1825.]

Account of Merton Church, Norfolk.

The arms were Fincham, three bars and bend Erm. impaling Beding field,

but are now lost.

Another stone, shield and inscrip

tion gone.

On a brass plate against the South wall. Arms: De Grey, impaling FitzLewes, a chevron between 3 trefoils.

In this le peth burpd under one Stone Thomast de Grep Esquire and Elizabethe his Wife, Dought of Ser Apcharde Fitz-lewes Knight, and after her becease made bpmselfe Preast and so lived rli Heres and dep'ted out of this Lpfe pe fyrst of Septembre 1556.

At the East end of the aile lies a fair marble, having, on a brass plate, the figure of a man in armour, with clasped hands; the lower part of the

115

effigy is gone, but the inscription re

marns:

Here Ipeth intoumbed the Bobie of Cha de Grep Esquior Sonne and bepre of Edm❜nd | be Grep esquiar who deceased the 12 of May 1562. And bad to big first Wife Anne Evrode | Daughter of Henry Everobe of Linsted in Suffoke Esquior. And to his second Waffe | Temp'ance the Daughter of Sir Wymonde Carewe of Anthanpe in Cornewell | Knighte whose Soule Bob parbon.

There were formerly three shields, viz. two at the head, having his own arms, impaled with his two wives: 1. Everard, on a fess between three mullets; 2. Carewe, three lions passant; and one under the inscription, Grey and Baynard quartered; the last is gone.

The chancel is separated from the nave by a lofty pointed arch, under which is an open wooden screen carved. This part of the Church is lighted by

five windows, two to the South, two to the North, and one to the East;

they are all pointed; those to the North

and South are divided each into three

pointed lights by two stone mullions,
which form ramifications above. The
East window consists, at present, of
four plain lights; the upper part was
once ramified, but is now blocked up.
says Blomefield §,
"It appears by a MS."
"that formerly in the North and South
windows opposite to one another, in the
entering into the chancel, stood the cont
of De Gray or Cornerth quartered with Ba-

niard, erected in 1403. And in a South
window at the upper end of the Church were
the effigies of St. Edmund, in his princely
robes, holding in his left hand an arrow,
and lower in the same window was depicted
the portraiture of Sir Robert Clifton, knt.

* The mark thus | denotes the end of the line on the brass plate.

He was eldest son of Wm. de Grey (by Mary Bedingfield, his first wife. See account of monument against the North wall of the nave), but did not inherit his father's estate; he died s. p.

He had no issue by his second wife, who outlived him, and married Sir Christopher Heydon of Beaconsthorp, Knt. He died seised of Hadston or Baynard's manor in Bunwell, held of the Earl of Sussex at one fee; Berry-hall manor in Ellingham, late Manning's, held of the Earl of Sussex as of his manor of Attleburgh; the advowson of Bunwell, held of Sir Thos, Lovel by fealty, and 13s. 4d. rent; the manor of Merton, held of the Earl of Sussex, as of his manor of Woodham-Walter, in Essex; parcel of Fitz-Walter's, alias Baynard's Barony, 390 acres of land, 100 acres of pasture, 20 acres of wood, 1000 acres of marsh, and 300 acres of bruery, a fold course and commonage for 100 cows in Tompson, Griston, Watton, Tottington, and Merton, held of the Queen in capite, by the 20th part of a fee. Robert Kemp, of Gissing, esq. married Elizabeth, daughter of the above Thos. De Grey.

Thos. De Grey, his son and heir, was only seven years old at his father's death, and so became ward to Queen Elizabeth, but died a minor in 1556; his estate went to his uncle Robt. De Grey, esq. See Monuments in Chancel.

§ See "History of Norfolk," fol. ed. vol. 1. 582, 583.

kneeling,

116

Account of Merton Church, Norfolk.

kneeling, with his hands held up, in armour, with his mantle and coat of arms thereon, quartered with Caily's, with a book before him, and in a scrowl from his mouth :

Sancte Edmunde ora pro nobis. In the same window, was an effigies of a De Grey kneeling on his mantle, his coat armour impaled with Baniard, and this;

Orate pro animabus Roberti Clifton militis ac [Will.] de Grep Armigeri, & pro bono statu Alicie nuper broris eorundem & pro quorum........

By which it appears, that she put it up after the death of both her husbands, their souls being prayed for in it. This is now gone.

There were formerly also the arms of De Grey impaling Baynard.

