T.R. apud Douer 24. Ian 2. Pars. Pat. Ann. 7. Ric. 2. Per versus patet hos Anglorum quod iacet hic flos Legum qui tata dictauit vera statuta Ex Hengham dictus Radulphus vir benedictus This flower of our English Garden this learned father of the Law this blessed man as this Epitaph would make him was no better then a bribing Iudge for being a chiefe Commissioner for the gouernment of the kingdome in the absence of Edward the first he with many others of his profession were at the kings returne found guiltie by act of Parliament of manifest corruption in their administration of Iustice and deeply fined for such their intolerable extortions First this Sir Raph Hengham chiefe Iustice of the higher Bench was fined to pay to the king seuen thousand Markes Sir Iohn Loueton Iustice of the lower Bench 3000. Markes Sir William Brompton Iustice 6000. Markes Sir Salomon Rochester 4000. Markes Sir Richard Boyland 4000. Markes Sir Thomas Sodington 2000. Markes Sir Walter Hopton 2000. Markes These foure last were Iustices Itinerants Sir William Saham 3000. Markes Robert Lithbury Master of the Rolls 1000. Markes Roger Leicester 1000. Markes Henry Bray Escheater and Iudge for the Iewes 1000. Markes Robert Preston 1000. Markes But Sir Adam Stratton chiefe Baron of the Exchequer was fined in thirty foure thousand Markes And Thomas Weyland found the greatest delinquent and of greatest substance had all his goods and whole estate confiscated to the king and withall banished the kingdome This Sir Raph Hengham was a Norfolke man borne as I haue it out of an old Record these are the words Radulphus de Hengham ex eadem ortus esse videtur familia ex qua Willielmus filius Ade de Hengham et Richardus de Hengham in Pago Norfolciens plerumque Thetfordie Iusticiarij ad Assisas capiendas et ad Gaolam deliberandam sub initijs Hen. 3. in Archiuis sepe memorantur Rot. Parl. He flourished in the raignes of Henry the third and Edward the first and died in the first yeare of Edward the second 1308. Hic iacet Magister Fulco Louel quondam Archidiaconus Colcestrie floruit sub Hen. 3. Rege I finde no more of this man then what I reade in this Inscription but much more of his name being both ancient and honourable Orate pro animabus Iohannis de Boys in Com. Essex Ar. Nicholai Rikkil Ar. Domine Isabelle quondam vxor eorum que Isabella obiit 28. Iulij Ann. 1443. quorum animabus propitietur altissimus It seemes by his armes vpon the pillars that this Boys was a great repairer of this Chappell sacred to S George wherein he lyeth interred Orate pro anima Magistri Williel Worsley legum doctoris istius Ecclesie Sancti Pauli London Decani dum vixit .... qui obiit 15. die mens Augusti 1488. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Vermibus hic ponor sic ostendere conor Hic veluti ponor ponitur omnis honor And vpon the pillar adioyning to this Monument these verses following are engrauen in brasse Vnde superbis Homo cuius conceptio culpa Nasci pena labor vita necesse mori Vana salus hominum vanus labor omnia vana Inter vana nichil vanius est homine Post hominem vermis post vermem setor horror Sic in non hominem vertitur omnis homo Mors venit absque mora nescis cum venerit hora Esto paratus ei cum venerit hora diei Orate pro .... Domini Rogeri Brabazon de O devy Iuris Canonici Doctoris huius Ecclesie Cathedralis Residentarij qui obiit tertio die mens Augusti 1498. Cuius anime propitietur Deus Nunc Christe te petimus Miserere quesumus qui venisti redimere perditos noli damnare redemptos In memoriam venerabilis viri Iohannis Coleti sacre Theologiae Doctoris ad Dinum Paulum Decani Scholae ibidem fundatoris Inclyta Ioannes Londini gloria gentis Is tibi qui quondam Paule Decanus erat Qui toties magno resonabat pectore Christum Doctor interpres fidus Euangelij Qui mores hominum multum sermone diserto Formarat vitae sed probitate magis Quique scholam struxit celebrem cognomine Ihesu Hac dormit tectus membra Coletus humo Floruit sub Henrico 7. Hen. 8. Regibus obijt Ann. Dom. 1519. Disce mori mundo vinere disce Deo Vnder his liuely pourtraiture alluding to his artificiall Askelliton these words Istuc recidit gloria carnis Loue and liue His Monument is lately reuiued by the Companie of the mystery of Mercers to whose charge he committed the ouersight of S. Pauls Schoole with lands worth an hundred and twenty pounds or better of yearely value for the maintenance of a Master an Vsher and a Chaplaine to teach and instruct one hundred fiftie and three poore mens children freely without any reward And as I am told Vijs modis more comes to the Schoolemaster at this day then the whole endowment Iohn Bale saith that of twenty and two children which his father Henry Collet Mercer and Lord Maior of London had by Christian his wife he was the onely childe liuing at his fathers death that he died of the sweating sicknesse aged sixtie three yeares that he was brought vp in Oxford that he trauelled into France and Italie that he disputed with the Sorbonists in Paris from whose Tenets hee much dissented that hee inuayed against Monkes which did not leade an Euangelicall life and Bishops Qui pro Pastoribus lupos agebant that he was eruditione facundus that he writ many Treatises left in loose papers which but by himselfe could not bee made perfect That hee taught in his Sermons that it was vnlawfull for a Clergie-man to accumulate riches and for any man to worship Images that by Richard Fitz-Iames then Bishop of London and two Minorites Bricot and Standish he was accused of heresie and that his corps had beene cast out of his Tombe and burnt if an vnexpected accident had not preuented his enemies designes Gulielmo Lilio Paulinae Scholae olim perceptorio primario Agnetae Coniugi in sacratissimo huius templi Coemiterio hinc a tergo nunc destructo consepultis Georgius Lillius huius Ecclesie canonicus Parentum memoriae pie consulens Tabellam hanc ab amicis conseruatam hic reponendam curauit Obijt ille G. L. Ann. Dom. 1522. V. Calend. Mart. vixit annos 54. This man integer vitae scelerisque purus as Bale saith liued for a certaine time in the Isle of Rhodes and some yeares in Italie where hee instructed himselfe in all good literature and made himselfe perfect in many languages withall he was quicke apprehensiue and ingenious and therefore entirely beloued of Sir Thomas Moore He writ diuers bookes but he is best knowne by his Grammer Hee was borne in the Towne of Odiham in Hampshire The Epitaph of Agnes the wife of William Lily as
