THE PARISH

W A L T H A M A B B E Y ,

HISTORY AND ANTI ITIE QU S .

J O H N M A Y N A R D.

L O ND O N

J N U S SE L L S M I 36 S S U A E OH R TH , , OHO Q R ;

L L B K E L L E R AND B Y A OO S S . 6 1 8 5 .

C ONTE NT S .

A s to Waltham b eing originally covered with trees Th e care of th e poor and th e Sick wa s committed to th e priests

Th e m s es and th e s th e s e s e e ar h , right of pari hion r th r in Th e extent of th e forest Th e line of Kings from C anute to Harold th e S econd

T ov th e u de m y, fo n r of Waltha Th e religious plant whereon Harold founded hi s monastery

’ N 0 college or religious school here before Harold s tim e Harold buried here with his two brothers E dward th e Confessor as sists Harold to found th e monastery Th e picture of Harold once in th e north window Th e indentings of th e pilla rs originally filled with brass

Of th e c e s c e and m dem ongr gation , an i nt o Th e Holy Cross brought here by angels Th e list of th e various m anors whi ch th e Confessor gave

d and c firmed c e to th e m s to Harol , on by hart r ona tory William th e Conqueror laid claim to thi s Abbey a s being th e personal property of Harold Th e Archbishop of Canterbury (on ac count of grievous

e ul es s s e ds th e De se andun e d irr g ariti ) u p n an, ab nt h ar ’ King Henry th e Second changes Harold s foundation C ONTE NTS .

’ Thomas a B ecket s quarrel with th e King ’ Th e Pope s bull Th e power of th e Popes over our ancient Kings King John and th e Pope of Rome King Henry th e Third bestows on Waltham both a weekly

m e and n al a ark t, an a nu f ir

h e el e wee th e m en al m and th e A o T quarr b t n of W tha bb t,

’ Th e Abbot s lawsuit with th e lord of th e manor of Cheshunt Th e monk s and th e loving women of Cheshunt nunnery

h e s e th e A e es wed on A D e T it of bb y, b to Sir nthony nny Th e Church became a curacy or donative Th e Abbey House Th e Tulip -tree The Cotton-tree Th e two coflins dis covered in the Abbey-garden Th e construction of th e old Abbey-church whenentire Th e Steeple e u c - e s c e and m de Th Ch r h b ll , both an i nt o rn Curiositie s found during th e la te repairs

od F da hi da m 50 e s Go ri y a gh y at Waltha , y ar ago

al m c in lde mes fl ae six Obits W tha Chur h o n ti , ’ O ur L ady s chapel ’ Q uotations from our churchwardens account books King Charles th e S econd grants a Brief to enable the churchwardens to repair th e church Bishop Hall Th e dilapidated state of our church 60 years ago Th e beautiful painted glass window formerly in the choir of th e old Abbey -church C ON T E NT S

PAGE Th e remains of King E dward th e First were brought here on their way to interment in Westminster Walth am Cross Th e incident whi ch led to th e Reformation ed 0 Copp , or C pt Hall L o d m s m e l B is a me and C d r Tho a Cro w l , hop Cr n r ar inal Wolsey Th e m is J h Fox and mil e e artyrolog t o n , fa y h r

R e F e th e s a m A e ob rt ull r, la t abbot of W ltha bb y Th e Alms Houses Th e right of cutting fire-wood on th e forest Th e Gunpowder mills King Alfred stops th e flowing of th e tide along th e marshes S unday working here in war time Th e grand stream of King Alfred Th e flour mill which Queen M aud gave to th e Abbey

Th e row ses me s d n th e wes end of hou , for rly tan i g at t of th e church-yard Th e pin factory and printing ground ’ Baker s E ntry Th e larger B aptist Chap el

G e e Fox th e de th e e s org , foun r of Quak r Th e C emetery Th e Abbey-bridge and Gate-way The interior of th e Church Th e Tomb of S ir E dward Denny Th e m s th e c c e e To b , in hur h g n rally

e acti s of M r d M T h e B en f on . an rs . Wollard f s o M r. n e Th e B enefaction a d M rs . L ev rton C O NT E NT S .

PAG E T h e L everton S chool-house 116 Th e confiscation of th e minor monasteries 117 Th e crimes of th e Abbots and M onks 120 ’ King Henry s warrant for th e dissolution of th e Abbeys 122 Th e Commissioners appointed to receive th e surrender of Waltham monas tery S anctuary for th e vilest characters afforded by th e Church 126 Th e numb er of th e suppressed mona steries 127 Th e amount expended in th e late repairs of th e Church 128 W A LTH AM B A B E Y .

h chief rait in a his or is its tru hfuln T e t t y t ess .

T H E compiler (who has traced hi s family in

e e Waltham Abb y, nearly four hundred y ars) , being

l i e i fu ly aware of th s, mak s a str ct point to insert no

of l information a doubtfu character .

u e we e e Tr thfuln ss being the aim, s l ct authentic n information only ; and as a steppi g stone to this, f we ll e e o e . ul e Sha avail ours lv s that giv n by Thos F l r, f D D . hi o . , who first wrote a story Waltham Abbey

th e e of or th e he being minist r this parish, in about 1648 year and who , in his history, informs us

e th e h a m Waltham is so call d from Saxon word , which signifies a town ; and th e word wea ld or wea lt e c e e , that is woody ; it being anci ntly ov r d with ” timb er .

e e e e e hi e We h r paus to obs rv , that t s ass rtion may be accepte d as referring to the greater portion of the

of e th e parish, but not so as to that part it wher on town is built ; th e rivers out through it by King

Al wi th e e fred, together th the site, chosen for abb y, are sufficient to prove that th ere were no tree s on

e th e m e . this part, any mor than on contiguous arsh s

. e e e c e Dr Full r writes, Som will hav it all d

B 2

uas i Wea lthie-h a m I e Waltham, q ; W ish th y could

e e of th e e mak their words good, in r spect p rsons

e e e of th e e f living th r in though, in r gard soil its l , indee d it is rich and plentif ’ see ulle From this we not only Dr . F r s good

ee th e e e f ling towards p opl of Waltham, but also that

they were generally poor .

th e . It is not improbable that poor, even in Dr ’ e e th e of th e e Full r s day, still f lt loss gifts, or h lps they used to receive from th e abb ey th e care of th e

th e e e th e e poor, and sick, b ing committ d to r ligious m en f n e di o &c . e e abbeys, Wh th y w re ssolved, the poor were left utterly destitute (there b eing no poor

e e hi e e e e rat s th n) , to s ft as b st th y could for th ms lves, and by app ealing to the kindness and b enevolence

of any who could render them assistance .

th e e of e z e It was not until r ign Qu en Eli ab th, that

e of e e e e overse rs the poor w re appoint d in v ry parish, and power given to th e magistrates to lay a general assessment on the inhabitants of each parish for that

purpose .

h e e th e L ea 12 Walt am Abb y is s ated on , 5 mile s

e e e from London . The Lea is h r part d into seven

e e c e . str ams, ov r whi h are as many bridg s

hi e e W T s town has larg and fruitful m adows, hose

is e intrinsic value much rais d (says Dr . Fuller) by 3

of th e e the vicinity London, grass wh reof, when first

e e u gott n an h ad, is so sweet and l scious to cattle,

e e e th e e that th y di t th m at first ent ring therein, to

e e e - ea t half an hour a day, lest oth rwis th y over

e e e e ui th ms lves which som kine y arly do, and q ckly di e w i e e e for it, not ithstand ng all th ir ke pers car to ” the contrary . Thus we have an ancient account of our valuable

e a re mm marsh s, which co onable to every resident renting to the amount of forty Shillings per annum

e e and is Op n at all times for hors s and colts, and for

Th e f cows by day . parishioners o Cheshunt agree

in e a re to turn , head to h ad, but their cattle not allowed to enter at the Waltham Abbey marsh gates .

e On the other Side ofthe town (observes Dr . Full r)

e e stands a s pacious forest, wh re fourt en years

e one e of Sinc , might have seen whole h rds red and

e e fallow deer . But thes late licentious y ars have

e b en such a Nimrod, such a hunter, that all at this present time are destroyed ; though I could wish this ” t e were h worst effect our woful wars have produced .

out of e It may not be place her to note, that ’ e . e th e e our b tween Dr Fuller s tim and pres nt,

un e 25 e e ee . for st abo d d in d r again About y ars ago ,

e e un wa c ov ered in the wint r time, and wh n the gro d s

th e e e m et e of ee with Snow, writ r onc with a h rd d r,

B 2 4 in which there could not have been fewer than hundreds ; but since th e Commissioners of Woods and Forests have taken upon themselves (without Act of Parliament) to sell th e Crown forest

th e e di th e e rights (after myst rious ssolution of For st, or - ee ee ri e off Forty day Court) the d r have b n d v n ,

e e s o e a re e or d stroy d, that th y almost, if not quit

extinct .

Th e e e e woful wars to which Dr . Fuller r f rred, wer

in the time ofKing Charles the First . Oliver Crom

e e him e 165 8 so w ll, who succeed d , di d in , that it did would appear very probable that Dr . Fuller not write his history of Waltham Abb ey until about th e

e 1654 e s o . y ar , if quit early as that He has,

e e e e hi s e e ff n v rth l ss, by studious res arch s, a orded us information from the time of King Canute ; who

th e of was son Swain, a former king, who died at

T e . 3rd 1014 . e h tford, in Norfolk, Feb , Canut was n proclaimed in the March following, but faili g to

th e ffec h e e ire gain a tions of his English subjects, r t d

e E th eldred e to D nmark, and the Second r turned at

e th e invitation of hi s subj ects . Canut returned in

th e w e 1015 i follo ing y ar, , land ng his army at Sand

E th eldred e e th e wich . r tir d to north and by thus

a b a ttle e a nd avoiding with Canut his Danish army,

h e E th eldred ff n ( ) lost the a ectio s ofhis subjects, and 5

e e . retir d to London, where he di d in the same year son e Edmund, his , surnam d Ironside, was crowned

- - 1016 at Kingston upon Thames, April, ; but from

e di e e l wa s som sagre m nt among the nobi ity, Canute th also crowned at Southampton . In e June follow in n e g, Ca ut totally routed Edmund at Assendon in

e . m et Ess x Shortly after this defeat, Edmund

e th e Al e th e e e Canut in Isle of dern y, in S v rn, where

e e a p ace was conclud d, and the kingdom divided

e b etween them . Edmund did not surviv above a

e n e e e e h e month after, he b i g murd r d at Oxford b for

H e e had reigned a year . l ft two sons and two

e one of e e e daught rs, from th se daught rs King Jam s th e l e e e him First of Eng and was d sc nd d, and from

ri our beloved Queen Victo a . Canute was established in th e year 101 7 ; made an alliance with Normandy ; and in 1018 married ’ E th eldred s e a v o a e Emma, widow ; mad y g to Den f mark, attacked Norway, and took possession o that

wn 1028 r cro in 5 died at Shaftsbu y, and was buried 1 e 036 . at Winch ster, anno

r nf D . Fuller i orms us that Canute had in his

of e army a man great w alth and authority, named

T ov hi s - e e e y, who was standard b ar r, and who found d a town here on account ofthe great delight h e took

th e th e in e e n e e e . i gam , plac hav g pl nty of d r 6

He planted only threescore and six in dwellers ” therein . It is most lik ely this number only was h t e e . allowed by king, his mast r ’ T ov S e di Athelstan, y son, prov d a pro gal, and ’ all his e e e e quickly spent fath r s goods and gr at stat , s o th e e that, by some transaction, place return d to ” n th e crow .

ri en e The w ter deems it prud t to observe her , that

. e th e Dr Fuller appears to hav lost sight of fact, that at this period all th e land was th e property of th e

n e or ki g, who allow d only those whom he appointed,

of e e e approved , to reside in any locality ; and th r for the writer feels persuaded that the s on of T ovy h never possessed any personal right in t e soil . ’ i l e u e v . o Nev rtheless, it is e dent from Dr Fu l r s acc nt of h e e wi Athelstan, that in som way lost all favour th th ’ e king after hi s father s decease .

th e s on of King Harold the First, was Canute,

him e 1036 and succeeded in the thron , anno , but

nl e th e 14 reigned o y thre years, dying April th, 1089 , and was succeeded by his younger brother

i e in of e die Hard canut , K g D nmark, who d at

e 1041 Lamb th, , and was buried at New Winchester ;

e e s on of ee m and was succe d d by a Qu n Em a, by her

h l r d n hi first husband E t e d e the Seco d . T s leads us o th e th e t reign of Edward Confessor, who was 7

e e 1042 di crown d at Winchest r, married E tha,

e of of 1043 daught r Goodwin, Earl Kent, in ; and

e 5th 1 6 hi . 06 . di d Jan , T s brings us to the Short

e th e r ign of Harold the Second, the founder of

e al Abb y of W tham .

W e e th e of hav followed up succession these kings, that our yo unger readers may b e able the better to see th e connexion b etween Edward the Confe ssor

his - in - ll th e and Harold, brother law, and Wi iam Conqueror who in the year 1051 visited Edward th e

nfe him e t Co ssor, and no doubt arranged with r la ive

th e c e to su cession ofthe throne . Seven y ars after this

lli e e hi s visit, Wi am b troth d daughter to Harold, who

e e e hi s e would hav don w ll by continuing in fri ndship, ’ e of i i e but Harold se ing the weakness Will am s t tl , and

n e i . knowing his own i fluenc w th the English nobility,

e of l f lt emboldened to resist the claim Wil iam, and p erished in the attempt to oppose him . Th e th e between the date 1017 (in which Canute

e th e e 1066 was establish d in the throne) , to y ar , in

th e e - e which Edward Conf ssor died, is forty nin years ; but as Harold founded hi s monastery four years before the death of the Confessor (and most likely th e same tim e elapse d before T ov y had well

li e hi s ec e stab sh d little town) , we cannot fairly r kon

t - e for more than forty years ou of this forty nin , 8

T ovy and his successors to have established their

e r ligious plant . It is very probable T ovy ere cted a chapel and appointed a pri est to it and this priest or his successor might ha ve pretended to have dis

a e e covered wondrous Cross, brought her by ang ls

u T v in a most wonderf l manner . o y dies (perhaps before this cross was heard of) and Athelstan squa n ’ ders away all his father s goods and great estate . hi n It seems, however, that t s forty years was lo g enough to establish a religious plant for Harold to build a monastery upon ; but it is self-evident that there was not an established college of many priests

a here, as they must have starved when Athelst n ’ soon squandered away all his father s goods and

un of a great estate, less the purchaser the est te con

e th e e or e . tinn d to support pri st, pri sts If there had been any important establishment of

eli or e . ll ul r gious men, any school h re, Dr Fu er wo d have discovered it as well a s other particulars . This remark is made to refute th e assertions of

e hi of e som who have, in their story Waltham Abb y,

e added novelty to truth, and thus spoil d both novelty and truth by producing an in strument calculated to

e th e e ai f misl ad ; as, while they prof ss to be f th ul,

e e th y are fals .

ee e him Harold, although he succ d d in planting 9

e on did not l s lf the throne, retain it a fu l year, he

e n e -fi ht e b ing slain at Hasti gs in battl g , wh re Wil

e of liam b came victorious, and assumed the title ! ” e e of e Oh Conqueror ; wh r either th ir swords, (

! serves Dr . Fuller) if victorious, might have done

e e e the d ed, though otherwis , both their titles twist d

! together could not make half a good claim to the ” crown .

Gith a of two i s , the mother Harold, with rel giou

k of hi Ose od Ailric h mon s t s abbey ( g and ) , ardly

e e th e e pr vail d with Conqu ror, who at first denied th e h ad burial of him, as his ambition caused the

e Wal Ab death Of so many, to be ntombed in tham b e of his y, although it was own founding ; but e e ll e e v ntua y William r lent d, and Harold, together

his e t L ofwin with two broth rs, Gir h and , who fell in

him e h e the same battle with , wer brought er , and

e th e of - were buri d in choir the Old Abbey church,

hi h f e w ch stood at t e east end o our pr sent church . This choir has long Since b een demolished ; and ’ Harold s tomb has been lost in the general destruo

hi f th e tion of t s part o e difice . ! ul e e e i Dr . F ler, in r f renc to th s, says, Let not,

e ll on e of th refore, the vi age of Harold, the north sid

e e or e Ouse, near B dford, (prop rly Harewood, Hal s

W on e on i ood , vulgar, groundl ss tradition) , c test w th ’ ” Waltham for this king s interment . 10

ri The w ter is aware that one or two historians, who have followed th e error of th e one who first

e e e di e ass rted for fact, that th r was a tra tion, (notic

only a tradition, no proof, ) that Harold fled from

e -field e i the battl of Hastings, and lived in r l gious

e e e a e e e r tirem nt y ars ft r this ev nt, at Ch ster ; and th hi e e . s writ r is also aware that Mr Palgrave, in

e e hi di History of England, has ins rt d t s tra tion, which is utterly destitute of even the semblance of

of it ex truth, in support itself ; and the more is a mined ll e e , the more it wi discov r its lf to have

ee th e e e b n inv ntion of him who record d it, as though

di of it had been a tra tion long standing, whereas such a thing was not heard of until it appeare d in the writings of the inventor of it ; and therefore without the incidents necessary to establish its pro

th e e e h ability . Was William Conqu ror so asily

e e ? Gith a e d c ived And was , the moth r of Harold,

th e e of him such an impostor as to feign d ath ,

e of his e e togeth r with that two broth rs, who f ll with him I trow not .

e e ou t th e It is r markabl , that of all the tombs in old one e e e e e e choir, not has b en pr s rv d ; and th r ’ f b e e ore Harold s is not to found, any mor than

e hi s th e e e thos of brothers, or any of monks th r in entombed .

