from the women lest they should giue occasion of scandall wherefore Saint Brigide desiring to reuiue this order she found meanes how without any suspition the Church and house should be common to boâ—h She ordained that they should weare a russet habit with a cloke of the same colour with a red crosse vpon their breasts Shee would haue but sixtie Nunnes and fiue and twentie Monkes in euery Monasterie that is to say thirteene Priests according to the number of the thirteene Apostles comprehending Saint Paul Then foure Deacons who might also be Priests and represented the foure Doctors of the Church and eight Conueâ—ts who might alwayes be readie to labour for the affaires of the house so as the Friers and Nunnes all together made the number of the thirteene Apostles and the seuentie two Disciples of our Sauiour And to the end they might be distinguished one from another the Priests carried a red Crosse vpon the left side of their cloke vnder which crosse they put a little peece of white cloth as broad as a wafer which they offered vp in reuerence of the holy Sacrament And the foure Deacons for a difference from the Priests carried a round wreath of white cloth which signified as they gaue out the sapience of the foure Doctors whom they represented and vpon it they put foure little peeces of red made like vnto tongues to shew that the holy Ghost inflamed their tongues to deliuer the sacred mysteries of Diuinity The Conuerts wore a white crosse vpon their clokes to shew the innocencie of their liues vpon which there were fiue peeces of red in commemoration of the fiue wounds of our Sauiour At the dissolution there was a Couent of this Order at Sion in Mid'e sexe now a mansion goodly faire house belonging to the right honourable the Earle of Northumberland This holy Lady Brigid died at Rome and her daughter Katherine Princesse of Nerice caused the rule after her death to be confirmed by Poâ—e Vrâ—â—â— the fifth She came to Rome at the age of two and fourtie where she continued eight and twentie yeares she was canonized in the yeare of Grace 1391. There was another S. Brigid of Ireland farre more ancient It is said that the image of our Sauiour spoke to this pious Queene of Sweden as she was saying her orizons before the high Altar in the Church of Saint Paul in Via Ostiensi Rome as appeares by an inscription vpon a table hanging in the same Church which I haue seene As many orders or neare thereabouts as were of Friers so many were of Nunnes here and beyond Seas for men in the feruencie of deuotion did not precede the weaker sex of religious women The strictest Order of Nunnes is that of S. Clare A Lady who liued in the same time and was borne in the same Towne of Assile with S. Francis Which Towne to this day brags of the birth of two such worthie persons These Clares obserue the rule of their Patron S. Francis and weare the like habit in colour They are neuer rich and therefore to this day wheresoeuer they doe inhabite they are called the poore Clares This Saint Clare was the first Nunne of Saint Francis Order and her Mother and Sister vndertooke the same vow Sancta Clara que in vita in morte mirabiliter miraculis claruit Beata Agnes soror sancte Clare beata Ortulana mater eorundem fuere ordinis Franciscorum Saint Clare who both in life and death was wondrously famous by her miracles S. Agnes her sister and Ortulana her mother were of the order of S. Francis This S. Clare saith her Legend touching the world was of rightworthy and honourable linage and as touching the spirit to the regard of the state of vertues and holy manners towards God of right noble reputation Hauing spoken already of such religious persons as I finde to haue liued here in England in Coenobies or Couents at the time of the generall dissolution it remaines now to say somewhat of Hermits and Anchorites who had at that time their solitaire little cells or cabbins in diuers places of this kingdome which carrie still the name of Hermitages in and about the countrey and Anchor-holds in Parish or Abbey Churches They were called Hermites or Eremites for that they liued solitarily in desarts and wildernesses and Anchorites because they liued alone without all company immured betwixt two walls in the out side of some Abbey or Parish-Church in which by their rule they were to liue die and to bee buried Whose exercise was feruent prayer handy labour digging and filling vp againe their graues which were to be within their lodgings Of the beginning and first Authors of the Hermites life there is great question which I leaue vnto the learned and adhere to the common receiued opinion which affirmes that the times of persecution were the first cause of this kinde of life For when as in the time of Decius and Valerianus Emperours about two hundred fiftie and two yeares after Christ they prepared horrible torments against the Christians many distrusting the weaknesse of the flesh and searing to denie the name of God by their intollerable persecutions thought it fittest to seeke their safetie by flight Wherefore many leauing Townes frâ—ends and all their wealth retired themselues into desarts and held themselues in solitarie places and caues where they buâ—lt poore cottages Yea many times they went wandring vp and downe in thicke woods lest they should bee taken But when the surie of their tâ—ranâ— ceased they returned not vnto the world but liued voluntarily in desarts so being accustomed to diuine contemplation and a quick kinde of 〈◊〉 they continued in the course vntill death Among the first which entred into this course of life was Paul of Thebes who liued in a caue at the foote of a rocke about the yeare of our redemption 260. The second was Saint Antonie of Aegypt who built himselfe a cottage vpon the top of an high hill where he died hauing liued one hundred and fiue yeares in the yeare 34â—â— S. Hierome of Stridone in Dalmatia that learned and religious Doct 〈◊〉 the like life in the desarts of Syria not farre from Jerusalem In quo loâ—o deserto se ieiunijs macerabat plangebat orabat sludebat atque etiam â—â—m mentabatur In which vninhabited place he macerated or made leane his bodie with fastings he lamented and bewailed his sinnes he pâ—ayed he studied and writ certaine Comments vpon the sacred Scriptures Many other workes he writ before his death which happened about the yeare of our Lord 388. But to come nearer home where the repute and godlinesse of these Hermites or Anchorites for both of them liuing from the companie and conuersation of men were called sometimes by the name of Hermites and some other time of Anchorites was likewise had in venerable regard for we reade that when seuen British Bishops with other learned men of the Monasâ—â—â—â—e of
Sanguine perfuso reparasti quem pretioso Here lieth entombed the body of Raph Selby descended from the ancient family of the Selbies of Billesdun in the County of Northumberland a Monke of this fraternitie a learned Doctor in the ciuill and canon lawes and one exceedingly beloued and fauoured of King Henry the fourth and Henry the fift in the eight yeare of whose raigne hee departed this world Anno 1420. as by this Epitaph appeareth Ecce Radulphus ita Selby iacet hic Cenobita Doctor per merita prepotens lege perita Legibus ornatus a regibus et veneratus Ordo eiusque status per cum fit conciliatus M. C quater x bis post partum virginis iste Michaelis festo tibi spirauit bone Christe Not farre from this Selby lieth buried vnder a marble stone the body of Iohn Windsore one of the noble familie of the Windsores sometime residing at Stanwell in this County a great commander in the warres of Ireland vnder Richard the second and in the battaile of Shrewesbury vnder King Henry the fourth who died in the second yeare of King Henry the fift vpon Eester Eue the seuenth of Aprill 1414. as this Epitaph sheweth Est bis septenus M. Christi C quater annus Vespera Paschalis dum septima lux fit Aprilis Transijt a mundo Io. Windsore nomine notus Corde gemens mundo confessus crimine lotus Fecerat heredem Gulielmus auunculus istum Miles et Armigerum dignus de nomine dignum Dum iuuenilis erat bello multos perimebat Postea penituit eorum vulnera fleuit Recumbens obijt hic nunc in carcere quiescit Viuat in eternum Spiritus ante Deum But now I will conclude the funerall Monuments of this Abbey with the death and buriall of our most learned English Poet Geffery Chaucer whose life is written at large by Thomas Speght who by old copies reformed his workes which the Reader may see a little before the beginning of his bookes He departed out of this world the 25. day of October in the yeare of our Lord 1400. after had liued 72. yeares Thus writeth Leland Chaucer liued till he was an old man and found old age to be grieuous and whilest he followed his causes at London he died and was buried at Westminster The old verses which were written on his graue at the first were these Galfridus Chaucer vates et fama Poesis Materne hac sacra sum tumulatus humo Thomas Occleue or Okelefe of the office of the priuie Seale sometime Chaucers scholler for the loue he bare to the said Geffray his master caused his picture to be truely drawne in his booke De Regimine Principis dedicated to Henry the fift according to which that his picture drawn vpon his Monument was made as also the Monument it selfe at the cost and charges of Nicholas Brigham gentleman Anno 1555. who buried his daughter Rachell a childe of foure yeares of age neare to the Tombe of this old Poet the 21. of Iune 1557. such was his loue to the Muses But to returne againe to Chaucers picture to which these verses were added by the said Occleue Although his life be queint the resemblaunce Of him that hath in me so fresh liuelinesse That to put other men in remembraunce Of his Person I haue here the likenesse Doe make to the end in soothfastnesse That they that of him haue lost thought and minde By this Peniture may againe him finde The Inscriptions vpon his Tombe at this day are after this manner Qui fuit Anglorum vates ter maximus olim Galfridus Chaucer conditur hoc tumulo Annum si quaeras Domini si tempora mortis Ecce notae subsunt quae tibi cuncta notant 25 Octobris 1400. Aerumnarum requies mors N Brigham hos fecit musarum nomine sumptus About the ledge of the Tombe these verses were written Si rogitas quis eraâ— forsan te fama docebit Quod si Fama negat mundi quia gloria transit Haec monumenta lege Now it shall not be amisse to adde to these Epitaphs the iudgements and reports of some learned men of this worthy and famous Poet and first of all let vs heare his Scholler Occleue Vir tam bonis literâ—s quam generis prosapia clarus these are his lines of him in his foresaid booke de regimine Principis Alas my worthy maister honourable This lands very treasure and richesse Death by thy death hath harme irreperable Vnto vs done her vengeable duresse Dispoiled hath this land of the sweetnesse Of Rhetorige for vnto Tullius Was neuer man so like among vs. Also who was heire in Philosophy To Aristotle in our tongue but thee The steppes of Virgill in Poese Thou suedst eken men know well inough What combre world that thee my master slough Would I slaine were Iohn Lidgate a Monke of Burie in his Prologue of Bocchas of the fall of Princes by him translated saith thus in his commendation My Master Chaucer with his fresh Comedies Is dead alas chiefe Poet of Britaine That whilome made full pitous Tragedies The faule also of Princes he did complaine As he that was of making soueraine Whom all this Land should of right preferre Sith of our Language he was the load-sterre That excellent and learned Scottish Poet Gawyne Dowglas Bishop of Dunkeld in the Preface of Virgils Aeneados turned into Scottish verse doth thus speake of Chaucer Venerable Chaucer principall Poet without pere Heuenly trumpet orloge and regulere In eloquence baulme conduct and dyall Milkie fountaine cleare strand and rose ryall Of fresh endite through Albione Island brayed In his legend of noble Ladies sayed Spenser in his Fairie Queene calleth his writings The works of heauenly wit Concluding his commendation in this manner Dan Chaucer Well of English vndefiled On Fames eternall beadrole worthy to be filed Sir Philip Sidney likewise and M. Camden speake much in the deserued praise of this worthy Poet whom I leaue to his eternall rest Vnder the Clocke in the Church I haue read this Inscription Dic mihi quid prodest horas numerare fugaces Cum cessant perdas quod numerare libet This Church hath had great priuiledge of Sanctuarie within the precinct thereof as Stow saith in his Suruay of London to wit the Church Churchyard Close and all that which is still called the Sanctuarie Which Priuiledge was first granted by Sebert king of the East Saxons the first Founder thereof Since encreased by Edgar King of the West Saxons renewed and confirmed by King Edward the Confessor as appeareth by this his Charter following Edward by the grace of God king of Englishmen I make it to bee knowne to all generations of the world after me that by especiall commandement of our holy Father Pope Leo I haue renewed and honoured the holy Church of the blessed Apostle Saint Peter of Westminster and I order and establish for euer that what person of what condition or estate soeuer he be from
