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.

ANCIENT FVNERALL MONV∣MENTS WITHIN THE Diocesse of ROCHESTER.

THis Bishopricke is so ouershadowed by the nearnesse and greatnesse of the See of Canterbury, that it lookes but like a good Benefice, for one of his Graces Chap∣laines; yet for antiquitie and dignitie of a long succes∣sion of reuerend Lord Bishops, it may equally compare with its neighbour of Canterbury. For they had both one Founder, to wit, Ethelbert king of Kent, who built this Church to the honour of Saint Andrew, and endowed it with cer∣taine lands, which he called Priestfield, in token that Priests should bee su∣stained therewithall. Vnto which, Iustus a Romane (of whom before) was consecrated Bishop by Saint Augustine, Ethelbert assenting thereto by his presence.

* 1.1Austin then, made Clerke full well grounded Iusto that hight, of Rochester full well bounded The Bishop then to preache, and helpe Austin And to baptise the folke by his doctrine.

This Citie pent within so straight a roome, was called in the time of the Saxon Kings, the Kentishmens Castle, and at this day, shee and her little Diocesse, may make their vaunt, of their impregnable fortification by the Name Royall; the maine defence of Britaines great Monarchie, of the prowesse of their ancient Inhabitants, of the pleasant scituation of so many countrey▪ townes, and of the profits arising from the fruitfulnesse of the soile. Of all which reade, if you please, this Hexasticon.

* 1.2Vrbs antiqua, ferox, bella est Rocestria situ, Arx & finitimis imperiosa locis. Hic Deus è ligno fabricauit maenia firma, Quae sibi quaeque suis sunt modo tuta salus. Laeta racemiferos passimque per oppida colles Continet, ac culti iugera multa Soli.

This Diocesse (for the most part) is seuered from that of Canterbury by the riuer of Medway: it consists onely of foure distinct Deaneries, namely,

Rochester, Malling, Dartford, and Shorham. Yet Shorham is but a Pecu∣liar to the Archbishop, who holds his prerogatiue wheresoeuer his lands do lie.

This Bishopricke is valued in the Exchequer at 358. l. 3. s. 7. d. farthing, and was wont to pay to the Pope for first-fruits 1300. ducates, and for Peter-pence, 5. l. 12. s.

Eightie Bishops and one haue sitten in this Chaire of Rochester, more in number by nine then in that of Canterbury.

His name that now gouerneth the Helme, is that right reuerend Father in God, Iohn Bowles, Doctor of Diuinitie, brought vp in Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge.

In the whole numerous race of these Bishops,* 1.3 succeeding Iustus, three amongst others lye here interred (howsoeuer no remembrance is now re∣maining of them, by any funerall Monument) most notable: Paulinus, Gundulphus, and Gilbertus. Of which, the first, after his death, was honou∣red for a Saint. The second was the best Benefactour that euer this Church found. The third was so hatefull and iniurious to the Monkes, that they nei∣ther esteemed him while he was liuing, nor wailed him at all, after that he was dead.

Paulinus,* 1.4 a Romane borne, was first made Bishop of Yorke by Iustus his predecessour in this place, as then Archbishop of Canterbury; about the 21. day of Iuly, in the yeare of our Lord, 625. and so he is reckoned to be the first Archbishop of that Prouince.* 1.5 Yet I finde a Succession of British Archbishops of that place long before his time, euer since the yeare of Grace, one hundred and eightie, or thereabouts. Wherein Lucius, king of the Britaines, receiued the Christian faith; the last of which race, was one Tadiacus; who, at the comming in of the Saxons, was, with most of his countreymen, enforced to flie into the mountanous countries of Cornwall, and Wales,* 1.6 and so consequently to forsake his pontificall Grace and Dig∣nitie. Of all which may it please you reade these verses out of the collecti∣ons of Tho. Talbot, sometime keeper of Records in the Tower.

Turbatis rebus Archipresul Tadiacus, Ecclesie sedem deserit et patriam. Archipontificum Tadiacus sedis Eborum, Vltimus ex Britonum gentibus ille fuit. Corpora sanctorum simul omnia vasa sacrorum▪ Cunctas res reliquas transtulit ille sacras. Expulsi Britones nomen patriamque relinquunt, Dicti Wallenses nomine barbario.

But to returne againe to Paulinus, from whom I am by occasion digres∣sed, who, being now inuested in the sanctimonious robes of a Bishop: ne∣uer rested a moment, but either instructed the people, that flocked about him, by preaching, or else imparted Christ vnto them by Baptisme, which he ministred in the open fields and Riuers (Churches, Oratories, Fonts, or places of Baptisme being not as yet builded) it is said that in the Riuer of Swale in Yorkeshire,* 1.7 hee christened in one day aboue ten thousand men,

besides women and little children; which said riuer was a long time after reputed sacred amongst the ancient English.* 1.8 He wonne miraculously Ed∣win, king of Northumberland, vnto Christ: who with all the Nobilitie of his countrey, and most part of the Commons hauing receiued the true faith, came to the lauatorie of holy regeneration, the eleuenth yeare of his raigne, which was the yeare of our Lord, 627. Thus Paulinus continued in the Prouince of Yorke,* 1.9 preaching the word, and administring the blessed Sacraments, the space of seuen yeares, euen vntill the death of King Edwin; presently vpon which, the State of his kingdome was so much infested with great slaughter, and cruell persecution; that no safetie could therein bee found, either for himselfe, or for the widow of King Edwin, Queene Edel∣burgh (both of them being Gods instruments for the conuersion of the Northumbrians to the embracement of Christian Religion) saue onely by flight. Whereupon he was constrayned to leaue his Bishopricke, and to accompanie the said Queene (with whom not long before hee came into that countrey) backe againe into this kingdome of Kent. But of Paulinus his first admittance to Yorke, and his returne backe, thus much in old La∣tine rimes.

* 1.10Benedicam Dominum mundi plasmatorem, Regem Regum omnium nostrum Saluatorem. Recolendo pariter stilo cum veraci, Dignos Archipresules sedis Eboraci. Anno sexcentesimo Christi incarnati Quinto cum vicesimo sunt nouo creati. Quorum Pastor nobilis primus est Paulinus; Gregem pascit vtilis dum regnat Edwinus. Septem annis regimen digne gubernauit, Tunc ad Austrum redijt, dum Gens Regem strauit.

At his returne from Yorke, this See of Rochester was vacant: and at the offer of Archbishop Honorius, and at the request of King Edbald, he tooke vpon him that charge, which he right wisely and religiously gouerned the space of thirteene yeares; vntill, at his full and ripe age, he was called away by death, to receiue the glorious reward of his blessed labours. Which happened Octob. the tenth, Ann. 644.19. yeares 2. moneths, and 21. dayes, after his first consecration: This Paulinus (the third Bishop of this Diocesse) was first interred vnder a very seemely Monument, in the old Church of King Ethelberts foundation; but about foure hundred and thirty yeares afterwards, being canonized for a Saint, his reliques were remoued, (enshrined in a coffin all of curious wrought siluer) into the body of the new built Church, by Gundulphus one of his Successours: to the which (ac∣cording to the manner of those times) much concourse of people came, with many rich oblations: such was his Epitaph.

* 1.11Siste gradum clama qui perlegis hoc Epigramma Paulinum plora quem substraxit breuis hora Nobis per funus: de Presulibus fuit vnus, Prudens, veridicus, constans, & firmus amicus

Anni sunt rati Domini super astra regentis, Quadraginta dati quatuor cum sex quoque centis.

Paulinus being dead, Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury, aduanced one Ithamar,* 1.12 a Kentishman borne, to his place, the first Englishman of this Nation that was a Bishop. A man nothing inferiour either in life or learning to Paulinus, or any of his Italian predecessours. He departed this life about the yeare 656. Many miracles are said to be wrought by this reli∣gious Ithamar, and great concourse of people frequented the place of his buriall, which was (at the first) in the body of the Church. But afterwards his reliques were remoued by Bishop Gundulph,* 1.13 and enshrined; and after him by Iohn Bishop of this Church: who by his prayers at his Shrine was cured, ab acerrimo oculorum dolore, of a grieuous paine in his eyes. For this and many other signes and tokens of his sanctitie, hee was canonized (if we may beleeue Capgraue) and the fourth of the Ides of Iune solemnized to his memory. Of whom a late writer, thus.

Of Rochester, we haue Saint Ithamar, being then In those first times,* 1.14 first of our natiue English men Residing on that seate.

Before I come to Gundulphus, I will take Tobias by the way,* 1.15 an English∣man, the ninth Bishop of this Diocesse: in whose commendations Nicholas Harpsfeld, sometime Archdeacon of Canterbury, thus writeth. I will vse his owne language.

Tobias a Brithwaldo Archiepiscopo consecratus,* 1.16 vir ampliore, & honora∣tiore sede (si locus hominem, et homo locum non commendaret) dignissimus, qui Theodori & Adriani discipulus fuit. Quantum vero sub his praecepto∣ribus profecerit: luculenter ostendit Beda, qui cum omnium humanarum, di∣uinarumque rerum scientissimum fuisse, & Latinam Graecamque linguam, tam accurate, atque maternam calluisse affirmat. Hee dyed about the yeare 726.

Here lyeth interred Gundulphus,* 1.17 a Norman by birth, the thirtieth Bishop of Rochester, a man not greatly learned, but very wise and industrious: for he handled the matter so, as hee procured not onely his Church to be new built, but also the reuenues to be encreased. He recouered diuers lands and possessions encroched vpon, and taken away in former times by Odo, Earle of Kent.* 1.18 And besides diuers summes of money, which hee contributed, he bought a certaine Mannor called Heddre, and gaue it to this his owne Church. In all these matters hee was much helped by Lanfranke, Archbi∣shop of Canterbury, who caused him to take into his Church, not secular Priests, as before had beene accustomed, but Monkes Benedictines. Gun¦dulph himselfe being a Monke of that order, vpon his first admittance to this See, he found onely sixe secular Priests in the Church, who were en∣dowed scarcely with sufficient meanes to liue according to their place and callings. Before his death he encreased his Church-reuenues to that height, that it did and was able to maintaine fifty Monkes, some say threescore. The yearely value of this Monastery at the suppression amounted to 486. l. 5. s. The donations to this Monastery were confirmed by Pope Vrban the second, in these words following.

* 1.19Vrbanus Episcopus seruus seruorum Dei. Dilectis filijs Priori & capitulo Ecclesie Roffen. Ordinis sancti Benedicti Salutem, et Apostolicam benedictio∣nem. Cum à nobis petitur quod iustum est et honestum, tam vigor equitatis, quam etiam ordo exigit rationis, vt id per solicitudinem officij nostri ad de∣bitum perducatur effectum. Ea propter dilecti in Domino filij vestris iust is postulationibus grato concurrentes assensu, personas vestras et Ecclesiam Rof∣fen, in qua diuino est is obsequio mancipati cum omnibus bonis que impresen∣tiarum rationabiliter possidetis, aut in futurum iust is modis prestante domi∣no poteritis adipisci sub beati Petri protectione suscipimus at que nostra. Spe∣cialiter autem, terras, decimas, domus, possessiones, vineas, prata, et alta bona vestra, sicut ea iuste et pacifice obtinetis vobis et per vos eidem Ecclesie aucto∣ritate Apostolica confirmamus, et presentis scripti patrocinio communuimus: Salua in predictis decimis moderatione Concilij generalis. Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre confirmationis infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit, indignatio∣nem omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius, se noue∣rit incursurum. Dat. Ianu. III. Id. Ianuar. Pontificatus nostri, Anno octauo.

* 1.20When as William the Conquerour built the great white square Tower of London, hee appointed this Bishop to bee principall Surueyor of that worke: who was for that time lodged in the house of one Edmere a Bur∣gesse of London: as it is in the booke of the Bishops of Rochester in these words.

Gundulphus Episcopus mandato Willelmi Regis magni presuit operi mag∣ne Turris London, quo tempore hospitatus est apud quendam Edmerum Bar∣gensem London.

* 1.21This Bishop built a great part of the Castle of Rochester, namely, the great Tower which yet standeth. Hee founded an Hospitall in Chetham, which hee dedicated to the honour of Saint Bartholomew, for the reliefe of such people as were infected with the foule disease of the Leprosie: hee en∣dowed it with sufficient reuenues; which grant was confirmed by king Hen∣ry the third, and discharged of all taxes, and tallages, by King Ed. the third.

* 1.22He founded the Abbey at Malling, which he consecrated to the blessed Virgine, and placed therein blacke Nunnes. Which Nunnery he gouerned himselfe during all his life time. And lying at the point of death, hee com∣mended it to the charge of one Auice,* 1.23 to whom notwithstanding he would not deliuer the Pastorall staffe, before shee had promised canonicall obedi∣ence, fidelitie, and subiection to the See of Rochester; and protested by oath, that there should neither Abbesse nor Nunne bee from thenceforth receiued into the house, without the consent and priuitie of him and his Successours. This Nunnery was valued at the suppression, at two hundred fourty fiue pounds, ten shillings two pence halfepeny of yearely reuenue. Ouer the Abbey gate yet standing, is the likenesse of a Pastorall staffe. This good Bishop dyed the seuenth of March, 1107. and was buried where you see the pourtraitures of certaine Bishops, sometimes artificially cut in stone and Alabaster, but now cut almost all in peeces, dismembred, and shame∣fully abused (as all other Monuments in this Church are, of any antiquity) so that neither reading, nor tradition can giue vs any true notice of their names.

Gilbert de Glanuil (before mentioned) a gentleman of an ancient family,* 1.24 was consecrated to this Bishopricke, September 29. Ann. 1185. Betweene this man and his Monkes of Rochester was long and continuall debate; by occasion whereof, hee tooke away from them all their moueable goods, all the ornaments of their Church, their writings and euidences, yea and a great part of their lands,* 1.25 possessions and priuiledges; wanting money to follow their suites against him, they were forced to coyne the siluer of Saint Paulinus Shryne into money. These controuersies were ended no other∣wise then by his death, which happened, Iune 24. 1214. hauing ruled his contentious charge 29. yeares. But the hatred of these Monkes against him was so dying with him, as they would afford him no manner of Obse∣quies, but buried him most obscurely, or rather basely, without either ring∣ing, singing, or any other solemnitie; and furthermore abused him with such like rime-doggerell.

Glanvill Gilbert us nulla bonitate refertus Hic iacet immitis & amator maxime litis; Et quia sic litem, dum vixit, solet amare, Nunc vbi pax nulla est, est aptior inhabitare.

These blacke Monkes (whom I thinke, if the matter were well exami∣ned,* 1.26 would proue to be in the fouler fault) were too malitious to remember that this Bishop founded S. Maries Hospitall at Strowd, neare adioyning to this Citie, called the New worke, and endowed it witha liuelihood of 52. l. of yearely profits, which it now enioyeth.