12

1 736 hic e e in , w h is n arly a c ntury after Dr . Fuller, laments over th e thin ness of th e congregation in hi s

e 1865 th e e day . At the pres nt timm , congr gation p erhaps is larger than it ever has b een b efore in

e hi is any p riod since it was erected, w ch now fully e e ight hundred y ars .

e i e e Harold d d cat d his monast ry to a Holy Cross,

ee said to have b n found far westward, and brought

e th e e to Waltham by miracl , as popish party writ ; when th e town received the addition of Holy Cross to that of Waltham . Th e writer has never yet m et with any records e e of r lative to what becam this Holy Cross, and therefore cannot give any information concerning

e his th e e of it, sav t only, that it was subj ct a Romish miracle ; a nd as but few p ersons are permitted to

e th e of e e witn ss proof th ir miracl s, it may be pre um e hi er s d, that when t s wondrous Cross had p

e th e e ul form d its mission, same ang ls who mirac ously

e e th e e e e brought it h r , by sam m ans convey d it a e one e of e way again, and have not l ft particl it b hind for Waltham Holy Cross to venerate . ’ was e e e Harold s foundation for a d an, and el v n

th e black canons ; each canon had a manor, and

d S ix e . ean , for maint nance In the charter of confi rmation made by Edward 1 3

e e the Conf ssor, besid s Northland, in Waltham (the

l e e e one which Dr. Fu l r believ d to b that which

e North field e e i th e e is now call d ) , wh r w th monast ry

e e e e e was first endow d, tog th r with s vent en lord

i or . T h e e in e sh ps, manors manors nam d this chart r fi l i d . Pa are thes e : l st s se e d ( n H igh Gag es) ; 2n .

h a r h u 4t . Walde ( S o t We ld) 3 d . Upminster; Walth

m h d ne or New H a ll in B oreha 5t . S u er e fare ( , ) ; pp ,

T i edene a ma nor in E in wh ereon the -Church pp ( pp g ,

s 6th Alwertowne not known 7th . e s ta nd ” . ( ! ; Wod m hi h L a b e d L m h . ford ( Woodford) ; 8th . e ( a bet ) 9t

in an N a zin l 0th B rickindune B rio/ten Nes g ( g) . (

M lnh i B ed r 2 h don H erts 1 . e o n o ds hire 1 t . , ) ; l th ( f !

h a in B ed ordshir 1 t orm elei rm Alic se ( f e! 3 h . W a Wa

H 14 Nich els ll N tswell 15 . le erts . we e y, ) th ( ) th

H ic hc 16th L ukend n L au hton H itch ch e ( c ) . o ( g )

1 7th e -W ealth am Wes t W a lth a m in B erk . W st ( , shire) ; all of which the king confirmed to the

e e e monast ry fr e from all guilds and paym nts, in the

most full and ample manner ; witness himself, Edith

e S ti nand archi e isco u s Dorob ornensis his qu en, g p p ,

s Count Harold, and many other bishops and lord h subscribing t e charter . Tha t the affairs of this monastery were in a very

e e e th e of uns ttl d state, wh n death its founder had

e e b e e e e happen d so sudd nly, will r adily p rc ived and 14

e e e th e the only alt rnativ l ft for dean and canons, was to do their b est to make the Conqueror their

ri f end by submitting to his will . William laid claim to this Ab bey as being the

e e of e e e p rsonal prop rty Harold, and transf rr d th ir

e of e poss ssions into the hands Walch r, Bishop of h . t e th e e Durham And at time of survey, th y

e e e of e e app ar to hav h ld but half a hide land . Th r app ears reason to believe that the dean and canons wi compounded for their manors th Walcher, who

c e th e e of e e e pur has d arldom Northumb rland, wh r his behaviour brought on him th e punishment of the

th e e own populace, who took law into th ir hands and

him on th e 4th of 1080 e murdered May, aft r

th e e th e e which, chart r of Edward Conf ssor appears to have been th e means of saving the monastery ; ’ and not long after th e Conqueror s reign we find Waltham Abb ey receive d considerable additions to

th e ee of their maintenance . Maud first qu n King

e on e th e Henry the First, bestow d th m mill at

e of th e Waltham and Ad lisia, (second wife above

e h er H nry) being possessed of Waltham, as part of

e e all th e of h er r v nue, gave tithes thereof, as well

e e e th e d m sne as all tenants ther in, to canons of

Waltham .

ul ie Dr . F ler, in rev wing the prosperous days of 15

th e e e e e abb y, remarks, with som degre of manif st

! ee in e e f l g, that a glutton monast ry in former ag s makes a hungry ministry in our days . An d s or

th e e of e n e rows over id a an abb y, and a parso ag

e e impropriat , worth ight pounds per annum, in the

e e sam plac ; and adds, had not Waltham Church

e m et e e e e e lat ly with a nobl found r, the minist r th r of must have kept more fasting - days than ever were ” th e put in Roman calendar .

e The monast ry, as Harold had instituted it, conti nu e d 115 e e 1064 y ars, (from the y ar to

11 74 th e Ar of e e e In , chbishop Cant rbury susp nd d

or W ido un the dean, (Guido Rufus, ) absent and

e : h e e ee h ard , as w ll as the canons, having b n charged with great and gri evous irregularities .

e e Under very peculiar circumstanc s to hims lf, ’ King H enry th e S econd changed Harold s founda

e ul of e edi tions, (from s c ars the B n ctine order) to

ul of i reg ar canons the order of St . August ne ; and

e e um incr as d the n b er to sixte en . My youn g friends will remember that King Henry th e e a e c of S cond, and Thomas Beck t, Ar hbishop

e e ri of e Cant rbury, wer at va ance . The cause th ir

e of e quarr l was this Several the priests, b ing found

e th e i guilty of infamous crim s and murders, K ng c ommande d that justic e should b e exe cuted upon 16 them with th e s ame impartiality as upon those who

e e not w r in holy orders .

e hi B cket opposed him in t s, pleading that the clergy were exempt from civil judicature at which th e King wa s so much displeased that h e resolve d

e of e e . e t to curb the insol nce B ck t Beck , aware of

e off e e th e this, hurri d to Rome, and influ nc d Pope

t e (Alexander h e 3rd) in his behalf. Som time after

i e l e e e th s a partial r conci iation was mad b tween th m, a nd e e e his see e B cket r turn d to of Cant rbury,

e e e e where, continuing his former insol nc , som g ntle ’ m en en n e n , to rev ge the Ki g s quarr l, fell upo

e e B cket, and dashed out his brains in the Cath dral

C ur of e e e h ch Cant rbury . The King becam alarm d

thi s e of th e h e at , and f aring the displeasure Pope, declare d to him his innocence in the affair of the

ur e of e e e e th e e e m d r B ck t nev rth less, at sam tim , he expressed hi s willingness to undergo such p enanc e

hi s e th e e s ee as holin ss Pop should fit to impose,

ec th e e e e although perf tly innocent of d ath of B ck t .

e e e him e e The Pop , how v r, makes pay v ry d arly for his absolution and h e enjoins him to suffer appeals to Rome ; to quit his claim to investitures to keep two hun dred m en in pay for the holy war and that in England they should celebrate th e feast of that a e e . glorious martyr St . Thomas B ck t 17

’ Th e words of the Pope s bull are as follows W e strictly charge you that you solemnly cele

e th e - of i brat , every year, birth day the glor ous

- e Martyr Thomas, sometime Arch bishop of Cant r

of bury that is, the day his passion ; and that, by devout prayers to him, you endeavour to merit the i f ” rem ssion o your sins . hi f n T s poor pitiable King o England, trembli g

e under the pow r and cruelty of the Pope, is com

elled ri i e sub p to st p h mself, to walk bar footed, and

hi e of mit to be w pp d by monks, some whom give

him e him e . five lashes, oth rs give but thr e Thi s poor humble d King vows to erect an abb ey to of a e e the honour God and St . Thomas B ck t, and

e ulfil hi s e e e in ord r to f vow as w ll as he can, d put s

G alfr of of y, bishop Ely, and Gilbert, bishop Lon

as e e of don, his commission rs, to r ceive the Abbot and Canons their resignation of the abb ey to th e

b e in mi King, hav g pro sed to honour Thomas a

e e B cket by endowing a monast ry .

hi th e in e e al Ab T s done, K g proc ed d to W tham b e 3rd of 11 77 e y on the June, , where Walt r, bishop of on th e of Ar of C a n Rochester, part the chbishop terb ur of y, Gilbert, bishop London, John of Nor

of m et r ee e wich, and Hugh Durham, him, p oc d d to

old e e th e change the foundation, and to incr as num 18

‘ b er of e m en e e th e r ligious th r in, King having pro

e a e cur d chart r from the Pope . I need not say anythin g as to the charter of confirmation given by King Henry the S econd to th e e e e s th e e abb y, sav that it stabli he d to monast ry

e e e e new all th ir privil g s and poss ssions, old and , — in the most lib eral manner all being establishe d ( even to the appointment of a chapel in th e abb ey

th e of h a to honour that glorious Martyr, T omas

e th e e ul . thi s B cket, ) just as Pop wo d have it At time kings were but mere tools in the hands of th e

e e e e . reigning pop s, to p rform th ir pl asure

’ W e e Newcourt s Re ert . 11 . . 628 l arn from p , vol p ,

th e e e th e new that Guido, lat D an, was present at

di e e u or nation, wh n the King gav him a manor d ring

e c e e e th e e lif in ex hang for his d an ry, and to form r Canons th e value of their prebends during their

e e e th lives aft r to r v rt to e abb ey . It app ears to b e m ost probable that it was at the new th e ordination abb ey was dedicated to St .

e e of th e . Lawr nc , in addition to that Holy Cross

hi e th e e of of e Having nt d at pow r the Pope Rom ,

th e e of n e th e th e ri in instanc Ki g H nry Second, w ter fears lest his young fri ends should hastily conclude

c ffe e e that his was su h a flagrant O nc , that it call d for h e t e interf rence of the Pope, who would not,

20 would expiate all their other sins to conquer England

. o e e th e at his bidding This s t rrifi d King, that in

e e i h e led e ord r to av rt th s calamity, is to r sign the

of Pandol h us kingdoms England and Ireland to p , ’ th e e e e Pope s l gat , who haughtily rec ived it from

th e e e e on King John, whil he pr sent d it to him his

e Pa ndol h us e th e kne s . p receiv d crown from John,

e e e re and insol ntly trampl d it und r his feet, in the p sence of the s ervants and attendants of this degraded king . Thi s may suffice to show th e power exercised by th e e e e e popes ov r our ancient kings, and th r for

e our e our e e e ov r nation, wh n v n rable abb y was in its glory .

e e e hi s King Richard the First succ d d father,

e th e ec e th e (King H nry S ond, ) and confirm d to ’ e hi s e e abb y fath r s foundation, and gav lands in Waltham parish to Richard Fitz Archer to hold in

i of fee e e e . Th e , and h r d tary the abb y above Richard Fitz Archer planted himself at Copped l Ha l .

About this time, Hugh Nevil, with the consent of

s on e th e of his wife and , gav manor Thorndon to the

e of monast ry Waltham . King Henry the Third used often to retire to

e e e Waltham Abb y, (it b ing the nearest miter d 2 1

n r of mo aste y to London, ) to avoid the expense

e court k eping as much as possible . Not having it in his power to bestow many fresh estates to th e nk abbey, he granted to the abbot and mo s the tolls

e of arising from a we kly market, and an annual fair ’ seven days duration ; which he bestowed on Wal tham with a view of increasing the revenue of the ’ hi e ul monastery . T s fair, ev n in Dr . F ler s time, had been divided into two of shorter duration ; one

on th e 3rd of on 14th held May, and the other the

' of e ri of S ptember ; and a statute for hi ng servants,

e on th e 25th of t e h ld h e same month . The we kly

market retains its chartered day, Tuesday . This grant of a market and fair must have been a greater boon to the p eople of Waltham and its envi

th e rons, than we can well appreciate in present day il of civil and religious liberty, unt we come to reflect

th e e not upon fact, that in former days persons wer allowed to stroll about just as they pleased from

or place to place, to congregate together, only

f n or hi s f . And under the sanction o the ki g o ficers , although markets and fairs were chiefly granted to

” nh th e of li still e ance revenues re gious houses, we cannot but look upon them as the means of pro m oting the full fl ow of the civil liberty we now 22

About the thirteenth year of the reign of King

e hi H nry the T rd, Simon was made abbot ; and during his first year the men of Waltham came into i the marsh, which the Abbot sa d formerly belonged to the convent in common with the inhabitants ;

a and killed four valuable m res, and drove away all i i the rest belong ng to the Abbot, who put up w th i th s injury and took no steps in the matter . l i The fol ow ng year, the same men waited upon the

n r s e Abbot o the Thursday befo e Ea ter, in the nam

of e him to the whole parish, and requ sted remove

ut f di his mares o o the marsh . He refused ; ad ng that if his bailiffs had placed his cattle where they

not ul to it a ought , they wo d do well have mended

e ff y t to defer the a air till the Tuesday after Easter .

T of On the uesday appointed, Richard, duke Corn

ha a nd wall, brother to the king, came to Walt m, at the same time the men and women of the town re paired to the gates of the abbey to receive the ’ Abbot s reply . He told them he could not decide

for i i o with them the present, as he was go ng nt Lincolnshire to visit the Justice Itinerant but by his n b prior and other ca ons, he desired them to e i i ul h pat ent t ll his return, when he wo d mend w at

b e ul not was to mended. They wo d comply with es and in this requ t, the height of their exciteme nt 23 lost all due respect toward either the Abbot or his

and royal guest, reviled and railed at the Abbot ;

off h then went into the marsh, and in driving t e ’ Abbot s mares and colts out they drowned three of them and injured ten more, and beat their keepers di f ” th e o . who resisted, even to shed ng blood

W e u n n h n the Abbot ret rned, the tow smen, feari g

f e lia the consequences o th ir riot, desired a reconci him ti a . on, and preferred to p y damage But the

of i next day, when the performance their prom se

e - was exp cted, away went the Waltham men with

e l to in th ir wives and chi dren London, to the K g, enra m him n him h a g g against the Abbot, accusi g , t t

d nh of i he would isi erit them their rights, br ng up

m ur new custo s, take away their past es, and to us e

e to e th ir own words, eat them up the bon s ; and that he had wounded an d abused some of them who di i stood defen ng their own rights . Th s false report

as im to dis w believed by many, for a t e, the great

f of h grace o the convent Walt am . The Abbot would not put up with so great a wrong and

vin c hi e ha g epis opal power in mself, proce ded to the excommunication of the rebellious W althamites who aimed to defend themselves and their rights by the common laws of the re alm and when the trial

n his own came o , the Abbot made both rig hts and 24

’ i to a i the their r ot ppear ; and at the K ng s Bench, W a lth amites were obliged to confess that they had

e to done evil, and were amerced tw nty marks the A nl bbot, the which he not o y remitted to them, but

on i also, the r submission, released them from the excommunication . i i As soon as the Abbot was done with th s lawsu t,

wi of he was occupied th another more importance . ’ of on Peter, duke Savoy, the King s uncle, whom in the K g had conferred many manors, and amongst

h of . them, t at Cheshunt Peter contended, the Lea (the river called the King’ s Stream) divided Hert fordshire from Essex ; and the Abbot maintained that the small Lea stream, running nearly half a ’ to of in mile the west the K g s Stream, was that which divided the counties . The Abbot appears to

his have gained point at this suit, and the Duke seems to have quitted his claim to all on the east

of . side the small Lea river But, soon after, a new s uit was commenced, which continued many years, and was pending when the abbey was dissolved .

of all In the boundary the Forest of Essex, land f on the east o the Small Lea, is claimed as being in this forest Whether the forest was partly in

e shire or not i i H rtford , we must leave, as th s d spute

e was never decid d . But th e county of Essex is now ~25 generally allowed to extend as far as to the Small

L ea stream . ! i . ul ri : n i th e Dr F ler w tes Mea t me, wh le Abbot and monks of Waltham were vexed with the men of n Cheshunt, they fou d more favour (if public fame

e not n m t b lies them , ) from some lovi g wo en in tha

i e in nun par sh ; I m an, the holy sisters Cheshunt

d . r hi r . An s is of h ne y Mr Fa mer, in h tory Walt am

of one n Abbey, relates an incident Sir He ry Colt waylaying the monks and catching them in a buck

to in as tu stall, (a trap catch deer , ) they were re rn ing from the nunnery and presenting them to the n King He ry the Eighth, who laughed at the trick, ! ft e and said, He had o en seen sweeter, but nev r ” mere beautiful or fatter venison .

di of in n At the ssolution the abbey, K g He ry the n d Eighth bestowed the site of it, with ma y large an

on ir rich lands belonging thereto, S Anthony Denny and King Edward the Sixth confirmed th e

same . S ir Anthony died about the second of Edward the

hi s c an r i i him . Sixth, wife J su v v ng She was the

of hili Ch am ernoon of ur daughter Sir P p p , Modb y

. F ll of in Devonshire Dr . u er says sh e was a lady

u of e great beauty and parts, a favo rer the R formed ” religion when the times were most dangerous . 26

e b i e Wh n Anne Ase ot was impr son d in the Compter, hi M rs . Denny sent eight s llings to her secreted in a

o in of violet cl ak to help her her trial persecution . She was the daughter of S ir William A sch ot in

r nfin Lincolnshi e, and was under co ement for pro fessing the Reformed religion sh e was removed to the Tower and there racked ; and was so dreadfully

r to tortu ed, that not being able stand, she was

ri in ai to in Smithfi eld car ed a ch r the stake , where

sh e 1546 . hi is one of ersecu was burnt, T s the p tions in the last year of the reign of Henry the

s sh e Eighth . Mrs . Denny mu t have feared when knew that poor Ann e Aseb ot was racked to make

di e ri sh e her vulg who her f ends were, and if had any

i e at court ; the Queen be ng suspect d, and the King just upon the point of giving her up to the will of the bishops, the which, for her sake, was most pro videntially prevented by her wise dealing with the

