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 Stephens Chappell.

This was a religious Structure, first begun by King Stephen,* 1.1 and after∣wards finished, and her reuenewes greatly augmented by King Edward the third; in which he placed a Deane, twelue Canons secular, as many Vicars, and other Ministers, who had their lodgings in Canon Row, now the ha∣bitations of diuers Noblemen and Gentlemen. These are the words of King Edwards Grant.

In dei nomine Amen.* 1.2 Edwardus dei gratia, &c. Salutem. Capellam quan∣dam speciosam in Palatio nostro apud Westmonasterium situatam, in honorem beati Stephani Prothomartyris, per progenitores nostros nobiliter inchoatam, nostris sumptibus regijs fecimus consummari; in qua ad honorem omnipoten∣tis dei, et specialiter beatissime Genetricis eius Marie, et dicti Martyris, ordi∣namus, volumus, constituimus, et aucthoritate nostra regia perpeiou stabili∣mus, Quod sint exeuntes Decanus vnus, et duodecim canonici seculares, cum tuum, Hospitium nostrum magnum in strata de Lumbard-street ciuitatis no∣stre London situatum, vna cum Patronatibus et aduocationibus Ecclesia∣rum Perochialium de Dewesburie et Wakefeeld. Ebor. Dioces. assignamus donemus, &c. Teste meipso, apud VVestmonaster. sexto die Augusti An. Reg∣ni nostri vicesimo secundo. Regni vero nostri Francie nono.

The reuenewes wherewith King Edward endowed this couent, amoun∣ted to the value of fiue hundred pounds by yeare; and at the suppression, the whole foundation was rated to be yeerely worth, (as I haue it in the ca∣talogue of Religious houses,) one thousand, fourescore, and fiue pound ten shillings, fiue pence. This Chappell serueth now for the lower house of Par∣liament.

Westminster Abbey.

* 1.3CAmden out of Sulcardus reporteth, that here sometime stood an I∣doll Temple, dedicated to Apollo; ouerthrowne by an earthquake, about the yeare of grace, 153. Of the ruines of which, Sebert, King of the East Saxons, erected another Temple for the seruice of the liuing God, and consecrated the same to Saint Peter, about the yeare 610. neere about the time of the building of Paules, Mellitus as then being Bishop of London, and Austin of Canterbury, which agrees with these words in the charter of Edward the Confessor.

* 1.4Basilica sancti Petri VVestmon. edificata fuit antiquitus sub Mellito Lon∣donie primo Episcopo socio et contemporaneo Sancti Augustini primi Cantu∣ar. Archiepiscopi; et per ipsum beatum Petrum Angelico famulante seruicio, sancte crucis impressione et sacre Trinitatis perunctione dedicata: to which effect will it please you peruse these verses following.

King Ethelbert, Sainct Poules edefied: * 1.5And King Sebert Westminster founded: Mellito theim both halowed and blessified, Austin then, made Clerke full well grounded.

Afterwards this Church being destroyed by the Danes; Dunstan Bishop of London, reedified it about the yeare of Christ, 960. and made here a monastery for twelue Monkes. After him Edward the confessor with the tenth penny of all his reuenewes, built it new for to be his owne Sepulture: and a Monastery for Benedictin Monkes, endowing it with liuings and ••ands, lying disperst in diuers parts of England. But, after an hundred and threescore yeeres, King Henry the third subuerted this Fabricke of King Edwards, and built from the very Foundation, a new Church of very faire workemanship, supported with sundry rowes of Pillars.

* 1.6The new erke atte UUestmynster the Kyng tho gauune anon, Aftur his coronyng and leyd the ferst ston.

which the Abbots enlarged very much toward the west end: and King Henry the seauenth for the buriall onely of himselfe, his children, and their posterity, adioyned thereunto a Chappell, which in regard of the beauty, and curious contriued worke thereof, is called of Leland, Orbis miraculum, the wonder of the world. The first stone of this admirable Structure, con∣secrated to the honour of the blessed Virgine, was laid by the hands of Iohn Islip Abbot of this monastery, Sir Reginald Bray, Knight of the Garter, and others, in the 18 yeare of his raigne, the 24 day of Ianuary, vpon which stone this Inscription was engrauen.

Illustrissimus Henricus Septimus Rex Anglie et Francie, et Dominus Hi∣bernie, posuit hanc Petram in honore beate virginis Marie xxiiij. die Ian••a∣arij, anno Domini M.ccccc 11: et anno dicti Regis Henrici septimi decimo octauo.

Harpsfeeld,* 1.7 sometime Archdeacon of Canterbury, writing of the Anti∣quitie and famous renowne of this Monastery, hath these words.

Vt Albanense, propter protomartyris nostri Albani nobile eo loci mar∣tyrium, sacrasque etiam ibi reconditas reliquias, coenobium reliquorum sem∣per princeps habitum est, ita posterioribus seculis Westmonasteriense, post il∣lud maxime eminebat.

It is likewise of especiall note and reuerend regard, by reason of the con∣secration, the inauguration, and vnction of our kings of England; of which two riming Hexameters are wrought in the cloth of Arras, which adorne the Quire.

Hanc Regum sedem sibi Petrus consecrat Edem; Quam tu Papa regis, insignit & vnctio Regis.

This Church is also greatly honoured by the glorious Monuments of kings, Queenes, grand Peeres, and others of eminent place and qualitie here interred. And first of all,

Sebert the first founder;* 1.8 the sonne of Sledda, and Queene Ricula, the si∣ster of Ethelbert, king of Kent, with his wife Ethelgoda lie here entombed; who died the last day of Iuly, Ann. Dom. 616. hauing raigned 13. yeares. Som 692. yeares after their bodies were translated from their first place of buriall to the South side of the Communion Table, where they rest within a Tombe of lead, with this Epitaph.

Labilitas, breuitas mundane prosperitatis Celica premia, gloria, gaudia danda beatis Sebertum certum iure dedere satis. Hic Rex Christicola ver••x fuit hac regione, Qui nunc celicola gaudet mercede corone. Rex humilis, docilis, scius, & pius, inclytus iste Sollicite, nitide, tacite, placide, bone christe Vult servire tibi perficiendo sibi. Ornat mores, spernit flores lucis auare, Gliscens multum, christi cultum letificare. Ecclesiam nimiam nimio studio fabricauit. Hec illesa manus que fundamenta locauit; Hic septingentis annisterra cumulatus, Christi clementis instinctibus inde leuatus. Isto sub lapide nunc iacet ipse, vide. Atque domum Christo quia mundo fecit in isto, Nunc pro mercede celi requiescit in ede. Respice mortalis, promissio sit tibi talis. Accipies si des, nil capies nisi des. Es Christo qualis, Christus erit tibi talis, Dapsilis esto sibi, largus eritque tibi. Effectus non affectus si reddere possis, Debet censeri; si nihil reddere possis, Tunc bonus affectus pro facto debet haberi. Sicut de lignis per aquam depellitur ignis.

Sic malo commissa fiunt donando remissa. Reddet ad vsuram quod quis dat nomine Christi, Nam vitam puram pro parvo dat Deus isti.

His wife Aethelgoda died the 13. of September, Ann. Dom. 615:

Vpon the wall by this Tombe, the image of Saint Peter is depicted, spea∣king to king Sebert in these verses.

Hic Rex Seberte pausas, mihi condita per te Hec loca lustraui, demum lustrando dicaui.

* 1.9Here lieth honourably interred in a marble Tombe, checquered with variety of stones, of beautifull colours; the body of Edward king of Eng¦land, who for his singular pietie was numbred among the Confessors; a principall Founder of this Church. Thus commended by a late writer.

* 1.10Religious, chast, wise, fortunate, stout, franke, and milde was hee, And from all taxes, wrongs, and foes, did set his kingdome free.

His Epitaph here inscribed consists of these three Hexameters.

Omnibus insignis virtutum landibus Heros, Sanctus Edwardus Confessor, Rex venerandus; Quinto die Iani moriens super Ethera scandit. Sursum corda. Moritur Ann. Dom. 1065.

Serlo of Paris hath another Epitaph to his memory in these words.

* 1.11Edwardus probitate potens, pietate verendus, Seque suosque regens rexerat egregius. Formosam faciem procerum corpus habebat, Leticiam vultus moribus exuperans. Hic bello, sic pace suos exterruit hostes Presumpsit pacem rumpere nemo suam. Quinque dies anui reserebat ianua Iani, Cum Rex egrediens carnea templa finit.

My old Author Robert of Glocester goes more punctually to the period of his life, the yeares, moneths, weekes, and dayes of his raigne, and time of his buriall.

When Seynt Edward hadde thus told, he ganne to clos hys eyghe The iiii dey of Ianuar then gan he deye, In the yer of owr Lord M.lxvi. ryght Aftur that owr swete Lord in hys moder alyght, Kyng he was xxiiii yer, and ii monyethes therto, And three wekes, and vi deyes, ••r his lyf was ido. Al the Franchyse of Engelond, and al the ioy and blis, Wyth hym faste i beryd was thulke tym I wis; And that men fonde sone aftyrward wyth meny delful cas. Atte Westmynster a twelfth dey this Godeman beryed was.

* 1.12He was for his simplenesse (saith the same Author) i callyd Edward Simple, yet sothe our Lord noryshede hys symplenes, and yaf hym

grete grase that men shold be adradde of hym that courhe natte be wrothe, and though men trowed hym to be slow and sim••le, he hadde such subiects vndyr hym that atte his hes•• dauntyd his ene∣myes as Syward Erle of Northumbyrlonde, and Leofricus Erle of Hereforde, that defendyd the kyng euer mor wyth ther manhode, and fauor ayenst the mantenors of Duc Godwy••••e. Questionle••••••, for sanctitie of life and sweete conuersation, he did farre excell all other Princes; and kings of that disposition are for the most part too soft and pii∣ant (an imperfection in supreme authoritie) to command the turbulent spi∣rits of an vnsetled kingdome; and their vnderstanding too shallow to d••ue into the depth of their enemies designes.

This Edward was the seuenth sonne of King Etheldred, by Emma his second wife, daughter of Richard the second, Duke of Normandy; he was borne at Islip in the County of Oxford;* 1.13 he was about fourty yeares of age when he was enthroned in the seat Imperiall. He was the first king of Eng¦land that healed the disease, since called the kings Euill.

His wife Editha lieth buried at the North si••e of his Tombe,* 1.14 who was the daughter of Godwin, that treacherous Earle of Kent; a virgine most chast, whose breast was a schoolehouse of all liberall sciences, milde, mo∣dest, faithfull, innocent, and vnfainedly holy, no way sauouring of her fa∣thers barbarousnesse, being neuer hurtfull to any. Whereupon this verse was applied vnto her, and her father.

Sicut Spina Rosam genuit Godwinus Editham: From pricked stalke as sweetest Rose, So Edith faire from Godwin growes.

Of which another writeth thus.

Godwyne Erle a dawghtyr he hadde,* 1.15 that was of grete fame And of clene lyf also, Edithe was her name. And as the Roos of a brere spryngeth that kene is, Also sprunge this holy mayd of liche kynd I wis.

She died in December, 1074. in the eight yeare of her widowhood, and in the eight yeare of the Conquerours raigne. Professing vpon her death∣bed, that notwithstanding she had beene king Edwards wife the space of eighteene yeares, yet she died a pure Virgine. For this, king Edward (not without reason) is taxed, in that he vnder a godly pretext of Religion, and vowed virginitie, cast off all care of hauing issue, and exposed the kingdome to the prey of ambitious humours. Yet some, that would excuse him in this, affirme, that this holy king was not willing to beget any heires, that should succeed him out of a treacherous race.

Here lieth,* 1.16 without any Tombe, Maude, daughter to Malcolm Camoir, king of Scots, and wife to king Henry the first; who brought vnto him children, William, Richard, and Mary, which perished by shipwracke, and Maud Empresse, who was wise to Henry the fift Emperour. She died the first day of May: Maij prima dies nostrorum nocte dierum, raptam perpetua fecit inesse die,* 1.17 1118. She had an excellent Epigram made to her commen∣dation whereof these foure verses onely remaine.

Prospera non laetam fecere, nec aspera tristem, Aspera risus erant, prospera terror erant. Non decor effecit fragilem, non sceptra superbam; Sola potens humilis, sola pudica decens.

Thus paraphrastically translated.

No prosperous state did make her glad; Nor aduerse chances made her sad. If Fortune frown'd she then did smile, If Fortune smil'd, she fear'd the while. If Beauty tempted, she said nay; No pride she tooke in Scepters sway. She onely high her selfe debast; A Lady onely faire and chast.

She went euery day in the Lent time to this Church bare-foot, and bare-legd, wearing a garment of haire; she would wash and kisse the feet of the poorest people, and giue them bountifull Almes. For which being repre∣hended by a Courtier, shee gaue him a short answer, which I haue out of Robert of Glocester.

* 1.18Madame for Goddes love is this wel i doo To handle sich vnclene ••ymmes, and to kisse so Foule wolde the kyng thynk if that hit he wiste, And ryght wel abyse hym er he your mouth kiste, * 1.19Sur sur qd the Quene be stille why sayste thow so Owr Lord hymself ensample yaf so for to do.

She founded (as I haue said before) the Priory of Christ-church within Aldgate, and the Hospitall of S. Giles in the Fields. She builded the Bridges ouer the Riuer of Lea at Stratford Bow, and ouer the little Brooke called Chanelsebridge; shee gaue much likewise to the repairing of high-wayes. But I will take my leaue of her with these words of Paris:* 1.20 Obijt eodem anno Matildis Regina Anglorum cuius corpus apud Westmonasterium quietem se∣pulturae accepit, & anima eius se coelum possidere evidentibus signis et mira∣culis crebris ostendit.

* 1.21Here lieth vnder a rich Monument of Porphery, adorned with precious stones, the body of Henry the third, king of England. In the fifth yeare of whose raigne, and the Saturday next before his second time of Coronation, the New worke (the old being ruinous and pulled downe) of this Church of Westminster,* 1.22 was begun. To which sacred Edifice this king was a per∣swader: he was the Founder, and laid the first stone in the ground-worke of the building.

* 1.23The Newerke atte Westmynstre ye kyng tho ganne anone, Aftyr hys coronyng and leyde the fyrst stone.