difference betweene their receits and their allowances commonly called Allocations as namely the Auditors of the Exchequer take the account of those Receiuers which receiue the reuenues of the augmentation as also of the Sheriffes Escheators and customers and set them downe and perfect them He that will know more hereof may looke Stat. An. 33. Hen. 8. cap. 33. Of your cherite prey for the soul of Iohn Ienyngs who dyed ....... M. cccc.xxiii Pray for the soul of Iohn Elryngton Fylycer of London and keeper of the Records of the Common pleas who departed .... 1504. Fylycer or Filazer deriued from the French word Filace id est silum is an Officer in the Common pleas whereof there be fourteene in number They make all originall Processe as well reall as personall and mixt and in actions meerely personall where the defendants be returned or summoned there goeth out the distresse infinitè vntill appearance if he be returned nihil then Processe of Capias infinitè if the plaintiffe will or after the third Capias the Plaintiffe may goe to the Exigenter of the Shire where his originall is grounded and haue an Exigent and Proclamation made And also the Filazer maketh forth all writs in view in causes where the view is placed He is also allowed to enter the Imparlance or the generall issue in common actions where appearance is made with him and also iudgement by confession in any of them before issue be ioyned and to make out writs of Execution thereupon But although they entred the issue yet the Protonotarie must enter the iudgement if it be after verdict They also make Writs of Supersedeas in case where the Defendant appeareth in their Officers after the Capias awarded Here lyeth ..... William Lowthe Goldsmith of London .... 1528. Prey for the soul of Robert Walsingham Clarke of the Spicery to King Henry the eight who dyed ..... 1522. Here lieth vnder a faire monument the body of Christopher Vrswicke the Kings Almoner his picture in brasse with this subscription Christopherus Vrswicus Regis Henrici septimi Eleemosinarius vir sua etate clarus summatibus atque insimatibus iuxta charus Ad exteros Reges vndecies pro patria Legatus Deconatum Eboracensem Archidiaconatum Richmundie Decanatum Windesorie habitos viuens reliquit Episcopatum Norwicensem oblatum recusauit Magnos honores tota vita spreuit frugali vita contentus hic vinere hic mori malnit plenus annis obijt ab omnibus desideratus funeris pompam etiam Testamento vetuit hic sepultus carnis resurrectionem in aduentum Christi expectat obijt Anno Domini 1521. 24 Octob. I haue not heard of many Clergie men neither in his nor these dayes that would relinquish and refuse thus many ecclesiasticall honours and preferments and content himselfe with a priuate Parsonage but here let him rest as an example for all our great Prelates to admire and for few or none to imitate Islington Here .... Iohn Fowler ... 1538. on whos soule ... Here lieth Alis Fowler the wyff of Robart Fowler Esquire who died .... 1540. Behold and se thus as I am so sal ye be When ye be dead and laid in graue As ye haue done so sal ye haue Diuers of this familie lie here interred the ancestors of Sir Thomas Fowler Knight and Baronet now liuing 1630. Hic sepelitur Thomas Sauil silius et heres apparens Iohannis Sauil Armig et Margarete vxoris eius qui in primo limine vite immature mortis celeritate matrem preueniens ex hac luce migrauit 14 die etatis sue Anno Dom. 1546. I preye the Christen man that hasts go to se this To preye for the soulys of thos that here beryed is And remember that in Chryst we be brether The which hath commanded erye man to preyer for other This seyth Robart Midleton and his wyf here wrapped in cley Abyding the mercy of Almighty God till Doomys dey Which was seruant somtym to Sir George Hastings Erle of Huntington And passed this transitory lyff as t is written hereupon In the yere of owr Lord God on thowsand fyue hundryd and ten On whos soulys Almighty God haue mercy Amen Orate pro Wilielmo Mistelbroke Auditore qui in seruitio Regis itinerans deo disponente apud Denby in Marchia Wallie An. Dom. M. cccc.lxxxxij Corpus suum sacre sepulture reddidit pro Catherina vxore sua cuius corpus sub isâ—o marmore tumulatum suit Quorum anime in pace lesu Christi requiescant Amen Saint Pancras In this old weather-beaten Church standing all alone as vtterly forsaken which for antiquitie will not yeeld to Saint Pauls in London I finde a wondrous ancient Monument which by tradition was made to the memorie of one of the right honourable familie of the Greyes and his Lady whose pourtraitures are vpon the Tombe Whose mansion house say the Inhabitants was in Port-Poole or Greyes-Inne-lane now an Inne of Court But these are but suppositions for by whom Greyes-Inne was first possessed builded or begun I haue not yet learned Yet it seemeth saith Stow to bee since Edward the third his time These following are all the words left vndefaced Holy Trinite on God have mercy on vs. Hic iacent Robertus Eve et Lawrentia soror eius filia Francisci Eve filii Thome Eve clerici corone Cancellarie Anglie .... Quorum ....... Hospitall of Saint Giles in the Field This Hospitall was founded by Mawde the Queene wife to King Henry the first about the yeare one thousand one hundred and seaventeene it was a Cell to Burton Lazars so called of Leprous persons in Leicestershire At this Hospitall the prisoners conueyed from the Citie of London to Tyborne there to bee executed were presented with a great Bowle of Ale thereof to drinke at their pleasure as to be their last refreshing in this life Stepney Here lieth Henry Steward Lord Darle of the age of three quarters of a yeere late sonne and heire of Mathew Steward Erle of Lennoux and Lady Margaret his wife Which Henry deceased the xxviii day of Nouember in the yeere of our Lord God M. ccccc.xlv Whose soule Iesus pardon This Henryes second brother was likewise christened Henry and stiled Lord Darle or Dernley a noble Prince and reputed for person one of the goodliest Gentlemen of Europe who married Mary Queene of Scotland the royall parents of our late Soueraigne Lord Iames the first king of great Britaine father of our most magnificent Monarch Charles the first now happily raigning Vndyr this ston closyde and marmorate Lyeth Iohn Kitte Londoner natyffe Encreasyng in vertues rose to high estate In the fourth Edwards Chappell by his yong lyffe Sith whych the sevinth Henryes servyce primatyffe Proceding stil in vertuous â—fficase To be in fauour wiâ—h this our kings Grase With witt endewyd chosen to be Legate Sent into Spayne where he ryght ioyfully Combyned both
restored to all his former honours and withall created Earle of Oxford He died in the yeare 1194. the sixth of king Richard the first and was here buried by his father His wife Agnes or Adeliza lieth buried by him who was the daughter of Henry of Essex Baron of Ralegh the Kings Constable Such was the Epitaph or inscription vpon his Tombe as it is in the book of Colne Priory Hic iacet Albericus de Vere silius Alberici de Veer Comes de Guisney primus Comes Oxonie magnus Camerarius Anglie qui propter summam audatiam effrenatam prauitatem Grymme Aubrey vocabatur obiit 26. die Decembris anno Christi 1194. Richardi â— sexto Aubrey de Vere the sonne of the foresaid Aubrey succeeded his father in all his dignities I finde little written of him in our Histories saue that out of his Christian pietie he did confirme the gift of septem librat terre which Aubrey his father gaue to the Chanons of Saint O sith here in Essex adding thereto something of his owne He dyed in the yeare of our Lord 1214. and sleepeth now in the same Bed with three other Aubreyes his Ancestors To whom this Epitaph vpon Conrad the Emperour at Spires in Germany may be fitly applied Filius hic Pater hic Auus hic Proauus iacet istie The great Belsire the Grandsire Sire and Sonne Lie here interred vnder this Grauestone Hugh de Vere the sonne of Robert the first of that Christian name Earle of Oxford and Lord great Chamberlaine of England was here entombed with his Ancestors who died in the yeare 1263. He had the title of Lord Bolebeck which came by his mother Isabell de Bolebeck daughter and heire of Hugh de Bolebeck a Baron who was Lord of Bolebeck Castle in Whitechurch within Buckinghamshire and of Swaffam Bolebeck in Cambridgeshire Hee had to wife Hawisia the daughter of Saier de Quincy Earle of Winchester as appeares by this Inscription sometime insculpt vpon their Tombe Hic iacent Hugo de Veer eius nominis primus Comes Oxonie quartus magnus Camerarius Anglie filius heres Roberti Comitis Hawisua vxor cius filia Saeri de Quincy comitis Wintonie qui quidem Hugo obiit 1263. Quorum animabus propitietur altissimus Robert de Vere the sonne of Hugh aforesaid Earle of Oxford who enioyed his fathers inheritances and honours the space of thirtie and two yeares lieth here entombed with his ancestours who died in the yeare 1295. Alice his wife the daughter and heire of Gilbert Lord Samford Lord of Hormead in Hertfordshire was interred by him who died at Caufeld house neare Dunmow the ninth day of September 1312. Here lieth buried the body of Robert de Vere sonne and successour to the foresaid Robert whose gouernment both in peace and warre was so prudent his hospitalitie and other workes of charitie so wisely abundant and his Temperance with a religious zeale so admirablie conioyned that he was of all surnamed the good Earle of Oxford and the vulgar esteemed him as a Saint He died the 19. of Aprill 1331. Here lyeth entombed Robert de Vere Richard the seconds Mignion who to adde to his honours created him Marquesse of Dublin a title not knowne before that time in England and in the yeare following Duke of Ireland with commission to execute most inseparable prerogatiues royall These Stiles were of too high a nature and therefore infinitely subiected to enuy Whereupon like a second Gaueston he was hated of the Nobilitie especially for that he was a man nec prudentia caeteris proceribus nec armis valentior as Walsingham saith 9. R. 2. But it was not long before he was banished England by the Barons for abusing the Kings eare to the hurt of the State He had to wife a young faire and noble Lady and the Kings neare kinswoman for she was grandchilde to King Edward by his daughter Isabell he put her away and tooke one of Queene Annes women a Bohemian of base birth Sellarij filia saith Walsingham a Sadlers daughter some say a Ioyners an act full of wickednesse and indignitie Yet this intollerable villanie offered to the bloud-royall King Richard did not encounter neither had the power some say who deemed that by witchcrafts and forceries practised vpon him by one of the Dukes followers his iudgement was so seduced and captiuated that he could not see what was honest or siâ— to doe But where Princes are wilfull or slothfull and their Fauorites flatterers or time-seruers there needs no other enchantments to infatuate yea and ruinate the greatest Monarch Vpon his banishment he went into France where he liued about fiue yeares and there being a hunting he was slaine by a wilde Boare in the yeare 1392. King Richard hearing thereof out of his loue caused his body to be brought into England and to be apparrelled in Princely ornaments and robes and put about his neck a chaine of gold and Rings vpon his fingers and so was buried in this Priory the King being there present and wearing blackes After the death of Robert Duke of Ireland who died without issue his Nephew Aubrey de Vere succeeded him in the Earledome of Oxford he enioyed his honours not passing eight yeares but dyed die Veneris in festo Sancti Georgij Ann. primo Hen. quarti 1400. and lieth here entombed with his worthie Ancestors Here lieth buried in this Priorie Iohn de Vere the third of that Christian name and the thirteenth Earle of Oxford Lord Bolebecke Samford and Scales great Chamberlaine and Lord high Admirall of England Who died the fourth of Henry the eight 1512. hauing beene Earle of Oxford full fifty yeares a long time to tugge out in the troublesome raignes of so many kings especially for men of eminent places and high spirits euer apt to take any occasion to shew their manly prowesse which fire of honour flamed in this Earles breast at Barnet field where in a mist the great Earle of Warwickes men not able to distinguish betwixt the Sun with streames vpon King Edwards liuery and the Starre with streames on this Earles liuery shot at this Earles followers and by that misprision the battell was lost After which he fled into Cornwall and seized vpon Saint Michaels Mount But Edward the fourth got him in his power and committed him prisoner to the Castle of Hames beyond the Seas where he remained for the space of twelue yeares vntill the first of King Henry the seuenth with whom he came into England and by whom he was made Captaine of the Archers at Bosworth-field where after a short resistance hee discomfited the Foreward of King Richard whereof a great number were slaine in the chase and no small number fell vnder the victors sword This Earle gaue a great contribution to the finishing of Saint Maries Church in Cambridge His hospitalitie and the great port he carried here in his country may be gathered out of a