King her husband . n ! t Dr . Fuller informs us that Mrs . Den y bough the reversion in fee of Waltham from King Edward in the Sixth, pay g three thousand and hun

for ewi dred pounds the same, purchasing ther th large privilege s in the forest as by the letter patents ” doth appear . u r i in Th e church became a c racy o donat ve, the

28

. his his ff i s chapel After decease, (and before a a r

e i w re settled, ) th s house mysteriously caught fire,

of e and much the furniture, together with som

i al t h e i writ ngs of great v ue to fam ly, together with

or 1 766 the house, was destroyed in about . t di Af er the necessary repairs, and rebuil ng, this

i e e house w th its garden (call d the Abb y Garden, ) was let to a market gardener ; and it has continued

un iff e to be a market garden, der d erent occupi rs,

c of ever since . It contains about twelve a res land, In which is generally walled in . it stood the far

T u - of al hi renowned lip tree W tham Abbey, w ch used to blow with innumerable flowers in th e months of

e ul . e of i r Jun and J y Great car was taken th s t ee, and many unsuccessful attempts were made to i propagate from it ; and, as is the case w th all

di e things related to time it d, having maintained its

a ur situation in the garden, as prominent feat e, ’ more than thr ee hundred years . In Lewis s Topo

al f graphic Dictionary, its circum erence is stated to have been nine feet six inches at that time but it hi di was much larger than t s before it ed . After it had been dead some few years it was cut down, and used in making various articles of furniture and f ornaments of curiosity . The wood o this singular

and of - n tree was very hard, a dark brow colour, 9

fe r w o . with very marks grains about it The wood,

hi ize on of perhaps, was most c efly pr d account its

ui z e al e antiq ty, situation, and si ; it having been low d to have be en the largest and the only one of the in sort known to have grown England . Its height was in proportion to th e bulk of its stem ; and when in its prime the top branches were perhaps fifty feet

e l t There was, likewise, anoth r singu ar ree (in the

- churchyard) , which was called the Cotton tree . In

ul th e le th e l the months of June and J y, whi Tu ip

b e tree was in bloom, the churchyard used to strewn about in various directions with a downy substance

e e ex resembling cotton . This tre , p rhaps never c eeded e -fiv e e e m tw nty f et in h ight, nor in circu

e e r ix ee e e f renc more than five o s f t . It app ar d to

of e one be the willow class and gr w hollow, and

e l hi s id d as wil ows do . Some misc evous boys once ff t s e n &c . se tu d it with shavi gs, and fire to it, but th e fire was extinguished before th e tree was much

e e hurt . It stood some years aft r this vent, and made several new shoots at the top ; but it wa s hi k impossible for it to make anyt ng li e wood, as it

e of one e of th e was, at last, but the m re bark sid

n - ik former tree, supporti g a pollard l e top, composed of one of a few stunted branches, which the writer 30

h s e of now has in i poss ssion, together with a piece th e bark which is nearly three -quarters of an inch

of thick, and not in any way like the bark the

l - e e of wi low tree, but rather mor resembl s that

elm the .

e - The while Mr . Wollard h ld the Abbey garden, in digging to make a soil to plant in at the depth of six e m en e of th e f et, his cam upon the foundation

of t pillars the choir, (in a cavity at the bot om of a wall, in which was mould to the depth of four

ee of n f f t, and two foundation ; and then a sto e co fin bedded in the b rick and stone -work ; the coflin was of e e l e blue Pembrok marble, sev n and a ha f f et long, wi f n of s thin it was a co fi thin sheet lead , with a cros

e faintly scratche d upon it . On its b ing cut open

e e on th re app ared a corpse, which the admission of

e th e ff the air f ll to pieces . At the bottom of co in

of i not nl lay a mass moist wh te matter, much u ike mortar in app earance and smell ; in which were

hi hr e ina fragments Of somet ng like t ead, but v ry distinct . it This, must be remembered, is a more recent d i ulle ' f rs . F r re e iscovery than that wh ch Dr to, as having b een found in the same garden by the gar dener of e n Sir Edward Denny, und r a fou tain, in

of z e wa i e the reign Queen Eli ab th, and s at that t m 31 thought to have been the coffin of King Harold ; but a full and impartial examination of the tomb

e e a s c fl eur e its lf, b aring it did a ross y upon it, tog ther with its generally too modern appearance for

’ i e e Harold s t me, gr atly weak ns the supposition ;

e . ul th e l of and ev n Dr F ler admits of doubtfu ness it,

we hi s own hi as gather from words, in w ch he says,

e e ff r lativ to this a air, that it was much descanted on wi e th art in oth r words, that it was much

e e e e s o question d, if not in som instanc s disput d ;

th e n that one discovered by Mr . Wollard, havi g a

n e as fai tly scratch d cross upon it, though done in a

e th e of hurry, appears to hav a better claim to idea ’ its ha ving b een that of Harold s or one of his brothers than the one before referre d to . Or it may ’ e e et ee be, v n y , that Harold s vault has not b n dis

e e u th e e of cov r d, although b ried there, as whol the foundations have not to this day been thoroughly l . u e explored . But as Dr F l r has given (in his

of e in re Worthies England, pag the follow g lative to that which he appears to have valued as the f o we e e n . tomb Harold, h r i sert it

! The ensuing relation written by the pen Of

S ewa rdstone in th e Master Thomas Smith, of ,

e parish of Waltham Abb y, a discreet person not long since dead . 32

so e out e S ir It f ll that I s rved Edward Denny, (towards the latter end of the reign of Queen Eliza

e of of b th blessed memory, ) who lived in the abbey hi Waltham Holy Cross in the county of Essex, w ch at that time lay in ruinous heaps and Sir Edward began slowly now and then to make even and ready

of h e hi s some t at chaos . In doing th reof, Tomkins ,

e di e gardener, cam to scover (among oth r things) a

e of e e ou t fair marble ston , the cover a tomb h w d in

. e e h e e e hard stone This cov r, with some h lp, r mov d

O ff e e a from the tomb, which having don , ther p pea red to the vi ew of th e gardener and Master

e mi e of i Bak r, the nist r the town, (who d ed not long

el a nd since, ) and to mys f Master Henry Knagg (Sir ’ ail f n of Edward s b i f, ) the a atomy a man lying in the

n e tomb abovesaid, o ly the bones remaining, bon to

e one his bon , not bone dislocated ; in observation

e e we e e to see l wh r of, wond r d the bones sti l remain

e ing in such due order, and no dust or oth r filth besides them to b e seen in the tomb . We could not conceive that it had been the anatomy of bones

r e th e only, laid at fi st in the tomb yet if it had be n

e ofhi s e &c . ? whol carcass of a man, what became fl sh,

e For, (as I have said above, ) the tomb was cl an

i e hi e from all d rt and dust, b sides bones . T s, wh n if did we had observed, I told them that they but

34

u formed) . Let s suppose that we have three more

e di di similar arch s in ad tion to the one still stan ng,

e e one of and that w plac the three Opposite to it,

u ee e abo t thirty f t mor towards the east and then, th e e w e e e th e other two arch s r ct, the one on north

e th e e so sid and oth r on the south, as to form a square th e northern and southern arches le ading

th e e e c e n into two trans pts, and the east rn ar h l adi g

c On e into the hoir . the top of such four arch s, and

e th e or ee e support d by them, tower, old st pl stood,

fi e having in it v e large and tunable b ells . In r gard to th e ze e e e si of this plac , it will be n cessary to b ar in mind that th e square formed by these four arches

ee e e was thirty f t, the choir was ninety fe t in l ngth,

fift -fiv e e th e one e and y in br adth , nave is hundr d

- e e e e fift fiv e ee w e . th e and l v n f et long, and y f t id In

e e e e e e e nav th r w r north, south, and middl aisl s, but

h e in t choir there was only a centre aisle . In this

one b e led e not way may to form a tol rable, if quite a correct idea of th e Shape and appearance of the i Abb ey when in ts prosperity .

of e s As to the plan the monast ry it elf, with all

f e a nd e c flices we its di f rent dormitories oth r , must e e e ff l av , as th re are no records a ording information on this point .

T h e e e ee e wa s c e pr s nt st pl built hi fly, if not en 35

x tirel out e of y, of the old mat rials the various ruins in th e reign of the cruel and persecuting Queen Mary and stands as a monument erected to record the f horrors o her despicable reign .

This steeple is eighty - six feet high ; each foot cost thirty - three shillin gs and fourpence in building ; it

di Th e t0 hi - was three years in buil ng . p t rty three ee hi er on f t cost forty s llings p foot, account of the danger and difficulty of th e work ; to complete which th e parish was oblige d to sell the bells which they had

c e th e di of out of pur has d at ssolution the abbey, the old e e e tow r, and had erected a wood n fram to hold them in till th e new steeple was ready to receive them ; but they were oblige d to sell their b ells to

e n e . . e enabl them to fi ish their st eple Dr Full r, in e e e e so r f r nce to this event, obs rves Waltham,

h - whic formerly had steeple less bells, now had a bell ” less steeple .

e e This ste ple was without bells som years, until

six Th e the parish became rich enough to purchase .

e e e of honorabl James, Earl of Carlisl , at the xpense

ix c 2 6d. e c e e s £4 . , gav him s for th se bells, whi h

—a t 4 8 12 use d to perform every four hours , , and

’ A nd th e e l e o clock . great b l us d to ring at four in

l th e e e e th e morning to ca l appr ntic s up to th ir work, ’ e e c e and again in the vening at ight o clo k, for th m D 2 36

to leave work . So that from Michaelmas to Lady da y sh e was called into re quisition to arouse the

e to of slumb rers, and again remind the weary the approaching hour of rest .

Af e i f th e t r a t me an e fort was made, and number f o b ells increased to eight .

Th e e of bach lors and maids Waltham Abbey, by a

lle e e e voluntary co ction amongst thems lv s, purchas d d h e f 1 23 . 1 8 . t e e o £ 3 . e the tr bl b ll, at the cost , and f hi parish (out o their funds) paid for th e other . T s was effected in th e time of Oliver Cromwell (in 1656)

e e dre of e e wh n p rsons had lost the ad Roman influ nc , and b egan to have more confi dence as to the stab i lity of our National Church . B efore the late alterations (which are decided im

rov em ents th e ofl p ) , chancel was parted by a parti

e th e tion work, which ext nded right across church ;

e e of ee most lik ly erect d in the time Qu n Mary, for

- e e hi th e sake of having the rood loft r stor d . T s par tition stood at th e distance of thirty - four feet six

inches from the Saxon arch or east wall . 3 7

T H E INNE R PORCH through which we obtain a glimpse of the interi or

~ of the church as it used to appear when the brass chandelier formed so conspicuous a feature in the place . hi now hr The c ef entrance into the church is, , t ough

e I nner P orch the ste ple, under which is the above , which appears to have been renovated and beauti fi ed . in the reign of Henry III . or Edward I about ’ ” i ri e Our L a d s wa s th s pe od the chap l, called y ,

uth e erected in a corner formed by the so trans pt . 38

Formerly the chief entrance was through the large ’ porch contiguous to Our L a dy s Chap el and Ch a rnel

H ous e t - so e , now conver ed into a school room, arrang d

on le that Sundays it forms a large sort of gal ry, open

th e e hi to the church, wall b ing taken away w ch for

off e merly shut it from the church, wh n it was, for

- many years, occupied both as a school room and a vestry .

now The south porch is converted into the vestry, n wherei Moses and Aaron, taken away from the

- e i - altar piece, togeth r with the old sound ng board, now a s wi in used a large table, are, th other th gs, preserved .

n old 850. e Duri g the late repairs an axe, a key, w re hi found ; w ch appear to have been lost, perhaps

r i e in the u nous state of the Abbey, and had lain th re buried for many generations . They are now pre

e of i serv d in a glass case, as relics ant quity belong

our th e Those who saw church during late repairs, when the galleries and pews were all taken away in & new e c . e order to have it floor d, , had a fair vi w of

of i what this part the Abbey was or ginally, when it in i formed an outer porch, lead g nto the choir where h e t worship was performed .

e t e i B fore h late improvements, this ed fice was 39 clustered with things which were in opposition to th e

e th e l An nu architectural d sign of bui ding itself.

e on th e s e sightly gall ry, south ide, extended n arly half way along from th e we st end and at one time th e singing - gallery was p erche d up much higher

e on th e e e e e than the oth r w st wall, the sid n ar st to th e e c e th e e south wall b ing hos n, for it gave it app ar ance of a box stuck up in th e corner of a large build ing at a great height . This was removed some years

e e e e e b for the recent improv m nts, to giv place to a

e th e e e new organ gall ry, whol width of the w st wall,

i e e new th e t of e bu lt to rec iv a organ, gif Liv r h ton e . t e , who paid to M ssrs Flight and Robson,

i e one . i bu ld rs, thousand pounds for it Th s gallery

few e was built unproportionably high, and p rsons, at

allisa de first, dared to look over the top of the p which formed the front .

i e e e e so e Under th s gall ry th r was anoth r, that th re were two galleries at the west end and one on the south when the recent improvements were com m enc ed and which have swept away every thing which was out of th e architectural order of the build

to hi e ing, even the partition w ch separat d the

th e chancel from church .

n of th e c u e In the ce tre h rch, and suspend d from

i wa s e n e as c e e the ceil ng, alarg and ha dsom br s hand li r, 40

e - six dl e which h ld thirty can es, and us d to be lit up

nl on n e o y the eve ing of Good Friday, wh n the church used to be thr onged with p ersons from th e surround

a l e hi e ing p rishes for mi es, who wer c efly attract d by th e Of th e de singing parish choir, at that time

s r dl e e v e y in repute . The chandelier was remov d in

effecting the restoration ofour new beautiful church .

1662 u th e e i e . In , d ring r ign ofK ng Charl s II , the ’ r i th e ri King s A ms, wh ch cost pa sh twenty pounds,

e e e to w re set up . Th r was, previous this, in this

s hi . church, the arm of P lip and Mary Th e late alterations of our church consist of

di u e e new various and ju cio s arrang m nts, such as

o th e pews, a new painted glass wind w in Saxon

c b e n e ar h, autifying the ceiling, repairi g and oth r

wi th e e se improving organ, and building the gall ry

re o e e for it at a mo prop rtionabl h ight, new flooring, cleaning the large pillars from the whitewash with

c e e n whi h they wer almost plast red, restori g, painting,

th e h e e e etc. w ich we need not further notic h r .

In W alth am r of e e e Chu ch, Old n times, th r were

ix e e stablished s Obits . To d fray the expense of

hi e for w ch, the parties pray d (though dead and

ed e e e e hi buri , and th r for having no shar in anyt ng

e in this world any more) l ft lands, etc . to pay the

i i ul priest for pray ng for the r so s . Thomas Smith ‘

42

to threepence the two clerks, fourpence to the children (these I conceive to b e the choristers) three

e e p nc to the sexton, twopence to the bellman, twopence for two tapers, twopence for oblation, twopence . O the reasonable rates at Waltham two i shill ngs and twopence for an obit, the price whereof ’ ul in as il in St . Pa s London w forty sh lings ! For

r th e th e (fo sooth) the higher church, the holier service, a nd e the dearer the price, though he had giv n too ” n much that had given but tha ks for such vanities .

On of th e the e the south side church stands chap l, ’ our e i ee called Lady s chap l, wh ch appears to have b n

i th e e bu lt in a corner, formed by south trans pt the

ll t i e hi e break in the wa , s ill v sibl , near t s chap l, shews itself to be a remaining portion of one of th e walls of the transept . Thi s chapel appears to have been most beautifully

ui e e e b lt, supported by buttr ss s, having on th m both niches and canopies ; a charnel house under this

of chap el is worthy our notice, the arches Of which l h are still very handsome . Dr . Fu ler says it is t e ” e fairest I ever saw, though at that time it was us d for no other purpose than to keep the bones in which were from time to time dug up in the churchyard .

e i l It is evident that this b aut ful y arched place, was not at first intended ever to have been con 43

- verted into a charnel house, but was built for a place of especial worship perhaps for th e perform l e or n . anc of Obits, prayers for the dead o y There was a priest specially appointed to this in chapel called our Lady priest . In the reign of K g

th e n e Edward VI . , account of the la ds, etc . , l ft — for the payment of these Obits was delivered in at th e same tim e saying that they were left for the maintenance of a priest ; and that the said chantry

fli i tin r was then without any o c a g priest . As we p o c eed we s th e , hall see that reading desk, belonging hi to . t s chapel, was covered with silver We shall now proceed to gather information from e ’ hi the churchward n s accompt books, the w ch Dr .

u hi s hi e F ller transcribe d into story ofWaltham Abb y . An 1 42 The 34th of King Henry VIII . no 5 .

i hi r r ea t. Impr mis, for watc ng the sepulch e, a g

hi . l e T s being found in each yearly account, Dr Fu l r seems to be incline d to believe it to have been a a n mi superstitious w tchi g, in i tation of the soldiers watching the sepulchre of Christ . ! e Item . Paid to the ring rs at the coming of th e ” n e . in h a d Ki g s Grace, Sixpenc The k g a small

Rom ela nd to t e house in the , which he of en repair d,

th e l u s hi at which times be ls were not r ng, o that t s n ringi g was on some special occasion . 44

of Item . Paid unto two men law for their counsel

- six ll about the church leases, Shi ings and eight

p ence . ! i Item . Pa d the attorney for his fee, twenty ” pence . ’ Item . Paid for ringing at the prince s coming, ” a n pe ny .

f n 1 43 5 An e 5 . 3 th o . The Henry VIII ,

of of Imprimis . Received the executors Sir

e Robert Fuller, given by the said Sir Rob rt Fuller ” to un . hi e ul e the church, ten po ds T s Sir Rob rt F l r, wa s the last Abbot of Waltham Abbey and care

should be taken not to confound him with Dr .

a Fuller, who was not an abbot, but a Protest nt

e i e of cl rgyman, and who became the ncumb nt

Waltham Holy Cross, rather more than a hundred

f e u years a t r Robert F ller the last abbot died . I 36th of . 1 The Henry V II , Anno 544 .

mi . e of Impri s Rec ived Adam Tanner, the over plus of th e money which was gathered for the pur

of hi chase the bells, two pounds four s llings and ” ’ e . Ofli cers th e eleven penc The king s , at dissolu

fiv e in tion of the abbey, sold the bells the old tower

i r h e i and the par sh pu chased t m by subscript on .

of Item . Received Richard Tanner , for eight 45

”

r li . stoles, th ee shil ngs A stole was a vestment

e which the priest us d to wear .

h - e . ai e n t e Item P d for m ndi g hand b ll, two ” ’ th e e S pence . This bell used to be carri ed in s xton

th e c e th e th e hand at ircumg station of sacrament,

c n . visitation of the sick, and such oc asio s

i e Item . Paid to Ph lip Wright, carpent r, for

e e n making a frame in the b lfry, ighteen shilli gs four p ence . Th e b ells being bought by the

out e e e parishioners, were taken of the d cay d tow r, and a timb er frame was made in th e south - east end of th e ur - ch ch yard, and a shift made for some years

h e to hang t e b ells ther on .

