Barkenham a Miller who sold it to Mr. John Rivett now living The Augustine Friars came from Eyer to one Shavington a Bastard who died without Issue and by his Will gave it to one Waters other than the former and to the Heirs of his Body This Waters died without Issue whereupon the Augustine Friars was to revert to his Heir but having none because he was a Bastard great Suit ensued about it But John Ditefield being then in Possession of it left it by Descent as it seemeth to his Son John Ditefield who gave it in Marriage with Thomasin his sister to Christopher Pickering brother of the then Lord Keeper and he then recovered it in Chancery and sold it to John Lease John Lease pulling down the Buildings selleth first the Stones and then dividing the Ground into divers Garden-rooms sold the same to divers Persons The Cell of Priests was near the Guild-hall and the Prior's House was somewhat remote from it by St. Margaret's Church The College was sometime Mr. Houghton's after Parker's then Ball 's lately Sendall's and now Hargott's all of them save Hargott are extinct and gone and Mr. Hargott is on the declining Hand the Site of the Prior's House was lately consecrated and annexed to St. Margaret's Church-yard for a Burying-place Shouldham-Abbey Sir Francis Gaudy of the Justices of the King's Bench was owner of it he married the Daughter and Heir of Christopher Cunningsby Lord of the Manour of Wallington and having this Manour and other Lands in right of his Wife induced her to acknowledge a Fine thereof which done she became a distracted Woman and continued so to the day of her Death and was to him for many Years a perpetual affliction He had by her his only Daughter and Heir Eliz. married to Sir William Hatton who died without Issue-Male leaving also a Daughter and Heir who being brought up with her Grandfather the Judge was secretly married against his Will to Sir Robert Rich now Earl of Warwick The Judge shortly after being made chief Justice of the Common-pleas at a dear Rate as was reported was suddenly stricken with an Apoplexy or double Palsie and so to his great loss died without Issue-Male e'er he had continued in his Place one whole Michaelmas Term and having made his appropriate Parish-Church a Hay-house or a Dog-kennel his dead Corps being brought from London unto Walling could for many days find no Place of Burial but in the mean time growing very offensive by the Contagious and ill Savours that issued through the Chinks of Lead not well soder'd he was at last carry'd to a poor Church of a little Village there by called Runcto and buried there without any Ceremony lieth yet uncovered if the Visitors have not reformed it with so small a Matter as a few paving Stones Sir Robert Rich now Earl of Warwick succeeded in the Inheritance by his Wife of this Abby with the Impropriation and his great Possessions amounting by Estimation to 5000 l. a Year and hath already sold the greatest part of them together with this Abbey and Impropriation unto the Family of Mr. Nich. Hare the Judge's Neighbour and chiefest Adversary For among divers other goodly Manours that Sir John Hare hath purchased of him or his Feoffees he hath also bought this Abbey of Shouldham and the Impropriation there with the Manour belonging to the Abbey valued together at 600 l. yearly Rent Binham-Priory Binham Priory a Cell of St. Albans was granted by King Henry 8. to Sir Thomas Paston he left it to Mr. Edward Paston his Son and Heir who living above 80 Years continued the Possession of it till Caroli R. and having buried ... his Son and Heir apparent left it then unto his Grandchild Mr. Paston the third Owner of it and thereby now in the Wardship to the King Mr. Edward Paston many Years since was desirous to build a Mansion-house upon or near the Priory and attempting for that purpose to clear some of that Ground a Piece of Wall fell upon a Workman and slew him perplexed with this Accident in the beginning of this Business he gave it wholly over and would by no means all his Life after be perswaded to re-attempt it but built his Mansion-house a very fair one at Appleton Castle-Acre-Abbey Sir Tho. Cecil Earl of Exeter was owner of it and of the impropriate Personage here he had Issue Sir William Cecil Earl Exeter who married Eliz. the Daughter and Heir of Edw. Earl of Rutland and had Issue by her dying as I take it in Child-bed his only Son William Lord Rosse This William Lord Rosse married Anne the Daughter of Sir Tho. Lake and they living together in extreme Discord many infamous Actions issued thereupon and finally a great Suit in the Star-Chamber to the high Dishonour of themselves and their Parents In this Affliction the Lord Rosse dyeth without Issue and the Eldest Male-line of his Grandfather's House is extinguished Sir Richard Cecil was second Son of Sir Thomas Cecil Earl of Exeter and had Issue David who married Eliz. the Daughter of John Earl of Bridgewater and is now in expectation to be Earl of Exeter His third Son was Sir Edw. Cecil Knight his 4th and 5th Tho. Cecil and Christopher drowned in Germany Sir Tho. the Grandfather Earl of Exeter made a Lease of this Monastery and Impropriation to one Paine as I take it by whose Widow the same came in Marriage to Mr. Humfrey Guibon Sheriff of Norfolk Anno 38. Eliz. whose Grand-child and Heir Tho. Guibon consumed his whole Inheritance and lying long in the Fleet either died there a Prisoner or shortly after Sir Edw. Coke Lord Chief Justice married for his second Wife the Lady Eliz. Hatton one of the Daughters of the said Earl Tho. and afterwards bought the Castle of Acre with this Monastery and Impropriation of his Brother-in-Law Earl William Son of Earl Thomas since which time he hath felt abundantly the Change of Fortune as we have partly touched in Flitcham-Abbey West-Acre-Abbey This also belonged to Sir Tho. Cecil of whom we have now spoken he sold both it and the Impropriation of West Acre to Sir Horatio Palvicini an Italian that before his coming into England had dipt his Fingers very deep in the Treasure of the Church Being in his Youth in the Low-countries as his Son Edward affirmed to me he there secretly married a very mean Woman and by her had Issue him this Edward but durst never discover it to his Father as long as they lived together his Father being dead he came into England and here married a second Wife by whom he had Issue his Son Toby and for his Wive's sake disinherited him his eldest Son Edward and conferred all his Lands with the Abbey and Impropriation of West Acre to Toby and his Heirs Edward after the Death of his Father grows into contention with his Brother Toby and in a Petition to King James accuseth both his Father and his Brother for
saith Malmsbury that which I saw perform'd for not long after his Son Roger Possessing his Father's Inheritance was Banish'd by King Henry I. for putting an Officer of the King 's to Death in an head-long fury Malms de Gest. Pont. p. 271. And his Sheriffwick went to Beaumont who Married his Sister Camb. 578. Hugh Earl of Shrewsbury with Hugh Earl of Chester was sent by William Rufus to assail the Welch-men in Anglesey which they perform'd with great cruelty not sparing the Churches For the Earl of Shrewsbury made a Dog-kennel of the Church of St. Fridank laying his Hounds in it for the Night time but in the morning he found them mad But it chanced that Magnus King of Norway came in the mean time to take also the same Island and encountering the Earl of Shrewsbury at Sea shot him in the Eye where only he was unarm'd and the Earl thereupon falling out of the Ship into the Sea was both Slain and Drown'd and dy'd without Issue Girald Camb. Hov. in Ann. 1098. Holl. ib. Cat. EE Shrewsb Geoffrey the 16th Abbot of St. Albans living whilst he was young a Secular Man and teaching at Dunstable did there about the beginning of King Henry I. make a Play of St. Catharine call'd Miracula and for Acting of it did borrow of the Sexton of St. Albans divers Copes that belong'd to the Quire of St. Albans for the Service of God and having used them prophanely in his Play both the House wherein they were and the Copes themselves were the next Night casually Burnt Geoffery for great Grief hereupon gave over the World and by way of a Propitiatory Sacrifice offer'd up himself a Monk in