whencesoeuer he come or for what offence or cause it be either for his refuge into the said holy place he be assured of his life liberty and limbes And ouer this I forbid vnder the paine of euerlasting damnation that no Minister of mine or of my Successours intermeddle them with any the goods lands or possessions of the said persons taking the said Sanctuary for I haue taken their goods and liuelode into my speciall protection and therefore I grant to euery each of them in as much as my terrestriall power may suffice all manner freedome of ioyous liberty and whosoeuer presumes or doth contrary to this my Grant I will he lose his name worship dignitie and power And that with the great traytor Iudas that betrayed our Sauiour he be in the euerlasting fire of hell And I will and ordaine that this my grant endure as long as there remaineth in England either loue or dread of Christian name King Edward the third built in the little Sanctuarie a Clochard of stone and timber and placed therein three bells for the vse of Saint Stephens Chappell About the biggest Bell was engrauen or cast in the mettall these words King Edward made mee thirtie thousand weight and three Take mee downe and wey mee and more you shall fynd mee But these Bells being to be taken downe in the raigne of King Henry the eight one writes vnderneath with a coale But Henry the eight will bait me of my weight In the Steeple of the great Church in the Citie of Roane in Normandy is one great Bell with the like Inscription Ie suis George de Ambios Qui trente cinque mille pois Mes lui qui me pesera Trente six mill me trouera I am George of Ambois Thirtie five thousand in pois But he that shall weigh me Thirtie six thousand shall find mee One lately hauing taken view of the Sepulchres of so many Kings Nobles and other eminent persons interred in this Abbey of Westminster made these rimes following which he called A Memento for Mortalitie Mortalitie behold and feare What a change of flesh is here Thinke how many royall bones Sleepe within this heape of stones Hence remou'd from beds of ease Daintie â—are and what might please Fretted roofes and costlie showes To a roofe that flats the nose Which proclaimes all flesh is grasse How the worlds faire Glories passe That there is no trust in Health In youth in age in Greatnesse wealth For if such could haue repriu'd Those had beene immortall liu'd Know from this the worlds a snare How that greatnesse is but care How all pleasures are but paine And how short they do remaine For here they lye had Realmes and Lands That now want strength to stirre their hands Where from their pulpits seel'd with dust They preach In Greatnesse is no trust Here 's an Aker sowne indeed With the richest royall seed That the earth did ere sucke in Since the first man dy'd for sin Here the bones of birth haue cry'd Though Gods they were as men haue dy'd Here are sands ignoble things Dropt from the ruin'd sides of Kings With whom the poore mans earth being showne The difference is not easily knowne Her 's a world of pompe and state Forgotten dead disconsolate Thinke then this Sithe that mowes downe kings Exempts no meaner mortall things Then bid the wanton Lady tread Amid these mazes of the dead And these truly vnderstood More shall coole and quench the blood Then her many sports a day And her nightly wanton play Bid her paint till day of doome To this fauour she must come Bid the Merchant gather wealth The vsurer exact by stealth The proud man beate it from his thought Yet to this shape all must be brought Chappell of our Lady in the Piew Neare vnto the Chappell of Saint Stephen was sometime a smaller Chappell called our Lady of the Piew but by whom first founded I cannot finde To this Lady great offerings were vsed to be made Richard the second after the ouerthrow of Wat. Tilar as I haue read and other the Rebels in the fourth of his raigne went to Westminster and there giuing thankes to God for his victory made his offering in this Chappell By the negligence of a Scholler forgetting to put forth the Lights of this Chappell the Image of our Lady richly decked with Iewels precious stones Pearles and Rings more then any Ieweller saith he could iudge the price was with all the apparell and ornaments belonging thereunto as also the Chappell it selfe burnt to ashes It was againe reedified by Antony Widâ—uile Earle Riuers Lord Scales Vncle and Gouernour to the Prince of Wales that should haue beene King Edward the fifth Who was vniustly beheaded at Pomfret by the procurement of Richard Crook-backe Duke of Glocester then Lord Protectour the 13. of Iune 1483. Saint Margaret in Westminster Adioyning on the North side of the Abbey standeth Saint Margarets the Parish Church of the Citie of Westminster reedified for the most in the raigne of King Edward the fourth especially the South Isle from the piety of the Lady Marye Billing and her second husband Sir Thomas Billing chief Iustice of England in that Kings time Whose Monument with that to the memorie of her first husband William Cotton Esquire I haue here expressed Here lieth Dame Mary Bylling late wife to Sir Thomas Bylling Knight chiefe Iustice of England and to William Coton and Thomas Lacy which Mary died the 14 day of March in the yeare of our Lord God 1499. Blessed Lady c. haue mercy c. Ant Mary gratia plena on me haue mercy on me haue mercy Ecce ancila dom Fiat 〈…〉 secund uerbu tuuÌ„ 〈…〉 〈…〉 The inheritance of this Lady was the Lordship of Connington in Huntingtonshire The seate once of Turketell the Dane Earle of the East Angles who inuited ouer Swain King of Denmarke to inuade this kingdome He exiâ—'d with most of his Nation by Saint Edmond the Confessor This his seate with other his large possessions were giuen by the same King to Walthâ—oâ— Earle of Northumberland and Huntington to whom the first William gaue in marriage the Lady Iudithe his sisters daughter This Lordship with the Earledome of Huntington by the marriage of Mary that Earles daughter to Dauid the sonne of the first Malcolme King of Scots and the holy Margaret his wife Neece to Edward the King Confessor Grandchilde to Edmond surnamed Ironside King of the English Saxons and sister and heire to Edgar surnamed Ethelinge by which marriage the Stemme Royall of the Saxons became vnited into the bloud Royall of the Scottish Kings in whose male lyne that Earldome and this Lordship continued vntill Isabell the daughter and heire of Dauid Earle of Huntington and brother to Malcome William and Alexander successiue Kings of that kingdome brought them both by her marriage to Robert de Brus into that family She leauing the iust clayme of the Crowne of Scotland to Robert her eldest sonne whose sonne
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
Ewes Dynastarum ditionis de Kessel in ducatu Gelriae oriundi Aliciae Rauenscroft coniugis suae viri singularis sub hoc marmore tumulati qui obiit die xii Aprilis Anno Domini CIâ—DXCI Vnico relicto sui ipsius Graciae Hind primae suae coniugis Filio haeredae Paulo D'Ewes Armigero qui duxit in vxorem Sissiliam Filiam vnicam Haeredem Richardi Simonds de Coxden in Pago Dorsetensi Armigeri vnicâ filiâ Aliciâ nupta Gulielmo Lathum de Vpmenster in Comitatu Essex Armigero Egregiâ natus Geerardt de stirpe propinquûm Gueldrorum hic foelix ossa regenda tegit Sciliceâ— invidia fatorum ipse ante sepultus Quam vitâ orbatus mors ita sacra quies Stémata namque Deus modo deprimit et modo Ne nobis coeli gaudia terra ferat Fundamenta tamen proli struxisse regaudec ditat PrimaevuÌ„ ut poterint coÌ„memorare DECVS Hinc proavos superans claros virtute ferendi Non fit ONVS sed erit posteritatis HONOS Arkesden Here lieth Anne the daughter and heire of Richard Fox and the wife of Thamas Langley Esquire ..... 