Here lyeth entombed the body of Walter de Merton,* 1.27 so surnamed of Merton, a village in Surrey, where he was borne, sometimes Lord Chan∣cellour of England, Bishop of this See, and Founder of Merton Colledge in Oxford: To whose memory Sir Henry Savill (that rare Grecian,* 1.28 and ex∣act reuiuer of Antiquities, now deceased) late Warden of the said Colledge, and Prouost of Eaton, with the fellowes of the same, taking downe an old marble Tombe, haue erected another Monument ouer him of Touch and Alabaster, bearing this Inscription.

Waltero de Merton Cancellario Angliae sub Henrico tertio, Episcopo Roffensi sub Edwardo primo Rege, vnius exemplo, omnium quotquot extant Collegiorum Fundatori; maximorum Europae totius ingeniorum faelicissimo parenti: Custos & Scholares domus Scholarium de Merton in Vniuersitate de Oxon. communibus Collegij impensis debitum pietatis Monumentum posuere. Ann. Dom. 1598. Henrico Savile Custode.

Obijt in vigilia Simonis & Iudae Ann. Dom. 1277. Edwardi primi quinto. Inchoauerat Collegium Maldoniae in agro Surr. Ann. Dom. 1264. Hen. ter∣tij 48. cui dein salubri consilio Oxonium. Anno 1270. trans. extrema ma∣nus faelicissimis (vt credi par est) auspicijs accessit anno 1274. ipsis Cal. Aug. anno Regni Regis Edwardi primi secundo.

Magne senex titulis, Musarum sede sacrata Maior, Mertonidum maxime progenie: Haec tibi gratantes post saecula sera nepotes, En votiua locant marmora, sancte parens.

* 1.29Haymo de Heath, or Hythe, so named of Hithe, a Towne in this tract, where he was borne, lyeth buried by the North wall: he was Confessour to King Edward the second. This man built much at his Mannor houses of Troscliffe and Hawling. In the Towne of Hithe before named, he founded the Hospitall of Saint Bartholomew,* 1.30 for reliefe of ten poore people, endow∣ing the same with twenty Markes of yearely reuenue. He resigned his Bi∣shopricke into the Popes hands, of whom he had receiued consecration in the Court at Rome,* 1.31 Ann. 1352. and liued about some six yeares after that a priuate life with the Monkes in this Priory. This Bishop (saith the booke of Rochester) bought a precious Miter which was Thomas Beckets, of the Executours of the Bishop of Norwich, which hee offered at the high Altar, on S. Pauls day, 1327.

* 1.32Iohn de Shepey, so likewise surnamed from the place of his birth, vpon Haymo his resignation, was by the Pope elected to this Bishoprick; hee was Lord Treasurer of England, in the two and thirtieth yeere of King Ed∣ward the third, in which office he continued about three yeeres, euen vn∣till his death, which happened the nineteenth of October, 1360. His portraiture is in the wall ouer his place of Buriall.

* 1.33Here, ouer against Bishop Merton, lieth buried, vnder a faire Marble Tombe, the body of Iohn Lowe, Bishop of this Diocesse, borne in Wor∣cestershire, and brought vp in Oxford, where he proceeded Doctor of Di∣uinitie. He liued for a time in the Abbey of the Friers Augustines in Wor∣cester,* 1.34 of which order he was Prouinciall; Vir aetate sua ab omni parte do∣ctus: So that in regard of his great learning, and painfulnes in preaching, he was preferred first to the Bishoprick of Saint Asaph,* 1.35 by King Henry the sixt, and after that translated to this of Rochester; hee writ diuers learned works, and was a carefull searcher after good bookes, so as diuers copies of some ancient Fathers had vtterly perished but for his diligence. Hee died the yeere 1467. hauing gouerned the See of Saint Asaph foure yeeres, and and this of Rochester foure and twenty. The inscription vpon his Tombe is almost all gone, only these words remayning,

. . . . . . Iohannis Low Epis . . . . . . . . . . . . miserere mei Domine. Credo videre Dominum in terra viventium. O quam breve spatium huius mundi sicomp. . . . . Sic mundi gloria transit. Sancte Andree & Augustine, orate prop nobis.

I doe not finde the certainty of any other of the Bishops of this Diocesse to haue bin buried in this Cathedrall Church; for most commonly in anci∣ent times, as now, they departed from this place, before they departed from the world, this Ecclesiasticall preferment being but a step to some higher aduancement. A word therefore or two of Saint William here en∣shrined, and the like of the Priory, and so I will take my leaue of this most ancient, and no lesse reuerend Episcopall Chaire; and goe to Gillingham; for the rest of the funerall Monuments in this Church, are of later times; which I reserue for another Volume.

This Priory erected by Gundulph, and the number of her religious Vo∣taries,

encreased by him from sixe secular Priests,* 1.36 to threescore blacke Ca∣nons or Monkes, with ample reuenues for their maintenance, was, within the compasse of one hundred yeares; what by casuall fire, what by the fall∣ing out of the Monkes, and Bishop Glanvill, and what by the calamities it sustained in the warres of King Iohn, brought to that ruine and pouerty, that the beauty of all her goodly buildings was altogether defaced, her Church burned, her sacred Vtensiles, by robbery and suites in law, embe∣zelled, mispent, and consumed, and the whole Couent greatly indebted.

Anno,* 1.37 1179.3. Id. Aprilis Rofensis Ecclesia cum omnibus officinis, & cum tota vrbe infra & extra muros combusta est, anno 97. ex quo Monachi in ea∣dem Ecclesia instituti sunt.

It was now therefore high time, saith Master Lambard, to deuise some way whereby this Priory and Church of Rochester, might be, if not alto∣gether, restored to the ancient wealth and estimation, yet at the least some∣what relieued from this penury, nakednesse, and abiection. Therefore Lau∣rence of Saint Martins, Bishop of this Church, and Councellour of King Henry the third, perceiuing the common people to bee somewhat drawne (by the fraud of the Monkes) to thinke reuerently of one William,* 1.38 that lay buried in the Church, and knowing well, that there was no one way, so compendious to gaine, as the aduancement of a Pilgramage, procured at the Popes Court, the canonization of the said William,* 1.39 with Indulgence to all such as would offer at his Tombe, vnderpropping by meanes of this new Saint, some manner of reuerend opinion of the Church, which before (through the defacing of the old Bishop Paulinus his Shrine) was declined to naught.

This Saint William was by birth a Scot of Perthe,* 1.40 by trade of life a Ba∣ker of bread; in charitie so abundant, that hee gaue to the poore the tenth loafe of his workmanship, in zeale so feruent, that in vow he promised, and in deed attempted to visit the holy Land, and the places where Christ was conuersant on earth. In which iourney, as he passed through Kent, he made Rochester his way, where after that he had rested two or three dayes, he departed toward Canterbury, but ere he had gone farre from the Citie, his seruant that waited on him, led him (of purpose) out of the high-way, and spoyled him both of his money and life. This done, the seruant escaped, and the Master (because he dyed in so holy a purpose of minde) was by the Monkes conueyed hither to Saint Andrewes, laid in the Quire, and promo∣ted by the Pope, as you haue heard, from a poore Baker to a blessed Martyr. Here (as they say) he shewed miracles very plentifully, which made peo∣ple 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,* 1.41 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 some∣time belonged to Archbishop Becket, and which hee bought of the Execu∣tours of Iohn Bishop of Norwich. Thus by the gaines of William, the Ba∣kers Shrine, and by the pious endeauours and bounteous donations of di∣uers well disposed persons, this Monastery was in short time reedified, ador∣ned, 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 Pa∣rish, as I was enformed.

* 1.42Ici 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.

* 1.43Hic iacet Iohannes Beaufits, filius Iohannis Beaufits, Ar. et Alicia vxor eius, qui quidem Iohannes obiit 25. Nouemb. Ann. Dom. 1433. quorum, &c.

* 1.44Hic iacet Robertus Beaufits, qui ob. 1381. et Sara vxor eius, que obiit 1395 Cur nunc in puluere dormio.

* 1.45Hic iacet Willelmus Beaufits qui ob. 19. Marcii, 1433. Cuius.

* 1.46Here 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.

* 1.47Richard, 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,* 1.48 a learned knight, paine∣fully and expensfully studious of the common good of his countrey, as both his endowed house for the poore,* 1.49 and the bridge here with the com∣mon voice dotestifie.

Not farre from this Towne of Ailesford, lye interred the bodies of Ca∣tigern and Horsa;* 1.50 who hand to hand, killed one the other in a set battell; Catigern was the brother of Vortimer king of the Britaines, and Horsa bro∣ther 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,* 1.51 Guortigerus sonne, did here set vpon Hengist, and the English Sax∣ons, 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 in∣to the Isle of Tenet, vntill that the inuincible vigour and heate of the Bri∣tanes 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,* 1.52 not farre from hence, gaue name to the place: and Catigern honoured with a stately and so∣lemne funerall, is thought to haue beene interred neare vnto Ailisford, where vnder the side of an hill,* 1.53 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 Monu∣ment, 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,* 1.54 qui quidem Ric. obiit, An. Dom. 1370. facile contemnit omnia......

Hic iacet Willelmus Suayth Ar. dominus de Addington,* 1.55 ac vicecomes Cantie et Alicia vxor eius ob..:. Marcii Ann. 1464.

Bonis et mors et vita dulcis.

Hic iacet Robertus Watton,* 1.56 Dominus et Patronus istius Ecclesie, qui obiit die Ascentionis Anno 1444.

Hic iacent Willelmus Watton,* 1.57 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,* 1.58 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,* 1.59 Arm. filius et heres ..... Northwood ..... obiit 30. April, 1416.

Of this man. and of his Mannor of Northwood or Norwood,* 1.60 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.* 1.61

I finde by ancient deedes sans Date that one Raph de Dene was the foun∣der of a Religious house here at Otteham,* 1.62 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 anima Ra∣dulphi de Dene Aui mei qui predictam Ecclesiam fundauit, &c.

Sciant presentes, &c. quod nos Willelmus de Marci et Ela vxar mea, dedi∣mus et concessimus Deo et Sancto Laurentio de Oteham,* 1.63 et Canonicis ibidem Deo seruientibus, in liberam & perpetuam Eleemosinam, sex denarios quos predicti Canonici nobis annuatim soluebant de terra Roberti Rug. &c. Hij sex denarij sint ad emendacionem refectionis conuentus in die Sancti Lauren∣cij.* 1.64 Hanc que donationem pro salute animarum nostrarum, et Antecessorum nostrorum, & heredum nostrorum Sigillis nostris confirmauimus. Testibus, Radulfo Capellano. Ailfredo Capellano, Willelmo de Marci, &c.

But these Canons did not continue long at Otteham, the scituation of the place being vnfitting, and very chargeable for so many liuing together in a Couent; whereupon by the said Ela, daughter and heire of the said Raph Dene, and as then the widow of Iordan de Sackvile (one of the An∣cestors of that right honourable and no lesse ancient family of the Sackviles, Earles of Dorset) they were remoued to Begam, a village in the South-west Verge of this County adioyning to Sussex: such was the Charter for their remouall.

* 1.65Sciant presentes, &c. quod ego Ela de Saukevil, filia Radulphi de Dene, in viduitate et legia potestate mea, diuine pietatis intuitu concessi Abbati et Canonicis de Otteham propter magnas et intollerabiles inedias loci de Otte∣ham, quod transferant sedem Abbathie de Otteham, vsque ad Begeham qui dicitur Beulin, salua tenentia et dignitate aduocacionis, quam mihi et heredi∣bus meis tam vita quam in morte tenentur. Preterea confirmaui omnes dona∣ciones eisdem Canonicis quas pater meus eis dedit, et Robertus de Dene frater meus eis dedit.

* 1.66The land whereupon this house was built, was giuen by one Sir Ro∣bert de Turnham, a valiant knight, who flourished in the raigne of king Ri∣chard the first, and went with him to the warres in the holy Land; as these old rimes do testifie.

* 1.67King Richard wyth gud entent To yat cite of Iafes went On morne he sent aftur Sir Robart Sakevile Sir William Wateruile Sir Hubart and Sir Robart of Turnham. Sir Bertram Brandes and Iohn de St Iohn.

And speaking further of this Turnhams valour, he saith▪

Robart of Turnham with his Fauchion Gan to crake many a croun.

But he was so busie in cracking the Sarasins Crownes,* 1.68 that hee tooke the lesse heed (I thinke) of his owne, for then and there he was slaine, together

with Robert de Bellemont, surnamed Blanchmaines, Earle of Leicester, with other noble warriours: whose great losse king Richard doth thus lament.

Alas he seyd yat I was bore,* 1.69 My gud Barons bith nigh forlore, Aslaw is Robart of Lecestre, That was my curteys Mastre, Euery * 1.70 her on him was worth a knight. And Robart of Turnham that was wight, William of Arsne, and Sire Gerard, Sire Bertram, and Sire Pepard, Thesbeth slaw and wel mo.

But to returne to Ela de Sackvile, who hauing finished her religious fa∣bricke, did dedicate it to the honour of the blessed Virgine Mary, and gaue it the name of a Priory, which was valued at the suppression to 152. l. 19. s. 4. d. ob.

Sir Thomas Sackuile knight,* 1.71 sonne and heire of Sir Andrew Sackuile, by his second wife Ioane Burgese, who was Sheriffe of Sussex, and Surrey, the eight of King Henry the fourth, was here interred in the Church of Beigham; as appeares by these words in his last Will, dated the first of De∣cember, 1432.* 1.72 Ego Tho. Sakevile miles de Com. Sussex, volo me sepultum esse in Ecclesia de Beigeham. Item lego Edwardo ••ilio meo omnia vtensilia do∣mus mee, &c. Hee dyed in the same yeare, the eleuenth of King Henry the sixth.

Here sometime, in our Ladies Chappell, lay interred the body of Richard Sackevile Esquire, who dyed Ann. 1524.

This Church was, and that of Withiam in Sussex now is, greatly ho∣noured by the funerall Monuments of the Sackviles: of whom I shall haue more occasion to speake hereafter.

Pensherst.

Here in this Church vnder a marble Monument,* 1.73 whereon is yet to be seene the pourtraiture of a knight compleatly armed, lyeth interred (as it is deliuered vnto me by tradition) the body of Sir Stephen Pensherst, or Stephen de Penchester, (for so also I finde him called) that famous Lord Warden of the Fiue Ports, who flourished in the raigne of King Edward the first, as appeares by this Record following.