bodyes her befor yow lyn closyd in cley Euery man and woman of yowr cheritie do yow prey That to the blis of heuen sweet Iesu do their soulys bring Vnto the plas celestial befor owr heuenly King Richard deseysed the iiii of August M. ccccc.xxvii and Margerie M. ccccc ... Her vndyr this ston lyes Piers Ion And Elisabyth his wyff lyeth him hard by On whos sowlys Iesu haue mercy Besech yow for cherite Sey a Pater Noster and an Aue. The whych decessyd the on and twentyth of Septembre In the yer of owr Lord God on thowsand four hundred seuenty and thre Her lye Iohn Outred and Ione his wyff Who liuyd long togeddyr withoutyn stryff Iohn left this world and passyd to heuen On thowsand fyue hundryd yere and eleuen This Church is beautified with a sumptuous funerall Monument wherin diuers of the familie of the Cookes lie entombed whose habitation was at Giddy-Hall hereunto adioyning which house was built for the most part by Sir Thomas Cooke Lord Maior of London and knight of the Bath at the Coronation of Elizabeth wife to King Edward the fourth vpon the Frontispice of which these verses were engrauen of later times Aedibus his frontem Proauns Thomas dedit olim Addidit Antoni caetera sera manus 1568. Aedes quisque suas Domini sed maenia pauci Aedisicant leuior cura minora decet Vpmenster This towne of Vpmenster or Vpminster as it is diuersly written lying three miles from Rumpford requireth some large remembrance from mee in respect that it hath enioyed within little more then the space of three hundred yeares diuers eminent families who haue beene Lords of the same or at least of the Mannor of Gains called also the Mannor of Vpmenster lying within the same to which mannor as long tradition hath left to posteritie there is a little Isle or Chappell standing on the north side of the Chancell of the same Church belonging and time out of minde appendant to the Mannor of Gains aforesaid and appropriated to the Lords of the same for their particular place of buriall for themselues and their issue The first familie of whose posteritie I can dilate which I finde to haue beene Lords of the said mannor of Gains alias Vpmenster was that most ancient sirname of Engaine whether thence drawne or no I leaue to others to coniecture and it is warranted by a long tradition that Sir Iohn Engain Knight the sonne of Vitalis Engayn being Lord of the said mannor did build the before mentioned Chappell which since hath receiued its denomination from the blessed Virgin This familie ended in the male line when Sir Thomas Engayne Knight sonne of Iohn Engayne Esquire and grand-childe to the former Sir Iohn left his three daughters his coheirs of whom Iocosa the eldest was wife of Iohn de Goldington Elizabeth the second was married to Sir Lawrence de Pakenham knight Mary the third daughter coheire was wife of Sir William de Barnake knight There is no Tombe or grauestone left of this familie but onely their Coatarmour in the East window of the aforesaid Chappell This Mannor of Gains alias Vpmenster was afterwards seuerally in the possession of Symon de Hauering who I conceiue was but the Feoffe in trust of Sir Iohn the sonne and heire of Iohn Engayne of Alice de Perrers afterwards attainted by Act of Parliament in a. 1. R. 2. and of Henry de la Felde whose further mention leauing the first two in silence serueth onely to this present Narration The said Henry de la Felde did by his Deede indented a. 9. H 4. entaile the said mannour vpon Richard Walter and Iohn his sonnes each after other vpon the default of issue and lastly vpon Iohn Deincourt and Elizabeth his wife the daughter of the said Henry de la Felde in whose right afterwards it should seeme he came to be Lord thereof and there lieth buried together with his wife vnder a faire Tombe placed iust vnder the Arch which diuideth the said north Chappell or Isle from the Chancell of Vpmenster Church Es testis Christe quod non iacet hic lapis iste Corpus vt ornetur sed spiritus vt memoretur And about the tombe though somewhat mutilated is written this Epitaph Sancte deus sancte fortis sancte miserecors saluator miserere Animabus Rogeri Dencourt Armigeri Elizabeth consortis sue quorum corpora sub isto lapide marmoreo tumulantur ac etiam orate Filiarum suarum qui quidem Rogerus obijt vicesimo An. Domini Millesimo cccclv Nec non orate pro animabus omnium defunctorum hic vbique in Christo quiescencium The next owner of this mannor of a new sirname I finde to haue beene Nicholas Wayte of whom or his familie I can say little onely by his sale it came to be the inheritance of Ralph Lathum Esquire a lyneall descendant in the male line from a yonger branch of the ancient familie of Lathom of Lancashire who were Lords of that place in the said Countie as all the receiued descents of that familie warrant from the time of King R. 1. vntill the latter end of E. 3. when Isabel the sole daughter and heire of Sir Thomas Lathom Knight was married to Sir Iohn Stanlye knight from whom the now earle of Darbie is lineally descended and as I conceiue is from the right of this intermarriage Lord of the Mannor of Lathom at this day The Epitaph of this aboue said Ralph Lathom is placed in brasse set into a faire marble stone couering his tombe and is as followeth Here lieth buried Rayff Lathum esquire late Lord of Vpmistre and Elizabeth his wife which Rayffe deceased the xix day of Iuly An. M. ccccc Lvii. whose soule and all christen soules Iesus haue mercy The next familie to whom by the sale of William Lathom sonne and heire of the aforesaid Ralfe Lathom the before mentioned Mannor of Gains did appertaine was the familie of D'Ewes from whom also it was again at last repurchased by Lathom for Adrian D'Ewes being descended of the ancient stem of Des Ewes Dynasts or Lords of the Dition of Kessell in the Dutchie of Gelderland setling and marrying in England not many yeares after the beginning of the raigne of King H. 8. had issue Gerardt D'Ewes his sonne and heire who hauing purchased the said Mannor of Gains as aforesaid was after his death according to the former vsage buried in the said Chappell appendant to the said Mannor as other Lords of the same had beene whose Epitaph because it is replenished with many particulars touching the antiquity and ensignes of this familie I haue beene more exact in the full delineation thereof in the figure following ANTIQVA INSIGNIA FAMI\LIAE DES EWES DYNASTARVM DE KESSEL INSIGNIA GESTA AB EORVM POSTERIS Ad memoriam aeternam Geerardt D'Ewes Filij Primogeniti Adriani D'Ewes ex Illustri perantiqua Familia Des
of Rome vnto the generall Councell may also be transumed impressed published and set vp on euery Church-doore in England to the intent that if any censures should be fulminate against the king or his realme that then it may appeare to all the world that the censures be of none effect considering that the king hath already and also before any censures promulged both prouoked and appealed Item like transumpts to bee made and sent into all other realmes and dominions and specially into Flanders concerning the kings said prouocations and appellations to the intent falsehood iniquitie malice and iniustice of the Bishop of Rome may thereby appeare to all the world And also to the intent that all the world may know that the Kings highnes standing vnder those appeales no censures can preuaile neither take any effect against him and his realme Item a letter to be conceiued from all the Nobles as well Spirituall as Temporall of this Realme vnto the Bishop of Rome declaring the wrongs iniuries and vsurpations vsed against the kings highnes and this realme Item to send exploratours and espies into Scotland and to see and perceiue their practises and what they intend there And whether they will confederate themselues with any other outward Princes Item to send letters for that purpose to the Earle of Northumberland my Lord Daves and Sir Thomas Clyfford Item certaine discreete and graue persons to bee appointed to repaire into the parts of Germany to practise and conclude some lege or amitie with the Princes and Potentates of Germany that is to say the King of Pole Iohn of Hungary the Duke of Saxony the Duke of Bauyere Duke Fredericke the Landegraue Van Hesse the Bishop of Magous Bishop of Treuers the Bishop of Collene and other the Potentates of Germany and also to ensearch of what inclination the said Princes and Potentates be of towards the King and this realme Item like practise to be made and practised with the Cities of Lubeke Danske Hambourgh Bromeswicke and all other the steads of the Haunse Tuâ—onyk and to ensearch of what inclination they bee towards the King and this realme Item like practise to be made and practised with the Cities of Norimbourgh and Aughsbrough Item to remember the Merchants aduenturers haunting the dominions of Braband and to speake with them Item to set order and establishment of the Princes Dowagers house with all celeritie and also of my Lady Maryes house To these or some of these purposes the King dispatched messengers to all his Embassadours and Agents beyond seas hauing before that sent the Duke of Norfolke Viscount Rocheford Sir William Pawlet afterwards Marquesse of Winchester and others to the Pope the Emperour and the French King being all three together at Nice He also caused his Secretarie to write in this manner to Iames the fifth King of Scotland Moste excellent myghtye and victorious Prynce Pleâ—sâ—th your Magestie that by the commaundment of my most dread Lord and Soueraigne Kyng of England your graces moste dere Vncle I haue in charge vndre commyssion certeyn specyall maters concernyng his highnes pleasure secreatly to be signyfyed vnto your grace wherein not only as a naturall Cousyne of your royall consanguinity but as a moste loueing Father entierly tendryng your worthye honor no lesse desirous hereof then regardyng his owne peculyer prosperyte vnfaynedly accomptyng your graces aduancement his moste conformable consolacion In consideracyon whereof sith it hath so pleasyd God of his infynyte fauour to revele vnto his highnes as well by studyous endeuor of good letters as by erudyte consultacyon of famous estemyde Clerke Also by long attempted experience ensearchyng truyth chyeflye in Christs doctryne who saith Iohn the fourteenth Ego sum veritas now clerely to perceive the thrall captyvyte vndre the vsurpyd power of the Busshop of Rome and his vngodly lawes Wherein his highnes and other many of his noble progenitors were moste wyckedly abusyde to their intollerable calamity and excedyng molestacion of their Subiects ouer whom God had yeuon them auctoryte and gouernaunce to rule as by all storyes of the olde testament and informacyon of the new playnely apperith Which groundly knowen to his highnes wisshith lykewise the same to be persuadyd vnto your grace wherby your honorable renoune and royall auctoryte shuld be moche enlargyd with no lesse felycitye of soule pryncipally to be regardyd then with aboundant comoditie of riches and vnfayned obeysaunce of faythfull Subiects ferr from the comeberous calamyte of the Popysshe myserable molestacyon What more intollerable calamyte may ther be to a Christian Prynce than vniustlye to be defeatyd of his righteous iurisdiction within his realme to be a King by name and not indede to be a ruler without regyment ouer his owne liege people what more greuous molestacion can chaunce to true harted Subiects than to be seuerâ—d from the alliegiaunce due to their naturall Soueraigne ther annoyntyd King grauntyd by Gods lawes and to become servile slaues to a foreyn Potentat vsurpyng to reigne ouer them agaynste the lawe of God as by the violent tyrannye of the Bushop of Rome hathe many yeres hitherto bene practysed throughout all regions to the ruynous desolacyon of the hole Christentie what Realme is ther but that the Busâ—shop of Rome hath planted therein his kingdome and established his regiment after soche a subtiell way that he and his craâ—tye creatures were obeyd of Prynces to whome of dutye they ought to haue bene subiect 1. Pet. 2. siue Regi tanquam praecellenti c. of whome all Romayn Busshops haue presumyd to be successors but not folowers contrarye to his example Qui non venit ministrari sed ministrare In all Realmes the Popisshe practise hath had soche confederacye of false forsworne factious and trayterous Titinylks vntrue to ther Soueraigne that nothyng was so secreatly in counsaill of any Prynce but forthwith it was caried by relacion to the Popes care And if ought were attemptyd agaynste his owne person or any crookyd creature of his creation in restraynyng of ther extortionate claymes as ther was nothyng but they claymed to haue auctoryte vpon incontynent they bouncyd out their thunderbolts and currsyng fulminations with soche intollerable force of vnmercyfull crudelyte that they made the greatiste personages of the world to trymble and quake for feare For by the negligente soufferaunce of Prynces thrughe dâ—faute of knowlege of Goddes worde the Popisshe pride was so haught his auctoryte so preemynent his power so puisaunte his strengthe so myghtye his displeasure so daungerous his Tyrrannye so terrible that scarse any durst resiste to coutrevaill none was able Example of many excellente Prynces as Iohn the furst and Henry the second of gracyous memory Kings of England here in their liffe times moste cruelly vexyd and after there disseas by forged leasyngs and slaunderous ympechements mysreportyd and faulselye belied with dispitfull dishonor of ther excellent progenye After like fasshion the victorious Emperor Lodovicus enterprysing
the Supremacie of Kings is very apparent and also that once for all I may by this one shew my Reader the forme of all those Cartularies by which such deuout Saxon Princes endowed their sacred Structures Fundatio Monasterij Sancti Albani vbi Regia potestas apparet REgnante imperpetuum Deo Domino nostro Iesu Christo licet per totum mundum beatorum Martyâ—um qui suum in Christo sanguinem fuderunt merita diuine laudis exultatione celebranda sint Eorumque Dei auxilio exempla gloriosa consequenda precipue tamen nobis beatissimi Albani qui sub hac Britannie Insula gloriosus Martyrio effulsit memoria pia semper intentione et sedula sollicitudine obseruanda est Vnde ego offa gratia Dei Rex Merciorum cum filio meo Egfrido pro amore omnipotentis Dei huius Sancti intercessione terram XXX manentium in locis quorum subinferuntur nomina Domino meo Iesu Christo ad Ecclesiam sancti Albani vbi ipse Tyro primus in passione victima effectus est iure perpetuo perdonabo Eoque deleclabilius hanc donationem perficio quia superna protectio tam nobilem temporibus nostris thesaurum qui diu fuit clausus et huius terre indigenis abditus reuelare dignata est Hec itaque supradictarum vocabula terrarum Et Wineslawe XII manentium cum terminis suis. Et Stelsdune sine Bâ—ldinistotum trium Manentium quorum scilicet trium manentium termini sunt hij Suanaburna Heortmere Stretreolab Item vero X. Manentium vbi dicitur Senecaulilan vel Feutun cum sylua que cognominatur Lioropuda cum terminis suis. Et Lystune V. Manentium quam videlicet terram Albumundus Abbas expeditionem subterfugiens mihi reconciliacionis gracia dabat Et quia ipse Martyr almifluus caput et exemplum Christianitatis omnis Britannie indubitanter habetur dignum est vt locus in quo sanctum corpus eius requiescit et ab omni populo veneratur speciali quaâ—dam et singulari priuilegij libertate per nos honoretur Hoc igitur con 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 us Episcopis et Abbatibus Ducibus et Principibus meis sub inuoâ—aâ—ione sancle Trinitatis indiuidue Vnitatis donando precipio vt Ecclesia â—ancti Albani omnisque possessio nunc et in futuris temporibus illi subdita sâ—mper sit libera et quieta ab omni tributo et necessitate seu Regis seu Episcopi ducis indicis et exactorum et operum que iudici solent neque