Prynces in pease most amate In Grece Archbyshop elected worthely And last of Carlyel rulyng pastorally Kepyng nobyl Houshold wyth grete Hospitality On thowsand fyve hundryd thirty and sevyn Invyterate wyth pastoral carys consumyd wyth age The nintenth of Iun reckonyd ful evyn Passyd to hevyn from worldly pylgrâ—mage Of whos soul good pepul of cherite Prey as ye wold be preyd for for thus must ye lie Iesu mercy Lady help Here lieth Sir Henry Collet knight twise Maior of London who died in the yere of our redemption 1510. This Hâ—nry was sonne to Robert Collet of Wendouer in Buckinghamshire and father to Iohn Collet Deane of Pauls in the first time of his Maioraltie the Crosse in Cheape-side was new builded in that beautifull manner as it now standeth Richardus iacet hic venerabilis ille Decanus Qui fuit etatis doctus Apollo sue Eloquio forma ingenio virtutibus arte Nobilis eternum viuere dignus erat Consilio bonus ingenio fuit vtilis acri Facunda eloquij dexteritate potens Non rigidus non ore minax affabilis omni Tempore seu puero seu loquerere sexi Nulli vnquam nocuit multos adiuvit omnes Officij studuit demeruisse bonos Tantus hic et talis ne non deleatur ademptus Flent Muse et laceris mesta Minerua comis Obijt anno 1532. etat circiter 40. This Pace succeeded Collet in the Deanrie of Pauls a man highlie in fauour with king Henry the eight by whom he was employed as Embassadour to Maximilian the Germane Emperour as also to Rome in the behalfe of Cardinall Wolâ—ey who stood in election for the Popedome Hee writ diuers learned treatises yet extant Nam vir erat saith Bale viriusque literaturae peritia praeditus Nemo ingenio candidior aut humanitate amicitior He was a right worthie man and one that gaue in counsell faithfull aduâ—ce learned he was also and indued with many excellent good gifts of nature curteous pleasâ—nt and delighting in Musicke highlie in the Kingsfauour and well heard in matters of weight Here was I borne and here I make myne end Though I was Citizen and Grocer of London And to the office of Schrevalty did ascend But things transitorie passe and vanische sone To God be geeuen thanks if that I haue ought done That to his honowre and to the bringing vp of youth And to the succowre of the Age for sewerly this is soth By Avise my wyff children were left me non Which we both did take as God had it sent And fixed our myndes that ioyntly in on To releue the poore by mutuall consent Now mercifull Iesu which hast assystyd owre intent Have mercy on owre sowles and as for the residew If it be thy will thou mayst owre Act continew Vpon the same marble these verses following The fyve and twentyth day of this monyth of Septembyr And of owre Lord God the fifteenth hundryd and fowrty yeere Master Nicholas Gibson dyde as this tombe doth remembyr Whose wyff aftyr maryed the worschypful Esquier Master William Kneuet on of the kings privy chamber Much for his time also did he endeuer To make this Act to continew for euer This pious act here mentioned in this Epitaph is a free-Schoole founded at Radcliffe in this Parish by the said Nicholas and Avise for the instruction of threescore poore mens children by a Schoolemaster and an Vsher with an Almeshouse for fourteene poore aged persons and this Foundation continues to this day Saint Leonards in Stratford Bow This religious structure was sometime a Monasterie replenished with white Monkes dedicated to the honour of our alone Sauiour Iesus Christ and Saint Leonard founded by King Henry the second in the 23. yeare of his raigne And valued at the suppression to be yearely worth an hundred one and twenty pounds sixteene shillings In this Abbey Church sometime lay entombed the body of Iohn de Bohun eldest sonne and heire of Humfrey de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Essex Which Iohn de Bohun to vse the words of Milles in his Catalogue of Hereford Earles after the death of his father Humfrey was fifth Earle of Hereford Constable of England and Patron of the Abbey of Lanthony fourth Earle of Essex of that Surname and fifth Lord of Brecknock Because this Earle Iohn in regard of his weaknesse of body by a continuall sicknesse was not able to performe this office of the Constableship of England Edward the third at this Earles intreatie did substitute Edward Bohun the Earles younger brother Vice-Constable vnder him for the tearme of his life But Earle Iohn died at Kirby Thore the 20. of Ianuary vpon Saint Fabian and Sebastians day 1136. the tenth of Edward the third leauing no issue and was buried at Stratford Abbey not farre from London This Iohn married first Alice the daughter of Edmund Fitz-alan Earle of Arundell who died in childbed and was buried at Walden with her Infant sonne after it was christened His second wife was Margaret daughter of Raphe Lord Basset of Drâ—yton a Baron of the best ranke in those dayes by whom hee had no issue Hertfordshire For Ecclesiasticall gouernment onely some part of this Shire belongeth to the Diocesse of London the rest to the Bishopricke of Lincolne Now because the Bishop of Lincolne hath so large a Territorie vnder his iurisdiction I wâ—ll be so bold as to borrow a few Funerall Inscriptions which I haue collected in this County and within his charge and imprint them with those which are properly for London Diocesse Alhallowes in the Towne of Hertford Off yowr cherity prayeth to God and Alhalwin hertely For Ser Ion Chappilaine somtym of yis plas Vicary Almighty Iesu resseve his sowl to grase and mercy Icy gist Isabele Newmarche iadis Damosele a tresâ—oble Dame Isabele Roigne d' Engletere This Isabell Newmarch or de nouo Mercatu a name of great reputation in the raigne of King Henry the third was Maide of Honour to that Isabell Queene of England who was second wife to Richard the second daughter of Charles the sixth King of France Hic iacet Lodouicus Baysbury Capell Henrici sexti ac Prebend Ecclesie Cathedral Lincoln .... M. ccccxxviii Here lyeth vndyr this ston William Wake And by him Ione his wyff and Make Somtym yeman of Iohn Duc of Bedfords hors And lat Survayor wyth king Henry the sixt he was Gentylman mad he was at the holy Grav On qwos sowls Almyghty God mercy hav Hic iacet Iohannes Prest quondam Ianitor Hospitii Katherine nuper Regine Anglie ....... This Priest was Porter to that Katherine Queene of England who was the onely wife of that inuincible Conquerour of France Henry the fifth and daughter of Charles the sonne of Charles aforesaid King of France Saint Nicholas Hic iacet Alicia Tymyslow quondam Dominella Domine Ducisse Lankastrie que obiit 17 Septemb. 1396. This faire yong waiting Chamber-maid for so much the word
lieth buried He died Ann. Dom. 1450. Here lieth Giles Dewes who sometime was seruant to king Henry the 7. and king Hen. the 8. Clerke of their Libraries and Schoolemaster for the French tongue to Prince Arthur and to the Lady Mary Who died 1535. Saint Michael Bassishaw or Bassingshall Iohn Burton lyeth vnder here Sometimes of London Citizen and Mercer And Ienet his wife with their progeny Been turned to erth as ye may see Frends free what so yee bee Prey for vs we you prey As you see vs in this degree So shall you be another dey He deceased in the yeere 1460. he was a great benefactor to the building of this Church as appeareth by his marke placed throughout the whole roofe of the Quire and middle Isle of the Church Huc ades atque tuis metire viator ocellis Quam breuis inclusos illigat vrna duos Vt modo tu vir fuit hic hec femina quondam Nunc gelidi pars est huius vterque soli Nomen Abel More erat cognomen Exoniensum Cesarij Doctor iuris in vrbe fuit Agnes alterius nomen coniuxque Iohannis More fuit huius Abel qui modo frater erat Vt cupis ergo tibi faciant post funera viui Has modo tute breues quisquis es ede preces Hic Abel primo hic Agnes releuetur ab Agno Qui prius agnino sanguine lauit oues Obijt Abel 1486. Agnes 1499. quorum animabus Saint Lawrence in the Iewrie Hic incineratur corpus quondam Gaulfridi Bulleyn ciuis merceri Maioris London qui ab hac luce migrauit An. Dom. 1463. cuius anime pax sit perpetua This Sir Geffray or Godfrey Bullen Lord Maior of London was the Sonne of Geffrey Bullen of Salle or Saull in Norfolke Esquire Hee married Anne the eldest daughter and coheire of Thomas Lord Hoo and Hastings by whom he had issue Sir William Bullen of Blickling in Norfolke Knight fâ—ther to Thomas Bullen Viscount Rochford Earle of Wilshire who was father to Anne Bullen Marchionesse of Penbroke the second wife of King Henry the eight and the happy mother of our late Soueraigne Elizabeth Queene of England with all thankefulnesse euer to bee remembred This Lord Maior gaue to poore house holders in London 1000 l and 200 l to the like vse in Norfolke besides many liberall gifts to Prisons Hospitals and lazar houses Hic iacet Thomas Bulleyn de comitatu Norfolcie Armiger qui obijt vltimo die mensis Aprilis An. Dom. 147â— cuius The honorable Merchant Ion Pickering And Elisabyth lie vndyr this ston Of the English merchant Venturers vndyr the kyng In the Martis beyond See gouernor was this Ion Thirty yeere and more that roome he did manteyn To his honor and worschip and died in Nouembyr The xxix day Mcccc fourty and eyght certeyn Who 's soul and al Christians for cherite remembyr Hic Thomas Cressey London mercerus humatur Et Agnes Coniux sua postea suppeditatur M. Domini C quater his x. annoque secundo Sexta luce Iunij iâ—it hic de .... mundo Guild Hall Chappell This Chappell or Colledge of our Lady Mary Magdalen and of all Saints was founded about the yeere 1299. by Peter Fanclore saith Stow Adam Francis and Henry Frowike whose reuenew was much augmented by K. Richard the second K. Henry the sixt and diuers citizens of London so that at the suppression it was endowed with sufficient maintenance for a Custos seauen Chaplaines three Clarkes and foure Quiristers at which time it was valued at xii l xviij s ix d per an Here haue beene many Tombes and marble stones inlaid with brasse whose inscriptions and portraitures are all either worne out with time torne out or quite defaced onely this Epitaph remaining En Thomas Frances pius hic qui lustra per octo Custos extiterat iacet semper requiescat ob Mar. 4. 1488. Ouer the doore of the Councell Chamber in Guild hall was and yet is as I thinke this Distich Carolus Henricus Viuant Defensor vterque Henricus Fidei Carolus Ecclesie Long prosperity To Charles and Henry Princes most puissant The one of the Faith The other of the Church Chosen defendant These verses were depicted here and in other places about this Citie the yeare 1514. when Charles the fift Emperour was here in England to shew in what golden bands of loue these two potent Monarches were enlinked for that amongst other couenants then concluded and confirmed betwixt them by corporall Oathes one was that the Emperour promised to stay for and take to wife the young Princesse Lady Mary King Henries then onely daughter afterwards Queene of England Why the Titles defender of the Church and Faith were attributed vnto these two Princes is vulgarlie knowne because Charles chosen Emperour to purchase the Popes fauour directed forth a solemne Writ of Outlawry against Martin Luther who then had giuen a great blow to the Papall Crowne And King Henry likewise was renowned in Rome for writing a booke against the said Luther vnderpropping the tottering or downe-cast countenance of the Popes Pardons which Luther shrewdly had shaken The Pope therefore to shew himselfe a kinde Father vnto these his sonnes gaue them these Titles which were in truth none other then the same which they sware vnto when the Crownes of their Empires were first set vpon their heads The Hospitall of Saint Tho. of Acars or Mercers Chappell This Hospitall was founded by Thomas Fitz-theobald de Heili and Agnes his wife Sister to Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury in the raigne of Henry the second and dedicated to Saint Thomas of Acon or Acars in the holy land They gaue to the Master and Brethren of this house the lands with the appurtenances that sometimes were Gilbert Beckets father to the said Thomas in the which he was born there to make a Church This Hospitall was valued at the suppression to dispend yeerely 277 l. 3 s. 4 d. it was surrendred the 30 of Henry the 8. the 21 of October and was since purchased by the Mercers by meanes of Sir Richard Gresham Here lyeth entombed Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Dame Ioane his wife he died Anno Dom. 1428. and she 1430. Hic iacet Thomas filius Iacobi comitis Ormundie ac fratris Iacobi comitis Wilts Ormundie qui quidem Thomas obijt secundo die 1515 anno regni Regis Henrici Octaui 37. cuius The Ancestors of these Earles saith learned Camden were in old time the Butlers an honourable office in Ireland and from thence came this Surname Le Boteler or Butler imposed vpon them and certaine it is that they were linked in most neere alliance vnto Saint Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury as who deriue their descent from his sister which was a great motiue to make them choose this place for their buriall and that after he was murdered they were
and lastly put out the Almesmen from their houses appointing them xii d. the weeke to each person The Church of this Hospitall is now a preaching place for the French Nation Saint Martins Outwich Ecclesie Rector huius Iohn Breux tumulatus Artibus doctor vermibus esca datus Prebendam quondam cicestrensem retinebat Quem Petronille lux tulit e medio M. C. quater quinquageno nono sociato Sic predotatus vertitur in cinerem Augustine Fryers This religious house was founded in the well meaning deuotion of former times by Humphrey Bohun the fift of that name Earle of Hereford and Essex 1253. and was afterward reedified by Humphrey Bohun the ninth of that name Earle of Hereford and Essex Lord of Brecknocke and Constable of England who died Anno 1361. and was buried in the Quire of this Church This Frierie dedicated to the honour of Saint Augustine was valued vpon the surrender to King Henry the eight to 57 l. 4 s. per annum Here sometime did lie entombed the body of Richard Fitz-Alan the fourth of that name Earle of Arundell and Surrey who with Thomas Duke of Glocester Thomas Earle of Warwicke Henry Earle of Derby afterwards King of England and others combined and sware each to other against Robert Vere Duke of Ireland and Michael de la Pole Duke of Suffolke for abusing and misleading the King for which and some other causes which Richard the second obiected against them some of them were banished others condemned to perpetuall imprisonment and this Richard beheaded on the Tower hill Septemb. Anno 1397. the constancie of whose carriage at his arraignement passage and execution in all which he did not once discolour the honour of his bloud with any degenerous word looke or action encreased the enuy of his death vpon his prosecutors Here likewise lay sumptuously interred Iohn Vere the xii Earle of Oxford and Aubrey his eldest sonne who with Sir Thomas Tudensa knight who was also here buried and others their Councellors either through malice of their enemies or some offence conceiued by King Edward the fourth were attainted by Act of Parliament anno primo Edward 4 and put to Execution vpon the Tower hill the 26 of February 1461. William Lord Berkeley of Berkeley Castle honoured with the tâ—tâ—es of Viscount and Marquesse Berkely Earle of Nottingham and Earle Marshall of England was here inhumed who died Ann. 1492. This William as I had it from my deceased friend Aug. Vincent by his deed dated the third of Nouember Ann. 6. Hen. 7 gaue one hundreâ— pounds to the Prior of this house for two Masses to be said presently and for euer at the Altar of our Lady and Saint Iames. Betweene which Altars the body of his wife Ioan who liued but a few dayes with him and is not at all mentioned in the Catalogues of Honour was buried who was the widow of Sir William Willoughbie before the marriage with the Marquesse And to pray for the prosperous estate of the said Marquesse and of Anne his then wife and of Edward Willoughby Richard Willoughby Anne Beauchampe and Elisabeth Willoughbie with all the issue of the said William and Ioane and especially for the soules health of the said Ioane and of Katherine her mother Duchesse of Norfolke Here sometime lay sumptuously entombed the body of Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham who by the sleights and practises of Cardinall Wolsey fell into displeasure with king Henry the eight and being condemned of high Treason for that among other matters hee had consulted with a Monke or wizard about succession of the Crowne was beheaded on the Tower hill May the 17. 1521. He was a noble Gentleman exceedingly much lamented of good men Of whose death when the Emperour Charles the fifth heard he said that a Butchers dogge meaning the Cardinall a Butchers sonne had deuoured the fairest Buck alluding to the name of Buckingham in all England Here was interred the bodie of Edward the eldest sonne of Edward the blacke Prince by Ioan his wife surnamed the faire Maide of Kent who was borne at Angolesme Ann. 1375. and died at 7. yeares of age Many of the Barons slaine at Barnet-field vpon Easterday 1471. were buried here in the bodie of the Church but now their bodies with these before remembred and the bodies of an hundred more mentioned by Stow of exemplarie note and knights degree are not onely despoiled of all outward funerall ornaments but digged vp out of their Requietories and dwelling houses raised in the place which was appointed for their eternall rest Some part of this Church is at this day yet standing but in that no monument of this kinde is remaining for it is conuerted into a Church for the Duch-Inhabitants of this Citie who in that kinde can hardly brooke any reuerend Antiquitie Saint Botolphs Bishopsgate Hic iacet Cardina vxor Richardi Shoder militis Iohanna filia eorundem ...... 14. April 1471. Sub hoc marmore iacet corpus Iohannis Redman quondam huius Ecclesie Rectoris benemerentissimi qui ab hac luce migrauit tertio die Iulij Ann. Dom. 1523. Neare to this gate if wee giue credit to our owne ancient Chronicles Nennius the sonne of Hely and brother of Lud and Cassibelane kings ouer the warlike Britaines was interred A man of a magnanimous spirit heroicall and valiant Who in the warres betweene Iulius Cesar and the Britaines sought couragiously in defence of his countrey causing Cesar to flie backe with the losse of his sword which Nennius tooke from him in single encounter and with which he slew Labienus Tribune of the Romane Nobilitie But the fifteenth day after this single opposition hee died of a wound receiued at the hands of Cesar in the same conflict the yeare of the worlds creation 3913. before the birth of our alone Sauiour 51. And here as I haue said was entombed with all funerall state and solemnitie and with him the sword which he tooke from Cesar the Emperour as he himselfe commanded Which sword was called Reddeath or rather Readie-death wherewith if any one had beene neuer so little wounded he could neuer escape with life Which you shall haue in such old verse as came to my hands At the north yate of London hii buriede this gud knyght And buriede in hys chest the swerd that was so bryght That he wan of the Emperor wythe grete honor enough That Reddedeth was ycluped whar with he hym slough I buriede wyth hym hit was as in tokneyinge Of hys Proesse that he hit wan of on so heigh a kyng I haue some other of the same subiect but of later times if you will reade them But Neminus brother of Cassybalayne Full manly fought on Iulius tymes twayne With strokes sore ayther on other bette But at the last this Prince syr Iulius Crosea mors his swerde in shelde sette Of the manly worthy Sir Neminus Whiche of manly
than to Henauld for a wife A Bishop and other Lordes temporall Wher in Chaumbre prevy and secretife At discouerit dischenely also in all As semyng was to estate Virginall Emong theim selfes our lordes for hie prudence Of the Bishop asked counsaill and sentence Whiche daughter of fiue should be the Queene Who counsailled thus with sad auisement Wee will haue hir with good hippis I mene For she will bere good soonnes at myne entent To which thei all accorded by one assent And chase Philip that was full feminine As the Bishop moost wise did determine But then emong theim selfes thei laugh fast ay The lordes than saied the Bishop couth Full mekill skill of a woman al way That so couth chese a lady that was vncouth And for the mery woordes that came of his mouth Thei trowed he had right great experience Of womanes rule and hir conuenience Now what experience this Bishop had in womens conueniency of bringing forth children I know not but it so fell out that she had issue by her said husband King Edward seuen sonnes and fiue daughters borne for the glory of our Nation 1. Edward Prince of Wales borne at Woodstocke 2. William borne at Hatfield in the County of Hertford 3. Lionell borne at the Citie of Antwerpe Duke of Clarence 4. Iohn borne at Gaunt the chiefe Towne of Flanders Duke of Lancaster 5. Edmond surnamed of Langley Duke of Yorke 6. William another of their Sonnes surnamed of Windsore where he was borne 7. Thomas the youngest sonne of King Edward and Queene Philip surnamed of Woodstocke the place of his birth Duke of Glocester Daughters 1. Isabell the eldest Daughter was married with great pompe at Windsore to Ingelram of Guisnes Lord of Coucy Earle of Soissoms and after Archduke of Austria whom king Edward his Father in law created also Earle of Bedford 2. Ioane desired in marriage by solemne Embassage from Alphons king of Castile and Leon sonne of king Ferdinando the fourth was espoused by Proxie intituled Queene of Spaine conueyed into that countrey where she presently deceased of a great plague that then raigned 3. Blanch the third daughter died young and lieth buried in this Abbey Church 4. Mary the fourth daughter was married to Iohn Montford Duke of Britaine 5. Margaret their youngest daughter was the first wife of Iohn de Hastings Earle of Penbroke It is reported of this Queene saith Milles that when she perceiued her life would enâ— she requested to speake with the King her husband who accordingly came to her in great heauinesse being come she tooke him by the hand and after a few words of induction shee prayed him that hee would in no wise deny her in three requests First that all Merchants and others to whom she ought any debt whether on this side or beyond the seas might be payd and discharged Secondly that all such promises as she had made to Churches as well within the realme as without might be performed Thirdly that hee would be pleased whensoeuer God should call him to chuse none other Sepulchre but that wherein her body should be layed all which were performed and so I leaue them both lying in one Graue expecting a ioyfull resurrection Richard the second King of England and France Lord of Ireland sonne to Edward Prince of Wales by Ioane daughter to the Earle of Kent being depriued both of liuing and life by that popular vsurper Henry the 〈…〉 by his commandement obscurely buried at Langley in Hertfortshire in the Church of the Friers Predicants was by the appointment of Henry the fift remoued from thence with great honour in a Chaire royall himselfe and his nobilitie attending the sacred reliques of this annointed King which he solemnly here enterred amongst his ancestors and founded perpetually one day euery weeke a Dirge with nine Lessons and a morning masse to be celebrated for the soule of the said King Richard and vpon each of those daies sixe shillings eight pence to be giuen to the poore people and once euery yeare vpon the same day of his Anniuerse twentie pounds in pence to be distributed to the most needfull He made for him a glorious Tombe and this glosing Epitaph deciphering the lineaments of his body and qualities of mind which to any who knowes vpon what points he was put out of Maiestie and State may seeme strange if not ridiculous thus it runnes Prudens et mundus Richardus iure secundus Per fatum victus iacet hic sub marmore pictus Verax sermone prudens suit et ratione Corpore procerus animo prudens vt Homerus Ecclesie fauit elatos suppeditauit Quemuis prostrauit Regalia qui violauit O bruit hereticos et eorum strauit amicos O clemens christe tibi deuotus suit iste Votis Baptiste salues quem protulit iste Hic iacet immiti consumptus morte Richardus fuisse felicem miserrimum Fabian who translated this Epitaph into English desirous as it seemes to extenuate the force of such palpable grosse flattery annexeth this stanza But yet alas although this meter or ryme Thus doth embellish this noble Princes fame And that some Clerke which fauored him somtyme Lâ—st by his cunnyng thus to enhanse his name Yet by his story appereth in him some blame Wherfore to Princes is surest memory Their lyues to exercyse in vertuous constancy But Iohn Harding speaking of the greatnesse of his houshold and the pride and whoredome therein as well amongst the Clergie as Laitie is more inuectiue in his rimes which to reade I hope will not be troublesome thus he begins Truly I herd Robert Ireleffe saye Clerke of the Grenecloth and that to the Houshold Came euery daye forthe most partie alwaye Ten thousand folke by his messis told That folowed the hous aye as thei wold And in the Kechin three hundred Seruitours And in eche office many occupiours And Ladies faire with their gentlewomen Chamberers also and lauenders Three hundred of theim were occupied then There was greate pride emong the Officers And of all men far passyng their compeers Of rich araye and much more costious Then was before or sith and more pretious In his Chappell were Bishoppes then of Beame Some of Irelond and some also of France Some of Englond and clerkes of many a realme That litill connyng had or conisance In musike honorably God his seruice to auance In the Chappell or in holy Scripture On mater of Goddis to refigure Lewed menne thei were in clerkes clothyng Disguysed faire in fourme of clerkes wise Their Perishyns full litill enfourmyng In Lawe diuine or else in God his seruise But right practyfe they were in couetise Eche yere to make full greate collection At home in stede of soules correction Greate Lechery and fornication Was in that house and also greate aduoutree Of Paramours was great consolacion Of ech degre well more of Prelacie Then of the temporall or of the chiualrie Greate taxe ay the kyng tooke through all the lond
For whiche Commons him hated both free and bond Iohn Gower concludes his cronica tripartita annexed to his booke entituled Vox Clamantis with these riming verses concerning the said King Cronica Richardi qui sceptra tulit Leopardi Vt patet est dicta populo sed non benedicta Vt speculum mundi quo lux nequit vlla resundi Sic vacuus transit sibi nil nisi culpa remansit Vnde superbus erat modo si preconia querat Eius honor sordet laus culpat gloria mordet Hoc concernentes caueant qui sunt sapientes Nam male viuentes Deus odit in orbe regentes Est qui peccator non esse potest dominator Ricardo teste finis probat hoc manifeste Post sua demerita perijt sua pompa sopita Qualis erat vita cronica stabit ita He was murdered at Pomfret Castle in the bloudie Tower so called from that time vpon that bloudie act to this day on Saint Valentines day 1399. the first of Henry the fourth when hee had raigned 22 yeares That beautifull picture of a King sighing crowned in a chaire of estate at the vpper end of the Quire in this Church is said to be of him which witnesseth how goodly a creature he was in outward lineaments but I will conclude with these rimes out of my old Manuscript the Addition to Robert of Glocester This Rychard than regnyd sone Aftur his Belsire as was to done Atte x yere of age crownyd was he He was a man of grett beute In hys tym the Comynte of Kent Up arysin and to London went And Sauoy the brent that ilke plas The whych the Dukes of Lancastre was Thurgh euel councel was slayn ful suel The Duke of Glocestre and the erle of Arundel He regnyd xxii yer and mor And to Longeley was he bor But in the v King Herry is tym He was leyde at VVestmynstre by Anne the Quene Anne his first wife here entombed with him was the daughter of Wenceslaus King of Bohemia and Emperour of the Germanes she died in Anno 1394. the seuenth of Iune at Sheene in Surrey whom her husband so feruently loued yea vsque ad amentiam euen to a kinde of madnesse that for very griefe and anger besides cursing the place wherein shee died hee ouerthrew the whole house Her Epitaph Sub petra lata nunc Annaiacet tumulata Dum vixit mundo Richardo nupta secundo Christo deuota fuit hec facilis bene nota Pauperibus prona semper sua reddere dona Iurgia sedauit et pregnantes releuauit Corpore formosa vultu mitis speciosa Prebens solamen viduis egris medicamen Anno milleno ter cent quarto nonageno Iulij septeno mensis migrauit ameno forma Fragilis Henry the fift sonne of Henry the fourth King of England and conquerour of France died at Boyes de Viscenna not farre from Paris the last of August 1422. hauing raigned 9 yeares 5 moneths and odde daies from thence his body was conuaied to this Abbey vpon whose Tombe Katherine his wife caused a royall picture to be layed couered all ouer with siluer plate gilded the head whereof was all of massie siluer all which at the suppression when the battering hammers of destruction as Master Speed saith did sound almost in euery Church were sacrilegiously broken off and by purloyning transferred to farre prophaner vses where at this day the headlesse monument is to be seene and these verses written vpon his Tombe Dux Normanorum verus Conquestor eorum Heres Francorum decessit et Hector eorum Here Normans Duke so stil'd by conquest iust True heire of France Great Hector lies in dust Gallorum mastix iacet hic Henricus in vrna Domat omnia virtus So many vertues are attributed by all writers to this heroicall King Henry the renowne of England and glory of Wales that where to begin or when to make an end in his deserued praise I know not so I will leaue him amongst the many Monarchs of this most famous Empire none more complete relating onely a few rimes which in some sort doth particularize his memorable exploits Aftur hym regnyd his son than The v Herry truly a gracious man Atte his begynnyng verament He stroyd Loliers and thei wer brent Aftur he made Relygyous at Shene Sion Ierusalem and eke Bedlem The thurd yer he went truly And gat Hartlett in Normandy Atte Egyncourt he hadde a batayle ywis Hamwardys and ther had the prys He tooke ther the Duc of Orleaunce The Duc of Burbon and meny of Fraunce And aftur that he wan Lane toun Rone and al Normandy as was to don Also he wan Parys worschypfully And meny mo tounes wyth Meaux in Bry. Ther he took to hys Quene Katterin the kyng dawghtyr shene He hadde a Son of hur y bore That ys callyd Herry of Wyndsore In Fraunce he departyd goodly thurgh Goddâ—s grase And was broght into Engelond in short spase Then was his Son Herry of age suerly But only viii monyths wyth odde deyes truly His Eme Iohn Duc of Bedford as yow see Is now Regent of Fraunce sykerly He regnyd x yer in hevyn he hath reward Lith at Westmynstre noght fer fro Seynt Edward Here lieth Katherine Queene of England wife to the foresaid King Henry the fifth in a chest or coffin with a loose couer to be seene and handled of any that will much desire it and that by her owne appointment as he that sheweth the Tombes will tell you by tradition in regard of her disobedience to her husband for being deliuered of her Sonne Henry the sixth at Windsore the place which he forbad But the truth is that she being first buried in our Ladies Chappell here in this Church her corps were taken vp when as Henry the seuenth laid the foundation of that admirable structure his Chappell royall which haue euer since so remained and neuer reburied She was the daughter to Charles the sixth king of France she died at Bermondsey in Southwarke the second of Ianuary Ann. Dom. 1437. Her Epitaph Hic Katherina iacet Francorum filia Regis Heres Regni Carole Sexte tui Henrici quinti thalamo bis leta iugali Nam sic vir duplici clarus honore fuit Iure suo Anglorum Katherine iure triumphans Francorum obtinuit ius decus imperij Grata venit letis felix Regina Britannis Perque dies celebrant quatuor ore Deum Edidit Henricum gemebunda puerpera Regem Cuius in imperio Francus Anglus erat Non sibi sed Regno felici sidere natum Sed Patri Matri Religione parem Post ex Owino Tiddero tertia proles Nobilis Edmundus te Katherina beat Septimus Henricus quo non prestantior alter Filius Edmundi gemma Britanna fuit Felix ergo vxor mater ter filia felix Ast Auia hec felix terque quater que fuit Here lieth buried in one of the stateliest Monuments of Europe both for the
husband Eleanor the second wife of the foresaid Sir Iohn Wriothesley Here lieth buried Ioan wyfe to Thomas Wriothesley sonne to the said Sir Iohn Wriothesley Here lyeth Iohn Wriothesley the younger sonne to Sir Iohn Wriothesly and Eleanor with others of that familie mentioned by Stow in his Suruay of London This Church is likewise much honoured by the Sepultures of Sir Henry Grey knight sonne and heire to George Grey Earle of Kent as also by Reginald Grey Earle of Kent Of which their Funeralls being so neare these times in another place S. Benet Pauls Wharfe In this Church lie entombed the bodyes of Sir William Cheyney knight and Dame Margaret his wife which Sir William Cheyney deceased Ann. 1422. In this Parish and partly as I take it in Saint Peters the little is a faire house sometime belonging to the Stanleys vpon the outward wall whereof are embossed the Armes or rather if you will the legges of the Isle of Man for that the Stanleys honoured with the title of Earles of Darby were commonly called Kings of Man This house was built by Thomas Stanley first of that sirname Earle of Darby and so for a long time it was called Darbie House but at length it being in the tenure of Sir Richard Sackuile knight fallen by morgage vnto him for which morgage Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke out of his affection to the office of Armes satisfied the said Sir Richard who thereupon past it ouer to Q. Mary and at the instant request of the said Duke she by her Charter granted it to Sir Gilbert Dethicke as then Garter principall King of Armes who lieth buried in this Church Thomas Hauley Clarencieux king of Armes of the south parts William Haruey Norroy king of Armes of the north parts and to the other Heralds and Pursuiuants of Armes expressing their titles and order qui pro tempore fuerint in perpetuum vt essent vnum corpus corporatum in re facto nomine habeantque successionem perpetuam nec non quoddam sigillum commune To the end that the said King of Armes Heralds and Pursuiuants of Armes and their successors might at their liking dwell together and at conuenient times meete together speake conferre and agree among themselues for the good gouernement of their faculty and their Records might be more safely kept c. Dated the 18. day of Iuly 1555. Philip and Mary the first and third yeare This Corporation consists of thirteene in number whose names and titles at this time viz. Anno 1631. are as followeth Sir William Segar Knight Garter Principall King of Armes Sir Richard S. George Knight Clarencieux Sir Iohn Borough Knight Norroy Prouinciall Kings William Penson Lancaster Sir Henry S. George Knight Richmond Henry Chitting Chester Iohn Philipot Somerset William le Neue Yorke Iohn Bradshaw Windsore Heralds These sixe Heralds non ab Officiorum praestantia sed è creationis cuiusque antiquitate locos obtinet not from the excellencie of their office but according to the prioritie of their creation take preheminence And to make vp the number there are foure Pursuiuants in this Colledge helpers and furtherers likewise in matters of Heraldry although of an inferiour Classe viz. Rouge-crosse so called of the red crosse by which Saint George the Tutelar Saint of all Englishmen is famozed Blewmantle so called of a skie-coloured coate of Armes Francica maiestatis of a French-like Maiesty assumed by K. Edward the third Rouge-Dragon of a red Dragon sustaining the Shield Roiall of the English instituted by King Henry the seuenth Port cullis of the Port cullis which the said Henry the seuenth vsed in his Cognisance If you would know more of this Colledge may it please you peruse Sir Henry Spilmans Glossarie litera H. Saint Michaels Querne Here lieth interred the body of Iohn Leland or Leyland Natiue of this honourable Citie of London brought vp in the Vniuersities of England and France where he greatly profited in all good learning and languages Keeper of the Libraries he was to King Henry the Eight in which Office he chiefly applied himselfe to the study of Antiquities wherein he was so laborious and exquisite that few or none either before or since may bee with him compared which will best appeare by his New yeares gift to the said King Henry written in Latine and translated into English by his contemporarie companion Iohn Bale and by him intituled The loboryouse Iourney and serche of Iohan Leylande for Englandes Antiquitees giuen of him as a New yeares gift to Kynge Henry the Eyghte in the thirty seuenth yeere of his Reygne Vbi tuae celsit udini visum fuit c. so it begins in Latine Where as it pleased youre hyghnesse vpon very iust consideratyons to encourage mee by the authoryte of youre moste graciouse Commyssion to peruse and dyligently to serche all the Libraries of Monasteries and Collegies of this youre noble Realme to the entent that the Monuments of auncyent Wryters as well of other Nacyons as of your owne Prouynce myghte be brought out of deadly darkenesse to lyuely lyght and to receiue lyke thankes of their posteryte as they hoped for at such time as they employed their long and great studies to the publique wealthe Yea and furthermore that the holy scripture of God might both be sincerely taught and learned all maner of supersticion and crafty coloured doctrine of a rowte of romane Bishops totally expelled oute of this your most Catholique realme I thinke it now no lesse than my very dewtie breuely to declare to your Maiestie what frutes haue spronge of my laboriouse iourney and costly enterprise both roted vpon your infinite goodnesse and liberalite qualitees right highly to be estemed in al Princes and most specially in yow as naturally your owne wele knowne proprietes First I haue conserued many good authors the which otherwise had ben like to haue perished to no small incommodite of good letters Of the which parte remaine in the most magnificent libraries of your royall Palaces Part also remaine in my custodie whereby I trust right shortly so to describe your most noble Realme and to publish the Maiestie of the excellent actes of youre progenitors hitherto sore obscured bothe for lacke of emprinting of such workes as lay secretly in corners And also because men of eloquence hath not enterprised to set them forth in a florishing stile in some times past not commonly vsed in England of Writers otherwise wele learned and now in such estimacion that except truth be delicately clothed in purpure her written veritees can scant finde a Reader That all the world shall euidently perceiue that no particular region may iustly be more extolled than yours for true nobilitie and vertues at all points renoumed Farther more part of the exemplaries curiously sought by me and fortunately found in sundry places of this your dominion hath bene emprinted in Germany and now be in the presses chefely
filiabus suis qui Nicolaus obijt v. die mens Nouembris An. Dom. M. cccc.vii quorum animabus .... Pray for the soul of Roger Hunning Fishmonger somtime porueyor of Seafish to our Soueraigne Lord King Henry the eight and Margaret his wyff the which Roger decessyd the third day of May An. Dom. M. ccccc xli whos soul Iesu pardon Amen Orate pro anima I home Paynard alias dict Thome Aylwood quondam Secretarii cum Radulpho â—uper Domino Cromwell ac nuper Secretarij cum Willelmo Domino Beaumont et postea Secretarii cum Willelmo Domino Hastyngs qui quidem Thomas obijt xxii die Nouembris Anno Dom. M. cccc.lxxiii Raph Lord Cromwell here mentioned was Lord Treasurer of England Anno 1444. William Lord Beaumont was the sonne and heire of Iohn Lord Viscount Beaumont the first Viscount that we certainly know to haue beene in England howsoeuer it is said that Iohn Robsert Captaine of Saint Samers in France sonne of Sir Lewis Robsert knight of the Garter was Viscount Robsert in king Henry the fifts time William Lord Hastings created by king Edward the fourth to whom he was Lord Chamberlaine Hic iacet Ioanna Coppinger vidua quondam vxor Willelmi Coppinger Armigeri postea nupt Richardo Darland gen qui quidem Ioanna obijt xviii die Martij ... Mcccclxxxxii Saint Michaels Pater Noster in the old Royall Hic iacet Thomas Wandesford ciuis et Aldermannus London Idonea vxor eius qui quidem Thomas obijt xiii die Octobris An. Dom. M. ccccxlviii Quorum animabus Gulielmo Bayly militi ciui et Pannario London fide integritate vite insigni qui huius vrbis Preturam tanta ingenij dexteritate tanta animi promptitudine verborum comitate gessit vt omnium Senatorum et populi merito nuncupetur delitie Lites mire perosus Pauperum Patronus delictorum corrector omnibus ordinibus iuxta charus et numerosa sobole beatus fuit Cantariam vt vocant in hoc templo perpetuo stabiliuit ..... Domina Katherina vnica coniux coniugi charissimo et bene merenti et Robertus Leessis Executores fidelissimi posuere 5. Kalend. Nouemb. 1532. He had by his wife Catherin sixteene children as did sometime appeare by their pourtraitures on the Tombe-stone He was the sonne of Iohn Bayly of Thacksted in Essex Glanvile sub glebe tegit hic lapis ossa Iohannis Obsequio Regis subijt se plurimis annis Sci ..... quos viuens ... moriens suos ad vos .............. Spiritus aspiret ferte iunamen ei Prey of yowr cherete for the souls of Agnes Cheyney wydow late wyff vnto William Cheyney somtym Esquyr for the Body vnto kyng Harry the seuenth Whyche Agnes dyed the fyfteenth day of Iuly in the yere of our Lord God on thowsand four hundryd eyghty and seuen And for the souls of William Cheyney Robart Molyneux and Robert Sheryngton her husbands and all Cristen souls Hic iacet Iohannes Rayning generosus qui obijt 22. die Iunij Ann. Domini 1469. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Of yowr charite pray for the soul of William Porter late Clarke of the Crowne and Elisabeth his wife the which departyd the 4 of March 1521. on whose souls .... Clarke of the Crowne is a Clarke or Officer in the Kings Bench whose function is to frame reade and record all Indictments against Traitors Felons and other offenders there arraigned vpon any publike crime He is otherwise called Clarke of the Crowne office And Ann. 2. Hen. 4. cap. 10. he is called Clarke of the Crowne of the Kings Bench. The reason of his denomination is because he reads and records Indictments against Traitors Felons c. which are against the Kings Crowne and dignitie Saint Nicholas Olaue Here lyeth the body of William Fyloll sonn and heyr apparaunt to William Fyloll of Woodlond in the county of Dorset knyght and to Dame Dorothy hys wyff dawter and heyr to Iohn Ifeyld of Stondon in the Shyre of Hertford Esquyr Whych William the sonn dyed in the lyff of his fadeâ— wythowt yssue the iiii day of Septembyr in the yere of owr redemption M. cccccix and in the yere of his age the syxteenth Who 's soul God pardon Amen Orate pro animabus Iohannis Westcliff Ioanne vxoris sue qui quidem Iohannes quondam fuit Maior ville Sandwici obijt 19. Decemb. 1473. quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen Ici gist William Newport iadis Citizen pessamere de Londre Massie sa femme leur enfens de ens engendre Dieu de lour alues eit pitye Amen Amen This Newport was one of the Sheriffes of London in the yeare 1375. Hic iacet Willelmus Read Ciuis Piscenarius London qui obiit .... Margeria vxor eius que obiit sexto die Iunij Anno Domini Millesimo quadringentesimo quadragesimo septimo Vpon the same marble stone as followeth Who that passyth by this way Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat For mercy of God behold and pray Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat For all souls cristen and for vs Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat On Pater Noster and an Ave. Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat To the blessyd Saynts and owr blessyd Lady Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat Saynt Mary to pray for vs. Qui pro alijs orat pro se laborat Many Monuments of the Dead in Churches in and about this Citie of London as also in some places of the countrey are couered with seates or pewes made high and easie for the Parishioners to sit or sleepe in a fashion of no long continuance and worthy of reformation Of the Diocesse of London the Battels therein fought and of the Burialls of the Dead slaine in those terrible conflicts NOw as I haue before spoken somewhat of the Bishoprickes of Cant. and Rochester so let me here speake a little of this Diocesse of London which extendeth so farre in circuit as the Site of the East or Middle Saxons kingdome anciently comprised which was bounded on the East with the Ocean on the South with the Thames on the West with the Colne and on the North with the Riuer Stowre within the limits whereof Midlesex Essex and a part of Hertfordshire are contained The glory of which Diocesse is principally Midlesex in regard of the far-famed City of London the Metropolis of England of which I haue spoken before and the chiefe seat of her sacred Bishops as also in regard of the Riuer of Thames the king of all our Riuers Of whom and of the rare prospects he views in his passage betweene Windsore and London Bridge a late Poet thus versifies But now this mighty Flood vpon his voiage prest That found how with his strength his beauties still increast From where braue Windsore stood on tiptoe to behold The faire
Nottingham Yorke and Northumberland where without respect of age or sexe they laid all wast and left the Land whence they departed like to a desolate wildernesse From thence they came with the like furie into Edmunds territories and sacked Thetford a frequent citie in those daies but hee not able to withstand their violence fled into â—his Castle at Framingham wherein he was of them besieged and lastly taken in a village then called Heglisdune of a wood bearing the same name or rather yeelded himselfe to their torments to saue more christian bloud for it is recorded that because of his most constant Faith and profession those Pagans first beat him with bats then scourged him with whips he still calling vpon the name of Iesus for rage whereof they bound to a stake and with their arrowes shot him to death and cutting off his head contemptuously threw it into a bush after he had raigned ouer the East Angles the space of sixteene yeares Camden out of Abbo Floriacensis saith that the bloudy Danes hauing bound this most christian King to a tree for that he would not renounce christianity shot him with sharpe arrowes all his body ouer augmenting the paines of his torment with continuall piercing him with arrow after arrow and thus inflicted wound vpon wound so long as one arrow could stand by another as a Poet of midle time versified of him I am loca vulneribus desunt nec dum furiofis Tela sed hyberna grandine plura volant Though now no place was left for wound yet arrowes did not faile These surious wretches still they flie thicker then winter haile His body and head after the Danes were departed were buried at the same royall Towne as Abbo termes it where Sigebert the East Anglean King and one of his predecessors at his establishing of Christianity built a Church and where afterwards in honour of him was built another most spatious and of a wonderfull frame of Timber and the name of the Towne vpon that occasion of his buriall called vnto this day Saint Edmundsbury This Church and place to speake more fully to that which I haue written before Suenus the Pagan Danish King in impiety and fury burned to ashes But when his sonne Canute or Knute had made conquest of this Land and gotten possession of the English Crowne terrified and afrighted as saith the Legend with a vision of the seeming Saint Edmund in a religious deuotion to expiate his Fathers sacriledge built it anew most sumptuously enriched this place with Charters and Gifts and offered his owne Crowne vpon the Martyrs Tombe of whom for a conclusion take these verses following Vtque cruore suo Gallos Dionisius ornat Grecos Demetrius gloria quisque suiâ— Sic nos Edmundus nulli virtute secundus Lux patet patrie gloria magna sue Sceptra manum Diadema capud sua purpura corpus Ornat ei sed plus vincula mucro cruor The 20. day of Nouember in our Calender was kept holy in remembrance of this King and Martyr Puer Robertus apud Sanctum Edmundum a Iudeis fuit Martirazatus 4. Id. Iunij An. 1179. et illic sepultus Alanus Comes Britannie obijt An. 1093. his iacet ad hostium australe Sancti Edmundi ex eod lib. de chateris This Allan here buried or as some will haue it in the monastery of Rhedon sirnamed the Red or Fergaunt was the sonne of Eudo Earle of Britaine and entred England with William the Conquerour his Father in Law To whom the said Conquerour gaue the honour and County of Edwyn within the County and Prouince of Yorke by his Charter in these words I William sirnamed Bastard King of England giue and grant to thee my Nephew Allan Earle of Britaine and to thy heyres for euer all those Villages Townes and Lands which were late in possession of Earle Edwin in Yorkeshire with knights fees Churches and other liberties and customes as freely and honourably as the said Edwyn held them Giuen at the siege before Yorke Alban being a man of an high spirit and desirous to gouerne the Prouince entirely which he had receiued built a strong Castle by Gillingham a village which he possessed by which he might defend himselfe not onely against the English who were spoiled of their goods and lands but also against the fury and inuasions of the Danes When the worke was finished he gaue it the name of Richmond of purpose either for the greatnesse and magnificence of the place or for some Castle in little Britaine of the same name Here sometimes vnder a goodly Monument in the Quire of this Abbey Church lay interred the body of Thomas surnamed of Brotherton the place of his birth the fifth sonne of Edward the first after the Conquest king of England by Margaret his second wife the eldest daughter of Philip king of France surnamed the Hardy He was created Earle of Norfolke and made Earle Marshall of England by his halfe brother King Edward the second which Earledomes Roger Bigod the last of that surname Earle of Norfolke and Earle Marshall leauing no issue left to the disposition of the king his Father This Earle died in the yeare of our redemption 1338. Here lay buried the body of Thomas Beauford sonne of Iohn of Gaunt begotten of the Lady Katherine Swyneford his third wife who by King Henry the fourth was made Admirall then Captaine of Calis and afterwards Lord Chancellour of England He was created by the said King Earle of Perch in Normandy and Earle of Dorlet in England And lastly in the fourth yeare of King Henry the fifth he was created Duke of Exceter and made knight of the order of the Garter He had the leading of the Rereward at the battell of Agincourt and the gouernment of king Henry the sixth appointed to that office by the foresaid Henry the fifth on his death-bed He valiantly defended Harflew in Normandy whereof he was gouernour against the Frenchmen and in a pitched field encountring the Earle of Armiguar put him to flight He died at his House of East Greenwich in Kent vpon Newyeares day the fifth of Henry the sixth for whom all England mourned saith Milles The body of Mary Queene of France widow of Lewis the twelfth daughâ—er of King Henry the 7. and sister to king Henry the eight was here in this Abbey Church entombed After the death of Lewis with whom she liued not long shee married that Martiall and pompous Gentleman Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke She died on Midsomer Eeue 1533. Iohn Boon Abbot of this Monasterie had his tombe and interrement here in this Church who died in the beginning of February in the ninth yeare of the raigne of king Edward the fourth as appeares by the said kings Conged'eslire or permission royall to the Prior and Couent of this House to make choise of another Abbot as followeth Edwardus Dei gratia Rex Anglie Francie
