Coquus 4. Ortulanus 5. Ianitor Duo alij alter subcoquus
house of Conuerts in Chancerie lane anciently called New-streete now knowne by the name of the Rolles Henry the third about the twentieth yeare of his raigne built this house for the Iewes conuerted to be conuerted to the faith of Christ these are the words in his grant Rex Archiepiscopis c. Sciatis nos intuitu Dei et pro salute anime nostre et animarum antecessorum et heredum meorum concessisse et hac charia nostra consirmasse pro nobis et heredibus nostris domum quam fundari fecimus in vico qui vocatur New-streete inter vetus Templum et nouum London ad sustentationem Fratrum conuersorum et conuertendorum de Iudaismo ad fidem catholicam c. hijs Testibus venerabilibus patribus W. Kaerl et W. exon episcopis H. de Burgo Comite Kantiâ Radulpho filio Nicholai Godfrido de Crancumbe Iohanne filio Philip Amaurico de sancto Aumundo Willielmo de Picheford Galfrido de Cauz et alijs dat per manum ve P. R cicestrens Cancellar nostri apud Westminst 19. die April But this Foundation did not continue long for Edward the first his sonne in the eighteenth yeare of his raigne banished all the Iewes out of England confiscating all their goods and leauing them nothing but money barely to beare their charges King Edward the third appointed this house for the custody of the Rolles and Records of the Chancerie giuing the same by his charter to one William Burstall as then master of that Office and his Successors In the Chappell of this house Iohn Yong Doctor of both Lawes and master of the Rolles lieth entombed with this Inscription Io. Yong. LL. Doctori sacror scrinior ac hius Domus custodi Decano olin Ebor vita defuncto xxv Aprilis sui fideles Executores hoc posuerunt M.D.xvj. Besides which vpon an old table hanging by are written in text hand these verses following Dominus firmamentum meum Hic iacet ille Iohannes Yong cognomine dignus Tali quod nunquam marcesceret vtpote charus Omnibus apprime summo testante dolore Quem neque celabant neque dissimulare valebant Dum sternit iuuenem mors immatura labentem Quis non defleret iuuenis miserabile fatum Ex quo multorum pendebat vita salusque Horum inquam inprimis quos ille benignus alebat Impensis donec vitales carperet auras Nec satis illi erat hoc priuatis consuluisse Rebus quinetiam prudenter publica gessit Munia siue forensia siue etiam extera summa Cum laude illa quidem dum sacris presuit olim Scrinijs haec vero Legati functus honore Saint Stephens Chappell This was a religious Structure first begun by King Stephen and afterwards finished and her reuenewes greatly augmented by King Edward the third in which he placed a Deane twelue Canons secular as many Vicars and other Ministers who had their lodgings in Canon Row now the habitations of diuers Noblemen and Gentlemen These are the words of King Edwards Grant In dei nomine Amen Edwardus dei gratia c. Salutem Capellam quandam speciosam in Palatio nostro apud Westmonasterium situatam in honorem beati Stephani Prothomartyris per progenitores nostros nobiliter inchoatam nostris sumptibus regijs fecimus consummari in qua ad honorem omnipotentis dei et specialiter beatissime Genetricis eius Marie et dicti Martyris ordinamus volumus constituimus et aucthoritate nostra regia perpeiou stabilimus Quod sint exeuntes Decanus vnus et duodecim canonici seculares cum tuum Hospitium nostrum magnum in strata de Lumbard-street ciuitatis nostre London situatum vna cum Patronatibus et aduocationibus Ecclesiarum Perochialium de Dewesburie et Wakefeeld Ebor. Dioces assignamus donemus c. Teste meipso apud VVestmonaster sexto die Augusti An. Regni nostri vicesimo secundo Regni vero nostri Francie nono The reuenewes wherewith King Edward endowed this couent amounted to the value of fiue hundred pounds by yeare and at the suppression the whole foundation was rated to be yeerely worth as I haue it in the catalogue of Religious houses one thousand fourescore and fiue pound ten shillings fiue pence This Chappell serueth now for the lower house of Parliament Westminster Abbey CAmden out of Sulcardus reporteth that here sometime stood an Idoll Temple dedicated to Apollo ouerthrowne by an earthquake about the yeare of grace 153. Of the ruines of which Sebert King of the East Saxons erected another Temple for the seruice of the liuing God and consecrated the same to Saint Peter about the yeare 610. neere about the time of the building of Paules Mellitus as then being Bishop of London and Austin of Canterbury which agrees with these words in the charter of Edward the Confessor Basilica sancti Petri VVestmon edificata fuit antiquitus sub Mellito Londonie primo Episcopo socio et contemporaneo Sancti Augustini primi Cantuar Archiepiscopi et per ipsum beatum Petrum Angelico famulante seruicio sancte crucis impressione et sacre Trinitatis perunctione dedicata to which effect will it please you peruse these verses following King Ethelbert Sainct Poules edefied And King Sebert Westminster founded Mellito theim both halowed and blessified Austin then made Clerke full well grounded Afterwards this Church being destroyed by the Danes Dunstan Bishop of London reedified it about the yeare of Christ 960. and made here a monastery for twelue Monkes After him Edward the confessor with the tenth penny of all his reuenewes built it new for to be his owne Sepulture and a Monastery for Benedictin Monkes endowing it with liuings and âands lying disperst in diuers parts of England But after an hundred and threescore yeeres King Henry the third subuerted this Fabricke of King Edwards and built from the very Foundation a new Church of very faire workemanship supported with sundry rowes of Pillars The new erke atte UUestmynster the Kyng tho gauune anon Aftur his coronyng and leyd the ferst ston which the Abbots enlarged very much toward the west end and King Henry the seauenth for the buriall onely of himselfe his children and their posterity adioyned thereunto a Chappell which in regard of the beauty and curious contriued worke thereof is called of Leland Orbis miraculum the wonder of the world The first stone of this admirable Structure consecrated to the honour of the blessed Virgine was laid by the hands of Iohn Islip Abbot of this monastery Sir Reginald Bray Knight of the Garter and others in the 18 yeare of his raigne the 24 day of Ianuary vpon which stone this Inscription was engrauen Illustrissimus Henricus Septimus Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus Hibernie posuit hanc Petram in honore beate virginis Marie xxiiij die Ianâaarij anno Domini M. ccccc 11 et anno dicti Regis Henrici septimi decimo octauo Harpsfeeld sometime Archdeacon
and vowed virginitie cast off all care of hauing issue and exposed the kingdome to the prey of ambitious humours Yet some that would excuse him in this affirme that this holy king was not willing to beget any heires that should succeed him out of a treacherous race Here lieth without any Tombe Maude daughter to Malcolm Camoir king of Scots and wife to king Henry the first who brought vnto him children William Richard and Mary which perished by shipwracke and Maud Empresse who was wise to Henry the fift Emperour She died the first day of May Maij prima dies nostrorum nocte dierum raptam perpetua fecit inesse die 1118. She had an excellent Epigram made to her commendation whereof these foure verses onely remaine Prospera non laetam fecere nec aspera tristem Aspera risus erant prospera terror erant Non decor effecit fragilem non sceptra superbam Sola potens humilis sola pudica decens Thus paraphrastically translated No prosperous state did make her glad Nor aduerse chances made her sad If Fortune frown'd she then did smile If Fortune smil'd she fear'd the while If Beauty tempted she said nay No pride she tooke in Scepters sway She onely high her selfe debast A Lady onely faire and chast She went euery day in the Lent time to this Church bare-foot and bare-legd wearing a garment of haire she would wash and kisse the feet of the poorest people and giue them bountifull Almes For which being reprehended by a Courtier shee gaue him a short answer which I haue out of Robert of Glocester Madame for Goddes love is this wel i doo To handle sich vnclene âymmes and to kisse so Foule wolde the kyng thynk if that hit he wiste And ryght wel abyse hym er he your mouth kiste Sur sur qd the Quene be stille why sayste thow so Owr Lord hymself ensample yaf so for to do She founded as I haue said before the Priory of Christ-church within Aldgate and the Hospitall of S. Giles in the Fields She builded the Bridges ouer the Riuer of Lea at Stratford Bow and ouer the little Brooke called Chanelsebridge shee gaue much likewise to the repairing of high-wayes But I will take my leaue of her with these words of Paris Obijt eodem anno Matildis Regina Anglorum cuius corpus apud Westmonasterium quietem sepulturae accepit anima eius se coelum possidere evidentibus signis et miraculis crebris ostendit Here lieth vnder a rich Monument of Porphery adorned with precious stones the body of Henry the third king of England In the fifth yeare of whose raigne and the Saturday next before his second time of Coronation the New worke the old being ruinous and pulled downe of this Church of Westminster was begun To which sacred Edifice this king was a perswader he was the Founder and laid the first stone in the ground-worke of the building The Newerke atte Westmynstre ye kyng tho ganne anone Aftyr hys coronyng and leyde the fyrst stone As if he meant the world should know his intention was to consecrate his future actions to the glory of God He gaue to this Church royall gifts of Copes Iewels and rich vessels and for the holy Reliques of Edward the Confessor he caused a coffin to be made of pure gold and pretious stones and so artificially by the most cunning Goldsmiths that could be gotten that although the matter it was made of was of an inestimable valew tamen Materiam superabat opus yet the workmanship excelled the matter saith Mathew Paris A Prince he was as our histories affirme of greater deuotion then discretion in permitting the depredation of himselfe and his subiects by papall ouerswayings This King saith Robert of Glocester as in worldlich doyng was not hald ful wyse but mor deuout to spiritual things he was euery dey woned to here thre Masses by note Quante innocentie quante patientie quanteque deuotionis et quanti meriti in vita sua erat apud Deum testantur post ipsius mortem miracula subsecuta Of how much integrity of how much patience of how much deuotion and of how much merite he was in his life time before God the miracles which followed after his death doe testifie saith the compendious chronicle of Canterbury He died the 16 of Nouember 1273. when he liued sixty fiue yeares and raigned fiftie sixe yeares and eighteene daies this Epitaph following is annexed to his Tombe Tertius Henricus iacet hic pietatis amicus Ecclesiam strauit istam quam post renouauit Reddet ei munus qui regnat trinus et vnus Tertius Henricus est Templi conditor huius Dulce bellum inexpertis Which is thus Englished by Robert Fabian The frende of pyte and of almesse dede Henry the thyrde whylome of Englande Kyng Who thys Church brake and after hys mede Agayn renewed into this fayre buylding Now resteth in here whiche did so great a thinge He yelde his mede that Lord in Deyite That as one God reygneth in persones thre Henry the thyrde is the buylder of thys Temple War is pleasant to those that haue not tryed it In the additions to Robert of Glocester a Manuscript in the Heralds Office these rimes are written to his remembrance Aftur hym regnyd the thurd Harry A good man and eke an hely In hys tym werrys were full strong And eke mickle stryf in Englond The Batayl of Lewys was than And alsoo the Batayl of Euesham And that tym alsoo ther was The Translacyon of Sent Thomas In hys tym as I vndyrstond Come Freres Menores into thys lond He regnyd Kyng lvi yere And to Westmynstre men hym bere At the head of the foresaid King Henry his sonne Edward surnamed Long-Shanks lieth entombed King of England the first of that Christian name since the Conquest and as he was the first of his name so was he the first that setled the law and state deseruing the stile of Englands Iustinian and freed this kingdome from the wardship of the Peeres shewing himselfe in all his actions after capable to command not the Realme onely but the whole world At the time of his Fathers death he was abroad in Palestine pursuing his high desires for the Holy Warres and after sixe yeares from his first setting out he returnes into England receiues the Crowne without which he had beene a King almost three yeares at the hands of Robert Archbishop of Canterbury and with him is Eleanor his vertuous Queene likewise crowned at Westminster To the which their magnificent pompous Coronations the presence of Alexander King of Scotland who had married Margaret his eldest sister was required as appeares by this Record following Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Iohanni Louetot et Galfrido de Newbald Custodibus Episcopatus Deunelm Salutem Mandamus vobis quod de primis denarijs prouenientibus de exitibus Episcopatus predicti habere faciatis Alexandro
passed a Statute in the firmest manner could bee deuised that this kingdome should remaine intire as before without any violation of the rights it had Prouident he was in all his actions neuer vnder-taking any thing before he had first furnished himselfe with meanes to performe it For his gifts we finde them not such as either his owne fame and reputation or any way distasted the State To be short hee was a Prince who knew his worke and did it and therefore was he better obeyed better respected and serued then any of his Predecessours His workes of Pietie were great and many as the founding of East-minster an Abbey of the Cisteux order neare the Tower An Abbey for Nunnes at Dartford in Kent of both which I haue already written The Kings Hall in Cambridge for poore Schollers An Hospitall for the poore at Calais The building of Saint Stephens Chappell at Westminster with the endowment of three hundred pound per annum to that Church His augmenting the Chappell at Windsore and prouisions there for Church-men and twenty foure poore knights c. These were his publique works the best Monuments and most lasting to glorifie the memory of Princes Besides these his priuate buildings are great and many as the Castle of Windsore which he re-edified and enlarged His magnificence was shewed in Triumphs and Feasts which were sumptuously celebrated with all due rites and ceremonies the preseruers of Reuerence and Maiestie To conclude he was a Prince whose nature agreed with his office as onely made for it On this manner as he was in the strength of his yeares and in the height of his vigorous actions his character is exprest by many Authors Now may it please you in this place to take a view of this the mighty great Monarch of England France and Ireland as he was wrinkled with age weakened with a sore lingring disease and laid downe vpon his Deaths-bed When he had attained to the age of threescore and fiue yeares or thereabouts and wrastled with a sicknesse which gaue him the ouerthrow lying in the bed and at the point of death his eyes darkened his speech altered and his naturall heate almost extinguished one whom of all other he most entirely affected tooke the rings from his fingers which for the royaltie of his Maiestie he was wont to weare so bad him adiew and withdrew herselfe into another roome a woman she was inuerecunda pâllex as Walsingham calls her whose name was Alice Piers neither was hee left onely of her the said Alice but of other the knights and Esquires who had serued him allured more with his gifts then his loue Amongst many there was onely present at that time a certaine Priest other of his seruants applying the spoile of what they could lay hands on who lamenting the kings miserie and inwardly touched with griefe of heart for that amongst so many Councellers which hee had there was none that would minister vnto him the word of life came boldly vnto him and admonished him to lift vp the eyes as well of his body as of his heart vnto God and with sighes to aske mercy of him whose Maiestie he well knew he had grieuously offended Whereupon the king listened to the words of the Priest and although a little before he had wanted the vse of his tongue yet then taking strength to him hee seemed to speake what was in his minde And then what for weaknesse of his body contrition of his heart and sobbing for his sinnes his voice and speech failed him and scarce halfe pronouncing this word Iesu he gaue vp the Ghost at his Mannour of Sheene now Richmount as aforesaid If you will heare any more of this Martiall king you must haue the patience to trouble your selues in the reading of these obsolete old rimes Aftur hym reguyd hys son ful ryght The iii Edward that dowtie knyght U. sones he hadde truly here That wer to hym leef and dere Furst yis kyng dude a grete maistry Atte Scluce he brend a gret Naby Atte Tresse he faught ayain The kyng of Beme ther was slayn And the kyng of France putte to flyght Non longor than durst he fyght A sege atte Calice he lede byfor That last xii months and mor And or he thens wold goo He wan Calice and touns moo Atte Batail of Poyters by ordynance Was taken Iohn the kyng of France Atte Westmynstre he lyth ther He regnyd almoost li yer Byfor hym deyed Prynce Edward Whych hadde a son that hight Rychard Philippa of whom I haue spoken before Queene of England wife of Edward the third daughter of William of Bauaria Earle of Henault and Holland by Ioane sister of Philip of Valoys king of France lyeth entombed at her husbands feet She was a Lady of great vertue and a constant true louer of our Nation who when shee had beene king Edwards wife fourty two yeares she died August 15. 1369. These verses are annexed to her Monument Gulielmi Hannonis sobeles postrema Philippa Hic roseo quondam pulchra decore iacet Tertius Edwardus Rex ista coninge letus Materno suasu nobiliumque fuit Frater Iohannes Comes Mauortius heros Huic illam voluit consociare viro Hec iunxit Flandros coniunctio sanguinis Anglis In Francos venit hinc Gallica dira lues Dotibus hec raris viguit Regina Philippa Forma prestanti Religione fide Fecunda nata est proles numerosa parenti Insignes peperit magnanimosque duces Oxonij posuit studiosis optima nutrix Regineas Edes Palladiam scholam Coniux Edwardi iacet hic Regina Philippa Disce viuere Thus there Englished Faire Philip William Hennaldes childe and youngest daughter deere Of roseat hue and beautie bright in tombe lies hilled heere Edward the third through mothers will and Nobles good consent Tooke her to wife and ioyfully with her his time he spent His brother Iohn a Martiall man and eke a valiant knight Did linke this woman to this king in bonds of marriage right This match and marriage thus in bloud did binde the Flemings sure To Englishmen by which they did the Frenchmens wracke procure This Philip flowr'd in gifts full rare and treasures of the minde In beauty bright Religion Faith to all and each most kinde A fruitfull Mother Philip was full many a sonne she bred And brought forth many a worthy knight hardy and full of dred A carefull Nurse to Students all at Oxford she did found Queenes Colledge and Dame Pallas Schoole that did her fame resound The wife of Edward deere Queene Philip lieth here Learne to liue She was the youngest of the fiue daughters of William Earle of Henault aforesaid especially chosen before any of her Sisters for king Edwards wife by a Bishop of what See I am vncertaine and other Lords temporall sent thither were sent as Embassadours to treate of the marriage Of which thus much out of Harding cap. 178. as followeth He sent furth
For whiche Commons him hated both free and bond Iohn Gower concludes his cronica tripartita annexed to his booke entituled Vox Clamantis with these riming verses concerning the said King Cronica Richardi qui sceptra tulit Leopardi Vt patet est dicta populo sed non benedicta Vt speculum mundi quo lux nequit vlla resundi Sic vacuus transit sibi nil nisi culpa remansit Vnde superbus erat modo si preconia querat Eius honor sordet laus culpat gloria mordet Hoc concernentes caueant qui sunt sapientes Nam male viuentes Deus odit in orbe regentes Est qui peccator non esse potest dominator Ricardo teste finis probat hoc manifeste Post sua demerita perijt sua pompa sopita Qualis erat vita cronica stabit ita He was murdered at Pomfret Castle in the bloudie Tower so called from that time vpon that bloudie act to this day on Saint Valentines day 1399. the first of Henry the fourth when hee had raigned 22 yeares That beautifull picture of a King sighing crowned in a chaire of estate at the vpper end of the Quire in this Church is said to be of him which witnesseth how goodly a creature he was in outward lineaments but I will conclude with these rimes out of my old Manuscript the Addition to Robert of Glocester This Rychard than regnyd sone Aftur his Belsire as was to done Atte x yere of age crownyd was he He was a man of grett beute In hys tym the Comynte of Kent Up arysin and to London went And Sauoy the brent that ilke plas The whych the Dukes of Lancastre was Thurgh euel councel was slayn ful suel The Duke of Glocestre and the erle of Arundel He regnyd xxii yer and mor And to Longeley was he bor But in the v King Herry is tym He was leyde at VVestmynstre by Anne the Quene Anne his first wife here entombed with him was the daughter of Wenceslaus King of Bohemia and Emperour of the Germanes she died in Anno 1394. the seuenth of Iune at Sheene in Surrey whom her husband so feruently loued yea vsque ad amentiam euen to a kinde of madnesse that for very griefe and anger besides cursing the place wherein shee died hee ouerthrew the whole house Her Epitaph Sub petra lata nunc Annaiacet tumulata Dum vixit mundo Richardo nupta secundo Christo deuota fuit hec facilis bene nota Pauperibus prona semper sua reddere dona Iurgia sedauit et pregnantes releuauit Corpore formosa vultu mitis speciosa Prebens solamen viduis egris medicamen Anno milleno ter cent quarto nonageno Iulij septeno mensis migrauit ameno forma Fragilis Henry the fift sonne of Henry the fourth King of England and conquerour of France died at Boyes de Viscenna not farre from Paris the last of August 1422. hauing raigned 9 yeares 5 moneths and odde daies from thence his body was conuaied to this Abbey vpon whose Tombe Katherine his wife caused a royall picture to be layed couered all ouer with siluer plate gilded the head whereof was all of massie siluer all which at the suppression when the battering hammers of destruction as Master Speed saith did sound almost in euery Church were sacrilegiously broken off and by purloyning transferred to farre prophaner vses where at this day the headlesse monument is to be seene and these verses written vpon his Tombe Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Heres Francorum decessit et Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stil'd by conquest iust True heire of France Great Hector lies in dust Gallorum mastix iacet hic Henricus in vrna Domat omnia virtus So many vertues are attributed by all writers to this heroicall King Henry the renowne of England and glory of Wales that where to begin or when to make an end in his deserued praise I know not so I will leaue him amongst the many Monarchs of this most famous Empire none more complete relating onely a few rimes which in some sort doth particularize his memorable exploits Aftur hym regnyd his son than The v Herry truly a gracious man Atte his begynnyng verament He stroyd Loliers and thei wer brent Aftur he made Relygyous at Shene Sion Ierusalem and eke Bedlem The thurd yer he went truly And gat Hartlett in Normandy Atte Egyncourt he hadde a batayle ywis Hamwardys and ther had the prys He tooke ther the Duc of Orleaunce The Duc of Burbon and meny of Fraunce And aftur that he wan Lane toun Rone and al Normandy as was to don Also he wan Parys worschypfully And meny mo tounes wyth Meaux in Bry. Ther he took to hys Quene Katterin the kyng dawghtyr shene He hadde a Son of hur y bore That ys callyd Herry of Wyndsore In Fraunce he departyd goodly thurgh Goddâs grase And was broght into Engelond in short spase Then was his Son Herry of age suerly But only viii monyths wyth odde deyes truly His Eme Iohn Duc of Bedford as yow see Is now Regent of Fraunce sykerly He regnyd x yer in hevyn he hath reward Lith at Westmynstre noght fer fro Seynt Edward Here lieth Katherine Queene of England wife to the foresaid King Henry the fifth in a chest or coffin with a loose couer to be seene and handled of any that will much desire it and that by her owne appointment as he that sheweth the Tombes will tell you by tradition in regard of her disobedience to her husband for being deliuered of her Sonne Henry the sixth at Windsore the place which he forbad But the truth is that she being first buried in our Ladies Chappell here in this Church her corps were taken vp when as Henry the seuenth laid the foundation of that admirable structure his Chappell royall which haue euer since so remained and neuer reburied She was the daughter to Charles the sixth king of France she died at Bermondsey in Southwarke the second of Ianuary Ann. Dom. 1437. Her Epitaph Hic Katherina iacet Francorum filia Regis Heres Regni Carole Sexte tui Henrici quinti thalamo bis leta iugali Nam sic vir duplici clarus honore fuit Iure suo Anglorum Katherine iure triumphans Francorum obtinuit ius decus imperij Grata venit letis felix Regina Britannis Perque dies celebrant quatuor ore Deum Edidit Henricum gemebunda puerpera Regem Cuius in imperio Francus Anglus erat Non sibi sed Regno felici sidere natum Sed Patri Matri Religione parem Post ex Owino Tiddero tertia proles Nobilis Edmundus te Katherina beat Septimus Henricus quo non prestantior alter Filius Edmundi gemma Britanna fuit Felix ergo vxor mater ter filia felix Ast Auia hec felix terque quater que fuit Here lieth buried in one of the stateliest Monuments of Europe both for the
a masse of money from our credulous king Henry who had so deeply swallowed the gudgeon that his heart being ouer-ioyed saith Mathew Paris and raised euen to the height of exultation hee swore by Saint Edward to make a present voyage to Apulia and take possession of these dominions But at length this counterfeit ring vpon the touch was discouered and the good king knew himselfe deluded his Exchequer emptied and this Titulary-king his sonne Edmund abused Thus writes Mathew Paris the Monke of S. Albans who liued in those dayes and deciphers the Legerdemaine and iugling deuises of the Bishops of Rome to get money This Edmund was Lord Steward of this kingdome and Lieutenant of Gascoigne Who being sent into Aquitaine with an armie where he performed notable seruice died at Bayon in the yeare 1296. And within two moneths after his death his body was honourably transported into England Here lieth also entombed his first wife Aveline daughter and heire of William de Fortibus Earle of Albamarle by whom he had no issue who died the yeare 1269. Here lieth buried in a most magnificent Tombe befitting the greatnesse of his birth and the worthinesse of his Of-spring William de valence Earle of Penbroke so sirnamed of Valencia the place of his birth sonne of Hugh le Brun Earle of the Marches of Aquitaine and halfe brother by the mothers side to King Henry the third This William saith Stow was slaine at Bayon by the French in the yeare 1296. and with him Edmund Earle of Lancaster of whom I lastly spoke if wee may beleeue these verses of Harding But erle Edmond the kynges brother dere With twenty and sixe baners proud and stout The fift daye of Iune was accompted clere Of Christ his date a thousand yere all out Fourscore and sixteene without doubt At Bayon faught with the French menne certain Wher he in the feld that daye like a knyght was slain So was Sir William Valence erle of Penbroke than Sir Iohn Richmond and many other Baron Sir Iohn Saynct Iohn right a full manly manne Thenglishe hoste felly ther was bore doune By a bushement laied by colucion That brake on theim sore fighting in the feld Out of a wode in whiche that day were beld About the verge or side of his monument these verses are inlayd with brasse Anglia tota doles moritur quia regia proles Qua florere soles quem continet infima moles Guilielmus nomen insigne Valentia prebet Celsum cognomen nam tale dari sibi debet Qui valuit validus vincens virtute valore Eâ placuit placidus sensus morumque vigore Dapsilis et habilis immotus prelia sectans Vtilis ac humilis deuotus premia spectans Milleque trecentis cum quatuor inde retentis In Maij mense hunc mors proprio ferit ense Quique legis hec repete quam sit via plena timore Meque lege te moriturum inscius hore O clemens christe celos intret precor iste Nil videat triste quia preculit omnibus hisce Here lyeth entombed the body of Simon Langham who was first a Monke of this Abbey then Prior and lastly Abbot thence elected Bishop of London from thence before his consecration to London aduanced to the Bishopricke of Ely and from that place remoued to Canterbury hee held diuers liuings in commendam as the Archdeaconry and Treasureship of Wels with others He was both Treasurer and Chancelour of England at seuerall times It is scarce credible saith Godwin now Bishop of Hereford in his catalogue de presulibus Anglie that is reported of his wonderfull bounty and liberality to this monastery When hee was first made Abbot he bestowed all that he had gathered together being Monke and Prior in paying the debt of the house which was to the value of two thousand and two hundred markes and discharged diuers other summes of money also which particular Monkes did owe he purchased good land which he gaue vnto them When hee went out of England hee left them bookes to the value of 830 pound and Copes Vestments and other ornaments for the Church worth 437. pound At his death he bequeathed vnto them all his plate prised at 2700. pound and all his debts any where due which amounted vnto 3954. pound thirteene shillings and foure pence He also sent vnto this Abbey the summe of one thousand markes to buy forty markes a yeare land to encrease the portion of foure Monkes that daily should say Masse for the soules of himselfe and his Parents The money that he bestowed vpon this Abbey one way or other is reckoned by a Monke of the same to be no lesse then 10800. pound who thereupon compiled this Distich Res es de Langham tua Simon sunt data quondam Octingentena librarum millia dena But men of eminent place and authoritie cannot haue their due praise of all sorts of people nay rather in requitall of their best actions they shall reape nothing but opprobrious language for vpon his translation from Ely to Canterbury these two rayling riming Hexameters were made to his disgrace Letentur celi quia Simon transit ab Ely Cuius in aduentum flent in Kent millia centum The Isle of Ely laught when Simon from her went But hundred thousands wept at 's comming into Kent He sate Archbishop of Canterbury onely two yeares for being made Cardinall of Saint Sixtus by Pope Vrban the fift hee left his Archbishopricke and went to Auinion where shortly after he was made Bishop Cardinall of Preneste by Gregory the eleuenth where he liued in great estimation about eight yeares and died of a palsie wherewith hee was suddenly taken as he sate at dinner Iuly 22. 1376. he was buried first in the Church of the Carthusians which he himselfe had founded in the Citie of Auinion but after three yeares his bones by his appointment while he liued were taken vp and buried here a second time vnder a goodly tombe of Alabaster vpon which this Epitaph was sometime engrauen Simon de Langham sub petris hijs tumulatus Istius Ecclesie Monachus fuerat Prior Abbas Sede vacante fuit electus Londoniensis Presul et insignis Ely sed postea primas Totius Regni magnus Regisque minister Nam Thesaurarius et Cancellarius eius Ac Cardinalis in Roma Presbyter isâe Postque Prenestinus est factus Episcopus atque Nuncius ex parte Pape transmittitur istâc Orbe dolente Pater quem nunc reuocare nequimus Magdalene festo milleno septuageno Et ter centeno sexto Christi ruit anno Hunc Deus absoluat de cunctis que male gessit Et meritis Matris sibi celica gaudia donet Here lyeth Robert Waldby who being a yong man followed Edward the blacke Prince into France where he continued long a Student and profited so much as no man in the Vniuersitie where he liued might compared with him for all kinde of learning he was a good linguist very well seene