St. Albans where afterward in the Year 1119. viz. 19 or 20. of Henry I. he was made Abbot Lib. MS. de Abbatibus Sti. Albani Madoc ap Meredith Prince of Powis spoiling two Churches in Anglesey and part of the Isle was with all his Men Slain in the return Stow p. 217. Sherbourne in Dorsetshire was made an Episcopal See in the Year 704 or 705. And as the use of the time was with many Curses no doubt against him or them that should violate it or should get or procure it to be alien'd from that Bishoprick St. Oswald who flourish'd 270 Years after fortifi'd those Curses as is reported with divers other bitter imprecations It continu'd peaceably in the Possession of the Bishops till the time of King Stephen then Roger Bishop of that See translated by his Predecessor to Salisbury building three sumptuous Castles one at Sherbourn another at Devizes and the third at Malmsbury the King supposing they might turn to his prejudice sent for the Bishop and took and imprison'd him with some others of his Coat and calling a Council of the Peers and Baronage obtain'd a Statute to this effect That all Towns of Defence Castles and Munitions through England wherein Secular business was went to be exercised should be the King 's and his Barons And that the Church-men and namely the Bishops as Divine Dogs should not cease to bark for the desence and safety of their Sheep and to take diligent heed that the invisible Wolf that malignant Enemy wory not or scatter the Lord's Flock Thus the King obtain'd these Castles that he thirsted after with the Bishop's Person and Treasure beside And being summon'd hereupon to a Synod at Winchester by his Brother Henry Bishop there and Legate of the Pope he sent Albery de Vere Earl of Guisne and Chamberlain of England a Man of excellent Speech and singularly well learned in the Law whom some report to be made Chief Justice of England after the said Roger him I say did the King send to the Synod as his Attorney or Sergeant at Law to defend his Cause which he did with so great Art and Dexterity that nothing was therein determin'd But mark the issue e'er a twelve Month came to an end the Earl Albery de Vere was Slain in London Florileg in Ann. 1140. The King himself within another twelve month taken Prisoner and being deliver'd upon an exchange for the Earl of Glocester spoileth divers Churches by his Flemish Soldiers and buildeth the Nunnery of Wilton into a Castle where the Town is fired about his Ears his Men slain his Sewer Plate and other things taken and himself driven to escape by a shameful Flight He continueth his Wars with unprofitable Success falleth at discord with his Barons and is driven to make Peace with Duke Henry his Adversary His Son Eustace displeased therewith applieth himself to spoil Cambridge-Shire and those parts falleth upon the Lands of the Abby of Bury and carrieth the Corn to his Castles and sitting down to Dinner as he put the first Morsel in his Mouth he fell Mad and dy'd miserably Mat. Par. Ann. 1152. Stow Ann. 1153. In the end he stated the Crown upon the Duke Henry being compell'd thereto and dying had no lawful Issue Male to propagate his Family his Sons of that sort being taken away in his Life time Having spoken of those Curses set of old like Bulwarks about the Castle of Sherbourn to defend it against Sacrilegious Assailants and of the Operation they had in those Ancient Days it falleth very fitly in my way to shew also in what manner they have uttered their venome since that time of old for tho Poison temper'd by an Apothecary with over long keeping will lose its strength yet the Poison that lurketh in the Veins of Curses lawfully imposed is neither wasted nor weakened by Antiquity but oftentimes breaketh forth as violently after many Ages as if they were but of late denounced Like the implicite Curse that devour'd the seven Sons of Saul for breaking the Covenant with the Gibeonites made above Five Hundred Years before their time See therefore a farther Collection touching this matter delivered unto me above three Years since by a Person of great Place and Honour The Castle of Sherbourne was granted to the See of Salisbury by St. Oswel with several bitter Imprecations and Cursings on him or them that should get or procure Sherbourne to be aliened from that See St. Oswel praying that he or they might die Issueless or Unfortunately that should so take it King Stephen was the first that got it from that See after the first Donation Ann. 1139. His Death and his Son 's Dying Mad make it observable Will. Martel King Stephen's Sewer had it who being taken Prisoner gave it for his Ransome Ann. 1142. Reg. 7. Hoved ibid. p. 488. In Edward III. time the Earl of Salisbury had it who dy'd Issueless and not Fortunate Then the Duke of Northumberland had it who was Attainted After the Duke of Somerset had it who was Attainted After the Lord Paget had a Lease from the Bishop who was Attainted After him Sir Walter Rawleigh had it who was Attainted After him the Earl of Somerset had it who was Attainted for Felony The Crown had it Prince Henry had it
Earl of Sussex had five Sons whereof Egremont his Son by the second Wife was attainted of Treason Thomas the third Earl Son and Heir of Henry had two Wives but died without Issue 15. The Earl of Huntington was George Lord Hastings created 21. Henry 8. He had Issue Francis the 2d Earl and Sir Edward Hastings whom Queen Mary made Baron of Loughborough that died without Issue Sir Thomas Hastings also who died without Issue And Henry and William besides three Daughters Francis the 2d Earl had Issue Henry the third Earl who died without Issue and four other Sons whereof William died without Issue Sir George Hastings Brother of Francis succeeded in the Earldom and left many Male-branches whereof Henry the Issue of his eldest Son Francis was the fifth Earl and had Issue Ferdinando 16. The Earl of Hertford was Edward Seymour created Anno 29. Henry 8. made Duke of Somerset c. Edw. 6. He was committed to the Tower in the third Year of the King for divers great Offences but then obtained a Pardon and being arraigned of Treason and Felony 1 o Decemb 5. Regis was quit for the Treason and condemn'd for the Felony and therefore beheaded the 22d of July following He had two Sons by his first Wife that died without Issue Edward his 3d. Son or eldest by his 2d Wife the Lady Anne Daughter of John Stanhope Esq succeeded in all his Fathers Honours for a short time namely from the Death of his Father on 22 June 5. Edw. 6. to the End of the next Session of Parliament which was the 25th of April following But the Honours being entail'd upon him and therefore not forfeited for his Father's Attaindure for Felony Misfortune and the Malice of his Adversaries yet so wrought upon him as in this Session they were all taken from him by Parliament with most of his Inheritance which gracious Queen Elizabeth commiserating restor'd him to the Earldom of Hertford and Barony of Seymour To let pass his other Off-spring his Grandchild Edward the 3d. Earl of Hertford fell into King James's displeasure by marrying the Lady Arabella Stuart for which both of them were committed to the Tower 17. The Earl of Bridgwater was Henry Lord Daubeney created 20 July 30. Hen. 8. He died without Issue Anno Edw. 6. and so his Name Family and Dignity was extinct This Earl of Bridgwater was reduc'd to that extremity that he had not a Servant to wait on him in his last sickness nor means to buy Fire or Candles or to bury him but what was done for him in Charity by his sister Cicely married to John Bourchier the first of that Name Earl of Bathe Verba Henrici Bourchier manu sua scripta A Catalogue of the Barons present in Parliament 1. Audley Then John Tonchet Lord Audley who had Issue George Tonchet Lord Audley who had Issue Henry Tonchet Lord Audley who had Issue George Tonchet Lord Audley and Earl of Castle-Haven attainted and beheaded and the Barony of Audley being in see extinguisht 2. Zouche Was John Lord Zouche who had Issue Richard Lord Zouche who had Issue Edward Lord Zouche Son of George Lord Zouche Lord St. Maur and Cantelupe of Harringworth in Northamptonshire who sold his ancient Inheritance died without Issue-Male and his Barony extinct 1 Caroli His first Wife proving disloyal she was divorced from him that he regarded not the two Daughters which he had whom therefore he suffered to marry far below his Degree and Honour as himself saith in his Will upon Record The Eldest being married to Sir William Tate in Northamptonshire the other to in Worcestershire 3. De-laware Tho. Nest Lord De-laware Son of Tho. Lord De-laware that died the 16th Henry 8. married Eliz. Daughter and Co-heir of John Bonvill died without Issue William Nest Son of George Nest Brother of Tho. Lord De-laware being of the Age of 18 Years 1 Edw. 6. was disabled by Parliament to succeed his Uncle as conceiv'd to have imagined his Death and 2 or 3 of Philip and Mary was attainted of Treason by Commission in London Restored in Blood as Heir to Sir George his Father about 3 or 5 Eliz. and created a new Baron De-laware in 8. and had Issue Tho. De-laware Father or Grandfather of him now living 4. Morley Henry Parker made Lord Morley in right of Alice his Mother Daughter and Heir of William Lovell Lord Morley died 27 Novemb. 