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.

Walsingham.

One Richold a Widdow, dwelling in the Towne of Walsingsame, was the first founder of the Chappell there in the yeare of our Lord God, 1061.

which she dedicated to our blessed Lady, and founded the same in all points, like to the Chappell of our Lady at Nazareth, in that place where she was saluted by the Angell Gabriel. It was made a Priory of blacke Ca∣nons, by Edmond Earle of March, and Elisabeth de Burgo, in the raigne of Edward the Third; and valued at the suppression thereof, (which happe∣ned the fourth of August, in the thirtieth yeare of the raign of K. Henry the Eight) after the rate of those times, to haue of yearely reuenues, foure hun∣dred forty sixe pounds, fourteene shillings, foure pence, halfe penny, qua.

This village was much renowned throughout all England for a Pilgri∣mage to our Lady, the Virgin Mary: whom he who had not in that former age visited, and presented with offerings, was reputed irreligious. But this shall Erasmus, an eye witnesse, describe in his owne very words.

Not farre from the Sea, saith he, about foure miles, there standeth a Town, liuing almost of nothing else but vpon the resort of Pilgrimes. There is a Col∣ledge of Canons, yet such, as vnto whom the Latinists haue giuen the addition of Regulares; a middle kinde, betwixt Monkes and those Canons, whom they terme Secular: This Colledge hath scarse any other reuenues, than from the liberality of the said Virgin. For, certaine of the greater Presents and Obla∣tions are laid vp and preserued. But if there be any money offered, or ought else, of small value, that goeth vnto maintenance of the Couent, and their Head or President, whom they call Prior. The Church is faire and neat: yet in it the Virgin dwelleth not: that honour, forsooth, shee hath done vnto her Sonne: she hath her Church by her selfe, but so, as that she may be on the right hand of her Sonne. Neither doth she dwell here for all this, for why, the buil∣ding is not yet finished, and the place hath a through light and ayre on all sides, with open dores, and wide open windowes; the Ocean Sea withall the fa∣ther and foster of all winds is hard by. In that Church which I said was vnfi∣nished, there is a small Chappell, but all of wood, whereunto on either side at a narrow and little dore, are such admitted, as come with their deuotions and offerings. Small light there is in it, and none other in manner, but by Tapers or waxe Candles, yeelding a most deynty and pleasant smell. Nay, if you looke into it, you would say it were the habitation of heauenly Saints indeed; so bright shining it is all ouer with precious stones, with gold and siluer.

But within the memory of our fathers, saith Camden in the same place, when King Henry the eight had set his minde and eye both, vpon the ri∣ches and possessions of Churches, all this vanished quite away.

Notes

• The foundati∣on of the Chappell and Priory at Wal∣singham, out of a 〈…〉〈…〉 increasing Li∣brarie of Sir 〈…〉〈…〉
• Camd. in Norf.
• Erasmus of the pilgrimage to W••lsingham.