emendatione Pontium neque fossam adversum immicos faciendam totum omne prefatur terre stipendium et exactio ad supradicti martyris tumbam insolubiliter persoluatur Statuo etiam et cum fidelium meorum assensiâ— confirmo vt Episcopi vel eorum Ministrinudam aliquatenus super ipsam Ecclesiam vel super perochiales Ecclesias eidem quibuscunque temporibus subiacentes nisi tantummodo cum advocati fuerint dedicandi vel in Paschali solennitate sanctum Chrisma et oleum ex more tribuendi potestatem habeant â—ec earum Presbiteros ad Sinodum suam vel capitulum conuocare vel ab officio diuino suspendere seu aliquod in eos vel minimum ius exercere presumant Sed omnia quecunque Ecclesie sancte fuerint Abbatis solummodo â—â—usdem Monasterij potestati tractanda libere subiaceant De censu quoque singulis annis per vniuersam Britanniam colligendo et sacre Romane Ecclesie pro slabilitate Regni nostri et salute communi transmittendo decernimus vt quantum in terra sancti Martyris peruenerit ab hijs quibus iniunctum fuerit ab Abbate vndecunque collectum nullatenus alias asportetur sed aliari sancti Albani fideliter oblatum ad vtilitatem eiusdem Ecclesâ—e secundum quod Abbas decreuerit inviolabiliter expendatur Esi forte quis intra eiusdem Ecclesie protestatem aut exitum cum Episcopo seu Abbate inveniatur bello surto vel fornicacione aut alio quolibet simili reatu astrictus semper â—a pars pene et emendacionis que Regi Episcopo committi debetur ad beati Albani Monasterium inviolato semper federe reddatur Credo enim et veraâ—iter consido quod hec munificentia non solum mihi meisque sed etiam vniuersis Anglorum populis summopere prodesse uult Quia pro eius amore ille miles intrepidus meruit coronari qui totius mundi pericula passus est suo sanguine expiare Si autem quod absit vspiam quis laruarico attactus instinctu mâ—nte subdola hec machinatus fuerit annullare vel quippiam in penis quod constiâ—uimus transuertere sua pro audacia à cetu in hac vita anathematizetur fidelium et in tremendo Dei examine astantibus celorum agminibus hominumque turmis nec non et horrendis herebi vermulis palam cunctis damxetur cum hedis Auerni cruciamenta sine fine lucturus ni ante obitum condigne emendauerit Hec sunt nomina qui hanc donationem meam consentientes signo crucis Christi confirmauerunt ✚ Ego offa Rex huic donationi mee signum crucis impono ✚ Ego Egfridus paterne munificentie consentiens subscripst ✚ Ego Higberht Archiepiscopus consensi subscripst ✚ Ego Ceelnulf Episcopus consensi ✚ Ego Hethered Episcopus consensi ✚ Ego Vmmona Episcopus consensi ✚ Signum manus Alhmundi Abbatis ✚ Signum Beonnon Abbatis ✚ Signum Yigmundi Abbatis ✚ Signum Brordon Patricij ✚ Signum Bynman Principis ✚ Signum Esnuini Ducis ✚ Signum Alhumundi Ducis ✚ Signum Yighberti Ducis ✚ Signum Athelmundi Ducis ✚ Signum Radgari Ducis ✚ Signum Heardberhti Ducis ✚ Signum Althmundi Ducis ✚ Signum Cuthberti Ducis ✚ Signum Radbirhti Ducis ✚ Signum Vulpheardi Ducis Perscripta est autem huius donationis cartula Anno Dominice incarnationu D. CC.XC.V Regni Regis Offani XXXV Indictione V. sub IIII. Nonas Maiâ—s in loco qui dicitur Beoranporda It was generally conceiued and truly as I thinke that these politike wayes for the taking away from the Pope his vnlimited authoritie here in England as also in the suppression of religious houses of which in the next Chapter were principally deuised by Secretarie Cromwell afterwards Earle of Essex which may appeare both by the premises and sequele of this my discourse as also by the intimation of Nicholas Shaxton Bishop of Sarum in a letter sent vnto him the said Cromwell thus worded Honorable syr I certifie your good mastership that I haue this daye receyued the Kyng his most honorable letters sent vnto me from you by my servant And reioyse nott a litle that itt hath pleased his highnes to write so ernestly vnto the Bishopps in this so ernest a cause thynkyng suyrly that God hath vsed your wisdom to stire vp the good Prynce herevnto whereof I heighli thanke the almighti Lord preyeng you also to goo on still from one thyng to another as your wisdom yea Gods veray wisdom
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
the eight in the 30 of his raigne Saint Botolphs Algate In this Church ouer a vault is a faire tombe of Alabaster curiously wrought hauing these lines following engrauen thereon Here lyeth Thomas Lord Darcy of the north and sometime of the order of the Garter Sir Nicholas Carew knight sometime of the Garter Lady Elizabeth Carew daughter to Sir Francis Brian Knight and Sir Arthur Darcy Knight yonger sonne to the aboue named Lord Darcy and Lady Mary his deare wife daughter to Sir Nicholas Carew knight who had ten sonnes and fiue daughters Here lye Charles William and Philip Mary and Vrsula sonnes and daughters to the said Sir Arthur and Mary his wife whose soules God take to his infinite mercy Amen This Thomas Lord Darcy and Sir Nicholas Carew who was also master of the Kings Horse were both beheaded on the Tower hill the first because he was one howsoeuer constrained thereunto by the Rebels of the commotion in Yorkeshire Anno 1536. the second for being of councell with Henry Marquesse of Exceter and Henry Poole Lord Mountague who were indighted and found guilty of high Treason for deuising to maintaine promote and aduance one Reginald Poole late Deane of Exceter enemie to the King beyond the sea and to depriue the King Anno 1539. Sir Arthur Darcy here mentioned was first buried in the new Abbey of Eastminster wherein he deceased Sir Edward Darcy knight sonne of Sir Arthur lieth with his noble Ancestors in the same vault but hee died but lately Hic iacet Iohannes Epis Bathon Wellensis qui cum plures insignes Legationes .... tandem obijt in Legatione Cleuensis .... Ianuar. M. ccccc.xl cuius anime propitietur Altisimus This Iohn Clerke Doctor of Diuinitie and master of the Rolls was brought vp in Cambridge and consecrated to his Bishopricke the yeare 1523. A man much imploy'd in Ambassages He died as before and was first buried in the Minories being poysoned as it was supposed in Germany when he went Embassadour to the Duke of Cleue to render a reason of the Kings diuorce from the Lady Anne of Cleue his sister King Edgar established here without Aldgate a Knightengield or Confrery for thirteene knights or souldiers of good desert to him and the realme the like by supposition saith Verstegan was in Knight-riders street being the place where the residence or meeting of such Knights-riders with the King might be kept Saint Mary Bethlem This Hospitall of Saint Mary of Bethlem was founded by Simon Fitz-Mary one of the Sheriffes of London in the yeere 1246. He founded it to haue beene a Priorie of Canons with Brethren and Sisters it is now an Hospitall for distracted people who are here receiued and kept yet not without charges to their kindred or friends Saint Mary Spitle This Hospitall was founded by Walter Brune Mercer and Sheriffe of London and Rosia his wife A.D. 1235. it was dedicated to the honour of Iesus Christ and his mother the perpetuall Virgine Mary by the name of Domus Dei and Beate Marie extra Bishopsgate This Hospitall surrendred to king Henry the eight was valued to dispend 478. l. 6. s. 8. d. wherein were found besides ornaments of the Church and other goods pertaining to the Hospitall one hundred and fourescore Beds well furnished for receipt of the poore This place is now best knowne by the Sermons there preached on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday in Easter weeke Saint Leonards Shordich So called of the Sordiches Lords thereof one of which familie namely Sir Iohn Sordich knight flourished in the raigne of king Edward the third as appeares by this deed of grant to his Chaplaine William Croston here resident Sciant c. nos Ioh. de Sordich Miles et Elena vxor mea et Nicholaus de Sordich dedimus Will. de Crostone Capellano omnia illa Red. terr que habuimus in Hackney tam in Dominio quam in Seruitio c. Ann. Reg. Regis Edwardi tertij duodecimo This knight serued in the warres vnder Ed. the third in France and is remembred in our Annals Ann. 14. Ed. 3. Orate pro animabus Humfredi Starky militis nuper capitalis Baronis de Scaccario Domini Regis Henrici septimi et Isabelle vxoris eius et omnium amicorum suorum quorum c. ...... Erlington modo miles Et Margareta coniux ....... ................ Sit pietate dei vita perhennis ei M. C. quater x semel ......... Vnder this defaced Monument Sir Iohn Erlington knight with Margaret his wife daughter and heire to Thomas Lord Itchingham widow to William Blount sonne and heire to Walter Blount the first Lord Mountioy lye entombed In this Church diuers honourable persons lie buried of whom because they dyed but in these later dayes I shall speake hereafter The plates with the Inscriptions of such Monuments as were of more Antiquitie were all taken away for couetousnesse of the brasse by one Doctor Hanmer as I haue it by relation of the Inhabitants Vicar of this Church which he conuerted into coine and presently after ashamed belike of such a detestable act went ouer into Ireland and there ignominiously ended his dayes The Priory of Holywell This was an house of blacke Nunnes anciently founded by a Bishop of London and consecrated to the honour of God S. Iohn Baptist. Stephen Grauesend Bishop of this Diocesse about the yeare 1318. was hereunto a great benefactour Sir Thomas Louell knight of the Garter in the raignes of King Henry the seuenth and of Henry the eighth with whom hee was of Councell was another benefactor not onely in building a beautifull Chappell wherein his body was interred but in many other goodly buildings and endowing the same with lands In most of the glasse windowes of this house these two verses following not long since to be read were curiously painted Al the Nunnes in Holywel Pray for the soul of Sir Thomas Louel He died the 25. of May at Endfield Ann. 1524. This Priory was valued at the suppression to haue of Lands two hundred ninetie three pounds ten shillings three pence by yeare which with the house were surrendred Ann. 1539. the one and thirtieth of Henry the eight I finde in a pedegree of the right noble Lord Francis now Earle of Rutland that Sir George Mannors knight Lord Ros of Hamlake being with King Henry the eight at the siege of Turney and Turwine there tooke a grieuous sicknesse whereupon he languished in the same yeare of this their expedition into France which was Ann. Dom. 1513. And according to his will was here entombed in the Chappell and neare to the high Altar of this Priory This Sir George Mannors was the eldest sonne of Sir Robert Mannors knight by Eleanor his wife the daughter and heire of Thomas Lord Ros of Hamlake hee married Anne the daughter and heire of Sir Thomas Saint Leoger or Sellinger knight begotten of his wife Anne Duchesse of Exceter
a masse of money from our credulous king Henry who had so deeply swallowed the gudgeon that his heart being ouer-ioyed saith Mathew Paris and raised euen to the height of exultation hee swore by Saint Edward to make a present voyage to Apulia and take possession of these dominions But at length this counterfeit ring vpon the touch was discouered and the good king knew himselfe deluded his Exchequer emptied and this Titulary-king his sonne Edmund abused Thus writes Mathew Paris the Monke of S. Albans who liued in those dayes and deciphers the Legerdemaine and iugling deuises of the Bishops of Rome to get money This Edmund was Lord Steward of this kingdome and Lieutenant of Gascoigne Who being sent into Aquitaine with an armie where he performed notable seruice died at Bayon in the yeare 1296. And within two moneths after his death his body was honourably transported into England Here lieth also entombed his first wife Aveline daughter and heire of William de Fortibus Earle of Albamarle by whom he had no issue who died the yeare 1269. Here lieth buried in a most magnificent Tombe befitting the greatnesse of his birth and the worthinesse of his Of-spring William de valence Earle of Penbroke so sirnamed of Valencia the place of his birth sonne of Hugh le Brun Earle of the Marches of Aquitaine and halfe brother by the mothers side to King Henry the third This William saith Stow was slaine at Bayon by the French in the yeare 1296. and with him Edmund Earle of Lancaster of whom I lastly spoke if wee may beleeue these verses of Harding But erle Edmond the kynges brother dere With twenty and sixe baners proud and stout The fift daye of Iune was accompted clere Of Christ his date a thousand yere all out Fourscore and sixteene without doubt At Bayon faught with the French menne certain Wher he in the feld that daye like a knyght was slain So was Sir William Valence erle of Penbroke than Sir Iohn Richmond and many other Baron Sir Iohn Saynct Iohn right a full manly manne Thenglishe hoste felly ther was bore doune By a bushement laied by colucion That brake on theim sore fighting in the feld Out of a wode in whiche that day were beld About the verge or side of his monument these verses are inlayd with brasse Anglia tota doles moritur quia regia proles Qua florere soles quem continet infima moles Guilielmus nomen insigne Valentia prebet Celsum cognomen nam tale dari sibi debet Qui valuit validus vincens virtute valore Eâ— placuit placidus sensus morumque vigore Dapsilis et habilis immotus prelia sectans Vtilis ac humilis deuotus premia spectans Milleque trecentis cum quatuor inde retentis In Maij mense hunc mors proprio ferit ense Quique legis hec repete quam sit via plena timore Meque lege te moriturum inscius hore O clemens christe celos intret precor iste Nil videat triste quia preculit omnibus hisce Here lyeth entombed the body of Simon Langham who was first a Monke of this Abbey then Prior and lastly Abbot thence elected Bishop of London from thence before his consecration to London aduanced to the Bishopricke of Ely and from that place remoued to Canterbury hee held diuers liuings in commendam as the Archdeaconry and Treasureship of Wels with others He was both Treasurer and Chancelour of England at seuerall times It is scarce credible saith Godwin now Bishop of Hereford in his catalogue de presulibus Anglie that is reported of his wonderfull bounty and liberality to this monastery When hee was first made Abbot he bestowed all that he had gathered together being Monke and Prior in paying the debt of the house which was to the value of two thousand and two hundred markes and discharged diuers other summes of money also which particular Monkes did owe he purchased good land which he gaue vnto them When hee went out of England hee left them bookes to the value of 830 pound and Copes Vestments and other ornaments for the Church worth 437. pound At his death he bequeathed vnto them all his plate prised at 2700. pound and all his debts any where due which amounted vnto 3954. pound thirteene shillings and foure pence He also sent vnto this Abbey the summe of one thousand markes to buy forty markes a yeare land to encrease the portion of foure Monkes that daily should say Masse for the soules of himselfe and his Parents The money that he bestowed vpon this Abbey one way or other is reckoned by a Monke of the same to be no lesse then 10800. pound who thereupon compiled this Distich Res es de Langham tua Simon sunt data quondam Octingentena librarum millia dena But men of eminent place and authoritie cannot haue their due praise of all sorts of people nay rather in requitall of their best actions they shall reape nothing but opprobrious language for vpon his translation from Ely to Canterbury these two rayling riming Hexameters were made to his disgrace Letentur celi quia Simon transit ab Ely Cuius in aduentum flent in Kent millia centum The Isle of Ely laught when Simon from her went But hundred thousands wept at 's comming into Kent He sate Archbishop of Canterbury onely two yeares for being made Cardinall of Saint Sixtus by Pope Vrban the fift hee left his Archbishopricke and went to Auinion where shortly after he was made Bishop Cardinall of Preneste by Gregory the eleuenth where he liued in great estimation about eight yeares and died of a palsie wherewith hee was suddenly taken as he sate at dinner Iuly 22. 