4. Mar. had Issue Henry who died in the Life of his Father leaving Issue Hen. Lord Morley that died at Paris 1578. Had Issue Edw. Lord Morley who died April 1618 and had Issue William Lord Morley and made Montegle 1 Jacobi and died 1622. and had Issue Henry Lord Morley and Montegle now living and Francis 5. Dacres Thomas Fines Lord Dacres of the South being in company with certain Gentlemen hunting in Nicholas Potham's Park there committed a Riot and Murther of Bransrigg He was hang'd at Tyburn on St. Peters Day 33 Hen. 8. He had issue Thomas Lord Dacres who died within age and Gregory Lord Dacres who died without issue 1594 and his Family so extinct Margery his Sister and Heir was married to Sampson Leonard who had issue Henry Lord Dacres who had issue Richard Lord Dacres Father of now Lord Dacres a Child 6. Dacres of Gilsland William died 1563 had issue Thomas Lord Dacres Leonard George S. P. Edward Francis George Lord Dacres Son of Thomas Lord Dacres being but 7 Years old and granted Ward to the Duke of Norfolk brake his Neck by a fall from a Vaulting-horse at Charterhouse Anno ... Eliz. And his Barony and Family extinct he dying without issue Male his two Sisters and Heirs were married to the Dukes Sons Philip Earl of Arundel and the Lord William Howard Thomas Lord Dacres Son of William Lord Dacres had issue William slain at Thetford 1569 his Sisters and Heirs Anne married to Philip Howard Mary married to Thomas Howard Elizabeth to Lord William Howard 7. Cobham George Brook Lord Cobham Son of Thomas Lord Cobham who died 1529 died 1558 had Issue William Lord Cobham He died 1597 and five other Sons which William had Issue Henry Brook Lord Cobham attainted and died 1618 S. P. and Sir William Brook S. P. and George Brook attainted and executed at Winchester An. 1603 the Barony extinct 8. Maltravers Henry Fitz-Alam Son of William Fitz-Alam the 10th Earl of Arundel which William died 35 H. 8. was in the life of his Father Lord Maltravers and Baron of Parliament and after the death of his Father the last Earl of Arundel of that Name 9. Ferrers Walter Lord Devreux Lord Ferrers of Chartley Son of John Devreux Lord Ferrers was created Vicount Hereford 1 Edward 6. had Issue Richard that died in the life of his Father and had Issue Walter Devreux Earl of Essex suspected to be poison'd and had Issue Robert Devreux Earl of Essex attainted and executed 1601 and Walter Devreux slain at the Siege of Roan Earl Robert had
issue Robert restor'd 1. Jacobi 10. Powis Edward Grey of Northumberland Lord Powis Son of John Grey Lord Powis married Anne the base Daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and died without issue and his Family extinct 11. Clinton Edw. Lord Clinton whose Father died 9 Hen. 8. was made Earl of Lincoln 14 Eliz. and died 27th Eliz. and had Issue Henry Earl of Lincoln who had Issue Thomas Earl of Lincoln Father of Theophilus now Earl 12. Scroope John Lord Scroope of Bolton Son of Henry Lord Scroope of Bolton which John in Henry 8's time married the Daughter of the Earl of Cumberland had Issue Henry Lord Scroope who died 1592 and had Issue Thomas Lord Scroope who died 1609 who had Issue Emanuel Lord Scroope Earl of Sunderland that died without lawful Issue and both Barony and Earldom extinct 13. William Sturton had Issue Charles Lord Sturton who for murthering Mr. Argile and his Son was hang'd at Salâ—sbury 6. March 1565. He had Issue John Lord Sturton S. P. and Edw. now Lord Sturton 14. Latimer John Nevil Lord Latimer lived 23 Hen. 8. and had Issue John Nevil Lord Latimer who died 1577 19 Eliz. without Issue Male and his Family and Barony extinct notwithstanding his four Daughters 15. Montjoy Charles Blunt Lord Montjoy who succeed his Father William Blunt Lord Montjoy and died 38 Henry 8. had Issue James Lord Montjoy who died 1581 had Issue William Lord Montjoy S. P. 1594 and Charles made Earl of Devon 1603 and died 1606 without lawful Issue so the Family and Barony was extinct but for a base Son of his Montjoy Blunt was created Lord Montjoy 3 Jacobi and afterwards Earl of Newport Anno 4. 16. Lumley John Lord Lumley marry'd Jane the eldest Daughter and Co-heir of Henry Fitz-Alam the last Earl of Arundel of that name and had by her Charles Thomas and Mary who died all without Issue so his line was extinct 17. Montegle Sir Edward Stanley created Lord Montegle 6 Henry 8. had Issue Thomas Stanley Lord Montegle who married Mary Daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and had issue William Stanley Lord Montegle who died without issue Male and his Barony extinct till King James Anno 1. conferr'd it on William Parker after Lord Morley for revealing the Gunpowder-Treason having married Elizabeth Daughter and sole Heir of the aforesaid William 18. Windsor Andrew Windsor made 21 Henry 8. and died 33 and had issue William Lord Windsor q. ob 1558 who had issue Edward Lord Windsor who died 1575 who had Fredrick Lord Windsor who died Sept. 28 Eliz. and Henry Lord Windsor who died 1605 who had issue Thomas now Lord Windsor yet without issue 19. Wentworth Thomas Lord Wentworth made 21 Henry 8. had issue Thomas Lord Wentworth who died 1590 who had issue William Wentworth who died 1582 S. P. and Henry Lord Wentworth who died 1593 who had issue Thomas Lord Wentworth created Earl of Cleveland 1 Caroli and had issue Thomas his Son and Heir apparent 20. Burrough Thomas Lord Burrough had issue Edward that married Qu. Catherine now S. P. William who had issue Henry eldest Son slain by Sir Tho. Holcroft near Kingston Anno 1578 and Thomas Lord Burrough Deputy of Ireland and Sir John Burrough slain by Sir John Gilbert 1594. Thomas Lord Burrough had Issue Robert Lord Burrough that died a Child without issue 1601 and the Barony extinct The first Thomas had issue besides Edward and William Sir Thomas Burrough S. P. and Henry Father of Nicholas who had issue Sir John Burrough ut creditur slain at Rees 21. Bray Sir Edmund made Baron 21 Hen. 8. and had issue John Lord Bray died without issue and so the Barony and Line extinct but he had six Sisters 22. Walter Hungerford made Baron of Hatsbury 28 Hen. 8. was beheaded for Buggery and his Barony extinct yet he had issue Sir Walter Hungerford Knight who died without issue Male and so this Family extinct 23. St. John William Paulet was created Lord St. John of Basing 30 Hen. 8. and made Earl of Wiltshire 3 Edward 6. and 5 Edward 6. Marquess of Winchester who had issue John Marquess who had issue William Marquess who had issue William Marquess Father of William Lord St. John that died S. P. and of John now Marquess 24. Sir John Russel was made Baron 30 Hen. 8. and Earl of Bedford 3 Edw. 6. he had Woburn Abby for his Dwelling-house with the Church turned to a strange use even the Stable he had Francis the second Earl of Bedford his sole issue who had four Sons and three Daughters 1. Edmund Lord Russel died without issue 2. John Lord Russel died without issue Male. 3. Francis Lord Russel treacherously slain by the Scots in time of Truce but left two Sons who died without issue Edward the 4th Earl of Bedford and then Sir William 4th Son of the first Francis was by King James made Lord Russel of Thornhaugh whose Son Francis is now the 5th Earl and long may he live and prosper 25. William Parr made Baron Parr of Kendall 9. March 30 H. 8. after Earl