The antiquities of Canterbury. Or a survey of that ancient citie, with the suburbs, and cathedrall Containing principally matters of antiquity in them all. Collected chiefly from old manuscripts, lieger-bookes, and other like records, for the most part, never as yet printed. With an appendix here annexed: wherein (for better satisfaction to the learned) the manuscripts, and records of chiefest consequence, are faithfully exhibited. All (for the honour of that ancient metropolis, and his good affection to antiquities) sought out and published by the industry, and goodwill of William Somner.

But enough of this. Returne wee to our Undercroft. Where, under the South-crosse Ile or wing of the Quire, was and still is (though not so used now) Prince Edw. Cha∣pell. The story whereof take here from the relation of its * 1.1 estate given up to the Commissioners; these Emissaries

sent to inquire and examine the state of all Chanteries, &c. upon and according to the Stat. 37. Hen. 8. cap. 4. which tels that the said Chantery was founded in Christ-Church, in a place called the Undercroft in the yeare of our Lord God 1363. by the aforenamed Prince Edw. who with li∣cence of his Father, King Ed. 3. purchased lands i 1.2, and made agreement with the Prior and Convent of Christ-Church for the contentation and stipend of two Chaplains: Ordeining S^r Iohn Steward, and S^r Nicholas de Lodington and their Successors for ever to receive yearely of the said Prior and Convent, forty markes above all charges of reparati∣ons or otherwise. Also the said Prince Ed. gave to the said Chaplaines and to their Successors for ever, a house being in Saint Alphage Parish of the yearely value of xx^s. whereof 4^d. is yearely resolute to S^t Austins: the reparation whereof to be kept alwayes at the proper cost of the said P. and Co. of Christ-Church. Hence you may perceive the Founder and time of foundation of this Chapell. At or shortly after this relation given up, the Chap. formerly with grates and barres parted off from the rest of the Un∣dercroft growing out of use and deserted, was laid open to it, and sithence (I take it) the double way beaten and made through the wall, for a passage, by that Chapell, to the French-Church there. I may not leave this Chapell before I have observed the roofe of it, a piece of newer and more curious worke then the rest of the Vaults about it, and yet the over built Structure as old as any that stands within the neighbour Vaults of elder-fashioned-worke. How this might be thus made, haply some will wonder. But their satisfaction is easie. For the elder Roofe of the Chapell (as it might well bee without indangering the Church) was undoubtedly taken downe, and that the Chapell might in all parts the better correspond and suite with the dignity and degree of the Founder, was rebuilt in that neate quaint manner that now it is.

Leaving now this Chapell, come we to the next, com∣monly * 1.3 called the Lady Vndercroft, an edifice, since the

Dissolution and Reformation quite deserted also and de∣spicable, but formerly so much celebrated, of such high esteeme, and so very rich, that the sight of it debarred to the vulgar, was reserved for persons onely of great qua∣lity. Erasmus, who by especiall favour (Archbishop Warham recommending him) was brought to the sight of it, de∣scribes it thus k 1.4.

There (saith hee) the Virgin-mother hath an habitation, but somewhat darke, inclosed with a double Sept or Raile of Iron, for feare of theeves. For indeed I never saw a thing more laden with riches. Lights being brought, we saw a more then Royall spectacle. In beauty it farre surpasseth that of Walsingham. This Cha∣pell (as he addes) is not shewed but to Noble men, and especiall friends, &c. The Chapell doubtlesse is ancient.

For in the Church-Records I read of Altare beatae Mariae in Cryptis almost 400 yeares agoe, to wit in the yeare 1242, and againe in the yeare 1322. At what time the Altars in the Undercroft are recorded to be these: S^t Iohn the Bap∣tist, S^t Thomas the Apostle, S^t Clement the Pope, S^t Kathe∣rine the Virgin, S^t Nicholas the Bishop, S^t Mary Magdalen, and S^t Mary the Virgin. If this word Altar amount not to prove it a Chapell: Capella (I am sure) it is called in the foundation of the Lady Mohunes Chantery, in the yeare 1397. long before Archbishop Mortons dayes, who some say was the founder of it. Which mistake in Print of the Chapells Antiquity, thus corrected, let us proceed.