Orat ... Tho. Wyndham militis et Elisabethe vxoris eius ... vnus constabul ... Domini Regis Hen. 8. ac vn ... militum pro corpore ... This Knight with others went with Sir Edward Howard Admirall into Biâ—cay the fourth of King Henry the eight Here lieth Dame Elisabeth Calthrop wife of Sir Francis Calthrop and after of Iohn Culpeper Esquire ... Calâ—hrops sometime a familie of great account in these parts Here lieth buried the body of Ione the wise of Sir Thomas Erpingham Knight of the Garter as appeareth by her Will made by licence of her husband the last of May 1404 and proued 14 of Iuly next following Orate pro animabus Thome Windham militis Eleanore et domine Elisabethe vxorum eius Qui quidem Thomas fuit unus consiliariorum Domini Regis Heâ—rici octauâ— ac vnus militum pro corpore eiusdem Domini Regis 〈◊〉 non vice admirallus ........... ............... This Knight lieth buried in the Chapter house vnder a goodly faire monument if it were not so much defaced He receiued the order of knighthood from the hands of Sir Edward Howard Lord Admirall of England the fourth of King Henry the eight at Croiton Bay in France He did good seruice at the winning of Turney and Turwin as also in other places this hath beene a name of exemplarie note and knights degree at Cowtherke in this Tract for many descent Hic iacet Richardus Brome Armiger cuius anime propitietur Deus On the wall by him is a monument with his atchieuement cut with helme coate mantle and creast his Creast is a bonch of broome greene with golden flowers on a wreath Next him lies vnder an arched monument the body of one Bosuile or Boswell sometime Prior of this Church with this Inscription on the vpper part of the Arch. O tu qui transis vir aut mulier puer an sis Respice picturas apices lege cerne figuras Et memor esto tui sic bene disce mori Vnder it are three pictures of dead mens skuls one with teeth another without an vpper chappe and onely two teeth in the nether and the third without either chaps or teeth betweene each of which is written O morieris O morieris O morieris The Familie of Bosvile is very ancient farre branched and of knightly degree as it will appeare in many places of these my ensuing labours of which in this place and vpon this occasion I will onely giue a little touch In the Church of Seuenoke within the County of Kent remaine the achiuements and Funerall rights of Raphe Bosvile of Bradburne in the said Parish of Seuenok Esquire Clerk of her late Maiesties Court of Wards and Liueries Grandsier of Sir Raphe Bosvile now of Bradburne and Sir Henry Bosvile of Eynsford in the foresaid County Knights descended lineally from the Bosviles of Erdsley and Newhall in the County of Yorke The inhabitants of Seuenoke say that whilst the said Raph Boswell liued being employed vpon many occasions for the publique hee deserued and had the reputation of a most worthie Patriot and out of his particular to their Towne hee procured of Queene Elizabeth a Charter of Incorporation for the setling and gouernment of Lands formerly giuen for the maintenance of a Free-schoole and thirteene Almes-people in the said Parish For the more entire establishment whereof Sir Raph his Grand-childe cooperating with other noble friends in so charitable a suite obtained an Act of Parliament in the 39. of Queene Elizabeth besides other benefites procured by him in behalfe of this Corporation and Parish Whereupon a well wishing versifier alluding to the Creste of this Familie which is an Oxe comming out of a Groue of Oakes tooke occasion to expresse his affection in this Distich Dij tibi dent Bosville boues villasque Radulphe Nec Villâ careat Bosue vel Illa boùe Here lieth vnder a faire marble stone one of the ancient Familie of the Cleres and his wife as appeares by their Armes thereupon engrauen for the brasse is quite taken away Of which worthy Familie I speake hereafter Pray for the soule of Elisabeth Waters and Iohn Waters Alderman and for the soule of Iohn Waminge Alderman and Maior of Norwich and husbands vnto the said Elisabeth .... Vpon the wall of a Chappell next to the Chapter house this Inscription In honore beate Marie Virginis omnium Sanctorum Willelmus Beauchampe Capellam hanc ordinauit ex proprijs sumptibus construxit Herein he lies buried vnder the Arch in the wall richly gilt as also the roofe Orate pro anima Fratris Symonis Folkard nuper Prioris Lenne .... qui obijt ... M. ccccci Vnder a monument in the South Crosse Isle lieth one Baconthorp a Prior of this Church the Inscription is worne or torne out of the stone I will not say that this Prior was Iohn Baconthorp the Resolute Doctor who flourished in the raigne of King Edward the third For I finde that he was buried amongst the Carmelites at London howsoeuer he was borne at Blackney in this County brought vp at Oxford and Paris in France and so exceeding deeply learned he was as well in Diuinitie as in both the Ciuill and Canon Lawes that he proceeded Doctor in either faculty in both the said Vniuersities and got the surname Doctoris resoluti or Resolute or Resoluing Doctor Nemo doctius consundebat Iudaos nemo neruosius consutabat Turcos vel quoscunque infideles nemo falicius ex pugnabat haereticos nemo solidiùs Christi veritatem dilucidabat nemo manifestius Antichrists falsitatem imposturas detegebat suisque coloribus depingâ—bat nemo subtiliùs difficiles nodos soluebat nemo clariùs obscura sacrae scripturae loca explanabat sensus reconditos arcana mysteria dilucidius apperiebat No man more learnedly confounded the Iewes no man more pithilie confuted the Turkes or any other Infidels no man more prosperously conuinced the Heretickes no man more solidly declared the truth of Christ no man more manifestly discouered the deceits and iuglings of Antichrist nor so painted him out in his proper colours No man more subtilly resolued hard questions and neuer any man more clearly expounded explaned or laid more apertly open the hidden sense the secret mysteries and the obscure places of the sacred Scripture saith Pitseus He was like another Zacheus little of stature but immense in wit and vnderstanding insomuch as it was a wonder to know so many vertues inhabite together in so small a mansion He writ so many exact learned Volumes that his bodie could not beare what his wit brought forth Nam si moles librorum cius composita sarcina auctoris humeris imposita fuisset homulum sine dubio comprimere suffecisset For if the bulke or pile of the bookes which he writ had beene put into a bagge and laid vpon his shoulders questionlesse it would haue prest the slender short
errour in point of Diuinitie these sacred structures howsoeuer consecrated to the seruice of Almighty God could not stand fast nor continue in one and the same state for many ages therefore I thinke it meete and expedient to discouer and lay open to the world the manifold enormities of the professed votaries residing in such religious foundations that it may euidently appeare that it was not the sinnes of the Founders of whose pious intentions we ought to haue a more reuerend opinion that their donations were of no longer continuance but that the delinquencies of the religious Orders themselues were the sole cause of their owne vtter subuersion I may perhaps be sound fault withall because I doe not chorographically and according as Churches stand neare or further remote in one and the same Lath hundred or wapentack emprint and place the Funerall Monuments in this my booke but slip sometimes from one side of a County to another before I emprint and Epitaph To which giue me leaue to make this answer that hauing found one or two ancient Funerall inscriptions or obliterated Sepulchers in this or that Parish Church I haue ridden to ten Parish Churches distant from that and not found one Besides I haue beene taken vp in diuers Churches by the Churchwardens of the Parish and not suffered to write the Epitaphs or to take view of the Monuments as I much desired for that I wanted a Commission which would greatly haue encouraged me and still it would as that of Henry the eight did Iohn Leyland in the prosequution of this businesse I conclude the Epitaphs and Funerall inscriptions in this booke as I finde them engrauen with a cuius anime propitietur Deus or with God pardon his soule which some may say might haue beene as well left out of my booke as they are in many places scraped out of the brasse And I write the Latine in the same manner as I finde it either written or imprinted as capud for caput nichil for nihil and the like as also E vocall for E dipthong dipthongs being but lately come into vse And now I hope that neither the conclusion of the one nor termination of the other will seeme any way offensiue to my intelligent Reader I likewise write the Orthographie of the old English as it comes to my hands and if by the copying out of the same it be any manner of wayes mollified it is much against my will for I hold originalls the best whereby some may obiect the simplicitie of my vnlaboured stile and the rough hewen forme of my writing To which I reply that this my kinde of Argument is incapable of all eloquent speech When I cite Ouid or Lucan I vse those exquisite translations of George Saâ—dys and Thomas May Esquires Some will say that the Epitaphs of London are already printed and true it is that some are especially such as are of later times with which I do not meddle at all onely I set downe those of more antiquitie which haue either beene omitted in the collection or for which I haue some historicall elucidations for the better vnderstanding of the qualities of the parties defunct and interred Hauing had the helps and collections of many my Reader may finde errours in some which hereafter I shall studie to amend intreating in the meane time a fauorable construction Many are the errataes I am afraid which will be found in the printing the greatest I haue met withall I haue amended not doubting but some also of consequence haue escaped mee and for those of lesser note I haue passed them ouer desiring my Reader to correct and pardon Thus curteous Reader submitting my selfe and this worke to thy learned and friendly censure I take my leaue From my House in Clerkenwell Close this 28. of May 1631. Chytraeus Te moneant Lector tot in vno funera libro Tempore quod certo tu quoque funus eris So many burials Reader in one booke Warne thee that one day thou for death must looke A TABLE OF THE DISCOVRSE summed into certaine Chapters or Heads bearing these following Contents The first Chapter Fol. 1. DIscusses and treates of Monuments in generall Chap. 2. fol. 5. Of Funerall Monuments Graues Tombes or Sepulchers of the ancient custome of Burials of Epitaphs and other Funerall Honours Chap. 3. fol. 10. Of Sepulchers answerable to the degree of the person deceased The diuers manner of bearing man and woman to the graue When both sexes began to be borne alike Chap. 4. fol. 12. Of the excessiue expences bestowed vpon Funerals in former times Chap. 5. fol. 18. The reasons wherefore so many haue made their own Sepulchers or Tombes in their life time Of the care that all or most of all men haue of decent buriall The burying of the dead a worke acceptable vnto God A Funerall Hymne of Aurelius Prudentius to the like purpose Chap. 6. fol. 29. Of the care and cost anciently vsed in the preseruing whole and entire the bodies of the dead Strange waies customes and fashions of buriall Chap. 7. fol. 32. Of Cenotaphs Honorarie and Religious of the reuerence attributed to these emptie Monuments Chap. 8. fol. 37. Of the sanctitie ascribed sometimes to ancient Funerall Monuments and of the ardent desire most men haue and euer had to visite the Tombes and Sepulchres of eminent and worthy persons Chap. 9. fol. 42. Of the punishments both by humane lawes and Gods seuere iustice inflicted vpon such malefactors in foregoing ages who violated Sepulchers Of Church-Robbers Chap. 10. fol. 50. Of the rooting vp taking away erazing and defacing of Funerall Monuments in the seuerall raignes of K. Henry the eight and Edward the sixt Of the care Queene Elizabeth of famous memory had for the preseruation of the same Her proclamation in the second yeare of her raigne against breaking or defacing of Monuments of Antiquity being set vp in Churches or other publike places for memory and not for superstition Chap. 11. fol. 57. The conuersion of this our Nation from Paganisine to Christianitie including generally the Foundations of Religious Structures in the same The piety in the primitiue times both of Religious and Lay persons Chap. 12. fol. 66. Of the fall or backsliding as well of Religious Votaries as of Lay people from the foresaid zealous ardour of pietie Chap. 13. fol. 78 Of the abrogation abolition and extinguishment of the Popes supreame and exorbitant authoritie within the King of Englands dominions Chap. 14. fol. 89. The policie vsed by Henry the eight and his Councell in the expelling of the Popes foresaid authoritie out of his dominions Chap. 15. fol. 104. The policie vsed by the King and his Councell for the dissolution and extirpation of Religious foundations and religious orders within this Realme of England and Wales the reformation of religion of Inscriptions in Churches the Kings warrant for the surrender of Religious Houses an information to Queene Elizabeth of the seuerall abuses done vnto the state generall
258 Dudley 417.114 Dudley D. of Northumberland 515.320 Duke 747.732 Dunster 2â—9 Dunham 8â—5 826 Van Dâ—n 499 Dunstable 577 Dunston Archbishop 300 301 357 E Eadsine Archbishop 302 Eadburgh 263 Eadbald King 268 Eastgate 353 Eckiâ—ford 331 Ekington 535 Edbald King 242 â—den 747 Edgar King 240. his oration to his Bishops 67.68 Epington Bishop 71 Editha Queene 453.645 Edmund Ironside King 344. Ed. D. of Yorke 588. Ed. E. of Lane 477 Edmund Archbishop 303 Edmund E. of March 860 Edmund D. Somerset 573 Edmund King Martyr 724.725 Edw. the first king 456. the third 339 465. the fifth 520 Edw. and Rich. the sonnes of king E. 4. murdered their supposed interment 520.521 Edw. eldest sonne of Ed. the blacke Prince 419 Ed. the blacke Prince 205 Edw. confessor King 452.646 his vision 456. Edw. Prince 204.419 Edw. D. of Cornwall 586 Edward sonne of Tho. of Brotherton Earle Marshall 753 Ed. Duke of Somerset Vide Seymour Ed. de la Bay 587 Egard 778 Egbert King 242.260.261 Egelnoth Archbishop 301 Egelfind 253.346 Egelmare Bishop 785 Egfrid king 569.761 Egfend 825 Eglesfeild 598 Egwolfe 714. his shrines 381 Egre 412.421 Egremond Lord 635 Egton 292 Elshum 260.335.236.290 Elsnoth Archbishop 253 Ethelbald king 177 Eleanor Queene 464 Elizabeth Queene of England 398.799.606.514 Eleonor Countesse of Derby 407 Elianor Dutchesse of Glocest. 638 Elizabeth Countesse of Aâ—holl 275 Elizabeth Countesse of Northampton 388 Elizabeth Countesse of Shrewsbury 335 Elâ—zabeth Countesse of Winchelsey 297 Eliz. D. of King Henry 7. 477 Ellys 801.290 Elingham 814 Elinham 727 Elinham D. B. 785.335 Elphege Archbishop 301.339 Emma Queene 242 Emma Anchoresse 807 Empson 416.656 Eudo Dapiser 612 Engaine 651 Enot 750 Entwisell Bertin 578. Wilfred 597. Epitaphs Vide Discourse cap. 2 Epsley 777 Eraclius or Heraclius Patriarch 431 441 Ercombert King 242 Ereby 330 Erkenwald Bishop 599.358.713 his shrine 380 Ermingland 826 Ermested 114 Erlington 537.427 Erpingham 796.856.209 Espoke 136 Esquires of fiue sorts 595 59â— Esquire what ibid Esseby 298 Essex 603.259.524 Ethelburg 599.761 Ethelbert King 308.239.241.413.260.354 his Tower 259 Ethelinga 261 Ethelred King 357 Ethelwolfe King 174.181 Ethelgoda Queene 451 Eton 657 Euaristus first Bishop of Rome 176 Eve 539 Euersden 722 Everard Bishop 789 Eueâ—ingham 72 Eure 370 Eustach de Merch 547 Eustace King Stephens sonne 278 Ewell 771 Excommunication 48 Extraneus 530.823 F FAbian 352.416 Fabell Peter tho merry deuill of Edmundton 534 Falleys 721 Farmyngham 760.157 Farringdon 890 Fastolfe 782.751.783.784.863.805 Fauconbridge Bâ—shop 359 Faurlore 399 Feast whose fragments were sufficiâ—ent for ten thousand men 7â—1 Felâ—â—ingham 80â— Felix Bishop 717.730.766 â—â—â— Fellow 672 675 621 Felbridge 983 856.8â—â— De la Felde â—â—â— Feltsham â—â—â— Fenningle 5â—â— Fermont 647 Fernesold â—99 Ferers 484.804 Ferers Will. Earle 811 Ferminus 760 Ferrant 672.675.679 Fereby 392 Ferres 804 Feuersham 276.282.283 Feynes Lord Say 324 Beheaded 279 Feynes or Fines Lord Dacre executed 41â— Fyge 656 Fylazar what 537 Filian 750 Fyloll 606 701 Fynâ—n Bishop 713 Fineux â—35 269 Findon 244.257 Finch 297.270.236.276 Fincham 81â— Finers 731 Fisher Bishop 500.501.502.503.504 Fisher 525 Fytz Payne 617 Fytz Iames Bishop 364 526 Fitz-Peter 855 Fitz Gerald 532 Fitz Alan Earle of Arundell 418. Edm. 542. Tho. Archbishop 225 Fitz Mary 416.500 Fitz-Roy D. of Richmond 840 Fitzwater 607.337.632 633 598.744 291 613.811 Fitz-vrâ—e 201.202 Fitz Iohn 721 821 Fitz-Geffrey 855 Fitz Roger 598 Fitz-Theobald 400 Fitz-Hugh Bishop 360 Fitzwarren 406 Fitz-Gilbert 629 630 Fiâ—z-Hamon 829 Fitz-Neile Bishop his shrine 381 Fitz Richard 633 Fitz-Lewes 801 425 Fitz-Mary 426 Fitz-Hugh Bishop 360 Fitz Gousbert 356 Flambard 70.531 Fleming Bishop 74 531 Fleming 74.792.350 Flint 801 Flodden field 395 838 De Floriaco Hugh 254 Flower 143 673 676 680 681 Floyde 780 Flowâ—rdew 864 Focaces 527 Fogge 275 235 182 Fâ—lkâ—rd 7â—7 Folthâ—m 806 Font of bâ—asse 564. Font at Vfford 753. at Fastwinch 849 Formes of old deeds 603.604 Forster 447 Formaâ— 647 Ford 537 Forâ—eâ—t 520 Forlace â—93 Forsham 288 Fortescues 799 Foster 387 Foundation of Christ Church in Canterbury 197 Fowler 530 11â— Fowkiâ—ke battell 458 Fox 72.150.654.624 Francanâ— 721 Franke 675 679.681 Francis 399 534.659 Frankland 392 Fresill 727 Frevyt 638 Fremingham 783 Frere 288 Fredericke 258 Freake Bishop 870 Fristobald â—07 misprinted Frithona Archbishop 2â—9 247 Fryston 727 Frost 598 Frowicke 692 533.399.8â—1 Frogenhall 278 Fromers 859 Froudes 436 Fulmerston 827 Fulbert Lord of Chilham 213 Fulborne 146 Fuller 744 Fulham 429 Fursens â—n holy Scot 767 G GAges 235 Galeas Iohn Duke of Millain 740 741 Gayton 432 Garden 497 Gardiner 237 Gardian 111 Garrard 179 Garneys 804.780.783.784 Gate 620 Gaunt Iohn Duke of Lanc. 356 365.661.28â—.828 Gawge 325 Gaueston Earle of Cornwall 588 589.590 Gauelkinde what 348 Gedoing 778 Gedney 860 Geney 804 George Duke of Clarence 284 German 111 Gerock 597 Gernons 617 Gerard 531.114 Gerbridge 805.863 Giants 396.707 Gibson 541 Giddey Hall 650 Gifford 210.779.744 Gilbert 148 Giles 440 Gildersburgh 601 Gisors 406 Githa King Harolds mother 642.643 Glanvill 700 857 748.855.857.858.218.762.7â—7.859 Glanvill Bishop 313 Glendower 742.231 Glemham 782 Glouer 278.676 682 814 alibi Gloucester 421 Goddard 818 263 Godfrey King 278 Godfrey 271 278 Godwin Earle 240 Godwin Bishop 228 alibi Gogmagog 39â— 396 Goldwell Bishop 295 296.795 869 Goldwyre 6 8 Goldington 550 65â— Goldingham 744 781 Goldesbourgh 532 Goldeston 236 Goldrich 742 Goldhirst 404 Golston â—10 Gonvill 828 Good 385 Goodyer 592 533 Goodfellow Iohn his heart 436 Goosalue 864 Gorambery 583 584 Gorbone 500 Gosse 531 Gosting 446 Goshall 265 Gotcelinus 710 Gousall 756 Gouson 114 Goâ—ncill 753 Gower 260 270. alibi Granthorpe 291 Grandison Bishop â—2â— vnto 330 Gratiosus 251 Graue-diggers 51 Grauency 282 Grauesend Bishop 427 600 Grey Earle of Kent 686 Bishop of Norwich 219 789 Grey Lord 425 Grey 807.209.404 212.855.854.406.436.412.743.744.539 Gredney 535 Greyton 655 Gregby 324 Greystocke 291.655 Greymund 744 Greene 429.272.656.550 Green Gowne giuen to a Nunne 72 Grevill 435 Gresham 400 Gryll 582 82â— Grinkeâ—ell Bishop 78 Grise 825.826 Gros 582 816 Gualter Haddon 391 Guyes 776 Guilford 290 327.235 Guillim 682 Guilliamites 568 Guintoline king 517 Gundulfo Bishop 311.314 Gurney 826 Gurnage 825.826 Gurmund King 748 749 Guttardus 252 Gwinne 45 H HAcket 54 Hadlow 263 Haddon Gwalter Vide Gualter Haddon Hadley the Kings seat 750 Hadenham 315 Heyes Earles of Arroll 867 Hay and his two sonnes their strange aduenterous acts 866.867 De lay Hay 587 Haydok 324 â—aynes 90 Hakom 591 Halley 209 Halsall Bishop 446 Hales 677. â—24 745.260 Hamond 780 Hamund 771 Hampton 259 Hamerton 598 Hamden 381 Hamner Doctor a defacer of Funerall Monuments 427 Hamys 649 Harold King Girth and Leofwin his brothers 642 643 644 Hardishall 720 Harold Harefoot King 444 Harlefton 602 619.727.748 Hardesfield 720 Harecourt 811 Harling 857.828 Harrold 110 Hart 329.676 Hartshorne 694 Harvey of the Norman bloud 722 Haruey King of Armes 672.526.679 Hardell 750 Harnold knight and Frier 721 Hatsick 805.815 Harding 209.237 alibi Harfleet 265 Harington 370 Harison 546
haue to the seyd Iohn and to his heyres beryng therfor a certayn yerly rent specyfyd in yowr seyd indentures and afterwards the seyd Iohn and Bryan his son hadd of yowr graunt the same londes and tenements with othyr by yowr othyr indentures yervpon made betwex yow tham whych endentures wer seald by yow and the seyd Iohn in thabsens of his seyd son delyuered and left in yowr kepyng of trust and soon aftyr fortuned him to be sleyne at the lamentable conflyct of Wakfeld in the seruice of the ryghte noble and famous Prynce owr fader whom God rest And now as we hear ye labor and entend to put owr seyd servant hys son from the seyd londes and tenements contrary to yowr fyrst and latyr graunte a for expressyd and agenst ryght and good conscyens yf hit be as is surmysed We therfor exhort and desyr yow to suffre owr seyd servant to have and enioy the seyd londs and tenements according to yowr forseyd couenants and graunts and to delyuer vnto him the seyd later endentures concerning the same as his fader so left of trust in yowr kepyng And beside that to shew to owr seyd servant in any othyr matyrs lawfull and reasonable that he shall a have adoo with yow yowr beneuolences and herty fauors and the rathyr and mor especyally at owr instance and contemplacyon of theys owr letters wherin ye shall not only doo vs a singular plasur but caus vs for the sam to have yow and yowr plas in the mor herty fauor and recomendacyon of owr good grase Yeuen vndre owr Signet at owr palas of Westminstre the xix day of Iun. To ouerpasse the short time during the Protectorship and raigne of King Richard the third let vs come vnto Henry the seuenth in whose dayes religious persons did wallow in all kindes of voluptuousnesse to the Kings no little griefe who by his breeding vnder a deuout mother as also in his owne nature was euer a zealous obseruer of religious formes To bridle whose incontinent liues he caused an Act to be made bearing this title An Act to punish Priests for their incontinencie Of which so much as will serue for this purpose Item For the more sure and likely reformation of Priests Clerks and religious men culpable or by their demerits openly reported of incontinent liuing in their bodies contrary to their Order It is enacted ordained and stablished by the aduice and assent of the Lords spirituall and temporall and the Commons in the said Parliament assembled and by authority of the same That it be lawfull to all Archbishops and Bishops and other Ordinaries hauing Episcopall iurisdiction to punish and chastice Priests Clerks and religious men being within the bounds of their iurisdiction as shall be conuicted before them by examination and other lawfull profe requisite by the Law of the Church of Aduoutrie Fornication Incest or any other fleshly incontinencie by committing them to ward and prison there to abide for such time as shall be thought to their discretions conuenient for the qualitie and quantitie of their trespasse And that none of the said Archbishops Bishops or other Ordinaries aforesaid be thereof chargeable of to or vpon any Action of false or wrongfull imprisonment but that they be vtterly thereof discharged in any of the cases aforesaid by vertue of this Act. In his sonnes raigne the Pope being here in England at the point verticall of his all-commanding power and religious Orders growne to the height of their abominable sinnes both of them had a sudden downfall as will appeare in the subsequent Chapters But of the pietie and impuritie of Monkes and other religious Votaries of the first and latter times take for a conclusion of this as also of the precedent Chapter these riming Hexameters as I haue them out of the booke of Rufford Abbey in Nottinghamshire a Manuscript in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie Inuectio Walonis Britonis in Monachos Sacrilegis Monachis emptoribus Ecclesiarum Composui Satyram Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus esse solebat Dura cibaria dum per agrestia rura colebat Nulla pecunia nulla negocia prepediebant Sobria copia parua colonia sufficiebant Pro venialibus capitalibus inuigilabant Tam venalia quam capitalia nostra placebant Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est violenter Ecclesiastica comparat omna dona potenter Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est sine fructu Intrat ouilia desuper ostia non sine luctu Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus est sine causa Clamat ad ostia spiritualia iam sibi clausa Ordo Monasticus Ecclesiasticus inde vocatur Quando rapacibus atque tenacibus assimulatur Terra pecunia magna Palatia templa parantur Vnde potencia siue superbia magnificantur Desunt caetera CHAP. XIII Of the abrogation abolition and extinguishment of the Popes supreme and exorbitant authoritie within the King of Englands Dominions KIng Henry the eighth vpon occasion of delay made by Pope Clement the seuenth in the controuersie of diuorcement betwixt him and Queene Katherine and through displeasure of such reports as hee heard had beene made of him to the Court of Rome or else pricked forward by some of his Counsellours to follow the example of the Germanes caused Proclamation to be made on the eighteenth day of September Anno reg 22. forbidding all his subiects to purchase or attempt to purchase any manner of thing from the Court of Rome containing matter preiudiciall to the high authoritie iurisdiction and prerogatiue Royall of this Realme or to the hinderance and impeachment of the Kings Maiesties noble and vertuous intended purposes Vpon paine of incurring his Highnesse indignation and imprisonment and further punishment of their bodies for their so doing at his Graces pleasure to the dreadfull example of all other Not long after it was enacted that appealeâ— such as had been vsed to be pursued to the See of Rome should not be from thenceforth had neither vsed but within this Realme and that euerie person offending against this Act should runne into the dangers paines and penalties of the Estatute of the Prouision and Premunire made in the fiue and twentieth yeare of the raigne of King Edward the third and in the sixteenth yeare of King Richard the second And shortly after this it being thought by the ignorant vulgar people that to speake against any of the lawes decrees ordinances and constitutions of the Popes made for the aduancement of their worldly glorie and ambition was damnable heresie it was enacted that no manner of speaking doing communication or holding against the Bishop of Rome called the Pope or his pretensed authoritie or power made or giuen by humane lawes or policies and not by holy Scripture nor any speaking doing communication or holding against any Lawes called Spirituall Lawes made by authoritie of the See of Rome by the policie of men which were repugnant and contrariant to the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme or the Kings Prerogatiue royall
should be deemed reputed accepted or taken to be Heresie It was also enacted that no manner of appeales should be had prouoked or made out of this Realme or any the Kings dominions to the Bishop of Rome or to the See of Rome in any causes or matters happening to be in contention and hauing their commensement and beginning in any of the Courts within this Realme or within any the Kings dominions of what nature condition or qualitie soeuer they were Vpon this followed another Act restraining the payment of Annates or first-fruits to the Bishop of Rome and of the electing and consecrating of Bishops within this Realme Another Act was made concerning the exoneration of the Kings Subiects from exactions and impositions theretofore paied to the See of Rome and for hauing licences and dispensations within this Realme without suing further for the same in which the Commons assembled complaine to his Maiestie that the subiects of this Realme and other his dominions were greatly decaied and impouerished by intollerable exactions of great summes of money claimed and taken by the Bishop of Rome and the See of Rome as well in pensions censes Peter-pense procurations fruits sutes for prouisions and expeditions of Bulls for Archbishoprickes and Bishopricks and for delegacies of rescripts in causes of contentions and appeales iurisdictions legatiue and also for dispensations licences faculties grants relaxations Writs called Perinde valere rehabitations abolitions and other infinite sorts of Bulls breeues and instruments of sundrie natures names and kindes in great numbers ouer long and tedious here particularly to be inserted It was affirmed in this Parliament that there had been paied to the Pope of Rome onely for Bulls by our English Bishops and other of the kingdome since the fourth of Henry the seuenth to that time threescore thousand pound sterling The next yeare following in a Parliament begun at Westminster the third of Nouember the Pope with all his authoritie was cleane banished this Realme and order taken that he should no more bee called Pope but Bishop of Rome and the King to be taken and reputed as supreme head in earth of the Church of England called Anglicana Ecclesia And that hee their Soueraigne Lord his heires and successours kings of this Realme should haue full power and authoritie from time to time to visit represse redresse reforme order correct restraine and amend all such eâ—rours heresies abuses offences contempts and enormities whatsoeuer they were which by any manner spirituall authoritie or iurisdiction ought or might lawfully bee reformed repressed ordered redressed corrected restrained or amended most to the pleasure of Almighty God the increase of vertue in Christs religion and for the conseruation of peace vnitie and tranquilitie of this Realme any vsage custome forraine lawes forraine authority prescription or any thing or things to the contrary thereof notwithstanding In this Parliament also were granted to the King and his heires the first-fruits and tenths of all spirituall dignities and promotions His stile of supremacie was further ratified and declared to bee set downe in this forme and manner following in the Latine tongue by these words Henricus octauus Dei gratia Angliae Franciae Hiberniae Rex Fidei defensor in terra Ecclesiae Anglicanae Hibernicae supremum caput In the English tongue by these Henry the eight by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defendour of the faith and of the Church of England and also of Ireland in earth the supreme head Which stile was enacted to bee vnited and annexed for euer to the imperiall Crowne of this his Highnesse Realme of England Vpon the first expulsion of the Popes authoritie and King Henries vndertaking of the Supremacie the Priests both religious and secular did openly in their Pulpits so farre extoll the Popes iurisdiction and authority that they preferred his lawes before the kings yea and before the holy precepts of God Almighty Whereupon the King sent his mandatory letters to certaine of his Nobilitie and others in especiall office thinking thereby to restraine their seditious false doctrine and exorbitancie And here let me tell you that amongst many letters of important affaires which I found in certaine Chandlers shops of our Parish allotted to light Tobacco pipes and wrap vp peniworths of their commodities all which I gaue to Sir Robert Cotton Knight and Baronet the onely repairer of ruined antiquirie whom I knew the contents therof shewing some passages of former times would preserue them for better vses I happened vpon certaine letters following tending to the same purpose of which I haue already spoken Henry R. By the King RIght trusty and right welbiloued Cousin we grete you well And wher it is commen to our knowlaige that sundry persons aswell religious as seculer Priests and curats in their peroches and dâ—ueâ—se places within this our Realme do dailly asmoche as in them is set foâ—the and extolle the iurisdiction and auctoritie of the Bishop of Rome ortherwyse called Pope sowing their sediciouse pestylent and false doctryne praying for him in the Pulpit and makyng hym a God to the greate deceyte illudyng and seducyng of our subgietts bryngyng them into errors sedicyon and euyll opynyons more preferryng the power lawes and Iurisdictyon of the said Bishop of Rome then the most holly lawes and precepts of almighty God We therfore myndyng not only to prouide for an vnitie and quietnes to be had and contynued among our said subgietts but also greatly couâ—tyng and desyryng them to be brought to a perfectyon and knawlege of the mere veritie and truth and no longer to be seduced nor blynded with any suche superstitiouse and false doctryne of any erthly vsurper of godds lawes will therfore and commaund you that wher and whensoeuer ye shall fynde apperceyve know or heretell of any such sedicious personnes that in suche wise do spreade teche and preache or otherwise set forth any suâ—he opynyons and perniciouse doctryne to the exaltatyon of the power of the bishop of Rome bryngyng therby our subgietts into error gruge and murmuracyon that ye indelaydly doo apprehend and take them or cause them to be apprehended and taken and so commytted to Ward ther to remayne without bayle or mayneprise vntill vpon your aduertisement therof vnto vs or our Councell ye shall know our further pleasure in that behalfe Ye uen vndre our Signet at our Manor of Grenwich the xvii day of Aprill This letter was thus endorsed To our right trusty and welbiloued cousin and Counsellor Th erle of Sussex In Iune or Iuly following these maiesticall commanding Epistles were seconded and made more strong by an Act of Parliament called An Act extinguishing the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome Of which I hold it not amisse to set downe so much as principally tends to the purpose To begin then at the beginning For as much as notwithstanding the good and wholesome lawes ordinances and statutes heretofore made enacted
sacris is dedâ—tus id est sacramentis ad sacrisicanda sacramenta nam ipse sacriâ—icâ—â— sacrosanctum corpus Domini cum verbis signis prodigijs caetera sacramenta Tertiò dicitur Sacerdos quasidans sacra dat enim Baptismum confessionem poenitentiam indulgentiam Eucharistiam benedictionem extremam vnctionem Quartò dicitur Sacerdos quasi sacra docens docet enim verba sancti Euangelij articulos rectae fidei Quintò dicitur Sacerdos quasi sacer dux quasi ducatum praebens iter populo ad regna coelorum verbo sanae doctrinae et vitae bono exemplo Whereupon this Distich was compiled Sacris dotatus et sacris deditus atque Sacra docens sacra dans et dux sacer esto Sacerdos Vpon the diuision of Prouinces into Parishes of which hereafter and building of Churches which worke was effected with chearfull deuotion the fittest men out of this holiest order were chosen and appointed to consecrate the diuine Miestries of the Church To such or such particular congregations as were committed to their charge and of whose soules they had the cure And such Deacons which as Parish Clerks did helpe the Priests in the execution of their sacred office did most commonly after a short time enter into the order of Priestood and tooke vpon them the cure of soules and the benefit of a fat Parsonage if they could procure it in which promotion if this or that Deacon carryed himselfe proudly or any wayes noâ— to the contentment of his Parishioners such was the common saying The Priest forgets that e're he was a Clerke These Priests were called Secular and such as led a Monasticall life Regular And so Canons were both secular and regular The opinions of the first institutions of Chanons are very diuers some refer the beginning of a canonicall life to Vrbin the first a Romane Bishop who liued about the yeare of Grace 230. Others and namely Possidomus make Saint Augustine the chiefe Author of this institution who when hee had gathered together a companie of godly men who liued religiously farre from the noise and trouble of the multitude being made a Bishop he built a Monasterie for Clerkes and Priests within his pallace with whom he might liue in common Onufrius Panuinus writes that Pope Gelasius the first about the yeare 493. placed the regular Chanons of Saint Augustine at Latran in Rome Pope Boniface in the yeare 1298. placed there Chanons secular Gregorie the twelfth restored the regular Calistus the third brought in secular Chanons againe and Pope Paul the second of that name dispossest them and restored the regular They were wont to sleepe vpon mattresses and had blankets of wooll they fasted much vsed great silence and liued in common hauing nothing proper to themselues they vâ—ed exercises two houres in the day and at the end of the yeare they made their procession They did not admit any one to the habit vntill hee were seuenteene yeares old and they gaue themselues to studie and preaching The rule of these Chanons confirmed by many Popes consisted chiefly vpon three points to haue nothing of their owne to bee chaste and to keepe their cloisters Which rule is deciphered in the old cloister of the Monasterie of Saint Iohn Lateran in riming verses now hardly to be read thus Canonicam formam sumentes discite normam Quam promisistis hoc claustrum quando petistis Discite sic esse tria vobis adesse necesse Nil proprium morum castum portando pudorem Claustri structura sit vobis docta figura Vt sic clarescant anime moresque nitescant Et stabiliantur animo qui canonicantur Vt coniunguntur lapidesque sic poliuntur Thus regular in holinesse of good life and also in learning both Priests and Chanons were of ancient times but how irregular afterwards let Chaucer tell you Popes Bishops and Cardinals Chanons Parsons and Vicare In Goddes service I trow been fals That Sacraments sellen here And been as proud as Lucifere Eche man looke whether that I lie Who so speketh ayenste her powere It shal be holden heresie In another place And all such other counterfaitours Chanons Canons and such disguised Been Goddes enemies and traitours His true religion han foule despised As Goddes goodnesse no man tell might Write ne speake ne thinke in thought So her falshed and her vnright May no man tell that euer God wrought And thus They vsen horedome and harlottrie Couetise pompe and pride Sloth wrath and eke envie And sewen sinne by euery side Alas where thinke such to abide How woll they accompts yelde From high God they mow hem not hide Such willers witte is not worth a nelde Piers the Plowman thus blanklie speakes of their pride Sir Iohn and Sir Ieffery hath a girdle of siluer A Baselard or a ballocke knife with buttons ouergilt And a Portus that shuld be his plow Placebo â—o synge Had he neuer seruice to saue siluer therto seith it with idle will And hereupon he exhorts lay-men not to bee so liberall in bestowing their goods vpon the Clergie Thus. Alas ye lewd men much lese ye on Pryests And a thinge that wickedly is won and with false sleights Would neuer wit of wittye God but wicked men it had The whych ar Pryests imperfit and Prechers after sâ—â—uer That with gile is gotten vngraciously is spended Executours and sodemes samoners and their lemmans So harlots and hoores are holpen with such goods And gods folks for defaulte therof forfaren and spill These Canons had many cloisters here in England great lands and reuenues and were wondrous rich the first Chanon Regular in this kingdome was one Norman whom Matilda wife to King Henry the first preferred to the gouernment of her Priory called Christ-church now the Dukes place within Aldgate London There are foure rules or religious Orders that is to say of S. Basill S. Augustine S. Benet and S. Francis vnder which all other orders are comprehended and gouerned Of which my old Author Robert Longland siue Iohannes Maluerne in the vision of Piers Plowman giues a touch where he speakes of Pardons and Popes Bulls on this manner At the dredfull dome whan the dead shall arise And comen al to fore Crist accountes for to yeue How thow leadest thy life here and his lawes kepest And how thow diddest day by day the dome wil reherse A poke full of Pardons there ne prouinciall lettres Though ye be founden in the fraternyte of the iiii orders And haue indulgence an C. fold but if Dowel ye help I beset yowr Patentes and yowr Pardons at a pyes hele And thus the same Authour in another place speaking of the pilgrimage to our Ladies Shrine at Walsingham Hermets an heape with hoked staues Wenten to Walsingham and her wenches after Great loubies and long that loth were to swinke Clothed em in copes to be knowen from other And shopen hem hermets her ease to haue I found there Freres al the
Canterbury Hee the said Saint Benet died about the yeare of our Lord fiue hundred and eighteene and was buried in his owne Oratorie consecrated to Saint Iohn where as before was wont to be the Altar of Apollo He liued 63. yeares Saint Francis was borne in the Towne of Assile in the Duchie of Spoletum in Italy in his young yeares he dealt in the trade of Merchandise but by reason of a great sicknesse at the age of two and twenty yeares he contemned all worldly dealings and gaue himselfe wholly to heauenly meditations he put a shirt of haire vpon his bare skinne and a sacke vpon it girding himselfe with a cord going also without hose or shooes Et victus ostiatim emendicans begging from doore to doore so as the fame of him being spread ouer neighbour countreys many drawne by his holinesse abandoned the world and became his disciples making profession of pouerty but yet to labour and take paines for a poore liuing For these he built an Abbey in the Towne where he was borne and wrate a rule as well for those which were vnited vnto him as for such as should come after him which was approued and confirmed with many Indulgences Priuiledges Graces and Pardons by Pope Innocent the third and Honorius that succeeded him After the confirmacion whereof he ordained that his Friers should be called Fratres minores or Minorite Friers to witnesse their greater humilitie One Adam Sousbout a Germane Diuine Ann. 1227. vpon his entrance into this order writes thus to his Father at Delphos Quà m sit vita breuis quam sit via lubrica quamque Mors incerta bonis quae praemia quaeque parata Sint tormenta malis horum meditatio nostra est Quod facimus quod firmamus quod et esse perenne Optamus testamentum Saluete valete Care pater cari Fratres caraeque Sorores This Scraphicall Saint Francis died the fourth of October 1226. and was canonised by Pope Gregorie the ninth ann 1276. Ann. 1224. About two yeares before the death of Saint Francis these Friers Minorites came into England Et benigne a Rege Henrico tertio sunt suscepti Cantuar collocati fuerunt They were graciously receiued of Henry the third and placed in Canterbury And afterwards anno 1269 one of the Ancestours of Sir Dudley Digge commonly called Digges Emit Insulam vocatam Bynnewyght in Cantuar. et locum Porte super stonestreete ad opus Fratrum Minorum et tempore oportuno transtulit Fratres ad illam bought an Island in Canterbury called Bynnewyght and the place of a gate ouer Stone-streete for the vse of the Friers Minorites to which hee translated them in conuenient time The Friers Minors saith Stow first arriued in England at Douer nine in number fiue of them remained at Canterbury and did there build the first Couent of Friers Minors that euer was in England the other foure came to London and lodged at the preaching Friers the space of fifteene dayes and then hired an house in Cornhill of Iohn Traners one of the Sheriffes they buiâ—â—ded there little cels wherein they inhabited the deuotion of the Citizens toward them and also the multitude of Friers so increased that they were remoued by the Citizens to a place in S. Nicholas Shambles which Iohn Iwyn Citizen and Mercer of London appropriated vnto the Communalty of the Citie to the vse of the said Friers and became himselfe a lay Brother Contemporarie with Saint Francis was Saint Dominicke a Spaniard borne in a Towne called Calogora in the Diocesse of Osma His fader was namyd Felix and his Meder Iohane saith an old Agon from Calogora hee came into Gascoigne where hee continued ten yeares preaching and drawing Christian Princes into armes against the Albigeoâ—s certeyne Heretiques Qui damnato matrimonio vagos suadebant corcubitus atque â—sum carnium prohibebant Who condemned Matrimonie perswaded licentious copulations and forbad the eating of flesh whose errours hee repressed by his Sermons From thence he went to Rome to the Councell of Lateran vnder Innocent the third where hee obtained licence of the said Pope to put himselfe vnder what rule he should like best that was allowed by the Church whereupon he made choise of that of Saint Antonie with sixteene of his disciples and hauing made certaine constitutions it was confirmed by Honorius the third about the yeare of our Lord 1206. Then going to Tholouse he exhorted his Friers and sent them to preach two and two together perswading them to bee preachers both in deed and name These Friers Preachers came first into England in the yeare 1221. where they had louing entertainment and houses built Of which my old Author Then deide Seynt Hugh an half yer and no mo That was Bishop of Lincolne and ther after the fyrst yer The order of Frere prechours bygan that â—as neuer Seynt Domnyk hit bygan in the yere of gease ywis M. C. C. no mor forsothe hit ys Of the gluttonie and drunkennesse of this order which so farre declined like others from the first institution one of their owne side thus writ Sanctus Dominicus sit nobis semper amiâ—us Cuicanimus nostro iugiter praeconia rosâ—ro De cordis venis siccatis ante lagenis Ergo was laudes si tu nos pangere gaudes Tempore Paschali fac ne potu puteali Conveniat vti quod si sit vndique muti Semper erant Fratres qui non curant nisi ventres All things degenerate in time and stray in a manner from the right course for example the order of Saint Benet which had flourished a long space with great reputation of holinesse diâ—â—ered so much from the first institution of their Founder that neither the decrees and authoritie of holy Fathers generall and prouinciall Councels could reforme or draw them to their first principles vntill the sanctitie of one Odo or Otho Abbot of Cluâ—â—â— Burgandy and one of Saint Benets order reuiued in a manner from 〈◊〉 to life this Monasticall profession forcing them to obserue and obseruing himselfe from point to point all that was practised in the time of S. Benedict So as many of their Abbots which were drawne by his good example reformed also their Abbeyes not onely in France but as well in Spâ—â—ne Germany Italy and England and for that this reformation 〈◊〉 his first beginning at Cluni the vnion of so many Abbeyes was called the congregation of Cluni and euery yeare by the Popes permission and authoritie all the Abbots of this congregation met at a certaine place and they called it the generall Chapter whereas they treated of the order and life of Monkes putting out and punishâ—ng such as had offended This Odo liued in the yeare of our Lord 913. It was no long time after ere that these Benedictines fell againe to their old vomit their great wealth hauing made them proud idle luxurious carelesse of Gods house and in most or all of their actions