3 I 1546 Th e 8 of . th Henry VII , Anno

th Imprimi s . For clas ps to hold up e banners in ” of e e e e the body the church, ight pence . Th s bann rs,

. l e e u e Dr Ful er informs us, w r superstitio s stream rs,

e usually carri d about in procession .

! t e ri Item . Paid o John Boston for r pai ng the

e e organs , tw nty pence . From this, it app ars that

c th e e 1 546 Waltham Chur h had in y ar , two organs

e e sa how large they w r we can not y, nor whether they were or were not much out of repair when

e e e ten e e John Boston r pair d th m, charging p nc

e ach . At th e b eginning of th e sevente enth c entury 46

Waltham Abbey sold an old organ to the church

e e hi e ward ns of Ch shunt, w ch play d five tunes . The singers of Waltham Abb ey rendering it of no use in their church ; so that there was no organ in our i 1819 church from that t me until , when Mr . Liverton

ne th e presented the present o to parish .

rd 1549 . Th e 3 of King Edward VI . Anno

th e e hi th Imprimis . Sold silv r plate w ch was on e

e th e e e d sk in charn l w ighing five ounces, for

- w e s ee twenty fiv e shillings . From this that at

n th i e e least o e of e read ng d sks was inlaid with Silv r, ’ and was the desk b elonging either to our Lady s

e e e e chap l, or to that which appears to have b n call d th e of charnel, merely from the event its having had bones deposited in it when it had become use less as to that for which it was at first intended .

e . h It m Sold a rod of iron, w ich the curtain ran ” d ni re e e e . Th e upon before the , ne p nc rood was

i e of hri on th e e of an mag C st cross, made g nerally

left wood, and erected in a , just over the passage

ut of th e - o church into the chancel . The rood loft

e not on contain d only Christ the cross, but also his

e his e e hn moth r, and b lov d disciple Jo , to whom

Christ commended the care of Mary his mother .

e Dr . Fuller obs rves The church (forsooth) 4 7

typified the church militant, the chancel represented th e church triumphant ; and all who will pass out of th e e e e form r into the latter, must go und r the r ed

e loft that is, carry the Cross, and be acquaint d ” ffli e hi e e with a ction . He xpresses ms lf as prompt d to make these remarks on account of H a rp sfield

‘ (a Catholic) , who might be presumed to be learned

hi s own of in art superstition, pretended to be

th e r e d ignorant of reason for the e institution . n I mm . Sold so much wax as amou ted to twenty ” six shillings . The wardens appear to have bought

e wax, and to have had it mad into candles by the

e e e poor, in ord r to sav xtra expense ; and now as the Reformation has let in a brighter light than

of e off e that wax candles, the wardens s ll th ir stock f o of . wax, and give up this branch business ! f l Item . Paid for half o the book cal ed Para ’ fiv e i l . e phrase, sh l ings By the sev nth injunction of Edward the Sixth, each parish was to procure

r of e r the Pa aphrase Erasmus, nam ly the fi st

e on th e s et part ther of the Gospels, and same to be ” in i n e e u . up some conve nt plac in the ch rch In this, King Edward th e Sixth appears to have adopte d th e same plan which his father (Henry the Eighth)

6th of had used in regard to the Bible . On the 48

1541 enr th e e May, , H y Eighth command d, by pro c e e e lamation, that the new Bibl th n just publish d, th e greater volume Should b e s et up in every parish

c e e n . chur h, that the people might r ad ther i This

e th e was to be done befor All Hallowtide, under p enalty of forfeiting forty shillings for each month h ' after that time . In the vestry of t e pari sh church f ’ o . e e e e St Micha l s, Southampton, th re are pres rv d to this day the reading desks where p ersons us ed to

e th e e e th e e r ad Bibl aft r R formation, and the chains by which the Bibles were fastened to th e ! e C e It m . Spent in the visitation at h lmsford

th e e m en ee amongst wardens and other hon st , fourt n ” hilli vi s ngs and fourp enc e . This was the first si ta tion e e th e new (held by Nicholas Ridl y, th n Bishop of London) when our wardens were first called upon

e out of e form erlv to app ar Waltham, whos abbot

d e hel piscopal jurisdiction .

Th e 5th f nn 1551 A . o Edward VI . o

e e e Imprimis . Receiv d for a kn ll of a s rvant to ” th e e ten e e . e Lady Mary her Grac , p nc Mary, aft r ward Queen, at this time was residing at Copped Hall (th e former house stood in Waltham parish)

e h er e under the car and supervision of broth r,

Q

' e i allotted to them as th ir par sh church, which con

e of th e n e of sist d av only, the then dilapidated

- c abbey chur h . Thus far we have seen the Reformation favourably

ee i and n proc d ng, ma y persons becoming, not only

e e Prot stants, but r al Christians ; but alas, a dark

e e ! e cloud has aris n, Edward is d ad and his sist r Mary (a known Roman Catholic) with whom E d ward had found much trouble in curbing h er dis

e e e e sh e ob di nc to the Prot stant laws, against which

e e e th e e had r b lliously stablished mass, and whol

e on e Catholic worship to be carri d , by her k pt priests in h er hous e of Copped Hall ; where Edward had s ent th e b efore - mentione d Lord Rich and

e effe e h e e oth rs to ctually pr vent this worship, and t s

ee sh e e unlawful proc dings, to which was oblig d to ’ c omply until Edward s death .

e e e n h er e This b ing g n rally k own, religious s nti m ents cause d trouble in th e whole camp of th e Protestants ; and th e se quel proved that their fears

u were not gro ndless .

th e of e e Edward, supporter Prot stantism, is d ad,

th e e th e h and Mary, Catholic, asc nds t rone ; and

e e e e e e re b ing no long r under r straint, d t rmin s to e stablish Popery in the kingdom ; and th e church wardens of Waltham Holy Cross a re therefore called 51 u d pon to undo all they have been oing in the church, a nd th e first thing they are called upon to restore

th e we l s ee is superstitious cross ; and sha l , as we

e e ul e e l e th e proc d, that Dr . F l r has w l observ d, history of our church is th e Church -his tory of Eng ” e th e e land, as very parish in whol kingdom became e qually affected at this eventful and cruelly perse ’ cutin to w g reign . But return to the church ardens

- account book .

1554 e Anno , Queen Mary, the third y ar after the

e h er e deceas of broth r, Edward VI .

Imprimis . For a cross with a foot, copper and ” - fi hi e v e . gilt, tw nty s llings

F r - ne e . o f a nd It m a cross sta f, copper gilt, ni hi ” s llings and four pence .

e . t . It m For a pax, copper and gil , five shillings The pax had its ori gin from th e words of th e Apostle l ” u ee on . Pa , Gr t ye e another with an holy kiss 1 . 2 d e e e . 0. An v Cor xvi to pr nt wantonn ss, the pax (or th e p eace) was introduced and to shew th e

e e e th e of unity of all ass mbl d, th y, by proxy the pax,

e one th e kiss d another by kissing pax .

e F r . o of e e It m a pair c nsers, copp r and gilt, ’ e e e e nin Shillings ight p ence . Th se w re to burn t fra nkinc ense in e c e , to perfum the hurch during divin

e e s rvic . 52

. For s e Item a tock of brass for the holy wat r, ” s e hi i th e e e ev n s ll ngs . By the canon v ss l to contain

of e or e the holy water must be marbl m tal, and in

of e th e s un iness ul no case brick, l st p g thereof sho d

u suck p the sacred liquor .

e . of te ee It m For a chrismatory pew r, thr shil ” in e e to l gs four pence . This chrismatory was a v ss l

e confirm a hold the consecrated oil, us d in baptism,

e . tion, and extrem unction

! e Item . For a yard of silver sarcen t for the ” s e hi e e e . acram nt, seven s llings ight p nc ”

F r . e . o It m a pix of pewter, two shillings This was a box in which th e host or consecrated wafer wa s k ept

. th e Item For Mary and John, that stands in

- t - S ix S l e e e e . rood lof , tw nty hi lings ight p nc

! For e e Item . washing l ven aubes and as many

- e six e e . e or e h ad cloths, p nc An aub , alb , was a ’ e e of w e th e ee pri st s garm nt hite lin n down to f t, l hi s e . u e girde d about middl . Dr F l r informs us that

th e e e sim licit r urit thin matt r d noted p y; colou , p y length (deep divinity ! ) p ersevera nce ; and th e cinc ture thereof signified the p ers on wearing it p romp t ’ ” d d s i a nd p rep a re for G o s erv ce .

F r e e e e . o e e . It m watching the s pulchr , ight p nc ’ Thus we s ee that in Queen Mary s reign th e charge 53 for this superstitious watching had become double of of e n what it was in the time her fath r, He ry the

e . and It m For a processioner a manuel, twenty ” e p nce .

- e . e e e . It m For a coparas cloth, tw lve p nc

hi or e th e T s was a linen cloth, to lay over und r con s ecra t d e host . ! ’ Item . To the apparitor, for the bishop s book f ” o six . articles at the visitation, pence This bishop ! was (kn own by the name of) bloody Bonner h e

his di e who visited ocese before it was sick, and mad

hi s i it sick with v sitation . His articles were thirty

b hi s hi e e seven in num er, and c f aim was the s tting

of e hi e up complet roods, the w ch, if any man dar d to

e h e e r fuse, might with tol rable certainty expect that Bonner would procure a fire of faggots at the stake for him .

1556 e e f Anno , Qu en Mary, the second y ar a ter her

marriage with Philip of Spain .

i un i e of Imprim s . For coals to derm n a piece

e i hi the st eple wh ch stood after the first fall, two s l ” lin i i old gs . From th s we learn that one part of th s

o t wer fell down, and that the remaining portion was

e und rmined to bring it down also .

of to our The expense all, relative church, ever 54

e hi sinc t s time, has been defrayed by the parish, whose fostering care has brought it to the creditable

e hi 1865 . stat in which it is at t s date, Th e changes in our national religion from the last of King Henry the Eighth to the first of Queen Eliz a

e beth d mand our notice . In the short space of eleven

e e e e . years, no f w r than four chang s took plac Papist when Henry the Eighth died ; Protestant un der E d ward the Sixth Papist (with a vengeance to it) under Mary and Protestant again under Elizabeth ,

1558 : i e e h er e in s nc which dat Rome, with all hatr d

hi h er and mac nations, has not been able to establish

ur e i superstitious influence over o r l gion . Thank

God .

17 of 1558 ee z On the th day November, , Qu n Eli a

e . beth ascended the thron W e note this, in order to shew how quickly our wardens commenced the

of in destruction the abominations they had been, ’ set . Mary s reign, compelled to up

A 1558 e l . nno , Qu en E izabeth

- . ee Imprimis For taking down the rood loft, thr ’ shillings two pence . Surely their removing these things out of the church was attended with much m ore delight than was experienced when th e wardens

e i e e e t w re obl g d to r stor them, under the vigilan 55 supervision of the cruel and bloodthirsty Bishop ’ Bonner, in Mary s reign .

for of Item . Received a suit vestments, being of s of blue velvet, and another uit damask, and an ” ds . altar cloth, four poun

. For e co era sses e Item thre p , wh reof two white

one silk, and blue velvet, two pounds thirteen ” shillings fourpence .

. of al Item For two suits vestments, and an tar ” i li . hi n e cloth, three pounds T s buy g and s l ng

e must hav been attended with considerable loss .

Ann 156 —o o 2 . N w the wardens begin again to buy things to suit the simplicity of a Protestant

. For of b uckeram Item a cloth , for the com li ” munion table, and the making, four shil ngs .

e . e It m Paid for a bay nagge, giv n to Mr .

hre e Henry Denny, for the abbey wall, t e pounds s ven ” lin . hi . shil gs T s nag was presented to Mr Denny,

e l by the parishioners, in grat ful acknow edgment for

hi of his benevolent gift, the w ch was great value to

hi did Item . To labourers w ch undermine the

- fiv e hilli ni n . hi wall, forty S ngs ne pe ce No doubt t s was the wall (or rather the remainin g walls) of the

n th e old whole buildi g which ranged beyond tower, 56 the materials of which enabled our wardens to carry on a considerable trade in old materials for some years the whole of which was exp ended in th e erection of our present steeple .

ld h e 156 . ri For o Anno 3 Imp mis . an ous in

old e - six the mark t place, thirteen pounds shillings ’ le i e e e . hi t ight p nce This tenement, w ch for n n

hi e of s llings per annum, togeth r with another about th e e ri e- e e lle same valu , in High B dg stre t, th n ca d

e - e let on W st str et, was sold and the church lands

e for - of e l ases twenty one years . Want mon y at that time appears to have urged the parish to this transa ction .

th e l e e of Item . For o d timber in the littl v stry ’ . e f e h e St G orge s Chapel, fi t en shillings T er is a great probability that thi s chapel stood in th e grounds more especially appropriated to th e

c fli ces of e domestic the monastery its lf, and not a

a of - e p rt the abbey church so often referr d to .

. of e one c Item Received Mr . D nny, for ope of ” cl re li e e c e . oth of gold, th e pounds six shil ngs ight p n

e . For of e It m two altar cloths velv t and silk,

two pounds .

e . e e e of . e It m R c iv d Mr Tamworth, tw nty loads of ”

r i . timbe , ready hewed, which he gave to the par sh

. n in th e e Item For taking dow the stairs abb y,

58

n in render to his Gracious Majesty, for gra t g a

l of i of our co lection by way Brief, towards repa r

We give thanks also to the Right Honourable

of e of hi s Earl Manch ster, Lord Chamberlain

hi s for Majesties household, for favour in moving and ” i procuring the same . Was all th s trouble necessary in order to make a collection for such a purpose ?

e Sur ly it was, or else such pains to obtain it would not have been employed .

21st 1669 of one March the , , the sum hundred

wa s hi dis pounds borrowed, w ch was employed and

of ur posed in proc ing the duplicates, printing the ” e e bri fs, and other incid ntal expenses .

3rd 1672 un January , , this hundred po ds was

of repaid with interest, and an account given the money which had been employed for the furtherance f th o e work .

1674 - n i i In , forty Six pou ds four sh ll ngs and ten

e ri pence, was expended in the r pai ng (or rather in the patching up) of the church .

1679 sum of i - In , the s xty four pounds thirteen

hilli out s ngs and five pence halfpenny, was laid in repairing the schoolroom (a small barn -like building) ’ hi of our h e w ch stood near the east end Lady s c ap l,

was ui n and since pulled down . It a b ldi g erected 59 on the site ofthe south transept the picture of this place is still to be met with in some of the old

c drawings of the chur h .

16 78 e - hi i In , sev nty eight pounds five s ll ngs and twop ence (the previous year) was exp ended in re

ri pai ng the church .

it e out n Thus, app ars, the money laid upo

one the church and schoolroom, amounted to hun dred and eighty - nine pounds three shillings and fiv epence halfpenny ; and all the profit arising

th e le f ri e from col ction by virtue o the b f, appears by the accounts to have been only seventeen pounds

hi e five s llings, the d ficiency of the amount laid out

e was supplied from the parish stock, assist d by voluntary contributions from the more wealthy

hi e hi paris on rs . Surely t s brief business could not have been well persevered with .

