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 theretoâ—fore 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 proâ—esâ—ed 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 Ioâ—n 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 naturaâ—l 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 aâ—l 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 Ediâ—ices 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 poliâ—â—keâ— 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
seruiens Abbati et Conuentui de Lesnes qui obiit primo die mensis Ianuarij 1425. Cuius anime Lesnes Abbey In the yeare of our Lord 1178. the third of the Ides of Iune Richard Lucie a Councellour of State and chiefe Iustice of the Realme began the foundation of an Abbey at Lesnes or Westwood neare vnto this Towne of Eâ—â—th The extent of whose yearely reuenue as it was prized by the Commissioners at the suppression amounted to one hundred eighty sixe pounds and nine shillings When this his goodly fabricke was in all parts finished he presently forsooke and surrendred into the kings hands all both his offices and honours And betooke himselfe to the habite and profession of a Canon Regular in this house of his owne foundation where within a short while after euen in the same yeare to wit the fourteenth of Iuly 1479. he exchanged his Conuentuall blacke coole for a glorious bright heauenly crowne And here in the Quire of his Church hee was sumptuously entombed vpon whose Monument this Epitaph was engrauen Rapitur in tenebras Richardus lux Luciorum Iusticie pacis dilector vrbis honorum Christe sibi requies tecum sit sede piorum Iulia tunc orbi lux bis septena nitebat Mille annos C. nouem et septuaginta mouebat Now giue me leaue to go a little further with him and his heires as I finde the words in the Collection of Englands Protectours by Francis Thinne Lancaster Herald Sir Richard Lucie knight chiefe Iustice of England saith he was Protectour of England in the twelfth yeare of the raigne of king Henry the second in the absence of the king when hee was in Normandie and in the parts beyond the Seas Which Lucie in the thirteenth yeare of the same King did valiantly resist and politikely driue backe the Earle of Bolloigne inuading this kingdome He built the Abbey of Leosnes or Westwood in the Parish of Erith in Kent and not in Southfleet as some haue written in the yeare of Christ 1178. and the Castle of Chipping Augre in Essex He had issue Godfrey Bishop of Winchester and three daughters who after the death of Godfrey their brother were his heires Maude the eldest daughter was married to Robert the first called Fitzwater Aueline the second daughter was married to Richard Riuers of Stanford Riuers in Essex Rose the third daughter was married to Richard de Warren the naturall sonne of king Iohn as appeareth by a deed belonging to my selfe who had the Rectory of Leosnes beginning thus Rosa de Douer quondam vxor venerabilis viri Richardi filij Regis de Chillam And king Iohn by his Charter grants to another Rose her grandfathers lands in these words Rex reddidit Roesie de Douerita totam terram suam cum pertenenc qua eam contingit de heredit Richardi de Lucy avi sui tenend sibi hered c. Cart. 24. Reg. Iohannis numero 37. in Archi. Turris London The foresaid Godfrey de Lucy was consecrated Bishop of Winchester the first of Nouember 1189. And died Ann. 1204 hauing gouerned that See fifteene yeares He purchased of king Richard the first the Mannors of Wergraue and Menes which in times past had belonged to his Bishopricke he was a great Benefactour to this Religious house of Leosnes founded by his father wherein according to his will hee was enterred To whose memory this Epitaph was engrauen vpon his Tombe Lux mea lux Christi si terre ventre quiesco Attamen in celo sanctorum luce lucesco Presul de Winton fueram quondam Cathedratus Multum resplendens alto sanguine natus Nunc id sum quod eris puluis rota non retinenda Voluitur inuigila prudens nec differ agenda M. C. bis quatuorque annos his insuper addas Carnis vincla dies soluit secunda Decembris Vos qui transitis ancillam poscite Christi Sit Dominus mitis pulso purgamine tristi Wolwich Orate pro anima Iohannis Colin et Mathilde vxoris eius qui Iohannes obiit 27. Ianuar ..... Mathilda 25. Octob. 1397. Hic tacet Dominus Will. Prene quondam Rector huius Ecclesie viz. tempore Regis Edwardi quarti et postea Rector Ecclesie de Lymming qui fieri fecit istam Capellam et Campanile huius Ecclesie et in uita sua multa alia bona .... ob I. die Decemb. 1464. Willelmus Prene me fecit in honorem sancte Trinitatis Eltham Pray for the sowl of Dame Margerie Roper late wyff of Iohn Roper Suier daughter and one of the heires of Iohn Tattersall Suier who dyed 2. Februar 1518 Roper a name of eminent respect in this County honoured with the title of Baron Roper of Tenham by our Soueraigne Lord Iames late King of England giuen to Iohn Lord Roper now liuing Pray for the sowl of Iohn Morton sonne and heire of Margaret Morton of Asheby de la Zouch in the County of Leicester late wife to Tho. Squier who dyed 23. Aug. Prier pur l'alme Thomas Pierle qi morust le primer iour de Iuyl l'an de Grace Mil. ccc.lxix ..... Here lyeth Iohn Pasley yeoman Porter to king Henry the eighth and Agnes his wife which Iohn dyed .... 1509. Hen. 8.1 West Peckham Iohn Culpeper one of the Iustices of the Common Pleas in the raigne of king Henry the fourth founded here a Preceptorie or free-Schoole which he endowed with threescore and three pounds sixe shillings eight pence of yearely allowance Bromley In the Church wall lyeth the pourtraiture as I learne by tradition of Richard Wendouer Bishop of Rochester and Parson of this Towne He was consecrated 1238. and dyed 1250. yet it is said that his body was buried in Westminster by the kings speciall commandement for that he was accounted a very holy and vertuous man which I cannot much contradict Icy gist Mestre Water de Henche Qi fut Persone de Bromleghe 1360. Lewsham Hic iacet Georgius Hatecliffe Ar. Thesaurarius Domini Regis in Hibernia ac vnus clericorum compoti Hospitii regis obiit 1. Aug. 1514. Iohn Norbury founded a Priory in this Towne of Lewsham which hee replenished with blacke Monkes Aliens belonging to the Abbey of Gaunt in Flanders and thereupon called Aliens because they were Celles to some Monastery or other beyond the Seas The first foundation of these houses I do not finde but in the raigne of king Edward the third they were encreased to the number of one hundred and ten in England besides them in Ireland Aquitane and Normandy The goods of all which Priories the said king Ann. Reg. 12. because of his warres with France caused to be confiscated to his owne vse letting out their houses to farme with all their lands and tenements for the space of three and twenty yeares At the end of which Terme Peace being concluded betweene the two Nations he restored to the Priors Aliens their
houses lands and tenements Ann. Reg. 35. as by his patents may appeare in effect as followeth Edward by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitaine to all by these presents c. Although the Priory of Montacute in the County of Somerset by reason of the warres betweene vs and France with all the lands tenements fees aduowsons together with the goods and cattels belonging to the same hath beene of late taken into our hands and by vs farmed and rented forth as appeareth by diuers patents Now therefore since peace is betwixt vs and the noble Prince our most deare brother the king of France we for the honour of God and holy Church restore to the said Prior the Priory with all the lands tenements fees aduowsons and whatsoeuer else belonging to the same to hold the same in as free manner as they held it before And withall forgiue and release all arrerages of Rents which might bee due vnto vs by reason of any former grants In witnesse c. the sixth of February the 35. yeare of our raigne The like letters of restitution all the rest of the houses of Aliens had through England all which were cleane suppressed and vtterly dissolued by king Henry the fifth and their lands giuen by him and his sonne Henry the sixth to Colledges of learned men and to other Monasteries Greenwich This Parish Church is consecrated to the honour of Saint Aelphege sometime Archbishop of Canterbury who suffered martyrdome much-what about the same place where it now standeth Which Aelpâ—ege boâ—ne of great parentage brought vp in good learning preferred first to the Bishopricke of Winchester then to this of Canterbury a man admired for his strict manner of life and holy exhortations by both which hee conâ—uerted many vnto Christ was cruelly put to death by the Danish Pagans with many exquisite torments in the yeare of our Lord a thousand and twelue Of which in William Malmesbury Camden and the Catalogue of Bishops you may reade more at large It was long before these bloudy executioners would suffer his bodie to bee committed to the earth after the manner of Christian decencie yet at length that fauour was obtained and his body here first buried from whence within a short time after his reliques were remoued to Saint Pauls London and from thence at the commandement of king Knute to Canterbury He was canonized and the 19. day of Aprill allowed for celebration of his memory Some write that like another Stephen he was stoned to death that like him he prayed for his enemies and that Turkill generall of those Danes was conuerted to the faith at the sight of his constant martyrdome Here sometime stood an house of obseruant Friers which came hither about the latter end of the raigne of King Edward the fourth at whose hands they obtained a Chantrie with a little Chappell of the holy Crosse a place yet extant in the Towne and king Henry the seuenth builded for them an house adioyning to the Pallace which is there yet to be seene Here in this Towne was another Monastery of Friers Minorites and Aliens founded by King Edward the third and the foresaid Iohn Norbury which as Lewsham did belonged to the Abbot of Gaunt in Flaunders vntill such time as King Henry the fifth seising into his hands by occasion of warre all the lands of the Priors Aliens as I haue touched before bestowed this together with the Mannor of Lewsham and many other lands also vpon the Priory of Chartrehouse Monkes of Shene which hee had then newly erected to which it remayned vntill the time of the raigne of king Henry the eight who annexed it to the Crowne Depeford Orate pro anima ..... Weuer ..... Mercatoris et Maioris Stapul ville Calcis qui ob ..... Februar ... et pro .... Ioanne vx eius qui ob .... Martin the fifth Bishop of Rome granted by this Bull to these Staple Merchants in this Weeuers Maioralty at their earnest request an itinerarie or portable Aulter which they were to take with them to what place soeuer they trauelled to make any time of aboad and withall gaue them licence to elect a Priest to say Masse administer the Sacraments to heare their confessions to enioyne them penance and to giue them absolution as the cause should require The forme of which I hold it not much amisse here to set downe as I found it in an old Manuscript without name or date in the Earle of Exceters Librarie Martinus Episcopus Seruus Seruorum Dei dilectis filijs Maiori et eius locum tenenti ac Constabulario ceterisque Principalibus Societatis Mercatorum lanarum Stapule Anglie Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Sincere deuotionis affectus quem ad nos et Romanam geritis Ecclesiam non indigne meretur vt petitionibus vestris illis presertim quos ex deuotionis feruore prodire conspicimus quantum cum Deo possumus fauorabiliter animamus Hinc est quod nos vestris deuotis supplicationibus inclinati vt liceat vobis et posteris vestris Maiori et eius locum tenenti ac Constabulario nec non Principalibus societatis Mercatorum lanarum Stapule Anglie ac vestrum ac eorundem posterorum cuilibet habere Altare portatile cum debita reuerentia et honore Super quo in villa Calestie seu alibi etiam in transmarinis seu cismarinis partibus vbi pro tempore vos vel aliquem vestrum esse vel declinare et huiusmodi Stapulum lanarum teneri contigerit in locis ad hoc congruâ—ntibus et honestis positis per proprium vel alium Sacerdotem ydoneum Missas et alia diuina officia sine iuris alieni preiudicio in vestra et ipsorum ac aliorum Mercatorum dicte Societatis ibidem pro tempore presentium Nec non vestrorum et eorundem Posterorum ac Mercatorum familiarium presentia facere celebrari vobis et predictis posteris tenore presentium indulgemus Nulli ergo omnino homini liceat hanc paginam nostre concessionis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Dat. Mant. 3. Non. Nouemb. Pontificatus nostri Ann. primo By another Bull dated the same yeare and his Apostolicall authoritie he giues them free election of their Confessour the Priest The words are Aliquem ydoneum et discretum presbyterum eligere confessorem indulgemus qui quotiens vobis fuerit oportunum confessionibus vestris diligenter auditis pro commissis debitam vobis absolutionem impendat et iniungat penitentiam salutarem nisi forsan talia fuerint c. propter que sedes Apostolica c. Nulli ergo omnino hominum c. Dat. c. In English We fauourably yeeld to your deuout and pious supplications and we giue
of Offices vnder the said Duke Humphrey On the South side of the same Tombe is this Inscription in brasse Hic iacet Dominus Richardus de Piriton quondam Archidiaconus Colcestrie Canonicus et stagiarius huius Ecclesie qui obijt 26. Aug. Ann. Dom. 1387. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Vpon the wall ouer the little doore that entreth out of Pauls into Saint Faiths Church is the image of Iesus curiously painted as also the pourtraiture of a Lady kneeling in her mantle of Armes with some of her progeny These words thereupon being most artificially pensild Iesus our God and Sauiour To vs and ours be gouernour Which imagerie or representation was made to the memory of Margaret Countesse of Shrewsbury who lieth buried in a Chappell within that doore dedicated to the name of Iesus with this Inscription which not long since was there to be read vpon a pillar Here before the Image of Iesu lieth the worshipfull and right noble Ladie Margaret Countesse of Shrewsbury late wife of the true and victorious knight and redoubtable warrior Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury which worshipfull man died in Guien for the right of this Land She was the first daughter and one of the heires of the right famous and renowned knight Richard Beauchamp late Earle of Warwicke which died in Roan and of Dame Elizabeth his wife The which Elizabeth was daughter and heire to Thomas late Lord Berkeley on his side and on her mothers side Ladie Lisle and Tyes Which Countesse passed from this world the foureteenth day of Iune in the yeare of our Lord 1468. On whose soule Iesu haue mercy Amen I haue seene a stone in the body of this Church thus inscribed without any name yet Armes were vpon the Monument Non hominem aspiciam vltra Obliuio This man yet willingly saith learned Camden would not haue beene forgotten when he adioyned his Armes to continue his memory not vnlike to Philosophers which prefixed their names before their Treatises of contemning glory Another in the North Cloister now ruinated without name had this Inscription vpon his Graue-stone Vixi peccaui penitui Nature cessi Which was as Christian saith the same Author as that was profane of the Romane Amici Dum viuimus Viuamus I haue read these rimes following engrauen in brasse vpon a marble-stone in the body of the Church now stolne away Istuc qui graderis paulum te sistere queso Et rogitans quid eris in me nunc vermibus eso Esto memor mortis meditare frequenter Ioua Mors latet in portis non est euitabilis hora. Effundens loculos pro Christo despice mundum Clarificans oculos vt cernas quo sit eundum Nam quod quisque serit presentis tempore vite Hoc sibi messis erit cum dicitur ite venite The sleight regard of the house of God was a maine cause of this kingdomes subuersion as I haue shewed before vpon the Epitaph of king Etheldred and it hath euer beene and more especiaâ—ly is in these our times an vse for beastly and vncleane persons to pollute and bedaâ—be the doores and walls of the place where God is to be worshipped with pisse or some other more nastie excrements against the like irreuerence to this goodly consecrated Edifice of Saint Paul diuers prohibitions vpon certaine penalties haue beene and are daily published in print and pasted vp in â—â—iuers places in and about the Church And anciently this Atheisticall vnclâ—â—nnesse if I may so call it was forbidden by a verse depicted at euery doore of this Church some part of which at the great South doore is yet reâ—â—â—ning which in my time might perfectly be read Thus it runnes Hic Locus his sacer est hic nulli mingere fas est This house is holy here vnlawfull ti 's For any one here on her walls to pisse And strict orders were likewise published against Beggers and bearers of burdens in and thorow the Church of the later sort these foure lines were sometimes fixed to a pillar ouer an iron boxe for the poore All those that shall enter within the Church doore With burden or basket must giue to the poore And if there be any aske what they must pay To this Box a penny ere they passe away It could be wished that walking in the middle Isle of Paules might be forborne in the time of Diuine seruice Richard the second king of England Ann. Reg. 8. made the pettie Canons here twelue in number a Colledge or fellowship daily to meete and diet together in one Hall whereas for a long time before they liued dispersedly and could not be so ready to serue the most Highest in their holy exercises Hee appointed one Iohn Linton for the first Warden of this Colledge and gaue vnto the said Warden and Canons of the foresaid Fellowship certaine lands here in London for their further endowment and the supporting of diuine seruice Charging them by his Charter to pray for his prosperous estate liuing and for his soules health when he should depart this world and for the soule of Anne his wife Queene of England and for the soules of his and her progenitors parents and ancestors and of all the faithfull people deceased Howsoeuer the Story of Brute be denied by some learned Authors or not permitted but by coniecture as Selden hath it in his Illustrations vpon this verse of Michaell Drayton which now the enuious world doth slander for a dreame Yet because I finde him in our Annals to haue beene buried here in this Citie of his owne foundation as both by reason and authority it is strongly argued by a most iudicious Antiquarie of the last age I think it not amisse to speake somewhat of him especially in this place as the truth of the storie is generally receiued Brute the sonne of Siluius the sonne of Ascanius who was the sonne of Aeneas the warlike Troian being deliuered from the long captiuitie vnder the Grecians with his wife Innogen and his people departed from the coasts of Greece and arriued in an Island where they consulted with an Oracle sacred to Diana Brute himselfe kneeling before the Idoll and holding in his right hand a boule prepared for sacrifice full of wine the bloud of a white Hinde made his imprecation to the Goddesse to this effect in English Thou Goddesse that doest rule the woods and forrests greene And chasest foaming boares that fly thine awfull sight Thou that mayest passe aloft in aerie skies so sheene And walke eke vnder earth in places voide of light Discouer earthly states direct our course aright And shew where we shall dwell according to thy will In seats of sure abode where Temples we may dight For Virgines that shall sound thy land with voices shrill After this prayer and ceremonie done according to the Pagan rite and custome Brute abiding his answer fell asleepe in which sleepe appeared to him the said Goddesse vttering this answer
