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.

Lesnes Abbey.

* 1.1In 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,* 1.2 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,* 1.3 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.

* 1.4Rapitur 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,* 1.5 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.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mathew Paris.
• * 1.2

  Ric. de Lucie the founder.
• * 1.3

  R••g Heu••den. An. 1179.
• * 1.4

  Ex vet. Mss. in ••o Cot.
• * 1.5

  Godfrey Lucy Bishop of Win∣chester.