in Philosophie both naturall and morall in Physicke and the canon Law very eloquent an excellent Preacher and esteemed so profound a Diuine as he was thought meete to be the professour of Diuinity or Doctor of the Chaire in the Vniuersitie of Tholouze For these his good gifts hee was much fauoured of the blacke Prince then of King Richard his sonne who preferred him to the Bishopricke of the Isle of Man from that preferment he was translated to the Archbishopricke of Dublin in Ireland thence to Chichester and lastly to the Archbishopricke of Yorke where he sate not fully three yeares but died the 29. of May 1397. His Epitaph is quite worne or torne away from his monument yet I found it in a Manuscript in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie Hic fuit expertus in quouis iure Robertus De Walbye dictus nunc est sub marmore strictus Sacre Scripture Doctor fuit et geniture Ingenuus medicus Plebis semper amicus Presul Adurensis post hec Archas Dublinensis Hinc Cicestrensis tandem Primus Eborensis Quarto Kalend Iunij migrauit cur sibus anni Milleni ter C. septem nonies quoque deni Vos precor orate quod sint sibi dona beate Cum sanctis vite requiescat et hic sine lite In an old riming Manuscript of the succession of the Archbishops of Yorke I finde thus much of this man Tunc Robertus ordinis Fratris Augustini Ascendit in Cathedram Primatis Paulini Lingua scientificus sârmonis Latini Anno primo proximat vite sue fini De carnis ergastulo Presul euocatur Gleba sui corporu Westminstre humatur Here vnder a marble stone in the Chappell royall lyeth the body of Iohn Waltham Lord Bishop of Salisbury who had beene master of the Rolles keeper of the priuie Seale and Treasurer of England in which office he continued till his death which happened in the yeare 1395. hauing sate bishop 7 yeares and executed the Treasurorship foure yeares King Richard the second loued him entirely and greatly bewailed his death In token whereof hee commanded that hee should be buried here among the Kings hoc anno saith Walshingham viz. in the yeare 1395. obijt Iohannes de Waltham Episcopus Sarum regni Thesaurarius qui tantum Regi complacuerit vt etiam multis licet murmurantibus apud monasterium inter Reges meruit sepulturam He lieth in the pauement vnder a flat marble stone iust beside King Edward the first vpon which his Epitaph was inlayd in brasse with his portraiture in Episcopall robes now defaced and almost quite perished Here lyeth another Bishop here buried but not in so conspicuous and princely a place of the Church as doth Waltham who was likewise by the Kings speciall commandement here inhumed for that he was accounted a very holy and vertuous man namely one Richard de Wendouer Parson of Bromley and Bishop of Rochester who died in the yeare 1250. and in the raigne of King Henry the third Here lieth interred Sir Humfrey Bourchier Lord Cromwell the sonne of Henry Bourchier Earle of Essex by Isabell daughter of Richard Earle of Cambridge and sister to Richard Duke of Yorke who in aide of his kinsman King Edward the fourth was slaine at Barnet field vpon Easter day 1471. And here lieth interred another Humfrey Bourchier who was the sonne and heire of Iohn Bourchier Lord Berners who was also slaine at the same battaile to whose memories this Epitaph yet remaines Hic Pugil ecce iacens Bernet fera bella cupiscens Certat vt Eacides fit saucius vndique miles Vt cecidit vulnus Mars porrigit arma cruore Sparsim tincta rubent dolor en lachrimabilis hora Lumine nempe cadit quo christus morte resurgit Bourchier Humfridus clara propagine dictus Edwardi Regis qui tertius est vocitatus Iohn Domini Berners proles et paruulus heres Quartus et Edwardus belli tenet ecce triumphum Quo perit Humfridus vt Regis vernula verus Cyronomon mense sponse Regis fuit iste Elisabeth sibi sic sua virtus crescit honore Armis conspicuus quondam charusque Britannis Hic fuit Vt celis viuat deposcite votis Here lieth entombed in a slight monument in the wall Thomas Mylling sometime Abbot of this Monastery from whence he was preferred to the Bishopricke of Hereford by King Edward the fourth vnder whom he was of the priuie Councell and was Godfather to Prince Edward his eldest Sonne He was a Monke of this house being but a youth and then went to Oxford where he studied vntill hee proceeded Doctor of Diuinitie in which time he attained good knowledge in the Greeke tongue which in those dayes was geason saith the reuerend Author of the Bishops Catalogue He died in the yeare 1493. Here in an obscure place of this Church lieth the body of Hugoline Chamberlaine to King Edward the Confessor of whom this Storie is written in the life of the said Edward King Edward one afternoone lying in his bed with his curtaines round about him drawne a poore pilfering Courtier came into his Chamber where finding the Kings Casket open which Hugolin had forgotten to shut he tooke out so much money as hee could well carry and went away but insatiable desire brought him againe the second and third time for such a ready prey vntill the King who lay still all this while and would not seeme to see began to speake to him and bade him speedily be packing for he was well if he could see for if Hugoline came and tooke him there he were not onely like to loose all that he had gotten but also to stretch an halter The fellow was no sooner gone but Hugoline came in and finding the Casket open and much money taken away was greatly moued But the king willed him not to be grieued For said he he that hath it hath more need of it then we haue This Hugolin saith M. Camden was buried in the old Chapter house of this Church Vpon whose Monument these sillie verses were engrauen Qui ruis iniuste capit hic Hugoline locus te Laude pia clares quia martyribus nece clareâ For learning in this kings dayes was so low ebbed in England that betweene Thames and Trent there was scant one found which could vnderstand Latine This passage of the aforesaid pilfery is delineated and wrought in the Hangings about the Quire with the Portraitures of the king Hugolin and the Theefe vnder which are these verses Ecce nimis parca furis manus exit ab archa Celat opus furis pietas non regula iuris Tolle quod habes et fuge Hic iacet Willelmus Bedel Ar. et Cecilia vx eius filia heres Domini Roberti Grene militis ac etiam heres domini Iohannis Cley militis qui quidem Willelmus fuit Thesaurarius Hospitij excellentissimi Principis Margarete nuper Comitisse Richmondie Darbie matris Regis Henrici
septimi nec non Thesaurarius Hospitij reuerendissimi Patris domini huius regni Cancellarij titulo Sancte Cecilie trans Tiberim sacro sancte Romane Ecclesie Presbyteri Cardinalis ordinati Qui quidem Willelmus ob 3. Iulij 1518. Here is an Epitaph cut in Brasse vpon a marble stone now almost worne out which was made to the memory of one Robert Haule Esquire murdered in this Church the manner whereof our Chronicles doe thus briefely relate In the battell of Nazers in Spaine this Robert Haule or Hawley and Iohn Schakell Esquires tooke the Earle of Dene prisoner who deliuered vnto them his sonne and heire as a pledge for assurance of performances Not long after this their Hostage was demanded by Iohn Duke of Lancaster in the Kings name whom they denyed to deliuer for which they were clapt in the Tower from whence escaping here they tooke Sanctuary to whom Sir Raph Ferreis and Sir Alan Buxhull with fifty armed men were secretly sent to doe this mischiefe who finding them at high Masse first drew Schakell by a wile out of the priuiledge of the Church then offering to lay hands on Hawley he manfully resisting with his short sword made them all flie off But in the end he was slaine in the Chancell commending himselfe in his last words to God the reuenger of such iniuries and to the liberty of our holy mother the Church With him was slaine a seruant of his thrust into the backe with a Iauelin and a Monke who intreated for him in respect of the holinesse of the place This wicked act was perpetrated the 11. of August 1378. the second of Richard the second These words following now onely remaining vpon his Monument Me dolus ira furor multorum militis atque ................... ..... in hoc gladijs celebri pietatis asylo Dum leuita Dei sermonis legit ad aram Proh dolor ipse meo Monachorum sanguine vultus Aspersi moriens chorus est mihi testis in evum Et me nunc retinet sacer is locus Haule Robertum Hic quia pestiferos male sensi primitus enses .................. Hic iacet Thomas Ruthal Episcopus Dunelmensis Regis Henrici septimi Secretarius qui obijt 1524. To this short Inscription Godwin in his Catalogue addeth a long story of the life and death of this Bishop Who was borne in Cicester saith he in the County of Glocester and brought vp in Cambridge where he proceeded Doctor of Law He was preferred to the Bishopricke of Durham by King Henry the seuenth after whose death hee was made one of the priuie Councell vnto the young King Henry the eight who esteemed greatly of him for his wisedome and learning and imployed him often in ambassages and other businesses of importance Amongst the rest it pleased the king one time to require him to set downe his iudgement in writing concerning the estate of his kingdome in generall and particularly to enforme him in certaine things by him specified This discourse the Bishop writ very carefully and caused it to be bound in Velime gilt and otherwise adorned in the best manner Now you shall vnderstand that it chanced himselfe about the same time to set downe a note of his owne priuate estate which in goods and ready money amounted to the summe of one hundred thousand pounds This account was written in a paper booke of the same fashion and binding that the other was which was prouided for the king Whereby it happened that the king sending Cardinall Wolsey for the other draught which he had so long before required of him the Bishop mistaking deliuered that which contained an estimate of his owne infinite Treasure This the Cardinall soone espying and willing to doe the Bishop a displeasure deliuered it as he had receiued it vnto the King shewing withall how the Bishop had very happily mistaken himselfe for now quoth he you see where you may at any time command a great masse of money if you need it As soone as the Bishop vnderstood his errour the conceit thereof touched him so neare that within a short spaââ after hee died at his house here in the Strand His intention was to haue repaired the Church of Cicester to haue built Bridges as he had begun that ouer the Riuer of Tyne and to haue done many other deeds of charitie if hee had not beene preuented by death Here lieth the body of Sir William Trussell knight and speaker of that Parliament wherein Edward the second king of England resigned his Diadâme and all ensignes of Maiestie to Edward his eldest Sonne This Trussell saith an ancient Author was a Iudge who could fit the house with quirks of Law to colour so lawlesse and treasonable an act as the deposing of a lawfull king And thereupon was chosen in the behalfe of the whole Realme to renounce all homage and obedience to the Lord Edward of Carnarvon his Soueraigne Lord and King The forme of which renunciation was by him the said Trussell pronounced at Kenelworth Castle the 20. of Ianuary 1326. in these disgracefull words which you may finde in Polychronicon I William Trussel in the name of al men of the lond of Engelond and of the Parliament Prolocutor resigne to the Edward the homage that was made to the somtym and from this tym forward now folowyng I defye the and priue the of al royal Powyr and shal neuer be tendant to the as for Kyng aftyr this tyme. The time of this Trussels death I cannot learne Here lieth interred before the Communion Table the body of Richard de Ware or Warren Abbot of this Monastery and sometime Lord Treasurer of England Who going to Rome for his consecration brought from thence certaine workmen and rich Porphery stones whereof and by whom hee made that curious singular rare pauement before the high Altar in which are circulary written in letters of brasse these ten verses following containing a discourse as one saith of the worlds continuance Si Lector posita prudenter cuncta reuoluat Hic finem primi mobilis inveniet Sepes trina canes equos homines super addas Ceruos coruos aquilas immania cete Mundi quodque sequens pereuntis triplicat annos Sphericus Archetypum globus hic monstrat Macrocosmum Christi milleno bis centeno duodeno Cum sexageno subductis quatuor anno Tertius Henricus Rex vrbs Odoricus Abbas Hos compegere Porphyreos lapides With these stones and workmen he did also frame the Shrine of Edward the Confessor with these verses Anno milleno Domini cum septuageno Et bis centeno cum completo quasi deno Hoc opus est factum quod Petrus duxit in actum Romanus ciuis Homo causam noscere si vis Rex fuit Henricus Sancti presentis amicus This Abbot died the second day of December 1283. after he had gouerned this Monastery three and twenty yeares and more Vpon whose grauestone this briefe
Epitaph is engrauen Abbas Richardus de Wara qui requiescit Hic portat lapides quos hic portauit ab vrbe After the death of Richard de Ware Walter Wenlocke was chosen Abbot and preferred to the honour of Lord Treasurer by King Edward the first Hee was Abbot sixe and twenty yeares lacking sixe dayes died vpon Christmas day at night in the yeare 1307. And lieth buried vnder a marble stone whereupon this Epitaph to his high commendation is inlayed in brasse Abbas Walterus iacet hic sub marmore tectus Non fuit austerus sed mitis famine rectus Here lieth Richard de Barking Abbot of this Monastery who was an especiall Councellour to King Henry the third chiefe Baron of the Exchequer and Treasurer of England Who hauing beene Abbot 24. yeares died the 23. day of Nouember 1246. He was first buried in our Ladies Chappell in a Tombe of marble which was pulled downe by Frier Combe a Sacrist of this house Who layed a faire plaine marble stone ouer him with this Epitaph thus inscribed Richardus Barking Prior est post inclytus Abbas Henrici Regis prudens fuit ille minister Huius erat prima laus Insula rebus opima Altera laus eque Thorp census ocham decimeque Tertia Mortone castrum simili ratione Et Regis quarta de multis commoda charta Clementis festo mundo migrauit ab isto M. Domini C. bis xl sextoque sub anno Cui detur venia parte pia virgo Maria. Here in the Cloister vnder a flat stone of blacke marble lie the remaines of Gervais de Bloys so called of the place or Earledome which his father possest in France who was Stephen Earle of Bloys and Champaigne afterwards king of England He was his base sonne begotten of one Dameta a gentlewoman of Normandy He was brought into England by his father the fifth yeare of his raigne and in the same yeare made Abbot of this place In which gouernment he continued for the space of twenty yeares He deceased the 26. of August 1160. His Epitaph De Regem genere Pater hic Gervasius ecce Monstrat de functus mors rapit omne genus Euen father Gervase borne of kings race Loe is dead thus death all sorts doth deface Here lieth the body of Nicholas Litlington Abbot of this house who in the time of his gouernement which was for the space of ãâã yeares built the Abbots hall and the faire roome now called Ierusalem the West and South part of the Cloister and a Granary now the Schollers long Bed-chamber with the Tower adioyning as also the Water-Mill and many other Edefices He died Anno 1386. I found his Epitaph in a namelesse Manuscript in that neuer enough admired Librarie of Sir Robert Cotton Hacce Domo Ductor Nicholaus erat quoque structor Et sibi tunc sedem celo construxit edem M. semel C ter erat annus sex octuagenus Cum perit iste Abbas diuino flamine plenus Quinta dies fit ei requies in fine Nouembris Detur ei pietate Dei merces requici Amen Here lieth in the Cloister one Vitalis Abbot of this Couent preferred thereunto by William the Conquerour in the 16. of whose raigne 1082. he died vpon whose Tombe this Epitaph was engrauen alluding to his name like as for Laurence his successor Qui nomen traxit a vita morte vocante Abbas Vitalis transijt hicque iacet Here lieth the body of one Lawrence Abbot of this Monastery who obtained of Alexander the third that ambitious Bishop of Rome to himselfe and his successors the vse of the Miter the Ring and the Gloues the Pastorall Staffe before his time being their onely comportment as by the differing portraitures of the Abbots vpon their Tombestones may be easily discerned He died Anno 1176. to whose memory this allusiue Epitaph was made Clauditur hoc tumulo vir quondam clarus in orbe Quo preclarus erat hic locus est et erit Pro meritis vite dedit illi laurea nomen Detur ei vite laurea pro meritis Here lieth Gislebert Crispine Abbot who flourished in the raigne of King Henry the first and died in the yeare of our redemption 1114. His picture is vpon the graue stone inlaid with brasse with his Pastoral staffe onely without Miter Ring or other ornament with these verses Hic Pater insignis genus altum virgo senex que Gisleberte iaces lux via duxque tuis Mitis eras iustus prudens fortis moderatus Doctus quadriuio nec minus in triuio Sic tamen ornatus nece sexta luce Decembris Spiramen celo reddis ossa solo Here lieth interred the body of Edmund Kirton Abbot of this Monastery Doctor of Diuinity and a profound learned man he adorned Saint Andrewes Chappell wherein he lieth buried with the armes of many of the English Nobility These verses are inscribed vpon his monument Pastor pacisicus subiectis vir moderatus Hac sub marmorea Petra requiescit humatus Edmundus Kirton hic quondam qui fuit Abbas Bis denis annis cum binis connumerandus Sacre Scripture doctor probus immoprobatus Illustri stirpe de Cobildic generatus Coram Martino papa proposuit iste Ob quod multiplices laudes habuit honores Qui obijt tertio die mensis Octobris An. Dom. M. cccc.lx.vi Eleison Kyry curando morbida mundi Iohn Islip Abbot of Westminster a man of great authoritie and speciall trust with King Henry the seuenth lieth here interred He built the Deanes house as now it is and repaired many other places in this Monasterie in the windowes whereof saith Camden he had a quadruple deuice for his single name for somewhere he set vp an eye with a slip of a tree in another place one slipping boughes in a tree in other places an I with the said slip and in some places one slipping from a tree with the word Islip I cannot learne the time of his death by his Tombe yet I finde in a Manuscript wherein are diuers funerall collections and other Inscriptions of this Abbey which were gathered about the time of the dissolution that he died the second of Ianuary in the yeare 1510. the second of Henry the eight and also that in the Chappell of Saint Erasmus where he lieth buried vpon the wall ouer his Tombe was the picture of our Sauiour Christ hanging on the Crosse seeming to call and to giue good councell vnto mankind in these rimes Aspice serue Dei sic me posuere Iudei Aspice deuote quoniam sic pendeo pro te Aspice mortalis pro te datur Hostia talis Introitum vite reddo tibi redde mihi te In cruce sum prote qui peccas desine pro me Desine do veniam dic culpam corrige vitam Vnder this Crucifixe was the picture of the Abbot holding vp his hands and praying thus in old Poetrie En cruce qui pendis Islip miserere Iohannis
of the pot There hath also beene found in the same field diuers coffins of stone containing the bones of men these I suppose to be the burials of some speciall persons in time of the Brittaines or Saxons Moreouer there were also found the sculls and bones of men without coffins or rather whose coffines being of great timber were consumed Diuers great Nailes of Iron were there found such as are vsed in the wheeles of shod carts being each of them as bigge as a mans finger and a quarter of a yard the heads two inches ouer Those Nailes were more wondred at then the rest of the things there found and many opinions of men were there vttered of them namely that the men there buried were murthered by driuing those Nailes into their heads a thing vnlikely for a smaller Naile would more aptly serue to so bad a purpose and a more secret place would lightly be imployed for such buriall But to set downe what I obserued concerning this matter I there beheld the bones of a man lying as I noted the head North the feet South and round about him as thwart his head along both his sides and thwart his feet such Nailes were found Wherefore I coniectured them to be Nailes of his coffin Which had beene a trough cut out of some great tree and the same couered with a planke of a great thicknesse fastened with such Nailes and therefore I caused some of the Nailes to be reached vp to ãâã found vnder the broad heads of them the old wood âeane turned into earth but still retaining both the graine and proper colour Of these Nailes with the wood vnder the head thereof I reserued one as also the ãâã bone of the man the teeth being great sound and fixed which amongst many other Monuments there found I haue yet to shew but the nayle lying dry is by scaling greatly wasted And thus much of ancient Funerall Monuments in the fields Certaine Burials of British Kings in and about London the places of their interments vncertaine And first to begin with Guentoline the sonne of Gurgunstus King of Britaine who flourished about the yeare of the world 3614. Who was a wise Prince graue in counsell and sober in behauiour and studied with great care and diligence to reforme anew and to adorne with iustice lawes and good orders the British commonwealth by other Kings not so framed as stood with the greatnesse thereof But as he was busie in hand herewith death tooke him away from these worldly employments when hee had raigned 27. yeares He had a wife named Martia Proba a woman of perfect beautie and wisedome incomparable as by her prudent gouernment and equall administration of iustice after her husbands decease during her sonnes minoritie it most manifestly appeared She was a woman expert and skilfull in diuers sciences but chiefely being admitted to the gouernment of the Realme she studied to preserue the common wealth in good quiet and decent order and therefore deuised established and writ a booke in the British tongue of profitable and conuenient Lawes the which after her name were called Martian Lawes These Lawes afterwards Gildas Cambrius the Historicall Welch Poet translated into Latine and a long time after him Alured King of the West Saxons holding these lawes necessarie for the preseruation of the common wealth put them into English Saxon speech and then they were called after that translation Marchenclagh that is to meane the Lawes of Martia adding thereunto a Booke of his owne writing of the Lawes of England which he called A certaine Breuiarie extracted out of diuers Lawes of the Troians Grecians Britaines Saxons and Danes She flourished before the birth of our Lord and Sauiour 348. yeares or thereabouts Her sonnes name was Sicilius who vpon the death of his Father was but young for I reade that Martia his mother deliuered vp the gouernment of the kingdome to her sonne when he came to lawfull age which she had right politiquely guided and highly for her perpetuall renowne and commendation the space of fourteene yeares He died when hee had raigned seuen yeares some say fifteene yeares Of Bladud king of Britaine the sonne of Lud hurdibras many incredible passages are deliuered by our old British writers and followed by sundrie Authors of succeeding ages which say that he was so well seene in the Sciences of Astronomie and Necromancie that thereby hee made the hote springs in the Citie of Bathe that he built the Citie of Bathe that he went to Athens and brought with him foure Philosophers and by them instituted an Vniuersitie at Stanford in Lincolnshire And further to shew his Art and cunning that he tooke vpon him to flie into the aire and that hee broke his necke by a fall from the Temple of Apollo in Troynouant before the incarnation of Christ 852. yeares in the twentieth yeare of his raigne Geffrey of Monmouth and Mathew of Westminster would approue as much as here is spoken of him And learned Selden in his Illustrations vpon Draytons Polyolbion sets downe an ancient fragment of rimes wherein these strange things of him are exprest But of him here in this place will it please you take a peece out of Harding and you shall haue more hereafter Bladud his sonne after him did succede And reigned after then full xx yere Cair Bladud so that now is Bath I rede He made anone the hote bathes there infere When at Athens he had studied clere He brought with hym iiii Philosophers wise Schole to hold in Brytaine and exercyse Stanforde he made that Stanforde hight this daye In which he made an Vniuersitee His Philosophers as Merlin doth saye Had scholers fele of grete habilitee Studyng euer alwaye in vnitee In all the seuen liberall science For to purchase wysedome and sapience In Cair Bladim he made a temple right And sette a Flamyne therein to gouerne And afterward a Fetherham he dight To flye with winges as he could best discerne Aboue the aire nothyng him to werne He flyed on high to the temple Apoline And ther brake his necke for all his grete doctrine Likewise the vncertaine buriall of Vortimer that victorious British king was in some part of this Citie he was the eldest sonne of Vortigern king of the Britaines and raigned as king in his fathers dayes who demeaned himselfe towards his sonne then his Soueraigne in all dutifull obedience and faithfull counsell for the space of foure yeares euen vntill Vortimer was poysoned by the subtiltie of Rowena the heathen daughter of Hengist the Saxon the wife or concubine of his Brother and the mother of the Britaines mischiefe which happened about the yeare of Grace 464. This Vortimer was a man of great valour which altogether he employed for the redresse of his countrey according to the testimonie of William Malmesbury whose words are these Vortimer saith he thinking not good to dissemble the matter for that he saw himselfe and countrey daily
die mensis Iunii Ann. M. ccccc xxii Here lyth Robert Newport Esqwyr founder of this Chapel and Mary his wyff Whych Robert dyed xvii of Nouember M. ccccc.xviii Orate pro anima Georgii Newport Ar. et Margarete vxoris eius que Margareta obiit xx lanurii M. cccc.lxvii et Georgius obiit xxviii Octob. M. cccc lxxxiiii These Newports here very faire entombed were gentlemen as I was enformed of ample reuenues in these parts whose inheritance came by marriage to the Parkers the Ancestors of the Lord Morley .... Iohannes de Lee et Iohanna vxor .... The armes and date gone .... Sir Waltar at Lea alias Sir Walter at clay ... His wife lieth by him the Monument is ancient but fouly defaced Hic iacent Iohannes Barloe et Iohanna vxor eius qui quidem Iohannes obiit .... M. cccc.xx et predicta Ioanna obiit xv Februar M. cccc xix Hic iacent Henricus Barloe Ar. qui obiit v. die Ianuarii M. cccc lxxv et Katherina vxor eius que ob .... M. cccc lxiiii An ancient and well allied familie one of which house namely William was in especiall fauour and trust with King Henry the seuenth Burnt Pelham In the wall of this Church lieth a most ancient Monument A stone wherein is figured a man and about him an Eagle a Lion and a Bull hauing all wings and a fourth of the shape of an Angell as if they should represent the foure Euangelists vnder the feet of the man is a crosse Flourie and vnder the Crosse a Serpent He is thought to haue beene sometime the Lord of an ancient decaied House well moated not farre from this place called O Piers Shoonkes He flourished Ann. Ã conquestu vicesimo primo Sabridgworth vulgarly Sabsworth Hic iacent Iohannes Leuenthorp Ar. qui obijt xxvii mens Maij M. cccc.xxxiii Katherina vx eius que obiit v. die Octob. M. cccc.xxxi quorum ... This Iohn was one of the Executours of the last Will and Testament of King Henry the fifth Hic iacent Iohannes Leuenthorp Ar. qui obiit vltimo die mensis Maij M. cccc.lxxxiiii Ioanna vxor eius que obiit xxix Augusti M. cccc.xl viii En iacet hic puluis putredo vermis et esca Et Famulus mortis nam vita iam caret ista Hic nil scit nil habet nec virtus inde relucet Cerne luto vilius horror terror fetor orbis Opprobrium cunctis ac est abiectio plebis Hic frater aspice te spira suffragia pro me Hic iacet Isabella vxor Iohannis Leuenthorp de Sabridgworth in Com. Hart. quondam vxor Roberti Southwel de Thachint in eodem Com. et filia Iohannis Boys .... in Com. Lincolne que obiit xx Iulij M. cccc.lxxxi Cuius Hic iacet Agnes soror Iohannis Leuenthorp Ar. que obiit x die Decemb. M. cccc.xliiii In this Church are diuers other Monuments of later times to the memorie of the Leuenthorps whose habitation is neare at Shingle-hall which is honoured by her owners being of such worth and ancient gentrie Hic iacent Iohannes Chancy Ar. filius et heres Iohannis Chancy Ar. filii heredis Willelmi Chancy militis quondam Baronis de Shorpenbek in Com. Ebor. et Anna vxor eius vna filiarum Iohannis Leuenthorp Ar. qui quidem Iohannes obiit vii Maii M. cccc.lxxix et Anna ii Decembris M cccc lxxvii quorum animabus Of yowr cherite sey a Pater Noster and an Ave For the sowl of William Chancy On whos sowl Iesu hav mercy Hic iacent Galfredus Ioslyne Katherina ac Ioanna vxor eius qui obiit ii Ianuar. M. cccc lxx Orate pro anima Radulphi Ioslyne quondam militis et bis Maioratus Ciuitatis London qui obiit xxv Octob. M. cccc.lxxviii This Sir Raph Ioslyne or Iosceline was the sonne of the foresaid Geffrey Iosceline here interred He was inuested knight of the Bath with Sir Thomas Cooke Sir Mathew Philip and Sir Henry Weeuer Citizens at the Coronation of Queene Elizabeth the wife of King Edward the fourth in the yeare 1465. The first time of his Maioraltie was in the yeare 1464. the other not long before his death He was a carefull corrector of the abuses vsed by Bakers and Victuallers of the Citie of London and by his diligence the walls of the said Citie were repaired This name as I was told doth still flourish in this tract Bishops Stortford So called because it belongs to the See of London giuen vnto it by William the Conquerour in the time of Mauritius Bishop of this Diocesse Hic iacent Thomas Fleming .... 1436. Hic iacet Ioanna Fleming vx Tho. Fleming .... 1411. A familie whose numerous branches haue spread themselues through England Scotland and Wales euer since the time of Sir Iohn le Fleming knight who flourished in the raigne of king William Rufus Hic iacent Iohannes Algar Matilda vxor eius qui quidem Iohannes obiit Ann. M. cccc lxxxiiii ... Matilda M. cccc lxxx Brawghing Orate pro anima Nicholai Coton filii et heredis Iohannis Coton quondma de Pantfeeld in Com. Essex qui ob 25. Aug. 1500. For whos sowl I pray yow of yowr cheritie say a Pater Noster and an Ave. Here lyeth Thomas Greene the soonne of Nicholas Greene who dyed 2. March 1484. Here lyth Ioan lat wyff of Thomas Rustwyne and dawter of Nicholas Greene who dyed .... 1400. Here are many Monuments of the Greenes quite defaced Saint Margarets by Hodsden Hic .... Iohannes de Goldington Ar. filius Iohannis de Goldington Ar. filii Iohannis de Goldington militis filii .... M. cccc xix Here are many other funerall Monuments in this little Church which haue beene inlayd and inscribed in brasse with the pourtraitures armes and Epitaphs of this ancient familie of the Goldingtons now all defaced and gone Brocksbourne Here lyth Dame Elisabyth somtym wyff to Syr Iohn Say knyght dawter to Lawrence Cheyne Esqwyr of Cambridg Shyre A woman of nobyl blode and most nobyl in grace and mannors She dyed xxv Septem M. cccc.lxxiii and was enterryd in this parysh Church abyding the body of her said Husband whos sowls God bring to euerlastyng lyff Of yowr cheritie prey for the sowl of Sir William Say knight deceased late Lord of the Mannour of Base his fader and moder Geneuese and Elisabyth his wyffs who died iiii Decemb. M. ccccc.xxix.xxi Hen. oclaui This Sir William Say built the north Isle of this Church as by an inscription in the glasse window may be gathered This familie flourished here for many descents euen vntill the death of this Sir William whose inheritance for want of heires male was diuided amongst his daughters of which hereafter Here lyeth Iohn Borrell Sergeant at Armes to Henry the eight and Elizabyth his wyff who