D D . i . of Bishop Joseph Hall, , held the liv ng

- one Waltham Abbey twenty two years . He was of the four divines sent from England to attend the synod held at Dort, to decide the controversy between the Calvinists and th e Arminians . In 1624

see of e 162 7 he refused the Gloucest r, but in was

e consecrated bishop of Norwich . He was suspect d of e th e being inclin d to Puritans, by allowing many

H e th e i of f e . o those to preach and l cture , in l fe

e on hims lf, acknowledges that he was three times 0

his knees before the King ( Charles I .) to answer hi ” 642 t s charge . In 1 he was sent to the Tower by

li i e e Par ament, w th lev n other bishops, who, with

Ar f i the chbishop o York, protested aga nst the validity of the laws that should be enacted during f the exclus ion of prelates rom the Upper House . He ’ was released from the Tower a fter six months im

i i i un pr sonment, on g v ng bail for five thousand po ds, and i returned to Norw ch, where he preached to

e in 1643 e crowd d audiences ; but, , he was stripp d of his his ff dignities, revenues and e ects seized, being very Obnoxious to the ruling power on account of hi his preac ng and writings .

his hi . Lloyd, in Wort es, says Dr Hall was born at

As - - -! ir ul l st hby de la ouch, in Lincolnsh e, J y the ,

15 74 his il of n u e , where father was ba ey the tow , nd r f the Earl o Huntingdon . There appears to be some discrepancy between

th e of hi of Lloyd and Farmer, ( writer the story l i Waltham Abbey, ) wherein he uses the fol ow ng ! ’ f hi s o . words, this being the place (Dr Hall s) ” him birth . He also calls Bishop of Chester, the

e m whil Lloyd and others call hi Bishop of Norwich .

one Again, might be led to suppose (from the manner hi f in which Farmer expresses msel ) that Dr . Joseph Hall was a bishop (and not an ex-bishop) when h e 6 1

died whereas it should b e remembered that after

of ni e h e e he was stripped his dig ti s, r tired to a small

e e wi e e e stat at Higham, near Nor ch, wh r he att nded t th f hf ni e e s e o all e duties o a fait ul mi st r till his dec a ,

e on 8th of e e 1656 which happen d the S ptemb r, , in

th e 82nd of hi e e year s a ge . Farmer mak s m ntion

of : ll u of him twice First, as Mr . Joseph Ha , c rate

of this parish, and born therein, afterwards Doctor

e f . Divinity, and creat d Bishop o Chester The main

e al e body of whose books bear dat from W tham Abb y,

ndr to hi and who, by his will, gave a hu ed pounds t s ”

. e a s e parish S cond, the Right Rev rend Father

e l of hi n in God, Jos ph Ha l, Bishop Chester (t s bei g

th e of his e hi s ill e 22nd place birth) gav by w , dat d

u 1668 for use of one A gust, , the the poor, hundred pounds Farmer appears to have b een wrong in regard to th e date of th e will th e Bishop died in

1656 e e 1668 , and Farm r dat s his will . The parish app ears to have had some considerable trouble in

e r e hi e not g tting this hund d pounds, w ch cost th m

o e o nly long d lay, but f ur pounds for law expenses and Farmer app ears to have applied the dates from

th e e e s e e tim wh n the parish got pos ssion, and h nce th e mistake a s to dates but a s to th e mistake rela

e e e or c c tiv to Ch st r, Norwi h, we cannot ac ount for, unle ss Bishop Hall was first Bishop of Che ster and 62 a fterwards Bishop of Norwich ; and as to th e place of th e e e his birth, which of two, wh th r Lloyd or

e h we e th e hi e Farm r is rig t, must l ave w l , with ’ efe e e e th e all d r nce to Farm r s account, we giv ’ e e e of pr f renc to Lloyd s, he giving an account his

e on e . par ntage, which point Farm r is silent

e e Farm r Observes, Notwithstanding this estat , s o e of e e given for r pairs the Church, yet th r was in

27 1673 e e e November , , anoth r ord r made for a gen ral

e e e th e b e e of rat , at two p nc in pound, to for r pairs ” th e . e o 22nd Church And by anoth r rder, dated

1680 e th e ou t of re July, , r citing that church was

i e ul one pa r, and upon vi w wo d cost hundred pounds or e e thereabouts, to repair the sam naming s veral

I n u s ee e b e tr st to the sam done, and what should wanting for th e doing thereof should b e borrowe d of

th e e e . hundr d pounds that was giv n by Bishop Hall a , And it was ordered that the truste es for th e Church lands should make over their trust of the Church

th e of e lands to trustees the hundr d pounds, and to

e e e e a nd e pay the whol r nt of the sam y arly, very

e th e al of y ar, until princip and interest the said money shall b e fully satisfied . Notwithstanding

e e e e this good Pr lat gave this money, yet th r was ” c e e harg b efor it was received . H e then proceeds to Show that it cost th e parish four pounds to obtain 63

! it and adds, It is said, that this hundred pounds went for painting the altar- piece by th e then church

e . H e ward ns also informs us that, The rails in th e chancel that encompass the communion ta ble for

e - merly fin ly gilt, were brought from Copt Hall, and

of in hi e of used to surround a bed state, w ch som our Kings of England were wont to repose them ” - . e selves There is also a curious altar pi ce, it is

a of off the whole bre dth the church, and parts the

of th e r body church f om the chancel, in which is pre s e e e e nt d Mos s and Aaron in their proper habilim nts, ’ i & c . th e in Ar d in K n , and over it K g s ms, place up g ’ e th e e 1662 i Charl s S cond s time , in the year , wh ch cost twenty -four pounds ; th e charge of the altar

e & c re . e out piec , , was d frayed of the hund d pounds ” e l gacy given by the Bishop . Moses and Aaron

e ee e th e of . hav b n tak n away, and Arms Charles II r emoved into the entrance under the steeple . About fifty or sixty years ago our church again

e t c e s e d re f ll in o su h a dilapidat d tat , that uring the

e o v pairs, which last d some m nths , no divine ser ice

was p erform ed in it by its incumbent . During which

n of ini time a mi ister (a certain Doctor Div ty, who held a special license for preaching both within and without our establishe d churches) went Several times on the Sunday afternoons and preached among 64

a e th e ruins to large congre gations . M y the lik

e is e - e n ver happen again to our church, the h art d sir

n e of e i g pray r the compil r, whose ancestors have

hi e e wors pp ed within its walls for many g n rations .

th e ofth e old was ul In choir Abbey, a very beautif

e i a t paint d glass window, wh ch was removed the

dis . of solution The magistrates Dort, in Holland, intended this window for the chap el of Kin g Henry

n e e VII . , then buildi g in W stminst r, and forwarded i a res ent hi s t as p to that monarch . He died before

e was i and wi chap l fin shed, the ndow was placed in ’ e ofin n VII th s e Waltham Abbey inst ad He ry chap l .

th e n of e e e On dissolutio this monast ry, it was r mov d h ll of i e I . ew a to a chapel K ng H nry VI I , at N , in

e e ll hi e Bor ham in Essex, wher it remained ti t s state

e th e e of hn lmiu h O s . w o cam into poss ssion Jo , Esq

h e E s t s . old window to Edward Conyers , q for fifty i e n e . i pounds, for his chap l Copp d Hall Th s house

hi s n E e e s o e s . b ing r built by , John Cony rs, q , the f ’ ri hi o . e e pa s oners St Margaret s, W stminst r, pur it him i 1 758 chased from for four hundred gu neas, in ,

s et in h ll and it up their church, w ere it sti remains,

e e W alth amite th e o or to the nvy of very , who has pp tunit e il y to div into its beauties, the wh e they admire l f the ski l o its artists . T o this Abbey were brought the remains of King

66

’ ’ r 1307 . alsin h am s Confesso s Chapel, Anno See W g f Hi story o England .

On the high road from London to Ware, eleven

one and a half miles from London, and about mile

of d from the abbey Waltham, stan s the Cross,

i in ur hi s e n . erected by th s King, hono of queen, El a or

When new, it must have been a beautiful structure f e round it were several statues o the queen, tog ther

e e with the arms of England, Castil , L on, Poitou,

c . r e & and when fi st erect d, it occupied the centre

of ri u e e . h a t ang lar gr en, formed by thr e roads T at

s n e of from London to Ware, pa si g by the w st it ; and that from Ware to Waltham Abb ey went by the north-east ; and that from Waltham to London

- e e by the south east . The gre n has b en encroached upon in such a manner as to deprive th e public of

- on - the south east road entirely ; and the north east, also in such a way as to force the road on to th e

e e green, almost dangerously clos to the Cross its lf,

hi on of ee the w le, the south it a house has b n built

e on of th e e clos to it, a portion gre n between the

- Cross and south east road . Persons who have

kn e own Waltham Cross for many years, can w ll

e e e th e rem mb r, wh n both the Falcon and Four Swans had each of them a roadway through their

i n . e yards nto Waltham La e No doubt, at first, thes 67

u e ways were open to the p blic, who b ing frequently

e e e th e annoye d and hinder d in th ir progr ss, by

e e posting business carri d on at th se Inns, took to th e e is open gre n, and so formed that which now b e come the high road to Waltham Abbey .

Waltham Cross is in th e parish of Cheshunt .

1 79 5 e e In , pr parations wer made for removing this Cross into the grounds of Sir William George

e T h eob les r th e th e Pr scott, of Pa k, lord of manor of Cheshunt but after removing the upper tier of

e t o z a n e ston s, finding it o ha ardous und rtaking, (it was said) on account of the decayed state of th e

e e e a s e ornam ntal parts ; they r paired, as w ll th y c ould the damage they had done ; and remove d th e ff sca olding .

writerh a s e e The b en informed, that the Governm nt prevented this intende d removal ; which appears

e e e e v ry probabl , as they r paired and restor d it (as much as possible under th e attendant difficultie s and

di hi - ix T h e impe ments) about t rty S years ago .

e e e din of th e e e r peat d m n g road, has buri d s veral of

th e e . e e st ps And to have thoroughly r stor d it,

e e e th e of th e e would hav r quir d pulling down hous , built close to it and also th e lowering of th e road

e very c onsid rably . O ne of th e most important events that h a s hap

E 2 68

e p ned at Waltham Abbey, was that which led to th e Reformation .

! Kin g Henry the Eighth happening to sp end a night or two at a small house which h e had in th e

- 1529 e . e e Rome land in , his s cretary, Dr St ph ns, h ’ . e e t e and his almoner, Dr Fox, w re lodg d by King s f e of . e e o harbing rs at the house Mr Cr ss y, Waltham a t th e same time Dr . Cranmer and the two sons of

. e e e e Mr Cress y, his pupils, w re there, b ing oblig d to leave Cambridge on account of the plague . At ’ s upp er th e conversation turning upon th e King s d e e th e ivorc , and the courti rs knowing sound judg

e of . e on m nt Dr Cranmer, wished to hav his opinion th e e h e e u subj ct ; said, if the marriag is unlawf l by

e ec e of th e Divin pr pt or command, the dispensation Pop e cannot make it otherwise and that it appeared to him an easier way to have th e opinion of the learne d m en of our own and foreign universities for if they decide d in favour of th e King; the Pope

e c e e must soon com to a conclusion, whi h oth rwis would not b e effected by long and fruitless negocia tions at the Court of Rome .

e e ee c . e On th ir r turn to Gr nwi h, Dr Fox acquaint d the King with the new suggestion th e King seeme d

e e d lighted with the idea, and in his blunt mann r ‘ e e th e s ow d clar d, that the man had got right by ’ the ear . Cranmer was imm ediately sent for to 69

e e h e e re Court, wh r came v ry luctantly, and after

e e e him e e som conf rence, the King order d to d f nd his e him r caus in writing, and committed to the ca e f h f i hi o t e Earl o W lts re till it was completed . Th e subj ect of this treatise was the unlawfulness ’ of th e i e e K ng s marriag and in it was prov d also, that the Bishop of Rome had no authority to dis

e e of God nor . p ns with the Word , the Scriptures ’ Cranm er s hi s th e On presenting book, King

ul e asked him, whether he wo d abide by it b fore ’ th e ? hi e Pope to w ch Cranm r replied, That will ’ I do by God s grace, if your Majesty send me hi ’ H t ther . e was shortly afterwards sent with the

of hi e c e Earl Wilts r , ac ompanied by several learn d

on th e . men, an embassy to Pope

a The King, h ving conceived a great esteem for

in e 1532 n Cranmer, ( the y ar ) made him co trary to ’ Cranm er s own of wish, Archbishop Canterbury, and continued his friendship to him during life ; and the King in his will appointed him to be one of his

e al th e ri ex cutors, and so of P vy Council during the f mi o s on th e . nority his , Edward Sixth ! th e e e e of com On d c as Edward, Cranmer was mitte d th e e ee a nd 1552 to Tow r, by Qu n Mary, in ,

’ s ufl ered death at th e stake for hi s adherence to th e

c th e e of hi h e n do trines of R formation, w ch had bee ” one of th e first promoters and greatest ornaments . 70

Thus it is obvious that Waltham Abb ey was th e place where (under this apparently little incident) th e supremacy of the POpe met its first deadly thrust the effects of which eventually delivere d both England and her kings from th e galling domi f nation o the S ee of Rome .

e di Dr . Fuller writes, some years b fore the sso

a n e of al e l tio , Rob rt, the last abbot W tham, pass d

th e of C0 t- n e th e over fair seat p hall, unto Ki g H nry

h O e e e e e e th e Eighth, in p th r by to pr s rv rest — of hi s e e . e ul s o rev nu s How ver, all wo d not do

e e e ru impossibl is it to sav what is design d to in, and

few e e e a y ars after, the abb y, with the larg lands

e e e e ze th e i th reto b longing, w re s i d on by K ng, and ” h e e for some months alone stood possessed th reof.

hi o le d e T s erroneous inf rmation, Farm r to mak e the same mistake relative to th e passing of thi s !

! fair estate whereas the matter will appear in quite another light when the whole of the tra nsa c

r our e tions a e brought b efore vi w .

th e e of e e of th e In Tr asury the Exch qu r, is a list

e e e various purchas s mad by Thomas, Lord Cromw ll,

th e e for King, H nry the Eighth ; amongst which

! ” e e of - e this ( fair stat , Copt hall, (rath r Copped

e e Hall) is mentioned, tog th r with Hampton Court,

. th e e e St James in Fi lds, Weston in H rtfordshire,

th e e and lands of Earl of Northumb rland . 71

l The above named Lord Thomas Cromwe l, was c e ft hos n with Bishop Cranmer, (a er the decease of

n th e i Cardi al Wolsey) by K ng, Henry the Eighth, to

e im e of hi s manag (with others, and h s lf course) , general affairs in all things relative to religion and

e state . Cromw ll was not long in discoverin g his favour towards the Reformation ; a nd havin g been instrumental in the demolition of some of the con

e his i to v nts, the clergy dreaded access on power

to i he, instead of attempting sooth the r ire, injured di i them still more, by scover ng an important secret respectin g their blind devotion to Rome . He had

e e ft discov red the while he was ther , that a er the English clergy had taken the oath of allegiance to

e e di e th ir sov reign, the Pope sp nsed with that part of it which militated against his own usurped ri ghts ; s ho e o that the royal aut rity was abus d, and the clergy were subj ect to a n offence little short of

h e n to i treason . T Ki g listened th s with indignation ’ no in against the clergy . Cromwell, k w g Henry s

out passion for power and for money, pointed the

f l of means o effectually hum b ing the clergy, and n confiscating their monastic property . In a tra s

f h e e a port o joy mbraced Cromwell, and t king the royal Signe t from his finger sent him to the Convo

e to e th e e e cation, th n sitting, declar pains and p nalti s

e which they had incurred . The bishops wer at first 72

i e aston shed at the accusation, and attempted to d ny th e fact ; but Cromwell producing a copy of th e oath which they ' had taken to th e Pope at their

e e e cons cration, they w re awed into sil nce ; and

ffe e e o red eag rly to compound with his Maj sty, by a fre e gift of one hundred and eighteen thousand

u e eight h ndr d and forty pounds . The fortune of Cromwell was insured by this

h e dl of e . exploit, and rapi y rose to the summit pow r

H e e ell was successiv ly made a Privy Couns or, and

of e e f e e of th e e Master the J w l O fic Cl rk Hanap r, and Chancellor ofthe Exchequer ; pri ncipal S ecretary of e e of th e ee th e Stat , and Mast r Rolls ; K per of

Privy Seal, and Lord Cromwell ; and to crown all, h e e - e e e was constitut d Vicar G neral, and Vic g rent

e ov r all the spirituality under the King, who had at this time assumed the title of supreme head of the

So many honours accumulated by a person of

e e h e th e son of pl b ian origin, ( being a blacksmith,

e e ul e e . Th e at Putn y, in Surr y) , co d not scape nvy total suppression of th e monasterie s was a bold and novel step ; and as th e rupture with the Court of

e e e e th e e e of Rom was now compl t , whil gr at r part th e n n e e e th e atio still prof ss d Popery, the dang r of m an who had placed hims elf in th e foremost ranks of th e Reformation, and been accessory to that

74

e e e H nry, having lost his qu en, Jane S ymour, (mother of Edward the Sixth) turned his thoughts

i e towards a German all ance . Cromw ll warmly ’ e e hi s e e s cond d mast r s vi ws, and brought about a

e him e of e marriage betwe n and Ann Cl ves, who was a Protestant ; in hopes thereby to strengthen his

e e th e i int r st against popish faction, which cont nually menaced him but thi s circumstance prove d hi s

i . An e e ru n ne was personally disagre able to H nry,

vi e h e e e h er who had a tiat d taste c ased to liv with ,

fix his i f e on e e and ed rov ng a f ctions Cath rin Howard,

uk ee ni ece to the D e of Norfolk . The papists s ing

e n of this, redoubl d their clamours agai st the Earl Essex and some of the Bishops promised to procure

e a divorce from the Princ ss of Cleves, on condition

of e e e e . e Cromw ll being pr viously r mov d H nry, whom no tie of honour could bind when hi s passions

e e e w r conc rned; gave up poor Cromwell, who was arreste d by th e Duk e of Norfolk at the coun cil

m e e board, and i m diately conv yed to the Tower .

e e h e th e of S v n days after, was accused in House

of e Lords heresy and tr ason, and was condemned

. e e e e him e unheard His fri nds d s rt d , and his en mies

e him nh n e triumphed ov r with i uma insol nce . Cran

er th e e e n e e m , Primat , alon maintai d his caus , though

ef of n e with in fectual zeal and in the fidelity Cra m r, 75 h e met with a recompense for hi s own attachment

e e . to his fri nd and patron, Cardinal Wols y

e of e to th e Cromw ll, Earl Ess x, was brought

on th e 28th of ul 1540 th e - e block J y, , in forty s cond

H e e e hi e year of hi s a ge . pray d f rvently w l on the

’ s ca fl old th e in e of , for K g, and the w lfare his country,

e e th e e e and th n gav signal to the x cutioner, who

e e or ff e b ing ither unskilful nervously a ect d, mangled th e u nfortua te victim in a most shocking manner .

e e At the dissolution of Waltham Abb y, Cromw ll was one of th e commissioners sent here to re ceive th e th e surrender of monastery from the abbot,

e e th e Rob rt Full r, and monks . This is not inserted for the mere purpose of

e - th e e shewing this gr at proto martyr of R formation, but to enable my younger readers more re adily to perc eive how th e demolition of th e monasteries and nunneries of England was brought about and likewise to be th e b etter able to account for our

ei Dr ul . country b ng (as . F ler calls it) Roman Catholic again at the death of King Henry the

Eighth .

