The History & Antiquities of Croydon, with a Variety of Other Interesting Matter

Pauperum Parens,
Literatorum Patronus,

Ecclesiæ Stator.

De Tanto Viro

Pauca dicere non expedit, Multa non opus est;
Norunt Præsentes, Posteri vix credent:

Octogenarius

Animam Piam et Cœlo Maturam

Deo Reddidit

v Id. Novembris, MDCLXVII.

To the english reader we offer the following

version ;

Here lieth

In repose,

GILBERT SHELDON,

Born of

The Ancient Family of the Sheldons

In the County of Stafford,

Educated at Oxford;

A learned Doctor in Divinity,

A discreet and faithful Warden of All Souls College,

A most Munificent Chancellor of the University,
Clerk of the Royal Closet,

Held in utmost esteem by the Blessed Martyr Charles I.
Under His Majesty Charles II.

In the Year MDCLX, the great year of the Restoration,
Dean of the Chapel Royal,

Bishop of London;

In the year MDCLXII. chosen a Member of the Privy Council,
In MDCLXIII. advanced to the summit of Archiepiscopal Honor.
A Man

Equal to every Station, to every Title Superior.
Constant in Adversity, Virtuous in Prosperity,
In either event Invincible,
Father of the Poor,
Patron of the Learned,
Guardian of the Church.
Of so great a Man

little is not meet, to say much is useless;
Contemporaries knew his excellence,
Posterity will scarcely believe it:

say

At fourscore years,

He surrendered to GOD

His pious Spirit, mature for Heaven,
On the v November, MDCLXVII.

The reader will find in the appendix, a selection of the most remarkable epitaphs placed in the church, and church-yard.

Several Bishops have been consecrated in the church of Croydon, of whom we subjoin the following short list :

1534. April 19, Thomas Goodrick, D. D. Bishop of Ely*. 1534. April 19, John Capon, alias Salcot, L.L.D. late abbot of Hyde, Bishop of Bangor.

1541. Sept. 25, John Wakeman, the last abbot of Tewksbury, and the first Bishop of Glocester †. 1551. Augt. 30, John Scory, D. D. Bishop of Rochester +

* Archbishop Cranmer's Register, fol. 162. A.

Ibid. fol. 171. a.

Ibid. fol. 334. ▲.

1551. Augt. 30, Miles Coverdale, D. D. Bishop of Exeter. 1591. Augt, 29, Gervase Babyngton, D. D. Bishop of Landaff *.

In the appendix is inserted a list of the Rectors and Vicars, whose names we have been able to discover.

The Chauntry of St. Mary.

There were formerly two Chauntries in the church of Croydon; that of St. Mary, and that of St. Nicholas; of both which we give a short and separate account.

The first, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was founded before the year 1402, by Sir Reginald Cobham, sire de Sterresburgh; and it appears that the foundation was completed in his life time; for in his will, bearing date September 8, 1400, and proved at Canterbury before Archbishop Arundel, on the 8th July, 1403, no mention is made of it. The incumbent was to pray for the repose of the soul of the said Sir Reginald, of his wife Joan, and

* Strype's Life of Archbishop Whitgift, p. 382.

† See the names of incumbents in the appendix.

those of his children, and of all faithful christian people. The founder vested the presentation of his chauntry priest in twelve of the principal inhabitants of Croydon. -The particulars of the endowment of this chauntry are as follow:

The endowment of Lady Mary's Chauntry at Croydon, taken from the minutes, or bailiff's accounts of the colleges, chauntries, free chapels, &c. in the county of Surrey, in the third year of King Edward VI. remaining in the Augmentation Office at Westminster,

One tenement near the church-gate with its appurtenances, valued at

The mansion house of the Chauntry Priest, with its appurtenances

One tenement lying in Pickelake, with its appur

tenances

One tenement with its appurtenances in the occupation of John Curts

One ditto in the tenure of Richard Alford

Three cottages, with their appurtenances in the occupation of Thomas Thornetonne

One garden in the North part of the town of Croy-
don near the tenement of Richard Draps
One tenement near it in the occupation of Thomas

Edwards

. 0 6 8

£. s. d.

100

060

0 16 0 080

1 0 0

0 1 0

. 0 6 8

Carried forward £ 4 4 4

One tenement in the occupation of Thomas Par

ker

080

One cottage between the tenement called le Crowne 0 2 0
One tenement lying between the shop belonging to

the church of Croydon in le Bocherrowe Three tenements in le Bocherrowe

One tenement in the market in the occupation of

Francis Resivid
0 10 0
One tenement in the occupation of John Baldwin 0 13 4
One croft, containing five acres near Croydon

park, in the occupation of John Hatcher. 0 10 0
One barn, in the occupation of Robert Comports 0 6 8
One garden near Stake Crosse, in the occupation
of John Reade

One acre of land lying near Addiscombe, late in
the possession of Elizabeth Herne, widow.
One acre of land lying in a certain field, called
Teyntefold, in the occupation of John

Hatcher

Four acres of land in a field called Brechefield, in
the occupation of the said John Hatcher
One acre of land lying in a field called Teynte-
feld aforesaid, in the occupation of the said
John Hatcher