Rex scripsit Stephano de Penecestre Constabulario Castri de Douor. et cu∣stodi Quinque Portuum prouidere Naues et galeas sufficientes contra Regis aduentum in Angliam.* 1.74 Et meliores et fideliores Regis amicos portuum pre∣dict. secretius premuniat. Vt ipsi caute et sine strepitu preparent se ad veni∣end. in obuiam Regis in aduentu suo supradicto, &c. Dat. apud West. &c. 4. Iulij. Claus. Anno 1. Ed. primi, Cedul. pendent.

Here lye also interred diuers of that ancient and highly renowned Fa∣milie of the Sidneys,* 1.75 whose Monuments of any great antiquitie, together with their Inscriptions, are worne away with time. Who deriue their race

from William de Sidney, Chamberlaine to king Henry the second. Out of which came (saith Camden) Sir Henry Sidney,* 1.76 that renowned Lord Deputy of Ireland, who of the daughter of Iohn Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and Earle of Warwicke,* 1.77 begat Philip and Robert, whom our late Soue∣raigne Lord King Iames created Baron Sidney of Penshert, Viscount Lisle, and Earle of Leicester. And to giue more lustre to these foresaid honours, he was elected knight and companion of the honourable Order of the Garter, at an extraordinarie Chapter holden at Greenwich, the day of May, Ann. 1616. and enstalled at Windsor the seuenth of Iuly next follow∣ing. This Earle dyed the day of .... Ann.

* 1.78But here I cannot passe ouer in silence Sir Philip Sidney the elder brother, being (to vse Camdens words) the glorious starre of this family, a liuely pat∣terne of vertue, and the louely ioy of all the learned sort, fighting valiantly with the enemy before Zutphen in Gelderland, dyed manfully. This is that Sidney, whom, as Gods will was, he should be therefore borne into the world, euen to shew vnto our age a sample of ancient vertues: so his good pleasure was, before any man looked for it, to call for him againe, and take him out of the world, as being more worthy of heauen then earth. Thus we may see, perfect vertue suddenly vanisheth out of sight, and the best men continue not long.

Seigneur Des Accords in his booke entituled, Les Bigarrures (a miscella∣nie or hotch-potch of sundry collections) amongst many choice Epitaphs, hath one, selected out of the works of Isaac du Bellay, the French Poet, ex∣cellently composed, to the memory of Sieur de Boniuet, a great Comman∣der in the warres; which by some English wit was happily imitated, and ingeniously applyed to the honour of this our worthy chiefetaine Sir Phi∣lip; written vpon a Tablet, and fastened to a pillar in S. Pauls Church Lon∣don, the place of his buriall, as the sequele will more plainly shew.

* 1.79La France, et le Piemont, les cieux, et les Arts, Les Soldats, et le Mondeont fait comme six parts, De ce grand Bonniuet: cor vne si grand chose, Dedant vn seul tombeau ne pouuoit estre enclose.

La France en a le corps, que elle aurit esleue: Le Piemont a le ceur, qu'il auoit esprouue: Les cieux en ont l'esprit, et les Arts la memoire, Les Soldats le regret, et le monde la gloire.

In English as followeth.

France, and Piemont, the Heauens, and the Arts, The Souldiers and the world haue made sixe parts, Of Great Bonniuet: for who will suppose, That onely one Tombe can this man enclose?

France hath his body, which she bred and well loued, Piemont his heart, which his valour had proued. The Heauens haue his soule, the Arts haue his Fame, The Souldiers the griefe, the world his good name.

A briefe Epitaph vpon the death of that most valiant, and perfect hono∣rable Gentleman, Sir Philip Sidney, knight, late Gouernour of Flushing in Zealand, who receiued his deaths wound at a battell neare Zutphen in Gel∣derland, the 22. day of September, and dyed at Arnhem the 16. day of October, 86. Whose Funeralls were performed, and his body interred, within this Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London, the 16. day of February next following in the yeare of our Lord God, 1586.

England,* 1.80 Netherland, the Heauens, and the Arts, The Souldiers and the world haue made sixe parts, Of noble Sidney: For who will suppose, That a small heape of stones can Sidney enclose?

England hath his body, for she it fed, Netherland his bloud in her defence shed: The Heauens haue his soule, the Arts haue his Fame, The Souldiers the griefe, the world his good Name.

These Elegies also following, penned in the praise of the said Philip, by our late Soueraigne Lord King Iames, that sole Monarch of many Nations, giue a glorious lustre to his Heroicke actions.

In Philippi Sidnaei interitum, Illustrissimi Scotorum Regis Carmen.

Armipotens cui ius in fortia pectora Mauors, Tu Dea quae cerebrum perrumpere digna Tonantis, Tuque adeo biiugae proles Latonia r••pis Gloria, deciduae cingunt quam collibus artes, Duc tecum, et querula Sidnai funera voce Plangite, nam vester fuerat Sidnaeus alumnus. Quid genus, et proauos, et spem, floremque iuuentae, Immaturo obitu raptum sine fine retexo? Heu frustra queror: heu rapuit Mors omnia secum▪ Et nihil ex tanto nunc est Heroe superstes, Praeterquam decus, et nomen virtute paratum, Doctaque Sidneas testantia Carmina laudes.

The same translated by the said King.

Thou mighty Mars, the Lord of Souldiers braue, And thou Minerve, that dois in wit excell, And thou Apollo, who dois knowledge haue Of euery art that from Parnassus fell. With all your Sisters that thaire on do dwell, Lament for him, who duely seru'd you all: Whome in you wisely all your arts did mell, Bewaile (I say) his vnexpected fall. I neede not in remembrance for to call His race, his youth, the hope had of him ay, Since that in him doth cruell Death appall

Both manhood, wit, and learning euery way: But yet he doth in bed of Honor rest, And euermore of him shall liue the best.

Eiusdem Regis in Eundem Hexasticon.

Vidit et exanimem tristis Cytheraea Philippum, Fleuit, et hunc Martem credidit esse suum. Eripuit digitis gemmas, colloque monile, Mars iterum nunquam ceu placitura foret; Mortuus humana qui lusit imagine Diuam, Quid faceret iam, si viueret, ille, rogo.

In English.

When Venus sad saw Philip Sidney slaine, She wept, supposing Mars that he had bin: From fingers Rings, and from her necke the chaine She pluckt away, as if Mars nere againe She ment to please. In that forme he was in Dead, and yet could a Goddesse thus beguile, What had he done, if he had liu'd this while?

Tunbridge.

In this ruinous Church, which (like the Ca••tle) carries with it a shew of venerable antiquitie, I finde no funerall Monument of elder times re∣markable; in the north window onely are depicted the pourtraitures of the Lord Hugh Stafford, kneeling in his coate-armour, and his Bow-bearer Thomas Bradlaine by him, with this inscription.

* 2.1Orate pro animabus Domini Hugonis Stafford, et Thome Bradlaine Ar∣cuar.....

This Hugh Lord Stafford, afterwards Earle of Buckingham, was Lord of this Mannor of Tunbridge, by his grandmother Margaret, the onely daughter and heire of Sir Hugh Audley, Earle of Glocester; of whom here∣after, when I come to Stone in Staffordshire, the place of his buriall.

* 2.2Neare to the ruinous walls of the Cast••••••stood a Priory pleasantly seat∣ed, which in the shipwracke of such religious structures, was dasht all a peeces: founded by Richard de Clare, Earle of Gloucester, about the yeare 1241. for Canons of Saint Augustines order, and consecrated to S. Mary Magdalen: Which Priory was valued by the Commissioners at the suppres∣sion to be yearely worth 169. l. 10. s. 3. d.

* 2.3This Richard the founder dyed at Emmersfield, in the Mannor-house of Iohn Lord Crioil here in Kent; 14. Iulij, Ann. 1262. his bowels were buried at Canterbury, his body at Tewxbury, and his heart here in his owne Church at Tunbridge.* 2.4 Hee was Vir nobilis et omni laude dignus: To whose euerlasting praise this Epitaph was composed.

Hic pudor Hippoliti, Paridis gena, sensus Vlissis Aeneae pietas, Hectoris ira iacet.

Chaste Hippolite,* 2.5 and Paris faire, Vlisses wise and slie, Aeneas kinde, fierce Hector, here ioyntly entombed lye.

Here sometime lay entombed the bodies of Hugh de Audley,* 2.6 second sonne of Nicholas Lord Audley of H••leigh Castle, in the County of Staf∣ford, who was created Earle of Gloucester by king Edward the third; and by the marriage of Margaret, second daughter of Gilbert de Clare, Earle of Glocester, surnamed the red, and sister and coheire to Gilbert the last Earle of that surname; Lord of Tunbridge. This Hugh dyed the tenth of No∣uember 1347. Ann. 21. Ed. 3. I finde little of him remarkable, saue his good fortunes,* 2.7 being a younger brother to marry so great an inheritrix, and to be exalted to such titles of honour. His wife Margaret (first married to Pierce Gaueston Earle of Cornwall) dyed before him in the yeare of our Lord, 1342. the 13. day of Aprill. They were both together sumptuously entombed by Margaret their daughter, the onely heire of her parents, wife to Raph de Stafford, Earle of Stafford.

The said Raph de Stafford and Margaret his wife,* 2.8 were here likewise en∣tombed, at the feet of their father and mother; this Raph, by the marriage of his wife Margaret, writ himselfe in his Charters and deeds, Baron of Tunbridge. And a noble Baron he was; and the first Earle of Stafford, crea∣ted by Edward the third, the fifth of March, in the twentieth and fifth yeare of his raigne. Mills in the Catalogue of Honour, sets downe this mans pedegree after this manner, drawne from William the Conquerours time,* 2.9 still abiding in the male line. Nicholas the sonne of Robert, begot Ro∣bert the second, whose daughter and heire married to Henry de Bagot, he in the right of his wife was made Baron of Stafford; and hee begat ano∣ther called Heruey, who left the name of Bagot, and tooke on him the name of Stafford: and he begot Robert the third, father to Nicholas the second, father to Edmund,* 2.10 who begot this first Earle of Stafford, all successiuely Barons and Lords of Stafford. Hee dyed the 31. of August, in the yeare 1372. Margaret his wife dyed the seuenth of September, 1349. This Earle was knight of the honourable order of the Garter at the first foundation.

Andrew Iud (the sonne of Iohn Iud of this Towne of Tonebridge) some∣time Lord Maior of London,* 2.11 erected here a faire free-Schoole, and an Almes-house nigh Saint Helens Church in London, and left to the Skin∣ners (of which company he was) lands, to the value of threescore pounds, three shillings and eight pence the yeare; for the which they bee bound to pay twenty pound to the Schoolemaster, eight pound to the Vsher yearely for euer, and foure shillings the weeke to the sixe Almes-people, and twenty fiue shillings foure pence the yeare in Coales, for euer.

This Andrew was Lord Maior of London the yeare 1550. the fourth of King Ed. the sixth. Dyed in the yeare following, and was buried at S. Helens aforesaid, within Bishopsgate ward.

Senenoke.

Orate pro anima Edwardi Bowrgchier filij et heredis Thome Bowrgchier militi filii Iohannis Domini de Berners:* 2.12 et pro anima Domine Agnete vxo∣ris

dicti Thome Bowrgchier, filie Thome Carleton militis, qui quidem Ed∣wardus obijt 24. Augusti, 1496.

Thomas Bourchier Archbishop of Canterbury, great Vnckle to this Ed∣ward, bought of Sir William Fienes, Lord Say and Sele, (and built anew) that stately house of Knoll hereunto adioyning, which he left to his kindred, the cause of their residence in this countrey.

* 2.13Ecce sub hoc premitur, de funere cuius Curia Primatus Anglorum tota soluta est In lachrymas; Haydok Haymundus vir preciosus Moribus, eloquio dulcis Philologus ille, Atque Theologicus clarus fuit ille, viarum Rupta restaurauit, letus tribuebat egenis. Non auri cupidus, non ambitiosus honoris Extitit, extinctum Decembris luce secunda. Quem mors abripuit Dominoque . . . . famulari Iussit; is annus erat Domini quem C. quater M. que LXX complectimur, hunc bone Christe In te confisum bonis celestibus auge. Amen.

* 2.14Qui pro alijs orat pro seipso laborat. Orate pro anima Roberti Lawe Ca∣pellani capelle beate Marie istius Ecclesie . . . obijt . . . . 1400. Cuius. . . .

* 2.15Pray for the soules of Thomas Brooke, and Clemence Brooke his wife, which Clemence Brooke dyed, 1510.24. Febr. On whose soule.

* 2.16Pray for the sowls of Tho. Gregby, Alice and Godliffe his wyfes, and for the sowls of his fader, and moder, Richard Gregbye, Margaret and Agnes his wyfs, which Thomas deceysed 22. Aprill, 1515. On whos sowls.

* 2.17Pray for the sowl of Robart Totleherst, sometym servant vnto the Lord Cardinall Bourchier, who died..... 1512.

* 2.18Pray for the sowls of Iohn Yardley, Sergeant of Armes to our Souereygn Lord the king, and Ioane Pette his wyf, whych Iohn died, An. 1522.

* 2.19Hic iacent Willelmus Potkine & Alexandra vxor eius, qui quidem Wil∣lelmus obijt 1. Ianuar. 1499. et dicta Alexandra obijt 6. Dec. 1501. quorum.

Respicias Lector nostrum Epitaphium vt ••res pro nobis Deum.

* 2.20About the latter end of the raigne of king Edward the third (to vse M. Lambards words) there was found, lying in the streets of Sennocke, a poore childe, whose parents were vnknowne, and he for the same cause na∣med after the place where he was taken vp, William Sennock. This orphan was, by the helpe of some charitable persons, brought vp and nourtured in such wise, that being made an Apprentice to a Grocer in London, he arose by degrees, in course of time, to bee Maior, and chiefe Magistrate of that Citie.

At which time, calling to his minde the goodnesse of Almighty God, and the fauour of the Townesmen extended towards him, he determined to make an euerlasting Monument of his thankfull minde for the same; and therefore in the yeare 1418. the yeare of his Maioroialtie, hee builded both an Hospitall for reliefe of the poore; and a free-Schoole for the education of youth within this Towne, endowing both the one and the other with

competent yearely liuing (as the dayes then suffered) towards their susten∣tation and maintenance. But since his time the Schoole was much amend∣ed by the liberalitie of one Iohn Potkyn, which liued vnder the reigne of king Henry the eighth, and now lately also in the raigne of Queene Eliza∣beth of famous memory, through the honest trauell of diuers Towne-in∣habitants; not onely the yearely stipend is much increased, and the former litigious possessions quietly established, but the Corporation also changed into the name of two Wardeins, and foure Assistants of the free-Schoole of Queene Elizabeth in Sennocke.

Seale.

