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.

Kensington.

* 1.1Maud de Berford gist icy, Deiu de s••alme eit mercy▪ Amen.

* 1.2Here vndyr lyeth Phelip Meawtis, the sonn and heir of Iohn Meawtis, oone of ye Secretaryes to the kyngs, Hen. the seuenth, and Hen. the eight; Clerk of hys Counsel, and oone of the knyghts of Wyndsor. Whych Phe∣lip decessyd the eight of Nouembre. M. D. X. on whoes soul Iesu have mercy. Amen.

* 1.3Hic iacent Robertus Rote & Elisab........ Richardus Scardebrugh & Elisabetha vxor eius, ac Robertus Scardebrugh filius eorundem Richardi et Elisabethe, qui quidem Richardus obiji xi. die Decemb. M.CCCC.liij. quorum animabus propitietur Altissimus.

* 1.4Here lyes Adwin Lauerocke of Calis, Cosin to Iohn Mewtas of Ken∣sington, and the French Secretary to Kyng Henry the seuenth. Which de∣cessyd, on Seynt Stephens dey. M.CCCC.lxxxxiii. on whos soul God have mercy. Amen.

In the worschip of God and our Ladie Say for al Cristen souls a Pater Noster and an Avie.

* 1.5Hic iacet Thomas Essex Armiger filius & heres Gulielmi Essex Armi∣geri, Rememoratoris Domini Regis Edwardi quarti in Scaccario, ac Vice the∣sarar. Anglie, qui obijt 10. Nouemb. 1500.

Que sola virgineo nata laudamus honore, Me protegens, Nato fundito vota tuo.

* 1.6Of the Office of Remembrancers, whereof William the father of this Thomas Essex here entombed, was one and the chiefe: giue mee leaue to speake a little out of the Interpreter.

Remembrancers of the Exchequer (Rememoratores) bee three Officers or Clerks. One called the Kings Remembrancer, Ann. 35. Eli. cap. 5. The other the Lord Treasurers Remembrancer. Vpon whose charge it seemeth to lye, that they put all Iustices of that Court, as the Lord Treasurer, and the rest, in remembrance of such things as are to be called on, and dealt in for the Princes behoofe. The third is called the Remembrancer of the first-fruits. Of these you may reade something, Ann. 5. Ric. 2. Stat. 1. cap. 14. and 15. to the effect aboue specified. These An 37. Ed. 3. cap. 4. be called Clerkes of the Remembrance. It seemeth that the name of the Officer is borrowed from the Civilians, who haue their Memoriales, qui sunt notarij Cancellariae in regno subiecti officio Quaestoris. Lucas de Penna. C. lib. 10 tit. 12. num. 7.* 1.7 The Kings Remembrancer entreth into his Office all Recog∣nisances, taken before the Barons for any the Kings debts, for apparences, or for obseruing of orders. He taketh all bonds for any of the Kings debts, or for appearance, or for obseruing of orders, and maketh proces vpon them for the breach of them. He writeth proces against the Collectours of Cu∣stomes, Subsedies, and Fiueteenths for their accounts. All informations vpon penall Statutes are entred in his Office. And all matters vpon English Bills in the Exchequer Chamber are remaining in his Office. Hee maketh

the Bills of compositions vpon penall Lawes, taketh the stalments debts, maketh a Record of a Certificate deliuered to him by the Clerkes of the Starre-Chamber of the Fines there set, and sendeth them to the Pipe. Hee hath deliuered to his Office all manner of Indentures, fines, and other Eui∣dences whatsoeuer, that concerne the assuring of any lands to the Crowne. He yearely, in Crastino Animarum, readeth in open Court the Statute for election of Sheriffes, and giueth those that choose them their oath. He rea∣deth in open Court the oath of all the Officers of the Court, when they are admitted.

The Treasurers Remembrancer maketh Proces against all Sheriffes,* 1.8 Es∣cheators, Receiuers, and Bayliffes, for their accounts. He maketh Proces of Fieri Facias, and extent for any debts due to the King, either in the Pipe, or with the Auditors. He maketh Proces for all such reuenue as is due to the King by reason of his tenures. He maketh a Record, whereby it appeareth whether Sheriffes and other accountants keepe their dayes of prefixion. All extreats of fines, issues, and amerciaments set in any Courts of West∣minster, or at the Assises, or Sessions, are certified into his Office; and are by him deliuered to the Clerke of Extreats to write Proces vpon them. He hath also brought into his Office all the accounts of Customers, Controul∣lers, and other accomptants, to make thereof an entrie of Record.

The Remembrancer of the first-fruits taketh all Compositions for first-fruits and Tenths;* 1.9 and maketh Proces against such as pay not the same.

Now to returne; these Essexes were Lords of this Towne (as I haue it by relation) which Towne, at this day, is much honoured by the Lord there∣of, that noble Gentleman, Sir Henry Rich, Captaine of his Maiesties Gaurd, and knight of the Garter, Baron Kensington of Kensington, Earle of Hol∣land, and one of his Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mawd Berford.
• * 1.2

  Philip Meawtis.
• * 1.3

  Ric. Scardebrugh and Elis. his wife.
• * 1.4

  Adwin Laue∣rocke.
• * 1.5

  Tho. Essex.
• * 1.6

  The office of Remembran∣cers. D. Cowell. lic. R.
• * 1.7

  The Kings Re∣membrancer.
• * 1.8

  The Treasurers Remembran∣cer.
• * 1.9

  Remembran∣cer of the first-fruits.