As if he meant the world should know, his intention was to consecrate his future actions to the glory of God. He gaue to this Church royall gifts of Copes, Iewels, and rich vessels: and for the holy Reliques of Edward the

Confessor, he caused a coffin to be made of pure gold and pretious stones, and so artificially by the most cunning Goldsmiths that could be gotten; that although the matter it was made of, was of an inestimable valew, ta∣men Materiam superabat opus, yet the workmanship excelled the matter, saith Mathew Paris. A Prince he was, as our histories affirme, of greater deuotion then discretion, in permitting the depredation of himselfe and his subiects by papall ouerswayings. This King (saith Robert of Glocester) as in worldlich doyng was not hald ful wyse, but mor deuout to spiritual things; he was euery dey woned to here thre Masses by note. Quante innocentie, quante patientie, quanteque deuotionis, et quanti meriti in vita sua erat apud Deum, testantur post ipsius mortem miracula subsecuta: Of how much integrity, of how much patience, of how much deuotion, and of how much merite he was in his life time before God, the miracles which followed after his death, doe testifie, saith the compendi∣ous chronicle of Canterbury.

He died the 16 of Nouember 1273. when he liued sixty fiue yeares,* 1.24 and raigned fiftie sixe yeares, and eighteene daies, this Epitaph following is an∣nexed to his Tombe.

Tertius Henricus iacet hic pietatis amicus Ecclesiam strauit istam, quam post renouauit Reddet ei munus qui regnat trinus et vnus:

Tertius Henricus est Templi conditor huius. Dulce bellum inexpertis.

Which is thus Englished by Robert Fabian. The frende of pyte, and of almesse dede, Henry the thyrde whylome of Englande Kyng, Who thys Church brake, and after hys mede Agayn renewed into this fayre buylding, Now resteth in here, whiche did so great a thinge▪ He yelde his mede, that Lord in Deyite; That as one God reygneth in persones thre.

Henry the thyrde is the buylder of thys Temple. War is pleasant to those that haue not tryed it.

In the additions to Robert of Glocester, a Manuscript in the Heralds Of∣fice, these rimes are written to his remembrance.

Aftur hym regnyd the thurd Harry, A good man and eke an hely In hys tym werrys were full strong, And eke mickle stryf in Englond. The Batayl of Lewys was than, And alsoo the Batayl of Euesham.

And that tym alsoo ther was The Translacyon of Sent Thomas. In hys tym as I vndyrstond Come Freres Menores into thys lond. He regnyd Kyng lvi. yere, And to Westmynstre men hym bere.

* 1.25At the head of the foresaid King Henry, his sonne Edward, surnamed Long-Shanks, lieth entombed; King of England, the first of that Christian name since the Conquest: and as he was the first of his name, so was he the first that setled the law and state,* 1.26 deseruing the stile of Englands Iustinian, and freed this kingdome from the wardship of the Peeres; shewing him∣selfe in all his actions after, capable to command not the Realme onely, but the whole world.

At the time of his Fathers death, he was abroad in Palestine, pursuing his high desires for the Holy Warres, and after sixe yeares, from his first setting out, he returnes into England, receiues the Crowne (without which he had beene a King almost three yeares) at the hands of Robert, Arch∣bishop of Canterbury; and with him is Eleanor his vertuous Queene, like∣wise crowned at Westminster. To the which their magnificent pompous Coronations, the presence of Alexander, King of Scotland, (who had married Margaret his eldest sister) was required, as appeares by this Re∣cord following.

* 1.27Rex dilectis et fidelibus suis Iohanni Louetot et Galfrido de Newbald Cu∣stodibus Episcopatus Deunelm. Salutem. Mandamus vobis quod de primis denarijs prouenientibus de exitibus Episcopatus predicti, habere faciatis Alex∣andro Regi Scotie centum sexaginta et quindecim libras pro expensis suis per quinque Septimanas. viz. singulis diebus centum solidos in veniendo ad nos vsque Westmonaster. ad mandatum nostrum, et inde ad partes suas redeun∣do. Et nosea vobis ad Scaccarium nostrum saciemus allocari. Teste meipso a∣pud Windesore 26 die Augusti. Anno Regni nostri 2. Claus. An. 2. Ed 1. Memb. 44.

* 1.28The said King Alexander comes accordingly to his Brothers Coronati∣on (which was in September 1275) guarded with a goodly troupe of Knights and Gentlemen; at which solemnity also were present, Iohn, Duke of Britaine, who had married Beatrice his second sister; Eleanor his mother, with multitudes of Peeres and others: and for the more royall celebration of this great Feast, and honour of so martiall a King, there were fiue hun∣dreth great horses let loose, euery one to take them for his owne, who could. Of which, out of an old oreworne Manuscript, a piece as follow∣eth.

King Edward was coronyd and anoyntyd as ryghte heyre of Engelond, withe moche honor and worsschyp. And aftur Masse, the Kyng went to hys Paleys for to holde a ryall feste, amonges them that hym had doon seruyse and worsschyp. And whanne he was set at hys mete, Kyng Alexandre of Scotland come to doo hym seruyse and worsschyp wyth a queyntyse, and an hondryd knyghtes with hym, horsed and arayd. And whanne they weren

lyght of theyr horse, they let theyr horse goon whether they wolde, and they that wolde take them, hadde them to their owne behofe, wythoute any chalange. And aftyr that come Syr Edmond King Edwardes Broder, a curtayse Knyght and a gentyll of ren••on, and the Erle of Cornwayle, and the Erle of Glowcesire. And aftyr theym come the Erle of Penbroke, and the Erle of Warren, and eche of them ledde on theyr hondes be them selfe an hordryd knights, disgyse in their armes. And whan they weren alyght of their horse, they lete them goo whedyr they wolde, and they that cowde them take, hadde them stylle at theyr owne lyking. And whanne all this was doon, Kyng Edward dyd hys dyligens and hys myght to amende the Relme, and redresse the wronges in the best maner, to the honor of God, and profyte to the crowne, and to holy cherche, and to amende the anoyance of the comon peple. The worthiest knyght he was of alle the world of honor and worsschyp, for the grace of God was in hym, and euer hadde the vyctory of hys enemyes.

Expugnauit Saracenos,* 1.29 Francos, Scotos, Wallenses et perfidos christianos; et quicquid regale glorie et honori tam in actibus quam in moribus competit in ipso potuit reperiri. He vanquished the Sarasines, the French, the Scots, the Welsh, and perfidious Christians, and whatsoeuer appertained to Re∣gall glory and honour, as well in actions as in condition, state, and prince∣ly deportment, was in him to be found.

Dum vi••it Rex, et valuit sua magna potestas, Fraus latuit, pax magna fuit, regnauit honestas.

Saith an old Latin Rimer of this King; which is thus translated into the like English.

While lyued thys Kynge, By hys powre all thynge Was in good plyghte* 1.30 For gyle was hydde, Great peace was * 1.31 kydde And honeste had myghte.

Scotos Edward dum vixit suppeditauit Tenuit, afflixit, depressit, dilaniauit. Whilst Edward liu'd, the Scots he still kept vnder, Bridled, deprest, debased, rent asunder.

Yet here giue me leaue to tell my Reader, (maugre this our English Ri∣mer) that the valiant Scots did not alwaies suffer King Edward to scape scotfree; for hee laying siege to the strong Towne of Berwicke, they defended it manfully, bet the English men backe, and burnt some of the English Ships; vpon which their fortunate enterprise in derision of our King, they made this mockish rime doggerell.

* 1.32Wenyth kyng Edward with the long shankys, To haue goten Berwyk all oure vnthankys. Goos Pyke hym And aftyr that Gas dyke him.

This scornefull dittie came no sooner to king Edwards eares, then that through his mighty strength, he passed dikes, assailed the Towne, and wan it with the death of fifteene thousand Scots,* 1.33 (our writers report more; but nothing is more vncertaine, then the number of the slaine in battaile) and after that the Castles of Dunbarre, Roxborough, Edenborough, Sterling, and Saint Iohns Towne, wonne or yeelded vnto him; vpon the winning of the Castle of Dunbarre,* 1.34 by a fierce and cruell battaile; some Ballad maker or other in the Armie, made these meeters in reproach of the Scots.

These scaterynge Scottes We holde for sottes Of wrenkes vnware Erly in a morwenynge In an euyll tymynge Went they from Dunbarre.

* 1.35Another bloudy battaile he had with the Scots at Foukirke, wherein are reported to be slaine, two hundred knights, and forty thousand foote of the Scots. Some haue threescore and ten thousand, some threescore thousand, the scottish footmen valorously fighting, as it were to the last man. Vpon these victories, king Edward endeauours to extinguish, if it were possible, the very memory of the Nation: abolishing all their ancient lawes; tradu∣cing their Ecclesiasticall rites, to the custome of England: dispoiling them of their Histories; their instruments of State: their antique monuments, left either by the Romanes, or erected by themselues, transporting all their Bookes and Bookemen into England. Sending to Westminster the marble stone, wherein (as the vulgar were perswaded) the Fate of the kingdome consisted, of which will you please to take this Stanza out of Harding▪

* 1.36And as he came homewarde by Skone awaye, The Regall thereof Scotlande then he brought, And sent it forth to Westmynster for aye To be there in a cheire clenely wrought For a masse preast to sytte in when he ought▪ Whiche there was standyng besyde the shryne, In a cheire of olde time made full fyne.

A litle more of this marble stone out of Robert of Glocester.

—Scottes yc••upyd wer Aftur a woman that Scote hyghte, the dawter of Pharaon. Yat broghte into Scotlond a whyte marble ston,

Yat was ordeyned for hure kyng, whan he coroned wer. And for a grete Iewyll long hit was yholde ther, Kyng Edward wyth the lang Shankes fro Scotland hit fette Besyde the Shryne of Seynt Edward at Westminstre 〈◊〉〈◊〉 h••••te s••tte.

Vpon the Chaire wherein the stone is inclosed, this famous propheticall Distichon is inscribed.

Ni fallat vatum Scoti hunc quocunque locatum Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem. If Fates goe right where ere this stone is pight, The Regall race of Scots shall rule that place.

Which, by whomsoeuer it was written, we, who now liue, finde it happily accomplished.

Of the worthinesse of this our matchlesse King, will it please you heare a little from a late Writer, namely, M. Drayton, in the seuenteenth Song of Polyolbion.

* 1.37 This long-liu'd Prince expyr'd: the next succeeded; he Of vs, that for a God might well related be. Our Longshanks, Scotlands scourge, who to the Orcads taught His Scepter, and with him from wilde Albania brought, The reliques of her Crowne (by him first placed here) * 1.38 The seate on which her Kings inaugurated were. He tam'd the desperate Welsh, that out so long had stood, And made them take a Prince sprong of the English blood. This Isle from Sea to Sea, he generally controld, And made the other parts of England both to hold.

The learned Antiquarie and Lawyer, Iohn Selden, in his Illustrations vpon the said Song, giues vs this Glosse following vpon the Verse.

The seate on which our Kings inaugurated were.

This seate (saith he) is the Chaire and Stone at Westminster, whereon our Soueraignes are inaugurated. The Scottish Stories affirme, that the Stone was first in Gallicia of Spaine at Brigantia (whether that be Compo∣stella, as Francis Tarapha wills, or Coronna, as Florian del Campo conie∣ctures, or Betansos according to Mariana, I cannot determine) where Gathel, king of Scots there, sate on it as his Throne. Thence was it brought into Ireland by Simon Brech, first king of Scots, transplanted into that Isle, about seuen hundred yeares before Christ. Out of Ireland, King Ferguze (in him by some is the beginning of the now continuing Scottish raigne) about three hundred and seuenty yeares afterward brought it into Scotland. King Kenneth some eight hundred and fifty of the Incarnation, placed it at the Abbey of Scone (in the Shrifdome of Perth) where the Coronation of his Successours was vsuall, as of our Monarchs now at Westminster; and in the Saxon times at Kingston vpon Thames. This Kenneth, some say, caused the Distich.* 1.39 Ni fallat vatum, as before, to be engrauen vpon it. Whereupon it is called Fatale Marmor in Hector Boetius, and inclosed it in a wodden

Chaire. It is now at Westminster, and on it are the Coronations of our Soueraignes: Thither first brought (as the Author here speakes) among other spoiles, by Edward Longshanks, after his warres and victories against King Iohn Balliol, Ann. 1297. Reg. Regis Ed. 1.24. Thus much of this po∣tent king out of Polyolbion.

But to returne, these high spirited Scots (then which no people in the world are more valiant) not minding to endure the tyranny of King Ed∣ward, entred into England at seuerall times; and in Northumberland and Cumberland,* 1.40 slew the aged and impotent, women in childbed, and young children; spoiled the Abbey Church at Hexham, and got a great number of the Clergie, as well Monkes, Priests, as Schollers, whom they thrust into the Schoolehouse there,* 1.41 and closing vp the doores, set fire on the Schoole, and burned all them to ashes that were within it. They burned Churches, they forced women without respect of order, condition, or qualitie, as well the maids, widowes, and wiues, as Nunnes, that were reputed in those dayes consecrated to God, & when they had beene so abused, many of them were after murthered. So that the cruell and bloudy desolation whereof Lucan speaketh in his second booke of the Pharsalian warres, may aptly be infer∣red here, as fitly describing the mercilesse murther of all states and sexes, without partiality, vnder the hand of the enemy. For, saith he,

Nobilitas cum plebe perit, lateque vagatur Ensis, & a nullo revocatum est pectore ferrum, Stat cruor in templis, multaque rubentia caede Lubrica saxa madent, nulli iam prosuit aetas, Non senis extremum piguit vergentibus annis Praecipitasse diem, non primo in limine vitae Infantis miseri nascentia rumpere fata.

Thus exquisitely translated into English.

Senatours with Plebeians lost their breath, * 1.42The sword rag'd vncontrold: no brest was free: The Temples stainde with bloud, and slippery Were the red stones with slaughter: no age then Was free: the neere spent time of aged men They hastened on; nor sham'de with bloudy knife, To cut the Infants new spunne thread of life.

Bloud worthy to haue beene shed on both sides, against another kinde of enemy, then Christians: the deformity of which effusions, may iustly re∣present vnto vs the blessed estate of our now setled Vnion.

Ranulph the Monke of Chester, speakes somewhat more succinctly of the warlike passages in those times, betwixt the puissant braue English, and the terrible neuer-tamed Scot on this manner; I will vse the old language of his Translatour Treuisa, who flourished in the raigne of king Henry the sixth.