In this Church,* 2.21 vpon a marble stone inlaid with brasse, I found the por∣traiture of a Bishop: and these words onely remaining: Credo quod Redem∣ptor meus viuit. And these figures, 1389. Vnder which (as I gather by the date of the yeare of Grace) Thomas Brenton Bishop of Rochester,* 2.22 lyeth in∣terred, who trauelled into many places beyond Seas: and comming to Rome, preached in Latine before the Pope many learned Sermons, which he left behinde him in writing. For which and other his rare parts, he was much admired, and became very famous. The Pope made him his Peniten∣ciarie, and bestowed vpon him this Bishopricke of Rochester; he being be∣fore a Benedictine Monke of Norwich. He was Confessour vnto king Ric. the second; and a singular Benefactour he was to the English Hospitall at Rome. He dyed as before, Ann. 1389.

Hic iacet Dominus de Bryene miles quondam Dominus de Kemsing et Sele qui obijt 13. Septemb. 1395.* 2.23

The family of the Bruins (which I take to bee all one with this name) was a long time famous,* 2.24 as well in Essex, as in this tract. The last I finde of exemplarie note,* 2.25 was one Thomas Bruine, high Sheriffe of Kent, who with the Lord Scales and others, kept the Tower of London, for their Soue∣raigne Lord king Henry the sixth, against the rebellious Earles, Ann. 1460. Reg. 38.

Wrotham.

De Strattone natus iacet hic Rogerus humatus,* 2.26 De Wrotham Rector sacre pagineque Professor.

Credo quod redemptor meus viuit et . . . . .

Orate pro anima Iohannis Burgoine filij Iohannis Burgoine de Impington in Com. Cantab. . . . Cuius.

These Burgoines were ••ometime Lords of Caxton in Cambridgeshire,* 2.27 by whom it came to the Iermins.

Orate pro anima Richardi Ieames .: . . . huic Ecclesie Benefac. . . . qui obiit 15. Sept. 1501.* 2.28 Cuius.

This man, say the Inhabitants, was a speciall Benefactor to this Church, a Tradesman and a Smith, as appeares by the picture of a paire of Pinsers vpon his Monument.

Marmoreo lapide Thomas Gawge subtumulatur,* 2.29

Qui vero dum vixit residens Doctor Thelogie, Sistebat; etiam tum Cancellarius ille Prenobilis Ducisse fuit pariter Eboraci. Quem Deus euexit nuper ad agamatha regni, Octobris mensis X. bina dieque secunda. M. Domini quater hiis addito septuagena.

* 2.30Hic iacet Iacobus Peckham Ar. et Margareta vxor eius filia Thome Bur∣goine de Impington in Com. Cant. Ar. qui ob. 28. Febr. 1500. et Margareta ob.—die—quorum.

* 2.31Of yowr cherity pray for the sowls of Reynald Peckham the elder, Squire for the body of the most excellent Prince king Henry the eight, who dece∣sed 27 Feb. 1525. and for the sowl of Ioice Colepeper his wife which decesed 20. March, 1523.

Hic iacet Willelmus Peckham Ar. * 2.32 Cironomon Tho. Bourchier Episcopi Cant. et Cardinalis, qui obiit 28. Iunij 1491. et Katherina vxor que obiit 23. Aug. 1491. Quorum animabus.

* 2.33Hic iacet Thomas Peckham et Dorothea qui ob.... die .... An. Dom..... et Dorothea ob. 19. Decemb. 1512. quorum, &c.

* 2.34Of yowr.... of Iames Peckham Esquire, and Agnes his wife, the which Iames decesed 5. Aug. 1532. on whos soule and al Christian souls, Iesu haue mercy.

* 2.35Here are two tombes in the Church-yard, and neare to the Church∣doore, the one of which (saith Francis Thinne Lancaster Herald) was ere∣cted to the memory of Martin Peckham Esquire: the other to Margerie Peckham his wife; by the marriage of which Margerie ample reuenues came to the family of the Peckhams, she being daughter and heire to Yald∣ham, Lord of the Mannor of Yaldham. Glouer Somerset Herald in his Col∣lections saith, that Iohn Peckham did hold the Mannor of West-Peckham, in the first of Henry the third. But certaine it is that Iohn Peckham Archbi∣shop of Canterbury, in the raigne of Edward the first, was the first man that aduanced his name to those great possessions, which his posteritie enioyed euen till these our times.

Chidingston.

* 2.36Orate pro animabus Thome Willughby militis, vnius Iusticiar. domini Regis de Banco, filij Christoferi Willughby militis, ac etiam Domini Willugh∣by in Com. Suffolk. et domine Brigitte vxoris Thome Willughby predicti, vnius filiarum & heredum Roberti Read militis, ac primatis de communi loco Iusticiar. qui quidem Thomas obijt 28. die Sept. Ann. 1545.

* 2.37Pray for the sowle of Iohn Lofte, Master of Arts, Preest for my Lord Read the .... of Aug. . . 1500. on whos sowl and all Christian sowls Iesu haue mercy, Amen.

* 2.38Hic iacet Iohannes Alphegh . . . . Isabella filia . . . . qui quidem Iohannes obijt An. 1489. & predicta Isabella obijt 23. Sept. 1479. quorum anima••••••

* 2.39This Iohn Alphegh built Bore place here in Chidingston, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Robert Read enlarged, and after that it was enlarged by Sir Thomas Wil∣loughby

knight, and then by Thomas Willoughby now liuing, 1575.

Among the Willoughbeis (saith learned Clarentieux) one excelled all the rest, in the reigne of Henry the fifth,* 2.40 named Sir Robert Willoughbey, who for his martiall prowesse was created Earle of Vandosme in France; and from these by the mothers side descended, Peregrine Berti, Baron Wil∣loughby of Eres by, a man for his generous minde and militarie valour, re∣nowned both in France and the Low-countreys. whose Robert Berti Lord Willoughby of Eresby, Earle of Lindsey, and Lord great Cham∣berlaine of England.

Orate pro anima Iohannis Wood Decretorum Baccalarij nuper Rectoris hu∣ius Ecclesie,* 2.41 ac Prebendarii de Hastings qui ob. 7. Maii 1487.

Orate pro anima Edmundi Read filii Roberti Read militis,* 2.42 ac vnius Iusti∣ciar. Domini Regis de Banco, qui quidem Edmundus obiit 10. Iunii 1501.

Sir Robert Read built the North Chappell of this Church,* 2.43 Ann. 1516. in honorem Dei et Sancte Katherine: he was made chiefe Iustice 22. of Hen∣ry the seuenth, and dyed about the tenth of Henry the eight.

Itham or Igtham.

Of your charity. .... of Sir Richard Clement knight,* 2.44 and Anne his wife, daughter of Sir William Catesby of Northamptonshire knight, which Anne decesed 3. Nouemb. 1528. and the said Sir Richard decesed—day of—Ann. Dom.—on whos sowls. ...

Of your cherite prey for the sowl of Richard Astall,* 2.45 Master of Arte of Camb. and late Parson of Itame, and Cheuening, and Prebendarie of Wing∣ham. The which Richard decesed 21. Aug. 1546. on whos.

Here is a Tombe of Marble which is supposed by most of the neare In∣habitants, to be made for Sir Richard Hawte,* 2.46 sometime owner and founder of the Mote, and Lieutenant of the Tower of London. Some say to Sir Ni∣cholas, some one knight of that name, some another: for an ancient family they were of knights degree,* 2.47 and Lords of many faire Mannors; all which (by the marriage of Iane and Elizabeth, daughters and coheires of Sir Wil∣liam Hawte knight, by Mary his wife, the daughter of Sir Richard Guilfora knight) came to be the inheritance of Sir Thomas Wiat, and Sir Tho. Culpep∣per: yet some more iudicious say, that this Monument was erected for one Cawne, who was likewise owner of the Mote, who married with Morrant Lord of Morrants Court.

Cobham.

In this Church are many faire Monuments fouly defaced, vnder which the Cobhams, and Brookes, Lords and Barons of this Towne of Cobham, with many of their kindred, Allies and progenie lie interred; who for many descents did flourish in honourable reputation, euen vntill these our times.

Vous{que} passericy . . . . pries pur l'alme le curteis . . . . . Iohan de Cobham,* 2.48 auat a nom dieux luy fari verray. Pardon qe trespassa lendemayne de Seynt Mathy le passent oustre a demorer one lay, en l'an de Grace 1354.

Icy gist Margerie de Cobham iadis Femme a tresnoble cheualier .......* 2.49 Regni . . . . ordre . . . . que morust le IIII iour de Sept. l'an de Grace 1375. de . . . . dieu et mercy.

To make this maymed inscription more perfectly to bee vnderstood, let me tell you that this Margerie or Margaret (for I can hardly discerne whe∣ther by the engrauement) was the wife of that braue warriour Reynold Ba∣ron Cobham, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, knight of the Garter, and Admirall of the Sea coasts from Thames mouth Westward;* 2.50 who dyed of the second Pestilence, in theraigne of king Edward the third, An. Dom. 1361.

Vous q par icy passer . . . . . Hen. de Cobham . . . . . qui morust ban de gra . . . . 1392.* 2.51

This Henry de Cobham was sonne of the foresaid Reynold, who also was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

Icy gist dame Margarete de Cobham iadis fille a noble Sir Counte de De∣uonshire Femme de Sir de Cobham de ceste place qe morust le secound iour du mois de August l'an de grace 1385.* 2.52 L'alme de . . . . eit mercy. Amen.

This Margaret was the daughter of Hugh Courtney, the third of that Christian name, Earle of Deuonshire.

* 2.53Dame Ione de Cobham gist icy Dieu de salme aie mercy. Qui pur le alme priera Quarant iours de Pardon auera.

* 2.54Vous . . . . par icy passer . . . lalme Thome de Cobham pries qui trespassa la . . . . S. Thom . . . le Apostre . . . luy ottrye a demorier en companye le vostre en lan de grace 1367. Le haut Trinyte luy soit defender d'inferne abisme. Et Icy gist dame Maude de Cobham qe fust le Femme de Sir Thomas Cobham que dellya 9. iour de Auerillan de grace 13.... 3. Ric. 2.

* 2.55De terre fust fait et fourme Est in terre . . . . retourne Cobham founder de ceste place Le Seint Trinyte mercy de mesme.

This Iohn Lord Cobham was the builder of Cowling Castle, and the founder of this Colledge:* 2.56 valued at the suppression, at one hundred eight and twenty pounds, ten shillings nine pence, halfe penny, by the yeare. He was the last Lord Cobham of that surname; for he left but one onely daugh∣ter, wife to Sir Iohn de la Pole knight. And shee likewise (howsoeuer she had many husbands) (of which number Sir Iohn Oldcastle was one) had not any issue,* 2.57 but onely by Sir Reygnold Braybroke, who dyed all young, excepting one daughter called Ioane; who married with Thomas Brooke of Somersetshire, to whom she brought both her mothers inheritance and ho∣nour; which these Brookes did happily enioy for the space of sixe descents, being euer employed in offices of State, and matters of high consequence. Yet alwayes standing firme, both in the fauour of the Prince, and his people, vntill the last of these Lords, stumbling vpon a shallow-pated Treason, which was laid in his way; fell downe to the ground, together with his house, his inheritance, and all his additions of honour. But to returne to the rest of the Epitaphs.

* 2.58Hic iacet Iohanna Domina de Cobham quondam vxor domini Reginaldi Braybroke militis que obiit in die Sancti Hilarii Episcopi Ann. Dom. 1433.

Cuius anime propitietur altissimus.

Hic iacet Dominus Reginaldus Braybroke miles,* 2.59 ac maritus Domine Io∣hanne, Domine de Cobham, heredis Domini Iohannis de Cobham fundatoris istius Collegii: qui quidem Reginaldus obiit apud Midleborrow in Flandria, 20. die mens. Septemb. Ann. 1405. Cuius anime propitietur Deus.

Vpon the same marble these words are engrauen.

Hic iacet Reginaldus filius eorum. Hic iacet Robertus filius eorum:* 2.60 Which were his and her children that dyed in their infancie.

This Reignold (by the honour of his marriage stiled Lord Cobham) was the sonne of Gerard Braybroke,* 2.61 who was the sonne of Henry Braybroke, Lord Warden of the fiue Ports, in the raigne of king Henry the third.

Hic iacet Nicholaus Hawberk quondam maritus Domine Iohanne,* 2.62 Domi∣ne de Cobham, heredis Domini Iohannis de Cobham fundatoris istius Collegii, qui quidem Nicolaus obiit apud Castrum 9. die Octobris, Ann. Dom. 1407.

Hic iacet Iohannes Broke miles ac Baro Baronie de Cobham ac domina Margareta vxor sua quondam silia nobilis viri Edouardi Nevil nuper Do∣mini de Burgaueny,* 2.63 qui quidem Iohannes obiit . . . . die mens. Septemb. Ann. Dom. 1506. quorumanimabus. Amen.

Orate pro anima Tho. Broke militis Domini de Cobham consanguinei et heredis Richardi Beauchampe militis, qui quidem Thomas cepit in vxorem Dorotheam,* 2.64 filiam Henrici Heydon militis; & habuerunt exitum inter eos, septem filios, & sex filias, & predicta Dorothea obiit . . . . et predictus Thomas cepit in vxorem Dorotheam Fowthewel viduam, que obiit sine exitu; & po∣stea cepit in vxorem Elisabetham Harte & habuerunt nullum exitum inter eos. Qui quidem Thomas obiit 19. Iulii 1529.

Raph de Cobham de Kent Esquier* 2.65 Qi morust le xx iour de Ianier L'an de Grace mil cccc gist icy Dieu des••alme eyt mercy.

Hic iacet Iohannes Terrye quondam socius istius Collegii qui obiit 7. Id. Iulii,* 2.66 Ann. Dom. 1417.

Hic iacet Iohannes Clauering quondam filius Rogeri Clauering, ciuis & pannarij de Ciuitate London.

Orate pro animabus predicti Iohannis Clauering,* 2.67 Iuliane & Alicie vx eius, & predicti Rogeri Clauering, & Iohanne vx. eius, patris & matris predicti Iohannis Clauering, fratrum & sororum suorum, et siliorum eorum, ac etiam Anne Westbye et Matildis matris eius, et progenitorum nostrorum, et Io¦hannis de Brendward, Thome Legge, et Simonis filij eius, et pro animabus omnium Benefactorum nostrorum, et omnium fidelium defunctorum quorum animabus propitietur Deus. Amen.

Such was the politike deuotion of religious houses in those dayes, thus publikely to remember, and pray for the soules of all their Benefactours: thereby to incite others to the like works of charity, by which they still en∣creased their Founders first endowments.

Shorne.

Neare to the high Altar of this Church, is a very faire Monument for

Sir Henry de Cobham knight, Lord of Roundall, a Mannor within this Pa∣rish; where now scarce the ruines appeare,* 2.68 to direct one where the house stood. Hee is buried crosselegged, with his coat-armes on his robe, about whose Tombe in an old Character thus much may be read.