mores que sacta norma Quid dâ—ceat quid non instrue sancte pater Respunsio ipsius Bernardi Que â—eci primâ— vâ—bis facienda relinquo Nulium â—uâ—auâ— discordes pacificaui Lefus â—ustinui nec mihi complacui Within one hundred yeares after the first spreading abroad of these Cistercian and Bernardin Monkes the Benedictines wanted another reformation which was attempted by Peter one of the same Order surnamed â—â—â—oron of a Mountaine so called at the foote of which he liued in a caue for the space of three yeares doing daily penance Vpon this mountaine he built a little Church which he called of the holy Ghost be ware aâ—wayes a â—lâ—aine of Iron vpon his bare flesh vpon it a shirt of haire being in continuall prayer and reforming the rule of Saint Benet which was then much degenerated Hee obtained of the Pope a confirmation of his rule vpon which hee celebrated the first generall Chapter of his Order After which in the seuentie ninth yeare of his age he was chosen Pope about the yeare of our redemption 1â—94 by the name of Celestin the fifth where vpon this reformed order were called Celestins the number of which increased so fast that he himselfe consecraced for them fixe and â—hirtie clâ—â—sters in Italy wherein were sixe hundred Monkes amongst others this was one of Celestin the Popes caueats for his new reformadoes Tunc Celestinus cris si celestia mediteris If heau'nly things thou lt meditate Then shalt thou liue in heuenly state Their first comming into England was much what about the yeare 1414. The sanctitie of the Francischan Minorite Friers growne cold one Berâ—ard of Sienna a gentleman of a noble extraction moued with an holy and 〈◊〉 deuotion laboured much for the reformation of that Order which 〈◊〉 some assistants effected taking away the abuses which were crept 〈◊〉 causing the Friers to liue in common and to haue nothing proper to 〈◊〉 following simplie the institution of their father Saint Francis 〈◊〉 called Obseruant Minorite Friers because they were obseruan 〈…〉 S. Francisci propterea meliores more obseruant to keepe the 〈◊〉 and orders of Saint Francis and therefore the better This Order 〈…〉 the yeare of Iubile 1400. or thereabouts it was first confirmed by 〈◊〉 Couâ—â—ell of Câ—â—sâ—â—nce afterwards by Eugenins the fourth and other 〈…〉 the fourth brought them into England and Henry the seuenth auhmented their numbers in whose time they had six famouâ— Cloisters here in this kingdome Many other reformations haue been◠〈◊〉 time to time of the Franciscans as by the Minims Recoâ—lects Pen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ries Capuchins c. and by many others which happened sinced 〈◊〉 lution here in England or much what thereabouts One Norbert Archbishop of Magdebourgh leauing the world retired himselfe with certaine companions into a certaine place called 〈…〉 of which this order tooke denomination where hee squared 〈…〉 himselfe his fellowes and successours to obserue much what after the order of Saint Augustine which was approued and confirmed by Calixtus the second Honorius the second made them regular Charions Their Abbots were perpetuall and euer consecrated by Bishops They had power to conferre their lesser Orders to their Monkes and to blesse all thâ— ornaments of the Church and to do all other ceremonies but where as conseâ—ration is required in the blessing yet they might celebrate soâ—emne and 〈◊〉 Masse with the myter crosier staffe cappe and other ornaments which belong to the Episcopall order and dignitie The first institution of this order was about the yeare 1120. their first house here in England was at Newhouse in Lincolnshire These Votaries pretend to haue had their first institution at mount Carmel in Syria where Elias and other heretofore liued solitarily and that the place being inhabited by many Hermites Almericke Bishop of 〈◊〉 drew them together liuing dispersed about the mountaine and 〈…〉 them a Monasterie in that mount neare vnto a fountaine They say a fâ—thâ—â—r one Albert Patriarch of Ierusalem a very famous man set downea rule from the life of Elias out of a certaine Greeke booke of the institution of the first Monke and from the rule of Saint Basill the Great giuing it to keepe to one Brocard who was Prior of Mount Carmell and to his Hermits which rule of Albert they vowed to obserue which was afterwards confirmed by Pope Honorius the third They affirme that the Virgine Mary appeared vnto one of their order and presented vnto him a Scapularie saying Receiue my beloued this Scapularie which I giue vnto thy order in signe of my fellowship Whereupon they vsurpe the title of 〈◊〉 tres Ordinis beatae Mariae Virginis de monte Carmelo Friers of the Order of the blessed Virgine Mary of mount Carmell Their first apparition 〈◊〉 the world was about the yeare 1170. Their entrance into England and seating themselues at Newenden in Kent of which hereafter was about the midst of the raigne of King Henry the third These like as other Orders haue beene diuers times reformed euer as they did degenerate from their primitiue sincerity at this day they are called Carmes discalced or bare footed Friers by a certaine constitution confirmed by the Apostolique authoritie in a generall Chapter held at Alcara de Henares in the yeare of our redemption 1581. There were likewise Carmelin or Carnie 〈◊〉 Nunnes here in England Iohn Bale who writ of the writers and the best learned men of great Britaine writ also a large Treatise of this Order of Carmes or Carmelites whose antiquitie institution and progresse he sets downe in one of 〈…〉 sages as followeth De Antiquitate Fratrum Carmelitarum Tanta est Carmeli Fratrum de monte vetustas Quim mentâ—m superet cunctorum pene virorum Namque per Hâ—liam datur Ordo fuisse Prophetam Hie primo inceptus sacro quoque iure statutus Qui postquam curru raptus fuit in Paradisum Flammato successit et vates Heliseus Condita quinque virum ter claustra fuere per illum Quem post affirmant Ionam fuisse Prophetam Cui successerunt Abdias atque Micheas Et plerique alij quos non memorare necesse est Tempore non Christi Montem Baptista Iohannes Carmeli Andreas et Apâ—stolus incoluerunt Nathaniel Ioseph Vir Virginis atque Marie Sanctus Iheronimus et quidam nomine dictus Nilas Marcellus quorum Pauli fuit alter Petri Discipulus fuit alter deinde beati Tunc in honore pia fuit Ara sancta Marie Monte in Carmeli prenescentum que virorum Tunc in Hierusalem Claustrum fuit aurea porta Quondam nempe loco qui vulgo sertur ab omni Ac in monte Syon claustrum primo Muliâ—rum Multe denote quod percoluere Sorores Sincletica Euprepia Polycrasia item Melania Combustum primo verum fuit à Mahumeto Postque per Eraclum destructum post quoque Paulo Euersum rursus Danorum et ..... Regio .... Per .... Karoli reparatum tempore magni Ast vbi
which you may reade more at large in Camden his diuision of Britaine and know more by Speed in his Type of this flourishing kingdome The Ecclesiasticall state of England is diuided into two Prouinces or Archbishopricks viz. of Canterbury and of Yorke The Archbishop of Canterbury â—s stiled Metropolitanus et Primas totius Angliae and the Archbishop of Yorke Primas Angliae The Archbishop of Canterbury hath vnder him within his Prouince of ancient and late foundations Rochester his principall Chaplaine London his Deane Winchester his Chancellour and all the rest of the Bishopricks foure excepted viz. Chester Durham Carlile and the I le of Man which are annexed to the Archbishopricke of Yorke Euery Diocesse is diuided into Archdeaconries and the Archdeacon is called Oculus Episcopi The eye of the Bishop And euery Archdeaconrie is parted into Deanries and Deanries againe into Parishes Townes and Hamlets The Bishop is called the Ordinarie in the Ecclesiasticall Law Quia habet ordinariam iurisdictionem in iure proprio et non per deputationem for that he hath ordinarie iurisdiction in his owne proper right and not by deputation in causes Ecclesiasticall All the Archbishops and Bishops of England haue beene founded by the Kings of England and do hold of the King by Baronie and haue been all called by writ to the Court of Parliament and are Lords of Parliament And the Bishopricks in Wales were founded by the Princes of Wales and the Principalitie of Wales was holden of the King of England as of his Crowne And the Bishops of Wales are also called by Writ to Parliament and are Lords of Parliament as Bishops of England be There were within the Realme of England one hundred and eightâ—ene Monasteries founded by the Kings of England whereof such Abbots and Priors as were founded to hold of the King per Baroniam and were called to the Parliament by Writ were Lords of Parliament and had places and voices there And of them were twenty sixe Abbots and two Priors as by the Rolles of Parliament appeare yet if you reckon the Abbot of Feuersham in Kent founded by King Stephen there were twentie and seuen which some do saith my learned Author warranted by these words in the Cartularie Et dedit Abbati et Monachis et successoribusâ—s is Minerium de Feuersham Com. Kane simul cum Hundredo c. tenend per Baroniam But saith he albeit this Abbot held by a Baronie yet because he was neuer that I finde called by Writ he neuer sat in Parliament Bishopricks in England with that of the Isle of Man are 37. whose extents I set downe in the passage of this worke Deanries 26. whereof thirteene were ordained by Henrie the eighth in the greater Cathedral Churches after the Monkes were thrust out Archdeacouries threescoâ—â— Dignities and Prebends fiue hundred fourty foure Numbred also there are Parish churches vnder Bishops 9284 of which 3845. be Appropriat as I finde in a Catalogue saith he exhibited to King Iames. Now Appropriat Churches those are called which by the Popes authoritie comming betweene with consent of the King and the Bishop of the Diocesse were vpon certaine conditions tyed or Instruments vnited annexed and incorporate for euer vnto Monasteries Bishopricks Colledges and Hospitals endowed with small lands either for that the said Churches were built their Lordships and Lands or graunted by the Lords of the said Lands Which Churches afterwards when the Abbeyes and Monasteries were suppressed became Laye Fees to the great damage of the Church Henry the eighth presently vpon the suppression of Monasteries and his ordination of certaine Cathedrall and Collegiate Churches set dâ—wne by the aduice of his Counsell a number of Rules and Statutes to be obserued by the Officers and Ministers residing in the same As appeares by this Record following which I thought to transcribe Henricus Octauus Dei gracia Anglie Francie et Hibernie Rex Fidei Defensor ac in terra supremum Ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernie caput Vniuersis sancte matris Ecclesie silijs ad quorum noticiam presens Scriptum peruenerit Salutem Cumet nobis et Regni nostri Preceribus vniuer soque Senatui quâ—m Parliamentum vocamus visum sit Deo et confidimus nos huc mouente Monasteria que passim in regno nostro extabant tum propter graues et multiplices illorum enormitates tum ob alias iustas rationabilesque causas supprimere â—â—olere et in meliores vsus convertere Nos et diuine voluntati conformius â—â—mâ—ius â—re Christiana esseducentes vt vbi ignorantia et superstitio regnabant ibi sincerus Dei cultus vigeat et sanctum Christi Euangelium assidue et pure annuncietur Et preteria vt ad Christiane fidei ac pietatis incrementum iuuentus Regni nostri in bonis literis instituatur et pauperes perpetuo sustententur in ipsorum Monasteriorum loco Ecclesias ereximus et consâ—ituimus Quarum alias Cathedrales alias Collegiatas vocari volumus pro quarum Ecclesiarum ac Collegiorum gubernaecione et regimine leges et statuta que sequntur prescribend curauimus quibus tam Decani et vtriusque ordinis Canonici quam ceteri omnes ministri pueri et pauperes qui in ipsis Ecclesijs commoraturi sunt pareant et ebsequantur eisque vt à nobis conditis et perfect is regantur et gubernentur Id quod si fecerint ingens sine pictatis incrementum in hoc regno nostro peruenturum esse confidemus Et nos expectatione 〈◊〉 voto nostro qui ad Dei optumi maximi gloriam ac fidei Christiane augmentum has Ecclesias ereximus et varijs ministrorum ordinibus enornauimus haâ—d quaquam fraudabimus Dat. c. The Statutes rules and orders were annexed hereunto which were very many and more then can conueniently be included in this short Treatise and more I thinke then were well performed As may partly be proued by an Inâ—unction from the Queenes Maiestie to the Archbishop of Canterbury Mathew Parker in these words By the Queene The Queenes Maiesty considering how the pallaces and houses of Cathedrall Churches and Colledges of this Realme haue ben both of ancyent and late tyme buylded and inclosed in seuerall to susteyne and kepe Socyeties of learned men professing Study and prayer for the edification of the Church of God and so consequently to serue the Common-weale And vnderstanding of late that within the houses hereof as well the chiefe Gouernours as the Prebendaries Students and members thereof being married do keepe particular housholds with their wiues children and Nurses whereof no small offence groweth to th entent of the Founders and to the quiet and orderly profession of studie and learning within the same hath thought meete to prouide remedie herein lest by sufferance thereof the rest of the Colledges specially such as be replenished with young Students as the very roomes and buildings be not answerable for such families of women and young children should follow the like example And
Hospitale Partem Virgulti vulgo du verger inter Hospitale Canonicos attingentis A claustro quod est ante tanuam Ecclesie vsque ad extremitatâ—m muri et redditus ad sustentationem quatuor Canonicorum sacer dotum manentium in decimis de Triciaco Calliaco et de Braya Et centum solidos Parisiensis monete apud villam nouaÌ„ Sancti Georgij annuatim in festo Sancti Remigij persoluendos Vineam etiam et arpentum terre queiacent extra muros predicti loci Sancti Thome sicut corum scripto autentico continetur Ecclesie vestre auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus presertis scripti patrocinio communuimus Statuentes vt nulli omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpsâ—rit indignationem omnipoteâ—tis Dei et Beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Datum Laterani septimo Kalendas Augusti Pontisicatus nostri anno secundo Annoque Domini Millesimo centesimo octuagesimo nono These donations were afterwards viz. Ann. 1428. augmented by Iohn Duke of Britaine Montefort and Richmund as appeares by his Charter which I haue read Many other religious structures Churches Chappels and Oratories in forraine parts were erected and endowed to the memory of this our English Martyr Neare to the Gallerie of the Louure and adioyning to the Collegiate Church is a prettie faire street which at this day is called La rue de S. Thomas du Louure the streete of S. Thomas at the Louure Richard the first King of England after the surprisall of Acrres instituted an order of Knights which he called The Order of Saint Thomas they held the rule of Saint Augustine and tooke for their Patron the foresaid Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury as you may reade in the Theater of Honour lib. 9. cap. 11. But I stand too long gazing and glossing vpon this imaginarie monument digressing from the breuitie of that method which I haue proposed to my selfe Let me view the sumptuous monument still remaining of Edward surnamed the blacke Prince so by-named not of his colour but of his dreaded acts in battell vpon which this Epitaph is inlayd with brasse Cy gist le noble Prince Mouss Edward aisnez filz du tresnoble Roy Edward tiers iadis Prince d'aquitaine et de Gales Due de Cornwaille et counte de Cesâ—â—e qi morust eâ— la feste de la Trinite qestoit le vni iour de iuyn l'an de grace mil troiscens septante sisine Lalme de qi Dieu eit mercy Amen Tu qi passez oue bouche close Par la ou ce corps repose Entent ce qe te diray Sycome te dire le say Come tu es au tiel fu Tu seras tiel come ie su De la mort ne pensai ie mie Tant come iauoy la vie En tre auoi grand richesse Sont icy sis grand noblesse Terre Mesons et grand tresor Draps chiuaux argent et or Mes ore su ieo poures et chetifs Perfond en la tre gis Ma grand beaute est tout alee Ma char est tout gastee Noult est estroit ma meson En moy na sy verite non Et si ore me veisses Ie ne quide pas qe vous deisses Qe ie eusse onges home este Sy su ie ore tant changee Pur dieu priez au celestien Poy Qe mercy ait de barme de moy Tour ceulx qi pur moy prieront On a dieu maccorderont Dieu les mette en son Paraydis Ou nul ne Poet estre chetifs Thus Englished Here lieth the noble Prince Monsieur Edward the eldest sonne of the thrice noble King Edward the third in former time Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester who died on the feast of Trinitie which was the eight day of Iune in the yeare of Grace 1376. To the soule of whom God grant mercy Amen Who so thou be that passeth by Where these corps entombed lie Vnderstand what I shall say As at this time speake I may Such as thou art sometime was I Such as I am such shalt thou be I little thought on th' oure of death So long as I enioyed breath Great riches here I did possesse Whereof I made great noblenesse I had gold siluer wardrobes and Great treasure horses houses land But now a caitife poore am I Deepe in the ground lo here I lie My beautie great is all quite gone My flesh is wasted to the bone My house is narrow now and throng Nothing but Truth comes from my tongue And if ye should see me this day I do not thinke but ye would say That I had neuer beene a man So much altered now I am For Gods sake pray toth'heauenly King That he my soule to heauen would bring All they that pray and make accord For me vnto my God and Lord God place them in his Paradise Wherein no wretched caitife lies The death of this Prince which fortuned in the fourtie and sixth yeare of his age was a heauy losse to the state being a Prince of whom we neuer heard any ill neuer receiued other note then of goodnesse and the noblest performances that magnanimitie and wisedome could euer shew in so much as what praise can bee giuen to veâ—â—ue is due to him The compendious Chronicle of Canterbury written by one Thomas Haselwood a Canon of Leedes speakes more particularly of his militarie atchieuements in these words Edwardus filius Edw. 3. primogenitus Princeps Wallie fortunatissimus miles in bello audacissimus inter validissima bella gesta militaria magnisice ab eodem peracta Iohannem Regem Francie apud Poyteires debellauit pluribus tam nobilibus quam alijs de dicto regno captis interfectis eundem Regem captiuauit ipsum potenter in Augliam ductum Patri suo presentauit Henricum etiam intrusorem Hispanie potentissime in bello deuicit Petrum Hispanie Regem dudum à regno suo expulsum potenti virtute in regnum suum restituit Vnde propter ingentem sibi probitatem actus ipsius triumphales memoratum Principem inter regales Regum memorias dignum duximus commendandum Here lieth the body of Henry the fourth King of England whose Tombe is richly adorned and garnished about with the Armes of all the Christian Princes and most of the greatest Peeres of this kingdome then liuing vpon which I finde no Inscription who died 20. Mar. Anno Dom. 1412. aetat 46. Reg. 14. This King finished his politique and victorious raigne in peace and honour Howsoeuer the iniustice of his first entrance stepping into the seat Royall by the deposition and murder of his lawfull Soueraigne King Richard the second left a dishonourable staine vpon all his actions He aduised his Sonne Henry after him King vpon his death bed to punish the
with better respect then Prince Henry his brother had done and was made President of the Councell when his brother was dismissed that office for striking the Lord chiefe Iustice yet for all that his father sore feared that his hastie distempered humour would breed great troubles in the State and questionlesse he was of a violent selfe-willie disposition neglecting now at the last cast the graue aduise of his owne countrey-men his chiefest Commanders by which by all likelihood he might haue escaped all danger and adhering to the trecherous perswasion of a Stranger by which hee was betrayed to present destruction Which fierie-rash temper of his together with the losse of the Battell and the place of his buriall is briefly thus set downe by my Author Iohn Harding And nere at Bawge came Gilbert Vmsreuile Marshall of France with V. horse and no mo And of good wyt counsayled hym that whyle To keepe the Church and Goddes seruice tho And after the Feast to seke vpon his foo And he aunswered him yf thou be aferd Go home thy way and kepe the church yerd Wyth that he sayd my Lorde ye haue no men Wyth the enemyes thus hastely to syght Your menne wot not of this ne how ne whenne To semble to you of power ne of myght For trewly nowe my Cosin Gray nowe ryght And I haue here but ten men and no mo But yet ye shall neuer say we leaue you so So rode they furth ay chyding by the way Tyll they to Bawgy ouer the Bridg were gone When the enemyes were battayled in aray Where then they light and fought wyth them anone The Duke was slayne that day there wyth hys sone Wyth hym were slayne then therle Vmfreuile And Sir Iohn Gray the Erle of Tankeruile The Lord Roos and syr Iohn Lumley Wyth many other were with hym slayne that daye Whose names I cannot wryte nor saye The Earles two of Huntingdon no naye Of Somerset also were taken there I saye For prisoners and put to great raunson And laye full long in France then in prison Thenglish Power came when all was done And rescowed then the deed men where they laye And brought the Lordes home fro thens full sone That there lay slayne vpon the feeld that daye And buryed them in Englond in good araye Eche one in hys Abbaye or Colage Afore founded within his heritage The English power vnder the conduct of Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury comming somewhat too late to this ouer-hastie encounter thought to haue requited this losse vpon their enemies heads but at the sight of their forces the French gaue ground whereby the dead bodie of Clarence was recouered and with the rest conueied into England and buried in this Church Att Canterbury the Duke was of Orleance Besyde hys Father King Henry buryed With suche honoure costage and expence As the Duches his wife coulde have signifyed Which neded not to haue bene modifyed She was so well within her selfe avysed Of greate sadnesse and woman hede premised This following I haue read for his Epitaph Hic iacet in tumulo Tho. Dux Clar. nunc quasi nullus Qui fuit in bello clarus nec clarior vllus In the vndercroft of our Ladies Chappell is an ancient Monument thus inscribed Ioane de Borwaschs dame de Moun. thus surnamed of Burwash a towne in Sussex wherein she inhabited which likewise gaue name to Sir Bartholomew Burwash Knight of the Garter Constable of Douer Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque ports Here lieth interred Isabell de Douer Countesse of Assyle as Stow calls her but I thinke there is a mistaking of Assyle for Atholl as will partly appeare by the sequele Fulbert Lord of Chilham had one onely daughter and heire whom Richard the base sonne of King Iohn tooke to wife by whom he had two daughters Lora the wife of William Marmion and Isabell wife to Dauid of Stratbolgy Earle of Atholl and afterwards to Sir Alexander Baliol who was called to Parliament by the name of Lord of Chillham and mother to that Iohn Earle of Athol who being condemned oftentimes for treason was hanged at the last vpon a gibbet fiftie foot high as King Edward the first commanded because he might be so much the more conspicuous in mens eyes as he was of higher and nobler birth being of the Kings bloud Lora was secondly married to one of the Lord Berkeleyes Ancestours if we may giue any credit to these ancient rimes Sir Richard the Fitz-Roy of wham we spak by for Gentilman he was inough though he wer last ibor For the Erles doughter of Warren his good modir was And his fadir Kyng Iohn that by gat hym a perchas Sir Morreys of Berkele wedded suth by cas His doughter and wan on hur the good knyght Sir Thomas This Isabell deceased at Chilham here in Kent in the moneth of February Ann. Dom. 1292. The first Archbishop that I finde to be buried in this Church was Cuthbert or Cudbrict for before him they were alwayes buried at Saint Augustines an Englishman of great parentage translated from Hereford the yeare 742. to this seate of Canterbury In whose time the Laitie were wicked and the Clergie worse the whole land was ouerwhelmed with a most darke and palpable mist of ignorance and polluted with all kinde of impietie Which to reforme hee called together a Synode of Bishops and learned men at Cloueshoo now Cliffe at Hoo beside Rochester and there after long consultation caused one and thirtie Canons to bee decreed one of which was That the Priests were required to reade to their Parishoners the Lords prayer and the Creed in the English tongue which with the rest you may reade in William Malmesbury This Bishop obtained from the Pope a dispensation for making of Coemiteries or Churchyards within Townes and Cities whereas vntill his time within the walls none were buried as I haue it thus in a Manuscript Cutbertus Archiepiscopus Cant. xi ab Augustino cum Rome videret plures intra Ciuitates sepeliri rogauit Papam vt sibi liceret cemiteria facere guod Papa annuit reuersus itaque cemiteria vbique in Anglia fieri constituit He died Ann. Dom. 758. I finde little of any other Bishop here buried vntill the time of Odo Seuerus who lyeth here interred vnder a Tombe of Touchstone surnamed Seuerus of the austeritie of his life and gouernment borne of Danish parents Pagans and vtter enemies of Christ and Christian religion insomuch that they disinherited this their Sonne Odo for keeping companie with Christians so that he was constrained to forsake his fathers house his kindred and countrey and betake himselfe to the seruice of a Nobleman in the Court of King Edward the elder named Ethelelm who set him to schoole where he profited exceedingly He was not baptised till hee was come to mans estate soone after his baptisme by the aduise of Ethelelm
venit In condendis et repara dis pleris 〈…〉 magnificentiam in pauperibus crebris Elcemosinis reâ—ocillandis Indigeâ—ttum liberis in literis studijsque alendis notis atque familiaribus promoâ—endis propinquis Consanguineis quibus opimas honorarias harediâ—ates atquisiuit ditandis pretatem liberalitatem munisicentiam 〈◊〉 declarauit vt in Testamento suo fusius apparet Vnder a faire marble stone in the martyrdome inlaid with brasse 〈◊〉 in erred the body of Henry Deane an Oxford man Doctor of Diuiaâ—â—â— sometimes Abbot of Lanthony Chancellour of Ireland Bishop of 〈◊〉 translated to Salisbury and within two yeares after aduanced to this 〈◊〉 〈…〉 of Canterbury He was a very wise industrious man by whoâ—e care and diligence during his abode in Ireland Perkin Waâ—bâ—ck who countâ—rfeiâ—ed himselfe to bee Richard the young Duke of Yorke was forced to flie from thence into Scotland He recouered diuers parcels of land to his Seâ— of Bangor which were lost by his predecessours for want of good looâ— king to amongst other a certaine Island betweene Holy-head and Anâ— gâ—esey called Moâ—lr homicit or the Island of Seales Hee bestowed much money in repairing his Church and pallace at Bangor which had beene burned and destroyed long before by Owen Glendowâ— that famous rebellâ— during the time he sate here Archbishop which was scarce two yeares hâ— built the most part of Otford house and made the iron worke vpon thâ— coping of Rochester Bridge He bequeathed to his Church a siluer image of one and fiftie ounces waight and appointed fiue hundred pounds to bee bestowed vpon his funeralls Hee died Februar the fifteenth at Lambith Ann. 1502. as appeares by his Epitaph Hic sub marmore iacet corpus reuerendissmi in Christo patris et Domini D. Henrici Dene quondam Prioris Prioratus de Lanthona dâ—inde Bangorens ac successiue Sarum Episcopi Postremo vero huius Metropolitice Archiepiscopi qui diem suum clausit extremum apud Lambiâ—h 15. die mens Feb. Ann. Domini 1502. in secundo Translationis ann Cuius anime propitietur altissimus In a little Chappell built by himselfe lieth William Warham Archbishop of this See A gentleman of an ancient house in Hampshire brought vp in the Colledge of Winchester and chosen thence to the new Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Law Presently vpon which he practised as an Aduocate in the Arches then hee was Parson of Barley in Hertfordshire as I finde in that Church-windowes and Master of the Rols He was sent Embassadour by Henry the seuenth to the Duke of Burgundy concerning the two counterfeits Lambert and Perkin Warbeck which the Duchesse his wife had set vp against him In which businesse hee behaued himselfe so wisely as the King highly commâ—nded him and preferred him vpon his returne to the Bishopricke of London and vpon the death of Henry Deane to this of Canterbury He was also made Lord Chancellour of England by the same King in which office he continued vntill hee was wrung out by Wolsey the seuenth of Henry the eight The ceremony of his inthronization to Canterbury was performed in a most magnificent manner the Duke of Buckingham and many other great men of the kingdome being that day his officers In his solemne and sumptuous feast all his honours and offices were drawne depicted or delineated after a strange manner in gilded Marchpaine vpon the banqueting dishes and first because he was brought vp in the Vniuersitie of Oxford the Vicechancelour with the Bedels before him and a multitude of Schollars following him were described to present to the King and the Nobilitie sitting in Parliament this William Warham with this laudatorie Tetrasticon Deditus à teneris studijs hic noster alumâ—us Morum et Doctrinae tantum profecit vt Aulam Illustrare tuam curare negotia Regni Rex Henrice tui possit honorifice Which the King seemes to answer thus Tales esse decent quibus vti sacra maiestas Regnum in tutando debeat imperio Quare suscipiam quem commendastis Alumnum Digna daturus ei praemia pro meritis Then these verses vpon his preferment to the Mastership of the Rolls Est locus egregius tibi virgo sacrata dicatus Publica seruari quo monumenta solent Hic primo hunc situ dignabere dignor honore Commendo fidei scrinia sacra suae Then vpon his aduancement to London these Vrbis Londini capâ—â— O duleissâ—me Paule Hic regat et seruet Pastor ouile tuum And againe Hic nisi praeclara morum indole praeditus esset Haud peteretur ei tantus honoris apex Then of his consecration and installation to this See many verses were composed to explaine the Artifice to this effect O Wilhelme veni Domini sis cultâ—r agelli Esto memor quiâ— honor quae tibi cura datur Est minor ista tuis sedes virtutibus illa * Thomae digna â—uis est potius meritis And lastly to omit a great many the manner of the deliuerie of his pall which is an Episcopall vestment comâ—ing 〈◊〉 be shoâ—lders made of a sheepskinnâ— in memoriall 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 and hauing the same laid it â—pon his shoulders 〈…〉 with crosses first laid vpon Saint Peters coffin or 〈…〉 crowned sitting in his glistering Throne encompassed with his 〈…〉 of Cardinals which he presents with this Disâ—â—chon Amplior hic meritis simili potiatur honore Suppleat et vestrum sede vacaute 〈◊〉 The words at the deliuerie of the Pall to him or to any other Bishoâ— were these Ad honorem Dei omnipotentis et B. Mariae Virginis ac Bâ— Pâ—tri et Paâ—â— li Apostolorum et Domini nostri Alex. Pp. sex et S. Roâ—anâ—e 〈◊〉 nec non et Cantuariensis Ecclesiae tibi commissae tradimus pallâ—um 〈…〉 â—eati Petri sumptum plenitudinem viz. Pontisi ali◠〈…〉 vtaris 〈…〉 Ecclesiam tuam certis diebus qui exprimuntur in priuilegâ—â—s â—i ab Aposâ—â—licâ— sede concessis The Pall being receiued the Bishop takes his oath vnto the Pope in these words Ego W. W. Archi. Cantuariensis ab hac hora in anteâ— sidelis croâ—t obediens B. Petro sanctaeque Apostolicae Romanae Ecclesiae et Domino meo D. Alexandro Pp. Sexto suisque successoribus Canonice â—â—trantiâ—us Non â—ro in consilio aut consensu vel facto vt vitam perdant vel membrum 〈◊〉 cap 〈◊〉 tur mala captione Concilium vero quod nibi crediâ—â—â—i suâ—t per se aut 〈◊〉 tios ad eorum damnum me sciente neâ—ini paâ—dam Papatum Rom. et â—egaâ—â—a S. Petri adiutor ero cis ad retinendum et desendendâ—m saluo oâ—dine 〈◊〉 contra omnem hominem Legatum sedis Apostolicae in eundo et redeundo honorificè tractabo et in suis necessitatibus adiâ—â—abo vocatus ad Synedum veniam nisi praepeditus fuero Canonica praepeditione Apostolorum limina Rom. curia existente citra Alpes singulis annis vltra vero moâ—tes singulis biennijs visitabo
fashion in former times fetched from the French which they call rebus or name-deuises examples of the same are frequent Neare to this Church sometime stood that goodly Abbey founded by Stephen king of England grandchilde to the Conquerour dedicated to Saint Sauiour replenished with blacke Monkes of Cluni valued at the suppression to be well worth according to the fauourable rate of such endowments in those dayes 286. l. 12. s. 6. d. ob yearely such was the charter of his donation Stephanus Rex c. Archiepiscopis Episcopis c. salutem Sciatis me pro salute anime mee Matildis Regine vxoris mee Eustachij filij mei aliorum puerorum meorum antecessorum Regum Anglie dedisse c. Manerium meum de Fauresham ad fundand Abbatiam vnam ibidem ae ordine Monachorum Cluniacensium c. Sciatis etiam quod dedimus ego et Matildis Regina mea Willelmo de Ipra in Escambium pro eodem Manerio de Fauresham Lillechire cum pertinencijs suis de hereditate Regine Teste H. Episcopo Winton fratre meo Rogero Episcopo de London Richardo de Lucy Hen. de Essex c. This king died at Douer of an Iliack passion mixed with his old disease the Emrods Octob. 25. 1154. hauing raigned 18. yeares ten moneths and odde dayes and was buried in this Church of his owne foundation Of which heare these ancient rimes Aftur king Harry euyn Then regnyd king Stevyn The Erlys son Bloys he was truly He wedded Mold the doghter of Mary A good man he was bedeme I trow king Harry was his Eme He regnyd here XUIII yere And to Feuersham in Kent men him bere He deyed without issue truly Then regnyd his cosin Harry Stephen was a most worthy Souldier saith one and wanted nothing to haue made him an excellent king but a iust title but that was wanting The whiche he found whyles he was liuing so And reigned here in much trouble and wo. And had this Realme without any ryght Fro th'emprise Maude that faire Lady bryght And this was the cause that he was driuen perforce to defend his vsurâ—ped authoritie by the sword which must needs procure him the hatred of many who thus speake of him in old English King Stephen his luthenesse withdrew yers a fewe But er Uyer were goo he ganne to wex a shrewe For he wende aboute and robbyd the lond and to grownd broght Then the toune of Wyrcester he brent all to noght But to conclude with the words of a late writer This Stephen was a man so continually in motion saith he that we cannot take his dimension but onely in passing and that but on one side which was warre on the other we neuer saw but a glaunce on him which yet for the most part was such as shewed him to be a very worthy Prince for the gouernment Hee kept his word with the State concerning the relieuement of Tributes and neuer had Subsidy that we finde But which is more remarkable hauing his sword continually out and so many defections and rebellions against him hee neuer put any great man to death Besides it is noted that notwithstanding all these miseries of war there were more Abbeyes built in his raigne then in an 100. yeares before which shewes though the times were bad they were not impious the king himselfe being mente piissimus as he was miles egregius His body rested here in quietnesse vntill the dissolution when for the gaine of the lead wherein it was encoffined it was taken vp and throwne into the next water So vncertaine is man yea greatest Princes of any rest in this world euen after buriall Here sometime likewise lay interred Maud his wife the daughter of Eustace Earle of Bulloigne the brother of Godfrey and Baldwin of Bulloigne kings of Ierusalem by her mother Mary sister to Maud Queene of England wife of Henry her predecessour who dyed at Heueningham Castle in Essex the third of May 1151. Whose Epitaph I found in a namelesse Manuscript Anno milleno C. quinquagenoque primo Quo sua non minuit sed sibi nostra tulit Mâ—thildis selix coniux Stephani quoque Regis Occidit insignis moribus et titulis Cultrix vera Dei cultrix et pauperiei Hic subnixa Deo quo frueretur eo Femina si qua Polos conscendere queque meretur Angelicis manibus diua hec Regina tenetur Eustace the sonne and heire apparant of Stephen and Queene Maud liued not long after his mother for being highly displeased with the agreement betwixt his father and Henry Fitzempresse afterwards king of England by which he was made hopelesse euer to haue the Crowne as his fathers Successour in a fury he departed the Court purposing to raise himselfe by his owne meanes and so marched along destroying the countrey alwayes as he went vntill he came to Saint Edmundsbury where he was honourably receiued of the Monkes of that Monastery But hee came not for meat but money and thereupon vngratefully vrged them for a great summe to set forward his heady designes yet the wiser amongst them vnwilling to be wagers of new warres which though ill for all sorts yet proued euer worst for the Clargie mens possessions denyed his request Wherewith eâ—raged be commanded his owne men to carry their corne and other prouision into his owne Castle situated hard by But being set at dinner the very first morsell he put into his mouth draue him into a Frensie whereof shortly after he dyed His body was brought to this Abbey and here interred by his mother His death happened the tenth day of August 1152. He was married to Constance sister of Lewis the seuenth king of France daughter of king Lewis the Grosse by whom he had no issue In this Abbey saith Robert of Glocester is a pece of ye hely croys which Godfrey Boylon forkyndred had sent to king Stephene Tunstall Hic iacet Margareta filia Iacobi Cromer militis vxor Iohannis Rycils heredis de Elsingham .... qui obiit ... 1496. Sittingborne Here lyeth Iohn Crowmer Esquire and Ione his wife who died Ann. Dom. 1539 .... on whose soules A family of knightly descent and ample reuenues one of which house called William Crowmer Esquire sonne of Sir William Lord Maior of London high Shiriffe of Kent in the fury of Iack Cade and the Kentish and Essex rebells was sacrificed at Mile-end and cut shorter by the head like as the day before they had serued Sir Iames Fienes Lord Say and Sele and Treasurer of England in Cheape-side whose onely daughter this Crowmer had married Whose heads giue me leaue to go a little further pitched vpon high poles were carried by the villaines through the Citie of London who caused their trunklesse faces in spight and mockerie to kisse one the other at euery street-corner as they marched along in this their damnable triumph and
seruiens Abbati et Conuentui de Lesnes qui obiit primo die mensis Ianuarij 1425. Cuius anime Lesnes Abbey In the yeare of our Lord 1178. the third of the Ides of Iune Richard Lucie a Councellour of State and chiefe Iustice of the Realme began the foundation of an Abbey at Lesnes or Westwood neare vnto this Towne of Eâ—â—th The extent of whose yearely reuenue as it was prized by the Commissioners at the suppression amounted to one hundred eighty sixe pounds and nine shillings When this his goodly fabricke was in all parts finished he presently forsooke and surrendred into the kings hands all both his offices and honours And betooke himselfe to the habite and profession of a Canon Regular in this house of his owne foundation where within a short while after euen in the same yeare to wit the fourteenth of Iuly 1479. he exchanged his Conuentuall blacke coole for a glorious bright heauenly crowne And here in the Quire of his Church hee was sumptuously entombed vpon whose Monument this Epitaph was engrauen Rapitur in tenebras Richardus lux Luciorum Iusticie pacis dilector vrbis honorum Christe sibi requies tecum sit sede piorum Iulia tunc orbi lux bis septena nitebat Mille annos C. nouem et septuaginta mouebat Now giue me leaue to go a little further with him and his heires as I finde the words in the Collection of Englands Protectours by Francis Thinne Lancaster Herald Sir Richard Lucie knight chiefe Iustice of England saith he was Protectour of England in the twelfth yeare of the raigne of king Henry the second in the absence of the king when hee was in Normandie and in the parts beyond the Seas Which Lucie in the thirteenth yeare of the same King did valiantly resist and politikely driue backe the Earle of Bolloigne inuading this kingdome He built the Abbey of Leosnes or Westwood in the Parish of Erith in Kent and not in Southfleet as some haue written in the yeare of Christ 1178. and the Castle of Chipping Augre in Essex He had issue Godfrey Bishop of Winchester and three daughters who after the death of Godfrey their brother were his heires Maude the eldest daughter was married to Robert the first called Fitzwater Aueline the second daughter was married to Richard Riuers of Stanford Riuers in Essex Rose the third daughter was married to Richard de Warren the naturall sonne of king Iohn as appeareth by a deed belonging to my selfe who had the Rectory of Leosnes beginning thus Rosa de Douer quondam vxor venerabilis viri Richardi filij Regis de Chillam And king Iohn by his Charter grants to another Rose her grandfathers lands in these words Rex reddidit Roesie de Douerita totam terram suam cum pertenenc qua eam contingit de heredit Richardi de Lucy avi sui tenend sibi hered c. Cart. 24. Reg. Iohannis numero 37. in Archi. Turris London The foresaid Godfrey de Lucy was consecrated Bishop of Winchester the first of Nouember 1189. And died Ann. 1204 hauing gouerned that See fifteene yeares He purchased of king Richard the first the Mannors of Wergraue and Menes which in times past had belonged to his Bishopricke he was a great Benefactour to this Religious house of Leosnes founded by his father wherein according to his will hee was enterred To whose memory this Epitaph was engrauen vpon his Tombe Lux mea lux Christi si terre ventre quiesco Attamen in celo sanctorum luce lucesco Presul de Winton fueram quondam Cathedratus Multum resplendens alto sanguine natus Nunc id sum quod eris puluis rota non retinenda Voluitur inuigila prudens nec differ agenda M. C. bis quatuorque annos his insuper addas Carnis vincla dies soluit secunda Decembris Vos qui transitis ancillam poscite Christi Sit Dominus mitis pulso purgamine tristi Wolwich Orate pro anima Iohannis Colin et Mathilde vxoris eius qui Iohannes obiit 27. Ianuar ..... Mathilda 25. Octob. 1397. Hic tacet Dominus Will. Prene quondam Rector huius Ecclesie viz. tempore Regis Edwardi quarti et postea Rector Ecclesie de Lymming qui fieri fecit istam Capellam et Campanile huius Ecclesie et in uita sua multa alia bona .... ob I. die Decemb. 1464. Willelmus Prene me fecit in honorem sancte Trinitatis Eltham Pray for the sowl of Dame Margerie Roper late wyff of Iohn Roper Suier daughter and one of the heires of Iohn Tattersall Suier who dyed 2. Februar 1518 Roper a name of eminent respect in this County honoured with the title of Baron Roper of Tenham by our Soueraigne Lord Iames late King of England giuen to Iohn Lord Roper now liuing Pray for the sowl of Iohn Morton sonne and heire of Margaret Morton of Asheby de la Zouch in the County of Leicester late wife to Tho. Squier who dyed 23. Aug. Prier pur l'alme Thomas Pierle qi morust le primer iour de Iuyl l'an de Grace Mil. ccc.lxix ..... Here lyeth Iohn Pasley yeoman Porter to king Henry the eighth and Agnes his wife which Iohn dyed .... 1509. Hen. 8.1 West Peckham Iohn Culpeper one of the Iustices of the Common Pleas in the raigne of king Henry the fourth founded here a Preceptorie or free-Schoole which he endowed with threescore and three pounds sixe shillings eight pence of yearely allowance Bromley In the Church wall lyeth the pourtraiture as I learne by tradition of Richard Wendouer Bishop of Rochester and Parson of this Towne He was consecrated 1238. and dyed 1250. yet it is said that his body was buried in Westminster by the kings speciall commandement for that he was accounted a very holy and vertuous man which I cannot much contradict Icy gist Mestre Water de Henche Qi fut Persone de Bromleghe 1360. Lewsham Hic iacet Georgius Hatecliffe Ar. Thesaurarius Domini Regis in Hibernia ac vnus clericorum compoti Hospitii regis obiit 1. Aug. 1514. Iohn Norbury founded a Priory in this Towne of Lewsham which hee replenished with blacke Monkes Aliens belonging to the Abbey of Gaunt in Flanders and thereupon called Aliens because they were Celles to some Monastery or other beyond the Seas The first foundation of these houses I do not finde but in the raigne of king Edward the third they were encreased to the number of one hundred and ten in England besides them in Ireland Aquitane and Normandy The goods of all which Priories the said king Ann. Reg. 12. because of his warres with France caused to be confiscated to his owne vse letting out their houses to farme with all their lands and tenements for the space of three and twenty yeares At the end of which Terme Peace being concluded betweene the two Nations he restored to the Priors Aliens their