holy Saints the reliques of blessed Martyrs and the very places of their martyrdome did kindle in times past no small heate of diuine charitie in the mindes of our first Christian Saxon Kings which made Offa the glorious King of the Mercians to recall himselfe from the trace of bloudy warres in great deuotion to goe to Rome and to obtaine of Pope Adrian the first the canonyzation of this martyr Alban in honour of whom the first to our Lord Iesus Christ he founded this monastery about the yeere 795. the Church whereof still remaineth which for bignesse beautie and antiquity is to be had in admiration in the very place where the foresaid Alban suffered his martyrdome He endowed this his gâodly fabricke with sufficient reuenues for the maintenance of one hundred blacke Monkes Benedictins and caused the reliques of his new Saint to be taken vp and put in a shrine adorned with gold and pretious stones of inestimable value which was further enriched by his sonne Egfrid and many other succeeding Kings and Princes but now at this day nothing is remaining of this rich Shrine saue a marble stone to couer his sacred Ashes ouer against which on the wall these verses are lately depicted onely to tell vs that such a man there was to whose memory a Shrine was erected Renowned Alban knight first Martyr of this land By Dioclesian lost his life through bloudy hand Who made him soueraigne Lord high Steward of this Isle And Prince of Britaine knights to dignifie his stile He veritie embrac't and Verulam forsooke And in this very place his martyrdome he tooke Now hath he his reward he liues with Christ aboue For he aboue all things Christ and his truth did loue Here Offa Mercians King did Albans bones enshrine So all things were dispos'd by prouidence diuine Nought but this marble stone of Albans Shrine is left The worke of all forme else hath changing time bereft I haue read in an old Mss. in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie that this following was anciently the Inscription vpon his Shrine Here lieth interred the body of Saint Alban a Citizen of old Verulam of whom this towne tooke denomination and from the ruines of which Citie this Towne did arise He was the first Martyr of England and suffered his martyrdome the xx day of Iune in the yeare of mans redemption 293. Vnder a curious and costly funerall monument here in the Quire lyeth interred the body of Vmfrey Plantaginet surnamed the Good fourth sonne of King Henry the fourth By the grace of God for so begins his stile by Charter sonne brother and vncle of Kings Duke of Glocester Earle of Henault Holland Zeland and Pembroke Lord of Friseland great Chamberlaine of England Protector and defender of the Church and kingdome of England Thus great thus glorious by birth creation and marriage was hee in his honourable titles and Princely attributes but farre more great and illustrious in his vertuous endowments and inward qualities But in his praise may it please you reade learned Clarentieux in his tract of Suffolke where he writes of the Abbey of Bury these are his words That father of his countrey Vmfrey Duke of Glocester a due obseruer of Iustice and one who had furnished his noble wit with the better and deeper kinde of Studies after he had vnder King Henry the sixth gouerned the kingdome fiue and twenty yeares with great commendations so that neither good men had cause to complaine of nor enuill to finde fault with was here in Saint Sauiours Hospitall brought to his ãâã by the spightfull enuie of Margaret of Lorain who was wife to Henââ the âixâh his Nephew But his death was the stroke of an euill Angell ãâ¦ã ent to punish England and to roote out all her Nobles Fidior in regno regi duce non âuit isâo Plusue fide stabilis aut maior amator honoris Saith the Abbot of this house Io. Whethamsted yet for all this was he arrested of high Treason in the yeare 1446. and within few dayes after strangled to death without any triall Some say he died for sorrow because hee might not come to his answer Hee built the Diuinitie Schoole in Oxford and was an especiall benefactour to this Abbey Here is an Epitaph pensild on the wall neare to his Tombe to the same effect with an Item of the miracle which he wrought vpon the blinde imposture The story is frequent Hic iacet Vmphredus Duxille Glocestrius olim Henrici Regis Protector fraudis ineptae Detector dum ficta notat miracula caeci Lumen erat Patriae columen venerabile Regni Pacis amans Musisque fauens melioribus vnde Gratum opus Oxonio quae nunc scola sacra refulget Invida sed mulier regno Regi sibi nequam Abstulit hunc humili vix hoc dignata Sepulchro Invidia rumpente tamen post funera viuit Vnder a large marble stone thus inscribed lieth Iohn Stoke an Abbot of This Church Hic iacet oblitus Stoke stans velut ardua quercus Semper in adversis perstitit intrepidus Wallingford Prior hic gregis huius pastor Abbas Donet ei requiem celsa dei pietas Celica regna bone mihi dentur queso Patrone Penas compesse requiem da virgula Iesse Me precor Amphibale soluens ad sidera sume This Abbot as it is in this Epitaph and in the golden Register of this house was a stout defender of the lands and liberties of his Church hee adorned Duke Vmfreys Tombe hee gaue money by his Will to make a new bell which after his owne name was called Iohn and also to new glase the Cloisters Sibi igitur saith the booke ea sit merces que dari solet illis qui ad honorem sue Ecclesie laudabilia student opera in temporibus suis. Vir crucis Christi tumulo iacet inclitus isti Carcere de tristi saluetur sanguine Christi Armacrucis sumpsit intrando Religionem Mundum contempsit propter celi regionem Hic studuit claustri Pondus sufferre laboris In stadio studij brauium percepit honoris Flatus fortune grandes patiens tolerabat Gaudia tristitia equalilance librabat Nil aduersa timens nec multum prospera curans Se medio tenuit per ferrea tempora durans Omni gestura constans nil triste timebat Omni pressura Christo laudes referebat Armis Iustitie cinctus deitatis amore Hostibus Ecclesie restitit in facie Ad tumulum Proceres mors impia transferet omnes Vt puerilis amor defluit omnis honor I finde this Inscription following vpon a faire marble vnder the pourtraiture of one of the Abbots who modestly thus suppresseth his name Hic quidem terra tegitur Peccato soluens debitum Cuius nomen non impositum In libro vitae sit inscriptum Hic iacet Dominus Michael quondam Abbas huius Monasterij Bachalaureus in Theol. qui obiit pridie Idus Aprilis Ann. M.ccc xlii Michael Abbas
Scripta ferunt post se que liquerat exposuisse Pro dilectoris anima tui dulciter ora Albani sancti conventus qualibet hora His next successor was Iohn Stoke of whom as also of all the rest in the Catalogue I haue already spoken and now I will returne backe againe to the rest of the Epitaphs and Inscriptions which I finde in the Church In a wall in the body of the Church ouer a vault Vir Domini verus iacet hic Heremita Rogerus Et sub eo clarus meritu Heremita Sigarus Memoriale Domini Thome Rutland quondam subprior is huius Monasterij qui ex luce migrauit M. ccccc.xxi cuius anime propitietur altissimus Amen Ecce sacerdos eram iam factus vile cadauer Et cito puluis erit queso memento mei Siste gradum qui ad me venit hic funde precator Me deus vt leuet ducat ad vsque polum Vpon his brest on the portraiture this English Distick is ingrauen Iesus Chryst Marys son Hav mercy on the sowl of Rychard Stondon This Towne vaunts her selfe very much of the birth and buriall of Sir Iohn Mandeuill Knight the famous Trauailer who writ in Latine French and in the English tongue his Itinerary of three and thirty yeares And that you may beleeue the report of the Inhabitants to bee true they haue lately pensild a rare piece of Poetry or an Epitaph for him vpon a piller neere to which they suppose his body to haue beene buried which I thinke not much amisse to set downe for although it will not bee worth the reading yet doe but set it to some lofty tune as to the Hunting of Antichrist or the like I know it will be well worth the singing marke how it runs All yee that passe on this pillar cast eye This Epitaph read if you can 'T will tell you a Tombe onâ't stood in this roome Of a braue spirited man Iohn Mandeuill by name a knight of great fame Borne in this honoured Towne Before him was none that euer was knowne For trauaile of so high renowne As the Knights in the Temple crosse-legged in marble In armour with sword and with sheeld So was this Knight grac't which time hath defac't That nothing but ruines doth yeeld His Trauailes being donne he shines like the Sun In heauenly Canaan To which blessed place O Lord of his grace Bring vs all man after man That he was borne here in this Towne I cannot much deny but I am sure that within these few yeares I saw his Tombe in the Citie of Leege within the Church of the religious house of the Guilliammits with this Inscription vpon it and the verses following hanging by on a table Hic iacet vir nobilis D. Ioannes de Mandevile Al D. ad Barbam miles Dominus de Campdi natus de Anglia Medicine professor deuotissimus orator bonorum largissimus pauperibus erogator qui toto quasi orbe lustrato Leo âij diem vite sue clausit extremum Ann. Dom. M.CCC.lxxi Mens Nouemb. die xvi Aliud Hoc iacet in tumulo cui totus patria viuo Orbis erat totum quem peragrasse ferunt Anglus Eques que fuit nunc ille Britannus Vlysses Dicatur Graio clarus Vlysse magis Moribus ingenio candore sanguine clarus Et vere cultor Relligionis erat Nomen si queras est Mandevil Indus Arabsque Sat notum dicet finibus esse suis. The Church-men will shew you here his kniues the furniture of his horse and his spurres which he vsed in his trauells Vndyr this Ston lyeth beryed here He that whylom was Balyff of this town Callyd somtym William Smyth Esqwyere To whom of his Sins God grant remission Elisabyth his wyff a woman of renown Here lyeth alsoo enterryd in this grav Cryst on her sowl hav compassion And grant them in heuen a plase to hav Vpon the same marble vnder the picture of the Crosse these words are engrauen which the foresaid Smith seemes to speake By this tokyn of the holy cross Good Lord sav owr sowls from loss Elisabeth his wife these Cryst who dyed for vs on the Rood tree Sav the sowl of my Husbond owr chyldren and mee Here lieth .... Raph Rowlat Citizen of London Merchant of the Staple and Ioan his wife Which Raph dyed M. cccccxix on whose This familie is now extinct and the inheritance diuolued by marriage vnto the Maynards as appeareth by an Epitaph vpon the wall not long since made for on of the Maynards who married one of the heires of Sir Raph Rowlat knight To the picture of Christ hanging on the Crosse this inscription was lately to be read vpon one of the pillars in the Church Fly the falshode of the fiend for he wil fownd the Dread not my dreadful doomes for I dyed for the. Cal on me thy Sauyour Chryst I can chere the My mercy is more than thy misse I may amend the See how my syde was perced for the and I shal help the. In this Abbey Church is a goodly Font of solid brasse wherein the kings children of Scotland were wont to be baptized which Font Sir Richard Lea knight Master of the Pioners brought as a spoile out of the Scottish warres and gaue it to this Church As may appeare by this loftie and arrogant inscription about the same as if the Font in it owne person did proclaime the knights act to all passengers in these words lately Englished When Leeth a Towne of good account among the Scots and Edinbrough their chiefe Citie were on a fire Sir Richard Lea knight saued mee from burning and brought mee into England And I being mindfull of this so great a benefit whereas before I was wont to serue for baptizing of none but Kings children haue now willingly offered my seruice euen to the meanest of the English Nation Lea the Victour would haue it so Farewell In the yeare of our Lord M.D.xliii and of the raigne of King Henry the eight xxxvi These already written are all the Epitaphs or inscriptions which I finde in this Abbey Church howsoeuer it doth retaine the ashes of many a worthie man conquered by death both before and since the Conquest As of Egfrid king of the Mercians sonne to great Offa the Founder who added to those twenty Lordships or Mannors wherewith his father at the first endowed this foundation Terram quinque Maneriorum in loco dicto Pynefeld cum terminis suis antiquis manerium de Sauntridge et Tirefeld Cartas que Patris sui benigne in suae serena concessione confirmauit pro confirmatione regni sui sua prosperitate nec non pro salute paterne sueque anime antecessorum suorum Ecclesiam suam per omnia salubriter protegendo saith the golden Register of this Abbey The first businesse that this King vndertooke after hee came to the Crowne was the restauration of ancient priuiledges to the Church and great hope
was conceiued of his further proceedings had not God cut him off by vntimely death the 17. day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 796. and in the first of his raigne hauing had neither wife nor issue His bodie with all due obsequies was here Princely interred neare to the Shrine of S. Alban This Abbey Church was likewise honoured with the Sepulture of Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland whose storie out of many writers is in this manner extracted This Robert Mowbray a most valiant Souldier seeing his countrey destroyed and ouerrunne euen vnto Alnewicke castle by Malcolme King of Scotland and his armie made head against the said Malcolme not staying for directions from his King William Rufus and so sore and suddenly distressed his forces that both king Malcolme himselfe and his sonne Prince Edward were there slaine Hereupon this Earle growing proud and greatly suspected by King William began to fortifie the Kings Castles with munition for Armes against the like inuasion and indeed against the Kings will who sent him word somewhat roughly to desist from his doings and presently to repaire to his presence which whilest he lingered and neglected to do king William sent his brother Henry to spoile Northumberland and immediately followed after himselfe where without much adoe he tooke the Earle and committed him prisoner to Windsor Castle This Robert Mowbray and William of Anco with others conspired to depriue the King both of Crowne and life and to haue set vp Stephen de Albamarle his Aunts sonne as Houeden and Walsingham will haue it But I reade in an old Manuscript that he fauouring the proceedings of Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury Pro amore bono Ecclesie innocentem vitam finiebat Cuius anime propitietur Deus As the words are Rex ipsum cum alijs decollari mandauit The king commanded that he with others should be beheaded his companion Anco being punished with losse both of his eyes and his virilitie He died in prison saith one writer In ipso Ergastulo deficiens mortuus est regnante Henrico Rege Whose Lands in Normandy as also for the most part here in England the said King Henry gaue to Nigell de Albeney viro probo et illustri Another writer tells vs that he married Maud the daughter of Richerius de Aquila a potent man in the Conquerours dayes and that after foure and thirtie yeares of imprisonment hee died without issue in these words Mathildis autem potenti viro Roberto de Molbraio Comiti Norbandum brorum nupsit qui eodem anno contra Willielmum Rufum Regem Anglorum rebellauit Sed paulo post captus fere 34. annis in carcere praefati Regis Henrici fratris eius sine prole consenuit The same Author deliuers his marriage thus in another place Robertus vt fines suos vndique dilataret ditissimis contubernalibus affinitate potentum sibi copulatis robustior ardua tentaret Mathildem generosam virginem Richerij de Aquila duxit quae neptis erat Hugonis Cestrensis Comitis ex sorore nomine Iudith And in the said page he sets downe his character and the number of the Lordships which he possest here in England with his great power and riches thus Robertus Rogerij de Molbraio filius potentia diuitijsque admodum pollebat audacia et militari feritate superbus pares despiciebat superioribus obtemperare vana ventositate turgidus indignum autumabat Erat autem corpore magnus niger et hispidus audax dolosus vultu tristis ac seuerus Plus meditari quam loqui studebat et vix in confabulatione ridebat Hic nimirum cclxxx villas in Anglia possidebat This man of this high spirit and ample possessions became in the end to bee a shorne Monke of this Monastery as you may reade in the Catalogues of Honour wherein hee died Ann. 1106. To whose memory a Monke of his order made this Epitaph Which he caused to be engrauen vpon his Monument vpon the North side of the Vestrie where he was interred Vir probus fortis quem virtus nescia mortis Condecorat cista iacet hic Robertus in ista Cui dat cognomen Moulbraia nobile nomen Norhandunbrorum comes fuit hic Monachorum Dux erat optatus prudens pius peramatus Hic Monachus fidus hic Martisin agmine sidus Exijt è terris huius mundi quoque guerris Anno milleno Domini centenoque seno Quarta die Februi Pax sit eique mihi Amen Here sometimes was interred the bodie of Alexander Necham whose knowledge in good Arts made him famous throughout England France Italie yea and the whole world and that with such incredible admiration that he was called Miraculum ingenij the wonder and miracle of wit and sapience He was an exact Philosopher an excellent Diuine an accurate Rhetorician and an admirable Poet. As did appeare by many his writings which he left to posteritie some of which are mentioned by Bale He was borne in this Towne as appeares by a certaine passage in one of his Latine Poems cited by Camden and thus englished by his Translator Doctor Holland This is the place that knowledge tooke of my natiuitie My happie yeares my dayes also of mirth and iollitie This place my childhood trained vp in all Arts liberall And laid the groundworke of my name and skill Poeticall This place great and renowned Clerkes into the world hath sent For Martyr blest for nation for site all excellent A troupe here of religious men serue Christ both night and day In holy warfare taking paines duly to watch and pray Camden in his Allusions to names tells vs that he being desirous to enter into religion in this house after he had signified his desire writ thus to the Abbot Laconically Si vis veniam sin autem tu autem Who answered as briefly alluding to his name thus Si bonus sis venias si nequam nequaquam Whereupon saith he he changed his name to Neckam A Monke of this house made this Hexamiter allusiuely to his name Dictus erat Nequam vitam duxit tamen equam He is thought by some saith Bale to haue beene a Canon Regular and to haue beene preferred to the Abbotship of Glocester as another in this old language will haue it And master Alisander that Chanon was er I maked was of Gloucestre Abbot thulk yer viz. 7. Reg. Regis Iohannis But this may be vnderstood of Alexander Theologus of whom I haue spoken elsewhere who was contemporarie with him for I finde that this Alexander was Abbot of Saint Maries in Circester or Cirencester At the time of his death which happened about foure hundred and thirteene yeares since Alexander cognomento Nequam Abbas Cirecestrie literarum scientia clarus obiit Ann. Dom. 1217. lit Dom. C. prid Kal. Feb sepultus erat apud Fanum S. Albani cuius anime propitietur Altissimus Amen Now if
full of honours and yeares ended his life here at his Castle of Berkamsted but was buried at his Abbey of Hales Of whom hereafter Here are diuers Tombes to the memory of the name of Waterhouse whose inscriptions of antiquitie are all taken away with the brasse and the carefull preseruing of the rest altogether neglected Hic iacent Iohannes Waterhouse Margaret vxor eius ..... Ecce sub hoc tumulo coniux vxorque iacemus Eternam pacem donet vterque Deus Nil vnquam abstulimus si quid benefecimus vlli Est qui pro meritis premia digna dabit Est tamen vna salus Christi miseratio quam qui Transis ambobus sepe precâre Deum Hic iacet Richardus Westbroke qui obiit 29. Septemb. 1485. supplicans vobis ex charitate vestra pro anima sua dicere Pater Noster Ave. Here lieth Katherin the wyfe of Robert Incent the father and mother to Iohn Incent Doctor of the Law who hath done many benefytes and ornaments to this Chappell of St. Iohn Baptist ..... the twelâth yeere of Henry the eight This Iohn Incent Doctor of the Law was Deane of Saint Paules London who built in this Towne a free-Schoole allowing to the Master a stipend of twenty pound per annum And to the Vsher ten pound which was confirmed by Act of Parliament Here lyeth Robert Incent late Servant to that noble Princesse Cicely Duchesse of Yorke who dyed of the sweating sicknesse the first yeere of Henry the seuenth Hic iacet Edwardus de le hay ... 1510. This is an ancient name flourishing euer since the raigne of Hen. the second Stow. Annal. Hic iacet Margarita Briggs que ob 17. Aug. 1374. Here is an ancient monument to the memory of one Iohn Rauen Esquire who died in the yeere 1395. Vnder the Armes of King Edward the sixth painted vpon a table these verses Quid sextum dicis nulli virtute secundus Ingenio nulli nullus in arte prior Edwardi insignis sunt haec insignia Iudiâ In Signis illum deliniare nequis Vnder the cote and crest of Doctor Incent these Hexameters Mira cano nondum denos compleuerat annos Cum Pater est Patriae Edwardus Musisque Patronus Ille tuis avibus sublatas reddidit alas Incenti obtusis aciem pugionibus ille Ille cruci vires Infanti adiecit amictum Ille Rosam suavi perfudit odore caducam Kings Langley So named of the Kings house thereunto adioyning wherein Edmund Plantaginet the fifth sonne of King Edward the third was borne and thereupon surnamed Edmund of Langley Hereby was a religious House for preaching Friers founded by Roger the sonne of Robert Helle an English Baron valued to be yeerely worth at the suppression one hundred and fifty pound fourteene shillings eight pence in the Church of this monasterie the foresaid Edmund was interred He was Lord of Tindale Earle of Cambridge and Duke of Yorke He married Isabell second daughter and one of the heires of Peter King of Castile and Leon who died before him in the yeare 1393 and was buried in this Friery by whom hee had issue Edward Earle of Rutland Duke of Albamarle and Yorke Richard Earle of Cambridge and a daughter whose name was Constance He had a second wife whose name was Ioane daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent who after his death was married to William Lord Willoughby of Eresby to Henry Lord Scroope and to Henry Bromflet Lord Vescy He is reckoned for one of the Knights of the Garter and in the absence of his father in France is said to be Protectour of the Realme of England Hee is much commended for his affabilitie and gentle deportment as also for his valour of which will you heare my often alledged Author Io. Harding Sir Edmond Langley full of gentylnesse Sir Thomas Woodstok full of corage For his valour in another Chapter thus At whiche battaill duke Iohn of Gaunt indede And his brother Edmond then faught full sore Were neuer twoo better knightes then thei indede That better faught vpon a feld afore It was but grace that thei escaped thore Thei putte theimselfes so fer furth ay in prees That wounded wer thei bothe full sore no lees This renowned Duke deceased saith Stow in the yeare 1402. the third of Henry the fourth and was here buried neare to his wife with two of his brethren who died young Here sometime lay entombed the body of Pierce Gaueston a Gascoigne borne Lord of the Isle of Man and Earle of Cornwall A man in such fauour with Edward the second hauing before ensnared his youth by the allurements of a corrupt life that hee had from the said King whatsoeuer could be poured vpon him For though it might seeme incredible saith Speed out of the booke of Dunstable he both gaue him his Iewels and ancestors treasure and euen the Crowne it selfe of his victorious father not sticking to professe if it lay in him hee should succeed him in the kingdome But his insolencie and presumption vpon the kings fauour made him so farre to forget himselfe as that he scorned the best of the Nobilitie as much as they hated him miscalling and giuing them scoffes with bitter iests which left behinde them a sowre remembrance and the sting of reuenge Of all which my old timer who flourished about those dayes thus speaketh more seriously in Prose Perys went into the kyngys Tresorye in ye Abbey of Westminstre saith he and yer toke away a tabil of gold wyth the tressel and oyer ryche Iuwels the whyche wer sumtym king Arthurys and hem he toke to a merchant yat het Aymery of Friscomband and bar hem ouer the see into Gascoigne and yay wer neuer brought ayen yat was gret harme to yet Reme And this Sure Perys gretly despysyd the Lordys of ye londe and atte yat tym Sure Perys clupyd Robard of Clare ye Erle of Gloucetre Hore sone and ye Erle of Penbrok Ioseph ye Iew and ye Erle of Nycol Sure Henry de Lacy Brokbely and Gowy of Warwike Blak hound of Ardern and also he clupyd ye nobiâ and gentyl Erle of Lancastre Eherle and oyer meny despytes he sâyd to ye Lordys of Englonde wherfor yay weryn sore agreuyd And so much agrieued they were that they surprised him in the night at a viliage or mannour called Dathington or Deddington betweene Oxford and Warwick from whence Guy Earle of Warwick tooke him to his Castle of Warwicke where in a place called Blacklow afterward Gaueshead his head was stricken off the nineteenth of Iune 1311. at the commandement and in the presence of the Earles of Lancaster Warwicke and Hereford as of one that had beene a subuerter of the Lawes and an open Traitour to the kingdome A violent and vnaduised part of these Lords to put to death an Earle so dearly loued of the King without any iudiciall proceeding by triall of his Peeres