Icy gift Sir Henri de Cobeham Sheualer Signeour de Roundall. Dieu de sa......

* 2.69The Lieger booke of Feuersham makes mention of one Henry Lord Cobham, who liued in great honour in the raignes of Edward the first, and Edward the second: these are the words, but I thinke this is not the man which lyes here entombed.

* 2.70Regnante Edwardo cius nominis primo etiamque secundo floruit Henricus Dominus de Cobham, primus totius Anglie Iusticiarius, nec non Dorentium Castrorum, Roucestrie ac Tunbridge Prefectus & quinque Portuum Gardia∣nus, vxorem duxit Iohannam filiam & vnam Heredum Domini Stephani de Pynchester militis, qui vero Stephanus prius Castri Dorensis gubernationem ante Cobhamum tenuit. Alicia vero natu minor Stephani de Pynchester filia, & vna Heredum in virum accepit Dominum Philippum de Columbaris mi∣litem, ex qua duos suscepit filios, Stephanum & Thomam, qui sine herede Pa∣trimonium omne à patre acceptum reliquit. Hiis testibus. Dom. Gualfrido Domino de Say, Ottone de Grandisono, Rogero de Hengham, Gulielmo de Cheynie, 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.

* 2.71Hic iacet Iohannes Smith, & Marioria vxor eius qui ob. 20. Feb. 1457.

Another of one Iohn Smith, qui ob. 18. Marcii 1427.

* 2.72Hic 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 Ed∣mond Page of Shorne.

Heigham.

* 2.73Stephen 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.

* 2.74Hic iacet Robertus Ereby olim ciuis et Aurifaber de London, Ioanna & Ioanna vxores sui, qui quidem Robertus obiit 15. Aug. An. Dom. 1477.

* 2.75Hic 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,* 2.76 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,* 2.77 & . . . . . vxoris.

Codham.

Here lyeth beryed Alyes Walleys,* 2.78 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. Whos sowl swete Iesu pardon.

Downe.

Hic iacet Richardus Downe Armiger & Margeria consors eius:* 2.79 Quorum animabus propitietur Altissimus.

Hic iacet Iohannes Bederenden quondam ciuis,* 2.80 & Pannarius, & Came∣rarius London, qui obiit 27. Septemb. 1445.

Hic iacent Thomas Petle & Isabella vxor eius.* 2.81 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 .....:* 2.82 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.* 2.83

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,* 2.84 who gaue a weekly stipend of bread to the poore for euer: and dyeth 1469.

Here lyeth Iohn Pole,* 2.85 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* 2.86 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.

* 2.87Hic 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 * 2.88Whos 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.

* 2.89Hic iacet Alicia quondam vxor Willelmi Wangdesord, que obiit die Lune prox. post diem dominicam in ramis Palmarum. 1421.

* 2.90Hic sub pede anre alta••e iacent Willelmus Rikhill Ar. filius Willelmi Rik∣hill 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,* 2.91 Duke of Glocester, and Thomas Arundell, Archbishop of Canterbury, Ann. Reg. Regis, Ric. 2.21. 1397.

* 2.92Hic 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.

* 2.93Here lyes Thomas Bredon and Ioane his wife . . . 1511.

* 2.94Here lyeth Richard Hunt, late seruant to my Lord of Canterbury, Willi∣am Warham, and Ioane his wife: which Richard dyed . . . 1518. and Ioane 1531.

* 2.95Hic iacet Willelmus Hesilt vnus Baronum de Scaccario Domini Regis, qui obiit 9. April 1425. et Agnes vxor eius, quorum, &c.

Chalk.

* 2.96Hic iacet Willelmus Martyn Ar. et Isabella vxor eius qui quidem Wil∣lelmus obiit 26. Maii Ann. 1416.

This Martyn was a good Benefactour to this Church, as appeares in di∣uers places in the glasse, as also in the structure.

Here are two very ancient Monuments in the wall, but to whose memo∣ry they were made, I cannot learne.

Swanescombe.

* 2.97This Church in times past was much haunted by a mad company of Pilgrimes, who came hither for Saint Hildeferths helpe (a Bishop by con∣iecture

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,* 2.98 and Agnes his wife: which Ni∣cholas 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 re∣paire; 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.* 2.99 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,* 2.100 Rector istius Ecclesie, qui ob. penult. Decemb. 1439.

Hic iacet Dominus Iohannes Lumbard quondam Rector istius Ecclesie,* 2.101 qui obijt 12. Maij 1408.

Vpon a crosse of brasse layed in the marble, are curiously engrauen these words:

Credo quod redemptor meus viuit.

And vpon the basis of the same Crosse these obsolete Latine rimes.

Es test is Christe quod non iacet hic lapis iste Corpus vt ornetur sed Spiritus vt memoretur, Hem tu qui transis, magnus, medius, puer an sis Pro me funde preces quia sic mihi fit venie spes.

Hic iacet Matilda nuper vxer Willelmi Laken Seruiens ad Legem qui ob. 2. die Decemb. 1408. & iuxta eam ex parte australi Iohanna filia sepeli∣tur que obijt 3. die Octob. anno supradicto.* 2.102

O mercifull Iesew.* 2.103 Haue mercy on the sowl of Sir Iohn Dew.

Here lye interred diuers of the Chapmans, who were sometime owners of Stone-castle.

Hic Christi versus Payname iacet ecce Rogerus Pauperibus multum dedit hic pecunia cultum* 2.104 ........

M. C. quater deca...... In Maij vicena rapit hunc mors....

* 2.105Here lies William Banknot and Anne his wyff, Swete Iesew grant to them and vs euerlastyng lyff. Pray yow hertely for cheritie, Say a Pater Noster and an Aue. 1400.

* 2.106Here lyeth the bodyes of Sir Iohn Wilshyre knight, and of Dame Mar∣garet his wife. Which Sir Iohn dyed 28. Decemb. 1526. And Margaret dyed ... of ....

* 2.107This knight is entombed in a faire Chappell of his owne foundation; he was Controller of the Towne and Marches of Calleis, Ann. 21. Hen. 7. 1506. He had onely one daughter and heire, named Bridget, married to Sir Richard Wingfield. As I haue it in these words out of the Visitation booke of Huntingtonshire, by Nicholas Charles Lancaster Herald.

* 2.108Sir Richard Wingfield knight of the Garter, Chancellour of the Duchie of Lancaster, and of the Bed-chamber to King Henry the eight; by his wife Bridget, who was daughter and heire to Sir Iohn Wilshyre knight; had Stone▪house, or Stone-castle in Kent neare Grauesend. To whom the king gaue Kimboulton Castle; he was of the priuie Councell, and died Embas∣sadour in Spaine, and was buried at Toledo.

Dartford. Hic iacet Iohannes Hornley Theologie Baccal.:* 2.109 ▪qui obijt. 1477.

Si fterent Artes Hornley tacuisse Iohannem Non possent ista qui tumulatur humo. In septem fuerat liberalibus ille magister, Prudens, & castus, maximus atque fide. Doctrine sacre tunc Baccalareus ingens, Oxonie cunctis semper amandus erat. Consilio valuit, sermones pandere sacros Nouerat, et doctos semper amare viros. Pauperibus largus fuerat, quos nouerat aptos, In studijs patiens sobrius atque fuit. Moribus insignis cunctis virtute refulgens Pro tantis meritis spiritus astra petit.

* 2.110O pytefull Creater concerning erthly sepulter, Of Katryn Burlton at x day wythin Iun. Thousand IIII C. LXXXXVI yer Occurrent wyth Rychard Burlton Iantlman. Spows to the Katryn ..... Expired thousand ..... Throu the prayor of thes twein Sal he be savyd fro endlysse pein.

* 2.111King Edward the third founded here a goodly faire Monastery, about the yeare of his raigne of England, the thirtieth, and of France the seuen∣teenth:

In which he placed women, religious Votaries, or white Nunnes. Which Nunnery at the generall dissolution, was found to bee well worth three hundred and eightie pounds by yeare. This Priory (for so it was cal∣led by the Founder) was taken (as all the rest) into the hands of king Hen∣ry the eight: of which he made a fit dwelling place for himselfe, and his Successours, which remaines to this day, howsoeuer somewhat ruinous. But will it please you peruse this Memorandum, not impertinent to this matter, in the visitation of Kent, and Sussex, made by Clarentieux Beuolt, the 21. yeare of king Henry the eight, Dame Elizabeth Cresner being Lady Prioresse of Dartford at that time.

Memorand.* 2.112 that the said Lady doth witnesse, that king Edward the third was first Founder of the said place: and the second Founder was king Richard the second. And in the said place lieth buried the Lady Bridget, daughter to king Edward the fourth, a religious women in the same place. Also Dame Ioane, daughter to the Lord Scrope of Bolton, and Prioresse of the same place: and Dame Margaret daughter of the Lord Beaumont, al∣so sometime Prioresse of the same place. And also there lyeth daugh∣ter and wife to Sir Maurice Berkeley.

This Lady Bridget here interred,* 2.113 was the fourth daughter of Edward the fourth, by his wife Queene Elizabeth, she was borne at Eltham, here by, the tenth of Nouember, 1480. She tooke the habite of Religion when she was young, and so spent her life in contemplation vnto the day of her death: which happened about the yeare 1517. the eight of King Henry the eight.

Crayford.

Orate pro animabus Roberti Woodford,* 2.114 & Iohanne vxoris eius, qui Rober∣tus obijt .... 1489.

Hic iacent Rogerus Apleton vnus Auditorum serenissimorum Regum Hen. quinti & Hen. sexti;* 2.115 ac Iohanne vxoris Hen. quarti; & Katherine vxo∣ris Hen. sexti Reginarum Anglie, & Principatus totius Wallie, Ducatus Cornubie, & Com. Cestrie. qui ob.... 1400. & Agnes vxor eius Domina de Holbury que ob. 1437. Cum venerit dies Domini in miserecordia eius egrediemur.

Hic iacet Henricus Elham vnus Auditorum .... et Elisabetha vxor eius filia Rogeri Apleton ... ob. ... 1479.

Hic iacet Iohannes Elham vnus Auditorum.... 1481.

Vite probitas mortis despectio.

Erith.

In the vpper end of the South Isle of this Church stands a faire tombe, with this Inscription; left at the first imperfect.

Elisabeth second wife to George late Earle of Shrewsbury,* 2.116 Lord Steward to king Henry the seuenth, and to king Henry the eight his Houshold, by whom she had issue, * 2.117 Iohn, and Lady Anne, wife to William Earle of Pen∣broke, Lord Steward of Queene Elizabeths Houshold: which Lady Anne

had beene married before to M. Peter Compton Esquire, by whom she had issue Sir Henry Compton knight, now liuing.

This Elizabeth Countesse of Shrewsbury, was daughter and one of the heires of Sir Richard Walden knight, Lord of the Towne of Erith, whose body lyeth here likewise entombed.

* 2.118Pray for the sowl of Syr Richard Walden knight, and Lady Margerie his wife, which Syr Richard decessyd 25 of March, 1536. And Margery decessyd, the sixth of May, 1528. whos sowls god pardon.

* 2.119Orate pro anima Richardi Walden Armig. & Elisabethe vxoris eius, que ob. 25. Octob. 1496. et Richardus obiit ... die ... mens... Ann. miles. quo∣rum animabus.

* 2.120Ellin Atticor gist icy Dieu de sa alme eit mercy.

* 2.121Orate pro anima Domini Iohannis Stone quondam vicarij Ecclesie paro∣chialis de Lesnes, alias Erith, qui ob. 13. April 1475.

O vos omnes qui hic transitis, prome orate Precibus vestris, qui fratres estis meque iurate.

* 2.122Hic iacet Radulphus Criel Ar. qui obiit 6. Decemb. 1447. Cuius anime propitietur altissimus.

* 2.123Hic iacet Rogerus Sentcler quondam seruiens Abbati et Conuentui de Lesnes, qui obiit primo die mensis Ianuarij, 1425. Cuius anime.

Lesnes Abbey.

* 2.124In 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,* 2.125 at Lesnes or Westwood, neare vnto this Towne of E••••th The extent of whose yearely reuenue (as it was prized by the Com∣missioners 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,* 2.126 all both his of∣fices 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.

* 2.127Rapitur 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 Pro∣tectour

of England in the twelfth yeare of the raigne of king Henry the se∣cond, 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 daugh∣ter 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 vene∣rabilis viri Richardi filij Regis de Chillam. And king Iohn by his Charter grants to another Rose her grandfathers lands, in these words: Rex reddi∣dit Roesie de Douerita totam terram suam cum pertenenc. qua eam contin∣git 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,* 2.128 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 Bishop∣ricke: he was a great Benefactour to this Religious house of Leosnes, foun∣ded 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:* 2.129 qui Iohannes obiit 27. Ianuar..... & Mathilda 25. Octob. 1397.

Hic tacet Dominus Will. Prene quondam Rector huius Ecclesie,* 2.130 viz. tem∣pore Regis Edwardi quarti, et postea Rector Ecclesie de Lymming, qui fieri fe∣cit 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▪* 2.131

Eltham:

* 2.132Pray 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. Fe∣bruar. 1518

Roper a name of eminent respect in this County, honoured with the ti∣tle of Baron Roper of Tenham, by our Soueraigne Lord Iames, late King of England, giuen to Iohn Lord Roper now liuing.

* 2.133Pray 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.

* 2.134Prier 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.

* 2.135Iohn 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.

* 2.136In 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 accoun∣ted a very holy and vertuous man: which I cannot much contradict.

* 2.137Icy gist Mestre Water de Henche, Qi fut Persone de Bromleghe. 1360.

Lewsham.

* 2.138Hic iacet Georgius Hatecliffe Ar. Thesaurarius Domini Regis in Hiber∣nia, ac vnus clericorum compoti Hospitii regis, obiit 1. Aug. 1514.

* 2.139Iohn Norbury founded a Priory in this Towne of Lewsham, which hee replenished with blacke Monkes Aliens, belonging to the Abbey of Gaunt in Flanders,* 2.140 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 en∣creased to the number of one hundred and ten in England, besides them in Ireland,* 2.141 Aquitane, and Normandy. The goods of all which Priories, the said king Ann. Reg. 12. (because of his warres with France) caused to be confiscated to his owne vse, letting out their houses to farme, with all their lands and tenements, for the space of three and twenty yeares. At the end of which Terme (Peace being concluded betweene the two Nations) he restored to the Priors Aliens their houses, lands, and tenements, Ann. Reg.

35. as by his patents may appeare in effect as followeth.