Barnardaston, Azure, a fesse dancetté Ermine, between six crosslets Arg. Baynard, Manning, Bedingfield, Spelman, Everard, Carew, Lovell, and Teye of Essex, Clifton and Cailey quartered, quartering Albany.

Burnell, Arg. a lion rampant, in a bordure engrailed.

De Grey, impaling a chevron between three trefoils slipped.

In one of the North windows, three whole-length figures, in painted glass, without heads.

In the South wall, three stone stalls, and a double piscina, pointed, now walled up.

The Decalogue, Creed, and Lord's Prayer, against the East wall, dated 1731.

At the entrance into the chancel from the nave, a small stone thus inscribed, in capitals:

"Here lyes the body of Mrs. Mary Warren, who exchanged this life for a better, Decemb. 8, 1661. To whom God grant a ioyfvll Resurrection."

On a tablet against the South wall over the chancel door:

"To the memory of Robert Arnold, of this parish, who during the space of forty years in one family maintained the character of an active, useful, and honest servant.

He died at Cornerd in Suffolk, July 9th, 1755, aged 58 years."

Against the North wall, towards the East of the chancel, a brass plate with the following inscription, and the De

[Aug.

Grey's arms quartering Baynard, impaling Spelman:

"Here by underneath lyeth Edmund de Grey+, Esquire, who married Elizaknight & deceased this present Life pe beth pe Doughts of Dr John Spelman, 20th Dape of Auguste 1548."

On a monument of white marble! "Near this place are interred the remains of Hardwick Sewell, Esquire, of Henny, in the county of Essex, whose easy temper and modest disposition agreed not with the tumults of a public life, nor courted the empty honours of popular applause; the influence

of his virtues was confined to a more con

tracted, tho' not less noble sphere. He wish't not to be great, but good. By principle religious, tender to relations, constant in his friendships, humane, generous, and benevolent; after having suffer'd the temper could inflict, he dyed of the Small severest torments that the cruellest disPox, on the 24th day of November, 1742, in the 27th year of his age."

Near the chancel door lies a marble, having the De Grey's arms, and this inscription:

"Under this stone lyeth ye body of Su-: san de Grey, second daughter of James de Grey, late of this place, esq. by Elizabeth de Stutvillee, daughter of Sir Martin de Stutvillee, of Dalham, in the county of Suffolk, knt. She departed this life the 30th day of Dec. 1697, in the 47th year of her age. In affection of who' memory her brother-in-law Sr Will. Rant, of Thorp Market in this county, knt. hath, at his own charge, caused this marble to be laid."

Close by the above, another marble, with the De Grey's arms in a lozenge, and this inscription:

"Here lyeth the body of Anne, the daughter of James de Grey, esq. late of this parish, she died Feb. 4, 1702, in the 50th year of her age."

Against the South wall, towards the East end of the chancel, a marble monument with the figure of Time, at the of De Grey, impaling Lovell, Arg. a top, decapitated. The crest and arms chev. Az. between three squirrells sejant Gules. A compartment, supported by Corinthian pillars of veined marble, has this inscription in capitals:

migr. qvi obijt 28 Die Febry. Ano. d'ni 1600 "Hic reqviescvnt Robertvs de Grey Aret Etats, svæ 70. Ac Anna Vxor eius, Filia Thome Lovell de Harlinge Milit: Ex

"1661. Mris. Mary Warren, once espoused to Samuel Warren, Rector of Merton, departed this life Decemb. 8th, and was buried Decemb. 10th."-Parish Register.

1676. Samuel Warren, Rector of Merton, a pious, learned, and orthodox man, departed this life the last day of May, and was buryed the first day of June, Anno prædicto, Etatis suæ 77,"-Parish Register.

+"Edward Kemp, of Gissing, esq. married Mary, daughter of Edmund De Grey, esq.” -Bl. Nfk. 1. 117.

quoru

Account of Merton quoru nato único & Hærede, Gvlielmo de Grey milite per Do'am: Annam Uxore' eivs, Filia Jacobi Calthorpe de Cockthorpe milit: Conivgio jam per triginta Annos beatè continvat: prodijt hæc chara Soboles.

"William de Grey, the sonne of Sr. William de Grey, knt. and ye lady Anne his wife, was baptized the seventh day of August 1613."-Parish Register of Thompson, Norf. + Anne married Sr. John Gawdie, bart. of West Harling, Norfolk. He was deaf and dumb, but an admirable painter, and a most ingenious man. They had issue one son and one daughter.

