clear. It is 27 yards long, and 6 yards and an half broad. In the chancel, on a marble, is this,
Here lieth interred the Body of William Younger, Master in Arts, and Rector of both these Parishes, who deceased March the 6, 1661, Ætatis suæ 57,
Younger he was by Name, but not in Grace, Elder than he, in this, must give him Place.
His Faith, his Patience, Charity, and Love, Argue his Soul to be in Heaven above.
Frances his Relict died Oct. 17, 1665.
On another stone, Bacon impales Bedingfield,
Eliz. Infant Daughter of Francis Bacon of Norwich Esq; and Dorothy his Wife, who died at Nurse with Rob. Tilles of this Town, was buried July 21, 1661. Life is even a Vapour that appeareth for a little Time, then vanisheth away, Lam. 4, 14.
At the lower end of the nave, there is a stone for, Thomas Clarke, 21, May, 1689, 60, and Bridget his wife 28 Jan. 1672, 50.
In 1527, Rob. Boleyn, wax-chandler of Norwich, after the death of Alice his wife, gave a messuage and 8 acres and 3 roods of arable land, and a piece of meadow containing two acres and an half, and two acres of arable land late Robert Barker's, lying in the town and field of Great Melton, with the course of a faldage of 200 sheep, to the parish church of our Lady of the said town, to be in the hands of 10 or 12 persons (feoffees) dwelling in the said parish, to hold to them and their assignees for evermore. The church-wardens for their year to receive the profits, out of which 6s. 8d. to be yearly reserved towards discharging the parishioners of the King's taxes. His own and wife's obit to be kept in the church yearly on Whitsunday, with placebo, dirige, and mass of requiem, and the rest to repair the church. (Regr. Palgrave, fo. 17.)
The Prior of Wimondham's temporals were taxed at 9s. and the Prior of Walsingham's at 3s. 8d. this was given to that monastery by Master Vincent de Becco, or Bek, and issued out of the lands which he held of Will. Fitz Jeffery, and of Richard son of Ribald, and that convent sold it to Ric. de Hethersete, rector of this church, paying 3s. to the convent; and Pandulph Bishop of Norwich licensed Master Vincent de Bek to purchase 15 acres of the free land of St. Mary's church at Melton, (with consent of the rector and patron,) to him and his heirs, paying 3s. to the rector for ever, in 1221. In 1484, Henry Heydon received 5l. of Thomas Batchcroft, Gent. in full payment for the lands late the Prior of Walsingham's in Melton-Magna
Rectors of Melton St. Mary
William de Melton, rector and patron.
- 1221, Ric. de Hethersete. Will. son of Jeffry de Magna Melton, patron; he gave to Herbert de Hethersete 6 acres, and to Simon son of Herbert, 1 acre, paying 12d. per annum to St. Mary's altar.
- 1302, Walter de Winfarthing. Sir Hugh Vere, Knt.
- 1307, Walter de Magna Henney. Ditto.
- 1320, the advowson belonged to the Montchensies, capital lords