Edward by the grace of God King of England,* 2.142 Lord of Ireland, and of Aquitaine, to all by these presents, &c. Although the Priory of Monta∣cute in the County of Somerset (by reason of the warres betweene vs and France) with all the lands,* 2.143 tenements, fees, aduowsons, together with the goods and cattels belonging to the same, hath beene of late taken into our hands, and by vs farmed and rented forth, as appeareth by diuers patents; Now therefore, since peace is betwixt vs, and the noble Prince, our most deare brother the king of France, we, for the honour of God, and holy Church, restore to the said Prior, the Priory with all the lands, tenements, fees, aduowsons, and whatsoeuer else belonging to the same, to hold the same in as free manner as they held it before. And withall, forgiue and re∣lease all arrerages of Rents, which might bee due vnto vs by reason of any former grants. In witnesse, &c. the sixth of February, the 35. yeare of our raigne.

The like letters of restitution all the rest of the houses of Aliens had through England;* 2.144 all which were cleane suppressed, and vtterly dissolued by king Henry the fifth, and their lands giuen by him and his sonne Henry the sixth, to Colledges of learned men, and to other Monasteries.

Greenwich.

This Parish Church is consecrated to the honour of Saint Aelphege,* 2.145 sometime Archbishop of Canterbury, who suffered martyrdome much-what about the same place where it now standeth. Which Aelp••ege (bo••ne of great parentage, brought vp in good learning, preferred first to the Bi∣shopricke of Winchester, then to this of Canterbury; a man admired for his strict manner of life, and holy exhortations, by both which hee con••uerted many vnto Christ) was cruelly put to death by the Danish Pagans, with many exquisite torments, in the yeare of our Lord, a thousand and twelue. Of which, in William Malmesbury, Camden, and the Catalogue of Bishops, you may reade more at large. It was long before these bloudy exe∣cutioners would suffer his bodie to bee committed to the earth, after the manner of Christian decencie; yet at length that fauour was obtained, and his body here first buried; from whence within a short time after, his re∣liques were remoued to Saint Pauls London, and from thence (at the commandement of king Knute) to Canterbury. He was canonized; and the 19. day of Aprill allowed for celebration of his memory.

Some write,* 2.146 that like another Stephen, he was stoned to death, that like him he prayed for his enemies; and that Turkill (generall of those Danes) was conuerted to the faith, at the sight of his constant martyrdome.

Here sometime stood an house of obseruant Friers,* 2.147 which came hither about the latter end of the raigne of King Edward the fourth, at whose hands they obtained a Chantrie, with a little Chappell of the holy Crosse, a place yet extant in the Towne;* 2.148 and king Henry the seuenth builded for them an house adioyning to the Pallace, which is there yet to be seene.

Here in this Towne was another Monastery of Friers Minorites,* 2.149 and Aliens, founded by King Edward the third, and the foresaid Iohn Norbury:

which as Lewsham did, belonged to the Abbot of Gaunt in Flaunders, vn∣till such time as King Henry the fifth (seising into his hands (by occasion of warre) all the lands of the Priors Aliens) (as I haue touched before) be∣stowed this, together with the Mannor of Lewsham, and many other lands also, vpon the Priory of Chartrehouse Monkes of Shene, which hee had then newly erected; to which it remayned, vntill the time of the raigne of king Henry the eight, who annexed it to the Crowne.

Depeford.

* 2.150Orate pro anima ..... Weuer ..... Mercatoris et Maioris Stapul. ville Calcis qui ob..... Februar. ... et pro .... Ioanne vx. eius, qui ob....

Martin the fifth Bishop of Rome, granted by this Bull to these Staple Merchants, in this Weeuers Maioralty at their earnest request, an itinerarie or portable Aulter, which they were to take with them to what place soeuer they trauelled to make any time of aboad; and withall gaue them licence to elect a Priest, to say Masse, administer the Sacraments, to heare their con∣fessions, to enioyne them penance, and to giue them absolution as the cause should require. The forme of which I hold it not much amisse here to set downe, as I found it in an old Manuscript, without name or date, in the Earle of Exceters Librarie.

Martinus Episcopus Seruus Seruorum Dei, dilectis filijs Maiori et eius locum tenenti,* 2.151 ac Constabulario ceterisque Principalibus Societatis Mercato∣rum lanarum Stapule Anglie Salutem, et Apostolicam benedictionem. Sin∣cere deuotionis affectus quem ad nos et Romanam geritis Ecclesiam non in∣digne meretur, vt petitionibus vestris illis presertim quos ex deuotionis fer∣uore prodire conspicimus, quantum cum Deo possumus fauorabiliter anima∣mus. Hinc est quod nos vestris deuotis supplicationibus inclinati, vt liceat vobis et posteris vestris Maiori et eius locum tenenti, ac Constabulario, nec non Principalibus societatis Mercatorum lanarum Stapule Anglie, ac vestrum ac eorundem posterorum cuilibet habere Altare portatile, cum debita re∣uerentia et honore. Super quo in villa Calestie seu alibi etiam in transmari∣nis, seu cismarinis partibus, vbi pro tempore vos vel aliquem vestrum esse vel declinare, et huiusmodi Stapulum lanarum teneri contigerit, in locis ad hoc congru••ntibus et honestis positis; per proprium vel alium Sacerdotem ydoneum Missas et alia diuina officia, sine iuris alieni preiudicio, in vestra et ipsorum ac aliorum Mercatorum dicte Societatis ibidem pro tempore presen∣tium: Nec non vestrorum et eorundem Posterorum ac Mercatorum familia∣rium presentia facere celebrari vobis et predictis posteris tenore presentium indulgemus.

Nulli ergo omnino homini liceat hanc paginam nostre concessionis infrin∣gere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attemptare presump∣serit, indignationem omnipotentis Dei, et beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolo∣rum eius se nouerit incursurum. Dat. Mant. 3. Non. Nouemb. Pontificatus nostri, Ann. primo.

By another Bull dated the same yeare, and his Apostolicall authoritie, he giues them free election of their Confessour the Priest.* 2.152 The words are; Ali∣quem ydoneum et discretum presbyterum eligere confessorem indulgemus,

qui quotiens vobis fuerit oportunum confessionibus vestris diligenter auditis, pro commissis debitam vobis absolutionem impendat et iniungat penitentiam salutarem; nisi forsan talia fuerint, &c. propter que sedes Apostolica, &c. Nulli ergo omnino hominum, &c. Dat. &c. In English.

We fauourably yeeld to your deuout and pious supplications, and we giue you leaue to choose a sufficient and discreete Priest for your Confessor; who so often, as to you it shall be thought conuenient, your confessions be∣ing attentiuely heard, may giue to each of you due absolution for your de∣linquencies committed, And appoint you sauing and comfortable penance: vnlesse the offences be of that nature, for which the Apostolicall chaire is to be sought to for remission.

Therefore let it not be lawfull for any man, in any wise, to infringe, or in a kind of foole-hardinesse rashly to contradict this Cartulary of our Concession: which indeed if any one presume to attempt, let him know for certaine, that he shall incurre the indignation of Almighty God, and of his blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. Giuen, &c.

Then followes a forme of Absolution, made in the Apostolicall Con∣sistory with plenary Indulgence to be pronounced by the Priest, to any one of these Merchants whensoeuer they shall bee dangerously sicke, in these words,

Ego authoritate Dei omnipotentis & beatorum Petri et Pauli Apostolorum eius,* 2.153 et Domini nostri Martini Pape Quinti mihi in hac parte specialiter commissa, secundum quod potestas mihi tradita se extendit, et quantum de∣beo et possum si ista vice moriaris te absolvo ab omnibus penis Purgatorii, que tibi in Purgatorio debentur propter culpas et offensas quas contra Deum commisisti; et te restituo illi innocentie in qua eras tempore quo baptizatus fuisti. In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus sancti. Amen.

I by the authority of Almighty God, and of his blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of our Lord and Master Martin the fift Pope, to me especi∣ally committed in this behalfe, according, and in so much as the power to me giuen will extend it selfe, and how much of duty I owe, and how much I may or can; I absolue thee from all the paines of Purgatory which are due to be inflicted vpon thee in Purgatory, for those sinnes and offences which thou hast committed against God; and I restore thee to that inno∣cencie in which thou liuedst, the same day, when thou hadst newly recei∣ued Baptisme. In the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost. Amen.

A word or two of these two words Merchant Staple, or Staple Mer∣chant.

He is properly called a Marchant, qui mare traijcit,* 2.154 who passeth ouer the Seas, et merces inde avehit, and from thence transports merchandise or wares into his owne warehouse; either bought for ready money, or had in exchange for other commodities which hee brings with him out of his owne Country. The diligence and industry of these Marchants is accurat∣ly expressed by Horace, Epist. lib. 1. Ep. 1.

Impiger extremos curret Mercator ad Indos Per mare pauperiem fugiens, per saxa, per ignes.

The ready Merchant runs to th'utmost Inde with speed. By Sea, by rocks, by fire, to shun outragious need.

There are a company of notable Skanderouns which greatly desire to be stiled Merchants, and these are such as runne from house to house, from Market to Market,* 2.155 such as haunt Faires and all publicke meetings; with packs and Fardels vpon their backes, filled with counterfeit and adulterate wares, with which they cheat, deceiue, and cosin the poore countrey-peo∣ple: and these are called Pedlers, Quod pedes iter conficiunt: because they go on foot.

Stapula inquit (Lud. Guiccia, est locus publicus quo principis auctoritate et priuilegio,* 2.156 lanae, vina, coria, frumenta, aliaeque merces exotica vendendi causa conuchuntur. Staple is a publicke place (saith Lud. Guiccia) to which by the Prince his authoritie and priuiledge, wooll, wine, Hides of beasts, corne or graine, and other exoticke or forraine merchandise are transferred, carried, or conueyed there to be sold, or set to sale. Or,

Staple signifieth this or that Towne or Citie, whither the Merchants of England, by common order or commandement, did carry their woolls, wooll-fels, clothes, lead, and Tinne, and such like commodities of our Land, for the vtterance of them by the great.

The word (saith Mins. let. 5.) may probably bee taken two wayes, one from Stapel, which in the Saxon or old English language, signifieth the stay or hold of any thing. Or from the French word Estape, id est, forum Vinarium: because to those places, whither our English Merchants brought their commodities, the French would also meete them with theirs, which most of all consisteth in wines.

Now, howsoeuer we most commonly finde the Staple to bee kept, and thereupon, as in this place, the Merchants thereof were stiled, Mercatores Stapulae villae Calistiae, yet you may read of many other places appointed for the Staple in the Statutes of the Land, according as the Prince by his coun∣sell thought good to alter them from the second yeare of Edward the third, cap 9. to the fifth of Edward the sixth.

Officers belonging to these Staples, were Maiors, Constables, Maniper∣nors, correctours, Porters, packers, winders, workers, and other labourers of woolls.

The Fees of the Maiors and Constables of the Staples in England, leuied out of 4. d. a Sacke of wooll, comming to euery Staple, were as followeth. The Maior of the Staple of Westminster had yearly, one hundred pounds, and euery of the Constables there ten markes. The Maiors of the Staples of Yorke, Kingstone vpon Hull, Norwich, and Winchester, euery of them twenty pounds, and euery of the Constables of the same places one hun∣dred shillings. The Maiors of Newcastle vpon Tine, Chichester, and of Exceter, ten pounds; and euery of the Constables of those places fiue markes. And if any of the Maiors and Constables aboue named, refused the Office, hee was to pay to the company as much as his Fee should amount to. Of all which you may reade the Statute, Ann. 27. Ed. 3.

The Maior and Constables of the Staple had power to record Recogni∣sances of debt taken before them, by vertue of a Statute, made the tenth of Henry the sixth.

Chetham.

And here giue me leaue (curteous Reader) to turne backe to this Church situate neare Rochester, onely to set downe a strange buriall in this Church∣yard, thus related by Lambard in his perambulation of Kent.

Although (saith he) I haue not hitherto, at any time, reade any memo∣rable thing recorded in History, touching Chetham it selfe, yet, for so much as I haue often heard (and that constantly reported) a Popish illusion done at that place; and for that also it is as profitable to the keeping vnder of fai∣ned and superstitious religion, to renew to minde the Priestly practises of old time (which are declining to obliuion) as it is pleasant to retaine in memory the monuments and Antiquities of whatsoeuer of other kinde: I thinke it not amisse, to commit faithfully to writing, what I haue receiued credibly by hearing, concerning the Idols, sometime knowne by the names of our Lady, and the Roode of Chetham and Gillingham. It happened (say they) that the dead corps of a man (lost through shipwracke belike) was cast on land in the Parish of Chetham, & being there taken vp, was by some charitable persons committed to honest buriall within their Church∣yard: which thing was no sooner done, but our Lady of Chetham finding her selfe offended therewith, arose by night, and went in person to the house of the Parish-Clerk (which then was in the street, a good distance from the Church) and making a noise at his window, awaked him. This man at the first (as commonly it fareth with men disturbed in their rest) demanded, somewhat roughly, who was there: But when he vnderstood by her owne answer, that it was the Lady of Chetham, he changed his note, and most mildly asked the cause of her comming. She told him, that there was late∣ly buried neare to the place where she was honoured, a sinfull person, which so offended her eye with his gastly grinning, that, vnlesse he were remoued, she could not, but (to the great griefe of good people) withdraw her selfe from that place, and cease her wonted miraculous working in that place amongst them. And therefore she willed him to go with her, to the end that (by his helpe) she might take him vp and cast him againe into the Riuer. The Clerke obeyed, arose and waited on her toward the Church: but the good Lady (not wonted to walke) waxed weary of the labour, and there∣fore was enforced, for very want of breath, to sit downe in a bush by the way, and there to rest her. And this place (forsooth) as also the whole track of their iourney (remaining euer after a greene path) the Towne-dwellers were wont to shew. Now after a while, they go forward againe, and com∣ming to the Churchyard, digged vp the body, and conueyed it to the wa∣ters side, where it was first found.

This done, our Lady shranke againe into her Shrine, and the Clerke packed home to patch vp his broken sleepe, but the corps now eftsoones floated vp and downe the Riuer, as it did before. Which thing being at length espied by them of Gillingham, it was once more taken vp and buri∣ed in their Church-yard. But see what followed vpon it, not onely the Roode of Gillingham (say they) that a while before was busie in bestow∣ing miracles, was now depriued of all that his former vertue: but also the very earth and place, where this carcase was laid, did continually for euer after settle and sinke downeward.

This tale receiued by tradition (saith my foresaid Author) from the El∣ders, was long since both commonly reported, and faithfully credited of the vulgar sort, which although haply you shall not at this day learne at euery mans mouth (the Image being now many yeares sithence defaced) yet many of the aged number remember it well, and in the time of darknes,

Haec erat in toto notissima fabula mundo.

Otford.