which caused a lasting hatred betwixt the King and his Nobles and was the beginning of the second ciuill warre of England Some two yeares after this Tragedie King Edward caused the bodie of his Gaueston to be transferred with great pompe from the place of his former buriall which was among the Friers Preachers at Oxford to this Friery of his owne foundation saith Stow. Where he in person with the Archbishop of Canterbury foure Bishops many Abbots and principall Churchmen did honour the Exequies but few were present of the Nobilitie whose great stomacks would not giue them leaue to attend This was the end of that fatall great Fauourite Gaueston who for that hee was the first Priuado saith Sam. Danyel in the life of Ed. the second of this kinde euer noted in our History and was aboue a King in his life deserues to haue his character among Princes being dead Which is thus deliuered Natiue he was of Gascoine by birth a Gentlman and for the great service his father had done to this Crowne intertained and bred vp by king Edward the first in companie with his sonne this Prince which was the meanes that inuested him into that high fauour of his Hee was of a goodly personage of an haughtie and vndauntable spirit braue and hardie at Armes as he shewed himselfe in that Turneament which he held at Wallingford wherein he challenged the best of the Nobilitie and is said to haue foiled them all which inflamed the more their malice towards him In Ireland where he was Lieutenant during the short time of his banishment he made a iourney into the mountaines of Dublin brake and subdued the Rebels there built Newcastle in the Kernes country repayred castle Keuin and after passed vp into Munster and Thomond performing euery where great seruice with much valour and worthinesse Hee seemes to haue beene a Courtier which could not fawne nor stoope to those he loued not or put on any disguise vpon his Nature to temporize with his enemies But presuming vpon his fortune the misfortune of such men grew in the end to that arrogancie as was intollerable which the priuacie of a Kings fauour usually begets in their Minions whose vnderstanding and iudgement being dazed therewith as is their sight who stand and looke downe from off high places neuer discerne the ground from whence they ascended And this extraordinarie fauour shewed to one though he were the best of men when it arises to an excesse is like the predomination of one humour alone in the body which endangers the health of the whole and especially if it light vpon vnworthinesse or where is no desert and commonly Princes raise men rather for appetite then merit for that in the one they shew the freedome of their power in the other they may seeme but to pay their debt This old Latine rime was made in those dayes vpon the death of this Gaueston by a Monke of S. Maries Yorke Dum Petrus seuit propriam mortem sibi neuit Nunc patet vt nevit truncatus ense quieuit Besides his honours before remembred he was Protector or Gardian of the Realme during the Kings aboad in France about his marriage with Isabell the daughter of Philip the faire French King which indeed was an office but of eighteene dayes continuance as appeares by the sequele Petrus de Gaueston comes Cornubie constituitur Custos Anglie quandiu Rex fuerit in partibus transmarinis c. Teste R. apud West 26. Decemb. Ann. 1. Ed. 2.1 pars pat Hic transfretauit Rex ad partes transmarinas prout patet in rotulis clansarum sinium circa 20. Ianuar. et redijt circa 8. Feb. Ann. 1. Ed. 2. The same yeare he honoured him with the Lieutenancie of Ireland Rex misit Petrum de Gaueston comitem Cornubie ad partes Hiberâie constituit ipsum Locumtenentem in partibus eiusdem quamdiu c. Teste R. apud Redings 16. Iunij Ann. 1. Ed. 2. To conclude then with a late writer .... Great men too well grac'd much rigor vse Presuming Fauorites mischiefe euer bring So that concluding I may boldly speake Minions too great argue a king too weake Richmansworth In the Chappell or buriall place of the ancestors of the Ashbyes now liuing this Inscription Here lieth Anne Ashby wyf of Iohn Ashby of Herfeld Esqwyre dawghter of Thomas Peyton of Iselham Esqwyre who dyed 22. Oct. 1503. on whos sowl Iesu have mercy Amen Herely beried vndyr this stone Thomas Davy and his too wyfs Alis and Ione Watford Hic iacet Hugo de Holes miles Iâsticiarius Banci Regis tempore regui ãâã Ann. 1415. Hic iacet Margareta que fuit vxor Hugonis Holes ..... ob 1416.5 die Marcij Here lyeth Iohn Heydon of the Groue Esquyre who dyed ... 1400. Here lyeth .... William Heydon of Newstreere Esquyre and Ioane his mother who buylded the south Isle of this Church and dyed Ann. 1505. Here lyeth .... William Heydon .... 1500. The rest of the inscriptions for these Heydons are quite gone a name of singular note and demerit in other parts of this kingdome the losse of one of which name is at this houre much lamented namely of Sir William Heydon knight a worthy gentleman a valiant Souldier and an expert Enginer who came vnfortunately to his end at the Isle of Rhee An. Dom. 1027. Hic iacet Iohannes de Hakom Matildis vxor eius qui obiit 4. die Aug. Ann 1365. Ed. 3.39 In this Church are diuers funerall Monuments to the memorie of the much honoured families of the Russels and Morisins Of whom I shall haue occasion by order of method to speake hereafter Aldenham Here lyeth beried the body of Iohn Long saltyr Cityzen and Aldyrman of London and Dame Margaryt hys wyff whych Iohn dyed the vi dey of Iuly M. Vc.xxxviii Who 's sowl Iesu pardon This man was Sheriffe of London in the yeare 1528. borne he was at Berkamsted in this County being the sonne of William Long of the same gentleman anciently descended from the Longs of Wilshire and father he was to Iohn Long of Holme Hall in the County of Derby gentleman who was father to George Long Esquire now liuing Clerke of the office of Pleas in his Maiesties Court of Exchequer and one of his Maiesties Iustices of Peace within the County of Midlesex He liued after he was made free of London which was in the eleuenth of Hen. the seuent 43. yeares Augusti ter quingeni si dempseris vnum Et ter tres decies vt erat verbum caro factum Trux lux vndena miseris subtraxit Asylum Patronum patrie decus orbis lampada morum Quem decorant Latria sapientia spesque fidesque Scilicet Edmund Brook saluetur vt ipse precemur If you will take my construction of this intricate Epitaph this man here so much commended died the eleuenth day of August M. cccc lxxxx Here lyeth Iohn Penn who
restored to all his former honours and withall created Earle of Oxford He died in the yeare 1194. the sixth of king Richard the first and was here buried by his father His wife Agnes or Adeliza lieth buried by him who was the daughter of Henry of Essex Baron of Ralegh the Kings Constable Such was the Epitaph or inscription vpon his Tombe as it is in the book of Colne Priory Hic iacet Albericus de Vere silius Alberici de Veer Comes de Guisney primus Comes Oxonie magnus Camerarius Anglie qui propter summam audatiam effrenatam prauitatem Grymme Aubrey vocabatur obiit 26. die Decembris anno Christi 1194. Richardi â sexto Aubrey de Vere the sonne of the foresaid Aubrey succeeded his father in all his dignities I finde little written of him in our Histories saue that out of his Christian pietie he did confirme the gift of septem librat terre which Aubrey his father gaue to the Chanons of Saint O sith here in Essex adding thereto something of his owne He dyed in the yeare of our Lord 1214. and sleepeth now in the same Bed with three other Aubreyes his Ancestors To whom this Epitaph vpon Conrad the Emperour at Spires in Germany may be fitly applied Filius hic Pater hic Auus hic Proauus iacet istie The great Belsire the Grandsire Sire and Sonne Lie here interred vnder this Grauestone Hugh de Vere the sonne of Robert the first of that Christian name Earle of Oxford and Lord great Chamberlaine of England was here entombed with his Ancestors who died in the yeare 1263. He had the title of Lord Bolebeck which came by his mother Isabell de Bolebeck daughter and heire of Hugh de Bolebeck a Baron who was Lord of Bolebeck Castle in Whitechurch within Buckinghamshire and of Swaffam Bolebeck in Cambridgeshire Hee had to wife Hawisia the daughter of Saier de Quincy Earle of Winchester as appeares by this Inscription sometime insculpt vpon their Tombe Hic iacent Hugo de Veer eius nominis primus Comes Oxonie quartus magnus Camerarius Anglie filius heres Roberti Comitis Hawisua vxor cius filia Saeri de Quincy comitis Wintonie qui quidem Hugo obiit 1263. Quorum animabus propitietur altissimus Robert de Vere the sonne of Hugh aforesaid Earle of Oxford who enioyed his fathers inheritances and honours the space of thirtie and two yeares lieth here entombed with his ancestours who died in the yeare 1295. Alice his wife the daughter and heire of Gilbert Lord Samford Lord of Hormead in Hertfordshire was interred by him who died at Caufeld house neare Dunmow the ninth day of September 1312. Here lieth buried the body of Robert de Vere sonne and successour to the foresaid Robert whose gouernment both in peace and warre was so prudent his hospitalitie and other workes of charitie so wisely abundant and his Temperance with a religious zeale so admirablie conioyned that he was of all surnamed the good Earle of Oxford and the vulgar esteemed him as a Saint He died the 19. of Aprill 1331. Here lyeth entombed Robert de Vere Richard the seconds Mignion who to adde to his honours created him Marquesse of Dublin a title not knowne before that time in England and in the yeare following Duke of Ireland with commission to execute most inseparable prerogatiues royall These Stiles were of too high a nature and therefore infinitely subiected to enuy Whereupon like a second Gaueston he was hated of the Nobilitie especially for that he was a man nec prudentia caeteris proceribus nec armis valentior as Walsingham saith 9. R. 2. But it was not long before he was banished England by the Barons for abusing the Kings eare to the hurt of the State He had to wife a young faire and noble Lady and the Kings neare kinswoman for she was grandchilde to King Edward by his daughter Isabell he put her away and tooke one of Queene Annes women a Bohemian of base birth Sellarij filia saith Walsingham a Sadlers daughter some say a Ioyners an act full of wickednesse and indignitie Yet this intollerable villanie offered to the bloud-royall King Richard did not encounter neither had the power some say who deemed that by witchcrafts and forceries practised vpon him by one of the Dukes followers his iudgement was so seduced and captiuated that he could not see what was honest or siâ to doe But where Princes are wilfull or slothfull and their Fauorites flatterers or time-seruers there needs no other enchantments to infatuate yea and ruinate the greatest Monarch Vpon his banishment he went into France where he liued about fiue yeares and there being a hunting he was slaine by a wilde Boare in the yeare 1392. King Richard hearing thereof out of his loue caused his body to be brought into England and to be apparrelled in Princely ornaments and robes and put about his neck a chaine of gold and Rings vpon his fingers and so was buried in this Priory the King being there present and wearing blackes After the death of Robert Duke of Ireland who died without issue his Nephew Aubrey de Vere succeeded him in the Earledome of Oxford he enioyed his honours not passing eight yeares but dyed die Veneris in festo Sancti Georgij Ann. primo Hen. quarti 1400. and lieth here entombed with his worthie Ancestors Here lieth buried in this Priorie Iohn de Vere the third of that Christian name and the thirteenth Earle of Oxford Lord Bolebecke Samford and Scales great Chamberlaine and Lord high Admirall of England Who died the fourth of Henry the eight 1512. hauing beene Earle of Oxford full fifty yeares a long time to tugge out in the troublesome raignes of so many kings especially for men of eminent places and high spirits euer apt to take any occasion to shew their manly prowesse which fire of honour flamed in this Earles breast at Barnet field where in a mist the great Earle of Warwickes men not able to distinguish betwixt the Sun with streames vpon King Edwards liuery and the Starre with streames on this Earles liuery shot at this Earles followers and by that misprision the battell was lost After which he fled into Cornwall and seized vpon Saint Michaels Mount But Edward the fourth got him in his power and committed him prisoner to the Castle of Hames beyond the Seas where he remained for the space of twelue yeares vntill the first of King Henry the seuenth with whom he came into England and by whom he was made Captaine of the Archers at Bosworth-field where after a short resistance hee discomfited the Foreward of King Richard whereof a great number were slaine in the chase and no small number fell vnder the victors sword This Earle gaue a great contribution to the finishing of Saint Maries Church in Cambridge His hospitalitie and the great port he carried here in his country may be gathered out of a
body of Robert Bourchier Lord Chancelor of England in the fourteenth yeare of King Edward the third from whom saith the light of great Britaine Clarentieâx sprang a most honourable progenie of Earles and Barons of that name Here stands a monument vnder which one of the right honourable familie of the Veres lieth interred it is much defaced .... Georgio Vere filio Georgii Vere .... militis ....... 1498. High Esterne Here lyeth Dame Agnes Gate the wyf of Sir Geffrey Gate knight the which Sir Geffrey was six yeares Captane of the Isle of Wyght and after Marshal of Caleys and there kept with the Pykards worschipul warrys and euyr entendyd as a good Knyght to please the Kyng in the partyes of Normandy wyth al his myght which Agnes dyed the ix of Decembyr M. cccc.lxxxvii on whos soul Iesu haue mercy Amen Prey for the sowl al ye that liue in sight Of Sir Geffrey Gate the curtesse knight Who 's wyff is beryed here by Goddys might He bowght the Manor of Garnets by right Of Koppeden gentylman so he behight Of this Witnesses his wyff and Executors This yer ...... delihowrs xxii Ian. M. cccc lxxvii Pater de celis Deus miserere nobis Fili redemptor mundi Deus miserere nobis Sancta Trinitas vnus Deus miserere nobis This Manour of Garnets here mentioned and all his other inheritance as I haue it by relation from the Inhabitants about fourescore yeares after the death of this Sir Geffray was forfeited to the Crowne by the attaindour of Sir Iohn Gate Knight beheaded on the Tower hill with Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland and Sir Thomas Palmer Knight for that they had endeuoured to haue made Lady Iane the daughter of Henry Grey Duke of Suffolke by Frances his wife who was the daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke by Mary his wife second sister to King Henry the eight and the wife of Guilford Dudley the fourth sonne of the said Duke of Northumberland Queene of England the xxii of August M. ccccc 53. the first of Queene Mary Barmiston Of your cherite prey for the sowl of Peter Wood Who died the thirtyth dey of May Vnto hym that was crucified on the rood To send hym ioyes for ay Castle Heningham Here lieth interred vnder a Tombe of marble and Tuch now ruinous Iohn de Vere the fift of that Christian name Earle of Oxford Lord Bulbeck Samford and Scales and great Chamberlaine of England Vpon which monument I finde nothing engrauen but the names of his children which he had by his wife Elizabeth daughter heire of Edward Trussell of Staffordshire knight Banneret Which were three sonnes and three daughters namely Iohn de Vere the sixth of that Christian name Earle of Oxford Aubrey de Vere second sonne Geffrey Vere the third sonne Father of Iohn Vere of Kirbey Hall of Sir Francis Vere knight the great Leader in the Low countries and of that renowned Souldier Sir Horatio Vere knight Lord Baron of Tilbery in this County Elizabeth married to Thomas Lord Darcy of Chich Anne wife to Edmund Lord Sheffield and Francis married to Henry Howard Earle of Surrey This Earle Iohn was knight of the Garter and Councellour of State to king Henry the eight Who died here in his Castle at Heueningham the 19. of March 1539. Prey for the soul of Dorethy Scroop dawghter of Richard Scroop brother to the Lord Scroop of Bolton .... who .... 1491. This Dorothie was sister of Elisabeth the widow of William Lord Beaumont and daughter of Richard Scroope knight the second wife of Iohn de Vere the third of that Christian name Earle of Oxford In a parchment Roll without date belonging to the Earle of Oxford I find that one Lucia belike some one of that right honourable house founded a Priory in this Parish for blacke veyled Nunnes Which she dedicated to the holy Grosse and the blessed Virgine Mary Of which religious foundation she her selfe was the first Prioresse whose death was wondrously lamented by Agnes who did next succeed her in that office and the rest of the Couent who desire the prayers and suffrages of all the religious houses in England for her soules health The forme whereof to transcribe cannot seeme much impertinent to the subiect I haue in hand nor tedious to the iudicious Reader Anima domine Lucie prime Fundatricis Ecclesie Sancte Crucis et Sancte Marie de Heningham et anime Ricardi et Sare Galfridi et Dametre et Helene et anime omnium defunctorum per miserecordiam Dei requiescant in pace Amen Vniuersis sancte Matris Ecclesie filiis ad quos presens scriptum peruenerit Agnes Ecclesie sancte crucis Sancte Marie de Henigeham humilis Ministra eiusdemque loci conuentus eternam in Domino salutem Post imbres lacrimarum et fletuum innundacionem quam in transitu karissime Matris nostre venerande Lucie prime Priorisse ac fundatricis Domus nostre fudimus que vocante Domino tertio Idus Iulij viam vniuerse carnis ingressa terre debitum humani generis persoluit manum misimus ad calamum vniuersitati vestre scripto denunciantes calamitatem quam patimur subtracta enim tam felici matre in hac valle miserie simul cor nostrum dereliquit nos ec mirum cum eadem tot virtutum polleret moribus tantis gratiarum rutilaret honoribus tot meritorum fragaret odoribus vt merito illi congruat hoc nomen Lucia quod est lucis scientia Recte ideo Lucia dicta quia nomen beate virginis Lucie sortita illius pro viribus imitabatur exempla Illa meritis precibus fluxum sanguinis in Matre deleuit Ista in se omnis motus concupiscentie carnalis restringens fluxum in aliis incontinentie contaminationis per ariditatem sancte conuersationis sobrie vite radicitus extirpauit Illa sponso suo carnalem copulam nutu diuino subtraxit Ista vt nouimus vinculo Matrimonij septies constricta consortii virilis ignara incontaminata semper illesa permansit ita de laqueo venantium temporaliter est erepta Et hoc fecit diuina prudentia vt nullum preter eum admitteret amatorem Ista etiam discreta fuit in silentio vtilis in verbo verecundia grauis pudore venerabilis singulis compassione proxima pre cunctis contemplatione suspensa sicque studuit bene agentibus esse per humilitatem socia vt per zelum iusticie delinquentium corrigeret errata Vnde in titillatione carnis ex ea didicimus habere prudentiam in aduersitate fortitudinem in tribulatione patientiam in desperatione solatium in periculo refugium in estu refrigerium in asperitate lenitatem Et suit nobis ipsius exemplo lectio frâquentior oratio pinguior feruentior affectus Quid multa tanta efflorâââ in hac benignissima virgine pia matre nostra virtus abstinentie tanta ieiuniorum vigiliarum nec non
vestimentorum asperitate disciplinarum que assiduitate corpus suum extenuauit vt fere simul cum Iob sanctissimo pelli sue consumptis carnibus os suum adhereret Et hec talis tantaque sublata est et hec omnia simul Migrauit autem ad illum qui sibi fructuum decimas persolui voluit qui etiam Decalogum constituit mandatorum Miseremini igitur nostri miseremini nostri saltem vos amici nostri et vobis miseris compatiamini fluentes lacrimas per orationum suffragia desiccantes quia pium est saluberrimum pro defunctis exorare vt à peccatis solvantur Subuenite igitur benigni Monachi subuenite venerabiles Canonici vos sancte virgines in conspectu Altissimi preces bostias offerentes vt ipsius pie misercatur qui abstergit omnem lacrimam ab oculis Sanctorum quatenus que ei macule de terrenis contagijs adheserunt remissionis eius remedio deleantur Amen To this Supplication the religious of all houses answer in this forme Titulus Ecclesie Apostolorum Petri Pauli sancte Osithe Virginis Matris de Chich. Anima Domine Lucie Priorisse de Hengeham et anime omnium sidelium defunctorum per Dei miserecordiam requiescant in pace Amen Concedimus ei commune beneficium Ecclesie nostre Oranimus pro vestris orate pro nostris Some againe do answer thus Preter autem commune beneficium et orationes communes Ecclesie nostre concedimus ei ab vnoquoque Sacerdote vnam Missam inferioris ordinis vnum Psalterium et diem ipsius obitus in Martyrilogio nostro annotari fecimus All concluding euer with Oranimus pro vestris orate pro nostris Vnder the picture of the Crucifix the blessed Virgine and vpon her portraiture drawne vpon her Tombe these nicking nice allusiue verses were cut and engrauen Crux bona crux digna lignum super omnia ligna Me tibi consigna redimens a peste maligna Stella Maris candoris ebur speculum Paradysi Fons venie vite ianua Virgo vale Hec Virgo vite mitis super astra locatur Et sic Lucie lux sine fine datur Transijt ad superos venerabilis hec Monialis Vix succedit ei virtutum munere talis Luci lucie prece lux mediente Marie Luceat eterna quia floruit vt rosa verna Ad lucem Lucia venit sine fine manentem Et sic quem coluit patrem videt omnipotentem Tres tibi gemmate lucent Lucia coronâ Insuper aurate dic lector qua rationâ Mater virgo tamen Martir fuit ergo inu Amen Cernat ad examen districti Iudicis Amen Subueniant anime Lucie celica queque Ad quorum laudes dapsilis vrna fâit Sible Heueningham In this Parish Church sometime stood a Tombe arched ouer and engrauen to the likenesse of Hawkes flying in a wood which was raised to the remembrance of Sir Iohn Hawkewood knight borne in this village the sonne of Gilbert Hawkewood Tanner bound an apprentice to a Tailor in the Citie of London from whence he was prest in the seruice of King Edward the third in the warres of France Of whom for his admired valour he was honoured with the order of knighthood and in the like regard of his notable demerits Barnabie the warlicke brother of Galeasius Lord of Millaine father to Iohn the first Duke of Millaine gaue him his daughter Domnia in marriage by whom he had a sonne named Iohn borne in Italie made knight and naturalized in the seuenth yeare of King Hon. the fourth as I haue it out of a Manuscript in these words Iohannes silius Iohannis Haukewood Miles natus in partibus Italie factus indigena Ann. viii Hen. iiij mater eius nata in partibus transmarinis The Florentines in testimony of his surpassing valour and singular faithfull seruice to their state adorned him with the statue of a man of armes and a sumptuous Monument wherein his ashes remaine honoured at this present day The Italian writers both Historians and Poets resound his worthie acts with full mouth But for my part to vse M. Camdens words it may suffice to adde vnto the rest these foure verses of Iulius Feroldus Hawkwood Anglorum decus et decus addite genti Italicae Italico praesidiumque solo Vt tumuli quondam Florentia sic simulacri Virtutem Iouius donat honore tuam The glorie prime of Englishmen then of Italians bold O Hawkwood and to Italie a sure defensiue hold Thy vertue Florence honored sometime with costly Graue And Iouius adornes the same now with a Statue braue He died an aged man in the yeare of our redemption 1394. and in the eighteenth of King Richard the second His friends here in England who erected for him the foresaid Monument in this Church which were Robert Rokeden senior Robert Rokeden iunior and Iohn Coe founded here also for him a Chantrie and another in the Priorie of Heningham Castle to pray for his soule and the soules of Iohn Oliuer and Thomas Newenton Esquires his militarie companions Chesterford Here ly the bodyes of William Holden and Agnes his wyf whych William dyed ... 1532. on whos sowlys and al Christian sowlys ... Here ly William Holden and Katherin his wyf ...... 1524. This familie as I was told is now extinct here is an old ruinous house still remaining called Holdens Saffron Walden So called of the great plentie of Saffron growing in the fields round about the Towne a commoditie brought into England in the time of King Edward the third But I digresse and am quite off my Subiect being out of the Parish Church wherein Sir Thomas Audley knight of the Garter Baron Audley of this Towne sometime Sergeant at Law Attourney of the Duchie of Lancaster and Lord Chancellour of England lieth entombed with this seeli Epitaph The stroke of deaths ineuitable dart Hath now alas of life bereft the hart Of Sir Thomas Audley of the Garter knight Later Chancellor of England vnder our Prince of might Henry the eight worthie of high renowne And made by him Lord Audley of this Towne Obijt vltimo Aprilu Ann. Dom. 1544. Henrici 36. Cancelleriatus sui 13. aetatis 56. Haue mercy good Lord on the soul of Thomas Holden That hit may rest wyth God good neyghbors say Amen He gave the new Organs wheron hys name is set For bycause only yee shold not hym forget In yowr good preyers to God he took hys wey On thowsand fyve hundryd and eleuin in Nouembyr the fourth dey Hic iacet his stratus West Matheus tumulatus Qui fuit hic gratus vicarius ciueque natus M. Dominiter C .... terris sit remeatus Huic ...... existit propiciatus Of yowr cherite prey for the soulys of Ion Nichols Alys Ione Alys and Ione his wyfs Iohannes Pater Noster miserere nobis Alisia Fili redemptor mundi miserere nobis Ioanna Spiritus sancte miserere nobis Alisia Sancta
at dinner vpon the day of his coronation and whether this be she here buried or not I know not Richard Lions held the said Mannor after her by the seruice of making Wafers vpon the day of the Kings Coronation and of seruing the King with the same Wafers as he sits at dinner the same day Leez Abbey This Abbey of old time was founded by the Gernons now it is the seate of the Right Honourable and one right worthy of all his due honours Robert Lord Rich Baron Leez and Earle of Warwicke now liuing An. 1631. This Abbey or Priory was valued at the time of the suppression as it is in the catalogue of Religious houses to be yearely worth one hundred forty one pound fourteene shillings eight pence Rickling Humfrey Waldene le premer gist icy Dieu de salme eit mercy Amen Hic iacet Henricus Langley Armig. qui obijt xx Sept. M. cccc.lviii et Margareta vxor cius vna filiarum et heredum Iohannis Waldene Armigeri que obijt v. Martii M. cccc.liii Hic tacet Thomas Langley Ar. qui obijt 1 Mar. M. cccc.lii Here lyth Henry Langley Esquyr and Dame Katherin his wyff whych Henry departyd this lyff 11 April M. cccc lxxx viii and Dame Katherine died ..... the yere of our Lord God M. ..... on whos Vpon this last marble stone are the portraitures in brasse of the three daughters of Henry Langley amongst whom his inheritance was diuided as I haue it by tradition as Waldens was before whose chiefe seate was at Langley Wilbores in this parish Thaxted This Church is spatious beautifull and built Cathedrall-like but neither in this Church in Braintrie nor scarcely in any other Church seated within a Market Towne shall you finde either Monument or Inscription onely some two or three Inscriptions are here remaining Her lyth Rychard Dammary and Alys his wyff and Rychard Dammary his sonn Ione Elizabyth and Ann on whos soulys God hau mercy Which Rychard the yongyrgawe a Meide callyd Abel Meide for a perpetual mynd yerly to be kept for ther soulys and al christen soulys Syr Walter Clerk gist icy Dieu de s'alme eit mercy Orate pro animabus Richardi Large et Alicie vxoris eius qui quidem Richardus obijt 27. Martij 1458. The Inhabitants say that this Richard Large was brother to a certaine Lord Maior of London named Large who at his death bestowed wondrous largely vpon the poore and the repairing of high waies which I take to haue beene Robert Large Maior of London Anno 1440. who gaue 120. l. to poore prisoners and euery yeare for fiue yeare 403. Shirts and Smockes 40. paire of Sheetes and one hundred and fifty Gownes of good Frize to poore people To poore Maids marriages one hundred markes to repairing high waies one hundred markes to fiue hundred poore people in London euery one sixe shillings viii d the rest of his bountifull charitie you may reade in Stow Suruay Little Easton Here is a goodly Tombe of marble on the north side of the Chancell ânder which saith Brooke in his Catalogue of Nobility William Bourchier Earle of Ewe in Normandy lyeth interred but Vincent whom I rather beleeue in his discouery of Brookes Errors approues this Earle as also his wife Anne the daughter of Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester to be buried in the Abbey of Lanthonie by Gloucester If this monument could speake like others by her inscription it might haply decide the controuersie but all the words vpon it are Fili Dei miserere mei Mater Dei miserere mei Which seemingly commeth by a labell from a man and a woman thereupon pourtraied Of this Earle more when I come to Lanthony Betweene the Chancell and the Bowsers Isle or Chappell is a very costly arched Tombe of polished marble inlaid with brasse the picture of a man and a woman and in diuers places of the foresaid Arch on the womans side is the Fetter lock and Bowsers knot but without inscription By supposition made to the memorie of Henry Bourchier sonne of William Bourchier aforesaid Earle of Essex and Ewe and Isabell his wife daughter of Richard Earle of Cambridge and sister of Richard Duke of Yorke Which Henry died quarto Aprilis 1483. a valiant and worthie Nobleman he was fortunate in Martiall enterprises and in matters of peace so learned wise and politicke that he was thought fit by Edward the fourth to be Lord Chancellour of England In the same Chappell on the North side remaineth a very faire Altar Tombe of marble within the which lyeth the body of Henry Lord Bourchier and Louaine and Earle of Essex Sonne and heire of William Bourchier that died before his father and grandchilde to Henry Earle of Essex next before mentioned ouer his Tombe hangeth as yet part of his achieuements as the cote of his Armes Helme Crest and sword This Earle brake his necke by a fall from his horse the twelfth day of March in the one and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of King Henry the eight 1539. His horse was young saith Stow and he the oldest Earle in England for if you will reckon the yeares from the death of his Grandfather who liued after his sonne the father of this Henry as I haue said before vntill the yeare of this his fatall misfortune you shall finde them to be fifty sixe and what age he was at his Grandfathers death you may imagine In the Hall of the Mannor house of Newton in the Parish of little Dunmowe remaineth in old painting two postures the one for an ancestor of the Bourchiers combatant with another being a Pagan king for the truth of Christ whom the said Englishman ouercame and in memory thereof his descendants haue euer since borne the head of the said Infidell as also vsed the surname of Bourchier or Bowser Here are foure wondrous ancient Monuments of the Louaines all the Inscriptions of them are worne out these few words excepted Sire Thomas Louaine ici gist Margarie la file Moun .... This noble familie of the Lovaines in former ages did here inhabite by the name of Fitz-Gilbert one of which house namely Maurice Fitz-Gilbert was surnamed de Louaine as descended from Godfrey of Louaine brother to Henry the sixth of that name Duke of Brabant Who being sent hither to keepe the honor of Eye his posterity flourished among the Peeres of this Realme to the time of Edward the third when the heire generall was married to the house of Bourchier This Bowsers Chappell for it is so commonly called is now the buriall place for the noble familie of the Maynards In Northburne natus Robertus sum vocitatus De terra factus in terram sumque redactus Intercedendo spiritum tibi Christe comendo Propitietur Deus Benefactoribus omnibus Ecclesie pauperis huius The treble Bell in the steeple of this Church is called the Bowsers
