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.

Saint Botolphs Bishopsgate.

Hic iacet Cardina vxor Richardi Shoder militis,* 1.1 & Iohanna filia eorun∣dem ...... 14. April, 1471.

Sub hoc marmore iacet corpus Iohannis Redman,* 1.2 quondam huius Ecclesie Rectoris benemerentissimi, qui ab hac luce migrauit, tertio die Iulij, Ann. Dom. 1523.

Neare to this gate (if wee giue credit to our owne ancient Chronicles) Nennius the sonne of Hely,* 1.3 and brother of Lud and Cassibelane, kings ouer

the warlike Britaines, was interred. A man of a magnanimous spirit, heroi∣call, and valiant. Who in the warres betweene Iulius Cesar and the Bri∣taines, sought couragiously in defence of his countrey, causing Cesar to flie backe with the losse of his sword, which Nennius tooke from him in sin∣gle encounter,* 1.4 and with which he slew Labienus Tribune of the Romane Nobilitie. But the fifteenth day after this single opposition, hee died of a wound receiued at the hands of Cesar in the same conflict: the yeare of the worlds creation, 3913. before the birth of our alone Sauiour, 51. And here (as I haue said) was entombed with all funerall state and solemnitie: and with him the sword which he tooke from Cesar the Emperour, as he him∣selfe commanded. Which sword was called Reddeath, or rather Readie-death; wherewith if any one had beene neuer so little wounded,* 1.5 he could neuer escape with life. Which you shall haue in such old verse as came to my hands.

* 1.6At the north yate of London hii buriede this gud knyght, And buriede in hys chest, the swerd that was so bryght, That he wan of the Emperor wythe grete honor enough, That Reddedeth was ycluped, whar with he hym slough, I buriede wyth hym hit was, as in tokneyinge Of hys Proesse, that he hit wan of on, so heigh a kyng.

I haue some other of the same subiect, but of later times, if you will reade them.

But Neminus brother of Cassybalayne * 1.7Full manly fought on Iulius tymes twayne. With strokes sore, ayther on other bette, But at the last this Prince syr Iulius, Crosea mors his swerde in shelde sette, Of the manly worthy Sir Neminus, Whiche of manly force and myght vigorous, The swerde he brought away oute of the felde, As Iulius it set faste in his shelde. Through whiche stroke, Sir Neminus then died, And buried was at the North gate certayne, Of London then, where now is edified London Citee, royall of all Britayne. Thus this worthy knyght in his graue befayne, Crosea mors his swerde layd by his syde, Whiche he brought from Iulius that tyde.

* 1.8By the testimonie of Iohn Bale, this his manly prowesse was embellisht, and adorned with all good literature, who affirmeth that he writ an excel∣lent Historie of the originall, pedigree, and progresse of his owne Nation.

* 1.9Of yowr cherite sey a Pater Noster and an Ave, For the soul of William Pratte somtym of Pekerle. On whos soul Iesu haue mercy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cardina Shoder and Ioan her daughter.
• * 1.2

  Io. Redman Rector.
• * 1.3

  Nennius Helius Duke of Loe∣gria.
• * 1.4

  ••lores Hist. aetal. s. ca. 26.
• * 1.5

  Cui nomen erat Cr••••••a Mors, quia null••s ab eo vulneratus vinus e••adeba••. Id. eod.
• * 1.6

  Rob. Glocest.
• * 1.7

  Io. Harding, c 44
• * 1.8

  Bale C••nt prima
• * 1.9

  Will. Pratt