The Works of Sir Thomas Browne Volume III Part 38

He was Houshold Chaplain to the Archbishop of _Canterbury_, and died 1594. The Monument was above a yard and half high, with his Effigies in Alabaster, and all enclosed with a high Iron Grate. In the late Times the Grate was taken away, the Statue broken, and the Free-stone pulled down as far as the inward Brick-work; which being unsightly, was afterwards taken away, and the s.p.a.ce between the Pillars left void, as it now remaineth.

In the South-side of this Isle, according as the Inscription denoteth, was buried GEORGE GARDINER, sometime Dean.

Georgius Gardiner Barvici _natus_, Cantabrigiae _educatus, Primo minor Canonicus, secundo Praebendarius, tertio Archidiaconus_.

Nordovici, _et demum_ 28 Nov. _An._ 1573. _factus est Sacella.n.u.s Dominae Reginae, et Deca.n.u.s hujus Ecclesiae, in quo loco per 16 Annos rexit_.

Somewhat higher is a Monument for Dr. EDMUND PORTER, a learned Prebendary, sometime of this Church.

Between two Pillars of the North Isle in the Body of the Church, stands the Monument of Sir JAMES HOBART, Attorney-General to King _Henry_ VII.

and VIII. He built _Loddon_ Church, St. _Olave's_ Bridge, and made the Causeway adjoining upon the South-side. On the upper Part is the Atchievement of the _Hobarts_, and below are their Arms; as also of the _Nantons_, _viz._ (_three Martlets_) his second Lady being of that Family. It is a close Monument, made up of handsom Stone-work: And this Enclosure might have been employ'd as an Oratory. Some of the Family of the _Hobarts_ have been buried near this Monument; as Mr. _James Hobart_ of _Holt_. On the South-side, two young Sons, and a Daughter of Dean _Herbert Astley_, who married _Barbara_, Daughter of _John_, only Son of Sir _John Hobart_ of _Hales_.

In the Middle Isle, under a very large Stone, almost over which a Branch for Lights hangeth, was buried Sir FRANCIS SOUTHWELL, descended from those of great Name and Estate in _Norfolk_, who formerly possessed _Woodrising_.

Under a fair Stone, by Bishop _Parkhurst's_ Tomb, was buried Dr.

MASTERS, Chancellor.

Gul. Maister, _LL. Doctor Curiae Cons. Ep==atus_ Norwicen.

_Officialis princ.i.p.alis. Obiit 2 Feb. 1589._

At the upper End of the Middle Isle, under a large Stone, was buried Bishop WALTER _de_ HART, _alias le_ HART, or LYGHARD. He was Bishop 26 Years, in the Times of _Henry_ VI. and _Edward_ IV. He built the Transverse Stone Part.i.tion, or Rood Loft, on which the great Crucifix was placed, beautified the Roof of the Body of the Church, and paved it.

Towards the North-side of the Part.i.tion-Wall are his Arms the _Bull_ and towards the South-side, _a Hart in Water_, as a _Rebus_ of his Name, _Walter Hart_. Upon the Door, under the Rood Loft, was a Plate of Bra.s.s, containing these Verses.

_Hic jacet absconsus sub marmore presul honestus Anno milleno C quater c.u.m septuageno Annexis binis instabat ei prope finis Septima c.u.m decima lux Maij sit numerata Ipsius est anima de corpore tunc separata._

Between this Part.i.tion and the Choir on the North-side, is the Monument of Dame ELIZABETH CALTHORPE, Wife of Sir _Francis Calthorpe_, and afterwards Wife of _John Colepepper_, Esq.

In the same Part.i.tion, behind the Dean's Stall, was buried JOHN CROFTS, lately Dean, Son of Sir _Henry Crofts_ of _Suffolk_, and Brother to the Lord _William Crofts_. He was sometime Fellow of _All-Souls_ College in _Oxford_, and the first Dean after the Restauration of his Majesty King _Charles_ II. whose Predecessor, Dr. _John Ha.s.sal_, who was Dean many Years, was not buried in this Church, but in that of _Creek_. He was of _New_ College in _Oxford_, and Chaplain to the Lady _Elizabeth_, Queen of _Bohemia_, who obtain'd this Deanry for him.

On the South-side of the Choir, between two Pillars, stands the Monument of Bishop JAMES GOLDWELL, Dean of Salisbury, and Secretary to King _Edward_ IV. who sat in this _See_ Twenty five Years. His Effigies is in Stone, with a _Lion_ at his Feet, which was his Arms, as appears on his Coat above the Tomb. On the Choir Side, his Arms are also to be seen in the sixth Escocheon, in the West-side over the Choir; as also in S.