houses lands and tenements Ann. Reg. 35. as by his patents may appeare in effect as followeth Edward by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitaine to all by these presents c. Although the Priory of Montacute in the County of Somerset by reason of the warres betweene vs and France with all the lands tenements fees aduowsons together with the goods and cattels belonging to the same hath beene of late taken into our hands and by vs farmed and rented forth as appeareth by diuers patents Now therefore since peace is betwixt vs and the noble Prince our most deare brother the king of France we for the honour of God and holy Church restore to the said Prior the Priory with all the lands tenements fees aduowsons and whatsoeuer else belonging to the same to hold the same in as free manner as they held it before And withall forgiue and release all arrerages of Rents which might bee due vnto vs by reason of any former grants In witnesse c. the sixth of February the 35. yeare of our raigne The like letters of restitution all the rest of the houses of Aliens had through England all which were cleane suppressed and vtterly dissolued by king Henry the fifth and their lands giuen by him and his sonne Henry the sixth to Colledges of learned men and to other Monasteries Greenwich This Parish Church is consecrated to the honour of Saint Aelphege sometime Archbishop of Canterbury who suffered martyrdome much-what about the same place where it now standeth Which Aelpâ—ege boâ—ne of great parentage brought vp in good learning preferred first to the Bishopricke of Winchester then to this of Canterbury a man admired for his strict manner of life and holy exhortations by both which hee conâ—uerted many vnto Christ was cruelly put to death by the Danish Pagans with many exquisite torments in the yeare of our Lord a thousand and twelue Of which in William Malmesbury Camden and the Catalogue of Bishops you may reade more at large It was long before these bloudy executioners would suffer his bodie to bee committed to the earth after the manner of Christian decencie yet at length that fauour was obtained and his body here first buried from whence within a short time after his reliques were remoued to Saint Pauls London and from thence at the commandement of king Knute to Canterbury He was canonized and the 19. day of Aprill allowed for celebration of his memory Some write that like another Stephen he was stoned to death that like him he prayed for his enemies and that Turkill generall of those Danes was conuerted to the faith at the sight of his constant martyrdome Here sometime stood an house of obseruant Friers which came hither about the latter end of the raigne of King Edward the fourth at whose hands they obtained a Chantrie with a little Chappell of the holy Crosse a place yet extant in the Towne and king Henry the seuenth builded for them an house adioyning to the Pallace which is there yet to be seene Here in this Towne was another Monastery of Friers Minorites and Aliens founded by King Edward the third and the foresaid Iohn Norbury which as Lewsham did belonged to the Abbot of Gaunt in Flaunders vntill such time as King Henry the fifth seising into his hands by occasion of warre all the lands of the Priors Aliens as I haue touched before bestowed this together with the Mannor of Lewsham and many other lands also vpon the Priory of Chartrehouse Monkes of Shene which hee had then newly erected to which it remayned vntill the time of the raigne of king Henry the eight who annexed it to the Crowne Depeford Orate pro anima ..... Weuer ..... Mercatoris et Maioris Stapul ville Calcis qui ob ..... Februar ... et pro .... Ioanne vx eius qui ob .... Martin the fifth Bishop of Rome granted by this Bull to these Staple Merchants in this Weeuers Maioralty at their earnest request an itinerarie or portable Aulter which they were to take with them to what place soeuer they trauelled to make any time of aboad and withall gaue them licence to elect a Priest to say Masse administer the Sacraments to heare their confessions to enioyne them penance and to giue them absolution as the cause should require The forme of which I hold it not much amisse here to set downe as I found it in an old Manuscript without name or date in the Earle of Exceters Librarie Martinus Episcopus Seruus Seruorum Dei dilectis filijs Maiori et eius locum tenenti ac Constabulario ceterisque Principalibus Societatis Mercatorum lanarum Stapule Anglie Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Sincere deuotionis affectus quem ad nos et Romanam geritis Ecclesiam non indigne meretur vt petitionibus vestris illis presertim quos ex deuotionis feruore prodire conspicimus quantum cum Deo possumus fauorabiliter animamus Hinc est quod nos vestris deuotis supplicationibus inclinati vt liceat vobis et posteris vestris Maiori et eius locum tenenti ac Constabulario nec non Principalibus societatis Mercatorum lanarum Stapule Anglie ac vestrum ac eorundem posterorum cuilibet habere Altare portatile cum debita reuerentia et honore Super quo in villa Calestie seu alibi etiam in transmarinis seu cismarinis partibus vbi pro tempore vos vel aliquem vestrum esse vel declinare et huiusmodi Stapulum lanarum teneri contigerit in locis ad hoc congruâ—ntibus et honestis positis per proprium vel alium Sacerdotem ydoneum Missas et alia diuina officia sine iuris alieni preiudicio in vestra et ipsorum ac aliorum Mercatorum dicte Societatis ibidem pro tempore presentium Nec non vestrorum et eorundem Posterorum ac Mercatorum familiarium presentia facere celebrari vobis et predictis posteris tenore presentium indulgemus Nulli ergo omnino homini liceat hanc paginam nostre concessionis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Dat. Mant. 3. Non. Nouemb. Pontificatus nostri Ann. primo By another Bull dated the same yeare and his Apostolicall authoritie he giues them free election of their Confessour the Priest The words are Aliquem ydoneum et discretum presbyterum eligere confessorem indulgemus qui quotiens vobis fuerit oportunum confessionibus vestris diligenter auditis pro commissis debitam vobis absolutionem impendat et iniungat penitentiam salutarem nisi forsan talia fuerint c. propter que sedes Apostolica c. Nulli ergo omnino hominum c. Dat. c. In English We fauourably yeeld to your deuout and pious supplications and we giue
by King Henry the second remoued into Ireland who supposed that he should disburden himselfe of the worlds hatred for that fact in case hee aduanced the Kinsfolke and Allies of the said Thomas to rich reuenues and high honours The first Earle of Ormond saith he in this familie was Iames sonne to Edmund Earle of Caricke who wedded the daughter of Humphrey Bohun Earle of Hereford whom he had by a daughter of King Edward the first And here was his first step vnto this honour hereupon Iames his sonne by this marriage came to be commonly named among the people The noble Earle The fifth Earle of these named Iames that I may not stand particularly vpon euere one receiued at the hands of King Henry the sixth the title and honour of Earle of Wiltshire to him and to the heires of his body who being Lord Deputie of Ireland as diuers others of this race and Lord Treasurer of England standing attainted by King Edward the fourth was streight waies apprehended and beheaded but his brethren Iohn and Thomas likewise proclaimed Traitors kept themselues close out of the way Iohn died at Ierusalem without issue Thomas here entombed through the speciall fauour of King Henry the seuenth was in the end restored to his bloud who departed this life as before in his Epitaph An. 1515. leauing behinde him two daughters Anne married to Sir Iames de Sancto Leodegario called commonly Sellenger and Margaret vnto Sir William Bullein who bare vnto him Sir Thomas Bollein whom King Henry the eight created first Viscount Rochford afterwards Earle of Wiltshire and Ormund the father of Anne Bollein as I haue written before Here lyeth ..... Iohn Riche .... the sonne of Richard Riche Sheriffe .... 1469. Respice quid prodest presentis temporis euum Omne quod est nihil est preter amare deum Richard Rich one of the Sheriffes of London Anno 1442. and the father of this Iohn founded certaine Almes-houses at Hodsdon in Hertfordshire He lieth buried in Saint Laurence Church old Iewrie with the like Distich vpon his monument Vndyr this ston lyeth in the holy plas Ambros Cressacre ...... he was Late of Dedington in Huntington shyre Passyd fro this world worshcipfull Esquyre The yere of our Lord God M. cccc.lxxvii it is Iesu for his mercy grant his sowl bliss Iohn Peris and Margaret his wyf The whych late departyd fro this present lyf Here beryed and ther sonn vndyr this ston And ther soulys to God ben passyd and gon To thee for help of mercy thou blessyd Saint Ion And to Saint Margarite also I mak my mon. Here lieth Raph Tilney Grocer sometyme Alderman and Sheriffe of this City and Ioan his wyff who dyed 1503 and Ioan died 1500 .... on whos soulys Clausa sub bac fossa pacis hic Yerford pronus ossa ............... Prudens pacificus in omnes pacis amicus Vixit Mercerus in promissis cuique verus Mors properata nimis dum floruit impia primis Annis vanescit et à nobis sicque recessit Anno milleno quater cccc octuagenâ— Migrat ab hac vita sua spes succurre Maria. Siste precorque legas Alleyneia et eâ—ce Iohannes Londini quondam Pretor erat celebris Confilio Regis summa probitate probatus Inclytus et miles nobilitate valens Quem Deus omnipotens secum dignetur Olympo Et precor eternam donet ei requiem obijt An. 1544. This Lord Maior who for his singular wisedome was made a Priuie Councellour to King Henry the eight built a beautifull Chappell here wherein he was first buried but since his Tombe is remoued thence into the body of the Hospitall Church and his Chappell diuided into Shops He gaue to the city a rich coller of gold to be worne by the Maior he gaue a stocke of 500 markes to be employed for the vse of the poore of London besides the rents of certaine lands by him purchased of the King To Prisons Hospitals and Lazer houses within and two miles without the Citie he was abundantly charitable Saint Mary Bow Magnificus sed iustificus misâ—ris et amicus Vir speciosus vir generosus virque pudicus Et peramabilis et venerabilis atque piarum Vis dux lex lampas flos Maior Londoniarum In terre ventre iacet hic Iohn rite Couentre Dictus quem necuit veluti decuit lue plenus Bis septingenus tricenus citra his et vnus Martius in sole triceno si trahis vnum Virginis a partu carnis modo mortuus artu Viuus erit celis tuba clanxerit vt Gabrielis Amen This Iohn was the sonne of William Couentrie of the Citie of Couentrie in Warwickshire He was Lord Maior of this Citie An. 1425 a man much commended he is in our English Chronicles for his discreet carriage in the debate betwixt Humphrey Duke of Glocester and Henry Beaufort that wealthy Bishop of Winchester One William Copeland Church-warden gaue the great Bell which is rung nightly at nine of the clocke which had this inscription cast in the mettall An. 1515. Dudum fundabar Bowbel campana vocabar Sexta sonat bis sexta sonat ter tertia pulsat No maruaile death in childhood tooke from men This roiall Prince he was a father then Three Hospitalls erected this rate gem And ended praising God for ending them Saint Anthonies commonly called Saint Antlins Here lyth grauyn vndyr this ston Thomas Knowles both flesh and bon Grocer and Alderman yeres fortye Sheriff and twis Maior truly And for he shold not ly alone Here lyth wyth him his good wyff Ione They weren togeder sixty yere And nineteen chyldren they had in feer Now ben they gon wee them miss Christ haue here sowlys to heuen bliss Amen ob Ann. 14 ...... This Lord Maior with the Aldermen his brethren began to new build the Guild Hall he reedified this Church gaue to the Grocers his house neare vnto the same for reliefe of the poore for euer and caused water to be conuayed to the gate of Newgate and Ludgate for reliefe of the prisoners He was Lord Maior Ann. 1. of Hen. the fourth and againe An. 12. eiusdem Regis Thomas Knowles sonne of the foresaid Thomas a great benefactour to this Church was buried here in the North Isle by his father vnder a faire marble stone thus sometimes engrauen but now quite taken away for the gaine of the brasse Thomas Knolles lyeth vndre this ston And his wyff Isabell flesh and bon They weren togeder nyntene yere And x. chyldren they had in fere His Fader and he to this Chyrch Many good dedys they did wyrch Example by him ye may see That this world is but vanitie For wheder he be smal or gret All sall turne to wormys mete This seyd Thomas was leyd on Bere The eighth dey the moneth Fevrer The date of Iesu Crist truly An. M. CCCC fiue and forty Wee mey not prey hertely
the holy crosse so denominated of wearing a Crosse anciently called a Crouch vpon their garments and of bearing the crosse for the badge and Armes of their house This house was valued at the suppression to 52 l. 13 s. 2 d. of annuall profits A Petition to Secretary Cromwell against the Prior of this house a little before the dissolution thereof Pleasethe it your honourable mastoreship to be aduertesid that in the time of Lent last past your continuall orator Iohn Bartelote with others to the number of fiue persons of good conuersation found the Priore of the Crossyd Friores in London at that time being in bed with his whoore both naked about xi of the clocke in the forenoone vpon a Friday at which time the said Priore to the intent his misdemeanour and shamefull fact should not be knowne whereby he should sustaine open shame kneeled vpon his knees and not onely desired your said orator and his company to keepe secret his said act and not to disclose in any wife the same but for the same intent freely and of his owne motion gaue amongst them about xxx l. which he then was possessed of of the which summe your Orator had by the said gift about vii l. And also the said Priore promised to giue amongst the said company xxx l. more by a certaine day and after by mediation of friends of the said Priore the said xxx l. was released to the summe of vi l. which sixe pounds the said Priore bound himselfe to pay to the said Orator by his Bill obligatory at a certaine day in the same limeted Yet this notwithstanding for by cause your said Orator for non paiment of the said vi l. did arrest the said Priore he hath so hainously informed the Lord Chancelour against your Orator that he will onely put him to shewertie making the premisses a hainous Robbery saying openly that your Orator is worthy to be hanged but also will by his high authoritie compell your Orator to repay agen to the said Priore the some of xxx l. vnlesse your most charetable goodnesse bee therein otherwise shewed It may therefore plese your good Mastershipe of your abundant goodnesse to prouide that the premeses may be duly examined according to equitie for this is the very and hole truth in the same And your seid Oratore shall prey to God for your honor and preseruation long to endure By your humble Oratore to his power during his life Iohn Bartelote Saint Katherines by the Tower This was the Church belonging to the Hospitall dedicated to the honour of Saint Katherine founded by Queene Maud the wife of King Stephen and much augmented by Eleanor the wife of King Edward the first and Philip wife to King Edward the third who left to it sufficient liuelihood for a Master 3 Brethren Chaplaines and 3 Sisters tenne poore women and sixe poore Clarkes This house was valued at the generall suppression at 315 l. 14 s. 2 d. per annum Here vnder an Ancient monument â—ouly defaced lieth entombed the body of Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter Earle of Huntington and of Iuory in Normandy Lord of Sparre Admirall of England Ireland and Aquitaine Lieuetenant Generall of the Duchie of Aquitaine Fellow of the honourable order of the Garter and Constable of the Tower of London as he writ in his stile when Henry the fift in the fift of his raigne was to goe ouer into Normandy this puissant Iohn Holland as then but Earle of Huntington was sent before to scoure the seas who meeting with nine Carrickes of Genoa which were going to aide the French King fought with them and sunke sixe of them and tooke the other three with great store of money and treasure and brought them with his prisoners to the King This battaile was fought nere Harflew vpon the fall of the Riuer Seyne into the narrow seas of which an old versifier They faught full sore afore the water of Sayn With Carrickes many well stuffed and arayed And many other shippes great of Hispayn Barges Balyngers and Galleys vnfrayed Whiche proudly came vpon our Shippes vnprayed And by th'euen their sailes aualed were set Their enemies slaine in battayll and sore bet And many dryent were that daye in the Sea That as our flete rode there then alway Vnto the feast next of his Natiuitee The Bodies flete among our Shippes eche daye Full piteous was and to see theim ay That thousandes were twenty as they then told That taken were in that same batayll bold This valiant braue Duke died full of yeares the fift of August in the 25. yeere of King Henry the sixt Anno 1447. Here lye entombed by him his two wiues the first was Anne daughter of Edmund Earle Stafford by his wife Anne the heire of Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester by whom hee had issue Henry Duke of Exceter She had bin formerly married vnto Edmund Mortimer Earle of March and Vlster I cannot finde the time of her death His second wife here entombed was also Anne daughter of Io. Mountague the third of that name Earle of Salisbury who formerly had bin twise married to Sir Richard Hanckford to Sir Iohn Fitz-Lewis Knights She died the 27 of Nouember 1457. Here lieth likewise entombed the body of Constance sister of the foresaid Iohn Duke of Exceter daughter of Iohn Holland first of that name Duke of Exceter married to Thomas Lord Mowbray the sonne of Thomas who died in banishment Duke of Norfolke Earle of Nottingham and Earle Marshall of England and remarried to Sir Iohn Grey Lord Grey of Ruthin she died the sixteenth of Henry the sixt New Abbey in East-Smithfield Before the foundation of this Abbey there stood in the same place a little Chappell within a Coemitorie or Church-yard dedicated to the honour of God by Raph Stratford Bishop of London wherein were interred innumerable many of such persons as died in the first great Pestilence the 23 of King Edward the third Now the said King liking well this plot of ground and hauing before in a tempest on the sea and perill of drowning made a vow to build a Monastery to the honour of God and our Lady of Grace if God would grant him grace to come safe to land builded here a Monastery wherein he placed white Monkes of the Cistercian order which house at the generall suppression was valued at 546 l. 10 d. yearely The Kings store-house for victuall and for baking of Biskets to serue his Maiesties Ships is built in the same place where this Abbey stood The Minories Here was an Abbey of Nunnes of the order of Saint Clare founded by Blanch Queene of Nauarre and her husband Edmund Earle of Lancaster Leicester and Darby brother to King Edward the first in the yeere 1293. This house was valued to dispend yeerely 418 l. 8 s. 5 d. and was surrendred by Dame Elizabeth Sauage the last Abbesse there vnto King Henry
Iordan Briset hauing first founded the Priory of Nunnes here by Clerkenwell as aforesaid bought of the said Nunnes ten Acres of ground giuing them for the said ten Acres twenty Acres of land in his Lordship of Willinghale or Wellinghall in Kent Vpon which ground lying neare vnto the said Priory hee laid the foundation of a religious structure for the knights Hospitalers of S. Iohn of Ierusalem These following are the words out of the Register booke of the Deedes of the said house written by one Iohn Stilling-fleete a brother of the house circa ann 1434. to the end that their benefactors names being knowne they may be daily remembred in their prayers Iordanus Briset Baro tempore regis Hen. primi circa an Dom. 110. fundauit domum ac Hospitale S. Iohns de Clerkenwel Hic etiam erat Fundator domus Monialium de Clerkenwel ac ab eis emit decem acras terre super quas dictum Hospitale ac domum fundauit pro illis decem acris terre dedit illis Monialibus viginti acras terre in Dominico suo de Willinghale in com Cant. c. In ye yere of Criste as I haue the words out of an old Mss 1185. ye vj. Ides of Merche ye dominical lettre being F ye Chyrche of ye Hospitall of S Iohns Ierusalem was dedicatyd to ye honor of S. Iohn Baptiste by ye worschypfull fader Araclius Patriarke of ye resurrection of Christe ye sam dey was dedycatyd ye hygh Altrâ— and ye Altre of S. Iohn Euangelist by ye sam Patryarke The said Heraclius in the same yeare dedicated the Church of the new Temple as hereafter is spoken Within a short time this Hospitall began to flourish for infinite were the donations of all sorts of people to this Fraternitie as in the Beadroul of their benefactors is specified but aboue all their Benefactors they held themselues most bound to Roger de Mowbray whose liberalitie to their order was so great that by a common consent in their chapiter they made a decree that himselfe might remit and pardon any of the Brotherhood whomsoeuer in case he had trespassed against any of the statutes and ordinances of their order confessing and acknowledging withall his offence and errour And also the knights of this order granted in token of thankefulnesse to Iohn de Mowbray Lord of the Isle of Axholme the successour of the foresaid Roger that himselfe and his successours in euery of their couents assemblies as well in England as beyond seas should be receiued entertained alwaies in the second place next to the King Thus through the bounty both of Princes priuate persons they rose to so high an estate and great riches that after a sort saith Camden they wallowed in wealth for they had about the yeere of our Lord 1240. within christendome nineteene thousand Lordships or Manours like as the Templars nine thousand the reuenewes and rents whereof fell afterwards also to these Hospitallers And this estate of theirs growne to so great an height made way for them to as great honours so as the Priore of this house was reputed the prime Baron of the land being able with fulnesse abundance of all things to maintaine an honourable port And thus they flourished for many yeeres in Lordly pompe vntill a Parliament begun the 18. of April 1540. Anno 32. Henry 8. their corporation was vtterly dissolued the King allowing to euery one of them onely a certaine annuall pension during their liues as you may reade in the Annals of England The value of this foundation in the Kings bookes was 3385 l. 19 s. 8 d. of ancient yeerely rent This Priory Church and house was preserued from spoile or downe pulling so long as Henry the 8 raigned but in the 3 of King Ed. the sixt the Church for the most part with the great Bell-tower a most curious piece of workemanship grauen gilt and enameld to the great beautifying of the Citie saith Stow was vndermined and blowne vp with Gun-powder the stone whereof was imployed in building of the Lord Protectors house in in the Strand The Charter-house Sir Walter Manny Knight of the Garter Lord of the towne of Manny in the Dioces of Cambrey beyond the seas in that raging pestilence in the 23 of King Ed. the 3. when Churches Church-yards in London might not suffice to bury the dead purchased a piece of ground in this place called Spitle croft containing 13 acres and a Rodd and caused the same to bee enclosed for burials and dedicated by Raph Stratford Bishop of London in which place and in the same yeere more then 50000 persons were buried in regard of such a multitude here interred he caused a Chappell here to be builded wherein Offerings were made and Masses said for the soules of so many Christians departed And afterwards about the yeere 1371. he caused here to be founded an house of Carthusian Monkes which he called the Salutation which house at the dissolution was valued to be yeerely worth sixe hundred forty two pounds foure pence halfe penny Iohn Stow saith that he had read this Inscription following fixed on a stone crosse sometime standing in the Charter-house Church yard Anno Domini M. ccc.xl.ix Regnante magna pestilentia consecratum fuit hoc Cemiterium in quo infra septa presentis Monasterij sepulta fuerunt mortuorum Corpora plusquam quinquaginta millia preter alia multa abhinc vsque ad presens quorum animabus propitietur Deus Amen This inscription vpon the foresaid Stone Crosse as also the relation before was taken out from the words of his charter the substance whereof followeth Walterus Dns. de Many c. cum nuper pestilentia esset tam grandis viâ—lenta in ciuitate London quod Cemiteria Ecclesiae ciuitatis non possunt sufficere pro sepultura a personarum in eadem pestilentia discedentia nos moti pietate habentes respectum c. Purchased 13. acres of land without Smithfield Barres in a place called Spitle croft and now called new Church-Haw for the buriall of the persons aforesaid and haue caused the place to be blessed by Raph then Bishop of London in which place plus quam Quinquaginta millia personarum de dicta pestilentia morientium sepulti fuere And there for our Ladies sake wee founded a Chappel of the holy order of the Cartusians made there a Monastery by consent of the Prior or Cartuse Maior in Sauoy c. for the health of King Edward the third and Dame Margaret his wife Hijs Testibus Iohn Hastings of Penbroke Humfrey Bohun of Hereford Edmund Mortymer of Marâ—h and William de Monteacuto of Sarum Earles Iohn de Barnes Maior of London William de Walworth and Robert de Gayton Sheriffes Dat apud London 20 Martij Anno Regni Reg. Ed. 3.45 Sir Walter Manny or de Manie the foresaid Founder was buried here in his owne Church who deceased in the same yeere that he
house of Conuerts in Chancerie lane anciently called New-streete now knowne by the name of the Rolles Henry the third about the twentieth yeare of his raigne built this house for the Iewes conuerted to be conuerted to the faith of Christ these are the words in his grant Rex Archiepiscopis c. Sciatis nos intuitu Dei et pro salute anime nostre et animarum antecessorum et heredum meorum concessisse et hac charia nostra consirmasse pro nobis et heredibus nostris domum quam fundari fecimus in vico qui vocatur New-streete inter vetus Templum et nouum London ad sustentationem Fratrum conuersorum et conuertendorum de Iudaismo ad fidem catholicam c. hijs Testibus venerabilibus patribus W. Kaerl et W. exon episcopis H. de Burgo Comite Kantiâ— Radulpho filio Nicholai Godfrido de Crancumbe Iohanne filio Philip Amaurico de sancto Aumundo Willielmo de Picheford Galfrido de Cauz et alijs dat per manum ve P. R cicestrens Cancellar nostri apud Westminst 19. die April But this Foundation did not continue long for Edward the first his sonne in the eighteenth yeare of his raigne banished all the Iewes out of England confiscating all their goods and leauing them nothing but money barely to beare their charges King Edward the third appointed this house for the custody of the Rolles and Records of the Chancerie giuing the same by his charter to one William Burstall as then master of that Office and his Successors In the Chappell of this house Iohn Yong Doctor of both Lawes and master of the Rolles lieth entombed with this Inscription Io. Yong. LL. Doctori sacror scrinior ac hius Domus custodi Decano olin Ebor vita defuncto xxv Aprilis sui fideles Executores hoc posuerunt M.D.xvj. Besides which vpon an old table hanging by are written in text hand these verses following Dominus firmamentum meum Hic iacet ille Iohannes Yong cognomine dignus Tali quod nunquam marcesceret vtpote charus Omnibus apprime summo testante dolore Quem neque celabant neque dissimulare valebant Dum sternit iuuenem mors immatura labentem Quis non defleret iuuenis miserabile fatum Ex quo multorum pendebat vita salusque Horum inquam inprimis quos ille benignus alebat Impensis donec vitales carperet auras Nec satis illi erat hoc priuatis consuluisse Rebus quinetiam prudenter publica gessit Munia siue forensia siue etiam extera summa Cum laude illa quidem dum sacris presuit olim Scrinijs haec vero Legati functus honore Saint Stephens Chappell This was a religious Structure first begun by King Stephen and afterwards finished and her reuenewes greatly augmented by King Edward the third in which he placed a Deane twelue Canons secular as many Vicars and other Ministers who had their lodgings in Canon Row now the habitations of diuers Noblemen and Gentlemen These are the words of King Edwards Grant In dei nomine Amen Edwardus dei gratia c. Salutem Capellam quandam speciosam in Palatio nostro apud Westmonasterium situatam in honorem beati Stephani Prothomartyris per progenitores nostros nobiliter inchoatam nostris sumptibus regijs fecimus consummari in qua ad honorem omnipotentis dei et specialiter beatissime Genetricis eius Marie et dicti Martyris ordinamus volumus constituimus et aucthoritate nostra regia perpeiou stabilimus Quod sint exeuntes Decanus vnus et duodecim canonici seculares cum tuum Hospitium nostrum magnum in strata de Lumbard-street ciuitatis nostre London situatum vna cum Patronatibus et aduocationibus Ecclesiarum Perochialium de Dewesburie et Wakefeeld Ebor. Dioces assignamus donemus c. Teste meipso apud VVestmonaster sexto die Augusti An. Regni nostri vicesimo secundo Regni vero nostri Francie nono The reuenewes wherewith King Edward endowed this couent amounted to the value of fiue hundred pounds by yeare and at the suppression the whole foundation was rated to be yeerely worth as I haue it in the catalogue of Religious houses one thousand fourescore and fiue pound ten shillings fiue pence This Chappell serueth now for the lower house of Parliament Westminster Abbey CAmden out of Sulcardus reporteth that here sometime stood an Idoll Temple dedicated to Apollo ouerthrowne by an earthquake about the yeare of grace 153. Of the ruines of which Sebert King of the East Saxons erected another Temple for the seruice of the liuing God and consecrated the same to Saint Peter about the yeare 610. neere about the time of the building of Paules Mellitus as then being Bishop of London and Austin of Canterbury which agrees with these words in the charter of Edward the Confessor Basilica sancti Petri VVestmon edificata fuit antiquitus sub Mellito Londonie primo Episcopo socio et contemporaneo Sancti Augustini primi Cantuar Archiepiscopi et per ipsum beatum Petrum Angelico famulante seruicio sancte crucis impressione et sacre Trinitatis perunctione dedicata to which effect will it please you peruse these verses following King Ethelbert Sainct Poules edefied And King Sebert Westminster founded Mellito theim both halowed and blessified Austin then made Clerke full well grounded Afterwards this Church being destroyed by the Danes Dunstan Bishop of London reedified it about the yeare of Christ 960. and made here a monastery for twelue Monkes After him Edward the confessor with the tenth penny of all his reuenewes built it new for to be his owne Sepulture and a Monastery for Benedictin Monkes endowing it with liuings and â—ands lying disperst in diuers parts of England But after an hundred and threescore yeeres King Henry the third subuerted this Fabricke of King Edwards and built from the very Foundation a new Church of very faire workemanship supported with sundry rowes of Pillars The new erke atte UUestmynster the Kyng tho gauune anon Aftur his coronyng and leyd the ferst ston which the Abbots enlarged very much toward the west end and King Henry the seauenth for the buriall onely of himselfe his children and their posterity adioyned thereunto a Chappell which in regard of the beauty and curious contriued worke thereof is called of Leland Orbis miraculum the wonder of the world The first stone of this admirable Structure consecrated to the honour of the blessed Virgine was laid by the hands of Iohn Islip Abbot of this monastery Sir Reginald Bray Knight of the Garter and others in the 18 yeare of his raigne the 24 day of Ianuary vpon which stone this Inscription was engrauen Illustrissimus Henricus Septimus Rex Anglie et Francie et Dominus Hibernie posuit hanc Petram in honore beate virginis Marie xxiiij die Ianâ—aarij anno Domini M. ccccc 11 et anno dicti Regis Henrici septimi decimo octauo Harpsfeeld sometime Archdeacon
and vowed virginitie cast off all care of hauing issue and exposed the kingdome to the prey of ambitious humours Yet some that would excuse him in this affirme that this holy king was not willing to beget any heires that should succeed him out of a treacherous race Here lieth without any Tombe Maude daughter to Malcolm Camoir king of Scots and wife to king Henry the first who brought vnto him children William Richard and Mary which perished by shipwracke and Maud Empresse who was wise to Henry the fift Emperour She died the first day of May Maij prima dies nostrorum nocte dierum raptam perpetua fecit inesse die 1118. She had an excellent Epigram made to her commendation whereof these foure verses onely remaine Prospera non laetam fecere nec aspera tristem Aspera risus erant prospera terror erant Non decor effecit fragilem non sceptra superbam Sola potens humilis sola pudica decens Thus paraphrastically translated No prosperous state did make her glad Nor aduerse chances made her sad If Fortune frown'd she then did smile If Fortune smil'd she fear'd the while If Beauty tempted she said nay No pride she tooke in Scepters sway She onely high her selfe debast A Lady onely faire and chast She went euery day in the Lent time to this Church bare-foot and bare-legd wearing a garment of haire she would wash and kisse the feet of the poorest people and giue them bountifull Almes For which being reprehended by a Courtier shee gaue him a short answer which I haue out of Robert of Glocester Madame for Goddes love is this wel i doo To handle sich vnclene â—ymmes and to kisse so Foule wolde the kyng thynk if that hit he wiste And ryght wel abyse hym er he your mouth kiste Sur sur qd the Quene be stille why sayste thow so Owr Lord hymself ensample yaf so for to do She founded as I haue said before the Priory of Christ-church within Aldgate and the Hospitall of S. Giles in the Fields She builded the Bridges ouer the Riuer of Lea at Stratford Bow and ouer the little Brooke called Chanelsebridge shee gaue much likewise to the repairing of high-wayes But I will take my leaue of her with these words of Paris Obijt eodem anno Matildis Regina Anglorum cuius corpus apud Westmonasterium quietem sepulturae accepit anima eius se coelum possidere evidentibus signis et miraculis crebris ostendit Here lieth vnder a rich Monument of Porphery adorned with precious stones the body of Henry the third king of England In the fifth yeare of whose raigne and the Saturday next before his second time of Coronation the New worke the old being ruinous and pulled downe of this Church of Westminster was begun To which sacred Edifice this king was a perswader he was the Founder and laid the first stone in the ground-worke of the building The Newerke atte Westmynstre ye kyng tho ganne anone Aftyr hys coronyng and leyde the fyrst stone As if he meant the world should know his intention was to consecrate his future actions to the glory of God He gaue to this Church royall gifts of Copes Iewels and rich vessels and for the holy Reliques of Edward the Confessor he caused a coffin to be made of pure gold and pretious stones and so artificially by the most cunning Goldsmiths that could be gotten that although the matter it was made of was of an inestimable valew tamen Materiam superabat opus yet the workmanship excelled the matter saith Mathew Paris A Prince he was as our histories affirme of greater deuotion then discretion in permitting the depredation of himselfe and his subiects by papall ouerswayings This King saith Robert of Glocester as in worldlich doyng was not hald ful wyse but mor deuout to spiritual things he was euery dey woned to here thre Masses by note Quante innocentie quante patientie quanteque deuotionis et quanti meriti in vita sua erat apud Deum testantur post ipsius mortem miracula subsecuta Of how much integrity of how much patience of how much deuotion and of how much merite he was in his life time before God the miracles which followed after his death doe testifie saith the compendious chronicle of Canterbury He died the 16 of Nouember 1273. when he liued sixty fiue yeares and raigned fiftie sixe yeares and eighteene daies this Epitaph following is annexed to his Tombe Tertius Henricus iacet hic pietatis amicus Ecclesiam strauit istam quam post renouauit Reddet ei munus qui regnat trinus et vnus Tertius Henricus est Templi conditor huius Dulce bellum inexpertis Which is thus Englished by Robert Fabian The frende of pyte and of almesse dede Henry the thyrde whylome of Englande Kyng Who thys Church brake and after hys mede Agayn renewed into this fayre buylding Now resteth in here whiche did so great a thinge He yelde his mede that Lord in Deyite That as one God reygneth in persones thre Henry the thyrde is the buylder of thys Temple War is pleasant to those that haue not tryed it In the additions to Robert of Glocester a Manuscript in the Heralds Office these rimes are written to his remembrance Aftur hym regnyd the thurd Harry A good man and eke an hely In hys tym werrys were full strong And eke mickle stryf in Englond The Batayl of Lewys was than And alsoo the Batayl of Euesham And that tym alsoo ther was The Translacyon of Sent Thomas In hys tym as I vndyrstond Come Freres Menores into thys lond He regnyd Kyng lvi yere And to Westmynstre men hym bere At the head of the foresaid King Henry his sonne Edward surnamed Long-Shanks lieth entombed King of England the first of that Christian name since the Conquest and as he was the first of his name so was he the first that setled the law and state deseruing the stile of Englands Iustinian and freed this kingdome from the wardship of the Peeres shewing himselfe in all his actions after capable to command not the Realme onely but the whole world At the time of his Fathers death he was abroad in Palestine pursuing his high desires for the Holy Warres and after sixe yeares from his first setting out he returnes into England receiues the Crowne without which he had beene a King almost three yeares at the hands of Robert Archbishop of Canterbury and with him is Eleanor his vertuous Queene likewise crowned at Westminster To the which their magnificent pompous Coronations the presence of Alexander King of Scotland who had married Margaret his eldest sister was required as appeares by this Record following Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Iohanni Louetot et Galfrido de Newbald Custodibus Episcopatus Deunelm Salutem Mandamus vobis quod de primis denarijs prouenientibus de exitibus Episcopatus predicti habere faciatis Alexandro
Chappell and for the Sepulchre the body of Henry the seuenth King of England the first begotten Sonne of Edmund Earle of Richmond by Margaret daughter and heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset This glorious rich Tombe is compassed about with verses penned by that Poet Laureat as he stiles himselfe and Kings Orator Iohn Skelton I will take onely the shortest of his Epitaphs or Eulogiums and most to the purpose Septimus hic situs est Henricus gloria Regum Cunctorum ipsius qui tempestate fuerunt Ingenio atque opibus gestarum nomine rerum Accessere quibus nature dona benigne Frontis honos facies augusta heroica forma Iunctaque ei suanis coniux perpulchra pudica Et secunda fuit felices prole parentes Henricum quibus octauum terra Anglia debes He deceased at Richmond the 22. of Aprill 1509. when hee had raigned 23. yeares and somewhat more then seuen moneths and liued fifty two yeares Whosoeuer would know further of this king let him reade his History wherein hee is delineated to the life by the matchlesse and neuer enough admired penne of that famous learned and eloquent knight Sir Francis Bacon not long since deceased Lord Verulam and Viscount Saint Alban Here lieth entombed by her Husband Henry the seuenth Elizabeth the first childe legitimate and eldest daughter of king Edward the fourth to whom she was married the eighteenth of Ianuary 1488. whereby was vnited the long contending Families of Lancaster and Yorke and the Roses red and white ioyned into one to the great ioy of the English Subiects She was his wife eighteene yeares and twenty foure dayes and died in child-bed in the Tower of London the eleuenth of February euen the day of her owne Natiuitie the eighteenth of her Husbands raigne and yeare of our Saluation 1503. I haue an Epitaph of this good Queene borne for Englands happinesse which I transcribed out of a Manuscript in Sir Robert Cottons Library Extinctum iacet hic genus a Plantagine ductum Et Rosa purpureis candida nupta Rosis Elisabet claris Anglorum Regibus orta Regina Patrij gloria rara soli Edwardi soboles quarti tibi septime coniux Henrice heu populi cura benigna tui Exemplex vite qua nec prestantior altra Moribus ingenio nec probitate fuit Reginam Deus eterno dignetur honore Et Regem hic annos viuere Nestoreos Here lieth magnificently entombed Margaret Countesse of Richmond and Darby daughter and onely heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset by Margaret daughter to the Lord Beauchampe of Powicke first married to Edmund the sonne of Owen Tedder who begat Henry the seuenth King of England and afterwards to Thomas Stanley Earle of Derby Two Colledges namely of Christ and Saint Iohn Baptist she erected for Students in Cambridge Shee instituted also two Diuinitie Lectures one at Cambridge and the other at Oxenford who hauing liued so long to see her Grandchilde Henry the eight crowned King died the twelfth of Iuly 1509. in the first yeare of his raigne Here is a long Elegie made to her memorie by the foresaid Skelton with this terrible curse to all those that shall tread spoile or take it away Qui lacerat violatue rapit presens Epitoma Hunc laceretque voret cerberus absque mora Hanc tecum statuas Dominam precor O Sator orbis Quo regnas rutilans Rex sine fine manens Here lieth Margaret one of the daughters of King Edward the fourth by Elizabeth his royall Queene and wife She died an Infant the eleuenth of December 1472. Nobilitas forma decorque tenella inuentus Insimul hic ista mortis sunt condita cista Vt genus nomen sexum tempus quoque mortis Noseas cuncta tibi manifestat margo Sepulchri Here lieth Elizabeth the second daughter of King Henry the seuenth by his louing consort and Queene Elizabeth who was borne the second day of Iuly 1492. and died the 14. day of Nouember 1495. Vpon her Tombe this Epitaph Hic post sata iacet proles regalis in isto Sarcophago inuenis nobilis Elizabeth Princeps illustris Hen. Sept. filia Regis Qui bini regni florida sceptra tenet Atropos hanc rapuit seuissima nuntia mortis Sit super in celo vita perhennis ei Here lieth interred without any Monument Anne the second daughter and coheire to Richard Nevil the stout Earle of Warwicke and Salisbury who was first married to Edward Prince of Wales the sonne and onely childe of king Henry the sixth and after remarried to Richard Duke of Gloucester who at the battell of Tewxbury had stabbed her husband into the heart with his dagger afterwards by vsurpation king of England surnamed Crook-backe She died not without suspition of being poysoned the 16. of March 1485. Here lieth entombed Edmund the second sonne of King Henry the third Earle of Lancaster Leicester and Darby surnamed Crouch-backe of his bowing in his backe because he is neuer found saith Vincent in his discouery of Brookes errours title Lancaster with any other addition and indeed with no other Epithite then Gibbosus which signifieth crooked crump-shouldred or Camell-backed But others say he was so denominated of wearing the signe of the Crosse anciently called a Crouch vpon his backe which was vsually worne of such as vowed voyages to Ierusalem as he had done Further confirming their opinions from the name of Crouched-Friers that wore a Crosse vpon their garments And Io. Harding speaking of him and his elder Brother Edward afterwards king of England and of their voyage to Ierusalem hath these verses to the same effect His brother Edward and he associate To Ierusalem their voyage them avowed Two semely Princes together adioynate In all the world was none them like alowed So large and faire thei were eche man he bowed Edward aboue his menne was largely seen By his shulders more hie and made full clene Edmond next hym the comeliest Prince aliue Not croke backed ne in no wyse disfigured As some menne wrote the right lyne to depriue Through great falsehed made it to be scriptured For cause it should alwaye bee refigured And mentioned well his yssue to prevaile Vnto the Crowne by such a gouernaile I cannot let passe although I do somewhat digresse the cunning sleights and deuises the Popes of Rome vsed in these times to empouerish this kingdome and enrich their owne coffers First they combine and confederate with the king to the vtter vndoing of all his loyall Subiects And now Pope Alexander the fourth puts a tricke vpon the king himselfe a Prince more pious then prudent which exhausts his Treasure and leaues him for a laughing-stocke to all other Nations This Pope forsooth inuested this Edmund his sonne into the kingdomes of Sicilia and Apulia Conradus king thereof still liuing by a ring conditionally that hee should sustaine the charges and maintaine the warres that should happen thereupon In which regard he suckt
Robert the third thereof obtained full possession in right from whom our sacred soueraigne King Charles is lineally to the same Crowne descended And to her second sonne Bernard de Brus shee gaue this Lordship of Connington with other large possessions in England which after foure descents in that Stemme was by marriage of Anne the daughter and heire of Sir Iohn de Brus to Sir Hugh Welengham brought into that family who after three descents by the marriage of Mary the daughter and heire of the last of that surname it came to William second sonne of Sir Richard Cotton of Ridware in the County of Stafford From whom Sir Robert Cotton Knight and Baronet is lineally to that Lordship of Connyngton now descended Hereby appeareth the much mistaking of many who hold that the first King of the Norman race cancelled with his sword all claime of Inheritances before his entrance whereas in truth hee neither altered the fundamentall lawes or liberties of the Kingdome or fortunes of any but of those that sided with Harrold against him in his claime For the words of his owne great Charter vnder seale made the day of his Coronation are Deuicto Harraldo Rege cum suis complicibus in ore gladij ouer whom onely he declareth his conquest but his Tytle was beneficio concessionis beati regis Edwardi cognati sui And that he acknowledgeth as his right And we cannot passe ouer a dutifull and thankefull remembrance vnto God who in his diuine iustice after the course of little more then 500. yeares hath restored againe in the sacred person of King Iames of happy memory the lyneall Royall race and bloud of the Saxon Monarchie In him vniting the Briton Saxon Norman and Scottish Regall bloud and by him restoring not onely the name but the ancient dignity of the Britaine Empire fulfilling that old presage of Aquila recorded many hundred yeares agoe Regnabunt Britones Albani Gentis amici Antiquum nomen Insula tota feret Vt profert Aquila veteri de turre Loquta Cum Scotis Britones regna paterna regent Regnabunt pariter in prosperitate quieta Hostibus expulsis Iudicis vsque diem Of which we haue a most happy assurance by the now blessed issue of our most gratious and dread Soueraigne King Charles who hath crowned thereby this state with an eternall peace Vnder this stone lyeth here Iohn Bedel Tallow Chandlere Who departyd the nynth day Of this present month of May On thowsand fyue hundryd and fifteen As is here playn to be seen Such as thou art such haue I bin somtym Such as I am such salt thou be in tym Therfor of thy cherite remembyr me Euen as in like case thou wouldst remembryd be I beseâ—h on God in Trinite On my soul to haue mercy Here lyeth Walter Garden come out of the west God geeu to the soul of hym good rest I prey you negbors euerich on Prey for me for I am gon who died 26 April 1523. Sancta Maria virgo virginum Prey for the soul of Ione Pymichum Here lyes vndyr this ston Iohn Den Barbor Surgeon And Agnes his wyf who to heuyn went M. ccccc and x. that is verament For whos soul of your cherite Sey a Pater Noster and an Aue Marie Iohannes Skeltonus vates Pierius hic situs est animam egit 21 Iunij 1529. This Iohn Skelton was that pleasant merry Poet as his rimes yet extant doe testifie who stiled himselfe Iohannes Skeltonus Orator regius Poeta laureatus He flourished in the raignes of Henry the seuenth and Henry the eight by whom in the Quire Thomas Churchyard that old Court-Poet lieth interred and not in the Church-Porch as these rimes following would approue Come Alecto and lend me thy Torch To fynde a Church yard in a Church porch Pouertie and Poetrie this Tombe doth enclose Therefore Gentlemen be merry in Prose I finde in the collections of Master Camden that there was some vnkinde passages betwixt this Poet laureat Skelton and Lily our sole authenticke allowed Gramarian in so much that Skelton carping against the verses of the said Lily is bitterly by him thus answered Lilij endecasillaba in Skeltonum Eius carmina calumniantem Quid me Skeltone fronte sic aperta Carpis vipereo potens veneno Quid versus trutina meos iniqua Libras dicere vera num licebit Doctrinae tibi dum parare famam Et doctus fieri studes Poeta Doctrinam nec habes nec es Poeta Almes-houses of Henry the 7. On the South side of the Gate-house King Henry the 7. founded an Almes-house for thirteene poore men one of them to be a Priest aged fiue and forty yeares a good Gramarian the other 12 to be aged fiftie yeares without wiues euery Saturday the Priest to receiue of the Abbot or Prior foure pence by the day and each other two pence halfe penny by the day for euer for their sustenance and euery yeare to each one a Gowne and a hood ready made And to three women that dressed their meat and kept them in their sicknesse each to haue euery Saturday sixteene pence and euery yeare a Gowne ready made More to the thirteene poore men yeerely fourescore quarters of Coales and one thousand of good Fagots to their vse In the Hall and Kitchin of their mansion a discreet Monke to be ouerseer of them and he to haue forty shillings by the yeare c. and hereunto was euery Abbot and Prior sworne An Almes-house founded by Margaret Countesse of Richmond Westward from the Gate house was an old Chappell of Saint Anne ouer against the which the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond and Derby and mother to King Henry the seuenth erected an Almes-house for poore women which was afterwards turned into lodgings for the Singing men of the Colledge the place wherein this Chappell and Almes-house stood was called the Eleemosinary or Almory now corruptly the Ambry for that the almes of the Abbey was there distributed to the poore An Hospitall founded by Lady Anne Dacre At the entry into Totehill field was sometimes an old building called Stourton house which Giles Lord Dacre of the South purchased and built new whose Lady and wife Anne Sister to Thomas Lord Buckhurst the first of that Familie Earle of Dorset left money to her Executours to build an Hospitall there for twenty poore women and so many children to bee brought vp vnder them For whose maintenance she assigned Lands to the value of one hundred pounds by the yeare Almes-houses founded by Cornelius Van Dun. In the same field vpon Saint Hermits hill and neare vnto a Chappell of Saint Mary Magdelen now wholly ruinated Cornelius van Dun borne at Breda in Brabant a Souldier with King Henry the eight at Turney yeoman of the Guard and Vsher to the said King Henry Edward Mary and Elizabeth Kings and Queenes of famous memory built certaine Almes-houses for twenty poore widowes to dwell in rent free He died in September An. 1577.