Bell on which is cast a peece of coine of siluer of King Edward the fourth it was giuen by one of the Countesses of Essex as one may partly gather by an old Inscription vpon it is the Bowsers knot Tiltey Here sometime stood a Monastery founded by Maurice Fitz-Gilbert before remembred not long after the Conquest which he dedicated to the honour of the Virgine Mary and therein placed white Monkes of the Cistertian order The donations to this religious house are confirmed in the Records of the Tower Cart. Antiq. lit S. The valuation of it at the suppression was 177. l. 9 s. 4. d. This Monasterie is not altogether ruinous in the little Church whereof I found these Funerall Inscriptions following Bruntingthorpe neare to Leicester hath long beene the habitation of the ancient familie of Dannet saith Master Burton who beareth sable Guttee Argent a Canton Ermine one of which familie lieth here interred with this Epitaph Hic iacet sepultus cum coniuge Maria Gerardus Dannet de Bruntingthorp in Com Lecestr Ar. serenissimi Regis Henrici octaui Consiliarius qui obijt Anno Christi M. ccccc.xx mensis Maij quarto The armes afore blazoned are ouer the Monument of this Councellour to king Henry Abbas famosus bonus viuendo probatus In Thakley natus qui iacet hic tumulatus Thomas dictatus qui Christo sit sociatus Rite gubernauit istumque locum peramauit Great Easton Orate .... Willelmi Moigne Ar .... qui obiit .... M.ccc.v This William Moigne or Monke held this Mannor of Easton ad montem for so it was anciently called with Winterborne and Maston in the Countie of Wilts by seruice of being Clarke of the Kings Kitchin and keeper of his Lardarie tempore Coronationis Hatfield Brad-oke So called saith Camden of a broad spread Oake in which Towne Robert de Vere the third Earle of Oxford and great Chamberlaine of England founded a Priorie for blacke Monkes About the beginning of the raigne of King Henry the third valued at the suppression at 157. l. 3. s. 2. d. ob per annum which Priory Aubrey de Vere the third of that Christian name Earle of Oxford enfeoffed with the Tithes of this Towne and to the instrument of his donation he affixed by a harpe string as a labell to the bottome of the parchment a short blacke hafted knife like vnto an old halfe penny whitle instead of a Seale These are the words in his Grant Per istum cultellum Albericus de Vere tertius feoffauit Prioratum et Conventum de Hatfeeld Regis alas Brodoke cum omnibus decimis in villa predicta Habend c. a festo Assumptionis beate Marie virginis in puram perpetuam Eleemosinam c. Of this old manner of signing and sealing of deeds you may read Lambard in his perambulation of Kent pag. 318. This Robert was first entombed in the Church of his owne foundation and at the dissolution remoued into the Quire of this Parish Church where he lieth crosse-legged with this inscription now almost worne out Sire Robert de Veer le premier count de Oxenford le tierz git ci Dieux del alme si luy plest sace merci Oi pur lame priera xl iors de pardonn anera Pater Noster Sir Robert Vere the first and third Earle of Oxford lieth here God if he please have mercy of his soule whosoeuer shall pray for his soule shall obtaine fourty dayes Pardon He died in the yeare 1221. Hic iacent Thomas Barington Ar. Anna vxor eius qui quidem Thomas obijt v. Aprilis M. cccc lxxij Anna obiit proximo die sequenti Quorum animabus propitietur Altissimus At Barington Hall within this Parish saith that learned delineator of Great Britaine M. Camden dwelleth that right ancient familie of the Baringtons which in the raigne of King Stephen the Barons of Montfitchet inriched with faire possessions since which time this house is much enobled by the marriage of Sir Thomas Barington knight with Winifred the daughter and coheire of Sir Henry Pole knight Lord Montague sonne of Margaret Plantaginet Countesse of Salisbury descended of the bloud royall being the daughter of George Duke of Clarence Great Dunmow Exoretis miserecordiam Dei pro anima Walteri Bigod Armigeri qui obijt 17. die mens Mar. 1397. Simon de Regham iadis Parson de Dunmow gist icy Dieu de son alme eit mercy Amen Of yowr cherite prey for the sowls of Iohn Ienone Esquyr somtym on of the Common Pleas of Westmynstre and Alys his wyff Whych Iohn dyed xvii Septembyr M. Vc.xlii Little Dunmow Iuga the wife of one Baynard a Nobleman that came in with the Conquerour the builder of Baynards Castle in London founded the Priority in this village in the beginning of the raigne of Henry Beauclerke and entreated Mauricius Bishop of London to dedicate the Church to the honour of the virgine Mary to which the same day she gaue halfe a Hide of land Her sonne and heire Geffrey Baynard placed blacke Chanons therein by the consent of Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury This house was valued at the suppression to be yearely worth 173. l. 2. s. 4. d. The Church of this monastery is as yet standing in the Quire whereof betweene two pillars lieth the body of Matilda the faire entombed who was the daughter of Robert Fitz-water the most valiant knight of England About the yeare 1213. saith the booke of Dunmow there arose a great discord betwixt king Iohn and his Barons because of Matilda surnamed the faire daughter of Robert Fitz-water whom the King vnlawfully loued but could not obtaine her nor her fathers consent thereunto Whereupon and for other like causes ensued warre through the whole Realme The king banished the said Fitz-water amongst other and caused his Castle called Baynard and other his houses to be spoiled Which being done he sent a messenger vnto Matilda the faire about his old Suit in Loue Et quia noluit consentire toxicauit eam And because she would not agree to his wicked motion the messenger poisoned a boiled or potched Egge against she was hungrie and gaue it vnto her whereof she died the yeare 1213. In the yeare following after her death her banished father was restored to the kings fauour vpon this occasion It happened in the yeare 1214. king Iohn being then in France with a great armie that a truce was taken betwixt the two Kings of England and France for the terme of fiue yeares and a riuer or arme of the Sea being betwixt either host there was a knight in the English host that cried to them of the other side willing some one of their knights to come and iust a course or two with him Wherupon without stay Robert Fitz-water being on the French part made himselfe ready ferried ouer got on horseback and shewed himself ready to the face of
quingentesimo decimo nono In the hall of the Mannor house of Newton Hall in this Parish remaineth in old painting two postures th' one for an Ancestor of the Bourchiers combatant with another being a pagan king for the truth of Christ whom the said Englishman ouercame and in memory thereof his descendants haue euer since borne the head of the said Infidell as also vsed the surname of Bowser as I had it out of the collections of Augustine Vincent Windsore Herald deceased Boreham The inheritance and honours of this famous and right noble race of the Fitz-waters came at length by mariage into the stocke of the Radcliffes for in the pedegree of Sir Alexander Radcliffe of Ordsall in the county of Lancaster knight of the Bath descended as the Earle of Sussex is from the Radcliffes anciently of Radcliffe in the said County the sonne of that valiant and generally beloued Gentleman Sir Iohn Radcliffe Lieuetenant Colonell slaine fighting against the French in the Isle of Rhee the 29. day of October in the yeare of our Lord one thousand sixe hundred twenty and seuen I finde that Sir Iohn Radcliffe Knight sonne of Sir Iohn Radcliffe knight who married Katherine the daughter and heire of Edward Lord Burnell of Acton Burnell in the county of Salop married Elizabeth the daughter and heire of Walter Lord Fitz-water of Woodham a Baron of great riches as of ancient nobility the father of Iohn who was Father of Robert Radcliffe the first of that sirname Earle of Sussex Viscount Fitz-water Lord Egremont and Burnell who with other two Earles his Sonne and Grandchilde lie here interred vnder a sumptuous monument as appeareth by their seuerall inscriptions and liuely portraitures To the memory of the first Earle for I am tied by my method onely to his at this time these funerall lines following are engrauen Robertus Radcliffe miles Dominus Fitz-water Egremond et Burnel Vicecomes Fitz-water magnus Camerarius Anglie Camerarius Hospitij Regis Henrici octaui ac eidem a consilijs Prelijs in Gallia commissis aliquoties inter primos ductores honoratus in alijs belii pacisque consultationibus non inter postremos habitus aequitatis Institiae constantiae magnum aetatis suae columen obijt xxvii die Nouemb. Anno Dom. M. ccccc.xlii aetat This Earle had three wiues whose portraitures are cut here vpon the Tombe by all of which he had issue By his first wife Elizabeth who was the daughter of Henry Stafford Duke of Buckingham hee had Henry after him Earle of Sussex here intombed George Radcliffe and Sir Humfrey Ratcliffe of Elnestow By Margaret his second wife daughter of Thomas Lord Stanley Earle of Darby he had Anne married to Thomas Lord Wharton who lieth here buried by her father and Iane maried to Sir Antony Browne Knight Viscount Mountague By his third wife the daughter of Sir Iohn Arundell of Lanherne in Cornwall Knight he had issue Sir Iohn Radcliffe Knight who died without issue in the yeare 1566. and lieth buried in Saint Olaues Hart-streete London Henry Radcliffe Earle of Sussex sonne of this Robert as aforesaid was one of the priuie Councell to Queene Mary as I finde it in her Grant of liberty made vnto him for the wearing of Coyfes or Cappes in her presence which I coppied out of the Originall amongst the Euidences of Robert late Earle of Sussex deceased expressed in these words following Mary the Queene Mary by the grace of God Quene of Englonde France and Irelonde defendor of the Feythe and in Earthe of the Church of Englonde and Irelonde supreme Hede. To all to whom this present wryting shall come sendeth greting in our Lord euerlasting Know ye that wee do gyue and pardon to our welbeloued and trusty Cosen one of oure priuey Counsell Henry Earle of Sussex Viscount Fitz-water Lord Egremond and Burnell liberty licens and pardon to were his Cappe Coyf or night Cappe or twoo of them at his pleasor as well in oure presens as in the presens of any other person or persons within this our Relme or any other place of our dominion wheresoeuer during his life And these oure lettres shall be his sufficient warrant in this behalfe Yeuen vndre oure Signe Manuell at oure Palaes of Westminstre the second dey of October in the first yere of oure Reigne Her Seale with the Garter about it is fixed to this Grant with a labell of silke and so are the Armes of the Kings of England and E. R. the Seale manuell of Edward the sixt not altered This Henry departed this life at Sir Henry Sidneyes house in Chanon Row at Westminster on wednesday morning the 17. of February betweene fiue and sixe a clocke in the third and fourth yeare of Philip and Mary Anno 1556. as Vincent in his Discouerie of Brookes Errors verifieth by a certificate thereof in the booke of Burials in the Office of Armes Fol. 225. He was buried first by his Father in Saint Laurence Poultney Church in London from whence their remaines were remoued hither as you shall vnderstand by the present sequele That braue-spirited politicke-wise Lord Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Chamberlaine of the Houshold to Queene Elizabeth of famous memory built or began to build a Chappell in this Church wherein this glorious Tombe is erected as a place of buriall for himselfe and his worthy progeny and commanded by his last Will and Testament as I was told that the honourable remaines of his Father and Grandfather Henry and the foresaid Robert Earles of Sussex should be remoued from the parish Church of Saint Laurence Poultney London where their bodies lay buried to this his Chapbell at Boreham wherein hee desired to be entombed all which was accordingly performed This Tombe was made by one Richard Stephens an outlandish man and finished with all furniture as gilding colouring and the like thereunto belonging the xxviii of May M.D. lxxxxix the whole charge thereof amounting to the summe of cclxxxxii l xii s. viii d. as appeares by the account which I haue seene This Thomas Earle of Sussex saith Camden was a most worthy and honourable personage in whose minde were seated ioyntly both politicke wisedome and martiall prowesse as England and Ireland acknowledged but more of him hereafter These Earles of Sussex of this sirname from Robert the first to Robert the last who died An. Dom. 1629. haue euer beene Knights of the Garter Hic iacet Thomas Coggeshale Ar. filius Thome Coggeshale Armigeri Iohanna vxor eius que quidem Iohanna obijt xvii Iulij M.ccc.xv Thomas obiit ..... Newport Her lyeth Thomas Brown Who 's sowl God pardown ......... M. ccccc.xv Her vndyr this marble ston Lyeth the body of master Ion Heynes Bacheler of Law And somtym Vycar of this Chirch I traw Who passyd out .......... ...... M. cccc Here sometime stood an hospitall in this Towne by whom founded I cannot reade Valued at the fatall destruction of all such houses at 23.
l. 10. s. 8. d. per annum Pleshy This Collegiate Church was founded by Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester for Canons regular which was valued in the Kings bookes to be yearely worth one hundred thirty nine pounds three shillings ten pence The vpper part of which Church within these few yeares was taken downe and as I was told in the Towne the Parishioners being either vnwilling or vnable to repaire the decayes carried away the materials which were employed to other vses This part of the Church was adorned and beautified with diuers rich funerall Monuments which were hammered a peeces bestowed and diuided according to the discretion of the Inhabitants Vpon one of the parts of a dismembred Monument carelesly cast here and there in the body of the Church I found these words Here lyeth Iohn Holland Erle of Exceter Erle of Huntington and Chamberleyne of England Who dyed ....... This Iohn was halfe brother to King Richard the second and Duke of Exceter From which dignitie he was deposed by Act of Parliament in the first yeare of King Henry the fourth whose sister he had married and in the same yeare beheaded in this Towne for a seditious conspiracie saith Camden and in the very place where the Duke of Glocester was arrested by King Richard which was in the base court of the Castle of Pleshie now quite ruined that he might seeme saith he to haue beene iustly punished by way of satisfaction for the foresaid Duke of Glocester of whose death he was thought to be the principall procurer He was beheaded the third day after the Epiphanie 1399. 1. Hen. 4. Vpon a broken peece of a faire marble stone reared to the side of a pillar whereupon were the pictures in brasse of an armed knight and his Lady this ensuing disticke was engrauen Militis o miserere tui miserere Parentum Alme deus regnis gaudeat ille tuis Vnder this stone if Tradition may go for truth Sir Edward Holland Earle of Mortaigne sonne of the foresaid Iohn Holland beheaded with his Lady were entombed Orate pro anima Iohannis Scot primi Magistri huius Collegij qui obijt primo die Ianuar. M. cccc.x Qui me psalmasti miserere mei Qui me pretioso tuo sanguine redimisti miserere mei Qui me ad Christianitatem vocasti miserere mei Here lyeth Robert Frevyt a man letterd sowndyt For hys sowl and for all christine sey a Pater Noster and an Ave. But I shall forget the Founder Thomas of Woodstocke the sixth sonne of King Edward the third and Vncle to King Richard who was taken by force from this his Castle of Plessy by Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall and conuayed to Callis where he was smothered vnder a Featherbed 1397. His body was afterwards conueyed with all funerall pompe into England and buried here in this Church of his owne foundation in a goodly sepulchre prouided by himselfe in his life time Whose reliques were afterwards remoued and laid vnder a marble inlaid with brasse in the Kings Chappell at Westminster In which Church Elianor his wife of whom I haue spoken before lieth entombed with this French inscription who after the death of her husband became a Nunne in the Abbey of Barking within this County Cy gist Aleonore de Bohun aysue fille et vn des heirs l'hounrable seignour Mons. Humfrey de Bohun Counte de Hereford d'Essex et de Northampton et Constable d'Engleterre Femme a puissant et noble prince Tho. de Woodstock Fitz a tresexcellent et tre puisant seignour Edward Roi d'Engleterre puis le Conquest tiers Duc de Glocestre Counte d'Essexie et de Buchingham et Constable d'Engleterre quemorust le tierz iour a'October ban du grace 1399. de gi aisme Dieux face mercy Amen But againe to returne to the Duke her husband touching whose life and death with the manner thereof thus writeth Gower in his booke called Vox clamantis O quam Fortuna stabilis non permanet una Exemplum cujus stat in ordine carminis hujus Rex agit et Cygnus patitur de Corde benignus Ille prostratus non est de Rege levatus Ad Plessye captus tunc est velut Hostia raptus Rex jubet arma geri nec eo voluit misereri Cum Sponsa nati lugent quasi morti gravati Plusque Lupo sevit Rex dummodo Femina flevit Nil pietas munit quem tunc manus invida punit Rex stetit obliquus nec erat tunc unus amicus O Regale genus Princeps quasi pauper egenus Turpiter attractus jacet et sine iure subactus Sunt ibi Fautores Regis de sorte Priores Qui Cygnum pendent vbi captum ducere tendent Sic ducendo ducem perdit sine lumine lucem Anglia que tota tenebrescit luce remota Trans mare natavit regnum qui semper amavit Flent centum mille quia Cygnus preterit ille Calisij portus petit unde dolus latet ortus Error quem Regis genuit putredine legis Carcere conclusus subito fuit ille reclusus Nescit quo fine sit vite sive ruine Tunc Rex elatum sumpsit quasi Falco volatum Vnde suas gentes perdit Custode carentes A little after follow these verses touching the deniall of buriall to bee granted vnto him among the rest of his honourable and royall Ancestors Sic nece devictum sic corpus ab hoste relictum Clam de conclavi susceperat Anglia navi Per mare regreditur corpus nec adhuc sepelitur Namque sepulturam defendit Rex sibi puram Desuper a latere patris loca justa tenere Dummodo quesivit vix bassa sepulchra subivit Of the manner of his death these three verses following Hen quam tortorum quidam de sorte malorum Sic Ducis electi plumarum pondere lecti Corpus quassatum jugulant que necant jugulatum Such was the end of this royall Prince sonne to a King and vncle to a King who by our writers is discommended in this that he was euer repining against the King in all things whatsoeuer he wished to haue forward Erat enim vir ferocissimus precipitis ingenij as Polidor censures him a most fierce man and of an headlong wit who thinking still that those times wherein he had mastred the King were nothing changed though the King was aboue thirty yeeares old forbare not roughlie not so much to admonish as to check and schoole his Soueraigne Hatfield Peuerell So denominated of one Randolph Peuerell the owner thereof to whom Edward the Confessor was very munificent for that hee had married his kinswoman the daughter of Ingelrick a man of great Nobilitie among the English Saxons A Lady of that admirable beautie that with her lookes she conquered the Conquerour William who desired nothing more then to be her prisoner in Armes which to effect hee begins to expresse a kinde of loue to the remembrance of
her deceased father Ingelrick enriching the Colledge of Saint Martins le grand in London first founded by him and her vncle Edward hee honours and aduanceth her two brethren William Peuerell Castellane or Keeper of Douer Castle and Payne Peuerell Baron of Bourne or Brun in Cambridgeshire the founder of Barnwell Abbey Standard bearer to Robert Duke of Normandy in the holy warre against Infidels He prefers her kindred and friends he sollicites her by the messengers of the Deuils Bedchamber his slie enchanting Bawdes and comes sometimes himselfe like Iupiter in a golden shower Thus by these forcible demonstrations of his loue and vnauoidable allurements especially from a King shee was brought at length to his vnlawfull bed vnto whom shee bare a sonne named William who was Lord of Nottingham the founder of Lenton Abbey His mother toucht with remorse of conscience for her sinnes to expiate her guilt for such was the doctrine taught in those daies founded a Colledge here in this village of Hatfield which shee consecrated to the honour of God and S. Mary Magdelen wherein setting apart all worldlie employments she spent the remainder of her dayes and here departed her life about the yeere 1100. sixteene yeeres after the death of the Conquerour Here she lieth buried and her image or portraiture cut in stone is to be seene at this present day in the Church window This house was a Cell to Saint Albons valued to be yeerely worth 83. l. 19 s. 7. d. Harlow Hic iacet Robertus Symond quondam Auditor principalis Regis Henrici septimi in Ducatu suo Lancastrie ..... qui ob ......... Erumnarum portus meta viarum mors ....... Iohn Drunkeston .......... Vulnera quinque Dei sint medicina mei Scilicet Pia mors Passio Christi Danbury Hic iacet Gerardus quondam filius heres Gerardi Braybroke militis qui obijt xxix Marcij M. cccc.xxii Icy gist perne Femme a Gerard Braybroke fille a Monsieur Reynold de Grey Seignour de wilton que morust viii jour d'aueril l'an de grace M. cccc.xiiii a qua Dieu fait mercy I shall haue occasion to speake of the Braibrokes when I come to Braibroke in Northamptonshire of which they were Lords Here lie two men armed in their portraitures and crosse legged which were as it goes by relation from father to the sonne of the familie of the Darcies who for a time had here their habitation Although it be somewhat from my purpose yet I hold it not much amisse to ammuse my Reader with a short story Vpon Corpus Christi day in the yeare 1402. the third of Henry the fourth at Euensong time the Deuill entred into this Church in the likenesse of a Gray Frier and raged horribly playing his parts like a Deuill indeed to the great astonishment and feare of the parishioners and the same houre with a tempest of whirlewind and thunder the top of the Steeple was broken downe and halfe of the Chancell scattered abroad Great Baddow Hic iacet Robertus Tendering nuper Firmarius Manerij de magna Baddow qui obijt xx Octob M. ccccc.xxxvii Anno Hen. viii xxix This prayer following is inlaid in brasse vpon the marble â Omnipotens misericors Deus iâ cujus potestate humana conditio consistit animam famuli tui Roberti queso ab omnibus absolve peccatis ut penitentie fructum quem voluntas ejus optabit preventus morte non perdat Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum Amen Hic tumulantur Thomas Kille Margeria uxor ejus qui quidem Thomas erat Pincerna quondam cum illustri Principe Tho. Woodsloke Ducâ dudum Glocestrie deinde cum nobilissima Domina Comitissa Hereford postea cum Christianissmo Principe invictissimo Henrico quinto ultimo cum honore dignissimo Katherina Regina ejusdem Domini Regis consorte nove Cantarie Sancte Trinitatis in Capella istius Ecclesie Fundator qui quidem Thomas plenus annorum obijt xvii Decemb. M. cccc.xlix dicta Margeria penultimo die Februarij M. cccc.lxi.ex hac luce migravit Principibus placuisse viris non ultima laus est Orate .......... Badewe ........ Ed. 3. I read that one Edmund Badewe did hold certaine Tenements in this Towne by Sergeantie viz. to keepe and conuey one of the Kings Palfreyes for the space of twentie daies at the Kings charges when hee shall happen to come into these parts Anno 5. Ed. 3. Chensford Orate pro animabus Iohannis Biglon nuper Carnificis istius ville Florentie uxoris eius qui quidem Iohannes obiit ..... die .... An. Dom. 1500. et dicta Florencia obijt 1. Nouemb 1509. Quorum animabus This marble Monument is faire inlaid with brasse besitting the corps of a more eminent man then a Butcher From a labell of brasse these words seeme to proceed out of his mouth Ostende mihi Domine miserecordiam tuam From hers these Et salutare tuum da nobis This Church was reedified about some hundred thirtie and seuen yeares since as appeareth by a broken inscription on the out side of the South wall Prey for the good estat of the Townshyp of Chelmsford that hath bin willying and prompt of helpys to .... this Chirch and for all them that be ..... M. cccc.lxxxix Here stood a small religious house built by Malcolme king of Scots for Friers Preachers valued at 9. l. 6. s. 5. d. per annum Engerston Hic iacet Iohannes Rocheford Ar. filius Domini Radulphi Rocheford militis qui obiit decimo die Nouemb. 1444. et anno Regis Henrici sexti 24. Of this surname I haue spoken before in Rocheford Hic iacet Gertrudis filia Iohannis Terrel de Warley equitis aurati coniux prenobilis viri Gulielmi Petri Equitis aurati quae obiit 28. Maii. 1541. Her said Husband that graue Councellour and Secretary of State to king Henry the eight Edward Queene Mary and Elizabeth lieth likewise here interred Who liued some thirtie sixe yeares after the death of this Gertrude his first wife euen to these later times whose Epitaph according to my method I reserue for another part of these my funerall Monuments Vnder the picture of Christ in one of the windowes are these two words Petra nostra Waltham Abbey This Abbey was founded by a King of England who of all other raigned least and lost most For within the compasse of a yeare hee lost both his life and his kingdome at one cast and both of them to a Stranger I meane Harold the second the sonne of Earle Godwin Who hauing built and sufficiently endowed this his Foundation for a Deane and eleuen secular blacke Canons he caused it to bee consecrated to the honour of a certaine holy Crosse found farre Westward and brought hither by miracle King Henry the second new builded this Monastery and placed therein Regular Canons augmenting their number to foure and twenty and also their
bodyes her befor yow lyn closyd in cley Euery man and woman of yowr cheritie do yow prey That to the blis of heuen sweet Iesu do their soulys bring Vnto the plas celestial befor owr heuenly King Richard deseysed the iiii of August M. ccccc.xxvii and Margerie M. ccccc ... Her vndyr this ston lyes Piers Ion And Elisabyth his wyff lyeth him hard by On whos sowlys Iesu haue mercy Besech yow for cherite Sey a Pater Noster and an Aue. The whych decessyd the on and twentyth of Septembre In the yer of owr Lord God on thowsand four hundred seuenty and thre Her lye Iohn Outred and Ione his wyff Who liuyd long togeddyr withoutyn stryff Iohn left this world and passyd to heuen On thowsand fyue hundryd yere and eleuen This Church is beautified with a sumptuous funerall Monument wherin diuers of the familie of the Cookes lie entombed whose habitation was at Giddy-Hall hereunto adioyning which house was built for the most part by Sir Thomas Cooke Lord Maior of London and knight of the Bath at the Coronation of Elizabeth wife to King Edward the fourth vpon the Frontispice of which these verses were engrauen of later times Aedibus his frontem Proauns Thomas dedit olim Addidit Antoni caetera sera manus 1568. Aedes quisque suas Domini sed maenia pauci Aedisicant leuior cura minora decet Vpmenster This towne of Vpmenster or Vpminster as it is diuersly written lying three miles from Rumpford requireth some large remembrance from mee in respect that it hath enioyed within little more then the space of three hundred yeares diuers eminent families who haue beene Lords of the same or at least of the Mannor of Gains called also the Mannor of Vpmenster lying within the same to which mannor as long tradition hath left to posteritie there is a little Isle or Chappell standing on the north side of the Chancell of the same Church belonging and time out of minde appendant to the Mannor of Gains aforesaid and appropriated to the Lords of the same for their particular place of buriall for themselues and their issue The first familie of whose posteritie I can dilate which I finde to haue beene Lords of the said mannor of Gains alias Vpmenster was that most ancient sirname of Engaine whether thence drawne or no I leaue to others to coniecture and it is warranted by a long tradition that Sir Iohn Engain Knight the sonne of Vitalis Engayn being Lord of the said mannor did build the before mentioned Chappell which since hath receiued its denomination from the blessed Virgin This familie ended in the male line when Sir Thomas Engayne Knight sonne of Iohn Engayne Esquire and grand-childe to the former Sir Iohn left his three daughters his coheirs of whom Iocosa the eldest was wife of Iohn de Goldington Elizabeth the second was married to Sir Lawrence de Pakenham knight Mary the third daughter coheire was wife of Sir William de Barnake knight There is no Tombe or grauestone left of this familie but onely their Coatarmour in the East window of the aforesaid Chappell This Mannor of Gains alias Vpmenster was afterwards seuerally in the possession of Symon de Hauering who I conceiue was but the Feoffe in trust of Sir Iohn the sonne and heire of Iohn Engayne of Alice de Perrers afterwards attainted by Act of Parliament in a. 1. R. 2. and of Henry de la Felde whose further mention leauing the first two in silence serueth onely to this present Narration The said Henry de la Felde did by his Deede indented a. 9. H 4. entaile the said mannour vpon Richard Walter and Iohn his sonnes each after other vpon the default of issue and lastly vpon Iohn Deincourt and Elizabeth his wife the daughter of the said Henry de la Felde in whose right afterwards it should seeme he came to be Lord thereof and there lieth buried together with his wife vnder a faire Tombe placed iust vnder the Arch which diuideth the said north Chappell or Isle from the Chancell of Vpmenster Church Es testis Christe quod non iacet hic lapis iste Corpus vt ornetur sed spiritus vt memoretur And about the tombe though somewhat mutilated is written this Epitaph Sancte deus sancte fortis sancte miserecors saluator miserere Animabus Rogeri Dencourt Armigeri Elizabeth consortis sue quorum corpora sub isto lapide marmoreo tumulantur ac etiam orate Filiarum suarum qui quidem Rogerus obijt vicesimo An. Domini Millesimo cccclv Nec non orate pro animabus omnium defunctorum hic vbique in Christo quiescencium The next owner of this mannor of a new sirname I finde to haue beene Nicholas Wayte of whom or his familie I can say little onely by his sale it came to be the inheritance of Ralph Lathum Esquire a lyneall descendant in the male line from a yonger branch of the ancient familie of Lathom of Lancashire who were Lords of that place in the said Countie as all the receiued descents of that familie warrant from the time of King R. 1. vntill the latter end of E. 3. when Isabel the sole daughter and heire of Sir Thomas Lathom Knight was married to Sir Iohn Stanlye knight from whom the now earle of Darbie is lineally descended and as I conceiue is from the right of this intermarriage Lord of the Mannor of Lathom at this day The Epitaph of this aboue said Ralph Lathom is placed in brasse set into a faire marble stone couering his tombe and is as followeth Here lieth buried Rayff Lathum esquire late Lord of Vpmistre and Elizabeth his wife which Rayffe deceased the xix day of Iuly An. M. ccccc Lvii. whose soule and all christen soules Iesus haue mercy The next familie to whom by the sale of William Lathom sonne and heire of the aforesaid Ralfe Lathom the before mentioned Mannor of Gains did appertaine was the familie of D'Ewes from whom also it was again at last repurchased by Lathom for Adrian D'Ewes being descended of the ancient stem of Des Ewes Dynasts or Lords of the Dition of Kessell in the Dutchie of Gelderland setling and marrying in England not many yeares after the beginning of the raigne of King H. 8. had issue Gerardt D'Ewes his sonne and heire who hauing purchased the said Mannor of Gains as aforesaid was after his death according to the former vsage buried in the said Chappell appendant to the said Mannor as other Lords of the same had beene whose Epitaph because it is replenished with many particulars touching the antiquity and ensignes of this familie I haue beene more exact in the full delineation thereof in the figure following ANTIQVA INSIGNIA FAMI\LIAE DES EWES DYNASTARVM DE KESSEL INSIGNIA GESTA AB EORVM POSTERIS Ad memoriam aeternam Geerardt D'Ewes Filij Primogeniti Adriani D'Ewes ex Illustri perantiqua Familia Des
