mortgaged it to Francis Cuddon, Gent. who came and dwelt here; and in 1599, the said William and Francis joined, and sold it to Sir Edwin Rich, Knt. who was descended from Richard Rich of the Middle Temple, Esq. chirographer of the court of Common Pleas, reader of that society, and lord high chancellor of England, in the time of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. At the north-west part of the church, on the north wall, is a monument for this Sir Edwin, with the arms of Rich at the top, viz. gul. a chevron between three croslets botany or. Crest, on a wreath a mount vert, on which, a wyvern with his wings elevated arg.
Sir Edwin Rich was knighted at Cadiz voyage; he purchased this manor of Will. Gresham, Esq. in the 42d year of Queen Elizabeth; was patron of the church, he died and was buried at Hartlepoole. Robert Rich, his eldest son, died in the year 1651, and was buried in the church of Swerdeston, but his bones were since removed hither by Edwin Rich, his brother, who erected this monument for him, and caused a vault to be made, as a dormitory for the family; and here resteth the bones of Sir Edwin Rich, Knt. son of Sir Edwin Rich, who died 16th of Nov. 1675,
For whom there is another mural monument near the former, against the west wall, with a very large hour-glass on the top, and this,
† Our Lyef is like an Hower Glasse, and our Riches are like Sand in it, which runs with us but the Time of our continuance her, and then must be turned up by another.
To speak to God, as if Men heard you talke, To live with Men, as if God saw you walke, When thou art young to live well, thou must strive, When thou art old, to dye well, then contryve.
Thetfoord gave me Breath, & Norwich breeding, Trinity College in Cambridge, Learning, Lincolne's Inne, did teach me Law and Equity, Reports I have made in the Courts of Chancery.
And though I cannot Skill in Rhymes, yet know it, In my Life I was, my own Death's Poet,