* 1.43Iohn de Baillol (saith he) that was made kyng of Scotlond, aroos ayenst the kynge of Englonde, and ayenste his owne othe; and by the counseylle

of some men of Scotland, and namely of thabbot of M••••ros, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was taken and dysheryted. Then the yere after Willi••m 〈…〉〈…〉 of Scottes arayed werre ayenste kynge Edwarde, but he was 〈…〉〈…〉 se∣cond yere after; Kynge Edwarde slew••••x 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Scottes 〈…〉〈…〉 on a Mary Mawdelyn day. But the Scottes w••x••d stronger and stronger 〈◊〉〈◊〉ty yeres togyder, vnto kyng Edwardes tyme the thyrd after the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and bete down Englyshemen of••, and Englysh places that were 〈…〉〈…〉 her Marches.

Some sayd that that myshappe fell for so••••nesse of the Englyshe men▪ And some said that it was goddis owne wer••he as the 〈…〉〈…〉 That Englyshe men sholde be destroyed by Danes, by Fren••he men, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by Scottes.

Of this propheticall prediction I haue spoken elsewhere, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that of the marble stone) vpon the inauguration of our late Souer•••••••••• Lord King Iames, of happie memory, in his Regall Chaire of Impe•••••••••• gouernment, had full accomplishment.

The period of the dayes, as also the character of this magnificent Mo¦narch Edward,* 1.44 are thus deliuered by a late Writer.

In Iuly, 1307 although he found himselfe not well, he enter; Scotland with a fresh Army, which he led not ••arre; for falling into a Dissenterie, he dies at Borough vpon the sand••, as if to show on what foundation 〈◊〉〈◊〉 h••d built all his glory in this world: hauing raigned thirty foure yeares, seuen moneths, aged sixty eight. A Prince of a generous spirit, wherein the fire held out euen to the very last: borne and bred for action and militarie af••faires, which he mannaged with great iudgement: euer warie and proui∣dent for his owne businesse: watchfull and eager to enlarge his power: and was more for the greatnesse of England, then the quiet thereof. And this we may iustly say of him, that neuer king before, or since, shed so much Christian bloud within this Isle of Britaine, as this C••ristian warrior did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his time, and was the cause of much more in that following.

By our great and iudicious Antiquary Camden,* 1.45 he is thus 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as followeth.

For no one thing was this little Burgh vpon Sands more famous, than, that King Edward the first, that triumphant Conquerour of his enemies, was here taken out of the world by vntimely death A ••ight noble and wor∣thy Prince, to whom God proportioned a most princely presence and per∣sonage, as a right worthy seat to entertaine so heroicall a minde For he not onely in regard of fortitude and wisedome, but also for a beautifull and per∣sonall presence was in all points answerable to the height of Royall Maie∣stie, whom fortune also in the very Prime and flower of his age, inured to many a warre, and exercised in most dangerous troubles of the state, whiles she framed and fitted him for the Empire of Britaine; which he, being once crowned King, mannaged and gouerned in such wise, that hauing subdued the Welsh, and vanquished the Scots, hee may most iustly bee counted a chiefe ornament and honour of Britaine.

Amongst other admonitions and precepts, which he gaue to his sonne Edward (after him king of England) vpon his death bed he charged him,* 1.46 that he should carry his Fathers bones about with him in some Coffin, till

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he had marched through all Scotland, and subdued all his enemies, for that none should bee able to ouercome him while his Skeleton marched with him: thinking, belike, that the care to preserue them from enemies would make a Sonne fight nobly. Moreouer he commanded the said Prince, That whereas himselfe, by the continuall new attempts of Bruce, king of Scot∣land, could not in person (according to his vow) make warre in the Holy∣land, therefore he should send his Heart thither, accompanied with seuen∣score knights, and their retinues, for whose support he had prouided thirty and two thousand pounds of siluer. That his Heart being so by them con∣uayed, he did hope in God, that all things there would prosper with them. Lastly, That vpon paine of eternall damnation, the said money should not be expended vpon any other vses.* 1.47 Sed filius immorigerus patris mandata negligit: But the disobedient Sonne little regarded the commandement of his Father.

He died the seuenth of Iuly, the yeare aforesaid; his body was conuayed to this Abbey, and accompanied most of the way with the Popes Legate, the reuerend Bishops, and most of the English Nobilitie, where it was in∣terred with that state as became the person of so potent a Prince;* 1.48 And such was the care of his Successours, to keepe his body from corruption, as that the Searecloth wherein his embalmed body was enwrapt, was often re∣newed, as doth appeare vpon Record thus.

Rex Thesaurario & Camerarijs suis Salutem. Mandamus vobis quod Ce∣ram existentem circa corpus celebris memorie Domini Edwardi nuper Regis Anglie progenitoris nostri filij Regis Henrici,* 1.49 in Ecclesia beati Petri Westm. humatum, de denarijs nostris renovari facietis, prout hactenus fieri constituit. Teste Rege apud Westm. xi die Iulij. Claus. 1. Ric. 2. Memb. 41:

Certaine rimes or verses, are annexed to his Tombe as followeth.

Mors est inesta nimis magnos que iungit in imis, Maxima mors minimis coniungens vltima primis; Nullus in orbe fuit homo viuens nec valet esse Qui non morte ruit: est hinc exire necesse. Nobilis & fortis, tibi tu considere noli, Omnia sunt mortis, sibi subdit singula soli, De mundi medio magnum mors impia mouit, Anglia pre tedio satis anxia plangere novit: Corruit Edwardus vario veneratus honore, Rex nuper vt Nardus fragrans virtutis odore, Corde Leopardus, invictus & absque pauore, Ad rixam tardus, discretus, & eucharis ore. Viribus armorum quasi Gigas ardua gessit, Colla superborum prudens per prelia pressit, Inter Flandrenses fortuna sibi bene fauit, Vt quoque Wallenses & Scotos suppeditauit. Rex bonus absque pari strenue sua regna regebat. Quod natura dari potuit bonitatis habebat. Actio iustitie, pax regni, sanctio legis, Et fuga nequitie premunt precordia Regis.

Gloria tota ruit, Regem capit hec modo fossa, Rex quandoque fuit, nunc nil nisi puluis et ossa: Filius ipse Dei quem corde colebat et ore, Gaudia fecit ei nullo permista dolore.

The which verses (saith Fabian) to the entent that they should be had in minde, and also that the reader might haue the more desire to ouer-reade them; I haue therefore set them out in Baladde Royall, after my rude ma∣king as followeth.

This sorrowfull deth which bryngeth great full low,* 1.50 And moost and leest he ioyneth into one, Thys man to whome his pere was not y knowe Hath now subdued, nat sparyng hym alone, Whyche of all order thys world to ouergone, None was to be spared, of so great equyte As he, yf any, for noblesse spared shuld be.

Therfore thou noble or myghty, trust none oder grace, But thou shalt pay to deth thy naturall dette; And lyke as he from thys world did chace Thys mighty Prynce, and from his frendys fette, For whome all Englond loude mourned and grette: So shalt thou and oder in deths snare fall, None shall escape, to reckyn kyndes all.

Edward wyth many and dyuers graces endowed, And like as Nardus most sweetest of odoure, In smellynge passyth, and moost he is allowed Of all swete odours, so dyd this knyghtly floure By vertuous artes surmounte in honoure, All oder Prynces; whose hert was Lybar delyke, And without fere, were he hole or syke.

Thys Prynce was slowe to all maner of stryfe, Discrete, and wise, and trewe of his worde, In armys a Geaunt, terme of all his lyfe, Excelling actes doing by dynte of the sworde, Subduyd the proud, of prudence he bore the horde, Of Flaunders by fate he had great amyte, And Walshe, and Scottes, by strength subduyd he.

This good King perelesse, his landes firmly gyded, What nature might giue he failed in nothynge, No parte of bounte from his was discided, He was iustice, and peace, and of lawe stablishyng, And chaser of iniquyte by his vertuous liuyng: In whome these graces with innumerable mo, Fermly were roted, that deth hath tane vs fro.

That whylom was a Kyng, now is but duste and bone, All glory is fallen, and this pitte kepeth the kynge, But he that yeldeth all thing by his one, The Sonne of God, to whom aboue all thynge With herte and mouth he did all worsshyppyng, That Lord of his ioy perdurable to laste, Graunt him sorrowlesse euermore to taste.

All Kings haue long hands, alluding to the extensure of their Regall go∣uernement, of which Ouid in one of his Epistles: thus,

An nescis longas Regibus esse manus?

This King had also long legges, and, a longis tibijs, surnamed hee was Longshankes. But I stray beyond my limits, his vertues haue taken me pri∣soner, and detained me much longer then I expected; let me take liberty to conclude with these verses, in commendation of his valour, out of the fore-remembred additions to Robert of Glocester.

Edward the furst reguyd than truly, The son he was of Kyng Harry: He conquered than all Scotlond, Ano toke Irlond into hys hond. And was callyd that tym Conqueror. God yiue hys soul mych honor In hys tym he made subiecte Alwalys, and put them vndre * 1.51 yecke, He behedyd thilke sam tym The Prynce of UUalys Lewellyn, Iewes that tym withouten doute, Of this lond wer clere put oute: Atte Westmynstre he had hy burying xxxv yere he reguyd kyng.

* 1.52Here lieth entombed, Eleanor his first wife, Queene of England, who went with him into the holy land, in which voyage her husband was stab∣bed with a poysoned dagger by a Sarazen, the rankled wound whereof was iudged incurable by his Physitians, yet shee daily and nightly sucked out the ranke poison, and so by aduenturing her owne, saued her husbands life. She was the onely daughter of Ferdinando, the third King of Castile and Leons: she died at Herdby in Lincolnshire, 29 Nouember 1290. hauing beene King Edwards wife 36 yeares, who erected to her honour those Cros∣ses, as Statues, at Lincolne, Grantham, Stanford, Geddington, Northamp∣ton, Stony Stratford, Dunstable, (now destroyed) Saint Albans, Wal∣tham, and Westminster, called Charing-Crosse, all adorned with the armes of Castile, Leon, and the Earldome or Countie of Ponthieu, which by her right was annexed to the Crowne of England. Moreouer the said King Ed∣ward (so ardent was his affection to the memory of his deceased Eleanor) gaue twelue Mannors, Lordships, and Hamlets, to Walter then Abbot of Westminster, and his successors for euer, for the keeping of yeerely Obits

for his said Queene, and for money that should be geeuen to the poore, that came to the solemnization of the same. Her Epitaph.

Nobilis Hispani iacet hic soror inclita Regis, Eximij consors Eleanora thori. Edwardi primi Wallorum principis vxor, Cui pater Henricus tertius Anglus erat. Hanc ille vxorem gnato petit: omine princeps Legati munus suscipit ipse bono, Alfonso Fratri placuit felix Hymeneus, Germanam Edwardo nec sine dote dedit. Dos preclara fuit, nec tali indigna marito Pontino Princeps munere diues erat. Femina consilio prudens, pia, prole beata; Auxit amicitijs, auxit honore virum. Disce mori.

Here lieth gloriously entombed,* 1.53 the most mighty Monarch that euer ware the Crowne of England, who conquered Calis, recouered Aquitaine and Normandy, tooke Iohn, King of France, and Dauid King of Scots, pri∣soners; added the armes and title of France to his owne, declaring his claime in this kind of verse: thus,

Rex sum regnorum bina ratione duorum,* 1.54 Anglorum Regno sum Rex ego iure paterno; Matris iure quidem Francorum nuncupor idem. Hinc est Armorum variatio facta meorum.

To which the French answered scornefully in verses to the same tem∣per, but some what touching Edward with ill grounded vanitie, pretending right to the Crown of France, by Queen Isabell his mother: before whom, (if Daughters should succeed in the sacred Lillies of France) her eldest Si∣ster must march, Madam Margaret of France, wife to Ferdinand, fourth of that name, King of Castille.

Praedo Regnorum qui diceris esse duorum,* 1.55 Francorum Regno priuaberis, atque Paterno. Matris vbique nullum Ius Broles non habet vllum, Iure Mariti carens alia est Mulier prior illa. Succedunt Mares huic Regno non Mulieres. Hinc est Armorum variatio stulta tuorum.

He excelled his Ancestors also in the victorious valour of his children; in their obedience to him, and loue among themselues; and one of his grea∣test felicities was, that he had a Lady to his wife (the fruitfull mother of a faire issue) of such excellent vertue and gouernement, as that then King Ed∣wards Fortunes seemed to fall into Eclipse when she was hidden in her Se∣pulchre. He was the sonne of Edward the second by Isabel, daughter to Phi∣lip the Faire, King of France; his father being amoued from the kingdomes

gouernement, (against whom he had no guilty thought) he was by pub∣like Sanction thereupon established in the royall Throne, being of the age of fourteene yeeres; and when he had raigned 50 yeeres, died at his Manor of Shine, Iune 21. 1377. these verses are annexed to his monument.

Hic decus Anglorum, flos Regum preteritorum Forma futurorum, Rex clemens pax populorum Tertius Edwardus, regni complens Iubileum Inuictus Pardus, pollens bellis Machabeum. Tertius Edwardus Fama super ethera notus pugna pro patria.

Foure of these verses are thus translated by Speed in his History of the said King, where, vpon the words

Pollens bellis Machabeum

he giues this marginall note, as followeth.

He meanes (saith he) more able in battaile, then Machabeus; you must beare with the breaking of Priscians head, for it is written of a King that vsed to breake many.

Here Englands grace, the flower of Princes past, Patterne of future, Edward the third is plaste, Milde Monarch, Subiects peace, warres Machabee, Victorious * 1.56 Pard, his raigne a Iubilee.

Take with you, if you please, another translation of these Meters by one who liued neerer to those times.

Of English kynges here lyth the beauteous floure, Of all before passed, and myrrour to them shall sue, A mercifull kynge, of peace conseruatour, The third Edward. The deth of whom may rue Alle Englyssh men, for he by knyghtehode due Was Lyberd inuict, and by feate Marciall To worthy Machabe in vertu peregall.

* 1.57Hic erat (saith an old Mss. speaking of this King) flos mundane militie, sub quo militare erat regnare, proficisci proficere, confligere triumphare. Cui iure maternali linea recta descendente, Regnum cum corona Francie debetur. Pro cuius regni adipiscenda corona, que maris euasit pericula; quos bellorum deuicit impetus; quas Belligerorum struit audacias, scriptor enarrare desistit; sue relationis veritatem adulationis timens obumbrari velamine. Hic vero Edwardus quamuis in hostes terribilis extiterat, in subditos tamen mitissi∣mus fuerat et gratiosus, pietate et miserecordia omnes pene suos precellens an∣tecessores.