1467. Orate pro anima Willi Cook generosi filij Thome Cook militis Elizabethe uxoris ejus qui obijt 1500. et Elizabetha 1503. Pray for the sowls of Thomas Alderton Stockfishmonger of London and Alis his wyff which Alis decessyd on Saint George his Eue 1513. This Inscription following is vpon the North Wall of this Church Thomas Alderton was a goodd benefactor to this Chirch as by his last Wil and Testament remeyning in this Chirch mor pleynly it doth appere He gave certeyne lands towards the sustentatyon of a Chantre Prest to sing at the Awter and to help devyn Servis at the sam on the Holiday He built this Isle from the north dor hitherto on whos sowl Iesu haue mercy Amen Stansted Mont-fichet The habitation in times past of the familie de Monte Fixo commonly Mont-fitchet whereupon the towne had that denomination In the Church lieth buried Roger of Lancaster who married Philip daughter and heire of Hugh de Bulbeck the second saith Norden and lieth crosse legged in an ancient tombe of white stone vpon which no inscription remaineth He was in her right Lord of Stansted the said mannor afterward came vnto Hugo de Playze by marriage of the yongest daughter of Richard Mont-fitchet of whom came Elizabeth Countesse of Oxford who was daughter to Iohn Howard knight by whom the land came to the Earle of Oxford South Church In this Church are some old Monuments of the Bruins which haue beene old inhabitants there and descended saith Norden as hee thinks from Iordan le Brune a knight Lord of Hacwell in Henry the thirds time Here is an old mannor wherein the old knights which surnamed themselues of the towne Chirche inhabited whereof one Sir Richard in Henry the thirds time was one of the kings Iustices for Gaole deliuery He gaue the greatest part of his land to Christs Church in Canterbury mooued thereunto for want of heires males Shopland In Shopland is an ancient mannor called Butlers of a race of knights and gentlemen that dwelt there and gaue three couered Cups as appeareth in the Church window there is one most beautifull Monument in the Church made to the memory of one Staple a Sergeant at Armes to King Ed. the third which gaue in his Shield a Salter mixt with Staples which in colours with other Scutcheons remaine in the North windowes His tombe is thus inscribed Tho. Stapel iadis Seriant d'armes nostre Seigneus le Roi qi morust le secunde iour de Mars l'an de Gras Mil. ccclxxi gist ici Dieu de s'alme eit mercy Amen Canewdon A great parish so called from King Canutus the Dane who kept his Court here unde Canuti domus The Mannor house hath beene double trenched and fensed after the oldest fashion In the same are other Mannors exceeding ancient as that of Clarendon Hall the old seat of the Chanceux many of them were knights as Sir Giles Chanceux in Edward the first his time many of them lie buryed in the Church with their Pictures Scutcheons and French Poesies all defaced Another Mannor called Breamstons or rather Beanstons honoured by knights descended of Bartholomew a yonger sonne to the Earle of Ewe in Normandy it hath beene inhabited by a knight or more of the name of Scot. Another Mannor called Apton Hall and another called Piuersey Hall whereof Sir Iohn Greyton was Lord in Edward the first his time One of the best called Lamberne Hall whereof one Lamberne vnder Swaine was Lord in the Conquest time and so continued till Richard the second at which time his daughter Thamasin carried all to Toteham and from thence to Barington and from thence to Lumsford a Squire of Sussex that being better planted in his natiue Country vseth this for a Farme as I thinke it was in Lambernes time So many Lordships in the parish haue caused so many of their owners to honour this Church with their Sepultures but to whose memory in particular any one of these monuments were erected cannot bee discerned they are all so shamefully abused Great Stanbridge Here was the inheritance and sepulture of a wariike crew of Knights called Tanye or Thanye one of which named Lucas Tanye a knight and an expert warriour at the taking of the Isle of Anglesey and Castle of Oxe in Wales was with Sir William Lindsey William de Audley Roger Clifford and twelue other of the Kings chiefest Captaines and Knights besides seuenteene young Gentlemen and two hundred common souldiers slaine by Dauid Lord of Denbigh brother to Lhewelin Prince of Wales and his band of fierce Welshmen in the tenth yeare of the raigne of King Edward the first This famous knight was Steward of Gascoyn Writle Hic iacet Thomasia filia et heres Tho. Heueningham iunioris Ar. filij heredis Tho. Heueningham senioris Ar. Tomasie consortis sue que quidem Thomasia dicta filia heres primo nupta suit Tho. Berdefield secundo Iohanni Bedel vltimo Waltero Thomas gen et obiit die Martis 21. Iunij 1513 et qui Tho. Heueningham senior Thomasia Consors eius ac Tho. Heueningham iunior iacent partem sub isto lapide partem magis directe coram imagine S. Trinitatis Quorum animabus propitietur Altissimus Here lieth Thomas Fige and Margaret his wife one of the two daughters and heires of Raffe Toppesfeld Esquire He deceased in April 1513. and had issue one sonne and two daughters Here lieth Iohane somtym wyff of William Wyborne daughter and heire of Thomas Hyde Who died .... 1487. Here lieth Iohn Pinchon Esquire who died .... with Ione his wyff daughter to Sir Richard Empson beheaded Of whom I haue spoken before Out of the collections of the right honourable Thomas Lord
reedification of the thing broken as to the said Iustices shall seeme meete vsing therein the aduise of the Ordinary and if neede shall bee the aduise also of her Maiesties Councell in her Starre-chamber And for such as bee already spoiled in any Church or Chappell now standing Her Maiestie chargeth and commandeth all Archbishops Bishops and other Ordinaries or Ecclesiasticall persons which haue authoritie to visit the Churches or Chappels to inquire by presentments of the Curates Churchwardens and certaine of the Parishoners what manner of spoiles haue beene made sithens the beginning of her Maiesties raigne of such Monuments and by whom and if the persons be liuing how able they be to repaire and reedifie the same and thereupon to conuent the same persons and to enioyne them vnder paine of Excommunication to repaire the same by a conuenient day or otherwise as the cause shall further require to notifie the same to her Maiesties Councell in the Starre-chamber at Westminster And if any such shall be found and conuicted thereof noâ— able to repaire the same that then they bee enioyned to doe open peâ—ance two or three times in the Church as to the qualitie of the crime and partâ—â— belongeth vnder like paine of Excommunication And if the partie that offended bee dead and the executours of the Will left hauing sufficient in their hands vnadministred and the offence notorious The Ordinary of the place shall also enioyne them to repaire or reedifie the same vpon like or any other conuenient paine to bee deuised by the said Ordinary And when the offendour cannot be presented if it be in any Cathedrall or Collegiate Church which hath any reuenue belonging to it that is not particularly allotted to the sustentation of any person certaine or otherwise but that it may remaine in discretion of the gouernour thereof to bestow the same vpon any other charitable deed as mending of high-wayes or such like her Maiestie enioyneth and straightly chargeth the gouernours and companies of euery such Church to employ such parcels of the said sums of any as any wise may be spared vpon the speedy repaire or reedification of money such Monuments so defaced or spoiled as agreeable to the originall as the same conueniently may be And where the couetousnesse of certaine persons is such that as Patrons of Churches or owners of the personages impropriated or by some other colour or pretence they do perswade with the Parson and