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.

Pluckley, anciently written Plokele.

This Towneship or Parish was by Archbishop Lanfrancke (in the time of William the Conquerour) giuen vnto one Iohn de Cobham, whose poste∣rity assuming a Surname from the place, did flourish here by the space of two hundred yeares, vntill the daughters of Sir William of Pluckley knight, became the coheires of this Mannor. Amongst whom, shee that onely is knowne to haue had issue, was married vnto Iohn de Surenden, alias Saren∣den, who vpon the old seate, new founded the Mannor house, (a faire one at this day, and by the antiquitie thereof seemes to haue beene the like, or much fairer at her first building) which stands vpon the very forehead of that hill which from this place doth reach Westward into Surrey. A situa∣tion so elegant, that it compares with most that are, in rich pastures, health∣full aire, and plenty both of fewell and timber: but aboue all, in a very deli∣cate

and various prospect. From the owner it then receiued, and still re∣taines, the name of Surenden, although from that family it did immediatly by a daughter passe to the Noble and spreading house of Haute, whose first childe, being daughter and coheire, Christian, was married vnto Iohn De∣ring, sonne of Richard, sonne of Sir Iohn Dering of Westbroke, knight. In the possession of which family, the name of Surenden hath (by continuance) gotten its Masters Surname, to distinguish it from another of the same ap∣pellation within two miles, and so is knowne by the name of * 1.1 Surenden Dering. And through many descents (hauing beene at no time bought nor sold) the gift of Lanfranke now resteth in person of Sir Edward Dering, knight, and Baronet, Lieutenant of his Maiesties Castle of Douer, and of his Cinque ports; the third of that name and family of Dering, which haue enioyed this Office, being a place of especiall trust, of honour and com∣mand.

In this Church, dedicated to S. Nicholas, and in our Ladies Chappell there, now belonging to Sir Antony Dering of Surenden Dering knight, and founded by Richard Dering Esquire, in the raigne of king Henry the sixth, (as appeares by his Armes carued on the bottome of the Arches, which are Or, a Salter sables, and Dering and Haute quartered Or, a Salter sables, and Or, a crosse engraled gules, thereon a cressant Argent) are seuerall graue∣stones very fairely figured, with pourtraitures in armour to the length; first one for Iohn Dering of Surenden Esquire, who liued in the dayes of King Richard the second, Henry the fourth, and Henry the fifth; some of the brasse is torne away, that which remaines is accordingly as followeth.

* 1.2

[illustration]

HIC IACET &Cpunc;

This riming Epitaph is inlaid with brasse about the Verge of this Mo∣nument.

Hic iacet in terra, solitus sed viuere guerra, Vnde tulit vulnus quod dedit in de funus. Nunc subijt manes fortisque piusque Iohannes; Huius ergo dein dic miserere Dering. An. quatuor C. milleno quinto atque viceno, Dat mortale solo nunc superestque polo.

Next vnto him lyeth entombed his sonne Richard Dering in this forme, to whose memory no Inscription is remaining.* 1.3

[illustration]

Richard Dering of Surenden Dering, Esquire, gaue as I haue it by rela∣tion) the hangings of rich and faire cloth of Arras, which adorne the Quire of the Cathedrall Church in Canterbury, vpon the suite of his sonne Ri∣chard Dering a Monke there; who, according to his Monkish Heraldry, hath figured in their seuerall bordures, his Rebus, or Name deuises, viz. a Dere and a Ring, in stead of Armes, although sixe embroydered Cushi∣ons, then giuen for the Priors seate, and since vsed in the Deanes Pewes, haue the Armes of Dering embroydered on them, and empaled with Ber∣tyn and Eyton his two wiues.

Richard Dering the Monke,* 1.4 was one of the adherents to Elisabeth Bar∣ton, the holy Maid of Kent, in her fained hypocrisie, and traiterous pra∣ctises.

In the same Chappell lyeth Iohn Dering,* 1.5 Esquire, who was great grand∣childe to the foresaid Richard Dering of Surenden, whose Altar tombe is since laid flat. He dyed 1550. and hath there his figure in the wall, knee∣ling with his Surcote of Armes; with him is buried Margaret his wife, sister and sole heire of Thomas Brent, Esquire.

Vnderneath the figure of Richard Dering,* 1.6 before remembred, is an Escocheon with eight coats quartered. First Dering a Salter. 2. Haute a Crosse ingraled with a cressant. 3 Brent, a wiuervolant. 4 a Fesse cotized. 5. Surenden a Berid betweene two Cottesses nebuly on the outsides. 6. Pluckley a Flower deluce. 7. Barkley a Cheuoron betweene ten crosses forme within a border. 8 Dering againe.

At the foot of this Chappell, within the Church, vnder foure seuerall Grauestones, euery one inlaid with figures of brasse at length, the men ly∣ing in Armour, are buried as followeth.

* 1.7Iohn Dering Esquire, who dyed Ann. Dom. 1517. and Iulian his wife, sister of Sir Iohn Darrell knight, who dyed 1526.

* 1.8On their right hand lyeth Nicholas Dering, Esquire, their eldest sonne, and Alice his wife, the daughter and coheire of the eldest house of Bet∣tenham.

* 1.9 On their left hand vnder an Arch, with the like pourtraiture in brasse at length, lyeth their second sonne, Richard Dering Esquire, the Kings Lieu∣tenant of Douer Castle, and the Cinque Ports, vnder fiue Lord Wardens. He dyed 1546. And with him is buried Benet his wife, of the ancient family of Brockholl.

Diuers others of this most ancient and right worthy progenie, lye here interred; of whom (their burials being but of later times) the order of my method will not giue me leaue to speake.

* 1.10In the body of this Church are two Grauestones, vnder one of which lyeth the body of Henry Malemaines, Esquire, and vnder the other (with his portraiture at length in brasse) Richard Malemaines Esquire, who dyed 1440. their coate of Armes thereupon engrauen. Ermyn a cheffe gules, three left hands Argent.

Notes

• * 1.1

  So in this County, Sutton Valence, Horton Kirby, and others, haue like distinctiue surnames.
• * 1.2

  Iohn Dering.
• * 1.3

  Richard Der••••
• * 1.4

  ••••ow. Annal.
• * 1.5

  Iohn Dering.
• * 1.6

  An Eschur∣chion.
• * 1.7

  Io. Dering and Iulian his wife.
• * 1.8

  Nic Dering and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his wife.
• * 1.9

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dering & Bene•• his wife.
• * 1.10

  Hen. and Rich. Malemaines.