Ewes Dynastarum ditionis de Kessel in ducatu Gelriae oriundi Aliciae Rauenscroft coniugis suae viri singularis sub hoc marmore tumulati qui obiit die xii Aprilis Anno Domini CIâ—DXCI Vnico relicto sui ipsius Graciae Hind primae suae coniugis Filio haeredae Paulo D'Ewes Armigero qui duxit in vxorem Sissiliam Filiam vnicam Haeredem Richardi Simonds de Coxden in Pago Dorsetensi Armigeri vnicâ filiâ Aliciâ nupta Gulielmo Lathum de Vpmenster in Comitatu Essex Armigero Egregiâ natus Geerardt de stirpe propinquûm Gueldrorum hic foelix ossa regenda tegit Sciliceâ— invidia fatorum ipse ante sepultus Quam vitâ orbatus mors ita sacra quies Stémata namque Deus modo deprimit et modo Ne nobis coeli gaudia terra ferat Fundamenta tamen proli struxisse regaudec ditat PrimaevuÌ„ ut poterint coÌ„memorare DECVS Hinc proavos superans claros virtute ferendi Non fit ONVS sed erit posteritatis HONOS Arkesden Here lieth Anne the daughter and heire of Richard Fox and the wife of Thamas Langley Esquire ..... 1467. Orate pro anima Willi Cook generosi filij Thome Cook militis Elizabethe uxoris ejus qui obijt 1500. et Elizabetha 1503. Pray for the sowls of Thomas Alderton Stockfishmonger of London and Alis his wyff which Alis decessyd on Saint George his Eue 1513. This Inscription following is vpon the North Wall of this Church Thomas Alderton was a goodd benefactor to this Chirch as by his last Wil and Testament remeyning in this Chirch mor pleynly it doth appere He gave certeyne lands towards the sustentatyon of a Chantre Prest to sing at the Awter and to help devyn Servis at the sam on the Holiday He built this Isle from the north dor hitherto on whos sowl Iesu haue mercy Amen Stansted Mont-fichet The habitation in times past of the familie de Monte Fixo commonly Mont-fitchet whereupon the towne had that denomination In the Church lieth buried Roger of Lancaster who married Philip daughter and heire of Hugh de Bulbeck the second saith Norden and lieth crosse legged in an ancient tombe of white stone vpon which no inscription remaineth He was in her right Lord of Stansted the said mannor afterward came vnto Hugo de Playze by marriage of the yongest daughter of Richard Mont-fitchet of whom came Elizabeth Countesse of Oxford who was daughter to Iohn Howard knight by whom the land came to the Earle of Oxford South Church In this Church are some old Monuments of the Bruins which haue beene old inhabitants there and descended saith Norden as hee thinks from Iordan le Brune a knight Lord of Hacwell in Henry the thirds time Here is an old mannor wherein the old knights which surnamed themselues of the towne Chirche inhabited whereof one Sir Richard in Henry the thirds time was one of the kings Iustices for Gaole deliuery He gaue the greatest part of his land to Christs Church in Canterbury mooued thereunto for want of heires males Shopland In Shopland is an ancient mannor called Butlers of a race of knights and gentlemen that dwelt there and gaue three couered Cups as appeareth in the Church window there is one most beautifull Monument in the Church made to the memory of one Staple a Sergeant at Armes to King Ed. the third which gaue in his Shield a Salter mixt with Staples which in colours with other Scutcheons remaine in the North windowes His tombe is thus inscribed Tho. Stapel iadis Seriant d'armes nostre Seigneus le Roi qi morust le secunde iour de Mars l'an de Gras Mil. ccclxxi gist ici Dieu de s'alme eit mercy Amen Canewdon A great parish so called from King Canutus the Dane who kept his Court here unde Canuti domus The Mannor house hath beene double trenched and fensed after the oldest fashion In the same are other Mannors exceeding ancient as that of Clarendon Hall the old seat of the Chanceux many of them were knights as Sir Giles Chanceux in Edward the first his time many of them lie buryed in the Church with their Pictures Scutcheons and French Poesies all defaced Another Mannor called Breamstons or rather Beanstons honoured by knights descended of Bartholomew a yonger sonne to the Earle of Ewe in Normandy it hath beene inhabited by a knight or more of the name of Scot. Another Mannor called Apton Hall and another called Piuersey Hall whereof Sir Iohn Greyton was Lord in Edward the first his time One of the best called Lamberne Hall whereof one Lamberne vnder Swaine was Lord in the Conquest time and so continued till Richard the second at which time his daughter Thamasin carried all to Toteham and from thence to Barington and from thence to Lumsford a Squire of Sussex that being better planted in his natiue Country vseth this for a Farme as I thinke it was in Lambernes time So many Lordships in the parish haue caused so many of their owners to honour this Church with their Sepultures but to whose memory in particular any one of these monuments were erected cannot bee discerned they are all so shamefully abused Great Stanbridge Here was the inheritance and sepulture of a wariike crew of Knights called Tanye or Thanye one of which named Lucas Tanye a knight and an expert warriour at the taking of the Isle of Anglesey and Castle of Oxe in Wales was with Sir William Lindsey William de Audley Roger Clifford and twelue other of the Kings chiefest Captaines and Knights besides seuenteene young Gentlemen and two hundred common souldiers slaine by Dauid Lord of Denbigh brother to Lhewelin Prince of Wales and his band of fierce Welshmen in the tenth yeare of the raigne of King Edward the first This famous knight was Steward of Gascoyn Writle Hic iacet Thomasia filia et heres Tho. Heueningham iunioris Ar. filij heredis Tho. Heueningham senioris Ar. Tomasie consortis sue que quidem Thomasia dicta filia heres primo nupta suit Tho. Berdefield secundo Iohanni Bedel vltimo Waltero Thomas gen et obiit die Martis 21. Iunij 1513 et qui Tho. Heueningham senior Thomasia Consors eius ac Tho. Heueningham iunior iacent partem sub isto lapide partem magis directe coram imagine S. Trinitatis Quorum animabus propitietur Altissimus Here lieth Thomas Fige and Margaret his wife one of the two daughters and heires of Raffe Toppesfeld Esquire He deceased in April 1513. and had issue one sonne and two daughters Here lieth Iohane somtym wyff of William Wyborne daughter and heire of Thomas Hyde Who died .... 1487. Here lieth Iohn Pinchon Esquire who died .... with Ione his wyff daughter to Sir Richard Empson beheaded Of whom I haue spoken before Out of the collections of the right honourable Thomas Lord
Camdene Seldeni gloria creuit Ingentes Dominos titulorum dote superbos Famo sosque Equites simul omnes si perijssent Quiuis Rex Orbi potis est renouare beatum Cottoni pectus nullâ est reparabile cera Ingenio quicunque vigent tua tecta frequenter Visebant tanquam à Phoebo responsa petentes Nunc Oracla silent sed non Schediasmate tantae Oceanum laudis liceat transnare misellum Nescio quid gaudens ad amici iusta litasse Omnia complectar celebrat Wigornia verbis Queis Neckami obitum crescitque in carmine verum Eclipsim patitur sapientia Sol sepelitur Cui si par vnus minus esset flebile funus He died at his house in Westminster the sixt of May about ten of the clocke in the forenoone Anno 1631. being aged threescore yeares three moneths and some few odde dayes He tooke to wife Elizabeth one of the daughters and heires of William Brocas Esquire by whom hee had issue onely one Sonne Sir Thomas Cotton Baronet now liuing who married Margaret Daughter of the Lord William Howard grandchild to Thomas Duke of Norfolke by whom hee hath issue one Sonne named Iohn and two Daughters Lucie and Francis But to returne I haue had many helpes I confesse from Sir Henry Spelman Knight and Iohn Selden Esquire the most learned Antiquaries now liuing of our times nor haue the helpes beene few which I haue long receiued from the well furnisht and daily increasing Librarie of Sir Simonds D'Ewes Knight whose iudicious directions and ready assistance were as often vouchsafed vnto mee as I had occasion to request and whose long studied and still intended labours for the publique good though in another kinde may in due time make his memory and themselues deare vnto posteritie Diuers of the Heralds haue much furthered these my intended designes namely Sir Richard and Sir Henry Saint George Knights Iohn Philipot and William Le Neue Esquires which I shall euer acknowledge as occasion presents it selfe Venerable Bede when hee compiled the Chronicles of the English Saxons had all the helpe that might be of the Bishops and learned men of this Land Cymbertus wrote vnto him all that was done in Lincolnshire Nothelmus also sent vnto him all that he had gathered together in Sussex Surrey and Kent Alcuinus gaue him his labours and collections for the Prouince of Yorke Daniel of Winchester made him priuie of all that was done amongst the west Saxons And from all other quarters of the Land were Letters Scrowles and writings directed vnto him by messengers to aide and assist him in his enterprise as he doth himselfe acknowledge in his Epistle Dedicatory to Ceolnulph King of the Northumbers Now generous Reader as hee had these helpes for the perfecting of his Ecclesiasticall Historie and as I haue had the acceptable assistance of many of my good friends studious in this kinde for the finishing of this first part and the rest of the worke now in hand which is already in a good forwardnesse let me intreate thy furtherance in the same thus farre that in thy neighbouring Churches if thou shalt finde any ancient funerall Inscriptions or antique obliterated Monuments thou wouldst be pleased to copie out the one and take so much relation of the other as tradition can deliuer as also to take the Inscriptions and Epitaphs vpon Tombes and Grauestones which are of these times and withall to take order that such thy collections notes and obseruations may come safely to my hands and I shall rest euer obliged to acknowledge thy paines and curtesie And I would earnestly desire the Tombe-makers of this Citie of London and elsewhere that they would be so carefull of posteritie as to preserue in writing the Inscriptions or Epitaphs which they daily engraue vpon Funerall Monuments from whom I shall expect the like kindnesse and to whom I will euer remaine alike thankfull For I intend God willing hereafter to publish to the view of the world as well the moderne as the ancient memorialls of the dead throughout all his Maiesties foresaid Dominions if God spare me life if not it is enough for me to haue begun as Camden saith in his Epistle to the Reader of his booke Britannia and I haue gained as much as I looke for if I shall draw others when I am dead into this argument whose inquisitiue diligence and learning may finde out more and amend mine It may seeme peraduenture vnpleasing to some for that I do speake so much of and extoll the ardent pietie of our forefathers in the erecting of Abbeyes Priories and such like sacred Foundations To the which I answer with Camden that I hold it not fit for vs to forget that our Ancestours were and we are of the Christian profession and that there are not extant any other more conspicuous and certaine Monuments of their zealous deuotion towards God then these Monasteries with their endowments for the maintenance of religious persons neither any other seed-plots besides these from whence Christian Religion and good literature were propagated ouer this our Island Neither is there any other act of pietie more acceptable in the sight of Almighty God then that of building Churches Oratories and such like sacred edifices for the true seruice of his heauenly Maiestie Ethelbert the first Christian King of Kent hauing built S. Pauls Church London and diuers other Churches and religious structures as I shew hereafter is thus commended to posteritie by this Epitaph following which passed with applause no question in those dayes Rex Ethelbertus hic clauditur in Polyandro Fana pians certus Christo meat absque Meandro King Ethelbert lyeth here closed in this Polyander For building Churches sure he goes To Christ without Maeander The pious care likewise and gracious intention of our late Lord and Soueraigne King Iames of famous memory had for the repairing of the foresaid Church of Saint Paul and the earnest desire and purpose which our dread Lord and Soueraigne now hath proceeding out of his zeale to Gods glory and his diuine worship for the repairing and vpholding as his Father intended of that venerable large Fabricke and goodly Pyle of building will be had in remembrance to all generations and their names will be registred in the booke of the liuing And the munificent allowance towards the said worke from William Laud now Lord Bishop of London of one hundred pounds by the yeare while he doth contiune there Bishop shall be commended and had in remembrance of all his Successours for euer It may perhaps bee distastfull to some for that I write so fully of the fall and backsliding of Religious Persons from their primitiue zealous ardour of piety making that the maine cause of the dissolution of Abbeyes which I doe for that some are of opinion that because many of these Monasteries were built vpon the occasion of rapine and bloud the Founders thereby thinking to expiate their guilt and make satisfaction for their sinnes an
generall visitation began in the moneth of October and in Februarie next following a Parliament vpon prorogation was holden at Westminster in which these vnspeakable crimes of all the Couents were certified by the Commissioners to the King and that high Court. Vpon the reading whereof because their offences were found to be many and odious or that King Henry would haue it so which I rather beleeue it was enacted by both houses in that present Parliament that all religious houses of and vnder the yearely value of two hundred pound within the whole Realme of England and Wales should be giuen and granted to the King and his heires for euer with all and singuler the lands tenements rents reuersions goods cattels debts ornaments and iewels with all things else thereunto or to their Orders in any wise appertaining or belonging The number of these houses then suppressed were three hundred seuenty sixe The value of their lands yearely as then easily rated was twentie nine thousand fourtie one pounds three pence halfe penie qua others for thirtie two thousand pound and more the moueable goods as they were sold Robin Hoods peniworths amounted to more then one hundred thousand pounds the religious persons that were put out of the same houses were in number aboue ten thousand It was a pitifull thing to here the lamentation that the people in the countrey made for them for there was great hospitalitie kept among them and as it was thought more then ten thousand persons masters and seruants had lost their liuings by the putting downe of those houses at that time Before the dissolution of these religious houses the plot was laid for the suppression of the rest For first of all for an introduction to that which followed Cromwell and the rest of the Visiters in their visitations put forth of their Couents all religious persons that desired to be eased of the burdenous yoke of their profession to whom the Abbot or Prior was to giue to such so departed for their habit a Priests gowne and fourty shillings of money The Nunnes to haue such apparell as secular women wore and to go whither they would They put forth likewise all religious persons that were vnder the age of foure and twenty yeares and afterwards closed vp the residue that would remaine so that they could not come out of their places and tooke order that no man should come to the houses of women nor women to the houses of men but onely to heare their seruice in the Church This little bondage after so long and so licentious a time of libertie could not be endured which being perceiued by the Commissioners with faire promises of other preferments or competent yearely pensions they so wrought with the Abbots Priors and Prioresses and the rest of the Couents that diuers of them surrendred vp their houses with the appurtenances into the Kings hands before the sitting of this Parliament as by these words in the foresaid Act doth plainly appeare And also be it enacted that his Highnes shall haue to him and his heires all and singular such Monasteries Abbies and Priories which at any time within on yeare next before the making of this Act hath beene giuen and granted by any Abbot Prior Abbesse or Prioresse vnder their Couent Seale or that otherwise hath beene suppressed or dissolued and all and sinâ—gular the lands tenements goods c. interests and hereditaments c. to the same appertaining and belonging Now by the example of these or by what other meanes I know not the rest of the Abbots Priors Abbesses and Prioresses at other times with vnanimous consent of their Couents in great compunction of spirit contrition of heart and confession of their manifold enormities did seuerally giue and grant to the Kings Maiestie and to his heires all their right and interest which they had in their Monasteries lands goods or hereditaments by certaine instruments or writings vnder their hands and Sâ—ales of which I will set downe one or two for example which I had from my louing friend Master Iohn Masters Master of the Augmentation Office in forme as followeth But first will it please you reade the copie of the Kings Warrant to such his Commissioners as were to take the Surrenders of Religious houses The forme of which thus followeth Henry the eighth c. To our trustie c. Forasmuche as we vnderstand that the Monastery of S. A. is at this presente in such state as the same is neither vsed to the glory of God nor to the benefyte of our Comon welth We let you wit that therfore being mynded to take the same into our owne hands for a better purpose like as we doubt not but the head of the same wil be contented to make his surrender accordingly we for the spesyall truste and confydence that we haue in your fydellity wisdomes and discrecions haue and by these presents doo authoryse name assygne and appoynte you that immediatly repayring to the sayd Howse ye shall receave of the sayd Head such a wryting vnder the Couent Seale as to your discretyons shall seeme requisite meete and conuenient for the due surrender to our vse of the same and thervpon take posâ—sessyon therof and of all the goodes cattelles plate fuelâ—es implements and stuffe being within or apperteyneng thervnto And forther causyng all the goodes and implements to be indisterently sold either for reddy money or at dayes vpon suffyciente suertyes so that the same day passe not one yere and a halfe Ye shall deliuer to the said Head and Brethren suche parte of the sayd money and goodes as ye by your discresyons shall thinke meete and conuenyente for their despeche And forther to see them haue convenyente pensyons by your wysdomes assigned accordyngly which done and moreouer seeing the rightfull and due debts therof payd and satysfyed as well of the revenewes as of the sayd stuffe as to reason and good â—onscyens apperteyneth and your charges reasonablie allowed ye shall proceed to the dissolutyon of the sayd howse And forther in your name take possessyon of the same to be kept to our vse and profyte Ye shall furthermore bringe and convaye to owr Tower of London after yowr sayd discressyons all the rest of the sayd money Plate Iuelles and ornaments that in any wyse shall come to your hands by meane of the premysses or of any parte therof Straitely charging and commandynge all Maires Sheryffes Bayliâ—â—â—s Constables and all other our Officers Ministers and Subiects to whom in this case it shall apperteyne that vnto you and euery of you in exeâ—ution herof they be helpinge aydinge sauoring and assisting as they will answer vnto vs to the contrary at their vttermoste perrilles Yeuen c. The resignation or surrender of the Prior and Couent of Saint Andrewes Northampton with a recognition of their manifold enormities Most noble and vertuous Prince owr most rightuous and gracyous Soueraign Lorde and vndoubted Founder and in erthe next vndre God