* 1.58A late writer saith, hee was a Prince the soonest a man, and the longest that held so, of any we reade; he was of personage comely, of an euen sta∣ture, gracefull, respectiuely affable, and well expressing himselfe. A Prince who loued Iustice, Order, and his people, the supreme vertues of a Soue∣raigne.

First his loue of Iustice,* 1.59 was seene by the many Statutes hee made for the due execution thereof, and the most straight-binding oath, hee or∣dained to be ministred vnto his Iudges and Iusticiars: the punishment in∣flicted on them for corruption in their offices, causing some to be thrust out, and others grieuously fined. He bettered also that forme of publique Iustice which his Grandfather first began (and which remaines to this day) ma∣king also excellent Lawes for the same.* 1.60 His regard to the obseruation of Order among his people, so many Lawes do witnesse, as were made to re∣straine them from Excesses in all kinds. His loue to his Subiects,* 1.61 was exprest in the often easing of their grieuances, and his willingnesse to giue them all faire satisfaction, as appeares by the continuall granting of the due obser∣uation of their Charters in most of his Parliaments. And when (Ann. Reg. 14.) they were iealous, vpon his assuming the title of the kingdome of France, lest England should thereby come to bee vnder the subiection of that Crowne, as being the greater, he to cleare them of that doubt, passed a Statute, in the firmest manner could bee deuised, that this kingdome should remaine intire as before, without any violation of the rights it had.

Prouident he was in all his actions,* 1.62 neuer vnder-taking any thing before he had first furnished himselfe with meanes to performe it.

For his gifts we finde them not such as either his owne fame and repu∣tation, or any way distasted the State. To be short, hee was a Prince who knew his worke, and did it: and therefore was he better obeyed, better re∣spected and serued, then any of his Predecessours.

His workes of Pietie were great and many,* 1.63 as the founding of East-min∣ster an Abbey (of the Cisteux order) neare the Tower. An Abbey for Nunnes at Dartford in Kent (of both which I haue already written) The Kings Hall in Cambridge for poore Schollers. An Hospitall for the poore at Calais. The building of Saint Stephens Chappell at Westminster, with the endowment of three hundred pound, per annum, to that Church. His augmenting the Chappell at Windsore, and prouisions there for Church∣men, and twenty foure poore knights,* 1.64 &c. These were his publique works, the best Monuments and most lasting to glorifie the memory of Princes. Besides these, his priuate buildings are great and many; as the Castle of Windsore, which he re-edified and enlarged.

His magnificence was shewed in Triumphs and Feasts, which were sumptuously celebrated, with all due rites and ceremonies, the preseruers of Reuerence and Maiestie: To conclude, he was a Prince, whose nature agreed with his office, as onely made for it.

On this manner, as he was in the strength of his yeares, and in the height of his vigorous actions, his character is exprest by many Authors. Now may it please you in this place to take a view of this the mighty great Mo∣narch of England, France, and Ireland, as he was wrinkled with age, weak∣ened with a sore lingring disease, and laid downe vpon his Deaths-bed.

When he had attained to the age of threescore and fiue yeares, or there∣abouts, and wrastled with a sicknesse which gaue him the ouerthrow; ly∣ing in the bed, and at the point of death, his eyes darkened, his speech al∣tered, and his naturall heate almost extinguished,* 1.65 one, whom of all other he most entirely affected, tooke the rings from his fingers, which for the roy∣altie

of his Maiestie he was wont to weare, so bad him adiew; and with∣drew herselfe into another roome (a woman she was, inuerecunda p••llex, as Walsingham calls her, whose name was Alice Piers) neither was hee left onely of her the said Alice, but of other the knights and Esquires, who had serued him, allured more with his gifts then his loue. Amongst many there was onely present at that time a certaine Priest (other of his seruants applying the spoile of what they could lay hands on) who lamenting the kings miserie, and inwardly touched with griefe of heart, for that amongst so many Councellers which hee had, there was none that would minister vnto him the word of life, came boldly vnto him, and admonished him to lift vp the eyes as well of his body, as of his heart, vnto God, and with sighes to aske mercy of him, whose Maiestie he well knew he had grieuous∣ly offended. Whereupon the king listened to the words of the Priest, and although a little before he had wanted the vse of his tongue, yet then taking strength to him, hee seemed to speake what was in his minde. And then what for weaknesse of his body, contrition of his heart, and sobbing for his sinnes, his voice and speech failed him, and scarce halfe pronouncing this word Iesu, he gaue vp the Ghost, at his Mannour of Sheene (now Rich∣mount) as aforesaid.

If you will heare any more of this Martiall king, you must haue the pa∣tience to trouble your selues in the reading of these obsolete old rimes.

Aftur * 1.66 hym reguyd hys son ful ryght The iii Edward that dowtie knyght. U. sones he hadde truly here, That wer to hym leef and dere. Furst yis kyng dude a grete maistry, Atte Scluce he brend a gret Naby. Atte Tresse he faught ayain, The kyng of * 1.67 Beme ther was slayn, And the kyng of France putte to flyght, Non longor than durst he fyght. A sege atte Calice he lede byfor, That last xii months and mor: And or he thens wold goo, He wan Calice and touns moo. Atte Batail of Poyters, by ordynance, Was taken Iohn the kyng of France. Atte Westmynstre he lyth ther He regnyd almoost li yer Byfor hym deyed Prynce Edward Whych hadde a son that hight Rychard.

* 1.68Philippa (of whom I haue spoken before) Queene of England, wife of Edward the third, daughter of William of Bauaria, Earle of Henault, and Holland, by Ioane sister of Philip of Valoys, king of France, lyeth en∣tombed at her husbands feet; She was a Lady of great vertue, and a con∣stant true louer of our Nation; who when shee had beene king Edwards

wife fourty two yeares, she died August, 15. 1369. These verses are annex∣ed to her Monument.

Gulielmi Hannonis sobeles postrema Philippa, Hic roseo quondam pulchra decore iacet. Tertius Edwardus Rex ista coninge letus Materno suasu nobiliumque fuit. Frater Iohannes Comes Mauortius heros, Huic illam voluit consociare viro. Hec iunxit Flandros coniunctio sanguinis Anglis: In Francos venit hinc Gallica dira lues▪ Dotibus hec raris viguit Regina Philippa Forma prestanti, Religione, fide. Fecunda nata est proles numerosa parenti, Insignes peperit magnanimosque duces. Oxonij posuit studiosis optima nutrix Regineas Edes, Palladiam scholam. Coniux Edwardi iacet hic Regina Philippa. Disce viuere.

Thus there Englished:

Faire Philip William Hennaldes childe and youngest daughter deere, Of roseat hue, and beautie bright, in tombe lies hilled heere. Edward the third through mothers will, and Nobles good consent; Tooke her to wife, and ioyfully with her his time he spent. His brother Iohn a Martiall man, and eke a valiant knight, Did linke this woman to this king in bonds of marriage right. This match and marriage thus in bloud, did binde the Flemings sure To Englishmen, by which they did the Frenchmens wracke procure. This Philip flowr'd in gifts full rare, and treasures of the minde, In beauty bright, Religion, Faith; to all and each most kinde, A fruitfull Mother Philip was, full many a sonne she bred, And brought forth many a worthy knight, hardy, and full of dred. A carefull Nurse to Students all, at Oxford she did found Queenes Colledge, and Dame Pallas Schoole, that did her fame resound.

The wife of Edward, deere, Queene Philip lieth here: Learne to liue.

She was the youngest of the fiue daughters of William Earle of Henault aforesaid; especially chosen before any of her Sisters for king Edwards wife, by a Bishop (of what See I am vncertaine) and other Lords tempo∣rall, sent thither, were sent as Embassadours, to treate of the marriage. Of which thus much out of Harding. cap. 178. as followeth.

He sent furth than, to Henauld for a wife, A Bishop, and other Lordes temporall, Wher in Chaumbre prevy and secretife,

At discouerit dischenely also in all, As semyng was to estate Virginall Emong theim selfes, our lordes for hie prudence Of the Bishop asked counsaill and sentence.

Whiche daughter of fiue should be the Queene, Who counsailled thus, with sad auisement, Wee will haue hir with good hippis I mene, For she will bere good soonnes at myne entent; To which thei all accorded by one assent, And chase Philip, that was full feminine, As the Bishop moost wise did determine.

But then emong theim selfes thei laugh fast ay, The lordes than saied, the Bishop couth Full mekill skill of a woman al way, That so couth chese a lady that was vncouth, And for the mery woordes that came of his mouth Thei trowed he had right great experience Of womanes rule and hir conuenience.

Now, what experience this Bishop had in womens conueniency of brin∣ging forth children, I know not, but it so fell out, that she had issue by her said husband King Edward, seuen sonnes, and fiue daughters, borne for the glory of our Nation.

• 1. Edward Prince of Wales, borne at Woodstocke.
• 2. William, borne at Hatfield, in the County of Hertford.
• 3. Lionell, borne at the Citie of Antwerpe, Duke of Clarence.
• 4. Iohn, borne at Gaunt, the chiefe Towne of Flanders, Duke of Lan∣caster.
• 5. Edmond, surnamed of Langley, Duke of Yorke.
• 6. William, another of their Sonnes, surnamed of Windsore, where he was borne.
• 7. Thomas, the youngest sonne of King Edward and Queene Philip, sur∣named of Woodstocke, the place of his birth, Duke of Glocester.

Daughters.

• 1. Isabell, the eldest Daughter, was married with great pompe at Wind∣sore, to Ingelram of Guisnes, Lord of Coucy, Earle of Soissoms, and after Archduke of Austria, whom king Edward his Father in law created also Earle of Bedford.
• 2. Ioane, desired in marriage by solemne Embassage from Alphons, king of Castile and Leon, sonne of king Ferdinando the fourth, was espoused by Proxie, intituled Queene of Spaine, conueyed into that countrey, where she presently deceased of a great plague that then raigned.
• 3. Blanch the third daughter, died young, and lieth buried in this Abbey Church.
• 4. Mary the fourth daughter was married to Iohn Montford, Duke of Britaine.
• 5. Margaret their youngest daughter was the first wife of Iohn de Hast∣ings, Earle of Penbroke.

It is reported of this Queene (saith Milles) that when she perceiued her life would en••, she requested to speake with the King her husband, who accordingly came to her in great heauinesse: being come, she tooke him by the hand, and after a few words of induction, shee prayed him that hee would in no wise deny her, in three requests. First, that all Merchants and others to whom she ought any debt, (whether on this side or beyond the seas) might be payd and discharged. Secondly, that all such promises as she had made to Churches, as well within the realme as without, might be performed. Thirdly, that hee would be pleased (whensoeuer God should call him,) to chuse none other Sepulchre, but that wherein her body should be layed: all which were performed, and so I leaue them both lying in one Graue, expecting a ioyfull resurrection.

Richard the second,* 1.69 King of England and France, Lord of Ireland, sonne to Edward, Prince of Wales, by Ioane, daughter to the Earle of Kent, be∣ing depriued both of liuing and life, by that popular vsurper Henry the 〈…〉〈…〉 by his commandement, obscurely buried at Langley in Hert∣fortshire, in the Church of the Friers Predicants; was by the appointment of Henry the fift, remoued from thence with great honour, in a Chaire roy∣all, himselfe and his nobilitie attending the sacred reliques of this annointed King: which he solemnly here enterred amongst his ancestors, and foun∣ded perpetually one day euery weeke, a Dirge, with nine Lessons and a morning masse to be celebrated for the soule of the said King Richard,* 1.70 and vpon each of those daies, sixe shillings eight pence to be giuen to the poore people; and once euery yeare vpon the same day of his Anniuerse, twentie pounds in pence to be distributed to the most needfull: He made for him a glorious Tombe, and this glosing Epitaph deciphering the lineaments of his body, and qualities of mind; which to any, who knowes vpon what points he was put out of Maiestie and State, may seeme strange, if not ridi∣culous; thus it runnes.

Prudens et mundus Richardus iure secundus, Per fatum victus, iacet hic sub marmore pictus. Verax sermone, prudens suit et ratione. Corpore procerus, animo prudens vt Homerus, Ecclesie fauit, elatos suppeditauit. Quemuis prostrauit Regalia qui violauit. O bruit hereticos, et eorum strauit amicos. O clemens christe tibi deuotus suit iste Votis Baptiste, salues quem protulit iste. Hic iacet immiti consumptus morte Richardus fuisse felicem miserrimum.

Fabian who translated this Epitaph into English,* 1.71 desirous, as it seemes, to extenuate the force of such palpable grosse flattery; annexeth this stanza.

But yet, alas, although this meter, or ryme, Thus doth embellish this noble Princes fame; And that some Clerke which fauored him somtyme,

L••st by his cunnyng thus to enhanse his name, Yet by his story appereth in him some blame. Wherfore to Princes is surest memory, Their lyues to exercyse in vertuous constancy.

But Iohn Harding, speaking of the greatnesse of his houshold, and the pride and whoredome therein, as well amongst the Clergie as Laitie, is more inuectiue in his rimes, which to reade I hope will not be troublesome: thus he begins.

Truly I herd Robert Ireleffe saye * 1.72Clerke of the Grenecloth; and that to the Houshold Came euery daye, forthe most partie alwaye Ten thousand folke, by his messis told, That folowed the hous aye as thei wold. And in the Kechin three hundred Seruitours, And in eche office many occupiours.

And Ladies faire, with their gentlewomen, Chamberers also and lauenders, Three hundred of theim were occupied then. There was greate pride emong the Officers. And of all men far passyng their compeers, Of rich araye, and much more costious, Then was before, or sith, and more pretious.

In his Chappell, were Bishoppes then of* 1.73 Beame, Some of Irelond, and some also of France; Some of Englond, and clerkes of many a realme, That litill connyng had or conisance. In musike honorably God his seruice to auance In the Chappell, or in holy Scripture On mater of Goddis to refigure.

Lewed menne, thei were in clerkes clothyng, Disguysed faire, in fourme of clerkes wise, Their Perishyns full litill enfourmyng In Lawe diuine, or else in God his seruise. But right practyfe they were in couetise Eche yere to make full greate collection At home, in stede of soules correction.