Another remarkable incident, which must not be

e e th e Fox omitted h r , is the fact that martyrologist , f wrote his book o Martyrs in Waltham Abb ey . Tradition still points out a certain garret under the 76

di e roof of the old buil ng, opposit the south wall of th e church -yard ; th e end nearest to th e mark et

e is e di plac ; and which probably the old st buil ng,

th e l as relates to houses in town . It has been a tered

ri e in va ous ways since the days of Fox ; wh n it,

one now most probably, formed entire house, but converted into three . That Fox had interest in Waltham Abb ey will

s on appear very forcibly, when we reflect that his ,

hi s Samuel, was located in this parish . In Common

Place Book, now preserved in the British Museum, we find the following

1600 8th of u i , the daye Aug st, being Fr day,

Fox 0 - about midnight, was born, Sarah , at C pt hall di 23 n 1608 e ed Ju e, and li s buried at Waltham ” - Church, by my pue dore .

1646 e Anno , my broth r, Captain Robert Fox, ’ di e W ollston s d at my sister house, in Waltham

12 th e Abbey, about at noon and was buried in

th e 23rd chancel, upon of May,

of e In this book Samu l Fox, we also find the

e of th e of son wh o e r cord birth his Thomas, b came a member of the College of Physicians ; and was born in the palace of Havering .

m a of e e It y not be out plac here, to observ that

z e of e e Queen Eli abeth gav the Manor Epping, tog th r 77

th e with Copped Hall and its demesne lands, into hands Of Sir Thomas H enea ge Samuel Fox was steward ; and th e while he was living with him at

ee z Copped Hall, Qu n Eli abeth made Sir Thomas H enea ge keeper of th e (then dilapidated) palace at

Havering . Sir Thomas made Samuel Fox the under keeper ; and the whil e he reside d in this palace hi s

F x on . o s (Dr Thomas ) was born . Near th e chancel of our church we find the vault of th e Wollaston family ; and again their name appears amongst the benefactors to the poor of this 161 parish in 6. From th e above remarkable coincidences relative ’ th e i we led to Fox s fam ly, are to the conclusion,

e of r that the tradition, r lative to the Book Marty s h e e aving b en writt n in Waltham Abbey, becomes confirm ed .

. Fox di on Mr John , the Martyrologist, ed the

18 of 1587 Wa s ri th April, , and bu ed at St . Giles

e e 7oth of his a e without Crippl gat , in the year g ,

e e s n F x e o . e o wh r his , Mr Samu l , erect d a marble monument, with a Latin inscription thereon, record ing his m erits ; and as having b e en th e m eans of

e as s o o r viving the martyrs, many ph enixes from

s e of one oblivion . And we e that two his sons and

f hi s nl o his daughters, perhaps o y daughter, the 78

e above named Mrs . Wollaston, r sided in Waltham

Abbey after his decease .

a e e The l st abbot, Robert Full r, des rves notice

m n e e amongst the eminent e conn ct d with Waltham .

H e wr e - e ote a sort of l ger book, of the poss ssions,

& f e iful e c . o revenu s, his abbey a large and b aut ly

ri e un fift w tt n volume, containing four h dred and y i s x e e . pages, now pres rv d among the Harleian MSS in the British Museum . We shall now leave th e affairs of the dissolution of ke th e e abbeys, and li wise of R formation ; and proceed to notice the charitable benefactions b elong ing to our parish . 1 579 M rs . e e In , Margaret G dney gav to the poor of i ri er um e hil th s pa sh, p ann , tw nty S lings and

e hilli er nn e also tw nty s ngs p a um, for r pairing of

h h e e wa rdst n t e highways in t haml t of S e o e .

e Ram ston of hi 1585 Mr . Rob rt , C ngford, in , gave

of hi to the poor t s parish forty shillings per annum .

e old e e on one His tabl t, (in l tt r) was of the pillars

f th e th o e . church, but now removed to south wall

1587 . e In , Mr Robert Brown of this parish, (s rvant to e liz e e th e Que n E ab th) , gav to poor of this parish,

e c e of e a r nt harg out the Cock Inn, n ar the Mill, lli thirty Shi ngs per annum .

. Ca trow of i e Mr Robert , this parish, by w ll dat d 79

23rd of 159 7 of the April, , gave to the poor this

is l um e par h twenty shi lings per ann , to be giv n away

z fir e e in bread a do en on the st Sunday in Nov mb r,

th e e e on l and sam numb r each fol owing Sunday, n th u til e money be exp ended .

e - f hi Mr . Rob rt Dean gave a rent charge o ten s l

er th e of hi b e lings p annum, to poor t s parish, to

e giv n away in bread .

. e 1616 th e Mr H nry Wollaston, in , gave to poor

of e Of this parish, out lands in Holy Fi ld, fifty shil l er m b e in . ings p annu , to spent bread 169 1 l . e W o et . In , Mr G orge y , jun bequeathed to th e of of e e e poor this parish, out lands and t n m nts

dl i er at Yar y, in Hertfordshire, forty sh llings p a nnum .

. e hi Mr Rob rt Grub gave to the poor of t s parish, a 1 708 l b e di s nno , forty shil ings per annum, to

ri e e t but d in br ad .

. e i Mr John Edmondson l ft, by w ll, a house and

e e Cook hi pi c of ground Opposite the Inn, w ch fifty years ago realised to the parish six pounds p er annum .

. e e i i Mr Gre n, purv yor to K ng James, bu lt the l 1 626 A ms Houses in , for the abodes of four poor widows of this parish ; he also gave an orchard and

n e bar contiguous, which th n let for four pounds per 0

to annum . This was afterwards let Government for

- twenty fiv e pounds p er annum . This rent is equally divided amongst the widows who reside in these alms houses . 8 . 1 07 Mr Robert Mason, in , bequeathed, after

of hi s e . S tockold the decease n phew, Mr , eight

n th e hundred pounds, avy annuities, to rebuild alms

e e hous s and if any surplus remained, the mon y to b e given in we ekly instalments to the four poor

1 1 u w . 8 8 idows In these houses were reb ilt , and made to accommodate eight instead of four .

th e ri A stone tablet bearing following insc ption, was placed in th e front wall of th e former alms i houses it has been stud ously preserved, and now occupies a place in the front wall of the newly erected houses .

Birth is a pain ; life, labour, care, toil, thrall

old a e e In g str ngth fails, lastly death ends all .

h fe e e b e n W ilst strong li lasts, let virtuous d ds Show Fruit of such trees are hardly thereby seen or

known .

a To have reward with lasting joys for y,

e i Wh n v cious actions fall to ends decay . ’ o er lus e Of wealth p , lands, mon y, stock, or store,

e i In lif that w ll relieve aged, needy poor,

82

hi - s appear to have been t rty three pound per annum, as follows

or i A messuage tenement div ded into two parts, let for ten pounds per annum .

let e Seven acres of land for nin pounds .

e e of e e - e Thr e acr s land, call d Pat r nost r Hills, and

e one t e H ostla e e two acr s of land in crof , call d g , n ar W olm erford Bridge and other lands called Church

e s o one o f W olm er Fi lds gl acre meadow, lying at ford ; these lands were let for fourteen pounds per annum. Th e trustee s numb er twelve a nd who are to b e

e e e e e e r new d p rp tually, as th ir numb r, by death,

or e e e e e . oth rwis , b com s r duced

1 36 th e of th e e 1st 7 . In , list trust es was, Sir f l h s W e e . o e t e e Thoma bst r, Bart Copp d Ha l, ( form r house stood just within th e bounds of this parish ; but th e present house is built just within th e parish of S O e Epping, clos to Waltham, that it was only determine d by a law suit as to which parish it was E d C s . 2nd. A 3rd. built in) y ollard, q Thomas h 4t . e e . e e Burg, G nt (d ad) Nathani l Sawyer, G nt .

5th . e 6th . (dead) ; Edward Langton, Tann r ;

ee e 7 h Pi t . b on William Stock, Inn K p r ; William g e,

e 8th . C e e E s . 9 th Y oman ; harl s Wake Jon s, q . l h e . 0 W ins ea r t . Thomas p , G nt John Eaton, 83

' 2 11th H . 1 th . Yeoman ; . enry Thomson, Gent

e Pi b one . H nry g , Yeoman

1 736 to In , these rents amounted only thirty three poun ds ; but in 1830 they realised ninety - one pounds fourteen shillings ; now considerably more .

’

H U RCH W A RDE N CCOUNT 1830. C S A ,

. s . . a . r . p d

Mr . Joseph Harding for 3 closes

of meadow land, situated at

e 11 33 2 Copt Hall Gr en, containing Thomas Ricketts for a close

of meadow land, Situated at 6 Paternoster Hills, containing Joseph Luck for a close of

e m adow land, adjoining to

e Brickhill Common Fi ld, con taining 2 John Martin for a piece of arable land in Brickhill Com

e n ni 2 2 32 5 5 mon Fi ld, co tai ng Daniel Paul for a dwelling house situated in S ewardstone

ee wn Str t, in this to John Watts for a dwelling house situated in S ewa rdstone Street 8 8 0

2 3 1 7 9 1 14 0 84

This parish consists of four divisions . The town, th e f S ewardstone -field U shire hamlet o , Holy , and p , each governed by separate officers ; but th e paro chial rates are all carried to One general fund for the f benefit o the whole parish . Waltham Abb ey did not adopt the plan of

e 1 734 e e housing th ir poor, till ; wh n th y took a

e e of e l as a large house in the Green Yard, to stablish a workhouse for their indigent poor . Th e parishioners have the right of keeping any

‘of e on th e e number hors s and other cattle for st, only taking them off during fence month ; which

di to e e e accor ng for st laws, were fifteen days b for

e e th e and fifteen days aft r Old Midsummer day . Sinc

e n i of th e e o cland sti ely smuggl ng away For st C urt, this fence month is not regarded and therefore th e cattle remain on the forest all the year round . Th e parish claims th e marshes as their own pro p erty and every p erson renting to the amount of

e forty shillings in this parish, has an unlimit d right of on common the marsh, and in the Lammas lands,

- t e . e c . Town mead, the common fi lds in Broomsti k

- e . e a re Hall, and Hon y lane Th se two last shut

ir on e every th d year, and are opened the creps b ing

off for th e of cleared reception cattle .

of e e th e The poor Waltham Abb y, (togeth r with 85

of and poor Loughton, Theydon Bois, Epping) , formerly had th e ri ght Of wood- cutting on th e

e hi e e ri e for st, each wit n th ir resp ctive pa shes, grant d

e ee l z e th e e of to th m by Qu n E i ab th, upon t nour

v th e ule obser ing r which she gave them, and which

e e e th y wer to retain as their chart r ; which was, to s th e of trike axe into the boughs the trees, at the

i of 11th of s o midn ght the November in each year,

e cu t th e e e as to b gin to wood, as n arly as possibl , b etween the 11th and 12th of that month only ; afte r which they were to cut and bring it home at

r e thei pl asure, throughout the season .

hi e of e of T s right, in cours time, arous d the envy some p ersons who were a step higher than the poor ;

e di e e e and Waltham Abb y first scov r d thos , who by

a e c e e e ri th e cunning and rtific , suc e d d in d p ving

of e e of poor this boon, by inducing th m to partak a

e e n h e 1 1th of ve g n ral drunk and supper o t No mber,

1641 .

ffe of This supper, which was a snare, had the e ct

th e e causing unsuspecting poor of Waltham Abb y, to forget their cha rter and their forest wood - cutting

e e f e r rights . They w r soon made sensible o th i error ; and were prevente d from gathering up piec es of fire - off th e e e er wood from forest, by th s very p

wh e e s o e sons, p kindly gav th m sumptuous a supp r ; 86

of given as they were led to believe, in admiration

e th ir good conduct, as they were flattered, and told that no other parish could boast of such praiseworthy

e of al Ab and des rving poor, as the parish W tham

. e ou t e bey But, alas th y found the snare too lat , and lost their charter through not attending to the rule prescribed ; s o that Waltham Abbey held this right only through the remaining portion of the

z of reign of Eli abeth, through the whole reign King

th e James, and to the sixteenth of King Charles hi First . At t s time, all parties well knew upon what tenure the poor held this chartered privilege .

e ri The sam trick was t ed at Loughton, but it did

a not succeed, for although the poor ccepted the

e on 11th of e supper given to th m the Novemb r, they kept a strict watch for the time for them to

a xe e i use the , and duly secur d their rights, the wh ch they maintaine d to the present time .

th e e In Waltham parish, for st wood was allotted

of diffe e z e into portions r nt si s, and appointed a part

e or i to ach farm house hav ng land belonging to it .

e his The larg r the landholder, the greater Share of th e - on brush wood the forest . Thus they became

of of i possessors the wood, the right the poor, w th ou t e e or e ith r charter pr scription . This information the writer derived from an old 8 7

of Pi b ones manuscript book the g , (an ancient family ’ f e th e ri m e o Waltham Abb y) w ter s grand oth r,

of h er e being that family, had it in poss ssion, and from it he copied the dates and the facts many years ago . This parish also possessed E dm ondsea marsh ;

h now e but t ey have sold it to Governm nt, who formerly paid ten pounds p er annum to the parish

e e for lands cut through to form a navigabl str am,

i - s e e running by the F ning hou e, (the bridg ov r which Government keeps in repair) they also had

f - - the accommodation o a foot path and a road way, which was included in ten pounds rent .

l e w e The gunpowder mil s h re, re originally private

e e prop rty ; and one hundred and thirty y ars ago,

e . h W olton wer in the possession Of Mr Jo n , who used to supply the Governm ent with great quan tities it then being the largest gunpowder factory in England .

e e e Gov rnm nt purchased it, and have continu d to

e c add to it ver sin e .

1813 e e In , no f w r than thirty thousand barrels of gunpowder were manufactured here ; and there is very little doubt that three tim es that quantity

b e e e e e re could now mad h r in a year, if it wer

a s di h quired, the various buil ngs extend far on eac

e on th e . Side of the town, esp cially north 88

A person coming from Waltham Cross has a fine

of w a nd view them, together ith the church town h i m directly before . Th e first bridge h e arrive s at (after th e Railway

e e th e - i hi e Bridg ) , is call d Small Lea Br dge, w ch tak s its name from the stream which flows under it . The fine spacious and level marshes on either side

f him . e e e o , are sure to attract his notice Th s m adows were formerly inundate d by the tides from th e

hi to river Thames, w ch used flow along this level as

far as to Hertford .

n ai e of hi e to The Da es av l d themselves t s wat r,

of annoy King Alfred and his army, in various parts

e hi u se Essex and H rtfordshire, w ch caused him to means necessary to secure to himself th e streams he

e ste th e of ne ded, and at the same time to p flowing

hi b e e e the tide, the w ch eff ct d by building Black

ll e for his own a ccomm o wa , and by res rving water

e e e dation in divert d streams . By th se m ans he

e off e drained the wat r from these m adows, leaving

e the Danish mariners on the mud, to enjoy th ir

i i e i e anx ous waiting for the t d , wh ch n ver (from that

to hi e day t s) has r turned . King Alfred app ears to have accomplished this in th e year 8 76 and as Canute was not established in

th e th e e 1017 e e kingdom till yar , it is vid nt that this b ed of mud had at least one hundred and forty

90

e at Soon after passing over this bridg , we arrive th e - on our e t hi County Court house l f hand . T s building was erected in 1849 and nearly opposite are to be seen the Alms Houses, before mentioned .

din old Procee g along the street, we come to the Barge -river Bridge this is th e grand stream of

i th e h i K ng Alfred Great, and w ich was made nav

in ei gable the r gn of Queen Elizabeth, and was

e w new or a of forsak n, hen the cut ( br nch the Barge

e T h e Riv r) was opened through the marshes .

e e of str am which flows under this bridg , the lord the manor of Cheshunt contende d for (with th e abbot) as being the boundary between the parishes of Cheshunt and Waltham Abbey ; and also that which di e th e of s e vid d counties Hertford hire and Ess x, the while the abbot of Waltham protested that th e Small L ea stream was the one whi ch divided these

e e e i e . counti s, as b for not c d

e we e e on Proce ding onward, arriv at an op ning, our e e th e e - e e l ft hand, which is call d Rom land, wh r th e cattle market is now kept ; th e rents whereof

th e e of at one time went to Pop Rome . It was here that King Henry th e Eighth had a private house where h e frequently resorted . Through this

e e th e e c triangl li s the way to abbey gat s, whi h

th e might form an interesting Object to visitor . 9 1

This was the original entrance into the hospitable monastery ; and was afterwards the way retained h t e i on . for fine mansion, wh ch was erected its site We next arrive at the C ook I nn opposite which s - tands the Liverton School house, endowed for boys

r a re e and gi ls, who both cloth d and educated . Con ti uous e g to this hous , the Police Station and Na ti nal o School is erected .

