Ancient funerall monuments within the vnited monarchie of Great Britaine, Ireland, and the islands adiacent with the dissolued monasteries therein contained: their founders, and what eminent persons haue beene in the same interred. As also the death and buriall of certaine of the bloud royall; the nobilitie and gentrie of these kingdomes entombed in forraine nations. A worke reuiuing the dead memory of the royall progenie, the nobilitie, gentrie, and communaltie, of these his Maiesties dominions. Intermixed and illustrated with variety of historicall obseruations, annotations, and briefe notes, extracted out of approued authors ... Whereunto is prefixed a discourse of funerall monuments ... Composed by the studie and trauels of Iohn Weeuer.

Bilsington.

A Priory likewise built by the said Iohn Maunsell,* 1.1 for King Henry the third, and Eleanor his wife, and dedicated to the blessed Virgine Mary, wherein he placed blacke Canons; which was valued amongst the rest of the suppressed houses, at 8. l. 1. s. 6. d. of yearely commings in. This house was surrendred 19. Ianuar. 36. H••n. 8.

But to proceed a little further with this Iohn Maunsell,* 1.2 his Ecclesiasti∣call and Temporall dignities; who besides being Prouost of Beuerley, was Treasurer of Yorke, Parson of Maidstone, in this County, and Parson of Wigan in Lanchishire, to whom king Henry the third did grant that his Towne of Wigan should be a Burrow. Hee was chiefe Iustice of England, one of the priuie Councell to the said King,* 1.3 his Chaplaine, his Embassador into Spaine, a worthy Souldier, In armis strenuus, & animo imperterritus. who with his owne hands, in a battell betwixt the English and the French, neare to Tailborge in France,* 1.4 tooke Prisoner one Peter Orige, a gentleman of eminent place and qualitie: He was crossed to go to Ierusalem. He feasted at his house in Tole-hill field, at one time, two kings, two Queenes, with their dependances, 700. messe of meate scarce seruing for the first dinner. About the 31. yeare of King Henry the third, at the instance of the said king, he was first made keeper of the great Seale, as Vicechancellour. For, saith Paris,* 1.5 Custodiam Sigilli regij accepit Cancellarij vices acturus et offici∣um: and afterwards Lord keeper in plenarie office and authoritie; yet for all this glorious pompe, and great promotions, I finde his end to be poore, wretched, and miserable, beyond Seas; but I finde no place of his death nor buriall:* 1.6 of all which, may it please you to reade thus much out of an old Manuscript in the fame language it was to me deliuered.

Ann. 1268. obijt Iohannes Mansel in partibus transmarinis,* 1.7 in pauper∣tate, et dolore maximo. Hic miser tot obtentus Ecclesiasticos habuit vt annua∣tim ex illis XVIII. millia Marcarum poterat expendere, vnde maiores Episco. Anglie recusauit, tum quia in pluralitate permultarum preditissimarum Ec∣clesiarū habundauit, tum quia lubricus erat. Hic ait de vna Ecclesia modici census,* 1.8 scilicet 20. librarum. Ad canes nostros valet ista Ecclesia innuens per hoc, quod surfures, et farina, et alia canibus necessaria, ex prouentu istius Ecclesie deberent comparari: Hic autem cum esset * 1.9 Simonis aduersarius (scilicet Mounteforti) et consiliarius precipuus, suaset Regi vt iuramentum quod fecerat cum Baronibus, pro fidelitate Anglie seruanda omnino dimitteret, factumque est ita. Mittitur igitur ad curiam summi Pontificis pro absolu∣tione petenda, ne Rex teneretur prestito Baronibus iuramento, obtinuitque mox regia supplicatio absolutionem petitam, vnde bellum de quo dictum est accepit, post illius absolutionis obtentum, &c.

Of this man so many times double beneficed,* 1.10 Mathew Paris doth thus descant. Admirabantur autem cum stupore, qui ea quae Dei sunt sapiunt, hominem tam circumspectum,* 1.11 tot animarum curam suscepisse non formidare, cum de omnibus coram summo Iudice, vt reddat rationem sihi se constiterit obligatum, sed vt verificetur. Multi multa sciunt seipsos penitus nescientes.

I haue seene a pedigree of the Mansels, from Philip de Mansel, who came in with the Conquerour, vntill these our times. Of this name and familie is that orthodoxall sound Diuine, and worthy Master of Queenes Colledge

in Cambridge, Iohn Mansel, Doctor of Diuinitie, and a generall Scholler in all good literature.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The P••io••y of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.2

  Iohn Ma••s•••••• p••efe••men••s.
• * 1.3

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.4

  Hollins. An 1241.
• * 1.5

  Paris ••hinne.
• * 1.6

  Anon. in bib. Cott
• * 1.7

  Mansels death in 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Ex Epit••m. R••••geri Houeden, in bib. Co••.
• * 1.8

  A Benefice for Dogges mea••
• * 1.9

  Earle of Lei••cester. Mansel the cause of the warres be∣tweene Hen••y the third and his Barons.
• * 1.10

  Paris ••n 1252
• * 1.11

  Charge of soules.