tainder of that Nobleman, Queen Mary granted it to Sir John Huddlestone, who, in the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth, sold it to John Cock, Esq. whose son, Sir Henry Cock, purchased a new grant of the manor from James the First. From him it descended to the Lords Monson; but is now the property of Sir George Beeston Prescott, Bart. it having been purchased by the late George Prescott, Esq. about twenty years ago. The Church is a handsome fabric, dedicated to the Virgin Mary: it was built in the time of Henry the Sixth, by NICHOLAS DIXON, who was Rector of this parish during thirty years, and lies buried in the chancel. On a large broken grave-stone, that covers his remains, has been a brass figure, under an elegant triplearched canopy, in the pointed style, with the arms, a fleur de lis, in chief, ermine, and the following inscription above. miserere ihu famuli Dixon Nicholai Ut sibi cu sanctis presætur Uità perhennis. On another, but smaller slab, in the pavement of the chancel, is a Brass of a female figure, represented with very long flowing air; and beneath her feet this inscription: Jcy gist Damoiselle Jehanne Glay. qui trespassa l'an d'grace. On On the north side of the altar is a tomb and inscription in memory of ROBERT D'ACRES, Esq. of Cheshunt, Privy Counsellor to Henry the Eighth; of his wife, ELIZABETH, and several others of their family. Against the south wall is a monument for DR. HENRY ATKINS, who was thirty-two years Physician in Ordinary to James the First, and Charles the First, and died in 1635; MARY his wife, and SIR HENRY ATKINS, Kut. their son, who died in 1638, at the age of thirty-four. Other inscriptions for the D'acres and Atkins families, who were united by marriage, occur in different parts of the Church. On a slab, in the south aisle, are Brasses of a man and woman; the former in a merchant's habit, with this inscription: Hic jacent Willmo Pyke qui obiit xxij die februarij anno ame. On another slab, in the same aisle, is a Brass of a female kneeling at a desk, in the habit of Elizabeth's time: the inscription records the name of "Elizabeath Garnett, wife of Edward Collen, Citizen and Freemason of Londo," who died in September, 1609, at the age of thirty-three. Before the door, which opens into the chancel from the Church-yard, is a stone coffin, with the lid reversed; the inner side, as now situated, is said to have a figure in relief, sculptured on it. Near the Church is a House formerly inhabited by Richard Cromwell, the abdicated Protector; who, after his return from the Continent, about the year 1680, assumed the name of Clark, and lived here during the remainder of his life, in retirement. Here also he died, in July, 1712, in the arms of the gardener of Baron Pengelly, and was conveyed to Hursley, in Hampshire, for interment; the manor of Hursley having descended to him in right of his wife; though he was obliged to contest the possession of it with his daughters, in a court of law. Sergeant Pengelly, who was retained by him, on this occasion, as Counsel, and was afterwards Chief Baron of the Exchequer, is supposed to have been a ⚫ natural *See under Hursley, Vol. VI. p. 114, 115. natural son of his employer; a supposition which Noble adnits to be rendered probable by Richard's gallantry.* In the north part of Cheshunt are some remains of a NUNNERY, originally founded for Nuns of the Sempringham order, and made subordinate to the Gilbertine Priory, at Cattely, in Lincolnshire, by Peter de Belingey, in the time of King Stohen. Henry the Third placed Nuns of the Order of St. Benedict n the room of the former, and made them independent; their anual revenue, at the time of the Suppression, in the twenty-sith of Henry the Eighth, amounted, according to Speed, to 271. 6. 8d. but Memoirs of the Cromwell family, Vol. I. p. 175. In thesame work is the following singular anecdote concerning Richard, whio was related to the late Rev. George North, Vicar of Codicote, nearWelwyn, by two persons who conversed with him in the last years of is life at Cheshunt. When Richard left Whitehall, he was very carcul to preserve the Addresses which had been sent to him from every art of the kingdom, expressing that the salvation of the nation dependd upon his safety, and his acceptance of the Sovereignty;' and may of them proffering him the lives and fortunes of the Addressers. In his retirement at Cheshunt, no one was admitted to visit him, without trong recommendations of being of agreeable conversation, and strict onor. One of the two persons above alluded to, named Windus, who lied at Ware, was introduced to him as such, with an admonition to caform to his peculiarities, without asking any questions, or seeming to make observations. After an hour or two spent in "conversation and (rinking, Richard started up, took the candle, and the rest of the company, who all knew, except the last admitted man, what was going forward, took up the bottle and the glasses, and followed the quondam Praector up to a dirty garret, in which was nothing but a little round hair tunk: Mr. Cromwell pulled it out to the middle of the room, and calling for a bumper of wine, drank Prosperity to Old England. All the company did the same. When the new man, Mr. Windus, was caled to do so, sitting a-stride, as they had done upon the trunk, Cronwell desired him to take care, and sit light, for he had no less than the lives and fortunes of all the good people of England under him :-the trunk was then opened, and the original Addresses shewed him, with great mirth and laughter. This was his method of initiating a new acquaintance." but Dugdale records it at only 141. 