Greate Lechery and fornication Was in that house, and also greate aduoutree. Of Paramours was great consolacion, Of ech degre, well more of Prelacie Then of the temporall, or of the chiualrie. Greate taxe ay the kyng tooke through all the lond, For whiche Commons him hated both free and bond.

Iohn Gower concludes his cronica tripartita,* 1.74 annexed to his booke entitu∣led Vox Clamantis, with these riming verses concerning the said King.

Cronica Richardi qui sceptra tulit Leopardi Vt patet est dicta, populo sed non benedicta Vt speculum mundi quo lux nequit vlla resundi, Sic vacuus transit, sibi nil nisi culpa remansit, Vnde superbus erat, modo si preconia querat. Eius honor sordet, laus culpat, gloria mordet: Hoc concernentes caueant qui sunt sapientes; Nam male viuentes Deus odit in orbe regentes: Est qui peccator non esse potest dominator, Ricardo teste finis probat hoc manifeste: Post sua demerita perijt sua pompa sopita Qualis erat vita cronica stabit ita.

He was murdered at Pomfret Castle in the bloudie Tower, (so called from that time (vpon that bloudie act) to this day,) on Saint Valentines day, 1399. the first of Henry the fourth, when hee had raigned 22 yeares. That beautifull picture of a King sighing, crowned in a chaire of estate, at the vpper end of the Quire in this Church, is said to be of him, which wit¦nesseth how goodly a creature he was in outward lineaments: but I will conclude with these rimes out of my old Manuscript, the Addition to Ro∣bert of Glocester.

This Rychard than regnyd sone Aftur his * 1.75 Belsire as was to done, Atte x yere of age crownyd was he, He was a man of grett beute. In hys tym the Comynte of Kent Up arysin and to London went; And Sauoy the brent, that ilke plas, The whych the Dukes of Lancastre was. Thurgh euel councel was slayn ful suel The Duke of Glocestre, and the erle of Arundel. He regnyd xxii yer and mor, And to Longeley was he bor. But in the v King Herry is tym, He was leyde at VVestmynstre by Anne the Quene.

Anne his first wife here entombed with him,* 1.76 was the daughter of Wen∣ceslaus, King of Bohemia, and Emperour of the Germanes; she died in An∣no 1394. the seuenth of Iune, at Sheene in Surrey: whom her husband so feruently loued, yea, vsque ad amentiam, euen to a kinde of madnesse, that for very griefe and anger,* 1.77 (besides cursing the place wherein shee died) hee ouerthrew the whole house. Her Epitaph.

Sub petra lata nunc Annaiacet tumulata, Dum vixit mundo Richardo nupta secundo:

Christo deuota fuit hec, facilis, bene nota; Pauperibus prona semper sua reddere dona; Iurgia sedauit, et pregnantes releuauit. Corpore formosa, vultu mitis speciosa: Prebens solamen viduis, egris medicamen. Anno milleno, ter cent. quarto nonageno Iulij septeno mensis migrauit ameno. forma Fragilis.

* 1.78Henry the fift, sonne of Henry the fourth, King of England, and conque∣rour of France, died at Boyes de Viscenna, not farre from Paris, the last of August, 1422. hauing raigned 9 yeares, 5 moneths, and odde daies, from thence his body was conuaied to this Abbey; vpon whose Tombe, Kathe∣rine his wife, caused a royall picture to be layed, couered all ouer with siluer plate gilded, the head whereof was all of massie siluer: all which (at the suppression, when the battering hammers of destruction, (as Master Speed saith) did sound almost in euery Church) were sacrilegiously broken off, and by purloyning, transferred to farre prophaner vses, where at this day, the headlesse monument is to be seene, and these verses written vpon his Tombe.

Dux Normanorum, verus Conquestor eorum, Heres Francorum; decessit et Hector eorum. Here Normans Duke, so stil'd by conquest iust, True heire of France; Great Hector, lies in dust. Gallorum mastix iacet hic Henricus in vrna Domat omnia virtus.

So many vertues are attributed, by all writers, to this heroicall King Henry, the renowne of England, and glory of Wales, that where to begin, or when to make an end in his deserued praise, I know not: so I will leaue him, amongst the many Monarchs of this most famous Empire, none more complete, relating onely a few rimes, which in some sort doth particula∣rize his memorable exploits.

* 1.79Aftur hym regnyd his son than The v Herry truly a gracious man. Atte his begynnyng, verament, He stroyd Loliers, and thei wer brent. Aftur he made Relygyous at Shene Sion, Ierusalem, and eke Bedlem. The thurd yer he went truly And gat Hartlett in Normandy Atte Egyncourt he hadde a batayle ywis Hamwardys: and ther had the prys. He tooke ther the Duc of Orleaunce The Duc of Burbon, and meny of Fraunce:

And aftur that he wan Lane toun, Rone, and al Normandy as was to don, Also he wan Parys worschypfully; And meny mo tounes wyth Meaux in Bry. Ther he took to hys Quene Katterin the kyng dawghtyr shene He hadde a Son of hur y bore That ys callyd Herry of Wyndsore: In Fraunce he departyd goodly thurgh Godd••s grase, And was broght into Engelond in short spase Then was his Son Herry of age suerly But only viii monyths wyth odde deyes truly, His Eme Iohn Duc of Bedford as yow see Is now Regent of Fraunce sykerly. He regnyd x yer; in hevyn he hath reward Lith at Westmynstre noght fer fro Seynt Edward.

Here lieth Katherine,* 1.80 Queene of England, wife to the foresaid King Hen∣ry the fifth, in a chest or coffin with a loose couer to be seene and handled of any that will much desire it, and that by her owne appointment (as he that sheweth the Tombes will tell you by tradition) in regard of her diso∣bedience to her husband for being deliuered of her Sonne Henry the sixth at Windsore, the place which he forbad. But the truth is that she being first buried in our Ladies Chappell here in this Church, her corps were taken vp; when as Henry the seuenth laid the foundation of that admirable stru∣cture his Chappell royall, which haue euer since so remained, and neuer re∣buried. She was the daughter to Charles the sixth, king of France: she died at Bermondsey in Southwarke, the second of Ianuary, Ann. Dom. 1437. Her Epitaph.

Hic Katherina iacet Francorum filia Regis, Heres & Regni, Carole Sexte, tui. Henrici quinti thalamo bis leta iugali Nam sic vir duplici clarus honore fuit: Iure suo Anglorum, Katherine iure triumphans Francorum obtinuit ius, decus imperij. Grata venit letis felix Regina Britannis Perque dies celebrant quatuor ore Deum. Edidit Henricum gemebunda puerpera Regem, Cuius in imperio Francus & Anglus erat. Non sibi sed Regno felici sidere natum; Sed Patri & Matri Religione parem. Post ex Owino Tiddero tertia proles, Nobilis Edmundus te Katherina beat: Septimus Henricus quo non prestantior alter, Filius Edmundi, gemma Britanna fuit. Felix ergo vxor, mater, ter filia felix, Ast Auia hec felix terque quater que fuit.

* 1.81Here lieth buried in one of the stateliest Monuments of Europe, both for the Chappell, and for the Sepulchre, the body of Henry the seuenth, King of England, the first begotten Sonne of Edmund, Earle of Richmond, by Margaret, daughter and heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset. This glorious rich Tombe is compassed about with verses, penned by that Poet Laureat (as he stiles himselfe) and Kings Orator, Iohn Skelton: I will take onely the shortest of his Epitaphs or Eulogiums, and most to the purpose,

Septimus hic situs est Henricus, gloria Regum Cunctorum, ipsius qui tempestate fuerunt, Ingenio atque opibus gestarum & nomine rerum, Accessere quibus nature dona benigne: Frontis honos, facies augusta, heroica forma, Iunctaque ei suanis coniux perpulchra, pudica, Et secunda fuit: felices prole parentes, Henricum quibus octauum terra Anglia debes.

He deceased at Richmond the 22. of Aprill, 1509. when hee had raigned 23. yeares, and somewhat more then seuen moneths, and liued fifty two yeares. Whosoeuer would know further of this king, let him reade his Hi∣story, wherein hee is delineated to the life, by the matchlesse and neuer enough admired penne of that famous, learned, and eloquent knight, Sir Francis Bacon, not long since deceased, Lord Verulam, and Viscount Saint Alban.

* 1.82Here lieth entombed by her Husband Henry the seuenth, Elizabeth, the first childe legitimate and eldest daughter of king Edward the fourth; to whom she was married the eighteenth of Ianuary, 1488. whereby was vni∣ted the long contending Families of Lancaster and Yorke, and the Roses red and white ioyned into one, to the great ioy of the English Subiects. She was his wife eighteene yeares and twenty foure dayes, and died in child-bed in the Tower of London, the eleuenth of February, euen the day of her owne Natiuitie, the eighteenth of her Husbands raigne, and yeare of our Saluation, 1503.

I haue an Epitaph of this good Queene (borne for Englands happinesse) which I transcribed out of a Manuscript in Sir Robert Cottons Library.

Extinctum iacet hic genus a Plantagine ductum, Et Rosa purpureis candida nupta Rosis. Elisabet claris Anglorum Regibus orta, Regina & Patrij gloria rara soli. Edwardi soboles quarti, tibi septime coniux Henrice, heu populi cura benigna tui. Exemplex vite qua nec prestantior altra Moribus, ingenio, nec probitate fuit. Reginam Deus eterno dignetur honore Et Regem hic annos viuere Nestoreos.

* 1.83Here lieth magnificently entombed, Margaret, Countesse of Richmond, and Darby, daughter and onely heire to Iohn Duke of Somerset, by Mar∣garet,

daughter to the Lord Beauchampe of Powicke, first married to Ed∣mund the sonne of Owen Tedder, who begat Henry the seuenth, King of England, and afterwards to Thomas Stanley, Earle of Derby. Two Col∣ledges, namely, of Christ, and Saint Iohn Baptist, she erected for Students in Cambridge. Shee instituted also two Diuinitie Lectures, one at Cam∣bridge, and the other at Oxenford, who, hauing liued so long to see her Grandchilde, Henry the eight, crowned King, died the twelfth of Iuly, 1509. in the first yeare of his raigne. Here is a long Elegie made to her me∣morie by the foresaid Skelton, with this terrible curse to all those that shall tread, spoile, or take it away.

Qui lacerat, violatue, rapit presens Epitoma, Hunc laceretque voret cerberus absque mora. Hanc tecum statuas Dominam precor O Sator orbis, Quo regnas rutilans Rex sine fine manens.

Here lieth Margaret,* 1.84 one of the daughters of King Edward the fourth, by Elizabeth his royall Queene and wife. She died an Infant, the eleuenth of December, 1472.

Nobilitas & forma, decorque tenella inuentus Insimul hic ista mortis sunt condita cista. Vt genus, & nomen, sexum, tempus quoque mortis Noseas; cuncta tibi manifestat margo Sepulchri.

Here lieth Elizabeth,* 1.85 the second daughter of King Henry the seuenth, by his louing consort and Queene, Elizabeth, who was borne the second day of Iuly, 1492. and died the 14. day of Nouember, 1495. Vpon her Tombe this Epitaph.

Hic post sata iacet proles regalis in isto Sarcophago, inuenis, nobilis Elizabeth, Princeps illustris, Hen. Sept. filia Regis Qui bini regni florida sceptra tenet. Atropos hanc rapuit seuissima nuntia mortis, Sit super in celo vita perhennis ei.

Here lieth interred,* 1.86 without any Monument, Anne, the second daugh∣ter and coheire to Richard Nevil, the stout Earle of Warwicke, and Salis∣bury: who was first married to Edward Prince of Wales, the sonne and onely childe of king Henry the sixth, and after remarried to Richard Duke of Gloucester (who at the battell of Tewxbury had stabbed her husband into the heart with his dagger) afterwards by vsurpation king of England, surnamed Crook-backe. She died (not without suspition of being poysoned) the 16. of March, 1485.

Here lieth entombed Edmund,* 1.87 the second sonne of King Henry the third, Earle of Lancaster, Leicester, and Darby, surnamed Crouch-backe, of his bowing in his backe, because he is neuer found (saith Vincent in his discouery of Brookes errours, title Lancaster) with any other addition, and indeed with no other Epithite then Gibbosus; which signifieth crooked, crump-shouldred, or Camell-backed. But others say he was so denominated

of wearing the signe of the Crosse (anciently called a Crouch) vpon his backe, which was vsually worne of such as vowed voyages to Ierusalem; as he had done. Further confirming their opinions from the name of Crou∣ched-Friers, that wore a Crosse vpon their garments. And Io. Harding spea∣king of him and his elder Brother Edward, afterwards king of England, and of their voyage to Ierusalem, hath these verses to the same effect.

* 1.88His brother Edward and he associate To Ierusalem, their voyage them avowed. Two semely Princes, together adioynate, In all the world was none them like alowed, So large and faire thei were, eche man he bowed. Edward aboue his menne was largely seen By his shulders more hie and made full clene.

Edmond next hym the comeliest Prince aliue, Not croke backed, ne in no wyse disfigured. As some menne wrote, the right lyne to depriue, Through great falsehed made it to be scriptured: For cause it should alwaye bee refigured, And mentioned well, his yssue to prevaile Vnto the Crowne, by such a gouernaile.

I cannot let passe, although I do somewhat digresse, the cunning sleights and deuises the Popes of Rome vsed in these times, to empouerish this king∣dome, and enrich their owne coffers.* 1.89 First they combine and confederate with the king to the vtter vndoing of all his loyall Subiects. And now Pope Alexander the fourth puts a tricke vpon the king himselfe (a Prince more pious then prudent) which exhausts his Treasure,* 1.90 and leaues him for a laughing-stocke to all other Nations. This Pope, forsooth, inuested this Edmund his sonne, into the kingdomes of Sicilia and Apulia (Conradus king thereof still liuing) by a ring; conditionally, that hee should sustaine the charges, and maintaine the warres that should happen thereupon. In which regard he suckt a masse of money from our credulous king Henry, who had so deeply swallowed the gudgeon that (his heart being ouer-ioy∣ed (saith Mathew Paris) and raised euen to the height of exultation) hee swore by Saint Edward, to make a present voyage to Apulia, and take pos∣session of these dominions. But at length this counterfeit ring vpon the touch was discouered, and the good king knew himselfe deluded, his Ex¦chequer emptied, and this Titulary-king his sonne Edmund abused. Thus writes Mathew Paris, the Monke of S. Albans, who liued in those dayes; and deciphers the Legerdemaine, and iugling deuises of the Bishops of Rome to get money.