of Essex and lastly Marquess Nortston had three Wives was divorced from his first and died without issue York 186. Leonard Lord Gray Lord Lieutenant of Ireland holdeth a Parliament in Ireland 1. Maii 28 Hen. 8. at Dublin wherein he passeth an Act for the suppressing of Abbies Chron. of Ireland pag. 100. In the 32 of the King he is called home and sent to the Tower and in the 25th of June 33 he was to be arraigned in the King's Bench at Westminster and to be try'd by a Jury of Knights being no Lord of Parliament but confessing the Indictment had his Judgment and was beheaded at Tower-Hill the third Day following a Man of singular Valour that had formerly serv'd his Prince and Country most honourably in France and Ireland Stow 32 Hen. 8. and 33. Now I labour in observing the Particulars seeing the whole body of the Baronage is since that fallen so much from their ancient lustre magnitude and estimation I that about 50 Years agoe did behold with what great respect observance and distance principal Men of Countries apply'd themselves to some of the meanest Barons and so with what familiarity inferiour Gentlemen often do accost many of these of our times cannot but wonder either at the Declination of the one or at the Arrogance of the other but I remember what an eminent Divine once said in a Sermon he compared Honour among Dignities to Gold the heaviest and most precious Metal but Gold saith he may be beaten so thin as the very Breath will blow it away so Honour may be dispers'd so popularly that the Reputation of it will be pretermitted To say what I observe herein as the Nobility spoiled God of his Honour by putting those things from him and communicating them to lazy and vulgar Persons so God to requite them hath taken the ancient Honours of Nobility and communicating them to
Abbey-Stone Breast-high the Wall reft from the Corner Stones though it was clear above ground which being reported to me by my Servant Richard Tedcastle I viewed them with mine own Eyes and found it so Sir Roger utterly dâ—smayed with these Occurrents gave over his begun Foundation and digging a new wholly out of the ground about 20 Yards more forward toward the North hath there finished a stately House using none of the Abbey-Stone about it but employed the same in building a Parsonage-House for the Minister of that Town and about the Walls of the Church-yard c. Himself also shewed me that as his first Foundation reft in sunder so the new Bridge which he had made of the same Stone at the foot of the Hill which ascendeth to his House settled down with a Belly as if it would fall But if there be any Offences or ominous Consequences depending upon such Possessions he hath very nobly and piously endeavoured to expiate it for he hath given back to the Church three or four Appropriations Burnham Priory It was sometime the Southwells of St. Faith's whose Family is either extinct or gone out of the County It was afterwards Francis Cobbes Gent. who likewise is gone then Sir Charles Cornwallis Kt. wasted and by him sold to Alderman Soame who let the same to John Soame Esque his 2d Son deceased Peterston About the latter Years of Q. Eliz. was Rich. Mansers Gent. who had much suit and Quarrel with Firmine Gray about a Lease of it and died without Issue disposing it by a Will as was reported to one Roger Manser his Brother but they were of it by Armiger of Creake who married Richard Manser's Sister and left it to William Armiger his Son and Heir who sold it to my Lord Cooke to secure the Title Carbrocke a Monastery of Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem Sir Richard Southwell Knight a great Agent in spoiling the Abbeys was Owner of it he married Thomasin the Daughter of Sir Roger Darcy of Dambury and living together had no Issue by her but in the mean time he had by Mary Darcy Daughter of Tho. Darcy also of Dambury Richard Southwell of St. Faiths and Tho. Southwell of Mowrton Mary and Dorothy all born in Adultery and Katherine married to Tho. Audeley of Beer-Church in Essex Cousin and Heir Male to the Lord Audley born as it seems after the Death of Thomasin his Wife by the said Mary who then and before was by Sir Richard married to one Leech a Swallowman of Norwich that had been his Servant and now his Lady dying he took this Mary from Leech her Husband and married her himself alledging that she could not be Leech's Wife for that he had another former Wife then living hereupon a great Suit ensued in the high Commission Court where Sir Richard prevailed and enjoyed her with shame enough Sir Richard dieth without other Issue than by this Mary leaving the Abbey of St. Faiths to his base born Son Richard and Mowrton to his base Son Thomas His Son Richard marries Bridget Daughter of Sir Roger Copley Knight and had Issue by her Richard Thomas and Robert This last Richard married the Daughter of Sir Tho. Cornwallis and having Issue by her Sir Tho. Southwell and 2 or 3 other Sons dyeth in the life-time of his Father who for his 2d Wife marrieth his Maid the Daughter of one Styles Parson of Ellingham and by her had Issue Sir Henry Southwell and Dunsarry Southwell now owner of Mowrton and some Daughters whereof Ann was in London And this Richard the Father having wasted his Estate and sold the Abbey of St. Faiths to the Lord Chief Justice Hobart died a Prisoner in the Fleet. Tho. Southwell the other base Son of Sir Richard dieth without Issue and having given by his Will the Mannor of Mowrton to his Sister Audley for Life the Remainder to Thomas her younger Son Sir Tho. Southwell Nephew of the Testator seeketh to overthrow the Will and to have the Mannor as Heir at common Law to Thomas the Testator hereupon the Heir of Leech strikes in against them both labouring with Sir Thomas to falsifie the Will against Mrs. Audley and excluding Sir Tho. by alledging bastardy against him in Richard his Father for that Mary Darcy the Mother of this Richard was Wife to the Father of this Leech when Richard and Thomas the Testator was born This brought all the filthiness aforementioned to be raked over again and when all were notoriously defamed by it they all sit down without any recompence Tho. Audley that was in remainder died without Issue in the Life of his Mother whereby Mowrton came to his Brother Sir Henry Audley Anthony Southwell and Southwell Brothers of Sir Thomas were in the Robbery of Mrs. Grave and fled into Ireland Sir Henry Southwell married the Daughter of the Lord Hor in Ireland without Issue After the Death of Sir Richard Southwell his Nephew Sir Robert succeeded in the great Inheritance and the Hospital of Carbrock he married the Daughter of the Earl of Nottingham and died in the Flower of his Age leaving his Son the now Sir Thomas an Infant who about his full Age had a base Daughter by Dr. Corbett's Maid and marrying her privily liveth now in dis of her and keepeth the Daughter of one Eden in a poor House at Notton and hath consumed the greatest part of his Estate His Sister Mrs. Eliz. Florence liveth at Florence in Adultery with Sir Robert Dudley having another Wife before he married her and both of them still living Marham Sir Nicholas Hare Knight and John Hare Citizen and Mercer of London 3 Jul. Anno 38 H. 8. purchased of the King ... totum fitum circuitum ambitum praecinctum nuper Monasterii sive domus De Marham in ac totum sundum situm terram Ecclesiam Campanile domus aedificiorum c. ... necnon manerium nostrum de Marham cum omnibus terris ... c. Sir Nicholas Hare married the Daughter and Heir of Bassingbourn and had Issue Michael that died without Issue Robert that died without Issue and Richard that died without Issue and his Inheritance went away to his two Daughters the one married to Rouse the other to Timperley See more of this Sir Nicholas in the Speaker of Parliament Anno 31 H. 8. where he prophesied this ruin of his Family John Hare the Citizen had Issue Nicholas the Lawyer that died without Issue Ralph that died without Issue Edmund Lunatick at a Lodge in Enfield-Chase Hugh that died without Issue Rowland and John that had Issue and Thomas of Oxford that married and died without Issue Richard the elder married Eliz. Daughter of ... and had Issue Sir Ralph Hare Knight of the Bath and he married ... the Daughter of Alderman Hambden and John Son of John and Brother of Richard was Clerk of the Court of Wards and had Issue Nicholas who was Lunatick and died without Issue and Hugh now Lord