_Andrew's_ Church, at the Deanry in a Window; at _Trowes_, _Newton-Hall_, and at _Charta-magna_ in _Kent_, the Place of his Nativity; where he also built, or repair'd the Chappel. He is said to have much repair'd the East End of this Church; did many good Works, lived in great Esteem, and died _Ann._ 1498 or 1499.

Next above Bishop _Goldwell_, where the Iron Grates yet stand, Bishop JOHN WAKERING is said to have been buried. He was Bishop in the Reign of King _Henry_ V. and was sent to the Council of _Constance_: He is said also to have built the Cloister in the Bishop's Palace, which led into it from the Church Door, which was cover'd with a handsom Roof, before the late Civil War. Also reported to have built the Chapter-house, which being ruinous, is now demolish'd, and the decay'd Parts above and about it handsomly repair'd, or new built. The Arms of the _See_ impaling his own Coat, the Three _Fleur des Lys_, are yet visible upon the Wall by the Door. He lived in great Reputation, and died 1426, and is said to have been buried before S. _George's_ Altar.

On the North-side of the Choir, between the two Arches, next to Queen _Elizabeth's_ Seat, were buried Sir THOMAS ERPINGHAM, and his Wives the Lady JOAN, _etc._ whose Pictures were in the Painted-Gla.s.s Windows, next unto this Place, with the Arms of the _Erpingham's_. The Insides of both the Pillars were painted in red Colours, with divers Figures and Inscriptions, from the top almost to the bottom, which are now washed out by the late whiting of the Pillars. He was a Knight of the Garter in the Time of _Hen._ IV. and some Part of _Hen._ V. and I find his Name in the List of the Lord Wardens of the Cinque-Ports. He is said to have built the _Black Friars_ Church, or Steeple, or both, now called _New-Hall Steeple_. His Arms are often on the Steeple, which are an Escocheon within an _Orle of Martlets_, and also upon the out-side of the Gate, next the School-House. There was a long Bra.s.s Inscription about the Tomb-stone, which was torn away in the late Times, and the Name of _Erpingham_ only remaining. _Johannes Dominus de Erpingham Miles_, was buried in the Parish Church of _Erpingham_, as the Inscription still declareth.

In the North Isle, near to the Door, leading towards _Jesus Chappel_, was buried Sir WILLIAM DENNY, Recorder of _Norwich_, and one of the Counsellors at Law to King _Charles_ I.

In _Jesus Chappel_ stands a large Tomb (which is said to have been translated from our Ladies Chappel, when that grew ruinous, and was taken down) whereof the Bra.s.s Inscription about it is taken away; but old Mr. _Spendlow_, who was a Prebendary 50 Years, and Mr. _Sandlin_, used to say, that it was the Tombstone of the _Windham's_; and in all Probability, might have belonged to Sir _Thomas Windham_, one of King _Henry_ VIII.'s Counsellors, of his Guard, and Vice-Admiral; for I find that there hath been such an Inscription upon the Tomb of a _Windham_ in this Church.

_Orate pro a==a_ Thome Windham, _militis_, Elianore, _et Domine_ Elizabethe, _uxorum ejus, etc. qui quidem_ Thomas _fuit unus consiliariorum_

_Regis_ Henrici VIII. _et unus militum pro corpore, ejusdem Domini, nec non Vice-Admirallus_.

And according to the Number of the Three Persons in the Inscription, there are Three Figures upon the Tomb.

On the North Wall of _Jesus Chappel_ there is a legible Bra.s.s Inscription in Latin Verses; and at the last Line _Pater Noster_. This was the Monument of _Randulfus Pulvertoft custos caronelle_. Above the Inscription was his Coat of Arms, _viz. Six Ears of Wheat with a Border of Cinque-foils_; but now washed out, since the Wall was whiten'd.

At the Entrance of St. _Luke's Chappel_, on the Left Hand, is an arched Monument, said to belong to one of the Family of the _Bosvile's_ or _Boswill_, sometime Prior of the Convent. At the East End of the Monument are the Arms of the Church (_the Cross_) and on the West End another (_three Bolt Arrows_,) which is supposed to be his Paternal Coat. The same Coat is to be seen in the sixth Escocheon of the South-side, under the Belfry. Some Inscriptions upon this Monument were washed out when the Church was lately whiten'd; as among the rest, _O morieris! O morieris! O morieris!_ The _three Bolts_ are the known Arms of the _Bosomes_, an ancient Family in _Norfolk_; but whether of the _Bosviles_, or no, I am uncertain.