1s. Od. Two years afterwars, the King granted the Nunnery manor to Sir Anthony Denny;"but it has since had a variety of possessors; and was for some year the seat of the late Mrs. Blackwood, who had a very valuable ollection of paintings, by the first masters. The remains of the Junnery forms the domestic parts of a large Mansion, that has seen erected at different periods, and contains some elegant aparments. The grounds are disposed with taste; and the river Lea has been formed into a canal before the east front of the house. Te Manor of St. Andrew le Mote, in Cheshunt, was granted, by Henry the Eighth, to Cardinal Wolsey, who resided in the Manr-house, now called CHESHUNT HOUSE: this is a plain brick structure, but has been much modernised since Wolsey inhabied it. After his disgrace, and fall, the King granted the manorb the Earl of Worcester, and afterwards to Thomas Denny, Esq. whose son, John, sold it to George D'Acres; whose descendant Sir Thomas Dacres, again sold it to James, Earl of Salisbury. Jams, his son, disposed of it to Sir Edward Desbovery, whose exec.tors re-sold it to Sir John Shaw, Bart. in whose family it yet contiues. The population of Cheshunt township, as returned under te late Act, amounted to 3173; the number of houses to 615. TIEOBALDS, in Cheshunt Parish, has become of great celebrity from having been the favorite residence of Lord Burleigh, and afterwards of James the First. The Manor of Theobalds was formerly called Cullynges, and, in the year 1385, belonged to Willam Attemore, of Cheshunt, who, being indebted to William de Tongge in the sum of 1011. made over to him this manor, together with an estate named Le Mores, and from him it obtained the name of Tongge. It was afterwards named Thebaudes; and under that appellation was granted by the Crown to John Carpenter, Master of St. Anthony's Hospital, and others, in the year 1441, to hold by the annual render of a bow valued at 2s. and a barbed arrow, value three-pence. No further particulars occur of the descent of this manor till the time of Elizabeth, when it was possessed by William, Lord Burleigh, whose son, Robert, first Earl Tanner's Notitia. Earl of Salisbury, exchanged it with King James for other lands Charles the Second granted it to George Monk, Duke of Albe marle, with the site of the House and Park, all which escheated t the Crown on the death of Christopher, the second Duke, withot male issue. His widow marrying Ralph, Duke of Montagu, tht Nobleman is supposed to have had a new grant of the Manor f Theobalds, as his descendant, John, Duke of Montagu, sold itn 1736, to Mrs. Letitia Thornhill, from whom it came to the Crawells, descendants from the Protector Oliver, who derived thir title from the marriage of Richard Cromwell, Esq. grandsonof Henry Cromwell, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with Sarah, daghter of Ebenezer Gatton, and niece, and one of the co-heiresse of Sir Robert Thornhill, father to the above-named Letitia. Over Cromwell, Esq. the last male descendant of the Protector Over, is now owner. "The original site of this manor was a small moated house the traces of which are still visible in Sir George Prescott's park. Sir William Cecil, afterwards Lord Burleigh, began, about the year 1560, to build upon a new site, what, it is said, he at firstinended for a small mansion, to be the residence of his youngeron. On the twenty-seventh of July, 1564, Queen Elizabeth fir honored him with a visit at Theobalds. It is probable that sh then expressed her intention of repeating her visit, which indud her Minister to enlarge his house for her better accommodatio and that it was completed upon a more enlarged scale, beforese twentysecond of September, 1571, when the Queen visitedim again, and was presented with a copy of verses, and a Prait of the House. Her visits were repeated in 1572, 1575, 77, 1583, 1591, 1593, 1594,* and 1596. In 1583 she was anded by a large retinue, and staid four days; the Earls of Leices and Warwick, An Oration, spoken by the Hermit of Theobald in 1594, is printed in Queen Elizabeth's Progresses: it was written Sir Robert Cecil. Her visit to Theobalds, in 1596, is mentioned tthe Earl of Monmouth in his Memoirs. The Queen is said to have ld her court at Theobalds, September 5th, 1598; being a few days aft the funeral of Lord Burleigh, who was buried on the twenty-ninth August.' |