1376. he was buried first in the Church of the Carthusians which he himselfe had founded in the Citie of Auinion but after three yeares his bones by his appointment while he liued were taken vp and buried here a second time vnder a goodly tombe of Alabaster vpon which this Epitaph was sometime engrauen Simon de Langham sub petris hijs tumulatus Istius Ecclesie Monachus fuerat Prior Abbas Sede vacante fuit electus Londoniensis Presul et insignis Ely sed postea primas Totius Regni magnus Regisque minister Nam Thesaurarius et Cancellarius eius Ac Cardinalis in Roma Presbyter isâ—e Postque Prenestinus est factus Episcopus atque Nuncius ex parte Pape transmittitur istâ—c Orbe dolente Pater quem nunc reuocare nequimus Magdalene festo milleno septuageno Et ter centeno sexto Christi ruit anno Hunc Deus absoluat de cunctis que male gessit Et meritis Matris sibi celica gaudia donet Here lyeth Robert Waldby who being a yong man followed Edward the blacke Prince into France where he continued long a Student and profited so much as no man in the Vniuersitie where he liued might compared with him for all kinde of learning he was a good linguist very well seene
aged 94. yeares The Hermitage Hospitall and Free-Schoole at Highgate-hill In ancient times vpon the top of this hill was an Hermitage one of the Hermites whereof caused to bee made the Causway betweene Highgate and Islington taking the grauell from the top of the hill where now is a standing pond of water One William Poole Yeoman of the Crowne founded the Hospitall below on the hill in the raigne of King Edward the fourth The free Schoole was built by Sir Roger Cholmundely or Cholmeley knight sometime Lord chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench about the yeare 1564. the sixth of Queene Elizabeth The Pencion of the Master is vncertaine saith Norden there is no Vsher and the Schoole is in the disposition of sixe Gouernours or Ouerseers Our Ladies Chappell of Muswell or Mousewell hill Here was in ancient times a Chappell bearing the name of our Lady of Muswell in the place whereof Alderman Roe erected a faire house The place taketh name of the Well and of the Hill for there is on the hill a spring of faire water which is now within the compasse of Sir Nicholas Roes Cellar in the said house Here was sometime an Image of our Lady of Muswell whereunto was a continuall resort in the way of pilgrimage growing as it goes by tradition from father to the sonne in regard of a great cure which was performed by this water vpon a king of Scots who being strangely diseased was by some diuine intelligence aduised to take the water of a Well in England called Muswell which after long scrutation and inquisition this Well was found and performed the cure Absolutely to deny the cure saith Norden I dare not for that the high God hath giuen vertue vnto waters to heale infirmities as may appeare by the cure of Naaman the Leper by washing himselfe seuen times in Iordan and by the Poole Bethesda which healed the next that stepped thereinto after the water was moued by the Angell The Hermitage at Kilbourne In the time of King Henry the first Herbert Abbot of Westminster by permission of Gilbert Bishop of London and by consent of the Couent granted to three Maides the Hermitage of Kilbourne with all the land of that place which Hermitage one Gorbone had builded long before The Hospitall of S. Giles in the Fields for Leprous people This Hospitall was founded by Queene Maude wife to king Henry the first in the yeare 1117. and was a Cell belonging to Burton Lazers of Ierusalem in the County of Leicester as may appeare by a deed dated the 24. of Hen. 7. in these words Thomas Norton knight Master of Burton Lazers of Ierusalem in England and the brethren of the same place keepers of the Hospitall of Saint Giles without the Barres of the old Temple of London haue sold to Geffrey Kent Citizen and Draper of London a messuage or house with two Sollars aboue edified in the Parish of Alhallowes Hony-Jane in Westcheape adioyning to the West part of a Tenement called the Goate on the Hope pertaining to the Drapers of London for 31. l. At this Hospitall the prisoners conueyed from the Citie of London towards Teyborne there to be executed were presented with a great Bowle of Ale thereof to drinke at their pleasure The Hospitall of Saint Mary Bethlem commonly called Bedlam In the yeare 1247. Simon Fitzmary one of the Sheriffes of London founded this Hospitall for lame and indigent people which afterwards was conuerted to that vse which the Citie now makes of it vpon this occasion In the Parish of Saint Martins in the field there was an house wherein sometime were distraught and Lunaticke people of what antiquitie founded by whom or what time suppressed saith Stow I haue not read But it was said that a King of England not liking such a kinde of people to remaine so neare his Pallace caused them to be remoued further off to Bethlem without Bishopsgate of London and to that Hospitall the said house by â—haring-crosse doth yet remaine S. Peters Chappell within the Tower Here lie interred the headlesse remaines of Iohn Fisher Doctor of Diuinitie sometime Bishop of Rochester brought vp a Scholler in Cambridge Master of our Colledge I meane Queenes Colledge in Cambridge and Chancellour of that Vniuersitie He was made Cardinall t t. S. Vitalis the one and twentieth of May which honour was to him parum vitalis for the Cardinals hat and his head neuer met together he being beheaded on the Tower-hill the 22. of Iune following Ann. Dom. 1535. His bodie was first buried in Barking Church-yard and afterwards vpon occasion as followeth remoued to this place He was a man in great estimation with Margaret Countesse of Richmond by whose exhortation shee built and endowed two Colledges in Cambridge S. Iohns and Christ Colledge she made him one of her executours He liued likewise a long time in great fauour with her Grandchild King Henry the eight euen vntill his marriage with Anne Bullein which he euer seemed to disallow Whereupon he was suspected and accused to be of councell with Elizabeth Barton commonly called the holy Maide of Kent a Nunne of Saint Sepulchres in Canterbury who by sundrie suggestiue reuelations gaue out that if the King proceeded in diuorce and second marriage he should not raigne in his realme seuen moneths after nor rest in Gods fauour the space of an houre The story is frequent Of which imputation he thus excused himselfe by his letters to the Kings Maiestie To the Kings most gracious Highnes Please it your graciouse Highenes benignely to heare this my most humble sute which I haue to make vnto your grace at this time and to pardon me that I come not my selfe vnto your grace for the same For in good faith I haue had so many periculouse diseases oone after another which began with me before Advent and so by long continuance hath now brought my body into that weakenesse that withouten perill of destruction of the same which I darr saye your grace for your soueraigne goodnes wold not I may not as yet take any traueyling vpon me And soo I wrote to Maister Cromwell your moost trustie Councellor beseeching him to obtayne your graciouse licence for me to be absent from this Parliament for that same cause and he put me in comforthe soo to doo Now thus it is most graciouse soueraygne Lord that in your most high Court of Parliament is put in a bill against me concerning the Nunne of Canterbury and intending my condempnation for not reuelyng of such wordes as she hadde vnto me towchyng your Highnes Wherein I moost humblie beseech your grace that without displeasor I maye shew vnto you the consideration that moued me so to doo which when your moost exâ—cellent wisdome hath deaplye considered I trust assuredlie that your charitable goodnes will not impute any blame to me therfore A trowth it is this Nunne was with me thries in commyng from London by Rochester as I wrote to Master
Cromwell and shewed vnto him the occasions of her commyng and of my sendings vntyll hir againe The first tyme she came vnto my house vnsent for of my partye and then she tolde me that she hadde bene with your grace and that she hadde shewed vnto you a reuelation which she hadde from Almighty God your grace I hope will not be displeased with this my rehearsall thereof She sayd that if your grace went forth with the purpose that ye intended ye shold not be King of England seuen moneths after I conceaued not by theis wordes I take it vpon my soule that any malice or euill was intended or ment vnto your highnes by any mor all man butt oonly that thei were the threattes of God as she than did affirme And though thei were feaned that as I wold be saued was to me vnknowen I neuer counsailled hir vnto that feanyng not was privaye thervnto nor to any such purposes as it is now sayd thei went aboute Neuerthelesse if she hadde told me this Reuelation and hadde not alsoo told me that she hadde reported the same vnto your grace I hadde bene verylie farre to blame and worthy extreame punyshment for not disclosing the same vnto your highenes or else to some of your counsaill But sithen she did assure me therewith that she hadde playnelye told vnto your grace the same thynge I thought doubtlesse that your grace wold haue suspected me that I had commyn to renewe hir tale agayne vnto yow rather for the confermyng of myn opinion than for any other cause I beseech your highenes to take no displeasor with me for this that I will saye It stykketh yet moost graciouse Soueraygne in my hart to my no little heuynesse youre greeuous letters and after that youre moost fearfull wordes that your grace hadde vnto me for shewyng vnto yow my mynde and opinion in the same matter Notwithstandyng that your highnesse hadde soo often and soo straytly commanded me to serch for the same before And for this cause I was right loth to haue comyn vnto your grace agayne with such a tale pertayning to that matter Meny other considerations I hadde but this was the very cause why that I came not vnto your grace For in good faith I dradde lest I shold therby haue prouoked your grace to farther displeasor agaynste me My Lord of Canterbury also which was your great Counsaillor told me that she hadde bene with your grace and hadde shewed yow this same matter and of hym as I will answeare before God I learned greatter thynges of her pretensed visions than she told me herselfe And at that same tyme I shewede vnto hym that she hadde bene with me and told me as I haue written before I trust now that your excellent wisdome and learnynge seeth there ys in me no defawte for not reuelynge of hir wordes vnto your grace whan she hir selfe did affirme vnto me that she hadde soo done and my Lord of Canterbury that then was confermed alsoo the same Wherfore moost graciouse Soueraygne Lord in my most humble wise I besech your highenes to dimisse me of this trouble whereby I shall the more quietly serue God and the more effectually pray for your grace This if there were a right great offence in me shold be to your merite to pardon but much rather taking the case as it is I trust veryly yow will so doo Now my body is mvch weakened with meny diseases and infirmities and my soule is much inquieted by this trouble so that my harte is more withdrawen from God and fro the deuotion of prayer than I wold And veryly I thinke that my lyve may not long continewe Wherfore estsoones I besech your moost gracious highenes that by your charytable goodnes I may be deliuered of this besynesse and onely to prepare my soule to God and to make itt ready agaynst the commyng of death and no moore to come abroode in the world This mooste graciouse Soueraigne Lord I besech your highenes by all the singular and excellent endewments of your most noble bodie and sowle and for the loue of Christ Iesu that soo dearly with his moost preciouse bloode redeamed yowr and myn And duryng my lyue I shall not cease as I am bownden and yett now the more entearly to make my praier to God for the preseruation of your most royall Maiestie At Rochester