Parishioners to take or throw downe the Bels of Churches and Chappels and the lead of the same conuerting the same to their priuate gaine and to the spoiles of the said places and make such like alterations as thereby they seeke a slanderous desolation of the places of prayer Her Maiestie to whom in the right of the Crowne by the ordinance of Almighty God and by the Lawes of this Realme the defence and protection of the Church 〈◊〉 this Realme belongeth doth expresly forbid any manner of person to taâ—e away any Bels or lead of any Church or Chappell vnder paine of imprisonment during her Maiesties pleasure and such further fine for the contempt as shall be thought meete And her Maiestie chargeth all Bishops and Ordinaries to enquire of all such contempts done from the beginning of her Maiesties raigne and to enioyne the persons offending to repaire the same within a conuenient time And of their doings in this behalfe to certifie her Maiesties priuie Councell or the Councell in the Starre-chamber at Westminster that order may be taken herein Yeuen at Windsor the xix of September the second yeare of her Maiesties raigne God saue the Queene Imprinted at London in Pauls Churchyard by Richard Iugge and Iohn Cawood Printers to the Queenes Maiestie Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis This Proclamation was seconded by another to the same purpose in the fourteenth yeare of her Maiesties raigne charging the Iustices of her Assise to prouide seuere remedie both for the punishment and reformation thereof But these Proclamations tooke small effect for much what about this time there sprung vp a contagious broode of Scismatickes who if they might haue had their wills would not onely haue robbed our Churches of all their ornaments and riches but also haue laid them lâ—uell with the ground choosing rather to exercise their deuotions and publish their erronious doctrines in some emptie barne in the woods or common fields then in these Churches which they held to be polluted with the abhominations of the whore of Babylon Besides about that time these foresaid wilfull Sectaries did penne print and spread abroad certaine seditious Pamphlets as still they doe against our booke of Common Prayer against all Ecclesiasticall gouernment and against all the rites and ceremonies vsed in this our orthodoxall Church of England inuenting out of their owne corkie braines a new certaine noâ—orme of Liturgie to themselues thereby to bring into the Church all disorder and confusion These Renegadoes are at this day diuided and subdiuided into as many seuerall Sects as there be seuerall Trades in the greatest Market-towne As into Brownists Barowists Martinists Prophesiers Solifidians Famelists rigid Precisians Disciplinarians Iudaicall Thraskists c. and into a rable numberlesse In the three and thirtieth yeare of Queene Elizabeth the sixteenth day of Iuly in the morning Edmund Coppinger and Henry Arthington repaired to one Walkers house neare vnto Broken warfe of London where conferring with one of their Sect named William Hacket of Owndale in the County of Northampton Yeoman they offered to anoint him king But Hacket taking Coppinger by the hand said You shall not need for I haue beene already anointed in heauen by the holy Ghost himselfe Then Coppinger asked him what his pleasure was to be done Go your way both said he and tell them in the citie that Christ Iesus is come with his fanne in his hand to iudge the earth And if any man aske you where he is tell them he lies at Walkers house by Broken-wharfe and if they will not beleeue it let them come and kill me if they can for as truely as Christ Iesus is in heauen so truely is he come to iudge the world Then Coppinger said it should be done forthwith and thereupon went forward and Arthington followed but ere he could get downe the staires Coppinger â—ad begun below in the house to proclaime newes from heauen of exceeding great mercy that Christ Iesus was come c. with whom Arthiâ—â—â—on also cried the same words aloude following him along the streets from thence by Warling-street and Old Change toward Cheape they both adding beyond their commission Repent England repent After they had both thus come with a mightie concourse of common multituâ—e with an vniforme cry into Cheape neare vnto the Grosse and there finding the throng and prease of people to increase about them in such sort aâ— they could not well passe further nor be conueniently heard of them all as they desired they got them vp into an emptie pease cart
and 〈…〉 was for integritie euen admirable and so was his learning as his works â—et exâ—ant do testifie Now because his Epitaph is either worne out or was euer wanting I will be so bold as borrow one for him from one of his owne name which I haue read vpon a Monument in Parma in Italie Hic iacet Anselmus post mortem viuere certus Cantuar. Archiepus que omni bonitate refertus Vir sobrius castus vir vitans vndique fastus Vir gremijs plenis largus largitor egenis Vir bene politus sagax doctus ernditus Dogmata maturusque inter contagia purus An Domini Mil. cent que nono que die quoque meâ—sis April vicesimo vno Mortis hunc enecat ensis In the south part of Saint Thomas Chappell in a marble Tombe ioyning to the wall lieth the body of Theobald Archbishop of this See Who was chosen to that Grace by the Suffragan Bishops of his owne Prouince in a Conuocation held at London he was a Benedictine Monke and Abbot of Becco a man of no great learning but of so gentle and sweet behauiour being very wise withall as hee was greatly esteemed of high and low Kings Nobles and Commons yet howsoeuer he was of an affable milde nature and faire demeanure his patience was so greatly moned vpon good occasion that he interposed the Popes authoritie with whom the King was made a partie so farre as that his goods and Temporalties were twice confiscate seised into the Kingâ— hands and himselfe once banished the kingdome which so netled him that like a tall fellow Nam laesa patientia fit furor he interdicted King Stephen and the whole Realme and taking aduantage of the time which was wondrous troublesome came home and liued in Norfolke till by the intercession of certaine Bishops hee was restored After which hee grew into great fauour with the said King and was the chiefe meanes of concluding that finall peace at Wallingford betweene him and Maud the Empresse Shortly after which King Stephen died and Henry surnamed Fitz empresse sonne of Geffrey Plantaginet and Maud the Empresse succeeded him in the Regalitie vnder whom this Bishop passed the rest of his dayes quietly in great fauour and estimation and died Ann. 1160. when he had sat Archbishop 22. yeares Perceiuing his end to approach he made his Will and gaue all his goods to the poore or other like good vses Of whom this Epitaph was made Hic iacet Theobaldus Cantuar. Archiepiscopus ob morum placabilitatem at que constantiam Hen. 2. valde gratiosus affabilis veridicus prudens amicus sirmus in omnes liberalis in pauperes munificus Qui sue tandem senectut is languide vite pertesus anteactam vitam morti persoluit Ann. Dom. 1160. cum 22. annis sedisset Anima eius requiescat in pace Amen I finde one Richard for I finde no further of his name Archbishop of this chaire to be here interred in our Ladies Chappell sometime a Benedictine Monkâ— Prior of the Monasterie of Saint Martins in Douer