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VIII.—Colne Priory, Essex, and the Burials of the Earls of Oxford

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2011

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Extract

The priory of Colne, situated in north Essex near the river of the same name, was one of the smaller priories, and would probably have been passed over in monastic histories with a brief notice, if it had not been, during its entire history, intimately associated with the family of De Vere, who for more than five centuries and a half held the earldom of Oxford. The De Veres founded it, endowed it, and save in a few exceptional cases were buried in its precincts during the whole period of its existence.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1938

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References

page 275 note 1 See Thorpe, Dipl. Angl., 569 et seq., and William Page, Arch., lxvi, 84.

page 275 note 2 See Charters 32 and 36, Rev. William Cole's Transcription B.M. Add. MSS. 5860.

page 276 note 1 Maurice died in 1107.

page 276 note 2 Chron. Monast. Abingdon, ii, 57.

page 276 note 3 The anathema pronounced on this occasion is a classic, Dugdale, i, 188.

page 277 note 1 Abingdon would often recall such monks as were learned and send ignorant ones of their own, and lay the charges on the prior and convent, although they already had funds provided for this purpose (Newcourt Rep., ii, 184).

page 277 note 2 Close Rolls, see R. C. Fowler, F.S.A., in Essex A.S. Trans., N.S., xii, 51.

page 277 note 3 Newcourt Rep., ii, 185.

page 278 note 1 Holman, c. 1740.

page 279 note 1 The writer would be grateful for information as to the existence of this book.

page 281 note 1 Vide infra.

page 281 note 2 The vaulting may, however, not have been added until the fourteenth-century repairs.

page 281 note 3 Cf. Thetford.

page 282 note 1 Possibly from the vaulting.

page 282 note 2 Dr. Griffith, who examined it.

page 283 note 1 These are present in the fragments of wall in the north-west tower.

page 284 note 1 Here may have been the ‘altar of Earl Richard’ (eleventh earl) mentioned in the will of Sir George Vere 1500.

page 287 note 1 Those of Robert, fifth earl, ob. 1296 (an effigy of that date on a table tomb of c. 1340, the latter very probably bearing formerly the effigy of Robert, sixth earl, ob. 1331), and of Richard, eleventh earl, ob. 1417, and his countess, ob. 1451 (a large double tomb).

page 288 note 1 That of Thomas, eighth earl, ob. 1371, shown by King's drawing to be large enough to hold three effigies. Only that of the earl survived.

page 288 note 2 A mid-thirteenth-century figure in armour, possibly Hugh, fourth earl, ob. 1263, and John, thirteenth earl, ob. 1512, and his countess, together with seven other effigies of intermediate periods.

page 288 note 3 Essex Arch. Soc. Trans., vol. 21, pt. 2, N.S., p. 263: Rev. G. M. Benton, F.S.A.

page 288 note 4 For funeral see Walsingham, Hist. Angl., ii, 219.

page 289 note 1 Account of funeral in MSS. Harl. quoted by Rev. S. A. A. Majendie, The Family of De Vere, etc., p. 30.

page 289 note 2 Essex Arch. Soc. Trans., vol. 21, pt. 2, N.S., p. 261.

page 289 note 3 Weever, published 1631. Material may have been collected much earlier.

page 290 note 1 Lethieullier, Holman, Gough, Morant, Cole, Stevens.

page 290 note 2 For Colne in Weever see p. 613 et seq.

page 290 note 3 The only cross-legged effigy formerly in the parish church still exists. Probably Robert, fifth earl (Hist. Mon. Comm.); was first placed in the centre of the chancel, then moved to the north side, where seen by Gough in 1786. The Saracen's head, a movable object, was, by King's time, 1653, upon the ‘great tomb’ (probably Thomas, eighth earl), where it figures in King's drawing.

page 290 note 4 Effigies of Richard, eleventh earl, and Alice Sergeaux his countess (H.M.C). His feet are actually on a lion, and two small ‘talbots’ bite her robe. Still exist. In the parish church were ‘under the Pulpit’ (Gough, vol. ii, pt. II, p. 49). Seen there by Horace Walpole 1748, and taken for duke of Ireland and Lancerona.

page 290 note 5 Still existing. Probably Thomas, eighth earl (H.M.C.). Believed to be the ninth earl, duke of Ireland, by Col. Probert, F.S.A. The evidence is against this as the duke had a special grant of arms with Ireland in the 1st and 4th quarters, which does not appear on the jupon. The ‘Saracen's’ head was placed on this tomb in King's drawing. It had no saracenic appearance, and was probably the head or foot rest of another effigy, possibly that of the eighth earl's countess Maud de Ufford, whose family bore as a crest just such a head. Tomb moved to the church by Richard Harlackenden in first quarter of seventeenth century. Room for three effigies. Placed ‘on the north side of the nave … enclosed in a pew, only the front and the east end appearing’ (Gough, vol. i, pt. II, p. 130). ‘Not expressed in Weever.’

page 291 note 1 Is the one stone cross-legged effigy common to Weever and King at the priory. King describes it as colossal, and of freestone, and it is the earliest in his drawings. Appears to be about mid-thirteenth century. Probably Hugh, fourth earl (ob. 1263).

page 291 note 2 The mutilated effigy of King. Knight of period of John, seventh earl (ob. 1360), figured with lady of same period, ? his wife Maud de Badlesmere.

page 291 note 3 The only cross-legged knight in wood shown by King as associated with a lady. He, however, shows no shield. Both knight and lady according to King were painted effigies. They apparently belong to the first third of the fourteenth century. Possibly Robert, sixth earl (ob. 1331), and his countess Margaret de Mortimer.

page 291 note 4 Nos. 5 and 6 are not figured by King; possibly in bad condition. Morant misquotes Weever, stating that they were removed to the parish church, which they never were.

page 291 note 5 Knight of Garter in armour of late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. Feet on a stag. Lady, feet not on a falcon but a winged boar. John, thirteenth earl, and his countess.

page 291 note 6 The only reference to this effigy: not shown in King.

page 293 note 1 Weever actually mentions nine.

page 293 note 2 In reality Holman only quotes this from Weever.

page 293 note 3 Gough, vol. ii, pt. II, p. 50. Quoted from Rev. W. Cole on the effigy remains.

page 294 note 1 i.e. the parish church of St. Andrew.

page 295 note 1 It was with great regret that we learned of the death of Col. Carwardine-Probert while the above was in the press.