the xxvii day of February Your most humble Beadman and subiect Io. Roffe He writ likewise to the high Court of Parliament then sitting to the same effect but before this businesse was fully finished another came vpon him which was the oath of Supremacie the refusing whereof being tendered was adiudged high treason This oath or some part of it he denies whereupon he is committed to the Tower from whence he thus writes to Cromwell After my most humble commendations where as ye couet that I should write vnto the Kings Highnesse in good faith I dread mee that I cannot be soo circumspect in my writing but that sum word shall escape me wherwith his grace shall be moued to sum further displeasure against me wherof I wold be veray sory For as I will answer by for God I wold not in any manner of poynte offend his grace my duty saued vnto God whom I must in euery thyng prefer And for this consideration I am full loth and full of feare to wryte vnto his highnesse in this matter Neuerthelesse sythen I conceyue that it is your mynd that I shall soo doo I will endeuor mee to the best that I can But first here I must beseech yow gode master Secretary to call to yowr remembrance that at my last being befor yow and the other Commissioners for taking of the othe concerning the Kings most noble succession I was content to be sworne vnto that parcell concerning the succession And there I did rehearse this reason whiche I sade moued mee I dowted not but that the Prynce of eny Realme with th' assent of his nobles and commons myght appoynte for his succession Royall such an order as was seen vnto his wysdom most accordyng And for this reason I sade that I was content to be sworne vnto that parte of the othe as concernyng the succession This is veray trowth as God help my sowl at my most neede Albeit I refused to swear to some other parcels bycause that my conscience wold not serue me so to doo Furthermor I byseche yow to be gode master vnto me in my necessitie for I haue nether Shirt nor Sute nor yet other clothes that ar necessary for me to wear but that bee ragged and torne to shamefully Notwithstandyng I myghte easily suffer that if thei wold keep my body warm But my dyett allso God knowes how slender itt is att meny tymes And now in myn age my stomake may not away but with a few kynd of meats which if I want I decay forthwith and fall into coffes and diseases of my body and cannot keepe my self
preamble of the said Oath which I haue touched before of which Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie thus deliuers his opinion by his letter to Secretarie Cromwell if I now digresse I craue a fauourable construction Right worshipfull Maister Cromwell after most harty commendations c. I doubte not but you do right well remembre that my Lord of Rochester and master More were contented to bee sworne to the Actt of the Kings succession but not to the preamble of the same what was the cause of thair refusall thereof I am vncertaine and they wolde by no meanes expresse the same Neuerthelesse it must nedis be either the diminution of the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome or ells the reprobation of the Kings first pretensed matrimony But if they doe obstinately persiste in thair opinions of the preamble yet me semeth it scholde not be refused if thay will be sworne to the veray acte of succession so that thay will be sworne to mayntene the same against all powers and Potentates For hereby shall be a great occasion to satisfie the Princesse Dowager and the Lady Mary which doe thinke that they sholde dampne thair sowles if thay sholde abandon and relinquish thair astats And not only it sholde stop the mouthes of thaym but also of th'emperour and other thaâ—r friends if thay giue as much credence to my Lord of Rochester and master More spekyng or doinge against thaym as they hitherto haue done and thought that all other sholde haue done whan they spake and did with thaym And peraduenture it sholde be a good quietation to many other within this Realme if such men sholde say that the succession comprised within the said acte is good and according to Gods lawes For than I thinke there is not one within this Reaulme that wolde ones reclaime against it And where as diuers persones either of a wilfulnesse will not or of an indurate and inuertible conscience can not altre from thair opinions of the Kings first pretensed marriage wherein they haue ones said their minds and percase haue a perswasion in their heads that if they sholde now vary therfrome their fame and estimation were distained for euer or else of the authoritie of the Busschope of Rome yet if all the Reaulme with one accord wolde apprehend the said succession in my iudgement it is a thing to be amplected and imbraced which thing although I trust surely in God that it shall bee brought to passe yet hereunto might not a little auaile the consent and othes of theis two persones the Busshope of Rochester and Maister More with thair adherents or rather confederats And if the Kings pleasure so were thair sayd othes myght be suppressed but whan and where his highnes might take some commoditie by the publyshinge of the same Thus our Lord haue you euer in his conseruation From my Maner at Croydon the xvii day of Aprill Your own assured euer Thomas Cantuar. Here in this letter is to be seene the wisedome and policie of this prudent Archbishop who could make such auaileable vse to the state of the strong opinion which most men conceiued of the profound iudgement of these two persons This Sir Thomas More was pregnant of wit eloquent wise and learned as by his bookes still extant doth appeare and besides those mentioned by Bale which we haue in print During the time of his imprisonment which was foureteene moneths saith Pitseus he writ an historicall exposition of the Passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ according to the foure Euangelists Which I can hardly beleeue for I finde that when he was in prison his bookes and all his papers were taken away from him Whereupon he shut vp his Chamber-windowes saying When the wares are gone and the tooles taken away we must shut vp shop Thus would he lose his light before he would lose his iest for that he would neuer lose nor leaue off vpon the least occasion offered vntill he had lost his head He was twice married first saith Erasmus his intimate deare friend Virginem daxit admodum puellam claro genere natam He married a Maide very young borne of a noble Familie whom he tooke care to haue instructed in all good literature and to be expert in all sorts of Musicke by her he had foure children one Sonne named Iohn and three daughters Margaret Alice or Aloysia and Cicely God saith Leland that reuerend Antiquarie that liued in his dayes extraordinarily blessed these his children and namely his three daughters to whom he had giuen an admirable dexteritie in the science of Songs and Arts which he noteth in this his learned Epigram Desine facundas nimium laudare diserti Natas Hortensi maxima Roma tui Candida tres charites nam Mori cura politi Obscurant multis nomina vestra modis Non illis studium Milesia vellera dextra Carpere non facili ducere fila manu Sed innat eloquij crebro monumenta latini Versare doctis pingere verba notis Nec minus authores Graecos euoluere Homerum Et quem dicendi gloria prima manet Vt nec Aristotelis dicam quo pectore libros Scrutentur sophiae mystica dona deae Turpe viris posthac erit ignorare Mineruae Artes grex adeo quas muliebris amet His second wife was a widow of whom he was wont to say that she was nec bella nec puella Who as she was a good huswife so was she not voide of the fault that often followeth that vertue somewhat shrewd to her seruants Vpon a time Sir Thomas found fault with her continuall chiding saying If that nothing would reclaime her yet the consideration of the time for it was Lent should restraine her Tush tush my Lord said she looke here is one steppe to heauen-ward shewing him a Friers girdle I feare me said he this one steppe will not bring you vp a steppe higher One day when she came from shrift she said merrily to her husband Be merry Sir Thomas for this day was I well shriuen I thanke God and purpose now therefore to leaue off all my old shrewdnesse Yea quoth he and to begin afresh This man thus much giuen to a certaine pleasure in harmlesse mirth facetious iests and present wittie answers was wonderfull zealous in Religion and deuout in so much that diuers times in his Chancellourship he would put on a Surplise and helpe the Priest to say and sing diuine Seruice for which being reprehended by Thomas Duke of Norfolke who told him that it was a dishonour to the King that the Lord Chancellor of England should be a Parish Clerke Hee thus answered Now truly my Lord I thinke and verily beleeue that when the King shall heare of the care I haue both to serue his Master and mine he will accept and take me for a faithfull Seruant Which he might well say for vpon his first comming to his seruice the King gaue him this godly lesson First looke vnto
God and then after vnto me Vpon which religious and Princely lesson he grounds a reason and pleads a libertie to vse his owne proper conscience in the Kings most weightie affaires as you may perceiue by this part of a letter following written to Cromwell Right worshipfull c. it pleased the Kyngs highnes to send me in the companie of my Lord of London now of Duresme in embassiate aboute the Peace that at our being there was concluded at Cameray betwene his highnes and themperour and the French Kyng And after my comyng home his highnes of his onely goodnes as far my vnworthy I was thereto made me as you well knowe his Chauncelor of this Realme sone after which time his grace moued me agayne yit-eftsonys to loke and considre his great matter and well and indifferently to pondre such things as I should fynde therin And if it so were that therevpon it shoulde happen me to se such things as sholde persuade me to that parte hee wolde gladly vse me among other of his Counsailors in that matter neuerthelesse gracyousely declared vnto me that he wolde in no wise that I sholde other thing do or say therin than vpon that that I shold perceiue myn owne conscience shold serue me and that I sholde fyrst loke vnto God and after God vnto hym Which moost gratiouse wordys was the fyrst lesson also that euer his grace gaue me at my fyrst comyng into his noble servyce c. This learned Chancellour with much labour and earnest suite to the King got leaue to leaue his office before hee had continued therein fully three yeares Vpon his last speech to his three daughters and to the people present at his decollation thus one writes Ne lugete meo confusae funere natae Ipse ego mutari non mea fata velim Truncum terra teget si Rex non abnuet vrnam Et mea iam terris nomina nota volant Libera mens superos repetet neque seruiet vnquam In partem hanc quod agat nulla securis habet Tu quoque spectator tranquillum si cupis aeâ—um Exigere letho fortior esse tuo Qui tibi membra cadanâ— nullo in discrimine pone Quum sint naturae lege caduca suae Another of his death by way of Dialogue thus Hospes Quis iacet hic truncus cuius caput ense rescissum est Quae natat in tetro sanguine canities Ciuis Hic est ille Thomas Morus sic fata rependunt Tristia multa bonis bona multa malis Hospes Quae circumsistunt Diuae lugubre cadauer Diua tenax veri sancta Fides Nemesis Ciuis Harum prima odij caussa fuit altera mortis Vltrix iniustae tertia caedis erat Anno Domini M. D.XXXV.vi Non. Iulij Thus much of Sir Thomas More in this place you may know more of him hereafter by his Epitaph in Chelsey Church Cromwell surnamed the great whom Wolsey first raised from the forge to eminent good fortunes whom Henry the eight vsed as his instrument to suppresse the Popes supremacie and to dissolue religious Structures whom he aduanced to the highest pitch of honour and authoritie whom he cast downe suddenly and bereft both of life and dignitie lies here interred He followed the same steps to the same Stage vpon the said Tower-hill and acted there the same part which his two friends More and Fisher had done before him and that within fiue yeares after This Cromwell this pillar of the State was borne in Putney a Village in Surrey by Thames side foure miles distant from London hee was sonne to a Blacksmith in his later dayes a Bruer Whose mother after his fathers decease was remarried to a Shereman Of whose birth a late writer thus sings Putney the place made blessed by my birth Whose meanest cottage simply me did shrowd To me as dearest of the English Earth So of my bringing that poore village proud Though in a time when neuer lesse the dearth Of happie wits yet mine so well allow'd That with the best she boldlie durst prefer Me that my breath acknowledged from her He was a man of an actiue and forward ripenesse of nature ready and pregnant of wit discreet and well aduised in iudgement eloquent of tongue faithfull and diligent in seruice of an incomparable memory of a reaching politicke head and of a noble and vndaunted spirit Whose good parts being perceiued by Cardinal Wolsey he took him straight into his seruice made him his Sollicitor and emploied him in matters of great importance after whose fall hee was presently aduanced to the Kings seruice wherein he so industriously and wisely demeaned himselfe as that he was thought worthie by the said King to haue the ordering of all weightie affaires Whereupon at seuerall times he heaped these seuerall offices and honours vpon him he made him Master of his Iewell-house Baron Cromwell of Okeham principall Secretarie Master of the Rolles Chancellour of the Exchequer Keeper of the priuie Seale Iustice of the Forrests and Chases from the Riuer of Trent Northward great Chamberlaine of England Earle of Essex Knight of the Garter Vicegerent or Vicar generall Of which my fore remembred friend thus writes For first from knighthood rising in degree The Office of the Iewell-house my lot After the Rolles he frankly gaue to me From whence a priuie Counsellor I got Then of the Garter and then Earle to be Of Essex yet sufficient these were not But to the great Vicegerencie I grew Being a title as supreme as new Thus Fortune raised him a short time for a sudden fall For vpon the eighteenth day of Aprill 1540. hee was inuested with the honour of the Earledome of Essex and high Chamberlainship of England vpon which day the King also made his sonne Gregory Lord Cromwell Vpon the ninth of Iuly next and immediately following being enuied of many for his honour and authoritie he was suddenly arrested in the Councell-chamber and committed to the Tower vpon the nineteenth of the said moneth he was attainted by Parliament of heresie and high Treason and vpon the 28. of the said moneth hee was beheaded on the Tower-hill More succinctly thus his precipitate downfall is versified The Councell-chamber place of my arrest Where chiefe I was when greatest was the store And had my speeches noted of the best That did them as high Oracles adore A Parliament was lastly my Enquest That was my selfe a Parliament before The Tower hill Scaffold last I did ascend Thus the great'st man of England made his end And such bloudie ends most men haue who are busie managers of the greatest matters He was condemned to death and yet neuer came to his answere by an act as it is said which he himselfe caused to be made of which my fore-remembred Author M. Drayton Those lawes I made my selfe alone to please To giue me power more freely to my will Euen to my equals hurtfull sundrie waies Forced