of owr voluntary free will of all such possessions right title or interest as we the sayd Prior and Couent hath or euyr hadd or ar supposed to have hadde in or to your sayd Monastery of Northampton aforesaide And all and euery parcell of the lands advousons comodytes and other reuenues whatsoeuyr they ben belonging to the same And all maner of goods Iewels ornaments wiâ—h all other manner of cattals moueable and vnmoueable to the sayd Monastery in any wise apperteyning or belonging into whoe 's handes or possession to euyr they ben come into to be imployed and disposed is to your graces most excellent wysedome shall seme expedyâ—nt and necessary And although most graâ—cious soueraign Lord that the thyng by vs gâ—ven vnto your highnes is properly and of right ought to be yowr graces owne as well by the meryt of our offences as by the ordre of our graces lawes Yet notwythstanâ—dyng we eftsones most humble beseechen yowr highnes graciously and benevolently to accept owr free wyll with the gift therof nothing requyring of yowr Maiesty therfor other then your most gracious perdon with some pece of yowr graces almes and habundant charyte towards the mayntenance of owr pore lyving and lycence hensforth to liue in such forme in correcting the rest of our liffes as we hope to make satysfaccion therby to God and yowr highnes for owr hypocrasie and other owr greuous offences by vs commytted as well againe his Diâ—te as your Maiesty And for the more infallyble proffe that this our recognycion vnto yowr highnes is only the mere and voluntary Acte of us the said Priour and Couent aforesaid withought any compulcion or inducement other then of owr propre consciens we haue not only publyshed the same openly in the presence of your graces true and faithfull subiects and seruants Sir Wylliam Apparre Knyght Richard Layton Doitor in the Lawes Archeâ—deacon of Buckingham and Roberd Southwell Atturnay for the Augmentacions of yowr graces most noble Crowne yowr graces Commyssyoners here with diuerse other that wer present at that tyme. And vndre this owr present Recognicion Sealed with our Couent Seale subscrybed owr owne names but also haue made sealed with owr Couent Seale and delyuered to the saide Roberd Sowthwell to yowr highnesse vse a sufficient and lawfull deade framed accordyng to the forme of yowr graces lawes for the possessing your grace yowr noble heires and successors therof for â—uyr to be presented by him vnto yowr highnes together with this owr free Recognicion and assent offering owr selffes most humbly vnto your highnes to be at all tymes redy â—o do from tyme to tyme any other Act or Acts as by yowr highnes and yowr most honorable Councell shall be of vs farther requyred for the more persight Assurans of this owr voluntary surrendre and gift vnto yowr highnes And fynally we most humbly and reuerently with â—abundant teares proceedyng from our harts having before owr even owr detestable offences submytt owr selffes totally to the ordre of God and yowr mercyfull and benygne Maiesty most hartely beseching almyghty God to grante your highnes with the noble Prince Edward your graces most noble and naturall sonne next vnto yowr grace the most preciâ—ous â—uell and chyse comforte of this yowr graces Roialme long to lyue among vs yowr naturall and true subiects with prosperous and fortunate successe of all yowr graces honorable and deuoute procedings which hytherto thorow your graces most excellent wysdome and wonderfull industry assidually solycyted abought the confirming and stabyshyng mens consciens contynually vexed with sondry doubtfull opynions and vaine ceremonyes haue taken both good and lawdable effecte to the vndoubted contentation of Almighty God the greate renowne and immortall memorie of your graces hye wysedome and excellent knowledge and to the spyrituall weale of all your graces subiects Datyd and subscrybyd in our Chaptre the first day of March in the xxix yeare of yowr graces Reign By the hands of yowr graces pore and vnworthy subiects Per me Franciscum Priorem Per me Iohannem subpriorem Per me Tho. Smyth Per me Tho. Golston Per me Rob. Martin Per me Iacob Hopkins Per me Ric. Bunbery Per me Iohannem Pette Per me Io. Harrold Per me Tho. Barly Per me Will. Ward Per me Tho. Atterbury Per me Will. Fowler The Surrender of the Warden and Friers of S. Francis in Stanford For as moche as we the Warden and Freers of the howse of Saynt Frances in Stannforde comenly callyd the gray Freers in Stannford in the County of Lincoln doo profoundly concider that the perfeccion of Christian liuyng dothe not conciste in dome ceremonies weryng of a grey cootte disgeasing our selffe aftyr straunge fassions dokyng and beckyng in gurdyng owr selffes wyth a gurdle full of knots and other like Papisticall ceremonyes wherin we haue byn moost principally practysed and misselyd in tymes past but the very tru waye to please God and to liue a true Christian man wythe owte all ypocrasie and fayned dissimulacion is sinceerly declaryd vnto vs by owr Master Christe his Euangelists and Apostoles Being mindyd herafter to folowe the same conformyng owr selffe vnto the will and pleasure of owr supreme hedde vndre God in erthe the Kings Maiesty and not to follow hensforth the supersticious tradicions of of ony forincycall potentate or poore wythe mutuall assent and consent doo submytt owr selffes vnto the mercy of owr saide soueraygn Lorde And wythe like mutuall assent and consent doo surrender and yelde vpe vnto the hands of the same all owr saide howse of Saynt Frances in Stannforde comenly callyd the grey Friers in Stannforde wythe all lands tenements gardens medowes waters pondyards fedyngs pastures comens rentes reuersions and all other our interest ryghtes or titles aperteynyng vnto the same mooste humbly besechyng his mooste noble grace to disspose of vs and of the same as best schall stonde wythe his mooste graciouse pleasure And farther frely to grant vnto euery on of vs his licens vndre wretynge and Seall to change our abites into seculer fassion and to receve suche maner of livyngs as other seculer Pristes comenly be preferryd vnto And we all faythfully schall prey vnto allmyghty god long to preserue his mooste noble grace wythe encrease of moche felicitie and honor And in witnes of all and singuler the premysses we the saide Warden and Couent of the grey Freers in Stannforde to thes presentes haue putte owr Couent Sceall the yeght day of Octobre in the thirty the yere of the raygn of owr mooste Souerayne Kinge Henry the yeght Factum Iohannis Schemy Gardian Per me Fratrem Iohannem Robards Per me Fratrem Iohannem Chadwhort Per me Fratrem Richardum Pye Per me Fratrem Iohannem Clarke Per me Fratrem Iohannem Quoyte Per me Fratrem Iohannem German Per me Fratrem Iohannem Yong. Per me Fratrem Iohannem Lovell Per me Fratrem Willielmum Tomson With the like petition and recognition of their seuerall delinquencies
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 Iueâ—les 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 Maiâ—es 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 â—â—eale 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 â—re 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 Caâ—â—â—ce 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 aâ—pereth Item Mannores Landes and Tâ—nements 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
woods were vnvalued as ofte they were the same went from the Kyng without recompenâ—â— Item Mannores Lands and Tenements c. sold to diuers and after the woods were felled and solde and the Rents enhaunced or for great fines leased out for many yeres then the same Mannores lands c. were retorned to the kyng in exchange for other lands that had plentie of woods and were vnenhauncede and vnleased in all or in parte or the Leases were nere expyred Item muche Lands and Tenements and many great woods and other hereditaments were then solde away wher the money for the same by deceptfull defrawde was not payd in many yeres after the due dayes of paymente So likewise in the time of the reigne of King Edward the sixt your Maiesties Brother many things were done amisse though not so many and so great as befoar Exchanges more were then in King Henries tyme and almost as badde wherof the Rents of many of them muste needs decaye in a great parte when that Leases shall end that were made by the Exchangâ—râ—s or when their Bonds made to warrant thos Rents shall either be lost or not extended Much Lands c. were sold at vnder values by great decepte of many And in the shorte tyme of the Reigne of Queene Mâ—ry your Maiesties Sister many great gifts Sales and Exchanges were made wherein was great deceipt and losse to the Prince and Crowne In your Maiesties time and before all or the greateste parte of all the Evidences of the Lands possessions and hereditaments of all the Abbeyes c. have by litle and litle by fraudulent meanes byne so pilfered and solde awaye and so drawne into many priuate mens handes that there is almoste none of them left to your Maiesties vse so that your Maiestie hath nothing to mainteyne your title yf neede so requyre but onely the long possession and your owne Records made since suppression whereof a nomber of them be gone This Informer a man in authoritie as appeares by the sequele of whose name I am ignorant proceeds further in the rehearsall of many more deceipts frawdes and corruptions vsed by diuers of the Officers of those dayes onely for their owne lucre and advauncement which are too many here to set downe I will end this Chapter with the conclusion of his arguments When I speke saith he write or worke against thes and multitudes of like things what adoe ther is on euery side and what outcries ther iâ— againste me and what inward hatred is borne me which sometime brekâ—s foarth and shewes it selfe by their sowre lookes bittere speches and taunt and by their liftings at me and paying me home one way or other when they can themselues or when others canne for them your Maiestie woâ—â— wondere yf you knewe And the more because some of them beare great shew and name of good men and Gospelers But alas piteous ones God amend them and vs all That we together that profâ—sse the Gospell may studye and strive not onely to loue and doe what he commands and to hate and resist what he forbids But also thos of vs that be in authoreâ—â— to bring all others ther vnto by great intreaty and good rewards yf that will serve yf not by roughe threats and sharpe strokes as he hath appointed for the bringing home vnto himself of euery creature CHAP. XVI The time of the institution of Religious Orders Their seuâ—rall names and Authours and the infinite encrease of their Fraternities and Sisterhoods THe Popes of Rome challenging a succession from Saint Peter and seeking to imitate the Hebrewes began to institute Ostiaries Acolites Exorcists Readers Subdeacons and Deacons The Office of the Ostiarle was to open and shut the Church doores to looke to the decent keeping of the Church and the holy ornaments laid vp in the Vestrie which is now the charge of the Vergers as I take it in Cathedrall Churches Acolites or Acoluthites were to follow and serue the Bishop or chiefe Priest to prouide and kindle the lights and lamps of the Church and to register the names of such as were catechized Exorcists had the power giuen them to expell vncleane spirits and by fasting and prayer to free such persons as were so possest Readers quos Pastores à pasco nominatos putat Am ... osius matutâ—nâ— tempore Prophetarum Apostolorumque scripta legebant ac populum diuinis lectionibus quasi pascebant Which Saint Ambrose supposeth to be called Pastours by the Apostle Paul did reade the writings of the Prophets and Apostles at the time of morning prayer and did feede as it were the people with such diuine lessons The office of the Subdeacons was to set and giue out the Psalmes in solemne tunes to receiue the oblations of the faithfull to write the liues and Agons of the Martyrs and to declare or make more plaine vnto the people the Epistles of the Apostles Deacons had the charge to releeue widowes and orphans and other poore faithfull people and to distribute vnto them the almes which deuout Christians had giuen to that intent They were also allowed to preach the Gospell to interprete the Scriptures and appointed to adorne the sacred Altars and helpe the Priest in diuine Seruice a place officiated now by our Parish Clerkes these were chosen to bee men full of religion integritie of life faithfulnesse and bountie after the example of the Churhes of Ierusalem and Antioch who were called Clerkes some of these were made by the imposition of hands Priests others Deacons to the end the Bishop of Rome might imploy them to instruct the Christians which then increased and were so many as he could not alone execute the charge To these Priests he gaue the chiefe care of soules to the end that administring the Sacraments to the people of God they might with the Bishop attend prayer and preaching Presbyterorum vero munus erat baptisare Episcopis adesse consilijs orationibus esse intentos frangere panem in commemorationem Christi annunciando mortem eius orare super infirmos vngentes eos oloo in nomine Domini The office indeed of Priests was to baptise to be assistant to the Bishops in Councell to be attent and earnest in prayer to breake the bread of life in remembrance of Christ preaching or declaring his death and passion to visite and pray for the sicke giuing them extreme Vnction in the name of the Lord. And Presbyter saith one dicitur quasi praebensiter as shewing the way of saluation to the ignorant people They were likewise saith the same Author called Sacerdotes men consecrated to God in respect of their sacred orders and pious imployments which by him is thus deciphered Quinque enim sunt dignitates Sacerdotum prae ceteris Primo dicitur sacerdos quasi sacris dotatus scilicet sacris ordinibus quia ipse est in summo gradu qui est Sacerdotum Secundò Sacerdos quasi
For the foundation of these Friers I will vse the words of the famous Antiquary Iohn Leyland in his Commentaries who flourished in the raigne of King Henry the eighth Cui à Bibliothecis erat who died in the raigne of Edward the sixth of a Phrenesie to the great griefe of all such as then did or â—ow do take delight in the abstruse studie of reuerend Antiquitie Hee lieth buried in Saint Michaels Church in Pater Noster Row London The Priorie of Knasborough saith hee is three quarters of a mile beneath Maâ—ch Bridge which goes ouer Nid one Robert Flower sonne of one Tork Flower that had beene twice Maior of Yorke was the first beginner of this Priory he had beene a little while before a Monke in New minster Abbey in Morpeth within the County of Northumberland forsaking the lands and goods of his father to whom hee was heire and first-borne sonne and desiring a solitarie life as an Hermit resorted to the Rockes by the riuer of Nid and thither vpon opinion of his sanctitie others resorted for whom and himselfe he built a little Monasterie got institution and confirmation of an Order about the yeare 1137 which after his owne name he called Robertins Howsoeuer his companie of Friers were instituted of the order De redemptione captiuorum alias S. Trinitatis King Iohn as he saith was of an ill will to this Robert Flower at the first yet afterwards very beneficiall both to him and his Some of the Flowers lands at Yorke were giuen to this Priory and the name of the Flowers of late dayes remained in that Citie Many miracles as it is said were wrought at the Tombe in his owne Priory wherein he was interred Eodem anno claruâ—t fama Roberti Heremitae apud Knaresburgh cuius 〈◊〉 oleum medicinale fertur abundanter emisisse In the same yeare the same of Robert the Hermite of Knarsborrow spread it selfe clearely abroad whose Tombe as the report went cast forth abundantly medicinable oyle saith Mat. Paris the Monke of Saint Albonâ— who liued in those dayes This Order as I take it was abolished before the dissolution These Friers challenge and deriue their first institution from Saint Antonie who liued about the yeare of our redemption 345. howsoeuer they obsâ—rae and follow the rule of Saint Augustine but whosoeuer was their first Patron it skills not much Vpon this occasion following they came first into England Edmund the sonne and heire of Richard Earle of Cornwall who was second sonne to King Iohn being with his father in Germany where beholding the reliques and other precious monuments of the ancient Emperours he espied a boxe of Gold by the Inscription whereof hee perceiued as the opinion of men then gaue that therein was contained a portion of the bloud of our blessed Sauiour He therefore being desirous to haue some part thereof by faire intreatie and money obtained his desire and brought the Boxe ouer with him into England bestowing a third part thereof in the Abbey of Hales which his father had founded and wherein his father and mother were both buried thereby to enrich the said Monasterie and reseruing the other two parts in his owne custodie till at length moued vpon such deuotion as was then vsed he founded an Abbey at Ashrugge in Hertfordshire a little from his Manor of Berkamsted in which hee placed Monkes of this order Bonhommes Good men and assigned to them and their Abbey the other two parts of the said sacred bloud Whereupon followed great resort of people to those two places induced thereunto by a certaine blinde deuotion to the great emolument and profit of these Good-men the religious Votaries The superiour of this Order was called a Rector or a Father Guardian About the yeare 1257. the Bethlemit Friers had their dwelling in Cambridge who should be the first institutor I do not reade their rule and habite was much what like that of the Dominicans sauing that they wore a starre in their breast wrought vpon their habite in memoriall of the starre which appeared at the time that our Sauiour was borne in Bethlem This Order was extinct before the suppression This religious Order was first instituted in the yeare of our Lord God 1080. vpon this occasion the story is frequent a Doctor of Paris famous both for his learning and godly life being dead and carried to the Church to be buried when as they sung ouer his bodie the lesson which begins Responde mihi quot habes iniquitates Answer me how many iniquities thou hast the bodie sitting vp in the coffin answered with a terrible voice Iusto Dei iudicio accusatus sum I am accused by the iust iudgement of God at which voice all the companie being much amazed they defeâ—red the interment vntill the next day at which time vpon the rehearsall of the same words the body did rise in like manner and said Iusto Dei iudicio iudicatus sum I am iudged by the iust iudgement of God The third day hee raised himselfe vp as before saying Iusto Dei iudicio condemnatus sum I am condemned by the iust iudgement of God Amongst many Doctors which assisted these Funeralls one Bruno a German borne at Colleyn of a rich and noble familie Chanon of the Cathedrall Church of Rheimes in Champaigne being strucken and fearfully affrighted at this strange and neuer-heard of spectacle began to consider with himselfe and to reuolue and iâ—erate very often these words following Si iustus vix salvabitur impius peccator vbi erit If such a pious man as hee was in the opinion of the world be damned by the iust iudgement of God thinkes hee what will become of me and many thousands more farre worse and more wicked in the eye of the world then this man was Vpon this deepe consideration Bruno departed from Paris and tooke his iourney together with sixe of his Schollers to liue solitarily in some wildernesse and not long after came to the Prouince of Dolphine in France neare to the Citie of Grenoble where hee obtained of Hugh Bishop of that Citie a place to build him a Monasterie on the top of an high stupendious hill called Carthusia from whence the Order tooke the name They gaue themselues to silence and reading and separated themselues by little Cels one from another lest they should interrupt one anothers quiet They spent some houres in the labour of their hands and some in the writing of godly books both to relieue their wants and to do seruice to the Church of God Many workes of theirs are still extant out of which tending to mortification the Iesuite Parsons collected the Resolution They did macerate their bodies by fasting and discipline and in the end resolued to eat no flesh during their liues This donation of Bishop Hugh who became himselfe one of their order was confirmed by Hugh Bishop of Lions and afterwards by Pope Vrban the second The said Pope Vrban as the story
