Beneath the monument of Sir Thomas Smith, and touching the steps of the altar, is an altar monument of English marble, close against the south wall, the head of it adjoining the entrance into the south chapel parallel to the chancel, under which is entombed Sir William Butts, Knight, Chief Physician to Henry VIII. It originally had his portraiture in brass, in armour as a knight, and his arms — "Az. 3 Lozenges Gules, on a Chevron Or, between 3 etoils Or," at the four corners of the stone. There was also a scroll of brass on one side of him inscribed Myn Advantage." On the wall just above it, is put up a later inscription on a neat marble tablet, by Leonard Butts, of Norfolk, Esq., one of his descendants.¹

Epitaphiu D. Gulielmi Butij Equitis aurati

Et medici regis Henrici Octavi qui

Obiit AO Dni 1545. 170 Novemb.

Quid medicina valet, quid honos, quid gratia Regum

Quid Popularis amor, mors ubi sæva venit ?

Sola valet pietas quæ structa est auspice Christo

Sola in morte valet, cætera cuncta fluunt.

Ergo mihi in vita fuerit quando omnia Chrisius,

Mors mihi nunc lucrum, vitaque Christus erit.

Epitaphiu hoc primitös inscriptum pariete et

Situ jam pene exesum sic demum restituit.

Leonardus Butts Armiger Norfolciensis.

Oct. 30. 1627.

Amoris FAO.

Physic, or honour, flatt'ry, wealth, or pow'r,

To man of what Avail in death's dread hour ;

Then Christian Piety alone can save,

Our only firm assistance in the grave.

Since Christ in life has been Iny only joy,

Death will bring happiness without alloy.

The verses are supposed to have been written by Sir John Cheke, the intimate friend of Dr. Butts--• And what if I •should think," says Strype, that this was the issue of Cheke's pious fancy in his last respects to this man, for which he had so high and deserved a veneration.²

Sir William Butts, Doctor of Physic, was a native of Norfolk, and received his education at Caius College, Cambridge. He afterwards was made Domestic Physician to Henry VI ll., and received the honour of knighthood from that monarch.³ He was one of the founders of the College of Physicians, in whose records he is highly extolled for learning and knowledge, as well as for his singular judgment and great experience. He appears to have been highly in favour with the King, as well as much respected by many eminent persons at Court; and has been celebrated by some of the literary persons of his age; particularly Bishop Parkhurst, who has some epiorams on him.⁴ Dr. Butts married Margaret, daughter and heiress of Bacon, of Cambridgeshire, by whom he had three sons, William, who was knighted, and resided at Thornage in Norfolk, and who died in 1583 Thomas, who settled at Great Riburgh in Norfolk⁵, where his ancient seat is now remaining in the possession of Sir Edmund Bacon; and Edmund, of Barrow, in Suffolk. These married three sisters, daughters and co-heiresses of Henry Bures of Acton in Suffolk, by Ann, daughter of Sir William Walgrave, which lady married to her second husband Sir Clement Higham, Chief Baron of the Exchequer. This gave rise to an error in a pedigree of the Bacon family in, "Blomefield's Norfolk," where Sir William Bugs is stated to have married a daughter of Sir Clement Higham. Of the sons, Edmund alone had daughter, who became sole heiress to her uncles, married Sir Nicholas Bacon.

Sir William Butts died 17th November 1545, and was buried in this church. It is probable that some part of his family at that time resided here, as the name of Butts, at a later period, occurs in the parish books. His name is immortalised in the pages of Shakespeare, who has introduced him in his "Play of Henry VIII," as forming one of the household of that monarch⁶. Holbein has inserted his portrait in "The Delivery of the Charter to the Barber Surgeons Company," which has been engraved by Baron.

Note 1. Cole's MSS. Brit. Mus. vol. xxx.

Note 2. Strype's Life of Cheke, p. 24. 8vo., 1712.

Note 3. Ibid. p. 32.

Note 4. A. Wood. Athen. Oxon.

Note 5. See a "Boke of Epitaphs" on his death, printed by Robert Dallington and others.

Note 7. Hen. VIII. Act V. Scene II.