a man very liberaâ—l gentle and wise for hee so handled the matter that in all his time he neuer was at odds or out either with the Pope or King The Pope he entertained with often gifts and money the Kings fauour he retained by yeelding and conforming himselfe to his pleasure This man continued in his gouernment about the space of ten or eleuen yeares In all which time there happened not any thing of him worthie of memorie except the controuersie stirre and tumult betweene him and the Archbishop of Yorke for primacie and the ordaining of three Archdeacons for his Diocesse which euer before his time was content with one An ill husband hee was for his Church if wee may beleeue this my old Authour This Richard saith he was a man of great Religion and also of great wit in his temporall gouernance but in defending of his freedome of holy Church and punishment of excesse and misbeleeuers to simple and slow which is partly approued by the sequele if the report of his end and death may passe for current truth how that being a sleepe at his Manor of Wrotham there seemed to come vnto him a certaine terrible Personage demanding of him who he was whereunto when for feare the Archbishop answered nothing Thou art he said the other that hast destroyed the goods of the Church and I will destroy thee from off the face of the earth which hauing said he vanished away In the morning the Bishop taking his iourney toward Rochester related this fearfull vision unto a friend of his by the way which he had no sooner told then that hee was taken suddenly with a great cold and stiffenesse in his limbes so that they had much adoe to get him so farre as Halling a house belonging to the Bishop of Rochester where he tooke his bed and being horribly tormented with the Chollick and other griefes gaue vp the ghost the next night following saue one the 16. of Feb. Ann. 1184. obijs saith one 14. Kal. Martij feria sexta necte Ann. 11. ab electione sua cuius corpus in Ecclesia Christi Cant. in oratorio sancte Marie 22. Kal. Martij die Sabbati est honorifice Sepultus In the South wall of this Church lieth the body of Hubert Walter or Walter Hubert for such a transmutation of the name I finde to bee vsed who was borne at West-Derham in Norfolke and brought vp vnder Raynulph de Glanfeld chiefe Iustice of England The first preferment hee obtained was the Deanrie of Yorke thence hee was called by King Richard the first vnto the Bishopricke of Salisbury Whom he attended in all that long and dangerous voyage into the holy Land as a Commander or Colonell of some English forces by whose valour and his owne he performed admirable seruice at the siege and surrender of Acon and other fortified places for which and for his discreete handling the matter in procuring 250000. Markes of the Clergie for the ransome of his Master King Richard the said King knew not how to heape honours sufficient vpon him so that at one time he was Archbishop the Popes Legate Lord Chancelor Lord chiefe Iustice and high immediate Gouernour vnder him of all his Dominions both in Wales and England he was much blamed and peraduenture not vnworthily for vndertaking so many great offices For Pluribus intentus minor est ad singula sensus howsoeuer neuer any man vsed his authoritie and power more moderately faithfull and loyall he was euer to his Prince louing and very careâ—uâ—l of his countrey in which he caused many excellent Decrees and Lawes to be established His house keeping was such as the expence thereof was thought to be little inferiour to the Kings hee built a Monasterie at Durham the place of his birth began another at Wulferhampton encompâ—ssed the Tower of
Pope as you haue heard from a poore Baker to a blessed Martyr Here as they say he shewed miracles very plentifully which made people of all sorts offer vnto him wondrous liberally euen vntill these latter times insomuch that with two yeares oblations at his Shrine one William de Hoo a Sacrist or keeper of the holy treasures of this Church built the whole Quire as it now stands Richard Walden a Monke and sacrist built the South Isle Richard East-gate a Monke and Sacrist began the North Isle of the new worke towards Saint Williams gate which Frier William de Axenham almost finished Geffery de Hadenham Prior payed thirteene hundred pounds in one day to certaine creditours to whom this Church stood indebted since the time of her troubles the same man bought certaine lands in Banerkin and Darent which he gaue to this House and bequeathed to the same 300. l. in money vpon his decease He built the Dorter in the Priory and the Altar of Saint Edmund in the Church To which or rather to the high Altar Haymo Bishop of this Diocesse offered vp a pretious Miter which sometime belonged to Archbishop Becket and which hee bought of the Executours of Iohn Bishop of Norwich Thus by the gaines of William the Bakers Shrine and by the pious endeauours and bounteous donations of diuers well disposed persons this Monastery was in short time reedified adorned and aduanced to her former height glory wealth and estimation So that it was valued by the Commissioners of the late suppression at foure hundred eightie sixe pounds eleuen shillings fiue pence by yeare Gillingham In this Church are diuers faire Monuments fairely kept of the Beaufits an ancient family whose chiefe seate was at Grauch-court within this Parish as I was enformed Ici gist Iehan Beaufits qi morust 25 iour Nouemb. l'an de dieu 1427. et Isabella sa feme que morust la 30. iour de Decemb. 1419. Iesu noster saueor de la grand pite De lor almes eit mercie Amen Hic iacet Iohannes Beaufits filius Iohannis Beaufits Ar. et Alicia vxor eius qui quidem Iohannes obiit 25. Nouemb. Ann. Dom. 1433. quorum c. Hic iacet Robertus Beaufits qui ob 1381. et Sara vxor eius que obiit 1395 Cur nunc in puluere dormio Hic iacet Willelmus Beaufits qui ob 19. Marcii 1433. Cuius Here lyeth Ioane Bamme sometime the wife of Master Richard Bamme Esquire daughter of Iohn Marten sometime chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas and mother of Iohn Bamme who lyeth on the North side of this Chappell Which said Ioane deceased in the yeare of grace 1431. Here was a pilgrimage to our Lady of Gillingham Ailesford Richard Lord Grey of Codnor in Darbishire in the yeare 1240. founded here a religious house of white Friers Carmelites where now is seene saith Camden the faire habitation of Sir William Sidley a learned knight painefully and expensfully studious of the common good of his countrey as both his endowed house for the poore and the bridge here with the common voice dotestifie Not farre from this Towne of Ailesford lye interred the bodies of Catigern and Horsa who hand to hand killed one the other in a set battell Catigern was the brother of Vortimer king of the Britaines and Horsa brother of Hengist the Saxon. But this battell as also their buriall are the best set downe by Camden out of Lambards perambulation This Towne saith hee was named in the British tongue Saissenaeg haibail of the Saxons there vanquished like as others in the very same sense tearmed it Anglesford For Guortimer the Britaine Guortigerus sonne did here set vpon Hengist and the English Saxons whom being disrayed and not able to abide a second charge he put all to flight so as they had beene vtterly defeited for euer but that Hengist skilfull and prouident to preuent