London with a strong wall and a deepe Moat beene â—ased the reuenewes of his See adorned it with many sumptuous and staâ—ely buildings and procured diuers notable priuiledges for the same and to repaire the bookes and Library of this Church he gaue the Church of Halegast he finished a Collegiate Church at Lambeth of Canons regular begun by Baldwin his predecessour Which vpon the complaint of the Monkes of Canterbury to the Pope was pulled downe to the ground Maâ—ny oppositions were betwixt him and the Pope and many times he was discountenanced by King Iohn yet apparently he died in both their fauours at his Manor of Tenham Iuly 13. 1205. Hauing sat Archbishop twelue yeares sauing foure moneths Here lieth entombed the body of Stephen Langton Archbishop whose election to this See against the Kings will was the cause of many calamities within this kingdome the greatest part whereof fell vpon the Clergie Of which heare my Authour Bishop Hubert of Canterbury tho died Wherefore Kyng Iohn vnto the Couent sente To chose his Clarke whych they refused and denied Wherefore the kyng was wroth in his entente For they disobeyed the lettre whych he sente For they had chosen Mayster Stephan Langton An worthy Clarke of all disposicion Whom kyng Iohn then wold not admytte For Romayn Bull ne for the Prelates prayer But prisoned some and some to death commytte Some he exiled and theyr eyen clere And all persounes and Prelates in fere He then put out and seazed theyr benefice Through all the lande as his mortall enemyes The Romysh Byshoppe curssed hym openly And all the realme fully did enterdite That Sacraments none therin should occupie But howsoeuer these mischiefes happened vpon his admittance yet the man in regard of his many excellent gifts both of body and minde was no way to be misliked but much to be commended for his religious wise carriage liuing vnder so violent a King And in such troublesome vngodly times to whom this Distichon taken out of Martials Epigrams to Traian warfaring vnder Diocletian was applied Laudari debes quoniam sub principe duro Temporibusque malis ausus es esse bonus descended he was from an ancient familie in Lecestershire brought vp in the Vniuersitie of Paris greatly esteemed by the King and all the Nobility of France for his singular and rare learning made Chancellour of Paris and Cardinall of Rome 〈◊〉 S. Chrysogoni Hee writ many admirable profound workes and amongst the rest diuided the Bible into Chapters in such sort as we now account them he bestowed much vpon his palace here in Canterbury and vpon a faire Horologe in the South-crosse Isle Yet the solemnitie of the translation of Thomas Beckets bones was so chargeable vnto him as neither he nor foure of his successours were able to recouer the debt he cast his Church into He died Iuly 9. 1228. hauing sate Archbishop 22. yeares Here in this Church but in what particular place my Author knowes not Iohn Peckham sometime Bishop of this See lieth buried This Iohn was borne in Sussex spent his childhood in the Abbey of Lewes and was brought up in the Vniuersitie of Oxford from thence hee went to Paris to study Diuinitie and after that to Livus to get some knowledge in the Canon Law without the which Diuinitie was esteemed vnperfect in those dayes and to better his knowledge he visited all the Vniuersities of Italie came to Rome where his rare learning being soone perceiued hee was made by the Pope Auditor or chiefe Iudge of his pallace and so continued till his preferment to Canterbury for a man of so meane parentage he was thought to be very stately both in gesture gate words and all outward shew yet of an exceeding meeke facile inward disposition Vnto double Beneficed men and Non-residents he was very strict Adulterie he punished very seuerely he persecuted a Bishop terriblie for keeping of a Concubine and one Roger Ham a Priest he enioyned to three yeares penance for fornication a sinne predominant in former times among the Clergie Witnesse these rimes Greate Lechery and fornication Was in that house and also greate aduoutree Of Paramours was greate consolation Of eche degree well more of Prelacie Then of the Temporall or of the Chiualrie He excommunicated one Sir Osborne Gifford Knight for stealing two Nunnes out of the Nunnerie of Wilton and absolued him vpon these conditions First that he should neuer come within any Nunnerie or in the company of a Nunne that three Sondayes together he should be whipped in the Parish-Church of Wilton and as many times in the Market and Church of Shaftsbury that he should fast a certaine number of moneths That he should not weare a shirt of three yeares And lastly that he should not any more taken vpon him the habite or title of a Knight but weare apparell of a russet colour vntill he had spent three yeares in the holy Land He died Ann. 1294. very rich yet founded a Colledge of Canons at Wingham in Kent valued at 84. l. per annum and aduanced many of his friends to great possessions whose posteritie haue continued in the state of Knights and Esquires euen vntill our times He sat Archbishop thirteene yeares and an halfe His heart was buried at Christ-Church London retro magnum altare Here beside the altar of Saint Gregorie sometime stood a sumptuous Monument wherein the bones of Robert Winchelsey were entombed which vpon the reformation of Religion was pulled downe to the ground lest that the common people who would needs esteeme him a Saint might giue him diuine honours Hee sate Archbishop nineteene yeares during which time he endured much sorrow yet finished his dayes in quietnessâ— and great felicitie The King and the Pope concurring together in his time exacted many great payments and inflicted grieuous punishments vpon the Clergie Whereupon these Satyricall verses were framed Ecclesiae nauis titubat regni quia clauis Errat Rex Papa facti sunt vnica capa Hoc faciunt do des Pilatus hic alter Herodes Hee liued in banishment two yeares euen vntill the death of Edward the first who exiled him vpon surmised Treason from which hee was called home by Edward his sonne who restored him to his place to all his goods and to all the profits of his Temporalities receiued in his absence He was a stout Prelate and a seuere punisher of sinne hee boldly opposed himselfe against Piers Gaueston the Spensers and other corrupters of the young king and enforced Iohn Warren Earle of Surrey to forsweare the company of a certaine beautifull Wench with the loue of which he was greatly be witched Hee maintained many poore Schollers at the Vniuersities with liberall exhibition and such preferments as fell to his disposition he bestowed vpon men of excellent learning Vnto all kinde of poore people hee was exceeding bountifull his bookes apparell and other mouâ—ables such as they were for
Edwin king of Northumberland Sandwich Before the generall suppression here was a religious house of white Friers Carmelites founded by one Henry Cowfeld an Almaine Ann. 1272. and an Hospitall founded by Thomas Rabyng William Swanne Clerkes Iohn Goddard and Richard Long. In a booke of this order of Carmes written by Iohn Bale of which I haue spoken in the prefixed discourse I finde the Foundation of this Religious structure as also certaine Epitaphs made to the memorie of diuers of the Fraternitie therein interred in this manner following Anno Domini M.CC.LXXII fundatus erat Conuentus Sandwici per Henricum Cowfeld de Alemania Epitaphium Magistri Fratris Thome Legatt qui obijt Anno Domini M. CCCCIX Carmelita Thomas Legatt qui Theologie Doctor erat quondam conditur hoc lapide Epitaphium Fratris Thome Hadlow Hic Prior iste Hadlow nunc hoc sub marmore tectus Turmas celicolas adeat nostra prece vectus M.C. quater X. sepâ—eno transijt anno Huic deciâ—o sexto Septembris lumina nexo Magister Frater Willelmus Becklee hic sepultus cum hoc Epitaphio Nunc me petra tenet saxoque includor in isto Et lacerum vermes laniant nunc vndique corpus Quid mihi diuicie quid alta palacia prosunt Cum mihi sufficiat paruo quo marmore claudor Quam fastus quam pompa leuis quam gloria mundi Sit breuis fragilis humana potencia quam sit Collige ab exemplo qui transis perlege posco Obijt Ann Dom. M. CCCC.XXXVIII Epitaphium Magistri Iohannis Sandwich huius Conuentus Prioris perquam amabilis Subiacet huic Tumbe deuotus mente Iohannes De Sandwich dictus huiusce Prior que domus Mille quadringentos tres annos congere lumen Quindecimam Iunij sumite tempus habes Quo sors superna rapuit de corpore vitam Fundito queso preces vt sit ei requies Epitaphium Fratris Dionisij Plumcooper Cuspide lethisera mors que premit impia cuncta Mole sub hac gelià a clausit ossa viri Qui rogitat nomen cognomen postulat ipsum Hoc Dionisius est Plumcooper illud erat Mollibus hic annis Carmeli dulcis alumnus Extitit placide Pacis amator erat Ad canos veniens nature iura reliquit Mors dedit lassis artubus hic requiem Valedicit mundo xx Febr. Ann. Dom. MCCCC LXXXI Ann. 1563. Sir Roger Manwood before remembred natiue of this place founded here a free Schoole which hee endowed with fourty pounds of yearely reuenue Right famous in former times saith Camden was the Citie of Richborow whereof now nothing remaines saue certaine walls of a Castie of rough flint and Britane brickes in forme of a Quadrant Ouer the entrie whereof is the head of Queene Berta as some say grauen in stone the wife of King Ethelbert who here had a royall pallace The Romanes had their Presidents or Prouosts who had the gouernment of this Citie of which I finde but onely two to haue beene here interred namely Flauius Sanctius and Claudius Contentus the one ruling with all peace the other liuing in all riches and prosperitie whose memories are thus preserued by the Poet Ausonius Militiam nullo qui turbine sedulus egit Praeside letatus quae Rhutupinus ager His martiall seruice he discharg'd with care without all strife And Rutupin reioyc'd in him whilst there he was in life The same Authour setteth forth likewise in a lamentable funerall verse in the praise of Claudius Contentus whom he calls Vnkle who being ouertaken with death left behinde him vnto strangers a mighty great stocke of money which he had put out to vsury among the Britaines and increased by interest Et patruos Elegia meos reminiscere cantus Contentum tellus quem Rhutupina tegit My dolefull Muse now call to minde the songs of Vnkle mine Contentus who enterred lyes within mould Rutupine Ashe-Church In this Church are many ancient Monuments of worthy Gentlemen namely Sir ... Goshalls Sir ... Leuericks who lye crosse-legged as knights of Ierusalem One of the Septvaus with a collar of S S about his necke his wifes portraiture vpon the same Tombe diuers of the surname of Saint Nicholas of the Harslets and others all without Inscriptions sauing two and those shamefully defaced Claus. 25. Hen. 6. Memb. 30. 1446. Christian S. Nicholas Lady Prioresse of the Minories without Algate was daughter and heire of Nicholas S. Nicholas of S. Nicholas in Thanet and Thomas S. Nicholas is named in the same Record Hic iacet .... Clitherow Ar. ..... vxor eius silia Iohannis Oldcastell qui obijt ..... Pray for the sowle of Ioane Keriell Ye frends all that forth ypasse In endlesse lyff perpetuall That god it grant mercy and grase Roger Clitherow her fader was Tho erth to erth of kynd returne Pray that her sowle to lyff may come The name of Kiriell hath beene of great note and antiquity within this County Sir Nicholas Kiriell flourished in the raigne of King Richard the second and Sir Thomas Kiriell beheaded with the Lord Bouvile the day after the second battell at Saint Albons in the raigne of King Henry the sixth or slaine in the battell according to Iohn Harding ..... The Lords of the North Southward came To Sainct Albones vpon the fasting gang eue Wher then thei slewe the Lord Bouvile â—eue And Sir Thomas Kyriell also of Kent With mekell folke that pitee was to se. Sibbertswood In this Church are some ancient Monuments but now without Inscriptions erected to the memory of the Philipots or Philpots a familie which hath resided here a long time at Vpton Court within this Parish of which name and family was that renowned Lord Maior of London Sir Iohn Philpot knighted in the field by King Richard the second together with Sir William Wallworth then Maior and other Aldermen for the good seruice they performed against Watt Tylar and his complices Rebels of Kent and Essex This Sir Iohn gaue to the City certaine lands for the finding of thirteene poore people for euer It is likewise remembred of him to his eternall honour that Ann. 2. R. 2. he manned forth a Fleete at his owne charges to scoure the narrow Seas of such Scottish French and Spanish Pyrats as had done much villany by their often incursions to many of our English Ports and Harbours with which he not onely guarded both water and Land from their intollerable violences but also tooke their prime Captaine one Iohn Mercer a Scot with all his whole Nauie consisting of fifteene Spanish ships all being fraught with very rich commodities Which memorable atchieuement as it was right worthily applauded extolled and admired of all the faithfull Commonaltie so was it most wrongfully vnderualued enuied and drawne into question by some of the slothfull Nobilitie Ikham In this Church I saw an old Monument vpon
mother this Raph by the marriage of his wife Margaret writ himselfe in his Charters and deeds Baron of Tunbridge And a noble Baron he was and the first Earle of Stafford created by Edward the third the fifth of March in the twentieth and fifth yeare of his raigne Mills in the Catalogue of Honour sets downe this mans pedegree after this manner drawne from William the Conquerours time still abiding in the male line Nicholas the sonne of Robert begot Robert the second whose daughter and heire married to Henry de Bagot he in the right of his wife was made Baron of Stafford and hee begat another called Heruey who left the name of Bagot and tooke on him the name of Stafford and he begot Robert the third father to Nicholas the second father to Edmund who begot this first Earle of Stafford all successiuely Barons and Lords of Stafford Hee dyed the 31. of August in the yeare 1372. Margaret his wife dyed the seuenth of September 1349. This Earle was knight of the honourable order of the Garter at the first foundation Andrew Iud the sonne of Iohn Iud of this Towne of Tonebridge sometime Lord Maior of London erected here a faire free-Schoole and an Almes-house nigh Saint Helens Church in London and left to the Skinners of which company he was lands to the value of threescore pounds three shillings and eight pence the yeare for the which they bee bound to pay twenty pound to the Schoolemaster eight pound to the Vsher yearely for euer and foure shillings the weeke to the sixe Almes-people and twenty fiue shillings foure pence the yeare in Coales for euer This Andrew was Lord Maior of London the yeare 1550. the fourth of King Ed. the sixth Dyed in the yeare following and was buried at S. Helens aforesaid within Bishopsgate ward Senenoke Orate pro anima Edwardi Bowrgchier filij et heredis Thome Bowrgchier militi filii Iohannis Domini de Berners et pro anima Domine Agnete vxoris dicti Thome Bowrgchier filie Thome Carleton militis qui quidem Edwardus obijt 24. Augusti 1496. Thomas Bourchier Archbishop of Canterbury great Vnckle to this Edward bought of Sir William Fienes Lord Say and Sele and built anew that stately house of Knoll hereunto adioyning which he left to his kindred the cause of their residence in this countrey Ecce sub hoc premitur de funere cuius Curia Primatus Anglorum tota soluta est In lachrymas Haydok Haymundus vir preciosus Moribus eloquio dulcis Philologus ille Atque Theologicus clarus fuit ille viarum Rupta restaurauit letus tribuebat egenis Non auri cupidus non ambitiosus honoris Extitit extinctum Decembris luce secunda Quem mors abripuit Dominoque .... famulari Iussit is annus erat Domini quem C. quater M. que LXX complectimur hunc bone Christe In te confisum bonis celestibus auge Amen Qui pro alijs orat pro seipso laborat Orate pro anima Roberti Lawe Capellani capelle beate Marie istius Ecclesie ... obijt .... 1400. Cuius ... Pray for the soules of Thomas Brooke and Clemence Brooke his wife which Clemence Brooke dyed 1510.24 Febr. On whose soule Pray for the sowls of Tho. Gregby Alice and Godliffe his wyfes and for the sowls of his fader and moder Richard Gregbye Margaret and Agnes his wyfs which Thomas deceysed 22. Aprill 1515. On whos sowls Pray for the sowl of Robart Totleherst sometym servant vnto the Lord Cardinall Bourchier who died ..... 1512. Pray for the sowls of Iohn Yardley Sergeant of Armes to our Souereygn Lord the king and Ioane Pette his wyf whych Iohn died An. 1522. Hic iacent Willelmus Potkine Alexandra vxor eius qui quidem Willelmus obijt 1. Ianuar. 1499. et dicta Alexandra obijt 6. Dec. 1501. quorum Respicias Lector nostrum Epitaphium vt â—res pro nobis Deum About the latter end of the raigne of king Edward the third to vse M. Lambards words there was found lying in the streets of Sennocke a poore childe whose parents were vnknowne and he for the same cause named after the place where he was taken vp William Sennock This orphan was by the helpe of some charitable persons brought vp and nourtured in such wise that being made an Apprentice to a Grocer in London he arose by degrees in course of time to bee Maior and chiefe Magistrate of that Citie At which time calling to his minde the goodnesse of Almighty God and the fauour of the Townesmen extended towards him he determined to make an euerlasting Monument of his thankfull minde for the same and therefore in the yeare 1418. the yeare of his Maioroialtie hee builded both an Hospitall for reliefe of the poore and a free-Schoole for the education of youth within this Towne endowing both the one and the other with competent yearely liuing as the dayes then suffered towards their sustentation and maintenance But since his time the Schoole was much amended by the liberalitie of one Iohn Potkyn which liued vnder the reigne of king Henry the eighth and now lately also in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth of famous memory through the honest trauell of diuers Towne-inhabitants not onely the yearely stipend is much increased and the former litigious possessions quietly established but the Corporation also changed into the name of two Wardeins and foure Assistants of the free-Schoole of Queene Elizabeth in Sennocke Seale In this Church vpon a marble stone inlaid with brasse I found the portraiture of a Bishop and these words onely remaining Credo quod Redemptor meus viuit And these figures 1389. Vnder which as I gather by the date of the yeare of Grace Thomas Brenton Bishop of Rochester lyeth interred who trauelled into many places beyond Seas and comming to Rome preached in Latine before the Pope many learned Sermons which he left behinde him in writing For which and other his rare parts he was much admired and became very famous The Pope made him his Penitenciarie and bestowed vpon him this Bishopricke of Rochester he being before a Benedictine Monke of Norwich He was Confessour vnto king Ric. the second and a singular Benefactour he was to the English Hospitall at Rome He dyed as before Ann. 1389. Hic iacet Dominus de Bryene miles quondam Dominus de Kemsing et Sele qui obijt 13. Septemb. 1395. The family of the Bruins which I take to bee all one with this name was a long time famous as well in Essex as in this tract The last I finde of exemplarie note was one Thomas Bruine high Sheriffe of Kent who with the Lord Scales and others kept the Tower of London for their Soueraigne Lord king Henry the sixth against the rebellious Earles Ann. 1460. Reg. 38. Wrotham De Strattone natus iacet hic Rogerus humatus De Wrotham Rector sacre pagineque Professor