I have not been able to ascertain the reason why the Parish Church of Tottington was denied. The Salters, a family of great respectability, resided at Tottington for upwards of 200 years, and were lords of Bokeuham's manor in that parish. (See Gent. Mag. vol. LXXXIX. p. 26. 113, 114.)

118

Account of Merton Church, Norfolk.

From this time the family of Salters appear to have been baptized and baried at Merton.

"Rob'tus Bockenham filius cuiusdam Thome Bockenham qui quid' Tho...... furti damnatus fuit Norwici loco executionis ib'm collo suspensus, et quad' Margareta Bokenham vxor sua Baptizat' fuit 9o die mensis Septembris An'o vt supra." [1565.]

The first page concludes thus:
"Deo ubique gloria."

The earliest entries relating to the
De Grey family are,

"Ao. d'ni 1598. Elizabeth, the daughter of Sr. Will'm De Grey, Knyght, was bapt. the vijth of August Anno dni.

"Barbary Grey, the daughter of Sr. Will'm de Grey, Knight, was bapt. the xxth of July Ao. dni [1599.]”

The two next entries have been copied by Blomfield with wrong dates: "Anne Gray, ye wife of Mr. Robt. Gray, Esquer was buryed the xvjth of May 1600. "Robert de Graye, Esquier, was buryed the vijth of March 1600.

"Anno d'ni 1620. John Crosse, Reetor of Martin, was buryed the last day of Maye Ao. p'dicto.

Margaret, the wyfe of Thomas Crosse, p'son of Threxton, was buried the same daye Ao. p'dicto.

"Briget Crosse vidua was buryed the xviij day of August Ao. p'dicto [1625.]

[1640.] Thomas Crosse, Clerke, Rector of Marton, was buried the 280, day of August."

From the writing, I conclude that Samuel Warren became Rector in 1654.

One page is occupied with memoranda, from which I select the following:

"To the Releefe off Poor Protestants in Lituania Novemb. 17. 1661, eighteen pence.

"To a Burning at Shipdam, a neighbour town, 4s. 3d. the inhabitants there promising a requitall on the like occasion, ffebr. 16. 1661.

"To ye rebuilding of St. Paul's, Lond. three pounds nineteen shillings and eight

pence.

"To ye neighbouring Town of Dereham, five pounds seuen shillings and ten pence.

"Memorandum, that in the beginning of Lent last past there was a license granted for eating flesh to James de Grey, Esquire, in respect of his indisposition, infirmity, and want of health, by Samuel Warren, Minister of Merton, according to the statute to that purpose, and another was granted to Mary

[Aug.

Warren upon such an account. So we tes-
tify this xiiijth of April 1661,
SAMUEL WARREN,

ROBERT SPENSER,

Churchwarden, his ★ mark.” being inducted into the Rectory of Merton, "Memorandu', that Joshuah Chadwicke October the xxxith, Anno Dom. 1676, did upon the xijth day of November next followinge, being Sunday in the forenoon, in the time of Common-prayer, reade in the sd Parish Church the xxxix Articles agreed upon by the Archbishops and Bishops of both provinces, and the whole Clergy in the Convocation holden at London in the yeare

1562, with declaration of his unfeigned as-
sent thereunto. Soe we testifye,
WILL. DE GREY,

EDWARD TURNER.
ROBT. his R marke, Mins.
RICH. his marke, SMITH."

"January 31th, 1688. "Merton, Norfolk. These are to certify, that in the yere 1666 there was collected the sufferers by the casualty of that sad fire in our p'ish of Merton towards the releefe of in London, the sum of thirteen shillings five pence, wch was safely sent up, and delivered to one Owen Hughes, from whom we have a receipt. So we testify,

SAMUEL WARREN,

Rectour of Merton.

EDWARD TURNER,
ROBERT (his R marke) HUSHIN, wardens."
Church-
"Joshuah Chadwick Master of Arts, and
Rector of this Parish, dyed November 23d,
and was buryed Nov. 25th, 1695.

Alex. Croshold next signs Rector.
The last entry in this Book is dated
Dec. 17, 1722.

The second Register begins Dec. 27, 1722, and ends May 2, 1785.

The next Register cominences in 1785, and continues till 1812, when the new Registers begin. There is also a Marriage Register from May 6, 1756,

to 1812.

List of Rectors and Curates conti-
wrote his "History of Norfolk."
nued from the time that Blomefield
Alexander Croshold, A. M. died Dec.
12, and was buried Dec. 14, 1731.
John Borrett, A.M. Vicar of Griston
Joseph Forby.

