Hundred of Humble-Yard: Mulbarton

MUL-BARTON,

Molke, Mykil, Muche, or Great-Barton, was owned by Ordinc, a thane of the Confessor's, and by Roger Bigot and Ralf de Beaufoe in the Conqueror's time, when it was six furlongs long, and five broad, and paid 6d. geld, and had a church and 15 acres of glebe, then worth two shillings. (fn. 1) Hubert de Rhye was lord here in the latter end of the Conqueror's time, and about 1184, gave it to the monks of Christ church in Canterbury; and in King Stephen's time they exchanged it with Henry his son, for the advowson and manor of Depham; (fn. 2) and accordingly it was held of the barony of Rhye, as of the manor of Hingham; (fn. 3) it after came to Robert Fitz-Roger, and then to the St. Omers, who held it of him; Will. de Sancto Audomaro, Omero, or St. Omer, was the first lord of that name, (fn. 4) and lived in the time of Henry III. and was succeeded by Thomas his son, who married Petronilla, daughter and coheir of Tho. Malmains, widow of Ralf de Tony; and in 1267, he held the hundred of Grimeshoe and Saham manor, during her life; (fn. 5) in 1275 he was justice itinerant in Cambridgeshire, and had a charter of free-warren and a fair here, confirmed, which was first granted to William his father, with freewarren and a fair at Brundale, by King Henry III. in the 38th year of his reign, 1253. (fn. 6) In 1285, upon the quo-warranto brought for every manor in the county, to set forth and prove their several liberties, this Thomas claimed view of frankpledge, assize of bread and ale, and all things belonging to a lete, and had it allowed; (fn. 7) he also claimed liberty of infangenthef, and accordingly erected a gallows here: and this year, one Walter Godwyne of Carleton, taken in this manor, and convicted of felony by Nic. de Monuer of Carleton, in this court sufficiently proved, was condemned and hanged; but it appearing that this Thomas de St. Omer was the first that erected a gallows here, and that without the King's grant, or the manor having the liberty; it was ordered that he should be disseized of such liberty, and the gallows pulled down. This Thomas, at his death, settled sufficient revenues out of his lands here, on the pittancer of Norwich cathedral, to keep his anniversary for ever, and to treat the convent on that day. (fn. 9) He left two daughters his heiresses; Elizabeth, (fn. 10) married Thomas Waryn, and they levied a fine, and thereby released all right in the manors of Mulbarton, Keteringham, and Brundale, in Norfolk, to Sir Will. de Hoo, Knt. and Alice his wife, half sister to the said Elizabeth; but the advowson of the town continued in Sir William de St. Omer, Knt. till his death, and after in Elizabeth his relict, till her death, and then the whole centered in the Hoo family, and Sir William de Hoo first presented here in 1367. He it was that built the present church and tower, in the chancel of which he and his lady were interred; (fn. 11) he adorned the windows with the portraits of himself and lady, and her family and their arms; and till lately, one of the north windows had in it, the pictures of Sir Thomas de St. Omer on his knees in armour, with his sword by his side, and his arms on his surcoat, and his lady in the same posture behind him, with the arms of St. Omer and Malmains; and his daughter Alice behind them; and opposite was Sir Will. Hoo and the said Alice his wife, in the same posture; over the former were the arms of Malmains, gul. three sinister hands (fn. 12) cooped arg.; over the latter were St. Omer's arms, az. a fess between six croslets or; and at the top of the window, were the arms of Hoe, quarterly arg. and sab.; and at the bottom this,
Preiz pour lez almez Monsieur Thomas Sentomeris t Dame Perinelle sa Femme.