kyng of Brutons nobly ynough Had regnyd xlviii yer toward his deth he drogh He dede aftyr Martyn Masse euen the sixt dey The Brutons made deel ynough tho he ded ley Hii made a Kyngys toome and hym al hol wyth ynne Upon an horse ridyng of bras put al wyth gynne And vpon the west gate of London sette hit full hegh In token of hys noblesse that men hit fer segh A Chirch of Sent Martyn liuyng he let rere In whyche yat men shold goddys seruyse do And sing for his soul and al Christene also Farewell my freyndes the tyde abydeth no man We be departed fro hence and so â—all yee But in this passage the best song that we say can Is Requiem eternam now Iesu grant hit mee When wee haue endyd all our aduersitee Grant vs in Paradise to haue a mansion That shâ—ed his blood for our redemption Therfore wee tendyrlie requier yee For the souls of Iohn Benson And Anne his wyff of your charitie To say a Pater Noster and an Aue. These verses following were engrauen in copper on the strong Quadrant of Ludgate built by Stephen Foster Lord Maior and Dame Agnes his wife for the reliefe of the Prisoners Deuout souls that passe this way For Stephen Foster late Maior hertely pray And Dame Agnes his Spous to God consecrate That this hous made for Londoners in Ludgate So that for lodging and water Prisoners here nought pay As the kepers shall all ansqueare at dreadfull Doomys day Christ Church The chiefe Foundresse of this religious house is said to be Queene Margaret the second wife of Edward the first sister of Philip the fourth surnamed the Faire King of France and eldest daughter of King Philip the hardy sonne of S. Lewes who died An. 1317. and was buried here before the high Altar Iohn de Dreux second sonne of Iohn Duke of Britaine by Beatrice his wife daughter of King Henry the third Earle of Britaine and Richmond gaue 300 l. to the building of some part of the Church glased all the windowes on the south side and also gaue many rich Iewels and ornaments to be vsed in the same so that he is accounted as a second Founder Diuers other Noble men and worthy Citizens gaue both lands and great summes of money towards the building and endowing of this religious Structure which was finished within 21 yeeres dedicated to the honour of God and our alone Sauiour Iesu Christ and replenished with grey Fryers Minorites valued at the generall suppression but at 32 l. 19 s. 10 d. This Abbey Church hath beene honoured with the sepulture of foure Queenes foure Dutchesses foure Countesses one Duke two Earles eight Barons and some thirty fiue Knights whose names are set downe by Stow in his Suruay of this honourable Citie and in all from the first foundation vnto the dissolution sixe hundred sixtie and hree persons of Qualitie were here interred In the Quire were nine Tombes of Alabaster and Marble inuironed with barres or strikes of iron one Tombe in the body of the Church coped also with iron and seauenscore graue-stones of Marble in diuers places all which were pulled downe taken away and sold for fiftie pounds or thereabouts by Sir Martin Bowes Maior of London An. 1545. The rest of the Monuments are now wholly defaced not any one remaining at this day saue such which are of later times The blacke Fryers This House was founded by Robert Kilwardby Archbishop of Canterbury and the Citizens of London An. Dom. 1276. This Archbishop towards the latter end of his time made a collection saith Godwin for the building of a Monasterie for the Fryer Minors in London Many contributed so largely thereunto as he hauing the helpe of a certaine old Tower which yeelded him stones without charge finished the same with other mens money and was able to affoord the foundation for another at Salisbury King Edward the first and Eleanor his wife were great Benefactors to this worke This was a large Church richly furnished with ornaments and honoured by the burials of many great Personages diuers Parliaments and other great meetings haue beene holden in this Monasterie which is now altogether demolished and other new buildings erected in the same place This order of blacke Fryers Predicants were remoued hither from Oldbourne where they had continued 55 yeeres The reuenewe of this house was valued at 104 l. 15 s. 5 d per annum being surrendred into the Kings hands 12 of Nouember the 30 of Henry the 8. Persons of kingly princely and noble descent of eminent high place and qualitie to the number of fiftie and vpwards are reckoned by Io. Stow out of the Register of this house to haue bin here entombed to whose relation I leaue my Reader onely giue me leaue to speake of one Vpon a Table fastened to a pillar this inscription was not long since here to be read as I haue it out of the collections of Tho. Talbot Here lyeth the body of the Lady Elizabeth the daughter of Sir Bartholomew Balitismere wife of William Bohun Earle of Northampton and mother of the Earles of March and Northampton and of Elizabeth Countesse of Arundell She died 5 Id. of Iune Anno Christi 1378. She was interred before the high Altar Saint Andrewes Wardrobe Cernite sub Betra iacet hac Hatfeeld tumulata Et Margareta claris natalibus orta Anglica parte Patris fuerat Normannaque Matris Traxerat ex ort ..... vterque parent ..... clara Hec fuit Domina Domine Salop Comitisse Anno milleno C quater Lx quoque deno Atque die deno Iunij decessit ameno Eius prestet opem pius anime Deus Amen Prey ...... Katherin Riplingham ..... died M. cccc .... This erazed Inscription is made more plaine by the last Will and Testament of the defunct here interred of which this is a copie in effect I Dame Katherin Riplingham widow of London aduowes the xiij day of Feuerer M. cccc.lxx.iii.xiii Ed. iiii My soule to God my body to be buried in the Chancell of Seynt Andrew at Baynards Castle London I bequeth to the Monastery of Westminster to prey for the souls of my Husbands William Southcote there beryed c. I will that my Feoâ—â—ees performe the award of master Iohn Wood Clerke and Nicholas Lathell indifferently chosen betwene me and Richard Welden Squier and Elisabeth his wiff my doghtyr and Thomas S. Iohn Squier and Alice his wiff doghtyr of one Richard Langham to make a lawfull estate of all my lands in London to Elisabeth Welden my doghter the remaynder to the next heires of William Southcote sometime my Husband fader of the same Elisabyth c. I will the remaynder of all my lands to the right heires of Thomas Baysham my fader I will to my doghtyrs doghtyr Alys S Iohn my gold ryng also to my Doghtyrs son Robart Welden my Maysor which his moder heretofore gaue to me
also to my Lady Chamberlaine soiournyng with my brother Lathell my Mantell c. Saint Gregories by Pauls Here in this Church lyeth buried the body of Thomas Riplingham who was the husband of the foresaid Katherine who died An. 1469. but he is better knowne by this his will and testament This xii day of October the ix of Edward the fourth in the yeere of our Lord M. cccc.lxix aduowes first my soul to God and my body to be beryed in S. Gregories Church London I will yat the same Church haue the two Challices and a cupp pledged to me for x markes be restored to them frelie and more to the same Church I giue x markes to continually prey for my soul. I will that Katherine my wyff haue all such goods as she brought to me with her I will that Raph my Brother haue x. l and Iohn my Broder x. l and euery of my Sisters one hundred shillings to prey for my soul. Also I will that Richard my Broder haue my land in Riplingham to him and his heires for euer and as for my land in Etton I will that Iohn my Broder haue it to him and his heires for euer the remaynder in defaute to Raufe my Broder and to his heires and for defaute of yssue to the right heires of the said Richard Item to Richard Welden my best goune Item to my dauter Elisabyth a goune cloth I will that Ioan Welden my Goddauter haue x markes to her mariage Item I will to the Church of Rowley on hundryd shillings to the grey Friers of Beuerley on hundryd shillings Item to the white Friers of Sawburgh on hundryd shillings to prey for my soul and my moders Also I will yat a dozen Dishes and as many Sawsers of siluer ye which were my Lord Vesseys be deliuered to William Rilston and Iohn Fereby to be sold to my Lord Chamberlein and to Sir Thomas Burrow as we were agreed Item I will the two Obligations of the statute of the Staple concerning the summes of xii c markes and also a bagg of money conteyning cc markes be deliuered to the said William and Iohn I will another bagg of gold conteyning the summe of on c.l. pertaining to the executors of Iohn Heron be deliuered to Nicolas Statham to be disposed for the soul of Iohn Heron. Saint Fosters Lord of thy infinit grase and pitee Haue mercy on me Agnes sometym the wyf Of William Milborne chamberlein of this citee Which toke my passage fro this wrechyd lyf The yere of grase on thousand on hundryd and fyf The xii day of Iuly no longer was my spase It plesyd then my Lord to call me to his grase Now ye that are liuing and see this picture Prey for me here whyle ye haue time and spase That God of his goodnes wold me assure In his euerlasting Mansion to haue a plase Saint Peters Cheape ...... pur l'ame Nicole de Farindone .... de son Vnder this old monument as this maymed French Inscription would tell vs Nicholas Faringdon Goldsmith foure times Lord Maior of this Citie lieth intombed he was the sonne of William Faringdon Sheriffe of the same Of which two Faringdons the two Wards within and without tooke their denominations Hee liued after the first time of his Maioralitie which was An. Dom. 1309. full three and fiftie yeeres Saint Martins Nere vnto Aldersgate was sometime a faire and large Colledge of a Deane and secular Canons or Priests consecrated to the honour of Saint Martin and called Saint Martins le graund founded by Ingelricus and Edward his brother in the yeere of Christ 1056. and confirmed by William the Conquerour as appeareth by his charter dated 1068. This Colledge claimed great priuiledges of sanctuarie and other Franchises as appeareth in a booke written by a Notary of that house circa An. 1442. This Colledge was surrendred to King Edward the sixt in the second of his raigne and in the same yeere the Colledge Church was pulled downe and a Wine-Tauerne built in the place which continues to this day Saint Annes Aldersgate Orate deuote pro anima magistri Iohannis Pemberton Vtriusque iuris Bachalarij quondam Residentiar Ecclesie Cathedralis de Rippon Ebor. Diocesis huiusque etiam Eccles. Rectoris qui obijt 12 diâ— Septemb. An. Dom. 1499. Qu an tris di c vul stra os guis ti ro um nere uit H san chris mi t mu la. Quos anguis tristi diro cum munere strauit Hos sanguis Christi miro tum munere lauit Corda manus oculos aures animosque levemus Et domino voces sua sunt ei sua demus Vt tibi praeceptis mens conformetur honestis Sex animo semper sunt repetenda tuo Principio Deus est noster seruator author Hostis in opposita stat regione Sathan Tertiares presens est vita similima ventis Mors sequitur nobis quae prope semper adest Ordine sunt quinto Coeli Palatia summi Tartara sunt sexto constituenda loco Haec animo tacite secum qui saepe reuoluit Miror in hoc vitij si quid inesse potest Gualterus Haddonus Saint Iohn Zacharies Hic iacet Ioanna vxor Tho. Thorp vnius Bar. de Scaccario domini Regis Prolocutoris Parliamenti tenti apud Reding anno Regis Hen. sexti xxxi Que Ioanna obijt xxiii Iun. An. Dom. M. ccccliii cuius anime I finde this Baron Thorp to haue beene a man of many good parts and euer faithfull to his soueraigne Lord King Henry the sixt by whom hee was specially employed both in peace and warre against the violence of his headstrong Lords But in the end it was the hard happe of this vpright Exchequer man to be beheaded at High-gate by the Commons of Kent the 17 day of February An. 1461. Here lieth the body of Iohn Sutton Citizen Goldsmith and Alderman of London who died 6 Iuly 1450. This Sutton was slaine in that blacke and dismall battell by night vpon London Bridge betweene Iack Cade with his Kentish Rebels and the Citizens of London Here lieth William Breke-spere of London sometime Merchant Goldsmith and Alderman the Common-wele attendant Wyth Margaryt hys dawter late wyff of Suttoon And Thomas hur sonn yet liuyng vndyr Goddys tuitioon The tenth of Iuyl he made hys transmigration She disissyd in the yer of grase of Chrysts incarnatioon A thowsand four hundryd threescor and oon God assoyl her sowls whos bodys lye vndyr this stoon Saint Leonards Fosterlane When the bells be merely roung And the Masse deuoutly soung And the meate merely eaten Then â—all Robart Trappis his wyffs and his chyldren be forgetten Thus farre Stow. Wherfor Iesu that of Mary sproung Set their soulys thy Saynts among Though it be vndeservyd on their syde Yet good Lord let them euermor thy mercy abyde And of yowr cheritie For their soulys say a Pater
fyue hundryd and eighteen yere Inscriptions in the Stilliard the house sometime of the German-Merchants Haec domus est laeta semper bonitate repleta Hic Pax hic requies hic gaudia semper honesta Item Aurum blanditiae pater est natusque doloris Qui caret hoc maeret qui tenet hic metuit Item Qui bonis parere recusat quasi vitato fumo in flammam incidit Saint Mary Bothaw .......... Chich .... vocitatus ..... Robertus omni bonitate refertus Bauperibus largus pius extitit ad mala tardus Moribus ornatus iacet istic intumulatus Corpore procerus his Maior arte Grocerus Anno milleno C quater x quater anno ............. This Robert Chichley was Lord Maior An. 1422. hee appointed by his Testament that on his birth day acompetent dinner should be ordained for 2400 poore men housholders of this city euery man to haue two pence in money Saint Michaels Crooked lane Here lieth entombed in a Chappell of his owne foundation Sir William Walworth Knight Lord Maior of London whose manfull prowesse against that arch-Rebell VVat Tyler and his confederates is much commended in our English Chronicles his monument was shamefully defaced in the raigne of King Edward the sixt as many others were but since it was renewed by the Fishmongers he died Anno 1383. as appeareth by this Epitaph Here vnder lyth a man of Fame William Walworth callyd by name Fishmonger he was in life time here And twise Lord Maior as in bookes appere Who with courage stout and manly might Slew Wat Tyler in King Richards sight For which act done and trew entent The King made him Knight incontinent And gaue him armes as here you see To declare his fact and Chiualrie He left this life the yere of our God Thirteene hundryd fourescore and three od Iohn Philpot Nicholas Brember and Robert Launde Aldermen were knighted with him the same day To this Maior the King gaue 100 pound land yeerely and to each of the other 40 pound land by yeare to them and their heires for euer He founded a Colledge to this parish Church for a Master and nine Priests or Chaplaines Worthy Iohn Louekin Stockfishmonger of London here is leyd Four times of this City Lord Maior hee was if truth be seyd Twise he was by election of Citizens then being And twise by the commandment of his good Lord the King Cheef Founder of this Church in his life time was he Such louers of the common-welth too few ther be Of August the fourth thirteene hundryth sixty and eyght His flesh to Erth his soul to God went streyght Sir William Walworth was an apprentice to this Iohn Louekin Here lyeth wrapt in clay The body of William VVray I haue no more to say Saint Laurence Poultney This Church was increased with a Chappell of Iesus by one Thomas Cole for a Master and a Chaplaine the which Chappell and Parish-Church was made a Colledge of Iesus and of Corpus Christi for a Master and seuen Chaplaines by Iohn Poultney Maior and was confirmed by Edward the third in the twentieth of his raigne So that of him it was called Saint Laurence Poultney in Candlewickstreet This Colledge was valued at 79. l. 17. s. 11. d. per ann and surrendred in the raigne of Ed. the sixth The thrice honourable Lord Robert Radcliffe the first earle of Sussex of that name and Henry Radcliffe his sonne and heire as of his possessions so of his honours were first interred in this Collegiate Church whose relique were afterwards remoued to Boreham in Essex Saint Mary Abchurch Hac gradiens fortis tua lingua precando laboret Esto memor mortis dum virtus vivida floret Dum vita fueris quid agas circumspice mente Nam tu talis eris qualis concido repente Corpora Gilberti Melites celat lapis iste Eius vxoris Christine quos cape Christe Saint Mary Colechurch So called of one Cole the builder thereof King Henry the fourth granted licence to William Marshall and others to found a brotherhood of S. Katherine in this Church to the helpe of Gods seruice because Thomas Becket and S. Edmund Archbishops of Canterbury were baptised herein Alhallowes Barking On the North side of this Church was sometime builded a faire Chappell founded by king Richard the first and much augmented by king Edward the first Edward the fourth gaue licence to his cosin Iohn Lord Tiptost Earle of Worcester to found here a Brotherhood for a Master and Brethren And he gaue to the Custos of that Fraternitie the advowsion of the Parish Church of Stretham in Surrey with all the members and appurtenances the Priory of Totingbeck and a part of the Priory of Okeborne in Wiltshire both Priors Aliens and appointed it to be called the Kings Chantrie In Capella beate Marie de Barking king Richard the third founded herein a Colledge of Priests and reedified the decayed structure Great concourse of people came hither to our Lady of Barking a pilgrimage vntill the Colledge was suppressed and pulled downe in the second of Edward the sixth and the ground whereupon it stood imployed as a Garden plot Many funerall Monuments are yet remaining in this Parish Church which you may reade in the Suruay of this Citie Saint Mary Wolnoth Here lieth Sir Iohn Arundell knight of the Bath and knight Baneret Receiuor of the Duchy ....... Grey daughter to the Lord Marquese Dorset who died 8. Febr. the 36. of the reigne of king Hen. the 8. This Sir Iohn Arundell was of the house of Lanherne in Cornwall a family of great respect in that county Of which I shall haue further occasion to speake when I come to Saint Columbs where this mans Ancestors lye entombed The Christian name of his wife with time worne or torne out of the brasse was Elianor the third daughter of Thomas Grey Marquesse Dorset halfe brother by the mother to Edward the fifth by Cicely daughter and heire of William Bonvile Lord Harrington Quid caro letatur cum vermibus esca paratur Terre terra datur Caro nascitur moriatur Orate pro anima Simonis Eyre ......................................... vnder this defaced Monument Simon Eyre the sonne of Iohn Eyre of Brandon in Suffolk lieth interred He was Lord Maior in the yeare 1445. Hee built Leaden Hall for a common Granary for the Citie and a faire large Chappell on the East side of the Quadrant ouer the Porch whereof was painted Dextra Domini exaltauit me And on the North wall Honorandus famosus Mercator Symon Eyre huius operis Fundator He gaue 5000. l. and aboue the poore Maids marriages and did many other works of charitie Hee died the 18. day of September 1459. Saint Nicholas Acons O ye dere frendys whych sall here aftyr be Of yowr deuotion plese ye to remembyr Me Richard Payne which of this noble cite Somtym whylst I liud was
none and ye wolde turne therto Me seeth a bond mannes sone somtym a knyght bycome And of a grom a Squyer and aftur knyghts some And such ye haueth the forme of men beth men in alle wise And torneth yow to Manhede and kepeth youre Franchise So it followes how this Bishop went into little Britaine and entreated Aldroennus the king there to send ouer Constantine his brother with a certaine number of men by whose helpe the enemie might bee expelled which was granted and performed accordingly Fastidius Priscus succeeded him in the gouernement of this See who writ diuers bookes of diuine learning mentioned by Bale Hee was a sincere expositor of the sacred Scriptures and a painefull Preacher throughout the whole kingdome Cui abunde suppeditebant cum perbenigno ingenio excellens memoria morum integritas et vita incorrupta quibus cumulatissime caeteros suae gentis praecedebat verbi Praecones He flourished vnder Honorius and Theodosius Emperours 420. By an old namelesse Chronicle which I haue read one Ternekine succeeded Fastidius a piercing wise Prelate into matters of state and in speciall fauour with Aurelius Ambrose King of great Britaine but Vodinus followeth next in the catalogue a man of singular deuotion and good life who for reprehending King Vortigers vnlawfull marriage with Rowenna Hengists daughter his lawfull wife being then liuing was barbarously murdered by the said Hengist and with him many other Priests and religious Persons circa an 452. After the comming of the Saxons the succession of Archbishops was still continued in London for the space of many yeares but secretly euen vntill the time that S. Gregorie sent Augustine hither I finde onely one of them named to wit Theonus who with Thadiocus or Tadiacus of which I haue spoken before in Rochester Bishop of Yorke taking their Clergie with them got them into Wales and Cornewall to the rest of their countrimen whom the Saxons had lately driuen thither this man did not write himselfe Archbishop which is one cause of some controuersie amongst our Historiographers Saint Michaels Cornehill Here lyeth Robert Fabian Alderman and Sheriffe of London who composed a laborious Chronicle of England and France with the monuments and the succession of the Lord Maiors of London and died Anno Dom. 1511. for whom this Epitaph was made now altogether defaced Like as the day his course doth consume And the new morrow springeth againe as fast So man and woman by Natures custome This life to passe at last in earth are cast In ioy and sorrow which here their time doe wast Neuer in one state but in course transitorie So full of change is of this world the glory Hic iacet in tumulo Doctor venerabilis Hugo Dauset olim Rector vere fideique protector M C quater .x. ter ix sit et I sex Aprilisque die ter I V semel I migrat ille Here vndyr was beryed Robart Barnes by name Citizon of London and Mercer of the same And this is written that others may remembyr How godly he departed the twentyth on of Nouembyr ................... Here lyth the body of Iohn Bootes wiff Dissoluyd by deth to her fyrst matter dust Who from the cares of this world departyd her liff The twenty third day of the monyth of August On thowsand fyue hundryd and seuen beyng threescore yeerys old iust Saint Benets Grasse Church Prey for the saulygs of Henry Denne and Ioan his wyf theyr fadyrs theyr modyrs Bredyrs and good frendys and of al Christian saulygs Iesu haue mercy Amen who departyd this lif .... M. cccc.lxxxxi Saint Bartholomewes exchange Vpon an old Tombe the defunct thus seemeth to pray Exte vite principium per te vite remedium In te vite solatium da nobis vite premium Genitor ineffabilis ipsius prolis Paracliti consimilis memento vite fragilis This monument by relation was made to the memorie of Thomas Pike Alderman who with the assistance of Nicholas Yoo one of the Sheriffes of this Citie about the yeare 1438. new builded this Church Hic ..... Willielmus Capel .... Maior Lon ... fil Iohannis Capel ... Neyland in com ... ob ... 1509. Out of this broken Inscription I fynde this whole history how that Sir Richard Empson Knight a Sieue-makers sonne in Tocester and Edmund Dudley Esquire both Lawiers were two instruments for King Henry the seuenth to enrich his and their owne coffers and to empouerâ—sh the subiects by way of calling the richer sort into question for breach of old moth eaten vnreuiued penall Lawes amongst many others whom they most treacherously abused by a false packt Iurie they scruzed from this Sir William Capell aboue sixteene hundred pounds and some twelue or thirteene yeeres after they were at him againe afresh for two thousand pounds more which because he would not pay he was commanded by Dudley Prisoner to the Tower but by the death of the said King which happened the same yeere he was released both of imprisonment and payment in which yeere he also departed this world in the loue of all good men leauing a great inheritance and an honourable remembrance to his posteritie and not long after Empson and Dudley cater-pillers of the common-wealth hatefull to all good people were beheaded on the Tower hill the 17. of August 1510. leauing behinde them nothing they could dispose of for their heires saue the staine of euerlasting infamie He lyeth here entombed in a Chappell of his owne Foundation he was the sonne of Iohn Capell of Stoke Neyland in the county of Suffolke Saint Bennets Finke O God the father of heauyn which art the euerlastyng lyght Haue mercy on the sowl of me poor Water Knyght Who departyd this lyf the monyth of Ianuary In the yere of my Redemer on M .... and fifty Borne I was in Canterbery in the County of Kent Sonne to on Iohn Knyght and Alyse his wife this is verament And to be short all worldly things to confound Of the Earth I was made and to the Earth I am retournd Within this Parish was the Hospitall of Saint Anthony sometime a cell belonging to Saint Anthonies of Vienna founded by King Henry the third for a Master two Priests one Schoolemaster and twelue poore men the reuenewes of this house were much augmented and the number of the houshold increased by King Henry the sixt and Edward the fourth to which Iohn Tate Mercer was a right bountifull benefactor who was here entombed vnder a faire monument he died Anno 1514. and so was VVater Champion Sheriffe of London 1529. who was here buried The lands by yeare of this Hospitall were valued in the 37. yeare of Henry the eight to be 55 l. sixe shillings 8 d. Stow in his Suruay saith that one Iohnson Schoole-master of this Hospitall and Prebend of Windsor spoiled both the Schoole and Hospitall and the Quire of the Church conuayed away the Plate and ornaments then the Bels