A few steps forward brings us to Beckets Tombe, the * 1.5 place (I meane) above the Lady-Chapell, so called, and that from Archbishop Beckets first interment there; whose dead body the Assassinats giving out they would take and cast it forth into the open fields to be a prey for beasts and birds, or otherwise abuse the Carkasse l 1.6, the then Monkes forthwith buried here, where afterwards it rested untill such time as Stephen Langton his Successor translated it in such solemne manner as you shall heare hereafter. In the meane time comes Hen. 2. with bloudy feete to visit this place, and pray at his Tombe, in part of his penance m 1.7.

Hither also came Lewis the seventh of France, and here offered his Centum modios vini, per quandam cuppam auream in perpetuam eleemosynam annuatim in Castellaria Pistiaci reci∣piendos ad opus Conventus Cantuariae n 1.8. This parcell of the Undercroft (a most godly Vault and rarely paraleld, and a place, heretofore untill Beckets shrine and Saint-ships ut∣ter downefall and casheering, no doubt much set by, and celebrated) fell to the share of D^• Bray his predecessors up∣on the division of houses and places of accommodation for the Deane and Prebendaries, whereof I have often told you. Which is all I have to say of it (unlesse I should re∣member the Altar once standing there, called Altare Tum∣bae beati Thomae martyris:) and periods my Survey of the Churches Fabricke, both Crypticall and other, saving that in a word or two I must remember the Cloister and Chap∣ter-house.

For the latter of which, questionlesse it is the same, * 1.9 which in Prior Chillendens time (as whilome was said) was new-builded; you may finde his name (as a benefactor) over the entrance, in the foote of the West-Window. This was not onely the place for Capitular meetings and treaties about Church-affaires, but also for the exercise and exe∣cution of regular Discipline. Hence the discipline here said to be inflicted on Hen. 2. for Archbishop Beckets mur∣der, whereof our Stories tell o 1.10.

As for the former (the Cloister, the keeping whereof, and so of the Refectory, the Dormitory and the Infirmary, very private, was cautiously provided for of Archbishop Winchelsey by his Statutes p 1.11, especially excluding women thence) it likewise seemes to be the same which was then new set up. The South-pane or Quarter whereof, some∣what more beautified then the other three, I take to be that which Archbishop Courtney (as was shewed before) tooke order by his Will to be made, and hath his Armes set up about the entrance to it at the West-end. As for the many other Armes thicke set about the Cloister, by the way, I suppose them to be theirs that were benefactors in their

time, either to the Church or Monastery, or both: where∣of I perswade my selfe the number was not small, as may probably be argued from that one instance which Master Cambden gives of the new building of Crowland Abbey in Lincolnshire; whither I referre such as desire to know and learne, by what meanes such mighty huge and faire Reli∣gious houses and buildings as these were raised in former times. And this shall suffice to have spoken of the Church.

Now to make my Survey compleate, I must another while play the Mystagogus, and shew you the Monuments, * 1.12 purposely reserving them till now, because being many, and some of them yeelding length of discourse, they would have too much interrupted my Survey of the Fabricke, if I should have intermixt them with it. Here I intend not a recitall of every Monument I meet with, but chiefely of the more ancient ones; those of latter times, being either fresh in memory, or more easily knowne by the Inscripti∣ons and Epitaphs cut in the grave-stones, then those of el∣der times, either wanting Inscriptions ab initio, or else done in Brasse, which for the most part is either with age defaced, or the Brasse it selfe by wicked hands purloined. And not all of them neither will I set downe in this place, purposing to mention the Archbishops and Priors Monu∣ments in their severall Catalogues.