Colrane in Ireland Sir Ralph Hare to expiate this Sin of his Family gave the Parsonage impropriate of Marham worth 100 l. yearly to St. John's College in Cambridge Anno 16 and died leaving one only Child Sir John Hare who married Sir Thomas Coventry the now Lord Keeper's Daughter and hath by her she not being ... Years old ... Sons and Daughters with hope of a numerous Posterity God bless them Crab-House I have yet gotten little Intelligence of this Abbey but I hear that it was not long since John Wright's of Wigen-Hall in Marseland and that he had two Sons whereof ... his eldest Son consumed his Estate and sold the Abbey with the greatest part of the Land and died without Issue It came after to Mr. William Guybon of Watlington and is now in the hands of his Son and Heir Bromill Abbey Sir Thomas Woodhouse of Wapham 38 H. 8. purchased Bromill Abbey of the King he died without Issue and Sir Henry Woodhouse his Nephew succeeded who utterly consumed his whole Estate and selling the Abbey to John Smith Esq Suits arose thereupon which lasted many Years till the Death of Sir Henry in Nov. 1624. Mr. Smith hath only Daughters and no Son so that the Abbey is not like to continue in his Name Ex inform ipsius Jo. Smith 11 o. Nov. 1624. The Impropriation of Besthurst in Lancashire as I take it is worth 1600 l. per Annum being Sir Vrion Lea's Dereham Abbey Tho Dereham in the 33 H. 8. bought it of the King shortly after he was fetch'd out of it to the Tower about the Treason of his Brother Francis Dereham who was executed Thomas at length was delivered out of Prison he had Issue Thomas Robert John and Baldwin and a Daughter Thomas married ... and died without Issue Male Robert and John died without Issue Baldwin a decayed Merchant of London had Issue four Sons Thomas Dr. of Divinity John and Martha a Daughter non compos mentis Thomas succeeded his Uncle in the Inheritance and is now Knighted having Issue Thomas Thomas eldest Son of Sir Thomas married ... daughter of ... Scot Esque of ... in Kent she fell Lunatick in Child-Bed upon the Death of her Son ... 1623 and so continueth having yet only a Daughter Thetford Hitherto I have kept my self within my Circle let us see for our further satisfaction whether the like fortune haunted the Monasteries without it we will begin with Thetford The Monastery of the Black Nuns of St. Gregory in Thetford being the Benedictines was the Duke of Norfolk's whose Misfortunes are here before in other places too often mentioned He sold the same to Sir Richard Fulmarston Knight who died without Issue Male leaving it to his Daughter and her married to Sir Edward Clark Knight Sir Edward Clark had two Sons by her and a Son by his second Wife Sir Edward Clark Knight of St. Michael the eldest Son spent most of his Life in one Prison or other had Issue a Son Sir Henry Clark Baronet that died without Issue Male in the Life of his Father who consuming his whole Inheritance sold the chief Seat of his Blickling to the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Sir Henry Hobart and this Monastery upon Exchange and Money to Mr. Godsalve for Buckingham-Ferry which he ... Mr. Godsalve put over the Monastery among other Lands to Mr. John Smith and Owen Shepheard and having consumed all his Estate went beyond Sea Mr. Smith and Mr. Shepheard had a long and chargeable Suit about Mr. Godsalve's Estate and sold the Monastery to Sir William Campion who now hath it but with Suit and Trouble Sir Edw. ... the elders second Son Francis died without Issue This great and eminent Family is wholly extinct as those also of Fulmarston's Godsalve's and Smith's for Smith hath no Issue Male. I must here note that this Sir Edward ... the Elder was one of the greatest Hunters by way of Concealment after Church Goods and Lands that was in his time and that sowing these unfortunate Pieces of new gotten Cloth into the Garment of his old Inheritance the new hath not only rent away the old Garment but the Family it self to which it served Pentney Priory Pentney Priory was purchased of the Kâ—ng Anno 37 H. 8. by Thomas Mildmay the Auditor whose Son Sir Thomas sold it to Francis Windham one of the Justices of the King's-Bench he entailed it first upon his own Issue then to his Brother 's Roger and Thomas the Dr. after to his Sister Coningsby and after that to Edmund and Edmund's natural Brothers all which dying without Issue it came to Thomas Windham Esq Son of Sir Henry Windham who in Anno 1622 sold it to Sir Richard Ballache Knight and he in Anno 1631 to Judge Richardson The Abbey of Radegundis at Bradefalk in Kent by Dover is now Sir Tho. Edolph's Knight who did lately build a fair House upon the Site of the Monastery and it hath fallen down three times his two Brothers lunatique Ex relat Mrs. Meares qui duxit Vxorem Edw. Pegton Baronet St. Lawrence-Abbey by Canterbury now in the hands of Edolph lunatique whose Grandfather was also lunatique his Grandfather first purchased the Abbey Shirburn Shirburn-Abbey some time a Cathedral-Church yet belonging to the Bishop of Salisbury saith Cambden p. 214. impres 1610. Sir John Horsey having no Issue left for Name sake to Sir Ralph Horsey of Cambridgeshire the Monastery and Parsonage of Shirburn who wasting much his Estate sold them to Mr. Stikles and he to my Lord Digby about 1620. The Castle and the Manner was assigned from the Bishop of Salisbury to Queen Elizabeth and by her to Sir Walter Rawleigh after beheaded then it came to Prince Henry who died shortly after then it came to the Earl of Somerset who being attainted the King granted it to my Lord Digby The Bishoprick being void Toby Matthew should have had it but would not take it upon Sir Walter Rawleigh's conditions but Henry Cotton accepting and performing them his Son was born blind who notwithstanding was made a Minister had 3 or 4 Parsonages and was Canon in Salisbury yet died a Beggar Hale's-Abbey Hale's-Abbey and Manour for the most part viz. 500 Acres granted to the Lord Admiral Seymor in fee 19 Aug. 1. Edw. 6. He beheaded it returned to the King Edw. who 12 June reg 4. granted all with the 500 Acres to the Lord Marquiss who 16 June eodem Anno leased it to Hodgkins for 21 Years at 159 l. 16 s. but as it seems came again to the Crown for Q. Eliz 18 July reg 7. leased it again to Hodgkins for 21 Years at 159 l. 16 s. Woods Regalities c. excepted ut videtur Hodgkins had three Sons all died poorly but he gave his Estate to his Daughter married to Hobby St. Ousey given by King Edward to Thomas Lord Darcy and ... slain at St. Quintins John had Issue Thomas Lord Darcy whose
but King James would not suffer Prince Charles to have it for the success The Earl of Bristol hath it Received from my Lord Keeper 9th of May 1626. Lodwick Grevil owner of Micletin a Mannor belonging to Ensham Abby in Oxfordshire had two Sons whereof Edward the younger shooting a piece by chance slew his elder Brother and thereby succeeded in the Inheritance Lodwick himself in the ... Year of Eliz. standing mute upon his Arraignment for Poisoning of ... whose Will he had Counterfeited was Press'd to Death Edward afterward Knighted Mortgag'd the Abby to ... Fisher a Skinner of London for a small Sum and growing farther in with him by borrowing and Use upon Use it came at length by Forfeiture and Entanglement to be Fishers absolutely and Sir Edward Grevil having wasted his whole Patrimony and sold some part thereof in Warwickshire to the Lord Treasurer Cranfeild became Bailiff to the Lord Treasurer of the same Land Old Fisher put over the Abby to his Son Sir Edward Fisher who with extreme Suites Bribery c. so consum'd his Estate that he was judged to be Eleven Thousand or Twelve Thousand Pound in Debt and driven to sell his great Lease of Wrongey Blackbury and Grandcourts in Norfolk and yet liveth in fear of Bailiffs c. 12th of Octob. 