This Edmund was Lord Steward of this kingdome, and Lieutenant of Gascoigne. Who being sent into Aquitaine with an armie, where he per∣formed notable seruice, died at Bayon, in the yeare 1296. And within two moneths after his death, his body was honourably transported into Eng∣land.

* 1.91Here lieth also entombed his first wife Aveline, daughter and heire of

William de Fortibus, Earle of Albamarle, by whom he had no issue: who died the yeare 1269.

Here lieth buried in a most magnificent Tombe, befitting the greatnesse of his birth,* 1.92 and the worthinesse of his Of-spring, William de valence, Earle of Penbroke, (so sirnamed of Valencia the place of his birth) sonne of Hugh le Brun, Earle of the Marches of Aquitaine, and halfe brother by the mothers side,* 1.93 to King Henry the third. This William (saith Stow) was slaine at Bayon by the French, in the yeare 1296. and with him, Edmund Earle of Lancaster, of whom I lastly spoke, if wee may beleeue these verses of Harding.

But erle Edmond, the kynges brother dere, With twenty and sixe baners proud and stout, The fift daye of Iune was accompted clere,* 1.94 Of Christ his date a thousand yere all out, Fourscore and sixteene, without doubt. At Bayon faught, with the French menne certain, Wher he in the feld that daye like a knyght was slain.

So was Sir William Valence erle of Penbroke than, Sir Iohn Richmond, and many other Baron: Sir Iohn Saynct Iohn, right a full manly manne: Thenglishe hoste felly ther was bore doune, By a bushement, laied by colucion, That brake on theim, sore fighting in the feld, Out of a wode, in whiche that day were beld.

About the verge or side of his monument, these verses are inlayd with brasse.

Anglia tota doles, moritur quia regia proles, Qua florere soles, quem continet infima moles, Guilielmus nomen insigne Valentia prebet, Celsum cognomen, nam tale dari sibi debet. Qui valuit validus, vincens virtute valore. E•• placuit placidus, sensus morumque vigore, Dapsilis, et habilis, immotus, prelia sectans, Vtilis, ac humilis, deuotus, premia spectans. Milleque trecentis cum quatuor inde retentis, In Maij mense, hunc mors proprio ferit ense. Quique legis hec repete quam sit via plena timore, Meque lege, te moriturum & inscius hore. O clemens christe celos intret precor iste, Nil videat triste, quia preculit omnibus hisce.

Here lyeth entombed the body of Simon Langham,* 1.95 who was first a Monke of this Abbey, then Prior, and lastly Abbot, thence elected Bishop of London; from thence, before his consecration to London, aduanced to the Bishopricke of Ely, and from that place remoued to Canterbury: hee

held diuers liuings in commendam, as the Archdeaconry and Treasure∣ship of Wels, with others. He was both Treasurer and Chancelour of En∣gland at seuerall times: It is scarce credible (saith Godwin now Bishop of Hereford in his catalogue de presulibus Anglie) that is reported of his wonderfull bounty and liberality to this monastery. When hee was first made Abbot, he bestowed all that he had gathered together, being Monke and Prior, in paying the debt of the house, which was to the value of two thousand and two hundred markes; and discharged diuers other summes of money also, which particular Monkes did owe: he purchased good land which he gaue vnto them. When hee went out of England, hee left them bookes to the value of 830 pound, and Copes, Vestments, and other orna¦ments for the Church, worth 437. pound. At his death, he bequeathed vn∣to them, all his plate, prised at 2700. pound, and all his debts any where due, which amounted vnto 3954. pound, thirteene shillings and foure pence. He also sent vnto this Abbey, the summe of one thousand markes, to buy forty markes a yeare land, to encrease the portion of foure Monkes, that daily should say Masse for the soules of himselfe, and his Parents. The money that he bestowed vpon this Abbey one way or other, is reckoned by a Monke of the same, to be no lesse then 10800. pound; who thereupon compiled this Distich.

Res es de Langham tua Simon sunt data quondam, Octingentena librarum millia dena.

But men of eminent place and authoritie, cannot haue their due praise of all sorts of people; nay rather in requitall of their best actions, they shall reape nothing but opprobrious language: for vpon his translation from Ely to Canterbury, these two rayling, riming Hexameters were made to his disgrace.

Letentur celi quia Simon transit ab Ely Cuius in aduentum flent in Kent millia centum. The Isle of Ely laught, when Simon from her went: But hundred thousands wept at's comming into Kent.

He sate Archbishop of Canterbury onely two yeares, for being made Cardinall of Saint Sixtus by Pope Vrban the fift, hee left his Archbishop∣ricke, and went to Auinion, where shortly after he was made Bishop Car∣dinall of Preneste, by Gregory the eleuenth; where he liued in great estima∣tion about eight yeares, and died of a palsie, wherewith hee was suddenly taken, as he sate at dinner, Iuly 22. 1376. he was buried first in the Church of the Carthusians, which he himselfe had founded in the Citie of Auinion; but after three yeares, his bones (by his appointment while he liued) were taken vp and buried here a second time, vnder a goodly tombe of Alaba∣ster, vpon which this Epitaph was sometime engrauen.

Simon de Langham sub petris hijs tumulatus, Istius Ecclesie Monachus fuerat, Prior, Abbas; Sede vacante fuit electus Londoniensis

Presul, et insignis Ely, sed postea primas Totius Regni, magnus Regisque minister: Nam Thesaurarius, et Cancellarius eius, Ac Cardinalis in Roma Presbyter is••e. Postque Prenestinus est factus Episcopus, atque Nuncius ex parte Pape transmittitur ist••c. Orbe dolente Pater, quem nunc reuocare nequimus Magdalene festo, milleno septuageno, Et ter centeno sexto Christi ruit anno. Hunc Deus absoluat de cunctis que male gessit, Et meritis Matris sibi celica gaudia donet.

Here lyeth Robert Waldby,* 1.96 who being a yong man, followed Edward the blacke Prince into France, where he continued long a Student, and pro∣fited so much, as no man in the Vniuersitie where he liued, might com∣pared with him for all kinde of learning: he was a good linguist, very well seene in Philosophie, both naturall and morall, in Physicke, and the canon Law; very eloquent, an excellent Preacher; and esteemed so profound a Diuine, as he was thought meete to be the professour of Diuinity, or Do∣ctor of the Chaire in the Vniuersitie of Tholouze. For these his good gifts hee was much fauoured of the blacke Prince, then of King Richard his sonne, who preferred him to the Bishopricke of the Isle of Man, from that preferment he was translated to the Archbishopricke of Dublin in Ireland, thence to Chichester, and lastly to the Archbishopricke of Yorke; where he sate not fully three yeares, but died the 29. of May, 1397. His Epitaph is quite worne or torne away from his monument, yet I found it in a Manu∣script, in Sir Robert Cottons Librarie.

Hic fuit expertus in quouis iure Robertus De Walbye dictus,* 1.97 nunc est sub marmore strictus. Sacre Scripture Doctor fuit et geniture Ingenuus medicus, & Plebis semper amicus Presul * 1.98 Adurensis post hec Archas Dublinensis. Hinc Cicestrensis, tandem Primus Eborensis. Quarto Kalend Iunij migrauit cur sibus anni Milleni ter C. septem nonies: quoque deni. Vos precor orate, quod sint sibi dona beate Cum sanctis vite; requiescat et hic sine lite.

In an old riming Manuscript of the succession of the Archbishops of Yorke, I finde thus much of this man.

Tunc Robertus ordinis Fratris Augustini, Ascendit in Cathedram Primatis Paulini,* 1.99 Lingua scientificus s••rmonis Latini. Anno primo proximat. vite sue fini. De carnis ergastulo Presul euocatur Gleba sui corporu Westminstre humatur.

* 1.100Here vnder a marble stone in the Chappell royall, lyeth the body of Iohn Waltham, Lord Bishop of Salisbury, who had beene master of the Rolles, keeper of the priuie Seale, and Treasurer of England: in which of∣fice he continued till his death, which happened in the yeare 1395. hauing sate bishop 7 yeares, and executed the Treasurorship foure yeares. King Richard the second loued him entirely, and greatly bewailed his death. In token whereof hee commanded that hee should be buried here among the Kings:* 1.101 hoc anno, saith Walshingham, viz. in the yeare 1395. obijt Iohannes de Waltham Episcopus Sarum & regni Thesaurarius qui tantum Regi com∣placuerit, vt etiam (multis licet murmurantibus) apud monasterium inter Reges meruit sepulturam.

He lieth in the pauement vnder a flat marble stone, iust beside King Ed∣ward the first, vpon which, his Epitaph was inlayd in brasse, with his por∣traiture in Episcopall robes; now defaced, and almost quite perished.

* 1.102Here lyeth another Bishop here buried (but not in so conspicuous and princely a place of the Church, as doth Waltham) who was likewise by the Kings speciall commandement, here inhumed, for that he was accounted a very holy and vertuous man; namely, one Richard de Wendouer, Parson of Bromley, and Bishop of Rochester, who died in the yeare, 1250. and in the raigne of King Henry the third.

* 1.103Here lieth interred, Sir Humfrey Bourchier, Lord Cromwell, the sonne of Henry Bourchier, Earle of Essex, by Isabell, daughter of Richard, Earle of Cambridge, and sister to Richard, Duke of Yorke; who in aide of his kinsman King Edward the fourth, was slaine at Barnet field vpon Easter day, 1471.

* 1.104And here lieth interred another Humfrey Bourchier, who was the sonne and heire of Iohn Bourchier, Lord Berners, who was also slaine at the same battaile; to whose memories this Epitaph yet remaines:

Hic Pugil ecce iacens Bernet fera bella cupiscens, Certat vt Eacides, fit saucius vndique miles, Vt cecidit vulnus, Mars porrigit arma cruore, Sparsim tincta rubent, dolor en lachrimabilis hora, Lumine nempe cadit, quo christus morte resurgit. Bourchier Humfridus, clara propagine dictus. Edwardi Regis qui tertius est vocitatus, Iohn. Domini Berners proles, et paruulus heres, Quartus et Edwardus belli tenet ecce triumphum, Quo perit Humfridus, vt Regis vernula verus * 1.105Cyronomon mense sponse Regis fuit iste, Elisabeth, sibi sic sua virtus crescit honore. Armis conspicuus quondam, charusque Britannis Hic fuit: Vt celis viuat deposcite votis.

* 1.106Here lieth entombed in a slight monument in the wall, Thomas Mylling, sometime Abbot of this Monastery; from whence he was preferred to the Bishopricke of Hereford, by King Edward the fourth, vnder whom he was of the priuie Councell, and was Godfather to Prince Edward his eldest

Sonne; He was a Monke of this house, being but a youth; and then went to Oxford, where he studied vntill hee proceeded Doctor of Diuinitie; in which time he attained good knowledge in the Greeke tongue; which in those dayes was geason, saith the reuerend Author of the Bishops Cata∣logue.* 1.107 He died in the yeare 1493.

Here in an obscure place of this Church,* 1.108 lieth the body of Hugoline, Chamberlaine to King Edward the Confessor, of whom this Storie is writ∣ten in the life of the said Edward. King Edward one afternoone lying in his bed with his curtaines round about him drawne, a poore pilfering Courtier came into his Chamber, where finding the Kings Casket open, which Hu∣golin had forgotten to shut, he tooke out so much money as hee could well carry, and went away; but insatiable desire brought him againe the second and third time for such a ready prey: vntill the King (who lay still all this while, and would not seeme to see) began to speake to him, and bade him speedily be packing, for he was well if he could see; for if Hugoline came and tooke him there, he were not onely like to loose all that he had gotten, but also to stretch an halter. The fellow was no sooner gone, but Hugoline came in, and finding the Casket open, and much money taken away, was greatly moued: But the king willed him not to be grieued. For (said he) he that hath it, hath more need of it then we haue.

This Hugolin (saith M. Camden) was buried in the old Chapter house of this Church.* 1.109 Vpon whose Monument these sillie verses were engrauen.

Qui ruis iniuste capit hic Hugoline locus te Laude pia clares quia martyribus nece clare••.

For learning, in this kings dayes, was so low ebbed in England, that be∣tweene Thames and Trent, there was scant one found which could vnder∣stand Latine.

This passage of the aforesaid pilfery is delineated, and wrought in the Hangings about the Quire, with the Portraitures of the king, Hugolin, and the Theefe: vnder which are these verses.

Ecce nimis parca furis manus exit ab archa; Celat opus furis, pietas, non regula iuris. Tolle quod habes et fuge.

Hic iacet Willelmus Bedel Ar. et Cecilia vx. eius filia & heres Domini Roberti Grene militis,* 1.110 ac etiam heres domini Iohannis Cley militis, qui qui∣dem Willelmus, fuit Thesaurarius Hospitij excellentissimi Principis Marga∣rete nuper Comitisse Richmondie, & Darbie, matris Regis Henrici septimi, nec non Thesaurarius Hospitij reuerendissimi Patris domini, & huius regni Cancellarij, titulo Sancte Cecilie trans Tiberim sacro sancte Romane Ecclesie Presbyteri Cardinalis ordinati. Qui quidem Willelmus ob. 3. Iulij 1518.

Here is an Epitaph cut in Brasse vpon a marble stone, now almost worne out,* 1.111 which was made to the memory of one Robert Haule Esquire, murder∣ed in this Church; the manner whereof our Chronicles doe thus briefely relate. In the battell of Nazers in Spaine, this Robert Haule, or Hawley, and Iohn Schakell Esquires, tooke the Earle of Dene prisoner, who deliuer∣ed vnto them his sonne and heire, as a pledge for assurance of performances.

Not long after this, their Hostage was demanded by Iohn Duke of Lanca∣ster, in the Kings name, whom they denyed to deliuer, for which they were clapt in the Tower; from whence escaping, here they tooke Sanctu∣ary; to whom Sir Raph Ferreis, and Sir Alan Buxhull, with fifty armed men, were secretly sent to doe this mischiefe; who finding them at high Masse; first drew Schakell by a wile, out of the priuiledge of the Church, then offering to lay hands on Hawley; he manfully resisting, with his short sword made them all flie off. But in the end he was slaine in the Chancell, commending himselfe,* 1.112 in his last words, to God, the reuenger of such iniu∣ries, and to the liberty of our holy mother the Church. With him was slaine a seruant of his, thrust into the backe with a Iauelin; and a Monke who intreated for him in respect of the holinesse of the place. This wicked act was perpetrated; the 11. of August, 1378. the second of Richard the second. These words following now onely remaining vpon his Monument.