and diuert danger withdrew himselfe into the Isle of Tenet vntill that the inuincible vigour and heate of the Britanes was allayed and fresh supplies came to his succour out of Germany In this battell were slaine the Generalls of both sides Catigern the Britaine and Horsa the Saxon of whom the one buried at Horsted not farre from hence gaue name to the place and Catigern honoured with a stately and solemne funerall is thought to haue beene interred neare vnto Ailisford where vnder the side of an hill I saw foure huge rude hard stones erected two for the sides one transuersall in the middest betweene them and the hugest of all piled and layed ouer them in manner of the British Monument which is called Stonehenge but not so artificially with Mortis and tenents Verily the vnskilfull common people call it at this day of the same Catigern Keiths or Kits Coty house The like Monument was of Horsa at Horsted which stormes and time haue now deuoured This battell was smitten in the yeare of Grace 457. Addington Hic iacent Richardus Charles et Alicia vxor qui quidem Ric. obiit An. Dom. 1370. facile contemnit omnia ...... Hic iacet Willelmus Suayth Ar. dominus de Addington ac vicecomes Cantie et Alicia vxor eius ob Marcii Ann. 1464. Bonis et mors et vita dulcis Hic iacet Robertus Watton Dominus et Patronus istius Ecclesie qui obiit die Ascentionis Anno 1444. Hic iacent Willelmus Watton Ar. Dominus istius ville Benedicta et Anna vxores eius qui Willelmus obiit 29. Decemb. 1464. Hic iacet Robertus Watton Ar. filius et heres Willelmi Watton Armigeri et Alicia vxor eius filia Iohannis Clark vnius Baronum Scaccarii Regis qui Robertus istius ville Dominus et Ecclesie verus Patronus ob 4. Nouemb. anno 1470. Hic iacet Iohannes Northwood Arm. filius et heres ..... Northwood ..... obiit 30. April 1416. Of this man and of his Mannor of Northwood or Norwood thus much out of Lambard In the dayes of King Edward the Confessour saith hee one hundred Burgesses of the Citie of Canterbury ought their suite to the Mannor of Norwood the buildings are now demolished but the Mannor was long time in the possession of certaine gentlemen of the same name of which race one was buried in the body of the Church at Addington in the yeare 1416. Otteham Hic iacet Iohannes Constenton Ar. qui ob 2. April 1426. et Sara Conghurst vxor eius I finde by ancient deedes sans Date that one Raph de Dene was the founder of a Religious house here at Otteham of Canons regular confirmed in these words by the gifts of certaine lands from one Raph de Iclesham and some little rent William de Marci and Ela his wife Sciant c. quod ego Radulphus de Iclesham dedi et confirmaui Deo Ecclesie Sancti Laurencij de Oteham terram in Oteham c. pro
Gulielmo de Owre Radulpho de Sauage militibus Thus haue you partly seene the honours and honourable marriages the height and downfall of an eminent and right ancient family Of which no more vntill I come to Lingfield and the Parish Church of Sterborrow in Surrey Hic iacet Iohannes Smith Marioria vxor eius qui ob 20. Feb. 1457. Another of one Iohn Smith qui ob 18. Marcii 1427. Hic iacet Thomas Sharp legis peritus qui ob 20. die Aprilis Ann. 9. H. 7. Ann. Dom. 1493. Cuius Of your charitie pray for the soule of Iohn Herueden who dyed on Saint Nicholas day Ann. 1527. who had one daughter Elenor married to Edmond Page of Shorne Heigham Stephen king of England erected here in this Towne a Religious house wherein he placed blacke veyled Nunnes the valuation and dedication whereof I cannot learne East-Malling Hic iacet Robertus Ereby olim ciuis et Aurifaber de London Ioanna Ioanna vxores sui qui quidem Robertus obiit 15. Aug. An. Dom. 1477. Hic iacet Tho. Ereby filius Roberti Ereby Isodia vxor eius qui ob 1. Sept. 1478. Mepham Simon de Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury who had both his name and natiuitie of this Towne built this Church for the vse of the poore which William Courtney one of his Successours repaired fourescore yeares after and annexed thereunto foure new houses for the same end and purpose Shorham Orate pro bono statu Thome Buckland istius Capelle fundatoris ..... vxoris Codham Here lyeth beryed Alyes Walleys somtym wyff vnto Waltyr Walleys of this Parysh and syster vnto Iohn Alegh of Adyngton in Surrey Squyer Iustice of Quorum Whych Alyes decessyd the second dey of Iuly M. CCCCC.III Who 's sowl swete Iesu pardon Downe Hic iacet Richardus Downe Armiger Margeria consors eius Quorum animabus propitietur Altissimus Hic iacet Iohannes Bederenden quondam ciuis Pannarius Camerarius London qui obiit 27. Septemb. 1445. Hic iacent Thomas Petle Isabella vxor eius Quorum animabus .... Orate pro animabus Iohannis Petle Christiane vxoris eius et Iohannis Petle et Alicie et Thome Philipot ac parentum meorum ...... Aynsford Hic iacet Iohannes Donat generosus et Alicia vxor eius ille obiit ..... 1455. illa obiit .... S. Donate ora pro nobis I neuer heard of such a Saint sauing at S. Donats Castle in Glamorganshire the faire habitation of the ancient and notable family of the Stradlings Ici gis ..... la famme de la Roberg de Eckisford This is enrauen in the North Chappell of this Church in a wondrous antique character Snothland Here in the Church porch lyeth buried William Alisander who gaue a weekly stipend of bread to the poore for euer and dyeth 1469. Here lyeth Iohn Pole sonne of Henry Pole of Hartington in the County of Darby who deceased 1487. Here lyeth .... Palmer of Otford Esquire ..... this Epitaph ensuing I haue by relation of one of that surname Palmers al owr faders were I a Palmer liuyd here And trauyld still till worne wyth age I endyd this worlds pylgramage On the blyst Assention day In the cherful month of May A thowsand wyth fowre hundryd seuen And took my iorney hense to Heuen Northfleete Hic in tumba requiescit corpus Richardi Dauy Ar. et Margeria vxor eius quondam cuslos Iocalium Domini Regis Hen sexti obiit 15. Marcii 1491. Pray for the sowl of Mawd Dauy Who 's corps here vndyr do ly She was dawter of William Dauy On whos soul Iesu haue mercy I pray yow al for cherite Say a Pater-noster and an Aue. Hic iacet Alicia quondam vxor Willelmi Wangdesord que obiit die Lune prox post diem dominicam in ramis Palmarum 1421. Hic sub pede anre altaâ—e iacent Willelmus Rikhill Ar. filius Willelmi Rikhill militis primogenitus et Katherina vxor cius que obiit 27. Aug. 1433. qui quidem Willelmus obiit .... die .... 1400. quorum Rikell the father was one of the kings Iustices an Irishman borne the vehement vrger of accusations against Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester and Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury Ann. Reg. Regis Ric. 2.21 1397. Hic iacet Dominus Petrus Lacy quondam Rector istius Ecclesie prebend Preb. de Swerdes in Ecclesia Cathedrali Dublin ...... 18. Octob. 1375 via vite mors Hic iacet Willelmus Lye Rector de Northfleete 9. Ian. 1391. Here lyes Thomas Bredon and Ioane his wife ... 1511. Here lyeth Richard Hunt late seruant to my Lord of Canterbury William Warham and Ioane his wife which Richard dyed ... 