endowed the Colledge of these Feciales or Heralds with the seuenth part of this his sacred constitution Their Colledge at Rome was composed of twenty Heraulds chosen out of ancient and eminent families the chiefe whereof for excellence was called Pater Patratus because by being chiefe of that companie he ought to haue children and his owne Father yet liuing Their chiefe office was To take care that the Romanes did not commence and make vniust warre against any confederate Citie and that if any such a city had committed any thing against the conditions of the confederacie truce and entercourse then they were to go as Embassadours first to challenge their right in milde words which if denyed then to proclaime warre Neque iustum aliquod bellum fore censebatur nisi id per Feciales esset indictum Neither was any warre thought to be iust and lawfull but that which was denounced by these Feciales or Heralds In France saith Andrew Favine Heralds haue euer beene in high esteeme and not onely the King of Armes Mont-ioy S. Denis but also the other Heralds and Pursuiuants were of noble extraction and Mont-ioy could not be admitted without making proofe of his Noblenesse by three races as well of his Fathers stocke as by his mothers side There was two thousand pounds of rents in Lands and free tenure allowed for the said Mont-ioy particularly and a thousand pounds of annuall pension besides other rights As for the other Heralds they haue a thousand pounds in pension with other rights and priuiledges Now for such rights and priuiledges as were granted to kings of Armes and Heralds some doe ascribe them to the King and Emperour Charlemaigne others to Alexander the Great of Macedon and others to the Emperour of Germany Charles king of Bohemia fourth of that name nourished from his youth in the Court of the Father of Cheualrie Philip de Valoys king of France sixth and last of that name as here followeth the tenure in these words The Priuiledges granted to Kings and Heralds of Armes translated out of the French in the Theater of Honour My Souldiers you are and shall bee called Heralds Companions for kings and Iudges of crimes committed by Noblemen and arbitratours of their quarrels and differences You must liue hereafter exempted from going any more to warre or militarie factions Councell kings for the best the benefit of the weale publique and for their Honour and Royall dignitie Correct all matters vile and dishonest fauour widowes succour orphanes and defend them from all violence Assist with your counsell such Princes and Lords in whose Courts you shall abide and freely and without feare demand of them whatsoeuer is needfull for you as food rayment and defrayings If any one of them shall deny you let him bee infamous without glory or honour and reputed as criminall of high treason In like manner also haue you an especiall care to keepe your selues from vilifying your noble exercise and the Honour wherewith you ought to come neare vs at all times See there be no entrance into Princes Courts either of drunkennesse ill speaking flattery babling indiscreetly ianglery buffonnerie and such other vices which soyle and shame the reputation of men Giue good example euery where maintaine equitie and repaire the wrongs done by great men to their inferiours Remember what priuiledges we haue granted you in recompence of the painfull trauells in warre which you endured with vs. And let not the Honours which we haue bestowed on you bee conuerted to blame and infamie by dishonest liuing the punishment whereof we reserue to our selfe and to the Kings of France our Successours Seuen Danish Kings besides some of Norway and Sweden haue had for their proper appellation the name of Herald or Harold which is all one with Heralt saith Verstegan So honourable was it accounted of in old time that so many Kings thereby were called in regard as it appeareth that themselues might be honoured and respected as the most couragious of the armie Heralds saith Stow out of an old History written aboue sixe hundred yeares since which he found in the Reuestrie or Treasurie of Saint Pauls Church be they which our Elders were wont to call Heroes that is to say those which were greater or surpassing all men in Maiestie and yet inferiour to the Gods For whom the people of antiquitie did perceiue to be notable and surmounting all others in his acts and feates renowned in vertues and friendly or gracious vnto them him would they magnifie and exalt in the highest degree and as it were with their good words make him cosin to Iove the omnipotent Placing such amongst the Gods if it so were that they had wrought some miraculous feate aboue the common course of Nature But if there were no such miraculous or wonderfull deeds but that through their vertues they seemed wonderfull and honourable then thought they to call such persons not altogether Gods nor yet simplie men but inuented out a meane word and name for them calling them Heroes as it were halfe-gods and of this word Heroes or Heros groweth by corruption of vse this name Herald In the same place he proues that Heralds here in England were as ancient as the dayes of Brute who flourished aboue eleuen hundred yeares before the birth of Christ who bare saith hee Gules two Lions rampant endorsed Or according to this peece out of Hardings Chronicle He bare of Goulis twoo liones of golde Countre Rampant with golde only crouned Which kings of Troy in bataill barefull bold Neither can it be iustly said for all this that Heralds were not knowne nor in request in this kingdome but since the time of Brute For euen from the instant that the descendants of Adam were distinguished into Nobles and Yeomen there haue beene combats battells and encounters and consequently Heralds deriued from the body of Nobilitie Now at the length let me turne backe to the foresaid defunct Sir Iohn Wriothesley to whom and to the rest of the Kings Heralds and Pursuiuants of Armes king Richard the third in the first yeare of his raigne granted and gaue by his letters Patents all that messuage with the appurtenances called Cold-Harber in the Parish of All Saints the little in London freeing them à Subsidijs theolonijs omnibus Reipub. muneribus Dated at Westminster the second of March without fine or fee. How the said Heralds departed therewith saith Stow I haue not read but in the raigne of Henry the eight the Bishop of Durhams house neare Charing Crosse being taken into the Kings hand Cuthbert Tunstall Bishop of Durham was lodged in this Cold-Harber But in my iudgement I still digresse or at leastwise driue off my Reader ouer long from the knowledge of the time of this mans death which I cannot set downe neither certainly yet I gather by circumstances that it should be about the latter end of the raigne of king Hen. the seuenth Here lyeth buried by her
husband Eleanor the second wife of the foresaid Sir Iohn Wriothesley Here lieth buried Ioan wyfe to Thomas Wriothesley sonne to the said Sir Iohn Wriothesley Here lyeth Iohn Wriothesley the younger sonne to Sir Iohn Wriothesly and Eleanor with others of that familie mentioned by Stow in his Suruay of London This Church is likewise much honoured by the Sepultures of Sir Henry Grey knight sonne and heire to George Grey Earle of Kent as also by Reginald Grey Earle of Kent Of which their Funeralls being so neare these times in another place S. Benet Pauls Wharfe In this Church lie entombed the bodyes of Sir William Cheyney knight and Dame Margaret his wife which Sir William Cheyney deceased Ann. 1422. In this Parish and partly as I take it in Saint Peters the little is a faire house sometime belonging to the Stanleys vpon the outward wall whereof are embossed the Armes or rather if you will the legges of the Isle of Man for that the Stanleys honoured with the title of Earles of Darby were commonly called Kings of Man This house was built by Thomas Stanley first of that sirname Earle of Darby and so for a long time it was called Darbie House but at length it being in the tenure of Sir Richard Sackuile knight fallen by morgage vnto him for which morgage Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke out of his affection to the office of Armes satisfied the said Sir Richard who thereupon past it ouer to Q. Mary and at the instant request of the said Duke she by her Charter granted it to Sir Gilbert Dethicke as then Garter principall King of Armes who lieth buried in this Church Thomas Hauley Clarencieux king of Armes of the south parts William Haruey Norroy king of Armes of the north parts and to the other Heralds and Pursuiuants of Armes expressing their titles and order qui pro tempore fuerint in perpetuum vt essent vnum corpus corporatum in re facto nomine habeantque successionem perpetuam nec non quoddam sigillum commune To the end that the said King of Armes Heralds and Pursuiuants of Armes and their successors might at their liking dwell together and at conuenient times meete together speake conferre and agree among themselues for the good gouernement of their faculty and their Records might be more safely kept c. Dated the 18. day of Iuly 1555. Philip and Mary the first and third yeare This Corporation consists of thirteene in number whose names and titles at this time viz. Anno 1631. are as followeth Sir William Segar Knight Garter Principall King of Armes Sir Richard S. George Knight Clarencieux Sir Iohn Borough Knight Norroy Prouinciall Kings William Penson Lancaster Sir Henry S. George Knight Richmond Henry Chitting Chester Iohn Philipot Somerset William le Neue Yorke Iohn Bradshaw Windsore Heralds These sixe Heralds non ab Officiorum praestantia sed è creationis cuiusque antiquitate locos obtinet not from the excellencie of their office but according to the prioritie of their creation take preheminence And to make vp the number there are foure Pursuiuants in this Colledge helpers and furtherers likewise in matters of Heraldry although of an inferiour Classe viz. Rouge-crosse so called of the red crosse by which Saint George the Tutelar Saint of all Englishmen is famozed Blewmantle so called of a skie-coloured coate of Armes Francica maiestatis of a French-like Maiesty assumed by K. Edward the third Rouge-Dragon of a red Dragon sustaining the Shield Roiall of the English instituted by King Henry the seuenth Port cullis of the Port cullis which the said Henry the seuenth vsed in his Cognisance If you would know more of this Colledge may it please you peruse Sir Henry Spilmans Glossarie litera H. Saint Michaels Querne Here lieth interred the body of Iohn Leland or Leyland Natiue of this honourable Citie of London brought vp in the Vniuersities of England and France where he greatly profited in all good learning and languages Keeper of the Libraries he was to King Henry the Eight in which Office he chiefly applied himselfe to the study of Antiquities wherein he was so laborious and exquisite that few or none either before or since may bee with him compared which will best appeare by his New yeares gift to the said King Henry written in Latine and translated into English by his contemporarie companion Iohn Bale and by him intituled The loboryouse Iourney and serche of Iohan Leylande for Englandes Antiquitees giuen of him as a New yeares gift to Kynge Henry the Eyghte in the thirty seuenth yeere of his Reygne Vbi tuae celsit udini visum fuit c. so it begins in Latine Where as it pleased youre hyghnesse vpon very iust consideratyons to encourage mee by the authoryte of youre moste graciouse Commyssion to peruse and dyligently to serche all the Libraries of Monasteries and Collegies of this youre noble Realme to the entent that the Monuments of auncyent Wryters as well of other Nacyons as of your owne Prouynce myghte be brought out of deadly darkenesse to lyuely lyght and to receiue lyke thankes of their posteryte as they hoped for at such time as they employed their long and great studies to the publique wealthe Yea and furthermore that the holy scripture of God might both be sincerely taught and learned all maner of supersticion and crafty coloured doctrine of a rowte of romane Bishops totally expelled oute of this your most Catholique realme I thinke it now no lesse than my very dewtie breuely to declare to your Maiestie what frutes haue spronge of my laboriouse iourney and costly enterprise both roted vpon your infinite goodnesse and liberalite qualitees right highly to be estemed in al Princes and most specially in yow as naturally your owne wele knowne proprietes First I haue conserued many good authors the which otherwise had ben like to haue perished to no small incommodite of good letters Of the which parte remaine in the most magnificent libraries of your royall Palaces Part also remaine in my custodie whereby I trust right shortly so to describe your most noble Realme and to publish the Maiestie of the excellent actes of youre progenitors hitherto sore obscured bothe for lacke of emprinting of such workes as lay secretly in corners And also because men of eloquence hath not enterprised to set them forth in a florishing stile in some times past not commonly vsed in England of Writers otherwise wele learned and now in such estimacion that except truth be delicately clothed in purpure her written veritees can scant finde a Reader That all the world shall euidently perceiue that no particular region may iustly be more extolled than yours for true nobilitie and vertues at all points renoumed Farther more part of the exemplaries curiously sought by me and fortunately found in sundry places of this your dominion hath bene emprinted in Germany and now be in the presses chefely
of Frobenus that not alonly the Germaines but also the Italianes themselfe that count as the Grekes ded full arrogantly all other Nacions to be barbarouse and vnlettered sauing their owne shall haue a direct occasion openly of force to say That Britannia prima fuit parens altrix addo hoc etiam iure quidem optimo conseruatrix cùm virorum magnorum tum maxime ingeniorum Britaine was a mother a nurse and a maintainer not onely of worthy men but also of most excellent wits And that profite hath risen by the aforesaid iourney in bringing full many things to light as concerning the vsurped autorite of the Bishop of Rome and his complices to the manifest and violent derogation of Kingly dignite I referre my selfe most humbly to your most prudent learned and high iudgement to discerne my diligence in the long Volume wherein I haue made answer for the defence of your supreme dignitie al only lening to the strong pillor of holy scripture against the whole Colledge of the Romanists cloking their crafty affections and arguments vnder the name of one poore Pighius of Vltraiect in Germany and standing to them as to their onely anker hold against tempests that they know will arise if truth may be by licens lette in to haue a voyce in the generall counsell Yet herin only I haue not pytched the supreme worke of my labour wherunto your grace most like a kinglye Patron of all good lernyng ded animate me But also considering and expending with my selfe how great a number of excellent godly wittes and writers lerned with the best as the times serued hath bene in this your region Not onely at such times as the Romane Emperors had recourse to it but also in those daies that the Saxons preuailed of the Britaines and the Normans of the Saxons could not but with a feruent zele and honest corage commend them to memory Els alas like to haue bene perpetually obscured or to haue lightly remembred as vncertaine shaddowes Wherfor I knowing by infinite varietie of bookes and assiduouse reading of them who hath bene lerned and who hath written from time to time in this realme haue digested into four bokes the names of them with their liues and monuments of lerning And to them added this title De viris illustribus folowing the profitable example of Hierome Gannadie Cassiodore Seuerayne and Trittemie a late Writer But alway so handling the matter that I haue more exspaciated in this campe then they ded as in a thing that desired to be somewhat at large and to haue ornature The first boke beginning at the Druides is deducted vnto the time of the comming of S. Augustine into England The second is from the time of Augustine vnto the aduente of the Normans The third from the Normans to the end of the moste honourable reigne of the mightie famouse and prudent Prince Henry the seuenth your Father The fourth beginneth with the name of your Maieste whose glory in lerning is to the world so clerely knowne that though emonge the liues of other lerned men I haue accurately celebrated the names of Bladud Mulmutius Constantinus Magnus Sigebert Alfridus Alfridus magnus Athelstaâe and Henry the first Kings and your progenitors And also Ethelward second sonne to Alfride the great Humfryde Duke of Glocester and Tipetote Earle of Worcestre yet conferred with your grace they serue as small lights if I may freely say my iudgement your high modesty not offended in respect of the daye starre Now farther to insinuate to your grace of what matters the Writers whose liues I haue congested into foure bookes hath treated of I may right boldly say that beside the cognicion of the foure tongues in the which parâ of them hath excelled that there is no kinde of liberall science or any feate concerning learning in the which they haue not shewed certaine arguments oâ great felicitie of witte Yea and concerning the interpretation of holy Scripture both after the ancient forme and sens the scholasticall trade they haue reigned as in a certaine excellency And as touching historicall knowledge there hath bene to the number of a full hundreth or mo that from time to time hath with great diligence and no lesse faith wolde to God with like eloquence perscribed the actes of your noble predecessors and the fortunes of this your Realme so incredibly great that hee that hath not seane and throughly redde their workes can litle pronounce in this parte Wherfor after that I had perpended the honest and profitable studies of these Historiographers I was totally enflamed with a loue to see throughly all those partes of this your opulent and ample realme that I had redde of in the aforsaid Writers In so much that all my other occupacions intermitted I haue so traueled in your dominions both by the see coastes and the middle parts sparing neither labour nor costs by the space of these sixe yeeres past that there is almost neither cape nor baye hauen creke or pere riuer or confluence of riuers breches washes lakes meres fenny waters mountaines vallies mores hethes forestes woodes cities burges castels principall manor places monasteries and colleges but I haue seane them and noted in so doing a whole world of things very memorable Thus instructed I trust shortly to see the time that like as Carolus Magnus had among his treasures three large notable tables of siluer richly enameled one of the site and description of Constantinople another of the site and figure of the magnificente Citee of Rome and the third of descrypcyon of the world So shall your Maiestie haue this your world and impery of Englande so set forth in a quadrate table of siluer if God send me life to accomplish my beginning that your Grace shall haue ready knowledge at the first sight of many right delectable fruitfull and necessary pleasures by contemplacion thereof as often as occasion shall moue you to the sight of it And because that it may be more permanent and farther knowne then to haue it engraued in siluer or brasse I entend by the leaue of God within the space of twelue moneths following such a description to make of your realme in writing that it shall be no mastery after for the Grauer or Painter to make the like by a perfect example Yea and to wade farther in this matter where as now almost no man can wele gesse at the shadow of the ancient names of hauens riuers promontories hilles woods Cities Townes Castles and varyete of kyndes of people that Cesar Liui Strabo Diodorus Fabius Pictor Pomponius Mela Plinius Cornelius Tacitus Ptolomeus Sextus Rufus Ammianus Marcellinus Solinus Antoninus and diuerse other make mencyon of I trust so to open this wyndow that the lyght shall be seene so long that is to say by the space of a whole thousand yeeres stopped vp and the old glory of your renowned Britayne to reflorish through
filiabus suis qui Nicolaus obijt v. die mens Nouembris An. Dom. M. cccc.vii quorum animabus .... Pray for the soul of Roger Hunning Fishmonger somtime porueyor of Seafish to our Soueraigne Lord King Henry the eight and Margaret his wyff the which Roger decessyd the third day of May An. Dom. M. ccccc xli whos soul Iesu pardon Amen Orate pro anima I home Paynard alias dict Thome Aylwood quondam Secretarii cum Radulpho âuper Domino Cromwell ac nuper Secretarij cum Willelmo Domino Beaumont et postea Secretarii cum Willelmo Domino Hastyngs qui quidem Thomas obijt xxii die Nouembris Anno Dom. M. cccc.lxxiii Raph Lord Cromwell here mentioned was Lord Treasurer of England Anno 1444. William Lord Beaumont was the sonne and heire of Iohn Lord Viscount Beaumont the first Viscount that we certainly know to haue beene in England howsoeuer it is said that Iohn Robsert Captaine of Saint Samers in France sonne of Sir Lewis Robsert knight of the Garter was Viscount Robsert in king Henry the fifts time William Lord Hastings created by king Edward the fourth to whom he was Lord Chamberlaine Hic iacet Ioanna Coppinger vidua quondam vxor Willelmi Coppinger Armigeri postea nupt Richardo Darland gen qui quidem Ioanna obijt xviii die Martij ... Mcccclxxxxii Saint Michaels Pater Noster in the old Royall Hic iacet Thomas Wandesford ciuis et Aldermannus London Idonea vxor eius qui quidem Thomas obijt xiii die Octobris An. Dom. M. ccccxlviii Quorum animabus Gulielmo Bayly militi ciui et Pannario London fide integritate vite insigni qui huius vrbis Preturam tanta ingenij dexteritate tanta animi promptitudine verborum comitate gessit vt omnium Senatorum et populi merito nuncupetur delitie Lites mire perosus Pauperum Patronus delictorum corrector omnibus ordinibus iuxta charus et numerosa sobole beatus fuit Cantariam vt vocant in hoc templo perpetuo stabiliuit ..... Domina Katherina vnica coniux coniugi charissimo et bene merenti et Robertus Leessis Executores fidelissimi posuere 5. Kalend. Nouemb. 1532. He had by his wife Catherin sixteene children as did sometime appeare by their pourtraitures on the Tombe-stone He was the sonne of Iohn Bayly of Thacksted in Essex Glanvile sub glebe tegit hic lapis ossa Iohannis Obsequio Regis subijt se plurimis annis Sci ..... quos viuens ... moriens suos ad vos .............. Spiritus aspiret ferte iunamen ei Prey of yowr cherete for the souls of Agnes Cheyney wydow late wyff vnto William Cheyney somtym Esquyr for the Body vnto kyng Harry the seuenth Whyche Agnes dyed the fyfteenth day of Iuly in the yere of our Lord God on thowsand four hundryd eyghty and seuen And for the souls of William Cheyney Robart Molyneux and Robert Sheryngton her husbands and all Cristen souls Hic iacet Iohannes Rayning generosus qui obijt 22. die Iunij Ann. Domini 1469. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Of yowr charite pray for the soul of William Porter late Clarke of the Crowne and Elisabeth his wife the which departyd the 4 of March 1521. on whose souls .... Clarke of the Crowne is a Clarke or Officer in the Kings Bench whose function is to frame reade and record all Indictments against Traitors Felons and other offenders there arraigned vpon any publike crime He is otherwise called Clarke of the Crowne office And Ann. 2. Hen. 4. cap. 10. he is called Clarke of the Crowne of the Kings Bench. The reason of his denomination is because he reads and records Indictments against Traitors Felons c. which are against the Kings Crowne and dignitie Saint Nicholas Olaue Here lyeth the body of William Fyloll sonn and heyr apparaunt to William Fyloll of Woodlond in the county of Dorset knyght and to Dame Dorothy hys wyff dawter and heyr to Iohn Ifeyld of Stondon in the Shyre of Hertford Esquyr Whych William the sonn dyed in the lyff of his fadeâ wythowt yssue the iiii day of Septembyr in the yere of owr redemption M. cccccix and in the yere of his age the syxteenth Who 's soul God pardon Amen Orate pro animabus Iohannis Westcliff Ioanne vxoris sue qui quidem Iohannes quondam fuit Maior ville Sandwici obijt 19. Decemb. 1473. quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen Ici gist William Newport iadis Citizen pessamere de Londre Massie sa femme leur enfens de ens engendre Dieu de lour alues eit pitye Amen Amen This Newport was one of the Sheriffes of London in the yeare 1375. Hic iacet Willelmus Read Ciuis Piscenarius London qui obiit .... Margeria vxor eius que obiit sexto die Iunij Anno Domini Millesimo quadringentesimo quadragesimo septimo Vpon the same marble stone as followeth Who that passyth by this way Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat For mercy of God behold and pray Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat For all souls cristen and for vs Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat On Pater Noster and an Ave. Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat To the blessyd Saynts and owr blessyd Lady Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat Saynt Mary to pray for vs. Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat Many Monuments of the Dead in Churches in and about this Citie of London as also in some places of the countrey are couered with seates or pewes made high and easie for the Parishioners to sit or sleepe in a fashion of no long continuance and worthy of reformation Of the Diocesse of London the Battels therein fought and of the Burialls of the Dead slaine in those terrible conflicts NOw as I haue before spoken somewhat of the Bishoprickes of Cant. and Rochester so let me here speake a little of this Diocesse of London which extendeth so farre in circuit as the Site of the East or Middle Saxons kingdome anciently comprised which was bounded on the East with the Ocean on the South with the Thames on the West with the Colne and on the North with the Riuer Stowre within the limits whereof Midlesex Essex and a part of Hertfordshire are contained The glory of which Diocesse is principally Midlesex in regard of the far-famed City of London the Metropolis of England of which I haue spoken before and the chiefe seat of her sacred Bishops as also in regard of the Riuer of Thames the king of all our Riuers Of whom and of the rare prospects he views in his passage betweene Windsore and London Bridge a late Poet thus versifies But now this mighty Flood vpon his voiage prest That found how with his strength his beauties still increast From where braue Windsore stood on tiptoe to behold The faire
men To tell the worlds full strength what creatures liued then When in her height of youth the lustie fruitfull earth Brought forth her big-lim'd brood euen Gyants in their birth Neere to Showbery in Rochford Hundred are certaine hils in which the bodies of the Danes there discomfited and slaine in the raigne of Edmund Ironside lie buried in Essex What way saith Camden in Essex this country looketh toward Cambridgeshire Barklow sheweth itselfe well knowne now by reason of foure little hils or Burries cast vp by mans hand such as in old time were wont to be raised as Tombes for Souldiers slaine whose reliques were not easie to be found But when a fifth and sixth of them were not long since digged downe three troughes of stone were found and in them broken bones of men as I was informed The country people say that they were reared after a field there fought against the Danes for Dane wort which with bloud-red berries commeth vp here plenteously they still call by no other name then Danes-bloud of the number of Danes that there were slaine verily beleeuing that it bloometh from their bloud The parish Church of Ashdown or Assandun giues buriall to the slaughtered bodies of many braue English Souldiers for Edmund sirnamed Ironside King of England hauing fought sixe battels with the Danes within the compasse of one yeare in which at the beginning hee had the better putting them euer to rout plaied here in this place his last prize where he was so defeyted by the meanes of false Edrick his counsell that he lost the flower of the English Nobilitie In memoriall of which Battell king Canutus the Danish Conquerour built this Church at such time when as vpon remorse and repentance for the bloud which he had shed he erected Chappels in what part soeuer he had foughten any field and shed Christian bloud Of which my old Rimer Robert of Glocester Knute moche louyd Engâysshmen and the loud thertoo And holy Chyrche susteyned as hym ought to doo And restoryd Abbeyes stroyed that wer befor And Chyrches lette arere that allwer forlor And Chyrches now he lette arere in stedests most thar Where he had Battayles doo and men yslaw ar As vpon Asshedonne and about ther Al for the soulygs of hem that sleyne ther were Certaine small hillocks are remayning neare to this Church at this day out of which haue beene digged the bones of men Armour and the water chaines of horse bridles as the Inhabitants told me Claudius the Emperour saith S Danyel had the honour of taking the whole Isle of Britaine to the Romane Empire which though thus wonne was not till a long time after ouercome For now the Britaines vnderstanding the misery of their dissociation how their submission brought but the more oppression colleague themselues against the Romanes taking their occasion vpon the outrages committed on the person and state of Queene Vaodicia or Boudicea widow of Prasutagus king of the Icenians the Inhabitants of Norfolke Suffolke Cambridge and Huntingtonshires a great and rich Prince who at his death had left Nero his heire and two daughters hoping thereby to free his house from iniuries But it fell out contrary for no sooner was he dead but his kingdome was spoiled by the Cenâurions his house ransackt by slaues his wife beaten and his daughters rauished Besides the chiefe men of the Icenians as if all the region had beene giuen in prey were rest of their goods and the kings kinsmen esteemed as captiues with which contumely and feare of greater mischiefe they conspire with the Trinobants the Inhabitants of Midlesex and Essex and others not yet inured to seruitude to resume their liberty And first set vpon the Garrisons of the Veteran Souldiers whom they most hated defeited the ninth Legion whereof they slew all the foote forced Cercalis the Legat and leader to flight and put to the sword seuenty thousand Romanes and associates inhabiting this municipall Towne Comolodunum now Maldon as also London and Verulam before Suetonius the Gouernour of the Prouince could assemble the rest of the dispersed forces to make head against their armie conducted by Vaodicia who with her two daughter brought into the field to moue compassion and reuenge incites them to that noble and manly worke of liberty Which to recouer she protests to hold her selfe there but as one of the vulgar without weighing her great honour and birth resolued to winne or dye Many of their wiues were likewise there to be spectatours and incouragers of their husbands valour But in the end Suetonius got the victory with the slaughter of fourescore thousand Britaines of the Romanes onely foure hundred were slaine and not many moe hurt saith Tacitus lib. Annal. 14. ca. 11. Vaodicia seeing the ouerthrow of her Army was notwithstanding vnuanquished in her owne Noble Spirit and scorning to be a spectacle in their Triumphs or a vassall to their wills after the example of Cleopatra she made an end of her miseries and life by poyson She was affoarded honorable buriall and so were the rest of her vanquished Armie there slaine according to their qualitie neare vnto the places where the battell was strucken BISHOPS OF LONDON CANONIZED SAINTS MEllitus the first Bishop of this See after the remouall of the Archbishopricke to Canterbury had a shrine erected to his honour in this Church as I haue touched before In his time and partly by his instigation this Cathedrall Church was built by Ethelbert King of Kent He was consecrated Bishop of London by Saint Austin Archbishop of Canterbury the yeare 604. In the gouernment whereof hee continued nineteene yeares in which time and about the fourth yeare of his consecration he went to Rome to conferre with Boniface the Pope about diuers things and was by him honourably entertained A yeare or two after his returne died both Ethelbert King of Kent as also Sebert of the East Angles whom he had conuerted to the Christian Faith King Sebert left behinde him three wicked sonnes that being neuer baptized came notwithstanding one day into the Church at Communion time and asked the Bishop what hee meant that hee deliuered not of that same fiâe bread vnto them as he was wont to their father Sebert and did yet vnto the rest of the people He answered that if they would be washed in the water of life as he was and the rest of the people there present then would he deliuer vnto them of this bread also but otherwise neither was it lawfull for him to deliuer nor them to receiue it This notwithstanding they would haue enforced him and when they could not preuaile were so enraged as they expelled him their dominions hardly holding their hands from doing him violence at that time Hee being thus exiled went first vnto Laurence Archbishop of Canterbury and finding him in little better case then himselfe was at London departed into France together with Iustus Bishop of Rochester Being
