The History of Waltham Abby in Essex, Part 6
The condition of the Church from the beginning of Queen ELIZABETH, to this day.
IN eleven full years, viz. from the laſt of King Henry the Eighth, Anno 1547. till the firſt of Queen Elizabeth, 1558. this Church found four changes in Religion; Papiſt, and Proteſtant; Papiſt, and Proteſtant again. The laſt turn will appear by the Wardens following accounts.
Anno 1558. Elizabethae's primo.
Imprimis, For the taking down of the Rood-loft, three ſhillings two pence.] If then, there living and able, I hope I ſhould have lent an helping hand to ſo good a work, as now I beſtow my prayers, that the like may never in England be ſet up again.
Item, Received for a ſuite of Veſtments, being of blew velvet, and another ſuite of Damask, and an Altar-cloth, four pound.
Item, For three Corporaſſes, whereof two white ſilk, and one blew velvet, two pound thirteen ſhillings four pence.
Item, For two ſuits of Veſtments, and an Altar-cloth, three pound.] Now was the ſuperſtitious Ward-robe diſperſed, and that (no doubt) ſold for ſhillings which coſt pounds. They were beheld as the garments ſpotted with ſin, and therefore the leſs pity to part with them. But ſee what followeth.
Anno 1562. Elizabethae quinto.
Item, For a cloth of Buckeram for the Communion-Table, and the making, four ſhillings.] Having ſold ſo much could they not afford a better Carpet? Is there no mean betwixt painting a face, and not waſhing it? He muſt have a fixt aim and ſtrong hand, who hits decency, and miſſeth gaudineſs and ſluttery, But there is a generation of people who over-do in the ſpirit of oppoſition: ſuch conceive that a treſſel is good enough for Gods Table, and ſuch a Table, Covering enough for it ſelf.
Item, For Lattices for the Church-windows, fifteen ſhillings.] Fain would I for the credit of our Church by Lattices underſtand Caſements, if the word would bear it. Yet ſurely it was not for covetouſneſs wholly to ſpare glazing, but thrift to preſerve the glaſs, that theſe Lattices did fence them on the outſide.
Item, Paid for a Bay Nagge given to Mr Henry Denny for the Abby wall, three pound ſeventeen ſhillings.] This Nagge was rather a thankful acknowledgment of Mr. Denny his propriety, then a juſt valuation of what the Pariſh received from him, for it followeth.
Item, To Labourers which did undermine the ſaid wall, fourty five ſhillings nine pence.] What then may the materials of that wall be preſumed worth in themſelves? I conceive this was a building which ranged Eaſt beyond the old Steeple, the demoliſhing whereof brought much profit to the Pariſh, whoſe Wardens for ſome years drave a great trade in the ſale of Lead, Stone, and Timber, all devoured in the roofing, flooring, and finiſhing of their Steeple.
Anno 1563. Eliz. 6to.
Imprimis, For an old houſe in the old Market-place, thirteen pound ſix ſhillings eight pence.] This Tenement low-rented yielded annually nine ſhillings. Now the Pariſh ſold it, (and another houſe in Weſt-ſtreet) outright, letting Leaſes alſo of their other Church-lands for twenty one years, ſuch bargains made a Feaſt for the preſent age, and a Famine for poſterity.
Item, For the old timber in the little Veſtiary of St Georges Chappel, fifteen ſhillings.] In vain have I enquired for the ſcituation hereof, long ſince demoliſhed, and no wonder if St George his Chappel cannot be found, when St George himſelf is affirmed by cPh…ppus Melancthon in Apologia Articulo 21. confeſſionis Auguſtana.ſome as one never exiſtent, in rerum natura.
Item, Received of Mr Denny for one Cope of Cloth of gold, three pound ſix ſhillings eight pence.
Item, For two Altar-Cloaths of Velvet and ſilk, two pound.] It ſeemeth the Pariſh did not part with all their gallantry at once, but made ſeveral ſtakes thereof, and parcelled them out as their neceſſities did require.
Item, Received of Mr Tamworth twenty loads of timber ready hewed, which he gave to the Pariſh.] This Gentleman by his bounty to the Publick ſeems better known to God then to me, having neither heard nor read of any of his name living in or near to Waltham.
Item, For taking down the ſtairs in the Abby, ſeven ſhillings eight pence.] This was part of the Nag-purchaſe, whereby we collect that a large ſtructure was by this bargain conveyed to the Pariſh.
Item, For taking down the Lead from the Charnel-houſe, and covering the Steeple, eighteen ſhillings.] The Steeple was conceived above the Charnel-houſe as in height ſo in honour. Wherefore now the Lead taken from it b was a Which is now but tiledtranſlated to the covering of the Steeple. Call this removing of this metal from one part of the Church to another, onelyonly the borrowing of St Peter to lend to St Paul.