Next unto it is the Monument of RICHARD BROME, Esq. whose Arms thereon are _Ermyns_; and for the Crest, _a Bunch or Branch of Broom with Golden Flowers_. This might be _Richard Brome_, Esq. whose Daughter married the Heir of the _Yaxley's of Yaxley_, in the Time of _Henry_ VII. And one of the same Name founded a Chappel in the Field in _Norwich_.

There are also in St. _Luke's Chappel_, amongst the Seats on the South-side, two substantial Marble and cross'd Tombs, very ancient, said to be two Priors of this Convent.

At the Entrance into the Cloister, by the upper Door on the Right Hand, next the Stairs, was a handsom Monument on the Wall, which was pulled down in the late Times, and a Void Place still remaineth. Upon this Stone were the Figures of two Persons in a praying Posture, on their Knees. I was told by Mr. _Sandlin_, that it was said to be the Monument for one of the _Bigots_, who built or beautified that Arch by it, which leadeth into the Church.

In the Choir towards the high Altar, and below the Ascents, there is an old Tomb, which hath been generally said to have been the Monument of Bishop WILLIAM HERBERT, Founder of the Church, and commonly known by the Name of the Founder's Tomb. This was above an Ell high; but when the Pulpit, in the late Confusion, was placed at the Pillar, where Bishop _Overall's_ Monument now is, and the Aldermen's Seats were at the East End, and the Mayor's Seat in the middle at the high Altar, the height of the Tomb being a Hindrance unto the People, it was taken down to such a Lowness as it now remains in. He was born at _Oxford_, in good Favour with King _William Rufus_, and King _Henry_ I. removed the Episcopal _See_ from _Thetford_ to _Norwich_, built the Priory for 60 Monks, the Cathedral Church, the Bishop's Palace, the Church of S. _Leonard_, whose Ruins still remain upon the Brow of _Mushold-Hill_; the Church of S.

_Nicolas_ at _Yarmouth_, of S. _Margaret_ at _Lynn_, of S. _Mary_ at _Elmham_, and inst.i.tuted the _Cluniack_ Monks at _Thetford_. _Malmsbury_ saith he was, _Vir pecuniosus_, which his great Works declare, and had always this good Saying of S. _Hierom_ in his Mouth, _Erravimus juvenes, emendemus senes_.

Many Bishops of old might be buried about, or not far from the Founder, as _William Turbus_, a _Norman_, the third Bishop of _Norwich_, and _John_ of _Oxford_ the fourth, accounted among the learned Men of his Time, who built _Trinity_ Church in _Ipswich_, and died in the Reign of King _John_; and it is deliver'd, that these two Bishops were buried near to Bishop _Herbert_, the Founder.

In the same Row, or not far off, was buried Bishop HENRY _le_ SPENCER, as lost Bra.s.s Inscriptions have declar'd. And Mr. _Sandlin_ told me, that he had seen an Inscription on a Gravestone thereabouts, with the Name of _Henricus de_, or _le Spencer_: He came young unto the _See_, and sat longer in it than any before or after him: But his Time might have been shorter, if he had not escaped in the Fray at _Lennam_, (a Town of which he was Lord) where forcing the Magistrate's Tipstaff to be carried before him, the People with Staves, Stones, and Arrows, wounded, and put his Servants to Flight. He was also wounded, and left alone, as _John Fox_ hath set it down out of the Chronicle of S. _Albans_.

In the same Row, of late Times, was buried Bishop RICHARD MONTAGUE, as the Inscription, _Depositum Montacutii Episcopi_, doth declare.

For his eminent Knowledge in the _Greek_ Language, he was much countenanc'd by Sir _Henry Savile_, Provost of _Eaton_ College, and settled in a Fellowship thereof: Afterwards made Bishop of _Chichester_; thence translated unto _Norwich_, where he lived about three Years. He came unto _Norwich_ with the evil Effects of a quartan Ague, which he had about a Year before, and which accompany'd him to his Grave; yet he studied, and writ very much, had an excellent Library of Books, and Heaps of Papers, fairly written with his own Hand, concerning the Ecclesiastical History. His Books were sent to _London_; and, as it was said, his Papers against _Baronius_, and others transmitted to _Rome_; from whence they were never return'd.