with inhabitants Famous also for a Mint therein some men of the towne can yet shew of the coines which are sterling pence with this inscription Ciuitatis Dunwic But now by a certaine peculiar spite and enuy of Nature that suffereth the greedy sea to haue what it will and encroch still without all end the greatest part thereof is violently carried away with the waues and it lieth as it were desolate The common fame and report of the Inhabitants is that before the towne came to decay there belonged thereunto two and fifty religious houses as parish Churches Priories Hospitals and Chappels as many Windmils and as many toppe Ships But certaine it is as appeareth by manifest and sound Record which I haue seene saith Stow that euen of late time there was within the said towne sixe parish Churches two houses of Friers an house which had beene of Templars two Hospitals and three Chappels foure of these parish Churches are now of late swallowed vp in the Sea and but two of them remaining on the land to wit Saint Peters and All Saints The Inhabitants of Dunwich desiring succour for their Towne against the rage of the Sea affirme that a great piece of a Forrest sometime thereby is deuoured and turned to the vse of the Sea In the raigne of William the Conquerour saith Camden Dunwich had in it two hundred and sixe and thirty Burgesses an hundred poore people it was valued at fiftie pounds and threescore thousand Herings of gift for so we reade in Domesday booke In the raigne of Henry the second as William of Newborough writeth It was a towne of good note and full stored with sundry kindes of riches At which time when England was all on a light fire with new stirres and broiles this towne was so fortified that it made Robert Earle of Leicester afraid who with his armie ouer-ranne all the parts thereabout at his pleasure But to draw neerer to these our times I haue read and copied out a large Treatise of Dunwich now in the custody of Sir Simonds D'Ewes Knight of which so much in this place as I finde to bee any way pertinent to the premisses and my purpose This treatise or relation of Dunwich was written in the raigne of Queene Mary and sent to one Master Dey from a friend of his whose name is there concealed Sir c. Sixe parish Churches were anciently in Dunwich the first was Saint Leonards now drowned in the sea the second Saint Peters now standing the third Saint Iohns likewise swallowed vp of the Sea the fourth Saint Martins now lying vnder the waues the fift Saint Nicholas now altogether shipwrackt and the sixt the Parish of All Saints now standing and remaining Also there was two houses of Friers very faire Churches and building walled round about with a stone wall with diuers faire gates as yet there may be seene the which grey Friers was of the order of Saint Francis and called the Friers Minors and the blacke Friers were of the order of Saint Dominicke and were called the Friers Preachers Also there was in the said Towne an ancient and very old Church called the Temple of our Lady the which Church by report was in the Iewes time and was valted ouer And the roofe of the same Church and also the Isles were leaded all ouer And it was a Church of great priuiledge and pardon in those daies and was indowed with diuers Rents Tenements Houses Lands and other profits and commodities both free and coppie as well in Donwiche Westelton Dyngle c. as also in diuers other places c. And commonly there was kept a Court called Donwiche Temple Court on the day of All Soules for the leuying and gathering vp of the yeerely reuenue of the same Also there is in the said Towne two Hospitals the one is called Saint Iames which Church is a great one and a faire large one after the old fashion and diuers tenements houses and lands to the same belonging to the vse of the poore sicke and impotent people there But now lately greatly decaied and hindred by euill Masters of the said Hospitall and other euilly disposed couetous persons which did sell away diuers lands and rents from the said Hospitall to the great hinderance of the poore people of the said Hospitall as plainely it is to be proued The other Hospitall was of the holy Trinitie and was and is called the Mason Dieu whereof the Church is now pulled downe and decaied by the meanes of such euill Masters and couetous persons as decayed the other Hospitall But there is yet diuers tenements houses lands and rents remaining to the vse of the poore of the same Hospitall The which Mason Dien was an house of great priuiledge and a place exempt and there was a very little proper house and a proper lodging for the Masters of the same for the time being to dwell in As there hath beene masters of the same Mason Dieu in times past that hath beene worshipfull viz. one there was of late daies a Master of Arte and another that was a Squyre and such like c. I would to God these iniuries and wrongs done to these two poore Hospitals might be restored and reformed againe to their former estate For surely whosoeuer shall doe it shall doe a good worke before God I pray God bring it to passe Amen Also there was in the said Towne of Donwiche three Chappels wherof one was of Saint Antony another of Saint Francis and a third was of Saint Katherine The which three Chappels were put downe when all the houses of Religion were put downe But you shall further vnderstand that the common fame of a great number of credible persons is and hath beene for a long time past that there hath beene in the Towne of Donwiche before any decay came vnto it fiftie and two parish Churches houses of Religion Hospitals and Chappels and other such like as many wind-mils and as many toppe Ships Also I thinke you doe remember the manner forme and fashion of the building and making of Saint Iohns Church and Saint Nicholas Church how they were close sled both North and south and the steeples in the middest like Cathedrall Churches now vsed and as it seemeth as the old manner of Cathedrall Churches then was And most likest so was the Church of Saint Felix for certainly one of these three Churches was the Bishops seat of Donwiche if one of them were not after another as the Sea drowned them And further you shall certainly vnderstand that when Saint Iohns Church was taken downe there lay a very plaine faire Grauestone in the Chancell and when it was raised and taken vp next vnder the same Grauestone was a great hollow stone hollowed after the fashion of a man for a man to lye in and therein a man lying with a paire of Bootes vpon his legges the forepart of the feete of them
for ioy of his departure out of this life with merry hearts doe leape and celebrate a solemne feast at Easter At whose death the flouds ceased and the distemperature of the aire had an end and in one word the common sort truely and heartily praise the onely sonne of God Well when this Iustice now dead was once fast folded within a sheet and Coffin of lead the foresaid Countesse with his treasure not worthy to be bestowed among such holy reliques in horrible griefe of heart conueied him ouer into England there to be enterred Orate pro ... Roberti Lambe Alicie Lambe ...... ..... Lambe ...... These Lambes haue beene speciall benefactors to this Church being sometimes men of faire possessions in this parish as I was told their names with the pictures of Lambes are depensild in many places of the woodworke and feeling of the Church Hic iacent Symon Brooke et Emota Margareta et Alicia vxores eius qui quidem Symon obijt 12. octob 1488. An ancient Familie these Brookes were in this parish now extinct as I haue it by relation Orate pro bono statu Christopheri Willoughby Armigeri Margerie vxoris eius this is in a glasse window of the Church Campsey or Camesey This was a Nunnery not farre from Vfford founded by one Theobald and consecrated to the honour of the Virgin Mary which was valued at the suppression to be yearely worth in Lands one hundred eighty and two pounds nine shillings fiue pence These Nunnes were of the order of S. Clare and called Minoresses Maud who was first married to William Lord Burgh Earle of Vlster and after to Raph de Vfford chiefe Iustice of Ireland repenting her selfe belike of her own and her last husbands delinquences committed in Ireland of which I haue spoken before obtained licence of King Edward the third by the procuration of her brother Henry Earle of Lancaster to found a Chantrie in this monastery of fiue Chaplaines secular Priests to pray and sing Masse for the soules of the said William de Burgh and Raph de Vfford whose body was here interred such is the Charter of the Foundation Edwardus c. Sciatis quod 16 die Octobris Anno regni nostri 21. ad requisitionem dilecti consanguinei et fidelis nostri Hen. Com. Lancastrie nec non Matildis comitisse Vltonie consanguinee sororis eiusdem comitis c. dederimus et consesserimus prefate comitisse quod ipsa quondam cantariam quinque capellanorum quorum vnum custodem eiusdem cantarie duxerit nominand in capella virginis gloriose infra Ecclesiam Monasterij siue prioratus monialium de campese diuina celebrar ad laudem Dei dicte virginis matris eius pro salute que Willelmi de Burgh quondam comitis Vltonie primi ac Radulphi de Vfford secundi et virorum suorum Cuius quidem Radulphi corpus in eadem capella quiescit humatum c. Test. meipso apud West c. Letheringham In the parish Church and in the Church of the little Priory adioyning are diuers Tombes and grauestones to the memory of that noble and ancient Family of the Wingfields all of which are fouly defaced This Priory was founded by sir Iohn Boynet of the dedication order or time I am altogether ignorant it was valued at twenty sixe pounds eighteene shillings fiue pence of yearely commings in The Wingfelds here buried were these Sir Robert Wingfeld Lord of Letheringham Sir Robert Wingfeld and Elizabeth Gousall his wife Sir Iohn Wingfeld and Elisabeth his wife Sir Thomas Wingfeld Sir Robert Wingfeld and Elisabeth Russell his wife obijt Robertus 1409. Thomas Wingfeld and Margaret his wife Richard Wingfeld Anne and Mary Inscriptions vpon the monuments of the Wingfelds partly remaining are these which follow Hic iacet tumulatus Dominus Willelmus Wingfeld Miles Dominus istius ville patronus istius Ecclesie qui ob primo die Iulij 1398. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Hic iacet Willelmus VVingfeld Armig. et Katherina vxor eius .... Dominus et patronus Quorum ... Hic iacet Dominus Robertus VVingfeld miles et Elisabetha vxor eius qui quidem Robertus obijt 3. die Maij 1409. Quorum animabus .... Amen Hic iacet Dominus ...... Wingfild miles quondam Dominus de Letheringham Here is also an ancient faire Tombe very fouly defaced whereupon this fragment of an Inscription following is onely remaining ..... Elizabethe Arundel Ducisse Norfol. Iohannis Paulet militis qui quidem Iohannes obijt x Maij M. cccclxxxi ...... ac Domina Elizabetha Wingfeld vxor predicti Iohannis filia ..... Sir Antony Wingfield of Letheringham Knight sonne and heire of Sir Iohn liued in the raignes of King Henry the eight and Edward the sixth in the 31. of Hen. the 8. he was Captaine of the Guard He was Controller of Edward the sixth his House and of the priuie Councell to King Henry the eight and Edward the sixth and Knight of the Garter Hee died ..... he married Elisabeth daughter and coheire of Sir George Veere Knight and of Margaret his wife the daughter of Sir William Stafford Hee was Vice-chamberlaine to King Henry the eight and together with the Earles of Arundell and Essex and others appointed to be ayding and assisting with his aduise and counsell the Executours of the said Kings last Will and Testament A copie whereof I haue in my custody By which his will he giues to the said Sir Antony two hundred pounds In the Priorie Church here at Letheringham diuers of the ancient familie of the Nantons lie buried Of whom out of their pedegree I haue these notes following Master William Smart affirmeth that he hath seene ân ancient Euidence dated before the Conquest of England wherein the Nantons are named who saith they were written by the name of Nawnton Roger Awston reporteth that Nawnton came in with the Conquerour and that he hath seene Records of the same who for seruice done had then giuen him in marriage a great inheritrix It is reported that Nawntons lands were at that time 700. markes per annum These Nauntons are Patrons of the Church of Alderton in this County as appeares by this Epitaph there Here lieth Henry Naunton Esquire late Patron of this Church and Tristram Naunton both sonnes of William Naunton Esquire and of Elisabeth his wife and Elisabeth wife to the said Henry daughter of Euerard Asheby Esquire and Elisabeth daughter to the said Henry Naunton and Elisabeth Asheby Patruus ignotus Genetrix vix nota sororque Occumbunt sequeris tu mihi sancte Pater Chara Domus terras fugitis neque sic me fugitis Vos sequar in caelos ..... Patri Patruo Matri Sororulae charissimis Posui fleuique Robertus Naunton 1600. Now Sir Robert Naunton knight one of his Maiesties most Honourable priuie Councell and master of the Court of Wardes and Liueries Of which
a Cathedrall Church at his owne charges as doth appeare by the sequele Norwich S. Trinities the Cathedrall Church HErebertus dictus Losinga Abbas quondam Rameseie qui sedem Thedford a Rege Willelmo emerat in Anglia magnus fuit Simonie âomes hic postquam erroneum inuentutis impetum desteâissit Romam iuit ac rediens sedem suam vsque Norwicum transtulit vbi et celebre fundauit Monasterium de rebus quidem proprijs non Episcopalibus sed et apud Tedford Monachos cluniacenses instituit hic septus dicere consueuit Erranimus inuenes Emendemus senes thus much out of an old Manuscript of the Abbey of Euesham anciently put into English by the Translator of Polychronicon as followeth Abowte that time Herbert Losange that had ben somtyme Abbot of Ramsay and was thenne Byshop of Tedford was a grete noury for Simony for he had boughte the Bysshopryche of the Kynge But after warde he was sory and bywept the vnskylfull rest of his youth And toke the waye to Rome and came home agayne and chaunged and torned his See from Tedford to Norwyche And he founded a solempne Abbaye wyth his owne catayle and not wyth the catayle of his Bysshopryche But at Tedford he ordained Monkes of Cluny that were ryche in the world and clere of Religion to Godward And had ofte in mynde the worde of Iherom That sayd we erryd in our yougth amende We vs in our age His repentance doth also appeare by the context of his Charter beggining thus In nomine Patris et âilij Spiritus sancti Amen Herbertus Episcopus infirmitatis impuritatis proprie conscius ante iustum clementem Iudicem Deum mores vitam expono meam ei reuelans Inuentut is mee ignorantias c. Igitur pro redemptione vite mee meorumque omnium peccatorum absolutione apud Norwicum in honore et nomine sancte indiuidue Trinitatis Ecclesiam primum edificaui quam caput et matrem Ecclesiam omnium Ecclesiarum de Northfolke et Suthfolke constitui et consecraui Preceptis igitur consessionibus Willelmi Regis et Henrici Regis fratris sui consilio Anselmi Cant. Archiepiscopi et omnium Episcoporum et Primatum totius Regni Anglie in Ecclesia eadem Monachos ordinaui c. His donations to this his mother Church of Norfolke and Suffolke follow which are many and great for he endowed it with as much lands as might sufficiently maintaine threescore Monkes who had their faire and spatious Cloisters But after they were thrust out by King Henry the eight there were substituted for them a Deane sixe Prebendaries and others Witnesses to this his Charter were King Henry the first and Maud his Queene eleuen Bishops and foure and twenty Earles Lords and Abbots to euery name the signe of the crosse Facta est hec donatio Anno Domini M.C. ordinatione Gregorii Episcopi Rom. apud Wyndressores The first stone of this religous Structure was laid by Herbert himselfe in the yeare after Christs natiuitie one thousand ninetie sixe with this inscription Dominus Herbertus posuit primum Lapidem In nomine Patris Filij et Spiritus Sancti Amen That is Lord Bishop Herbert laid The First Ston In The Name of The Father The Sonne And holy Ghost Amen This Bishop was borne at Orford in Suffolke his Fathers name was Robert de Losing Hee was Prior of the monasterie of Fiscane in Normandie and came backe into England at the request of William Rufus and liuing in the Court for a time behaued himselfe in such sort that hee was much fauoured of the King and obtained diuers great preferments at his hands whereby it came to passe that within the space of three yeares hee had so feathered his nest as he could buy for his Father the Abbacy of Winchester and for himselfe the Bishopricke of Thetford which I haue partly touched here and in another place Hauing finished this pious Fabricke according to his minde hee then determined to build an house for himselfe for as yet he had none in Norwich the See being so lately remoued from Thetford and therefore on the north side of the Church hee founded a stately palace And more such was his repentance for his Simony committed hee built fiue Churches one ouer against the Cathedrall Church on the other side of the riuer called S. Leonards another in this Citie also another at Elmham a fourth at Linne and a fift at Yarmouth He was an excellent Scholler for those times and writ many learned Treatises mentioned by Pitsaeus in his booke de illustribus Anglie Scriptoribus Aetat duodecima where he cals him vir omnium virtutum et bonarum literarum studijs impensè deditus mitis affabilis corpore venusto vultu decoro moribus candidus vita integer A man earnestly addicted to the studies of all vertues and good learning milde affable comely of personage gracefull of countenance blamelesse in his carriage pure innocent and sincere in the course of his life The Monkes of Norwich made great meanes and sute to haue this Herbert a canonised Saint but such impediments were alwaies in the way that it could not be obtained He departed this life the two and twentith of Iuly in the yeare of grace one thousand one hundred and twenty and was buried in this Church of his owne Foundation by the High Altar to whose memory these verses following were engrauen vpon his monument Inclytus Herbertus iacet hic vt pistica nardus Virtutum redolens floribus et meritis A quo fundatus locus est hic edificatus Ingenti studio nec modico precio Vir fuit hic magnus probitate suâuis vt agnus Vita conspicuus dogmate precipuus Sobrius et castus prudens et Episcopus almus Pollens Concilio clarus in officio Quâm .... vndecimas Iulio promente Kalendas Abstulit vltima sors et rapuit cita mors Pro quo qui transis supplex orare memor sis Vt sit ei saties alma Dei facies One Euerard who next succeeded Herbert lieth here interred who although saith Godwin he enioyed this Bishopricke for a long space yet time the deuorer of all things hath left nothing of him to our remembrance but that when he had gouerned his Church 29 yeares hee ended this life Octob. 15. 1150. Here in the Presbyterie lay buried the body of Bishop Turbus a Norman by birth being in his youth a Monke and afterwards Prior of this monasterie In his time this Cathedrall Church was burned by casuall fire he died in the 25. yeare of his consecration the 17. of Ianuarie Neere vnto the high Altar lieth buried the body of Iohn of Oxford sometimes Deane of Salisbury and Bishop of this Diocesse This man finished the Church which Herbert being preuented by death had left vnperfected and repaired that which by fire was lately defaced He built diuers Hospitals for impotent and diseased people Hee founded Trinitie Church in
erexit ... Transit sicut Fulmerston gloria mundi Propitietur Deus animabus Mortuorum Saint Peters Hic iacet Willelmus Knighton ... M. cccc.lxix .... Peter Larke and Elisabeth his wyff on whos souls sweet Iesu haue pite Saint Cuthberts ...... Iohannes Bernard et Elis ..... M. ccccc.xi Here in this towne was a Religious house of Friers Preachers dedicated to the holy Trinitie and Saint Mary which Arfast Bishop of the East-Angles made his Episcopall chaire Afterwards Henry Duke of Lancaster made it a societie of Friers Preachers it was valued at thirty nine pounds sixe shillings nine pence Arfast who died circa annum 1092. was herein buried with this Epitaph vpon his monument Hic Arfaste pie pater optime et Arca Sophie Viuis per merita virtutum laude perita Vos qui transitis hic omnes atque reditis Dicite quod Christi pietas sit promptior isti ãâã âââers Augustines in this I owne was founded by Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Blanch his wife others say by Henry Earle of Lancaster and Leicester It was valued at three hundred twelue pounds foureteene shillings foure pence Here lye buried Dame Margery Todenham Dame Elisabeth wife of Sir Thomas Hângraue daughter of Sir Iohn Harling with many other you may imagine whose names I haue not The blacke Friers here was founded by Sir Edmond Gonvile Lord of âirâingford in this County Parson of Terington and Steward with Iohn Eââe Warren and with Henry Duke of Lancaster It was dedicated to S. Sepulchre The value I haue not learned Buried in the Church of this monâsterâ were Sir Iohn Bretâ knight Dame Agnes Honell Dame Maud Talââe wife of Peter Lord of Rickinghill Dame Anastisia wife of Sir Richard Walsingham A Priory of blacke Canons dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Iohn was here founded by one of the Bigods or Bigots Earle of Norfolke Valued at fourty nine pounds eighteene shillings and a penny Surrendred the 16. of February 31. Hen. 8. Here was a religious structure for blacke Nunnes consecrated to the honour of God and Saint Gregory but by whom sounded I do not know It was valued in the Exchequer at fifty pound nine shillings eight pence Here sometimes stood a Colledge or gild dedicated to the blessed Virgine Mary valued at the suppression to be yearely worth one hundred nine pounds seuen shillings Hugh Bigod or Bigot Steward of the House to King Henry the first built and endowed a religious House here for blacke Monkes Benedictines or Cluniacks These words following are in the Instrument of his Foundation I Hugh Bigod Steward to King Henry by his grant and by the aduice of Heâbert Bishop of Norwich haue ordained Monkes of the Order of Cluny in the Church of S. Mary which was the Episcopall seate of Thetford which I gaue vnto them and afterwards founded another more meet for their vse without the Towne This Monastery was found at the suppression to be in the Kings bookes foure hundred eighteene pounds sixe shillings three pence halfe penny of yearely reuenues This Hugh the Founder was created Earle of Norfolke by King Stephen in the first yeare of his raigne He died very aged in the 24. yeare of King Henry the second and was buried in this Priory of his owne foundation to whose memory this Inscription was engrauen vpon his Funerall Monument Orate pro anima religiosissimi viri Hugonis Bigod Fundatoris huius Monasterij Seneschalli Hospitij prepotentissimo Principi Henrico Conquestoris filio Anglie Regi et Comitis Norfolcie qui quidem Hugo obiit pridie Kalend. Martii anno milesimo centesimo septuagesimo octauo Propter miserecordiam Iesu requiescat in pace Anno 1107. Optimates Angliae Richardus de Radvarijs Rogerius cognomento Bigotus mortui sunt in Monasteriis Monachorum sepulti sunt quae in propriis possessionibus ipsi condiderunt Rogerius autem apud Thetfordum in Anglia Richardus vero tumulatus apud Montisburgum in Normannia Super Rogerium Cluniacenses Alonax di tale scripserunt Epitaphium Clauderis exiguo Rogere Bigote sepulchro Et rerum cedit portio parva tibi Diuitiae sanguis facundia gratia Regum Intereunt mortem fallere nemo potest Diuitiae mentes subuertunt erigat ergo Te pietas virtus consiliumque Dei Soli moerebat virgo ter noctibus octo Cùm soluis morti debita morte tua It should seeme by the premisses that this Roger Bigot who was Sewer to King Henry the first and Father of the foresaid Hugh was the first founder of this religious Edifice or at least wise of some other in this Towne for Monkes of the order of Cluny And Stow in his Annalls agrees with my Author Ordericus This yeare saith he Maurice Bishop of London Robert Fitzhamon Roger Bigot founder of the Monastery of Monkes at Thetford Richard Redvers Councellours to the King Milo Crispen and many other Noblemen of England deceased Roger Bigot the second of that surname Earle of the East Angles or Norfolke He died about the yeare 1218. and was here interred Hugh Bigot sonne of the foresaid Roger Earle of Norfolke lay here buried who died the ninth of Henry the third 1225 Roger Bigot sonne and heire of Hugh aforesaid Earle of Norfolke and first Marshall of England of that Family was here entombed if his last will and Testament was performed Of which so much as tends to that purpose In Nomine Patris et Filij et Spiritus Sancti Amen Ego Rogerus Bigot Comes Norfolcie et Mareschallus Anglie in bona prosperitate constitutus condo Testamentum meum sub hac forma Inprimis commendo animam meam Christo c. et corpus meum in Ecclesia beate Marie Thetfordie sepeliendum Postea lego c. Huius Testamenti Executores constituo Dominum Symonem de Monteforti Com. Lecestren Dominum Richardum de Clara Com. Glouern Hertford Dominum Willelmum Malberbe Dominum Thomam Denebanke Dominum Hugonem de Tudeham c. Dat. apud Cestreford die Mercurij proximo ante festum Sancti Barnabe Apostoli anno Domini M.cclviii He died about eleuen yeares after the making of his will without issue of a bruise running at Tilt anno 1269. Roger Bigot the last of that Familie Earle of Norfolke and Marshall of England was here buried together with his first wife Alina Alyva or Adeliza daughter of Philip Lord Basset and widow of Hugh de Spenser Iustice of England she died in Aprill in the ninth yeare of Edward the first and he in the 35. of the said Kings raigne Iohn Lord Mowbray Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall of England Earle of Nottingham Lord and Baron of Segraue and of Gower sonne and successour of Iohn the first Duke of Norfolke in the dignities aforesaid was here entombed with his wife Elianor daughter of William Lord Bourchier and sister of Henry Bourchier Earle of
