Chesterfield Church: Foljambe Chapel.
Against the south wall of this chapel is the table-tomb and monument of Godfrey Foljambe, the only son of Sir Godfrey Foljambe V., who erected the elaborate monuments to his parents and grandparents. He also erected the monument to himself during his lifetime. He died in 1594; but the sculptor placed on the margin the true date of the execution of the work, which was 1592. The sculptured work round this tomb is a beautifully modelled example of renaissance carving, and has been considered worthy of special illustration in Mr. Gotch’s recent important work, Early Renaissance Architecture in England.
On the floor near by there is a large alabaster slab bearing the incised effigy of a man in armour, with a much mutilated marginal inscription. It appears, from church notes of the eighteenth century, that this is the monument of George Foljambe, of Brimington, who died in 1588; he was the second son of Sir James Foljambe. In this chapel there is also to be seen the exceptional kneeling figure of a knight in plate armour, which is described and engraved in the Gentleman’s Magazine for 1794. It has undergone various mutilations and restorations. There is some difficulty in deciding whom this monument is intended to represent; but it seems probable that it was erected to the memory of Sir Thomas Foljambe, who was buried at Chesterfield in 1604. He was the son of Francis Foljambe, the eldest son of Sir James, by his second wife; he was succeeded by his brother Francis, who was created baronet in 1622.
One of the most painful features of the troubles of the Elizabethan recusants, or adherents to the unreformed faith, who were numerous in this county, was the deliberate way in which family feuds were promoted, and the bribe of inheriting forfeited estates held out to conforming relations who would give information as to recusancy.[38]
Among the Talbot papers at the College of Arms is a letter from Francis Leeke to the Earl of Shrewsbury, dated February 2nd, 1587, wherein he states:—
“I was this day at Tupton where I found the Lady Constance Foljamb. I did impart to the Lady Foljambe my comitione to comitte her to the chardge of my cousin Foljamb. Her answer was that she was by age, and the sikeness of the stone, not abell to travell either on horseback or on foot, and so desired me to let your Lordshipp understand: whereuppon she yet remeenethe at Tupton till your Lordshippe’s pleasure be further knowne.”
The Earl answers that her commitment is necessary, and on February 16th of the same year, receives a letter from Godfrey Foljambe stating that he had apprehended “the Lady Constance Foljambe, my grandmother, and now have her in my custodie, whom, by God’s help, I shall safely keep.” The zeal of the conforming grandson was not altogether disinterested, for when he set her at liberty, twenty months later, by order of the Council, he retained for his own benefit “her living, goods, and chattels.” On September 22nd, 1589, the Lady Constance wrote to the Earl thanking him for her release. From another source comes an interesting evidence of the endeavours of the aged lady, within a few days of her release, to conform sufficiently so as to escape renewed custody at the hands of her grasping grandson. In the common place book of Roger Columbell, of Darley Hall, occurs this note:
“Mem. Godfrey Foljambe of More Hall, myself, my brother Blunt were at Tupton in the Lady Constance Foljambe’s house, the 28th September, 1589, when all the morning prayers, saving the ij. lessons omitted for want of a byble & the collect for the daye, for want of skyll to find it out, was distinctley read with the Latinne also by Nicholas Harding; her man-servant, & Elianor Harrington, hir waytinge woman beinge present, who reverently and obediently behaved themselves during all the service tyme, as we aforenamed with Edward Bradshawe, John Browne, and John Hawson, are to witness whensoever we shall be called by other or otherwyse as by a byll under our hand according to my sade cousen Foljambe of More Hall appeareth.”
Sir Francis Foljambe, Bart., sold Walton Manor House and the Derbyshire estate to Sir Arthur Ingram in 1633. From that time Aldwark became the chief residence of the family. Sir Francis died, leaving no male issue, in 1640, and the representation of his family devolved on his third cousin, Peter Foljambe, who was able to prove his descent and claim to the family estates. He lived at Steveton, one of the inherited estates in the parish of Sherborn, Yorkshire, and died in 1668. It is from the Foljambes of Aldwark and Steveton that Cecil George Savile Foljambe, Baron Hawkesbury 1893, Viscount Hawkesbury and Earl of Liverpool 1905, who died in 1907, was descended.