Thomas Scott, instituted May 4, 1785.
Richard Black, resigned, and after-
wards appointed Rector of Copdock,
The Hon. and Rev. Thomas de Grey,
Suffolk.

A.M. second son of the late Lord
Walsingham, was instituted March
24, 1803, and is the present Rector.
* See Gent. Mag. for May 1817, p. 396.

He

1825.]

Memoir of Alderman Penington.

He is also Archdeacon of Surrey, Prebendary of Winchester, Rector of Fawley, Hampshire, and Calbourne, Isle of Wight.

CURATES.

William Clough, died Aug. 20, 1778, and was buried at Sahan Toney. Thos. Scott.

F. Francklin,

J. Francklin, 1803.
Wm. Grigson, 1804.

Wm. Pearse, licensed Jan. 20, 1814*,
Wm. Grigson.
Matthew Dawson Duffield, of St.
John's College, Cambridge, and
F. S. A. was appointed to the Cu-
racy Oct, 10, 1821; and is the pre-
sent Curate of Merton, as well as of
the adjoining Parish of Tottington.
William Dalton, Parish Clerk.

Divine service is performed regularly
once every Sunday, in the morning or
afternoon alternately.
Yours, &c.

Mr. URBAN,

M. D. DUFFIELD.

Aug. 10.

IN
N vol. xc1. i. 583, are some en-
quiries relative to Alderman Pe-
nington, one of the Judges of Charles
the First, and father of the celebrated
Quaker. The following memoir, ori-
ginally compiled for private use, is
offered to your Correspondent.

Isaac Penington was son to Robert
Penington, merchant, and a native of
the city of Londont. His family
were seated at the Grange, in the
parish of Chalfont St. Peter, in Buck-
inghamshire, which estate came into
the possession of his son. In 1638 he
served the office of Sheriff, and distin-
guished himself by his incessant oppo-
sition to the Crown, with more zeal
than reason, as he possessed no talents
whereby to compose differences, or re-
form abuses; and, in 1640, being
elected member for the City, rendered
himself notorious for his seditious
speeches. On December 11th, he
presented a petition to the House,
alleging it to be signed by twenty
thousand persons, inhabitants of Lon-
don, who required nothing less than
'the total abolition of Episcopacy,'
and prayed that as the government
of Archbishops and Lord-bishops,
Deans and Archdeacons, &c. with
their courts and ministrations,' had
proved dangerous to the Church and

• Now Rector of Hanwell Drayton, Oxon. ↑ Strype's Stow.

119

State, the said Government, with all its dependancies, roots and branches, may be abolished. This paper produced a resolution that the late Canons, made in Convocation, were illegal, and a vote to fine all that were concerned in their making; an order being passed that no copy of it should be given to any person, the Members of Parlia ment excepted *.

In 1641 he was nominated by the House, one of the Committee to proceed against Delinquents, and to receive information or offers of discovery; to repress tumults and riots, to take an account of his Majesty's revenue, to consider of framing a WestIndia Company, and to propose a fishery on the coasts of England, Scotland, and Ireland; together with many other apparently beneficial particulars, which served to raise the authority of that Committee, but were never performed or brought forwardt. At the same time he joined in the opposition against the Established Clergy, against whom he laid various informations, particularly against the Minister of Grace-church, which appears to have totally failed; and appeared against Mr. Robert Chestlin, of St. Mathew's, in Friday-street. Though not at all concerned in that gentleman's case, he made his appearance before the Lord Mayor, to countenance the fac tious parishioners; openly reviling Mr. Chestlin, and calling him Saucy Jack, brazen-faced fellow,' &c. and had the effrontery to abuse the Magistrate himself, who with just indignation asked, What, shall I be afraid to do justice?' and gave sentence in the Clergyman's

favour.

From this and other circumstances,

he obtained a wonderful consequence among his party, and when the City petitioned the King, professing their grief for his distrust of them,' his Majesty told them that he had a good opinion of many of them, and would willingly pardon all, except Penington, Venn, Fowk, aud Manwaring§.' This

open answer served but to inflame the disaffected, who appointed him Mayor in 1642, Sir Richard Gurney being deprived, and gave him the Lieutenancy

Nelson's Collection of State Papers, 1682, where a copy of it is to be found. + Clarendon, vol. i. p. 294.

ings

Merc. Rust. p. 170. Walker's Sufferof the Clergy.

Noble's Lives of the Regicides, vol. ii.