Iordan Briset hauing first founded the Priory of Nunnes here by Clerkenwell as aforesaid bought of the said Nunnes ten Acres of ground giuing them for the said ten Acres twenty Acres of land in his Lordship of Willinghale or Wellinghall in Kent Vpon which ground lying neare vnto the said Priory hee laid the foundation of a religious structure for the knights Hospitalers of S. Iohn of Ierusalem These following are the words out of the Register booke of the Deedes of the said house written by one Iohn Stilling-fleete a brother of the house circa ann 1434. to the end that their benefactors names being knowne they may be daily remembred in their prayers Iordanus Briset Baro tempore regis Hen. primi circa an Dom. 110. fundauit domum ac Hospitale S. Iohns de Clerkenwel Hic etiam erat Fundator domus Monialium de Clerkenwel ac ab eis emit decem acras terre super quas dictum Hospitale ac domum fundauit pro illis decem acris terre dedit illis Monialibus viginti acras terre in Dominico suo de Willinghale in com Cant. c. In ye yere of Criste as I haue the words out of an old Mss 1185. ye vj. Ides of Merche ye dominical lettre being F ye Chyrche of ye Hospitall of S Iohns Ierusalem was dedicatyd to ye honor of S. Iohn Baptiste by ye worschypfull fader Araclius Patriarke of ye resurrection of Christe ye sam dey was dedycatyd ye hygh Altrâ— and ye Altre of S. Iohn Euangelist by ye sam Patryarke The said Heraclius in the same yeare dedicated the Church of the new Temple as hereafter is spoken Within a short time this Hospitall began to flourish for infinite were the donations of all sorts of people to this Fraternitie as in the Beadroul of their benefactors is specified but aboue all their Benefactors they held themselues most bound to Roger de Mowbray whose liberalitie to their order was so great that by a common consent in their chapiter they made a decree that himselfe might remit and pardon any of the Brotherhood whomsoeuer in case he had trespassed against any of the statutes and ordinances of their order confessing and acknowledging withall his offence and errour And also the knights of this order granted in token of thankefulnesse to Iohn de Mowbray Lord of the Isle of Axholme the successour of the foresaid Roger that himselfe and his successours in euery of their couents assemblies as well in England as beyond seas should be receiued entertained alwaies in the second place next to the King Thus through the bounty both of Princes priuate persons they rose to so high an estate and great riches that after a sort saith Camden they wallowed in wealth for they had about the yeere of our Lord 1240. within christendome nineteene thousand Lordships or Manours like as the Templars nine thousand the reuenewes and rents whereof fell afterwards also to these Hospitallers And this estate of theirs growne to so great an height made way for them to as great honours so as the Priore of this house was reputed the prime Baron of the land being able with fulnesse abundance of all things to maintaine an honourable port And thus they flourished for many yeeres in Lordly pompe vntill a Parliament begun the 18. of April 1540. Anno 32. Henry 8. their corporation was vtterly dissolued the King allowing to euery one of them onely a certaine annuall pension during their liues as you may reade in the Annals of England The value of this foundation in the Kings bookes was 3385 l. 19 s. 8 d. of ancient yeerely rent This Priory Church and house was preserued from spoile or downe pulling so long as Henry the 8 raigned but in the 3 of King Ed. the sixt the Church for the most part with the great Bell-tower a most curious piece of workemanship grauen gilt and enameld to the great beautifying of the Citie saith Stow was vndermined and blowne vp with Gun-powder the stone whereof was imployed in building of the Lord Protectors house in in the Strand The Charter-house Sir Walter Manny Knight of the Garter Lord of the towne of Manny in the Dioces of Cambrey beyond the seas in that raging pestilence in the 23 of King Ed. the 3. when Churches Church-yards in London might not suffice to bury the dead purchased a piece of ground in this place called Spitle croft containing 13 acres and a Rodd and caused the same to bee enclosed for burials and dedicated by Raph Stratford Bishop of London in which place and in the same yeere more then 50000 persons were buried in regard of such a multitude here interred he caused a Chappell here to be builded wherein Offerings were made and Masses said for the soules of so many Christians departed And afterwards about the yeere 1371. he caused here to be founded an house of Carthusian Monkes which he called the Salutation which house at the dissolution was valued to be yeerely worth sixe hundred forty two pounds foure pence halfe penny Iohn Stow saith that he had read this Inscription following fixed on a stone crosse sometime standing in the Charter-house Church yard Anno Domini M. ccc.xl.ix Regnante magna pestilentia consecratum fuit hoc Cemiterium in quo infra septa presentis Monasterij sepulta fuerunt mortuorum Corpora plusquam quinquaginta millia preter alia multa abhinc vsque ad presens quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen This inscription vpon the foresaid Stone Crosse as also the relation before was taken out from the words of his charter the substance whereof followeth Walterus Dns. de Many c. cum nuper pestilentia esset tam grandis viâ—lenta in ciuitate London quod Cemiteria Ecclesiae ciuitatis non possunt sufficere pro sepultura a personarum in eadem pestilentia discedentia nos moti pietate habentes respectum c. Purchased 13. acres of land without Smithfield Barres in a place called Spitle croft and now called new Church-Haw for the buriall of the persons aforesaid and haue caused the place to be blessed by Raph then Bishop of London in which place plus quam Quinquaginta millia personarum de dicta pestilentia morientium sepulti fuere And there for our Ladies sake wee founded a Chappel of the holy order of the Cartusians made there a Monastery by consent of the Prior or Cartuse Maior in Sauoy c. for the health of King Edward the third and Dame Margaret his wife Hijs Testibus Iohn Hastings of Penbroke Humfrey Bohun of Hereford Edmund Mortymer of Marâ—h and William de Monteacuto of Sarum Earles Iohn de Barnes Maior of London William de Walworth and Robert de Gayton Sheriffes Dat apud London 20 Martij Anno Regni Reg. Ed. 3.45 Sir Walter Manny or de Manie the foresaid Founder was buried here in his owne Church who deceased in the same yeere that he
who inuaded his Territories in his absence whilst he was prosecuting the warres in Ireland and returned from that battell a triumphant Conquâ—rour 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 Mâ—dice 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
imports was seruant to Katherine Swinford the third wife of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Hic iacet Iohannes de Chandry quondam Nolettus Domini Ducis Lankastrie .... This mans office vnder the Duke of Lancaster was to ring as I take it the Sance or sacring Bell. Hic iacet Richardus Pynere quondam Botelere cum Regina Anglie qui obitt xxii Ianuar. M. cccc xix A Flagon and a cuppe cut in brasse vpon his graue stone Hic iacet venerabilis Armiger Iohannes Ingylby qui obiit festo Mathei Apostoli et Euangeliste 1457. This Iohn was in especiall fauour and did wonderfully flourish in the seruice of King Henry the sixt A familie of great antiquity in the Countie of Yorke By these Funerall Monuments it appeares that diuers Princes of this Land haue often made their residence in this Towne by which meanes it hath beene in former times of great state estimation and beautie but now for want of that generall conuention the Castle built before the Conquest by Edward the Elder is greatly decayed these Parish Churches much ruined and the Towne neither greatly inhabited nor much frequented Here in this Towne was a Priory of blacke Monkes valued in the Exchequer to be yeerely worth fourescore and sixe pounds fourteene shillings eight pence A Cell it was to Saint Albans founded by Raph Limsey a Nobleman and dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the raigne of the Conquerour I haue my authority out of the Collections of Thomas Talbot sometime keeper of the Records in the Tower a great Genealogist these are his words Raph Lord Limsey buried in the Priorie of Hertford which he founded he came into England with the Conquerour and was his sisters sonne as the Monkes of the same house report Port Or three Eagles heads gules One Robert Sotingdon or Sadington a man in great fauour with Henry the third and vnder him in honourable office fell sicke in his iourney being Iustice Itinerant in this towne in the yeare 1257. and was here interred One Sir Robert Sadington Knight was Lord Chancelour of England Anno 1345. and Sir Richard Sadinton Lord Treasurer much what about the same time as in the Catalogue of both you may read Ware Hic iacet Thomas Bourchier miles filius Henrici comitis Essex ac Isabella vxor eius nuper comitissa Deuon filia et heres Iohannis Barry militis qui obijt .... 1491 .... et Isabella ob 1 die Marcij 1488. quorum animabus This Thomas Bourchier was the first sonne saith Vincent of Henry Bourchier the first of that surname Earle of Essex and this Isabell the daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Barry Knight was when the said Thomas married her the widow of Humfrey Lord Stafford of Southwike sonne of William Stafford of Hooke Esquire created Earle of Deuon by King Edward the fourth to whom the said King gaue all the Honours Mannors Castles c. which were Thomas Courtneys the fourteenth Earle of Deuon who neuerthelesse grew ingratefull to King Edward his aduancer in reuolting from him at the battaile of Banbury for which cowardise hee being apprehended was without processe executed at Bridgewater the seuenteenth of August anno 1469. hauing beene Earle but three moneths Hic iacent Rogerus Damory Baro tempore Edwardi secundi et Elizabetha tertia silia Gilberti Clare comitis Glocestrie et Iohanne vxoris eius filie Edwardi primi v. cate Iohann de Acris ..... This Roger Damory was Baron of Armoye in Ireland and Elizabeth his wife the Founder of Clare Hall in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge of which more hereafter Iean Lucas gist icy Dieu de salme eit mercy This is an ancient monument so is the familie At the north end of this Towne was a Frierie whose ruines not altogether beaten downe are to be seene at this day founded by Baron Wake Lord of this Towne about the raigne of King Iohn dedicated to Saint Francis and surrendred the 9 of May 26 Henry 8. Here lieth Thomas Heton Ione his wife which Thomas died xix Aug. M. cccc.ix and Ioyce ... ... Will. Litlebury and Elizabeth his wife he died xxii of Iuly M. cccc Watton Hic iacet corpus domini Philippi Butler militis quondam Domini de Woodhall et hutus Ecclesie Patroni qui obijt in festo Sancti Leonardi Anno Domini M. cccc.xxi et Regis Henrici quinti post conquestum vltimo Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Camden saith that these Butlers are branched from Sir Raph Butler Baron of Wem in Shropshire and his wife heire to William Pantulfe Lord of Wem soone after the first entrie of the Normans Hunsdon In this Church are the right ancient and honourable familie of the Caryes enterred to whose memory I finde no monument saue one vnder which Iohn Cary Baron of Hunsdon lieth entombed father to the right honourable Lord Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon Viscount Rochford and Earle of Douer now liuing Grandchild to Henry Baron of Hunsdon Lord Chamberlaine and Cosin german to Queene Elizabeth and descended from the royall familie of the Dukes of Somerset Francisco Poyno Equiti literis prudentia armis fauore sui Principis et pietate insigni Domina Iohanna pia et amans vxor Charo marito posuit 1520. This name is ancient and honourable Sir Hugh Poynes being one of the ranke of Parliamentarie Barons in the raigne of King Edward the first Eppalets or Hippolites vulgarly Pallets This Church was dedicated saith Norden in his description of Hertfordshire to a supposed Saint called Eppalet whose reliques lie buried about the high Altar This man in his life time was a good tamer of Colts and as good a Horse-leach And for these qualities so deuoutly honoured after his death that all passengers by that way on Horse-backe thought themselues bound to bring their Steedes into the Church euen vp to the high Altar where this holy Horseman was shrined and where a Priest continually attended to bestow such fragments of Eppalets miracles as would either tame yong horses cure lame iades or refresh old wearied and forworne Hackneyes which did auaile so much the more or lesse as the passengers were bountifull or hard-handed Baldock Here is an ancient Monument and an old Inscription which I often meete with Farwel my frendys the tydabidyth no man I am departed hens and so sal ye But in this pasage the best song I can Is Requiem Eternam now Iesu grant it me When I haue ended all myn aduersity Grant me in Paradys to hav a mansion That shedst thy bloud for my redemption Prey for the sowlys of William Crane Ioane and Margaret his wyffs ... which William died ... 1483. ... on whos Orate pro ... Wilielmi Vynter generosi et Margarete consortis sue qui quidem Wilielmus obijâ— 2 Iunii 1416. et Margareta ob ... Octob. 1411. eorum animabus parentum amicorum bene factorum
procured his lands and reuenues backe againe from the Conquerour and by himselfe and his forcible perswasions with others he did further enrich his Abbey with many faire possessions 15 Richard succeeded him who solemnly magnificently did consecrate the Church which his predecessour Paul had finished and built a Chappell of himselfe to the honour of Saint Cuthbert in which hee was entombed with this Epitaph Abbas Richardus iacet hic vt pistica nardus Redolens virtutum floribus et merit is A quo fundatus locus est hic edisicatus Ingenti studio nec modico precio Quem nonas decimas Februo promente Kalendas Abslulit vltima sors et rapuit cita mors 16 Geffrey the Abbot gaue many rich ornaments to this his Monastery with a Challice and a couer all of massie pure gold which afterwards hee sent to Pope Celestine the second vt ipsius sedaret auaritiam volent is hanc Ecclesiam appropriare that he might appease or mitigate the couetousnesse of his holy father of Rome who was willing and went about to impropriate this Abbey Abbas Galfridus Papa cui fuit ipse molestus Hic iacet innocuus prudens pius atque modeslus 17 Raph his successor built anew the lodgings for the Abbots and gaue diuers rich Copes and Vestments for the ornament of his Church 18 Robert was the next Abbot who procured the Church of Luton to be annexed to this and deliuered his Monastery from the seruitude of the Bishop of Lincolne which was a controuersie of long continuance and in the end agreed vpon by composition which agreement was confirmed by Alexander the third Bishop of Rome about the yeare 1178. as by his Bull to that purpose appearent Bulla de compositione facta inter Lincoln Ecclesiam et Ecclesiam beati Albani Alexander Episcopus seruus seruoruÌ„ Dei. Dilecto filio Roberto Abbati monasterij Sancti Albani Salutem et apostolicam ben Ea que compositione seu concordia mediante rationabili prouidentia statuuntur in sua debent stabilitate consistere Et ne alicuius temeritate in posterum valeant immutari Apostolice sedis ea conuenit auctoritate muniri Ea propter dilecte in Domino fili Roberte tuis postulationibus grato concurrentes assensu compositionem que inter Lincoln Ecclesiam et monasterium beati Albani super Processionibus de Herfordshira de quibus inter vtramque Ecclesiam controuersia fuerat sicut in instrumento exinde facto continetur vtriusque partis assensu rationabiliter facta est tibi et prefate Ecclesie tue auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus Statuentes vt nulli omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis dei et beatorum Petrie et Pauli Apostolorum eius se neuerit incursurum Dat. Auagn xi Kal. Feb. pontificatus nostri anno vij About twenty yeares afterwards vpon some new quarrels belike arising betweene the two foresaid Churches this composition and transaction was againe confirmed by Clemens the third in these words Clemens Episcopus seruus seruorum dei dilectis filijs Abbati et conuentui Sancti Albani Salutem et Apostolâ—cam ben Cum inter vos ex vna parte et Ecclesiam Lincolnien et Capitulum eius ex altera controuersia verteretur super eo quod Capitulum ipsum Ecclesiam vestram proponebat Ecclesie Lincolnien de iure esse subiectam inter vos concordia de assensu partium intercesserit Nos itaque volentes que super causarum litigijs concordia vel iuditio rationabiliter statuuntur firmitatem perpetuam optinere et ne processu temporis in scrupulum recidue contentionis deueniaâ—t literarum amminutulis memorie commendare concordiamillam sicut rationabiliter facta est et ab vtraque parte recepta et in scripto autentico continetur auctoritate Apostolica conâ—irmamus et presentis Scripti patrocinio communuimus Statuentes vt nulli as before Dat. Lateran Id. Martij Pontisicatus nostri Anno secundo 19 Symon Abbot caused many bookes to be written for the vse of the Couent in his time one Adam Steward of the monastery made the Kitchin much more large and gaue both money and lands to the Couent and Monastery ideo saith my Author ob preclara eius merita inter Abbates in capitulo sepulturam meruit optinere therefore for his good deserts hee deserued to be buried in the Chapter-house amongst the Abbots 20 Carine caused a coffin and a Shrine to be new made wherein he put the reliques of Saint Amphibalus Richard Cordelion King of England being taken prisoner by Leopold Duke of Austria and his ransome set at one hundred thousand pound commandement was directed from his Iustices that all Bishops Prelates Earles Barons Abbots and Priors should bring in the fourth part of their reuenues towards his deliuerance at which time the shrines in the Churches were fleeced and their Chalices coined into ready money yet this Abbot quia Regi erat amicissimus redeemed the Chalices and all other the rich offerings to the glorious shrines within his Church for two hundred markes This Carine was the first Abbot of this house that was dignified with Miter and Croisier 21 Iohn de Cella did many workes of piety and purchased the Church of Saint Stephen with certaine lands thereunto adioyning for one hundred and twenty markes which he did assigne to the Officers of his Kitchin 22 William amongst many of his pious acts reedified Saint Cuthberts Chappell being as then ruinous and ready to fall downe which hee new made in the honour of Saint Cuthbert Saint Iohn the Baptist and Saint Agnes the Virgine vpon which dedication he caused these verses to be insculped ouer the high Altar Confessor Cuthberte Dei Baptista Iohannes Agnes virgo tribus vobis hec ara sacratur 23 Iohn of Hertford was a great benefactor to this Abbey 24 His successor Roger did wondrously loue the beautie of the house of God which he euidently did demonstrate by the great cost and charges he bestowed vpon this his owne Church besides he caused to be made three tunable Bels for the Steeple two to the honour of Saint Alban and the third to Saint Amphibalus which he appointed to be rung at nine a clocke euery night whereupon it was called the Corfue or couer fire bell 25 After Roger succeeded Iohn of Berkamstede of whom because hee did nothing memorable in his life time nothing shall be spoken in this present page Sed taman Lectorem monemus saith the Booke vt conuertatur ad pietatis opera et omnipotenti deo pro eius anima preces fundat 26 Iohn Marines gaue a Censer to his church of a great price besides many other necessaries 27 Hugh his successor inlarged the reuenues of his church with many faire possessions and obtained of Edward the second diuers great gifts with a crucifixe of gold beset with precious stones a cup of