imports was seruant to Katherine Swinford the third wife of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Hic iacet Iohannes de Chandry quondam Nolettus Domini Ducis Lankastrie .... This mans office vnder the Duke of Lancaster was to ring as I take it the Sance or sacring Bell. Hic iacet Richardus Pynere quondam Botelere cum Regina Anglie qui obitt xxii Ianuar. M. cccc xix A Flagon and a cuppe cut in brasse vpon his graue stone Hic iacet venerabilis Armiger Iohannes Ingylby qui obiit festo Mathei Apostoli et Euangeliste 1457. This Iohn was in especiall fauour and did wonderfully flourish in the seruice of King Henry the sixt A familie of great antiquity in the Countie of Yorke By these Funerall Monuments it appeares that diuers Princes of this Land haue often made their residence in this Towne by which meanes it hath beene in former times of great state estimation and beautie but now for want of that generall conuention the Castle built before the Conquest by Edward the Elder is greatly decayed these Parish Churches much ruined and the Towne neither greatly inhabited nor much frequented Here in this Towne was a Priory of blacke Monkes valued in the Exchequer to be yeerely worth fourescore and sixe pounds fourteene shillings eight pence A Cell it was to Saint Albans founded by Raph Limsey a Nobleman and dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the raigne of the Conquerour I haue my authority out of the Collections of Thomas Talbot sometime keeper of the Records in the Tower a great Genealogist these are his words Raph Lord Limsey buried in the Priorie of Hertford which he founded he came into England with the Conquerour and was his sisters sonne as the Monkes of the same house report Port Or three Eagles heads gules One Robert Sotingdon or Sadington a man in great fauour with Henry the third and vnder him in honourable office fell sicke in his iourney being Iustice Itinerant in this towne in the yeare 1257. and was here interred One Sir Robert Sadington Knight was Lord Chancelour of England Anno 1345. and Sir Richard Sadinton Lord Treasurer much what about the same time as in the Catalogue of both you may read Ware Hic iacet Thomas Bourchier miles filius Henrici comitis Essex ac Isabella vxor eius nuper comitissa Deuon filia et heres Iohannis Barry militis qui obijt .... 1491 .... et Isabella ob 1 die Marcij 1488. quorum animabus This Thomas Bourchier was the first sonne saith Vincent of Henry Bourchier the first of that surname Earle of Essex and this Isabell the daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Barry Knight was when the said Thomas married her the widow of Humfrey Lord Stafford of Southwike sonne of William Stafford of Hooke Esquire created Earle of Deuon by King Edward the fourth to whom the said King gaue all the Honours Mannors Castles c. which were Thomas Courtneys the fourteenth Earle of Deuon who neuerthelesse grew ingratefull to King Edward his aduancer in reuolting from him at the battaile of Banbury for which cowardise hee being apprehended was without processe executed at Bridgewater the seuenteenth of August anno 1469. hauing beene Earle but three moneths Hic iacent Rogerus Damory Baro tempore Edwardi secundi et Elizabetha tertia silia Gilberti Clare comitis Glocestrie et Iohanne vxoris eius filie Edwardi primi v. cate Iohann de Acris ..... This Roger Damory was Baron of Armoye in Ireland and Elizabeth his wife the Founder of Clare Hall in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge of which more hereafter Iean Lucas gist icy Dieu de salme eit mercy This is an ancient monument so is the familie At the north end of this Towne was a Frierie whose ruines not altogether beaten downe are to be seene at this day founded by Baron Wake Lord of this Towne about the raigne of King Iohn dedicated to Saint Francis and surrendred the 9 of May 26 Henry 8. Here lieth Thomas Heton Ione his wife which Thomas died xix Aug. M. cccc.ix and Ioyce ... ... Will. Litlebury and Elizabeth his wife he died xxii of Iuly M. cccc Watton Hic iacet corpus domini Philippi Butler militis quondam Domini de Woodhall et hutus Ecclesie Patroni qui obijt in festo Sancti Leonardi Anno Domini M. cccc.xxi et Regis Henrici quinti post conquestum vltimo Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Camden saith that these Butlers are branched from Sir Raph Butler Baron of Wem in Shropshire and his wife heire to William Pantulfe Lord of Wem soone after the first entrie of the Normans Hunsdon In this Church are the right ancient and honourable familie of the Caryes enterred to whose memory I finde no monument saue one vnder which Iohn Cary Baron of Hunsdon lieth entombed father to the right honourable Lord Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon Viscount Rochford and Earle of Douer now liuing Grandchild to Henry Baron of Hunsdon Lord Chamberlaine and Cosin german to Queene Elizabeth and descended from the royall familie of the Dukes of Somerset Francisco Poyno Equiti literis prudentia armis fauore sui Principis et pietate insigni Domina Iohanna pia et amans vxor Charo marito posuit 1520. This name is ancient and honourable Sir Hugh Poynes being one of the ranke of Parliamentarie Barons in the raigne of King Edward the first Eppalets or Hippolites vulgarly Pallets This Church was dedicated saith Norden in his description of Hertfordshire to a supposed Saint called Eppalet whose reliques lie buried about the high Altar This man in his life time was a good tamer of Colts and as good a Horse-leach And for these qualities so deuoutly honoured after his death that all passengers by that way on Horse-backe thought themselues bound to bring their Steedes into the Church euen vp to the high Altar where this holy Horseman was shrined and where a Priest continually attended to bestow such fragments of Eppalets miracles as would either tame yong horses cure lame iades or refresh old wearied and forworne Hackneyes which did auaile so much the more or lesse as the passengers were bountifull or hard-handed Baldock Here is an ancient Monument and an old Inscription which I often meete with Farwel my frendys the tydabidyth no man I am departed hens and so sal ye But in this pasage the best song I can Is Requiem Eternam now Iesu grant it me When I haue ended all myn aduersity Grant me in Paradys to hav a mansion That shedst thy bloud for my redemption Prey for the sowlys of William Crane Ioane and Margaret his wyffs ... which William died ... 1483. ... on whos Orate pro ... Wilielmi Vynter generosi et Margarete consortis sue qui quidem Wilielmus obijâ— 2 Iunii 1416. et Margareta ob ... Octob. 1411. eorum animabus parentum amicorum bene factorum
suorum Deus omnipotens pro sua magna miserecordia propitietur Amen This French Epitaph following was not long since to be read engraued vpon the monument of one of the Argentons Reignauld de Argentein ci gist Que câ—st Chappell feire fist Fu't cheualier sainct Mairie Chescinipardon pour l'alme prie Englished Regnald de Argentyne here is laid That caused this Chappell to be made He was a Knight of Seynt Mary the Virgin Therfor prey pardon for his sin The foundation of the Priory of Wymley or Wymondley Within this ancient and famous Lordship of Wymley held by the most honourable tenure with vs saith Camden which our Lawiers terme Grand Seargeanty namely that the Lord thereof should serue vnto the Kings of England vpon their Coronation day the first cup one Richard de Argâ—nton descended from Dauid de Argenton a Norman and a martiall Knight who vnder King William the Conquerour serued in the warres Lord of this Mannor diuolued now by marriage to the Alingtons Founded a Priorie for Canons regular valued at the suppression to to be yeerely worth thirtie seuen pounds ten shillings sixe halfe penny Within the Towne of Hitching was a little Priorie called New-bigging valued to bee worth fifteene pounds one shilling eleuen pence of yeerely reuenue Ashwell Of yowr cheritie sey for the soul of Elizabeth Annstell a Pater Noster and an Aue .... 1511. Presbiter egregius prostratus morte Radulphus Howel Grammaticus iacet hic sub marmore pressus Tullius ore fuit Prisciani dicta resoluens Multos instruxit in Christo vota reuoluens Erat in Ecclesia pianumina semper honorans Mane sero Bacchi sugiens loca crimina plorans Dulcia frustrauit fercula plena fugauit Sepe ieiunauit Christo mentem reperauit Mundum despexit sic multa volumina scripsit Que regit rexit saluet Deus hunc rogo sic sit Anno Mil. C quater octogeno quoque sumpto Monsis Aprilis decessit ille secundo Here in the north Isle Iohn Hinxworth and Martina his wife lie buried vnder a monument defaced which seemeth to be of great antiquitie Perpetuis annis memores estote Iohannis Henrici dictus proles hic â—acet arbore strictus Bursa non strictus hoc Templo gessit amicus Et meritis morum fuerat ... sociorum Sic prece verborum scandet precor alta polorum M. C quater septenis ter tres minor vno Prima luce Iunij nunc vermibus hic requiescit Hic iacet magister Thomas Colby in Decretis Bachalarius istius Ecclesie nuper vicarius qui ob 19. die mens Septemb. Ann. 1489. Cuius Orate pro .... Walteri Summoner ..... I reade that one Walter Sumner whether this here interred or no I know not held the Mannor of Ashwell of the King by pettie Sergeantie viz. to finde the King Spits to rost his meate vpon the day of his Coronation And Iohn Sumner his Sonne held the same Mannor by Seruice to turne a Spit in the Kings Kitchin vpon the day of his Coronation Ann. 6. Ed. 2. Ann. 35. Ed. tertij Hinxworth Orate pro animabus Iohannis Lambard ciuis et Merceri ac Aldermanni London qui obiit 1487. et Anne vxoris sue que obiit ..... 1400 quorum anime per miserecordiam dei in pace eterna requiescant Amen Orate pro ... Symonis Ward Elene vxoris sue Qui quidem Symon ob xi Decemb. 1453. Elena obiit 21. Augusti 1483. Quorum .... Orate pro anima Iohannis Ward Maioris London qui istam fenestram .... This Ward was Lord Maior in the second of Richard the third in which yeare were three Lord Maiors and three Sheriffes of London by reason of a sweating sicknesse whereof they dyed This Iohn Ward was sonne to Richard Ward of Holden in the Countie of Yorke Barley Edward Chamberleine Clerk gist icy Dieu de salme eit mercy Amen Qi morust en August le xxii Ior M.ccc.lxxv de nostre Seignor Orate pro salubri statu Domini Willelmi Warham Legum Doctoris Pauli London Canonici magistri Rotulorum Cancellarii Regis ac Rectoris de Barley This Warham remembred here in the glasse window was sometime Archbishop of Canterbury Of whom I haue spoken before in Christ-church Canterbury the place of his buriall Sum Rosa pulsata mundi Maria vocata Roiston Rohesia the daughter of Aubrey de Vere chiefe Iustice of England vnder Henry the first sister to Aubrey de Vere the first Earle of Oxford and wife to Geffrey Magna-ville or Mandevill the first Earle of Essex erected where now this Towne of Roiston standeth a Crosse in the high-way which was thought in that age a pious worke to put passengers in minde of Christs passion whereupon it was called Crux Rohesiae before there was either Church or Towne But afterwards saith Vincent out of the Records in the Tower when Eustach de Merch knight Lord of Nauells in this tract had adioyned thereunto a little Monasterie of Canons regular in honor of S. Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury then were Innes built here So that in processe of time by little little it grew to be a Towne which in stead of Rohesiaes Crosse was called Rohesiaes Towne and now contracted into Roiston This Priory was augmented in her reuenues and renewed by Radulphus de Runcester and others Richard the first giues and confirmes Monasterio Sancti Thome Martyris apud crucem Rohesie Canonicis ibidem locum ipsum in quo idem Monasterium fundatum est cum pertinentiis suis que Eustachius de Merc fundator ipsius Monasterii Radulphus de Roucester et alii fideles rationabiliter dedere eis Anno Reg. 1. In Arch. Turris London Cart. antiq R. So that at the suppression the same was valued at eightie nine pounds sixteene shillings The Catalogue of Religious houses saith one hundred sixe pound three shillings and a pennie In a ruinous wall of this decayed Priory lies the proportion of a man cut in stone which say the Inhabitants was made to the memorie of one of the Founders who lieth thereby interred Here in this Towne was also an Hospitall by whom founded I cannot learne dedicated to the honour of Saint Iohn and Saint Iames Apostles suppressed and valued but at 5. l. sixe shillings and ten pence by yeare Pelham Furnix Vpon an old Tombe wherein a Priest lieth interred Hic iacet elatum corpus maris fore reatum Indignus Flamen Christi matris posco leuamen Of yowr cherite pray for the sowl of Iohn Daniell of Felsted Esquoyr and Margery his wife Which Iohn died the vii of October M. ccccc.xix Orate pro anima Iohannis Newport Armig. heredis Roberti Newport Ar. Marie vxoris eius vnius filiarum Iohannis Alington de Horsheth in Com. Cantab. Ar. qui quidem Iohannes Newport obiit primo
holy Saints the reliques of blessed Martyrs and the very places of their martyrdome did kindle in times past no small heate of diuine charitie in the mindes of our first Christian Saxon Kings which made Offa the glorious King of the Mercians to recall himselfe from the trace of bloudy warres in great deuotion to goe to Rome and to obtaine of Pope Adrian the first the canonyzation of this martyr Alban in honour of whom the first to our Lord Iesus Christ he founded this monastery about the yeere 795. the Church whereof still remaineth which for bignesse beautie and antiquity is to be had in admiration in the very place where the foresaid Alban suffered his martyrdome He endowed this his gâ—odly fabricke with sufficient reuenues for the maintenance of one hundred blacke Monkes Benedictins and caused the reliques of his new Saint to be taken vp and put in a shrine adorned with gold and pretious stones of inestimable value which was further enriched by his sonne Egfrid and many other succeeding Kings and Princes but now at this day nothing is remaining of this rich Shrine saue a marble stone to couer his sacred Ashes ouer against which on the wall these verses are lately depicted onely to tell vs that such a man there was to whose memory a Shrine was erected Renowned Alban knight first Martyr of this land By Dioclesian lost his life through bloudy hand Who made him soueraigne Lord high Steward of this Isle And Prince of Britaine knights to dignifie his stile He veritie embrac't and Verulam forsooke And in this very place his martyrdome he tooke Now hath he his reward he liues with Christ aboue For he aboue all things Christ and his truth did loue Here Offa Mercians King did Albans bones enshrine So all things were dispos'd by prouidence diuine Nought but this marble stone of Albans Shrine is left The worke of all forme else hath changing time bereft I haue read in an old Mss. in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie that this following was anciently the Inscription vpon his Shrine Here lieth interred the body of Saint Alban a Citizen of old Verulam of whom this towne tooke denomination and from the ruines of which Citie this Towne did arise He was the first Martyr of England and suffered his martyrdome the xx day of Iune in the yeare of mans redemption 293. Vnder a curious and costly funerall monument here in the Quire lyeth interred the body of Vmfrey Plantaginet surnamed the Good fourth sonne of King Henry the fourth By the grace of God for so begins his stile by Charter sonne brother and vncle of Kings Duke of Glocester Earle of Henault Holland Zeland and Pembroke Lord of Friseland great Chamberlaine of England Protector and defender of the Church and kingdome of England Thus great thus glorious by birth creation and marriage was hee in his honourable titles and Princely attributes but farre more great and illustrious in his vertuous endowments and inward qualities But in his praise may it please you reade learned Clarentieux in his tract of Suffolke where he writes of the Abbey of Bury these are his words That father of his countrey Vmfrey Duke of Glocester a due obseruer of Iustice and one who had furnished his noble wit with the better and deeper kinde of Studies after he had vnder King Henry the sixth gouerned the kingdome fiue and twenty yeares with great commendations so that neither good men had cause to complaine of nor enuill to finde fault with was here in Saint Sauiours Hospitall brought to his 〈◊〉 by the spightfull enuie of Margaret of Lorain who was wife to Henâ—â— the â—ixâ—h his Nephew But his death was the stroke of an euill Angell 〈…〉 ent to punish England and to roote out all her Nobles Fidior in regno regi duce non â—uit isâ—o Plusue fide stabilis aut maior amator honoris Saith the Abbot of this house Io. Whethamsted yet for all this was he arrested of high Treason in the yeare 1446. and within few dayes after strangled to death without any triall Some say he died for sorrow because hee might not come to his answer Hee built the Diuinitie Schoole in Oxford and was an especiall benefactour to this Abbey Here is an Epitaph pensild on the wall neare to his Tombe to the same effect with an Item of the miracle which he wrought vpon the blinde imposture The story is frequent Hic iacet Vmphredus Duxille Glocestrius olim Henrici Regis Protector fraudis ineptae Detector dum ficta notat miracula caeci Lumen erat Patriae columen venerabile Regni Pacis amans Musisque fauens melioribus vnde Gratum opus Oxonio quae nunc scola sacra refulget Invida sed mulier regno Regi sibi nequam Abstulit hunc humili vix hoc dignata Sepulchro Invidia rumpente tamen post funera viuit Vnder a large marble stone thus inscribed lieth Iohn Stoke an Abbot of This Church Hic iacet oblitus Stoke stans velut ardua quercus Semper in adversis perstitit intrepidus Wallingford Prior hic gregis huius pastor Abbas Donet ei requiem celsa dei pietas Celica regna bone mihi dentur queso Patrone Penas compesse requiem da virgula Iesse Me precor Amphibale soluens ad sidera sume This Abbot as it is in this Epitaph and in the golden Register of this house was a stout defender of the lands and liberties of his Church hee adorned Duke Vmfreys Tombe hee gaue money by his Will to make a new bell which after his owne name was called Iohn and also to new glase the Cloisters Sibi igitur saith the booke ea sit merces que dari solet illis qui ad honorem sue Ecclesie laudabilia student opera in temporibus suis. Vir crucis Christi tumulo iacet inclitus isti Carcere de tristi saluetur sanguine Christi Armacrucis sumpsit intrando Religionem Mundum contempsit propter celi regionem Hic studuit claustri Pondus sufferre laboris In stadio studij brauium percepit honoris Flatus fortune grandes patiens tolerabat Gaudia tristitia equalilance librabat Nil aduersa timens nec multum prospera curans Se medio tenuit per ferrea tempora durans Omni gestura constans nil triste timebat Omni pressura Christo laudes referebat Armis Iustitie cinctus deitatis amore Hostibus Ecclesie restitit in facie Ad tumulum Proceres mors impia transferet omnes Vt puerilis amor defluit omnis honor I finde this Inscription following vpon a faire marble vnder the pourtraiture of one of the Abbots who modestly thus suppresseth his name Hic quidem terra tegitur Peccato soluens debitum Cuius nomen non impositum In libro vitae sit inscriptum Hic iacet Dominus Michael quondam Abbas huius Monasterij Bachalaureus in Theol. qui obiit pridie Idus Aprilis Ann. M.ccc xlii Michael Abbas
was conceiued of his further proceedings had not God cut him off by vntimely death the 17. day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 796. and in the first of his raigne hauing had neither wife nor issue His bodie with all due obsequies was here Princely interred neare to the Shrine of S. Alban This Abbey Church was likewise honoured with the Sepulture of Robert Mowbray Earle of Northumberland whose storie out of many writers is in this manner extracted This Robert Mowbray a most valiant Souldier seeing his countrey destroyed and ouerrunne euen vnto Alnewicke castle by Malcolme King of Scotland and his armie made head against the said Malcolme not staying for directions from his King William Rufus and so sore and suddenly distressed his forces that both king Malcolme himselfe and his sonne Prince Edward were there slaine Hereupon this Earle growing proud and greatly suspected by King William began to fortifie the Kings Castles with munition for Armes against the like inuasion and indeed against the Kings will who sent him word somewhat roughly to desist from his doings and presently to repaire to his presence which whilest he lingered and neglected to do king William sent his brother Henry to spoile Northumberland and immediately followed after himselfe where without much adoe he tooke the Earle and committed him prisoner to Windsor Castle This Robert Mowbray and William of Anco with others conspired to depriue the King both of Crowne and life and to haue set vp Stephen de Albamarle his Aunts sonne as Houeden and Walsingham will haue it But I reade in an old Manuscript that he fauouring the proceedings of Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury Pro amore bono Ecclesie innocentem vitam finiebat Cuius anime propitietur Deus As the words are Rex ipsum cum alijs decollari mandauit The king commanded that he with others should be beheaded his companion Anco being punished with losse both of his eyes and his virilitie He died in prison saith one writer In ipso Ergastulo deficiens mortuus est regnante Henrico Rege Whose Lands in Normandy as also for the most part here in England the said King Henry gaue to Nigell de Albeney viro probo et illustri Another writer tells vs that he married Maud the daughter of Richerius de Aquila a potent man in the Conquerours dayes and that after foure and thirtie yeares of imprisonment hee died without issue in these words Mathildis autem potenti viro Roberto de Molbraio Comiti Norbandum brorum nupsit qui eodem anno contra Willielmum Rufum Regem Anglorum rebellauit Sed paulo post captus fere 34. annis in carcere praefati Regis Henrici fratris eius sine prole consenuit The same Author deliuers his marriage thus in another place Robertus vt fines suos vndique dilataret ditissimis contubernalibus affinitate potentum sibi copulatis robustior ardua tentaret Mathildem generosam virginem Richerij de Aquila duxit quae neptis erat Hugonis Cestrensis Comitis ex sorore nomine Iudith And in the said page he sets downe his character and the number of the Lordships which he possest here in England with his great power and riches thus Robertus Rogerij de Molbraio filius potentia diuitijsque admodum pollebat audacia et militari feritate superbus pares despiciebat superioribus obtemperare vana ventositate turgidus indignum autumabat Erat autem corpore magnus niger et hispidus audax dolosus vultu tristis ac seuerus Plus meditari quam loqui studebat et vix in confabulatione ridebat Hic nimirum cclxxx villas in Anglia possidebat This man of this high spirit and ample possessions became in the end to bee a shorne Monke of this Monastery as you may reade in the Catalogues of Honour wherein hee died Ann. 1106. To whose memory a Monke of his order made this Epitaph Which he caused to be engrauen vpon his Monument vpon the North side of the Vestrie where he was interred Vir probus fortis quem virtus nescia mortis Condecorat cista iacet hic Robertus in ista Cui dat cognomen Moulbraia nobile nomen Norhandunbrorum comes fuit hic Monachorum Dux erat optatus prudens pius peramatus Hic Monachus fidus hic Martisin agmine sidus Exijt è terris huius mundi quoque guerris Anno milleno Domini centenoque seno Quarta die Februi Pax sit eique mihi Amen Here sometimes was interred the bodie of Alexander Necham whose knowledge in good Arts made him famous throughout England France Italie yea and the whole world and that with such incredible admiration that he was called Miraculum ingenij the wonder and miracle of wit and sapience He was an exact Philosopher an excellent Diuine an accurate Rhetorician and an admirable Poet. As did appeare by many his writings which he left to posteritie some of which are mentioned by Bale He was borne in this Towne as appeares by a certaine passage in one of his Latine Poems cited by Camden and thus englished by his Translator Doctor Holland This is the place that knowledge tooke of my natiuitie My happie yeares my dayes also of mirth and iollitie This place my childhood trained vp in all Arts liberall And laid the groundworke of my name and skill Poeticall This place great and renowned Clerkes into the world hath sent For Martyr blest for nation for site all excellent A troupe here of religious men serue Christ both night and day In holy warfare taking paines duly to watch and pray Camden in his Allusions to names tells vs that he being desirous to enter into religion in this house after he had signified his desire writ thus to the Abbot Laconically Si vis veniam sin autem tu autem Who answered as briefly alluding to his name thus Si bonus sis venias si nequam nequaquam Whereupon saith he he changed his name to Neckam A Monke of this house made this Hexamiter allusiuely to his name Dictus erat Nequam vitam duxit tamen equam He is thought by some saith Bale to haue beene a Canon Regular and to haue beene preferred to the Abbotship of Glocester as another in this old language will haue it And master Alisander that Chanon was er I maked was of Gloucestre Abbot thulk yer viz. 7. Reg. Regis Iohannis But this may be vnderstood of Alexander Theologus of whom I haue spoken elsewhere who was contemporarie with him for I finde that this Alexander was Abbot of Saint Maries in Circester or Cirencester At the time of his death which happened about foure hundred and thirteene yeares since Alexander cognomento Nequam Abbas Cirecestrie literarum scientia clarus obiit Ann. Dom. 1217. lit Dom. C. prid Kal. Feb sepultus erat apud Fanum S. Albani cuius anime propitietur Altissimus Amen Now if
Martyr of the English Nation so the â—bbot of his Monasterie should at all times among other Abbots of Engâ—â—nd in degree of dignitie be reputed first and principall The Abbot and 〈◊〉 of this house were acquitted of all Toll through England They made Iustices ad audiendum terminandum within themselues and no other Iustice could call them for any matter out of their libertie They made Bayliffes and Coroners They had the execution and returne of all Writs 〈◊〉 goods of all out-lawes with Gaole and Gaole deliuerie within themselues And receiued to their owne proper vse the Rom-scot before spoken of throughout all the County of Hertford This Abbey was surrendred vp by the Abbot and Monkes there by deliuering the Couent seale into the hands of â— Pope D. Peter Master Cauendish and other the Kings visitors the fifth day of December 1539. It was valued at a farre vnder â—ate to bee worth of yearely reuenue two thousand fiue hundred and ten pound sixe shillings penny halfe penny q Saint Peters Church in Saint Albans This Church and Churchyard was stuft full with the bodies of such as were slaine in the two battells fought here at Saint Albans In which I finde a funerall Monument for my valiant countreyman Sir Bertin Entwisell who fighting on the Kings partie died of a wound receiued in the first battell Vpon whose Tombe this Inscription inlayd in brasse is yet to be read Here lyth Syr Bertin Entwisel knyght which was borne in Lancaster Shyre and was Vicound and Baron of Brykbeke in Normandy and Baliffe of Constantin Who died the xxviii of May M. cccc.lv on whos sowl Iesu have mercy Of which Sir Bertin thus speaketh Leland in his Commentaries Ther is a Viscownt of Brykbek in Normandy saith he callyd Bertyne or Berframe Cnitwesell that cam into England and was much on the factyon of kyng Henry the sixth and slayn at on of the Battels at Saint Albons and beryed in the Peroche Chyrch of Seynt Peter vnder the plase of the Lectorium in the Quyre wheras a memoriall of hym ther yet remeyneth Ther was a dawghter of this Viscount callyd Lucy of whom Master Bradene of Northamptonshyre is descendyd and in the same Shyre is a mean gentylman of that name These Entwisells were gentlemen of good respect in our countrey in our fathers dayes whose mansion house retaines the name of Entwisell to this houre The last heire of which house as I haue it out of the collections of M. Dalton alias Norroy king of Armes was one Wilfred Entwisell who sold the land that was left him and serued as a Lance at Muselborrowfield in the second yeare of the raigne of king Edward the sixth after that he serued the Guyes in defence of Meth. After that he was one of the foure Captaines of the Fort of Newhauen where being infected with the plague and shipped for England was landed about Portsmouth and being vncertaine of any house died vnder a hedge in September Ann. 1549. Raph Bapthorpe the father and Raphe the sonne of Bapthorpe in the East-riding of Yorkeshire which for many descents hath yeelded both name and habitation to that knightly familie fighting in this Towne vnder the banner of King Henry the sixth lost their liues and here lye buried together with this Epitaph Cum Patre Radulpho Babthorp iacet ecce Radulphus Filius bot duro marmore pressus humo Henrici sexti Dapifer Pater Armiger eius Mors satis id docuit fidus vterque fuit C. Domini quater M. semel L. semel V. semel anno Hos necat haud solos mors truculenta duos Lux hijs postrema Maij vicena secunda Det Deus hijs lucem des sine fine diem Behold where two Raulph Babthorps both the sonne and father lie Vnder a stone of marble hard interr'd in this mould drie To Henry sixth the Father Squire the sonne he Sewer was Both true to Prince and for his sake they both their life did passe The yeare one thousand and foure hundred fiftie five Grimme death yet not alone did them of breath depriue The last day of their light was th'twentith two of May God grant them light in heau'n and without end a day In the yere of Crist on thowsand fowr hundryd ful trew wyth fowr and sixteen Rychard Skipwith gentylman in birth late felow of new Inne In my age twenti on my sowl partyd from the body in August the sixtenth day And now I ly her abyding Gods mercy vndyr this ston in clay Desyring yow that this fal see vnto the Meyden prey for mee That bare both God and man Like as ye wold that oder for yee shold When ye ne may nor can Hic duo consortes Skipwith que Ioanna Ioannes Compaâ—sant vna generosus vnus et alter Vt pariter pausant in pace precare quiescant Tu qui metra legis fic quod requiescere possis Hic iacet Georgius Sâ—ipwith Ar. In this Church are others of this familie interred whose Monuments are quite defaâ—ed of which name Gentlemen of ancient descent faire possessions and knightly degree do at this day flourish at Cotes in the County of Leicester Iunior ense rui fueram tunc Ensiser vni 〈◊〉 Borca comiti dicto cognomine Percy 〈◊〉 Perij periit sibi proh dolor ensis ademit Transâ—ur sum stadij pax sit eique mihi Ipse Thomas dictus Pakington eramque vocatus Hic iacet Edwardus Beulled Ar. quondam Magister Ludi venatici in 〈…〉 Abbatis de Sancto Albano Alicia vxor eius qui Edwardus 〈…〉 M.ccc.lxxv William Wittor and his wyff Grase Vndyr this ston ben buryed her In hevyn good Lord grant them a plase As thow them boght with thy blood so der Which William as her hit doth apper The ninth dey of March past this present lyff On thowsand fowr hundryd and six yer Of Crist whos grase be ther preservatyff Hic iacet Edmundus Westby quondam Hundredarius Sancti Albani 〈◊〉 vxor eius silia heres Ade Stonham et consanguinea et heres Alicie 〈◊〉 .... ob vltimo diâ— Iulii M. cccc.xlvii Hic iacet Cecilia Westby vxor Bartholomei Westby que obiit 2. Iulii Ann. M. cccc.lxxxxv Hic iacet Willelmus Westby quondam Hundredarius et Baliuus Libertatis ......... Hic iacet Edmundus Westby Armiger Iusticiar pacis in Com. Hert. et Hundredarius ac Baliuus de Franchesia Sancti Albani et Margareta vxor eius qui Ed. obiit xviii Septemb. M. cccc.lxxv Henry the sixth was in this Edmunds house Hundreder of S. Albans during the time of the first battell in the Towne Hic iacet Thomas Astry gener filius Radulphi Astry militis et Elisabetha vxor eius â—ilia Willelmi Skipwith Armigeri qui quidem Willel ob ..... M. ccccc.vii Hic iacet Richardus Raynshaw Armig. seruiens ad arma Regis Henrici octaui ......... Here lyth Thomas Blake gentl.
