WALSINGHAM, (Norfolk) 4 m. from the Sea, 91 cm. 116 mm. from London, is a pretty good T. famous for the ruins of a mon. founded about 400 years before the Diss. by the lady of the manor, which had a shrine of the Virgin Mary, almost as much frequented at one time, as Tho. Becket's at Canterbury; and here are two wells, still called by her name. The famous Sir Fr. Walsingham, secretary of state to Q. Eliz. was descended from a family, to which this T. gave name, as it did lately title of countess to the baronet's de Schulemberg (niece to the late duchess of Kendal) before her marriage to the E. of Chesterfield. The Mt. is on F. The soil here is noted for producing good saffron, as well as southern-wood. The banks near the T. towards the sea-side, are supposed to have been the burial-place of the Danes and Saxons, after their many battles in the neighbourhood. As to the mon. abovementioned, it is observable that Hen. VIII. went once barefoot to it from Balsham not far off, and carried a rich necklace as a present to the lady of Walsingham, " with a view perhaps, " says Spelman, " to moderate the resentment of the Virgin, when he " thought fit, as he did soon after, " to banish her from her mon. and to " pull it down: For he was so senfible " of her wonderful goodness, " how ready she was to remember " small favours, and godlike to " forget great injuries,that on his " death-bed he bequeathed his soul to her; " which whether his executors disposed " of strictly according to his will " and testament, is not a point altogether " certain, because they fulfilled it " in no other article that I know of." Thus far Sir Henry, who quotes Hollingshed to shew that in the 30th of this R. the Ld. Cromwell, the demolisher of mons. caused this Virgin's image, which was brought to Chelsea, to be committed to the flames. Among others who visited the mon. was Erasmus; in whose time there were 2 Chs. here, one for the Virgin Mary's image, and in the other was her Son's. " The latter, he says, " had little light but from the " wax-tapers, which made it so bright and " shining all over, by their reflection " on the heaps of jewels, gold, and " silver in it, that one would almost " fancy it to be the seat of the gods." For it must be observed, that in that age no person was looked upon as pious or religious, who had not made a visit and an offering to the lady of Walsingham. K. Edw. III. obtained leave of the pope, to erect a mon. here for grey friars. Lee Warner, Esq; had a seat here.