1518. and Ioane 1531. Hic iacet Willelmus Hesilt vnus Baronum de Scaccario Domini Regis qui obiit 9. April 1425. et Agnes vxor eius quorum c. Chalk Hic iacet Willelmus Martyn Ar. et Isabella vxor eius qui quidem Willelmus obiit 26. Maii Ann. 1416. This Martyn was a good Benefactour to this Church as appeares in diuers places in the glasse as also in the structure Here are two very ancient Monuments in the wall but to whose memory they were made I cannot learne Swanescombe This Church in times past was much haunted by a mad company of Pilgrimes who came hither for Saint Hildeferths helpe a Bishop by coniecture of his picture yet standing in the vpper window of the South Isle to whom such as were distracted ranne for restitution of their wits Which cure was performed by warmth close keeping and strict dyet A cure no more miraculous saith Lambard then is at this day the keepers of Bedlem Pray for the soul of Nicholas Boneuant and Agnes his wife which Nicholas decessyd 20. Octob. 1516. Hic iacet Reginaldus Thomas in Legibus Bacalareus Rector istius Ecclesie qui .... 1494. Stone The whole Fabricke of this Church is vpholden in wondrous good repaire her inside is neatly polisht and the Monuments of the dead which are ancient and many very faire and carefully preserued Preyeth for the sowl in wey of cheritie Of Richard Bontfant late Mercer of London For the Brethren and Sisters of this Fraternitie Owner of the plas callyd Castle of the Ston Remembyr hym that is leyd vnder Ston For hys sowl and al Christian to prey To the merciful Iesew a Pater noster anon An Aue to hys Moder and mak no deley In March whych decessyd the xix dey In the yer of owr Lord God who kepe hym fro pyne A thowsand fowr hundryd fyfty and nyne Hic iacet magister Iohannes Sorewell in Decretis honoratus Rector istius Ecclesie qui ob penult Decemb. 1439. Hic iacet Dominus Iohannes Lumbard quondam Rector istius Ecclesie qui obijt 12. Maij 1408. Vpon a crosse of brasse layed in the marble
actiue strong family of the Cornwailes hath these words Vpon the riuer Temd saith hee is seene Burford which from Theodoricke Saie and his posteritie came vnto Robert Mortimer and from his posteritie likewise vnto Sir Geffrey Cornwaile who deriued his descent from Richard Earle of Cornwall and king of the Almaines and his race euen to these dayes hath flourished vnder the name of Barons of Burford but not in the dignitie of Parliamentarie Barons whereas it is holden of the King for to finde fiue men for the Armie of Wales and by seruice of a Baronie But more of these Cornwalls when I come to the vsuall place of their buriall for this Gentleman was casually here interred dying here in this Towne as hee passed from London into his owne countrey Here lyeth Henry Gosse and Alice his wif ..... 1485. Al yow this way by me sal pas Considyr what I am and who I was Bird I was first Iohn by name Here in Acton Preest and Parson of the same Fifty yere and three gouerne did I here And fynisht my liff in the two and fortyth yere Aftyr a thowsand ccccc of owr Lords first commyng In erth me to redeme by sore peyne sufferyng And now I haue peyd the stipend of this lyff Yeldyng my flesh to wormes wythout eny stryff For my soul intercede that glory it may opteyne Where with the blessyd Trinity eternally it may reyne And for yow ageyn prey by whos cherite I am relevyd To sweet Iesu with whos blood I am redemyd Hendon Hic iacet Iohannes de Brent Armiger .... obiit .... An. Dom. 1467. These Brents were Gentlemen of ample possessions in this tract whose chiefe residence was in Brentstreet hereunto adioyning from whom saith Norden that street tooke her denomination As also the little Brooke of Brent which giueth name to Brentford now called Brainford The most remarkable man of this Surname was one Falcatius or Falke de Brent who for his matchlesse prowesse and all-daring forwardnesse was so beloued of king Iohn that he gaue him in marriage Margaret the daughter of Warrin Fitz-Gerald his Chamberlaine late the wife of Baldwin de Riuers sonne of William Earle of Deuon and Exceter A match thought farre vnfit for such a man but the King would haue it so Whereupon this was written Lex connectit cos amor concordia lecti Sed Lex qualis amor qualis concordia qualis Lex exlex amor exosus concordia discors This Fowke liued in the like grace and fauour with king Hen. the third for by his fierie valour the said king got the victorie at Lincolne against Lewis the sonne of the second Philip king of France and his owne rebellious Barons But not long after looking ouer much vpon the height of his Fortunes and remembring too often his former good Seruices to the State he presuming vpon his Soueraignes lenitie committed many horrible outrages for which after pardon of his life hardly obtained he was adiudged to perpetuall banishment in which he ended his dayes at Rome in extreme miserie and was there buried most ignobly Ann. 1226. Hic iacet Thomas Iacob et Iohanna vxor eius qui quidem Tho. ob 1441. Iohanna .... 1400. Here lyeth Iohn Downmeer and Ioan his wyf Who 's soulys Iesu pardon ..... 1515. Hic iacet Petrus Goldesbrough ciuis et Aurifaber London qui obijt 1422. ....... Sancte Petre Pastor pro me precor esto rogator Finchley Vpon the North wall of this Church the last Will and Testament of one Thomas Sanny is hung vp thus written in a table In Dei nomine Amen Anno Domini 1509. primo anno Henrici octaui octauo die mens Nouembris I Thomas Sanny of the Estende in Finchley in the County of Midlesex whol in mynd and sick of Body do mak my last wyl and testament in form folowyng First I bequeth my soul to almyghty God to owr Lady and to al the Seynts in hevyn And my body to be buryd in the Churchyard of our Lady of Finchley Item I wil after the deth of my wyff the hous callyd Fordis and Stockwoodfeeld shallen whyl the world lastyth pay out of the seyd hous and lands forty shillyng yerly to Preests to syng for my soul my Moders soul my wyffs soul my chyldren my kyndred soulys and al Christian soulys and a nobil to the reparacion of the seyd hous and dispose to hygh ways and to pore peple or in oder good dedes of cherite And also I wil that the Chirch wardens fal yerly see this donne for euer Item I wil that this be grauyn in a ston of Marbull that al men may see hit as in my wil mor playnly doth appere Iesu mercy Lady help Here lieth entombed the body of Sir Thomas Frowicke knight Lord chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas. The circumscription about his Monument is defaced and gone In the Catalogue I finde thus much Thomas Frowick miles constitutus erat Iusticiarius de Banco xxx die mens Septembris Ann. xviii Hen. vii et obijt xvii die mens Octobris Anno M. CCCCC VI et XXII Hen. VII Adioyning to this is another marble thus inscribed Ioan la Feme Thomas de Frowicke gist icy Et le dit Thomas Pense de giser aueque luy Hic iacet Thomas Aldenham Armig. et Chirurgus illustriss Principis Henrici sexti qui obiit 1431. Hadley Of yowr .... pray ... sowl of Iohn Goodyere Esquyre and Ione his wyff which .... died ... 1504. whos sowls To the honour of Sir Henry Goodyer of Polesworth a knight memorable for his vertues saith Camden an affectionate friend of his made this Tetrastich An ill yeare of a Goodyer vs bereft Who gon to God much lacke of him here left Full of good gifts of body and of minde Wise comely learned eloquent and kinde Enfield ..... Iocosa quondam silia et vna heredum .... Domini Powes ac etiam silia et vna heredum Domine Marchie ..... et vxor famosissimo militi ...... Tipâ—ofte .... dic Septemb. ..... 1446. Cuius anime et omnium fidelium defunctorum IHC pro sua sanctissima passione misereatur To make this time-eaten Inscription somewhat more plaine I finde this Iocosa to haue beene the daughter and coheire of Edward Charleton Lord Powys in Wales married to Iohn Lord Tiptoft father of Iohn Lord Tiptoft first of that surname Earle of Worcester who liued here at Enfield house built by himselfe or some of his Ancestors Harnsey Iesu Chryst Maryes Sonn Have mercy on the soul of Iohn Skeuington An ancient familie resyding at Brumfield neare adioyning Edmundton Here lieth interred vnder a seemelie Tombe without Inscription the body of Peter Fabell as the report goes vpon whom this fable was fathered that he by his wittie deuises beguiled the deuill belike he was some ingenious conceited gentleman who did vse some