This Sir William was a great warriour and a man of figure in his time, serving in the French wars many years, being one of the favourites of John Earl of Somerset, governour of the garrison at Calice, under whom he served; he died in the year 1410, (fn. 13) aged 76, and was succeeded by Thomas, his son and heir, who in 1417 levied a fine to settle the manor and advowson on himself and heirs; in 1434, he presented by the name of Thomas Hoo, Esq. but he was soon after knighted; in 1436, he was sent to suppress the rebellion about Caux in Normandy, where he conquered the rebels and wasted their country; in 1445, he was elected knight of the garter; employed again in the French wars, where he merited so well, that he was created a baron of the realm by the title of Lord Hoo and Hastings, and was summoned to parliament accordingly; he was also keeper of the seals in France, and afterwards chancellor there; he had three wives, Elizabeth, daughter and heir to Thomas Felton, Knt. by whom he had one son, Thomas, who died before him; the second was Elizabeth, daughter and heir to Nic. Wichingham, by whom he had only one daughter, Anne, the third was Eleanor, daughter to Leo Lord Wells, sister and coheir to Richard Lord Wells, her brother; by whom he had three daughters; but upon this last match, this manor was settled on Tho. de Hoo, Esq. (fn. 14) his brother and heir. This Lord's will is dated Feb. 12, 1454, by which he settled 20 marks per annum on Battle abbey, for two monks to sing perpetually for him and his ancestors, at St. Bennet's altar in their church: Thomas de Hoo, Esq. (fn. 15) settled this manor and advowson on Anne, only daughter of the Lord Hoo, by Eliz. Wichingham, on her marriage to Sir Jeffery Boleyn, Knt. sometime lord mayor of London, who died seized, as did Anne his widow. (fn. 16) Sir William Boleyn, Knt. of Blickling succeeded, and by his will dated in 1505, he entailed it on Thomas his son, who enjoyed it after him; he was Earl of Wilts, Ormond, and Rochford: and in the year 1535 sold it to John Gresham, and it was inherited by Sir Richard, and then by Sir Thomas Gresham, Knt. who was lord in 1575; and in 1579, William Gresham of London, Esq. had it, who mortgaged it to Francis Cuddon, Gent. (fn. 17) who came and dwelt here; and in 1599, the said William and Francis joined, and sold it to Sir Edwin Rich, Knt. who was descended from Richard Rich of the Middle Temple, Esq. chirographer of the court of Common Pleas, reader of that society, and lord high chancellor of England, in the time of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. (fn. 18) At the north-west part of the church, on the north wall, is a monument for this Sir Edwin, with the arms of Rich at the top, viz. gul. a chevron between three croslets botany or. Crest, on a wreath a mount vert, on which, a wyvern with his wings elevated arg.

Sir Edwin Rich was knighted at Cadiz voyage; (fn. 19) he purchased this manor of Will. Gresham, Esq. in the 42d year of Queen Elizabeth; was patron of the church, he died and was buried at Hartlepoole. Robert Rich, his eldest son, (fn. 20) died in the year 1651, and was buried in the church of Swerdeston, but his bones were since removed hither by Edwin Rich, his brother, who erected this monument for him, and caused a vault to be made, as a dormitory for the family; and here resteth the bones of Sir Edwin Rich, Knt. son of Sir Edwin Rich, who died 16th of Nov. 1675,

For whom there is another mural monument near the former, against the west wall, with a very large hour-glass on the top, and this,

† Our Lyef is like an Hower Glasse, and our Riches are like Sand in it, which runs with us but the Time of our continuance her, and then must be turned up by another.

To speak to God, as if Men heard you talke, To live with Men, as if God saw you walke, When thou art young to live well, thou must strive, When thou art old, to dye well, then contryve.

Thetfoord gave me Breath, & Norwich breeding, Trinity College in Cambridge, Learning, Lincolne's Inne, did teach me Law and Equity, Reports I have made in the Courts of Chancery.

And though I cannot Skill in Rhymes, yet know it, In my Life I was, my own Death's Poet, For he who leaves his Work to other's Trust, May be deceiv'd when he lies in the Dust.

And now I have travell'd thro' all these Ways, Here I conclude the Story of my Days; And here my Rymes I end, then ask no more, Here lies Sir Edwyn Rich, who lov'd the Poor.

Qui moritur, antequam moritur, Non moritur, postquam moritur.

Memoriæ Sacrum, Anno sui Domini 1675, Etatisque suæ 81 Non est mortale quod opto

This Sir Edwin, gave 200l. to repair the roads between Wimondham and Atleburgh, (fn. 21) and 100l. towards building a bridge, and to the poor of Thetford, where he was born. (fn. 22)

He married Jane, daughter of Esquire Reeve, relict of Sir John Suckling, Knt. comptroller of the household to James I. and Car. I. and left no issue, upon which, this manor, with that of Rosehall in Beccles in Suffolk, went to

Charles Rich, Esq. his brother, who was advanced to the dignity of a baronet 27 Car. II. with remainder, for want of issue male, to Rob. Rich of Stondon in Essex, Esq. 2d son of Colonel Nathaniel Rich of Stondon, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Sir Edmund Hampden, Knt.; Sir Charles married Eliz. Cholmondley, who survived him, and after remarried to Mr. Berners of St. Mary's; he died in 1677, and is buried at Enfield in Middlesex, leaving only two daughters, Eliz. married to Peter Cevill, a French gentleman, who had this manor; and Mary to Sir Robert Rich, who had Rosehall in Beccles. (fn. 23) Peter Cevill, Esq. had issue by the said Eliz. Cevill Rich, alias Rich Cevill, Charles Rich Cevil, &c. by whom the manor and advowson was sold to

Mr. James Balls of Norwich, who is the present lord and patron.