Me dolus ira furor multorum; militis atque ................... ..... in hoc gladijs celebri pietatis asylo, Dum leuita Dei sermonis legit ad aram: Proh dolor ipse meo Monachorum sanguine vultus Aspersi moriens, chorus est mihi testis in evum. Et me nunc retinet sacer is locus Haule Robertum Hic quia pestiferos male sensi primitus enses. ..................

* 1.113Hic iacet Thomas Ruthal Episcopus Dunelmensis, & Regis Henrici septi∣mi Secretarius, qui obijt 1524.

To this short Inscription, Godwin in his Catalogue addeth a long story of the life and death of this Bishop. Who was borne in Cicester (saith he) in the County of Glocester, and brought vp in Cambridge, where he pro∣ceeded Doctor of Law. He was preferred to the Bishopricke of Durham by King Henry the seuenth; after whose death hee was made one of the priuie Councell vnto the young King, Henry the eight, who esteemed great∣ly of him, for his wisedome and learning; and imployed him often in am∣bassages, and other businesses of importance. Amongst the rest it pleased the king one time, to require him to set downe his iudgement in writing concerning the estate of his kingdome in generall, and particularly to en∣forme him in certaine things by him specified. This discourse the Bishop writ very carefully, and caused it to be bound in Velime gilt, and otherwise adorned in the best manner. Now you shall vnderstand, that it chanced himselfe about the same time, to set downe a note of his owne priuate estate, which, in goods and ready money, amounted to the summe of one hundred thousand pounds. This account was written in a paper booke of the same fashion and binding that the other was, which was prouided for the king. Whereby it happened that the king sending Cardinall Wolsey for the other draught, which he had so long before required of him; the Bi∣shop mistaking, deliuered that which contained an estimate of his owne in∣finite Treasure. This the Cardinall soone espying, and willing to doe the

Bishop a displeasure, deliuered it as he had receiued it vnto the King, shew∣ing withall, how the Bishop had very happily mistaken himselfe; for now (quoth he) you see where you may at any time command a great masse of money, if you need it. As soone as the Bishop vnderstood his errour, the conceit thereof touched him so neare, that within a short spa•••• after hee died, at his house here in the Strand. His intention was to haue repaired the Church of Cicester, to haue built Bridges, as he had begun that ouer the Riuer of Tyne, and to haue done many other deeds of charitie, if hee had not beene preuented by death.

Here lieth the body of Sir William Trussell knight,* 1.114 and speaker of that Parliament, wherein Edward the second, king of England, resigned his Diad••me, and all ensignes of Maiestie, to Edward his eldest Sonne: This Trussell (saith an ancient Author) was a Iudge,* 1.115 who could fit the house with quirks of Law, to colour so lawlesse and treasonable an act, as the deposing of a lawfull king. And thereupon was chosen in the behalfe of the whole Realme, to renounce all homage and obedience to the Lord Edward of Carnarvon,* 1.116 his Soueraigne Lord and King. The forme of which renuncia∣tion was by him the said Trussell pronounced at Kenelworth Castle the 20. of Ianuary, 1326. in these disgracefull words which you may finde in Po∣lychronicon.

I William Trussel, in the name of al men of the lond of Engelond, and of the Parliament Prolocutor; resigne to the Edward the homage that was made to the somtym, and from this tym forward now folowyng, I defye the, and priue the of al royal Powyr, and shal neuer be tendant to the as for Kyng aftyr this tyme. The time of this Trussels death I cannot learne.

Here lieth interred before the Communion Table,* 1.117 the body of Richard de Ware, or Warren, Abbot of this Monastery, and sometime Lord Trea∣surer of England. Who going to Rome for his consecration, brought from thence certaine workmen, and rich Porphery stones; whereof and by whom hee made that curious singular rare pauement before the high Altar:* 1.118 in which are circulary written in letters of brasse these ten verses following, containing a discourse (as one saith) of the worlds continuance.

Si Lector posita prudenter cuncta reuoluat Hic finem primi mobilis inveniet. Sepes trina, canes, & equos, homines, super addas Ceruos & coruos, aquilas, immania cete, Mundi quodque sequens pereuntis triplicat annos, Sphericus Archetypum globus hic monstrat Macrocosmum. Christi milleno bis centeno duodeno; Cum sexageno subductis quatuor anno, Tertius Henricus Rex, vrbs, Odoricus & Abbas Hos compegere Porphyreos lapides.

With these stones and workmen, he did also frame the Shrine of Edward the Confessor, with these verses.

Anno milleno Domini cum septuageno, Et bis centeno, cum completo quasi deno,

Hoc opus est factum quod Petrus duxit in actum Romanus ciuis. Homo causam noscere si vis Rex fuit Henricus Sancti presentis amicus.

This Abbot died the second day of December, 1283. after he had gouern∣ed this Monastery, three and twenty yeares and more. Vpon whose graue∣stone this briefe Epitaph is engrauen.

Abbas Richardus de Wara qui requiescit, Hic portat lapides, quos hic portauit ab vrbe.

* 1.119After the death of Richard de Ware, Walter Wenlocke was chosen Abbot, and preferred to the honour of Lord Treasurer by King Edward the first. Hee was Abbot sixe and twenty yeares,* 1.120 lacking sixe dayes: died vpon Christmas day at night, in the yeare 1307. And lieth buried vnder a mar∣ble stone: whereupon this Epitaph, to his high commendation, is inlayed in brasse.

Abbas Walterus iacet hic sub marmore tectus, Non fuit austerus, sed mitis, famine rectus.

* 1.121Here lieth Richard de Barking, Abbot of this Monastery, who was an especiall Councellour to King Henry the third, chiefe Baron of the Exche∣quer, and Treasurer of England. Who hauing beene Abbot 24. yeares, died the 23. day of Nouember, 1246. He was first buried in our Ladies Chap∣pell in a Tombe of marble, which was pulled downe by Frier Combe, a Sa∣crist of this house. Who layed a faire plaine marble stone ouer him, with this Epitaph thus inscribed.

Richardus Barking Prior est post inclytus Abbas, Henrici Regis prudens fuit ille minister; Huius erat prima laus, Insula rebus opima, Altera laus eque Thorp, census, ocham, decimeque, Tertia Mortone castrum simili ratione Et Regis quarta de multis commoda charta. Clementis festo mundo migrauit ab isto. M. Domini C. bis: xl. sextoque sub anno. Cui detur venia parte pia virgo Maria.

* 1.122Here in the Cloister vnder a flat stone of blacke marble, lie the remaines of Gervais de Bloys, so called of the place or Earledome which his father possest in France: who was Stephen Earle of Bloys and Champaigne; after∣wards king of England. He was his base sonne, begotten of one Dameta a gentlewoman of Normandy. He was brought into England by his father the fifth yeare of his raigne; and in the same yeare made Abbot of this place. In which gouernment he continued for the space of twenty yeares. He deceased the 26. of August, 1160. His Epitaph.

De Regem genere Pater hic Gervasius ecce Monstrat de functus, mors rapit omne genus. Euen father Gervase borne of kings race; Loe is dead, thus death all sorts doth deface.

Here lieth the body of Nicholas Litlington, Abbot of this house, who in the time of his gouernement, which was for the space of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, yeares, built the Abbots hall, and the faire roome now called Ierusalem, the West and South part of the Cloister, and a Granary, now the Schollers long Bed∣chamber, with the Tower adioyning, as also the Water-Mill, and many other Edefices. He died Anno 1386. I found his Epitaph in a namelesse Ma∣nuscript, in that neuer enough admired Librarie of Sir Robert Cotton.

Hacce Domo Ductor Nicholaus erat quoque structor Et sibi tunc sedem celo construxit & edem. M. semel, C ter erat annus, sex octuagenus Cum perit iste Abbas diuino flamine plenus. Quinta dies, fit ei requies, in fine Nouembris. Detur ei, pietate Dei, merces requici. Amen.

Here lieth in the Cloister, one Vitalis,* 1.123 Abbot of this Couent, preferred thereunto by William the Conquerour; in the 16. of whose raigne, 1082. he died: vpon whose Tombe this Epitaph was engrauen, alluding to his name, like as for Laurence his successor.

Qui nomen traxit a vita, morte vocante Abbas Vitalis transijt, hicque iacet.

Here lieth the body of one Lawrence,* 1.124 Abbot of this Monastery, who ob∣tained of Alexander the third (that ambitious Bishop of Rome) to him∣selfe and his successors, the vse of the Miter, the Ring, and the Gloues; the Pastorall Staffe, before his time, being their onely comportment, as by the differing portraitures of the Abbots vpon their Tombestones may be easi∣ly discerned. He died, Anno 1176. to whose memory, this allusiue Epitaph was made.

Clauditur hoc tumulo vir quondam clarus in orbe Quo preclarus erat hic locus, est et erit. Pro meritis vite dedit illi laurea nomen Detur ei vite laurea pro meritis.

Here lieth Gislebert Crispine,* 1.125 Abbot, who flourished in the raigne of King Henry the first, and died in the yeare of our redemption, 1114. His picture is vpon the graue stone, inlaid with brasse, with his Pastoral staffe onely, without Miter, Ring, or other ornament, with these verses.

Hic Pater insignis, genus altum, virgo, senex que Gisleberte iaces, lux, via, duxque tuis. Mitis eras, iustus, prudens, fortis, moderatus, Doctus quadriuio, nec minus in triuio. Sic tamen ornatus nece sexta luce Decembris Spiramen celo, reddis & ossa solo.

Here lieth interred, the body of Edmund Kirton,* 1.126 Abbot of this Mona∣stery, Doctor of Diuinity, and a profound learned man: he adorned Saint

Andrewes Chappell, wherein he lieth buried, with the armes of many of the English Nobility. These verses are inscribed vpon his monument.

Pastor pacisicus, subiectis vir moderatus, Hac sub marmorea Petra requiescit humatus, Edmundus Kirton, hic quondam qui fuit Abbas, Bis denis annis cum binis connumerandus; Sacre Scripture doctor probus, immoprobatus, Illustri stirpe de Cobildic generatus: Coram Martino papa proposuit iste, Ob quod multiplices laudes habuit & honores▪ Qui obijt tertio die mensis Octobris An. Dom. M.cccc.lx.vi. Eleison Kyry curando morbida mundi.

* 1.127Iohn Islip, Abbot of Westminster, a man of great authoritie and speciall trust with King Henry the seuenth, lieth here interred. He built the Deanes house as now it is, and repaired many other places in this Monasterie: in the windowes whereof (saith Camden) he had a quadruple deuice for his single name;* 1.128 for somewhere he set vp an eye with a slip of a tree: in another place, one slipping boughes in a tree; in other places, an I with the said slip;* 1.129 and in some places, one slipping from a tree with the word, Islip. I cannot learne the time of his death by his Tombe, yet I finde in a Manu∣script, (wherein are diuers funerall collections, and other Inscriptions of this Abbey, which were gathered about the time of the dissolution) that he died the second of Ianuary, in the yeare 1510. the second of Henry the eight; and also that in the Chappell of Saint Erasmus, where he lieth buri∣ed, vpon the wall ouer his Tombe, was the picture of our Sauiour Christ, hanging on the Crosse, seeming to call and to giue good councell vnto man∣kind in these rimes.

Aspice serue Dei sic me posuere Iudei. Aspice deuote quoniam sic pendeo pro te. Aspice mortalis pro te datur Hostia talis. Introitum vite reddo tibi, redde mihi te. In cruce sum prote, qui peccas desine pro me, Desine, do veniam, dic culpam, corrige vitam.

Vnder this Crucifixe, was the picture of the Abbot, holding vp his hands, and praying thus in old Poetrie.

En cruce qui pendis Islip miserere Iohannis Sanguine perfuso reparasti quem pretioso.

* 1.130Here lieth entombed, the body of Raph Selby, descended from the anci∣ent family of the Selbies of Billesdun in the County of Northumberland, a Monke of this fraternitie, a learned Doctor in the ciuill and canon lawes, and one exceedingly beloued and fauoured of King Henry the fourth, and Henry the fift; in the eight yeare of whose raigne, hee departed this world, Anno 1420. as by this Epitaph appeareth.

Ecce Radulphus ita Selby iacet hic Cenobita, Doctor per merita prepotens lege perita, Legibus ornatus, a regibus et veneratus, Ordo eiusque status per cum fit conciliatus. M. C quater, x bis. post partum virginis iste Michaelis festo tibi spirauit bone Christe.

Not farre from this Selby,* 1.131 lieth buried vnder a marble stone, the body of Iohn Windsore, one of the noble familie of the Windsores, sometime resi∣ding at Stanwell in this County; a great commander in the warres of Ire∣land, vnder Richard the second, and in the battaile of Shrewesbury, vnder King Henry the fourth: who died in the second yeare of King Henry the fift vpon Eester Eue, the seuenth of Aprill, 1414. as this Epitaph sheweth.

Est bis septenus M. Christi C quater. annus, Vespera Paschalis dum septima lux fit Aprilis Transijt a mundo Io. Windsore nomine notus, Corde gemens mundo, confessus, crimine lotus: Fecerat heredem Gulielmus auunculus istum. Miles et Armigerum dignus de nomine dignum. Dum iuuenilis erat bello multos perimebat: Postea penituit & eorum vulnera fleuit. Recumbens obijt, hic nunc in carcere quiescit: Viuat in eternum Spiritus ante Deum.

But now I will conclude the funerall Monuments of this Abbey,* 1.132 with the death and buriall of our most learned English Poet, Geffery Chaucer, whose life is written at large, by Thomas Speght, (who by old copies, refor∣med his workes) which the Reader may see a little before the beginning of his bookes. He departed out of this world, the 25. day of October, in the yeare of our Lord, 1400. after had liued 72. yeares. Thus writeth Leland: Chaucer liued till he was an old man, and found old age to be grieuous: and whilest he followed his causes at London, he died, and was buried at West∣minster. The old verses which were written on his graue at the first were these.

Galfridus Chaucer vates et fama Poesis Materne, hac sacra sum tumulatus humo.