imperious wicked persons wondrous much offensiue and malicious to the Abbey tooke vp their priuie lodgings saying that they were the Kings faithfull seruants and keepers of the peace of the countrie when as to the contrary they rather ouerthrew and disquieted all peaceable gouernment and the whole countrey Here end the Monuments in the Countie of Hartford Essex West Ham. QVeene Mawd wife to king Henry the first passing ouer the riuer of Ley at Ouldford hardly escaped danger of drowning after which shee gaue order that a little beneath at Stretford there should be a bridge made ouer the water going ouer which towards West Ham I saw the remaines of a Monasterie pleasantly watered about with seuerall streames which William Montfichet a Lord of great name of the Norman race built in the yeare of our Lord 1140. The reuenues of this house were much augmented and confirmed by king Richard the second in the tenth yeare of his raigne as by his charter amongst the Records in the Tower appeareth Dedicated it was to the honour of Christ and Mary his blessed mother replenished with blacke Monkes And valued at the suppression to be worth 573. l. 15. s. 6 d. ob q. Diuers other beside the founder endowed this religious Structure Some of whose donations I finde to be confirmed by the said William Montfichet in this manner Willelmus de Montefixo omnibus prepositis ministris hominibus suis tam Francis quam Anglis Salutem Sciatis quod ego concedo et confirmo donationem quam fecerunt Ecclesie Sancte Marie de Ham Matheus Geron de tota terra sua de Cambridg cum pertinenciis absque omni servicio Geraldus de Hamma de vno prato per concessum Martini filia sui aliorum siliorum suorum Donationem etiam quam fecit ergo Capellanus meus â—ecime Dominii mei c. Quod si quis hominum meorum Elemosinam de terra facere voluerit quod de feodo meo sit non concedo vt alibi det nisi ad Abbatiam meam de Ham. Et insuper si quis hominum meorum quicquam beneficii deinceps eidem Ecclesie facere voluerit in terra prato vel quacanque re libere donet hec omnia que et ego concedo confirmo Abbatic Monachis de Ham â—â—perpetuum Precor igitur omnes homines meos vt islam meam Elemosinam manuteneant et conseruant Hiis testibus Margareta vxore mea Richardo de Poylei Humfrido filio Eustachii Willelmo filio Richardi Willelmo de Byron The Seale of this deed is in blouddy waxe The Baronie or habitation of this familie de Monte Fixo or Montfichet was Stansted in this County from whom the Towne is called Stansted Montfichet to this day They were reputed men of very great Nobilitie vntill that their ample inheritance was diuided among three Sisters One of which progenie namely Richard was in the raignes of king Iohn and Henry the third famous for his high prowesse and chiualrie Three the most forcible and valiant knights of England saith Stow in those dayes were Robert Fitz-water Robert Fitz Roger and Rich. Mont-Fichet Here lieth Iohn Hamerton Esquvr Sergeant at Armes to kyng Henry the eyght and of Edith his wife and Richard Hamerton his brother of the Parysh of Fedston in the County of Yorke Which Iohn and Richard fell both sicke in an houre and died both in one houre Ann. Dom. M. ccccc.xii on whose Sowles Iesu haue mercy Amen Hic iacet Henricus Ketleby quondam Serviens illustrissimi Principis Henrici filii metuendissimi Regis Hen. septimi qui obiit 8. die Augusti 1508. Hic sub pede iacet Margareta quondam vxor Iohannis Ketleby de Com. Wigorn. Armig. que obiit 10. die Iunii .... Of your cheritie prey for the sowles of Io. Eglesfeeld who died 13. of August 1504. and for the sowl of Edith his wyf Who died 22. of Iune 1533. Of your cherite prey for the soul of Walter Froste of West Ham Esquyr and Sewar to kyng Harry the eyght and of Anne his wyff doughter of ..... and widow of Richard Caly Merchant of the Staple of Calis Which Anne died the xxiii of October 1527. For the word Sewar saith Minshew I haue heard of an old French book containing the Officers of the king of Englands Court as it was anciently gouerned that he whom in Court we now call Sewar was called Asseour which commeth from the French Asseoir to set setle or place wherein his Office in setting downe the meate is well expressed Or Sewar saith he is deriued perhaps from the French word Esquire id est a Squire because he goeth before the meat as a Squire or Gentleman Vsher. The Fees allowed to this Officer in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth as I haue it out of a generall collection of all the Offices of England in her dayes was thirtie and three pounds thirteene shillings foure pence Orate pro anima Valentini Clerke Elisabethe vxoris eius qui quidem Valentinus obiit 6. die Iunii 1533. et dicta Elisabetha .... Waltham Stow. Here lyeth Sir Georg Monox knight somtym Lord Maior of London and Dame Ann his wyfe whych Sir Georg dyed ..... 1543. and Dame Ann 1500. This Lord Maior reedified the decayed Steeple of this Church and added thereunto the side Isle with the Chappell wherein he lieth entombed He founded here a faire Almeshouse in the Churchyard for an Almesse Priest and thirteene poore Almesse people which he endowed with competent reuenues He also made a cawsey of timber for foot Trauellers ouer the marshes from this Towne to Lock-bridge Ilford Hic iacet Thomas Heron filius heres Iohannis Heron militis Thesaurar Camere Domini Regis qui obiit in Alderbroke 18. Martii 1517. et Ann. Reg. Regis Henrici 8. nono The valiant Familie of the Herons or Heiruns in foregoing ages were the warlike possessors of very large reuenues in the County of Northumberland parcels of whose Baronie was Chipches Tower Swinborne and Foard Castles belonging now to the houses of the Woderingtons and Carrs Raynam Hic iacet Richardus Pasmer generosus quondam Scriba communis Thesauri pro Magistro et conventu Rhodi in Prioratu Sancti Iohannis Ierusalem in Anglia nec non Seneschallus Hospitii Sancti Iohannis tempore reuerendi Patris fratris Willelmi Tournay Prioris ac etiam Superuisoris omnium Maneriorum terrarum et tenementorum infra regnum Anglie ad Priorem dicti Prioratus pertinentium tempore presati Prioris ac tempore reuerendorum Patrum fratrum Io. Longstrother Io. Weston Io. Kendall .... obiit vii die Octob. Ann. Dom. M. ccccc Barking Here lyeth Rychard Cheyney and Ioane his wyf Whych Rychard dyed 1514. on whos ... Iohn Scot and Ioane his wyf ... 1519. Vnder the picture of a Ship sailing in the haven this Inscription Desiderata porta Inveni Portum spes et
restored to all his former honours and withall created Earle of Oxford He died in the yeare 1194. the sixth of king Richard the first and was here buried by his father His wife Agnes or Adeliza lieth buried by him who was the daughter of Henry of Essex Baron of Ralegh the Kings Constable Such was the Epitaph or inscription vpon his Tombe as it is in the book of Colne Priory Hic iacet Albericus de Vere silius Alberici de Veer Comes de Guisney primus Comes Oxonie magnus Camerarius Anglie qui propter summam audatiam effrenatam prauitatem Grymme Aubrey vocabatur obiit 26. die Decembris anno Christi 1194. Richardi â— sexto Aubrey de Vere the sonne of the foresaid Aubrey succeeded his father in all his dignities I finde little written of him in our Histories saue that out of his Christian pietie he did confirme the gift of septem librat terre which Aubrey his father gaue to the Chanons of Saint O sith here in Essex adding thereto something of his owne He dyed in the yeare of our Lord 1214. and sleepeth now in the same Bed with three other Aubreyes his Ancestors To whom this Epitaph vpon Conrad the Emperour at Spires in Germany may be fitly applied Filius hic Pater hic Auus hic Proauus iacet istie The great Belsire the Grandsire Sire and Sonne Lie here interred vnder this Grauestone Hugh de Vere the sonne of Robert the first of that Christian name Earle of Oxford and Lord great Chamberlaine of England was here entombed with his Ancestors who died in the yeare 1263. He had the title of Lord Bolebeck which came by his mother Isabell de Bolebeck daughter and heire of Hugh de Bolebeck a Baron who was Lord of Bolebeck Castle in Whitechurch within Buckinghamshire and of Swaffam Bolebeck in Cambridgeshire Hee had to wife Hawisia the daughter of Saier de Quincy Earle of Winchester as appeares by this Inscription sometime insculpt vpon their Tombe Hic iacent Hugo de Veer eius nominis primus Comes Oxonie quartus magnus Camerarius Anglie filius heres Roberti Comitis Hawisua vxor cius filia Saeri de Quincy comitis Wintonie qui quidem Hugo obiit 1263. Quorum animabus propitietur altissimus Robert de Vere the sonne of Hugh aforesaid Earle of Oxford who enioyed his fathers inheritances and honours the space of thirtie and two yeares lieth here entombed with his ancestours who died in the yeare 1295. Alice his wife the daughter and heire of Gilbert Lord Samford Lord of Hormead in Hertfordshire was interred by him who died at Caufeld house neare Dunmow the ninth day of September 1312. Here lieth buried the body of Robert de Vere sonne and successour to the foresaid Robert whose gouernment both in peace and warre was so prudent his hospitalitie and other workes of charitie so wisely abundant and his Temperance with a religious zeale so admirablie conioyned that he was of all surnamed the good Earle of Oxford and the vulgar esteemed him as a Saint He died the 19. of Aprill 1331. Here lyeth entombed Robert de Vere Richard the seconds Mignion who to adde to his honours created him Marquesse of Dublin a title not knowne before that time in England and in the yeare following Duke of Ireland with commission to execute most inseparable prerogatiues royall These Stiles were of too high a nature and therefore infinitely subiected to enuy Whereupon like a second Gaueston he was hated of the Nobilitie especially for that he was a man nec prudentia caeteris proceribus nec armis valentior as Walsingham saith 9. R. 2. But it was not long before he was banished England by the Barons for abusing the Kings eare to the hurt of the State He had to wife a young faire and noble Lady and the Kings neare kinswoman for she was grandchilde to King Edward by his daughter Isabell he put her away and tooke one of Queene Annes women a Bohemian of base birth Sellarij filia saith Walsingham a Sadlers daughter some say a Ioyners an act full of wickednesse and indignitie Yet this intollerable villanie offered to the bloud-royall King Richard did not encounter neither had the power some say who deemed that by witchcrafts and forceries practised vpon him by one of the Dukes followers his iudgement was so seduced and captiuated that he could not see what was honest or siâ— to doe But where Princes are wilfull or slothfull and their Fauorites flatterers or time-seruers there needs no other enchantments to infatuate yea and ruinate the greatest Monarch Vpon his banishment he went into France where he liued about fiue yeares and there being a hunting he was slaine by a wilde Boare in the yeare 1392. King Richard hearing thereof out of his loue caused his body to be brought into England and to be apparrelled in Princely ornaments and robes and put about his neck a chaine of gold and Rings vpon his fingers and so was buried in this Priory the King being there present and wearing blackes After the death of Robert Duke of Ireland who died without issue his Nephew Aubrey de Vere succeeded him in the Earledome of Oxford he enioyed his honours not passing eight yeares but dyed die Veneris in festo Sancti Georgij Ann. primo Hen. quarti 1400. and lieth here entombed with his worthie Ancestors Here lieth buried in this Priorie Iohn de Vere the third of that Christian name and the thirteenth Earle of Oxford Lord Bolebecke Samford and Scales great Chamberlaine and Lord high Admirall of England Who died the fourth of Henry the eight 1512. hauing beene Earle of Oxford full fifty yeares a long time to tugge out in the troublesome raignes of so many kings especially for men of eminent places and high spirits euer apt to take any occasion to shew their manly prowesse which fire of honour flamed in this Earles breast at Barnet field where in a mist the great Earle of Warwickes men not able to distinguish betwixt the Sun with streames vpon King Edwards liuery and the Starre with streames on this Earles liuery shot at this Earles followers and by that misprision the battell was lost After which he fled into Cornwall and seized vpon Saint Michaels Mount But Edward the fourth got him in his power and committed him prisoner to the Castle of Hames beyond the Seas where he remained for the space of twelue yeares vntill the first of King Henry the seuenth with whom he came into England and by whom he was made Captaine of the Archers at Bosworth-field where after a short resistance hee discomfited the Foreward of King Richard whereof a great number were slaine in the chase and no small number fell vnder the victors sword This Earle gaue a great contribution to the finishing of Saint Maries Church in Cambridge His hospitalitie and the great port he carried here in his country may be gathered out of a
body of Robert Bourchier Lord Chancelor of England in the fourteenth yeare of King Edward the third from whom saith the light of great Britaine Clarentieâ—x sprang a most honourable progenie of Earles and Barons of that name Here stands a monument vnder which one of the right honourable familie of the Veres lieth interred it is much defaced .... Georgio Vere filio Georgii Vere .... militis ....... 1498. High Esterne Here lyeth Dame Agnes Gate the wyf of Sir Geffrey Gate knight the which Sir Geffrey was six yeares Captane of the Isle of Wyght and after Marshal of Caleys and there kept with the Pykards worschipul warrys and euyr entendyd as a good Knyght to please the Kyng in the partyes of Normandy wyth al his myght which Agnes dyed the ix of Decembyr M. cccc.lxxxvii on whos soul Iesu haue mercy Amen Prey for the sowl al ye that liue in sight Of Sir Geffrey Gate the curtesse knight Who 's wyff is beryed here by Goddys might He bowght the Manor of Garnets by right Of Koppeden gentylman so he behight Of this Witnesses his wyff and Executors This yer ...... delihowrs xxii Ian. M. cccc lxxvii Pater de celis Deus miserere nobis Fili redemptor mundi Deus miserere nobis Sancta Trinitas vnus Deus miserere nobis This Manour of Garnets here mentioned and all his other inheritance as I haue it by relation from the Inhabitants about fourescore yeares after the death of this Sir Geffray was forfeited to the Crowne by the attaindour of Sir Iohn Gate Knight beheaded on the Tower hill with Iohn Dudley Duke of Northumberland and Sir Thomas Palmer Knight for that they had endeuoured to haue made Lady Iane the daughter of Henry Grey Duke of Suffolke by Frances his wife who was the daughter of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke by Mary his wife second sister to King Henry the eight and the wife of Guilford Dudley the fourth sonne of the said Duke of Northumberland Queene of England the xxii of August M. ccccc 53. the first of Queene Mary Barmiston Of your cherite prey for the sowl of Peter Wood Who died the thirtyth dey of May Vnto hym that was crucified on the rood To send hym ioyes for ay Castle Heningham Here lieth interred vnder a Tombe of marble and Tuch now ruinous Iohn de Vere the fift of that Christian name Earle of Oxford Lord Bulbeck Samford and Scales and great Chamberlaine of England Vpon which monument I finde nothing engrauen but the names of his children which he had by his wife Elizabeth daughter heire of Edward Trussell of Staffordshire knight Banneret Which were three sonnes and three daughters namely Iohn de Vere the sixth of that Christian name Earle of Oxford Aubrey de Vere second sonne Geffrey Vere the third sonne Father of Iohn Vere of Kirbey Hall of Sir Francis Vere knight the great Leader in the Low countries and of that renowned Souldier Sir Horatio Vere knight Lord Baron of Tilbery in this County Elizabeth married to Thomas Lord Darcy of Chich Anne wife to Edmund Lord Sheffield and Francis married to Henry Howard Earle of Surrey This Earle Iohn was knight of the Garter and Councellour of State to king Henry the eight Who died here in his Castle at Heueningham the 19. of March 1539. Prey for the soul of Dorethy Scroop dawghter of Richard Scroop brother to the Lord Scroop of Bolton .... who .... 1491. This Dorothie was sister of Elisabeth the widow of William Lord Beaumont and daughter of Richard Scroope knight the second wife of Iohn de Vere the third of that Christian name Earle of Oxford In a parchment Roll without date belonging to the Earle of Oxford I find that one Lucia belike some one of that right honourable house founded a Priory in this Parish for blacke veyled Nunnes Which she dedicated to the holy Grosse and the blessed Virgine Mary Of which religious foundation she her selfe was the first Prioresse whose death was wondrously lamented by Agnes who did next succeed her in that office and the rest of the Couent who desire the prayers and suffrages of all the religious houses in England for her soules health The forme whereof to transcribe cannot seeme much impertinent to the subiect I haue in hand nor tedious to the iudicious Reader Anima domine Lucie prime Fundatricis Ecclesie Sancte Crucis et Sancte Marie de Heningham et anime Ricardi et Sare Galfridi et Dametre et Helene et anime omnium defunctorum per miserecordiam Dei requiescant in pace Amen Vniuersis sancte Matris Ecclesie filiis ad quos presens scriptum peruenerit Agnes Ecclesie sancte crucis Sancte Marie de Henigeham humilis Ministra eiusdemque loci conuentus eternam in Domino salutem Post imbres lacrimarum et fletuum innundacionem quam in transitu karissime Matris nostre venerande Lucie prime Priorisse ac fundatricis Domus nostre fudimus que vocante Domino tertio Idus Iulij viam vniuerse carnis ingressa terre debitum humani generis persoluit manum misimus ad calamum vniuersitati vestre scripto denunciantes calamitatem quam patimur subtracta enim tam felici matre in hac valle miserie simul cor nostrum dereliquit nos ec mirum cum eadem tot virtutum polleret moribus tantis gratiarum rutilaret honoribus tot meritorum fragaret odoribus vt merito illi congruat hoc nomen Lucia quod est lucis scientia Recte ideo Lucia dicta quia nomen beate virginis Lucie sortita illius pro viribus imitabatur exempla Illa meritis precibus fluxum sanguinis in Matre deleuit Ista in se omnis motus concupiscentie carnalis restringens fluxum in aliis incontinentie contaminationis per ariditatem sancte conuersationis sobrie vite radicitus extirpauit Illa sponso suo carnalem copulam nutu diuino subtraxit Ista vt nouimus vinculo Matrimonij septies constricta consortii virilis ignara incontaminata semper illesa permansit ita de laqueo venantium temporaliter est erepta Et hoc fecit diuina prudentia vt nullum preter eum admitteret amatorem Ista etiam discreta fuit in silentio vtilis in verbo verecundia grauis pudore venerabilis singulis compassione proxima pre cunctis contemplatione suspensa sicque studuit bene agentibus esse per humilitatem socia vt per zelum iusticie delinquentium corrigeret errata Vnde in titillatione carnis ex ea didicimus habere prudentiam in aduersitate fortitudinem in tribulatione patientiam in desperatione solatium in periculo refugium in estu refrigerium in asperitate lenitatem Et suit nobis ipsius exemplo lectio frâ—quentior oratio pinguior feruentior affectus Quid multa tanta efflorâ—â—â— in hac benignissima virgine pia matre nostra virtus abstinentie tanta ieiuniorum vigiliarum nec non
vestimentorum asperitate disciplinarum que assiduitate corpus suum extenuauit vt fere simul cum Iob sanctissimo pelli sue consumptis carnibus os suum adhereret Et hec talis tantaque sublata est et hec omnia simul Migrauit autem ad illum qui sibi fructuum decimas persolui voluit qui etiam Decalogum constituit mandatorum Miseremini igitur nostri miseremini nostri saltem vos amici nostri et vobis miseris compatiamini fluentes lacrimas per orationum suffragia desiccantes quia pium est saluberrimum pro defunctis exorare vt à peccatis solvantur Subuenite igitur benigni Monachi subuenite venerabiles Canonici vos sancte virgines in conspectu Altissimi preces bostias offerentes vt ipsius pie misercatur qui abstergit omnem lacrimam ab oculis Sanctorum quatenus que ei macule de terrenis contagijs adheserunt remissionis eius remedio deleantur Amen To this Supplication the religious of all houses answer in this forme Titulus Ecclesie Apostolorum Petri Pauli sancte Osithe Virginis Matris de Chich. Anima Domine Lucie Priorisse de Hengeham et anime omnium sidelium defunctorum per Dei miserecordiam requiescant in pace Amen Concedimus ei commune beneficium Ecclesie nostre Oranimus pro vestris orate pro nostris Some againe do answer thus Preter autem commune beneficium et orationes communes Ecclesie nostre concedimus ei ab vnoquoque Sacerdote vnam Missam inferioris ordinis vnum Psalterium et diem ipsius obitus in Martyrilogio nostro annotari fecimus All concluding euer with Oranimus pro vestris orate pro nostris Vnder the picture of the Crucifix the blessed Virgine and vpon her portraiture drawne vpon her Tombe these nicking nice allusiue verses were cut and engrauen Crux bona crux digna lignum super omnia ligna Me tibi consigna redimens a peste maligna Stella Maris candoris ebur speculum Paradysi Fons venie vite ianua Virgo vale Hec Virgo vite mitis super astra locatur Et sic Lucie lux sine fine datur Transijt ad superos venerabilis hec Monialis Vix succedit ei virtutum munere talis Luci lucie prece lux mediente Marie Luceat eterna quia floruit vt rosa verna Ad lucem Lucia venit sine fine manentem Et sic quem coluit patrem videt omnipotentem Tres tibi gemmate lucent Lucia coronâ— Insuper aurate dic lector qua rationâ— Mater virgo tamen Martir fuit ergo inu Amen Cernat ad examen districti Iudicis Amen Subueniant anime Lucie celica queque Ad quorum laudes dapsilis vrna fâ—it Sible Heueningham In this Parish Church sometime stood a Tombe arched ouer and engrauen to the likenesse of Hawkes flying in a wood which was raised to the remembrance of Sir Iohn Hawkewood knight borne in this village the sonne of Gilbert Hawkewood Tanner bound an apprentice to a Tailor in the Citie of London from whence he was prest in the seruice of King Edward the third in the warres of France Of whom for his admired valour he was honoured with the order of knighthood and in the like regard of his notable demerits Barnabie the warlicke brother of Galeasius Lord of Millaine father to Iohn the first Duke of Millaine gaue him his daughter Domnia in marriage by whom he had a sonne named Iohn borne in Italie made knight and naturalized in the seuenth yeare of King Hon. the fourth as I haue it out of a Manuscript in these words Iohannes silius Iohannis Haukewood Miles natus in partibus Italie factus indigena Ann. viii Hen. iiij mater eius nata in partibus transmarinis The Florentines in testimony of his surpassing valour and singular faithfull seruice to their state adorned him with the statue of a man of armes and a sumptuous Monument wherein his ashes remaine honoured at this present day The Italian writers both Historians and Poets resound his worthie acts with full mouth But for my part to vse M. Camdens words it may suffice to adde vnto the rest these foure verses of Iulius Feroldus Hawkwood Anglorum decus et decus addite genti Italicae Italico praesidiumque solo Vt tumuli quondam Florentia sic simulacri Virtutem Iouius donat honore tuam The glorie prime of Englishmen then of Italians bold O Hawkwood and to Italie a sure defensiue hold Thy vertue Florence honored sometime with costly Graue And Iouius adornes the same now with a Statue braue He died an aged man in the yeare of our redemption 1394. and in the eighteenth of King Richard the second His friends here in England who erected for him the foresaid Monument in this Church which were Robert Rokeden senior Robert Rokeden iunior and Iohn Coe founded here also for him a Chantrie and another in the Priorie of Heningham Castle to pray for his soule and the soules of Iohn Oliuer and Thomas Newenton Esquires his militarie companions Chesterford Here ly the bodyes of William Holden and Agnes his wyf whych William dyed ... 1532. on whos sowlys and al Christian sowlys ... Here ly William Holden and Katherin his wyf ...... 1524. This familie as I was told is now extinct here is an old ruinous house still remaining called Holdens Saffron Walden So called of the great plentie of Saffron growing in the fields round about the Towne a commoditie brought into England in the time of King Edward the third But I digresse and am quite off my Subiect being out of the Parish Church wherein Sir Thomas Audley knight of the Garter Baron Audley of this Towne sometime Sergeant at Law Attourney of the Duchie of Lancaster and Lord Chancellour of England lieth entombed with this seeli Epitaph The stroke of deaths ineuitable dart Hath now alas of life bereft the hart Of Sir Thomas Audley of the Garter knight Later Chancellor of England vnder our Prince of might Henry the eight worthie of high renowne And made by him Lord Audley of this Towne Obijt vltimo Aprilu Ann. Dom. 1544. Henrici 36. Cancelleriatus sui 13. aetatis 56. Haue mercy good Lord on the soul of Thomas Holden That hit may rest wyth God good neyghbors say Amen He gave the new Organs wheron hys name is set For bycause only yee shold not hym forget In yowr good preyers to God he took hys wey On thowsand fyve hundryd and eleuin in Nouembyr the fourth dey Hic iacet his stratus West Matheus tumulatus Qui fuit hic gratus vicarius ciueque natus M. Dominiter C .... terris sit remeatus Huic ...... existit propiciatus Of yowr cherite prey for the soulys of Ion Nichols Alys Ione Alys and Ione his wyfs Iohannes Pater Noster miserere nobis Alisia Fili redemptor mundi miserere nobis Ioanna Spiritus sancte miserere nobis Alisia Sancta
at dinner vpon the day of his coronation and whether this be she here buried or not I know not Richard Lions held the said Mannor after her by the seruice of making Wafers vpon the day of the Kings Coronation and of seruing the King with the same Wafers as he sits at dinner the same day Leez Abbey This Abbey of old time was founded by the Gernons now it is the seate of the Right Honourable and one right worthy of all his due honours Robert Lord Rich Baron Leez and Earle of Warwicke now liuing An. 1631. This Abbey or Priory was valued at the time of the suppression as it is in the catalogue of Religious houses to be yearely worth one hundred forty one pound fourteene shillings eight pence Rickling Humfrey Waldene le premer gist icy Dieu de salme eit mercy Amen Hic iacet Henricus Langley Armig. qui obijt xx Sept. M. cccc.lviii et Margareta vxor cius vna filiarum et heredum Iohannis Waldene Armigeri que obijt v. Martii M. cccc.liii Hic tacet Thomas Langley Ar. qui obijt 1 Mar. M. cccc.lii Here lyth Henry Langley Esquyr and Dame Katherin his wyff whych Henry departyd this lyff 11 April M. cccc lxxx viii and Dame Katherine died ..... the yere of our Lord God M. ..... on whos Vpon this last marble stone are the portraitures in brasse of the three daughters of Henry Langley amongst whom his inheritance was diuided as I haue it by tradition as Waldens was before whose chiefe seate was at Langley Wilbores in this parish Thaxted This Church is spatious beautifull and built Cathedrall-like but neither in this Church in Braintrie nor scarcely in any other Church seated within a Market Towne shall you finde either Monument or Inscription onely some two or three Inscriptions are here remaining Her lyth Rychard Dammary and Alys his wyff and Rychard Dammary his sonn Ione Elizabyth and Ann on whos soulys God hau mercy Which Rychard the yongyrgawe a Meide callyd Abel Meide for a perpetual mynd yerly to be kept for ther soulys and al christen soulys Syr Walter Clerk gist icy Dieu de s'alme eit mercy Orate pro animabus Richardi Large et Alicie vxoris eius qui quidem Richardus obijt 27. Martij 1458. The Inhabitants say that this Richard Large was brother to a certaine Lord Maior of London named Large who at his death bestowed wondrous largely vpon the poore and the repairing of high waies which I take to haue beene Robert Large Maior of London Anno 1440. who gaue 120. l. to poore prisoners and euery yeare for fiue yeare 403. Shirts and Smockes 40. paire of Sheetes and one hundred and fifty Gownes of good Frize to poore people To poore Maids marriages one hundred markes to repairing high waies one hundred markes to fiue hundred poore people in London euery one sixe shillings viii d the rest of his bountifull charitie you may reade in Stow Suruay Little Easton Here is a goodly Tombe of marble on the north side of the Chancell â—nder which saith Brooke in his Catalogue of Nobility William Bourchier Earle of Ewe in Normandy lyeth interred but Vincent whom I rather beleeue in his discouery of Brookes Errors approues this Earle as also his wife Anne the daughter of Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester to be buried in the Abbey of Lanthonie by Gloucester If this monument could speake like others by her inscription it might haply decide the controuersie but all the words vpon it are Fili Dei miserere mei Mater Dei miserere mei Which seemingly commeth by a labell from a man and a woman thereupon pourtraied Of this Earle more when I come to Lanthony Betweene the Chancell and the Bowsers Isle or Chappell is a very costly arched Tombe of polished marble inlaid with brasse the picture of a man and a woman and in diuers places of the foresaid Arch on the womans side is the Fetter lock and Bowsers knot but without inscription By supposition made to the memorie of Henry Bourchier sonne of William Bourchier aforesaid Earle of Essex and Ewe and Isabell his wife daughter of Richard Earle of Cambridge and sister of Richard Duke of Yorke Which Henry died quarto Aprilis 1483. a valiant and worthie Nobleman he was fortunate in Martiall enterprises and in matters of peace so learned wise and politicke that he was thought fit by Edward the fourth to be Lord Chancellour of England In the same Chappell on the North side remaineth a very faire Altar Tombe of marble within the which lyeth the body of Henry Lord Bourchier and Louaine and Earle of Essex Sonne and heire of William Bourchier that died before his father and grandchilde to Henry Earle of Essex next before mentioned ouer his Tombe hangeth as yet part of his achieuements as the cote of his Armes Helme Crest and sword This Earle brake his necke by a fall from his horse the twelfth day of March in the one and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of King Henry the eight 1539. His horse was young saith Stow and he the oldest Earle in England for if you will reckon the yeares from the death of his Grandfather who liued after his sonne the father of this Henry as I haue said before vntill the yeare of this his fatall misfortune you shall finde them to be fifty sixe and what age he was at his Grandfathers death you may imagine In the Hall of the Mannor house of Newton in the Parish of little Dunmowe remaineth in old painting two postures the one for an ancestor of the Bourchiers combatant with another being a Pagan king for the truth of Christ whom the said Englishman ouercame and in memory thereof his descendants haue euer since borne the head of the said Infidell as also vsed the surname of Bourchier or Bowser Here are foure wondrous ancient Monuments of the Louaines all the Inscriptions of them are worne out these few words excepted Sire Thomas Louaine ici gist Margarie la file Moun .... This noble familie of the Lovaines in former ages did here inhabite by the name of Fitz-Gilbert one of which house namely Maurice Fitz-Gilbert was surnamed de Louaine as descended from Godfrey of Louaine brother to Henry the sixth of that name Duke of Brabant Who being sent hither to keepe the honor of Eye his posterity flourished among the Peeres of this Realme to the time of Edward the third when the heire generall was married to the house of Bourchier This Bowsers Chappell for it is so commonly called is now the buriall place for the noble familie of the Maynards In Northburne natus Robertus sum vocitatus De terra factus in terram sumque redactus Intercedendo spiritum tibi Christe comendo Propitietur Deus Benefactoribus omnibus Ecclesie pauperis huius The treble Bell in the steeple of this Church is called the Bowsers
Bell on which is cast a peece of coine of siluer of King Edward the fourth it was giuen by one of the Countesses of Essex as one may partly gather by an old Inscription vpon it is the Bowsers knot Tiltey Here sometime stood a Monastery founded by Maurice Fitz-Gilbert before remembred not long after the Conquest which he dedicated to the honour of the Virgine Mary and therein placed white Monkes of the Cistertian order The donations to this religious house are confirmed in the Records of the Tower Cart. Antiq. lit S. The valuation of it at the suppression was 177. l. 9 s. 4. d. This Monasterie is not altogether ruinous in the little Church whereof I found these Funerall Inscriptions following Bruntingthorpe neare to Leicester hath long beene the habitation of the ancient familie of Dannet saith Master Burton who beareth sable Guttee Argent a Canton Ermine one of which familie lieth here interred with this Epitaph Hic iacet sepultus cum coniuge Maria Gerardus Dannet de Bruntingthorp in Com Lecestr Ar. serenissimi Regis Henrici octaui Consiliarius qui obijt Anno Christi M. ccccc.xx mensis Maij quarto The armes afore blazoned are ouer the Monument of this Councellour to king Henry Abbas famosus bonus viuendo probatus In Thakley natus qui iacet hic tumulatus Thomas dictatus qui Christo sit sociatus Rite gubernauit istumque locum peramauit Great Easton Orate .... Willelmi Moigne Ar .... qui obiit .... M.ccc.v This William Moigne or Monke held this Mannor of Easton ad montem for so it was anciently called with Winterborne and Maston in the Countie of Wilts by seruice of being Clarke of the Kings Kitchin and keeper of his Lardarie tempore Coronationis Hatfield Brad-oke So called saith Camden of a broad spread Oake in which Towne Robert de Vere the third Earle of Oxford and great Chamberlaine of England founded a Priorie for blacke Monkes About the beginning of the raigne of King Henry the third valued at the suppression at 157. l. 3. s. 2. d. ob per annum which Priory Aubrey de Vere the third of that Christian name Earle of Oxford enfeoffed with the Tithes of this Towne and to the instrument of his donation he affixed by a harpe string as a labell to the bottome of the parchment a short blacke hafted knife like vnto an old halfe penny whitle instead of a Seale These are the words in his Grant Per istum cultellum Albericus de Vere tertius feoffauit Prioratum et Conventum de Hatfeeld Regis alas Brodoke cum omnibus decimis in villa predicta Habend c. a festo Assumptionis beate Marie virginis in puram perpetuam Eleemosinam c. Of this old manner of signing and sealing of deeds you may read Lambard in his perambulation of Kent pag. 318. This Robert was first entombed in the Church of his owne foundation and at the dissolution remoued into the Quire of this Parish Church where he lieth crosse-legged with this inscription now almost worne out Sire Robert de Veer le premier count de Oxenford le tierz git ci Dieux del alme si luy plest sace merci Oi pur lame priera xl iors de pardonn anera Pater Noster Sir Robert Vere the first and third Earle of Oxford lieth here God if he please have mercy of his soule whosoeuer shall pray for his soule shall obtaine fourty dayes Pardon He died in the yeare 1221. Hic iacent Thomas Barington Ar. Anna vxor eius qui quidem Thomas obijt v. Aprilis M. cccc lxxij Anna obiit proximo die sequenti Quorum animabus propitietur Altissimus At Barington Hall within this Parish saith that learned delineator of Great Britaine M. Camden dwelleth that right ancient familie of the Baringtons which in the raigne of King Stephen the Barons of Montfitchet inriched with faire possessions since which time this house is much enobled by the marriage of Sir Thomas Barington knight with Winifred the daughter and coheire of Sir Henry Pole knight Lord Montague sonne of Margaret Plantaginet Countesse of Salisbury descended of the bloud royall being the daughter of George Duke of Clarence Great Dunmow Exoretis miserecordiam Dei pro anima Walteri Bigod Armigeri qui obijt 17. die mens Mar. 1397. Simon de Regham iadis Parson de Dunmow gist icy Dieu de son alme eit mercy Amen Of yowr cherite prey for the sowls of Iohn Ienone Esquyr somtym on of the Common Pleas of Westmynstre and Alys his wyff Whych Iohn dyed xvii Septembyr M. Vc.xlii Little Dunmow Iuga the wife of one Baynard a Nobleman that came in with the Conquerour the builder of Baynards Castle in London founded the Priority in this village in the beginning of the raigne of Henry Beauclerke and entreated Mauricius Bishop of London to dedicate the Church to the honour of the virgine Mary to which the same day she gaue halfe a Hide of land Her sonne and heire Geffrey Baynard placed blacke Chanons therein by the consent of Anselme Archbishop of Canterbury This house was valued at the suppression to be yearely worth 173. l. 2. s. 4. d. The Church of this monastery is as yet standing in the Quire whereof betweene two pillars lieth the body of Matilda the faire entombed who was the daughter of Robert Fitz-water the most valiant knight of England About the yeare 1213. saith the booke of Dunmow there arose a great discord betwixt king Iohn and his Barons because of Matilda surnamed the faire daughter of Robert Fitz-water whom the King vnlawfully loued but could not obtaine her nor her fathers consent thereunto Whereupon and for other like causes ensued warre through the whole Realme The king banished the said Fitz-water amongst other and caused his Castle called Baynard and other his houses to be spoiled Which being done he sent a messenger vnto Matilda the faire about his old Suit in Loue Et quia noluit consentire toxicauit eam And because she would not agree to his wicked motion the messenger poisoned a boiled or potched Egge against she was hungrie and gaue it vnto her whereof she died the yeare 1213. In the yeare following after her death her banished father was restored to the kings fauour vpon this occasion It happened in the yeare 1214. king Iohn being then in France with a great armie that a truce was taken betwixt the two Kings of England and France for the terme of fiue yeares and a riuer or arme of the Sea being betwixt either host there was a knight in the English host that cried to them of the other side willing some one of their knights to come and iust a course or two with him Wherupon without stay Robert Fitz-water being on the French part made himselfe ready ferried ouer got on horseback and shewed himself ready to the face of
quingentesimo decimo nono In the hall of the Mannor house of Newton Hall in this Parish remaineth in old painting two postures th' one for an Ancestor of the Bourchiers combatant with another being a pagan king for the truth of Christ whom the said Englishman ouercame and in memory thereof his descendants haue euer since borne the head of the said Infidell as also vsed the surname of Bowser as I had it out of the collections of Augustine Vincent Windsore Herald deceased Boreham The inheritance and honours of this famous and right noble race of the Fitz-waters came at length by mariage into the stocke of the Radcliffes for in the pedegree of Sir Alexander Radcliffe of Ordsall in the county of Lancaster knight of the Bath descended as the Earle of Sussex is from the Radcliffes anciently of Radcliffe in the said County the sonne of that valiant and generally beloued Gentleman Sir Iohn Radcliffe Lieuetenant Colonell slaine fighting against the French in the Isle of Rhee the 29. day of October in the yeare of our Lord one thousand sixe hundred twenty and seuen I finde that Sir Iohn Radcliffe Knight sonne of Sir Iohn Radcliffe knight who married Katherine the daughter and heire of Edward Lord Burnell of Acton Burnell in the county of Salop married Elizabeth the daughter and heire of Walter Lord Fitz-water of Woodham a Baron of great riches as of ancient nobility the father of Iohn who was Father of Robert Radcliffe the first of that sirname Earle of Sussex Viscount Fitz-water Lord Egremont and Burnell who with other two Earles his Sonne and Grandchilde lie here interred vnder a sumptuous monument as appeareth by their seuerall inscriptions and liuely portraitures To the memory of the first Earle for I am tied by my method onely to his at this time these funerall lines following are engrauen Robertus Radcliffe miles Dominus Fitz-water Egremond et Burnel Vicecomes Fitz-water magnus Camerarius Anglie Camerarius Hospitij Regis Henrici octaui ac eidem a consilijs Prelijs in Gallia commissis aliquoties inter primos ductores honoratus in alijs belii pacisque consultationibus non inter postremos habitus aequitatis Institiae constantiae magnum aetatis suae columen obijt xxvii die Nouemb. Anno Dom. M. ccccc.xlii aetat This Earle had three wiues whose portraitures are cut here vpon the Tombe by all of which he had issue By his first wife Elizabeth who was the daughter of Henry Stafford Duke of Buckingham hee had Henry after him Earle of Sussex here intombed George Radcliffe and Sir Humfrey Ratcliffe of Elnestow By Margaret his second wife daughter of Thomas Lord Stanley Earle of Darby he had Anne married to Thomas Lord Wharton who lieth here buried by her father and Iane maried to Sir Antony Browne Knight Viscount Mountague By his third wife the daughter of Sir Iohn Arundell of Lanherne in Cornwall Knight he had issue Sir Iohn Radcliffe Knight who died without issue in the yeare 1566. and lieth buried in Saint Olaues Hart-streete London Henry Radcliffe Earle of Sussex sonne of this Robert as aforesaid was one of the priuie Councell to Queene Mary as I finde it in her Grant of liberty made vnto him for the wearing of Coyfes or Cappes in her presence which I coppied out of the Originall amongst the Euidences of Robert late Earle of Sussex deceased expressed in these words following Mary the Queene Mary by the grace of God Quene of Englonde France and Irelonde defendor of the Feythe and in Earthe of the Church of Englonde and Irelonde supreme Hede. To all to whom this present wryting shall come sendeth greting in our Lord euerlasting Know ye that wee do gyue and pardon to our welbeloued and trusty Cosen one of oure priuey Counsell Henry Earle of Sussex Viscount Fitz-water Lord Egremond and Burnell liberty licens and pardon to were his Cappe Coyf or night Cappe or twoo of them at his pleasor as well in oure presens as in the presens of any other person or persons within this our Relme or any other place of our dominion wheresoeuer during his life And these oure lettres shall be his sufficient warrant in this behalfe Yeuen vndre oure Signe Manuell at oure Palaes of Westminstre the second dey of October in the first yere of oure Reigne Her Seale with the Garter about it is fixed to this Grant with a labell of silke and so are the Armes of the Kings of England and E. R. the Seale manuell of Edward the sixt not altered This Henry departed this life at Sir Henry Sidneyes house in Chanon Row at Westminster on wednesday morning the 17. of February betweene fiue and sixe a clocke in the third and fourth yeare of Philip and Mary Anno 1556. as Vincent in his Discouerie of Brookes Errors verifieth by a certificate thereof in the booke of Burials in the Office of Armes Fol. 225. He was buried first by his Father in Saint Laurence Poultney Church in London from whence their remaines were remoued hither as you shall vnderstand by the present sequele That braue-spirited politicke-wise Lord Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Chamberlaine of the Houshold to Queene Elizabeth of famous memory built or began to build a Chappell in this Church wherein this glorious Tombe is erected as a place of buriall for himselfe and his worthy progeny and commanded by his last Will and Testament as I was told that the honourable remaines of his Father and Grandfather Henry and the foresaid Robert Earles of Sussex should be remoued from the parish Church of Saint Laurence Poultney London where their bodies lay buried to this his Chapbell at Boreham wherein hee desired to be entombed all which was accordingly performed This Tombe was made by one Richard Stephens an outlandish man and finished with all furniture as gilding colouring and the like thereunto belonging the xxviii of May M.D. lxxxxix the whole charge thereof amounting to the summe of cclxxxxii l xii s. viii d. as appeares by the account which I haue seene This Thomas Earle of Sussex saith Camden was a most worthy and honourable personage in whose minde were seated ioyntly both politicke wisedome and martiall prowesse as England and Ireland acknowledged but more of him hereafter These Earles of Sussex of this sirname from Robert the first to Robert the last who died An. Dom. 1629. haue euer beene Knights of the Garter Hic iacet Thomas Coggeshale Ar. filius Thome Coggeshale Armigeri Iohanna vxor eius que quidem Iohanna obijt xvii Iulij M.ccc.xv Thomas obiit ..... Newport Her lyeth Thomas Brown Who 's sowl God pardown ......... M. ccccc.xv Her vndyr this marble ston Lyeth the body of master Ion Heynes Bacheler of Law And somtym Vycar of this Chirch I traw Who passyd out .......... ...... M. cccc Here sometime stood an hospitall in this Towne by whom founded I cannot reade Valued at the fatall destruction of all such houses at 23.