The church is a rectory, and stands thus in the King's Books, Milbarton, alias Mulbarton cum Kenningham, 14l. It pays first fruits, and 1l. 8s. yearly tenths. The synodals for Mulbarton were 3s. 4d. (fn. 24) for Kenningham 2s. 4d. and the procurations 3s. 6d. at each primary visitation, and 6s. 3d. archdeacon's procurations; originally, the rector had a house and 40 acres, but now, there is a good house, and 86 acres and two roods of land, thereto belonging, in right of this and Keningham; the first valuation of Mulbarton was 10 marks, and the 2d 14; it paid 1s. Peter-pence, and 3d. ob. carvage, and 2l. to every tenth. The temporals of the Prior of Alvesborne, were taxed at 6s. 3d. ob. and the Prior of St. Faith had two pieces of land here, containing eight acres, called Little Freeland Wood, which he settled on the rector for ever, for an annual pension of 2s. and the convent confirmed it in 1441, and in 1581, this pension of 2s. was granted by Queen Elizabeth to Edm. Frost and John Walker.

Rectors of the church of St. Mary Magdalen at Mulbarton.

1329, Ralf de St. Omer. Sir Will. de St. Omer, Knt. who presented the three following rectors:

1330, Hugh de Wauncy.

1339, Will. Hovell, resigned, and the same year Wauncy took it again, and in 1352, with consent of Lady Eliz de St. Omer, then patroness, changed it for Edgefield, with

Adam de Bilokby. In 1353, she gave it

Philip Martin, and he resigned to

Thomas de Blofield, who in 1367, with approbation of Sir Will. de Hoo, Knt. then patron, exchanged it for Titshall, with Tho. de Calkehille, (vol. i. p. 209.) In

1393, Rich. de Dunston, was presented by Sir Robert Carbonel, Knt. and Robert Denney of Mulbarton.

1419, Will. Serjeaunt, resigned. John Everdon of Sussex, clerk,

1434, John Elyot. Tho. Hoo, Esq. he was succeeded by Stephen Kirkeby, at whose death in

1451, Robert Saunders had it of the gift of Sir Tho. de Hoo, Knt. Lord Hoo and Hastings, and had it united to Keningham for life, and the year following, it was consolidated to it and hath remained so to this day.

Rectors of Mulbarton (fn. 25) cum Keningham.

At Saunders's death in 1471, the Lady Anne Boleyn, widow, of Blickling, gave it to

Tho. Randolf, S. T. B. and in 1482, she presented

John Jullys, who resigned in 1494, and Sir Will. Boleyn, Knt. gave it to

Henry Falk, LL. D. and at his death in 1497, to

Mr. Edmund Davy, and in

1500, to Chris. Prentice. In 1511, Sir Thomas Boleyn presented

Sir Ric. Torkington, who in 1517, began his pilgrimage to Jerusalem, March 20, which he performed, and took an exact account of his journey; his manuscript was lately in the possession of James Wright. (fn. 26)

1526, Alan Percy, A. M. brother to the old Duke of Northumberland, (see vol. iii. p. 208.) Thomas Earl of Rochford.

1575, William Richardson, Sir Tho. Gresham, Knt. He returned 88 communicants.

1616, Anthony Frere, A. M. Ric. Frere, senior, and Ric. Frere, junior. He is interred in the chancel, under a stone having the arms of Frere and Hartstonge, per chevron ingrailed or and sab. in chief three pellets, in base a stag at gaze of the first.

Here resteth the Body of Mr. Anthony Frere, late Rector of this Parish; he was inducted into this benefice May 4, 1616, and buried Dec. 27, A. D. 1660, on his left side lieth the Body of Elizabeth his Wife, the Daughter of Henry Hartstonge, Gent. she died Jan. 30, 1653.

And by it is another stone, on which Carr, gul on a chevron arg. three estoils sab. impaling Frere.

Mary Dr. of Ant. Frere, Pastor of this Church, and the Relict of Nic. Carr Rector of Burcham-Tofts in this County, interred Aug. 31, A. D. 1680

1660, Henry King. A.M.; he died March 24, 1671, Edwin Rich of Lincoln's Inn, Esq.

1672, Daniel Scargill, A. B. Sir Edwin Rich of Lincoln's Inn, Knt.

On the east pillar next the pulpit, is fastened a brass, representing an open book, on which,

Scargll, erm. a saltier gul. impales Le Neve.