cccc.xlii et Katherina vxor eius que ... Quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen This Towne was beautified by King Henry the first with a colledge of blacke Canons who granted the same as a cell to the Canons of Saint Osiths in Essex Her reuenues were augmented by Richard Beauveys Bishop of London who is reckoned as a cofounder with the said King the value of it was 48 pounds 8 shillings 9. pence Mettingham Sir Iohn sirnamed de Norwich Lord of this place built here a foure square Castle and a Colledge or Chantrie within it which he dedicated to the honour of God and the blessed Virgin Mary which was valued at the suppression to bee yearely worth in lands two hundred two pounds seuen shillings fiue pence halfe penny which was surrendred the 8 of Aprill 33 Hen. the eight Brusyerd A Monastery of Nunnes dedicated to the blessed Virgin by whom â—ounded or in whose time I haue not learned valued it was at 56 pound two shillings and a penny per annum and surrendred the 17. of February in the thirtith yeare of King Henry the eight VVangford Here sometimes stood a Priory or a Cell of blacke Monkes Cluniakes dedicated to the honour of the Virgin Mary founded by one Ansered of France valued at the suppression to be worth thirty pounds nine shillings fiue pence by yeare and surrendred the sixteenth of February 32 Hen. 8. Bungey Here was a Nunnery founded by Roger Glanuil and Gundreda his wife or as others say by the Ancestors of Thomas de Brotherton Earle of Norfolke valued at the downefall of religious houses at sixtie two pounds two shillings and a penny and of it I know no further Sotterley Towards the vppermost end of the Chancell of this Church lieth a large Grauestone with two full proportioned pictures in brasse and this Inscription at the feete of them Orate pro animabus Thome Playsers Armigeri nuper huius Ecclesie Patroni et Anne vxoris eius et sororis et heredis Rogeri Henays nuper de Tadington Armigeri qui quidem Thomas obijt xxi die mensis Septembris anno M. cccc.lxxix et predicta Anna obijt x. die mensis Octobris ex tunc prox sequent Quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen In the same Chancell is a Tombe of free stone couered with a faire marble with this following Inscription in brasse about it Here lyeth buried the body of VVilliam Playfers Esquire sonne and heire to Thomas and Anne his wife who married Iane daughter of sir of Knots Hall Knight by whom hee had issue diuers children and dyed the xi day of Nouember anno M.D.xii Adioyning to this is another Tombe with the Effigies of a man cut in brasse and this Inscription at his feete Here vnder lyeth buried the body of Christopher Playfers Esquire true Patron of this Church sonne and heire to VVilliam and Iane his wife who had two wiues videlicet Dorothy one of the daughters and heires of VVilliam Aselak of Carrow in the County of Norfolke Esquire by whom he had issue Thomas and by Anne daughter to VVilliam Read of Becles Esquire he had issue seuen sonnes and foure daughters and he dyed in the yeare of our Lord God M.D.xlvii Here likewise lye buried the bodies of Thomas Playfers Esquire and of VVilliam Playfers Esquire Patrons of this Church but they dyed but of late yeares Thomas died the 19 of September 1572. and VVilliam the first day of Iune 1584. Orate pro anima Roberti Bumpsted generosi qui obijt xv die mensis Aprilis anno Domini M. cccc.lxxxii Eay or Eye Where was a Monastery of blacke Monkes consecrated to Saint Peter and founded by Robert Malet a Norman Baron Lord of the Iland of Eye so called because it is watered on euery side with brookes where are to bee seene the rubbish ruines and decaied walles of an old Castle that belonged to the said Robert Malet whose donations which were many and great were confirmed by King Stephens Charter of which thus much as followeth out of Selden in his History of Tithes cap. 11. which hee had from the originall Quoniam diuina miserecordia prouidente cognonimus esse dispositum et longè lateque predicante Ecclesia sonat omnium auribus diuulgatum Quod Eleemosynarum largitione possunt absolui vincula peccatorum et adquiri celestium premia gaudiorum Ego ✚ Stephanus Dei gratia Anglorum Rex partem habere volens cum illis qui felici commercio celestia pro terrenis commutant Dei amore compunctus et pro salute anime mee ✚ et patris mei matrisque mee et omnium parentum meorum ✚ et antecessorum meorum Regum ✚ VVillielmi scilicet Regis Aui mei ✚ et VVillielmi Regis Avunculi mei ✚ et Henrici Regis Auunculi mei ✚ et Roberti Malet et concilio Baronum meorum Concedo Deo et Ecclesie Sancti Petri de Eia et Monachis ibidem in Dei seruitio congregatis vt habeant omnes res suas quetas et liberas ah omni exactione et teneant eas in terris in Decimis in Ecclesiis in omnibus possessionibus sicut vnquam melius honorabilius tenuerunt tempore Roberti Malet et tempore meo antequam Rex essem cum Soca et Soca et Tol et Tiem et Infanganathief â— precipio etiam vt teneant de quocunque tenehant et non mittantur in placitum sicut tenebant die quam Henricus Rex fuit viuus et mortuus et die qua ad Regni coronam perveni c. Dat. Anno ab Incarnatione Domini M.C.xxxvii apud Eia secundo Anno Regni mei in tempore Ebrardi Episcopi Norwicensis et Gausleni Prioris Eie Quicunque aliquid de his que in hac carta continentur auferre aut minuere aut disturbare scienter voluerit autoritate Domini Omnipotentis patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti et Sanctorum Apostolorum et omnium Sanctorum sit excomunicatus Anathematizatus et a consortio Domini et liminibus Sancte Ecclesie sequestratus donec resipiscat et Regie potestati xxx libras auri persoluat Fiat Fiat Fiat Amen Amen Amen This Foundation in Lands Tithes and Churches was rated to bee yearely worth one hundred fourescore and foure pounds nine shillings seuen pence halfe pennie qua Ockley or Okeley At the East end of the Chancell lyeth a Grauestone with this Inscription Orate pro animabus Willelmi Cornwalleis et Elisabethe vxoris sue qui quidem Willelmus obiit anno Domini M.D.xx. Quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen Hic iacet Robertus Bucton Armiger Dominus Patronus istius ville qui obiit xvii die mensis Decembris anno Domini M. ccccviii cuius anime propitietur Deus In the heart of the Chancell lieth a Tombestone with this Inscription Orate pro anima Domini Iohannis Dennis quondam Rectoris istius Ecclesie qui
From a Cell to Saint Albans it was aduanced to an Abbey vpon the occasion following set downe by Iohn Wheathamstead Iohn the seuenth of that Christian name Abbot of Saint Albans could not endure a certaine Monke of the house whom hee had made Archdeacon whose name was Stephen London because hee would tell him sometimes of his faults Ordine septenus dum rexit ouile Iohannes Et baculum gessit cetumque gregis benedixit Nunquam pacifico bene cernere sciuit ocello Quendâ—m confratrem quem fecerat Archileuitam Therefore to be rid of his company whose lookes and admonishments were so distastfull the Abbot perswades the Archleuite or Archdeacon to take vpon him the charge of this Priory of Windham as then void of a Gouernour in these or the like words Ecce Prioratus Wymundam nomine dictus Iam vacat absque patre vacans stat et absque Priore Huic te prefecimus in prepositumque creamus Cur se disponas â—ilec cito quoque pergas Est lacus insignis apud et nos grandis honoris The Archdeacon Stephen accepts of this promotion which is thus in â—he said Manuscript exprest Aduertens Frater quod erat sibi victricus alter Pastor et ille sibi quasi prenignus stomachanti Censuit expediens per tempus vt absoret absens Quam mâ—lâ— sub curuo sic viuere semper ocello Illius in placâ—â—um necflexum cernere vultum Pergere consensit elluc properans et adiuit This Stephen pleased both his flocke and Founder wondrous well but displeased his Father the foresaid Abbot Iohn of S. Albans who within the yeare sent expresse commandement to discharge him of his Priorship which was hainously taken both by himselfe and his Patron or Founder whose name saith my Author was one Andrew Ogard Miles preualidus miles locuplesque peritus In so much that they ioyned in petition to the Pope that it would 〈…〉 Holinesse that the Abbey of S. Albans might haue no iurisdiction 〈◊〉 the Priory of Windham that the Priory might be altered into an Abâ—â—â— and that the Prior thereof might euer after be honoured with the title 〈◊〉 Abbot which was granted as you may reade in these subsequent verses Optinuit tandem Prior Abbas vt sit ibidem Ac Abbathia que cella prius fuit vna Istius Eccelesie sic migrauit sine fine Non sine dedecote dicti Patris que rubore The time of this alteration was in the beginning of the raigne of Henry the fourth as it is explained thus by the said Whethamstead M. semel quinus C quater tune fuit annus De tanto demptis numero tantummodo binis Cum fuerant facta iam dicta priusque peracta Ista modo celle retractio pre recitate Tunc exeunte septeno Patre Iohanne Et Fundatore famoso milite valde Ogard Andreas fuerat qui nomine dictus Stephanus et London Abbas qui primus ibidem But now at length for I haue beene too long holden in this brable to come to the burials in this Abbey Church First the Founder William de Albeney Earle of Arundell vpon whose Monument this Epitaph was engrauen Hunc Pincerna locum fundauit et hic iacet illa Quae dedit huic domui iam sine fine tenet He died the third yeare of King Henry the second William de Albeney sonne of the said William Earle of Arundell he died at Wauerley in Surrey the fourth of the Ides of October 1176. VVillelmus comes de Arundel senior obijt apud VVauerley 4 Iâ— Octobris 1176. VVilliam Albeny the third Earle of Arundell and Sussex who went with Richard the first into the Holy Land and remained with him in Almania all the time of his imprisonment and being full of yeares died presently vpon his returne with K. Richard the day before the Nones of May 1196. Hoc anno 1193. obijt VVillelmus comes iunior de Arundel in vigilia Natiuitatis Christi say the Annals of Wauerley aforesaid VVilliam de Albeny the fourth Earle of Arundell and second of Sussex the inheritor of his fathers honours and vertues who together with Ranulph Earle of Chester Sayer de Quincy Earle of Winchester VVilliam Earle Ferrers Robert Lord Fitzâ—water Iohn Constable of Chester and VVilliam Harecourt with a great traine tooke his iourney to the Holy Land and after the winning of Damieta in Palestine in his returne home wards died the yeare 1221. at a little towne beyond Rome called Kameâ—â— VVillelmus comes de Arundel rediens de ciuitate Damiet moritur vlera Romam apud quoddam oppidulum Kamel nomine Cuius corpus membratim diuisum ex ipsius iussione in Anglia transportatum est et apud Wymuna ham sepultum anno 1221. Hugh de Albeney brother and heire of the foresaid VVilliam who died without issue in the yeare 1243. the 28 of King Henry the third Sir Andrew Ogard Knight and Patron of the Priory Sir Iohn Clifton Knight 1447. and Dame Ione his wife Dame Margaret daughter of Sir Iohn Clifton and wife to Sir Andrew Ogard Ione daughter of Iohn Lonell Izoâ— Arderne A gentleman called None who because hee gaue nothing to the Religious of this house had this nicking Distich made to his memory Hic situs est Nullus quia nullo nullior iste Et quia Nullus erat de nullo nil tibi christe Here lyeth None one worse then none for euer thought And because None of none to thee O Christ giues nought I haue read another Epitaph of this sirname but not so well rimed Hic recubat Nullus nullo de sanguine cretus Nullus apud viuos Nullus apud Superos None lieth here of linage none descended Amongst men None None mongst the Saints befrended Reynham East Orate pro anima Iohannis Towneshend silij Rogeri et Elianore qui obijt iiii die Octobris Ann. Dom. M. cccclxv There is also a very faire Tombe of the sonne as it seemeth of the said Iohn and Elenor for vpon it are the same coates quartered as vpon the other It hath no Inscription but in likelyhood it is the Tombe of Sir Roger Towneshead one of the Iudges of the Common Pleas in the time of King Henry the seuenth Stratton On the North side of this Church there lieth one buried in the wall vnder a marble vpon which is the resemblance of a man crosse-legged all in male armour his belt by his side and other accoutrements of great antiquitie some gesse him to haue beene one of the Bardolfes Barons of great Nobilitie in this Tract who flourished a long time in honourable estate Thornage Here is a faire Tombe vnder which lieth buried Anne Lady and wife of Sir Clement Heigham knight who died .... aetatis 84. Higham a Towne in Suffolke which giues name to this worthy very ancient family of Higham Michael Lord Montaigne in his Essay of Glory writes that his Ancestors haue beene surnamed Higham I haue no name saith
of Edward Barry Ioan Lady Barry Sir Iohn Barry knight Isabell â—â—dy Barry Sir â—ill Barry knight Humfrey Barry Robert Barry the first in 〈◊〉 land that broughthawke to hand Vide Vincent contra Brooke pag. 130. * M S. Tho Talbot clerici Rotulorum in um Lond. Mathew Paris pag 342 Selden in his Titles of Honour of Barons Plota 18. H 3. apud Westm. Bracton de Exceptionibus li. 5. cap. 9 pag. 5. Supersedeas de An. 8. Ed. 2. in dorso â— Austin Archbishop â—olidor the Popes collectour â— Honorius Archbishop Hist. Eccl. Ang. Sexâ— sar c. 8. S. Deodat Archbishop M Drayton Polyol 24 Song S. Theodore Archbishop â— Odo Archbishop S. Dunstane Archbishop * instant * holy Capgraue Song 1â— S. Elphege Arch. Martyr Rob. Glocest. S. Egelnoth Archbishop Godwin â— Eaâ—â—â—â—e Archbishop S. Lanfranke Archbishop S. Anselm Archbishop S. Thomas commonly called Thomas of Canterbury * honourd S. Edmund Archbishop Miss in bib Cott. 〈◊〉 Popes absolute power Hâ—s tyâ—â—nny The conclusion of this Diocesie The 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 Conuention for the 〈◊〉 The Archbishops 〈◊〉 the generall 〈◊〉 Lambard The end of the strife for the Primacie Hardinâ— ca. 88 Lamb. peramb. Paulinus Bishop of Rochester and first of Yorke Beda l. 2. c. â— Mss. in bib Cot. Bedal 〈◊〉 â— Camd. in Ricâ— Bâ—l. l. 2. c. 2 Hist. Archiepis Ebor. in bib Cot. Ex lib. Anon. in bib Cott. Ithamar Bishop of Rochester Cap. in vit S. Ithamari M. Draiâ—on Polyol 24. Song Tobias Bishop of Rochester Harps Hiâ—â— Eccles Angl octaâ—um Saecul c. â— Gundulph Bishop of Rochester Godwin de praeâ—ul Ang. Bulla Vrbani secundi in bib â—im D'ewes Equit aurat M ss in bib Cot. The Hospitall of Chetham Malling Abbey Lamb peramb. Gilbert de Glanvill Bishop of Rochester Godwin The Hospitall in Strowd Walterus Merâ—ton Bishop of Rochester Sir Hen. Sauill Haymo s. S. Barthol Hosp. in Hithe In bib Cott. Iohn de Shepey Bishop of Rochester Lord Treasurer Io. Lowe Bishop of Rochester Bale Cent. 4. Godwin Priory of Rochester Lib. Rossen in bib Cott. Lamb. per amb S. William of Rochester Neua Legenda Capgrauiâ— Lib. Rossen in bib Cot. Io. Beaufits and Isabel his wife Io. Beaufits and Alice his wife Rob. Beaufits Sara his wife Will. Beaufits Ioane Bamme Iohn Bamme her sonne The â—â—iery Com. in â—enâ— The Almes-house oâ— Hospitall Catigern and Horsa The battell of Ailesford Horsted Catigern his sepulchre Ric Charles Alice his wife Will Suayth Alice his wife Rob. Watton Will. Watton Benet and Alice his wiues Rob. Watton Alice his wife Io. Norwood The Mannor of Norwood Io. Constenton and Sara his wife Otteham Abbey In Archiâ—is Turris London Sixe pence for exceedings vpon S. Laurence day In Arch. Tur. London Begham Priory Ela de Sackvile and Sir Robert Turnham founders Rob. Glocest. The death of Sir Robert Turnham Rob. Gloâ— * haire Sir Tho. Sackvile knight In the prerogatiue office Sir Stephen Pensherst knight Ex Arch. Turrâ—â— London Sidney â—amd in Kenâ— Sir Philip Sidney knight The Epitaph for Mons. Boniuet Hugh Lord Staff and Tho. Bradlaine his Bow-bearer Camd in Kent Priory of Tunbridge Richard de Clare Earle of Gloucester Lib. Theoles Mss. Camd. Remaines Hugh de Audley Earle of Glocester and Margaret his wife Vincent Discouery of errors Raph Earle of Stafford and Margaret his wife Bagot Baron of Stafford Vincent Dis. errours The foundation of the free-Schoole at Tonbridge Edward Bourchier vulgo Bowser and Agnes his wife Haydok Haymund Robert Lawe Priest Tho. Brooke and Clemence his wife Tho. Gregby Robert Totleherst Iohn Yardly and Ioane his wife William Potkin and Alexandra his wife The foundation of the Schoole and Almeshouse in Sennock Lamb. Peramb Tho. Brenten Bishop of Rochester Godwin Catalogue of Bis. Sir Bruin knight Câ—md in Essex Stow. Annal. Reg. Stratton Parson Camd. in Camb Rich. Ieames a Blacksmith Tho. Gawge Iames Peckham and Margaret his wife Reynold Peckham and Ioice his wife * Cupbearer Will. Peckham and Katherine his wife Tho Peckham and Dorothie his wife Iames Peckham and Agnes his wife Martin PeckhaÌ„ and Margerie his wife Sir Thomas Willoughby and Bridget his wife Iohn Loft Priest Io. Alphegh and Isabel his wife Thinne Collect. Camd. in Lincol. Willoughby Earle of Vandosme Io. Wood. Edmund Read S. Katherines Chappell Sir Ric. Clement knight and Anne his wife Ric. Astall Hawte Glouer Somerset Ioane Lady Cobham Margery Lady Cobham Lib 〈◊〉 in hil Cot. Henry Lord Cobham Margaret Lady Cobham Ioane Lady Cobham Tho. Lord Cobham and Maud his wife Iohn Lord Cobham Cobham Colledge Sir Iohn Oldcastle knight Lord Cobham Ioane Baronesse Cobham Sir Reignold Braybroke knight Lord Cobham Reignold and Robert Braybroke Lamb. pâ—ramb Nicholas Hawberke Lord Cobham Io. Broke Lord Cobham and Lady Margaret his wife Tho. Lord Cobham and his three wiues Raph Cobham Io. Terrye Io Clauering in bib Cot. Henry Lord Cobham prime Iustice of England Stephen de Penchester or Peâ—shuâ—st Lord Warden Ioane Alice his daughters and heires Ioane maâ—ned to the said H. Lord Cobham Alice to Philip de Columbars Io. Smith and Margery his wife Tho. Sharpe The Nunnery at Heigham Robert Ereby Ioane and Ioane his wiues Tho. Ereby and â—sode his wife Almeshouse Tho. Buckland Alice Walleys Ric Downe and Margery his wife Io. Bederenden Tho. Petle and Isabell his wife In a window Iohn Donat and Alice his wife Eckisford William Alisander Io. Pole Palme Hic Daâ—â— master of the Iewell house Maryd Davy William Rikell and Katherine his wife Sâ—ow Annal. Sir Peter Lacy Priest Tho. Brendon and Ioane his wife Rich. Hunt and Ioane his wife 〈◊〉 Hesilt Baron of the Exchequer and Agnes his wife 〈◊〉 Martyn 〈◊〉 his wife S. Hildeferths Nicholas Boneuant and Agnes his wife Reignold Thomas Ric. Bonâ—uant Io. Sorewell Priest Sir Iohn Lumbard Priest Maud Laken and Ioane her daughter Sir Io. Dew Priest Roger Payname Will Banknot Anne his wife Sir Io. Wilshyre knight and Margaret his wife Stow. Annal. Sir Ric Wingseeld knight of the Garter Bridget his wife Io Hornley Katherine Burlton and Richard her husband The Priory of Dartford Burials in this Prioâ—y The birth and death of Bridget Plantagineâ— Rob. Woodford Ioane his wife Ro. Apleton and Agnes his wife Elisabeth CouÌ„tesse of Shrewsbury * Iohn dyed in his infancy Sir Ric. Walden knight and Dame Margery his wife Richard Walde Allin Atticor Sir Io. Stone Priest Iohn Crioll Roger Sentcler Mathew Paris Ric. de Lucie the founder Râ—g Heuâ—den An. 1179. Ex vet Mss. in â—o Cot. Godfrey Lucy Bishop of Winchester Io. Colin and Maud his wife Sir William Prâ—ne Priest Inser vpon the great Bell. Margery Roper Iohn Morton Tho. Pierle Foundation of Peckham Schoole Richard Bâ—shop of Rochester Walter Hench Parson George Hatteliffe The Priory of Lewsham Priors Aliens Their goods and lands consiscate King Edward surnamed Longshanks did the like An. Reg. â—3 vpon the like occasion Restitution of the 〈◊〉 Aliens
