66 The memorials of the illustrious dead lie, as will be seen, in the chancel, which being 684 feet in width, affords " ample room and verge enough" for the display of their tombs and the bestowal of their bones. With the exception of two, these monuments range in a line with the altar table. One of those placed out of the line is a monument to Elizabeth the infant daughter of the fourth Duke of Norfolk. The second is that which of all others imparts a lasting interest to the church-that of the celebrated courtier and poet, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Enter In describing these solemnly interesting relics of death, we commence at the south side of the chancel, and proceeding regularly along the east end, terminate at the north west. ing through a low and narrow door opening from the churchyard into the south part of the building, immediately on the right, under the east wall of the church, stands the tomb of Sir Robert Hitcham, Knt., an individual who purchased the remnant of the castle as well as the manors of Saxted, and Framlingham, from the family of the Howards, and directed the descent of the property into other channels than that which had held it for centuries. He sleeps now the powerful lord to whose beneficient kindness the poor of Framlingham, as well as those of other places are highly indebted. The record placed here to mark his resting place and speak of his memory a table tomb of exceedingly dark marble, formed of a slab of that material supported at its four corners by a kneeling angel. These supporters are of white marble, the hue of which, contrasts well with the sombre colour of the recumbent stone. Beneath stands a monumental urn. The following epitaph is inserted at the west end. Reader: In expectation of the coming of ovr Lord Iesvs, here and after of Grayes Inne; Attorney to Qveene Anne the 15 day of Avgvst Anno 1636. The gifts of this eminent individual were of so princely a kind, that we cannot but think a simple relation of his life, while standing thus over his grave, will at once be appropriate, and interesting. The little village of Levington, lying on the banks of the river Orwell, was the place of his birth. He first saw the light in the year 1572, and was sent for his education to the Grammar School, of Ipswich, from whence he was entered as a scholar at Pembroke College in the University of Cambridge. He chose the law as a profession, and cultivated the requisite study with great attention and success. Not content with his eminence attending his professional talents, he yearned after a seat in the Legislature, and at length sat in the House of Commons, as Member for West Loe, in Cornwall. The date of his entrance is recorded in 1596. Sir Robert Hitcham soon attracted the attention of government, and was appointed in 1603 as the Queen Consort's Attorney General. James the 1st who then reigned, knighted him in 1616. The troubles of the time of Charles the 1st, appears to have drawn his attention from affairs of state, and although he sat as representative for Orford in several parliaments during his time, he returned to Ipswich, and lived until his death in the house now occupied by W. Rodwell, Esq., in St. Matthews. A short period after his retirement, Sir Robert Hitcham, purchased the manors, and Castle of Framlingham, and Saxted, of Theophilus Howard, Earl of Suffolk, and continued to hold them, until his death. The demise of the knight, took place on the 15th of August, 1636, and he was buried beneath this monument we are describing two days after his decease. He left by his will the Castle, and manors of Framlingham and Saxted, and all other lands purchased by him of the former owners of the building, to the Master and Fellows of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, giving them the royalties, rents of tenure-the advowson of the church-the markets of the town-and those of the hundred of Loes, in consideration that they pulled down the ancient castle and erected a house to place the pauperized community of Framlingham, Debenham, Coggeshall, and other towns if the funds were found adequate, to work daily and weekly. An almshouse was also to be erected in Framlingham, and a second at Levington, for the maintenance of a certain number of poor persons. A schoolhouse was also to be built in the former place, and various other bequests were made to forward the worldly comfort of those who needed such assistance. The specific directions laid down by Sir Robert Hitcham, and which were stated by him with much supposed legal accuracy, had the inevitable effect of rendering the fulfilment of his good intentions impossible. The whole trust was to be performed at Framlingham, and it consequently became necessary that the poor of Debenham, and Coggeshall, should come to that town, in order to receive the benefit of the donor's charity, and be "set to work." No provision had been made for their sustenance, and therefore the gift was rendered nugatory. To remedy this serious inconvenience a petition was drawn up by the inhabitants, and presented to Oliver Cromwell, praying that a settlement of the whole question should be made with all proper and convenient speed. On this, an order passed the great seal, giving the rents of the royalties, rents of tenure, and other things devised to the College, for their own use-the College to provide almshouses at Framlingham, and Levington -a workhouse at Framlingham-a school house also a workhouse and a school at Coggeshall and Debenham. By this decision the intention of the bequest was in a great degree carried out, and on the arrangement thus made, all subsequent settlements should have been based. The College severed the devised property however, and certain lands were given in trust absolutely, for each town mentioned in the will. The lands at Framlingham amount to eight hundred acres. 2 D2 Debenham has also for its share two hundred and thirty-seven acres; and Coggeshall with Levington, has three hundred and eleven acres. Had Sir Robert Hitcham been sensible of the difficulty likely to arise in the performance of his wishes, no doubt his last will and testament, would have been differently drawn. Here he sleeps however within his narrow bed unconscious of the legal difficulties he had left to hamper and confuse those he sought to befriend "Where be his quiddits now, his quillets, his cases, and his tenures" Beneath yon marble cenotaph all that is mortal of the learned knight quietly reposes, leaving the world an example, that critical and legal acumen frequently render of no avail, the best intentions of charity and philanthropy. A little beyond the tomb covering Sir Robert Hitcham's body, stands a monument, erected in a noble style, but to whose particular memory, is uncertain. Blomefield, states in the history of Norfolk, that when the monastery of Thetford, at the period of the Dissolution, felt the effects of the rude hand of Henry-the tomb of Thomas Howard, second Duke of Norfolk, with the mortal remains of that nobleman, were removed to the situation in which that, now under consideration, at present stands. Martin, the historian of Thetford, however, states that the tomb of the second Duke was destroyed, and his remains only removed to this church. Mr. Lodge, places the burial of the third Duke at Framlingham, and it is believed, the effigy now lying on the monument, belongs to this eminent individual, and that of the second Duke, has been removed to make room for it. That a removal has taken place, or that the present figures occupy a station not at first designed for them, is ascertained by their unusual position. There are two figures on the tomb, male, and female. The female lies on the right side of the male, a place not usually allotted to the tender sex, even on monumental structures. It is conjectured therefore, that the body lying by his side, is the mother and not the wife of the third Duke, and that she has been removed to the post of honour in consequence of the effigy of the second Duke being taken away. EFFIGY OF THOMAS THIRD DUKE OF NORFOLK. There is evidence of almost an irrefragable kind, that such has been the arrangement, in the words "Gracia dei su qd sum" being carved upon the collar of the male figure; it being record. ed of this eminent individual, that escaping only from a miserable end by the death of Henry VIII, he threw aside his collar of SS. and adopted the above latin motto, which being interpreted reads, "by the grace of God I am what I am."* We think therefore, that the conjectures relating to this tomb, are founded in fact, namely: that the effigies upon it, represent the third Duke, Thomas Howard, and Agnes, the wife of his father, and the son's mother-in-law. The monument is of the altar kind, and round its basements, are fourteen niches filled with statues, believed to represent the Apostles and Evangelists. The figures are cumbent upon the top. Both wear coronets-the head of the Duke supported by a helmet, and that of the duchess, by cushions. His hands are clasped, as if in prayer-her's hold a book. Both wear robes of full state dress. The garter is displayed on the Duke's left knee, and round his collar, are the emphatic and touching words, above mentioned-the memento of his escape and his piety. At each corner of this noble tomb, stands a lion, holding a shield, upon which are displayed the arms of Howard, Brotherton, Warren, and Mowbray. * See Framlingham Castle |