And so I begin with the first (I meane, the lowermost) Monument in the body of the Church. Where is a very * 1.13 faire grave-stone with much of the Brasse yet remaining, and having almost all the Inscription or Epitaph still intire, saving (the principall) the interred parties name upon it. It begins thus. Hic jacet in requie—and there (the brasse being worne or rather torne away) breakes off. My dili∣gence to inquire of the ancient retainers of the Church, whose Monument it was, could have no satisfaction. Yet at length one of them told me that the name was extant since his memory, which he said (as his memory served him) was either Bobingham or Robingham, or the like. This brought into my minde the name of Bokingham, which

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This Font was giuen / consecrated by the right reverend father in God, John L. Bishop of Rochester / Oxford this present yeare, 1630

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Pay 181.

with Bokingham Chantery I had often read of in Records both of the Church and Consistory. From this hint there∣fore given, I proceeded in my search, and at length found q 1.14 this story of one Iohn Bokyngham or Buckingham, viz. That in Rich. 2. dayes he was keeper of the privy Seal; afterwards Lord Bishop of Lincolne. From whence in the yeare of our redemption 1397. Pope Boniface the 9^th, bearing him some grudge, translated him perforce unto Lichfield, a Bishoprick not half so good, which he refused to accept, and choosing rather a retired Monastick course of life, be∣came a Monk of this Church, where he spent the rest of his dayes. Afterwards amongst the Church Records I met with the foundation of his Chantery (the Instrument or Charter thereof I mean) his Will likewise, in which he ap∣points to be buried In Navi ecclesiae deorsum &c. By this time (I suppose) you are satisfied with me whose monu∣ment this is. In the Covenants between him and the then Prior and Cov. for his Chantery, one article required them with all convenient speed, to build him à Chantery Chapell neare unto his sepulchre: but I finde none he had. By his will (inter alia) he gave to the fabrick of the high Altar (made it seems, about that time) xx lib. His monument thus restored I proceed.

Observing by the way, and that in the next place, one * 1.15 rare piece of novelty, which, because it hath been hitherto omitted, and is so worthy as I may not altogether balk or utterly passe it over in silence, I must affoord a place here, and that not altogether improperly, since it is a monument; not of the dead, I confesse, but (which is much better) of the operative and exemplary piety of the living Donor. Whosoever knows not my meaning may know, that by the munificence of a late worthy member of this Church, D^r Warner, the now right reverend Lord Bishop of Roche∣ster, the Church, this part of it at least, is newly much graced with (what before it never had, though much wanted) a fixed Font, and that such a one, as whether it be more curious or more costly, I am not able, if worthy to

judge; but both wayes (I am sure) so excellent and ex∣quisite, that the Author cannot but be famous for it, whi∣lest the Church continues graced by it: and the rather, because it is (I take it) the first thing of worth, that by any private hand hath been offered to this Church of latter times. Leaving this let us on.

In the same body, somewhat higher up, upon the grave∣stone of one S^r William Septvans, I reade as followeth.

Icy gist Gulian Septvans chevalier qui morust le dernier iour * 1.16 D'aust, Can de Grace. M. cccc. vij. de quele alme Deux eit pite & mercy Amen.

This S^r W^m. (saith Wever) served in the wars of France, under Ed. 3. Milton by Canterb. (I take it, and as I gather by his Will^r) was his seat. In and by which his Will, it is re∣markable r 1.17 that he gave Manumission to divers of his slaves and Natives.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Blacke Prin∣ces Chapell.
• i 1.2

  Fawkshall Mannor by London. Lib. eccles. Cane.
• * 1.3

  Lady-Chapell.
• k 1.4

  Pereg••n. Re∣lig. ergô.
• * 1.5

  Beckets Tombe
• l 1.6

  Antiq. B••it in ijus vita. pag. 137 Matth. Paris. ••st. Angl pag 167. Editio Lon∣don.
• m 1.7

  Roger Hove∣den. An••al. par. post••r. pag. ••39. Editio. Francosurt.
• n 1.8

  Lib. eccles. Cant. Anno 1179.
• * 1.9

  Chapter-house
• o 1.10

  Antiq. Brit. in ejus vita. pag. 138. Cloister.
• p 1.11

  Liber ••ecee. Cant.
• * 1.12

  Monuments.
• * 1.13

  Bishop Bokin∣ghams Monu∣ment.
• q 1.14

  God••. Catal. of B B in Lin∣colne. & Harpsf. saecul. 14. cap. 27.
• * 1.15

  Font.
• * 1.16

  S^r W^m Septvans Knight.
• r 1.17

  In Regist. Con∣sistor. Cant. Manumission.