Item, For the Arch-Deacons man coming for a Record of all the Inhabitants of the Pariſh, four pence.] I know not on what Canon this was founded. It may be her Majeſtie in thoſe dangerous times deſired (not out of Pride, but neceſſary Policy) to know the number of her Subjects, and might enjoyn the Arch-Deacons in their reſpective Viſitations, to make this inquiry.
But Day begins to dawn, and the light of our Age to appear, matters coming High time to knock off.within the memory of many alive. We will therefore break off, Waltham ſince affording no peculiar obſervables. OnelyOnly will add that Sr Edward (Grand-childe to Sr Anthony) Denny, was created by King James, aCamdens Brit. in Eſſex.Baron of Waltham, and ſince made by King Charles, Earl of Norwich. A Noble perſon, who ſetled on the Curate of Waltham (to whom before a bare Stipend of Eight pound did belong) one hundrod pound per annum, with ſome other conſiderable accommodations, tying good Land for the true performance thereof.
The Abby is now the Inheritance of this Earls Grand-childe, by Honora his James Earle of Carlile preſent owner of Waltham. Nicholas the moſt eminent Abbot of Waltham.daughter) James Hay Earl of Carlile, who Married Margaret, Daughter to Francis, Earl of Bedford, by whom as yet he hath no Iſſue, for the continuance of whoſe happineſs my prayers ſhall never be wanting.
The Reader may juſtly expect from me a Catalogue of all the Abbots of this Monaſtery. But to do it falſly, I dare not; lamely, I would not; perfectly, I cannot; and therefore muſt crave to be excuſed. OnelyOnly let me obſerve, that Nicholas, Abbot of Waltham was moſt triumphant in power, of any in his place; he flouriſhed in the Reign of King Richard the ſecond, and was bHen de Knighton de eventibus Angl. lib. v. pag 2687.one of the fourteen Commiſsioners, choſen by Parliament, to examine the miſcariages in that Kings Reign ſince the death of his Grand-father.
Amongſt the Natives of Waltham for States-men, John de Waltham bears John de Waltham.away the bell. He was keeper of the Privy Seal in the Reign of King Richard c Hen. Knighton ut prius. pag. 2685. Roger Waltham a learned writer.the ſecond, being the third in number, choſen amongſt the fourteen Commiſſioners aforeſaid, impowred to examine all miſdemeanours of State. And now was not Waltham highly honoured with more then a ſingle ſhare, when amongſt thoſe fourteen, two were her Gremials, the forenamed Nicholas living in Waltham, and this John, having his name thence, becauſe birth therein.
But amongſt Scholars in our Town, Roger Waltham muſt not be forgotten, Canon of St Pauls in London, and a great favourite to Fulk Baſſet, Biſhop thereof. He wrote many learned books, whereof two eſpecially (one called dBale de ſcript. Brit. cent. 4 pag. 302. Hugh Nevil buried in Waltham.Compendium Morale, the other Imagines Oratorum) commend his parts and pains to poſterity.
Paſs we from thoſe who were Born, to eminent perſons Buried therein. Here we firſt meet with Hugh Nevile, a Minion of King Richard the firſt, he was Interred in Waltham Church, ſaith my eMat. Paris in Anno 122…. page 315. and alſo Robert Paſſe lew.Author, in Nobili Sarcophago Marmoreo & inſculpto, in a Noble Coffin of Marble engrav'd. If a Coffin be call'd Sarcophagus (from conſuming the Corps) ſurely Sacriledg may be named Sarcophago-phagus, which at this day hath devoured that Coffin, and all belonging thereunto.
We ſpoil all, if we forget, Robert Paſſellew, who was Dominus fac totum, in the midle, and fac nihil, towards the end of the Reign of Henry the third. Some Paraſites extolled him by alluſion to his name; P…ſſ…le-eau, (that is, paſsing the pure water) the Wits of thoſe dayes thus deſcanting upon him;
fCollect. of Mr. Camb. M: S. in Sr. Tho. Cottons Library.Eſt aqud lenis, & est aqud dulcis, & eſt aqua clara,
Tu praecellis aquam, nam leni lenior es tu,
Dulci dulcior es tu, clara clarior es tu,
Mente quidem lenis, re dulcis, ſanguine clarus.
But ſuch who flattered him the faſteſt, whileſt in favour, mocked him the moſt in miſery, and at laſt he died in his own Houſe in Waltham, and was gMatt. Paris Anno. 1252. A heap of difficulties caſt together.buried in the Abby-Church therein.
And now becauſe we have ſo often cited Matthew Paris, I never met with more difficulties in ſix lines, then what I finde in him; which becauſe nearly relating to this preſent ſubject, I thought fit to exemplifie….
MATTHEW PARIS in Anno 1242. p. 595.
