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.

Letheringham.

In the parish Church, and in the Church of the little Priory adioyning, are diuers Tombes and grauestones to the memory of that noble and an∣cient Family of the Wingfields, all of which are fouly defaced. This Priory was founded by sir Iohn Boynet,* 1.1 of the dedication order or time, I am alto∣gether ignorant, it was valued at twenty sixe pounds, eighteene shillings, fiue pence, of yearely commings in. The Wingfelds here buried, were these.

Sir Robert Wingfeld, Lord of Letheringham. Sir Robert Wingfeld and E∣lizabeth Gousall his wife, Sir Iohn Wingfeld, and Elisabeth his wife. Sir Thomas Wingfeld. Sir Robert Wingfeld, and Elisabeth Russell his wife, obijt Robertus, 1409. Thomas Wingfeld and Margaret his wife: Richard Wingfeld, Anne, and Mary.

Inscriptions vpon the monuments of the Wingfelds, partly remaining, are these which follow.

Hic iacet tumulatus Dominus Willelmus Wingfeld,* 1.2 Miles Dominus isti∣us ville & patronus istius Ecclesie qui ob. primo die Iulij 1398. Cuius anime propitietur Deus, Amen.

Hic iacet Willelmus VVingfeld,* 1.3 Armig. et Katherina vxor eius.... Do∣minus et patronus Quorum....

Hic iacet Dominus Robertus VVingfeld,* 1.4 miles et Elisabetha vxor eius,

qui quidem Robertus obijt 3. die Maij 1409. Quorum animabus.... Amen.

* 1.5Hic iacet Dominus...... Wingfild miles quondam Dominus de Lethe∣ringham.

Here is also an ancient faire Tombe very fouly defaced, whereupon this fragment of an Inscription following is onely remaining.

.....Elizabethe Arundel Ducisse Norfol. & Iohannis Paulet militis, qui quidem Iohannes obijt x Maij M. cccclxxxi...... ac Domina Elizabetha Wingfeld vxor predicti Iohannis filia.....

* 1.6Sir Antony Wingfield of Letheringham Knight, sonne and heire of Sir Iohn, liued in the raignes of King Henry the eight, and Edward the sixth, in the 31. of Hen. the 8. he was Captaine of the Guard. He was Controller of Edward the sixth his House, and of the priuie Councell to King Henry the eight, and Edward the sixth: and Knight of the Garter. Hee died..... he married Elisabeth, daughter and coheire of Sir George Veere Knight, and of Margaret his wife, the daughter of Sir William Stafford. Hee was Vice-chamberlaine to King Henry the eight: and, together with the Earles of Arundell and Essex, and others, appointed to be ayding and assisting with his aduise and counsell, the Executours of the said Kings last Will and Te∣stament: A copie whereof I haue in my custody. By which his will he giues to the said Sir Antony two hundred pounds.

In the Priorie Church here at Letheringham, diuers of the ancient fa∣milie of the Nantons lie buried.* 1.7 Of whom out of their pedegree, I haue these notes following.

Master William Smart affirmeth that he hath seene ••n ancient Euidence, dated before the Conquest of England, wherein the Nantons are named, who saith they were written by the name of Nawnton.

Roger Awston reporteth that Nawnton came in with the Conquerour, and that he hath seene Records of the same, who for seruice done had then giuen him in marriage a great inheritrix.

It is reported that Nawntons lands were at that time 700. markes, per annum.

These Nauntons are Patrons of the Church of Alderton in this Coun∣ty, as appeares by this Epitaph there.

Here lieth Henry Naunton Esquire, late Patron of this Church, and Tri∣stram Naunton,* 1.8 both sonnes of William Naunton Esquire, and of Elisabeth his wife; and Elisabeth wife to the said Henry, daughter of Euerard Asheby Esquire, and Elisabeth daughter to the said Henry Naunton, and Elisabeth Asheby.

* 1.9Patruus ignotus, Genetrix vix nota, sororque, Occumbunt sequeris tu mihi sancte Pater. Chara Domus terras fugitis neque sic me fugitis Vos sequar in caelos..... Patri, Patruo, Matri, Sororulae charissimis Posui, fleuique Robertus Naunton. 1600.

* 1.10Now Sir Robert Naunton knight, one of his Maiesties most Honourable priuie Councell, and master of the Court of Wardes and Liueries. Of which Office, will it please reade thus much out of the Interpreter, as fol∣loweth.

Master of the Court of Wards and Liueries,* 1.11 saith he, is the chiefe and principall Officer of the Court of Wards and Liueries, named and assigned by the King, to whose custody the Seale of Court is committed. He at the entring vpon his Office, taketh an Oath before the Lord Chancellour of England, well and truly to serue the king in his Office, to minister equall Iustice to rich and to poore, to the best of his cunning, wit, and power, di∣ligently to procure all things which may honestly and iustly be to the kings aduantage and profit, and to the augmentation of the right and preroga∣tiue of the Crowne, truly to vse the Kings Seale appointed to his office, to endeuour to the vttermost of his power, to see the King iustly answered of all such profits, rents, reuenues and issues, as shall yearely rise, grow, or be due to the King in his office, from time to time, to deliuer with speed such as haue to doe before him, not to take or receiue of any person any gift or reward in any case or matter depending before him, or wherein the King shall be partie, whereby any preiudice, losse, hinderance, or disherison, shall be or grow to the King. Ann. 33. Hen. 8. cap. 33.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Priory of Letheringham
• * 1.2

  Sir Will. Wing∣field Knight.
• * 1.3

  Will. Wingfield.
• * 1.4

  Sir Rob. Wing∣field Knight.
• * 1.5

  Wi••••field knight.
• * 1.6

  Sir Antony Wingfield knight of the Ga••••or.
• * 1.7

  Naunton.
• * 1.8

  H••n. Naunton, Tristram, Elisabeth.
• * 1.9

  This is likewise in the Prioty Church here at Letheringham.
• * 1.10

  Sir Rob Naun∣ton Master of the Court of Wards.
• * 1.11

  D. Cowell. lit. M.