l. 10. s. 8. d. per annum Pleshy This Collegiate Church was founded by Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester for Canons regular which was valued in the Kings bookes to be yearely worth one hundred thirty nine pounds three shillings ten pence The vpper part of which Church within these few yeares was taken downe and as I was told in the Towne the Parishioners being either vnwilling or vnable to repaire the decayes carried away the materials which were employed to other vses This part of the Church was adorned and beautified with diuers rich funerall Monuments which were hammered a peeces bestowed and diuided according to the discretion of the Inhabitants Vpon one of the parts of a dismembred Monument carelesly cast here and there in the body of the Church I found these words Here lyeth Iohn Holland Erle of Exceter Erle of Huntington and Chamberleyne of England Who dyed ....... This Iohn was halfe brother to King Richard the second and Duke of Exceter From which dignitie he was deposed by Act of Parliament in the first yeare of King Henry the fourth whose sister he had married and in the same yeare beheaded in this Towne for a seditious conspiracie saith Camden and in the very place where the Duke of Glocester was arrested by King Richard which was in the base court of the Castle of Pleshie now quite ruined that he might seeme saith he to haue beene iustly punished by way of satisfaction for the foresaid Duke of Glocester of whose death he was thought to be the principall procurer He was beheaded the third day after the Epiphanie 1399. 1. Hen. 4. Vpon a broken peece of a faire marble stone reared to the side of a pillar whereupon were the pictures in brasse of an armed knight and his Lady this ensuing disticke was engrauen Militis o miserere tui miserere Parentum Alme deus regnis gaudeat ille tuis Vnder this stone if Tradition may go for truth Sir Edward Holland Earle of Mortaigne sonne of the foresaid Iohn Holland beheaded with his Lady were entombed Orate pro anima Iohannis Scot primi Magistri huius Collegij qui obijt primo die Ianuar. M. cccc.x Qui me psalmasti miserere mei Qui me pretioso tuo sanguine redimisti miserere mei Qui me ad Christianitatem vocasti miserere mei Here lyeth Robert Frevyt a man letterd sowndyt For hys sowl and for all christine sey a Pater Noster and an Ave. But I shall forget the Founder Thomas of Woodstocke the sixth sonne of King Edward the third and Vncle to King Richard who was taken by force from this his Castle of Plessy by Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall and conuayed to Callis where he was smothered vnder a Featherbed 1397. His body was afterwards conueyed with all funerall pompe into England and buried here in this Church of his owne foundation in a goodly sepulchre prouided by himselfe in his life time Whose reliques were afterwards remoued and laid vnder a marble inlaid with brasse in the Kings Chappell at Westminster In which Church Elianor his wife of whom I haue spoken before lieth entombed with this French inscription who after the death of her husband became a Nunne in the Abbey of Barking within this County Cy gist Aleonore de Bohun aysue fille et vn des heirs l'hounrable seignour Mons. Humfrey de Bohun Counte de Hereford d'Essex et de Northampton et Constable d'Engleterre Femme a puissant et noble prince Tho. de Woodstock Fitz a tresexcellent et tre puisant seignour Edward Roi d'Engleterre puis le Conquest tiers Duc de Glocestre Counte d'Essexie et de Buchingham et Constable d'Engleterre quemorust le tierz iour a'October ban du grace 1399. de gi aisme Dieux face mercy Amen But againe to returne to the Duke her husband touching whose life and death with the manner thereof thus writeth Gower in his booke called Vox clamantis O quam Fortuna stabilis non permanet una Exemplum cujus stat in ordine carminis hujus Rex agit et Cygnus patitur de Corde benignus Ille prostratus non est de Rege levatus Ad Plessye captus tunc est velut Hostia raptus Rex jubet arma geri nec eo voluit misereri Cum Sponsa nati lugent quasi morti gravati Plusque Lupo sevit Rex dummodo Femina flevit Nil pietas munit quem tunc manus invida punit Rex stetit obliquus nec erat tunc unus amicus O Regale genus Princeps quasi pauper egenus Turpiter attractus jacet et sine iure subactus Sunt ibi Fautores Regis de sorte Priores Qui Cygnum pendent vbi captum ducere tendent Sic ducendo ducem perdit sine lumine lucem Anglia que tota tenebrescit luce remota Trans mare natavit regnum qui semper amavit Flent centum mille quia Cygnus preterit ille Calisij portus petit unde dolus latet ortus Error quem Regis genuit putredine legis Carcere conclusus subito fuit ille reclusus Nescit quo fine sit vite sive ruine Tunc Rex elatum sumpsit quasi Falco volatum Vnde suas gentes perdit Custode carentes A little after follow these verses touching the deniall of buriall to bee granted vnto him among the rest of his honourable and royall Ancestors Sic nece devictum sic corpus ab hoste relictum Clam de conclavi susceperat Anglia navi Per mare regreditur corpus nec adhuc sepelitur Namque sepulturam defendit Rex sibi puram Desuper a latere patris loca justa tenere Dummodo quesivit vix bassa sepulchra subivit Of the manner of his death these three verses following Hen quam tortorum quidam de sorte malorum Sic Ducis electi plumarum pondere lecti Corpus quassatum jugulant que necant jugulatum Such was the end of this royall Prince sonne to a King and vncle to a King who by our writers is discommended in this that he was euer repining against the King in all things whatsoeuer he wished to haue forward Erat enim vir ferocissimus precipitis ingenij as Polidor censures him a most fierce man and of an headlong wit who thinking still that those times wherein he had mastred the King were nothing changed though the King was aboue thirty yeeares old forbare not roughlie not so much to admonish as to check and schoole his Soueraigne Hatfield Peuerell So denominated of one Randolph Peuerell the owner thereof to whom Edward the Confessor was very munificent for that hee had married his kinswoman the daughter of Ingelrick a man of great Nobilitie among the English Saxons A Lady of that admirable beautie that with her lookes she conquered the Conquerour William who desired nothing more then to be her prisoner in Armes which to effect hee begins to expresse a kinde of loue to the remembrance of
reuenues Richard Cordelion his sonne confirmes the gift and exchange of the Canons made by his father by his Charter to be read in the Tower in these words Richardus Dei gratia c. Inde est quod sicut Pater noster mutationem Canonicorum secularium institutionem Canonicorum regularium fecit in Ecclesia de Waltham eis quasdam non as possessiones et veteres concessit confirmauit Sic nos laudabiliter virorum commutationem in prefata Ecclesia factam nostra autem approbamus Et pro salute predicti Patris nostri et Matris nostre et Fratrum nostrorum et pro salute omnium fidelium constitutionem Canonicorum Regularium in eadem Ecclesia factam donationes possessiones nouas que a Patre nostro eis facte sunt presenti carta nostra confirmamus Dat. c. Henry the third encreased much their reuenues with Faires and Markets a Faire here for seuen dayes and at Epping a Market euery Monday and a Faire for three dayes So by the munificence of these Kings their Successours and Subiects this Abbey at the generall suruey and surrender was valued at Robin Hoods pennieworths to dispend yearely 900. pounds foure shillings and foure pence The Catalogue of religious houses saith 1079. l. 12. s. and a pennie The Church of this Monastery hath escaped the hammers of destruction and with a venerable aspect sheweth vnto vs the magnitude of the rest of this religious Structure Herein Harold made his vowes and prayers for victorie when hee marched against the Norman Conquerour In which battell by the shot of an arrow through the left eye into his braines he was slaine the 14. of October being Saturday 1066. hauing raigned nine moneths and odde dayes whose body by the mediation of his mother Githa and two religious men of this Abbey being obtained of the Conquerour howsoeuer at the first by him denyed affirming that buriall was not fit for him whose ambition had beene the cause of so many funeralls was conueyed with great lamentation by his said mother Githa and a small deiected remainder of the English Nobilitie to this his owne Church and herein solemnly interred vpon whose Monument this Epitaph was engrauen Heu cadis hosle sero Rex a Duce Rege sutaro Par paris gladio milite valido Firmini iusti lux est tibi luce Calixti Pronior hinc superas hinc superatus eras Ergo tibi requiem deposcat vtrumque perennem Sicque precetur eum quod colit omne Deum A fierce foe thee slew thou a King he king in view Both Peeres both Peerelesse both fear'd and both fearlesse That sad day was mixt by Firmin and Calixt Th' one helpt thee to vanquish t'other made thee languish Both now for thee pray and thy Requiem say So let good men all to God for the call Girth and Leofwin his two brethren lost their liues likewise vnder Harolds Banner which was brondet saith Robert of Glocester with sygur of a man fyghtyng biset al about wyth gold and preciosse stons which Baner aftur the Bataile Duc William sent to the Pope in tokne of the victory Whose bodyes were in like manner brought to this Church and here entombed It is said that Girthe not holding it best to hazard the Kindome of England at one cast signified to the King that the successe of warre was doubtfull that victory was rather swayed by fortune then by valour that aduised delay was most important in martiall affaires and if so bee brother said hee you haue plighted your faith to the Duke retire your selfe for no force can serue against a mans owne conscience God will reuenge the violation of an oath you may reserue your selfe to giue them a new encounter which will be more to their terrour As for me if you will commit the charge to me I will performe both the part of a kinde brother and a couragious Leader For being cleare in conscience I shall sell my life or discomfit your enemy with more felicitie But the King not liking his speech answered I will neuer turne my back with dishonour to the Norman neither can I in any sort digest the reproach of a base minde well then be it so said some discontented of the company let him beare the brunt that hath giuen the occasion This Harold is much commended for his courteous affabilitie gentle deportment Iustice and warlike prowesse in nothing blame worthy saue that in the opinion of his owne valour he addicted himselfe wholly to his owne resolutions neglecting the wise deliberations of his best friends and Councellors And that his courage could neuer stoope to be lower then a King For which he is taxed to be an impious man falsely aspiring to the Crowne by vsurpation Of which my old Author with whom I will conclude hath these rimes Harold the falls Erle tho Sent Edward ded ley Hym selue let corone King thulk self dey Falsliche Richard the first king of England for his matchlesse valour surnamed Cordelion or Lions-heart is by some of our old English writers said to haue slaine a Lion and by the pulling out of his heart to haue gained that attribute or denomination the truth is that Hugh Nevill a gentleman of noble linage one of King Richards speciall familiars is recorded to haue slaine a Lion in the holy Land driuing first an arrow into his breast and then running him thorow with his sword whereupon this Hexameter was made Viribus Hugonis vires periere Leonis The strength of Hugh a Lion slue Which atchiuement belike was transferred from the man to the master and the story applied to the by-name of K. Richard This Hugh was high Iustice Gardian or Prothoforester of England He died about the sixt of King Henry the third being full of yeeres corpus eius saith Paris in Ecclesia de Waltam nobili Sarchophago marmoreo et in sculpto traditur sepulturae and his body was buried in this Church of Waltham vnder a noble engrauen marble Sepulchre Iohn Nevill his sonne non ultimus inter Angliae nobiles patris sui pedetentim sequens vestigia and the sonne and heire as well of his vertues as reuenues and offices being accused by one Robert Passelew a man of eminent authoritie vnder King Henry the third of diuers transgressions or omissions in the Forrest Lawes committed by him by his conniuencie or sufferance in this Forrest of Waltham and other the Kings Forrests Parks and Chaces was adiudged to pay a Fine of two thousand markes and ignominiouslie to be cast out of his offices which he tooke so to heart that not long after languishing away with sorrow he breathed out his afflicted spirit in Iuly 1245. at his Mannor of Whelperfield from whence he was conueyed to this Abbey and here honourably entombed by his father I finde in Registro Cartarum Abbatie de Waltam that these two Nevils were great benefactors to
Young to inuest the now King of Sweden with the Order of the Garter who honoured him with the degree of Knighthood and granted an honourable augmentation vnto his Armes being the three Crownes of Sweden He was also imployed into France and from thence attending our now Queene when she came ouer in the first yeare of his Maiesties Raigne Henry Chitting Chester 1618. Iohn Borough Mowbray extraordinarie 23. Dec. 1623. and created the same day Norroy Augustine Vincent Windsor who died the ... of ... 1625 Of whom I haue spoken elsewhere and whose losse I doe still lament He left to future posteritie a Booke which he called A Discouery of Errors published by Raph Brooke Yorke Herald William le Neue Mowbray Herald extraordinary Iohn Philipott Somerset William le Neue aforesaid Yorke This William le Neue Yorke Herauld was imployed into France the first yeare of his Maiestie and from thence attended our Queene into England who with Sir Henry St. George Richmond Herald were royally rewarded by her Maiestie with the gift of a thousand French Crownes He was also employed to attend vpon his Maiesties Embassage which was sent in the yeare 1629. vnto the French king Lewis the thirteenth and at the Ceremonies done thereat he there performed his office in his Coat of Armes as appeareth in a French relation lately printed at his returne from thence the King rewarded him with a Chaine of gold of good value and a Medalle of his pourtraiture And further gaue him his Royall letters Mandatory vnto all his Officers and Subiects therein signifying that let me vse part of the Kings owne words le Sieur Guillaumâ— le Neue Escuyer Herault Darmes du Roy de la grand Bretagne nostre trâ—scher et tresamè bon frere et beau frere par luy envoyè vers nous pour faire sa dicte charge D'Herault D'armes aux Ceremonies du serment de la paix faicte entre nous nostre dict frere de la quelle il sest dignement acquitâ—â— a nostre contentement seu retournant vers son Maistre Nous vouloâ—s nous mandons et tresexpressement enioignons par an presents signees de nostre main c. Commanding by the said Instrument all his said Officers and Subiects to giue the said Herauld all manner of aide and assistance in his returne or not to molest or trouble him in his free passage or transportation of any of his goods And therein also prayed and required all Princes and States to do the like as a due vnto Heraulds so imployed And as they would haue him to doe the like at their request But no earthly powers can command the mercilesse ragings of the Sea For the said Herauld in his returne was ship-wracked vpon the coast of Douer and very dangerously escaped with the losse of most part of his goods excepting the foresaid Chaine and Medalle which after two dayes remaining in the sea was washed vp on shore euen in view of the place where he then remained In this Catalogue I obserue that Thomas Holinsworth Yorke Herauld and William Wriothesley Yorke Herauld sonne of the foresaid Sir Iohn Wriothesley Garter and others are omitted which with all other omissions in this particular discourse I referre to the iudicious reformation of the Colledge of Heraulds Pursuiuants of Armes their names sirnames and additions from the first of Henry the fift to this present time with their aduancements from Pursuiuants Extraordinary to Ordinary from Ordinary to Heraulds from Heraulds to Kings of Armes or otherwise Iohn Wrexworth first Antilope Extraordinary secondly Blewmantle thirdly Exceter fourthly Guyon King of Armes Nicholas Serby Falcon Ext. Rouge-Croix Leopard Herald of Armes Iohn Haswell Wallingford Blewmantle Clarence William Boys Antelope extr Rouge-Croix Exceter Giles Waster Falcon extr Rouge-Croix Mowbray Iohn Ashâ—â—â— Cadranexir Blewmantle Leopard Thomas Moore Antelope extr Blewmantle Guyon Thomas Browne Falcon extr obijt Roger Leigh Wallingford Roâ—ge-croix Clarencieux Iohn Wrythe or Wriothesley here interred Antelope extraordinarie Rouge Croix Leopard Norroy Garter Thomas Collier Falcon extr Blewmantle Clarence Ireland Iohn Mowbrey Cadran ext Rouge Croix Exceter Clarentieux Pursuiuants of Armes created in the raigne of Henry the Sixt. Robert Ashwell first Antelope extr secondly Rougecroix thirdly Windsor William Haukeslow Wallingford Blewmantle Leopard Guyon Iohn Horsley Falcon Blewmantle Mowbray Iames Billet Antelope Rougecroix Chester Iohn Mallet Faulcon Rougecroix Clarence Richard Stanton Wallingford Blewmantle Chester Robert Durham Faulcon Rougâ—â—roix Exceter Thomas Holme Faulcon Clarencieux Iames Collyer Cadraâ— Blewmantle Lancaster Iohn Ferrant Wallingford Blewmantle March Iohn Moore Antelope Rougecroix Chester Norroy Roger Mallet Faulcon Blewmantle Faulcon Herald Richard Ashwell Cadran Rougecroix Lancaster Ireland Thomas Tonge Antelope Rougecroix Richmond Norroy Pursuiuants of Armes created in the raigne of Edward the Fourth Henry Franke first Comfort secondly Blewmantle thirdly Yorke William Carlile Faulcon Rougecroix Richmond Norroy Richard Champney Callis Blewmantle Faulcon Gloucester Roger Stamford Guynes Rougecroix Chester Richard Slaske Comfort Rougecroix VVindsor Iohn Young Guines Blewmantle VVindsor Norroy Thomas Beuolt Barwike Rougecroix Lancaster Norroy Clarencieux Thomas VVaters Comfort Rougecroix Carlile Rowland Plainford Callis Blewmantle Yorke Robert Browne Guynes Rougecroix Richmond Thomas VVall Callis Blewmantle Richmond Norroy VVilliam Iennings Barwicke Rougecroix Lancaster Roger Bromley Faulcon Blewmantle Chester Iohn VVaters Roseblanch Rougecroix Yorke In the short raigne of Edward the Fift none were created In the raigne of Richard the Third the Pursuiuants were created Thomas Franke first Guines secondly Blewmantle George Berrey Comfort Rouge-croix Laurence Alford Rose blanch Blewmantle In the time of Henry the Seuenth were created these following VVilliam Tyndall first Guines secondly Rouge-Dragon thirdly Lancaster Raph Lagysse Callis Portcullis Yorke Iohn Ioyner Comfort Rougecroâ—â— Riâ—hmond Norroy Thomas Hawley Roschlanch Carlilâ— Norroy Clarencieux Thomas Hall Berwicke Rougecroix VViâ—dsore Garter Christopher Barker Callis Rouge-Dragon Richmond Norroy Garter Iohn Pond Hames Rouge-croix Somerset Allen Dagnall Guines Extr. Randalfe Iackson Montorgill Extr. Richard Ratcliffe Barnes Leonard VVarcopp Barwicke In the time of Henry created these Thomas Hawley Rouge-Croix Allen Dagnall first Portcullis in ordinary secondly Yorke Randolfe Iackson first Rouge-Dragon in ordinary secondly Chester Leonard Warcopp Blewmantle in ordinary Carlile Thomas Wriothesley Wallingford and next Garter and Knight Charles Wriothesley Barwike Rouge-Croix Windsor Richard Crooke Nottingham Rouge-Croix Windsor Thomas Mylner Callis Rouge Dragâ—n Lancaster Iohn Narboone Blewmantle Richmond Thomas Traheyron Nottingham Portcullis in ordinary Somerset Bartholmew Butler Rouge-croix Yorke Vlster Richard Storke Risebanke obijt Foulk ap Howell Guines Rougedragon Lancaster Iustinian Barker Risebank Rougecroix Richard Ratcliffe Callis Blewmantle Somerset Gilbert Dethicke Hames Rougecroix Richmond Norroy Garter William Flower Guines Rouge-croix Chester Norroy Laurence Dalton Callis Rougecroix Richmond Norroy Edmund Atkinson Hames Blewmantle Somerset Simon Newbald Bullen obijt Martin Marolfe Callis Yorke Nicholas Tubman Hames Lancaster Richard Withers Guines Nicholas Narboone Bullen William Lambert Risebanke obijt Nicholas Fellow Callis obijt Henry Ray
of Frobenus that not alonly the Germaines but also the Italianes themselfe that count as the Grekes ded full arrogantly all other Nacions to be barbarouse and vnlettered sauing their owne shall haue a direct occasion openly of force to say That Britannia prima fuit parens altrix addo hoc etiam iure quidem optimo conseruatrix cùm virorum magnorum tum maxime ingeniorum Britaine was a mother a nurse and a maintainer not onely of worthy men but also of most excellent wits And that profite hath risen by the aforesaid iourney in bringing full many things to light as concerning the vsurped autorite of the Bishop of Rome and his complices to the manifest and violent derogation of Kingly dignite I referre my selfe most humbly to your most prudent learned and high iudgement to discerne my diligence in the long Volume wherein I haue made answer for the defence of your supreme dignitie al only lening to the strong pillor of holy scripture against the whole Colledge of the Romanists cloking their crafty affections and arguments vnder the name of one poore Pighius of Vltraiect in Germany and standing to them as to their onely anker hold against tempests that they know will arise if truth may be by licens lette in to haue a voyce in the generall counsell Yet herin only I haue not pytched the supreme worke of my labour wherunto your grace most like a kinglye Patron of all good lernyng ded animate me But also considering and expending with my selfe how great a number of excellent godly wittes and writers lerned with the best as the times serued hath bene in this your region Not onely at such times as the Romane Emperors had recourse to it but also in those daies that the Saxons preuailed of the Britaines and the Normans of the Saxons could not but with a feruent zele and honest corage commend them to memory Els alas like to haue bene perpetually obscured or to haue lightly remembred as vncertaine shaddowes Wherfor I knowing by infinite varietie of bookes and assiduouse reading of them who hath bene lerned and who hath written from time to time in this realme haue digested into four bokes the names of them with their liues and monuments of lerning And to them added this title De viris illustribus folowing the profitable example of Hierome Gannadie Cassiodore Seuerayne and Trittemie a late Writer But alway so handling the matter that I haue more exspaciated in this campe then they ded as in a thing that desired to be somewhat at large and to haue ornature The first boke beginning at the Druides is deducted vnto the time of the comming of S. Augustine into England The second is from the time of Augustine vnto the aduente of the Normans The third from the Normans to the end of the moste honourable reigne of the mightie famouse and prudent Prince Henry the seuenth your Father The fourth beginneth with the name of your Maieste whose glory in lerning is to the world so clerely knowne that though emonge the liues of other lerned men I haue accurately celebrated the names of Bladud Mulmutius Constantinus Magnus Sigebert Alfridus Alfridus magnus Athelstaâ—e and Henry the first Kings and your progenitors And also Ethelward second sonne to Alfride the great Humfryde Duke of Glocester and Tipetote Earle of Worcestre yet conferred with your grace they serue as small lights if I may freely say my iudgement your high modesty not offended in respect of the daye starre Now farther to insinuate to your grace of what matters the Writers whose liues I haue congested into foure bookes hath treated of I may right boldly say that beside the cognicion of the foure tongues in the which parâ— of them hath excelled that there is no kinde of liberall science or any feate concerning learning in the which they haue not shewed certaine arguments oâ— great felicitie of witte Yea and concerning the interpretation of holy Scripture both after the ancient forme and sens the scholasticall trade they haue reigned as in a certaine excellency And as touching historicall knowledge there hath bene to the number of a full hundreth or mo that from time to time hath with great diligence and no lesse faith wolde to God with like eloquence perscribed the actes of your noble predecessors and the fortunes of this your Realme so incredibly great that hee that hath not seane and throughly redde their workes can litle pronounce in this parte Wherfor after that I had perpended the honest and profitable studies of these Historiographers I was totally enflamed with a loue to see throughly all those partes of this your opulent and ample realme that I had redde of in the aforsaid Writers In so much that all my other occupacions intermitted I haue so traueled in your dominions both by the see coastes and the middle parts sparing neither labour nor costs by the space of these sixe yeeres past that there is almost neither cape nor baye hauen creke or pere riuer or confluence of riuers breches washes lakes meres fenny waters mountaines vallies mores hethes forestes woodes cities burges castels principall manor places monasteries and colleges but I haue seane them and noted in so doing a whole world of things very memorable Thus instructed I trust shortly to see the time that like as Carolus Magnus had among his treasures three large notable tables of siluer richly enameled one of the site and description of Constantinople another of the site and figure of the magnificente Citee of Rome and the third of descrypcyon of the world So shall your Maiestie haue this your world and impery of Englande so set forth in a quadrate table of siluer if God send me life to accomplish my beginning that your Grace shall haue ready knowledge at the first sight of many right delectable fruitfull and necessary pleasures by contemplacion thereof as often as occasion shall moue you to the sight of it And because that it may be more permanent and farther knowne then to haue it engraued in siluer or brasse I entend by the leaue of God within the space of twelue moneths following such a description to make of your realme in writing that it shall be no mastery after for the Grauer or Painter to make the like by a perfect example Yea and to wade farther in this matter where as now almost no man can wele gesse at the shadow of the ancient names of hauens riuers promontories hilles woods Cities Townes Castles and varyete of kyndes of people that Cesar Liui Strabo Diodorus Fabius Pictor Pomponius Mela Plinius Cornelius Tacitus Ptolomeus Sextus Rufus Ammianus Marcellinus Solinus Antoninus and diuerse other make mencyon of I trust so to open this wyndow that the lyght shall be seene so long that is to say by the space of a whole thousand yeeres stopped vp and the old glory of your renowned Britayne to reflorish through
to reestablish that holy and yet vnfortunate King Henry the sixt in his regall authoritie In this battaile vpon King Edwards part were slaine Humfrey Bourchier Lord Cromwell Henry Bourchier sonne and heire to the Lord Barners both buried at Westminster In the quarrell of King Henry were slaine the foresaid Richard Neuill Earle of Warwicke and Iohn Neuill Marquesse Montacute his brother both buried at Bisham Abbey in Barkeshire the bodies of many others of the Nobilitie and Gentrie on both parties which perished in this vnnaturall conflict had Christian buriall in the Frier Augustines Church London The common Souldiers as also many Commanders were buried vpon the same Plaine where the foresaid battaile was strucken to whose memory a Chappell was built vpon the said Plaine and a Priest appointed to say Masse for their soules as the doctrine went in those daies Vpon both sides of common Souldiers there died that holy Easter day as then the 14. of Aprill saith Ed. Hall ten thousand foure thousand saith Io. Stow and Rob. Fabian saith farre lesse fifteene hundred so vncertaine as I haue said before is the number of the dead slaine in battaile Howsoeuer a part onely of Hertfordshire is comprised within this Diocesse yet giue me leaue to say somewhat in this place of the whole County A rich Countrie saith Clarencieux in corne Fields Pastures Medowes Woods Groues and cleere riuerets And for ancient townes it may contend with the neighbours euen for the best For there is scarcely another in all England that can shew more good townes in so small a compasse the whole circumference of the Shire being but about an hundred and thirtie miles In this County and in the towne of S. Albans two mortall and bloudy battels of Englands ciuill dissentions haue beene fought The first whereof chanced the 24. of May Anno 1455. by Richard Duke of Yorke with his associates the Earles of Warwicke and Salisbury and Lords of Fawconbridge and Cobham against King Henry the sixt In whose defence Edmund Duke of Somerset Henry Earle of Northumberland and Iohn Lord Clifford with fiue thousand more lost their liues the King himselfe was wounded in the necke with an arrow the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Sudley in their faces Humfrey Earle Stafford in his right hand and the Earle Dorset almost slaine On the Dukes part onely sixe hundred were slaine Of which battell and of the timerous flight of the Souldiers on the Kings partie the learned Abbot of Saint Albans Iohn Wheathamstead who liued in those daies writes thus Marcia splendiferum regerent cum sydera celum Aspicerentque feros toruis aspectibus Anglâ—s Albani Villam tranquilla pace vigentem Fedarunt multo violenter sanguine fuso Rex aderat presens secumque cohors satis ingent De Dominis Regni contrarius hijs Eboraci Dux que duo comites Warwici et Sarsburiensis Venerunt media fit grandis pugna platea In qua corruerant qui nobilitate vigebant De patria Boree comes insignis Dominusque Corruit ac ipse qui belli causa fuisse Fertur Dux magnus de Somercethe vocitatus Ac alij plures satis asperasors fuit ipsis Multi fugerunt aliter se non properarunt Quin faciunt trepide visum fugiendo Columbe Insultum ve Canis Damus Lepus ac fera queuis Dum fugiunt nemora pecierunt siue Frutecta In quibus vt pueri virgam metuendo magistri Se pudet id ferre vecorditer occoluere Qui fuerant nostra proprius penetralia tecta Ad nos fugerunt sub Stallis et latuerunt Aut infra latebras timor ingens duxerat ipsos Sic imbecillis tergum dedit hostibus hostis Non sine dedecore nec nominis absque rubore Mors est non vita sub turpi viuere fama Et patet in paucis sors belli que fuit huius Qualis euentus Domini Ducis et comitatus Ter deno trino Domini Regis fuit anno Henrici sexti facies hec obuia celi In Maio mense bis dena bis quoque luce M. semel x quino C quater fuit I quoque quino In Maio mense bis dena bis quoque luce Hic strages procerum conflatus hic populorum The second battell fought in this towne of Saint Albans was by Queene Margaret against the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke the Earles of Warwicke and Arundell that by force kept with them the King her husband with whom by constraint he held and on their side fought vntill the field was lost and Lords fled when with great ioy he was receiued by his Queene and yong sonne Prince Edward This battell sell the 17. of February being Shrouesunday Of this towne and of these two battels thus Camden writes in a more succinct and serious stile As Antiquity consecrated this place saith he to be an Altar of Religion so Mars also may seeme to haue destined it for the very plot of bloudy battaile For to let other particulars goe by when England vnder the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke bereft as it were of vitall breath was ready through a ciuill warre to sinke downe and fall in a swoune the chiefe Captaines on both sides ioyned battaile twise with reciprocall varietie of fortune in the very towne First Richard Duke of Yorke gaue the Lancastrians here a sore ouerthrow tooke King Henry the sixt captiue and slew many honourable personages Foure yeares after the Lancastrians vnder the conduct of Queene Margaret wonne here the field put the house of Yorke to flight and restored the King to his former liberty The bodies of such of the Nobility and others of eminent ranke and qualitie which lost their liues in these mortall contentions were buried in the Abbey Church as I haue partly touched before in Saint Peters and in other religious Structures accordingly as they were befriended the common Souldiers were buried in Church-yards and vpon a little greene at the Townes end called No mans land which lies betwixt the two waies as I take it leading to Luton and Sandridge Nere vnto the roade high way saith Camden in this tract betweene Stenenhaugh and Knebworth the seat of the worshipfull house of the Littons descended from Litton in Darbishire I saw certaine round hils cast vp by mans hands such as the old Romans were wont to reare for Souldiâ—ers slaine in the wars of which the Captaine himselfe laid the first turse and now for Essex Essex is a country large in compasse the circumference thereof being one hundred forty sixe miles fruitfull of woods plentifull of Saffron and very wealthy A late writer hauing reckoned vp the commodities which this County doth affoard concludes on this manner If you esteeme not these as things aboue the ground Looke vnder where the Vrnes of ancient times are found The Roman Empâ—rours Coynes oft digd out of the dust And warlike weapons now consum'd with cankring rust And huge and massy bones of mighty fearefull
iustly preuaile against the winde and easily cease these temporall flames and obtaine that they should neuer hurt him nor his See more of him before in Canterbury After the death of Mellitus the Church of London was long without a Pastor euen vntill that Segebert the sonne of Segebert surnamed the little obtaining the Kingdome of the East Saxons by the perswasion of Oswin King of Northumberland became a Christian and procured Ceada a vertuous and godly Priest to be consecrate Bishop of his country which was done in the holy Iland neere to Barwicke by Finan Bishop of Durham from whence he returned to this his Diocesse and began with more authoritie to perfect the worke hee had already begun erecting in diuers places Churches making Priests and Deacons who in preaching baptising might assist him especially in the Cities of Ithancester Tileburg the one standing vpon the Thames the other vpon a branch thereof called Pant in which two places diuers newly assembling together christened he instructed them after the rules of religious persons as farre as their tender capacity could then conceiue And hereby way of digression let me speake somewhat of this small hamlet of Tilbury in ancient time the seat of the Bishops of London and no question in those daies when as Bishop Cedda by baptisme ingraâ—ted the East Saxons in the Church of Christ a prettie faire citie howsoeuer it consisteth now onely of a few cottages much honoured by that famous religious and fortunate great Commander in the warres Sir Horace Vere Knight Lord Vere of Tilbury Of whom and of his elder brother Sir Francis Vere Knight deceased and honourably buried like as hee was an expert and valiant warriour in the Abbey of Westminster a late Poet hath thus written Then liu'd those valiant Veres both men of great command In our imployments long whose either Marshall hand Reacht at the highest wreath it from the top to get Which on the proudest head Fame yet had euer set But to returne this man of God Cedda hauing at first and last continued a long time in these countries preaching the word of life by which hee made a great haruest vnto Christ went downe into his owne countrie of Northumberland which he oftentimes vsed to visite where he builded a Monasterie at Lestinghen wherein he died and was buried of whom no more vntill I come to speake of that Foundation saue onely these verses following ....... Now London place doth take Which had those of whom time Saints worthily did make As Cedda Brother to that reuerend Bishop Chad At Lichfield in those times his famous seat that had Is Sainted for that See amongst our reuerend men From London though at length remoou'd to Lestingen A Monastery which then richly he had begun Erconwald the sonne of Offa King of the East Saxons and the fourth Bishop of this Diocesse was likewise as I haue already spoken canonized of whom venerable Bede thus writes At that time saith he when Sebba and Sigher ruled the East Saxons the Archbishop which was Theodore appointed ouer them Erconwald to be their Bishop in the Citie of London the life and conuersation of which man both before he was Bishop and after was reported and taken for most holy as also euen yet the signes and tokens of heauenly vertues and miracles doe well declare For vntill this day his Horse-licter being kept and reserued by his Schollers wherein he was wont to be carried when hee was sicke and weake doth daily cure such as haue agues or are diseased any otherwise And not onely the sicke persons that are put vnder or laid by the Horse-licter to be so healed but also the chippes and pieces that are cut off from it and brought to sicke folkes are wont to bring them speedie remedie This and many other the miracles wrought by him if wee may beleeue Capgraue was the cause of his canonization questionlesse he was a deuout and vertuous man and bestowed his patrimony in the building of two Monasteries one for Monkes at Chertsey in Surrey another for Nunnes at Barking in Essex of which before Thus much then here for a conclusion as followeth Him Erkenwald ensues th' East English Offa's sonne His Fathers Kingly Court who for a Crosiar fled Whose workes such fame him wonne for holinesse that dead Time him enshrin'd in Pauls the mother of that See Which with reuenues large and priuiledges he Had wondrously endow'd to goodnesse so affected That he those Abbeyes great from his owne power erected At Chertsey neere to Thames and Barking famous long Theodred Bishop of the Diocesse may challenge a place in this my Kalender for that he was sirnamed the Good pro praerogatiua virtutum for the preheminence of his vertues saith Malmesbury lib. 2. de Pontif. Anglor he flourished about the yeare 900. he was buried vnder a high tombe by the window of the vault going downe into S. Faiths Church Of Egwulfe and his Shrine I haue already written all that I know Richard Fitz-neale had his Shrine in S. Pauls Church but vpon what ground or for what reason he was thus much honoured I doe not learne He was the sonne of Nigellus or Neale Bishop of Ely and was made Treasurer of England by the purchase of his father the foresaid Nigellus Richardus filius Nigelli Episcopi Eliens pro quo Nigellus pater emit officium Thesaurij a Rege auaro pro Quadragint Marcis pro quibus pecunijs Nigellus pater spoliauit Ecclesiam Eliens Thesauro suo et ornamentis This purchase was made when as the King Henry the second went to the wars of Tolous It is further written in the booke of Ely that this Richard Fitz-neale after the buriall of Nigellus his father being also an enemy to the Church of Ely as his father had beene before made hast to passe ouer the Seas to King Henry the second fearing that some euill would be prepared against him if the Church should haue sent any thither before him At whose comming to the King he accused the Monkes of Ely of many things and did therewith so edge the King against them that the King sending into England charged by Wunnecus one of his Chaplaines that the Prior of Ely should be deposed and the Monkes with all their goods to be proscribed and banished This man being Treasurer to King Henry the second the treasure of the said Henry the second at his death came vnto one hundred thousand markes notwithstanding the excessiue charges of the King many waies This Richard being Bishop of London by the name of Richard the third and the Kings Treasurer was chosen for the gouernement of this See in the yeare of our redemption one thousand one hundred eighty and nine being the first yeare of King Richard the first and was consecrated Bishop at Lambeth by Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury in the yeare of Christ one thousand one hundred ninety he died the
the County of Suffolke Dodnash A Monastery dedicated to the honour of our alone Sauiour Christ and the blessed Virgine his mother founded by some of the Ancestours of the Earles or Dukes of Norfolke Valued at fourty two pounds eighteene shillings eight pence halfe pennie Sibbeton or Sibton William Cheney or William de Casineto who held the Baronie of Horsford in the County of Norfolke erected an Abbey here at Sibton which he dedicated to the Virgine Mary and therein placed blacke Monkes Cistertians which was valued at the suppression to bee yearely worth two hundred fifty pounds fifteene shillings seuen pence halfe pennie Redlingfield In this Parish was a religious House of blacke Nunnes dedicated likewise to the Virgine Mary and founded by one Manasses de Guies Valued at fourescore and one pound two shillings fiue pence halfe pennie Rendlesham Howsoeuer there be no Inscriptions here vpon any of the Grauestones in the Church yet questionlesse in former times it hath beene beautified with the Funerall Monuments of many worthie Personages For here Redwald king of the East Angles kept vsually his Court who was the first of all his Nation that was baptised and receiued Christianity but afterwards seduced by his wife he had in the selfe same Church as saith Bede one Altar for Chirsts Religion and another for sacrifices vnto Deuills In this place also Swidelm a king of these East-Angles was likewise afterwards baptised by Cedda Bishop of London Redwald hauing raigned king of the East-Angles one and thirty yeares and Monarch of the Englishmen eight yeares died in the yeare of our saluation six hundred twenty three And by supposition he as also Swidâ—lme lye buried at this place Ratisford An Hospitall dedicated to Saint Iohn valued at thirty three pounds ten shillings Of which I haue read no further Rombuth or Rombrughe A Priory of blacke Monkes dedicated to Saint Michaell Saint Genouefa Fernham This village is in this regard memorable for that Richard Lucy Lord chiefe Iustice of England and Protectour of the kingdome in the absence of king Henry the second tooke prisoner here in a pight field Robert surnamed Blanchmame Earle of Leicester together with his Amazonian proud Countesse Petronell or Pernell and withall put to the sword aboue ten thousand Flemmings which the said Robert had leuied and sent forth to the depopulation of his countrey all or the most of which number were buried in and about this the foresaid village of Fernham in the yeare of our redemption 1173. in the twentith of Henry the second Of the valourous atcheeuements and pious actions of this worthie Knight and religious Votarie I haue related somewhat before within the Diocesse of Rochester where I write of the dissolued monastery of Lesnes an Abbey of his Foundation where in the place where the Church thereof sometime stood which had laine a long time buried in her owne ruines and growne ouer with Oke Elme and Ashe-trees certaine workemen appointed by the owner of the mannour Sir Iohn Epsley knight to digge amongst the rubbish of the decayed Fabricke for stones happened vpon a goodly Funerall monument the full proportion of a man in his coate armour cut all in freestone his sword hanging at his side by a broad belt vpon which the Flower de luce was engrauen in many places being as I take it the Rebus or name-deuise of the Lucies this his representation or picture lay vpon a flat marble stone that stone vpon a trough or coffin of white smooth hewen Asheleâ— stone in that coffin and in a sheet of lead â— both being made fit for the dimension of a dead body the remaines of an â—â—hâ—e drie carkasse lay enwrapped whole and vndisioynted and vpon the head some haire or a simile quiddam of haire appeared they found likewise other statues of men in like manner proportioned as also of a woman in her attire and abiliments with many grauestones and bones of the deceased to see all which great confluence of people resorted amongst which number I was not the hindmost Certaine Church collections within this County taken by William Haruey Clarencieux King of Armes now in the hands of William le Neue Yorke Herald George Mannoke dysseased the xxii day of August Anno Domini M. ccccc xli Iohn Walgraue Esquire sonne and heire of Edward Walgraue which dysseased the vi of Octobre an M. ccccc.xliii Robart Crane of Stonam parua and Lady Anne his wyefe doughter of Sir Andro Egard knight de Buckingham ad castrum which dysceased xxiii of Octob. an Dom. M.D. Georg Crane son and heyre of Robart Crane Esquyer and Lady Anne his mother dysceased M. cccc.lxxxxi Sir Raffe Butle Lord of Sudley and Alyce his wyef doughter of Daynecourte in a glasse wyndoo there founde Andro Bures and Robert his sonne knight were buried Andro the xii of Apryl an M.ccclx and Robard died the vii of October an M.ccc.lxi Also there lyeth buried in the North I le of the same Cherch Robart de Bures crose leged Alyce de Bryan doughter and heyre of Robart de Bures knight and wyef to Sir Edmond Bryan the yonger knight William Geddynge dyed the iiii of Nouember an Dom. M. cccc.lvij Sir Robart Drewry dysceased an Dom. M.D. xx as appeareth vpon his tombe there Sir William Drewry dysceased xxvii of Iuly an Dom. M.D. xxv as aforesaid apereth Thomas Lewcas was seruant and Secretory and one of the Counsell to Iesper Duke of Bedford and Erle of Penbroke as apereth in a Wyndow in the North side of the same Cherche dated in the yere of our Lord M.D.xxviii in whiche Wyndoo he and his wyef kneeleth in their cote Armor In the said Cherch in the North side lieth buried Margery doughter and heyre of Robart Geddynge with this Scrypture foloinge Orate pro animabus Margerie nuper vxoris Iesper filii et heredis Thome Lewcas Armigeri filie et heredis Gilberti Peche militis Iohannes Aspall Armiger qui obiit xxi die Sept. M.D. xv Henry Torner Esquyer and Margaret his wyef and Ione Torner wife to the said Henry and Iohn Torner son to the said Henry lyeth buried in the quire in anno Dom. M. cccc.lxiiij In a wyndoo in the foresaid quire is William Gyfford and his wife and Iohn Gyfford and Alyce his wife Iohn Hynkley esquier dysceased the xxiii of Ianuary an Dom. M. cccc.xxxii and Margaret his wife the xxiii of Nouember M. cccc.xlii Iohn Bladwell Esquire and Anne his wife which Iohn dysceased the xxix of September an MD. xxxiiii Thomas Knighton gent. and Ales his wife which Thomas died the xxiij of Aprill an M.D. xxxii Thomas Vnderell Esquire and Anne his wife lieth buried in a Tombe in the quire who dysceased the xi of February an M.D. viii Thomas Stoteuyle Patron of the foresaid Cherche Matylda and Iane his wiues which Thomas dysceased M. cccclx Thomas Stoteuyle Esquier
