On 27 Jul 1578 Bishop Richard Howand (age 37), in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor, waited on the Queen (age 44) on her visit to Audley End House, Saffron Walden [Map], and presented her with a Greek Testament and a pair of gloves, making a suitable oration.

Letters of the Court of James I 1618. [20 Aug 1618]. While the court was at Bewley, a Scottishman stabbed and killed a servant of Humfrey's, that discovered the pot aux roses touching the courses of the Lord (age 56) and Lady Suffolk (age 54). The fellow is to suffer for it, if he be not hanged already at the court gate. Sir John Bingley is, like enough, for aught I hear, to pass well through his business, and so may the Lord of Suffolk², seeing there pass many letters 'twixt the king and him; which some think to be about the parting with Audley End [Map], for the which he is to have £ 2000 land a-year; and as much more as the grounds or lands about it came to.

Note 1. "discover the pot aux roses" i.e. to discover the truth.

Note 2. Accused of corruption in his post of lord treasurer, and many other misdemeanors.

Evelyn's Diary. 31 Aug 1654. This house [Map] stands in the parish of Saffron Walden, famous for the abundance of saffron there cultivated, and esteemed the best of any foreign country.

Evelyn's Diary. 31 Aug 1654. From Cambridge, we went to Audley-End [Map], and spent some time in seeing that goodly place built by Howard, Earl of Suffolk, once Lord Treasurer. It is a mixed fabric, between antique and modern, but observable for its being completely finished, and without comparison is one of the stateliest palaces in the kingdom. It consists of two courts, the first very large, winged with cloisters. The front had a double entrance; the hall is fair, but somewhat too small for so august a pile. The kitchen is very large, as are the cellars, arched with stone, very neat and well disposed; these offices are joined by a wing out of the way very handsomely. The gallery is the most cheerful and I think one of the best in England; a fair dining-room, and the rest of the lodgings answerable, with a pretty chapel. The gardens are not in order, though well inclosed. It has also a bowling-alley, a noble well-walled, wooded and watered park, full of fine collines and ponds: the river glides before the palace, to which is an avenue of lime trees, but all this is much diminished by its being placed in an obscure bottom. For the rest, is a perfectly uniform structure, and shows without like a diadem, by the decorations of the cupolas and other ornaments on the pavilions; instead of rails and balusters, there is a border of capital letters, as was lately also on Suffolk House, Suffolk Street, near Charing-Cross, built by the same Lord Treasurer.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Feb 1660. Monday. Up by four o'clock, and after I was ready, took my leave of my father (age 59), whom I left in bed, and the same of my brother John (age 19), to whom I gave 10s. Mr. Blayton and I took horse and straight to Saffron Walden, Essex [Map], where at the White Hart, we set up our horses, and took the master of the house to shew us Audley End House [Map], who took us on foot through the park, and so to the house, where the housekeeper shewed us all the house, in which the stateliness of the ceilings, chimney-pieces, and form of the whole was exceedingly worth seeing. He took us into the cellar, where we drank most admirable drink, a health to the King (age 29). Here I played on my flageolette, there being an excellent echo. He shewed us excellent pictures; two especially, those of the four Evangelists and Henry VIII. After that I gave the man 2s. for his trouble, and went back again. In our going, my landlord carried us through a very old hospital or almshouse, where forty poor people was maintained; a very old foundation; and over the chimney in the mantelpiece was an inscription in brass: "Orate pre anima Thomae Bird", &c.; and the poor box also was on the same chimney-piece, with an iron door and locks to it, into which I put 6d. They brought me a draft of their drink in a brown bowl, tipt with silver, which I drank off, and at the bottom was a picture of the Virgin and the child in her arms, done in silver. So we went to our Inn, and after eating of something, and kissed the daughter of the house, she being very pretty, we took leave, and so that night, the road pretty good, but the weather rainy to Eping [Map], where we sat and played a game at cards, and after supper, and some merry talk with a plain bold maid of the house, we went to bed.

Pepy's Diary. 07 Mar 1666. So I provoked my Lord to be gone, and he and I to Mr. Cottle's and met Mrs. Williams (without whom he cannot stir out of doors) and there took coach and away home. They carry me to London and set me down at the Temple [Map], where my mind changed and I home, and to writing and heare my boy play on the lute, and a turne with my wife pleasantly in the garden by moonshine, my heart being in great peace, and so home to supper and to bed. The King (age 35) and Duke (age 32) are to go to-morrow to Audly End [Map], in order to the seeing and buying of it of my Lord Suffolke (age 47).

Pepy's Diary. 12 Mar 1666. This day I hear my Uncle Talbot Pepys (deceased) died the last week, and was buried. All the news now is, that Sir Jeremy Smith is at Cales [Cadiz] with his fleete, and Mings in the Elve. [Elbe] the King (age 35) is come this noon to towne from Audly End [Map], with the Duke of Yorke (age 32) and a fine train of gentlemen.

Evelyn's Diary. 23 Jul 1670. We returned from Burrow Green [Map] to London, staying some time at Audley End [Map] to see that fine palace. It is indeed a cheerful piece of Gothic building, or rather antico moderno, but placed in an obscure bottom. The cellars and galleries are very stately. It has a river by it, a pretty avenue of limes, and in a park.

Evelyn's Diary. 13 Sep 1677. My Lord's coach conveyed me to Bury [Map], and thence baiting at Newmarket, Suffolk, stepping in at Audley-End [Map] to see that house again, I slept at Bishop-Stortford [Map], and, the next day, home. I was accompanied in my journey by Major Fairfax, of a younger house of the Lord Fairfax, a soldier, a traveler, an excellent musician, a good-natured, well-bred gentleman.

The River Granta aka Cam rises near Hamperden End, Essex [Map] from where it flows past Little Henham, Essex [Map], Newport, Essex [Map], Audley End House, Saffron Walden [Map], Great Chesterford [Map], Hinxton [Map], Sawston [Map], Great Shelford [Map], Hauxton [Map] before joining the River Cam south-east of Cambridge [Map]

Between 1136 and 1143 Geoffrey Mandeville 1st Earl Essex founded Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map] as a Benedictine Monastery.

Around 1190 Waldon Priory and Abbey [Map] was elevated to become an Abbey.

Before Jan 1536 Bishop William More was appointed Abbot of Walden Abbey in commendam.