Thomas Occleue or Okelefe, of the office of the priuie Seale, sometime Chaucers scholler; for the loue he bare to the said Geffray his master, cau∣sed his picture to be truely drawne in his booke De Regimine Principis; de∣dicated to Henry the fift; according to which, that his picture drawn vpon his Monument, was made, as also the Monument it selfe, at the cost and charges of Nicholas Brigham gentleman, Anno 1555. who buried his daughter Rachell, a childe of foure yeares of age, neare to the Tombe of this old Poet, the 21. of Iune 1557. such was his loue to the Muses. But to re∣turne againe to Chaucers picture, to which these verses were added by the said Occleue.

Although his life be queint, the resemblaunce Of him that hath in me so fresh liuelinesse, That to put other men in remembraunce Of his Person, I haue here the likenesse Doe make, to the end in soothfastnesse, That they that of him haue lost thought and minde, By this Peniture may againe him finde.

The Inscriptions vpon his Tombe at this day are after this manner.

Qui fuit Anglorum vates ter maximus olim Galfridus Chaucer conditur hoc tumulo Annum si quaeras Domini si tempora mortis Ecce notae subsunt quae tibi cuncta notant: 25 Octobris, 1400. Aerumnarum requies mors: N Brigham hos fecit musarum nomine sumptus▪

About the ledge of the Tombe, these verses were written.

Si rogitas quis era••, forsan te fama docebit Quod si Fama negat, mundi quia gloria transit Haec monumenta lege.

Now it shall not be amisse to adde to these Epitaphs, the iudgements and reports of some learned men of this worthy and famous Poet: and first of all let vs heare his Scholler Occleue; Vir tam bonis liter••s, quam generis prosapia clarus: these are his lines of him in his foresaid booke de regimine Principis.

Alas my worthy maister honourable, This lands very treasure, and richesse, Death by thy death hath harme irreperable Vnto vs done: her vengeable duresse, Dispoiled hath this land of the sweetnesse Of Rhetorige: for vnto Tullius, Was neuer man so like among vs. Also who was heire in Philosophy To Aristotle, in our tongue but thee? The steppes of Virgill in Poese Thou suedst eken men know well inough: What combre world that thee my master slough Would I slaine were.

Iohn Lidgate, a Monke of Burie, in his Prologue of Bocchas, of the fall of Princes by him translated, saith thus in his commendation.

My Master Chaucer, with his fresh Comedies, Is dead alas chiefe Poet of Britaine, That whilome made full pitous Tragedies, The faule also of Princes he did complaine,

As he that was of making soueraine; Whom all this Land should of right preferre Sith of our Language he was the load-sterre.

That excellent and learned Scottish Poet, Gawyne Dowglas, Bishop of Dunkeld, in the Preface of Virgils Aeneados, turned into Scottish verse, doth thus speake of Chaucer.

Venerable Chaucer, principall Poet without pere, Heuenly trumpet, orloge, and regulere, In eloquence, baulme, conduct, and dyall Milkie fountaine, cleare strand, and rose ryall. Of fresh endite through Albione Island brayed In his legend of noble Ladies sayed.

Spenser in his Fairie Queene calleth his writings, The works of heauenly wit. Concluding his commendation in this manner.

Dan Chaucer, Well of English, vndefiled, On Fames eternall beadrole worthy to be filed.

Sir Philip Sidney likewise, and M. Camden speake much in the deserued praise of this worthy Poet, whom I leaue to his eternall rest.

Vnder the Clocke in the Church, I haue read this Inscription.

Dic mihi quid prodest horas numerare fugaces Cum cessant perdas quod numerare libet.

This Church hath had great priuiledge of Sanctuarie within the precinct thereof (as Stow saith in his Suruay of London) to wit, the Church, Churchyard, Close, and all that which is still called the Sanctuarie. Which Priuiledge was first granted by Sebert king of the East Saxons, the first Founder thereof. Since encreased by Edgar King of the West Saxons, re∣newed and confirmed by King Edward the Confessor, as appeareth by this his Charter following.

Edward by the grace of God, king of Englishmen: I make it to bee knowne to all generations of the world after me, that by especiall comman∣dement of our holy Father Pope Leo; I haue renewed, and honoured the holy Church of the blessed Apostle, Saint Peter of Westminster; and I or∣der and establish for euer, that what person, of what condition or estate so∣euer he be, from whencesoeuer he come, or for what offence or cause it be, either for his refuge into the said holy place, he be assured of his life, liberty, and limbes. And ouer this I forbid (vnder the paine of euerlasting damna∣tion) that no Minister of mine, or of my Successours, intermeddle them with any the goods, lands, or possessions of the said persons taking the said San∣ctuary: for I haue taken their goods and liuelode into my speciall pro∣tection; and therefore I grant to euery each of them (in as much as my ter∣restriall power may suffice) all manner freedome of ioyous liberty, and whosoeuer presumes, or doth contrary to this my Grant: I will he lose his name, worship, dignitie and power. And that with the great traytor Iudas, that betrayed our Sauiour, he be in the euerlasting fire of hell. And I will, and ordaine, that this my grant endure as long, as there remaineth in Eng∣land, either loue, or dread of Christian name.

King Edward the third built in the little Sanctuarie, a Clochard of stone and timber, and placed therein three bells, for the vse of Saint Stephens

Chappell. About the biggest Bell was engrauen, or cast in the mettall, these words:

King Edward made mee thirtie thousand weight and three: Take mee downe and wey mee, and more you shall fynd mee.

But these Bells being to be taken downe, in the raigne of King Henry the eight, one writes vnderneath with a coale:

But Henry the eight, will bait me of my weight.

In the Steeple of the great Church in the Citie of Roane in Normandy is one great Bell with the like Inscription.

Ie suis George de Ambios Qui trente cinque mille pois Mes lui qui me pesera Trente six mill me trouera.

I am George of Ambois, Thirtie five thousand in pois: But he that shall weigh me, Thirtie six thousand shall find mee.

One lately hauing taken view of the Sepulchres of so many Kings, No∣bles, and other eminent persons interred in this Abbey of Westminster, made these rimes following, which he called

A Memento for Mortalitie.

Mortalitie behold and feare, What a change of flesh is here? Thinke how many royall bones, Sleepe within this heape of stones, Hence remou'd from beds of ease, Daintie ••are, and what might please, Fretted roofes, and costlie showes, To a roofe that flats the nose: Which proclaimes all flesh is grasse, How the worlds faire Glories passe: That there is no trust in Health, In youth, in age, in Greatnesse, wealth: For if such could haue repriu'd, Those had beene immortall liu'd. Know from this the worlds a snare, How that greatnesse is but care, How all pleasures are but paine, And how short they do remaine: For here they lye had Realmes and Lands, That now want strength to stirre their hands; Where from their pulpits seel'd with dust They preach. In Greatnesse is no trust. Here's an Aker sowne indeed, With the richest royall seed, That the earth did ere sucke in, Since the first man dy'd for sin, Here the bones of birth haue cry'd,

Though Gods they were, as men haue dy'd. Here are sands (ignoble things) Dropt from the ruin'd sides of Kings; With whom the poore mans earth being showne, The difference is not easily knowne. Her's a world of pompe and state, Forgotten, dead, disconsolate; Thinke then this Sithe that mowes downe kings, Exempts no meaner mortall things. Then bid the wanton Lady tread, Amid these mazes of the dead. And these truly vnderstood, More shall coole and quench the blood, Then her many sports a day, And her nightly wanton play. Bid her paint till day of doome, To this fauour she must come. Bid the Merchant gather wealth, The vsurer exact by stealth. The proud man beate it from his thought, Yet to this shape all must be brought.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The foundati∣on of S. Stephens Chappell.
• * 1.2

  Charta Regis Ed. tetijs. ex Re∣cord turr••s Lon∣don.
• * 1.3

  The foundati∣〈…〉〈…〉 West∣••inster Ab∣bey.
• * 1.4

  In Arch. turris London.
• * 1.5

  Iohn Harding ca. 88.
• * 1.6

  Rob. Glocest.
• * 1.7

  Hist. Ecclesiast. Angl. vnde••. ••ae∣cul. ca. 16.
• * 1.8

  Sebert king of the East Saxōs with his Queene Aethel∣goda.
• * 1.9

  Edward king of England, surnamed the Confessor.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. ••arn••r. ••lb. Engl.
• * 1.11

  Mss. in bib. Cot.
• * 1.12

  Rob. Glocest.
• * 1.13

  The first ••oure of the ••i••gs 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 king Edwards wife.
• * 1.15

  Rob. Glocest.
• * 1.16

  Maud wife to king Henry the first.
• * 1.17

  Ex Mss. in bib. Cot.
• * 1.18

  The Courti∣ers speech.
• * 1.19

  The Queenes answer.
• * 1.20

  Mat. Paris ad Ann. 1118.
• * 1.21

  King Henry the third.
• * 1.22

  Mat. West.
• * 1.23

  Rob. Glocest.
• * 1.24

  Mss. in bib. Cot
• * 1.25

  King Edward the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.26

  Sir Rob. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.27

  Ex. Arch. Turr. Lond.
• * 1.28

  King Ed. Coro∣nation.
• * 1.29

  Chron. Compend. Cant. Mss. in bib. Cot.
• * 1.30

  Fabian.
• * 1.31

  Kept.
• * 1.32

  Ca••ton. Fabian.
• * 1.33

  S. Daniel.
• * 1.34

  The battaile of Dunbarre.
• * 1.35

  The battaile of Foukirke. Munster. Vni∣uers. Cosm. lib. 2. Walsing Ypodig.
• * 1.36

  Hard. cap. 162.
• * 1.37

  Henry the third.
• * 1.38

  Henry the third.
• * 1.39

  The fatall Marble.
• * 1.40

  The cruelty of the Scots.
• * 1.41

  Rich Southwell. Ho••••inshead.
• * 1.42

  ••ro. May.
• * 1.43

  Polychron. l. 7. cap. 40.
• * 1.44

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.45

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.46

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 of ••a••singham.
• * 1.47

  Walsing.
• * 1.48

  The dead bo∣dies of our English kings (anciently) preserued from corruption.
• * 1.49

  Ex Arch. Turr. Lond.
• * 1.50

  Fabians Ballad Royall.
• * 1.51

  〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.52

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Queen of England.
• * 1.53

  Edward the third King of England.
• * 1.54

  Remaines.
• * 1.55

  Fauine in the orders of En∣gland.
• * 1.56

  Alluding to the ••eopard•• in the 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.57

  Cron. Compend. Cant. in bib. Col. His Character.
• * 1.58

  Sam. Daniel.
• * 1.59

  His Iustice.
• * 1.60

  His regard of Order.
• * 1.61

  His loue to his people.
• * 1.62

  His Proui∣dence.
• * 1.63

  His works of Pietie.
• * 1.64

  His buildings.
• * 1.65

  Walsing. in vit. Ed. 3.
• * 1.66

  Add. Rob. Glo∣cest.
• * 1.67

  Bohemia.
• * 1.68

  Philip Queene of England.
• * 1.69

  Richard the se∣cond, King of England.
• * 1.70

  Ranulph, Monke of Chester. Lib. vltimo.
• * 1.71

  Folio 166.
• * 1.72

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.73

  Bohemia.
• * 1.74

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.75

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.76

  Anne, Queene of England.
• * 1.77

  Stow. Annal.
• * 1.78

  Henry the fift King of Eng∣land.
• * 1.79

  Add to Robert of Glocester.
• * 1.80

  Katherine the wife of Henry the fifth.
• * 1.81

  Henry the se∣uenth king of England.
• * 1.82

  Elizabeth the wife of king Hen. the se∣uenth.
• * 1.83

  Margaret Coū∣tesse of Rich∣mond.
• * 1.84

  Margaret the daughter of King Ed. 4.
• * 1.85

  Elizab. the daughter of king Hen. 7.
• * 1.86

  Anne Queene of England.
• * 1.87

  Edmund Earle of Lancaster.
• * 1.88

  Harding c. 147.
• * 1.89

  Mat. Paris.
• * 1.90

  Pageant of Popes.
• * 1.91

  Aueline Coun∣tesse of Lanca∣ster.
• * 1.92

  William de Va∣lence Earle of Penbroke.
• * 1.93

  Stow Annal.
• * 1.94

  Harding ca. ••56
• * 1.95

  Simon Langham Archbishop of Canterbury.
• * 1.96

  Robert Waldby Archbishop of Yorke.
• * 1.97

  Ex Mss. in bib Cot.
• * 1.98

  Sodorensis B. of Man.
• * 1.99

  In bib. Cot.
• * 1.100

  Iohn Waltham Bishop of Sa∣lisbury. Ca••al. of Bi∣shops.
• * 1.101

  In vita R 2.
• * 1.102

  Richard Wendo∣uer Bishop of R••ch••ster.
• * 1.103

  Sir Humphrey Bourchier, Lord Cromwell.
• * 1.104

  Sir Humphrey Bourchier.
• * 1.105

  Cup. bearer.
• * 1.106

  Tho. Milling Bishop of He∣reford.
• * 1.107

  Godwin.
• * 1.108

  Hugolin Cham¦berlaine to S. Edward, king and Confessor.
• * 1.109

  Remaines.
• * 1.110

  William Bedell and Cicely his wife.
• * 1.111

  Rob. Haule.
• * 1.112

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 vit. R. 2
• * 1.113

  Tho. Ruthall Bishop of Durham.
• * 1.114

  Sir William Trussell knight.
• * 1.115

  Tho. dela More.
• * 1.116

  Lib. 7. cap. 43.
• * 1.117

  Rich. de Ware Abbot.
• * 1.118

  Francis Thinne. in Catal. Thes. Aug.
• * 1.119

  Walter Wenlocke Abbot.
• * 1.120

  The Abbots of this house were Barons of the Parliament.
• * 1.121

  Ric. de Barking Abbot.
• * 1.122

  Gervaise de Bloys Abbot.
• * 1.123

  Vitalis Abbot.
• * 1.124

  Laurence the first m••••erd Abbot of West.
• * 1.125

  Gislebert Cris∣pin Abbot.
• * 1.126

  Edmund Kirton Abbot.
• * 1.127

  Iohn Islip, Abbot.
• * 1.128

  Remaines.
• * 1.129

  In bib Cot.
• * 1.130

  Raph Selby.
• * 1.131

  Io Windsore.
• * 1.132

  Geffrey Chaucer