and them in case the sââd kyng wold invade thys hys Realme whiche he dide in deede contrary to hys oth and promyse with the hoole power of the Realme of Scotlond Whiche when the seid Erle hard of he made as greatt haste towardis hym as he coude with the kyngs power of the North partys And toke hys lodgyng in the Campe or playn caââyd Wollar haugh in the Countie of Northumbrelond which was in the âight of the kyng of Scottis and of all hys army then âying on Floddon hyll a ground more lyke a campe or forteres than any meete ground to gyve batayle on contrary to hys promes made to Rogeâras Purseuaunte at armys before sent vnto hym from the seid Erle with message that the said Erle with the Lord Howard then Admerall of Englond hys Son And the no ãâã men of the North partis with other the kyngs Subgettis of the same North partis was come thedir to represse and resiste hys Invasyons of hys souerayn Lordis Realme desyryng the said kyng of Scottis to gyve hym bataile which his message the same kyng of Scottis toke very thankfully and ioyusly promysyng hym to abide ther on the same grounde wher he than was whiche hys promys he brake as is aforesaid and tooke Floddon hilâys a ground unprengnable and shot at hym hys great Ordenaunce where as he lay like one mynded to kepe it like a forteres And whan the said Erle dide perceyve that he had brokyn hys promys and takyn so stronge â grounde as Floddon hillys he than the said Erle remoued all his Batail vnto a playn besydis Barmer wood to thentente to get betwene hym and hys owne Realme of Scotlond and ther leygeed but one nyght and on the next mornyng toâe hys passage ouer the water of at Twyfull forthe and than he marched the said kyng and hys oste in suche maner as he gat betwene hym and hys aune reame of Scotlond be force wherof the said kyng was fayn to leue his Campe and to prepare hymself to bataile witthe seid Erle on a hyll besydis Bramston in Northumbrelond very neer vnto Sandyford Wher the said Erle witthe good assistauns of the Nobull men and the power of the said North partys fought witthe said kyng and hym âanquâsshed and slewe in playn bataile derectely before his owne Standard In which bataile ware slayne on the Scottysshe parte ii Bysshoppes xi Eâlys xvii Barons CCCC knyghtis besydys other Gentilmen with xvii M in nombre which ware nombred asweel by Scottysshe men as by them that dyd bury the moste parte of them And of trouth dyvers Gentylmen and others aswell of the said Erlys servantys as of the North partyes and of Chesshir and Lankasshir war ther slayne for hard it ys and half impossible in suche a conflicte and bataile to be wonne without losse of men whoys deth may be ioyed among ther frendis to dye in so hygh a servys doon to ther Prynce And this noble acte was don by the helpe of almyghty God to the highe honour of the kyngis hyghnes Honor and prays to the said Erle and to all other Noble men and otheres the kyngs Subgettis that war ther with hym at the bataile the ix daye of Septembir in the v yeer of our souerayn Lord kyng Henry the viii And this doon the said Erle went to Barwyke to establysshe all thyngys well and in good order And sent for the dede body of the kyng of Scottis to Barwyke And whan the Ordenaunce of the kyng of Scottis was brouth of the feld and put in good suertie and all other thyngys in good order Than the seid Erle toke hys Iorney toward Yorke and ther abode duryng the kyngis pleasur and caryed with hym the dede body of thafforesaid kyng of Scottis And ther laye vnto suche tyme as the kyngis hyghâes cam from beyond the See after his wynnyng of Tyrwyn and Tomey And than hys highnes sent for the seid Erle to mete hym at Rychemond and so he dide and ther delyvered vnto his highnes the dede body of the kyng of Scottis whiche deââ bodye was delyuered in to the Charter hous ther and ther to abide duryng the kyngs plesur And for the servyce that the seid Erle dide he was honorably restored vnto his right name of Duke of Norffolk and also had geuen vnto hym greatt possessyons by the kyngis highnes And whan the warre betwixt the kyng our souerayn Lord and the Frenche Kyng was eended than the said Duke was sent into Fraunce as chieff Commyssyoner with Lady Marye the Kyngis Suster to be maryed vnto the Frenche Kyng Lewes And after when the kyng and the Quene were both out of the Reame to mete witthe Frenche kyng Frauncys at Guynes and the Prynces remaynyng in the Reame beyng a childe the said Duke was left behynde as protector and defender to mynyster Iustice and to see good Rule and Gouernaunce in the Reame in the absence of the kyngis highnes and so contynued aboute the kyng and of his preuye Counsayle tyll he wâs of age of fourescore yeeris and then the kyngis highnes was content that the said Duke shulde go home in to hys owne countrey vnto the Castell of Framlyngham wher he contynued and kepte an honorable howse vnto the houre of his deth And ther he dyed lyke a good Cristen Prynce I now to wytnes Whose sowle Iesu pardon And at his depertyng out of Framlyngham Castell toward hys buryall he coude nat be asked one grote for his dette nor for restitucion to any person and so was had to this present Abbay of Thetford with moche honor Accompanyed with many greatt Lordis and the Noble men of both Schires of Norffolk and Suffolk Leuyng then lyuyng these his children herafter named that is to seye his son and heyre the Lord Thomas Duke of Norffolk the Lord Edmond Howard the Lord Willyam Howard and the Lord Thomas Howard witthe Ladye Elysabeth wiffe to the Uicount Rocheford the Lady Agnes Countes of Oxenford the Lady Kateryne espoused to the heyre of Sir Rice app Thomas of Walys the Lady Elysabeth espoused vnto the Uicount Fitzwaters son and heyr And the Lady Dorathie then beyng not maryed but lefte for hir Right good substance to marry hyrwyth Henry Fitz-Roy the naturall sonne of King Henry the eight begotten of the Lady Talboys daughter of Sir Iohn Blount knight Duke of Richmond was here interred as Graston Stow Hollinshed and other writers affirme howsoeuer some will haue him to bee buried at Framingham in Suffolke Hee married Mary daughter of the foreremembred Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall and Lord high Treasurer of England with whom he liued not long but dyed at Saint Iames by Westminster the 22. of Iuly in the yeare of Christ Iesus 1536. He was a Prince very forward in Martiall actiuities of good literature and knowledge in the tongues vnto whom the learned Antiquarie Leland dedicated a booke as appeareth by this Hexastichon following which is
Spaine * ãâã The great pardon or Heauenly Grace Copied out of an old Roll now in the custody of Sir Symon D'Ewes Knight Of the Pope Of the Cardinalâ * * times * * a ââise * ââlers * ten Commaâdements * ââ he was named Of pilgrimages âad â * take The way to Truths dwelling place * the best * âan Pilgrimage what it is Hand cap. 133. A Manuscript in the Library of Edmond Cotton ââptiâe ãâã Angel ãâã ãâ¦ã cap. 9. Lib. 1. cap â Sum. Angl. lit P. Will. Malms degest Pont. l. 1. Will. Malms de gest Pont. lib. Bed l 4. ca. 5. Will. Malms de gâstis Reg li. 1. c. 4. Numma Angelica lit E. Iliad lib. 15. Amb. in Pastoâalâ The power and holinesse of Priests and Bishops Id. in Pastoral Id. Ibid. Augustine in li. de pastoribus Hebr. â Corinth 3. Corinth 4. Lib. 1. Io Cap Numb ââ Of the first in ãâã of âishopâ Dâfence of Peâce Chap. 1â Nâtâ for our tââs Euery Priest hath as much power in binding and loosing as the Pope Camd. in Epis. Dâââ Sintagiutis lib 1â cap. 24. The Parish of Whalley in Lanchishire Sanctuaries M. Drâyton âolyâl Song 16. Seâdeâ in his Illustrations vpon the ãâã verses Roâ Christ Flâres Hist. pâ âog de ãâã ââun 183. âeg Aâfrââi c. 5. Camd. in Yorkeshire In Leg. Will. Con. Reg. de Houeden Bracton sol 132 Sir Edward Câke in his Comment vpon Littleton lib. 2. cap. 6. Cam. l. ãâ¦ã * Robert of Glocester Camd. in Kent Mâss in âib ãâ¦ã The foundation of the Priory of S. Trinitie Godwin de prasid Angl Lib. ãâã in lib ãâã ãâ¦ã Archbishop Hard. cap. 31. A ãâ¦ã wholly âendâing ãâã own purpose Iohn ãâ¦ã â Math. West Rog. Houeden Annal. in ãâã Hen. 2. Idâm Eras. ââalogue ãâã Laâd ãâã Erâsin in Oâal de peregâ religions ergo Stow Annal in ãâã H. 8. Houeden in ãâã H. 2. A Collect deuised in honour of Archbishop Becket Knights of the order of S. Thomas S. Daniel Hist. of England Mss. in bib Cot. Henây the fourth King of England Speed in vita Hen. â * After Richard the second Addition to Rob. of Glo. * Xiii yeares and sixe moneths wanting 5. dayes Vpâdig Ncusâ Io. Harding cap. 210. Mss. in bib Cot. Videâis in Chancerum fol. 316. vlt. edit Poly. ãâ¦ã cap. â0 Fab in Ann. 1400. The last Will of King Henry the fourth Mary the first wife of Henry the fourth Stow Annal. Queene Ioane second wife of Henry the fourth Speed Hist. in vit Hen. 5. Margaret Duchesse of Clarence Vincent Catal. Hon. Mills Catal. Iohn Earle of Souâârset and Marques Dorset Io. Harding cap 192. Tiâles of honour pag. 211 Hollins pa. 513. Thomas Duke of Clarence * Oâ little Baugie Hab. ãâã * ãâã For ãâã âum bard Vincent Catal. Idem eodem Lib. Sawler Mss. in bib Cot. Ioane Lad Burwasâ Lamb. peramb. Isabel Countesse of Atholl Camden in this Tract Stow Annal. * Robert of Glocester Cuthert Archbishop of Cant. Godwin do Ptaeful Aug. Lamb. yeâamb De gesâââ Pontis lib. 1. Appendix Cron. Rotsen in bib Cot. Odo Seuerus Archbishop Godwin de Praef. Ang. Antiquit. Brit. M. Parker Io. Bale Cent. 2 Io. Capg in vita S. Odonis Ex vet Miss in bib Cot. Lanfrank Archbishop of Cant. Harpsfeld Vndec secul ca. 1â Floren Higorn Pitseus Bale Centuria secunda Serlo Parisiensis Mss. in bib Cot. Anselme Archbishop Antiquitales Brilan in vita Ans. Godwin de Praef. Aug. ãâã Archbishop Antiq. Britan. Goehâiâ in vâ ãâ¦ã Mat Paâis Ann. 115â Antiquitales Britan. Richard Archbishop ãâã ãâ¦ã Westminst 11â6 âib ââocest Mâs. ãâã Britan. ãâã Lib. Mortall de ãâ¦ã Mâs. in âib Col Hubert Walter Archbishop Francis Thinne Antiq Bââtan Godwin de praeâul Ang Ger. Dorob Hâllins pa 1â2 âig Heueden ãâ¦ã 119â Stephen Langton Archbishop Iohn Harding cap. 142. Iohn Gray Bishop oâ Norwâch Giraldus Cambrens in Praes ad Steph. Arch. Cant. Bule Cent. 2. Godwin de Pââsul Ang. Iohn Peckham Archbishop Godwin Catal. Harding c 193. King Richards 2 Wingham Câlledge founded ãâã âalter Reynolds Archbishop ãâã Simon Mepham Archbishop Iohn Stratford Archbishop Antiq. Britan. Godwin Iohn ãâã Arcâbishop Thomas ãâã Archââishop Ex vet Mâs Anon. in bib Cot. Simon Islip Archbishop Godwân William Wittleâey Archbishop Thomas Arundâll Archbishop An old Bishop Godwiâ Antiq. Britan. Lanquet Hollins Io. Gower Cronic âripart Mss. in bib Cot. Remaine Iohn Stafford Archbishop Iohn Kempe Archbishop Tho ãâã Archbishop ãâã âatal of Chancellour Iohn Morton Archbishop ââmd Dorset Antiq. Britan. Godwin William Warham Archbishopâ Godwin Mat. Paâkeâ Antiq. Bâitan Rolles sometime a house of Conuertâ dedicated to the blessed Virgin Godwin Sir William Molyneux Knight Banneret Sir William Septvaus knight Bundella indenturarum Guerre 10. 11. Sir WilliaÌ Septvaiâ Knight and Elizabeth his wiâe Sir Iohn ãâã knight Camden in ãâã Sir Thomas Fogge and and his wifâ ãâã Annal Sir William Bruchelle and Ioanne âis wife Sir Iohn Fyneux and Elisabeth his wife Iohn Finch Prior. Thomas Goldston Prior. Thomas âlham Prior. Iohn Woodnesbergh Prior. Thomas Chyllinden Prior. Iohn âalisbury Prior. âilliam Selling Prior. Râch Oxinden Prior. Rich. Willford Robert Clifford Iohn Bourchier Archd. William Gardiner Prebend Tho. Lynd and Constance his wife Clemens Harding Thomas Ikham and Ioane his wife William Ikham In Fenestris Thomas Wood and Margaret his wife Out of a Mss. in the hands of Iohn Philipoâ Esq. ââm He âald Barth Lord Badlesmere Camd. in Kent Blacke Friers ãâ¦ã Abb ãâã Aug. Mss. in lib. Coâ Harsfeld Hist. ãâã Angl. Sex Sâcul ãâã Regis Edgars Plumpsted in Kent Carta âillelmi Cânoâestoris * âaâle of Kent Beda lib. ãâ¦ã 25.26 Wil. Malmes de gestis Rev lib. 1. ca. 1. Speed Hist. Edbald king of Kent Beda li. 2. cap. 5. Râb Glocest. Emma the wifâ of K. Edbald Ercombert kinâ of Kent and Sexburgh his wife Beda li. 2. cap. 8 Egbert king of Kent Will. Malmes de gest Reg. Aug. Stow. Speed Mow. Annal. * Paââ Balâ Centur. prima Beda li. 2. ca. 6 Harpsâeld Hist. Angl. Eccles. Secul 7. ca 7. Mellitus Archbishop Peter the first Abbot of Saint Austinâ Beda li. 2 ãâã Godwin de Pââââl Ang. Iustus Archbishop Haâpâfeld Hist. Aug. ca. 7. Beda li. 2. ca 8. Io. Câygraue Honorius Archbishop Beda li. â ca 9. Deus dedit Archbishop Theodore Archbishop Bedâ li. 5. cap 8. Edem âib 4. ca. 2. * Seuen starres in Charles waine Harpsfeâd ca. 8 ãâã 7. Beda âi 5. cap. 8. Brithwald Archbishop Peter the first Abbot of S. Austins ãâã 1. ca. 33. Lib. 5. Aug. in biâ Cot. Gulâel Spina Iohn ââe second Abbot Ruffinian the third Gratiosus the fourth Petronius the fifth Nathaniel tâe sixth Adrian the seuenth Singing first vsed in English Christian Churches Bed lib. 4. cap. 2. ãâã pageant of Popes Albinus the eighth Nothbald the ninth Aldhume the tenth Lambert the eleuenth * Cunred neare of kinne to Nenulph the Mercian king Cunred and Wernod procured
Raph Astry Iohn Grey Tho. Cornwallis Henry Gisors ãâã Lions The Foundation of Whittinââon Câlledge ând Hospitall Stow Suruey Richard Whitâing thrice buried William Lichfield Doctor of Diuinity Io. Brickles and Isabell his wife In Chamberlaiâe Agnes and Ioan his wiues William Greene. Robert Chichley Lord Maior The Colledge of S. Michael founded by W. Walworth Io Loâekin of Losken Lord Maior founder of this Church William Wray The foundation of Corpus Christi Colledge in Candlewickestreet Rob. Radcliffe and his sonne Henry Earles of Sussex Gilbert Melits and Christian his wife The fraternity of S. Katherine The foundation of our Ladies Chappell of Barking Sir Io. Arundell knight Vincent Catal. Simon Eyre Lord Maior The Foundation of Leaden Hall and the Chappell Stow Suruay Ric. Payne and Elisabeth his wife Sixteene children Ric. Nordell Margorie his wife * that * this * they * the holy Communion * thinke of this An Inscription vpon a table sometime chained in this Church Malmes lib 1. de Pont. 1. Selden Rob Glocest. 3 Cadar 4 Oâiâus 5 Conan 6 Palladius 7 Stephanus 8 Ilâut 9 Dedwin 10 Thedred 11 Hillary 12 Restitutus Harpsfeeld Sex prim secul c. 16. 13 Gwitelin or Guitelnius Scots euer valiant Rob. Glocest. Fastidius Priscus 4. cent 1. Ternckine 15. Lib. in bib Cott. Mss. Vedinus 16. Godwin de praeful Ang. Theon the last Archbishop Robert Fabian Sheriffe Hugh Dauset Doctor of Diuinity Robert Barnes Iohn Bootes Henry Denne and Ioane his wife Tho. Pike Alsârman Sir William Capell Lord Maior Water Knyght The foundation of Saint Anthonies Hospitall Io. Breux The foundation of the Augustine Friers Riâhard Earle of Aâundell Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford and Aubrey his sonne ãâ¦ã his wife Mss. ãâ¦ã Duke ãâ¦ã Edward the eldest sonne of Edward the black Prince Cardina Shoder and Ioan her daughter Io. Redman Rector Nennius Helius Duke of Loegria âlores Hist. aetal s. ca. 26. Cui nomen erat Crâââa Mors quia nullâs ab eo vulneratus vinus eâadebaâ Id. eod Rob. Glocest. Io. Harding c 44 Bale Cânt prima Will. Pratt The foundation of the Nunnery of S. Helen Sir Io. Crosby Maior of the Staple Mss. in bib Cot The Foundaâion of a Brotherhood of ãâã Priests in âeâden-Hall Chappell The foundation of the Priory of Christ-Church Aldgate Will. Payne Clement Towne The foundation of the Câoucââd Friers Ex quibusel Collect in sepe dict bib Cot. The Priore of Crouched Friers found in bed with hiâ wench Foundation of S. Katherines Hospitall Iohn Holland Duke of Excester Caâal of honour âtow Annal. Harding Anne the first wife of Iohn Duke of Exceter Anne the second wife of Iohn Duke of Exceter Constance Dutchesse of Norfolke Catal. of Hon. Vincent The foundation of East-minster to the honour of God and our Lady of Grace Stow Suruay The foundation of the Abbey of S. Clare Nunnes called the Minories The buriall place of sâme of the honourable family of the Darcies Stow. Annal. Cardinall Poole Io Clerke Bishop of Bath and Welles Godwin Catal. of Bishops The foundation of a Knightengild or Confrery without Aldgate The foundation of S. Mary Bethlem The foundation of S. Mary Spiâle Sir Io. Sordich Lord of Sordich Ex Mss. in âib Cott. Sir Humphrey Starky knight and Isabell his wife Sir Iohn Erlington and Margaret his wife The foundation of Holywell Sir Thomas Louelâ Knight In âib Cott. Lib in lib. Câll Isabell Sackvile Prioresse of S. Maries Clerkenwell Iordan Briset Muriell his wife Mss. in bib Cot. In bib Cott. Camd. in Aâdl Robertus Botill Prior Hospitaâu Sancti Iohanââ Ierusalem in Anglia primus Baro regni Angliae consiliarius Rogââ ãâã Arch Turris London secundâ parspat Aââo 10. Ed 4 â 13. The foundation of âhe Charterhouse Stow Suruay Ex Mss. in bib Cot. The death of the Founder Margaret Lady Many and Duâchesse of Norfolke Suruay ãâã Vinâeât Câtâl Norf. Philip Morgan Bishop of Ely Suttons Hospitall The foundation of great Saint Bartholomewes ãâã Arch Tuvrâ London Caât Ant. hier â l. âilliam Bolton the last Prior of S Bartholomewes Roger Walden Bishop of London Godwin de praesulibus Angl. Vpodigma Neustricae 2. Pars. Pat. An. 6 H. 4. M. 20. The foundation of Saint Bartl Hospital Sir Tho Malilant or Neufant Margaret his wiâe Sir Will. Knight Priest Sir Rob. Greuil Priest Philip Lewis Agnes his wife Io. Stafford ãâã Annal. ââ Goodfâllowes ãâã Will. âeuer and Elizabeth his wife The foundation of the white Friers Carmelites Stow Sâââuay Lamb peramb. Lamb. peramb. Rob Mascall Bishop of Hereford Will. Montagââ Earle of Salisbury Ypodâg ãâã Penes ãâã Tââswell Stephen Patrington Bishop of S. Dauids Nich. Kenton Io. Miluerton Iohn Loney Pits de illust Aug. Scriptoribus Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent Iohn Gyles Clerke of the petit Bagge Cowell lit c. Lawrence Bartelet Vnder the picture of Saint Michael The first Sanctuary The death and buriall of Muâmuââus Donwallo The Foundation of the Temple Church Cant. in Midlesex London William Marshall Earle of Penbroke William Marshall the yonger Earle of Penbroke Gâlbeââ Maââshall Earle of Penbroke Paris 1â4â Hastiludium Paris Sir Rob. Rosse knight Will. Plantaginet Iames Bayle Rob. Thorne Ric. Wye Will. Langham Master of the Temple Will. Burgh Harold king of England Stow Annal. Io. Arundel Bishop of Exceter Io. Booth Bishop of Exceter Sir Will. Booth knight Ed. Arnold Parson The foundation of the Hospitall of Sauoy Ex Mss. in bib Cot. The second foundation of Sauoy Hospitall Tho. Halsal Gowin Douglase Bishops Hist. of Scot. Ann. 1521. Humphrey Gosling Sir ãâ¦ã Tho. ãâ¦ã The Hospitall of Saint Mary Rounciuall Hospitall of Saint Iames. In Archiuis Turrâs London ââdesâs Caâal Cancell per Franâiscum âhin collect Iohn Yong Master of the Rolles The foundation of S. Stephens Chappell Charta Regis Ed. tetijs ex Record turrâs London The foundati ãâ¦ã Westâinster Abbey In Arch. turris London Iohn Harding ca. 88. Rob. Glocest. Hist. Ecclesiast Angl. vndeâ âaecul ca. 16. Sebert king of the East SaxoÌs with his Queene Aethelgoda Edward king of England surnamed the Confessor ãâã âarnâr âlb Engl. Mss. in bib Cot. Rob. Glocest. The first âoure of the âiâgs ãâã ãâã king Edwards wife Rob. Glocest. Maud wife to king Henry the first Ex Mss. in bib Cot. The Courtiers speech The Queenes answer Mat. Paris ad Ann. 1118. King Henry the third Mat. West Rob. Glocest. Mss. in bib Cot King Edward the ãâã Sir Rob. ãâã Ex. Arch. Turr. Lond. King Ed. Coronation Chron. Compend Cant. Mss. in bib Cot. Fabian * Kept Caâton Fabian S. Daniel The battaile of Dunbarre The battaile of Foukirke Munster Vniuers Cosm. lib. 2. Walsing Ypodig Hard. cap. 162. * Henry the third * Henry the third The fatall Marble The cruelty of the Scots Rich Southwell Hoââinshead âro May. Polychron l. 7. cap. 40. ãâã of âaâsingham Walsing The dead bodies of our English kings anciently preserued from corruption Ex Arch.
England should not be named or called from henceforth Prior of Saint Iohns of Ierusalem in England but by his proper name of William Weston Knight without further addition touching the said Religion And that likewise Sir Iohn Rauson knight being then Prior of Kilmainam in Ireland should not bee called or named from thenceforth Prior of Kilmainam in Ireland but onely by his proper name of Iohn Rauson knight without farther addition And that none of the Brethren or Confriers of the said Religion within this Realme of England and Land of Ireland should bee called Knights of the Rhodes or knights of Saint Iohns but by their owne proper Christian names and surnames of their parents without any other additions And furthermore it was enacted vnder a great penaltie that they should not weare about their necks in or vpon any apparell of their bodies any chaine with a Ierusalem Crosse or any other signe marke or token theretoâfore vsed and deuised for the knowledge of the said Religion and that they should not make any congregations chapiters or assemblies touching the same Religion or maintaine support vse or defend any liberties franchises or priuiledges theretofore granted to the said Religion by the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome or of the See of the same Lastly it was granted by the authoritie of the said Parliament that the Kings Maiestie his heires and successors should haue and enioy their said mansion house in the Parish aforesaid within the County of Midlesex and also the Hospitall of Kilmainam in Ireland with all their appurtenances for euer Yet it was prouided by the said Act that Sir William Weston and Sir Iohn Rauson Priors as also some other of the Confriers should haue a certaine annuall pension during their liues with some reasonable proportion of their owne proper goods And this was done saith the words in the statute by the agreement and assent of the Kings most excellent goodnes Sir William Weston had giuen vnto him one thousand pound of annuall rent or pension Sir Iohn Rauson fiue hundred Markes Clement West Confrier two hundred pound Thomas Pemberton fourescore pound Gyles Russell one hundred pound George Ailmer one hundred pound Iohn Sutton two hundred pound Edward Bellingham an hundred pound Edward Browne fifty pound Edmund Husse an hundred Markes Ambrose Caue an hundred Markes Thomas Copledyke fifty pound Cuthbert Leighton threescore pound Richard Broke an hundred Markes Henry Poole two hundred Markes William Tyrell thirty pound Iohn Rauson Confrier two hundred Markes To Anthony Rogers Oswald Massingberd Iames Husse Thomas Thornell Nicholas Hopton Philip Babington Henry Gerard Dunstan Nudegate Nicholas Lambert and Dauid Gonson being Confriers professed and hauing no certaine liuing was giuen ten pound a peece of yearely pension And if any proâesâed in the said Religion were negligently forgotten or omitted out of that present Act for lacke of knowledge of their names yet it was ordered by the same that they should haue such honest conuenient and reasonable yearly pension and portion of goods as should please the Kings Maiestie to limit and appoint And by the said Act Ioân Mableston Subprior of this Hospitall in England William Ermested Master of the Temple of London Walter Lymsey and Iohn Winter Chapleines were authorized to receiue and enioy during their naturaâl liues all such mansion houses stipends and wages in as large and ample manner as euer they did before the sitting of that Parliament What other pensions were giuen or how much the value in money was of the yearely profits of these foure last remembred I do not reade But the annuities or pensions appointed to the said two knights and the Confriers amounted to the summe of two thousand eight hundred and seuenty pound the yeare issuing out of the lands to this Hospitall appertaining And I finde that at the very same time of the dissolution of this Fraternitie certaine lusts and Tourneaments being holden at Westminster wherein the challengers against all commers were Sir Iohn Dudley Sir Thomas Seymor Sir Thomas Poinings Sir George Carew knights Antony Kingston and Richard Cromwell Esquires To each one of which for a reward of their valiantnesse the King gaue an hundred Markes of yearely reuenues and an house to dwell in and both of them to them and their heires for euer out of the lands and liuings belonging to this Hospitall Of such a large extensure were her possessions And much what after this manner the rest of the Manors honors lands tenements rents and reuersions were bestowed and likewise at that time vpon small considerations the scite and lands of all other Monasteries were begged bought and alienated by such who respected their owne profit aboue the seruice of Almighty God Albeit it was then declared saith Camden that such religious places being of most pious intent consecrated to the glory of God might haue beene according to the Canons of the Church bestowed in exhibition and almes for Gods Ministers reliefe of the poore redemption of captiues and repairing of Churches All Monasteries being thus suppressed it followed that vnder a faire pretence of rooting out of superstition all Chanteries Colledges and Hospitals were likewise by Act of Parliament left to the dispose and pleasure of the King And all these Monuments aforesaid of our forefathers pietie and deuotion to the honour of God the propagation of Christian saith and good learning and also for the reliefe and maintenance of the poore and impotent if without offence I may speake the truth All these I say for the most part were shortly after to wit within the remainder of his raigne and the short time of his Sonnes King Edward the sixth euery where pulled downe their reuenues sold and made a way and those goods and riches which the Christian pietie of our English Nation had consecrated vnto God since they first professed Christianity were in a moment as it were dispersed and to the displeasure of no man be it spoken profaned Thus haue you seene by degrees the fatall and finall period of Abbeyes Priories and such like religious Structures with the casting out to the wide world of aâl their religious Votaries chiefly occasioned by their owne abhominable crying sinnes more then by any other secondarie meanes as plainly doth appeare by the premisses All which Queene Mary attempted to haue restored to their pristine estate and former glory But all in vaine for these religious Ediâices with the lands and possessions thereunto belonging were so infringed alienated and transferred that neither the power of Maiestie nor the force of Parliament could reduce them againe to the proper vse for which by the Founders they were intended Howsoeuer she being a Prince more zealous then poliââkeâ resigned and confirmed by Parliament to God and holy Church all those Ecclesiasticall reuenues which by the authoritie of that high Court in the time of her father King Henry had beene annexed to the Crowne to the great diminution and impouerishing of the same And
Essex He died in the first yeare of King Edward the fourth Iohn Mowbray sonne of Iohn aforesaid who in his Fathers dayes was created Earle Warren and Surrey and hauing enioyed these and his fathers Honours for the space dyed without issue at his Castle of Framingham in Suffolke in the fifteenth yeare of King Edward the fourth and was here entombed Sir Iohn Howard knight sonne of Sir Robert Howard knight and of Margaret his wife daughter and coheire of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke first made Baron by king Edward the fourth 1461. Quia postea constituit eum Capitaneum Armate potentie super mare Test. Rege apud West Pat. anno 10. Ed. 4. M. 13. was here interred as I finde in the Collections of Francis Thinne Lancaster Herald In the yeare 1483. he was created Duke of Norfolke by King Richard the third in whose aide he was slaine at Bosworth field on Monday the two and twentieth of Aug. 1485. He was warned by diuers to refraine from the field insomuch that the night before he should set forward toward the King one wrote this rime vpon his gate Iack of Norffolk be not too bold For Dikon thy Master is boght and sold. Yet all this notwithstanding he regarding more his oath his honour and promise made to King Richard like a gentleman and as a faithfull subiect to his Prince absented not himselfe from his master but as he faithfully liued vnder him so he manfully died with him to his great fame and laud. And therefore though his seruice was ill employed in aide of a Tyrant whom it had beene more honourable to haue suppressed then supported yet because he had vpon his fealtie vndertaken to fight in his quarrell he thought it lesse losse of life and liuing then of glory and honour so that he might haue said in respect of his loyaltie and promised truth testified with constancie to the death Est mihi supplicium causa fuisse pium This passage is wondrously well deliuered to vs in verse by an honourable late writer thus Long since the King had thought it time to send For trustie Norfolke his vndaunted friend Who hasting from the place of his abode Found at the doore a world of papers strow'd Some would affright him from the Tyrants aide Affirming that his Master was betraide Some laid before him all those bloudy deeds From which a line of sharpe reuenge proceeds With much compassion that so braue a Knight Should serue a Lord against whom Angels fight And others put suspitions in his minde That Richard most obseru'd was most vnkinde The Duke a while these cautious words reuolues With serious thoughts and thus at last resolues If all the Campe proue traytors to my Lord Shall spotlesse Norfolke falsifie his word Mine oath is past I swore t'vphold his Crowne And that shall swimme or I with it will drowne It is too late now to dispute the right Dare any tongue since Yorke spread forth his light Nortâumberland or Buckingham defame Two valiant Cliffords Roos or Beaumonts name Because they in the weaker quarrell die They had the King with them and so haue I. But euery eye the face of Richard shunnes For that foule murder of his brothers sonnes Yet lawes of Knighthood gaue me not a sword To strike at him whom all with ioynt accord Haue made my Prince to whom I tribute bring I hate his vices but adore the King Victorious Edward if thy soule can heare Thy seruant Howard I deuoutly sweare That to haue sau'd thy children from that day My hopes on earth should willingly decay Would Glouster then my perfect faith had tried And made two graues when Noble Hastings died This said his troopes he into order brings A little after he giues vs a touch of the Dukes valour and deciphers the manner of his death in these matchlesse numbers which follow Here valiant Oxford and fierce Norfolke meete And with their speares each other rudely greete About the aire the shiuer'd peeces play Then on their swords their Noble hands they lay And Norfolke first a blow directly guides To Oxfords head which from his helmet slides Vpon his arme and biting through the steele Inflicts a wound which Vere disdaines to feele He lifts his Fauchion with a threatning grace And hewes the Beuer off from Howards face This being done he with compassion charm'd Retires asham'd to strike a man disarm'd But straight a deadly shaft sent from a bow Whose master though far off the Duke could know Vntimely brought this combat to an end And pierc'd the braine of Richards constant friend When Oxford saw him sinke his noble soule Was full of griefe which made him thus condole Farewell true Knight to whom no costly graue Can giue due honour would my teares might saue Those streames of blood deseruing to be spilt In better seruice had not Richards guilt Such heauie weight vpon his fortune laid Thy glorious vertues had his sinnes outwaighd Sir Thomas Howard Knight of the Garter Earle of Surrey and Duke of Norfolke sonne and heire of the foresaid Iohn thus slaine was here likewise entombed who died in the sixteenth yeare of the raigne of King Henry the eight 1524. This Thomas was with his father in the forefront of the foresaid Battell where he had the leading of the Archers which King Richard so placed as a bulwarke to defend the rest The martiall prowesse of this Earle in the pight field and his resolute braue carriage being taken prisoner are delineated to the life by my said Author Sir Iohn Beaumont the particulars wherof if they may seeme as pleasing to you in the reading as they were to me in the writing cannot be any way tedious here to set downe for they are sinnewy strong liues and will draw you no doubt with them along Couragious Talbot had with Surrey met And after many blowes begins to fret That one so yong in Armes should thus vnmoou'd Resist his strength so oft in warre approou'd And now the Earle beholds his fathers fall Whose death like horrid darkenesse frighted all Some giue themselues as captiues others flie But this yong Lion casts his gen'rous eye On Mowbrayes Lion painted in his shield And with that King of beasts repines to yeeld The field saith he in which the Lyon stands Is blood and blood I offer to the hands Of daring foes but neuer shall my flight Dye blacke my Lyon which as yet is white His enemies like cunning Huntsmen striue In binding snares to take their prey aliue While he desires t' expose his naked brest And thinkes the sword that deepest strikes is best Yong Howard single with an Army fights When mou'd with pitie two renowned knights Strong Clarindon and valiant Coniers trye To rescue him in which attempt they dye Now Surrey fainting scarse his sword can hold Which made a common souldier grow so bold To lay rude hands vpon that noble flower Which he disdaining anger giues him power Erects his