you be desirous further to know how this Abbey Church hath beene honoured by the Sepultures of many worthy persons will it please you peruse these verses following by which both her foundation and fall is plainly deciphered Behold that goodly Fane which ruin'd now doth stand To holy Albon built first Martyr of this Land Who in the faith of Christ from Rome to Britaine came And dying in this place resign'd his glorious name In memory of whom as more then halfe Diuine Our English Offa rear'd a rich and sumptuous Shrine And Monastery here which our succeeding Kings From time to time endow'd with many goodly things And many a Christian Knight was buried here before The Norman set his foot vpon this conquered shore And after those braue spirits in all those balefull stowers That with Duke Robert went against the Pagan powers And in their countries right as Cressy those that stood And that at Poyters bath'd their bilbowes in French blood Their valiant Nephewes next at Agincourt that fought Whereas rebellious France vpon her knees was brought In this religious house at some of their returnes When nature claim'd her due here plac't their hallowed vrnes Which now deuouring Time in his so mighty waste Demollishing those walls hath vtterly defac't So that the earth to feele the ruinous heapes of stones That with the burth'nous weight now presse their sacred bones Forbids this wicked brood should by her fruits be fed As loathing her owne wombe that such loose children bred But I will come to the quarrell of the houses of Yorke and Lancaster which filled vp our Ladies Chappell here with the dead bodies of the Nobilitie slaine in and about this Towne of Saint Albans whose funerall Trophies are wasted with deuouring time and seates or Pewes for the Townesmen made ouer their honorable remaines Of these Lords here buried thus writeth the old Poet Iohn Gower Quos mors quos Martis sors saeua suaeque sororis Bella prostrarunt villae medioque necarunt Mors sic occiÌ„sos tumulauerat hic simul ipsos Postque necem requiem causauit habere perennem Et medium sine quo vult hic requiescere nemo Hic lis hic pugna mors est qui terminat arma Mors sors Mauors qui strauerunt Dominos hos But amongst so many of the Nobilitie here interred I finde few remembred saue Edmund Duke of Somerset Henry Earle of Northumberland and Iohn the valiant old Lord Clifford The death of this Edmund Duke of Somerset grandchilde to Iohn of Gaunt sore grieued King Henry the sixth because in him he had alwayes put great trust and confidence being a chiefe Commander and one who had long gouerned Normandy beene Regent of France and for his countries sake had alwayes right valiantly borne himselfe against the French Yet his actions whatsoeuer they were did not please the common people nor many other of ranke and qualitie in those times For Harding who liued in those dayes thus writ of him Thei slewe the Duke Edmond then of Somerset For cause he had the realmes we le so lette He was slaine vnder the signe of the Castle in the Towne being long before warned as it is reported to auoide all Castles Henry Lord Percy Earle of Northumberland aforesaid was the sonne of Henry surnamed Hot-spurr slaine at the battell of Shrewsbury by King Henry the fourth But his fathers offence and his Grandfathers being forgiuen him he was restored to his Grandfathers dignities by Henry the fifth to whom and to his sonne Henry the sixth he euer continued a loyall subiect stoutly maintaining their right to the Crowne of England in which quarrell he here lost his life The old Lord Clifford here interred is specially remembred in the battell for so valiantly defending and strongly keeping the Barre-yates and entrance in the Towne insomuch that the Duke of Yorke had euer the repulse vntill great Warwicke brake in by a garden side with a noise of Trumpets and voices crying A Warwicke a Warwicke Whereupon ensued that fierce and cruell battel in which this valourous old Lord manfully lost his life Of these two last remembred will you reade this Stanza Th erle then of Northumberland was there Of sodein chaunce drawen furth by the kyng And slain vnknowne by any manne ther were The Lord Clifford ouer busie in werking At the Barres them mette sore fightyng Was slain that day vpon his owne assaute As eche manne saied it was his owne defaute This battell wherein they were slaine was the first battell at Saint Albans which was fought in the yeare 1455. the Thursday before Pentecost Iohn Whethamsted the fore remembred Abbot made certaine Epitaphs for religious persons and others here interred as also in other Churches hereabouts Which for the most part are now either taken away by time or stolne away with the brasse from their Graue-stones which howsoeuer I know not well how to appropriate to the Persons for whom they were intended Yet it will not be lost labour to take and imprint them out of the Manuscript for that the Reader may see the rare compositions in that age 1. Duplex est vita duplex mors corporis vna Nominis astch altra miserorum mors ea dicta Non sic hic obijt non sic hic nunc requiescit â—mo mors prima fuit illi vita secunda Et si quod rapere voluit mors id tribuisse Fertur quasque dare tenebras has surripuisse Estque lucet sic ei lux perpetue requiei Atque libro vite quo nunc inscribitur ipse Nomen eius legitur cum sanctis numeratur 2. Vpon a Prior of this house here buried who was neuer beloued in his life time yet much bewailed after his death Quem dens momordit liuoris dummodo vixit Linguaque detraxit mors nunc bene glorificauit Nunc redeunt varia tumulata prius benefacta Famaque recrescit liuor post facta quiescit Nunc acus invidie lingue fel serra loquele Carpere cessarunt nunc aicere sic didicerunt Quando cadens obijt abijt pater hicque recessit Secum dapsilitas secum virtus honestas Istius Ecclesie quasi plangentes abiere Secum claustrale frenum que iugum Monachale Migrarunt eciam claustro dederantque salutem Secum vera fides bine secumque sorores Ibant ad puteum dixere locoque tuantem Secum fertilitas pietas secumque facultas Que parcit miseris sua que confert egenis Secum Iusticia pax lex policia In breuibus quicquia virtutem gignere possit Secum transiuit abijt secumque recessit Cur Dominus secum secum requies in idipsum 3. Vpon a Monke buried in this Church Alter honestatis Sol serens grauitatis Hesperus ac morum lampas rutilans monachorum Nunc occultatur hic sub modio tenebratur Nec tribuit lumen Claustro quod tribuit olim Mors eclipsari cansauerat tenebrari Est tamen
Berwike obijt Henry Fellow Guynes obijt Pursuiuants created in the time of Edward the Sixt. Robert Fayery Portcullis obijt Simond Newbald Rougecroix obijt Martin Marolfe Rougedragon Yorke Nicholas Tubman Rougecroix Lancaster Richard Withers Portcullis Nicholas Narboone Blewmantle Richmond Vlster In the raigne of Queene Mary these Phelip Butler Attelon obijt Hugh Cotgraue Rougecroix Richmond Iohn Cocke Portcullis William Colborne Rouge Dragon Yorke Iohn Hollinsworth Risebanke Blewmantle obijt Pursuiuant created in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth of famous memory at whose Coronation these Pursuiuants Heraulds and Kings were Officers Hugh Cotgraue Rougecroix Pursuiuants Iohn Cock Portcullis Pursuiuants William Colborne Rougedragon Pursuiuants Iohn Hollinsworth Blewmantle Pursuiuants Charles Wriothesley Windsor Heralds William Flower Chester Heralds Edmund Atkinson Somerset Heralds Martin Marolfe Yorke Heralds Nicholas Tubman Lancaster Heralds Nicholas Narboone Richmond Heralds Sir William Dethick Garter Kings William Haruey Clarentieux Kings Laurence Dalton Norroy Kings Bartholomew Butler Vlster Kings Edward Merlin Portcullis obijt Richard Turpin first Blewmantle secondly Windsor Raph Langman Portcullis Yorke Robert Cooke Rose blanch Chester Clarencieux Iohn Hart Chester Nicholas Dethicke Blewmantle Windsore obijt Ian. 1596. Edmund Knight Rouge Dragon Chester Norroy William Dethick Rougecroix Yorke Garter Robert Glouer Portcullis Somerset Thomas Dawes Rougecroix obijt Richard Lee Portcullis Richmond Clarencieux Nicholas Paddy Rougedragon Lancaster Rafe Brooke Rougecroix Yorke Humfrey Hales Blewmantle Yorke William Segar Portcullis Somerset Norroy Garter and Knight This Sir William Segar being Portcullis Pursuiuant of Armes in the yeare 1586. was imployed by Queene Elizabeth to attend the Earle of Leicester being her Lieuetenant and gouernour Generall of her forces in the Low Countries And being Somerset Herald was imploied to attend the Embassage sent by the Earle of Shrewesbury to the French King Henry the Fourth to receiue his Oath and to inuest him with the order of the Garter And afterwards being Norroy was ioynd Embassador with Roger Earle of Rutland to carry the Garter to Christian the fourth King of Denmarke As also being Garter he was imploied in the like seruice to Morice the last Prince of Orenge deceased And lately ioynd Embassadour with the now Viscount Dorchester to carry the Garter to Henry Prince of Orenge In all which seruices he hath worthily demeaned himselfe Iames Thomas Blewmantle Chester Iohn Rauen Rouge Dragon Richmond Thomas Lant Portcullis Windsor Robert Treswell Blewmantle Somerset Thomas Knight Rougecroix Chester William Smith Rougedragon Samuel Thompson Portcullis Windsor Mercury Patten Blewmantle Philip Holland Rose extraordinary Portcullis Pursuiuants of Armes created in the raigne of our late dread Soueraigne Lord King Iames viz. Philip Holland Portcullis Iohn Guillam Portesmouth extr Secondly Rougecroix This man is best knowne by an excellent Booke which he writ called The Display of Heraldrie Henry Saint George Rougerose ext Blewmantle Richmond Sampson Leonard Rougecroix Blewmantle Iohn Philpot Blanchlion extr Rougedragon Somerset Augustine Vincent Rougerose Extr. Rougedragon Windsore Iohn Bradshawe Rougerose Extr. Rougecroix Windsore Iohn Hamlâ—ne Blanchlion extr Thomas Thompson Rougedragon In the raigne of our Soueraigne Lord and King now liuing these Thomas Preston Portcullis Who in the yeare 1630. vpon the birth of the right excellent Prince Charles was by his Maiestie imployed to the Lords Iustices of the kingdome of Ireland with his Maiesties most gracious letters according to the ancient custome signifying to that Realme that most happy newes Vpon whose arriuall the State there made great and large expressions of their ioyfull hearts for such welcome tidings worthily receiuing and bountifully rewarding the said Officer of Armes George Owen Rougecroix William Ryley Rouge-Rose extr Created 31. Iulij 1630. Noblemen and Peeres of this Land in ancient time had their Heralds peculiar vnto themselues saith Milles. For Chester the Herauld and Falco the Pursuiuant liued at the command of the Prince of Wales and serued him Humfrey Duke of Glocester and Earle of Penbroke had the Herald Penbrooke his domesticall Seruant Richard also Duke of Glocester hauing now obtained the kingdome would needs haue his Herauld Glocester to be called King of Armes for all Wales Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke retained Suffolke Herauld and Marleon Pursuiuant The Marquesse of Dorcester kept Groby Herauld The Earle of Northumberland Northumberland Herauld and Esperance Pursuiuant Arthur Plantaginet Viscount Lisle tooke vnto himselfe Lisle Pursuiuant and Baron Hastings Hasting Pursuiuant But the condition of the Seruant is made better by the dignitie of his Lord and Master so these forenamed Heraulds liued not with like authoritie or priuiledges with the Kings And here now giue me leaue to speake a little more of the Aetymologie Antiquitie and dignitie of Heraulds in generall Herald Herold or Herault dicitur quasi Herus altus a high Maister For this Officer was of great authoritie amongst the Romanes who plurally called them Feciales a faciendo quod belli pacisque faciendae penes cos ius erat or Fediales a faedere faciendo And so with vs the word signifieth an Officer at Armes whose function is to denounce warre to proclaime peace or otherwise to be employed by the King in martiall messages or other businesse and so they are called Internuncij vel pacis vel belli ferendi Messengers to carrie and offer either warre or peace Heralt saith Verstegan in the Title of Honours and Offices is meerely a Teutonic or Duytch word and in that tongue and no other the true Aetymologie thereof is onely to be found To begin then with the first syllable thereof which is Here though in composition abridged to Her it is the true and ancient Teutonic word for an Armie the same that Exercitus is in Latine and in that sence it is yet vsed in Germany And whereas the Germanes doe now vse Here also for Lord yet anciently they so vsed it not And although the Teutonic be more mixed with other strange languages yet this word Here as they vse it for Lord or master hath crept into their language from Herus in Latine after that the Latine tongue became knowne vnto them A Healt in the Teutonick is a most couragious person a champion or an especiall challenger to a fight or combat of the weapon that such sometime most vsed called a Healtbard because it was borne by a Healt we yet though corruptly retaine the name of Holbard and the Netherlands make it Heilbard Here-healt by abbreuiation Heralt as also Herald doth rightly signifie the Champion of the armie And growing to be a name of Office he that hath in the armie the especiall charge to challenge vnto battell or combat in which sense our name of Herald doth nearest approach vnto Fecialis in Latine as I haue touched before The Feciales amongst the Romanes saith one were Priests For Numa Pompilius who flourished circa ann mundi 3283. the second King of the Romanes diuided the institution of diuine honour into eight parts and so instituted and ordained eight seuerall orders of Priests and