o f Cook ll By the side the Inn, stands the Mi , which was given by Queen Maud to th e Monastery of Waltham . It now belongs to Government, who Th let . e it present tenant is Mr . James Carr . We are now in full view of the west end of our

- n e ur . t e ve erabl ch ch, and church yard Fif y y ars ago a whole row of houses extended all the way

e l n along the west side (where the pres nt wal sta ds) , and which entirely shut out the view of th e church

of yard . The front these houses faced the church

a yard, having pathway in front, and a row of trees

e e or befor th m the road, street, at the back of

e ee i them was v ry narrow, too narrow ind d to adm t

Of any yard, or path, at their backs . There used to be a small gate -way at th e south - west corner of th e

- Church yard which led to the church, and was used

th e of e . for accommodation thes houses These, s together with their thoroughfare, occupied ome 92 considerable portion of the ground now within th e

al e of hi w l, b sides much that without, w ch is now

for i e of occupied the w d ning the road . These places stood almost dreadft in the way of th e tra fli c the last house formed a sharp corner in the

now n e off road, where the wall is rou d d . This row of e of th e of houses was remov d, by consent lord

his own the manor, (they being copyhold, if not

e now i prop rty) , and after so long a t me has elapsed, a demand made upon the groun d appears to be

i ur e hi hi likely to cause the par sh to p chas t s, w ch a former lord of the manor so freely gave up for th e public good .

ne a of fl our-mi At o time, p rt the ll was used as a hl pin factory . The late hig y respected Mr . Francis of r al Gracechu ch Street and W tham Abbey, (the

of i e e father the present h ghly esteem d Incumb nt) , s e e of mi ome y ars ago, h ld not only part this ll, but a e th e - lso larg factories, both in Rome land, and in th e way leading towards the Abbey-gates thus

of e employing a great number men, wom n, boys,

of . and girls, in the manufacture pins

e i m e on Mr . Littl r at th s ti e, carri d a large busi

e ness in calico printing, and employed a gr at many

e men and b oys . The printing ground was opposit

- d t . S ewar s one th e th e Al ms houses In Street, (at

94 the outer supporters of rooms built over the foot i way, each entrance to wh ch had an arch, corres h ponding with those on the side next t e river . The

th e of inner side, opposite arches, was a plain wall

old wood and plaster work, the large beams and

e e rafters sh wing themselv s most conspicuously . T h e appearance of this place more corresponded

old - i with the Tithe barns, (still to be met w th in

t of n e several par s Lincolnshire) , tha a larg house ; and i the wr ter feels no doubt, in asserting that this place was originally the Tithe -barn belonging to the monastery of Waltham Holy Cross . The covered

u six pathway under the rooms was abo t feet wide, and had posts at each entrance to prevent cattle passing through . H ow long this place had b een

e occupi d by persons in the Baking business, cannot be easily ascertained ; but evidently long enough ’ for it to have derived the name of the Baker s in Entry the time of Cardinal Wolsey, and King

Henry the Eighth . If this Old building wa s th e

e receiving house for the tithes, (of which th re can

e be scarcely be a doubt) , can it be unreasonabl to presume that this place was also the bakehouse

e e belonging to the monastery, and where th ir br ad was made ? and if so its name wa s coeval with its elf. Let those persons who can yet well rememb er th e

9 6

e e on be n taken away from the mark t place, account of its having b ecome an eyesore in th e way of th e se it f houses had been the means o building around it .

e th e e e e Wh n first built, aim was sh lt r for mark t

e e e e few an e people, when th r w r but , if y hous s near it but as the abbot had obtained leave to enclose

hi s lands in Waltham, small houses arose by per mission on easy terms to all who could obtain his favour ; and this will account for houses being built

e e e in such inconv ni nt situations, as these w re which

th e of th e old e e stood on north side market plac , wh re

of the erection them, not only caused the road at the

out of ur back to be turned a straight co se, but

e e s o e e rend r d it narrow, that danger att nd d the endeavour for two vehicles to pass each other in this

th e of e narrow roadway . But, at last Spirit improv

e e th e ment is awaken d in Waltham Abb y, and

r e of fiv e c parish pu chas d this row houses, whi h is to b e paid for by the interest of the money which they received from Governm ent for E dm ondsea marsh ;

hi 1865 e e a nd t s year, , will long be rev r d as the friendly period when this great inconveni ence was

our removed from town, and the market place laid

open . The road now occupies the gro und whereon these

hous es stood . 9 7

Th e - d 16 t e De c . old marke hous , pulle down th

1 852 e of , was a squar building wood, having a large r tO e of oom at the p, support d upon strong pillars oak ee en , and which appears to have b n used in old times as a corn mart ; and was entered by trap doors from the under part whi ch was furnished with

e e . scales, weights, and m asures for the mark t use

e ll t B yond the pi ars which supported his room,

e l e e e t e or small r pi lars wer er ct d o b ar up the semi,

i th e - e half roof, under the nner part of market hous , for the accommodation of those p ersons who took a

hi s n ui stall at this market . T u sightly b lding was pulled down at the request of the inhabitants, as it h a d i e on n of ff become a nu sanc , accou t its a ording

e e sh lt r for idle boys, and worse characters, both by hi night and by day . The houses round t s market

e e e th e e on house form d a perfect squar , wh n hous s the north side were standing ; their situation can e b e n e e e asily fou d, as th y stood n arly in a dir ct line with the houses on the north side of Sun

Street .

th e of old On the north, ! ust under shelter the

- e or market hous (which had a road, a cart way all

th e c e e round it) , stood stocks , whi h w r ornamented

e 15 98 e with carved work, and having the dat carv d in raise d figure s upon th e front . 98

Th e e e of t cattl mark t this own, forty years ago, wa s scattered chi efly among th e public -house s in Sun Stre et whose yards were thrown open to receive

ee e e of e . pigs, sh p, calv s, and cattl ev ry description T h e higglers had their resp ective house s and plac es

e e e e e e wh r th y wait d to rec ive eggs, fowls, butt r,

h . & c . t e e , brought to mark t for sale

e few th e Rom eland Som years Since, was con

e e e e e v rt d into a cattl mark t, furnished with p ns

e e n e for pigs, calv s, and she p ; and stro gly rail d round for th e purpose of having where to fasten

h of th e e & c . c e t e hors s, by whi h arrangem nt focus cattle mark et was brought into a more immediate

e e e e th e e vi w, and the town much r li v d from bustl a nd confusion caused by th e driving of all sorts of cattle in and out of the yards and gateways of th e n various in s .

T h e of e town is composed the following stre ts, f hi &c . ee out o e High Bridge Str t, w ch run oth rs,

e - ee th e old e such as Powd r mill Str t, Barg Yard,

ll e in th e Rom eland and Camps A ey . L av g High

e ee we on our e we Bridg Str t, find l ft hand as pro c ed th e e C e towards little Baptist chap l, hurch Street th e Bakers Entry lies before us passing by

w e th e e one this find Gr en Yard way, and Paradise

ROW w e e e e a e e , h r th r is a B ptist chap l, rebuilt som

100

i wardstone o bottom of wh ch we find the S e R ad, the

e wa rdstone dir ct way, both to S e and also to the

e e T h e e e 185 7 . e C met ry, open d in first p rson buri d

e e h e . C e one e t e th r in was Mr art r, at tim propri tor of Th e er the Waltham Abbey stage coach . last p

interr i - son e d n Waltham Abbey Church yard was Mr .

- - f th John Chamness th e brother in law o e writer .

we e e e we th e Lastly notic Farm Hill, wh r find gun ca f & o . c . p factory Mr Joyce,

A s th e e e to town itself, it is lik most other clos ly

e e e e its built plac s, not v ry pl asant as r gards views ne e e e th e n e v rth l ss, i habitants are not d prived, as

e of e of e som are rural scenery, as a great vari ty vi ws, a nd pleasant walks both in the marshes and in th e fields are within an easy distance all round th e town

th e e e and in for st, which is availabl to all who love to

e e e e e rambl in thos uncultivat d woods, wh re natur undisturb e d is s een in all its b eautie s ; while here

e e e e and th r , distant and nchanting vi ws, peep in h ’ upon t e rambler s vision unexpectedly .

In the Abb ey - fields we find

AR LD RI D E H O S B G .

Various conjectures have arisen as to th e original u se of the bridge ; but it has b een th e general Opinion that it formed the entrance into the more

102

‘ part and parcel of the Abbey when it was first e rected . Th e present Abbey-bridge is composed of three

of k a nd a e e for arches bric , ppears to hav b e n built th e accommodation Of th e ! Abb ey House which w as

‘ e te th e did re erect d on the si of Abbey, and not quire a drawbridge as the monastery is likely to have done .

a ir of of The Waltham Abbey, (especially the

so e u town, where there are many str ams r nning through it) is by some persons considered too damp and humid for general healthfulne ss but if we look

th e n to longevity of a great portion of the i habitants, we shall find' that it is qirite as healthy a s any other town in England . W e shall now proceed to view th e interi or of th e c th e e e e hurch, which possesses r markabl prop rty

of th e e er e of u ntiringneSS to th e eye b hold . Wh n a

e e e h e s oOn p rson first ent rs this nobl building, very

, b ecome s inspire d as it were with a fervent admira ~

ur e e whi c tion, ging him to rev rential d votion, h always

e e e e e e r mains fr sh, as it w r , on very r newed vi sit within these sacred walls . The b old Cylindrical pillars supporting three tiers of s emicircular arche s

u e e on e e e a re b ilt ov r each oth r ith r sid , all Of which 103

e i zi - za di e ornam nted w th g g moul ngs, hav both a

’ fl T h e l th e pleasing and imposing e ect. two pil ars at e t on e e e e e as (one ach sid ) , hav a well pr portion d

e e r th e e spiral groov running round th m f om bas , up to where th e arch b egins the next two pillars a re plain ; th e n ext have zig - za g mouldings running

of e s o e th e across each th m, as to caus both Sides of building to correspond th e four next (two on each

n e m side) are plai , and the arches support d by the — have pointed arches it is probable (as all th e

e e of e e e oth r arch s are the Saxon ord r) , that thes wer

th e n of e e broken during buildi g the present ste pl ,

nd e a w re afterwards repaire d in this shape .

e e The larg Saxon arch, before mention d, is also decorated with the same indenting s as the other

now fil e arches, and is l d up with a newpainte d glass window of exquisite and suitable design ; s o much

h as ee th e fr pains b n taken, that eve (even of the e quent beholder) never wearies with the appearance of th e e place itself, which ver and anon seems to

in e point to liv g et rnity, the while it here and there

e ! th e of pres nts mortality by tombs, the long since dead. On th e south side of th e chancel is th e tomb of Sir Edward Denny (th e s on of th e before men tioned W f i - Sir Anthony Denny) : hose e figy, l fe size in 104

ur i n f n rb reclin armo , l es u der an arch o vei ed ma le, ’ ef rufi ing on his l t arm his lady in a black dress,

e . of and v il, at his side On the front the tomb, their six sons and four daughters are repre sented as in th e i on act of prayer . The ep taph this tomb

e rv d se es a passing notice, as it discovers the con nection between Sir Anthony Denny, the first

of e of e possessor the sit the abb y, and King Henry th e Eighth .

th e a i of his S ir From epit ph on th s tomb son,

of e Edward, we learn that he was counsellor estat , and executor to King Henry the Eighth here then

An ur to we see Sir thony Denny as a royal favo ite, whom the King grante d the site of the monastery and of son abbey Waltham his , Sir Edward, suc c eeded him hi u e wi in t s estate, and lies b ried her th

Ch am ernon hi s of e Joan p , wife, who, beinge Qu en ’ iz e s e of El ab th Prive chamb r, and the Council of ov erner Munster in Ireland, was g of Kerry and

Collonell of I rich e Desmonde, and certain (Irish) forces there ; departed this life about the 52nd year

f his 12th . o age, the Feb His lady was the

f e of daughter o Peirc Edgecombe, Mount Edge

E h hi m onum ent to s . s e combe, q caused t s be erected, and on the tablet has caused a long list of his virtues

i e and talents to be recorded, the wh ch we omit her

106

e of e r e . m mory H n y Austin, s rvant to the Right Hon

e of e e e of his e Jam s, Earl Carlisl , and G ntl man Hors

e e 6th . 1638 . e a re who depart d this lif , Nov Th re also stone s to th e memory of the following p ersons

4th 1640 r A court Francis Atkins, July , Mr . Hen y ,

1 704 e 1 735 e and Hannah, his wif , and th ir

A ur 1 e c o t 769 . e nephew, James , Mr H nry Trav rs,

1 7 K 1 724 . 70 e e P e nt. Colonel P t r loy r, , Capt

e P 1 732 e 1 725 Charl s loyer, and Mary his wif ,

- i - 1 62 e e n . e 7 and their broth r law, Mr Woll y, Jam s

mi . 1 725 a nd i e e 1 726 S th, Gent his w f , Lucr tia,

M r 1 731 1 . 757 s . Mary Smith, John Walton, Esq

1 772 . 1 738 Ann Walton, 5 Mr Thomas Holmes, a nd 1 733 S kirrow of Susannah his wife, John ,

L i ets ll Gilsted th e of pp Hi and , in county York, 1 799 n 1 1 s o 80 . and his youngest William, On on i e e e . stone, the following l nes are ngrav d Hic H a roldi in Cwnob io Carnis Resurrectionem E xpecta t Ja cob u s Raphael Gallus

Demum e An Scotus, d nno glus,

Deni u e nih q il . A oa t. 70 nn eta ,

J Ob it M ar. 30 n 1 686 , an o ,

i 'r

e e l eth . S win fi l H r y Mr e e d . 107

' ‘ e e ne th e c ni e On anoth r ston , ar ommu on tabl , is th e e of e or c e impr ssion a pri st abbot, with his rosi r but th e brass b elonging to it has long since b een ta ken away .

e of e On the north sid the chanc l, a fine tomb,

e l e form rly enc os d within iron rails, to the memory

of . Robert Smith, Esq born at Banbury, in Oxford

' s e Feb . 1637 di 169 7 w e hir , ; ed in March, ; shall omit the Latin inscription of fi fty lines which a re

‘ upon thi s tomb th e front of which is taken up by th e ll v e ‘ o s hi beautifu y car ed repres ntation ffl a p, in

' ’ f ‘ hi on th e ins cri tion I w te marble, bearing it, p , N

” ' DU ST RIA t are e likewise, on the fron exhibit d naval

' i e es & c mpl ments, trophi , . ‘ hi in On the north wall was a w te marble tablet, scrib ed as follows : To the memory o f Francis

' o onl s on of l of e Wollast n, y Wi liam Wollaston, Sh n

th e of e r E s . ton Hall, in county L iceste , q ; and of

z e hi s e e of s Eli ab th wife, daught r and h iress Franci

e of s th e e e e . Cav , Inger by, in county of L ic st r, Esq H e was th e h Ope and joy of hi s parents and country

hi e h e e e e e th e 1 7 w l liv d, and dy d much lam nt d, in th

a e 2 0th e 1 634 e year of his g , Nov mber, , in the Middl ” f h - h e e e e e o t e . t T mpl , small pox Now in ntranc through th e steeple !