procured his lands and reuenues backe againe from the Conquerour and by himselfe and his forcible perswasions with others he did further enrich his Abbey with many faire possessions 15 Richard succeeded him who solemnly magnificently did consecrate the Church which his predecessour Paul had finished and built a Chappell of himselfe to the honour of Saint Cuthbert in which hee was entombed with this Epitaph Abbas Richardus iacet hic vt pistica nardus Redolens virtutum floribus et merit is A quo fundatus locus est hic edisicatus Ingenti studio nec modico precio Quem nonas decimas Februo promente Kalendas Abslulit vltima sors et rapuit cita mors 16 Geffrey the Abbot gaue many rich ornaments to this his Monastery with a Challice and a couer all of massie pure gold which afterwards hee sent to Pope Celestine the second vt ipsius sedaret auaritiam volent is hanc Ecclesiam appropriare that he might appease or mitigate the couetousnesse of his holy father of Rome who was willing and went about to impropriate this Abbey Abbas Galfridus Papa cui fuit ipse molestus Hic iacet innocuus prudens pius atque modeslus 17 Raph his successor built anew the lodgings for the Abbots and gaue diuers rich Copes and Vestments for the ornament of his Church 18 Robert was the next Abbot who procured the Church of Luton to be annexed to this and deliuered his Monastery from the seruitude of the Bishop of Lincolne which was a controuersie of long continuance and in the end agreed vpon by composition which agreement was confirmed by Alexander the third Bishop of Rome about the yeare 1178. as by his Bull to that purpose appearent Bulla de compositione facta inter Lincoln Ecclesiam et Ecclesiam beati Albani Alexander Episcopus seruus seruoruÌ„ Dei. Dilecto filio Roberto Abbati monasterij Sancti Albani Salutem et apostolicam ben Ea que compositione seu concordia mediante rationabili prouidentia statuuntur in sua debent stabilitate consistere Et ne alicuius temeritate in posterum valeant immutari Apostolice sedis ea conuenit auctoritate muniri Ea propter dilecte in Domino fili Roberte tuis postulationibus grato concurrentes assensu compositionem que inter Lincoln Ecclesiam et monasterium beati Albani super Processionibus de Herfordshira de quibus inter vtramque Ecclesiam controuersia fuerat sicut in instrumento exinde facto continetur vtriusque partis assensu rationabiliter facta est tibi et prefate Ecclesie tue auctoritate Apostolica confirmamus Statuentes vt nulli omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit indignationem omnipotentis dei et beatorum Petrie et Pauli Apostolorum eius se neuerit incursurum Dat. Auagn xi Kal. Feb. pontificatus nostri anno vij About twenty yeares afterwards vpon some new quarrels belike arising betweene the two foresaid Churches this composition and transaction was againe confirmed by Clemens the third in these words Clemens Episcopus seruus seruorum dei dilectis filijs Abbati et conuentui Sancti Albani Salutem et Apostolâ—cam ben Cum inter vos ex vna parte et Ecclesiam Lincolnien et Capitulum eius ex altera controuersia verteretur super eo quod Capitulum ipsum Ecclesiam vestram proponebat Ecclesie Lincolnien de iure esse subiectam inter vos concordia de assensu partium intercesserit Nos itaque volentes que super causarum litigijs concordia vel iuditio rationabiliter statuuntur firmitatem perpetuam optinere et ne processu temporis in scrupulum recidue contentionis deueniaâ—t literarum amminutulis memorie commendare concordiamillam sicut rationabiliter facta est et ab vtraque parte recepta et in scripto autentico continetur auctoritate Apostolica conâ—irmamus et presentis Scripti patrocinio communuimus Statuentes vt nulli as before Dat. Lateran Id. Martij Pontisicatus nostri Anno secundo 19 Symon Abbot caused many bookes to be written for the vse of the Couent in his time one Adam Steward of the monastery made the Kitchin much more large and gaue both money and lands to the Couent and Monastery ideo saith my Author ob preclara eius merita inter Abbates in capitulo sepulturam meruit optinere therefore for his good deserts hee deserued to be buried in the Chapter-house amongst the Abbots 20 Carine caused a coffin and a Shrine to be new made wherein he put the reliques of Saint Amphibalus Richard Cordelion King of England being taken prisoner by Leopold Duke of Austria and his ransome set at one hundred thousand pound commandement was directed from his Iustices that all Bishops Prelates Earles Barons Abbots and Priors should bring in the fourth part of their reuenues towards his deliuerance at which time the shrines in the Churches were fleeced and their Chalices coined into ready money yet this Abbot quia Regi erat amicissimus redeemed the Chalices and all other the rich offerings to the glorious shrines within his Church for two hundred markes This Carine was the first Abbot of this house that was dignified with Miter and Croisier 21 Iohn de Cella did many workes of piety and purchased the Church of Saint Stephen with certaine lands thereunto adioyning for one hundred and twenty markes which he did assigne to the Officers of his Kitchin 22 William amongst many of his pious acts reedified Saint Cuthberts Chappell being as then ruinous and ready to fall downe which hee new made in the honour of Saint Cuthbert Saint Iohn the Baptist and Saint Agnes the Virgine vpon which dedication he caused these verses to be insculped ouer the high Altar Confessor Cuthberte Dei Baptista Iohannes Agnes virgo tribus vobis hec ara sacratur 23 Iohn of Hertford was a great benefactor to this Abbey 24 His successor Roger did wondrously loue the beautie of the house of God which he euidently did demonstrate by the great cost and charges he bestowed vpon this his owne Church besides he caused to be made three tunable Bels for the Steeple two to the honour of Saint Alban and the third to Saint Amphibalus which he appointed to be rung at nine a clocke euery night whereupon it was called the Corfue or couer fire bell 25 After Roger succeeded Iohn of Berkamstede of whom because hee did nothing memorable in his life time nothing shall be spoken in this present page Sed taman Lectorem monemus saith the Booke vt conuertatur ad pietatis opera et omnipotenti deo pro eius anima preces fundat 26 Iohn Marines gaue a Censer to his church of a great price besides many other necessaries 27 Hugh his successor inlarged the reuenues of his church with many faire possessions and obtained of Edward the second diuers great gifts with a crucifixe of gold beset with precious stones a cup of
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
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