Here lies the Body of the most religious Mrs. Sarah Scargill, the Wife of Mr. Daniel Scargill, Rector of this Parish, with whom she lived in all conjugal Vertues near 7 years, and then Death divorced them upon the 22d Day of Aug. 1680, in the 30th Year of her Age. She was the Pious Daughter of a Loyal Gent. Mr. Tho. le Neve of Aslacton, Cozen to Sir Will. le Neve, who was Herauld to King Charles the first, of Blessed Memory: She was a Person of unimitable Devotion, of a most nice and tender Conscience, of sweet Behaviour, and in all Things so faithfull a Servant of God, that I dare contest the Divine Goodness to have rewarded her. Happy Soul, whose Body rests Here! and may it rest! by no profane Hand disturbed, 'till her Soul shall take it up again, at the Great Day of Restitution.

(This on one leaf of the book.)

On the other at top, is engraven a hand, as out of a cloud, beckoning, and the person obscured by the cloud, is supposed to speak thus,

Come Pilgrim to thy Home,

Dear Love! one feather'd Minute, and I come, To lye down in thy dark retiring Room, And mingle Dust with thine, that we may have, As when alive, one Bed, so dead, one Grave, And may my Soule teare through the vaulted Sky, To be with Thine, to all Eternity.

Oh! how our Bloodless Forms will that Day greet, With Love Divine, when we again shall meet, Devest of all contagion of the Flesh, Full fill'd with ever lasting Joys, and fresh, In Heaven above, (and't may be) cast an Eye, How far Elyzium doth beneath us lye.

Dear! I dis-body and away, More swift than Wind, Or flying Hind, I come, I come, away. Daniel Scargill.

1721, George Gay, A. M. Edmund Salter for this turn.

There is a mural monument of white marble, against the north chancel wall, and two stones in the altar for him and his wife, the monument is thus inscribed,

Spe Beatæ Resurrectionis gratissimâ, infràdormit GEORGIUS GAY A. M. Pastor hujus Ecclesiæ Fidus, assiduus, plus, Quique ut jucunda captet Evangelij præmia, Gregi suo in Obedientiam naviter proposita, placidus Leti corripuit Gradum, at non prius morti succubuit, quam privatis suis Sumptibus, et magnis, Rectoris Domicilium de Fundamentis ædificasset, Quicunque hæc legas, ruentis Domicilij infelix Dominus, Fac, sis, in animo teneas laudabilem hanc Pietatem, et imiteris, obijt 17 Sept. A æt. 44°. Æræ Xiane 1728°, Dextrum huic claudit Latus, Elizabetha Uxor charissima, Filia Bovilli Wimberly apud Lincolnienses Generosi quæ obiji Octavo Aug. Anno. Æræ Xianæ 1729°, æt 46.

1728, John Phillips A. M. James Balls, Gent.

There is a stone in the altar, on the south side, with this inscribed thereon,

In memoriam Johannis Phillips hujus parochiæ per decem annos Rectoris pacifici, placidi, et Socialis, Ingenij Vir, omnibus Urbanus erat; nihil superbiæ habuit, nihil Arogantiæ; Pastor fidelis, cui serio curæ fuit Benevolentiam Gregis sibi conciliari, et conciliavit; Vitæ meridiem vix attingens, Febricitatus obijt A^o Sal. 1737, æt. 39, Amicis et notis multum diùque Lugendus. In Honorem ejus, Horreum insigne in usum Rectoris proprijs sumptibus ædificavit. Hoc monumentum memoriæ dilecti Fratris Franciscus Phillips, D. D. D.

1737, James Verdon, clerk. James Balls, Gent.; he held it with East Dearham sinecure rectory, and so wanted no union. He died in 1741, was buried in his chancel at East-Dearham, and was succeeded by

The Rev. Mr. Benj. Lany, the present rector, who holds it united to Wramplingham; he was presented by John Rivet, Gent. patron of this turn. The perpetuity being in Mr. James Balls aforesaid.

Besides the inscriptions already mentioned in this church, I find these following ones:

On a stone in the chancel are the arms of Crane, arg. a fess between three croslets fitché gul. impaling Carr.

Oct. 19, 1678.

Annos sex denos Elisa Ego Carria Virgo, THOMÆ nupta CRANO, tredecem Menses numeravi, Bisque dies denos gavisa, Puerpera obivi Virginitatem Anni, Menses Consortia, Matrem Mensurare Dies (Heu! Declinatio Vitæ In breviora fugax) immensurabili Restat.

Hodie! mihi, Cras tibi. Noah Headly Oct. 12, 1670. Jane his wife Nov. 24, 1665, buried in the altar. In the church there is a stone for, Martha wife of Christopher Athow, Apr. 3, 1655, and an acheivement of gul. a chevron between three cross croslets or, impaling arg. on a fess sab. between three escallops az. as many eagles displayed or.

The church hath no isles, the nave is 26 yards and an half long, and 7 broad, and is leaded, as is the chancel also; the south porch is tiled, the tower is square and hath five bells.