1644. Ex relat John Wrenham partim Rob. Mordant Mil. Sir Edward Grevil had a Son that breaking his Leg over a Style dy'd his Daughters are one Married to Sir Arthur Ingram to whom he sold the Reversion of his chief Seat Milcote c. and hath a Hundred Pound per Ann. during his Life and the House Circa Ann. Dom. 1142. Stephen and Geffrey Mandevil Earl of Essex being call'd among other of the Nobility to a Council at St. Albans he was there by the King in revenge of a former Injury unduly taken at St. Albans prisoned and could have no liberty till he had delivered the Tower of London and the Castles of Walden and Plessy being thus spoil'd of his Holds he turned his fury upon the Abby of Ramsey it being a place of Security and invading it by force drove out the Monks and placed his Soldiers in their room and Fortified the Church instead of his Castle The Abbot and Monks betook them to their Arms and with all the force they could shot their Curses and Imprecations against him and his Complices thus prepared to his destruction he besieg'd the Castle of Burwel where a Peasant shooting him lightly in the Head with an Arrow contemning the Wound he dy'd of it in Excommunication leaving three Sons Inheriters of that Malediction but of no Lands of their Father the King having seized them Nub. lib. 1. c. 11. Stow. An. 9 Steph. Matth. Westm. Ann. 1143. Hen. Hunting Hist. lib. 8. pag. 393. Arnulph his eldest Son who still maintain'd the Church of Ramsey as a Castle was taken Prisoner by King Stephen striped of all his Inheritance banish'd and dy'd without Issue Hov. in Ann. 1144. Catal. Com. Essex pag. 177. Mat. Par. Ann. 1143. pag. 77. lib. 6. Geffrey Mandevil second Son was restored by King Henry the II. and Married Eustachia the Kings Kinswoman but had no Issue by her William Mandevil the third Son succeeded his Brother and was twice Married but dy'd without Issue Thus the Name and Issue of this Sacrilegious Earl were all extinct and the Inheritance carried to Geffrey Fitz-Peter another Family by the Marriage of Beatrix Say his Sisters Grandchild Now we have related the Fortune of the Earl Mandevil and his Children we must not omit what Nubrigensis reporteth touching two of his Captains the one of his Horse-men the other of his Foot-men both of them cruel Executioners of his Impiety The first had his Brains dash'd out by a fall from his Horse and the other whose Name was Rayner the chief burner and breaker into Churches being passing over Sea with his Wife they were both of them turned out of the Ship into a Boat and so left to Fortune were there Drown'd More of the Story you may see in Nubrigensis lib. 1. c. 11. and Mat. Par. Ann. 1143. About the same time Rob. Marmion a Man of great power in like manner invaded the Church of Coventry and turning out the Monks placed his Soldiers in their room then going to Battle against the E. of Chester he shewed himself in a bravery before both the Armies and having forgotten privy Trenches which himself had made to entrap his Enemies or hinder their approach he fell as he pranced up and down before the Monastery into one of them and breaking his Thigh-Bone could not get out which a Peasant of his Enemies perceiving ran to him and cut of his Head Nub. lib. 1. c. 12. Mat. West Ann. 1143. Hunting lib. 8. p. 393. Mat. Par. 1143. William Albermarl whom I certainly take to be William le Gros Earl of Albermarl that dy'd 25th of Henry II. by the former examples thrust the Regular Priests out of the Church of Belingcon and Fortified it with his Soldiers But by example also of their grievous Punishment it pleased God to touch him with Repentance so that to expiate his Sin he did many Noble Works of Charity both in relieving the Poor abundantly and in Erecting of two if no more worthy Monasteries that of Melsa in the Year 1150. and the other of Torneton where he was Buried in Peace Yet God delighted rather in Obedience than Sacrifice cut off the Line of his Family and transposed his Inheritance by his only Daughter Hawis who was thrice Married to three several Families But in the two first it stuck not at all and but two Descents in the last of them Nub. l. 1. c. 12. Hov. An. 1179. Cat. E. Albermarl King Henry II. in the Year 1192. and the 16th of his Reign being in Normandy and hearing that Thomas of Becket Archbishop of Canterbury after a Peace lately made between them carried things so imperiously in England as there was no living under him growing into an extream Passion used as they say these words In what a miserable State am I that I cannot be quiet in my own Kingdom for one only Priest Is there no Man that will rid me of this Trouble Hereupon or upon what other Motives God knoweth four barbarous Knights Sir Hugh Murvill Sir Will. Tracy Sir Rich. Brittain and Sir Reynold Fitz-Vrs hasting into England slew the Archbishop at Even Song in his Cathedral Church at the very Altar embruing it with his Blood and Brains committing at once this horrible Murder and tripple Sacrilege First in respect of the Person secondly of the Place and thirdly of the Time and Business then in hand Yet Vengeance seized not presently on their Bodies but tormented their Souls upon the rack of Desperation so that neither trusting themselves one with another nor the solitary Woods nor the mantle of Night they fled into several Countries where they all within four Years after as 't is reported died
deceiving the one of Q. Eliz. the other of K. James of a Multitude of thousand Pounds the Examination whereof was by His Majesty referr'd unto me among others and the two Brethren then agreeing among themselves the Reference was no further prosecuted But Mr. Toby Palvicini consuming his whole Estate sold the Abbey and Impropriation to Alderman Barcham and yet lieth in the Fleet for Debt if not lately at liberty Blackborough and Wrongey-Abbeys These were by granted and annexed to the See and Bishoprick of Norwich where Edmond Scaulter being made Bishop 27 Eliz. and doing as much as well he might to impoverish the Church made a Lease of most of the Manours and Lands thereof and amongst them of these two Abbies to Qu. Elizabeth for 29 Years at the lowest Rent he might which Bishop Goodwin in like cases termeth Sacrilege Queen Elizabeth assigneth this Lease to Sir Tho. he leaveth it to his Lady after the Countess of Southampton she setteth her term in these Abbies with the Mannors and Lands belonging to them to one Fisher a Skinner in London by the procurement of Wrenham her Servant Fisher entereth and enjoyeth them as undoubtedly his own Leaseth them for 21 Year to Harpley at a great encreased Rent Wrenham dieth without contradicting any thing his Son John Wrenham pretending that Fisher had the grand Lease but in trust for his Father who never paid penny for it exhibits one Bill in Chancery against Fisher another against his Son Sir Edward Fisher as having it from his Father a 3d against Harpley the Under-leaser The Lord Chancellour Egerton by an order declareth Harpley's Lease to be good who thereupon enjoy'd it quietly and dieth his Executrix setteth it to Sir Henry Spelman Wrenham exhibiteth a Bill against Sir Henry The Suits proceed to an hearing betwixt Wrenham and the Fishers The Lord Chancellour decreeth it against the Fishers and all claiming under them The Lord Chancellour Egerton gives over his place and Sir Francis Bacon placed in his room He reverseth the Decree and decreeth it back again to Sir Edward Fisher and by another Decree giveth also Sir Hen. Spelman's Lease unto him without calling or hearing Sir Henry Wrenham complaineth in a Petition to King James and taxeth the Lord Chancellour Bacon of Corruption and Injustice The King himself peruseth all the proceedings and approveth the Lord Bacon's Decree Wrenham is censured for his scandal in the Star-Chamber to loose his Ears on the Pillory c. A Parliament followeth in Jacobi both Wrenham and Sir Henry Spelman severally complain there It is found that the Lord Chancellour Bacon had for these Decrees of Sir Edw. Fisher a Suit of Hangings of eight score pounds The Lord Chancellour for this among other such crimes is deposed The Bishop of Lincoln is set in his room the Suits are again in agitation before him between Wrenham and Fisher and Sir Henry Spelman by a Petition to the King obtaineth a Review of the Proceedings against him upon which a Recompence is given him by Decree against Sir Edward Fisher. The Bishop of Lincoln is removed by King Charles and the Lord Coventry made Lord Keeper by whom the other Differences are at last compounded and the Grand Lease divided into many parcels Wrenham that raised this Tempest besides his misfortune