sister to king Edward the fourth by whom he had issue Thomas Mannors knight of the Garter Lord Ros of Hamelake Belvoir and Trusbut and Earle of Rutland the first of that Surname As also Oliuer Anthony Richard Iohn Elisabeth Katherine Eleanor Cicely or Sisley and Anne This house with a circuite of ground thereunto adioyning tooke denomination of a certaine sweet wholesome and cleare fountaine or well within the compasse thereof which for the vertue of the water was amongst the common people reputed and called holy It is now decayed and indeed quite spoiled with soile dung and other filthinesse purposely there laid for the heighthening of the ground for garden plots The Priory of Clerkenwell This Priory was likewise so called of a Well not farre from the West end of the Church of the said Priory Which Well tooke name of the Parish Clarkes in London who of old time saith Stow in his Suruay of the said Citie were accustomed there yearely to assemble and to play some large history of holy Scripture This Priory was founded in the yeare of our redemption one thousand one hundred or thereabouts by Iordan Briset a wealthy and deuout Baron the sonne of Rause the sonne of Brian Briset who gaue foureteene acres of ground lying in the field neare vnto the said Clarkes well to build thereupon an house for religious Votaries blacke Nunnes Which donation I haue read depensild vpon a table in the Church which by the fall of the Steeple which tooke downe with it a great part of the Church was battered all to peeces The said Iordan with Muriell his wife for shee is set downe to be co-foundresse with him dedicated this their sacred structure to the honour of God and the Assumption of the blessed Virgine Mary Richard Beauveyes Bishop of London about the yeare 1112. gaue certaine Lands at Muswell hill to the said Nunnery now in the possession of Sir Nicholas Roe knight confirmed by the Cartulary of king Stephen as it is in the Lieger booke of the said house Sciatis me confirmasse c. locum suum c. et quicquid Ricardus Episcopus London et Iordanus filâ—us Bricij et alij Barones mei rationabiliter in Elemosinam dederunt Henry the second he confirmes the scite of the house and land thereunto adioyning thus Sciatis me concessisse c. Ecclesie beate Marie de fonte Clericorum et Monialibus ibidem deo seruientibus omnia subscripta c. scilicet ex dono Iordanis de Briseta et Murielis vxoris eius locum in quo habitant infra ambitum muri earum et terram quam extra habent circa muros earum in eodem campo c. The names of the Prioresses of this house from the foundation vnto the dissolution as they are set downe in the same booke were these First Christiana 2. Ermegard 3. Hawisia 4. Eleonora 5. Alesia 6. Cecilia 7. Margerie Whatvile 8. Isabell. 9. Alice Oxeney 10. Amice Marcy 11 Denys Bras 12. Margery Bray 13. Ioan Lewkenor 14. Ioan Fulham 15. Katherine Braybroke 16. Luce Attewood 17. Ioan Viene 18. Margaret Bakwell 19. Isabell Wentworth 20. Margaret Bull. 21. Agnes Clifford 22. Katherine Greene. 23. Isabell Hussey And the last Lady Prioresse of this house was Isabell Sackvile of the right honourable Familie of the Sackviles the Ancestors of Sir Edward Sackvile now Baron of Buckhurst and Earle of Dorset She lieth buried vnder a marble stone in the Church of the Nunnery neare vnto the high Altar whereupon this Inscription or Epitaph is engrauen in brasse Hic iacet Isabella Sackvile quae fuit Priorissa nuper Prioratus de Clerkenwel tempore dissolutionis eiusdem Prioratus quae fuit 21. Octobris Ann. Dom. Millesimo quingentesimo septuagesimo et Ann. Reg. Regin Elisab Dei gra c. duodecimo She made her last Will and Testament as I finde it in the Prerogatiue office the nineteenth day of February in the said twelfth yeare of Queene Elizabeth wherein she bequeathes her body to be buried in Clarkenwell Church and ordaines the right honourable the Lord of Buckhurst her Cosin the ouerseer of this her Will if it shall please his Lordship to take the paines She liued many yeares in the various dayes of diuers Princes for I finde in the pedegree of the Earle of Dorset that one William Sackevyle by his Will and Testament dated the tenth day of August in the 21. yeare of King Henry the seuenth gaue to his Neece Isabell Sackvyle a certaine Legacie she being as then a Nunne in the Priory of Clerkenwell Iordan Briset the foresaid Founder died the 17. of September about the yeare of our Lord 1124. and Muriell his wife the first of May next following they were buried both together in the Chapter-house of this Church now called the old Vestrie In the 〈…〉 the Chancell is a faire marble Tombe with the 〈◊〉 of a dead man lying vpon his shroud the most artificially cut â—n stone that euer man beheld all the plates of brasse are stolne away onely some few peeces remaining containing these words ..... Hospitalitate inclytus genere preclarus ...... Hanc Vrnam offcij causa ....... Ecce quem cernis tuo nomini semper deuotum Suscipe in sinum Virgo Maria tuum Spes me non fallat quam in te semper habebam Virgo da facilem .......... This Monument was erected to the memory of Sir William Weston knight Lord Prior of Saint Iohns Ierusalem at the time of the dissolution of the said Priory to whom Henry the eight for his maintenance had allowed one thousand pound of yearely pension during his life Of which summe he receiued neuer a penny for so it fortuned that vpon the seuenth day of May 1540. being Ascention day and the same day of the dissolution of the house he was dissolued by death which strooke him to the heart at the first time when he heard of the dissolution of his order All the Funerall Monuments of Antiquitie in this Church which were many as you may reade in Stowes Suruay are quite defaced This Priory was valued at the suppression to be possest of 282. l. 16. s. 5. d. of yearely reuenues Within the close of this Nunnery is a faire spatious house built of late by Sir Thomas Challoner knight deceased vpon the Frontispice whereof these verses were depensild now altogether obliterated Casta fides superest velatae tecta sorores Ista relegatae desuruere licet Nam venerandus Hymen hic vota ingalia seruat Vestalemque focum mente fouere studet The Nunnery now the inheritance of the right honourable Sir William Cauendish knight Lord Ogle Viscount Mansfield and Earle of Newcastle being opposite to this new braue building ministred belike occasion and matter for the making of this said Inscription This Hexamiter following is painted vnder a Sunne diall in the entrance vnto the Nunnery Non aliter pereo species quam futilis Vmbrae The Priory of S. Iohn of Ierusalem
he that is sufficiently mine Of two I haue the one is common to all my race yea and also to others There is a family at Paris and another at Montpellier called Montaigne another in Brittany and one in Zantoigne surnamed de la Montaigne The remouing of one only sillable may so confound our webbe as I shall haue a share in their glory and they perhaps a part of my shame And my Ancestors haue heretofore beene surnamed Heigham or Hyquem a surname which also belongs to a house well knowne in England Here is another Tombe on the South side of the Chancell vpon which is the pourtraiture of Sir VVilliam Butts in his complete armour kneeling his sword by his side his spurres his helmet at his feet His Lady by him kneeling hauing her coat-armour Here are the coats of Butts and Bacon quartered vpon the Tombe Arwerton saith Camden in Suffolke the house long since of the Family of the Bacoâ—s who held this Mannor and Brome by conducting all the footmen of Suffolke and Norfolke from S. Edmunds-dike in the warres of Wales These Bacons haue at this day their residence at Culfurth in Suffolke a goodly house erected by Sir Nicholas Bacon knight the first Baronet sonne vnto that Sir Nicholas Bacon Knight Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England who for his singular wisedome and most sound iudgement was right worthily esteemed one of the two supporters of this kingdome in his time Who lieth entombed in S. Pauls with his two wiues Who died An. 1578. You may reade this Inscription vpon the said Monument Hic Nicolaum ne Baconem conditum Existima illum tam diu Britannici Regni secundum columen exitium Malis Bonis Asylum caeca quem non extulit Ad hunc honorem sors sed aequitas fides Doctrina pietas vnica prudentia Neu morte raptum crede quia vnica breui Vita perennes emerit duas agit Vitam secundam caelites inter animus Fama implet orbem vita quae illi tertia est Hac positum in Ara est corpus olim animi domus Ara dicata sempiternae Memoriae No lesse worthie of praise for his many excellent good parts was his sonne who followed the fathers steps I meane Sir Francis Bacon knight Lord Verulam Viscount Saint Alban and Lord Chancellour of England lately deceased Snoring Here vnder a faire Tombe lieth the daughter of Sir Iohn Heydon who married one of the Heninghams These Heydons are an ancient race of Knights degree Orate pro animabus Radulphi Shelton militis Domine Alicie vxoris eius filie Thome de Vnedal Militis qui quidem Radulphus obiit xxv die Aprilis Anno M. ccccxxiiii Blackney A famous religious house of Carmelite Friers in this late age aforegoing built and endowed by Sir Robert de Roos or Rosse Sir Robert Bacon and Sir Iohn Bret Knights about the yeare 1321. out of which came Iohn Baconthorpe of whom I haue spoken somewhat before And now here giue me leaue to speake a little more which I had omitted our of Camden A man saith he in that age of such varietie and depth withall of excellent learning that he was had in exceeding great admiration among the Italians and commonly called the Resolute Doctor Whence it is that Paulus Pansa thus writeth of him If thy minde stand to enter into the secret power of the Almighty and most mercifull God no man hath written of his Essence more exactly If any man desireth to learne the causes of things or the effects of Nature if he wish to know the sundrie motions of heauen and the contrary qualities of the Elements this man offereth himselfe as a storehouse to furnish him The armour of Christian Religion of better proofe and defence then those of Vulcans making against the Iewes this resolute Doctor alone hath deliuered Sculthorpe Orate pro anima Henrici Vnton qui obijt Anno Millesimo cccxx Statton Saint Michaels Orate pro anima Iohannis Cowal quondam Rectoris istius Ecclesie quiistam Cancellam de nouo fieri fecit Anno Domini M. cccclxxxvii pro quibus tenetur orare .... Stratton Saint Mary Orate pro animabus Iohannis Bocher Margarete vxoris eius quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen Orate pro anima Thome Drake qui obijt Anno Domini 1490. Orate pro animabus Iohannis Waith Margerie vxoris eius qui Iohannes obijt xviii die mensis Februar Anno Domini M. cccclxxxx Quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen Bunwell Of your charity pray for the soul of Iohn Darosse and Margaret his wyffe on whos souls Ihesu haue mercy Amen Tybenham Orate pro anima Iohannis Avelyn quondam vicarij istius Ecclesie qui obijt xxviii die Decembris anno M. cccccvii Cuius ..... Orate pro anima Iacobi Glouer quondam Vicarii istius Ecclesie Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Orate pro animabus Roberti Buxton Cristiane Agnetis vxorum eius qui quidem Robertus obiit anno Domini M. cccccxxviii Quorum animabus propitietur altissimus Here lieth likewise vnder a faire Grauestone Iohn Buxton sonne and heire of Robert aforesaid who married Margaret Warner by whom he had issue two sonnes and two daughters Annos spirauit octoginta quatuor euen to our times Of whom more hereafter North Walsham Orate pro anima Willelmi Roys qui obiit x. die Kalend. Martii M. cccc Ashwelthorp Hic iacet Isabella que fuit vxor Philippi Tylney Armigeri vna filiarum heredum Edmundi Thorp Militis Domine Iohanne quondam Domine de Scales consortis sue que obiit decimo die mensis Nouembris anno Domini M. ccccxxxvi Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Iane Knyvet resteth here the only heire by right Of the Lord Berners that Sir Iohn Bourcher hight Twenty yeres and thre a wydoos life she ledd Alwayes keping howse where rich and pore were fedd Gentell iust quyet voyd of debate and stryfe Euer doying good Lo thus she ledd her life Euen to the Graue where Erth on Erth doth ly On whos soul God graunt of his abundant mercy The xvii of February M.D.lxi. Spikesworth or Spixford Orate pro animabus Iohannis Styward et Margarete vxoris eius Orate pro anima Georgii Linsted qui obiit in festo Assumptionis beate Marie anno Domini M.D.xvii Orate pro anima Willelmi Davy quondam Ciuis Norwic. Vinter et huins Ecclesie spiritualis benefactor Orate pro anima Margarete Thorne nuper vxoris Thome Thorne que obiit tertio die Septembris 1544. South-acre In the Chancell vnder the South wall lieth entombed Sir Roger Harsicke Knight the sonne and heire of Iohn who liued in the eight yeare of King Henry the fifth and in the twenty ninth of Henry the sixth in whom the issue male ended leauing his inheritance to his two daughters Sir Alexander Harsick
released to the Monkes of Castell-acre the lands granted by his Ancestours in the three and thirtieth of King Henry the third and of his owne good will to the increasing of it he gaue the Sand pits and for the confirmation of the same grant he put to the Seale of his armes hanging at the parchment by a silke string which manner of sealing was vsuall in those dayes Castell-acre In the raigne of King William Rufus William Warren the second Earle of Surrey founded here a Monastery of blacke Monkes Cluniakes to the honour of God and our blessed Lady Saint Mary of Acre and the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and for the Monkes of Saint Pancrace there seruing Which Abbey afterwards his sonne and his sonnes sonne both named Williams and Earles of Surrey confirmed ratified and augmented Witnesses to the first Charter Will. Braunch Waukelin de Rosew Robert de Mortuo mare or Mortimer c. To the second Charter Raph de Pauliaco c. To the third William Bishop of Norwich who dedicated the Church and many others Of which Charters take a little touch out of authenticall Records 〈…〉 am presentibus quam futuris quod ego Willelmus comes de 〈…〉 pro salute anime mee et patris mei et matris mee et heredum meâ—â—â— dedi et presenti Charta confirmaui deo et Sancte Marie de Acra et Moâ—â—â—â—is ibidem Deo seruientibus Ecclesiam de Acra Nouerint c. concedo Deo et sancte Marie de Acra et sanctis Apostolis Peâ—â—o et Paulo et Monachis de sancto Pancratio ibidem deo seruientibus in ipsa Accra duas carucatas terre quas eidem Ecclesie pater meus et mater mea dederunt c. Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Willelmus c. quando feci dedicare Ecclesiam Sancte Marie de Acra dedi Monachis ibidem c. omnes donatioâ—es quas antecessores mei scilicet Auus meus et pater meus et Barones sui eidem Ecclesie dederunt c. et duas solidatas terre c. Hijs Tesâ—ibus Will. Norwicen Episcopo qui eandem Ecclesiam dedicauit c. This foundation was valued at the suppression at three hundred twenty foure pounds seuenteene shillings fiue pence halfe penny qua surrendred the 2â— of Nouember 29 Hen. 8. West-acre Radulphe de Torneio founded the Monastery of Canons in Westacre which did professe to lead a godly life after the example of the Apostles as 〈◊〉 mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles where it is said that the number of â—heâ—â—hat did beleeue were all of one heart and one minde and none of them said that any thing which he had was his owne but they had all things in common and because as in the Charter of his gift he declareth that the holy Fathers did call this the canonicall rule affirming that whosoeuer did leade such a life was thereby made a companion and Citizen with the Apostles Therefore hee pronounceth in his said Charter that whosoeuer did infringe this his donation or alter or change it into Monkes or into any other Order or Rule should be held accursed c. Oliuet Sacerdos de Acra Galterusque suus filius cum magna sanctitate 〈◊〉 Wâ—slacram huic canonice norme cum omnibus â—uis rebus se tradiderunt 〈◊〉 territorio Radulphi de Torneio Ego Radulphus de Torneio cum vxore mea Aclit omnibus que meis pueris Rogerio Radulpho pro nobis et animabus anâ—â—cessorum nostrorum concedimus et confirmamus Ecclesie omnium Sanctorum de Acra et Oliueti Sacerdoti et Gualterio suo filio omnibus canonicis ibi manenâ—ibus suisque posteris deo ibidem seruientibus Feodum quod Oliuet Saceâ—dos sub me tenuit c. Huius confirmationis sunt testes Gislebertus Blondus Willel de Portis Willel de Lira Rogerus Gros. Galterus Capellanus c. The valuation of this religious structure at the suppression was three hundred eight pounds nineteene shillings eleuen pence halfe penny qua Catton Pray for the soul of Iohn Bronde and Agnes his wyffe which Iohn dyeâ— 26 Ianuary 1542. Orate pro anima Agnet is Wrongey .... Reuerendus in Christo Pater Robertus Bronde Prior Norwicen Ecclesie me vitriari fecit anno Christi 1538. Frettenham or Frekenham Hic iacet Margareta filia Iohannes White filij secundi Iohannis White militis vxor Egidij Seyntlowe aâ—mig domini de Mayston filij Alicie filie et heredis Roberti Burnham de Lynne et vxoris Iohannis White secundi predicti Que obijt in vigilia Natalis Domini anno Dom. M.D.xxxii O Crist Iesu pity and mercy haue On Alis Burnham that whylom was the wyff Of Gyles Thorndon which lyeth here in graue And her defend from wars of Fendish stryff Make her pertaker of eternall lyff By the merits of thy passioun Whych with thy blood madest our redemptioun Snitterton or Snisterton Orate pro anima Iohannis Bokenham Armigeri nuper filij Hugonis Bokenham de Lyuermer magna nec non Nepotis et heredis Edmundi Bokenham de Snisterton qui obijt xv die Mensis octobris anno Domini M. cccc.lxxxiiii et pro animabus Anne et Iohanne .... quorum animabus .... Orate pro anima Georgij Bokenham armigeri de Snisterton filii et heredis Iohannis Bokenham qui obiit xxi die octobris anno M.D.xxiii Cuius anime ... Ingham or Hyngham Vnder a faire Tombe of free-stone very curiously wrought lieth the body of Sir Oliuer Ingham with his resemblance in his coate Armour his belt gilt spurs and the blew Garter about his leg his Creast the Owle out of the Iuie bush with a crowne on the head thereof He being a great trauailer lyeth vpon a Rocke beholding the Sunne and Moone and starres all very siueâ—y set forth in mettall beholding the face of the earth about the Tombe twenty and foure mourneâ—s Sir Oliuer Ingham knight whom the yong Duke Edward had made keeper of Aquitaine gathered a great army and inuaded the Prince of Aniou which the French King contrary to couenants did with hold and brought it wholly to the dominion of England anno Reg. Regis Ed. secundi 19. Burdeaux the capitall citie of Aquitaine and then English gaue an excellent testimony of her loyalty nor lesse of martiall wit and valour For the French Army comming before her she to abuse their hope set open her gates and displayed vpon her Powers the golden Lillies as if shee were theirs but the French which securely entred found little good hospitality Sir Oliuer de Ingham was Captaine and Lord Warden there for King Edward who with his Garrison-Souldiers and aide of the Inhabitants slew of them great multitudes and preserued Burdeaux anno Reg. Regis Ed. 3.13 Hickeling The buriall place of the worthy familie of the Woodhouses wherein a monument remaineth to the memory of Sir William Woodhouse knight Here sometime