T h e e F l e e abov rancis Wol aston, app ars to hav 108

f l of n o . bee the nephew Mrs Wol aston, the daughter

. hn Fox Mr Jo , the martyrologist her brother;

n di e m Captai Robert Fox, d at her house in Waltha

e th e and Abbey, tw lve years after above date was 164 6 . buried in the chancel, May,

of Not far from thi s monument Francis Wollaston, ! of e we find another, thus To the memory Jam s

l of . . . . di Spi lman, Esq , F R S many years rector the

of and Bank England, a Commissioner of Greenwich

a di 21st 1 763 e e Hospit l, ed November, and of H st r his i one of s co - i e of w fe, the isters and he r sses Sir

W m . l of Fen Wel y, Ditton, in the county of Cam 1 761 hi i . 3 . bridge, who departed th s life, Aug , T s nl hi monument was erected by their o y c ld, Julia,

e of of W arlies in hi . wif George Carter, , t s county

e Another in the same aisl , to the memory of

. 1 736 e 1 780. Edward Parker, Esq born , di d

th e l e e of On south wal , is a tabl t to the m mory 1 e ob . 26th 799 Mr . Comfort Wilk s ; January, , aged

6 hi s e 2nd e 1 783 7 ; and wife Margar t, Nov mber, ,

th e a re e th e e f aged 69 . On floor ston s to m mory o

1 765 of th e e of John Barks, and Ann, wif Edward 1 78 0. Parker,

one of On the pillars in the north aisle, was a m 18 arble tablet to Robert Dunton, died th July,

1811 73 and hi , aged ; Mary s wife . On another

110

’ ’ ’ M iseria s uzsti mulzeri Ca na nece M iserere lady s, f mei th e De ro undis a d te D omine . On top, is p f , ,

i rum lib h a t de p rofund s p ecca to eres nos . Under t e

e of figur s Edward Stacy, Waltham Holy Cross,

n e en. of of XX in the cou ty of Ess x, g ye age L II

e e th e 1 7th 1555 e i y ars, di d of March, , l av ng one son

— hi s fe th e a e Francis Stacy Katherine , only wi of g of e e th e XXI Vth threescore and ighte n, died day

of Feb . a re e e anno Added to this, thr e vers s,

hi mi e e e e w ch we must not o t h r , as th y form a v ry ’ good sp ecimen of th e poetry of Queen Elizabeth s day .

t m e we e This y hav desired, Lord, When we might come to thee ; That from this state of sinful life Dissolve d we might be

B ut t m e e thou, O Lord, didst y prolong

e e e Our liv s for to am nd , That so in tym e we might repente

Of all did thee offende .

e l e And now h re, Lord, in clay we y ,

c e ec Thy mer y to xp t, Hoping that thou hast chosen us ” To rest with thine Elec t . 11 1

on This is now the South wall . Indee d many were

e th e e e remov d during lat r pairs .

hi e On a w te marble tabl t , near the small door on the south side of th e we st end is th e following In a vault under th e Vestry room a re deposited f i f o . e o the remains Mrs Soph a Wood (wif Mr . John d 26th 1841 Wood) , who eparted this life June, , aged

66 e y ars . h . of t e Also Mr William Clark, brother above

2 184 66 e i e 0th . 7 e Mrs . Wood, d d Jan , ag d y ars . l 0th Th e n . e . above amed Mr John Wood di d Sept ,

- 1854 e r th e . , and was int r ed in church yard

end e . al At the east of the church, lik wise Mrs S ly

t th e o . . Page, sister above Mrs Wood and Mr Clark,

16 1856 83 e . died th March, , aged y ars Just over th e tomb form erly enclosed in iron rail

f . e e . ings is the tomb o Mr . and Mrs L v rton Under this is th e pillar of Catherine Chinnery

e e e f r mov d from the other sid o the church . Also

th e of by side this, is a tablet to the memory of

n fe of Francis Joh Borthwick Cole, wi John Cole , of

th e e e e . wh o hi s inn r T mple, London, g nt departed t

e on th e 11th 1822 e 35 lif August, , ag d ; and was f hi interre d in a vault under th e vestry o t s church .

th e e e wi On north wall, n ar the ast ndow is a tomb, To th e memory of Jam es Austin of High Beech in 112 h thi E s . of t e s County, q , formerly Kingston, in

of e 4th ne Island Jamaica, who departed this lif Ju , 1 80 ” 3 e 50 . , ag d years

of end h On the north side the west of the churc , is a white marble tablet bearing the following in s cription .

th e e th e In a Vault in middl Asle, lieth remains f f o e e . e o Mrs . Mary D nton, wif of Mr Robert D nton i hi e e hi 4th un e t s Par sh, who d part d t s life the of J ,

1 5 44 . A D . 79 e . , ag d years

th e e of . e a e Also r mains Mr Robert D nton, ( for

e 18 1811 said) , who d parted this life July th, , aged 73 years .

Mors Janua Vitae .

of e e of e Also th ir only daught r, wife John Chas , 6 h h e e e . t . s e . Esq died at St H liers, J rs y, Nov , But in order that I should not b ecome t edious we

n e e ee e e e shall at o c proce d to the st pl ntranc , and examine the tablets containing th e charitable bene

th e factions to parish as there recorded .

A . D .

15 ne ed. 79 . n Margery Ged y of London, before am

Ra m s n 1585 . to . Robert p , before mentioned

1587 . Robert Brown do . 1 e n . 59 7 . Rob rt Catro do

1 e . 59 7 . Robert D an do

114

of £1350 th e a n gave the sum , and directed

e a s s nual interest thereof to be appli d follow ,

iz 2 h v . 3 6d weekly to each of t e four widows o ccupying the four upp er rooms which were ’ to ee 13 e e added Gr n s Alms Houses, and a pi c

m en fiv e e weekly to five poor , and poor wom n,

a of inh bitants the Workhouse, for providing themselves with any little comforts not allowed

in the Workhouse .

1839 . w of Mary Wollard, idow the above Mowbray

£800 New h e a d er Wollard gave , t r e n a half p

. u e to ee e cent ann iti s four Trust s, and direct d that the interest thereof should be applied as

l iz v . fol ows, £20 per annum to b e expended in bread and distrib uted amongst such poor inhabitants of thi s parish (being settled parishioners) as

e t e such Truste s shall hink d serving . The residue of th e said interest ( after paying contingencie s) to b e distribute d annuallyin

or e money, clothing, oth rwise amongst such

v nh of poor and deser ing i abitants this town, (bein g settled parishioners) as such Trustees

a i sh ll th nk fit .

'

A . D . The L everton B ene a ctzo f m . 1819 . . of Thomas Leverton, Esq Bedford Square, 11 5

London, in his life time presented the Organ to this Parish and erected the same at his sole expense . The said Thomas Leverton by hi s Will gave £6000 Stock in the Three per cent . consoli i dated annuit es upon trust, to apply the

of a s dividends after the decease his widow,

viz . follows, £80 n 20 per annum, educati g and clothing

a n 2 boys d 0 girls . £10 i per annum, for books and stat onery,

for the schools . £30 per annum to the Master for teaching

reading, writing, and arithmetic . £20 per annum to the Mistress for teaching

reading and needlework .

£10 . £5 to two per annum, (viz to each, ) boys

or girls for apprentice fees .

£5 nn v iz . £1 to hi per a um, ( to each, ) five c l dren as a reward for good behaviour in

their first servitude .

12 viz £1 £ per annum, ( . to each, ) for a cloak

six for and gown for poor women, and

a coat for 6 poor men . £5 per annum to be expended in bread every

Christmas day and given to the poor .

1 2 1 16

£3 per annum for keeping his Monuments in

repair .

per annum for contingencies .

1 £ 80 per annum .

i of Mrs . Rebecca Leverton, w dow Thomas

e of own Leverton, Esq . in her lif time her free bounty commence d the e stablishment of

e e e h er th se schools, upon the plan int nd d by

a limited um deceased husband, (but with n ber, ) and 15 poor boys and 10 poor girls a re now educated and clothed at her sole charge, at the School House called the Leverton ” School .

of . Fawb ert The executors Mr George , for

hi e e of merly of t s Parish, und r a bequ st the residue of hi s estate to them to distribute in

e e hi such Chariti s as th y might t nk proper, applied a part thereof in the purchase of a

e &c . of m ssuage, at the corner High Bridge Street opposite to the west entrance to the

i e ll e Church, wh ch th y pu ed down, and erect d

on e the sit thereof a School House, for the children to b e educate d by means of the

Leverton donations, and the same is now called the Leverton Schools .

i i al G an Prior es, pr ncip Houses, Farms, ranges, L ds,

e di T nements, and Here taments, as the Ornaments

‘ f d ch a ttels to o the Churches, and their goo s and ,

i of l i of the high d spleasure A m ghty God, slander

i f of good religion, and to the great n amy the ’ if ul King s Highness and the Realm, redress sho d

i ‘ h not be had thereof. And, albe t, t at many con tinual visitations have been heretofore had by the

an space of two hundred years, and more, for honest and charitable reformation of such un

rift n i i i th y, car al, and abom nable l v ng yet, never

r th eles s , little o no amendment is hitherto had ; but their vicious living shamefully increaseth and

au m enteth so n g , and by a cursed custom grow i f and nfested, that a great multitude o the religious

u to persons in s ch small houses, do rather choose in nf rove abroad apostacy, than to co orm them i selves to the observation of good rel gion . S o that without such small houses be utterly sup

and to th e pressed , the religion therein committed great and honourable monasteries of religion in

i al e i th s re m, where th y may be compelled to l ve

li s e of i can re giou ly for r formation their l ves, there

e r or in lse be no red ess reformation that behalf. In consideration whereof the King’ s most Royal

n e n God Majesty, being supreme Head o arth u der , 119

! of th e of i in Church England, da ly study g and

is n dev i g the increase, advancement, and exalta h tion of true doctrine and virtue in t e said Church,

to the only Glory and Honour of God, and the

n e of total extirpati g and d struction vice and sin, having kno wledge that the premises be true as

Ca m ts f well by p o his Visitations, as by sundry

i in r i di cred ble fo mat ons considering also, that vers hi and great solemn Monasteries of t s Realm,

wherein, thanks be to God, religion is right well

of ull kept and observed , be destitute such f num bers of religious persons as they ought and may

h ain n keep, ave thought good that a pl declaratio

ul f a s ll to th e sho d be made o the premises, we

i i o his Lords Sp r tual and Temp ral, as to other

loving subjects , the Commons in the present Par

liam ent h assembled . W ereupon the Lords and

i to Commons, by a great deliberat on, finally be l resolved, that it is, and sha l be, much more to

of Al the pleasure mighty God, and the honour ! of hi hi s of t s Realm, that the possession such m s all religious houses, not being spent, spoiled

n of sin and wasted for increase and mai tenance ,

e us e should be used and converted to bett r , and i the unthr fty religious persons, so spending the ! to i li an same, be compelled reform the r ves ; d 120

thereupon most humbly desn e the King’ s High

ness, that it may be enacted, by authority of this

e his e him Parliam nt, that Maj sty shall have to and

to his heirs for ever, all and every such Monas

ri te es,

of f a By the passing this Act o P rliament, no fewer than three hundred and seventy-six convents

is in i of n were d solved ; and the whole d ocese Ba gor,

one in not was left stand g, there not being any that

T en were valued at seventy pounds per annum . thous and pounds worth of plate and moveables were sold, and the money brought into the treasury

hi sa besides t s, thirty thou nd pounds per t hi were added o the Crown by t s transa ction . As soon as the possession of the smaller convents

of e were secured, the crimes the larg r were seen

. hi s i of into Speed in H story Great Britain, page

79 1 . 1 hir i i e r , col , the t d ed t on, r lates the c imes proved against the abbots and monk s of the larger a hi th e bbeys, w ch caused them also to fall into hands of his Maj esty . In nk Battle Abbey, there were fifteen mo s who were all found guilty of that sin whi ch caused fire

ur and brimstone to be po ed upon Sodom . u n In Canterb ry, there were eight mo ks who were

i of gu lty the same crime .

122

’ ft This being proved to have been the state o his

H ol Ca tholic Church e y , it is not to be wonder d at, that the laity cared not into whose hands it was coni mitted for the sake of its being purged ; so it was

r i an easy ma tter fo the K ng, who had been invested li i e with absolute power over the smaller re g ous hous s, to usurp authority over the larger neither is it sur prising that such a man as Henry the Eighth should t lose all regard for such a depraved Church, or tha he should be led to look upon religion as a mere in i i trifle tself, and might be turned nto any shape

i mi u or fur wh ch ght best s it his political purpose,

his or im ro ther vitiated caprice ; the propriety, p

riet of one to i p y which, no dared quest on . The King thus having absolute power over the Church proceeds to issue warrants to his Commis

sioners to take, (or in other words, to claim , ) the

s e of urr nder all the Abbeys .

e of We here insert a v rbatim copy the warrant . ! & Henry the Eighth by the grace, c . to our & c . trusty, For as muche as We understand that the Mon

a ster . y of W is at the presente in such State, as th e f G d same is neither used to the Glory o o , nor

B enef te of - the y our Common Wealth, We let you wit that therefor being mynded to take the same 123 i t our owne a r i n o Hands for better Pu pose, l ke as W e doubt not but the Head of the same will b e con tented to make hi s Surrender ac cordingly We for th e spesya ll Trust and Confydence that we have i n

o li W isdom es and ir i y ur Fide ty, D ect ons have, and

do a uth or ze a ss n by these Presents y , name, yg and

i i e a rin appoint you, that mmed ately r p y g to the

receav e of sayd Howse, ye shall the sayd Head

wr tin such a y g under the Convent Seal, as to your

Dis cret on i s y shall seem requ site, meet , and con v enient our of , for the due Surrender to Use the s ossess on and ame, and thereupon take p y thereof, so Chattles e Im li all the Goods, , Plat , Jewells, p

uf i i a erte nin ments, and St f, being w th n or pp y g

a u thereunto . And further c syng all Goods and i ff n i Implements to be ndi ere tly sold, e ther for

or sufi cient S uet es so reddy Mony, Days upon y y ,

one that the same Day pass not Year and a Halfe,

' ye shall deliver to the sayd Head and Brethren such Part of the sayd Mony and Goods, as ye by

Dis cres ons ll in e conv en your y sha th k me t, and y

for Dis ech e . An d forth er s ee ent their p , to them have conv enyent Pensyons by your Wisdoms n assig ed accordingly ; which done, and moreover seeing the rightful and due Debts thereof payed

satisf ed of Re venews a s of th e and y , as well the 124

f to Cons e ens sayd Stu f, as Reason and good y

a erte neth rea sona lie al pp y , and your Charges b

e e th e of th e lowed, y shall proce d to Dissolution

r a sayd Howse, and farther, in you Name t ke pos sessyon of the same to be kept to our U se and

u e Profyte . Ye shall f rthermore bring and con v aye to our Tower of London after your sayd

Discres ons e of y all the r st the sayd Mony, Plate,

Juells in and Ornaments, that any wise come to

e Prem sses or of your Hands by mean of the y , any

straitel ch ar ein command n Part thereof, y g g and y g

all Sh er ffes B a liffes Maires, y , y , Constables and all

ffi wh om in other O cers, Ministers and Subjects, to

hi a erte ne t s Case it shall pp y , that unto you and

e of b e h el in e ev ry you in Execution hereof, they p g ,

a din e fav orin e a s sistin e e ll y g , g and g , as th y wi answer unto us to the contrary at their uttermost ” ” Perills &c . &c . , Given Th e Commissioners appointed to receive the sur render of Waltham Monastery were Thomas Crom

at hi e hi e of e well, ( t s tim the c f favourite H nry, who

him own exalted when it was to his interest to do so, ifi him n and at last sacr ced as has bee noticed before) ,

of Thomas Lee, Richard Laiton, Doctors Civil Law,

e e of n Thomas B dell, D an Cor wall, Thomas Bartlett,

i s . Publ c Notary, and other

126 began until he died was not quite eight years ; no doubt much was unsettled, and unfinished, which he

i s e had ntended to have done ; and this being the ca , it is not unlikely that many e states became the pos sessions of those who at first were placed in them to ta ke care of them until they should be re quired ; and who seeing the opportunity laid claim to these estates, protesting that they were given to them by in the deceased K g be this as it may, it is evident that out of thi s chaos arose the glorious Reform a v tion, from which has sprung up that civil and reli gions liberty which we now enjoy . One proof that Henry the Eighth did not dispose of every thing belonging to the Abbey is that Edward the Sixth granted Thomas Golding, Esq . the Guild belonging

e - en to the Charn l house, which was considerably dowed with land and houses .

one hi I have but more remark, that is, that t s de prav ed Church ha d a custom of affording sanctua ry

of e for the vilest characters, one whom was interr d in

our ur . Pa s s elew was one of ch ch Robert , who the ’ in i K g s nstruments for gathering up money, used so much rigour in his office that he utterly ruined many pers ons who were so unfortunate as to fall into hi s ’ hands . So unsafe were private men s estates at a i ll hi time when the r prince fe into want . T s Robert 127

Passelew was archdeacon of Lewis and for the good

e e service he rend r d to the King, (Henry the Third, ) he was within a little of being made Bishop of

e th e th e Chichest r, but Bishop withstanding King in ff 1 4 di l e . 23 this a air his election was sannu l d In , he

s to r with other , was called a st ict account for the ’ n or Ki g s treasury ill spent, worse employed ; and was obliged to take sanctuary and seek thus for ’ et wa s saf y from the King s wrath . After a time he admitted into the favour of the King ; and at length

e i e l av ng the troubl s which attended the Court, he lived privately at his parsonage of Derham in Nor

ol di e hi s f k but d at here in Waltham Abbey, the

t of 1252 hi six h day June, . Thus t s vile Church could afford sanctuary even for the robbers of the King ; and moreover for murderers who had money or interest enough with the Church to obtain it ; and so tenacious were the monks of this their pri vilage that if an offender against the civil law had

f of the o ficers justice at his heels, and he could

of of succeed in laying hold the latch the door, the f o ficers of the King might not tear him thence . But such times we tru st are gone for ever ; and

e Am we th refore add, en . The number of Monasterie s suppressed in England

3 13 ri 290 Frieries 122 and Wales were , Prio es , , 128

142 152 s 129 Nunneries , Colleges , and Ho pitals in H 114 a , 8 .

hi r i i T s Chu ch was repa red by the parish oners, in 1 859 1860 f the year and , under the authority o

ul n of Fac ty from the Co sistory Court Rochester .

T h e i inhabitants, landowners, and var ous bene £400 factors voluntarily contributed , with which sum,

e a aid d by donation from the War Department, and a grant from the Society for Building and Repairing

- Churches, the East end was rebuilt, the present seats

e e lle wer provided to r place ga ries and pews, a new gallery was erected, the Organ was reconstructed

nl al e e and e arged, several memori windows wer plac d

e . in the Church, and other important works ex cuted Th e substantial repairs in the Chancel were paid

a e of for by Sir Ch rles Wake, Baronet, and som those in the main building were charged to the rents of th e

Church estate .

Th e e e £5000. whole amount xp nded, was about

e The Rev . James Francis, Incumb nt . n James Carr, Joh Thomas Brett, George Francis,

Churchwardens .

r hi . William Bu gess, Arc tect

130

i unflinchin l The truth, by fa th received, g y

e of ll a Stood firm, dauntl ss the pi ory and st ke, ’ hi e r e mi 11 To w ch th y, with thei kindr d ght have fall ,

o ni - n But ph e x like, they bei g dead yet speak,

And from their ashes rise, a numerous seed .

PRINT E R M AIDE N L ANE C OVE NT G A RDE N. o . NORMAN, , ,