in the Star-Chamber is never the richer by it but liveth a Projectour Sir Edward Fisher of 8000 l. as Bodon his Servant protesteth in the Suit is consumed and not to be seen of every Man Sir Henry Spelman a great loser and not beholden to Fortune yet happy in this that he is out of the Bryars but especially that hereby he first discerned the Infelicity of meddling with consecrated places Sir Tho. died without Issue Male and his Family extinct Mr. James out of whose Bowels his Father the Bishop hoped to raise a Family of note hath to this day no Issue at all Walsingham-Abby Dedicated to St. Mary Canons regular val at 446 l. 14s 4d One Sydney Governour of the Spittle there as was commonly reported when I was a Scholar at Walsingham was by the Townsmen imploy'd to have bought the Site of the Abby to the use of the Town but obtain'd and kept it to himself He had Issue Thomas and a Daughter Mother to Robin Angust the Foot-post of Walsingham Thomas by the advancement of Sir Francis Walsingham Brother to his Wife grew to great Wealth was Customer of Linne and about a miscarrige of that place was long harrowed in Law by Mr. Farmer of Basham and died leaving two Sons Thomas the eldest having the Abby c. married and died without Issue Sir Henry succeeded in the Abby c. married and died without Issue His Lady a vertuous Woman now hath it for life the remainder being given for names sake by Sir Henry to Robert Sydney the 2d Son of the Earl of Leicester Walsingham-Priory not mentioned in the Tax One Mr. Jenner was Owner of it and had Issue Thomas Francis and Bartholomew Francis a Lawyer of Gray's Inn married into Kent and was drowned in going thither by Boat Thomas the eldest had the Priory and 3 or 4 Sons and a Daughter one of his Sons or as some say two went up and down a begging His eldest he disinherited settling his Estate upon his younger Son John being my Servant who died in his Father's life Then he gave his whole Estate to his Daughter married to Bernard Vtbarr and a Daughter of hers his Grandchild with a particular Summ of Money to maintain Suit against his Son and Heir if he claimed any thing after his death Being dead his Son enter'd and got possession of the Priory but in fine with some little composition was wrested out by Vtbarr and now Vtbarr's Daughter coming to age it is to be sold by her Hempton-Abby al Takenham Dedicated to St. Mary and St. Stephen Black Canons Aug. 39 l. 9 s. If Sir Hen. Farmer had it he died without Issue Sir William Farmer had it and died without Issue-male His Brother was slain at Rising-Chase by the Rebels 2 Ed. 6. His Son Mr. Thomas Farmer had it and the Impropriation of Basham and wasting his Estate sold about 15 or 16 Mannors leaving none but his chief House Basham His eldest Son Thomas died a young Man his three Daughters unfortunate The eldest and youngest poorly married The middle to Mr. Barneys Son of Gunton who disinherited by his Father was slain by Tho. Betts his Wives Uncle of the half blood at a Marriage at Litcham Nicholas Farmer younger Brother of Thomas was attainted and pardoned for Coining and after taking a Boat to fly from the Serjeants was drowned in the Thames William 2d Son of Thomas a right honest Gentleman still hath the Impropriation and having been married about 18 Years hath only a Daughter Mr. Richard Benson bought the Abby and Mannor of Pudding Norton of Mr. Tho. Farmer consumed all and went into Wales
Mr. Gossald bought the Abby of Mr. Benson and lest it to his Wife in Jointure Mr. Henry Gossald of Ireland his Son and Heir sold the Reversion to Sir Thomas Holland and goeth into Ireland Mr. Nicholas Timperley bought it of Sir Tho. Holland Malsingham-Abby not in the Tax It was Sir Tho. Gresham's who died as was said suddenly in his Kitchin without Issue-male His Daughter and Heir was married to Sir William Read who had this Abby Sir Tho. Read his eldest Son married Mildred Daughter of Sir Tho. Cecil after Earl of Exeter and died without Issue Sir Francis Read his 2d Son an unthrift lived much in the Gaol if he died not there The Daughter of Sir William was married to Sir Michael Stanhope who died without Issue-male Jane the eldest Daughter of Sir Michael married to Sir William is out of her Wits and Sir William her Husband in sore danger of his life about the slaughter of 6 or 7 Men tumultuously kill'd at Elizabeth the younger of his Daughters and Heirs married to the Lord Barkley is out of her Wits Flitcham-Abby Sir Tho. Hollis had it and was by report at Dinner taken out of it in Execution for Debt by the Sheriff and his Goods sold whereof my Father bought some Much suit there was about it between one Payne and him or his Heir but the matter being at length reserr'd to the Duke of Norfolk he bought both their Titles He the Duke had it and was attainted and beheaded and it then came to the Crown King James gave it in Fee Farm to my Lord of Suffolk who was fined in the Star-Chamber and put out of Treasure-ship and suffer'd much Affliction by the Attainder of the Lady Francis Countess of Somerset his Daughter and of her Husband the Earl My Lord Cooke bought it of the Earl of Suffolk and bought out the Fee-Farm from King James He was put out of the place of Ch. Justice of the King's Bench fell into great Displeasure of the King and hath been laded with Afflictions proceeding chiefly from his own Wife who liveth from him in Separation His eldest Son Sir Robert having been married many Years hath yet no Issue His Daughter the Lady Vicountess of Purbeck the Fable of the Time and her Husband a Lunatick Wendling Wendling-Abby differ'd from all the rest of this Circuit for it was not dissolv'd by the Statute or by the Act of Hen. 8. but before that time by Cardinal Wolsey and was one of the 40 small Monasteries that Pope Clement the 7th gave him licence to suppress for the Erection of his 2 Colleges Christ-Church in Oxon and another at Ipswich The Cardinal employed 5 Persons especially in this business whereof one was slain by another of those his Companions that other was hanged for the Fact the third drowned himself in a Well the fourth being a Man of good Wealth in those days fell within three years after so poor that he begg'd till his Death the fifth Dr. Allen promoted to a Bishoprick in Ireland was there cruelly maimed The Cardinal himself fell out of favour with the King and Kingdom and condemned in a praemunire lost all his Offices Honours Goods and Estate and being called into further danger died for grief by the way not without suspicion of poisoning himself The Pope who gave the Licence was by the Duke of Bourbon's Army driven out of his City of Rome it cruelly sack'd and himself besieg'd in the Castle of St. Angelo taken Prisoner scorned and put to Ransom And after all this was at last as some affirm poison'd with certain of his Cardinals and Friends by the Fume of a Torch prepared for that purpose Stow in Anno Dom. Bale 18. 6. Besides all these Mr. Tho. Cromwell who then was but Servant to the Cardinal having a principal hand in the Destruction of these Monasteries given to his Master had also a principal share in this Tragedy for tho' he were after promoted to great Honours yet in the end he was thrown out of them all convicted of Treason attainted and beheaded as in other places heretofore we have more fully related Now we come nearer to and particularly to this Abbey wherein as also in others of that Nature in Corporations and Bodies Politick that are the Seminaries of the Church little attention is to be expected yet see what happened to their Tenants and Farmers profanely abusing the consecrate places thereof The Cardinal did grant it to his Coll. at Christ-Church in Oxon and to whom they first leased it I do not yet find but Mr. Tho. Hogan of Bradenham that was Sheriff of Norfolk Eliz. died in his Sheriffship and not long after him his Son Mr. Hen. Hogan leaving his Son and Heir very young who attaining near to his full Age and falling sick acknowledged a fine upon his Death-Bed to the use of his Mother the Lady Caesar that now is and his half Sisters and dying without reversing it did by that means cut off his Heirs at common Law and was the last of his Father's House in that Inheritance This begat great Suits in the Star-Chamber Chancery and Parliament it self The Lease is