dwarfe to death saith my foresaid Author Much more might bee said of this little-great man but I am called for my selfe to the Presse and to speake more then I haue done in the praise of little men I may be thought to flatter my selfe He died in the yeare 1346. in the twentieth of the raigne of King Edward the third I read in a booke of the order of Carmelites of which Fraternitie he was one as also Prouinciall of them all throughout all England penned by Iohn Bale before his conuersion a part of an Eulogium composed to the memory of this Baconthorpe which may serue for an Epitaph Thus. Iohannes de Bachonethorpe Doctor resolutus Carmelita Hic Bachone fuit Iohannes natus in vrbe Anglica quo felix terra priore fuit Parisio dulces hausit de fonte liquores Post tamenin patrio claruit ipse solo Exposuit libros Petri sed sanccius esse Est ratus in quartum peruigilare librum Fecit Aristotelem clarum inclitumque legenti Dans Testamentum clarius omne navum .......... Vpon a faire marble stone in the Quire this Inscription following is engrauen in brasse Hic iaces corpus Willelmi Boleyn militis qui obijt x. Octobris Anno Dom. M. ccccc.v Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Let it be the greatest honour to this noble deceased Knight for that he was great Grandfather to the most renowned and victorious Princesse Elizabeth late Queene of England which will best appeare by the Light of Great Britaine learned Camden in his Introduction to the History which he writ of her long and prosperous raigne beginning as followeth The Linage and descent of Elizabeth Queene of England saith he was by her Fathers side truly Royall for daughter she was to King Henry the eight grand daughter to Henry the seuenth and great grand-daughter to Ed the fourth By the Mothers side her descent was not so high howbeit noble it was and spread abroad by many and great Alliances throughout England and Ireland Her great grand-fathers father was Ieffrey Bolen a man of Noble birth in Norfolke Lord Maior of the Citie of London in the yeare 1457. and at the same time honoured with the dignitie of Knighthood An vpright honest man of such estimation that Thomas Lord Hoo and Hastings Knight of the Order of Saint George gaue him his daughter and one of his heires to wife and of such wealth as he matched his daughters into the Noble houses of the Cheineys Heydons and Fortescues left his sonne a goodly inheritance and bequeathed a thousand pounds of English money to bee bestowed vpon the poore in the Citie of London and two hundred in Norfolke This mans sonne William Bolen was chosen amongst eighteene most choice Knights of the Bath at the Coronation of King Richard the third to whom Thomas Earle of Ormond who was in such fauour with the Kings of England that hee alone of all the Nobleman of Ireland had his place and voice in the Parliaments of England and aboue the Barons of England also gaue his daughter and one of his heires in marriage By her besides daughters married to Shelton Calthorp Clere and Sackvill men of great wealth and noble descent and other children hee begat Thomas Bolen whom being a young man Thomas Howard Earle of Surry who was afterward Duke of Norfolke a man much renowned for his worthie seruice and atchiuements in the warres chose to be his sonne in law giuing vnto him his daughter Elizabeth in marriage and Henry the eight after he had performed one or two very honourable Embasies made him first Treasurer of his Houshold Knight of the Order of Saint George and Viscount Rochford and afterwards Earle of Wiltshire and Ormond and made him Lord Keeper of the priuie Seale This Thomas among other children begat Anne Bolen who in her tender yeares being sent into France attended on Mary of England wife to Lewis the twelfth and then on Claudia of Britaine wife to Francis the first and after she was dead on Margaret of Alencon who with the first fauoured the Protestants Religion springing vp in France Being returned into England and admitted amongst the Queenes Maides of Honour and being twenty two yeares of age King Henry in the thirtie eight yeare of his age did for her modestie â—empered with French pleasantnesse fall deeply in loue with and tooke her to wife by whom he had issue Elizabeth aforesaid Queene of England Thome Presbyteri ..... lapis iste retentum Funus habet .... qui sumptu dedit hoc pauimentum Anno milleno quater et C septuageno Octauo Stephani liquit terrestria festo Vt celi detur requies sibi quisque precetur En iacet hic stratus Helby Thomas vocitatus Saluet eum Christus tribuens sibi gaudia lucis Vnder this ston Ligs Iohn Knapton Who died iust The twenty eight of August M. ... xc and on Of thys Chyrch Peti-Canon Vnder the picture of Saint Peter is portraied the Sea a Ship Nets and Fishes with this distichon Ecclesiam pro naue rego mihi climata mundi Sunt mare Scripture Retia piscis homo The figures of the Sunne and Moone are painted here vpon the Frontispiece of the Clocke to whom the Clocke comparatiuely seemes to speake in this Hexastich vpon the same place likewise depicted Horas significo cunctas quas Phebe diebus Quas solet atque tua pallida nocte Soror Nec magis errarem Rector mihi si foret idem Vos qui et queque regit motibus astra suis. Tempora nam recte designo si mihi doctus Custos assiduam conferat artis opem In English Phoebus I tell all th' houres and all as right As thou or thy pale Sister day and night Nor I no more then you in ought should erre If he ruld mee who guides you and each starre For times I rightly tell to me of 's Art If my learnd keeper will his helpe impart In imitation of this it may bee that Thomas Scot in his Philomythie makes a Clocke to compare with a Diall and the difference to be partly decided by the Wethercocke of which a little although not much to the purpose I confesse Vpon a Church or steeples side neere hand A goodly Clocke of curious worke did stand Which ouerpaysde with lead or out of frame Did time miscall and euery houre misname The Diall hearing this aloud gan crye Kind neighbour Clocke your glib tongue tels a lye Reforme your errour for my Gnomon saith You gad too fast and misse an houres faith Foole quoth the Clocke reforme thy selfe by me The fault may rather in thy Gnomon be Had'st thou told euer truth to what end then Was I plac'd here by th' art of cunning men The Weathercocke vpon the steeple standing And with his sharpe eye all about commanding Heard their contention wild them to appeale To him the chiefe of all that common weale Told them that he was
erexit ... Transit sicut Fulmerston gloria mundi Propitietur Deus animabus Mortuorum Saint Peters Hic iacet Willelmus Knighton ... M. cccc.lxix .... Peter Larke and Elisabeth his wyff on whos souls sweet Iesu haue pite Saint Cuthberts ...... Iohannes Bernard et Elis ..... M. ccccc.xi Here in this towne was a Religious house of Friers Preachers dedicated to the holy Trinitie and Saint Mary which Arfast Bishop of the East-Angles made his Episcopall chaire Afterwards Henry Duke of Lancaster made it a societie of Friers Preachers it was valued at thirty nine pounds sixe shillings nine pence Arfast who died circa annum 1092. was herein buried with this Epitaph vpon his monument Hic Arfaste pie pater optime et Arca Sophie Viuis per merita virtutum laude perita Vos qui transitis hic omnes atque reditis Dicite quod Christi pietas sit promptior isti 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ers Augustines in this I owne was founded by Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Blanch his wife others say by Henry Earle of Lancaster and Leicester It was valued at three hundred twelue pounds foureteene shillings foure pence Here lye buried Dame Margery Todenham Dame Elisabeth wife of Sir Thomas Hâ—ngraue daughter of Sir Iohn Harling with many other you may imagine whose names I haue not The blacke Friers here was founded by Sir Edmond Gonvile Lord of â—irâ—ingford in this County Parson of Terington and Steward with Iohn Eâ—â—e Warren and with Henry Duke of Lancaster It was dedicated to S. Sepulchre The value I haue not learned Buried in the Church of this monâ—sterâ— were Sir Iohn Bretâ— knight Dame Agnes Honell Dame Maud Talâ—â—e wife of Peter Lord of Rickinghill Dame Anastisia wife of Sir Richard Walsingham A Priory of blacke Canons dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Iohn was here founded by one of the Bigods or Bigots Earle of Norfolke Valued at fourty nine pounds eighteene shillings and a penny Surrendred the 16. of February 31. Hen. 8. Here was a religious structure for blacke Nunnes consecrated to the honour of God and Saint Gregory but by whom sounded I do not know It was valued in the Exchequer at fifty pound nine shillings eight pence Here sometimes stood a Colledge or gild dedicated to the blessed Virgine Mary valued at the suppression to be yearely worth one hundred nine pounds seuen shillings Hugh Bigod or Bigot Steward of the House to King Henry the first built and endowed a religious House here for blacke Monkes Benedictines or Cluniacks These words following are in the Instrument of his Foundation I Hugh Bigod Steward to King Henry by his grant and by the aduice of Heâ—bert Bishop of Norwich haue ordained Monkes of the Order of Cluny in the Church of S. Mary which was the Episcopall seate of Thetford which I gaue vnto them and afterwards founded another more meet for their vse without the Towne This Monastery was found at the suppression to be in the Kings bookes foure hundred eighteene pounds sixe shillings three pence halfe penny of yearely reuenues This Hugh the Founder was created Earle of Norfolke by King Stephen in the first yeare of his raigne He died very aged in the 24. yeare of King Henry the second and was buried in this Priory of his owne foundation to whose memory this Inscription was engrauen vpon his Funerall Monument Orate pro anima religiosissimi viri Hugonis Bigod Fundatoris huius Monasterij Seneschalli Hospitij prepotentissimo Principi Henrico Conquestoris filio Anglie Regi et Comitis Norfolcie qui quidem Hugo obiit pridie Kalend. Martii anno milesimo centesimo septuagesimo octauo Propter miserecordiam Iesu requiescat in pace Anno 1107. Optimates Angliae Richardus de Radvarijs Rogerius cognomento Bigotus mortui sunt in Monasteriis Monachorum sepulti sunt quae in propriis possessionibus ipsi condiderunt Rogerius autem apud Thetfordum in Anglia Richardus vero tumulatus apud Montisburgum in Normannia Super Rogerium Cluniacenses Alonax di tale scripserunt Epitaphium Clauderis exiguo Rogere Bigote sepulchro Et rerum cedit portio parva tibi Diuitiae sanguis facundia gratia Regum Intereunt mortem fallere nemo potest Diuitiae mentes subuertunt erigat ergo Te pietas virtus consiliumque Dei Soli moerebat virgo ter noctibus octo Cùm soluis morti debita morte tua It should seeme by the premisses that this Roger Bigot who was Sewer to King Henry the first and Father of the foresaid Hugh was the first founder of this religious Edifice or at least wise of some other in this Towne for Monkes of the order of Cluny And Stow in his Annalls agrees with my Author Ordericus This yeare saith he Maurice Bishop of London Robert Fitzhamon Roger Bigot founder of the Monastery of Monkes at Thetford Richard Redvers Councellours to the King Milo Crispen and many other Noblemen of England deceased Roger Bigot the second of that surname Earle of the East Angles or Norfolke He died about the yeare 1218. and was here interred Hugh Bigot sonne of the foresaid Roger Earle of Norfolke lay here buried who died the ninth of Henry the third 1225 Roger Bigot sonne and heire of Hugh aforesaid Earle of Norfolke and first Marshall of England of that Family was here entombed if his last will and Testament was performed Of which so much as tends to that purpose In Nomine Patris et Filij et Spiritus Sancti Amen Ego Rogerus Bigot Comes Norfolcie et Mareschallus Anglie in bona prosperitate constitutus condo Testamentum meum sub hac forma Inprimis commendo animam meam Christo c. et corpus meum in Ecclesia beate Marie Thetfordie sepeliendum Postea lego c. Huius Testamenti Executores constituo Dominum Symonem de Monteforti Com. Lecestren Dominum Richardum de Clara Com. Glouern Hertford Dominum Willelmum Malberbe Dominum Thomam Denebanke Dominum Hugonem de Tudeham c. Dat. apud Cestreford die Mercurij proximo ante festum Sancti Barnabe Apostoli anno Domini M.cclviii He died about eleuen yeares after the making of his will without issue of a bruise running at Tilt anno 1269. Roger Bigot the last of that Familie Earle of Norfolke and Marshall of England was here buried together with his first wife Alina Alyva or Adeliza daughter of Philip Lord Basset and widow of Hugh de Spenser Iustice of England she died in Aprill in the ninth yeare of Edward the first and he in the 35. of the said Kings raigne Iohn Lord Mowbray Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall of England Earle of Nottingham Lord and Baron of Segraue and of Gower sonne and successour of Iohn the first Duke of Norfolke in the dignities aforesaid was here entombed with his wife Elianor daughter of William Lord Bourchier and sister of Henry Bourchier Earle of
Richard de Derham Parson of the Church Nicholas de Derham and Elias de Derham brethren Which Elias was one of the Executors of the last Will and Testament of the said Archbishop Hubert Ann. 7. Iohannis Regis from which Nicholas de Derham descended Tho. Derham of Crimplesham Esquire Ann. 3. H. 5. that married Elisabeth daughter and heire of Baldwin de Vere of Denuere in this County Esquire yonger brother to Robert de Vere of Addington Esquire from whom Sir Thomas Derham knight now Lord of West Derham aforesaid is descended Buckenham New Hic iacet Alicia quondam vxor Willelmi Knyvet Armigeri Que erat filia Iohannis Grey filij Reginaldi Grey Domini de Rythyn que obiit quarto die mensis Aprilis Anno Domini M. cccclxxiiii ..... Hic iacet Thomas Ivy Capellanus qui obijt xix diâ— mensis Septembris ann Domini M. cccclxxxiii Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Hic iacet Robertus Seman Capellanus qui obijt nono die Iunij ann Dom. M. cccclxv Cuius anime ... Orate pro anima Willelmi Pyllys qui obijt xxv die Decembris Anno Domini M. cccccxxxi Cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Here are many old Monuments all without Inscriptions vnder which diuers of the Familie of the Knevets lie buried An ancient house and renowned saith Camden euer since Sir Iohn Kneuet was Lord Chancellour of England vnder King Edward the third and also honourably allied by great marriages For ouer and besides these of Buckenham now Baronets from hence sprang those right worshipfull Knights Sir Thomas Kneuet Lord Kneuet Sir Henry Kneuet of Wiltshire and Sir Thomas Kneuet of Aâ—hewell Thorp and others Buckenham old Vpon a Grauestone in the south side of the Church ouer which stone there now are Pewes built there is in brasse portraied a Crane from whose heke is a scrowle with these two words Deo gratias and vpon a piece of brasse ouerthwart this inscription Orate pro anima Thome Browne cuius anime propitietur Deus Amen Here was a religious Foundation of blacke Canons dedicated to Saint Iames valued at one hundred one and thirty pounds eleuen shillings of yearely commings in Erpingham Vnder a goodly faire Grauestone lieth the body Sir Iohn Erpingham knight he is figured vpon the stone in complete armour and the monument is bordered with this inscription Hic iacet Iohannes de Erpingham miles quis multa bona fecit tempore vite sue ... At each corner of the marble a Doue siluer crowned holding a Mase or Scepter in her pounce Sir Thomas Erpingham was knight of the Garter in the raigne of Henry the fourth Cromer Here lyeth the body of Sir Simon Felbrigge or Felbridge knight of the Garter in the raigne of Henry the fift He lieth in complete Armour on both his Emerases the Crosse of Saint George holding in his right hand a Penon of Armes his Belt bossed and gilt his Hanger by his side his Spurs gilt the blew Garter about his right legge his feet resting on a Lyon all ingrauen in brasse his wife by his side on like manner in brasse very sumptuously garnished with bracelets Iewels and her attire according to those times I haue no inscription to know any further Carow A religious house of blacke Nunnes consecrated to the holinesse and honour of the blessed Virgin Mary founded by King Stephen the founder of many such sacred Edifices valued in the Kings bookes to be yearely worth fourescore and foure pounds twelue shillings penny halfe penny qua Gregory the tenth as I take it granted by his Bull this priuiledge inhibition following to the Nunnes of this Priory Gregorious Episcopus Seruus Seruorum Dei dilectis in Christo filiâ—bus Priorisse et conuentui de Carrone Norwicen Dioc. Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Exposita nobis ex parte vestra petitio ... quod vos ad iâ—stantiam precum quorundam Nobilium Anglie quibus propter suam potentiam resistere non valeatis tot iam recepisti in Monasterio vestro Moniales quod vix potestis domus redditibus congrue sustentari Quare auctoritâ—â—â— presentium vobis inhibemus vt nullam recipiatis in grauamen Monasterij vestri de cetero in Monacham vel Sororem Dat. Perusii xij Kalend. Septembris Pontificatus nostri anno tertio East Harling I find by certaine notes of burials sent vnto me from my friend master Taylor of Fleetstreete London these persons following to haue beene interred in this parish Church Sir William Chamberleyn Knight of the Garter and Dame Anne his wife daughter of Sir Robert Harling Knight He was graced with this high Order in the raigne of Edward the fourth Sir Robert Harling Knight Elisabeth Trussell sister of sir William Chamberleyn Sir Iohn Harling knight Debenham Here by the foresaid Notes lie buried Iohn Farmingham qui obijt anno M. cccc.xxiiij and Margaret his wife Robert Cheak and Rose his wife George Neuill and his wife Iohn Neuill Iohn Cheake qui obiit M. cccc.lxxxx Suffield Here lyeth buried vnder a faire Tombe the bodies of Iohn Symonds gentleman and Margaret his wife daughter of Francis Moundeford Esquire ... Bromholme William Glanuile founded the Church of Saint Andrew at Bromholme in the Diocesse of Norwich in the yeare 1113. saith an old Anonimall Mss. which I haue In the Pedegree of the right honourable Edward Earle of Dorset I finde this note following Beatrix daughter and coheire of William Sakeuile Lord of Bracksted Nayland and mount Bures in Essex and brother to Iordan Sakeuile married to William de Glaunuile Lord of Bromholme and founder of the Church of Bromholme anno 17. Hen. primi a house it was of Benedictines valued to be yearely worth an hundred pounds fiue shillings fiue pence Here was also sometime a Priorie of blacke Monkes Cluniacks dedicated to Saint Sepulchre founded by G. Glanuile and valued at one hundred forty foure pounds nineteene shillings halfe penny qua Bromholme sometime a Priory saith Camden founded and enriched by G. Glanuill and seated on the sharpe top of an hill the crosse whereof our ancestors had in holy reuerence I know not for what miracles Thomas Rudhorne Bishop of S. Dauids who flourished in the raigne of Henry the fourth hath in his history these words to the same effect Capulanus quidam portauit quandam crucem ligneam in Angliam quam affirmauit esse de ligno in quo pependit Christus et Monachis de Bromholme obâ—ulit et postea locus coruscabat miraculis A certaine Priest brought ouer with him saith he a woodden Crosse into England which he affirmed to be the Crosse whereupon our Sauiour Christ was crucified which he deliuered to the Monkes of Bromholme after which the place did shine gloriously with miracles But the story of this holy Crosse is more fully deliuered by Capgraue on this manner Saint Helene saith he hauing found the Crosse did diuide
Raph Astry Iohn Grey Tho. Cornwallis Henry Gisors 〈◊〉 Lions The Foundation of Whittinâ—â—on Câ—lledge â—nd Hospitall Stow Suruey Richard Whitâ—ing thrice buried William Lichfield Doctor of Diuinity Io. Brickles and Isabell his wife In Chamberlaiâ—e Agnes and Ioan his wiues William Greene. Robert Chichley Lord Maior The Colledge of S. Michael founded by W. Walworth Io Loâ—ekin of Losken Lord Maior founder of this Church William Wray The foundation of Corpus Christi Colledge in Candlewickestreet Rob. Radcliffe and his sonne Henry Earles of Sussex Gilbert Melits and Christian his wife The fraternity of S. Katherine The foundation of our Ladies Chappell of Barking Sir Io. Arundell knight Vincent Catal. Simon Eyre Lord Maior The Foundation of Leaden Hall and the Chappell Stow Suruay Ric. Payne and Elisabeth his wife Sixteene children Ric. Nordell Margorie his wife * that * this * they * the holy Communion * thinke of this An Inscription vpon a table sometime chained in this Church Malmes lib 1. de Pont. 1. Selden Rob Glocest. 3 Cadar 4 Oâ—iâ—us 5 Conan 6 Palladius 7 Stephanus 8 Ilâ—ut 9 Dedwin 10 Thedred 11 Hillary 12 Restitutus Harpsfeeld Sex prim secul c. 16. 13 Gwitelin or Guitelnius Scots euer valiant Rob. Glocest. Fastidius Priscus 4. cent 1. Ternckine 15. Lib. in bib Cott. Mss. Vedinus 16. Godwin de praeful Ang. Theon the last Archbishop Robert Fabian Sheriffe Hugh Dauset Doctor of Diuinity Robert Barnes Iohn Bootes Henry Denne and Ioane his wife Tho. Pike Alsâ—rman Sir William Capell Lord Maior Water Knyght The foundation of Saint Anthonies Hospitall Io. Breux The foundation of the Augustine Friers Riâ—hard Earle of Aâ—undell Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford and Aubrey his sonne 〈…〉 his wife Mss. 〈…〉 Duke 〈…〉 Edward the eldest sonne of Edward the black Prince Cardina Shoder and Ioan her daughter Io. Redman Rector Nennius Helius Duke of Loegria â—lores Hist. aetal s. ca. 26. Cui nomen erat Crâ—â—â—a Mors quia nullâ—s ab eo vulneratus vinus eâ—adebaâ— Id. eod Rob. Glocest. Io. Harding c 44 Bale Câ—nt prima Will. Pratt The foundation of the Nunnery of S. Helen Sir Io. Crosby Maior of the Staple Mss. in bib Cot The Foundaâ—ion of a Brotherhood of 〈◊〉 Priests in â—eâ—den-Hall Chappell The foundation of the Priory of Christ-Church Aldgate Will. Payne Clement Towne The foundation of the Câ—oucâ—â—d Friers Ex quibusel Collect in sepe dict bib Cot. The Priore of Crouched Friers found in bed with hiâ— wench Foundation of S. Katherines Hospitall Iohn Holland Duke of Excester Caâ—al of honour â—tow Annal. Harding Anne the first wife of Iohn Duke of Exceter Anne the second wife of Iohn Duke of Exceter Constance Dutchesse of Norfolke Catal. of Hon. Vincent The foundation of East-minster to the honour of God and our Lady of Grace Stow Suruay The foundation of the Abbey of S. Clare Nunnes called the Minories The buriall place of sâ—me of the honourable family of the Darcies Stow. Annal. Cardinall Poole Io Clerke Bishop of Bath and Welles Godwin Catal. of Bishops The foundation of a Knightengild or Confrery without Aldgate The foundation of S. Mary Bethlem The foundation of S. Mary Spiâ—le Sir Io. Sordich Lord of Sordich Ex Mss. in â—ib Cott. Sir Humphrey Starky knight and Isabell his wife Sir Iohn Erlington and Margaret his wife The foundation of Holywell Sir Thomas Louelâ— Knight In â—ib Cott. Lib in lib. Câ—ll Isabell Sackvile Prioresse of S. Maries Clerkenwell Iordan Briset Muriell his wife Mss. in bib Cot. In bib Cott. Camd. in Aâ—dl Robertus Botill Prior Hospitaâ—u Sancti Iohanâ—â— Ierusalem in Anglia primus Baro regni Angliae consiliarius Rogâ—◠〈◊〉 Arch Turris London secundâ— parspat Aâ—â—o 10. Ed 4 â— 13. The foundation of â—he Charterhouse Stow Suruay Ex Mss. in bib Cot. The death of the Founder Margaret Lady Many and Duâ—chesse of Norfolke Suruay 〈◊〉 Vinâ—eâ—t Câ—tâ—l Norf. Philip Morgan Bishop of Ely Suttons Hospitall The foundation of great Saint Bartholomewes 〈◊〉 Arch Tuvrâ— London Caâ—t Ant. hier â— l. â—illiam Bolton the last Prior of S Bartholomewes Roger Walden Bishop of London Godwin de praesulibus Angl. Vpodigma Neustricae 2. Pars. Pat. An. 6 H. 4. M. 20. The foundation of Saint Bartl Hospital Sir Tho Malilant or Neufant Margaret his wiâ—e Sir Will. Knight Priest Sir Rob. Greuil Priest Philip Lewis Agnes his wife Io. Stafford 〈◊〉 Annal. â—â— Goodfâ—llowes 〈◊〉 Will. â—euer and Elizabeth his wife The foundation of the white Friers Carmelites Stow Sâ—â—â—uay Lamb peramb. Lamb. peramb. Rob Mascall Bishop of Hereford Will. Montagâ—â— Earle of Salisbury Ypodâ—g 〈◊〉 Penes 〈◊〉 Tâ—â—swell Stephen Patrington Bishop of S. Dauids Nich. Kenton Io. Miluerton Iohn Loney Pits de illust Aug. Scriptoribus Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent Iohn Gyles Clerke of the petit Bagge Cowell lit c. Lawrence Bartelet Vnder the picture of Saint Michael The first Sanctuary The death and buriall of Muâ—muâ—â—us Donwallo The Foundation of the Temple Church Cant. in Midlesex London William Marshall Earle of Penbroke William Marshall the yonger Earle of Penbroke Gâ—lbeâ—â— Maâ—â—shall Earle of Penbroke Paris 1â—4â— Hastiludium Paris Sir Rob. Rosse knight Will. Plantaginet Iames Bayle Rob. Thorne Ric. Wye Will. Langham Master of the Temple Will. Burgh Harold king of England Stow Annal. Io. Arundel Bishop of Exceter Io. Booth Bishop of Exceter Sir Will. Booth knight Ed. Arnold Parson The foundation of the Hospitall of Sauoy Ex Mss. in bib Cot. The second foundation of Sauoy Hospitall Tho. Halsal Gowin Douglase Bishops Hist. of Scot. Ann. 1521. Humphrey Gosling Sir 〈…〉 Tho. 〈…〉 The Hospitall of Saint Mary Rounciuall Hospitall of Saint Iames. In Archiuis Turrâ—s London â—â—desâ—s Caâ—al Cancell per Franâ—iscum â—hin collect Iohn Yong Master of the Rolles The foundation of S. Stephens Chappell Charta Regis Ed. tetijs ex Record turrâ—s London The foundati 〈…〉 Westâ—inster Abbey In Arch. turris London Iohn Harding ca. 88. Rob. Glocest. Hist. Ecclesiast Angl. vndeâ— â—aecul ca. 16. Sebert king of the East SaxoÌ„s with his Queene Aethelgoda Edward king of England surnamed the Confessor 〈◊〉 â—arnâ—r â—lb Engl. Mss. in bib Cot. Rob. Glocest. The first â—oure of the â—iâ—gs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 king Edwards wife Rob. Glocest. Maud wife to king Henry the first Ex Mss. in bib Cot. The Courtiers speech The Queenes answer Mat. Paris ad Ann. 1118. King Henry the third Mat. West Rob. Glocest. Mss. in bib Cot King Edward the 〈◊〉 Sir Rob. 〈◊〉 Ex. Arch. Turr. Lond. King Ed. Coronation Chron. Compend Cant. Mss. in bib Cot. Fabian * Kept Caâ—ton Fabian S. Daniel The battaile of Dunbarre The battaile of Foukirke Munster Vniuers Cosm. lib. 2. Walsing Ypodig Hard. cap. 162. * Henry the third * Henry the third The fatall Marble The cruelty of the Scots Rich Southwell Hoâ—â—inshead â—ro May. Polychron l. 7. cap. 40. 〈◊〉 of â—aâ—singham Walsing The dead bodies of our English kings anciently preserued from corruption Ex Arch.
Turr. Lond. Fabians Ballad Royall * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Queen of England Edward the third King of England Remaines Fauine in the orders of England * Alluding to the â—eopardâ— in the 〈…〉 Cron. Compend Cant. in bib Col. His Character Sam. Daniel His Iustice. His regard of Order His loue to his people His Prouidence His works of Pietie His buildings Walsing in vit Ed. 3. Add. Rob. Glocest * Bohemia Philip Queene of England Richard the second King of England Ranulph Monke of Chester Lib. vltimo Folio 166. 〈…〉 * Bohemia * Anne Queene of England Stow. Annal. Henry the fift King of England Add to Robert of Glocester Katherine the wife of Henry the fifth Henry the seuenth king of England Elizabeth the wife of king Hen. the seuenth Margaret CouÌ„tesse of Richmond Margaret the daughter of King Ed. 4. Elizab. the daughter of king Hen. 7. Anne Queene of England Edmund Earle of Lancaster Harding c. 147. Mat. Paris Pageant of Popes Aueline Countesse of Lancaster William de Valence Earle of Penbroke Stow Annal. Harding ca. â—56 Simon Langham Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Waldby Archbishop of Yorke Ex Mss. in bib Cot. * Sodorensis B. of Man In bib Cot. Iohn Waltham Bishop of Salisbury Caâ—al of Bishops In vita R 2. Richard Wendouer Bishop of Râ—châ—ster Sir Humphrey Bourchier Lord Cromwell Sir Humphrey Bourchier * Cup. bearer Tho. Milling Bishop of Hereford Godwin Hugolin Chamberlaine to S. Edward king and Confessor Remaines William Bedell and Cicely his wife Rob. Haule 〈◊〉 vit R. 2 Tho. Ruthall Bishop of Durham Sir William Trussell knight Tho. dela More Lib. 7. cap. 43. Rich. de Ware Abbot Francis Thinne in Catal. Thes. Aug. Walter Wenlocke Abbot The Abbots of this house were Barons of the Parliament Ric. de Barking Abbot Gervaise de Bloys Abbot Vitalis Abbot Laurence the first mâ—â—erd Abbot of West Gislebert Crispin Abbot Edmund Kirton Abbot Iohn Islip Abbot Remaines In bib Cot. Raph Selby Io Windsore Geffrey Chaucer Ex Mss. in bib Cot. Iohn Bedel Walter Garden Ioan Pymichum Io. Den and Agnes his wife * Eijcitâ— Io. Skelton Poet Laureat Specul Brit. 2. King 1.14 Ioh. â— 2 Stow Suruay S. Giles Bowle The Bishop of Rochesterâ— letter to 〈◊〉 S. amongst the letters 〈…〉 In bib Cotton Cromwell principalâ— Secretary * â—il Warbam In part Anno 2â— Hen. 8. ca. 10. Ex lit in Bib. Cotton Robert Fisher. Ex Mss. in bib Cot. The Tenor of Bishop Fishers Indictment Ex Mss. in bib Cotton Eras. Vid. Bal. cent 5. Oputer opus Cronog orbis Vniuersi pag. 477. Sir Tho. Moore In parl Anno 26 Hen. 8. ca. 2. Ex lit in Bib. Cotton Scrip. Bâ—â—t Cent. 5. De Iâ—ust Angie Scriptoribus In Epist. ad Vldric Huttenum de vita Mori Io. Lelandi Moriades siue charitaea corâ—na Camd. Remaines in wise speeches Ex lit in bib Cott. Nich. Grudius Tho. Cromwell Earle of Essex Ex Mss. in bib Cotton M. Drayton in the Legend of great Cromwell M. Drayton M. Drayton Some say no such Act was deuised by him to cause his owne death Speed chap. 21. Iohn Fox M. Drayton Sir Tho. Moore to Master Cromwell Ex lit in bib Cot Stow. Annal. Queene Anne Bullein Speed cap. 21. George Bullein Lord Rochford Speed cap. 21. Sleidan com l. 10. Queene Katherine Howard Ed. and Iohn Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland Hen. Southworth Geff. Hewet Ioane his wife In Miâ—lesex Suruay in Bishopsgateward Sicilius king of Britaine Song 3. Cap 25. * a man decked in feâ—hers Voâ—tâ—mer king of Britaine Speed Hist. cap. 12. Sigibert I Speed Hist. ca. xi Rob Glocest. * men taken * they * commanded Ca. 68. Videsis Speed Hist. ca. 17. and Vincent Catal. Chestâ—r Mill. Catal. Yorke Speed Hist. â— â—â— * Vncle. The Continuer of Hardings Chronicle The guilty conscience of King Richard Pers. Sat. 3. trans by â—erten Holyday Sir Thomas Moore Lord Chancelor Sir Iohn More the father of Sir Thomas his death Ioan and Alice the wiues of Sir Tho. Morâ— in bib Cot. Edmund Lord Bray Mawd Berford Philip Meawtis Ric. Scardebrugh and Elis. his wife Adwin Lauerocke Tho. Essex The office of Remembrancers D. Cowell lic R. The Kings Remembrancer The Treasurers Remembrancer Remembrancer of the first-fruits Io. Fisher. Sir Raph Butâ— knight Iohn Long Katherin Alice his wiues Io. Sherburne Sir Sampson Norton and Elis. his wife Master of the Ordnance Io. Thorley Will. Harvey George Chauncy Mar. Suanden * Arcuarij the Kings Bowyer Anne Sturton Lora Blunt Mawde Lady Salueyne Will. Boydale Christopher Carhill king at Armes Hen. Redman Ione his wife Ric. Parker and Marg. his wife William Clauell The foundation of Sion Nuns and Priests Augustines Ex lit in Bib. S. Dewes Ecclesia omnium Angetorum Antony Sutton Henâ—y Archer Io Robinson Katherine and Ioane his wiues Clement Câ—lyns Io. Holt Margery and Elizabâ—th his wiues Audrie Aundesham Io. Sampoll Sir Io. Payne Priest The Friery of Hounslow George Windsore William Iacob Stanes Priory Ex Lib. Abbat de Croxden in Bib Cotton Iohn Lord Sâ—â—ange Camd. in Shrop. George Lord Strange Iames Lord Strange Io. Flambard Edmund Flambard and Elis. his wife Io. Birkhed Sir Thomas Cornwall Camden in Shropshire Io. Bird Priest Io. Brent Specul Brit. Fowke de Brent Mat Westminst Mat. Pariâ— Tho. Iacob and Ioan his wife Io. Downmeer Ioan his wife Peter Goldesbrough Tho. Sanny Sir Tho. Frowicke knight Tho. Frowicke Ioane his wife Tho. Aldenham Io. Goodyere Ioane his wife Remaines 〈◊〉 Lady 〈◊〉 Hist of Wales â— â—â—ord Specul Britan. Norden Io. Skeuington Peter Fabell the merâ—y deuil of Edmunton Tho. Carleton Elis. his wife 〈◊〉 and Anne his wife Io. Innocent oâ— Incent vnder Treasurer of England Nic. Borne and Elis. his wife Io. Daniel Ioan and Alice his wiues Mawd Ekington Tho. Heningham George Heningham Elis. Turnant Margaret Compton Tho. Billington Grand Seargeantâ—e Kilborne Nunnery Hen. Lord Percy Earle of Northumberland Camd. in Surfex Alexander a Sergeant at Law Ioan Only Alice Ryder a Milke-maid Heron the founder of Hackeney Tho Hert Vicar Ione Curteys Roger Ford. Io. Butterfield Tho. Symonds Io. Catcher Hen. Therket Will. Henneage D. Cowell lit â— Io. Iennings Io. Elrington Cowell lit F. Will. Lowthe Rob. Walsingham Chr. Vrswicke the K. Almoner of Amuer Io Fowler Alice Fowler Tho. Sauill 〈…〉 Robert Middleton and his wife Katherine Mistelbrooke .... Grey and his wife Suruay Lond. Rob. Eve and Laurence his sister Hosp. of S. Giles founded S. Giles Bowle Hen. Steward Lord Darle Io. Kitt or Kite Bishop of Carlell Sir Hen. Câ—lleâ— Lord Maâ—â—r Rich. Paâ—e Deaâ—e of Sâ— Pauls Stow Annal. Cent. â— Nic. Gibson Sheriffe of London Iohn â—â—â—le oâ— Hereford Sir Io Chappalaine Priest Isabell Newmarche Camd. in Somerset Lewis Bâ—ysbury Wiâ—l Waâ—e and Ioâ—ne his wife Iohn Preâ—st Alice 〈◊〉 Io. Chandry Io Ingleby Foundation of the Priory in Hert. Raph Lord Limsey here buâ—â—ed Robert Saddington Mat Paris Francis Thinne Sir
in whose commendations Nicholas Harpsfeld sometime Archdeacon of Canterbury thus writeth I will vse his owne language Tobias a Brithwaldo Archiepiscopo consecratus vir ampliore honoratiore sede si locus hominem et homo locum non commendaret dignissimus qui Theodori Adriani discipulus fuit Quantum vero sub his praeceptoribus profecerit luculenter ostendit Beda qui cum omnium humanarum diuinarumque rerum scientissimum fuisse Latinam Graecamque linguam tam accurate atque maternam calluisse affirmat Hee dyed about the yeare 726. Here lyeth interred Gundulphus a Norman by birth the thirtieth Bishop of Rochester a man not greatly learned but very wise and industrious for he handled the matter so as hee procured not onely his Church to be new built but also the reuenues to be encreased He recouered diuers lands and possessions encroched vpon and taken away in former times by Odo Earle of Kent And besides diuers summes of money which hee contributed he bought a certaine Mannor called Heddre and gaue it to this his owne Church In all these matters hee was much helped by Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury who caused him to take into his Church not secular Priests as before had beene accustomed but Monkes Benedictines Gundulph himselfe being a Monke of that order vpon his first admittance to this See he found onely sixe secular Priests in the Church who were endowed scarcely with sufficient meanes to liue according to their place and callings Before his death he encreased his Church-reuenues to that height that it did and was able to maintaine fifty Monkes some say threescore The yearely value of this Monastery at the suppression amounted to 486. l. 5. s. The donations to this Monastery were confirmed by Pope Vrban the second in these words following Vrbanus Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei. Dilectis filijs Priori capitulo Ecclesie Roffen Ordinis sancti Benedicti Salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem Cum à nobis petitur quod iustum est et honestum tam vigor equitatis quam etiam ordo exigit rationis vt id per solicitudinem officij nostri ad debitum perducatur effectum Ea propter dilecti in Domino filij vestris iust is postulationibus grato concurrentes assensu personas vestras et Ecclesiam Roffen in qua diuino est is obsequio mancipati cum omnibus bonis que impresentiarum rationabiliter possidetis aut in futurum iust is modis prestante domino poteritis adipisci sub beati Petri protectione suscipimus at que nostra Specialiter autem terras decimas domus possessiones vineas prata et alta bona vestra sicut ea iuste et pacifice obtinetis vobis et per vos eidem Ecclesie auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus et presentis scripti patrocinio communuimus Salua in predictis decimis moderatione Concilij generalis Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius se nouerit incursurum Dat. Ianu. III. Id. Ianuar. Pontificatus nostri Anno octauo When as William the Conquerour built the great white square Tower of London hee appointed this Bishop to bee principall Surueyor of that worke who was for that time lodged in the house of one Edmere a Burgesse of London as it is in the booke of the Bishops of Rochester in these words Gundulphus Episcopus mandato Willelmi Regis magni presuit operi magne Turris London quo tempore hospitatus est apud quendam Edmerum Bargensem London This Bishop built a great part of the Castle of Rochester namely the great Tower which yet standeth Hee founded an Hospitall in Chetham which hee dedicated to the honour of Saint Bartholomew for the reliefe of such people as were infected with the foule disease of the Leprosie hee endowed it with sufficient reuenues which grant was confirmed by king Henry the third and discharged of all taxes and tallages by King Ed. the third He founded the Abbey at Malling which he consecrated to the blessed Virgine and placed therein blacke Nunnes Which Nunnery he gouerned himselfe during all his life time And lying at the point of death hee commended it to the charge of one Auice to whom notwithstanding he would not deliuer the Pastorall staffe before shee had promised canonicall obedience fidelitie and subiection to the See of Rochester and protested by oath that there should neither Abbesse nor Nunne bee from thenceforth receiued into the house without the consent and priuitie of him and his Successours This Nunnery was valued at the suppression at two hundred fourty fiue pounds ten shillings two pence halfepeny of yearely reuenue Ouer the Abbey gate yet standing is the likenesse of a Pastorall staffe This good Bishop dyed the seuenth of March 1107. and was buried where you see the pourtraitures of certaine Bishops sometimes artificially cut in stone and Alabaster but now cut almost all in peeces dismembred and shamefully abused as all other Monuments in this Church are of any antiquity so that neither reading nor tradition can giue vs any true notice of their names Gilbert de Glanuil before mentioned a gentleman of an ancient family was consecrated to this Bishopricke September 29. Ann. 1185. Betweene this man and his Monkes of Rochester was long and continuall debate by occasion whereof hee tooke away from them all their moueable goods all the ornaments of their Church their writings and euidences yea and a great part of their lands possessions and priuiledges wanting money to follow their suites against him they were forced to coyne the siluer of Saint Paulinus Shryne into money These controuersies were ended no otherwise then by his death which happened Iune 24. 1214. hauing ruled his contentious charge 29. yeares But the hatred of these Monkes against him was so dying with him as they would afford him no manner of Obsequies but buried him most obscurely or rather basely without either ringing singing or any other solemnitie and furthermore abused him with such like rime-doggerell Glanvill Gilbert us nulla bonitate refertus Hic iacet immitis amator maxime litis Et quia sic litem dum vixit solet amare Nunc vbi pax nulla est est aptior inhabitare These blacke Monkes whom I thinke if the matter were well examined would proue to be in the fouler fault were too malitious to remember that this Bishop founded S. Maries Hospitall at Strowd neare adioyning to this Citie called the New worke and endowed it witha liuelihood of 52. l. of yearely profits which it now enioyeth Here lyeth entombed the body of Walter de Merton so surnamed of Merton a village in Surrey where he was borne sometimes Lord Chancellour of England Bishop of this See and Founder of Merton Colledge in Oxford
To whose memory Sir Henry Savill that rare Grecian and exact reuiuer of Antiquities now deceased late Warden of the said Colledge and Prouost of Eaton with the fellowes of the same taking downe an old marble Tombe haue erected another Monument ouer him of Touch and Alabaster bearing this Inscription Waltero de Merton Cancellario Angliae sub Henrico tertio Episcopo Roffensi sub Edwardo primo Rege vnius exemplo omnium quotquot extant Collegiorum Fundatori maximorum Europae totius ingeniorum faelicissimo parenti Custos Scholares domus Scholarium de Merton in Vniuersitate de Oxon. communibus Collegij impensis debitum pietatis Monumentum posuere Ann. Dom. 1598. Henrico Savile Custode Obijt in vigilia Simonis Iudae Ann. Dom. 1277. Edwardi primi quinto Inchoauerat Collegium Maldoniae in agro Surr. Ann. Dom. 1264. Hen. tertij 48. cui dein salubri consilio Oxonium Anno 1270. trans extrema manus faelicissimis vt credi par est auspicijs accessit anno 1274. ipsis Cal. Aug. anno Regni Regis Edwardi primi secundo Magne senex titulis Musarum sede sacrata Maior Mertonidum maxime progenie Haec tibi gratantes post saecula sera nepotes En votiua locant marmora sancte parens Haymo de Heath or Hythe so named of Hithe a Towne in this tract where he was borne lyeth buried by the North wall he was Confessour to King Edward the second This man built much at his Mannor houses of Troscliffe and Hawling In the Towne of Hithe before named he founded the Hospitall of Saint Bartholomew for reliefe of ten poore people endowing the same with twenty Markes of yearely reuenue He resigned his Bishopricke into the Popes hands of whom he had receiued consecration in the Court at Rome Ann. 1352. and liued about some six yeares after that a priuate life with the Monkes in this Priory This Bishop saith the booke of Rochester bought a precious Miter which was Thomas Beckets of the Executours of the Bishop of Norwich which hee offered at the high Altar on S. Pauls day 1327. Iohn de Shepey so likewise surnamed from the place of his birth vpon Haymo his resignation was by the Pope elected to this Bishoprick hee was Lord Treasurer of England in the two and thirtieth yeere of King Edward the third in which office he continued about three yeeres euen vntill his death which happened the nineteenth of October 1360. His portraiture is in the wall ouer his place of Buriall Here ouer against Bishop Merton lieth buried vnder a faire Marble Tombe the body of Iohn Lowe Bishop of this Diocesse borne in Worcestershire and brought vp in Oxford where he proceeded Doctor of Diuinitie He liued for a time in the Abbey of the Friers Augustines in Worcester of which order he was Prouinciall Vir aetate sua ab omni parte doctus So that in regard of his great learning and painfulnes in preaching he was preferred first to the Bishoprick of Saint Asaph by King Henry the sixt and after that translated to this of Rochester hee writ diuers learned works and was a carefull searcher after good bookes so as diuers copies of some ancient Fathers had vtterly perished but for his diligence Hee died the yeere 1467. hauing gouerned the See of Saint Asaph foure yeeres and and this of Rochester foure and twenty The inscription vpon his Tombe is almost all gone only these words remayning ...... Iohannis Low Epis ...... ...... miserere mei Domine Credo videre Dominum in terra viventium O quam breve spatium huius mundi sicomp ..... Sic mundi gloria transit Sancte Andree Augustine orate prop nobis I doe not finde the certainty of any other of the Bishops of this Diocesse to haue bin buried in this Cathedrall Church for most commonly in ancient times as now they departed from this place before they departed from the world this Ecclesiasticall preferment being but a step to some higher aduancement A word therefore or two of Saint William here enshrined and the like of the Priory and so I will take my leaue of this most ancient and no lesse reuerend Episcopall Chaire and goe to Gillingham for the rest of the funerall Monuments in this Church are of later times which I reserue for another Volume This Priory erected by Gundulph and the number of her religious Votaries encreased by him from sixe secular Priests to threescore blacke Canons or Monkes with ample reuenues for their maintenance was within the compasse of one hundred yeares what by casuall fire what by the falling out of the Monkes and Bishop Glanvill and what by the calamities it sustained in the warres of King Iohn brought to that ruine and pouerty that the beauty of all her goodly buildings was altogether defaced her Church burned her sacred Vtensiles by robbery and suites in law embezelled mispent and consumed and the whole Couent greatly indebted Anno 1179.3 Id. Aprilis Rofensis Ecclesia cum omnibus officinis cum tota vrbe infra extra muros combusta est anno 97. ex quo Monachi in eadem Ecclesia instituti sunt It was now therefore high time saith Master Lambard to deuise some way whereby this Priory and Church of Rochester might be if not altogether restored to the ancient wealth and estimation yet at the least somewhat relieued from this penury nakednesse and abiection Therefore Laurence of Saint Martins Bishop of this Church and Councellour of King Henry the third perceiuing the common people to bee somewhat drawne by the fraud of the Monkes to thinke reuerently of one William that lay buried in the Church and knowing well that there was no one way so compendious to gaine as the aduancement of a Pilgramage procured at the Popes Court the canonization of the said William with Indulgence to all such as would offer at his Tombe vnderpropping by meanes of this new Saint some manner of reuerend opinion of the Church which before through the defacing of the old Bishop Paulinus his Shrine was declined to naught This Saint William was by birth a Scot of Perthe by trade of life a Baker of bread in charitie so abundant that hee gaue to the poore the tenth loafe of his workmanship in zeale so feruent that in vow he promised and in deed attempted to visit the holy Land and the places where Christ was conuersant on earth In which iourney as he passed through Kent he made Rochester his way where after that he had rested two or three dayes he departed toward Canterbury but ere he had gone farre from the Citie his seruant that waited on him led him of purpose out of the high-way and spoyled him both of his money and life This done the seruant escaped and the Master because he dyed in so holy a purpose of minde was by the Monkes conueyed hither to Saint Andrewes laid in the Quire and promoted by the
and goodly Thames so farre as ere he could With kingly houses crownd of more then earthly pride Vpon his either Bankes as he along doth glide With wonderfull delight doth his long course pursue Where Otlands Hampton Court and Richmond he doth view Then Westminster the next great Tames doth entertaine That vaunts her Pallace large and her most sumptuous Fane The Lands tribunall seate that challengeth for hers The crowning of our kings their famous Sepulchres Then goes he on along by that more beautious Strand Expressing both the wealth and brauery of the Land So many sumptuous Bowres within so little space The All-beholding Sunne scarse sees in all his race And on by London leads which like a Crescent lies Whose windowes seeme to mocke the Star-befreckled skies Besides her rising Spyres so thicke themselues that show As doe the bristling reedes within her bankes that grow There sees his crouded Wharfes and people-pestred shores His bosome ouerspread with shoales of labouring ores With that most costly Bridge that doth him most renowne By which he cleerely puts all other Riuers downe Midlesex saith Camden is for aire passing temperate and for soile fertile with sumptuous houses and prety Townes on all sides pleasantly beautified and euery where offereth to the view many things memorable Whereupon a Germane Poet thus versified Tot campos syluas tot regia tecta tot hortos Artifici dextrâ excultos tot vidimus arces Vt nunc Ansonio Tamisis cum Tibride certet So many fields and pleasant woods so many Princely Bowres And Pallaces we saw besides so many stately towres So many Gardens trimly drest by curious hand which are That now with Romane Tiberis the Tames may well compare This County is comprised within short bounds being in length where it is the longest not passing twenty miles and in the narrowest place not passing twelue miles The length thereof saith Speed extended from Stratford in the East to Morehall vpon Colne in the West is by measure nineteene English miles and from South Mims in the North to his Maiesties Mannour of Hampton Court in the South are little aboue sixteene miles the whole circumference extending to ninety In forme it is almost square for aire passing temperate for soile abundantly fertile and for pasturage and graine of all kindes yeelding the best so that the wheat of this County hath serued a long time for the Manchet to our Princes table It lieth seated in a vale most wholsome and rich hauing some hills also and them of good ascent from whose tops the prospect of the whole is seene like vnto Zoar in Egypt or rather like a Paradise and Garden of God Fiue Princely houses inheritable to the English Crowne are seated in this Shire which are Enfield Hanworth Whitehall S Iames and Hampton Court a City rather in shew then the Pallace of a Prince and for stately port and gorgeous building not inferiour to any in Europe A worke of admirable magnificence saith Camden built out of the ground by Thomas Wolsey Cardinall in ostentation of his riches when for very pride being otherwise a most prudent man he was not able to manage his minde But it was made an Honor enlarged and finished by king Henry the eight so amply as it containeth within it fiue seuerall inner Courts passing large enuironed with very faire buildings wrought right curiously and goodly to behold Of which Leyland writeth thus Est locus insolito rerum splendore superbus Alluiturque vaga Tamisini fluminis vnda Nomine ab antiquo iam tempore dictus Avona Hic Rex Henricus taleis Octauius aedes Erexit qualeis toto Sol aureus orbe Non vidit A stately place for rare and glorious shew There is which Tames with wandring streame doth dowsse Times past by name of Avon men it knew Heere Henry th' Eight of that name built an house So sumptuous as that on such an one Seeke through the world the bright Sunne neuer shone And another in the Nuptiall Poeme of Tame and Isis. Alluit Hamptonum celebrem quae laxior vrbis Mentitur formam spacijs hanc condidit Aulam Purpureus pater ille grauis grauis ille Sacerdos Wolsaeus fortuna sauos cui felle repletos Obtulit heu tandem fortunae dona dolores He runs by Hampton which for spatious seat Seemes Citie-like Of this faire courtly Hall First founder was a Priest and Prelate great Wolsey that graue and glorious Cardinall Fortune on him had pour'd her gifts full fast But Fortunes Blisse Alas prou'd Bale at last The ancient Inhabitants of Middlesex as also of Essex were called by Caesar the Trinobantes whom hee nameth to be the most puissant in the Land with whom he and his armie had many bloudie bickerings nere and vpon the bankes of the riuer of Tames wherein many were slaine on either side which lie interred in the fields twixt Shepperton and Stanes Some affirme Stanes saith Norden to be so called of the Stakes called Goway Stakes which were fixed in the Thames by the Britons to preuent Iulius Caesar of passing his armie through the riuer Of which and of the conflicts and skirmishes betwixt the Britaines and Romanes thus venerable Bede writes Caesars Horsemen at the first encounter were ouerthrowne of the Britaines and Labienus one of his Colonels slaine At the second encounter with great losse of his Army he put the Britaine 's to flight From thence he went vnto the riuer of Tames which men say cannot bee waded ouer but in one place where on the farther side a great number of the Britaine 's warded the bankes vnder Cassibelan their Captaine who had stucke the bottome of the riuer and the bankes also thicke of great stakes whereof certaine remnants vnto this day are to be seene of Piles of the bignesse of a mans thigh couered with lead sticking fast in the bottome of the riuer which when the Romanes had espied and escaped the Britaines not able to withstand the violence of the Roman Legions hid themselues in the woods out of the which they often breaking forth greatly endamaged the Army of the Romanes In and about Brainford or Brentford the bodies of many a warlike Commander and expert Souldier lie inhumed which were slaine in that fierce and terrible battaile betwixt Edmund Ironside and the Danes which he had driuen from the siege of London at a place now called Turnham Greene thereunto adioyning in which battaile he gaue the Danes a bloudy ouerthrow losing few of his armie saue such as were drowned in the riner of Tames as they passed ouer In the yeare 7141. and the day being the Paschall whereon Christ rose from death which with due reuerence is celebrated in all the Christian world vpon Gladmore heath halfe a mile from Barnet was foughten a most fierce and cruell Battaile betwixt King Edward the fourth and Richard Neuill the great Earle of Warwicke the Mars and Make-King of England contending