* 2.157The fields about this Village are filled with the dead bodies of many braue Souldiers, here slaine in two famous set battels: whereof the one happened amongst the Saxons themselues, contending for glory and su∣preme Soueraigntie. The other betweene the Danes and Saxons, striuing for lands, liues, and libertie. In the first Offa the king of Mercia (hauing al∣ready ioyned to his Dominion the most part of Westsex, and Northum∣berland, and seeking to haue added Kent also) preuailed against the Inha∣bitants of this countrey, not without great slaughter of his owne subiects. Alrick the king of Kent was here slaine by the hands of Offa himselfe. Whose ouerthrow was the lesse dishonourable, for that hee had the cou∣rage to withstand in single opposition,* 2.158 so puissant and impugnable an ene∣my. This Alrick was the last Kentish king that held the Scepter in a lineall succession; the rest that followed, both got and enioyed it by tyranny and vsurpation. Hee is said to haue raigned 34. yeares; and to haue beene thus vanquished in the yeare of Grace, 793. The place of his buriall, whether here with his discom••ited souldiers, or at Canterbury with his royall An∣cestours, is to me vncertaine.

In the second battell, Edmund the Monarch of the Englishmen (surna∣med for his great strength Ironside) obtained against Canutus the Dane, a most honourable victory, committing vpon the Danes such slaughter, and bloudy hauocke, that if they had not better trusted to their heeles then to their hands (flying toward the Isle of Shepey) hee had that day made an end of the whole Danish armie: and by all likelihood the warres had ceased betwixt those two Nations for euer. In this battell Canute lost foure thou∣sand and fiue hundred men; and king Edmund onely six hundred. It was fought in the yeare, 1016.

* 2.159One Bartilmew (saith Lambard) a Saint, was holden in great veneration at this Towne of Otford. His feast day was kept solemnly here, both with a faire and good fare, euer vpon Saint Bartholomewes day: he was much fre∣quented (by the Parishioners and neighbours about) for a most rare and singular propertie that he professed. For the manner was, that if any wo∣man (conceiued with childe) desired to bring forth a male, she should offer to Saint Bartilmew a cocke-chicken: and if her wish were to be deliuered of a female, she should then present him with a Hen. This Saint questionlesse was a good Purueyor of Poultrie for the Parson of the Towne.

Saint Thomas Becket likewise was holden in great esteeme and worship at this Towne; for it was said of the Inhabitants long since, and may

be as yet (perhaps) by some of them beleeued, that while Thomas Becket lay at the old House here at Otford (which of long time belonged to the Archbishops of Canterbury,* 2.160 and whereof some part is as yet remaining) and say that it wanted a fit spring to water it: that hee strake his staffe into the dry ground (in a place thereof at this day called Saint Thomas Well) and that immediately water appeared; the which running plentifully ser∣ueth the Offices of the new House at this present time.

They say also that as he walked on a time in the old Parke (busie at his prayers) that he was much hindered in his deuotion, by the sweet note and melodie of a Nightingale, that sang in a Bush besides him, and that there∣fore (in the might of his holinesse) he inioyned that from thenceforth no bird of that kinde should be so bold as to sing thereabouts. Some men re∣port likewise, that for as much as a Smith (then dwelling in the Towne) had prickt his horse in the shooting; he enacted by like authoritie, that af∣ter that time no Smith should thriue within the Parish. But I exspatiate too farre, and desire a fauourable construction.

Not farre from Otford,* 2.161 in the same valley, called Holmes Dale (that is to say, the Dale betweene the wooddie hills) many expert worthy Com∣manders, and valiant common souldiers lie interred: For here the people of Kent being encouraged by the prosperous successe of Edward their king (the sonne of Aelfred, and commonly surnamed the Elder) assemb••ed themselues, and gaue to the Danes, that had many yeares before afflicted them, a most sharpe and fierce encounter, in the which after long fight they preuailed, and the Danes were ouerthrowne and vanquished, in the yeare of Grace, 904.

This victory (saith Lambard) and the like euent in another battell giuen to the Danes at Otford, which also stands in the same valley, begat, as I gesse, the common by-word, vsed amongst the inhabitants of this vale euen till this present day, in which they vaunt after this manner.

The Vale of Holmesdale, Neuer wonne, ne neuer shall.

These and many other victories atchieued by the valour of these Ken¦tish Inhabitants, giues me occasion to speake somewhat in generall of this flourishing countrey; and first I will begin with a late writer.

To Canterbury then as kindly he resorts, His famous countrey thus he gloriously reports. O noble Kent,* 2.162 quoth he, this praise doth thee belong, The hard'st to be controld, impatientest of wrong. Who, when the Norman first with pride and horrour sway'd, Threw'st off the seruile yoke vpon the English lay'd; And with a high resolue, most brauely didst restore, That libertie so long enioy'd by thee before. Not suffering forraine Lawes should thy free customes binde, Then onely showd'st thy selfe of th'ancient Saxon kinde.

Of all the English Shires be thou surnamd the free, And formost euer plac't, when they shall reckoned bee. And let this Towne, which chiefe of thy rich countrey is, Of all the British Sees be still Metropolis.

Of their throwing off the Norman yoke, his learned Illustrator Selden thus speakes.

To explaine it, saith he, I thus English you a fragment of an old Monke: When the Norman Conquerour had the day, hee came to Douer Castle, that he might with the same subdue Kent also; wherefore Stigand, Arch∣bishop, and Egelsin Abbot, as the chiefe of the Shire; obseruing that now whereas heretofore no Villeins (the Latine is, Nullus fuerat seruus, and ap∣plying it to our Law phrase I translate it) had beene in England, they should bee now all in bondage to the Normans, they assembled all the County, and shewed the eminent dangers, the insolence of the Normans, and the hard condition of Villenage: they resoluing all rather to die then lose their freedome, purpose to encounter with the Duke for their coun∣tries liberties. Their Captaines are the Archbishop and the Abbot. Vpon an appointed day they meete all at Swanescombe, and harbouring them∣selues in the woods, with Boughs in euery mans hand, they incompasse his way. The next day, the Duke comming by Swanescombe, seemed to see with amazement, as it were a wood approaching towards him; the Kentish men at the sound of a Trumpet take themselues to Armes, when presently the Archbishop and Abbot were sent to the Duke, and saluted him with these words: Behold, Sir Duke, the Kentish come to meete you, willing to receiue you as their Liege Lord, vpon that condition, that they may for e••er enioy their ancient Liberties and Lawes vsed among their Ancestors; otherwise, presently offering warre; being ready rather to die, then vnder∣go a voke of bondage, and loose their ancient Lawes▪ The Norman in this narrow pinch, not so willingly, as wisely, granted the desire: and hostages giuen on both sides, the Kentishmen direct the Normans to Rochester, and deliuer them the County and the Castle of Douer.

* 2.163Againe for this honour of the Kentish in hauing the foremost place in euery battell, he deliuers thus much out of an old Author, who writ in La∣tine about the time of Henry the second. Which by him is likewise thus taught to speake English

What performance king Cnut did among the Danes, and Norwegians by English valour, is apparant in that vntill this day, the Kentish men for their singular vertue then showne, haue prerogatiue alwayes to bee in the Vantgard: as Wiltshire, Deuonshire, and Cornwall in the Rere.

* 2.164And further for the prowesse of the Kentish men, will it please you reade a peece out of Camden, the like in effect as before.

The same commendation of ciuilitie and curtesie (saith he) which Caesar in old time gaue the Inhabitants of Kent, is yet of right due vnto them: that I may not speake of their warlike prowesse, whereas a certaine Monke hath written; How the Kentishmen so farre excelled, that when our armies are ready to ioyne battell, they of all Englishmen, are worthily placed in the front, as being reputed the most valiant and resolute souldiers. Which

Iohn of Salisbury verifieth also in his Polycraticon. For good desert (saith he) of that notable valour, which Kent shewed so puissantly, and patiently against the Danes, it retaineth still vnto these dayes, in all battels, the ho∣nour of the first and fore-ward, yea and of the first conflict with the enemy. In praise of whom William of Malmesbury hath likewise written thus. The countrey people and Towne-dwellers of Kent, aboue all Englishmen re∣taine still the resent of their ancient worthinesse. And as they are more for∣ward, and readier to giue honour and entertainment to others, so they are more slow to take reuenge vpon others.

Lambard in his perambulation speaking of the Estate of Kent, saith, The people of this countrey consisteth chiefly (as in other countries also) of the Gentrie and the Yeomanrie, of which the first be, for the most part, Gouer∣nors, and the other altogether gouerned: whose possessions also were at the first distinguished, by the names of Knights fee, and Gauelkinde: that for∣mer being proper to the warriour, and this latter to the husbandman. But these tenures long since haue beene so indifferently mixed and confounded in the hands of each sort, that there is not now any note of difference to be gathered by them.

The reuenues of the Gentrie are greater here then any where else,* 2.165 which thing groweth not so much by the quantitie of their possession, or by the fertilitie of their soile, as by the benefit of the situation of the countrey it selfe. Which hath all that good neighbourhood, that Marc. Cato, and other old Authors in husbandrie, require in a well placed Graunge, that is to say, the Sea, the Riuer, a populous Citie, and a well traded high-way, by the commodities whereof, the superfluous fruites of the ground be dearely sold, and consequently the land may yeeld a greater rent.

These Gentlemen bee all (for the most part) acquainted with good let∣ters, and especially trained in the knowledge of the Lawes: They vse to manure some large portion of their territories, as well for the maintenance of their families, as also for their better increase in wealth. So that they be well employed, both in the publique seruice, and in their owne particular, and do vse hawking, hunting, and other disports, rather for their recrea∣tion, then for an occupation or pastime.

The Yeomanrie or common people (for so they be called of the Saxon word gemen,* 2.166 which signifieth common) is no where more free and iolly then in this Shire: for besides that they themselues say in a clayme (made by them in the time of king Edward the first) that the Communaltie of Kent was neuer vanquished by the Conquerour, but yeelded it selfe by composition: And besides Geruasius Dorobernens. (or Geruis a Monke in Canterbury, who flourished in the raigne of king Henry the first) affirmeth that the fore-ward in all battels belongeth to them (by a certaine prehemi∣nence) in right of their manhood. And it is agreed by all men, that there were neuer any bondmen (or villaines as the law calleth them) in Kent. Neither bee they here so much bounden to the Gentrie by Copyhold, or customarie tenures, as the Inhabitants of the westerne Countries of the Realme be, nor at all indangered by the feeble hold of Tenant Right, (which is but a descent of a tenancie at will) as the Common people in the Northerne parts be: for Copyhold tenure is rare in Kent, and Tenant

Right not heard of at all. But in place of these, the custome of Gauelkinde, (that is, Giue all Kinne) preuailing euery where, in manner euery man is a Free-holder, and hath some part of his owne to liue vpon. And in this their estate, they please themselues, and ioy exceedingly; in so much, as a man may finde sundrie Yeomen (although otherwise for wealth comparable with many of the gentile sort) that will not yet for all that change their condition, nor desire to be apparrelled with the titles of Gentrie.

Neither is this any cause of disdaine, or of alienation of the good minds of the one sort from the other. For no where else in all this Realme, is the common people more willingly gouerned. To be short, they be most com∣monly ciuill, iust, and bountifull: so that the estate of the old Franklyns and Yeomen of England, either yet liueth in Kent, or else it is quite dead and departed out of the Realme for altogether. Thus farre in effect out of Lambard. Briefly, saith Selden, it had the first English King; in it was the first Christianity among the English, and Canterbury then honoured with the Metropolitique See: all which giue note of Honourable Prerogatiue. But I will conclude this commendation of Kent with these verses following, ta∣ken out of the foresaid Author of Polyolbion, in the same Song.

When as the pliant Muse, straight turning her about, And comming to the Land as Medway goeth out, Saluting the deare soyle, O famous Kent, quoth she, What countrey hath this Isle that can compare with thee, Which hast within thy selfe as much as thou canst wish? Thy conies, Venson, Fruit, thy sorts of Fowle and Fish: And what with strength comports, thy hay, thy corne, thy wood: Nor any thing doth want, that any where is good.

Now here, before I take my leaue of this little See of Rochester, it shall not seeme impertinent (I hope) to shew,* 2.167 with what great courage and hap∣pinesse this Church hath euer vpholden her rights and priuiledges, not onely against the Monkes of Canterbury (which laboured much to bring it vnder) but also against the See it selfe of the Archbishops.

* 2.168For example, in the raigne of king Henry the third, and after the death of Benedict (the Bishop of Rochester) the Monkes made choise of one Hen∣ry Sanford (that great wise Clerke, which preached at Sittingbourne, that such a day the soules of king Richard the first,* 2.169 Stephen Langton, Archbi∣shop of Canterbury, and another Priest, were deliuered out of Purgato∣ry, and no more soules that day, but onely they three, as God had reuea∣led it vnto him three seuerall times) whereof when the Monkes of Christ-Church had intelligence, they resisted the election, challenging that the Pastorall staffe or Crosyer of Rochester ought of very right to be brought to their house, after the decease of the Bishop, and that the election ought to be made in their Chapiter. The Monkes of Rochester maintained their owne choise, and so the matter waxing warme betweene them, it was at the length referred to the determination of the Archbishop: he againe posted it ouer to certaine Delegates, who hearing the parties, and weighing the

proofes, gaue sentence with the Monkes of Rochester, and yet lost (as they thought) good loue and amity among them. But (as the Poet saith) Male sarta gratia, nequicquam coit, sed rescinditur: Fauour that is euill peeced, will not ioyne close, but falleth asunder. And therefore this their opinion failed them, and their cure proued but to be patched: for soone after, the sore brake out anew, and the Canterbury Monkes reuiued their displea∣sure with such a heat, that Hubert of Burgh, Earle of Kent, and chiefe Iu∣stice of England, was driuen to come into the Chapter house and coole it, and to worke a second reconciliation betweene them. Neither for all that (as it may seeme) was that flame quite extinguished. For not long after, viz. Ann. 1238. the Monkes of Christ-Church seeing that they them∣selues could not preuaile, intituled their Archbishop Edmund, with whom also the Rochester Monkes waged law at Rome before the holy Father (as touching the election of Richard Wendeouer, whom they would haue had Bishop) by the space of three whole yeares together: and at the length, either through the equitie of the cause, or the weight of their purse (saith my Author) ouerthrew him,* 2.170 vpon Saint Cuthberts day, in ioy whereof, they returned home with all hast, and enacted in their Chapter house, that from thenceforth, for euer, Saint Cuthberts feast (as a Trophey of their vi∣ctory) should be holden double, both in their Church and Kitchin.