On the other Side was buried Bishop JOHN OVERALL, Fellow of _Trinity_ College in _Cambridge_, Master of _Katherine_ Hall, _Regius_ Professor, and Dean of St. _Pauls_; and had the Honour to be nominated one of the first Governours of _Sutton_ Hospital, by the Founder himself, a Person highly reverenc'd and belov'd; who being buried without any Inscription, had a Monument lately erected for him by Dr. _Cosin_, Lord Bishop of _Durham_, upon the next Pillar.

Under the large Sandy-colour'd Stone was buried Bishop RICHARD CORBET, a Person of singular Wit, and an eloquent Preacher, who lived Bishop of this _See_ but three Years, being before Dean of _Christ_ Church, then Bishop of _Oxford_. The Inscription is as follows:

Richardus Corbet _Theologiae Doctor, Ecclesiae Cathedralis Christi Oxoniensis Primum alumnus inde Deca.n.u.s, exinde Episcopus, illinc huc translatus, et Hinc in clum_, Jul. 28. _Ann._ 1635.

The Arms on it, are the _See_ of _Norwich_, impaling, _Or a Raven sab._ Corbet.

Towards the upper End of the Choir, and on the South-side, under a fair large Stone, was interred Sir WILLIAM BOLEYN, or BULLEN, Great Grandfather to Queen _Elizabeth_. The Inscription hath been long lost, which was this:

_Hic jacet corpus_ Willelmi Boleyn, _militis, Qui obiit_ x _Octobris, Ann. Dom._ MCCCCCV.

And I find in a good Ma.n.u.script of the Ancient Gentry of _Norfolk_ and _Suffolk_ these Words. _Sir_ William Boleyn, _Heir unto Sir_ Tho.

Boleyn, _who married_ Margaret, _Daughter and Heir of_ Tho. Butler, _Earl of_ Ormond, _died in the Year_ 1505, _and was buried on the South-side of the Chancel of Christ Church in_ Norwich. And surely the Arms of few Families have been more often found in any Church, than those of the _Boleyn's_, on the Walls, and in the Windows of the East Part of this Church. Many others of this n.o.ble Family were buried in _Bleckling_ Church.

Many other Bishops might be buried in this Church, as we find it so a.s.serted by some Historical Accounts; but no History or Tradition remaining of the Place of their Interment, in vain we endeavour to design and point out the same.

As of Bishop JOHANNES _de_ GRAY, who, as it is delivered, was interr'd in this Church, was a Favourite of King _John_, and sent by him to the Pope: He was also Lord Deputy of _Ireland_, and a Person of great Reputation, and built _Gaywood Hall_ by _Lynn_.

As also of Bishop ROGER SKEREWYNG, in whose Time happened that b.l.o.o.d.y Contention between the Monks and Citizens, begun at a Fair kept before the Gate, when the Church was fir'd: To compose which King _Henry_ III.

came to _Norwich_, and _William de Brunham_, Prior, was much to blame.

See _Holingshead, etc._

Or, of Bishop WILLIAM MIDDLETON, who succeeded him, and was buried in this Church; in whose Time the Church that was burnt while _Skerewyng_ sat was repair'd and consecrated, in the Presence of King _Edward_ I.

Or, of Bishop JOHN SALMON, sometime Lord Chancellor of _England_, who died 1325, and was here interr'd, his Works were n.o.ble. He built the great Hall in the Bishop's Palace; the Bishop's long Chappel on the East-side of the Palace, which was no ordinary Fabrick; and a strong handsom Chappel at the West End of the Church, and appointed four Priests for the daily Service therein: Unto which great Works he was the better enabled, by obtaining a Grant of the first Fruits from Pope _Clement_.

Or, of Bishop THOMAS PERCY, Brother to the Earl of _Northumberland_, in the reign of _Richard_ II. who gave unto a Chantry the Lands about _Carlton_, _Kimberly_, and _Wicklewood_; in whose Time the Steeple and Belfry were blown down, and rebuilt by him, and a Contribution from the Clergy.

Or, of Bishop ANTHONY _de_ BECK, a Person of an unquiet Spirit, very much hated, and poison'd by his Servants.

Or likewise, of Bishop THOMAS BROWNE, who being Bishop of _Rochester_, was chosen Bishop of _Norwich_, while he was at the Council of _Basil_, in the reign of King _Henry_ VI. was a strenuous a.s.sertor of the Rights of the Church against the Citizens.