Eodem que Anno, videlicet in craſtino Sti Michaelis dedicata eſt Eccleſia conventualis Canonicorum de Waltham, ab Epiſcopo Norwicenſi Willielmo, ſolemniter valde, aſistentibus aliis plurimis Epiſcopis, Praelatis, & Magnatibus venerabilibus, ſtatim post dedicationem Eccleſiae ſancti Pauli Londinenſis, ut peregrinantes hinc inde, indiſtanter remearent.
And in the ſame year, namely the morrow after St Michaels day, the conventual Church of the Canons at Waltham, was dedicated by William, Biſhop of Norwich very ſolemnly, many other Biſhops, Prelates, and venerable Peers aſſiſting him: preſently after the dedication of St Pauls in London, that Pilgrims and Travellers up and down might indiſtantly return.
It is clear our Church of Waltham Abby is intended herein, aSee Speed his Catalogue of religious houſes. Queries on queries.England affording no other Conventual Church.
This being granted, how comes Waltham Church (built by Harold two hundred years before) now to be firſt Dedicated, that Age accounting it as faulty and fatal, to defer the Conſecration of Churches, as the Chriſtning of Children? 2. What made the Biſhop of Norwich to meddle therewith? an Office more proper for the Biſhop of London to perform, Waltham being (though not under) in his juriſdiction. 3. What is meant by the Barbarous word indiſtanter? and what benefit accrewed to Travellers thereby? I will not ſo much as conjecture, as unwilling to draw my bow, where I deſpair to hit the mark, but leave all to the judgment of others. But I grow tedious, and will therefore conclude.
Anno 1641. King CHARLES came the laſt time to Waltham, and went R. Charls his laſt coming to Waltham.(as he was wont, where any thing remarkable) to ſee the Church, the Earl of Carlile attending him; His Majeſtie told him, that he divided his Cathedral Churches, as he did his Royal Ships, into three ranks, accounting St Pauls in London, York, Lincoln, Winchester, &c. of the first form; Chicheſter Lichfield, &c. of the ſecond; the Welch Cathedrals of the third, with which Waltham Church may be well compared, eſpecially if the Roof thereof, was taken lower and Leaded.
The Earl moved His Majeſtie, that ſeeing this Ancient Church, (Founded Conditionally granteth the repairing of the Church.by King Harold his Predeceſſor) was fallen into ſuch decay, that the repair was too heavy for the Pariſh, he would be pleaſed to grant a moderate Tole of Cattle coming over the Bridg, (with their great Driftss, doing much damage to the High-wayes) and therewith both the Town might be Paved, and the Church repaired. The King graciouſly granted it, provided, it were done with the privity and conſent of a great Prelate, (not ſo ſafe to be named as eaſie to be gueſſed) with whom he conſulted in all Church-matters.
But when the foreſaid Prelate was informed, that the Earl had applied to But it miſcarrieth.His Majeſtie before addreſſes to himſelf, he daſhed the deſign, ſo that poor Waltham Church, muſt ſtill be contented, with their weak walls, and worſe Roof, till Providence, procure her ſome better Benefactors. As for the Armes of Waltham Abby, being loath to ſet them alone, I have joyned them in the following draught, with the Armes of the other Mitred Abbies, as far as my induſtry could recover them.
SOLI DEO GLORIA.
FINIS.
THE SEALES OF ARMES OF ALL THE MITRED ABBEYS IN ENGLAND…
Edwino Rich Armigèro uni è Magistres Curiae Cancellariae, Benefactori meo munifico, in gratitudinis tesseram. J. F.
Taveſtock.
Glaſtenbury
Midleton.
Abington.
St.…ames Reading
Battaile.
St.Auguſtin Cant:
Gloceſter.
Colcheſter.
Winch-combe.
St.Albans.
St.Iohns of Ieruſalem.
Weſtminſter.
Waltham.
Waltham
St.Edmondebury
Thorney
Ben̄etts in ye Holme.
Ramley
Peterborrough.
Crowland.
Tewke…s;bury.
Shroeſbury
Selby.
St. Maryes yorke.
Malmſbury
Cirenceſter
Bardney
Booke 2. page. 123.
Iames Langham Bjq:
Booke 2 p.138
Baldwine Hamey Dr. of Phiſick.
B:4.pa:177
Thomas Rich Esqr.
B:11. pa:197.
Giles Vandeput Nerehadt.
Ibidem.
Edward Clegar Merchant.
Hiſt:of Cam: pa: 117.
Edward Palmer Esqr.
Hist: of Camb: pa: 137
Fra: Ask Esqr.
Know reader the Cutter in wood being sick, and the Preſſ not staing his recovery; the armes of my Patrons omitted in ye body of ye booke are ſupplied in theſe quarters.
End of the text · Thomas Fuller, The History of Waltham Abby in Essex (1655)