since come to Mr. Hamon Nor did the Colleges for which these Monasteries were suppressed by the Cardinal and which he meant to make so glorious come to good effect for that of Ipswich was pulled down and the other of Christ-Church was never finished as also neither that of King's College in Cambridge rising out of the Ruins of the Priory's Aliens Coxford Abbey al Ratha Abbey Coxford Abbey after the Dissolution came to the Duke of Norfolk who was beheaded 2d June 1572 Eliz. 14. The Queen then granted it to Edw. Earl of Oxon who wasted all his Patrimony Sir Roger Townsend then bought it who had Issue Sir Jo. Townsend and Sir Robert Townsend Sir Robert died without Issue Sir Jo. had Issue Sir Robert the Bar. and Stanhope and Ann married to Joh. Spelman he falling into a Quarrel with Sir Matthew Brown of Beach-North Castle in Surrey each of them slew other in a Duel 1 Jac. Stanhope Townsend wounded mortally by in a Duel in the Low Countries came into England and died at London Sir Roger the Bar. intending to build a goodly House at Rainham and to fetch Stone for the same from Coxford Abbey by advice of Sir Nathanael Bacon his Grandfather began to demolish the Church there which till then was standing and beginning with the Steeple the first Stone as 't is said in the fall brake a Man's Leg which somewhat amazed them yet contemning such Advertisement they proceeded in the Work and overthrowing the Steeple it fell upon a House by and breaking it down slew in it one Mr. Seller that lay lame in it of a broken Leg gotten at Foot-ball others having saved themselves by Fright and Flight Sir Roger having digged the Cellering of his new House and raised the Walls with some of the
Issue-Male of his Father and Grandfather failing his Daughter is married to Sir Thomas Savage At the latter end of Q. Mary's days Callis being taken Sir Hugh Paulett took down the Bells of the Church of Jersey and sending them to St. Malo's in Britain 14 of them were drowned at the Entry of the Harbour and at this day it is a By-word in those Parts when a strong â—ast-Wind bloweth there that the Bells of Jersey ring Ex relatione Mri. Bandivell Decani ib. Traveling through Cambridgeshire and passing through a Town there called Anglary I saw certain ruinous Walls which seemed to have been some Monastery hereupon I asked one of the Town if it had not been an Abbey he answered me yes I demanded of him whose it was he said one Mr. Foulkes I asked him further how long he had had it he said his Father a Londoner bought it then I desired to know of him what Children he had the Man answered me none saying further that he had a Son who displeasing him once as he was grafting threw his grafting Knife at his Son and therewith killed him Passing also another time through Suffolk I fell in company of a Gentleman-like Man who by way of Discourse there had been in the Parts we there were about 20 Justices of Peace when he was young and that at the present time there were not above three He named also divers of the Families decayed some in Estate others for want of Issue-Male and some by Misfortune I having a jealous Eye upon it asked if they were not setled upon Church-land he answered me yes as Sir Michael Stanhope at Oxford-Abbey Sir Anthony Wingfield at Leveringham-Abbey both which died one without Issue the other without Issue-Male Sir Anthony Playford at Playford-Abbey Mr. Brown at Lawson-Abbey where he was murthered by his Wife she burnt and her Man hanged Mr. Ford at Batley-Abbey who disinherited his eldest Son c. saying further that that Part was Church-land belonging to the Abbey of St. Edmundsbury and called it St. Ethelreds Liberty 30 Sept. 16 9. In the Sermon of John Bishop of Ely at the Funeral of Dr. Andrews Bishop of Winchester 11 Nov. 1626 at the Church of St. Saviours in Southwark Now before I come to his last End give me leave to tell you that privately he did much find fault and reprove three Sins too common and reigning in this latter Age. 1. Vsury c. 2. Symony c. 3. The third and greatest was Sacrilege which he did abhorr as one principal Cause among many of the foreign and civil Wars in Christendom and Invasion of the Turks wherein even the reformed and otherwise the true Professors and Servants of Christ because they took God's Portion and turned it to publick profane Uses and to private Advancements did suffer just Chastisement and Correction at God's Hand And at home it had been observ'd and he wish'd that some Man would take the pains to collect how many Families that were rais'd by the Spoils of the Church were now vanish'd and the Place thereof knows them no more Of Sacrilege touching Bells It is reported in our Histories and I have spoken of it before in the proper place that King Edgar leading his Army into the parts of Glamorgan for suppressing a Rebellion of the Welshmen some of his Soldiers among other spoil took away the Bell of St. Ellutus and hanged it about an Horse's Neck And it is noted upon this that King Edgar sleeping in the Afternoon saw one in a Vision that smote him on the Breast with a Spear and that thereupon he restored both the Bell and the other spoil yet died within nine days folowing Holl. p. 161. If the Vision be fabulous I maintain it not tho' we have a Precedent for it in the Ecclesiastical Histories about the Death of Julian the Apostate But the Mythology may be that Edgar abounding with Devotion was stricken in Conscience with the Spear of Repentance for this Sacrilege and that notwithstanding his Restitution his Life was taken from him very shortly after I shall make a great Leap from thence to these latter Ages but I can go no further than where Authors and my reading carry me Only for our Fathers times I shall report what I have faithfully received by Tradition When I was a Child I speak of about threescore Years since I heard much talk of the pulling down of Bells in every part of my Country the County of Norfolk then common in Memory And the summ of the Speech usually was that in sending them over Sea some were drown'd in one Haven some in another as at Lyn Wells or Yarmouth I dare not venture upon Particularities for that I then hearing it as a Child regarded it as a Child But the truth of it was lately discover'd by God himself for that in the Year ... he sending such a dead Neipe as they call it as no Man living was known to have seen the like the Sea fell so far back from the Land at Hunstanton that the people going much further to gather Oysters than they had done at any time before they there found a Bell with the Mouth upward sunk into the ground to the very Brim They carried the News thereof to Sir Hamon le Strange Lord of the Town and of Wreck and Sea-rights there who shortly after sought to have weighed up and gained the Bell but the Sea never since going so far back they hitherto could not find the place again This Relation I receiv'd from Sir Hamon le Strange himself being my Brother-in-law Such other Reports I have often in times past heard touching some other parts of that Kingdom but as I said I then regarded them not and will not therefore now speak any thing of them But dining one day at Lambeth with the most Reverend Father in God George the late Archbishop of Canterbury it pleased his Grace in way of Discourse to tell me That being in Scotland and lodging at his first entrance in Dunber he viewed the Church there and understanding that there was never a Bell in the Steeple demanded the reason of the Minister Who not pleas'd with the Question answer'd somewhat scornfully That it was one of the Reformed Churches implying thereby that the Reformed Churches had no Bells Then going to Edinborough he found no Bell in all the City save one only in the Church of St. Andrew and enquiring there also of the reason it was told him That the rest were pull'd down and shipp'd to be carried into the Low-Countries but were all drowned in Leigh Haven Such havock in pulling down Bells and defacing otherwise of Churches had no doubt proceeded furiously throughout all England if Queen Elizabeth in An. 2. of her Reign had not by her Proclamations and course of the Star-Chamber very severely prevented the same At the end of Qu. Mary's days Callis being taken Sir Hugh Paulett pull'd down the Bells of the Churches of Jersey and sending them to