And not thus onely, but otherwise also, hath the See at Rochester well holden her owne: for during the whole succession of fourescore Bishops and one (as I haue said before) which in right line haue followed Iustus, she hath continually maintained her chaire at this one place: whereas in most parts of the Realme besides, the Sees of the Bishops haue suffered sundrie translations, by reason that in the Conquerours time, order was taken, that such Bishops, as before had their Churches in countrey Townes and Villa∣ges, should forthwith remoue, and from thenceforth remaine in walled Townes and Cities: which ordinance could not by any meanes touch Ro∣chester, that was a walled Citie long time before king Williams gouern∣ment.

Here endeth the Diocesse of Rochester.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hardin••. ca. 88
• * 1.2

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉.
• * 1.3

  Lamb. peramb.
• * 1.4

  Paulinus Bi∣shop of Roche∣ster, and first of Yorke.
• * 1.5

  Beda. l. 2. c. ••.
• * 1.6

  Mss. in bib. Cot.
• * 1.7

  Bedal 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••.
• * 1.8

  Camd. in Ric••.
• * 1.9

  B••l. l. 2. c. 2
• * 1.10

  Hist. Archiepis. Ebor. in bib. Cot.
• * 1.11

  Ex lib. Anon. in bib Cott.
• * 1.12

  Ithamar Bishop of Rochester.
• * 1.13

  Cap. in vit. S. Ithamari.
• * 1.14

  M. Drai••on▪ Po¦lyol. 24. Song
• * 1.15

  Tobias Bishop of Rochester.
• * 1.16

  Harps. Hi•••• Ec∣cles. Angl octa∣••um Saecul c. ••.
• * 1.17

  Gundulph Bi∣shop of Ro∣chester.
• * 1.18

  Godwin de prae¦••ul. Ang.
• * 1.19

  Bulla Vrbani secundi in bib. ••im D'ewes Equit, aurat.
• * 1.20

  M ss. in bib. Cot.
• * 1.21

  The Hospitall of Chetham.
• * 1.22

  Malling Ab∣bey.
• * 1.23

  Lamb peramb.
• * 1.24

  Gilbert de Glanvill Bishop of Rochester
• * 1.25

  Godwin.
• * 1.26

  The Hospitall in Strowd.
• * 1.27

  Walterus Mer••ton Bishop of Rochester.
• * 1.28

  Sir Hen. Sauill.
• * 1.29

  Haymo s.
• * 1.30

  S. Barthol. Hosp. in Hithe.
• * 1.31

  In bib. Cott.
• * 1.32

  Iohn de Shepey Bishop of Ro∣chester, Lord Treasurer.
• * 1.33

  Io. Lowe Bishop of Rochester.
• * 1.34

  Bale Cent. 4.
• * 1.35

  Godwin.
• * 1.36

  Priory of Ro¦chester.
• * 1.37

  Lib. Rossen. in bib. Cott.
• * 1.38

  Lamb. per amb.
• * 1.39

  S. William of Rochester.
• * 1.40

  Neua Legenda Capgraui••▪
• * 1.41

  Lib. Rossen, in bib. Cot.
• * 1.42

  Io. Beaufits and Isabel his wife.
• * 1.43

  Io. Beaufits and Alice his wife.
• * 1.44

  Rob. Beaufits & Sara his wife.
• * 1.45

  Will. Beaufits
• * 1.46

  Ioane Bamme & Iohn Bamme her sonne.
• * 1.47

  The ••••iery.
• * 1.48

  Com. in ••en••.
• * 1.49

  The Almes∣house o•• Hos∣pitall.
• * 1.50

  Catigern and Horsa.
• * 1.51

  The battell of Ailesford.
• * 1.52

  Horsted.
• * 1.53

  Catigern his se∣pulchre.
• * 1.54

  Ric: Charles & Alice his wife.
• * 1.55

  Will Suayth & Alice his wife.
• * 1.56

  Rob. Watton.
• * 1.57

  Will. Watton, Benet and Alice his wiues.
• * 1.58

  Rob. Watton & Alice his wife.
• * 1.59

  Io. Norwood.
• * 1.60

  The Mannor of Norwood:
• * 1.61

  Io. Constenton and Sara his wife.
• * 1.62

  Otteham Abbey
• * 1.63

  In Archi••is Tur∣ris London.
• * 1.64

  Sixe pence for exceedings vpon S. Lau∣rence day.
• * 1.65

  In Arch. Tur. London.
• * 1.66

  Begham Priory. Ela de Sackvile and Sir Robert Turnham foun∣ders.
• * 1.67

  Rob. Glocest.
• * 1.68

  The death of Sir Robert Turnham.
• * 1.69

  Rob. Glo••.
• * 1.70

  haire.
• * 1.71

  Sir Tho. Sack¦vile knight,
• * 1.72

  In the prero∣gatiue office.
• * 1.73

  Sir Stephen Pensherst knight.
• * 1.74

  Ex Arch. Turr•••• London.
• * 1.75

  Sidney▪
• * 1.76

  ••amd in Ken••.
• * 1.77

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.78

  Sir Philip Sid∣ney knight.
• * 1.79

  The Epitaph for Mons. Bo∣niuet:
• * 1.80

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉.
• * 2.1

  Hugh Lord Staff. and Tho. Bradlaine his Bow-bearer. Camd in Kent.
• * 2.2

  Priory of Tunbridge.
• * 2.3

  Richard de Clare Earle of Gloucester.
• * 2.4

  Lib. Theoles. Mss.
• * 2.5

  Camd. Re∣maines.
• * 2.6

  Hugh de Audley Earle of Glo∣cester, and Margaret his wife.
• * 2.7

  Vincent Disco∣uery of errors.
• * 2.8

  Raph Earle of Stafford, and Margaret his wife.
• * 2.9

  Bagot Baron of Stafford.
• * 2.10

  Vincent. Dis. errours.
• * 2.11

  The foundati∣on of the free-Schoole at Tonbridge.
• * 2.12

  Edward Bour∣chier, vulgo Bowser, and Agnes his wife.
• * 2.13

  Haydok Hay∣mund.
• * 2.14

  Robert Lawe Priest.
• * 2.15

  Tho. Brooke and Clemence his wife.
• * 2.16

  Tho. Gregby.
• * 2.17

  Robert Totle∣herst.
• * 2.18

  Iohn Yardly and Ioane his wife.
• * 2.19

  William Potkin and Alexandra his wife.
• * 2.20

  The foundati∣on of the Schoole and Almeshouse in Sennock. Lamb. Peramb.
• * 2.21

  Tho. Brenten Bishop of Ro∣chester.
• * 2.22

  Godwin. Catalogue of Bis.
• * 2.23

  Sir Bruin knight.
• * 2.24

  C••md. in Essex
• * 2.25

  Stow. Annal.
• * 2.26

  Reg. Stratton Parson.
• * 2.27

  Camd. in Camb
• * 2.28

  Rich. Ieames a Blacksmith.
• * 2.29

  Tho. Gawge.
• * 2.30

  Iames Peckham and Margaret his wife.
• * 2.31

  Reynold Peck∣ham and Ioice his wife
• * 2.32

  Cupbearer. Will. Peckham and Katherine his wife.
• * 2.33

  Tho Peckham and Dorothie his wife.
• * 2.34

  Iames Peckham and Agnes his wife.
• * 2.35

  Martin Peckhā and Margerie his wife.
• * 2.36

  Sir Thomas Willoughby and Bridget his wife
• * 2.37

  Iohn Loft Priest.
• * 2.38

  Io. Alphegh and Isabel his wife.
• * 2.39

  Thinne Collect.
• * 2.40

  Camd. in Lincol. Willoughby Earle of Vandosme.
• * 2.41

  Io. Wood.
• * 2.42

  Edmund Read.
• * 2.43

  S. Katherines Chappell.
• * 2.44

  Sir Ric. Clement knight, and Anne his wife.
• * 2.45

  Ric. Astall.
• * 2.46

  Hawte:
• * 2.47

  Glouer. Somerset.
• * 2.48

  Ioane Lady Cobham.
• * 2.49

  Margery Lady Cobham.
• * 2.50

  Lib 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in hil. Cot.
• * 2.51

  Henry Lord Cobham.
• * 2.52

  Margaret Lady Cobham.
• * 2.53

  Ioane Lady Cobham.
• * 2.54

  Tho. Lord Cob∣ham and Maud his wife.
• * 2.55

  Iohn Lord Cobham.
• * 2.56

  Cobham Col∣ledge.
• * 2.57

  Sir Iohn Old∣castle knight Lord Cobham.
• * 2.58

  Ioane Baronesse Cobham.
• * 2.59

  Sir Reignold Braybroke knight, Lord Cobham.
• * 2.60

  Reignold and Robert Braybroke
• * 2.61

  Lamb. p••ramb
• * 2.62

  Nicholas Haw∣berke Lord Cobham.
• * 2.63

  Io. Broke Lord Cobham, and Lady Margaret his wife.
• * 2.64

  Tho. Lord Cob∣ham, and his three wiues.
• * 2.65

  Raph Cobham.
• * 2.66

  Io. Terrye.
• * 2.67

  Io Clauering:
• * 2.68

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉.
• * 2.69

  in bib. Cot.
• * 2.70

  Henry Lord Cobham prime Iustice of Eng∣land. Stephen de Pen∣chester, or Pe••shu••st Lord Warden. Ioane & Alice his daughters and heires. Ioane ma••ned to the said H. Lord Cobham. Alice to Philip de Columbars.
• * 2.71

  Io. Smith and Margery his wife.
• * 2.72

  Tho. Sharpe.
• * 2.73

  The Nunnery at Heigham.
• * 2.74

  Robert Ereby Ioane and Ioane his wiues.
• * 2.75

  Tho. Ereby and ••sode his wife.
• * 2.76

  Almeshouse.
• * 2.77

  Tho. Buckland.
• * 2.78

  Alice Walleys.
• * 2.79

  Ric Downe and Margery his wife.
• * 2.80

  Io. Bederenden.
• * 2.81

  Tho. Petle and Isabell his wife. In a window.
• * 2.82

  Iohn Donat and Alice his wife.
• * 2.83

  Eckisford.
• * 2.84

  William Alisan∣der.
• * 2.85

  Io. Pole.
• * 2.86

  Palme.
• * 2.87

  Hic. Da•••• ma∣ster of the Iew∣ell house.
• * 2.88

  Maryd Davy.
• * 2.89

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 2.90

  William Rikell and Katherine his wife.
• * 2.91

  S••ow. Annal.
• * 2.92

  Sir Peter Lacy Priest.
• * 2.93

  Tho. Brendon and Ioane his wife.
• * 2.94

  Rich. Hunt and Ioane his wife.
• * 2.95

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Hesilt, Ba∣ron of the Ex∣chequer and Agnes his wife.
• * 2.96

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Martyn & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his wife.
• * 2.97

  S. Hildeferths.
• * 2.98

  Nicholas Bone∣uant and Agnes his wife. Reignold Tho∣mas.
• * 2.99

  Ric. Bon••uant.
• * 2.100

  Io. Sorewell Priest.
• * 2.101

  Sir Iohn Lum∣bard Priest.
• * 2.102

  Maud Laken and Ioane her daughter.
• * 2.103

  Sir Io. Dew Priest.
• * 2.104

  Roger Payname.
• * 2.105

  Will▪ Banknot & Anne his wife.
• * 2.106

  Sir Io. Wilshyre knight, and Margaret his wife.
• * 2.107

  Stow. Annal.
• * 2.108

  Sir Ric Wing∣seeld knight of the Garter, & Bridget his wife.
• * 2.109

  Io Hornley.
• * 2.110

  Katherine Burl∣ton, and Richard her husband.
• * 2.111

  The Priory of Dartford.
• * 2.112

  Burials in this Prio••y.
• * 2.113

  The birth and death of Brid∣get Plantagine••.
• * 2.114

  Rob. Woodford & Ioane his wife.
• * 2.115

  Ro. Apleton and Agnes his wife.
• * 2.116

  Elisabeth Coū∣tesse of Shrewsbury.
• * 2.117

  Iohn dyed in his infancy.
• * 2.118

  Sir Ric. Walden knight, and Dame Margery his wife.
• * 2.119

  Richard Walde.
• * 2.120

  Allin Atticor.
• * 2.121

  Sir Io. Stone Priest.
• * 2.122

  Iohn Crioll.
• * 2.123

  Roger Sentcler.
• * 2.124

  Mathew Paris.
• * 2.125

  Ric. de Lucie the founder.
• * 2.126

  R••g Heu••den. An. 1179.
• * 2.127

  Ex vet. Mss. in ••o Cot.
• * 2.128

  Godfrey Lucy Bishop of Win∣chester.
• * 2.129

  Io. Colin and Maud his wife.
• * 2.130

  Sir William Pr••ne Priest▪
• * 2.131

  Inser. vpon the great Bell.
• * 2.132

  Margery Roper.
• * 2.133

  Iohn Morton.
• * 2.134

  Tho. Pierle.
• * 2.135

  Foundation of Peckham Schoole.
• * 2.136

  Richard B••shop of Rochester.
• * 2.137

  Walter Hench Parson.
• * 2.138

  George Hatte∣liffe.
• * 2.139

  The Priory of Lewsham.
• * 2.140

  Priors Aliens.
• * 2.141

  Their goods and lands consiscate. King Edward surnamed Long∣shanks did the like, An. Reg. ••3. vpon the like occasion.
• * 2.142

  Restitution of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Aliens.
• * 2.143

  St••w Annal.
• * 2.144

  The finall dis∣solu•••••••• of P••••∣ories Aliens
• * 2.145

  Aelphege Arch∣bishop of Can∣terbury.
• * 2.146

  Ca••graut in vita Elphege. Ditma••. Mar•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 2.147

  The Friery a•• Greenwich.
• * 2.148

  Lamb. peramb.
• * 2.149

  The Priory.
• * 2.150

  Weeuer and Ioane his wi••e.
• * 2.151

  The Popes Bul to the Staple Merchants, for a portable Al∣t••r and a Masse-priest.
• * 2.152

  Their Priest & Confessour.
• * 2.153

  The forme of an Absolution.
• * 2.154

  The definition of a Merchant
• * 2.155

  What Pedlers are.
• * 2.156

  Staple whar.
• * 2.157

  Burialls at Otford.
• * 2.158

  Alrick king of Kent.
• * 2.159

  Bartilmew the Saint at Ot∣f••rd and his offering.
• * 2.160

  A part of Saint Tho Beckets 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 2.161

  Burials in Holmes Dal••
• * 2.162

  M. Drayton. Polyol. Song 18.
• * 2.163

  Io. Sari••••••r. de Nugis Curial. li. 6 ca 18.
• * 2.164

  Camd. in Kent.
• * 2.165

  The Gentrie of Kent.
• * 2.166

  The Yeomanry of Kent.
• * 2.167

  The conclu∣sion of this Diocesse.
• * 2.168

  Lamb.
• * 2.169

  Godwin.
• * 2.170

  Lamb.