Cauendish late wife of William Cauendish which William was one of the sonnes of the aboue named Alice Cauendish Which Margaret dyed the xvi day of Iune in the yeare of our Lord God M. cccccxl whossoul Iesu pardon Amen Heuen blis be here mede Yat for the sing prey or rede Cauendish is a Towne or Village in Suffolke wherein that valiant Gentleman Iohn Cauendish Esquire who slew that Arch-Rebell Watt Tyler Anno Reg. Regis Ric 2.4 was borne which fact was not long vnreuenged for in the same yeare the Rebels of Norfolke and Suffolke vnder the conduct of their Captaine Sir Iohn Wraw a detestable Priest tooke Sir Iohn Cauendish knight cosin to the foresaid Iohn chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench and beheaded him together with Sir Iohn of Cambridge Prior of Saint Edmundsbury whose heads they set on the Pillory in the Market place Here restyth the body of William Burd Esquyr late Clark of the Pipe and Priuy Seale whych payd the generall tribute of Nature deuyded from the mundane vexations by naturall death the xv day of August the xxi yere of kyng Henry the eyght Clarke of the Pipe saith the Interpreter is an Officer in the Kings Exchequer who hauing all accounts and debts due vnto the king deliuered and drawne downe out of the Remembrancers Offices chargeth them downe into the great Roll. Who also writeth summons vnto the Shiriffe to leuie the said debts vpon the goods and chattels of the said debtors and if they haue no goods then doth he draw them downe to the Lord Treasurers Remembrancer to write Extreats against their Land The ancient Reuenew of the Crowne remayneth in charge before him and he seeth the same answered by the Fermers and Shiriffes to the king He maketh a charge to all Shiriffes of their summons of the Pipe and Greenewax and seeth it answered vpon their accounts He hath the ingrossing of all Leasses of the Kings lands and it is likely that it was at the first called and still hath denomination of Pipe and Clarke of the Pipe and Pipe Office because their Records that are registred in their smallest Rolles are altogether like Organe Pipes but their great Roll called the Great Roll Ann. 37. Ed. 3. ca. 4. is of another forme Clericus Priuati Sigilii or Clarke of the priuie Seale is an Officer whereof there be foure in number that attendeth the Lord Keeper of the priuie Seale or if there be none such vpon the principall Secretarie writing and making out all things that be sent by warrant from the Signet to the Priuie Seale and are to be passed to the Great Seale as also to make out as they are tearmed Priuie Seales vpon any especiall occasion of his Maiesties affaires for loane or lending of money or such like Of this Officer and his function you may reade the Statute Ann. 27. Hen. 8. cap. 11. Hic iacet Iohannes Hartishorne quondam Seruiens Domini Regis ad Arma qui obijt viij die Martij Ann. Dom. M. ccccxxix Agnes vxor eius que obiit ..... M. cccc The office of Sergeants at Armes is to attend the person of the King to arrest Traitors or great men that do or are like to contemne messengers of ordinarie condition for other causes and to attend the Lord high Steward of England sitting in Iudgement vpon any Traitor and such like Of these by the Statute Ann. 13. Ric. 2. cap. 6. there may not be aboue thirtie in the Realme There be also two of these Sergeants of the Parliament one of the vpper and another of the lower house whose office seemeth for the execution of such commandements especially touching the apprehension of any offender as either house shall thinke good to enioyne them There is one Sergeant at Armes that belongeth to the Chancerie who is called Sergeant of the Mace as the rest may be because they carrie Maces by their office He of the Chancerie attendeth the Lord Chancellour or Lord Keeper in that Court Another in like manner attends the Lord Treasurer Of your cherite prey for the souls of George ... Maior of London and Iohan and Margaret his wyffs which .... decessyd M. ccccc.xxxvi on whos sowls ..... By the computation of yeares I finde no such man by the Christian name of George to haue beene Lord Maior about this time excepting George Monox who lieth buried at Waltham Stow. Hic iacet Iohannes Kirkham nuper Ciuis Attornatus London Elisabetha vxor eius qui quidem Iohannes obijt primo die Septembris .... M. cccc.xxvij quorum animabus ... Here lyeth Iohn Mynne Esquyr late mastyr of the Kyngs wooddys of his new granted Court of Generall Surueyours of his Londes and Auditour of diuers and sundry Reuenews of the same Courts which desessyd the xv dey of Decemb. M. ccccc.xlii on whos soul Iesu haue mercy Diuers other Inscriptions hee collected of persons here interred about the beginning of Queene Elizabeths raigne which are not as now visible In this Church was sometime saith Stow a Brotherhood of Saint Fabian and Sebastian founded in the yeare 1377. the 51. of Edward the third and confirmed by Henry the fourth in the sixt of his raigne Henry the sixt in the 24. of his raigne to the honour of the Trinitie gaue licence to Dame Ioan Astley sometime his Nurse to Robert Cawood Clarke of the Pipe who lieth buried in this Church but of whom no remembrance is remaining and Thomas Smith to found the same a Fraternitie perpetually to haue a Master and two Custos with Brethren and Sisters c. This Botherhood was endowed with lands more then thirtie pound by the yeere and was suppressed Edward the sixt Saint Mary Magdalens Milkestreete Of your charity pray for the soul of Edward Murell ... and Martha his wyff which Edward decessyd the ... day of ... Of your cherite prey for the souls of William Campion Citizen and Grocer of London sometime one of the Masters of the Bridghouse and Alys and Anne his wyffes The which William decessyd the xvii of December M. ccccc.xxxi Anne the .... day of M. ccccc.xx on whos souls Iesu haue pitte Amen Prey for the soul of Henry Cantlow Mercer Merchant of the Staple at Callys the builder of this Chappell wherein hee lyeth buried M. cccc.lxxxxv Here lieth also buried in this Church Sir William Cantlow Knight and Sheriffe of London in the yeare 1448. who died in the yeare 1462. Cantlow siue de Cantelupo an ancient Familie of great repute in many places of this Kingdome of which hereafter Hic iacet Iohannes Olney quondam ciuis et Mercerus Aldermannus Maior Ciuitatis London qui obijt die Martis xxiiij die octobris M cccc liiij cuius anime propitietur Deus This Iohn was the sonne of Iohn Olney of the Citie of Couentrie saith Stowes Suruay Orate pro animabus Thome Muschampe ........ This Thomas Muschampe was Sheriffe
Clementis Ade et Radulphi dum vixerimus et pro animabus nostris cum ab hac luce migrauerimus ac pro animabus Willelmi Cote clerici Iohannis Smyth nuper de Bury Sancti Edmundi Armigeri et Anne vxoris eius ac pro animabus parentum benefactorum et quorumcunque Fratrum et Sororum de Gilda predicta existencium seu esse volencium et successorum suorum et animabus omnium fidelium defunctorum imperpetuum celebratur aliaque pietatis et miserecordie opera iuxta ordinationes stabilimenta et constitutiones per presentes Hen. Tho. Rich. Will. Clem. Adam et Radulph seu eorum aliquem heredes execusiue assignatos suos predict seu corumaliquos vel aliquem in hac parte faciend factur ac subitur ac quandam mansionem pro eisdem custode et Capellanis infra dictam villam de Bury Sancti Edmundi facere fundâ—re erigere creare et stabilire possint Et quod Canteria et Gilda ille cum sic sacte fundate erecte create et stabilite fuerint Cantaria et Gilda dulcissimi nominis Iesu infra villam de Bury Sancti Edmundi in Com. Suff. perpetuis suturis temporibus nuncupentur et appellentur Et quod custo set Societas Capellanorum ac fratres et sorores Cantarie et Gildae predict et successores sui custos et societas Capellanorum ac fratres et sorores Cantarie et Gilde dulcissimi nominis Iesu infra villam de Bury Sancti Edmundi in perpetuum vocentur habeantque successionem perpetuam ac commune Sigillum sibi et successoribus suit custodibus et societati Capellanorum ac fratribus et sororibus Cantarie et Gilde predictarum c. He giues liberty to the foresaid Henry Thomas Richard William Clement Adam and Raph to endow the said Colledge with lands to the value of twenty pounds per annum vltra reprisas and such lands as were not holden of the king in Capite He also grants many priuiledges and immunities to the said Colledge too long here to rehearse In cuius rei Testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes T. me ipso apud Westmonasterium quinto die Nouembris Anno Regni nostri vicesimo primo Per ipsum Regem et de dat predict auctoritate Parliamenti et pro sexaginta et vndecim libris solicitis in Hanapario Mortonus This religious Foundation as it is in the Charter was called a Chantrie and a Guild Cantaria est Aedes sacra ideo instituta et dotata praedijs vt Missa ibidem Cantaretur pro anima fundatoris et propinquorum eius saith Sir Hen. Spelman Glossar lit C. A Chantrie is a sacred Edifice therefore instituted and endowed with possessions that Masse might there bee song for the soule of the Founder and his kindred Gilda est societas quorundam pura charitatis religionis vel mercaturae gratia confaederatorum A Gild is a societie of certaine persons confederated or liuing together for the onely pure cause of charitie Religion or for the trade of Merchandise It is a Colledge a sodalitie or fellowship a brotherhood or companie incorporate or it is an adunation or a commonaltie of men gathered into one combination supporting their common charge by a mutuall consent In the yeare and on the day of the moneth of a great part of this Towne of Bury was burnt downe to the ground Vpon the rebuilding whereof on the Frontispice of one of the Houses this distich following is in golden letters Vt Prior illa domus violento corruit igne Haec stet dum flammis terra polusque flagrent 1609. Kediton or Kedington In the South window of this Church is to be seene a Barnardiston kneeling in his compleate armour his coat-armour on his breast and behinde him seuen sonnes In the next pane of the glasse is Elisabeth the daughter of Newport kneeling with her coat-armour likewise on her breast and seuen daughters behinde her and vnder it is thus written now much defaced Orate pro animabus Thome Barnardiston militis et Elisabethe vxoris eius qui istam fenestram fieri fecerunt Anno Domini M. ccccc .... anima ..... Deus Amen Ouer against the said South window vnder the second Arch of the said South side of the Church is the Monument of the said Sir Thomas Barnardiston in stone at length in his compleat armour and the said Dame Elisabeth his wife by him And in a table of stone vnder their coat-armours this Epitaph or Inscription This is the Monument of Sir Thomas Barnardiston knight beying buried in Corys in the Countie of Lincolne and of Dame Elisabeth his wyffe buryd vndre this tombe whych Sir Thomas by his last will gaue certen londis in the towne callyd Brokholes of the yerly value of vii markis towardys the mantenens of a Cantrie in this Church and the seid Dame Elisabeth aftyr his deth optened lyeens to a mortyse the seid Cantrie perpetually and made the possessions therof to the yerly value of xii markis and besids buylt the Church roif new and coueryd it with lede Whych Dame Elysabeth dyed the .... day of ... Anno Domini M. cccccxx ... On the North side of the said Church is a very faire Monument or tombe with the pourtraiture of another Sir Thomas Barnardiston and his Lady Elisabeth who died not long since In the second window of the North side of this Church is to be seene a Barnardiston kneeling in his compleat armour and his coat-armour on his breast and vpon both his shoulders the writing vnder him is wholly-perished ouer him is written .... Non Peccata nostra .... nobis ..... This seemes to be very ancient Ixworth or Ikesworth Here sometimes stood an ancient Priory founded by Gilbert Blund a man of great Nobilitie and Lord of Ikesworth whose issue male by the right line ended in William that in king Henry the third his dayes was slaine in the battell at Lewis and left two sisters his heires Agnes wife to William de Creketot and Roise wedded to Robert de Valonijs saith Camden This Priory was valued to be yearely worth two hundred and fourescore pounds nine shillings fiue pence Clare Here stood a religious House of Augustine Friers whose Foundation may be gathered out of certaine rythmicall lines which not many yeares since I copied out of an ancient Roll as then in the custody of my deare deceased Friend Aug. Vincent Windsore Herald the Rubricke or the Title in red letters of this Roll is as followeth This Dialoge betwix a seculer askyng and a Frere answering at the graue of Dame Iohan of Acres sheweth the lineall descent of the Lordis of the honoure of Clare fro the tyme of the fundation of the Freeris in the same honoure the yere of our Lord a M.ccxlviii vnto the first of May the yere a M. cccclx The Pictures of the Secular Priest and the Friere are curiously limmed